I’ve Got You

CHAPTER 18

Yarran had seemed more himself come mid morning, the group wasted no time in setting out again. Eris was feeling more secure in their growing numbers and the fact that she no longer had quite as much trouble moving around. That left James and Dorian as the only vulnerable members of the group, five trained army personnel and two able bodied civilians -including her self-. She certainly liked their odds a lot better than when they had first been attacked back a the facility. She tried to keep this in mind whenever she looked at Dorian and noticed how miserable he had become. No kid should ever had to go through what he’d been through in the last month, and it broke her heart for him. Eris absentmindedly rubbed the back of her neck as she looked at the abandoned cars on the highway. Keeping an eye out for any supplies they could carry and might find useful. “Mum?” Dorian said, looping his arm in hers

“I know it’s a long way, but how long do you think before we get there?”. Eris looked to Grimm for an answer. “At least another ten hours of walking kiddo. But the next time we come across an empty building, we’ll take cover and rest a little okay?”. Dorian sniffed miserably and Eris held him a little tighter.

“Things will get better” she assured him

“Will they be the way they used to be?” Eris wanted so badly to lie. But she just couldn’t

“I don’t think so, mate. But we’re together and soon we will be safe and eventually we will find a way to make a decent life in a world like this... It just takes time” Dorian clung to her side as they continued on. She knew it wasn’t what he wanted to hear. But he needed to hear it. Her sad eyes found Grimm’s and they shared a sympathetic look.

Trudging on for what must have been another hour they approached an overnight truck stop motel. A small building designed for long haul truckers to pull off of the highways into the city to check into for a few hours to rest. Fatigue management. The bloodied sign above the door read ‘GET TRUCKED!’. Sasha rolled her eyes as she read it aloud. “Clever”.

Jared groaned in relief

“You know what this means?! Showers! And beds!”.

Riley, Mark, and Dorian shared an excited look and started off towards the truck stop motel when Yarran, who was leading the group held a hand up to halt them in their tracks. He held a finger up to his lips and then pointed, indicating to the shattered front windows, the sills were coated in blood. All officers drew their guns and walked silently, and slowly towards the building. Knees bent, moving in sync like a well oiled machine. The switch between relaxed and normal to soldiers ready to kill was instantaneous. Mark, Eris, Dorian and James hung back. They weren’t needed.

James and Eris stood side by side for the first time since he had attacked her, shielding Dorian behind them. Grimm glanced back at them, his eyes narrowed pointedly at James. A warning -no- a dare. Grimm was daring him to step a toe out of line in his absence. He approached the window first, rifle aimed and ready. After a short look inside he clambered through the window and out of sight.

Once inside he glanced around the small motel lobby. The decor was tacky, out dated, and more than a little dusty. He was soon joined by Yarran, then the others as they pressed their backs together, standing in a circular formation, keeping all directions covered. A low growl and panting could be heard from one of the rooms. The group listened keenly, trying to work out which direction the sounds were coming from. But to their horror, they soon realized it wasn’t coming from one direction... But all directions. They moved carefully, deciding as a unit to split up and try and sneak up on each host, taking them out individually. They had no idea how out numbered they were, so trying to take them all on at the same time would end in disaster. The group dispersed and Grimm headed down the hall to the left of him. Crouching low and swinging the rifle over his back he crept. Men of his size very rarely ever needed to be stealthy. Grimm hadn’t had much practice and he silently cursed every squeak and shuffle his boots made on the hardwood floor. The first room he came across was empty, but in the corner of the second room an infected host knelt on the floor, feasting on the remains of what looked like a dead bird. The crunch of its bones and the rustling of its feathers as it was being devoured made Grimm’s stomach turn, inching closer to the kneeling host, he reached out, quickly placing his hands on either side of it’s head, he twisted. There was an audible, wet popping sound as he broke it’s neck. It fell, wide eyed and staring into nothingness, bits of bird still clinging to it’s foaming chin.

