sorry for the wait and feel free to ignore my little rant about Anderson at the bottom

happy reading :)

Steering from her sleep Claire lazily pushed herself up from her awkward yet semi comfy sleeping position, looking out of the windshield, Claire allows a small smile to cross her lips as the convoy was illuminated by flashes of lightening. Wincing a little as she stretched her stiff aching muscles, Claire's small smile grew as she looked in the rear-view mirror to see a curled up Kmart fast asleep "god dam, kid sleeps like the dead should," rolling down her window Claire leans back in her seat closing her eyes listening to the constant light drumming of the rain hitting the hummer.

It had been weeks since they had rain. Reaching over to the to the driver's side Claire pulled out a small tattered piece of laminated paper, studying it intensively Claire brings it to her chest while closing her eyes as a single tear slips form the corner of her eye running down her cheek "where are you?" she whispers as more tears began to fall. Bringing the photo to her lips, Claire lightly kisses the photo "I can't do this anymore, I'm trying to be strong but I can't do it without you" putting it back in its place Claire takes a few moments to calm her emotions "I know you're alive, I feel it. So where the hell are you Chris?"

Hearing muffled mumbling's from the back seat, Claire turns to look and begins to softly stroke to the teens head. "shh, it's alright you're safe, you're safe" whispered Claire in a hushed but calming voice as she pulls the blanket up to Kmart's chin. Before leaning back in her seat, Claire releases a calming breath and repositions herself for yet another sleepless night. To tell the truth Claire hadn't had a full night's sleep since the beginning of the end of the world.

Just as Claire is about to close her eyes, a blood curdling scream echoed though the camp causing Claire to jump in to a sitting position whilst placing her hand on her heart in an attempt to slow the furious pounding in her chest.

Leaning to look though the windscreen Claire squints as if to see past the constant down pour. Grabbing her pistol and a flashlight she carefully climes out of the hummer. Flicking on the flashlight, Claire makes her way through the camp checking for anything unusual or deadly, after going around the camp twice shaking her head, Claire makes her way back to the hummer convincing herself she had imagined the scream.

After all it's not surprising being extremely over tired is bound to make you delusional "someone help me!" there it was again, only this time Claire managed to pick up the direction it came from. Spinning on her heals she took off in a full on sprint towards the back of the motel leaning as close to the wall as she possibly could.

Claire slowly peaked around the corner seeing nothing and deeming it safe, she pushed herself of the wall and rounded the corner pistol at the ready. "hello?" Turning on her flashlight Claire crosses her left hand over her right forearm as if to aid her aim, hearing rushed footsteps Claire spun in a complete circle before being picked up and thrown five feet back bouncing off the wall of the motel before collapsing into a heap on the soaking wet ground.

Rolling on to her side with a grunt Claire opens her eyes to come face to face with the mutilated face of Carlos staring right back at her. Screaming in terror Claire scrambles backwards on her hands and feet feeling the wall behind her, ignoring the bounding in her head and the pain thought her body.

Claire screams into her hands as she brings her knees up to her chest taking a few seconds to regain control of her emotions Claire slowly crawled to Carlos's side

"Car…Carlos?" taking in the full amount of damage of Carlos's mutilated body. Claire turned her head to the side taking a deep breath to push down the urge to bring up what little food she had in her stomach. Stretching out a shaky hand Claire places two fingers to his pulse point on his neck, not feeling a pulse Claire lowers her head to his chest as she closes her eyes

"I'm so sorry, come on old man. You can't do this, we need you" pleaded Claire as she cried into his chest, seeing a blurred figure rush from the side of the motel out of the corner of her eye.

Scrambling to her feet whiles picking up the pistol she gave chase after the figure. Her body screamed at her as she pushed herself beyond her limits. Her chest felt as if someone had lit a fire in her lungs. Seeing the figure stood with its back towards her, Claire slowed her pace.

