Fire burst through the windows blasting glass in every direction. Some of the walkers are caught in the crossfire, setting their flesh ablaze. Everyones equilibrium has been knocked off by the sheer volume of the explosion.
Santana can't seem to find balance when she pulls herself to her feet. Everything is moving in a blur. They were the closest to the building when the explosion went off, maybe that is why Sam also seems to be struggling to get Brittany into his arms.
Daryl is busy trying to pull Kurt to his feet. Santana can see that the mans mouth is moving, like maybe he is yelling, but she can't hear any words. She can't hear anything.
Santana finally peers over to the entrance in time to see Rachel and Quinn shove Finn and Puck's bodies off from on top of them. As far as she can tell both men are alive, but they seem to be on fire. Rachel is quick to pat at the fire with her bare hands off of Puck. While Quinn still seems to have good sense to tear off the zip up hoodie off her back and use it to pat off the flames on Finn.
Santana turns her attention back to Kurt. He looks to be sobbing, clutching tightly at Joey who is struggling hard to get out of Kurt's grip. Where's Blaine? Before she can even begin to panic Santana feels someone pulling her to her feet. To her huge surprise it isn't Sam. He looks unsteady on his feet, Maggie trying to get Brittany out of his unsteady hands so she can help Brittany to the RV.
With a slight nod from Santana, Sam passes Brittany over to Maggie. Brody lugs one of Sam's arm over his shoulder and helps him towards the RV. Marley has rushed over to Santana's side, hoping to help her out, much to Jakes dismay. He is trying to usher her away. Marley waves him off and is able to get Santana halfway to the RV before the Latina can manage to gather her equilibrium and pull away from Marley.
"No wait!" Santana points over to her friends, at the top steps. It's as if using her own voice has triggered something in her ear drums, a loud whirring noise rushes into her ear and suddenly she can hear the chaos. The gunfire and the moans of the biters. Kurt and Daryl are over helping what looks like a barely conscious Finn and a very much in pain Puck.
Rachel is tugging desperately at Quinn, trying to get her to safety. Waving her gun all around, but Quinn is going nowhere.
"BLAINE! BLAINE WHERE ARE YOU?" Quinn cries out desperately. Quinn's wails seem to bring the realization to Kurt, and suddenly tears appear in his eyes.
"Buck up boy. We need to get them to safety." Daryl tells Kurt gruffly, carrying most of the weight of both men. Kurt's sniffs and nods, trying to ignore Quinn.
"BLAINE! BLAINE WARBLER!" Quinn is aware that she is acting hysterical and therefore disproving her point that she can be strong for Rachel.
"Please Quinn!" Rachel urges, though tears stream down her own face. She shoots her gun, taking down a walker that has gotten too close.
"My last name isn't warbler." A voice groans a few feet away from them. Both Rachel and Quinn perk up at the sound, trying to figure out where it came from. All they can see is a pile of dead bodies.
A body shifts on the ground, Rachel points at it, about to shoot. Quinn places a hand on the gun, effectively lowering it. Finally the body is shoved away to reveal Blaine Anderson. No bites or scratches, but he is covered in that thick blood that spews out of walkers.
"Blaine!" Quinn rushes over to the man, knowing Rachel will have their back with the gun.
"Quinn get back here!" Rachel calls out for Quinn, but the blonde ignores her girlfriend.
"You scared me!" Quinn shoves some of the dead walkers away from Blaine and kisses the top of his head a couple of times before pulling him to his feet.
"QUINN!" Rachel screeches trying to aim a gun, but the danger is behind her and Blaine. Quinn spots Blaine's gun on the ground and lunges for it before shooting right at the walker. Quinn smiles then laughs. Rachel grabs a hold of both Blaine and Quinn and rushes them over to the RV.
Jake has taken over guiding people into vehicles and somewhere between the chaos Blaine and Quinn are ushered into Finn's truck, both without their significant others.
"Wait but Quinn!" Rachel tries to pull out of Jakes arms. He is busy getting her into the RV with Puck though. Brody jumps in to help and Sue takes off. Leading the group as far away fro the CDC as possible.
