Last time on Lovin' in the Apocalypse!
Rachel and Tom's first assignment begins in disaster. Separated by a herd of infected, the couple is forced to huddle with other people to survive. Both experienced more than simple survival and now have to deal with consequences.
Will Tom and Rachel's love remain strong after a big test or is this the final straw? Find out now!
Chapter 6: Coming Clean
Cameron noticed the change in Kelsey's mood almost immediately. The young woman was bubbly and apparently over the brooding silence she held lately. He was glad to see it but Cameron also noticed Tom. The man was nervous about something. He did not know the couple all that well but he saw Tom to be a pretty easy going guy who liked to joke around. Now, he seemed moody and a bit too quiet. Perhaps the close call rattled the man. Regardless, some part of him did not like the mood switch between Kelsey and Tom.
Cameron wondered if his consciousness was trying to find fault in the man because he spent all night cuddled with his wife. He did not feel guilty about it but did feel a little jealous when the couple ran to hug each other. Tom's hands moved on Rachel's body as if he was allowed unlimited access to her. He wanted that kind of access, wondering if he could somehow get her alone again. It seemed unlikely but he could dream. Cameron smiled, remembering their secret.
"Alright. Last night was pretty bad." No one wanted to make eye contact with him. "So I say we grab our shit and get back home. I never wanted to put you guys through that on your first job."
Rachel looked puzzled. "Leave? Did we finish the job?"
"Well, the job was just supposed to be Kelsey and I taking a look. Just to check if there was anything worth coming back for. Now that we know this is here, we can come back later with more people and trailers."
"We got an empty truck, we could at least load some while we're here." Rachel pointed over her shoulder at the very empty pickup truck.
"That's not the plan." Kelsey sounded a little too sharp, even to herself. "We usually don't bring stuff back without trailers."
"No, Kelsey. She's right." Cameron said, stepping up on the steps of the house. "We got an empty truck, might as well fill it up."
Kelsey gave Rachel a tight smile. "Fair enough. Let's fill it up."
Rachel looked around and saw Tom patrolling the area with his bow ready. He seemed off this morning, not saying much and keeping some distance. Did something happen between him and Kelsey? That seemed unlikely. She was so young, what interest would she have in a 30 year old married man? And Tom was not the type of guy to take advantage of situations that separated them. Still, the young woman seemed to be in a much better mood. It was strange that a bad night would make her feel better. Was this her own guilty conscience digging for something else? Some way to share the blame of what she did last night? Not that she did anything. Not really.
Rachel decided she was just being paranoid. She would talk to Tom when they got back to camp, tell him everything that happened and then it would be normal again. People were allowed to make mistakes. It's not the first time either one of them huddled together with someone else to survive a night. As long as she comes clean, this would not disrupt their love. Would she tell him everything though? Rachel heard Cameron's deep voice in her memory whisper, "Ray" and she shivered slightly. Maybe not everything.
Cameron, Kelsey and Rachel spent about an hour loading up and tying down the rectangular slices of insulation. Tom continued to stalk around the house, making sure no angle of approach was left unchecked. Everything was quiet and that was fine by him. Last night was like some unchecked fever dream in his memory. He could not believe it actually happened. Inside that shed, Kelsey had become like some siren of legend. The somewhat combative and very strategic girl turned into a sex crazed woman with only one thing on her mind. And how did good ol Tom react? By biting the forbidden fruit. How could he have done that? Not only to Rachel but to Cameron as well? Tom felt like an utter ass.
The mood in the truck was so thick with tension and it seemed that's when Kelsey thrived. Where in the fuck did she get bubblegum? No way. Was she faking chewing gum? Rachel felt oddly wound up by the young woman's behavior. She was like a toddler, trying to fill in every silent blank with nonsense. And good luck trying to have a conversation with her. The girl was not interested in hearing anyone else speak. She half wished Kelsey would think about whatever made her depressed earlier. Cameron seemed unfazed by it, sometimes even antagonizing her farther into a bit. Tom was just watching the sights of decaying houses and overgrowth reclamation out his window. The bow he half worshipped on the way to the construction site sat ignored on the seat between them.
Rachel did not know why the energy was off between them right now but she trusted Tom would talk to her when they were alone. She was intuitive enough to realize he felt bad about something and Kelsey's good mood was so god damn obvious, a blind person would point right at it. The depth of what happened was not concerning to Rachel. Tom has felt bad about things in the past. The last two years have been strange and trying times in many ways. Tom would feel guilty about having another woman cuddled up to him throughout the night. This post cuddle shame was not new. Plus, Rachel strongly suspected Kelsey just went through a breakup. Having a close call cuddle session would be just the thing to rebound a young woman right out of a bad mood.
After a ride that felt much longer on the way back, the exhausted survivors saw the signs of home. The sun was starting to set, giving them just enough time to get inside before having to use the headlights as more than a signal. Cameron flashed a pattern as the truck slowly rolled to the gate and the drawbridge began to roll down slowly.
"Do you guys have a name for this place?" Tom finally spoke up after being quiet for most of the trip.
"We call it Home usually but we did give it an official name. You know, for council records." Cameron pulled the pick-up truck into the gate and a couple of guys cranked the drawbridge back up. "Some of the more militaristic minded in the council were all about, "Home Base 1" or Alpha Base" but we found a compromise."
"Well, are you going to make us beg?" Rachel smiled at Cameron through the rear view.
Cameron put the truck in park and with much fanfare said, "New Washington!"
Rachel laughed. She could not help it. Not so much because of the name, although her first impression was not a good one. He just seemed so earnest and excited about it.
"Oh wow. Mrs. Hates it Here hates our name too. Big surprise." Kelsey rolled her eyes and made to get out.
Cameron stopped her by grabbing her arm. "Kelsey! What the fuck? Have some more respect."
"No, Cameron. It's okay. I deserved that. But, it's getting better. It just takes me a while to warm up to people."
A silent moment passed before Kelsey said, only a little begrudgingly, "I'm sorry. That was a bitchy thing to say. But you didn't have to laugh at him."
"I was more, laughing with him but yeah. I get your point. New Washington huh? Like, the new capital?"
"Exactly. We figured the old one probably didn't make it and no one else is likely to claim it."
"It's not bad." Tom said as he opened the door of the truck. "I'm going to start unloading so I can hit the hay. Didn't sleep last night."
"Yeah, I feel ya there. Don't worry about the truck. Some fresh youngster can do that. You guys go get some rest. We can meet up tomorrow for a mission review."
