With A Whimper (Part Ten)
Oct. 23rd, 2006 05:56 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
missmara13Title: With A Whimper (Part Ten)
Author: Mara
Rating: R (See warnings)
Warnings: Violence. Serious character injury. Lots of blood.
Summary: Most of the world is either dead or Crazy, but in California a group of survivors tries to find a way to avoid both fates.
Note: This would have been out Saturday, but I managed to hurt my wrist somehow, I could barely move it all day which made being on the computer at all, let alone typing for long periods of time, almost impossible. But my wrist is better now, so I'm writing again.
Note #2: There's a lot of action in the second half of this chapter, and I hope I pulled it off so that it seems realistic.
You stay the course you hold the line you keep it all together.
~ 'Push' by Sarah McLachlan
PART TEN
Early the next morning, Ryan was walking through the orange grove while everyone else finished up breakfast, and he heard familiar footsteps running up behind him and turned to see Summer there, still wearing his hoodie. "Hey," he said.
"So, we kinda got interrupted last night," Summer said. "You were about to say something..."
"I was?" Ryan said, turning away again.
"Don't pull that on me, Chino."
Ryan sighed and turned back to face her. "I really don't wanna be in the middle of another conversation that gets interrupted."
"The only interruption would be for an emergency," Summer said. "I told Alex I needed to talk to you, and told Zach I was going to use the bathroom. So, if he goes looking it'll be at the trees, and Alex will make sure no one panics when he doesn't find me."
"Sneaky."
"Desperate."
Ryan smiled and shrugged. "I don't know if it's right for us to be trying to... be anything right now. I mean, I want to work things out, and I want... I want to be with you, but I think that needs to be on hold until we get to the mountains. I don't think we need the distraction."
Summer nodded, biting her lip. "Okay," she said quietly.
"Don't hate me for this," Ryan asked.
"No, you're right," Summer replied. "Just... I want you to know, I care about you a lot."
"I care about you a lot, too. But we... we need to focus on the group."
"Yeah."
"And... maybe I'm just being jealous, but... I want you to be careful around Zach. And... and don't leave him alone with any of the kids or with Kirsten."
"Ryan..."
"I know he's your friend, but last night... I just don't trust him, and I don't want anyone to get hurt. So please, just... be careful."
"I will," Summer promised. "We all should have believed you about Oliver, but we didn't and look what happened? So, if you tell me that you really don't trust Zach, I'm gonna listen this time."
Ryan nodded. "Thanks. Luke knows how I feel, and he's keeping an eye out, so if anything strange happens, you can tell him or me."
"Okay," Summer agreed. "You'll be careful, too, right?"
"Always," Ryan promised. He leaned forward and kissed her cheek. "Don't worry, Sum, I'm gonna take care of everyone. And once we're on the mountain, you and me can... we can work on figuring things out."
"I'd like that."
Ryan smiled and tucked a stray strand of her hair back behind her ear. "So would I," he agreed. "But for now, let's get back to the others, have some breakfast, then get back on the road."
"Wait," Summer said, grabbing more oranges and stuffing them into the pockets of the hoodie. "So we don't deplete our stash."
"I knew there was a reason I liked you."
"All you men ever think about is a girl's brains," Summer replied with a soft smile, remembering an identical comment a few days before.
"Well, there are other things I appreciate," Ryan teased as they started back towards the others. As they emerged from the grove, Summer ran ahead to start getting the oranges cut for the kids, while Ryan headed for Kirsten, who was rearranging things in the SUV, and leaned in close. "Be careful around Zach, okay?" he said. "Just... don't be alone with him. If I'm not here, then stay close to Luke or Alex."
"What's going on?" Kirsten asked.
"I don't know yet," Ryan said. "But I'd feel better if you stayed away from him as much as possible."
"I will," Kirsten promised.
Luke came over then and caught Ryan's arm. "Zach went to the bathroom, and he's been gone a long time," he said. "I went over there, and I thought I heard voices again."
Ryan swore under his breath. "Kirsten get everyone loaded up."
"Ryan..."
