Copyright: Capcom owns the Resident Evil franchise, not me.
Notices: This story contains violence and sexual content. Additionally, this story will contain grammatical or other errors. If you're feverish over the errors, feel free to privately message me about what you find and help me improve.
Summary: The Earth is flourishing, happily. But humans are endangered and on the verge of extinction after the greedy corporation Umbrella knowingly releases a viral plague. Small human civilizations survive including a moving convoy led by the strong Claire Redfield. Her solitary world turns upside down when she meets an infuriating yet mysterious woman named Alice. Claire soon learns about an underground survivor camp through Alice and heads there. However, Claire begins to secretly fear losing K-Mart, who has become her only source of strength over the years.
Feedback: redhope@redhope.net
Homepage: http://www.redhope.net
Write a Review: http://www.redhope.net/residentevil/review/oneshotform.html
List: http://tv.groups.yahoo.com/group/redhope/
Started: November 11, 2011
Series: One Shot
Copyright: Capcom owns the Resident Evil franchise, not me.
Notices: This story contains violence and sexual content. Additionally, this story will contain grammatical or other errors. If you're feverish over the errors, feel free to privately message me about what you find and help me improve.
Summary: The Earth is flourishing, happily. But humans are endangered and on the verge of extinction after the greedy corporation Umbrella knowingly releases a viral plague. Small human civilizations survive including a moving convoy led by the strong Claire Redfield. Her solitary world turns upside down when she meets an infuriating yet mysterious woman named Alice. Claire soon learns about an underground survivor camp through Alice and heads there. However, Claire begins to secretly fear losing K-Mart, who has become her only source of strength over the years.
Feedback: redhope@redhope.net
Homepage: http://www.redhope.net
Write a Review: http://www.redhope.net/residentevil/review/oneshotform.html
List: http://tv.groups.yahoo.com/group/redhope/
Started: November 11, 2011
Series: One Shot
Trigon
by Red Hope
Chapter 8
K-Mart was actually happy to get back on the road today. They hadn't really traveled incredibly far since Claire had the convoy on the road after lunch. That only left them with three hours of a drive. For the first time, K-Mart had a brief glimpse of Maryland, but she imagined that western Maryland was rather different than the eastern portion closer to the Chesapeake Bay. Some part of her wished to see more of the state, but they weren't tourists. They were survivors constantly on the run from undead.
Claire guided the convoy onto Route 81, which once was a major highway that ran parallel to the eastern side of the Appalachian Mountains. But their travel on Route 81 was short due to the increase of abandoned cars on the highway. It seemed as if the entire population of Hagerstown had decided to go south on Route 81 during the apocalypse. Now Claire's convoy couldn't utilize the major highway and were forced onto backroads again.
K-Mart could tell her friend wasn't too happy about it. Yet it wasn't anything new to them and Route 63 was a lot less jammed with forgotten vehicles. From a quick glance at Claire's GPS, they would have to get onto Route 11 so they could cross the Potomac River. K-Mart though was slightly worried after she saw how low the sun hung in the western sky.
"It's getting late," K-Mart commented to her friend.
Claire chewed on her bottom lip then replied, "We need to get away from this area."
K-Mart silently agreed that it wasn't good for them to remain so near Hagerstown. They'd already ran over a few undead that'd been wondering on Route 81 north of the small city. Camping anywhere near Hagerstown wasn't just dangerous, but a suicide wish.
"If we get over the Potomac then we'll be safer."
K-Mart hid her concerns and asked, "Is there plenty of open land after the Potomac?"
"Yes, before Martinsburg," Claire promised. She'd already gone over a rundown from satellite images with Mikey.
K-Mart blew out a breath. She prayed that it was true. She quieted her thoughts by going back to her book. She hadn't picked up her textbooks today and planned to do so tomorrow.
Claire was focused on her driving, but she kept looking at the sun that crept closer to the horizon. She didn't want to make camp in the dark. However, today was one of those days that Claire couldn't perfectly plan for.
