[hr][hr][center][h1][b][i][color=00ff00]Jack[/color] & [color=a187be]Tati[/color][/i][/b][/h1][img]https://media.giphy.com/media/Xr0bHrSjTbkB2/giphy.gif[/img][/center][hr][hr][center][b]Location:[/b] Carrollton, Ga[/center][hr]
	Tatiana pushed her hair back out of her face and threw up the crimson locks into a quick ponytail. The days were hot and having a thick head of hair was not helping in the slightest. If she didn't think she would look absolutely ridiculous bald she would have shaved her head by now. The last week had been interesting to say the least and rather depressing as well. Each day that ticked by Tatiana became more worried that she would never see Davi again. Each day that ticked by she got a little more used to Jack being around; the man had barely left her side since they basically stumbled over each other in the DMV that day. At first she was worried but over the last week he had been kind and helped her scour the area each day for supplies and for her friend; not to mention he hadn't laid a hand on her. It took a few days but she finally stopped trembling anytime he offered her food or drew his weapon. 

	Looking over towards him she smiled at bit as she adjusted her pack and hefted it up a bit higher on her back as they wandered the streets of Carrollton. They had been avoiding any large building such as the schools, the university, and the prison; for obvious reasons. There were plenty of homes in the downtown area and small places of business they could hit. Places she figured Davi might go if she needed to hunker down. Places similar to ones they had hit over the years. Pointing over as they came to the Square in the Historical District of the town she picked out what was an [url=http://www.carrolltonmainstreet.com/wp-content/gallery/adamson-square/6029006775_a18e14d9bc_b.jpg]old news stand[/url] near a place called Millers Downtown. She didn't hold out any hope that there was in food left in the Creole Restaurant but maybe next store they would get lucky.

	Jack followed Tatiana's gaze, nodding as the hot Georgia sun beat down on his back. He wiped away a bit of sweat from his forehead, glancing around to continue to get his bearings. His blue tarp had been folded up and tied up into a makeshift backpack, and he couldn't help but hope if there wasn't any food left, there'd be something better for carrying his belongings in. The resourcefulness of the blue tarp was starting to get old.

	[color=00ff00]"I don't see any walkahs,"[/color] Jack said quietly, glancing around the streets one last time. His paranoia only increased the longer the pair of them went without an incident. Every brief bit of calm caused him to tense up even more, as much as he laughed it off. [color=00ff00]"Should be safe, in and out."[/color]

	Tati nodded slightly as she gripped the hunting dagger in her hand and tapped it roughly a few times against the door of the News Stand. Hopefully if anything was in there it would come to them instead of them stumbling over it once they got inside. Glancing over towards Jack she gave him her usual forced thin lipped smile that she always seemed to when she got nervous, her back to the glass. A loud smack caused her to jump and spin around, stepping back quickly to see a Walker trying to get through the door at them. Biting her bottom lip she took a deep breath, she had been half expecting one to be in there but it didn't help to calm her nerves any. 

	Reaching over towards the door she wrapped her trembling fingers around the handle and looked towards Jack, waiting for his okay to open the door before she did anything else. Once he gave her a signal she pressed down on the handle and pulled the door open quickly, stepping behind it and letting the walker stumble out into the street as it fell to its hands and knees and tried to grab a hold of Jack  as it shuffled along the ground. Tati's grip on her knife tightening but she didn't step forward yet. She wanted to wait and make sure if she did she didn't end up stabbing Jack instead of the walker. 
	
	Jack winked at Tatiana, which caused Tati to blush slightly, his adrenaline rising. It took all his will to not madly kick at the walker and create a scene. It was one of his major flaws that he'd worked on back in the force, but only recently had he been able to get some success with it. Glancing towards the walker and back at Tatiana, Jack jumped back, in an almost comical fashion. Tatiana's path to kill the walker was clear, and Jack threw a quick glance over his shoulder, praying to whatever gods existed that there wouldn't be another one back there. Just in case, however, he drew his own knife, prepared for anything. 

	Letting out a short huff of a breath from between her lips Tati let go of the door and stepped forward as the Walker went after Jack. Lunging down slightly as she drove the blade of her knife into the back of the Eaters skull, the sound of brain matter hitting metal ringing out slightly against soft bone before she yanked it out. Standing up she glanced around, it was still clear around them and she was very grateful for the small favor right then. Wiping off her knife on the shirt of the walker before sheathing it she nodded towards Jack, still giving him that nervous smile that she did. 

	[color=a187be]"You silly vhen nervous,"[/color] she said quietly with a soft giggle, referring to the way he had jumped back. Turning she grabbed the door and swung it open, motioning with a bit of silly flair for him to go ahead and enter. 

	[color=00ff00]"Thank you,"[/color] Jack grinned, for the comment and killing the walker. He put away his own knife, figuring that any other walkers inside would have come running by that point. Making a point to hop into the store as absurdly as possible, he clapped his feet together in the air, a dorky smile plastered on his face. He hardly managed to land on his feet, nearly tripping and falling against the doorway. Tati had to cover her mouth with the cup of her hand to keep from laughing at the entire scene. 

	[color=00ff00]"I, erm, meant to do that,"[/color] Jack said, laughing at himself quietly. He bowed neatly at Tatiana, before glancing around the tiny store once more. His eyes scanned all of the corners, waiting for something else to jump out. As soon as he determined it was truly safe, letting his paranoia vanish momentarily, he'd wave to Tatiana to come inside. Tati gave a quick bob her head as she dropped her hand from her mouth and rolled her lips in to bite them, still trying not to laugh as she stepped inside and shut the door behind them.

	[color=a187be]"Graceful as baby cow,"[/color] she whispered as she passed him. [color=00ff00]"Damn straight,"[/color] Jack replied. [color=00ff00]"I'm the best baby cow you'll evah meet."[/color] His process then switched from searching for walkers to searching for food -- and a backpack. The tarp-sack was [i]really[/i] starting to suck. The place was well enough in tact minus what appeared to be various things knocked over from the Walker that had been shambling in the place for god only knew how long. A lot of papers and maps and books in the place. Dried coffee packs, creamer and sugars near the coffee bar set up, even some chocolate covered espresso beans. The place was set up more like a mom and pops Starbucks than anything. Candy bars, bags of chips and nuts were in boxes, as well as packs of gum. 

	Pushing the door open to the office she grinned a bit as she reached in and snatched up something she thought would be of interest for Jack. Turning she held it up as if she was Vanna White. [color=a187be]"Think you could use?"[/color] she asked as she held it out to him, a back pack. Granted it wasn't exactly the manly kind, looking more like something out of the mind of Lisa Frank but hey, it was better than a tarp in her mind. His eyes widened spotting it in her hands, just like a child on Christmas morning. [color=00ff00]"I've nevah seen somethin' so beautiful in my life,"[/color] Jack whispered, gratefully taking it from Tatiana. She was not expecting that reaction but at least he wasn't pitching a fit that it was so "girly."

	He quickly transferred his belongings inside of the colorful bag, and tugging on the straps, he got them to be as long as possible. It didn't matter to him that it was designed for a four year old kid--it held things, and he knew that it'd make Tatiana laugh. [color=00ff00]"It's very macho, yeah?"[/color] Tatiana couldn't hold back the laughter, giggling as she held her stomach with one hand and the other gripped the edge of the counter. It was the first time since she had met Jack that she truly laughed, a bright smile on her face as her cheeks reddened. It felt good to laugh and she gasped for breath slightly as she wiped the tears away from the corner of her eyes. 

	[color=a187be]"Rainbow Brite vould be proud,"[/color] she sighed happily as she went back to bagging up as much as she could for the two of them to carry back to the house they were staying at. Lining up the bags on the counter filled with food and bottles of water she let out a happy sigh. It had been a successful run for them for the day. It was time to head back and get some rest for night. [color=a187be]"Go home nov?"[/color] she asked as she looked back over to him, the smile that had faded coming back as she spotted the back pack again. 

	Jack followed her gaze, and he smirked a bit. [color=00ff00]"You'ah jealous, hmm?"[/color] he teased, before nodding. [color=a187be]"Very,"[/color] she chuckled a bit. He grabbed a few of the bags from the counter, his gun ready at his side. He really didn't want to die because he had his hands full with groceries--somehow, it was far worse than any sort of rainbow colored backpack. Though, to be fair, the brightly colored bag had quickly grown on him. He'd have to ask her about Rainbow Brite later, though. As far as he was aware, Rainbow Brite could have been from Hello Kitty. 

	Peering outside the door, Jack checked to see if the street was clear of any unwanted surprises. He grinned at Tatiana and opened the door slowly with his back, taking another peek around as he did so. While Jack realized that he was probably a bit excessive in his checking for walkers, he hardly cared. Rainbow Brite, he was certain, would understand. Tatiana grabbed what was left and glanced around before following Jack's lead and heading out. 

[center]~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~[/center]

	Another week had passed by and there was still no sign of Davi anywhere. Each day they went out, scavenging what they could as Tati continued to search for her friend. They had had a couple of close calls because of walkers. Some stumbles, some falls, a lot of banged up bodies trying to keep from getting bit. Tati has racked up her fair share of bumps, bruises, and scratches over the last week. She was starting to get a little reckless and panicked the more time that passed. They had managed to be able to stock pile a little bit of food and water and it was suggested that perhaps today they just needed to take it easy and relax a bit. Relax was not in Tatiana's vocabulary when it came to worry. 

	Sighing though she agreed, not wanting to put Jack in anymore danger than she already had. He had turned out to be a really sweet guy and she felt lucky that they had stumbled across each other when they did. She was starting to lean on him a little more each day and he made her smile; which was a rare thing even before the out break. Today had been spent mostly just sitting and reading and exchanging small talk. That was until later in the day when Tatiana started getting restless. Looking around the room some she then glanced over to Jack and nudged him slightly with the heel of her foot. [color=a187be]"Move,"[/color] she said before hoping off the couch. 

	Jack raised an eyebrow at her, putting down the extremely outdated copy of [i]People[/i] magazine that he had found in the house. A quick glance around confirmed that there wasn't anything dangerous in sight--so perhaps, he figured, Tatiana wanted the entire couch to herself. Chuckling a bit, Jack got to his feet. [color=00ff00]"Youah wish is my command, princess,"[/color] he quipped. 

	[color=a187be]"That is Prima to you,"[/color] she teased as she rested her hands against the arm of the couch.

	[color=00ff00]"Anythin' else you need?"[/color] He winked at her, stretching his arms a bit as he did so, his shoulders coming up in an almost cat-like fashion. 

