Chapter 20:
Quinn sat on the edge of Rachel's bed watching with amusement as said girl was tearing through her closet for what she deemed appropriate attire, since Quinn was sadly one of the gang that was low on clothing supplies.
It was nice to find out that they were the same shoe size, but was slightly miffed at having to wear a set of combat boots. Rachel stating that they were perfect because they were sturdy and a hard material to tear through, the brunette also swore they were comfortable. After all soldiers had to wear them day in and day out sometimes for 24 hours or more and tho they felt heavy when she held them once she put them on she realized Rachel was right. It felt like her feet were surrounded by clouds. Her jeans were also still in good condition, so now the only problem was finding a shirt and jacket that fit. All of Rachel's tops were a bit to small or tight for her.
"I know Brittany left that damn shirt here somewhere, I saw it the last time she slept over"
"Its okay, I can just keep what I have on. You're making way to big a deal out of this"
Rachel gave the blonde a quick once over before shaking her head. Quinn was currently wearing a tank top with spaghetti straps that had seen better days. Shaking her head and turning back to her search. "No it is getting colder out, and what if we end up outside after dark? Not that I plan on it but it is still a possibility, and if that were the case the temperature will only be dropping lower, so we need to find you a jacket that fits too. I know we can get one from JD because I bought him most of his clothes. AH HA! Found It!"
"Oh god I don't even want to know what that jacket looks like, knowing you it will have some sort of animal stitched on it or something" Quinn chuckled when Rachel marched out of the walk in closet, *hands firmly planted on hips and a scowl on her face. She could only smile in amusement as the little diva had started to rant at her. It had been so long since Rachel went off on a tangent.
Quinn as well as a few others had missed seeing the girl so passionate about something so pointless. All they ever seemed to notice lately was how everyday Rachel seemed to shut down a bit more, sure she still spoke to everyone, was still polite and cordial but it was like it was all just surface glamor. Even Brittany was noticing how Rachel seemed to be pulling away from both her and her sister. Only giving short clipped answers to most things sometimes even just one word.
It was also proving to be hard to get the girl to spend any time with anyone on a social level. Rachel often locked herself away in her room or went out on the ranch to do god knows what sometimes disappearing off and on for hours, asking to be left alone yet always leaving a note where she could be found if needed .So to be able bring a bit of the old Berry back was a relief and also made Quinn extremely proud that she was the one able to accomplish it.
"I will have you know Ms. Fabray that I have superior taste in clothing as well as many other things in life. Have you not seen the outfits I have had on my person lately. That is how I normally dress, if I were not assaulted on a daily basis by people dumping their food on me or trying to bring back the 80's and tie dye by splashing various staining colors on me while I was trying to obtain a vast and mentally stimulating education during my prime influential years, then I would not have been forced to wear said atrocious animal prints. You really think I actually liked those sweaters? Do you have any idea how itchy those heinous things actually were? Tho I am kinda partial to my owl sweater but that's only because Brittany made it for me. I have also decorated the majority of both this home as well as the one we had in town"
"Rachel breathe I was kidding. I am actually really enjoying finding out the real you. Besides the whole skater punk thing you have going actually suits you. Tho I do think that hoodie of yours has seen better days. Its starting to get holes in it and make you look like a hobo"
Rachel only huffed playfully and chucked a powder blue shirt at Quinn's head "Leave my skull hoodie alone its comfy. No one gets to diss the hoodie not even the Queen Bee. Besides this shirt is all the revenge I need." laughing at the look of horror on Quinn's face as she read what the t-shirt had said.
Once changed Quinn followed Rachel outside and down to the ranch's main gate where JD and Burt with the assistance of Artie were currently installing new motion detectors and weather proofing the camera's that were already installed as well as checking over the fence itself for any weak spots.
Artie's vast tech knowledge had served the group wonderfully the past month as he helped Rachel to upgrade her families already vast security system as well as taking command of monitoring the short wave radio and the internet they were trying to find any information on.
"Hi guys how is everything looking?"
"Hey squirt, so far so good another hour or so and we'll be all set. Whats up I figured you all would be heading out by now?" JD asked as he climbed down off the ladder and hugged the young girl.
"We shall be leaving shortly just have a few things to finish up before we go. We were wondering if Quinn would be able to borrow one of your coats"
"Yeah sure the bomber jacket would probably fit you best Quinn, I out grew it a few years ago so you can keep it if you like. It's in the chest by my bed."
After thanking the man Quinn went to retrieve her new leather jacket as well as inform those who were going to meet in the dinning room per Rachel's request while the other girl continued to go over all the security updates with a promise to be along shortly. Only to be tackled onto the couch once she walked into the living room by an over enthusiastic Brittany.
