Leap (Tully, Jack)

[Lovely]

Name: Tullia Phillips Aliases: Tully DOB: 26 Location: Toledo, Ohio played by: Lovely likeness used: Jessica Biel

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Name: Jack Azarius Aliases: Jack, Az DOB: Location: Toledo, Ohio played by: Tripp likeness used: Jason Statham

[Lovely]

July 18, 2007
Early morning - not yet dawn
Toledo, Ohio

Nights weren't long this time of year, but they were too long for Jack. At least this week they had been. He had a broken finger and a soured temper to show for it right now, but he was alive. Damnit he was still alive and still looking for cover that would last him more than a day.. and a night... so he could rest. Right now he rested with his back to the wall, crouched down below a crashed out window, retaping his finger more tightly between the other two, then checking the clips he had left, counting the shots and how many hours... minutes... it might buy him if he ran into more trouble. He hadn't broken the skin, he reminded himself, thankful for that small favor as he slid the glove back on around the good hand and made his way in darts and hops, under, around and through other broken windows in an attempt to get out of the warehouse he'd thought would be safe, not a nest of hornet-mad transmuted creatures. Jack stopped at the last turn and the last row he needed to get down to reach the door that would head toward the fire exit he needed and the fire escape to the alley. He never thought an alley would seem like the safe way to go, but it would lead straight to the river and at sunrise, the glare and steam would be the last place these things seemed to want to be. He still had an hour before the sun's rays would hit the water. He still had enough ammo to last that long. If he could cross the river, maybe, just maybe, they couldn't. He had to get there first to find out. The scratching of multiple footsteps dragging over the floor began to echo around him and the screeches of the once-human voices cut through the night again. Damnit... his determination cut deeper into his chiseled features and his eyes fixed on the small door at the end of the catwalk... and the lock that he now saw would keep him from opening it easily. They seemed to know where he was, maybe they could smell him or something, but stealth didn't matter as much as speed. One shot rang out, loud, pinging off the metal bracket. A second grazed the lock, letting it swing and making it harder for the third shot and a silent prayer to hit and break plate free. The sounds were the loudest thing he'd heard in some time, or so he thought until one of the creatures below wailed and began the swarm toward the ladders. He bolted to the small door, kicking the broken lock off the rest of the way and squeezing himself through to the outside of the building. He leaned across to unhook the fire ladder with his bad hand, finding the lock had been the least of his worries. The latch holding the ladder had been rusted, unchecked for years, he guessed. Down was an option still... if death was the only outcome he expected. The drop was at least forty feet from here. Great... he was as good as dead unless he could find another way down, or a way back through or around the swarm and down through the delivery bays to the dock and then to the water that way. Not a chance. The prayer for the lock had worked... why not? He wasn't one to pray before, but what did he have to lose now?

Tully had managed to find a 'quiet spot' to rest for awhile, tucked in a corner in one of the wharehouses. She was curled up with her gun in her hand, dozing on and off, waking to nearly every sound, real or imagined. She wasn't really resting but was waiting for daylight and hoping with a new day she might figure out a new plan for what to do next. The sound of something echoing loudly in one of the other buildings had her on her feet with her heart racing and her eyes wide open, so much for a quiet place to rest until morning..

She moved to the window looking out into the alley and to building across from the one she was in, trying to find the source of the noise which sounded like gunshots. If thats what they were it might mean there was another non crazed or at least not crazed by this illness person, somewhere outside. Tully jumped when the door on the landing across from her burst open and a large man came barrelling out. She watched as he tried the rusted ladder and wondered what she should do. Did she stay where she was, would he see her there? Did she go out on 'her' fire escape and risk exposing herself? Would she even be able to help him from this side of the alley?

He tried the ladder again, turning his back to the door and reaching out now with his better hand, holding the gun as awkwardly with his stiff fingers as leaning this way was. He listened for the sounds inside and how close they were now. Across the alley he thought he saw movement, maybe more of them nesting across the way? He didn't contemplate that long as the scratchings and snarls came to his doorway and the others started to reach out for him on the small landing. The first hand that grabbed hold was pulled and the owner yanked through the door, struggling only briefly with him before testing the fall instead of himself, being pushed over the railing to the concrete below. Jack looked across the way again briefly... maybe he could jump if he had to?

Tully's brother had been a cop and he'd taught her to handle a gun, she was a very good shot and she decided to use her skill to help the guy on the fire escape. She might end up regretting that decision but there was something about knowing there was someone else so close that wasn't infected, she couldn't just stand there and do nothing. Grabbing the crow bar from the small pile of gear she had with her, she busted the jagged glass out of the already broken window she stood near. She crouched down and took aim at the window to the right of the man, she could see the infected gathering at the door through it and she fired into the swarm. She didn't want to risk splattering the guy or hitting him with a bullet by shooting directly at the limbs reaching out the door behind him.

The shot was as unexpected as the shattering glass tinkling down the side of the bricks as it was broken out across the alley. He crouched down as if his thick arms alone were armor enough to help him, then looked at his own gun - it wasn't his and sounded nothing like it. He kicked at the hands that reached out and pulled another free of the mob to throw over the railing. He looked across the alley again. Whoever it was was sane enough to aim and not at him, at least that's what he hoped. His ankle was grabbed and his foot twisted, pulling him down to the landing on his shoulder. His own gun fell from his hand and floated over the grated surface out of reach as the figure clambored above him and reached out to attack. "Shoot!!" He hoped the sniper heard him as he curled into his shirt and coat, covering his face as much as he could while trying try push the guy off and reach out for his dropped gun.

