Angela's Apocalypse Pt. 05

Below is part 5 of Angela's Apocalypse. A look at the plan that Callie and Joanie came up with to rescue those trapped by The Safety. Thank you for stopping by and I hope you like it!

All characters are mine. Everyone in sexual situations are over 18 years old.

Angela's Apocalypse: Callie & Joanie's Plan

August 2043

Joanie walked the perimeter of the community. Occasionally, she would run the barrel of her gun along the chain links in the fence, a jingling clack ringing in the silence. Out in the grass just before the tree line she spotted a mangled body, headless, grey flesh torn asunder. Sighing, she pulled a small notebook from her pocket, sliding the pencil tucked in the wire spiral free, she noted the location of the body for clean-up and disposal. Her mind flicked quickly to Darin wondering how he was doing this morning. This was the third undead body she'd had to mark down.

She wished she could be on what they called wolf duty after the full moon. He needed better food the day after his transformation and if she was there, she could sneak him a little meat from her personal jerky stash. But the higher ups seemed to notice the improvement in Darin's general demeanor when she was on wolf duty and made sure she had it when he was most withdrawn. They would bring her in when he stopped eating altogether; when he would huddle in the corner of his cage not moving all day, when he wouldn't leave the thin mattress on the floor. They would bring her in to manipulate him, reminding him there were still people here he cared about and that cared about him.

Joanie sighed as she pocketed the notebook again. She fingered the small tobacco pouch in her pocket momentarily, thinking about pulling out a cigarette.

"Hey Joanie," Billy said lifting a hand.

"Hey Billy," Joanie said pulling her hand from her pocket. "Any activity?"

"Nope, you?" he asked.

"Just three bodies," Joanie replied. "I noted them to report."

"Ah, locations?" Billy asked.

"Sort of close together," Joanie said peering back the way she had come. "Two over in grid 12, one right at the start of grid 11. Must have been a small group."

"Got it," Billy said, making a note in his own notebook that hung from a ratty shoelace around his neck. "No active ones?"

"Nah, it's always quiet after the full moon," Joanie said looking at Billy meaningfully.

Billy winced, scraping a hand down his face. He had come in with Monica's group but seemed like a decent guy. One night after several shots of moonshine Garcia had crafted in a bathtub, he had started talking, a lot. It was probably a good thing that Joanie had been the only one really paying attention to him as he drunkenly admitted that he thought how they treated Darin was way beyond fucked up and that he couldn't believe that Monica was capable of it.

He even started weeping as he swore she never used to be like this, hadn't been so consumed by power and control. But something had shifted in her a few months before they arrived at The Safety. No one could explain what happened to her, it was if she woke up one day absolutely ruthless. Billy felt helpless, he'd followed her for so long and was at a loss as to how to bring back the old Monica.

"Yeah," Billy said after a while. He looked like he wanted to say more as he gazed through the chain links but then he just shook his head. "Well, see you on the other side."

Joanie nodded, patting his shoulder as she passed by him. Their paths would cross again around the other side, and they'd do another check-in. The rounds after full moon were her least favorite, boring and sad, her mind running over and over mistakes made in the past.

Slowing her pace, she glanced around then pulled a hand rolled cigarette from her pouch and lit it with a small lighter. Her eyes slipped closed for a moment as she inhaled deeply filling her lungs. Exhaling slowly, she started walking again as the smoke curled around her.

Smoking and walking, watching the tree line looking for any undead, any deer that might wander too close, not that she'd seen many lately. Meat like that was scarce, wildlife in general was scarce. So, when a high birdcall suddenly sounded, sharp and loud, Joanie froze looking out at the tree line once more.

The air was still and quiet again, but Joanie remained frozen, cigarette smoke wafting from her hand at her side, eyes scanning back and forth staring hard into the trees and brush. She waited, listening, and it sounded again, loud and high.

Her eyes raked across the tree line following where she thought the sound had originated from. She pinched out her cigarette and pocketed the remains of it, eyes still staring. Then there was a flash of something darting behind a tree. Joanie jogged down the fence to where she had seen it, the blur of blonde hair.

"Callie?" Joanie gasped to herself.

She looked around quickly and jogged a short distance farther down the fence to get a better look. She stared into the shady gloom of the trees. Through the dappled light she could just make out Callie. She was decked out in camo gear crouched low, most of her long hair was tied back under a dark scarf and cap, but a chunk at the front had escaped and she was struggling to get it tucked away.

