Walking towards his desk, Marc opened the top, left drawer, and pulled out a cell phone.

Teal was impressed. "You've got everything don't you?!"

The right corner of his lip lifted in a smile, and he gave her a nod. Punching in the numbers, he pressed the speaker button so she could listen in.

"The number you've dialed is no longer in service. Please hang up and try again later or-" 

Marc hung-up, looking at Teal's disappointed stare.

"Do you have another number? An address maybe?"

"Yes. She walked over to stand next to him and bent down flipping through the pages of the tattered book. "Here!" She pointed with her index finger, looking hopeful.

A knock disrupted them and Marc looked towards the door.

"Yes?" He asked curtly.

A doe-eyed Kaya walked in. Her shorts seemed somewhat shorter than before and her breast bigger. Teal rolled her eyes in distaste, for no particular reason.

"Art's lookin' for ya." She said, eyes only on Marc.

"I'll be down in a minute." 

His attention went back to the address book, but Kaya stood staring at him for a few seconds. Then, slowly she turned her eyes to look at Teal in discontent. Marc looked up at her again, she was twirling a ponytail with her index finger.

"Anything else?"

"No." 

"Then, I'll see you shortly."

Kaya turned abruptly and slammed the door. Marc seemed not to notice, but Teal did. There was something odd about Kaya, she didn't much care for.

Marc pulled out a tablet from the locked closet behind them. She couldn't see much but there were all sorts of goodies inside. Things she didn't even know the names of. Teal wanted to ask him about them, but he quickly shut the doors, focusing on the task at hand. 

After punching in a few keys, he glanced back at the paper and typed, then looked at the screen massaging his jaw. 

Sighing he spoke. "It looks like someone, probably your aunt, is living in that home but the phone number you gave me does not match her name." He shook his head rubbing his forehead. "I'm gonna need more time."

"Yes of course." She nodded. "You have been incredibly accommodating and generous. You haven't said anything about the payment. I can get you an assortment of brains, or-"

He put his hand up stopping her mid-sentence. "None needed. I'll do it as a favor. For Jax. He's like my brother."

"If you owe Jax a favor in any way, please don't consider this payment. He has no idea what I am doing. I don't want to involve him. At least not yet. My parents know, kind of but..." She trailed off, they didn't know anything either. No one did and she didn't want to lie to him.

"Fine. I'll do it for nothing, 'cause I like you more than other zombies. How's that? The point is, don't think about the payment. Don't need it." He could practically get anything he wanted. The brains or food she offered, were unnecessary. He rather the zombies in the community who were dying of hunger, got those instead.

"Once again thank you, Marc. I'll show myself out. I don't want to take any more of your time. I'm guessing it's your day off?"

"Ha!" He laughed. "A day off from this life would be nice."

"What?"

She couldn't catch what he said under his breath.

"Yes. It is. That's why Kaya is here." He tiredly responded.

"Is she the one who's gonna work at the farm and Jax's taking over for?"

"No. That's Eve."

"Oh, Okay. Just wondering."

She started to walk away but he placed his hand around her wrist to stop her.

"You can come by anytime, Teal. If you need the TV or the computer..." He pointed at the sofa. "That turns into a bed if you ever need a place and it starts getting late and daylight's comin', feel free to stay."

She laughed uncomfortably. "Thanks. I don't know what to say."

He shrugged letting go of her wrist.

"Marc."

"Hmm?"

"I need to ask if you'll help me with something else.  You don't have to say yes, I just thought maybe ..."

The green of his eyes shifted, and he searched her face encouraging her to continue.

"I've been thinking about testing the daylight theory on my skin. My mom offered to stay awake for me but when I think about her inside the house waiting, or looking behind thick drapery out the window to see if I burn, or not, my courage disappears." She shook her head gently. "I need to know someone, who is not my mother is awake. If I burn, or-or die, or- you don't need to come out if I do. I need someone to let my parents know what happened." Teal quietly finished.

She amazed him in every way. "You're pretty amazing Teal."

"What?! No–I—" Teal shook her head embarrassed.

