AN: So you didn't have to wait too much longer for this chapter.

Chapter 13

We drove slowly through the streets of Las Vegas, filled with the infected and dead. We didn't want to go any faster, in a fear we would get stuck and wouldn't be able to escape. I sat in the passenger side of my car and gazed out the window. Over peeling scalps and red eyes, I took in all the broken neon light signs. I closed my eyes and imagined them all lit up at night, people walking the streets; some with empty pockets and some with cash sticking out of their cheesy button-up casino shirts. There are drunks fumbling out of bars and pretty girls with colorful beads around their necks. There are weddings with Elvis and lucky sevens everywhere. I wish I could see this place alive.

"You okay over there, Robbins?" Jackson asked from behind the wheel.

"Yeah, It's just…I imagined Vegas to have more liveliness to it."

"Well, it is filled with dead people so…"

"Shut up." I gave his shoulder a shove.

"How about we stop at a casino and play a slot? There's no one around to kick us out or tell us not to steal the chips. How could we go through Vegas and not experience the dirty feeling of gambling?" Avery's eyes squinted as he gave a devilish grin.

Callie spoke up from the back. "Are you for real, Jackson? The casinos have to be filled with those things."

"Look, we have to find fun wherever we can, because this world isn't going to be the same from now on. Since we're here and no one's around to enforce laws…why not?" Avery backed up his objective.

"He has a point." I looked to Callie and smiled.

"I just..." she started.

"How about you stay in the car and we'll go have fun?" I made my eyes wider, raising my eyebrows.

"Fine. If Owen says its okay….I guess I'm down."

"That's the spirit, Calliope!" I fist pumped into the air.

We pulled up to a hotel's parking garage and I saw Owen get out of the truck and move the gate. It rose up and Teddy pulled the truck in, my brother and Jackson right behind her. Owen let down the gate again, keeping the dead outside. We drove to the top and gathered at the ledge. You could see the main strips in the distance; buildings burning and the streets filled with infected bodies.

"So we're almost out of Vegas…" Owen started as he grabbed a map. "…and we can go straight into Arizona from here."

"Actually Owen….we were wanting to know if we had time to stop at a casino, a small one, maybe away from the main casinos?" Jackson asked, pretending to kick dirt around on the ground.

"Are you kidding me?" Owen set his hands on his waist which usually meant business.

"Come on, man. How many opportunities are we going to have to find casinos with no lines, no security, and free booze?"

Owen sighed heavily and turned away from the group, rubbing his temple. Teddy walked up and patted his shoulder to calm him down. They whispered something to each other and Teddy turned back to the group.

"Guys, Owen's really trying to keep this group safe. Why don't we go get some snacks from a store, find the baby some formula, and then get back on the road?"

The group all moaned in agreement, continuing to look out into the city. We geared up and made a plan to hit the mini market behind the hotel we were parked at. Walking down the layers of the parking garage, Avery kept mumbling to himself then finally spoke up to me.

"You know what?! I am so tired of being treated like I'm a kid in this group."

"He just wants to protect us. I'm sure he doesn't mean anything by it." I gripped by hatchet tighter.

"No. We're old enough to take care of ourselves. If we want to go to a casino, that's what we'll do."

Oh Avery.

We raided the store no problem and was able to get a couple of bags of food. Walking out, a group surrounded us in our path. I was carrying most of the bags so I couldn't really defend myself well. I was going to drop the bags, but before I could, Callie stepped in front of me.

"Don't drop those bags. I have a soda in there and I don't want it to get all shook up or fizzy. Just…I got this Arizona." She stepped in front of me and took the head of a grizzly looking man coming towards us. One was coming up on her side and before I even spoke, she shifted around and struck it in the arm first then moved to the head. Her chest was starting to fall in and out, catching her breath.

"Damn. Where did that come from?" I was stunned at her sudden defense.

"I haven't had soda in months."

"We've only been on the run for one month."

"Yeah, but I stopped drinking them in the fall. I just really want a…" she slashed another "…freaking soda!"

"And here I thought you were just protecting your girlfriend."

"Yeah….that too."

I rolled my eyes as her and Derrick took on the majority in the front; Owen and my brother bringing up the back, making sure we didn't have any surprise attacks. We made it to the parking lot and looked around as we caught our breath.

"Wait." Owen said. He looked around furiously and started to count with his finger. "Where's Jackson?"

We all looked around and noticed the quarterback was missing.

"Shit." I mumbled under my breath. "You know, he probably just got left at the store. He might be sneaking some extra snacks in his pockets. I'll go get him." I announced.

