Holy crap on toast, has it really been that long, I didn't realise; sorry every one. But I'm free of my work experience shackles, permanently, as of some hours ago, so let's celebrate.
Thank you for the reviews for the last chapter:Musicfutbolfan6,TrustInFaith,VickiiMadd,A C one,emmacancook,Ilianalovee,Rediclufied. Espi,Blue-Portrait,SoFlaComet,NotThatGrrl, w1cked,nickd93,Pezberrylover0612,ShadowCub,llGeekGoddessll,agirl002, JayMonsta, Pezberry Rocks, Alese222, anonni, BroadwayTheaterGleek, xphrnzrjh, Guest, Gardenia2, xtreme, amazinglife18, Amazes, J4M3Z XO, MelissaK4, Guest, Willoa-.-Tara, CJ13, General Mac, cressey (Congratulations, by the way), GleekFoLife, Miles, TheChosenSlayer5By5, ConfessedGleek16 and LynDraven
Posted: 25/8/12
Reunited
"Rach, give up. That heap ain't gonna start" Santana whined as Rachel tried to start the technically stolen car they'd used to escape from the hospital. She hugged her arms round her, trying to stay warm in the cold morning air as she looked around them. The surrounding area was blanketed in a thick fog, making it impossible to see what was out there but Santana had the feeling they were surrounded "besides it's creepy out here, can we just go now?"
"Fine" Rachel grumbled as she climbed out of the car. She turned around and ducked back inside the car though collecting her guns from where she'd temporarily left them on the front passenger seat. Even without ammo there was no leaving them behind, they were like family
"You two riding with us then?" Zises asked from the back of truck parked next to the car. She threw a couple of blankets in the back with the rest of her other findings on her trip so far
"I guess so"
"I've already got dibs on the front seat" Quinn yelled as she climbed in. She'd had the worst night sleep, Zises had taken the other sofa and Santana and Rachel had cuddled up in front of the fire place together and Quinn had just picked a place on the floor. She chose to lie against the sofa, that CJ was occupying, as she didn't feel so out in the open there. It had taken her, what felt like, hours to get to sleep.
Thoughts of Brittany, hurt and vulnerable flooded her mind, then thoughts of Beth and how Puck was handling them both, as well as himself. Other thoughts like: 'if her end had come' came to mind, and how all she really wanted if that time came again, was for a longer amount of time to say a real goodbye. It was the least she could hope for.
Her morning wasn't much better, she had woken with a wet shoulder and neck, it took her a second with a roaming hand over her neck and hair before she looked up to realise she'd been heavily drooled on by CJ. To make matters worse they didn't know if the water was safe here, she couldn't clean off until she got back to the bunker. At least she was able to swap her grey zip up hoody for a dull green over the head one she'd found in one of the bedrooms in the house.
That was something they were collectively looking forward to; when they got to the bunker they could have a shower, brush their teeth, put on fresh clothes, and sleep securely
"I guess we'll sit in the bed then" Rachel said in agreement
"I'd sit on those blankets if I were you" Lauren said, like she knew what she was talking about as she opened the tail gate for the two girls and dog to climb in. They wondered briefly what Lauren's experience in the back of that truck was. They quickly washed their minds of the idea of her and Puck getting hot and, um, heavy and thought of something else. Perhaps the girl had spent a night sleeping alone in the back of the truck; out in the open with those things walking around.
Santana held out both her hands fingers locked together for Rachel to use as a step, the shorter brunette used her girlfriends hands like a step while giggling and saying "Why Santana, how chivalrous"
The Latina smiled while the blonde in the cabin of the truck who'd been watching them turned back around in her seat and rolled her eyes, Zises did the same at the scene. Santana then wiped her hands on her jeans before she passed their guns and the bat she'd found in the house to a waiting Rachel
"Come on CJ" Santana said to the dog as she patted the open tail gate encouraging the dog to get in. The shepherd happily jumped up and followed her master to the other end of the truck bed, over the odds and ends Zises had gathered as supplies. Santana then climbed up and joined Rachel who had made a thin seat with the blankets Zises had told her to use, and was leaning with her back against the cabin
"Okay" Zises said as she slammed the tail gate shut again "let's get this shit on the road" She walked round to get into the driver's side, opened the door and placed her trust baseball bat in first "Luce, you remember where we're going?"
