Natalie Williams's Story

Darcy woke up feeling like she had gone ten rounds with Mike Tyson. Every muscle in her body cramped, her face hurt, her head hurt, everything hurt. Moving in her seat she realized she was covered in a warm blanket and a pillow rested behind her head . . . someone had put it there.

Eyes flickering open she rushed forward in her seat as she saw Richard's motionless body laid out on the bed just as all events of the early morning rushed back to her. He hadn't moved an inch. Alarm flared through her as she got up and checked his breathing.

Still breathing! And his pulse was strong, Darcy closed her eyes and sighed in relief as she placed her hand on his forehead. The fever had come down too. How long had she slept? She had no idea . . . it was still light outside.

Sitting down gently on the bed next to him, Darcy pulled down the covers and checked the bandage. Cauterizing the wound had stopped the bleeding. She knew it wasn't the best option but it was all she had as Richard had started to loose consciousness. Infection . . . they would just have to wait and see. But the knives she had used were much cleaner then the hunting knives she was used to seeing doing these jobs, she hoped that made a difference.

Covering him back up. Darcy watched him sleep. How could she possibly love someone she had known such a short time, so much? If someone else had felt that way she would have laughed at them and probably called them all sorts of names for idiot under the sun.

Freelancer, agency, director? Who was he? Darcy knew from the get go he wasn't who he said he was but this . . . this was too much to think about. No one she cared about were who they said they were . . . her father, Josh . . . and now Richard. It scared and worried her, especially where Josh was concerned.

She had been so terribly mad at him . . . but now that the madness had dissipated slightly . . . Darcy knew deep down no matter what he had done . . . He was still her brother. He was not in his right mind. The brother she had grown up with, the one who fought with her, made her cry and then made her laugh was still deep down there . . . she wouldn't let him be killed. How could she let anything happen to him?

But what if it came down to Richard and Josh? How would she choose? The thought frightened her more then any bullets or the threat of death ever could. She just couldn't, she wouldn't let that happen.

Brushing the hair away from his forehead, Darcy bent forward and softly kissed Richard on the lips.

“I'm sorry . . . I love you.” She whispered against his lips.

It seemed like they were the only truthful words she had for him.

Getting up she turned around and spied Natalie watching her. She must have been the one who covered her in the blanket and given her the pillow.

“I'll be back in a few hours.” Darcy said to Natalie as she headed for the door “If he wakes up, make sure he doesn't leave that bed and if he's being a pain in the ass," Darcy said, grinning slightly "as he usually is and won't listen then tie him up if you have to.” She finished half joking, half serious “ . . . and thanks.” She added as she slipped through the door.

Heading for her fathers office. She rummaged through it as fast as she could. If it was Josh that was in charge of these files she doubted she'd find anything here but looked anyway. Nothing as she had expected.

There was only one place that Josh kept his important things . . . At his girlfriend Chrissy's house on the other side of Highgate. Darcy had the file but the hard drives? . . They had to be there and she had to get to them before anyone else did. Josh might have already done so, but Darcy had to find out for sure.

Entering her room, Darcy slumped down on the stool in front of the large antique vanity. The file and the vials she had left still lay there. Picking up a vial she examined it with curiosity. This could save Lilith and the blonde boy. However her brother had said something about it having to be injected. It wasn't something to be taken orally and there were no injections with it. She'd have to find some when she went to get the hard drives.

Looking up, Darcy caught her reflection in the mirror. Jesus! No wonder she felt like she'd been punched in the face. He bottom lip was slightly swollen and the corner of her mouth had a deep cut with dried blood trailing down her chin and . . . Oh God . . . her left eye though not swollen was rimmed above and below in dark purple. “Shit!” Darcy hissed as she examined her reflection closer in the mirror, pushing her long brown locks back with a hand.

Oh man, she looked rough. But she didn't have time for this. Taking a quick shower and putting on the skinny jeans and the Rolling Stones top she had picked out yesterday and a pair of Jimmy Choo stilettos, Darcy headed for her walk in wardrobe and pulled out her Louis Vuitton Duffel bag and stuffed in as many pairs of jeans, tshirt, shoes and jackets she could managed to get in and finally added the file and vials on top and zipped it up. Essentials, you never knew when you might need them, she'd learnt her lesson on that front well enough. She wouldn't be caught in one of Lilith's over-sized t-shirts ever again.

Grabbing her backpack with her gun and all of her other stuff in it and the Duffel bag she went down to the garage. Luckily she had encountered no one on her way. Popping the truck open she placed the Duffel bag in there and got in the driver seat of her Porsche and a few seconds later Darcy was driving out of the gates heading to the other side of town.



((OOC: Okay guys, I gotta go to work now. I'll catch you in around 6 hours! =D Have fun!))

~~dream/flashback~~~~
"So, you're the one that they call Freelancer huh?"

