Sadie's POV

Come morning, I decided to get up and go sit outside for a smoke before anyone else should've been up…..or so I thought.

However, when I did get out there, Theresa was already up and sitting on the front step.

I threw my hands up in fake surrender as she started to draw her gun at the apparent scare. "Alright, you got me. I surrender!" I joked.

She put her gun back with a slight chuckle as she started to relax again.

"Since when do you surrender at the first sign of a gun? That's not the Sadie I know."

"...and it still isn't." I agreed, sitting down next to her as I pulled out my box of smokes. "..hence the sarcasm. Anyway, you got a light?"

"You know what, I just might…" She started feeling around her pockets, patting them as she went.

"...if you don't it's- "

"Aha!" She cut me off when she finally found it. "Here.." She chuckled. "Go nuts."

"Oh, you know I will." I chuckled back. "...thanks!"

However, I froze, taking a moment to look it over before I actually lit up, noting it's unique design.

"Gareth asleep still?" Her question breaking through my apparent zoning out.

"..huh?"

"Gareth…" She repeated, nodding back toward the house with a slight chuckle. "...your husband...he still asleep."

"Ohh, right." I chuckled nervously. "Right, well he oughtta be, after last night."

I smirked a little.

"I hear that!"

"You mean you heard that." I snickered. "Don't lie to me, T."

"...yeah, that bedroom door isn't exactly sound proof." She admitted.

"Sorry if we kept you up." I smirked as I lit my cigarette.

"No you're not." She teased. "You thrive on the idea of a captive audience."

"Ohh I'm not arguing that." I corrected. "I just love rubbing it in."

She shook her head as she laughed, taking in the moment. "Same old Sadie."

"Same old me…" I agreed. "...Speaking of that...is this really the lighter I gave you near the start of…" I glanced around the area for my point. "..Well...everything."

She nodded. "...same one."

I glanced it over once more. "...you really managed to keep it all these years."

"Course I did…" She glanced over to look at it again, herself. "...wasn't easy, but I did."

The smile, which had crept its way across my face just before, started to fade as the thought took me back.

I sighed to myself as I gazed back down to my bare hand, shaking my head over the thought. "...and here, I can't even hold on to a goddamned wedding ring…" I took another drag off my cigarette.

"...sorry." She said a little more quietly.

I shrugged. "...it was a while back…" I shook my head again. "...Gareth still has his and I…..I don't know whether to be thankful for that or think about how shitty of a wife that makes me."

"..Well, I'm banking on the former." She tried to reassure. "...I've known you both for a long time….and you, even longer before that….and you are faaaar from being the latter, Sade."

I allowed myself to smile a little at that. "...thanks, T."

Before either of us could say anything else, the near distant sound of footsteps began making itself increasingly more apparent.

The footsteps were soon followed by an unfamiliar voice when Theresa and I both looked up in their direction at once.

"...Uh...hi…" The man, who had just come into view, greeted rather hesitant and nervously. "...Sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt...I- "

He paused as I shot up to my feet, raising and aiming my crossbow at him as T stood to draw her gun on him.

He chuckled, still obviously….and rightfully...nervous as he raised his hands up to attempt to indicate that he meant no harm. "...Uhh, my name is Aaron…."

Theresa and I just continued to glare at him, weapons still drawn, waiting for him to continue with whatever pitch he thought he had.

"...I know…." He chuckled nervously again. "...I know, right? Stranger danger….."

Did he think he was being funny…..or even remotely clever?

"...but uhh...I-I'd like to talk the person in charge." He turned his focus to me. "Sadie, right? … Or would that be your hus- "

'That'd be ME." I sternly reaffirmed.

"...and how do you even know that?" Theresa pointed out in a similar tone.

I glanced briefly to her, nodding when I looked back at the man. "What she said."

He avoided the question at first, attempting to try and convince us again.

"I have good news- "

"ANSWERS FIRST!" I spat back at him, lowering my crossbow and slinging it back over in place over my back as I swapped it out for the knife that I grabbed off my belt to storm at him and hold close to his neck.

I lowered my voice only slightly as I commanded him. "...Now start talking before I have you begging for that crossbow back."

"...Wow, you really don't screw around, huh?" He chuckled nervously, as if he were being amusing.

I jerked the knife at him, which quickly triggered him to start fumbling for his next words.

"Okay, okay, Okay!" He blurted desperately. "I can explain….."

I lowered the knife only slightly as he continued.

"I will explain…."

"..then DO." Theresa insisted just as sternly.

"...I just overheard you guys talking...ahh…' He motioned his hand slightly defensively. "...not- not intentionally, I swear….really, we've just been in the area for a while."

As Theresa began to lower her weapon, I raised my hand for her not to and turned my attention back to the man. "Who's we?"

Theresa looked back to me and then glanced around the general vicinity for anyone else he may be referring to.

"...just my boyfriend and I." He explained. "...we go out together on runs like this, looking for people who may wanna come back with us."

"To where?" I ordered. "...and why?"

"...because people are our most valuable resource."

I held my glare to him, tilting my head slightly as Theresa and I waited for him to answer the where."

"...look, if you'll let me sit down with you two and whoever else is with you, I can explain everything." He pleaded. "...I swear."

T and I exchanged some looks with each other before turning our attention back to him, as I lowered my knife while she kept her gun aimed.

"...Lay your shit down in front of you and turn around." I ordered. "...NOW!"

He nodded quickly, turning around as he did what I'd asked.

Theresa cautiously put her gun away, as she noted my gesture to her to check his bag while I continued to pat him down for any weapons.

He had none that I could find….except for a flare gun, anyway, which I took from him while T picked up his bag.

I motioned for her to go on ahead of us, back to the house, while I drew my knife back out on the man.

"WALK…." I ordered, nodding briefly ahead. "...and follow her."

"Yes, ma'am." He agreed as he took my instructions.