I am back from Chicago, with a notebook full of ideas :D

Glad to be home though.

Made a couple promotional posters today when I was at work (hopefully they might entice you enough to keep reading) Have a look at:

h t t p : / / i m g 3 4 1 . i m a g e s h a c k . u s / i m g 3 4 1 / 6 3 1 8 / blackteam . j p g

h t t p : / / i m g 4 6 . i m a g e s h a c k . us / img46 / 7204 / labratsiii . j p g

h t t p : / /i m g 6 3 8 . i ma g e s h ac k . u s / i m g 6 3 8 / 6 8 6 2 / crewbannerrivisionnames . j p g

Cast Note:

Luca Black would be played by John Travolta (I think I already said this... I dunno, I am all scatter brained)

Keith would be played by Nicholas Cage (he's broke, so what? Still a good actor so I don't want to hear it)

Danny would be played by Walton Goggins (Amazing in Justified and therefore I am stealing him and putting him in my story)

PLEASE REVIEW! I WILL WITHER AND DIE WITHOUT YOUR FEEDBACK!

Jersey walked in a trance towards the ready room. The chaos of preshow life barely even registered as it happened around her. She just breathed and tapped into the ideology that for the next few hours there was nothing more to her than her presence on stage. There was nothing else but the crowd and her. Her only purpose was to earn their love. If she could do that, she was successful. She wasn't a failure if they loved her.

Denver got out of his pickup truck and walked towards the gym. He'd spent the day in silent reflection after his visit to Phoenix. The sound of his basketball team inside gave his heart a small lift. For the next hour he didn't have to deal with the unpleasantness of anything outside his gym.

Nash followed Concord through the growing crowd of people who were gathering in the concert yard. They pushed their way to a gated area where a tent was set up. The open air lounge was exclusively for the family and their guests.

"We can make camp here," Chicago announced back to the group. A small farmhouse, not unlike the one that went to Oz, was to be their shelter for the dark hours.

"Come on! Hop to it, you know the drill," Tallahassee coached. Chicago was taking a few cautious steps down the road looking at the dirt that had been blown up onto the pavement. Tal joined her standing without words as she stooped and examines the earth. "How many?" he asked eventually.

"A whole horde…" she replied.

"Hmmm," he sighed.

"They just keep getting bigger… I can't understand it," she muttered. "A couple years ago they didn't even acknowledge each other… and now… they work like a pack," she said standing up.

"They're getting smarter," he shrugged. "We already know that," he added.

"I know… but… It's just eerie to know they're out there… and they're working together," she said. "Makes my skin crawl," she added.

"My skins crawling too, but it ain't from the zombies," Tal said looking up into the blood red sky. The sun was sinking by the second, bathing them in magic hour. Chicago looked at him waiting for him to finish. "We're being followed," he said.

"One of ours?" she asked hoping it was a Sentient from the city. They had civilians follow missions out before, mostly for video or pictures. Tallahassee was always irritated by the artsy people Chicago fostered within the city. Most of them were dumb as posts when it came to staying alive, but they knew how to use a camera and therefore were gods in her eyes. It was a load of bullshit according to him.

"I don't think so," he replied.

"How do you know?" she asked.

"Because Rue brought me this," he said handing over a small circular piece of plastic. Chicago turned it over in her hand.

"What is it?" she asked looking at the harmless object.

"Cap for binoculars," he replied. Chicago ran her finger over the embossed letters on the inside. They read Nikon.

"Lots of people have binoculars, Rue could have gotten it anywhere," she replied handing it back.

"How often does he bring shit back in matching pairs for no reason?" Tal asked holding up a second cap after fishing in his pocket. Chicago studied it.

"Uh," she looked for an answer.

"And how often does it have an Anarchy symbol scratched into it?" he added turning it over. Chicago felt her heart skip a beat. "Either Rue's fucking with us, or he's found someone," Tal concluded.

"What direction?" she asked.

"Off to the south best I can figure," he replied. She looked to the south.

