My first real L4D2 fanfic. It was inspired during a play through in which this actually happened. I lost both Coach and Ro (both bots) and only had Ellis (also a bot). It sort of spiraled out of control in my imagination and I started writing this. The title is based on the song Sound of Pulling Heaven Down by Blue October. For some reason that song makes me think of Nick and Ellis. This isn't exactly a Nick/Ellis fic, but it definitely has those overtones. So sorry NE fans. You might still like it though. And of course, enjoy.

Beta Read by my friend Setsuna-Noroi (or Noroi here).

Disclaimer: I don't own L4D2. Only a copy of it. And I play it to death.

Nick let the spent casing fall from his hand. Thank God he'd found that grenade launcher. It was the only reason they were alive. ...He was alive. Coach had gone down first. A Boomer had vomited on him, causing the horde to beat him mercilessly until they had finally killed them all. He was trying to use some first aid when the ominous sound of a Tank met their ears. He was now under a car. They tried, in vain, to seek refuge in a building, but the Tank tore through the wall like it was paper. Rochelle had been next, pausing just a little too long while still in the Tank's reach. One good hit and she was down. She may have only been stunned, badly hurt, but an errant grenade had finished the job. Now Ellis had lasted longest (aside from Nick, of course) but had ended up in a corner and was probably too close to the grenades as well...

The conman walked over to the giant infected corpse. Ellis lay partially covered by the beast. This sucked ass. He was alone and was none well off. Yes he'd survived, but just. If the thing hadn't gone after the kid... Poor kid. He didn't deserve to die. As annoying as he was, he was a good kid and if anyone should have lived, it should have been him. The brunette's shoulders slumped as he looked down at the boy, feeling oddly sad at the virtual stranger's death. Suddenly, the hick twitched. Instinctively, Nick raised his handguns. Ellis started to cough and wheeze, trying to move the weight of creature on top of him.

"Shiiit..." he moaned quietly. Nick began to push the hulking mass off the boy and pulled him to his feet. Ellis bent over to retrieve his hat and deposited it on his brown curls, "Holy shit..."

The younger man slouched. Deep dark bruises were already starting to form and Nick wouldn't have been surprised if he had broken something.

"You gonna make it, Ellis?" Nick asked gentler than he expected.

"Yeah," the boy smiled weakly, reloading his gun.

"Then let's go."

"Wait. What 'bout Ro and Coach?" Ellis furrowed his brow. Nick's stomach dropped. Didn't he see what had happened? "We-we gotta wait fer 'em. Or go find 'em."

"No, Ellis," Nick grabbed him as he turned to walk toward the door.

"Why not?" Ellis turned back to the older man, confusion in his eyes.

"Don't look, kid. It's not for you to see... It's just us now," Nick answered softly.

"No. NO," Ellis shook his head, "We gotta check on 'em. They might be hurt or somethin'. C'mon, Nick."

"Ellis, trust me, they're not just hurt," Nick said with a hint of frustrated irritation.

"Bastard!" Ellis yelled, struggling against Nick's grip, "Selfish bastard! We gotta check! We gotta help 'em! We-we-"

"Ellis! Coach is out there under a fucking car! And Rochelle-," the words stuck in his throat as he was hit with a wave of guilt. Ellis stopped his fighting, looking back at the Tank, uncertainly.

"Are... are they really... Are we really... alone?" Ellis swallowed hard.

"Yeah," Nick whispered. They stood, trying to fathom the truth of the situation. They'd been alone before, no help, no nothing, but it had been the four of them alone. Now the loneliness and helplessness had been doubled in a matter of minutes, "We've got to keep moving."

For another moment, Ellis wouldn't budge, staring and waiting; waiting for a cry of help or to see one of the others limping over to them. Nick felt him melt in his hand as he begrudgingly accepted the truth. Ellis threw him one more pleading look, his eyes asking to just double, triple, check on Coach and Rochelle. Nick steeled himself, leading the young man up the stairs. There was no time for the fallen when the living still needed help.