Leaving the city is eery. The streets leading into the city is completely full of vehicles. There is no way around them. But exiting the city there doesn't seem to be a car in sight. Daryl leads the way on his bike. Just behind him is Blaine and Quinn in the truck. And behind them is the over crowded RV that feels empty with it's missing passengers.
The interstate is jam packed. Congested with cars. Some of them have the doors wide open. Others are locked. Just down the way is an RV completely out of fuel. Next to it is a truck and a motorcycle.
They all knew it was bound to happen. They were surprised to have made it as far as they did with the amount of fuel in the tanks.
The RV rolls to a stop, Sue has to honk the horn to gain the attention to the vehicles in front of them. They pour out of the vehicle, stretching out their legs. Rachel pushes through the crowd, Kurt right at their heels, heading for Quinn and Blaine.
Kurt crashes into Blaine's arms, blubbering mess and all. He collapses into the arms of the love of his life. Even though Blaine is covered in sweat and grime and that putrid smell of Zombie blood. He does not care about any of this, just that his hand grips at the collar of Blaine's shirt. Blaine holds on tight, allowing Kurt to sob into his neck. Both of them relieved at the fact that the other made it out safe.
Rachel follows Kurt's lead very similarly. Only she does not sob, she clings onto Quinn, but she is angry. Angry beyond belief that Quinn put herself in danger.
"What were you thinking?" Rachel asks in an exasperated voice, before kissing Quinn. The blonde ignores the comment and simply revels in the feel of the arms wrapped around her.
"How are Puck and Finn?" Quinn asks once she pulls away. Rachel allows the change of subject only because she is genuinely worried for her friends.
"Noah is being stubborn. He says it doesn't hurt but-" Just then Pucks unmistakable yell rips through the air.
"DAMMIT WOMAN!" Is heard coming from the RV.
"Don't be such a baby." Maggie argues from inside.
"Finn is unconscious." Rachel lets Quinn know.
"Alright guys why don't we gather some supplies?" Jake steps in, reigning in the rest of the group.
"Sounds good kid." Daryl agrees quickly.
"Before you all separate I need to cut in." Sue steps out of the RV, looking like she is ready to leave the group behind. She has a backpack strapped to her shoulders and a gun read in her hand.
"What's going on?" Quinn asks her old cheer coach. Sue looks the girl right in the eye, taking a deep breath. Quinn already seems to know what is on her coach's mind.
"I'm leaving." Sue announces, immediately earning sounds of reproach from the group.
"Sue we shouldn't separate." Brody tries to convince her.
"I don't take orders from anyone." Sue glares at the man, he looks like he is trying to take control of the group. Step as some sort of leader. Not that Jake or Daryl would ever let that happen. They all respected Rachel and her decisions, they would follow that little girl anywhere.
"Why are you doing this?" Rachel asks, she glances appreciatively at Brody for trying to stop Sue.
"Did you not hear Decker?" Sue asks, with a roll of her eyes. She looks around at all of the teenagers, suddenly feeling like a teacher once again.
"Before or after he went crazy?" Santana asks, her tone full of disgust. Brittany was still inside the RV sharing a bed with an unconscious Finn while Puck got his burns cleaned out.
"WE. HAVE. A. CURE." Sue stares directly at Quinn as she utters her explanation. Quinn suddenly feels bare when everyone turns their attention to her. Rachel wraps a protective arm around Quinn, not liking the way everyone is eyeing her girlfriend.
"And what does that have to do with you leaving?" Kitty asks carefully.
"It means we an find a cure. I need to find people or a lab or something to get that blood examined." Sue tells them as if it is the most obvious thing in the world.
"We don't have to split up for that." Jake argues.
"You all will slow me down. Besides, you have the main source to protect. We all know how dangerous it is. I can make it on my own." Sue is doing them a favor by letting them know she is leaving. Otherwise she would have just left when no one was looking, but knowing the New Directions they would have spent months circling searching for her.
