Chapter 212 Being Silly
The JLTV Oshkosh's powerful engine humd steadily as it made its way through the empty streets towards the command center. The journey, while smooth on the well-maintained roads, was a bit of a challenge for Lisa. She shifted uncomfortably in her seat, trying to find a position that offered so relief from the vehicle's rugged interior. Military trucks, designed for durability and function rather than comfort, were not the ideal place for soone still tipsy and struggling with the effects of a night's celebration.
Richard, driving with a practiced ease, glanced occasionally at Lisa through the rearview mirror. He could see her discomfort and did his best to navigate the Oshkosh smoothly, avoiding any sudden movents that might jostle her further.
Upon arriving at the command center, the vehicle ca to a gentle stop. Floodlights illuminated the area, casting long shadows across the concrete.
Richard quickly got out of the driver's seat and walked around to the passenger side to help Lisa. He opened the door to find her trying to unbuckle her seatbelt, her movents clumsy and uncoordinated. She looked up at him with a weak smile, clearly still under the influence of alcohol.
"Hey, let help you with that," Richard said softly, leaning in to unfasten her seatbelt. He gently took her by the arm, but as soon as she attempted to stand, her knees buckled. It was evident that she wouldn't be able to walk on her own.
Without hesitation, Richard carefully scooped Lisa up in his arms, carrying her princess-style. She rested her head against his shoulder, murmuring a quiet "Thank you" as he carried her towards the building.
Sara trailed behind him, keeping a respectful distance from them. She knew that Lisa was important to Richard so they must have their own private monts, and after that, she could solo him.
As they entered the command center, the few night-shift personnel present paused to offer a nod of respect toward Richard. In response, he acknowledged them with a brief nod, his focus remaining on Lisa.
Navigating the quiet hallways of the command center, Richard carried Lisa with ease, despite her being fast asleep in his arms.
Reaching his quarters, Richard gently pushed open the door with his foot and stepped inside.
He carefully laid Lisa down on the bed, taking a mont to make sure she was comfortable. He removed her shoes and covered her with a blanket, ensuring she was warm.
Lisa, half-asleep, mumbled sothing incoherent, her words slurred and sleepy. Richard brushed a strand of hair from her face, making sure she was settled comfortably.
Turning to Sara, he whispered, "Okay…she is sleeping now. We can return to the club and join Graves and Mark."
"Before that, Richard. I have sothing to give you."
Sara reached to one of the cupboards, pulling out a small, neatly wrapped box. The wrapping paper was simple, yet the care taken in wrapping it was evident. She held it out to Richard with a slightly nervous smile.
"Here, I wanted to give this to you earlier, but I thought now would be a better ti," she said, her voice tinged with a hint of shyness.
Richard took the box, a curious look on his face. "What's this?"
"Open it and see," Sara urged her eyes watching him intently.
Carefully, Richard unwrapped the box, revealing a simple cardboard container. He lifted the lid and inside, he found a batch of homade cookies. They were of various shapes and sizes, so a little more golden than others, but all of them looked delicious.
Sara bit her lip, watching his reaction. "I baked them myself," she admitted. "I know they're not perfect, but I wanted to make sothing special for you."
Richard looked up at her, his eyes softening. "Sara, they're great. Thank you," he said genuinely. He picked up one of the cookies and examined it. "They look really good."
"Go on, try one," Sara encouraged.
He took a bite, and his eyes lit up in pleasant surprise. "They're really good! You did a great job."
Sara's face broke into a relieved smile. "I'm glad you like them. Happy Birthday, Richard."
Sara's face broke into a relieved smile. "I'm glad you like them. Happy Birthday, Richard. Of course, that is not the gift I prepared for you. I have sothing another. But given that your little sister is here, I guess we couldn't do it here."
Richard realized what Sara was implying, he shook his head and placed a hand on her shoulders. "I don't want it, in fact, I want sothing else that is better than what you are thinking."
"What is it?" Sara asked curiously.
Richard took his seat on the sofa and beckoned her to co close. Sara obliged, still wondering what Richard was going to request from her. Once she was a foot away from him, he suddenly pulled her close and wrapped his arms around her waist, his head resting on her chest.
"Just this…for ten minutes, this is enough for ."
Sara, initially taken aback by Richard's sudden gesture, relaxed into the embrace. She gently ran her fingers through his hair, feeling the tension ease from his body. Richard's breathing slowed, and Sara could feel the steady rhythm of his heart against her.
"This is kind of a silly request…" Richard comnted.
Sara shook her head gently, her hands continuing to comfort Richard. "It's not silly at all. If this is what you want, I can indulge you," she reassured him, a softness in her voice. Her hands gently caressed his back.
Richard relaxed further into Sara's embrace, feeling a sense of calm wash over him. The stress and weight of his responsibilities seed to lt away, if only for a little while, in the warmth of her hold.
***
October 20th, ten o'clock in the morning, in the command center. Everyone was still feeling the effects of alcohol from the previous night's celebration.
Richard, having had his mont of respite in Sara's embrace, felt more rejuvenated than most.
"Richard, there's sothing you need to know," Mark said, his tone serious. He handed Richard a tablet displaying satellite images and data streams.
Richard's eyes narrowed as he reviewed the information. "What's the situation?"
Mark took a deep breath. "The progenitor, Lin Feng, he's arrived in Tokyo, Japan."
"Tokyo…what the fuck is he doing there?"
"Well, nothing but parking his Alpha Gryphon at the Shibuya crossing which is infested by zombies of course. Perhaps Tokyo might be a good first target for our nukes?"
Richard shook his head. "No, we want to know what he is doing there so we won't target Tokyo. We'll target Beijing first because they have the highest zombie population."
"Understood sir…"
"The celebration is over, now back to business."
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