"I'll be careful," Ryan promised as he and Luke started for the trees. Once they were out of earshot, Ryan grabbed Luke's arm. "Give me two minutes, then go around and call out to him like you did last night," he said quietly. "Have the gun ready."
"What's going on?"
"I don't think he's talking to himself," Ryan said.
Luke nodded, frowning. "Okay."
The split up, and Luke kept an eye on his watch. When two minutes passed, he walked up to the trees. "Hey, Zach? We're just about ready to go, man."
The other voice went silent, and there were sounds of branches moving as Zach appeared. "No problem, man, let's go," he said.
Luke nodded, and nervously glanced back at the trees when he heard the rustling stop abruptly, followed by more voices, then a shout.
He broke into a run when he heard the gunshots.
~~~~
Ryan was watching closely, and sure enough a man with tattoos on his arms emerged from the cluster of trees shortly after Luke called out. "Hey there," Ryan said, standing and raising his gun.
The man stopped short, and lifted his rifle to aim at Ryan's chest. "Looks like you're out gunned."
"And you're out manned," Ryan countered. "Because unless Zach's a really good actor, you're on your own."
The other man smirked. "Don't be so sure," he said.
A branch snapped behind Ryan and he started to turn only to hear a gunshot and feel a seering pain in his leg. He was alreayd going down when he faced the first man again just in time for the trigger on the rifle to be pulled.
~~~~
Summer had just finished handing Jessie her half an orange, and saw Luke and Zach standing just outside the stand of trees, when she heard the gunshot. She immediately looked around for Ryan, and saw Alex getting ready to shoot. "Everyone in the trucks!" Summer yelled, grabbing Josh and watching Kirsten grab Marnie. They strapped the littlest ones in, then made sure Jessie and Kaitlin were in and safe. More gunshots rang out, sounding like Ryan's pistol, Luke's rifle plus at least two other guns, and Summer frantically turned towards the trees again, noting that Zach and Luke were gone now, and Alex looked torn between going and staying.
"Alex, stay here!" Kirsten ordered. "We need one of our shooters here."
Alex nodded, but kept her gun at ready. "Right," she agreed, shaking slightly. When a trio of figures appeared out of the trees on the side towards the road, Alex steeled herself. "Get in the trucks and get ready to run," she said, lifting to aim. But when she looked through the scope, she realized who it was. "Oh shit," she said, shock and horror in her voice.
"What?" Summer asked.
Alex turned and shoved Summer into the Rover. "Kirsten! Get it started and go! We'll catch up!" Alex yelled as she climbed into the rover, started the engine, and quickly did a u-turn to meet up with Luke and Zach, who were supporting the weight of an injured Ryan.
"Ryan!" Summer screamed as the rover came to a stop, throwing open the door and scrambling out to quickly check for a pulse. "Get him in," she said when she found it, and Zach hopped into the backseat and slid his arms around Ryan's chest to pull him across the seats, while Alex hopped into the passenger seat and Luke got behind the wheel. Once Summer had gotten in back and slammed the door closed, Luke made a u-turn and took off to follow Kirsten and the kids.
"How is he?" Luke asked, his voice panicked.
"I don't know," Summer said, frantically tearing Ryan's shirt open to reveal the gaping hole in his shoulder.
"He was hit in the leg, too," Luke said.
Summer didn't hesitate, tearing the sleeve off the hoodie and pressing it against Ryan's shoulder wound. "Hold that!" she told Zach, who complied, looking pale and shocked. Then she turned her attention to Ryan's leg, finding the place where the bullet had hit his leg about six inches above his knee and blood was oozing out. "Oh god... Alex, gimme your belt!" she ordered.
"What?"
"I need to cut off the blood flow before he bleeds to death! Give me your damn belt!"
Alex quickly complied, setting the rifle on the floor to tug her belt free, then passing it back to Summer and turning to watch the other girl lift Ryan's leg and wrap the belt around it tightly. "Summer?"
"We need to get him to a hospital, I can do more with the stuff there."
Alex grabbed for the radio. "Kirsten? Can you have Kaitlin find a nearest town for us?"
