Season 2 Side Mission 14: Circuit Training
The following morning Charlotte was woken up to hear Sam coughing heavily. She blinked confused before sitting up seeing him sitting up coughing more.
“Sammy? What's wrong baby?” Charlotte asked softly petting his hair.
Sam cleared his throat letting out a groan. “I'm ok... just a little cough.”
Charlotte blinked looking at him in confusion. “You haven't been out in days. So we can rule out zombie bite. Maybe you caught a cold. We did stay out watching the rain for a long time last night.”
“No I'm fine I promise it's just a cough.” Sam said as Charlotte felt his forehead making her then cup his cheek.
“You have a fever Sam. I need to go see Maxine and see if she has anything.” Charlotte got up pulling on her pants and socks. Sam groaned as he falls back onto the bed curling up. Charlotte quickly covered him up before petting his head. “Just stay under the blankets and I'll be right back.” She said putting her boots on then pulling on her coat. She quickly rushed out of the coms shack seeing that the rain had stopped but the mud showed it hadn't stopped too long ago.
When Charlotte stepped into the hospital, she saw Maxine was checking a few of the patients who were there overnight. Maxine looked up at Charlotte oddly. “Char? What's wrong?”
“I think Sam is sick. Not gray sick just sick sick.” Charlotte said stepping over.
Maxine nodded talking to one of the other people working in there grabbing her medical bag putting a few things into it. Charlotte leads her to the coms shack and into the back room where Sam was still curled up under the blanket. Maxine gently put the thermometer into his mouth feeling his forehead. “Was he out in the rain at all over the last few days?”
“No but we watched the rain last night.” Charlotte said sitting on the edge of the bed resting her hand on Sam's leg.
“Might have just caught a cold. I'll see if I have some medicine in the hospital. The most I can promise is some alcohol. He does have a fever that we need to keep an eye on.” Maxine said checking the thermometer. “He's got a tempature of 99.1 degrees. Keep him covered and get him some juice if we have it in the pantry. He also needs to sleep as much as possible.”
Charlotte nodded getting up walking out of the coms shack heading towards the pantry. Thankfully someone had found some powdered drink mixes so while it wasn't the best stuff they were able to make juice like stuff. She put it into a plastic bottle that was cleaned and reused and brought it to the coms shack just as Janine followed her in.
“Miss DeLoius what is going on?” Janine asked as Charlotte stopped looking back at her.
“Sam's sick.” Charlotte said simply as the two women walked to the back where Sam was awake and talking to Maxine. “Here baby.” Charlotte said softly opening the bottle as he sat up enough to drink some of it.
“Thanks love... but I'm fine just a little warm that's all.” Sam said as Maxine and Charlotte kept him down.
“Sam you're sick you need to stay in bed and get better.” Charlotte said as Sam let out a whine.
“Mr. Yao we need our radio operator to be healthy so you need to take care of yourself.” Janine said going to the coms area grabbing a clip board. “Dr. Myers are you alright with putting off your mission until Mr. Yao is feeling up to it?”
“I really did need that treadmill but it can wait...” Maxine said as Sam shook his head.
“No... I can do it.” He said sitting up against Charlotte's protests.
“Sam...” Charlotte said leading Sam to shake his head.
“Char I have a job... I need to do this.” He said coughing into arm before reaching for the clip board. “Let me see that...”
Janine handed the clip board to Sam who looked over it slowly. “If you plan to do this Mr. Yao I'll have Mr. Deaubl come on for a meds run so you can get some rest.”
“That's the only way I'll agree to it.” Charlotte said as Janine nodded.
“Go ahead and find an available runner Charlotte.” Janine said as Charlotte stands up walking of the coms shack.
Soon enough Charlotte had gotten Simon to help her with this run and they had gotten their packs ready to go when she heard Sam and Maxine talking. “No, I told you, I'm fine. There's nothing to worry about! Runner Three, Runner Five, you good to go?” Sam said weakly.
“Locked and loaded. Where are we off to today?” Simon asked bucking his pack around his torso.
“Stand down a minute, Runner Three, I need to talk to your operator.” Maxine said. “Char I just took his tempature again and you are running a hundred degree fever and you can barely keep your eyes open.”