She saw the fresh attacker and was already trying to line up a shot when the 'shoot' came from the guy as he curled. He knew enough to cover himself and Tully hoped he covered good enough, she said a silent prayer as she pulled the trigger, twice. The first bullet hit the infected and the screech that came from it was a horrible sound, the second bullet silenced it and it tumbled backward over the side of the fire escape. A couple seconds later she shot again, this time at one that was trying to push it's way out the door, that one stumbled back into the group, knocking a couple of others down with it. "Can you jump across?" She yelled out to the guy, hoping he wouldn't suddenly rise up raging like one of them, she was ready with a bullet for him if he did.

He'd been wondering that himself, still trying to grab the gun and hold his coat over his face with the good hand, but now he wondered about the voice yelling across to him... a girl? "Well I'll be damned," he muttered. The gun was almost in his fingers when he started kicking at another grappling hand. His fingers wouldn't curl around the grip and he tried to spin it just enough to grab any of the smaller parts between his taped finger tips somehow, but spun it too far and it, too, went clattering to the concrete below. He was now unarmed with little choice. Jump? Across or down, he was probably going to have to or he risked getting bit or scratched and exposed. He rose up swinging and kicking, moving up toward standing again in a flurry of precise hits, buying himself enough time to climb carefully over the rail and brace himself to leap across.

He rose up swinging and kicking but not raging and he was still fighting against the ones who were. Tully didn't take a shot at him but continued to fire behind him and through the window to take out as many as she could and provide him the time he needed to make his daring jump. Under normal circumstances she would never suggest anyone make a jump from this high up but there really weren't any other options, this was probably his only change not to end up like the ones attacking him. Besides he looked like he could make it, or at least she kept telling herself that over and over as she nearly held her breath while waiting for him to jump.

Jack gauged the distance carefully and hoped that if he fell, his neck would simply snap and he wouldn't suffer. The virus, plague, whatever it was, was spilled over the ground below and he had no idea whether it could just travel through the air or not. His gun was gone and his hand was throbbing against the strapped tape as he held onto the rail and adjusted his footing to be sure he was clear as well as his coat and anything that could catch on the rusty metal. All things considered, suffering from tetanus had to be a picnic compared to their fate. She'd been a clear shot so far and he hoped that as more hands and biting heads emerged through the door, she'd get them before they reached him. He closed his eyes and tried not to think long about the drop down, only the leap across and he seemed to count, his eyes popping open again on 'three' and his long, sturdy legs pushing him up and off the rail across the alley... Too low, he feared, scrambling to grab a hold of the platform he'd almost missed completely. His broken finger didn't allow him to grip much at all and now he swung barely by the fingertipss of the gloved grip of his good hand, trying to swing a leg up and reach his injured hand back up to the lip of the platform.

Tully's aim was dead on with most shots, she'd always been good but recent events had made her sharper, now every shot counted and even one miseed could be the difference between life and death. The infected fell one by one as they tried to come out of the door to reach the man, some of them even slumped in a manner that slowed the rest as they blocked the doorway. She watched as the man took his chance to jump and she felt her heart sink as she saw how low he ended up, her gaze shifted from the infected to him as he dangled. "Damn it!" She muttered and slid her gun into the holster at her waist as she climbed out onto the fire eascape to help him. Hooking her legs around the bars closest to the building to keep herself steady and from going over the edge -hopefully- she leaned out and grasped his arm. First the one holding him to the platform and then she held out her other hand for him to grasp with his other or to help pull him up if he was able to swing his leg up.

[Lovely]

Jack looked up as his arm was grabbed, automatically wanting to fight but resisting when she held on and reached for the other hand. Strong girl, good shot, my lucky day, he thought, able to get his foot to finally swing high enough to catch the lip and allow himself to brace better and grab the actual rail. His injured hand and its ratty glove, torn around the taped fingers to give them room, slapped into her free hand. "I appreciate you not shooting me," he said, smiling a little, the husk of his struggle rumbling low in his voice as he shifted the wealth his muscles to climb up with the one good hand and get his other foot up awkwardly on the edge as well. "Just need to get on your side... though believe me - I already am."

She gripped the hand that slapped into hers, noting the torn glove and taped fingers, she did her best to help pull him up and held on until he seemed to have found a good grip on the railing. Wow.. he was a pretty strong looking guy, he was wearing a coat but from what she could feel and see he was solid. "Ah.. well I appreciate you not being one of them." She gave him a brief smile that was pretty and friendly while it lasted. She glanced over his shoulder as she shifted back and onto her knees, that was when she sighed, a bit of a frown came to her face. "Okay you work on getting on this side, I'll work on making sure they don't." She didn't really wait for an answer but pulled her gun back out and stood up, she fired several times before her clip was empty and the opposite platform was abandoned... at least for the moment, but she had no idea how many had been inside so her guard wasn't let down.

"I'm appreciating that too. I came too close and I'm still too close," he said, getting out of the awkward angle and pulling himself up enough to slide over to her side of the rail but stay below her shots and away from her arm. "You've done this sort of thing before?" He wondered, the way she seemed calm and focused.

She kept her eyes trained on the other building, the door and visible windows, her weapon lowered only slightly but still ready if something came out. "Before last month you mean? No.. but since? Unfortunately more times than I want to think about." Her tongue ran across her lips and she rolled her shoulders slowly. "My brother was a cop, he taught me to.. well handle myself.. he was always worried about me.. you know?"

"Thank him for me when you see him again," Jack said quietly as he stood beside her, somehow knowing she wasn't going to see him again anymore than he'd see his own family. "Looks like he was a good cop."

The slight twitch and tightening of her jaw which only lasted a moment was the only emotion she showed at his comment, she couldn't afford to truly grieve her losses at this time, no one really could. The time one took to have a good cry might be the chance these things needed to overtake that person. "I'll do that and he was." She replied before tilting her head toward the window she'd crawled out of to come to his aide. "Might be a good idea to get back in there."