A moment later came the reply from Kaitlin. "Hartley's about 60 miles ahead of us, It's a pretty good size..."
"Good, it should have a hospital," Summer said, not looking up as she tore off her other sleeve to press it against Ryan's leg. "What the hell happened?" she demanded as she tore off her other sleeve to press it against Ryan's leg.
"I'm sorry..." Zach said. "He said no one would get hurt... he just... he thought you guys had a plan and he... he didn't think you'd let all of us come..."
"What did you do?" Alex demanded.
"I'm sorry..." Zach repeated. "I was suppose to get you guys to tell me where you're going, then find out the route and tell him... He said..."
"Who said?" Summer asked.
"Volchak," Zach said. "His name's Volchak."
TO BE CONTINUED...
I know that tourniquets aren't recommended, but if it's either put one on and risk causing damage to the leg, or not put one on and let Ryan bleed to death... lol... I swear, though, Ryan won't lose his leg... I'm not a doctor, so most of what I know is based off what I've read, so if I have anything glaringly wrong, just let me know and I'll edit to try and fix it.
Author: Mara
Rating: R (See warnings)
Warnings: Violence. Serious character injury. Lots of blood.
Summary: Most of the world is either dead or Crazy, but in California a group of survivors tries to find a way to avoid both fates.
Note: This would have been out Saturday, but I managed to hurt my wrist somehow, I could barely move it all day which made being on the computer at all, let alone typing for long periods of time, almost impossible. But my wrist is better now, so I'm writing again.
Note #2: There's a lot of action in the second half of this chapter, and I hope I pulled it off so that it seems realistic.
You stay the course you hold the line you keep it all together.
~ 'Push' by Sarah McLachlan
PART TEN
Early the next morning, Ryan was walking through the orange grove while everyone else finished up breakfast, and he heard familiar footsteps running up behind him and turned to see Summer there, still wearing his hoodie. "Hey," he said.
"So, we kinda got interrupted last night," Summer said. "You were about to say something..."
"I was?" Ryan said, turning away again.
"Don't pull that on me, Chino."
Ryan sighed and turned back to face her. "I really don't wanna be in the middle of another conversation that gets interrupted."
"The only interruption would be for an emergency," Summer said. "I told Alex I needed to talk to you, and told Zach I was going to use the bathroom. So, if he goes looking it'll be at the trees, and Alex will make sure no one panics when he doesn't find me."
"Sneaky."
"Desperate."
Ryan smiled and shrugged. "I don't know if it's right for us to be trying to... be anything right now. I mean, I want to work things out, and I want... I want to be with you, but I think that needs to be on hold until we get to the mountains. I don't think we need the distraction."
Summer nodded, biting her lip. "Okay," she said quietly.
"Don't hate me for this," Ryan asked.
"No, you're right," Summer replied. "Just... I want you to know, I care about you a lot."
"I care about you a lot, too. But we... we need to focus on the group."
"Yeah."
"And... maybe I'm just being jealous, but... I want you to be careful around Zach. And... and don't leave him alone with any of the kids or with Kirsten."
"Ryan..."
"I know he's your friend, but last night... I just don't trust him, and I don't want anyone to get hurt. So please, just... be careful."
"I will," Summer promised. "We all should have believed you about Oliver, but we didn't and look what happened? So, if you tell me that you really don't trust Zach, I'm gonna listen this time."
Ryan nodded. "Thanks. Luke knows how I feel, and he's keeping an eye out, so if anything strange happens, you can tell him or me."
"Okay," Summer agreed. "You'll be careful, too, right?"
"Always," Ryan promised. He leaned forward and kissed her cheek. "Don't worry, Sum, I'm gonna take care of everyone. And once we're on the mountain, you and me can... we can work on figuring things out."
"I'd like that."
Ryan smiled and tucked a stray strand of her hair back behind her ear. "So would I," he agreed. "But for now, let's get back to the others, have some breakfast, then get back on the road."
"Wait," Summer said, grabbing more oranges and stuffing them into the pockets of the hoodie. "So we don't deplete our stash."
"I knew there was a reason I liked you."
