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I'm still continuing due to lack of reviews – hope you like this next chap!

Rated T

Drama / Adventure / Friendship

Zoey & Bill

English

Alive

Chapter Seven

He pulled a cigarette out of the packet. His replenished load, his new pack was only four already gone, but he couldn't help but embellish the fact he was glad he could rest for five minutes without the possibility of being torn apart just so he could stop and take a drag.

Five healthy survivors in place of one cigarette.

He couldn't complain.

They had been so glad to see them and their truck mowing through a few dozen infected like they were bowling pins. The headlights on the big armoured truck blared down the street before they could even see the group of huddled humans. Their obvious leader wielding the only loaded guns they had, his face highlighted by the bright lights. The others either cowering behind their leader survivor or facing the opposite way with a crude form of weapon – either a crowbar or baseball bat.

He, they had rescued them anyhow. As well as finding a whole load of goodies in the meantime before finding the lucky few.

**f

Of course she felt relieved. Heh, she'd be mad not to. The now fresh and thankful faces of the poor bastards he'd brought back made the relieve a little all the more clearer. But leaving her in the first place. That was still gnawing away in a part of her head.

Betrayal of his own team? Jealousy, fear of him? That he had taken under his wing some more vulnerable people. That he had left them and may not have returned to look over them. Her.

Sat with her legs crossed and her arms folded over herself, one holding a steaming cup of cocoa. If she had had the other brown beverages available, she might just fine well throw the mug at the now returned and hardly dishevelled Bill.

Francis busied himself across from her, oblivious with her thoughts running rampart through her head, with what now she saw to be a pack of cards. Each with a scantily dressed woman sporting different types of underwear on the more valuable cards.

She rolled her eyes and sighed so he'd notice.

"What? Gotta do somethin' to pass the time."

Zoey realised he was playing a game of solitaire. "The rest of you have jobs, but no job for my poor old ass, nah! After being scratched, bitten, kicked and puked on you'd think they'd let me guard their sorry asses. " He laid down a six of hearts.

"I know. That's gotta suck. I've been so preoccupied with my task, I forgot to ask you about yours."

"Managed to see to Louie though, didn't ya?" Did he sound jealous, pissed off? Or was it her mind?

"That was different. I needed a word with him... and don't be such an ass." If you can help it. She moved her head to the side and sat up straight.

Zoey took a sip from her mug. "Where'd ya get them from?"

"Where'd ya think?" He retorted back. Francis jerked a thumb at where the new survivors once stood, the space now occupied with a mix of soldiers and medical or science personnel. They were all wearing lab coats. It was hard to tell the two kinds apart.

"They brought back tons of stuff. Some of it is cool." He sounded a little taken aback. The anger no longer present.

Zoey got up from the chair, seeing perhaps she should go act excited at the stuff the team brought back too.

Francis called to her before she could get to the group of growing interested people.

She turned back at him, seeing him still interested in his card game. "Just give him a few days, alright? Then you can both kiss and make up. Or come to blows, whatever the two of you need to do." Francis folded his tattooed arms as he spoke to the young female. He scratched his head, his fingers brushing through the barely-there hair as he wore a brutish expression nearly as hard as his leather waistcoat.

Zoey feigned a confused look but Francis just returned his interest to the 2D babes on the table.

"He'll be tired as hell and not up to dealing with your personal crap. It'll give you a while to think up what you're gonna say, too."

Francis looked up at her, throwing a smirk at the people surrounding the box, glad he got first pickings. "Don't look at me like that, everyone knows you've been not yerself. Upset or somethin' since he went away." He placed a blonde in a bikini onto one of the strips.

"How did you-"

Their eyes met over the coffee cups and hot babe playing cards.

"Darlin', I've been along side ya for somethin' short of a month. Can tell what you're feeling. Might take a while but I can always venture a guess." He finished, narrowing his hazel eyes.

"Wow, Francis. Didn't know you knew such a word." Louis smirked and insulted so blatantly even Zoey let out a laugh.

"Excuse me! You inferrin' I'm stupid or somethin'?" He fisted his hands on the table.

"Ooh, another biggie, Francis. Be careful not to tire yourself out." Louis continued. "And no, Francis. I'm suggesting. You're inferring."

Francis jutted his chin out in dismissal and pulled out a card from the pack.

Zoey then noticed the bundle that Louis was carrying. Her eyes went to the size of golf balls and had to stop herself from near enough salivating about what could be possible.

"They... ah, they bought back clothes?"

Louis looked down to what he had forgotten he was holding. "Yup. Go find yourself some presents before they're all picked over."

"Hey, Zoey?!" Francis creepily called to her.

She looked back to find him to find the man in question smiling at either himself or the card he was holding in his gloved hand. He turned to around to reveal a brunette in sultry underwear. "She looks like you!"

She took his word for it.

With a glare and a downing of her warm cocoa, Zoey made her way for the brought back goodies of Bill and the Army guys, muttering under her breath her thoughts on the playing card.

Zoey reached the crate of items. She immediately snatched up some clothes that looked to be her size – some jeans, t-shirts and bed wear. There was some pain medication, snack food and torches. Among other things and some other items that would've been taken by the personnel that swarmed over it like moths to a flame.

Taking a torch and a tub of pain meds, just in case the aching in her arm starts up again – though she'd rather it wouldn't – she made her way back to two of her team, Bill probably getting some shut-eye and Sam will join them soon as she'd done her job for the day. Looking back at the men at the table, who were seemed to be playing a competitive card game, she walked over to the pair knowing that the afternoon meal will be being served shortly. Afterwards, Zoey planned on telling Bill all that happened since his absence and how she felt regarding she temporary leave.

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