Resident Evil - Internal Probe

[Nicole]

Day Four.


It would indeed be a morning unlike any other. Then again, what morning was like the one prior to it, in some minuscule way, things were always different. The difference in this case was anything but minor, Andrea awoke to find Joseph gone, no doubt he was an early riser with his job, long since showered and gone. Even so, her hand brushed along the indentation in the pillow next to her and then along her stomach.

She drew in a deep breath and then slowly let it back out, finally she slid herself out of bed, did a few morning reps and went to shower. After she'd bathed, redressed in something less...armored, with ever bit something more civilian she headed on out. The medical emblem embroidered on her shirt, circled by the word New York Downtown Hospital.

She headed on down the corridor towards the dormitories, on her palm she'd written with pen the room numbers for both Danica and John, though she'd only really be meeting with Danica to begin with.

After crossing the massive upper complex she paused before the door and rapped with her knuckles on it.

[poignant]

-John awoke groggy and in pain. His neck was stiff and jagged pricks of pain brought him back down to the bed. What had possessed the woman to slap him that hard? Most grown men hadn’t even hit him that hard. Rubbing at the sore spots he stood up, checking the time as he did so, late afternoon. Washing the morning taste down with a cold glass of water, he staggered to his door, performed his morning stretches and tried to ignore the sharp pain along the side of his face. No doubt there was a bruise there. Let them wonder he told himself as he stepped into the dormitory.

Seemingly deserted he found himself in the female ward checking on Sahara. John hadn’t seen her since the previous night and even then they hadn’t talked. While the thought of babysitting wasn’t high on his priority list, he felt obligated to at least give her the obligatory hello and be done with it. Or maybe she was just avoiding him thanks to Danica.

While she wasn’t there he did happen upon the medic, who was no doubt going to talk to Danica. With a smirk and a small nod of the head he acknowledged the woman and made his way to the cafeteria and when he still hadn’t found her, to the garage.

There Sahara was and a squad of corporate drones aiding her in unloading the truck and taking inventory of what survived their mad escape from the museum of the Arts. Sauntering up to the party, he looked around completely lost. Art was something that never made sense to John. All the squiggly lines and blotches of paint – paint a f***ing picture don’t just spray sh*t around haphazardly and call it art. Thankfully the batch that survived seemed to be less contemporary and more actual works of art. Sahara would notice him there, the black lump among the white and gray suits and perhaps even their eyes would meet. “Just checking in, making sure everything is all right.” Oh who the f*** was he kidding. He looked like a lame duck in a beauty pageant. -

[Nicole]

Sahara

Sahara had infact been busy with the priceless works of art. Though she supposed in some black market, third world crap hole they'd find some intrinsic value. Since she couldn't sleep she'd spent most of the night and morning logging and checking out the paintings, there were a few dozen, stacked neatly in containers in rows.

After she'd checked them out, noting, as instructed, the more valuable pieces, they were repackaged and stuck into the cargo bays of the buses, which, a few feet away, were being welded with cages over the windows, actual metal doors were now in place where the bi-fold doors were once.

Sahara was up in the truck, clipboard with pencil stuck above her ear, she glimpsed out as she heard a familiar voice, she had small smirk rise as she glimpsed down on him.

"John!" she exclaimed, she leaned to him, placing her hands on his shoulders and tucking the clipboard under her arm she steadied herself as she jumped out of the back of the truck and back to the ground, instantly shrinking lower than eye-level with him as she peered up to him.

"I'd wondered where you got off to. I haven't seen you since we all got here in the cafeteria."

__________________________________________________

John

-Well that was more than he had anticipated. Would she notice the mass of black and blue knotting one complete side of his face? Looking in the mirror earlier had confirmed his suspicion; the finger marks could still be seen. Unabashed however, John looked down, should he lie to her? Would she be able to tell? With a roll of his shoulders he never broke contact, “I’ve been busy making sure we get out of this alive and with all our digits intact.” He looked around at all the ‘stuff’ they had stacked around. “Has the Director had her pick yet?”

Referring to the deal Sahara had made that he supposed he should be grateful for, he turned on his heels attempting to appear interested in the works themselves. A vagrant such as himself had little time to appreciate the arts, much less find whatever it was they conveyed. When their eyes met back up, “You seem to be doing fine otherwise.”


__________________________________________________

Sahara


Sahara's eyes did examine the bruising on John's face. He could see the questioning look in her eyes, but after what she'd overheard the other day, she figured asking the criminal too many questions proooobably wasn't in her best interest. She shrugged it off anyway as she turned with him towards the collection there.

"No. She simply passed word to me that I was to sort out the most expensive rare works and have them loaded on one of the buses." she explained, taking John by the arm she brought him over towards one of the paintings that hadn't been put back in the container, her fingers reached for the bottom of the cloth and drew it up, revealing the da Vinci painting in it's splender.

She stood back up at his side, letting him view it, letting her eyes glimpse among it before she looked back towards him.

"You realize you may be one of the last people to ever see this. A piece of art that has been around for hundreds of years, through generations, to end with ours." she pointed out.

She shook off the gloom with a small chuckle, glimpsing back to John. " Well. Last person other than whoever it gets sold to."

___________________________________________________

John

-He nodded, saying nothing at all; instead he let her tug him around by the arm. Viewing the painting in the eyes of someone who couldn’t or wouldn’t appreciate the art; feeling as though this where important to the woman had rejoined him at his side, he said nothing and did his best to act like he cared. Peeking off to the left and right, he noticed the workers had continued on in their work without their leader. Wrapping a bearish arm around her shoulder, he steered her towards the painting himself as well. Drawing a hand up as if asking her question about the work, “The painting is the least of my worries Sahara,” there was the cold hard John she had met. Who had saved her for no other apparent reason than because the world was ending and perhaps it felt better to be human than inhuman.

“Just be careful. Don’t be so trusting.” The voice wasn’t so much the typical harsh John voice, but rather something gentler, firm, commanding. John knew she wasn’t dumb by any standard. Anyone who could appreciate paint that was hundreds of years old clearly knew something he didn’t. But that didn’t discount the common sense she seemed to lack. Survival was hard, especially on those who had been handed everything.-

_____________________________________________________

Sahara

Sahara's brow furrowed slightly as she glimpsed from the painting towards John. Her eyes scanned those cold, uncaring eyes. She released hold of him, only to find his arm around her shoulders.

She shrugged and wiggled his arm from her and turned to face him with a slight bit of reprimand in her tone.

"John. You and me. We're nothing, no bodies in the grand scheme of things. Everyone out there." she gestured with her hand above them.

"everything we knew, is gone. God knows how far this thing goes." she told him, " You remember all those health scares about pandemic, flu, west nile, influenza... those projections gave what... weeks? month before it was everywhere?" she commented, her eyes glued to his.

"Think about it. Not everyone has a..." she searched for the word to describe where they were, finding herself with none she shrugged, " Whatever this place is to go and hide. " She was venting, little sleep meant lots of time to think about things, and exhaustion was in her face now.

"That means the world as we know it is gone, over. Who knows how many if anyone will survive this other than us, that.." Sahara stated, pointing to the painting.

"That is normal. That is what I'm use to seeing every d**ned day, and if I'm the last curator the human race has that survives, I'm going to make sure at least some of our greatest works make it."

__________________________________________________

John


-John would let her go, allowing them some space. Though a forlorn look encased those easy eyes, what the hell was it, yell at John Day? Christ he better not get a matching bruise on the other side of his face. Easing the tension in his neck with the palm of his head, he nodded. Nodding to her question about the various illnesses that made their way through civilization, he knew and understood what it meant to be here. It all made sense, though she was forgetting one tiny detail, dare he point it out?

“You’re alive now.” Jutting a finger towards the garage door, even looking to add that dramatic effect, “would your paintings be worth your life out there? You where lucky, but you were also stupid.” Bringing the arm back around to jut a chubby digit at her, his eyes narrowed. “I understand what you’re saying. But the paintings should be the least of your worries. You’re correct, not everyone had these places,” f*** it, who cares if they hear this next bit, they were already onto him, “which should make you wonder why this place even exists. Why Joseph was ordered not to bring civilians back. Think with that pretty little head of yours.”

___________________________________________________

Sahara


Sahara sighed some, she thought about slapping him but what would that accomplish, plus he had saved her life, so eh, what's a girl to do? She stepped towards him as he blurted out that last little bit, she sighed some. " John. So what, they got a secret place. We dont know anything about these people. Think about how many secret places like this the military has, think they'd just let us go strolling in one of those places either?" she tilted her head, glimpsing at him.

"I admit, they seem to be...less...concerned.... than I would be, but who knows why." she tried to reason.

"And if they didn't really want you here, do you think they don't have enough guns to ensure we never took another breath?"

_____________________________________________________

John

[poignant]

-Sahara probably thought she had him there, what with her impeccable logic. While she had a few points over him, the battle was far from over. Shaking his head he had to contain the laughter at her naivety. They weren’t wanted here, though she had probably missed the part where the Crone made an example of Joseph bringing in too many strays. “They have a lot of firepower that is for sure. You remember that guy with the Director?” He waited for her to acknowledge that she did. That guy still bothered John more than all the rest. Something was off about him. Having met and spent plenty of time with murderers and the dregs of society John was used to being in the presence of predators. However that thing, whatever the f*** it was, wasn’t human. He couldn’t say why he felt like that, but the way he had gauged them all and seemed cold even to John… well it was enough to give pause.

“What if they turn out to be behind this? What is the purpose of this base? It couldn’t be built for an outbreak unless they expected the outbreak to happen. Even more disturbing is the fact they had a contingency plan in place. At least you know what the military is doing half the time.” Shaking his head he refused to follow that thread of the logic. The military probably was involved. How? John couldn’t say but he had watched enough zombie movies to know it likely had something to do with genetics and the infamous super soldier. Or maybe this was a quest for the holy grail of chemistry, the fountain of youth? Sahara was really trying to fit in, which just meant more work for John, though he was beginning to wonder why he cared so much. Was it the innocence in her eyes? Shaking his head slowly from side to side, “It’s not that simple. Nothing is ever given for free. Your paintings? Money means nothing in a dead world – so don’t think for a second you bought us anything but more grief. If you won’t look for it, I will.” Finally his head stopped moving from side to side. So far Sahara had only proved what he suspected, she was smart but she had no common sense to draw the logic of it all together. So he would have too, or Joseph or maybe the medic. Should he tell Danica to deal with Sahara?-

[bgred]

*Joseph had left to make his rounds in the morning, wandering through corridors that had become his home for far too long and yet all looked the same. He had been very confused the first time he had come to this facility, wondering why it was made like this underground and all. He knew now what horrors he had signed on to protect and provide security for. Had he of known before hand would he still have chosen to accept the job? This one thought occupied his mind, until the faces of Andrea, John, Danica, Sahara all crossed his mind. He had saved them from what was outside, without him accepting it they all would be dead out there.

And this was the thought that had a smile upon his lips, a pleased presence around him when one of the lower security officers moved up and called his name. Joseph turned on his heels in a rather military fashion, the smile looking a bit crazy when he did so as he looked the man over; "What is it?" Joseph didn't like having his thoughts interrupted plus he enjoyed the fear he invoked in his men, it was one of the things that kept them in line since there was no discipline in civilian life*

"Major, I think you should see this before you decide on your routine."

*Joseph glared at the man, who was he to tell him to look at something first, but he allowed it wondering what would make this man willing to interrupt him. As they got to the security center the man sat down and activated a video recording, Joseph watched it intently as John and Danica argued and chased one another through corridors, though Danica looked a bit lost when she tried to move through them. He chuckled a bit at that and watched it move into John's room, he began to wonder if maybe they had done something this lowly security officer shouldn't have seen given it was almost like a lovers spat.

And that's when Joseph realized there was no audio which just made him smirk, the man was clever indeed but what had they discussed. Joseph had seen enough plays and movies to know bad acting when he saw it and he just shook his head. That was terrible indeed, he clasped his hand on the officers shoulder and moved off to find John and discuss what was going on with him and hopefully learn a bit more. He had easily found his location on the cameras but why in the world they'd goto the garage was beyond him, but soon he'd appear in the doorway*

----------------


-John was still staring at the painting with Sahara, though neither of them where speaking when Joseph entered. John saw him first and then the others. Some saluted, others just carried on with unloading the truck and marking each item down when it was unwrapped. Then they would rewrap it and place it one of three piles. At a glance it would be easy to tell which ones where staying, which were going and which were considered useless.

With their backs turned to the underground admittance doors, it would appear odd when John turned and gave Joseph a nod of his head. Turning to Sahara, he touched her shoulder with his palm and whispered something into her ear as he brushed by and made his way towards Joseph. The stiff posture and the twinkling of his eyes said it all. John knew why Joseph was here. What this meeting would entail. Hopefully it went the way he needed it to go and hopefully Danica was upholding her part of the bargain.

“Joseph, sir!” he acknowledged the officer and stopped just before him with one of this big dumb grins a child usually got when they thought they were being naughty and getting away with it. “What brings you to the garage this fine afternoon? I,” hooking a thumb over his shoulder at Sahara and the unloaded truck,” was just checking up on Sahara.” Joseph would note the hand imprint on his cheek, all black and blue and swollen.-

-------------------


*He watched John as the man got to work around Sahara, he didn't pay her much mind but could hear her complaints as they handled the pictures with much less gentle touches then she did. Though when John got closer and used Sir, Joseph couldn't help the grin that crossed his lips. What was he playing at, that big odd looking grin upon his face almost looked unnatural. Joseph nodded his head in acknowledgement to his comments about Sahara*

"Actually you did John, I was hoping to have a few words with you honestly. I like to get to know the people I rescue from certain death and share a home with. Perhaps we can talk in your quarters for a little more privacy?"

*Joseph would stress the word Privacy, hopefully showing he already knew about the problem with the mic that was supposed to be in there. Joseph wasn't good at hinting but he did the best he could*

-----------------


-Glancing back to Sahara he nodded to Joseph. While snatching the word ‘privacy’ out of his words seemed to be hoping for too much. John knew they would find out eventually and thought to be having this conversation much earlier. Perhaps they where understaffed? “Yeah no problem,” giving no hint to his underlying emotions or thoughts, John plodded back the way they had come, to the men’s ward and eventually to his little cell.

It was much as he left it. Both cups where still sitting out, cold and foul smelling. The bed had been made however an old habit that John had. Gesturing towards a chair on the opposite end of their little table, he sat with his back facing the camera once again. Without so much as acknowledging the sabotaged receiver, he smiled, “I’m a vagrant as the pig said. You might of heard of me, they call me the Bulwark for a mess I made some years back?”

----------------


*Joseph watched him as he moved to put his back to the camera once more and Joseph did the same taking a seat near him to keep his lips from being seen. The walk back to his room having been dead silent the entire way neither wanting to shed any light on what was happening until they were there*

"I know who you are John, I knew when i saw you in the bus depot for the first time. That doesn't bother me, just showed me I had a fighter on my hands when I needed one. Though I never did understand why it all went down, perhaps I didn't watch the coverage enough to catch that part or maybe they didn't care to share it. But the real reason I wanted to talk to you was about this scene last night. I was shown the footage of you and Danica when I got up to do my rounds."

---------------------


-John eyed Joseph suspiciously as the man moved closer and mirrored Danica’s posture from the morning. Danica had smelled better though. With a deep sigh, John nodded to what Joseph had said. Of course John was a predator. That is what John did. Preyed on those he could for money. Never do anything you’re good at for free. He had forgotten who told him that, but John liked to keep a pocket full of clichés for situations like these. “Money, that’s the only reason I needed.”

Killing a man came naturally to John. The first had been the hardest and sometimes he still wondered if it was because of the innocence of the man or the questioning of his motives behind it. Visage belied none of his thoughts, instead showing an intense, serious man. “Seems to me you found out about the audio too. Danica and I are fine. I didn’t like her attitude and I’m pretty sure she doesn’t like mine. Tried to come back here and work things out and…” he rolling his shoulders he brought digits up to his cheek to show the imprint of her hand.”… she left me with this.”

