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Rated T

Drama / Adventure / Friendship

Zoey & Bill

English

Alive

Chapter Eight

Zoey's feet led her to Bill.

Her trainers not making a sound on the flooring. It had taken her all necessary courage not to push him to one side and give him what for right there in the main area. With waving hands, a horribly loud voice and some near-hyperventilating from the young student.

But common sense had won her mind, common sense and oddly enough, Francis' comforting words of support. Who knew. Hell, she even knocked on the door to Bill's quarters instead of just barging in.

He appeared close to soon after she knocked. The taken aback expression said everything, that and the rapid blinking and lack of cigarette in his wrinkled mouth.

She turned to head away. "You're sleeping, I'll come back later." Her voice was still cheerily young, despite the current ongoing situation.

"Ah, bullshit. I'm up now, I'm up, kid." The older man blinked again, he yawned and allowed the youngster access to his room. Easing the stiffness in his old bones, Bill collapsed his body on the military bed. Thankful for sleep and even the not quite up to scratch food on offer in the medical, science facility. Their new home. Their protectors, their security, even their guardian angels to some.

"I knew why you left." She blurted. It was followed by a lungful of air. "You did your duty, even though no one ordered you to. You did what came naturally – the people you were protecting are something close to safe in your eyes now, so you went out to help other people." Zoey scowled. "But I couldn't help but be worried. Sure, we're secure here. Sam's fun to talk to. Louis is brains more than brawn. And then, worse case scenario Francis would lead us to new safety if it wasn't, he's brawn alright." She linked her hands and fingers together and shrugged with then joined.

"Wait," He rubbed his eyes with a weathered, scared old hand. "You thought I abandoned you?" Bill narrowed his eyes.

"Well, you didn't take me with you, or stay here with me. Or perhaps yet, you could've talked to us each in turn before going away on such a freakin' dangerous mission." Close to yelling now, Zoey paced, hands on her hips.

"So, what you're saying is – I need to ask your permission?" Bill half gaped.

"No! All I'm saying is I wished you had come to me first..." The female sighed and crossed the room to the door.

"Zoe', no. Wait, I've got you something. Before all the stuff was picked over." Bill lifted his pillow up and got something from underneath it. He followed her and handed then to her while he looked her over, looked her in the eye. "Hope they're alright."

She looked down to what he'd placed in her open hands. "Wow, wasn't expecting that." Zoey gently smiled and thumbed the old, yet new stack of books. Ranging from mystery, romance and general fiction. "You raid a bookshop or library, old man?" Her smile grew.

"Nah, they were near the check out in the mall thing, store place and thought of a lady that might appreciate them."

"Oh. No, I do! Thank you, Bill. This is very nice of you." She kissed the war vet on the cheek and hugged him lightly.

"Aw, shucks." He laughed out a message of thanks and rubbed her shoulder. "You're welcome, kid."

"Thanks. I'm sorry about what I said." Zoey grimaced.

"Don't worry about it. Ya needed to, now no worries. Off to your own room, it's rude to keep the elderly waiting... even if you're keeping them from sleepin'" He smirked and ushered her to the corridor beyond his room. It was good to be back.

It was good to have him back, and even the workers looked light hearted as they went about their work passing her in their haste, excused one another as they passed each other in the endless blue corridors. The only way they were able to move around in the underground facility with confidence was the small directional signs on the walls, the different lighting – white, sensory lights for the civilian inhabited sectors and blue for the workers, security and everyone else in the base. Zoey headed back to her own room. Sam, most probably already fast on; tired from her day's duties and the excitement of the team back plus survivors.

"Keep you're eyes ahead, Missus." A calm and collected voice washed over her, immediately afterwards, she found herself following the unknown voice. "So the big man's back, I am glad. And I'm betting you are. If not more?" Louis appeared at her side.

Exhaling deeply, she looked over her friend. Grateful it was him who had spoken to her in her ear and not anyone else. "Absolutely. Where you off to, Louis?" She eyed him quizzically.

It earned an eyebrow raise and a curl of lip from the black man. "Work. Again." Louis nodded.

"Again with the working through the night? That, my friend, is not healthy." She smirked.

"Mm, I did it before all this. Will keep on doing it, to be quite honest, I like it." He nodded to himself again.

"Well I'm off to go and sleep, you know, like a normal person. You can walk the way with me then go about doing what you do best." A smile graced her lips at their friendly banter, truly honest as near to all was right with her world again.

"Sure, thing. I'm working in a new area this evening, excited!" The man beside her rubbed his hands together in glee and stretched them over his head as if to ready himself for his night's service.

"Cool, where?" Zoey eyed the door to her quarters as they rounded a corner that led onward to an elevator. "This is me, and please get some coffee before you start." She shook her head in dismissal.

"It's level 2 - just a bit up from this one and also, just a tad lower from them out there all one the surface. And yes, dearest one. I will." His voice raised an octave as he gave a slight roll of his eyes. It went very nearly unnoticed by his close friend. "Sweet dreams. If that's possible." He clasped his hands on her shoulders and looked her directly as he pulled her into a hug. "Glad you two have made up." Louis raised both brows and bid her goodnight before he made for the elevator.

Zoey watched him punch both directional buttons and wait for it's arrival. In seconds he was inside and waiting to ride it to an upper level, she closed her room's door in time to see the metal doors hide him from view. Was her change in emotions that blatant? The brunette shook her head as she went in search of peaceful sleep.

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