Disclaimer: Buffy The Vampire Slayer was Created by Joss Whedon and is property of many companies but not me. The Walking Dead was created by Robert Kirkman and the show, which is the world I am referencing in this, is shared with Production Creators Frank Darabont and Angela Kang.

Arthur's Note: Prepare for a small jump. Earlier writing you'll notice hasn't changed majority of the information we are aware of from the Walking Dead as it came out and is depicting action either before a scene would happen or later. I am not rewriting any of the action between when Rick awakens, and the group travelling to the CDC, as none of this has changed. All character deaths between those points, as well as separation of group, remains cannon to story.

[5]

"...Item… Two survivors were spotted on surveillance last night: blonde male, female brunette. Man was predominately ignored until attack, suspect infection due to reanimates lack of response. Reanimates attacked female but were unsuccessful, appears especially adept at defense. Retreated when noise attracted more… Item… Additional trial on TS-19 samples beginning tomorrow… Item... Fuel is running low, and site will enter protocol in estimated 5 days if more is not found… Item…"

"…It's day 189 since wildfire was declared and 58 days since the disease abruptly went global. I have taken in one survivor, previously mentioned female after male refused blood sample. Female is known as Dawn, their test proves as expected, infection is present, and reanimation is guaranteed upon death unless TS-19 samples are able to aid in cure… Item… Male, William alias Spike, has agreed to forage supplies. Primary objective, gas to continue to keep site viable for research…"

"… It's day 191 since wildfire was declared and 60 days since the disease abruptly went global. Female, Dawn, has been found to be trained in psychology… Discussion of TS-19 samples have been…" The man hesitated, searching for the words as the camera continued to record. No response from VI or the other sites that had previously gone dark.
"TS-19 remains the most informative sample obtained to date. Discussion of method of procurement has been difficult… Item… Dawn remains in contact with Male, William alias Spike, first delivery of fuel provided at door by morning. Delivery captured at O-Five Hundred…"

"It's day 193 since wildfire was declared and 62 days since disease went abruptly global. Female, Dawn, has been useful in discussion about infection. Dismemberment has been advised as method of previously theorized ability to prevent infection from spreading, however without a live subject to witness cannot be confirmed. Dawn has indicated a survivor of this procedure is anticipated to travel to site though last communication from subject was previous to arrival… unclear if subject is still en route… Item… additional fuel delivery made by O-FiveHundred, provisions have secured additional 2 days viability of site. Countdown has extended to reflect… Item… Circadian rhythm is readjusting to guest's, Dawn and Male, Spike, appear to be most active in the evenings and solely communicate then…"

[Break]

Dawn was already heading to the control room when she heard glass shattering followed by a drunken whoop, picking up the pace to see exactly what was going on. Earlier when the alarms in the lab had quieted, the doctor had been silent; a look on his face that had made her stomach twist as he ignored her in passing. Running through the open door she finds him swaying where he stands, "Dr. Jenner?"

Ignoring her, he doesn't turn until the proximity alarm sounds, disbelief crossing his features as he bends to peer closer at one of the monitors. Knowing it was still too light for Spike to be out she crosses the room quickly, Willow and Tara her first thought but instead finds a studying a face she never imagined she'd see again, "Officer Grimes!"

Frowning at the screen, Dr. Jenner mumbles to himself though she doubts she hearing right, there was no way he could be praying them to turn away. Through the monitor both Sheriff Deputies, Grimes and Walsh, are pleading and she joins, "Jenner you have to let them in." The man was still staring at the screen, an undeterminable look as he stared beyond her to the wall behind them and she urges again calling his name.

Hitting the button the scientist raises the shutters and allows them into the ground floor entrance before turning to her, "You do not follow, and you will not see them until after I have confirmed they are not in immediate danger of turning."