The next bit had to be delicately put or Joseph would never buy it. John didn’t quite like the footing he was on now, Joseph was trained to see things that weren’t there. Their act hadn’t been the greatest; John hadn’t exactly lied though he hadn’t really said anything. “We won’t kill each other if that is what you’re asking.” Hallowed grey eyes searched Joseph’s for any clue, did he know the truth? Was there a bug he had missed?-

------------------------


*Joseph just watched and listened, John put on a good show and Danica had truly let him have it when she slapped him that was for sure. But it was nice to know a bit more about John, more then what the TV stations had said, then again what good did it do him when all the money was gone now? Joseph would only do something like that if it was to protect someone, then again maybe John was just making up a story to hide some other reason. He didn't really care though, it didn't matter now except to Danica from the looks of it*

"Yeah she did let you have it, probally built up frustration from all that bad acting she did and tried to get you to do. She's really got to work on that poker face some. I'm not worried about killing, matter of fact if you did it might even make the Director back off of me a bit. I'm more worried about conspiracies that would get me and Andrea killed. Now while I work to protect all of us, the Director has finally found a weak spot in my armor and is not affraid to use it if things get out of hand. So I really need to know what's going on, and obviously I know about your tampering with the system to cut off the sound that's why I made sure we came back here to talk, privately."

---------------------------


-A deep throated chuckle would fill the room partway through the words Joseph was saying, drowning them out as only a big man could. After Joseph finished John once again became calm and serious. “I’m not sure I want to see what good acting is from that woman.” Looking at the door, half expecting to see her there waiting to bludgeon nearly brought about another fit of laughter. “Joseph its rather simple to people like that cop and I. We both grew up on the streets. While she is all high and mighty, I’m lowly and disturbed – disturbed about what is going on around here. Whats out there.” John had no fear of any ramifications. Joseph was clearly on his side otherwise this would be going much differently. Hopefully Danica was having just as easy of a time. Squarely looking at Joseph, eyes’ daring him to tell a lie he decided it was time to learn what he couldn’t, “I know this place wasn’t just built at a whim. You guys know what all that craziness is outside.”

Stopping just for effect, he began to lay out the partial plan. He didn’t trust Danica fully; there was no reason to trust this man that far either. “There are doors upon doors I don’t have access too and they are heavily secured with technology even I haven’t encountered before. Which leads me back to the cop and I – something is going on. That crone of yours replaced you with someone I’m not even convinced Is human and she sure as hell didn’t want to have us tag along. So,” he paused again looking to the door. “You know what is behind those doors. You know what caused that mess outside and you know as well as I the Director and her pet are not going to let us walk out of here without a few scratches. I aim to prevent that.” There he said it and he was pretty convincing too. It would be hard to spot the underlying motives and more importantly spot the gaps in what he said. Even smart men could be fooled from time to time, hide it in plain sight.-

------------------------


*He eyed the man as he asked about the more indepth things going on within the compound, he wasn't sure how much he should share but figured what the hell, what were they going to do with the information? If they said anything they'd surely be killed for knowing too much, hell that could happen anyways*

"Let's just say below they're working on a cure...but also on the virus that created those monsters outside. From the information we've gathered from our other compounds it appears there was a breach at one and now this virus is spreading and quickly as you've seen. As for the Director and whatever he is, they have not replaced me though John, don't think I'm not in command of security. He's just here to...oversee everything even the Director if my guess is right."

*He sighed, it has been a long few days since the outbreak and with Andrea telling him she was pregnant he just was having alot of pressure put on him*

------------------------


-Most of the information Joseph shared with him, John had already pieced together. However the outbreak news was entirely new to him. So it hadn’t originated here, it had just migrated that quickly. Optimistically the cure could be on the way, but John doubted it. The thing with viruses, they where created for a specific purpose and rarely was the antidote to said problem ever developed next to. The money needed for research and design and then implementation was just staggering. Still, so was this entire complex.

“Well that’s a fair bit more than I knew coming into this Joseph but I can’t say I’m entirely surprised by it.” The face of John was stolid, giving no hint of any surprise. No chinks in that armor, no weakness to be found or compared to. “Joseph, I don’t think for a second that, that, thing … whatever it is, isn’t here to make sure we stay in line.” He sighed and leaned forward. “Regardless of whether you where replaced or not Joseph, we have to think about just what that means – we want to live. All of us do and I’m not sure that’s going to happen – not with what you just told me and with whats going on out there. We know too much and the Crone isn’t going to forget that, nor is that guy. We need to make sure we stick together and work ourselves out of this.”

----------------------


*Joseph eyes John for a moment trying to take in all that he was suggesting to him. He wanted to break away? That really wasn't smart, they were preparing to leave for the one safe place Joseph could think of. John was going to screw this up he knew it, if he just stayed still and they didn't pick up anymore randoms they'd be fine*

"Look, everything is going fine for the time being. I've worked you in on the manifest for the evactuation in a few days, you'll be fine aslong as you stay with me and we don't get on the Directors bad side. You don't have to come with us, you can try and find somewhere else to go, but I don't think they'll let you go willingly. That look in both of theirs eyes back on the street showed something bad was coming, more then just us getting out of the city. I don't know everything John, but we have to see this through."

-------------------------


-Shaking his bald crown of a head, John eyed the door once more. “No I don’t want to cause any trouble until there is a reason to cause trouble Joseph. I’ll ride along until things start going from worse to seriously f***ed up. As long as we are fine, I’m fine. But I think you’re in the same boat the rest of us are in. What makes you think they don’t inject us with something? I’m not saying we should just start shooting our way out of here, all I’m saying is, lets watch our backs and make sure we get out of this alive – wherever it is we are going.”

The transport out of this base was new to John. Yes the Crone had mentioned it, but John hadn’t really thought of it since then. So whatever was happening out there was likely to get worse. Either that or the military had decided it needed to act. After all, they were the ones who took the bridge down in the hopes they could contain it. What came next was likely a fireball that would engulf the whole city.
It certainly looked simple from that vantage. Eyes narrowed on Joseph as he came to that realization. “So the military is going to clean this mess up and we’re being pulled out before that happens. So the Government is likely in this?” Shaking his head as all the threads fell into place, he wanted to pace. “When do we leave? Where are we going?”

-----------------------


*He smirked, so John was beginning to piece everything together on his own, that was saving time having to explain. But Joseph didn't know everything nor did he feel like revealing everything that was pointless. But then the military was mentioned but Joseph had no idea whether they were or not he only knew the company and it's missions. He sighed again*

"What the government is planning is beyond my knowledge, what we need to concern ourselves with is living and staying safe. Whether they send in troops or nuke the d**n place doesn't matter to me aslong as we're out of here. My woman and our child need to be safe and that's what concerns me my friend. But I'd like to keep all of you safe as well."

---------------------


-Finally something showed on John’s face. A look of shock and surprise settled over those normally impassive features. Eyes widened, as did pupils. A few seconds passed before John even said anything. So that was the connection with the medic. Good d**n timing to have a kid. Since they seemed to come to an agreement, or as much as one Joseph was going to give him, John stood, pushing his chair back as he did so. “Congratulations on the baby, though I’d say it’s a lousy time to have one. We will get out of this. I’m on your side and I don’t intend to do anything stupid. I’ll let you know if I find anything.”

While it might sound stupid saying that to a security officer, Joseph could already tell John was good at seeing what wasn’t supposed to be there and no doubt could sniff out a trap before the average Joe. Signaling that it was time to go, John gave Joseph his hand. “Though one more thing, what are you going to do about the broken audio? Can’t just let that go can you?”

--------------

*Joseph smirked and shook his head, of course it had to be fixed he wasn't the only one who knew and the Director saw these feeds as well. He agreed that it was bad timing but what could he do about that one now?*

"The repair teams already been notified, they'll be here soon actually, I would adivse you to stay away for a while and next time you need to talk, just go ahead and break it again though they won't be happy about that. It's been a pleasure John, I'm glad you have my back."

*He smiled and stood and shook John's hand before turning and heading out the door*

[Nicole]

Danica

Danica had decided to fall back asleep after the little show she had put on with John. Awake now, she laid on her back for a moment with her eyes closed, thinking over the morning. She knew her bad acting would no doubt raise suspicion on the muted camera. Though it had not been her plan going into his room, she thought it had worked out perfectly. John wanted to talk to someone and get answers, well just maybe this was the way for him to do that.

Opening her eyes, she stared at the ceiling. Danica doubted she would ever tell John about what she had done. She’d just leave that little piece of information to herself. No doubt he would be pissed if he found out he had been set up. She knew that she would have been. All she hoped for was that her little plan had worked out and John had gotten some information that he needed.

Sitting up on the bed, she went over to her duffel bag. Opening it up, she pulled out a pair of pants and a tank top she had found at the bottom of the bag on her second day wandering the zombie filled streets. She had forgotten about the clothing until that morning when she was looking for a box of ammunition to load a hand gun she carried.

Stripping off the tube top and skirt, she threw them both in the bag. Danica though she might as well hold onto them, just in case. Dressing again, she pulled her boots back on and then her jacket. Glancing at a wall clock, she noted that it was getting close to dinner. As if on cue, her stomach grumbled. Zipping her duffel bag back up, she quietly left her room and wandered towards the mess hall. As she left her room she turned the opposite way from Andrea, not seeing her walk down the hall towards her.

____________________________________________

Andrea

Andrea's eyes spotted Danica stepping out of the room before she'd gotten there. Watching her turn away from her and proceed away. She shook her head slightly, the woman would do good to learn to check both ways before going anywhere, alas.

"Hey Danica!" Andrea shouted, quickly closing in the distance between them as she jogged to catch up, stumbling to the same pace once she was next to her she glimpsed over towards her with a slight smirk.

"You have a few changes of clothes." she commented with a smirk, " Me. I only have whats left of my former uniform and a few items they gave me here." Andrea pointed out, glimpsing towards the shirt.

"Never thought I'd miss a boutique." she joked with a slight smirk, though she quickly got to the point.

"I was about to head for some breakfast, care to join?"

___________________________________________

Danica

Danica stopped at hearing her name and turned to see one of the people from the garage running towards her. She had not spoken to the woman before, and only knew her name because she had overheard someone saying it in the garage. Watching her as she moved forward, Danica looked her over once. Obviously she was rather young, Danica was guessing in her twenties or so. As Andrea came to Danica’s side, Danica’s brow raised slightly. Something was odd about her, but she couldn’t put her finger on it just yet.

Turning to walked down the hall, Danica responded to Andrea. “I guess I forgot it in a duffel bag a while ago… found it in the ammo bag I had packed before I left in a hurry.” Danica glanced down at herself. “It’s far better than what I had on, that’s for sure.”

Continuing on her way, Danica walked with Andrea towards the mess hall. “I was actually on my way to get some food.” As they walked, Danica took mental note of her surroundings, something she had not done before. Eying a few doors here and there, she noticed that John was not far off. Danica had just chosen to keep a blind eye and now she was regretting it. d**n him for being right and d**n her for being so arrogant.

___________________________________________

Andrea

Andrea nodded, "Yeah. I prefer to wear one of Joseph's shirts when I dont have to wear something like this." Andrea replied, glimpsing down to her umbrella issued 'off duties'. At least he had some civilian clothes.

"I guess that's a good coincidence." she commented, "Maybe we can talk." she smirked. "Though it has been awhile since I sat down with a blue."

She drew in a deep breath and slowly let it back out, glimpsing over towards Danica once more.

"That is, if the badge you had on yesterday was yours."

____________________________________________

Danica

Danica entered the mess hall and moved towards the beginning of the buffet line. “Why would I steal a badge?” Grabbing a tray, she placed it on the buffet line and began to moved down. Grabbing an empty plate and some silverware, she slide the tray down towards the first bay of food. “Seems a rather odd thing to steal at a time like this.”

Grabbing a large pair of tongs, she picked up a few biscuits and set them on her plate. After setting the tongs back down, she moved further down the buffet and picked up a large spoon. Take a nice helping of gravy, she drizzled I over the biscuits.

Glancing up, Danica looked at Andrea. “So what do you want to talk about exactly?” Moving again down the buffet, Danica grabbed a cup of coffee and some orange juice. Without waiting for a response from Andrea, she left the buffet and went towards an empty table. Sitting down, she looked up and waited for Andrea to join her before she dug into her biscuits an gravy.


______________________________________________

John

-John was situated at his usual table, tucked back in the far corner where it was easy to spy everyone entering the cafeteria as well as those already present. Ever alert, hallowed eyes an icy reflection of the room. Relaxed and at ease John didn’t even make eye contact with Danica as she entered. In his mind he ticked off his list. Danica would be speaking with the medic; things had been squared away with Joseph, that only left Sahara who he supposed was still in the garage working tirelessly on the works of art there.

His meal consisted of some kind of white pasta and a few vegetables. Most of those had been weeded out and replaced by juicy chunks of chicken breast. A glass of water to ease his growing headache, he took a sip making one final sweep of the room with his eyes before returning his attention to his plate. Would Danica notice the swollen hand print on the side of his face? Shaking his bald crown at the thought, he found it more amusing now even with the sharp twinge of pain he felt with each bite. pregnant dog. He couldn’t help but look at the two women as they neared the edge of the buffet line, though he covered the glance well by looking in the direction of the door. Where was Joseph? Probably overseeing that engineering team that had descended minutes after Joseph had left. The bastards had kicked John out of his refuge. So here he sat, like a voyeur, eating a less than tasty lunch and wondering just what the hell he was going to do with the rest of his day.-

_______________________________________________

Andrea

"Dont know." Andrea commented, taking her own tray, she eyed among the breakfast items, scooping up one of the single serve boxes of cereal and a bowl and spoon she slid on down the line along with Danica to the fruit. Her eyes glimpsed among the fresh fruit offered there, the cereal likely would be enough but there was always one piece of fruit she loved.

She extended her hand out and wrapped her fingers around the girth of a thick yellow banana and brought it over, her eyes ran along it slowly, examining the slightly curved fruit with it's soft center.

There was only one thing Andrea could think of, was how much her mouth was watering to have just a little bit in her mouth. On her tongue, filling her mind with it's taste.

So she had to make it so. She extended her other hand out, and with a twhap, she cut the banana in half, tossing the other half back into the small array she placed the severed other piece on her tray and grabbed two small containers of milk, one for her cereal and one to drink before she headed over to the table with Danica and sat, opening the cereal, dumping it in the bowl and pouring milk in it while she spoke.

"The thought did occur to me that someone could try and leave the quarantine zone by pretending to be an officer." she added.

"But. I'm pretty good at figuring out people, you look the part, I use to see you guys all the time, crashes, shootings, the works." she added.

"How long've you been on the force?" she asked, bringing her spoon over and chopping the banana into bits and dumping them in her cereal, scooping up some and bringing the cereal up to her mouth and chewing and swallowing of it. Fruity goodness.

____________________________________________

Danica

As she waited for Andrea to sit down, Danica glanced about the room. She noted the usual peons that worked for whatever company this was were scattered about. They all looked the same to her with their coats. Eying a back corner, she looked directly at John. He was looking down at this food, trying to busy himself with a plate full of what looked to be pasta. She knew what he was up too, surveying the room and her for that matter.

She watched him move his head a little and instantly say the bruise on his cheek. Oddly enough she recognized the outline that was on his face, her hand. Danica should have felt bad, she knew that. But for some reason she got an evil satisfaction on seeing the mark on his face. It served him right for what he had put her through. Of course she would ask him about it later, maybe even ask if he was ok… then again, maybe she would not.

As Andrea sat back down in front of Danica, her eyes again looked towards her. Picking up her fork, Danica then looked down at her plate and began cutting the biscuits into small pieces. “Far too long it seems.”

Stabbing a piece of biscuit with her fork, she lifted it to her lips and ate it. After finishing the bite, she spoke. “So much for my pension.” Danica watched as Andrea chopped up the banana and then dumped it into her cereal.

“So what’s your story? How’d you find your way into this place?” Stabbing another piece of biscuit, Danica scooped up some gravy and then ate it. Finding it lacked some seasoning, she reached out with her free hand and grabbed the salt. “I can’t imagine them needing a field medic here.” Looking up, Danica eyed Andrea again.

_____________________________________________

Andrea

Andrea nodded with a slight chuckle, " Yeah, mine too." she replied about the pension. She was enjoying the cereal, better than the cheap stuff she kept at her one bedroom apartment .

After a few more bites she glimpsed back up to Danica as she made the comment about a field medic, Andrea chuckled slightly shaking her head.

