ZRP-2: Chapter 4, Backtracking

Mira laughed softly. "It's ok. She just needs TLC."

(James)
=The next morning, I had gone to check on Sam and Eve in the hospital. I stopped by their room first, to grab some clothes of theirs,stuffed in a bag. Then I stood outside their hospital room, and knocked on the door=

(Sam)
=I was asleep, though there was a sound that started to wake me up. A gentle, rhythmic tapping. Someone was knocking on the door. Opening my eyes and gaining awareness, I found that Eve was curled up against me, and that we had spooned. I wasn't sure if I should find that weird or not, but I got out of the bed all the same, and opened the door. James stood outside, a bag in hand=
"James. Good morning? It is morning right?"

(James"
"Yeah, Otis. Her, some clothes for you and Eve."
=I handed her the bag=

(Sam)
"Thanks."

Finally, after days of travel and painful walking, Abel had made it to his destination. He passed a sign that read: "NOW ENTERING 'WEST WILSON' VILLAGE LIMITS." The sun was high in the sky and was beating down on Abel, but he ignored it, the air was cold and it was only getting colder. Winter wasn't far now, though he had survived two winters already, each came with a toll and now with an even greater lack of food to be scavenged, this would prove to be the hardest winter yet.

Abel continued down his way, alongside the road, he was still a few miles from where he needed to be.

(Andrew)

=I simply smile, my voice still a whisper=

I know...goodness knows she needs it.

=I feel my thoughts drift southward at Mira's statement, if you catch my meaning. It couldn't be helped=

Horrible tact, thy name is Andrew...

=I close my eyes, trying once again to go to sleep=

Eve groaned and sat up, mewling a bit as Sam moved away.
"NNnnnn...."
Eve rubbed her eyes.

(James)
=I looked past Sam to Eve as she woke up=
"Morning Eve. Feeling okay?"

Eve nodded sleepily.
"Yes daddy." She said.

(James)
Daddy....there's something I never expected to be called.
=I walked inside, and straight for Eve. I sat down in the chair by the bed, and rested a hand on her shoulder=

"How you doing?"

Eve looked up.
"Better." She said softly. "Sam didn't mind spooning, so I felt safe..." She looked at her shirt. Well. What was left of it. "I want our bed back. Ours is more comfy."

(James)
=I looked at Sam, and mouthed the word "spooning?"=

(Sam)
"What? I didn't plan on spooning with her, just laying in the same bed. Look, I had a nightmare, and wanted the comfort."

(James)
=I shook my head, neither approving or disapproving=
"Well, you should be able to go back today."

"It made me feel safe. It comforted me as much as her." She frowned a bit. "If she allows it she does."

(James)
"Uh, Eve? Maybe we should get to some breakfast or something. You seem pretty groggy."

Eve nodded.
"Leave the stuff on the table, Sam will get me awake using her...um...She'll get me there daddy. May we get dressed?"

(James)
"Sure, I'll be outside. Sam, take care of her."
=I walked out=

(Sam)
=Once he was gone, I eyed Eve=
"Using my what?"

Eve rubbed her eyes. "Tried to say brain or smarts but I couldn't articulate the word."

(Sam)
"Ah. Was afraid you were going to say my boobs."
=Opening the bag, I started to get dress=

"Those calm me down. Not wake me up." She delivered, slipping off the bed and grabbing her stuff.
"Um...I'm sorry...I shouldn't be talking that intimately right now, right? We're not dating...I...I'm bad at relationships still, aren't I?"

(Sam)
=I rubbed her head affectionately=
"Hey, it's fine Eve. Like you said, we're not dating. Not yet anyway."

Eve blushed.
"Not yet? So I'm kinda...doing better? Getting closer to actually being at a point I can as you out again?"

(Sam)
=I pursed my lips in thought=
"Right now, think of yourself as my sister. Very close, very loved. That's how mucho care for you right now Eve. And the fact that your mom keeps calling me her daughter only reinforces that."

