AN: Lots of angst and some Brittana. I enjoyed writing this chapter even though it gave me feels galore. Gah. Either way, sorry for the long wait. Hope you all enjoy the update. :)

"We have to move faster!" Blaine's voice boomed throughout the group. Quinn noticed his sweaty, curly hairs falling over his eyes and covering his face with wetness. The once clean shaved boy was now covered in facial hair, a few scratches on his face and even dark shadows under his eyes. She knew the boy...,man, would stop at nothing to keep the one he loved safe, and that was Kurt Hummel.

Kurt looked almost as scruffy with his facial hair growing in, she was sure he didn't even grow hair. But there is was as well as his muscles that she had never seen before. Both of them looked as if they had been in the military for years, their physical appearance changing the most out of everyone. Puck only got more muscular and Finn lost weight, as well as Mercedes. Quinn was actually quite concerned with Mercedes from the amount of weight she had lost over the span of two weeks. Tina looked the healthiest out of all of them since Santana wasn't eating at all. Quinn had confronted her about it earlier promising that if Santana didn't eat neither would she. It wasn't hard, actually, and she knew Santana felt the same. Nothing ever appealed to her, it was either tasteless or not worth the effort to eat. Her body throbbed, her heart ached, everything inside her was burning to find Rachel. She had to find her.

"Quinn! Come on!" Quinn heard a deep voice shout to her only to notice that it was Kurt, his vocal chords no longer possessing the high pitch she was so use to hearing. She hadn't noticed how far behind she had gotten. Quickly jogging, she caught up to them.

Everyone had their pistols in their hands, with the acceptation of Kurt with his swords, holding them with white knuckles as they cautiously made their way into the Lima Mall parking lot. It was empty besides a few abandoned cars. Quinn noticed the slowly sinking sun behind the building as worry started to fill her, the zombies loved to attack during the night. She wasn't sure why, but it was their favorite.

"We almost there?" Mercedes heaved slightly. The walking had warn all of them out, Quinn's legs feeling like jell-o with each step she took.

"Yeah, we just gotta find a way inside while making the least amount of noise possible." Puck whispered back. Sarah's headband was completely drenched on his forehead as he turned to see the group staring at him.

The doors she had seen so many times were so close, the glass handles never looking as glorious as they did in that moment. She wanted to jump forward so badly and just be inside, in the safe confines of the building where she could get food, water, better weapons and more secure clothing. Her jeans as well as the rest of the group looked terrible.

As they continued their cautious walking through the parking lot, a ear breaking scream sliced through the complete silence, forcing all of them to cover their ears and turn only to be met with about ten of the...zombies.

"Oh. My. God." Tina said, gulping beside them. Quinn only tightened her grip on the gun, her heart racing and her mouth going dry. She knew it would only be a matter of time before the fight actually had to begin. Glancing back towards the boys, both Finn and Puck gulped loudly, their faces white as paper while Puck made eye contact with her, his giant orbs now filled with sorrow and desperation.

She turned back to the monsters and took note of their horrendous face, the movies made them look like a ball of sunshine compared to what she was actually looking at. Dirty, rotting skin was now peeling off their face, their eyes solid black and if they had hair it was practically gone. The bony structure of each zombie defined their muscles and their sunken cheekbones only made their bloody, moldy mouths look that much worse. The stench was almost unbearable, the smell of rotting eggs and burning hair filling each of their noses.

"What do we do?" Finn asked, his hand shaking.

"Well," Puck started, adjusting his headband, " we fight." And with that, he ran towards them, his pistol in front as he shot round after round. "Aim for the heads!" He yelled at them.

Quinn took a deep breath and followed soon after, she wasn't sure what on earth made her do it, but she did. And she heard the others run right behind her as well. Puck had already reached the creatures, shooting as many as he could before his gun gave out to which he just began hitting them with the back of his gun, slamming the hard metal across their jaw and painting his face in bright red blood.

Aiming her gun, she shot one, two, three bullets through the head of some man who was inches away from biting Finn's arms off, the man falling to the floor. She heard a loud growl behind her, turning swiftly, she was met with a brunette girl, a little shorter than her with a pink skirt on.

