Warm heart
Chapter 3

Nick's eyes slowly opened when he started to get awake. His back was hurting like hell, from sitting against the wall all night! He yawned and stroke with his hand throw his hair. 'Jesus, that fucking headache was coming back' he tough annoyed and wanted to stand up. But then, he felt the warmed of another body that was leaning against him. Than it came all back to him and he groaned annoyed again. He looked around the room. 'Coach and Ro are still not back'. He sighs. Yes, this was all fucked up!

He looked at the hick next to him and saw the sweat and the painful expression on his face. And then he notice how hard the boy was shaking, even with his jacket still on.

"Fuck" Nick hissed throw his teeth and put his hand on Ellis' forehead. "No fucking way!" he said when he felt that Ellis was burning more than the day before. He was getting worse!

He looked again at the hick and a feeling of helpless washed over him. He didn't felt that in years! Normally, when some woman got sick wen he had just a 'night' with her, he just walked away. But he couldn't do it by Ellis. He just couldn't leave him and let him die. Even if they are in a zombie apocalypse and their hopes, of getting out alive, are getting smaller every day, he just couldn't leave him. Hell, he didn't want to leave him!

"Jesus" he mumbles while he rubbed a hand throw his face. Why was he feeling like this? Why is it only around that, stupid, Overalls? Why could it not be with Rochelle? Why Ellis? He never had feelings for…. Feelings? NO! He didn't have any feelings for that stupid hick. It's because he was sick and Ro and Coach are not here to take care of him, so he needed to do it. Or that is what he said to himself.

Ellis shivered when a cold feeling when throw him. He opened his eyes and saw the gambler still sitting next to him, just like they had before he fell asleep. He shivered again and snuggled closer to the older man. He didn't care if Nick didn't want him close. He was so cold! His head was hurting like hell, just like his throat. And the feeling that he had to throw up was also his problem. He didn't want to make Nick more annoyed by throwing up over him. Even, it would be funny to see him jump up and scream like a girl. A little smile was coming on his face, but washed away when he started to cough.

Nick broke out of his thoughts when he heard the young one coughing. He sit up a little so that Ellis was sitting more. "Easy there" he said and started to rub the boys back gently.

"I… I hate this" Ellis mumbles when his coughs stopped and he leaned back against Nick.

"Well, Kiddo, you just got back luck" Nick said and moved a little uncomfortable when the hick leaned against him again.

Ellis chuckled a little. "I always got back luck"

"That's because you talk too much"

"Sorry" Ellis was a little hurt by the words of the man. But he could understand that he was annoyed. He was sick. Coach and Rochelle were still not back. And zombies are everywhere! This was more fucked up than it was before.

Nick saw the hurt in Ellis' eyes and sighs. He needed to go to look for Ro and Coach. They couldn't be that far, and Ellis was old enough to be alone for a couple of minutes. Even if he was sick. So he pushed to boy away from him and lay him down on the sleeping bag.

Ellis looked confused at him. "What'ya doing?"

"I'm going to find Coach and Rochelle" Nick answered when he stood up and walked to the table with some ammo and guns on it. "They shouldn't be that far from here. So you will be-. What the fuck are you doing?!" he yelled out when he saw the mechanic starting to get up.

"I'm coming with ya" Ellis said while he tried not to let his legs shake. It was not a good idea to just stand up like that. The feeling of throwing up was growing more and he felt dizzy. But he didn't want to be alone. Hell, he didn't want to let Nick go alone.

"Are you, fucking, out of your mind!" Nick said more annoyed then he already was, and he was so annoyed! "Your fucking sick! You will just slow me down or you will be killed by those zombies!"

"Ya will be killed by thos' zombies to" Ellis said while he, slowly, started to walk to the table. 'Please don' fall' he tough. It will be embarrassed when he said all those things, but couldn't even walk to a table! "What if a Charger or a Witch or something else, attack' ya?"