"Callie," Joanie whisper shouted.

Her head turned toward Joanie quickly and she went absolutely still, her eyes flashing yellow in the gloom giving away her position. Joanie's cheeks flushed remembering the last time she had seen Callie's eye flash yellow.

"Callie, what are you doing here?" Joanie asked, she looked around frantically.

No one ever came around here, it was the very ass end of the compound and there was nothing over here, aside from the building they kept Darin in. Callie didn't answer, just stared at Joanie for a long time as if assessing.

"Cal, you shouldn't be here," Joanie started to feel frantic. If Monica found her, god the shit she would do to her. "Please, you gotta go babe."

Callie's head tilted a bit at the use of the nickname. She bit her lip and looked up and down the fence.

"Joanie," Callie replied very quietly.

"Yeah," she confirmed.

Surely, Callie could see her clearly; Joanie couldn't figure out what she was doing. Why she had come back was obvious, for Darin. But why was she just sitting there? Why was she just staring?

Suddenly Callie shook herself and inched out of the shadows looking around quickly once more. She ran up to the fence so she could talk to Joanie without their voices traveling.

"What the fuck are you doing? Get out of here Callie," Joanie said, panic lacing her words.

"Can you help me?" Callie asked.

"I don't... I mean, I don't know what you mean," Joanie said her gaze darting all around her. Billy popped into her head, and she hoped he was far off enough to not hear their exchange.

"We need to get my dad out," Callie said quickly.

"I, I don't think we can," Joanie sputtered. "It's airtight here Cal."

Callie shook her head.

"It can't be. Nothing ever is," Callie said quickly now. "Can you meet me tomorrow? Make up an excuse to go on a solo supply run or something?"

Joanie bit her lip, bringing her hands up to the fence, lacing them through the chain links, wishing she was lacing them through Callie's hair.

"I mean, I have some free time. I can try to sneak out tomorrow," Joanie said.

"Meet me?" Callie asked. "At our tree?"

Joanie hesitated, but having Callie here, seeing her, smelling her again, brought the memories flooding back into her brain. She could smell the full moon on her, the wild running around the forest, the wind blowing through her fur; she ignored the undercurrent odor of rotting flesh from the undead. She would meet her, there was no use denying it.

"Yeah, OK, I'll meet you. Tomorrow our tree, around noon," Joanie said. "I have to be back for evening watch."

Callie glanced around again and nodded quickly.

"Tomorrow," she said.

~~

The Next Day

Callie waited in the shadows near their tree, the gathered sweat on her forehead cooling in the shade of the trees. Seeing Joanie had been harder than she thought it would be. Being that close to her. The sharp, clean scent of her burrowed into her nose and her heart had clenched recalling all the time they had spent together, growing closer, growing more intimate.

It was almost enough to make her forget other things but when her eyes had wandered over Joanie's shoulder to her gun she remembered. Remembered her abandoning their plans together, staying in the community to fight, only to end up working for Monica. She shifted from foot to foot wondering if she had done the right thing. Truthfully, there wasn't much choice, they desperately needed someone on the inside to help them.

Besides, she knew Joanie; had known her for so long and thought she would be sympathetic, willing to help with getting Darin out. She had been on their side all along anyway. But there was still doubt. Joanie had chosen to stay, instead of running with Callie and it ate at her; the inability to understand why she would do that. Regardless, Callie thought it would be alright. Surely Joanie couldn't approve of holding people prisoners, kidnapping kids for indoctrination, experiments, who knows what else.

It was well after noon and Callie looked up at the sky quickly trying to assess the time. Maybe Joanie had changed her mind. Just as Callie felt her throat begin to tighten, nearly turning to run away she heard footsteps.

"Cal," Joanie said. "Sorry, it was hard to get away."

"Thanks for coming," Callie said trying to swallow the lump in her throat.

"What are we doing out here?" Joanie asked.

Callie fought the urge to grab Joanie and squeeze her tightly to her chest, kissing her neck breathing in her scent. She shook her head a little and cleared her throat.

"You know why I'm here Joanie," Callie said. "We need to get my dad out of there. We need someone on the inside."

"Just..." Joanie closed her eyes and held both hands up. "Just stop for a minute. I said yesterday. There's no way to do it. Everything is airtight."

"Like I said yesterday, that simply can't be true," Callie said crossing her arms.

