Left 2 Die: Part 4
Left 2 Die: Part 4
Luke’s arm had all but completely healed by their fifth day in the house, but he had inevitably developed a foul mood. It became even worse than when he had been ignoring Reid. As subtly as he tried to bring up the possibility of traveling together, or even try to divulge where the doctor was going next, he would be immediately shot down. This made Luke more than just a little irritable. Two words could not be passed between them without insults. By the morning of the fifth day he couldn’t even remember why he wanted the doctor to travel with him in the first place. He awoke to sounds of clattering and breaking china.
The sky against the window was gray and the house felt oppressive in its darkness. The old floorboards were covered with dust and Luke’s footsteps were easy to mask. At the top of the stairs he heard muffled grunts and his fears were lifted for the moment. The doctor’s voice was low, but traveled faintly through the lonely house. Luke debated with himself about getting closer to eavesdrop like some creepy teenager, but quickly lost that battle. Rubbing the sleep from his eyes he stifled a yawn as he approached the wall that separated the living room from the kitchen. The sounds of clinking glass didn’t bode well for the good china, and Luke wondered what he was doing so early in the morning. It was dumped in the sink from the sounds of it, and then it seemed the doctor was rifling through the cupboards. The sounds of cans hitting the counter, and boxes being shaken filled the air and it was a wonder he hadn’t broken anything else.
Luke froze as the doctor approached coming out of the kitchen. The man jumped out of his skin as he stepped through the doorway and caught Luke’s shadowy form in the corner of his eye.
“What the hell is the matter with you? You scared the crap out of me!” Flat up against the opposite wall he pressed a hand over his heart and looked severely frightened. Luke couldn’t help but laugh a little bit.
“Are you ok?”
“Of course I am.” He grabbed his medical bag and returned to the kitchen, Luke on his heels. Food, medicines, plastic cups, clothes and other things were laid out on the table in two different piles. Luke’s smile disappeared.
“Were you planning on leaving?” Luke questioned angrily.
“Scared I wasn’t going to say goodbye?” The doctor shot back.
“Wouldn’t be the first time,” Reid didn’t respond, just went back to his task. He started packing things into his medical bag, provisions for his own journey. Luke saw his own backpack sitting in one of the chairs. The other pile was for him. Luke didn’t touch his backpack his mind racing with ways of making the doctor reconsider. He had missed the doctor’s demand, lost in his own mind.
“What?”
“I said sit down. Last check up. I just want to see your gunshot wound.”
“If it’s gangrene would you stick around?” Reid eyed him smugly.
“If it was I wouldn’t be a good doctor. It should be healing just fine, although you’ll have a nasty scar.” He gently rolled the bandages away. He had a softer touch than his attitude, and again Luke felt those little bugs in his stomach. “The bullet was still lodged in your bone when I found you; tore some ligament. I can’t believe you still used it when we fought those zombies.”
“Is that a compliment, Doctor?” He actually laughed warmly, and Luke thought there was a hint of sadness in his voice. He eyed the doctor, biting his lip as an idea came to him. “I fought the zombies; you cowered in the back. Ouch!”
“I’m sorry, what were you saying?” The doctor had a piece of his skin between his fingers, pinching him quiet. He shut up, thinking it better to wait until he was done to shoot his mouth off. The bandages came off. Luke felt the cold air hit the exposed skin and it sent a shiver up his arm, but the pain was minimal. It hurt to carry things with that arm, but even the stiffness was starting to go away. Reid passed his thumb over the wound, gently feeling the texture of the tissue, and making Luke squirm uncomfortably, as the shivers went through every part of his body. Reid suddenly exclaimed, “I now discharge you from my care.” He went to his things once again, double-checking all the little compartments in his bag. Luke had a sinking feeling in his stomach. He was being abandoned again.
“This is it Mr. Snyder. Don’t cry on me now.” Reid joked just making Luke more determined to wipe the smug look off his face.
“Wait.” Luke jumped up rounding the table and making Reid side step the crazed blond.
“Now Mr. Snyder,”
“You can’t go yet.”
“You’re not telling me what to do.”
“So you’re going to throw a grenade in my face?”
“If I had another I would certainly consider it.”
“If you leave you’re going to get yourself killed. You need me.” Luke had failed to see the doctor intimidated but with the way he had backed away from his advances Luke knew he had the upper hand.
