My Zombie Shelter (open to everyone)

[AmenRa]

I politely took the cup of tea and sipped it. I hadn't drank much tea, and as far as I could tell, this one was pretty good.

Soon after I wandered back to my tent. Max followed me inside, and I stripped down to my underwear and a tee shirt and crawled into my sleeping bag. The tent was large enough that Max took up his usual sentry position across the entrance fly. Within a few minutes, sleep grabbed me. My rifle and sidearm were stowed carefully beside me.

I awoke to sound of yelling. The sound of violence. I listened closely. Randy and Pandora were going at it. I could almost imagine hearing my radio key up and the dispatcher coming over with a call of a domestic dispute.

I pulled on my jeans and boots and stepped outside my tent. I watched and listened for a moment. Randy's actions with Pandora pulled my memories of BUD/S and Hell Week back from 20 years ago. Memories of pure exhaustion, being pushed to the edge and over it, having to make decisions when you could barely even recall your own name. The cold. Knowing that all you had to do was quit and it would all be over. But then knowing there were others going through it with you.

They had a saying. "Pain lets you know you're alive".

And another saying. "The only easy day was yesterday."

I've never forgotten either of those. Although I put my time in the navy behind me and focused on my career in law enforcement and training police canines, it has stayed with me.

It has definitely helped keep me alive.

When Pan and Randy returned from their spat, I ducked back into my tent. I laid down on the sleeping bag. Max came over and put his head on my stomach. I gave him a scratch behind the ears and a smile. As I petted him, his ears began to droop and his eyes closed.

I knew Pan and Randy were going to be alright. I knew we all were, eventually.

The last thing I remembered thinking about before I drifted off to sleep was tomorrow we all needed to get together and take an inventory of what we had and what we needed. And, how we were going to get it. I knew we needed fuel for the Subaru, and a way to replace or repair the window that was broken out. And ammo. You could never have enough ammo.

 

[prettyserpentine]

I woke up slowly, my head cradled against his chest, his arms around me. I smiled, snaking my hand up and cradling his stubbled chin, lifting my face and kissing him in the crook beneath his jaw and his neck, gently rubbing my nose against him. I groaned a little, arching my back and wondering why we had slept so long. I wondered why Mara hadn't... I breathed in, and opened my eyes to reality. I blushed a little after realising what I'd done. I didn't move. I sat there. I didn't want to wake him, I realised as I lay there, my hand gently settling on his chest. It was familiar. Nice.

Maybe staying here wouldn't be so bad. I curled up again and rested my head against his shoulder.

I wondered if everyone else had slept. I hadn't even had dreams, for the first time since all this had happened. As I lay there against what was essentially a stranger, I thought. I looked down at my hand on his chest. Maybe now that there were so few of us left in the world, it was okay to be a bit reckless with such closeness. I suppose at the end of the day we have to stick together, conserve the human race and all that. How clinical, Pandora. I looked out of the window. The sky was pink. It must be very early. There was a faint mist over the tops of the trees. I watched my hand rise and fall with his breathing, and sat still.

 

[gearhead73]

It must be Saturday morning. I could feel the warmth of the morning sun on my cheek. I feel Fiona against my chest although I couldn't feel anything from the waist down. My legs had fallen asleep again and I dreaded those agonizing tingles that will spread from my toes to my ass when the circulation starts. Fiona had kissed my neck, maybe trying to wake me or maybe...what they had said about pregnant women had proved to be true with her and I looked forward to a vigorous morning.
I could feel her head nestled against me and I wrapped my arms tighter around her. The feeling of her so familiar that I didn't even need to open my eyes to appreciate her beauty, I had memorized every freckle and laugh line.
"Morning baby, I guess that bastard Clarence Edwards decided that he didn't need to mow the fuckin lawn at dawn for once. He's lucky, cause I'm thinking we could use a little quiet so I can concentrate on ple..." I had barely opened my eyes expecting her beautiful smile when reality came crashing through. I wasn't in my recliner in our living room, I was in a dirty weathered guard tower with Pan on my lap. We weren't getting ready to enjoy some weekend morning fun, we were probably, if things continued, gonna spend the day trying to kill one another.
Still, Pan was quite lovely in the morning and over the last months I had definitely woken up in worse ways. Although nothing or no one could ever replace Fiona, maybe having someone to wake up next to, could make this life that I had now bearable. She was staring at me, maybe plotting her revenge for my most recent attempt to kill her, but she didn't seem angry.
"Morning...how did you sleep?" I said, hoping that she hadn't heard my earlier greeting.

