Zomb-Pocalypse 4

Chapter Twelve

Raddison stares down his nose at us like bugs underneath a microscope, and doesn't even stop sipping his whiskey until the cup is empty.

Daphne reaches up and slaps her wayward son in the back of his head, making him cringe and reach for his hair to make sure it is still perfectly gelled. I instantly dislike him. He is rude and unwelcoming, and reminds me of a spoiled man-child. Daphne doesn't seem too thrilled with him either.

"Were you aware that I didn't come home last night?" She asks her son and he shrugs.

"I could've sworn that I saw you at dinner." He tells her succulently and I watch as Daphne's face turns about six shades of red before she manages to get a grip on her temper and turns towards us with the practiced smile of a perfect hostess.

A knock on the door interrupts what is heating up to be the apocalyptic version of Jerry Springer, and a small woman with shiny dark brown hair pulled back into a pony tail pokes her head in the door. "You asked to see me?" She asks and Daphne manages to pull her eyes away from her son and paste a big smile on her face. It looks a little strained, but it's more than I can manage right now as I watch Raddison refill his drink.

"Dr. Ruppert." Daphne exclaims and my attention snaps back to the young woman. She looks far too young and pretty to be a doctor, though now that I'm paying more attention, she is wearing one of those white doctor coats.

"Hello, please call me Helena." The Dr says timidly and Daphne waives her suggestion away with the sweep of her hand.

"Dr. Ruppert, I have the most interesting case for you to examine." She tells the young woman, barely able to suppress her delight. "This young man here-"She points to Jack, which I find funny because in my books Jack is not a young man, and he certainly isn't compared to Dr. Ruppert either. "Claims to have immunity."

Raddison lets out a choking noise and turns beet red as he accidentally sucks whiskey up his nose. Daphne ignores him.

"He has shown me the scars, and they are quite real looking." Daphne continues, and I watch Dr. Ruppert's face turn sharp with intrigue.

"Do you mind if I take a look?" She asks quietly as she approaches Jack. Jack shrugs and takes his shirt off again and Dr. Ruppert almost completely mimics Daphne's motions earlier, running her hand over the rough pieces of jagged scar tissue. "This is incredible." She murmurs to herself as she places her two finger tips on Jack's neck in an obvious effort to check his pulse.

"Your hands are cold." Jack complains good naturedly, but Dr. Ruppert doesn't even break her concentration. There is something disturbingly clinical about her while she works.

"Would you mind coming to the lab with me?" Helena asks as she takes her hands off his neck and Jack nods.

"I don't mind."

"That is great. I'd really like to get started with a blood test and perhaps even a tissue biopsy." Dr. Ruppert says excitedly, not even noticing when everyone in the room, including Jack, winces at her blunt description of the process.

I watch Jack swallow visibly, and then nod gamely. "Sure doc, sounds good." He agrees, giving us all a small wave as he heads out the door with the petite doctor fluttering around him excitedly.

Daphne turns and smiles at the rest of us. "You have brought us all such a wonderful gift." She tells us. "Why don't I set you up with somewhere to stay?" She offers and we all nod our thanks. Daphne picks up the bell again and rings it and this time another person pops their head into the room