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Katie had given her a second chance though A second chance at life A new life in a world that had changed all the rules, but that she found she could actually function in Maybe that did make her loca, but she didn’t care

She brushed a tear away and found her way to the communication center Curtis sat there, still in his unifor worn out and shellshocked He had taken a shower and washed out his clothes and they clung damply to his skin, but he didn’t see over one of the speakers

"Stay on the minor roads I’ll ood buddy," another voice said

Curtis noticed her presence and looked up at her slowly

"Who are they?"

"Truckers Looking for a place"

"Did you tell them about us?"

"Too far out Too little gas A few s…" He shook his head "We have to figure out how to make it safe for more people to co past her to go greet Curtis

The doggy love actually brought a smile to Curtis’ face and he leaned down to rub the Ger on with Katie?"

Curtis sighed "Still real sick Real sick"

Jenni sat down on a cold, ether "What do they think it is?"

"Travis is afraid it’s the zoaze frohed "But he’s not sure"

Curtis nodded "Not sure"

Jenni looked at the little communications center, then said, "Can I sit here? And wait? Maybe they’ll call?"

Curtis returned his gaze to her and she gave hiirl lost" look He nodded "Sure You can stay"

Jenni smiled at hi on the cold metal seat "Turn up the CB Maybe soave her a shy smile and nodded "Okay" He leaned over and turned it up and Jenni watched hiot, she would find out as really happening to Katie

3 Beyond

Travis sat in darkness The only light caht on the far side of the room Katie lay curled on the bed, her blond curls in disarray around her face She looked waxen, pale, and frightfully drawn On the dresser next to him was a revolver Ralph had instructed him very precisely how to handle it And Nerit had very intently insisted that he could not falter, he could not flinch If Katie rose fro hu his hands together, he let out a low sigh This was hard Very hard Harder than it should be To sit here and wait for this woman to fade from the world into the world of the dead just to put a bullet between her eyes see the absolute joy he had felt in o

It had been one of the oddest moments of his life He had just looked at her and knew her He felt he should know her nah they had been friends who had endured ether and then were separated by life He had felt strongly he should open his mouth and say her name, but he didn’t know her But somehow he did Even when she had mentioned her wife, and yeah, that had kinda threw hi that Jenni, with her long flowing raven hair, pale skin, and lu he had ever found desirable physically about a wo similar to his exfiancee Darlene But it was the tall blond with the long, lean body, intense features, and wickedly sharp gaze that had instantly grabbed his attention

He had even noted how her eyes turned up slightly at the ends, speaking of Nordic blood in her genes

I know you, he wanted to say And she had seeood Protestant, he didn’t believe much in miracles or the mystical But he did now Zoument

They weren’t natural, he knew thatshe was important to not only hi his logical rasped before But now he sat in this dark roo for the end He was convinced of it now

At times she called out softly for Lydia At other times her father Once or twice for Jenni

"Please," she had begged Travis once during a lucid moment "Take care of Jenni"

He kneould take care of Jenni And Jason And all the others For Katie and her s he could not iine His loss had been a Dear John letter left on his pillow

Hers had been seeing Lydia as one of those things

There was a sharp intake of breath frory, filled his eyes and he picked up the gun