7. Temporary Ease
"Ouch," Ricardo said quietly.
"Sorry," Megan told him.
Now that the main part of the store was secure, the group of four rested out of view from the windows. The dust storm was settling down outside and because of that, the zombies that were still around were shambling about endlessly. As long as no noise was made or other means of drawing attention to themselves, the zombies left them alone.
Ricardo's chest was streaked with drying iodine Megan was applying to the injuries he sustained from the attack earlier. A light application of bandages made sure no dust or dirt would get into the cuts should another dust storm catch them while out in the open. He was fortunate there were only minor cuts considering how sharp that thing's claws were. One good swipe and he would be able to see his lungs.
"Okay, so tell me again how you two thought it was a good idea to keep quiet about those special mother fucking infected out there and not tell us about them. Because I would like to know about anything out there that may want to kill me anymore than the others." Christopher paced back and forth, demanding answers from both Chuck and Ricardo.
"Would it have made a difference?" Chuck asked. "We still needed to get our asses over here."
"But we would have known there were others out there and known what to look for."
"He's right," Megan said. "You should have told us."
"Well you should have checked your fire. Thought I was attacked by one of those things." Chuck told both Christopher and Megan.
"I said it was a mistake," Christopher told him. "How the hell could I have known it was you I was shooting at out there?"
"I'm wearing a backpack for one I'm not trying to eat you."
"Hey, at least you're alive. I didn't kill you."
"If you hadn't had hit the radio in my bag, you would have."
"Oh, so that's why you're pissed? The radio's been shot? We're in an fuckin' store, there's plenty of radios to choose from!"
"You mind shutting the fuck up?" Ricardo said angrily. "Those things are still out there and there's only a quarter inch thick glass separating us from them."
As if Ricardo had said nothing at all, Christopher continued his little tantrum. "You know what? Maybe I'll shoot you in the leg and leave you behind in the radio Department. That way he can have music while they eat you?"
"You won't get the chance to cause I'm gonna make sure you take a bullet up the ass!"
"Like you do with your sheep?"
"No, like you do with your boyfriends!"
"Maybe I should just shoot the both of them and get it over with," Ricardo told Megan quietly.
"No, we might need the bullets," she whispered back.
While Chuck and Christopher fought over who was to blame for, quite frankly, everything that went wrong out in the desert earlier, Megan and Ricardo stayed in the sports section of the store and started loading up on whatever they found useful. While not finding the NATO rounds he needed for his rifle, Ricardo did find plenty of.223 Remington rounds instead. While not the designed ammunition for the carbine, they would do for the time being. Megan stuffed her bag with shotgun shells and clips full of .9 mm rounds for a second gun she acquired. They also made sure to leave ammunition for Chuck and Christopher for when they finally stopped fighting.
She couldn't resist looking at him from time to time. Despite what he had gone through out in the desert, he still had energy to spare. Even the fight with whatever attacked him didn't seem to faze him too much. "Ricardo?"
"Yeah?" He was repacking his bag with whatever was useful, same as Megan was.
"Tell me the truth. Do we stand a chance at making it?"
"There's only one building between us and the road that leads to the dam. If we can get there, I'd say we have a shot."
Putting down her now loaded shotgun, she looked over at him. The top portion of his coveralls were around his waist with a sweat stained wife beater covering his torso. The bandage on his arm was a little dirty and needed changing and like her, he was covered in sweat and dirt from running through the dust storm.
"I guess now's a good as time as ever," she said. Reaching over, she put her hand on his gently and drew his attention. "Ricardo, I like you. When you got deployed, I prayed every day you would come back safely. And when you did, I…well, I'm tired of waiting. I've been waiting for you to ask me out ever since we first met. Looks like it will never happen now. I just wanted you to know that in case we don't make it."
"I've been wanting to tell you the same thing," he told her while squeezing her hand slightly. "I meant to tell you something after I got back."
"Then why didn't you?"
"Because you deserve better than a grunt."
She watched as he pulled away and went back to what he was doing. He began to shove a few more clips of ammunition to his back forcefully along with a few first aid items. She went up to him again and placed a hand on his shoulder and turned him around. Once he faced her, she reached up and kissed him with everything she had to make sure emotions clear. He returned it fully and the two lost themselves in the moment.
"We're make it out of here," he told her, a little breathless.
"I know," she told him. She was gasping for air as much as he was and kissed him again.
"Manager's office is right here."
"You're asking me out now?"
"Better late than never."
Refusing to separate, the two entered the manager's office and locked the door behind shut. Ricardo wasted no time in shoving everything off the desk to the floor as Megan tugged at his shirt to get it off. Her blouse and bra were the next to go. She was now more than happy she wore her skirt today.
To Be Continued
