Hi all – Thank you for your very lovely reviews. I'm very glad you liked the last chapter. I wanted Charlie and Joey to become very involved in the birth of the baby. It's so much fun writing a story where the girls kick butt and the guys are just ... y'know ... buttheads ... sometimes! So here is another 'Strange Fix.' I very much hope you enjoy it. :-)
FCBC xxxx
VERY STRANGE THINGS
Chapter 21
Joey felt very relaxed as she watched Charlie, who was standing over the scrub basin removing her latex gloves and washing herself. Seeing just how good Charlie had been at assisting Rachel through the rest of her labour made her feel like she was the luckiest girl alive. Rachel had given her such complex instructions that Joey was glad she didn't have to understand them. Charlie had been amazing. She was such a special person - very caring, kind and thoughtful – and she had proven once again that she was never one to shy away from difficult situations which sometimes required her to do demanding things she had never done before. She was also one who did not suffer fools, always telling them exactly what she thought of their stupidity. James Darwin could attest to that fact! Joey loved all these things about her, and her mind wandered, filling up with nice thoughts about their future together.
As soon as Charlie had freshened up, she approached Rachel's bed. There was much more work to be done. Joey's heart leapt as Charlie neared. Thinking such sweet things about her girlfriend had given her butterflies in her tummy and she was now looking forward to Charlie's earlier promise all the more!
Charlie knelt beside the bed, taking time to admire Joey – and the new arrival again. "Rachel. I need to go help the doctor now ... but I'm not sure what to do."
Rachel smiled at her. She had an idea. "The first thing you need to do is bring her bed in here and put it over there," she said, nodding towards the other side of the room opposite her own bed. "That way I can tell you what needs to be done ... and I can watch her progress from here."
Charlie smiled. "Good plan." She turned to Joey. "Okay ... let's wheel her in, Jo."
They walked to the other room. Alf and Hugo stood beside the bed. The rest of them had gathered outside in the corridor. Watson was beside Leah, both of them gazing in through the open doors at the mother and baby snuggling together on the bed.
"Do you think she'll breast feed him?" whispered Watson.
Leah's looked surprised at the very idea. "If I were her ... I'd be too scared too. Maybe he's a little biter," she giggled.
Watson grinned. "Somehow I don't think that'll be a problem. Besides ... he doesn't have any teeth yet."
--------x--------
"Any change?" asked Charlie.
Alf shook his head. "No, love. She hasn't moved a muscle."
"We need to take her next door. Rachel will know what to do."
Alf and Hugo stepped aside to allow Charlie and Joey to release the brake and move the bed. Everyone else followed them. They placed her directly opposite Rachel, who sat up a little higher in bed to get a better view of the CDC virologist.
"Check the dressing on her arm for infection," she said. "It needs to be cleaned properly. Who knows how long she was down there ... stuck in the filth of those sewers."
Joey went to fetch clean bandages and gauze whilst Charlie looked for a disinfectant solution. She also found new latex gloves for both of them. As soon as Joey had returned, Charlie gave her a pair to put on. They set to work, removing the old bandage first. Joey peeled it back to reveal the nasty bite mark. Small particles of dirt from the sewers clung to areas of broken skin, although the bleeding had stopped at least. She took a pair of tweezers and removed them carefully, then filled a syringe with solution and washed the area as best as she could. Meanwhile, Charlie prepared new dressings. An unusual noise made Charlie stop what she was doing. She stared at Joey with a look of concern.
"What was that? It sounded like gurgling."
"Don't worry," replied Joey, her cheeks turning red. "It's just my stomach."
Charlie giggled. "It's probably a good idea if we try to find something to eat around here before it gets dark. We don't know how much light we will have later. I don't think the hospital is running on full power."
Joey liked the idea of dinner very much. Charlie called on Angelo to come to her side.
"How much of this building have you and Chris been able to search?"
"All the way up to the emergency ward. We couldn't get in there."
"Did you see any food?"
"Yeah ... the canteen kitchen isn't far. They seem to have plenty of food in storage."
"These people need something to eat pretty soon," she said. "Can you guys find some supplies and bring them here? Watson's armed ... she can go with you."
Angelo sighed. Not only did he dislike the idea of having to play cook and waiter, he especially didn't like the idea of taking Georgina Watson anywhere with him. She had given him nothing but looks of revulsion ever since their surprise reunion, and he was convinced that if she joined them in their search of the canteen, she'd grab the first kitchen knife she could find and lodge it firmly in his back!
