Story Market Day

ComCamGuy

Remote Paramedical pain in the ass
Well its more to be fair to you guys. At one point I was posting the first stream, then I switched to after the wife's edits, but she got wrapped up in a project and I went back to posting the initial, and now she is back to editing a little faster. I want you guys to keep getting story, but it is better after she does her thing.
 

Griz3752

Retired, practising Curmudgeon
It's your product and, soon I hope, your brand, so committing to quality is in your best interests, long-term.

The fact that we benefit thereby is inconsequential but, very much appreciated. Your growing following bears that out, I'm sure.
 

ComCamGuy

Remote Paramedical pain in the ass
It's your product and, soon I hope, your brand, so committing to quality is in your best interests, long-term.

The fact that we benefit thereby is inconsequential but, very much appreciated. Your growing following bears that out, I'm sure.


If it wasn't for you guys reading in the first place, I don't think it would have been written so keeping you guys happy is one of my priorities:p
 

FireDance

TB Fanatic
If it wasn't for you guys reading in the first place, I don't think it would have been written so keeping you guys happy is one of my priorities:p
Man you better. This is my FIX! Seriously, I love it when you post a new chapter. It really calms me down no matter what is happening to the characters. Not sure why this is, but it’s quite interesting. Thank you so much!
 

ComCamGuy

Remote Paramedical pain in the ass
Paige and Henrik came back up and the four of them resumed their conversation. At this point they were focused on some straight logistics. Henrik and Paige pitched their idea of just two vehicles so they could have pilot/co-pilot in each. Surprisingly to both of them, Sabine and Andrea were for it, especially after they explained having some of the others bring the two cars left behind up when they came north later.

The next couple of hours were filled with talk of when, how much and in which vehicle to pack things. Paige and Henrik explained about their ideas for building the house when they got there. They were afraid Sabine and Andrea would feel left out, that they didn’t want to live with them anymore. Once again they were pleasantly surprised. Sabine and Andrea were all smiles and such, as long as the two houses were not very far apart. They still wanted to be close but understood needing space, especially since they figured Paige and Henrik would need room for any kids they decided to have.

Sabine was reassuring on this as well. “Don’t worry guys. I will do plenty of studying up on childbirth. You don’t have to worry about anything on that front. I’ll have it handled. You and your kids will be in good hands. Even though it’s been awhile, I’ve delivered quite a few and only drop them sometimes, but only on days that end in ‘y’”.

Andrea shot Sabine a glare. Paige and Henrik both turned a little red.

“We haven’t talked about kids yet. We figure whether we have any is in God’s hands.” Paige said as she patted Henrik’s arm.

Henrik just smiled a little. He was thinking about a cradle he could build. He shook his head a little as he reminded himself to not get the cart before the horse or was he. Paige wasn’t pregnant yet, but what made her faint? Was she trying something? Ever since the attack, once she was up to it, Paige’s libido has been in overdrive!

They needed to get north, build their house, Sabine and Andrea’s house and then worry about that step. Not that he intended to stop practicing the prequel as much as she wanted. Henrik blushed a little more just thinking about it.

It was almost as if Paige could read his mind as she figured to shift the topic. “So, with all the prep work we need to do, and with us talking a month at the outside since Sabine arranged with the landlord for the other guys to come live here after we leave, I think we need to start moving in some help.”

Sabine, Andrea and Henrik all looked at Paige. This was new to Henrik. He figured Paige came up with this from looking at the pile of work they needed to do and the short time to do it. Andrea and Sabine were wondering who Paige was thinking. Sabine was the first to ask.

“So who are you figuring we need?”

“Petra and ideally the Jensons but I don’t know if Jennifer is ready to move out here away from Sofia yet. Petra at least though. She is a good, creative fabricator in her own right and can help me build the trailer and prep the vehicles, and I can help her get started on the other ones they will use to come north.”

Paige took a breath and looked at the other faces around the table. Andrea was smirking, Henrik was nodding, and Sabine was unreadable. She didn’t know why, she kept explaining, hoping to get enough out to have all three of them convinced before anyone objected.

