“Joe, nice to meet you…you look familiar.”
“Yeah I get that a lot lately.” he grinned back.
“And what lovely ladies you brought with you Gil.” Meg and Sue smiled politely.
“Uh, Doc, they more or less brought me.”
He turned his attention to Illy “Annndddd…my, my, what a lovely young lady you are…and to have been alone for so long and survive…amazing!”
Izzy slowly pulled her hand from his dry and cracked hand “Uh…thanks, I think.”
Doc turned to the others and then Gil “Oh Gil…I, we, have made such a mess of things.”
Doc couldn’t imagine just how much they had until Joe told him all he knew. The rest all filled Doc in on what their lives had been like, what they knew of the creatures that now stalked our world, and Doc told them about how he and others had survived for so many years.
“About two years ago, they all started to go crazy Gil. Nora, Lou, Jessy, all of them. Oh, it wasn’t all at once, but in stages…some form of cabin fever I guess. Everyone topside was dead or deserted. Some of the crew went up and opened up what they could on the barns to keep grinders out so if anyone came for us, they wouldn’t have to fight them.” he sighed “then the crew went up a few days later…uh, that was about twenty-six months ago to reopen the labs, but they never came back. You see we had this amazing stock pile of food and supplies down here that just kept getting bigger once those beasts began dropping out of nowhere. What was left of my team figured they could go to the surface and fix up the labs and maybe live up there.”
Sarge snorted “Well, now we know what all those dusty piles of grinder shit was.” Doc frowned at Sarge’s crudeness and lack of compassion “Yeah, sorry about your people Doc, but you have to realize that we’ve been out there since all this happened, death to us is just another failure of staying alive. Up there, you live or die, just as simple as that. You die, shit happens, and you move on. You live, hell it’s just another passing before the day you die.”
Joe noted that they had been there quite a while and that Doc had survived this long and wondered why he went on so long while being alone, the despair had to have been horrible. Doc leaned back in the seat he was in and stared at the ceiling. As eyes lowered he looked at the group “I had to hold out that someone would come eventually, not for me…but for that.” he nodded to a small elevator door. “I had to tell them…help in some way.”
“And that is?” Meg asked almost afraid to hear the answer.
Doc looked sadly at them “Sleep tonight and I’ll show you when you’re rested. There are some really nice rooms and suites up on the upper floor…a small city…well, maybe hotel.” He chuckled as he pointed to the circular railing that circled the central living area that they were in. “Two ramps go up to the two floors above us, but we only use the closest floor, the kitchen and central living area is here on this floor.”
He rose and nodded to the winding staircase along the wall “there’s also food, the ability to cook it, fresh water, and all air is pumped in…this entire inner set of labs and living quarters are fully independent from the rest of the complex. He yawned, spun and as he headed up the stairs, he absentmindedly said “Good night” as if they had been together for ages and then vanished to the top level leaving the six sitting there looking at one another.
“Guess he’s a little loopy from being alone so long.” Sarge muttered.
Gil chuckled “Actually guys, Doc has always been a little wrapped up in his own thoughts. I can remember times when he stopped in mid conversation and left the room only to pick it back up the next time I ran into him.” he grinned “Doc lives in his own little world.”
Sue got up and stretched to which the guys took notice of the shapely woman and Sarge got an elbow from Meg and a dirty look as Sue smiled and said “Well, I for one am going to see if I still remember my way around a kitchen, get something to eat, and then get some more well-earned shuteye.”
“Great!” Sarge announced “Whatcha making for us?”
Sue looked back as her raven ponytail swished over her shoulder “Hell, I have no idea what YOU are making for yourself, I’m making my dinner…and something for my sister.” Izzy laughed and ran to catch up with her sister. Hand in hand they walked to the kitchen with Gil following behind Joe.
Sarge looked at Meg and she laughed “Do not look at me to cook you anything, I spent all my time in the lab.” She smiled softly at her companion…
“Come on babe, maybe we can find a rabbit or something to cook like we do out in the wild.”
