Peas & Corn (Sara, Gene)

[Lovely]

Name: Eugene Carlisle Alias: Gene Age: 30 Location: Joliet, IL Played by: Tripp Likeness used: Orlando Bloom

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Name: Sara Nichols Alias: Age: 22 Location: Joliet, IL Played by: Lovely Likeness used: Adrianne Palicki

[Lovely]

June 23, 2007
11am
Joliet, IL

Sara had not wanted to go out, she was still pretty terrified of the infected creatures -people. But she had to have food and she knew waiting much longer would be more dangerous because she'd be weaker and less able to defend herself.

So out she ventured in her little car to go to the grocery store, her eyes darting around as she watched -fearful of being attacked. Thankfully nothing jumped out on the way there, but she still had to get inside, get some food, and get back home. Her heart pounding in her chest she crept quietly into the store, crowbar in hand, bag in the other. Taking a deep breath as she listened and looked around, she moved into the aisles looking for things and filling her bag. She knew she needed to try and get as healthy food as she could so she went for canned fruit and vegetables first, along with some soups.

The movement and sounds had made him creep low to the floor as he gathered a few more cans himself. Looting wasn't unheard of but he'd wished he'd chosen a less busy looting time and simultaneously hoped that it was only a looter he heard, or maybe just rats, but not infected. The thought of infected rats started to work on his mind now and made him shiver. The scientists had said it only affected men and primates though... for once he hoped science was right. The chill worked down his arm and the can of raviolis rolled out of his fingers, tumbling loudly against the shelf and down to the floor, rolling out into the main aisle while he watched, trying to duck out of sight even further while keeping watch out for who or whatever might notice.

She almost screamed at the noise, covering her mouth with her hand and dropping to the floor as much as she could. Sara stared out from the aisle she was in, her eyes wide as she watched a can of something roll by in the main aisle. "Oh crap." She whispered, trying not to panic. Slowly and as quietly as she could manage she scuttled backward, looking over her shoulder and to the front, waiting for something to come rushing at her.

It wasn't the last can of raviolis, but it was hopelessly dented now. He felt he had to take it, live with it, like the cards dealt him that said he had to endure this crisis alone. Sucking up a painfully frightened breath, he moved after the can in the aisle and hoped nothing would dive after him. His hand landed on the steel cylinder and though it was wrapped in paper, it felt cold - he felt cold all over and felt the fear dripping freely all over as he moved. It was like riding in a park the first time at the top of the coaster and feeling the bottom give way to the long spinning swirl of track ahead. He wasn't expecting a person... especially not that person... to be in the very next aisle as he gathered can and bag and courage together. "My god... you're not... ?"

She stared, not able to speak, eyes wide with shock, and her hand still covering her mouth. She'd been expecting some crazed thing to come out, not .. "Gene..?" It came out in a tiny gasp as her hand lowered and she stared at him, it was like a movie where you get the really scary build up and then it's just a puppy or something. "You're not... either?"

He could only chuckle, the way he would when he narrowly escaped hitting another car on the highway, which he expected would never be a problem again, or when his foot had nearly slid out from under him on the top flight of stairs, that certain nervous and unnatural, humorless chuckle that asked the next question before he could answer hers. "No... I'm not. Hopefully you're not sorry to find that out. Y ou're... are you okay?"

She gave him a look that said she'd like to hit him for asking if she was sorry to find out he was alive, but that she was too nice to actually hit him. "No." She said softly. "I'm not okay at all.. I'm terrified and not even sure what I'm doing or why most of the time.." She knew why in a way, she was trying to survive for something more than herself now. Sara slowly got to her feet, still kind of staring in awe that he was standing there in front of her.

Gene nodded and reached to help dust her off if necessary, then he stepped back, feeling awkward about trying to help, not sure what to do with his hands. He adjusted the bag he carried, deciding to put another random can in it . "Me either," he agreed, finding it hard to look in her eyes, knowing once he did he'd never look away. Their last words hadn't been kind.

