Authors Note: I would like to address a recent rating that was made. It was fair and to the point, however there are a few points I would like to point out. I would also like to clarify this is not a defensive post and not intended to start a debate, but simply clarify my writing style for better understanding, as it will not change.

Thru and Tho : While never extremely common, tho and thru have a long history of occasional use as spelling variants of though and through. Their greatest popularity occurred in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when their adoption was advocated by spelling reformers. Their current use occurs chiefly in informal writing (as in personal letters) and in some technical journals.

"thru" came with the first exposure to the COBOL programming language back in the early 80's and was widely used at that time.

NOTE: tho and thru are not normal standards, however they are accepted for the most part. For people who are totally bent on perfect grammar, this story might be a disappointment for them and hurt their eyes. In the end I will continue to use them.

Grammar in speech of characters: I am portraying actual speech of a person, at least attempting to, in most cases. When a person is scared or flustered they will not make coherent sentences, when talking. In fact, they may stutter or forget words or wrap sentences into one long sentence. without taking a breath, that is what I am trying to portray here. It makes no sense to me to have a scared person and perfect grammar as their text. My speech for the characters represent what I call true speech, so that the reader can envision not only what they are saying but how they are saying it. As to the rest you are right.

I read The Gamer, Blackthorne, Beyond?, Origin ARS, Mightiest Tadpole, and many more and in my prologue acknowledge and thanked these authors, however as stated this is my own story, I know you said you do not insinuate anything and I accept that wholeheartedly, however, I wanted to clarify here, the name Scott Smith is something of a personal nature, namely my own name. With that I am able to envision the story better and write at a fast pace. There are many Scotts in the world, so why not one more in the fictional category?

Thank you for taking the time for the review, it helps me to reflect. And the most important thing, thank you for reading! To me the story is more important than a punctuation or a capitalization error here and there. I am not making any money on this, but instead am enjoying the ride. Not being lazy here, just type extremely fast with lots to tell :)

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Chapter 22 Happy Reunions

I came out of the store, bloody, limping and pissed. The group saw me and immediately ran towards me.

"Scott! Oh my god, what happened,” Julie cries out and gets under my right arm to support me. Cindy does the same, on my left, those girls really, I love them dearly, I know this for fact and hope to god they stay safe.

"Sigh....I fucked up” ,I say with reluctance, but not going to lie, never have, well not like this, I may, to make someone feel better if their dieing like Julie was, back a the mall.

“What? How Scott?” Cindy asks concerned. She helps guide me with Julie, to the Truck, where I sit down by the driver side front tire, Julie immediately begins to heal me.

"Well first off, I forgot about healing potions again,” I grimace,” Then I decide to go toe to toe with a Boss Worg.....shouda used the grenade seriously.”

Sheriff looks at me, “man you look really bad Scott, we need to get you to see,......eh never mind.” As he speaks my wounds are closing due to my accelerated healing capacity and Julie's heals. He simply scratches the back of is neck and stops talking.

“Well the store is clear at least, we can get everything we need in there. Anyone who tried to get in, got eaten by those Worgs it seems” I say bluntly.

“Alright we will get started then”, the Sheriff says and motions for Patterson to follow.

“Here is the list and the packing instructions Sheriff” I say to him getting my notes out of my shirt pocket.

He looks at it, then shakes his head, “ this is why you are in charge, I would never have thought of packing things this way", he laughs, then heads for the store to get started.

It takes a few minutes to fully heal me, Julie is getting much better at this,” Thank you kitten”, I say grabbing the back of her head, pull her down for a kiss, which she happily gives.

With me all patched up, we head inside. But before we do I put my Truck into inventory for the just in case scenario, knowing it saved our butts back at the sports warehouse. We head for the back of the store where all the boxed products are for restocking and find the Sheriff and Patterson already hard at work.

It took longer than I imagined. I did not realize the sheer volume of stuff a store stocks and how long it would take to stock it. And taking it all down was just mind-numbing, grab, pack, take ownership, put in inventory, grab, pack, take ownership, and put in inventory, over and over, I am sick of it already!

I swear we are going to initiate a bunch of people just for this, a Baron should be supervising not doing I jokingly complain to myself. Boy oh boy now that I have time to think about it, a baron huh? Is this for real? Sometimes I wonder I might wake up from this dream. Speaking of dreams last night was pretty awesome, wonder if they have anything else planned for tonight “hehehehe” I chuckle out loud.

