Nikki carefully cleaned one of her arrows with the do-rag her brother had thrown at her without a word. She'd already wiped what blood she could off of her so now all she could do was tend to her arrows. She glanced around the RV, at all the people inside. There was a black woman who had introduced herself as Jacqui, the blonde woman who said her name was Andrea, an Asian boy named Glenn, a black man called T-Dog, and Dale. Nikki noticed Jacqui looking towards the bed in the back sadly and wanted to ask why but she figured it was a bad idea. She also figured that they'd recently lost a person, maybe on that bed, and that was why Jacqui was doing that. She kinda hoped so anyway cause why else would the woman be looking at a bed sadly unless she was crazy? Nikki shook her head, mentally assuring herself that the woman was probably sane if she was still in the group. She glanced up and noticed Andrea staring at her again. Nikki quickly looked down. She waited a moment then looked over at her brother who still looked a bit angry and definitely tense.
"Sorry." Nikki said. Everyone who could looked over at her. They all noticed at the same time that she was talking to her brother who was staring down at her. "About earlier. I didn't mean to make you mad." Nikki told her brother, her voice slightly hushed.
"Next time you better yell for me." Chris said immediately. His voice was stern and his expression glaring. Nikki nodded though she didn't know if she'd actually listen or not. "You're not dyin'. I'm not gonna let it happen. And I'm not dyin' either so stop worryin' about that and worry about yourself." Chris told her. To everyone in the RV he sounded pretty harsh but Nikki was used to it. She just nodded. Chris stared at her a moment. "I'm not mad at you. I get it. But you're not the leader, I am. And you're not older, I am. I'm supposed to keep you safe, not the other way around." He said. His voice wasn't nearly as harsh then but it still sounded mean to the people in the RV. Except Nikki of course. She knew every one of her brother's tones and recognized this one as his gentle tone. He had a tough sounding voice, always had and always would, so it was hard for people who didn't know him to recognize when he was being gentle.
"You're my brother. How am I not supposed to try and keep you safe?" Nikki questioned, her voice soft but at the same time demanding an answer.
"You don't have to keep me safe." Chris said firmly, giving her a stern and slightly aggravated look. Nikki opened her mouth to say something but whatever comment she was about to make was cut off by loud snarls outside the RV. They all looked out the windows, the conversation and the observing of it ending abruptly.
There weren't many Walkers outside but there were enough to put everyone on edge. Nikki tied the do-rag to her belt loop before preparing the arrow she'd been cleaning for possible use. Chris held his gun like he was ready to bash Walkers in the face with it, his bow once more on his back and forgotten for now. Nikki made a mental note to remind her brother the shotgun had a strap when she got the chance but quickly focused back on the situation at hand. Dale sped up and turned onto a Walker free road, thankfully leaving the undead behind. "Don't worry. Like you said Chris, they can't eat what they can't catch." Dale told them all. It didn't assure any of them just like Chris hadn't assured Nikki and they kept silent for the rest of the ride, tense and alert.
Nikki considered it lucky when they stopped outside the CDC without having anymore Walkers come uncomfortably close to the RV. She followed her brother out of the vehicle but wished she hadn't the second she was outside. There were corpses everywhere. Stinking rotting corpses. And flies. Nikki hated flies. She covered her nose and mouth with her hand, trying to protect herself from the smell. It didn't really work though and she eventually just let her hand fall. "Smells worse than your feet, Bro." She joked. She chuckled a little at her own joke, something she usually did. She liked to outright laugh at her own jokes too but only if others were laughing too.
Chris chuckled but shook his head. "Not a good time Nikki." He told her. She shrugged in reply before going on alert. Chris smiled slightly at her before copying her, his eyes scoping for Walkers.
The group started moving forward towards the building and the Dawsons followed them, hanging at the back of the pack. Nikki wanted to get in the throng, to feel a little more protected, but she wasn't about to leave her brother's side and he didn't seem to want to move any farther up. He had a plan. They'd stay at the back and if something happened they'd book it back to the vehicles. They'd steal one if they had to. Chris wasn't going to let his sister die. If the others died so that he could save his sister so be it. He didn't know these people. Sure they'd been kind but his family came first. Hopefully though nothing would happen. Hopefully he wouldn't have to stoop so low.
Nikki kept her eyes on their surroundings, her heart pounding just slightly fast. After the stuff that happened to them, the possibility of a Walker being around didn't really faze her. It was adrenaline more than anything making her heartbeat speed up. She made a low clucking sound as she moved, like she was calling a dog repeatedly. She always made that sound when she was thinking and she sometimes made it without noticing. Chris looked over at her, thinking that at any other time he would have told her to stop but he thought it wasn't doing any harm right now. The sound was low enough that it wouldn't attract Walkers from farther than a few feet and any within a few feet were going to attack them anyway cause they were there, not because of any noises they made.
