Chapter 3: The Beginning

"It'll be all right Shane," Vanessa said through her phone. "I've been chosen out of all the doctors at the hospital to go. I wanna help, that's why I became a doctor."

"But couldn't it be dangerous?" Shane asked.

"No, it's the CDC they'll keep me safe. Don't worry. If things get real bad. I'll let you know and I'll get out of here."

"Promise?"

"Yes babe."

Shane kissed her lips, he didn't want to be away from her. There was strange disease spreading, and the CDC was short handed, Vanessa got asked to go and help.

"I got you something that I want you to wear when you get back," he said pulling out a black box with a red bow.

"Oo. Can I open it now?" she asked walking over to Shane seductively.

"Nope. But you can take it with you. No opening it until you come back."

"But Shane..." she came over to him and ran her hand down the front of his chest, but he stopped her before she could get to the rim of his pants. "Fine. You don't get your present 'til I get back."

They'd been dating for two weeks now, so they decided to celebrate. With Shane it was rare that he made it past the two day mark and Vanessa hadn't dated anyone in a while. She was focusing on med school.

She drove herself to the CDC in Atlanta. And, she worked there for a few days, with the head of the CDC, Dr. Vivian Jenner. What Vanessa discovered was this wasn't going to end well. She had been calling Shane every evening from the room she had been staying in. Tonight's was very important.

"Shane..." she said. Tears welling up in here eyes.

"What is it, babe?" he asks, concerned for his girlfriend.

"You need to get Lori, Carl, and Rick and leave King County. Come to the city. They're gonna begin evacuating, bringing people to the cities. This disease is out of control. We haven't found a cure yet...be careful please."

"I will, you keep yourself safe too."

"All right."

"Something may happen to the phone lines so just try to get her quickly. Get your stuff packed tonight-tell Carl and Lori to do the same. Then go get Rick from the hospital. We'll be able to treat him here."

"Okay babe. I'll see you soon. Bye."

"Okay, bye."

They hung up. There was knocking coming from Vanessa's door. It was Dr. Edwin Jenner-Vivian's husband.

"What do you need?"

"Viv...she was bit by on of those things...help me. Please."

"Where is she?"

Dr. Jenner led Vanessa to the main room. Vivian was laying on a metal table. Half the staff had decided to leave wanted to be with their families.

"Edwin...I want you to film all of this. Use it for your research," she begged her husband.

"No...you're going to be okay," he said to her.

Vanessa and Dr. Jenner did everything they could, but it ended nineteen hours later, with Vanessa shooting her in the head, otherwise she coulda killed them both. The next day, they had to give the rest of the CDC the news, that things had turned for the worst. People couldn't accept it. They headed for the door. Some of them shooting themselves in the head before they made it to the door.

Soon, only Dr. Jenner and Vanessa were left. They spent their days trying to find a cure, but it was useless. They only time they got close, the lab deemed it contaminated and set fire to the problem. 'Nessa had given up on the fact that Shane would show up at the CDC. It'd be 63 days since the disease went world-wide. Her phone was useless now, there was no way to call him, no way to know if he was okay-or even alive.

She went to her room while Jenner stayed up to drink away his problems. She decided a shower might be nice so she dug in her bag to find clothes, then she saw the gift from Shane. She lost it. Tears fell down her cheeks, her throat tight, she couldn't breath. It's like the world had ended all over again. Maybe the clock counting down to death wouldn't be so bad. She thought to herself.

'Nessa wanted so bad to open the beautifully wrapped gift, but she didn't. Somewhere deep inside, she thought by not opening she'd see Shane again, and everything would be okay. Once 'Nessa had pulled herself together, she got up and took her shower, letting the hot water burn away all of her sadness. When she got out, she combed her hair and put it in a messy bun, and dressed in a simple black T-shirt with yoga pants.

To her surprise when she walked into the dining area, there were people. Ones she hadn't seen before, then there were four familar faces among these strangers. She had to be dreaming. There was no way the four people she cared about most were here, alive. From the looks of it, they were stunned too. Nobody made a single move. Vanessa was the first to speak of the five.

"How'd y'all get here?" her voice sounded unfamiliar to even herself. She wanted to cry again. But this time out of joy.

"Vanessa, is that really you?"

