ZRP-2 Chapter 6: Scattered

"Fire." She said. "I'm cold."

(James)
=I did my best to suppress a grin=
"And here I thought you'd suggest another way to stay warm. But, fire it is."

"Hey, you got annoyed with my libidio. But hell. You ffering? Please my peince. Carry me to our chambers!"
Hbiki smirked.

(James)
=I gave it some thought, actually pursing my lips together and staring at the sky, but then I shook my head=
"Nah, lets just sit by the fire."

"Knew it. Saving yourself for the boat ride?"

(James)
"Maybe. That or I'm not sure Sam and Eve would appreciate us doing it across the hall from them."
=Leading us both off the boat,I made for the fire that was glowing warmly in the center of camp=

"True. Their cuddling shouldn't be interrupted any further."
She followed James as Eve slept through the gunshots because Eve was such a heavy sleeper the Sandman was jealous.

(Sam)
=Whatever was going on, it looked like it had James upset. He had walked back to the boat, head hung low and looking he had seen a ghost. But Hibiki was with him, at least before she walked aboard and out of sight. They walked away a minute later, back to the camp. I wasn't really spying, it was just that they were the closest thing to really see. As for the camp, whatever was going on had died down, so the threat had passed. So I got back onto the bed, snuggling up to Eve's sleeping form again=

(James)
"You realize that shot will draw more of them."

"I know. We need to get out of here..." She said softly. "Want me to go make sure Marcus is getting everyone packed?"

(James)
=I took a small look around. It actually looked like no one was packing up=
"Uh, I'm not sure how high that is on his list of priorities. Should we see what's up?"

"We should." Hibiki said, turning around to head out.

(James)
=We found Marcus by the bus, keeping watch and giving a few orders to people=
"Marcus, what's up? Shouldn't we be leaving? That shot will have drawn out who knows how many walkers."

*Marcus*
=He grimaced at the two=
"I know, but unlike you two we haven't had the luxury of being able to relax while on the move. We tried it before and barely had time to relax before those bandits appeared and ran us out of town. We need to stop and unwind, get a chance to rest while looking for supplies."

(James)
"Bu--"
=With a single hand, he stopped me=

*Marcus*
"No buts. I'm the one looking out for these people James. I have to see to their needs, and this is one of them."

Hibiki frowned, then turned her back. "Let's go James. I want to get the boat well into the river." she said bluntly.

(James)
"But...but the fire."
=I was torn between joining her, and staying. Mostly because if I stayed, it was one more person to help the group in case things went wrong=

Hibiki didn't bother staying.

You don't let people unwind after firing a gun.

You get to a safe place, then unwind.
"James. Have Trevor run a watch. Six hours, then me. Keep the rifles handy. If shit goes to hell, we'll need to cover them."

(Jason)
"Uh, sure thing captain...."
=I walked back with her just so I could get to the boat and give Trevor the orders, then walked back to the fire=

I crouched beneath the window of an old house, another member of Task Force Green in the next window, with two more on the other side of the street and a sniper team on the roof.

I glanced out at the darkened street, a couple of the infected were wandering around, but other than an old car on the road, it was clear.
"Alpha team," my radio said, "Are you in position?"

"In position, Captain." I replied, taking the safety off of my weapon.

"Roger that, Alpha," the captain continued after a few seconds, "Delta team reports that Tango one is en route. Confirm Visual, over?"

I glanced out of the window again, scanning the street for contacts, when a car drove around the corner.
"Visual confirmed, sir."

The radio remained silent, we all ready knew what we were going to do.

As the car came around, a second one appeared.
Just like we thought...

As the first Shepherd car passed the unused car, there was a sudden crack of gunfire, followed by an explosion as the old car went up.

Nodding to my partner, we stood and lined up our targets as they got out of the cars, dropping them with clean headshots.

"Tangos are down, sir. Falling back."

Hibiki didn't bother looking back.
She had her child to protect.

We jogged down the stairs in silence, adrenaline pumping. I stepped out of the door first, taking out one of the zombies in the street with a single shot, as a member of Bravo Team did the same.

We started running as soon as we were outside, Bravo team falling in behind us as we ran to Delta teams location.

We stopped only for a second to let Delta join us before we started running again. The noise would attract infected, and a lot of them. We weren't going to be here when they arrived.

*CRACK!*CRACK!*CRACK!*

Abel fired, rechambered, fired, rechambered.  It didn't take long for the bandits to figure out there was someone hitting them from one of their buildings.  The house Abel was shooting from soon started to get peppered.  Bullets flew all around Hinge, ripping through the walls, sending splintered wood flying across the room, all while Abel huddled below the window, keeping his head as low as he could.

"Sorry, Andrew."

Abel said to himself, then once there was a pause in fire, he began army crawling across the wood floor, toward the hall.  Once in it, he stood up, ran down the stairs and out the back door of the house.  He started booking it to the vehicles, using the back of the homes to cover his escape, which seemed to work, as it sounded like they were still shooting at the house he was in prior.

(James)
=Keeping watch with the rest of the caravan guard was.....enjoyable, actually. Three weeks of being cooped up n the boat with Mark, Trevor, and Hibiki (even if yes, the latter made for very enjoyable company) resulted in me wanting to spend time with different people. It was refreshing to know there were other people around, even if I didn't actually talk to them=

(Sam)
=I let Eve sleep, while I carefully untangled myself from her, and went about checking the boat, at least whatever was on it. There was a wet bar with some booze, and I couldn't help myself. I grabbed a beer and sat down at the bar, taking a long pull from the bottle=

While Hibiki got some rest...Eve finally woke up.
Finding herself alone, she padded out of the room and down the hall, where the sounds of a bottle on a hard surface eminated.
Finding Sam drinking, Eve rubbed her eyes. "How lon lg was I asleep?" She asked, then whimpered. She moved her shoulder wrong

(Sam)
=The sound of her voice made me turn around in my seat, bottle set on the table=
"A little under an hour. Maybe less actually. You shouldn't be moving too much though, shoulder and all."