The two brunettes in the back had quickly realised after they were reunited with Quinn, and more surprisingly; Zises last night, that the bigger girl seemed to be the only person in the history of the universe who got away with calling Quinn by her real name
"If we go back the way we came and find the jeep, and if some of the fog lifts, I think I can find the way from there" she hoped that was a good enough honest answer for now
"You think you'll remember even though it was dark last night" Santana asked through the open sliding panel in the back of the cabin to the bed of the truck
"Well I used the same route coming back to the hospital as I did going from the hospital to the bunker, so I think I'll remember" she answered honestly again. She could take pressure normally, I mean hell she was a Sue Sylvester head Cheerleader, so yeah she could usually take pressure... but it was different when getting eaten by a cannibal infected human was the price of a mistake out here. "I'll probably be able to remember by the all the crap laying about in the roads that I had to swerve around"
"Okay, that's good enough, let's just get out of here before the Z's get us" Rachel shivered at the though and the cold, making Santana instinctual wrap an arm round her shoulder. The shorter girl smiled up at her girlfriend before happily cuddling into her side. As the truck rumbled to life, CJ finally stopped wandering round the truck bed and settled... right on both the girls laps.
As they drove along Rachel started thinking. Quinn finding them in the compromising position they were in wasn't the worst thing that could have happened and they trusted Quinn, so if anyone was going to walk in on them like that Quinn was probably the better choice. They had explained to Zises that they were together; she had been as surprised as she was when she found out about Quinn and Brittany. But she was quiet after that; it was probably too much to take in within an hour after not having any human contact for a couple of weeks.
"San?" Rachel asked softly, she then blushed at the use of the shortened name.
Santana smiled as her girlfriend ducked her head shyly "Yeah Rae?" she pushed against Rachel with her side, shoving her playfully.
"I was wondering..." she bit her lip with worry
"What were you wondering?" Santana asked softly, encouraging Rachel
"Well" she tucked a loose strand of messy hair behind her ear "I was wondering if we could keep... us quiet"
"You don't want anyone to know?" The Latina asked, making sure she understood properly. She kept her eyes on Rachel's but Rachel couldn't look directly at her.
"Well it's not that, I just don't want to deal with questions and... attention"
Santana had to laugh, she tried to keep it minimal though "You mean: Rachel Berry the attention seeker, doesn't want attention" she joked, hiding that she was a little bit hurt
"No I want attention" Rachel admitted quickly "But just from you"
"Well when you put it like that" Santana smirked "Okay, we'll keep it quiet" She kissed Rachel quickly while she was caught off guard in her shy persona. She then turned her head to between them; to the cabin part of the truck "Did you hear that?" she asked the other two girls
"Unfortunately, yeah we did" Quinn yelled back
"Thank you" Rachel said to her girlfriend "I would prefer if we didn't have to, but I think its better. I mean I don't want Kurt asking so many Questions, and I don't want to deal with whatever reaction Finn would have"
"Oh yeah" 'Just mention him why don't you' Santana thought to herself, while trying to cover her hurt "We wouldn't want to upset him or anything"
"Yeah" Rachel nodded gently and kept her voice low "I just don't think he'd deal with this very well, I don't want to hurt him"
Another stab to Santana's surprisingly vulnerable heart "Yeah" she agreed softly as she hugged her arm round Rachel tighter. It was a reminder that she had Rachel, not the oaf. "I get that, we'll keep it quiet" she didn't look at Rachel as she said it, she just looked to the end of the truck bed and beyond, at the abandoned cars and debris on the road disappearing into the mist.