	[color=a187be]"Da, help me move this strong man,"[/color] she said as she waived with a point of her finger to the far end of the living room where she wanted to shove the couch. Resting her hand back down against the cushion she started to push the couch over the hard wood floor. Most of the rest of the furniture had already been moved over the last couple of weeks. It wasn't uncommon for her to want to dance when she got fidgety, so the couch was the only thing that really got moved back when she was done.

	[color=00ff00]"We makin' a fort?"[/color] Jack chuckled, but he put his hands on the couch nonetheless. He pushed on it with Tatiana, listening to it as it scratched against the floor slightly. As far as he was concerned, the homeowners wouldn't mind. They were likely dead, after all. Continuing to shove, with her help, they got it clear across the room, positioning it in the far end as requested. The living room was clear, now a wide expansive space.

	Tatiana gave him a sideways smile at his little quip and tossed the blanket off the back of the couch towards him. [color=a187be]"Go play hide and seek vith yourself,"[/color] she said in a soft playful voice. [color=00ff00]"That sounds dirtay, don't you think?"[/color] Jack chuckled, winking at her as he caught the blanket.

	Shaking her head a bit and giving him a bit of an eye roll she stepped over to the center of the room and let out a long breath as she took first position. There was something that came over Tatiana when she danced. Normally she was timid, shy, and afraid. Yet when she came to pointe another side of her showed. She was confidant and unwavering. The way her shoulders would square off, the arch of her back, how she held her head high. All the fear that was constantly surrounding the little bird flew away as the music played in her head as she went from arabesque to fifth position to devéloppé. Tour de Promenade as she held attitude en dehors. She was in a world with no problems, no death, no starvation. Just beauty.

	Jack smiled, watching her as she began to dance. An idea formed as he grinned mischievously, tying the blanket around his waist like a skirt. He took off his shoes, setting them down neatly next to the couch, and wiggled his toes a bit. From what he knew of ballet, it involved a lot of spinning on one's toes. Standing up as quietly as he could, Jack put his hands in the air, his fingertips touching just over his head. Picking up his left food, he placed it against his right knee, wobbling a bit as he struggled to maintain his balance. And then, he attempted to spin. 

	Tatiana came off pointe and turned her head before she was about to plié, her eyes falling on Jack and her eyes widened as her brows rose in surprise. [color=a187be]"Vhat in the vorld..."[/color] she chortled. Her finger tips coming to her lips as she choked back a laugh, which caused her to snort a bit; her lips rolling in as she bit them. It was completely ridiculous and totally adorable at the same time. Waving her hands in front of her wildly as she shook her head she moved to the side to make sure he didn't end up kicking her. [color=a187be]"Like this Baryshnikov,"[/color] she said as she demonstrated a fouetté slowly for him. 

	[color=00ff00]"Man, I've been doin' it wrong this entire time?"[/color] Jack said, faking a pout. He watched Tatiana carefully, the spins and the jump making hardly any sense to him. He held up a hand, and taking in a deep breath, practically [i]flung[/i] his leg up, and unable to control the momentum properly, spun around. [color=a187be]"Not..."[/color] Remembering that there was supposed to be a leap in there, Jack foolishly threw himself up into the air, the world slightly out of focus from dizziness, and he crashed to the ground without a single ounce of grace. [color=a187be]"Like that,"[/color] Tatiana gasped as her hands came up to her mouth in surprise. [color=00ff00]"Does...Baahshinikove mean really talented? Because I think I just earned a perfect ten."[/color]

	Moving quickly across the room she knelt down next to him, resting on one foot as she drew her other knee to her chest, a playful pity look coming over her features as she reached over and ran her fingers lightly through his hair as if to put them back into place. [color=a187be]"Oh yes, I can say never seen anything like that. One of kind,"[/color] she laughed lightly as she looked him over. That silly blanket tied around his waist, him sprawled out on the floor; it was too endearing. 

	A boyish blush appeared on his face, with her fingers in his hair. He chuckled a bit at her comment, and experimentally moved his feet. Luckily for him, his ankles seemed to have survived his foolishness. Back in school, Jack was the kid at prom who would move his feet forward and backward, and call it dancing. Anything else resulted in him doing something outrageous, like pretending that he was the world breakdancing champion, and not some clueless pisser. [color=00ff00]"You bettah watch out, I might just be bettah than you at this,"[/color] Jack teased. [color=00ff00]"Though no joke, you'ahe wicked good, Tati."[/color]

	It was Tatiana's turn to blush lightly at his compliment. She knew she was good, she had worked her whole life to be so, but it was one thing to know it in your heart and another to hear it from someone that was starting to mean something to you in this [i]War of Survival[/i] as she called it. [color=a187be]"Thank you,"[/color] was all she could muster to say as her nerves began to kick back in. Taking a breath she held out her hands to him. [color=a187be]"Come on, off floor, I teach you something easier."[/color]

	Complying by taking her hands in his, Jack raised himself from the floor. He couldn't imagine any ballet moves that he'd be able to do, but it was worth it, the way it was making Tatiana smile. Her blush didn't escape his notice, and either there were butterflies in his stomach, or the squirrel meat had finally gone bad. [color=00ff00]"I think I can handle somethin' a little advanced, don't you think?"[/color] Jack grinned. He took a few steps back, mentally preparing himself for his next fall to the floor. It wasn't a question of if he'd fall--it was a matter of when. [color=00ff00]"Show me what you got, teachah."[/color]

	[color=a187be]"Oh yes, very advanced,"[/color] she chuckled as she reached over and took the ridiculous blanket from around his waist and tossed it aside. Stepping next to him she glanced over and grinned at him with a bit of a mischievous look on her features. [color=a187be]"Now, follow me, hardest dance ever,"[/color] she warned before she started humming out the Chicken Dance and [i]busting a move[/i] with all the mirth she could muster without doubling over in laughter.

	Without even hesitating, Jack sprang into action. [i]This[/i] was a dance that he knew--it was practically illegal to not know how it went. Folding up his arms into mock wings, Jack flapped them, and on each turn, he did the clap and shook his tail, beaming the entire time. His favorite part, of course, was the more whimsical one--where he spread his arms out like an airplane and pretended to fly. [color=00ff00]"I feel so cultuahed,"[/color] Jack laughed. [color=00ff00]"Nevah knew ballet was this easy!"[/color]

	It took everything in Tatiana not to fall out on the floor rolling in laughter as she danced along with him, shaking her rear end like a fool and then following suit as she to spread her arms and flew around the room. Not paying attention to where she was going, a few tears of joy from holding back the chortles and giggles slipping from her eyes she nearly ran right into Jack and had to stop herself. Coughing a few times to clear her throat as she tried to serious things up. [color=a187be]"Oh yes, so [i]cultuahed[/i],"[/color] she said trying to imitate his accent through her own thick Russian speech. [color=00ff00]"The trick is to never say an ahr...It goes Q-Ah-S, you know?"[/color] Jack chuckled, enjoying the imitation. It had given him plenty of odd looks in Chicago, but he never tried to turn his accent down. 

	[color=a187be]"Vell, seems I have partner no'v. Try together?"[/color] she asked as she held her hands out to him and perked a brow as she gestured with her chin to him to take them. [color=00ff00]"Togethah,"[/color] Jack agreed, taking her hands. He grinned, a bit nervous, but enjoying himself nonetheless. Hopefully, Tatiana would have them do something simple, like the YMCA dance. That, the chicken dance, and the macarena were his areas of expertise. 

	Taking his hand, she rested her palm in one and lifted it even with her shoulder as she lead his other hand to rest in the curve of her waist. Smiling slightly at him she placed her arm over his and rested her fingers against his shoulder as she shook her head quickly to make her hair fall back over her shoulders and out of her way as she struck basic frame. [color=a187be]"Like this. Shoulders back, like soldier you copper,"[/color] she teased lightly. [color=a187be]"Got it?"[/color]

	Jack straightened up, not even realizing that he had been slouching a bit. He moved his shoulders back, awkwardly holding his hand on her waist. Smiling weakly at her, he couldn't help but notice how her hair caught the light. [color=00ff00]"Ma'am yes ma'am!"[/color] Jack joked, playing along with the soldier charade. [color=00ff00]"This the paaht where we start countin' 1-2-3 1-2-3?"[/color] he asked, as nervous as a boy at prom. This was definitely [i]not[/i] the YMCA dance. As far as he was concerned, he'd be lucky to not step on her feet. 

	Tatiana smirked a bit, she felt at ease when it came to dance and decided to take a little bit of advantage of it. How many chances would she get in the future to dance with anyone? Much less an actual man? There wasn't ever exactly a lot of men willing to dance, she wondered if there were any outside of Jack left on the planet right then. Stepping closer she turned her head, glancing towards him out of the corner of her eyes. [color=a187be]"No Valtz, you advanced student. We Tango,"[/color] she taunted him with a playful coyness to her voice. 

	[color=00ff00]"Tango it is,"[/color] Jack gulped, chuckling a bit. [color=00ff00]"I'll, uh, I'll go easy on you."[/color] All hew knew about the tango was that it involved a lot of steps and shaking hips. There would also be roses that one of them would have to hold in their teeth. However, he wasn't going to be terrified by some dance. He'd faced far more terrifying things than a woman wanting to dance before--and he found that laughing at himself was quite the enjoyable experience. 

	[color=a187be]"Just take easy on feet,"[/color] she giggled slightly before clearing her throat and trying to be serious, but around him that was tough. Taking a breath she began to try to move him and show him where to step slowly, granted that was hard since he was supposed to be leading her and she didn't exactly want to teach him how to take the female steps; it would be even more awkward if she was the one trying to lift him at one point eventually. 

	Jack nodded, moving his feet cautiously to where Tatiana indicated. With each movement he made, he'd glance up at her, as if checking to make sure he hadn't messed up too dangerously. [color=00ff00]"Like this?"[/color] Jack asked, repeating the movement once more, and hoping that he'd done it correctly. He [i]really[/i] didn't want to hurt Tatiana with his clumsiness. For a moment, he considered trying to whistle a tune, in order to perform it correctly...But as it always is, the only song he could think of in that moment was the Chicken Dance, and that would hardly work for a tango, he felt. 

	Tatiana nodded slightly as they moved, it was obvious he was trying and he hadn't stepped on her foot, yet. Granted that didn't last long because before she knew it, she felt heel pressing into her instep and jumped back as she grabbed a hold of her foot with one hand and tried to keep her balance as she gripped his shoulder with her other. [color=a187be]"Yolkipaiki!"[/color] she gasped out as she leaned against him, basically cursing in the cutest way possible in Russian. She had all but basically just yelped out [i]fiddlesticks[/i] in Russian.