Joanie pinched the bridge of her nose.

"I don't know what you think I can do," Joanie stated.

"You said you loved me; you loved my family - " Callie started.

"Cal," Joanie sighed crossing her arms over her stomach. "I do love you and your dads. Seeing Darin..." She shook her head sharply.

"Please," Callie whispered.

She thought about pointing out how Joanie had promised to go with them. Thought about how she could manipulate her into doing what she wanted her to do but it felt dirty and wrong. She needed to know that Joanie would choose to do the right thing without being coerced into it.

"I -- I just don't know how to do it, Cal," Joanie admitted. "He's closely guarded all the time. Locked up, they keep tabs on him, he only goes out for full moon security runs."

"How is that not our opportunity?" Callie asked. "They let him free right? So, why not just get him to run off?"

Joanie looked down at the ground.

"He's... he's collared and closely controlled," Joanie admitted.

"I've seen the collar. I can't figure out how that controls him," Callie said. "He's stronger than a fucking dog collar."

"It has a tracker and the one he wears as a wolf has electric shock capabilities. It gives him a powerful zap if he strays too far," Joanie said quietly.

"How powerful?" Callie asked, eye narrowing.

"Enough to knock him out," Joanie admitted.

"God fucking dammit," Callie muttered. "What about when he's human? He still wears a collar?"

"Yeah," Joanie said barely above a whisper.

"Does that one shock him too?" Callie spat.

"No, it just tracks him," Joanie said keeping her eyes focused on the ground.

"How do they keep these things charged?" Callie demanded.

"I'm not privy to all the details. But we had generators and solar when you were here. Monica brought other shit, I just don't... I don't fucking know Cal," Joanie said quickly, rubbing her fingers into her eyes.

"Jesus, this isn't right, he's a human fucking being, Joanie!" Callie said her voice raising.

"Nothing about this community is right anymore Callie," Joanie said throwing her hands up for a second before planting them on her hips. "So no, it's not right. I just don't know how to help. I don't know how to get him out."

Callie could hear the frustration in Joanie's words. She knew she wasn't lying; Joanie hadn't changed much over the months they had been gone, and she had always been a terrible liar.

"Alright, so two different collars, both have trackers, is there ever a time when he's out of the collars or not so closely guarded? Callie asked.

Joanie's face darkened in a way Callie had never seen before.

"He's always collared. And there's only one instance when he's not watched as closely" Joanie said quietly.

"Maybe we can use that," Callie said.

"Cal, this is... I mean it's a long shot," Joanie said.

"OK, a long shot, but a shot at least... Will you please help us?" Callie asked.

Joanie sighed again but nodded slowly.

"Yes, Callie, I'll help you." Joanie took a step towards her. Callie wanted to back up, didn't want her this close to her, tried to remember her abandonment again, but her gaze snagged on Callie's and the breath was stolen from her lungs. "It's going to take time, planning. We can't make this happen tomorrow, OK?"

Joanie put her hands on Callie's shoulders and rubbed slowly up and down. Callie nodded, trying to hide the flush of heat that traveled down her neck.

"As long as you're willing to help. Let me know what I can do," Callie said.

"I'll see what I can come up with. I'll start watching and paying attention more intentionally," Joanie said. "Can we meet again?"

"Anytime," Callie said.

Joanie's face flushed briefly, and she pushed back on the feelings of affection that rose in her. She couldn't get a good read on Callie and wasn't sure if she still felt the way Joanie did.

Joanie's feelings for Callie hadn't changed, it was part of the reason she stayed behind to help Darin and it was a huge part of the reason she was helping her now. Helping Callie put her own life at risk. Joanie knew Monica wouldn't hesitate to kill her, no matter how useful she proved herself to be. She had seen her do it for much less than this.

~~

October 2043

"So, there's been a development," Callie said as soon as Joanie showed up at their agreed upon meeting spot.

Joanie felt her chest tighten as she thought about the kid, Jax, and she wondered briefly if Callie had found out about him somehow. She hadn't told her about how he had been thrown in with Darin and bitten. She already knew she'd have a tough time convincing Darin to leave him; she didn't relish the task of trying to convince Callie as well.

The kid surviving his first transformation was a huge problem. It would have been so simple if he'd died afterwards, like the two before him. But he didn't, he lived. If Darin got too close to him, it could ruin all the plans she had so carefully worked out. It didn't really change the intel she'd so quietly and carefully gathered over the weeks, trying to cause as little suspicion as possible.