"I wonder how far?" she murmured.

"Reason would have it they would be in a car and not to far either, because he brought them in separate trips, in about ten minutes," the cowboy shoved the cap back in his pocket.

"You wanna go check it out don't you?" she said.

"I'll leave after the sun goes down and be back before it comes up again," he replied. She sighed and drew a breath to speak, but he walked away abruptly. Chicago was left standing in the fading light watching the scurry of her troops.

"Shit," she hissed tossing the cap away.

"Where the fuck have you been?" Luca asked not looking up from the map on his desk.

"Where you think I've been?" a tired looking man replied closing the door to their office.

"Jerking off?" Luca replied dryly. The other man crossed the room and sat down behind a desk caddy cornered to Luca's as he ran his hands through his short brown hair.

"Yes, I've been out in the woods jerking off for the last four hours," he said in a sarcastic tone. "I'm good at multitasking too because while I was out there I also sat up all the fucking motion detectors," he added without smiling. "I swear to god Luca, you move our hideout one more time and make me set those fucking things again, I may have to kill you," the man said propping his feet up and the desk and whipping open a drawer on the right side.

"A hideout isn't a hideout if everyone knows where it is. You kept bringing little sluts to our home, so I suggest if you don't want set the detectors again you keep this place private," Luca said writing notes down on the map. "Got that Keith?" he asked looking up.

Keith didn't respond for a moment as he set up his assortment of toys on the desk. A computer, several routers that he had modified himself, and a couple of hard drives created a nice mess on the hardwood top.

"Hey!" Luca snapped.

"What?" Keith replied looking up.

"When I speak you answer. Do you understand?" Luca growled.

"Yeah I understand. No more chicks," Keith sighed opening the laptop. "You can just suck my dick every night," he added with a crooked smile. Luca rolled his eyes and looked back down at his map. "Who would they tell anyway?" Keith mused idly.

"They could tell the mob that we're leading," Luca snapped getting serious very fast. "The mob that doesn't need to know where we are," he added. "The only thing they need to know is what the next move is and right now, we don't have one. Do I need to go on?" he asked sharply.

"No you don't need to go on," Keith took his turn rolling his eyes. "I already know that you're an uptight prick," he added. Luca sighed. "Bingo," Keith said absentmindedly as his motion sensors cam online. "We are now insured and protected," he said standing up.

"Call Danny," Luca said just before Keith slipped from the room.

"What?" he asked popping back around the doorframe.

"Call Danny and ask him what's happening," Luca repeated.

"I can tell you what he'll say," Keith said. "They are still marching on."

"Call him," Luca insisted. Keith sighed.

"Fine," he muttered marching from the room.

"Come on keep that hustle up!" Denver called to his team. "Don't make me start adding laps," he added as be pulled out his phone. "Hello?" he asked.

"Denver, hate to bother you, but we got something going on over here," Washington said over the phone.

"What?" Denver asked expecting the worst.

"Kokomo has had a breakthrough," the Englishman replied.

"Oh?" Denver felt some relief.

"Go," Danny said as he answered his phone.

"Luca wants to know what's happening," Keith sighed on the other end.

"What do you thinks happening?" Danny replied. "They settled down for the night a little while ago," he added.

"I knew you would say that," Keith muttered. "Okay, that's all I needed. I'll probably be forced to call you tomorrow," had added.

"Okay," Danny replied then snapped the phone shut. He rubbed the grit from the corner of his eyes and got out of his truck. He had a small fire built and pulled his coffee pot off of it, pouring the scalding liquid into a tin cup.

Leaning against the door of the truck he sighed.

"I'll be back before you leave in the morning," Tal said to one of the slayers as he walked away.

"Hey wait up," Chicago called jogging after him. He looked back. "No one walks alone," she added. He gave a brief nod. She looked over her shoulder. "Samson is in charge," she said. The Slayer gave a small salute and then they disappeared into the darkness.

