19

So, there we were travelling along with the bikes in the lead, the vehicles and then Leo on the bike at the rear to hide any evidence of us travelling through. We had agreed to this early on before moving out and it was a solid plan. By nightfall we have found ourselves in a little camping spot off the main road that had a toilet block and fire pit great for cooking the sausages for the evening meal.

It was open though, something that I did not really like but as we can't move any further tonight we are all sleeping in the vehicles, bar those of us on watch. It will be a long cold night. We can't keep doing this, we need a better method of bunking down between safe harbors. Maybe we need to look into a large covered truck like those train carriages … or some of those camper vans or something.

.

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Andy stopped writing in his book, sitting back to look around the camp. Ianto had told him a long time ago that writing shit down helped clear the mind and refocus. It seems to be working as he read back over the last paragraph and knew some of those flash touristy campers would be better for the long haul.

Clearly villages and large townships were out … this might mean staying more off the main grid. As he sat pondering this Mickey came to sit next to him, huffing as he leaned back on the seat and let the rifle fall between his knees. "I'm buggered."

"Campers" Andy replied "Those posh ones with a cooker, toilet and shower on board, can sleep a family of four or even six. Must be some posh bastards out there."

Mickey rolled his head to stare at him, and then let his brain catch up with the conversation "Yeah? I mean … the most likely spot to hit would be a rental place. The ones still in the yard ready to go. No hidden Meaters inside then, fuelled and clean … shiny."

"Clive drives one, Brian can be useful for something at least … Tish can drive one … Julia can drive one if she is willing to give up that yellow Jeep. Damned thing is not safe anyway. If Meaters attack she doesn't even have doors let alone a roof." Andy reasoned "The other problem is Ben. He's an Alpha, clearly still waiting for an opportunity to break out and prove his muscles somewhere. He is letting Brian do the heavy lifting for now while standing back with the womenfolk but I get the feeling he is waiting a chance."

"You know… I get the same feeling. Since we met up with this lot him and Julia seems to almost not exist. So quietly fitting in and helping out without actually doing much." Mickey frowned "They need to step up or step back."

"And Dan"

"Dan?" Mickey said with confusion, 'What Dan?"

"Sorry. Shit, I am tired too. Said that out loud. The old guy with you lot that had the guns…ah… Twitchel. Brian called him Twitch. I call him Lieutenant Dan in my head because he has a fake leg" Andy sighed running his face and Mickey looked around.

"Who?"

"Over by Clive, poking the fire" Andy pointed and Mickey looked over to see a man that was almost a replica for Clive.

"Shit, I think I thought that was Clive all the time. Doing so much in so many places" Mickey said then started to laugh as he and Andy shoved at one another. "Shit. He came with us? I don't remember him."

Andy went quiet as did Mickey as it dawned on them that he had not been with either group, he had somehow entered the new group as they were preparing to leave on the train that day after meeting up. Finally Mickey asked "You think he was from that town. Hid out and when we arrived and cleared it out he came out to say hi and realised it was safer to just… slip in?"

"Well … part of me wants to ask him and part of me just wants to let the poor sod in. After all … he can shoot!" Andy shrugged "Does it matter how he joined us? Can drive too. Right? Automatic? Only needs one good leg."

Mickey stated to snigger and then started to hiss the 'Convoy' song before chortling "Ten Four Rubber Duckie!"

"Yeah, need some radios for that! Maybe in the next kid's toy store?" Andy giggled along with him. Mickey patted his knee and rose to talk to the new guy, let him know he was welcome and they had noticed him. Andy then sobered as he went over the numbers. Eleven adults, three kids and a dog. God. They would need … three or four campers right? One for Clive and Francine. One for Leo and the kids, maybe Tish with him? Or with her parents? One for Julia and Ben, Dan and maybe Brian if the four of them shared… but he doubts that. Brian might need his own if he gets too much of a prick. Then him with his two … ah … betrothed? He grinned to himself.

"What are you smiling at?" Martha asked as she sat next to him in the spot Mickey had just vacated.

"Thinking. Your Mum and Dad in a camper van. Your bother, his kids and maybe Tish in another one. Julia, Ben, Dan and Brian in another four berth or Brian with his own so no one has to look at him sometimes, leaves us needing one for us. I thought about you, me and Mickey and in my head called us the Betrothed. Sounded funny."

"Sounds like a plan" she said as she clapped at his shoulder. "So … five. Also means if one breaks down we can leave it and still all fit!"

"Mickey's idea" he said even though we both know it wasn't.

Even then … he was starting to move into a comforting space with these two.

He found his niche.

Between the two Ms.