Ruth scrambled back on the floor away from Barb and the others. It had been so long since she last took care of a patient and she was nervous that she had done something wrong. [i]I need a drink[/i] she thought as she searched through her bag with shaky hands. Ruth couldn’t find her precious bottle with her hands being so bloody and so distracting. The woman frantically tried to wipe the drying blood off of her hands and onto her pants and the floor, anything other than her skin. She was a nervous wreck. 

Rowena was watching her quietly as she smoothed some of Barb's hair back. Ruth would be someone to watch closely and although she was a valuable asset to them she was also one of their greatest liabilities. 

Lee, who had taken charge of the situation, began giving orders. She was the most levelheaded of the entire group. Vincent's death was on the back of her mind but she could not mourn him. He had been a stranger to her and she was determined to not suffer the same fate. "You," she pointed to Sam and Joel, "Will both carry her."

"Where to?" Sam asked as he finally stood. His hand was sore but he could move all of his fingers with some difficulty. 

"There's a hardware shop a few buildings down." Bob said as he went into the kitchen with Rowena and Avery.

They were all given a job to do. Avery and Rowena were going to be carrying all the food and water that they could. Bob had found a box that he packed with as much food as possible. Rowena and Avery filed as many water bottles and other jugs that they could get their hands on. There were a few of the reusable grocery bags that the water was put in. Avery almost fell over trying to pick it up so the job moved to Rowena while Bob and Avery took the box of food. It was mostly little things like pastries that they had wrapped in plastic wrap. There were some pies and a few other things like instant coffee. Jeff was to walk behind them.

Sam and Joel would follow behind the trio while Ruth and Valencia would take up the rear. 

Lee was the first to exit the back of the building. Bob had given her the basic run down of where and how to find the back door of the hardware shop. As a carpenter he spent most of his time working with various power tools and going to the hardware shop for new ones more often than he cared to admit. She paused and gave the signal for the next three to exit. They followed behind her as quietly as a child and hobbling old man could. Rowena walked behind Bob and Avery with the ladle ready. It wouldn't do much damage but she'd try at least. 

The backdoor to the shop was locked and Lee cursed. They were now exposed. 

"I'm scared." Avery whispered as he shifted his weight from foot to foot. Jeff, being impatient and afraid, quickly hurried out behind the trio. "Here," He said as he began to work on the lock. He wasn't no expert lock pick but he could smash the lock with a rock. It took a while to find one and each moment was hell until he began smashing the rock into the door.