Authors note: just so y'all know this is set three weeks later. This is the second last chapter


"Fabray! To your right!" Maritza shouts at me, I follow her directions and shoot a dart at the zombie's neck.

"Come on troops,I told you this is the day," she encourages the soldiers scattered around the area. "I can feel it! There can't be many more left!"

To date we've cured over one hundred people, but that's not including all those that the helicopter troop have been curing. We've been lucky enough to be assigned to stay here to cure any curable zombies within a five mile radius of the compound, other troops have had to go out right across Michigan, but Maritza was kind enough to let me stay here with her and Rachel.

Life in the compound has become so much better these past three weeks, we've really gotten to know our bearings, and people around the compound ,although with more people coming in everyday and the huge population already present, it's impossible to get to meet everyone. The others who work inside the compound have become experts in trading grain for clothes and other items such as furniture that we don't necessarily need. I have been able to spend all my free time with Rachel, the cure hasn't just changed her from being a zombie, it's done something to her emotions. She's optimistic and positive all the time, the sadness that was always present in the back of her eyes before she was bitten has disappeared. She makes my life so worthwhile and I couldn't be happier.

All the zombies at the gates and in the town outside the compound, that were curable, were cured within a week of Smith's improved cure being developed but many of them had passed the stage of saving, they had organs and limbs missing and they would end up bleeding to their death once injected with the cure. It's horrible knowing you can only save some, although most of the zombies in the town outside the compound were cured, it's probably because they stay safe inside abandoned buildings. Out of all the zombies we saw from the town to reaching the compound, we've probably only saved one tenth of them all together, the cure is amazing but it's just too late for so many people and that really gets to me, I thought we'd save everyone but it's proven impossible.

"Hey soldier watch your back!" The voice beside me shouts in panic.

I quickly spin around, firing another dart. I flash a smile at her and her soft brown eyes light up with relief. "Jeez Quinn you really need to watch where you're going."

"You're way too protective Rachel," I laugh as she comes closer to me. "That's supposed to be my job."
"You should concentrate on this job, I've only been here a week and I'm already better at it than you," she teases.
"hey that's totally not true, "I argue, "And it's not a fair match seeing you have super speed and strength because you happened to be injected before you were cured!"

"Fabray! Berry!" Maritza shouts fro my left, "Concentrate!" We bow our heads and try to look like we're patrolling even though there's no zombies left in sight.
"We're terrible soldiers," Rachel giggles.
"I was better before you came along," I reply with a smirk.

The vehicles which we use as improvised ambulances come along to carry away those zombies that have been shot in the neck with darts and take them to the huge white tented hospital that has recently been set up in the compound. That means that the day has come to an end. That would mean we have a five mile radius to expand the compound, but it also means that we can shipped out to help troops in eithe rCanada or the rest of Michigan and bordering states. Rachel looks at me with questioning eyes , I shrug in response.

"Okay listen up," Maritza shouts, we look behind to see all the troops gathering around us, "As you can see, all my infantry troops have reassembled and the ambulances have already began to pick up the infected. This is it people, we've cured this area, it is a great asset to us all and we are one step closer to getting rid of this virus for good. We still have far to go and now many of you will have to be assigned to new troops as we prepare to send you out further and join the hundred soldiers already curing people across Michigan and beginning to make there way into surrounding states. Some of you will go further into the USA and others of you will journey into Canada. Remember we will stop at nothing until this disease is no longer."

I feel Rachel's hand clasp around mine, this small victory has a lot of mental value to both of us. We both know that we have only saved a small fraction of people but we may just have saved those who mean as much to other people as Rachel means to me.

"Quinn, Rachel!" Maritza snaps suddenly, catching our attention, "I need the two of you after dinner. Meet me at HQ. This is important."

I bite my lip and look to Rachel, Maritza has been a bit frustrated with me since Rachel joined, which is kind of understandable because I haven't been working as efficiently. But what does this mean? Is she transferring us or worse, seperating us?

Maritza walks away, talking into her walkie talkie. Her face is filled with shock. "Well are you sure it's her Hayley? How long has she been there?" I can tell instantly that she's talking to Evans, the second in command, she's distracted for now but I'm still afraid of what she wants to tell us later on.