	Jack's eyes widened. [color=00ff00]"Shit, shit, shit!"[/color] he muttered, picking up Tatiana in his arms; Tati gasping slightly as he picked her up, she hadn't expected that. He walked over to the couch and set her down, glancing around the room. [i]Rest, ice, compression, elevation[/i] ran through his mind over and over again like a mantra. While he knew that it would be a tiny bruise and a scrape at best, he couldn't help but feel like he'd broken her ankle. If it wasn't so hot, he would have held a water bottle up against her ankle, but then he figured there might have been some gum  among their supplies from the same place he got his bag. [color=00ff00]"I'm gonna get you something to distahct you from the pain, yeah?"[/color] Jack said sheepishly. 

	Pulling her foot up to her chest she rubbed it a little bit and shook her head. [color=a187be]"It okay, just glad ve not try Rivardance,"[/color] she said with a small lipped grin as she tried to lighten the mood. Reaching out she took his hand and pulled him over to her and down to her level. [color=a187be]"Be back on toe in no time,"[/color] she said, trying to reassure him that she was okay, squeezing his hand gently as she gave him a quick peck on the cheek. [color=a187be]"Promise."[/color]

	Jack nodded, sitting down on the couch next to her. He continued eyeing her toe, waiting to see if anything else developed. Of course, he could feel the lingering traces of where Tatiana had kissed him on his cheek. Not wanting to lose [i]all[/i] of his manliness, he avoided reaching up to touch it, and instead smiled at Tatiana. [color=00ff00]"We'll have a dance off once it's bettah,"[/color] Jack promised. [color=00ff00]"Don't hold back on me when we do."[/color]

	[color=a187be]"Vell, I'll try keep up,"[/color] she said in a kittenish fashion as she wagged her finger towards him before leaning back a bit and getting more comfortable. It had been an interesting evening to say the least but she had enjoyed it even with the little bit of a foot stomp she had received from him. It was nice to laugh, something she had never been used to in her life, he definitely was an interesting character. 

[center]~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~[/center]

	Another week of wandering and searching, another week of no sign of Davi. The first day after their little dance off her foot was a bit sore, so they took it slow, but after that she was fine. Rummaging through an upstairs closet Tatiana perked a brow as she found a box of what looked like a board game of some sorts. It wasn't one she knew, she had never had any games as a child like this, but she figured it was something they could perhaps do now that they were in for the day. Something to take her mind off Davi, who with each day that passed she lost a little more hope and got a little more desperate. 

	Bounding down the stairs two at a time she held the box in front of her. [color=a187be]"Jack, found something,"[/color] she said as she wandered over to the couch and climbed over the back of it to sit down and half lean against him as she handed the box over. [color=a187be]"Ma..nop...o..ly?"[/color] she said as she read the title in big letters on the worn out cardboard box. [color=a187be]"You knov this?"[/color]

	Jack nodded, looking the box over. He remembered playing it with his mom and a few friends when he was younger, watching as it destroyed entire relationships. It had been the last time he saw his friend Tom, when Jack managed to steal Park Place away from him, and then build as many hotels as possible on it. [color=00ff00]"This game, this game was made to destaoy lives."[/color] He paused, opening up the box. [color=00ff00]"I can nevah remebah the rules but...As long as we don't kill each othah, it's pretty fun."[/color]

	Fishing inside the box for the pieces, he tried to locate the dog before Tatiana could. It was perhaps a little unfair, but he [i]always[/i] played as the dog. He was relieved to find it wasn't one of the silly so-called "modern" editions, where credit cards were used and the money was kept digitally. The old paper version was the best--perfection couldn't be improved upon. 

	Tatiana perked a brow at his words, a bit of concern coming over her features. [color=a187be]"Lives already destroyed,"[/color] she said before giving a slight shrug. Looking over as he fished out the dog she rummaged through the rest of the pieces, picking up the top hat and placing it on the tip of her finger. Bending the knuckle slightly as she bobbed it around and smiled softly. [color=a187be]"Okay, time you teach me,"[/color] she said as she put the piece down and and poked him in the side with her elbow. 

	Moving to the floor, Jack spread out the board, and placed his piece down at GO. He motioned for Tatiana to do the same, struggling to remember how much money to start off with. Tatiana slipped off the couch and sat down on the floor, tucking her feet beneath her. Shrugging, he figured that giving five of each type of bill was fair enough, and dished out money to both Tatiana and himself. [color=00ff00]"So, the goal of the game is to be the richest person, own all of the propeahty."[/color] Gathering up the little location cards, Jack put them all on the rotating contraption, setting it down in between Tatiana and himself.

	[color=00ff00]"We use the money to buy propeahty,"[/color] Jack added, grabbing the dice. [color=00ff00]"But first, we gotta roll to see who goes first."[/color] He handed the dice over to her, winking at her. [color=00ff00]"Aftah you."[/color] Smiling she nodded as she set down the little top hat down next to his on the board before palming the dice and giving them a quick shake. Turning her hand over she let the dice spill out onto the board, rolling snake eyes and shrugging a bit. [color=a187be]"Vell, no worse than that,"[/color] she chuckled. 

	[color=00ff00]"Get that three times and you go to jail,"[/color] Jack chuckled, scooping up the dice. He shook them, blowing on them a bit, as if it would bring him luck. Letting them fall to the ground, he rolled a three and a two. Though it wasn't too surprising to him that he'd be going first, he couldn't help but be irritated at the low roll. [color=00ff00]"Right, we start at go. Roll, move the numbah of spaces you got. You land on propeahty? You can buy it. There's chance and stuff, but I'll explain it latah."[/color]

	Jack rolled again, this time faring much better. With a five and a four, he moved forward nine spaces, landing on Connecticut Avenue. He traded in $120 for the property, removing it from the small spinning cart. Grinning at Tatiana, he handed the dice over to her. [color=00ff00]"Youah turn."[/color]

	Tatiana took her queue from Jack and rolled, moving up the board and buying the property. Back and forth they went, Tati asking questions and listening as Jack explained things to her. After a while, as she was handing the dice back over to him she tilted her head to the side. [color=a187be]"You play as child right? Good childhood?"[/color] she asked, wanting to know more about him now that she felt more at ease around him.

	Jack hesitated for a moment, taking his turn as he pondered how to answer the question. He loved his childhood, but he knew it wasn't exactly a traditional one. It never really bothered him, not knowing his father or his siblings. All he really knew about them were their names and a dim idea of what they looked like. [color=00ff00]"Yeah, played with my mom all the time,"[/color] Jack smiled. [color=00ff00]"It was just the two of us. She was a tour guide, with the Freedom Trail Reenactors? Dunno if you've evah heahd of it. Put herself through school, got a mastahs in history. Not a day goes by that I don't miss heah."[/color]

	[color=a187be]"Never heard of,"[/color] she admitted as he told her a little bit about his life. Him mentioning missing his mother she nodded in understanding. [color=a187be]"Sound like good voman, raised good son,"[/color] she said as she tossed the dice and moved her piece again along the board before handing them back over to him; smiling softly as she did.

	[color=00ff00]"Thanks,"[/color] Jack replied, taking his turn. More memories of his mother washed over him. He remembered how she would take his hand and guide him through the streets of Boston, giving him a personal tour. He'd never seen her happier than when she was in that cotton dress, the sun beating down on her. [color=00ff00]"She was the best. But uh...she passed three yeaahs back."[/color]

	Reaching out Tatiana rested her hand over his lightly, letting her fingers lace over his own as she gave him a gentle squeeze. She knew it wasn't easy to lose someone that you cared for. [color=a187be]"I'm sorry,"[/color] she said as she watched him, her free hand fiddling with the dice. Dropping them on the board without really bothering to roll them she leaned over and gave him a firm hug. She knew first hand how hard memories could be, bad or good ones. Jack hugged her back slightly, a single tear cascading down his face. He rubbed her back a bit with his right hand, hearing the dice hit the floor. Pulling himself together, he whispered in her ear.

	[color=00ff00]"I just got free paahking."[/color]

	Leaning back a bit she perked a brow and then glanced over at the board. Smiling slightly she turned and sat down next to him, leaning against him lightly as she rested her head on his shoulder. [color=a187be]"I lost parents to but long time ago,"[/color] she said solemnly. It wasn't something that was easy for her to speak about, never had been but she felt comfortable around Jack. He quickly abandoned the game for the most part, putting an arm around her shoulder tentatively, as if he wasn't certain whether or not it was acceptable. 

	[color=00ff00]"You want to talk 'bout it?"[/color] Jack inquired, rubbing her shoulder lightly with his thumb, tracing little circles as he went. It was the most she'd opened up to him so far, and while he didn't want to pressure her into talking before she was ready, he also wanted to learn more about her. There was more to her than zombies and ballet--she had a past, just like everyone else. 

	Tatiana didn't mind Jack putting his arm around her shoulder, in fact she found solace in the kind gesture. Curling slightly more against him she didn't know what to say at first. It wasn't that she hadn't wanted to speak about her parents before, it was just it was hard. Swallowing lightly she nodded a bit. [color=a187be]"End of Cold Var, U.S.S.R. vas torn, ve refugees. Valk town to town, trying to avoid the fights. Parents... taken prisoner. I hide under body. I see... killed. Vas nine,"[/color] she said quietly, her voice shaking and her body trembling like a little hummingbird. Her fingers fiddling the fabric of his shirt as she found herself clinging to him, remembering watching the blood of her parents spill out onto the ground. [color=a187be]"Dark came slowly, finally cravl out. Had to leave, run. Left them there, been alone since."[/color]

	At first, he didn't know what to say. The end of the Cold War was, understandably, a big deal--an event that he remembered very dimly, with the constant broadcasts. He never really heard about what happened to the refugees, instead hearing the same cries of what it meant for American freedom, over and over again. His arm still wrapped around Tatiana, he held her a little tighter, continuing to rub her shoulder gently. [color=00ff00]"I'm soahy you had to go through that,"[/color] Jack apologized, seeing the haunted expression on her face. [color=00ff00]"I can't imagine livin' through that."[/color]

	[color=a187be]"Yes, you can,"[/color] Tatiana said quietly as she tilted her head back and looked up at him, a grim glassing over in her eyes as she spoke. [color=a187be]"Just like no'v. You valk, you try survive. Everyday. I vas refugee, no'v vhole vorld refugee,"[/color] she added as she sighed deeply. Looking down she shook her head a bit, thinking of how much living in the world now reminded her daily of living as a child wandering in the former U.S.S.R. and yet, how now something was different. Glancing back up she gave him that all to familiar thin lipped smile. [color=a187be]"Least, not alone anymore."[/color]

	He smiled a bit, even though the comparison sent a chill through him. Living like this...it wasn't something any person should have to do twice. Any ordinary person should have been crushed by it all. [color=00ff00]"True, and I won't let any of these sons of bitches huaht you."[/color] He rubbed her shoulder again, feeling oddly at peace with himself. Perhaps it was that he had someone to live for. 

