Chapter 22: New London, Connecticut - February 2015

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Teylor's feet were like lead as he trudged down the stairs from the hospital rooftop, Miller on his heels. The mission hadn't gone to plan. Not that they ever did, these days. The virus had not only wiped out ninety percent of the world's population, but it had also changed all of the rules, and things that were unthinkable two short years ago were now commonplace. Still, nights like tonight, when the team was forced to pull guns on American citizens, were the hardest.

As they moved down the final flight, Teylor noticed Tex standing at the doorway, arms crossed. Letting Miller pass, Teylor stopped. "Did Rob make it?"

"DOA." Tex's voice was firm, composed, not a shred of emotion.

Teylor nodded, having expected the answer, the question a mere pro forma. The man did eat his own gun, after all. The only surprising thing that Tex could have said was that Rob managed to pull through. Still, the knowledge that a brother-in-arms was dead, even one Teylor served with for only a few short days, felt like a kick in the chest. He gave Tex a crooked grin. "Got any of that moonshine left?"

"Nah." Tex shook his head, before indicating the cafeteria with his thumb. "But your wife over there might be able to hook you up."

"Wife?" Teylor's eyes darted towards the door. "You need to get your eyes checked, old man, mixing me up with Green."

"Nope." Tex replied, popping the p. "Any woman who sits in those hard-ass chairs for hours waiting for you to get off that helo qualifies as a wife, piece of paper or not. Now go get her tiger."

Teylor moved towards the cafeteria slowly, mind racing. Despite all that had happened since the Nathan James arrived in Connecticut, this moment felt defining. He wasn't the man Caroline knew right now. The even-tempered one. The reasonable one. The one who smiled as she bitched about her brother and then plied her with pizza and beer and bad jokes. No, tonight he was a soldier. One who had killed, one who watched a brother die, the blood still lingering on his uniform. This was a side that Caro had never seen. A side that he never planned to let her see. The ugly one. The one that involved blood and guts and death.

A side that was all to similar to Tom, to the man who hurt her so badly.

Yet Teylor felt drawn to her presence like a moth to the flame. From the moment they met, Caro's passion, her enthusiasm for life, had made Teylor feel alive in a way that he had never felt before or since. She loved and she hated, she burned with indignation, and her fury had no equal. But even when she was furious with him, having Caro there made the world a little brighter.

Teylor stepped through the swinging doors, gaze sweeping the cafeteria until they came to a familiar head of frizzy hair. Caro stood, and even before he closed the gap Teylor could see the tears shimmering in her eyes. He stopped just short of her, words deserting him. And then, as though she understood, Caro wrapped her arms around him.

"You'll ruin your clothes," Teylor murmured, voice low and hoarse. Yet he couldn't stop his arms from closing, tugging her against him even more tightly.

Caro shrugged. "Just a little bit of blood. I'm a nurse, remember?"

"Really? I had no idea."

His attempt at a joke fell flat, and Caro buried her head in his shoulder. The two of them stood there silently, Teylor soaking in her warmth, her scent, her very presence. Minutes passed, the sounds of the cafeteria fading into the background. When Caro pulled away, Teylor released her reluctantly. Her voice was soft as she asked, "You hungry?"

Teylor considered the spread of sandwiches, salads and chips on the side of the room. Just the idea of food made his stomach turn. "No. You?"

Caro shook her head. "I already ate. But I wouldn't say no to some more coffee. Bacon actually found a french press. For a minute I thought I really had died and gone to heaven."

He snorted. "You and your coffee. How many cups have you had?"

Tipping her head to the side, Caro seemed to be counting. "Five. Oh, no, six. One more won't hurt."

Teylor let her tug him towards the coffee, letting the chatter roll over him, barely listening, until the word Norfolk caught his attention. "Wait, what?"

Hands moving to her hips in a move that Teylor was all too familiar with, Caro pinned him with her eyes. "I said that at least Norfolk will be warmer. Isn't that where Maria is?"

"No," Teylor felt like he had missed half the conversation and was scrambling to catch up. "She and the boys are staying in St. Louis for now..." Teylor stopped abruptly, realizing that he was completely off topic. "Wait. Back up. You're going with us?"

"With you, no," Caro sniffed, pouring two cups of coffee and searching for lids. "Doctor Milowsky offered me a spot on Solace. He's taking some of the sicker patients to the hospital in Norfolk for treatment. I said I would help him get to Norfolk, and then make a decision on joining him permanently."

As the words permeated his brain, Teylor found himself grinning, as though today were Christmas morning rather than a crappy day in the middle of February.

Norfolk. Caro was going to Norfolk.

He took the cup she was holding out. "You know where you're staying yet?"

"Not yet." Caro blew on her brew. "Why? You looking for a roommate?"

The comment was so uniquely Caroline. The timing so absurdly ridiculous, that Teylor couldn't help but laugh. Turning, he raised his voice. "Hey Miller!"

The young man responded hesitantly, eyes wary as he looked at Caro. "Yeah?"

"You don't mind if Caro stays with us in Norfolk, do you?"

Eyes widened, Miller gulped. "Actually, I think I'm good bunking on the James."