So, hello. First and foremost I want to say, this is my first time publishing here, so please, be gentle. Also, I'm putting this up here for me. Don't take that as me being bitchy, because it's not my intention. I wanted to post this somewhere and wasn't about to put it on dA. So I figured I'd do it here. So, if you like the story, great! If you don't, well, that's great too. If the characters seem out of character and you have any tips to correct that, do send them. Keep in mind, since I'm doing this for me, it won't be updated quickly or all the time. If I hit a block, lose my muse, etc, obviously it won't be updated until I'm over all of the above. Also, this story will contain two OCs of mine and a friend's, and they have been paired with Nick and Ellis, though it's not the in your face 'love at first sight' kinda thing. That being said, here's my story. c:
Oh! I don't own L4D, just my OCs, all that disclaimer stuff.
Caroline opened her eyes with a groan and looked around. The first thing she noticed was that it was dark outside, the light from the moon barely leaking into the helicopter's small windows. She sat up, putting a hand to the back of her head with a wince, 'Must've hit it good when the chopper jerked.'
"Caroline," she heard from somewhere near her, Nick, she assumed they were all in a pile somewhere,
"You alright?"
"I think so," she moved her hand to squint at it in the low light, relieved to find it clean of blood,
"Yeah, yeah I'm okay." She confirmed,
"What happened?" she asked, glancing around to find her favourite blonde. When she found her she got up to check on her but halted as the helicopter groaned in protest.
"Well, let's start with the obvious," Nick started,
"we crashed. 'Kay, we know what happened. I think the question we should be asking is why."
Caroline slowly moved to where Daisy lay and checked her for any major injuries. She heard a groan.
"What 'appened?" Ellis. Upon finding Daisy in one piece, Caroline shook her lightly to wake her and moved to check on Ellis.
"We crashed." She said softly, feeling one of his arms for blood.
"Is everybody okay?" He asked, silhouette moving as he looked around in the dark.
"So far." Caroline murmured.
"Coach?" The youngest male questioned.
"Right here, boy." Caroline heard from somewhere near where she'd first woken up, also hearing Ellis sigh in relief.
"Don't look good everyone," the chopper groaned once more,
"we're all caught up in a tree. Pretty high up by the look of it." Daisy whimpered softly.
"Alright, first order of business, get the fuck out of this tree." Caroline slowly got to her feet, looking around. The chopper creaked and shifted slightly making everyone stop dead.
"Guys, more bad news," Caroline turned toward the voice of the youngest male,
"we're nose to the ground." She heard someone groan,
"Fan-fucking-tastic. This just can't get any better can it?" Nick asked sarcastically.
"Well, let's see if we can't open up the doors from in here." With that the group started feeling along the walls, floors, ceiling, anywhere for something that might open the door. Caroline's hand hit something sticking from the wall, she pressed it lightly, feeling it give slightly,
"Might've found it ya'll." She pushed it and with more creaks and groans the doors above them slowly opened, revealing the night sky.
"Let's get this over with…" Daisy groaned. Caroline heard soft low pitched murmurs that she couldn't really understand, though she guessed it was Nick, along with a soft noise of compliance and they started their escape.
"After this, I'm a God damn avi'aphobe." Caroline complained, glancing down at her feet to step to the next branch down.
"Yeah, because every helicopter you ride in is gonna go down." A voice from above her said. She smirked,
"Shut it, Nick. Asides, iffin I can remember it correctly, the last chopper we was in went down too. So there."
"Guys I can see lights!" Ellis exclaimed happily, interrupting whatever retort Nick was going to give, if any. Caroline looked up to see the young man pointing, she followed it and lo and behold, there were actually lights in the distance. Faint, but there.
"Alright, don't lose that direction. We're gonna hafta go through quite a bit of trees." Coach instructed. Everyone made a mental note.
Upon exiting the forest the survivors had discovered they'd crash landed in a forest somewhere outside St. Louis. It was nearing twilight now.
"Safe house ahead." Caroline looked ahead and spotted the red door they'd long since learned to look for. 'Thank God.' Caroline thought, she was dead tired, no doubt they all were, rest was very welcome. Upon entering the house Coach sent Ellis to the basement, Nick to the second floor, and took it upon himself to secure the ground floor. Caroline and Daisy stood idly by the front door. Ellis returned not much later,
"Basement's safe." Caroline looked around, spotting a light switch by the door and flicked it upward for the hell of it, gasping when the room became bathed in light.
"Second floor's safe- the powers working?" Caroline nodded, flicking the switch back off then on again.
"Yeah, but who knows for how long."
"You think the water's still on too?" Caroline had to laugh softly at how hopeful the ex con sounded.
"Well, power's working, city has power, water might be on. Seen few zombies, this city hasn't been abandoned very long. Maybe got picked up by CEDA." Coach supplied, re-entering the foyer.
"That's…one theory." Nick replied, unconvinced, before disappearing back upstairs, no doubt to check the showers. Caroline smiled, shaking her head.
"Bed time. Now." Caroline announced before collapsing on the larger of two couches in the living room, toeing her shoes off, letting them fall to the floor with a soft thump. Everyone followed her lead and found somewhere to sleep. Ellis poked around in the kitchen a bit before moving into the living room, where he collapsed into a very uncomfortable looking chair. The living room was dark now, but Caroline noted, graciously, that Ellis had left the stove light on in the kitchen. It's light in her field of vision but not in her eyes.
"Ellis, babydoll, what're you doin'? You should find a bed, or take that other couch, at least." He looked over to her and smiled sheepishly, like he'd expected her to be asleep already.
"I'm alright, couch's probably to small anyhow. 'Sides, someone's gotta keep watch." Caroline sighed,
"Honey no one asked you to do that." He shrugged,
"Don't reckon I'd be able to sleep anyhow." Caroline bit her lip and shivered as an unexpected breeze blew through the room. She got an idea and looked to Ellis,
"Think you could keep watch from the couch?" He looked over at her, confused,
"Well yeah, but I ain't gonna-" She was up and out of the room before he could finish. She re-entered, a blanket in hand and pointed at the couch.
"Lay. Get comfy." Ellis chucked and rose from his chair.
With Ellis settled comfortably on the couch, Caroline squeezed next to him, her back to the room, facing him and the back of the couch. She closed her eyes, ready to settle down to sleep when she felt herself slowly slipping off the couch. She grabbed at his arm and started to pull herself back onto the couch when without warning Ellis grabbed her and rolled them over, putting her between himself and the back of the couch, chuckling at the small yelp she made when he did so. Caroline huffed softly,
"Warn me next time." She smiled softly though, and cuddled up to him, pulling the blanket she'd retrieved over them.
Now safe from the cold and of falling off the couch Caroline closed her eyes and let sleep over take her, but not before feeling the kiss Ellis pressed to her forehead.