Thanks again for continuing to read. The reviews are welcome and much appreciated. If you ever reach a part of the story you just don't agree with. Just keep reading, I want every character to be portrayed fairly.


Calliope sat with her back against the wall, her right knee lifted slightly behind her. She stroked her daughter's hair from her downed position, her eyes still staring at the door. She was certain she was still in bed, Arizona long gone for work and she was stuck in some type of night terror. Any moment, Sofia would round the corner and hop into her bed carrying on about something. Kids could really get on about nothing at all if you let them.

She wouldn't mind this time, she wouldn't tell her mommy needed 10 more minutes. She'd sit up and sip coffee, listening to her go on and on for hours. Only this time she wasn't going to hop into bed, there wasn't even a bed to get into. She tried to grasp it, hold onto that thought, that memory, until it slipped through the cracks of her mind. And slowly she seeped back into reality. She was back with her head resting against ashen, cracked walls. Her shoes, planted on thick, dirt coated concrete. Back from dreaming into the real nightmare.

She briefly bit back tears as she watched the girl breathing beside her. Like every breath brought in was her last.

She blamed herself naturally. How could she be so stupid? How could she remember an extra pair of underwear and forget the medication. Suddenly she questioned years of parenting. She had done everything right. Everything. From breastfeeding to baby slings. She had her learning piety through faith, her grades were near perfect, she even had her involved in just the right amount of physical activity, not too much due to her condition, but enough to keep her fit. She did everything her mother didn't. She was there to help and guide her. She didn't tell her to grow up too fast; she was going to walk her right through womanhood. Life would be an absolute breeze for her. And now because of her own inanity she was wondering if she'd even be able to guide her through the night.

"Momma."

A feeble voice called to her, breaking her away from her own mental lashing. She turned slightly to see the girl had rolled to her side. She slid her hand to her face and made small circles on cheek. "Hey you. Feeling better?"

Sofia had been watching her momma briefly. She knew her parents. She knew that when her mother came home late that she could stay up longer if she sat at the table and engaged her while she ate her warmed up supper. She knew that when her momma called her in for dinner she had two voices. The one that told her she had time to spare, and the one that told her she had about 15 seconds flat to make it inside and get washed up, or there would be consequences. She also knew when they were angry, when the bedroom door slammed and she awoke to a yellow haired mass sleeping uncomfortably on the couch. She knew their ticks, their habits, some of them even got instilled in her she bet. So when her mother turned to her with moon sized eyes nearly vibrating with fresh tears, she knew she could only give one reply to keep her sane.

"Much better."

A sad smile. A smile so sad it made Sofia maneuver best she could off the cot and curl up between Calliope's legs. This gesture, earned her a big kiss to the forehead, which was quite comforting for her. She burrowed into her, trying to keep her breathing as even as possible. The sudden loss of air only came in fits; she was okay for now, still in a fleshy familiar fortress. She felt impenetrable within it.

"Look at this head of yours." Calliope explained brushing thick locks back into place. "You look like you've been rode hard and hung out to draw." She chuckled softly and began unraveling the loose and messy braid that hung past Sofia's shoulder. "Sit still while I tame this thing."

"Don't see why." She adjusted so that her back faced her mother's chest. "Those things are out there, nobody cares."

Calliope sighed.

And there it was. Her mother's dreary side that she seemed to inherit despite not even being her blood. Calliope didn't realize what a mash-up the two had created. She did indeed have qualities from them both; she prayed she had taken in Arizona's survival instincts.

Skillful hands dipped into dark and slightly damp hair and began weaving gently. "No daughter of mine is going to run around looking disheveled. Things are changing around us, and yes it's a bit chaotic but, let's not be so quick to alter ourselves just because of it." She nodded when she finished that sentence to drive her point home. She wasn't going to give up on living. She knew that endurance was what they all needed. She felt that in all new situations there was always a way to adapt without losing yourself. It's the little things people begin to miss on the way to losing themselves. Little clues they leave for you to chase so you can find them.

"Why don't you eat some lunch, you need your energy." She through it out as a way to steer clear of the outside world discussion. And it was just a part of the way she was raised. In her family when someone was born, they ate. When somebody graduated, they ate. And even when someone passed on, they'd all sit glumly at a table while some widower cried until mascara clumped to her eyelashes.

"Not hungry." She didn't mean to be short with her mother, but she didn't want to be pacified right now and honestly, her appetite was completely diminished.

"Okay, can you at least drink a little water?" She paused mid braid to bend and whisper into her ear. "For mommy?"

Sofia grabbed the bottle beside them and took a small sip. Her forehead creased. "When's mom coming back?"

