8 Act: 2 Part: 4

Ron was buried with the soldiers who had died when the "Brothers and Sisters" had attacked. Shawn was also buried, when Jay and Ginny returned, he had lost to much blood, causing him to pass on while they were both away. Both Ryan and David had to hold him back while the rest of the soldiers carried the body off to prepare it. With the help of Reed, Murphy was able to talk the "Brothers and Sisters" into giving up on becoming the resurrected, believing that they were fools for even trusting Jacob. Reed allowed them to merge with the soldiers, helping rebuild fortifications and giving them all a place to stay, of course some soldiers were furious that Reed would allow such a thing after they were attacked, Reed immediately put down the retaliation, "Whether you like it or not, they're civilians, they were lead down the wrong path but that's what they are, if you can't handle this, then there is the gate, it's your choice." A few soldiers even took that offer, but many stayed seeing it's worth having food and a good place to sleep. Eventually Ryan's group had to move on, they were getting no closer to Hawaii by sitting around. Reed packed them up with food and supplies and sent them off.

His footsteps were careful, he leaned the rifle against the car with a soft thunk, he aimed the rifle, careful to not aim too high or too low, and fired. The bird lays on the ground dead, David pats Connor on the back, "Now that was a nice shot." Connor smiles. They both walk up to the bird, it's not plump, but the meat is enough for them. Connor takes it by the legs, "Atleast we get to eat..." David chuckles, "Yeah, for the two of us, unless you wanna give everyone else a centimeter." They both laugh and take their small game back to camp.

Instead of an old store, this time they've chosen a small area in the woods outside of the town. There isn't much cover, but it's better than risking getting attacked by the zombies in town. While Connor goes to take the bird to get cleaned, David finds Ryan in a makeshift tent looking over his map, "So where are we now?" David can see the tiredness in Ryan's eyes, being the leader and navigator is getting to him. "Albany..." David looks to him, "And thats?" Ryan looks back into David's eyes, "About 4,900 miles from Hawaii." David hands him his water canteen and pats him on the back, "Still better than 4,901 miles." He says with a smirk.

AJ and Lily sit by the fire, helping clean game that everyone had brought home. Lily keeps looking to Ryan, showing worry on her face, AJ notices, "So, you never said how long you and Ryan had been together." Lily hesitates, not even noticing how much she had been staring, "Oh, sorry, we've been together for a good while now, speaking of together..." she gestures over to David, "When are you gonna make your move?" AJ's face suddenly went red, "I have no idea what you're talking about!" Lily laughs, then puts on a serious face, "To be honest you really should and fast, Lord knows how long all of us really have..." They both go quiet, knowing it's the truth.

The next day rolls around, Ryan tells everyone it's time to move out. Everyone packs their things and hit the road once again. While they walk, David catches up with Gideon, "So, where do we go once we reach Hawaii." Gideon replies, "Pearl City, that's where the outpost should be." David starts to rub his chin, "So did all of you ever figure out how he's immune?" Gideon shakes his head, "Not really, but it doesn't matter, as long as you all listen to me, we'll make it there in no time." David raises an eyebrow, last time he checked, Ryan was leading them. As they continue to walk, David notices that Lily is looking a little pale, "Hey Lily, are you okay? Here let me carry-" Before he can touch her pack to help, she jerks away, "Leave me alone David, I'm fine." She continues to walk on, albeit more tired. David jogs up to Ryan's side, "Hey, is it just me or are things getting really weird around here?" Ryan takes a swig from his water canteen, "What do you mean?" David scratches his scruffy beard, "Well for one thing Gideon is acting like he's leading us now, I've noticed Connor is skipping meals because he thinks we don't have enough food to go around, Ben hasn't spoken a word since Ron passed, and your girlfriend almost bit my head off for trying to help her..." Ryan suddenly looks into David's eyes, "Are you questioning my leadership?" David puts both his hands up, "No, but I've noticed these things and you haven't, we all need you Ryan, how can a group stand without there leader at their side?" Ryan sigh and nods, "I hear what you're saying David, and I understand, I'll try harder." David pats Ryan on the shoulder, "It's all good, I know you'll do us right." Everyone continues on their journey, eventually it becomes late and Ryan calls for everyone to set up camp.

David walks through the camp after finishing his chores, he notices Ryan walking around asking how everyone is, David smirks, seeing Ryan actually looking into his people helps raise spirits around the makeshift camp. David sees AJ working on the campfire and decides to stop by, he leans against a tree with one arm, making sure to get her attention, "So, how are things?" She shakes her head and giggles, "Let's just say you make my day better." David nods, "I feel ya there." AJ blushes a little, but quickly straightens up, "Everything has just been different lately, I mean just look around, it's almost like this could all fall apart pretty soon..." David moves forward looking into AJ's eyes, "Don't say that kind of stuff, no one else is dying, Ryan will lead us to Hawaii, Jay will keep up from dying, and I'll be here to protect you..." AJ's eyes widen a little, "I want to protect you too..." Both look into eachothers eyes, nothing else matters around them, it's just them. AJ inches closer to David before she connects her lips to his, David pulls her into an embrace, until there lips leave each other. They both stare into eachothers eyes, David caresses her face with his hand, "I will protect you..."

