The End With You

3

Miranda and Ben spent 3 weeks together doing the same thing. She went on store runs, Ben hated it but she wouldn’t let him do anything until his leg heals and there were no signs of infection. Once she gave him the all clear, he was ready to move.

They spent time together reading and researching.

"The trigger is the damaged or disease, along with signals from other cells during development, can induce senescence. (Loss of cell's power of growth and division)" Miranda said looking up at him Ben nodded and replied.

"So next it spit out signals once senescent, cells stop diving and belch out proteins, such as cytokines, which attract immune molecules." 

"Exactly, it either clears or clogs. The immune system can kill senescent cells and allow tissue to regenerate. But sometimes the diseased cells build up.” Miranda said showing him her sketch and work.

'So, we need a drug to turn off the disease cells survival tricks to clear those cells from joints, blood vessels or the eyes." Ben stated and Miranda smiled at his smarts.

"Precisely... you know I always wanted to be a scientist but I didn't know it would be like this."

"You’re great." Ben complimented and Miranda blushed. He always knew what to say. 

"Thanks...okay so tomorrow we can go to the hospital and get what I need." Miranda stated and Ben smiled.

The next day Miranda and Ben were riding to the hospital. They were inside a high jeep truck and Miranda looked out the window alert as they drove. She wanted to turn the radio on but was too scared that it would make too much noise and attract the undead so Miranda hummed instead.

"I love that song." Ben chimed and sung. Miranda looked over at him with a smile as she sung a long with him.

They arrived at Seattle Grace and Miranda looked around. "Pull up in the back. It might be easier to go through the pit." Miranda said and Ben drove in that direction.

The two got out and Ben put Miranda’s back pack on his shoulder.

Miranda had her machete across her body and a gun in the waist band of her jeans as Ben did the same.

They looked at each other as the hospital doors glass were broken. The two walked in together and Miranda listened to the sound of the glass cracking under her shoes.

"This way." Miranda whispered.

"You know I've never actually been in here before and now I wish I would have."

"Why?" Miranda whispered back curiously.

"I would have met you sooner." Ben answered seriously and Miranda smiled.

"You would have wanted to meet me?"

"Yes"

"Why?" Miranda asked wanting to know and wanting him to say what he felt.

"I'll explain later." Ben whispered and Miranda bit her lip and walked along with him.

"This way to the stairs." Miranda directed.

Ben put his hand up across her stomach and block her from moving. "Watch your step." Ben warned and Miranda looked down at the dead bodies with wide eyes and back up at him.

Ben looked at her sadly and grabbed her hand rubbing his thumb across her hand in comfort. Miranda felt butterflies oddly at his sweet gesture of a hand hold.

"This is my lab." Miranda said pushing through the door and walking to the computer.

"Hey can you cut the light on."  Miranda asked and Ben cut it on by the door.

"You wanna sit with me while I show you what I mean and let me have the blood sample." Miranda said.

Ben looked to the door and back at her.

"They are not going to come that fast. Give me 10 minutes and then you can be my body guard." Miranda smiled and Ben reached into her bag and handed her the sample.

Miranda turned the computer on and put sample on the petri dish.

Miranda placed it under the microscope and she gasped.

"What?" Ben asked

"Look at this." Miranda said standing and Ben stood bending to take a look.

"Shit that's enormous." Ben said looking at the virus

"absolutely enormous. Over a micrometer in size, they are as large as many bacteria."

Miranda continued looking and she gasped.

"What else."

"I think I figured it out, it's almost similar to rabies we need neutralizing antibodies. Vaccination homogenates human diploid cell. The only thing Is this cure just needs to be cutaneous because we can’t inject it into them. It's needs to almost be like rain." Miranda said seriously thinking.

"I need to go to upstairs to the path lab." Miranda said getting up.

Ben got up as well. "No, you stay here. I just need to see if they have a rabies vaccine sample. To help me figure out how to code the sample we need similar in genetics.

"Miranda." Ben pleaded.

"I'm going to be fine. I promise and I'll be quick." Miranda replied as she walked to the door.

Miranda walked quickly and quietly down the hall. She walked to the stairs to go on the 3rd floor.

She made it to the lab and grabbed the sample and others ones that were close in immunization.

As she was walking, she saw two of the walkers but they were the slower ones. She walked the other direction and then jogged back to her lab.

"You were running?" Ben questioned alert.

"There were two on the other floor but I'm fine they didn't see me."

"If there were two ,then you know there are others." Ben warned.

"I know but they shouldn't be coming this way. I just need 30 minutes."

Ben blew out a breath and stood by the door looking out occasionally.

He loved watching Miranda work. She was writing and using her pipettes and tubes. She was beautiful in her element.

"Miranda, we have company and a lot." Ben said looking at them coming down the hallway.

"Shit how many?" Miranda said looking at the computer.

"About 6 or 7." Ben said counting.

"I need about 3 more minutes."

"Miranda these aren't the slow ones they are the fast ones out for blood." Ben explained.

"Okay I'm coming. I just have to finish this. Hold them off and try not to kill. We are trying to save them to get them back to normal."

"Try not to kill them." Ben scuffed.

Miranda was still typing and waiting for the rest of the stuff to load.

"Miranda, you got 30 second before I lift you up and throw you across my shoulder and start shooting them between their eyes."  Ben growled

"Finished." Miranda chimed as she grabbed her sample and the tubes and put them in her duffle bag rushing.