 

[prettyserpentine]

I smiled up at him, a little bleary-eyed, squinting in the morning light. "I slept okay. Better than I have in a while. I didn't even dream. First ever, since..." I couldn't help but notice his arms still around me, and one of his hands entangled in my hair. I fidgeted with my hands in my lap. "You know, we used to have a guy like that on our block. Joel had started keeping a note of the times he got up on weekends to use his leaf blower."

I swallowed, dipping my head again, a few strands of my black hair falling over my shoulder. I reached up and took the strands in my fingers, wondering if I should cut it. My heart was thudding, and I felt my face a little flush. Shit, maybe I should say sorry for kissing him? We'd woken up in our old lives for a few minutes each. Maybe that was normal.

"I didn't mean to wake you. How did you sleep?”

 

[gearhead73]

"I slept okay. Better than I have in a while. I didn't even dream. First ever, since...You know, we used to have a guy like that on our block. Joel had started keeping a note of the times he got up on weekends to use his leaf blower."
Dammit, she had heard me after all. She didn't seem phased by it, which made me feel better.
"That son-of-a-bitch mowed his grass every Saturday morning just to piss me off. We had bought that house for his worthless son who was leaving town to pursue a career as a rodeo clown or some shit. Anyway, ole Clarence didn't care for a family with kids moving in next door, so he did whatever he could to try to get us to move."
I could feel that goofy satisfied smile come back to my lips as I recalled the retribution I paid that grouchy bastard.
"One Sunday after that fucker had left for church, I drover four five-eighths inch cold rolled steel rods in the ground all except for two inches I left sticking up. I fertilized the grass on that side of the house and just waited. I could hardly sleep Friday night just waitin for that cocksucker to fire up that mower. At sunrise I was greeted by the sudden bang and subsequent cursing from that fucker after I destroyed the engine of his mower. Fiona made me buy him a new one, but that dickhead never woke us up again."
I was laughing at the memories of life long ago. God, I hadn't laughed in so long it actually felt strange.
"I didn't mean to wake you. How did you sleep?” she asked after I settled down a bit.
I looked into her beautiful green eyes that now, in the sunlight had a sparkle that added a glow to her pretty face.
"I slept good, the best I have in ages. But, could we get up? My ass will take half a day to wake up." I said with a smile. I didn't really want to get up, but if I didn't move soon, I might never regain use of my legs.

 

[prettyserpentine]

I bit my lip and tried to hide a grin. "Yeah, I didn't want to wake you but y'know, the whole guy-in-the-morning thing was poking me in the hip." I snickered and almost jumped to my feet. God, I had energy. I felt better than I have in ages. I put my hands up on the window and stared out at the compound. It was quiet. I was kind of glad, and thought it'd be nice if everyone had slept well. Stretching my hands above my head, I stood on my tiptoes and stretched myself as much as I could until finally my muscles felt less tense. I knotted my hair at the base of my neck and reached down, touching my toes.

It felt good to stretch without having to worry about a zombie biting you in the ass. It would have felt even better to do it without having to worry about Randy and his roving eye. I giggled, stretching up high again. Truth was I didn't mind. It made you feel all womanly.

"Hmm. It's looking like a pretty decent day. We might get a look at this place in daylight." I stood looking out the window with my hands on my hips when.... there was the lowest, loudest grumble. From my stomach. Ground, open up, and swallow me. I clamped my hands over my stomach and coughed, trying weakly to cover it up.

