"Hey Zed," Addison asked him in between classes, "do you have any plans this weekend?"
Zed grimaced in a slight look of worry. "Actually I do."
"What is it? What's wrong?"
"I have to go in for my Z-band check tomorrow."
"Do you really have to?" Addison asked, reaching down to take his hand.
"Yeah, it happens every year, but don't worry, it's terrible but I'll get through it, we all do."
"Not without me because I'm coming with you."
"No Addison, you can't I don't want you coming to Containment, you have no idea how terrifying that place is and I don't want you to see me without any Z-band at all."
"I don't care, if you have to be there, then I will be there with you."
"No Addison, this is one thing I have to do alone, please just stay away, I'll call you the night after to let you know everything's OK."
"You think I'd be able to sit in my house alone all day, waiting for your call, and pacing the floor worrying that something could be wrong? You can't stop me. I love you, but this conversation is not over. I have to get to class." Addison said, giving his hand one more squeeze before letting go and walking away.
"I love you too." Zed returned, now his worry for tomorrow grew ten times worse, he did not want Addison's kindhearted worldview to be destroyed by the cold, hard, reality of Containment, or seeing the monster he really was. And he didn't know how to stop her.
At lunch, Addison decided to get more information on exactly what Zed was facing, so she of course asked Eliza about it. "Hey, Eliza, what happens at Z-Band checks?"
"Why do you want to know?" Eliza asked.
"Zed has his this weekend, and he doesn't want me to come with him, what's so terrible about it?"
"How much time do you have?" Eliza asked with a sigh. "For the record, I don't think you should go if you don't have to. It's terrible for us, and seeing Zed there will just torture you."
"Eliza I'd just be pacing my room all day imagining the worse-case scenarios anyway, that's why I need to be there."
Zed just sat down at the table, hearing the tail end of the conversation. "Eliza please tell Addison it's not a good idea for her to come, it will just be painful for her."
"That's what I'm doing Zed." Eliza said before continuing. "As a rule, family members aren't allowed to go to Z-band checks normally, because they are so terrible and of course Zombies don't even want to go to containment when they have to. It starts with a mostly normal check-up; we also get our yearly health physicals beforehand. But then, they strap you down in a chair and take off your Z-band to be inspected and upgraded. Then of course our inner zombies take control, and we can't do anything except roar and struggle against our bonds. Meanwhile, the zombie-scientists are just studying us for whatever reason, although what their learning besides zombies are monsters, I don't know. Then they put the Z-band back on and you have to stay there for an hour or more, to make sure everything's working right. And occasionally while we're full-zom they'll do other tests on us."
"Like what?" Addison asked.
"No one really knows, since of course, they don't tell us, just what the unlucky zombies are able to remember. They may try out future upgrades for the Z-band, or let us walk around and watch how we stumble into the walls or respond to noises or smells. Some have said they even try out new Z-Patrol gear. Just more ways Zombies are mistreated for no reason."
"That settles it, I am going with you Zed, and there is nothing you can do to stop me."
"Addison whatever happens tomorrow will happen, whether you're there or not, and being there will only hurt you."
"I need to be there to keep you safe."
"Do you really think your dad will let them do any more than the basic stuff and get me out of there as fast as possible?"
"He better, I'll make sure of it. And I will be there." Zed and Addison held a silent staring contest both of their strong wills fighting against each other, but both could see the love and determination in the other's eyes.
"Fine," Zed sighed. "I know I can't stop you, but I declare this is a bad idea, I wish you weren't coming, and I'm sorry for what you're going to see. I won't blame you if you need to leave."
"I won't leave you. I promise." Addison whispered pressing her forehead against Zed's. "I'll be with you every step of the way."
The next morning. Zed trudged downstairs when he heard the doorbell go off.
His dad was already downstairs and gave him one more strong, loving hug. "Don't worry, everything will be fine, and you'll be back home in time for dinner." He whispered in Zed's ear.
"I'm still scared," Zed confessed, "but even more scared for Addison, she doesn't deserve to ever go there."
