FIC: Exodus
Title: Exodus
Pairing: Klaine
Includes: mpreg baby, zooombies
Word Count: ~2903
Summary: After Blaine has a bad dream, the refugees begin their trip.
Previous Parts
Blaine’s eyes opened, and he looked around the room. Kurt was curled on his side like a comma with Pippa nuzzled to his chest, like always. She was awake, bright blue eyes watching the world quietly, like she knew its secrets, somehow.
Despite the idyllic scene of his partner and their child curled together, despite the sounds of their family in the other rooms snoring or chatting away, despite the appearances of everything being as it should be, a panic rose in Blaine’s chest.
He shook Kurt’s shoulder. “C’mon. Get up. We need to go.”
Kurt frowned groggily over his shoulder. “What?’
Blaine leapt up and went into the closet pulled out a tank top, a sweater, and Kurt’s maternity jeans. They should work for now, while his body was still snapping back into shape.
“Get dressed.” Blaine tossed the clothes on the bed then held his arms out.
Kurt handed him Pippa and threw his legs over the side of the bed. “I don’t understand.”
“Just get dressed.” Blaine looked around. “Now.”
Kurt seemed to wake up and raised a brow at Blaine, but dressed himself quickly. Blaine looked at Kurt’s always slender figure and determined that he wouldn’t need the jeans for much longer, but for now, mobility was the key. He then gave Kurt the baby, stuffed a few important things in a bag, and hurried them out of the room.
“Babe...” Kurt’s voice was quiet and gentle. “Where are we going?”
“Just... come. Quickly. Something...”
They stopped as Burt turned the corner and frowned at them. “Whatcha doin’ out here? It’s late. You need rest.”
“I don’t know,” Kurt said with a shrug.
Blaine shook his head. He looked at the ground. “We have to leave. Now. We have to get outta here.”
“I’m okay,” Kurt offered. “I can’t be running any marathons for a few weeks, but if we have to get on the road, I can go. I can shoot.”
Burt raised a brow at Blaine, then put his hand on Kurt’s shoulder, guiding him back in the direction they came.
There was a noise at the end of the hallway. Burt stopped cold, then stepped back.
“Blaine?”
Blaine didn’t need any more encouragement. He put his arm around Kurt’s shoulders and hurried him down the hallway, then helped him down the stairs. At the bottom, Kurt looked up again after his father, then spared a glance for Blaine. No words were exchanged, for a reason. No need to draw attention to themselves when they didn’t have weapons and Kurt’s arms were occupied with a tiny baby, who was starting to wake up and get grumpy.
Burt appeared then, causing both of them to jump, and shook his head. “There’s nothin’ there. I looked.”
Blaine’s face fell.
“But we’re ready as we’ll ever be.” Burt scratched the back of his head. “You two start getting your things together. I’ll rouse everyone else, and we’ll get this show on the road. Van’s been getting antsy, too.”
Blaine nodded and hugged Kurt to him tightly. Maybe accommodating his crazy wasn’t the best idea, but if it got them out of there faster, he wouldn’t complain.
“Do you think you’ll be okay?” Blaine asked as he pulled out the baby sling.
“I’m stitch free, now. And we’re to the point we can save our antibiotics for future scrapes.” Kurt handed Pippa to him so he could don the sling. “I can mend in the car. Just make sure I have a weapon, too. I don’t want to be a walking lunch for two. I want to do my part.”
“Don’t say that,” Blaine scoffed. “At least I know you’re feeling better, if you can make terrible jokes.”
“Sorry. Not so much looking forward to a life on the road with her.” Kurt held the sling while Blaine put a complaining Pippa inside. “But we knew this was coming, ever since we found out about her. At least we have people to watch our back, this time.”
Blaine held his arms uncomfortably and peeked out the window them, expecting to see the walker horde lurching across the lawn.
Nothing there. He drew in a breath and let out a sigh. Then he looked to Kurt and their precious baby girl. Maybe they really were safe. Maybe he was just losing it again.
He really hoped not. It was hard to pull his wits back together when they scattered.
The house lit up almost at once, and Finn and Van were coming down the stairs, followed by a sleepy set of ex-Cheerios and Gleeks pouring out of their rooms on the first floor. Van dropped by them with a tight, forced smile, then slipped the glasses they’d forgotten upstairs onto Kurt’s face.
