Title: Tribe 3: Wonderwall

Chunk 2: Sections 6 thru 10

Fandom: The Tribe

Author: PinkTribeChick

Summary: I said maybe, you're gonna be the one that saves me . . . Life goes on for the Mall Rats after the Chosen take over the city.

Extended Summary: Essentially, this is an Alternate Universe story for Series 3 and beyond of the Tribe. I won't say anything more than that, because I don't want to spoil anything for those of you who have never read this before

Rating: Teen

Pairing: Too many to name! But Bray-Amber, Lex-Zandra, Ryan-Salene, and Jack-Ellie, for starters. There will also be some Tribe-character with original character pairings.

Author's Notes: Again many thanks as always go to Brett The Mole, as he was the one who talked me into sharing this story with others when I first started writing it, and he was the one who kept bugging me to complete it. I wouldn't have gotten anywhere without you, Brett! And major thanks to Ariannya, Whit, and all the others who at various times read and proofed sections for me and gave me their invaluable feedback. Enjoy, and please review! Feedback is much appreciated!

Disclaimer: All characters, situations, and song lyrics remain the property of their respective owners. Any original characters are sole property of me, PinkTribeChick.

Tribe 3: Wonderwall

Sections 6 thru 10

After leaving Bray at Danni's grave, Lex walked back into the small farmhouse the Rebels used as their hideout/headquarters. He walked into one of the bedrooms and flopped down on the bed, lying on his back with his hands behind his head. Thoughts of Zandra began to fill his mind.

It had been so long since he'd actually allowed thoughts of her to creep into his mind. Thinking about her had always been painful, and only Bray really seemed to understand how it felt, seeing as he lost Amber in the same explosion. Sometimes, Lex wondered what the baby would have looked like, and whether it would have been a boy or a girl. And sometimes, sometimes, he wondered if there could have been anyway Zandra and Amber could have been saved. A tear rolled down his cheek.

"Oh my god!" he heard someone exclaim from downstairs. He quickly got up and ran down there to see what was wrong. Ebony stood at the doorway, holding the door open, her mouth hanging open in shock. Trudy stood there, and Lex scowled at her.

"What are you doing here?" Lex asked angrily. "Come to capture us as well?"

"Not exactly. Though I did bring some company," Trudy replied, smiling. She stepped aside, revealing two people standing behind her. His eyes widened in realization, as he understood who they were. In front of him, stood Amber and Zandra, very much alive, and in Zandra's arms was a baby.

"What-how-why?" Lex sputtered. He collapsed into a nearby chair. "This can't be possible. It can't be!" Amber walked over to him and knelt down.

"Hi, you. Long time no see, huh?" Amber said. He nodded feebly. "I assure you, this is real, Lex. We're real." She gave him a hug. He wrapped his arms around her, expecting to feel air, but all he felt was flesh. Warm flesh. "Where's Bray?"

"Out back," Ebony said, nodding in the direction of the backyard.

"We'll talk more later," Amber said to Lex. "I think there's someone you need to meet, anyway." She motioned for Zandra and the baby to come over to him, then walked off. Zandra walked to him slowly, and he stood up. It was almost like slow-motion as he ran to her and wrapped her and the baby up in his arms, sobbing.

"This is almost too good to be true!" Lex said. "I thought I'd lost you both forever!" He kissed Zandra gently. "Are you okay? Is the baby okay? What is the baby? What's it's name? How did you survive the explosion?" His mind was running full speed ahead, not stopping for anything.

"Whoa, whoa, Lex. Slow down. It will all be explained eventually, don't worry," Zandra said, smiling at him. "First, I'm fine, and so is the baby. Her name is Lexandra."

"I . . . we have a daughter?" Lex said, looking at the little girl. She had curly black hair, and his pale blue eyes.

"Yes. Do you want to hold her?" Zandra asked. He nodded. She handed him the little bundle of joy, tears glistening in her eyes. He took the baby's tiny hand in his.

"Hiya, Lexandra. I'm your daddy," Lex said. Watching the scene between father and daughter was even making Ebony tear up. "It's nice to finally meet you. And I promise, now that you and your mommy are home again, I'm never gonna let you go. I'm never gonna let anything hurt you ever again." Lex looked up at Zandra. "She's beautiful. Just like you."