She felt the sting of tears in her eyes as he moved away and she turned her head. It hadn't just been since the outbreak that she wasn't okay. "Hey!" It was a whispered exclaimation as she saw the can he grabbed and she reached to try and snatch it before he put it in his bag.

"What? I saw it first," he defended, teasing a little as he jerked away bag and can, but only just out of reach - one of his oldest tricks usually done best with an icecream cone to bring her closer to him.

It had been awhile since they'd been playful and she fell for the 'trick', moving closer to him to try and grab the can. Her lips were turned down in a little pout as she reached. "Did not. I was in this aisle first." Her voice stayed a whisper and was not harsh but reflected the pout of her lips.

"What would you give me for it, hm?" He looked down and the glint in her eyes... fear... loneliness.. undid him a little and the pout undid the rest. He caved, he always did, and always hated fighting. There were many things he was better at, and caving was one of them. He gave her the can and realized he was still watching her eyes, her lips... "You're right. I'm sorry."

She took the can gently in her fingers and held it in her hand instead of putting it in her bag. She couldn't hold his gaze for long, she had to look away or start crying and that would just be no good. She shoved the can back at him and turned, wiping the corner of her eyes with one hand as a few tears escaped anyway.

"Hey... it's only ... asparagus," he realized, looking at the can and back to her. "Why cry? Look... it's been rough, I know. I really mean I'm sorry, Sara. If I had any idea any of this... Here, just take this one, I don't mind, okay?" He put the can in her bag for her and tried to get her to turn to face him again.

"It's not the can.." She shook her head, wiping her eyes again as she turned her face back toward him. "What are you even doing here?"

"Same as you? Starving, looking for hope amongst the cannelini beans?" There was always something strangely comical in his outlook, even in the darkest of times. His lip curled a little into the slightest of smiles. "I maybe found some, I think."

"Well.." She didn't know what to say, what to even think, she leaned against the shelf and looked at him. "Want to hand me those peas while you're in the way?" She wiped at her eyes again and motioned to the can near his shoulder.

He couldn't help but make a face. Peas? Ick. He wasn't about to argue though he looked at the can with contempt. He could and would give her anything she asked for at that moment but she wanted peas. "Not really, but if it's what you want, here," he shrugged, happy to be rid of that can quickly.

She almost laughed at the face he made, finding a small smile peeking out at him as she shook her head a little. "Well if you really want it.." It was a small tease as she acted as if she'd hand him the can back. "I remember how much you love them."

"NO. I really don't," he assured her, trying to be civil and push her hand away gently. The memory flashed to mind of similar refusal, walking away, leaving her standing alone and he froze a moment.

"Well if you're sure.." She trailed off, watching him shift and be still as his expression changed slightly. "I.. " She stopped, bit her lip and then sighed. "I really should hurry and.. get what I need.. we shouldn't be out long like this.. you know.. should get back home.. or wherever.."

"Where's home?" He should know the answer, but it had been a few months and he didn't want to assume, especially with the outbreak. "I should... I mean if you want for me to.. see you home safely? You're right, we should go."

"My parent's place." She said quietly, she'd moved back in with them about a month after she and Gene had broken up. "Well, here help fill this up quickly. I need to get as much as I can." She held out another empty bag she'd brought with her.

[Lovely]

Gene took the bag as if she was saying something in another language to him. "Your parents.. are.. ?" He couldn't really ask and wasn't sure she'd even want him to know.

"Dead." She shook her head slightly, closing her eyes a moment to blink back the tears. "They're dead.. My dad was trying to finish boarding up the windows when they got him.. and mom.. she swallowed all her pills that night.."

"Then come with me? Would you? I left once, Sara. I don't want to again." The hope shone in his eyes and the timid curl of his grin tried to hold onto some thread of it before it slipped away.

"I.. I can't.. I have to go home, first. There are some things I need there." She met his gaze for a moment and then looked at the floor. "We should still fill the bag up."

