I'm so happy I got a couple more following the story thanks so much hermioneandmarcus for the review. I really appreciate it! It's a big confidence boost. Also, I got over a hundred visitors which is cool. This story is kind of writing itself. I had a young douche bag picked out for Ella's dad and then it turned into a married old guy, that may or may not of been consensual on Joslyn's part. I did not see that coming. The main reason I didn't have her in on the whole CDC conversation was cause I couldn't remember everything that was said and I wanted to get through it as fast as possible. And the poll is tied two and two. This will be the last chapter it's opened. It will close tomorrow at six in the evening. If it remains tied I know which couple I'll pick as I already have some really good stories for them. So thank you for following, favoriting and reviewing. You guys are awesome.
Chapter 10
While we were in the car Rick told me what Dr. Jenner had told them back at the CDC. Apparently, this disease kills you, but it restarts your brainstem. You have no memories, no thoughts, no feelings. You just walk and eat anything living. In away it's a relief. I was always afraid that somewhere deep inside they knew what was going on, but were unable to stop it. Now we know.
He also told me that Jasmine wanted to stay and get herself blown up along with Andrea, Dale only stayed to save Andrea. John carried Jasmine out by force. The only one that succeeded in staying was Jacque. I'm so angry at Jasmine. Brenda was going to stay with her and that still didn't make her want to leave. How can you be so selfish you were gonna leave people who love you, because you're grieving? And she called my method bad!
"There's something else," my husband says pitching his voice low so the girls and Carol and Sofia don't hear. "Jenner told me," he pauses and takes a deep breath, " he told me that we're all infected."
"What," I say a little too loudly. I glance back only to see Mia playing with her toys we had abandoned in the car when Jenner oh so graciously allowed us into his ticking time bomb, Ella and Sofia are watching one of the cartoons, that was one of the few we kept in the car for long trips, on the car DVD player we had and Carol asleep. I turn back to look at my husband he nods.
"It doesn't matter how we die. If we die we turn into a walker. No matter what," he rakes a hand through his hair, " I don't know if I should tell everyone else."
"Of course you should," I say shocked, " Rick we have no idea what's in store for us. The last thing we need is someone crying over a somebody they lost, from something other than a walker, and then get bit cause they weren't expecting it. No, you need to tell them." I look my husband in the eye. He nods and looks back to the road, but he puts his hand on my thigh while he drives. His eyes are drawn together and he's far to severe looking for my liking. I decide to try and make him smile that beautiful smile of his.
"Hey baby," I say running the tips of my fingers along his forearm. He glances down and I can feel him relax at my touch.
"Yeah," he rumbles back.
"Did I ever tell you that I am forever grateful about calling them walkers? I hated calling them geeks. I always pictured suspenders, glasses and a calculator, it made them less scary. Walkers on the other hand isn't something we used normally," I say, but then I start thinking. "Dammit," I whisper. Only to here Rick laugh.
"Let me guess. You now picture them with walkers," he says laughing.
"Its horrible," I say shaking my head pretended to be ashamed.
"Honey, I don't care how you picture them in your head. Just as long as you run the opposite way when you see them," he says.
"Nah, if they have a walker I would feel obligated to stop and help them pick up their fallen body parts," I say chuckling. Our humor has evolved into the dark side a bit, but I guess however you deal with stress is fine. Just as long as you deal with it. I suddenly go down a dark road. My humor gone. I look back at the girls. They are all doing relatively the same thing as before. I turn back to my husband.
"Rick," I say swallowing back bile, "Will you promise me something?"
"Anything," he says before seeing my face and becoming alarmed. At any other time I would have found it comical how his head kept swiveling trying to look at me and keep an eye on the road.
"Rick if," I pause, "if anything happens to me, I need you to promise you won't let me become a Walker." His eyes go big. I see his throat working hard. His hand that had been resting on my leg is now nearly clawing my leg. He looks over at me. I can see he's picturing it, me becoming a Walker.
"I promise," he says harshly turning back to the road.
"And," I say.
"There's more," he says sharply. "you just made me promise to kill you and now you're adding more." He's angry. I know the feeling. Even the thought of losing him, especially after just getting him back, is heartbreaking.
"Just one more baby. If anything does happen you have to stay present. The kids can't lose both of is. Can you promise me Rick," I say tears trying to fall, but I refuse to let them. So, much for cheering him up. I think I only made it a thousand times worse.
"Why are we even talking about this? Nothing will happen to you. I won't let it," he says and tries to pull his hand off my, I'm sure now bruised, leg but I grasp his hand, holding it there.
"Rick." He looks at me.