"Not alone." Owen stated.

"I'll go with her." Callie raised her hand quickly then readied her weapon.

"Derrick, go with them." Owen ordered.

"You think we can't handle a few diseased people alone? Is it because we're chicks?" I was starting to think Owen was a sexist, bossy man.

"Just take him with you." My brother added.

"No. Derrick, you stay here. Come on Callie." I grabbed her hand and helped her over the small wall that separated parking garage from sidewalk. I heard my brother yelling at me, but I just flipped them off. "Don't send someone to follow us either!" I yelled just so they could hear it as we walked away.

"What's going on, Arizona? I know good and well Avery wouldn't lag behind."

"Look…he mentioned about going to a casino alone. I just didn't think he meant by himself."

"Arizona! There are a billion casinos in Las Vegas. We'll never find him!"

"You see this hotel?" I pointed at their sign by the road.

"Yeah…"

"This hotel has a casino. The casino is in the hotel. If he went to one, I'm sure he didn't travel too far." Callie pushed on my back and I fell to the ground. I heard a slicing and something big fell on top of me. I looked beside my head and saw a bloody hand lying on the ground. "EW! Ew, ew, ew…" I hopped up and aimed my weapon, but it was too late.

"This is what happens when you start worrying about that…jock, you lose focus."

"He may be a jock, but he's my friend." I dusted myself off and gave my back a minute to recover. It was healing fast, but it was still sensitive. "I'm just curious, was that for me or the soda…?"

"Just keep going." She rolled her eyes. "Is your back okay?" She asked as she suddenly remembered and became concerned.

"Yeah, it's fine."

"How do you know there's a casino in this hotel?" Callie put her hand on her hip and pointed at the sign with her axe.

"Because…" I stared out into an area of open sky. "My dad used to go to this same chain of hotels when we moved around. We would waste time, blowing money and drinking his war wounds away."

My girlfriend came up behind me and wrapped an arm around my side, rubbing her hand over my hip. I began to walk on and she followed.

We found the entrance to the hotel and sneaked in without drawing any attention to ourselves from the slithering infected in the front parking lot. Inside was a different story. They were all scattered out, but there was a lot. I leaned close to Callie.

"Listen, there are a lot of them, but see how they're scattered?" I pointed to some of them in the lobby. Callie nodded to signal she understood. "I think we can make a run for it. They're slow anyways, and with them scattered out like this…they wouldn't be able to trap us. Casino is that way." I pointed to the sign at the desk and the one over the arch to what I assumed was the casino. "Let's go." I took Callie's hand in mine.

We didn't full fledge run through the lobby, but jogged while dogging arms reaching out for us. Our hands were disconnected so I turned back to see Callie keeping up behind me. We made our way through the lobby and even though the hall was narrower, we managed to work our way through. We entered a gigantic room filled with slots and blackjack tables. The diseased were still scattered, but there was even more of them. If I was a jock, where would I be? A light bulb went off. The sports bar!

"We have to find the bar." I whispered. I took a moment to look around and analyze my field. Callie tapped my shoulder then pointed across a group of tables to a small cigar bar. I could see Jackson sitting on the top of a machine, tipping back a bottle of alcohol. I pointed to the left then drew out the path I wanted to take. Callie nodded and we moved. We squatted down to stay out of the infected's line of view. It worked surprisingly well.

"Climb up, like he did." I whispered hurryingly.

Callie jumped on a stool then on the ledge of the table and then the top of the slot. She scooted to Jackson, who almost fell over in surprise, and balanced herself. I followed, but stepped to the other side of him. We both sat silent, lettingour hearts slow down from the adrenaline rush.

Jackson started to laugh. "Maaaann. You guys scared the crap out of me."

I let Callie use her death glare to bring him back to earth.

"Avery! Do you even know what we just went through to find you? We just ran through a crowd of those things! I hope those few swigs were good because we're going back." I think the last time I was this furious with Jackson was when he tried to hit on Callie. He didn't know we were dating, but I made it very clear.

"Calm down, Robbins…"

"Don't 'Robbins' me! Get your ass up and let's go." I motioned for him to get up.

"Check it out." He hopped down and dodged a few hungry mouths before opening a door to another room. "You coming?"

"Geez, Avery. Let's just get back to the group. I am so ready for Texas."

"Just…follow me." He nodded his head to the room.

Callie and I looked at each other and shook our heads in disappointment. We worked our way into the room. It was the back stage of some theatre where people must have performed. There was no moaning, no infected roaming around.

