"Okay. Who the hell put a dead squirrel in the garbage can?! I mean, it is one thing for us to toss food wrappers in there, but you guys are usually better about burying your unwanted leftovers."

Good morning to you too Nicky... She was still in her pjs and glaring at the offending object in the garbage can. Nina yawned as she grabbed her bag of toiletries, "Just a squirrel? Be thankful it isn't a rabbit, a beaver, or a bear."

Nicky transferred her early morning glare to Nina, "If one of them managed to stuff an entire bear into that little knee high can, then we have other issues. But it is definitely a squirrel."

I glanced at Daniel as I subtly tattled on him, "I still say you should have stuck it in the bed with her to see what she would say."

Nicky grumbled incoherently under her breath as she went to take advantage of the bathroom first. Nina glanced at Daniel in surprise, as if it hadn't occurred to her that he was the guilty culprit. She did a hilarious double take at his unbandaged arm. The scab had set once he removed the salve and it was obviously healing faster now since most of the redness around it had faded.

She looked at him in shock, "You figured it out?"

He grinned, "Yes." He was proud of that detail since it had taken him almost a month to finally figure it out. The fact that it had taken him that long was a disgrace to zombies, but he simply didn't realize it yet. I resisted the urge to shake my head at his ignorance.

Nina practically managed a magician's magic trick as her bag containing her hairbrush, toothbrush and other supplies suddenly appeared on the bed at the same time her notebook appeared in her hands. "How is it done?" Her sleepiness had been replaced with eagerness and curiosity. I had never seen someone wake up so fast in my life.

"I had to actually drip blood into the wound. Now we know why she kept removing the salve. It formed a waterproof barrier."

Nina kept asking questions and Daniel answered while I simply shook my head at the two of them. They were going over what should have been long-discovered knowledge like it was the latest and greatest discovery. To my amusement, he hadn't realized that zombie saliva would also assist. Yep. He still has some learning to do.

Nicky came out of the bathroom and went to the front door before opening it. She stretched in the early morning sunlight, "It feels like a beautiful day is about to start. I think I will slip some coffee and stir things up a little."

I growled in opposition of that idea as Daniel also chimed in with a growl with that thought. Nina shook her head rapidly, "No, we are peaceful travelers going from place to place to help prevent the third wave. We are not attempting world domination."

Nicky glanced over her shoulder and grinned at Nina, "You know, if you think about it, between the four of us, we actually do have the best chance of taking over the world. The only problem is that I am kind of handicapped without caffeine."

I looked over at Daniel, "Well, now is your chance to give her an espresso like you had been thinking."

Nina's head whipped toward Daniel with an incredulous expression, "You thought what?!"

I hadn't been aware that Nina's voice could go so high. I am going to get him in deep shit at this rate... Excellent. I managed to keep my slightly annoyed poker face in place despite feeling something that might have been akin to mirth, although such a feeling could certainly not belong to me.

Daniel sharply growled a reprimand at me and I smirked in response. He shook his head with a faint growl before clarifying for Nina, "I had asked Trinity if she would also share the secret about the soap and tomato juice. She had said that Nicky would show me if I let Nicky color my jacket and then wore everything she colored before giving her three espressos."

Nicky turned around with an enthusiastic expression, "Okay, I am in full agreement with that plan."

I inspected my long fingernails idly, "If she gets even a sip of an espresso, then I will be walking to our next destination while she rides with you."

Nina put her head in her hands while shaking her head, "No, no, and no. No espressos, no coffee, no sugar, no caffeine, no splitting up, and no trips to the darkside."

Nicky scratched her head in bafflement, "Then what are we supposed to do for fun?"

Nina grabbed her bag of toiletries before heading toward the bathroom, "Trinity gave you that rubik's cube and I will even let you color a pair of my socks. I am heading for a shower and the world better not have ended by the time I come out."

Nicky snorted, "You honestly think I can make the world end in fifteen minutes? Give me some credit. A cup of strong coffee and an energy drink can accomplish that in ten minutes."

I rolled my eyes and headed for the front door, "I am going to relax in the chair outside where there is peace and quiet."

Daniel raised an eyebrow in misgiving, "You are leaving Nicky with me?"

Nicky rubbed her hands together, "Oh boy! This could be fun!"

I held my dignity intact by not voicing any of the thoughts that crossed my mind as I swiftly exited the cabin. I closed the door behind me as I went to sit in the sun in an attempt to find whatever shreds of peace and quiet might possibly still exist in this world.

I gave up sun tanning as I heard Nina open up the squeaky bathroom door. With a heavy sigh, I went back inside. I paused at the sight before me. Nina had just come into the main room and was just as confused as I was. Nina gave Daniel a surprised look, "Do I even want to know?"

"Mmrphrmurmple!" Nicky's response was less than intelligible the way she had been gagged. No wonder I had only heard her muffled voice and not actual words previously. Daniel had also tied her to the chair with so many coils of rope that I could barely even see her shirt or pants. I had no idea where he had found the rope and I certainly was not about to inquire.

I shook my head as I turned around to head right back outside, "I am not even going to ask. I think I will wait in the truck."

Daniel kyboshed that escape plan, "No. You are needed for when I release this fiend."

I looked over my shoulder with a faint snort, "You are the one who tied her up."

"She was the one who would not go outside to locate you."

"So you had to tie her to a chair like a hostage?"

Daniel pointed to the light fixture above, "She kept trying to get her hands on those."

I saw that someone, likely Daniel, had managed to wedge Nicky's package of markers into the edge of the decorative light fixture that hung from the ceiling. "So? Give her a pair of Nina's socks. She hasn't decorated any of her wardrobe yet."

