"What do you want." asked a man with a AK47 but it was loaded but the safety was still on.
"A Chance. Supplies." Rick and I said at the same time.
"I was hoping that you would let me have some medical supplies and some books on diseases and on colds and viruses." I told him motioning to the empty bags Matt had.
"That's asking awful lot these days." He told us.
"Is anyone bit." He asked.
"One of us was but he didn't make it." Rick answered.
"You all have to summit to a blood test that's the price of admission." he told us.
"Ethan here is only 5 months his blood test won't be effective so no he won't get a blood test." I told him knowing that a child immune systems was based on their mothers.
"Okay everyone but the baby then." He told us
"Now go get your bags because once this door closes it won't open again." He told us.
"Carol will you watch Sam and hold Ethan for me I forgot something in the Rv it will take two minuets tops." I told her handing her Ethan and handing Matt my bag.
"Stay here and watch your brothers if I don't get back before the door closes you look after them I will stay here in the Rv until I can't any longer." I told him kissing them all on the head.
"But mom why wont' you make it back in time." Matt asked me.
"I will try my hardest but just incase will you look after your brothers for me please." I asked him getting him to nodded.
I ran all the way back to the Rv jumping over the dead bodies like they were hurdles. I made it to the passenger side door and opened it before unlocking the glove box and grabbing my Top Secret clearance Military I.D.. I locked up the glovebox then the door. I hurried back to the door just making it before Rick did. The others looked surprised at how fast I was. I passed Matt a set of his dad's Dog Tags. He smiled real big and took them from me. Sam also got his set they were mostly the same but they also had a Tag with each of their names on them with their information on it. I forgot about them but if we were going to be around military it was important they knew who kids these were.
"Wow mom look they have their own dog tags I want some." Carl said pulling on his mom arm and pointing at them.
"Military tradition for high ranking Solider's children to have their set of dog tags if they live on or go ta a military school it's required. Even Ethan has his own set for when he gets older. By having these it tells all other military personal that they are of the most important people to get to safety. My husband was a four star General." I explained to Carl.
"Wow that's so cool." He exclaimed happily getting a smile from me.
"Vi seal the main entrance and kill the power." the guy said out loud.
"sealing main entrance and killing power." I female automated voice said as it did just that.
"Rick Grimes." Rick told the guy holding his hand out for him to shake.
"Edward Jennifer." The guy told him shaking his hand.
"Do all doctors go around packing heat." Ricked asked motioning toward the military issued gun he had.
"No the military only lets solider carry that kind of fire power. He either stole it from storage which I highly doubt that he got that passed them or he got it off of one of the dead ones." I told them getting his attention.
"You Military." he asked.
"Yeah severed 10 years overseas before I got pregnant with Matt here and transferred to the Military Academy and have been teaching there for almost 12 years now. I was taking the year off after having Ethan here right before the dead started walking." I told him pointing out who was who.
The elevator was cramped like crayons in a box. I was holding Ethan who was moving close to my chest while Sam shifted from foot to foot in front of me bumping him every couple seconds. Matt was standing beside his brother ready to step in front of him and protect if need be. We arrived under ground and was meet by no one and the place looked like it was empty. Their was dust and broken glass everywhere that never got cleaned up. I knew then that this wasn't the safe place we were hoping for based on the look of the place it wasn't being taken care of.
"Are we under ground." Carol asked nervously
"Yeah you Claustrophobic" Dr. Jennifer asked her
"Try not to think about it." He told her as the elevators open and we all start getting out.
I didn't say anything though but judging by everyone else's looks they were still thinking we would be staying here. I sat down after Rick who went after Daryl who went first, to get my blood drawn. Matt held Ethan for me while I got mine drawn and Sam looked unsure about the whole thing so I had Matt go next. Matt handed me Ethan and got his drawn not even flinching at all. I passed Ethan off to Carol so that I could sit down and hold Sam on my lap. He didn't understand what was going on he started trying to fight me when he saw that needle coming towards his arm. Matt had to help hold his arm down and talk to him the whole time.
