Pogan didn't come out of his room the whole day. I tended to him as best as I could, bringing him food and water and whatever else he may want/need, but he stayed in bed, sulking. It was around 13:00 when I knocked on his door with a sandwich and some water.
"Biggums, I've got a sandwich for you," I called. I opened the door; he was still on his side, facing away from the door. "Hey, Biggums." I got a sigh. That has literally been his response to everything I say to him. I walked to his cot and sat next to him, cross-legged. "Here's your sandwich, and some water." He turned onto his back--some of the most movement he's exuberted all day. As I unwrapped the sandwich, he spoke.
"Why do you think she did it?" I stared at him for a good few seconds, then flicked my line of sight back down at the stubborn plastic.
"I dunno. But if I could've prevented it, trust me, I would've." Finally, the bag ripped open, and I handed him the sandwich. He sat up, and it broke my heart when he split the sandwich in half and set the other half on Mitch's pillow.
"He really liked these kinds of sandwiches."
"I know." As he ate, tears streamed down his face. I wiped them away with my glove, trying to swallow down the lump in my throat. "Don't cry. I know it's hard, but you gotta stay strong."
"It's hard to stay strong knowing that your psycho ex killed your brother." He tossed the rest of the sandwich in front of him. "I'm not hungry anymore." Something in me sparked up, and I robotically scooted flush against him and made him lay his head on my shoulder. I hummed the tune to TryHardNinja's "Dead Are Rising", but stopped when I realised Pogan had fallen asleep. I was a little reluctant to move, but set him down on the cot and grabbed the journal and pencil from my messenger bag.
"Pogan,
I need to go do some stuff, I'll be back at around 14:30. If I'm needed earlier, please radio me.
- Ariana"
I left the note tacked to the thick wood doors, then crept out.
---
"Undead peices of crap," I spat at a zombie eating a cat. I ran at it, aiming for the head. It went down on contact, then I stomped its head in for good measure. I was listening to music for the first time since everything turned, lo and behold listening to "Dead Are Rising". I hummed as I exterminated, taking down what was hopefully the last of the zombies in this wing of the hospital. Now that this town was almost completely clear, my team and I would be moving way out, to New York City, New York.
"MAMA!" someone screamed. I turned to see Danny running my way, he looked happy. "That's the last of them!" he beamed. I gave him a weak smile and patted his head.
"Good. Desmond's outside?"
"Yes, ma'am!"
"Thank you, so much." Suddenly, the image of Trinity slaying Danny and Desmond and everyone else flashed through my head. I grabbed Danny and pulled him into a hug, taking in the reality that he's here. That he's alive.
"M-Mommy?"
"Don't mind me, just... Just grateful."
---
I was late bringing Pogan some water, but I couldn't wait to tell him that the team was due to move in a few days. I walked into the dim room like I usually do.
"Hey, guess what?"
"Wh-What?" Oh, jeez, he's been crying again. I swallowed hard.
"The team's due to move to New York City, New York, in a few days."
"I r-really don't wanna g-g-go."
"Biggums, we're obligated to. If I had my way, we'd stay here just for a little while longer."
"I kn-ow we have to," he sniffled. I sat next to him, in my usual spot, and contemplated if I should do what I've been honest-to-God craving to do. I decided on no; it didn't seem appropriate. I instead played with his hair, trying to soothe him. Sitting cross-legged quickly grew achy, so I switched positions, still running my fingers through his light-brown locks.
"So, for Mitch and Jerome's... Ceremonies, I thought we'd do it military-style. But, I was also hoping we could do Mitch's in Canada and Jerome's in New Jersey, since I thought it'd be kinda nice. What do you think?"
"Do what you want." I squinted and pursed my lips.
"Young man," I said sternly, making him turn his head to look at me, "you do not give your commanding leader an attitude. Especially if she is very motherly."
"S-Sorry." I sighed.
"It's foine." The craving came back, but I chickened out a second time. Maybe I'll do it one day, just not today.
---
I hugged Ava when she got home from school, so grateful that she was alive, too, and we went to Pogan's at 18:00 so she could try to cheer him up. He said the visit made him feel a little better, but I could tell he was pretending. Jonathan ushered Ava back to our room, and I stayed behind.
"C'mere."
"Why?"
"Let me hug you," I howled. He made a noise through his nose, then fell onto my shoulder. I squeezed his shoulder, trying to be reassuring.
"You don't have to check up on me every hour, if you're busy."
"Nooo. I wanna. Listen, I'm Portuguese and motherly. This is bad, because if I could, I'd have multiple of me catering to your every need." I got a chuckle out of him.
"You're crazy."
"Correction: I'm a nervous wreck," I smirked.