Kim poured every ounce of her breath into the last note of the song, letting it dwindle and die as the crowd roared. She took deep breaths thanking them with nods and kisses.

Nash and Concord sat at the bar under the tent. It was a nice lounge with soft couches and chairs scattered around the bar. He sipped on his drink at nearly the same rate she did.

Neither spoke. Instead they listened to the music without so much as a twitch of motion.

Pace was present in the lounge; he had arrived shortly after the show started. He was already half drunk and brought with him a gaggle of girls who swarmed around him.

"I understand," Wichita replied to an unknown caller on the phone. Columbus stirred the noodles in the pot, watching her. As the call had gone on her frown had deepened, so he dreaded what the news might be. She hung up her phone.

"Who was it?" he asked.

"Washington," she replied. "Kokomo's had a breakthrough," she added.

"Really?" he cocked his head to the side.

"Yeah, we need to eat fast," she said setting the table.

"Why?" he asked.

"We need to pick up Denver and get going," she replied.

"It's big enough they want us out there?" he asked.

"No, Denver needs to get out there. You and I are going after Little Rock," she said. His face twisted with question. "Apparently through a bunch of circumstances I won't attempt to repeat she tricked everyone, stole a order, and took off," she explained. He nodded his understanding.

"I'll grab the guns you grab the supplies, we can eat on the way," he said. She smiled.

"Thank you," she said hugging him.

"It's okay," he replied kissing her on the cheek then starting for the upstairs. He turned back. "And don't worry, she'll be okay," he added.

"This is not going to be okay," Salem sighed looking at the warehouse.

"I'm telling you, it's all in there, we just need to get inside," Little Rock said.

"Are you not seeing the horde sitting between us and the door?" Salem asked.

"That's why we're not going in the front door," Memphis replied sliding up beside them. "I rigged the headlights," he said. "My best guess is that we have a minute max before they realize it's a decoy," he added.

"That's encouraging," Salem rolled his eyes.

"Tell us about the time you saved the whole city," one of the girls said to Pace as she drug her finger across his exposed collarbone.

"Which time?" he grinned.

"The first time," one of the others winked to him.

"Well, the fence wasn't finished yet," he started. "and I was out for an evening run, and I came to one of the gaps," he said watching one of the girls play with the buttons of his white dress shirt. "I looked around because the guard wasn't anywhere to be found," he said as his eyes scanned around the room for emphasis. "So I-" he broke off mid sentence spotting Concord. "I'll be right back, and one else want another round?" he asked. The girls chattered their responses, but he didn't really listen.

He crossed the lounge and slid into the seat next to Concord. "It just occurred to me that you are way too good looking to not know me," he smiled. She looked over at him slowly.

"Maybe that's why I do know you," she said.

"Oh good," he said looking her up and down. "And bad at the same time, all those curves and me with no brakes," he said. She rolled her eyes and took another drink. She didn't smile but he did. "Smile," he said. She looked over narrowing her eyes. "It's the second best thing you can do with your lips," he added. She denied him the smile.

"So that's, what? Three pick up lines in thirty seconds?" she asked. "Are you even gonna ask my name?" she added. He looked thoughtful for a moment.

"Well I am gonna masturbate later, it would be nice to put a name to a face," he grinned. Concord didn't hold back as her hand struck his face. Pace had taken so many slaps he knew how to roll with the hit and come back smiling, but it still stung.

By that time Nash had become aware of the goings on beside him, though since it was Pace, he chose to ignore it.

"That wasn't nice. You should use your words sweetheart," Pace said. Concord scowled at him. "If you don't tell me your name I'll have to make one up for you," he added.

"You really are unbelievable," she said.

"Okay, now I'm starting to wonder if you actually know who I am," he lifted an eyebrow.

"I know all about you Pace," she replied. He smirked.

"Well, I don't know what you think about me, but I do hope it's X-rated," he said.

"Jesus, that makes five?" she asked getting annoyed.

"It's a secret that if you exhaust your partner to be with pick up lines you get what you want nearly all the time," he said.

