Night had fallen on the Dead Zone. Floodlights and torches brightened the desolate streets of Longridge, and barbed wire and executed Deadmen hanging from poles warded off the undead enemies of the DZI. It was a miracle their defenses worked, because all of their new injuries just made them easier targets for both the living and the undead.

The DZI converted an old, abandoned medical clinic near the town hall into their infirmary. They brought a few medics from Matheson to care for the wounded but rarely had to deal with any life-threatening injuries. If they were quick enough, doctors could even transfuse infected blood out of a bitten soldier and stitch the wound up before the turning process could begin.

Today, however, was not that kind of day. Entire limbs were lost, and a few soldiers died during the return to Longridge. Others were infected for too long and had to be euthanized via MercyMark. It had been a while since the DZI had so much fatalities, yet they comprehended the impact since it only ever got so devastating when an Abnormal was involved.

Fortunately, Kat and Jonah endured and survived. Even Shaw and Schaefer went through hell and back. However, Jonah had a massive incision carving across his left arm near his shoulder as a result of Bloodletter's crimson saw blades.

"A part of me kind of wishes it hit my brain," Jonah said, glancing at the wound. He sat shirtless on a stretcher in the main lobby of the infirmary. "That way I wouldn't need more stitches. This shit hurts, bruv."

"That's the problem," Kat replied as she approached Jonah with a gauze and some alcohol. "You need a brain first before you can blow it out of your skull."

"Clever," Jonah said sarcastically. "Also, I technically saved you from that bloodletting bastard, so you're welcome."

"Technically, I wasn't even in the line of fire of that saw blade and your injury was completely avoidable. But thank you."

Jonah smiled. "I'm so glad we're friends."

"I agree," she replied with a cheerful grin. She then screwed the cap off the bottle of alcohol and soaked the gauze in it. "Shall we get this over with?"

Jonah shrugged. "It's not gonna hurt much, innit?"

Kat nervously chuckled as she placed the gauze against his wound. And sure enough, his arm felt like it was on fire.

"FUCKING SHIT!" he screamed, earning the attention of all of his comrades. "My mind's gone fucking blank! Kat, what are some other swear words?"

"Well there's also—" She cut herself off as she continued pressing the gauze against his wound.

"FUCK-SHITTING CUNT KNUCKLES!" Jonah screamed again. And he spent the next few seconds uttering more of the worst words in the English language.

"Franklin, quit being a baby and shut up," Vaughn interjected as he approached Jonah and Kat. He wheeled in a tray table holding instruments for surgical sutures. "Thank you, Mathis, for helping with the preparation."

"Anytime, sir," Kat replied as she laid the bloody gauze on the tray. "Sorry about my friend's potty mouth."

Once Jonah had composed himself, Vaughn began stitching the wound back up. Since anesthetics were hard to come by, Jonah could feel every stitch prick his body and the pierce of the needle through his skin. He had to squeeze Kat's hand to take his mind off the pain, and ironically Kat wore a straight face even as Jonah practically crushed her fingers.

Vaughn sewed the final thread in the stitches and cut off the remaining string. All that was left was an ugly scar. Vaughn covered it up with a large bandage that wrapped around his arm.

"All set," he said. "And remember to be extra careful next time, darling."

"Vaughn, have you ever been punched in the face really hard?" Jonah replied.

"Yes, on multiple occasions." Vaughn snapped his fingers. "One more thing, lads!"

He crouched underneath his tray table and pulled out a six-pack of beer bottles. Kat and Jonah's eyes widened. "Due to Schaefer's critical injuries, he's decided to let us take it easy," Vaughn explained. "So have a drink. And if we're lucky, he says we'll return to Matheson for some time off."

"The DZI doesn't take time off," Kat replied, taking one of the bottles.

"They do now, apparently." He clinked his bottle against Kat's and Jonah's and the three of them took a sip of their drinks. "Enjoy the drinks," he added before walking away.

"Cheers," Jonah replied, still sitting down on the stretcher. The bandage around his arm was now dark red.

"I didn't think we would have free time all of a sudden," Kat said. "That was cool of Vaughn for offering us drinks, though."

Jonah took another swig of his drink. "I should probably put my shirt back on."

"Nah, you gotta rock that bony body. Show off those sad excuses for muscles."

Jonah couldn't help but laugh, especially since both of them knew he was surprisingly built. "Let's just hope Schaefer has a heart and let's us return home," he said. "I'd like to be around living people for once."

"Amen to that," Kat replied, and the two clinked their drinks together again before taking another gulp. "Hey, Joe, I just realized. Have you gotten your first kiss?"

"Afraid not, bruv. Tried it with Natalya a few years ago. She got distracted and jerked her head to the side, and I ended up smooching her cheek. Then it turned out she didn't even want one."

