A/N: Thank you for all the wonderful comments! I love how into my story everyone is, it makes me so happy to write it. We're boiling down to the last few chapters, unfortunately. I'm considering making a sequel, but I'd like to close this part for now. With school starting up for me pretty soon that would probably be best not to leave you guys with a fucked up cliffhanger. :-/

CHAPTER 11

ERUPTION

A moment of happiness is all Rick could afford when he saw Shane's face. He couldn't even smile to show it. The gun was fired and he jolted, afraid that he was about to die. Whoever fired missed completely, to Rick's relief. Shane met them halfway, his hand finding Rick's arm. A moment of perfection amidst so much chaos – bloodthirsty walkers on one side, bloodthirsty humans on the other.

"Back into the store!" Shane cried, pulling Rick with him, and not wanting to let go. Finally together again, but this freedom may not be so long lasting. They went into the building, walkers circled from one part to chase Shane back into the store, gunshots firing as the men outside came to a stop.

There was only fire, at least that's all Rick saw at first. Then all he saw was a walker. He used the shovel to bash it over, and then chopped its head off with the end of the shovel. Shane had his ax up, waiting at the entrance for man or walker. And Morgan was frantically looking around while pushing around a cart.

"This is not the time for shopping," Shane said.

"Not that," Morgan said. He spotted whatever he was looking for a few aisles down and disappeared. "Shane, gather some of those clothes that are on fire and throw them in this cart!"

"Why?"

Morgan came out with several propane tanks in the cart. Shane rushed to gather some clothes, and threw them in. Morgan turned the cart towards the entrance and started running with it, plowing through zombies as he did. He reached the entrance and let go, giving it a firm kick to send it on its way outside. There were several moments and two random gunshots before the explosion occurred.

Rick tackled Shane, shielding him from the blast, Morgan diving away from the entrance of the store and the zombie parts were blasted everywhere, filling the place with blood and plenty of guts. The screams outside told them their pursuers were down.

"Run," Shane said, helping Rick up. They helped Morgan up and all ran to the back of the store, finding an exit to flee through. They didn't look back as they ran. They needed to get away, fast, in case some of Merle's men were seeking revenge.

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

They found a seemingly walker free neighborhood. They entered the house and explored the whole place, checking for walkers, before barring it up and sealing off all the doors and windows. It was a one story home, and a family of five used to live there. Rick couldn't help but absorb those details as he looked at the pictures of the three girls with their parents on the walls.

"Are you almost done?" Shane said, a pile wood from the kitchen chairs in one hand and a hammer and a handful of nails in the other. Rick jumped, taking up his own supplies and sealing off parts of the house. They had to be careful on which ones they closed down and which ones they kept opened. They didn't want anything to get in, but they also wanted a way out.

Rick hadn't had so much as a kiss or a hug since he was reunited with Shane at the store. He just wanted to drop everything and go to Shane, but he needed to focus on survival first. He quickly put up the boards, almost counting the minutes until he'd see Shane.

And then suddenly Shane was there, turning him around, making him drop everything, and he was kissing Rick deeply, his hands on Rick's body, holding onto him, moaning at the sensation of him, pressing him against the wall. Rick clung to Shane and kissed him back just as hardily, putting his tongue in the other man's mouth, the two groaning together.

Shane broke the kiss, but stayed pressed against Rick's body, and Rick felt his was ready for anything. Rick realized he wanted nothing more than to do what Shane's being longing for, for so long now. He rested his forehead against Shane's. Tonight he'd do it; he'd have sex with Shane.

He cupped Shane's face in his hands. "I love you."

"I love you too," Shane whispered.

"I thought you were gone forever," Rick said.

Shane laughed. "You think a few walkers would keep me from you? No fucking way, man. I won't let them take me down."

Shane's hand moved down Rick's body, caressing him until he reached Rick's hips. He held onto them as he pressed himself against Rick. Both were ready, and both could feel it. Why not do it right now? Rick leaned in, gently kissing Shane's lips.

Rick opened his eyes for a moment and saw Morgan standing at the end of the hall, watching. He frozen, remembering the conversation they had. Shane was kissing Rick's neck but Rick shook his head, pulling away. "Please… stop. Shane."

Shane pulled away slightly. "Really?"

"Morgan's here," Rick whispered.

"So?"

"Morgan's watching…" Rick whispered.

"So?"

"Morgan… is jealous," Rick whispered, looking Shane in the eyes. "We talked about this, he wanted sex too. And although I'm not sharing myself or you, it wouldn't be right to do this in front of him."

"Always about what's right," Shane said, reaching around to cup Rick's butt in his hands. He pressed their groins together. "Let's just do what the fuck we want. Rick, I want you."

It was a need, Rick could see. A physical need, so raw in Shane's eyes, and Rick almost couldn't resist. Almost. He patted Shane's shoulder before pulling away. Shane stayed facing the wall a moment to get control of himself before turning around. The thought crossed his mind – he almost wanted to kill Morgan. But he wouldn't do that.

Rick looked at Morgan. "Maybe we'll find someone for you too."

"I'm not gay," Morgan sighed, though his eyes lingered on Rick's hard-on before turning around and walking away, leaving Rick alone.

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

The night was a cold one. Shane had the first watch, and Rick stayed in bed alone, listening to the silence. A few minutes later Morgan passed by the opened door, glancing at Rick before moving on. Shane came to the room a few minutes later, pausing at the doorway to look at Rick.

"Are you coming to bed?" Rick asked.

"Yes," Shane said softly. "But not to sleep."

Rick gulped softly. "I was hoping not."

Shane took a step into the room, but he remained at the doorway. "You know I'd never hurt you, right?"

Rick nodded.

"But we can't stop… I've been waiting too long for this, and if you try to stop me… I don't think I can hold back anymore, Rick. I can't look at you, hold you, and not have you anymore, I…"

"I love you," Rick said, interrupting Shane. "Now shut the door and get your ass over here."

Shane smiled, pulling his shirt off and shutting the door.

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

Continued…