The sound of someone humming woke me and as I cracked an eye open I found the source. Tobias sat at the torn deskchair where I'd last seen him, fiddling with something. Once he heard me let out a shaky breath he stopped humming, the chair spinning around.
"Finally awake, huh? You've been asleep for a whole day." Tobias told me and I sat up so fast my head spun. "Hey take it easy." He added, his hand moving to my shoulder until I flinched.
"Did I say you could put your hands on me?" I grumbled, my hand moving to the white bandage until Tobias' hand shot out and I blinked as he pulled my hand away from my shoulder. "Now what are you doing?"
"Stopping you from scratching your bullet-wound. That's a really bad idea and I should know." Tobias scolded and I snorted at him, muttering under my breath as he set my hand back on the blanket. "Are you always this friendly to your rescuers?" He sighed and noting the sad smile on his face I softened.
"Alright, fine. While I appreciate the help I'm a little wary of people I don't know." I answered and he nodded, brightening before he stood. "Now where are you going?"
"To get you something to drink." Tobias explained and I shook my head as he moved towards the back of the small room. He returned a few minutes later with two glasses and a box that he set on the table beside my makeshift bed. Sitting he grabbed a can from the box before he filled both glasses with a clear, fizzy liquid. Seeing the face I pulled he chuckled, offering the glass to me. "Before you ask it's lemonade. You're lucky because this is the last one I had tucked away."
"Thanks. How long have you been here?" I asked Tobias as I took a sip of the lemonade. Despite being a little warm it tasted better than the well water I'd been forced to drink once my own supplies had run out.
"About two weeks." Tobias replied and I coughed, nearly bringing up the mouthful I'd drunk. "Take it easy, Rachel." He chuckled, lightling patting me on the back until I stop coughing.
"You managed to survive two weeks here? I've been here about that long and I'm nowhere near as well off as you. I ran out of supplies a few days ago so now I'm forced to spend my daylight hours searching for water and food. That's why I was wandering around outside when I got shot." I explained before I took a sip of my drink, leaning back against the pillow Tobias had given me.
"Who shot you?" Tobias asked, drinking his own soda until I sighed.
"Crazy survivors. Ones who horde all the supplies for themselves and let everyone else starve. I was trying to avoid them but they must have been after one of the airdrops close by so they shot me. Probably to draw the infected to me so they could slip by. Bastards!" I snapped and Tobias actually whistled at me, shaking his head. "What?"
"Just never heard a woman swear as much as you. It's kind of cute." Tobias commented and I snorted at him, drinking my soda to hide my glowing cheeks. "Hungry?" He asked as he pulled an energy bar from the box's contents. Seeing food in front of me after going hungry for so long I snatched at it only to hear a loud gurgling noise and Tobias cracked a grin before he started laughing.
Ignoring him I ripped open the packaging, taking a bite while Tobias laughed at me. It did annoy me though I soon remembered he did save me from the infected plus he removed the bullet and let me stay here to recover so I suppose I could let my anger go.
Munching on my bar I watched as Tobias took another one from his box, opening it before he started to eat. While we ate I kept thinking about Tobias and why he'd put himself at risk to save me, even carrying me back to his hideout to stitch up my arm.
Maybe because he's a doctor or something. At least that would explain how he could remove a bullet and stitch up my he's not bad to look at with that goatee and those eyes. Always liked dark eyes on a guy.
Dropping the empty wrapper into a bin Tobias tilted his head, noticing the way Rachel was staring at him.
"Is there something on my face?" He asked and I blinked at him, a piece of energy bar sticking out of my mouth. "Or you admiring my good looks?" He joked and I rolled my eyes as I chewed the last piece of my bar.
"Very funny. I was just wondering how you managed to remove a bullet from my shoulder and stitch it up? Are you a surgeon or a doctor?" I asked and he chuckled, scratching at his goatee for a few seconds.