Afterwards he was crying a little no sure why that had happen or why we made him do that. Everyone else went but Andrea almost fainted from the sight of the blood loss on an empty stomach. Me and the boys had ate earlier in the day a couple snacks so we were hungry but not as bad as the rest of the group was. We were lead to a kitchen area where they started getting food to cook and started cooking. I saw that Jennifer left so I went over to Carol who I was trusting more that her husband was dead since now we were in the same boat raising a child alone wasn't an easy job and she had been doing it since Sophia was a bay.
"Carol I'm going to go talk to Jennifer and get some medical supplies for winter can you keep an eye on the older boys." I asked her motioning towards Matt and Sam.
"Sure go ahead." She told me turning to take the kids to the play room down the hall.
"Kids Carol is going to take you to the play room while supper cooks." Lori told them leading Carl down the hall after Carol.
"Matt honey you and Sam are going to go with them just keep an eye on your brother and find a couple books to keep." I told getting a huge simile from the last comment.
"Okay mom but what about Ethan." He asked always so concern for his brothers was heart warming.
"I'm going to take him with me so just look after Sam." I told him handing him Sam's coloring book and crayons.
I went looking for Jennifer with my two military bags that were empty and Ethan's diaper bag along with my weapons. I still had Ethan on my chest facing outwards now so he could look around besides it's not like he will remember any of this anyways. I was looking through several of the rooms adding things like guns and ammo that were laying beside dead soldiers. I found that a lot of them still had lots of left over ammo on them when they died so they must have gotten bit and then who ever killed them just ran not grabbing anything. I had only picked up three or four AK47's and five or six handguns. I grabbed all the ammo I could filling up half a bag full.
I ran into Daryl who was also looking around he didn't look surprised to see me getting supplies. I motion towards a couple that of bodies of doctors and handed one badge to Daryl and took the other for myself. I left Daryl who was getting some pistol ammo there. I found Jennifer in a lab testing blood samples when i knocked on the door. i must have startled him because he didn't drop anything but he jump. I went over to sit on the spare stool as I grabbed Ethan's bottle from his bag and started to feed him while Jennifer finished up. He must have got the message because he went back to work frowning when he looked at the vial with my blood on compares to the others.
"hum that's strange what did you do in the military." He asked me going over to his fridge to get a sample of zombie flesh and put it in the same container with my blood.
"Nothing special I was Sergeant that's all we mostly guarded the base and dealt with the new arrivals get settled. Of course we had our teams that went out to the towns and villages but that wasn't my job." I told him not sure what was going on.
"Well do you think your military record would be on file." He asked me accessing the computer to search for my file.
"It should just overall search my name." I told me burping Ethan and putting him back in his sing before putting up his bottle in his diaper bag.
I went over there and search my name and military number bring up my file for him to look at. I motion towards my file and he printed it out before going into the other room and I followed passing the major medical supply closet on the way. I stopped in front of it and that's where he found me standing at door looking at. He must have realized the reason for me seeking him out now and went over to the room and swiped his badge opening the door for me.
"Take what you like the building runs out of fuel tomorrow so take as much as you like. I have a couple carts you can roll over to the main entrance if you want to leave tonight you can." He told me while watching Ethan chewed on his fist. I went into the room and over the medicine area and started getting pain killers, anti bacterials, anti infection, anti-everything I could find and think we could use. I grabbed everything I could placing them in the large bags that were there before putting the bags into my bag that way the medicine vials wouldn't break.
I then grabbed any sort and all kinds of bandages and gauze they had. i got supplies for stitches and even supplies for surgery should we need it. My bag was over flowing when I was done and had trouble closing it up. I had enough supplies to last me and the kids for a while. I would have taken more but didn't have room. I found Daryl and gave him a bag of bandages and things for cuts to put in his bag. He took them giving me a nod. I found Matt had picked out a room and had Sam in bed reading him a story.
"Mom you found what you were looking for." He asked me covering up his brother as he got up.
"Yeah theses two bags is full of everything we will need to last us through winter and longer even if we ration it right.
"Matt we have to be ready to leave early in the morning this place has a fail safe for disasters like this. The doctor said this place runs out of gas tomorrow which means this place explode." I told him as we got ready for bed.