“We have the three extra bedrooms upstairs. That would make one for Jonas, one for Jennifer, and one for Petra. They wouldn’t have to move twice, they would be in place for Silas, Amber, Ivar and Sofia to move into the house as we leave so it’s seamless. And with what we were talking earlier, they would be here to take over the jeep and R32 as we go as well.” Paige felt the last part of it come out in a rush.

By the end of Paige’s explanation, Henrik was still nodding his agreeance and so was Andrea. “What do you think, Sabine?”

Sabine took a moment to answer. “I think it will work. Petra is a good kid. We just need to remember she is young and impressionable. We might think it’s best for her and us, but we need to find out what she thinks, without strong-arming her or pressuring her in any way. She would probably do anything we ask of her, no matter how outrageous, just because we ask her to.” Under the table, Sabine squeezed Andrea’s hand as if to convey she knew first hand it was not an ‘if’.

She paused and took a drink before continuing. “I don’t know if the Jensons are ready, so I say start with Petra and then pitch it to Jonas. Petra here will help Jennifer feel more comfortable once they move over. My opinion though is Jonas and Jennifer probably won’t want to move until Ivar and Sofia move over.”

The discussion and planning carried them until dinner. After dinner, the four of them sat around on the couches, just relaxing and watching some silly movie. After the movie, Paige and Andrea both excused themselves and headed to their respective bedrooms. Sabine and Henrik stayed in the living room for a little while, each lost in their thoughts.

“We haven’t talked about kids.” Henrik broke the silence.

“You will be a great dad.” Sabine’s voice was soft and had lost a lot of its normal sharpness he was used to. Henrik looked over at her. Her long black hair hung in loose curls around her face. Her face had a sad expression on it he didn’t understand.

“What’s wrong Sabine?”

“Paige is lucky to have you. I wish I had met someone like you all those years ago.”

Her words shocked Henrik. He really didn’t know what to say. Sabine had so many layers and was so secretive about so much. After the night he proposed to Paige, and her warning, he wasn’t sure if she even liked him. Then again, he didn’t necessarily get a good impression of her when Andrea first brought her home. Here she was, the friggen Ice Queen herself saying she wished she had met someone like him?

“I don’t understand?”

“True, honest, wholesome, caring, protective.” Sabine took a big deep breath, finished the last skim of her drink and stood up.

She turned to face him. “I guess it’s like a friend of mine used to say. ‘Life is like a box of chocolates; cause you never know when you’re gonna get ****ed!’” She bent down and kissed him on the forehead. “You love her, she loves you. Never let go of that. It’s rare and special.”

She straightened up and walked to the stairs up to the kitchen level. "You better get downstairs, I bet your lady is expecting you"
 
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ComCamGuy

Remote Paramedical pain in the ass
re-edit on 3450

I give up trying to figure out her edit timeline. If she does it soon enough , I'll update. If not....
 

Texican

Live Free & Die Free.... God Freedom Country....
CCG,

Why wouldn't the complete team go together?
For with numbers there is generally greater safety.
Logistics?
Scouting to check route?
?

Keep on posting with editing or not and us moar hounds will devour all that you post.

Texican....
 

ComCamGuy

Remote Paramedical pain in the ass
Logistics. Looking back through the snippits , you will see they are concerned about things like rate of food consumption. They are having a harder time getting it and want to make the initial push north while they have enough stockpiled they can take with them so they don't end up at a new place with no provisions to carry them forward until they can develop new sources. Besides, the rest coming up has been a newer idea. The rest who are talking about coming north still have to work timelines, like when Ivar is turning over the remaining facilities to the doc assuming command of the clinic. Ivar won't leave until he can make sure everyone is taken care of to the best of his ability. If Paige and crew go up first, they can report back about what the rest need to bring/prepare for as well.
 