[center]~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~[/center]

	Talking about her family with Jack that night had been therapeutic for Tatiana on some level, but it also made her worry more about Davi. Thinking how her friend of the last few years could be out there alone, going through everything without someone. Each day since Tatiana had become more and more determined to find her. The pair was out and about in Carrollton once again, trying to find more supplies while searching for the Russian counterpart. Still no luck and it was growing late in the day. 

	The hot Georgia sun was unforgiving and the humidity made the air sickeningly sticky to breath in. At this point Tatiana just wanted to get back to the house that her and Jack had called [i]home[/i] for the last month. Adjusting her back pack a little she looked over to Jack and couldn't help but smile; him and that silly rainbow pack made her want to giggle every time she saw him sporting it. Granted, these days Tatiana was smiling a bit more just because of Jack in general. He always seemed how to make her feel better. Whether it was just him being silly, or wrapping an arm around her. 

	[color=a187be]"Tonight, dance off,"[/color] she said brightly as they walked down the street, they only had about half a mile to get back to the house thankfully. 

	[color=00ff00]"I've been practicing, don't say I didn't wahn you,"[/color] Jack chuckled, adjusting his backpack slightly on his shoulders. The last month had been one of his happiest--ever since he lost Sutton, he hadn't had a sense of focus, a sense of direction. Now, however, he had a mission: to take care of Tatiana and help her find her friend. He knew that the odds they would find Davina were against them, but he didn't stop trying for her sake. [color=00ff00]"I've mastahed dancin'."[/color] Of course, by mastered, he meant that he had finally figured out how to [i]not[/i] step on someone's toes. 

	[color=a187be]"Can't vait to see your moves,"[/color] Tatiana chuckled as she poked him in the side with her finger playfully. Even with the heat and humidity, and not finding Davi yet today, it had still been a good day. Sighing happily she looked ahead of them and grumbled under her breath as she spotted a walker stumbling out from the side of a house and towards them in the distance. At least it was only one of them right then, shouldn't be much a problem to take care of she thought as she pulled her knife out of its place on her hip. That was until she got closer and froze in her place. [color=a187be]"Davi...?"[/color]

	Jack frowned, pulling his own knife as well. He hadn't the faintest idea what Tatiana's friend looked like, and couldn't have been certain whether or not the walker was truly her. He did, however, have some experience with seeing loved ones turned into the undead. Glancing over at Tatiana, Jack gave her a moment to take care of the walker herself. She was frozen, acting like she had seen a ghost. Jack swore under his breath, striding forward towards the walker. 

	[color=00ff00]"Hey, fugly!"[/color] Jack taunted, moving away from Tatiana, clapping his hands together a bit to get the walker's attention. He didn't want her to have to deal with this--as far as he was able to tell, she was paralyzed in place. [color=00ff00]"I'm talkin' to you, you son of a bitch!"[/color]

	Tatiana stood there, trembling in place as she looked at the woman. She was dressed like Davi dressed, same hair color, same bone structure. If it wasn't Davi the woman could have been her sister. Hearing Jack's voice she blinked and took a step forward, she had to get closer, she had to know. She could never forgive herself if she was left unsure for the rest of her life. The Walker looked over to Jack but turned her attention back to Tatiana as she stepped closer, nearly within arms reach at that point. 

	[color=a187be]"Davi?"[/color] she whispered as the walker grabbed her and she dropped her hunting knife, yelping out as the two stumbled and Tatiana landed on her back; trying to push it away, to keep it from biting her but all the while still trying to tell if it was her friend or not. 

	Jack held in his sigh of frustration, his heart pounding as Tatiana fell to the ground. He wasn't going to lose someone else--not today. Cursing under his breath, he rushed the walker from behind, grabbed the top of its head with one hand, and stabbing it cleanly with the other. He let out a sigh of relief once it stopped moving, allowing it to fall to the ground beside Tatiana. He didn't need to ask her if that was Davi. From the way she reacted, he was pretty sure it was. He stood there in silence. 

	Tati sat up quickly as the Walker fell to her side, coming up on her knees as she finally was able to look at the woman clearly. She stayed there in silence for a minute before she started to break down, crying as she fell back onto her rear end and rolled slightly. [color=a187be]"Not her... Vasn't Davi,"[/color] she said between the sobs and the tears as she started to hyperventilate. Closing her eyes tightly as she rocked back and forth, her fingers scrapping across the pavement of the street as she balled her hands into fists unable to stop from weeping. 

	Quickly glancing around to make sure the area was safe, Jack crouched down next to Tatiana. He gently put his hand on her head, stroking her hair. [color=00ff00]"It wasn't heah,"[/color] Jack whispered soothingly. [color=00ff00]"She's out theahe, somewheahe."[/color] He set his knife down next to the walker, now using both hands to hold Tatiana, rubbing her back and keeping her close to him. It'd probably be best for her to let it all out, he figured. 

	Tatiana couldn't stop from breaking down completely. Davi had been next to her since nearly day one of the out break, they had never been apart this long. Seeing that walker, it looking so close to what Davi looked like made it feel as if she had lost her. Putting thoughts into her mind that the reason she hadn't come back to the house in the last month was because she was one of those [i]things[/i]. Leaning over she practically crawled into Jack's lap, clinging to him like a bird with a broken wing as she buried her face against his chest sniveling through the tears.

	Jack held her tightly, smoothing her hair as she cried. [color=00ff00]"She's still out theahe, Tati,"[/color] Jack offered, whispering gently. [color=00ff00]"She wouldn't want you to stop livin',"[/color] Jack continued, planting a soft kiss on her head. He hardly noticed the beating rays of the sun, slowly rocking Tatiana back and forth. [color=00ff00]"She'd want you to be happy--just like you'd want heah to be."[/color]

	Tatiana slowly looked up at Jack, her eyes were red and puffy from crying, the tears streaking and staining her pale freckled cheeks as she looked at him. She looked so sad, so desperately broken right then. She didn't know what to say, even if she did she couldn't bring herself to utter a word between the heaving sobs; gasping for air between each one. Slowly clamoring to her feet she just kind of started shuffling towards the house, her feet barely moving over the pavement. From behind she looked as if she was one of the very walkers they killed to stay alive. 

	Jack picked up his knife, quickly wiping it on the walker, before putting his arm around Tatiana once again. They weren't too far away from their home, and he held her tightly, ensuring that she wouldn't fall or trip. It broke his heart to see her like this, so utterly defeated. There wasn't much he could say or do. He recalled perfectly how his mother looked--no, the walker that used to be his mother. The image continued to give him nightmares, a horror that he could never forget. Briefly, Jack considered carrying her, but decided against it. Whatever Tatiana was able to do, he figured, could only help her. 

	Tatiana kept walking, she was in a near catatonic state at this point. Feeling Jack's arm wrap around her she leaned against him, her hand coming up and clutching to his shirt. She was shaking, trembling against him as they made their way to the house. Once they were inside she just stood there in the middle of room, she didn't know where to go or even what to do. She looked so lost, barely evening blinking as the tears clung to her cheeks and dripped from the line of her jaw onto her chest.

	Jack paused for a moment, before guiding her over to the couch. He gently sat her down, and took his place next to her. With his hands, he delicately wiped the tears from her face, drying her jaw with his sleeve. The rest he felt would step over a boundary to dry. Having done that, he grabbed the tattered blanket from earlier, and tucked her in. From there, he resumed his earlier activity, stroking her hair, and attempting his very best to soothe her. There were no words to express the pain he was sure she was feeling, nothing to be done than to let it all out. 

	[color=00ff00]"Maybe she left Cahhollton,"[/color] Jack suggested softly. 

	Tatiana just sat there, unmoving for the longest time. Maybe he was right, maybe Davi had left the city. It was possible, unlikely and improbable but possible. Granted she didn't know which thought was worse, that Davi was still out there and just left her to be alone in the world without a second thought or for her to be dead and out of the misery that was this life now. Neither were a pleasant thought. 

	Finally she moved some, but only just enough so she could crawl like a lost kitten into his lap. Curling up against him as she rested her head on his shoulder and clung to his shirt with her fingers. A shaky breath falling from her lips as she tucked her head under his chin. Maybe it wasn't a proper thing to do but right then she didn't care about proprieties sake. Being around him made her feel better, he made her smile; right then she was desperate for comfort and as far as she knew Jack was the only person in the world still breathing that she cared for. 

	Jack continued holding her, allowing his chin to rest on her head. She was so small and so heartbroken, Jack couldn't help but want to wave a magic wand and take all of the pain away. Placing another kiss on her forehead, Jack began to talk. He told stories his mother had shared with him as a child, recounted the first time he had ever dealt with cicadas. When those stories exhausted themselves, Jack retold the plots of movies--in a rather cheesy fashion, admittedly. He filled the silence with his voice, hoping that some part of it Tatiana could find solace in. 

	Tatiana lay there in his arms, still clinging to him, but the tears eventually ran dry as he spoke. She sat there against him, curled up in his lap, and listened to every story he told, every movie plot he filled her in on. She didn't know if it was the stories, or just the simple sound of his voice, but it kept her from thinking about Davi. She'd tilt her head back from time to time to look up at him before resting her head back down. She felt drained, completely wiped from the ordeal and still was unable to speak. The only sound that came from her lips once the sobbing stopped was a yawn that she stifled as she buried her head against his chest.  

	He grinned, hearing her yawn. It was one of the most adorable things he ever heard. Lowering his voice as he continued on with his stories, he watched her, hoping that it would lull her into sleep. Jack didn't dare try to sing a lullaby--knowing him, his voice would crack and startle her, sounding like the dying screams of a pig. His memory of movies had since waned, and he went into the books he'd been forced to read in high school, detailing the events of [i]the Help[/i], despite only remembering one of the characters was named Skeeter. Eventually, he ceased talking, closing his own eyes, and hoping that Tatiana had long since fallen asleep. 

	[center]~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~[/center]

	Tatiana stirred lightly as the sun started coming into the room, another soft yawn leaving her lips as she nuzzled into a warm strong frame. Slowly she started to wake fully, her eyes opening as she realized that whatever she was curled up against was definitely not the pillow in the bed she had been sleeping in and the fabric clutched in her fingers was not the sheets. Watching the rise and fall of the shirt her head tilted back slowly until her eyes fell on Jack's face. Widening slightly as she turned her head back down, thinking back to the night before. Letting out a long breath as she remembered what happened and realizing they both must have fallen asleep on the couch the night before while he was trying to calm her down.  