"I'm an exception to the rule," she said.

"Uh huh… How about a more blunt approach then?" he asked.

"I don't think that's possible," she replied evenly.

"Hammers are blunt," he said almost absentmindedly. Concord looked over at Nash for help. He shrugged as he sipped his drink.

"It's one of the dangers of coming here," he said.

"You wanna see how blunt a hammer is?" Pace continued.

"Aren't you gonna do anything?" Concord asked looking at Nash.

"Nope," he shrugged. She looked back at Pace.

"I would absolutely love to swap bodily fluids with you," he said in his most sincere voice. It was as if Pace had no idea of what he was saying. He said the words like they were completely innocent.

"You really have no idea how fucked up you are do you?" she asked.

"Nope," he replied with a tiny shrug. She gave an exasperated sigh.

"I'm out of here," she said.

"I'm just gonna ask him your name," Pace said. She spun on her heels.

"My names Concord, and unless you wash your mouth with soap, I don't want it to pass your filthy lips," she said then walked away. Pace looked at Nash, who was unmoved by the whole encounter.

"I like her," he said as if choosing a toy.

"Leave her alone, she could kill you and you would never even see her," Nash said.

"What? Are you trying to tap that?" Pace asked watching Concord disappear.

"No," Nash replied.

"Then the hunt is on," Pace grinned.

Tal and Chicago jogged along through the darkness, thanking god that the moon was bright enough to light the way. Now and again Rue would pass overhead of them, letting them know they were going the right way.

The low brush swished to one side or another as they passed through. Chicago listened to the night, waiting for the moan of a zombie, but it never came, and soon Tal stopped dead. She froze. "You smell that?" he asked in a whisper. She took a deep breath.

"Campfire," she replied catching the warm earthy smell.

Danny kicked dirt over the flames until they choked to death and vanished leaving only glowing embers. He sat down and leaned against the sole tree that loomed among the brush of the flatland. His eyes slowly adjusted to the minimal light of the coals and the moon.

Holding his gun in one hand he dozed on and off.

"Go!" Little Rock hissed holding open the window. The car's lights were flashing on and off drawing the attention of the horde. Memphis and Salem slipped in through the window and she followed shortly.

"Salem go get the back door open," Memphis whispered.

Tallahassee and Chicago crept forward ducking down into the grasses around them. They were like tigers stalking prey. Tallahassee made a motion with his finger for her to circle around and approach from the back then let her know he would come in head on. She nodded and moved away silently.

He waited for a couple minutes before standing up, and walking into the camp. He looked at the sleeping man propped against the tree. Knowing that Chicago wasn't far away he cleared his throat loudly.

The man on the ground jumped. His eyes flipped open and he raised the gun. Tal didn't flinch as the man shot. He missed by a mile in the haze of sleep. The man stood raising the gun as he went. Tallahassee stood his ground.

Danny was about to pull the trigger when he felt a hand slip around him and firmly grasp his belt, followed by the cold kiss of steel on his throat. "I wouldn't if I were you," Chicago whispered into his ear. Danny froze. "You'll be dead before he hits the ground, that I guarantee," she added.

With a sigh of resignation he loosened his grip on the gun then let it fall to the earth holding both hands in the air. "Smart," she whispered into his ear. Her hand slipped around, still keeping the knife pressed against his throat so hard she could feel his pulse through the blade, and took his knife and second pistol tossing them away as well. "Now, you're gonna get on your knees, and keep your hands on your head," she said still whispering directly into his ear.

He obediently did as she said. Tal took the weapons from the dirt and packed them away. "Search the truck," she said keeping her eyes glued to the man on his knees before her. "Name?" she asked.

He didn't reply. She pulled out her pistol and pressed it against him. "Do I need to ask again?" she asked. Again he didn't reply. "I'm not fucking with you," she growled. His eyes stayed glued to the ground, his face a solid impassible shield. "One," she snapped feeling the triggers firmness. He closed his eyes. "Two!" she barked. He took a deep breath. "Three," she spoke and started to clench her fist.

