Chapter Thirty-Six:

Assured Love

*Ellie*

The following morning, to say I was sore was an understatement. I was horribly in pain and yet I had never felt better. Dressed in my yellow scrubs, I waited with Nick at my side for the commander and his soldiers to arrive.

We knew today was the day we would be separated and knew I might not see Nick again for a long time to come. I just hoped fate would play its hands charitably and allow us to not be separated for too long a time.

"Ellie", whispered Nick.

I looked up at him and he smiled as he grabbed my hand and placed a rose shaped diamond ring in my palm.

"I want to give this to you now in case they take away our belongings"

I glanced up at him in amazement.

"Nick how did you…"

"Virgil gave them to me and told me to use them as our wedding bands. When we get married Ellie, I will do this properly, but for now, know you are my fiancé and you have my assured love."

I smiled up at him as I placed the ring on my middle finger of my left hand next to my ruby engagement ring.

"I love you Nick"

"I love you to Ellie."

The door opened and the commander walked in. he glanced from Nick to me and then back to Nick.

"It's time Mr. Dean."

Nick nodded and with a final look back at me and a small smile, he walked out. I sat there on the bed listening as his footsteps descended into the darkness of the hallway somewhere that I couldn't follow.

*Nick*

I was surprised when they took me to a hospital room of sorts where I was asked to sit down on one of the beds. I did as they told and they began to hook me up to a bunch of machines. Across from me I was glad to see Coach lying there, but he looked to be asleep.

"Hey Coach" I yelled, but the man didn't move.

Worried, I watched his monitor and noticed it looked as though he were in a coma.

"What is wrong with him?" I asked the nurse helping me.

She smiled kindly at me and then shook her head.

"Nothing Mr. Dean, he is only sleeping, as you will be."

I didn't get the chance to ask any more questions as she injected something into my neck and I was fast asleep before I knew what hit me.

*Ellie*

I was led down a hall to a room like the one I had been interrogated in, but I was thrilled when I saw Rochelle in this one.

"Ro!" I shouted.

She smiled as she shot up out of her chair and embraced me.

"You alright Ellie girl?" she asked me.

I nodded with a smile, "Are you?"

She nodded.

"Yeah I had a good night with Coach last night", she said as sadness seemed to fill her face.

"Yeah, same with me and Nick", I said and blushed.

She laughed as she raised an eyebrow.

"You finally did it huh?" she asked.

I nodded as my face no doubt got redder.

She just smiled as she took my hand and led me over to a chair.

"You scared? I asked her.

She nodded and I nodded with her.

"What do you think they will do to us?" I asked.

Rochelle shrugged.

"Don't know."

The door opened moments later as the commander and the female doctor, Doctor Barkley walked in.

"Rochelle and Elissa", said the doctor as she sat down in the chair across from us, "I have run your blood and you both carry the virus within you. As you both know however, it may or may not come out through your reproductive system."

We nodded, a bit confused.

"This world needs more humans who are not infected. For this reason, should one or both of you get pregnant; the child will be monitored closely. Should he or she be banded red, it will be disposed of."

"What", we shouted horrified.

The commander I noticed seemed as angry about this as we did.

"It is CEDA protocols", the doctor said, all business as she continued.

"I was informed that your partners are here with you."

We nodded.

"You will be separated from them for an unknown amount of time I am afraid. They are currently being tested, trying to help our scientist find a cure to this infection."

"What about us?" asked Ro.

"You will also be tested", the doctor said as she stood up and led us out of the room to a like hospital facility. Pointing at the two beds, we both climbed into one as the doctor began to hook us up to machines.

"What I am giving you is a sedative that will put you in a dreamlike state for a certain amount of time. You will not know how long you are asleep, but what feels to you to be a very short amount of time will no doubt be a little longer here in the real world. This will allow us to read your brain waves and hopefully better understand your mental and emotional health rather than just the physical."

"Doctor, what will happen when we awake?" I asked curiously, my breathing starting to increase as anxiety started to settle in.

"Calm down Ms. Hayden", said the commander as he walked over to me, "Everything will be alright. You have my word."

I nodded as I looked at Rochelle who looked back at me.

I sent her a small smile which she nervously returned. I watched as the doctor injected something into Ro's neck and then almost like Rochelle had fallen asleep of her own free will, she closed her eyes and slipped into a coma.

As the doctor turned to me, memories of Keith, my mama, Dave and Becky, Emily, Rochelle and Coach, Francis, Bill, Zoey, and Louis as well as other people I had met throughout my life filled my head.

However the memory of Nick loomed the largest and I grasped on to it as I thought of his smiling face and his bravery throughout our time fighting zombies.

I thought of our time at the hotel, at the mall, and on our way to whispering oaks where we had encountered the concert of a life time. I thought of being on Virgil's boat and when I punched both Francis and Nick in the face. I thought of Bills funeral and the lonely thoughts I had upon entering Waterfront Cemetery and as these thoughts quickly drifted through my mind, the final thing I saw as the needle was injected into my neck was last night and the words he had whispered to me that I now held close to my heart.

"I love you Ellie and I will find you, no matter how long it takes."

"Nick", I whispered and then darkness descended and I knew no more.