Warren, Vasquez and the leader of the menomite people Jacob along with Addy who needed some space were gathered in the field, trying to figure out where to get more pills.
"Most towns are on Route 22" He explained to them
"Which means most have been picked over by now" Vasquez said
"Mr Epp, at the next farm, he found supplies in Edgewood. Not so many English know this town, and there is a small pharmacy there"
"Why haven't you gone?" Warren asked
"Too far. Too dangerous without a buggy. We lost our horses to the schvot doot." He explained
"Well, Vasquez and I can take the truck." Addy suggested
"Good. And I'll be here for the Second Coming." Warren said and then turned to walk towards the barn.
"I can go with you?" Jacob said to Addy when Vasquez walked towards the truck. "This town is not easy to find, and maybe there are also things useful for my community." He said when Addy hesitated
"OK. Yeah. Sure. Um... You navigate. I got shotgun." She said agreeing after a few moments
"Ja, ja, good. Shotgun is good for schvot doot"
"Schvot doot?" Addy questioned
"Uh..." Jacob said as he tried to find the right way to explain, he then did an impersonation of a zombie growling and Addy understood.
"Oh, zombies"
"Zombies?"
"Yeah."
"That is also good for zombies." Jacob said poiting to her whacker
"Oh, yes- very good. Wanna try?" She said holding the bat out to him
"Oh..." He said hesitent to take it, but with encouragement from Addy he took it.
"Knock yourself out" Addy said as he swung it around while they headed to the truck.
Ellie was still sitting next to Serena holding her hand as she tried to help her through her contractions. Doc had now placed himself infront of Serena as he tried to take her through some breathing excercises. Key word tried
"OK. Now, here's what you do. It's just like blowing up a balloon, right?
Just take quick, short breaths."
Taking short quick breathes, Serena followed for a few seconds before she pushed him away knocking him to the floor and she let out another scream
"Doc!" Murphy shouted "What are you doing? "You gotta help her!"
"That's all I got, man!" Doc shouted back throwing his rag on the floor and walked over to Warren.
Serena continued to scream, grabbing onto Ellies hand she squeezed so hand she swear she could hear her bones crack. Turning her head to look at Murphy she used her other hand to point a finger at him.
"You get over here" She said gritting her teeth and Murphy immediately darted foward, kneeling on his knees infront of Serena
"OK. That's it. That's it." He said trying to reassure her and she nodded "You gotta let it out, baby. Just let it out" Holding his hands out Serena let go of Ellie's (much to her relief) and grabbed hold of Murphys.
As another contraction came along, Serena let out a loud scream and so did Murphy and Ellie stood walking towards Doc and Warren leaving them to it.
"Hey, Doc. Come on. Don't worry. It's a natural process" Warren said to Doc who was wiping his forhead in stress Come on. It'll all take care of itself. OK?"
Going to repsond they were all interupted by Murphy and Serena who were now making weird animal noises and they all turned to look at them in shock. Before quickly turning away again deeply disturbed. The sooner this baby came the better.
Hearing a slap Ellie turned to see Serena slap Murphy across the face several times while they were still doing the weird noices but her slaps were getting harder each time, deciding it was time to intervene she walked back over
"Hey" Ellie said calmly, smiling to Serena as she kneeled on her knees next to Murphy who looked releaved to have Serena focusing on someone else. "Hi, I know it hurts, I do and I wish I could take away your pain. But it wont be long, soon you'll have a beautiful baby in your arms. So how about we try something to help ease the pain. Yeah?"
Grabbing her hands when Serena nodded, she started taking a breath in through her nose,and exhaling in two short pants and then one long breath.
"Copy me" She said to Serena and repeated the breathing exercises. "Murphy you too" Soon all three of them were doing the breathing exercises and as of right now everything was calm.
Well untill Murphy got dizzy doing the breathing excersises and fell sideways as he tried to catch his breath.
Serena looked around in panic as she tried to focus on her breahting and Ellie smiled trying to reassure her.
"Don't worry about him. You keep breathing, sweetheart" Doc said to Serena leaning against a pillar.
"Do you really think that this is helping?" Serena said breathlessly
"Well, I feel good about it. It's way more peaceful. Less violent." Doc said
"Ooh, I'm sorry, booboo. I got carried away"
"Don't you worry your pretty little head" Murphy said reassuring her as he stood up and walked over to Doc.
"Doc. I don't feel so got anything?"