"Im not one of these people if that's what you're getting at." Andrea replied, making a small motion with her spoon towards the other personnel.

"I guess I didn't find my way here exactly." Andrea commented, after thinking about it. "I'm a ...or was.." she corrected herself, " paramedic at the hospital in downtown. We were out on the streets when everything happened, I ended up wrapping the ambulance around a pole." Andrea elaborated.

"When I woke up Joseph was bringing me down here." Andrea commented, glimpsing towards John as Danica's eyes cast his direction and then back to Danica.

"So what's his story?" Andrea lightly questioned, " all I know is he came in with that girl with the pictures and it looked like you two knew each other."

Andrea smirked some, taking a drink of her milk.

"I guess it's a small world when half of it is trying to eat the other half."

___________________________________________

Danica

Danica looked down at her food again. Having already read the shirt Andrea wore, Danica knew she was from the downtown hospital. If the girl wanted to tell her it anyways, Danica was more than welcoming of the information. Taking a bite of her food, she chewed on it a moment and thought for a second or two.

Finishing the bite, she reached out and picked up her orange juice. She sipped it gingerly before setting it down on the table again. “His story is rather long.” Danica didn’t elaborate beyond that, because she didn’t think it was really Andrea’s business to know, or for Danica to tell. If she wanted to know John’s story, she should go ask him.

“New York is treacherous to walk around in as is… now add in all that sh*t and the place has gone from bad to worse. You know what happened up there? Being a medic and all?” Danica doubted the girl new, but figured it was worth asking just encase she might actually know something.

____________________________________________

John

-Mulling over the conversation he had earlier, putting the pieces into place, he drew a picture of the entire situation. A government sanctioned operation was underway to cleanse the city of the infected in a vain attempt at controlling the spread. If what Joseph had said, containment was the least of their worries. The populace wasn’t going to stand for any of it. That mean the vagrants ruled the world. The ones with the power and influence on every American street; no military could do what they did; there simply weren’t enough men in uniforms.

With half his plate devoured and a gut that was only a quarter full, John slid his plate forward. Gulping the remaining water, he looked around again. The situation was dire. The infection would consume the world. John didn’t need a scientist to figure that much out. Their best hope was a double edged sword. Hopefully they all had a good balancing act tucked away somewhere.-

_____________________________________________

Andrea

Andrea shook her head slightly, "No. I don't know anything more now than I did back then." she replied.

"Just what I hear.." she added, "Something about this thing showing up in other big cities." Andrea commented.

"To tell you the truth it reminds me of the whole Anthrax thing a few years ago."

"So tell me about yourself, how does a cop get trapped in a quarantine zone?" Andrea questioned, a slight smirk rising, " I dont suppose you had someone pull you into a place like this?" Andrea teased.

_____________________________________________

Danica

Danica continued to eat, her eyes mainly focused now on her plate as she consumed her biscuits and gravy. Looking up, she shrugged slightly. “I had just gotten home and was ready to relax in a nice warm bath when I heard a crash below my apartment. I grabbed my gun and badge… ran down the stairs to the street.”

She paused as her eyes looked up and focused on a particular spot on the table. She thought over what she had seen just a few days ago. “I expected something horrible from the way the crash sounded… what I didn’t expect was to see people eating off of other people.” Reaching out, she grabbed her juice. She took a small sip before continuing. “I ran back to my place, grabbed my duffel bag, loaded it with ammo and then took off.”

Taking one last gulp of the remaining orange juice, she set the empty glass down. “I was going to try and find a working car to get out of here… but a mob of a few dozen walking dead people started towards me. I ran the opposite way and here I am.”

Looking up, Danica could see John just over Andrea's shoulder. She didn't look directly at him, her eyes only focused on Andrea. Danica knew she would have to speak to John later, it was just a matter of when at this point. "So you are saying it's not just NYC that is seeing this? it's elsewhere?"

____________________________________________


John

-Secretly John had been writing a little note on a piece of paper. Small enough to conceal without really drawing attention, the signs would be subtle. With the plate pushed forward, John seemingly lost in thought his fingers scribbled furiously at the piece of paper held by the other hand, cupped beneath the table. Never looking down to draw attention, he instead stared at what was left of his plate. Clearly he was deciding whether he wanted to finish his meal or leave it. Quite the dilemma in a world gone to hell as this one had.

Moments later he would leave it all there and pass by Danica’s table. She had a perfect vantage, he knew, she knew it, what the hell? Stopping with that trademark grin of his, eyes twinkled as he slid his hand out in an offering of peace. “My apologies for this morning,” paying no attention to the medic, he intended to slip the piece of paper in the handshake with Danica. Even his chicken scratch should be legible.-

___________________________________________

Joseph

*Joseph had finished his morning rounds and made his way back to the security desk. He had made sure the repairs in John's rooms were complete and there was now audio until John decided to mess with it again. He had glanced at the screens and noticed they were all in the cafeteria and he smirked. Andrea was definately doing what they had discussed but with John there he doubted Danica would be able to disclose much. So he shrugged and headed down to meet with them. He moved into the doorway and watched them as John walked over to talk to them. He waited for him to finish before walking over and pulling a chair up next to Andrea. He bowed his head to Danica and John before kissing Andrea's cheek*

"Morning ladies, John good to see you again."

*Yeah like seeing him was a big shocker in this place, where else was he going to go?*

__________________________________________

Andrea

Andrea's eyes lingered on Danica as she sought to clarify on what she'd said. Andrea sat her drink down and her spoon, glimpsing around slightly. She bit her lip slightly, contemplating whether to tell or not. Finally she started to speak.

"All I know is I heard the cities of....." just then John walked up, Andrea quit talking, glimpsing back down to her plate she retook her spoon, toying around with her soggy cereal now, listening to the conversation between the two before she glimpsed up and looked at John, and his face. She blinked slightly.

"Uh.. are you alright?" she tilted her head some, examining the bruising. " You look like you've had the hell beaten out of you." Andrea commented, yep, definitely a street paramedic.

And then, right on cue before John could answer, down came Joseph in a chair next to her after a kiss to her cheek. She smiled, blushing a little bit and unable to help a large grin from peering out between her lips.

"Joseph.." she spoke with a smirk, "I'd wondered where you got off to. I usually can't keep you off of me in the mornings." she teased.

_________________________________________

Danica

Danica could see John get up and move towards her. He was up to something from the way wasn’t acting. As he extended his hand, she caught a glimpse of something that was discretely hidden in his hand. Looking up into his face, she listened to what he said. Raising her hand, she placed her smaller hand inside his. Shaking his hand briefly, she discretely took the paper from him and pulled her hand away.

Setting her hand back down on the table, palm down, she continued to look up at him. “Maybe you should go get that looked at?” She knew she should apologize, but that just was not her style. He deserved that slap and so much more. Maybe if she spoke to him in private again.. she might actually apologized.

She was about to say something more when Joseph appeared next to Andrea. Looking away from John, Danica eyed Joseph a moment while he bent over and kissed Andrea on the cheek. “Hello.” Danica said to Joseph.

Looking back to Andrea, Danica watched as a blush creped across her face. It was becoming apparent to her that this relationship was rather new, seeing as how she was reacting to his presence. Blinking a few times, Danica then cleared her throat. “Well… I’m going to go use the little detectives room and then get me something more to eat. Excuse me.”

Grabbing her tray, she stood up with the piece of paper curled in the palm of her hand and walked over to the trash. Setting the tray down on top of it, she quietly exited the room and made her way to the bathroom to do her business and then read the note.

_________________________________________

John

-All four of them together at once? Granite eyes made their pivot a paranoid reflex he couldn’t shake. With the police constantly on his tracks, a meeting with so many important people always warranted looking around to make sure they weren’t being watched. The medic had asked him a question, one that brought his irritation bubbling forth. Oozing into those otherwise hollow eyes, it was quickly swept under the rug as the grin turned into an amused look. The hell beaten out of him, no it was still quite intact. It had been only one woman … and a pig at that. By then Joseph had made his introduction and another piece of the puzzle clicked together.

The headache had dulled his wits, so nothing sparked in his mind. Nodding his head in the direction of Joseph, “Sir, I trust the mechanic is done with my room?” The hand off had gone without a hitch. The pig didn’t squeal, just made a remark to which he bit his retort back. A sigh would have given him away, clenching his fists the same reaction. Controlling his body was a fine art and often futile. Luckily he had more self control than he did most days. “I kind of like it.” Was all he remarked before leaving the table without another word said. The note was simple. ‘Joseph our side safe here see Sahara.’

While it could prove cryptic, it wouldn’t take a detective to figure it out within two minutes. Talk to Sahara, Joseph is flipped. Taking the direction of the men’s ward he was pleased to find his room abandoned. Taking stock of everything in the room he even found more bugs. With a grunt and a sigh he knew the only cure to his headache was a nap. How could he trust a corporation that unleashed hell on Earth to give him a pain reliever? He’d probably wake up with three testicles and a baby he didn’t recall making. With a light chuckle at his own insanity, he dimmed the lights and hit his sack with a crash.-

______________________________________________________

Joseph

*Watched them as they shook hand, a very odd thing to do in these circumstance but he said nothing, allowing them to continue their oddball act. It was still poorly done and it didn't take a drug dealer to know the fake hand off when you saw it. Normal hand shakes don't end with the recipient closing their hand around something, more often they go to rub their hand on their pocket. He eyed John and wondered what it was about and then realised he didn't care, he needed him to get out of here safely.

He turned his attention to Andrea as both of them left to go their own ways*

"I had to make my rounds, something I haven't been wanting to do with that amazing body laying next to me each morning as I woke."

______________________________________________________

Andrea

Andrea said nothing, merely glimpsing between both John and Danica, she tilted her head slightly, bringing her eyes back down to her bowl as she toyed with the mush. She gave a small wave of her hand as Danica left and then glimpsed towards John, that little smirk, the way he left, she leaned back against the backrest of the chair, as the both of them cleared the cafeteria she glimpsed towards Joseph, shifting slightly so her chair was more next to him and she leaned against his side some.

"Well that ended oddly.." she commented, glimpsing over towards him some.

"There's something definitely going on between those two.." she muttered before giving Joseph a little nudge, " Want to head back to your room to talk about it?"

_____________________________________________________

Danica

She went to the bathroom as she had said she was going to do. There, she read the note and then promptly flushed it down the toilet. The man was a fool for doing that as he did. Danica doubted Andrea had seen what happened but she was pretty certain that Joseph knew something was probably up. Why did that man always have to make things so hard? Shaking her head, she left the bathroom. He was such a pig.

Instead of going back to the mess hall, she decided to go back to her room. She’d had enough small talk for one day and also figured that the two love birds would want to be alone. Hands clasped behind her back, she moved down the hallway. Obviously not lost this time, she walked in silence and continued to observer her surroundings. There were more locked doors she noted, and from her count it seemed there were more doors locked with the keypads then doors without them. Definitely interesting.

Reaching her room, she entered it quietly. Closing the door behind her, she moved over to her table and sat down. Leaning back in the chair, she crossed her arms. Staring at a spot on the wall across from her, Danica began to think about what she should do, and what she should be planning. If more cities were infected, there was no real place to go. She was up the sh*t creek and without a paddle, that was for d**n sure.

___________________________________________________

Joseph

*He laughed as he looked at her, having made sure the others were gone before he'd even start talking. They were being odd alot and to go from such rivals in the beginning to this was just creepy. He looked into her eyes and smiles*

"You mean our room don't you? Or are you planning on spending nights somewhere else?"

*He smirked as he watched her waiting for the smartass comments to ensue before he'd lead her back to their room*

__________________________________________________

Andrea

Andrea smirked, glimpsing towards Joseph's eyes, oh he had a little smug comment for everything too. She shook her head slightly and just gave him a smirk. "It's got your name on it last I checked." she smirked, giving a kiss to his jaw, referring to the name tag on the door slot.

"Besides. You might want me to leave it when the cramps start and I strangle you in the middle of the night."

_________________________________________________

Joseph

*Joseph smirked and scooped Andrea up in his arms quickly, looking into her eyes and winks*

"We'll worry about who has what name later on down the road Andrea. For now let's go share some time and make up for me being absent this morning. Oh and I'm not worried about you strangling me a little bit."

*He grinned and walked off with her in his arms bound for their room*

[Nicole]

-Tossing and turning as befit his nature, John awoke hours later. The wall clock said it was just after dinnertime. Grunting as he shifted upwards, sliding his feet out to the cold floor below, he rubbed his hands up and down his face. Groggy visions reappeared in the darkness of his hands. The craggy lines of his palm a brambly scratch upon his seasoned visage, marred only by the imperfection of the bruise, would soon jump start him to alertness. The lights had been dimmed, not completely shut off as they were now.

Had someone been there or was that an automated feature of the room? John couldn’t be certain as he dressed himself in his old, ragged clothes. Something would need to be done about that he mumbled to himself as his thoughts drifted back to the lights. The door still read locked. Nothing seemed disturbed. Had to be automated he told himself. Turning the lights up he was glad to find his headache had gone away, now if only the swelling would go down as well. Filling a glass with cold water he held it up to the bruise, leaning his back against the sink. John was old. Older than the people he had met so far besides the Crone, but he had never felt as tired and exhausted as he did now. The adverse effects of the several days on the run from the infested swarms, the fountain of adrenaline had dried up and left him a hollow shell in need of sustenance.

A grumbling belly signaled his desire to eat as he emptied the glass. Setting it aside, he found himself too weary to face the world at large and instead settled himself at the table, shifting to a comfortable position before pulling his berretta close. It hadn’t been cleaned as thoroughly as he would have liked by the Umbrella drones so he set about doing that, piece by piece.-


____________

She had come in quietly enough and locked to door afterward. For a hardened criminal it amazed her that he had fail to lock the door to his own room. The lock would not have kept her out anyways. Danica was surprised that for a place like this, the rooms were rather simplistic in their security. A deadbolt would not keep someone with even a minute skill out.

After turning off the lights from dim to none, she situated herself in the corner on a chair. She was far from sleepy and took the time to reflect on things in the dark. After her eyes had adjusted to the dark, she could see him sleeping on the bed. Though the darkness laid heavy on the room, the dim light of the digital wall clock had enough light to outline his features.

He looked far older than she remembered. Years on the streets must have been hard. Though when he was awake the creases near his eyes and mouth were heavy, in sleep they seemed to disappear. For a man of chaos, he seemed rather innocent when he slept.

Remaining silent, she watched him get up after some time and turn on the light. He did not see her from how was sitting on the bed and as he moved around he still did not seem to pay much attention. Danica smirked slightly. Even years of being on the street could not out way the mind haze after waking up. When he finally sat down and took apart his gun, she cleared her throat. Hopefully that would get his attention.

______________

-The fog of sleep, deep sleep at that, dulled the senses. The feeling of safety and warmth was a residue left over from the fantasy dreams offered. In the half-light of reality and fantasy it was hard to tell that which was real and that which is not. Danica had been noticed, just not recognized as real. Phantoms of a dream taking shape in reality were nothing new to John. The man had a criminal past that made it easy to remember faces and people that weren’t associated within any normal standard.

About the time he had the gun dismantled and in four distinct pieces he remembered with the cold logic that was normally John, that he hadn’t locked the door. Just dimmed the lights discarded his clothes and climbed into bed. Eyes narrowed as the cough shattered the silence. A low growl slurred his words together, “What the f*** are you doing here?!” Every muscle was suddenly tense as he shoved the chair back. A loud screeching noise accompanied the chair as it shifted under the strain and mass of John. One hand was clenched in the fist, the other was clumsily shuffling the pieces of his gun before he finally realized, if she wanted him dead, it would’ve been done. The rage turned to confusion and then suddenly his face melted to its usual bland state.

“Either you’re very sneaky, or very lucky. How’d you do it without waking me?” John was a light sleeper. The first night had been difficult because of the different sounds, but he prided himself on never being caught unaware. For the first time in a long time he had just been. He shuddered recalling the last time, instead relaxing as he leaned back in his chair, hand unclenching, eyes just as emotionless as his face.-

_________________

Danica sat there, legs extended out straight and crossed at the ankles and her arms crossed over her breasts. Her bare feet were pointed towards him, her boots laying next to her chair. She was leaning back and looking rather relaxed as she watched him freak out when he finally realized she was actually there. Keeping a poker face, she looked him over in the light once before speaking. It seemed that her presence brought back all the stress he had seemed to forget in his half sleepy state.