"Err ... it's alright, Charlie ... we'll manage on our own, thanks," he assured her.
Charlie grinned at him, understanding just what he meant by it.
Angelo and Chris took up their weapons and checked their body armour. "We'll need one of you to guard the door while we are away ... and wait for us until we get back."
"Okay," replied Charlie. She turned to look at her colleague. "Wats-"
"NOT HER," Angelo insisted again with a stern expression on his face. He looked at Watson. "No offence."
Watson glared at him. "None taken," she replied through gritted teeth.
Charlie asked Bill to take Watson's place as door guard. He gladly accepted, and was thankful that he would not have to leave the security of the maternity ward himself. Charlie and Joey continued to treat the mystery doctor.
--------x-------
Bill locked the doors as soon as Angelo and Chris exited the ward. They hurried along the corridor, remaining on high alert. Ever since they'd arrived at the hospital they encountered the same problem time and again; as soon as they had managed to clear an area, they would return shortly afterwards only to find another infected roaming around. The canteen was not far, and the last time they had gone inside it was empty. Would it still be empty or would they have to defend themselves once again?
"So how do you know Charlie?" asked Chris as nonchalantly as she could pretend to be. She had sensed somehow that her boyfriend might have a history with the beautiful brunette, and a little jealousy was creeping in!
"I used to work with her," he replied. Angelo had dealt with his girlfriend's jealous streak several times before, and it had not been easy. He had figured out that the best way to handle it was to avoid all possible confrontation. Consequently, he chose not to divulge any more information than that.
Chris had carefully observed Charlie helping the doctor alongside the other brunette. "She seems quite close to that Joey girl, don't you think?"
Angelo stopped walking and eyed her. "What do you mean?" He sensed that she was going somewhere with her questions, and he wasn't sure that he liked it.
Chris shrugged her shoulders. "I mean ... when I watch them together ... I get the impression that they like to ... y'know ... ... eat hairy pie," she smirked.
Angelo's mouth fell wide open. He couldn't decide whether to be shocked at the suggestion, or amused at his girlfriend's rather unrefined choice of words.
"Each other's pie ... to be precise," she added, in case Angelo hadn't understood the first time round. She knew that he didn't always pick up on the obvious too easily.
"Yes I know exactly what you are implying, Chris," he replied sharply - a little irritated, "but Charlie is straight!"
"OH REALLY? And how do you know that?"
Chris knew exactly how to manipulate Angelo to get the truth out of him. Angelo dropped his shoulders and exhaled loudly. How was she able to do this every time?
"Y'know you should work in interrogation ... and torture ... not search and rescue, babe!"
Chris laughed aloud. "So? ... come on ... spit it out!"
Angelo looked her in the eye and smiled graciously in defeat. "We were a couple once ... okay? Happy now?"
"Very!" said Chris, pleased with herself again. Angelo was so easy to read.
They continued moving forward quietly before Chris broke the silence:
"Well .. if she was straight ... she ain't anymore!"
Angelo scowled at her.
Neither noticed the large blood-soaked figure following them quietly towards the canteen.
--------x--------
Charlie and Joey finished changing the dressing on the doctor's arm. They looked at one another and smiled coyly. The last few minutes had been spent silently working together – but it had been a very comfortable silence.
"Piece of cake," declared Joey enthusiastically. "What's next?"
Rachel shouted across from the other side of the room. "Joey ... do you have a torch?"
Joey checked her pocket and produced the small flashlight she had been using in the sewers.
"Great," said Rachel. "Now I need you to open her eyelids and shine the light inside. Are her pupils contracting?"
Joey moved to the doctor's side and lifted one eyelid, flinching as soon as she did. The doctor's eyes were bloodshot - so much so that it was almost impossible to tell what colour they once had been. Her pupils were distinguishable, but were an even brighter shade of red.
"Charlie .. come take a look at this," she said in surprise.
Charlie moved to her side and looked, gasping at the sight. This was a new development. The blotches behind her ears suggested that she was immune, but the colour of her eyes suggested something entirely different. She quickly moved across the room to inform Rachel of the anomaly.
--------x--------
Inside the canteen it was eerily quiet, apart from the low frequency vibrations emanating from the refrigerators all around them. Luckily no infected people had died in there. In some of the other wards they'd had to advance through an horrific assault course of corpses lying across the tiled floors.
Chris opened a fridge door at the back, finding a supply of plates filled with ready-cooked chicken dinners containing an assortment of chicken legs and breasts garnished with potatoes and vegetables. She pulled a nearby trolley towards her and began to fill it with enough meals for everyone, remembering to bring a little extra for their feline companion. She turned to Angelo.