"Fine, I promise. But it's not gonna happen. Ever," he nearly spits out. I take his hand and kiss his palm. He takes a deep breath. We don't talk about if something happens to the girls or Carl. Its just to painful to even think about. Just then my stomach makes the loudest sound its ever made. Rick raises his eyebrow.
"Hungry," he asks with a smile.
"Was that a dinosore," Mia says. I chuckle I shake my head at her
"Shut up. The CDC kinda blew up before I got breakfast," I say to Rick. Then turn my head to my shocked three you old. "No that was mommy's tummy. Me and the baby are just hungry," I turn back to Rick, "Why'd you let me sleep so late anyway," I ask. His eyes are amused from Mia's comment.
"You needed the sleep. So, I took the girls and let you rest," he says.
"You took care of them, hungover," I ask.
"Baby, I wasn't that drunk," he says smirking.
"No, but you were. Because last night…and then the shower," I question. His smile broadens.
"Yeah, that shower was great," he says cockily.
"You played me," I jokingly accuse. I then get an evil idea. "Huh, you sure fooled me. It didn't last that long. Usually you last longer when you're sober." His smirk drops and he looks at me with something like respect. I smile.
"Don't start a game with a master, baby, cause you will always lose," I lean in and kiss his cheek. All of a sudden we stop. There's a traffic jam. Miles of abandoned cars lie in front of us. Daryl is trying to find us a way through with his motorcycle, but Dales RV breaks down.
"Stay here I'll go ask what's going on," Rick says. Rick walks up to the group gathered around his RV. I can see Dale getting worked up, but then he glances around and calms down. Everyone starts heading off looking through cars. Rick comes back to the van.
"Hey we're looking though the cars for supplies. Do you want to stay in the car?"
I glance behind me and see Mia's heavy eyes that she's trying to keep open and decide I'm gonna stay and try to get her to nap. Carol and Sofia decide to go look, as does Ella. I swallow hard on that. Flashbacks of the quarry come rushing back. Rick looks at me.
"I got her. Nothing well happen to her," he promises. I nod.
When they all get out of the car I lay the back seat out and spread a blanket along with some toys then I lay down with Mia. She quickly falls asleep and I decide to close my eyes, although I'm not tired. I hear the door open and look to see Brenda pop her head in.
"Auntie Jo," she says quietly, " is there anything you want me to look for?" I guess this is her olive branch.
"Just some stuff for the baby and maybe I few bigger sizes for Mia," I say and wince thinking of why people would leave that stuff behind. She nods and smiles then closes the door as quietly as she can.
I reach for another blanket deciding if I'm staying in here, I might as well nap. I can't sleep without a blanket or something over me. I cuddle closer to Mia, she was always my little cuddlebug. Ella was never big into cuddling unless we were watching a movie or reading, but Mia wouldn't need an excuse. You could be sitting on the couch on your phone and here she comes with a blanket ready to cuddle.
Before I can get settled down it goes oddly quiet. Before I was hearing the random car door being open and closed, but now nothing. All of a sudden shadows start passing by the windows.I barely move my head already fearing what it was. There was a mass of walkers passing by. I feel my heart trying to leap out of my chest I'm almost positive it can be heard by them. I start thinking about everyone else. Ella, oh my God Ella. The second time this happens and I'm not with her.
I try to control my breathing, but it's not working. I can't catch my breath. I'm so scared I revert back to a child's idea of safety, if I can't see them they can't see me. So, I pull the blanket slowly over mine and Mia's head. The whole time trying to start breathing normally again, but I can't. I'm gonna pass out. Please, Mia stay asleep. Please let Carl and Ella and Rick be ok. Please please please.
Black spots start appearing in my vision. Oh, God I'm gonna die. Oh, God I'm gonna die and I'm alone in the car with Mia! I'm gonna turn into a walker and then. I can't finish the thought. My world is going black and soon I'm pass out, but not before I hear a girls scream. Ella! Then nothing.
Authors note: sorry for the short chapter I know they are usually longer than this, but I got home started writing it then fell asleep. Lol I have to get up early tomorrow, but I wanted to put a chapter up. Next chapter will be longer I promise. I might be getting off work early! So if you are good and review you might good two chapters ;). Lol thank you everyone for following and favoriting. And twilightladybg42 thanks for reviewing. I seen it right when I was thinking about just waiting till tomorrow to post. Poll is closing at 6 tomorrow but if there is no difference it might get closed earlier. Also I meant to misspell dinosaur, because Mia over pronounced the saur part making it sore. Anyway, I'm sorry for such a short chapter. :(