"I know," Zandra said. "She looks like you more than me. But she's my little angel. She kept me alive through it all. Her and Amber."

"I love you, Zan," he said, smiling. "And I love you, too, little one." He looked at Trudy. "Thanks, Trude. I really needed this."

"Don't thank me. I didn't even know they were alive until a few hours ago. Amber's the one who got us out of that awful place. But they still have everyone else. Including my baby," Trudy said. "They made me a prisoner with the others after they took Brady. They wanted her, not me." Lex looked at her questioningly.

"It's true, Lex. They have everyone, including Brady. Poor Trudy was just a pawn," Zandra said. "But she's here now to help. We have a lot of people to rescue. A lot of friends."

"I know," Lex said. He looked at Trudy again. "I guess since you brought my wife and baby home to me, I can let it slide just this once."

"Thanks, Lex," Trudy responded.

"Zandra!" Bray exclaimed, coming into the room, hand-in-hand with Amber. He gave her a hug, smiling at Lex. "Welcome back!"

"Thanks, Bray. It's wonderful to see you," Zandra replied. "It's wonderful to see everyone again, actually. Amber and I missed you all so much."

"We missed you, too," Bray said. "So is this the little tike?" Bray walked over to Lex and the baby.

"Yep, this is my daughter, Lexandra," Lex responded. Bray smiled at the little girl. Then he noticed Trudy standing nearby. He walked over to her.

"Are you okay?" Bray asked, giving her a hug. His reaction startled her slightly. She had been expecting him to be mad.

"I'm fine. But they have Brady and the others," Trudy replied.

"Don't worry. We'll get them back. We'll free everyone," Bray said. "And we'll defeat the Guardian once and for all."

"Here-here!" Lex agreed. Suddenly, the door opened again. And in walked Salene and Ryan.

"Wow! That was one long trek!" Salene exclaimed, sitting down in a chair, putting her hands on her swollen belly. Neither she nor Ryan had noticed their two returned compatriots.

"I'll say!" Ryan responded. Then his eyes bugged out, as they widened. "Zandra! Amber!" He ran to Zandra, giving her a hug.

"What?" Salene said. She stood up and looked around. It was then that she saw Amber and Zandra. "Oh . . . oh . . ." She started to cry. "You're alive!" Amber walked to Salene, and the two girls embraced.

"We're home for good, Salene," Amber said. "Home for good this time." She stood back, looking at Salene. "Are you pregnant?"

"Yes . . . Ryan and I are going to have a baby," Salene said.

"That's wonderful!" Zandra said. "I'm so happy for you!"

"Thanks, Zan. It's good to see you," Ryan said. "I'm so glad you're alive." He hugged her.

"Ryan, Salene, I want you to meet my daughter," Lex said, referring to the baby in his arms. Salene walked over to him.

"She's beautiful, Lex. What's her name?" Salene asked.

"Lexandra," Lex said proudly.

"I can't believe it," Ryan said, putting his arm around Lex's shoulders. "You're a daddy now, and I'm going to be a daddy soon, too. Who would've thought?"

"I know, Ryan," Lex said. "So? Let's start planning our attack! It's time to rescue everyone else! What do you all say?"

"Let's do it," Bray said.

"I agree," Amber ceded.

"Me, too," Salene and Ryan chipped in.

"Yeah, let's kick some Guardian butt!" Trudy said.

"Well, here's what we've gotta do . . . ," Ebony started.

"Here's some water," Cloe said, handing Jack the glass. "Is she any better?" Jack tilted Ellie's head up and poured some water into her mouth. She swallowed a little, the rest dribbling down the sides of her mouth. Her long blonde hair was peppered with grey streaks, and her skin was wrinkled. She had contracted the virus from one of the guards at the Hotel, where they were being held prisoner.

"No. Her fever's shot up a little more in the last hour, and I swear she looks even older," Jack said. "I just hope Dal can make it back in time with the antidote." Dal had managed to escape the Hotel through one of the air shafts and went to retrieve vials of the antidote from the Mall. If he hadn't been caught already . . .

"I'm sure he will. He'll make it back, don't worry, Jack," Cloe said. "Is there anything else I can get for you?"