Ben extended his hand and Miranda took it as they jogged out of the room towards the other direction. Miranda was walking quickly. "Shit my research journal." Miranda huffed.

"I'm sorry." Ben said sincerely.

"I need to go back and get it Ben."

"No, maybe we can try later and come back for it." Ben said and Miranda looked at him with wide eyes. Anything could happen, the hospital could catch fire and all her notes and their hard work was gone.

"I can't do that Ben." Miranda said snatching away from him.

"I didn't do all this work, stay behind instead of going to my son for it to be ruined and gone... go to the car and I'll be there." Miranda said jogging back and Ben yelled her name after her.

He contemplated for a while before going after her. He wasn't going to leave her by herself.

Ben pulled out his machete and was slicing their head off without a second thought despite what Miranda said.

Ben jogged faster when he heard Miranda screaming. Ben got back to the lab eventually as he fought and killed his way through the crowd of them.

Ben pulled out his gun immediately and killed the walker who somehow had his hold on Miranda's ankle and another was close to her face. Shooting the one in front of her and watching him drop to the ground.

"I knew him." Miranda blew out a breath as tears fell down her cheek.

"Are you okay?" Ben asked putting the gun down and pulling her close. He looked into her eyes and searched her face for any type of scrapes and cuts.

"I'm okay, just a little shaken up but I'm fine. You were just in time." Miranda spoke softly breathing heavy.

Ben still stared at her as his thumb rubbed across her cheek. Every time he looked at her, he swore he had never seen eyes like hers. She was so beautiful in so many ways. Her lashes framed her eyes, but they always held a warmth. He looked down at her full lips and it was hard to pull his eyes away from them. Miranda put her hand over top of his and Ben then leaned down and brushed his lips across hers. Miranda was surprised for just a moment but then quickly reacted. Her hands went up to the back of his neck and his hands glided to her waist. Bens lips desperately moved against Miranda's as he backed her up in to the wall in the lab Miranda gasped lightly, allowing his tongue entrance to meet hers in an aerobic dance.

Miranda swore she had never felt or had been kissed like this before. This was one of the scariest times of her life and she was almost turned into a zombie but here she was completely surrendering to this man. All she could feel was him. His hands on her waist, the way his mouth moved, the heat on the back of Ben's neck where she clawed her fingers. She felt like she was melting in the moment. Somewhere in the pit of her stomach a fire had ignited. She never wanted to tell him but after a month of being together. She liked him. She caught feelings for this man. He made her feel better than Tucker ever did and they were only just friends trying to survive. But this fire burning continued to spread throughout her body every single part was on fire.

Breaking apart for air, the two just stared at each other not sure what this meant for them anymore.

"I'm sorry I shouldn’t have done that but I -

"It's fine Ben, I felt it and feel it too. I like you and not because you’re the only man that's probably alive but genuinely."

" I like you too and when the craziness is over. I would like to take the doctor Miranda Bailey on a date and court you and get to know you in regular society." Ben said and Miranda smiled.

"I'll accept your date offer." Miranda replied as Ben chuckled and leaned down to peck her lips once more.
"Come on let's go home before more of these monsters come." Ben said and Miranda clutched her note book and followed him out to the car.

"We got to test this out on one of them. I just don't know how and how much to use Because it's really not enough in this sample."

"So, what's the plan." Ben asked looking over.

"I'm been reading that NASA in washing DC. Has a weather system where they make their own weather. So, I'm hoping that I can get there and maybe use that to get to that state and a little bit of Maryland because you know it's not that far from DC."

"Does that sound insane?" Miranda laughed at herself.

"Miranda we are in an apocalypse right now. Nothing is insane. That's makes a lot of sense and it's your best shot that you have. What's after that because that's just one state.

"I figured Washington DC. Because that's gets our government and military back in order and John Hopkins has one of the biggest research labs and equipment. Once those doctors are back, we lock down the hospital and me and you can be the lead scientist, we make more, so much of it and we round up military to distribute it almost like a forced vaccine. " Miranda replied to him hopeful.

When they got back to the house. Miranda grabbed her backpack of stuff that Ben put into the back seat and her research notebook.

They walked inside and locked up. Miranda took out her cure and she put it in the fridge. "It got to cure for 7 days and then we got to find someone to test it on."

"How can we do that without getting close Miranda that's dangerous."
"Ben stop being such a worry wart." Miranda teased.

"I'm your boyfriend it's my job to do those things." Ben huffed before realizing what he said and he honestly felt that way and wouldn't apologize or take it back. In his mind they were together.

"Boyfriend." Miranda said sternly but deep down she was elated.

"Mmhhmm." Ben nodded turning to stand in front of her. She watched him intently as he pulled her close into his body.

"Unless...you have any objections." Ben whispered by her ear.

"Objections...I don't have any." Miranda breathed.

"Good." Ben murmured before taking her lips in a kiss. Miranda wrapped her arms around his neck immediately and fell into the kiss. Ben's mouth and his whole presence was addicting. He made her feel so good. The cuddling at night, hand holds, words and now kissing.

Miranda swiped her tongue against his and moved her hand to the sides of his face.
They continued making out like two love struck teenagers.

Miranda pushed him back, nervous that they would get too carried away and she would give herself to him and now was not the time although she it would be really good and something told her that Ben would deliver exceedingly if they were to tangle in the sheets.

Ben continued to give her softs pecks on the lips and Miranda let out a small whimper.

He then kissed her nose and forehead before pulling apart from her.

"I'm going to cook dinner." Ben announced and Miranda nodded touching her lips standing still for a moment.