The group had found and killed 15 hosts between them, Not a sound was made until the last room had been cleared. They spent the next half hour dragging and dumping the bodies out the back door so Dorian wouldn’t have to see them on his way in. As Grimm dragged the last body out he was startled by a shrill scream. The figure that ran at him was all but a blur in the corner of his eye as it crashed into him. Jared, who had been helping him with the bodies flung himself down the back step by the door and aimed his pistol. Grimm and the host were tumbling in the scrub. Grimm fighting hard to keep those teeth away from his face. The hosts strength just about matched his own. It roared in triumph, clawing wildly, it’s next meal so close. Jared couldn’t get a clear shot and he panicked, firing twice in to the scrub. Grimm cried out and the host fell silent.

“You right, mate?” Jared called out. The momentary silence was deafening. Then Grim crawled out of the scrub on hands and knees. The right shoulder of his shirt was soaked in blood, a grimace of pain plastered over his face.

“You were bitten” Jared breathed and Grimm glared up at him, shaking his head. “You f*****g shot me!”. Jared relaxed. “Oh, good”

“Good?” Grim screeched, clutching his shoulder, blood trickling between his fingers “Good?! You. Shot. Me!”

“Are you dead?”

“No”

“Are you bitten?”

“No”

“You’re welcome”. Grimm struggled to stand as the others filed out the back door of the motel.

“What happened?” Yarran demanded

“That i***t shot me” Grimm grumbled.

“Saved you” Jared corrected him with a proud nod. “This i***t saved you”.

***

Once they were all inside and resting, Grimm had sneaked away to the one of the small rooms with a connecting bathroom to nurse his wound. He scowled at his reflection as he studied the large stain on his shirt. He gazed bitterly at his reflection. Yet another scar to add to his collection. He began to unbutton his shirt when a knock on the door to the room he had chosen interrupted him. He turned away from the mirror and moved to answer the door only to find that Eris had already let herself in and was shutting it behind her as he left the bathroom.

Her brow was furrowed, she looked concerned.

“Need help?” she asked, gesturing to his shoulder. He began to button his shirt again, forcing a smile. “No. Thanks, but no. You should go rest with Dorian. He seems pretty down”. Eris shook her head

“He wanted to be with James. They’ve nodded off together in the lobby.” Grimm nodded and Eris walked over to him. “Sit” she commanded. Grimm sat on the edge of the bed at her request. Eris stripped one of the pillows, taking its casing to the bathroom. “What are you doing?” Grimm asked, a slight smile playing on his lips as he watched her. “Helping. How many times have you had to patch me up now? At least let me return the favor. Shirt off, soldier!”, he raised an eyebrow at her.

“Yes, ma’am.” Eris returned with the dampened pillow case and some tweezers from the drawer in the bathroom. Her eyes settled on his exposed chest and she chewed at the bottom of her lip. “Has anyone ever told you how good you look with your shirt off?”. Grimm chuckled

“Not in a while”. Eris grinned, sitting next to him, gently dabbing at the wound on his shoulder, aiming to clean it up enough so she could check for bullet fragments. He hissed, closing his eyes against the sting.

Eris studied his face, and marveled at just how handsome he was. Then the thought occurred to her.

“Why are you even interested in me?” She wondered out loud. Grim frowned at her

“Is there any reason I shouldn’t be?”. Eris shrugged.