"Don't worry Q," Rachel whispers, "It will be fine."

"Let's go home," I squeeze out a smile, wrapping my arm around her shoulder. We begin to follow the rest of the crowd, all eager to get back to their families just like us.


"Auntie Quinn and Rachel!" Beth squeals as she runs over to us, trying to squeeze us both into a hug.
"We were beginning to wonder when you'd get home," Shelby smiles. "Come on it's dinner time, you guys must be starving."

"So is it true?" Blaine asks as our group, minus Carol and Maribel, makes our way to the kitchens like we do everyday. "That the area is fully safe?"
"It is," Rachel beams, reaching up to kiss me on the cheek, "Isn't it great?"
"We're starting construction tomorrow," Puck informs us. Everything just seems to be going good for us right now, it has to be a good sign for what is to come for Rachel and I. Our sanctuary is expanding and I'm lucky enough to be surrounded by people care about and the love of my life, our group has become so tight in the past three weeks that we're just like a family. I want to protect every single one of them, our bonds are unbreakable. Even Puck has begun to change back to the cocky, friendly guy he used to be in high school. I haven't found my real family yet but maybe I'll be sent to Canada tomorrow so I can find them, but either way things couldn't be going much better considering the world we're living in, or the world we were living in because all of that is changing now.

"So does that mean you girls could be leaving?" Shelby asks worriedly. I look towards Rachel, I don't care if we have to leave as long as I get to stay beside her.

"Maybe," Rachel replies, trying to reassure me with a smile. "But if our journey so far has proved anything, it's that everything works out in the end."

"Come on! Hurry up!" Beth shouts from ten metres ahead of us. "I'm hungry!" We all laugh in unison as our self formed family follows the innocent and enlightening treasure to the kitchen.


Nervously, we make our way to the large military headquarters, Rachel's hand clenching my own. We see Maritza outside, she's standing straight and confidently with her hair tied up in a neat bun , wearing her cleanest and most important uniform, beside her Sergeant Evans is brushed up the same. I'm guessing they're awaiting somebody but who?

Maritza's eyes meet mine and she drops back to a comfortable posture. "There you two are!" She beams, she looks so much happier than earlier on, it almost makes her look different, younger.
"Maritza, what's this about? Are you transferring us? Please Maritza I'll go anywhere as long as Rachel's going there too!"
"No that's not what this is about, I'll talk to you about that later!"
"That what is this about?"
"Well you know how I said we have a president of sort?"
"The one nobody ever sees?"

"Exactly," Maritza replies in an excited whisper. "Well she wants to see you."
"Me?" I widen my eyes. If this ghost figure is actually real, she must be pretty important and busy, why would she want to see me? "Why?"
"You'll see in a minute, "She smiles, she knows something that I don't, but she won't let me ask any questions. "Now get into line!"
I look to my girlfriend who shrugs. We hear a series of footsteps coming from inside the building so instead of questioning further, we hurry into line beside Evans who's shoulders block my view of the people making their way, by running it sounds like, out of the building.

"Quinn!" A voice exclaims. I cock my head to the side, I'm sure I recognise it.
"Quinnie!" Another voice shouts as two sets of hurried footsteps come towards me.

"No, "I whisper to myself, thinking I've gone crazy until a pair of arms wraps themselves tightly around my shoulder.
"Francis?" I whisper, looking up to see my older sister, looking tired and stressed and her once-perfect strawberry blond hair tied back in a messy, unkept pony tail and my mother standing behind her. I haven't seen my sister in almost two years, she had a career with some architectural and planning company in Canada and she rarely came home, although that's pretty understandable.