"I will. What is it? What are you hiding?" She looked away again, she was dodging, not telling him something. "Not that I have any right or reason, really, but... nevermind. I'll fill this. I still have some room in mine, too, I better consider. No telling when we can come back, I think. Same old place? I think I remember. I don't want you to stay there. Please?"

She turned around after his questions nearly broke the small level of control she had over her tumbling emotions. "Let's just get the food and get out of here.. we can talk about the rest when we're someplace safer."

He'd already started, giving her more peas while he took beans and corn, sharing the few cans of corn with her bag and deciding over the last can of carrots, giving them to her. "Safer? Nowhere, really, but I think I know a place that's a least more guarded than here."

"I told you.. I have to go home.. I need my.. medicine, okay.. I have to get that and a few things.. If I go with you, I have to go home first." For her it wasn't an option, she needed her books, especially since there didn't appear to be any doctors on the shelves that she could turn to for help.

"Fine," he sighed, sharp and curt, not realizing that he was arguing the point. He knew she had to go home first, but he was simply insisting on where they'd go after that. "We'll go to your home, get your things, then leave."

She almost snapped back with a 'you're not the boss of me' comment but bit her tongue and sighed. "Crackers. I need crackers." She'd already gotten some soups but that wasn't really what the crackers were for, she wasn't ready to tell him that yet.

"Crackers are two aisles down on the way out. What else?" He wasn't annoyed with her, just ready to leave and not be so much in the open.

The milk and dairy foods if not already spoiled wouldn't keep long and neither would any kind of meat so those were out of the question. "I don't think so.. " If they didn't have to be so quick about this, she would have taken the time to look around for a little bit more but for now what she'd gathered would keep her awhile.

His bag was full and he pulled her second bag up over his shoulder with it, leaving his other hand free. "Then let's go?" His hand reached out hoping she'd grasp onto it.

"Please.." She was more than happy to get out of the open before anything else showed up, though she knew whatever it was wouldn't be nearly as pleasant or torturous as he was. Sara looked at Gene's hand as he reached out and hers lifted to grasp onto it. "I drove.. how did you get here?"

He looked to the ceiling a moment to find the words that might put things in perspective of how he felt he'd been so wrong to leave her and how she might have felt about him since he'd left. "Some might say I slithered," he started, then grasped her hand tighter to kiss it. "And on a wing and a prayer... on foot. Took an hour just to get the courage to cross the intersection at Main."

She nodded as she took a couple quick steps to keep up with him as they started walking. "I felt safer in the car, you know all the metal sorrounding me.. ooo slim jims!" She turned as the passed a display, reacing to grab a handful of them, though it was odd since she'd never liked them before.

[Lovely]

************

She was driving back toward her parents house, her house.. trying to open one of the slim jim packages. It wasn't cooperating of course because they didn't make these things easy. She took her eyes off the road and turned her head just long enough to use her teeth to open the wrapper. There was a thump and she nearly dropped the slim jim. "What was that?" She suddenly seemed frantic and scared.

Gene hadn't seen much of anything while watching out the window at the scenery that had once been gentle, vibrant and majestic, even with the industrial withering of its suburban charm amidst so much promise and hope now trodden. The streets themselves seemed dead and his thoughts wandered in and among them looking for signs of anything bright. The thump under the tires scarcely registered until Sara shrieked. He turned and reached out for the beef stick in her hand at the same moment she gathered it. "Who knows. Could have been a cat or something," he said calmly, still offering to take the jerky out of its sleeve for her while she drove.

"Cat?!" She twisted, trying to see but at the same time couldn't stop and needed to pay attention to where they were going. It was a good thing there was no traffic. "A cat? Oh no.. I love cats!" She was very distressed over the thought of hitting one, hadn't there been enough awful things happening? No she just had to make it worse by hitting some poor defenseless cat!