“I’ll take my chances.”
“You’re acting like an idiot.” Luke had him backed up to the wall poking a finger in his chest. He could see rage building up behind those pale eyes. Reid caught his wrist pushing him back with more force than Luke had anticipated. He stumbled back into the table.
“I’m not taking you with me and that’s final!” Reid took his things. “Good bye Mr. Snyder and good luck with your boyfriend.” He rushed out of the room, but Luke wasn’t done.
“Wait, wait ,wait!” Luke jumped in front of him, bracing himself for another shove.
“Move out of the way, Mr. Snyder.”
“Not until you hear me out.”
“I don’t need to do anything, but leave.”
“At least let me show you how to use a firearm. You are going to weigh on my conscience.” Reid’s eyes went wide. “I feel responsible for you. If I let you go out there without being able to at least defend yourself what kind of NRA member would I be?” Luke sneered as he could see that below the surface Reid was bubbling with rage. He apparently didn’t like his own words thrown back at him. It was even worse when they were true. For a second they didn’t do anything else than just stand there. Reid dropped his pack, his eyes dangerous.
“Now I’m hungry!” Reid whipped around heading for the kitchen. “I hope you’re happy.” Luke thought his heart would burst out of his chest, and he counted a couple of minutes to himself. When he returned to the kitchen the doctor was angrily shoveling down a box of Lucky Charms. He had to check himself and not laugh at the sight, suddenly feeling better just knowing he would have at least another afternoon with the doctor. “Don’t just stare at me. Go on, what are you going to teach me?” Luke went blank as to exactly what he was going to do, and it showed on his wary face. The doctor stopped with a handful of balloons, and rainbows in his hand, “Well?”
Luke panicked a little. “Just um…. Hold on one second.” He rushed out the screen door and into the heavily wooded backyard, images of old westerns Noah had showed him flashing though his head. Next to the door trash bags that had been gathering overgrown weeds caught his attention. One was full of cans waiting to be recycled. He took the bag over to the edge of the property.
At one point a prominent fence would have roped off the property, but it seemed the owners had never found it all that useful. It was in ruins, posts fallen and beginning to be overgrown. A part of the fence that ran between two old trees looked like a good enough spot. He finished placing five cans along the fence just as the rustling of leaves indicated the doctor had decided to join him outside.
“You have got to be kidding me?” Luke spared him a glance.
“Where are the guns?”
Reid was a little slack jawed looking at the shooting range set up for him. “They’re in the kitchen.” Luke hadn’t seen them. Returning to the dim room it took him a second or two to actually spot them. The automatic sat across the chair where his backpack sat and the pistol was snug in the first zipped up pocket. He sighed; Reid was either really noble or really stupid. He rounded on the doctor as he stepped outside.
“You know for a pessimist you are stupidly optimistic about this situation.”
“This coming from you?”
Luke checked the clip in the gun, and aimed. “Why would you get ready to leave without a gun? Or is it just your giant ego that makes you think you could charm a zombie into submission.” He shot out all the cans in rapid succession, smiling widely as he turned to face the doctor. He was not as impressed.
“Well my charm has worked on a lot of brain dead individuals. Present company included of course.” He took the gun from Luke, turning it around in his hands as if it was a strange alien device. “I thought they would be of more use to you anyway.” Luke put up another set of cans. He turned around to see the doctor aiming the gun at him.
“Hey!”
Reid immediately dropped the gun. “Sorry,”
“First,” Luke picked it up off the ground handing it back at him. “Never, ever point a gun at a survivor.”
“Is that how you got shot?”
He looked away cryptically. “Essentially. Now aim for the cans.” Luke took a place a few steps behind the doctor scrutinizing his stance. Reid shuffled uncomfortably, clearly not sure what to do. He turned his body slightly holding the gun up with his prominent hand. He then hesitantly turned the gun sideways. Luke burst out laughing.
“What?!” Reid snarled.
“Nothing, I just didn’t think you were a gangster that’s all.”
“Well instruct me.”
