Alice:

she awoke in the middle of the night drenched in sweat. It has almost been two full weeks at the fort now. And she still couldnt get the damn super store out of her mind. The man.

She decided to get dressed and for a few laps around the gym. Running always seemed to clear her mind. Around the second lap Phillip walked in. "Sorry I didnt realize someone was in here."He said nodding nervously. She stopped. "Your fine. The gym is big enough for two."She said catching her breath. He nodded and continued his way to the bench press. She smiled. "He's cute. But im too broken."She thought to herself.

Once Alice was done she was walking to the showers when she passed Dr.Ivins lab. She walked in smiling. "Your still up? Any progress?"She asked with an optimistic smile. He smiled back. "Yes actually. I have figured out the regenerative cell serum. Combining that with the virus reversal and the degression part we may actually have a complete antidote." He said proud of himself. She looked at his happy face and smiled back. Over the passed couple weeks Alice and Dr.Ivin have been close. More of a father daughter relationship. He is easy to talk to. With a kind heart. Something her real father never had. "What is it dear?" He asked looking at her than into the microscope. "Its just i like Phillip.. At first I didnt want to. Lord knows i should stay away. Im too broken for anyone after what happened. But." She stops and looks away. Dr.Ivin grabs her hand and says. "Your never to broken. And yes what happened is more than a tragedy but you cant let it define who you are. Your a fighter who just lost their was. You just gotta get it back." He winked at her. "You dont believe im too broken for him?" She asked.

Dr.Ivin stopped and thought for a moment.

"I believe truthfully we are all broken. But finding someone who can mend our broken pieces as well as you mend theirs. Hell finding someone who wants to is rare and taking a chance is worth that much. Right?" He said patting her hand. She let it sink in and nodded in agreement. She went over and kissed him on the cheek. "Thank you Dr.Ivin." And with that she went to find Phillip.

The next morning:

Madie came into the dining hall and saw Alice with Phillip giggling and whispering. Madie smiled hopeful for Her. Madie saw Tonya and sat next to her. "Looks like our Phillip has taken a fancy to your Alice."She teased. Madie chuckled.

"Yes and who better. Hes a good boy who would take care of her. She needs it." Madie says looking at Lizzie playing with Tonyas three boys.

"Has she learned to shoot or any tactical training yet?" Tonya asked eyeing Alice. Madie shook her head. "She avoids it. Dr.Ivin says she has anxiety about it. He thinks everything that has happened to her in her life has set her in a state. She feels she cant fight. She has always been a victim and in turn feels to weak. Almost deserving of the pain." She said looking over to her then back down quickly. "She needs to learn. If not fur runs for safety so something like that doesnt happen again to her." Madie said sadly. Tonya nodded in agreement. "I planned on taking her out today to try again. But maybe Phillip could convince her." Madie continued. Tonya lifted an eyebrow and smiled.

"That plan might actually work." She agreed.

And of course Phillip jumped up and down with excitement practically to take her out and do something since doing things for dates was alittle hard nowadays.

Alice was reluctant but agreed. Phillip seemed to happy and excited to ask how could she resist. Plus she felt it was time to learn. But she was terrified.

You and Phillip make your way to the back of the compound where there is a range for target practice on one side. Then a small gym on the other equip with a punching bag and dummies.

Phillip pulled out two small cases. Gun cases. He opened one that was holding a .38 and one that was holding a .45. "Lets start you with the .38 to get you adjusted to a gun first." He said grabbing the .38 and explaining what the safety and every part was. She listened intentally and nervous.

"He handed her the gun and helped her aim. Holding both her hands around the gun steady pointing it at the target. "Relax." He said almost in a seductive calm tone. "Breath." He continued breathing slowly out. His breath tickling her Ear. With that he squeezed his index finger around hers and the gun went off, startling her with the kick back. She quickly set it down shakingly.

"Are you alright?" Phillip asked. Alice shakingly sat on the floor in a ball practically shaking and hyperventilating. Then She Blacked out.

She awoke in her bed. It was night time. Dr.Ivin was in there with her checking on her.

Her eyes began to water out of frustration. "I Fainted didn't I?" She asked already knowing the answer. He nodded and gave her a loving father smile. "How am I going to be any use? I cant even shoot a damn gun. Let alone Fight." She looked at the ceiling defeated. He patted her hand. "Give it time. It was a traumatic moment in your life dearie. You cant expect to get out there and be a badass yet." He said smiling. She chuckled. "Did you say badass?" She repeated laughing even harder. "You have a visitor. Maybe its time to open up to him alittle more. At the very least explain why you have blackouts. He cares about you I can tell." Dr.Ivin winks at her before letting Phillip in.

He enters and smiles when he sees you awake. "Thank heavens your awake." He said practically running over to her. "Your not mad?" She asked stunned. "No.. Worried sick yes.. But mad no." He admitted. She took a breath. "Look Phillip.. I'm broken." She stopped and looked down.

"Even from a small child my mother left me and my father. My father could careless if I lived or died. He hated me because I wasn't a boy and I drove my mother away.. When I grew up I was old enough to moveout I did. I married a man who promised me everything in the world. Turned out to be my father but worse. He would beat me for an hour or so it seemed straight everynight like clock work." She began to shake as she paused. Then with one big breath. "Then when all this started he was bitten. I ran off from him and met this group. They were taking care of me. They were kind and in some weird way I was almost thankful that this all happened. They seemed like they cared. Until they were all murdered. I wish that man would have done me that kindness. Instead he held me for what seemed like an eternity. He put a shock collar on me so I could scream. He would beat me from morning till night. As well as..." She looked Phillip in the eyes and with tears streaming down her red cheeks. "Rape me mercilessly.. It is not a traumatic time. I am broken physically no good to anyone.. I am not worth caring about. And I care about you. But I can't expect the same from you. Not with all my baggage and damage and scars. That's not fair to ask anyone not even in this world. I cant even shoot a fucking gun without fainting from the loud bang and kickback." She finally stopped talking. Too afraid to look up she just stared at her hands and sobbed. After a long moment suddenly Phillip's big hand was on hers. Shocked she look at his face.

He didn't seem angry at all. He seemed hurt. Not for himself but for her.

"Hear me when I say this. You are not worthless. You are not broken. Maybe bent. But not broken. Your still here. Those people wanted to break you and they couldn't. They aren't here because they were the true broken ones. Your scars and baggage are worth caring anytime. I care about you. And I want to take care of you if you allow me that is. And one day we will get you through your fear of guns." He lifting her chin to look him in the eyes. And then he did the unexpected. Hugged her. For the first time in her life she felt Safe. Home. Important.