Looks like there may only be about 2 chapters left to this fic. So...enjoy!
"Are you sure you don't want to stay with me," Pierce asked as Abed got dropped off at his apartment complex.
Abed nodded.
"Be safe," Shirley said to him.
"You too," Abed said before he turned and went inside.
When he stepped into the apartment, he suddenly wished he accepted Pierce's offer. It felt cold and empty without Troy and Annie. Maybe he should have stayed back at the hotel with Jeff. All of his doubts and thoughts ceased however when he noticed the apartment window was open. He remembered that Annie opened it earlier that morning when Troy was complaining about feeling too hot, but they had neglected to shut it before they left for school. His eyes darted to the blanket fort when he heard a low growl coming from within the linen walls. Abed dove into the kitchen, rummaging through the drawers until he found a steak knife. It wasn't his initial weapon of choice, but it would have to do.
He slowly crept over to the blanket fort, the growls still continuing with every step he took. His fingers gently pushed back the curtain of blankets, peeking inside to see a Grimalkin curled up on his pillow asleep. This was his chance to get the first strike. In one swift motion, he jumped into the blanket fort and plunged the tiny steak knife into the Grimalkin's side. It woke with a scream as Abed stabbed it a second time. Abed managed to slash the Grimalkin's throat, which finally killed it. As it bled out onto Abed's bed, it shifted back into a normal tabby cat. Abed dropped the knife and ran to the window slamming it shut. He took several breaths as he leaned against the window, hearing sirens in the distance.
"The police will be here any moment," Abed said aloud, "I need to come up with a story."
"There you are Rufus," Britta said, picking up cat as she and Rex entered her apartment.
"Careful, that might not be your cat," Rex said, shutting the door behind him.
Britta turned, showing him Rufus, "He's normal. Look at him."
"What about your other cat," Rex asked with a raised brow, "the one that's been hiding under your bed?"
Britta set Rufus down on her couch, "If he's been hiding under my bed, then he probably hasn't been infected."
"Or maybe he has and he's waiting for the right moment to strike," Rex said, going toward her bedroom.
"Don't you dare," Britta said, taking off after him.
Rex sighed, "Fine, you call out your cat. If he's not a Grimalkin, then I won't shoot him."
Britta sent him a glare before getting on the floor and looking underneath her bed.
"Ronald," Britta called, "here kitty kitty."
She received a low moan back. Rex took out his gun, cocking it and pointing at the bed.
"Ronald, come on out," Britta nervously called again.
Britta watched as the cat growled and turned toward her, showing his one green-eye. She gasped, screaming when Ronald charged toward her. Ronald the Grimalkin crashed into her, about to bite into her stomach when Rex finally took a shot at it. The bullet went cleanly through Ronald's head, making him dead before he hit the floor.
"Now that's how you shoot," Rex said to her, pulling Britta to her feet, "are you okay?"
"Yeah," Britta answered, "thanks."
"Anytime," Rex replied.
They stood together for a few more moments before breaking apart.
"What should we do with Ronald," Britta asked.
Rex glanced out her apartment window, "I would say toss it, but the neighbors might suspect something."
"I'm sure they already called the cops after all the noise we just made," Britta replied.
"Why don't you get cleaned up and I'll take care of this," Rex said.
Britta nodded, waiting until Rex left her room with Ronald before heading into the bathroom.
Jack was surprised when he found Jeff in the kitchenette around midnight, cup of water in hand.
"She's awake," Jack asked.
"And asking for water," Jeff held up the cup.
"She's blind too, isn't she?"
Jeff nodded.
"How's Troy?"
"He's not getting any better. He's becoming cold."
"He's feeling cold or he's literally becoming cold?"
"Both. He started shaking and that's what woke Annie up. I got him underneath the covers and threw a couple blankets on him, it helped a bit."
Jack shook his head sadly, "This is exactly why I didn't want any of you involved."
"The way I see it, we were eventually going to cross paths anyway and become involved."
Jack frowned before stepping forward and embracing Jeff. Caught off guard, Jeff wasn't sure how to react.
"You know, this only works if you reciprocate the hug."
Jeff carefully set down the cup and hesitantly returned Jack's hug.
"I think this was a long time coming for you," Jack remarked.
"You have no idea," Jeff replied, resting his chin on Jack's shoulder.
"I'm sorry."
"Don't apologize. I get it."
After a few more moments, both men pulled away.
