Sanctuary

by Courtney McPhail

  “I’d like to see those files,” Malcolm said and Angela nodded. “You really haven’t heard anything from him since he went to Homeland Security? Nothing on the sat phones?”

  “Nothing,” she said with dejection in her voice. “There was radio chatter that most government buildings had gone into full lockdown. We figure he was in one of them and it would take him time to get out, especially at DHS. That could mean he’s weeks behind us, maybe longer depending on how difficult the road here is for him.”

  Malcolm noted that she still spoke in the presence tense about her uncle. She still believed he was going to show up here. While Sheppard was a tough son of a bitch, he remembered Craig listing DC as one of the cities that had been bombed. The odds of him surviving the city getting napalmed and then making it all the way here were extremely low.

  Obviously they hadn’t heard about the airstrike on DC and he wasn’t about to tell them now. His group had been given so much hope today, he didn’t want to snatch it from others. There would be plenty of time to tell them the truth later.

  “If anybody could do it, it’d be the Director,” Malcolm said. “Hell, I wouldn’t be surprised if more of the members show up. This place is good motivation. Making it here is what kept all those people in there going. It wasn’t just the safety this place offered. It was the hope that they could rebuild what they had lost here.”

  “It was the same for me,” Nas said. “After seeing thriving cities burning and more dead bodies than I could count, I think I would have lost all motivation if I hadn’t had the goal of coming here.”

  It was true. The easiest way to stem off panic in a crisis was to establish goals to complete that would solve the crisis. You assessed the situation and then took the first step and then the second step and so on.

  Well, they had taken the first step but they needed to keep going. Without goals, it would be easy to slip back into a panic or let the morose thoughts of what had been lost and what could have been drown them. He would have to keep them motivated and the Director’s files would provide the perfect motivation.

  “You mind if we get the Director’s files?” he asked Angela. “Seems like watch here is pretty quiet so they’d help keep me awake for the next couple hours. We can also start working up how to put his plans into action.”

  “Of course, I’ll get them,” she said, rising from her chair and heading into the lodge.

  Nas waited a moment after the door had closed before he leaned over and spoke in a low tone. “I know the odds of Sheppard showing up are low but she believes it and Elaine and I don’t have the heart to tell her otherwise.”

  “Smart move,” Malcolm replied. “DC was bombed almost a month ago.”

  Nas cursed under his breath. “And the odds plummet further. Are you going to tell her?”

  “It can wait.”

  Nas nodded his agreement. “Your arrival has given her hope. If you can make it so can he. Best let her keep that hope for a time. Besides, he could surprise us all. As you said, if anyone can make it here, it would be him.”

  The door creaked open and their conversation stopped as Angela emerged with several thick folders in her hands.

  “These are the year one files.” She sat in her chair, resting the stack of folders in her lap before she handed him the one on the top. “This is the general overview file. There are also separate files with details on security, agriculture, expansion, medical and communications.”

  Malcolm flipped open the folder and looked at the imposing stack of documents. “Looks like there’s quite a lot to go through.”

  “My uncle is very thorough,” Angela replied with a chuckle.

  “That he is,” Malcolm replied, picking up the first document. “Well, let’s see what he has planned for us and work out how to get it done. We want him to be impressed when he gets here.”

  Angela gave him a bright smile at that and he couldn’t even feel guilty. He wasn’t lying to her really. Whether the Director made it here or not, they were still going to make sure this place was exactly what he had envisioned. If the worst happened, Sanctuary would stand as a memorial to the man.

  Subject File # 749

  Subject: This place is amazing. I feel like I’m in a dream but I never want to wake up.

  Administrator: Is it everything you expected?

  Subject: And more. I want to thank you for this. You’ve given us a home again.

  “It’s beautiful.”

  Kim’s awestruck voice made Janet smile. The sunrise on the island really was beautiful. After weeks of only seeing horrible things, it was a heartwarming sight. The sun was just starting to peek above the trees and though it was the same sun that had risen every other day, it truly felt like the dawning of a new day.

  “Time to switch up watch,” Janet said after glancing at her wristwatch. “I’ll go get them.”

  She wasn't eager to leave the porch on such a beautiful morning but Quinton and Jackson were their relief and Janet didn’t want them to miss it.

  She slipped into the lodge where the others were still sleeping. She tiptoed over to where her children were sprawled out with Claudia and Quinton flanking them. Ruthie was snuggled between her brothers, all of them still sleeping soundly.

  She knelt down next to Quinton and placed a hand on his shoulder. His eyes flew open, disorientation from waking up in a new place clear in them, but then he focused on her and relaxed.

  She smiled down at him, brushing away the curls that had fallen on his forehead and he smiled back at her.

  “Time for your watch,” she whispered and leaned down to press a kiss to his lips. “Come on.”

  He took her hand and stood up, his sleepy eyes roving over her and making her shiver. They had only had that one time together at the motel but the feel of his hands on her body was burned into her memory.

  “It’s beautiful out there,” she told him but he put his other hand on her hip, tugging her so she was flush against him.

  “It’s beautiful in here,” he said, his eyes only on her.