Sarge shrugged “Sure babe, why not, neither one of us can cook other than sticking a spit up a rabbit’s ass and toss it over a fuckin’ fire.” he chuckled “Maybe if we just sit there with sad eyes they’ll take pity on us and…”
They entered the large kitchen area and saw the rest of the group standing there staring. As they pushed through, their jaws dropped. There was a professional kitchen and in the middle of it was Doc pushing pots and pans around, tossing in food, chopping, slicing, and grinning from ear to ear.
“Forgot to tell you all, over two years alone, all there was for me to do was learn to cook.”
“Thought you went upstairs?” Gil sputtered.
Doc chuckled as he tossed something into the oven “Never heard of backstairs Gil?” he laughed harder this time “Go, sit, dinner in thirty. You all have had a rough time of it and I’ve been told I could open my own restaurant I’m such a good cook…or maybe it was just their way of getting out of cooking.”
There were many sighs of relief, none of them were all that great in the kitchen.
Chapter 19.
More chat ensued during dinner and once done, dishes were cleaned and put away at Doc’s insistence. Izzy and Sue headed upstairs for one of the overly cleaned rooms that Doc had also been keeping himself busy with. Sarge grasped Meg’s hand and they hurried off to another room a few doors down they muttered something about there was plenty of rooms, no need to stay too close.
“They’re gonna have sex.” Izzy giggled softly as Sue glared at her and jerked her into their room.
“I’m beat too.” Joe muttered with a yawn, then laughed “But as I see plenty of rooms, I am not bunking with you Gil.”
Gil chuckled and with a wink said “That’s just fine, you’re cute, but not my type.”
Doc walked Gil to a room on the far side of the circle of rooms.
“My room is four doors down if you need me for anything Gil, here’s your room, good nigh…” in midsentence he stopped and walked away toward his room with a simple “hmmmm…maybe, just maybe…” and his door closed behind him as Gil chuckled and entered his room.
His room was a combination sitting and sleeping room with a moderately sized bathroom to one side and a closet on the other. He opened the closet to find several uniforms that were obviously too small for him. He opened the next closet door to see dresses.
“Awww,” he muttered as he flipped the hem on one “not my color.” he began to undress as he headed toward the shower/ tub and was surprised to find a jet-tub.
Feeling more human and still slightly puckered from the long hot soaking in the tub Gil wrapped his towel around his waist and headed back into the main bedroom. There was a knock on the door. Gil opened the door to see Izzy standing there and she looked sadly at Gil.
“Sue is in our room crying.”
He motioned her in and Izzy sat on one of the chairs.
“I guess I should ask why…and also why you’re telling me.”
Izzy smiled a half smile and Gil could sense trouble coming.
“Because you’re the one making her cry.”
“ME?” he scrunched up his face “What the hell did I do? Jesus, I’ve always treated your sister with respect.” he sat in the chair next to Izzy “Look, you told me about her past, and it made no difference to me. I sincerely doubt that she is the woman she used to be back before all this happened. Why the hell is she sad?”
“You told her that you told me about her past?”
“Ok, so I fuc…screwed up. She was crying that she was so worried that she’d slip and say something and then if you asked…and that she couldn’t lie to you if you did ask about her past. That’s when the tears started coming.” Izzy sighed sadly “So I said that before we met up, I told you about her past and that you said that was in her past and I felt that I should mention it because you said to me that can people change.”
“Yeah…uh, that might not have been a good idea.” Gil sighed.
“No shit!” Izzy replied as she slumped back into her chair and flailed her arms in the air “I was trying to help her understand that you take people as they are, not as they were…and all she did was cry harder.” She folded her arms about her and snorted “Adults! Phfft!”
Gil was at a loss for words so he figured it was best for him to get dressed again. He looked at the soft inviting bed and sighed; it appeared that sleep was once again out of the question.