"We can heat these up," she said.
Angelo searched for an oven. He spotted a large one almost instantly and turned it on. Chris came over to him and loaded it up with dinners.
"Now all we need to do now is wait," she grinned.
"How long?"
"Long enough to fill the time doing something ... umm ... a bit more interesting than looking at the walls," she replied, edging closer to him and wrapping her arms around his neck. Their lips collided. Angelo quickly pushed his tongue deep inside his girlfriend's mouth.
Hastily he began to remove her clothes, but not before undoing the zip on his combat trousers.
Chris pulled her lips away from his. "Bloody hell, Angelo ... SLOW DOWN," she cried. "It's an oven we're waiting on .. not a microwave! It doesn't need to be over in two minutes!"
"Sorry," he breathed heavily, kissing her passionately again.
Her words didn't have much effect. Angelo wasn't sure that he knew how to slow down. He lifted her off her feet and moved them both to a nearby dining table, lying her on top of it. Their kissing continued, becoming more and more intense. Several feet away, a male figure moved slowly towards them. His bloodshot eyes stared at them, unable to look anywhere else. He wanted the blonde guy on top. He looked so very appealing.
Out of the corner of her eye, Chris caught sight of the infected man standing a few feet behind Angelo. He looked grotesque and his eyes were staring wildly at them. She screamed!
"ANGELO ... BEHIND YOU!"
Angelo sprang to his feet and swung around. The infected man lunged at him fiercely, forcing him backwards. He pushed his arms against the man's chest to stop him getting any closer. The man had very large muscles, and looked like a professional bodybuilder. Angelo struggled against him, but was losing the power battle fast! Chris sat up and lifted her rifle, then aimed and fired at his shoulder. Click! It had jammed. She struggled to free the obstruction. Angelo's face contorted as the infected man's mouth neared his own. They fell to the ground, the larger man landing painfully on top of him. He was now sure that he was going to die at the hands of a biter. As the last of his strength diminished, he closed his eyes, dreading the painful bite he was about to feel. The infected man's lips pressed against his own, covering his face in blood. Instead of teeth, he felt a large swollen tongue pushing inside his mouth. Ewwwwwwwww! What the-?
He screamed! "CHRIS ... HURRY ... SHOOT HIM!"
Chris tried again to fire a shot, but the rifle was still jammed. Angelo now realised that he was not dealing with a biter after all. He was under attack by a monstrous gay bodybuilder who was trying to have his wicked way with him! In Angelo's eyes, this was much much worse than being attacked by the hungry. The infected man began to gyrate his hips forcefully, back and forth against Angelo's pelvis. He was so strong and each thrust hurt more than the last. The sheer embarrassment instilled Angelo with a newfound strength. There was no way on Earth he was going to be dry-humped to death! He pushed will all his strength, forcing the infected upwards and away from him. Finally Chris cleared the jam and fired two shots into his shoulder, making him recoil in agony and fall to the floor beside Angelo, screaming, his voice almost as high-pitched as James Darwin's. Angelo scrambled away from him and stood up. He looked down at the infected man, writhing in pain, then knelt on one knee and punched him in the face, knocking him out cold.
He stood up, out of breath, then straightened his clothes and looked at Chris.
"Not a word about this to the others ... is that clear?" he warned her.
Chris couldn't have stopped grinning even if she had wanted to.
Angelo saw that the man was wearing an orderly's uniform. His identity badge said 'Arnold Spunkmeyer.'
"What the hell was his problem?" he said, shivering at the thought of what had just happened. The fact that both men had had an erection throughout the entire attack didn't help matters. Angelo was thankful that his own was due to Chris, and no-one else!
"I guess you're just too irresistible," teased Chris. "Some guys just can't resist a police officer in uniform."
Angelo gave her a look of scorn. He was not in the mood for jokes!
--------x--------
"That certainly is new ... and unexpected," said Rachel. "I need to see them for myself." She lifted her new son and offered him to Leah, who was standing beside her. Leah gingerly took the small bundle of joy in her arms and cradled him. He was beautiful. His skin was pink and perfect – a rare sight over the past few days.
Charlie put her hand gently on Rachel's arm. "You shouldn't be getting up so soon, Rach. Stay here. I have an idea."
She got up and moved towards the doctor, taking her phone from her pocket. "Joey ... can you help me for a sec?"
Joey met her at the side of the bed. "Sure. What do you need me to do?"
"I need you to open her eyes. I'm going to take a photograph to show Rachel."
