Prepared (Kat, Kain)

[Lovely]

Name: Katherine St James Aliases: Kat DOB: 26 Location: Evanston, IL played by: Lovely likeness used: Victoria Silvstedt

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Name: Kendall Carlisle Aliases: Kain DOB: 28 Location: Evanston, IL played by: Tripp likeness used: Orlando Bloom

[Lovely]

June 25, 2007
late afternoon
Evanston, IL

Whatever was happening to everyone, it seemed to be less active during the day. Kat could laugh at that, just like a horror movie.. but this was no horror movie and she wasn't going to be the girl screaming in the shower as some psycho hacked her up or some zombie ate her brain. No indeed, Kat had a plan and she wasn't messing around. Some people must have gotten out in the evacuation, right? Which meant at some point in time, someone had to be coming back, right? Well it made sense and even if they didn't come back.. she wasn't going to end up some psycho zombie.

Thankful that her parent's still had their minivan and it had a full tank of gas.. good old pops, she smiled as she drove into the parking lot of the shopping center. She pulled as close to the front of the store as she dared then looked around the lot before cutting the engine. Thank goodness the minivan was a quiet running vehicle. She glanced in the back at the stuff she already had, bottles from the bar in a box on the seat, a suitcase a box and a duffle bag with all she dared to take of her worldly possesions, a tarp and a few tools she'd gotten from her parents house when she went there, now she needed to get as much as she could from this store before going back into hiding. Kat didn't want to make too many trips, it was dangerous and the more she was out the more attention she called to herself. Even though it was summer, she was dressed in clothes that covered her as much as possible.

She felt a little like some movie mercenary with her black leather driving gloves and the scarf tied around her face, she was armed with a handgun, a bat and a knife, she wasn't messing around. The rifle she left in the van, other than the bat, she wanted to keep her hands free for looting. Kat moved into the store, grabbing a cart and a stack of bags off one of the registers as she made her way in and started her 'shopping'. She wasn't grabbing random things like some earlier looters had, which she was glad they had, because it left more of the things she needed and were actually useful behind.

He'd heard the motor out front. There was nothing else to hear except the low hum of generator power that was probably waning on fumes by now. Staying to shadows in the back areas of the shop, he slid into the back room in search of useful items, the kind that weren't usually sold out in the front. The dock loader was his choice today - hopefully still charged if not gas powered. That part would worry him later. The moment at hand called for stealth or surprise - both - if what he'd seen was any indication. The virus, the infection, whatever it was, sought out the healthy and uninfected just like the war within the blood itself. No one was immune as far as he knew and testing the theory today to see if his luck was attributable to such a miracle wasn't on the agenda. He was here for one thing only - a means to buy more time for continued survival.

The car was an unexpected twist to his plan. He'd hit the door harder than he meant to, leaving the plastic flap swinging. He was more concerned about what might be lurking in these shadows with him than what might come from behind him from the lit aisles. An angry looking board with a protrusion of many nails, looking like a spiny animal clung to the end of the club, was raised in one hand, leaving the other free to guide him and test other doors in search of the loader and boxes of useful food to put on it.

Kat had no way of knowing who or rather what might be inside the store, all seemed quiet but that really didn't mean much these things could be lurking anywhere. She moved quickly but cautiously through the store, gathering canned food and boxed items that seemed undamaged. She filled the bags and set them in the cart to make it easier and faster to transfer them into the van once she was done. As she filled and moved down the aisles, she kept alert and turned to look around her and listen for sounds. A few times she thought she heard something and froze, her hand on the bat she rested over top of the cart. There was an endcap with flashlights and batteries on it, she figured grabbing some would be a good idea. Having a stock of assorted batteries would open up other possibilities for her since it would mean she might have use of more 'powered' equipment.

Doors to the coolers remained locked. For the length of time since good power had run to them, it was likely a good idea for them to stay unopened, not knowing how much had already spoiled, but assuming all of it had. If he could find a good generator or enough solar riggings to power a behemoth freezer like these, he'd consider it for the next trip. Another door that wasn't locked beyond a standard deadbolt caught his attention with the flickering glow beneath it. 'Personnel Only' was an invitation he couldn't pass up, chuckling to himself as he tested the door with a squarely placed kick at the jamb. So be it if someone heard, he knew what was beyond the door, confirming it as it slammed open to the security array that was running on its own power still. "Solar backup - you're beautiful," he whispered, scanning the screens and watching the empty aisles shuffle across them one by one until one screen popped onto the aisle with batteries. "Hello... You on holiday, pet?" He tapped the screen, looking over that part of the store compared to where he was. She wasn't infected, she couldn't be, not the way she moved deliberately and didn't appear to be drooling puddles down her front. He hit the paging button, not intending to say anything, only to see if also worked. A weak hiss echoed over the speakers briefly.

She'd cleared the display of all it's batteries, set the bags on top of her others in the cart and jumped slightly as a 'hissing' sound came out of nowhere. After the initial fright which lasted the length of the jerking of her body, her hand went to the bat again, picking it up and moving slowly around, carefully looking for the source. It sounded as if it had come from above, from the paging system or speakers, but that wasn't possible... was it? She looked up, after her glances around her showed her there was still no one around. "Damn it." She said in a low voice. "Stupid.." She growled the rest under her breath and moved the cart around the corner to the next aisle. It was quickly getting full and she'd need to unload and go or unload it and come back in for more. The spook from hissing speakers was making her consider the first option a little more.

He'd be back for a climb on the roof to get the panels and gather the wiring later. If it hadn't been messed with yet, it wasn't going to be. Seeing her reaction was enough to forget about the loader temporarily. If she cleared out the place before he found it, his work was only half done for the day and he'd need another plan, and another store to raid. He considered a moment, how far it was around the store and where the vehicle had parked. Disabling it wasn't wise for either of them, nor was blocking its path. She hadn't made it this far by giving in to obstacles and blocks. Instead, he clicked the mic again and ran out the door, back into aisles to try and reach her before she left.

The hiss came again and she stopped walking, let go of her cart and stepped away from it. It was probably just a glitch or short in the wires or the system konking out due to the loss of power but she couldn't shake the feeling she wasn't alone and it didn't feel like the normal level of paranoia that had become part of daily life.

She moved down the aisle ahead of her cart, taking slow careful and quiet steps, she was being quiet enough that she could easily hear the noise of someone else moving through the store now. "Damn it." She whispered again, apparently her luck had run out and she wasn't going to get in and get out of the store without a fight, so be it...

Kat made sure she moved as quiet as possible, glancing back at her cart and getting pissed off at the thought that she might lose what she'd gotten if she had to smash and run from a zombified person. She was going to do what she could to ensure she got what she came for, the bat swung up on her shoulder, ready to strike.

He paused, looking around the store, listening for the cart. She'd stopped. She had to have stopped, she couldn't have gotten out the door before he'd reached this far. Maybe he was wrong. Maybe this one was infected and knew and was waiting for him. His own jagged club was raised in hand and he took slower steps, knowing at least one other person, infected or not, was somewhere in here. "Who are you?" If it was infected, it would rage at him, at the sound of his voice, but if not, he hoped he'd at least get an answer before a fight.

The careful steps came to a halt and she stood there for a breath in shock at hearing another voice.. a real person's voice, not some gutteral raging noise of attack. "Your great aunt Sally, come for a visit. Why don't you give us a kiss now?" She stayed still, listening and trying to figure out where he was by the sound of his voice and wondering if he was doing the same.

He picked up a small item and threw it, hoping the noise would distract her momentarily from where he really was. "Aunt Sal! So nice of you to come," he chuckled a little as he moved, darting to the next aisle.

She moved quick but quiet, sort of like a cat, coming sharply into the aisle where she'd heard the noise. She found herself grinning a little as she saw the empty aisle and the item on the floor. "Clever boy.. " She whispered, slapping her bat against a gloved hand. "..and what sort of games do you want to play hmm?" She said louder, looking behind her and then back in front of her again. "So, who are you and what do you want?"

"Same as you, I think, though maybe two would be better at it than one. You're not infected. Neither am I."