Charlotte felt her stomach tighten as she looked at Simon. “Sam we can just let Janine do this.”
Sam groans softly. “No, nope, no good. Sorry, not happening. Janine doesn't know that area at all. Evan's on in an hour to take over. You need this equipment, and we have a window.” He said weakly. “it's got to be me, and it's got to be now.” He lets out a yawn. “There's no one else. I don't feel that bad.”
“Well, why don't I stay and do it? You can fill me in on the route before you leave.” Maxine suggests.
“Oh, you can't do it!” Sam whined softly. “What about your experiment?”
Charlotte sighs softly rubbing her forehead. Maxine had been working on an experiment for days and had to watch over it constantly. “Well, I'll, uh – I'll get someone to watch the samples for me.” Maxine said.
“Now, I thought you said they needed constant monitoring. Um, you going to leave that up to someone else after you've been working on it for days? What if they knock something over, or mix up the red spores with the green ones? What if someone sneezes into the test tubes? I don't think you should risk it.” Sam said making Charlotte look at Simon oddly.
The cold must have been messing with his head.
“If I leave you here, I do not want you pushing yourself too hard, got it?” Maxine said.
“Relax, Doc. We'll keep little Sammy in line.” Simon said with a grin.
“Hey!” Sam said quickly as a beeping suddenly starts going off.
“Damn!” Maxine said. “I need to rotate the samples. Look, are you sure you'll be-”
“I'm fine!” Sam stressed. “But, um, if you come back later, would you mind bringing another duvet? It feels- it's really cold in here.” He said softly.
“It's quite warm in here, Sam...” Maxine said as she left the coms shack.
“Hey, Grey's Anatomy, we getting this show on the road, or what?” Simon said impatiently.
“Yeah, yeah, yeah, of course. Um, uh... you're going to want to head into the city by the usual route. Nothing fancy. Uh, and the uh- yeah, the way looks clear.” Sam said before a moment of silence is heard. “Aren't you going to run?”
“Do you think there might be something missing Sam?” Charlotte asked softly.
“It rhymes with 'raise the gates'?” Simon said quickly.
“Oh!” Sam said quickly. “Raise the- oh! Right. Yeah, raise the gates!” He said as the gates raised for them letting them take off.
After a while Simon speaks up again. “Hey hey hey, Samwise, what's the plan for today?”
“Didn't I tell you already?” Sam said confused.
“Not even a little bit.” Charlotte said with a small sigh.
“You sure?” Sam questioned. “I could have sworn I'd-”
“Um, just out of curiosity, how many runners do you see on the screen right now?” Simon asked making Charlotte look at him oddly.
“Two. Just the two. Pretty much all the time, I'm only seeing two runners. Almost always.” Sam said almost sounding uncertain by the end of the statement.
“...Okay... And what did you say the mission was?” Charlotte asked again sighing softly.
“Oh, oh yeah. Um, you and Three are meant to track us down a treadmill. You won't have to carry it back or anything stupid like that. Once you locate it and make sure it's working, we'll uh, we'll send a van out to bring it in.” Sam said slowly.
“What do we need a treadmill for? Don't we do enough running already?” Simon asked sounding confused.
“Oh, not for you, for the doc. She needs it to do trials for her experiment.” Sam explained groaning softly as Simon looked over to the left and blinked.
“And speaking of running, Char you see the zoms over there? Let's pick up the pace, yeah?” He said making Charlotte look over seeing the zombies were shambling towards them.
Charlotte took off with Simon down the path away from them as she chuckled dryly. “You know... it would be nice to go out for a run but not see any zombies... wouldn't it?” She asked making Simon laugh.
“Yea that would be great.” He said as he took a deep breath. “Hey, Sam, what's the doc working on anyway? Smells awful over by the med tent lately. Kind of like, uh, cooked spinach and jockstrap.”
“It wasn't that bad.” Charlotte said under her breath.
“Mm... it's classified.” Sam said slowly.
“You don't actually know what she's doing, do you?” Simon said making Sam groan softly.
“No more than you do. Oh, uh, you two are going to want to take the next right. Up there, by that block of flats. If you head that way, it'll take you to the shopping center. I think there's some sort of fitness place connected to it.” Sam said slowly as Charlotte blinked slowly.
