He snorted. “Wish you were sayin’ that under different circumstances.”
“Off. Now.”
Booker relented, tugging on the fabric. But as he went to lift his arms, he hissed in pain, and Caitlin helped him the rest of the way.
The gash on his shoulder was a deep, angry red, the skin around it inflamed and swollen. Just looking at it made her queasy.
“Jack, this looks infected,” she said, barely touching the skin around it and feeling how hot it was.
“Nah, it’ll be alright.”
She glared at him. “What, are you gonna wish real hard and hope it goes away?”
“I’ve been washin’ it, keepin’ it dry…”
“I don’t think any of that matters if you were cut by a rusty nail.” She frowned as she inspected it again. “I’m getting Nicole so she can look.”
Booker grabbed her wrist to stop her. “Darlin’ don’t, she’s prob’ly asleep.”
“And you’re gonna end up with gangrene or something.” She was out the bedroom door before he could convince her otherwise.
Luckily Nicole wasn’t asleep at all, and in another moment Booker had two women concerned over him.
“That’s definitely infected,” Nicole said.
Caitlin tossed a look at Booker. “See?”
He huffed. “Fine, I’ll wipe it down with somethin’ and slap some Neosporin on there.”
Nicole frowned. “I don’t know, Booker… When was the last time you had a tetanus shot?”
Leaning his forearms into his thighs, Booker shrugged. “Dunno… When I was in the service maybe?”
“How long ago was that?”
“A while.”
Nicole chewed her bottom lip as she looked over his wound again.
“Scott would know more than me…” She murmured. “But I think the best thing to do now is try to clean it with something like rubbing alcohol and put a compress on there to draw out the infection.”
Booker glanced at Caitlin. “The kit have rubbin’ alcohol?”
“I think so.” She was already on her way to getting it from downstairs. When she returned, she opened it up on the bed. “There’s alcohol wipes… Will that work?”
“It’s better than nothing,” Nicole told her. “Is there gauze and tape?”
“Yeah,” she said, holding it all up.
Nicole took it from her, ripping open a wipe. Caitlin found the small bottle of rubbing alcohol, but it was nearly gone. They used it anyway.
Booker flinched when Caitlin poured it over his cut, but he didn’t say anything. After a minute of tending to him, they covered his gash with gauze and tapped it up, careful not to push too hard on the irritated skin.
“Take a couple Tylenol before you go to bed and sleep on your other side,” Nicole told him, helping to repack their First Aid kit. “We’ll have to keep an eye on it for the next few days and change the bandages as often as possible to keep it clean.”
“Thanks, Doc,” he said with a grin, standing up.
Patting his arm, Nicole wished them both good night and shut the door behind her.
As soon as the lock clicked, Booker was reaching for Caitlin, but she swatted his hands.
“You need rest.”
“Cae—”
“Nope. I’m getting you Tylenol and water and you’re going to bed, mister.”
He rolled his eyes but there was a fondness in his smile that warmed her chest. Booker was letting her take care of him for a change. He’d let her in.
Heading for the hall bathroom, she searched the medicine cabinet and found the right bottle of extra strength pills. She paused, filling a water cup, staring at the pale green pattern around the rim.
If the world wasn’t broken, their life would look an awful lot like this.
The house from her dream, with the butter yellow curtains and big kitchen table. The ring on her finger. Dinners together in front of the TV. Getting a wine buzz at eight-thirty at night on a Tuesday. Lazy weekends spent tangled together in bed.
Work. Neighborhood cookouts. Anniversaries. Maybe even kids.
It would have been a good life.
But if the world wasn’t broken, they may have never found each other.
A trade off she didn’t have the heart to wish for.
Going back to their borrowed bedroom, she handed Booker his medicine and the water glass, and watched him swallow.
“Don’t I get a lollipop for bein’ a good patient?” He winked at her.
She grinned and motioned for him to get into bed. “When you’re healed up I’ll give you a surprise.”