The drive to Route 11's bridge was only thirty minutes away. Claire had to travel carefully through the small town of Williamsport. She flicked on the Hummer's headlights once the sun started creeping below the horizon. Quickly her eyes scanned back and forth for undead on the road.
"K-Mart," Claire softly called. She wanted help.
K-Mart hastily shut her book and put it away then straightened up in the seat. She hadn't realized they were in Williamsport. She knew the bridge couldn't be far. But she hastily searched for road obstructions, especially moving ones. "There." She pointed to her right.
"Got it." Claire snatched her radio off the dash and hit the talk button. "Carlos, you got this one?"
"We have it," Carlos replied over the radio.
K-Mart watched in awe as the undead was shot in the head with perfect accuracy. She knew it was Chase hanging out the tanker's passenger window. "He's so good at that."
Claire grinned but pushed lower on the gas. She wanted to get out of Williamsport and across the damn river. She wasn't sure why she needed to hurry up, but her skin was crawling badly. It felt like hundreds of eyes were on the convoy. Claire glanced up at the GPS and saw the bridge was a quarter of a mile. Relief started to come over her, but she held it back because something wasn't settled right in her stomach.
"Um... Claire..." K-Mart stared wide eye at the road block to enter the bridge. She could tell it'd been there for a long time since there were bits of grass sprouting from the jersey curbs.
"Shit," Claire hissed. She braked the Hummer in front of the road block.
"The bridge could be out too," K-Mart commented. "Maybe that's why it's blocked up."
Claire shook her head and jerked the Hummer into park. "Or it's traffic control to put everybody on Route 81."
That made sense to K-Mart since they saw so many abandoned cars on the highway. She didn't say anything back and looked over at her friend.
Claire had the radio in her hand again. "Carlos, we need some explosives to get this damn thing out of the way."
"We should check that the bridge is safe and not blocked on the other end," Carlos radioed back.
Claire frowned, but Carlos was right too. She suspected the Potomac was a fairly large and deep river. She replied to Carlos and wanted two teams organized for both the bombing and protecting the convoy while they blew the road block out of the way. She personally planned to check the bridge after she had the convoy reverse down Route 11.
Once the convoy had backed up enough, Claire was able to tuck the Hummer into a grassy spot between a building's two walls. She suspected it was a former lumber yard by the equipment poking above the facilities. She left the Hummer running and headlights off but turned to K-Mart.
"I want you to stay here." Claire grabbed the radio off the dash. "Where's your radio?"
K-Mart hastily opened the glovebox and produced the handheld radio. She switched it on and was pleased the battery was fine.
"Channel 8," Claire informed her friend.
K-Mart set it then also retrieved one of the Glocks from in the glovebox. She placed the radio in her lap and kept the volume low. She dropped the magazine out of the Glock, checked it was full, and slammed it back in then racked the first bullet.
Claire was satisfied but still sternly reminded, "Get into the driver's seat, keep it running, and radio me if you see anything."
K-Mart nodded. She knew the drill, but it made Claire feel better to go over it each time.
Claire returned the nod then climbed out of the driver's seat. She went to the rear of the Hummer while K-Mart shifted to the driver's seat. In seconds, Claire had the carbine in her hands and the shotgun strapped across her back. The Berretta handguns already were tucked in her rear waistband. She slammed the door down then went to the driver's door.
K-Mart was slightly startled by her friend's return.
"Keep the damn doors locked and the windows up," Claire sharply ordered.
K-Mart nodded and hit the lock button after her friend shut the door. She sighed and kept her eyes on Claire's confident stride out onto Route 11 then to the bridge. She canted her head as Claire briefly spoke to Carlos then went to the block in front of the bridge. Claire hopped over it then disappeared into the early darkness.