"Or it could have been a squirrel," he conjectured, ready to forget the jerky and jerk the wheel for her to keep them on the road. "Are you alright? It was just a bump in the road." She seemed worked up more easily than he could understand, even given the imminent danger they now lived in.

"Ohhhh.. squirrels are so cute.." She pouted, nearly in tears over it. "I killed some poor innocent little furry thing!" She pouted, her lower lip trembling as she turned around to sort of pay attention to where she was driving.

"No, you didn't. If it leapt out in the way, it was probably one of the infected. It could easily have been a manhole cover or a twig. It's alright, Sara. You're not though, I think," he pointed out, beginning to worry again whether it was because he was here that she was upset or if it was something else.

"Of course I'm not alright! How can I be alright?" She snapped, but it wasn't angry, it was more scared, hurt, and frustrated. A moment later as she wiped her cheeks she spoke up again. "Infected?" Her voice had dropped to a lower, sad, pouting tone. "You really.. think it was.. that it wasn't some nice cuddly animal and I just mowed it on down for a stupid..!" She threw the jerky out of her hand and down on the seat.

"I really think you didn't mow down anything nice and cuddly, alright princess?" He smiled gently, consoling her like it was something simple as cracking a fingernail. He hadn't even noticed what he'd called her as he turned his attention to opening the stubborn wrapper. He had no idea how long it had been since she'd eaten anything and perhaps that was the reason for her outbursts. The wrapper gave him some trouble as well but was finally torn enough to get the jerky out. He watched her as he handed it over to her, realizing as her sleeves moved and nearly covered her fingers that her shirt was too big.. it was one of his. "Is that my old shirt....?"

He may not have caught the fact that he called her princess, but it rang in her ears sweetly and sharply at once. She felt like she might shatter but didn't and turned to take the jerky from him. "Thanks." She offered him a soft smile which was followed by a blush as she pulled the sleeve of the shirt over her hand in a nervous gesture. "umm... yes, yes it is."

"I wondered where I left it. Looks nice." His smile turned down a little, still concerned. "Are you cold? Sara, it was just a bump in the road, I promise."

[Lovely]

"Do you want it back?" She asked softly, turning to look at him again with a brief haunted expression. She played with the sleeve again and brought her gaze back to the road. "No.. I'm not cold.. sleeves are long.. I always play with them."

"No, no, you can keep it, please. I don't mind, I just didn't know I'd left it." He couldn't bear to see that look, as if he'd accused her, or scolded her it seemed. He looked away as she did, looking out at the road. He wondered for a moment if he'd left anything else he hadn't realized.

"Good.." She kept her eyes on the road, they were almost there and she didn't want to hit anything else. "I have one of your tee shirts too.. but I sleep in it, so you can't have it back." She sort of lightly chuckled as she 'told him' how that one was going to be. She turned the car into the short drive to pull up next to the house.

Gene chuckled at that one. "That one I may have to fight you for," he turned, clearly teasing as they pulled up. A chill ran through him at the thought of the parent's house. He'd never really gotten along with them well when they were around and now that they were gone, he felt strange, somewhat hollow to the thought he'd never make it alright with them. He sighed. "So. Do you want... nevermind, I will. I'm coming in with you."

"It's probably safer than splitting up and sitting out in the car? Mmm I never disliked you enough to suggest suicide." She took a deep breath as she shut the car off and left the key in the ignition. It was actually safer to do that then fumble with the keys if being chased by an infected. She had the house key in her hand and rubbed over it as if it were some lucky charm, before looking around to make sure it was clear to get out and head for the door. It seemed to be and she moved, tossing open the door of the car and closing it as quietly as she could without being slow about it.

"Suicide? What d'you mean? I could hold my own out here...," he said, clearly getting defensive though he cut it short. She hadn't meant anything by it, certainly and he sighed, resolving not to start a row with her. That he wasn't sure he could stand his own in at that moment.

