Spruce Pines, North Carolina
The Humvee meanders up the long dirt driveway; pulling left, it comes to a stop at a brick walkway. Opening the door, Annie climbs out and stretches. Rick follows her out and whistles softly. She smiles as she leans back inside to grab her bag.
"0600 please," she asks the driver.
"I'll be here," the driver responds as she closes the door.
The Humvee pulls out as she reaches down and takes hold of his hand. He looks at their joined hands and smiles thinly. "Feels nice."
"Come on in, I'll get us some dinner started."
"I know for a fact I have died and went to heaven."
They walk up to the front door as she pulls a set of keys out. As she reaches for the lock, the door opens with an older black woman staring at her. "Where da hell have you been!"
"Working Mamie," she smiles and kisses the woman's cheek as she enters. "This is Rick."
"Nice to meet you," Mamie replies. "You didn't answer my question, where da hell have you been? They said you hopped a chopper this morning."
"I had to go some place," Annie replies as she pulls her bag off and pulls her jacket off. She hangs the jacket up as she takes the bag and tosses it on the couch.
"And where da hell did you go?" Mamie asks, watching Rick look around.
"She came to get me," Rick says, "down in Georgia."
"You went back to Georgia!" Mamie shrieks.
"And we're going back tomorrow … we left some people behind," Annie yawns and stretches.
"Who did you leave behind? Georgia is nothing but chaos," Mamie replies, crossing her arms.
"My son and infant daughter are still down there, along with some very close friends," Rick tells her, turning to face her. "Is this your house?"
"Heavens no child, I work for her," Mamie laughs.
"And she does such a wonderful job too," Morgan smiles as he walks in. "Good evening darling, and yes I wiped my feet."
"Glad you remembered," Mamie hisses. "So what is everyone's pleasure this evening?"
"I would say Chinese take-out," Morgan laughs, "but we know that won't happen."
"Anything is fine with me," Rick muses as he feels the cool air. "Do you have air conditioning?"
"Yep," Annie smiles.
"He didn't come here in scrubs so where's his clothes?" Mamie asks, noticing how Rick is dressed.
"He's wearing scrubs till we leave," Annie replies.
"Explain to me why you drag all these people up in here," Mamie snarls as she heads to the kitchen. "We have either ground beef or chicken … or leftovers."
"Leftovers will be fine," Annie grins.
"Is there enough for all of us?" Rick asks, looking from Annie to Morgan and back.
"Child, I am used to feeding about 30 people. What do you mean are there leftovers?" Mamie chuckles. "Park your butts at the table and let me warm it up."
Mamie walks into the kitchen and opens the refrigerator and starts pulling food out. She starts humming an old hymn as she busies herself. Rick pulls a chair out and sits down, closing his eyes as he feels the softness and sturdiness. "Beats those benches we used in the prison."
"What prison?" Mamie asks.
"The one we lived in before it was destroyed by the tank," Rick chuckles.
"What tank?" Mamie asks.
"The one parked on the lawn," Annie chuckles. "Just know Brian was involved and leave it at that."
"Where is the asshole?" Mamie asks.
"Dead," Annie replies.
"Hon, I am so sorry," Mamie says as she turns to face them. "I know he was a sonofabitch, but he was still your brother."
"He's the one who beat me up too and decapitated a friend," Rick groans. "I have never felt this worn out in my life."
"You are used to being go, go, go and now you're not," Morgan replies as he walks back in. "Facilities are at the end of the hall."
"Thanks," Rick smiles. "Do you have hot water?"
"Lots and lots," Annie smiles. "I usually soak every night when I get back."
The scent of warming food floods Rick's senses as he turns to look around. "It smells delicious."
"Thank you," Mamie smiles. "Another five minutes and we can eat. Would you like some sweet tea or something else to drink?"
"Whatever you have is fine," Rick replies.
"So, does that mean water, beer, soda or tea," Annie chuckles.
"Beer and tea then," Rick smiles and leans back in the chair. "I have never felt so normal since that night I spent with you and Duane."
