The basement was packed with clean and valuable medical supplies, and everything was preserved. I screamed at the sight and scared the bolts out of Daku, but I even found a trove of Old World ingredients. A pantry in the basement held a gold mine of stuff, and some things were scarce out in the wastes. I mean, I got spices! Some of these I recognized from cookbooks my mother had from the Old World! I tried them all, and although they lacked some flavor, it was the most I'd ever tasted. I had plants I'd dry and crush up here and there to use as seasoning on my meats and vegetables, but this would bring them to a whole new level.

On top of that, there were different types of sugars and salts. Pink salt existed in the Old World, PINK! I got a couple of bottles of pure vanilla extract, some dried beans, and jars of honey, too! Lastly, some flour, which wasn't too hard to get out in the wastes since there was so much unused after the war, but it was not as well preserved as all this stuff.

When I brought Levi and we carried Bear over, he was taken aback by how I figured out the door. He also mentioned that some of the buildings in the city had big reinforced steel doors like this one that couldn't be opened at all, and now he knew why.

Neither he nor I mentioned the events that happened earlier in the day, as we were exhausted from lugging 250 pounds of dead weight. By the following day, things were pretty much normal between us.

I found that Bear wasn't so keen on women or their input, but he seemed fine with mine since Levi said something to him before, but he didn't seem too trusting since what I gave him before made him worse.

I tried to make up for it by caring for him day and night. I gave him the medicine he needed, and he felt better in just a few days. In a week, he said he was ready to start moving again.

My job was done.

Bear wasn't sick anymore and now knew not to bathe in still water, but since we were all headed in the same direction and they needed new supplies, water, and food, we planned on sticking together until we got to my house. I would load them up with goodies and send them on their way.

Although it was rough on my shoulders, I filled my bag with various medicines, supplies, medical books, and ingredients. It was like a dream for me, and as we walked, every once in a while, I would dip my finger in a different spice and taste it.

"You've been so happy since leaving the hospital. What did you find there?" Levi asked as we walked along the interstate.

Daku replied before I could, "She's happy she found me! So back off, pretty boy."

Levi looked down at him, amused. "So what, this thing attached to you now?"

Stolen story; please report.

I shrugged, glancing at Daku and then back at Levi, whose gaze met mine, "I guess so? I'm not too sure how it works or how he works outside the range of the clinic, but I don't mind him."

Daku's little robot arms extended to wave in our faces. "Why are you talking about me as if I'm not here? Are you two planning something I don't know about?"

Daku began to rant about Levi's unnecessarily long legs, and I tried to bite back a laugh but failed miserably.

"Does he have a shutoff button?" Levi grumbled as I laughed. I had to catch my breath before I shook my head no, "Great, I guess I'll get used to it then."

Daku interjected again, "Yeah! That's a good choice, buddy, and you'd better have a smile on your face while doing it!"

I couldn't help the smile on my face watching those two interact, but eventually, I looked away from the one-sided commotion between Levi and the robot to peer at Bear, who was leading the way, obviously determined now that he could actually move and operate like a normal person again.

I spoke up, curious about his well-being now that it's been nearly three days since we left Knotting Hill: "How are you feeling, Bear? Do you need any water or food?" The man didn't acknowledge what I said and kept walking. He made me question if I said anything because he didn't even flinch at his name, so I repeated, "Bear? Do you need food or water?"

Levi tapped my arm and waved his hand in front of his neck. I furrowed my eyebrows at him, unsure of what he was doing, and ignored the weird gesture he was making at me. I quickened my pace to catch up with Bear, and although I was now next to him, he still refused to acknowledge my presence.

"Are you okay? Do you need anything?" I went to touch his shoulder to get his attention, and at the same time, he quit walking and grabbed my wrist tightly.

His eyes were wild and full of anger, "Don't speak to me unless spoken to, scum. We are not on the same level, and just because you gave me medicine doesn't change my perception of you or what you are."

At this point, the insults just rolled off my shoulders. I knew what these city people thought of me from the beginning, and yet I still felt like I owed them something. I've been such an idiot the past few days, doing things I would never usually do so that I could, what? Make these two like me?

Any time I've done something to try to help, I seem only to make them angrier. Levi had already expressed that same kind of hate toward me, and that stung, but Bear's reaction was the icing on the cake.

They could officially suck it.

I nodded, licking my lips before planting a large smile, "How could I forget? I'm sorry."

Levi and Daku stood beside us, silent as they watched our conversation unfold.

Bear let me go, practically throwing my arm back at me before looking at Levi and beckoning him over.

I stalked my way over to Daku and crouched beside him. "Do you want me to take that guy?" He grumbled. "I don't like what he did just then. That was super misogynistic of him. I'd report that to your HR lady, stat."

"What?" I shook my head at his bizarre expressions and shrugged, "No, I think I'm tired of being told I'm the issue, and I want this to be over with already."

Bear's sudden shouting made me turn to see Levi and him tousling on the ground.

"Woah! Catfight!" Daku hollered.

I didn't know what to do as I watched the two men wildly go at each other. My instinct was to get in the middle and make them stop, but second thoughts crept in, and I considered letting them fight until someone won.

I went with the second option as I've already inserted myself enough with these two, and they were never grateful, so I just sat with Daku and enjoyed the show.