"We have to fight them. That's our only option."

"We've never done that many at once! We'd never make it. We are all in desperate need of rest, food, water, and medical attention. Ellis is barely able to walk anymore, and neither is Infinity. I feel like complete and total shit… the only two people who could actually take on anything right now is Coach and you Rochelle. But with that many zombies… it would never work."

They all remained silent, all of them thinking on what Nick had said.

"How many pipe bombs do we have?"

"Well Ah found some earlier…. Before Nick was pounced on." They all had to think about that for a second. It seemed so long ago, it was funny that this was where it all started.

"How many is "some" Ellis?"

"Like… 6?"

"No shit! Okay… we can do this! I've got two…. Does any one else have some?" Infinity's plan seemed like it might work.

"I've only got one…" Coach mentioned.

"So we got 9…" Infinity stood, putting Monica back on the floor next to her sister, and went over to the back window and looked out.

"Pipe bombs attract dozens of zombies to even just one… since we have 9…. Combined with our average firepower…. Guys we can do this!"

Ellis pulled out his bag and handed two to Nick and two to Rochelle.

"Infinity…." Rochelle spoke up. Infinity turned and looked at her.

"Stay here with the kids. Nick, Ellis, Coach, and I can handle them on our own. We have the pipe bombs and stuff… but you gotta stay here and protect the kids. They all trust you the most, you can keep them safe AND calm."

Infinity looked to the boys all sitting up front, when they all nodded in agreement she said,

"Okay. Call if you need me though."

"Only if we're desperate." Coach said.

Infinity nodded.

The four left the vehicle into the mass of undead. As Infinity listened to the gun shots, and the warnings of a pipe bomb, the screams of fear or surprise she closed her eyes shut and prayed that they would make it out alive.

"Last pipe bomb!"

Infinity crossed her fingers, praying that this bomb would finish off the zombies that were trying to kill her friends. Monica was crying softly into her chest while the other just huddled around her, Marie included.

"You're going to be okay…" She assured them. "We…" Suddenly she heard Rochelle scream.

"Infinity! We're getting slaughtered! Help!"

"Rochelle…." She trailed off. She looked at the children clinging to her in fear. "I have to help them."

"No you can't!" Alex cried.

"Alexandria, she has to. Her friends said themselves they wouldn't call her unless it was absolutely necessary." Marie reasoned.

"I… WILL. Be. Back. I promise. Do not open this door. Do not come out. Do not even look out a window, until I come back. Do you understand?"

They all nodded.

"Words. I need words." She kissed the top of Monica's head.

"We won't leave, or look out the windows until you come back for us." Matt said.

Infinity looked to the others and they all repeated the same thing to her.

"Alright, I have to go but I will be back. I promise."

With that she lowered Monica to the ground with the others, grabbed her shot gun, and put her hand on the door handle. She looked back at the children one last time before she opened the door and flew out. She slammed the door shut, and got ready for battle. Rochelle looked like she was about to pass out, Nick and Ellis were both already on the ground being pummeled until death, and Coach was kicking zombie ass.

"Rochelle!" She shouted. The young women turned towards her as Infinity threw an adrenaline shot her way.

Rochelle caught it and immediately pumped it through her system.

Infinity turned back around towards where both Nick and Ellis laid. "Pipe bomb!" She warned.

She threw it down an empty road and prayed that would lure any remaining zombies away from Nick and Ellis. Over half of the zombies there total left for the bomb, leaving Nick and Ellis alone. She turned back to Rochelle who had fallen. She picked off the last remaining "sonsofbitches" that were still trying to beat Rochelle to her death and then went to Coach to help him.

She ran up and shot at any zombies that were lagging behind and screamed at the others, "Hey you bastards! Come and get it!" She threw another pipe bomb away from her and the others. As the bomb soared through the air and rolled on the ground all the remaining zombies ran after it, leaving Coach and Infinity to help their friends.

Infinity ran over to Ellis.

"Ellis, hon, wake up." She didn't have any medical supplies left, she couldn't properly help him right now.

She about smacked herself when she remembered they had come in a MEDICAL vehicle. Then she remembered what…. WHO was IN the vehicle. She turned around leaving Ellis where he was and opened the back doors.

"Hey kiddos. We're safe now. Marie? You ready to go be with your dad?"

Marie nodded vigorously.

"Good. Now hold on. My friends are pretty beat up. I'm gonna help them real quick kay?"

She grabbed the essential medical supplies and headed towards Rochelle and Coach were, both trying to revive their companions, Rochelle must not have been too bad.

"Hey! I got some medical supplies this should…" Infinity stopped dead in her tracks, her voice trailing off.

Rochelle and Coach stopped their work on the two's injuries, both of them alert and listening.

"Oh hell no." Coach said.

"Can we never get a break?" Rochelle whined.

"Ro, get the kids. Coach, grab Nick I'll help bring Ellis up. We need to get in that apartment room now!"

