Rewrite the Apocalypse dream (by Dee Cari) novel Chapter 72

Chapter 72 Let me come with you guys

Nathan quickly-shrugged off his bewilderment. “What happened to him out there?”

“He was struck by lightning,” Joanna said, unbuttoning Julian’s charred jacket.

Finished

Instead of panicking, Nathan shifted into a calm, steady rhythm. “I’ve handled this before,” he said quietly, calming Joanna down. “Keep him flat and warm.”

Working by the firelight, they treated his burns. Throughout the night, Joanna remained at his bedside. feeding Julian small sips of crisp spring water. At some point she checked the pup in her space and even he was out cold, sleeping the night away.

The next morning, Julian’s dark eyes cracked open, unfocused but alive.

Relief washed over Joanna, but her commanding precision took over. She turned to Nathan. “He needs help recovering, but I have to leave right now.”

Nathan nodded. “Let me come with you guys, I’ll help him for a while.”

He didn’t know Joanna had already decided to bring him along because the apocalypse was coming. “Pack up fast,” Joanna ordered. “Bring all of your survival gear, Nathan.”

Nathan blinked. “Weren’t we just helping him in the city for a few weeks?”

Joanna just nodded and grabbed some farming implements while Nathan looked confused but grabbed Julian.

While Nathan settled Julian into the backseat of the SUV, Joanna quietly went to work. Moving like a ghost, she systematically swept a massive cache of Nathan’s supplies-garden tools and a heavy tilling machine- directly into her pocket dimension. Nathan didn’t realize it, but Joanna knew he was never coming back.

Joanna drove back to Aurora without problems. When they arrived, the anxious team was waiting for them, crowding the truck to check on the still-unconscious billionaire.

After Jake and Allen carried Julian inside the second-floor apartment, Joanna quickly moved him into the bedroom. Allen, knowing exactly what was at stake, had already cleared out his own room to accommodate the unconscious billionaire and his newly discovered uncle.

As they settled them in, Raven looked at Julian’s slightly soot-stained, pale face and frowned. “Shouldn’t he go to the hospital?” she asked, her voice tight with concern.

“No hospitals,” Joanna cut in sharply. Images flashed through her mind-memories of the previous timeline where, right after the apocalypse started, hospitals instantly turned into overcrowded, infected death traps. “Nathan can treat him here.”

After a quick round of introductions, Joanna left Nathan by the bedside to watch over Julian and subtly gestured for the team to gather in the hallway. Her phone buzzed in their pockets as she sent a swift group text: Do not tell Nathan about the apocalypse yet. Just play it off like we are prepping as a hobby.

The team members all read the message, giving her a quiet, synchronized nod of understanding just as Nathan stepped out of the bedroom. “Julian is already looking better,” the older man reported, wiping his hands. “His breathing is stabilizing.”

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Chapter 72 Let me come with you guys

“I have some special medicine that can help with his burns,” Joanna said, thinking of her inventory.

Fin

Nathan shook his head gently.” He actually looks better than yesterday. A good, warm bath should be enough for him right now to soothe the muscles and clean the last of the soot.”

Joanna nodded and headed into the bathroom with Jake. Closing the door slightly, she silently tapped into her pocket dimension, filling the tub to the brim with the crisp, energized spring water. Jake reached into his medical kit and grabbed some lavender oil, letting a few drops fall into the water. “Lavender helps with skin burns and relaxation,” he murmured.

Nathan and Allen carried Julian into the bathroom. Before leaving them, Joanna quietly instructed Jake to let Julian soak for as long as possible. She then turned to Nathan and guided him downstairs to the girls apartment, leaving the guys to care for his nephew.

Downstairs, Joanna gave Nathan a little tour of their space explaining the apartment upstairs were for guys and this one was for the girls. The older man looked around, admiring the heavily reinforced locks, structural modifications, and packed storage. “Wow. You guys are really into prepping, huh?” he noted, highly impressed. Joanna looked around smirking. This was only a fraction of what they got.

Jolie immediately stepped in, smoothing over the tension with a bright laugh and a few lighthearted jokes about extreme hobbies while serving Nathan a plate of hot food. Nathan smiled, visibly relaxing. “You kids are alright. Everyone can just call me Uncle Nate.”

The warmth was infectious, and the team instantly liked him. Wanting to keep him comfortable, Raven spoke up. “I wanted to take Uncle Nate to the store later to grab anything he needs.”

Uncle Nate finished up eating, and sat down compiling a small supply list of medical and personal items to treat Julian over the next few weeks, completely unaware that the team already had warehouses full of those exact supplies. Catching Joanna’s slight, approving nod, Rachel and Raven happily took the list and drove off to the store with Nate, giving him a sense of control and independence. They needed to get rid of the cash anyway.

With the drivers gone, Joanna grabbed Jolie. “What’s the update on the farm animals?”

“We managed to secure about four to six pairs of everything-chickens, goats, pigs, and cattle,” Jolie whispered back excitedly. “It’s a start.”

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