A/N: So many awesome reviews! Thanks so much guys, I should be studying right now but I need the break, and I don't want to let my readers down. ;-) Really, you guys encourage me to write and I'm ecstatic that all of you enjoy the story!

As a side note, Morgan isn't exactly his character in the show, but it's just because of small things like not knowing how to use a gun. Other than those details I'll try to make him more in character. And his wife and son were killed, so he's all alone.

CHAPTER 7

GUNSHOTS

Rick pressed himself against the wall, feeling the heated stares of the two men behind him. Shane, who he knew was in love with him, and Morgan, who was aching for companionship in the worst ways. Rick wasn't oblivious to Morgan's sexual advances, although he pretended to be. Maybe if he wasn't so crazy about Shane, but not now. Now he was all for Shane.

"See anything?" Shane asked.

Rick looked back at the two men. No one's ever fight over him before. It was flattering but now really wasn't the time, especially since he was still dealing with Lori's death, and his feelings for Shane. Rick just shook his head in response to Shane's question. He moved around the corner, gun first, and started walking.

The other two followed as Rick walked into the opened space. There were no zombies. He exited the police station grounds and started walking on the street. He went there almost every day. It was hard to see his hometown so deserted. But that was better than it being overrun with zombies.

"It's the blue house at the end," Rick said. The house itself wasn't blue, but it had bright blue trimming that stood out. Shane knew exactly which house they were going to. He continued looking around for any foreign movement.

"Nice job, finding this house," Morgan said wistfully, and he patted Rick's shoulder. His fingers lingered, brushing down Rick's shoulder blade slowly, and Rick looked over his shoulder. He didn't notice Morgan, he noticed Shane glaring at Morgan's hand. And the walker behind Shane.

"Shit – Shane!" Rick cried.

Shane whirled around as the zombie fell on him, opening its mouth to take a bite out of him. Rick took aim and fired without a second thought, blowing the walker's head to bits. The rest of the body slumped down, completely and finally dead. After the deafening sound there was only complete silence as Shane gathered himself. It was a little too quiet, Rick decided, but he didn't regret his actions.

"That was close," he muttered. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," Shane said, brushing off the blood that spilled on him.

"Run," Morgan cried, shoving Rick towards the house.

"What?" Rick cried.

"The gunshot will attract them!" Morgan cried. "Loud noises attract them! Run, before they spot us!"

"Fuck!" Shane yelled, dashing towards the house. Rick and Morgan followed his lead, and as they reached the house they could hear the others coming. Shane threw the door opened and two rushed inside. Shane closed the door just as the first walker turned onto the street.

Rick watched from the window as the street slowly filled with a bunch of walkers. Shane finally pulled the curtain in place, putting his finger over his lips to tell Rick to be quiet. He then pointed towards the back of the house. Rick followed Shane and knew that while he watched the zombies Shane had familiarized himself with the layout of the house.

It was two story building. They decided it would be best to block up the exits and windows as best as they could and sleep down stairs, but close to the staircase just in case they had to make a quick getaway.

"I'm sorry, I wasn't paying attention," Shane said. "It's my fault you had to fire that gun. And now we're surrounded."

Rick shook his head. "Don't worry about it, it ain't your fault."

Shane nodded, looking away like he didn't believe Rick. Shane beat himself up a lot, and normally Rick could talk him out of it, but right now he couldn't. Right now as he could think about was being in the bathtub with Shane, kissing Shane, and a little about where he'd get his next meal from. In a couple hours he'd be more concerned about that.

"Maybe we should sleep now," Morgan said. "If we're quiet they won't bother us."

"Okay," Rick said softly.

-T-H-E- -W-A-L-K-I-N-G- -D-E-A-D-

Morgan was on his bed, his gun right beside him. He was turned away from Rick and was totally quiet. He'd been asleep for a while. Rick sat alone on his bed, watching Shane watch the walkers. As he stared at the muscles and curves of Shane's body his mind trailed off to Lori, and he felt awful for loving Shane as much as he did. During the many downs of his relationship with Lori he could always rely on Shane.