“Lookin’ forward to it.”
She fell asleep with Booker’s arms wrapped around her, and dreamt of the house, the ring, the life they’d just have to do without.
***
Caitlin awoke to a room cast in grey light and a strange shuddering noise in her ear.
Blinking, she rolled her head on the pillow, trying to get her bearings.
The mattress was trembling behind her and she turned to look. “Booker?”
He had the comforter pulled all the way up to his temple, arms crossed in front of him as he shivered.
“Jack?” She turned over, facing him. “Hey, Jack…”
“Cold in here, ain’t it,” he muttered, teeth clacking together.
Panic spiked through her. The room was balmy no thanks to the summer heat and she was sweating through her tee shirt. She hadn’t felt a chill in weeks.
Pressing the back of her hand to his cheek, she gasped. “Jack, you’re burning up.”
He grunted, damp forehead wrinkling in a frown. “’M’alright.”
“No, no you’re not.” Flinging the blankets back, she clamored out of bed, running to get more Tylenol and water.
The noise of doors slamming open brought Nicole out of her room, rubbing her eyes.
“What’s wrong?”
Caitlin didn’t slow as she rushed back to the bedroom. “Booker’s sick.”
The woke Nicole up immediately. “Fever?”
“And chills,” Caitlin told her, kneeling on the bed. “Jack? Jack, sit up, you gotta take this.”
Barely aware, he pushed onto his forearm, but was so weak he couldn’t keep himself up. Cupping the back of his head, Caitlin angled him to open his mouth for the tablets and water.
“Do you have a thermometer?” Nicole asked, rummaging through the kit.
“No, and there isn’t one in the bathroom.”
Nicole mimicked Caitlin’s test, pressing her hand to Booker’s face.
“Jesus, he’s on fire.”
Caitlin’s throat threatened to close. “It’s the infection, right? It got worse, we didn’t catch it in time.”
Nicole grimaced. “I think so.” Looking to her friend, she said, “We gotta get his fever down.”
Ripping the blankets off him, Caitlin was already fighting to lift Booker off the bed. “Help me get him to the shower.” Looping her arm under his, she said, “Jack? Jack, I need you to stand up, okay?”
He was ghostly pale and shivering so badly he couldn’t walk a straight line. It took an incredible amount of effort, but they finally got him into the tub, propping him against the wall.
Caitlin winced as she turned the cold-water knob. “Sorry, Booker.”
He let out a surprised groan as the spray hit him and ducked his head to keep his face out of it.
“This isn’t going to be enough,” Nicole told her. “We need ice.”
“You saw the fridge downstairs, it’s been busted for weeks. We don’t have ice.”
Nicole’s concerned stare darted to Booker. “How much Tylenol do we have left?”
“Half a bottle,” she said, splashing cool water on the back of his neck and the insides of his wrists.
Caitlin’s rib cage suddenly felt too tight under her skin, organs being squeezed. She couldn’t breathe. This wasn’t how this was supposed to happen…
“’M okay, songbird,” Booker mumbled, str
eams of water running down his brow ridge. “I’ll be alright.”
She wanted to cry. He was on the verge of blood poisoning, fever nearly frying his brain, and he was still trying to comfort her.
“Nicole, double check the bathrooms, the kitchen, anywhere you can think. Pain meds, antibiotics, look for it all, okay?”
Nicole nodded and hurried out, leaving Caitlin to tend to Booker.
“Y’getting’ bossy?” Booker asked, tilting his head to try to look at her.
She smiled, despite the fear bubbling up her esophagus. “You know you like it.”
Combing her fingers through his wet hair, she comforted him as the icy water rained down. He was drenched and shivering but never complained.
She cupped his jaw, running her thumb over his cheek.
You’re gonna be okay.
I’m here.
I love you.
Nicole returned minutes later carrying a grungy bottle of generic aspirin and a couple washcloths. “This was all I could find.”