"Thanks for the news flash on my status captain obvious." She turned and moved to go back the way she'd come. "So why are you hiding from me?"

"Because, I, like you, am not so easily convinced. Put the bat down." He would do the same, but not yet. "I'm not exactly hiding. If we got in here without seeing each other, who's to say there aren't others?"

"That's exactly why I can't put this bat down." She replied, wondering if he could see her now or if he'd seen her before so knew she carried it.

[Lovely]

"Reasonable enough, sound thinking. Alright, maybe I am convinced. You can call me Kain," he said, slightly accented. He stepped into view an aisle away, standing nearly six feet, very thin and covered darkly head to toe. The spiked bludgeon in his hand was also dark and seemed attached, eerily elongating his muscular arm.

She held her tongue from another wise comment which came to mind as he went on and was glad she'd done so when he stepped into view. She stood at the end of one aisle as he came out from another and she was glad the scarf covered her face as her mouth opened in a small gasp. Kat remained where she was watching him with a wary but appreciative gaze, he was something to behold in his dark clothes with that weapon in hand. "Well hello, Kain." She finally spoke as her eyes ended their perusal of him back at his face. "Now what?"

His own face was not shielded as hers was and a sardonic grin greeted her now, somewhat resembling the Cheshire cat as he nodded toward her. "Now you tell me your name and then we decide whether you're going to share some of your haul or not."

Her eyebrow arched and a soft rich sounding chuckle floated out. "Ah.. you want my booty.. how about we skip the name and I simply say, no. There is a whole store here and you have two strong looking arms. I'm sure you can get your own, no need to take mine."

"A whole store minus all the batteries?" His head tilted and his arm raised with the club, using it to motion around the aisles. "I doubt you're Mister Finkelstein's heiress. You don't have the family nose. That being said, I don't believe you can say those are yours, exactly. So, be a sport and part with one or two, okay? I could make it worth your while."

"I have a gun and I can shoot you. Those are mine." She smiled behind the mask, her brow arching again as she looked at him. "I only took what was on the end cap, I'm sure a smart boy like you can go find some more.. and you'll have to excuse me if I doubt your claims at the moment.. how could you possibly make it worth my while?"

"You shoot me and you have no one to talk to, right? Smart girl like you, I don't see you getting the crazy to talk to yourself any time soon, but what with no telly, no radio... I'm sure those batteries aren't going to any sideline pleasures... or you wouldn't be so nasty. If I excuse you, where will you go? Some dark somewhere, all alone? Pity that," he tutted, taking a step closer and moving the hood of his jacket back further to reveal himself more, clean shaven, dark haired, well kept. "I know where there's hot water and power, love. I'm willing to share."

Her eyes moved over his face as he revealed it more and moved closer, she didn't flinch or step back but stood her ground looking mildly amused and curious behind her scarf. "Do you, now?" She reached up with a gloved hand and tugged the scarf down, letting him see the slight smirk on her pouty lips. "Well you best go find some batteries, I have an extensive vibrator collection and I'm afraid I need all those.. for my pleasure." Her lips twitched as if she might fully smile but she didn't.

"More's the pity again, then. Could have saved you using all those, but suit yourself," he smirked, though he studied her features. She was good at whatever she'd been doing or she'd been lucky not to be out often so far. There were no marks on her he could see, at least not on her face. "I'll just have to find something else to light up my nights then. Torches run on batteries, before you mouth back with whatever you're thinking, thank you. I guess I'll be on my way to find them then." He turned to step away to another aisle to find any other there might be.

[Lovely]

"I figured a pretty face like yours, last man on earth, my luck.. had to be gay." She shrugged herself and moved to go down the aisle and retrieve her cart, she still had some things she needed to get. She stopped with a sigh and the bat clanked on the floor. "DAMN IT!" She didn't turn around, but if he really was the last man on earth.. she really didn't want to end up talking to herself or a soccer ball. "Fine.. but you're pushing the cart."

His hand rose up over the top shelf with a bent up pack of batteries he did find, motioning her over. "I'll do you one better. I'll drive it home. Just need to finish doing one thing."

"You think I'm letting you drive my dad's van? ha, you are crazy!" She tugged the cart with one hand, rolling it behind her as she came around to his aisle, pouting over the fact that she'd given in to him. Her bat resting on her shoulder, balanced by her other hand, she and her tag along cart came up beside him.

"No, not the van. It's not big enough. It may be faster, but it's not practical, is it? Gas goes and it's done, right? Follow me or wait here. Leave if you want, but I came for something I'm not leaving without." He wasn't intending to leave without her either, but the loader was essential to several more of his plans. Kain gathered a handful of the battery packs and started toward the back room.

"But until the gas goes.. besides the rest of my stuff is in it." She pulled the cart and followed him toward the back. "What the heck is back there that is bigger than a d**n minivan?"

He heard the question and laughed. "Not bigger, just better equipped. Ahh... perfect!" He pushed through another set of doors this time, seeing the marred yellow paint of the dock loader gleaming tauntingly within reach. "As long as it's charged, you can load as much as you want, really. Not speedy, but effective."

"Ah.. well.. I kind of like my van.. maybe we should be a two car family." She stepped away from her cart and regarded the dock loader. "Aren't you concerned about.. well the infected?" He did have a point of it being effective if it was charged up it could be quite useful, but the van seemed safer to her.

"Always. But with a few mods, it could save a life or two." He motioned between himself and her meaning the 'two'. "This section of town's been pretty quiet actually. Most everyone's dead or gone. Some will be back and the infected will follow. No safe place, but it's still home, right?" He moved around it to check the controls. "Keys. d**n. Wait here." He motioned to the office he'd been in before, suspecting the keys would be in there.

"Oh.. good point." She wasn't sure what or how he planned to modify it, but she already agreed that it could be useful and he seemed set on having it. She smiled a little, 'a boy and his trucks' she kept watch around them as he went off into the office to get the keys. "How do you plan to keep it charged?"

"Told you. I have power," he called back over his shoulder before ducking into the office. Kain dug around a little more for other things of use, other keys, flashlights, first aid, anything the front of the store might not include in easy reach... fire extinguisher.. He returned with an apron tied into a bag to hold the items slung around his shoulder. The keys in hand, he hopped into the cage and tried the motor that whined at first and didn't seem to want to go anywhere.

[Lovely]

"Hmm.. we could use the van to tow it.. home and charge it, come back another day for a bigger load?" She suggested as she came over and climbed up enough to poke into the cage with him. She also peeked at what he had wrapped up in the apron while she was there, her bat balanced between her knees to keep it close at hand.

He looked up as she appeared beside him, giving her a genuine smile. "Hello... Just another try." He checked the buttons and the brake, making sure it wasn't perhaps broken and tried the key again. The motor grumbled into use and rocked a little as he brushed the controls. "In or out?" He offered her the tiny space around the seat if she was riding along. "I want to be sure it works."

"Oh goody.. haven't been for a joy ride in a long while. Be a love, don't crash it and mess up my pretty face." She smiled as she crawled into the small space he offered. "Mmm cozy." She chuckled softly.

He tested the lift first, watching the fork raise and lower effectively. "Nice to know we can get it up on command," he teased, leaning back into her a little and trying the wheels. The loader picked up a decent amount of speed, faster than most people could run. "That's reassuring. Now for the door," he said, driving to it and through out into the aisles.

She chuckled softly at his tease, finding it odd and comforting at the same time. She felt herself curl around him just a bit as he leaned back into her. She rested her chin down on his shoulder. "Definitely better than talking to a soccer ball."

"I don't think I really want to know what you do with balls," he chuckled again, bringing the loader through and down to where her cart was left.

"Ohh so you are gay." She teased him right back, nudging him to move so she could climb off once they got to were her cart was.

"Not at all, but I am considerate - to a point. Survival first," he said, turning to whisper closely before jumping out. "Pleasure later."

"Right, don't forget the batteries." She smirked as she followed him out of the loader and reached for that bag first from the ones she'd put in her cart. "So.. how much charge do you say it has? I don't have alot in the van really. A few personal belongings, the rifle and a box of bottles from the bar I work at.. worked at."