Luke grabbed his shoulders and squared him. “Let’s try two hands to start off with, alright? Your left hand steadies your shot.” Standing beside Reid, he tried his best to let the doctor do it on his own, but it was frustrating. “Your thumb, move it up some. Don’t be so tense though.” He stepped back after Reid eyed the hand Luke had placed over his with annoyance. “Go on then!” He said crossing his arms. Reid took a deep breath, and squeezed the trigger. Somewhere behind the trees, leaves and brush were disturbed but the cans remained. Reid looked back at Luke, but Luke just waved his hand, “Again.”
This went on for the rest of the clip. Not one can had been shot down, but on the up side the doctor felt more comfortable with the gun. His arms were not bolted straight at the elbow anymore as if trying to keep the gun as far away from himself as possible. Luke showed him how to reload the pistol, and they started over.
Reid took a deep breath, “Should we be wasting ammo?” He shot missing again, and cursed softly.
“Ammo for that type of gun is not hard to find. The one for the M-16 I’m not so sure about.” Reid dropped his arms.
“I am not touching that gun.”
“Why not? The more guns you learn how to use the better it will be in the long run.” Reid turned back to the cans trying again. “Why are you so adamant on guns?”
“They were never on my bucket list.” He nicked the fence, and the reverberation on the old wood sent two cans toppling over. He smiled, “Two with one shot. Beat that John Wayne.” Luke just rolled his eyes. They were at it all afternoon, until Reid was at least able to get three out of five cans in rapid succession. Although there had been a large improvement from pacifist to trigger-happy red neck, Luke still didn’t think if it came down to it he would actually be able to pull the trigger on something that looked so human without some help. Reid sat down next to Luke on the ground, handing him back the gun, and wiping the sweat off his forehead.
“That was a lot more fun than I expected it to be.” He said with a carefree smile Luke liked.
“You should keep it.”
“It’s your gun.”
“Sure but I would rather keep the M16.” He smiled. “Plus you seemed scared of it. Do you still want to practice with it?” Reid took a look at his watch, and then glanced up at the sky.
“I really wanted to get an early start.”
“You never told me where you were going.”
“That was intentional Mr. Snyder. That way if I had picked up and left I wouldn’t have a kicked puppy following after me.”
“I don’t know why I’m still trying.” Luke burst and stood, returning to the kitchen. He shouted as he left, “Just leave. I’m not going to stop you.”
Luke’s arm had all but completely healed by their fifth day in the house, but he had inevitably developed a foul mood. It became even worse than when he had been ignoring Reid. As subtly as he tried to bring up the possibility of traveling together, or even try to divulge where the doctor was going next, he would be immediately shot down. This made Luke more than just a little irritable. Two words could not be passed between them without insults. By the morning of the fifth day he couldn’t even remember why he wanted the doctor to travel with him in the first place. He awoke to sounds of clattering and breaking china.
The sky against the window was gray and the house felt oppressive in its darkness. The old floorboards were covered with dust and Luke’s footsteps were easy to mask. At the top of the stairs he heard muffled grunts and his fears were lifted for the moment. The doctor’s voice was low, but traveled faintly through the lonely house. Luke debated with himself about getting closer to eavesdrop like some creepy teenager, but quickly lost that battle. Rubbing the sleep from his eyes he stifled a yawn as he approached the wall that separated the living room from the kitchen. The sounds of clinking glass didn’t bode well for the good china, and Luke wondered what he was doing so early in the morning. It was dumped in the sink from the sounds of it, and then it seemed the doctor was rifling through the cupboards. The sounds of cans hitting the counter, and boxes being shaken filled the air and it was a wonder he hadn’t broken anything else.
Luke froze as the doctor approached coming out of the kitchen. The man jumped out of his skin as he stepped through the doorway and caught Luke’s shadowy form in the corner of his eye.
“What the hell is the matter with you? You scared the crap out of me!” Flat up against the opposite wall he pressed a hand over his heart and looked severely frightened. Luke couldn’t help but laugh a little bit.
“Are you ok?”
“Of course I am.” He grabbed his medical bag and returned to the kitchen, Luke on his heels. Food, medicines, plastic cups, clothes and other things were laid out on the table in two different piles. Luke’s smile disappeared.
“Were you planning on leaving?” Luke questioned angrily.
“Scared I wasn’t going to say goodbye?” The doctor shot back.