"Nah. Just leave us in peace. If she gets any worse, I'll let you know," Jack said. "Just try to keep Alice calm. Having her all upset isn't going to help Ellie at all." Cloe nodded and walked out of the room. Jack looked down at his sleeping girlfriend. He brushed a strand of hair out of her face.

"Ellie, you're gonna make it. You have to. I need you. Alice needs you. We all do." She shifted a little, making a face. "Look . . . I know I've never been entirely out-and-out with my feelings for you. But if it helps you somehow to hear this . . . I love you, Ell. I love you, and I need you more than anything else in the world. If I lose you, I don't know what I'm gonna do . . . " He trailed off, sighing loudly. "Like you can actually hear me anyway." He looked out the small window in the room, at the sunshine outside, as tears rolled down his cheeks.

Dal opened the hidden compartment in the old grandfather clock in the antique store at the mall. Surely enough, 10 vials of the antidote sat in a container at the bottom, just where Tai-San said they would be. He opened the container and gently took the vials out, one-by-one. He placed them in his coat pockets. He heard a noise downstairs, and quickly shut the compartment, hiding behind an old trunk.

"Hello? Anyone here at all?" he heard Bray call out. He stood up and walked to the store entrance, peeking downstairs. There stood Bray, Lex, Salene, and Ryan, with four girls and some militia.

"Bray?" Dal called out. He walked out of the antique store and downstairs.

"Dal? What are you doing here?" Trudy asked.

"I escaped. Ellie's got the virus, and I came to get the antidote," Dal said. "She's pretty bad off." He looked at the others. "I'm glad to see you all. Everyone else's at the Hotel, being held. We really need your help." He looked at the people standing behind Bray and Lex. He blinked, for a moment thinking his eyes were playing tricks on him. He thought he saw Amber and Zandra. As he opened his eyes again, they were still there. "Is there something you want to tell me, Bray? 'Cause I'm either seeing things, or you have two ghosts standing behind you."

"Hi, Dal," Zandra said, shifting the baby she had in her arms.

"It's really you, isn't it?" Dal asked. He ran to Amber, wrapping his arms around her. "Oh, my!" He and Amber were both crying, as they held on to each other.

"My, you've gotten so tall and thin. So handsome," Amber said tearfully, smiling at him.

"You haven't changed a bit," Dal said. He turned to Zandra. "Zan!" He hugged her. "Is she yours?"

"Yeah. Lexandra. Named after her daddy and me," Zandra responded.

"Well, now that we have you, maybe we can figure out some way to get into the Hotel. Do you know how to get into the rooms, Dal?" Lex asked. "We want to free everyone first. That way, there are more people to fight back."

"Well . . . I got out through an air shaft. But how are we gonna get Ellie out? She's barely conscious, Lex," Dal replied. "Getting the others out should be a piece of cake, though. We just need a distraction."

"I can do it," Zandra said. Everyone looked at her incredulously. "What?"

"I'm not going to let you, Zan. We need you to stay here with Lexandra and Salene, so you both don't get hurt," Lex said.

"Listen, Lex. I love you, but you're not my boss, husband or not. I'll do as I please," Zandra said. Lex looked at her wide-eyed, surprised she'd actually stood up to him. She turned to Dal. "What exactly would I need to do?"

"Distract the guards somehow? I'm sure you can figure something out," Dal said, shrugging his shoulders. "All I know is that we need to get the antidote to Ellie, and fast. She may not have much time left."

"Alright. Zandra, you'll be the distraction, while Dal, Amber, and Trudy get everyone else out of there. Once they're out, you're free to run, Zan. The rest of us will combat the guards and whoever makes it to the Guardian first, capture him, alive. Also, make sure you're on the lookout for Brady. You find her, you bring her back to the Mall immediately. Salene and the baby are going to stay here, just to be safe. We'll all meet back here afterward, okay?" Ebony instructed. Everyone nodded. "Alright, let's head out!" They broke up and walked out of the Mall, toward the Hotel.

Jack was asleep, holding Ellie in his arms, when he awoke, hearing noise in the ceiling. He sat up, laying Ellie's head on the pillow, and looked up at the ceiling. Suddenly, a tile in the ceiling was removed, and Dal jumped down. Jack smiled in relief.

