AN: I thought I would be able to post this chapter sooner but…it didn't happen. Sorry it took a while.

Chapter 15

Friday, January 17th

I was in the front yard of a two-story house. The grass was a light shade of green that reminded me of a lime jelly bean. The sun's rays covered my bare shoulders and onto my back, through my white tank. I looked up and saw nothing but crystal blue skies with splotches of cotton ball clouds. I took a deep breath, letting the air massage my lungs. An object ran into my feet so I glanced down and found a soccer ball which had come to a stop.

"Mom! Come on!" A incent voice yelled out.

I gazed across the yard and found a young girl with a dark brown pony tail, waving her arms back and forth. She had pink shorts and a soccer jersey on.

"Yeah mom, kick the ball!" Another voice spoke.

Not too far from the girl was a boy. He was taller, probably almost in junior high. He had short, dirty blonde hair and a different jersey on. It looked like Tim when he was that age, and the girl a smaller version of Calliope. When her name came to mind, I knowingly looked to the biggest window of the house on the first floor. Sitting in the window was Callie, watching with a smile on her face and an unread book in her lap.

I waved my hand to motion for her to join us. She moved from the window to the door and was soon in the yard, passing the ball back and forth. Birds were singing sweet tunes in the trees behind the house and dogs chasing our feet. Laughs and smiles brightened a sunny day more.

There was a clinking coming from behind me. I turned around and found my brother geared up, fighting off an infected. The kids and Callie screamed and fled into the house.

"Arizona!" She screamed. "Arizona!"

"…Arizona?"

I jumped up and looked around and realized I was still within Callie's car. We were still in the middle of an infected world with people who ate other people. I closed my eyes for one second, holding on to that dream for as long as I could before I came back to reality.

"Arizona, look." Callie pointed to a sign in the distance and behind it was a wall. The sign read, "Welcome to Texas". The wall was built with trucks, sandbags, piles of wood, and barbwire.

"We made it?" I whispered, tears starting to run down my cheeks.

"We made it." Callie stated.

My brother and Owen motioned for me to get out and talk to the guarding soldiers. I opened my door and was about to get out, but turned around and gave Callie a surprise kiss. She leaned back for a second then matched my movements. I pulled away and looked into her eyes.

"We made it." I said before I finally left the car.

Soon, Mathew, Owen, my brother, Jackson, and I were all standing in front of this massive wall that went on as far as we could see.

The soldier on the left stepped up.

"Taylor?"

"We lost the group we were transporting. One of them was infected and killed my men. I found these guys on the highway, trying to make it to here. I think they're good people and they all seem healthy."

"You know the protocol though."

"I do." Mathew turned to us. "Everybody has to have a blood test done to make sure they're clean."

Owen nodded. "That sounds fair enough, I'll tell the others." We walked back to our group who had gathered outside the vehicles.

The soldier continued. "My boy, Karev, is on the other side of the second wall. He'll take you to one of the camps we have set up in the main cities. We'll settle you in the closet one then you can decide if you want to move to a different one later. He'll also give you a run-down of how they do things. This isn't the place to take what you'd like, there's rules."

We all nodded. The soldier motioned to his partner to open the gate. It led to a smaller, enclosed area. I walked inside with my brother followed by our crowd. They wouldn't allow us to take our cars in, but promised full transportation provided by the Army.

We all made lines at two white tables that were covered in medical supplies. It was candy to me. Those supplies could sooth the uneasy pain remaining in my back.

A woman in an Army jacket motioned for me to step up. She had a clipboard and pen in hand. "I need to know if you've had any contact with the infected."

I gave her a stare before answering. "You see that orange-haired guy and the built quarterback behind him?" She looked. "We three have kept this group alive for weeks by killing those things. I've had plenty of contact with the infected, but they haven't killed me yet."

"Okay…it's just a question. I have to ask." She began to scribble on her clipboard. "Have you had any symptoms such as irritated eyes, dry mouth, bloody saliva or nasal discharge?"

"No."

"Weak muscles, headaches, black fingernails?"

"I had a cold not too long ago and I had headaches and weak muscles..."

"That's fine. The blood test is what we really look at." She began to set up the needle and tube for my sample. I looked over and saw a couple of soldiers helping my family out. For the first time in the past two and a half months, I felt relief. I trusted these men with my life which included that group.

She stuck the needle in and began to draw my blood. "Oh. Do you have any open wounds or cuts?"

I looked at her then to the ground. "Yeah…I have blisters and scabs covering my entire back from fourth degree burns. It's still healing."

She remained silent for a moment. "That's fine. I'll check them after I finish this." She said it as she was removing the needle and placed my tube with my chart. I looked over to Callie and saw a soldier setting her nose and bandaging it up. "Want to lift your shirt for me?"