Rochelle immediately got up and went for the kids.

"C'mon sweeties. We gotta go now. Let's go meet Marie's dad, hm?" Infinity heard Rochelle talking to the kids.

Coach wrapped Nicks arm around his neck and then put his own arm around the injured mans waist for support and half dragged half carried Nick up to the flat.

Infinity did the same only with much less ease, Ellis was light but he wasn't that light. However the sound of a Tank rampaging, seemingly, towards them sped her pace up.

Once she reached the stairs she heard Rochelle banging on the door yelling for Ruiz to let them in.

"Mister Ruiz! We have your daughter! Please let us in! We have a Tank coming up on us! Let us in!" Rochelle tried banging on the door, and then tried to wriggle the door handle to open it.

The Tank was getting closer.

"RUIZ LET US IN!"

"Daddy let us in!" Marie yelled.

"Rochelle just blow the damn door!" Infinity screamed in panic. She didn't do it often, but there were children here and half of their usual group was unconscious.

Rochelle told Marie and the others to stand back and cover their ears as she pulled out her shot gun. Rochelle aimed the barrel at the door knob and pulled the trigger.

The rampaging Tank could be heard and sounded as if he was already here.

"Open the door Rochelle!" Rochelle kicked the door in and ushered the children in followed by Coach and Infinity carrying the two unconscious men. Rochelle followed up rear and closed the door.

"Help me barricade it shut!" Rochelle shouted as she started moving tables and chairs in front of the door. By the time the three of them, plus some help from the children, the door had tables and chairs all stacked in front of the door. For extra measure Infinity put a pop can on top of the large pile of furniture.

Infinity looked around. "Where's Marie?" She asked.

Rochelle looked up from her work on Nicks arm. "She came in! I watched her come in!" She said and jumped to her feet.

"Marie! Marie?" Infinity shouted through the apartment.

"Marie!" Rochelle echoed.

"Infinity! Help me! Daddy's hurt!" Marie's voice came from within the apartment.

"Where are you?"

"I'm in the bathroom!"

Infinity ran through the surprisingly large apartment looking from the bathroom. She passed it up the first time only turning back because Marie yelled for her.

Infinity entered the bathroom to be met with Ruiz on the floor with blood staining his lips and cheek, Marie sitting next to his side holding his hand.

"What's wrong with him?" Marie asked, her voice sounded broken and tired.

"I don't know honey… lemme have a look at him." Marie moved out of the way so that she could get a good look at her father.

Ruiz was a handsome man. Infinity was no good at profiling but she guessed he was a business man. He was dressed in a blue button down shirt with black slacks on. His sleeves were rolled up to the middle of his forearm, Infinity made note of the simple gold band on his left ring finger.

Infinity first bent over the man's mouth to make sure he was breathing. When she found he was she checked his pulse, it was dangerously weak and slow. She unbuttoned his shirt and pressed areas of his chest, looking to see if there could be possible damage to his lungs. She didn't feel any broken bones or see any bruising.

"I don't know what's wrong with him Marie. Try talking to him." She suggested. "Maybe your voice will… I don't know… wake him up. Maybe he'll recognize you."

Marie nodded and moved closer to her father's head.

"Daddy, it's me. It's Marie. I'm here. I'm safe. Daddy wake up. You can't die Daddy, I need you. Please wake up."

Ruiz mumbled.

"Daddy?"

"Marie?" He didn't open his eyes but his voice and words were clear.

"Daddy it's me. Open your eyes."

Ruiz opened his eyes and looked at his daughter. Quicker than a blink Marie and Ruiz were embracing tightly. Infinity smiled, glad that these two still had each other. It was the sweetest sight she'd ever seen since this apocalypse came about.

"Infinity?" Rochelle was in the door way. The two family members still embracing and crying tears of absolute joy and releasing any fears they had had.

"Yes?"

"Um. Ellis is awake…." She started. "Nick is too. But I just thought you'd wanna know."

"Thanks Ro. I'll be there in a sec."

Rochelle nodded and left.

"Mr. Ruiz. I'm sorry but can you tell me… are you sick?"

"No. I'm not infected."

"Okay. I was just wondering."

"Why?" He sounded a little impatient.

"Well. You were unconscious on the bathroom floor. And you had blood coming from your mouth, as if you had coughed it up or… or something."

"I feel fine… and I haven't been bitten." He sounded more understanding now.

"Okay. Well I'd like to have a look at you properly then… later. I'm a nurse. But I have to go check up on my friends."

He nodded and then looked back at his daughter and embraced her again. She left the two and went back out into the living room, immediately greeted by two small girls with pigtails.

Kneeling down she hugged both of them at the same time. Matt came over quietly and she gave him a hug too.

"How are you guys holding up?" She asked, scooping up Monica and heading over to one of the two couches, the recliner seat already occupied by the large and extremely tired Coach; Nick, Rochelle and Ellis nowhere to be seen.