"Danny," he said in a raspy voice.

"Better," she snarled. "Next question is why the fuck are you following us?" she asked in a controlled voice as Tal rattled about in the truck. Danny didn't reply. "Don't make me ask again Danny," she said sternly.

"I'm not following you," he said not meeting her gaze.

"I have a friend that says you are," she replied.

"The man that's destroying my home?" Danny asked, his soft southern accent coming up. He spoke softly as if he were a child.

"No, a bird, now why are you following us?" she asked again.

"I'm not following you," he insisted.

"The fuck you aren't," Tal muttered putting the cap in his pocket on the lens of a pair of binoculars.

"I want answers right now, or I will blow you away and be done with this," Chicago growled. Her exhaustion from the journey was weighing heavily on her patients.

"I am not following you," he repeated.

"Is that your final answer?" she asked.

"It is," he replied evenly.

"Fuck it, I'll put an end to this," Tallahassee growled stepping forward with his trusty sawed off in hand. He leveled it at Danny and prepared to fire, but Chicago pushed it away.

"Hold it," she said. She sighed looking up at the stars, deep in thought. "We're not murderers Tal… we'll take him with us," she sighed.

"Chicago," Tallahassee started to protest.

"Find something to tie him up with," she said.

"I can't go along with this," he said.

"And I can't go along with you shooting him… we can't prove anything and until we can I won't allow him to die," she said firmly. Tallahassee gave an exasperated sigh. "Do you want to argue this with me right now?" she added. He looked at her, then at Danny, then back to her.

"You really are killing me," he muttered returning to the truck.

"You'll find some rope for a clothes line in the trunk," Danny offered. Chicago looked down at him.

"Someone's taking this in good spirits," she said cocking an eyebrow.

"An innocent man has nothing to fear of you, or so I hear," he replied.

"But you aren't innocent are you," Tallahassee interjected returning with the rope. Danny didn't offer a response as Tallahassee bound his hands behind his back. Danny only smiled. "You think this is funny?" Tal snapped. "I just walked a couple extra fucking miles because of you! You piece of shit!" Tallahassee growled before giving Danny a crack in the ribs. Chicago caught his arm before the cowboy could deal another blow.

"Hey!" she snapped. "He needs to be able to walk!" she growled. Tallahassee stepped back. Danny was still gritting his teeth in pain.

"Lets go," Tal muttered. Chicago nodded.

"On your feet," she said. Danny stood with some measure of grace and started forward.

"That's the last one," Memphis grunted hoisting the barrel into the back of the SUV.

"I gotta say this was a let down," Salem chimed in from the drivers seat. "Four barrels of powder and no actual fireworks," he muttered. Little Rock and Memphis got in.

"Okay, lets go, those doors aren't going to hold forever," Little Rock said looking over her shoulder. The horde had been beating on the front door for ten minutes.

The three of them drove away unscathed, though disappointed.

"I'm gonna kill her," Wichita kept repeating.

"She'll be fine," Columbus said each time. Denver sat silently in the back seat listening to the lines like they were a broken record.

Phoenix lay awake, listening to the sounds of his house. Summer was still downstairs in her office. Nana was 'sleeping' in the next room, but he knew she was really awake with her nose in a book. He rolled over and closed his eyes for the umpteenth time.

Chicago lunged forward grabbing Danny by the collar and jerking him backwards. He had been in front of both Tallahassee and herself when she heard the gurgling moan of a concealed zombie. The monster emerged from the grasses, somewhere in the past it had lost its legs, so it pulled itself along with its arms.

Instinctively she pushed Danny behind herself protectively, though Tal was the one to actually neutralize the threat. The cowboy sprang forward and sank his hunting knife into the zombie's temple.

There was a moment of stunned silence as they listened for any other zombies among the grass, but only the sounds of night met them. "Thanks," Danny whispered. Chicago didn't answer and kept walking.