"Yeah I was about to qualify to be a doctor until...the shit hit the fan." He answered and I gave him a weak smile, taking another sip of my drink before he leant back against the chair. "Now I'm stuck here until the military or the government decide to actually do something like airlift us out."
"Good luck with that. I came here when I couldn't get in touch with my friends. Long story short I found what was left of them and they tried to eat me. Now I'm stuck here with a bullet wound, no way out of the city and the infected are everywhere. God my luck sucks." I explained, staring at the empty glass in my hands.
"Hey I'm sorry about your friends. Except for the part where they tried to eat you. Friends don't eat friends." Tobias said and I nodded, unable to help swallowing a lump in my throat. "So we're both in the same boat apparently. At least you're not infected." Tobias added, lifting up the right sleeve of his shirt to expose a bandage. Seeing the dried blood staining the bicep my eyes widened and he stared as I moved back so fast I toppled off the couch.
"You're infected?!" I yelped, my backside aching as I struggled to stand. My legs wouldn't cooperate and I fell backwards my head just missing the edge of one armrest.
"Easy! I've been taking Antizin since I got bit. Seriously take it easy." Tobias hissed, trying to help me up until I swatted at his hand and he sighed. "Alright be like that." He muttered, sitting back on his chair while I sat there panting heavily.
After a few tries I discovered my legs wouldn't support me and I looked over at Tobias who hadn't taken his eyes off me the whole time. "Look if I say I'm sorry will you help me up? Or should I sit here on my sore ass?" I asked and after watching me for nearly a minute Tobias finally nodded. This time when he offered his hand I took it and I yelped as he pulled me straight to my feet, shocking me into silence as he carefully helped me back onto my bed.
"Now do you promise you'll behave and not hit me if I calmly explain why I didn't tell you that I was infected?" Tobias told me and I nodded, my injured arm resting on my lap as I waited. "Okay so I working on a bite victim less than a week ago and they started to have a seizure. The group I was working with to help survivors left to find Antizin and they...didn't return so I looked after the victim as best I could. But they turned before I could give them a sedative and they attacked, biting into my arm before I could react." Tobias explained and I gave him a tiny nod, impressed at his dedication. "I smashed the infected in the head before I tried to clean the wound but the damage was done, the skin broken and bleeding."
"Shit that sounds awful. Sorry I freaked out like that, Tobias." I apologized but he held up a hand.
"Don't worry about it. I'd probably react the same way, Rachel. Knowing what was coming I went looking for Antizin and after a long search I found a single syringe left. If I hadn't found it...well I wouldn't be here I guess. After that I went looking for more and I just happened to find this apartment we're sitting in. Every since then I've been going out during the day looking for more Antizin plus whatever food and water I could get my hands on. I've been pretty lucky so far but what I have won't last forever. I was on my way back with a few energy bars and some water bottles when I heard gunshots." Tobias finished and he gave me a smile when I grinned at him, knowing where the story was heading.
"You found me, bleeding and swearing like a trooper." I finished for him and that gained me a laugh and a smile that made me focus on the scar on his left cheek. Seeing me staring at it he smiled at me and I blushed again when he reached over, taking me hand in his before he gave it a squeeze.
"A very attractive trooper." He answered and I burst into a fit of giggling that made me cough. "That sounded better in my head." He grumbled as I snorted with laughter.
"If that was your idea of a compliment you can keep it." I giggled, catching my breath as he covered his arm with a sour expression. "Hey how did you get that scar?"
"Saving you." Tobias replied and I raised both eyebrows at him. "Kidding, Rachel. Actually I tripped over my own feet running away from a group of infected and smacked my head open. Good thing I have a pretty solid head."
"Which one?" I responded, face flushing when he burst out laughing and I rolled my eyes. "Shit that wasn't what I meant."
"Good one, Rachel." Tobias snorted at me, cheeks red from laughing as I laid back on the couch.
Oh hell now he thinks I'm flirting with me. Smart move, Rachel.