Mesquite

Member
Well its more to be fair to you guys. At one point I was posting the first stream, then I switched to after the wife's edits, but she got wrapped up in a project and I went back to posting the initial, and now she is back to editing a little faster. I want you guys to keep getting story, but it is better after she does her thing.
How fortunate for all of us to not only being allowed to read your wonderful stories but also big thank you to your wife for doing such an excellent job with editing! You are a fortunate to have such a talented and willing wife to do the challenging editing to make great to stellar writing! Thank you!
 

nancy98

Veteran Member
Please understand I am not criticizing this story but I'm having a very hard time following it. For me it's a little "fractured"?? Not sure how to describe how it is for me. It's like there is to much going on.

I know it's hard work and maybe "It's me, not you". LOL
 

ComCamGuy

Remote Paramedical pain in the ass
It depends, a bit fractured? Yeah, part three is a little fractured maybe. If you are looking at all three, then it can definitely look fractured. Jumping around some into everybody’s head can cause some disorientation I guess. Hopefully the story is still coming through for you

Let me know if there is anything I can do to help make it a little clearer for you.

soon, some of the disjointed will clear up once the crew hits the trail
 

Sportsman

Veteran Member
If it was me, I'd opt for taking a third vehicle, with the 4 drivers. That way if one vehicle was disabled, you wouldn't have to abandon all the supplies in it. As it is, they'll likely lose half their supplies if they lose a vehicle for some reason. I don't remember if those vehicles are tough enough to pull tandem trailers should one break down, but with all four people in it, it will be cramped to get additional supplies inside.

Great job, as usual. Thank you.
 

ComCamGuy

Remote Paramedical pain in the ass
If it was me, I'd opt for taking a third vehicle, with the 4 drivers. That way if one vehicle was disabled, you wouldn't have to abandon all the supplies in it. As it is, they'll likely lose half their supplies if they lose a vehicle for some reason. I don't remember if those vehicles are tough enough to pull tandem trailers should one break down, but with all four people in it, it will be cramped to get additional supplies inside.

Great job, as usual. Thank you.

both are diesel and set up fairly strong, but you have valid concern
 

ComCamGuy

Remote Paramedical pain in the ass
As it turned out, Sabine was right. While Petra was more than enthusiastic to move, Jonas said he would wait a little longer before moving. He didn’t want to have a setback in the progress Sofia was having with Jennifer.

The situation with work and the base was evolving even more now. As everyone there were working on their own transition, Ivar and the doctor taking over the clinic were hard at work planning the turnover, both equipment and people-wise. There were some who wanted to stay and work in the clinic but most of the remaining personnel were more and more finalizing their exodus plans and leaving.

Ivar was using who he had for what he needed, which anymore wasn’t many for much. With this final push, he had groups stripping anything and everything useful out of all the far flung locations on base and consolidating them in the two remaining spaces; the clinic perimeter and the special operations compound. Within the special ops compound, he had the few remaining rental RVs parked to form a living area outside the clinic compound. The remaining personnel who were not still living out in town like Paige, Henrik and the rest, this was a place they could live going forward.

Everyone was averaging about three days a week at work, workload depending. This gave everyone time to do what needed to be done at both home and work. Paige was still going in about four days a week since she still had weapons to distribute and disperse. Henrik always went in with her and scavenged with Jenson or Petra for all the little odds and ends they could think of.

It had taken some long conversations into the night among Silas, Ivar, Amber and Sofia, but going north seemed the best idea. Once the decision was made, Silas strong-armed Ivar to set a turnover date. He knew Ivar would keep trying to do ‘just one more thing’ for the people here. He was that kind of a commander. With a date, they could back engineer what needed to be done when, just like any other deployment.

Silas would have really liked to be ready and leave when Paige’s foursome was leaving, but he knew that was too soon. They already had too much of a head start. Silas and Ivar went back and forth, finally settling on 1 April. This gave them about sixty days from when the other group was planning to leave. It was also about thirty days longer than Silas wanted but, he had to go with what he got.

Silas and Ivar had a new mission for Petra as well. She was to start planning and scrounging to outfit the vehicles their group would use to evacuate north. He wanted her to start before Paige left so she could help Petra as well.
 

