AN: So the dates in the story are not moving quickly, but they will in the future. There's still a lot going on in these first few days and I wanted to make sure it's very well detailed. These chapters are also getting lengthy, sorry if that's a problem for you or it's too much. I'll work at it. Again, thanks for reading. Review so I know what you think. :)

Chapter 6

Something was outside one of the cars taping on the window. I sat up quickly and grabbed the gun from under my coat.

The sun was still rising so there wasn't much light, but I could see a figure tapping on the windshield.

"Jackson…Jo…" I shook Avery who was up front and Jo who was behind me. "Guys…" The figure began tapping again before Jackson sat up, gripping his bat.

"What's going on?" he whispered.

"There's someone in front of the car."

"Is it one of the guys?"

"I don't know." I lowered my voice. We sat back as we watched the figure walk towards the other car. "I'm sure as hell not letting it get near Callie though."

I flew out of the car and rushed over, aiming the gun towards the object.

"Please! Please, don't shoot!" It was a woman's voice, shaky and full of fear. She dropped to the ground with her hands up over her head. I put the gun back into my pants as Carlos, Callie, Derrick, and Jo all came up behind me with their weapons aimed. All of them dropped their weapons once they learned it was a healthy and harmless woman.

"Please. I just need a ride." She cried out as our group walked in closer. "My name is Miranda Bailey. I'm a surgeon at Grey Sloan and those things…they…" She began to cry even more. I squatted down beside her and rubbed her back. "They got ahold of my husband and son! Those monsters!" I had no clue what to do.

I backed away and shrugged my shoulders to Derrick and the group. "What are we going to do? She's clearly an innocent woman who's lost her family."

Derrick gave me a stern face. "Arizona, we let her in, it opens the door for others. We don't know if she's got a group waiting to attack us or what! Plus, there's no room."

"Derrick, we could make room." I looked at the others, Carlos being the next one to speak.

"She does seem okay and I would hate leaving a grieving woman alone out here." Callie wrapped an arm around her father's.

"Yeah, I'm with dad. Derrick's right though, we've ran out of room."

"We could put enough stuff in my trunk from your car to make room for one." Jackson and Derrick shook their heads and walked off. I caught Callie's gaze and walked with her to Miranda. "Miranda, I'm Arizona and this is my girlfriend, Callie. We're running low on space, but I think we can squeeze you in. We have to stop for supplies before going to San Diego. There, we'll be transported to Texas where they have shelter."

She nodded her head really fast and hugged me and Callie. "Thank you, thank you. You don't know how much this means."

We loaded my car with some of the bags Callie brought along and started the cars to warm them up. We all gathered around for a moment. "The mall would be too difficult and full of the infected. Let's try getting gas and food at a station, then head south toward Olympia and Portland. We'll stop somewhere on the way to get clothes and other supplies."

Derrick patted me on the shoulder. "That sounds like a plan to me."

Carlos spoke up. "I think we should stop and get clothes first. It's cold in the mornings. What if we get stuck on the side of the road?"

I reply, "Which is why we're getting gas."

"The car could break down."

I sighed. "Mr. Torres, with all due respect, we're not children. Well maybe April is…"

"Hey!" She squeaked from behind my trunk.

"We can make decisions sir." I finished.

"I'm the adult here and I should be the one making decisions! I won't allow you teenagers to take some sort of leadership. I'm the wisest of this group."

Callie stepped up beside her father. "Daddy…We know you're wise and you have experience, but we want a plan that's quick and efficient."

"You saying I can't be efficient?"

"Dad no…what?"

" Fine! You teens want to lead this group, go ahead!" Carlos stormed off and got into Callie's car, slamming the door beside him.

"Callie, what the hell?"

"I don't know." She sighed and hung her head. Aria started to laugh but Callie gave her a glare, a glare I hope is never given to me; it's intense. Aria turned around and got into the car.

"Alright, everybody load up." I announced to the group who was now staring at Callie and I. They split up and got in the cars.

"Drive 'til you see a station that looks abandoned. Okay?" She nodded. I cupped my hands on both sides of her face and brought her lips to mine. We stood there for a moment, letting our kiss continue. I loved getting lost in Callie. I may be young, but I knew she was something special. My thoughts stopped when she pulled back.

"I don't know what has gotten into him, my dad."

"He's traveling with a group of smart and independent teenagers; he'll get a little grumpy. We will need him at some point and he'll be ready."

"Right."

"And I'm sorry for yelling at you yesterday. I didn't mean for it to sound…hateful."

"It's okay. I understand. You were just trying to protect me and it was kind of hot…" She leaned forward to kiss me again. Jackson honked the horn quickly, making both of us jump.

"We don't have time for hanky panky now!"

We went in opposite directions, but looked back at each other and smiled. It was a smile that held hope and wishes to find safety.

It wasn't hard to find a gas station free of the infected. Everything went smoothly and as planned. The guys cleared the station first then filled the cars with gas. They held watch outside while the girls of the group grabbed snacks, first-aid kits, and any other random item needed. After loading back up, we hit the road; our plan to drive for the entire day and make it as far as we could.

It was starting to get dark and we had just past a sign that said something about Portland. We've made it to Oregon.

Jackson was in the passenger's seat, waking up from his nap. "Where are we?"

"Somewhere outside of Portland."

"It's getting dark."

"I know. Maybe we should pull over and talk about finding a place to sleep." I got off the highway and stopped. There were cars everywhere broken down and empty. It scared me sometimes to think about where the drivers of those cars went. We had found a few supplies from them, but we still needed blankets and another change of clothes.

I walked behind my car and up to Callie's window. "We need a place to stay. I don't think these cars are going to cut it for another night."

"Can't we find a hotel or something?"

