Only the plot, Mischa, and Allen belong to me.

WARNING: There is some pretty sick shit that goes on at the end of the chapter in Carlisle's POV. Not for the faint of heart or the weak of stomach.

Love in the Time of Zombies

Chapter 14

Emmett McCarty-Forks General Hospital

November 13

The date on my Babes on Bikes mini calender is a glaring reminder that it has been exactly two months since Mischa, Allen, and I had watched the video that trumpeted the beginning of the end of everything I'd ever known. Two months since wars stopped being about race, religion, sexuality, or social status. Two months since humanity was forced to set aside all of the trivial bullshit and join together to survive.

It's a sobering thought that it took the end of the world for people to realize that it doesn't matter if someone is black or white, gay or straight, a devout Catholic or an atheist as long as they fight as hard as you do to stay alive for another day. I release a low sigh as I close the small calender and stuff it back into my jacket's inner pocket.

"The top level is finally clear Em," Rosalie's sweet voice coerces me from my heavy thoughts, "You can finally get to that chopper on the roof and I'll finally get a chance to see these mad skills you've been boasting about."

"It only took us a month to clear the hospital top to bottom, I'm seriously amazed," I smile while shrugging on my pack and hoisting my rifle, "Oh, and it's only boasting if you can't back it up. That won't be a problem for me cupcake."

"Oh really?" she snickers and I bite back a groan as I catch a glimpse of her pink tongue darting over her devilishly inviting blood red lips. "You'd better prove it then Sarge, because I'm having trouble believing it."

"Don't you dare start doubting me now Rosie," I slide my hands around her waist and kiss her furiously until she is panting for breath before relinquishing my hold on her.

In spite of the world being overrun by the zed virus and the loss of friends and family along the way, I still count myself amongst the luckiest people in the world, living or dead. Kissing my Rosie makes me feel like that every time she touches me. Call me pussy-whipped or whatever you'd like, but I know you'd feel the same way as I do if you were ever a lucky enough bastard to have Rosalie Hale kiss you.

"Oh my god, my eyes are burning! What is it with you straight people trying to eat each other's faces off all the damn time? No one wants to see that!" Jared crows from the doorway.

Rose and I break apart at the sudden interruption; her with a chuckle, me with a groan. I keep a hand on her waist and pull in front of me because I know I'd never hear the end of it out of Jared if he caught sight of the massive tent my fatigues have going on right now.

"Did you want something specific Chief Rainbow Bright, or did you come in to watch me molest my girl? What would Jakeypoo think?" I ask in as calm of a tone as I can muster.

He rolls his eyes and points to the large windows that are giving us a spectacular view of the setting sun, "Charlie radioed and wanted to know if we were going to make it back before dark or if we are going to stay the night and head back in the am."

"We're staying the night, it's the safer thing to do," I inform him, earning a nod, "Somebody has to stay and make sure those fires don't spread out and bite us on the ass overnight, not to mention most of us are just too damn tired to be driving. We'll start back after we've all had a good night's sleep."

"That's pretty much what Allen said, but he asked me to check with you and make sure," he replies and performs and extravagant bow, "I'll get out of your hair now so you can continue fondling one another in peace."

As the door closes, my buxom blonde wriggles herself out of my grasp then turns to plant a kiss on my nose, "I've got to get back to work myself Sarge, I promised Seth and Jane that I would help make dinner."

"What if I said that I'm not hungry for food?" I taunt and playfully paw at her supple denim clad rear.

She slaps my hands away and dances towards the door, her eyes sparkling with mirth, "Then I'd have to tell you that you are going to have to wait until the troops are fed before you get dessert."

"Evil woman," I mutter as she slips into the hallway, which is teeming with the sounds of our group setting up our improvised camp for the night.

I take a minute to will away the massive wood I've had plaguing me all day, but it takes me thinking about my grandma naked to finally make it wither and die. Poor thing's probably traumatized for life now, but it's the price I have to pay to be able to function around my girl.

I make my rounds, checking on everyone and doing a head count because you can't be too careful these days. My jaw damn near hits the floor when I see Jane and Seth sitting in a corner together, their pinkies curled together as they quietly chat.

"Damn, go Seth," I murmur appreciatively to myself after giving the standard head nod and a reminder that they're on chow detail while passing by them on my way to the head.

Did you ever notice that when you are in a pubic bathroom that shit starts feeling creepy when you are alone even though you're perfectly fine at home?

I try to shrug off my innate wariness after checking the stalls and ensuring that I'm not going ot be eaten while taking a piss. After unzipping and letting the dragon go, I close my eyes and try to attempt the feeling of buoyancy returning.

A sound to my left causes Mischa to be met with the muzzle of my pistol. "Ease the fuck up Em, if I wanted to fuck you or kill you, I've had plenty of chances for both before now."

I holster my gun and return to my previous task, not bothered whatsoever by her presence, "What the hell do you want then, if you're not here to play with the cock monster?"