"No." Quinn said to herself as the girl lunged for her, her mouth opened wide while two large holes stared at her. It happened so fast that she didn't know what to do.

A loud 'slice' was heard throughout the parking lot and the girl fell to her knees, her head rolling off her neck and right in front of Quinn's feet. "What did you do, Kurt?!" Quinn screamed out, falling to her knees and looking at the head in front of her.

"What the fuck, Q?" Puck said, running after her, the last zombie falling to it's death. "Get the hell away from that thing!" Puck pulled at her arm, dragging her away from the limp body.

"Get off of me! You killed her!" Quinn cried, tears streaming down her face.

"Who?!" Kurt yelled, his eyes filling with tears as he dropped his swords, his hands shaking far too much to be holding the weapons.

"Rachel, you asshole!" She cried out, pulling her knees against her chest and sobbing in the small crook. Everyone circled around her, giving each other looks before turning back to the sobbing girl.

"Quinn...what are you talking about?" Tina approached her cautiously. "That isn't Rachel..." Putting her hand around Quinn, she noticed the small twitch.

"It's not?" Quinn replied, picking her head up and looking at Tina with tear stricken eyes and a red face. Sniffling at her nose, she got up to look at the lifeless body while letting relief spread through her. She didn't have a big, adorable nose or the small figure that she was use to seeing. "I-I'm sorry.." Quinn said, shaking her head and getting up. "I just...I'm going a bit insane...I want to find everyone."

She got up, Kurt helping her with his shaky hands. They had all been staring at her, she noticed, until she shook it off and went for her gun. "Are you okay now?" Mercedes asked, going up and hugging her. "I know you want to find everyone, but you have to breath a little, okay?" Quinn nodded at Mercedes soft words before breaking apart. Her eyes met Santana's, and even in that brief second she knew Santana was able to see passed her lie. She was always able to.

They all made their way safely into the mall, forgetting about being quiet for the lack of food in their body was too strong to have them pay attention to anything else. Their feet hit against the floor loud while they ran to the food court upstairs.

Quinn's heart was still beating, the events that occurred only moments ago still fresh in her memory. She was so set on finding Rachel that literally everything made her brain believe it was her. The amount of pain that spread throughout her body in that short amount of time was impossible to let go of, as if her whole world had sudden came crashing down on her. For that brief second her life had ended.

They were all finally in the food court, upstairs, the boys running for the kitchen in the pizza place while Tina and Mercedes ran to the burgers next door. There had to be food still good.

"Quinn." Quinn heard the voice behind her, soft. She knew before even turning around who it was.

"Yeah?" She replied, her mouth dry and her limbs achy from the vigorous running.

"Wanna tell me what happened back there?" Santana asked, approaching the girl slowly. Turning, Quinn saw her, leaning against a table with her eyebrows furrowed.

"Nothing happened, San. I told you, I want to find everyone and I was scared that she died."

"Bullshit, Quinn. We both know if that was anyone else in this room you wouldn't have broken down like you did." Santana basically yelled throughout the mall, her voice echoing against the walls.

"Drop it." Quinn said through gritted teeth. Then there was silence.

"I wont force it out of you, but I want you to know that I'm still your best friend. You've been helping me and I appreciate it, but now I figure it's my time to help you."

"I have nothing for you to help me with."

Santana only breathed heavily at this, her eyes shutting briefly. "Listen, we are all tired and scared more than half the time, we want to find everyone and I know that we each have our own issues, but that's why we stick together. To help each other, we are a family now, Quinn. I want to find Brittany just as much as you want to find Rachel." Quinn shot her a look. "Yeah, I know, okay? I've always known. I'm not an idiot, Quinn. You make it stupidly obvious. But I can promise you th-"

"Santana?" A small voice cut the girl off. Quinn noticed the sudden hard face of Santana fade away instantly, her slit-like eyes forming into large orbs and her cheeks turning bright red. Tears flooded her eyes automatically as Santana turned quickly to be met with Brittany a few feet behind her, tears in her eyes as well.