"Bar? Color me interested. What's in the box and are there more?" He thumbed back at the loader in case there were enough to haul out later. "Get a pallet ready and load it up. Anything we can strap down, we can have our way with," he winked.

"Yes bar.. I was a bartender. Closed up the last night we were open so I still have the keys and I only took one box, stock room was full, we'd gotten our delivery the day before." She tossed over her shoulder as she pulled the stuff out of her cart and started to set it up to be re-packed for the loader. His comment hadn't gone unnoticed, nor had his wink though she merely arched a brow at him. "Hope you like vodka.. the box in the van is mostly that."

He smiled. "Good choice. I'm assuming you're sharing, then? Thank you. It's all I do drink, if there is a choice. Then comes the next question. Where are you going and where was I planning on going?"

[Lovely]

"I might be persuaded to share.." She teased, looking over at him as she tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear. "I had a place in mind, I had this whole plan I thought was pretty darn smart. You know where the history center is, that mansion on Greewood? I figured that would make a nice safe little fortress with only minor modifications."

"I do know it. It's cold, lonely, quaint... historical... How do you feel about hotels? I like a little more 'life' if I have to live in a bunker of sorts. I also like having a bit of a view from above."

"Yes so am I, minus the historical bit, it's brick and doesn't have a lot of windows to.. the hotel is safe?" She stood back up and moved over toward him. "Hotels are usually big places with lots of windows, places to hide or lurk.. how much and how well have you fortified it? What do you plan to do with the loader?"

"Fortified. The grounds were sealed off for renovations so it's already surrounded by a razor wire fence. The lower three floors have been boarded outside and in, primarily due to ward off damage from storms off the lake and said renovations keeping the looters... like me... from breaking glass to get in if they get past the fence. The place has solar power to keep it heated enough for the rooms in use and keep the security system active. There may not be anyone to respond to an alarm, but it makes enough noise to alert anyone into thinking twice about trying it again. The advantage is... hotels have their own boiler and pressure system - water pressure, hot water, heat... should sound rather charming, I think."

"I rather don't care about charm.. I care about staying alive. If it will keep the others out and us out of the elements and from being attacked by them, or at least the alarms will alert us to them coming.. it's great with me." She sighed and curled her hand into a tight fist, turning away from him to look at what was on the shelves and what they should take. "My name is Katherine, by the way.. Kat.. for short." She spoke more softly with less bite in her voice. "You like twinkies?" She finally read what was in the box in front of her.

"Not if it's another test to see whether or not I'm gay," he smiled back, deciding she had earned a better answer. "I confess... sweet tooth that will be my downfall before this blasted virus ever will be. They don't need to be cooked, so there's another plus. I do have a working stove, though, so if you're in need of something comforting and warm, you have the invitation."

"Well look we can eat a whole case of them together." She motioned to the box in front of her before lifting it off the shelf to bring it to him to load on the 'truck'. "Just know it's your fault if you find me curled up in the oven later, comforting and warm having been lacking for awhile."

He took the warning to heart and wouldn't let her resort to such measures if he had any say. "Hence the batteries? I'm joking. Take the case and load it on. The pallet will hold quite a bit. Fire logs... propane... rubbing alcohol will work in a pinch. You'll be warm, I promise you. Keep your ears sharp and eyes open. Safe isn't here, remember that much." He was about to set off and scout for what else he intended to obtain here.

She chuckled at his comment about the batteries. "Yeah, why do think I didn't want to share them?" She tossed back, setting the case on the pallet. "Should I get the stuff from the van now or when we leave? Or should I leave it and follow you there?" She asked as she moved to grab a case of canned goods, the cases were even easier to load up even if they were heavier than her cart and bags that she'd started out with.

"Leave it as is. If we get separated for any reason, you still have a few things to keep you. You know the Orrington? Somewhat hard to miss it, actually. It's a monument to incredibly atrocious spending for luxury and I rather say... I approve. I have no intentions of getting separated, but it could happen. Since you can't exactly call, it's the best I can do to simply lead you there."

She looked at her bags and nodded. "I'll put these in the van then, easier to load boxes on here anyhow." Kat motioned back to the loader and then looked at Kain again. "I know the Orrington, heard it was for rich snobby gay guys." She winked and blew him a kiss with the tease as she grabbed another box from the shelf. "You do realize that you've invited me, which means you'll have to put up with my sass.. and the more I know you, the more things I'll be able to sass you about."

"I grew up with sass. I have a twin brother and two older brothers who are twins also, none of us gay. I know sass, smartass, pigheaded and vile. All four of us are any of the above at any time we like... and you appear to have accepted that invitation to step into that realm yourself. Consider yourself warned in return. Kendall, by the way, though I prefer Kain. It suits me better."

[Lovely]

"No sisters?" She said with a slightly smug smile as she set the next box on the loader. "Mmmm well then consider it my pleasure to meet yours and raise you moody, b*tchy, and not a morning person." She turned to him again and tilted her head to the side. "It's nice to meet you. Now are you going to watch me or help?" She grinned, knowing he'd started to walk away, likely to fetch something else when she'd distracted him.

"Depends what you really want help with. I was working on warm and comforting still, unless you'd rather I didn't. How many twinkies do you really need? I don't have sisters, no, and I'm thankful. I have a cousin who might just be worse, though I don't know if she's survived all this." He considered it only a moment and waited for her to decide to let him finish rounding up what he'd intended or help her with the items she was loading.

"I can't resist the creme filling." She grinned and pointed to the side of the next box she set on the loader. "Only the one case was twinkies. The rest have been assorted canned goods." She stopped and set her hands casually on the back of her hips. "The warm and comforting is good... really, I'm just sassin' you, and if you hadn't made me feel better.. less crazy and alone, I woudn't be.. for what it's worth.. thanks."

"Thank me over a glass of vodka, love. We have a length of road between here and there. I'll be right back." He took the cart she'd been pushing and started off toward the fire logs and charcoal.

"You're the one lally-gaggin.." She teased quietly, more to herself as she moved and grabbed more boxes to load. She was quick and ever watchful, piling the pallet with cases of canned, boxed, and dry goods. Kat laughed when she came across a case of tampons but put them on the pallet anyway, she was a girl after all and it wasn't like she could send him out to pick some up in the middle of the night. "Better safe that sorry." She commented to herself, looking at what she had so far and sparked by the tampons to grab more like items such as toilet paper, bandages, antiseptic and the like.

Kain returned with the cart loaded with enough fire logs for a week, three small tanks of propane meant for portable grills, charcoal, lighter fluid, matches, a box of lighters and a box of condoms. He was whistling a little bit of 'one of these things is not like the others' as he plopped the mixed set in a stack at the back of the pallet for balance.

Kat was there admiring her stacking when Kain came back, curious of course she watched as he put his additions on the pallet. Her eyebrow arched at one item, a certain box which she was sure wasn't intended for water balloons. She refrained from sassing him about that, though she found her gaze going to it again and her mind wondering what was on his, though it seemed obvious. "Anything else you want? I tried to get a good mix of things that would be useful."

His own eyebrow raised. "So did I. The world's become a strange place. Can't be too careful - or too prepared. Imagine the dismay of our scoutmaster now if he saw all this," he sighed, looking around the store at the missing stock and the multiple broken fixtures. "Want and need have a pretty heavy line drawn between them at the moment. Ask me again when we're safely back before dark. You ready?"

She looked at him strangely, not sure if he was insulting her choice of stock to grab or what. It didn't really matter, she sighed and grabbed the few bags she'd pulled out of her cart before deciding those things would go in the van anyway. "I'll go load these up if you want to meet me around front." Spotting a small case of matches on a shelf, she tossed it in the cart as she got it moving to head out the front way. Swinging her bat up, she rested it over the cart, pushing it with one hand as she pulled the scarf up over her face with the other.