"What development?" Joanie asked.

"We intercepted a trio trying to meet with The Safety," Callie said. Joanie balked and stared at her for a second. "They were trying to infiltrate, so they could rescue their kids."

"Fuck," Joanie muttered.

"Yeah," Callie replied.

"Did you tell them about... about this set up?" Joanie asked. Callie hesitated then nodded. "Goddammit Callie! I'm putting my ass on the line here! You can't just go blabbing to everyone you see."

"Hey! I'm not," Callie protested. "Dad was there too. They were determined to get in to rescue their kids. I had to tell them about our deal. I even told them about being a werewolf, so, you're not the only one who was outed, OK? I didn't give them your name or any details yet anyway."

Joanie sighed and scraped her hands down her face.

"Yet?" Joanie asked.

"Yeah, I wanted to talk to you about their kids. See if you'd help with them too," Callie said.

"So what? You want me to rescue a bunch of kids now too?" Joanie asked grumpily.

"Well, sort of..." Callie said.

Joanie scoffed and crossed her arms. An ugly jolt of anger speared through her as all her careful planning came crashing down around her. She fought against the resentment that pooled in her chest as she regarded Callie. It wasn't Callie's fault that there wasn't much she could do on the outside besides being a sounding board for Joanie as she talked through the intricacies of her plan.

"So, now we're back to square one? I have to come up with a whole new plan to get these kids out as well. How many are there? Am I going to even have access to them?" Joanie asked.

"There's only two. But here's the thing, one is 15. Which, as you know, is usually too old. So, why take him? I thought maybe he'd been taken in for experiments or something like that. Have you seen any 15-year-old boys come through? Anything in your security details?" Callie asked.

Joanie sighed and realized that Callie was talking about Jax.

"Yeah," Joanie said. "I have seen one actually."

Callie's face lit a little and she waited for Joanie to continue.

"He was... He was put with Darin when he was a wolf," Joanie said quietly.

Callie just stared at Joanie for a minute while her brain processed what Joanie wasn't saying out loud.

"Holy. Shit," Callie said quietly. "Did he... Was he bitten?"

"Repeatedly," Joanie nodded.

"That's... unusual," Callie said narrowing her eyes.

"Darin was pushed into it," Joanie said shifting her eyes to the ground.

"In what way?" Callie asked.

"Cattle prod," Joanie whispered.

Callie closed her eyes and gritted her teeth for a moment. A rush of air escaped her and she sucked in another slow deep breath before she continued.

"Alright, so the kid is a werewolf now?" Callie asked as she brought her brightly angry eyes back up to Joanie.

"Yeah," Joanie replied doing her best to hold that furious gaze.

"Do you think we can get him out too?" Callie asked.

"Maybe," Joanie sighed.

"There's also another kid, a girl about 14, named Heidi," Callie said, slowly getting her temper back under her control.

"Fuck," Joanie muttered, again knowing exactly who she was talking about. She pinched the bridge of her nose.

"So, you know her too? Another werewolf situation?" Callie spat out.

"No, she's not a werewolf. I think I can get them out," Joanie said. "But I'm going to... I need help on this."

"Anything you need," Callie replied, the anger slowly melting away as hope began to take its place.

"It can't be you," Joanie said. "I have to recruit someone from the inside."

"Do you think you can?" Callie asked, with a raised eyebrow.

"I guess I have to try," Joanie said in a resigned tone.

Callie leaned toward Joanie reminding herself that the way things were in the community weren't her fault. She told herself for the billionth time that Joanie was doing her best, putting her life on the line to help her and her dads and now a group of people she'd never even met. Joanie was a good one.

"Thank you, Joanie, for everything," Callie began. "You've been amazing, doing all this planning, I mean, we're finally getting somewhere."

Joanie sighed and lifted her hand to Callie's face. The tension in her had been building since they had reconnected, and she couldn't fight it anymore. She stepped closer and rested her forehead against Callie's.

"Joanie," Callie whispered, suddenly filled with need and want. Joanie wrapped an arm around her torso.

"Callie," Joanie leaned close now, her dark silky hair rubbing along her cheek, filling her nose with her scent. "I've missed you so much."

Callie's arms seemed to wrap around the woman of their own accord. Her heart pounded as she buried her nose in Joanie's neck. Her mind told her over and over, this wasn't what she was here for. They needed to come up with a new plan. She knew that, in her brain, but somehow her body wasn't listening, and she pressed herself against the slight figure of Joanie.