"Britt..." Santana breathed out, her hands shaking as she ran to the girl behind her. Brittany stood still, letting Santana's arms wrap around her securely, holding her and sobbing into her shoulder. "I found you." She cried out as Brittany held her just as tight, her lower lip curling into a pout as she shook. "I knew I would find you."

There was a loud commotion behind Quinn. She turned to see Blaine, Kurt, Puck, Finn, Tina and Mercedes coming back with trays of cans and other edible things to eat. "We found Brittany." Quinn smiled towards them.

"Brittany!" Quinn heard yet another voice over the sobbing. "Brittany, come back!" She heard it again. That familiar, soft voice that would sing the most beautiful songs in class. She knew that voice, knew far too well. Gulping lightly, she noticed everyone smiling wide.

"Looks like we found Rachel and Sam, too." Puck said, smiling towards the two as they ran out of the mattress store. Turning quickly, Quinn saw her standing there looking nothing less than perfect. She had never seen the girl look so...badass, with her gun securely in front of her. It took everything in her not to run up to her and shower her in kisses.

"Rachel.." Quinn whispered out, Rachel's eyes growing at the sight of all her friends until they stopped on the blonde just behind Santana and Brittany.

"Oh my God." Sam said, a smile on his face as he ran to everyone, Santana and Brittany still holding each other while Santana whispered words in Brittany's ear that made a smile appear on the girl's tear stricken face.

"We didn't know it was you guys, so we ran and hid. Brittany got away and ran out, so we had to go after her..." Rachel went on, walking towards everyone.

Quinn saw no one but Rachel around her. As if a bright, shiny light was radiating off of her, like God was telling her, 'Here you go, Quinn, this is your gift, from me to you.' Without even thinking about it, Quinn ran to the girl and held her in her arms, breathing heavily. "We thought you were dead." She said quietly, closing her eyes and letting the feel of the girl take her back to when things were okay.

Rachel's arms were around the girl soon after, holding just as tight. "Not quite." She joked which only made Quinn hold that much tighter until she felt a chest against her back and another on the other side of Rachel. Opening her eyes, she noticed all of her friends around them, Brittany and Santana included, hugging them all as some of them cried happy tears. Most of them were together. Almost a full family again.

Finally breaking apart, they all wiped at their eyes and hugged Sam, Brittany and Rachel individually, Quinn feeling as if a part of her had been taken away when the girl was no longer in her hold. She saw her walk around to everyone, kissing them on the cheek and hugging.

"Maybe we should take all of this in there?" Sam suggested after a while. "It's not safe to be out in the open." They all agreed. Puck and Sam both went for the trays of food, enough for everyone, and made their way inside the mattress store, Finn pulling the steel security cage down and locking it safely after the last person was inside the store, the sun slowly began to set causing the store to go lightly darker. The windows only provided a small amount of light to shine through

"We set up a small area in the back. We have flashlights and everything." Brittany said, her hand locked with Santana's. Quinn's teeth gritted at the sight as she noticed Rachel's hand empty from contact. It would be easy to just slip her hand there, so easy, but she didn't.

"We weren't here for long before Brittany ran off, so everything is sort of spread everywhere." Sam said, still carrying the food to the back and setting it on a bed. "Why did you run off?" He asked, turning back to the girls.

"I heard her voice." She said, smiling at Santana. "I know that voice anywhere."

Quinn's heart clenched in her chest. "Well, I suppose we'll set up before eating then?" She said, quick to change the subject.

They each had a job, either moving mattresses, quietly, over to their small area in the back, fixing the food, or finding more necessities throughout the store. Finally they all sat down in a flashlight lit circle, some on the bed, and began eating minus Sam and Rachel who weren't very hungry.

Everyone was talking, laughing, having fun for the first time in weeks. Quinn noticed the slight hint of her old friends back. All of them together again. She didn't really pay much attention as she was on one of the mattresses, laying with her hands behind her head. The sweetness of their laughter was calming to her, more than anything she had heard all day. It was nice to be back in the old world even if it was only for a few moments.

