The soldiers, led by Cox, reached Barbie and Julia. He was looking happy and concerned at the same time.
"Are you guys okay?" he asked.
Barbie nodded. He was waiting for the next question, knowing it would have something to do with Ken.
"How's Ken?" asked Cox with a sigh of relief.
"Still in the gay pride parade," laughed Barbie.
"Then let's get you two checked out like everyone else."
Barbie and Julia followed Cox back to a tent that had been hastily erected when the dome had started to lift. Linda, Rusty and their two daughters were standing there waiting to be checked out. Norrie and her mother were being checked out currently, along with Joe and Claire. Benny's mother had been deemed medically sound and was standing with Alice, Rose and Dougie. It was clear that Alice wanted her mother by her side, but she was quiet and did what Dougie was telling her to do.
"What's going to happen now Cox?" asked Barbie.
"Well, first we're going to deal with any medical attention needed. If it comes to it, we'll take you guys to Motton's hospital. Then the priority is to take Alice back to her mother and find foster families for Ollie and Little Walter. Then we need to find temporary housing for everyone." Cox seemed flustered at the thought of everything that he had to do.
"If you tell me where to go, I'll take Alice to her mother," Julia said.
"Some soldiers are trying to get her down here as we speak. Where is her son?"
"Dead."
Cox looked stricken at the news. He turned around when his name was called by a soldier, but it looked to Barbie like he wasn't listening. It wasn't until a young woman with tear tracks on her cheeks appeared at the medical tent tat he tuned back into reality.
"Ms Appleton," called Cox.
Alice's mother looked over and thanked Cox for saving her daughter. Alice was clinging to her mother, crying. Ms Appleton was also crying. Her daughter had told her that Aiden was dead. She had seen Little Walter in Rose's arms and her mind was made up almost immediately. She would take him if he had nobody else. Alice had been playing with him when Ms Appleton had arrived.
Julia and Barbie had both been forced to go to the hospital in Motton, since they had been breathing air from car tires to stay alive. Linda and Rusty had been on the soldiers' side on that matter. Especially Rusty. The two of them were fine, their girls only slightly out of breath. Norrie, Joe and their mothers were fine, and had left to visit their respective families already. Rose and Dougie had decided that they would go to Motton to visit friends, but were waiting for Barbie and Julia. Rose had handed off Little Walter, now being called Walter only by Alice and her mother. Ollie had been taken in by Private Ames after being taken to the hospital. Benny's mother had gone with Norrie and her mother to Motton to find her best friend and stay there.