 

[gearhead73]

She was up like a shot. She made some comment about morning wood and went over to the window. I put my hands on the ledge and began the arduous task of standing. It wasn't that she was heavy, anything but, just sitting in that same position for however long had taken its toll.
She began twisting and stretching, bending over at the hip, I guess trying to work out the kinks from the night. There hadn't been an issue with little Randy earlier, but as I watched her bend to touch her toes, demonstrating amazing flexibility, there started to be. I began to take steps as that cold feeling was replaced by that annoying tingling as my legs and feet began to wake up.
"Hmm. It's looking like a pretty decent day. We might get a look at this place in daylight." she said looking out over the fields surround the place with her hands on those oh so seductive hips.
I walked over to stand behind her, "So you are going to stay with us for a while then?"
The words had just left my lips when I heard her stomach grumble. She wrapped her arms around herself and coughed trying to hide the sound. It was actually cute, trying to hide things like that. It's like when you are on that first date and you are trying to do everything just right to maintain that "perfect" persona.
I walked closer and put my hands on her shoulders. Leaning in, I placed a feather light kiss just below her left ear.
"C'mon, I'll buy you breakfast."
I straightened up and planted a playful smack on her right ass cheek, then turned and started down the stairs ginning like an idiot.

 

[prettyserpentine]

I reached up and touched the spot where he'd kissed me. I felt that rose colour come into my cheeks as I followed him down the stairs. He seemed happy. It was unsettling. We walked across the grass towards the cabin, and I stopped off at Mike's tent. I knocked on it once and heard Max grumble. "Breakfast time, boys! We're ordering in. I'm thinking....IHOP." I rapped my knuckles against the side again and followed Randy into the kitchen area.

"So. You're cooking? Do you know how to cook? At you sure you don't want me to do it?" I ran some water and started to boil it. I wondered if they had coffee. I hadn't had coffee in forever! The thought of it excited me more than I cared to admit. I grinned brightly, I felt so much better after a night's sleep.

 

[gearhead73]

"So. You're cooking? Do you know how to cook? At you sure you don't want me to do it?"
she said as she grabbed a pot and started to boil some water.
"Well, I can cook. Just grab me some eggs, butter, flour, lemon juice, and some Canadian Bacon and I will make us some Eggs Benedict. No problem."
I figured that at best we may be able to have some oatmeal, but who knew. There were a lot of things packed into these cupboards, we would just have to look around.

 

[prettyserpentine]

I raised an eyebrow at him. "Why don't we take it light this morning, hm? I'm pretty sure I saw animals and stuff floating around. Whoever set up this place is well prepared. We just need to see what we have, and wait for the others to wake up. Coffee... Yes!" I squeaked in excitement as I started to brew the coffee. God it smelled incredible. I was shite at making tea, but coffee was my go-to beverage.

I looked at Randy as he rummaged through the cupboards. "Find anything?"

 

[gearhead73]

"I found a good bit of canned stuff, there is fruit and veggies. There are some boxes of assorted oatmeal, I think we can make something work." I grabbed couple cans of the peaches and fruit cocktail and two packets of the oatmeal and set them on the counter.
'Coffee, yuk!' I thought but hid with a smile at her excitement. I hated coffee. I knew I was probably in the minority, but I had never acquired the taste for the stuff. It smelled great, but tasted like hot dead ass!
I grabbed a tea bag, and a couple of sugar packets that were in the cupboard above the stove. I had to reach over her and our bodies touched as she boiled water and I got the makings for some tea. It was nice being this close to her. I didn't have any illusions that we were a couple, but we were...familiar. I think we both knew where the other stood and in the absence of the ideal companion, you take the one you think won't kill you.
"All I need is some ice and a lemon wedge and I would have the perfect beverage. In a pinch though, hot tea will work."
I set out a mug and then reached for another and set it beside the stove for her coffee.
"You know, we could always eat the horses. I remember seeing them when I first got here. I can't ride, so I might as well get a steak out of it."

 

[prettyserpentine]

I felt his body against mine and I stiffened a little. It was strange. Like a sort of familiarity. I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear and poured my coffee. "Oh. My. God. It smells like liquid heaven." I lifted my cup and took a deep breath. It reminded me of weekday mornings. Getting ready for school. Forgetting my lesson plans and having to rush back home to get them and getting to kiss Mara again.

He made a crack about eating the horses and I looked up at him over my steaming cup of coffee. "Steak? Dude, I'm a vegetarian." I tried to hold a smile behind my cup.