“I’ll get dressed and go talk to her.”
“You do that,” Izzy sputtered “you figure out how to let her down without crushing her and let me know how the hell that goes. Me? I’m parking my ass right here until you get back”
She looked at Gil as he closed the door to the bathroom and spoke up loud enough for him to hear through it “YOU KNOW THAT IF I WAS A FEW YEARS OLDER, I’D HAVE A SERIOUS CRUSH ON YOU AND SIS WOULD HAVE TO WATCH OUT FOR HERSELF.” Izzy giggled under her breath “Well ok, maybe I’d have to be a lot older.”
“I HEARD THAT!” came the reply “A lot older my ass…” Gil sighed “yeah, a lot older the way that I’m feeling right now.” and that brought another girlish giggle from Izzy who appeared to be enjoying his discomfort over the entire situation.
It didn’t take him long to dress and with a quick run of fingers through his short blond hair he sighed at the guy in the mirror.
“Well smart ass, when’s the last time you’ve had time to chat with a woman in deep conversation?” His mind drifted back to his last longtime girlfriend…
“Baby, I have great news! My astronaut training has finally paid off, I’ve been accepted for a mission.”
“Oh honey, I’m so happy for you! Tell me all about it!
“I can’t it’s top secret.”
“When do you start?”
“Tomorrow.”
The love of his life sighed deeply and Gil swallowed hard knowing her next question…
“How long will you be gone?”
“10 years…but baby…”
“And you signed up for this without asking me first?”
“And then she slammed the door in my face.” he looked at the guy in the mirror as he sighed “Damn, didn’t go well…didn’t stop and think how she’d feel about it, and now I’m supposed to find the right words toooo…rats!” Gil walked out into the bedroom and looked at the lass looking at him.
“You, come!”
“No way Gil!” Izzy pulled a plush pillow that she’d grabbed off the bed and laid it across her lap as she tucked her feet under her “You go tell Sue that you don’t love her, I’m not gonna be there when you tell her you don’t have feelings toward her…I hate to see a grown woman cry…you tell her that…you…” Iz sat up straight as she looked at Gil’s face.
“Oh my Goooooddddd, you do have feelings for her!”
Somewhat embarrassed and not sure why, Gil stammered “Feelings, Iz, feelings. Look kid, I like your sister, I think she’s funny, smart, and nice to be around.”
“And her smokin’ bod don’t hurt either no doubt?”
“IZZY!” Gil shouted.
“Oh good God Gilbert Wells…you act like I don’t know what men and women do behind closed doors, or bushes, or whatever…or where ever.”
“Enough!” Gil sputtered as he slipped out the door “Christ, kids!” he closed the door behind him to the laughter of the young lady that had obviously enjoyed his discomfort.
He walked around the half circle of the upper level and looked down at the now mostly dark communal area below, sighed again, and knocked gently on the door hoping that she’d cried herself to sleep and he wouldn’t have to face another deep conversation, with which he didn’t have a stellar track record.
As luck would have it, she was awake and answered the door quite violently as she ripped the door open and snarled “Iz, you damned well that…”
Gil stood there completely stunned at the woman that stood there before him…in just a pair of panties. He spun as he looked away, Sue at first frowned, and then gasped as her state of attire quickly sank in.
“Sorry,” Gil stammered “Iz was worried about you and she asked if I’d… well you know, come check you out…er, on you…I mean not on you, but…”
Sue pulled her robe off the chair and covered the front of her, and she was laughing softly.
“My God, look at us.” she laughed in a musical tone “Me crying, I must look a mess.” She tossed her raven hair as she made sure it was dry with her free hand as she clutched her robe to her breasts with her other. A quick glance down to make sure she was covered, she continued “You stammering over words so that I don’t get the wrong impression…look, I don’t know what Izzy told you, but, I guess the fact that we’re finally safe, I kind of let everything come out all at once and it overwhelmed me...” she chuckled “and you can turn around, I’m covered.”