“I needed to talk to you. I can’t sleep like you and I did not feel like staying in my room. So I came here and waited for you to wake up. “ She said rather simply. “And I’m actually quite good at what I do. Luck has nothing to do with it. I just don’t go around flaunting it for everyone to see.” Her eyes drifted to the table where he was taking apart his gun in a rather expert fashion. “Big brother is wanting to know your secrets and my secrets it seems… and just what secrets we share.”

Uncrossing her legs and arms, she sat up straighter in her chair. “If you want next time I can wake you up.” Leaning forward, she started to put her boots back on. Now that he was awake, she didn’t have to walk around in silence. “… but if I do that, don’t keep a loaded gun under your pillow. I do not like being shot at.” She looked up as she pulled her other boot on, the angle of how she was leaning giving him a nice view that she did not seem to notice.. or care to notice.

__________________

-The angle was noticed, how couldn’t it be? John being who he was, sitting there with narrowed eyes and startled nerves, there was no shame to enjoying the beauty of a woman. Unfortunately it became mired in the past. Images flashed past those hollow gray eyes. Saying nothing he turned instead to gaze at the camera over their heads. f***ing voyeurs, leaving the gun dismantled as it was, he moved past and onto his bed. A few short seconds later the wall clock ceased to function. John was fumbling around behind the bed. Though what he was doing couldn’t be seen a minute later he would emerge with a kit.

Treading past the woman, he still hadn’t said a single word. Seating himself in the cushy chair, he set the cleaning kit down and began cleaning the metallic pieces. Intent on his work, he made no eye contact, “You could have knocked. You’re lucky I didn’t wake up and give you a matching bruise.” Pausing to let the words sink in, John moved onto the next piece. Methodical even in his approach to cleaning, John was doing a good job of keeping his thoughts from the past. From the feminine charm Danica had bewitched him with. John remembered here all right. Perhaps he hadn’t lit up like he was supposed to. Years did that to a man. “If its talk to you want, go ahead. Our secrets are safe here, though they did put another receiver in the room.”

__________________


She watched him move around the room before settling in his chair once more. Standing up, she grabbed her chair and pulled it over to where he was sitting at the table. Setting her seat down a few feet from him, she sat once more. Her eyes continued to study his face, her hand print clearly seen now across his cheek. Now that she thought back on it, she hadn’t thought she had hit him that hard.

“I did knock… you didn’t answer. Must have been some day for you to sleep that heavily.” Her eyes glanced at his bruise again as she thought over the morning.

Leaning forward in her seat, she crossed her arms infront of her again and leaned on the table. Looking down at the gun, she watched him as he cleaned the pieces he had laid out before him. “That was a rather stupid thing to do in the mess hall. Joseph saw you hand me that paper… no doubt someone else might have as well.” She knew they were being recorded and decided to alter what had been written on the paper. “if you have wanted me to come see you, you should have said something.”

Leaning back, she unfolded her arms and scratched the top part of her shoulder. Having left her jacket in her room, Danica sat before him in her red tank top and black jeans. She was thankful she had a change of clothing and not something like the rags he was wearing. “ I don’t think much of either of us are secret anymore… even in this room.” Turning her head, she glanced up at the camera. “I assume that someone came to speak to you? Maybe that Joe guy?”

___________________

-John was dressed in a dark green t-shirt. It bore the history of the fallen world. Torn and blotches darker than the material scarred its once impeccable landscape. The flesh peeked out from beneath each hole. The jeans where even worse, tattered at the edges, claw marks stretched through most of the fabric. At the very least he was wearing short shorts. While Danica looked positively radiant in her unblemished clothes, there was no contempt. At least someone had the foresight to think beyond a few hours.

Every once and a while he would stop to glance towards the woman. Did they all think him stupid? This was the notorious Bulwark. How many of them could say they had done the things John had? How many of them could of made a career out of killing other armed vagrants? He wondered just how long Danica would have lasted in his line of work. “I knew he saw and I knew they would wonder. That was the point. I didn’t know Joseph would be there,” shrugging, he finally put the gun back together and pushed it forward.

Finally he looked at her. Taking her gaze into his and showing only the barren landscape found there. “I took care of the audio. They can only watch. Joseph knows. He is on our side. I can take the audio out when I need to and they’ll just keep replacing it. No idea when they’ll figure out how I take it out.” So she wanted details. That could be the only excuse she was here. Why sneak into his room but only to put him off balance? She couldn’t of been there long. No way would he have slept through that. Was he really tired? Could he be losing his edge?

Discarding the doubts as easily as he did the corpses of those he killed, he nodded his head and looked towards the gun drawing his hands upon the table, steeping them together. “There is an outbreak of whatever this virus is. Joseph said its more than just New York. We’re going to be leaving. He didn’t say when or where. Best course of action is to go with them – I don’t think going back out there is a bright idea. The plan remains the same. Stay here. Watch our backs and make sure we get somewhere safe.” He didn’t doubt any of the intel Joseph had slipped him, there wasn’t any reason to lie to somebody like John, not when all he had was a pistol and his bare hands. The look he gave Danica was telling and grim.-

________________

Nodding her head, she looked away from the camera and back at him. Carefully she listened to what he was saying. Though she had not spent much time with Andrea, she did get a little information out of her and it seemed to line up perfectly with what John was saying. So her bad acting had paid off and he di get some valuable information from the security guard.

“These all seems rather coincidental. I’m thinking that whatever city is infect has another building like this hiding under it. I can’t imagine though that they would let this thing out intentionally. Seems to perfect… maybe interior sabotage?” She shrugged and leaned forward once more.

Reaching out, she took his gun and held it up to her face. Looking it over, she pulled back the chamber and checked the mechanics of what he had just finished putting together. It seemed that even after all these years he could still clean a gun just like she had taught him.

Setting it down once more, she looked towards him again. “Sticking with these people are dangerous… going out there alone is dangerous. Both option are not pleasant and it makes being stuck between a rock and a hard place a walk in the park.” Letting out a sigh, she looked down at one of her hands briefly and inspected a few nails. “I’d feel a whole lot better if I had my guns back.” She looked up at him. “How did you get big brother to give you your gun back?”

_________________

-They would both feel better. Reality was hard enough with all that it entailed on a daily basis. But dangerous is what they did, what did she expect? The world was what they could make of it now. With the outbreak – there really was no stopping it. Defeat was bitter to taste and even harder to admit as he leaned back. A small part of him wished to offer some kind of heroic gesture in the face of the apocalypse. “Joseph didn’t have any answers. If I had to guess what he wasn’t telling me is that those facilities where overran by whatever sparked this outbreak.” Looking at the door, shifting those marble eyes, they finally rested on the gun. “Guessing its only a matter of time before the same happens here.” Could she fit the pieces together? Clearly there was a contingency plan in place for this sort of accident. Though how one planned to survive the end of the world was beyond even a monster such as John.

“I didn’t ask anyone.” John had no special trick or answer for that question. They had come with his clothes, who was he to blame for that cruelty? Most likely it had been Joseph who had pulled the strings. Or perhaps it was a message. Eyes narrowed then as brow furrowed. He hadn’t realized no one else had their weapons. “I thought…” his voice trailed off. -

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She let out a small sight and sat back again, her action mirroring that of his own. “You really thinking that everyone here is going to go on this field trip?” An almost cruel chuckle escaped her lips as she looked away from him. Bracing the palms of her hands against the edge of the table, she pushed herself backwards a short ways. Eyes focused on his gun, she continued to speak. “I think that there are going to be a select few that take with them… and they clearly have chosen those that will tag along.”

She looked up at him again. Dropping her hands from the table, she let her hands rest on the tops of her thighs. “No doubt you knew the plan… and no doubt you’re doing exactly what I said you would do. At least I didn’t get a bullet in the back.” She smirked slightly. Danica knew he was going to pull something like this and she still wen along with his plan. Honestly, she didn’t know if she should be more pissed at him or herself

Standing up, she pushed her hands into the front pockets of her jeans. “Talk to your friend, maybe I can at least get my guns back so that I can defend myself when you all have left.” Her head tilted to the side slightly, her dark brown hair falling slightly into her face as it became untucked from behind her ear. “Think you can at least manage that?”

___________________


-The old guilt was swarming about his mind. John liked it better when it was anchored in his gut far away from anything important. Doubts and regrets where nothing to a fortified man. Doubts cost seconds. Second where precious in a life or death situation. Nothing was more precious than surviving. Nothing mattered more to John than survival. Would she even know the man he had become? Could Danica have helped? The siren droned on in his mind, threatening another headache as he tore his eyes away from the gun and memories. The gun was the very same used the night they last saw each other. The night he became just another vagrant; remorse was a cruel joke in the glare of fate.

Breaking his reverie he looked up. Of course she would be suspicious of what he had left out, and like all woman could only focus on the detail that pissed them off. A smug expression filled that craggy excuse for a face. “Sit down.” He took the gun, turning it over in his palm. Eyes rose drinking in every detail. “You and I are going.” Clenching his jaw, he bit back what wanted to follow. What makes you think I would’ve left you his eyes screamed.

“I’ll talk to Joseph about your guns.” John knew what she saw. For once he felt the slap of shame. Would that he could be the man she wanted then. Wants and dreams where just the demise of hope. As much as he knew he would shoot Joseph, Andrea, Sahara in the blink of an eye he just knew he would take that second for her. Survival was paramount. Remember your duty John. Christ. The anger swelled within that hollow pit he called a stomach. Souring his mood, he looked away in disgust and shame. Why did he want her to stay? f*** the pig. You’re nothing John, just a tool, a disposable tool.-

____________________

She watched his face with a keen eye and could see that his eyes spoke so much more than what his mouth was saying. There, clouded in the icy core of his eyes, she could see something she had not seen in a very long time. It almost scared her to think that something that once was, and what she had thought as long forgotten, still lingered somewhere deep in his soul. Danica had long since banished such feelings and thought she had rid herself of them, but seeing it there in his eyes brought back so many memories that she did not wish to remember.

Reluctant to sit down, she stood for a moment longer before again finding her seat. “You can make no guarantees.” Even know her demeanor continued to change. As the seconds drifted off the clock behind her, the hatred she still felt for him seemed to disappear. As the picture of the innocent man worked its way into her memory and the look on his face as he was shot burned it’s way back into her retinas, her face hardened once more.

“What makes you so sure they will take you along?” Her arms crossed in front of her as she almost glared at him. “I can’t imagine they gave you something in writing?” Schooling her features, she seemed to revert back to the cold pregnant dog that he had argued with in the hallway before. Danica needed not to remember their past. It would be her downfall if she let thoughts like that work it’s way back into her soul.

______________________

-And so the silent warriors fought their private battles in eternal silence. Prowling predators circling each other caught in the drunkenness of their proximity. John could see it, the change of face as it hardened. “A piece of paper,” chuckling in a cruel mocking tone he sought desperately for a way to loose that rage so close to the surface. John had to ask himself in those silent just what made him trust Joseph? Trust was a fragile word with John. The only thing you could trust in a human being was their will to exist. Every human was born with the instinct to live, to survive.

Joseph was in the same situation. Whether he wanted to admit it, Andrea did it, the Crone had seen it. The pieces had been fitted together back in the cafeteria. “He said I was on the manifest.” A tool John, shifting the gun in his palm he set it down on the table with a metallic thud. Sliding it over to her, eyes lingered upon it. “He made sure to put me there. You know what I am.” The words where cold, hollow just like the pits of his eyes. What made her think John was special? “If I’m going, you’re going, Sahara is going. You aren’t me.” The words echoed in his mind after he said them. Remembering that eventful night at the hole in the wall he had his initiation kill. Danica had begged him relentlessly. How could those innocent eyes come from the streets he recalled asking himself.

There was no way she would have ever been interested in John if she had known the truth about him, his sister, what he allowed to happen just to survive. With a fondness he had not felt in years he recalled what it felt like to have a friend he didn’t need to worry about. A companion that would die just as soon as he’d die for her; loyalty was a rare commodity in the world he knew. “Don’t worry. If it comes down to it and you’re not on that manifest I’ll make it right.” His tone brokered no argument, nor did he want a shouting match.-

__________________


She could have bet her life upon those words once, but now it was another story. How could she trust him after everything that had happened and what possibly could still happen. Eye looking down at the gun, they lost their focus as she thought over just what had happened over the past could o days. It was a lot indeed that had gone on.

Their unintentional meeting had broken a d**n of emotions between them. All the hatred had spilled out first, leaving a destructive path in it’s wake and a nice bruise on his cheek. The only thing left now, it seemed, was the remorse. It was rather depressing indeed and as she continued to linger on those memories, her mood only seemed to turn more sour.

“I am not you… nor could I ever be.” Danica continued to look at the gun. Her voice seemed to grow more quiet. “This is not the streets… you have no authority here. There is no guarantee that any of us would make it on the list.” She finally looked up at him. He did not want an argument and she knew that they both could go on for days about this issue. Neither of them had an answer and she knew they would not get it until the time came for this place to clear out.

___________________

-She could never be John. A disposable tool, a warrantless thug, funny what a shield did to a person’s ego. Of course it was easy to forget the corruption or the man she saw. If only she could have grasped the truth then. The boy she knew grew into the very thing she despised. Of course, John chuckled to himself, no one could ever see the hate. “That’s right Danica – you can’t be me and that’s why authority and power will never stop me from making sure you get on that list.” In place of me, John had done it once and he could never blame his sister. One more sacrifice might ease the pain guilt left in its wake, remember your duty John.

“You’re pregnant doging about nothing. You’re on that list, sure as I am on that list.” Danica didn’t trust him and how could he blame her? Seeing his own reflection in the murky depths of her eyes he wondered how he could trust her? She had never confided in him that she was a cop. The whole thing was probably just a setup to get one of the bosses caught. John had been so naïve, so innocent all those years ago. And yet he was the beast, the one everyone pinned their sh*t on. f*** the pity. d**n those eyes. Letting the rage consume him, he shook his head. “I don’t care if you trust me. I’ve survived worse. You will be leaving, I’ll survive out there. Not you. Not Sahara. Not Joseph.” Chuckling he sat back and was upon his feet in the next instant, eyes upon his prey. “What makes you think you can survive against the world?” He stood over her now, she might smell the sweat, he stood that way for what seemed like an eternity and finally unleashed his rage.

No he wouldn’t hit her. No he did what only a man of his size could do, roared. “GET THE f*** OUT OF HERE! YOU AREN'T ME!”

____________________


Sitting quietly, her anger stewed inside her. She had not released out the venom that was building. Danica did her best to keep it in check as she sat there next to him. “…an invisible list that no one has seen.” She put it simply, almost a murmured on her lips as she sat there.

He got up, his chair thrown back again and sliding painful against the floor. Head craned backward, she looked up at him. His anger did not phase her. There were worse things in the world she had faced and his anger was not one of them. As he rambled on all she could think about was this blind reassurance he had that he was going. Danica knew there was nothing written in stone and she just could not understand why he did not grasp that.

His yelling brought her out of her thoughts. In reaction to his own outburst, she stood up. Her own chair went flying backward as she took a step forward. She wasn’t intimidated and would never be. “d**n right I don’t trust you!” Her voice was raised to match his own pitch. “And you should not trust any of them! There is no one here that can be trusted!” She was pissed now and the fire of her anger had set her eyes ablaze as she glared at him.

“I’m not standing here pregnant doging at you, I’m trying to get it through your thick skull that you shouldn’t be relying on these bastards to get you out of here!” Not realizing it she had moved very close to him. She could feel his hot breath on her face as she stood there glaring up at him. Personal space seemed to have been thrown out the window. “They cannot be trusted!”