Eve nodded. "Ok...um...I can still hug and cuddle, right?" She asked shyly. "I keep my hands to my self."

(Sam)
"Suuuure you do. And of course."

Eve, now dressed in a new red hoodie and a Mingdom Hearts shirt (same camo pants) gave Sam a hug.
"I won't touch you wrong because I want to earn the right to touch you."

(Sam)
=I returned the hug=
"Technically, you already have that right Eve. Though I wouldn't go so far as anything......intimate or erotic. Now come on, James is waiting."

(James)
=I leaned against the wall outside the room, waiting for them=

Eve took Sam's hand.
"You know what I'm trying to say..."
She reached across the bed and grabbed her Ruger, tucking it in the waistband of her jeans. "Ok. Let's go."

(Sam)
=I opened the door, and found James outside, across the hall=
"Okay.....so what now? Big party?"

(James)
=I grinned=
"I wish. Right now, Hibiki is passed out though I guess she earned it. The rest of the compound has some minor celebrations going, but nothing major. I remember Cooper wanted to talk but I can spare some time before meeting him."

Eve rested her head on Sam's arm.
"Then where are we going?"

(James)
"Well, that's up to you two. I was planning on walking with the two of you, talk for a bit and then check on Hibiki."

(Sam)
"Sounds good I guess. Where do we start?"

(James)
"With food. Lots of food."

"I like this plan." Eve said.

(James)
"Good answer. Lets go."
=With that, I led us out of the hospital, and into the streets. I wasn't lying when I said that there were some minor celebrations. Of all things, there were vendors outside, aligned in rows, and serving food. Some of the stuff came from storage, and not all of it was really carnival food. Like the can of cream corn. But it was the overall atmosphere that made it seem.....happy, I guess. Confident and defiant of the world outside=

(Sam)
"I'm liking this more and more.'

Eve's hand tightened on Sam's. She pressed a bit closer.
"All this over some raiders?"

(James)
"I think it's not just the raiders. It was the fact that the enemy that attacked us and killed some of our people, were finally wiped out. And then before that, there was the Shepherd base? Eve, we've been long overdue for a celebration."

(Andrew)

=The next morning, I had gotten dressed and had woken up Sarah, who looked a little better and slightly brighter eyed than when we first met=

Gaah...man, my face still smarts...

=As soon as Sarah got dressed, I got her in the wheel chair and helped wheel her out, Mira in tow=

If there's a celebration, may as well join in the festivities...

=I smile as we head out of the front door of the hotel, not knowing what other people made of the three of us=

Besides...it'll be good for Sarah to get out of that room...

=We head out of the front door, the overall mood of the scene outside being joyous. Well...we did earn the right to celebrate. That, and some food would do us all some good=

Mira walked beside Sarah, hand the the woman's shoulder
"Feeling better?"

Eve nodded. "Oh."

(Sarah)

=I nod weakly=

Yeah...

=I give a small yawn=

First time I had a good night's sleep in ages.

=I smile, giving a small giggle=

"One. Three, seventy-eight." Abel mumbled to himself. Those were the numbers that were painted on the mailbox to the home he stood in front of. This larger house was about two miles from the actually town of West Wilson, so there hadn't been any zombie activity as far as he could tell.

The house itself seemed to hold together nicely since the last time Abel had seen it, over two whole years ago. The door was blocked by a large heavy bench, along with some chairs and other things that made up a barricade, only, you usually saw barricades on the inside of houses, to try keeping the creatures out, however, this one was on the outside of the door.

Abel stepped onto the dirt drive and followed it up to the house's two steps that lead to the door. Abel slowly removed the obstructions in his way and through them aside. Once the makeshift barrier was gone, Abel turned the door's handle. The door clicked and creeped open, revealing a dark kitchen area.

Abel held his shotgun at the ready, then stepped into the room. There were two more doors leading out of this room, excluding the exit. One of these doors had a table flipped on its side, blocking it. Abel Hinge made his way across the room, to the table and slid it aside. It was heavy, but he was able to do it after setting his weapon down.