I changed Ethan before getting into the cot beside the boys with Ethan carefully sleeping beside me so I would roll over on him if I rolled over. I went to sleep for several hours waking up to a other people walking down the hallway talking about food and I realized it was morning. i got up and got our things together I was able to take the guns out the bags and wrap them in the blankets we slept with and fit them back in the bag so we would have the extra blankets come winter. I got Matt and Sam up having them use the bathroom and then grab what soap and toiletries we could fit in our bag. I made them use the bathroom and get everything so we could leave after we ate.
I went in the room besides our which was were Carol and Sophia stayed they were already at breakfast so I went passed the main room into the bathroom and took all their supplies that was stored in the cabinets putting it all into my bag. I went into Rick and Lori's room next and did the same thing the only difference was that I left a couple clips of handgun ammo in Rick's bag for him since I had plenty for now. I went back to our room to find Sam and Matt ready to go so we headed to breakfast with our bags in tow. Everyone was eating and talking when we entered the room.
"Guys we enjoyed getting to know all of you but we are leaving after breakfast." I told them hold both Sam and Matt's shoulder keeping them near me while I said this.
"What, Why, Where will you go." Lot of different people asked at the same time.
"We don't feel that this place will be safe much longer so me and my kids are leaving after we eat and I suggest you do the same." I told Rick putting a plate of food down in front of my boys so they could eat.
"I want to know what's going on here." Shane demanded as soon as Jennifer entered the room.
"Well we sure didn't some for the eggs." Andrea said rudely.
"Andrea shut up eat your food and be happy your alive." I told her going back to feeding Ethan who was happily drinking his milk.
"I have something I want to show you guys." Jennifer told us leaving the room.
I finished feeding Ethan and followed them arriving with the boys but staying outside the main doors to the room they were in. He played a flashback of how the brain works when someone get bits by a walker and what happens to their brain function. I notice Jennifer moved towards a control panel and grabbed my boys jerking them backwards as the doors in front of us closed really fast. we tumbled backwards to the ground. I got up first before helping both boys over checking to make sure they were okay before I went into action.
I headed towards the kitchen were I had left our bags. I grabbed them both as I passed the diaper bag and Sam's backpack to Matt who took them from me and grabbed Sam's hand. The one with guns had extra room so I started putting things like canned goods and boxed goods into it filling it up the rest of the way. I yelled at the boys to come on and we ran to the main entrance and set our bags down. I made Matt and Sam stay there with our bags at the door while I go help the others out. I arrived at the stairs just as the rest of the group camp hurrying down the stairs with their bags. Rick was screaming trying to break open the windows for us to get out.
I went to the main entrance door and started typing my military security clearance in. It opened just as Carol pulled out a grande. I yelled at everyone as I picked up my two bags and started running. I turned around to find Sam and Matt had fallen behind because Sam's shorter legs. I stopped and waited on them grabbing Sam's other hand pulling him along helping him run faster. When we reached the Rv Sam could barely stand after running so hard.
I opened the Rv hurrying the boys inside and to the back bedroom away from the CDC. I threw the bags on one of beds before grabbing both Matt and Sam pushing them to floor just as the explosion happen and we took cover as the whole Rv shook. I kept the boys down on the ground for a couple minuets while the rumbling from the explosion. I got up leaving the boys in the bedroom while I got updated on what the others were doing.
"Ellen to Rick, Ellen to Rick." I said into the CB on channel 40.
"Rick here. let's get down the highway a bit and then we can pull over and talk about where to go from here." he said as I heard the engine start up over the radio.
"Okay give me 5 then take off I'll follow got to get the kids in their seats." I said into the radio.
I went to the bedroom and got both the boys out of the floor and into the main room. I got them buckled in their seats before putting Ethan in his seat. I gave Matt his bag and got into the drivers seat before starting up the Rv. Rick and the others started taking off and I took my place behind Rick. We passed and had to doge several walkers as we left the CDC or what was the CDC. I had left the bags from the CDC in the bedroom to be put up later when I had time. Rick honk his horn once before slowing down and pulling over to the side of the highway and everyone followed in his lead.
"Matt you and Sam stay in your seat and i will be right back, and watch your brother." I told him getting up to go talk to Rick.
I got out of the Rv and went over to Rick's car hood and we looked at the map of the area. I notice that my house wasn't far from here but i wasn't sure how the area would be walker wise. Did I really want the whole group to know how I used to live though, but on the other hand their was pictures, clothes, and basic supplies still there since I thought we would be coming back. Plus the boys had some toys and books there that they would like to have.
