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“I dumped everything but the vodka. We could use that for sterilizing wounds, if we need to.”
    “Okay. Thanks.” She rubbed her exhausted eyes.
    “How’s he doing?”
    “He’s passed out again. I thought I would get myself something to eat while he sleeps some of it off.” She looked at Nick, who was chatting with Josie. “Looks like he’s doing somewhat better,” she huffed.
    Gunther put himself in her field of vision. “If you need help with Henry, you let me know. Anytime, come find me.”
    “I will. Thanks.” Tugging on her sleeves, she walked past everyone.
    “Gunther…,” Thomas called. He was looking out the window, so Gunther followed suit. Elaina approached and saw about a half-dozen undeads staggering toward the town center.
    “Shit,” he grumbled. “I’ll be right back. Elaina, close the blinds so the kids don’t see anything.”
    After doing so, she tried to follow behind him, but was unable to keep up with his long strides. “Wait for me! I’ll go with you.”
    “No, you stay in. I can handle this.”
    With the anger of a two-year-old, she stomped her foot. “I’m not a shrinking violet!”
    “I understand that, but with Henry out of commission at the moment, I’m taking over. So you are to stay in.” Gunther jogged down the hall, heading outside.
    She yelled to his back, “I can fight!” Defeated, she turned back around and stalked back to the window. She felt like she really could have used something to get her aggression out. Making a few undeads true dead would probably do it.
    Quinn was already there, peeking through the blinds, anxiously chewing on her thumbnail. Gunther made it to the herd and pulled out his hunting knife, making killing undeads look like child’s play.
    “He trained Henry,” Elaina said to Quinn.
    “He hurt him a lot, didn’t he? Like, worse than he has told me?” It was a question that should have never left her lips, but it was too late.
    “Yes.” Her voice cracked. “On more than one occasion.”
    When Quinn reached over and took her hand, a bond formed between them. They didn’t look at one another to acknowledge it. Instead, they watched Gunther drag the true dead bodies into the woods and out of sight.
    Even though it was unnecessary, Quinn felt compelled to defend Gunther. “I’m sorry. However, I assure you he’s a changed man.”
    “I know he is, but it’s still hard and I hate what he did. He has showed some compassion for Henry recently.” Quinn smiled. “I really appreciate his efforts and I’m sure Henry does…or will, at some point…as well. Hopefully,” Elaina worried.
    “I hope so. You know, Gunther is learning quickly. It wasn’t long ago hugging him was like wrapping my arms around a marble statue.” Elaina laughed. “Everything he did was like he was programmed to do it and if it was something that wasn’t already in there, he was clueless. He’s becoming a little more natural in the affection department. Although, at times, he goes a little too far in public.”
    “It has been a little different with Henry. He was already in the mindset he wanted out and worked through it all before we dated. Not that I want to think about him snuggling with someone else.”
    “Yeah, I hear you. This is still new to Gunther, but I think he’s progressing nicely. Sometimes I wish he didn’t get so bitchy, though. He’s hard to deal with when he’s like that.”
    “When they are in need, they can be intense.”
    “How is Henry doing, by the way?” Quinn asked.
    “He’s passed out.”
    She squeezed Elaina’s hand tighter. “You will get through this.”
    “I hope so. We have been through some pretty bad shit.”
    “How much did he drink?”
    “A lot,” she mumbled, a quick flush to her cheeks. It became very apparent to Quinn that Elaina was embarrassed about Henry’s behavior. “Sometimes he would go on scavenging trips just to look for booze. I don’t even want to get into it.”
    “My father was an