With A Whimper (Part Thirteen)
Oct. 28th, 2006 04:21 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
Title: With A Whimper (Part Thirteen)
Author: Mara
Rating: R
Warnings: Violence, death, language, blood. Did I mention violence and death? And Blood? lol
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.
You're wrong if you think that I'll be just like you.
~ 'Just Like You' by Three Days Grace
PART THIRTEEN

The next morning, Ryan woke to find his room empty except for a sleeping Summer, and he used his good arm to push himself upright. He yanked back the covers to take a look at his leg, whincing at how pale his skin looked, and wiggled his toes experimentally. He let out a relieved breath when they moved, even if it was a little sluggishly. Taking a deep, steadying breath, Ryan swung his legs off the side of the bed, gasping at the pain that shot through his leg.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Summer said as she woke up.
"Gotta get up if I wanna be able to walk out of here tomorrow..."
"You are so not walking out of here," Summer replied. "We're gonna wheel the bed out to the SUV, then we're going to lift the whole mattress, with you on it, and pull it into the SUV. You will not be walking on that leg anytime soon."
"Summer, come on, I..."
"No," Summer insisted. "Lay back down, and rest."
"No," Ryan countered. "I want to get up. I want to check on the kids, and..."
"And you are going to wait," Summer said.
"No, I'm not."
"Chino, lay back down, now."
"No," Ryan repeated, trying to stand only to have his injured leg buckle under the weight. "Shit!"
"Get it?" Summer snapped. "You are hurt. Bad."
"I'm used to pain," Ryan replied, leaning against the bed to steady himself. "And where the hell are my clothes?"
"In your bag in the SUV," Summer replied sweetly.
"Okay, I'll just go get them," Ryan said, grimacing as he awkwardly hopped towards the door in just his boxers.
"You look like an idiot," Luke said as he walked in.
"Thanks, I appreciate it," Ryan replied with a glare.
"Get back in bed," Luke continued.
"No," Ryan said. "How about you go get me some clothes?"
"No," Summer said.
"Compromise? I get clothes, I'll stay in bed for a little while longer?"
"You don't get up until I say you can," Summer said.
"Tomorrow morning," Ryan countered. "I'll use crutches, I'll..."
"With you're bad shoulder?"
Ryan sighed. "I'll stay in bed, or at least laying down, until we get to the cabin," he offered.
"Okay," Summer agreed. "But you're wearing a pair of scrub pants with one leg cut so I can check on your leg. And you're wearing a wifebeater so I can check on your shoulder."
"Deal," Ryan said. "As long as I'm not in my underwear anymore."
"Count yourself lucky," Luke said. "There was discussion of stripping you entirely, but I argued in favor of leaving you some dignity."
Ryan snorted. "Thanks for that," he said.
"Don't thank me," Luke said. "I was saving myself."
Ryan snorted and turned to go back to bed, letting Luke and Summer help him. "I better get clothes soon," he said.
"As soon as possible," Summer said.
~~~~
In a warehouse closer to the interstate, Volchak sat in a chair while Lindsay put a fresh bandage on his arm. "You know I don't know what I'm doing," she told him again. "All I know is that it's not bleeding and doesn't look infected."
"Good enough," Volchak replied. "Donnie gonna live?"
Lindsay sighed and glanced over at the other boy, shrugging. "It was a flesh wound, and it's stopped bleeding too. So... I guess."
"He better," Volchak said, glaring.
"Or what? You'll shoot me?" Lindsay asked, getting up and walking away as she tried to wipe her hands clean. "I'm sure the other guys'll love you killing the only girl who isn't strictly your property."
"Screw them," Donnie said.
"Asshole," Lindsay muttered, glancing up as the door opened, letting the other three walk in.
"Area's clear," Z reported as he and Casey stayed by Volchak, their companion walking over to talk quietly to Lindsay. "But Casey saw movement in the hospital, just like he suggested," he added, gesturing across the room.
"It was the little rich kids," Casey said. "Zach's dark haired girl and the blonde woman were by the window, and I could see the asshole who shot you in a bed."
"We'll get him to take the little dark haired slut out," Volchak said. "Then good ol' Ryan will kill him, and his group will think he's lost it... they'll be ripe for the pickings."
"And what's little miss perfect gonna say about all this?" Casey asked, sneering at Lindsay as the other girl smiled at the man in front of her.