She takes her time, lighting her cigarette with a match and narrowly missing my pride and joy when she tosses the flaming stick into the urinal. "Oh please spare me the bullshit. You call that little thing your cock monster? I'll have to remember to give Rosalie some extra batteries when we get back."

"Are you going to annoy me to death or do you plan on getting to a point any time soon?" I zip up and turn to her, expectant.

"Bella radioed from the store and asked if we could see the fire that sprung up at the airport from here," she takes a drag from her cigarette and exhales slowly for a more dramatic effect, "We can see it crystal fucking clearly, for your information, but there isn't shit we can do about it."

Fuck me running. There goes any chance of refueling the chopper unless we are willing to fight our way to the small airport on the reservation.

"There ain't much anyone can do when it gets hot enough for jet fuel to burn," I agree while flushing and strolling over to the sinks lined up along the wall to wash my hands, "Set up a few people to keep an eye on which direction it's burning. Does the Chief have a contingency plan if the wind turns it on the town?"

She shrugs a shoulder, "I think he's more worried about our only way out of this area being cut off by the blaze. I checked the maps, his concern is legit. If we try going north, we'll be overrun by zombies because both of the roads lead through Port Angeles. The reservation is out as well because it has no truly secure structures, and if the Quileutes did manage to make one, there will not be enough room for all of us."

Shit.

"Alright, I'm going to call Charlie and see how he wants this handled because I'd rather not be scrambling blindly when the shit hits the fan," I grumble and head towards the room where the radio's been set up.

Bella Swan-Walmart

"Coffee to sooth the savage Swan?" Edward offers, shoving a travel mug in my face. "You're so used to the desert heat, I figured you'd be freezing your ass off."

I accept the steaming brew with a grateful hum and tear my eyes away from the inferno lighting up the southern sky. "I was never a big fan of winter, just ask my dad if you don't believe me Masen," I add when he snorts in disbelief, "This is probably summer weather in Chicago though."

He shakes his head no after taking a drink of his java, "No, it's still too warm little Chief."

I fail miserably at containing my chuckle and swat him in the arm, "You are so full of shit Edward, you know that?"

"Not about you," he mumbles in a low voice then coughs and nods in the direction of the fire, his voice stronger as he asks, "Do you think it could come this way?"

I bob my head in affirmation, "It depends on the wind, but yes it could most definitely turn and start burning through the town. I figure until it burns itself out, we're going to have to be prepared to cut and run at a moment's notice."

He eases himself into the camp chair beside me and I tentatively rest my head on his shoulder. Our relationship, or whatever it is, has been growing slowly over the past few months, but it's only been in the last two weeks or so that we've ventured farther than the occasional hug or kiss on the forehead.

"I'm worried B," he confesses after a long silence, "That fire is sure to drive more stenches this way and everyone is split up between here and Forks General. What are we going to do if one of us starts getting overrun?"

I rub my free hand up and down his arm in an effort to comfort, "That's why we keep the semi's packed and ready to go Edward. We have two waiting for us right now and so does the crew over at the hospital. I'm not saying that there isn't a chance that something bad will happen, but we have to stay calm and remember that each of us are doing every thing that is humanly possible to prevent it."

Edward's head swivels and his eyes look like green fire in the dying light, "How do you stay so hopeful? No, wait, I have a better question. What makes you so goddamn fearless when you live in a horror movie come to life? Don't you have even an ounce of self preservation left?"

This time I don't bother trying to stop my laughter, but I do attempt to smother it in the arm of his jacket for appearances sake. "Self preservation? What's that?" I snort in amusement, "I lost that right around the time I started cliff diving with the two retards I call my best friends. Don't look at me like that," I growl when his eyes darken and his mouth transforms into a flat line on his chiseled face, "Honestly Edward, I can best sum it up from a movie I saw when I was a kid. The gods decided your fate long ago and you can run and hide in a hole if you like, but you won't live a moment longer than you were intended."

"So you're telling me that you're not scared because you believe that you won't die until you're time is up?" he inquires, the emotions on his face and tone a mixture of humor, disbelief, and something akin to awe, I think. "That's seriously messed up," he surmises when I nod in agreement with his words. "I swear you are like no one I've ever met Bella. You never say or do anything I expect."

"At least I'm not boring," I quip while elbowing him playfully, "I don't think I'd have kept your attention this long if I weren't bat shit crazy."

His lush lips press against my temple, a perfect match to his husky voice, "I'm not denying that you're crazy, but you would have my undivided attention even if you weren't. Two months ago I don't know how I'd live with you clouding my senses, but now I don't know how I'd survive this nightmare without you. Bella..."

"Aw, aren't you adorable," I snicker, waiting for the punch line.

To my surprise, the quirky doctor quickly sets down his coffee and cups my cold cheek with his overheated hand, "I want to give you and me a chance at something more than friendship. I can't promise that I won't screw up, but I will promise that I will never ever make you feel unwanted, I learned my lesson the hard way with that. Could you ever see me as more than your friend after everything I've done or am I too late?"

