WOOT! I'm back! Lol, I'm watching MANswers while writing this...just wanted to share that with you guys. You know what its time for...RANDOM NICKxELLIS FACT/ADVENTURE!

Random: Did you know that if Nick dies in the game (this is proven and are exact words from the L4D Wikia) Ellis will expirience "trauma" and will go through a period where he does not talk, even when being attacked by the special infected. He will resume talking whenever Nick has been revived with the defib or rescued from a closet. (now my own words) AIN'T THAT THE SHIT, GUYZ? MORE PROOF!

Chapter 3 - Guilt and Orientation

Nick jerked his head up from his arm, gasping. Fingers laced into his, Ellis shifted a little in the bed. His eyes were still closed and he whispered weakly. "Guys...? Where are you..."

"Ellis," Nick wrentched out, struggling to form coherent words. "I'm right here. Are you okay?"

"Nick?" The mechanic turned a little on his side, eyes barely fluttering open. "Wow, man...what happened? I feel like shit..."

"You look like shit." Nick resisted the urge to laugh, knowing it wasn't the time or place. But the relief was bubbling up in him and it was hard to contain. So instead, he let out a shaky sigh. "Whatever the hell that thing was got you good."

"Yeah," Ellis laughed half-heartedly. "Sorta came outta nowhere. Din't know what the hell hit me." His eyes were open now and looking at Nick. Then, his blue eyes traveled down to their hands and he instantly blushed. "Oh, sorry..."

Nick looked down. He hadn't realized he was squeezing Ellis's hand. He quickly pulled away. "It's...nothing." He backed away from the cot and sat down in one of the folding metal chairs in the tent, crossing his arms. "Goddamn, goddamn, goddamnit..." Nick cursed over and over again. He shook his head slowly.

"What's wrong?" Ellis asked quietly. He tried raising up on the cot, but instantly found that he was unable to. He collapsed back down on the bed.

"Don't fucking try to get up, you goddamn hick." Nick said, the severity of his voice intimidating Ellis. He did as he was told and stopped fidgeting around the cot. "And nothing's wrong." He turned to stare out of the tent.

It had been a long day and the sun was starting to set behind the low-lying building. It cast out a deep orange haze across the buildings and parking lot. Nick continued staring outside until the top of the sky started turning dark.

"Coach and Rochelle ain't here." It was a question, he already knew.

"They're out looking for water and food probably." Nick muttered lowly.

"Because of me, most likely." Ellis murmured, his voice full of guilt.

Nick's reply didn't help one bit. "Yeah." It was all he said and obviously he didn't feel like conversing with the hick right now. He drew a breath in through his teeth, making a hissing sound, then exhaled in a big gust. Ellis didn't urge the conversation on, to his luck, and quickly turned over, facing away from Nick.

He couldn't understand why he'd been so fucking worried, why he had started falling apart. He had barely known the kid since this afternoon. He couldn't understand why the thought of losing him made him break like that. There was people that he'd known all his life he wouldn't give two shits for if they died right in front of him. But the kid...Ellis...

Goddamn, he wanted a cigarette right now. His lungs ached for the nicotine and he could swear he tasted it in his mouth.

He hated when it got like this, quiet and lonesome. It gave him time to think. And when he had time to think, he found himself mulling over the issues in his life, like where he'd go next or what his ex-wife was doing...And he didn't need that happening. He was a gambler, a risk-taker. He wasn't the type to sit and think about what he's gonna do. He'd always thought life was too fast to miss up on and you gotta try and catch every moment you can.

"I'm sorry..."

Nick had tipped himself back in his chair and almost fell out of it whenever he heard Ellis speak. His voice was quiet, sad, guilty, and lonely...

"Excuse me?" Nick found himself asking. Why the hell was he apologizing? For all Nick knew, he should've been the one apologizing. He was the asshole, the dick, the pessimist, the one everyone disliked...

"I'm sorry, y'know...for runnin' ahead like that and stuff. I coulda got you guys hurt pretty bad or even worse. It was stupid, y'know. Real stupid."

"Why are you fucking apologizing? Goddamn, you really are stupid, kid." Ellis flinched. "So you ran a little bit ahead, whoop-dee-doo. Big deal. Whatever. It's nothing to fucking spill your guts out over."

Ellis remained quiet for a few minutes, but his lips pulled up in the corners, trying to form a smile. He didn't know why he wanted to smile. He just did. He turned over, wanting to thank Nick, but then hissed in pain as the movement pulled at his cuts and injured shoulder. "Owww, ow, ow...damnit, this hurts like hell..."

Nick stood up from his chair and walked lazily over to Ellis's bed. He grabbed the supplies he'd laid out earlier, helping Ellis sit up on the cot. "Guess I might as well do this myself since it doesn't seem Coach and Rochelle aren'r coming back anytime soon." He started spraying the disinfectant on the claw wounds.