Kat took another sip of her drink before placing the bottle down beside her. "Well, in all honesty, I wouldn't mind being your first kiss."

Jonah's eyebrows raised with intrigue. "You being cheeky or do you mean it?" he asked.

Kat shrugged. "Why not? We've got loads of free time. Consider it celebration now that we survived another encounter with Bloodletter. Not many people get to say they've survived an encounter with him twice. So what do you say?" She moved closer. "Are you gonna make a move or should I?"

Jonah shrugged. "Guess I'll do the honors."

A grin formed on Kat's face for a moment before she closed her eyes and puckered her lips. Then he leaned in and kissed her, maintaining the kiss for exactly two seconds before separating.

"Not bad," Jonah said.

"I wouldn't mind another one," Kat replied, brushing her hair to the side.

Jonah didn't respond verbally. He leaned in as soon as she finished her sentence. His lips were locked with hers once more, longer than last time. He smoothed his hands around her waist and kept them there even after they stopped.

Once Kat had moved away from Jonah, she gazed into his eyes and sported that same playful grin. Jonah watched as her beautiful hazel eyes fluttered almost in slow-motion. He went in for another kiss.

Kat stopped it short by pressing her finger on his pursed lips. "Follow me," she whispered.

Then she took his hand and the two of them ran off into the corridors of the medical clinic while their fellow DZI were too busy being either drunk or in pain. Jonah didn't even bother putting his shirt back on. They cut around a few corners before finally reaching an empty lobby on the other side of the building, couches scattered throughout the room. The only light guiding their path was a floodlight flashing through the windows.

"Not much to look at, innit," Jonah said.

"Shut the hell up," Kat whispered humorously before leaning in, and they kissed again. Jonah slowly sat down on the closest seat as Kat climbed onto his lap, holding his face in her hands as she gently pressed her lips against his.

What seemed like a small, unimportant gesture proved to be more passionate than either of them expected. Jonah ran his fingers through Kat's hair as the two of them continued to kiss. He could hear her breathing cut short with each kiss, and her heart was practically pounding out of her chest. But she couldn't tell if this was love or just excitement from the moment.

They parted lips. "Are you sure you've never had your first kiss?" Kat asked flirtatiously.

"I was gonna ask you the same thing," Jonah replied.

She scooted back a bit, still sitting on Jonah's lap. "My first kiss was back when I was thirteen, two days before I met you and Aaron. Back when Schaefer and the AIS would invite me into their homes for dinner, there were a few other homeless kids joining us. There was this one wanker—don't even remember his name. He was scared of dying alone, so to make him feel better..."

Jonah snickered. "Well that's lame."

Kat nodded, resting her head against Jonah's neck. "He didn't even make it out of the Distribution Center the day they attacked."

"Don't worry. You still got me, bruv."

Kat smirked. "That'll do," she replied, and the two of them resumed kissing. She kept her hand on Jonah's bare chest as he leaned back into the seat.

Jonah wasn't sure if she minded too much about where he placed his hands. He kept one on her thigh but the other caressing her cheek. It felt soft, and he loved the warmth of her blushing. He moved his hand down to her shoulder as she parted away from his lips and proceeded to kiss his neck.

The feeling of her lips against his neck nearly made his head explode. He seriously hoped she couldn't feel him getting hard. And now that he realized she was just as intimate as he was, he slid his hand up her thigh to her left buttock, using the moment to comprehend how soft and firm it was. He didn't regret it for a second, especially since he was too busy wondering why he felt like his neck was being pinched.

Kat paused to look up at him. "Sorry," she said playfully. "Just marking my territory."

"Territory? Did you give me a love bite or something?" Jonah asked. He used his free hand to feel his neck and felt small bits of saliva along with a spot that stung every time he rubbed it. "That's a yes," he added, followed by Kat giggling. "How about I return the favor?"

Jonah rose from his spot and ran his fingers through Kat's hair once more. He pulled her closer and his lips met her neck. He couldn't stop kissing her. The smoothness of her flesh against his lips along with her heavy breathing and soft moans motivated him to keep going. Nothing would hold him back from using his hands. One arm was wrapped around her waist while the other slowly creeped up to her breast, and he fondled it in his hand as if it were his precious belonging.

"Jonah," Kat whispered in his ear. She kept his hand pressed against her breast and shivered as he breathed against her neck. "Do you remember the clothing shortage that happened a few years ago?"

Jonah chuckled. "Yeah. Barely started wearing socks a week ago because of it."

"Well, fun fact," she pressed her hand on top of his hand, the same one groping her breast, "because of the shortage, I haven't worn a bra in four years."

Jonah's eyes widened. "No way! You're not taking the piss, are you?"

