Chapter 14

“I'm going to start having to go back to work starting today.” Henry said and I blinked at him.

Sarah had dropped by and given me my meal and medicine before leaving.

The regular crew had been diminishing lately and rarely showed up since I had been healing and never showing any signs of aggression during meals.

I mostly flinched from the shots but stopped growling or losing myself.

I frowned and raised an eyebrow at him.

“I need to go on a mission later today and I wont know if I’ll be back tomorrow or not ok?”

I hesitantly nodded, feeling scared and wanting to ask what he was going to be doing but couldn't.

He pulled me in for a hug, ruffling my hair and giving me a smile.

He winked and my face flamed.

“Dont worry Ill be fine, you know me I’m good about getting out of shit.”

I frowned.

I didn't want him to have to deal with getting into shit in the first place.

Eventually Henry left and Sarah returned, looking around cautiously.

I blinked in confusion since it was still early for me to be eating yet.

“Alright Max today were going to be doing a proper physical and see about setting up some training for you.” She said with a grin.

I blinked at her in confusion again.

“I figured you might want to do this when Henry wasn't around since you're going to have to change a lot and do a lot of stretching.” She said and stuck her tongue out at me.

I froze and nodded furiously after a moment.

I thanked God Sarah knew how easily embarrassed I could get as I was led to another room downstairs with a lot of training equipment.

…..I really didn't like working out...that was Henry’s thing but I knew it was important for both my own health and Sarah’s research.

Sarah took my pulse and checked my breathing before having me change into shorts and a t- shirt along with running shoes.

She had me test my grip strength and pick up weights, asking when they got too heavy or caused any pain from strain.

Honestly I felt a bit embarrassed by how weak I actually was and felt even worse when I could only run a half lap around the gym before falling onto the floor panting.

Sarah looked down at me with a sympathetic smile.

“You're recovering Max, this is normal, don't feel bad.”

Easy to say to not feel bad when you're not the one lying in a puddle of your own sweat and shame, I thought.

“When you feel a bit better just try walking around the gym until you're tired again ok?”

Sarah had removed my muzzle earlier and gave me some water to sip on as I recovered.

I eventually got back up and took a few laps of just walking around until I got tired and we went back to my cell.

I took a shower and Sarah put a small dry erase board and marker on the table when I came out.

She gave me a smile.

“Did you want to try seeing if you can recognize any letters yet?”

I nodded and sat down on the bed.

She went through the whole alphabet with me and I memorized a few letters, half remembering words they created and spelt out my name.

I was happy my name was short and sweet.

I placed a hand over my heart and then looked back up at Sarah with a questioning gaze.

She smiled and wrote out Henry’s name for me.

I practiced writing it a few times.

My handwriting sucked since I still had a bit of a shake but it was better than nothing. 

As she left I spent some time making small words out of both our names until I was too tired and fell asleep.

I took a nap until dinner when Sarah returned with food and a few books.

“I figured you might want some of these for now and I can come back for them before Henry returns ok?”

I looked down at them, realizing they were for learning letters and looked at her gratefully.

I was about 3 hours in of messing with the books when I realized I despised the letter Z and Q.

They both barely get used and the Q was always weird, silent or sounding like C.

Yes I really hated Q.

I could only remember Z being used for zebra as well and it drove me nuts trying to remember other words it was in.

I was tired when Sarah returned to get the books but I was also very happy with my progress as I looked down at Henry’s and my own name on the marker board.

I still probably wouldn't be able to write full sentences but I could at least write a few words and tried to write thanks to Sarah and got only halfway.

I got stuck on K and Sarah had already left by the time I figured it out.

I let out a sigh and practiced for a bit longer before erasing and going back to sleep.

When I woke up in the morning Henry still hadn't returned, but I tried not to worry since he told me it might be a bit before he did.

I spent some time trying to write out the alphabet and getting annoyed when I couldn't remember letter shapes.

I could remember the stupid song we all were taught as kids but the shape of how to draw some of them was beyond me still.

Eventually Sarah returned, I got food and my meds and then we left to the gym again.

She had me jog lightly and walk in intervals for a bit.

I took a few breaks in between and she eventually had me lift small weights for a bit before being returned back to my room for a shower and some more writing lessons.

I woke up the next day extremely sore and wanting to die.

But we continued the schedule of light exercising and writing for a bit as I tried to count how many days Henry was away.

Every day had me feeling more and more anxious and I nearly launched myself to the door when Jay walked inside.

I frowned since it wasnt Henry and sighed.

I decided since Jay would probably know best to ask if Henry was still single or not and wrote it out on the board.

I lifted it up with a questioning look and he stared at it before letting out a howling laugh.

I blinked in confusion as he turned and looked out the cell.

“I don't know, are you single Henry?!” He wheezed and I immediately started to erase the board and threw it under the bed.

I sat innocently on the bed with my rubix cube as Henry walked through the door.

“The hell are you asking me Jay?”

Jay was laughing hard, letting out sharp wheezes as I shot him a glare.

Henry looked at me with a raised eyebrow.

I shrugged, feigning ignorance while Jay was howling with laughter.

Honestly I was extremely embarrassed and was trying not to show it.

I should have asked Sarah instead but she might not have known since she didn't hang out much with Henry.

I wanted to yell at Jay to shut up or I would snitch that he liked Sarah but still didn't have my voice yet.

But I swear to God he would feel my wrath if he didn't shut the hell up soon.

It had been about a week since they left and my eyes curiously looked Henry up and down, checking for any injuries.

He seemed fine, but a bit dusty and tired.

Henry came and sat down beside me, throwing an arm around my shoulder and sighing into my chest.