Those directions didn't seem right.
“Oh yeah, yeah there is, I know the one. But uh, you get there by taking a left.” Simon corrected.
“Mm, no. Because you want to go over that roundabout with the big statue in the middle that looks like a boot.” Sam tried to counter.
“Which you get to by going left.” Charlotte said looking at Simon who looked somewhat amused.
“No, because if you go right, you – uh... oh no, hold on. Um, which way is left again?” Sam asked making Charlotte slap her forehead shaking it.
“Okay, that's it, I'm taking the wheel.” Simon said with a grin.
“What wheel?” Sam asked sounding confused. “Where do you see a wheel?”
Simon shook his head then looked at Charlotte. “Char, do you trust me? That's a silly question, of course you do. After all, think of the odds that we've faced together, the memories we've shared, the hardships we've endured. Not to mention all the times I've reliably been able to tell my left from my right.” He said with a grin.
“It was a momentary lapse of judgement. I feel fine!” Sam said quickly.
“Sam we can tell you're not.” Charlotte said quickly.
“Pay no attention to the delirious little voice in your headset.” Simon said looking at Charlotte. “I know exactly where we need to go, and it definitely involves taking this left.” He leads her to the left showing the round about with the boot.
“Oh, there it is!” Sam said suddenly as they ran towards the shopping center. “There, the roundabout with the boot and the shopping center. The gym's in that big glass enclosure stuck onto the end.”
Charlotte looks around then noticed a building made of glass. “You mean the one with the ugly green sign.” She asked.
“Hey, who you calling ugly?” Simon said suddenly defensively.
“She's not! She's just talking about the sign... not you.” Sam said defending Charlotte.
“Yeah, well, I think it's a great sign.” Simon said confidently.
“It's neon green and it's got little pink dumbbells on it.” Sam said.
“Like I said, a master piece.” Simon said as they stopped in front of the glass building.
“Right... anyway, since it's almost all windows, it shouldn't be too hard to find a way in. Um, look around for something heavy you can toss through the glass.” Sam said tiredly.
“Or we could just unlock the service door and go in through the back.” Simon suggested.
“Oh yeah, are you some kind of master cat burglar all of a sudden, picking locks and stuff?” Sam asked with a mild chuckle.
Simon reached into his pocket pulling out a set of keys. “I've got keys.”
Charlotte blinks. “Since when?”
“You're talking to the owner-operator for all five Fitness Factory outlets in the region!” Simon said with a grin as Charlotte had a surprised look on her face. “Named the city's top gym for picking up weights. And not so bad for picking up the ladies either, mm, if you catch my drift.” He finished before looking at Charlotte's still surprised expression. “What, what? You didn't think I got legs like this from just running away from a few zombies, do you?”
“Honestly I figured you were just a gym rat.” Charlotte said.
Simon shakes his head and unlocking the side door. “Come on Char, we'll go in through here. How's the uh, zombie situation, Sam?” He asked.
“Mm, non where you are, by the look of it. Uh, guess they were more interested in the camping supply store down the other end.” Sam said said stepping inside the gym. The carpets were dark colored showing they hadn't been cleaned in months and the front desk was still set up without any of the normal raiding that most buildings had.
Simon steps into the main room putting his hands on his hips taking in a deep breath. “Smell that air! Nothing like the scents of sweat and supplements to get you motivated!”
Charlotte looked at him oddly. “You had a strange idea of what gets people motivated.” She said looking around the building.
“If we could just get a little music going in here, cover up some of those bullet holes, it would be just like old times.” Simon said making a bee line for an area off to the left side. “I wonder if the in-house smoothie bar still has any of the good hemp powder left. I'm starting to run low on my stock.”
“Simon, how about we track down that treadmill first?” Charlotte said as Simon disappeared into the bar area.
“Five, um, I don't see anything on the scanners, but the cameras out that way aren't the most reliable. Run the perimeter and make sure there aren't any surprises. Three can check the equipment.” Sam said as Charlotte started to run around the edge of the business checking for any zombies that might have been hiding out.
“Sounds good to me.” Simon said. “But if you find any multivitamins out front, they're mine.”