Now that nervous sensation crept into K-Mart's chest too. She didn't like this at all. She adjusted the handheld radio's volume so it was louder. She listened to Carlos ordering the convoy managers to get setup while the blasts were prepared to take out the jersey curbs. After a few minutes, K-Mart was forced to briefly shield her eyes thanks to the powerful flood lights over top of the bus, tankers, and news van were lit up.
The entire area was well lit now due to the intense lights. On top of the vehicles, several marksmen took posts and kept an eye out for trouble. Chase was in charge and handled his spot from the diesel tanker. He had night vision binoculars, which he used to scan the local area.
"How's it looking, Claire?" Carlos spoke over the radio.
K-Mart peered down at the radio. She tensely waited for her friend's voice, but it was a long silence. "Come on, Claire." She started vibrating her right leg up and down.
"It looks good, Carlos." Claire was obviously running by how her breath was short. "Get the explosives... taped up." She could run pretty quick but it was still a hike to come from one end of the bridge to the other. But she had to be certain that the bridge was safe all the way. "I'll be there in a minute."
"Roger that," Carlos responded. He ordered Brian to carefully place the explosives so that it'd take out the curbs but not damage the bridge. He and Claire highly relied on Brian's skill with explosives.
K-Mart placed the radio in her lap then grabbed the Hummer's shifter knob. She jiggled the knob in a nervous habit while she waited for Claire. She then went still after a distinct thump on the Hummer's roof. Every bit of life drained out of her once she realized what could be on the roof. K-Mart quickly scooped up the radio, lowered the volume, and frantically whispered, "There's something on the Hummer." She dropped the radio despite it filled with voices. She grabbed the Glock from the dash once footfall started down the roof.
But a distinct shot resounded around the convoy then it went quiet. K-Mart jumped in the chair after a thud, and she practically crawled up the chair when a lifeless undead slid down the front of the car window. There was a dark blood trail that smeared over the window.
"Oh my god," K-Mart gasped. She stared in shock at the motionless creature.
The undead had once been a middle aged man with an earring in his right lobe. His dark hair was slightly paled now. The welts and cuts on his face were distinct against the decomposition. But his lifeless black eyes were on the human inside the Hummer. His arms were stretched above the front window and the black wristbands gleamed in the moonlight. The slight opening in his mouth seemed as if he was about to speak but instead it merely exposed the tip of his inky tongue.
"K-Mart, get the Hell out of there!" Claire blasted over the radio. She was standing on the jersey curb, walkie in one hand, and carbine in her right hand. She fearfully stared at several undead perched on the roof of the building where she'd parked the Hummer. "K-Mart!" she screamed into the radio. She didn't wait for a response, dropped the radio, and lifted the carbine with both hands. Her initial shots caused a wave of gunfire from the convoy.
K-Mart was jolted to life by the sudden chaos. She jerked the shifted knob into drive and floored the Hummer. She barely managed the steering wheel since the Glock was in her right hand. She was panicked and frightened but came right towards Claire. Behind her, there were undead falling off the building's roof thanks to the rain of bullets.
Claire jumped off the concrete curb and heard the Hummer's brakes squeal. She raced to the Hummer and grabbed the undead on the Hummer's hood. She had a handful of tattered, dirty clothing and tossed the body off the vehicle. She threw open the door and barked, "Move!" She tossed K-Mart the carbine while she frantically climbed into the driver's seat.
The gunfire consumed the area as the dead were taken out like target practice. The few that made it off the roof were instantly shot in the head by Chase, just like the first one he'd killed on the Hummer. He then heard Claire's renewed voice over the radio and demanded the curb be blown up.
Brian had the trigger, but he was also shooting on the undead at Carlos's side. He lowered his rifle and grabbed the trigger. He checked that the Hummer was far enough from the curb that it was safe. After a fast glance over his shoulder at the curb, he deduced it was safe. Claire's furious demands were met after he hit the trigger.