"Hey there's my truck!" Rachel perked up as the passed the wrecked jeep. Zises slowed their truck to inspect the damage "Holy shit Quinn you killed my baby"
"Don't be so dramatic, it's just a car Berry?" The blonde yelled from the cabin, not impressed with where the short brunettes concern went
"But you didn't just smash the headlight you ripped her open"
Santana muttered something that sounded like 'wanky' but it was quickly dismissed by her heart broken girlfriend who was draw to the jeep as Zises started to pull away, accelerating away before something out of the mist
"Maybe I can fix her" she pushed CJ off her lap and seemed to desperately crawl across the truck bed in a trance, not letting her eyes leave the jeep
"No Rach" Santana slipped her arms round the smaller girls middle and pulled her back "She's gone baby" she said softly in her ear as the Beta car disappeared in the mist
"But she was mine" she sniffed as she whined. Santana just carefully pulled her back and they took their seats from before "Alpha was dad and daddy's, beta; she was mine"
"We'll come back one day. Rescue her, okay?" Santana told her, just to make her stop her crying.
"Really?" Rachel's shiny eyes looked up at her, full of hope.
"Really?" Quinn and Zises yelled from the cabin, unbelieving like she was crazy
"Yeah" Santana answered Rachel ignoring the other two
Quinn rolled her eyes at the mushy-ness of the girls discussion "Sorry 'bout your car Berry" she yelled hoping to break it up before she saw a replay of last night in the rear view mirror
"I guess I forgive you Quinn, but you better know where we're going now"
"Yeah, I remember where we're going now" Quinn said loud enough for them to all hear. Rachel wasn't sure if the life of her car was a fair price to pay. Santana was certain it was; Rachel safe was all that really mattered
...
Puck had lain awake most of the night starting at the ceiling, so when Beth started stirring he decided to get up. He didn't want Beth disturbing Brittany on the other side of their room after she'd finally worn herself out from crying.
He took Beth downstairs to the first level of the basement. They hadn't made the most of the space yet. They'd all took rooms on the 1st floor where the front door was, in case... just in case they came home, they'd be there to meet them
But here it was 7:41 in the morning and they weren't home. The bunker disguised as a house was well equipped and Puck was able to find a high chair for Beth to sit in as he made her some breakfast; peanut butter on toast was a good one as Brittany had proved. But where was he going to find any bread... maybe he could make bread... how do you make bread? All thoughts that ran through his mind
Puck wanted to hold onto hope, maybe he still could for Rachel and Santana... but he hadn't been at the hospital, he didn't know exactly how bad it was there.
'How would things work now?' He wondered as he looked through the cupboards at the long life food. 'Fruit? Spaghetti O's for breakfast?' He glanced at Beth who seemed to stare at him, unsure of what was going on.
Puck thought about what would happen next. He was responsible, wasn't he? He was responsible with Beth, maybe he'd lead them. He believed he'd step up and do it, if he had to... which he might have to. Finn wasn't a leader, despite thinking he was, with football and glee. Sam, maybe he'd be useful but he lost Mercedes yesterday, could he handle being Puck's wingman.
They'd all have to 'man up', they couldn't dwell on things of they wanted to live, if they wanted to keep moving and living.
A happy squeal from Beth stopped Puck from staring at her. He let a smile break onto his lips at his daughter. He forgot about food for a moment and picked her up, hugging her close. She was his, and what was going to keep him going. He had to be strong, at least for Beth
He froze when he heard a noise from the floor above them; his heart was in his throat when he heard the grumble of an engine, the slamming of the garage door and then a silence "Please" he whispered. Hoping it would be all three of them "Please"
He rushed to the stairs; Beth started fidgeting as she was jostled around in her dad's arms. He took the stairs too at a time. As he got closer he heard voices, voices of the people who he already knew were safe. Yeah that was Kurt's voice, then he heard Tina, and Finn. They were so joyful, who were they talking to
Finally Puck stepped out into the room: he smiled brightly, stupidly brightly when he saw Quinn, Rachel, and Santana and... Who the hell is- Holy Shit!