Caitlin nodded her thanks, but dread had a firm grasp on her insides.
Booker was only going to get worse. He needed antibiotics to fight the infection, more Tylenol to bring his fever down.
They were already running out of time.
“Songbird,” he mumbled, reaching for her hand weakly. “Don’t…”
Don’t worry.
Don’t leave.
Don’t put yourself at risk for me.
Gripping his fingers, she clenched her jaw.
It was the only time she’d ever refuse to listen to him.
***
Zipping her pack, Caitlin ran through the list in her head.
Enough water for a day, the revolver was loaded, and she had half a box of ammo, she was taking the hatchet from the shed, the map…
“Caitlin, I should go,” Nicole said from behind her. “You should be here with Booker.”
She shook her head. “You’re still recovering, I’m not going to make you go on a run by yourself.”
“Then let me come with you.”
“Booker’s in no condition to take care of himself, especially if another herd of Geeks comes through.”
“It’s too dangerous,” Nicole said, pitch rising with worry. “And we’re miles from any store—”
“I can make it.” She finished checking her pack and slung it over her shoulder.
“At least take the Jeep.”
Caitlin shook her head. “You need it. In case something happens, you take Booker and you get the hell out.”
“What about you?”
Her gaze was level on her friend as she said, “I’ll find you.”
Nicole blinked back angry tears. “How? How will you know where to go, how will we find you?”
“I found you once before, I’ll find you again.”
Nicole gripped the back of the kitchen chair so tight her knuckles went white. “Caitlin—” She cut herself off, taking a deep breath. “This is reckless. You shouldn’t go out there alone, without anyone to watch your back. And what if something happens to you? How will we know? What do I tell Booker if you don’t come home?”
Her resolve was already steel in her bones.
“Booker’s infection is only going to get worse,” she said. “I will not just sit here and watch my lover die knowing full well there’s something I can do to help him. I survived almost a month on my own, I can handle a day trip into town.”
Anger and worry etched deep lines in Nicole’s face. “Caitlin—”
“I know. I’m scared too.” After a moment, she jerked her chin at the paper clutched in Nicole’s other hand. “Did you write down what I need to get?”
Nodding, she handed it to her. “I wrote out the three antibiotics I remember, and the generic name in case that’s all they have.”
“Thank you.” Tucking the paper into her jeans pocket, Caitlin adjusted her pack. “If I’m not back by tomorrow—”
“Please don’t,” Nicole interrupted, tremor in her voice. “It feels like you’re jinxing it or something.”
Caitlin held her stare and said, “The Jeep is packed with emergency supplies. It’s enough to last you a week. Booker will fight you tooth and nail, but you have to promise me you’ll get him out too.”
Nicole nodded once.
“Good.” Caitlin headed for the door. Hand on the knob, she glanced over her shoulder. “Stay safe.”
She left before she could hear Nicole’s teary response.
***
She prayed to a god she wasn’t sure she believed in.
Booker believed. Maybe that was enough. Maybe God would listen on his behalf.
It was well past noon before the first viable township came into view. She could see the clusters of Geeks trudging through the streets, but nothing like the herd from days before.
She could outrun them. Fight them if she had to.
The broken Walgreens sign was her only beacon, a filthy lighthouse she couldn’t help but place all her hope in.
She managed to avoid a few Geeks by sheer speed alone. She stuck to alleys, careful not to get herself trapped in with any undead.
Clearly the place had been looted weeks before, the back door swinging open with ease. She wanted to rush in, but she knew the odds of a zombie being inside and she couldn’t risk being hasty.
Holding her breath, she listened.
Something was knocking around in an aisle, maybe a few meters away.
Adjusting her grip on the hatchet, Caitlin slipped inside, easing the door shut behind her.
Head on a swivel, Cae, Booker’s voice echoed in her head. Slow and steady. Clear a place before you start scavenging. Don’t need any surprises.