"I didn't see any go down or go across. Granted, I was kinda looking after my own neck there for a minute, but I think you're right. Got any other guns? I lost mine and I might just have to improvise now," he said, still quiet, watching her carefully, hoping she wasn't going to just turn on him and try to take anything he might be carrying.

She glanced at him then took a longer look at him from head to toe, that bit of a frown still making her pretty face look tougher. "I probably have another.. but you'll have to go through the window to find out."

"Alright. After you, please," he motioned gently, offering a bit of a smile now. He'd caught his breath quickly and seemed calm, himself, as if there wasn't the threat of a dozen or so mutated humans a few yards away wanting to rip them apart. "Do I get to know the name of my rescuer?"

She almost let loose with a teasing comment she often used with her brother but held it back behind her lower lip which she grasped with her teeth for a couple of seconds. "Tulia.. Tully." She shrugged after giving him her name and the nickname she commonly used and set her gun in the holster again for the climb back through the window. If he watched her climb and slink through the opening, he'd get a nice view of her strong and feminine form at least the backside of it and it was probably a more pleasant sight than the crazed out freaks he'd been dealing with earlier.

[Lovely]

"Nice... nice name," he said, covering up for the attention briefly turned to her shapely ass and his long-lonely desires. Like he'd had time to worry about that lately? He could still think about it, though, and what he'd do with a ton of free time and no zombified killers after him. He followed after she'd cleared the window ledge, climbing in behind her much more agily than his earlier performance would have credited. He looked around the meager offerings of the safe haven and nodded, taking his glove off to check his finger and reset it again. "Jack," he said offhand, like his own name mattered less than the spit on her shoe. He grimaced as the small snap set his finger straight again in his other hand.

"Glad to meet you." She really was, he was the first person that she'd come across who was normal and not one of those things. She watched him for a moment and then moved over to her gear, digging in the back pack and pulling out a small first aide kit. "You want me to put a splint on that?"

He looked at her then his hand, stretching out the calloused palm and dirty fingers. "Hadn't stopped long enough to make one, so if you've got one... sure. Thanks. Unless you know a good surgeon? Nah, really it's not bad, just inconvenient," he said, chuckling a little at himself. "Was feeling pretty good until I tried to play Superman. You been holed up in here long? I haven't seen anyone else in about a week now," he wondered out loud, offering his hand for her to check and splint for him.

She was quiet for a few moments, glancing up at his face and then away or down to his hand, she was fast at using the supplies in the kit and splinting his finger for him. It was nice that everything was provided in it, but then again it had come from her brother the worry wart. She finished and found herself gently holding onto his hand for longer than she had to. "Your the first person I've seen in a month who wasn't.. like them." She had paused but then finished the statement with a slight motion of her head toward the window and the other building.

"So you've been in here a month? Nice place," he sighed, looking around again. "Power would be nice, hot water... mm... pastrami," he chuckled, reminiscing a little too far. "Hey, while I'm dreaming... There used to be this place down in Akron. Little guy running the place, glasses thick as tires and some accent I could never understand, probably from Jersey... Anyway, this place kinda reminds me of it. They had the best Pastrami and the whole place smelled like kosher pickles, the kind that came in barrels, not those little glass jars? Yeah. Loved that place. Not... that this place stinks like pickles or anything, it's just nice. Kinda like home."

"You're making me hungry." She said with a quiet laugh as she let go of his hand finally and took a look around the dirty and mostly empty room she'd been sleeping in. There was a sleeping bag on the floor and a couple of bags which held various items she'd found in her travels, some food in cans, and the first aide supplies. "This is nice.. and homey?"

He shrugged a little and inspected her work on his hand. The touch had felt nice even though his hand was sore. "It's nice to feel safe for a few minutes when the sun's not up. To me, that's home, comfort.. minus the pickles. Thing is, it won't last long now that they know we're up here once they find their way in."

"Yeah.. it is.. " She bit at her lip again and gestured to the 'bed' and then to her back pack and let out a sigh. "I'm mostly packed and none of it is anything I can't leave behind if I had to leave fast.. when did you eat last?"

"Yesterday sometime, I think. Could have been the day before. If you can spare one of those for now, I'll be fine," he said, nodding to the water bottle he could see. Somewhere on the level below the thuds of determined pounding on the doors began. "Hate to eat and run anyway. You know the way down to the dock from here? That's where I was headed."

She heard the noise from below and another sigh flowed out, more heavy than the ones before. "Guess it's about time to look for a new apartment, this neighborhood is going to shit." She turned to gather up at least one of her packs, reaching a hand out with a bottle of water for him before pulling something else from the bag. She turned with the gun and an extra clip for it resting in her hand. "You might want this.. and we'd better hurry. I know the way.. but what's at the dock? There is a good chance they'll follow us."

[Lovely]

"The dock is at the river and hopefully a boat or at least a way to get across and hope they don't follow us over the water. I have a theory," he said, looking at the gun only a moment before snatching it up and testing the feel and checking the chamber. He seemed like he'd done this before, or at least learned quickly through this ordeal.

She sort of nodded to his words and watched him with the gun, before turing to quickly roll up the sleeping bag and tie it to the top of the back pack she then slipped on. "Well.. if there is a boat.. she grabbed up the second pack and held it out to him. "Maybe we can make it a dinner cruise." She wasn't sure if he'd take the pack as quickly as he had the gun or at all, but it was offered to him. "What's your theory?"

