4 Fort Howard:

Awaking to the Vehicle coming to a complete stop. Tommy opens his eyes slowly. It was 10:05am and they had made record time to the Fort. It was almost too good to be true. Untouched. Tommy got out and punched in the numbers he was given by Drake. His Sargent and Best friend since Diapers. Literally. The gate opened allowing access for Madie to pull up. Tommy pointed where she could park and she did so as instructed.

The place seemed quite. Tommy feared maybe they arrived to late and everyone had left. Everyone headed into the compound too look around. Tommy went in first and was greeted by a shotgun cocking and pointed right at his head. "Fuck!" Is all He could think.

"State your business.." A rough southern accent said from the shadows. Tommy physically relaxed. "Phillip get that gun away from your Sargents head now." He said shoving it away. The man came out of the shadows. "Oh Shit.. I mean yes sir. Sorry sir." Phillip said physically turning red head to toe. "Stop that. Don't be sorry just pay attention. And enough of the Sargent stuff as of now." He said patting his shoulder. "Everyone come in put your bags by the door. Phillip anyone else here yet?" He continued picking Lizzie up and setting her down on a couch next to the dining hall. "Yes sir.. I mean Tommy. Drake, His wife, and three boys. Montana, his girlfriend, and his mother. Louis and his wife. We are still waiting for a couple more. Drake was waiting till night to go out and look for you and Madie if he hadn't heard anything by 16:00pm." Phillip said looking at Alice and nodding. Alice looked away and hid behind Madie some.

"Take Everyone to the main area. And Round up the men we do have. I need a meeting now with all of them." Tommy ordered. He kissed Madie's hand and let her go into the main hangout area were all the children and mothers were. Lizzie hugged his leg and followed happy to see other children to play with.

Tommy waited in the Transitions office. Drake was the first to appear smiling and hugging Tommy. "Finally you arrive." He said more relieved than sarcastic. Montana and Louis were next followed by Phillip.

"Fellas let me start by saying I am so glad to see you.. But we have a problem. Theo has the antidote.. Theo is not here." Tommy says throwing his arms in the air. "Where is Theo?" He continued asking in a more demanding tone. "He got ahold of me through text right before it crashed. He was suppose to be here a day ago." Montana said. "What do you mean before it crashed. That would have meant he knew this was going to happen." Drake said all eyes on Montana. Montana felt small under all their eyes. "He knew they were going to test the virus in a small community. But he feared this was to happen. He was going to head here incase. I thought he was just paranoid." He said looking at his hands. Tommy clenched his fists. "You knew and didn't tell any of us." Drake stood in front of Tommy ready to hold him back. "That explains why you were here before anyone." Drake countered. Montana Sighed. "Come on we were all there. We all know what they were planning to do with that Virus. the world is over populated how naïve could you all be to not see that." He said expecting Tommy to hit him. Instead Drake did. Right in the nose.

"We leave tonight to find Theo. And that fucking Antidote. You are coming with too." Drake said grabbing Tommy's shoulder. "We all are." Phillip added. "No We need you and Louis to stay here and protect the families." Tommy ordered. Louis nodded. Phillip wanted to argue but decided best not to. Unsure of how he was going to in fact tell Madie he sighed. "Shit." He mumbled to himself. Walking past the main are he saw her and Lizzie playing together. He stopped and stared for a moment. Things in this moment seemed so normal. Natural. She was smiling with pure joy to have this little girl to play with and take care of. It didn't matter how they met she treated as though she loved her. As though she was her mother. There was so much chaos and yet so much good still. There has to be hope left. There just has to be. Madie saw him staring and came out to him. The look on his face said it all.

"What's wrong?" She asked. "Nothing. Your a natural with her." He said trying to take the

focus off of him. "Don't dodge my question. Tell me. Are you leaving to find Theo?" She said looking him straight in the eyes. "How?" Tommy looked dumbfounded. "Drake told his wife already. I overheard." She said winking. "We need that Antidote. We don't have time for Dr.Ivin to make a whole new one." She smiled and hugged him. "Come Back to us safe. We will be alright. We are tougher than we look." She playfully punched him in the arm.

"I never doubted that. Not even for a second." He said smiling back. After supper the boys all kissed their wives and children. Well Tommy hugged Lizzie she kissed his cheek. "Please come back safe. Here is my Dolly. She will keep you safe." She said in her innocent voice with her big Hazel eyes. He smiled and hugged Madie one last time.

