Radioactive Chapter Fourteen
Zac ran a hand through his hair as he stood outside of the tour bus. It was the day the group was going into Atlanta. They were leaving soon and right now his family was out here wishing him goodbye. Well everyone but Kate. She was inside the bus and she had been giving him the cold shoulder now for the past few days. He knew his decision had upset her but he had made it because he wanted to step up. He was tired of just sitting around camp and doing nothing.
"She'll come around," Taylor said as he looked at his younger brother. It was written on Zac's face that he was worried about Kate. "I'll keep an eye on her while you're gone," he nodded before pulling Zac into a hug. "You just come back safe okay?" he asked before pulling away.
Smiling briefly Zac hugged Taylor and then pulled away, "I will come back safe," he nodded. "My reason to come back is sitting on that bus in there," he said referring to Kate and their unborn baby. "I'm going to make it back for them.
"Of course you will," Taylor smiled trying to encourage Zac though he seemed pretty confident as it was. "You're a strong man," he nodded as he reached out and pulled his son to him. Sometimes for Ezra's sake he wished he could be as strong as Zac though ever since his dream about Natalie he had been doing his best to get stronger.
Zac smiled more at Taylor's words then turned to face Jessica. He was surprised she was here since Merle was also going. "You aren't off saying goodbye to your boyfriend?" he asked before pulling his sister to him and sighing. "I'm kind of glad you aren't there with him."
Jessica laughed at Zac's words, "I already said goodbye to him before coming here," she confessed as she held Zac closer to her. "Keep him safe for me," she whispered to Zac. She knew Zac didn't like Merle but she trusted him to keep the man safe. She knew she couldn't lose him not after losing Joe.
Making a face Zac pulled away sighing, "I don't like the man," he muttered as he shook his head. "But for my sister I will try," he said as he looked into her eyes. He knew he couldn't disappoint Jessica.
After speaking to Jessica he finished up with his goodbyes and walked to the car where the rest of the people were at. Getting in he somehow squeezed between Merle and T-Dog without even realizing it though once he did he chewed on his lip. It was going to be an interesting ride into the city.
"I don't pity you," Andrea said to Zac as she got into the seat in front of him. Beside her Jacqui got in as Morales and Glenn both went to the front. "But I am sorry for where you chose to sit."
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Kate wasn't sure how long she had sat on the tour bus but eventually she heard the door open and she looked up seeing Taylor come inside. Forcing a smile she watched him sit on the couch in front of her. She figured Zac had sent him to come console her while he was gone. Nothing anyone said or did would make her okay until she knew her husband was safe.
"How you doing Katie?" Taylor asked as he looked at his sister-in-law. It had been awhile since Zac left. At least two hours now and he decided now would be the time to come check on her. Hopefully she would have had some time to calm down though he doubted she had calmed some.
"How am I supposed to be?" Kate snapped as she eyed Taylor. "My husband is out on what could be a trip that kills him while I sit here and worry if he will make it back to the baby and I. A baby that he told me I shouldn't worry about because he'd be here to protect us."
Taylor flinched some when Kate snapped at him, "He'll make it back and you and the baby will be safe," he reassured her giving her a smile. It wasn't a good smile but it was the best he could do since he hadn't been smiling much lately.
Kate shook her head as she laughed some, "You can say that all you want but it doesn't mean that I believe it," she told him as she crossed her arms over her chest. "Zac likes to pretend he is all macho and strong but what's going to happen if they encounter too many of those things? He can't take them all on by his self."
"I'm sure he'd try," Taylor said as he smiled more at the thought because he really could see Zac trying especially if it meant he would make it back to Kate.
Kate shot Taylor a glare, "Yeah and he'd get himself killed," she muttered before uncrossing her arms as she stood and headed outside. The moment she did she saw Lori heading off down towards where the tents were with Shane following after her. Rolling her eyes she shook her head and walked to the RV where she found Avery.
"What the hell is going on?" she asked before raising an eyebrow as Avery turned to look at her. "I saw Lori huffing off with Shane at her heels like the lovesick puppy he is," she whispered under her breath so only Avery could hear her.
Avery ran a hand through her hair as she tried to think of a way to answer Kate's question. "We got someone on that cb over there," she said as she pointed to it. "We couldn't hear them good but apparently they are heading into Atlanta," she shrugged before chewing on her lip briefly. "Lori went off about how we should have put signs up warning people away from Atlanta. Same shit she's been on for the last week. She even volunteered to go do it but of course her lover boy warned her out of doing it."