The group stopped and the Dawson siblings finally stopped searching for Walkers to look at the CDC. Shane pounded on one of the shutters, knocking. Nothing happened. "There's nobody here." T-Dog said. Nikki felt the blood drain from her face and a sick feeling started building up in her. There was no one there. Their safe place, the place they'd been heading to for weeks, was gone. She felt someone tug on her arm, her brother.
"Then why are these shutters down?" Rick asked, pointing at the metal shutters. Nikki looked at them, hoping to God that someone was inside and about to let them in.
Chris tugged hard on his sister's arm. "Nikki, let's go! This place is a bust!" He said, starting to pull her away. He turned around to make sure the way to the vehicles was clear.
"Walkers!" Daryl called out just as Chris saw them. There was one close and some farther off but they were there. Daryl put down the one that was close before storming over to Rick. "You led us into a graveyard!" He shouted at the cop.
"He made a call." Shane said calmly. Nikki almost didn't hear him, her and her brother had gone at least six feet from the group and Shane wasn't very loud when he spoke. Chris was slowly getting them back to the vehicles. He passed Nikki the shotgun and pulled off his bow. If the Walkers got too close he was gonna kill them, not his sister. He frowned, when did he switch from calling the dead Diseased to calling them Walkers?
"It was the wrong damn call!" Daryl shouted furiously. Nikki nodded in agreement as she followed her brother back to the vehicles. She eyed the Walkers in the distance with worry.
Shane said something but neither Dawson was paying attention anymore. Chris glanced back at them, deciding that if they didn't follow soon he was gonna speed up and steal one of their vehicles. He'd prefer the truck but he figured a moving house, the RV, would be more useful. Lucky for the group though they started coming to them. Nikki thought she heard someone mention her and her brother but she wasn't sure. She figured they were mentioning how far they were from the group or saying that the siblings were right in going. She flinched when she heard Rick shouting at the security camera, feeling bad for the man who had obviously gone insane. She felt a moment's hope that the camera had moved, that someone was inside and could be talked into letting them inside, but she crushed it down quickly so she wouldn't feel too disappointed. It sprang back up though when they were halfway to the vehicles and one of the shutters rose up, opening up a way into the CDC. Nikki grabbed her brother's arm and started running back, not even having to drag her brother who was running just as fast back towards the building. They managed to catch up to the group just as they entered the building.
"Close those doors. Watch for Walkers." Someone ordered. Nikki couldn't tell who. She was too busy trying to stop her heavy breathing. She'd never gotten checked out by a doctor but she was pretty sure she had lung problems. Every time she ran, no matter the distance, it always made her breath heavy. Her body wouldn't be tired in the least but her lungs would be acting like they were dying.
Chris dragged his sister a safe distance from the doors, noticing how she was trying to breathe. He used to think she was just unathletic and he used to make fun of her for it but now he thought she might seriously have lung problems. She'd gotten at least fit before the world went to shit and yet after she ran she was still breathing like she was about to faint. Chris worried about her. He tapped on her arm and she looked at him. His expression asked if she was okay and she nodded. She pointed back to the doors that the other men were trying to close, telling him to help. Chris looked around to make sure she was in a decently safe spot before taking off towards the doors. Nikki sucked in deep breaths as she kept an eye on herself, putting the shotgun on the ground so she could hold her bow high and keep an arrow ready to be fired into the face of any Walker that came at her.
"Anybody infected?" Nikki jumped in surprise at the voice. She turned towards it and saw an unkempt man with a gun not far off.
Rick seemed surprised by the man but he replied. "One of our group was. He didn't make it." He told the man. Nikki shot Rick an annoyed look, thinking that he shouldn't have even mentioned that. There was no point in telling the armed stranger that and it probably would do more harm than good letting him know that. Nikki thought that if they had known one of their group had died because of the infection her and her brother would have demanded a search of everyone for bites. Probably wouldn't have gone with them either.
"Why are you here? What do you want?" The stranger asked. He seemed very wary of them.
"A chance." Rick replied after a moment's pause.
"That's asking for an awful lot these days." The stranger pointed out. Nikki had to agree. She was surprised the group had even taken her and her brother in. Rick could only reply with a simple "I know." The man stared at all of them, observing them. Nikki stared at him right back, observing him. He looked like he'd been awake for a couple of days and he looked...the only thing that came to Nikki's mind when she saw his clothes and unshaven face was that he had given up. She didn't know why that sprang to her minds but it did. She felt her stomach twist in knots. If a man in the CDC had given up then all hope must be lost. "You will all submit to a blood test. That's the price of admission." The man told him. Nikki's mind went to needles and she grimaced. Rick told the man that the group would comply. After a moment the man lowered his weapon. "You got stuff to bring in you do it now. Once those doors close they stay closed." He ordered them.