Kim staggered off the stage, drained after her performances. Meandering out to the bar she found Nash sitting alone. "Hey," she rasped, her voice starting to crack.

"Hey," he replied. She looked around.

"Where's your date?" she asked.

"She wasn't my date, and Pace chased her off a while ago," Nash replied.

"And where's he?" she asked.

"Probably home by now, he left a while ago, with his entourage," he said.

"Oh," she grinned and sat down next to him. "So how was the show?" she asked as the bartender slid her regular across the bar.

"Spot on, as always," Nash replied.

"Good," she murmured before sipping the drink. He let out a long sigh, one of utmost depression. "What's wrong?" she asked.

"Nothing," he shook his head.

"Nothing?" she repeated.

"Nothing," he confirmed. "But I think it's time I go home," he added. Kim could hear his speech slur.

"How much have you had to drink?" she asked. He made a dismissive gesture and stood up, staging a little.

"Just a couple," he said.

"Uh-huh," she nodded. "Maybe I should drive you," she said.

"Nah," he shook his head and waved her off. Doing two actions at once however tipped him off balance and Nash stumbled to one side catching himself on a nearby chair. "Or maybe you should," he groaned.

Kim gulped the last of her drink and stood up. She walked him out the back way and to her car. He didn't protest as she made him get in. Ten minutes later they pulled into the drive of his home. The porch light was still on, and before she could help him reach the door it swung open, Knox appearing in silhouette.

"Thanks for bringing him home," Knox said as Nash bumbled inside and up the stairs without a word to either of them.

"No problem," Kim shrugged.

"Boy never could hold his liquor," Knox added.

"Well he drank through an entire concert," she dismissed the jab at Nash. "Goodnight Knox," she added before leaving.

"Goodnight Jersey," he replied.

Chicago and Tal arrived back at the house before morning light did, Danny in tow. The Slayers watched him while Tallahassee and Chicago slept for a short while before the sun came up and the troop started off again.

Tallahassee marched in the back of the pack, his hat tipped down. Chicago was green with envy that he could sleep on his feet.

She walked in the front, Danny marched along behind her to the right. No one spoke for a very long time. It was going to be the hottest day yet and she could feel her body becoming soaked despite the fact that the sun wasn't even at full blast yet. A couple hours later she called a halt and looked back. The Slayers all sat down, drinking and fanning themselves.

Chicago pulled out her own canteen and took a long drink. There had been water at the house, so they would most likely be able to get through the day. Fortune had truly been in their favor.

Her eyes then fell on Danny. He kept licking his lips as he watched the others drink, but he said nothing, asked for nothing, not even to have the rope that was biting into his flesh loosened.

Chicago stooped beside him. "You thirsty?" she asked. His eyes shifted to hers. He didn't speak for a long moment.

"It's not very kind to taunt a man like that," he said.

"Who's taunting?" she replied holding the bottle up. He hesitated then leaned forward and drank thirstily, small drops rolling down his chin. When he was done she capped the bottle and put it away.

"Thank you," he said avoiding her eyes again.

"You're welcome," she replied. He took a long breath rotating his shoulders as best he could.

"So can I ask where I'm going?" he asked.

"We're going into the mountains," she replied. "Then you're going to Denver," she added. "Unless you have something to say to me before then?" she suggested.

"Nothing I haven't already said," he replied.

"So where you from Danny?" she asked.

"Mountain Valley, Kentucky," he replied.

"Awful far west," she said.

"I haven't been home in nearly two years," he replied.

"Hmm, you've been all on your own for that long?" she asked.

"Yes," he nodded.

"A long time… and you're pretty lucid," she observed.

"I've passed by some folks, but I never stayed long," he said. "You're pretty far away from home to," he said. Chicago looked at him, feeling a chill go up her spine. Something about the way he said that gave her a sense of danger.

"Sounds like you know a bit about me," she said eyeing him.

"Who doesn't?" he replied. Chicago had to get away from him. Whatever ease she had been feeling was long gone. Never a moment of peace.