"Oh, gawd," Katie murmured as Bill and Curtis rushed onto the narrow top of the wall to rescue Phil.
Travis stepped back, his hand coming out to keep her behind him. Katie wasn't sure what he was thinking, but he seemed to think she needed protecting.
The zombie moans and screams were increasingly loud and the banging on the gate was more energetic.
Bill and Curtis managed to get a grip on Phil and with Shane's help and the help of a few others they managed to pull him up. Mike moved out onto the wall and began to corral the rest of the men back to the platform. Katie noticed that Shane and Phil avoided him and stumbled onto the platform.
"Waiting for me, baby," Shane sneered at her.
Katie just laughed and shook her head. She turned on her heel and walked away. Without looking behind her, she knew Travis was following. He caught up to her and slid his arm around her shoulders. Looking up at him, she could see he was more upset than she was.
"Travis, I'm used to it," she said softly.
"I'm not and it was bullshit," Travis answered darkly.
"Let it go. It's not worth it. Lydia and I sometimes got comments like that. It's not uncommon. Some men are very intimidated by lesbians. ”
Travis shrugged and turned her toward him. "Yeah, but I don't like it. "
Katie tilted her head. "But they have a right to live here, too. And to be a part of this community. "
"Don't twist my words back in on me," Travis growled.
"Look, we just have to deal, that's all," Katie answered, then yawned.
"Gawd, I'm tired. And I have a feeling I don't have a place to sleep. Maybe Peggy can put me up. "
Travis shook his head. "No, come with me. Sleep with me. "
"Travis?" She blinked.
"I said sleep. I didn't say have sex, okay?"
Katie hesitated. "Okay. "
Travis led her toward the beat up portable building that was now a dorm. Entering it quietly, they made their way past recently constructed doors and walls that lead into tiny dorm rooms. Travis led her to a doorway at the end of a hall and opened up
the door to his office. It was crowded with a desk, light table, and file cabinets. Up against the wall was a sofa that folded out into a bed. It was still rumpled from the night before, but Katie was too tired to care if it was freshly turned down or not. Sliding off her jacket, she flopped onto it and stared up at the ceiling.
She felt so very tired, physically and emotionally. Shane and Phil just reminded her of all that she and Lydia had gone through together. But now she was dealing with it alone and the ache inside of her was intense.
Travis shed his jacket and lay down next to her. "I'm sorry those guys are such shits. "
"Not your fault. Just part of life," she answered grimly. She closed her eyes and rolled onto her side.
She could sense Travis beside her and his great need to reach out and touch her. But she ignored it and squeezed her eyes shut tighter. Curling up, she wished fervently the ache inside of her would subside, but it pulsated and ate at her.
"Fuck this," Travis whispered and suddenly his arms were around her, dragging her deep into his embrace. He held her tightly and she clutched his wrists with her hands. "I can't stand to see you in pain. "
Katie smiled slightly and opened her eyes. Turning her head, she gazed at him gratefully. She knew she was a bullheaded Norse, prone to moodiness and the solitary, but he bulldozed her defenses and she rather needed that.
"You're a very good friend, you know that?"
"I'm trying," he answered, and snuggled against her.
She closed her eyes again and enjoyed the sensation of his closeness.
Already, the ache was fading, and she was too tired and stressed to think too deeply what that meant. For once, she just didn't want to think about what things meant. To just relax, to just not care, just for a little bit.