My mind explodes into a flurry of clashing thoughts. He wants me? How can he want me, I'm only eighteen? What about Tanya? He hasn't shown anything but interest in the health of her child since they stopped fighting all the time. But what if it's because the dating pool is so restricted now and he's doing this because he's out of choices? Does he know how I feel about him? Fuck, Jake and Jared's going to kill him if this goes badly.

Wait a damn minute. He asked if he was too late? No. Not fucking possible. He's an asshole sometimes and definitely OCD when it comes to being a doctor, but the bastard has been firmly lodged in my head since the day I seen his coppery hair in the parking lot.

"No," I whisper, then gasp when I see the hope in him begin to wither.

"I'm—I have to---," Edward stammers and begins getting to his feet when I grab his arm and pull him back down.

"No, you're not too late," I firmly state, not allowing my grip on his jacket to loosen until he sighs in relief and relaxes back into the chair, "Yes, I'd like to give us a chance too, but I have to warn you that Jake and Jared will kill you if this ends badly."

"If this ends up going badly, I will gladly hand myself over to them," he confesses, a smirk playing across his features, "May I kiss you now Isabella?"

I lean forward until my lips ghost over his, "You never need ask Edward."

When we connect, the current that is ever flowing between us amplifies, but it only adds to the heaven that is Edward Masen kissing me.

Carlisle Cullen-Forks General Hospital

My beloved's familiar growls greet me as I slip, unnoticed by the others, into the office that has become her home. "I'll be in shortly love," I call out to her, taking care not to drop the squirming bag on my shoulder as I move the barricade into place.

Once I'm satisfied that we won't be disturbed, I fish a key from my pocket and move to unlock the door to my Esme's room. It's been days since she last ate, but this is the first time I'd been able to get something for her. I set the extra, unmoving bag right outside the portal so that it is withing easy reach later on while pushing the key into the lock and turning the knob.

My heart soars as her face comes into view. It has taken weeks to be able to overlook the leather gag and mitts I had to put on her, but now I barely notice them. Even the chains around her neck and wrists are barely perceptible in this light. "I brought food and a fresh change of clothes," I answer her inquisitive growl as I step in and sit the duffel down a few feet away. "You tore the dress you have on sweetheart so I'm going to change it. We can't have you looking like a mess when the antidote is ready, now can we?"

Her milky eyes shift from me to zero in on the squirming bag on the floor and I laugh in amusement, "I thought men were the ones who thought with their stomachs darling? I guess that goes to show that you can't believe everything you hear."

With a practiced move, I push the bag within her reach, not startled at all when her hunger driven keening rises a few octaves as she crouches and begins trying in vain to tear open the canvas bag. I open the zipper, mindful to stay off of her predatory radar, then quickly release the buckles on her gag.

In a flash, she grabs her meal and digs in with the enthusiasm of a toddler put before ice cream. I can't help but smile at her moans of happiness as she devours her food. I'm saddened that I couldn't procure anything bigger, this dinner being a quaint thirty five pounds, not counting the full diaper its wearing, but her last food source died before I could bring them to the hospital from their home a half mile away.

I wait patiently for my love to finish her food before stripping its head from its body with a shovel and deftly replacing the gag on her so I can clean up the mess. "You are such a dirty girl sometimes," I gently chide her as I tie the last garbage bag and turn to face her, "We're going to have to work on your tables manners once you're well again my dear."

She is straining in her restraints, eager for a second course, but all I can offer is a heartfelt kiss placed on her gag, "I'm sorry love, that's all for right now. I promise that I won't let you go so long without eating again."

I use her tense stance to my advantage, using a knife to cut her ravaged dress off of her lean frame. After slathering her in her favorite scented lotion, careful not to break her fragile skin and sneaking in a few loving kisses, I slip a soft pink sundress up her body and tie the straps over her pale shoulders.

All too soon though, I cannot resist her siren's call. I unbuckle my utility belt and let it fall to the floor as I unfasten by pants and slide my tormented arousal into her cool body, pausing only to roll on a condom. Her rhythmic, sensual growls spurn me to an ever faster pace, knowing that she is gaining pleasure from our coupling, even in her altered state. I know we shouldn't make love while she is ill, but my love, my need for her is so great these days and we have so little time together as it is. I'm ashamed that I cannot last as long as I once could, spilling my seed into her within minutes of our joining, but am comforted by the knowledge that we can work on our stamina together once she is cured.

"Soon you'll be all better my love," I murmur against her neck, giving her one last kiss as our bodies part.

"Hey Doc, we're staying here tonight," Mischa's voice informs me over the walkie talkie.

I toss the used prophylactic in the garbage before refastening my pants around my waist and grabbing the radio, "That's excellent Mischa. I'll be in my lab if anyone needs me."

"Can do, dinner is in an hour," she answers.

"Roger," I reply then drop the radio back into my bag.

"Well, I guess we'll have the night sweetheart," I tell the love of my life before disposing of the remains of her meal and getting to work.

Let me be the first to say eewwww!!!!!!!! But this is a horror story written by your resident nutball...Did you expect anything normal??? Oh, and I did warn you.