Chapter Nine:

Humanity

*Hunter*

I watched from the doorway as Nick held Ellie close against his chest. A memory, of who I could only assume was my own wife, passed through my mind; a beautiful woman with long red hair, deep green eyes, and pale skin with a beautiful smile.

Seeing Nick's eyes reminded me of hers and I was trying desperately to remember the woman's name. I know what it is, but I just can't seem to wrap my mind around it.

"Daddy?" asked a small voice.

I looked back to see Sophia standing at the door of our room, her small hands rubbing sleep out of her eyes.

"Hey baby", I said quietly as I walked towards her, "I thought you were still sleeping."

"I'm not tried anymore", she said as she yawned.

I just smiled.

Picking her up into my arms, she leaned against my shoulder as she wrapped her arms around my neck. I walked back into our bedroom and noticed Smokestack was up, the bedroom window open where he sat on the ledge smoking a cigarette.

"Hey", I said quietly trying not to wake the others.

Smokestack glanced back at me and raised his hand in a lazy greeting as he turned back to look out the window. I could tell something was bothering him, so I decided not to push anything right now. Perhaps just giving him some time alone would be best.

Sitting on the bed with Sophia in my arms, I leaned over and dropped against the covers. She laughed as we both snuggled into the blankets.

"Did you know Nick is going to have a baby?" I asked Sophia when she had turned to look at me.

Her eyes got wide as she shook her head.

"Ellie is the mommy?" she asked.

I nodded.

"Yeah they just found out. Aren't you excited?"

Sophia nodded eagerly.

"I will have a little brother or sister", she said with joy.

Hunter paused when she said this, not sure how to explain to her that the baby wouldn't be related to her, but he just decided to ignore it for now and let Nick and Ellie in on it later so that they could explain it to her.

"Sophia?"

"Yes daddy?"

"Do you remember your mommy?"

Sophia paused for a moment, deep in thought as she tried to remember. Hunter held his breath waiting for the answer.

"Yeah I do daddy", she said after a moment, "Not really her, but you told me about her last year on my birthday."

"Did I?" I asked.

She nodded.

"What did I tell you?" I asked her. I was trying to keep the desperation I felt hidden from the girl about the answer to my question. I hated not being able to remember the woman I saw in my visions.

"Well, you told me mommy was in the clouds watching over us and that she died when I was three from illness."

I nodded as the memories of these events began to pass before my eyes. I couldn't seem to make myself shut if off even as I watched the beautiful woman I could remember smiling, dying in a hospital bed.

"Do you remember your mommy's name?" I asked.

The little girl hesitated before she nodded.

"You told me I was named after her."

"I did?" I asked.

Sophia nodded.

"You said my name is Sophia Jane Douglas and Jane was my mommy's name."

As soon as I heard the name, I could remember everything about her. Every moment I ever had with my wife came rushing back to me and it literally took my breath away.

"D-daddy are you okay?"

I looked up and noticed both Sophia and Smokestack watching me with concern.

"Uh yeah", I said quickly trying to get myself to calm down, "Fine."

"I will go see if Ro and Coach have food for you daddy", Sophia said jumping off the bed, "I smelt it earlier."

I nodded, "just don't get in the way."

She sent me a cheeky grin as I lay back against the covers and closed my eyes. I felt the bed move as someone sat down on it. Opening my eyes, I turned to smokestack who was watching me closely.

"What?" I asked.

"What is wrong?" he asked.

I didn't say anything for a moment, but smokestack didn't seem like he was going to leave anytime soon.

Sighing, I knew I would have to tell him.

"I was just thinking…We are dead right?"

Smokestack glanced down at himself and then at Hunter.

"We aren't dead", he said, "We may look somewhat corpse like but all that occurred our DNA was tampered with. We aren't dead."

I nodded, but remained silent.

"Look Commander", said Lt. Carter, "I know why you're thinking about all this."

I glanced at him.

"You like her don't you?" he asked.

I didn't have to ask who he was referring to. I knew he meant Ellie. Yeah I liked her, but she was in love with Nick and they were having a child together. Sophia was so excited for it and I… I was happy for them.

I smiled slightly, "I guess so."

Smokestack shook his head.

"Only you would fall in love with a taken woman, sir."

I just sent him a light glare which he waved off almost immediately upon receiving it.

"You know this is a good thing though right?" asked Smokestack as he fell against the covers beside me.

I glanced at him as he looked at me.

"It means we still have our humanity intact."

I laughed.

"Yeah I guess it does."

Everything was silent a moment between us before Smokestack turned over onto his stomach beside me.

"What are you going to do about Sophia? We can't take her with us into the infected areas and we can't go into the safe zones anymore."

"I know", I muttered. Rolling over to see his face, he smiled when he saw me looking at him. The entire left side of his face looked crinkly and blistered, but not near as ugly as fully infected smokers. The same thing was on his right arm and while he did have the tongue, he didn't cough or hack. His clothes were that of a military man and his face…you could see how young and handsome he had been.

"What is it?" he asked, seeing my intense stare.

"Nothing, just noticed you look really human still."

He laughed.

"You look the most human Commander Douglas. You may have sharpened nails and teeth now, snow white hair and gold colored eyes with pale skin, but your face, your skin…other than the color, it looks like a humans. Although your Commander dress blues are kind of out of place with the boyish look you have now."

I laughed.

"I haven't been called boyish in forever", I said with a large smile.

He just smiled back.

"You know you're alright kid", I said messing up Carters thick, shaggy, brown hair.

"Your one to talk old man" he quipped with playfulness.

"Daddy!" yelled Sophia from where I could guess was the living room, "Food is ready!"

"Guess we are being summoned", I said with a grin as I got off the bed.

Smokestack laughed as he followed me up and into the living room. While I felt ten times better about myself since he and I spoke, I couldn't help but feel a fear though as I looked at Sophia.

Could I give her up so easily? I knew I would only know the answer to that when the time came to cross that bridge.