“IF I find anything that hasn't already been taken.” She stressed the word if.
By the time Charlotte had checked the whole area Simon was standing by one of the treadmills checking it out. “So, that's it?” Sam said hopefully. “We've found what we came for, right? You can all come back now, and then we can all take a break, have some tea, and maybe lie down somewhere nice and quiet and dark and not move for a couple of days.” He said letting out a yawn. “Oh, that sounds nice, doesn't it?”
“No, no, sorry, this won't do at all.” Simon said making Charlotte raise an eyebrow.
“Why not?” she asked looking at him oddly.
“Well, there must have been looters through here at some point. They've taken all the supplements! Didn't leave so much as a canister of non-dairy thickening powder.” Simon complained.
“But the treadmill. That's alright, isn't it?” Sam asked.
“Well, I suppose we could make one of this lot work if we really need to, but I don't know if the doc would like it.” Simon said as Charlotte walked over to him looking at the treadmill.
“Why, what's wrong with them?” Sam asked sounding tired.
Charlotte looks at the treadmill sighing. “Looks like someone shot at them, or were aiming for something on them. There's what looks like zombie brains on it. Dangerous to bring into Abel.”
Sam sighs heavily. “I guess we'll have to look somewhere else.”
“Well, luckily for you, I know just the place. Char? Follow my lead.” Simon said with a smile.
“Where are we going?” Charlotte asked.
“Haven't decided yet. There's a Fitness Factory on Rosely Avenue... no, that's no good.” Simon said shaking his head.
“Why not?” Sam asked straining.
“Well, it's at the top of an office block. Before the outbreak, there were two legal firms, an advertising agency, a dentist, and about a million accountants working on the floors below.” Simon explained.
“And you think they all came to work during the outbreak, and then reanimated once they were inside?” Sam suggested.
“Now, what I'm saying is we'd have to walk up about twenty flights of stairs to get to the treadmill. Now, I know I'm good for it, but the guys with the van might get a little huffy. I don't want to name names, but not everyone at Abel's paying enough attention to their cardio. But um, your thing about the zombies is – yeah, it's good, too.” Simon said with a shrug.
“Is there another gym around here somewhere then?” Charlotte asked making Simon laugh.
“'Is there another gym?' she asks.” He straightened up grinning. “At Fitness Factory, we prided ourselves on a wide variety of convenient locations. 'You're never too far from your next workout,' I used to say.”
Sam let out a heavy sigh. “Simon. Simon, I'm tired, and your voice is starting to make my eyes hurt. Is that a yes?”
“There's another center in the banking district.” Simon answered simply.
Sam lets out a deep groan. “Oh my God, is there anywhere you didn't have a gym?”
“It shouldn't take too long to get over there. I tell you what, since I know the way, why don't you put your head down for a minute.” Simon said.
“Um, mm, I don't think-” Sam started.
“It'll be fine!” Simon said smiling. “Char and I can handle ourselves for a few minutes. And think how refreshed you'll feel after a quick nap. You'll be a zombie-spotting, route-planning, telling-left-from-right machine!”
“I don't know if that's such a good idea...” Sam said waffling.
“Sammy it's ok. Simon knows the route and we will be careful to avoid zombies.” Charlotte said gently.
“I guess if I just close my eyes...” Sam said sleepily. “Just for a few minutes, it wouldn't be so bad...” He started to sound like he was falling asleep. “Mm, everything is a little bit blurry right now...”
“That's it, that's it. Listen to your Uncle Simon. Go on and close yoru eyes, count a few zombie sheep, and you'll feel better in no time.” There was a long pause. “Do you think he's-”
The sound of Sam's gentle snores answer his question making Charlotte smile. “He's such an angel when he's sleeping.” She said making Simon smile.
“While he's out, I think you and I are going to take a little detour. This way.” Simon said as they ran out of the gym and down the alleyway past the building. While they ran Sam's snores kept coming showing he was deeply asleep.
“Where are we going?” Charlotte asked.
“Just a little further up the hill, Char. Come on, pick those knees up! I used to jog this way before work every morning.” Simon said smiling as they continued to run. “I used to jog this way vefore work every morning. Helped clear my head. I suppose it paid off in other ways, too.”