"Who cares? Z and Donnie can have her," Volchak said with a grin. "They can have the other girls from that group too, even the old one. Z said he liked her back when she visited Ryan in Juvie, she can be his."
"Hell yeah," Z said. "One hot little bitch. Wouldn't give me the time of day then, but... she will."
~~~~
Summer got Ryan clothes, then made the mistake of leaving him alone for 5 minutes to go wash her face, assuming he'd keep their deal. He didn't though, and the second Ryan knew she was gone he was on his feet, biting his lip to keep from crying out in pain. He managed to get into the hall, and grinned when he found a set of crutches waiting on a bed along with other supplies. "Thank you for being prepared," he mumbled as he grabbed one and slid it under his good arm, leaning on that side, even though it threw him slightly off balance. He bumped into the bed, dislodging a sheet, and spotted his gun and it's holster. He stared at it for a minute, then slowly picked it up and check to see if it was loaded.
After that, it didn't take long to find the room that they had barricaded Zach in, and Ryan slid the pole that jammed the doors out of the handles, setting it aside before pushing the door open and walking in. "Hey there, Zach," he said, catching the boys attention.
"Ryan," Zach repleid. "Thank god you're okay... I swear, I never meant for you to get hurt, for anyone to get..."
"Shut up," Ryan said, raising the gun and pointing it at Zach's head. "Why the hell did you do it?"
"I didn't mean..."
"Stop feeding me that line of bullshit, and tell me the truth," Ryan said.
"Summer. I wanted Summer," Zach said. "Volchak said that when our groups merged, and he was in charge, I could have her..."
"She's not a piece of property!" Ryan said, turning of the safety on the gun.
"Please... please..." Zach said, stepping back and lifting his hands. "You... you're not a killer..."
"Oh yeah? You wanna risk that?" Ryan said, his fingering wrapping around the trigger. "Tell me what his plan is?"
"Ryan!" Summer called from down the hall, angry.
"He knows," Zach said.
"Knows what?" Ryan replied, just as Summer and Luke burst into the room.
"Chino, put it down man..." Luke said.
"Knows what?" Ryan repeated, ignoring them.
"That you're Trey's little brother," Zach said. "He knows Trey would ditch him for you."
"Trey?" Ryan questioned, his finger unconscious tightening around the trigger.
"Ryan!" Summer screamed.
~~~~
Volchak swore as he pulled on his jacket and it tugged at the bandages on his arm. "I'm gonna kill that fucking asshole," he said.
"Yeah, he shot you back, he's such an asshole," Lindsay muttered under her breath across the room as she spread her cards across the floor. Across from her, Trey chuckled and tossed his cards down.
"You win again," he said. "How the hell do you keep winning, Linds? Even when I count cards I lose."
"I must be better at counting cards than you, then," Lindsay replied with a smile. She leaned forward. "Is it wrong that I wish this guy or his friends had finished the job?" she asked, tilting her heads towards a still ranting Volchak.
"Hell no," Trey said. "The guy likes killing way too much. Him, Donnie, Z, and Casey could all die and I'd be cool with it."
"Then what would we do?" Lindsay replied.
"Go back to rich boy's house and live it up," Trey said. "See if we could get that jacuzzi goin'... enjoy the fine wine..."
Lindsay laughed softly. "And when the... the others... over ran us?"
"Die in a blaze of glory, baby," Trey said. "Light up the night sky in a gigantic lunatic bonfire."
"You don't mean that," Lindsay said.
"Nah," Trey agreed. "But I'd fight to the end. Same as my brother probably did."
"You miss him, huh?"
"Ry would have beaten Volchak into the ground by now. And he would have a real plan, not just follow a bunch of people and shoot one of 'em," Trey said.
Back across the room, Donnie was watching Trey and Lindsay while Volchak ranted. "He's gonna turn against us, man," he said, nodding towards Trey. "Especially if he finds out it was his little brother we shot."
"You keep your fucking mouth shut and he won't find out," Volchak replied. "Not until after he's set himself up to get killed by little brother."
"You really think he'll do it?" Z asked.
"Hell yeah," Volchak said with a dark chuckle as he watched Trey and Lindsay talk with their heads close together. "Once we make it clear that if he doesn't? All three of us take a turn at little miss perfect."
TO BE CONTINUED...
Author: Mara
Rating: R
Warnings: Violence, death, language, blood. Did I mention violence and death? And Blood? lol
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.
You're wrong if you think that I'll be just like you.