"Yep, you must be Joshua." Ricahrd said as he approached the desk in the mayors officer

"You have the vials?" Joshua asked with a slight impatience in his voice, leaning back in his chair like he was Freelancer's boss

"Not my job to give you those. My job is to make sure that Ghostfather gets set up like he needs too, and that our tests go as planned." Richard walked around the room, looking at the various paintings and antiques on the walls. It was his only time in the city, probably his last since he would be stationed under Gibson army base for the next year or two. Well that was assuming everything went as planned.

"Look, I want those vials before this Ghostfather of yours gets here. I don't want to take the risk of being infected, me or my father. And if I don't get them soon i'll-

"You'll what?" Richard interrupted "Tell people that the government created an artificial parasite? And that this parasite is turning people into brainwashed puppets? You'd be shunned from the public eye. They would say your a paranoid schizophrenic." Richard paused as he got close to the desk and whispered to Joshua "And I hear those Paranoid crazies kill themselves all the time." He said it slow and emotionless as to get his message across.

Joshua gulped "Well, I..uh..you know I was just speaking metaphorically is all."

"Yeah...I bet." Richard replied as he starred at Josh with snake like eyes, then he turned and walked for the door and before leaving he stopped and said "The director well be expecting your call once Ghostfather has arrived. Don't disappoint us."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Richards eyes shot open and he starred frantically around the room. Where was he? He looked around and recognized the bed as the one him and Darcy had made love in. Problem was, Darcy was nowhere to be found. He attempted to sit up, but when he did a searing pain shot through his body and he couldn't even sit up straight. What the hell was wrong with him? He looked under the covers and saw bandages around his body. Yes, it was coming back to him. He had been shot, shot by Joshua. He remembered Darcy looking at him with frightened eyes, then nothing.

He leaned his head back. He had to see Darcy and make sure she was okay. That's when he noticed that at the door was that Natalie girl watching him. Maybe she knew where Darcy was "Hey...you." Richard forced out through hard breaths "Where..Is Darcy?"

Natalie was feeling kind of tired sitting around doing nothing, her head just began to loll forward when there came the sound of movement. She looked up; Darcy was awake and immediately attending to the still unconscious Marcus. After a moment she turned and Natalie hissed in a quiet breath of air at the girl’s face. Ouch, the intruder had certainly done a number on her. Darcy was sporting swollen lip, bruising eye and dried blood. Natalie controlled her face as she listened to what was being said.
“I'll be back in a few hours.” Darcy informed her. “If he wakes up, make sure he doesn't leave that bed and if he's being a pain in the ass - as he usually is - and won't listen then tie him up if you have to.” She finished half joking, half serious. “ . . . and thanks.”With that Darcy left the room. By the sounds of it she rummaged through some of the other rooms as Natalie slowly got to her feet. She reached the doorway in time to see Darcy heading down the stairs. A moment the sound of a car was heard pulling out of the driving way and taking off. Natalie sighed. Please don’t let that girl doing anything stupid, she thought as the image of Darcy kicking infected with stiletto shoed feet as she scouted the local mall. Natalie wondered vaguely what the others were to. The sound of a guitar told her that Leon was up to the usually, unless he was romancing Lilith with his musical skills. She smirked.
"Hey...you." Natalie froze and turned slowly to look at Marcus who had apparently decided to re-join the land of the living. "Where..Is Darcy?" he asked as he dropped back against his pillows after a brief struggle to sit up.
"Firstly, if you try to get out of bed again, so soon after she's finished fixing you, and I will personally poke you in your bandages,” she threatened, stalling. “Secondly – and don’t freak – but uh... Darcy’s gone.”

Leon yawned and rubbed his eyes as conversation broke his focus on guitar playing he looked back towards the bedroom where Natalie was. Ugh. Leon felt a sudden awkwardness rush over him as he remembered her putting Lilith on the spot trying to make her talk. She didn't talk though and that was smart. He felt a smile come across his face as he thought about the situation but also a light shade of red. He brushed his hair away from his face and shook his head, No, he couldn't think of these people in this way. As if they were... Family. No, no, no. His family had died and not to long ago. He always got attatched to things so easily and then he would risk his own life to save them. Except sometimes he tried not to show it. Darcy had left and most of him just ached to go out and get her but a small part of him said it would be better not to. She can take care of herself. Flashbacks ran through his head about the times how she almost died and it was more than one. In this world there was no time for mistakes and unless someones there to back you up, Mistakes will eat you alive. Marcus will get her, he always does somehow. He rememered the moment Marcus had told him to look after Darcy which made him groan. He played a depressing tune on the guitar. Mixed emotions.

(OOC: Still doesn't know his real name :P )

"Firstly, if you try to get out of bed again, so soon after she's finished fixing you, and I will personally poke you in your bandages,” she threatened, stalling. “Secondly – and don’t freak – but uh... Darcy’s gone.”

