Wandering into the living room, really just a couch and table, I found Brad sitting on the couch staring at a paper in his hand.

"What are you doing in here?" Brad asked and I rolled my eyes at him, arm crossed as I took in the papers strewn about. "I'm trying to figure out how we'll fix those Zombrex chips. What about you?"

"Right now I'm trying to work out why you're spending all of your time in your room. Frankly this is the first time I've seen you in here or working with the ZDC. We survived a zombie infested town and you're still acting like we're trapped in Los Perdidos again." I answered and he shrugged, sifting through the papers on the table without paying me the slightest attention. "Hey look at me when I'm talking to you." I snapped, snatching a piece of paper from his hand.

"I have a lot to work on and unlike you I don't plan on wasting time standing around." Brad replied, snatching the paper back.

"Then I guess now that we're out of the city I don't exist anymore." I muttered, making my way outside the room. Before he could speak the door slammed and Brad sighed, shaking his head before his focus returned to finding answers.

Now standing in the hallway I swallowed, frustrated at the former ZDC agent who'd risked his life getting me a supply of Zombrex; the same agent who now had his nose buried in a pile of papers. I thought I was alone in that hallway until I heard a cough and my head shot up to find Rhonda standing there. "Sorry, hon. Couldn't help overhearing." She apologized and I shrugged, biting my lower lip to keep the tears at bay. "Hey don't cry."

"Doesn't matter. Brad's such a jerk..just wants to stay cooped up in that damn room of his. Well who cares about him! Stay in there to rot for all I care!" I shouted, loud enough for Brad (and the whole building to hear). Without realizing it tears were streaming down my cheeks and I quickly turned my head, hurriedly wiping my eyes.

"Bridget, he's been doing nothing but helping us get Zombrex." Rhonda told me and I nodded, sniffing. "Give him some time, okay?"

"Yeah..okay." I replied, wiping my eyes before I walked the short distance to my room. Apart from a bed and desk there wasn't much furniture but it was my home for now; at least until the ZDC cleared us. Until then I was stuck here but it wasn't all bad; I did have a few new friends, fellow survivors of Los Perdidos.

Deciding to give Brad a break, only because I wouldn't be alive if it wasn't for him (and Nick of course) I chose to spend the next few hours in my room getting some well earned rest.

By the next morning I was feeling a little better but as I crossed the hallway I found Nick and Annie talking, whispering to each other.

"I wasn't listening in if that's what you think." I muttered, about to walk by until Annie stopped me with a hand on my shoulder.

"Someone woke up on the room side of bed. What's up with you?" She asked and I shrugged off her hand, looking briefly towards Brad's room before I could stop myself. "I get it. You have the hots for that ZDC agent."

"His name is Brad and...oh crap." I muttered, face turning red as she laughed. "Well so what if I do like him? He gave me Zombrex when no one else would and protected me from the zombies and the Special Ops." I snapped, not caring when Nick blinked.

"I led everyone to safety and I was on my way back with Zombrex but you were already gone." Nick protested as I leant against the wall, eyebrow raised. "I know that you got the note."

"He's telling the truth, Bridget. We couldn't find you so we just assumed someone had come back and found you." Annie said and I snorted, still not buying it.

I opened my mouth to tell Annie what I really thought when Brad chose that moment to poke his head out of his room, dark circles under his eyes. "What's going on now?" He muttered and I whirled around, eyes narrowed. "Bridget, I'm trying to work." He said not expecting me to clench my fists.

"I thought we were friends but all you care about is Zombrex and the ZDC. So you know what? Screw you!" I shouted into his face, running outside with tears welling in my eyes.

I stayed on the second floor balcony for the rest of the day, only venturing inside to grab food or use the bathroom. Occassionally I saw Brad in the hallway, looking at me but I ignored him, returning to the balcony before he could stop me.

"You can't stay here all day." Annie said, watching as I took a long drink from a bottle of water. "Just because Brad won't talk to you..." She trailed off when I glared at her.