"I know, neither of you does, but I can tell when it comes to you, she won't take no for an answer, even if it's from you. That just proves how much she loves you."
"Thanks, Pops, I'll see you tonight."
He opened the door and was surprised to see Addison and Dale standing there, instead of a normal officer and the Z-Patrol van.
"Addison, what are you doing here?"
"We're taking you, instead of some random officer. I promised I'd keep you safe."
"You couldn't tell her no either?"
"We tried, but Addison swore she would follow us in if I said no, and I decided it's better to keep her safe where I can see her." Dale sighed. "Are you ready to go Zed?"
"Not even remotely, but let's just get this over with."
The drive to containment was a quiet one. Zed and Addison just sat in the back, with Addison gently circling the back of Zed's hand with her thumb to comfort him.
All too soon they arrived at Containment and Addison latched onto Zed's hand, with a look on her face that flashed between worry for Zed, and daring anyone to tell her to let go. They walked slowly into the facility, got checked in, and were led to a room. They waited together since Addison refused to let go and Dale went off somewhere else.
"How are you holding up?" Addison asked Zed quietly.
"Still nervous, but mostly for you. This will be the easy part, and I won't blame you if have to leave at any point."
"You won't have to blame me because I am not going anywhere." She repeated her promise.
After a few more minutes a doctor arrived and started checking over Zed, taking his temperature, checking his heart, all the normal stuff people normally go through at their yearly physicals. Addison was actually learning a lot about how different zombie biology was as the doctor rattled off the numbers before writing them down on his chart. Apparently, Zed's normal temperature was about twenty degrees cooler than humans, and Addison already knew from their many hugs and cuddles that his heartbeat was much slower. That was one of her favorite things about their hugs, when she had her ear pressed against his chest she could always hear his slow, strong heartbeat, which she knew was beating for her.
"Good job Zed, you have a clean bill of health. My work here is done, so you know what that means."
"Yeah, I do thanks Doc."
The doctor held the door open and Zed led Addison back out, they followed Gus to a different room, where Dale and a technician in a white lab coat were waiting.
"Sorry Zed, you know what time it is."
"Yeah I do, Mr. Wells."
"Addison, you have to let go of Zed."
"No, he's not leaving my sight." Addison demanded, tightening her hold on his hand.
"Look here, he'll be right in the next room. You can watch him through the glass. And I promise nothing will happen to him."
Addison looked through the window and saw the empty room with only a single chair covered in straps to hold down its occupant. Her blood froze, and she felt sick just looking at it.
"No Zed, you can't go in there, not without me."
"I'll be fine, and I don't want you in there either, if you have to be here, you'll be safer out here."
"I'll always be safest with you, and you can't scare me away."
"That may be true, but I still scare me. I've done this a dozen times before, I'll be fine when it's over."
"Fine," Addison finally conceded, looking into Zed's eyes. "Remember Gar Gar Gaza, always." Addison leaned up on her tiptoes and captured Zed's lips in one more reassuring kiss. Not caring that other people were in the room.
Zed looked into her eyes. "Gar Gar Gaza."
Addison finally loosened her grip and Zed was led through the doorway into the next room. He sat down in the chair and allowed Gus to tighten the restraints around his arms, torso, and legs. Addison walked up to the glass and stood there frozen in nervous anticipation. Zed locked his eyes on hers and tried to give her a reassuring smile. Finally, the technician inserted a key in Zed's Z-band and removed it. Before he and Gus slowly backed out of the room through the door back into Addison's room.
Addison watched as the veins in Zed's arms slowly blackened and crept up from his wrists to his neck. His breathing became ragged, and his eyes became bloodshot. The rest of his skin seemed to pale even more. He held on for a few more seconds before he broke eye contact with Addison, he began to flail his head around looking in every direction as that was the only body part he could move. He struggled against his restraints, but they held firm to keep him contained. Then he started roaring in rage, loud enough that Addison could hear every single growl he was making.