“Gotta be able to see the enemy, sweetness,” she said.
He blinked. They only gotten them the day before, and he was still getting used to them. Blaine smiled and pushed them up on Kurt’s nose.
Half an hour later, the cars were loaded up. Not just their little crew, but others in the neighborhood who just wanted to get as much space between themselves and the border as possible. Friends, family, and strays.
“Keep your walkies on,” Burt instructed. “Stay with the group, and if you see anything, signal ahead.”
“Is Jacques coming?” Forest asked him quietly. “He decide yet?”
“Called him,” Burt said, coming up to the boys’ car. “He said he’ll meet us further up the way. He’s gonna try to pull some people from the center and hospitals to come with. It’s not a bad idea. We’re the only ones with immunity. The more of us survive the better.”
Forest shrugged his head to the side in agreement and headed up to the car where Saff was dawdling around, her toe in the dirt, as she chattered at Juni.
Burt looked to Blaine, who had just settled Kurt and Pippa into the car.
“You boys be careful. Keep sharp,” Burt said. He drew in a tense breath and shook his head.
Kurt peeked his head out. “We’re armed, we have supplies, and we’re mobile. There’s not much else you can ask for in times like these.”
Blaine reached down and put his hand on Kurt’s shoulder, smiling away. There was his partner. His Kurt. His tough as nails mommy in the dangerous wild world they lived in. Blaine had almost forgotten, or maybe he’d just had to shelf that particular image in order to support Kurt while he faltered, saving all his energies for bringing Pippa into being.
Burt crouched down. “Radio us if you see anything-”
“We heard you when you told the group.” Kurt smirked, his rosy lips twisting impishly. He saluted. “Cap’n.”
“Shut up,” Burt muttered affectionately. He reached over to pet Pippa’s arm. “How’s she doin’ so far?”
Kurt petted the back of her head. “She was anxious earlier, but she’s calmed. Maybe she wants to get going, too.”
Behind them, Nick and David approached the car.
“Well, she should be grateful, protected by fierce warriors such as ourselves,” Nick said. He leaned against the car and winked at Kurt.
“Don’t wink at my babydaddy,” Blaine said in mock sternness.
Nick held up his hands, and the other two boys got into the car. Burt hugged Kurt around the shoulders, once again warning him to be careful. Then he stood and gave Blaine a bear hug.
Blaine’s eyes pricked. He took a breath and patted Burt’s back. Then he took the wheel, and the caravan was off.
***
“Wait, wait, wait.” Nick held his hands up. “Let’s do it again, with David on the low, and me and Blaine sing here.”
He sang a note, then grinned and nodded, waiting for approval.
“Okay,” Blaine agreed. He signaled to David, and the three of them started bopping along in harmony. Kurt bobbed his head to their singing, then shimmied his shoulders.
Blaine’s smile as he looked at Kurt warmed his heart. He went still as the car slowed down, and Blaine rolled down the window to see what was going on out there. The caravan was stopping.
They’d all been driving for the better part a day, and it was getting a bit dark outside. That made them all nervous, of course. They wouldn’t be stopping without a reason.
Nick grabbed the walkie talkie. “What’s goin’ on up there?”
They waited a minute before getting an answer from Tamara. “Mikhail’s car is having trouble. Burt’s going to look at it.”
Kurt raised a brow, feeling anxiety growing in his chest once again. He opened the door, put a hand under where Pippa was curled up on his chest, sleepy and content from having just been fed, and got out.
“Babe?” Blaine jumped out and bounded around the car.
“I’m okay. It’ll just be a few minutes.” Kurt looked at him, then down to Pippa in her sling. “Come with,” he suggested.
Blaine trailed behind him as they went a few cars up. Mikhail’s Oldsmobile had the hood popped, and Burt and a few other guys were looking over it.
“What’ve we got here?” Kurt asked.
“Nothing that I can’t fix up in, hm. Half an hour?” Burt turned to Kurt. “Why don’t you get everyone out to stretch their legs. Keep ‘em occupied. I don’t want us to have to abandon a car or stay put overnight.”
“We can do that.” Blaine hugged Kurt’s shoulders.
Kurt patted Pippa as they walked back toward their car. Along the way, they knocked on everyone’s windows, telling them there would be a delay, and they could get out, but not go too far.