~ 'Just Like You' by Three Days Grace
PART THIRTEEN

The next morning, Ryan woke to find his room empty except for a sleeping Summer, and he used his good arm to push himself upright. He yanked back the covers to take a look at his leg, whincing at how pale his skin looked, and wiggled his toes experimentally. He let out a relieved breath when they moved, even if it was a little sluggishly. Taking a deep, steadying breath, Ryan swung his legs off the side of the bed, gasping at the pain that shot through his leg.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Summer said as she woke up.
"Gotta get up if I wanna be able to walk out of here tomorrow..."
"You are so not walking out of here," Summer replied. "We're gonna wheel the bed out to the SUV, then we're going to lift the whole mattress, with you on it, and pull it into the SUV. You will not be walking on that leg anytime soon."
"Summer, come on, I..."
"No," Summer insisted. "Lay back down, and rest."
"No," Ryan countered. "I want to get up. I want to check on the kids, and..."
"And you are going to wait," Summer said.
"No, I'm not."
"Chino, lay back down, now."
"No," Ryan repeated, trying to stand only to have his injured leg buckle under the weight. "Shit!"
"Get it?" Summer snapped. "You are hurt. Bad."
"I'm used to pain," Ryan replied, leaning against the bed to steady himself. "And where the hell are my clothes?"
"In your bag in the SUV," Summer replied sweetly.
"Okay, I'll just go get them," Ryan said, grimacing as he awkwardly hopped towards the door in just his boxers.
"You look like an idiot," Luke said as he walked in.
"Thanks, I appreciate it," Ryan replied with a glare.
"Get back in bed," Luke continued.
"No," Ryan said. "How about you go get me some clothes?"
"No," Summer said.
"Compromise? I get clothes, I'll stay in bed for a little while longer?"
"You don't get up until I say you can," Summer said.
"Tomorrow morning," Ryan countered. "I'll use crutches, I'll..."
"With you're bad shoulder?"
Ryan sighed. "I'll stay in bed, or at least laying down, until we get to the cabin," he offered.
"Okay," Summer agreed. "But you're wearing a pair of scrub pants with one leg cut so I can check on your leg. And you're wearing a wifebeater so I can check on your shoulder."
"Deal," Ryan said. "As long as I'm not in my underwear anymore."
"Count yourself lucky," Luke said. "There was discussion of stripping you entirely, but I argued in favor of leaving you some dignity."
Ryan snorted. "Thanks for that," he said.
"Don't thank me," Luke said. "I was saving myself."
Ryan snorted and turned to go back to bed, letting Luke and Summer help him. "I better get clothes soon," he said.
"As soon as possible," Summer said.
~~~~
In a warehouse closer to the interstate, Volchak sat in a chair while Lindsay put a fresh bandage on his arm. "You know I don't know what I'm doing," she told him again. "All I know is that it's not bleeding and doesn't look infected."
"Good enough," Volchak replied. "Donnie gonna live?"
Lindsay sighed and glanced over at the other boy, shrugging. "It was a flesh wound, and it's stopped bleeding too. So... I guess."
"He better," Volchak said, glaring.
"Or what? You'll shoot me?" Lindsay asked, getting up and walking away as she tried to wipe her hands clean. "I'm sure the other guys'll love you killing the only girl who isn't strictly your property."
"Screw them," Donnie said.
"Asshole," Lindsay muttered, glancing up as the door opened, letting the other three walk in.
"Area's clear," Z reported as he and Casey stayed by Volchak, their companion walking over to talk quietly to Lindsay. "But Casey saw movement in the hospital, just like he suggested," he added, gesturing across the room.
"It was the little rich kids," Casey said. "Zach's dark haired girl and the blonde woman were by the window, and I could see the asshole who shot you in a bed."
"We'll get him to take the little dark haired slut out," Volchak said. "Then good ol' Ryan will kill him, and his group will think he's lost it... they'll be ripe for the pickings."
"And what's little miss perfect gonna say about all this?" Casey asked, sneering at Lindsay as the other girl smiled at the man in front of her.
"Who cares? Z and Donnie can have her," Volchak said with a grin. "They can have the other girls from that group too, even the old one. Z said he liked her back when she visited Ryan in Juvie, she can be his."
"Hell yeah," Z said. "One hot little bitch. Wouldn't give me the time of day then, but... she will."