Silence.

Maybe she had posed the question too soon but she wanted to know. She wanted to see her walk through the door safe. She wanted her to take her out of this basement just like she said, just like she pinky promised.

Calliope didn't speak, she simply kept braiding until she reached the very ends of her hair. She stopped, smoothed the sides and hugged her daughter to her chest. She didn't know what to say. Soon. Never. Possibly? All of those options were conceivable. She knew she needed to keep her daughters confidence high, but in all honesty she needed to hear it to. "She'll be back, and very soon."

"I'm worried."

It broke Calliope's heart those words coming from someone so young. She felt smaller in her arms then. She gripped her even tighter. "Don't be." A kiss to her temple. "Knowing your mother she's probably taking the scenic route."

They laughed together. And it wasn't the new world laugh that people used more out of practice and habit. This was genuine laughter, laughter like when Arizona tried to focus while she watched the news and Calliope would get Sofia in trouble by making a silly face. It was therapeutic; it made them feel okay with their loved one somewhere in a world like this, detached from them.

Cheeks still sore from laughter Sofia spoke up. "And when she comes back and I get better, I'm going to fight right alongside her." She felt her cheeks begin to dampen. "When she gets here I'll tell her myself…when she gets back…" Her voice cracked. She shook her head, turned and sobbed softly into her mother's chest.

Calliope held her, but loosened up her grip to rub her back. "Don't get upset Sofia. You've got to stay calm okay. Your mother is…" She was there with her daughter, but as she spoke she envisioned her wife, her mind nearly conjuring up an image. "…she is fearless. She is the most courageous person I've ever met in my life and she'll be back to protect you. That's what we are here for. To keep you safe, so don't you worry your little head." She blinked and her mind's eye faded the image of Arizona. "We're a family. We'll get through this together. Sometimes, sometimes we may have to go our separate ways to get things done. But we always find our way back. We always do."

"And dad…" Sofia sniveled. "…he's going to find his way back to us too right?"

Calliope hadn't thought of him. Hadn't stopped to remember what this all meant. How was Mark? Was he alive? Was he one of those things? Then her mind drifted to her mother, had she too met the same fate? Another layer of sad stacked neatly into place against the thick blanket of sorrow she was already covered up to her neck in.

Were they going to go on a hunt for loved ones? Or were they going to leave it up to fate? Calliope hadn't the slightest clue, but she knew her mother was close and Mark…he could be anywhere. She wondered what Arizona would think about searching them out. All three had had their differences, but she now questioned where Arizona stood with them. Would she be willing to find them too?

It was raining out. No a pouring down rain, but just enough to ruin your shirt if you had forgotten your umbrella. Calliope finally made it up the ramp and rummaged through her purse for her keys. She was horrible with purses. She had everything in it. Coupons, old receipts, a first aid kit and most importantly gum for Sofia in church to keep her munching instead of having a kicking war with Samuel Lamont under the church pews. She had nearly given up and knocked but her probing finger tips finally edged onto something cold and metallic in her purse.

She swung open the door and immediately hung up her purse, just as the rain began to fall a little harder. Satisfied she had beaten out the weather she shook out her hair and wrapped it into a neat, wet bun. She hadn't realized how dark it was inside until she softly ticked the light on. As soon as the fixture flooded light into their living room Arizona appeared out of the shadows, her eyes glued to Calliope.

"Good lord!" Calliope said nearly jumping ten feet into the air. She clutched her chest, relieved that it was Arizona and not some crazy person ready to attack her. Her eyes found deep blue one's, they were her lover's alright, but they were glassy and red. She smiled and one was returned. The countered smile however didn't reach those unrelenting cobalt pupils trained on her.

Another nervous chuckle. "That's a good way to give a girl a heart attack."

Arizona looked at her intensely. But she wasn't just looking at her, she was eyeing her. She knew exactly what she was doing. The road to the truth was often one that was slippery with many twists and turns. There was a way to get to destination b without all the side tracking. She had learned that in the specialist training that led her to be one of the best the Army had to offer. The first step was letting the person know, that you know that they know that you know or that you're really close to finding out.

"Where were you?" Thunder crashed outside. The rain pattered on the roof and windows, eating up the time between her question and Calliope's response. She was counting the seconds in between; she wanted to know how fast her wife would lie to her face.

Calliope did not like this setup. She didn't like those eyes on her, felt like a stranger. "Ran late over at the community center. You know that Jacob Deen tried to-"

"I don't give a flying fuck about Jacob Deen." She made sure to put emphasis on her curse word. Partially because she was pissed, the other part because it pissed Calliope off beyond end.