Her heart felt like it was shattering into a million broken shards of glass piercing her entire being. To her he didn't look like a monster, he never could. To her he just looked panicked, he was still turning his head wildly as if searching for something, scared and all alone. She could feel tears building in her eyes, but they weren't breaking yet. She knew she wouldn't be able to do anything with her father and Gus standing right behind her.
"Addison, do you want some earplugs?" Her Dad asked, holding them out to her. "They might make it easier for you."
"No." Addison said quietly, she refused to even glance away from Zed for a moment. "I don't want to miss anything. How long is this supposed to…to last?" She asked, her voice shaking.
"About an hour Honey, and I told them to work as fast as possible."
Addison and the others just stood there watching for another 15 minutes, until Dale's phone rang and gave them all a jump.
"Hello?" Dale answered. "Alright, but can you handle it? I'm in the middle of something here. OK I'll be right there." Dale hung up and turned to Gus. "We need to go take care of something quick. Addison, we should be right back, and don't go in there it isn't safe for you."
"Yes, I know." Addison said sounding resigned.
"If you need anything, just find someone and they'll help you, OK? I love you." Dale said, giving her a comforting hug before he and Gus left the room, leaving Addison all alone. Addison still stood there for a few more minutes before she heard a change in Zed's roaring. Instead of him just roaring loudly out into the room, she started to hear jumbled Zombie-tongue words that she knew.
"Grew argh giza? Gra greed gru. Grew argh roo?"
After listening closely a few more moments, she tried to translate it to herself. "Where are you? I need you. Please where are you?" She whispered to herself, she looked on tears finally spilling from her eyes when Zed's next sentence stopped her heart in its tracks. "Addiska, gar gar gaza, grew argh giza?"
Addie, I love you, where are you?
She stared at the doorway for a long moment debating her options, she knew her Dad would freak out, but she couldn't ignore the pull in the pit of her stomach, and the need burning in her chest. Every second hearing Zed's roaring and cries hit her like an arrow in her heart. She reached for the door and opened it very slowly.
Zed turned immediately towards the sound and let out a terrifying snarl, baring his teeth, but he stopped when he saw Addison step lightly into the room and softly close the door behind her. He just stared at her with a look of such rapture that Addison knew from the bottom of her heart that she would never have anything to fear from him.
"Zed," she said quietly, slowly walking up to him. "Are you OK?"
"Addiska, gar gar gaza." Zed said quietly, now much calmer. But as she stepped closer, she could see his limbs fighting even harder to break free and be near her.
She closed the distance between them, and gently grasped his hand. "I'm here," she whispered, "I promised I wouldn't leave you, I'm sorry for scaring you."
"Addiska, gar gar gaza." Zed repeated, again and again, now that she was in the room, and the sole focus of his thoughts, it seemed to be all he could say.
"I love you too, gar gar gaza." said Addison, using her other hand to gently rub up and down his arm. "You're going to be alright, they'll be done soon, and then you'll be back to normal. And we can go home."
"Addiska, gar gar gaza." Zed said again.
"I love you too." Addison repeated and this time, leaned in for kiss. She wasn't planning on it lasting more than a moment but was surprised by the hunger and passion Zed was pouring into it, Addison could feel him straining to get as close to her as possible, smashing his lips into hers. Addison decided to just melt into the kiss. They continued for a few moments before breaking away for breath before returning once again and this time Zed opened his mouth and let out a moan before battling his tongue against hers, which again Addison gladly returned.
She heard several loud snaps and with a jolt of surprise, she felt Zed grab her around her waist and pull her on top of him with ease like she weighed less than a feather. She flashed open her eyes for a moment to see that Zed had broken the arm restraints, but his legs and torso were still contained.
Zed pulled her flush against him so there was absolutely zero space separating them as they locked lips once more. Addison wrapped her arms around his neck and straddled his hips and gladly let Zed continue to take the lead. Zed's hands remained firmly snaked around her waist as if afraid to let go for even a moment or she would disappear again. Eventually, they both reached a stopping point, and just smiled at each other, breathless.
"Gar gar gaza Zed."
"Gar gar gaza Addiska."
Addison loosened her arms, and checked her watch, guessing that someone would probably be back to check on them soon.