WHAT!? AGAIN! NO! NO! NO! NO! A HUNDRED TIMES FUCKING NO! Richard shot up, but the pain from the wounds kept him from jumping out of bed. What was that women thinking?! She was going to die! Richard threw his legs over the bed "Get..My...Phone!" he commanded as Natalie came over and tried to push him backward onto the bed, but Richard grabbed her wrist and cranked it backwards, producing a short squeal from the women, but still not letting go. "I...Said...Get my phone!" he hissed as he threw her hand aside. She made some comment but Richard just pointed to his bag. Darcy sure had a great way of complicating things.

Natalie produced a phone from the bag, hopefully not seeing the files, then brought it over to him. Once he had it in hand he growled "Get out!" and she did, but not without running her mouth. He dialed three, then went through the normal motions before being transferred to the director.

"I'm supposed to be in an important meeting Freelancer, this better be good news." the directors voice hissed

"I've...found...Joshua Morgan." Richard puffed into the phone

"That's great, is he dead?" The director questioned

"No...I've been shot." Richard coughed. It was getting easier to catch his breath, but not much.

"What? Shot? Have you found Ghostfather yet?"

"No."

There was a moment of silence, then the director came back on the line "Freelancer, this mission is going over the set parameters. We can wait no longer, I will be going forth wither Operation: Dante."

"No, just give me...more time." Richard puffed

"You have until dawn of tomorrow morning, 12 hours. No more, no less if you and Ghostfather aren't out of there that your problem." click the phone call went dead. He looked at the wall with a dead stare before calling to the Natalie girl

