Don't Fear The Reaper (R. Grimes & D. Dixon)

5

"Daryl, cover the back!" Shane ordered as he pulled kit with him, everyone still on edge and alert.

"Hello? Close those doors," rick calls out "hello?" a gun cocks, drawing all their attention to the darkened part of the open lobby

"anybody infected?" the gingered lab coat Stanger asks

"one of our group was. he didn't make it." rick answered,

"why are you here? what do you want?"

"a chance." "that's asking an awful lot these days."

"I know," the man looked at the group before responding, "you all submit to a blood test. That's the price of admission."

"We can do that" "you got stuff to bring in; you do it now. once this door closes, it stays closed," indicating back to the shutter doors they just came in. the men left to go grab the bags as the women and kids stayed, kit trying to discreetly analyze the new man. As soon as everyone stepped back into the lobby, the man spoke again "vi, seal the main entrance. kill the power up here." he ordered as he led the group to the elevator, everyone cramping inside. For a very quiet stinky elevator ride. kit always hated B O. she knew it wasn't as manageable now, but it still irked her

"doctors always go round packin heat like that?" Daryl asked, nodding to the doctor's assault rifle

"there were plenty left lying around. I familiarized myself..." he answered Daryl, then looked down to carl, "but you look harmless enough. except you," he said. "I'll have to keep an eye on you,"

carl gives him a small smile, then grabs kits hand; she gives him a light squeeze as they follow who they now know as dr. Jenner down a white hallway

"are we underground?" carol asks.

"Are you claustrophobic?" "a little" "try not to think about it." kit would have snorted at the lack of advice if she knew it wouldn't hurt carols feelings 

"vi, bring up the lights in the big room." Jenner instructed before turning to them, "welcome to zone five," he said casually. Too casual for kits taste, the room was empty, just monitors and an o light. That's it. no staff, no one was operating the computers, and it was dead silent "where is everyone?" kit asks abruptly

"the other doctors, staff?" rick elaborates, trying to make it sound nicer

"I'm it. just me here." kit mentally cursed

"how long have you been in total isolation?" kit asked, analyzing the man in front of her group more thoroughly.

"kit!" Lori hissed 

"it's fine," Jenner chuckled. "I'm assuming you're a doctor of some form trying to get a feel for my mental health. Don't worry; just chronic loneliness. I haven't completely lost my mind. Yet," he said, giving kit a small smile.

"what about the person you were speaking with?" Lori asked

"vi, say hello to our guests. tell them welcome."

"hello guests. welcome." kit had heard of  A.I. being slowly incorporated more, but she was never lucky enough to actually be able to work with one.

After everyone had their blood drawn, taking no time at all with kit and Jenner working, they were able to sit down and have a spaghetti dinner with some wine. They laughed and joked, their bellies full and their spirits high. "you know, in Italy. Children have a little bit of wine with dinner. and in France." dale tried as he filled Lori's glass again

"well, when carl is in Italy or France, he can have some then." Lori said,

"what's it gonna hurt?" kit asked, taking a drink of her own

"come on," rick tried, almost laughing as he looked at his wife, who finally gave in.

"there you go, lad," dale said, giving him a small amount  "carl quickly took a sip, then scrunched up his face "eww!" he yacked, making everyone laugh, making kit have to readjust on Shane's lap, having almost spilled her glass. Said man tightening his grip to try and ground himself, his hand combing through her hair and brushing it aside. "well, just stick to soda pop there, bud." he said to carl.

"not you, Glenn," Daryl says, walking up between her and Glenn "what?"

"Keep drinking, little man. I want to see how red your face can get," he says, making everyone laugh again; Daryl poured more into kits glass, her mouthing a thank you before taking the bottle for himself. 

"it seems to me we haven't thanked our host properly." rick said, standing. Kit could immediately feel the tension radiating off of Shane, so she turned sideways, running her hand through his curls, trying to calm him, not even knowing why he was so irritated.

"he is more than just our host," t-dog says in praise, raising his glass everyone doing the same.

"hear, hear" they shouted in agreeance. 

"booyah!" a drunken Daryl yelled, gaining a slurred giggle from kit before she took another sip as rick thanked Jenner some more.

"So when are you gonna tell us what the hell happened here, doc?" Shane sternly cut in, the room falling silent, kit almost choking on her wine. He rubbed her lower back but continued, "all the other doctors that were supposed to be figuring out what happened, where are they." he asked, a hint of aggression in his voice kit took another large swallow of wine she didn't know what was wrong with her boyfriend. The subject could have easily waited till tomorrow morning.

"we're celebrating, Shane. don't do this now." rick says 

"whoa, wait a second. this is why we're here, right? This was your move- supposed to find all the answers. Instead, we- [shane chuckles putting his face briefly in kits neck before turning back, kit and rick hold a silent conversation with their eyes; an act nobody missed; they knew how unpredictable Shane could be. "-we found him. one man. why?"

"well, when things got bad, a lot of people just left, and when things got worse, when the military got overrun, the rest bolted," Jenner explained.

"everyone?" Shane presses. "Shane," kit whispered pleadingly,

"no, many couldn't face walking out the door. They. opted out."

"fucking Christ," kit mumbled, getting up and leaning against a wall instead ignoring the stares that followed. "_ there was a rash of suicides. that was a bad time."

"you didn't leave. Why?" Andrea asked

"I just kept working. hoping to do some good."

"dude, you are such a buzzkill, man." Glenn sighed, looking at Shane

they all followed Jenner down the hall as he showed them where they would be staying. "most of the facility is powered down. Including housing, so you'll have to make do here. The couches are comfortable. But there are cots in storage, and if you like, there's a rec room down the hall that your kids might enjoy. Just don't plug in the video games, okay? Or anything that draws power. The Same applies [waving to the adults] if you shower. go easy on the hot water."

Glenn looked at kit and t-dog with a slow grin "hot water?"

"that's what the man said," t-dog replied. He and kit chuckled.