The bass in Arizona's voice always caused her to shiver. Made her feel like slipping out of her own skin. She knew something was wrong, she knew it when she flipped that switch. Knew it when she let that lie slither from her mouth and leap past her teeth.

"Can you watch you language. Sofia's probably…"

"Sofia's with the neighbors." Arizona looked out the window. Watched the water glide from droplets to form thick veins on the window seal. "You fucking him again?"

"Are you insane…" She lowered her voice. Arizona had every right to be upset since it was pretty apparent she knew what had happened. She would give her her right to be angry. She just had to try her best to remain calm. "…Arizona I wouldn't jeopardize what we have for anyone else-"

Arizona tried to speak but Calliope raised her hand to halt her.

"Let me finish!" She fired back, the edge in her voice thick and unforgiving. She had a right to be hurt, but she had a right to be heard. Arizona forgot that sometimes. That she needed to be heard. She used her tone to remind her. "I know you're upset with me…"

"I'm not upset." She looked over at Calliope. She was trying so hard to bite back tears her fingers were digging into her palms. "Just disappointed." More thunder. So hard the lights dimmed.

Calliope felt those words like a mule kick to her stomach. She took a seat on the edge of the tan couch they had purchased on credit from the Conn's depot up through Conroe. Those same words were muttered from a different mouth, long ago. Her mother back then delivered those lines while she cradled her stomach in defense of the life she had formed by accident. The life that put a dead halt to her college career her mother set aside a small trust for her entire life. "Baby I'm so sorry I lied…"

"How do I know that's not another lie?"

Calliope couldn't stand it anymore. Them so close together and an ocean between them. She slid over and forced her to be near her. Forced her to accept that she was there and she wasn't ever leaving her side, no matter what. "I'm not having sex with Mark. We just needed to meet up outside of the house to talk things over about Sofia."

"And I wasn't thought to be included?" Arizona retorted. "Oh I get it I'm just the stupid pigeon huh? Just the person who works their ass off for that little girl to give her the life she deserves. But I don't get an opinion on things like that asshole coming back into the picture."

This always got sticky. Arizona was her mother, she would always be. But it there were some things Callie felt, she just could never understand. "You're being ridiculous Arizona. No one's trying to trick you. Or con you. You think that's why I devoted my life to you? Raised my child with you? Think that was all some gigantic plot to throw in your face when I skated off into the sunset with Mark of all people?"

"Don't turn this around on me goddamnit!" Arizona yelled and it rivaled the crashing thunder outside. She stood and paced, her anger near its boiling point.

Calliope noticed what was under that steely gaze now. "Have you been drinking?"

"That is besides the point."

"The hell it is. I thought you were through with that stuff."

"Well I thought you were through with him, remember?"

"For the last time I am not sleeping with Mark." She stood too, pointed to the kitchen. "That stuff takes away your good sense. You're acting petty and jealous and you're not even listening to me." She should have let it drop there. "You never listen to me." A little too late for should haves and would haves now.

"Oh I listen. I listen from the time I walk through that door to the time I close my eyes." She paused to focus on holding back the tears. Couldn't let them flow. Not now. She had a point to prove. "I listen to your mother rant and rave about how great Mark is with Sofia. What a great influence he'd be on her life!" She was yelling louder now. At the very tip top of her lungs.

Callie wanted to reach out to her. Hold her. Shake all this horrible sadness around them away. She knew Arizona had a complex about getting pushed out; she just didn't know how miserable it made her.

"I do everything for her. Everything he won't stick around to do."

"So this is about credit?" Her accent slipped. It tended to do so when her anger rised. "Who does the most? The last time I checked you loved our daughter and cared for her because she was yours. The Arizona I know doesn't give a 'you know what' about what my mother thinks. Or what Mark Sloan does."

"She's not the only one I'm afraid I'll get pushed away from."

Calliope's heart crushed. She thought she was being pushed out of their lives, to be replaced by Mark on both accounts. She couldn't even speak, or word how utterly outlandish the thought of leaving her for Mark was. She got up from her seat and threw her arms around her wife. She tried to wriggle free. She even tried to warn her, but she ended up sinking, and bursting into tears. Shaking, rattling gloom that caused her body to quiver.

She guided her to the couch, and held her through the storm inside and outside their home. She held her until her tears had soaked her blouse. She had avoided one downpour in it, but this was one she couldn't avoid. They were stretched out across the couch now, face to face. Calliope's hand went to her wife's cheek. "I lied to you…" She tried to turn away. Calliope firmly pulled her back into view. "…look at me Arizona Robbins. I lied to you, because I didn't want you to be upset. I know a little bit of Mark's gravy gets all over your plate. But he's a good man."