Joanie's mouth planted a small kiss to Callie's neck. She held her breath as Joanie drew her closer, her hands traveling down her back, around the curves of her buttocks cupping and squeezing. All the while her lips fluttered along her neck pecking light kisses on her skin.

Callie's breathing stuttered as Joanie's body pressed to hers, her cheeks flushed, and her nails lengthened slightly. Her hands at Joanie's shoulders bunched her shirt into her fists. One hand stayed planted on Callie's ass, while the other slid up her back once more, and cradled her neck. Joanie pulled back slightly, studied Callie's flushed cheeks and then stared into her eyes. A breath whooshed from Callie as Joanie held her closely.

"Did you miss me, Callie?" Joanie asked quietly.

Callie whimpered then lunged forward, planting her lips squarely on Joanie's. Her arms wrapped her neck as her tongue plunged forward with a moan. Joanie grinned a little as Callie ravaged her mouth, driving her tongue wildly forward, twining together with Joanie's.

The kiss started frantic and hurried, as if making up for the many months they had been apart. Gradually, it slowed to a more sensual yet still determined kind of kissing. Callie's hands ran down Joanie's back, tracing her torso, up to her breasts. She cupped them and rubbed her hardening nipples through the fabric of her bra. Joanie gasped in a breath as Callie rolled them between her fingers.

Joanie returned the favor, rubbing her thumbs over Callie's protruding nipples, noting the lack of bra. It didn't surprise her. Callie hated bras, and didn't truly require one anyway. Besides this made it so much easier for Joanie to touch her.

Joanie took Callie's hands from her breasts holding her wrists together, she pinned them above her head against a tree trunk. Callie smiled and gasped as Joanie's fingers trailed up her leg and pinched open the button of her pants. She slid her hand past the waistband and pushed one finger over Callie's now moistening underwear.

"Oh, so wet for me," Joanie said with a slight tease in her voice.

"Well," Callie groaned. "It has been a while."

She leaned forward and planted her mouth on Joanie's again as her fingers ran up and down her wet slit. Callie whimpered again as Joanie did so, frustrated at the lack of skin-on-skin contact. Joanie grinned and teased around the fabric of Callie's now soaked underwear. Finally, she pushed the fabric aside and brought her fingers to Callie's clit circling it slowly.

"Oh! God," Callie gasped out.

Joanie glanced around for any undead, but none seemed to be in the area. She began kissing Callie's neck again as she stimulated her clit moving with excruciating slowness. Callie's breathing had turned to hard pants and her hips began to roll and buck.

"Are you gonna cum for me?" Joanie asked a little breathlessly.

Callie let out a snarling moan and lunged forward again trying to capture Joanie's mouth. Joanie pulled back dodging the attempt and smiled at her. She pressed her hands hard into the tree and Callie's head fell back again. Her teeth gritted together as Joanie's fingers slid between her labia and plunged into her, thumb rubbing roughly at her clit.

"Ah! Yes!" Callie snarled.

Her hips bucked quickly now, and her thighs were shaking. She opened her eyes a bit and caught Joanie's intense stare. She had missed her so much and the thought of being with her again sent a sudden pulsing wave through her.

Callie's mouth dropped open as her orgasm crashed over her. Her fingers curled down, nails digging into Joanie's skin. Her teeth pointed and her eyes flashed brightly as her body trembled with the sensation of her climax. She did her best to contain her whimpering moans as Joanie's fingers coaxed her pleasure from her. Slowly, as her orgasm ebbed away, Joanie brought her down gradually, pulling her fingers from her, stroking at the engorged and wet flesh. She brought her mouth to Callie's and leisurely kissed her again.

Joanie held her close, her arms wrapping Callie's waist, kissing her slowly, swaying a little back and forth. Once her breathing had returned to normal, Callie leaned back and rebuttoned her pants.

"I did miss you," Callie said looking down. "I missed you a lot. You should have come with us."

Joanie rested her forehead on Callie's again.

"I know," Joanie said. "I'm sorry. I thought... I guess I thought it could be salvaged."

Callie shook her head.

"It's in the past," she said.

"Can you forgive me?" Joanie asked.

Callie stopped and looked at Joanie again. Truthfully, she wasn't sure if she could. It had been a betrayal, but something twanged in Callie's heart when she thought about not forgiving Joanie. Callie pulled in a rough breath and ran her fingers through Joanie's hair.