	Jack had already been awake for an hour or so. He had kept his eyes closed for the most part, not daring to move. After yesterday, Tatiana needed her rest, and an escape from reality. Dreams were able to fulfill both of those options. Feeling her raise her head, Jack opened his own eyes, smiling goofily. [color=00ff00]"Mornin' princess,"[/color] he greeted. [color=00ff00]"Sleep well?"[/color] He still remained still, despite his arms being a little stiff from remaining in one place so long, and his back in desperate need of a stretch. He didn't want to disturb her. 

	Tatiana nodded slowly as she sat up finally and looked over to him. [color=a187be]"Um, yes, morning,"[/color] she said timidly, she felt a little silly for the way she had acted yesterday and bashful for having fallen asleep in his arms like that. Granted she was not complaining, she had slept well despite everything. Swallowing slightly she slipped to the side and sat down on the edge of the couch next to him. She wasn't exactly sure what to say right then, which caused her to bit down on her bottom lip lightly unable to look over to him right then. 

	[color=00ff00]"It's okay, I know I'm God's gift to women,"[/color] Jack said playfully. He stretched his arms out, yawning slightly, and enjoying the feeling of letting all of the tension out. After that, he reached over and brushed a piece of hair out of Tatiana's eyes, before placing his hands on his knees. Her discomfort, or perhaps embarrassment?, was rather obvious to him. It wasn't as if he minded her falling asleep on him--he couldn't deny that there was something about her that made his world a little less bleak. 

	Tatiana couldn't help but let out a bit of a nervous chuckle at his words. [color=a187be]"Oh yes, everything a girl dreams of,"[/color] she said in a quiet but teasing voice, her eyes still looking away from him and instead staring at the floor. Feeling him reach out an brush the hair out of her face she smiled slightly, her eyes finally looking over to him. She didn't know what she would have done without him over this last month, especially after yesterday. She probably would have ended up being that Walkers dinner if it hadn't been for him with the way she reacted. 

	[color=a187be]"Dank you,"[/color] she said quietly as she looked at him. She wanted to say more but she wasn't sure how to express her gratitude for all he had done for her. For making her smile when she felt down, for just letting her cry and get everything out, for calming her when she turned into an emotional wreck. Even right then he was still just being sweet to her even though she was acting like a timid little bird once again. She figured that maybe there weren't any words. Letting out a shaky sigh as she felt the butterflies fluttering in her stomach she leaned over and gave him a rather sudden but soft kiss as she pressed her lips to his. They lingered there for a moment before she pulled away and she let out a nervous breath. [color=a187be]"For everything."[/color]

	Jack nodded, a blush spreading across his face. While he did want earnestly to kiss her again, he held back, waiting for her to be ready. It wouldn't do anyone any favors to rush into things, to create tension and distrust among the pair of them. For the last month, it had just been the two of them--he wasn't going to risk jeopardizing that. So he resolved to take it slow, to let Tatiana set the pace, and he would follow her lead. Just like a dance. [color=00ff00]"No need to thank me,"[/color] Jack replied, grinning at her. [color=00ff00]"I should be thankin' you."[/color]

	Inwardly Tatiana let out a sigh of relief, he didn't seem angry or taken aback because she kissed him. In fact he blushed in a manner in which she thought she would have if he had kissed her; though she doubted she would have complained if he did. His words though sent all thoughts of him kissing her out of her mind. Thanking her? It confused her utterly. In her mind it made no sense. She had nearly gotten herself killed yesterday. Looking at him as the confusion washed over her features. [color=a187be]"Thank me? For vhat?"[/color]

	[color=00ff00]"For a yeaah, I was alone,"[/color] Jack explained. [color=00ff00]"But now, I've got you."[/color] The sentiment was short and simple, and he recognized that it belonged in the romance movies he avoided like the plague growing up. However, it had to be said. He could feel himself falling for Tatiana a little more as each moment passed. 

	Tatiana froze for a minute, his words bringing a red to come to her freckled cheeks. [color=a187be]"Oh,"[/color] she exclaimed, rather surprised but in a wonderful way. She finally managed to nod a bit as she let slip a shy smile. Reaching out she rested her hand on his lightly. [color=a187be]"Ve have each other,"[/color] she said softly as her slender fingers laced through his.

	Jack gripped her hand tightly, grinning widely at her smile. As dorky and cheesy as the moment was, he didn't care. He could use something a little cheesy, a little romantic, after the hell the world had turned into. Right now, all he wanted to do was keep Tatiana safe. Hearing her say those four little words brightened his world, as if the entire world had turned off the lights, only to flick them on in unison. [color=00ff00]"Yes, yes we do."[/color]

	Tatiana couldn't help but smile at him holding her hand the way he was; she was rather caught up in the moment. It was completely and utterly sappy but she didn't mind. She actually sat there half expecting him to lean in and kiss her or for her to just give in and kiss him again. It seemed like the right time to. That was until her stomach decided to be a prima donna and growl rather loudly at her. Her eyes widened in shock, horror, and total embarrassment. Neither of them had managed to eat the night before because of her little melt down and now her belly was sounding like the death thralls of bull elephant. It wasn't pretty.  

	Jack snickered, poking her belly playfully, as he got up from the couch. [color=00ff00]"Sounds like breakfast is in ordeah,"[/color] Jack commented, walking over to their tiny and dwindling amount of supplies. He didn't dare say it, but he was beginning to suspect that Carrollton was picked over. They'd almost exhausted all of the resources, and soon enough, they'd have to move on. They'd have to find somewhere else--whenever Tatiana was ready for it, of course. [color=00ff00]"Let's see heahe...Wateah and a protein baah?"[/color] Jack offered, plucking the items from their stash. The bar was some off-brand, likely an attempt for whoever ran that Dunkin' Donuts wannabe to make some extra cash. 

	Standing up Tatiana finally stretched a little, running her fingers through her hair to comb it out a bit and trying to smooth out her clothing. She was suddenly very conscientious about the way she looked. Nodding a bit as she stepped over to him she took what was offered and sighed a bit as she spotted how little was left. They had managed to get up a decent supply of gas canned up in the back of the truck but food was becoming harder and harder to come by each day. There was probably still some in the larger areas of town but with it just being the two of them they dared not try to hit any place where they could likely be over run. Taking the bar she tapped the package against her fingers a few times before sighing. [color=a187be]"Ve should leave...."[/color] she whispered, sounding nearly defeated when she did. 

	[color=00ff00]"We'll leave a map for Davi,"[/color] Jack said quickly, thinking on his feet. It wouldn't be easy to leave a trail of breadcrumbs--but perhaps, they could leave one of paper. They had two maps. If they picked a location to head towards, they could circle it and leave the map behind at the house. Whenever they reached that destination, they'd figure out a way to indicate where they were headed next. Jack pulled his map out of the Rainbow Brite bag, spreading it out on the floor. [color=00ff00]"We circle on one of the maps wheahe we'ahe going,"[/color] Jack explained, looking around for something to make a mark with. [color=00ff00]"Then Davi can find us when she comes back."[/color]

	Tatiana didn't like the idea of leaving without finding Davi but they had to. Thankfully Jack was as reassuring as ever with an idea to help Davi find them if she did ever come back. It made the knot in her stomach loosen up a bit. Nodding she pulled out the other map from her bag and the red sharpie marker she kept with it. Taking a breath she looked over the map and sighed. She wasn't sure where they should go. Looking over at Jack she reached out and rested her hand on his shoulder. [color=a187be]"Vhere to?"[/color] she asked in timidly. She didn't want to pick, last place she had picked was where she and Davi had been separated. 

	He covered his eyes with one hand, and with the other, he twirled his index finger in a circle, before coming down on the map. It was the way he had picked his elective courses in middle school and high school. It was how he made decisions when he had no idea what to do. He left it up to fate. Opening his eyes, he saw his finger had landed on a town called Newnan. As far as towns went, it wasn't too far of a drive. [color=00ff00]"Newnan?"[/color] Jack asked, glancing at Tatiana. He wasn't too certain if she'd be quite pleased with his gambling like method of making a decision. But of course, it wasn't like he knew [i]anything[/i] about Georgia beyond what the map told him. 

	Tatiana didn't mind how he chose, it was rather comical and exactly something that didn't surprise her. A goofy easy to pick where they went, he was always goofy and it made her smile. [color=a187be]"Nevnan it is,"[/color] she said agreeing with him and giving a curt nod of her head. Looking around a bit she signed inwardly. They had only been there a month but the place had grown on her. They had dance, laughed, lived there. She knew they had to go, but that didn't make it any easier.

	Holding his hand out for the sharpie, he circled Newnan on Tatiana's map once he received it. He noticed her glance around the room, but first he took the map and dashed off to the bedroom, laying it out on the bed. As far as he was aware, Davi might need to take a snooze at some point. Smoothing it out slightly, he returned to Tatiana, marker still in hand. He recognized the wistful look in her eye, and an idea sprang into his head. [color=00ff00]"Wanna write ouah initials on the wall?"[/color] Jack offered. [color=00ff00]"Heaaht and everythin'."[/color]

	Tatiana stood there looking around the place as Jack ran upstairs with map. As he came back down and mentioned putting their initials on the walls she cocked her head to the side. Stepping closer to him she perked a brow. [color=a187be]"Vhat do you mean?"[/color] she asked a bit confused at what he was getting at or meaning. Jack grinned a bit, stepping over to the wall, sharpie in hand. In big looping motions, he scrawled a J and a T next to each other on the wall. 

	[color=00ff00]"Heaaht oah no heaaht?"[/color] he asked. 

	Tatiana stepped over to him, watching him draw on the wall. She still seemed a bit confused. [color=a187be]"Vhat does this mean? Not knowing vhat you are saying,"[/color] she admitted. She felt kind of silly not being able to figure it out.

	Jack nodded, taking a moment to compose himself. Slowly, very deliberately, he focused on actually pronouncing the neglected letter. [color=00ff00]"Heart or no heart?"[/color] Jack managed to say, squeezing his eyes like a child who tasted something sour. [color=00ff00]"I can draw it around ouah initials,"[/color] he explained. [color=00ff00]"Put our...mark...on the place,"[/color] he continued, stressing the r as much as he could. Years of simply neglecting every r he encountered, he realized, were hard to overcome. 

