Day 44: The hum of bugs hung in the air around us, filling up the silence where the screams and explosions should be.

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Welcome to the New Age Universe, Day of Impact; October 19, 2001.

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Devoid of the ever-present screams and the shrieking of bending metal, the silence of the warm night is overbearing. It presses down on them, suffocating survivors with its weight and utter emptiness.

Fallout shelters across the tri-state area are packed to their maximum. Unable to get to a shelter in time, Alex and Olivia are camped out in the basement of the 16th Precinct. Their bedding is made up of extra jackets and other soft items they could find.

"How's your head?" Alex asks, rolling onto her side and draping her arm over Olivia's abdomen.

"Fine," Olivia mumbles, stifling a groan of pain, "just a little sore."

"What's sore?"

"Everything."

Alex sits up and looks at Olivia in the soft, yellow glow of the emergency lights; Olivia's face is an impressive mask of impassivity. She presses the back of her hand to Olivia's forehead, surprised by the heat she finds there.

"Liv, we need to get you to a hospital."

"No, Alex, I'm fine. I already talked to Kathy about it."

"What'd she say?"

"It's just a fever; it's not a big deal."

Sighing, Alex rolls her eyes. "For the sake of my sanity, can you just tell me what she said?"

"Inflammation" – Olivia sighs – "in my shoulder. Kathy thinks there's an injury to my rotator cuff." She groans, readjusting herself on the bedding. "It's not a big deal, Alex."

"You're injured and you still volunteered to be on the Search and Rescue team?"

"I'll be fine in the morning."

Alex scoffs. "I highly doubt that, Olivia." She settles back against Olivia's right side and presses a kiss to her cheek. "But I'll let you think that way because I love you."

Olivia chuckles. "Yeah? Well, I love you too."

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