I took my attention off Callie and took my shirt off. "Yeah." I sat with my head between my shoulders as the woman examined my back.

"Damn. This looks like…"

"Army explosives." I helped her finish.

"C-4?"

"Yep. It saved my brother and my best friend. We were in a small accident not too long ago and some glass may have produced some cuts as well."

"It did. We have plenty of burn ointment and antibiotic cream. I could set you up, wrap it up and all. Does that sound good?"

I laughed to myself then looked to the woman with a smile. "That sounds amazing." While she left to get the supplies I watched over the others. Maria started to cry as they took a sample from her. I turned away and pretended not to hear her because it broke my heart.

"You guys seem really close." The soldier said as she returned.

"We are, we're a family." Callie was now looking at me, my chest to be specific. I had my shirt off and she was making the most out of it.

"I'm guessing the Hispanic is your loved one? Sorry if that's too… personal or something…"

"She is." I said proudly.

"Young love is beautiful."

"I guess…" I laughed, trying not to think about the pain as she applied the medicine.

"Sorry. I never really see too many couples come through. You guys seem to have brought in a few."

"We've stuck together. It's been a rough ride all the way from Seattle."

"Wow. I'm from Florida so…" She began to wrap the gauze around my back and stomach.

"Nice. My girlfriend is from Florida. What about you? Is your husband in the Army too or…?"

"My wife wasn't in the Army. She was on a business trip to New York. We lost contact a long time ago."

I felt really bad for this woman. I thought we were the only ones who had it rough, but that wasn't even the beginning of it.

"There's still a chance, you know. My brother is in the Army and his team left him in San Francisco. He survived off granola bars and roof hopping surf shops. I'm sure there's a chance your wife is still out there."

"Thanks." She had finished my wrap and collected the rest of the blood samples to test.

We all sat in a room on benches made out of wood. They gave us all a bottle of water, a bottle of apple juice, and a turkey sandwich. I t may seem like nothing, but it was the best sandwich and juice I've ever had. We soon fell asleep on each other's shoulders and covered up with the blankets provided.

Saturday, January 18th

"Hey." A voice stirred me awake. I sat up from Callie's shoulder and dropped the blanket. It was nice not feel like I needed to reach for my weapon.

"Yes?" I asked.

"I'm Alex Karev. You all are clear of any virus. I'll be taking you to the closest camp which is in Amarillo."

"Yeah, okay. Can you give us some time to wake up first?" I squinted my eyes to see him.

"Sure, whatever." He stepped out of the room.

I woke all of my friends and family up then went outside of the room into the area where the troops were set-up.

"Good morning." One of them said.

"Good morning. Karev came by and said he would be taking us soon."

"Good. I was hoping he would get you guys transported this morning. I know this place may feel safe, but we're on the outer most wall. Those things break in; this place is the first to go."

I looked at him and nodded, thinking about what I would do if that was to ever happen.

"I'll get you guys a bag food to take along." The female soldier went into a room towards the back. A few minutes later, she reappeared with a satchel. "This should do." She handed it to me.

"Thank you. Thank all of you for your help. You don't know how much this means to me and my group."

All the soldiers nodded and smiled.

Karev put us in the back of a smaller Army vehicle. Once we exited the section we were in, we entered an empty place between two walls; one to the medical area and one to another section. Solders were on patrol everywhere. Texas flags covered in dust hung from the top of the walls as if it was a last effort to hold pride and life.

"The camps consist of three different parts. There are apartments, hotels, and houses. We tend to put bigger groups like you in the hotels, unless you want a house. The houses are pretty small in this camp because the bigger ones have been destroyed." Karev talked through the window in the back of the truck.

"Hotel sounds fine." Owen said.

"We have tents set up in four corners of the city. It may be a great distance to get supplies, but there, you'll get a week's worth of food and toiletries including soap and shampoo. Also, you'll be able to pick between special items you may want. We have puzzle books, board games, and art supplies."

"Do we get enough for our entire group?" Callie asked.

"You can get a package for one person or a package for two people, but both have to be present and sign a piece of paper saying you picked up supplies for the week." Alex explained.

"What about the baby?" Miranda spoke up.

"I know it may seem like too much, but you have to have the baby present as well." Alex looked back at the baby and smiled. He seemed like a guy who generally enjoyed kids. "It's only once a week though, and it's infected free. It's a small price for free supplies."

Jackson shifted closer to the window. "You got soldiers on watch the entire time?"

"We do. We take different shifts. We also encourage the men to help out if they can. The streets are still a little dirty and some of the women like to go out and chat while they pick up some rubble. It's a weird thing to think about, but it's very functional; it works."

Callie spoke again. "It's not too much to ask I guess." She turned to me and gripped my hand with a smile on her face.