______________________


-They say that true love hurts. Whatever the truth was, love was a fairy tale. Heart pounding, face flushed, John gripped the table with one hand. Wanting to crush the thin metal in his grasp, chin lowered as he wiped the spittle from his outburst. Narrowed eyes held the gaze. Moving to her left to place the back of the table in her path of retreat, the one outstretched arm still clung to the table. Roving eyes moved left and right looking for that weakness as nostrils flared with every intake of breath. The scent of her befuddled him. Danica was a stubborn woman. Stupid, but christ, you could admire the pregnant dog for her audacity. Chest heaving he planted his free arm between, jabbing at her chest much as he done the day previous. “Don’t lecture me trust! Don’t you f***ing lecture me on TRUST!” It was unbearable the conflicting emotions. A relentless torrent that tore at the gates around that hollow space hidden in the back of his mind, “You weren’t there when they came. You didn’t see the Director tell Joseph he had replaced others by bringing Sahara and I in there.” He pressed even closer now, his body right up against her. “You have no f***ing idea what he did – he should’ve f***ing left us to rot. We brought the infection down on them.”

By now he must be pushing her back against the table. “We deserved to die. He brought us here, I don’t see why he would do that all just to lie to me and throw it all away. He is in this as much as we are. You’re leaving. One way or another…” The anger had drained itself out of his face. The roaring had drowned in that torrent of emotion that brought him so near and yet he was so far away.-

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His body pushed her backwards slowly. It had not occurred to her what was going on until she felt the pierce of the table against the back of her thighs. Even if she had wanted to run, she would not have done so. Danica had to much pride in her to turn tail and run for the door like a coward. “No I didn’t see what you saw! I just know what I see in here and he’s only got one person on his mind and that’s the medic that I ate with earlier today! She’s his number one priority… not you… or whoever this Sahara person is. … or me! It’s always going to be that blond!”

Just as his anger had disappeared from his features, hers seemed to melt away as well. “I’ll be leaving.” Her voice echoed what he had said before. “… one way or another I will be out this door. But most likely it will be the other option. Just accept that, you know it deep down.” Her voice had grown quiet again. It was far from the yelling tone of before. He was practically on top of her and Danica almost wondered if he could read her mind with how near he was.

Raising her hands, they rested firmly on his chest. Her intent was to push him away but they remained frozen on his upper body. Danica’s eyes became locked with his own. Her anger had left her eyes and became replaced with a look she had not given anyone in a very longtime. A mixture of emotions ran through her pupils, the sadness mixing in with the longing and the flicker of a love for something that was long since gone. She could only stare now, looking into his eyes as the seconds turned into minutes and just ticked off the clock. Danica knew she should say something, but she found her throat had swelled shut. She could not muster any more words, she could only look at him as he stared back at her.

[poignant]

-Accept that? As if it was so simple. He saw the simplicity there in her eyes. They were so close now. Each breath was a struggle against instinct. Eyes engaged in a mental tug of war. Neither said a word for infinity. Just a touch was all it would take to end the impasse they were at now. So close he could feel those soft lips upon his own. There in those eyes he could be young again. The spark of what was, what could be, what can never be; it was there in that look she gave to him.

John did the unthinkable. Fingers delicately brushed along jaw to finally hold her cheek in palm. The unbending arm that held the table abruptly released it to coil instead about her waist. “That’s right,” eyes still continued to move amongst the passionate pools that cast his reflection back at him. Struggling against the current of his affection the words flowed forth in a strangled whisper. “You weren’t there. Take a chance.”

Some with each word he had closed the remaining distance to a thimble of what it once was. Head tilted just so. Before lips could collide he remembered who and what he was. The faces of the dead bore into him. The warmth of her body so tightly wound to his called to his primal senses. A profound sigh rattled through the strained muscles of John. Lips parted but no words left. Thoughts fell apart as they were formed. A grotesque menagerie filled his vision. It wasn’t an innocent bum he had murdered that night. No it was young love murdered.

But that forbidden kiss was stolen. John didn’t realize it, but his lips had found their intended victim. Eyes closed reflexively as the embrace did more damage in those few brief seconds than any amount of words ever could have.

Then it was over, eyes opened wide, John shook his head. Taking a step back, digits releasing their feather-light hold over her cheek as he did so, John ushered Danica towards the door. You’re a disposable tool. A f***ing tool John, you have no right to murder what you don’t understand. Coward! The life was fading from those marble eyes. The thrum of his heart rang in his ears as he stopped just before the closed door.

Did she think John was a fool? That he had somehow stumbled through life? Danica had seen him naked, saw the scars of what life had done to John. Somehow he still managed to crawl into bed every night and back out the following morning. It never mattered what they broke or who was pointing the gun – no it came naturally to John. A suspicion so deep rooted that those cold eyes saw everyone as a threat to his survival.

John sought that void deep within. Crawling into its icy grip, he steeled himself once more. “Danica … You’re going. Either with them or with me,” he pushed the door open and took a step back, waiting for her to leave. That hollow look filled those hallowed eyes, that grim set cast to his visage.-

[poignant]

Danica:

It seemed like an eternity as they stared at one another. She had no idea who moved in and honestly it could have been them both moving towards each other like a pair of magnets. All she could remember as one moment she was staring into his eyes and the next their lips were pressed against each other. It was not something she expected and her slight shock at the contact was soon overwhelmed by just what was happening. Danica’s eyes drifted shut, her fingers that had been laying flat upon his chest curled up and held tightly onto the tattered remains of the shirt he wore.

Just as soon as it had begun it ended. Her eyes opened as he pulled away from her. Confusion clouded her features over what had just happened and why now he had pulled away. Her hands left his shirt as he stepped away from her. She remained against the table only staring at him. The moment had been so brief that she wondered if she had just imagined it all.

He moved further away and opened the door and pulled her with him. Confusion was overrun on her face by hurt, but just as quickly as it had manifested it had disappeared. Looking away from him, she stared at the wall for a moment and took a deep breath. She had no idea were to really go at this point. Should she leave as he was suggesting by opening the door or should she remain? So many things crossed through her mind except for an answer on what exactly to do.

Again the hurt covered her features as she looked at him. She raised her hand as if to strike him, but it remained poised in the air still. He had not said much, but his actions alone caused enough pain that she felt the need to slap him once more. There her hand lingered, palm exposed and ready to strike. She did not move, though and instead curled her fingers into a fist. Letting out a sight she dropped her hand and then looked towards the door. “That is it then?” She asked very quietly.

John:

-John watched her struggle with what had just transpired. The emotions flickering across her amber eyes as they moved towards the door and finally as her arm came up, he relaxed his jaw to deal with the shock of a blow that never came, instead it remained suspended in the air for a few moments. Despair crept into those steel pools John used as eyes.

How was it a man could kill another for no other reason than personal greed and yet the thought of hurting one woman, a cop at that, was tantamount to treason? Relishing a sigh and looking away to hide his failure to control his own roller coaster of emotions, he shook his head before he could even think of what he was doing. Shoulders drooped from the excessive weight of morality. Sagging as they did he still managed a shrug.

Mouth opened, but words failed to form, and in those formless moments she might catch there in the glimmer of those silvery depths a man in search of answers too long forbidden the time of day. Still shaking that crown of his, he clenched his jaw to a close. “I don’t know. “

Danica:

His back turned to her. Danica knew he was struggling just as she was. This is not the situation she had ever imagined for either of him. She wondered just how he could make things this complicated. Then again, she knew that he was not the only guilty party here, but it felt so much better to blame him then take the fall herself.

Walking up behind him, she raised her hand once more and placed it gently on his shoulder. Pulling it back towards her, she made him turn so that he was once again facing her. Her other hand came up and reached for the door that was still open next to him. Pushing it shut, she listened for the door to latch. Once she heard that familiar click, she reached down and locked it once more. It was apparent she was not leaving.

Her fingers left the lock and raised up to his face. Gently she touched the side of his face that was no bruised, her action much like he had done just moments before. Looking up at him, she waited for him to look into her eyes before she spoke. “I don’t know either.” The hand that was on his shoulder moved, sliding down his chest to rest on over where his heart would be.

John:

-Muscles where robbed of their tension with the simple touch of her palm. Turning as she bid him, shuffling feet in a small circle, the audible click brought his eyes up. Confusion sullied the grey pools of his gaze. The compassionate fingers pressed to his cheek brought a brief respite from the confusion as instinct took over and thoughts of morality fled. Pressing into the hand as the words were spoken to him, eyes closed.

John said nothing. Did nothing but breathed. John was not a complicated man by any means. You point. You shoot. Someone falls over. No one cared what was behind the curtain. Not his wife, not his child, not his sister. Arm rising, gripping just at the elbow of her extended arm, he pulled it down opening his eyes in the same moment.

They narrowed, head cocking slightly to the right, peering down into her beautiful face. Searching for those answers that eluded him, waging a war inside his head, he wondered where the monster she thought he was had gone? “No.” He finally muttered, barely audible. “No,” he said, shaking his head, he pressed his hand to her chest and gave a light shove. She was f***ing with him. Had to be, “What happened to the vagrant? The man you would as soon shoot?”

Danica:

She took a step back to steady herself as he pushed her away. Hands pulling away from him, she let them both drop to her side. “He did some things that were very unexpected… things I did not know that he was still capable of.” She responded to him quietly.

Standing where she was, a few steps away, she watched him with his internal struggle. Inside she wondered if this was all a ploy by him, the reassuring of the spot and the kiss. Was he still playing her the fool like she thought before? Danica could not tell, and the yoyo of emotions and actions had left her guessing as to what was really going on.

Taking a step back towards him, she did not touch him this time. She only looked up at him as he stood before her. “Don’t play me like a fool… not with what is going on here.” She said quietly. “Just tell me now if this is all some devious plan where I’m just the means to an end. I think I deserve that much if that is what is going on here.” She looked unsure as she studied him and in her heart she hoped he would at least oblige her some truth.

John:

-They where touching words. Truly, they were. Finding himself moved by the decency of her suggestion John smirked. “You expect me to believe that?” Longing for those words was a sin. Especially from her, after all that happened, what did regrets and fantasies ever do?
Watching her inner struggle as the emotions splashed themselves across her face John couldn’t help but wonder if this was all an act like this morning. Watching people was an art, one he was proud to say he had mastered. How better to kill a prey than by stalking it? Preying on the weaknesses found, this was John’s weakness. This boy she remembered.

The smirk gave way to a look of curiosity as she approached his space once more. Fooling whom? He would sooner crawl into his solitary shell, keeping to himself and daydream himself out of the world. Laughing at her statement he shook his head. “You’re hilarious, you know that?” Helpless really, he shuffled to the nearby table, righting it. Looking over his shoulder at her, he shook his head again giving her that playboy grin that was all his own.

“Who’s fooling who here?” A rhetorical question at that as he blundered over to the sink, refilling the glass from earlier and bringing it to his lips. Throwing his head back, letting the cold water cascade down his throat to eventually cool his gut, he set it back down and glanced at the woman.

Serious once again, he still couldn’t tell if it was genuine. “The plan is what I told you it was Danica. Take it or leave it. I don’t give a sh*t whether you trust me or not because it has no bearing on what I do and what needs to be done.”

Danica:

The hurt almost immediately flashed across her features at his words. Quickly though she schooled her face and whatever emotions she felt were hidden deep beneath a mask of stone. She was a fool, a big one at that. Shaking her head slightly, she looked away and stared at the wall once more. Who was she really kidding here? Who she once was, the person he knew, had peaked out from her past, but now it was buried again and this time it was hopefully forgotten.

Without looking at him, she spoke. “It’s rather obvious now on what needs to be done, isn’t it?” She let out a snort of a laugh and finally turned her head to look at him. “Well, you can take your well laid plan and shove it.”

Turning her body, she faced him fully. Walking over towards him, she stopped a few feet away. It was obvious that she was not happy. “I commend you though… it was a beautiful act indeed. This kiss was a little over the top… but none the less affective. I didn’t know they taught that on the streets.”

She turned then, walking towards the door. “I said it before and I’ll say it again.” Grabbing the door knob, she opened the door. Glancing over her shoulder, she looked at him through the corner of her eye. “Stay the f*** away from me.”

John:

-Listening quietly he watched the woman move towards him and then away. Towards the door they had just left, the audible click as door unlocked, and the metallic chink of latch releasing. Leaning his back against the sink, arms extended to either side, he continued to watch. Helplessness whispered its silent surrender. Outside this barren heart the emptiness grew deeper still.

He wanted to shout. To scream and rage, to lose it all upon the person who least deserved it. Danica was right in the beginning. Holding her anger filled gaze, he finally spoke just as she was about to leave. “You know you were right. I choose this life. But you never ask why. You assume this or that and slap a label around it. All neat and packaged you ship it off, white or black. Where is the motivation Danica?” f*** the woman if she wanted to leave, f*** the woman if she thought he wasn’t looking out for her interests as much as his own.

“Walk out now and I’ll still make sure you leave with the rest of us. Where do I fit in that logic of yours now?” He shrugged, the sarcasm in his posture lending venom to his next words. “What am I just Bulwark to you now? Just an automated killing machine; A tool that can only do certain tricks and neglect all the rest?” He wasn’t sure how, but yet again he was at the godd**n door doing his best to control his anger and throwing all caution to the wind.

Striving for balance he rose to the challenge. “You remember a boy. That boy is dead. But I will always remember what you did for me and what you tried to do. That will have to be good enough for you. My word? My word is sh*t. Take it or leave it.”

Danica:

Danica stood there, her hand on the door knob in her hand just staring at him for what seemed like an eternity. Some of her anger seemed to melt away during that time leaving her voice to be somewhat softer. “He’s not dead.”

She pushed the door closed again. It did not make any sense to her to let the hallway hear their business. Taking a step back, she crossed her arms in front of her. “I never asked…but then when would I have ever had the chance.”

Turning, she leaned back against the wall next to the door. Her eyes continued to focus on him as she weighed his words. “All you see now when you look at me is a cop. Just as I’ve looked at you in such terms of black and white, you reflect it back upon me. Not everything I told you back then was a lie… yet you still believed that because I was a cop that I suddenly came from a life of privilege.” Her head shook slightly.

Uncrossing her arms, she raised one hand up and gestured towards the door that was beside her. “I can’t just drop what they taught me out there, just like you cannot drop what you’ve learned on the streets.” Dropping her hand, she sighed. “How can I take your word when you can’t even take mine? ”

John:

-Why was it a relief that the door was closed again? John reached across her and locked it while saying nothing to rebuttal. The boy was dead, where she saw him he could only wonder. Finally, some f***ing truth. There in her words he found the sincerity he was waiting for.
Could her tell her? Would she understand? Would any of it make sense? So many questions, they would need to be answered eventually. Morality was a thing best forgotten. He shook his head breaking from his reverie, putting his hand on the door, palm bracing as he moved. “You’re wrong Danica. Always assuming,” he lectured as he dimmed the lights.

Somehow the notion of being in the half light made it easier to face those eyes, those soft lips. “I see someone who betrayed my trust. I see the motivation behind it. Its true I wonder how much of what I remember is real and how much of it is just fiction.” When the hell did I start running my mouth? Had the end of the world shaken his core up that much? “But you can’t lie your way out trying to stop me Danica.”
He paused for effect, using the silence to draw upon his next words, delicate as they had to be. This was no act. No manipulation, no game, John risked it all and he couldn’t even explain to himself why. Why he felt the way he did when it should have been the exact opposite. Two chances thwarted – could he push her back to that door and finally through it?

“You know what trust is out there. I’m Muscle Danica. I,” he faltered and gestured to her appearance. The differences where as stark as night and day, he looked ragged and dirty; while she was a paragon of cleanliness. “don’t have the luxuries you take for granted.” With a great sigh he found the next words refusing to be said. “I… Can’t.” Did he understand it? No. Would she? One could only hope and if John believed in God he might have prayed then in his darkest moment.-

Danica:

She understood his struggle all too well. Even in the dimmed lights she could still make out the pain that he tried so hard to hide. Not many would see it, but being with him all those years ago let her understand him so much better. They were so much alike. Buried beneath the surface still lingered that connection that they had all those years ago. She could feel it even though she did not want too. Danica knew that he felt it too, even if he did not want to admit it.

He was in front of her again, close enough that she could feel his breath lingering on her face once more. “I’m not the only one that makes assumptions here.”

Slowly, she again raised both her hands. Mimicking their early actions, she gently cupped his face between her palms. Careful of the bruise she had left on his cheek, she gently ran her thumbs over his cheek bones. “You are not the only one that felt betrayed. I know I’ve lied, and so have you. That’s our busy… that’s how we survive.”