Scanning the area, Kurt motioned for Blaine, and then David and Nick, to come with him when he caught their eyes. He lowered himself onto a big rock and waited, as other people started to gather where they saw a group forming.
“Why don’t we show them what we’ve been practicing?” Kurt suggested.
The boys smirked, then Blaine jogged over to Finn’s car and got them to come over.
Most of these people were not fans, but when the boys began creating the background vocals, the crowd watched, amused by the impromptu acapella.
“My mama told me when I was young we’re all superstars,” Kurt sang, clear as a bell.
“Roll my hair, put my lipstick on, in the glass of her beaudoir,” Tina chimed in.
“It doesn’t matter darling who you are because God made you perfect, babe,” Santana sang with Kurt.
Nick, David, and Mike looked to one another, and came up with a few steps to do during the chorus. Soon the large group was cheering the kids on as they performed “Born this Way” on the side of a Canadian interstate. It was the last song Kurt had ever downloaded. He’d been hoping the Warblers would want to do it for Regionals. Not that they ever listened to him, but until they’d settled on Pink, he’d had designs of making Blaine think it was his idea. The Council would have listened to Blaine.
When they’d finished, the people seemed cheered, and the kids clustered around to hang out with one another. Kurt hadn’t had the opportunity to spend much time gabbing with his friends before they’d hit the road, either, so it was nice to sit with Tina and just talk. He missed his girlfriends.
Santana crossed her arms and sat in the cold dirt. Under any other circumstance, it would have seemed odd for her to seek out Kurt’s company. He and Tina looked to her curiously.
“I always figured I would go back. You know. That I’d be heading south, not north.” Her voice was quieter than usual.
“I don’t know if that’s safe,” David said. “I don’t know that it ever will be.”
“I know that,” Santana snapped. She softened again, then leaned back on her palms. “I thought I’d be able to go get Lupe, and my abuela. I don’t even know if they’re down there, but... Maybe they are. Just not who they were before, anyway.”
“That’s good and cheerful,” Nick said.
“I left them,” Santana said.
“You’d be dead if you hadn’t,” Nick countered. “Look, unless you threw them to walkers and ran? Probably not your fault.”
David rubbed Nick’s shoulders. “We all regret the people we had to leave behind. The people we couldn’t save.”
“We make our choices. We pay our prices,” Brittany said suddenly. She sat next to Santana. “You asked Lupe to come. She thought she’d be safe at Columbus. They ones who stayed all did. But how was anyone to know?”
Santana looked at her hands, picking at her once perfect cuticles and shaking her head. “I didn’t think leaving was the right choice. I thought she would be safe at Columbus.” The back of her fingers pressed against her mouth and she took a breath. “I thought you guys were all dead, leaving like that.”
“Then why the hell did you go?” Nick asked.
“Me.” Brittany rested her head on Santana’s shoulder and looked at her. “She was afraid for me to be alone.”
“It’s what I get for being a softy,” Santana muttered. She looked to Brittany and smiled, just a little. “This doesn’t mean I’m giving up my title as head bitch.”
“No one would ever suggest that you do that,” Kurt interjected dryly.
Laughter swelled through the group. Tina leaned on Kurt and gave his cheek a kiss. A light on the horizon caught their attention.
“Was that lightening?” Tina asked.
A plane shot across the sky.
“Dad!” Kurt yelled. He grabbed Blaine’s hand for support as he stood abruptly.
The sky lit up again and again. Their eyes were frozen on the sky.
“Holy...” Rafe hobbled up behind them. “I’ve seen this before. Back in Indiana.”
“I’ve seen it, too.” Tina’s voice broke, and she shook her head. Mike hugged her shoulders from behind.
“What’s happening?” Kurt asked. But he knew. He’d figured it out. He could see the people, trapped wherever they were, screaming, terrified.
He could see the barriers between Toronto and New York burning. The walkers would make it through. Half-there, on fire still, they would come. Shambling along, hungry and angry. There was so little food left on the other side of the border. And it didn’t matter if there were only a few. A few over at Fort Wayne. A few here. A few there. If the Canadians hadn’t inoculated their entire population, there would soon be many.
The only hope was that the winter cold would give them a small respite, and there had been enough bombs to weed out a good portion of the northeast herd.
“The government wouldn’t do this,” Deirdre said.
Kurt looked at her. Mikhail’s girlfriend.