"Look." Avery picked up some pillows and a blanket from the side that looked like props for a play. "See that net up there?" He pointed above our heads. There was a net spread out over the stage near the ceiling. "Imagine…beer and cigars while we bathe in casino chips, all cuddled up in a blanket with a soft pillow. Just chillin' on a huge net? Tell me that don't sound like a good night."

"How much have you drank?" Callie asked. "Besides, I don't think that rope is meant to hold you and your alcohol addiction."

"All those weights on the side is holding it up, I think it can hold me too." He pointed to both sides of the stage, swishing his beer around.

"Or we could go back to the group and make our way towards Arizona." I mentioned. It was hard compromising with a tipsy Jackson.

"Arizona talking about Arizona, ha." He took another drink.

"Oh my…" I threw my hatchet down and sat down on the edge of the stage. I turned around and laid on my stomach, letting my legs hang off the end. I stretched my arms out and let the coolness from the theatre floor take over me. I heard a few steps come towards me followed by a body plopping on the ground. I rolled my eyes up enough to see Callie's head beside mine. She was laying on her back with her arms crossed over her midsection.

"What do you want to do?" Her voice was soft, not wanting to upset me.

"I don't know." I sighed out. I really just wanted to rest, to be able to rest like this any time I wanted. I wanted to spend more time with Callie. I held in all of my emotions. I really wanted to cry, but I was tougher than that.

"Let's go back and tell them where he is. They can decide what to do." Callie got up and offered her hand. I sat up on my knees then took her hand. She cupped my cheek with her free hand before turning to Avery. "We're going back to the others. Don't hurt yourself Avery." Callie and I walked towards the exit.

"I..." I started to say something, but it totally left me. This weird feeling in my stomach came up through my chest and my throat. I leaned over to the side to a pile of rope stacked up. I emptied the contents of my stomach out. My face turned hot and I felt a total weakness come over me.

"Arizona?"

I fell to my knees, catching myself against the wall with my hands. I turned to my side as I threw up once more.

"Babe, are you okay? What's going on?" Callie was trying to help, but she knew as much as I did.

"I don't know." I barely mumbled.

"Avery! Arizona's…I don't know, just come help."

"Damn." Avery threw his beer down and came over. I closed my eyes and rested my head against the wall, listening to them.

"What's wrong?" Avery asked.

"I don't know. Help me get her back to the group."

"Really?"

"Yes! Help me pick her up, and watch out for her back."

They lifted me off the ground and soon, we were in the casino, the lobby, and now the lot. All the movement and light made me nauseous again. "Wait." I said. I bent over and heaved into the lot.

"Dude, she got some on my shoes!" Avery whined.

"Shut the hell up." Callie lifted me back up and we moved on. I think Jackson killed a few infected on the way as we continued to the parking garage.

"What happened?!" Tim's voice was strong and demanding. I saw him come up and step right up to my face. "Arizona. What's wrong?" If I opened my mouth, something more than words would come out.

"We were on our way back and…she just got sick."

"Has she been feeling sick for a while or…?" My brother was worried.

"No. I mean, she seemed fine. She laid down for a minute and put her head down. When she got up, she just…puked." Now Callie was worried. I wanted to hug her and hold her, but I didn't want to get her sick too. I motioned for them to let go and I kneeled then laid on my side. Lying down was so much better than standing.

Miranda rushed to my side. "Did she have any blood in her vomit?"

"Uh…no." Callie answered.

"Her eyes aren't blood shot. Was she attacked?"

"No." I could hear her pacing behind me.

"I don't think this is the rabies." She put the back of hand against my head. "You're burning up Arizona. When did this start?"

I opened my eyes. "I was feeling hot last night, but I didn't think anything of it."

"Arizona!" Callie scolded me.

"Any other symptoms?" Bailey asked.

"I've had a small headache and my shoulders have been hurting. When I threw up, my whole body felt tired or weak or something."

"Well…I think…" Callie walked up closer to Miranda. "This looks like a strain of flu."

Everyone gave a sigh of relief.

"Let's move back to the top and we can discuss what to do." Owen instructed.

Tuesday, January 14th

A week. We've been stuck at the top of this parking garage for over a week. The group decided to quarantine me from the rest until they were sure it was the flu and I was over it. Then when I was over it, April got it. She was more of a baby when it came to sickness, but I have to admit, it was hard getting over something like that with minimal fluids and drugs. Having the mini mart right beside us was nice and without it, I might have died from the lack of green tea. It became the main healing power and I will forever be in debt to it. I woke up this morning and all that was on my mind was Texas. I just wanted to be there already, like….right now.