"My theory? They can't swim. The sickness, whatever it is afflicts how they move, how they think. Hell, if I new a pied piper I'd lure them all to the river and watch the f*ckers drown...," he said, pausing a moment in thought, his frown curling and twitching angrily a moment. He realized she was waiting for him and took the pack which to him seemed light and surprised him. "Sun'll be up and they scatter like rats then anyway."

"I always wanted a house boat.. okay not always but I want one now.. if your theory is right." It made sense and she even nodded a little as she thought more about his idea. "Come on. let's move and put it to the test." She motioned him to follow her as she headed to the side of the room, she paused with her ear against the wall and then slid back a large metal door which led into a short hallway. "Down here there is an office and another outside door we can use to get out while they are busy trying to get in from the other side."

"House boat, huh? I had an uncle that lived down in the swamps on one..." The poundings were getting louder and glass was being broken, so he didn't think long about that. He'd consider it more when they were a safer distance in the bright of day. She slunk through more like a cat burglar than a cop's sister, but either way, she looked really nice doing it. He chuckled at himself... can't afford to be that distracted, Jack! "Got anything to brace this one with?" He motioned back at the door as he came through it behind her.

She came up to him with a bit of a teasing smile. "Oh I might have something that'll work for you.." She reached around behind him and pulled something from the side compartment of the pack he'd taken, bringing it around front it was a bike 'chain'. The kind that had the steel wire coated in plastic and a loop at both ends for the lock to go through, which she produced from the other side. "Hold the door shut and I'll wrap this through the handle and.. around that pipe there."

"Alright MacGuyver, I'll give you credit for being handy," he chuckled, wondering what else was in the pack she'd given him. It felt strange to laugh even a little when they seemed minutes from possible death. He had no trouble holding the door closed and it even seemed small with him next to it.

She noticed how big he seemed and how small the door seemed, maybe it was because she hadn't been around anyone normal in what felt like forever or maybe it was because he was the kind of guy she used to have those naughty dreams about. The kind of dreams you never think will come true, with the kind of guy you know doesn't exist, it seemed like a lifetime ago rather than just a few weeks before.

She ran the cable through the door handle, then around the pipe a couple times, and back through the handle, wrapping it around a few times to keep it tight. She ended up with her shoulder leaning against his chest as she slid the lock through the loops and clicked it into place. "You can make it up to me later... mmm maybe buy me a houseboat?" She winked at him and lightly patted his arm as she turned to head down the short hallway. She'd been the more wild and outgoing one while her brother was the rock steady one, it showed for a moment and then she was slinking down the hall to another door.

"Buy? Who from?" He smiled as she teased him. "And whose money, anyway? Do I look rich?" He chuckled, curious and confused now. He obviously didn't scare her, but with the creatures after them, not much else was scary in the world now. He followed her down the hallway, not quite as steathily. He'd given up slinking in favor of making holes and breaking glass, removing whatever was in his way.

"You may not have money but you make up for it in other ways." She tossed quietly over her shoulder, her gun in her hand as she eased the door to the office open. She was sassy but she wasn't stupid and she was being careful, waiting a moment for anything to move before entering the room slowly. It appeared to be as clear as she'd left it when she'd last checked it. "Come on."

[Lovely]

"Do I? How's that?" He stepped into the thick of feminine logic and wasn't sure how careful those steps should be, either. He kept watch on the door behind them, expecting the others would make it that far pretty quickly without much debris to stand in their way. He wasn't arguing about following her down the hallway, then a strange thought came to him. Logic. These creatures hadn't been reasonable or anything but base instinct that he'd seen. What would happen if one was suddenly calm and rational, how would they know what it was? The thought made his own head spin and twitch like the jerky movements of the creatures, just thinking about that. He checked the gun in his hand again... nervous habit... and stayed close.

"Buns of steel.. or something like that." She walked across the office once she had made sure it was all clear, the lock was easy from the inside and she waited for him at the door. "Once we're outside we need to move fast... well you probably knew that. Out, down, and to the right."

"Excuse me?" He heard her directions, it was the comment before that which threw him off guard. He looked back again to the hallway and the door she'd barracaded. There were still a dozen or so that he could figure from the shots fired and the bodies tossed down to the street and together they might get through that block pretty quick if the wall around the door wasn't as solid as the bricks downstairs. He motioned for her to go ahead and open the door as he crossed the office to catch up. "Go. They're right behind us and I'm out of cookies."

"Don't fall behind." Her voice was quiet and sincere as she uttered the words and in the next moment the door was open and her lean legs were carrying her quickly down a set of stairs to the lot that surrounded the wharehouses. She cast a glance behind her and to the sides as her feet hit the pavement then she was off and running in the direction she'd given him.

He wasn't worried about falling behind. His legs were long and he'd been resting a good five, almost ten minutes now. He hit the stairs behind her, down and out into the open, then to the right. The sky was getting its pale grey shades of near-morning. The warehouses would still cast long, dangerous shadows, though, even down over the dock where they headed. If there were only the ones up in the warehouse, it was a good chance they'd make it. If they were followed down or others were waiting.. or worse, if his theory was completely wrong, there could be hoardes lined up at the shore waiting.

Tully had only looked back the one time to see him close behind her, from then on out she kept her gaze ahead of her or darting around to look for anything jumping out of the shadows. Her legs pumped and kept her at a full run toward the dock which soon came into sight but she didn't get overjoyed at seeing it through the haze and grey that signalled day was coming upon them. She just kept running and praying that Jack was right about the water and that the head start would be enough to keep the others in the wharehouse from closing in on them.

