You are the hole in my head
You are the space in my bed
You are the silence in between
What I thought and what I said
-Florence and the Machine, No Light, No light
Chapter One:
Angelina was lying on her side stroking the warm spot on the bed that her lover had just left. She knew he was in the kitchen because she could hear pots and pans clanking and making a ruckus.
About ten minutes later the bedroom door opened and the smell of bacon filled the room and two warm hands were placed on her shoulders. She felt the covers shift as somebody crawled into bed with her. She rolled over and smiled at her lovers face; he hadn't shaved yet and stubble was covering his face.
He ran his hand down the curve of her side, feeling her soft, bronzed skin that seemed to glow. They didn't speak, neither one of them felt the need to break the silence. The way they were looking at each other said everything they were thinking.
"What were you making?" She asked softly, trying not to ruin the moment.
He brushed a dark brown strand of hair out of her face, "Eggs, bacon, and pancakes."
"Ooo, breakfast for lunch? My favorite!" She placed a hand on his cheek and kissed him, his arm went around her naked waist and pulled her closer.
"I wish we could stay here all day," He mumbled.
"I know how you feel," She frowned, "What time is it?"
"Round about one,"
"Rick, you're going to be late!" She sat bolt up right in the bed and wrapped the sheet around her body. Then got up and walked over to the bathroom door, grabbed her robe, dropped the sheet, and put her robe on. All the while Rick was watching her in amusement.
"You're goanna be late for work," She walked back over to the bed and looked down at him, "Rick, seriously, I don't want you getting in trouble, or worse, getting caught."
Rick stood up, "If we were caught we could be together."
"Rick," Angelina dropped her head and then glanced up, her eyes looking sad, "Please don't."
"Fine. But I made you breakfast and you're going to eat it." Rick pulled her into a hug and she wrapped her arms around his muscular ones then laid her head on his chest.
The hug ended soon after it began, "Go get dressed," Said Angelina, then added, "Please?"
Rick chuckled, "Fine."
After Rick finished getting dressed he went back into the kitchen and kissed Angelina goodbye.
"Be careful," She said and kissed his cheek.
Rick nodded, "Always am." He turned to head out the door but stopped and turned around, "Can I tell you a secret?"
"Sure," Angelina smiled.
Rick hesitated, "I love you, Angelina."
Angelina's heart skipped a beat, "Rick, I—"
"I don't care if you don't love me back, I just wanted to let you know." Rick interrupted.
Angelina's eyes welled up, "It's just, you're married and you have a kid! And you're married!" She placed a hand over her mouth and sat down at the kitchen table. "Rick I've never felt about anybody the way I feel about you," She sighed, "But you're married Rick, I feel bad enough already but…I don't know, I just can't."
Rick's posture and tone said that he wasn't hurt by her answer, but his eyes told otherwise. He walked over to her seat and got down on his knees,
"Angel, don't worry. Okay, everything's going to be fine…everything's going to be alright."
Angelina signed in at the hospital four hours after Rick had left her apartment. She was working from five p.m. to one a.m. Lately the hospital had been receiving some unusual cases, most of the weird cases included cannibalistic attacks where people were attacked and bit by sickly looking people.
Around five thirty the sun was shining high in the Atlanta sky and everything was calm. Angelina remembered the day so clearly: She remembered writing some notes down about another strange case, while listening to some music. The hallways were quiet, normal noise was from doctors and nurses talking about patients or patients talking to doctors. Suddenly her pager began to go off frantically. She looked down at it read emergency in big bold letters. She raced out of her office and down the hall.
The double doors flung open and they rushed a person in on a bed, a bloody bandage covering their shoulder. She raced up to the patient but froze in horror when she saw who it was: Rick. But she had to stay strong, nobody could know about her or Rick, she couldn't show any connection with him other than work. She shook off her emotions that were now flooding her brain and focused on Rick.