Continuing to hold his gaze, her thumbs stopped moving on his face. Her anger had once again melted away. “Maybe we can stop lying to one another. I…” Her voice faltered then, her words trailing off as she continued to look at him. There was so much she wanted to say, needed to say, but she could not bring herself to say them. It was often too hard to voice her thoughts and feelings. With him it only became worse.

John:

-None of this could be right. Not a single bit of it. Redundant as the evening had played out to this point, it was time to forget the door. Forget the world and all the horrors in it. But safety, that elusive feeling, was a clumsy thing held in the palm of the woman before him.
Her scent permeated him; he couldn’t even describe it, just a feeling of euphoria and enduring warmth. Pressing his cheek into the cup of her warm embrace, he moved forward and looped his arm around her waist. Pulling taut the gap disintegrated. While a melting core slowly leaked all of its secrets he lost himself in the depths of her dark pools.
Lies where the tools of the trade, the victims of their own demise, called at will to manipulate people towards their own ends. John felt not guilt over it. Just as he felt no remorse for taking money and murdering people, two polar opposites and there they stood. Leaning down he took her lips in a passionate embrace that said anything worth saying.

Nervous as they where, trembling from the carnal intimacy he pulled away after only a few brief minutes, the taste of her filling him with a desire he could only compare to his will to survive all those times the tables had turned on him. A victim of his own loneliness, betrayed by his unwillingness to forget a young woman so long ago, John could feel his lips twist into the first genuine smile he had had in decades.

What was there to say? What truth did she desire? There was that fear of the rebuff if she made him tell her everything. Could he deal with the rejection? Trying to picture it in a vain attempt at restoring balance, he found he couldn’t. He didn’t care. The moment was what mattered and that moment was now. Stand or die.-

Danica:

It almost felt like she was floating on a cloud as she was pulled forward and into his embrace. Their lips met again, the feeling now sweeter than the first time they kissed. Hands moving, she looped her arms around his neck and pulled herself upwards to meet him. This time she had been prepared for such and action and this time she would take full advantage of it.

He pulled back again after a few blissful moments to look at her. She gazed back at him, opening herself up this time fully. If he was playing her a fool now and spoke out of such ideas he would and could now hurt her greatly. From what she saw in his gaze and what she returned with her own showed that no words needed to be spoken now. What loneliness either of them felt was pushed out the door and locked away much like the world outside.

One arm remained looped around his neck as she pulled the other around to his chest. Running her fingers slowly upward, she brought her hand back to the bruise on his cheek. At the time she had not felt sorry for it and had felt happy to see such a blow to him. Now, her eyes filled with remorse over her action and it could be seen clearly as she looked at him. Even if the lights were dim, he’d be able to see that she was not hiding anything right now.

Tilting her head to the side, she leaned forward then and brushed her lips upon the bruise. Danica knew that it would not make it magically heal, but hope that her silent apology would be understood by him. To many words had been spoken out loud. Danica felt that actions were all that was needed. She could see from his silence that he must have felt the same way.

John:

-The willingness stunned John. All at once the tension drained from his visage. The last of the barriers had been pulled down, only a moat of emptiness remained. Sensing the remorse through the tender caress of her lips upon his bruise, he wanted to tell he deserved it. The free arm that was not coiled about her waist, bent at the elbow as fingers caressed the angle of her jaw, turning her lips once more to his and finally past.

Falling away to the shoulder digits rested there, lips trailing along her cheek where once her lips had been. Abruptly Danica would find herself turning in his arm so that her back was angled towards the nearby bed. Lips parted as they vigorously embraced in a full on embrace. Digits fell away from the shoulder as the arm looped around her, picking her up in a bear hug.

Could she feel the empty space within those arms? He brought her higher so that she might stare down, the kiss broken by the motion, as his eyes sought her gaze. He took a step towards the bed, broken before her. Letting instinct guide him, his heart warmed, lured out by the carnal memories. Nearing the bed, he finally let her feet touch the ground again; no tears came, not to a man like John. Instead he gave her the next best thing, the truth she wanted. The world had come crashing down, why not his? “I’m so sorry…”

Danica:

She was barely aware of being turned as she returned his kiss. His hand wandered along her taunt form, manipulating her within his grasp so that she was even closer to him. Danica did not fight him as he pulled her closer. Her body was then lifted, her head rising above his and pulling her lips from his own as he carried her the few short steps to his bed. Lowering her down, she again tilted her head upward to look at him.

When he spoke, she raised and hand. Her fingers curled into a loose fist except for her index finger. Still extended outward, she pressed that lone finger against his lips to silence him. “Shhh.” Was all that she said. No amount of words to ever express what either of them felt. She knew that as well as he did. All she needed was to see his actions and right now she could feel just how hollow his soul was. Maybe she would be able to help him find the boy that still lingered somewhere deep within.

Turning in his arms slightly, she reached down as she lifted one of her feet. Pulling off her boot, she dropped her bare foot to the floor. Breaking eye contact with him, she looked over his shoulder at the camera that was still mounted along the wall. Tonight was for them alone, they did not need an audience. With a throw that would make a baseball player proud, she threw her boot across the room and at the camera. The sound of breaking glass and crushed plastic sounded in the room followed by the waterfall of sparks and broken pieces that feel towards the floor beneath it.

Security would not be happy with what had happened, and they could be running down to them and banging on the door at any moment. Danica thought, however, that with John and Joseph having such a close relationship and the fact that Joseph had his own bedroom relationship to deal with here, that they wouldn’t mind a broken camera for the night. They didn’t seem to mind the broken audio, right?

Looking back at him, she turned once more and pulled off her other boot. Seeing as the camera was already broken, she dropped the second shoe to the floor behind him. A crooked smile graced her lips as she again wrapped her arms about his neck. Pulling herself upward and him down to her in one motion, she met her lips with his once more. It suddenly felt good to be cut off from the world outside the door.

John:

-Some kind of metamorphosis had transpired. Without knowing when or how, he felt those old connections. Firing off left and right like fireworks over a fading sunset, he watched her in awe as she made it so easy to follow. Relaxing the grip he didn’t bother looking at the trajectory of the boot. The crunching of electronics was more than enough to confirm his suspicion.

In response he grinned, arms unwinding around her lithe torso. Before she could get the other boot off, John was fumbling at his ragged shirt, barefoot as he was. Pulling it over his head and to the floor behind, he was surprised to find her arms about his neck and pulled into another passionate embrace. Eyes closed, lips parted, tongue entering the fray to steal a taste. Meanwhile bodies collided and John brought them both tumbling to the bed below.

There he took a few moments, their amorous embrace once again broken. In that perfect solace, away from any reality but the one they created for themselves, John struggled to understand what he saw in her eyes. Grappling for whatever sense of it he could make. All he could remember through those years was the fact he never wanted to hurt anybody the way he had hurt her. Torn between saving his sister or his young love for a woman he barely knew?

Yes this was a battle for John’s soul. Hollow and decrepit, devoid of any real stability except for memories of what home should have been. Still this was as much about her as it was him. In those eyes he struggled to see the role he filled. Understanding wouldn’t come – but then again, what makes you so sure you ever truly understand anyone?
The solace of her lips called to him. The warmth of her body pressed against his relieved him of any thought. The night was theirs and tonight they would both be young again. Lips locked, tongues flailing, fingers groping and determined to get at the flesh beneath her clothes… This was home at last. Safety in a woman, John what have you done?-

[Nicole]

Day Five





Danica

It had been a night of old acquaintances renewing their feelings for one another and turning it into so much more. Two people exploring what was and what was now. A blending of old and new finding their place behind closed doors, hidden from a world of chaos. What was outside their room was forgotten as they focused upon one another. This was a time to turn over all their cards and expose the truths that had remained hidden from each other for far too long.

Sometime during the night they had fallen asleep, curled up next to one another. Under the sheets they were a tangle of limbs, pressed together so close that it was almost hard to tell one from the other. It must have been morning by the time she woke. They both were light sleepers, as she had found out when she had gotten up for a drink. Though she had been very quiet, no amount of slow movements would have kept him from opening his eyes and watching her in the darkness as she filled a glass and drank heavily from it.

Now she lay there watching him. She hadn’t moved except for her eyes wandering over his relaxed form. During the night she had found out so much from him. Not only was it from an emotional sense, but also a physical one. Like her own body, he had his share of scars. Both bodies nicked and scratched for far different reasons, but they history of those marks both laying down a path to two troubled pasts.

During the night they had shifted, him to laying on his side and she on her back. His possessive arms remained curled about her tone bare waist, holding her to him. Shifting in his arms, she rolled onto her side so that she could face him fully. From her experience with him in the night she knew that even such a slight movement would waken him. Remaining quiet, she raised her hand him and slowly traced her fingers over his brow and down his cheek. Following her fingers, she watched as her slim digits traced lightly over his thin lips.

_________________________

Monica

It was the following morning with the damaged security camera would be noticed. It would be that camera that ended up being noticed by someone they really wish it hadn't been. The eyes, and ears, of this facility were kept track by two people. The one at the security terminal and Monica. And it would be Monica who dispatched an armed team to that very room.

There was a call over the radio for Joseph to report to that room. "Major Fayden, report to Room Twelve, Alpha Corridor, Floor One."

The instructions? Well. They were simple. Bring them to Director Dalton, immediately.

Yes. It was that very woman they would be moving to meet, the woman whom had more knowledge of everything than anyone might've thought. Room cameras, mics, well, that was intuitive, but there were other sensors that kept track of the entire facility, including heat signatures.

And it was that woman who was very unhappy as she sat behind her desk, awaiting the Major to do his job, though she was beginning to anticipate his failure. They all were fortunate that she did not send Lucas. If they thought she was evil, a monster, Lucas took pleasure in ruining other people's lives. Oh yes, they were lucky - but not by much.

________________________________

Joseph

*Joseph heard the call and rolled his eyes as he jumped up and dressed in his full uniform. d**n this wasn't good for him to get called like that, this can't be good. He was quick as he darted from the room his sidearm on his hip as he reached the room, the number sounded familiar but it wasn't until he rounded the corner that he knew where he was and he shook his head. What the f*** had they done now?

He moved up and pushed the men from infront of the door before they just busted it open and it started a full fight. He fist pounded the door as he was given the information about what was happening*


_________________________________

John

The night had been tumultuous to say the least. Spawned in the budding awareness of loneliness, they shared their passions, driven by the need to be understood. Their pasts could not be forgotten, each blemish a tale of durability, and so it was reckoned in that room. Separated from the turmoil by a thin metallic door, John found sleep easy and for once, unburdened by deeds done. A bear arm sprawled across Danica’s lithe form made it easy to wake with every subtle shift of hips.

Waking once or twice, he was comforted in the fact she remained constant. A night light in the ocean of loneliness, the pain was still there. Not from their fornications, but from the stretching of a muscle he wasn’t aware existed. Would that this could last forever, solitary shell forgotten, safety and danger embroiled manifest in one person. John didn’t consider himself lucky, nor did he believe in luck, so what was he doing rolling the dice on a woman? Especially one like Danica who had just days ago wanted to blow him away for something she couldn’t possibly reason out.

Then there where the tender moments, the one he awoke too. No idea how long she had been up, but if he had to guess it would have been morning. He never understood what women saw in the craggy landscape of his visage. The scratch of his unshaven face filled the silence as her fingers glided over his features. Then it ended as the loud pounding on the door brought John to his feet in a huff. In the next huff he was looking for his pants and his shirt, but most importantly his gun. “Uhh.. Just a moment…” He looked at Danica for reassurance, slipping the gun in the pocket of his trousers and moving towards the door. Taking one second to compose himself, face bland, washing away the anger at being disturbed. Leaving the lights off he stood in the door his mass making it very hard to see what was behind.

Opening it, he grinned in the face of the squad and Joseph, “Morning … you wouldn’t happen to know what happened to the camera, would ya?” He threw a thumb over his shoulder, brows furrowing in consternation as if he really believed that he was innocent of what had happened. “Cause its broke. No idea what happened.” The arm drooped and he sighed, leaning there in the frame, posture brokering no argument on the issue of moving.-
_________________________________

Danica

She bang on the door was like a cold bucket of ice that had been doused over them. Rolling onto her back, she laid their briefly and let out a rather loud and over dramatized sigh. It had been such a wonderful morning until the knock. Whoever was on the other side of the door should be shot in her opinion.

As John got out of the bed, she got up as well. Even as he pulled on his own pants and grabbed his gun she was busy finding her discarded clothing. It occurred to her that they probably found out about the broken camera and this was them investigating. Danica knew she shouldn’t have broken the camera, but then again she didn’t regret it one bit.

From years of being on call at the police station, it was easy for Danica to dress in a hurry. It was not that she was that shy about her body, but rather she had a funny feeling that whoever was outside the door would be coming in. She’d rather not sit in a room full of security guards and be the only one naked and covered with a thin sheet. Seeing as John was blocking all view to inside the room, she took advantage of not being able to be seen.

In record time she was dressed except for her boots. As John would have been gesturing over his shoulder towards the camera and giving whoever was outside a glimpse in, they would see her walking over to the wall and picking up her boot. Collecting the other, she sat down at the table and began to put on her shoes, still remaining silent to the whole situation.

__________________________________

Joseph

*Joseph glared at John who was acting so calm like he had no idea about the whole thing. He looked past him at Danica and shook his head, they had f***ed up, the audio was one thing the camera was another, you just cover it not break it jeez. He sighed and looked at them both*

"Good you're dressed, there's someone who wants to meet with you, and i dare say you're not going to like it. Why the hell did you break the camera, and don't give me the old we didn't do it they saw the boot. God you two, this isn't going to work in our favor.."

*He blinked and looked them over, their hair and faces made a smirk come to his lips*

"This one of those crimes of passion? Looks like you two had a little fun, and here i thought you didn't like one another, d**n."

--------------------

John

-John snorted. Yeah he knew there was a reason he liked Joseph, the made could clearly take a joke. Yeah they f***ed up, so what? How bad could it really be? No worse than it already was. Looking to Danica who had appeared behind him, he nodded to Joseph. “I don’t recall seeing a boot.” He shook his head, stepping from the doorway, looking to Danica, but more importantly not looking at her boots. “You know anything about a boot and a camera or how those two might be related?” He shrugged his shoulders, now looking at Joseph.

So this was it, time to see someone they had apparently pissed off. Well about f***ing time. See if this Queen pregnant dog could wrestle with the undertaker. Though John had to wonder if the hound would be at her heels, “I know its bad.” He muttered as he walked by Joseph. Waiting just beyond the squad of uneasy security guards, John calm as ever, turned to gaze at Danica. Those eyes where hollow, giving no evidence of the night, “Who said we liked each other?” Offering a brief glimpse of a smile, his face returned to its usual blank state. “Well Joseph, better get us to the Warden, we’re ready for our spankings.”

---------------------

Danica


Standing up from the chair, she ran her fingers through her hair once. From the look on Joseph’s face she had a feeling she looked far from a million dollars. Grabbing her coat from where it hung on the back of another chair, she put it on. Might as well take it with her because from how Joseph sounded it looked as though they were in trouble and had to go spend time in the principal’s office.

When John turned and asked her about the camera, all she did was shrug. She didn’t really play the innocent look, but the again she didn’t look all that guilty either. All she knew was it suddenly broke. In the dim light it’s hard to tell what exactly had happened, after all.

Following in John’s wake, she shared a brief glance with them. Aside from the rather stern poker face, her eyes twinkled slightly as she looked at him. The mischievous look in her eyes faded as quickly as it had come. Like John’s smile had vanished, so had her playful side. It was time to get serious after all.

------------------------------------

Joseph


*He shook his face as he watched them, he hadn't seen the video but he knew them well enough to know they were full of crap. He sighed deeply and motioned for them to get out of the way, the team was already biting at the bit to get in there and fix their crap and probally add more stuff*

"Get out and let's go, these guys need to work in there now and you two are coming with me and apparently an armed escort because it's the Director requiring your audience. So let's get going."

*They amused him and yet pissed him off all at the same time, he wondered if it wasn't that shared trait between them that got them both into the sac*

--------------------

John

-John said nothing to what Joseph had said. With Danica beside him, he waited for the honor guard to form up around them. Joseph in the lead as they headed for the Director’s office, taking a causal stroll it was a habit to count the steps. Without looking at Danica he could tell she was just as focused on the confrontation as he was which was to say, not as much as either of them should have. The night was still replaying itself over and over in his mind.