She tried to wrench away again but she held her steadfast. "He's flawed. Majorly. He split on her, he always splits on her. But he always comes back. He wants to do the right thing by her. I'm not going to stand in the way of that and deep down inside you know you don't want to do that either."

"Calliope…" She sighed softly. "…you both mean the world to me. We've built something here you and I. It isn't faultless, but it ours. I can't…" Arizona's face straightened. "…I won't lose you."

"And you never will." She kissed her lightly but she made sure it lingered. "I am so crazy about you Arizona." She laughed her eyes abounded with tears. "I wake up with you every day and I still can't wait to see you walk through that door and I'm not the only one. She stays up late for you, too late sometimes. Just to see you walk through that door. And it rips me up inside that a little piece of her does that because she thinks you may not one day. But you always come back to her. You always come back home."

Arizona smiled sadly. "I hadn't been drinking before you came back. I was-"

"Crying?"

"Yeah." Arizona said and looked away.

"I'm sorry I said those things it's just..." She saddened. "…I know it's always lingering just below the surface. With the dreams and stress and…"

"It okay." She shook her head. "I came real close."

"Arizona you can cry. And you can hate me for lying I don't blame you. But you can't stay mad at me."

"Oh I can't?"

"No, you can't." She kissed her wife. "Because you love me."

"That's open for debate." She laughed when Calliope jabbed her side playfully.

"Tell me you love me." She whispered.

"I love you."

"And I love you. Not Mark freakin' Sloan." She smooched her again. "Give him a try again. For Sofia's sake?"

"We aren't going to hold hands and sing kumbayah. I'll do this for her and only her." Another well-earned kiss.

She hopped on top of Calliope and pinned her arms above her head, her smile rising from her previous sorrowful disposition. "Don't lie to me Calliope. Ever. Just talk to me, okay?"

"I promise." Callie said just above a whisper, her lips already glued to her partner's, the passion building with each sigh and connection of their bodies. "Now can we get to the making up part?"

She didn't know many people in this world. Well, she knew a lot of people but it was only a select few she just saw inside and out. Arizona Robbins was one of them. If there was a chance to save someone, no matter her opinion of them, she would. She always came around. She was stubborn, so it took her longer, but she always moved her feelings aside for the people that mattered to her. Even if it was for people she wasn't quite fond of.

"We don't need to worry about daddy right now." She gently directed Sofia back to the cot. "But yeah, he's there to protect you too." She kissed her forehead. "So you just relax honey."

Soon Sofia lay quietly, balled up in the cot and still struggling for breaths. She heard a noise above them. Footsteps. Panic. Gut wrenching panic took ahold of her. She froze. It was Sofia who stirred first.

"Is that mom?"

More footsteps now. Louder this time. She placed a finger to her lips to silence her daughter. A shaky hand reached out for the gun. She picked it up, felt the weight of cool steel in her palm. She heard Arizona in her head. Check the safety Calliope. She glanced and corrected the safety on the gun. Nice and steady baby, keep your focus. 2 seconds to aim, 1 to fire. She held it out in front of her and headed towards the stairs.

"Mommy where are you going?" Sofia nearly shouted.

A harsh scowl from her mother kept her quiet. Her breathing was increasing again. The noises above, the gun, her mom. Her chest rattled.

Calliope looked back with concern but just as she doubled back she heard voices. She eyed Sofia to make sure she was in somewhat stable condition then headed up the stairs. Each step making her pulse quicken. She was at the top now, her right ear tuned to the door.

"Empty!" A thud. "Those damn things are on our heels and-"

"Quiet!"

Silence.

"I think someone's here."

Deafening silence now. All but Sofia's breathing. Calliope heard footsteps growing closer now. She took a deep breath and opened the door aiming from person to person. Each man outside swerving out of the path of the gun.

"Hey lady, stop pointing that thing at us!" He was young, but it looked as if balding had already started in on him. He wore a tank top and greasy, ashy denim jeans that were frayed at the ends. "We're not one of those things!"

"Yeah, so put the fucking gun down lady." He was taller than his friend, older too. Grey had set in at his temples. The black V neck and jeans finishing off his cool dad look.

She kept it high, aim shifting from man to man. "What do you want here?"

"Same as you. Away from those things. Put the gun down lady."

"Yeah put it down already!"

"If one of you tells me to put this gun down one more time so help me."

The taller man snaked his neck. "What you hiding down there?"

"None of your damn business." She spat back at him. She didn't like his tone. He sounded like he wanted to know for sinister reasons.

He stepped forward. "We just want a place to stay, no harm no foul."

