Sorry for the delay in writing this... Heres chapt. 2!


The room the survivors were led to smelled like bleach and other chemicals used in a hospital. The gurney beds were hard and covered in stiff, starched sheets and thin pillows. There were no windows, just the beds, and some medical equipment that Ellis couldn't identify. He watched as both Nick and Ro were led to each of their own gurneys as men in hospital smocks approached and handed over gowns to change into. He watched intently as a scowl appeared on Nick's handsome face. Before the curtains around their beds were pulled closed, he met the gamblers green eyes, worry flashing behind them before his head dipped in a nod.

With his view obscured, Ellis turned his attention to the male nurse before him. He set a pair of starched shorts and a gown on the bed next to Ellis, gesturing for him to undress as he asked questions of Ellis' physical state and experience. His body ached, but he did as told and took off his towtruck hat, setting it out of reach of the attendant before peeling off his tattered, stained sleeves of his coveralls, standing carefully, testing his achy leg before kicking out of the material.

"Hi, my name is David, and I will be performing a routine examination and evaluation of you for the safety of the community okay? We will be tending to any wounds that you may have incurred and answer any questions to the best of our ability," the nurse paused while Ellis stumbled a little, pulling up the shorts over her nude ass, looking down at the small sheet of information that was gathered when they were picked up, "First question Ellis, are you feeling any pain?"

The mechanic nodded, "Got real friendly with the bumper of a car to the back o' my head earlier, then a Hunter pounced me." The nurse set aside the clipboard and tilted Ellis' head down, carefully examining the area. He eyed the mechanic's head then moved to write some information on the papers.

"Looks like that hat there protected your head from getting cleaved open, you have no bleeding, just swelling under the skin, you may end up with a bit of a shiner by morning. We'll get you an ice pack and something to take care of the pain. Is there anything else?"

Again the mechanic nodded. "I got a world of hurt in my leg here," he gestured to his left leg, "It hurts when I stand all the way on it," he paused, "What's happenin' here? What's gonna happen to my friends? Where are we?" As he continued, his expression turned fearful, the attending nurse waited patiently, examining his leg until Ellis quieted.

"It looks like you have just overextended a muscle, possibly sprained the joint. As for the rest of your questions; you are in a quarantine zone in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, A town called Naubinway. The virus has not extended this far north fortunately. You and your friends will come to no harm, but we will have to do extensive testing to be sure that you are not carriers of the virus." Ellis stayed uncharacteristically quiet as he absorbed the information. A yelp from Rochelle made the younger man jump to his feet in alarm.

Wincing he moved to rush to Rochelle's aid but the nurse stepped in his path of escape. "Please sit, she is fine, they are probably cleaning her wounds and taking samples of blood." The nurse's placating didn't seem to ease Ellis' worry.

He glared at David the yelled to Rochelle, "Ro! Are you okay?"

Her response came quickly, "Yes sweetie, the nurse is- Sonnuva bee sting!" He could hear Nick's chuckle as she hissed, "They are cleaning my cuts El, they sting is all." Tempered, Ellis sighed in relief and sit on the bed again. The nurse cleaned his wounds and bandaged anything that needed cover. He gave a prescription of Vicodin, and finished his evaluation.

Ellis remained still on the bed as his nurse readied an IV and three vials to take samples of his blood for testing. He also set out a small cup for a urine sample. The mechanic bit his slightly swollen lip anxiously, shrapnel having nicked his lip in the fight across the bridge. Ellis watched the man move mechanically, noting everything and cleaning his hands and replacing his gloves. The nurse turned back to the battered mechanic, peeling open a cleansing packet.

"I need to clean your arm and take some blood and urine, and we will be all done here. Could you lay back for me and relax your arm?" Ellis nodded and climbed up onto the starchy sheets and laid back, staring up at the light fixtures above his cot while the nurse cleaned the apex of his inner elbow. He wrapped a large rubber band around his arm tightly, eliciting a hiss from the mechanic. Ellis allowed his mind to drift as the needle embedded into his vein, making his heart rush slightly.

Ellis turned his head and stared at the curtain separating his view from Nick. He knew the conman would have some sort of dismissive snarl on his face as he was poked and prodded. Nick was a very private man. To be treated like some sort of test subject would be an indignity to the gambler. He tried to imagine Nick as the man he once was, instead of this broken and disheveled man. He pictured Nick's suit pristine and ironed. The gold rings on his fingers glimmering as the light hit the small gems embedded in them. He could see the smoothly shaved jaw, sharp eyes and slicked hair. Nick was the kind of man that could charm the panties off of a Nun.

He was shaken from his thoughts by the nurse who inquired for a urine sample. David left Ellis momentarily to do his business and returned moments later to collect the samples. Ellis sat on the bed, once more feeling empty when a hand rested on his shoulder. He glanced up, his face lighting up into a smile, pale blue eyes meeting green as the conman joined him on his cot.