"We just ask everybody to chip in." He finished up his introduction and continued driving.

I started to look around and noticed the series of walls we passed through. If the infected did break in, it would be a while before they ever reached us. I leaned back on my pillow and pretended to stretch my arms out, letting my hand fall on Callie's shoulder.

"Don't think I didn't see that." Callie said, looking into the distance away from me.

We entered one last gate before a huge white tent appeared to the left. The truck stopped and we all got out.

"The lists are inside. I'll let you get this week's supplies while we're here." Alex stepped to the front of the truck and held his gun to his chest.

Owen slowly pulled back the plastic door on the tent to let us all inside. It looked like a farmers market, a general store, or a grocery market. It was all inside this tent. The isles were filled with colorful fruit and vegetables, cereal and juices.

"Oh my…" Jackson started.

April came up behind him and started to shake his shoulder. "This is amazing!"

Teddy picked up one of the lists out of a stack near a pile of bags. "This seems fair. Everybody pair up in twos because that's what it goes by. We'll meet up at the checkout."

"I know who I'm pairing up with." I smiled to Callie then turned away. "Yo, Jackson!" I pointed between me and him, implying we should pair-up. Jackson grinned then looked to Callie. He went back to talking with April and they disappeared.

"Really?" Callie clasped her hand around her waist.

"Of course I choose you." I poked the tip of her nose with my finger, trying to be cute.

"AHHH!" She flinched and turned away. "Why would you…"

"I AM SO sorry Callie. I forgot all about it." I stepped closer and pushed her hands away from her nose so I could bring my hand to the side of her face.

"It's fine. I'm sure I've touched your back several times and still forget." We smiled and went about our way into the isles of food placed on the lines of an old parking lot the tent stood on. We had fun picking out the type of shampoo and soap we would be sharing.

"So…" Callie started. "If we have to share soap…" her voice got really deep and low, "…does that mean we get to share showers?" Her hands snaked around me and while I loved it, I didn't want to speak on the subject. Callie was ready for the next step, I knew that. I've moved so fast with previous relationships and they became nothing but physical. I didn't want that with Callie, I wanted to focus on the strong connection we have spiritually. She deserved so much better.

"Um…we still have our 'special' item to pick out." I moved toward the isle with cheap items, probably found at a 99 cent store. There were puzzles like Karev said and other items that didn't really appeal to me.

"What about this?" Callie held up a little cheap box of checkers.

"Is that what you want?" I laughed sarcastically.

"Yes." Callie said proudly and placed it in our bag. She probably didn't really want it, but got it to prove a point or something.

We all met at the checkout counter in corner on the other side of the door. We all signed and let the people check our bags before we went back to the truck. I made sure Bailey got Maria enough food and blankets.

Jo was standing talking to Alex at the front.

"Jo! Stop flirting and get back in the truck." Owen ordered and gave her a firm look. Jo's mouth dropped open and then quickly closed when she turned back to Alex. She patted him on the shoulder and skipped to the back of the vehicle.

Karev continued to inform us as he drove. "I'm taking you to the hotel now. We've worked very hard to keep the water running smoothly in the entire state, but the electricity is a different story. There's battery operated lanterns, flashlights, and fake candles you'll be assigned in the lobby. You'll also get matches and an oil lantern. We only advise you to use that if you absolutely have to. Meals can be cooked in the kitchen of the restaurants around the hotel with a small fire. I know it sounds lame…"

"Seems like a good idea for now. How's the battery supply working out?" Owen asked.

"If you use the light from the windows and only use the candle as you get ready for bed, then turn it out…they last for a long time. People are still using the same batteries from when they first arrived a month ago."

We pulled into a hotel parking lot. It seemed like a nice, local hotel. There were two stories and it formed a 'U' shape around the back of the entrance. The doors were painted a pastel green that had faded over time. The rails had some rust, but overall, it was a safe place to lay our heads.

"Here you go. Stop by the lobby for lights and they'll assign two people to a room with only one bed. You're only our second big group so there should be plenty of room for you guys." Alex offered a smile as we unloaded all our crap.

"Thank you." I said.

"No problem." We all gathered outside the door and looked around to make sure everyone was here.

I noticed Jo was over talking to Alex at his window. "Jo!" I yelled. She waved to him as he drove off.

We got our lights and were given a room number. We entered the small patio area in the middle of all the apartments. A pool was in the center but had no water in it anymore.

"Callie and I have room number five." I announced.

"Owen and I have six." Teddy said next.

"Meredith and I are in eight." Derrick spoke. We were the only couples so whoever else paired –up, was going to have an awkward time.

"Well…April and I are in ten." Jackson said. April pretended to look off into the distance. Neither seemed too bothered about it.

"Bailey and I are paired. I guess that includes the baby?" Aria asked.