Concrete spewed all around and tumbled onto the road or over the side onto the grassy land far below the bridge. Once the dust settled, the yellow Hummer tore past and started the frantic flee to get away from the undead in Williamsport. Everybody hastily reloaded into the cars and trucks, but Chase and two other marksmen kept the undead in check as the convoy followed the Hummer. Each vehicle narrowly missed Claire's forgotten handheld radio hidden under some concrete rubble.
Claire sped down the bridge and nearly forgot the headlights. She flicked them once she realized how dark it was because of the cloud cover. There was hardly any sunlight to speak of and the moon wasn't out yet. Claire didn't want to hit any undead at any point without first being aware of them.
K-Mart was slumped in her seat, gripping both the carbine and Glock, and trying to gain her composure again. She should have been use to the undead by now, but she couldn't seem to get over their ugly faces.
"How are we looking?" Claire demanded over the radio. She had to know the convoy was making it safely despite her unspoken priority was always K-Mart.
"We're in the clear," L.J. reported. He was at the end of the convoy with his tow truck. He stole another glance out his back window and was glad to see the last undead giving up. He didn't quite understand why, but what really bothered him was how it ran for them. L.J. had never seen an undead run before. He swallowed hard and radioed, "I'm halfway over the bridge."
Claire had already driven off the bridge and continued on Route 11. She hit the talk button. "Was anybody hurt? Any casualties?"
"No," Carlos reported, "Everybody is safe."
Claire let out a low breath and pressed the radio against her forehead. She silently thanked God that nobody was lost or attacked by an undead. She use to think a dead survivor was bad, but she quickly learned a bitten one was far more heartbreaking. Claire licked her dry lips and pushed the talk button again. "We're going to drive south for twenty to thirty minutes." She released the talk button and recalled her original plans before the road block. "Then we go west and make camp." She heard a few agreements. She tossed the radio on the dash and made a mental note to get a new one for K-Mart since she'd tossed hers earlier.
K-Mart shut her eyes and let out a low breath. Thankfully the shakes started to subside, but a hand on her knee made her jerk again.
"Are you alright?" Claire checked. She had a hard time looking out the window and visually inspecting her friend.
K-Mart nodded a few times. "Yeah." She shifted in the seat then dropped her head against the rest.
Claire started feeling in control again now that they were safely away from Williamsport. She hoped nothing else happened tonight. "Can you put that in the back?" She pulled the window washer knob and happily rid of the blood stain on the front window.
K-Mart straightened up then did what Claire asked so she twisted in the seat and gently tossed the M4 carbine into the rear. She flopped in her chair then put the Glock away too in its hidden spot. She worked her hand through her hair after she put her green hat in her lap.
Claire saw how K-Mart's hand trembled. She hated to see her friend that way and wished she'd been in the Hummer when the attack started. Whenever she had a bad feeling that's when they were attacked by undead.
"We'll make camp soon," Claire promised. She felt that K-Mart viewed the camps as a moment of safety and peace from the Hellish world.
K-Mart nodded but looked out the side window. She knew that Claire was trying to comfort somehow, but K-Mart didn't expect it from Claire. This was their life now, and she wanted to accept the horror of it. K-Mart didn't need to be protected from it anymore.
Claire flexed her grip on the steering wheel and struggled to calm down after the attack. Damn she hated those undead. She swore if something had happened to K-Mart then she would have been broken in half. Once upon a time Claire had it all and now all she had was K-Mart. She wouldn't lose the last thing that meant something to her.
K-Mart briefly dozed off until the Hummer turned onto a dirt road. She was jarred awake and put her cap back on after Claire came upon their latest camp spot. She couldn't see much outside the windows, but the headlights revealed a former farmland that was being reclaimed by the neighboring woods.