"Hey!" He took a step and stopped. She seemed upset or something he couldn't quite place. "Yeah, out front," he agreed, looking around the store again and getting a weird chill like being far too much in the open. He pulled the pile of straps out from the cage and quickly tied down the load for travel. Even if she didn't wait, she knew where he was headed. He hopped back into the cage and started the machine rolling. The front doors weren't meant for loading, but would open just wide enough with barely room to spare to either side. He didn't know if the power in the office powered the doors as well, though. He'd find out soon enough if they didn't open. Crashing through was an option, but not a very good one.

[Lovely]

She heard the loader start up and then turned as she realized it was 'following' her, she hadn't realized he was coming this way. She tossed a few more things in the cart as she walked by them, not stopping, but more or less impulse shopping as she made her way to the doors. She parked the cart to the side and moved to push the doors back all the way, the auto function either didn't have enough power or had none at all, either way the doors were forced back by the strength in Kat's arms and legs this time. With a puffed out sigh she went back for the cart and pushed it out to start loading the van. She had only used the auto lock and not the alarm, using the same now to unlock it as she watched the lot for signs of movement. The back door of the van slide open while she kept watch, loading the bags quickly into it and then climbing in herself. She got the door closed and crawled up into the driver's seat, keys in the ignition and got the van started. Kat patted the dash lightly "Good girl.." She thanked the van for being reliable.

The loader manuevered shakily over the lumps of rug and molding in the doorway then out the doors. The small step down was thankfully shallow but was enough to jar the load and the driver as it walked over the slight curb. "Mind that," he grimaced, feeling the bump on his head begin to sting where he'd just hit the side of the cage. Kain looked down the walk for the cutout instead of going over the walking curb into the gutter. An inch or two was forgivable but four inches or more and the load would land in the street with the loader and him on top of it. The yellow and rust behemoth rolled on its way toward the hotel that was thankfully less than a mile away.

Kat watched him and the lot, things were quiet like he'd said which was why she'd finally come out herself with her idea of a better place to hole up. It seemed as though she'd found one, even if it was not the one she'd intended at first. Once he started out in front of her she slowly moved the van forward following behind him. She set the handgun on the seat and kept her eyes peeled, the bat wouldn't do much good if something went after him while she was back here in the van. Kat knew if something did attack, she wouldn't hesitate to shoot it for going after him anymore than she would if it was coming after her.

A long list of variables included the half dozen alleys to be passed on the way before reaching the fence and getting it opened. Kain reached behind him instinctively for his club only to realize he didn't have it. He looked to the other side and still didn't see it. He'd set it down for firewood and that's all he had now to defend himself beyond the nearly empty lighter in his pocket. He swallowed dryly and looked around the shadowy corners, feeling more and more exposed. They seemed to fear daylight as much as vampires but attacks during the day weren't unheard of. Slowing at the stoplight was just as instinctive, but quickly dismissed. It had no power to it and the worry of cross traffic struck him as absurd. He laughed, but the laugh was cut short as the sunlight was briefly blotted out by a form lurching from the gutter onto the side of the loader.

Kat saw the form as it lunged from the side onto the loader, it happened fast, nothing and then suddenly there it was. Kat never even blinked as she turned the wheel of the van with one hand while the other raised the gun off the seat. BAM! The shot rang out and the bullet hit the infected creature in the side of the temple. BAM! The second shot sounded, hitting the 'thing' in the chest as it was jerked back by the first shot.

Again he jumped, jerking the load and himself as he dodged out of reach of the grasping arm that jerked with the force of the first shot, then the second. The blood! He dodged again and frantically inspected himself, his face, making sure none had gotten to his mouth or nose. He was sure none was in his eyes that had closed involuntarily when he'd flinched. The creature that was once female lay at the side of the road now, forgotten like so many others. "I owe you for that," he committed only to himself for now, but fully intended to prostrate himself to her sassing for saving his life just now. He chuckled and shook his head, keeping the load moving before any other creatures got an idea to try to do the same.

She waited with the gun pointed long enough to see he didn't come charging out of the loader in a rage himself and then lowered it back to the seat and continued to follow him. She'd purposely shot the creature the way she had to avoid getting any blood splattered on him -as much as possible, though there was always a risk. Kat was glad to see him continue on with the load, she realized as she let out a relieved breath.

Kain hated to admit when he was shaken. There was little he could do to hide it now, however. Blinking against fear, filled with worry that he'd made a horrifying mistake, he continued his path, hardly noticing the slight increase in speed. He avoided curbs as much as possible and finally the fence was within sight with the old ornate hotel behind it. Now was the trick of getting out and opening it before anything else jumped out of the shadows. His own shadowy figure would easily have gone unnoticed save for the heaving breaths that arched his shoulders as he fought with the locks. Every movement was followed by a glance around him like he was breaking in, though he clearly had keys. Whether he'd stolen those or had them before, it didn't much matter, only getting safely inside did. The van behind him was a comfort, but only a little. He trusted her to follow, but now she knew his secret here - a working fortress she could have to herself if she wanted it, whether she intended to share it or not. She had a gun and far better aim than he did and she could just as easily kill him as the infected. He tried not to overthink that and continued with the locks, finally freeing them to swing the gate inward. A deep breath then a glance up, he walked out now and waved Kat forward around the loader to park inside the gate first.

[Lovely]

She'd never been a soilder or anything of the sort but when faced with the situation she had been thrust so suddenly into, she found some natural instinct and talent to handle herself without falling apart in hysterics, which somewhere within her she wanted to have herself a good cry. Kat had not stopped to look at the infected that she'd killed, not even a passing glance was offered, in her opinion she'd put it out of it's misery and probably saved Kain's life, there was no time to feel bad or consider who that infected might have once been. Her room mate, her best friend from elementary school? Quite possibly either for all she knew and she didn't want to know.

Focusing on the present and what was in front and around them as Kain worked the locks on the gates, let all other thoughts slip away. Ever watchful, she noticed him as much as she did the shadows that could suddenly move and become an infected lunging at him.

Had the attack shaken him that badly or was there more to his thoughts than that? She had no way to know, when signalled she nodded and eased the van forward and past the gate that he'd opened. She didn't go far but pulled off to the side out of the way so he could get through with the loader. Kat left the van running and got out, approaching the gate with her gun drawn and ready, but aimed at the ground for the moment. She came up to provide him cover as he drove the slower moving and more open loader inside.

His eyes briefly registered thanks as he moved past her to enter the cage again, seeing now the splatter on the outside that would need washing down. Trying not to touch any of it, he inched the loader into the gate, far enough inside that an arm through the wire wouldn't be able to reach the controls, but far enough from the building not to use the top of the cage as a launching step up to the windows. He'd planned that much out, knowing the size and height and exactly where it could be put. Once that was done, he was out again, walking raggedly with tight nerves as he resecured the gate and turned to her and her gun. What could he say? As long as she didn't shoot him, what words were needed? She'd done what she had to and although it made him ill to watch the loss of humanity, he reminded himself again that whatever it was, what she shot was no longer human. The two of them were though and she had his silent oath he'd do all in his power to keep it that way, but yet he wondered if she even needed his help where he obviously needed hers more.

She stayed in place, guarding him, giving him a nod as he passed on the loader and ensuring that nothing that might jump out at him would reach him. Once he'd parked and secured the gate so that they were semi-safe inside, the set of her shoulders eased slightly. Kat faced him as he turned to her, her head tipped slightly to the side and her brow arched a little as she waited for him to say something. When he didn't and a moment passed she decided to speak first. "You know the layout of your lair best, where do you want me to park the beast? No set of double doors or anything to drive the loader right inside?"

He nodded. "There are. Need to check them first though. It's a narrow passage in and out. Once we know it's clear, I'll take it back and lock it up. Until then it stays here and we go in the front. Park there," he pointed to the side at a maintenance shed.

"Of course." She set the gun back in it's holster on her hip and moved back to get the van parked where he said to. As she climbed back out, she looked in the back at what was loaded in the van, plenty that needed to be brought in as well. Her mind was already working out ideas to make the place more secure, she didn't like having to park out here and be in the open, go check things, then come back out in the open to get the stuff from the van and bring the loader in. She pulled the rifle, a shirt from her bag and a bottle of vodka from the box on the seat. "Close your eyes." She told him as she walked up to him, the rifle slung across her back and the shirt in one hand as she opened the bottle up. Her intention was to 'wash' his face to make sure no blood was left if any had gotten on him from the infected.

