Alternate title: Three Men and a Baby

[axemeaquestion]

Holy hell of a morning.

After Coach had gotten shot, the motherfucking mountain man, the one the other called Marshall, didn't waste time. The other woman quickly introduced herself as Jean, a nurse and Marshall's wife, and had barely started trying to stop Coach's bleeding when Marshall brought up the bunker. It was less of a reccomendation and more like a demand. With Coach bleeding as bad as he was coupled with Rochelle's condition, which he would bring up later, the faster they got out the better.

And it was just in time, because as soon as the four of them got out of the hospital and made their quick introductions. Well, introductions coupled with arguing, especially when it was brought up who had shot Coach. Jean was about to shut them up with the roar of a horde did it for her. It didn't take more than a second for them to decide what to do. They abandoned the van (temporarily, they hoped), carried Coach and Rochelle into Marshall and Jean's pickup truck, piled in, and drove the fuck out.

Coach managed to stay conscious, even with all the blood he was losing. Rochelle, though, was out hot (pun intended) in her feverish condition. Jean did her best with the both of them. She said there was a doctor at the bunker, a co-worker she escaped with before she found Marshall again, who could give them a lot better help. Otherwise, between driving and trying to stablize the others, Jean and Marshall didn't have much focus to explain themselves and the bunker. As soon as they were out of the woods, that story was being saved.

The horde finally caught up when they got to the bunker. The slow opening door didn't help. But a crescendo later and the door opened enough for them to crawl under, and all that's left was to shoot the zombies trying to do the same until the door slid closed, just as slowly.

It finally did, and Coach leaned against the wall. He panted, hard.

"God DAMN..."

Jean moved over to him and offered an arm. Marshall was already carrying the unconscious Rochelle in both arms of his own arms, seeing as he wasn't sure how good of an idea it was to haul a pregnant woman over his shoulders.

"Gotta agree with that shit." He grunted. "Doc better still be here."

Comments

[candyass]

Last thing they needed was this crap. Coach getting shot and even though he was toughing it out as well as he could, Nick couldn't bite back the worry and neither could Ellis. For Coach or for Rochelle... today was just all kinds of shitty.

If there was even the smallest bit of hope though, it was that Marshall and Jean were talking about a doctor and they could damn sure use one of those right now.

Oh and the fucking horde of zombies that came after them? That was just the icing on the goddamn cake. Just what they needed when two of their own were out of commission. Now, Ellis? Ellis was a damn good shot. He trusted the kid, no matter what he said or how much he complained. Nick just had an inherent distrust of strangers.

Especially strangers who fucking shoot someone in his group, but whatever. The incentives to follow outweight any grudges. The bunker is pretty solid looking by the time they manage to get inside and yeah, still the promise of a doctor is fanastic.

He's panting at against a wall himself, nursing some scratches and wounds from when a few of those sons of bitches got too close, Ellis is at his side looking about the same damn way, but they're all in one piece.

Pushing off the wall, he notices some other people rushing in, others in their little group or something, he guesses. Some tall, lanky guy who rushes in demands to know what's going on, some kid who couldn't be older than Ellis really looks like he's gotten the shock of his life at the sight of all of them, some other faces too, but he doesn't really give a damn about them. Nick turns to Marshall.

"Where the hell would this doctor be hiding? We ain't got all goddamn day here."

[axemeaquestion]

Marshall glances at Nick, and just grunts again. He looked like your usually didn't give a shit kind of guy, but in reality he was just focused as fuck on getting these four here and alive before he was making any apologies.

Not that he said it, though.

"Around. How the hell am I supposed to know, we just got here. You want that damn help'r not?"

"Marshall, for chrissakes." The look his young wife made him pause, but finally he let it go. He didn't say anything, only made an annoyed noise and moved for the others to explain.

"Accident. We got a big guy with a bullet in him--" He shifted Rochelle in his arms. "And she's got a fever. She's pregnant. Where the fuck's Doctor Travis?"

[candyass]

Nick narrowed his eyes, but he kept his mouth shut. The important thing seemed to be yeah, getting Coach and Ro checked out... and really? Least they could do after they fucking shot one of their guys. He gritted his teeth, looking at Marshall.

"This doctor you've got... does he have experience dealing with stuff like this?"

[axemeaquestion]

"No fuckin' clue, but we're gonna find out." Hey, might as well be honest. He looked to his wife. "Probably in the back again."

"Yeah, come on."

Another shift of Rochelle in his arms and he and Jean were carring Coach and Rochelle down and around a hall. There were a lot of rooms. Most of them looked like big storage rooms with furniture in an attempt to make it look like anything but that. But the occasional bed, table, and whatever other knick-knacks strewn still made things look like any other post-apocalyptic safehouse. But definately a lot more stable. Cleaner. Hell, actually safe. It was a hell of a lot different from anything Coach had ever seen in a while. The wheels started turning in his head, trying to come up with ideas and what this meant. But from the amount of blood loss, the attempt to think didn't go very far. He just went back to focusing on the pain.