"Rick about 30 minuets from here is my house but I don't know what the area is like now." I told him pointing out where my house would be. It's a small house two bedrooms that it's but it would do for a night plus we could scavenge the surrounding houses for supplies since most the neighborhood evacuated early on." I told him writing down my address.
"I don't know how I feel about this but we don't have any other option so you lead the way Ellen." Rick told me take the map and folding it up.
"Okay let's go home." I told myself as I got back in the Rv.
I got back in the Rv to find Matt making Ethan a bottle in the kitchen and heard Sam in the bathroom. They knew if they were peeing to leave it instead of wasting water and flushing it every time. Sam came out of the bathroom and headed towards his bed but I stopped him and made him come and get back in his seat. I knew everyone was waiting on me but I had to get my kids taken care of first. Matt turned on the Tv and got back in his seat before starting to feed Ethan.
I got the Rv started again and headed towards my home town, the town I had met my husband in, the town we got married in and the town we started to raise our kids in but it was also the town he died in to. So there were good memories here but also bad and I had to remind myself to remember the good not the bad. That is what go me through at the end of the day was good memories and my kids.
We had to stop a couple times to push cars out of way so we could get through on the highway. I was the only one who looked through the cars getting supplies like blankets, a booster seat for Ethan when he got to big for his carseat. I found a couple good cans of vegetables to adding them to my pantry. I had to change Ethan one time which held everybody up and Shane wasn't happy about having to wait on me but Ethan needed to be changed end of story.
It was nightfall when we reached my street. There wasn't much of anything left really, lots of cars and houses were still there but empty with doors open like they were in the middle of something when disaster struck. I stopped in front of my house and parked the Rv in the street not wanting to get trapped in the drive way. Dale backed his Rv in the driveway and Rick parked his car beside it. I got Ethan and put him in his sling on my chest before getting a couple boxes for the boys to get some more toys and books from the house. The would each get a box for toys and one to share to put books in.
I got out of the Rv first before helping Sam and Matt out. We both had our weapons raised and ready to go at moments notice. Daryl parked his truck behind my Rv and came over to help secure the area. I tossed Rick the keys to house so they wouldn't break the door down going inside. Sam was having trouble understanding why Rick, Daryl and Shane had to clear the house before we could go in but he didn't argue with me.
I was the first to enter the house after it was cleared with about two hours of sunlight left we would have time to get settled in before it got dark. Everything was how I left it when we left about 3 and half months ago. Matt followed Sam as he ran to his room to see it and that made me tear up a little knowing after tonight we really wouldn't ever see this house again. Lori, Andrea, and Shane didn't seem to have any respect just started going through everything looking for food and supplies since it was my house they could take what they wanted and no one stopped them.
"NO put that back." I cried when the picked up my husband's favorite pack of cigars.
"Why it's not like it belongs to you." Andrea said as Shane tried again to pick up the hand crafted box.
"Your wrong this is my house now put that back now or you can sleep outside with the walkers." I told them walking over and snatching it out of Shane's hand.
"O wow you really were in the slums if this is where you lived." Lori muttered to Carol getting a frown from her.
"If you have a problem with my house sleep outside for all I care." I told her as I bumped her almost knocking her over as I passed her to go check on the boys.
I found Sam digging through his toys picking out the ones he wanted and putting them in the box to take with us. Matt filled up his box with Ethan's toys and supplies claiming he didn't need anything else that he had everything he wanted or needed. He did add a couple personal toys but not many. I got two more boxes of clothes for the boys and me. I put Matt and Sam's in one and mine and Ethan's in another I had Glenn, T-Dog, and Daryl carry the boxes out to the Rv once they were ready to be taken out and the went into the back to be put up latter.
Carol had found some left over canned goods in the kitchen that had got left behind in my hurry to get out of the house. We had peas and corn mixed in with mac and cheese for supper that night and the boys loved it. Matt and Sam shared a bed in their room and I took the other while Ethan slept in his crib one last time. Rick, Lori and Carl slept in my queen bed in my room. Carol and Sophia slept in the living room on the pull out couch while Daryl and Shane slept on the floor. Glenn, Dale, T-dog, and Andrea slept in Dale's Rv.