I don't own Left 4 Dead and/or it's characters. The beautiful, brilliant brainy peoples at Valve do.

First time writing a Left 4 Dead fan-fiction. Hope you enjoy! Happy reading and please review! :)

Thank you to those who have faved, followed & reviewed.

I'm still continuing due to lack of reviews – hope you like this next chap! Belated nod to the Resident Evil movie back in Chapter 2. that gave me some of the inspiration for this fiction. That and The Walking Dead.

Thought I'd give you a second chapter one in one month! Seasons Greetings!

Rated T

Drama / Adventure / Friendship

Zoey & Bill

English

Alive

Chapter Five

With her hair in it's usual long, loose ponytail, two strands at her cheeks, Zoey waved over at Sam. She saw the redhead scanning the unusually busy main sector of the building with guards in heavily armoured clothing. Some had see-through riot shields, others carrying a big assault rifle in their arms.

For once she was up at night time. Seeing the night shift busy themselves with their once unknown out-of-sight duties.

Sam reached the younger woman, taking in her clenched jaw and pressed together lips. She frowned and looked about her, as if to question her expression.

"I'm gonna miss that son of a bitch." Zoey swallowed hard.

"Hey, he's gonna be just fine, let me tell you. He's with the best boys we have here – taught in both tactical and defensive attack, all packing some pretty heavy gear too. Extract, search and retreat." Sam gave a quirk of the head and continued with a small but definite noticeable lilt in her voice. "That's all what's to it, really."

"Great." The brunette replied, a sad smile forming on her lips.

"...word has reached the grunts here of your handiwork on cardboard Joe." Sam cracked a smile. Then realised her stab at humour.

Since the young college girl turned bad ass Zombie killer – Francis' words – Samantha Frost had found something that could quite possibly be fun within her cold, scientific job and role at the facility. Even though the reward of helping people and the ever present feel of making a difference in the world – before and after the apocalypse was a reward in it's self. But just waking up, knowing there was someone, a fellow female in a man's job able to give her friendship and sisterly love and tendencies made it all the more worth it.

As well as providing her with a chance to tell a joke or two.

"They wondered what happened with their cardboard friend and by word of mouth, found out it was your handiwork." She smiled. "I think someone's getting their guard gun training!" Sam said in a sing-song voice.

Zoey returned the smile and nodded. "I can't wait!"

Sam's eyes smiled again. "Now, you feelin' better?"

The smaller brunette smiled then rubbed her stomach, feeling all previous tension gone from her body. "Much better."

She turned to the bolted shut large garage door but felt Sam grab her wrist, getting her to turn back to her. "A warm drink, a snack then bed for you, Missus." The doctor beamed then was ever, went back to her duties.

"Just hope Bill's feeling better!" Zoey called to Sam. "He's a miserable bastard on nicotine withdrawal!"

Sam turned and raised her hand in a raised thumb before jogging away into the further recesses of the building.

Zoey took her eyes away from Samantha's departure and made her way to get some food. Somehow getting used to the routine the science facility had created in her, she walked over to the refectory, hoping to get served the usual helping of coffee and whatever treat they had cooked up this time for her and the workers.

As she made her way over, her mind swam in worry and anxiety of what might be happening above ground, her thoughts solely on their father figure: Bill. The bad-ass Grandpa and Army vet to the core. Probably relishing in the fact he could deal out misery to the horde that once troubled his team.

Currently, possibly finding out new survivors to bring back with them. All the while battling the undead that they and he once battled to get to the facility - now he was doing the same to help others to achieve the same thing.

Thinking after getting served to go look for her friends to converse about their time in their new home and the break from them and the leader of their pack, Zoey grabbed two coffees – managing to carry one in her cast hand and went in search of Louis. Imagining he would be the easiest to find out of her two friends.

The latter most probably holed up with technology, wires and computers up to his eyes.

After several minutes of trying to find Louis; looking important, asking for directions once and as if she owned the place – Zoey had found her once IT workaholic friend. Finding him a few floors more down underground, where the computer systems, mainframes were less than likely to overheat.

The slim business man was sat on a corner of two tables in the middle of the room, tapping away at a computer with a handful situated on desks around the sides of the room. Louis' brown eyes drooped with a need of sleep, a break or the brown coloured gold Zoey had in a cup for him. He rubbed at his eyes with his thumb and index finger before loosening his already informally swaying red tie.

"What ya doin'?" Zoey cheerily asked, accidentally startling the black man.

She winced comically and reached the cup of delightfully smelling coffee to him. "I come bearing gifts." She handed it to him.

"Didn't your Mom ever tell you not to sneak up on people?" Louis smirked and took the coffee. He hopped off the table and left the computer running something that looked like it should have been on a screen in the Matrix movies. "How you holding up, girl?"

He added before she could reply.

"Was gonna ask you the same thing. It's one of the reasons I came to find you." She shrugged. "You look like you need the coffee."

Louis nodded, truly happy with the female for providing him with the means of a few more minutes, if not several working on his current task. "Ah, I do. Thanks." He looked over his shoulder at his computer. "I can leave that for a couple of minutes."

"You sure?" She perched on the table.

"Sure. I'm reconfiguring the back up plan that had the power, water and security systems shutting off if the PIN code isn't entered every night. It's to save energy from the generator if we get broken in and if... something was to happen to the people. I'm changing it so the code has to be entered in every week instead of every night. Less trouble but it'll take a while." He finished. "What's on your mind?" He said with a troubled sigh.

Zoey inhaled deeply, closing her eyes as she breathed in. "I'm worried about him." She answered, pouting slightly.

"Don't be, darlin'. Don't wet your eyes, he's gonna be just fine. He managed to get us all to safety, didn't he?" He tried a smile. "And it was with a lot less people. Inexperienced with a gun, too..." Louis opened his hands out to her, with one still wrapped around his coffee.

Which, she noticed was halfway down and still emitting steam.

"You never knew how to fire?" Zoey's mouth fell agape.

He nodded. "Hmm-mm. Got to where I am today by killing a guy -my work mate with a damn fire extinguisher. No guns allowed." He punned. "Now." Louis moved over to hold Zoey's wrist.

"You stop worrying." Louis made eye contact with her. "He's gonna be fine, we're gonna be fine. So go get some sleep and you can give me the rest of that if you're not drinking it."

Seeing Louis gesture to the only sipped coffee, Zoey left in on the desk and hugged the taller man. "Thanks, Louis. You're a good friend." Feeling heat radiate through Louis' thin white shirt, she embraced him more.

"Aw, man. It's nothing." He hugged Zoey back.

"Heh. Make sure you get to hit the hay yourself. You look like you're almost there now." she chuckled.

"A few minutes more, Mom?" He gave a big brown eyed puppy dog look which made her smile.

She nodded at him and made to leave. "Just don't stay up to late." Zoey headed to her quarters for the night, hearing Louis hum to himself as he finished up on his work. Knowing talking to the most positive man she knew would rest her mind for the time being until their leader was back with them.

End of Chapter Four.

Hope you enjoyed! :D As ever, please review! I want to know your thoughts/suggestions and what you want to happen!