“Since we’ve met I don’t think you’ve seen much of me without some sort of physical injury. I’m now missing a tooth, I’m scrawny, I’m weak, I’m certainly no model, even at the best of times, I have next to no experience being intimate and I have a funny nose.” She looked up at him. “And you’re strong, and brave, and quite frankly one of the most beautiful men I have ever set eyes on. I literally have nothing to offer you”. She stopped cleaning his shoulder and examined the wound. It seemed to be only a flesh wound, free of fragments, she discarded the tweezers, realizing she wouldn’t need them after all. “Except for insecurities and a caffeine addiction”. Grimm sighed as she pressed the damp pillowcase to his shoulder again. “Eris, I’m not very good with things like this. I’m not good at being sweet or mushy. But I’ve told you before just how wonderful I think you are. You turn heads when you walk. You don’t realize it, but you do.” Eris rolled her eyes in protest, Grimm took the pillowcase from her, taking her hand in his. “You’re feisty, you’re smart, you’re funny, you are an amazing mother. You’re incredible.” He leaned in, pressing his lips to her injured forehead. “And you’re beautiful. I get that James did a lot of damage to your opinion on yourself. He tore you down and neglected you. But whatever he made you think of yourself, that is not who you are. And I may forget to remind you how beautiful you are. But I’m telling you now, that pretty face of yours turned my entire world on it’s head and I’m still left reeling from it.” His hand went to her thigh as he angled his head down to kiss her. Eris relaxed into his touch as his teeth nipped her lip, earning a small gasp from Eris as she pressed tighter against him, her hands in his hair sending him weak with the thrill of her want for him. “Your arm” Eris mumbled into the kiss, attempting to pull back. Grimm grabbed her by the scruff of the shirt and threw her down, so she was splayed on the bed beneath him, he pinned both hands above her head in one of his, and ran his free hand down the length of her body. “Forget the arm” he growled, nipping at her ear lobe. “We’ve been interrupted enough. You aren’t going anywhere”. Eris put her hands on Grimm’s bare chest as he pressed himself against her. Moaning as her nails dragged down his torso, leaving reddened streaks down his body. “You’re f*****g killing me, you know that?”. Eris arched her back, groaning as Grimm let go of her wrists and slid his hands under her shirt, tugging her bra down and kneading her breasts. “Kiss me” she gasped, and he did. Slamming his lips to hers with so much force and eagerness it almost hurt. Eris’s hands fumbled frantically with Grimm’s belt and he pulled back, stopping her. “Play with yourself” he growled, gripping her pants at the sides and yanking them down. Eris stared at him, her mouth parted in shock. “W-what?”.

Grimm pulled her under wear to the side. “I want to see you touch yourself”. Eris froze, her insecurities crashing in to her, sensing her hesitance Grimm guided her hand down, his eyes burning holes into her soul. “You don’t need to be shy with me... I’ve got you, remember?”. Eris nodded, watching Grimm’s gaze darken as she complied. Her eyes rolled back as she bit back a shaky moan. “Don’t stop” he warned as he unbuckled his belt, throwing it to the floor. “Not yet”. Pulling his pants down to his ankles, he watched her, enjoying the way she writhed on the bed beneath him. Finally he took hold of her hand running his tongue along her fingers.

“Grimm” she whispered, he looked down at the beautiful creature at his mercy.

“Yes?”. She pressed her hand to his face. His eyes fluttered shut, his eyelashes brushing his high cheekbones as he savored her warmth, she went to say something in that moment. But there was a sharp knock on the door. Grimm’s hands clenched in to fists.

“Not now!” he yelled. Eris huffed unhappily, slumping down in frustration. “Just ignore it” she whispered, taking his length in her hands and stroking gently. He shuddered in her grip and started to bite and suck at her neck. Another knock, this time louder. “Go away!” he warned, grabbing Eris’s legs and locking them around his waist. “You come out or I’m coming in!”. Jared yelled from the other side of the door. His voice sounded panicked and shaky. Like he’d been crying. Grimm dropped his head and started tugging his pants back up, struggling to do the zip up over his excitement. He gave Eris a dangerous look that made the ache between her legs unbearable. “By the time I finally get to have you, I won’t let you go till you can’t walk for a week, you know that right?”. Eris pouted

“Promise?” she teased, pulling her pants up and fitting the hunting knife into the blade of them.

“I promise”.