Walkers (Book 2): The Rescue by Zelda Davis-Lindsey

miserable let alone getting out of blast range before the explosion so we want to leave by Saturday.  Why then you ask?  Because her father refuses to leave until he is sure the anti-virus will work.  We won't know until then.  The 'patient' is locked up in the lab and I'm not happy about it but if he doesn't die by Saturday noon, then we are out of here.  If he does, then I don't know how we are going to get Dr. Darling out of here."
         "He can be a hard ass when he wants to be."
         "Really?  I hadn't noticed."
         "JD be nice.  I know you don't like him, but..."
         "It's not that and I don't want to go into it right now.  Time is wasting."
         Riley nodded his head, glanced at his watch, frowned then quickly said, "Meet me at the third locker from the door, at midnight.  I'll be off duty by then and I'll talk about it more."
         He gave George a kiss that made my stomach clench, then was gone.  She followed him with hungry eyes then caught me watching her.  Blushing, she picked at her lunch.
         "Don't let it bother you, I do the same with this guy ."  I nudged Mason with my shoulder who returned the favor. I love you to, sweetie.  We need her to nudge her dad about leaving earlier.
         You know know I can hear that, right? she asked.  Mason muttered "Damn" then while slowly eating he 'talked' to us.  You need to beg, plead and promise your dad anything to get him out of here earlier.
         You don't think I haven't tried?  I even threw in some tears and guilt but he won't budge when it comes to his work.  He knows he's putting everyone's life on the line but it doesn't matter to him.  And before you get any ideas, I won't leave here without him.
         "Then get this clear and you can tell your dad.  I didn't come down here to save people who don't want to be saved.  I won't put JD's life on the line again like this for people who don't appreciate it.  For the record we are leaving here by noon on Sunday or earlier with you and your dad or without.  End of story."   He threw his napkin on the table and walked from the room.
         He really loves you.  That's good.  I wouldn't like him otherwise.  He is right though, JD, your life means more to me than to let you risk it past noon Sunday either.
         "I've missed you, George, you have no idea.  I missed Ken too, until I had to share the truck seat with him on the way here."
         "You two still fighting over who gets the seat?  I'd have thought you two would've outgrown that nonsense by now."
         "She's just greedy is why." Ken said over my shoulder.  "I keep telling her the man gets the seat but she won't listen."
         "That's because you're still a little boy and want your way.  Not happening for sure." 
         "I have a question.  You said Northern Uncle Bill has a patient in the lab.  You aren't talking about a walker are you?  That would just be irresponsible as hell to bring one of those things in here."
         She looked guilty enough that I knew it was true.  I sat back and tried to control my breathing.  He wouldn't bring a walker in here with his own daughter would he?  From the look on her face, I knew he had done exactly that.  I jumped up and started a fast walk in the direction of the lab.  Ken managed to stop me before leaving  the mess hall.
         "You can't JD.  You have restrain yourself a day or so longer."
         George jumped in.  "I know it looks bad, but he needed a specimen to work on.  It's in a locked room, tied down and sedated."
         "Sedated?"  You can sedate one of those things.?"
        "Please, JD, try to understand.  In order to find an anti-virus, we had to experiment on an infected subject.  It's safe, I swear it is.  Please, just wait to talk to dad, he'll just argue with you and nothing will change,  anyway.  Please."
         I took another big breath and probably made the biggest mistake