"We'll find a crib." Bailey added.

"So…" I began. I darted my eyes between my brother and Jo.

"Um…" Jo hesitated.

"We have room number twelve." Tim finished. He turned around and started his way to the room.

An idea came to me. "Hey Jo, you wanna switch?" I asked.

"I wouldn't want to break you and Callie up."

"I don't want you to be uncomfortable sleeping with my brother…" I moved away from Callie, allowing her to fill my place.

"Thanks." Jo said. She grabbed her stuff and moved up next to Callie. I glanced quickly at my girlfriend and saw complete disappointment. She changed it to a fake smile when Jo started to talk to her. They turned around and went towards their room. I took a deep breath and followed my upset brother.

Once inside the room, I looked around. There was a dresser to the left placed on the middle of the wall, a single, full-sized bed to the right with a nightstand, lamp, and stool on the opposite side. There was a closet and small cooler on the far side and beside it was a door which I guess led to the bathroom.

"You didn't have to switch with Jo. It's not like I would have tried anything."

"I know."

My brother sat on the bed and I closed the door behind me, moving to the stool. I rested my head against the wall. "You have the perfect opportunity to have almost complete privacy with your amazing girlfriend and you don't want it?" He turned his head sideways.

"I didn't want Jo to feel uncomfortable." I twiddled my thumbs.

"Is that it?" My brother observed the tension in my body.

"Yeah." I tried to sound convincing.

He stood up, laughing and started to take items out of his worn bag. "It's almost like you're avoiding sleeping with her." He laughed under his breath again.

I remained silent because he was right, I was avoiding it.

My brother noticed my silence and looked to me. "Oh…my…god. You're avoiding sex? What happened to you, Robbins?"

I stood up and threw my arms into the air. "Nothing! I just…she's different! I don't want her to be some easy lay."

"You want to work for it?"

"What? No. I want it to be the right moment."

"Look. There's no school full of beautiful teenage girls for you to pick from. I think Callie's your only choice. I thought you said she was the one? She has to make due, right?" He laughed again.

"Tim…"

"I'm sorry. So this means a lot to you?" He moved to the dresser to put some of his clothes inside.

"It does, and I don't care how long we've been together or how long we're going to be together, I want this to be right. Callie keeps pushing me and I'm not ready."

Tim turned to me, letting our eyes meet. "I trust you have good judgment, probably better than mine. You know what you want and you know your limits…"

"I do so I'll stay here until I figure things out and maybe talk with Callie."

"You should do that." Tim mentioned as he slid into the bathroom.

I could talk to her later, I needed a nap. I laid back on the bed and fell asleep quickly.

Saturday, January 25th

It's been one week and things have been moving smoothly. We all had different jobs to contribute to the town. I've found to be really good at fixing buildings, good at working with my hands. I'd come to eat lunch with Callie and she would have her hands all over my shoulders which had begun to build some muscle. I still haven't talked to her about how I feel. Every time we start to go too far, I get up and leave. She gets upset and swears I don't love her anymore. I wish I could just tell her how I felt.

Callie, Jo, and Aria work in a daycare type place while Bailey works at a clinic, Owen, Teddy, and my brother help the other soldiers, while Derrick, Jackson, and I work construction. Meredith and April got jobs organizing one of the tents at the corner of town. We all were chipping in and meeting new people. Jo had gotten really close to Alex and he stops by almost every day now.

We've become more separated and distant somehow too. We don't talk as much, but I did hear over a checkers game with Callie that Jackson and April might be a thing soon. I tried to play a game every night with her in the lantern light. It was our one time to be together and catch up on news about our peoples.

Callie and I went to get supplies for this next week. I walked up to get the list while Callie got a bag. I felt a pair of hands wrap around me and a chin rest on my shoulder.

"Hey." Callie whispered.

"Hey."

"How was fixing the roof today?" I had been working on our Hotel's roof because of a leak.

"Good." It really wasn't the best topic to talk about.

We moved through the tent and got our food and various other supplies. When we got to the special items, I got to pick this time.

"This." I picked up a pack of beads with letters on them. I went ahead and opened the bag and found a bead with 'C' on it. "Hold on a second." I took my necklace off and slipped the bead on next to the heart. I dug into the bag again and found an 'A'. I unclipped Callie's necklace and slid the bead on before reconnecting it. She looked down at her necklace and smiled.

I gave her a kiss before moving to the line at the counter. Someone with a grey hoodie on signed then moved the left with their bag. I went to sign the paper and stopped my hand in mid-air. The pen fell onto the table and bounced to the pavement. My jaw dropped, I couldn't believe the name I saw on the paper.

"Wait!" I yelled after the hoodie. I reached for their shoulder and turned them around.

:D Great place to end, huh?