Taking a few deep breaths to catch her breath as she lifted her pistol taking aim at the figure Claire notices another figure lay unmoving on the ground just in front of the unknown intruder. Moving closer Claire's eye's fixed on the person in front of her stopping less than ten feet away, Claire lets out a shaky breath at the familiar figure and umbrella uniform came into view

"Rain?" seeing the figure flinch slightly, Claire took a step back preparing herself for any form of attack "Rain we have to get back to camp something's here, it killed Carlos" pleaded Claire, eyes not leaving their positions. Hearing movement behind her Claire spun around coming face to face with nothing.

Turning back to Rain, Claire was knocked to the ground by a wicked right hook. Crawling back to her feet Claire managed to doge the next blow returning with her own straight punch to the nose causing Rain to stumble backwards bringing a hand to her nose, Rain looks over at Claire with a raised eyebrow.

"You broke my nose" snarled Rain as she took a step towards Claire.

"plenty more where that came from" replied Claire with a shaky voice as thunder and lightning crackled and emulated the dark sky, seeing Rain charge for her, readying herself for the impact Claire closed her eyes as she is tackled to the ground bringing her hands up to protect herself from the relentless fists that brow down on her.

"Rain stop" pleaded Claire as tears ran from her eyes as she desperately tried to push her crazed girlfriend off her. As a flash of lightning engulfed the sky eliminating her surroundings, Claire caught a glimpse of something metallic in Rains right hand. Screaming as the blade plunged in to her stomach several times, Claire watched helplessly as her blood dripped from the point of the knife. Darkness began to take over as she felt the weight of Rain lift off her hearing rushed footsteps. Claire used what little energy she had left to roll over to her side.

"Claire?" hearing the familiar voice calling to her, Claire tried desperately to get to her feet but the utter lack of energy and the amount of damage her body has taken combined with the amount blood she has lost made it difficult. Shaking her head, Claire's eyes fixed on the very blurry figure of Kmart running towards her. Letting out a sigh of relief Claire pulled herself to her knees ignoring her brain telling her to sleep, allowing a small smile to cross her lips.

"Kmart we have to get back to camp, there's something wrong with Rain" breathed Claire as she got to her feet, seeing Rain walking up behind Kmart. Claire screamed at the top of her lungs telling Kmart to run. Seeing the teen turn around, Claire started making her way towards the pair only to have her legs collapse from under her as Rain pulled out her knife while grabbing the teen by her hair causing a terrified scream to erupt from the younger women's mouth.

"I thought you were meant to protect them" smirked Rain as she dug the point of the knife deep into Kmart's throat before dragging the blade the full length of the teen's throat. Pushing the teen to the side, Rain walked over to Claire smiling down at the weak pathetic redhead as she desperately tried to get to her feet "now it's your turn".

"Claire? Claire, come on".

Jumping from her position with a scream, Claire instinctively raised her arms and blindly wrapped her hands around the young teen's throat, as terror flashed across the young woman's eyes. Claire realising what she was doing she removed her hands from the teens throat, abruptly pulling her in for a hug.

"I'm so sorry, I'm sorry" sobbed Claire as she held on tighter to the teen.

"Hey, its ok I know it's an extreme sport waking you up, you had a bad dream?" questioned the teen as she pulled back from the hug.

"More like a nightmare" Confirmed Claire as she looked around the hummer.

"Where's Carlos, is he ok?"

"Damn, it must have been some messed up nightmare"

"You have no idea kid"

"Carlos and Rain are doing the morning perimeter check, Rain told me to get you up so you can eat" nodding her head Claire smiled at Kmart as she climbed out the hummer.

"I'll be there in a minute I'm just going to stretch my legs" receiving a nod, Claire watched as Kmart made her way back to the food line.

Leaning back into the hummer Claire picked up her pistol and began to make her way towards the back of the motel reaching her destination Claire stopped dead in her tracks as her eyes fell on the kneeling figure of Rain, uncontrollably her right hand moved to her pistol.

"Shouldn't you be eating?" questioned Rain not looking up as her fingers trace the desert ground taking a calming breath. Claire shakes her head pushing back the vivid images of her nightmare as she walks towards Rain turning her head slightly. Rain gives Claire a soft smile as the redhead came to a stop beside her, seeing the dark circles under Claire's eyes Rain shakes her head.

"You look like how I feel" nodding slightly Claire forces a small smile.