Dawn nods without hesitation, turning back to the monitors as the man walks away, physician grabbing the weapon situated on the console as he passes. Despite the terseness of her previously courteous host, Dawn savored the pleasure building in her chest seeing her previous patient's family re-united despite the perilous journey they must have faced. People were making it, pulling together. A small smile at the thought she turns from the monitor and darts out of the room knowing it would be the first area her host would walk them through, on the wall beyond the clock continues counting down.

[Break]

The elevator ride down had made Carol vaguely queasy, stomach shifting in knots back and forth as she counted the seconds it traveled. When it passed 30 seconds, she started recounting the dead that had been outside the building on their arrival reminding herself that if they were umpteen feet below the earth at least they weren't surrounded by walkers, still she had to ask after they disembarked, "Are we underground?"

The white T clad back continued striding forward, leading them deeper down a well-lit hall that ended suspiciously in darkness. The man turned, light strawberry hair cropped shorter than even hers as he glanced back over his shoulder, "Are you claustrophobic?"

Jacqui had turned to look back at her as well but neither of them was judging her with the same gaze as Ed would have and she pulled her chin up, trying to find her voice, "A little." While his reply to not think about it wasn't helpful, Jacqui's light squeeze around her shoulders made her feel better and she shifted the bag over the opposite arm, gripping it as he pushed through the darkness and called for the lights to be brought up.

Over head the long pole lights snapped on, white spilling over dated computer consoles and highlighting the number of people that should be working there and were missing immediately drawing attention. The collective thought of the group came from their newest member, Rick, "Where is everybody? The doctors, the staff?"

Dr. Jenner turned around, walking backward amidst the rows to stop after a short distance, fingers of one hand tapping on the smooth surface under it, "On staff it's just me. There is one other person on site, a survivor like yourselves. You'll have the opportunity to meet her shortly, after testing."

Lori spoke out secondly, questioning if that was who the man had been speaking with. "Vi? Isn't she a doctor as well?"

The man smiled, soft amusement on his face as he glances up, "Vi, say hello to our guests. Tell them… welcome."

Responding to the directive, a voice rang around the room, clearly programed, "Hello guests. Welcome."

[Break]

Spike was still rising from slumber's depths when he heard the shots ring out, eyes snapping open, focusing his hearing he could count a decent group of hearts in the direct of the CDC. Despite his sudden mental alertness and sudden concern at how close those shots were, along with the number of people they were from, he couldn't do anything but sit up in time to see the group disappear behind the shutters as they closed across the street. Sliding the open board back into place he left the construct that kept the rays from filtering through and rolled over to grab the walkie from its place on top his bag but paused from calling out for Dawn. Instead he clicked to chat once, knowing she'd have it on her and pick up if she could.

The next 30 seconds built an increasing amount of anxiety until his charge's voice broke over the line, "Here, Spike. I'm ok." The vampire let out the stale air he'd pulled in, old habits dying harder than he had.

"Dawdle a little longer next time why don't you," he pulled his fingers from the grip to curse and cool down before continuing while she waited, "The doc checking them?" When he didn't get a response right away, he rolled his eyes, following up with the word signifying he was done. He could imagine her nod as she responded with an affirmative, quickly mentioning she was surprised to see them arrive,

"The cop from the hospital is here, his wife and son. His partner is in the group too along with maybe a few families."

Spike nodded, staying silent as he spotted a flash of movement along the bottom of the door across the room. The smell of decay was everywhere, even inside, but not fresh enough to warrant a corpse on the opposite side. Hearing the soft patter of claws, he dismissed the rodent for now but kept track of it at the back of his thoughts, joking instead "Any good meals among them?"

She didn't wait for the word to berate him, his name coming out sharp across the air, "Spike!" The vampire grinned, laughing as he stood to shake out his duster and slip it back over his shoulders before responding, "Heading out Niblet, I'll signal if there's trouble. Do the same. Over."

