After taking the time to wet his hair down so it would look like he had been in the shower, CJ entered the pool room and found Monica swimming laps. As soon as she realized he was there, she nearly shot out of the pool. "You about ready to head back?" he asked, trying hard not to look at the camera mounted in the corner.
"Hell yes, I was really getting creeped out down here alone," she answered as she started toweling herself dry. Together they began walking towards the direction of the locker room doors. "Where are you going?" she asked when she saw CJ heading towards the door to the men's side.
"To the locker room, I'll wait for you out front with Marshall."
"No way, you can come with me and wait. I was serious when I said this place was totally creeping me out," she replied, getting a stubborn look on her face.
"But that's the women's locker room," he weakly protested.
"Like you've never seen a naked woman before CJ. Or haven't you and that's the problem?" she goaded.
"Monica, cut the bullshit. If you're too scared to go in the locker room alone just say so."
"I thought I already did that," she said softly.
Rolling his eyes, CJ shrugged his shoulders and mumbled, "Fucking nursery school." He turned to follow her into the locker room, waiting while she showered and got dressed.
"So what did your girlfriend have to say?" she asked him as soon as she came out of the showers.
"She's not my girlfriend. And the plan is to get out of here the day after tomorrow."
"She's probably the closest you've had to a girlfriend in ages, and where are we going?" Monica asked without pause.
"What the fuck is it with you and my social life? I don't know for certain where we're going, she told me there were some safe zones out there still, areas where the dead haven't taken over."
"You don't have a social life CJ, that's why I have to invent one for you. Where are these safe zones?
"My social life was just fine before everyone I knew died then started walking around trying to eat other people. She didn't get the chance to go into detail about where all the safe zones are, just that Hawaii was clear, Australia, New Zealand, and any of our Navy ships that were out on sea when this virus thing hit. She did say there was more though."
"There better be, I'm no rocket scientist, but I don't think those helicopters can fly far enough to reach any of those places," Monica said, looking thoughtful. "And unless your social life involved something besides playing security guard at the mall with Terry and that Bart guy, and sitting around watching sports on TV while guzzling beer, it's definitely in need of some serious help."
CJ couldn't believe the twists and turns his life had taken in the last month. Here it was almost two in the morning and he was having a conversation about his social life and escaping a bunch of crazy mad scientists by flying out into a world infested with zombies with a woman like Monica. Before the end of the world started a women like her wouldn't give him the time of day unless they were out to amuse themselves or get back at their boyfriends. Now here it was, the end of the world, and she was still fucking with his head. Suddenly Monica's voice broke through his train of thought.
"CJ are you listening to me? Did you hear a word I just said?" she was asking, sounding amused.
"I'm trying to pretend I haven't even been having this conversation," he said, frustrated. "Now are you ready yet? 'Cause I'm heading outside to wait with Marshall."
"I'm ready, I'm ready," she said, hurrying to follow him.
CJ was nearly to the door when he stopped suddenly, causing Monica to crash into his back. "There is one more thing," he said. "KN said we should stay away from that Davis guy at all costs. If we do have to go somewhere with him, we should make sure we have one of her guys with us, or else we could end up like Tucker or Andy." With that he walked out the door, hoping to avoid any more questions from her.
Stepping outside the door together, they found Marshall waiting for them. "That was fast," he said, glancing at his watch as another soldier approached in the distance.
"Too many late nights are catching up with us," CJ said, "this is just what we use as a cure for insomnia." He finished just as the other soldier came abreast of them. It was Randall.
"Where in the hell is Briggs, Marshall?" she demanded. "She's supposed to be on duty but I can't find her anywhere!"
"She was just leaving her room to make the rounds when I brought these two down here,
did you try down by the Cafeteria? She could be with Evans right now," he told her,
trying to disguise his surprise that the woman would actually be seeking Briggs out.
"She left word that she wanted to speak with me, then she pulls this shit not telling me where to find her," griped Randall.
"Well, she's on duty, that means she's making her rounds of the CQ desks," Marshall reasoned. Randall only shook her head.
"I'm just getting off of a twelve hour shift in the arms room and now I'm supposed to search all night for her? That's bullshit!" she declared, turning to stomp off in the direction of Cafeteria A.