"All you men ever think about is a girl's brains," Summer replied with a soft smile, remembering an identical comment a few days before.
"Well, there are other things I appreciate," Ryan teased as they started back towards the others. As they emerged from the grove, Summer ran ahead to start getting the oranges cut for the kids, while Ryan headed for Kirsten, who was rearranging things in the SUV, and leaned in close. "Be careful around Zach, okay?" he said. "Just... don't be alone with him. If I'm not here, then stay close to Luke or Alex."
"What's going on?" Kirsten asked.
"I don't know yet," Ryan said. "But I'd feel better if you stayed away from him as much as possible."
"I will," Kirsten promised.
Luke came over then and caught Ryan's arm. "Zach went to the bathroom, and he's been gone a long time," he said. "I went over there, and I thought I heard voices again."
Ryan swore under his breath. "Kirsten get everyone loaded up."
"Ryan..."
"I'll be careful," Ryan promised as he and Luke started for the trees. Once they were out of earshot, Ryan grabbed Luke's arm. "Give me two minutes, then go around and call out to him like you did last night," he said quietly. "Have the gun ready."
"What's going on?"
"I don't think he's talking to himself," Ryan said.
Luke nodded, frowning. "Okay."
The split up, and Luke kept an eye on his watch. When two minutes passed, he walked up to the trees. "Hey, Zach? We're just about ready to go, man."
The other voice went silent, and there were sounds of branches moving as Zach appeared. "No problem, man, let's go," he said.
Luke nodded, and nervously glanced back at the trees when he heard the rustling stop abruptly, followed by more voices, then a shout.
He broke into a run when he heard the gunshots.
~~~~
Ryan was watching closely, and sure enough a man with tattoos on his arms emerged from the cluster of trees shortly after Luke called out. "Hey there," Ryan said, standing and raising his gun.
The man stopped short, and lifted his rifle to aim at Ryan's chest. "Looks like you're out gunned."
"And you're out manned," Ryan countered. "Because unless Zach's a really good actor, you're on your own."
The other man smirked. "Don't be so sure," he said.
A branch snapped behind Ryan and he started to turn only to hear a gunshot and feel a seering pain in his leg. He was alreayd going down when he faced the first man again just in time for the trigger on the rifle to be pulled.
~~~~
Summer had just finished handing Jessie her half an orange, and saw Luke and Zach standing just outside the stand of trees, when she heard the gunshot. She immediately looked around for Ryan, and saw Alex getting ready to shoot. "Everyone in the trucks!" Summer yelled, grabbing Josh and watching Kirsten grab Marnie. They strapped the littlest ones in, then made sure Jessie and Kaitlin were in and safe. More gunshots rang out, sounding like Ryan's pistol, Luke's rifle plus at least two other guns, and Summer frantically turned towards the trees again, noting that Zach and Luke were gone now, and Alex looked torn between going and staying.
"Alex, stay here!" Kirsten ordered. "We need one of our shooters here."
Alex nodded, but kept her gun at ready. "Right," she agreed, shaking slightly. When a trio of figures appeared out of the trees on the side towards the road, Alex steeled herself. "Get in the trucks and get ready to run," she said, lifting to aim. But when she looked through the scope, she realized who it was. "Oh shit," she said, shock and horror in her voice.
"What?" Summer asked.
Alex turned and shoved Summer into the Rover. "Kirsten! Get it started and go! We'll catch up!" Alex yelled as she climbed into the rover, started the engine, and quickly did a u-turn to meet up with Luke and Zach, who were supporting the weight of an injured Ryan.
"Ryan!" Summer screamed as the rover came to a stop, throwing open the door and scrambling out to quickly check for a pulse. "Get him in," she said when she found it, and Zach hopped into the backseat and slid his arms around Ryan's chest to pull him across the seats, while Alex hopped into the passenger seat and Luke got behind the wheel. Once Summer had gotten in back and slammed the door closed, Luke made a u-turn and took off to follow Kirsten and the kids.
"How is he?" Luke asked, his voice panicked.