"Fucking daredevil." He laughed. "I know you're not stupid so it must be naive courage."

Marc always said what he was thinking, or he said nothing at all. He hated games. He'd told her before and it was the truth. He was too old for bullshit. His job was dangerous enough and he didn't need the extra drama.

She laughed with him. Yes, she was pretty ballsy. "I only ask since you have so many resources. I'm sorry, I–don't mean to put you in danger."

"Danger?" He shook his head smiling. "Sure. Let me know in advance." He reassured her. "I'll be there."

Bashfully, Teal raised her crystal blues at him. Her small hand reached for his wide shoulder and her fingers squeezed in comfort. "I cannot thank you enough." She decided to ignore his comment about her naiveté. She had to stop arguing with him if she wanted to get the task done.

He winked. "You're welcome."

Teal smiled one last time before opening the door. He, sat grinning back at her; as if he were a damn human, even after she left.

Shaking his head of any thoughts that had to do with her. he shut off the computer and placed it back in the closet. Unlocking the bottom drawer of his desk, he pulled the gun he hid at the belt of his trousers and placed it inside. His job outside of the club; trading with humans, was difficult and a gruesome one.

He was an entrepreneur first but also a smuggler. A rebel. Not so much when he was human. Now, he felt as if he had nothing to lose. In many ways, he was trying to do what Teal so much wanted herself. Help their kind. The difference? She was selfless. He was not. He did it for profit. She, for sheer satisfaction. That's why he wanted nothing for his efforts. He had everything he wanted. Marc didn't need more, definitely not from her.

Punching numbers into his phone he waited for the other side to pick up.

"Hey man. I need information on a Rita Sandoval. I have an old phone and an address." Quietly he listened to the man on the other end. "Okay. Hold on... I just sent the text. I'll wait to hear from you."

He placed the phone in his back pocket and strode out of the office locking the door. The music was roaring and the place was packed. He skimmed around the room from the stairs and saw some familiar faces, including Jax. Teal and Samantha were jumping around next to him. He watched her dance for a while, then went in search of Art.

"What's up?"

"Not good, boss." 

Marc smiled every time he called him that. Art is not only his favorite human but one of the many crazy, immune ones, who lived a double life in the zombie world. The good news was, 99% of zombies can't tell who was human, probably didn't even care to.

"What's wrong?" His eyebrows narrowed.

"Eric got shot. At the fence."

"What the fuck?!" Flustered he ran a hand through his green spikes. "What the hell was he still doing there?!"

"Not sure. Looks like he was smuggling a couple of zombies out of the human side."

Which ones?"

"Those that were out in the underground bunker. The government has been trying to keep quiet about them." Art's voice was rising in anger. "It was the last shipment from that group that survived after all the needles and the fucking tests. They were slow and trailing behind, that's why he got caught." Art shook his head nervously grabbing at the front part of his neck. "It's fuckin' sickening man."

"Is he dead?"

"Not sure. He was done helping everyone through, but then it happened. Their side was able to grab him, take him in a black van, and transport him away.

"Shit! Who saw it happen?"

"Zane."

"Get our inside contact at the lab to give us a status on his whereabouts."

Art nodded.

"Where are the Zs?"

Zs was short for sleeping zombies. Dumbed-down, in the name of research. Even more so, than many of them already were. Endlessly probed and abused. It revolted Marc's insides, to the core.

"They're en route to the abandoned hospital on the West end, where we set up all the supplies and beds."

"Oh, Okay. Good. I'll touch base with them tomorrow night."

Art nodded. "I'm heading out. I'm beat, man."

Sighing, Marc nodded at Art distractedly. "Good night, brother."

Fuck. How was he going to willingly help Teal if there was nothing but bloodshed at the border?

Sickened by it all, he headed to his office to make some more calls. Tonight would be a difficult one, and he would be unable to sleep. Again.

Music By:
2Cellos: Whole Lot Of Love (Original song by Led Zeppelin)

Notes:
The video above represents Marc's internal battles. The balance between good guy and renegade.