"And that's why she huffed off," Kate finished for Avery before rolling her eyes again. "I semi agree with Lori but it'd be dangerous for her to go alone so I guess I can understand why Shane said no."
"I can understand it too but I probably wouldn't have huffed off," Avery laughed some as she chewed on her lip. "Amy left after that too. Went to go collect more mushrooms and I think Jessica offered to go. Probably to get her mind off Merle which is good because she's been driving me crazy ever since they left."
Kate frowned when Avery told her how Jessica was. It was the first time in a long while that she could relate to her. Both of the men they cared for where out in that same city that Lori wanted to warn people away from. She could see why Jessica was driving Avery crazy. It was because she too was going crazy.
"I can relate to Jessica," Kate spoke as she frowned more. "She only drove you crazy because she's going crazy too. She knows Merle's out there in downtown Atlanta and she knows it's not safe. Hell she went there herself so she knows first hand how unsafe it is."
Avery paused feeling at a loss of words because she knew Kate had her there. Jessica did have a legit reason to be upset. It was because as much as Avery hated it her sister cared for Merle Dixon. Just like Daryl cared for his brother too. That was obvious in the way he had just left camp this morning before his brother had even left to go. He had completely brushed Merle off as he walked off.
She had figured it was just because he was scared even though Avery had huge doubts that Daryl would ever admit to being scared. He would barely even let anyone in so admitting to being scared would be a feat for him.
At Avery's silence Kate closed her eyes, "I think I am gonna go see if Carol needs help with anything," she nodded knowing that maybe she should take after Jessica and try to do stuff to get her mind off things.
Avery stood there as she watched Kate leave. Biting her lip she just stood there for awhile before deciding to find Amy and Jessica to help them with finding mushrooms and maybe forget the fact that she felt some sympathy for Daryl Dixon right now. She hated the guy even if he had saved her from falling down a few days ago. Though ever since then whenever she had showed up at the tent her sister shared with Merle she had timed it so Daryl would be there. Clearly she was just losing her mind and not trying to get close to him. She knew he'd never let her in anyway and maybe she should like it better that way.
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Zac stood in the department store and froze as he heard a noise not to far away. Looking around at the other people who had also become frozen he gulped some before looking out the front glass windows at the walkers outside who had gotten riled up from the noise. Walkers whom it seemed had finally noticed the existence of the group inside.
"Was that what I think it was?" Andrea asked as she stood by a rack of clothes her eyes looking at the people in the store with her.
"Gun shots," Glenn nodded as he closed his eyes listening to the moaning outside getting louder as more walkers came to the doors wanting in to get them. "I..I should go check on it," he spoke knowing he knew the back ways and the ways in and out better than anyone else in the group.
Zac raised an eyebrow at Glenn's insistence on going, "That's a death mission," he spoke being brutally honest. "You trying to get yourself killed?"
"No," Glenn answered. "But I'm the only one who knows their way in and out of places in the city," he shrugged as he headed towards the back doors. "You guys just be ready to let me back in when I come back."
Before Zac could object he watched Glenn leave and he heaved a sigh sitting down in the floor. His mind couldn't help to drift to his wife. Maybe Kate had a reason to be upset. Maybe in some weird way she knew this was going to happen. She knew they'd get trapped in this department store and this was how he was going to die.
Shaking his head at the thoughts of his death he knew he couldn't let that happen. He had to survive for Kate and get back to her and their baby.
"You okay?" Andrea asked as she walked over to where Zac had sat down. She hadn't really talked to the Hanson's much though she knew Amy was good friends with Avery. "You just seem a little not here right now."
Zac gave Andrea his best smile trying to appear as brave as he was trying to be. He couldn't show that right now he was kind of scared. "Just thinking of my wife," he confessed telling half of the truth.
Andrea smiled at his words, "She's pregnant right?" she asked knowing that word had finally got out at camp. She of course had heard it from Amy.
"Yeah she is," Zac nodded as he kept trying to remind himself he'd get out of this for Kate. He had to get out of this for her. "I'm scared I won't make it back to her now," he admitted as he forced a tiny smile.
"You'll make it back," Andrea nodded trying to reassure the man. Hell she was afraid of not making it back to her sister and she was afraid once she was gone her sister wouldn't make it without her. "We all will."
Zac again forced a smile wishing he could believe Andrea's words but it was hard to believe them.