"I'm leaving whether you all like it or not." Sue adds for good measure. Quinn feels like everyone is suddenly looking at her like an injured bird. She is the one everyone will protect. She's not sure how she feels about that. Especially with the way Rachel is acting lately.
"I hate to agree, but she's right. She'll move around faster on her own." Sam agrees. Santana looks at him questioningly. She can't help but trust the mans judgement. He has done so much for her lately.
"Of course I'm right fish lips." Everyone ignores Sue's comment.
"You've been safe for all these months. You think you can survive out there in your own?" Kurt tries to reason with the older woman. Coach Sylvester might not be his favorite person but that doesn't mean he wants to see her die.
"She won't have to." Aidan volunteers, His eyes scan their surroundings. He is searching for anything that may come in handy in a long treacherous journey.
"What? No you can't leave." Santana argues, taking a hold of his wrist. Everyone soon joins in, not liking the idea of the only person with actual medical training
"Sorry Doc, I'm not taking volunteers." Sue tries to dissuade him. Aidan ignores the protests though. He works for no one.
"Sue is right. We need to get Quinn's blood." Aidan argues, ripping open one of the car doors and pulling out a backpack. Quinn shudders at the words "Somewhere to get examined. If it's possible to get that sample to a medical lab to create a cure shouldn't we try?"
The group silences at Aidan's words. He's right. Everyone knows it, but they would be more comfortable knowing they have someone with medical experience with them.
"We need you. Britt still isn't well. And Finn and Puck, they need your help." Santana almost begs. No one has ever seen her this desperate. The thought of not having anyone to look after her brittany scares her.
"And what if Sue get's hurt on the way of getting that blood examined? What then?" Jake shakes his head and turns away form the argument. He knows they have lost.
"What about us Aidan? We're a group." If anyone get persuade someone to stay with a simple wounded puppy dog look it's Marley, but it seems not even this sways Aidan.
"We are a group Marley." Aidan begins gently, "But what about the greater good. We can't be selfish.
"I'd rather have you here with the kids." Sue cuts in, eyeing her students. She knows that in this point in the world there are some tough decisions that need to be made, but taking the doctor away from children feels like a sin.
"What are you going to do? Make me stay?" Aidan asks, strapping the backpack to his shoulders. It seems he is ready to go. He looks around at the group, daring them to force him to stay against his will. Of course one will do that.
"Please Aidan." Rachel breathes, her mind solely on the blonde in her arms. She is still beyond angry at her girlfriend, but she wants to know that if she ever gets hurt that she would be taken care of.
"I'm sorry Rachel, but I need to do this." Everyone is left speechless. Santana can't bare to look at the EMT anymore, she feels betrayed. So she locks eyes with Sue, gives her a terse nod and stomps into the RV.
"We can't make them stay." Sam cuts in. He isn't fond of the idea of Aidan leaving either, but if their is a chance a cure can be created by taking the vial of blood to a medical center then they cannot be selfish.
"This is ridiculous." Daryl mutters, shaking his head. He too walks away from the conversation.
"We'll load you guys up on some supplies. If we're luck we'll find a vehicle out here. C'mon." Sam nods Aidan over to the array of cars they can choose from. Sue takes this moment to walk directly to Rachel.
Rachel is a bit stunned she doesn't think she has ever had a direct conversation with the intimidating woman.
"Alright listen here Streisand, I'm going to say this once ever in my lifetime, so enjoy this. I have the upmost respect for keeping this group of idiots alive. You're job does not end here. If anything it makes your job that much harder to keep these people alive. This girl right here:" Sue points right at Quinn, much to the blondes dismay. "She is to ne your number one priority. You must keep her alive, not matter what the cost. Her life is more valuable than all of yours together." Sue looks around at the group. "No offense."They all walk away at this point not wanting to hear anymore.
"So when it comes the time to choose between Quinn's life and someone else's. Choose hers. And believe me, the time will come." Rachel nods, a bit stunned, taking in all of the information. Suddenly feeling the weight of the world on her shoulders. "Hell if it comes to choose your life and hers-" Rachel glares at Sue.