	Tatiana still did not understand. She heard what he was saying but she was finding it hard to put into words what she was asking outside of just saying it in Russian, the word she was looking for was at the tip of her tongue. [color=a187be]"No, vhat it mean?"[/color] she said as she pointed to their initials on the walls. [color=a187be]"Heart and letters,"[/color] she added before the word she couldn't get out came to her mind and she snapped her fingers next to her head. [color=a187be]"Vhat it symbolize?"[/color]

	[color=00ff00]"Oh!"[/color] Jack exclaimed, relieving that it wasn't an issue of dropped r's. He [i]assumed[/i] that the error was just a difference in cultures. Mentally kicking himself for not realizing that sooner, he thought through how to explain it to her. [color=00ff00]"It, uh, it's what people do when they...when they like each othah. J is me, T is you. It's, uh, it's a statement...That we existed...That we...we had somethin' special. A mahk on the wohld."[/color]

	Tatiana listened closely, taking in what he was saying and processing it. A smile came to her lips, though it was a shy and nervous one. Biting her bottom lip she stepped closer to him. [color=a187be]"Heart mean ve together? Like, couple?"[/color] she asked timidly as fidgeted with the hem line of her shirt.

	Jack nodded. [color=00ff00]"Yeah,"[/color] he said plainly, still holding the sharpie. Through his work as a cop, he'd seen too many women pushed into things. He wasn't going to do that. Instead, he looked back at Tatiana, allowing her to make the choice. [color=00ff00]"Heaaht?"[/color] he asked. 

	Tatiana smiled slightly as she nodded. [color=a187be]"Heart."[/color] She felt a little giddy inside and a lot nervous. With her life; years spent as a refugee, years studying ballet, then this world unfolding Tati had never really given herself a chance to get close to anyone, much less close enough to be [i]with[/i] someone. It was scary, but exciting as well. 

	With the grace of a five year old with a crayon, Jack drew a heart around their initials. He capped the sharpie and gave it back to Tatiana, taking a moment to step back and admire his work. Now, no matter what happened, some bit of them would be remembered. It didn't matter to him if no one ever saw the crude drawing on the wall--just to have something permanent, something that would exist after they were gone, that was enough for him. [color=00ff00]"We should get goin',"[/color] Jack said after a pause. 

	Looking at the wall after Jack gave her back the marker she giggled softly. It was cute and fun, reminding her of Jack. Turning she grabbed her pack and placed the marker back inside. [color=a187be]"Vait, one minute,"[/color] she said before looking around and grabbing the monopoly game as well as the blanket he had used as a tutu. Wrapping the board game box up in it before slipping over to him. [color=a187be]"Happy things important. Ve go no'v."[/color]

	He grinned, taking the game and the blanket from her. There wasn't much room in his bag for it, but he could carry it with him, and set it down by his feet in the car. Hesitating slightly, Jack placed a light kiss on Tatiana's cheek, and handed the map over for her to navigate. His knife was in his free hand, ready in case any walkers attempted to interrupt their getaway. Walking over towards the back door, he shoved the furniture blocking it out of the way, and looked up again at Tatiana. [color=00ff00]"Ready?"[/color]

	Tatiana reached up and touched the place on her cheek where he had kissed her, smiling softly as she bounced slightly on the balls of her feet. Taking a deep breath she slipped the map into her back pocket and unsheathed her hunting knife as she stepped over to him. [color=a187be]"Ready,"[/color] she said with a sure bob of her head. 

	With a nod, Jack opened the back door. The truck wasn't parked too far away, and despite not seeing anything dangerous, he couldn't help but run over. He opened up the truck, putting the game and the blanket in the backseat, along with his Rainbow Brite bag. While he couldn't dance to save his life, driving was one thing he was capable of. He waited there for Tatiana, certain that she likely laughed at his nervous sprint.

	Moving out the door Tatiana looked around quickly before making her way to the passenger side of the truck and climbing in. Setting her bag next to Jack's she put her seat belt on and pulled out the map. Folding it to make it easier to keep a hold of while navigating. Leaning back she looked over to Jack and rested her hand on the open part of the seat between them. [color=a187be]"Okay, let's go."[/color]

	Placing his right hand on hers, Jack used his left to put the key in the ignition, causing the truck to come to life. He then took off the parking break, shifting the gear into drive, and contemplated putting the headlights on. Deciding that it shouldn't be too much of an issue, he turned the lights on, and began to drive from out behind the house, and onto the main road. He glanced over towards Tatiana, waiting for more specific directions as he headed in the general direction of Newnan. 

	Turning her hand over she laced her fingers with his and sighed softly. It was nice to have human contact, to feel affection. Looking down at the map she studied it for a minute before figuring out a route for them to take, granted it might do no good depending on how the roads were. [color=a187be]"Ve go here, try get to 27 and drive south,"[/color] she said suggesting which route they should take to start out.

	[color=00ff00]"Ma'am yes ma'am!"[/color] Jack grinned, driving the truck in that direction. He dearly hoped that there wouldn't be anything blocking the road off. It was the only advantage to not having a car--there wasn't a need to worry if the road was blocked. You could simply climb over any obstacle. But with a truck, given that it wasn't designed for driving over large objects, that could prove a little trickier. Following her guidance, Jack made every turn he could onto a road that'd feed into 27, and whenever a blockage happened, he simply tried to find a way to go south. They were like birds, he realized with a smile, heading south for the winter--or in their case, the hellish nightmare that was reality. 

	The roads, once out even on a less traveled high way were a pain. Before long they had to turn around, back track, try a different route, and then turn around, take a side road and try again. Tatiana would grumble under her breath from time to time as she marked each blocked place on the map as close as she could. They were headed towards Newnan but definitely taking their elbow to get to their ass considering they were on Oak Grove Church Rd headed towards Roopville right now. Leaning back in the seat she rubbed her temples a bit as another road block came into view. If it weren't for the deep ditches on either side they could probably have gotten around. Shaking her head she leaned up and sighed. [color=a187be]"Maybe ve should try move car. Roll off road,"[/color] she suggested since there was only a couple of cars in the way this time. 

	Jack grimaced a bit. Moving furniture around in their house, that was one thing. The odds of a walker jumping out of the closet was pretty minimal. But with the cars? He couldn't help but envision one leaping out at Tatiana, and while he was shouldering another vehicle, her being bitten. To be truthful, Jack was more tempted to try his luck driving into the ditch, even with the tendency for a car to flip. However, he also knew that the situation was getting dire--there weren't that many roads left for them to try. [color=00ff00]"Alright, let's do that,"[/color] Jack said, bringing the car to a stop. 

	Tatiana didn't like the idea anymore than Jack did but she knew it was what had to be done. Nodding slightly she moved her things aside and set them up on the dash board before pulling out her knife. Taking a deep breath she placed her hand on the handle and opened the door slowly, peaking around quietly before she stepped out of the truck and stood up fully. It seemed quiet, for now. Moving quickly she ran over to Jack and stood next to him, her free hand clinging somewhat to his arm as she looked around. [color=a187be]"Stay together?"[/color]

	Jack nodded, having shoved the keys in his coat pocket, and holding his knife in his right hand. If they were lucky, none of the cars would have their parking break on--but if they did, all they'd have to do would be to smash the window, reach inside, and disengage it. Still, he couldn't help but already imagine a hoard coming out towards them, manifesting themselves in a perfect circle, until there was no escape. [color=00ff00]"'Course,"[/color] Jack smiled, glad to not see anything -- yet. [color=00ff00]"If we, uh, move that red one....and that grey one...I think I can pull the caah through the gap."[/color] It'd be tight, of course. He'd much prefer to scrape up the sides of the truck than to have to move extra cars, and put Tatiana in danger any longer than he absolutely had to. 

	Tatiana looked over at the cars he was talking about and swallowed slightly. She was nervous but she knew they needed to get it done and get it done quickly. Stepping over to the rear end of the red one she placed her hands on the trunk of the car and waited for Jack to join her. It felt like it was going to move without much of an issue but she was hardly strong enough to give it the shove it needed to roll down into the ditch alone. Taking a deep breath she gave it a hard shove once Jack joined her and nearly slammed her face into the back of the car as her foot slipped on some wet pavement. [color=a187be]"Ugh..."[/color] 

	Looking down she jumped back a little as a Walker reached out from under the car and tried to grab her ankles. It looked like it had been run over and held pinned down under the back tire beneath the car all this time. The rolling of the wheel finally dislodged it and now it was crawling after her with its innards being torn from its hips with each crawl it made towards her. Tatiana's hands were still on the back of the car, it rolling on its down now and she couldn't get her balance to stand up fully, slowly leaning forward more and more as she bridge out over the Walker trying to keep it from biting her; her feet slipping in the blood on the concrete. [color=a187be]"Jack!"[/color]

	Quickly abandoning his grip on the car, he jumped a bit, hearing Tatiana's startled cry. She was arched over the walker, with the grubby thing desperately trying to get her. His eyes narrowed with rage as he took up his knife, and did a near perfect lunge under Tatiana, driving his knife through the walker's miserable head. His knees popped from the unexpected motion, and had his heart not been racing, he would have laughed at himself a tad. Rising to his feet, he offered an arm to Tatiana, assisting her in getting her balance back. [color=00ff00]"I'll, uh, I'll check undahneath the caah on the next one we move first, yeah?"[/color] 

	Tatiana reached out quickly and took Jack's arm, twisting her body before she could get a good grip and pull herself up. She stumbled a little on the blood still and clung to Jack as she finally regained her footing. Seemed slick blood and guts on concrete was as dangerous as water on a stage for her. Sighing she nodded as she leaned against him and looked around, hoping that her scream hadn't gotten the attention of any other walkers. It had, there were several moving their way now but they were still a good distance off. [color=a187be]"Ve need hurry,"[/color] she said quietly, not wanting to get their attention anymore than she already had. 

	His heart plummeted, glancing at the oncoming storm. Making a quiet resolution to himself to get Tatiana out of there, even at the cost of his own life, Jack put his hands back on the red car. It had already started rolling from their efforts, and he doubted that there would be any other walkers coming out from underneath it. Heaving all of his strength against it, Jack gave the car a good shove with Tatiana's assistance, sending it nearer to the ditch. Jogging over to it with one eye on Tatiana and the other on the walkers, he shoved again, this time sending it over. [color=00ff00]"Grey one, yeah?"[/color] he asked, wiping a bit of sweat off of his forehead. It was from some mixture of exertion or adrenaline. 

	[color=a187be]"Da,"[/color] she said quickly, moving over to it and looking under the car to make sure there wasn't another walker waiting to pop out and try to take a bite out of her ankles as he tried to reenact the Black Knight. Flesh wounds actually killed people these days. [color=a187be]"Clear,"[/color] she whispered as she looked over at Jack and tried to give the car a good shove but it wasn't moving. Tatiana glanced over her shoulder, the walkers were getting close and the car wasn't budging. Granted she had no idea why it wouldn't, she didn't know how to drive so she had no clue about parking breaks. 