“They said. They said they wouldn’t...” she murmured.
Van slammed a radio down on the rock where Kurt had been sitting and started turning the dial. “Someone decided they would take it into their own hands. Plenty of countries have the ability to create bombs. It’s not like the US has national security of any kind anymore.”
They waited a few minutes more, then settled in, listening to static-y, barely understandable messages on the radio.
Burt came over, wiping his hands and leaning in. “What’s-?”
“They bombed the shit out of Toronto,” Rafe said. “Who knows how far the fires will burn? They’ve probably killed everyone down there.”
“I would’ve still been in that hospital,” Juni muttered.
“Jacques...” Burt trailed off and stepped back, closing his eyes. “Friggin’ stupid kid. Just had to stay and keep directing people.”
Kurt took his hand and squeezed it.
“Not the UN,” Van muttered. “They’re not sure who’s doing it, but there’s some broadcast getting their info from Britain.”
Pippa let out a sudden wail. Kurt rubbed her back. “Is the car fixed?”
“Yeah. Dee?” Burt jerked his thumb behind him. “Mik wants you.”
She darted up the road.
Kurt turned to the frightened crowd, slightly breathless and very determined. “We all need to get back in our cars and go. The bridges are burning. Nowhere to go but forward.”
Santana rubbed a hand over her forehead and let out a sob. Brittany wrapped her arms around her. Blaine took Kurt’s hand and squeezed it, and Burt put his hands on his shoulders.
“Is anywhere really going to be safe?” Santana demanded.
“Staying here won’t be,” Brittany said. “Stick with me. I’ll keep you safe.” “I was always going to,” Santana said.
“I agree. No goin’ back right now. And no point,” Burt said. “Walkers’ll be scattered everywhere.”
Forest took Saff and Juni’s hands. “Back in the cars, folks. The winter’ll be our barrier.”
As their members got ready to get on the road again, Kurt tried to put the memory of burning flesh out of his mind. All his energies needed to go toward keeping this group stable, and safe, because the better it was, the better it would be for the baby pressed to his chest and the man at his side. They would keep moving, and they would have a life for themselves. At this point, it hardly mattered where.
Next: Inclement Weather
This entry was originally posted at Dreamwidth.
comments posted there. Please comment there using OpenID or your DW account.
Pairing: Klaine
Includes: mpreg baby, zooombies
Word Count: ~2903
Summary: After Blaine has a bad dream, the refugees begin their trip.
Previous Parts
Blaine’s eyes opened, and he looked around the room. Kurt was curled on his side like a comma with Pippa nuzzled to his chest, like always. She was awake, bright blue eyes watching the world quietly, like she knew its secrets, somehow.
Despite the idyllic scene of his partner and their child curled together, despite the sounds of their family in the other rooms snoring or chatting away, despite the appearances of everything being as it should be, a panic rose in Blaine’s chest.
He shook Kurt’s shoulder. “C’mon. Get up. We need to go.”
Kurt frowned groggily over his shoulder. “What?’
Blaine leapt up and went into the closet pulled out a tank top, a sweater, and Kurt’s maternity jeans. They should work for now, while his body was still snapping back into shape.
“Get dressed.” Blaine tossed the clothes on the bed then held his arms out.
Kurt handed him Pippa and threw his legs over the side of the bed. “I don’t understand.”
“Just get dressed.” Blaine looked around. “Now.”
Kurt seemed to wake up and raised a brow at Blaine, but dressed himself quickly. Blaine looked at Kurt’s always slender figure and determined that he wouldn’t need the jeans for much longer, but for now, mobility was the key. He then gave Kurt the baby, stuffed a few important things in a bag, and hurried them out of the room.
“Babe...” Kurt’s voice was quiet and gentle. “Where are we going?”
“Just... come. Quickly. Something...”
They stopped as Burt turned the corner and frowned at them. “Whatcha doin’ out here? It’s late. You need rest.”
“I don’t know,” Kurt said with a shrug.
Blaine shook his head. He looked at the ground. “We have to leave. Now. We have to get outta here.”
“I’m okay,” Kurt offered. “I can’t be running any marathons for a few weeks, but if we have to get on the road, I can go. I can shoot.”
Burt raised a brow at Blaine, then put his hand on Kurt’s shoulder, guiding him back in the direction they came.
There was a noise at the end of the hallway. Burt stopped cold, then stepped back.