"Natalie!Get Everyone...in here! We need to talk!" It was time he told them some things, or they were all going to die.

~~~~White House Situation Room, Washington D.C~~~~

The director walked in a straightened his suit "I apologize for my tardiness, there was a development with one of my agents."

"Andrew, we were just looking over your...plan." the president said as he sat back in his chair with a unsure look on his face

"Yes, I know it is harsh. But it must be done sir." The director said with a serious stare

"You want to use nuclear weapons on American soil?" The president asked, although he knew the answer.'

"Yes sir, on major cities where the parasite has the best chance of mutating and creating a new species." Director of the CIA Andrew Northfield (His real name, not an alias) didn't need a nuclear weapon to take out Highgate, all he needed was the Aries fuel bombs because the city was so small. So as far as he was concerned the president didn't need to know about it. However, the scientists have started to fear that in major population centers like L.A, New York, Denver etc, the parasite may mutate again and create a new species that would make it harder to cure, and possible give birth to new infected, or new ways to infect a populace faster. Those cities were to big to use fuels bombs on, he needed the big guns.

"This would give us a lot of bad press, the citizens would be outraged."

"With all do respect sir, the citizens will be dead sooner if e don't act. The parasite has already mutated once and it did this. If it mutates again, who knows what it will do."

The president sat and contemplated the crazy plan "who is in favor of the plan" The director and six of the fifteen other advisers raised their hands. The president rubbed his hands together, "I will release five nukes into your direct command, you will only use them as specified in the plan. Any and all deployments must be run through me before hand. That is my decision."

There was a long silence, nobody spoke as they thought about what the president said. This was a defining moment it American history "Thank you sir, you have helped save mankind." Andrew stated, but the president shook his head

"No Andrew...I'm just helping to kill it quicker."

As expected, Marcus did not react well to this news. He began barking orders as he dragged his beaten body from the bed. "Get..My...Phone!"
Natalie tried to stay good to her threat but Marcus grabbed her wrist as she attempted to make him lie down and twisted. Natalie yelped and angry tears sprung to eyes.
"I...Said...Get my phone!" he hissed and releasedher suddenly.
She cradled her wrist and glared at him. “Ungrateful bastard,” she snarled. He simply pointed at the bag. Roughly digging through the files and other things in the bag she produced the phone and practically threw it at him. He then ordered her out of the room, none too kindly.
Natalie left, not quietly and with a creative string of vicious comments; she left and slammed the door behind her. It was childish, yes, but it was also intensely satisfying. Standing alone in the hallway Natalie rolled her wrist experimentally. It wasn’t too bad, just a little tender.
She stalked through the open door of her own bedroom and began shoving her stuff back in her bag. The crowbar was put next to it on the bed while changed her shirt and laced up her boots. She didn’t expect the group would be staying here long. She had planned on leaving town to begin with anyway.
She was more careful about packing her sketchbook not wanting to crumple the most recent sketch. Earlier this morning she’d been eating pancakes and had Leon questioning her about her feelings Jin, boy did that seem a long time ago. She hadn’t seen Jin all day. She walked over to the balcony where she’d slept part of the night. Leon was playing music again on another balcony and Natalie closed her eyes and sighed. Her peace was short-lived
"Natalie! Get Everyone...in here! We need to talk!" Marcus yelled from the other room.
"Natalie! Get Everyone...in here! We need to talk!" Natalie mimicked, screwing up her face to imitate the grouchy expression of a particular government dogsbody she knew. “Mummy’s gone out and Daddy’s calling a family meeting,” she grumbled under her breath. She opened her eyes and her next bitter comment died in her throat.
It made sense really, with all the noise from the yelling and gunshots. The property gates were opened so that Darcy had been able to drive out. So it made sense that the infected would now be stumbling across the perfectly manicured lawn. And there were a lot of them. And the large windows of the downstairs living had been blown out. Dammit, why hadn’t she got hands on a gun yet?
“Get them yourself!” she yelled back to Marcus. “We’ve got company!”
She threw her back on and grabbed her crowbar.

"Are any other people there?" Leo asked a little nervously.

“Yeah,” Darcy replied “More then I care to think about.”

Not that she wanted to see them die or would throw them out but they were an uncontrollable lot that didn't listen well and she wasn't used to not being listened to. People always did what Darcy said.

“And home is my home, on the outskirts of Highgate. Don't worry,” Darcy commented with a smirk and a quick glance at the nervous boy “You'll fit right in.”

As they drove closer to the mansion Darcy noticed quite a few of those creatures running towards her home. Shit! It must have been all that noise with Josh. Well there was no way any more were getting into her home. She ran over as many as she possible could – because, apparently, that's what she did now - practically crushing skulls and vital organs. Yuk! But by the time she got to the open gates there were only still two slowly crawling towards the mansion.

Wait . . . The gates were open? But she hadn't left the gates open . . . had she? And then she saw the Jeep Lilith was following her in parked at the front of the mansion. Damn it! Lilith obviously didn't know about the remote in the cars to close the gates and had unintentionally left them open. Well at least Lilith had made it back, that was something.

Pulling up next to the Jeep. Darcy grabbed the remote for the gates from the glove compartment and pressed the buttons. She could hear and see the gates closing in her rear view mirror. At least no more infected would get through there any more . . . She pressed the button for the back gates too, just in case.

Getting out of the car, Darcy could see three infected trying to get through the shattered window, Richard had blown out earlier today. Grabbing her pack and her gun she shot at the three Zombies. Instantly the two uninjured ones ran towards her. Darcy kept firing shots till they all lay dead on the ground in a pool of blood and splattered flesh.