ComCamGuy

Remote Paramedical pain in the ass
The load boxes Henrik built were packed again and again, each time the jigsaw puzzle yielded more and more space, which let them add more each time. Paige was going through it again and again. She had a mound of gear for each vehicle and trailer. She moves things around from pile to pile. She was distributing stuff between the trailers and the tow vehicles, trying to ensure the loss of any one trailer or vehicle or pair won’t lose them everything.

Paige was working weapons and ammo into her load plan as well as her tools. Her primary skill set moving forward was still her gunsmithing and car repair. These will how she will earn her living. She was making sure she had a set in both vehicles. She also put a set of woodworking tools in both for Henrik. She was warring herself for every square inch. Ammo cans verses food verses tools verses clothes verses, on and on and on.

Everyone was locked into their own corner of preparations. Andrea was working on making radio sets for all the vehicles as well as spares for each. She also packaged base stations into bundles for once they got to their destination. She knew Ivar would be the subject matter expert for the radios once she left. She tried to make the kits left behind the older technology he would be more familiar with. He would have to check Petra’s installation into the vehicles they were using since they won’t have them finalized by the time Andrea left.

Sabine was spending time gathering all the extra info she could on obstetrics and birthing emergencies. She had a pile of books in the she was studying each evening. She was double and triple checking her medical supplies, especially her drug supplies. Paige thought she was definitely putting the cart before the horse and approached her on it one evening.

“Look Sabine, I don’t know why you are being so focused on baby birthing right now. I’m not pregnant.”

Sabine looked up from her book. “Look yourself. I have only delivered in a hospital, with an OB doc close at hand. Right now, I have a doc I can go ask for clarification. I don’t want to be in the middle of nowhere and have a serious problem show up and not know what to do. Besides, you might not be pregnant yet, but at the rate you two are working at it, sooner or later, you will be.”

Paige blushed. She didn’t know how Sabine knew they had been going at it like…She didn’t know what. Bunnies? “I don’t know what’s going on Sabine. Ever since the attack, my sex drive has shot up. On the honeymoon, I couldn’t stop! What’s wrong with me?”

Sabine wasn’t prepared in this turn of the conversation. She tried to field the question the best she could. “Paige, nothing’s wrong with you. You had a near death experience. Surviving something like that can make a lot of people do things in excess. You have a big handsome guy who will be more than willing to take care of your urges. He just married you, confirming his commitment to you. By doing that, it makes you more comfortable in expressing yourself as well. Hell, ride that bronc and have fun!”

Paige still wasn’t sure about it. “I don’t know. Part of it is it doesn’t even feel like me sometimes! It seems like my body takes over and does what it wants and I’m just along for the ride!”

Sabine could tell Paige was way more upset than she thought at first. “Paige, there is nothing wrong with you! Its base needs of the mind even more than the body. The whole world is coming apart. The subconscious in people drives them for the survival of the species, just like the nesting urge. By the way, we have been doing all this planning and gathering and building. That’s nesting. We have been doing ‘nesting’ on an epic scale. Our whole world shifted. The constant has been us. One of the ways we are hardwired to forge strong bonds is sex. Henrik is your anchor. You and he are bonded in a visceral way. It’s how we are wired!” She saw she might be making a bit of headway with her and continued.

“OK, here’s the question. Can you contain yourself when you are around him or are you suddenly scrogging in the middle of the hallway at work?”

Paige laughed. “No, we don’t suddenly break out in uncontrollable sex in the middle of the shop!”

“Right! Exactly! You are still in control of yourself! So, does he trip your trigger?”

Paige blushed again. “What do you mean?”

“When you have sex with him, does he make you feel good?”

“Yes” the blush got deeper red.

Sabine had a big grin on her face as she continued. “So your problem is, in distressing times, you have a strong desire to have sex with a good looking guy who has professed his love for you, who makes you giggle squeal and swoon when you two are in bed. He doesn’t hurt you, you get a huge endorphin release and it’s good for you aerobically. Don’t worry about it, relish it. You are fine and when you end up with a bun in the oven, I will be ready.”
 
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Sportsman

Veteran Member
Thank you. The word pictures are really interesting. “scrounging”, this oldster had to look that one up, and all I see is references to pruning marijuana plants<G>.
 