“Scott? Are you thinking something perverted?,”Cindy asks across from me as she is packing stuff.

I look at her with a guilty face and shrug, I swear to god she can read my mind, need to be careful around her in the future!

We got here just after 10 am, I look at my watch and it is getting close to 5 pm. I look round and the store is looking empty. We finished the storeroom hours ago, but getting the aisles was a whole other matter. Using the spare boxes from around the store, was easier said than done, packing stuff became a real chore. I should just take ownership of the store and put the entire thing in inventory or can I? I wonder.

Take Ownership of Store I think.

NOTICE!You are unable to take Ownership of this Store

Damn and here I thought I had a good thought!!

Hmmm take ownership of shelves

NOTICE!Ownership taken of Shelves

Return to Inventory Shelves

NOTICE!Not enough inventory space for Shelves,

Slots missing to store shelves 322.

Ah crap! Sigh ok do this the hard way, even with all of us we still lack space. More people, definaely more people needed!

As I said, it was mind-numbing. When we filled all our slots and could take nothing more, we all gathered in the front, Patterson got all the frozen meats from the freezers in the back, We got most of everything in the end. The store was bare. We made a point, that only if there was free space would we grab the alcohol. I guess the Sheriff got it all. Good man good man! I can use a drink about now!

The girls also grabbed all the female hygiene products, tampons, shampoo, you name it. I had some for the guys, it would last but to me was not a high priority as you can not eat it. For the girls it was a matter of life and death as it was the first aisle they hit.

We head back outside and I survey the area, as I said it was about 5 pm now. The sun was starting to dip low. A few clouds in the sky, it is late spring, a slight chill in the air. Being in the desert region, the temperature change from day to night is extreme in New Mexico, days Hot hot hot, nights can get very cold. Good for some body heat I think to myself eyeing Cindy and Julie.

Cindy looks at me and gives me the look, I look back at her with a raised eyebrow. What? I ask myself.

I pull out the truck, and we all get in, the Sheriff once again is astounded when seeing the truck appear.

We head to the Sheriffs office, along the way we see a Worg or 2 and I stop to let the Sheriff and Patterson shoot them. This is for their benefit, getting used to killing these creatures on sight, mental training more than anything, no hesitating when spotted.

Patterson and Sheriff gain levels by it too, which is a good thing in my book.

We finally arrive at the Station and pull up. It is getting close to 5:40pm due to all the stops and shooting. I wonder why no goblins or Orcs are in the areas, and only Worgs I wonder. Something to think about, maybe territory issues?

We get out of the truck, I leave it for now as we will not be long here. We enter the station cautiously, listening for any sounds and head in. Further in, I smell food! I grin a the Sheriff and motion for silence.

I head towards the smell and peek around the door of the room that is dimly lit up. No one is talking, there are 4 people, 3 men and 1 woman. All in their Deputy uniforms, although dirty I might add.

The stench is strong, they have not bathed in some time. The Sheriff enters the room with a relieved look on his face and stares at them. One of them notices and jumps in fright holding his M870 in front of him. I pull the Sheriff out of the way as the shot goes off missing the Sheriff but riddling the entire door way with holes.

“You got lucky there Sheriff that was pretty stupid.” I remark blood pumping at the near miss.

“HOLD YOUR FIRE, it me Sheriff Hanson!”he bellows out loudly looking visibly shaken and somewhat embarrassed at my comment

We hear from inside the room multiple voices” Sheriff is that really you?” they call out.

“That wasn't the sheriff “,said another voice.

“Yes it is, now put your guns away I am coming in” He says then slowly peeks around the corner cautiously and sees a shotgun still pointed at the doorway “God dammit Jackson, put the gun away”, he yells.

“How do I know it is you? The Sheriff is older” Jackson cries out.

“What about you Jackson, you should be older too!,” The Sheriff responds.

“Ahh dammit! This is all so confusing!” Jackson says and we hear a thump. He dropped the shotgun.

“Ok I am coming in now slowly,” Sheriff says taking a step into the door way.

A blur jumps into the Sheriff's chest 5' 6" tall, blonde hair cut shoulder length, her blue eyes look like they suffer sleep deprivation, her features are avg, small nose, small lips, looking 18 years old,. and hugs him tightly. It is the girl,” Oh Sheriff, you are alive! I thought no one else made it and we were the only ones left.” she begins to cry.