"Let's find out." And she gave him another quick kiss as she started to roll up her shirt.

Unfortunately for Jonah, Shaw's appearance at the hallway stopped them both. "You do realize you have a flat to do this privately, right?" he asked.

"Sorry, sir!" Jonah replied nervously as Kat climbed off of him. "Just happy to be alive, is all."

"What's the problem, sir?" Kat asked.

"Schaefer has an announcement, probably one of the most important you're ever gonna hear. So put your shirt back on, Franklin, and get out there."

* * *

"You're all going home," Schaefer declared, and a series of gasps rippled through the room.

Schaefer stood in the middle of the lobby. It was hard to believe he could still manage to stand. He had bandages on all of his limbs and gauze wrapped around his waist, splotches of red eradicating the whiteness. One could still sense the anger he felt when he lost his son hours ago despite his current calm demeanor.

"I've made a deal with Bloodletter to face him alone," Schaefer continued. "If I don't, he'll kill all of you. It pains me to say it, but today has proven that some challenges cannot be overcome without making sacrifices. And human lives are too precious to sacrifice to monsters like him. So, to protect you all, I'm sending all of you back to Matheson starting tonight."

"Don't you need weapons, sir?" one soldier asked.

"No. We made a compromise. No weapons or powers. Only our bare hands."

"What's gonna happen to our base here?" another soldier asked.

"Our fellow Commander Shaw here will be overlooking duties for now. And if I don't come back, I'd like for you to start referring to him as Colonel Shaw."

"Are you positive, sir?" Shaw asked.

"Without a doubt. We've endured everything together, from London to Matheson to the Spring-heeled Jack. As a friend, I'd be lying if I said anyone else were better suited to be a leader."

Shaw nodded his head. "Thank you, sir. It's been an honor working alongside you."

"But don't get too comfortable, mate," Schaefer chuckled. "I don't die that easily." Then he clasped his hands together to conclude his speech. "That is all, ladies and gentlemen. The first few will depart back to Matheson in one hour. Enjoy yourselves."

Then he walked out of the room, Shaw and the other higher-ups following behind him.

Jonah reached for Kat's hand. "Well, he did say to enjoy ourselves."

* * *

"Wow, you are beautiful," Jonah whispered. Kat smiled before kissing him once more.

As soon as Schaefer disbanded their meeting, Kat and Jonah returned to their private area to make out. She was back on his lap, allowing him to smooch nearly every inch of her face. She had went through with her earlier tease and went topless, giggling lustfully as Jonah caressed her bare breasts. And despite the lack of privacy, nobody else entered the room that night.

"Y'know, I was thinking," Jonah said. "When we head back to Matheson, we should reunite with Aaron and Nika again at the pub. Redeem ourselves for the other night we tried that."

"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Kat asked.

"Of course. I hear there's gonna be a party in the Commons in a few days. We could hang out then."

Kat kissed him again. "Can't wait."

"And..." Jonah continued, using one hand to hold Kat's, "Maybe I could show you my flat. Or you could show me yours. Then we just take off from there."

Kat flashed that mischievous grin again. "Sounds fun. You can finally see me out of uniform."

Jonah glanced up and down her half-naked body. "I definitely like what I'm seeing."

And the two continued to embrace longer. However, neither of them could still figure out if this was love or still just a rush of excitement from the day's events.

Eventually, Kat fell asleep. Jonah stayed in the room to watch over her, her head resting on his lap. He held her hand to reassure her safety and he used the other one to play with her hair. However, the taste of alcohol in his breath along with Kat's when she kissed him made him feel guilty. What if they weren't even aware of all their intimacy? If it was all just a drunken stupor?

Then he heard the sound of rustling leaves outside, something scrambling out in the bushes.

"Kat," he whispered as he rose from his seat and carefully leaned her head against a pillow. "I'll be back. I think one of them made it past the barriers."

"Okay," Kat muttered half-asleep. "But don't take too long. Otherwise, I'm putting my shirt back on."

Jonah unholstered his pistol as he approached the door. Being glass it wouldn't have provided much protection anyway. He carefully pushed it open and pointed his gun into the forest outside.

"Let's get this over with," he whispered to himself. "I saw the Promised Land once Kat took her shirt off. Now I'm only a few hours away from becoming a man."

That's when he saw a body stumble weakly from the shadows of the trees, crashing to the ground in front of him. It was around his height and wore a DZI jacket. Beside the stranger was a dirty suitcase, and the stranger himself was panting heavily.

"Shit," Jonah said, aiming his gun at the stranger. "You've come a long way to die."

"Believe it," the stranger replied. "After everything we've been through."

Jonah nearly dropped his gun once he heard him. It only stung more once he made contact with the stranger's eyes. And he realized he certainly wasn't a stranger.

"Aaron?"