“Blaine?”
Blaine didn’t need any more encouragement. He put his arm around Kurt’s shoulders and hurried him down the hallway, then helped him down the stairs. At the bottom, Kurt looked up again after his father, then spared a glance for Blaine. No words were exchanged, for a reason. No need to draw attention to themselves when they didn’t have weapons and Kurt’s arms were occupied with a tiny baby, who was starting to wake up and get grumpy.
Burt appeared then, causing both of them to jump, and shook his head. “There’s nothin’ there. I looked.”
Blaine’s face fell.
“But we’re ready as we’ll ever be.” Burt scratched the back of his head. “You two start getting your things together. I’ll rouse everyone else, and we’ll get this show on the road. Van’s been getting antsy, too.”
Blaine nodded and hugged Kurt to him tightly. Maybe accommodating his crazy wasn’t the best idea, but if it got them out of there faster, he wouldn’t complain.
“Do you think you’ll be okay?” Blaine asked as he pulled out the baby sling.
“I’m stitch free, now. And we’re to the point we can save our antibiotics for future scrapes.” Kurt handed Pippa to him so he could don the sling. “I can mend in the car. Just make sure I have a weapon, too. I don’t want to be a walking lunch for two. I want to do my part.”
“Don’t say that,” Blaine scoffed. “At least I know you’re feeling better, if you can make terrible jokes.”
“Sorry. Not so much looking forward to a life on the road with her.” Kurt held the sling while Blaine put a complaining Pippa inside. “But we knew this was coming, ever since we found out about her. At least we have people to watch our back, this time.”
Blaine held his arms uncomfortably and peeked out the window them, expecting to see the walker horde lurching across the lawn.
Nothing there. He drew in a breath and let out a sigh. Then he looked to Kurt and their precious baby girl. Maybe they really were safe. Maybe he was just losing it again.
He really hoped not. It was hard to pull his wits back together when they scattered.
The house lit up almost at once, and Finn and Van were coming down the stairs, followed by a sleepy set of ex-Cheerios and Gleeks pouring out of their rooms on the first floor. Van dropped by them with a tight, forced smile, then slipped the glasses they’d forgotten upstairs onto Kurt’s face.
“Gotta be able to see the enemy, sweetness,” she said.
He blinked. They only gotten them the day before, and he was still getting used to them. Blaine smiled and pushed them up on Kurt’s nose.
Half an hour later, the cars were loaded up. Not just their little crew, but others in the neighborhood who just wanted to get as much space between themselves and the border as possible. Friends, family, and strays.
“Keep your walkies on,” Burt instructed. “Stay with the group, and if you see anything, signal ahead.”
“Is Jacques coming?” Forest asked him quietly. “He decide yet?”
“Called him,” Burt said, coming up to the boys’ car. “He said he’ll meet us further up the way. He’s gonna try to pull some people from the center and hospitals to come with. It’s not a bad idea. We’re the only ones with immunity. The more of us survive the better.”
Forest shrugged his head to the side in agreement and headed up to the car where Saff was dawdling around, her toe in the dirt, as she chattered at Juni.
Burt looked to Blaine, who had just settled Kurt and Pippa into the car.
“You boys be careful. Keep sharp,” Burt said. He drew in a tense breath and shook his head.
Kurt peeked his head out. “We’re armed, we have supplies, and we’re mobile. There’s not much else you can ask for in times like these.”
Blaine reached down and put his hand on Kurt’s shoulder, smiling away. There was his partner. His Kurt. His tough as nails mommy in the dangerous wild world they lived in. Blaine had almost forgotten, or maybe he’d just had to shelf that particular image in order to support Kurt while he faltered, saving all his energies for bringing Pippa into being.
Burt crouched down. “Radio us if you see anything-”
“We heard you when you told the group.” Kurt smirked, his rosy lips twisting impishly. He saluted. “Cap’n.”
“Shut up,” Burt muttered affectionately. He reached over to pet Pippa’s arm. “How’s she doin’ so far?”
Kurt petted the back of her head. “She was anxious earlier, but she’s calmed. Maybe she wants to get going, too.”
Behind them, Nick and David approached the car.
“Well, she should be grateful, protected by fierce warriors such as ourselves,” Nick said. He leaned against the car and winked at Kurt.
“Don’t wink at my babydaddy,” Blaine said in mock sternness.