"Thanks, what are you looking at?" questioned Claire as she bent down beside Rain to get a better look.

"Looks like we had a visitor or two last night" started Rain looking over at Claire who turned her head.

"Something was here? And it got within feet to the convoy and you didn't sense it? This is too close to home for my liking"

"hey I'm only human" stated Rain placing a hand on her chest in mock hurt seeing the amused smirk Claire was giving her Rain rolled her eyes.

"ok so I'm not completely human but even I have my flaws, and it was someone not something, look see how evenly spaced the foot prints are and see how there isn't any sign of a limp or drag?" questioned Rain as she pointed with her fingers whilst watching Claire out of the corner of her eye.

"Maybe it's a survivor, maybe they're hurt and need our help, we should look for them" started Claire as she went to stand up only to be halted by Rains hand grabbing her arm.

"Easy there Tinkerbelle, the chances of it being a survivor are as slim as having a decent cup of coffee and to blow another one of your theories if they were hurt don't you think there should be blood or sign of a struggle?"

"What are you saying?" asked Claire as they both got to their feet.

"I think we have over stayed our welcome here, I'm not sure who they are but I'm not willing to risk it, I'm not going to put the convoy in direct danger. We need to move on and before night fall" stated Rain looking directly into Claire's eyes.

Seeing fear in her girlfriends eyes Rain out stretched her hand to cup Claire's face but meet air as Claire turned her head once again refusing to be touched. Clearing her throat Claire looked in to the distance.

"Are they still around? I mean can you sense them" questioned Claire glancing over at Rain. Releasing a breath, Rain shook her head as she looked around at their surroundings.

"I can't sense them, but they won't be far" opening her mouth, Claire quickly shut it again when Rain's walkie talkie came to life.

"All clear this end" came Carlos's voice bring the walkie talkie to her mouth Rain pushed down the button

"Ten fore, head back to camp grab some food"

"Way ahead of you" clipping the walkie talkie to her belt Rain turns to Claire. "lets head back we can't do anything now"

"If something was wrong, you would tell me right?" questioned Claire as they made their way back to camp. Raising an eyebrow Rain looked over at Claire confusion clearly evident on her face "what do you mean?" she asked.

"If something was wrong... With you, would you tell me?"

"Claire I'm fine I'm just a bit edgy, but I'd like to know what's wrong with you" questioned Rain seeing Claire once again refusing to meet her stare.

"I'm just tired" replied Claire as Rain wrapped an arm round her waist causing her to flinch a little despite her mind telling her to move out of Rains arm, her heart welcomed the contact.

"I'm worried about you, you've been kind of off the last few days something's bothering you…" started Rain as she stepped in front of Claire.

"Something about me?" she continued seeing the concern in Rains eyes Claire ran a hand though her hair.

"No, if there's anything I'm sure about, it's my feelings for you" she replied looking deep into Rains eyes.

"Just so you know you and K mean the world to me I'll protect you both from anything… even if it's me" the honesty in Rains eyes sent a throbbing pain to Claire's heart.

"I know" confirmed Claire in a small voice as she reached her right hand up and softly traced the jagged scar on Rains neck with the tips of her fingers.

"Claire, Rain, come on were hungry and Chase won't give food out until you slow asses get over here" yelled Kmart as she ran over to them only to be picked up by Rain who throw her over her shoulder "you make too much noise" smiled Rain as she laced her fingers with Claire's, making their way back to camp.

"By the way you didn't happen to have pork and beans again did you?" questioned Rain.

"No, some lucky soul got them instead" replied Kmart. Rain chuckled at the teen's response.

"Yeah guess I'm blessed, you on the other hand are not so lucky given your position" smirked Rain seeing Claire roll her eyes with a slight smile on her lips.

"That smell's the pork and beans? I thought it was your normal aroma, you know… rotten" remarked Kmart earning a soft slap to her head by Claire.

After eating breakfast Claire had asked the convoy to gather around the back of the news van looking around at the people who rely on her, Claire jumped into the back of the van relisting a breath as she knelt in front of them.