Looking around there seemed to be a dead few already littered around the ground. Someone had already taken most of them out.

“Inside, come on.” Darcy said to Leo who was looking around at the place.

Once Darcy and Leo had stepped inside the foyer, she securely locked the door not wanting to take any more chances. Turning around she saw the foyer floor littered with dead Zombies. Or re-dead Zombies or whatever. But there were a lot! Luckily all dead though. But no one was down stairs.

Running up the wooden staircase Darcy passed a shot Zombie with it's brain splattered all over the banister. Suppressing her nausea Darcy ran passed it covering her mouth with her free hand. Half way up she saw people on the far right of the hallway.

Richard! Heart beating triple time. He was alive . . . and obviously in pain! As he half keeled over hand on knee trying to catch his breath as his face screwed up in agony. She ran up to him.

“Richard!” She breathed as she placed his arm over her shoulder stopping him from completely collapsing to the ground in pain.

That's when Darcy noticed Natalie and the scrawny blonde boy, whose name she still didn't know.

“I thought I told you not to let him out of bed!" She began shouting at Natalie but stopped realizing the girl probably gave it her best shot but the uncompromising man himself probably didn't bother listening. So instead she continued more calmly. "Go down stairs and barricade that shattered window however you can.” Darcy ordered them quickly “There's no more infected down there and I've locked the gates but I don't want to take any chance. Leo you go help them too.”

It was a large bay window and would take a few things to secure it properly. The two boys followed Natalie back down the stairs.

Turning back to Richard, she frantically ran her hands over him to make sure he was okay.

“Oh my God!” She whispered frantically but happily relieved “Your awake! I was so scared, I thought you had die-” She stopped suddenly looking up at him . . . realizing he was out of bed!

He was up and about! What was wrong with this man?! Did he have no natural instincts for self preservation?!

“What the hell do you think you are doing?!” Darcy began shouting at him “You almost died! And here you are running around like your a damn spring chicken!”

Richard grinned through the pain at her which just made Darcy madder.

“You're going back to bed!” She commanded “And don't even think about arguing because first I will injure you further and then I will drag your dying carcass back to bed and try and put you back together . . . Again!”

“Yes, Your Highness.” Richard commented smiling through the pain as Darcy scowled and helped him into the bedroom they had shared the night before, her parents bedroom and pushed him gently down on the bed.

Richard groaned in pain as he tried to push himself up again. “I don't think so Mister!” Darcy claimed as she climbed onto the bed and straddled his waist, effectively stopping him from getting up as she placed her gun and fully loaded backpack next to them.

Still sitting on top of him Darcy riffled through her backpack and had completely forgotten about hiding the left side of her battered face from Richard.

“I weigh like a gazillion pounds so there is no way you're getting up buddy!” She said as she helped Richard pull his stained shirt over his head. She would have to get him another one.

She ignored the smart-ass remarks he made as he laid back on the pillows.

She looked over the bandage. It had started to bleed slightly! No doubt thanks to his moving about! “Stubborn man!” Darcy grumbled to herself.

Going back to work, Darcy quickly removed the bandaged and cleaned the wound with Whiskey from the nightstand. The bleeding had stopped, so she applied some of the burn cream that she had brought from the Pharmacy. Richard hissed in pain as she applied the cream.

"Sorry," She said still mad at him because thinking about anything happening to him frightened her to death, so she concentrated on being mad at him, that was easier to deal with. "but it'll make it better." And began wrapping the wounds back up in new bandages as she continued her angry diatribe.

“I cannot believe you! If you don't care about yourself,” she hissed, as she closed her eyes to the shiver that racked her whole body at the memory of him collapsing face first in front of her and bleeding unstoppably; as she continued concentrating on wrapping “at least think about me! Do you think I could bare it if anything happened to you again?! When I saw you today with-”

Without warning, Darcy gasped, as she was suddenly pulled forward by her long brown hair and Richards lips crushed hers . . .

Leon sat there guitar and sword in hand and just waited, silently. The zombies all made their way to Marcus because ofcourse he was bleeding, he had missed a lot but he was glad. Darcy had left, Marcus twisted Natalie's arm which Leon knew not to interfere because this man was obviously stronger than him. He saw the look in Jin's eyes as he did so. They were totally a match made by destiny, they knew it too but didn't say anything. What did they have to lose? They were in a freakin' zombie apocolypse. This would be the best time... before they run out of time. Marcus managed to kill them all. Holy hell. Darcy came up with a young kid, just a little bit younger than him. He probably wouldn't like being called a kid, Leon knew that he hated it when he was little. Little. When he was younger.

"Richard!" Screamed Darcy as she ran up to Marcus
What the Hell? Who the Hell? Richard? Leon knew he should've seen this coming, he knew he was secretive and all that kinds of thing but he just felt damged, broken, betrayed. He had only knew this man for like 48 hours and yet he felt he was his grandpa. He was way to old, well looked way to old to be his father. She gave some orders to Natalie.

"Leo..." Darcy said.
That was the only thing he heard.
"Yes." Leon quickly said.
But then Darcy was looking at the new kid. Wait. This kid. Dude. No way. He stole his name, hell no. Leo was his nickname and his only and this kid suddenly shows up with his name being Leo. Leon raised his eyebrow and shook his head with a little bit of annoyance. He got totally angry over this name.

Natalie was up to elbows in stuff that didn't bear thinking about. Her hair was pinned in a bun against the back of her neck and she had a scarf wrapped around her mouth and nose. A pair of rubber pink dishwashing gloves stretched over her hands and forearms. Well they’d started off pink. With all the blood, brain and other unnameable gore now covering them it was a bit hard to tell. She had to keep reminding herself not to wipe beads of sweat from her forehead