He turned and forced an uneasy smile “I just wanted to make sure…uh, that you…uh…”
“Oh, sorry, come on in.” Sue swung around and walked into the room “Close the door behind you I don’t want anyone else to know I had a…a…moment.”
He closed the door and turned to walk into her room “Crap!” Gil swallowed hard trying to find the best way to tell Sue that while her front half was covered from her chest to her knees, she forgot about her rear half. But seeing her gracefully move across the floor in a tiny pair of lacy panties, the words were slow in coming, a bit too slow…
In one graceful swoop, her slender arm swung down behind her bringing the lower half of the robe that was in front of her, and pulled it behind her to cover what she had forgotten to cover.
“Sorry, I didn’t intend for that to happen.” she sat on the sofa and patted a spot next to her.
“Look Gil, I know Izzy told you about how I felt about you just by the way you were stammering.”
Tears once again started to well up in her eyes as she looked down at the floor “I know that you know I was once a junky whore with few morals. I know that you’ve treated me with just the greatest of respect, no different from the others. I also know that in time that we might be more than friends…” she looked up hopefully “maybe? Maybe if you got to know the new Susan, the one that kicked drugs, that hasn’t laid with a man in…” a stunned look crossed her face “my God, I can’t remember the last time…not since I got sober.”
“Whoa, Sue!” Gil worried that he was allowing her to get a bit too deep into conversation that he had no idea on how to handle “Iz said you were getting sober before the invasion…that is a long time.” He smiled and his rugged good looks made Sue feel more at ease and uncomfortable at the same time. He tried to make a joke, her heart skipped a beat; he did care for her somewhat if he’d try to make her…make her what? Before she could think more, he smiled that great smile of his and admitted, “Been a bit longer for me too, but then again I was sleeping for most of the apocalypse.” he gave her a sheepish grin.
“Well, it hasn’t been quite that long, remember I didn’t get straight until the refugee camps, that was a year or two into the…” she sighed sadly “I guess what I was trying to say was that I probably was stoned out of my mind the last time I had sex.” she loo
ked at Gil with soulful eyes and he knew deep inside that she wasn’t lying to him, nor would she.
“Izzy only told you what she knew. The truth is, I was much worse. I’d do anything to anyone if it meant a hit or cash, I was not a good person Gil.”
He slowly touched his fingers to her lowered chin and raised her gaze to meet his “Those were the drugs Sue, not you.”
Tears trickled down her face “I wish that were true, the truth is I loved sex, I started out as a stripper, turned tricks on the side. I loved the power I had over men, I loved the feeling that I was so much in control…” she sniffed sadly “and then realized that I hadn’t felt anything for a long time. You see, that is when the drugs began to flow heavily. I didn’t care who, or what, I had to do as long as I had my next shot, snort, or…” she burst into full out crying and didn’t care that Gil saw her, then realized that she did, but it was too late now. She had bared her soul to him and now it was his time to accept or reject her. What happened next surprised her.
Gil slowly put his arm around her shoulders and pulled her head to his shoulder as he cradled her gently. She threw her arms around him and sobbed, it was as if a heavy weight had been lifted from her and then he hit her with ‘his truth’.
“I killed a man when I was seventeen. It was a fight, I didn’t know him and hell I guess we both were as guilty as the other. Stupid fight over something I can’t remember about what any longer. Totally useless fight and I ran, and ran. I thought I was so tough and left home so I could be on my own and the first thing I did was kill a man. The guy and I started arguing over something and I killed him with my bare hands. Oh back then I was afraid to go home, so I told the folks everything was ok but I was moving to another city for a job opportunity…so you see I lied to them, killed another human being, and been so afraid that I’d someday be found out. I told no one out of fear. I also never told you how I felt about you because…well, of my past. How could anyone care for a murderer?”
“You told me.” she sniffed in his shoulder “What’s past is past.”
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