Daniel gritted his teeth at my I-could-care-less tone and wording. They were likely triggering his instincts unfavorably. My lack of sympathy was probably not helping either.

"Murphrurpiff! Hirfirfurry!" Nicky squirmed in her ropes, but it looks like she had finally met her match with fifty feet or so of rope. I examined the worked up spitfire of energy that refused to sit still before sighing. I knew that type of energy and it was going to have to be dealt with.

I rubbed my temple with one hand as I regarded Daniel, "We have been on the road for six days now. You and I have gotten exercise while hunting, but neither of these two have done much. If she had been my horse, I would have made her run in the round pen for ten minutes just to burn off some of that energy."

Nina blinked in surprise at my rationale. Daniel tilted his head as he failed to see what I was implying, "So...?"

I glanced at her markers above, "Grab those markers and head toward the fence while I will untie this tornado. Let her chase you until she is too tired to stand."

He snorted faintly, "My instincts detest running away from anything. Surely you know that."

I rolled my eyes, "You barely notice your instincts half the time. Besides, this will give us peace and quiet for the rest of the day."

He huffed, but lightly jumped to reclaim the markers from their high hiding place. He looked at Nicky, "I am going to toss these into the forest. If you want any chance at finding them, you better keep up. I will be courteous and at least wait for you to spot me before tossing them, but if I get out of your sight afterwards, too bad."

Nicky's struggles increased, "Murmephree!" She was not impressed with the thought of him tossing those markers away.

An evil grin crossed Daniel's face as he was finally getting some sort of revenge that Nicky didn't just laugh at. I moved out of the doorway and he jogged lightly through the open door. I shook my head before going to untie Nicky.

I ended up cutting the ropes in several spots with my nails. Daniel had put a lot of effort into making sure that she couldn't get loose. For the sake of semi-silence, I didn't bother removing the gag.

The moment the bonds were loose, Nicky shot to her feet and tore off toward the door while ripping the piece of cloth away from her mouth, "Get your ass back here Daniel! Those are my felts!"

I sat down on the bed with a sigh. This was not what I signed up for when I had reluctantly let myself be dragged along on this trip. Nina shook her head in sympathy, "I don't know how you manage with her around you so much."

I turned my head to watch the scientist brush out her wet hair, "I am beginning to find that she is a lot like a child in some ways. A set and predictable schedule is best, while avoiding too much sugar is a must. They apparently also need sufficient exercise to keep them under wraps without actually being wrapped in restraints."

Nina hummed thoughtfully, "I suspect you could very well be correct. I wonder how long they will be gone..."

I shrugged, "She has six days of energy stored in that tiny frame somewhere. With luck Daniel will find every last smidgen of it and we will have peace for a day or two."

She continued brushing her hair as she headed to the bathroom to take advantage of the mirror. I could hear her humming very faintly. I closed my eyes as I tried to get a ten minute cat nap in before our dynamic duo returned.

My eyes opened as I heard Daniel approaching the door. He opened it and came in. Nina came out of the bathroom with her hair styled back. She glanced at Daniel, "Where is Nicky?"

He chuckled, "She is asleep on top of the blankets in the back of the truck. She more or less just passed out. I think it is safe to say that she will be low key for a while."

Alarm bells rang in my head as my instincts shifted. I scrutinized Daniel's face and spoke urgently, "On top of the blankets or under them? Nicky does not sleep without a blanket over her."

His eyes widened for a second before he disappeared from the door as he raced back to the truck. Nina looked at me with wide eyes and I growled faintly in frustration, "Let's grab these last two bags and go keep the peace. On a side note, I did not come along on this trip as a babysitter."

We heard both of them long before we got within sight. I had no idea what the locals would think if they were up this early and listening. Perhaps it was a good thing that the main sleeping buildings were on the other side of the Stronghold.

"Calm down already. It was just a package of markers and I gave them back. No need to be so dramatic."

"I will not calm down! I will raise hell and break shit!"

I sighed gustily and asked Nina, "Are you sure I can't start walking and you guys can catch up to me on the road?"

Nina sighed as well, "No, you have the best chance of calming her down."

I snorted, "As if I plan to use the word calm after Daniel's attempt."

"That is probably a good plan – oh my..."

Oh my indeed... Nicky was standing in the truck box with a pissed off expression while holding a big bottle of liquid soap in one hand and a can of tomato juice in the other. Daniel was keeping his distance from the threatening objects while trying to get her to lower her weapons. Judging from the standoff, he was having absolutely zero success.

With a low growl I decided to wade into this situation and attempt to defuse it with my usual Nightstalker tact. I walked forward and growled sharply at Nicky to catch her attention, "Did he give you the markers back undamaged, yes or no?"

She reluctantly replied, "Yes."

"Good. Now sit your ass down and put those things away. The sun has been up for half an hour and I am already out of patience."

I didn't slow my approach and my bluff worked. By the time I was close enough to hoist the bags in, Nicky was sitting down and glaring at Daniel as she angrily crossed her arms across her chest. In truth, I was fast enough that I could dodge her choice of weapons that now resided on the mattress beside her. Daniel didn't know how they were used though, so he had wisely kept his distance.

I sat in my usual place and passed Nicky the bag that held her breakfast. I seriously hoped that some food would settle her down. Nina slipped around the truck and got inside the cab. Daniel cautiously approached and got into the driver's door without Nicky grabbing the soap or cans by her knees.

I noticed that neither one inside opened up the window at the back of the cab. I honestly couldn't blame them since Nicky was glaring at that window like she was just daring them to do it.

I had a feeling that it was going to be a mighty long day today.