"Back up." She stated nudging the gun in his direction.

"Come on man let's get out of here-"

"Shut your mouth boy!" His attention was back on Calliope now. He was getting closer. "Don't you want to share whatever it is you're hoarding down there."

"I said back up."

"Come on now. Sweet thang' like yourself probably got plenty to share. Help us out here…" He smiled, yellow flecks in a large toothy grin. "…we ain't gonna' hurt you, hey come to think of it. We would be an asset wouldn't we?"

"I mean it don't come any closer. Just go on about your business."

Shakier now. His chest was pressed up against the barrel of the gun.

"Put down the gun and let us in that basement."

"No!"

"I said put the gun down-"

He reached for her wrist and clamped on hard. So hard it made Callie yelp from the pressure. He shoved the gun upwards, the entire time his friend shouting that he was going too far. Calliope held tight until he pushed her up against a wall and placed his hand around her throat with his free hand.

A gunshot sounded off during the struggle, sending the bullet straight up and through the roof of the home, leaving behind speckles of dust and old wood. He cursed her and gripped her neck tighter. Calliope was struggling to keep her hold on the gun when she heard his companion scream in terror behind him. They both paused.

They must have left the front door open because sure enough one of the creatures had scrambled into the home and was currently making lunch out of his little friend. The thing had its arms wrapped around his entire body, its teeth grating the flesh on the man's shoulders. It clamped down harder until pools of blood seeped from the open wound. Its grey-whitish eyes rolled. It's tongue lapping at bits of flesh.

Calliope was horrified. She hadn't seen one this close. Blood was everywhere, the man's scream's had died and then he fell convulsing on the floor. In what appeared to be seconds he was up again, and now he and the thing began stumbling towards the pair. It was Calliope who acted first. She brought up her knee and drove it into his groin. That was enough for him to relinquish his hold on the gun, and it provided her enough time to push him into the arms of the hungry monsters.

She bolted. Tucked herself back into the basement and shut the door clamping the tiny lock shut. She turned to peek back through the crack in the door to see what had become of him but was met with a nasty snarl as one of the beings snapped at her from the other side. She barely made it down the steps before she sank to her knees.

Croaky and hoarse shutters came from her left. It was Sofia; she sat all the way on the other end of the basement, her eyes wide from both the fear of death and her lack of oxygen. Calliope's head tilted to the right and she heard them, all three of them pressing up against the door together. Clamoring for their two fresh meals just below. She looked at the framing of the door, her own breathing short and sporadic. With each shove against the entrance, the hinges wiggled.


The glass imploded behind her, bits of it flew past her face as she ran. She felt something tug on her arm; she whirled around and sent an elbow crashing into what used to be the teller at the bank. Her eyes were scanning now, she had seconds to react. She spotted her escape. She'd hide behind the pharmacy booth for now. If she could just make it to the door and close it, it would buy her more time. Time seemed to be the new currency. Even in this upside down world, she was still broke.

She switched gears and felt something sink into her boot. It was one of those things, gnawing at her like she was a twelve dollar steak. She kicked past it and with that motion; she managed to remove a whole row of the things teeth. She slid behind the pharmacy door and pressed her full weight against it, trying desperately to close it up and lock it. It was useless; she couldn't hold back the pack. Quickly she skimmed the environment and saw a back door.

Was it locked, did it need some kind of key card to be opened? She had little time to weigh her options. She shoved as hard as she could one more time on the door, then broke away and headed for the exit. Without even looking at what steps she needed to get it open, using her momentum she scissor kicked it right down the middle sending it careening open to the back alley.

She surged through and as soon as she managed to run through the door, two of the biters were awaiting her. The one closest to her charged her; she took her shotgun and shoved it so far into its mouth that it sunk past its throat. Through its mouth she shot other creature gunning for her and then kicked it backwards.

Her eyes darted around; more were drawn to the gunfire. She had no time to run; the crowd was way too thick. She shoved her rifle inside of the bag and then used all her might to swing it to the top of the building. With the multitude already closing in on her she leaped and began shimming up the drainage pipe on the building. She was climbing faster now, but felt her arms grow weaker with each inch.

Still struggling to maintain her grip, she slid down a few inches and felt one of them nearly grab her ankle. She grunted and pulled herself up higher. She was nearly at the center of the pole now. She gritted her teeth and kept climbing. She was higher now, that's when she heard the first bolts go.

Panic set in. She had to move. She double timed it but as soon as she had neared the top, the pipe bent back and nearly sent her plummeting into the gang of undead.