ComCamGuy

Remote Paramedical pain in the ass
Thank you. The word pictures are really interesting. “scrounging”, this oldster had to look that one up, and all I see is references to pruning marijuana plants<G>.


scrog
(skrɔg)
tv. & in. to have sex; to copulate [with] someone. (Usually objectionable.) You know what! I thinkthose people over in the corner are scrogging!
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
 

ComCamGuy

Remote Paramedical pain in the ass
Henrik had maps spread out across a folding table in the barn. Behind him, Paige and Petra were going over the vehicles again. Paige was trying to go through the whys and thought processes in the way she did things with Petra and Petra was throwing different scenarios at Paige to make her think of what the solution she could craft from what she had with her. This helps Paige find and fill in some blanks and helps Petra build her list for the set of vehicles she was working.

Henrik was out here with the maps instead of in the house because he wanted to hear this back and forth. This was one of the ways he learned. It also let him throw other things into their mix about the route he was planning. This was his biggest job now. Gear has been pulled and packed, all the other things are basically done. Now it’s just finishing up the loose ends. Their leave date is fast approaching.

Henrik was focusing on the topographical map. The group came to a consensus about the type of route they needed, and now he was the one tasked to map it out because for the past few years he lived and died by terrain mapping as an instructor here at the schoolhouse.

They didn’t necessarily want to use the Interstates because they are hard to get on and off of in an emergency and are more likely to be busy, making them a prime target for thieves and bandits. Any fuel stops would already be drained as well. This meant they would be on smaller roads, going through smaller towns or having to find ways around these towns.

The smaller roads had their own problems. They aren’t nearly as straight and will add hundreds of miles to their trip. The conditions are also more hazardous. Travel through the northern parts of the country in the winter has all the normal associated problems with the added aspect of little to no snow removal, lack of roadside assistance, and a host of other possible issues. On the plus side, they may come across a location to get more fuel, their most limiting factor.

“Hey, Paige, what number did we decide on for mileage with the trailers?” Henrik asked for the umpteenth time.

Paige popped her head out from under one of the trailers. “I think we decided on 4 MPG to take into account the weight, speed, potential snow drifts and everything else.”

Petra spoke up from behind the trailer. “Really? That sucks! Are you going to have enough fuel to make it all the way there?”

“I don’t know, but better to think the worst and be happy in the end. I just don’t know how bad any of the roads are going to be. I’m just swagging off of my off road loaded mileage and cutting it in half for how much we are loaded down with and what we are dragging.”

“If we are that worried about snow, should we look at maybe a plow front for the front vehicle?” Petra was now brainstorming.

“The problem with that is it will cut the mileage in at least half again and I don’t know if the weight is worth it. They use huge trucks and monster blades to deal with the multiple feet of snow most places. And before you ask, I don’t know what we will do if we end up facing that.” Paige replied.

This brought Petra’s mind around to what vehicles they were looking at for her crew. All of this was food for thought and one of the reasons Paige’s group would be sending road reports back as they went.
 

ComCamGuy

Remote Paramedical pain in the ass
Everyone was gathering at the table for dinner after another hard day of preparations. Henrik and Paige were the last to arrive. When Paige came up the stairs to the kitchen and dining room level she saw Andrea sitting at the table already reading a book intently. It looked like a text book or manual.

“What are you reading?” Paige asked. Andrea just lifted the book from the table so Paige could see the cover.

‘Caring for your New Baby, seventh edition.’

Paige was tired of all the pressure! It seemed like everyone was pushing her and pushing her, putting expectations on her about it. She remembered feeling like she let everyone down when she started her period and realized she wasn’t pregnant in spite of everyone’s expectations and pushing and hoping it seemed. She hated feeling like a failure for something she wasn’t even necessarily trying to do! She and Henrik didn’t set down and say ‘let’s have kids right now’. They actually were hoping it wouldn’t come about until the fall, after they had the house build, everyone up there and stabilized. Everyone seemed to want this to happen more than she did!