There was so much blood, people were talking and shouting around her, she couldn't focus, and then everything went black.
She couldn't remember what happened after they went into the emergency room and began operating. Whenever she tried to remember it was just a big, black hole in her memory.
Rick was in the hospital for two weeks, everyday Lori and Carl would come in and visit him. Angelina would tell them how he was doing then she would leave. After his wife and son left his best friend would come to visit. His name was Shane.
She remembered meeting him for the first time very vividly. He was handsome, funny, kind, and charming. He had dark brown hair and brown, almost black, eyes that looked innocent like a child. His arms were muscular and he was very tall. He had sat in the corner of the room and had brought Rick flowers. He also blamed himself for Rick's injury; said that he distracted Rick and Rick was shot because of it. Angelina admitted to herself that she wanted to have somebody to blame for her lover's injury, but she couldn't blame Shane.
Two weeks later the end began. She had been at the hospital checking on Rick when the chaos started; there was gunfire and blood was everywhere. She was just waiting there with Rick…waiting to die. Shane came to try to get Rick. He tried to wake him up, then to move the bed, but then he felt Rick's pulse and he was gone. Angelina checked to make sure he was correct—and he was. Angelina had to do everything to keep from breaking down and sobbing. To keep from just staying there staring at Rick's lifeless body.
But she was stronger than that, she was a fighter, Rick would have wanted her to fight. Shane got her out of the hospital; they were almost gunned down by military but they were quick to disappear after being spotted. The undead were trying to break their way through barricaded doors; their arms were sticking through the cracks, trying to snag anything close enough.
After they finally made it out of the hospital, they picked up Lori and Carl and drove. Drove out of town. There was a supposed safe haven in the city but on the way there the traffic was so bad they never made it. Plus, the city was being bombed and the undead were everywhere. Instead they formed a group of survivors and made a camp in the mountains away from everything.
Angelina soon relaxed and tried her best to put her past behind her; but one thing was still killing her inside. The last thing Rick said to her was, "Everything is going to be all right." She couldn't help but think he was very, very wrong. Or maybe, just maybe, things would get better.
28 Days Later…
It was dark and humid on the mountain; a fog was rolling in and making things hard to see. There was no breeze and it was pitch black. The city was not lit up like it normally would be, giving off a nice glow. No, it was pitch black and silent. But if you listened closely you could hear the faint sound of thousands of moans. That was the sound that haunted everybody's dreams.
Everybody had just finished eating dinner and now they were sitting around the fire trying to stay warm. Carl's head was resting on his mothers shoulder and Angelina was wrapped in a Shane's arms. Since they had formed a group with about twenty other people, Shane and Angelina had grown close—very close.
Shane was much different than Rick and Angelina liked that. Shane was very territorial and hard headed; but he was also gentle and caring. He was sweet and truly cared about Angelina. Not that Rick didn't, Rick had loved her. Unlike Rick, Shane was hot tempered; he and Angelina would argue all the time. About the dumbest things, one night they got into it because Angelina had walked off into the woods to collect food and Shane had flipped out. When she got back Shane looked as if he could kill somebody. He had told her she couldn't just walk off without telling him; she didn't like that.
Then another day Shane was going to go down to the highway to look for survivors by himself. She immediately went into hysterics and began telling him that if he went down there alone they were over. That she wouldn't risk loosing him; that had set him off. But when he came back they disappeared into their tent and weren't seen until the next morning.
But in the end Shane and Angelina always wound up in each other's arms somehow or another. After the screaming ceased and the realization of the stupidity of their argument came to their realization—they always ended up in bed together. Angelina also liked the fact that she could be open about her relationship with Shane and she could show how much she cared for him.
Tonight was the night that people said their goodbyes, in the morning five camp members would be gone. Five camp members were going into the city to collect supplies and scavenge anything that could be found. Andrea, Glenn, T-Dog, Morales, and Merle were the ones brave enough to volunteer. It was a shocker that Merle volunteered because Merle was extremely selfish and didn't do much to help out. Daryl had possibly convinced him to go; Daryl was his brother who was more civilized than Merle. Then again, that wasn't saying much.