Marshall smiled. "Nothing like happy co-workers to make your day pleasant," he quipped. "You two ready to go now? I don't think I want to miss it if Randall catches up with Briggs, it should be the most entertainment I've had in a long time."
CJ actually laughed, and Monica was amazed at the way the two men seemed to completely forget all about the secret meeting they'd had that night. They walked in silence for a few minutes before Monica couldn't take it any longer. For lack of anything real to say she asked to no one in particular, "So what does KN stand for anyway?"
"Huh?" CJ grunted, having been lost in his own thoughts.
"KN, you slip up a lot and refer to Briggs as KN, I just wondered what it stood for," she explained.
Marshall smiled, "Damn, that was quick. I've know her for almost three years, and it took me a good year and a half to get that information out of her. Almost thought I'd have to find out from her ex-husband."
Monica almost completely forgot about the initials when she heard that information. "Married? That man-eating bitch was married," she said hoping to goad CJ a little. "Maybe there is hope for me afterall. So who was she married to?"
Marshall looked chagrined over having opened up this whole can of worms. "Well, it's someone you all have met actually."
That statement caught CJ's attention, but he remained silent. Monica didn't have any problems digging for more information. "Who is it?" she fairly shrieked with excitement. Gossip had always been one of her favorite pastimes.
"Cowboy. They were married a long time ago, not too long out of AIT I guess. They both were assigned on the same post, different companies and it just happened. Didn't last real long though, but obviously there were no hard feelings. Briggs was even his best man when he got remarried a few years back." Marshall got real quiet then, thinking for the first time about the fate of Cowboy's wife, which lead him to think about his own family and friends, something that he worked hard at trying to forget.
Sensing the change in his mood, Monica asked, "What's AIT?"
"Advanced Individual Training, it's the next level of training following basic," Marshall responded.
Nodding, Monica asked again, "So what does the KN mean?" Only this time it was CJ who replied.
"Her folks were both big on politics, they named her after her their two favorite presidents."
Monica laughed, "You're kidding right? Which two presidents?"
CJ glanced at her before responding, "Kennedy and Nixon." Which caused another burst of laughter from her.
"Tell me your not serious," she laughed, "I mean, did they hate her or something?" Which prompted Marshall to speak again.
"Not at all. They wanted to give her a strong name that held significant meaning to them,
or at least that's how Briggs likes to tell it. Her mother always loved Kennedy, the fact that he was a war hero and she always liked to quote his, 'torch has been passed to a new generation' speech. Her father now, he thought Nixon was the shit. He still couldn't believe that he lost the election against Kennedy, thought that the televised debate between them was rigged in Kennedy's favor. Anyways, right up until the day he died, he always defended Nixon and Watergate, the secret recordings, everything. Couldn't understand how the man who was responsible for finally getting us out of Vietnam could possibly be impeached. But that's the story."
The entry to the cafeteria came into view as he was finishing up the story. Briggs and Randall were indeed there, the younger woman gesturing wildly with her hands as they spoke. Evans just sat in one of the chairs in front of the doors looking amazed. Finally,Briggs said something quietly which shut Randall up, and the two women began heading in the direction of CJ and the others, walking by them with barely a nod to acknowledge them at all.
"So what was all that about?" Marshall called out to Evans.
"I don't know man, but Randall sounded like she had a whole hornet's nest up her ass," the other soldier replied.
The four of them laughed before CJ and Monica made their way back inside the cafeteria. The last thing CJ heard before the door shut was Marshall telling Evans that he had something important he needed to talk to him about.
Inside the cafeteria, Monica headed directly towards her cot, settling in for what remained of the night. CJ, despite his exhaustion earlier, found he couldn't sleep quite yet. Instead he made his way over to the far corner of the cafeteria where a small light sat on a table with some old magazines and the crossword puzzle book. Next to the table were a pair of beat up chairs. Picking up the crossword puzzle book and removing the pen from inside,he settled himself into one of the chairs and began to write. It was almost a half hour later before he was finished. Carefully he clipped the pen to the front cover of the book, the agreed upon signal that something new had been added. He rose to his feet and stretched, letting out a yawn, then headed over to his cot where he once again tried to get to sleep.