Even though his heart was racing from Nick's mere touch, he still retorted against Nick's remark. "Don't say that, man. They're probably gonna be here in a few minutes."

"Hah." Nick snorted, putting the disinfectant away. "Highly doubt it. Their probably dead in a gutter somewhere." He went to grab the mechanic's arm, but found that Ellis had jerked it away from him. "Oh, now what?"

"Dontchu even say that Nick! They're fine! They're probably jus'...maybe they..." Ellis struggled for a believeable explanation for their delay, but failed. He stared emotionessly down at the bed sheets, hands trembling.

Nick rolled his eyes and snatched Ellis's arm back. "I was kidding, kid. Can you take a joke?"

Ellis glared hard at Nick, but didn't jerk his arm away this time. "That ain't no joke Nick. That's jus'...depressin'."

Nick couldn't protest what he said. He really never was the type of guy for comedy. His whole life was pretty much one biy dramatic play. It was like Romeo and Juliet, only Juliet gets her ass handed to her and Romeo walks away, laughing insanely...

Wait, what the hell did he just say?

"Whatever kid." He finished wrapping Ellis's arm, and cut the gauze, making sure the wrapping was tight, but not too tight. He began to undo the old bandages wrapped around his shoulder, discarding them. He brought out a new roll of gauze and began rewrapping it.

Ellis kept quiet, mainly focusing on his and Nick's breathing. It was completely dark outside and only a still-running street-light offered some light into the dark tent. He tried his best to ignore the small and faint brushes Nick's fingers made against his skin, but couldn't tear his mind away from the sensation. Without realizing it, he closed his eyes, sighing contently.

Nick pretended he didn't notice it. Or maybe he just didn't want to notice it. He tried his best to dispel it, but eventually the question bubbled to his lips.

"Hey, overalls..." Ellis looked up at him, waiting. "How do you, uh...roll?"

Ellis felt his mouth go agape. He stared dumbly at Nick who just slowly continued to mummify him. Eventually, he saw Nick grow edgy and decided to answer innocently. "Whatchu mean, Nick?"

Nick groaned. "My god, do I have to ask the question directly?" He surprised himself at how straightforward and casual he sounded now. "Your orientation?"

"Uh, I...w-why are you askin' me that? I kinda think that's my own bus'ness...?" Ellis had never been a blunt or completely serious person, so when he spoke, it came out sounding unsure. He knew that Nick knew this.

"Just wondering, kid." Nick convinced himself to look up from his handywork and smirked at the mechanic. "Why are you freaking the fuck out?"

"I'm not freakin' out! That jus' took me by surprise!" Ellis yelled at him.

Nick couldn't supress the grin that spread across his face. A laughed a little. "Oh, so you are a faggot, right?" He laughed again, this time louder.

"I-I'm not!" Ellis protested, but his face was lit up with a bright blush and his blue eyes showed frustration. He turned away and scowled, mutturing. "Stop laughin' Nick. You're bein' an asshole."

Nick tried to stiffle his laughing, and he laid a hand on Ellis's good shoulder. "S'Okay, kid. I'm not judging you. We've all been there once or twice."

Ellis's eyes widened. "...You?"

Nick finished his laughing and sat back in his chair, letting out an exhausted breath. "Sure, why not. I won't deny I've done a little something here and there."

Ellis pursed his lips in deep thought. If Nick had done that...then what did that mean for him? Wait, what the hell was he talking about? Him and Nick? He had to be shitting himself. That was a LONG shot. Nick was a con man, a gamblin' man, someone who dressed fancy and got around. Ellis was just a southerner who spent everyday of his life hanging with Keith, Dave, and Paul and working on cars.

There was no way it could ever work out. Ellis, lowered his eyes, saddened by his revelation, then turned over to lay down.

"Yeah, might as well get some sleep. Coach and Rochelle might be back in the morning. If not, we'll look for them tomorrow. I bet they're in the mall already, anyway." Nick mused to himself.

Ellis curled up on his side and hugged his pillow to his head. It was the way he always slept, since he could remember. The cool night air blew into the tent and he felt it lluring him into sleep. He wasn't fighting it.

But his eyes shot open when he felt an arm snake around his waist. He hadn't even felt the bed shift, but now Nick was lying next to him.

"Nick, what're ya...-"

"Ah, shut up. Don't fucking complain, I know you're loving this. So just shut the fuck up and go to sleep already." He felt the con man rest his head on Ellis's good shoulder and the room fell quiet.

It wasn't long until he fell into a comfortable sleep.

Aiyiyiyi! FLUFF! I'm loving this more and more.

I was squealing whenever I was typing this. Just the thought of Nick 'casually' putting his arm around Ellis and resting his head on his shoulder like a couple...SQUEEE!

Y'know the drill everyone...R&R!