Everyone was babbling, asking questions, no one saw him there watching. His eyes focused on one, and not the one he thought he'd be paying attention to the most. He thought if the three who he hoped had been standing there, were standing there, he'd be mostly relieved to see Quinn, because he kinda depended on her. But never in a million years would he have thought he would see her again.
While most were in their own world at their happy union, the only person not there yet opened the door onto the scene.
Brittany stumbled out of the bedroom she'd been sleeping in that was opposite the garage. The noise of the door opening got everyone's attention as the last few missing from the scene poked their heads out of their room.
It seemed like people parted the way in front of Quinn, revealing her to Brittany. Blue eyes slowly rose and settled on the person who stood before her. There was a moment there, where it was as if she didn't register who was looking back at her with worry in their hazel eyes.
The taller blonde seemed to squint, then rubbed her eyes to make sure she wasn't seeing things. She then stumbled tiredly across the space between them, stopping right in front of her unmoving girlfriend. She reached out and gently cradled the side of Quinn's face
With a slight gasp her eyes brightened "You're real" Brittany breathed, her expression still unbelieving
"I'm sorry I scared you"
Quinn flinched as Brittany bought her hand back quickly, thinking she was about to get slapped when instead the taller blondes arms wrapped round her neck and yanked her towards her girlfriend and her eager waiting lips. Brittany attacked Quinn with short kisses "I – thought – you – were – dead" she punctuated each word with another short yet fevering kisses
"I'm – Sorry" Quinn managed to say as she let her shotgun fall to the floor and swiftly wrapped her arms round the other girls middle "I – Love – you – so – much" She, again, managed to say while her lips were attacked.
"I Love – you too" Brittany replied without hesitation
They forgot about their audience as Quinn held Brittany close, and allowed for a longer kiss. Brittany started walking backwards, pulling Quinn with her. They stumbled and almost fell over countless times as Brittany tried to find the doorway to her room. She reluctantly let go of Quinn with one hand to use it to reach behind her. Once the door way was found Brittany released Quinn from their lip lock, much to both of their dismay, and spun them round so she could push Quinn down onto the bed nearest the door.
Everyone couldn't help but watch as Brittany kicked the door shut. There was a moment of quiet before the door opened again and Lord Tubbington was put on the floor and nudged with a foot away from it. Obviously Brittany still cared for the cat; anyone else probably would have thrown the cat put the door for some privacy.
A loud moan then a muffled giggle was heard from the other side of the door making Rachel speak up "Perhaps we should go downstairs, Santana and I can fill you in on what happened, that and I could really do with some coffee and food" she started towards the stairs but as she turned she noticed Puck was still watching Lauren and neither had yet said a word directly to one another "And if people would like to have a private catch up, there are more rooms upstairs" Puck caught her eyes and nodded lightly in understanding "Okay lets go" she started leading them to the stairs again, two doors over from the garage when:
"Um Rach, how should we get Artie down the stairs" Sam asked. Normally he and Puck or Finn would, but no one was talking to Finn and Puck wasn't going down the stairs
"Use the elevator" she said casually, like it was obvious. When she saw the confused expression he gave her she opened the door next to the one with the stair well "Here, we'll meet you down there. Hit [-1]" she told Artie before leaving again, with Santana, CJ and Finn right behind her like lost puppies
Sam went with Artie into the elevator
"Thanks for thinking of me Sam" Artie said quietly, as he nudged his glasses further up his nose then placed his hands back in his lap
"It's okay man... sorry I wasn't subtle" he said as the doors to the elevator closed
"Doesn't matter, I get that I don't make this easy... I'm surprised I haven't become Zombie bait already" he chuckled but it wasn't funny
"Don't say that bro" Sam sighed "We've all got to look out for each other right?"