He reached up, feeling his lips with his fingertips. Kissing Shane was wonderful, it reminded him about what love really felt like. He missed being in love. He stopped feeling the love years ago. Lori just wouldn't give it to him, and slowly he forgot how amazing it could feel.

Shane reminded him with every touch. And even when they weren't touching Rick could feel it. Shane's jealousy, as unnecessary as it was, was comforting. It told Rick that Shane would fight for him, no matter what.

Suddenly there was something that sounded like gunshots in the distance. Rick was jolted out of his thoughts and Shane frantically looked out the window, but couldn't see anything. A few minutes later all was still, the zombies looking around in confusion.

"Other people?" Rick asked.

"Dead people…" Shane said. "The zombies are changing direction, moving towards the sound. Whoever fired that gun is in serious trouble."

"How long are you going to stay over there?" Rick asked.

Shane turned away from the window. He walked over to Rick slowly, kneeling down in front of the bed with his shotgun in his hand.

"Quiet, they're still right outside the door," Shane said. He smirked at Rick. "And I'm keeping guard. You should be asleep."

Rick looked away. He whispered, "I can't…"

"What?"

"I can't," Rick said. "I can't sleep… with you, Shane."

Shane gave him a sideways smile.

"I'm being serious," said Rick. "I just can't. When are you coming to bed?"

"I need to keep watch," Shane said softly.

"They're leaving. And besides, if we're quiet they won't bother us," Rick said, reaching out. His fingers brushed the front of Shane's shirt, not resting there but stroking Shane's chest, like Rick was both trying to pull away and maintain contain. Like he couldn't make up his mind what he wanted. "I…"

Shane put his hands over Rick's, letting his gun fall onto the bed. He pressed Rick's hands into his chest and closed his eyes, loving the closeness Rick's touch created. He opened his eyes and smiled at Rick.

"I can hardly focus when you're around," Shane said. "You… you distract me so much, Rick."

Shane leaned in closer, for a kiss, Rick knew it. He leaned back, but with his hands held firmly against Shane's chest he couldn't get too far away. Shane stopped moving in for a kiss, and instead looked at Rick's lips.

"It's Lori," said Rick.

"I know, you're still trying to get over the fact that she's dead," Shane murmured.

"No, I'm trying get over the fact that we fell out of love a long time ago," Rick said. "I'm trying to honor her life and the life of my son by taking my time with you."

Shane chuckled. "You're a good person, Rick. I love that about you."

I love you, Shane, Rick thought, but for some reason he couldn't put it into words. It just wasn't time yet. He stopped trying to pull away and just relaxed, letting his hands settle against Shane's chest. He felt Shane's speedy heartbeat underneath his hands.

"I've known that she was gone since I got out of that hospital bed," Rick said. "I just… didn't want to accept it. But I knew. I'm not sure that I accept it now, that my wife and my baby boy are gone…" He squeezed Shane's chest. "When I'm with you I want it to be special. I don't want you to be a distraction from my sadness."

There was a knock at the door that made both the men pause. At first they thought it was a mistake, maybe a zombie getting too close to the door, but there was a second distinct set of knocks. Shane pulled away and stood up, the shotgun in his hands. Morgan sat up and Rick's face turned red – had Morgan been awake the entire time?

Shane waked slowly towards the door as the knocking continued. He reached the window and looked outside.

"Who is it?" Rick asked.

"A human," Shane said evenly. He closed the window. "There aren't any walkers out there, just this guy."

Rick and Morgan both got out of bed, arming themselves and heading towards the door. The man knocked once more.

"What does he want?" Rick asked.

Suddenly the back door was kicked opened and four men came into the house, gun pointed. Rick, Shane, and Morgan turned around as the windows were shattered and more armed men came into the house, weapons drawn. They were instantly outnumbered. Rick was the first to lower his gun.

"Who the hell are you?" one of the men snapped. "And what are you doin' in my house?"

-T-H-E- -W-A-L-K-I-N-G- -D-E-A-D-

Continued…