"There is no choice there." Rachel tells her firmly. Quinn stares at Rachel, not liking her cold tone.
"Right." Sue agrees. "If it comes to choosing everyone you love- I mean all of these people here- and Q. You choose her. You hear me?" Rachel looks around at the group who have all started to look around at the vehicles. Jake and Marley have started syphoning gas. Kurt and Blaine are sorting through some clothes that they have found in camry. She can't imagine a situation that may call for that choice, but she knows who she will choose. It will always be Quinn Fabray.
"Yes ma'am." Rachel nods. Quinn looks at the two women, appalled. Speaking about her as if she isn't even there.
"Rachel!" Quinn snaps at her girlfriend pulling out from under Rachel's arm. Rachel doesn't even look at the blonde. Quinn cannot believe that Rachel is even considering this.
"Good girl." Sue nods at Rachel. It's slightly condescending, but Rachel feels this is the best anyone has ever gotten from Sue Sylvester.
"Good luck Ms. Sylvester." Rachel offers out her hand for Sue to shake. Sue eyes it for a second before nodding and giving her hand a firm shake.
"Sue. We're just about ready." Aidan waves over, it seems he and sam have found a vehicle that they can take. Sue looks between the two girls for a few more seconds before doing something completely unlike herself. She pulls Quinn into an embraces. It happens so fast Quinn isn't sure if she has imagined it, by the time she has realized Sue Sylvester has hugger her Sue is already walking away from them.
The group left outside bids them goodbye. They watch Aidan and Sue leave, letting them know that they will be heading east. And just like that, any semblance of safety leaves in the passenger seat next to Sue.
"Let's look around here." Daryl tries to gain order in the group. He rallies them over sticking his head inside the RV calling anyone who is able bodied to help.
"What the Fuck Rachel?" Puck storms out once he has been informed that both Aidan and Sue are gone. Maggie doesn't stray far behind the shirtless man, it seems she had just been applying some sort of ointment to his back. "Why didn't you stop them."
"I couldn't force them to stay Noah." Rachel rolls her eyes, following Quinn as she strays further and further away from the group searching cars.
"Like hell you couldn't." Maggie grabs at his arms, that are gesticulating wildly. He looks more annoyed than he is in pain, but Maggie is still trying to apply something onto his back gently.
"Hold still Puckerman." Maggie growls, Puck sighs and allows it. Wincing every now and then.
"We needed Aidan." Puck practically yells. Rachel doesn't seem fazed by Puck, she is more preoccupied by how Quinn seems to be giving her the cold shoulder.
"You think I don't know that?" Rachel asks him angrily, glancing over at Quinn. Unfortunately Quinn catches sight of this.
"Really Rachel?" Quinn asks annoyed. Both Maggie and Puck look lost by the hostility has shifted. It started at Puck angry with Rachel and has converted to Quinn angry with Rachel.
"I'm not incapable of taking care of myself." Puck steps back, recognizing Angry Quinn.
"Now look at what you've done." Rachel tells Puck out of the corner of her mouth. "I know you aren't Quinn, but is it so wrong that I didn't want the EMT to leave just in case you get hurt?" Quinn makes a noise of disgust in her throat.
"Are you really just worried about me? What about the rest of us. Ignore all Sylvester said." Now it's Rachel's turn to get angry.
"Sue had a point Quinn! I have to keep you safe!" Puck backs away again. taking a hold of Maggie's hand, she too watches the couple uncomfortably.
"Why don't we get some bandaging on my back?" Puck suggests, Maggie eagerly nods.
"And it is only important that you keep me safe because I have some sort of freakish cure in my blood?" Quinn steps closer to Rachel, staring the short brunette down. Rachel doesn't budge, in fact she looks offended.
"I can't believe you are even asking that. You have always been my number one priority!" Rachel argues.
Santana glances over at her friends, watching as they argue. It's quote a sight to see. She is so used to them being in their honeymoon phase she isn't quite sure if she should intervene. She watches as they get further and further away from the RV. Angrily searching through the cars.
"You know what I would kills for?" Santana asks instead. Helping Marley and Kitty search one of the cars closest to the RV.