Nick didn't like the idea of that. The hick was right. It would be his dead if he went alone. But he didn't want that Ellis was getting more hurt than he already was! That kid had a high fever! It was a miracle that he could even stand on his feet! Just when he tough that, he could see the boy losing his balance. He stepped forward and hold him up before the boy hit the ground.

"Shit" Ellis hissed while he grabbed his head and leaned against the gambler. "My head hurt' like hell!"

"I told you to lay down" Nick said sighing and started to lay the him down again. "I'm going to look for Rochelle and Coach. You just stay here, shut your mouth and get some sleep" he was already busy to stand up. But a hand took his wrist and he was pulled down again. "Overalls-"

"Please don' go" Ellis begged and looked at him with wide eyes.

Nick stared at those eyes and could see the fair. The fair that is there sins the start, but he never saw. He sighs and shake his head. "Ellis, I need to go and find the others"

"Y-ya can' do that alone" Ellis said while he tighten his grip on the other wrist. "Ya'll be dead!"

"For Christ, Ellis" Nick said while he pinched the bridge of his nose, closing his eyes. "I'm just going to look for Rochelle and Coach. I'll be back before you know it"

"What if ya get attacked?! Ya alone! Nobody can help ya!"

"I know that"

"Then stay"

"Overalls-"

"Please Nick, I don' want ya to go!"

"Overalls-!"

"Please, Nick! I don' wanna be alone!" tears were coming in the mechanics eyes, but he was to tired and too scared to care for that. He has to make Nick stop!

Nick, who has still his eyes closed, was getting more annoyed with every word Ellis was saying. Why could he not even shut up when he was sick! That fucking his was a real pain in the ass! "Listen, kid. I'm going to find Rochelle and Coach, even if you like it or not. So-"

"NO! Please Nick!"

"ELLIS SHUT THE FUCK-"

"I DON' WANNA LOSE YA!"

Nick eyes snapped open when he heard the words coming out from the hick. He looked at his face and saw the clean lines the tears had made on his dirty cheeks. And more tears were already coming. He couldn't help to stare at the mechanic in disbelieve. The always happy, smiling, loud, annoying kid was now… Broken. It hurt him to see Ellis like that. He didn't like it! It was not the boy he lo… NO!

Gently he put his hand on the others cheek and rubbed away the tears that were rolling down. "Don't cry, Ellis"

"P-please" Ellis sobbed while looked into those beautiful green eyes. "P-please don' leave me"

Nick stared back into the hicks hazel eyes while his thump was still stroking his cheek. He could just go. Like he ever cared for someone! Why should he care now?! But the problem was he was caring for Ellis now. He didn't want to see him cry or be in pain. So the only thing he could do now… He sighs. "Okay, Overalls. I'm staying"

"R-really?" Ellis sniffed while a smile was coming on his face when the gambler nodded. "Thank ya, Nick"

"Just get some sleep. Maybe you will be feeling better tomorrow" he pulled his hand away from his cheek and sit back against the wall. He needed a cigarette!

Ellis nodded and snuggled closer to Nick. He let out he comfortable sigh when the warm of the others body warm him up. "Thank ya, Nick"

Nick sighed and went with his hand throw his hair. "Whatever kid"

Ellis chuckled and closed his eyes. When they were close, the sleep came over him immediately. He felt safe. And he was happy that he could finally get some more sleep.

Nick on the other hand, was not that happy. He knew that Ellis was getting sicker and he needed to know if Coach and Rochelle are okay. But, he couldn't leave the hick alone. He just couldn't. He sighs annoyed. Why did he feel this way to that kid? Why him? Why not Rochelle? Why him?! Why a man, damn it!

He stroke his hair back and looked at the hick's face. He couldn't help but to smile a little. He looked cute somehow…. NO! He did just not think that another guy was cute! He couldn't! No! NO! Damn this whole shit was making him crazy.

He froze when he felled Ellis nuzzling his face in his neck. He let out a defeated sigh and put his arms around the other, holding him as close as possible. Maybe, just maybe, the hick was doing hit. Let his cold heart melt, into a warm heart.