"OMG Q where is a camera I needs to get a pic so I can savor this moment for life"
"I think she looks super cute. You should totally wear my clothes more. I'm awesome and hot so anything of mine you wear will only make you look almost as cool as me. And it will help her keep Rae around, cause Rae is a unicorn. You should totally ask her if you can ride her Quinn." ((see the blog for pic of shirt heh heh heh thedreams. blog . c o m))
Quinn was blushing so hard she looked like a tomato as she quickly ran out of the room not giving her fellow blonde a response while her best friend was laughing her ass off and both girls leaving Brittany confused. Who wouldn't want to ride piggy back on Rachel. She tried to once but she was to tall and her feet kept dragging on the ground and tripping the two of them up she pondered as she drug her girlfriend into the dining room to wait for everyone else.
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The group in front of her was a tad bit larger than she would have liked. But as she glanced around at the faces that surrounded the dining room table she could not help but be proud of them all for volunteering to risk their lives and found herself unable to deny them.
"So what's the plan? Where we going?"
"The mall would be a great place"
"Are you out of your fucking mind trouty? Have you not watched Dawn of the Dead you moron"
"Oh yeah"
"While it did not need to be said in such a manner, Santana is right. A mall would be to much of a risk. It is way to spacious and if we come under attack we could be spread to far out from each other and not able to help in a timely fashion if needed"
"So where then?"
"I was thinking we could go to one of those all in one stores. We have two options one: we can head back to Lima and hit up Walmart or two: we drive to just outside of Akron and go to the Target, either store should have the stuff we would need, at least if they haven't been looted like crazy by now but I am partial to the Target since it is in a slightly less populated area but both are about the same driving distance. Once we get to whichever one we will split into three groups each with our own shopping lists. Thus getting the whole trip done faster and more efficiently"
"Okay we get it gizmo, so who is with who?"
"Well Noah, yourself and Britt in one group. Samuel and Michael in another and Quinn and I in the last. You three are in charge of getting any products we will need as well as hygiene items for both the men and women as well as trying to find everything on the list Noah's mother gave us in the pharmacy section. While Quinn and I gather the female attire and any weapons or other things that we may need . Sam and Mike will be in charge of gathering the male clothing as well as any food and beverage items we can scrounge up as well."
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"Is anyone else feeling as creeped out as I am right now?" Quinn asked as she over looked her surroundings.
The parking lot of the store was littered with garbage and there were even some small fires burning in buildings or dumpsters in the surrounding shopping area. The stores neon sign was missing a few letters and the ones that were there were blinking off and on and the whole thing was making a buzzing noise as well as the letter G dangling precariously over the entrance doors swinging and creaking due to the wind howling outside the safety of their two vehicles. Rachel called Puck on the walkie talkies Artie had given them before they left asking for everyone to remain indoors for a moment while she herself after protest from both Quinn and Santana stepped outside and scanned the area waiting to see if her fancy new built in 'oh fuck' detector would go off. After a few moments of walking around and even pressing her face against the glass front doors and windows Rachel gave her friends the all clear to pull the cars back first up to the doors.
Once everyone was ready the group entered the building Rachel first with Quinn right behind following the girls earlier request to stay by her side. As she took in her surroundings she couldn't help but wonder why the store appeared so derelict on the outside yet once indoors had seemingly remained untouched minus some blown out lights. Something was just not sitting right with the girl but they needed the supplies and she was loath to waste any time.
Quickly the group piled a row of carts down the main walkway in front of the registers before each individual took a cart of their own all agreeing that once full they would return the carts to the front before going and getting a new one thus insuring two things. One: they would be able to occasionally check in with each other physically and not just over the walkies and Two: they would all be able to help fill the cars at once making the process much faster.
"Okay guys, lets try and get this done as quick as possible and get the hell out of here. Keep the walkie on its current channel and once each group checks something off their list inform the others. Stay safe and be smart okay."
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"Seriously S your taking forever. Stop being so picky and just grab everything" Puck said as he ran his arm down the shelf knocking all its contents into his cart. "Oh look hair care done"
Santana rolled her eyes while Brittany happily followed the boys lead. "Well excuse me for trying to find some animal friendly vegan crap for the garden gnome. Look just go get the med's cause I doubt you wanna take care of tampons and pads with us. Just meet us by the bedding and shit in fifteen" Santana said smirking as the muscular boy ran away, turning to see what her girl was up to her eyes bugged out when she realized Brittany already had one cart filled to the top. Shaking her head she followed her girlfriend to the next aisle. Never would it be said out loud that she thought puck was right his way was much quicker.
