Radioactive Chapter Eleven
Zac laughed as he sat on the canoe he and Kate had borrowed from Dale. He had wanted to try his hand at fishing something he had once been good at though he hadn't tried in such a long time.
"Can you stop looking at me like I am crazy?" he asked Kate as he raised an eyebrow. "I mean I know we've been out here an hour and I haven't caught anything but that doesn't mean I am doing this wrong you know."
Laughing at Zac's words Kate shook her head, "Oh no you aren't doing anything wrong," she smirked wondering how long it would take Zac to realize he had forgotten to put the bait on. So far he hadn't realized it yet and she was amused by that. Sometimes she swore her husband only had half his brain cells left. He probably wasted the others on smoking pot.
"I sense sarcasm in your voice," Zac said as he chewed on his lip now second guessing if he was doing anything wrong. "Am I doing something wrong?" he asked her as he made a face trying to figure out what it could be if he was.
Laughing more Kate shook her head, "You may have forgotten the bait," she said as she held up the container in her hand that held the bait. "I was wondering when you'd realize."
Zac blushed slightly at Kate's words, "Fuck I think I'm a blonde," he joked as he reached for the container and took it from her hands. Bringing the line back in he put the bait on and then threw it back out. He almost wanted to crawl into a hole and hide but he knew that Kate was used to his mistakes. Hell he had married her because she could correct his mistakes and she had more brains than he did.
"I still love you even if you are a blonde," Kate winked as she moved close enough to kiss his cheek. "Now catch some fish or my love for you might go down some."
Pretending to be hurt by her words Zac shook his head before looking out around him. It was peaceful out here and he swore he could forget that the world was messed up right now if he let his thoughts get lost. "Do you think Jessica is back yet?" he asked knowing she had left to go out with Glenn. He had seen the argument between her and Isaac.
Kate shrugged, "Maybe. You know sometimes it can take Glenn awhile," she said knowing she was worried for Jessica being out there. She wasn't sure what had possessed Jessica to even want to go but Kate wasn't complaining. At least being gone got her away from Merle Dixon for awhile.
"I know but he has my sister with him," Zac said feeling like he couldn't take another loss in his family. "I don't wanna lose anyone else right now."
At his choice of words Kate raised an eyebrow, "Right now?" she asked as she chewed on her lip. Was Zac finally going to admit things might not get better?
Nodding Zac looked away from Kate, "I'm not stupid Kate," he laughed some at his own choice of words. "I know things aren't ever going to be better anytime soon. I know I will probably lose more family before this is over but right now I don't want that."
Kate smiled at Zac's words. She was glad that he seemed to be coming around to things and realizing he couldn't live with his heads in the clouds.
"Does this mean you may be reconsidering the baby issue?" Kate asked though she knew even if he was there was nothing they could do. There was no way she could end this pregnancy. She doubted there was any abortion doctors around though the thought of abortion was still something Kate was against but she was scared for this child growing inside of her. She was scared for the life it was going to have.
Zac shrugged at Kate's words, "Would it matter if I have?" he asked her as he turned to look at her again. "It's not like there is anything we can do. Anyway I kind of already love this baby," he smiled though it was a sad one. It was his love for that baby that made him want to protect it but he knew he may not be able to do that. He may not be able to protect it or even Kate and admitting that scared him shitless.
"I love this baby too," Kate smiled and the words she spoke were true. She loved this baby more than life itself but she was scared and that fear still made her wish that there was no baby on the way even if there was no way to stop it.
After she spoke those words things went silent between her and Zac and for that she was thankful. It also seemed their talk helped Zac catch fish because eventually he caught three before Kate felt the need to go back to camp. She couldn't stand looking down at the fish in the boat especially not when they made her nauseated.
"Can you move the boat in some?" Kate asked as she made a face. "I think I need to go back to camp so I can go pray to that porclean god in the bathroom of the tour bus."
Zac laughed as he rowed the canoe back to the main land, "I think I may stay out here a bit longer and try to get more fish."
Nodding Kate stepped off, "Well hurry back and don't spend all night out here," she smiled before shaking her head and heading back towards the main camp. When she finally got there she looked around and smiled as she saw Avery and Zoe sitting down with Amy.