"You're just nervous, Papa. Don't worry. You're gonna love that baby
no matter what. Even if it looks like you."
"Really? You haven't got anything for me?How about a cigar? Cigar? You got a cigar? A cigarette? Z-Weed?"
Checking his pockets Doc pulled out a small white piece of gum and Murphy did not look impressed.
"Gum?"
"lt's nicotine gum" Murphy debated for a few seconds.
"I'll take it" Opening his mouth Doc placed it in his mouth then rubbed his finger on his shirt when he got saliva on his finger.
Murphy then turned to Serena giving her a thumbs up and she gave one back while still doing the breathing exercises.
"Take it easy, now." Ellie heard Vasquez say and she saw Doc move to the back of the barn into a little room and she followed leaving Serena with Murphy.
"Addy" Ellie said when they led her down on the hay.
"She's got it too?... How about you guys?" Doc asked Warren and Vasquez
"Standard military vaccine" Warren replied "You inhaled that powder. And you Ellie, How are you both feeling?
"Im fine" Ellie said
"100%" Yeah, I'm totally fine" Doc said "Well, 85%. I'm old"
"You in the military, Doc?" Vasquez said
"US Navy, Subic Bay. Why?"
"You'd have been vaccinated"
"Not for anthrax, not back then" Warren said
"No, but for a whole boatload of other weird-ass crap" Vasquez pointed out
"I don't even wanna know the weird-ass crap I got running through my veins, amigo." Doc said
"Well, it seems to be working."
"What about Ellie, she wasnt in no military" Warren said
"No but my dad was, and I remember having loads of shots growing up till my late teens"
"One of them was probably against Anthrax" Vasquez said
"It won't help Addy or 10K." Warren said hoplessly, she was glad Ellie wouldnt get sick but she was scared for the others
"This is bad. This is really bad. Hey, maybe we should...you know..." Doc said
"What?" Warren said not understanding what he meant
"Dose 10K and Addy with some Murphy juice." Doc clarified
"No! No way." Warren said
"No, man."
"Absoulely not. That should be there desision not ours and I know they wouldn't want that" Ellie said
"Well, we gotta do something." Doc said at his wits end.
"The only thing that's gonna help them is more Cipro." Warren said
"Should we try another run?" Vasquez said as Serena moaned in the background
"They have Cipro here" Warren said
"Not enough."
"No. Not enough for everybody." Warren said hesitating, hating what she was about to say "But enough for Addy and 10K to live."
"So we take from all of them for two of ours?"
"But we don't do that kind of thing, do we?" Doc said "Warren, they'll all die."
"They'll all die anyway." Ellie said "Its horrible and I hate that we're even considering it, but they are rationing their medication. None of them is getting enough to get better, its just prolonging their suffering. Wouldnt it be better to let them go peacfully and save two people who can help save the whole world from this zombie apocalypse."
"It's your call, Chief." Doc said but he wasnt happy about it.
"It's about the mission." Warren said with a sigh
"You're doing the right thing" Vasquez said and Warren scoffed
"I hope God agrees."
"Warren you're doing the right thing" Ellie said firmly "We all known that they are not going to survive and they're not going to pick certain people to live, so what they are doing is cruel they are prolonging their suffering. So what we are doing is being cruel to be kind. We save Addy and 10k, we put those poor people out of their suffering and we save the human race"
Warren nodded grateful for Ellie's words and she turned to face Vasquez
"So how do we do it?" Vasquez asked her "I counted seven healthy people, but mostly women... Mennonite women." Vasquez tried to justify himslef when he saw the look on Ellie and Warren's face "You know, meek, mild...Not like...you both"
"Not helping yourself bud" Ellie said smirking
"Hm. And their weapons?" Warren said also smirking
"Farm tools. I didn't see any guns."
"Right, no guns. So we go in quietly. Nobody has to get hurt." Warren said
"Doc, Ellie you stay here. We're going to go rob some very nice and friendly people...for the sake of..." She paused turning to look at Murphy, then turned to look at them again. "You just make sure nothing happens to them"
"Yes, ma'am" Doc said
"You got it" Ellie said and they both turned leaving behind Vasqez and Warren and made their way over to Murphy and Serena.
Doc kneeled in front of Serena taking her through the breathing exercises giving Murphy a break who was sat behind her on some hay, Ellie sat next to him.
"Addy's sick too" She whispered to Murphy not wanting to alarm Serena and Murphy whipped his head around to look at her, panic on his face.