"We didn't have power though," Morgan comments.
"But it felt normal," Rick replies. "This feels like paradise. We're in North Carolina you said, why here?"
"Charlotte is a wasteland full of walkers, cannibals and other unsavory characters. We found out that the virus was not as populace up here in the cold, so we fortified the area from Asheville and surrounding smaller cities and suburbs. Our headquarters is Asheville, but we operate out of Montreat College … that's where we were earlier." Annie cracks her beer open and takes a long drink. "By the way, you are welcome."
"Huh?" Rick questions.
"The bullet in your leg … took it out, fixed the wound. You got lucky, it wasn't lodged in the bone."
Running his hand down his leg, he feels the patch under the fabric. "Thanks."
"No biggie, just doing my job."
"She's good at her job too," Mamie confides.
"I can imagine so," Rick smiles. "Strange question, but what time is it?"
"545p," Mamie chimes in.
"I've lost all track of time and days," Rick confides.
"545p on Wednesday, October 19th," Annie comments.
"Wow," Rick breathes.
"Here we go," Mamie smiles and walks to the table. She lays out leftover fried chicken, mashed potatoes, gravy and green beans. "Rolls will be done in a few minutes." She brings a stack of plates over and sets them down along with silverware. "Too civilized for you?"
"No ma'am," Rick grins as he takes a plate.
"Grace first," Mamie replies as she pulls the rolls out. She walks over and sits, taking hold of Rick and Morgan's hands. "Annie please."
"Lord, we thank you for the day, we thank you for Rick's safety and we ask you to bless the bounty set before us on this table. Amen."
"Amen."
"Let's eat," Morgan chuckles and starts dishing out green beans. "Pass the potatoes please."
Rick and Annie both reach for the chicken legs first; staring at one another, they both break into smiles as she pulls her hand back. He takes one and hands her the other as they sit and eat.
The dinner finished, Mamie gets up and starts clearing the table. Rick rises to help her but Annie wags her finger at him. "Come to the deck with me."
"Okay."
They rise and head to a door, which she opens to a hallway. Morgan excuses himself and vanishes up the staircase as they walk down the hall. Opening a second door, they exit out onto a covered porch area. Walking over, Annie picks up a pack of cigarettes and lights one.
"Nasty habit I know, but it calms my nerves."
"Thought that was what beer and valium were for."
"No, that is to take the edge off so I can sleep. I work 31 hours a day and sleep for five, then get up and do it again."
"Something that is definitely not healthy for you."
"What, the working or smoking?"
"Both," he laughs and grabs the cigarette. He takes a long drag and hands it back to her. "Menthols?"
"Only thing I like. Want one?"
"Nah, not a menthol person."
"I'll get you some next trip to the commissary."
He walks over and drops onto a chair close by. He watches her walk over and light the fireplace on the deck. "Have to light it or it will freeze out here. Only run it at night."
"Nice thing to have."
She walks over and sits beside him. "I will get you some clothes before we head out. By the way, I have your gun in my office at Montreat. Remind me to grab it, along with mine, before we head out in the morning."
"All right." He places his arm over the back of the couch, and to his surprise she leans her head onto his shoulder. "How long?"
"Since it started, you?"
"Almost a year."
Putting the cigarette out, she runs her hand over his face. "I'm here, you're here … I have a bed."
He grins and leans over, placing a lingering kiss on her lips. He pulls back and smiles at her. "I've never been one to be out there like that, but I definitely don't mind the offer."
"I think Beth would have taken you up if you had offered."
"Beth is 18, and Hershel's daughter. There are some lines you don't cross."
"She probably needs you since her father was murdered."
"If she's alive."
"We'll find out tomorrow. How does a hot shower sound to you?"
"Wonderful, although I like the idea of soaking too."
"Yea well, you have a wounded leg too. Soaking and those strips don't mix, believe me."
He smiles at her as she rise then grabs her hand. He pulls her back down and impulsively kisses her hard on the mouth. He lets go of her hand and grins as he opens his eyes. "Shower will do then."