“Nothing like a ravenous, slathering pack of zoms to make you appreciate endurance training.” Charlotte laughed softly.
“It's funny... I always kind of thought I'd be good at this – the whole apocalypse thing.” Simon said smiling.
“Physically you mean?” Charlotte asked.
“Mentally too. When I was little, um, I was brought up by my grandma, right? She was uh... well, let's just say she was the kind of Catholic lady who really imagined what hell would be like, and thought it was good idea for me to think a lot about it, too. So I wouldn't end up like my mum, she said.” Simon said in a rare moment of sadness making Charlotte look over at him. “She was expecting Judgement Day at any minute - rains of blood, fire, earthquakes, all that stuff. I sometimes thought she was so sure I bad that the only way to avoid hell would be just if I...”
“Simon... that's not true.” Charlotte said. “Your a good man.”
Simon smiles for a moment then shakes his head. “Anyway. Doesn't matter! I used to imagine what it would be like trying to survive some huge apocalypse I think that's why I started working out so much in the first place. I just always had this feeling like if I was prepared enough, I could survive anything, you know? It worked so far, anyway.”
The sound of a door opening through their headsets were followed by Maxine's voice. “Sam?”
Sam snorted waking up suddenly. “Wha-... ah... I'm here! I'm not sleeping, I'm awake. Runner Three, Runner Five, tell her I'm awake.” He said quickly.
“Yeah, what he said.” Simon quickly attested.
“Right. Have you two found a treadmill, yet?” Maxine asked.
“Nearly.” Simon said. “Char and I were just on our way to the gym.”
“Uh, how did you end up on the top of that hill? Three, don't forget you're on a mission.” Maxine said.
“Taking a shortcut, that's all.” Simon said smirking.
“Right...” Maxine said not thoroughly convinced.
“In fact, if we head down the slope just up there, we'll be there in no time. Let's go, Char, no dawdling. Let's not keep everyone waiting.” Simon said with a grin as they ran down the slope of the hill heading towards a lone building that was three times the size of the other one.
“Wow! Now that's a gym.” Charlotte said as they jogged through the large parking lot.
“This is her. The crown jewel of the Fitness Factory empire – our flagship location! My own little palace of power, my castle of cardio, my island of iron-pumping.” Simon said obviously very proud of it.
“It's certainly something. Go big or go home.” Charlotte said as they stopped just before the doors. “This is huge!”
“Four stories built on blood, sweat, tears and daily rounds of multivitamins!” Simon said grinning like a fool.
“Um, Runner Three? Uh, I'm picking up something funny on the long-range cams. There's something inside, but it's moving all wrong. Can't figure it out. Can you see anything?” Sam asked.
Charlotte and Simon moved to the window to look in through the window as Charlotte pulls back slightly. “The hell... Simon you do see that right?”
“Yeah, I can see someone through the...” Simon laughs dryly. “How about that...”
“I wouldn't have thought a zombie had the motor skills necessary to use an elliptical machine.” Maxine said as Charlotte looked at the zombie who was hammering away at the elliptical.
Charlotte pointed across the room. “Look, that one in the corner is on a treadmill.” She chuckles. “He's really going for it too!”
“Look at the incline he's got that thing set at! I bet his legs must be about ready to-” Simon laughs. “fall off!”
“Guess we know where to send the van, now.” Sam said softly.
“I don't think they're going to want to pick up the treadmill if there's a zombie on it.” Charlotte said softly.
“Wait, I think I recognize that zombie.” Simon said as he unlocked the door stepping inside slowly. “That's – yeah, that's Linton! He was one of my best customers before the outbreak. Ran ultramarathons in his spare time, a real hard body. You know, most people would take the day off training if they came down with a case of the zombies, but not this guy! That is dedication.” He said grinning slightly.
“Do you think you can get him off that thing?” Charlotte asked.
“It's got to be easier now than it was when he was alive.” Simon laughs. “He was a fantastic runner, but a real machine hog. Maybe a little shouting, a little waving our arms, and we should be able to lead the zoms out.”
“Yeah, whatever your plan is, just try to hurry, Three?” Maxine says. “I can only stay a few more minutes, and I don't want Sam falling asleep on you again.”