"Maybe," Callie said. "Eventually."

"That's good enough for me," Joanie said. She brought her mouth close to Callie's again, waiting, giving her space to refuse the kiss. Callie closed the distance and brought their lips together.

"I was serious before. We will need help now," Joanie said. "I think I have an idea forming. But I can't pull it off alone."

"You have to be sure you can trust them," Callie said roughly.

"I know. I think I know who to ask," Joanie said.

Callie nodded slowly.

"You have to make sure they're really on our side," Callie said.

"I know," Joanie replied. "I'll do some digging, some very cautious digging. Give me.... a week?"

Callie nodded, her chest tightening harshly at the thought of not seeing Joanie again for a week. She pushed past it and kissed Joanie quickly again.

"OK. One week," Callie said.

~~

One Week Later

Joanie slipped through the hole in the chain link Grant had sniped open for her. She watched him closely as he twisted the links back together, expertly hiding where he had cut the fencing.

"Doesn't that weaken the integrity?" Joanie asked.

Grant shrugged and asked, "Does it matter?"

Joanie looked at him strangely. He had been acting quite nihilistic since Heidi had started living with him and Monica. It had been partly why she had decided to bring Grant in on their plans, that and him participating gave her direct access to Heidi.

"I guess not," Joanie said.

Grant straightened and followed Joanie into the woods, where they would meet Callie. After walking what seemed like aimlessly for ten minutes Joanie stopped at a non-descript tree and waited. A moment later Callie appeared a few feet away. She approached cautiously looking around and eyeing Grant.

"Him?" she asked Joanie.

"Yeah, what's wrong with him?" Joanie replied.

"He's one of Monica's," Callie said staring at Grant again.

"Monica isn't right. Something..." he trailed off and stared into the leaves of the trees. "She's not the woman she was when we started this together."

Callie crossed her arms over her chest and looked back to Joanie.

"I dunno," she said her gaze darting between them.

"He'll be fine," Joanie said. "I swear."

Callie studied Joanie's face wondering where her certainty came from.

"I'm trusting you on this Joanie," she said her eyes darkening.

Joanie regarded Callie seriously and nodded.

"I know Cal. You absolutely can," Joanie said.

"So, are we good? Should we go through what we've come up with?" Grant asked.

Callie eyed him suspiciously but nodded.

"Yeah, what have you got?" she asked.

Grant and Joanie settled into the soft mossy grass under the tree. Callie lowered down slowly following suit. Joanie began to share the details of their plan.

Darin and Jax were being held together and the best way to free them both was to separate them. But the only time they released Darin outside of security patrols was during another type of experiment.

"Wait," Callie said. "What kind of experiment?"

Grant and Joanie exchanged a look that set Callie on edge.

"I... don't want to say," Joanie said.

"Joanie," Callie said. "What is it?"

"It's really not ours to tell," Grant said. "Please Callie, I really don't think we should tell you."

Callie's face hardened at his words but something in Joanie's eyes told her to let it go. She gritted her teeth and nodded curtly waving a hand indicating they should continue.

Joanie would volunteer to participate in this experiment. They knew that there were observers and that they were supposed to stay until it concluded. But if they got the right people in the observation room they would leave before things wrapped up. That would give Joanie a small window of time to sneak Darin uncollared, out of the room.

Meanwhile, before any of this happened, Grant would convince Monica to put Heidi and Jax together, while Darin was gone. He would make it seem like a good opportunity to get the kid to bite Heidi and give them another werewolf.

"Hang on," Callie said. "First of all, how do you know Monica will agree to this and secondly how do you know Jax will be able to control himself? He could end up biting Heidi."

"Monica and Heidi have been butting heads since she first arrived. She's living with us because Monica didn't trust that she was acclimating well. And she's not. It's been almost a year, and she still talks about her mom and leaving," Grant said. "It drives Monica crazy. I think she'll be happy to have an opportunity to turn Heidi. Like I said she's not right anymore."

"Why does she keep the girl around if she hates her so much?" Callie asked.

"If Monica has a scrap of humanity left in her it's in the form of stubbornness. She won't stop until Heidi is completely devoted to The Safety," Grant said.

Callie scoffed but asked, "What about Jax? What if he ends up biting her?"