Claire shut off the engine but continued radioing what order she wanted the vehicles. It was nothing new after the tanker and bus parked on either side of the Hummer. She climbed out of the Hummer, hooked the radio to her hip, and reclaimed the carbine from the backseat. An odd thought came to mind, and she hopped onto the black rail. She glared at the large dimples in the hood thanks to the goddamn undead. After a hefty sigh, she hopped off the running board and went around the Hummer.
K-Mart canted her head once her friend was in front of her. She knew that Claire was doing a visual assessment of her body despite the undead had been on the Hummer and not near K-Mart.
Claire stood inches from K-Mart and used the still running vehicle headlights from behind the Hummer to help her assess K-Mart. She bowed her head when hesitant amber eyes met her gaze.
K-Mart held her friend's curious eyes. She nearly touched Claire's hip until Carlos's arrival from the tanker made her jam her hands into her jeans' pockets.
"Claire," Carlos started. He hooked his thumbs through his belt.
Claire didn't acknowledge Carlos despite she clearly heard him. She instead canted her head at K-Mart then ran her index finger and thumb down the brim's rim.
K-Mart pursed her lips and understood Claire's silent question. She reached up and tugged the right corner of her own hat's brim.
Claire accepted K-Mart's response then finally faced Carlos, who was getting on her nerves more so lately. She broke away from her friend and followed Carlos so she could get the camp setup properly.
K-Mart briefly watched Claire and Carlos's receding figures in the darkness then she sadly let out a breath. She planned to go help Mikey get the initial part of the perimeter ready before Carlos or L.J. set out the cameras on the four-wheeler. But tonight was one of the few nights that Mikey asked K-Mart to set the surveillance cameras in the quad. She readily agreed and went to the M35 cargo truck that the convoy had acquired only six months ago. K-Mart had the pack of cameras on her back, which she took into the truck's bed.
Carlos approached the dark green M35 cargo truck, which the military nicknamed the deuce and half because it was rated for two and half ton weight class. He curiously noted K-Mart setting up the cameras for him. "Hey, K-Mart."
"Hey, Carlos," K-Mart offered back. She finished hooking the pack to the quad's side. "Mikey has the cameras ready for tonight." She hopped off the four-wheeler's side.
"Thanks." Carlos climbed up into the truck bed but remained on the opposite side of the quad. He decided he might get some questions answered through K-Mart. "Hey, do you know what's been up with Claire lately?"
K-Mart had gone to the rear of the deuce and half. She sat on the locked gate at the end of the cargo bed. "What you mean?" She decided to play dumb.
Carlos sat on the side of the quad and rested his hands on his propped up leg. "She's been edgy... more than normal." He hoped his normal charm still worked on K-Mart. But recently he'd noticed that K-Mart's crush from years past seemed to have faded away. If he wasn't mistaken, Carlos was sure that K-Mart instead had a fascination for Claire. He'd tried approaching Claire about it a few times, but Claire didn't want to have the conversation.
K-Mart seemed to consider it, but she shook her head and mentioned, "She acts like her normal self... to me."
Carlos held back a slight frown. "It started after Alice showed up."
K-Mart shrugged then tapped her boot tip against the quad's rear tire. "She was edgy about Alice," she softly admitted. She studied the tire for a second then met Carlos's inquisitive gaze. "But she's been better since Alice left." She wasn't about to admit the truth of the matter.
Carlos drummed his fingers once on his leg then stood up. "Did Claire say anything about Alice?"
K-Mart bit back a smirk and decided Alice was a perfect tool to use against Carlos's ego. "Claire didn't say much... you know Claire." She stood up too then added, "But I think Claire secretly found Alice pretty attractive."
Carlos did a double-take at the news. "Attractive?"
K-Mart had turned to the gate, but she faced Carlos again. "Yeah." She pretended to be confused and checked, "She didn't tell you?" She shrugged at Carlos's headshake. "Alice was hot." She didn't wait for a response and climbed over the gate then hopped off the M35 cargo truck. "See ya, Carlos."