Scouting around more she rolled her eyes when she found Mac off flirting with some chick who she didn't know the name of but she was glad to see Mac was still Mac. At least the younger Hanson's still seemed to be themselves and that put her mind at ease for them. Well except Jessica because it seemed she still wasn't back. Kate was sure if she was Merle wouldn't be sitting in his truck.
Kate turned around and nearly jumped as she came face to face with Nikki who just smiled. "Way to scare a woman," she muttered as she shook her head.
"Sorry," Nikki apologized. "I just wanted to see if you wanted to help Miranda and I? We are folding clothes and could use an extra hand."
At the offer to fold clothes Kate nodded and let Nikki lead the way to where the two women were which Kate wasn't surprised to see was the tent the Morales family slept in. It was also where Nikki seemed to be most days when she wasn't hanging out with Lori. Nikki was doing a better job at fitting in than Kate was. The only woman Kate had really grown close to was Carol but it was hard to ever have a conversation with the woman when her husband was always hovering close by. Ed was like one big gnat you could never get rid of.
"So Miranda and I were discussing our families," Nikki started once she was in the tent again and sat down. "She has family in Birmingham and I told her you did as well."
Kate smiled at Nikki as she began to talk once they were all three in the tent. There was no sign of the kids so she was guessing that they were all off playing and Miranda's husband was gone so he was probably off with Isaac. It seemed both couples were fairly close.
When Nikki mentioned Miranda having family in Birmingham Kate perked up some, "Oh really?" she asked as she took a shirt from the basket to fold it. "Have they always been there or did they move there?"
"Well I was born and raised but I think my parents moved there once they got married," Miranda shrugged. "My husband has family there too. That's where we were headed after all this started but we still haven't got there."
Kate smiled some knowing what Miranda meant. All of the Hanson's had been heading out of Georgia as well and the ones who were still alive hadn't made it out yet.
"Isaac and I talk about heading to Florida," Nikki spoke up as she looked down. It was the first time she was telling any of her in-laws this and she was scared. "I have family in Florida and I just want to know they are okay. My sister and my mom. My nephews," she frowned wondering if they were alive or dead. She just wanted to know somehow.
Kate who had finished folding the shirt froze at Nikki's statement about her and Isaac going to Florida. "That isn't safe," she said as she eyed her sister-in-law. "Just you two and the boys."
Nikki nodded, "That's what Isaac says but he'd do it for me," she shrugged feeling guilty that she may get her family killed if they headed off to Florida. "It will probably never happen anyway. I mean for now we're safe and we're not going to take that away from our boys."
"Same with Morales and I," Miranda spoke up again. "We don't wanna ruin the safety that Louis and Eliza have."
Hearing Nikki say that her and Isaac probably wouldn't leave Kate relaxed some. "I had family here in Georgia too," she said as she chewed her lip. "I tried calling my mom but I never got a hold of her. I'm guessing things didn't turn out so well."
Frowning Nikki reached over for Kate's hand, "You never know she could be fine. I always pray that my family is safe. It eases my worries," she nodded knowing that she probably was being too optimistic but it got her through this.
"Yeah maybe I should start praying again," Kate whispered knowing that during all this her belief in God had changed. Before this she had been so hooked on Orthodoxy and her faith in God but now it was kind of hard to believe God existed. How could God do this and let this happen if he existed?
Nikki raised an eyebrow, "You stopped praying?" she asked knowing that was so unlike Kate. Kate had once been so devout in her faith that not praying would have killed her.
Kate shrugged, "Don't really see the use. Do you think if God existed the dead would be roaming free?" she asked Nikki as she kept a straight face.
Looking away from Kate, Nikki knew her sister-in-law had a point but that didn't mean she wanted to lose her faith. No she wanted to keep hers so she'd keep believing in God and praying to him.
At Nikki's silence Kate was almost relieved and eventually she slipped out of the tent going back to the tour bus. Going inside she smiled some seeing Taylor and Ezra both napping on one of the couches before herself heading back to the bunks to nap. Being pregnant it seemed was finally going to start taking it's toll on her physically other than morning sickness and nausea.