"Truthfully, we have no guarantees with that. But so far, he seems pretty gentle and docile," Joanie said.

"He's 15 and a brand-new werewolf. He's not going to have a lot of control. What's the plan for getting them out?" Callie said.

"That's where I come in," Grant said.

After signaling to Joanie that the observation room was empty, Grant would go back and extract the kids. Heidi would tell Jax the plan while they were alone and hopefully the kid would trust them. Heidi would be no problem, since she had wanted to leave from the first day she arrived.

They would sneak out together, meet Joanie and Darin behind the buildings where no one went and snip the chain link, only to twist it back together. The whole thing should only take a matter of minutes.

"This seems too easy," Callie said.

"Too easy?" Joanie balked. "Callie, this plan has so many moving parts, relies mostly on chance and luck and we're doing it with only two people, possibly a kid if we can get her on board."

"She'll be on board," Grant promised.

"Regardless, just because this all happens in a matter of minutes doesn't mean it's going to be easy," Joanie said.

"I suppose you're right," Callie said. "What will you do about a bite?"

"A bite?" Grant asked.

"Yeah, if Jax bites Heidi, or you, what's your plan then?" Callie asked.

"Get the kids out anyway," Joanie shrugged. "I'm not really sure what you're looking for here Callie. We've thought this through, we understand there are risks. It's not a perfect plan. There's a little more watching and waiting that has to happen, but I think, even though it's a bit tenuous, I think it will work."

Callie looked skeptical.

"When were you thinking?" she asked.

"I think..." Joanie paused slightly. "The next full moon."

"That's... not soon Joanie. That's almost a month away," Callie said.

"It's our best chance, Cal. Everyone avoids the wolves close to the full moon. Fewer people roaming around, fewer chances of getting caught."

"But will he last that long? He didn't look great last I saw him Joanie," Callie said her voice breaking and eyes welling with tears.

Joanie glanced at Grant. He reddened and stood awkwardly.

"I'll just..." he walked off into the woods leaving the two women alone.

Joanie waited until Grant was out of earshot before speaking.

"He is in rough shape. He's lost a lot of weight and those collars they put on him..." Joanie trailed off shaking her head slowly.

"Is he feeding, is he given time to recover properly?" Callie asked, her eyes still shining.

Joanie hesitated and wouldn't meet her eyes.

"He's... he's really only getting the undead. The animals in the area are pretty much gone. He doesn't get a chance to go after anything that's, well, living," Joanie said as Callie sucked in a breath. "But he's got lots of downtime, he's not... allowed outside his uhm... quarters."

"His quarters?" Callie asked. "Is he still in our house or did he get moved."

"He got moved," Joanie said with a wince. "The night of the coup, he got knocked out. That's when they collared and moved him."

"So... what does that mean? A different house or something?" Callie asked.

"Not a different house," Joanie said wringing her hands tightly together.

"Just fucking tell me Joanie," Callie said roughly.

"He's... in a cage. He's got access to an outdoor space. But he's basically held like an animal," Joanie said with a wince.

Callie gasped and put her face in her hands. Joanie went to put her arms over her shoulders, but Callie shifted away from her.

"How could you let them do that?" Callie sputtered.

"I don't have a lot of pull there," Joanie said. "I'm just a grunt."

"Why didn't you come with us?" Callie asked abruptly. "You had the chance, you saw my dad leaving, you saw me fight my way out. Why didn't you come with us?"

Joanie had thought about this before. She had seen Aric running through the damaged fence, saw Callie in her wolf form abandon her security post and run into the thick trees surrounding the community. She wanted to go with them, but she hadn't seen Darin escape. Besides, The Safety had been the one place that had felt like a home to her since this whole virus crisis started.

"Partly it was because I knew Darin hadn't gotten out yet," Joanie said, and Callie scoffed meanly. "It's true Cal. I saw you and Aric escape. I knew you two were safe, but I didn't see Darin, I needed to find him." She hesitated, wondering if she should share the rest of her reasoning with Callie, wondering if it would break down the trust somehow.

"The Safety is the first place that has felt like home to me in a long time Callie. Before... before the whole virus undead thing I was homeless. I was just a kid out on the streets, barely getting by. I was really lucky to get out of the city when I did, otherwise..." Joanie shook her head. "It was my first home since I was 13 years old, Callie. I had to fight for that home."

"You never... you never told me that," Callie said quietly.