He turned to face her, curious about the intention, but she had the rifle where he only had keys. He nodded slightly and let his eyes slip closed. He heard the familiar crack of the seal on the bottle. "Then again if the scoutmaster could have seen you..." He grinned as she dabbed him clean. "Hope you hadn't intended all the bottles for medicinal purposes only."

[Lovely]

She chuckled. "Yeah I'm sure I'm the scoutmaster's wet dream." She shook her head, finished her wiping, looking over his face to double check and nodded. "There we are, handsome as ever." She discarded the shirt on the side of the loader for the moment, figuring it could be used to clean up inside the cage if needed. She held up the bottle in her hand and grinned a little. "Not all intended for medicinal purposes, I like to think of it as multi purpose." She raised the bottle slightly and then took a swig, offering it to him before she capped it. "I mostly intended to drink it, but it comes in handy for other things."

Opening his eyes to her commentary, she'd see that the curiosity lingered in their darkness. She didn't appear to be sassing now, almost genuine, earning her a quiet and shy, "Thank you. It's not a perfect system, I know that. I needed to be sure I could get this first. The rest will come in time." He took the bottle for a swig himself, letting the relief of it wash down his fear for now.

"They say two is better than one, two heads, two sets of hands.. more ideas to be had and more chance of getting them to work with two of us at it, right?" She shrugged and capped the bottle of vodka, looking back at him with an small smile of her own. "I have a notebook in the van that I've been scribbling my lists and ideas and plans in, some of them could work here too. I don't mean to judge you're set up.. it's not bad, my mind is just already jumping ahead and I've been on my own, so focused on surviving.. it's a little different having someone to share it with."

"Really, I've never not been alone," he said, finding it funny and sad at once. "Only myself to talk into things, it's easy to agree with, not that it always makes sense, you know? My brothers.. heh, well for all I know they're dead, too, so here I am, still alone until now. You have a notebook and ideas. We have twinkies," he laughed a little and his eyes lit up as his tone changed. "C'mon then. Let's check out the alley and get these things in, then."

"Being 'alone' by choice is much different than being isolated as the only survivor you know of the lame a** zombie flick you woke up in." She said quietly, tapping his arm lightly and motioning him to lead the way. "I used to like being on my own and alone, until there was no one else in the world. No ex to 'hate' and use as a justification of being better off alone, no annoying guys at the bar to make me happy for my empty bed when I'd get home in the wee hours of the morning after my shifts.. there was just chaos and screaming, suffering and me being too stubborn to go down like that."

Kain chuckled, brushing the darker thoughts from his lip with a swipe of his finger. His skin tingled lightly where she'd swabbed it with the vodka. "You mean that, about the annoying guys at the bar, then? What do you suppose that makes me, being in the aisle with twinkies and batteries? Oh yeah, you offered the drink to me, didn't you. Interesting turn, yeah? So what comes next then since we've turned that story on its ear? Suppose you could be as happy in a choice of about a hundred beds in a hundred rooms if you want. Just check in with the nice fella at the desk who looks a lot like me. He'll set you up however you like." He wasn't sure if she was already brushing him off or trying to explain why she didn't want him to go away. He just knew he didn't want to be out here in the open much longer and needed to get out of the clothes he was in now that they were splattered. "Follow me or wait here. I'm checking the alley."

"I'm following.. I like the view." She said with a slight shrug, moving behind him as he started off. "About those ideas.. and a hundred empty rooms.. not to invade your space but don't you think it would be wiser to be together?"

"I'd be the last person ever to call me wise, unless 'ass' was included. Family trait, I'm afraid. You sass... I have my own ways," he said over his shoulder, kicking up the pace a little and reaching to pick up any other debris he could use in a pinch.

"Okay.. suit yourself." She shrugged and made her mind up to help him fortify the place better for both their safety but whatever room she took, she be making d**n sure nothing was getting in, just like she'd planned to do when she set out expecting to be by herself in the old mansion.

Only a few broken boards were available at hand, leftovers from securing what he'd done so far to cover windows and block unused vents. The place was big, but had the advantage of the upper floors as long as they were the only ones getting inside to enjoy that view. Ships on the lake, planes or any vehicles from the city could be seen on the thoroughfares from the topmost floor. Having the advantage of the luxury as well made the hardship more tolerable at least. The alley was empty but filling with more shadows quickly. "Don't be so down. I didn't say 'no' exactly. I was being considerate, remember? If you think we should share..," he began, coming into the darkest of the shadows at the end where the dock and lift opened. He flipped the keys to unlock these doors and pull them open to the large, already well-stocked receiving bay beyond. "I think I can find the smarts enough to agree. Home sweet home... get the van first."

She didn't want to 'twist his arm' either he wanted to or he didn't and she still wasn't sure which it was. He'd agreed but was it what he wanted? Kat shifted the strap of the rifle up over her head and motioned for him to take it since he didn't have his spiked bludgeon anymore. "Be right back."

He looked to the rifle and to her expression. Other than the walls to hide them, he was running out of things to offer in return. He took the rifle with a nod. Perhaps he wasn't wise, but he was smart enough to accept the help he needed. "We have about an hour to get everything in and get this secure enough for nightfall. Once you're parked in here, I get the loader, we take inside only what we need until morning. Sounds echo in here and light can still be seen from the street. Sorry, you probably know more than I do about that, but one scare is all I need for today."

[Lovely]

To make sure she understood correctly she nodded and repeated it back in her own words. "So we park both in here, secure these doors again and whatever is left for the hour, we haul up what we need most, get the rest when it's daylight again.. Okay. I'll be quick." She spun on her heel and took off at a quick pace, her head moving as she watched everything around her, even with the fence she wasn't going to get all cozy and safe feeling out here. Once out of the alley she broke into a jog and quickly got into the van, another look around and she got it rolling to the alley and down into the recieving bay. Again she pulled off to the side and out of the way for him to come in with the loader. "Miss me?" She asked as she got out of the van, coming up to take position by the door while he went out to get the loader.

"Actually, yes. I'm a sucker for a pretty face... and for a nasty bit of sass," he agreed, keeping an eye on the doorway as he teased and moved quickly past her. Luck was still with him to get it moving and inside to cut the motor and get out to secure the doors. "Get that one," he motioned, closing the one closest to him and reaching for the locking bar.

He was gone and back and she breathed a sigh of relief that there was no further incident so far. She swung the bay door toward his, to close them both solidly and let him put the bar in place. Once the doors were closed, she felt a tiny bit better and took a better look around the bay at what was there. She didn't have alot of time to take inventory but she would be back to have a better look when there was more time left in another day. "Well then.. what's going up and how have you been getting up?" She wasn't sure if the elevators worked and how safe they would be to take.

"Ooo another touch of the personal. I think I might get used to that," he seethed with a grin, taking her comment to mean a little something different than intended. "The lift through there. Old, mechanical, counterweighted - no electricity needed, but it's slow. Built around 1946 I believe. What's going up is whatever we can carry - ah... vodka... first and foremost."

She turned her gaze back to him with an arched brow as he took her comment and went with it, she found herself smiling a little as she chuckled. "Alright.. my personal belogings are in the van with the case of vodka and some tools. I'd like at least the duffle, has some clothes in it and someone tempted me with water pressure.." She gave another smile, obviously wanting a shower. "It's not stuffed so there's room to put some of this in there to bring it up." She told him as she went to the van to get the vodka and the duffle bag. "What else do you want for tonight?" She asked him as she came back with the stuff from the van.

"A few things," he grinned in return, speaking vaguely. He'd manage his items himself and did so, grabbing his box of matches, one of the propane bottles, a fire log from the bunch and the make-shift ruck sack with the items from the back room into which he tossed the extra box that had drawn her curiosity earlier. "And a shower, also. It's been a rough bit of a day."