Zac laughed as he sat on the canoe he and Kate had borrowed from Dale. He had wanted to try his hand at fishing something he had once been good at though he hadn't tried in such a long time.
"Can you stop looking at me like I am crazy?" he asked Kate as he raised an eyebrow. "I mean I know we've been out here an hour and I haven't caught anything but that doesn't mean I am doing this wrong you know."
Laughing at Zac's words Kate shook her head, "Oh no you aren't doing anything wrong," she smirked wondering how long it would take Zac to realize he had forgotten to put the bait on. So far he hadn't realized it yet and she was amused by that. Sometimes she swore her husband only had half his brain cells left. He probably wasted the others on smoking pot.
"I sense sarcasm in your voice," Zac said as he chewed on his lip now second guessing if he was doing anything wrong. "Am I doing something wrong?" he asked her as he made a face trying to figure out what it could be if he was.
Laughing more Kate shook her head, "You may have forgotten the bait," she said as she held up the container in her hand that held the bait. "I was wondering when you'd realize."
Zac blushed slightly at Kate's words, "Fuck I think I'm a blonde," he joked as he reached for the container and took it from her hands. Bringing the line back in he put the bait on and then threw it back out. He almost wanted to crawl into a hole and hide but he knew that Kate was used to his mistakes. Hell he had married her because she could correct his mistakes and she had more brains than he did.
"I still love you even if you are a blonde," Kate winked as she moved close enough to kiss his cheek. "Now catch some fish or my love for you might go down some."
Pretending to be hurt by her words Zac shook his head before looking out around him. It was peaceful out here and he swore he could forget that the world was messed up right now if he let his thoughts get lost. "Do you think Jessica is back yet?" he asked knowing she had left to go out with Glenn. He had seen the argument between her and Isaac.
Kate shrugged, "Maybe. You know sometimes it can take Glenn awhile," she said knowing she was worried for Jessica being out there. She wasn't sure what had possessed Jessica to even want to go but Kate wasn't complaining. At least being gone got her away from Merle Dixon for awhile.
"I know but he has my sister with him," Zac said feeling like he couldn't take another loss in his family. "I don't wanna lose anyone else right now."
At his choice of words Kate raised an eyebrow, "Right now?" she asked as she chewed on her lip. Was Zac finally going to admit things might not get better?
Nodding Zac looked away from Kate, "I'm not stupid Kate," he laughed some at his own choice of words. "I know things aren't ever going to be better anytime soon. I know I will probably lose more family before this is over but right now I don't want that."
Kate smiled at Zac's words. She was glad that he seemed to be coming around to things and realizing he couldn't live with his heads in the clouds.
"Does this mean you may be reconsidering the baby issue?" Kate asked though she knew even if he was there was nothing they could do. There was no way she could end this pregnancy. She doubted there was any abortion doctors around though the thought of abortion was still something Kate was against but she was scared for this child growing inside of her. She was scared for the life it was going to have.
Zac shrugged at Kate's words, "Would it matter if I have?" he asked her as he turned to look at her again. "It's not like there is anything we can do. Anyway I kind of already love this baby," he smiled though it was a sad one. It was his love for that baby that made him want to protect it but he knew he may not be able to do that. He may not be able to protect it or even Kate and admitting that scared him shitless.
"I love this baby too," Kate smiled and the words she spoke were true. She loved this baby more than life itself but she was scared and that fear still made her wish that there was no baby on the way even if there was no way to stop it.
After she spoke those words things went silent between her and Zac and for that she was thankful. It also seemed their talk helped Zac catch fish because eventually he caught three before Kate felt the need to go back to camp. She couldn't stand looking down at the fish in the boat especially not when they made her nauseated.
"Can you move the boat in some?" Kate asked as she made a face. "I think I need to go back to camp so I can go pray to that porclean god in the bathroom of the tour bus."
Zac laughed as he rowed the canoe back to the main land, "I think I may stay out here a bit longer and try to get more fish."
Nodding Kate stepped off, "Well hurry back and don't spend all night out here," she smiled before shaking her head and heading back towards the main camp. When she finally got there she looked around and smiled as she saw Avery and Zoe sitting down with Amy.