"Did you come out here to tease me?" I muttered, looking off into the distance. "I'm not in the mood to put up with your crap."

"Geeze someone has an attitude. I came here because NIck and Rhonda thought you needed someone to talk to but if you're going to be like that." Annie replied, heading towards the open doorway until she heard a sniff. "Look why are you letting him get to you?"

"I like him but he doesn't give a crap about me." I coughed, wiping my eyes so Annie couldn't see my tears. "I lost everything in Los Perdidos and I still have nothing. Maybe I should have let the virus kill me. Then maybe I wouldn't have to feel anything."

"Hey don't say shit like that!" Annie shouted and my head jerked up. "You're not the first to lose someone you care about so don't say things like that." She added a little quieter.

"But you have Nick, what the hell do I have?" I snapped at her, not knowing that Brad was standing just outside the open doorway listening to every word. "A dead foster family and a jerk who doesn't care."

After a while Annie left me alone and with nowhere else to be I stayed on the balcony until it started to get dark. I quickly hurried inside, mentally scolding myself for being afraid of the dark. But after seeing all those zombies turn even more aggressive when the sun went down still haunted me, their eyes glowing red.

Before I had time to react I walked straight into Brad, the former agent stepping out of his room. I recovered quickly, my eyes narrowed at him before he could speak but as I tried to walk away he grabbed my arm. "Bridget, I just want to talk." He said, tightening his grip on my arm when I continued to glare at him.

"About what exactly? That black box Kane left you with?" I asked. He shook his head and that made me a little curious; despite my best judgment I followed him into his room. After he closed the door, Brad turned to me as I leant against the wall. "So spill; what do you want with me?"

"First I want to tell you why I've been so caught up with finding answers about the outbreak and the malfunctioning chips. I wanted to help people and when Nick told me the ZDC were murdering survivors I didn't want to believe him. But this was all General Hemlock's doing." Brad said and I snorted, knowing that already. "Yes you know that part. The thing is now that I'm not a ZDC agent anymore I didn't know what to do with myself. That's why I've been so...distant to you."

"I thought you hated me or something! I've lost everyone and when you were being so cold to me..." I trailed off, my eyes on the floor and my hands clenched together. "I couldn't take it if you, of all people, gave me the cold shoulder." I finished, just knowing my cheeks were bright red.

"You were worried about me?" Brad asked and I coughed, not trusting my mouth to make a fool of me further. "I appreciate that, Bridget."

Now that we were friends again I suggested that he took a break and after agreeing with me we found ourselves sitting on opposite ends of the couch. I kept glancing at him as he took sips from a water bottle, one of many supplies given to us both the remaining members of the ZDC. Every time I caught his eyes he gave me a quick smile and I returned it, still struggling with what Annie had said to me earlier that day.

You have the hots for that ZDC agent don't you?

I knew thinking about something else would get my mind off of that conversation but my mind had other ideas wandering back to my first meeting; me, barely conscious from the zombie infection tearing through my body and then the quick jab of the Zombrex syringe. My first meeting with Brad Park, who saved my life and had stayed to protect me when everyone else had left.

"Is something wrong, Bridget?" Brad's voice woke me from my thoughts and I turned to see him staring at me. I coughed, hoping like hell my cheeks weren't red as I shook my head. "Then why were you staring at me like that?"

"I was staring at you? Sorry just thinking about how we met. Seems like another lifetime ago." I answered, grateful that it was kind of the truth.

"I'm sorry about your foster family." Brad said, out the blue and I swallowed the image of their bodies in my head. "Oh...hell." He muttered, seeing me tear up. Without thinking about it, Brad climbed to his feet and before I knew it he was sitting beside me.

As I started to sniff, fresh tears leaking from my eyes he wrapped his arm around my shoulders. Burying my face in his shirt I sobbed, not even reacting when he hugged me.

I woke sometime later to find a blanket covering me, just my head poking out. Too tired to move I lay there, eyes staring to close until I felt someone rubbing the top of my hair.

Who's doing that?