The morning was already warm without the sun and the steam was sifting off the water, rising up and moving, making some of the shadows dance eerily and uncomfortably, making it harder still to tell what might jump out. There were none of the screeches and racing footsteps he'd been hearing for weeks, just the lonely echo of a buoy or two bobbing lazily in the calm water. Swimming across had come to mind, but he'd rather keep the gun and his shorts a little drier if possible. There was a marina if he remembered, but with the evacuations and the vandalism, he wondered what was left to find there. He'd be happy with a raft and a boy named Huck if it would get them across. He was leary of shouting out, instead keeping up with her until they reached the dock... and they were on it in seconds. Now for a way down that wasn't locked, blocked or a dangerous drop with no ship waiting. It was only a matter of minutes before their warehouse friends would be after them and he wasn't counting on having enough shots to get them all. He started along the wide concrete 'wall' where the loaders would drive and haul the shipping crates that sat waiting with no loaders coming, or seen. "We need a way down," he muttered out the obvious.

[Lovely]

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


The detour was thankfully minor and the turns and twists of their path enough to confuse the mob long enough to get to the next nearest ladder and dive into the icy water of the shipping lane. Almost painfully cold, it was still refreshing, he thought, enough to invigorate him and soothe the strain in his shoulders. Jack kept her close the whole way across, but only allowed a few moments' rest before he was off again, heading toward what was once a marina filled to capacity. Of the few boats that remained, many of them had smashed windows and holes, some with bloody traces of failed attempts to flee earlier mob attacks.

He seemed to have a particular pier in mind and slowed a little, cautious of the corners and hiding places among the moored craft. He stopped altogether with a sigh, looking across a torn-off section, rickety planks barely held above the water's surface and the gap between them being daunting enough to worry should anyone or anything be on the boat once they reached it. "There," he said, turning to her once he'd caught his breath a little and looked around them. He didn't have a lot of time to make the decision and get them out to open water. "Understandable if you want to stay on the docks and find another way. I'm chancing it. If you're coming, are you ready?" There would be another short swim, this one only a few yards with no turning back.

Tully had kept up well enough despite the fact that she didn't appreciate the cold swim as much as someone crazy might have. As they stopped and Azarius pointed out the craft he wanted to get to, Tully was shivering but nodded her head. "If you think you're going to leave me standing here, soaking wet and cold.. then you are out of your mind and I might just have to shot you." Her words were delivered through clenched but slightly chattering teeth as she tried to keep them from clicking together. "Ready when you are." She insisted even though she was clearly quite chilled from the swim.

"Can't say I'm not out of my mind," he warned with a broad smile and nod, gesturing back behind them the way they'd come and the gathering horde on the other side watching them. "But I'm better off than those f*cks. I'm ready and hoping the bar's still stocked. Let's go," he said, turning to ease down into the water this time, having no idea what debris was submerged or how deep. He took careful, slow strokes this time, stopping every few feet to focus on the water and anything in it, glancing now and then at the boat they headed toward and hoping it had escaped too much harm.

"Okay.. I'm not going to disagree with you on that. I believe you're out of your mind." She glanced back as he did, deciding that the cold water was much more inviting than the 'adoring fans' they's left behind. She followed Azarius into the water, moving carefully and slowly as well though part of her wanted to swim hard and fast to get out of the cold water.

He pushed himself up onto the half-dangling ramp and gained a foot-hold on the broken mooring. The small luxury model would accommodate them both nicely with room to spare and room to stay out of arm's reach if she really felt he was too crazy to stay beside. The rope anchoring it was submerged but still sufficiently wound to hold it in place. He wondered if he might need to cut them loose, then looked around the marina, wondering if the missing craft had actually made it out safely with their evacuees, or if they were submerged like a mine field, waiting to scrape them into shreds as they tried to get out. He didn't think too long on the downside. Further away on sinking shreds was still further away from them and if the life raft was intact, there was a back-up plan. First was getting her on board with him and hoping no stow-aways were waiting. The hope was short lived as the squeal came from somewhere on the deck, followed by a quick-moving shadow that launched after Azarius, taking him back into the water with it.

[Lovely]

All of her theories on these things were blown away in the moment that Azarius was taken into the water. First she'd never seen one of the infected move like that, second she'd never heard them make that kind of a noise and third the whole reason they were out here in the cold water was based on the theory that these things couldn't swim because of how they normally moved. It was too dark to see much and she had no weapons to use, even if she could see Azarius to try to help him. Everything she had was wet and if not completely ruined would have to dry before it might be usable again. She stayed in the water, looking around and trying to see anything of what was happening or if Azarius surfaced.

The pair of figures surfaced shortly afterward, Jack first, swinging and gasping for air as they bobbed up. The other figure was far too coherent and quick to be one of them, he'd decided, and he was going to get the intruder off his boat, survivor or not. If the intruder wasn't willing to share, then neither was he. Maybe he was crazy, and maybe it was selfish, but he was already bringing her along with him and he didn't want to have too many tagging along, especially if they couldn't keep up, or defend themselves without screaming. He waited for the other's head to be in view and grappled hold, trying to drown him before he was drowned himself, or grasp hold and break him. Jack uttered no apologies as his hand jerked and the man went limp, left to sink into the water alone. He looked back for Tully to see if she was alright, his eyes clouded in the brutally cold gaze of his decision. She was in the water, safe and he turned to climb back onto the ramp and check for others.

Tully started to move toward where the figures surfaced to somehow try to help Azarius though she wasn't positive it was the wisest choice. In the end he quickly took care of his attacker and turned to look at her. She held her breath and waited, letting it out once Az turned to climb back up on the ramp, it appeared he hadn't been bitten or otherwise infected. She was relieved and realized how quickly and easily the two of them had become a pair.. a team. She waited for him to climb up a little farther before moving toward the ramp to follow him.