She screamed as her legs dangled slightly and then she made the stupid mistake of looking down. Below her was a deep sea of teeth and limbs. They were reaching for her, calling her but not by name, with those horrific screams that made her want to let go just to cover her ears. She felt her grip slipping.

She almost accepted death at this point. Started making her peace. She had done everything she could. She'd liked to think she'd had a good life, a decent one. She had honored all of her responsibilities. Gave back when she could, worked hard, provided. She had her up's and down's but all in all, she had been happy. Or as close to it as possible.

She was hanging on by finger tips now.

Arizona looked up, and spotted the railing alongside the roof. She could make it, she had to. She was too close. Then she remembered her promise. Remembered she said she would be back. She had to keep her word. She had to fight, for them, for herself.

She tightened her grip and reached out a weakened limb to clutch the railing on the roof. She failed to catch it and was now hanging by one hand on the piping. She wasn't going to make it if she didn't take a leap of faith. She gathered all her strength and swung to the railing, her stomach hitting the edge and nearly knocking the wind from her body.

Her legs were still dangling, her boots scrubbing for hold and sending flecks of paint and dust down to the earth. After sucking back the pain, she finally lifted her leg up and over the roof and then her other. Safely on top, she rolled onto her back and sucked in deep loud pants for air, her arms and legs nearly mush.

She looked at the sky and noticed that a large amount of time had elapsed. No time for rest. Got to get up. Got to keep moving.

She bent her neck upwards and rolled up her shirt to look at her stomach, winced when she saw an ugly purple bruise forming. She lowered it and fell back to the roof top. No big deal. She'd dealt with worse. She willed her body upwards and hustled to the edge of the building. Her truck was right there, only problem was she was on a roof and had suddenly become the most popular girl in town. So many people she had met before, so many faces that were familiar to her were now waiting to tear her limb from limb.

In that moment she understood what Calliope meant. She felt a twinge of pain for them momentarily. She quickly shook it off. In the military, she learned in a time of war there was 'us' and 'them'. And she was sure as shit nobody down there was team Arizona.


Calliope watched the door pulse now with each movement from the other side. She had no idea how long she had been sitting there, she just knew that she was alive. She couldn't exactly estimate for how long. She did feel the gun in her hands; she did see her daughter in the corner. Her brown eyes landed on a pair that matched hers only they were shifting madly from her to the door. She rubbed the bridge of her nose with her free hand and tried to get her barring. She still had an equalizer, only problem was she didn't know how to use it. She'd like to think it was as easy as that Nintendo game she had played in her youth with the ducks that scrolled past the screen. Only she wouldn't be shooting sitting ducks. She'd be shooting people, innocent people.

She looked back towards the door. She was only fooling herself; nothing on the other side of that entry was innocent. She'd have to put up a wall; she had to see them for what they are at the moment. Just like Arizona had said. Cold blooded killers. And she'd have to be one just like them. So much for not altering yourself.

She stood on wobbly legs and strode over to Sofia. She tucked into the corner with her and before she knew it Sofia was tucked up under her so tight she couldn't take a breath. She wanted space, she needed some time to get her mind together but with a young child in the balance, she knew that wasn't possible. She knew she'd have to react.

She peeked out the small window. The sun was dropping now, it was getting later and later and Arizona was nowhere in sight. Was she dead?

She gulped, her throat tightening.

No. She couldn't be dead. She just couldn't be. Not Arizona, she always found a way to endure. She'd always find her way back to them. She had to have faith in her, but more importantly she had to have faith in herself. Enough faith, that when that door gave she'd put a bullet in each one of those things and keep herself and her daughter alive.

Sofia breathing was awful at this point; her little face was cold and sweaty at the same time. That couldn't be a good sign.

"She's coming momma." Sofia rasped out. "Don't worry." Sofia held onto her but found after she spoke those words that her mother clung to her too. She was in an awful amount of pain and danger, but so were the people around her. Her mother was out on some mission to save her, facing those things head on alone, her momma was contemplating violating everything she had ever believed in. Her mother hated guns, despised and detested violence of any kind. She was just one of those people. She admired that about her, how she stuck to her convictions no matter what.

In a way she felt herself growing older in that moment. She had just as much responsibility for her mother, as she did herself. She couldn't change their situation, she certainly couldn't fight those creatures banging at the door but she could be comforting. She could be a beacon of strength in a time when it was so desperately needed.

Calliope eyes welled with tears up, but she held her emotions at bay. When the time came, she knew what she had to do.