There was nothing to regret, but so much had happened in the space of those hours that it was hard to believe where it had ended. He still didn’t understand it. Shoving it to the back of his mind he concentrated on the armed guards around them. Nothing elite like the ones that had dropped from the helicopter on the streets, which said something about the Director, he could probably kill all four before any serious harm came to anyone. Turning his gaze to Joseph’s back, tongue rolling about his mouth as they entered one of the secure areas and eventually where presented to the Director’s front door.-

------------------------

Danica


The silence continued to have it’s hold over her tongue as she walked. Occasionally her eyes would flicker to John, but a majority of the time she was focused on their surroundings. She forced herself to think of the current situation and not what had happened the night before. Focusing her attention, she looked at the guards that surrounded them. Danica was far from impressed because they did not look all that impressive. She could take out a few of them easily and with John next to her, he could handle the rest.

Danica doubted that it would come to such a confrontation. And even if they did have to run for it, she had no idea where they would go. The corridor they went down was littered with locked doors, only accessed by key pads. No doubt they were all dead ends anyway. And who knew really what was behind them. She had thought they could make a run for the garage, but then again just how would they get out?

Entering the door at the end of the hall, she noted this area looked more like a business office then some type of laboratory. No doubt this was the person that they would be meeting and from the looks of the room and it’s décor, this person was rater high on the totem pole. Still standing a step behind John, she looked around him and at the shut door.

[Nicole]

The chair at the desk was turned with it's back towards the trio as it faced the far end of the room, it was back a few paces from the wall which lit up half with a video feed. The feed was a darker feed, the images black and white, but quite obvious the infrared camera that had been in John's room had caught everything up to the very part where Danica removed her boots and hurled one at the camera, destroying it.

And it was that recording that played on that screen right now, in perfect view of the three of them. Then almost as it ended, the chair rotated back around to face the small group. Monica's eyes were cold, harsh, unfriendly as she glimpsed from one to the other and then made motion with her hand towards the three chairs arrayed before her desk.

"The three of you have a seat. There is an issue here, and it will be addressed now, or the three of you and the two you brought in will all be expelled from this facility back onto the street minus any corporate equipment you've been issued. Might I say I do not believe your chances at that point will be favorable." Monica stated quite simply with a press of her finger on the remote built into the chair which flipped what was on the view screen behind her over to the gateway which they'd all come in with the buses showing the building zombie horde which had gathered there, trying to get in. It seemed their "scent" had drawn them to that spot. Truth be told, Director Dalton was showing them exactly what they'd be tossed right into on their asses.

[poignant]

-John watched the video playback in black and white. Wondering just how they could tell him from Danica considering the poor quality. Still, video evidence was video evidence. Eyes roamed around the perimeter of the room, espousing the technology on display. The room was clearly designed to impress upon the visitor the importance of the person behind the desk. Every sharp angle pointed towards the desk. The desk itself was a solid, sturdy piece of craftsmanship. Decorated with all the bells and whistles power could buy, John knew the type and was immediately dropped back into his world of survival.

The view screens that showed the landing bay was particularly encouraging, still John had no doubt what was going on behind the woman’s mind. The Queen Bee was pissed because they weren’t acting like mindless drones and following directives. Crossing his arms behind his back, elbows pointing out at either end, he found himself standing near the indicated chair. He wouldn’t sit, didn’t feel like sitting. “I’ll stand if you don’t mind Director.” Still calm and cool, his body gave none of his secrets away.

Predictable at best and sloppy at worst, they hadn’t even bothered to frisk him. John still had to wonder just who made sure he got his gun back while no one else seemed to be armed besides the honor guard that had escorted them here. If it came down to it he still thought it was probable he could break out of here with what he had, however and with that thought he glanced over at the view screen of the zombie horde once more; would he be able to deal with that? Turning his ashen pools back to the Director, he waited patiently for the questions and accusations to start flying. All according to plan, he comforted himself with an inward grin.-

[Nicole]

Joseph

*Joseph didn't like being counted amongst them, he hadn't broken anything. Yeah he brought them in because he couldn't make the decision to send anyone to that fate. Had he killed before? Of course he had, he was in the military and then in civilian security so it did happen. Monica was such a hard ass, they had never planned for their cameras and mics to be tampered with or broken on purpose so they hadn't worked on keeping them from being able to be broken. Was that truly his fault when that was the design?

He sighed as he moved around and took the seat, after rubbing the cushion to look for any possible needle points, he didn't like this office or trust it when it really came down to it. Once he deemed it safe he sat, although lightly upon the cushion. He didn't plan on upsetting the Director any more by refusing the seat he was offered and he glared slightly at John for refusing when he was the cause of it. He glanced to Danica and motioned to the chair so atleast she'd sit*

"Aside from being the one who brought them in, I don't see how I can be blamed for their fornication habits."

___________________________________

Danica

Any other time she might have snickered over what was going on. She wasn’t an darling little angel by any means and had been caught in compromising positions before. This, however, was just a little to over dramatized for her taste. If the woman wanted payment for the device, Danica would hand over her credit card. It was not like the equipment was that high tech. The police department had similar devices in their precincts and if they could afford it then it could not be that expensive.

Danica watched as Joseph checked the chair for something. His hands moved over the cushions rather gingerly as if he was afraid to get poked in the backside by something. Not really thinking that the seat could be that dangerous, she sat down. They were thin, plastic looking chairs with a really small cushion. There was no real place to hide anything beyond a little padding. Danica also figured if the lady was going to do something, she would probably go over the top and drag it out like whatever this meet was about.

Sitting quietly, Danica crossed her arms. She looked over the woman’s shoulder at the camera. It seemed that the walking dead people had collected outside the gates. It was not a pretty site and Danica didn’t really care to go back out there with them. New York was a rather large city and time would only add more to the already large numbers outside the gates.

__________________________________

Monica

Monica's eyes glimpsed among them still, she was not pleased, that much very easily was told by the expression on her face. Her eyes lingered on John for a moment as he refused to sit, but have it his way, she allowed him to remain, as ever defiant as the other two moved to take their seats. Perhaps the gravity of the situation and the exact amount of trouble they could be in certainly was settling in.

Monica leaned back in her chair just slightly enough before she clasped her hands together in her lap and glimpsed back to the Major at his little comment about the...personal episode the two had had in the room. Monica had already known that, the facilities heat signature mapping had told her the two were together, and even disclosed the variable rise in heat in the moments.

"First. The physical interaction of you two. I could care less of." Monica stated, glimpsing between John and Danica.

"What is my business is this facility, it's assets and keeping it safe." she continued on, with only a small pause to let her words sink in.

Her eyes came back on over to Danica, focused on her for a moment. "As a former law enforcement officer, I'm quite certain you're aware that malicious damage to private property is punishable by a year in prison." Monica commented, her eyes then shifted over to John as her fingers tapped on the controls on her chair, bringing up the video of the other day showing John disabling the audio receiver in his room. When it ended she placed her hand back in her lap once more.

"I'm certain a man with as unique a background as yours would not wish to find himself in any further negative legal matters."

It was then that her eyes settled on the Major, of him she was perhaps displeased with the most. " And Major, this happened not once, but twice under your watch. "

Her eyes glimpsed back towards the other two once more. " I understand things on the outside are falling apart, so perhaps you need to know exactly the gravity of the situation, and perhaps it'll help you understand that continuing to let you run around this facility doing as you wish will no longer happen." she stressed.

Monica drew in a deep breath, what she would say next would no doubtedly almost floor them.

"What you've seen outside is nothing compared to the true levity of the situation. New York City, Chicago, Miami, Los Angeles, Raccoon City, as well as the foreign countries of London and Tokyo are showing signs of the outbreak.

The virus will continue to spread, in some areas more rapidly than others." Monica stated quite simply.

Then came the bomb shell. " The United States Government has decided to contain the outbreak in two days via..." a sickening smirk rose, " nuclear means."

"In case you do not understand, in two days this entire city is going to cease to exist. There is currently, as we speak, a carrier in the harbor with the nuclear devices to carry out that directive. "

She paused, letting what she's said sink in.


____________________________________________

John

-Observant, John discarded Joseph’s glare. A man could stand if he wanted to and from the way Joseph had patted that chair down it was probably the better decision even if it inflamed the situation. So began the verbal positioning that inevitably always took place to be sure that the alpha was firmly in a position of power. Growing bored and less tense by the word found himself amused by the look on the Director’s face as she scowled at each in turn.

Probably couldn’t get laid if she tried. Maybe that’s what the hound was for, a f*** toy. The video of him disabling the receiver was received with a chuckle he stifled under a cough, bringing his forearm up to his lips to cover the childish grin plastered on his face. You couldn’t even really see what he had did, just that the audio caught out about three seconds after. But the revelations most of all came as no surprise to John given his brief talk with Joseph, thankfully the Director seemed to be blissfully unaware of that conversation. Not so dumb after all, eh?

Piecing the information together from that little encounter was more than enough to understand and realize what the Government, or in this case, the military would do to contain this kind of situation. Unfortunately it wouldn’t work. Not with the sheer size of America and its available troop count. Add in desertions and outbreaks the military was just as crippled and equally powerless to stop the spread.

None of this seemed to faze John and lowering his arm he glanced at Joseph and Danica. Lingering on her the most, as he had not betrayed Joseph’s trust; Had not told her the worst of it – she would be on that manifest, one way or another. Straightening his back, he turned his gaze back to the Director. Eyes equally cruel and unforgiving, they seemed to say, this is it? This is all you dragged me out of bed for? Though behind them, he was overly curious as to what her demands of them would be. Would she just let them off with a warning? If he read the woman right, he doubted she would. Somehow he just knew something bad was about to happen.-


_____________________________

Joseph

*He listened to Monica and sighed a bit, d**n she wasn't happy and he was not going out there in that mess again. He already knew something was coming, I mean did no one else understand that there was a purpose in the buses? He just shrugged that off and nodded to her. He knew he should have reworked the stuff in John's room to make it less....breakable but d**n*

"I fixed it when I knew about it the first time and told him not to do it again. Technically she did it this time. It won't happen again Director or I'll personally send them out the gate with a bullet wound to the leg."

*He glanced at both of them with a very serious look*

______________________________

Danica

Danica didn’t care if this woman cared or not about what she did with John. It was not her business to begin with anyways. The verbal ‘assult’ did little to phase Danica and she really just ignored the comments in the end. Her mind was focused on other things for the moment, besides what they were doing before Danica killed the camera, how did she know just what they did in there? No doubt there were other means of tracking people in this facility beyond that of visual. It made Danica wonder just how else they were being followed. She had not remembered anything being implanted on her, that’s for sure.

Ignoring the comment about the camera and prison, Danica’s mind then wrapped around just what had been said in regards to the world outside. So, it was true about this happening in other places and that it was some type of disease that was spreading. Obviously by the nuclear comment there was no cure to what was happening. That was rather reassuring, to say the least. John had said that they would be leaving, Danica only assumed he meant before the nuke would be dropped because she doubted this facility would hold up against an explosion like that.

Noting the woman’s pause, Danica turned her head slightly and glanced up at John. She shared a brief, but troubled look with him before he again looked at the Director. From the way this woman paused and the look upon her face, Danica had a feeling that this was far more than just an issue over a broken camera. Just what was this woman playing at, Danica wondered.

Glancing at Joseph, Danica sized him up with her eyes. The bullet wound to the leg did not make her happy, and that was rather obvious. Another thing that became really obvious was that the man had either lost his set, or had them on a very very short leash. He didn’t seem like the ‘yes ma’am, no ma’am’ type, but then again Danica did not know him all that well. He was obviously just a tool that would rather bend over and take it, hoping he would survive, rather than take his life into his own hands to survive. Danica knew her thoughts were harsh, but then she never really did have much respect for men like him.

__________________________________

Monica

Monica glimpsed among them. It was quite curious that neither of the two of them dared defend themselves to her. She supposed it was a fortunate thing, lieing to her, trying to make it seem not as it was would only further infuriate her. The Major, however, his attempt to "reason" make her tense slightly. For a Head of Security of one of the world's most high tech facilities, he certainly was starting to f*** up. Perhaps the stress of what was going on outside was making the man buckle. Umbrella ran stress tests on all employees to see if they could snap prior to employment, Joseph had passed, so she was uncertainly why now, of all things, the man would unravel.

"So." she finally stated, breaking the awkward silence that followed the Major's vow.

"You all bring me to a very awkward position in this. I do not have time to personally oversee that the two of you stay out of trouble. I have someone who's job is to do so, however..." she glimpsed towards Joseph.

"I'm finding him untrustworthy as of late."

She returned her eyes back to Danica and then glimpsed towards John.

"So. Do I lock you two in your rooms for the next twenty-four hours? Do I force you to leave? Or do I simply terminate you?" she seemed to question as she steepled her fingers together.

"The Major seems to think he can keep you under control." she shot a brief glimpse toward Joseph.

"I have far more important things to concern myself with as we prepare to evacuate this facility in twenty-four hours. But I want you three to have an intimate understanding of the phrase, More trouble than you're worth." Monica finished.

________________________________

John

-Joseph had a role to play. A very critical role, the proverbial man on the inside, it was his job to act like a tool and to sit there and fidget under the gaze of his superior. What impressed John was the way he did it without withering away as most would have. The man deserved a medal for his play, Joseph would never send them out there with a bullet wound not unless they seriously f***ed up and the only way that could happen is if something happened to Andrea. Oh yes, John could see where Joseph had softened and was determined to keep it from happening to himself.

John had to keep his edge and his wits to survive the end of the world. Danica would hopefully understand that the words where just hot air. John didn’t trust the man, but the Director had hit the nail on the head. We get thrown out if we f*** up, Joseph won’t let that happen and he especially won’t let the Director f*** around with that baby. There you had it, the will to survive. Eyes never budged from their stern lock-on of the Director’s almost perfect face. One thing began to bother him, where was Sahara? While he couldn’t in good conscious let the woman died, he really didn’t give a sh*t either way, but the prospect was still oddly unsettling.

The last bit from the Director was t he bad news he had been waiting for. Calm and cool he strode up to the desk, had his gun out in a blink. He never pointed it at the Director instead offered her the stock while he held the barrel pointed back up at himself. Dead eyes waited until the Director’s eyes met his own, “Tell you what, save us all a lot of bullsh*t, you want to kill me, go ahead.” He wasn’t even tense, didn’t bother with trying to figure out the outcome. No one threatens to kill someone, they just do it. So it served two purposes, one, John had made it clear he could have killed the Director, two, he didn’t.-


______________________________________

Joseph

*Joseph didn't like all this stupidity, he had threatened them which he hoped did the job of making them realise it wasn't all fun and games and show her he was still Umbrella. Not that he really wanted to be anymore but what were you going to do? There wasn't alot of talking, just alot of contorted faces as they thought over the mound of horse crap that was going through their minds. He hated silence all it meant was people were to afraid to say what was going through their minds and it annoyed him. Atleast he had spoken, Monica didn't scare him it was Andrea and their child he was scared about.

It was odd to be worried about the suddeness of her being pregnant, would he even make a good dad? Would there be a chance for them to even find out? He didn't like this at all, there wasn't an easy answer to anything anymore. Normally it was just do you belong, no? get the f*** away. Now it was so much more complicated and these 2 weren't making it easier and neither was the stick up Monica's ass. It was a d**n camera that was taping them having sex, he covered his up when him and Andrea did it.

Then John moved suddenly, his gun pulled and Joseph just smirked in his chair as he watched the Director. He had already informed her of the gun being back in his possession and that he wanted to see what he would try to do with it. Of course he had replaced every bullet in both Danica and John's gun and bags with blanks. His eyes were on the Director waiting for her response*


___________________________________

Danica

Danica’s eyebrow arched slightly at what the director was saying. Well, if there was a vote, she’d rather go for the locked in her room for 24-hours and then leave with them… that is if she got a vote. The idea of going outside or being terminated just did not have the same appeal as the first option. With how the Director worded it, though, it seemed as though Danica did not have a choice in the matter. The decision was apparently up to the Director.