"Falling asleep on us, Q?" She heard Puck yell towards her. Opening her eyes, she saw him smile at her.

"Yeah, well, it's been a long day. I'm a bit tired." She spoke back, turning away from them.

"Actually, I think it's time to get some sleep." Mercedes yawned. Sam was sitting close by her, nodding. "Sam, do you want -"

"Yeah." He answered with a smile before Mercedes was able to finish. She only laughed back and took his hand, both of them walking to a mattress, next to Santana and Brittany who were currently cuddling and smiling together.

"I guess we should all get some rest, huh?" Puck said to everyone. Rachel was up, stretching her limbs and yawning. 'Please, come to me, please.' Quinn kept saying in her mind, turning back around from her spot to watch everyone go to their own bed. 'Please, Rachel.' Looking around, Rachel noticed the empty beds around her.

Without warning, both of them made eye contact for a brief moment, brown eyes to hazel. That was her chance. Her only chance. 'Just open your fucking mouth, Quinn. Just ask'

Slowly, Quinn moved over slightly to show that she could sleep there. Smiling, Rachel began walking over until Finn grabbed at her arm, giving her a soft smile and nudging his head to the bed in the far back. Turning to Quinn, Rachel gulped and nodded, following Finn to the other bed.

"Fuck." Quinn sighed, letting her head fall to the bed below. She hid her face under the blankets that they found around the store and began to breath in and out slowly, letting the anger pass and hopefully let sleep come.

"Hey, Quinn?" Tina said from above the blankets. Peeking her head out, Quinn turned to see the girl standing there. "Mind if I...?" She asked, looking at the bed.

"Oh, sure. Come on." She smiled, moving over to allow her to lay down.

"Thanks. I just didn't want to be stuck with Puckerman again, he snores too much." She laughed, grabbing some of the blanket.

"Yeah, I know." Quinn confessed with a smile. "Night, Tina."

"Goodnight, Quinn."

The truth of the matter was, Quinn wasn't going to sleep, sure she would have her eyes closed and she might be in some sort of a daze, but she wouldn't be able to sleep. There was far too much on her mind to sleep through anything.

But she had to have fallen asleep though because a few hours later she woke to some noise. Opening her eyes slightly, she heard it grow louder and louder. It was...groaning? As well as squeaking. Suddenly her eyes shot open completely and she heard it even more.

Squeak, squeak, groan. Squeak, squeak, groan. Squeaksqueaksqueak, groan.

It sounded like...No. It wasn't her and him. Rachel wasn't stupid enough to actually do that with her friends in the same room during a zombie outbreak. Anything could happen at any given moment and -

"More!" A voice sighed out as the squeaking continued.

She had to look. She had to see who it was, she needed that comfort in mind. Gulping lightly, Quinn turned quietly and slowly, the dimly lit store casting a silhouette on the wall. Picking her head up, she looked to see Santana and Brittany's bed moving with the sounds she was hearing. Brittany was on her back, the blankets covering her from the waist down while Santana was under them, most likely between Brittany's legs.

Of course. They missed each other. It was obvious that this is what was going to happen. Quinn should have known better. Feeling a small peace of mind, she turned to get back to her original spot before seeing a faint rustling in the back with Rachel and Finn's bed. Squinting her eyes more, she watched as Finn held her closely to his chest.

It was like being shot with a large bullet through her chest. Her body ached and her eyes filled with tears. Gritting her teeth, she turned around and shut her eyes, the only thing putting her to sleep was the faint squeaking from the bed and the groaning from Brittany. Occasionally she would hear a few words from Santana, words of love and need whispered to Brittany, words that she wished to tell Rachel, to hear from Rachel.

Instead she was plagued with this constant pain in her chest. Each thump of her heart was a reminder that she could never have what she wanted so badly. She could never hold the girl she wanted, perhaps it was for the best though. If either of them was ever infected, Rachel wouldn't have the burden of knowing Quinn was uncontrollably in love with her.

Maybe things would be better if she was infected.