She’d been dragging the dead infected from the house to a far corner of the lawn for a good part of the afternoon. Every now and again she’d find one still grasping for prey and it had to be put down. The ones from inside mostly had cracked skulls and bullet holes, so it had been just that dark viscous excuse for blood that had caused a mess. Out in the driveway however Darcy had taken a very effective if somewhat messier approach. Infected road kill was not a pretty sight.
Natalie sighed and nearly gagged on the next intake of breath. Even with the scarf the smell was nauseating. So far she’d managed to keep her last meal down but if she had to deal with the sight and smell of them she didn’t think that was going to last long.
Darcy was upstairs forcing Marcus -or whatever his name was - back to bed; and they wre likely getting ‘reacquainted’. Lilith was around; apparently she’d nicked off with Darcy before, but she was back now. And as for the other guys, well Leon was babysitting the new kid Leo, but Jin hadn't made an appearance recently - Natalie was considering leaving her gloves in his bed as a thankyou present for all his help right now, or lack thereof. She smiled behind her scarf, and she knew it was not a pleasant smile.
Maybe he'd been eaten. Natalie's smile faltered at her own sarcastic thought. Whatever she'd said to Leon, she did think Jin was pretty cool. Not that she'd tell the guy that. With his love of wit and sarcasm he'd probably get a big head and she'd be required to punch him or something.
The last body, or half a body considering it was just a disfigured face and arms attached to the appear half of a torso with a protruding section of white spine at the bottom – Natalie’s throat tightened as she fought a wave of nausea – was on the pile with the rest. Natalie had the sudden urge to empty a tank of fuel on it and watch it burn, but the smoke might attract things.
Now she had to deal with the damage to the house. "Go down stairs and barricade that shattered window however you can,” Darcy had ordered. An almost floor to ceiling window had been blown out and she wanted Natalie fix it. Fine, whatever. Darcy was fixing people and Natalie could do other damage control. She was trying to be more tolerant of the other girl but boy did she make it hard.
Natalie ditched the gloves on the pile and headed inside. Since Darcy had closed the gates the repairs weren’t likely to need to withstand another infected attack. In the end, with the use of some kings-size bed sheets, shower curtains, duct-tape, a couple of broom handles, a ladder and some nails, she was able to produce satisfactory results.
Feeling exhausted Natalie made a show of stomping loudly upstairs to shower and find some fresh clothes that weren’t covered in gore and grime.

Everything seemed to have moved quickly and slowly at teh same time. He had left Natalie to rest and explored the house. He had found himself in the attic and he realized that not only was the light on but there was a window. He moved quickly over and saw some of those things pushing against the back of the gate. He gripped his new knife when he saw something better in teh corner. It was a metal baseball bat. He closed the blinds and slipped out the window. He dropped to the ground and rolled along with his new toy. Drawing Natalie had calmed him down considerably but it was the appearance of the robot that sent him on edge. he needed to vent a little.

He woke up to distant gun shots. He looked up and could barely make out the way he had fallen down the hill. He looked down from the perch he had fallen a sleep in and sure enough those monsters were still there. He had been stupid to come out so far and especially when it was so dark. He had to get moving but light would have to wait. When the light shone once more Jin caught the horrible future that awaited him. All the noise that had been made at the house had drawn a crowd. There were three of these things below his tree.

"For fuck sake," he muttered as he looked up the hill to all the others that were making their way there. He caught the faint sound of a car engine and the first thought was that they had left him. His grip was numb and he had trouble moving his fingers but he did what he could to warm them up.

When he was ready to go he caught the sound of an engine returning. He was as warmed up as he was ever going to be. He climbed down quite skillfully just out of reach and then he jumped off and rolled as he ran up the hill back to the house. He heard shots being fired and tried to pick up the pace. His running drew some attention but by the time he was close the monster in question had a bat to the knee and was watching Jin continue his sprint. Jin reached the fence and used a nearby tree to hop over. He saw the place was a mess. But the gunshots had ceased so he decided to make his way back the way he left.

He climbed a banister and ran across the roof and then entered through the attic again. He dragged the bat as he went back to the top floor and made his way to the shower. He didn't think he smelled to fresh and wanted to remedy that. There was a faint smell of pancakes in the air.

"Damn it," he muttered. "I love pancakes too." he said with a grin

He heard stomping and found an exhausted but still muse worthy Natalie.
"Hey," he said with a smile and exhausted tone of his own. "Are there any pancakes left?"

"Hey."
Natalie almost walked into him as she reached the top of the stairs. Jin smiled at her. He looked a little rumpled and as exhausted as her. She closed her mouth and tried to remind herself that not very long ago she’d been conspiring unpleasant reprisals for his recent absence.
"Are there any pancakes left?" he asked.
Pancakes? Oh, the breakfast she’d cooked forever ago?
“Uh…” Very good, Natalie. Now try words. “Pancakes.” Brilliant. She was going to kill Leon. This was his fault; she’d been perfectly capable of normal functioning before he’d insisted on the big heart to heart session this morning. Putting him in an awkward situation with a girl was not punishment enough.
She quickly recovered. “…were in the kitchen last I saw. I cooked a decent amount but who knows how much this lot have had. And any they’ve left are probably cold by now. I suppose I could make some more. I should probably freshen up before handling food…”
Natalie took a breath. Enough rambling. She could be a normal person. Yeah, she kinda maybe liked Jin but that wasn’t an excuse. She didn’t even really know him. She tilted her head slightly and gave a quizzical look. “How old are you anyway?” she blurted. Yeah, that lasted all of ten seconds. She was going to blame exhaustion; that was the excuse she was sticking to anyway.