“Wouldn’t be the first time,” Reid didn’t respond, just went back to his task. He started packing things into his medical bag, provisions for his own journey. Luke saw his own backpack sitting in one of the chairs. The other pile was for him. Luke didn’t touch his backpack his mind racing with ways of making the doctor reconsider. He had missed the doctor’s demand, lost in his own mind.
“What?”
“I said sit down. Last check up. I just want to see your gunshot wound.”
“If it’s gangrene would you stick around?” Reid eyed him smugly.
“If it was I wouldn’t be a good doctor. It should be healing just fine, although you’ll have a nasty scar.” He gently rolled the bandages away. He had a softer touch than his attitude, and again Luke felt those little bugs in his stomach. “The bullet was still lodged in your bone when I found you; tore some ligament. I can’t believe you still used it when we fought those zombies.”
“Is that a compliment, Doctor?” He actually laughed warmly, and Luke thought there was a hint of sadness in his voice. He eyed the doctor, biting his lip as an idea came to him. “I fought the zombies; you cowered in the back. Ouch!”
“I’m sorry, what were you saying?” The doctor had a piece of his skin between his fingers, pinching him quiet. He shut up, thinking it better to wait until he was done to shoot his mouth off. The bandages came off. Luke felt the cold air hit the exposed skin and it sent a shiver up his arm, but the pain was minimal. It hurt to carry things with that arm, but even the stiffness was starting to go away. Reid passed his thumb over the wound, gently feeling the texture of the tissue, and making Luke squirm uncomfortably, as the shivers went through every part of his body. Reid suddenly exclaimed, “I now discharge you from my care.” He went to his things once again, double-checking all the little compartments in his bag. Luke had a sinking feeling in his stomach. He was being abandoned again.
“This is it Mr. Snyder. Don’t cry on me now.” Reid joked just making Luke more determined to wipe the smug look off his face.
“Wait.” Luke jumped up rounding the table and making Reid side step the crazed blond.
“Now Mr. Snyder,”
“You can’t go yet.”
“You’re not telling me what to do.”
“So you’re going to throw a grenade in my face?”
“If I had another I would certainly consider it.”
“If you leave you’re going to get yourself killed. You need me.” Luke had failed to see the doctor intimidated but with the way he had backed away from his advances Luke knew he had the upper hand.
“I’ll take my chances.”
“You’re acting like an idiot.” Luke had him backed up to the wall poking a finger in his chest. He could see rage building up behind those pale eyes. Reid caught his wrist pushing him back with more force than Luke had anticipated. He stumbled back into the table.
“I’m not taking you with me and that’s final!” Reid took his things. “Good bye Mr. Snyder and good luck with your boyfriend.” He rushed out of the room, but Luke wasn’t done.
“Wait, wait ,wait!” Luke jumped in front of him, bracing himself for another shove.
“Move out of the way, Mr. Snyder.”
“Not until you hear me out.”
“I don’t need to do anything, but leave.”
“At least let me show you how to use a firearm. You are going to weigh on my conscience.” Reid’s eyes went wide. “I feel responsible for you. If I let you go out there without being able to at least defend yourself what kind of NRA member would I be?” Luke sneered as he could see that below the surface Reid was bubbling with rage. He apparently didn’t like his own words thrown back at him. It was even worse when they were true. For a second they didn’t do anything else than just stand there. Reid dropped his pack, his eyes dangerous.
“Now I’m hungry!” Reid whipped around heading for the kitchen. “I hope you’re happy.” Luke thought his heart would burst out of his chest, and he counted a couple of minutes to himself. When he returned to the kitchen the doctor was angrily shoveling down a box of Lucky Charms. He had to check himself and not laugh at the sight, suddenly feeling better just knowing he would have at least another afternoon with the doctor. “Don’t just stare at me. Go on, what are you going to teach me?” Luke went blank as to exactly what he was going to do, and it showed on his wary face. The doctor stopped with a handful of balloons, and rainbows in his hand, “Well?”
Luke panicked a little. “Just um…. Hold on one second.” He rushed out the screen door and into the heavily wooded backyard, images of old westerns Noah had showed him flashing though his head. Next to the door trash bags that had been gathering overgrown weeds caught his attention. One was full of cans waiting to be recycled. He took the bag over to the edge of the property.