"How are you doin, sport?" Nick inquired teasingly. Ellis chuckled lightly as Rochelle entered the curtained room. The smile on her face did not reach her eyes as she was pulled closer to her two companions for a tight, group hug. Both Ellis and Ro became weepy, tears leaking from their eyes and they held each other. Nick sucked in a deep breath and circled his arms around the two, deciding in Coach's absence, he would have to take the position of their personal rock. Rochelle clung to Ellis as she wept. The mechanic lifted his eyes to meet Nick's, leaning into him, the conman's fingers threading through the tousled sandy locks of the boy.

The three remaining survivors were led to showers and provided clean, plain clothing. They each took turns enjoying the hot water and generous amounts of soap, nearly scrubbing their bodies raw where not injured. Both Nick and Ellis were clad in plain white tank tops and grey sweat pants. Rochelle was given a grey tee shirt to match her grey sweats. They were all provided with socks and white tennis shoes. The only hint of color in the group was Ellis' favorite hat that he took with him into the shower to clean the months of grime, blood and rancid bile from. Nick shook his head in amazement when the boy returned with the damp cap on his wet hair, but was relieved the boy was granted that semblance of comfort. The three were escorted to a waiting room of sorts to await their instructions and results from the tests to confirm their immunity.

Rochelle nearly cried when she saw news streaming on a closed circuit television. She watched the screen intent to absorb as much as possible. Nick discovered a deck of cards in the bookshelf and was patiently teaching Ellis how to play Texas Hold'em. He moved to crouch behind the mechanic, one hand on the younger man's muscled shoulder, the other pointing to card in the boy's hand, murmuring in his ear instructions. Ellis had a hard time concentrating on the instructions with the gambler's proximity so close to his own. A flush crawled up his neck, tingeing his ear and cheek. He was mesmerized by Nick's lips nearly brushing his right ear, his warm breath teasing the soft curls of his hair that stuck out beneath his cap.

Nick paused, sensing the shift in attention from the younger man. He noticed the red tinge in the younger man's flesh. He stopped talking, diverting his attention to Rochelle, checking to see if she were still engrossed in the television. Content that she was not observing the two, he tilted his head gently, wetting his chapped lips as he leaned in closer, the smooth skin of the mechanic's heated neck made Nick's mouth water as he pressed his lips into the hollow just below his ear. He felt Ellis stiffen momentarily before nearly melting back into the conman, the boy's own soft, dry lips parting in a soft gasp.

Before Nick could get any closer, the door keeping them in the waiting room opened, three men stepping into the room. One appeared to be a Doctor, the other two were soldiers. Three sets of eyes fell on the clipboard in the doctor's hands before glancing at one another, Nick having straightened as the two's moment was shattered. The gambler's heart seemed to accelerate in his chest, a look of alarm and distrust on his face as he eyed the two soldiers.

The doctor picked up what looked like two ID badges on lanyards and handed them both to Nick and Ellis. As Ellis looked at his own badge, he noticed that all of his important information was on it. There was also a barcode. While distracted, two more soldiers entered the room. Nick narrowed his eyes, noticing that Rochelle did not receive a badge. Then, all at once a commotion erupted when the two newest guards lifted the protesting reporter by the arms and began to escort her from the room. The two men went up in arms and tried to rescue their fellow survivor, fearing the unknown.

Over all of the noise and swinging fists, the doctor's voice rang out, loud and clear, "PLEASE! Please calm down!" Nick had been pinned to the ground, Ellis was still struggling to break free of the hold a soldier had on him. "If you would please calm down, I can explain!"

"What the FUCK, man!" Nick spat angrily, feebly struggling from the floor.

The doctor wasted no time, "Please, Miss Aytes needed more testing, she is just fine. And she will be fine and returned to you soon!" He glanced down at the clipboard and back at the two men who glared at him. The soldier pinning Nick, helped the man to his feet, but did not release him. The doctor continued, "There was a complication, an anomaly in her tests, so we have to be sure."

"Have ta' be sure 'bout what, exactly?" Ellis managed through his clenched jaw.

"We have to be sure that her fetus is not a carrier of the disease." Both men were stunned to silence, Ellis' jaw hung open as opposed to Nick's clenching. "Once we are sure that the infant is not a carrier, and her safety is confirmed, we will happily return her to you both. You all are the future of the Human race, so is the child she bears."

Both men's eyes met in stunned silence, their bodies relaxed, assuring the soldiers that they were defeated, they were released. In a daze, the soldiers escorted them from the quarantine building to the inner city, assigning them a temporary residence in one of the many trailers, which contained all the necessities. There were dozens of people who came out to greet the newcomers, congratulating and welcoming them. The guard opened the door to a small trailer that opened to a small living space.

The two were left alone in their small residence, sitting around a small table in the dim lights. Ellis looked up at Nick with disbelief in his eyes. A streak of mischief flashed in the pale blue before he commented, "Damn man, why'd ya have ta' go and get her pregnant?" Nick looked at the younger man indignantly, a hard look in his eyes. The look softened when he spied the crooked smile on the mechanic's soft lips. The look turned to lust as he remembered where they were in the waiting room.


Just a note, I got the last names from the voice actors of the characters. So it is sort of my tribute to them to pair their last names with the characters they gave life too.

Eric Ladin: As Ellis

Rochelle Aytes: As Rochelle

Hugh Dillon: as Nick

Thanks for reading and reviewing!

XOXO