Re-ans

Re-ans Chapter 17

Chapter 17: Getting back to us

"Luke." He opened his eyes and sat up straight. He must have fallen asleep, though he didn't remember doing it. He looked around, Jess had been the one to call his name. She seemed calm, so he took a few deep breaths to calm his panic. He hated this feeling of disorientation.

"Sorry, didn't mean to pass out on you, what's going on?" He asked, wiping the sleep from his eyes. He took her hand.

"Roadblock." Levi called from the front seat, Luke shifted to look out the front windshield. There were five cars blocking the road, three were facing forward, but the two in front were sideways. It looked like two of them had wrecked, and the other three just parked there. He grabbed his gun belt and stepped out, securing it back around his waist, he was glad to be able to stretch his legs.

"We either move them or divert." Meredith called from the passenger side, he nodded. The truck had just pulled to a stop beside them.

"It'll be easier just to move them and keep going. These ditches on the side don't look too deep, but I don't wanna risk trying to go around them and getting stuck. Everyone take a bathroom break before we get started. Go in groups, we don't wanna get caught with our pants down." He said and smiled when everyone groaned at his lame joke.

Denis approached as the others went off to do their business. "I just wanted to get a look in the cars before the others get back, make sure they're empty." Denis nodded but looked down at the ground with a sigh. "What? You can say it." He looked up at him.

"I get it Luke, that you don't just want to protect them physically. I was there yesterday when..." He paused and shook his head. "But you can't protect them from it forever. Eventually they're gonna see it."

"I know." He said leaning against the hood of the car, he rubbed his eyes. "But it doesn't mean I can stop trying to keep it from them. I realize that out here we're going to run into it a lot. We've been lucky so far. Having the apartment, and even the camp.

"Out here we're going to be hungry, cold, tired. I just want to keep them from that as long as I can while I can control the situation. I know that sounds lame but..." He shrugged. He shoved off the car and peaked into the windows. There was some blood in one of the cars, but no bodies.

"Do you have a fever?" He turned to see Jess's concerned face. She lifted a hand to touch his forehead but he grabbed it and kissed the back of her hand.

"Just getting hot." He said pulling his sweater off over his head, he tossed it into the back of the car. "Four of us need to keep watch, one in each direction while the other four search and move these vehicles. Everyone keep an eye on the woods." He turned to Jess and took her hand when she started past. "I haven't asked but how's the ankle today? The truth baby, I don't want you pushing it and getting laid up again." She shook her head.

"It's fine really, as long as I don't walk around too much it shouldn't bother me." She said and he nodded. They went to work checking trunks and glove boxes. They found some pills for Gavin's sinuses, and some antibiotics but that was about it.

"I'm driving." Luke said when they finished. "If the clock's right it's too early for lunch, we'll stop again in a few hours." Jess walked up and put a hand on his arm. He turned and gave her a smile and a kiss. "I'm fine really, but I need to drive, it's about the only way I'm gonna stay awake." He said and she nodded.

They drove in silence for a while. Denis, Levi, and Meredith whispered to each other on occasion, but he and Jess remained silent. She stared out the window mostly, a far off look on her face. "What's that?" Luke asked, pointing to an object he hadn't noticed in her lap. She looked down confused for a second as if just noticing it, then she shrugged.