"Zed can you let go of me so I can get down?" She asked sweetly.
"Zo." Zed said, tightening his hold.
"Zed." Addison said in a firmer voice and wearing a slight frown. "Let me down, I'll still be right here beside you, I promise."
Zed reluctantly loosened his grip and let Addison down. But then immediately reached up for her hand which she gladly accepted.
Addison looked at the broken straps hanging from the arms of the chair and could tell there would be no fixing them or putting Zed back in them, so they would just have to wait for the Z-band to come back. She continued to gently rub Zed's arm to help keep him calm. His breathing was much better, and she could still see his love for her in his eyes. His eyes hadn't once left her face, and he even had a wild feral grin showing all his teeth that Addison thought made him look almost as adorable as Puppy.
Addison could see through the window as her dad, Gus, and the technician walked back in, they looked around wildly for a moment before Gus pointed at them through the window. Dale immediately marched into the room and hissed out, "Addison get away from Zed, it's not safe."
Unfortunately, the appearance of the other three ramped up Zed's aggression again. His grip on Addison's hand, while still comfortable and loving, tightened. And he let out a snarl, "Grrr Mi Addiska!"
"Dad, I'm fine Zed was calling for me, so I came in and he immediately calmed down. I know for a fact he will never hurt me, and he didn't, I am completely fine."
"I know you trust him, but he has nothing to stop him from hurting you right now."
"Yes, he does, he has himself, and he has me, I can keep him calm."
"Then how do you explain the broken restraints?" Dale asked, "and how did that happen those are designed to hold any Zombie?"
"I guess they weren't designed for Zed when we're together. But seriously, I'm perfectly fine."
"Just get his band back on." Dale said to the technician.
He tried to walk slowly up to Zed, holding the Z-Band out, but before he got too close, Zed reached out and tried to slash him with his fingernails, letting out another roar, "Zo! Proteg my Addiska!"
Dale frowned. "OK I didn't want to do this, but Gus go get your Z-Pad."
"No," Addison interrupted him, "give it to me, you will not hurt Zed."
Dale had a silent staring contest with his daughter, neither backing down, while Zed was still glaring and snarling at everyone.
"Fine." Dale said, he took the Z-band and slowly held it out to Addison's outstretched hand. Zed's eyes were locked on Dale's every movement, tensing to defend Addison from any danger if needed.
Addison took the Z-Band and turned to Zed. "Can you give me your other hand Zed?"
Zed lifted his left hand up to her and she smoothly latched his Z-Band around his wrist and turned it back on. After a few moments, Addison could feel the initial pulses through Zed's other hand that she was still holding onto. She could also feel the slight shudder, as Zed's eyes cleared, and the black veins gradually disappeared back into his pale skin. She looked up and met his beautiful brown eyes.
"Hey there Addie, is it over?"
"Yeah, it's over." Addison said, gently caressing his cheek.
"OK Zed, you should be good but you still need to wait an hour under observation to make sure everything's working properly. Got it?"
"Yes Sir." Zed said, sounding exhausted.
Dale moved them to a different room, where they could both sit down in some more comfortable armchairs. They were of course sitting side by side, holding hands comfortably, and Zed was so exhausted and felt such safety with Addison he almost immediately drifted off to sleep, his head resting on Addison's shoulder. Addison didn't mind and was content just looking over every inch of Zed, making sure he was alright, and relieved that this whole ordeal was now over. She frowned though at seeing the marks on Zed's arms where he had fought against the restraints, but they were already quickly fading into his pale skin. After a long while of napping, Zed blinked open his eyes and looked down at Addison with a smile on his face.
"Hey handsome, how was your nap?"
"Good, I would never think I could actually sleep in containment again, but you always make everything better."
"Zed…" Addison started slowly, "do you by chance remember everything that happens when you had your Z-band off?"
"Why? I didn't hurt you did I?" Zed asked, immediately sounding panicked.
"No, you didn't do anything bad I'm just curious, but I understand if you don't want to think about it."
