pleasantdale

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Who: Janie OT Gloria
Where: Lab

Hearing about the loss at the lab really upset Janie, and for a short while, she wasn't sure what to do about all of the lost work. She felt a little pride in actually having done something, especially because it might be able to help people. She realized that was the kind of thing she wanted to do with her life.

Once she was over the blow, however, Janie realized that she had notes. She took lots, and lots of notes, and even tried sketching pictures when she could. She researched at home instead of dusting or putting roasts in the oven, and took notes on that. Phillip had plenty to say about her blowing off more work than usual, but Janie brushed it off.

She realized she had to copy her notes, and give them to Gloria. It might or might not help, but she had to try. The lab notes were copied carefully in black ink, while her own research was copied in red. She was working on a lab report, but it was only half finished, and she felt the notes were more important.

She drove to the college, and walked to the lab, carefully knocking, and hoping that Gloria was there, and would accept the two notebooks.

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Gloria had been mostly fretting over the loss of her work. It had taken her time to calm down. It hadn't been until she realized her work wasn't gone completely that she felt a little better. She had her memories, no one could take away the skill she had for remembering notes and work and numbers. However, it didn't change her discomfort concerning her lab being broken into. It was like a violation of her person, of some sacred space she only shared with her most intimate friends, yet strangers seemed to have come into that space.

Gloria had been standing in the lab for a long time. She was staring, almost blankly at the counter where she had worked on the specimens. She was trying to run her mind back through every procedure, memorize every detail she could remember. It was frustrating but at least it kept her mind focused on something.

She heard the footsteps before the knock. Gloria hesitated. Suspicion and paranoia raised inside which kept her from going to the door.

"Who is it?" She called out though she didn't manage to sound as confident as she would have liked.

"It's Janie Potts, Miss." she answered, a little nervously "I, um. Can I come in, please?"

She scolded herself internally for her paranoia before she came to the door. Janie would hear the sound of her unlocking the door, locking it was not something she had done in the past. Gloria had never felt the need to.

"I'm sorry." She commented after opening the door for Janie. "I wasn't expecting you."

Gloria looked as though she hadn't slept much the past few days. Though her clothes and hair were still well done, her eyes showed dark circles. Truth had been that she was nervous that she might be the next thing stolen.

"Should I have called first?" asked Janie. She wore a maid's uniform, and her hair was just simply pulled back. She hadn't been sleeping well either. "I need to talk to you somewhere private. If this is a bad time, can we arrange something else? ...Are you alright?"

Janie, who also carried a large and extremely well made designer handbag, tightened her grip around the handle.

"Oh.. no. It is alright." Gloria looked around a little paranoid as she tried to think of somewhere she would feel safe talking. The one place she had felt safe, the lab, no longer felt safe.

"Perhaps we should drive?" She answered with just a little of the nervousness escaping.

"Yes." Janie said, without hesitation. She had to get Gloria up to speed on what was happening, and give her the notes. She didn't trust that anything said at the university would remain private. "Thank you..."

"Thank you too." She smiled at Janie before picking up her purse from the counter. For a long moment she hesitated before turning back to the lab. They had taken her animals too. Even some of the ones she hadn't been working with. Since then she had to move Papi, their babboon back into this lab. She was afraid to leave him here.

She turned back to Janie. "Would you... are you afraid of primates?"

"I'm not afraid of them." Janie said. She loved the lab animals, and even though she fussed about it often, she adored Lynn's dog "Why? Well, if you had one that was fifty feet tall I'd be concerned, but that's just a movie, isn't it? But, zombies were a movie and- nevermind."

"It's just Papi." She smiled but it fell to a frown when she mentioned zombies.

It took her a moment to recover from that comment as her mind wander to what else from the movies might be true or happen. She shook the feeling and approached the locker at the back of the room.

"He's a young baboon." She commented as she passed a leash to little fingers through a small door. "I've raised him since he was a baby and I don't...."

She trailed off as she waited for the baboon to put on his leash.

"Oh, I'm not scared of Papi." Janie smiled, and watched "How old is he now? He's right smart, isn't he? I know animals aren't supposed to be smarter, but sometimes I think that's wrong. I can't find many papers that say otherwise so I'm probably wrong. I get a lot of ideas that I might be wrong about but there's no stopping them. My thoughts work too fast."

She opened the door and a very eager baboon hopped into her arms. "He's almost two. He's not an adult yet."

She turned with the monkey in her arms almost like a baby. "He's very smart. He needed to have a new cage developed for him because he kept escaping. We only use him for blood sampling and DNA research."

He still had a shaved part on his forepaw from his work in the lab. Papi hid a bit from Janie because she was a stranger.

Janie smiled and waved at Papi, just like he was a kid "He's going to figure that cage out too. Where'd he go when he escaped?"

She frowned a bit at the forepaw "That's just from getting samples? Does he fuss much? Did you discover anything in his DNA or blood? Can he eat dried fruit? I'm full of questions again and I just can't seem to be quiet."