  He bent his head and kissed her, this kiss sensual and full of promise. She had a sudden urge to tell him to forget his watch shift and come with her to one of the empty cabins. Except if they disappeared, an alarm would be raised and then she’d have to explain to everyone exactly why they had disappeared. No thanks.

  She pulled back from him, cupping his cheeks in her palms. “You aren’t going to get out of watch duty by distracting me.”

  He chuckled and kissed the tip of her nose. “Alright, let’s get Jackson up.”

  “Already up,” came the gruff reply from three sleeping bags over. “Heard yer lips smackin’ together.”

  “He makes it sound so romantic, doesn’t he?” Quinton said to her. “A true poet.”

  Jackson gave him the middle finger as he pushed to his feet.

  “Come on outside,” Janet said. “I want you to see it.”

  Quinton followed obediently as she led the way outside. She heard his intake of breath as they walked out onto the deck.

  The sun had risen high enough that it lit up the grassy lawn around the lodge and the trees that ringed it. A smaller building was just south of the lodge, a stone path leading from it to the kitchen door in back of the lodge. The building was made of rough-hewn logs like the lodge, weather and time ageing them to a dark brown like the trunks of the trees that surrounded them.

  Birds twittered in the trees as they began their search for a morning meal. The sound of the lake was muted by the trees but you could still make out the sound of the waves hitting the shore.

  “It’s peaceful, isn’t it?” Kim said. Her voice was quiet, as if she was afraid of speaking too loud and breaking the spell.

  Quinton wrapped an arm around Janet’s waist and pulled her in close to him. “It really is.”

  Janet rested her head on his shoulder, letting herself enjoy just being in the moment. For so long it had seemed like they had no chance to stop and catch their breath
. No time to let themselves think of something other than plans and supply lists and what their next move was going to be. Now they had that chance and the four of them stood there quietly, taking it all in.

  They had made it. They were safe.

  “I hate to end this but I should probably get breakfast started,” Kim finally said, pushing away from the deck railing. “I’ll have someone bring you boys out some plates.”

  With that, she disappeared inside the lodge.

  “I should go help her,” Janet said but Quinton held fast to her hand.

  “Come on, stay out here with me.” He nuzzled her neck. “We can curl up in the chair over there, make out for a bit.”

  “Please don’t,” Jackson grumbled and Janet laughed.

  “Ignore him,” Quinton said with a grin. “He’s just jealous.”

  “Nah, just nauseous.”

  Quinton laughed and Janet was happy to see that the tentative ceasefire the men had declared after the dealership seemed to be transforming into a friendship. She knew that would be a relief to Veronica.

  “You two stay out here, enjoy it,” she said. “Once the kids are up, I’m sure they are going to be out here and the peace will be gone.”

  Quinton smiled. “That’s fine. We don’t mind.”

  She kissed him again and headed back into the lodge to join Kim in the kitchen.

  When she walked through the door, she found Kim with Lorraine and Craig. The three of them were staring through a doorway in the back of the kitchen. They turned around when she came in, huge grins plastered on their faces.

  “What?” she asked and Craig laughed.

  “You aren’t going to believe this.

  She walked up behind them and realized that they were staring into a giant pantry.

  It was filled with floor to ceiling shelves stacked full with cans and boxes of food, all neatly lined up with their labels facing out. An industrial sized fridge and deep freeze stood at the end of the room, a steady hum telling them they were both working.

  “There is enough to last for months,” Kim said with excitement and walked into the pantry, the rest of them following her.

  “Oh my god!” Craig cried out when he opened the deep freeze. “There’s bacon!”

  He held up a package of bacon like it was a prize. They laughed when he lifted it to his lips and kissed it. “I’ve missed you.”

  “What else is in there?” Lorraine asked as she joined him at the deep freeze.

  “At least an entire cow’s worth of beef. Lots of pork and chicken too.”

  Lorraine moved over to the fridge and opened it. “Not much in here. Looks like leftovers from last night's dinner.”

  She bent down and pulled out the freezer drawer and let out a happy squeak. She pulled out a can of frozen orange juice concentrate. “It’s filled with these. Guess we’ll get our vitamin C today.”

  “The kids will be happy,” Janet said.

  “I’m gonna go defrost this bacon,” Craig said and left the pantry.

  “I’ll make the juice,” Lorraine said and quickly followed behind him.

  Even though Quinton had given Craig the all clear to be on his feet, Lorraine was still mother-henning him, staying close in case he needed help.

  “They are cute,” Kim commented after they had left. “So are you and Quinton.”

  Janet felt a blush rise in her cheeks but she couldn’t stop the goofy grin that spread across her face. She liked the idea of people finding them cute. It had been so long since she had felt like this. She had forgotten how wonderful the honeymoon stage of a new relationship could be.

  “You and Malcolm are pretty cute too, you know,” Janet said and Kim smiled.

  “We are, aren’t we?”

  They laughed but Janet cut hers short when she spotted several boxes on one of the top shelves. She reached up and pulled one down.

  “I think I know what we should have for breakfast,” she said, holding out the box of pancake mix for Kim to see. “Do you think it would be too much to ask for syrup too?”