He was on the deck briefly, enough to be satisfied that was the only one up top. Grabbing the nearest heavy and blunt anything in reach that wasn't bolted down, he disappeared down below, his large frame swallowed into the dark cabin. Rather than a yell, the hum of the generator coming to life greeted her as she came on board, along with the warmth of the small white lights sparkling and brightening the canopy, signs of nearly real civilization. He emerged from the cabin with a dark bottle and a plastic replica of a fine crystal glass cupped over the cap of it. He gestured both to her and set them down for her beside the captain's chair. "This will take the chill off. I'll see if there's any clothes on board still," he said, coming to her to see if she needed any help. "If there's not, might have to just go without until these dry. Hope you're not shy."

She was cold enough that even though she could have insisted that she didn't need any help, she accepted his offer with a faint and gracious smile. She was shivering and as soon as she had solid footing, she nodded to his suggestion and started to peel some of the wet layers off. "When it's a choice of you seeing me naked and hypothermia.. I'll take hypothermia." She grinned to let him know she joking, though he might be able to tell by the fact that she was already starting to undress. "If there aren't clothes, maybe there's a blanket or towels.." Once the sun came up fully and they dried from the cold swim, they would likely be alright, right now it was just the combination of cold predawn and cold water.

[Lovely]

He looked her over more now that he had a chance to think about things other than running and kill-or-be-killed. She was one damned hott piece of woman and he wasn't going to hide the fact that he'd noticed. "Always body heat," he suggested with a smile and a shrug. "Easier than sunscreen and a lot more fun. At least we got the canopy for now," he noted, looking over his shoulder and grumping a little at the bright lights. "Nothing says 'hey, over here' like that beacon, huh? Get comfortable any way you want. I'm gonna cut those and save us some power, too."

She wasn't at all opposed to snuggling up against his large frame for warmth.. no, not at all. She smiled back, still shaking a little from the chill as she nodded again. "Right.. a blanket would hold the body heat in better.. Hurry.. okay? You need to get out of your wet clothes too." She stripped down to nothing, rubbing her hands over her to try to warm up some, as well as pacing a small area of the deck while she waited for him to come back. She spread out her clothes as best she could to dry, leaving room for Jack's when he got them off and kept watching the dock and the water around the boat for movement that wasn't theirs.

The lights flickered out and he came back a minute later with a robe and a blanket for her. "Try these... it's a shame to cover that up, though," he said, shaking his head with a cluck in his cheek. "Damned lucky, that's what I am," he added with bits of an accent slipping through his phrases. "Got to get us loose or we'll have a very short trip. Save me a seat?"

She saw the blanket and the robe and her smile was bright as she reached to take them from him. "Don't take this the wrong way.. but I think I love you right now." She half laughed, curling the items of warmth to her chest and shaking her head a little at his other comments. "If you want to see it again, it's better to cover it up now.. Consider your seat reserved." She motioned toward the chair and shifted out of his way to let him get them undone, she tossed the robe around her for now and curled up in the chair to wait.

He chuckled a little and watched her snuggle up into his robe, not staring too long to make her nervous, but long enough to appear pleased. He wanted out of his own wet clothes if only to be able to move more easily. He was ready for sunrise, if only to be able to see her better and navigate their way more clearly. He took the fire axe with him this time, though chopping under water wasn't the best idea. He hoped the tie line would come loose on its own and it did give him a few minutes of trouble, making him come back up a few times before he finally dislodged it. The boat rocked a little as it came loose of the mooring now that it detached from the sinking debris and Jack hauled himself back up, wet upon wet now and his color beginning to pale with the chill. He shakily put the axe back in place, loosely bolted but enough to hold it through a few good waves and still be accessible with just a turn or two if they needed it. He pulled up the tie line and looked back to the docks. It was quiet for now, but how long? "How's the scotch or did you try it yet?" He asked, slogging back to the captain's chair as he began peeling out of his own things now to lay out for drying.

She got out of the chair and took the robe off as he started peeling out of his wet clothes, she set the robe where he could grab it and reached out for his clothes. Her intent to allow him to use the robe and warm up as she took care of his clothes, he'd been in the water longer than she had and he had to be freezing. He looked a bit pale in the low light and she hoped it was just temporary and his color would come back once he warmed up. "Put that on.." She directed him toward the robe and explained her reason for shedding it, their clothes would take awhile to dry but hopefully not too long once the sun and air got to them.

[Lovely]

His jeans pooled at his feet and he reached for her and the robe. "I need more than the robe. Come here," he asked quietly, aware his situation could turn dire and serious any moment. His hands were shaking as he slipped the robe on, but wanted her beside him wrapped in it, too. He picked up the blanket and slung it over his shoulders as well. "I need the heat. Sorry it's not personal this time, but maybe when I can feel my hands," he chattered, his teeth clacking as he rattled with the chill.

"It's alright.. I was thinking the same thing.. pretty much.. Here give me the blanket and sit in the chair.. I'll get in your lap and we can wrap the blanket around us from the front if that works for you?" She set his clothes down and was already starting to rub his arms and shoulders as she spoke.

"Go easy on me," he chuckled, moving toward the chair and offering his knees for her to sit on like a very naughty Santa. "If you tell me... what you want for Christmas.. you might get that too," he chattered, trying not to shake.

"Sorry.. I'm just not normally easy.." She grinned and climbed into his lap, pulling his robe around her a little and then wrapping the blanket over them both. Tully was a bit warmer than she had been before from the time she'd already spent curled up in the robe but she could feel the difference in how much colder her was. She gasped softly and shifted just a little. "Okay.. give me your hand." She reached to find it beneath the blanket and wrapped her other arm around his shoulders. "If you tuck your head down a little the warmth of your breath with create like a little pocket of heat under the blanket."