Nick held up his hands, and the other two boys got into the car. Burt hugged Kurt around the shoulders, once again warning him to be careful. Then he stood and gave Blaine a bear hug.
Blaine’s eyes pricked. He took a breath and patted Burt’s back. Then he took the wheel, and the caravan was off.
***
“Wait, wait, wait.” Nick held his hands up. “Let’s do it again, with David on the low, and me and Blaine sing here.”
He sang a note, then grinned and nodded, waiting for approval.
“Okay,” Blaine agreed. He signaled to David, and the three of them started bopping along in harmony. Kurt bobbed his head to their singing, then shimmied his shoulders.
Blaine’s smile as he looked at Kurt warmed his heart. He went still as the car slowed down, and Blaine rolled down the window to see what was going on out there. The caravan was stopping.
They’d all been driving for the better part a day, and it was getting a bit dark outside. That made them all nervous, of course. They wouldn’t be stopping without a reason.
Nick grabbed the walkie talkie. “What’s goin’ on up there?”
They waited a minute before getting an answer from Tamara. “Mikhail’s car is having trouble. Burt’s going to look at it.”
Kurt raised a brow, feeling anxiety growing in his chest once again. He opened the door, put a hand under where Pippa was curled up on his chest, sleepy and content from having just been fed, and got out.
“Babe?” Blaine jumped out and bounded around the car.
“I’m okay. It’ll just be a few minutes.” Kurt looked at him, then down to Pippa in her sling. “Come with,” he suggested.
Blaine trailed behind him as they went a few cars up. Mikhail’s Oldsmobile had the hood popped, and Burt and a few other guys were looking over it.
“What’ve we got here?” Kurt asked.
“Nothing that I can’t fix up in, hm. Half an hour?” Burt turned to Kurt. “Why don’t you get everyone out to stretch their legs. Keep ‘em occupied. I don’t want us to have to abandon a car or stay put overnight.”
“We can do that.” Blaine hugged Kurt’s shoulders.
Kurt patted Pippa as they walked back toward their car. Along the way, they knocked on everyone’s windows, telling them there would be a delay, and they could get out, but not go too far.
Scanning the area, Kurt motioned for Blaine, and then David and Nick, to come with him when he caught their eyes. He lowered himself onto a big rock and waited, as other people started to gather where they saw a group forming.
“Why don’t we show them what we’ve been practicing?” Kurt suggested.
The boys smirked, then Blaine jogged over to Finn’s car and got them to come over.
Most of these people were not fans, but when the boys began creating the background vocals, the crowd watched, amused by the impromptu acapella.
“My mama told me when I was young we’re all superstars,” Kurt sang, clear as a bell.
“Roll my hair, put my lipstick on, in the glass of her beaudoir,” Tina chimed in.
“It doesn’t matter darling who you are because God made you perfect, babe,” Santana sang with Kurt.
Nick, David, and Mike looked to one another, and came up with a few steps to do during the chorus. Soon the large group was cheering the kids on as they performed “Born this Way” on the side of a Canadian interstate. It was the last song Kurt had ever downloaded. He’d been hoping the Warblers would want to do it for Regionals. Not that they ever listened to him, but until they’d settled on Pink, he’d had designs of making Blaine think it was his idea. The Council would have listened to Blaine.
When they’d finished, the people seemed cheered, and the kids clustered around to hang out with one another. Kurt hadn’t had the opportunity to spend much time gabbing with his friends before they’d hit the road, either, so it was nice to sit with Tina and just talk. He missed his girlfriends.
Santana crossed her arms and sat in the cold dirt. Under any other circumstance, it would have seemed odd for her to seek out Kurt’s company. He and Tina looked to her curiously.
“I always figured I would go back. You know. That I’d be heading south, not north.” Her voice was quieter than usual.
“I don’t know if that’s safe,” David said. “I don’t know that it ever will be.”
“I know that,” Santana snapped. She softened again, then leaned back on her palms. “I thought I’d be able to go get Lupe, and my abuela. I don’t even know if they’re down there, but... Maybe they are. Just not who they were before, anyway.”
“That’s good and cheerful,” Nick said.
“I left them,” Santana said.
“You’d be dead if you hadn’t,” Nick countered. “Look, unless you threw them to walkers and ran? Probably not your fault.”