Noah only knew what some of this shit was as he dumped armfuls of allergy and cold medicine into his cart. After wiping out everything from contact solution and ace bandages to ear plugs and foot spray. Hell with it the real important stuff was locked behind the Pharmacy counter anyway and he was just going to do the same thing there. Figuring to just completely empty it of everything and let his mom sort out what was what later. After getting on his com and warning everyone they would hear gun fife as he shot off the metal grates lock. Puck hops over the counter only to be socked in the face.
"What the fuck!" Puck said as he covered his eye.
"Who are you, what do you want"
Puck was shoved into the counter top roughly. Before he could fully recover from the first attack. "Well if you quit attacking me I'd be able to tell you" The mohawked boy said as he stood to his full height and took in the guy in front of him and his surroundings. Seeing a small outdoor grill and a sleeping bag on the floor as well as a case of water and the boy who was wearing a ridiculous vest and bow tie. Dude looked like Schue and Mr. Ryerson dressed him.
"Names Puck. Me and my friends were just looking around for supplies chill out man we ain't gonna hurt you not unless you give us a reason too"
The boy looked him up and down olive skin tone black wife beater camo pants and what looked like a dead ferret on his head, he knew this guy. Well not personally but he had heard of him in vast detail before.
"Noah Puckerman?"
"Yeah. Uh. I know you bro?"
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It took them all about an hour to get all the required supplies as well as pack up their first haul into the cars and now they were going to get extras or any personal items they may have wanted. Before they would call it a day and head back home. After all mine as well get the stuff now so they wouldn't have to go out again so soon.
Quinn and Rachel decided to take a small break and were now basically goofing off with some funny clothing before getting back to work.
"So I think we basically stole every possible piece of clothing and shoes we could so whats next on the list?" Quinn asked laughing when Rachel plopped a huge sunhat on her head. "Looks good on you, but its missing something" Rachel quickly followed up the hat with a pair of big bulky purple glasses and a fluffy hot pink scarf "There now you look simply dashing darlin" Rachel said with a bit of a fake southern drawl still holding onto the ends of the scarf as Quinn stepped closer into her space. She lowered the other girls glasses and found herself once again getting lost in those beautiful honey colored eyes.
Quinn felt like she was falling her head getting light and she had butterflies in her stomach as she watched the brunette slowly run her tongue over her lower lip and gently bit it, the action causing Quinn to lean her head down. This was it any moment now she would be making all her dreams become reality. She could feel Rachel's warm breath caressing her her face and could smell the faint aroma of the coconut chap stick the other girl used, any moment now she would be able to taste it.
"Hey guys Sam and I are just about finished here were going to head over and see if we can grab some board games or something. No offense Rach but were getting tired of playing poker and gin rummy every night." The sound of Mike Chang's voice crackled over the walkie tearing both girls out of the moment they got lost in. Rachel swiftly replied to the boy that it was a good idea. After getting confirmation from the others she brought her attention back to her companion who was scanning over their shopping list and checking off items. Not sure what to say to break the awkward tension that now seemed to be hovering over them. Luckily Quinn spoke without looking up from the paper.
"You want to get camping gear seriously?"
"Well not camping gear per say so much as the Swiss army and other knives as well as rope and binoculars and such that you can find in that department. I also want to see what kind of MMA gear or other exercise equipment they have I've sort of blown through most of my gear" she said as they made there way over to that section of the store. Hearing the gunshot Noah had set off along the way.
Quinn bumped into Rachel's back when the girl stopped dead in her tracks while placing a pair of boxing gloves in her cart.
"Rachel? You okay?" The other girl looked like she was spacing out and Quinn quickly grew concerned when she saw a slight amount of blood starting to drip down the girls nose.
"Rachel!" She shook the girl still nothing then out of nowhere the brunette seemed to snap back to attention.
"We have to move now!" Rachel shouted and grabbed her arm pulling her quickly down the isle and abandoning their shopping carts.
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"No. But my boyfriend Kurt does or well he did. I'm Blaine"
"Your dating lady boy? No way he's gonna flip out when he sees you man. That's awesome"
"He's alive? He's okay?"
"Yeah dude, Kurt's fine his back at our home base with some of our other friends. So what are you doing living here man. I mean a Pharmacy really?"
"I 've only been here for a few days. The boarding school I was staying at wasn't safe anymore and I've been trying to make my way out of state. Had to stop here for supplies when I twisted my ankle running from those things. Managed to kill the few that were in here but my ankle swelled up like a balloon and the pharmacy was the only place with one secure sealable entrance. Least it was till you blew the lock off" Blaine frowned.
"Well you won't be needing to stay here anymore you can come back with us." He was going to continue talking but there was a thunderous noise and he could see some of the giant shelves tumbling over like domino's.
Both boys jumped over the counter weapons in hand and Puck took off towards the sounds of shouting and screams Blaine frantically trying to keep up.