"I'm tired."

"I'm hungry."

"I'm tired AND hungry." Matt said spreading his arms out and grinning.

Infinity was relieved that they still complained and they still smiled. They were still children.

"Well how about we see to it you all get some dinner and then some well deserved and need sleep."

All kids nodded their heads, the girls pig tails bouncing around with each nod.

Left4Dead

Infinity smiled as she tucked in the three children. All of them had eaten their fill of cereal, muffins, and cookies. They had guzzled water, apple juice, and milk. Not the healthiest but it got food in them, and it got them hydrated. That's all she cared about it. The three of them all snuggled together, she had brushed through the girls hair taking the pigtails out.

They were all asleep in no time.

She left the children to the master bed, in the other room were two twin sized beds where nick and Rochelle bunked up. Ruiz took the sofa bed with Marie, Coach had already been asleep in the recliner by the time the others were ready to sleep.

Ellis was already on the other couch. She thought about going back to the masters to sleep, that way she could keep an eye on the kids too.

She was turning around when a sleep deprived Ellis spoke out.

"Infinity? That you?" Ellis asked. The darkness of the apartment was ridiculous. They had pretty much boarded up the whole place to make sure no zombies just broke through the glass and tore them all apart. So there was no light from the outside, their only source was the flashlights but since they were all sleeping most were off but one as a nightlight, provided for the children.

"Yah it's me." She replied.

"Where you sleeping at?"

"I was gonna sleep with the kids."

"Oh… Okay."

"Why?"

"Oh. Well, uhm, Ah was gonna see if you wanted ta sleep here."

"On the couch?"

"Yah."

"With you still in it?" Her voice was low and husky.

"Erm… well. That all depends on you." He replied, not wanting to go any further than she was willing.

"Hm." She didn't say anything further, instead he listened as she shuffled away until he couldn't hear her walking anymore.

Ellis groaned, he said the wrong thing. Did she think he wasn't interested in her now? Had he been too cautious? Truth be told, he was VERY interested in her. She was funny, brave, tough, and caring. She was like the ultimate gal. Frankly, if they survived this he wanted nothing more than to try some sort of relationship with her. But if he kept putting his foot in his mouth she would never…

His thoughts were interrupted when he heard footsteps padding down the carpeted floor. This made him smile for two reasons, one that there was actually a place with carpet still rather than tile or wood, and two she was coming back.

"I had to find a blanket." She whispered.

"Great cus Ah was getting chilly."

"Well I can't sleep without a blanket anyway. When I sleep I always have to be covered by a blanket, even if I'm already like dying from heat."

"Ah see."

There was quiet shuffling then suddenly a loud thud.

"OW!" She whispered harshly. "Dang it!" There was shuffling and then suddenly there was a stream of light pointing at the floor.

"Damn table," She muttered, moving around the coffee table which had somehow escaped being used in the barricade. Using the flashlight to make sure she didn't run into anything else she continued her way towards him. Ellis could see that she had actually changed and let her hair down. Her hair was rather long, the length going down past her shoulders. It was brushed out, and looked beautiful. As a stray bang escaped the confines of being behind her ear she blew it out of her face and finished making her way towards the couch he was lying on.

"Where'd you get the clothes?" He asked.

She laid down next to him as he made room on the couch, his back pressed against the back of the couch, his head laying on top of the armrest but cushioned by the pillow Rochelle had brought him. She Nestled next to him, her back pressed up against his chest her head resting on his arm. She brought the covers over the two of them after she asked if he wanted any.

Once they were settled she answered his question and turned off the flashlight.

"There are some women's clothing in the master bedroom. The clothes were my size, so I thought "why not?" and threw them on. There were kids clothes too, fit the kids good. Only there isn't any boy clothes, poor Matt doesn't have comfy clothes…." She trailed off as she yawned.

"I'll have to find a store and get some clothes for them all before we head off again." She continued, "Probably get some extra groceries too. There's a lot of food here, but not enough for all of them to last a good amount of time."

"We'll get it done."

They were silent for a while and Ellis wondered if she had fallen asleep.

"How are you feeling?" That answered that question.

"Feeling better, Ah took some painkillers and what not. So Ah should be good now. Ma leg still bothers me now and again, but ma chest isn't nearly as bad as it was before. How are you feeling?"

"I'm glad you're doing better. You were looking pretty bad there for a while."

"Ah have a good doctor."

"You referring to me or Ro?" She asked.

"You of course. Rochelle was smothering Nick the whole time. She revived me and re-bandaged but that was about the extent."

"I see." She yawned again.

"You should get some sleep Infinity."

"Yah you should too."

He draped his arm around her waist, to his surprise she took hold of it and starting tracing her fingers up and down between his knuckles.

She yawned again, "Good night Ellis."

"G'night Infinity."