Sheriff returns the hug,”it will be ok now Copp, we got a nice and warm safe place for all if us.” He gently pats her head in comfort.

“Where is everyone else Sheriff?”, asks a big man, standing at over 7 ft tall, lanky and skinny, wearing glasses, Has short cut blonde hair as well, avg looks, bookworm type, not the sports type, stubble growing on his face. I touch my face and realize I can use a shave too. I did grab some razors from the shelves. I later learn his name is Deputy Atkinson

“Many are safe at our new location, grab your stuff, we are leaving” Sheriff instructs.

The last man, Deputy Johnson, is black, 6ft tall maybe 6”1' good build, also looking around 18, black hair trimmed very short. Clean shaven with 4 days growth showing, almost a Denzel Washington look alike, if I did not know any better would have sworn it was him.

“Patterson, can you grab all the battery chargers from the back?” The Sheriff asks

Patterson steps into the doorway, “Sure thing Sheriff!” I follow, as do the girls now that it has calmed down,

“Patterson” cries out Jackson and rushes to him taking his hand in a fierce handshake with relief on his face, ”man it is good to see you, but you changed too didn't you, but I recognize that voice anywhere!!” he proclaims.” Jackson is a man of 5'8" short, but stocky. Bald by choice, glasses, brown eyes, also 4 day stubble, avg features.

“Hi Jackson, you ok?”, Patterson replies showing concern on his face.

“Yeah better now I guess,” he says with uncertainty, then a tear forms in his eye,” We lost Harrison and Sanchez yesterday”. He then falls into Patterson chest and simply begins to cry, as if a flood gate opened.

Patterson simply stands there and hugs the man. Wow Patterson is hard to read.

The two men part, Patterson then leaves to get the chargers, while Jackson and the others begin to collect their stuff.

Once everyone has all their stuff and Patterson has all the chargers in a duffle bag, we head back out. The Deputies and the Sheriff get in the bed of the truck and begin to talk among themselves excitedly, the Sheriff recalling the events thus far to them and they give their version of events.

It is after 6pm when we arrive back at the School. As the 4 deputies enter, they are greeting by the other Deputies with happy faces, hugs and pats on the backs, just like a family reunion.

Dinner is about to be served, gonna hold off dumping all the food on the kitchen staff. The Captain of the guard comes and gives his report, the 4 new deputies have a confused look on their faces when they see the bow and salute, especially when he continuously calls me lord. I guess the sheriff forgot to tell them that part as they were not surprised by the guards upon arrival.

There is time for a shower before eating, so we all head there and take a nice long hot shower. Feeling refreshed we get back to the cafeteria, funny when I equip my Armor, it always comes out looking fresh and smelling clean, a possible perk of inventory? I observed.

We eat a meager meal, same as yesterdays I groan. Guess the locals shared the information with the new staff, but it does taste better than last nights meal. I find out that the people had been busy during the day cleaning out the classrooms. Cots had been moved to the rooms along the hallway for families to have some private time, almost all the classrooms were taken on the 1st floor. Some preferred to stay in the Cafeteria as they were alone and did not want to be alone when they slept, Mark among them. Cindy, Julie and I head for the 2nd floor and find an unoccupied classroom empty. We claim it as our own and agree to use my bed.

I unload all my personal boxes and we find the clean bed sheets and comforter, Julie and Cindy bring out pillows from their beds to add to mine. We will organize tomorrow I think, as I see boxes all over. After the bed is made and I get into a change of relaxing clothes, white T-shirt and black sweat pants, the girls in their blue and pink sweat pants and T-shirts as well, we head back to the Cafeteria.

All the Deputies off duty had gathered and were talking with Johnson, Jackson, Copp and Atkinson, all looking relaxed. Smiles could be seen, but sleep still eluded them. As we enter everyone looks ever at us, many wave or greet us by name, we wave back and head for the kitchen. Sheriff and Patterson already here and unloading their stuff.

The lil ole Chief Cook Anabelle comes running to me in a huff, her cheeks flushed and her head bowed to me,” My Lord, My Lord, there is simply too much, where are we going to put it all?” She asks frantically.

Julie and Cindy begin to laugh while the Sheriff looks at me and gives a sigh.

Perplexed I look around the area and see maids and servants all trying to put stuff away, the shelves are already bulging just from the Sheriff and Patterson load, CRAP! I should have realized fitting an entire grocery store into a kitchen and it's stock room, was not going to work.........sigh