And at least on Jean. She was a small woman, pigtailed blonde and lot younger than Marshall seemed. Marshall, signifcantly bigger than her, would have been the one to carry him if Jean hadn't insisted he carry Rochelle and she get Coach (which, if he could think straight, would give Coach the impression of a level-headed but stubborn woman). So vaguely, in his haze, he tried not to keep all of his weight on her. It was painful as hell but he was trying, despite Jean's on and off insisting that Coach didn't need to carry himself like he was (which, thinking straight, gave Jean the impression of a gentlemanly but stubborn man).

Rochelle, on the other hand, was still mostly out. But bumping around being carried made her stir occasonally. On and off she would groan before drifting back out. This time, after the first groan in a while she started to talk. She didn't open her eyes, but she would start to murmur things.

"Whe... where are we." Another weak pained sound came out of her and she rolled her head to the side. "Nick... Nick. What should we name the baby...?" Now that got Marshall's attention. God dammit. "He still needs..."

He looked down at her. Great. If the big guy bleeding out on Jean wasn't already guilting him enough, now this one was talking to him like he was her freakin' baby daddy. At first he didn't say anything, then he just looked back up. Trying not to look back down, and finally speaking in a tone more restrained than his previous gruff attitude:

"Go back to sleep."

A few seconds passed. Marshall guessed Rochelle had taken his advice. It wasn't a far walk to the other end of the hallway. What looked like a medium-sized medical room was ahead of them, and an older gentleman was inside, organizing and fiddling.

Jean and Coach struggled up to the door and pushed it open.

"Travis, we got survivors."

[candyass]

Nick cursed under his breath and barked for Ellis to follow him because like fucking hell was he letting Coach or Rochelle out of his sight in this place. He'd believe how well meaning this guy was when he saw it.

Thankfully, Ellis thought twice about saying anything, just following at Nick's side and gawking around because goddamn, this place had some stuff going for it. Safety being at the very top... and none of them had seen safety in a hell of a long time.

Nick tried to ignore it when he heard Rochelle calling for him, asking for a name for the kid. Like he knew... didn't even know if they were gonna be keeping it or not. He let out a huff and pushed a hand through his hair.

Thank God that they found the doctor finally. Better be able to do something.

WOO

[axemeaquestion]

A skinny, bearded older man looking up from where he was arranging things on a counter. On one side of the room was a counter full of what looked like mismatched medical supplies. On the other were two stretchers for beds.

"What happened?"

Marshall got in next. "I shot the guy." Then he motioned for Rochelle. "She's pregnant and burning up."

The guy apparently named Travis stared.

"You SHOT the guy?"

"Accident." Marshall got Rochelle on the stretcher-bed. Jean got Coach on the other one. "Come on, doc, we don't got much time with these two."

Travis turned all the way to face them, took a deep breath, and got to business. "Jesus christ. Okay, I need everyone out but those two, Jean, and me. Jean, close the blinds for me." He looked to Ellis and Nick. He could guess they had been all together. "We'll do what we can."

Jean nodded and went to close the blinds of what was apparently some kind of viewing window. "Sorry, boys. We need as much room as we can get."

"You heard the lady." Marshall nodded and stepped out. He paused. "Travis and my wife are good at what they do. They'll be fine."

HOWDY

[candyass]

"What do you mean you need me out?" Nick's jaw tightened, his eyes narrowing between the other three in the room. Glaring at Marshall like he was planning on complaining, protesting further, Nick had to force himself to calm down... they needed room and this was serious. Coach looked like he was in bad shape and Ro was suffering too...

Fuck.

He felt a tug at his jacket and saw Ellis leaning in, voice hushed, "C'mon, Nick, you know they're gonna do what they can. Let's get outta their way, man."

Reluctantly, Nick nodded and turned to follow. Too bad he didn't feel any better from the reassurance. Nick took in a breath and let it out, stepping out of the room and leaning against a wall outside, arms crossed over his chest. He glanced over to Marshall.

"So what, your wife's a doctor too or something?"

[axemeaquestion]

Marshall sat down on a seat nearby. He would have said something to Nick's glaring back there, but the kid looked like he got it for him. He crossed his arms too, and nodded... albeit a little awkwardly. These were the friends of the guy he had shot, what the hell was he supposed to say to them? He hoped bringing them here at all could be his apology. For now, he started at the wall and pretended he couldn't hear anything going on in the room across from them. Because eventually, Coach was going to be moaning and yelping in there.

"She's a nurse. Those two worked together before the infection hit our town."