"I know I saved her from turning into one of those zombies but still...it makes no sense that she worries about me." Brad whispered, gently running his hand through my hair.

"That's because Bridget has a crush on you." Annie answered, walking into the room and Brad's hand froze. "She didn't tell you, did she?"

"What are you talking about?" Brad asked, looking down at me. "She never said anything to me."

"Bridget's too scared to tell you. You could ask her yourself." Annie replied, pointing as I opened my eyes. "See ya." She added, leaving the room with a tiny smile on her face.

"Is that true, Bridget?" Brad asked, moving back so I could sit up. Wrapping the blanket around myself I tried to think of a lie, anything that would work. But he just keep staring at me and I chewed my lip, my mind refusing to help. Finally I couldn't take it anymore and I snapped.

"Alright it's true!" I finally shouted at him and he flinched from the sudden outburst. "Look I was just following you because you saved me...at first anyway. Now...I have no idea why I should care." I muttered, not worried if I was blushing or that Brad hadn't said a word since my outburst.

Eventually I tightened my grip on the blanket and that's when Brad finally reacted to my confession. He moved close and our noses brushed, my eyes looked down as my face burned. "That wasn't supposed to happen." I heard Brad muttering before he cupped my chin, this time finding my lips with his own.

Lying back on the couch I groaned into Brad's mouth as he kissed me harder, his hand slipping up the back of my shirt. I jerked then, eyes briefly closing as his open palm rubbed the base of my spine. Feeling me press against his body, Brad paused.

"Is something wrong?" Brad asked, eyes on mine to see my face flush. "If I'm doing something wrong just let me know."

"Nothing like that. I just...like being touched there." I answered and he actually smiled, his fingers slipping up the back of my top. Then I groaned, eyes scrunched shut as he ran his fingernails up and down my back. "Oh...god that feels nice." I groaned and I heard a faint chuckle before his lips found mine again. Brad slowly rubbed circles around the bare skin of my back, his other hand resting on my backside. As our tongues touched, his own groans soon reached my ears. That and his tongue as he raised himself up on his elbows and I gasped, feeling his warm tongue dart into my right ear.

"You should have told me sooner." Brad whispered, lightly blowing into my ear which sent a shiver through my spine.

"We were in constant danger and I didn't want to distract you. That could have gotten us killed." I mumbled, sitting up when he did.

"I understand that. But now we're not in any danger..." Brad trailed off when my lips brushed his chin. "Well you get the idea." He added, pushing me back against the couch. But just as I grabbed the hem of his shirt and his hands slipped under my t-shirt we both heard voices.

"You know maybe you two should do that somewhere else. Unless you want an audience..not my thing but whatever." Gary said, walking into the living room hand in hand with Rhonda who laughed as we quickly moved apart.

"Bridget, how did it go with Brad?" Annie asked and I jumped, my head turning to see her standing in the doorway. "Take it easy."

"Please don't sneak up on me, okay? A little jumpy right now." I replied, resting my head against the back of the couch. "It went okay but...I dunno. Maybe it's a little too soon to be thinking of a relationship."

"If what Gary and Rhonda said was true you two were getting pretty close." Annie answered and I sighed, rubbing my face with an open palm. "The look on your face right now. Anyway I'm heading to bed so maybe you should too." She added, turning and I grinned.

"I wonder if Brad wants some company?" I joked and she laughed, raising a fist before she headed back to her room. "I can't believe I'm actually considering it." I muttered, shaking my head.

But once I did return to my room I found myself unable to sleep, tossing and turning. "Oh for crying out loud." I muttered, frustrated as I lay on my bed (really just a mattress and blanket) staring up at the ceiling. "This really sucks. First Brad ditches me now I keep seeing zombies every time I close my eyes."

Unable to sleep I decided to take a walk around the building, which hopefully would make me feel sleepy. I had just left my room, quietly closing the door when I heard footsteps. "Bridget, what are you doing up at this hour?" Brad asked, yawning as he stood in the doorway of his room. The instant he saw my shoulders quivering he stared. "Something's wrong isn't it?"