"Twenty-three." He answered with a smirk. "There isn't an age limit is there? Because I really like pancakes." He gave a warm smile as his body started to relax the more he talked to Natalie. His mind played back what she had just said and images or her in much less clothes played through his mind. He wanted to draw her again.

"I'm glad to see you are ok and-" images once again played before his eyes. "I was wondering if you liked my picture?" He was stepping closer when a rock came flying through the window.

He saw someone come in and he raised his bloodied bat and gently guided Natalie behind him and readied a swing.

Moving closer over Richard, Darcy kissed him softly "I can't let you die either." She whispered against his lips as she looked him in the eyes and stroked the side of is face.

The soft kissed turned into a hard all encompassing one as if their lives depended on it as Richard twined his fingers in Darcy's dark masses of brown curls and pulled her down . . . But then he winced and groaned.

Darcy fingers trailed down his muscled chest to his bandaged abdomen. It was the pain from his wound, it must be unbearable . . . and she had completely forgotten about the medicine she had brought for him. Stupid!

“Wait.” She whispered as she half got out of bed and started putting her underwear back on.

“Where are you going?” Richard asked his features still distraught with pain as he reached an arm out across the sheets.

“Nowhere.” Darcy replied zipping up her skinny jeans “At least not without you.” She said smiling over her shoulder as she pulled on her snug gray Rolling Stones T-shirt over her head.

She laughed lightly as he frowned at her, “Don't worry so much,” She winked and smiled down at him as she used the cotton comfort to wipe the sweat breaking out on his brow and kissed him on the cheek “I have a plan.”

Richard was clearly not happy with her declaration. Poor thing. Thought Darcy as she smooth his hair back with a hand. He obviously wasn't used to being in a position where he had no choice but to let another take command. Shouldn't have got yourself shot then! Thought Darcy peeved, if he'd shown a little concern for himself in the first place, he wouldn't be in such a position.

Grabbing both their backpacks, Darcy shuffled through her Louis Vuitton and pulled out four boxes of painkillers and three boxes of antibiotics. Removing a single pill from each and then Darcy stuffed the seven boxes in total into Richards pack.

“What are these?” Richard question in pain as Darcy helped him up, placing pillows behind his back so he would be more comfortable and put the two pills to his lips.

“One is for the pain and the other is antibiotics so your wounds don't become infected.” She smiled sweetly down at him. “I've put some in your pack, you gotta remember to take them.” She added as she gave him the glass of water from the night stand. “Okay, now I'll be right back. Don't,” Darcy added seriously “even think about moving!” as she slipped out of the door.


Walking out into the hallway she noticed Jin and Natalie huddled over at the other end. What the hell was so interesting on the floor? Darcy headed over to investigate.

“Again?!” She shouted exasperatedly as she reached Jin and Natalie’s side, who, she could now see were looking over, once again, the unconscious body of the scrawny blonde boy who had been yelling out in the hallway earlier. “Well, at least you shut him up.” Darcy commented plainly as she bent down to check his pulse once again. “Still strong, he'll live.” She was actually mildly amused and somewhat surprised that the boy was still alive, even after multiple concussions. At the so called hands of his saviors. Indeed, amusing.

Getting up she turned back to Jin the culprit, who still held the baseball bat in hand and a bemused Natalie. “We need to talk.” Darcy said over her shoulder as she walked down the stairs “Get everyone together and meet me in the Kitchen in half an hour.”

Heading for the Kitchen herself; Darcy only realized how very hungry she was when she smelt Pancakes. Of course, no surprise there were none left. It had almost been, what, two days since she had eaten. Two days! And that had only been a cold drink and a nasty Gas Station Sandwich.

Opening the massive stainless steel fridge Darcy stuffed her face with whatever she could get her hands on. After she could not eat another bite, she rustled up some food for Richard and headed back up stairs.

She stopped at the top of the landing. One more thing. Before she went back to Richard. Darcy headed for her fathers office and found an old rolled up map of Highgate. Placing the map under her arm, she went back to Richard with the food.

Darcy had a plan. A brilliant plan if she did say so herself . . . and if Richard didn't get on board with it . . . Well . . . then she would just have to drug his ass . . . because there was noway she would leave him here to die.

Natalie didn’t back up when Jin moved closer, she looked up at him slightly distracted by the smirk of his mouth. “I- ” she began to reply when a rock smashed through a nearby window.
Jin’s focus quickly shifted to some approaching danger and Natalie found herself being moved behind him as he raised his bloodied bat. Natalie rested a hand on the curve of his shoulder while the other tightened on her crowbar and she peered around him.
As the figure came into view she recognised its face. Her hand on Jin’s shoulder tightened but she felt the muscles moving under her hand; he’d already committed to the swing, “Jin-!”
The kid from earlier got it in the side of the head and crumpled to the ground. “Ouch,” breathed Natalie as the two of the stared at the little blonde boy lying on the ground.

“Again?!” came an exasperatedly shout Natalie jumped and looked guiltily towards Darcy who had appeared beside them. “Well, at least you shut him up.” Darcy commented plainly as she bent down to check his pulse once again. “Still strong, he'll live.” Natalie let out a relieved breath she didn’t realise she’d been holding.
Getting up Darcy turned back towards the two of them. “We need to talk,” she said over her shoulder as she walked down the stairs. “Get everyone together and meet me in the Kitchen in half an hour.”

“You know, I’m beginning to see why she and Marcus get along so well,” Natalie said wryly as she watched the other girl heading towards the kitchen. She looked back to the situation at hand. Speaking of hands, hers was still rested on Jin’s shoulder. Her mind began to wander but she just smiled and took her hand back.
When Jin looked at her she hid the look in her eyes by looking instead down at the unconscious kid, “Do you want me…” she kept her eyes steadfast looking down, “…to uh… get his feet, and you get his arms? We shouldn’t really just leave him here. And despite how much we enjoy their company we should probably go see why Mommy and Pop are calling the family meeting.”