Carlos rubbed the back of his neck. "See you, K-Mart." He sighed and muttered, "Nice talkin' to ya too." He wished he hadn't asked about Claire. He returned to his duty and started the quad so it could warm up while he opened the gate and lowered the ramp at the rear of the deuce and half.
K-Mart returned to Mikey's news van and told him that Carlos was headed off on the quad shortly. She accepted Mikey's thanks and decided to hang out for awhile longer until dinner time. She planned to stay around the campfire for dinner so she could be warm. She wasn't surprised when Mikey decided to go with her to Otto's four-wheeled kitchen.
Mikey took a seat with her friend in front of the campfire that did warm them both up. Tonight was cooler and may just hit freezing levels for the first frost of the fall. K-Mart made a mental note to get extra blankets out of the back of the Hummer for her and Claire tonight. K-Mart loved the winter, but she hated to be cold. Claire though seemed to be impervious to hot or cold temperatures.
After dinner, K-Mart said goodnight to Mikey, gave him a quick hug, and went back to the empty Hummer. She first retrieved the extra blankets and distributed them evenly in the back and front seats. Then it was time to catch up on her journal for the day. K-Mart sat in the backseat, flashlight in her right hand, and journal opened between her propped up legs against the front seat. The entry took a solid hour before K-Mart could close it up and retrieve her fiction book. She stretched out in the backseat with the blankets over her body. She started reading but became drowsy within half an hour.
But the Hummer's front passenger door opening stirred K-Mart awake. She lowered her book and was glad to see Claire.
"Hey, K." Claire noted the extra blankets and was grateful. She first stripped off her jacket and neatly set it on the dash. She then placed her handguns on top of it along with the radio. "How's the reading?" She already spotted the distinct book resting on K-Mart's blanketed stomach.
"Almost done."
Claire softly grinned because she knew that her friend didn't like the idea of not having another fiction book after this one. "We got a raid possibly tomorrow."
K-Mart perked up at this news. "Really?" She caught the grin on Claire's face. "You think you can pick me up another book?"
Claire turned her smirk onto the teen. "You know I'll do my best."
"Sweet," K-Mart murmured. She hoped for a new book.
Claire hauled herself into the front seats, shut the passenger door, and stretched out her legs into the driver's seat. She leaned against the now padded passenger door and tugged her hat's brim over her face. She adjusted the blankets once before settling in.
K-Mart went back to her book and wanted to finish the last few pages in the chapter. She nibbled on her lower lip, but focus kept eluding her. She clicked off the flashlight then sat in silence for a minute. "Claire?" She tensely waited for a response from the leader.
"Mmmm."
K-Mart lowered the flashlight on top of her book. She considered how to put this carefully and decided it really didn't matter. "Carlos..." She paused and heard her friend shift.
"What about Carlos?"
K-Mart heard the undertone of protective streak in Claire's words. She cringed because she could accidently and easily start a fire between Carlos and Claire.
"Did he do something?"
K-Mart cringed again once she realized she was taking too damn long to answer Claire. She looked over at her friend's now visible features. "He asked me why you've been on edge lately." She watched the tension visibly ebb from Claire.
"What'd you tell him?" Claire fixed her hat so she could see her friend better.
K-Mart shrugged and answered, "That Alice had you on edge but you're fine now."
"Did he believe you?" Claire watched her friend's features and would be able to easily tell if K-Mart was telling her the truth. But in the past year and half, she never caught her friend in a lie like it had been at the start. She and K-Mart had come a long way in their relationship since the beginning.
K-Mart rolled her shoulders and honestly replied, "I'm not sure... sorta." She then lowered her eyes to the book and flashlight in her lap.
Claire narrowed her eyes once she realized there was something else. "What, K-Mart?"
K-Mart clamped her teeth on her lower lip then inwardly sighed. How could she be so damn obvious to Claire? "Well... I sort of..."
"Sort of what?"