 

[gearhead73]

"Vegetarian? Outstanding! That's one less I have to share with." I gave her a triumphant smile.
I steeped the tea bag and then added the sugar, and with a quick stir my caffeine fix was ready. I guess I really can't call it a fix, it had been forever since I had had any. I cringed as I remembered the withdrawal.
"You up for the oatmeal? That's grass, you can eat it." I said with a bit of sarcasm. I swear, it was freaky the way we were getting on. I could almost seeing us becoming friends at least, if not a bit more. I didn't think I would ever love or even care for someone again, but there was something about Pan.
She was tough, and smart, and she didn't put up with too much of my shit. Even besides the fact that now, in the light of morning, she looked ridiculously hot, I felt that I would want to be wherever she was. I just needed to let he know that she could trust me, and that could be difficult.
"Should we wait for the others?"

 

[prettyserpentine]

"Not if we're just having oatmeal. I think they won't mind." I took a sip of my coffee and closed my eyes. "Sweet lord. It's been so long..." I immediately wondered if everything else I hadn't experience for this long was as good after the past months. Then I turned scarlet.

"So what did you used to do, back in the normal world?" I eyed him up and down. I had thought lawyer, but then figured he was too foul mouthed. Maybe construction.

 

[gearhead73]

"Mechanic," I said matter-of-factly. "actually Senior Technician for Fleets and Facilities, was the title, but a grease monkey all the same. I was a regular Charlie Daniels of the torque wrench. If it ran or rolled I could fix it."
Jesus it seemed like so long ago. As I thought about it, I almost missed the smell of gasoline and oil. The feeling of turning nuts and bolts and at the end of the job having built or repaired something. I used to measure my day by the amount of money I made myself and my boss. Now we measured success by whether or not we lived to see another sunrise. My how things had changed.
"How bout you? If you tell me exotic dancer, I might just propose right here."

 

[AmenRa]

I was awake when she thumped the side of the tent. I called Max down as he had perked his ears and showed his teeth. Max had already woke me up by staring at me with the I have to pee face.

I pulled on my jeans, boots, and changed out the tee shirt I had slept in for an old one I had pulled out of my pack. The sleeves were a bit shorter on this one and the bottom part of my tattoo on my left arm showed a bit. I shook my head, wondering if any of the girls around were the type that dug tattoos.

I put on my duty belt and secured the leg strap for the Glock 21C's Safariland thigh holster.

Max was off like a rocket the moment I opened the tent fly. He headed to the corner of the fence wall, near the gate, and hiked his leg. I walked over and joined him. Once we were finished, I stopped by the Subaru and rummaged around in the back for a moment until I found the legal folder where I had stashed a bunch of maps. I took it with me and Max and I made our way inside where I smelled coffee.

I nodded my head to Randy and Pandora. Max nudged his way between them and stood still for a morning petting.

"Coffee?" I asked. "For real?"

I took a seat at the table and placed the folder on it. I opened it up and spread open a fold-out map of Washington. I had marked X's on towns and cities I had came through on my way here. There were, however, several small towns within a day's round-trip distance from us. I pointed them out to Randy.

"Recon, bro," I said to him. "After we take stock of what we have here, I think we need to locate more of what we don't have or what we are low on."

 

[prettyserpentine]

I laughed. "Exotic dancer? Hah. No. I was more stimulation for the mind. Try English teacher. Literature, specifically. And poetry. I know. Frightfully boring stuff. I'm sure I would have earned more swinging around a pole, but I daresay it wouldn't have been half as rewarding." I blushed a little. "I suppose now you're going to tell me I don't look like a 29 year old either?" I pursed my lips. I hated admitting what age I was. Then I frowned, and realised I wasn't 29 anymore. It was my birthday two weeks after what happened at home. God. I'd been thirty for months and hadn't even remembered. "Well, I suppose that's because I'm not..."

I tucked a stray strand of hair behind my ear and poured Mike a cup of coffee. "Here you go. Steaming hot wake up juice." I placed the cup in front of him, just beside his maps. It was like a regular morning. Three people drinking their morning tea and coffee. Just like the regular old world. Except outside the gate was the reason none of us knew and barely trusted the other. Max sat down between Randy and I and I absentmindedly reached down and scratched behind his ear. He was a German Shepherd. Just like the one my dad used to have when I was a kid. I loved dogs. I had always wanted to get one but Joel was allergic. I took a sip of my coffee as Mike set out his maps and then I lifted a little bowl, filled it with water and set it down in the corner of the kitchen. I had to coax Max a little to come and drink, I figured Mike had already done it but I suppose that's the wife in me. Always making sure everyone is fed and watered.