"If Troy or Annie get worse, let me know."
Jeff gave him another nod.
"Goodnight, Jeff."
"Goodnight, Captain."
Rex and Britta were the first to arrive at the hotel that morning, a hour earlier than when Jack said to meet.
"Where is everyone," Rex asked aloud, noticing how quiet it was.
"In here," Gwen called to them from her room.
Britta walked briskly to the room, fearing the worst for Annie and Troy.
"They're not getting better," Gwen said when Britta entered, "I'm sorry."
Britta looked at her two sickly friends, noticing how much they were shivering underneath the blankets and covers of the bed.
"Where's Jeff," Britta asked, glancing down at the empty sleeping bag on the floor.
"You don't see him?"
Gwen pointed at the bed and Britta wondered how she did miss him. Jeff slept soundly between Troy and Annie, gripping the blankets on top of them tightly.
"I have a feeling in the middle of the night he decided to crawl in bed with them, maybe even try to keep them warm with his own body warmth," Gwen said.
Britta felt Rex put an arm around her, trying to comfort her as best he could. That was when Jack walked in, seeing the three of them curled up in bed. He bent down and unzipped the sleeping bag completely, sliding it over the trio on top of the other blankets.
"Jeff has an hour before he has to wake up," Jack said, "let him sleep."
An hour and a half later, Shirley was behind the wheel of her van with Gwen as shotgun and the others wedged in the back of the van. Gwen would occasionally tell her directions, using the tracker as a guide.
"I think you should stop here," Gwen said, putting the tracker in her coat pocket.
Britta peeked outside, "It's out here."
"No. It's in there," Gwen pointed.
The group peered out their windows to find a towering chemical plant in the distance, grey smoke spiraling up to the sky.
"According to the tracker, there's four entrances," Gwen said, "the source could be anywhere inside."
"Then we better get a move on," Jack said from the backseat, "we have lives on the line here."
Everyone nodded solemnly and climbed out of the van.
They walked the remaining seven blocks, guns at the ready when they finally reached the outer fence of the plant. Through the two chain-link fences, the Grimalkin's carnage was visible to everyone, making a few cringe.
"Looks like we don't have to worry about security," Pierce commented.
Abed had found an opening an opening in the outer fence, one used by the Grimalkin he theorized, which he and Rex pried open for a larger entrance. With a little help from the others to get Pierce and Shirley over the inner fence, they were finally in.
"We're going to split into pairs of two," Jack said, taking the tracker from Gwen, "Pierce and Gwen, west entrance. Abed and Shirley, south entrance. Jeff and Britta, east entrance. Rex and I will take the North entrance and head inside. All of you are to remain outside, I have a feeling once we get near the source, the Grimalkins will start to get defensive and attack. Are we clear?"
The group silently nodded.
"Let's move," Jack commanded.
Abed, Pierce, Gwen, and Shirley took off in one direction while Jeff, Britta, Rex, and Jack took off in the opposite direction. Jack and Rex paused momentarily when they reached the east entrance of the plant.
"Good luck," Jeff said to both of them.
"You too," Jack replied.
He gave Jeff a one armed hug before he turned and set off toward the north entrance. Rex gave a nod to Britta before he turned to follow Jack.
"Rex!"
He stopped and looked back at Britta.
"I know you can't die...but be safe!"
Rex gazed at her for a moment before giving her a smile and turning around to catch up to Jack.
Jeff looked at her with a raised brow, "So...you and Rex?"
"You and Annie," Britta fired back.
Jeff grumbled for a moment and closed his mouth, Britta smirking.
Rex turned away from the smell of the bodies that were inside the plant as he and Jack walked in, treading carefully.
"You and Britta," Jack began, trying to distract Rex away from what lie on the ground, "what did you two do last night?"
Rex welcomed the distraction, "I shot her cat-turned-Grimalkin. Then the cops came by because the neighbors heard the shots I fired. Talked to them for an hour and then I fell asleep on the couch."
"That was not the answer I was expecting," Jack said, kicking one of the bodies away to open a door.
"Sorry it didn't live up to your expectations," Rex said, stepping inside.
Jack pulled out the tracker, "Go left, then the third door on the right."
Rex nodded, veering to the left and taking off down a long hallway. He skid to a halt when he reached a green door, putting his hand on the knob. Jack nodded to him to push the door open.
Rex took a deep breath, gripped the knob and threw it open.