"As long as it's you..." Shane rose from his chair and ran to her crashing his lips to her's. Next Carl got up, then Rick, and finally Lori. They had a big group hug. All of them so happy to be together again. But, something was itching at Shane and Lori. They gave each other a look, even though they weren't on speaking terms. Shane's look said he was going to tell 'Nessa everything. Lori's told him if he did she'd kill him. "Can I talk to y'all a minute?" 'Nessa asked the three other adults. They nodded.

"Dale, can you watch Carl for a sec?" Lori asked. The white haired guy nodded, and Carl went to his side. The four walked down a hallway, the same one that contained 'Nessa's room.

"I'm so happy y'all are here and okay."

"Vanessa, I have something I gotta tell you," Shane said.

"Shoot," 'Nessa said, having no idea what he needed to say.

"Well, Rick you ought to listen to this too. Lori and I, well, we thought you two were dead. They bombed the city, where you were Ness, and Rick you already know your story. But Lori and I were both grievin' we couldn't stand bein' without you two and went to each other for comfort..." Neither Rick nor 'Nessa got what he was trying to say. neither of them understood subtleties usually.

"WE HAD SEX!" Lori exclaimed. Tears fell down her cheek. Vanessa and Rick shared a look. They didn't breathe a word, not of anger or sadness for a moment. They'd always been logical and calm where as Lori and Shane were impulsive and hot-headed.

"Okay," Vanessa breathed calmly. "I'll accept that and pretend it never happened," Shane and Lori relaxed. "If you can accept that a few years ago-"

Rick stopped her mid sentance. "You sure this is the right time for this?" he asked her with a pointed look.

"Yes. I am. Rick and I well y'know."

Lori wanted to be mad, but that would make her a hypocrite. Instead they all just stared at each other.

"Here's an idea, let's all go back to gettin' shit faced drunk?" Shane suggested.

"Sounds like a plan," Rick agreed.

"Not me," 'Nessa said with her hands up in surrender. "I don't feel like passing out."

"What do you mean passing out?" Shane asked.

"New Years. I fell asleep before we saw the ball drop..."

"Darlin' I'm afraid not. You tried to go streaking down the street."

"Bull," Vanessa said. She and Shane stayed in the hallway, after Rick and Lori rejoined the others. "I'd never do that."

"Ask Rick or Lori."

"Okay, I will."

"I've missed you," Shane said as he kissed Vanessa.

"I missed you too," he kissed her again, and used the wall for support. A familiar barking made them stop. "KING!" Vanessa exclaimed as she hugged the beast.

Rick and Lori took their seats at the table.

"Who was the hot girl?" Glenn asked. Rick laughed.

"My sister-in-law. She and Shane seemed to have got pretty close, so I'd watch it," Rick replied.

"Not a bad eye Chinaman," Daryl commented as he drank more whiskey.

"I'm Korean," Glenn mumbled.

"Hey Lori," Shane said, as he walked back into the room-alone. "'Nessa wants to talk to you."

"Where?"

"Y'know the hallway we were in? The first door on the right."

Lori nodded and left once again. She was mad at Rick and her sister. Back then, they both knew she was alive and there was Carl to worry about. How dare they? When she got to the door she didn't bother knocking she walked in. Vanessa smiled at her.

"Lor, I know you might hate me right now. I'm sorry. Rick and I both felt awful. That was when he was ready to divoce you. Y'all were fightin' all the time. I had just broke up with John..."

"Is that why you called me here?" Lori asked bitterly.

"No. A peace offering. Remember when we were younger and we'd do each other's makeup? And have tea parties?"

Lori tried her best not to smile, but she couldn't help it. One time, when Lori was six and Vanessa was four they were having a tea party, there was just water in their cups. When their mom came in to check on her, she asked, "Where on earth did you get that water when to can't get to the sink?" Vanessa grinned. "Potty!" Lori spit her water out the moment she heard that, Vanessa just kept smiling.

"All right."

Vanessa got out her makeup bag from her suit case, and they began making themselves look pretty.

With the rest of the group

"I don't think we properly thanked our host," Rick said. Everyone raised their glasses to Dr. Jenner. About that time, Lori and Vanessa came walking back to the rest of the group. Everyone stared-except Andrea who scoffed, annoyed that they thought doing their makeup was important rather than surviving.