03. patrol meetings
CHAPTER THREE
THE ROOM WAS SMALL AND STUFFY, SOME DUST HAD COATED THE UPPER SHELVES AND THE SCENT OF CHALK WAS OVERBEARING. The open window didn't offer much relief and Bonnie, who sat in front of Vienna grimaced as Eugene wrote down their names on the chalkboard, goosebumps forming on her skin from the sound of it.
Greg and William were still half asleep as they nodded off every now and then. It was still dark outside but it wasn't that early. Tommy was late for their monthly patrol meeting, he was usually the first in the room.
"What if Maria went into labour?" muttered Bonnie, worriedly.
"She's four months pregnant, Bon." deadpanned Eugene, shooting her a pointed look over his shoulder as he finished with his own name on the board. "That just ain't realistic."
"Four months?" she raised a brow, brushing a strand of red hair behind her ear. "She's been pregnant for ages."
The door opened and Tommy entered, shutting the door behind himself quietly. "Sorry, i'm late." He rubbed a hand over his face tiredly, blinking the sleep from his eyes as he took the spot Eugene had been in in front of the chalkboard. "Had to take care of some things."
"Don't we all." grumbled William, tipping his head back slightly as he forced his eyes open. "So, what's it going to be this time? Any areas were going to add to our never ending patrols?"
"Shut up, asshole." scowled Vienna, crossing her arms over her chest. "We haven't even started debrief yet."
"I'm just saying," defended the man. "we added two areas in the last two months and they're big areas. How are we going to keep this up with only sixteen of us? Some of us have families to take care of and we can't just stay out for days on end."
"You're right." agreed Tommy, seemingly having lost all his sleep in the last ten seconds as he stared at William. "It isn't fair. But Elk Creek and Wilson Valley were both overrun with infected and we needed them gone. It wouldn't have been long before they'd venture into Teton County and reached us. We need to keep this place safe to keep it working, you all know that."
"We need more people on patrol." voiced Gregg, agreeing with William. "That way we can divide each shift more equally. We have five areas to cover as of now and there's only sixteen of us. I'd say we get at least four more so we can divide us in groups of four instead of two or three."
"You're right." nodded William, leaning against the table they were sat at. "I also think we don't have to patrol Teton County and Hoback Pass every day like we used to. We haven't run into infected there for a few months. We could go there every other day."
"Spring is coming, too." said Bonnie. "They usually herd towards the big cities anyway. We could give it a try, see what happens."
"And if we miss some and they venture toward Jackson, what then?" questioned Eugene, giving them a pointed look. "I don't want a repeat of June last year."
"What happened in June?" asked Bonnie, she hadn't been in Jackson back then as she had only arrived in November.
"Missed some stalkers during patrol, they followed us back." muttered Greg. "Mitch and his horse died."
"Alright, this is how it's gonna be." began Tommy, furrowing his brows slightly as he ran a hand through his dark hair. "We're keeping our current patrol schedules as of now while me and Eugene will get more people on patrol. We can't force anyone, that's not how this place works. We'll continue this conversation next month."
"Alright." agreed William, giving him a curt nod. "If there's nothing else that we should discuss i'm out. Need to relieve Tammy and Steve from their patrol in a few hours and would like to go back to sleep."
"Go on, then." said Tommy, nodding toward the door.
Gregg and Bonnie followed him out the door and Tommy closed his eyes in annoyance. "He's absolutely right but he gets on my nerves."
"Not only on yours." said Eugene and Vienna snorted in agreement.
"Vi, how are some of the kids in your class?" asked Tommy, glancing up at her opposite of him. "Jerry and Byron are almost twenty, right? I know they want to join us."
"They're absolute trash." said the brunette without hesitance as she leaned back in her chair. "They're good kids but they can't aim for shit. I wouldn't trust them to have my back out there."
"That's a damn shame." uttered the youngest Miller.
"I did promise Jesse i'd ask you if he could join us during patrol." Vienna already saw both Eugene and Tommy begin to shake their heads. "Come on, he's almost seventeen. He's the best shot in my class. He's fast and efficient. We could take him out to Alpine Valley in two days, there's no infected there. Just see how he does. I've never seen a kid more determined than him."
"I don't know, Vi." said Tommy. "He's so young."
"Weren't we all?"
Eugene glanced between the two of them and said, "If he can get his father's permission than I don't see how it could hurt to take him to Alpine Valley. Me and Vi are heading there the day after tomorrow for a day trip anyways."
Tommy heaved a sigh and narrowed his eyes at the brunette slightly, a bit amused. Eugene almost always agreed with her even if he didn't really agree and Tommy knew this.
"Fine, if Jesse get's his father's permission then he can join you."
The door creaked open and Vienna was met with a pair of dark brown eyes and a flop of greying curls as he entered the room. Their eyes met momentarily before he looked toward Tommy and closed the door behind himself. His boot connected with one of the chairs and he grimaced as he tried to steady it.
"Joel?" Tommy was surprised. "What are you doing here?"
"Uh, heard you were having a patrol meeting." he said, voice a bit gruff as he looked to his younger brother. "Is this it?"
"We've just finished." said Tommy, leaning forwards as he studied his brother with furrowed brows. The latter gave a slow nod at the revelation. "You should get some more rest. You just got here."
Vienna studied him with her arms crossed over her chest, head tilted to the side slightly. He was much taller than she had thought him to be and now that she could see him up close there actually weren't many similarities between him and his brother. He had dark circles underneath his eyes and there was a sliver of tiredness behind them.
"I'm fine." Joel shook his head, having overheard him talk about the issue when he and Ellie had dinner at his house the previous night. "Thought I could help you out with your patrol problem."
Tommy went to protest but Eugene cut in, "Great. One less person we need to recruit."
Joel turned his gaze toward the older man before he briefly met Vienna's gaze once more. She still hadn't said a word and he wondered when the knife strapped to her bicep would plunge into his chest with the way she was looking at him. He averted his gaze back to his brother.
"You sure?" doubted Tommy.
"Hmm." he affirmed.
"Alright, if you're sure." nodded the youngest Miller still a bit doubtful. "In two days. I was planning to go to Teton County then, you can come with me to get a feel of the area." Joel nodded his head and reached for the doorknob, ready to get the hell out of there when Tommy said, "Oh, Joel, before I forget. Ellie mentioned she liked archery, didn't she? Vienna here teaches a class twice a week. Tell her, will you?"
Joel met her gaze again and his eyes dipped downward for a moment before sliding them back up. The image of her clad in only a towel as she leaned out her window was still embedded in his mind and his brows furrowed. Her dark hair hung loose around her shoulders and despite the youthfulness on her face she seemed tired. He would have thought someone living in perfect little Jackson wouldn't look so haunted.
"Tomorrow at nine near the stables." said Vienna, corners of her lips lifting in an easy smile. "She's more than welcome."
"I'll let her know." was all he said before he left the room.
i have the next four chapters completely planned out and i just need to write them. thank you for the 100+ votes <3
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