"I don't know," Summer said, frantically tearing Ryan's shirt open to reveal the gaping hole in his shoulder.
"He was hit in the leg, too," Luke said.
Summer didn't hesitate, tearing the sleeve off the hoodie and pressing it against Ryan's shoulder wound. "Hold that!" she told Zach, who complied, looking pale and shocked. Then she turned her attention to Ryan's leg, finding the place where the bullet had hit his leg about six inches above his knee and blood was oozing out. "Oh god... Alex, gimme your belt!" she ordered.
"What?"
"I need to cut off the blood flow before he bleeds to death! Give me your damn belt!"
Alex quickly complied, setting the rifle on the floor to tug her belt free, then passing it back to Summer and turning to watch the other girl lift Ryan's leg and wrap the belt around it tightly. "Summer?"
"We need to get him to a hospital, I can do more with the stuff there."
Alex grabbed for the radio. "Kirsten? Can you have Kaitlin find a nearest town for us?"
A moment later came the reply from Kaitlin. "Hartley's about 60 miles ahead of us, It's a pretty good size..."
"Good, it should have a hospital," Summer said, not looking up as she tore off her other sleeve to press it against Ryan's leg. "What the hell happened?" she demanded as she tore off her other sleeve to press it against Ryan's leg.
"I'm sorry..." Zach said. "He said no one would get hurt... he just... he thought you guys had a plan and he... he didn't think you'd let all of us come..."
"What did you do?" Alex demanded.
"I'm sorry..." Zach repeated. "I was suppose to get you guys to tell me where you're going, then find out the route and tell him... He said..."
"Who said?" Summer asked.
"Volchak," Zach said. "His name's Volchak."
TO BE CONTINUED...
I know that tourniquets aren't recommended, but if it's either put one on and risk causing damage to the leg, or not put one on and let Ryan bleed to death... lol... I swear, though, Ryan won't lose his leg... I'm not a doctor, so most of what I know is based off what I've read, so if I have anything glaringly wrong, just let me know and I'll edit to try and fix it.
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WOW !!!!!!!!!
Date: 2006-10-23 06:57 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-10-23 02:36 pm (UTC)Wow... Never thought you'd be shooting Ryan twice. Maybe once but twice? Evil. Nice to see that Ryan and Summer's relationship is healing nicely. And Zach... I can't call him idiot or moron because that would offend other idiots and morons. lol
Hoping to read next one soon. You left me to worry, even though I know you wouldn't kill Ryan. Right?
no subject
Date: 2006-10-23 07:13 pm (UTC)I'm working on Part 11 now, and don't worry, I promise, Ryan won't die...
no subject
Date: 2006-10-23 02:45 pm (UTC)BTW, do you mind if I 'friended' you? I would really like that.
no subject
Date: 2006-10-23 07:17 pm (UTC)You'll see next chapter who steps up to take charge, and actually in some ways multiple people are in charge... it depends on the moment... Volchak's accomplice is someone that people only saw on the show in 1 episode, way abck in Season One... lol
I can't promise no limp, I can promise he won't lose his leg, and that he'll be able to walk on it once it heals, but I can't promise no limp... at the veyr leats he'll limp until it heals because, hello, he was shot... lol
No, I don't mind at all! Friend away! lol... makes me giddy that people wanna friend me! lol
no subject
Date: 2006-10-23 07:49 pm (UTC)I'm glad he can walk when he's better. Ryan just has to be OK.
And friended you, thanks.
no subject
Date: 2006-10-23 07:58 pm (UTC)At the rate I'm going, Part 11 will be out in a couple hours... so you shouldn't have to wait too long... lol
no subject
Date: 2006-10-23 08:02 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-10-23 08:27 pm (UTC)Sorry to hear of the injury, glad you are feeling better.
no subject
Date: 2006-10-23 09:29 pm (UTC)I'm looking forward to seeing the others pull together to take care of Ryan. And I haven't forgotten about the crazies running amok either. Loving this fic.
no subject
Date: 2006-10-23 09:59 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-10-24 10:59 pm (UTC)In their case, it would be the only beneficial thing.They could be good for.