She held up her hands in a gesture of surrender, she didn't want to fight and she hadn't meant it as an insult. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean it like that." She turned and walked -almost jogging, to the door to get it unlocked and stepping inside quickly so he could come in behind her and she could redo the bolt.

His steps were long and quick, keeping an easy pace behind her. It was strange to be invited, even backhanded as it was, to come in and for his safety no less after all that had happened. He ducked in behind her, stopping in the entry as if expecting to hear the roar of her father from the top of the stairs. His steps were further held seeing the coat on the hook he recognized too well as his own.

Sara closed the door quickly and slid the bolt firmly in place. A sigh of relief blowing through her lips as she turned and saw him stopped and where he was looking. She stood behind him and twisted her fingers together thinking of several things she might say but none of them sounded right. She touched his arm gently as she took another step to stand beside him. "Gene.." She still didn't know what to say to him.

"No, it's alright. I'd just forgotten, that's all. Seems I have a bad habit of doing that. I'm sorry. I lent it to you the last night... well it's been some time, now," he smiled weakly. "Get your things. Do you need any help?"

[Lovely]

She remembered where he had forgotten and the wash of the memory might be seen over her face before she gave him a small smile. "Umm I suppose you could.. it's up to you if you want to wait.. I can pack myself.." She shrugged, motioning around the living room and the kitchen if he'd rather just hang back. She didn't think about it and didn't know if he'd notice that her father was putting in a new room off the livingroom, partioning off part of the room to make another. It had been intended as a nursery for the baby but wasn't done yet. Despite their feelings for Gene both her parents had been excited when she'd found out she was pregnant a few weeks before.

Helping her wasn't really the point he was making, moreso offering to keep near her since he didn't like being alone in this house to start with, let alone wondering what might be waiting for them outside of it. Gene glanced around the room, curious about the sheets and plastic where plans were started and halted for an addition. Being around lumber and paint was more to his brother's liking than his and made him skittish. Power tools made him nervous though he didn't mind a solid hammer in his hand, especially wishing he had one at the moment, just in case. "Just a moment," he mentioned, thinking he saw one, but he wasn't going to look too close. Changing his mind, he stepped back near her again. "Nevermind. Let's just go."

She almost asked if he was alright, but it was pretty clear he wasn't, neither was she so they made a pretty shaky pair. Kindness was in her nature and she hated to see him upset or disturbed, Sara reached for his hand, slowly and gently curling her fingers around it. He had time to pull away if he wanted and she gave him a sad smile before she turned to head to her room.

Her gesture made the smile peek out slightly. He lifted her fingers for a light kiss and rubbed it in before letting go so she had both hands to work on her task. "I'm fine. It's okay, just... well, hurry, okay? I can't explain, it's like I feel your father's still here trying to find a shotgun and shoo me off the porch. So I forgot your curfew a few times... is that so very wrong?" He chuckled as if that was the worst crime he'd committed of bringing her home later than her daddy's house rules. That had led to trying to get her to live with him which had led them back here, separate but strangely together.

"You do know that he never had any bullets for that gun right? It was just for show." She chuckled at the thought, her dad trying to be so scary when she knew him to be a big old teddy bear. Sara shook her head as she went to the closet, pulling out a suitcase and a duffle bag to toss on the bed. "How do you decide what to bring and what to leave behind?" She voiced softly as she looked at the clothes hanging in the closet. "..clothes seem so meaningless.." Not much was going to fit her for long either, how was she going to do this.. any of this? "I'll start with the easy stuff.." She turned and moved to the dresser, opening drawers and pulling out underthings and socks.

"A few of your favorite things. We can knock over a Victoria's Secret later if you want," he mentioned as she started for her drawer of bras and the like. He did her the slight courtesy of providing a little privacy for her choices rather than giving his opinion. "Pictures, a few memories...," he rambled, looking around and stopping by her bedside expecting a diary filled with fuming rants against him and a phone, maybe a water bottle and a book, but not the assortment that rested there instead. The calendar looked strange and as he started looking at it closer and the items beside it, his mouth went dry. "What's this...?" His finger snapped against the edge of the calendar in his hand though he wasn't angry.