Scouting around more she rolled her eyes when she found Mac off flirting with some chick who she didn't know the name of but she was glad to see Mac was still Mac. At least the younger Hanson's still seemed to be themselves and that put her mind at ease for them. Well except Jessica because it seemed she still wasn't back. Kate was sure if she was Merle wouldn't be sitting in his truck.
Kate turned around and nearly jumped as she came face to face with Nikki who just smiled. "Way to scare a woman," she muttered as she shook her head.
"Sorry," Nikki apologized. "I just wanted to see if you wanted to help Miranda and I? We are folding clothes and could use an extra hand."
At the offer to fold clothes Kate nodded and let Nikki lead the way to where the two women were which Kate wasn't surprised to see was the tent the Morales family slept in. It was also where Nikki seemed to be most days when she wasn't hanging out with Lori. Nikki was doing a better job at fitting in than Kate was. The only woman Kate had really grown close to was Carol but it was hard to ever have a conversation with the woman when her husband was always hovering close by. Ed was like one big gnat you could never get rid of.
"So Miranda and I were discussing our families," Nikki started once she was in the tent again and sat down. "She has family in Birmingham and I told her you did as well."
Kate smiled at Nikki as she began to talk once they were all three in the tent. There was no sign of the kids so she was guessing that they were all off playing and Miranda's husband was gone so he was probably off with Isaac. It seemed both couples were fairly close.
When Nikki mentioned Miranda having family in Birmingham Kate perked up some, "Oh really?" she asked as she took a shirt from the basket to fold it. "Have they always been there or did they move there?"
"Well I was born and raised but I think my parents moved there once they got married," Miranda shrugged. "My husband has family there too. That's where we were headed after all this started but we still haven't got there."
Kate smiled some knowing what Miranda meant. All of the Hanson's had been heading out of Georgia as well and the ones who were still alive hadn't made it out yet.
"Isaac and I talk about heading to Florida," Nikki spoke up as she looked down. It was the first time she was telling any of her in-laws this and she was scared. "I have family in Florida and I just want to know they are okay. My sister and my mom. My nephews," she frowned wondering if they were alive or dead. She just wanted to know somehow.
Kate who had finished folding the shirt froze at Nikki's statement about her and Isaac going to Florida. "That isn't safe," she said as she eyed her sister-in-law. "Just you two and the boys."
Nikki nodded, "That's what Isaac says but he'd do it for me," she shrugged feeling guilty that she may get her family killed if they headed off to Florida. "It will probably never happen anyway. I mean for now we're safe and we're not going to take that away from our boys."
"Same with Morales and I," Miranda spoke up again. "We don't wanna ruin the safety that Louis and Eliza have."
Hearing Nikki say that her and Isaac probably wouldn't leave Kate relaxed some. "I had family here in Georgia too," she said as she chewed her lip. "I tried calling my mom but I never got a hold of her. I'm guessing things didn't turn out so well."
Frowning Nikki reached over for Kate's hand, "You never know she could be fine. I always pray that my family is safe. It eases my worries," she nodded knowing that she probably was being too optimistic but it got her through this.
"Yeah maybe I should start praying again," Kate whispered knowing that during all this her belief in God had changed. Before this she had been so hooked on Orthodoxy and her faith in God but now it was kind of hard to believe God existed. How could God do this and let this happen if he existed?
Nikki raised an eyebrow, "You stopped praying?" she asked knowing that was so unlike Kate. Kate had once been so devout in her faith that not praying would have killed her.
Kate shrugged, "Don't really see the use. Do you think if God existed the dead would be roaming free?" she asked Nikki as she kept a straight face.
Looking away from Kate, Nikki knew her sister-in-law had a point but that didn't mean she wanted to lose her faith. No she wanted to keep hers so she'd keep believing in God and praying to him.
At Nikki's silence Kate was almost relieved and eventually she slipped out of the tent going back to the tour bus. Going inside she smiled some seeing Taylor and Ezra both napping on one of the couches before herself heading back to the bunks to nap. Being pregnant it seemed was finally going to start taking it's toll on her physically other than morning sickness and nausea.