Arizona marched along each side of the roof. Nothing was clear. There was no way out of this one. She wanted to kick herself in the own ass. She had gone and dug a hole for herself so deep now, there wasn't a rope in the world long enough to get her out of it. Too many of those things, not enough time. And there it was again. Time. As angry as she was if time was a human being right now she'd probably shoot it dead. She checked her ammo situation and nearly threw her remaining shells over the side. Useless. She could take out maybe 6-7, but that wouldn't even make a dent.

She thought about her girl's holed up in that basement forever. Waiting for her. What if she didn't make it back alive? How long would it take Calliope to figure out that she needed to move? Calliope was one of the best people she ever met but she wasn't real good with situations sometimes. And something like this would surely take her a very long time to adjust to.

What if Calliope did finally come to and start taking action. Would she wait for her? Would she come looking for her?

Arizona spat.

She wouldn't blame her if she had decided to move on. She had nearly given up on them on that pipe. She had almost let herself slip and fall backwards into death. She didn't deserve them at this point. She had failed them.

There was too much time that they were unattended. Too much time with her not being around to protect them. What if…she couldn't think of that right now. She had to stop throwing her own pity party and get off this damn rooftop. As long as she was alive, as long as she had a breath left in her body she would devote it to keeping them out of harm's way. She made an oath right there on that rooftop that that little stunt on the edge would never happen again. She had too much to live for right now.

Then she heard the sound of a car approaching. Hope.

She sped along the building waving her arms to flag down the vehicle. There was a woman behind the wheel and she looked like she had been through hell and back. She had bleach blonde hair and dark roots with matching black circles under her eyes. She slowed momentarily. They made eye contact.

Arizona mouthed the word please. The woman sped away. She raised her hands to either side of her skull and watched her head further down the road. When she was out of sight she kicked dirt in her direction. So much for human decency.

Enough time wasted depending on the kindness of strangers or some godsend. She needed to think. She was trained to think, to use her environment to her advantage. She looked across the street and spotted Carl's diner, which had long been looted. The windows were broken out and the back door was off its hinges. To the right was a Dry Cleaner's, owned by Stephanie Vance who nearly shrank every single item of clothing she ever touched. It amazed her how long she managed to stay in business, now a sign hung on her door that said closed for good. It looked like machines were still rolling from where she sat.

On her side was an old movie store her and Calliope frequented because the brunette said that the Red Box held little charm. Nothing had been touched in it. Not surprising as most folks weren't exactly thinking about entertainment at the moment.

None of these were even remotely useful or accessible for the matter either.

She reviewed her mental notes. There had to be something she could use as an advantage. The things couldn't see but they could hear. That's when it hit her, she needed a distraction. And a big one. She certainly couldn't toss an object off the roof like she had done with the soda can earlier.

Another examination of the ground below her and then she spotted it, her big bang. About 50 yards down the stretch was an old beat up bronze Taurus. She thought she'd spotted it around town but wasn't quite focused on who the owner was. All she saw was the rather large box of fireworks sitting in its back seat. Problem was she had a shotgun. Now your regular run of the mill shotgun could fire a slug up to 40-50 yards, however, she couldn't quite be sure the exact distance and well, shotguns weren't exactly known for range and distance ability's. When a shotgun was fired the slug erupted into pellets so there was truly no one true direction that it traveled in, thus its original naming of scatter or pepper gun.

She'd have to try though. She went as close to the edge as possible and lined up the car window in her sites. She pressed the shotgun into her shoulder, bracing for the kickback. The last thing she needed was this thing hopping out of her arms and tumbling over the side. Then she'd be up shit creek without a paddle.

Things got real still and she was thankful for the staunch, arid weather the southern states were well known for. She focused in, as if she were using a sniper. There was no mil dot reticle, only the two small indentions she used to line up the car, her shoulder and the rifle. All she could hear was her breathing now, slow and steady. A drop of sweat rolled from her temple and down her cheek.

She fired. The back window's glass shattered.

She smirked. No sense in being so damn self-satisfied, she had one more target. The shotgun caused more of those atrocious screams; they had started their own chorus down below with them. Each varying in range depending she supposed on the persons voice capacity's before this incident took effect.

"Focus." She whispered to herself. She mostly had to say it out loud to prompt herself that that was the immediate goal. She often did that in regards to her days tasks as a reminder. Arizona reloaded the shotgun, then cocked it, the empty shell popped up and rolled on the rooftop until it came to a stop.

She fired again. No luck. A quick reload. Then bang. It was kind of beautiful how they all shot off at once. For a split second she was back in the yard with Sofia putting a pure spectacle unsurpassed by any other on the block. Large pops and fizzles blasted from the back seat, causing each and every one of those things to turn their head. Purple, greens, and any other color loaded drew them in, a large cloud of smoke forming around the vehicle as the back seat caught on fire. She smiled. Let freedom ring.