The group listened beautifully. Chris joined his sister while a few of the men rushed out to get the things everyone requested. They didn't need to grab their things, they'd never put them down. The Dawson siblings passed the time by eyeing the man still standing where the group had left him. He noticed them staring but didn't meet their eyes. Nikki glanced over at her brother, giving him a look that said she was concerned about all this. He reached out and squeezed her shoulder reassuringly, silently telling her he'd keep her safe. She passed the shotgun back to him and he took it silently, slipping it onto his back. Nikki gave him a small smile as the men came running back in with all their stuff. They followed the group past the man and stopped when the stranger stopped by a control panel.
The stranger pressed a button on the panel. "Vi, seal the main entrance. Kill the power up here." He ordered someone. Immediately, whoever he'd ordered complied. Rick introduced himself to the man, holding out his hand. The man looked away from him and introduced himself as Doctor Edwin Jenner.
Jenner led them to an elevator and instructed them to get inside. Nikki and Chris ended up stuffed in the back by Daryl. He gave them a sideways look but didn't say anything. Nikki stared at him a moment before focusing on Jenner who had gotten into the elevator. He pressed a button and the doors closed. The elevator started moving and Nikki suddenly had a white knuckle grip on her bow. She hated elevators. Hated the feeling in her stomach she got when it seemed to rise then fall again halfway through the descent, hated the way they sometimes shook, hated the way they were metal cages hanging over a large empty space that at any moment they could free fall into. Chris noticed her discomfort and let out a short but highly amused laugh. He never thought he'd be able to laugh at his sister's hate of elevators again. It made him smile.
"Doctors always go around packin' heat like that?" Daryl asked, nodding pointedly to the gun in Jenner's hands.
"There were plenty left lying around. I familiarized myself." Jenner explained. Chris thought the guy had been right to. In this world you should always know how to handle a weapon. Jenner looked around at all of them. "But you look harmless enough...Except you." He was looking down at Carl. "I'll have to keep an eye on you." He joked. Nikki smiled, finding it really great that someone other than her was still willing to joke around. Carl smiled too and his smile lasted a while after Jenner turned away. Nikki smiled at his smile, glad a kid could still be happy in this world.
The elevator doors finally opened and they piled out. Nikki couldn't help pushing at people a little, she was eager to get out. Once she was on solid ground she visibly relaxed. Chris shook his head at her but mussed up her hair. Her hair was a mess. It was extremely curly, as it had been since she hit puberty, and it was poofy. On good days it was actually very pretty and even on moderate days it was pretty but it tangled very easily and it got huge when it was humid out. She made an angry face and ducked away from him, immediately yanking her hair out of its ponytail. She held it together with her hand, keeping it in a ponytail look so none of the strangers would see how bad her hair was. She washed it when she could, in creeks and such with the products she kept in her bag, but it had been almost a week since she'd showered. She was self conscious even now; she didn't want anyone to see her even worse than she was now. Nikki pulled her hair back into a neater ponytail as they walked with the group down a hallway, shooting her brother angry looks. He frowned at her, annoyed that she was mad but only as little. His annoyance went away when she gave him a slightly annoyed smile.
"Are we underground?" A woman with short hair, the little girl's mom Nikki was pretty sure, asked.
"Are you claustrophobic?" Jenner asked. Nikki frowned, their mom had been claustrophobic. She had been such a small woman too so in crowds she usually got squished and had claustrophobic attacks. Nikki could remember them well. God she missed her mama.
The woman eyed the ceiling above them. "A little." She admitted.
"Try not to think about it." Jenner told the woman.
Nikki let out a short laugh that ended in a sort of snort. Everyone looked back at her, giving her odd looks and, in some cases, disapproving looks. Nikki smiled but she could feel her face heating up. "What? He's really bad at comfortin' people and I find it funny." She told the group, smiling still. They all looked away but some exchanged looks that said they thought Nikki might be insane. Nikki instantly felt angry but she felt the familiar deep throb of pain beneath her anger. She'd always been worried before the world went shitty that there was something wrong with her. Seeing other people clearly thinking she was insane seriously hurt her.
Chris noticed how hurt his sister was despite how absolutely none of the pain registered on her face. He glared at the group then slung his arm around his sister's shoulders. "I thought it was funny too Nikki." He assured her. She gave him a small smile, knowing he was trying to cheer her up, before looking back at the group. Neither Dawson noticed the sideways look Daryl gave them or the sad look Andrea sent them.