"What!?" He exclaimed a little loud making Serena look at him and he sent her a reassuring smile and she looked away focussing back on Doc. Turning back to Ellie he placed his hands on both sides of her face so he could look her in the eyes "How are you feeling? You got hit with the powder too"
"I'm fine" Ellie said trying to pull Murphys hands away from her face but he didnt budge "Murphy seriously I feel fine, I think I might have been given a vaccination when I was little"
"You sure" Murphy asked her looking into her eyes like he was searching for something, and when she nodded and he seemed to find what he was looking for he let her go. "Ok but if you start to feel ill, you tell me ok?"
"Ok" Ellie said nodding when Serena suddenly screamed when another contraction hit taking Murphys attention of her, which she as grateful for.
Doc tried to keep her calm by doing the breathing exercises but she was struggling.
"Come on, sweetheart. Breathe. You gotta keep breathing."
"No, no. Him. I need him!" Serena said shaking her head and Murphy lifted his head up from where it was resting in his hands to make eye contact with Serena "Come here. Come to me. She needs you." Pulling her top up to reveal her pregnant belly, Murphy stood up follwed by Ellie. "She's searching for you"
Looking down at her belly they saw tiny hands appear behind her belly followed by a face and Murphy stepped forward placing his hand on her belly and Serenas breathing calmed and they both smiled at each other.
Doc quickly got up and moved away and Ellie watched from a few feet away until Murphy turned to look at her.
"Hey come here" Murphy said to her holding his other hand out to her.
"No...no I dont want to intrude" Ellie said shaking her head but Murphy wasnt backing down.
"Ellie you're family, come on" Wiggling his fingers at her, Ellie still hesitated.
"Ellie" Serena panted smiling at her "This is your sister, she wants you here too"
"Come see" Murphy said and Ellie took his hand and he pulled her gently forward and placed her hand on Serenas belly. Ellie flinched slightly in suprice when she felt the baby move under her hand and she couldnt help the smile that broke out on her face.
"This has got to be the weirdest but one of the happiest things thats happened in this apocalypse" Ellie said smiling and both Murphy and Serena smiled
It was a bit calmer for a little while then minus Serena harsh breathing but it started getting worse, Serenas breathings started becoming pants and the contractions started coming quicker and they knew it was time.
Murphy had backed away next to Doc and was staring at Serena with a panicked look on his face while Ellie was sat next to Serena holding her hand trying to keep her breathing. Screaming when another contraction came Serena started pushing just as Vasquez and Warren came back.
"I see something!" Murphy said pointing and Vasquez walked away with a disgusted look on his face
"That is not a head" Doc said
"Yeah, but sometimes that happens, right, they get turned around and come out feet-first?"
"I don't know!" Doc said panicking
"Yeah, but that's not a foot."
"No. Whoa!" Doc said when Serena screamed out again "That baby's not waiting to get pushed out. It's pulling itself out!"
"Here she comes!" Serena said screaming squeezing Ellies hand tightly until she suddenly released her grip and out popped a baby's head.
Ellie grabbed a blanket and gently wrapped it around the crying baby and held her close to her chest, she then handed her over into Serenas arms who smiled tiredly as she used the blanket to clean the baby up.
Ellie backed away and stood next to Warren who was staring down at the baby with a smile on her face as were Doc and Murphy while Vasquez still looked disturbed
"Congratulations, Daddy." Serena said
"You did good, Mommy." Murphy said and they both laughed with beaming smiles on their faces
"Well, what is it?" Doc asked and both Warren and Ellie turned to look at him
"It's a girl" Murphy said
"Oh. Yeah, of course."
"Uh, Doc, what is the cleaver for?" Warren asked him
"Umbilical cord." Doc said but then the baby made a noise grabbed the Umbilical cord and bit it in half "I guess she's got that covered"
"That's my girl." Murphy said when she released a loud burp before looking at Serena and held his arms out "Can I?"
Nodding Serena leaned forward placing the baby in Murphys arms. Who backed up slighlty so the rest of them could see her.
Looking down at her, Murphy tickled her gently under the chin then started swaying gently.
"Look. 10 fingers, 10 toes." Murphy said in awe and they all smiled before Warren saw something behind her and she looked concerned and Ellie turned to see what she saw.
Standing behind them was a row of lot of zombies, but they currently weren't attcking they were just watching.