When John moved, Danica’s head turned to follow him. She had no idea what he was up too, but could tell by how he moved that something was churning in his head. It wasn’t something that many if any besides her could see. After all the years they had spent together in their past, it was easy for Danica to see just what his tells were and what he might be thinking. In turn, Danica knew that John could read her and know just what she might be planning. It was mostly a curse, but could be seen as somewhat of a godsend as well.

Gun pulled out and handed towards the Director, Danica wondered if this as really a safe game to play. She knew what John was doing, but at the same time thought it not wise to give such an option to this woman. She did not seem to have any problems with raising her hand to squeeze the trigger. Though with all the bells and whistles this woman had pulled out getting him there, Danica doubted she would get rid of them by a simple pull of the trigger. Danica had a feeling that she would rather do something far more creative than that.

________________________________

Monica

Monica's eyes looked right up at John's as he presented her with his beretta. Telling her to just terminate him. There was a challenge there, John was testing the Director, and he would fail, horribly. Her hand extended up without consideration and took the weapon, her other hand came up, pulled the barrel back till it clicked and then she pointed it right at John, staring at his eyes so intently for one moment before she adjusted the aim of the weapon right at Danica's chest and squeezed the trigger.

The explosion rang through the office, the force of sound rang through the three of them, hell even Monica felt it. The next seconds were even more precious as the two of them would find out none of them were dead.

Monica's eyes glimpsed right back to John as she sat the gun back down on the desk between them.

"And just who do you think it was that gave this to you?" she asked him. Oh yes, the gun had been a test. Joseph had passed it, by telling her of it being in John's possession. Of course the bullets he replaced were already blanks, so technically he'd replaced blanks with blanks.

In the end, it showed just how well loyalties lay. Of course, with the sound of a drawer opening next to Monica, she drew out another gun, cocked the hammer back and presented it.

"This one, however, is not loaded with blanks." she stated, looking back at John with such a cruel look.

"Understand one thing perfectly clear, I will not hesitate to kill you, or her. You're here because your comrade made a deal with me and is keeping her end of the bargain. Perhaps I should explain to her that you're very much about to jeopardize her life as well? "

Her eyes looked back to Danica, " And you're here because you managed to get in as the gates were closing and it's too dangerous to simply throw you back out."

"And you both aren't dead right now because the Major just saved your lives." she commented, picking up the empty shell that had fallen upon her desk and sitting it up with the word Umbrella stamped on the base.

"Now get out of my office."

_____________________________

John

-Problem was, John was no idiot. Seconds passed for hours in that adrenaline filled rush. Never once tensing, he moved with the gun, as if predicting precisely what she would do. How many times did John clean his gun? And after the comment from Danica, he realized that the weight of the weapon was off. A full metallic jacket weighs more than blanks and it didn’t help that the Umbrella logo was stamped onto the bullet casings when John had been using his own bullets.

So there they where, Joseph smirking like a dumbass, Danica dumbfounded with John and the Director staring each other down. The silence was abruptly shattered with the violent expulsion of the blank round at John’s chest. Not even bothering to smirk, he crossed his arms across that massive chest and shook his head. There was only one way to deal with a bull – grab it by the horns and never let go. Danica probably sh*t her pants and Joseph was more than likely pleased with himself and yet perplexed about the lack of a reaction from John.

The Director would get nothing but his blank stare. Not even anger pooled in those dead, hallowed eyes. Perhaps it was satisfaction that smiled back at Monica? “What did you think I wouldn’t know my own gun didn’t have live ammo?” The grin appeared finally, “I kill people for a living.” At least the bullsh*t was out of the way now and the Director had gotten down to the point.

Unfurling his arms and leaning on the desk he still had the height advantage over Monica. Looking down, he gave not an inch. “I won’t break your cameras on the condition you don’t have any in my room. I don’t like being spied on and I sure as f*** don’t need a dry (hey dumas don't use this word) like you worrying about whether I’m a zombie. I already got a nozzle up the ass – if it’s not too much trouble asking you not to be a voyeur.” f*** respect, the pregnant dog would respond just as equally to brute strength.

Again with the d**n guns and solemn promises of a certain death – death was all around, but no one cared to f***ing notice but poor ol’ John. “Besides,” thumb thrown over the shoulder at the smirking Joseph, “you got your top crony hounding my steps and telling me to be a good boy every five seconds, cut the f***er some slack he works better than most would.” Finally easing off the desk he turned his back on the Director and promptly made his exit.-

_____________________________

Joseph

*Joseph wasn't enjoying all this, there was way too much tension between those 2, Danica just sat back trying not to get shot and he just sat there wondering where this was going. It was so stupid to be pointing guns at one another, threatening eachother over what? Monica had no loyalty to the people who worked for her, she only followed the orders from above her and to hell with the rest. He knew this and acted accordingly. Having done what he had seen as the best way to keep the Director's trust, he didn't figure it would really upset John to have blanks not like he could do anything about it.

He watched as Monica pulled another gun and aimed it at him and rolled his eyes, she was so big on threatening everyone and then John just stayed so intense and then went over board. God what the hell was he thinking? A full research facility below them, the very virus that was infecting those outside was still being worked on below them, why would he push this far? It wouldn't surprise him if she infected him and threw him outside to join his zombie kind. But he never knew what the Director's next move was so he just waited to see. He didn't think the offer to leave still stood*

_______________________________

Danica

Danica knew it and had seemed to have called it. It was like slow motion to her, watching the hand raise up and grab the handle. The gun only pointed at John for a second before it was then turned towards Danica. Then there was John moving and standing in the way of the gun that was pointed directly towards her. There was no hesitation, just the click of the trigger as the woman fired off the weapon towards her. Frozen in place, no real shock registered with Danica. It was too quick to really formulate any type of response.

The gun had felt off when she had grabbed it once from John, but she had not recognized what he obviously had. Danica was glad, in the back of her mind, to know that John was not an idiot. Then again she would probably dig into him later for setting up this up as he had. Even if she was not a happy camper, it did not show on her face. One thing Danica was good at ad that was poker. The poker face did not slip once as she stared coolly at the Director.

Hearing the directors words, Danica stood up. She didn’t really want to test her fate with the second gun that had appeared. No doubt this one had real bullets. Also, having kept quiet this hole time, Danica was biting at the bit to get some words out. She was not the silent type by any means and not speaking a word this whole time was driving her nuts. One step ahead of John, she made her way towards the door to exit.

__________________________________

Monica

Monica spoke just as the two would make it to the door of her office. Not out yet, the words that spilled forth from her mouth were the most venomous of all.

"Perhaps I've been far too kind to you.." yes, words that would draw them to a halt.

"I don't want you to think you're here voluntarily, or that this is any resort or hotel. Bulwark, you'll not only have one, but two cameras installed in your room, least anything obstruct the camera this time. And if you as much as touch either of them, you will find yourself back on the street. You'll be confined to your room, and meals brought to you there. The only time you'll be allowed to leave it is to take a sh*t and under swat team surveillance. "

"Miss Brennan, you'll now have an armed escort with you anywhere you go in this facility, you can thank your friend there for his big mouth. He obviously doesn't know when to shut up. "

Her eyes glimpsed towards Joseph, "I expect you to see that they stay there this time Major. "

Monica's hands placed the weapon back in the desk drawer. Her eyes glimpsed back towards Joseph one last time.

"Oh and Major... I hear you're soon to be a father, so congratulations. Lets hope these two don't jeopardize their place on the transport out of here anymore than they have." with that Monica waited for them all to get the hell out.

______________________________

John


-John did halt for a brief moment but he could catch the gist of what was going to happen. Solitary confinement with a poop guard to escort him about the place, reminded him of the time he had spent in jail. With a shrug he moved past Danica, gave a bored look to the guards that formed up about him and made his way back to his room. Though he did stop, testing the guards resolve once and pointed in the direction of the women’s ward, “Think we can make a pit stop, I need to check in on somebody.” However when he got her door, she didn’t respond to his pounding. Looking at each guard in turn, he wondered if he could pump any of them for information.

The Director had done him a wonderful service with these four clowns. Likely there was more on the way. A bull rarely ever went down that easy. With a shrug and a blank face he made his way back over to his ward and promptly imprisoned himself in his room, making note of the new cameras. He couldn’t touch them she had said. She never said he couldn’t cover them up – though it was Joseph’s ass on the line if he did. He wondered if he’d be allowed visitors – maybe he should’ve said something to Danica in the hallway. Sahara’s disappearance was a problem, one he couldn’t work on. Danica could however.

Reassessing his plan he couldn’t say he was too surprised by the way things turned out. Even though there had been a question mark on the outcome. Seating himself on the only comfortable chair he had left, he placed his elbows on the table. Leaning forward he rested his hand in his palms and closed his eyes, listening to the banter of the guards outside his door. The rise and fall of his chest was sedate as John worked through each problem, focusing only on what he could. Danica was a constant, one he couldn’t afford.

Last night weighed heavily upon his mind, challenging everything he had built himself around. The solid core had become wobbly and this was the worst possible time for it. Absolutely vital that John kept his wits and edge, Danica only complicated things – and right now complications weren’t something he needed so he pushed those farthest away and disassembled the whole picture as he knew it.-

[Azzie]

Stopping, Danica turned at the mention of her name. It seemed not only was John now under house arrest, but so was she. Looking away from the direct, Danica briefly glared at John now, her eyes reading ‘thanks a lot’. Turning back towards the door, she left the room and began her trek down the hall.

It seemed that the guards were waiting for her and John. Four that had been standing up against the wall moved towards her. Looking them over, she signed rather dramatically. They were dressed in what looked like riot gear. Danica didn’t know if she should be insulted or honored that these men were dressed to guard her in clothing that was fit for a mob of 50. In the scheme of things Danica did not think she was that dangerous.

She stood for a moment, watching John go with his baby sitters. Figuring it was time they were alone to collect their thoughts, she let him go without a word. Danica, for her part, went in silence to her own room. This was an interesting turn of events. Out of the options, she was thankful to be getting this one. It didn’t mean, however, that she could like it.

Once to her room, she shut the door on her guards. Walking over to the table in the room, she sat down next to it. Crossing her arms, she leaned back in the chair and looked towards the wall. This was a real mess and she was half to blame for it. The night before had not been intended by any means and seemed to have just happen. She felt herself getting pulled in too deep with him once more and knew that this was only a recipe for disaster.

Danica was used to doing things on her own. Now she was relying on the same person she had sworn to never trust again. Raising one hand, she rubbed her face. She would forget that night for now and focus on the only thing she could, and that was to survive. Getting up, she kicked off her boots as she walked towards the bed. Not bothering with undressing, she again laid on her bed. On her stomach, she buried her head in her pillow. This was indeed a mess now.

[Nicole]

Joseph

*Joseph wasn't all that happy about how the meeting had gone, John just had to make things worse. All he wanted was to be with Andrea and rest in his room with her. She obviously had been listening to him in his quarters from when Andrea had told him about being pregnant. He walked through the hallways slowly watching John and his new guard and when they peeled off he stayed and watched as John moved to go towards the female section, he rolled his eyes and figured it was for Sahara since Danica was almost right behind them. He didn't care the guards were there now and he just continued to his room. Opening the door he stepped in*

___________________

Andrea

Andrea hadn't gotten a good feeling about Joseph getting called away as he had. She'd waited almost impatiently for him to get back, though she was resting on the chair she was soon out of it as he stepped in, and spoke.

She almost sprang into his arms as she wrapped her arms around his shoulders and instantly stole a kiss from him, and as brief as it was she slowly drew back and looked to his eyes.

"Can't say you've ever looked better to me than you do right now Joseph." she smirked.


__________________

Joseph

*He wasn't really surprised by the kiss it was the whole jumping onto him and holding him like she was worried he wouldn't return. He hadn't been worried about that at all, simply didn't like that he was getting into trouble for John again. Her words made him laugh as he looked into her eyes*

"Really now? I have to say you're looking remarkable as well."

*He winked at her and smirked as he picked her up in his arms making sure not to hit her head on the ceiling as he did so*

___________________

Andrea

Andrea smirked some as Joseph lifted her up, her eyes lingered right on his as she shook her head slightly, giving a playful smirk, "Should see me when I get all dressed up for a dinner. Those were the days, sparkling dresses, boring speeches, cheap champagne." she grinned some, settling back down as Joseph returned her to her feet.

She gave a soft touch to his cheek before a smile curled her lips. "After what you told me the last time you got called away like that, I wasn't certain if you'd come back in one piece." she smirked, glimpsing him over playfully.

"I'm not missing any bullet holes am I?" she ended with a wink.

__________________

Joseph

*He really didn't want to put her down, he loved her being in his arms, supported by him like that. But he was worn out being woken up like that and rushed off, he wondered if she had slept at all after he had left*

"Oh how I wish I could have been there to have seen you all dressed up Andrea. You're so amazing beautiful regardless, I can only imagine how crazy you'd make me all dressed up. And no I'm fine actually, may have even put me in a better position then before but definately put John in a worse one. I swear he's going to get us all in trouble but I think he realises I'd drop him if it endangered you and our baby."

___________________

Andrea

Andrea smirked some, she tilted her head forward and rest her forehead against his and wrapped her arms around his sides, hugging him close to her, or herself to him. She'd always been the strong loner of the pack, able to work those late night shifts, go wherever she was told without even thinking back. Hell, she didn't even have a fish, all she had to worry about was her plant, and that hadn't gone so well either, infact, before everything went to hell, it was on it's last leg anyway.

Now she seemed to be in a completely different world, she no longer was above ground, but she had a man, and a child on the way. A chance at a future and a family with them.

She could see the tired look in Joseph's eyes, the poor man hadn't gotten much sleep between herself, his duties, and John making his life more miserable. He would break down and during times like this it certainly wasn't going to end well if he broke down at the wrong time.

"Come on. I know you're worn out. Lets get you back in bed and I'll give you a nice backrub as you rest."

__________________

Joseph


*He watched her, her eyes betraying the amount of thoughts she was going over, the distant look showing him even more. He wondered if it was about the future or the past, little did he know both were right. Regardless the present was what he focused on, and that contained her and him. A perfect world they'd be on a tropical beach enjoying making love on the beach, sleeping together in the shade of a palm tree while swaying n a hammock but no here they were under ground, locked up with a horde of zombies on the door step. What a place to be*

"How is it you can read me so easily? Did I give you a manual when I wasn't paying attention?"

*He smirked but he knew it was the tired look in his eyes, the way his walk was no longer steady and perfect as a soldier's should be. He sighed letting the mask slip and was looking forward to collapsing onto the bed*

"You first or me? Guess I should slip out of this uniform too."

____________________

Andrea

Andrea smiled and kissed his forehead, she drew in a deep breath and tilted her head, giving him a playful smirk. "Not quite. I was a paramedic ya know.. I know the look of exhaustion when I see it. Hell I use to look like that after my shifts." she grinned, moving on into the room with him and nodding.

"Yep. Else you're not going to get a good backrub." she smiled, letting her hands help him get undressed before she followed suit, dressing down to their night clothes, she slid onto the bunk first, up against the wall and held the covers up with a welcoming smile.

____________________

Joseph

*He always loved watching her change, just the peeks of her skin not like he had seen her naked and been all over that sexy body but still this was fun. Something about the peeks always seemed more erotic then the whole show being revealed quickly. He was soon ready to slide in, he looked into her eyes as she smiled and held the covers open for him, it wasn't but a second before he was right next to her, his lips finding hers. The kiss so soft and quick as he pulled back to look into her eyes*

"I'll only admit to being a little exhausted."

_____________________

Andrea

Andrea chuckled as he captured her in a kiss as soon as he dove into the covers. She leaned into it, lingering it for a bit longer before he drew back and told her he was only a little tired. She smirked and slid her arms around him, letting her hands rest on his back as she gently rubbed, fingertips and palms gliding along Joseph's tired worn out muscles as she leaned forward with another gentle kiss.

"Admit it or not, I know what i know." she grinned. "And I know you gotta be soooo lucky to have your own medic, and masseuse as your girl."

______________________

Joseph

*He smirked and shuddered as she worked his muscles, d**n that felt good. He always was more relaxed around Andrea, but never enough to really let his muscles work themselves out of the knot his job out them in, now she was doing just what he needed and causing moans to slip from his lips*

"Mmm d**n lucky...but it didn't take the medic or Masseuse part to make me know that."