The reunited couple thanked Dr. Hale for listening to both of them. They both entered the elevator as the boy pushed the lobby button as the older man head to the back of the metal box. The doors closed and Nick sat down with his left hand covering his eye as he closed the other one. He opened his eyes to see the Southern kid standing right in front of him.

"Not this again." he conman said lowly so Ellis would hear. The boy did catch a part of what he said and gave him a puzzled look.

"Look if your ganna stab me again, go ahead." Nick said as he stood up, ready to take a hit. Ellis laughed a bit thinking it was a joke.

"Somethin' the matter, Nick?" he said as he waved his hand in front of Nick's dazed eyes. The conman shook his head and started to rub his eyes.

"Ellis, tell me it's you and this ain't a dream." Nick said trying to hide his nervous laughter.

"Um, Nick, it's me. So, I dunno what's goin' on 'ere so mind if you could explain a bit?" the boy said backing away as he was thinking that Nick went insane while he was gone.

The gambler groaned, "Look, straight up I'll tell you what happen in THIS very elevator. This very slow elevator. I had a vision that you were infected and that you tried to kill me. Then some other stuff happened and I'm not going into detail. It just looked like you were infected right now so I thought it happened again to me. It's weird, I know, but whatever."

The mechanic started to turn gloomy. He tilted his hat to hide his dark blue eyes from the man in front of him. He wanted to say what happened to him and what the doctors said but he knew it was too soon. But he had to do it.

"Nick, 'bout that infected thing-"

The elevator doors opened to the room full of people screaming and crying. They all looked scared and they were panicking. They were new the camp because it looked like they just got cleaned. Nick turned to Ellis and took his hand. The conman rushed through the crowds of crying people as they tried to grab him to cry on his shoulder. It was like getting out of a horde of zombies, minus the infected part. The young mechanic holding on to Nick's hand made him blush again from memories of their past. Nick would turn his head to face the boy as the crowd got ruff, to see if he was still holding on to his hand. He was still holding on to his hand but as Nick described it in his own words, "He looked so damn cute trying to avoid the crying people in the horde. His eyes shut and he trusted me to guide him. Cute kid."

After that thought, Nick rushed to pull his boy through the crowd into the opening. They finally made it as if they were spit out of a giant's mouth. The doors were automatic so they closed as they left the building. As they caught their breathe, since the room was full of people it didn't have much air, they caught each others eyes. The conman gave off his signature smirk and the mechanic gave off his glowing smile. All of a sudden, a shadow appeared over them.

"Boy, you both have been through a lot."

The two men looked up to find someone they didn't really expect to see. Coach.

Coach gave a laugh as he pulled out something from his pocket.

"I know Nick won't refuse this offer, but I'll ask anyhow. You guys wanna play some Poker?" he asked as he showed the deck of cards in his hand.

Nick looked like if he just found the rarest thing in the world or gold on the street. His face lite up from the thought of being able to play any type of game with cards in it. He's smile gave his answer but Ellis was thinking for a minute.

The boy was thinking hard until he said, "I dunno how to play Poker, I mean, I did once with Keith but it wasn't really Poker 'cause he dared me to take my shirt off if I lost and then-"

"Ellis, don't even finish that because you already have that mental picture in my brain." the conman stopped the young storyteller in mid-sentence. The football coach laughed at that thought as the conman sighed.

They all agreed to play Poker in Coach's place. Nick thought it was a great idea to bring some beers and hard liquor to this small party, so he left Ellis and Coach to go and set up the game as he stopped by a small store that they had inside the camp. The young boy and the old man headed off without Nick to Coach's place as planed.

On their way towards the building, Coach let out a short sigh.

"Did you tell him yet?"

"Naw, not yet. I was 'bout to but damn elevator doors opened 'n' shit. I don't want to see him all upset, don't wanna stir up 'ny trouble at all, y'know."

"He's bound to know sometime, young'un. I reckon you should tell him after the game. Hope he won't get that drunk or somethin'."

They both laughed at they entered the oldest man's room. It was pure snow white with the same window that Nick has in his room. There wasn't a table so they sat down on the floor. Coach began to teach the boy how to play Poker without stripping before Nick came.

Nick began to pay for the 6 pack of beer, a bottle of whiskey, and another bottle of vodka. He left the store with his items in one hand while he placed his free hand in his pant's pocket. He walked towards the apartment buildings to Coach's room where him and Ellis were setting up the table to play his favorite game. He went down an ally way where he found a girl about 16 with a mini-skirt, torn up with black stockings. Her shirt was a band shirt like Rochelle's only it was from an indie band. She was on her iPod staring out into space. Her brown hair glowed when the sun gleamed down at her.

