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He was all the way down the other end of the hallway, she could still shoot. But all she could do was stare. He yanked the gun out of her hands.
"Are you insane? You trying to get yourself killed?"
Teekay nodded slowly.
"Why? Why would you try and kill yourself? Whatever's wrong, we can fix it."
She said nothing for a moment.
"Can I have my gun back please?" She asked quietly.
"No!"
"Parker, it's no use. We don't have time for you to fix it. Just give me the gun."
"Why? What happened?"
Teekay sighed.
"I got ambushed by some zombies. Nine of them I think. They were stronger than the others. I couldn't push past. It took all my ammo and my last decoy to bring eight of them down. The last guy I had to fight with a knife. I thought I could push past, but he grabbed me. He managed to get under my vest somehow I think. I don't really know. What I do know is... he bit me."
Parker stared. His heart sank. The only thing he couldn't fix. There was nothing he could do. She was right to try and use the gun. Why her? Why did it have to be her?
"I'm sorry. I guess I am inferior compared to the great Parker Luciani."
"No you're not."
She chuckled weakly.
"Oh really? Look at you Parker man. You're still standing. You got through The Terragrigia Panic, The Queen Zenobia Incident and you'll get through this no problem. Meanwhile, I get killed on mission one. Just like everyone said I would. But, I don't regret coming here. Coz I wouldn't have met you."
She looked down at the journal in her hands.
"Here. I found it in the lab."
Parker opened it, and read the first page like Teekay had done.
"A cure? A cure! You're saved! I'll just find the cure and you'll be fine! Wait, you knew this... and you were still going to kill yourself?"
"There isn't time. That combination could be anywhere. We-" She sighed and hung her head, "You need to find Jessica. Where's Raymond?"
"...We don't know. We never regrouped. I can't get in contact with him, obviously, but neither can Quint and Keith. They came up here a few minutes ago, saying they'd got in contact with you. Before you were infected I guess." He trailed off, "They're looking for you."
She handed him her radio.
"You need this more than I do..."
He looked at her for a moment before he radioed Quint.
"Jackass, this is Parker. You and Grinder make your way back to the elevator immediately."
"What about Teekay?" Quint asked.
"I found her."
"Ok. Be there in five minutes."
Parker sighed.
"Once they get back, I'll drop you off in the room we were in before and go looking for the cure."
"You're wasting your time. You should be looking for Raymond. He could be in serious danger."
Parker said nothing.
Teekay picked up her knife.
"If you aren't going to make the right choice, I'll choose for you."
He grabbed her wrist seconds before the blade cut into her throat.
"You're not going to die! I won't let you!"
"Why not?" She asked angrily.
"Because, because-"
"Why do you care? What does it matter if I live or die? You've seen a million new recruits come and go. How am I different? What makes me special?"
"I love you!" He yelled.
She stared.
"W-What?"
"I love you. I'm in love with you. I don't think I can live without you. You can't die."
She kissed him, sort of shocking him into a calmer state.
"I love you too. I understand. I can't live without you either. But you have to see this from my point of view."
"I can't-"
"Just listen. If you find the cure, and you bring it to me, I won't turn into a zombie. But I will die of blood loss. It's inevitable."
"You won't. The helicopter's still out there. Once I find the cure, you and Keith can leave and get the medical attention you need."
"And leave you, Quint, Raymond and Jessica here without an escape?"
"Once the helicopter drops you off, they'll come back for us."
"It takes hours to get home and hours to get back. You could all be dead by then. Or we'll die on the chopper."
"They'll take you to the nearest hospital, and come back for the rest of us. Don't worry."
She sighed and leaned against him. They sat in the hallway, foreheads pressed together, saying nothing for a moment.
"How long do I have?"
"I don't know. An hour. Maybe two."
She gripped onto her shoulder, trying to apply pressure to the wound.
"Is it bad?" She asked. She hadn't had the courage to look at it too closely.
Parker bit his lip. He stared at her.
There was blood tangled in her hair, it stained her clothes and covered her hands. If he moved her hand away, he could see bone.
"It's pretty bad." He admitted, "Doesn't it hurt?"
She nodded.
"Yeah, it kills. Why?"
"You just seem to be handling this pretty well."
"I know. I surprised myself, even."
"We're here!" Quint yelled. Keith was completely leaning on him, wincing with every step.
Teekay frowned disapprovingly.
"Keith, you shouldn't be moving around so much. It's not good for your leg."
Keith shrugged.
"I'll be ok."
"What the hell happened to you?!" Quint asked.
"She's been infected." Parker said weakly.
Quint and Keith stared.
"What?"
"I've been infected with the T-Virus and have two hours to live, tops." Teekay said simply.
"But..." Quint trailed off.
"It's not all bad news. There's a cure." Teekay said, "Parker man reckons he can find it before I turn. I'll die of blood loss anyway, so I don't really see the point."