The rat's body lay still in the corner of the room where it landed, Spike closing the door the room carefully before he moved silent and swift down the hall, exiting from the back and entering the alleyway. The dead wandering there moved towards him as his sudden appearance but slowed as they drifted nearer; no warmth or live flesh wafting from his body to interest them further. He kept his gate slow but didn't exaggerate it, refraining from whistling or humming as he sometimes wanted to do if only to hear something other than the silence that ate up the city.

The deeper he moved into the city the slower he walked, keeping to the sides of the buildings and out of the groups that had formed in the streets. Once able, he slipped inside the closest structure he had yet to visit, fingers gripping the door's edge until it softly brushed against the frame and let it close behind him. Looking around he studied the space, unlikely to have any fuel as it was somewhat newer, but he'd been surprised to find it in places just as nice. Able to move quicker without hungry corpses around he located the stairs and headed down.

[Break]

Head tilting, Lori studied the back of the familiar head of short hair as she entered the recreation area, looking to find Carl after supper. A light shirt covered slim shoulders, their back to her as the obvious female figure sat opposite her son with a game on the table situated between them and Carol and Sophia, "Carl, don't be rude…" She started to say he should introduce her when she came close enough to see their face, her eyes widening, "Ms. Summers?"

Standing, the young woman wore a genuine smile on her face and hugged her, ignoring the fact she was only in sleep clothes, "Hey Mrs. Grimes, just Dawn remember?" Her arms were strong around her, only slightly thinner than they had been the last time they'd hugged last outside the hospital and it was surreal that another person she knew was back in her life,

"How are you here? Did the hospital send you?" Dawn pulled back, Lori searching her face for answers she wasn't providing quick enough but of course finding none. The young woman just smiled again, seating herself back down and shaking her head,

"No, no. This is kind of a rally point for my family," although she was nodding and sounded confident it still was going to happen Lori couldn't help but think about the fact she was still here alone,

"They haven't come yet?" The woman shook her head, Carol reaching across the table to grab her hand, offering comfort before pulling back and Dawn nodded,

"They will. My friend is still out there, keeping an eye out." Both women stared at Dawn, the kids having resumed the game, leaving the adults out when it seemed they weren't going to rejoin,

"There's someone still out there?"

Dawn nodded, as far as Lori and Carol could determine without the amount of worry the situation should afford it, "Jenner was serious about that blood test, Spike didn't want to so… He's fine though, he's in contact with me every day." Her gaze moved back and forth betwixt the two women as they shared an alarmed look between themselves, "I just spoke to him before I came to meet you actually." Feeling like she was going nowhere she grabbed the bottled water to give herself a moment before redirecting,

"I couldn't believe Rick was with you, he hadn't woken up that I know of when I left." A small swooshing sound, the air pressure changed slightly and Dawn could feel someone else join the room from behind though they didn't join them.

Lori shook her head, long brown running over her shoulders an chest, shiny from the wash, "I couldn't believe it when he showed up either. It was," she took a deep beath, exhaling with a tight smile, "It was really a miracle." Carol's hand rubbed along her back, Dawn probing,

"When was that?"

"Just a few days really, 3?" Carol supplied when Lori's brow furrowed as though all the days had rushed together and wasn't certain. With the reminder the sheriff's wife nodded, looking back at Dawn wondering if she'd know,

"I don't understand… How could he have survived so long without help?"

Scratching the back of her neck, Dawn's thoughts drifted back to the woman she had heard when Spike and she had been in the hospital. If Rick hadn't mentioned the woman something must have happened, "Before we left, I went to the hospital – grabbed a few things. It was…" she shook her head, bypassing the description, "one doctor was still there, Gale Macones?" Looking at Lori she didn't see any recognition, but it hadn't been Rick's Doctor before the end, so it wasn't surprising, "We didn't work together but I think that's who it was."

Lori was sitting straighter, Carol's hand pulling back as she watched her friend, "You didn't check on him? You didn't – you didn't talk to her?"