He’d been such a stickler for securing a building. Military training rearing its head each time they went out for supplies.
Aisle by aisle she searched for the thing making noise—metal on metal, clink-clinking and scuffling.
Rounding a corner, she saw movement and jerked back, pulse spiking.
Easy. Don’t get spooked. Just take it out clean, just like I showed you.
Inhaling, she tightened her grip on the hatchet and moved forward.
The possum devouring the contents of a busted can lifted its head and hissed, clearly upset at the disturbance.
Caitlin covered her mouth to stop from crying out, and then to stifle her laughter.
A possum. Of course.
Booker would have killed it anyway—good meat, he’d say—but she left the thing alone. They both needed the win.
She finished clearing the small store and beelined for the pharmacy at the back. Surprisingly most of the prescriptions had been left alone, but that was probably due to the fact they were almost all antidepressants and allergy medicine.
Pulling out the slip of paper, she reread Nicole’s writing. There had to be at least one bottle of antibiotics…
Groaning in frustration, she hopped over the counter, heading for the back. Searching the shelves frantically, Caitlin discovered bottles marked alphabetically and squatted down near the section she thought might prove fruitful.
Reading a label again, she checked the paper once more and nearly cried. It was the brand name antibiotic Nicole said would work fastest.
“Oh, thank God,” she whispered, grabbing the container and dumping the pills into the plastic bag she’d brought.
In her elation she spotted a small amount of Vicodin and grabbed that too, stuffing it into her pack.
Her last item—fever reducer—was easy to find closer to where the filled prescriptions were kept. She had just tucked the bottle in with the antibiotics when she heard another door swing open, heavy boots crunching on debris.
“Man, I told you—”
“Shut up, idiot, it’s in the back.”
Caitlin dropped down into a squat, hiding behind the counter. These were not Geeks, nor were they the voices she expected from a military goon squad.
Two sets of boots stomped throug
h the store, kicking at cans and casually searching the shelves.
“Ain’t nothin’ left in here t’eat,” one man said.
“We’ll eat after we get what we came for.”
Her heart thundered in her chest. They were coming closer.
Caitlin scanned the back of the pharmacy section. No exit.
Shit.
Silently crawling behind another shelving unit, she hoped she could wait them out. The two men were making enough noise to bring down a cluster of Geeks if they weren’t careful.
“What’s Well-Bu-trin?” One sounded out.
“I dunno, I think it makes ya happy or sumthin’.”
Caitlin prayed they were there for allergy pills.
She was wrong.
“Oh, shit man, grab that Xanax.”
“Why?”
“You ever crush that shit up and snort it? Fuckin’ get ya lit, man.”
Caitlin scowled. Great, she was trapped with a couple of pill poppers.
The world might’ve ended, but people never changed.
She waited and waited but they didn’t leave. And then one of them said to go to the back ‘where the good shit was’ and she knew she was in trouble.
Just when she thought running for it might be her only option, a pair of filthy boots came into view and suddenly she was staring up at one of the guys hunting for something stronger than Claritin.
“Oh-ho!” He hollered. “What’ve we got here?”
He had her by the arm before she could blink, hauling her up.
His face was streaked with dirt and his breath smelled rotten, like he hadn’t used a toothbrush in years.
“Earl?” The other hopped the counter. “Ohhh shit.”
The one holding her arm—Earl—glared down at her. “Whatcha doin’ hiding’ back here, girl?”
Yanking out of his grasp, Caitlin backed up, putting some distance between her and the two men.
“I was just leaving.” She gripped the strap of her pack and started to walk around Earl.
The other stepped in front of her. “What you got in that bag, lil girl?”
Caitlin sneered. “Tampons. Lots and lots of them.”
Earl grimaced while his buddy laughed.
“Ain’t none of those back here,” he said, glancing around at the pharmacy collection.
“Mack, they ain’t got any Oxy,” Earl called from where he was searching the shelves.
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