"I'm goanna go on to bed, you coming?" Angelina asked Shane, she kissed his cheek before standing up and stretching.
"No I'm goanna take watch for a few hours for Dale." Replied Shane, "Don't wait up."
Angelina nodded, "Night everybody." She waved goodnight to the group and headed back to her tent.
For a summer night it was cold and Angelina, although wearing one of Shane's sweatshirts, found herself hugging her arms close to her body. As she walked sticks broke under her shoes and the trees blew. The tents were in a circle in a nook near the woods. To get to it, you had to walk a little ways until there was a tiny slope, and then you had to walk down the slope that led you into the huddle of tents. Angelina and Shane's tent was at the end of the huddle next to Lori and Carl's.
Arriving at her tent, Angelina unzipped the door and stepped inside. The tent was always warmer and she quickly crawled into her makeshift bed consisting of a cot a large sleeping bag and two pillows, one for her and one for Shane. The sleeping bag was large enough for them to share it and since they were 'camping' they liked the extra body heat and the comfort of feeling each other and knowing they were safe.
Angelina pulled the sleeping bag up around her face and snuggled into it. Although it wasn't like the warmth of another person, it was close enough. She didn't know when she fell asleep but she remembered being woken up by the sound of footsteps and the clanging of the zippers on the tent door opening.
She knew it was Shane. She could hear Shane kicking off his shoes and undoing his belt, and then she felt the cot bounce as he sat down, but didn't lie down. She glanced over her shoulder through tired eyes and saw him sitting on the edge of the cot with his head in his hands. She rolled completely over and placed a hand gently on his back. He jumped and she felt his muscles tense up, but when he turned around and looked at her she saw him relax.
"You okay?" She asked him, rubbing his forearm soothingly.
Shane pulled back the covers and got in the sleeping bag with her, "Yeah, just tired."
She knew he was lying but left it alone, something had frightened him. Whenever he was frightened his eyes became darker. They looked completely black and she could barely see the white in his eyes.
"Get some sleep," Her hand drifted off his arm and she rolled back over and tried to pull the cover farther over her body. Shane pulled her closer to him, he was radiating warmth. She relaxed into his body and she felt him relax as well.
"I'm glad you're not going tomorrow," He whispered into her ear, "I know you wanted to, but it's to dangerous."
Angelina kissed his hand, "Same here." And with that final word they both drifted off to sleep in each other's arms.
*Flashback*
The bell on the door jingled as Angelina opened it and stepped inside the Sheriffs Department. A cool burst of air hit her like a tidal wave and she sighed,
"You guys are lucky the air conditioning works so well in here." She chuckled at the lady at the front desk known as Lisa. Lisa was middle aged and had curly red hair, she had a friendly smile but behind it you could see a 'do not mess with me' sign.
"Oh," Lisa chuckled, "It's always like this in here. During the winter its warmer outside."
"Oh, well I've got the tests back from that blood that you guys wanted—"
"Brilliant! Rick will want to see those, he was the one who thought we should send them over to you."
"Rick, all right. Well where can I find this Rick?" Asked Angelina. She was clutching a black briefcase in her right hand where the papers were safely stored.
"Down the hall, two doors to your left Hun," Lisa pointed to the doorway to the hall with her pen and then went back to typing furiously on her computer.
Angelina began her journey down the hall and two doors to the left. She read the nameplates next to the doors and finally she found Rick Grimes and since that was the only Rick she had seen so far she figured it was him. She knocked on the door three times and then she heard a, "Come in."
She opened the door and saw a handsome looking man with papers scattered all over his desk. He had blue eyes, a clean shave, and brown hair. He looked tired and stressed out.
