Disclaimer: Nope, don't own
Pairing: Jack Carter/Nathan Stark
Established, T, Prompt: Zombies
Word Count: Approx. 900
They're holed up in the bunker; all six people, six people in a town of how many? Jack's exhausted, physically, emotionally, mentally; the only thing that's helping him keep it together is the thought that they should be safe in there. S.A.R.A.H is still functioning, which is some sort of miracle in itself. Not her voice, but basic things. He actually misses the sound of Fargo's feminized voice. He needs to get everyone out of Eureka, has to warn the world, because this time, this time he doesn't think that there's anyone left to help him figure out a way to reverse this.
He's pretty sure there's no cure for whatever most of Eureka has become.
But for now, they're safe, or as safe as they can be. The fact that super geniuses don't make super genius…whatever it is they've become is another blessing altogether. A small part of Jacks mind suggests zombies, but he hysterically tells that part to shut the hell up.
Zoe is curled up on the couch with Pilar under a blanket; Kevin had fallen asleep next to them. They both had taken to staring off into space, long given up on crying. Vincent is in the kitchen, cooking everything he can get his hands on; to take his mind off everything he had hysterically explained. Jo has her guns spread out on the table, polishing them, cleaning them, making sure they won't jam so she can use them on the things that used to be their friends.
Jack, well Jack is alternating between searching his mind for some semblance of a plan and twisting the new gold band on his ring finger.
All he wants is to wake up to discover this was all a nightmare, but he's not that lucky. He can't be- he saw Allison die in front of him and he was helpless to do anything; he was there when Henry sacrificed himself so they could escape. Part of him figures that Taggart is still out there; these things seemed to stay away from the denser parts of the woods. Fargo, Beverly, hell, even Lucas, he has no idea. And then there is Nathan.
Jack grits his teeth, eyes suspiciously bright as he turns on heel and leaves the room. He can't let anyone see him shatter, so he climbs the stairs quickly and seals himself in his room.
His room? Hysterical laughter escapes his lips. His room? It was his and Nathan's room- had been for the past year. He has no idea where Nathan is, if he's alive, if he's infected. It's the worst part of this all.
Everyone down there is depending on him to get them out of there and he's barely holding it together himself. He's lost Nathan, Allison, Henry, countless others; he doesn't know if he can do this. He has to, there are still five people down there depending on him, there could still be more survivors; hell, there could people out there right now that know how to reverse this.
Somehow he cannot convince himself that Eureka will ever be Eureka again.
His head jerks up, instantly tense as a noise comes from above. They've gotten through- his stomach twists uncomfortably, this could be it.
"Jo!" He screams, searching the room for any type of weapon. There are footsteps pounding up the stairs, as he keeps his eyes trained on the vent in the center of the room. She bursts through the door, gun trained on the metal, handing him one of his precious weapons without having to be asked.
He's tense, gripping the gun, waiting- waiting for something. He gets his something.
The metal covering of the vent crashes to the floor as a body falls through, his finger on the trigger and-
"Don't shoot!" The voice may be hoarse and the body may be covered in dirt and dust, but he'd know them anywhere.
Jacks throws himself across the room, dropping the gun in his haste. The things outside couldn't speak and he's never been happier to hear his voice. All he knows is that if he doesn't get a hold of the man lying on the floor of the room, he'll die.
"Nathan, oh god- Nathan." He breathes, wrapping his arms around the man and squeezing with all his might. He doesn't think he'll ever let go.
"I'm okay, I'm okay." Nathan soothes, arms coming around Jack, even as Jo leaves the room to tell the others what happened. He's crying, he can't believe it, but he is. "I got away." Jack doesn't bother asking how he escaped, how he survived, because all that really matters is that he did. The pounding of feet running up the stairs is their warning before a third body throws themselves at them, joining their awkward hug. Jack shifts his arm so that he can hold Zoe as well, feels Nathan do the same and links their hands together.
Something inside him unclenches slightly as he seeks comfort from those he loves. He has his family. He'll make it through this, he'll get them all through it, for them.
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