"I'd better get back to bed, sorry to wake you." I muttered, trying in vain to keep a quiver out of my voice. Brad just sighed, moving away from the door before he waved his hand towards the room. "Um...I don't want to bother you."

"Come in, Bridget. I could use the company." Brad answered and I nodded, walking through the doorway without a second thought. It wasn't until Brad closed the door, moving back to his own bed that it finally occurred to me that I was in his room. Seeing my eyes widened he just laughed, heading for his bed. "I'll sleep on the floor if you're uncomfortable." He offered but I shook my head, moving to the left side of the bed.

"No, it's okay. Nerves a little shot right now." I said, fists clenching and unclenching. Quickly I climbed onto the left side of the bed, curling into myself into a ball. With his eyes on me, Brad sat on the right side. Lying with his back facing me, he closed his eyes.

"It's okay, Bridget. Just try and get some sleep." Brad whispered, his breathing soon slowing. I closed my eyes, hoping I would soon doze off. At some point I must have because I started to dream about my parents in Los Perdidos, this time finding them safe. Only for the dream to turn into a nightmare, their eyes glowing red and as I started to back away they reached for me with hands that had began to rot, blood dripping from their mouths as they groaned.

I screamed, my eyes flying open to find myself still in Brad's room. As I sat up, shoulders shaking he cracked open one eye. "Bridget?" He mumbled, looking half-asleep.

"I'm okay. Go back to sleep." I whispered, arms around myself as I rocked back and forth. Seeing this, Brad sat and I jumped when he set his hand on my right shoulder. "It's just me." He answered and I tried to smile, my bottom lip quivering.

Suddenly I found myself being held, Brad's arms tight around me as I shivered. "Shh...it was just a dream." He muttered but I really didn't believe that, still shivering violently.

Somewhere along the line I fell asleep despite the dream, waking to find myself lying against Brad. One arm loosely drapped over me, he was still fast asleep and I smiled. For a few minutes I lay beside him, enjoying the quiet.

He looks so peaceful right now and can't believe we're staying in the same room. I mean, he actually invited me in just because I'm a nervous wreak...and that sounds so dumb in my head. I wonder what he's going to do now that's he's left the ZDC?

As I watched him sleep I couldn't resist leaning over, casually stroking his forehead with my fingers. I leant in close, my lips brushing his forehead only to see his eyes open focusing on mine. "Oops?"

"For the record I was awake the entire time." Brad whispered, raising himself up by his elbows. He had only just leant in when we both heard a quiet beeping and I looked down at my watch. "I think it's time for your Zombrex dose." He pointed out and I sighed, taking the syringe from my pocket. When I hesitated he frowned. "Do you hate needles?"

"Yeah, ever since I was little." I muttered, steeling myself only to feel Brad's hand on my own. "What are you doing?" I asked as he took the syringe from me, pulling off the cap before he pressed the syringe against my bare arm and I gasped. It hurt for a few seconds then the pain dulled as he dropped the empty syringe on the table.

"Did that hurt you?" Brad asked and I quickly shook my head. "But your face is all flushed...wait, did you enjoy that?" He asked, a tiny smile curling his lips as I sat back.

"Not in the least." I muttered, trying not to move when I felt his hand resting on the base of my spine. "Well...maybe it hurts a little less when you're doing it." I admitted and his smile grew.

"Until we have a cure made you'll just have to get used to the injections." Brad said and I snorted, trying hard not to react when he started to rub my spine. "Probably time for mine." He added, only to hear a beep and I giggled.

"Guess it is. Your turn, Brad." I said, taking the syringe from his hand and he rolled his eyes at me. "Fair's fair." I added, taking the cap off. Taking hold of his shirt, I slipped the arm up slightly before I pushed the syringe against his bicep. He winced as I gave him the dose, setting the empty syringe on the table beside mine. "Whoa...feel a little light-headed right now." I muttered, looking at the mark from the needle.

"It happens sometimes." Brad told me as I lay my head on the mattress, not even thinking about the fact we were sleeping in the same room.