Peyton didn't hesitate, he grabbed another knife and sprinted out the open doors into the night. Louie blinked, tucked two knives into her holster and took off after him. Her boots thundered on the pavement, her heart beat racing to meet the sound as it echoed through the air. Another scream pierced the night followed by inhuman guttural sounds that grated against Louie's ears and made her skin curl. Peyton was moving to the gates, waving his arms and yelling.

"Open them! Now! Open them!"

The two Security men barely had enough time to pull the metal gate open before Peyton was barreling through it. His pace quickened as he broke free from the barrier, heading in the direction of the ear piercing screams.

"Get Marc, now!" Louie said, pausing  briefly to give the order.

The two member looked at each other, their minds frozen by the sudden attack.

"Now!" Louie shouted behind her.

One man jumped into action and took off running to the Compound. The other stayed posted by the gate, ready to open it for survivors or slam it shut to keep the Crawlers away.

The darkness absorbed Louie as she pushed forward, following the sprinting figure of Peyton. Louie forced her eyes to adjust to the blackness, straining to see the rough terrain before her. The howls and guttural sounds seemed to jump out at her from the darkness. Louie tried to calm her rapid heart beat, but every nerve was electrified with adrenaline and every sense heighten.

Out of the night two beams of light shot through. In them Louie could see the mutilated and disfigured forms of Crawlers as they lunged forward, limbs flailing as they attacked the two Searchers. Peyton's knife whistled through the air and lodged itself in the head of one of the Crawlers that had leapt on the fallen Searcher. The Crawler tumbled to the ground with one last petering sound, that was lost in the cries of its companions.

Peyton's pace didn't falter as he ran headfirst into the fray, knife drawn, fire blazing in his eyes. Louie was a few feet away when the flashlight beam landed on a Crawler's tortured face. The sight stole her breath and froze her limbs. All she could do was stare at the decayed features. The yellow stained skin that was splattered with blood. Eyes that were completely soulless. Another scream punctured the air, startling Louie and bringing her mind back to her.

Peyton's arms were a blur as he stabbed and lunged. His body moving fluidly as he ducked, rolled and spun away from talon like fingers and razor sharp teeth. Before Louie could register her own movements, she had sent a knife sailing through the air.

It lodged into the throat of a Crawler, whose fangs were inches away from Peyton's neck. The Crawler stumbled backwards and collapsed onto the ground, where it was soon joined by another. By the time Louie was able to raise her other knife, Peyton's knife was buried deep in the spinal column of the last Crawler.

The battle was over.

Footsteps thundered from behind. Marc rushed forward, followed by a team of eight men. They all halted in their tracks as their flashlight beams landed on the seven disfigured bodies, then shifted to where Peyton stood in the center of the mass. He pointed, with the bloody knife, to the two unconscious Searchers.

"I think they're okay, but we need to get them inside and to the Med Wing. I don't know if they were bit," Peyton said, his voice in control.

With a gesture from Marc, four men rushed forward. They grabbed the two men and hurried them back into the safety of the barrier, closely followed by Marc and the rest of the group. Louie started to turn towards the Compound but paused.

"Peyton, are you-"

He cut her off.

"I'm fine. Take care of the men first. They're the priority."

Louie nodded and took off running after the group.

The small escort clattered into the Compound, their heavy boots making space ring, as they hurried to the Med Wing. Heads turned and voices started talking quickly as the group passed the few members that were already finished dinner. In the Med Wing eyes followed the procession as the Searchers were laid down on beds. Louie dismissed the group and called out to Teresa, knowing what needed to be done.

"I need bandages, wash cloths, hot water and a Med bag. Abby keep everyone else calm and make sure no one gets through," Louie said.

Orders taken, the Med Wing became a flurry of moving bodies as nurses rushed to make themselves useful. Louie moved to the closest patient and started checking him for bites. Running her hands over his body,  she looked over every scratch and tear in his clothing. When she was satisfied he was clean, she ordered Teresa to start cutting away his clothes and stitching him up.

Louie was half way through checking the second victim when the Med Wing flap opened and Peyton stepped inside. He glanced briefly at Louie before settling himself on a nearby bed.

The frantic energy of the Wing slowly died down, as Teresa set to mending and Louie finished checking over the other Searcher. Louie worked swiftly, cleaning wounds and sewing them shut.

She brushed a piece of hair from her face as she stood, her knees cracking with the effort of crouching for too long. The patient before her was patched up and his heavy breathing told Louie he wasn't going to wake up any time soon. With a deep breath, Louie turned away from the two men. She rubbed her eyes tiredly, the adrenaline having left her drained.

She blinked as she saw Peyton bent over his knees, head balanced in his hands. Her gaze shifted from his cupped face to the tears in his shirt and the long red cuts that marred his back. Grabbing a bowl of water and washcloth, she moved over to him.

