Reminiscent Hearts

Chapter 3

A few more hours passed as they continued down the road. That first zombie had Garu a little shaken, but it made him less paranoid about there being nothing in the world. Sara was still resting, her skin didn't look as snow white as it did before. Garu pulled off to the side of the road so that he could rest for a while, night had fallen and he doubted that he'd be able to stay awake for much longer.

When he opened his eyes again, he saw that he was sitting on a dark brown suede couch. The smell of something amazing cooking wafted to his senses from the kitchen, as faint humming could be heard. The front door opened and a man walked in carrying some groceries and beer inside.

"Arlien? What are you doing here?" Garu sat up straighter seeing the male enter the house.

Short dark hair, and piercing ice blue eyes met his golden amber ones. Said male cocked an eyebrow at him, those damn eyebrows that always looked like they were angry,"I live here don't I? Jesus, I leave for an hour and everyone thinks I'm dead."

Arlien handed Garu a beer as he made his way to the kitchen,"Did she bite anyone while I was gone?" a sly playful smile on his face as they both heard a knife being stuck into a cutting board coming from the kitchen.

Sara's blonde head popped into the doorway of the kitchen as she was playfully glaring at Arlien,"I don't bite. I reserve that for you anyhow."

The boys laughed as she smiled and went back to the kitchen. Garu looked around seeing the photos hanging on the wall. Him and Arlien before going to boot camp, returning from camp, various tours, and photos of the three of them together. Garu noticed some photos of Arlien and Sara, a small smile forming at the corner of his mouth,'Too bad we didn't work out. But, I'm happy for her." Garu thought to himself as he saw her smiling in every photo she was a part in, even the birthday disaster where her brother smashed cake in her face. That was a funny memory, cruel, but hilarious without a doubt.

Arlien had drank some of his beer before glancing at Garu,"Promise me something Garu."

Garu snapped out of his thoughts and met the male's gaze,"Sure, what is it?"

Arlien was silent for a moment before he spoke again,"If anythings happens to me, take care of Sara-"

"Nothing is going to happen to you, we're not on the field. And I promised to always have your back." Garu stated, smiling a little as Arlien smirked.

"Not what I meant, and you know it. On the battlefield or not, I need to know that there will be someone to take care of her when I'm gone. You're one of the few people I'd trust to take care of her." Garu almost waved his comment off before he saw how serious Arlien was.

Garu nodded his head agreeing,"I promise. Why are you asking me this? I'm sure there's other people who could do it-"

"You're the only one I trust to do it. No offense to Ron or Hank, but I don't believe that they'll be able to protect her should the time come. Besides, you and I are the only ones who can deal with her crazy," The both of them laughed as they could hear her yelling at them from the kitchen about how crazy she could be compared to the two of them,"Melinyel mi bella Bambina." Arlien chuckled nervously as she stood in the kitchen doorway with with her hands on her hips.

Her usual emerald eyes looking gold,"Don't you try and sweet talk your way out of that one with Elvish and Italian Arlien. I will fight you."

"And who would win?" Garu chuckled as Arlien had a cheeky smile as she playfully glared at him,"I love you."

Sara chuckled to herself turning away,"You're lucky I love you too mi amor."

Arlien turned back to Garu nearly dodging a bullet,"I feel like something is coming Garu, something big. And I fear I won't be there to protect her when that time does come. It's going to be a big fucking shit storm and a bloody mess when it comes.."

Garu was about to say something but saw that everything was fading away. He felt as though his body had fallen through the couch and the floor as he fell into a dark pit of nothingness. Within the circle of light above him, he saw a figure reaching out to him, a woman as she grabbed his hand and placed her free hand on the side of his face. He couldn't see her features or anything about her as she was surrounded in a golden glow,"You'll be the one to save them, to save them all and to end the darkness. But you need to wake my soldier."

Garu sat up in his reclined seat as he was gasping for air. He looked around and saw that he was back in his car. No house, or brown suede couch to be seen. He swallowed down his fright as he looked down at Sara hoping that she was there. He let out a sigh of relief seeing her curled up in the seat still resting.

He smiled down at her and went to push some hair out of her face before she started to stir slightly. He flinched and pulled away quickly so as to not disturb her. Garu was about to turn the car on again and keep driving before he heard Sara say something,"Garu..I'm cold.."

He glanced down at her and saw that her eyes were open slightly as the lights from the dash likely were bugging her. Garu chuckled softly as he stroked her hair, earning a content and happy hum from her,"Well stay put for a second then, okay?"

Sara nodded her head slightly as he opened his door and stepped out. He went to her side, opened her door, and picked her up gently. He shut the door and opened the door to the backseat as he sat her down and he took a seat beside her. He locked the doors not taking any chances, before he looked back at Sara and saw her rubbing her eyes tiredly,"Come here you, don't need you getting sick or anything now do we?"

She didn't say anything as she crawled onto his lap and rest her head on his chest. Garu held her as he laid against the backseat and door. He heard her mutter a small,"Warm," as she curled into him not feeling cold anymore. After a few moments she had fallen back to sleep, sleeping peacefully as he held her.

Garu closed his eyes as he rubbed her arm with his thumb,'I will protect you Sara, I promise. I promise she'll be safe Arlien." After a few moments he had fallen asleep as well, and wasn't disturbed by a single dream for the rest of what remained of the night.