When I came back to the kitchen island, Randy and Mike were poring over a map marked with little X's. Towns or something, and Mike was talking about recon and making a stock inventory. He was a sensible guy. I wondered if he was one of those preppers, but Max kind of led me to believe he was ex-Army or something. Only guys like that had a dog as clever as Max. I grinned over at the German Shepherd as he finished lapping up the water. It felt normal, as I sat down cross legged on the floor and started running my hands over his soft fur. He was a gorgeous animal and had such beautiful, trusting eyes. "I bet you have been a great friend to Mike, huh Max?" I looked around at Mike. "You know, Emily Dickinson wrote that 'Dogs are better than human beings because they know, but do not tell'." I looked back at Max and scratched him lovingly under his chin. "Look at those eyes. A wealth of loyalty you'll never find in another being in these times." I just wanted to throw my arms around him and be five again, not thirty in the middle of a zombie apocalypse.

 

[gearhead73]

I learned that Pan had taught literature and poetry before all this. Although is surprised me some, as I stood there for moment, I supposed I could see that. I had visions of he black hair pulled up in a tight bun and a tight tweed suit. The whole naughty librarian thing accented with thin wire rimmed glasses...HOT. It was a far cry from her now, Star Wars t-shirt and all.
I thought back to the many yelling matches and pseudo conversations we had engaged in and felt a bit embarrassed at the language I used. It's just that I had long ago lost the need to speak civilly to anyone, I guess I will have to work on that.
I was going to try and find out even more about here when Mike entered the kitchen looking for coffee. That guy had impeccable timing I'll give him that. He had a folder full of maps and he laid them on the table spread out so we could look at them all. He had marked all of the places he had been with an 'X' so that he could keep track of where he knew the resources were already gone. There were still dozens of towns just in our immediate area that he hadn't been through. That didn't mean that others hadn't, but it still might keep us from covering the same ground twice.
There were four of us so the need for supplies would definitely be upon us and it was better to have what we need before we needed it. I was running a little low on ammo for the .308 and a few more boxes of .45 wouldn't hurt either.
"There are probably hundreds of houses outside of those towns too. Most folks head to the city looking for what they need, and totally ignore what people had in their homes. I could use and AR15 and some ammo for all of the rest. I don't know if I will be lucky enough to find something chambered in 5.56, but yours is, so that makes ammo a little bit easier to find."
Pan was playing with Max and as I looked at the two of them together I imagined that Joel, was one lucky man.
"Let me go check my back pack, I have a map that I had marked as well. We can compare notes and weed out the ones we have been through."

 

[prettyserpentine]

I tickled Max behind the ear as Randy went off to fetch his own maps. Men doing their men things. I guess I should have counted myself lucky that I had basically winged it thus far. I wondered where Kristi had gone off to. Maybe the smell of coffee would draw her out. I know last night she had been pretty upset, hopefully I would get a chance to check and make sure she was alright soon.

I pulled myself to my feet and dusted off my jeans. "A trip for supplies wouldn't be such a bad idea. Whoever made this place was pretty thorough from what I've seen, but we still could do with a few basic things, soap, maybe a change of clothes, medical supplies. And food. Although he does have that covered for a good few months I'd say. There's animals out back too. Chickens and the like. I'll go and see exactly what's back there. At least in the daylight it'll be easy." I flashed a friendly smile at Mike, and patted Max on the side. "Thank you, by the way, for last night. For letting me come back with you." I patted Mike once on his forearm. I was right. Ex service. He had the tattoos to prove it. I wondered which service he had been in as I wandered around back, waving at Randy as he climbed down the watchtower.

 

[gearhead73]

I grabbed the maps and headed back down the stairway running into Pan as she was walking outside.
"Where ya headed?" I asked as I met her at the door.
The sun was up completely and in the morning light she was looking radiant. Her long raven hair tucked behind her ears would glint in the sunlight as she turned to look at me. Her green eyes were alive and almost seemed happy, like a giant weight had been lifted from her shoulders.
"Mind if I walk with you a bit?"

