Abeyance

I woke up in the morning on the floor. I must have fallen off the bed. Or got pushed off, but I'd like to think better of Jack.
I didn't make a big deal of it. I took advantage of the running water we still had and took a shower. It was cold, but a shower was a shower. I noticed that someone had used the shower before me, the floor was wet. Jack was still asleep, though.
I showered with ease. It was relaxing after days of searching. A day to relax was on high demand for all of us, but we knew we couldn't afford one. Maybe one day...
I stepped out of the shower and sat down on the foot of the bed, causing Jack to stir in his sleep, and face his left instead of his right. I looked over to Lights' bed. But she wasn't there... Where could she be? What if she left? What if she got killed? My stomach dropped at the thought.
The door opened, and I jumped. But I sighed of relief when I saw it was only Lights.
"Where were you?" I asked worriedly.
"I was walking around. But get this." She sat down on the foot of her bed and faced me, "I heard people! There has to be other people in here!"
I stood up.
"Where?"
She stood up, not meaning to, but ignoring my question.
"Stay here with Jack, I'm going to investigate."
She reached behind her and took out the handgun from her holster, then headed out the door.
I stood there for a few moments, just staring at the door.
Lights was going to go investigate. I was to stay here with Jack.
After thinking it over, I realized how stupid of an idea that was. I put on my holster, grabbed my gun from it, and ran out of the door. I couldn't let Lights go out alone, what if she got hurt? Well, she can probably hold her own better than both Jack and I, but just to be sure. By the time I reached the hallway, she was gone.
"Damnit..."
I walked down the hallway straight ahead in hopes I'd find her. I did. She turned left down that hallway and was standing a few doors down. I stayed in the corner, unseen, and listened.
She knocked on the door, gun in her hands, pointed at the door. I looked over as the door open, and watched.
A short, tan man, opened the door. He was dressed in green denim shorts and a dirty, white T-shirt, with a black and red SnapBack. Delayed reaction, his eyes widened.
"Why do you have a gun?" He slurred. He was obviously wasted.
Lights narrowed her eyes and cocked her gun.
He put his hand on her shoulder and gripped it.
"Kinky, this ones got a gun, Jaime." My eyes widened from where I stood. Lights wasn't taking that.
"Put your fucking hands where I can see them." She snapped. So this man put his hands on Lights' chest. She gasped and backed up, back handing him with her gun. Not hard enough to hurt him too bad, but enough for a scare.
"Back up."
He cupped his cheek where she hit him and backed up.
"Fucking hell..."
Another tan, Spanish man, walked over to the door.
"What's wrong, Vic?" He asked, then looked to Lights.
"Oh wow, you are hot."
She pointed her gun at them again.
"Next wrong move, and I'll shoot."
The second man put his hands up and backed up.
"Fine, fine."
But the other didn't listen.
"I'll shoot you, if you come inside." He winked, then pulled her towards him by her waist.
I knew she'd probably be able to handle this herself, but I had to step in. I couldn't watch someone, or two people at that, take advantage, well, try to, of Lights.
I took out my magnum and yelled "Hey!" causing both men and Lights to turn to me. I must have looked intimidating, because the man on Lights backed up, and the other stayed back.
I stood in front of Lights.
"You don't mess with her, do you hear me?"
They nodded.
"Do you hear me!?" I repeated more aggressively. I had to get my point across. Nobody touched Lights.
"Yes." They both said in unison.
"Good."
"I thought I told you to stay with Jack." She whispered in his ear.
"Good thing I didn't."
I looked back to the two men in the doorway.
"Three of us, we have a survival group. You guys..." I sighed. I was reluctant about this. But I said "You guys can join it. Just stay cooperative."
They looked at each other, then nodded.
"Okay."
"We're in room 101. Meet us there within the half hour."
They nodded, then went back into their room and closed the door. Lights and I walked back to our room.
"You're really going to let them join?" She asked me. I nodded.
"Yes, they're survivors. I promised..." I trailed off and looked down.
"Promised what?" She asked softly. It was the first time I've actually heard her normal voice. Her inside voice, even. Her concerned voice.
"I found my mom dead a little while before we found you." I said quietly. It still stung me, "I promised her I'd find as many survivors as possible."
She nodded and gave my hand a tight squeeze in an understanding way.
"I'm sorry you lost her."
He sighed. "It's okay, I guess."
She let go of my hand and opened our hotel room door. Jack was up and in the shower. So Lights and I laid down and got some more sleep in, until 10 minutes later when Jack came out. And 5 minutes after that, there was a knock on the door.
"Who's that?" Jack asked.
"More survivors." I told him and opened it.
They had a lot of stuff. The first thing I said is "That will have to go."
They each had a backpack, plus two plastic bags.
"Put whatever you can fit in your backpacks. That's all we can take." Lights explained further.
I noticed the bags were full of alcohol. Well fuck, we found ourselves a few drunks. They put as much of the beer as they could into backpacks, then zipped them up.
I think we all noticed that would be a problem, but we didn't say anything. Maybe, if we could afford to, we'd have a relaxing night tonight, and all those beers could go. I can only wish, I'd like a night off.
"We need your names." Jack said and got geared up.
"I'm Vic." The male in the SnapBack informed us. We all nodded.
"And I'm Jaime." said the man in jeans and a tshirt.
We nodded again.
"Shall we get going?" I asked. Everyone mumbled out their answers, all agreeing.
We piled out of the hotel room, myself last. It was my job to protect these people. And my God, it would be hard.