"I can't believe you're alive," She whispers, stroking my face.
"You're the president?" I am in complete shock, I can't tell if this is a dream or not.
She smiles, "Please don't call me that,I'm sorry I've been so busy but Maritza mentioned you to me earlier on and I couldn't believe it!"
"Quinnie?" My mom calls.
"Mom," I breathe, she slowly walks towards me, taking every part of me in with her eyes. I run into her arms and squeeze her with all my might. I have my family again! I feel hot tears prick up in my eyes. "I missed you so much Mom!"
"We thought you were dead Q," She whispers, kissing my forehead. "We heard that Ohio was completely torn apart. How did you even get here? Did you travel by yourself? Are you okay?"
"No Mom,"I whisper, taking Rachel's hand, "We travelled in a group, from Lima. I'm more than okay Mom, this is Rachel, my girlfriend." I take a deep breath and wait for their reactions, Frannie always tried to be a good Christian as a kid, but I always wondered if that was just to impress Dad or the pastor's son. Rachel's hand squeezes on my own.
"Rachel Berry?" Frannie asks with widened eyes and a broad smile. "You're the girl who found the cure right?"
"Well sort of," Rachel replies, taken back.
"Dr Smith told me about you, that's why I called you here too, I just wanted to say thank you, but now I find out you've helped my sister come this far."

Rachel flashes me one of her warm smiles. "No, it was her that brought me this far. She's really incredible." This is all s overwhelming, how have I gon form having nothing to having everything in the space of three weeks?
"Quinn what did you do to your hair?" Mom points at the choppy locks.
"I was locked in McKinley High for a month with a group, including Russell," I sigh as I explain, "he kept getting on my nerves so one day when a knife found its way into my hand, I took my anger out on my hair before I could take it out on him."

"Where is your father? Is he here? " Mom whispers anxiously.

I shake my head. "He , umm, didn't make it this far."

They nod understandingly, but none of us want to ruin this moment by grieving for the bastard who betrayed us all in someway or another.

"You're living in section 8 right? Why don't you two come live with us in section One?" Frannie offers.
Rachel looks at me anxiously awaiting an answer. I can't believe I'm saying this but if I move in with them, I'll never be able to get away with Rachel. As much as I love my family, I can't leave Rachel's side again, she is everything I'll ever need and the keeper of my heart. "I'm sorry Fran but we can't," I reply. "We have our own people and we need to look out for them but we can still see each other everyday right?"

"Of course we can honey," She whispers, hugging me tighter. "I'm just so glad you're alive!"
"Come visit our group they're all from Lima," I invite.
"Well that would be lovely, " Mom smiles.

"Wait Quinn!" Maritza calls, "Can I talk to youfor just a minute before you go?"
"Sure," I swallow nervously, joining her in a dark space away from the others.
I'm nervous about what she's going to say but her face lights up with content, "Quinn, they found my girl, Danielle, and she actually wants to see me. I have handed in my notice so I can spend time to look after her, even just as a friend, I know you understand that more than some of the others."

I nod, "Wow Maritza, I'm so happy for you."
"But now that I'm gone, Hayley is taking my place as commander, I want to appoint you second in command."
"Me? But I've only been here three weeks."
"I know Quinn but you have a natural ability to be a leader, you don't know it yourself but it's true, you;re more compassionate than any of the others, you'd do a great job. You'll have access to all the vehicles you wish under Evans' consent and you'll get your own house in section one."

I feel's Rachel's eyes on me. "I'm really honored Maritza," I reply. "And as exciting as it sounds, I'm afraid I'll have to decline, I have one main priority and I know you understand that. I hope you'll be just as happy with her as we are."

She smiles and nods, "I do, and thank you for everything. I'm not transferring you or Rachel anywhere, you can both stay here and help patrol the newer areas of the compound. Before we know it, it won't be a compound anymore, we'll have a country again!"

"Thank you," I whisper as she walks away.

"Quinn," Rachel whispers in my ear. "You turned the job down, for me?"
"Of course, I'd give up anything for you," I smile, placing a kiss on her forehead, "I'm done being a leader, I don't mind taking other people's orders, the only person I need to take care of is you. I have more than I need, I don't need a big house or more security, I have you, our group and now my family. That's enough for me. I still can't believe they're actually here."

"Wow," Rachel breathes. "Quinn I'm so happy for you, they found you!"
"They were here the whole time and I didn't even know it, I can't believe that this happening," I mumble, looking across at my two family members.
"Come on let's get you home," Mom says, linking my free arm.