David rubbed Nick’s shoulders. “We all regret the people we had to leave behind. The people we couldn’t save.”
“We make our choices. We pay our prices,” Brittany said suddenly. She sat next to Santana. “You asked Lupe to come. She thought she’d be safe at Columbus. They ones who stayed all did. But how was anyone to know?”
Santana looked at her hands, picking at her once perfect cuticles and shaking her head. “I didn’t think leaving was the right choice. I thought she would be safe at Columbus.” The back of her fingers pressed against her mouth and she took a breath. “I thought you guys were all dead, leaving like that.”
“Then why the hell did you go?” Nick asked.
“Me.” Brittany rested her head on Santana’s shoulder and looked at her. “She was afraid for me to be alone.”
“It’s what I get for being a softy,” Santana muttered. She looked to Brittany and smiled, just a little. “This doesn’t mean I’m giving up my title as head bitch.”
“No one would ever suggest that you do that,” Kurt interjected dryly.
Laughter swelled through the group. Tina leaned on Kurt and gave his cheek a kiss. A light on the horizon caught their attention.
“Was that lightening?” Tina asked.
A plane shot across the sky.
“Dad!” Kurt yelled. He grabbed Blaine’s hand for support as he stood abruptly.
The sky lit up again and again. Their eyes were frozen on the sky.
“Holy...” Rafe hobbled up behind them. “I’ve seen this before. Back in Indiana.”
“I’ve seen it, too.” Tina’s voice broke, and she shook her head. Mike hugged her shoulders from behind.
“What’s happening?” Kurt asked. But he knew. He’d figured it out. He could see the people, trapped wherever they were, screaming, terrified.
He could see the barriers between Toronto and New York burning. The walkers would make it through. Half-there, on fire still, they would come. Shambling along, hungry and angry. There was so little food left on the other side of the border. And it didn’t matter if there were only a few. A few over at Fort Wayne. A few here. A few there. If the Canadians hadn’t inoculated their entire population, there would soon be many.
The only hope was that the winter cold would give them a small respite, and there had been enough bombs to weed out a good portion of the northeast herd.
“The government wouldn’t do this,” Deirdre said.
Kurt looked at her. Mikhail’s girlfriend.
“They said. They said they wouldn’t...” she murmured.
Van slammed a radio down on the rock where Kurt had been sitting and started turning the dial. “Someone decided they would take it into their own hands. Plenty of countries have the ability to create bombs. It’s not like the US has national security of any kind anymore.”
They waited a few minutes more, then settled in, listening to static-y, barely understandable messages on the radio.
Burt came over, wiping his hands and leaning in. “What’s-?”
“They bombed the shit out of Toronto,” Rafe said. “Who knows how far the fires will burn? They’ve probably killed everyone down there.”
“I would’ve still been in that hospital,” Juni muttered.
“Jacques...” Burt trailed off and stepped back, closing his eyes. “Friggin’ stupid kid. Just had to stay and keep directing people.”
Kurt took his hand and squeezed it.
“Not the UN,” Van muttered. “They’re not sure who’s doing it, but there’s some broadcast getting their info from Britain.”
Pippa let out a sudden wail. Kurt rubbed her back. “Is the car fixed?”
“Yeah. Dee?” Burt jerked his thumb behind him. “Mik wants you.”
She darted up the road.
Kurt turned to the frightened crowd, slightly breathless and very determined. “We all need to get back in our cars and go. The bridges are burning. Nowhere to go but forward.”
Santana rubbed a hand over her forehead and let out a sob. Brittany wrapped her arms around her. Blaine took Kurt’s hand and squeezed it, and Burt put his hands on his shoulders.
“Is anywhere really going to be safe?” Santana demanded.
“Staying here won’t be,” Brittany said. “Stick with me. I’ll keep you safe.” “I was always going to,” Santana said.
“I agree. No goin’ back right now. And no point,” Burt said. “Walkers’ll be scattered everywhere.”
Forest took Saff and Juni’s hands. “Back in the cars, folks. The winter’ll be our barrier.”
As their members got ready to get on the road again, Kurt tried to put the memory of burning flesh out of his mind. All his energies needed to go toward keeping this group stable, and safe, because the better it was, the better it would be for the baby pressed to his chest and the man at his side. They would keep moving, and they would have a life for themselves. At this point, it hardly mattered where.
Next: Inclement Weather
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