	Jack bit down on his lip, before tossing the keys to Tatiana, who reached up and caught them with a confused look on her face. [color=00ff00]"Staht the caah. I'll move this one, and then jump in while you rev it. You put the key in the slot, turn till the engine roars, and then slam the gas like a walkah is right behind you,"[/color] Jack instructed. Tati nodded quickly and ran for the truck, jumping in the driver seat. 

	Switching his knife over to his left, he ran up to the window of the grey car, shook his right hand slightly, and then punched with all of his might. Stifling his screams of pain as best as he could, with the blood running down his hand, Jack reached inside the car, careful not to cut himself more on the glass, and disengaged the parking break. Hoping desperately that Tatiana had their car running, adrenaline fueled Jack's actions, as he ran to the back of the car and pushed as hard as he could, convinced that the walkers were right on his heels. For all he knew, they very well could have been. 

	Tatiana started the truck, throwing it into gear like she had seen him do. Reaching over she threw open the passenger door as she hit the gas and the truck lunged forward. [color=a187be]"Jack!"[/color] she yelled, worried he wasn't going to get in. Her hands trying to keep the truck going forward but she saw the blood as he ran towards her, worry growing in her eyes as her heart pounded in her chest. 

	[color=00ff00]"Comin', princess!"[/color] Jack shouted, managing to get the car halfway into the ditch. A decent tap from their own truck, he figured, would send it over and out of the way. Their lives were far more important than keeping their front bumper in decent shape. With the walkers just a few feet away, Jack heard the engine roaring. His hand continued to bleed profusely, and he made a few creative spins and twirls around the front side of the car, hoping to disorient and confuse the walkers. He clamored into the truck, letting out a slight sigh of relief. 

	Once Jack was in the truck she hit the gas, nudging the car out of the way before driving off down the street as fast as she could handle. She drove with all the grace of a five year old let loose with a golf cart but she stayed on the road mostly. She drove in silence until she put a good distance between them and the walkers. Out of sight but not out of mind. Slamming on the breaks, she brought the truck to an abrupt halt. [color=a187be]"You're hurt,"[/color] she said as she looked over to him, tears welling up in her eyes.

	Jack glanced down at his hand, having gripped it in his shirt during the short drive. He'd been too busy making sure Tatiana didn't drive them into a tree than tending to it. [color=00ff00]"Nah, this is...this is a flesh wound,"[/color] Jack joked, grinning. [color=00ff00]"I've had worse--this is nothin',"[/color] Jack continued, a bit more earnest this time. The glass hadn't cut into anything too important, and mostly, it had just ripped up his skin. It'd heal. A few tight bandages and he'd be good to go. [color=00ff00]"Really, it's nothin'."[/color]

	Tatiana reached in the back seat and grabbed her bag as she moved closer to Jack. [color=a187be]"You're hurt, I fix,"[/color] she said quickly. Her words trembling as they left her lips. Pulling out her first aide kit and resting it in her lap. Opening it up she held out her hands to him. [color=a187be]"Come come, give hand,"[/color] she said as she looked at him, waiting for him to hold out his hand to her before she did anything.

	He held his hand out to her, only wincing slightly at moving it. Rather than focusing on the searing pain, he focused on Tatiana, looking over every inch of her, checking for any sign that she had been hurt. Smiling softly, he flinched when she touched it, with several small shards of glass still clinging to his hand. [color=00ff00]"Caaheful, don't huaht youahself now,"[/color] Jack cautioned. He really didn't want to end up being Blood Brothers with Tatiana. 

	[color=a187be]"I von't,"[/color] she said quietly as she grabbed the tweezers and carefully removed the remaining shards of glass. Sighing deeply she cleaned the wounds as gently as she could. She had a very delicate touch as she worked to clean the wound and bandage it up. Pulling his hand up once she was done she kissed the bandage lightly before reaching out to him and cupping his cheek in her palm. [color=a187be]"You be careful, can't lose you too."[/color]

	Jack nodded, kissing her lips lightly. [color=00ff00]"I promise,"[/color] Jack whispered softly. After a moment, he pulled away, ready to switch spots with Tatiana in the car. He suspected that she'd have enough driving for one lifetime. [color=00ff00]"Want me to drive the caah?"[/color] Jack offered, willing, however, to let her continue to drive the car like a kid playing Mario Kart. 

	Tatiana's lips pulsed gingerly against Jack's, a small smile coming to her face. Looking down bashfully she closed up the first aide kit and shoved it back into her pack before tossing it into the rear seat. Looking back over to him she shook her head. [color=a187be]"You hurt, I need learn. Teach me."[/color]

	He grinned a bit. He'd never taught anyone how to drive before, and while his hand didn't hurt [i]that[/i] much, it could be a fun experience. Mentally searching for what his driver's ed instructors had told him, Jack came up with nothing. Trial by fire it would be, then. [color=00ff00]"Alright, then. Just...Well, just do what you weahe doin' before. Drive forward, m'lady."[/color]

	Tatiana giggled slightly and nodded. She really hadn't ever wanted to learn to drive but he was hurt and if something else came up she wanted to make sure she could get him to safety no matter what. He meant too much to her to not do everything she could to keep him safe and be there for him. [color=a187be]"Seat belt,"[/color] she said as she put hers on. If she crashed, she didn't want him getting hurt. Taking a deep breath she waited before putting the truck into gear and the truck lunging backwards before she slammed on the breaks.

	Chuckling a bit, Jack shook his head. [color=00ff00]"Easy, tigeah. Press the gas pedal softly, and try to go smoothly..."[/color] He did, of course, realize that the advice he gave was subpar at best. Had he known any ballet terms, he would have tried to explain it along those lines. Was there a word for a light press and slow releases? As far as he knew, all ballet terms were actually curses in disguise--none of it made any sense to him. At least they didn't have to worry about hitting cars with people on them--he hadn't seen another living soul beyond Tatiana in ages. 

	[color=a187be]"Vhoops, sorry,"[/color] she said embarrassed as her cheeks went red. Shifting the truck from reverse into drive she tried again. Touching the gas pedal softer this time and driving forward. The acceleration was smoother but she was weaving around like a drunken grandmother on a Sunday drive.

	[color=00ff00]"There, you got it,"[/color] Jack praised. He couldn't care less about Tatiana driving in a straight line. He certainly wouldn't ticket her for winding about as she went. Every so often, he would gently tug on the steering wheel a bit, keeping her from heading off of the road. For the most part, he figured, she'd learn the best by simply figuring everything out. [color=00ff00]"Try and, uh, go straight...If you can,"[/color] Jack said, relaxing a bit more as each minute went on. Had his hand not been cut up, he might have been clenching the seat a tad bit. 

	Tatiana nodded, trying her best to drive straight but she kept over correcting. It wasn't going to bad but it probably was a good thing that neither of them had a lot on their stomachs. Especially when out of no where a deer came bounding out of the woods and Tatiana hit the poor thing full force with the front end of the truck before she slammed on the breaks. [color=a187be]"Bambi!!"[/color] she screamed as she looked horror at the dead mammal on the hood of their vehicle.

	Jack, however, broke into a wide grin. [color=00ff00]"Dineah!"[/color] he cried, almost comically. Checking to see that the coast was clear, he sprang out of the truck, and grabbed the deer carcass with his good arm. The other hand he held up in the air, above his heart, in an effort to keep the slight throbbing pain down. Tossing the carcass into the bed of the trunk, he considered tying it down, but figured that the point was moot. Rejoining Tatiana in the cab, he was grinning like a madman. [color=00ff00]"Bambi'll last us a good while."[/color]

	Tatiana watched wide eyed as Jack hopped out and tossed the dear in the back of the truck. As he climbed back in she finally unglued her white knuckled fingers from the steering wheel. Scooting over she climbed over Jack and motioned towards the drivers seat. [color=a187be]"Please drive, too nervous,"[/color] she said in a shaky voice as she pulled her knees up to her chest, it was obvious she was a bit shook up; so much she hadn't even noticed the blood trickling from her temple or that her head had hit the steering wheel to cause the gash.

	Nodding, Jack climbed over into the driver's seat. It was a bit cramped, but somehow, he managed to make it work. He wasn't the most flexible person, that was for sure. He kissed her forehead lightly, avoiding the gash. [color=00ff00]"You've got a scahtch,"[/color] Jack said softly, panicking on the inside, and attempting to stay calm for her. Reaching for her first aid kit, he rummaged through for a bandage, focusing on his breathing. He didn't want to freak out and cause her to freak out. [color=00ff00]"Stay still..."[/color] he murmured, finally finding one, and tightly bandaging up the wound. [color=00ff00]"Beautiful."[/color]

	Tatiana reached up and touched the spot, pulling her hand away and staring at the blood as she pressed her fingers together. Letting Jack fix her up before looking up at him and smiling slightly. [color=a187be]"Dank you lyublyu," [/color]she said softly. He perked an eyebrow at the last comment. [color=00ff00]"Huh?"[/color] He chuckled a bit, before sending the car flying forward once more, heading towards their ever elusive destination: Newnan. Hopefully, the roads would get clearer the closer they got--rather than the other way around. 

	Tatiana found herself blushing a bit as he questioned what she had meant. Pulling her knees up as he drove towards Newnan she rested her feet on the dash board, picking at the fabric of her jeans nervously. [color=a187be]"Sweetheart term in Russia. Mean love,"[/color] she explained as she bit her bottom lip lightly.

	[color=00ff00]"Ah,"[/color] Jack nodded. [color=00ff00]"I, uh, lyablue you too,"[/color] he chuckled, grinning widely. He could see her anxiousness, and it only made her more adorable. Accelerating the car to move even faster, he kept his eyes on the road, though every so often, he would glance over at her, smiling wider and wider each time he saw her. [color=00ff00]"Maybe I should leahn Russian..."[/color]

	Tatiana giggled sweetly at his trying to copy what she said. It was too adorable and endearing. Looking over to him she smiled softly. [color=a187be]"Then first lesson. Ya lyublyu tebya..ya lu-BLUE teeb-YA," [/color] she said slowly as she enunciated it clearly for him and thanked God there were no R's in it. [color=a187be]"Mean I love you."[/color] 

	Nodding a bit, Jack repeated it to himself in his head once. Repeating it again, he grew more uncertain about whether or not he remembered it correctly. His eyes on the road, he strummed his one good hand on the steering wheel, and cautiously butchered the Russian phrase. [color=00ff00]"Yah looblue teebyah?"[/color] Jack tried, glancing over at Tatiana. He figured that her amused face would let him know how far off he was. 