She looked at what he grabbed and tried not to think about what he'd tucked into his makeshift sack. She moved over and set her bag down, opening a case to grab out a box of twinkies, putting it in her duffle. "What do you have to eat up there?" She grabbed a few things out of the cases she'd stacked on the loader, careful of what she shifted and only grabbing a few things to keep her till the next day.

"More of the same. Soup, pasta, chili, creamed corn," he laughed. "Chips and salsa if you'd like a party. Seriously, I've been very fortunate to have found a well stocked and still-working freezer. How would you like steak?" He tempted her with a twist of a smile as he pulled the sack over his shoulder and lifted the rest to carry onto the lift.

She froze as he asked her about steak, turning to look at him, sure he was teasing him. "Steak." The word came out almost like a squeak and her jaw tightened with a small amount of pride as she heard how her own voice sounded. "You.. have.. steak?" She couldn't hide the look on her face of surprise and longing. It had been at least a few weeks since she'd had anything decent to eat, evident by the fact that her jeans were looser around the waist and she actually needed the belt she wore rather than it being a fashion statement. Whatever she had in her bag was enough, the rest could wait now that he'd tempted her with his offer. She regathered up her stuff and followed him to the lift.

"You're welcome," he said quietly as he pulled the handle that closed an outer set of doors that moved vertically before the inner doors closed in from the sides. Moving another lever beside it, marking the floor, the weights and cables could be heard shifting and starting to raise the car upward. "Fine linens, crystal and a crisp, deep red wine.. second floor. Considering your offer of sharing, I believe I'll have to insist on it now."

That bit of pride lurched her stomach nearly as much as the hunger did and her hand came up to rub her tummy as it made a growling noise. She looked at the floor, feeling nearly ashamed that she was so hungry, here he was talking of crystal and wine, she didn't care about them. Food, a steak, something real in her stomach, he could have said she was eating it off the floor and she would happily accepted. "Thank you." She said quietly back, so distracted by the thought of food and not having hardly any for weeks that she really wasn't sure what he meant by the last part of what he'd said.

"Ever live downtown, Kat? It's never been my thing. Tripp.. that's my brother, one of them.. couldn't live outside of it. I think he'd shrivel into a ball of goo not to have a working train or a cab he can whistle down. There's a certain freedom here. I used to like being alone, away from the family. I chose that... funny, really. I'm not entirely sure I miss them."

[Lovely]

"I did for a couple years." She answered after a moment, not sure why he brought it up. "But I never liked it much. That's why I came back here.. it was easier to be alone in some ways, quieter.. " She looked over at him and gave a weak smile. "You're used to being out of touch with them? I kind of get that, I mean I didn't live far from my parents, but I hardly saw them.. I don't miss them so much as miss the option of chosing whether or not to see them. I chose not to see them for long periods of time.. now I can't ever see them again. We might very well be the last two people left.. hopefully we won't drive each other crazy.. If you want to have seperate rooms, it's alright. I understand if you're used to being alone and if you want to mostly keep it that way."

"Our parents died when we were in high school. A real tragedy except for four teenaged boys suddenly with a run of the place," he chuckled and leaned against the wall, seeming to relax and warm up more. "Crazy is what happens when one of them tries to take charge. That was Pat... Tripp. I begged out and let the other three do what they would. I came here and started at Northwestern, tried for the team even, but they considered me too scrawny - a liability. Wonder where those tough guys all are now. Hm. I don't think my brothers are dead, actually. Maybe some of the things they say about twins are true, that you know if the other is hurt or lost. I don't think I'm quite that free of them yet, but maybe there's still hope. I'm joking. I really do wish them well, but it's been too long. Maybe I should spend some time getting to know someone again. I might already be crazy, but the company would still be a comfort. Ah, one more floor and we're there."

Her head tipped again as she smiled at him. "For someone who doesn't spend much time getting to know other people, you sure do talk alot." Her smile brightened a bit as she chuckled. "I'm just teasing you, I don't mind it at all. You have a nice voice, interesting things to say.. and it's nice to hear another voice, an intelligent person speaking.. " Her eyes moved over his face and upper torso. "You're not that scrawny.. besides the bigger the other muscles the smaller the...." She chuckled again. "..brain. I dated one of those Northwestern 'team guys'... that would be the earlier mentioned ex."

"That's the thing about being alone. No one to tell you to shut up," he snickered, slightly embarrassed now, and moreso as she looked him over with the added commentary. "Thank you again. I believe this is our stop." The car slowed and halted then he moved the lever for the doors that opened to a sparse hallway with a wide and ornate banquet room at the end. "Table with a view, miss?"

She shifted to look down the hall and though she smiled a bit, she felt like she was being unappreciative of his gesture. "Not sure I packed the right clothes for a fancy dinner. I don't even have a pair of heels, other than the ones on these boots." She nudged him a little. "Sugar daddy might need to take a poor girl shopping, he wants to keep her in such a fine place and all." She teased, feeling a bit more of the tension ease from her.

"Sugar daddy may need to take the loader and make a bank heist next," he laughed, turning from her nudge and taking his stack into the hallway, making a turn through a swinging door into a large and polished kitchen.

She followed him since she didn't know the place enough yet, to which direction to go besides where he was. "Good thing for sugar daddy everything is on sale, you like it, you take it.." She was smiling as she went through the swinging doors where she stopped and looked around in a little bit of awe. "Okay.. wow.. this place is.. really something."

He set a few of the things down on the counter in here and flipped a switch that brought the room more to its sparkling life with a blue LED glow off the stainless steel. "Natural light uses too much power. This is enough to see by, but it makes a few things look less than appetizing while cooking, so you may want to stay out there. Have a look out to the lake. Normally, there would a swarm of tugs and skiffs." He didn't need to say much more, but pointed back to the dining room. Once his hands were freed he came up beside her. "Kat..."

She set the box down, not sure where he wanted everything and was about to ask about the stuff she'd stuffed in her bag when he started talking about the lake and the view. Kat stayed quiet and watched him, turning but unsure about whether or not she wanted to go look. When he came up beside her she turned with a questioning and somewhat sad expression. "Yes?"

"Just... just tell me to shut up if I say too much, okay? I'm sorry... about all of what's happened and maybe things aren't what you'd hoped or planned. What you said.. about us being the last, I refuse to believe that, but.. if it's true... I'm thankful that it's you. I don't know why... I just feel.. I just -feel-... which is something I haven't been able to do since I've been run-... hiding."

[Lovely]

She shook her head a little and pulled the gloves off her hands, reacing to touch his cheek softly. "You're not. I'm just not sure what I'm supposed to be doing right now.. I haven't really rested, let down my guard even a little, talked to anyone, felt anything, or eaten anything real since all this started. I sort of feel like .. I don't know.. this is your little hideaway, alright big hideaway, but still, your place, your set up.. I don't know where to put my bag down, where the bathroom is.. I like your talking.. I really do, I sort of feel a bit like I'm spinning though.. it's not you.. and I'm glad too.. even if it's not only us left, who knows where anyone else is or if we'll ever find them.. I'm glad you found me."

He nodded again the touch which he did feel and the sensation staggered him. Swallowing air, he looked again to the floor to gather his thoughts. "Your bags are fine there. Food things at least. Rest first? I'm sure it will help you feel better. I'll show you.. my room and others if you want your own, okay?"

"I want a shower.. I want to shave my legs and feel less like ... more like me again.. like a person.. like a woman.. if that's alright with you?" She smiled a little and let out a long deep sigh. "Let's get the food out of the bag and then you can show me where to put my clothes and stuff." She sort of squared her shoulders and faced him straight on. "Listen.. the room situation is up to you. I'd feel better sharing and closer to.. you, but I don't want you to be uncomfortable. I will be fine if you want to stay seperate."

"Very alright. I'll show you that as well. Up another floor. I'll help you with this and we'll go up." Kain had felt every bit like he was dreaming and that all of this was some part of an ongoing nightmare with a few bright and glowing moments to comfort him. Her touch perhaps frightened him more than anything else had, assuring him finally that it wasn't a dream and that they were really alone but thankfully together. "The stranger thing is though, there are no rules. Where to place a fork, which spoon to spill your soup from or which glass for water and which for wine... or where the table should even be set to dine... or do anything else for that matter. Ever run naked in the halls of a hotel before? It's liberating." He put the thought in her mind and turned to empty the bags.