The conman started to act tense. He wasn't sure if he knew her and wanted to say something but then again Ellis and Coach were waiting. He sighed and closed his eyes to think what to do. Say hi and talk to her or walk pass her and not say anything. Before he knew what to do he felt like he was being watched. And he was.

"...Dad? Is that you?"

The old gambler opened his eyes to see the girl staring at him. She called him her father. She was right.

"Claire? Claire you're alive!" Nick said with a smile on his face. He was worried about his daughter because they were so close together before his ex-wife divorced him. Claire's green eyes began to tear-up because she hasn't seen him in 3 years. She quickly hugged him tightly with the father-daughter love they both missed.

Nick hugged back with his bag full of liquor still in hand. He began to cry a bit, too.

"I thought I won't see you again, I thought you died, I thought..." the young girl trailed and rambled in her father's white suit. All that Nick could do was brush her head with his hand full of rings. She let go of Nick and started to dry her tears.

"Where's your mother?" the conman asked as he tried to hide to bag in his hand.

The girl gave a cold look, "She's dead."

Nick was stunned. He thought she was around her or something, not dead. It must of been hard for his daughter to be out there in the cold world filled with blood and gore, people dying in front of her, screaming and crying of the people who lost their loved ones or are getting killed. Nick felt like he wasn't the best father in the world, he didn't even think about her though the whole time they were traveling. He thought she was fine with her mother.

"How did you get here then?" he asked worried what happen to her.

"Mom and I were rescued by the Army and they took us here. When we got off the truck one of those Longers got her and it broke her neck. The Army guys didn't bother saving her but they took me in quickly." Nick knew what a "Longer" was. A Smoker. The girl didn't cry at all but kept a straight face.

"Do you want to stay with me or something? I don't know I wasn't a very good father now was I" he said jokingly. She didn't smile or laugh. After a short silence she started to giggle.

"I'm staying with my boyfriend, Dad. I don't need to stay with you or anything."

"You're too young to have a boyfriend! You're like, 13 years old, Claire."

"16, Dad. I'm 16."

"Shit, time flies by."

They started to both laugh. Nick didn't really care about the Poker game that much now, instead he liked spending time with his daughter. Knowing she was all grown-up with a boyfriend made him guilty he wasn't there for her most of the time. With those thoughts floating to the back of his mind, he wanted to say something. Until someone came right behind her out of the doors next to her.

"Claire, ya ther', hun?"

The girl turned to the man behind her as he hugged him with his red button up shirt. "I'm here, my darlin'"

Nick's eyes fixed on to he's daughter's boyfriend. He knew exactly who her boyfriend was and how much he hated his life at that moment.

"Keith, this is my dad!" Claire said gladly.

Nick's eyes were blank and wide. He wanted to take a shotgun and just blow his head off clean. Not only did his only daughter have a boyfriend, it was Keith. Out of all the people in the world it had to Keith.

"Now, will ya look at that! Yer the guy I keep bumpin' into! What a small world!" Keith said as he put his arm around Clarie.

"Yeah, what a small world." Nick replied with a friendly voice, but in the inside he wanted to say "Get your hick-ass arm around my daughter right now." but, he couldn't it was his daughter's boyfriend and he had to play nice.

"Well, I actually have to go, um, some friends of mine are waiting for me. So, I guess I'll see both of you around." Nick said as he picked up the bag full of beers and hard liquor.

"Well, it's good to see you again, Dad. I'll see you around, too." she gave a signature smirk only Nick could do. She had her father's wits and smile, like any other daughter. She gave her father a good-bye hug and left his arms to join her boyfriends. Nick gave a nod and smile to Keith, which he really just wanted to leave him with a death stare and walk away. Instead with their finale good-byes, Nick began to walk to his destination.

"I love you, Dad!"

Nick stopped dead on his tracks. He's eyes began to fill up with tears. It was so long that she said that to him and it brought back so many memories when she was a little girl saying how much she loved him. The conman turned to say what he's wanted to say for the longest time. "I love you, too, Claire."

A few moments after the father-daughter reunion, Nick got to Coach's room where he saw the young mechanic and the elder playing cards. The conman just smiled, for an unknown reason. The best he could think of was just playing a game of Poker again. But there was more to that to bring such a smile on a lonely man. He sat down on the floor with his friends and pulled out what he bought.

"So, you guys ready to start this?" the eager conman said, pulling his bottle of beer to his lips. He quickly spit out what was in the bottle back from where it came from. Confused, Nick looked closely to what the bottle read.

"Did you just buy non-alcoholic beer?" the oldest man said hiding his laughter.

"Nick, what the hell! I've been dyin' for a cold one for a month now, you gotta be kiddin' me."

"Look, Overalls, I highly don't give a shit. At least we got whiskey and vodka." Nick replied in a snap. He wasn't in a mood after finding out his own daughter was dating a hick.

