After clearing out the bathroom cabinets and draws and placing all the medical supplies she could find into a bag, Violet's feet carried her to her brothers room.

She sat on the edge of the bed holding the only good family photo with her whole family in it. There was her mom, Rebecca, who looked exactly like their mother, their father, Justin who was just as handsome as their dad before her dad became an abusive alcoholic and then there was her, the perfect mixture of both her parents, as she had been told many time by her mother's side of the family.

She had her father's dainty nose and ears, his dark hair while she had her mother's olive skin, her blue eyes and her slightly pouted lips. She didn't have her mother's stick thin body. She was a healthy weight. She wouldn't be classed at fat but not skinny either. Her body type was much like her friend Alicia's but she didn't have the height. She also inherited her shortness from her mother. Her mom was only five ft two and a half. Violet was only half an inch taller at five ft three. She also inherited her mother's fiery, no bullshit attitude and her heart. Her mother was the sweetest, kindest, loveliest and most caring person anyone could meet. She would help anyone she could. She saw the best in people even when they were at their worst. Something Violet did now. Unfortunately she'd also inherited her father's temper, minus the violence, and stubbornness which made her terrible twos a lot more terrible.

As the thought of not having her family with her anymore hit her, she laid back on her brothers bed, clutching the photo to her chest and cried herself to sleep.

-x-x-x-

Violet shot up from the bed as a loud bang that sounded like a gun shot woke her from her dreamless sleep. She still clutched the photo of happier times in her hand. She picked up the back pack of medical supplies and slung it over her shoulder. Not wanting to leave the photo in her hand behind she took it with her as she left the house going back over to the Clark's residence.

As soon as she walked inside she was swooped up into a tight hug by Nick, surprising her. Only a while ago he was squirming on the couch going through withdrawals. No he seemed okay. A little shaken up but okay.

"I'm glad you weren't here." He said when he pulled back enough to look at her. "but I was also worried."

"what happened? Did it have to do with the loud bang?" she questioned wondering why he seemed on edge.

As they walked further into the house, she could feel the tension between everyone. She looked around at each person noticing three people she's never seen before.

Before she could ask who they were, she could feel what she had for breakfast coming back up to greet her when she saw the sight of a do who had his guts hanging out and Mr. Dawson laying dead on the floor not far from the dog. His flesh was deathly pale, while blood covered the lower half of his gave, his hands and clothing.

Nick guided her to the bathroom where she emptied her stomach contents. Nick stayed with her holding her hair back with one hand and rubbed her back with the other, soothing her as best he could. For once the roles had been reversed.

"He looked like Gloria did," she whispered when nothing more was coming up. She sat back on her knees. She was looking in Nick's direction but wasn't looking at him. "what's happening?"

"I don't know," Nick shrugged. "all I know is, is when they die, they come back but they're not alive. They're dead."

Violet burst into tears hearing what Nick said. He quickly gathered her in his arms as she cried into his shoulder. He held her close and ran a hand through her hair. This was one thing she always loved about Nick. He didn't judge you or question you about anything. If you were being silly, he'd be silly with you. If you were laughing at the most ridiculous thing he'd laugh with you. If you were having a rough day, he'd do anything to cheer you up. If you didn't want to talk about something, he wouldn't ask you about it only letting you know if you needed to talk he'd be there. Just like right now, instead of questioning why she was upset, he just let her cry it out. He knew she'd tell him when she was ready.

"He's gone," she kept sobbing over and over again. "he'll be one of those things."

"Who?" Nick asked.

"Justin, he called and he was really sick and he died while I was talking to him. He died. He's gone. He's like Mr. Dawson and Gloria." She rambled as her tears started to dry and breathing became a little more even.

"Let's go into my room. Someone may need the bathroom." Nick said and helped her stand up.

"I need to brush my teeth." She told him.

He found a toothbrush still in its packaging and opened it. He handed it to her. "I'll be in my room."

"No stay," she grabbed hold of the old man's coat he was wearing, stopping him from leaving her alone. "I... I can't be alone right... right now."

"Okay." Nick nodded and sat on the edge of the bathtub while she brushed her teeth.

