(A Good Night's Sleep?)
(Los Angeles)
"Go to bed early," muttered K-Mart as she first pounded her pillow and then attempted to wrap it around her head. "We'll get an early start." The teen pulled the covers over her. Anything to muffle the sounds coming from the other bedroom.
Okay, she loved her parents and she knew that they loved each other. But for goodness sake couldn't they keep their passion a little more, well, under control or at least less vocal? She might be scarred for life by all this!
The teen finally surrendered. Grabbing her pillow and blanket she rolled out of bed and stumbled out of her bedroom. Passing through the living room she headed for the kitchen where she rummaged through the cabinets until she found a can of fruit. Just as she was finishing it a soft sound brought her attention back to the living room. She padded to the apartment door. There it was again, a soft tapping.
K-Mart had survived in this crazed world by being careful but she opened the door without hesitation. The building was sealed and the floor they lived on was securely barred to intruders. And her first thought was right. Standing there with a woe-be-gone sleepy expression on her face and a blanket wrapped around her shoulders was her new best friend in the world.
"Yours too?"
Angie nodded. Then they both sighed in near unison before the giggles broke out. K-Mart gently closed the apartment door and the two teens made their way to the common room the entire group had gathered during the day.
Dim moonlight threw shadows across the room. The two girls paused for a moment to look over the city and then tossed their covers onto a pair of couches. Pillows were plucked from chairs and the couches were pushed close to each other. The twosome snuggled down, both of them yawning deeply.
K-mart giggled again and once again Angie matched it. Both teens were old enough to know exactly what was going on in the other bedrooms although neither had gone any farther themselves other than theoretical musings. Of course there hadn't been time in either teen's life although up in Alaska K-Mart had once had an actual date with a boy down the street. Of course the two of them had been chaperoned by all four parents involved so anything beyond a handshake was completely impossible. Not that K-Mart was in any rush. It was so nice having parents and a home and a dog after all the years of starving and hiding that she was in no hurry to leave that.
Angie agreed. Realizing that they weren't going to get to sleep anytime soon the pair propped themselves up on pillows and started to talk.
"When," inquired Angie, "did you know that your parents were in love with each other?"
K-Mart smiled in the dark room. "Wondering about your mom and Chris?" she teased. Then she grew serious.
"We were headed toward Las Vegas to resupply. Alice had just joined the convoy, drawn she later told us be a vision of some sorts that Carlos was in trouble. Which he was." The blonde teen went on to describe the attack of the infected crows, the out of control flame thrower and how Carlos had tried to shield one of the other girls with his body.
"I knew it wasn't going to work. And I was already feeling something for Carlos. He seemed like a wonderful big brother. Maybe more. I just KNEW I was going to lose him when suddenly the flames stopped as though a shield had been put in place."
"Alice," said Angie. "I've seen her powers in action."
"Uh-huh," agreed K-Mart. "That was how I met her. And I felt a connection to her immediately, even before she woke from the exhaustion using her mind powers causes." She smiled. "But I was talking about our Las Vegas trip. We were going down the road. It was just the three of us in one truck. I had been taking a nap with my head on Carlos' shoulder when I woke up. I felt so comfortable I didn't even want to open my eyes. So I kind of just peeked a little."
"Alice and Carlos were looking at each other and smiling. And they were looking at me and smiling too. That's when I knew everything. I knew they loved each other and I knew they loved me too. I was sure we were destined to become a family. And we did."
"That's wonderful," Angie sighed. "I hope we; my mom and I and Chris end up together just like you did with your parents."
"I bet you will."
"I know Chris cares for my mom and for me too. A lot." Angie went on to describe the firefight on top of the Umbrella facility when she had been rescued and how Chris had covered both her mom and herself with his own body to protect them.
"He also went in to the Umbrella base with you mom to rescue you," K-mart pointed out. "And since then I've seen him always by your mom's side and also always making sure he knows where you are and that you're safe. I bet you when we get home to Alaska it will be just like when we got there. My mom and dad got married and formally and legally adopted me. Even if I had to tell everyone my original first name."