Just like that the boys were off for the Antidote. "Do we have any Idea what headquarters

is planning for this mass Virus?" Tommy asked more Montana than Drake. "You saw what they did to the people in thailand. its only a matter of time before thats us." Montana said looking at Drake. and Then Tommy. "Still can't believe you weren't going to tell us." Tommy says shaking his head.

"We made a fucking pact that if something like this happened we would make it here. I thought you all would have been thinking the same thing. Not a matter of if it did happen. But a matter of when it would." Montana said apologetically. Drake and Tommy both looked at each other and agreed silently. "I never thought it would happen. Not here." Tommy admitted quietly.

Next couple of hours were quite traveling. They came to a small farm in the middle of nowhere. Stereotypical even a big red barn. This is Franks place. We will need his help. "Think he's still here?" Montana asked. Then there was a gun shot right in front of Montana's foot almost as a responsive "Duh." Tommy's face scrunched up and he inhaled deeply. "Smell that?" He said laughing. " I Think Montana here just shit his pants." He continued walking up to the house.

"Hold your fire. Its the team." Frank yelled to his oldest son. Frank ran out to greet them.

"Sorry fellas he is alittle on edge. His friend turned into one of those things on him." Frank shook everyones hand and invited them inside. "I'm surprised you all came here. Didn't think anyone was left honestly." He said pouring himself a whiskey. "Care for some?" He asked everyone. Everyone declined. "Is the Compound still safe? Anymore survivors?" Frank asked hopeful. "Yes even a Doctor. We need your help. Theo is missing and he is the only one with the Antidote. Which the Doctor Needs to try and make a serum." Tommy said not beating around the bush.

"hmmm.. This Doctor. He wants to try and save the world. The last one ended up being a fucking snack for these things." Frank said taking a swig of his drink.

Tommy stepped forward. "This is different. More Controlled. We need the antidote." Frank shook his head. "More Controlled. They unleashed the gates of hell upon us.. Upon our country after all we did for these people. Don't you stand there and spit a few words of hope at me." He said slamming his fists on the table. His son Joseph came down. He looked about mid 20's.

"Dad they need our help. This could save people." Joseph said trying to reason with Frank.

"I'll go." Joseph continued turning to Drake and Tommy. Frank wanted to protest but did not. "Pack somethings. We are gonna head out soon. We need to find Theo and get back to the compound." Tommy said shaking Josephs hand. Frank looked down not saying a word.

Everyone was getting in the vehicle ready to take off when Frank comes out of the house with his duffle bag and trustee shotgun. Drake and Tommy shook their heads at him. "If my boy goes I go." He said getting in the back with his bag. Joseph smiled at his dad.

"You really think this Doctor can help?" Frank asked Tommy curious. "Yes I do." Tommy said matter of factly. With that nothing else was said till they made it to Theo's house. His house wasnt as secluded at Franks. Theo's was in the middle of a suburb neighborhood. His house was definitely the biggest on the block.

Pulling up to his house. The front door was wide open with bloody handprints on it.

"We need to check it out." Drake said checking his ammo for his gun. They all got out and headed into the house.

walking into the house the front door is barely hanging on its hinges. Tommy and Drake head upstairs and the attic. Montana and Joseph take the main floor and the basement. Frank is keeping guard outside. The first bedroom up the stairs is the MasterBed and Bath rooms. Upon entering the room there is blood everywhere. The bed is covered along with the floor. Theres a trail of Bloody foot prints that lead to the bathroom. Guns drawn you both make your way to the bathroom door. You Hear rustling behind the door. Drake counts to three and you kick the door in causing Theo to jump and slide down the wall shaking. "Jesus man what happened here?" Drake said going over to him. He looks at the tube where his dead wife lays bloodied in a pale pink nightgown or what use to be. "She was turned.. She attacked me. She was bitten by the neighbor. I told her not to try and help that damn fool. She wouldn't listen." Theo said putting his head in his hands wiping her blood all over his face accidently. "Have you been biten?" Drake asks him covering Theo's wife with the shower curtain. He shakes his head. "We need to get you out of here. Where's the antidote?" Tommy said kneeling down next to him. "Theres a safe in the shelf downstairs in my office. The code is 5656. Take anything you need." Theo sobbed. "I'm not going anywhere. This is my fault. I could have saved her. I didn't I coward when she needed me to protect her. I panicked and locked us both in here. Then had to put her down." He continued.