"All good and well but knowing which room you'll normally sleep in and where your clothes and things are is usually helpful when you're not running naked through the halls of a hotel.. which I have not ever done." She laughed softly at the thought of it, actually picturing it with a slight shake of her head. Kat moved to set her bag down and unzipped it to pull out the twinkies, pringles, and cans she'd put in there. "I'm sure once I'm more used to the place and I know my way around.. I'll be more at ease with doing whatever wherever."

"I hope so," he smiled, biting his lip a little, letting the dream part intercede and his imagination work its magic on him as he took the moment to look her over now that she wasn't sassing. "C'mon. Leave it. It's cans - how far will they go on their own, huh? Your bath awaits, love."

"Mmm does this hotel provide bath boys?" She smiled dreamily and her eyes closed for a moment as she pulled in a deep breath, looking forward to the bath more than she could say. She reached for her duffle, being clean, shaved, putting clean clothes on.. that was more luxury than the lush hotel.

"As a matter of fact...," he held his hand out to her and raised an eyebrow. Who better than himself to aide her with such an arduous task? Then again, who else was there and who was he to complain about that at the moment? "Y'know... not to be overly personal, but I have a very steady hand with a straight razor..."

"Are you?" Her voice was soft. She hesitated with a shy smile before slowly reaching for his hand, hers curling around gently. She had been teasing and hadn't expected him to.. but things were different now. "What about a Venus Divine? How are you with those?" Her smile grew as her hand closed more firmly around his.

Kain grinned and a spark set off in his gaze setting the deep amber tint on fire. "Trust me to show you? It's a strange thing, must be hereditary, how the men in our family have always been at our best with a blade in hand... ah, take that any way you like and you'll probably be right."

[Lovely]

She was holding his hand, so he'd feel the slight tremble that she otherwise hid. "Both very comforting and very disturbing." Her eyes moved over him, a deeper look at the man, closer as she walked beside him. the blue of her eyes more distinct and sparked with a slight fear, curiosity and bravery to find out. Kat thought about his offer a moment and when her eyes came up again to meet his, she nodded. "Yes."

The twitch of his grin said so much though he said nothing at all. He was pleased with the response and tugged gently to have her follow him back to the elevator and up another floor to the first level of suites. It was good that she intrigued and disturbed. He would have been concerned if she completely trusted him so easily.

Kat followed without saying anything else though her mind was working and she was warring silently with her inner demons. Trust was not an easy thing in her world, but the world as it once was, was gone. She wouldn't blindly trust him, she'd trust him, be cautious and allow him to show her if she could truly trust him.

The laundry room and vending area were first beside the elevator, separated from the suites by a spa on one side and a cordial tea room on the other, providing distance and sound proofing from the squeaking and thumping of the machinery. An inset water feature at the end of the hallway splashed serenely and filled the air with a pleasant and warm mist so far removed from the chaotic world in the streets outside. It was a small token of tropical pleasure greeting them as Kain led toward the waterfall to the last door and stopped. "If nothing else, take a deep breath here. My room and you're welcome to stay if you like it. D'you smoke? I don't mind, I do occasionally - feel free."

"Kend.. Kain.." She started and reached for his arm to keep him facing her. "I told you I thought it was wiser to stay together and I told you I wanted to... and then I left it up to you to decide or maybe you have and you simply need to say, you want your own space instead of tossing the ball back at me when I have already given you my answer."

"Then decide which side of the bed you want," he retorted, biting his lip a little again to keep the smile contained as he undid the door that wasn't locked at the moment. It used an old-fashioned metal key instead of the electronic locks most hotels seemed to use these days. Getting this far into the building would take work enough that he felt safe keeping it open for now. The suite was enormous with a sitting area, a separate kitchenette and bar and a majestic viewing window beyond the bed that was in a raised area up a few steps. The decor was richly jewel toned with reds and golds, contemporary but casual enough to be comfortable. The bath was also large and immediately inviting with a jet tub and more fern and palm plants to make the oasis complete.

She would have said the wall, but obviously the bed wasn't up against a wall. Kat followed him in and well it was definitely a hotel and one she wouldn't pay to stay in.. but if it was safe, she could probably ignore the decor for the most part or perhaps he'd eventually be conviced to go with colors she didn't hate. She nearly chuckled at the fact that she even had thoughts about the colors of the room. "How long have you been here?" She eyed the kitchenette and turned to him with a look as if to ask why they didn't bring the food up here? Her eyes went to the bed again and she shifted to look closer. "Whichever side you're not sleeping on, both are equally open." She gestured to the area around the bed to explain her meaning. "It's.. huge.. the room, so I'd say we'll be able to be here without tripping over each other." Kat smiled a little and went of to check out the bathroom.

"Depends. In this room? I've been here only since I came back. I worked here for a while before the outbreak and had a room on another floor - basic basic, that one. Just a regular room and shower. This was open and a good start for getting the rest of the place back together. Really, they're all my rooms now if you think about it." He watched her move off to the bath. She hated it although she said she'd stay. "If you want, I'll show you the others."

There he goes again, tossing that ball again, she was going to shove it up his a** in a minute. "I suppose you're right.. must be kind of nice, like your own caslte, having the run of the place." Kat chuckled and poked out of the bathroom with a small smile. "I'd really like to shower and then you can show me anything you want to."

"Anything, hm? Your words," he teased, stepping up to her at the door. "Though I think there's something you agreed to let me show you before that. Save time, save water, too?" He wasn't sure that saving time would factor in if she let him join her.

"Do you know the password?" She teased, leaning toward him a little with a playful smile though she felt her heart race in reaction to him coming in with her.

"Hmm... nnooo... how about a hint?" His smile in return was relaxed and he took another step. She might push him back and she might not. It brought him very close, enough to tempt him into showing a few more things he was good at.

"There is no password." She whispered, leaning just a tiny bit closer and then backing away from the door into the oasis of the bath. She set her bag on the counter and let out a slow sigh as she stretched deeply.

Fade to Black .... End Scene

[Lovely]

June 29, 2007
12:30pm
Evanston, IL

Kain grinned triumphantly, casually holding the controls of the none-too-speedy loader that had done exactly as he'd expected it would to pry up the warehouse door for them to get more supplies they'd need to keep the hotel running normally. The pleasure that shone on his face in the pale daylight cracked into dismay with the sound of the crate that tipped off the end of the pallet and was nearly driven over. The loader wasn't usually intended to be driven fork-forward and he knew that, but it was so much easier than driving in reverse, twisted half around for the two miles back to their HQ! Lesson learned. "What was that?!" He stopped the vehicle and looked around carefully, casting a glance to Kat. Something else wasn't quite right.

She was smiling at Kain, almost chuckling at how pleased he seemed with himself. She reached over and squidged his cheeks a little but stopped as the sound of the crate falling was heard. She was behind him and she sighed softly. "I don't know, I'm stuck behind you."

He sighed and moved out of the way, casting her another look that begged her not to tease him at the moment considering the inexplicable chill that creeped down his back like someone was watching them. The strange paranoia etched out a frown under his deep brown eyes as he stepped around the truck to figure a way to get the crate secured back on the load. "Do you see anything?" He asked quietly, looking around for infected.

Kat followed him out and stood back a little to keep watch, glancing to him, the crate and the load that was on the palet. "Nothing, but when does that mean anything?" She asked, looking away from him and down the side of a building. Something moved and her hand went to her gun, pulling it free of the holster.

A voice came from behind a jut in the wall. "Don't .. please don't shoot.. please.. "

"What th-..," the part where he pulled on the crate broke loose in his hand as he started to speak in response to her movement and the voice that was plain and sounded normal. "Damnit," he was distracted by the pieces at his feet, and the possibility of having to run and leave the lot of it. "Kat, wait... "

She didn't shoot but stayed ready, her eyes on the figure in the shadows, the familiar voice sent a chill down her spine.. "Come out here where we can see you." She motioned with the gun and the figure came forward slowly, with.. his hands raised. As he came into the light, Kat nearly took a step back but caught herself.