"Into the trees and bushes." She laughed a little and finally smiled.

"Just samples." She nodded in addition to answer and came closer so Papi could see Janie closer. "My professor was doing the research with his blood."

"He does but he prefers fresh fruits and vegetables."

"I don't mind the questions."

"I was a child, I'd take a book and run off into the forest for hours and hours, just reading and learning as much as I could. Might be where he wants to live, off in the woods. But he's safe with you. Do you ever just watch him? I bet you lean an awful lot that way too. I got some dried apple slices in my pocket. How's you get started in this, anyhow? I want to do science one day. I just decided that, I enjoy it a lot and never even knew that a woman could have a chance to study it. Phillip's an engineer, and I understand what he does, and I understand what you do and all of those books you sent me home with- I- oh... Alright."

Janie trailed off, lost in an idea. "We'd better get going, I suppose..."

"He helps me with my research." Then for a minute she wasn't sure if Janie was asking about her professor or Papi.

"If you share the apples he might warm up to you."

"I am here because my father told me women weren't smart enough to be educated or be anything more than a nurse."

She looked away and shifted her purse and Papi. She spoke very quietly. "He doesn't talk to me anymore."

"We should go." She nodded and headed for the door. Inside she felt sad because she missed her parents.

Edited 2013-03-18 03:01 (UTC)

"I'm sorry to hear that, Miss. I think- that maybe, some people got it wrong. Women are just as capable as men, sometimes moreso. You're one of the smartest people that I know, even smarter than Phillip and you're pretty and nice too. You're also my friend and I don't have family either, except for Lynn and- well, mostly just Lynn. So, friends are what I got for family now."

She shrugged, mostly to herself, and walked out of the lab. Janie could tell that Gloria was upset, but had no idea what to do to make her feel better.

"They are all I have too." She added while locking up the lab and then starting to walk toward the exit that was closest to her car.

"I need to introduce you to Judith, my lab assistant, sometime." She added with a smile that was almost natural but still a little forced.

Janie followed Gloria, quickly, almost eager to get out of the building.

"Ya'll are welcome for dinner any night. We always have more than enough food and space."

"I will ask her." Gloria was trying to relax but she was not as comfortable at the university anymore. She had a sudden thought and asked.

"Would you like to come help us when we work on our lab project?"

"I would be honored" Janie smiled "Thank you very much. Yes, I'd love to."

"I can show you how to condense DNA for photography."

She really liked Janie's enthusiasm and could use someone else who knew some of the lab procedures. Concern swept into her mind again as they left the building and headed toward the parking lot. She tucked Papi into her coat.

"I still don't know who was in the lab. I requested to have my lab moved to another building."

"I've read about that." Janie said, still grinning "Learning that would be wonderful."

She looked around as they walked into the parking lot, making sure that no one was following them.

"Yeah, it's. Um, a lot of things are happening now. Where will your new lab be?" She was still worried that someone was listening in on them, which is why she tried to be vauge.

"I will let you know when the new samples come in."

Janie's behavior of looking around played on Gloria's own nervousness concerning the situation.

"I don't know yet. I have to wait for the dean to respond to the request."

She headed toward a powder blue Dodge Coronet that Janie had likely seen before at some point. She would be glad to be driving. Of late, with the crazy people and the disease, Gloria found herself feeling more and more safe in her car than elsewhere.

"Thank you." Janie said, continuing to follow Gloria.

"I don't think it should take long, but then again, I don't know anything about how this place is run.

Janie looked relieved at the sight of the car. The sooner she said what she had to say, the better

"I don't know. Everyone is upset about the incident."

She too was feeling grateful to be near the car. It was unlocked and suddenly she frowned when she thought about having left it that way. She had always felt comfortable leaving the doors unlocked, now, not so much.

"You don't think someone would just up and steal something- well, I took books when I was younger, but if I finished I'd return them, but that's different, isn't it? It's not. Well, they took a lot."

Janie frowned.

"I didn't." She commented and the sad, disconcerting feelings she was having seemed to hang there in her voice.

"Everything has changed in the past few days." She held Papi closer and opened the door to get in. Everything was different. So much of what she believed was different now.

"Feels like my whole life has changed." agreed Janie, getting in. She peeked in her bag, and her notes were still there, as expected.

"Mine has." She was down-hearted as she got into the car. She closed the door and stared for a moment at the university.

"This was the only place I felt safe....and comfortable. I don't anymore. Nowhere."

She hadn't admitted that to anyone since the events that had been happening. She had hoped it would make her feel better but it didn't.

"Well, I had an idea, but..." Janie trailed off, as she made sure her door was closed.

"I have my notes, if you want them, I wrote out a copy, and I did some research with some additional information that I got if you want that. There's some things that happened that you need to be caught up on."

Gloria looked over at Janie in disbelief and then smiled. "Oh Janie..."