	Tatiana giggled softly as she brought the back of her hand to her mouth. It wasn't exactly right and his accent made it sound even more off but to her it was the sweetest thing she had ever heard. [color=a187be]"Close enough,"[/color] she chortled as she reached out and squeezed his shoulder gently. [color=a187be]"Try this..solovey..sal-o-v."[/color]

	He rolled his eyes a bit, figuring that she was now going to put him through his paces. Of course, he also noticed the lack of r's present--was his accent [i]really[/i] that bad, he wondered? Steering the car around a flipped minivan, he continued on, his foot practically flattening the gas pedal as they rushed forward. Newnan, he hoped, wouldn't be more than about ten minutes away. [color=00ff00]"Saleohvee,"[/color] Jack repeated, distrusting his sense of time. The entire fiasco with the walkers had thrown him off. Maybe it was twenty minutes away? 

	It wasn't that Tatiana was purposefully avoiding R's, though R's in Russian were usually rolled and it made it hard for a lot of people to get right, it was just she was teaching him some little things that she thought he might enjoy. Hearing his attempt at I love you in her mother tongue was sweet to her ears. Hearing him say a nickname that she had been given years ago and hadn't heard in so long was nearly as sweet. She smiled at him and nodded. [color=a187be]"You do very vell. Solovey is my.."[/color] she said trying to find the word she looking for in English. [color=a187be]"Nickname?"[/color] Was that the word, she thought it was but she wasn't sure. She was fluent in English but her and Davi had spent a lot of time speaking in Russian, so her English had gotten a little more rusty thant she would have liked. [color=a187be]"It mean Nightingale."[/color]

	[color=00ff00]"Solovey...,"[/color] Jack said again, a soft grin playing on his lips. [color=00ff00]"It suits you."[/color] Sifting through years of memories, he couldn't find a nickname he'd gone by that could compare. Though, to be fair, "Jack" [i]was[/i] a nickname. His actual name was Charles Jack Hudson, one of the most atrocious names to ever grace a human soul. Nightingale was just gorgeous, in both languages as well, and it seemed to mirror everything Tatiana was. [color=00ff00]"I can't say I've got a good nickname. Jack's my middle name. So I guess that counts, huh?"[/color] 

	Tatiana smiled over to him, she was glad he liked the nickname; she always had. Perking a brow she nodded slightly. [color=a187be]"I like Jack. But vhat real name?"[/color] she asked slightly confused. Jack sounded like a normal American name, one she had heard before. Why would Jack be a nickname?

	[color=00ff00]"Charles,"[/color] Jack said, hardly touching the r. The way he said it, it was more like [i]Chah-ules[/i], but to be fair, it could have been much worse. The name never really suited him--Jack was a lot simpler, and to be fair, far easier for his friends growing up in Boston to pronounce. Even with the Charles River nearby, they still would drop the r with a vengeance. [color=00ff00]"Neveah really liked it,"[/color] Jack shrugged, swerving around yet another downed vehicle. [color=00ff00]"How faah away are we?"[/color] 

	Tatiana made a face and pretended to gag a bit. She really didn't like the name either, at least not for him. It was so stuffy and uptight to her, or at least it sounded like it would be. He wasn't any of those things. [color=a187be]"I like Jack better,"[/color] she said smiling before glancing down at the map and then looking for some sort of road marker so she could figure out where they were. [color=a187be]"A few more miles, not far,"[/color] she said as they came around from the south end of the city and started heading back north on the main road. They had had to take the long way around but at least they hadn't had anymore problems since the cars blocking the road a ways back. 

	[color=00ff00]"Yeah, Jack is a bettah name,"[/color] he agreed. [color=00ff00]"No idea what possessed my mom to slap Charles on me,"[/color] he chuckled, slowing the car ever so slightly to just under 45 mph. You never knew what you'd find as you got closer to the cities, and so, it called for a slightly more cautious approach. For all he knew, there could be a group of walkers just a mile down the road, holding hands and singing kumbaya as Tatiana and Jack headed straight towards them. Or maybe there'd be a nice old wall for him to crash the car into. 

	[color=a187be]"Maybe she thought you vould be serious person,"[/color] she said before sticking out her tongue and crossing her eyes a bit. Giggling at her own silliness before turning her attention back to the road as she leaned against Jack somewhat. Checking the map as the road went around a bend and more buildings were starting to show. Seemed they were getting closer and closer as each minute ticked by. She hoped there was something there, they needed supplies right then. Granted they had enough gas to last a while, so if there wasn't anything there, at least they could keep moving come tomorrow. 

	He snorted. [color=00ff00]"If so, she must have been disappointed,"[/color] he commented, turning the wheel gradually to navigate the bend. Out of the corner of his eye, he watched the buildings appear, keeping an eye out for any sign of life. Humans could be just as bad as the walkers, if not worse. [color=00ff00]"There was probably some old dead guy named Charles, I figuhe,"[/color] he said idly, with a bit of a chuckle. [color=00ff00]"She loved, uh, the so-called regulah dead people. Histohy buff."[/color]

	Regular dead people? That made Tatiana perked a brow but she didn't get a chance to say anything as the outer wall of Newnan came into view about a mile down the road as the made it down the straightaway. [color=a187be]"Jack...."[/color] she whispered, squeezing his arm slightly as she rested her free hand on the map in her lap. A wall could mean people, that was if everything was okay within the wall. Thing was, if there were people what kind of people were they? As excited as Tatiana was to see some sign that people were still living in this day and age, she worried what kind of people could have created a wall like that. It worried her, she didn't do good around normal people much less less than kind folk. 

	Jack frowned as well, stopping the car. [color=00ff00]"I know..."[/color] he frowned, eyeing the wall. No one would have gone to that sort of trouble for no reason. There had to be people inside of the wall. He couldn't be certain whether they were good or bad, what type of shady things they accomplished to survive. However, there [i]was[/i] a chance that there'd be good people there. [color=00ff00]"We can drive an' take a chance,"[/color] Jack surmised. [color=00ff00]"Or....we could turn around and go someplace else."[/color] He glanced over at her, mentally allowing her to make the decision. He'd protect her either way. 

	Tatiana wanted to run, to just turn around and go. They had been fine over the last month the two of them, in fact other than supplies they had be great. They had laughed, had fun, things that didn't actually happen a lot. But supplies were needed and there was something else. What if Davi was in there? Could she ever forgive herself if she turned around and walked away and her friend for so many years was inside? Looking over towards Jack she got that same timid yet determined look that she got as her grip tightened on his arm. [color=a187be]"Davi... I have to knov,"[/color] she said quietly. 

	He nodded, realizing her point. Davi could very well be inside the wall, having found her way to safety there. Taking his foot off the break, he pressed on the gas, closing the gap between them and the wall. He couldn't deny a bit of him was fearful of what was to come, of the unknown. It reminded him back of his days on the force, when he'd be sent as backup, and enter a home without an idea of what he'd find there. [color=00ff00]"Okay,"[/color] Jack said simply, giving her hand a squeeze as the car pulled up to the wall. 

	Swallowing hard as they headed for the wall Tatiana kept a look out, there didn't seem to be anyone outside the wall and only a few corpses on the ground that had been put out of their misery and hadn't been cleaned up yet. On top of the wall though she spotted someone who spotted them and had a rifle aimed down at the truck as they pulled up to the gate and stopped. Well someone was home but whether or not they would shot them dead in their tracks remained to be seen. Tatiana felt herself getting even more nervous and clinging to Jack as the person yelled out from the tower perched at the top of the wall. "Out of the truck!"

	[color=00ff00]"It's okay,"[/color] Jack reassured her, opening his door. The training he'd received back in the day kicked in, and he exited the vehicle slowly, hands raised in the air. They'd drilled into him to [i]never[/i] give someone a reason to shoot, to comply as best as he could, and then hopefully, he'd make it home safely. That same mantra came back to him as he stepped around the hood of the truck, nodding at Tatiana to come as well. His weapons were at his side, yet he didn't draw them. [color=00ff00]"They won't shoot unless we give 'em a reason to."[/color] 

	Tatiana nodded and slipped out of the truck, one hand on Jack's arm that was raised in the air; she couldn't stop clinging to him and look on her face showed she was terrified right then if the shaking of her hand didn't. Her other hand raised up like Jacks and she looked around nervously, she didn't like being exposed like this. "Alright, toss all weapons and bag into the back of your truck. When the gate opens, drive to the next check point and exit the vehicle again; wait for instructions. Give us any problems and we will put a bullet through your heads," the man at the top of the gate yelled before giving a signal as the gate started to open slowly and two others at different points on the wall popped up and pointed their guns at the two below. "Miss Zoie, it's Jim at the outter gate. We got two incoming to the Inner Gate for Inspection," he said into the radio.

	Jack nodded, slowly lowering his hands. [color=00ff00]"No, uh, no sudden movements now,"[/color] Jack advised, slowly grabbing his Rainbow Brite bag and putting it into the back. He chuckled slightly to himself at the deer carcass--in all of the fuss, he'd forgotten that was back there. His hand had mostly stopped aching as well, and he put his weapons down in the truck bed as well. [color=00ff00]"They'he just as scahed as us,"[/color] he said again, preemptively trying to calm Tatiana down. Tatiana let out a slow breath to try to calm her nerves but it didn't help. Following Jack's lead she tossed her gun and her knife into the back of the truck before grabbing her bag and doing the same. 

	Climbing back into the truck she looked around even more nervous than ever as the gate opened just enough for the truck to get through. Sitting she rested her hands on the dashboard and kept looking around, her head turning from side to side as they drove through the gate. The place seemed huge and she could see animals, actual live stock and crops growing. People were walking around working. She bit her bottom lip nervously before looking back over at Jack and reaching out for him, slipping her arms around his and getting close to him.

	He grinned a bit, having Tatiana close to his side. As he slowly drove the car forward, he glanced around in amazement at their new surroundings. It almost seemed like heaven to him, with all of the life and the apparent lack of need to live off of snacks.  [color=00ff00]"We won't need Peppahidge faahm now,"[/color] he said, his smile growing wider. At the next check point, he stopped the car once more, ready to comply with the instructions. Once more getting out of the vehicle, he kept his hands in the air, yet his eyes continued to wander around, soaking up the new sights and sounds. 

	Tatiana nodded slightly as she looked around. As they stopped she climbed out of the truck the same way as she had before; still clinging to Jack as she looked up and spotted a young woman perched at the top of the wall. She looked down at the two before giving a signal with her hand and those around the wall lowered their guns to the two. [color=f6989d]"Well I'll be damned. Livin' Folks. Yousa hold yerselves right there and I be down. Don't be trying nothin' and we won't be doin' nothin' to ya got it? Isa be Zoie, welcome to Newnan."[/color]