"Water? I think we're out." Marley sighs, pulling out an empty water bottle and tossing it aside.
"Well besides that. I want some munchies. The spicy kind." She tosses an empty coke bottle aside.
"Hey Marley, why don't you give me your gun?" Jake asks, joining the girls. Santana eyes the man, why should Marley give up her source of protection?
"It's just you don't really know how to use it." Jake explains. Santana turns to look at Kitty, raising her eyebrows at the girl.
"You could show me." Marley suggests, almost annoyed.
"I will. Just not yet. It would make me more comfortable if you gave it to me." Santana shakes her head at the boy. She turns to look over at the RV, noticing Brittany stepping out.
"Britt you shouldn't be walking." Santana comments to her girlfriend.
"It feels good to stretch out. Help me out with this?" Brittany gestures to the truck she has stopped in front of. Santana nods lifting the door to reveal huge jugs of water. Santana checks the side of the vehicle to see a sun faded arrowhead logo. Santana laughs and plants a loud kiss to Brittany's lips.
"You are a genius." Santana expresses loudly, popping off one of the caps on the jugs that lays in it's side. The water pours out onto both of the girls, showering them in warm water.
Kurt admires the sight of the happy girl from on top of the RV. He's not quite sure why he all of people was put in charge of keeping look out, but he doesn't mind, in this heat he rather just sit a top the RV in a lawn chair.
"Hey Kurt, I found you some lotion!" Blaine calls out just a few cars down from the RV. Him and Blaine are busy syphoning gas, but it seems they have scored some goodies. He holds up the lotion for Kurt to admire.
"My hero!" Kurt cals out dramatically. Earning some laughs from the boys.
"Hey Santana! Look what I found!" Kitty calls out, tossing over a bag of munchies to the wet girl. Santana grins over at the blonde. Not fifteen minutes ago had she been saying she had a hankering for this particular snack.
"You're alright Kitty." Santana approves, Kitty raises her eyebrows at the girl everyone knows the Lopez stamp of approval is worth gold.
Two voices are suddenly heard arguing just down the way. It started a small argument that has turned into a full blown fight.
"Will someone tell the to shut up?" Kitty asks, annoyed, earning himself a slight glare from Santana. "Hey you know I'm right." Santana huffs, Kitty is right. They could attract walkers.
"I'M NOT HELPLESS RACHEL!" Quinn yells at Rachel. The group shakes their head at the argument.
"They're trying to work some things out." Marley tries to defend her friends, but even she is wincing at their volume. She glances over at Jake, still annoyed with him. She hasn't given up her gun.
"I got this." Brody volunteers, earning questioning looks from the group. He is the new guy he doesn't 'got' anything.
"Dude back off." Daryl cuts in, being a bit over protective. Brody rolls his eyes.
"Do you want to ask them to lower their voices?" Daryl looks over at the pair arguing. He shakes his head and backs off. He doesn't have a death sentence.
"Nah, knock yourself out." Daryl smiles at his wording, the man just might get knocked out by intervening.
"He's going to get himself decked in the face." Jake comments rummaging through the trunk of a car. Marley scoffs, it seems every word out of Jakes mouth bothers her. So instead she retreats to the RV. Maybe Finn is awake and can teach her how to disassemble her gun.
Kurt momentarily distracted by the commotion has looked away from the interstate, but when he does turn back he sees something that he can't quite place. He looks into the scope of his gun and blanches at the sight. A walker is headed their way. he is just about to take it down with a single bullet, assuming his accuracy is as good as he thinks, when he sees another walker just beyond the others shoulder. Then another and another.
Kurt presses his body quickly down.
"Get down!" He hisses to his group, but none of them have heard him. If he says it any louder he will give their position away.
Just a half a mile out, what looks like a herd of Walkers is headed their way.
First Chapter! Hope you all liked it.
Next Chapter really kicks things into gear. My brothers are in town for my 21st. I'm about to get drunk, so I'm in a good mood and I thought I would post the first chapter.
Reviews are very much appreciated.