“I was just resting my eyes!” Sam said quickly.
“We're on it! Get your shouting voice ready, Char.” Simon said as they jogged over to the zombie on the treadmill. The one on the elliptical didn't seem bothered by the runners which was very strange.
The zombies continued to do their exercises groaning the whole time while Charlotte watched Simon head into an office. Sam spoke up a few minutes later. “Are you in position?”
“Yeah, almost. I just want to see if I can find something in my filing cabinet while we're here.” Simon said as Charlotte rolls her eyes.
“Yeah, can you hurry up, Runner Three? I need to get back to the hospital, and Sam's not looking so good.” Maxine said as Charlotte blinked.
“Sam are you ok?” Charlotte asked worriedly.
“I told you, I feel – I feel – great!” Sam sounded like he was trying to keep the contents of his stomach down.
“You're turning green.” Maxine said quickly.
“Here we go, I found it.” Simon said suddenly.
“Found what? Secret zom-fighting weapon?” Maxine asked sarcasticly.
“It might help!” Simon said as he walked out of the office.
“Well, come on, tell us what it is.” Sam asked softly.
Simon help up his wrists showing a neon green sweat band. “My lucky sweatband! I was wearing this when I won my first 10K fun run back at school! Oh, and we should probably take this case of multivitamins I found in the desk, too.” Uh I really am getting low on those.” He said holding up a case of multivitamins which he shoved into his bag. “Hey you have some space in your bag maybe we can stuff a few jars of protein powder in there while we're at it.”
“Runner Three, we are very happy for you, but could you possibly, you know, get a move on.” Maxine said frustrated.
“Oh yeah, right.” Simon said throwing his bag back on. “Um, got to deal with the zombies, I got you. I'll take the lead, Char. Don't stop running until we're safely out of here. Hey zombies, soup's on!” Simon started to shout waving his arms at them while Charlotte whistled waving her arm as well. “I've got tasty fresh runners over here, big brains! Lots of good eating on us, come and get it!” He shouted more only for the zombies to pay almost no mind to them.
“Uh, they're not moving.” Charlotte said after a bit.
“They didn't even look at you. Five, move around more?” Maxine said.
“I don't think that's going to help but ok.” Charlotte starts to wave her arms more.
“Zombies! Yoohoo! Over here! Did I mention brains? We've got them, you could eat them! Hello! Wow, this is a really tough room.” Simon shouted waving his arms.
Sam sighs softly. “If we can't get them to leave, I guess we'll just have to go somewhere else? That's fine, that's okay, I can power through this.” He pauses for a moment. “Mmm... Maxine, did you say it was a good or a bad thing if the room starts spinning?” He said weakly.
“Simon we need to try a new tactic. If they're not interested in brains, perhaps something else?” Charlotte said.
“I've got an idea! Charlotte take out one of the jars.” Simon said as Charlotte pulled out a jar of the multivitamins from Simon's bag handing it to him.
“What are you planning?” Charlotte asked as Simon smirked.
He begins shaking the jar making the vitamins clink around. “Alright, listen up, zombies. Complimentary pilates class outside in one minute. I want everybody hydrated and ready to go. And I don't want to hear any whining like, 'Oh, my arm fell off!' or, 'I'm dead, I don't need exercise classes!' On your feet and out the door, right now. Plus, I've got vitamins!” Simon said loudly shaking the jar loudly making the zombies actually stop going on the machines and stumble towards them.
“Oh well that worked better.” Charlotte said grabbing Simon's arm pulling him out of the gym quickly.
“Well, Sam, once Runner Three and Five shake these zoms, I think you've earned yourself a nap.” Maxine said happily only to not get any response from Sam. “Sam?” Sam's soft snores are heard making Maxine sighs softly.
“Let him sleep Maxine. I'll get him into bed when we get back.” Charlotte said as Simon put the vitamins into Charlotte's bag as they ran.
“Not to worry. I know just the shortcut to get us home.” Simon said with a grin.
“This wouldn't happen to be a shortcut going past another gym, would it?” Charlotte asked with a raised brow.
Simon laughs happily. “Whyever would you think that?” He said as they continued to run heading away from the two zombies on their tail.
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