Joey nodded and did as she was asked. Charlie took a few close-up snaps, then raised the camera and took a photograph of Joey, who smiled coyly for the camera.
"How do I look?" she asked, fluttering her eyelids sweetly.
"Not bad ... not bad at all," replied Charlie with a smirk. She glanced down and noticed that Joey's dark-coloured briefs were teasing their way above her jeans. They looked very tempting, and so she took a photograph of them too. "Well chosen briefs ... I must say. Chicks dig grey."
Joey blushed and blew her a kiss. Charlie watched it happen on the screen of her phone and smiled. They moved together for a very chaste yet very tender kiss.
--------x--------
Minutes later Angelo and Chris's appearance at the maternity ward doors startled Bill. He quickly opened up and let them inside, locking it tightly as soon as they entered. It pleased him very much to see that they had brought a trolley filled with hot food – and it smelled delicious. They had also brought a selection of cold drinks from the refrigerator.
As they entered the room where all the survivors had gathered, they were greeted with smiles all round. Even Watson managed a wry one, although she was happy only to see the food - not the delivery boy.
"Chicken for everyone," declared Chris cheerily.
Joey and Charlie moved to the trolley and began to hand out plates.
"Careful ... they're hot, girls," warned Angelo.
He suddenly remembered his earlier conversation with Chris about Charlie and Joey, and he watched them carefully to see if there were any outwardly telltale signs of lesbianism – unable to spot any immediately.
Charlie and Joey moved around the room, making sure everyone received some dinner. Alf was last, and Joey had kept a special meal aside - just for him.
"There you go, Alf," she said, handing him a plate. "I didn't want to give you any chicken legs ... we know you're more of a breast man, right?"
Alf took the plate from her, but gave her a look of puzzlement. He was completely unaware that any of them had seen his collection of oil paintings.
Charlie fought hard to stop herself from laughing out loud, and just about managed to do so. That was, until Joey turned around and winked at her, making her burst into a giggling fit. Watson and Rachel had seen one of his other collections in the computer room back at the Surf Club the day before, and they grinned widely at the in-joke. The rest of the survivors were oblivious.
All of them sat around the room together to eat. Chris gave Ripley the extra chicken she had brought for her. VJ smiled and thanked her. There was silence for what seemed like several minutes, but was in fact only seconds. Joey had sat down beside Chris. She looked at the R.A.T.S.S. logo on Chris's badge.
"That's an ... umm ... unfortunate name for a special police force ... isn't it?"
Chris looked at her with a furrowed brow.
Joey pointed to it. "RATSS? It sounds a bit ... verminy, don't you think?"
"It's perfect," sneered Watson, staring menacingly at Angelo before turning to speak to Chris. "No offence, love" she said, making sure that Angelo knew the insult was meant for him and him alone.
"What does it mean anyway?" asked Ruby.
"Rescue And Transfer Special Support," replied Angelo.
"What are you guys doing here anyway?" asked Joey.
Charlie raised her eyebrow in anticipation of his answer. It was a very good question, she thought.
"We were sent here to rescue two doctors," he replied.
"When did you arrive?" asked Charlie.
"Yesterday evening," said Chris, "back when there were eight of us."
Chris and Angelo looked at each other with sad eyes.
"I'm sorry," said Joey. She didn't want to make them feel any worse by asking what had happened to their colleagues. Room 6 had probably become a temporary morgue for at least some of them. She had noticed black uniforms and combat boots on a few of the corpses.
"Which doctors were you looking for?" asked Charlie.
"They weren't employees here," said Angelo. "They had been sent here by CDC ... but by the time we got here to find them ... almost everyone was already dead."
Everyone apart from Chris and Angelo exchanged glances, then looked to the doctor on the bed.
"She's from CDC," said Joey, pointing to the unconscious patient.
Angelo's eyes widened. He quickly took out a notebook from his pocket and opened it at his most recent scribbling. "Is her name Alex?"
"We don't know," replied Joey. "Her ID badge just says Dr. A Ryan-Kwanten."
He turned to look at Chris. "It's her!" Immediately he turned back to look at Charlie. "We need her conscious again as soon as possible, Charlie. You have no idea how important this woman is!"
"We can guess," said Joey. "She's some kind of virologist, right?"
Angelo looked at her. "No," he said, before taking a deep breath and clearing his throat. "She's the cause of all this. She's the one responsible for the outbreak."
On hearing the words, everyone in the room stopped eating and stared at Angelo open-mouthed.
To be continued ...