My heart swelled with joy from the contact and his scent.

I was happy he was ok.

Jay was wiping the tears from his eyes as Sarah walked back into the cell to probably find me for more training.

“Ah did you guys get it?” She asked Jay and I blinked in confusion.

He let out a sigh and shook his head no.

“........Then you guys are going to have to leave again?”

“Yea…..” He sighed.

“Hey guys we got the stuff packed up we-”

Spencer poked his head through the cell door and blinked when he saw me.

“Oh didn't know this was where Max was being treated, Hey dude how's it going?”

I gave him a nod in greeting and he looked at Sarah for a second.

“You know….. He might be helpful with our whole issue going on?” Spencer said as he looked at Sarah and then Jay.

Henry tensed and I blinked down at him.

“Absolutely not.” Henry hissed and gave Spencer a glare.

Spencer gave him a shrug.

“Just saying was all.”

I looked around the room curiously.

“Go take a shower and nap Henry and we will head out again after.” Jay sighed and left the room, pulling Spencer with him.

I frowned.

He was leaving again?

They didn't get what they were looking for so they had to go again….

I sighed as Henry went to use the shower in the other room.

Sarah looked at me, giving me a pained smile.

“We can do the training later alright? Spend some time with Henry before they leave again ok?”

I nodded.

Henry eventually came out smelling of mint and I tried to remain calm as he dragged me over onto the bed and on his chest.

He let out a sigh as he held me.

I wished I could ask him what was up but didn't want him to see my shit handwriting just yet.

Plus I still forgot letters sometimes.

Honestly I just wanted to speak properly rather than make him read my thoughts.

I guess I would have to practice using my voice more when he left.

After they left again I spent some time trying to say letters and remember how to move my mouth and tongue.

It was a lot harder than writing.

“Ma-”

I frowned.

X was kind of hard to say.

It was like C and S at the same time and I still haven't tried those yet either.

“Hen…..e”

I frowned.

I was pretty sure saying Henry would be easier so I spent more time trying to say it instead.

It took me about half an hour of practice but I eventually managed to say it slowly.

I bit my tongue a few times though.

“Hen-ry…”

I looked up at the ceiling and smiled.

“Henry.” I grinned like a lovesick fool and tried to practice C and S next.

Eventually Sarah returned and I tried to say her name but got caught on the R.

I frowned but she gave me a grin.

“Sar-ah.” She said and I tried it twice more before I managed it out.

“Sar…...ah.” I said and grinned.

She clapped her hands.

“Now I would love for more time to help you practice talking but we need you to exercise every day for a bit longer, just to help with rehabilitation and hopefully get rid of the shake in your limbs.”

I nodded and followed her for another round of exercise.

It was another 3 days or so of training and vocal practicing when I started trying to sing a little.

I figured practicing singing would be more fun and help me remember songs from the past.

Honestly it was easier just to sing out la’s and da’s rather than words so I focused on just making two letter beats for awhile.

I remembered some of my favorite songs so I mostly just sang the beat instead of words for awhile, enjoying that I could at least make noises past whines or grunts.

Dragging out sounds was ok as it was more of just exhaling and I had fun doing that.

Eventually the sound of footsteps had me stopping and I looked over as Sarah, Jay, Spencer, and Henry walked in.

Henry’s face was angry and I blinked in utter confusion.

“NO HE’S NOT GOING!” He hissed and stood in front of the other three, seeming to be trying to block them from coming closer.

I blinked still confused as I looked towards the three by the door.

“Henry…..” Jay said slowly.

“Dont.” He growled.

“Henry, if we dont get more gasoline for the generators, I won't be able to keep the hospital up, the rest of it will have to go towards food and water production.” Sarah said.

“Ok and?”

“...While I can make more of the cure and stock it away it will not last long enough without being kept at perfect temperature. Meaning it will be useless and Max won't have his medicine.”

Henry paused.

Oh……..I finally understood what Henry’s mission was about….

Though I was still confused why he was acting like he needed to protect me.

“Henry, you saw how the zombies acted towards Max at the wall. If he could be able to lead them away from the gas station……” 

Henry let out a frustrated noise.

I looked at Jay trying to get him to say more.

He sighed and ran a hand through his hair.

“Max….the past week and a half we have been trying to get past a large horde camping by a gas station. Normally they follow the sound of a car pretty easily but they keep coming back while we try and break in to get the gas inside. Were….. Running very low on it and well as you heard….” Jay said and gestured to Sarah.

I swallowed but nodded.

They needed someone who could distract the zombies safely or get them to go away long enough to get more gas.

Problem was getting the gas could take hours and if they kept returning each time….

It wasn't like they could keep driving around to lure them away either when gas was running out.

I slowly nodded.

Sarah let out a sigh.

“He can go tomorrow, and at best can skip one dose, ONE dose only. Let me give him his meds first thing in the morning and you can take him but again he can only miss one dose meaning you have tomorrow and the next to get him back.” Sarah warned.

Henry came to my bed and flopped on it, dragging me into his lap.

I carefully patted his cheek in concern as he let out a groan.

He huffed and laid down on the bed with me.

I gave him a hug, hoping to reassure him I was ok.

Honestly I was more worried about him than me since zombies didn't seem to care about me.

“I don't want you getting hurt.” Henry said softly.

I frowned.

“But I don't want to keep forcing you to stay inside either….that didn't work out so well last time.” He snorted.

I blinked in confusion.

He hugged me closer.

“Can you promise me if it seems like they will attack you….you will run away?”

I paused and looked up at him, and then slowly nodded.

Though it wasn't like I could exactly run far….