Chapter 3: Close Encounters

After the Doctor was dressed Brad removed his gas mask and introduced himself. He could have given her some of the regular unleaded gas they had and let her be on her way. But the truth was they didn't have a medic and the men were starting to look and feel worn. So he broke the news to her about Atlanta.

"They were telling people to go there!" The tiny doctor said indignantly. She then slumped down against her car a few tears leaking from her eyes.

"But if too many infected individuals were located there the disease, if incurable, would ravage the whole country. I understand, it doesn't make it right though." She said. Brad let her in on their plans of going to South Carolina and offered her a ride in exchange for offering his men medical attention. She wiped her eyes and got off the ground and began to walk over with Brad to the men.

"This is Doc Wilson, she needs a new ride. I offered her one to South Carolina." Brad announced to his very curious men, most had seen her undress a couple pairs of binoculars were passed back and forth. Nate's glare stopped any catcalls.

"You can call me Amanda." She responded cheerily.

"You can call her Doc Amanda. And that's all you can call her." Brad said with the full on Iceman voice.

"Right, ok let me get my bags. You men take a seat and I'll give each of you a thorough physical. Can I get on of you strapping boys to help me?" She asked. All the men stepped forward. Brad had Stafford go with her and help her retrieve her things.

Though worst for wear their feet were the most cut up. A few were bandaged up, Brad thanked his forethought of bring almost the entire infirmary. The Doc also had a few cases of bottled water in her car that she passed out to the men, who quickly hydrated. Brad stood next to each man while each physical was performed. He didn't want any of his junior Marines making suggestive comments, but more importantly he was concerned that each maintains their combat effectiveness. The worst cases had two men ordered to sit in back of the vehicle to rest their feet and a few had urinary tract infections that they were given antibiotics for. He even made Nate get a once over, he passed a little dehydrated though.

"Ok Master Sargent time for you big boy. I know you're worried about your men offending me don't be. I've faced guerrilla soldiers in Africa before, I can handle myself against a couple corn-fed good 'ol boys. I'm a big girl. So your turn, take off your pants." She said with a cheeky smile.

"Yes ma'am." Brad said the corner of his lip upturned.


For a short distance they had to get on the main highway, Brad had planned on having the men all ride in the back of transport vehicle diesel be damned and just going through as fast as possible. The men had liked this plan very much. But the road was like a bad disaster film, there were abandon cars everywhere completely blocking the road. They would have to move the cars out of the way to create a small path for the transport vehicle to go through. The also raided the cars, fully MOPP'd up as there were dead bodies inside and out of the cars. They were surprised how many civilians had MREs, weapons, and brought food and water.

A few of the men were also looking for presents for Doc Amanda, a couple of the guys developing crushes on the bubbly women. She had been ordered to remain in the vehicle cab with one of the drivers as they scavenged. The remaining men were on patrol in front of and behind the vehicle, with one man standing with the binoculars behind the cab. They slowly inched forward returning every once and a while with their looted goodies. Stafford came back with a small backpack that he handed to the Doc.

"Ma' am can we use any 'a this?" She opened the bag and it was filled different prescription bottles all with different names on them.

"I'm not sure. Looks like a few antibiotics, sleeping pills, pain pills, high blood pressure, and cholesterol and diabetes medication mostly but some of it I'm sure. It's always better to be prepared. And there appears to be more at the bottom. Thank you, Evan." She said smiling, he looked away sprinting back to look through more cars. By the time they covered three miles they had replenished their food supply. Amanda had a lot more medications. As well as clothes, so many that she had to turn some away. Keeping the ones she knew would fit, more practical shoes, and one dress that was too expensive to just leave.

The best find of the day though had to be the Ozarka water truck they found abandoned. Brad was so thankful he had two licensed vehicle operators now. He and Evan could of course drive too, they often did rotating out with Corporal Jimmy Watson and Corporal Vincent Martinez. Jimmy and Vincent were also pretty decent mechanics. The Ozarks driver was nowhere to be found but Stafford was able to hotwire the truck, looking a little sheepishly at Colbert's raised eyebrow. They had found at least one hundred and fifty gallons of water. There was no way he was leaving that truck. Dehydration would kill them before these diseased freaks.

The road finally started to clear and they were now a convoy again. Jimmy, Stafford and Walker squished together in the water truck. In the transpo vehicle Vincent was driving, the Doc sitting between him and Colbert and the rest of the men in the bed. Private Jamie Holloway tapped twice on the hood of the cab to signal he saw something up ahead as he had the binoculars on lookout. The trucks came to a halt. Colbert got out and jumped on top of the cab with the binoculars.

He saw the people up ahead unfortunately they also had eyes on them too from the top of an RV. Some old man in a fishing hat started waving his arms at him, seeming to get the attention of people on the road beneath him. He counted eight adults, two children. Three of the men were definitely armed with guns, another man with a crossbow. One man was in a full on sheriff's deputy uniform, including the cowboy hat, the other younger man had a black baseball cap that said police on it. He figured from how he stood next to the woman, these were his friends and family.

Brad was still contemplating what to do when he saw the Deputy began to walk towards the convoy. He told all his men to get out onto the road, gas masks on, guns ready, but not to fire until his signal. He didn't know how many people could be in that RV, he didn't have time to do proper reconnaissance. Brad had Walker and Corporal Jacobs follow him in formation guns ready. The closer he got the more he was able to see the man, he had his hands raised and he looked desperate. Desperate men always unsettled Brad. They met in the middle of a grass traffic median.

"None of my people have been bitten, none of us are sick, we are just looking for help. We have woman and children and no food or water left. Please sir, just asking for a little help. There is no civilian safe zone, ya'll are the first live troops we've seen. My names Rick Grimes, my wife and son are over by that RV which is where I left my gun. " The man finished pointing to his empty holster. Brad had already noticed it but also saw the man in the cap pointing a rifle their direction.

"Get off the highway, look for shelter and keep your women and children indoors. We'll leave you with some food and water. Do you have any radios?" Brad asked, then he turned telling something to his Corporal who sprinted back to the other men.

"Yes, just a couple CBs. Thank you for the food and water, but how are we supposed to survive out here alone? Where are you and your men headed?" Rick asked, then he saw six men walking back, four men carrying 5-gallon water jugs and another carrying a box the last had his weapon drawn.

"We will leave you this for your radios. I'm sorry we don't have any humanitarian rations to give. Our supply lines are compromised too. I have to think about my men. If you ration and then find a camp ground next to a stream or well your people will be okay. And with these infected you need to aim for the head, try a knife first sound attracts more of them. I'm sorry." Brad said sincerely.

A/N: Thanks to anyone reading!