She wanted to hug her, hesitated and then leaned over and hugged her anyway.

"I... I don't think we've lost any of the research then." She let go of Janie.

"I have a skill remembering my work. I think we can recreate everything I lost."

She was so happy as she started the car. She felt like crying a little but tried not to as much as possible.

Janie happily hugged Gloria, and was very pleased that the notes could be used.

"That's wonderful- but- alright, how would you feel about a lab somewhere? A secret one." she began, after letting go of Gloria.

"We were shooting melons and- well, I think I know who broke into the lab, and now I don't trust anything or anyone but my friends and family. So we're going to need a lab somewhere they can't get to, and we're going to need a meeting place but it's so hard to get us all together, I just don't know what to do."

"Who?" The question was very pointed as she pulled out of the parking spot. Though her mind was trying to think of a place where they could have a lab and not draw suspicion. She would also have to figure out how to get equipment, some of that was very expensive.

"The government." Janie said, quietly "There was a Russian who said that they were watching us, and that this town is a test, which is why it only has one way in and one way out. They wanted to see how we'd react to... well.. what's happened. He also said that both sides have. Zombies. There are warehouse buildings that are supposed to be hidden bases."

She paused for a moment, before adding even more news. "He said that the men in his group were normal after getting bitten, but the worse the wound, the faster they died... and after death, they came back wrong. The men that held on longer were not affected as quickly..."

Gloria almost backed into the car parked behind them while she listened. She started to wonder who knew and who didn't. Slowly she sighed and composed herself then started driving.

"If we are going to make a lab we need it to be in a location we already go to so they don't get suspicious, somewhere we can stay for a long time too."

"Vito suggested his junkyard, but I'm not sure it's the right space. I'm not sure my house would work, but that's the first two ideas that I have. We've got to get equipment too, and I have no idea where to find any of that. I just think.. that we need to continue our work."

Janie was so lost in thought, that she didn't notice Gloria almost backing into a car.

"I don't think a junkyard would provide a sterile environment." She was musing now too, falling in line with Janie's reflection as she started to drive. "There are types of kitchen equipment that can be substituted for some equipment and I know how a centrifuge is built though I don't have the skills to do it myself."

"I don't think so either, but we'd better take a look at the place since he offered. I'll make a list of possible locations, and I'll see if I can get any of the equipment from Phillip's job. Maxine works at the factory, and I think Eric is good at building things. They've all got strengths that come in handy for us to... survive what's happening. We need a list of all needed equipment..."

Gloria nodded in agreement. "We can get supplies there even if we don't take his offer."

"I can see what is available at the university as well."

Gloria was quiet for a few moments before asking, rather curiously. "How good is your memory?"

She felt foolish and was afraid of insulting Janie and so added. ".... I think it may be better to remember notes, procedures and lists from now on. Those can not be stolen very easily."

"It's not all that great. It's why I write everything down, so I don't forget. My mind moves so fast and in so many different directions it gets hard to keep everything straight."

Janie frowned for a moment, before deciding to reveal something to Gloria.

"When I was young, some of the kids stole my journal once, and read it... so I started writing so just me understood it. It's not just shorthand, it's... well, I can always tell what I wrote anyway. If someone else is reading it I copy in longhand. But I see what you mean. I wish my memory was better. Maybe you should be in charge of remembering the details of what we need."

"I think your method works just as well as mine." Gloria smiled at Janie reassuringly.

"I have always coped by remembering. I can remember everything, strange things sometimes. especially numbers and pages of books but conversations too sometimes."

Gloria felt nervous but went on. "It is why I am good at what I am doing. I don't forget things though sometimes I need prompting to remember that I remember them."

"Thank you." smiled Janie

"I cope by making lists, then organizing them so that everything will get done. Almost like math problems. That's if I can't run off... and I can't run away from this situation."

"What helps prompt you?"

"I lose lists." Gloria giggled at herself.

"It depends on what I need to remember. Sometimes, things prompt me to remember when I don't want to or need to remember something."

She frowned a little and kept her attention on the road to avoid Janie. "Remembering everything clearly can be a horrible skill to have."

"I suppose it is." she said, quietly "But I suppose that helped you get where you are too... I don't see women too much that get to do what you do. If I knew about that, then maybe I would have tried to get into University, instead of just settling for the first thing to come along. If all this... situation passes, I might try to see if I can enroll. So, it might be bad, but it's also a blessing. Just with an unfortunate badside."

Gloria shook her head. "What helped me the most was being willing to give up everything and everyone I knew."

She sighed heavily as she drove feeling sad. "You must be willing to face extreme hatred, insult and disrespect. You have to work even when others disregard you and will not give you work. Learning not to get angry and to keep trying when you are mentally and sometimes physically abused is what will get you the farthest."

She paused and finally smiled. "I think you could be successful but I do not want you to have any misconceptions about the work that I do."

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