The man coming out toward them, tipped his head to the side. "Kat?" He said softly, his hands lowering a little. "Katherine?"

"Stop moving." She said quietly, her eyes focused on the man who revealed himself to be none other than KC. The scarf she wore to protect her face had slipped down so he could see and recognise her, she definitely recognised him.

Kain did as told and also stopped moving, nearly stopped breathing, uncertain of the intent in her words until he saw the man emerge and realized she was talking to someone other than him. He'd called her by name. That made Kain stand slowly, keeping the splintered pieces in his hand and ready to use. "He's not infected," he murmured, as if it seemed to matter. "Put the gun down."

"Hell no." She answered Kain through slightly clenched teeth as she kept the gun and her eyes on KC.

The man let his arms fall down by his sides as he looked at Kat, a bit of a smile tugging at his lips as he gave her a good and slow looking over, though he stayed where he was. "You look good Katherine.. you've lost a little weight.." His eyes took on an expression she knew very well.

[Lovely]

"Lost a little... now hang on! Who is this guy?" The accent that had been light was strong and forceful with the inquiry now. Splinters alone weren't going to be much help. Kain reached into the broken crate for something more useful if he could find it. Infected or not, the man coming up to them wasn't on Kat's good side if she wasn't putting the gun down. "Does he owe you money?"

"I'm her fiance." KC almost smirked as he answered before Kat could. "Come on baby, put the gun down, like the nice man said.. you don't want to shoot me."

"Yes, I really do." She replied coldly, Kain might see the slight tremor in her as he was closer to her than KC was. "He's not my fiance."

"Oh three strikes in one sentence? That's really not good," he shook his head, almost laughing. "Fiancee? Wrong, very very wrong. Your baby, quite not... and nice? Me? Oh, I really don't think so." Kain went through the list, supporting Kat's contention as he formed his very solid opinion quickly that this man was overstepping every line already. "Shoot him."

She didn't even question it, the sound of the gun firing came two seconds after the words reached her ears. Two seconds because she lowered the gun slightly and shot KC between his legs. There was a scream of pain and then man crumpled on the ground.

"Kat?! I meant... really shoot him, not maim him and make him suffer. What are you doing?" Kain was horrified yet amused except for the commisseration of where the man had been shot. His voice squeaked in shared pain.

"That would be too merciful." She said quietly, turning her head finally to look at Kain as KC writhed in pain on the ground. "You know those scars that I won't talk about?" Her explaination was another shot to KC's chest, leaving him wounded badly and suffering. Just for good measure she fired off two more shots, one to each of his knee caps. She lowered the gun and turned, shoving it into Kain's hands. "Maybe you have mercy for the kind of animal he is, I'm fresh out." She walked past him to see if she could get the crate back on the palet.

He held the gun carefully, looking at the man who was unable to get up and wasn't walking or doing much else without a doctor which they weren't going to find. "She already signed your death warrant, from what I understand, some time ago." By his count there was only a single shot left and he wasn't going to use it to put this pig out of his waking hell. "The way I see it, I leave you here, the infected smell you, and you have a hope of being ripped limb from limb and you die in seconds. Or, you stay out here and bleed slowly, baking in the sun and the rats and crows have fresh meat this time tomorrow. You may even live long enough to enjoy that. Or...," he paused, considering the chunk of wood in his hand more than the gun as a means to get his point across. "I help her help you understand exactly what it is you've done to her." KC might see the wicked smile before the board struck his temple.

She'd moved to the crate, but faced Kain and KC, watching as Kain finished off the man who'd once terrorized her so bad that she was afraid of her own shadow. She heard the sound of the board as it struck the other man's head but she wasn't sickened by it, it was kind of satisfying.

Whether he was dead now or not, it didn't matter. He would be within hours regardless if he couldn't run from the infected and couldn't stem the bleeding. The mercy Kain had shown in making him unconscious was more than he'd deserved from what he could see in Kat's expression. He didn't say much else as he came back to help put the broken crate back with the rest of the load.

[Lovely]

Kat stared at him as he came up to help, she didn't say anything but motioned for him to grab one side of the crate as she grabbed the other to hoist it up between two other crates that she'd moved so the broken one would be sandwhiched between them and stay more steady.

"That should take care of it," he said, finally taking a breath as he tested the crate. He glanced over, shaken that he'd taken a life and didn't feel terrible about it, knowing the man wasn't infected. He'd played judge and jury in an instant and now marveled at the creature that now made him. Perhaps he was speaking about her, or maybe KC now... that they were taken care of.

"You really think it will?" She asked, her eyes moving from the crate to Kc and then back to Kain again. "You've been right before. I'll trust you." She spoke quietly, taking a deep though trembling breath. "We should get going."

"Kat..," he tried to find a way to apologize, to tell her more in the span of an instant if the look he gave didn't say enough. Simply put, he realized he was jealous and couldn't stand the thought that the man could have been able to win her back. The way she reacted told him that would never happen. Could she care? Would she? He'd been right about what exactly, he wondered as she mentioned it. He didn't want to leave just yet, needing a moment longer for it all to be real, to fix itself in his mind that these events weren't simply passing by, but really happening. He felt the tremble in her breath and reached out to her, hoping to reel her in closely.

She waited after he said her name, expecting some words but his expression might have told her more than words could anyway. He reached for her and she knew that he'd see the fear that haunted her because of the man laying on the ground, yet instead of pulling away and running she let Kain reel her in. The tremble wasn't only in her breath now, but rippled softly through her. "Kain.." She only spoke his name as he'd done to her, so much that words could not say.

"It's over," he heard himself say, not sure what was, but that it was something she needed to hear out loud. Whether or not she cared about him, he cared already enough about her to worry about how well she was going to manage the rest of the day. "We'll go back and rest. Alright? Candlelight while the generators charge. We can sort this out later."

She nodded, not saying anything at first as she leaned against him a little more heavily. After a moment she shifted and started to pull back, not far but enough to rest her cheek against his lightly. "Alright." She finally replied, the tremble less now but still there slightly.

Close like this it was hard not give in. Who was to say? Kendall brushed against her cheek lightly, turning in to kiss her neck. She seemed to need him close or want him to be, but how close?

There was a soft gasp in his ear as he kissed her neck and her hands curled over his arms. Taking another trembling breath she started to step away but stopped. "When we get back.. I need to.. talk to you."

Not that close, apparently. He nodded and abashedly pulled himself away, taking a moment to tug the crate and look back at her briefly before starting to get into the cab to restart the loader. She needed to get in too and once the motor was going he hopped back out, waiting like a footman holding the door of a limo for her.

She felt a twinge like being stabbed as he pulled away frrom her and her hand clenched into a fist. When she moved to get into the cab of the loader, she stopped and glanced at the man on the ground, wanting to shoot him again because he was the reason she pulled away from Kain, not because of Kain himself. When her gaze came back and she looked at Kain there were tears in her eyes, but not of sorrow for the man, there were for herself. It wasn't really safe out here, but she didn't know how to fix things because she'd pulled away first and obviously made Kain think she didn't want him close. "Don't mistake me, when I said I needed to talk to you.. I meant it.." She didn't know how to explain, she didn't know what to say. So she leaned in and kissed Kain softly on the lips.

[Lovely]

June 29, 2007
5:15pm


There hadn't been time to talk when they first got back, there were supplies to be unloaded and sorted into the right places, double checking to make sure the hotel was still secure and nothing had gotten in while they were away. When that was all done, Kat headed to the room they shared, took a shower and changed into some loose and comfortable pajamas. Now she sat in the middle of the bed with her arm curled around her bent legs and her chin resting on her knees as she stared toward the window but wasn't really looking out. Her blonde hair was pulled up into a ponytail making her look much younger than her normal messy do. She waited for Kain to make his appearance, hoping he would be willing to listen and understand, rather than withdrawn as he had been after the incident that afternoon.