~~~~
Summer got Ryan clothes, then made the mistake of leaving him alone for 5 minutes to go wash her face, assuming he'd keep their deal. He didn't though, and the second Ryan knew she was gone he was on his feet, biting his lip to keep from crying out in pain. He managed to get into the hall, and grinned when he found a set of crutches waiting on a bed along with other supplies. "Thank you for being prepared," he mumbled as he grabbed one and slid it under his good arm, leaning on that side, even though it threw him slightly off balance. He bumped into the bed, dislodging a sheet, and spotted his gun and it's holster. He stared at it for a minute, then slowly picked it up and check to see if it was loaded.
After that, it didn't take long to find the room that they had barricaded Zach in, and Ryan slid the pole that jammed the doors out of the handles, setting it aside before pushing the door open and walking in. "Hey there, Zach," he said, catching the boys attention.
"Ryan," Zach repleid. "Thank god you're okay... I swear, I never meant for you to get hurt, for anyone to get..."
"Shut up," Ryan said, raising the gun and pointing it at Zach's head. "Why the hell did you do it?"
"I didn't mean..."
"Stop feeding me that line of bullshit, and tell me the truth," Ryan said.
"Summer. I wanted Summer," Zach said. "Volchak said that when our groups merged, and he was in charge, I could have her..."
"She's not a piece of property!" Ryan said, turning of the safety on the gun.
"Please... please..." Zach said, stepping back and lifting his hands. "You... you're not a killer..."
"Oh yeah? You wanna risk that?" Ryan said, his fingering wrapping around the trigger. "Tell me what his plan is?"
"Ryan!" Summer called from down the hall, angry.
"He knows," Zach said.
"Knows what?" Ryan replied, just as Summer and Luke burst into the room.
"Chino, put it down man..." Luke said.
"Knows what?" Ryan repeated, ignoring them.
"That you're Trey's little brother," Zach said. "He knows Trey would ditch him for you."
"Trey?" Ryan questioned, his finger unconscious tightening around the trigger.
"Ryan!" Summer screamed.
~~~~
Volchak swore as he pulled on his jacket and it tugged at the bandages on his arm. "I'm gonna kill that fucking asshole," he said.
"Yeah, he shot you back, he's such an asshole," Lindsay muttered under her breath across the room as she spread her cards across the floor. Across from her, Trey chuckled and tossed his cards down.
"You win again," he said. "How the hell do you keep winning, Linds? Even when I count cards I lose."
"I must be better at counting cards than you, then," Lindsay replied with a smile. She leaned forward. "Is it wrong that I wish this guy or his friends had finished the job?" she asked, tilting her heads towards a still ranting Volchak.
"Hell no," Trey said. "The guy likes killing way too much. Him, Donnie, Z, and Casey could all die and I'd be cool with it."
"Then what would we do?" Lindsay replied.
"Go back to rich boy's house and live it up," Trey said. "See if we could get that jacuzzi goin'... enjoy the fine wine..."
Lindsay laughed softly. "And when the... the others... over ran us?"
"Die in a blaze of glory, baby," Trey said. "Light up the night sky in a gigantic lunatic bonfire."
"You don't mean that," Lindsay said.
"Nah," Trey agreed. "But I'd fight to the end. Same as my brother probably did."
"You miss him, huh?"
"Ry would have beaten Volchak into the ground by now. And he would have a real plan, not just follow a bunch of people and shoot one of 'em," Trey said.
Back across the room, Donnie was watching Trey and Lindsay while Volchak ranted. "He's gonna turn against us, man," he said, nodding towards Trey. "Especially if he finds out it was his little brother we shot."
"You keep your fucking mouth shut and he won't find out," Volchak replied. "Not until after he's set himself up to get killed by little brother."
"You really think he'll do it?" Z asked.
"Hell yeah," Volchak said with a dark chuckle as he watched Trey and Lindsay talk with their heads close together. "Once we make it clear that if he doesn't? All three of us take a turn at little miss perfect."
TO BE CONTINUED...
no subject
Date: 2006-10-29 02:25 am (UTC)I noticed Luke's reference to the boxers here- poor Ryan, but it's a good thing Luke let him keep his underwear- and his dignity.
I'm glad to see you aren't going to let Ryan compromise himself if the others can help it and I'm interested to see how Kirsten fits into that scheme along with how the group perceives Zach and responds to him now.
You must be building to a point where Ryan recognizes Trey or hears his name and learns he's still alive, or Trey discovers a brain cell after hearing Ryan's name in his own posse and starts to wonder.
Lots of possibilities...