"Uh, Murphy?" Warren said but he wasnt listening he was to fasinated by the baby who then started crying, and that seemed to knock the zombies out of their form of trance.
The zombies charged forward snarling as they tried to get the baby. Ellie pulled out a knife and threw it at one of the z's hitting it in the head. Doc did the same with the cleaver.
"Cover Addy and 10K." Warren said to Vasquez who nodded and shot one of the z's closest to him and then ran in the direction of them.
Warren climbed up on some hay to get a better advantage point and Murphy had also climbed up on they same hay to try and get away. But the zombies were coming in fast and soon they were backed up in a corner as they tried to stop the z's getting close
"Murphy, do your zombie voodoo thing!" Doc shouted and Murphy held the baby with one hand and held out the other hand infront of him and concentrated on the zombies but nothing happened
"lt's not working!" Murphy said climbing up higher "They're drawn to the baby!"
When one zombie got too close warren swung from one of the pillars and knocked it back with her feet and Doc grabbed one in the head and swung his knee up knocking it down to the ground.
Ellie stabbed one in the head with her knife and he fell to the floor but was soon replaced by another zombie but he bypassed her, clearly what ever Murphy did to her was still working the z's weren'tintereted in her. Using that to her avantage Ellie pushed her way into the horde towards her cross bow, ignoring the cries of Doc and Warren
Reaching it she loaded it and started firing at the zombies, but there were still too many, she saw Warren punch one in the face and Doc kicked another and before she could reload her cross bow she was distracted by Serena who let out a scream standing behind the zombies who were now all looking at her.
"Get away from my baby, you damn dirty zombies!" Serena shouted chraging at the zombies and she started throwing them around "Go! Go!" She shouted at them while she was distracting the z's and Ellie shot down some of the zombies creating a path.
"Come on. Let's go! Come on!" Warren shouted making sure Doc and Murphy was infront of them "Everybody to the truck!"
Running towards the entrance they saw Serean ripping one of the z's intestines out and anothers face off but soon she was surounded.
Ellie stopped and so did the other, she turned dropping her cross bow down to ber hip and pulled out her gun and started shooting at some of them but there were still too many
"No!" Murphy shouted when the zombies pulled her down and soon she got back up again. She had turned, blood was pouring out her mouth as she slowly approached them "Help her. Please."
Pulling out her gun Warren aimed it at Serena and Murphy quickly turned his body away so the baby couldnt see.
"I give you mercy." Warren said firing at Serena and she dropped to the floor.
But now the zombies attention was now back on them and Waren quickly ushered them all out leaving Serena behind.
Getting back to the truck Vasquez placed 10k in the bed of the truck his back resting against the side with Doc and Addy gathered around him and Warren and Vasquez standing next to the truck. While Murphy immediately made his way to a platfrom a little further away from the truck, cassandra followed stopping a litle way from him while Ellie followed all the way.
Murphy sat down looking down at the baby while Ellie stopped infront of him, she didnt want to inturde but she wanted to make sure he was ok.
"Im sorry about Serena" she said quietly and Murphy looked up at her and smiled sadly before tapping the spot next to him giving her permission to sit down.
"Me to" He said sadly turning his body so Ellie could see her and Ellie smiled at the baby.
"She looks like you" Ellie commented, "got your colour too"
"Yeah" Murphy chuckled at the blue comment. " but I think she looks a lot like you, minus the blue obviously. She got your cute button nose"
"Thanks" Ellie smiled and the baby cooed "Do you know what you're going to call her?"
"Maybe"
"She's pretty" Warren said coming towards them and she sat on Murphys other side "Ive got something for you" she held out a piece of paper
"What's that?" He said taking it from her
"Serena's list of babies names."
Looking down at the piece of paper Murphy pulled a face
"What? Are they terrible?" Warren asked and took the paper back of Murphy
"Sarah. Ellen. Carolyn." Come on. These are nice names."
"Yeah, if she wanted to join the PTA. But that's not you. ls it,sweetheart.
My mother's name was... your grandmother's name was Lucinda." He said turning to look at Ellie with tears in his eyes and Ellie could feel herself beginning to become tearful.
"I think I'll call her Lucy." He said sniffling and he chuckled gently "Lucy, the first of your kind"
Lucy cooed and they all smiled down at her but Warrens looked a bit forced, she looked conflicted
"Isn't she perfect?" Murphy said again tears running down his face
"Ohh... Here." Warren said handing him a rag and Murphy took it wiping his face.