Paige hit the roof. “You too? What the hell is with everyone and babies lately! Sabine’s studying like she’s in Med School for all things baby and now you’re pounding away at it too! What the hell! Now hear this! At least as of a week and a half ago when I was bleeding like a stuck pig, I AM NOT Pregnant!” What happened next was a surprise.

Andrea jumped up and threw the book across the room and screamed in rage!

“But I AM!” Andrea burst into tears and ran up the stairs!

All the faces around the table held a shocked look. Everyone except Sabine. Sabine looked a mix of pissed, disappointed and sad.

Paige looked at Sabine, the shock and confusion in her tone as she asked Sabine “What the **** did she mean ‘she’s pregnant’?”

Sabine stood up slowly. She took a deep breath to settle her nerves and temper before she spoke.

“We have been setting this up for months. Andrea has been wanting to be a mother forever and we set things in motion once she knew she no longer had to worry about deploying and being away from her child. The timing turned out perfect. We attempted while you were gone on your honeymoon. She got her first positive test last week, but we were going to hold off on telling you guys until after the trip. The first couple of months is when the mother is most susceptible to losing the baby.”

Sabine took a few breaths. No one spoke in the silence. Sabine continued.

“Andrea has been on pins and needles as we waited for the positive signs and excited once she saw the positive test but she’s afraid it would jinx it if she told you. It’s been killing her to not tell her best friend and here you jump down her throat!”

Paige was still stunned but now she also felt like shit. In the quiet, Henrik asked the obvious (to him) question.

“Who’s the father?”

Sabine glanced at Petra before she answered Henrik. Petra’s face was unreadable.

“We set up an anonymous donor. Andrea doesn’t know and the donor doesn’t know. We figured to do this before we left since we had no idea of what potential donors we could have once we went north. The only guy we could count on being there would be Henrik, who I don’t see you loaning out and we would never ask. Now, I’m going to go upstairs and try to console her and calm her down. Not everything is about you, Paige. You didn’t know and you didn’t mean to be a bitch, but you hurt her. I’ll try to smooth things over but you owe her an apology,” Sabine turned and went upstairs.

The mood in the room was still uncomfortable as the three of them were absorbing what just happened.
 

Griz3752

Retired, practising Curmudgeon
OK, you got us ...... well, me for sure!
Didn't see that one coming right here, right now.
At least Henrik has been think of a cradle so, he can get busy in his 'spare' time & crank one out ...

Question: does this qualify as a 'Cliff' or just a bump in the road?
 

ComCamGuy

Remote Paramedical pain in the ass
OK, you got us ...... well, me for sure!
Didn't see that one coming right here, right now.
At least Henrik has been think of a cradle so, he can get busy in his 'spare' time & crank one out ...

Question: does this qualify as a 'Cliff' or just a bump in the road?


Depends on what else I get done today and this evening if its a true cliff or just a 'baby bump' ;)
 

ComCamGuy

Remote Paramedical pain in the ass
Sabine walked into the bedroom. Andrea was sitting on the edge of the bed, rocking back and forth, her face wet with tears. When Andrea saw Sabine, she jumped up and came towards her.

“Oh God! Sabine! I jinxed it! It was working and then Paige went off and I couldn’t stop myself! Now it’s all ruined! It’s gonna go wrong! It can’t go wrong! Please don’t let it go bad! Don’t let anything happen to my baby!”

“It’s going to be ok. Don’t worry! You're healthy and strong. We are going to get through this. I’m here with you, for you. Paige, Henrik and I, we all will be helping.” Sabine held Andrea until she calmed down.
 

ComCamGuy

Remote Paramedical pain in the ass
Petra sat there while Paige and Sabine were going back and forth. Andrea pregnant!? Holy Shit! As the details rolled out, Petra tried to not react. That part was easy at first until some details fell into place. ****! She knew who the father was! Now stuff from last month made sense. She also knew she couldn’t tell anyone. She promised Sabine.
 

2T2-Crash

Contributing Member
I was 3 for 4 in calling out my wife as pregnant... those “I’ll ****ing KILL YOU” hormones... yikes. I knew before she did. LOL.

also, we know the fear of and pain from miscarriages too.

now just who is the father?
 
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