Zac ran a hand through his hair as he stood outside of the tour bus. It was the day the group was going into Atlanta. They were leaving soon and right now his family was out here wishing him goodbye. Well everyone but Kate. She was inside the bus and she had been giving him the cold shoulder now for the past few days. He knew his decision had upset her but he had made it because he wanted to step up. He was tired of just sitting around camp and doing nothing.
"She'll come around," Taylor said as he looked at his younger brother. It was written on Zac's face that he was worried about Kate. "I'll keep an eye on her while you're gone," he nodded before pulling Zac into a hug. "You just come back safe okay?" he asked before pulling away.
Smiling briefly Zac hugged Taylor and then pulled away, "I will come back safe," he nodded. "My reason to come back is sitting on that bus in there," he said referring to Kate and their unborn baby. "I'm going to make it back for them.
"Of course you will," Taylor smiled trying to encourage Zac though he seemed pretty confident as it was. "You're a strong man," he nodded as he reached out and pulled his son to him. Sometimes for Ezra's sake he wished he could be as strong as Zac though ever since his dream about Natalie he had been doing his best to get stronger.
Zac smiled more at Taylor's words then turned to face Jessica. He was surprised she was here since Merle was also going. "You aren't off saying goodbye to your boyfriend?" he asked before pulling his sister to him and sighing. "I'm kind of glad you aren't there with him."
Jessica laughed at Zac's words, "I already said goodbye to him before coming here," she confessed as she held Zac closer to her. "Keep him safe for me," she whispered to Zac. She knew Zac didn't like Merle but she trusted him to keep the man safe. She knew she couldn't lose him not after losing Joe.
Making a face Zac pulled away sighing, "I don't like the man," he muttered as he shook his head. "But for my sister I will try," he said as he looked into her eyes. He knew he couldn't disappoint Jessica.
After speaking to Jessica he finished up with his goodbyes and walked to the car where the rest of the people were at. Getting in he somehow squeezed between Merle and T-Dog without even realizing it though once he did he chewed on his lip. It was going to be an interesting ride into the city.
"I don't pity you," Andrea said to Zac as she got into the seat in front of him. Beside her Jacqui got in as Morales and Glenn both went to the front. "But I am sorry for where you chose to sit."
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Kate wasn't sure how long she had sat on the tour bus but eventually she heard the door open and she looked up seeing Taylor come inside. Forcing a smile she watched him sit on the couch in front of her. She figured Zac had sent him to come console her while he was gone. Nothing anyone said or did would make her okay until she knew her husband was safe.
"How you doing Katie?" Taylor asked as he looked at his sister-in-law. It had been awhile since Zac left. At least two hours now and he decided now would be the time to come check on her. Hopefully she would have had some time to calm down though he doubted she had calmed some.
"How am I supposed to be?" Kate snapped as she eyed Taylor. "My husband is out on what could be a trip that kills him while I sit here and worry if he will make it back to the baby and I. A baby that he told me I shouldn't worry about because he'd be here to protect us."
Taylor flinched some when Kate snapped at him, "He'll make it back and you and the baby will be safe," he reassured her giving her a smile. It wasn't a good smile but it was the best he could do since he hadn't been smiling much lately.
Kate shook her head as she laughed some, "You can say that all you want but it doesn't mean that I believe it," she told him as she crossed her arms over her chest. "Zac likes to pretend he is all macho and strong but what's going to happen if they encounter too many of those things? He can't take them all on by his self."
"I'm sure he'd try," Taylor said as he smiled more at the thought because he really could see Zac trying especially if it meant he would make it back to Kate.
Kate shot Taylor a glare, "Yeah and he'd get himself killed," she muttered before uncrossing her arms as she stood and headed outside. The moment she did she saw Lori heading off down towards where the tents were with Shane following after her. Rolling her eyes she shook her head and walked to the RV where she found Avery.
"What the hell is going on?" she asked before raising an eyebrow as Avery turned to look at her. "I saw Lori huffing off with Shane at her heels like the lovesick puppy he is," she whispered under her breath so only Avery could hear her.
Avery ran a hand through her hair as she tried to think of a way to answer Kate's question. "We got someone on that cb over there," she said as she pointed to it. "We couldn't hear them good but apparently they are heading into Atlanta," she shrugged before chewing on her lip briefly. "Lori went off about how we should have put signs up warning people away from Atlanta. Same shit she's been on for the last week. She even volunteered to go do it but of course her lover boy warned her out of doing it."