K-Mart wiggled under the blankets slightly lower. "Well, I gave Carlos the impression that you thought Alice was hot."
"What?" Claire barked. She grabbed her hat, tore it off, and swatted K-Mart with it. "What the fuck were you thinking, K-Mart?" She was annoyed but not really angry.
K-Mart rubbed her shoulder where the hat got her. "He's been up your ass more than normal lately, Claire." She glowered at her friend. "I figured this would take him down a notch."
"Or it'll just make him come onto me more if he finds out I'm a lesbian," Claire sharply explained to her friend.
K-Mart blew out a breath, but was transfixed on her book. "I hadn't really considered that part," she quietly admitted.
Claire sighed and realized there wasn't much she could do about it right now. She had on her hat, which was hiding her face again. "He'll assume something is going on between us too."
K-Mart blushed, brightly. She hadn't thought of that either. She closed her eyes and berated herself for not thinking this out better. It seemed like a pretty damn good idea when she was talking with Carlos.
"Don't worry about it, K." Claire planned to correct it in the next days. And she didn't want K-Mart mulling over it all night long. "Get some rest."
K-Mart blew out a breath and muttered, "Right." She put her book and flashlight on the floor for the night. "Sorry, Claire."
Claire sunk lower and folded her arms. "Thanks for trying." She grinned at her friend's tactic that could work or most likely backfire. Tomorrow at first light with Carlos would tell her more.
K-Mart had a sad smile at the leader's honest gratitude. She lowered down under the blankets and tugged them over her shoulder. She was on her side and laid there thinking about what she'd said to Carlos. It made her think about Alice and Claire.
"Claire, do you think about her at all?" K-Mart gripped the blankets' tighter and accepted she probably wouldn't get a response after countless seconds lapsed in silence.
"Yeah, K," Claire softly confessed from the front.
K-Mart agreed that she did too, but she didn't voice that to Claire. She closed her eyes and quietly murmured, "I wonder where she is now."
Claire briefly opened her eyes but closed them again and ended K-Mart's muses by stating, "It doesn't matter."
K-Mart had a frown at Claire's reply. She was confident that Claire found Alice attractive and not just mysterious, irritating, and even irrational. But it wasn't her place to press the matter, at least not right now. She instead quieted for the night after saying goodnight to the leader.
Claire was able to sleep for awhile after she stopped thinking about Alice. However, she had heated dreams that were too confusing and involved both Alice and K-Mart. They woke her up in a sweat, and the blankets felt like a layer of fire against her body. She quickly removed them and sighed in relief. Her head gently thunked against the glass window.
K-Mart stirred awake and murmured, "Claire?"
Claire was breathing hard and shut her eyes. Heat flashes made her tremble, but she fought against the dream's last effects on her. Then a burning hand against her arm made her jump until K-Mart's voice soothed her.
K-Mart squeezed the damp skin under her hand. She gently tugged on Claire's arm after she realized what kind of dream Claire had tonight. "Come back here," she softly encouraged Claire.
Claire shook from K-Mart's obvious invite that teased her excited body. She toyed with her hat's brim in hopes the seconds would give her strength to resist. But she broke down after K-Mart's thumb stroked over her arm. She gave in so easily, in her opinion.
K-Mart withdrew after Claire got out of the Hummer. She watched how Claire steadied herself on the short trip around the front of the Hummer. She imagined the cold air tonight eased away some of Claire's burn, but it wouldn't silence it.
Claire opened the rear passenger door at K-Mart's feet. She discovered that K-Mart had moved the blankets down onto the floor so it made it easy for Claire to crawl over K-Mart.
After the door shut, K-Mart started breathing harder and welcomed Claire into the back with her. She hooked Claire's chin and drew her down for a tender kiss.