"You've done this before?" He chuckled and offered his hand that was mostly numb and turned his chin down to puff what inner heat he could into the space. "You're a good shot, by the way. So thank you for not blowing my brains out back there, or for missing if that was what you had in mind," he said, the shaking mutter carrying the accent more fully than before.

"Not exactly this.. but camping and the weather turning bad.. I learned a few things." She explained and used her hand to gently nudge his head to rest against her chest if it would be more comfortable for him. The other hand that had found his under the blanket, guided his between her thighs, laying it flat against her upper thigh and tucking her other leg against it. She was sure he would feel the heat generated from her core and appreciate that she was doing it to warm him up and not trying to start anything.. at least not right now. "You're welcome... and thank you for not being a zombie freak thing." She curled her head down a little and let her breath warm his neck where she also tugged the collar of the robe up.

He looked up with a slight glare as she fussed with the collar. She was trying to help and he was trying not to feel overly pampered. "No, not a freak, just crazy and out of my mind," he grinned. He squeezed her leg a little, finding the numbness fading in his fingertips. "Sorry, just checking."

"I'd be worried if you thought you were perfectly sane after going through everything that's been happening since this all started." She sighed quietly and shook her head a little, her hand rubbed over his shoulder and the other down over his arm. "Your fingers are still pretty cold." She chuckled quietly, not offended by the squeeze. "Do they feel any warmer?"

[Lovely]

"You sayin' I should keep tabs on you and the axe when I'm sleeping?" He teased her, wondering if she wasn't quite as sane and calm as she seemed. "They're warmer.. not complaining. I don't think anything's going to break off at least, lucky for us both. Got to get the engine working soon, unless you know how to steer. We're drifting until I get us started up."

"Huh? No.. I'm not saying that at all.. should I keep tabs on you and the axe?" She countered with another half laugh though she sounded a little more worried than amused this time. "I don't know that much about boats actually.. will steering help without the engine? If the water is pushing us wont we just go with whatever direction the current is going? Isn't there and anchor or something we can drop to stop us from drifting too far?"

"Sort of like pushing a car, yes, but without a little power to push against the current, the steering here will only act more as a brake. If we anchor, we may dredge debris like the dock and we're back where we started trying to cut loose. Sorry, but I guess I'll need my hands as soon as possible," he sighed, squeezing again. "They feel pretty nice."

"Alright.. that sounds logical enough.. but do you think it's wise to work on an engine without any clothes on?" She shifted her leg over his hand, lightly rubbing to generate a little more heat for him. "I'm glad I can help at least a little."

"Not much different than wearing only trunks, is it?" He paused a little as she ran her leg over his still-chilled knuckles. "Then it all depends on which engine you're talking about," he muttered then cleared his throat a little and huddled under the blanket as another chill quivered through him. "You're helping.. quite a bit."

"Well.. they're your parts if you want to let them dangle and sway while working on machinery.. that's your choice!" This time she did chuckle with amusement but also acting as if cringing at the thought of his bits getting caught in something. She'd felt the shiver and kept rubbing with her thigh and her hands over his torso, doing her best to generate as much heat as she could for him.

"Actually, it's only turning the key and opening the throttle, I hope," he chuckled, getting the picture she was imagining now. He shook his head. "I may seem like a primative ape, but I'm not a grease monkey. I'll row a life raft before the engine gets fixed if it doesn't work."

Her head shook and she chuckled a little more. "You don't seem like a primative ape.. If you did, I would not be sitting in your lap right now!" She hadn't meant to give the impression that she thought any such thing but she had assumed with how he said he needed to get the engine working that he knew how to fix one.

[Lovely]

"My partner was the one with tool kit. Well, this was his boat, so I suppose it was right for him to be the one to fix it. I just brought our ... clients here," he said, stumbling over the words a little, more due to careful selection than another chill affecting how he spoke. He purposely shivered now to begin generating a little more heat of his own.

"Oh.." A few moments passed in an awkward silence as Tully thought about what he might have done before and how his partner was likely dead if not here on his own boat. That led to wondering if what leaped at Jack had been his former partner, she shivered with such a thought. Everthing was so screwed up.

"Which 'oh' was that? My partner? The boat? The clients? This..?" He curled his warmer fingers around her thigh a little more intentionally than before.

"For all of it.. but this." Her thigh pressed against his hand briefly but not to stop him or push him away. "That gets an 'ohh' all of it's own.. it's a special oh.." She licked at her lips and smiled a little, his hand felt warmer to her and was obviously feeling better on his end for him to grip her thigh the way he was.

"Appears at least one engine's started," he chuckled softly, watching how her tongue played on her lip. "Let me try to get us out into the bay at least. There we can anchor. Shipping traffic's stopped, so we'll have it to ourselves. The cabin below will be plenty warm by then and we'll have time to stay below until the sun's up high enough to dry us out some."

"Sounds like a good plan." She bit at her lower lip and hoped her question wouldn't come off the wrong way. "This cabin.. it doesn't happen to have a bed in it.. does it? Probably not but.. I've been sleeping on the floor for awhile now and.. well being able to stretch out on something less hard, sounds really good right now."

"Two bunks to choose from. They're small, but cozy and more comfortable than the floor or this seat," Jack said, offering up her choice of them. "Do you want the robe or the blanket for a few minutes?"

"The blanket will be fine.. you should keep the robe on. If you're not really working on the engine then it would make sense to keep it and keep yourself warmer." She smiled softly, hoping that the engine would work and they'd both be able to get a little rest. "Too bad there isn't a bed, it would be warmer to lay together.."