Noise in the hallway causes them to look over at Morgan. "Don't mind me, just coming out for a smoke. By the way, your ThinkPad is going off like a crazy fool."
"Which sound?" She heads to the door slowly, waiting on Rick to join her.
"I think you call it the "oh shit" sound," Morgan laughs. She cuts her eyes to him as she darts in the house hurriedly. "Crazy fool."
"I'm glad you made it," Rick smiles as Morgan sits beside him.
"Me too," Morgan smiles and pulls out a pack of Doral's. "Lights, but not menthol."
"Please my friend." He laughs as he takes the cigarette and lights it. "Much better. How can people smoke damn menthol cigarettes?"
"I do not know, and I forgot you were a smoker. I didn't until I moved in here and started keeping time with her." They look over as she comes walking back out. "Anything interesting or is Lloyd cutting a fool again?" He watches her face. "What's wrong?"
"Annie," Rick asks, watching her face. She drops onto the chair across from them as she keeps her eyes on the screen. "Annie, is it about Carl and the others?"
"No, it's the computational data I was running earlier when you woke up," she breathes as she keeps running her fingers over the screen. "Have I … no … did I … no, it can't be that simple can it?" She reaches into her pocket and pulls a stick out and inserts it into the ThinkPad. She runs her fingers over the screen and leans back, chewing on her fingers. "It can't be that damn simple, can it?"
"What can't be that simple?" Morgan asks.
"The computational data finally broke down the pure virus that was in Rick's system and is coming back with something that looks like weaponized Ebola and Anthrax combined with something else added in to the matrix of the disease. The computations are still working on breaking down the unknown at the moment." She leans back. "Do you know what this means … I am this close to finding out who dropped this damn zombie virus in our laps and eradicating it."
"You mean you're close to killing the walkers," Morgan says.
"I am close to eradicating ALL walkers," she giggles.
"Unbelievable," Morgan breathes as he looks at Rick. "You okay?"
"I never thought there would come a day there wouldn't be anymore walkers," Rick says, stunned by her comment.
"Well girlfriend, you are da shit as they used to say," Morgan laughs and puts his cigarette out. "I am going to go prop my feet up and finish reading that book you gave me till I fall asleep. We're leaving at 0600, right?"
"Yep, see you in the morning."
He grins and pats Rick on the shoulder before heading inside. She gets up and walks over, dropping onto the seat beside him. "Alone again." She slides closer. "Where were we?"
"Something about a hot shower," he grins and leans over to kiss her. The irritating sound of the ThinkPad returns as she glares at it. "Leave it."
"That's a sound you want to here," she smiles and retrieves it. She pulls it up as he slides his arm around her; she leans her head against him as her fingers fly across the keys. Her eyes grow wide as Rick tries to under-stand what he's looking at.
"Does that mean what I think it does?"
"I found it," she whispers. "I found it!"
He leans closer and reads the display. "Virus creation found in CDC database … virus creation location determined to be Iranian Bio-Weapons Terrorists in control of bomb-grade materials. So, Iran bombed us with this?"
"No, it's still populating." He looks at where she is pointing. "This points to a master chemist who worked for Iranian terrorists but lives, or lived, in Mumbai."
"So does that mean you know who made it?"
"And if he's still alive, we know where to bomb the assholes. Do you mind going to Asheville with me tonight to show them this?"
"Do you have some clothes I can borrow?"
"Come with me."
Morgan opens the door as headlights appear. "Car's here."
Annie grabs her bag and turns to see Rick walking up dressed in boots, jeans, a black t-shirt and leather jacket. She smiles and wipes her eyes as Mamie walks in with her hair in curlers.
"My Lord have mercy, I almost thought you were David there for a minute."
"David?"
"My husband," Annie smiles and wipes her eyes. "He would approve."
"I wish he was here to thank him," Rick smiles as he takes hold of her outstretched hand.
"Me too, car's here."
"Let's get this show on the road."
They head out the door with Morgan behind them.