She had anticipated the question and from her interaction with Lori previously she knew that her being upset was expected, but the accusing tone still rubbed in the guilt that Dawn had to remind herself wasn't justified, "It wasn't like that. The hospital wasn't safe Lori, I didn't know who was there and who wasn't and who…" She glanced at Carol hoping the other women understood and was given small encouragement in response that she pushed though, "Spike and I risked a lot even going to the hospital so once we got what we came for we left. I heard Gale but I didn't know what kind of shape she was in and she was mumbling to herself when I heard her, so I didn't follow."

Carol's hand returned to Lori's back, squeezing her shoulder again as Mrs. Grimes rubbed at her face to break the tension, "I'm sorry, it's just. I'm glad he's back and … I'm glad she was there, that someone was there to take care of him."

Noticing the kids had stopped playing to watch Carol glanced at the clock and unfolded her legs, "Come on kids, bedtime." Seeing Lori looking at the book Carol held Dawn pointed the cases behind where the woman sat with her back to them,

"There plenty."

Lori kissed Carl's head as he passed, running her fingers over his head in a gesture that made Dawn miss both her sister and mom out of nowhere, "Baby, go say your prayers, I'm gonna browse a bit." Understanding the woman wanted to be left alone Dawn got up stretching and with a wave gestured she was going to head off too, looking for the presence she had felt earlier and finding the other Sheriff's Deputy lingering in a doorway.

It took the man a moment to notice her small waive but he didn't do more than jerk his chin her way in acknowledgement before taking another drink as she left. If Dawn hadn't met him before the turn, she'd find it unsettling but having met him and knowing what a strain of the couple of months probably where, she headed out, wondering instead where the rest of the group was that she hadn't met yet.

[Break]

Sunrise was under an hour, Spike could smell the change coming, feel the shift in temperature, and he had only scrounged a few gallons of gas not enough to fill the barrel Jenner had left him the night before. They'd only gotten through yesterday due to gas he'd scrounged up before and he knew that meant they'd be back to square one. When he'd put the situation together, that first night Dawn had mentioned the countdown combined with Jenner's supply quest, he'd spent the better portion of the night finding a vehicle. After that he'd saved one gallon for themselves for every 5 he found the doctor.

The tank of he'd managed to fill could have assisted the Doctor an extra day but he had weighed it against the need to have a vehicle when the inevitable happened. A getaway for he and Dawn won out easily. The car could have been better but there wasn't a DeSoto in town that he'd seen so the Caddy would do, at least it was an older model and not one of those pampered newer models that had been marketed on tv the past few years. Sticking the smokes in the glove compartment he sighed and finished taping the newspaper along the back and rear windows, layering them three times over to ensure they'd be safe. The blanket and his duster would block anything that got through but he'd rather be through than light the backseat on fire when he went up, refusing to curl up in the trunk unless there was no choice.

Outside the CDC later he checked the radio for Dawn, knowing she'd still be up, and got a tired reply a moment later, "Any luck?"

Her tone didn't indicate she thought he had but he hated to confirm it, "Not tonight. I've got a car ready to go, I'll be in the back seat. It's the only one modified for yours truly, opposite that mismatched caravan they showed up in." Stretched along the backseat he studied the cover he'd hung between the front and back seat, tacked to the ceiling with thick staples, "Keys are in the ignition and our things are in the trunk."

While he knew she understood he was done, he waited in silence a few moments before asking, "What does Tara say?"

"She thinks the next few days… I don't know what to do, when the building blows we won't be able to stay in town, it's going to attract all of them."

Picking his nails, Spike chided, "'Ey, there's no need to fret that. They'll find us as easy as they could with us here." He smirked, teasing, "Better get that shower in tonight before it's gone though." A click and then pause before Dawn returned on the tail end of a yawn,

"I will. Going to nap before it's over Spike. Sleep well."

"Night Niblet." He set the walkie on his chest and pulled the duster over his head just in case, closing his eyes and thoughts from the world.