"Finally, it lives!" Avery spoke up as a limping April came up to the group. "How you feeling?"

She just shrugged. "Good."

I stepped up into the middle of the group. "Can we get on the road now? I'm so tired of this parking lot, I'm tired of that stupid mini mart, and I'm tired of sleeping in the middle of infected cities. Let's go!" I motioned everyone to their cars. We packed earlier that morning so everyone was ready to go. "Let's go, let's go! Gosh, you people really know how to slow us down."

"You're the one who got sick." Derrick reminded me.

"We could have kept moving…I would have been fine." Just the thought of being so weak again made me shiver. "Is anyone else concerned about how slow everyone is? Damn." I hopped in the driver's seat of my car while everyone continued their conversations. I began to tap on the steering wheel impatiently. Jackson and Callie stood outside the car.

"Are you giving her any?" He got slapped on the arm. "You should consider it because she's really uptight and moody. She needs you, Torres." He gave her a double tap on the shoulder before getting in the back.

Callie got into the car and slammed the door. "Suck it, Avery."

"You want to tell me something?" I heard them talking, but I wanted to know if they would say anything to my face.

"Callie has been feeling kind of…how do I say it? She's been feeling horny? No, that's too 'out there'. How about…"

"Shut up, Avery." Callie said.

I didn't want to approach that topic. She had her face almost pressed against the window and her hand tucked between her crossed legs. She seemed so turned off towards me. I have no clue where I went wrong.

By night, we had made it to Arizona. When we stopped to use the bathroom on the highway, all the guys made sure to throw in their joke about the state and my name. After a really bad joke Derrick told, I spoke up.

"You know I really wasn't named after the state, right?" They all gasped, trying to act surprised.

"How did it come about then?" The bio nerd asked.

"It's a very honorable story and I don't think any of you deserve to hear it." I walked away from the guys and found Callie standing by herself.

"Hey." I stepped up beside her.

"Hey." She had her arms crossed and started to walk away.

"Callie, wait." I pulled her back. "I'm sorry I've been an ass lately. I'm just ready for us to be out of harm's way, have a guarded shelter to sleep in. I'm tired of running, ya know?"

"Is it the group?"

"What?" She threw me off track.

"What's making you mad…is it the group?" She started to sound really upset.

"Uh…no? They get on my nerves sometimes, but we're a family. Isn't that how a family is supposed to be?" I let out a nervous laugh. I'm not sure what exactly was upsetting her, but I'm sure it had to be me somehow. "Are going to tell me what's bothering you so much?" Crap. That sounded too pushy. "I…that came out wrong. I want to know what's making you upset because… I love you and I don't like seeing you like this."

"That's what I'm asking, you don't like seeing me?"

"Wh…what are you talking about, Callie?" I stepped in front of her and put my hands on her shoulders. "You think I don't like seeing you?"

"I think you're tired of where our relationship is but then we agreed to wait on…you know…"

I raised my eyebrows and shook my head. "Callie, I don't understand."

"Sex. We agreed to wait and now you're getting bored with me and its making you upset." She slurred it all together.

I didn't know what to say because I know she wouldn't hear any of it; whatever I said, she wouldn't truly listen. "Callie…" I unraveled her hands and wrapped them around my neck. I took her face in my hands and brought myself up to kiss her. I made sure she felt what I was thinking instead of me saying it. I let our kiss do the work, slowly and softly. I worked my hand down her side and to the hem on the back of her jeans. I allowed my other hand to follow on the other side and gave her hip a squeeze before sticking both hands in her back pockets. I pulled away and looked into her eyes. "I love where our relationship is and I wouldn't want to push it any further than it needs to go, or further than you want it to go. Okay?"

"Yeah…"

"And I'm sure as hell not tired of you. Callie, you surprise me every day with your beauty and kindness and… lots of other stuff." I spun my head around to indicate the vast majority of other awesome characteristics Callie has. I gave her a smile I knew she couldn't resist. She laughed. There we go.

"So…do you want to move forward in our relationship?"

I opened my mouth to reply, but a rustled sound came from the distance. It was loud and nothing I've heard recently. It wasn't the sound an infected group made, or what any regular car would sound like. We all put our backs together in a huddle. What could possibly be on this highway? It was close to a chopper, but it couldn't be that. There were a few lights shimmering in the distance. Oh my gosh.

Sorry about the sudden time jump in the middle, but I wanted to keep this story on track. Since I didn't post anything last week, I had to do it. Hope that's alright? I'll get another one up quicker so watch for it. And what's on the highway?