Jin didn't really get a chance to clear things up but seeing as the guy wasn't actually hit in the head then everything was fine.

“We need to talk.” Darcy said over her shoulder as she walked down the stairs “Get everyone together and meet me in the Kitchen in half an hour.”

Jin glanced over at Natalie and they smiled. Natalie offered to help with his feet but Jin shook his head as his eyes wandered up an down Natalie's frame.
"I got this," he said a tad saddened seeing as he had honestly considered joining her. "We'll meet up back here and go to the family meeting, yeah?" He watched as Natalie walked away to get cleaned up. Jin smirked as he placed the guy in the closest room and then went to get himself washed up. The sensation was nice enough seeing as he thought he wouldn't have made it back to the house all night. He stepped out of the shower only to remember that the clothes he had been wearing were filthy, were not his, and anything else was in another room. He sighed as he placed the bath robe on. He then stepped into the hallway as he found his way back to Darcy's brother's room to grab some clothes. The bat was clean once more as he carried it down the hallway. He stepped into the brother's room to once more to get some clothes.

(OOC: Not sure what room Darcy and Richard are in.)
_________________________________
(Same Room)

"Uhm," Jin said as he lifted one hand. "Hey there, Robot." With that said and done he made his way to the dresser and closet. Jin took notice of the map. His eyes scanned it quickly and he got the gist of what he saw but not what it was. He made a mental note to try to draw it later. "Don't mind me," he stated as he started to rummage once more. He had seen a nice dark grey shirt earlier and wanted to get a hold of it. Jin took his time seeing if they would talk anymore but when he found what he was looking for he had no choice but to leave.

---------------------------------
(Different Room)

Jin entered the room and gave some practice swings from his now clean bat. He was never a baseball player but he hadn't missed any of those things last night or this morning. He considered his natural talent as he placed the bat next to dresser as he looked in for the clothes he noticed before. He got dressed fast enough and grabbed his bat once more.
_____________________________

Jin met Natalie in the hallway.

"Looking good there, beautiful," he said with the bat by his side. "You clean up good." Jin motioned for her to walk with him as he made his way towards the stairs. "So what do you think of this heart to heart in the kitchen?" he asked as he wondered where everyone else was.

After the long amount of time Leon had spent with the new 'kid', Leo, he knew he needed to be away from this annoying, tantrum-filled teenager. He gripped his own, dark brown hair and mouthed a scream while the kid wasn't looking. The Brits always kept their manners right...
"I'll.. err... be right back." He said quickly and ran off as fast as he could.
He sighed and leant his head against the railing of the stairs, his eyes looking at Natalie and Jin. A smirk grew across his face as he jumped down the flight of stairs with no struggle and came around to the scrawny blonde on the floor. Was he still out cold from before or did someone knock him out again? Leon groaned then looked up to Natalie then Jin and winked, noticing Natalie had quickly moved her arm from his shoulder and asked Jin if he wanted to carry the body with her.
"Yes, yes. Bond." Leon smirked and then walked off a little at Natalie's face expression. He was only a few steps away when he turned around.
"James Bond!" He shrugged off and sat down on a lounge, smiling quite content with himself.

"I think that this kitchen of Darcy's seems to be seeing a lot of heart to hearts lately," replied Natalie still smiling at Jin’s compliment. And other things.
Having enjoyed a quick shower and slipped into fresh clothes Natalie had been wandering the halls slowly making her way towards the kitchen when she’d glimpsed someone going between rooms. Jin carrying his baseball bat and dressed only in a bathrobe was quite a pleasant sight. She’d waited down the hallway for him to come back out before joining him on his way to the kitchen.
“Between this family meeting and Leon’s antics, it’s only a matter of time before someone other than that kid gets hit over the head,” her grin turned wicked as she thought of how best to exact her revenge on Leon.
“So… twenty-three? That’s doable – I mean, for pancakes,” she quickly corrected. “But you might be too old for chocolate chips if I am persuaded to make a fresh batch.”
She skipped down the last couple of steps and looked back up at him.

"Jesus Christ, what the hell happened?" Matthew had finally woken up, and was trying to pull himself up. His head was hurting like hell, so he put his hand to his forehead. Blood. "Dickheads. I'm having a migraine now, and I need to tell them something... What was I going to tell them anyways? Whatever, my head feels likes it got hit with a baseball bat." Matthew spit up a glob of blood onto the floor, along with a tooth. "Aw, come on." He started to walk towards the kitchen, when he saw an asian man and a woman. The asian man was holding a bloodied baseball bat. "Course'.

"So, I suppose your the guy who hit me with the baseball bat huh? Well, it fucking hurt." Matthew said to the man and the woman.

"So, I suppose your the guy who hit me with the baseball bat huh? Well, it fucking hurt." Someone said from a little further down the hallway.
Leo raised his eyebrows, "What the hell?" He whispered to himself, these people werent very civilized, were they?
Walking towards the direction of the voice that had spoken, Leo stopped when he saw three people, two men and a woman.
The asian guy had a baseball bat that had blood on it.
Looking at the other guy, Leo saw that his head was bleeding.
Oh, wonderful. He thought glumly, Maybe i'll be next to get my head bashed in.

"Well you three look friendly." Leo said, a sarcastic tone to his voice.
By now he was sure that everyone here was completely insane, if they werent... then they wouldnt be hitting eachother in the head with baseball bats.

Matthew turned towards the voice and rolled his eyes. "Thanks for the compliment. And, I'm not exactly the one smashing skulls here. That guy over there is a little bit swinghappy! But, 'Akuma Matata', right? At least I'm alive." Matthew turned back around to the man and the woman.
"Hey, I think I remember what I was going to tell you people. There's a horde, at least a hundred of'em, coming this way."