At one point a prominent fence would have roped off the property, but it seemed the owners had never found it all that useful. It was in ruins, posts fallen and beginning to be overgrown. A part of the fence that ran between two old trees looked like a good enough spot. He finished placing five cans along the fence just as the rustling of leaves indicated the doctor had decided to join him outside.
“You have got to be kidding me?” Luke spared him a glance.
“Where are the guns?”
Reid was a little slack jawed looking at the shooting range set up for him. “They’re in the kitchen.” Luke hadn’t seen them. Returning to the dim room it took him a second or two to actually spot them. The automatic sat across the chair where his backpack sat and the pistol was snug in the first zipped up pocket. He sighed; Reid was either really noble or really stupid. He rounded on the doctor as he stepped outside.
“You know for a pessimist you are stupidly optimistic about this situation.”
“This coming from you?”
Luke checked the clip in the gun, and aimed. “Why would you get ready to leave without a gun? Or is it just your giant ego that makes you think you could charm a zombie into submission.” He shot out all the cans in rapid succession, smiling widely as he turned to face the doctor. He was not as impressed.
“Well my charm has worked on a lot of brain dead individuals. Present company included of course.” He took the gun from Luke, turning it around in his hands as if it was a strange alien device. “I thought they would be of more use to you anyway.” Luke put up another set of cans. He turned around to see the doctor aiming the gun at him.
“Hey!”
Reid immediately dropped the gun. “Sorry,”
“First,” Luke picked it up off the ground handing it back at him. “Never, ever point a gun at a survivor.”
“Is that how you got shot?”
He looked away cryptically. “Essentially. Now aim for the cans.” Luke took a place a few steps behind the doctor scrutinizing his stance. Reid shuffled uncomfortably, clearly not sure what to do. He turned his body slightly holding the gun up with his prominent hand. He then hesitantly turned the gun sideways. Luke burst out laughing.
“What?!” Reid snarled.
“Nothing, I just didn’t think you were a gangster that’s all.”
“Well instruct me.”
Luke grabbed his shoulders and squared him. “Let’s try two hands to start off with, alright? Your left hand steadies your shot.” Standing beside Reid, he tried his best to let the doctor do it on his own, but it was frustrating. “Your thumb, move it up some. Don’t be so tense though.” He stepped back after Reid eyed the hand Luke had placed over his with annoyance. “Go on then!” He said crossing his arms. Reid took a deep breath, and squeezed the trigger. Somewhere behind the trees, leaves and brush were disturbed but the cans remained. Reid looked back at Luke, but Luke just waved his hand, “Again.”
This went on for the rest of the clip. Not one can had been shot down, but on the up side the doctor felt more comfortable with the gun. His arms were not bolted straight at the elbow anymore as if trying to keep the gun as far away from himself as possible. Luke showed him how to reload the pistol, and they started over.
Reid took a deep breath, “Should we be wasting ammo?” He shot missing again, and cursed softly.
“Ammo for that type of gun is not hard to find. The one for the M-16 I’m not so sure about.” Reid dropped his arms.
“I am not touching that gun.”
“Why not? The more guns you learn how to use the better it will be in the long run.” Reid turned back to the cans trying again. “Why are you so adamant on guns?”
“They were never on my bucket list.” He nicked the fence, and the reverberation on the old wood sent two cans toppling over. He smiled, “Two with one shot. Beat that John Wayne.” Luke just rolled his eyes. They were at it all afternoon, until Reid was at least able to get three out of five cans in rapid succession. Although there had been a large improvement from pacifist to trigger-happy red neck, Luke still didn’t think if it came down to it he would actually be able to pull the trigger on something that looked so human without some help. Reid sat down next to Luke on the ground, handing him back the gun, and wiping the sweat off his forehead.
“That was a lot more fun than I expected it to be.” He said with a carefree smile Luke liked.
“You should keep it.”
“It’s your gun.”
“Sure but I would rather keep the M16.” He smiled. “Plus you seemed scared of it. Do you still want to practice with it?” Reid took a look at his watch, and then glanced up at the sky.
“I really wanted to get an early start.”
“You never told me where you were going.”
“That was intentional Mr. Snyder. That way if I had picked up and left I wouldn’t have a kicked puppy following after me.”
“I don’t know why I’m still trying.” Luke burst and stood, returning to the kitchen. He shouted as he left, “Just leave. I’m not going to stop you.”