[candyass]

"Shit." Nick let out a breath. He was still pissed, but this whole day had taxed on his goddamn nerves until all he could do was slouch heavily against a wall. He felt exhausted to the freaking bone and for once, Ellis looked in about as good of shape as him.

"So, what's this set up you have here?" He finally asked, if only to distract himself from whatever noises were going to be coming from this room.

"How long have you had it?"

I LIKED THAT ICON IT FIT PERFECTLY...

[axemeaquestion]

Marshall decided that was a good idea too. These guys probably had a hell of a morning, and the pain they could start to hear Coach in from the other room didn't really help.

"From what we heard, it's a half-finished military bunker. I dunno how much of that is true, seeing how nobody really believed what was going on in the east coast until it hit here, but... it's here."

He stood up slowly.

"F'you want, I'll give you the tour." He nodded at them. "We had this place a few months already. Take in whoever we can, if anyone's alive to find us. Whoever built this place made it to last. We try to ration things out and make sure we keep food from other places too, but hell, we still got leftover military rations too."

HE WAS LIKE, "HEY YOU WANNA PLAY A CARD GAME?"

[candyass]

Whatever it was, it was secure and that was what was important. Nick kinda wished they could have found a place like this for awhile. Beat the hell out of what they'd been doing. He reached up, rubbing at the back of his neck before nodding.

"Yeah, sure." He pushed off the wall to follow Marshall, Ellis moving to follow too.

"So was this place abandoned when you got here?"

"DUDE........."

[axemeaquestion]

Marshall nods back. He motions for Ellis and Nick to follow them. He figured he'd be doing them a favor. From what he's seen of these guys already they don't seem like the type to forget a friend. But they've been through enough of a hellish morning. A 20 minute distraction wasn't going to hurt them.

"For the most part, yeah. Whoever did this must've started too late, cuz they packed up in a hell of a hurry." Marshall's bet was still on military, or at least military people. Not everybody believed this was really happening, but nobody else had the resources to build something so complex in such a short amount of time. They were either government run or crazy old rich people. "Most of it's a damn lifesaver. We ain't who made this, but between what they did and us working on the weak spots we're thinking we could live here a long time if we're careful."

They rounded a corner. There were metal stairs to the right, veering off into what looked like air vents and power generators. On the left was a door that lead into a little windowed cafeteria.

"From what we've seen this place looks like it was gonna be built to hold a lot of people. There's a LOT of empty rooms between here and downstairs. We've been collecting furniture for the rooms people've claimed already. But besides a whole lotta empty rooms, we got a break room, the med center, an armory me an' the set up, a security station that doesn't work... oh, and showers. Working showers."

Marshall figures that's gonna be music to their ears.

IT HELPS HIM RELAX OKAY...

[candyass]

Ellis gave a whistle as they walked through the halls, looking around. "Hot damn... did you say you had workin' showers?"

His eyes widened, excitement brightening up his features again as he gave Nick a nudge. "Know where I'm goin' later, dude."

Beyond an annoyed glare, Nick didn't spare Sam much of a second glance before his eyes were back on their surroundings. Seriously, this was one of the safest places they'd seen in a hell of a long time. Almost a shame to leave it, but he figured they would have to eventually.

"Don't suppose you have some rooms we could crash in for the night? No way in hell am I leaving until we're sure Rochelle and Coach will be alright." A wound like that would be an easy infection out there and Rochelle? Damn... He couldn't help a pang of worry over the kid.

Funny how he hadn't even wanted the damn thing and now he was freaking out over the possibility of her losing it. And her.

SORRY THIS WAS LATE. Been brain dead lately or internet's been fussy! Also, hope this is okay!

[candyass]

It was almost strange after spending so long on the run from goddamn zombies, feeling like every day and night dragged on way too damn long for comfort, how the months just flew by. They all settled in, finding various ways to be useful. They helped with chores around the bunker, helped with gathering and guarding their little safehouse.

Well, Nick, Coach, and Ellis did anyway. Rochelle had given them enough of a scare already without risking any more damage to her or the kid. She needed to take it easy, worry about herself and all that kinda crap.

Nick knew that left her feeling antsy probably, but eh...

Though now that it was getting closer to her pushing the kid out? Nick wasn't too damn calm. He was wound tight, not sure how this was going to go at all, let alone what they were going to do with her after she was born. Their idea to let someone else adopt her... well, there were people around and probably people who'd want her too, but it was too damn complicated.

He hadn't exactly talked much with Rochelle about it either.

And he wasn't going to bring it up now either. He was goddamn tired after being out half the day on a supply run. Stripped down to his pajama bottoms, Nick gave a lazy stretch and went to lay down next to Rochelle. They shared a room here and they'd done their part trying to make it feel comfortable, more like a home while they were here. Hopefully they could make this work awhile...

