The two men were taken in after quite a bit of argument. The largest didn't seam to speak much. More concerned with keeping his small friend conscious. Pam hardly had the equipment she needed to work. However, she sat the man down.

The larger man blinked, staring at the ID on the table. He chuckled softly, pulling his own from his pocket. Roxy hardly missed a beat. "We got that off one of the infected. Hey, Why's your name blacked out like that?"

The smaller, sickly man spoke first. "After CEDA started shooting people, folks started blotting out their ID. That way-" He broke into a coughing fit. Pams hand soothed over his back as she tried to judge the origin of his wheezing. Pneumonia? Maybe.

The larger man waited then spoke for his smaller friend. "That way they don't know if we're important or not. They're shooting non essentials." The other finished. Both women glanced at one another.

"Do the essentials blot theirs out too?" Pam tilted her head. The whistle of a kettle drew Roxy over. She turned the stove off and poured four mugs of hot water. Adding honey and lemon to the mix.

Lemons. That was something The girls needed to learn to grow. Pam heaved a sigh. Returning to her work on the sick man. "Fuck no. It worked for like. A day." The smaller spat. Another wheezing cough caught Pams attention. Only then did she notice something. Small bumps dotting the mans neck.

She ran a thumb over them, grimacing. "Do you feel that?" He shook his head, turning to her. Pams eyes dropped to the floor. "Did you have any lumps on your neck before?"

Both men grew taught. The taller shot to his feet. "He ain't turning alright?!" Both women shared a glance. The smaller man clapped his hand over the new growths. Twisting in his seat. Pam passed him the hot drink and sat down. Folding her hands.

"I'm sorry. There's nothing I can do." She shrugged. The lager man slammed his hand on the table. Roxy lurched for him. Pam just flinched away.

"The fuck you can't! You're a doctor ain't ya?"

Pam shook her head. "No. I was a nursing student. The flu hit before I could even get too far. Yeah, I can set a bone, but I can't work miracles. We don't even have equipment." She waved her hand helplessly in the air. Desperately trying to explain the situation.

The larger man held her eyes pinned in his gaze. Pam stood, meeting him in the middle. "I can't help you. For that, I'm sorry. Trust me. If I could fix this, I would. In a heartbeat." Her heart dropped as she said this.

When Pam entered nursing school, she knew there would be days like this. However, that was under normal circumstances. In the literal apocalypse? The loss of even one human life was a crushing blow. Even when it was a stranger.

Both men stared between each other. The larger heaved a sigh. Dropping to the floor in a crumpled heap. The coughing man just dropped his head. "How long have I got doc?"

Roxy shifted nervously. As Pam took a shaking breath. Calculations running through her head. "I-I don't know. Any news we've had on an incubation period has been spotty at best. But seeing as you're showing signs of a later stage, I don't think... I'm sorry."

Everyone sat together with a grumble. It was a hopeless situation. Truly. However the largest man seamed to calm slightly. "We'll head back to our group tomorrow. Is... Is there any chance you'll come with us?" He gave them a pleading glance. "We could... Really use a doctor."

Roxy flinched away. Pams shoulders dropped. They both shook their heads. It was far too risky. The fact that they were both women put the pair in a precarious position. Two of the last women on earth. In an illness where mostly men survived.

It was a risky position neither of them could change. The way the other men had looked at them upon arrival said enough. Roxy was used to looks like that, Pam was wary of such. "Come on man. We both know your buddies would try to sell us out as bargaining chips first chance they got." Roxy shrugged.

The smaller man gave a short laugh ending in another violent hacking fit. The uninfected trio stood silent. Staring at the man, as his body slumped forward. The two women exchanged glances. "So... We can set you up... in the basement." Roxy shifted uncomfortably.

"I'm going with him." The larger man stood abruptly. Scooping the man into his arms. Much to his protest. Pam jerked back a bit. Eyes wide. Only now did she notice, neither man looked at them sexually. How they looked at one another in that moment, was something between sorrow and affection.

Something she'd only known in fleeting glances. Pams shoulders dropped. "Yeah. Okay. I'll set the basement up. And if you two are there in the morning...We'll work something out for you."

Roxy shook her head with a sigh. "We'll loan you a spare car and food. Take your nutcases with you." She gave a nod to Pam, who strode off briskly. She made sure the door was reinforced. Ramming her shoulder into it a few times. And sorely regretting it.

A grim thought fluttered past her mind. If either of the morons traveling with 'big and small' picked a fight with them, Pam couldn't fight back. Her injuries were starting to wear her down. Even if she was recovering, she still had pain. She was only human after all.

A howling shriek caught everyone's collective attention. Closely followed by two men screaming. The other members of 'big and small's' party. Fortunately no gunshots, but a persistent banging on the door.

As Pam climbed the stairs from the basement, she found herself ducking. The larger man slammed his hand into the wood of the door frame while the smaller tried to pull him back. "Jacob? What's-"

"That was a hunter." The larger growled. Moving to push Pam away. Pam, however, was completely unfazed, ducking under his arm. She was far more concerned with Roxy's whereabouts.

As it turned out, she'd been outside. As one of the men from earlier shoved her inside roughly. Eyeing the women. "These crazy bitches got themselves an infected!" Pam went stiff.

The larger man just shrugged. "Is it... Contained?"

"Yes? It's all boarded up in some kinda' cage."

"Then it's fine." He sentenced. Moving to pull Roxy away from the man. He easily hefted the small woman onto her feet, and dusted her off. Both women stared at each other with confused expressions. Waiting for more to be said.

The pair took one look at the sickly man behind him. Trying to discern his condition. The other was clinging to Jacob. Slumping slightly against him. Jacob heaved a sigh. Looking at the pair. "These two aren't coming with you. And... We aren't either."

"It's... The flu." The smaller man wheezed. He was getting worse. Pam could see it in the way he stood. Slumping slightly in the direction of some steadily growing tumors. The other two men stood, shoulders slumping.

"So...You're just going to turn on these two?" the first man gestured to the girls. "Jake, you can't seriously want to hang around after... We can stay. And help. Any way you ladies think we can."

"We don't need help. Thank you." Pam spat. Roxy cuffed her lightly.

"No. We aren't going to turn... He isn't going to turn... We talked about this."

(an: I'm not 100% Satisfied with this one. But it's the best it's going to get. We'll get back to normal after the next chapter.)