Ryan lays with Lily, holding her close as they enjoy eachothers warm embrace. Ryan looks down to her, "David told me what happened today, is everything alright?" Lily hesitates but looks to him, she moves close towards his ear, her soft lips close, and whispers something. Ryan's eyes widen at what she said, tears come to his face as he holds her close. He kisses her hand, looking into her eyes, "I swear, I'll do whatever it takes to make this work."

The next day Ryan pulls David, Jay, and Ben aside, "Listen, there's a city close by and we need supplies, usually it would only be two of us, but we're gonna be carrying a little more than usual." They're all a little confused on how much they'll be carrying, but they trust Ryan. They all nod and go prepare their equipment. Eventually, everyone is finished and they head out to the town. Surprisingly, the city is actually very different from what they usually see, while stores and certain buildings still look destroyed, the outside looks very neat. Flowers are growing, weeds looked to have been cut down as if someone was tending to the gardens. With that in mind Ryan tells everyone to stay alert, they have no idea who or what could be hiding in this city.

They begin searching, at first it seems like the town had been ransacked for ages, but they end up reaching a tall building and start moving up floors. Upon entering the fifth floor, they notice a large hole in the wall that gives perfect view over the large garden for a snipers nest. Flour bags are stacked up making a perfect spot for a rifle to lay, bags of food and supplies laying about, it's almost a perfect defensible spot if someone needed to lay low for a few days. Just by what's left behind, it's enough to last them a few more days as they continue on their journey. David and Jay wrap the bags around their back and let Ryan know they're prepared to go, but Ryan looks back to them, "Not yet, we need one more thing before we go." He leads them back down the building back onto the street. They begin journeying through the city's ruined streets, keeping an eye out for zombies and humans alike. Ryan eventually stops them infront of a building, they look up and find a surprising sign, "Toddler's First", with it showing a cartoon baby winking to the side. Ryan turns to them, "I wanted to wait until Lily gave me the okay, but I trust you guys." He motions over to the store, "Lily is pregnant!"

Everyone is silent for a second, but before you know it; David, Jay, and Ben are shaking his hand, congratulating him but it cut short by Ben, "We get you're excited and all, but are you sure this is a good idea? I mean, there's danger around every corner Ryan." Jay and David agree, it isn't the greatest idea. Ryan puts his hands on his sides, "I know it's not perfect timing, and we weren't planning on it, but it's too late now, we made a mistake, all that I ask is that you guys help me." David pats Ryan on his shoulder, "Of course we'll help you, you helped us when we needed you most, its only right that we help now." Ryan smiles, everyone then walks through the broken window. With everyone's help, they're  able to find a few items of worth, but Ryan starts to get a little irritated, "Of course this place is ransacked too..." He thinks to himself. They mostly find diapers and a few toys, then an idea comes to Ryan. "Guys, keep an eye out for a second, I see an office in the back, there might be something of worth in there." They all nod and continue searching as they hear Ryan break into the office. They continue to search as Jay taps on David's shoulder to show him what he had found. In his hand was a yellow book with an odd looking cartoon man on the front with text reading "Pregnancy for Dummies". David smirks, "Nice find, this could be seriously useful when the time comes." Jay nods and stuffs it into his pack.

Suddenly they hear the sound of fighting, "Get in here!" David, Jay, and Ben rush into the room to find Ryan fighting with a hooded woman, a hunting rifle is slung across her back as she wrestles with Ryan with a knife in her hand. When she sees them enter the room, she raises Ryan's hands up and kicks Ryan in the stomach, sending him across the desk of the office. After she's free of his grasp, she makes runs toward the emergency exit of the office, making it out the door, Jay and David give chase as Ben helps Ryan to his feet. Once Ryan and Ben make it outside they see Jay and David close to the assailant, but before they can catch her, she pulls a pistol from a holster at her side and fires into the air, and then continues to spint out of the alley with Jay and David on her tail. Ryan begins to run forward with Ben, but before they can make it out, zombies begin to pour into the alleyway, attracted by the gunfire. "God damnit..." Ryan and Ben back up trying to open the door they had come from only to found out it cannot be opened through the outside. Ryan pulls out his pistol, firing into the crowd of zombies as Ben looks for a way of escaping. Ben looks up and sees a fire escape, but it's ladder was broken off. Ben taps on Ryan's shoulder, "Lift me up there, once I'm up I'll pull you up with me!" Ryan does as he says and prepares himself. Ben plants his boots into Ryan's palms, Ryan then lifts him up to the platform, Ben grabs at the ledge, getting a firm grasp, and then pulling himself up. The zombies are almost on Ryan when Ben lowers his hand, Ryan jumps up, grabbing Ben's hand as he begins pulling him up. He pulls as hard as he can, he hears Ryan yelp and feels some resistance, but is able to get Ryan onto the fire escape. They both begin climbing up, reaching the roof. Ryan moves toward, surveying the area in search of the others. "Uh Ryan...." Ryan waves his hands towards Ben, "Not now Ben, do you see them?" Ben continues, "Wait Ryan..." Ryan quickly turns the Ben, "What is it Ben!? We need to find Jay and David now!" Ben looks him in his eyes, "You're bitten." He then points to Ryan's leg. When Ryan looks down, he sees a large bite at the bottom of his leg, oozing with thick blood...