Disclaimer: See Chapter 1.

This chapter is a little light hearted, had a few beers and was enjoying the whole 'picking on Kmart' thing.

Chapter 4

Claire put it to a vote "Those in favour?" noticing the group's reaction, there was no point in even asking who was 'against'. "Arcadia it is."

Kmart was ecstatic she twirled around and kissed the first person she saw.

"Fuck sake Kmart!" Betty walked off wiping her mouth and swore under her breath, something about lesbians and so forth. "Lord, help me."

Shrugging off Betty's reaction, Kmart saw Alice out of the corner of her eye smiling and shaking her head. Kmart winked and walked off. Alice immediately looked to Claire, who only glared in her direction. Alice mouthed the words 'I didn't do a thing, I swear.'

Everyone moved pretty quickly after the decision was made. It seemed the convoy had a new found enthusiasm, finally having something to believe in gave them hope, and everyone seemed willing to put their lives on the line. Knowing that going to Las Vegas was a huge risk to get the supplies they needed, Claire warned them it was going to be far from easy. "Let's move out."

Claire walked over to Mickey, the radio control man, scruffing the younger man's blonde hair "round up the sensors we're moving out. Get old man here to help you." She pushed Carlos playfully, who just shook his head and followed Mickey over to his 4WD. "Hey old man!" Claire yelled out, Carlos turned just in time to catch a square package Claire had thrown to him. "Enjoy." She turned and left. Carlos looked at the half empty packet of cigarettes. "Alice." He smiled before he ran to catch back up with Mickey.

Continuing to get her convoy organised she watched Alice from a far. She was going through the saddle bags on her bike. Checking and then buckling them shut. It looked as though she had finished what she was doing and then walked away from the bike, disappearing from view behind the motel.

Claire watched with intrigue. She had begun to notice every movement Alice made was strong and decisive. Like she knew exactly what she had planned and how it would happen. It was the little things, from the way she tied her bags to the bike, they way she walked and the way she talked the way she held herself. Everything was precise and undertaken with a silent confidence. Like she could handle anything thrown her way, with the exception of earlier events. Though Claire thoroughly understood when it came to getting news about losing close friends.

When Alice hadn't appeared for sometime the redhead became concerned. Setting off in the direction she had last seen Alice heading she made her movements as quietly as she could through the sand. Controlling her breathing and trying to silence her footsteps. She had barely made it around corner of the back of the motel when she was grabbed by the shirt and pushed back into the brick wall.

Alice, not the bit surprised, smiled at the wide green eyes staring back at her, which softened and a smile crept over Claire's features as she realised it was Alice. "Claire, you should know not to sneak up on people." releasing her grasp on Claire's shirt she begun to straight it out for the redhead who stiffed at the close contact. She could feel her heartbeat rise in her throat, and only hoped Alice hadn't noticed.

Pushing herself off the wall and regaining some of her composer. Claire straightened her hair "I was just..."

"Just looking for me?" Alice put her hand out and the other on the small of Claire's back to usher them toward the convoy. Sensing the other woman's heart rate skip slightly before returning to normal, Alice smiled inwardly.

Claire placed her sunglasses on, and began to walk by Alice's side, silently thankful Alice's hands weren't touching her any longer. "Actually yes, we're ready hit the road. How the hell did you know I was coming?"

Alice laughed "I heard you."

"Bullshit, you couldn't possible..." Claire trailed off nodding her head "Ah the virus?"

"Yep. Sort of, I was well trained before they injected me." Alice said matter a factly.

Claire thought for a moment, before she stopped the shorter woman in her tracks. "You should ride with me and Kmart. You can fit your bike into Mickey's 4WD."

Alice raised an eyebrow at this idea. "Only if I can drive."

"I don't think so."

"Want to fight for it?" Smiling playfully at the convoy's leader. Alice walked off to pack her bags into Mickey's 4WD. "Got to ditch the bike, its outta fuel anyway."

Claire rolled her eyes and continued toward her yellow hummer, where Kmart sat in the back seat. Amused and confused at the same time how that when least expected Alice could be playful. Quite the opposite from her usually stoic composer around the others in the group. Claire's mind flicked to the moment herself and Alice had been fighting. Alice straddling her waist, holding her wrists firm above her head. Claire was trying desperately to figure out how a woman could walk into her life one morning, save their lives, end with a fight, and then being her every thought. Claire shrugged it off and put it down to the fact it had been so long since her last sexual encounter with another woman. "I just need to get laid." She huffed under her breath before she jumped in her vehicle, and lit a cigarette.

"Is she riding with us?" Kmart asked leaning over the top of Claire who sat in the driver's seat the blonde's hair getting in her face.

Claire slapped Kmart on the forehead, Kmart fell back into the back seat with a thud "Yes she is." Kmart's smile could have lit up a room.

Alice opened the front passenger side door to the hummer. She jumped in and slammed the door.

"Hey!" Claire snapped around in her direction glaring "Watch the door, it isn't one of the undead."

Alice smiled at Kmart over her shoulder. "Ops."

It was a silent start as the convoy made its way across the Nevada desert, Claire's vehicle leading. Alice stared out the window watching the horizon. Kmart sat quietly in the back plating a few strands of the hair, stealing glance of Alice's neck wishing she could lay her lips along the skin that lie there, Kmart began an internal battle of her self control verses her hormones. Claire's eyes were fixed ahead, occasionally glancing in the side mirrors to check how the rest of the convoy was following.

Alice turned to face Claire winking, "So Kmart, what's up with Betty?" Claire snorted her laughter at Alice's comment almost spraying her drink from her mouth over the windscreen. Kmart almost flew she moved that fast between the front seats and punched Alice as hard as she could in the arm. Falling back into her seat she glared at Claire threw the rear-view mirror.

Claire couldn't help but join in on the teasing. "I don't think you kissed her right!"

Following behind Claire's hummer, Otto sat in his truck drawing back a smoke Carlos had given him. "What was that with Kmart earlier?"

Carlos looked at him strangely "What do mean?"

Otto laughed "she kissed Betty?"

Carlos almost choked on the cigarette he was midway through inhaling. His eyes almost boggling out of his head. "SHE WHAT?"

Next in the convoy was Betty's Ambulance

L.J. looked toward Betty who was driving. Noticing out the corner of her eye L.J. was grinning stupidly at her.

"What?" she snapped "You got something to say?"

L.J. in his typical way asked "So Kmart hey?" his grin growing across his face

Laughing out loud Betty shook her head as she kept her eyes on the road ahead. "What can I say, the girls got taste."

Second from the rear of the convoy in the bus a sing-a-long had begun, which was now being broadcast from the loud speaker mounted to the top of the vehicle. "Betty and Kmart, sitting in a tree..."

"Everyone sing together now!"

"K.I.S.S.I.N.G..."

Lucky last was Mickey's surveillance vehicle

Headphones adorning his ears, oblivious to it all.

Despite the world ending it was obvious there was still room gossip. However a young blonde found herself sinking lower in the backseat of the hummer.

Ok next chappy up soon, just putting some finally Claire/Alice touches to it. Let me know how your liking/not liking so far.