Ash, to no-one's everyone's surprise, hadn't taken Marshall's very sudden departure well. The child had been acting as he usually did, quiet and secluded, nothing too out of the ordinary. Ash never talked much, but sometimes he would open up and have a decent conversation with someone, even if he did stop speaking after a few minutes. Now, however, Ash refused to speak at all, instead responding with simple nods or shakes of his head.
Ash had also taken to a new habit; wandering off into the outskirts of Adventure Bay. The townspeople barely had enough manpower to hold their meager defensive line of cargo containers, wrecked cars, and home made anti personnel mines, let alone send out a search party to look for a boy who was barely ten. And yet, Ash navigated the minefield and made his way out into the wilderness almost every other day. And everytime he did this, Skye got sick with worry. She'd pace around the house, biting her fingernails, troubling herself with imaginary fates that could've befallen the boy.
And everytime he did wander off, Chase went out and found him. Ash knew how to hide tracks rather and how to move quietly, but nothing beat Chase's years of hunting experience and detective work. Chase also knew all of Ash's tricks, and even if the boy pulled a new one, Chase caught on quickly.
Though this time, Ash was given Chase a true challenge. The boy had made several sets of tracks, covered up enough to not be obvious to an untrained eye, but at the same time, obvious enough for Chase to notice. Ash had crossed them all over each other, and that would've been enough to throw off anybody else, but he made one mistake. Chase found a not so hidden pair of tracks leading off into the woods, and followed. Chase guessed Ash had gotten bored and decided that Chase would find him anyway, so he just gave up and walked off. Chase laughed. Ash was smart for his age, and apparently had paid attention when Chase and Marshall talked about hunting and tracking, but still, nothing can beat boredom.
Chase followed Ash's small tracks in the snow, and eventually the trail led Chase to a cliff with a small bench a few feet from the edge. Ash sat on the bench, looking out over the cliff and into the world. The sun shone, illuminating the forest in a bright and cheerful light. Far off in the distance Chase could see Interstate 98, and vaguely make out the shape of large tractor trailers, and what looked like smoke from a fire. Chase made a mental note of his observation. That could mean trouble.
Chase walked over to the bench, slinging his rifle across his back and sighing. He sat down next to the young boy, who sat with his hands in his lap, staring off into the scenery. Chase leaned forward, resting his arms on his legs. Ash didn't say anything, still intently staring at the horizon.
Chase chuckled. "Something interesting out there?" Ash didn't respond, still staring at the Interstate. Chase looked at the highway again, still barely able to make out the outlines of semi-trucks and other vehicles. The smoke was getting heavier. Chase sighed internally, and decided that he would have to show one of his sniper subordinates the location to see if they could make out anything.
"I heard gunshots yesterday." Chase whipped his head around, not entirely sure what he just heard. Ash spoke again. "There were two of them. They sounded like they came from the freeway." He turned toward Chase. "You think that was Dad?"
Chase sighed heavily and looked back toward Interstate 98. "Knowing your dad, he's already gotten himself in a heap of trouble. I would not at all be surprised if that was him." Chase sighed again. "And knowing Marshall, he's even more determined now than ever to find your mother because of the trouble he's probably going through."
Ash didn't say anything, simply slumping back on the bench. Tears started welling up in his eyes. Chase didn't move to comfort the boy. The end of the world had killed what little amount of emotions he still had. Empathy was a forgiean concept to him now, and he harbored no hope for a brighter future for humanity. Once, he believed, he knew what being an empathic person was. Now, he mused, killing was practically his second nature. All those years he served in the Los Angeles PD had seriously desensitized him to the horrors that men were capable of. He guessed that Everest was right when she called him a heartless bastard. Now, he was no better than those same criminals that he had put into prison, sentenced to life without parole or death.
Chase sighed, glancing over at Marshall's son. "Look, Ash, your dad's going to be fine. He'll come home, no matter what he has to do for that to happen."
Ash started sobbing now. "W-What about M-Mom?" He looked up at Chase, his face covered in tears. "How's D-Dad going to find her o-out there, in the middle of a city, overrun by d-damn z-zombies."
Chase snapped his fingers. "Hey, what did we discuss about the cursing, young man?" Chase found that his strict police background was coming out again. Ash hung his head, still crying heavily. Chase sighed heavily again. "I'll give you my honest thoughts, Ash. You're old enough to understand that people we love tend to not make it back, right?"
Ash didn't respond, still crying. Chase mentally smacked himself. "What the hell are you thinking, dumbass? You can't just say that you think his mother is dead. Christ, Skye would never forgive you, let alone Marshall."
Chase inhaled deeply, and stood, turning toward Ash. "I think it's about time we started back home, yeah?" Ash nodded, his tears subsiding for the moment. The twelve year old left the bench, throwing his sweatshirt hood over his head and tucking his arms into the shirt's pocket. Ash stayed by Chase's side the whole way back to Adventure Bay, though did not speak the entire way.
The thought of separation anxiety came to Chase's mind.