She grabbed a few things from the drawers, taking to heart his words and knowing that they would have to get the things she'd need later. She turned around with an assortment of lace and her basic white ankle socks to put in her case. "What's wha..." She saw what he was holding and she went a little pale, that haunted, fearful look washing over her face. She forgot to breathe for a moment and it felt like she was shaking all over. " I.. " She looked down at the floor and then moved to dump the stuff in her hands into the suitcase. She couldn't meet Gene's gaze as she stepped back to face him. "I.. I should bring that with me." She said softly, feeling the burn of tears in her eyes. "I'm sorry.. I only just found out.. I didn't know how to tell you.. or if you'd want to know.. and I didn't have time to figure out how to tell you before all this happened.. I don't even know how to tell you now."

[Lovely]

"I don't think you have to say anything else," he said quietly, sitting down on the bed next to her case as he stared at the photo he was trying to decipher. "Is.. ," he brow wrinkled as if he was trying to squeeze back his own tears. "Is ... she's a girl?"

Wiping the tears that spilled down her cheek, Sara nodded. "Yes.. 99% sure that she is a she, though they warned that they can be wrong." She shifted over his shouder a little to point with her other, dry, hand. "See.. that's her head and her arms, her legs curled up right there.. and right there in the middle is her heart. She had a really good, strong heart beat.." She bit her lip, then and started to move away again. "I'm sorry.. I.. I'm not sure what to tell you.. what's saying too much.." She trailed off and took in a slow breath.

"You don't need to say anything. I need to. If I'd had any idea at all, I... I'm sorry, Sara. I should never have left. This might explain so many things, why I felt you were so upset with me all the time, that it was this... this little person being created," he said with awe as he ran a finger over where the heart showed.

"Hormonal.. could be why I felt so upset over things.. when maybe I shouldn't have." She moved back and pushed the case so she could sit down next to him. She set her hand softly on his arm. "I'm sorry, too."

He stared at the picture a little longer, letting her hand rest on his arm before he moved to put it around her. "Get what will work well for the both of you and we'll talk about the rest. I think we need to go and get settled in well before dark, okay?" He spoke close and quietly, hoping she'd look up to find him smiling and not angry still.

When he put his arm around her she felt a good deal of fear simply flow out of her and she rested against his shoulder with her eyes closed for a moment. She slowly shifted again and tipped her head to look up at him, to tell him something which she forgot completely when she saw him smiling at her.

"I promise that I'll listen if you promise to tell me... whatever it may be... going forward. We may only have each other forever. I seem to recall once, we both thought that was the most perfect thing, but I want to be sure you're okay with that now." He nearly dared to kiss her but wouldn't yet.

"Even if I'm telling you, you're wrong?" She asked quietly, daring to meet his gaze now.

His eyes darted, watching hers. He finally nodded, "I deserve that. Yes, even -when- I'm wrong. I'm sure it will be often. It always was, but being pigheaded runs in my family."

"Let's hope it doesn't go any further." She meant the pigheaded part and she reached to grasp his hand, if he'd let her and guide it under the shirt where her once perfectly flat belly had started to puff and swell out. "More than just each other."

His fingers were rough and cool and her skin felt strangely warm but nice to the touch after so many months of only memories of it. The swelling was only slight, but noticeable and apparently why she was wearing his shirt to cover her. "She's a she, she won't be nearly as stubborn... I hope," he sighed and chuckled a little, reaching now for the kiss he couldn't keep withdrawn. She was too close and still too right, too perfect and there was no other way he could ever come close to telling her other than this.

She wasn't expecting the kiss but it was welcomed, she stiffened for only a second in surprise and then she was leaning into him, wrapping her arms around his shoulders. She'd missed his kisses so much, missed his touch, his.. everything.

Fade to Black .... End Scene