As soon as he saw it was a young, beautiful woman at the door he immediately stood up and hurried to clear the papers off his desk. After he had finished making a fool of himself he said,
"Sorry about the mess, please sit down."
Angelina swayed over to the chair and took a seat, "I have the test results back on that blood. Lisa told me to bring them to you?"
"Yes, may I see them?"
Angelina opened the latch on her briefcase and pulled out the folder of papers, then handed them to Rick.
He opened the file and began to read them, "So it's definitely a match?"
She nodded, "Definitely."
"Hmm great. What did you say your name was again?"
"I didn't, but it's Angelina," She stuck her hand out across the desk, "Pleasure to meet you." She smiled and her green eyes sparkled.
He shook her hand and smiled as well. This, although at the time it was unknown to them, was the first of many times that they would look at each other that way.
They released each other's hands and she sat back down.
He set the papers down on the table, "How long have you worked at the hospital?"
"About six years,"
"And you just do autopsy's?"
She chuckled, "No, I normally work in the ER, but I started out doing autopsy's. That's why I did these." She motioned to the papers.
"It must have been fun being around dead bodies all day," He chuckled.
She smiled, "Well I always looked on the bright side, at least they aren't coughing on me or trying to give me a dangerous disease like other patients are, or bleeding to death."
This time they both chuckled. There was a silence and then Angelina said,
"Well I better get back to the office." She stood up and straightened out her skirt. "It was nice meeting you, Mr. Grimes."
"Rick, call me Rick." He stood up as well and walked her to his office door.
She tried to conceal a smile, "It was nice to meet you Rick."
"You to Angelina,"
As she left his office he watched her walk off down the hall but his best friend Shane interrupted his stare.
"Whoa, who is that fine woman that just came out of you office looking happy?" Shane asked while he placed a hand on Rick's shoulder. "You don't see many like that these days. So who is she?"
"She's from the hospital, brought the blood results back."
"She works in a hospital?" Said Shane, shocked, "No offense but someone that pretty is never smart." He looked down the hall where she had been walking, "You definitely don't find one's like that these days."
Rick chuckled at his friend, "No you don't."
"That one's mine," Shane said flatly.
Rick glanced at his friend, "What do you mean?"
"You got Lori, that beauty is mine. I call dibs."
"You can't call—you don't even know her!"
"If I get to know her, I call dibs."
Rick laughed and went back into his office, shutting the door in Shane's face.
*End flashback*
"Bye Andrea, you be careful," Angelina said the next morning as Andrea and she hugged goodbye.
"You too Glenn, T-Dog, Morales." She nodded at the three men and stepped backwards, away from the group of people saying goodbye. Merle was standing against the truck with a devilish grin on his face.
"What no goodbye for me?" He asked in his country hick tone, "How about a hug at least?"
"Goodbye Merle," Angelina said begrudgingly.
"I think a kiss would do," He smiled evilly and began walking towards her.
Shane stepped in between the two, "Shouldn't you be getting ready to leave, Merle?" It wasn't as much of a question as a command.
"I just wanted a goodbye kiss from this little lady here," He pointed with his head at Angelina.
Shane's jaw tightened, "I don't think she wants to give you one, so go get in the truck. Wouldn't want them to leave without you now would we?"
Merle's jaw twitched and he spat on the ground and then rubbed it into the dirt with his boot, "Alright," He smiled revealing his hideous teeth. "We'll see about that kiss when I come back." He turned on his heel and walked back over to the truck.
"He ever bothers you again, tell me and I'll take care of it." Shane glared at Merle as he sat in the front of the truck, his face visible in the side view mirror.
"I don't think he will," Sighed Angelina, "Do you think it's safe for them to go into the city?"
"No, but we need the supplies and who knows, maybe they'll find more survivors."
"That's not always a good thing. Not everybody can be trusted." Angelina said her face looking as if she were trying to remember something.
Shane pulled her into a hug, "Trust me, I know."
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