"And that's why she huffed off," Kate finished for Avery before rolling her eyes again. "I semi agree with Lori but it'd be dangerous for her to go alone so I guess I can understand why Shane said no."
"I can understand it too but I probably wouldn't have huffed off," Avery laughed some as she chewed on her lip. "Amy left after that too. Went to go collect more mushrooms and I think Jessica offered to go. Probably to get her mind off Merle which is good because she's been driving me crazy ever since they left."
Kate frowned when Avery told her how Jessica was. It was the first time in a long while that she could relate to her. Both of the men they cared for where out in that same city that Lori wanted to warn people away from. She could see why Jessica was driving Avery crazy. It was because she too was going crazy.
"I can relate to Jessica," Kate spoke as she frowned more. "She only drove you crazy because she's going crazy too. She knows Merle's out there in downtown Atlanta and she knows it's not safe. Hell she went there herself so she knows first hand how unsafe it is."
Avery paused feeling at a loss of words because she knew Kate had her there. Jessica did have a legit reason to be upset. It was because as much as Avery hated it her sister cared for Merle Dixon. Just like Daryl cared for his brother too. That was obvious in the way he had just left camp this morning before his brother had even left to go. He had completely brushed Merle off as he walked off.
She had figured it was just because he was scared even though Avery had huge doubts that Daryl would ever admit to being scared. He would barely even let anyone in so admitting to being scared would be a feat for him.
At Avery's silence Kate closed her eyes, "I think I am gonna go see if Carol needs help with anything," she nodded knowing that maybe she should take after Jessica and try to do stuff to get her mind off things.
Avery stood there as she watched Kate leave. Biting her lip she just stood there for awhile before deciding to find Amy and Jessica to help them with finding mushrooms and maybe forget the fact that she felt some sympathy for Daryl Dixon right now. She hated the guy even if he had saved her from falling down a few days ago. Though ever since then whenever she had showed up at the tent her sister shared with Merle she had timed it so Daryl would be there. Clearly she was just losing her mind and not trying to get close to him. She knew he'd never let her in anyway and maybe she should like it better that way.
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Zac stood in the department store and froze as he heard a noise not to far away. Looking around at the other people who had also become frozen he gulped some before looking out the front glass windows at the walkers outside who had gotten riled up from the noise. Walkers whom it seemed had finally noticed the existence of the group inside.
"Was that what I think it was?" Andrea asked as she stood by a rack of clothes her eyes looking at the people in the store with her.
"Gun shots," Glenn nodded as he closed his eyes listening to the moaning outside getting louder as more walkers came to the doors wanting in to get them. "I..I should go check on it," he spoke knowing he knew the back ways and the ways in and out better than anyone else in the group.
Zac raised an eyebrow at Glenn's insistence on going, "That's a death mission," he spoke being brutally honest. "You trying to get yourself killed?"
"No," Glenn answered. "But I'm the only one who knows their way in and out of places in the city," he shrugged as he headed towards the back doors. "You guys just be ready to let me back in when I come back."
Before Zac could object he watched Glenn leave and he heaved a sigh sitting down in the floor. His mind couldn't help to drift to his wife. Maybe Kate had a reason to be upset. Maybe in some weird way she knew this was going to happen. She knew they'd get trapped in this department store and this was how he was going to die.
Shaking his head at the thoughts of his death he knew he couldn't let that happen. He had to survive for Kate and get back to her and their baby.
"You okay?" Andrea asked as she walked over to where Zac had sat down. She hadn't really talked to the Hanson's much though she knew Amy was good friends with Avery. "You just seem a little not here right now."
Zac gave Andrea his best smile trying to appear as brave as he was trying to be. He couldn't show that right now he was kind of scared. "Just thinking of my wife," he confessed telling half of the truth.
Andrea smiled at his words, "She's pregnant right?" she asked knowing that word had finally got out at camp. She of course had heard it from Amy.
"Yeah she is," Zac nodded as he kept trying to remind himself he'd get out of this for Kate. He had to get out of this for her. "I'm scared I won't make it back to her now," he admitted as he forced a tiny smile.
"You'll make it back," Andrea nodded trying to reassure the man. Hell she was afraid of not making it back to her sister and she was afraid once she was gone her sister wouldn't make it without her. "We all will."
Zac again forced a smile wishing he could believe Andrea's words but it was hard to believe them.