Mid afternoon all stitched up the wolf wanders to the woods when Manuel returns with Miles, Mary-Lee and Jamal. All hearing about the wolf, follow behind hope to view it.

Curiously studying Ella slip away Fil inquires, "Vlad why'd Ella leave when those guys are coming back now? Do you think this is a trap?"

"Hey don't say that. I got the sense of nothing to fear from them. Just poor sick bastards trying to continue in life." Vladimir studies them coming up the drive, "did you notice the wolf seemed a bit HAPPIER, when a doctor was mentioned." Vlad sees a few scenarios, one involving Ella seeking help for a transfusion, "an actual doctor?" Knowing Ella's history it's possible there's a deeper interest, "Ella is a single woman looking for aid."

"Oh might be more than a doctor," Fil says it for him. "What should I say if asked about Ella? I'm still wondering what she's up to?"

"She's not needed right now." Vlad wants to meet the doctor to be sure, "I think we'll find out shortly. But like Ella, you and I have our reasons. Go with, out patrolling or something."

"Okay," she's fine with Ella watching their backs, no matter what.

Leading the group is Manuel and Mary-Lee. Jamal keeps close to her with Miles a pace or two behind, interested in an encounter with the wolf Ida and Adan freed.

Slowing up near the porch they can't help but notice, Hoss and his men piled past the Hummer. 

The sight startles Jamal and Miles, Manuel and Mary-Lee are impressed. With a 'thumps' up' to Vlad and Fil, Mary-Lee speaks freely, "Vladimir is it? I'm Mary-Lee, this is my husband Jamal to my right. You've met Manuel and the man in the back is Miles, he's our doctor. We're four of seven from a council of people trying to make what we're calling New Washington a functioning city. It's of course not the American capital. Just the city down the road from here."

Putting Filomena on the spot Vladimir shows he has confidence in her, "I am, and this is Filomena, she'll be my spokesperson and decision maker. I just do the dirty work."

"Oh thanks Vlad, I guess." Fil waves to them, "hey glad you could come out today and lend a hand. Before we talk about the beef we need to chew the fat."

Vladimir lightly chuckles, curious how this is going to go.

Filomena's friendly face and tone relieves Mary-Lee, as they are wondering if Hoss was to be replaced by Vladimir, who seems much more dangerous. "Oh hello Filomena, first thank you and your man here for doing this. It would seem we're all trying to survive in the area. We've got a city trying to exist peacefully. We need things, you have disease free dairy cows. We've got stockpiles of left over goods and freshly grown produce. We did lose six good people today trying to help and a few others were wounded."

"Wow straight to the point," Fil glances back to a shrugging Vladimir, "I am sorry about your friends. I'll say a little something in remembrance for them later. We agree you can have some of the cows but Vlad and I would prefer to be the complete owners, under THE-WE-found-it-first principle. We'll allow you a cow for every man you lost. Seems silly to say their life only worth a cow but that's what we were fighting for."

Content with that as a start Mary-Lee hopes they won't say anything about the items they've been acquiring in the village already. "Yes it does seem strange and sad. What times we've been left with... We were however wondering, and I'll just lay it out there, co-existing without negatively interfering with one another?"

"Of course," despite the wardrobe Filomena smiles feeling like royalty the peasants look up too, "as far as us living there it's a possibility. Vlad and I are trying something different. We have yet even lived together, but have lived everywhere together."

Vlad sighs, don't tell them that.

She whispers, "sorry." Fil continues with group before them, "anyway, when the cows get breeding regularly, we'll sell off what we can. We're not greedy. We never planned on killing them. Just letting them be. But if you know someone who's willing to milk the cows we want any cheeses that are created. Ohh fresh butter too, as a percentage of the ah milk harvest." Fil turns whispering to Vlad, "I'm starting to feel bad thinking I'm trading off their bovine bodies."

Vlad chuckles, "Mary-Lee, Jamal the cows are down in the school yard on the west side of the village. Select anyone you think is worth your man and whatever else you find out there." He points to the Hummer and the house, "this here rig and whatever's in this house is all I want. Thank you for coming out. Everywhere I've lived someone always wants to rule, usually badly. I have no interest in rules or laws, I just want to exist too. I don't want to do what we see around us today. I wanna sit on the porch, watching the clouds go by."

Filomena quietly mentions to Vlad, "a complete sunset or rise would be nice."

"Well thanks for speaking for Ella." Thinking of her Vlad calls on the doctor, "um Miles is it? You being a doctor would you mind checking something on me?"

"Yeah sure," Miles is curious to meet the other side of Ella's issue. Seeing Filomena he finds Ella prettier and more intriguing, "where is this wolf I've heard about?" Also wondering where Ella is. 