"A hotel would be crawling with those things. We need a house that's out in the woods, away from the town."

"Well, you and Jackson seem to be the leaders so we'll just follow you." Her remark sounded snobby.

"Callie." I said sternly.

She shrugged her shoulders and I stormed off to my car. Jackson was taken aback by my heavy breathing.

"Problem?"

"No." I sighed out. "We need to find a house away from big neighborhoods and towns."

"Well, shouldn't take much effort."

I started the car and began to drive, searching for anything we could stay in.

After a few miles of driving off the highway exit, we found a small line of houses by themselves. Whatever town this was didn't have much. I hit the brakes in front of an old thrift store.

"What the hell Robbins?" Jackson began to look around.

"Thrift store." I pointed. "We need some clothes and blankets. It's a perfect place."

"We could get anything from any store and you want to take some dead people's crap?"

"Just because it's not the name brand shit you always wear, doesn't mean we can't use it. It's going to have to work for now."

There happened to be a few infected inside, but Jackson and Derrick had no problem smashing their faces in. We all went through different isles, picking out our clothes that would keep us warm the next few days. I walked up to Callie as she was holding up a sweater.

"Callie. I know you think it's just me and Jackson, but we're together…as a group."

She kept her eyes on the rack of clothes. "You guys seem to be making all the decisions for this 'group'."

"Well…could you blame us?!" I yelled but whispered at the same time, trying to keep our argument quite. "Jackson is one of the best high school athletes Seattle has. I grew up with two Marines; I think I have a little more experience with survival skills here."

Callie just shook her head.

"I don't want you to be upset about this. Come on." She walked away from where we were standing. I sighed and shook my head. Once everyone was ready, we got back on the road.

We drove to the last house in the line. It was still standing and no cars were in the driveway. It was small, with two floors, windows that weren't shattered, and a half-fenced yard. This would work.

We parked next to each other and let the guys out to clear it. There was no signs of infected anywhere on this street, so the inside was probably cleared too. I looked over towards Callie hoping to catch her attention, but she had her face turned the other way. I didn't mean for Avery and me to take over, it just happened. Derrick was leading some too. Jo, Meredith, Aria, and Stephanie were good at spotting things and keeping up with the supplies. Callie and her father were good with directions and such. Miranda seemed caring and she was a doctor. April…well she was just there, but we all had a part of this group.

After the house was cleared, we all moved inside. Rooms and beds were called. Some beds were made in the floor, but we all found a cozy place. Miranda walked up to me later after we all had a snack and changed. Callie tried to fix the stove for an actual meal, but the gas wasn't working.

"Arizona?" Her voice was quite but confident, like she had gained some strength back.

"Yes?"

"I noticed you had a huge blood stain and rip on your other shirt. You get injured?"

"Yeah, a nasty cut from a piece of metal."

"Can I take a look?"

"Uh, sure." I lifted my shirt. I had tried to cover it up with a couple of big Band-Aids, but the cut was still noticeable.

"Wow."

"Wow? Is it that bad?"

"You need to get this stitched up so it won't get infected or anything." She pressed around my wound.

"Ouch! Damn it." I pulled away and looked at my side.

"Yeah, I could do it for you."

I touched my side and hissed. "Sure, if you want to."

Miranda laid me on a blanket on a coffee table in the living room. She gotten the sewing and first-aid kits we picked up.

"I have nothing to numb you with so this may hurt a little."

I stuck a rag in my mouth and lifted my left arm up so she could get to the cut. She pressed her hand to my stomach and stuck the needle in. An instant pain ran through me and I couldn't help but scream out.

"AH! OH MY…MMM!"

Callie came running out of the hall with a bat raised. "What's going on?!" She saw me on the table and Miranda stitching up my side. "Oh." She walked over and sat on the couch beside of me.

"I had to stitch it up so it wouldn't get infected." Miranda explained.

Callie looked at me as if she was hurt; as if looking at me in pain caused her pain. Her hand came up and brushed back my hair then moved to my hand above my head. I opened my mouth and dropped the rag. "We all have a part Callie."

"I know."

"I didn't mean for it to look like me and Jackson were taking over everything or whatever…AH!" Miranda poked me again. Our hands squeezed tighter together.

"I know." She gave me a kiss on the head and walked away. Bailey finished my stitches and patched me up.

Everyone was asleep. You could hear snores throughout the whole house. My shift was over and it was time for Carlos to keep watch. I passed him in the hall on my way to Callie's room.

"Goodnight Mr. Torres."

"Goodnight Arizona."

He sounded honest and sincere. I hope he was like that for the rest of this trip. I hope he was like that as long as Callie and I are together. I knew he accepted his daughter's orientation, but I didn't know if he truly liked me. I loved Callie and I wanted to be with her for a long time. He would have to get used to me.

I walked into the bedroom Callie and I were staying in. We would sleep on the full-sized placed in there. Aria was on the floor with a huge bed she had made herself.

They both were asleep. Callie's snoring dominated the room but it was cute. Could snoring even be cute? Hers was. I lifted the covers and slid in, wrapping my arms around Callie. She stirred around a minute before mumbling to me.

"Hey. Your shift over?"

"Yep. You father is on watch now." I moved my body closer to hers.

"Good." She hummed sleepily.

I kissed her neck before leaning to her ear. "I love you."

She turned around in my arms and smiled. "You do?"

"I do." I smiled as I looked deep into her dark brown eyes.

"I love you too." She gave me a quick kiss then turned back around, leaned into me, and fell asleep.

How could I have found a wonderful girl and be happy in the middle of this…apocalypse? I wanted to take her out more and build our relationship. It's something I would have to make up for later. Finally, I closed my eyes but kept my senses on high alert.