"You ready to get some sleep, Ro?"

NO PROBLEM AND THIS IS PERFECT YEE

[axemeaquestion]

The longer they waited, the more Rochelle knew she should have done it sooner. She should have asked sooner if the people here would want their baby. Her only real excuse was that adjusting to the fact that she didn't have to sleep with one eye open made her forget. Ro was way too used to being in survival mode. Even back when they were at the military base.

But now she was huge (at least, she felt huge) and it was almost time. Maybe she could still talk to Jean. Ro overheard her talking about babies sometimes. But sometimes stopped her every time. Maybe she didn't want to think about it. Or maybe she was getting more and more attached to that little life kicking inside of her. Some days weren't great. Some days were better.

The few times she and Nick actually talked about, it was easy to argue or brush it off. She should have at least mention it to Nick. She should have done a lot of things.

Ro had been in bed most of the evening. Something didn't feel right. It wasn't the same kind of scare they had months ago--she'd felt better since then. This was different. Grunting, she tried to shift into a more comfortable position.

"Ugh--I guess."

Awesome!

[candyass]

"You okay?" He gave her a look as she shifted around. She didn't exactly sound okay, didn't look too comfortable either. Nick'd be lying if he said he wasn't still a little one edge... she's been fine these last few months, but she was getting closer to her due date.

Not only that, he couldn't exactly help worrying that something else might happen, something else that'd need attention. Hopefully not though.

And normally, he pushed those worries aside. She'd been doing fine after all and she'd keep doing fine if he had any goddamn say in it.

[axemeaquestion]

"Not really," Rochelle murmured under her breath.

Shit, something was off. She couldn't really describe the feeling either. It was like a cramp, but with more pressure than pain. Ro rolled on her side, away from Nick, to see if it would help anything.

Not really.

[candyass]

"You need me to get somebody?" He pushed himself up and suddenly, sleep was honestly the last thing on his mind. He didn't want to ignore it if there was something wrong.

"What is it?"

[axemeaquestion]

Rochelle tried tossing herself into one more position. That didn't work either. Shit. She rolled back on her back and tried to push herself up as much as she could. With her belly as big as it was now, it was impossible to sit straight up from her position. The pressure wasn't helping, either. Her arms were behind her, palms flat on the mattress, holding herself up.

"Go get Travis. I don't know what's wrong."

[candyass]

"Yeah... yeah, alright. Just hang on, Ro." Shit. He got to his feet and headed for the door, rushing to find Travis. Hopefully, he'd be in his own room or something... Fuck, what if the kid was coming?

What if there was something wrong with her?

He was going to drag Travis out of bed and down to this freaking room if he had to.

[axemeaquestion]

'I'm trying' Rochelle wanted to say, but all that came out was a groan with a pang of pain hit her. She pushed back the worst of a whimper and waved him off. Fuck, this was starting to hurt. And lying down wasn't cutting it, either. A few seconds after Nick left, Rochelle rolled to the edge of her side of the bed and shakily got herself up.

Then she felt something drop. She looked down.

Oh, god dammit.

MEANWHILE (I'M DOING THIS TO MAKE IT MORE SUSPENSEFUL EVEN THOUGH YOU'LL NEVER GUESS WHAT JUST HAPPENED TO ROCHELLE)...

Travis was asleep in his room. It wasn't that late, but it had been a long goddamn day and the good doctor crashed as soon as he hit the old, dirty mattress.

[candyass]

Oh goddammit.

HE'S MISSING ALL THE ACTION.

Because he's running like hell to get to the doctor's room and banging ont he door. "Hey, Doc? get your goddamn ass up! Something's wrong with Rochelle."

Travis, don't make him come in there.

[axemeaquestion]

IF YOU WERE ROCHELLE YOU WOULD WANT TO MISS ALL OF THIS ACTION.

Also god dammit, Travis was having a decent dream about a time when Vegas strippers weren't zombies when the banging on the door woke him up. He slipped off the mattress and stumbled to his feet and opened the door.

"Jesus, what's going on?"

[candyass]

WELL, UNFORTUNATELY, SHE CAN'T. Baby's gotta come out sometime, Rochelle.

And Nick sympathizes. He misses non-zombie strippers... it's kind of soul crushing to think about what Vegas is now.

But there's a possible baby on the way or something.

"It's Rochelle. Something's going on."

[axemeaquestion]

God dammit everything sucks.

Travis hazily reaches for his glasses. "Okay, okay--" He puts on a professional, serious tone as best he can in his half-asleep state. "Take me to her."

Meanwhile, Rochelle was still staring down at the mess she made. Her water broke, and the stretchy track-pants she wore for comfort were soaked in all the right spot.

"SHIT."

And holy delayed reaction, Batman.