"You're back. Good. We were starting to all get worried that you might've been captured," Jack said. "Did you get the vials?" Dal nodded and triumphantly pulled one of the vials out of his jacket. He handed it to Jack. Jack walked over to Ellie, sitting down beside her on the bed. He lifted her head up and poured the antidote into her mouth. For once, she swallowed most of it. Jack put the lid back on the vial and handed it back to Dal.

"Listen . . . do you think we could get Ellie up to the air duct and smuggle her out?" Dal asked.

"What? Are you joking? She's barely alive right now," Jack said, giving Dal a strange look.

"I brought some help back with me," Dal said, pointing to the air duct. Then Trudy jumped down, followed by Amber.

"Holy cow! Amber?!" Jack exclaimed. Everyone else in the other room heard him, and came running through the adjoining doorway. Their mouths all fell open when they saw Amber.

"Amber!" Cloe and Patsy both exclaimed excitedly, running to her. She wrapped them up in her arms, hugging them tightly. Tai-San and Alice stood in the doorway, smiling.

"Girls, you've both grown up so much!" Amber said.

"You're alive . . . ," Tai-San said. "How?" Tai-San walked over to her, embracing her.

"We were kidnapped. The explosion was a diversion. We were never really dead at all," Amber said. "Come on, guys. We've got to get Ellie and the little ones out of here. Zandra can't hold the guards off for much longer. Jack, do you think we can get her up to the air duct?" Amber looked over at him.

"Yeah, but it'll take a little boosting. She's not exactly conscious right now," Jack said. He picked Ellie up, cradling her in his arms. "Dal, you go up first, then I'll pass her up to you, and follow." Dal pulled himself up into the air duct.

"Alright, Jack! Pass her!" Dal called out. Amber and Jack lifted Ellie up, and Dal took her hands, pulling her into the air duct. Then Jack came up. Amber looked at the others.

"Cloe, Patsy, you go next," Amber said. She gave them both a boost, and they were out. "Tai-San, Alice, we're going to need your help fighting. Are you up to it?"

"Yeah. No problem," Alice replied.

"I guess," Tai-San said reluctantly. "You know I don't believe violence is always the answer. But we have to free everyone else, so I have no choice, do I?"

"Not really," Amber responded. Suddenly, someone kicked the door to the room open. There stood Bray and Lex.

"Is everyone out?" Bray asked. Amber nodded. "Come on, girls, we've got some work to do. Dal and Jack will get the others back to the Mall safely." The four girls walked to the door. They decided to split up and go different ways to find the prisoners, Brady, and the Guardian. Tai-San and Lex were paired together, as were Bray and Amber, and Trudy and Alice. Tai-San looked at Lex. In all the commotion and reunion, Lex had forgotten about his other wife. He tried to speak, but she spoke first.

"It's okay. I know I have to let you go. It's just better that way," she said. "You and Zandra were meant to be together, and I can't stand in the way of what's meant to be."

"Are you sure?" he asked.

"Yeah," Tai-San said, nodding.

"Thanks, Tai-San," Lex said. "You're the best." He walked ahead of her slightly.

"I know. But it doesn't help mend a broken heart," she whispered, tears filling her eyes.

Alice looked over at Trudy angrily. She could barely believe Trudy's 180 in attitude. Trudy looked over at Alice.

"Look, I know we've never been best girlfriends or anything, and that you resent and blame me for everything that's happened," Trudy said. "But can we just put that aside for right now? What's important is finding Brady and defeating the Guardian and the Chosen. And things are a little different now, okay?"

"Alright. But as long as you explain yourself later," Alice said. They walked down a long hallway where there were a bunch of doorways. "Okay, I think this is where they're holding Brady." Alice pointed to a door on the left. She opened it slowly and peeked inside. The nanny that was supposed to be watching Brady was fast asleep.

"This may be a little easier than we thought," Trudy said. They crept inside, trying not to wake the sleeping woman. Trudy looked into the crib and gasped. "She's not here, Alice! Brady's not here!"

"What? Oh, lord!" Alice walked over to the crib. Surely enough, there was no Brady. "Jaffa must have her. Come on. We have to tell the others." They ran out of the room.

I know you're out there, guys! Please review – I'm anxious to hear your thoughts! And thanks for reading!