"When my zombie takes over, it's almost like I'm in a movie theater or a dream, watching everything play out, I can still see everything and react to it in my thoughts but I can't control anything. The zombie takes over, and his emotions are always cranked up to eleven, and I can sort of hear his thoughts, kind of like a second conscience. Whenever I'm here he's usually terrified and angry at being locked down in that stupid chair."
"So do you remember anything from today?"
"Yes, I do think I remember most of it. It started out with the normal rage and fear at being locked down and all alone. But then I was even more scared of being alone from you, I couldn't find you anywhere, and I thought you left me, it was my worst nightmare come true. There was a part of me that still knew you were right outside, but my zombie wasn't listening and pretty soon I was panicking too"
"But you know I would never leave you."
"Yeah, and when you showed up, and you were literally the only thing I could think about. I knew if you were there, I would be safe. And then you kissed me, and…I…" Zed trailed off before getting a panicked look on his face. "Are you sure I didn't do anything bad to you?"
"No Zed, you broke the restraints and pulled me on top of you, and I will admit it was intense, but still you were just as caring to me as always, and I will admit I enjoyed it."
"So, I didn't cross any lines? Because once I grabbed you, then my zombie wanted to… to… keep… uh… going, and that scared me enough that I fought back against him to try to make sure nothing happened. And I didn't, right?"
"No, your hands stayed wrapped around my waist the entire time, you didn't do anything I was uncomfortable with. In fact, I had to convince you to let go of me before anyone came back in, but that was it." Addison gave a small laugh, "Could you imagine what my dad would have done if he found us like that? Me making out with my zombie boyfriend without a Z-band?"
Zed gave a slight chuckle, "Yeah he would make me dead-dead instead of undead. But seriously nothing bad happened?"
"Nothing at all, you are not a monster Zed, and I will tell you a million times until you get it through your thick skull. I know you will never hurt me. Today proved it to me even more."
"I know, me too, this proved to me that my zombie loves you just as much as I do. He never for one second thought about eating your brains or anything. I think this was the first time I ever felt safe and happy as a full Zombie. Right from the start you caught my eye, and something inside me came to life."
Ooh I've got a feeling if you get to know me.
Someday this could be this could be ordinary
Someday, could we be something extraordinary
You and me side by side under the broad daylight
If they laugh we'll say we're gonna be someday
"You and me side by side Zed, I'm not going anywhere."
"I know." Zed told her.
Dale knocked lightly on the door before entering, "Time's up, are you ready to head back home Zed?"
"More than anything Mr. Wells."
They got back in the car and drove back to Zombietown, Zed and Addison discretely cuddling into each other in the backseat. Much more at ease than the morning before. Dale pulled up to Zed's house and Addison stepped out with Zed. Giving him one last hug.
"Are you feeling better now?"
"Yeah, but I am still starving and ready to fall asleep any minute."
"Make sure to eat all your brains, and get a good night's sleep, but call me before you go to bed so I can tell you goodnight."
"I'm not so tired I would miss that for anything. Goodbye Addison."
"Goodbye Zed."
Addison hopped back in the car and they drove away as Zed entered his home.
"By the way what does gar gar gaza mean?" Dale asked.
"It means I love you in zombie tongue." Addison said with a faint blush.
"Oh…uh," Dale didn't really know what to say to that for a moment. "Are you sure honey?"
"Yes, I'm sure, I knew he was special from the moment we met in the saferoom. Right from the start he caught my eye, and something inside me came to life. Today just proved it even more Dad. Zed will never hurt me, and even when he didn't have his Z-band at all, he was only thinking about me. I know he acted aggressive whenever you saw him today, but that was only because of his instinct to protect me. And when we were alone, I wasn't scared for a single moment. He was different than normal Zed, but he was still my Zed the entire time."
"I have to agree, I have never seen a full zombie act the way Zed did today when you were with him. I don't think I've ever even heard a zombie use sentences beyond growling when their bands are off. I know I need to accept there is something special between you two. But next year there is no way you are coming to his check-up."
"We'll see." Addison said, already knowing nothing would stop her next year either. Or any of the many, many years to come.