"You are going.. Weither you walk or we carry you out of here. We need your help. You dont want her death to be in vain. We have a chance to save people. You need to be apart of that." Tommy said giving him his hand. Theo Looked at Drake who also extended his hand. "NO Man left behind." Drake countered Tommy's comment.

All three headed downstairs to the office. Once they got the antidote everyone was back in the vehicle safe and sound. Theo was quite the whole way back to the compound.

He got out and went to his bunk not saying a word. Drake followed to make sure he got cleaned up and didn't hurt himself. Madie saw him and Looked for Mia. His wife. Tommy shook his head at her and her smile faded. She went over to him and hugged him tightly. He relaxed when they hugged.

"How can all this chaos there still be this." He thought to himself. Lizzie came around the corner and shrieked out of happiness to see him. Gave him a big bear hug. "Did my dolly keep you safe?" She asked cheekily. "Yes very safe." He said giving it back to her smiling. She ran along and played alittle more with the other children before bed. "She was worried about you." Madie said smiling at him. "Just her?" He asked fishing for a compliment. "Maybe I missed you alittle bit." She said winking at him. "Right Only alittle." He replied laughing loudly.

Few hours had passed everyone was getting ready for bed. Well all the families were. The men were up making plans on how to fortify the Compound. Keep it safe for families.

"What about the turret guns? Those still active?" Montana asked looking at Louis. "They should be. All sensored lighting is working as well. If anything is out there it will alert us." Louis replied looking at the layout. "Any fencing that needs repair? And what about the mines that are placed around the fence?" Tommy asked looking at Drake. "Fencing good and mines active." Drake countered. "Also the cameras are all working and intact. Heat sensors are even up and running. Generators all working condition." He continued. Once they were done making up who takes what shifts they all departed. Except Tommy and Drake.

"Who would have thought us in charge again. I'm glad you and your family made it out safe I was terrified I wouldn't see you again." Tommy admitted. Drake nudged his shoulder. "Dude your sounding alittle gay right now." Drake chuckled. Tommy laughed and punched his shoulder in response to that comment. "I'm glad you and Madie made it out as well. Tonya was worried about you two." He continued looking out the window.

"How long does the Doctor need to make the serum?" Drake asked quitely. Tommy shook his head.

"I don't know. However long he needs is fine. its worth the wait. Right? As long as that timer over there on the wall doesn't start we are fine." Tommy said pointing to the mayhem timer as they call it. "Aww yes the good old Mayhem Timer. You think they would actually set it?" Drake acknowledged the timer than Tommy.

"I don't know. I never thought they would unleash the virus here either but.." Tommy stopped and shook his head. Drake sighed.

"The Doctor is the only chance we have at survival. I'm willing to believe in him. Hell I'm willing to believe in anything at this point." Drake ensured Tommy. "Point is if there is anything needed. I got your back. And at all cost we protect that man." He continued. "And Our family." Tommy countered meaning Drake and his family was also Tommys family.

Tommy headed to bed. When he walked into the room Lizzie was asleep across the room curled up

with her dolly. Madie was sitting on the bed reading a book she found around the compound. She looked up to see her husband admiring her from the doorway smiling.

"You gonna stand there all night or come to bed?" She asked putting the book down and patting the bed next to her. " She sleeps so peacefully for all the bad in the world. Hell for what she has seen." Madie said a frown beginning to pull at the corners of her mouth. "Shes strong. Like you." Tommy said pulling her chin up to him so that they were eye level. She smirked.

"I dont feel strong." She admitted. "You took on a crazed maniac who tortured women and hell probably children since he was old enough to know how. You did that. You protected that little girl. Hell you protected all of us." He countered hugging her tightly. "Get some rest." He continued. "What Happened to Mia?" Madie asked. Tommy tensed. "She was bitten by the neighbor. Theo is the one who shot her. He couldn't bare seeing her turned like that. When we got there he had locked himself in the bathroom with her. It looked like they had been there for a few days." Tommy admitted. She looked at him with tears in her eyes. "They deserved better." She says quitely. "Yea they did." Tommy feels Mia Deserved better.

But for him and his crew did they really. They helped with this damn plague. Shouldn't they be damned to it.