"You told me you were fine," Louie said, standing beside his bed.

Peyton looked up and gave her a small smile, that tightened with pain.

"Just a scratch or two. You should have seen the other guy."

Louie didn't crack a smile, her face remaining hard.

"You could have lost a lot of blood. Cuts are no joking matter."

Peyton raise his hands in surrender.

"I understand, but I know a deep cut when I get it. I knew I was in no real danger and your men needed the attention more."

Louie's face softened slightly.

"Take off your shirt and I'll get you cleaned up."

Louie retrieved a cup of water and two pills, while Peyton tugged off what remained of his shirt, which resembled tattered pieces of cloth more than a shirt. Louie held out the items to Peyton.

"I'm fine without the pain meds," Peyton said. "I've had worse cuts than these and I didn't have meds then, I'll be fine."

Louie held her hand out further.

"The next time you get a serious injury and there are no pain meds then you can be tough, but some of the cuts need to be stitched up."

Louie arched one eyebrow daring Peyton to argue with her. After a pause, Peyton took the cup and pills. With the bowl of water and wash cloth in hand, Louie rounded the bed. Long slashes marred Peyton's back, blood dripping from the deepest cuts.

Louie worked quickly to clean and stitch up the wounds, Peyton making no noise as she sewed him closed. After she applied the last bandage, she moved to face him. His chest and abdomen were torn apart, and Louie worked to keep her face unreadable as she took in the damage.

"Let's just say I am a little out of practice," Peyton said.

"You took down seven Crawlers."

"Six. I distinctively remember a knife flying past my head and taking one out for me." Peyton smiled. "Thanks for that by the way."

Louie merely nodded.

"Lay down."

Peyton shifted onto his back, wincing with the movement. Louie settled herself on the edge of the bed and started cleaning the wounds.

"At least this time, you're not fighting me, so it makes this easier," Louie said.

"You survive months on the Outside then wake up one day to find someone standing over you and we'll see how you react," Peyton smirked.

Louie met his gaze for a second before continuing her work.

A stillness had settled over the Med Wing, disturbed only by the low breathing of the other patients, by the time Louie was finished stitching Peyton up. Putting her equipment away, Louie came back to Peyton and handed him a shirt.

"It might be a bit big but it should fit."

Peyton took the shirt and pulled it over his head, tugging it down slowly as his face worked to stay neutral. The Med Wing flap swung aside and Marie walked in, carrying a tray. Her face brightened when she saw Peyton and bustled over.

"Hey sugar beet," Marie said. "The kitchen closed and you didn't have dinner. So I took the liberty of bringing it here after I heard what happened to you. How are you feeling?"

Marie put the tray on the table beside Peyton. He gave her a small smile.

"I'm fine. Thank you Marie."

She beamed and patted his cheek lovingly, before taking a couple steps back.

"I guess I should let you eat and rest," Marie said.

"Yes, thank you Marie. The food will really help," Louie said.

Marie nodded to Louie but smiled back at Peyton then left. Louie watched her go, her own stomach talking of a meal skipped. Turning back to Peyton, she found him looking at her.

"You didn't eat either," he said.

"No, but I'll be fine. One meal isn't that important," Louie said, though her muscle ached with tiredness.

Peyton placed the tray on his lap and shifted his legs.

"You can have part of my meal," he said.

Louie folded her hands behind her back.

"You need the food, and I'm fine."

Peyton gave Louie a blank look.

"You can be tough some other time. It's just a meal."

Peyton took the roll off his tray and tore it in half, handing part of it to Louie. She hesitated for a second then accepted the roll, settling on the bed next to Peyton's. They ate in silence, Louie's thoughts swam around her head, her eyes falling to the two Searchers. Her mind played over the attack and what the repercussions would be. 

"What are you thinking?"

Peyton's voice pulled Louie from her reverie and she sat straighter, thoughts coming into focus. He watched her, as if he could read in her face the train of thought she had just been on.

"It's nothing."

Peyton's whole expression seemed to say he didn't believe her, but he said nothing. Silence descended again, the Compound heavy with it, as minds slipped out of reality and into the land of dreams. Louie was about to stand when Peyton spoke.

"It was your first time seeing a Crawler, wasn't it?" he asked.

The sight of the mutilated face flashed before Louie's vision and she nodded once.

"How are you doing?"

Louie tightened her shoulders, leveling him with a neutral expression.

"Fine."

Peyton raised a single eyebrow.

"You don't have to be, you know."

Louie stood, taking the empty tray from Peyton.

"You should try and get some rest."

Peyton nodded. "You too."

Louie paused, words trapped in her mouth, locking her feet in place. Peyton watched her hesitate, remaining silent. Then Louie broke from the bonds and left. As she made her way to the Cage the one thought playing through her mind was, maybe this will help change the Council's mind.

****************

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