"Lucy, you got some 'splainin' to do." Murphy said and they all laughed.
Ellie stood up then turning towards Murphy "I'LL give you a minute" she said walking away and soon she heard footsteps following and she knew it was Warren.
"How did you know thoses zombies wouldnt hurt you?" Warren asked falling in step with her. And Ellie knew this was coming
"When Muprhy ran to the lab with me and Cassandra he used z weed to get in my head, thats how he got me there in the first place. He knocked me out"
"He got in your head? Did he bite you?"
"No!. I mean i asked him the same thing which he was appalled by but no, he thinks when we shared a drink back with zimmerman it forged some kind of connection between us, its like it recognised that we shared the same DNA. But my immunity is blocking Murphy. So by exposoing me to z weed it lowered by defences and let Murhpy in, where he said he was a able to flick a swith so to say. He thinks he gives of a scent or a beacon something that makes normal zombies not interested in him and when he was in my head, he sort of gave me that temporarily so as of right now zombies are not interested in me. But i dont know how long for"
"How do you know he didnt do anything else?"
"Honestly I dont. I mean I dont feel any different and I dont feel loyal or obligated to do what he says. But I know Idont trust him enough to believe he is telling me the whole truth..."
"I dont like that hes been in your head" Warren said
"You and me both"
"But I also know if he has done something or will try something, Iknow you'll fight tooth and nail and I wont let anyone take you away from me" Warren promised her grabbing her arm to pull her to a stop "you understand?"
"Thank you Warren" Ellie said nodding "and if you want to tell the others. I dont mind, it would probably be better to have more people in on this just in case... Maybe not all of it to Vasquez though"
"What did you see?"
"He was listening in on a zeros radio, he didnt talk to them but I think he might be using us to get the bounty on Murphy... but maybe just keep an eye for now till we have more info"
"Sounds good. Now go see 10k I know thats where you were going before I bombarded you" Warren said winking at Ellie like she knew a big secret
"Hes a good friend, I was worried about him" Ellie said
"Course he is" Warren said smirking
"Stop looking at me like that, Im serious"
"Course you are baby girl" Warren said still teasing her "go get your man"
"I hate you" Ellie said but there was no heat behind it as she tried to hide her blush. Turning away from Warren she made her way to 10k
"Love you!" She head Warren shout from behind her and Ellie stuck her middle finger up at her as she walk and she heard Warren laugh.
She didnt know how Warren noticed when Ellie wasnt sure what she was feeling herself. She always told herself that she saw 10k as a brother but maybe she only said that because of the way he looked at Cassandra, she knew he had feeling for her and she didnt know whether he still did.
Reaching the bed of the truck she saw that 10k was awake and talking to the others, but when he saw her he smiled brightly and she swore he could see a tint of pink on his cheeks. While the others tried to look busy.
"What did I miss?" She asked them, she felt like she just walked in on half a conversation.
"Nothing!" They all said and they walked away leaving Ellie and 10k alone.
"Okaay" Ellie said suspiciously climbing into the truck and sitting down next to 10k. "How you feeling?"
"A bit better, did you get sick you inhaled the powder too"
"No Im good, I think I was vaccinated"
"Thats good, hows Murphy?"
" Hes ok, sad Serena's gone. Happy the baby is here, he called her Lucy. My grandmothers, his mother's name"
"Thats nice, what does she look like?"
"Shes blue but she is cute"
"Cool" 10k said amd Ellie could tell he was getting tired.
"Get some rest 10k you're still healing" Grabbing a blanket from next to her she folded it up an placed it on her lap encouraging 10k to lie down which he did.
Lying down so he was on his back he placed his head on her lap and his hands on his stomach, Ellie placed her hand on his head running her fingers through his hair.
"Im glad you're ok 10k, I dont know what I'd do if I lost you" Ellie said and she could feel herslef getting tearful again. They had just lost Serena, she couldn't cope with loosing someone else.
"Hey" 10k said holing one of his hands up and Ellie held onto it tightly "Im not going anywhere, I wont leave you without a fight ok"
Nodding Ellie saw 10k eyes slip shut and with everything that happened today Ellie couldn't keep herself awake and she felt herself drift of to sleep. She woke up slighlty when she heard the others getting in the truck and then she felt the gentle rumble of the truck as they drove off, and she fell back into a peacful slumber.
None of this belongs to me except Ellie and any original story lines the rights go to the wonderful creators and publishers of z nation