Rochelle huffed as she waded through the sunk house, of course they wouldn't come with her. "Son of a bee sting!" She cursed as she stubbed her toe on something under water.

She continued walking, mumbling and growing more and more angry and determined with each step, the only thing she was grateful was that it was no longer raining.

She passed by everything with little to no resistence considering they had done all their damage the first time, she sighed as she climbed up to the wing of the plane, using her axe to kill the few zombies still stumbling about, one without his legs, he was crawling around the plane floor using his arms to pull him forward.

Rochelle pitied the dead man and with a single swing took his head of his shoulders.

She jumped down from the plane and into the cold swamp water.

She knew she was growing closer to the shack and with each step she started to go faster and faster, her inspiration; finding Nick and saving him.

She ran past the tub and the dock and up the stairs to the shack. She used her flashlight to look around, looking for her dearest but when she didn't find the white suit right away she began to panic, afraid Nick had fallen to the hands of reanimation, but one last glance earned her a reward.

Nick was still there, lying in the middle of the room, half hidden under other infected bodies. She let out a small squeak and ran to his body, pulling the other bodies off of him and pulling him out of the pile, laying him down in a 'clean' area in the small house.

She couldn't help but cry at the emotion running through her at seeing him again. Some were from relief he was still here, others at seeing how bad he looked made he want to mourn.

He had blood caked to his face and neck, his chest was covered in gashes but his eyes were what made her cringe the most. His face was just twisted in pain and fear, his beautiful green eyes frozen open in terror.

She pinched her own eyes closed and sighed.

She stroked his still damp hair from his face and prayed that this would work.

She pulled out the paddles, "Please work." She whispered.

She felt the shock run through the paddles and watched Nick jerk with the surge and held her breath. When they didn't work the first time she tried once more and this time it worked.

But with it came a surprise, just as Nick took his first breath he sat up with a jolt; at the same time there was a bang and a flash.

Rochelle lost all feeling in her body for a moment, her eyes wide in surprise. Slowly she brought her arms around Nick's neck, one hand clasping the nape of his neck; her fingers through his hair, and her other hand clutching his jacket.

Her feeling came back in a rush and she let out a choked cry at the pain that shot through her abdomen and up the rest of her body.

Nick felt numb as he drew the lines and figured out what had just happened; and what he had just done.

"R-Rochelle?" He rasped, wanting to pull away and see what he had done, but as his hands became slick with her warm blood, pulsing from her abdomen, he could feel the offending weapon still clutched in his hands; he wanted nothing more than to die once more. "Rochelle what… what…?"

Nick felt her soft skin on the side of his scruffy skin as she put the side of her face against his.

Rochelle pulled herself closer to him, not wanting to let go. "N-Nick… I-I love y-you."

Nick started to breath heavily from shock and emotion and pulled her away from him, cupping the back of her head and wrapping one arm around her waist; laying her down. "What…?" He cursed himself for not being able to say anything else.

Nick shook his head as he looked up and down her body, he's been in the buisness long enough to know that pulsing blood like this wasn't good. "Rochelle… you… you…. I…." He shook his head. He hated not knowing what to say.

Rochelle laughed, bring blood to her lips; it made her look rather morbid. "You always were… b-bad with words." She smiled, the blood staining her lips and teeth made Nick cringe.

"I'm so sorry Rochelle." He choked.

"I don't blame you… for this. I love…you." She rasped.

Nick stroked the side of her face gently. "I'm sorry Rochelle… I'm so so sorry." He whispered.

Rochelle rose her bloody hand to the side of her face. "I forgive you." She whispered back.

Nick felt his heart fall to his stomach as he closed his eyes, and leaned into her gentle touch.

"I love you Rochelle." He said quietly, grasping her hand and holding it to his cheek.

Rochelle grinned. "You too sweetie… I don't blame you… get back to the safehouse. Live for me."

"Sweetheart… I can't leave you here… not like this." He refused, shaking his head. "I can't."

"I didn't come here so you could die again." She said pathetically, coughing again, bringing up more blood.

"God Rochelle… you weren't supposed to come back.. none of this would have happened!" He said, starting to get more and more emotional and upset.

"Nick… please." She begged, making Nick's heart sink even lower.

"Rochelle… I…" When she looked like she wasn't going to have anymore argument on the matter he sighed, "I love you… so much."

She smiled. "I know."

He laid her down gently and kissed her lips gently, brushing her hair off her forhead and taking one last good look at her. "God I love you Rochelle… I promise to make the best of your sacrifice. I'm so sorry."

"I love you too… and I know. I forgave you… it was worth it. To see you again… it was worth it." She smiled as warmly as she could.

Nick nodded and kissed her forehead and stood up, walking away from the shack, the weight of the world on his shoulders.

He had just gotten to a path when suddenly a gunshot resounded in the empty swamp.

Nick fell to his knees in dismay. After a moment of total and complete anguish Nick stood with a new resolve, live for Rochelle.

X.x.X.x

There we go! All done.