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was reliving the last few weeks just like I was.
    He looks toward the fire, and I’m not sure since it’s dark, but it looks like he has tears in his eyes. “Okay, then. Let’s get settled.”
     

     
    When Parvarti, Hadley, and Jon finally show back up, Joshua is out of his seat and running toward them before they’re halfway down the stairs. I’m sure Anne would be right behind him if Jake wasn’t in her lap.
    “Did you find something?” Joshua asks.
    Even in the firelight, I can see how frightened his eyes are. He’s as scared of losing Jake as Anne is, but I think for him it would feel like surrendering to reality. Giving in to the fact that things have changed and an MD next to his name doesn’t give him all the superpowers he hoped it would. That even he is limited.
    Parvarti rips the bandana off her head and runs her fingers through her dark hair. “Nope. The pharmacy was bare.”
    Joshua’s face falls, and his shoulders slump like all the air has left his lungs.
    “We’ll figure it out,” Jon says, slapping him on the shoulder on the way to the fire. “You guys save me some meat?”
    “How was the town?” I ask.
    “Deserted.” Hadley stands at the bottom of the stairs, looking back and forth between the fire and the hot springs. “I think I’m going to take a bath.”
    Jon has barely sat down, but he gets to his feet like he’s ready to join her. Only she doesn’t even look his way before heading toward the springs.
    “You want to get clean, Parv?” Hadley calls as she turns toward the stairs.
    “Yeah,” Parvarti says.
    They head up to the small hot spring, and Jon slumps back onto the bench. “How about some of that rabbit?”
    He doesn’t look surprised, but he doesn’t look happy either. This thing with him and Hadley has been weird from the beginning. No one really understands what’s going on between them. Hell, I’m not even sure they understand it. I think for Hadley it started as a way for her to forget about what happened in Vegas. Probably did for Jon, too. He lost his sister, after all. But for him it seems to have progressed into something more. He likes her. I can tell by the way he gravitates toward her throughout the day, and how he always has her back when we run into a group of the dead. Hadley doesn’t seem to share his feelings.
    Maybe she’s still trying to forget.
    I lean my head against Axl’s shoulder and let out a deep sigh. It’s getting late, and all the kids have turned in except Jake. Even Moira, Sophia, and Jessica have gone to bed. Angus and Darla are God knows where doing God knows what. We’re all beat, and I’m pretty sure Anne is only up because she was hoping they’d come back with meds for Jake.
    Now that it looks hopeless, she eases Jake to his feet and gives us a little wave. “We’re going to get some sleep.”
    “Night,” I say, echoing the murmurs of the others.
    Al yawns and puts his arm around Lila. “So…what are the sleeping arrangements like? I mean, the one tent has the kids and Jess and Moira. Anne and Sophia have a shelter. That leaves one shelter and two tents.” He looks toward Lila, whose cheeks get red even in the firelight. “Where’s that leave us?”
    “You mean, ‘where can we go screw?’” Jon’s mouth is full of rabbit, and a few small pieces fly out when he laughs at his own joke.
    Al’s face breaks out into a huge grin. “I have needs.”
    “Al!” Lila shoves him, then buries her face in his chest.
    Al doesn’t look the least repentant.
    “We need two people on watch,” Winston says. He doesn’t acknowledge Al’s needs .
    “We can take the first watch,” I say just as a yawn forces its way out of me. I cover my mouth and turn my head so it doesn’t spread, but no such luck. Immediately after I yawn, Al and Lila do too, then Axl. Even Winston. I’m tired, but I’d rather stay up a few extra hours now than have my rest disturbed.
    Axl shifts, and I’m forced to move my head from his shoulder