"Will you two stop fightin' lets just start this shit already, okay?" Coach said as he started to deal the cards.

The both men nodded in agreement. Nick reached for a glass on the nightstand to pour a glass of whiskey for himself.

"Make sure it's real" the young boy giggled as the conman gave him a death stare. May be he was right. Nick took a sip of the whiskey and sat there in silence.

"You had to jinx it, did you," Nick said as he put the bottle away. "It's God damn apple juice or some shit."

"Of course they ain't ganna sell alcohol in a CEDA camp! I mean, come on, they don't need any drunkards on the street around 'ere. Kids are here y'know." the mechanic stated.

"The hell do you think of is beyond me, just whatever and get in the game, Overalls." Nick muttered as he started to look at his cards.

"Whate'vr you say, Nick."

It was a good hour until they started to bet. They found pills in cabinets-just to keep everyone sane- that they used as poker chips. They had 10 each, every pill cost 100$. They didn't have the money, but Nick insisted it's the way to play poker with or without money. The two other men agreed and started to bet.

After a while, it was 4 o clock and the boys were starving. Coach said he was going to meet his old football team in the cafatria with Rochelle, so he left the game. With only Ellis and Nick in the room, they continued playing one more game before going down to get food as well. The two men headed downstairs to where they could get a bite to eat. The young boy wondered around looking for a table to sit with his companion. Nick just grumbled to find food for the two. He didn't like the way they gave the food out, it reminded him of school. The way they'd line you up to get moldy food with trays they are scratched with graffitti. It reminded him of his childhood, where he would be the one to start fights at lunch. He grew up with only his mother ever since his father left to gamble and sleep with hookers. Much like Nick, his father was always wanted number one. Emotional scars were part of Nick's past and present, forgetting the times he was abused by his father.

With those thoughts aside, he grabbed the food they served, not knowing what it was, and returned to find Ellis talking to a girl. Oh shit...

Nick rushed up to the two as he placed the trays of food to Ellis and hugged the girl.

"Hi, Dad." the girl said as she hugged back.

"Dad? Wait, don't tell me yer her father, Nick! I didn't know you had a daughter of your own! Shit, she looks a lot like ya." the mechanic said with a tip of his hat.

Nick knew exactly what was going to happen, Keith was going to come to get Clare back, then Ellis will see Keith and they start hanging out again. Not the best thought in the world but it was a thought that could ruin everything. He had to knew if he was around first.

"So, where's your boyfriend?"

"Oh, he's around here somewhere," she turned to a line of people about to shout, ",hey Kei-"

Nick's eyes grew wide, he had to do something. Fast and quick.

"Claire, it's okay you don't have to call him!" he interupted before he came here and saw Ellis.

The teenage girl crossed her arms. "May be your friend here wants to meet him."

"You remind me of your mother when you do that. His name's Ellis by the way."

"How do you do, Claire!" the boyish charm took over Claire quickly. She began to blush for a moment and un-crossed her arms. Her face lit up with a smile as she gave Ellis a handshake. All Nick could do was just stand there and do nothing, totally unaware of what was going on. He was looking out for Keith.

"Hi, Ellis. Do you want to meet my boyfriend?" she said with the same smile on her face. Her blushed died only of moments until meeting his dark blue eyes again.

"I guess, I dunno. What's his name, though 'cause Nick 'ere had to cut in. To be honest I really don't know if we got time, but I'd like to meet him!" Ellis said nervously and unsure what to do. He was looking at the clock behind the girl on top of the line of people to get their food. It said 6:30 P.M, which meant he only has a few hours to say good-bye.

"Oh, don't worry about it! I'm sure he's around here," Claire said as she flipped her hair out of her face. Her smile and eyes where still fixed on to Ellis' dark blue eyes. "By the way he's name's-"

"Kyle. He's name's Kyle. Can we go, Ellis? I think Rochelle wanted us to meet her in her room." Nick said covering himself and Ellis from Keith. He really didn't want Keith to interfear with his day with Ellis.

"Okay, I guess." the boy replied.

"Wait that's not his name, Dad. It's-"

"And, we're leaving! Bye, honey! I love you!" Nick quickly pulled Ellis out of his chair to follow him to the apartments. The conman just looked forward without looking back. He wanted to say why he was rushing out of the scene but he could mention it around Ellis or Claire. He was in a situations he didn't know how to get out of.

Confused, Claire just said she loved him, too and left to find her boyfriend. Ellis didn't know what was going on but he just followed Nick to where they were heading. To Rochelle's room.