Claire savored the affection from K-Mart. She moaned when K-Mart ran her hands over Claire's sticky back under the shirt. After the kiss, Claire lifted her head and brushed her long, red hair out of the way. She studied K-Mart's admiring features and realized she could have lost K-Mart tonight in Williamsport. Her worst nightmare was K-Mart being bitten and what Claire's ultimate duty would be at that point. But Claire's fears was quieted by K-Mart's next kiss.
Their first time in the Hummer wasn't frantic like it'd been in the farmhouse the prior nights. K-Mart always remained in her clothes except tonight Claire took off K-Mart's black top. For several minutes, Claire placed perfect kiss over K-Mart's chest. But she never removed K-Mart's bra or any other clothes. K-Mart didn't question it and willingly accepted what Claire wanted to do between them.
Eventually Claire was free of her clothes, which rested in the front seat for later. She remained on top of K-Mart the entire time. She feverishly rocked her body against K-Mart's driving fingers. She dug her nails into the front seat, which provided extra support. But K-Mart guided her further forward then she gasped when K-Mart's lips covered her right breast.
Claire continued fighting down her screams so they wouldn't be heard by anybody beyond the Hummer. She gripped both the front seat and a rear headrest after she reached her climax that gave her both pleasure and relief. She held down her cry while her entire body slipped into the orgasm.
K-Mart watched the strong Claire Redfield collapse from her towering, arched posture. She was ready for it too and drew Claire down against her body and tangled her right hand in Claire's hair. After a minute, she carefully withdrew her still damp fingers from Claire's center.
Claire gave off a low moan then tightened her arm across her lover's waist. She tucked her face in K-Mart's neck as she regained her strength. After a few minutes, she felt nimble fingers trailing up and down her sticky back then went lower on the sixth stroke.
K-Mart traced a triangle over Claire's lower back before her hand went lower. But a quick grab around her wrist made her stop.
"We can't, K," Claire murmured. She threaded her hand through K-Mart's left hand. She wasn't confident that during a second round she could be so quiet.
K-Mart accepted Claire's regretful yet gentle words and kissed her lover's temple. She lowered her right foot down onto the floor and was able to better support Claire's greater weight.
Claire sighed once she realized she needed to move to the front seat. She stole a few more seconds to enjoy the beautiful throb from her clit thanks to K-Mart's attention to it. She collected her will that came from the leader in her, and she sat up.
K-Mart pushed up some and helped Claire get her clothes back on minus the socks and boots.
Claire ran her fingers through her slightly disheveled hair. She yanked her top down correctly then started to get out of the Hummer. But a gentle pull on her shoulder made her turn back. She wasn't surprised by K-Mart's kiss and softly returned it.
K-Mart let Claire go after that and shifted away from the door before Claire closed it. She watched Claire go around the Hummer again, but she peered through the window at the diesel tanker not far from them. She considered whether or not Claire would rework the vehicles' locations, but she doubted it because K-Mart's safety couldn't be compromised in Claire's mind. Claire would rather be seen having sex with K-Mart than put K-Mart's safety at risk just so they could keep things private. That wasn't to say Claire wouldn't go above and beyond to keep their recent developments a complete secret from the convoy. But thank god for tinted windows, in K-Mart's opinion.
Claire returned to the front seats and softly shut the door. She put on her boots and socks now then adjusted the blankets over her cooled off body. Last, she grabbed her hat from off the floor and put it on for the night's rest. She noted that K-Mart was already under the blankets after getting her own shirt on too.
There was no doubt that K-Mart, like Claire, would keep silent about their sexual relationship. Claire was thankful for it and even more grateful that K-Mart didn't question any of it. From the surface, it appeared that Claire was just using K-Mart as a outlet for release. However, Claire wasn't worried that K-Mart believed it. It was simply how it had to be between them if Claire could still lead the convoy without fault. There was no room for confessions of love when it came to the convoy leader. If Claire faltered then the survivors would pay for it, and Claire especially couldn't have K-Mart pay for her mistake as a leader.
K-Mart's life was far more precious than Claire's chance at happiness.