"It didn't seem important anymore. It felt like another lifetime. I had a home. I had people who loved me. I had you," Joanie said. She brushed her hand on Callie's neck, running her fingers into her hair.

Callie's chest tightened, something suddenly clicked into place in her head as Joanie held her gaze. She reached forward and cupped Joanie's cheek. Her thumb traced lightly over her skin and a feeling of warmth and certainty flowed through her chest. With widened eyes she leaned forward and took a deep breath, breathing in the scent of Joanie.

"Oh," Callie whispered out. "It's..."

"What?" Joanie asked quietly after a long pause.

Callie's eyes flashed and she leaned forward abruptly, pressing her lips to Joanie's and everything seemed absolutely right. She pushed her tongue forward, hand traveling to the back of Joanie's head.

"Cal?" Joanie asked against her mouth.

"Joanie, it's you," Callie said, pulling back slightly staring at her again, heart pounding hard in her chest.

"What's me?" Joanie asked.

But Callie only shook her head and pressed their lips together again, tongue dancing forward. Her hand immediately went to her breast, suddenly desperate for Joanie. She pushed forward, gently lowering to the ground, her hands roving over clothes, searching for buttons, zippers and hems.

Callie ran her lips over Joanie's neck, kissing and sucking while her hand made its way up her shirt to cup her breast, running a thumb over the nipple.

"Callie," Joanie gasped. Callie unbuttoned her pants and slid the zipper down. "We can't, Grant... the undead... it's not safe out here."

"Shhh," Callie grumbled, shifting her pants down.

Her tongue traced down her body, over her belly. Joanie gasped and ran her fingers through Callie's soft hair. Callie tugged Joanie's pants down farther and nuzzled between her legs, planting small kisses to the insides of her thighs.

"Ah, yes," Joanie gasped through a quick intake of breath.

Joanie's heart pounded as arousal built inside of her. Her mind was dimly aware that Grant was around somewhere, but as Callie's mouth made its way to her labia, tongue darting over her clit quickly, that seemed unimportant.

"Callie," Joanie breathed out quietly.

Callie groaned and clamped her mouth over Joanie's clit, running her tongue over and around it. She brought up one hand and brushed over her labia gently. Then she parted them, running her finger up Joanie's wet slit.

Her thighs twitched and she wished she could spread her legs more, but she was still confined by her pants. Callie's tongue took the place of her fingers, running up and down. It danced around her opening, plunging in quickly before traveling back up to her clit. Callie circled it with her tongue and sucked on it.

"Ughn, Calliiiee," Joanie moaned.

Her hips thrust up a bit, and Callie clamped down on her again, sucking. Two fingers plunged into Joanie's sopping pussy. She pumped her fingers as she sucked, and Joanie began to pant. One hand gripped into Callie's hair, while the other grasped at a clump of grass. Her hips began to roll rhythmically, moans barely held back.

Joanie's back arched and her thighs quivered; a tiny whimpering sounded in her throat. Callie could feel the walls around her fingers contracting wildly as Joanie groaned. Her tongue flicked over Joanie's twitching clit, her fingers dragging along the walls as they clenched at her.

"Ah! AH! Stop, stop," Joanie begged. Her thighs shook madly, and her breathing was wildly uneven. "Too much! Ah! God!"

Callie grinned to herself and carefully slowed her ministrations. She pulled her fingers from Joanie and gently planted kisses up her stomach, back to her mouth. They kissed slowly and leisurely as Joanie's shaking legs calmed. They lay still and quiet for a moment until they heard a loud stomping, Grant nosily clearly his throat.

"Oh, shit!" Joanie muttered.

She scrambled to her feet, tugging her pants back over her, zipping and buttoning them quickly. Callie grinned again and stood as well.

"Uhm, hey," Grant said, walking back towards them cautiously. "We should probably head back. Folks might wonder where we are."

"Yeah, yeah, of course," Joanie sputtered. "We uh... yeah, we're good."

Joanie glanced at Callie. Callie smiled widely and planted a kiss on Joanie's lips.

"When are we meeting again to finalize plans?" she asked.

"Oh, I think we can gather some intel and meet up with you again in a week or two," Joanie said quickly.

"You know," Grant said rubbing the back of his neck. "I don't have to come. It's probably better if only one of us is sneaking off anyway. I'll cover for you Joanie."

"Grant, you're a very smart man," Callie said with a grin.

Thank you so much for reading! See you next time! xoxox, JS