[Lovely]

He'd given her the blanket and let her go ahead below first to take her choice of the cots, out of the breeze that was finally beginning to settle down. He'd stayed above deck to continue working on getting them a safe distance from the shore, managing shorts spurts of cooperation from the rotor and the breeze, letting the current drift them to where he anchored. He couldn't do much more until his hands warmed up again and conceded to getting himself out of the breeze as well, ensuring what clothes they did have were secured and putting on what had already dried. He joined her down below, repeating her wish in his mind - a bed to snuggle closer. She looked peaceful but he wasn't sure she was asleep or able to consider sleeping after what they'd both been through. He was wearing his shirt and shorts with the robe now as he nudged her cautiously. "Sleeping or shivering?" He asked quietly enough that if she was truly asleep, he hoped not to wake her.

Before all of this had happened, she'd been a heavy sleeper but that changed when the nightmare became her life and survival was her goal each day. His steps were not heavy as he came down to where she was curled under the blanket but the movement was enough for her to know he was there. "Trying to sleep and trying not to shiver.. I'm failing on both." Tully smiled up at him as she pulled the blanket to tuck more tightly beneath her chin. "How about you? Did things cooperate enough up there?"

"Enough to get us away from the shoreline so that anything trying to reach us will hopefully drown first. Trying not to think what the contagion might do to fish in the meantime," he grinned and held out her shirt that was mostly dry. "This might help some. Only other thing I can suggest is.. if you're willing to sleep sitting up we could share. Not perfect, but what has been recently?"

"God... nothing is safe anymore.." She almost whispered it, feeling a little more of her hope drain out of her, and in that moment she was just a frightened young woman and not the tough kind of bad ass chick with the gun who had helped to save him. She reached for the shirt and took his hand with it. "I'll sleep sitting up.."

"No time to think about safety, just staying away from what's deadly," he said. His arm was starting to ache from his near-attempt at flight from the fire escape. He rolled his shoulder and his neck with a slight pop. He winced a little but tried to ignore it. "Wish I could say they were the same. Guess I was lucky not to be on the roof back there."

"Right.. it's just surviving now.. safety is a long lost luxury." She let go of his hand to slip her shirt back on, looking to the floor and away from him as she tried to get over her moment of weakness. She needed human contact and hope but he didn't.. everyone dealt with things in there own way and once upon a time she was the one who would have been distant. "You're sore and all.. why don't you just take the other cot? You'll be more comfortable not all folded up."

"Nah, it'll be fine once it warms up some," he said, rolling it once more to convince himself. "I'll be more comfortable with the company or I wouldn't have suggested making you move. You looked sweet curled up, despite the shivers."

"I looked sweet?" She glanced to him with her eyebrow arched in question and disbelief though she smiled faintly at the thought of it. "Well.. if you're sure.." She shifted the blanket and patted the cot for him to join her. ".. then come on before we lose the little heat I built up here by myself." He told her he meant it and she really needed the comfort the closeness would bring, even if it wasn't sincere.

"Shh. I'm sure," he chuckled, taking a seat and reaching his non-sore arm around her to capture an edge of the blanket. The cot was small even for one but half-sitting and leaning wasn't horrible. "Better already. Another hour, maybe two, we should be plenty warm...," he said, letting her shiver against him. He considered they would be plenty hungry about then, too.

[Lovely]

Tully leaned into his chest and let out an instant sigh of relief, it would take a few minutes for them to start really warming each other but this was a start and much better than laying down here alone spiralling in her own thoughts. "Your hands are freezing again." She pointed out as she curled beneath the blanket and started to rub her hand lightly over his arm. "Anyone ever tell you that you have damn nice arms? I'm sorry.. that has nothing to do with staying away from what's deadly."

His hands weren't quite numb enough to ignore the sting as the blanket warmed them. Her far-warmer fingers on his arm distracted him from that for the moment. "Thank you for that, no need to apologize." He whispered at her ear. "Actually it's everything to do with what's deadly, but you have nothing to worry about."

"I may be just a little too exhausted to really get that." Her soft sigh helped to warm the air around his shoulder. "Feel free to expand on that statement.. it's not like I have anywhere else to be or anything else to do right now." It was her turn to chuckle as her thoughts tumbled around the fact that she was half naked with a stranger and she wasn't even close to being drunk.

"What's to expand on? Hm, don't worry about it, just rest. Consider it an asset that I'm on your side. Now what're you laughing at?" The small chuckle caught his attention and helped to change the subject, he hoped.

She almost blushed but wasn't normally a very shy girl and her shoulder shrugged as she thought about whether or not to tell him honestly what she was thinking about. "Eh, the heck with it.. why not?" She murmured the consideration and let her hand move more slowly and deliberately over his arm. "I was just thinking.. about how I'm half naked and curled up with a very good looking stranger... and I'm not remotely drunk.."

"Would it help if you were?" His smile was warmer though he wasn't yet. He shivered involuntarily this time under the unexpected touch. "I was thinking much the same thing... still sweet."

"No.. well, maybe.. but nah.. it's better that we're not drunk in case anything deadly makes it out here. Besides I heard somewhere it doesn't really help with keeping warm." She smiled and snuggled herself closer, pulling the blanket a little so that it covered more of him. "I'm not sweet.. stop saying that." She teased, letting her eyes close for a few seconds. "Won't.. that warm you up? You know if we... they say it's good exercise.. but there isn't much room to move on this cot."

He looked at her as if he was waiting for a punch line. "You sure you're not drunk? You're talking about... yeah, well I know what you're talking about. Good way to keep warm, but not a good idea here."

This time she was blushing but hoped he didn't see it as she played the whole thing off as if it was no big deal. Tully shrugged again and rested herself against his chest again, half chuckling. "Your loss." She spoke in a casual tone as if she'd just offered him an extra blanket. She wasn't sure why she'd offered in the first place, sure it really was a way to keep warmer but really? This world gone to hell was starting to get to her. "Well.. try to get some rest.. then."