When she was done, he stood up and took her hand leading her to his bedroom. As she looked around she saw nothing had changed. There were still dirty clothes on the floor, posters on the wall that had been there since he was 15, his bed was a mess of sheets and blankets. She watched as he rushed around his room moving things and roughly making his bed.

Once he was done he sat on the bed. She moved to sit next to him.

"You know you're not alone," he told her, taking her hand in his again.

"My mom and sister died years ago, God knows where my father is and I just lost Justin." She sighed. "I am alone."

"You have us," Nick reminded her.

"Me, Mom, and Alicia. We're your family too. We've always been your family."

She moved away from him and stood up, glaring at him. "Have you?"

Nick kept quiet knowing what she meant.

"You're mom and Alicia have, but you? You haven't thought about anyone but yourself when you've been on the drugs. We've hardly spoken to each other the last few years because you've been getting high. The only time we had a half decent conversation was when you were clean!" Her voice was getting louder as she continued to speak. "I want to hate you but I can't! I can't just forget that you were my best friend for most of our childhood. I want to be rid of you but I can't because you, you idiot, I care for you too much. I don't want to but I do!"

"I know and I'm sorry. I'm going to get clean for good this time." He told her. "I'm going to do it."

"I want to believe you," she sighed sitting back down next to him. "I'm sorry about that. I'm just confused and lost and hurting right now."

"We all are." Nick pulled her to him and kissed the top of her head. He moved so they were laying down, his head on the pillow and her head resting on his shoulder. He held her close as she clung to his shirt. Just like before, it felt like before they drifted apart. Before the drugs.

-x-x-x-

Once again Violet didn't very well, her dreams plagued with the image of her brother turning into whatever Gloria and Mr. Dawson turned into. Each time she woke up she was still in Nick's arms. She hadn't moved an inch from him. A sense of calm and safety washed over her whenever she was near him.

Looking at Nick, seeing him still asleep, she untangled herself from him the best she could without waking him up, knowing trying to go back to sleep was a waste of time.

Walking out of the bedroom she met Alicia in the hallway. "Shower's free if you want one." She told Violet.

"Okay," she said. She grabbed a towel and went into the bathroom. She turned on the shower and went back out of the bathroom to get one of her bags. She pulled out a set of underwear, a pair of jeans shorts and her Doors t-shirt before going back into the bathroom.

After her shower she quickly got dressed, found her hair brush and brushed her hair. She went into the kitchen to see Nick was now awake, eating breakfast.

He held the box of cereal towards her. She shook her head declining the offer. "I'm not hungry."

"You need to eat." He told her.

"How are you feeling?" She asked not wanting to talk about herself.

"I'm fine. Mom gave me some medicine." He finished eating and put his bowl in the sink.

"Where is Maddie?" She asked.

"Getting her and Travis' shit together to put into the car." He answered.

"Where are we going?"

"The desert, away from everyone and everything."

"Do they even know if it's safe?" She whispered just loud enough for him to hear. "We don't know if anywhere is safe."

"No one is out in the desert." Nick whispered back.

"That doesn't mean it's safe." She frowned.

"Then where do you suggest we go? Should we just stay here?" He frowned in return.

"I don't know!" She sighed exasperated. "We don't know what's happening. No one is saying anything."

"I know but we'll be fine."

"Nick! Go get in the car." Madison's voice drifted from the front door.

"You'll be right behind us right?" Nick asked as they walked out of the house. Violet nodded and walked to her car. She got in and waited for everyone to start driving.

As Madison followed behind Travis and his family, Violet followed behind Madison who had Alicia and Nick with her. It wasn't long before Madison done a u-turn, turning back and driving to the front of their neighbours home. Violet followed and parked behind her, getting out of her car. She heard Madison calling out to Patrick, their neighbour who's wife always use to baby sit her, Alicia and Nick when they were younger.

"What's going on?" She asked.

"Patrick's home." Was all he said.

She went after Madison and stood behind her as Patrick went to embrace his wife. She looked like she was trying to eat him when the sound of a gun shot rang through the air and both Patrick and Susan fell to the ground. Violet's eyes were wide with disbelief as soldiers came into the area their guns pointed towards the sweet Asian couple.