  They moved their eyes back to the shelves, searching over them and it only took a few moments before Kim let out a triumphant cry and pulled down a plastic bottle.

  “The kids are going to flip,” Janet said and they walked out of the pantry with their haul.

  The microwave was already humming with the defrosting bacon and Craig had gotten to work on making a pot of coffee. Lorraine was at one of the two large sinks, filling jugs with water to make the juice.

  “Running water,” she said with a smile when Janet joined her at the sink. “Can you believe it?”

  “I promise I will never take indoor plumbing for granted again,” Janet replied, “Or cooking in an actual kitchen.”

  Angela had mentioned during her brief run down last night that the island had once been a resort. There were two electric stove tops set into the counter that lined the one wall, a large industrial hood mounted over them. Next to them, three ovens were stacked one on top of the other with enough room inside them to easily roast a thirty pound turkey.

  The microwave, toaster and coffee maker were on the other end of the L-shaped counter in the corner. A large butcher-block island stood in the middle of the kitchen, the shelves beneath it stacked with pots, pans and large bowls.

  The place was a dream for Janet. She had taken on a lot of the cooking duties for the group during their trip here. She hadn’t minded being the go-to chef. Truth was that she liked cooking but trying to heat canned food up over a camping stove wasn't the same. In this kitchen, she could really cook again.

  “Well, let’s get cooking,” she said, rubbing her hands together.

  They went to work on breakfast and soon the room was filled with the scent of coffee, bacon and pancakes. Lorraine poured them all a mug of coffee and she forced Craig to sit on a stool by the pantry door to drink his while she ran out mugs to Jackson and Quinton.

  The back door opened and Elaine walked into the kitchen, her eyes widening. Kim was the first to jump to speak.

  “I hope you don’t mind that we got things going,” Kim said. “We opened the pantry and got a bit excited.”

  Elaine smiled at them. “Of course not. You are free to help yourselves to anything. This is your home now too. I’m just happy to see the coffee ready. I’m usually the one who has to make it.”

  “Here,” Lorraine said, offering up a mug to Elaine who took it with thanks.

  “What can I do to help?” Elaine asked and Kim was quick to put her to work mixing up some of the powdered milk she had found in the pantry.

  “So,” Kim began, “Malcolm says you two worked together at the CIA.”

  “I was an analyst so we worked together on a couple operations.” She looked over at Janet. “You’re his sister, right? I remember he kept a picture of you on his desk.”

  Janet nodded. “I’m surprised you remember. It’s been years since he worked there.”

  “I’ve got a good memory,” Elaine replied.

  “What about you? Any family?” she asked and then realized the mistake she had made.

  In the old world, asking about family was perfectly acceptable small talk but in this new world, it was a loaded question that was likely to dredge up bad memories.

  Thankfully Elaine didn't seem upset by the question. “I’m originally from Seattle. My parents are still out there. I’m hopeful that they are okay. I thought about trying to get out there but it’s such a long way and I made a promise to be a part of the Omega Protocol. I know that this is where I need to be right now.”

  Janet could understand. It had been hard enough making their short trip north to the island. Trying to cross the entire country seemed impossible.

  “I noticed there is a satellite on top of that building next door,” Kim said. “Have you guys been able to connect to anyone?”

  Elaine paused for a moment, looking over at them, as if she was surprised that they had noticed the electronics mounted to the roof.
>
  “We’ve tried to connect to the government channels but half of them are inoperable and the other half are quiet. I set up a looped broadcast on one of the operable channels that says I will be listening every day at noon. I've talked to a few civilians out there but no one from the government. So, either the government is completely gone or our clearance isn’t high enough to acknowledge.”

  “You think they’d do that? Ignore you because you aren’t ‘special’ enough?” Craig made air quotes with his fingers. “It’s the end of the world out there, for chrissakes!”

  “Government can be...complicated,” Elaine said delicately, “And people in power fear losing it. They cling to the things that give them power. I wouldn’t put it past high levels in the Pentagon to ignore us if they are still there.”

  “Well, at least you guys are much more understanding,” Kim said. “Letting us come here and join you when we weren’t part of the original plan.”

  “The more the merrier, I say.” Elaine smiled and looked through the serving window. “Looks like your people are waking up.”

  Janet heard the children’s voices and she walked over to the kitchen door to wave them over. “You guys want pancakes?”

  The whoop of excitement Matthew let out as he shot to his feet woke up those that were still sleeping and Janet tried not to laugh at Banks’ bleary-eyed expression as he looked around the lodge.

  “So it wasn’t a dream that we made it here.”

  “Not a dream,” Mendez replied from her spot next to him. She sat up and sniffed the air. “Please tell me that bacon smell isn’t a dream either.”

  “Not a dream,” Janet said and the soldiers grinned at her. “Come on then.”

  The twins, Hannah and Ruthie were already filing into the kitchen ready for their breakfasts.

  “Is there syrup?” Matthew asked.

  “You bet,” she replied. “Milk and orange juice too.”

  “Awesome!” he cheered, pumping a fist in the air. “This place is great, Mom.”

  “It is, isn’t it?” It touched her to see her children so happy.

  “Can we go swimming later?” Mark asked.