"I know the last few months have been the hardest we've faced as a family and I know you're all scared, tired, hungry and most of you are losing your fight. I can see it, worse of all I can feel it, if someone would have told me a few years ago I would be leading a group of survivors across a zombie plagued America I would have laugh at them, but the truth is we're here and we're surviving but just barely, we have lost too much to give up. I'm not ready to give up and I'm not ready to put another member of this family in the ground, so this is where you make the decision because I can't make this one for you"

Looking to her left Claire sees Alice and Carlos looking right back at her nodding their heads, turning to her left Claire lent over to whisper in Rains ear "I can't do this" walking in front of Claire to shield her from the eyes of the family.

"yes you can, I know you have the strength in you, it's your decision to inform them of a possible safe haven, allow them to decide as a family, sometimes leaders need to learn… how to follow" smiled Rain as she moved back to stand next to L.J.

"I can't make this decision because it's too important for me to make for you," started Claire allowing her eyes to roam the small crowd "there's a chance there are other survivors"

"Where?"

"In Alaska, there's a chance… the infection hasn't reached that far, but we don't know for sure, so you have a choice we stay as we are or we try for Alaska."

Watching with avid attention Claire releases a breath she didn't know she was holding as she sat in wait for the members of the convoy to deliver their decision. Seeing them exchange nods Claire cleared her throat and gained their attention "For Alaska?" seeing hands fly up in the air Claire couldn't help the small smile that graced her lips "Alaska" she whispered.

"You've got an hour then, I want everything packed up and ready to leave" ordered Claire as she watched them walk off with smiles on their faces. Carlos,L.J, Chase entered the van followed by Alice and Rain who sat half in and half out of the van so she could keep an eye on the camp.

"So what's the damage?" questioned Claire wanting to get things moving faster as Rain's warning replied in her head.

"The food's virtually gone, we have enough to last the night" started Rain as she looked over at the occupants of the van

"And the truck's running on empty." finished Carlos.

"I've got half a tank of gas. That's it" replied Claire as she looked over at them. "Chase?"

"Shit, I don't even have empty. I got enough for a hundred miles, tops." He replied honestly.

"If we're going to make this trip, we'll need to resupply, these are our options. The nearest, safest bet is right there". Pointed Carlos as everyone leaned in to take a look.

"No, it's empty. I tried that." replied Alice as she watched Carlos move to his next choice "Then, well, maybe... We could try this..."

"Vegas… It's the only place we're sure to find gas and supplies." dead paned Claire.

"Yeah There's a reason for that Claire. Vegas it's too dangerous.

"It's got to be crawling with them sons of bitches." added Chase.

"We've drained every small town dry over the last six months. We have to hit a big city." stated Claire, tearing her eyes away from Rain who seemed to be lost in her own thoughts.

"She's right. Vegas, it's our only bet." added Rain gaining a nod from Alice. "We're running out of options, sometimes in order to win a war you need to walk right in to enemy's territory"

"Dr Isaac's, confirmation of positive identifications of both subjects Alice and Rain, awaiting orders"

"Do not engage, subjects are considered highly dangers and unstable, examine and eliminate all possible supply points. Force them to us then return to base. Satellites are now in position, we will have a strike team at the ready"

OK so i watched RE:R again and Anderson missed a lot of golden moments he could have/should have done:

Rain: whats with the S & M getup?

Alice: why do you like it?

it would have been funny to see that since in the first movie there was a lot of spark-age between the two.

and i would have loved to see a Rain vs Rain fight or at least them meeting.

(I'm one of the people that kind of had enough of Alice after the second movie "yeah i get that the world revolves around her" 'roll of the eye's' and some of you must be starting to dislike her with the "I'm the only one who can stop them" yeah but you needed a freaking team to get you out of the sodding hive.

Now i DON'T HATE Alice but i DON'T LOVE her ether in fact i think shes great, but i just wish she would stop over shadowing better characters and allow them to do what they do best kick ass.

and I'm going to say this again i can not believe that Alice out fought super Jill and survived the same hit from Rain that killed Luther.?!

anyway Anderson really needs an MRod army beating, for killing Rain again he made all this hype about wanting to work with her again and bring her back only to freaking kill her again TOOL.

anyway hope you enjoyed the chapter and sorry about my little rant