Jenner led them into a large dark room. "Vi, bring up the lights in the big room." He ordered as they walked in. Immediately lights started turning on and the room hummed as they did. Jenner turned to look at them, noticing how they stared around the room with awe. It was understandable why they were awed. They hadn't seen electricity in a while. "Welcome to Zone Five." Jenner said, not happily.
"Where is everybody? The doctors? The staff?" Rick asked. He clearly hoped Jenner wasn't the only person there.
Jenner looked rueful. "I'm it. It's just me." He told them.
"But you were just talkin' to someone. She turned on the lights." Nikki pointed out. She thought of something just a second later and her expression turned into one of fright. "Oh God, please tell me it's not an AI." She said, a slightly pleading note to her voice. Chris looked over at her in confusion; he didn't know what an AI was.
Jenner looked a tad impressed. "An AI of sorts." He told her. Nikki's shoulders slumped immediately and everyone realized that what Jenner had said wasn't good. "Vi, say hello to our guests. Tell them...Welcome." Jenner said to the AI.
"Hello guests. Welcome." The AI said immediately. Nikki shuddered at the voice, remembering a movie she'd seen that had involved a psycho AI.
"I'm all that's left. I'm sorry." Jenner said. He let the news that he really was the last man standing sink in before speaking again. "Come on. I still need to take your blood." He said, walking past all of them. They all exchanged mixed looks before following him out. Jenner led them to a room Nikki thought looked like a classroom. As he started taking blood from people Nikki started fidgeting. She always hated being vaccinated and the one time she'd had blood drawn she could barely stand it. "Alright young lady, you're turn." Jenner said once Andrea had gotten up. He was looking straight at Nikki, his expression still slightly concerned after hearing Jacqui talk about none of them having any food for a while.
"I don't want to give blood." Nikki said though she still sat down where Jenner wanted her to. Chris walked over and stood by her side, offering quiet support. "Not that I'm afraid of needles or anythin'. I just don't trust anyone who will willingly stab me." Nikki said, eyeing Jenner with a bit of distrust.
Jenner laughed quietly. "I don't blame you." He told her. Nikki smiled in response, missing the needle going into her arm. The second she knew it was in though she focused on it, glaring at it like she thought it would kill her. As she saw her blood being drawn she felt a little sick. She also felt twitchy. She could feel the needle in her arm and she wanted to move her arm and dislodge it. She knew she couldn't though or else she'd probably end up hurting herself. Jenner glanced up at her for a second. "Sorry." He said.
"Nah, it's fine." Nikki said immediately, not wanting to look like a pansy. The second the needle was out of her arm though she was up out of the seat. It gave her a head rush and she stumbled a bit, her hand clutching the side of her head and her vision going incredibly black for a long time. Chris rushed over to his sister and supported her as she nearly fell over. "Whoa, head rush." Nikki laughed though she sounded a tad concerned.
"You alright?" Chris asked worriedly. He'd never seen her like that except when she was either sleep walking or sick. He didn't like it.
"Oh yeah, I'm fine. Totally fine." Nikki said. She blinked her eyes a few times and her vision came back slowly. "Yay! I can see again! See, good as new!" She told her brother. Chris gave her a doubtful look but she just smiled and moved away. She slumped against the wall, her head swimming with worry. She'd never gotten head rushes that bad before. And she'd only ever felt this weak when she was extremely sick, like that time she had a hundred and four temperature.
Chris sat down in the chair his sister had vacated, his eyes still on his sister. She looked worried and sick. "She okay?" Jenner asked, looking over at Nikki with at least some worry.
"She will be. Just needs somethin' to eat and some rest." Chris told the man, hoping that he was right. Nikki had never needed much to eat to be healthy, a meal a day usually was enough though she'd eat two if she was being greedy, but she'd eaten a lot less than usual lately. They'd ran out of food the week before and hadn't been able to catch much since so she'd had maybe four meals the whole week. They'd been pretty small meals too. Chris hoped if he could just fill her stomach up she'd be alright.
Jenner emptied the syringe of blood into a container. "Alright, all done." He said. Chris looked at his arm and at the container of his blood in surprise; he'd been so engrossed in worrying about his sister that he hadn't even noticed his blood being taken. Jenner sealed the container before turning back to the group. "Now, I think I can solve your hunger problem." He said, getting up. The group looked at him hopefully, a few stomachs rumbling as they did. "Come on, I'll show you to the kitchen." He said, leaving the room. The group followed after him immediately, eager to get some food in their stomachs.