"Yeah I get that, but the chair makes me more trouble for everyone else. And I worry that every ones gonna realise that" he muttered, trying to hide just how scared of that he really was
"I got your back man" Sam said as he patted Artie's shoulder. He'd already let his girlfriend down, he couldn't let his friend down too.
.
As Brittany's had started tugging Quinn's replacement hoody up towards her head the hazel eyes girl froze in the middle of a kiss with her girlfriend. She tore her lips away, almost just taking eager Brittany with her instead, "No Britt, stop" she gently took Brittany's roaming hands (that she hadn't completely minded a minute ago) and pushed her away carefully so she could sit up and put space between them
"What's wrong?" she furrowed her brow as she leant away, then swung her legs out from beneath her so she could sit down properly.
"I can't do this yet" Quinn said timidly, she bit her bottom lip as Brittany took in the words, and hoped the taller girl would understand
"You don't want to have sex with me?" The blue eyed girl asked bluntly. Quinn ducked her head as she blushed; still somewhat shy around the subject.
"No" she saw Brittany's confused expression drop to a sadder one and she jumped in quick to try and rectify it "I mean I do, um but not yet" she explained
"Why, you've done it with Puck, and I've done it with..." her mind wandered, Quinn didn't want a list of names anyway
"I know, but it wasn't special, I want our first time to be special. Not now when I smell like dog drool and really need a shower"
"We could have sexy times in the shower" she suggested with a cute shrug
"I know we could" Quinn chuckled softly as she shuffled closer to Brittany "I just want to wait a little longer, so it can be special, so we don't have people waiting for us downstairs and we can take our time" she leant forward dropping a soft, sweet and much calmer kiss to her girlfriends lips "I want to be able to show you how much I love you, and cuddle with you afterwards"
"Cuddle?" Brittany's eyes lit up, she liked the sound of that
...
Puck nodded his head to the stairs leading up, as a signal for Zises to lead the way. She nodded subtly before taking the lead. She simply chose the first room near the top of the stairs. Puck followed her in; he leant against the door to close it. Once the door clicked shut there was an awkward silence. Zises sat down on one of the cots as Puck just stayed leaning against the door his head bowed
"... Good to see you're alive" he mumbled
"Good to see you alive too" she answered back a little more cheerily
After another pause he looked up at her "Why dya do it?" he sighed. It had been at the back of his mind since the day she said those last words to him
She matched his sigh and direction by looking back at him properly "Come on Puckerman, we don't do feelings and shit" They were somehow meant to be, she knew what he was asking about
"No Lauren, I really liked you, I thought I was in love; hell I probably was" he threw his arms up, not really sure why he was doing that but he couldn't help it, Just because he was a bad-ass dude didn't mean he didn't have emotions "But we start senior year and you're all 'it was fun but glee club' and 'my rep'. And that's it, you're gone. I never even saw you or anything"
"You think it was easy for me leaving you like that" the normally calm, cool, girl said with the same emotion as the boy with the Mohawk
"Oh please it didn't hurt you" he sneered
"Well you're wrong Puckerman, it did hurt, a lot" she spat back, her sudden vulnerability making his expression soften "No guy ever asked me out before..., it's not easy being... me. Then one day, because I found you in that porta-potty you were all over me"
"You didn't care about that though, you just kept pushing me away" he stressed out with confusion
"Yeah I did, you know why though. Cos I was waiting for you to turn around and laugh in my face with a slushy. One minute I'm just the freak, girl wrestler or that endangered white rhino in the AV club, and the next I've got the hottest guy in school at my feet"
"You thought I was the hottest guy in school"
"Easily" she smirked "with those guns, those eyes and that ridiculous Mohawk"
He just smirked back, smugly. Hell yeah he knew he was the hottest boy in school; it was just better hearing it from the girl he liked, who didn't give compliments, like ever.
"So how'd you get here?"
"Stole your truck" she shrugged casually
"You saved my baby too?" Wow, she really was some sort of saviour
Let me know what you think, it's not great sorry
But maybe it's better than nothing (?)