Both of the men walked back to the apartments to find Rochelle. For no reason, Nick really wanted to see her and Ellis agreed. Still puzzled, the young boy was thinking of a way to catch the gamber's attention. He thought of saying, "Why'd we rush outta ther'?" or "Why didn't we stay to meet your daughter's boyfriend?" but to his common knowledge of Nick, if he asked any of those questions he'd be dead. Ellis wanted everything in the world to tell Nick about how he feels about him before the virus takes over him.

The virus. He forgot to tell him about it. Ellis was choking on his own words and just swallowed them back. They were already at Rochelle's room.

Nick knocked on the door to see if she was there or running around the camp. They were lucky, she was in. Rochelle was in a blue shirt with a black vest, which was matching her black skinney jeans. The two men complimented about her new outfit and in return she let them in for some coffee.

Rochelle had picked up some coffee for her late night report about her journey with her team. She gave the boys two of her coffees as she promised. She sat down on the floor along with the rest of them, since there was only one chiar. With a sip of her coffee, the young reporter was edgar to talk to Ellis.

"Ellis, honey, how you holding up?" she asked with another sip.

"I've been good, Ro', nothin' to worry 'bout!"

"Well, that's always good. Did you tell Nick about it yet?"

Nick turned his attention away from the young man to Rochelle. What didn't he tell him?

Ellis coughed and looked over to Nick who was still staring at Rochelle.

"Ro', this ain't the best time." Ellis said as he sipped his coffee.

"No, no, no, this is the perfect time. What didn't you tell me?" Nick said as his eyes started to fill with fire. He hated not being told the important details in somethings. He hated being left out in something at least and was more angered it was about Ellis.

"I tried ta tell ya in the elevator 'n' all, but we got cut off." the mechanic tried to defend himself.

"Yeah, that's okay, I guess," Nick said trying to come down with a sip of his coffee. "So, what's this thing you didn't tell me about, Overalls?"

Ellis looked at the top cover of his coffee, trying to hide his watered eyes. He didn't want Nick to find out like this. Not at all.

"I-"

"Nick, promise you won't get mad. Promise?" Rochelle interrupted grabbed Ellis' hand. She knew if she didn't say this Nick would of killed the poor young man.

"Promise, promise, 'kay now tell me." the conman agreed without a second thought. All he wanted to do was know what this secret was.

"Promise Ellis. Promise him you won't get mad." she said concerned. She knew he didn't mean those words before.

The gambler turned to meet Ellis' darker blue eyes. He looked deeply into them, trying to find this secret without words. To Nick, words hurt more then just thoughts. He sighed and still gazed at Ellis. "Ellis, I promise I won't get mad at you. Now, can you both please tell me before I burn you with this coffee." There was the old Nick they knew. Ellis and Rochelle knew it was fine now to tell him about the virus.

"Nick, I...I'm-er- inf-infe-"

"Spit it out, Overalls!" Nick said to the stuttering boy.

"I'M INFECTED." Ellis shouted out. It hurt to say it to Nick. It hurt to say it in the first place.

Nick sat there stunned. The old conman was speechless the first time in his life. Rochelle's hand was slowly being squeezed by the mechanic. He was in pain and lots of it. He placed his hat over his eyes, hiding his teared eyes again.

"Why didn't you tell me first thing." the conman said as his head was down with his left hand covering his eyes. His hand left his eyes leaving red around his eyes. He was slowly crying, not wanting to show it.

"I tried, Nick, I tired, I just didn't want to tell you right away. Didn't even wanna hurt ya or somethin'. I care 'bout ya and all. I wanted to make ya happy today and spend it with you. Nick, I just can't hide this much longer. Nick, I-"

"I know." he interrupted

"What?"

"That you love me."

Rochelle was blushing a bit with all of this action going on in front of her. She only sipped her coffee, sat, and watched.

"How did you know?" the mechanic asked with his tears falling.

"Because, Ellis," the conman's face was closer to the mechanic. His lips kissed the young man's own pair sweet lips. They were cold and Nick bought the hot to warm his cold dead lips. Letting go of the small kiss, Nick looked up into Ellis' darker blue eyes the color of the ocean making small rivered across his face. He whispered to the mechanic, "I love you."

Ellis' face turned into a shade of red. He couldn't believe it, Nick in love with him? How did he know he loved him, too? May be it was obvious to both of them. The dear bonding they holded together broken by a force that was invincible. Love.

Nick turned to Rochelle who was still stunned. She was still sipping her coffee staring at the red mechanic. She turned to see the conman staring at her, which made her turn to the other side looking as if she saw nothing. Rochelle knew about both of them. She knew they'd get together or just tell each other how they felt about each other. Countless times, Nick would talk to Rochelle about Ellis and how he felt about the boy. The same went for Ellis, he would talk to Rochelle about his feelings towards Nick. All she did was wait until this happened. Were they finally figured out they loved each other.

The only problem was:

Time is running out.