The Infection

Chapter 12

Tom watched as Ben and Cassie slept for the rest of the ride. It was about an hour drive, so they were given a nice nap time. But it was the way her head was on his chest and the way his arm was draped around her, holding the bloody towel against her bullet wound. 

The sight was odd. He hasn't seen them that close in...years. They've been through hell together, he told himself. Of course they're going to be closer than before. Still, it gave him an uneasy feeling in his stomach. 

When they were getting close to the base, he lightly shook Cassie's good leg. She slowly woke up and looked over to Tom. He gave her a wide smile and said, "There she is. How are you feeling?" She groaned when she moved her bad leg, then said, "Horrible. God, I feel awful." 

Tom grimaced and told her, "We're almost home. We're approaching the gate now. We'll get you patched up and settled in. You can stay with me until you're all healed up." Oh, this was not what she wanted, especially within the first hour of being back. 

"Tom," she said, "I just want to be on my own. No offense, but it's been hell these past few weeks and I just need to be alone." Tom gulped and said, "Yeah. Alright." That hurt. She can never resist staying with him, she always needed to be with someone, specifically him.

They got through the gates and stopped in front a crowd of people. The entire community was waiting to see if the two marines had made it back. Right in front of the crowd was Mark and a nerve-wracked Sharon. 

Tony and Adrien were the first ones out, then Tom and Rob and Richard. Tony and Richard reached into the car and helped Ben out, causing the crowd to start clapping and Sharon to start crying. Tom then reached in and pulled out Cassie, immediately carrying her to the infirmary since she couldn't walk. 

The crowd went insane now, so much so that Mark had to shush them so they wouldn't attract any of the infected. Tony and Richard helped Ben walk up to Mark, but Sharon bolted herself to him and nearly knocked him down in a hug. 

"Ow, ow ow!" He exclaimed as Tony and Richard tried to balance him. "Get off me, Sharon, Christ!" Sharon quickly backed away and Mark stopped her as he approached. "Sharon," he said, "the man's hurt, you need to give him some time."

"Sorry," she said, "I just...I missed him so much. Oh, I love you, Ben! I'm so happy you're alive!" Ben looked to Mark, who raised an eyebrow at him. He knows, Ben miserably thought. Fuck, he looks like he approves, too.

He looked back to Sharon and cleared his throat. "I...I need to get the hell to the infirmary," he said. He gestured his head to the infirmary, so Tony and Richard helped him walk there, leaving Sharon in mild shock. Of course he's not going to say he loves her, how could he? He loves Cassie. 

Tony and Richard helped him up on a metal table next to Cassie. Rob, taking over for an emotional Sharon, started to shoo everyone out, including Tom, who was holding on to Cassie's hand for dear life. "I'll be back soon," he promised, as he was dragged out by Tony and Richard. 

"That is going to be an awkward conversation," Ben said to the ceiling once everyone was out. Cassie weakly smiled, then said, "Hamill approves, so it'll be more awkward for you." Ben grunted at the thought. He heard Cassie groan when she tried to get herself more comfortable. 

"Darling, try not to move," he told her. "You're probably going to have to go into surgery." She huffed, then hissed when her leg started to burn. "I'm here, I'm here," Sharon said as she walked into the infirmary. 

Ben gave her a double take. "Sharon are you sure you can--." "Benedict, I'm the only doctor here, Rob is not fit to treat you." Of course, she made a b-line to him and started looking over his leg. "What are you doing?" He sharply asked. "Check on Cassie!"