She grabbed up her satchel again and gauged her landing to the street below. This was going to hurt, but she had to make sure not to break anything. She broke something and that would be it for her for sure.

With the rifle gripped in her right hand she looked down below and saw a few stragglers seemingly un-phased by the scene in the distance. She needed something to break her fall. When the opportunity presented itself, she took a run and jump and flew over the front end of the building. For a moment she was gliding through the air untouchable, then gravity set in sending her crashing back down to earth. As she approached the ground she extended her knee right into the chest of one of the biters. She sent it careening backwards and as her full weight landed on him, his belly split open and a makeshift knee pad was made of his intestines. The fall still hurt, but the creature made a damn good buffer. Arizona tucked and rolled and sprinted for her truck. She swung open the door and threw herself inside.

Her adrenaline was too high; she could tell by the thumping in her chest and the expression she caught in the rear-view mirror. She had to remain calm. She breathed, clenched the steering wheel and cranked up the engine. The sudden roar caused a few to come towards her, she screeched off leaving a cloud of dust in her wake. She was going to get her girls. Come hell or high water.


Calliope gripped on to Sofia as the thumping on the other side of the door became louder and louder. An unsteady hand lifted the gun up and out. Sofia turned away. Tears were falling now, from both of them. Calliope couldn't recall a time she had cried this much in her entire life. Seemed like since yesterday she had dropped enough emotion to fill an ocean and then some.

A yell came from the outside, this time it was so loud she'd thought for sure they'd breached the basement door. She gripped her mouth with her free hand. She was scared. It was funny how she'd laugh at the person cowering in the corner in horror films. She'd brag about what she would have done if given the opportunity, now here she was paralyzed with fear. Useless.

It seemed like hours had gone by, her arm was nearly numb from aiming at the door. She heard a bang and then a scuffle. One of those things yelled, and then she heard what sounded like the weight of a fully grown body hit the floor. Footsteps lumbered overhead. She heard what sounded like a loud crunch and then a hush settled over the old farmhouse.

The banging on the door commenced. She heard something fiddling through the crack in the door for the latch. Whatever it was, it had succeeded and the door swung open, cascading light onto the basement steps. She aimed at the stairwell, her lip trembling as clumsy steps were midway down. The first thing she saw was a pair of boots, then a flash of blonde hair. She closed her eyes, her gun still extended.

Arizona was still on edge from the fight she had upstairs. She wasn't expecting that. How they got in, she wasn't sure but if the door was still closed that meant they were still alive. She stepped over three fresh corpses, and managed to get the door unlocked from her end. Suddenly it terrified her that a tiny piece of metal was separating those things from her family. Arizona made her way down the steps and what she saw gave her just a moment's pause. Huddled in the corner, were her wife and daughter. Her wife's eyes were closed, her hand clenching a gun, unsteadily. She walked towards her with her hands extended, fighting back her own tears.

"Calliope." She said as she approached. "It's okay drop the gun." No response, the poor thing must have been in shock. Sofia stirred when she heard her voice. Turned, smiled. She stooped beside them both and slowly removed the gun from Callie's hand.

The brunette never opened her eyes; she just leapt forward and clung to her. Arizona grabbed them both into her arms. With them this close, it was then that she realized her work was not yet completed. She distanced herself just a bit and reached into the bag. She sat Sofia down flat on the floor and watched her take three heavy drags. She was stabilizing.

Arizona exhaled. It was slow and loud. She scrambled to her feet looking for anything to prop up against the door as she latched it. She found some old boards. It would do for the now.

Calliope was still on the edge but she coaxed Sofia back into the cot for more rest. That's when she saw her wife nearly collapse to the floor in exhaustion. Once Sofia was secure she ran to her, gripped her into her arms and slowly guided them back into a seated position on the floor right next to Sofia. Arizona was the picture of fatigue, her hair was wild, dirt and sweat covered every inch of her body and her knee was covered in blood, bits of gore flaking it.

"We have to-"

She tried to speak but Calliope hushed her. "We'll stay here for the night."

"Is Sofia-"

"Yes. Rest." She whispered.

She watched her struggle to stay awake. Watched her fight for them, even if it meant her own well-being was at stake. She watched as her eyes closed briefly, then popped open but soothing arms slowly wooed her to sleep. She kissed her forehead. They could face the world tomorrow; tomorrow she could jump back into high gear; and run herself ragged trying to protect them. Despite her earlier state she had to be strong now, she had to pick up the slack when Arizona couldn't push any longer.

She swept tears of joy from her face.

Tonight she would protect their daughter. Tonight she would protect her.