AN: Thanks for the support everyone, you're keeping this story alive ^^
Left 4 Dead is property of Valve.
Happiness Is Not a Smoking Gun -8- The Cod Father
"No way, it's my turn!" Ellis protested with a pout.
Nick openly laughed at Ellis' assumption that he cared.
"I know it's your calling to drive a pick-up truck, but let's let Nick take the wheel," Sophie reproached.
"And I don't think I should be in the back seat with Soph if she decides to start singing again," Cas added wearily.
The hick looked between them, his brow furrowed. Once again he had pulled the shorter straw. He had even been more excited about the pick-up than the Porsche. It seemed second nature for him to be the one to drive it. Not Nick.
"Let's get a move on, shall we?" Coach suggested.
The same three piled into the back of the pick-up, allowing Nick and Sophie to once again take driver's side and shotgun.
The trip to the marina wasn't as long as everyone had thought. Cas had said it would have felt even shorter if not for her friend's low singing in the front. At first, Sophie had been helping Nick out with directions, but once she decided he could handle it on his own, she started humming intelligible words. Apparently, Cas' complaints had made her better at pronunciation and she was soon in full swing.
"Have you seen my sister, Evelyn? Fuck! She's gone and wandered off again!" The blonde sang with gusto. Admittedly, it was better than the falsetto, still, it sounded like a 1950's show tune.
With a groan of defeat, Cas buried her face into Ellis' shoulder. It didn't help much with the noise though.
"Now, now, Cas," Ellis chuckled, "it's a pr'ty funny song."
"And it's annoying," she whined.
A few minutes after that, Nick slowed the truck and pulled up to the marina's front entrance. The group held their celebration though. Scattered about the area, zombies wandered around aimlessly. The survivors couldn't help a chuckle or two at the occasional zombie that stepped over the dock's ledge.
"I'm surprised there's still boats," Cas commented as they exited the vehicle.
Sophie sighed. "Zombies don't steal boats, Cas."
"That's not what I—" the girl cut herself off; she wouldn't win. "Never mind."
"Alright," Sophie started, grabbing everyone else's attention, "Ellis and Cas, can you go in the main building and look for anything useful? Nick, Coach, we'll stay outside and work on the boat stealing zombies."
The pair offered a nod and a sigh (Cas offering a glare at her friend's sarcasm), then moved to the building to complete their task. For the most part, the shop was lined with fishing supplies and boat parts. Near the front, there had been a few snacks which the two had been happy to collect. Other than that, there wasn't anything else of much interest. Ellis did, however, find a box labelled 'adrenaline'.
"Should we show it to Soph'?" He asked curiously.
Cas shrugged. "Might as well."
Back outside, the three had pretty much cleared the area of any infected. Cas and Ellis were soon to meet up with them outside, the box securely under the hick's arm.
"What'cha got there, Overalls?" Nick asked.
Ellis held the box out in front of Sophie. "It's a-dren-a-line."
The blonde muffled a laughed as she took the box. "Well, this should be amusing."
Nick watched as she opened the box. "Don't those—"
Before he could finish, Sophie stopped him with a wave of her hand. Then she grinned at Ellis. "I'll take one if you do."
A look of worry washed over his face. He could barely pronounce the name of it, how would he know what it did?
Sophie let out a small giggle, knowing full well what the shots would probably do. Assuming it was adrenaline, then all it would cause was a temporary boost of energy and activity. She could get Ellis to help her bring the boat she spotted over. If it was anything else, then they got high as a kite and had a fun time.
No harm, no foul.
She uncapped one, gesturing for Ellis to get closer. Hesitantly he walked toward her.
"Now, yew're sure this is safe?" he asked.
"It should be," she answered, nonchalantly.
"What if it isn't?"
"I guess we're gonna have to find out then."
Before he could argue, Sophie grabbed his arm and stuck the needle into a vein, administering the liquid strength to him. Quickly uncapping a second needle, she gave herself a shot.
Seconds later they were both jittering.
"This is like coffee!" Sophie cried excitedly, her eyes growing wider. "No! Better than coffee!"
Ellis seemed to be in the same state. "Awe man! Feels like I'm floatin'! Let's get us a boat!"
Cas face palmed as he scampered off in excitement, bouncing every step of the way.
"Soph, I can't believe you drugged my fiancé..."
"You better believe it!" She replied quickly. "It'd probably make for even better sex!"
A sigh escaped Cas' lips. They were long gone.
"Might as well sit down and enjoy the show," Nick suggested as he patted the spot beside him.
He and Coach had cleared a spot on the ground where they could watch the two at a safe distance.
"ThisonetimemybuddyKeithwhenan'baughtaboatandwewasgon'liveinit!" Ellis rambled.
Nick and Cas shared an unimpressed sigh. On the other hand, Coach was having a blast watching the two run around and go on about the most random things as they (attempted to) set the boat up. In all truth, it had been comical for all three of them, but it wasn't Coach that had to live with them.
"Why exactly did we let our spouses take adrenaline?" Cas questioned skeptically.
"No clue, but at least you can back out of yours."
The two shared a laugh as a sail boat was pulled up to the dock. Standing up with Coach, they walked over to the boat's entrance, keeping wary eyes on the drugged pair.
"Welcome aboard 'The Cod Father'," Sophie announced over dramatically. "We shall be departing in..." She paused and grabbed Nick's wrist, looking at the time. "Now."
Once the team was on the boat, Coach and Nick assisted with setting the mast and sails, allowing Sophie to take care of navigation. Cas and Ellis decided to head down to the living space under the deck. There, they found a small kitchen area, a table for four, and a cramped set of bunk beds. Of course, there was also a washroom, which Cas decided to venture into.
"Hey, where'd yew go?" Ellis called from his spot in the 'kitchen'.
Not getting a response, he moved through the living space, poking his head into every area she could be. The last section was the washroom.
"What'chew doin'?"
A crease had formed on the girl's brow as she studied her appearance. She had totally expected the ruffled and dirty state she was in, but that wasn't what was bugging her. Blankly, she poked at her cheek and watched as the puffed skin indented.
"Uhm, Cas?"
The girl dropped her hand and spun around with a grunt. Ellis could clearly tell she wasn't happy, but if he wanted to help, then he'd have to figure out what was wrong. Unfortunately for him, she pushed past him and headed up to the deck.
"Young'un, do you know where you're going?"
Sophie's course had taken the boat back and forth from either side several times. It wasn't the most efficient method of getting to their destination, but she was going in the right direction. Generally, at least. The swaying of the boat had Nick hunched over the side rail, taking deep breaths to relax.
"Suck it up," she told him, turning the boat back to the right.
"With your driving skills? No can do," he retorted weakly.
All fell silent on the dock, until Cas came bounding up, trailed behind by Ellis. She had been cursing under her breath. If it wasn't one thing, then it was another.
Maybe once they got to the island, things would finally settle down.
FN: Wooo, they finally made it to the boat! A boat! A boat? Who said anything about boats? lol, i remember that being in someone's review from the first series. Whoever that was, you're awesome :P