"Which is?" asked Angie with a hint of mischief in her eyes."
"Something that I was promised I'd never have to reveal again," replied K-Mart. "But... if you PROMISE not to tell anyone..."
"Cross my heart."
K-Mart leaned over the Angie and whispered. Her friend clasped her hands over her mouth in a vain attempt to smother a giggle.
"I know. It's awful!"
"It's not that bad. Well, maybe it is." Angie paused. "When I first met my mom I was hiding in my school from my classmates, teachers and police dogs that had all been infected with the T-virus. She teased me about my full name, saying it was a big name for a little girl. I told her my friends all called me Angie and she said she liked that. She took my hand and K-Mart I just felt so good. Even with all the death and danger around us I felt protected."
"I understand. My mom has made me feel the same way since I first met her."
The teens hugged. "Now then," said Angie thoughtfully, "all we have to do is make sure that Claire and Sam end up together."
"I don't think there's any chance of that NOT happening," said K-Mart with an impish grin. "When we were all living in Alaska and your mom was recovering from what had happened to her before she was rescued she shared a house with Claire. I heard her telling my parents that Claire was often slipping out at night to go over to Sam's." She shrugged. "I don't know why sneaking was involved. Dad said something about Claire having been in charge of the survivors' convoy for so long made it hard for her to shed the 'mantle of leadership' as he put it."
"She couldn't show herself as human."
"Right. Or at least that way. But that's past now. So I think eventually they'll admit what's going on. After all, they're in that third apartment and I bet they aren't in separate bedrooms. Or beds," K-Mart added with the self-satisfied smile of a teenager who thinks she has everything and everyone figured out.
"Well not that we've disposed of THAT, did I tell you that Chris and my mom found me a pistol? Chris has been teaching me how to load and aim it. I haven't had the chance to practice shooting it yet though."
"What did they get you?' asked K-Mart with interest.
"It's a Smith and Wesson semi-automatic. It's called a Lady Smith. Mom says it's caliber three-eighty which..."
"Which is the same as my Walther!" finished K-Mart excitedly.
"Uh-huh."
"That's awesome! When we get out of the city and away from prying eyes and ears we can practice together."
"You can count on it! Mom says Chris overstocked on ammunition for it and is itching to teach me how to use it."
"You SO have a new dad in your future."
There was quiet for a moment. "K-Mart?"
"Yes Angie?"
"You don't think, I mean, do you believe that it's disloyal or something like that to think of and maybe hope that Chris will marry my mom and then be my dad? Would it be turning my back on my Father?"
"Of course not!"
"I really loved my father. He was a good man. maybe Umbrella corrupted his research but it kept me out of a wheelchair." Angie paused for a moment. "But I'd like to think he would be happy to know that I found a new mother and now maybe a new dad."
"I'm sure he would be," her best friend assured him. "Would be? Will be. Just because he's... well..."
"Dead," finished Angie.
"Yes dead. But that doesn't mean he's gone. Or not looking down at you. Just like I believe..." K-Mart's voice trailed off.
"That your parents, your first parents, are watching you?"
K-Mart nodded jerkily. "I don't remember much about them. I think I've blocked a lot of things out about my early life. I think I looked more like my dad than my mom and I can remember that they loved me. I had an older brother too. I think he was the one that got me away from our house the night that... that... I'm sorry I've buried that night somewhere I never go. But I KNOW that they loved me. I can close my eyes and hold the bad things at bay and feel their arms around me. I still can. I'm sure that they are happy for me; that I've found new parents who love me and will protect me."
"I don't remember my mother's face at all," said Angie softly. "But I can still hear her voice. It was so warm. It made ME feel warm, just like my new mom does now."
The two girls' reached out at the same time to take each other's hand. They continue to hold hands as they let silence and memories and hopes for the future carry them off to a safe place; a place that lulled them to sleep soundly until the first rays of dawn peeked through the windows.
(To be continued)
(This probably isn t what anyone was expecting (including me) but I felt like I wanted to spend some time with K-Mart and Angie before the trip got going. Next chapter the adventure will start.)