The door's hinges squeaked as Abel pushed it open. There were stairs that descended into darkness. Abel dug through his bag for a moment and pulled out a small flashlight that ran on AAs. He clicked the rubber button and the light projected to the basement's floor. Abel could now see the cement at the bottom of the stairs. He slowly made his way down them, holding the flashlight with the same hand he held the pump of his shotgun.

He heard a quiet wheezing sound, coming from farther in the room.

((Double-posted!))

I awake with a start, involuntarily grabbing my pistol. I sit up and look around.

Oh... yeah. I'm here.

Right as I realize that I'm in the hospital, my wounds start throbbing again. Mostly my head.

"Frick fraggin' slaggin' *mumble* mumble*

(James)
=We walked around for a bit,unsure of what to actually get. Well, Sam and I seemed to be unsure, I think Eve was just glad to be with Sam=




=Over by the train yard, Dex and the other soldiers were still busy securing the area. Technically, it was already secured, having been cleared of neighboring Raiders and walkers, but Cooper wanted them to work on putting up basic fortifications. As he put it over the radio, "Nothing fancy, just make it so that you guys have something to work with." And that was what they went about doing. Finding 2x4, sheets of metal, and other resources, they went to work making very basic walls and fences=

*Dex*
Not even enough to stop attacking dogs....
=He thought to himself, watching through his scope as the walls were made. He and the other snipers were exempt from manual labor, their skills making them better suited to keeping an eye on security. He thumbed the button on his walkie, hailing the other snipers in the area=

"This is Dex. Everything looks good on my end. How's it look on yours?"

*Sniper 1*
"Quiet down here boss."

*Sniper 2*
"Ditto."

*Sniper 3*
"Just put on my headstone 'Died of boredom,' 'cuz I got nothing."

Eve looked around, but didn't let go of Sam.
"Does that mean we don't have to fight for awhile...?"

(James)
"Most likely. Though it never hurts to be cautious."

Eve nods. "Ok..."

(James)
=She seemed to be confused by the statement, so I figured I'd clarify=
"Think of it this way Eve: we have the chance to celebrate our victories, and we'll take it. But it would be foolish to not be on guard while we celebrate."

Eve nodded.
"I understand now."

(James)
"Good."
=With a smile, I knelt down and picked her up, hugging her tightly before letting go=

"So what say the three of us find a way to celebrate huh?"

(Sam)
"Sounds like a plan to me James. Plus I'm starved."

Eve nodded.
"I'm hungry too." She said.

(James)
"Well, lets see what they have to eat around here."
=We started to walk around, checking at the different little stands people had set up. There were a number of food items, though they were mostly preserved food. In this case, jerky. Other times, pickled items. And here was where things got really......gross. They had rat, skewered on a stick and charred black. I didn't know how, or if they had checked the things for diseases, and frankly I wasn't tempted to try=

(Sam)
=I grabbed two pieces of jerky, handing one to Eve, then munching on my own tough piece. It was difficult to chew through, and tasted strange, but it was still food=

Accepting the jerky, Eve began to chew. She wrinkled her nose at the rat.
"Ew. Just ew."

(Andrew)

=I looked around for a decent meal. But frankly, most of the choices around turned my stomach. I spied some stuff that looked a whole lot more appetizing, and that was a better option than food poisoning=

I bet Sarah probably is thinking the same thing as well...

=I look to Sarah, who was looked just as disinterested I was at some of the choices that were provided=

(Sarah)

=I looked to Andrew after spotting some of the choices=

If you're even thinking about...

(Andrew)

=I shake my head with a half smile=

Wouldn't dream of it.

=I give her a smile despite her almost glaring daggers at me=

(Sam)
=I beamed at Eve=
"It is food, it will keep you alive. Besides, what's wrong with a nice tasty rat? I'm sure Sammy would be thrilled."

(James)
"Oh damn, I forgot about her. Eve, should we check on Sammy?"