Worried about that, Jamal, Manuel, Jim and several others take off to wrangle the cows instead. Mary-Lee and Ned stay behind mainly hoping to get a better look of the animal.

"Like I was saying that wolf is no one's pet. Most likely not to far away." Vladimir's senses kick in, as Miles steps from the back.

His clean, blooded scent reaches Filomena finding it as attractive as the man. Yeah I'd tap that once or twice. Did Ella?

A tad disappointed, Miles steps onto the porch, "what is it you wanted looked at?"

"Actually just a question answered," Vladimir studies the man's eyes, "what did Ella come to you for?"

Easily sensed by both Fil and Vlad is a curious panic coming off Miles.

The doctor thinks about the question debating if the three of them have the same blood affliction, "something strange but I think you know. It's yet been discussed with others but Ella thought my girl Ida, may have a different disease. We did a blood test on everyone in our home including Ella. Hers was inconclusive but proved Ida had something. She asked my help for our part done today. I would consider doing it for her. If possible. But may not be likely. I think she knows. Is she here?"

"No I'm afraid you just missed her too. She's a hard one to keep still." Vlad appreciates the man's discretion earning enough respect to be worthy of pursuing Ella's affections.

Fil wants to know more from the man, "what do you think of Ella?" Getting the desired response before any words Vlad and Fil figure nothing has happened sexually between the two but would consider it.

Miles wonders if they see him as a romantic threat or interest, "she's in excellent physical condition for a maturing woman."

Watching Vladimir, Fil is going to finalize a concern asking Miles, "are you married or with someone Miles? You said those in your home. Ida is that your daughter? People do seem to find others to call family."

Their query creates speculations within Miles, "Ida is one of many children orphaned, she and a boy Adan, were brought to us as infants. My niece Lori, who works as a doctor with me, may never have children of her own, so she wanted to raise them. I had no children either so why not."

On Vladimir, Fil catches a similar apprehensive expression to her own. What? Your niece? "You live with your niece? Raising two orphans? That's nice I guess."

"Oh-no," Miles clarifies, "we're our only blood family left, we know of, not a couple. I helped her become more than a nurse. Back in real society she'd be a qualified surgeon."

Pleasantly relieved Filomena approves of Miles for Ella. She figures they all reside together mainly because of their immunity to the virus.

Their living arrangement makes sense to Vladimir and also hopes Ella gets a little something out of the doctor. They must be like family. "Miles good for you, helping new generations carry on. We'll tell Ella you're willing to help. I have a feeling you might see her later tonight. Your town's getting quite the growth in population. Maybe the only one in all of North America... Have you any live theater yet? Or at least someone that can play an instrument on a Saturday night?"

Miles is thrown be the query, "um, on occasion people do act out things. There are those that can play instruments, nothing formal or organized."

"Maybe one day eh?" Fil misses the live music most of all, "is there anything else you or Mary-Lee are wanting to get out of here?"

Again thrown by the next question Miles looks back to Mary-Lee. "Well sounds like they're not ready to be our next door neighbors, yet. They're also not our enemy. So it's good know others willing to be at least left alone. Is there anything we wanted to say?"

Ned and Mary-Lee step forward, "thank-you Vladimir, thank you Filomena, I will consider you a friend to us and am willing to work with you on your terms. I do think we can exist together. We still would enjoy having you as citizens. Even if that day never comes would you consider helping in the future if another Hoss comes along? We're also wondering if you also helped with a group that really caused us grief?"

Vladimir nods to the last query, Filomena replies, "if you have a problem like Hoss, we'll help?"

No! Vlad's mouth drops open exhausting a heavy sigh.

Fil turns to Vladimir, "you know we can handle it."

We? Vladimir shrugs.

"Anyway it is so nice to meet everyone," Filomena rubs Vlad's arm before wrapping her arm around his, "but if you have a hubby you know right about now one would prefer to be DOING something else."

That Vlad liked to hear. "Yes a pleasure. Let's do something less dangerous next time. And the other group I may have been there, but you can really thank Ella for that one."

"Oh interesting," Mary-Lee almost feels dismissed but is considering calling Jamal back to home base. "I'm glad we met. Try and have a better night."

Ned waves, "Thank's Vladimir you're a hell of a human being. Nice to meet you to Filomena."

Miles is certain they are afflicted like Ella, "thank you both, I do hope I get to see Ella another time."

Filomena waves, "bye for now. I'm sure we'll talk another time."

She does get around. Vladimir makes a single wave good bye, speaking to Fil, "nice call, but do you think I'm in any condition to be fooling around?"

"You better be," She slyly grins. "Would you like me to take those bullets out now, after or during?"

Vladimir chuckles, but does take Filomena inside to the first found bed.