Eve nodded, sliding into the seat next to her.
"Did you get any rest?"

(Sam)
"Yeah, I got what I needed."
=I took another sip of beer=

Eve yawned a bit, resting her head on the bar.
"You need all the sleep you can get, too..."

(Sam)
"I'll manage. Besides, it's you who needs the sleep, not me."

"Then put the beer away andets go to bed...otherwise we'll argue forever to who needs more sleep; me with my gunshot or you with your...nightmares."
Eve reached over and gripped a fold of Sam's shirt for comfort.

(Sam)
"My night,area are getting better Eve. I've been sleeping better."
Thanks to you.

Eve smiled.
"Mine always run away when you hold me. I think they are scared of your shotgun."

(Sam)
"That or worried about the flaming red head...."

Eve giggled, then got up and kissed Sam's cheek.
"Don't be long."
She left Sam be and head back to bed.

(Sam)
=I grinned a little, but then went back to my drink=

(James)
=I went back to the boat, but stayed on the peer. Seemed better to stay between both, in case of emergencies=

Eve flopped onto the bed, quite easily taking it over.

Hibiki stayed in bed.

(James)
=As night began to fall, I began to yearn for the safety of the boat. These days, night really did hide the monsters, and being outside with no shelter was suicide. Even though we were safe snide the camp (more or less) I still felt the all too familiar instinct to seek shelter. So I walked back aboard the boat, and into the cabin. Sam was at the bar, having a drink, so I left her to finish it while I silently opened the door to my room and slipped inside. Hibiki was on the bed, asleep or getting ready for it I didn't know which=

(Sam)
=After I was done with the bottle, I started to feel just a little buzzed. I didn't drink beer or any alcoholic beverage that much, so my ability to stay sober wasn't the best. Leaving the bottle on the table, I shambled over to my door, a little clumsily, and walked in=

(Andrew)

=We had booked it out of the town. Sarah's injury was wrapped and treated. Everyone was on edge=

Go on...yell at me Cooper...

=I took a deep breath=

If this town isn't welcoming us...we need to head further east, Cooper.

*Cooper*
"Yeah, tell me something don't know Andrew."

(Sam)
"Hi Eve. Still doing good?"

(James)
"Hibiki, you awake?"

Eve murmured a bit.
"Welcome to bed." She said sleepily.

Hibiki rolled over. "A bit."

(James)
"And here I thought you had gone to sleep."
=I kicked off my shoes and sat on the edge of the bed=

"So far it looks all clear. Though everyone chose to sleep in their cars, and I guess if trouble comes knocking we'll all be ready to move."

(Sam)
=I stumbled into bed, landing on top of her, my face pressed against her=
"Oops, sorry. Might be a little tipsy."

"Better than nothing." Hibiki said.

Eve let out a small 'oomph' and sighed. "Not exactly how I imagined you on top."

(Sam)
=I giggled a little=
"Sorry babe. But I guess our expectations never really meet reality."

=Rolling off her, I lay back in bed, giggling a little more=

(James)
=Laying down beside Hibiki, I thought of something to talk about. Couldn't find anything=

Eve snuggled over, resting her head on Sam's stomach.
"Not yet..."

Hibiki rolled over to nestle against James.
"So. Best get a good view of me while you can...soon I'll look like a whale."

(James)
=Chuckling, I rested a hand against her stomach=
"Whale or not, your still...."

=Wife was the first thing to come to mind, but it didn't seem enough to tell her how much I didn't care how big she'd get=
"I love you no matter what. Big or small, that won't change."

(Sam)
"Oh ho, trying to make the idea real now are we?"
=I wasn't sure who was talking now: sober Sam or tipsy Sam. But it was starting to get awkward=

"Nah, it would be wrong to do that while you are inebriated...your tummy is just comfortable." Eve replied.

Hibiki smiled. "You're one in a million."

(Andrew)

=I resisted the urge to slap Cooper, despite my desire to do so=

Relax...everyone's on edge. Including me...

=I then pointed away from the town=

Just get us out of here. Please.

=I rub my head and yawn, still suffering from the nearly a month of sleep dep=

=The Shepherds finally ended their break and were soon once more on the trail. As they drove, following the tracks, they grew closer to where Cooper and his group abandoned the train, though in the current light the Shepherds would not spot it. But they were close=

(James)
"Guess that makes you the lottery winner then. Care to tell the public what you intend to do with your winnings?"

(Sam)
"Ha, that it is. Besides, I've heard drunk sex is the worst."

*Cooper*
"Just get the fuck inside and we'll leave."

Abel had jogged his way out of town, escaping fairly unscathed.  Once he had made it up the hill covered by tall grass, to the vehicles, he was more than out of breath.

"Cooper... I don't know... *huff* if Andre-"

He stopped when he saw Andrew standing next to one of the cars.

Hibiki kissed James. "Never let go."

Eve giggled. "I'd rather have honeymoon sex...I...I heard saging yourself...was the best."
Her cheeks went red but Sam prolly couldn't see that past her breasts.

(Sam)
"Just jump right in with no experience. Gotcha."

(James)
"Ditto."

*Cooper*
"Lets go people, drive!"
=The lead car kicked into gear, and the group started driving away from the town=

"It means something...when you save yourself for someone."
Eve nuzzled Sam's stomach. "But if you'd prefer I get experience, I'll go fi d a cute boy with the civilians and get some experience."

"Good night then."
Hibiki fell asleep.