 

[prettyserpentine]

"Sure," I said. "If you want. I'm just heading out to see what kind of animals and stuff there is back there. I heard chickens, I just want to see what else there is. There's a few sheds and a barn, could be interesting. As barns go, you know." I swept my hair over my shoulder. "I mean, what's the worst that could happen. And to be honest, it'll be good if you're with me. Maybe some maniac will attack me and shoot at me, and break my face... Oh no wait, that'd be you."

I fired him a cocky smirk and strutted off in the direction of the sheds, laughing, my hand covering my mouth.

 

[gearhead73]

Before I could retort she had already taken off toward the sheds. I scowled and shook my head. I have a feeling I was going to end up paying for that for a good while. As I thought about it though, it was good that at least she was able to joke about it. Most people would never be able to get over something like that so quickly.
I took a few short running steps to catch up to her. She was still giggling about her little quip, and I noticed how a smile really suited her. I would have to try to keep her wearing one.
The first shed we came to was a fairly large wooden outbuilding. It had apparently been here for a while because the rough cut siding on the exterior had turned that dull grey that exposed wood gets after years of sun and rain. I reached for the latch and opened the door, pulling it back so Pan could enter.
"After you mademoiselle." I gave an exaggerated bow as I pointed toward the inside with my hand.

 

[prettyserpentine]

As Randy held the door open, it took a minute for my eyes to acclimatise to the dark inside the barn. There were two high windows, casting a golden glow down on the animals. I almost felt excited. There were cows, and horses. I nudged Randy. "There's your steaks."

This was great. This meant fresh milk, and if we could breed them, it meant meat too. There was plenty of hay in the barn too, and I'd noticed a little enclosure of goats too. I turned to Randy, barely able to contain my glee. "We could survive here, you know. Whoever dreamt this place up has it nearly self sufficient. A generator, plenty of wood, enough food for a short while, animals..." I turned back into the barn and clapped my hands together. "This is good." I looked around, crinkling my nose a little at the smell of animal waste. "Ooh, shit!" I jumped and pointed. This is fantastic! Then I realised I probably looked like a mad woman. I explained. "If we can get some seeds and stuff, maybe from one of the towns, we could grow vegetables, apple trees." I looked back at the animals. There were at least three horses, and a foal. A little baby. I put my hand to my heart. Even now, things were still being born. "Life is trying to keep going."

 

[gearhead73]

When we were inside it became obvious that we had hit the jackpot when it came to this place. It was a preppers wet dream filled with animals such as cows and goats, which would give us milk and compost. There were chickens for eggs and meat when they quit laying. There were gardening tools and supplies to make repairs, enough stuff to live off the grid for quite a while.
Pan was going apeshit with excitement, running from one corner to the next pointing out all of the things that would let us "live" here instead of just survive. I smiled as I watched her bubbling with excitement. She had looked good before but now, even in the darkness of the shed she absolutely radiated.
"Wow! This place is fantastic. And you...I had never imagined you would look so...happy; of course, a night with me could do that to you I suppose."
I didn't wait for a response, but decided to have a look at things for myself. I started over to a far corner where I saw something covered with a tarp. When I pulled it back I smiled a mile wide as four good sized solar panels laid stacked against the wall.
"Check this out. I guess whoever bought these, never got the chance to put them up."
I replaced the tarp and continued looking on the workbenches and in the drawers and cabinets.
"You know, when Mike and I got here, there was somebody else here telling us to put our weapons down so we could be searched, but I never saw him. There were two others that had come in here before us too, but I haven't seen any sign of them. I wonder what happened to them?"

 

[prettyserpentine]

I almost squealed with excitement when I saw the solar panels. "Complete self sufficiency! If we had a good enough defence system we could just ride out the zombie storm, you know? We could make a decent life in here, a little civilisation."

I threw my arms around him. We could make it. We might survive, our little group. I felt like dancing. "Maybe there's more, I mean, there's a large acreage to this place, maybe there's another cabin, they just didn't want to be bothered by a bunch of new people..." I went scarlet as I realised I was holding onto him, and released my arms, stuttering and shoving my hands in my pockets. I was embarrassed. I lifted my hand to my face and remembered I had lost my glasses a day or two before. Dammit, Pandora, pull yourself together.