A month and a half later

Nick's arm and side was starting to feel better. He could walk around unaided and the pain was gone. After Alice snapped at Nick, granted he had it coming, he found himself starting to like her. He even was starting to open up a little to her, but only a little. There was still the back and forth banter between them but it had become a game more than hostile words. They were sitting in their respective chairs telling stories about their fights with the infected and their past.

"So when we got to Kiddie Land next thing I know Ellis it yelling 'holy shit guys Kiddie Land.' I swear he was going to alert a horde."

Alice seemed shocked and amused at the story and started laughing. It seemed to Nick that she had never heard of someone like that, hell Nick was still surprised at Ellis's actions sometimes.

"Wow really and he's 23 years old? Holy shit how did you not shoot him?"

"Nah I wanted to but he's too good with a gun so it would be a waste."

Alice got up from her chair and started to pack up some things. She reached for cans and bottles of water packing them in a dark green military bag that had the last name of Meirra stitched on the it.

"Hey I think we should head out today. Get you back to your group and I'll be on my way. I could leave you to find them on your own if you want. I'd rather you go with the later anyway."

"Yea like you could do anything without me princess."

"Ok and who saved your ass? I think it was me."

Nick just ignored her with a laugh.

"Yea you got lucky honey. Besides you like having me around."

Alice rolled her eyes and scoffed. Nick was starting to like her little ticks. Like how she rolled her eyes when he was snarky and her sense of humor. He was far from having any romantic feelings for her, he thought she'd kill him for even trying. Besides the least amount of attachment he had for her the easier it would be to con her. She was starting to get comfortable with him and that's just what he wanted.

"Oh yes someone to eat my food and give me shit. Just want I always wanted. How kind of you Nick."

"I try Ally. After all what would you do without me. You'd be lost and bored out of your bitchy mind."

Nick got up and started packing before Alice could say anything. He didn't care what she thought, he was going to help even if she didn't want it. Besides the more he helped the more things he might be able to get off her. Seeming nice and his charm was the key to his success with women.

"Hey be careful with that. I'm not an electrical engineer so if you break it I can't fix it."

Alice walked over and tried to take the generator from him but Nick just pushed her away with his shoulder.

"No I've got this. I don't need your help packing this. I'm not a damn kid."

Alice didn't seem happy at his reaction but she walked off letting Nick do as he wanted as she shook her head.

"Whatever. If you break it I'm kicking your ass."

Alice went back to packing humming to herself. Nick smirked looking back at her as he moved some supplies and heard a small clap sound on the ground. He looked at his feet and found a CEDA ID card with a picture of Alice.

"Alison Meirra, head of experimental research. What is a CEDA department head doing by herself?"

Nick thought out loud but not loud enough for Alice to hear. He pocketed it deciding it would be useful later. Seems her story of being a government scientist was true so far.

"So where was your group heading before you where attacked? That might help us find them. Being one gun down I'm sure they have had some trouble get too far."

Alice broke Nick's train of thought and he blinked then looked back at her.

"What oh umm we were heading to New Orleans. If I remember correctly we were heading to a pier five miles out from here."

Alice stopped and thought then looked at a map and pointed her finger at a point.

"It's right there. It's the only pier that's about five miles from here. We should make it in a day or so but they might of left without you."

Nick shook his head in disagreement with Alice.

"No they won't leave me unless they're sure I'm dead. Ellis won't let them anyway that crazy son of a bitch. He's like a damn kid."

"Ok if you say so but if we don't find them in a week you're on your own."

"If you're going to leave me on my own you might as well make sure I can survive. After all you have the Hippocratic Oath as a personal moral compass. Do no harm."

Nick watched Alice struggle internally with herself which Nick found a little amusing. He knew he had found her weakness, putting others in harm's way, and he was exploiting it.

"Fine I'll give you some supplies, and ammo but that's it. You can get you're pretty boy ass on your way with that."

"Come on that's what I had before you saved me. I almost died."

"Ok I'll give you a medkit and a gun but I'm not giving you more Nick. I have a long way to go and there always seems to be medkits, pills and guns right when you need it. It's weird."

Nick decided to back off for now. He already got her to give him more than he was going to get at first. As tough as she seemed to be everyone has a weakness, even Nick, he was just better at hiding it. Luckily for him he could also tell Alice was flirting with him. He'd have to play on that later.

After Nick and Alice finished packing everything up Alice equipped herself with a Glock and a P220 Pistol as her side arm and an auto shotgun with the supplies on her back Nick followed suit save for instead of the shotgun he went for an assault rifle.

"Ready to go pretty boy?"

"Only if you are princess."

Alice smirked then opened the door. It was light out and the infected spotted them quickly and swarmed. Nick pulled out his side arm and gunned down the infected in front of him as Alice gunned down the ones on his side. She was a good shot and held her ground. Alice saw a boomer and shot it before it got too close to them.

"I hate those sons a bitches."

"God I know they get shit all over my suit. It's not easy to get bile out of a suit. Blood however is easy... Don't ask me how I know that."

Alice seemed amused and pushed forward into the street throwing a pipe bomb to give themselves a clearing to run.

"Let's go Nick, we need to head west."

Alice started running west and Nick followed. The pipe bomb beeped and a few seconds later exploded. The back street was clear of infect, or as best as Nick could tell, Alice has stepped forward cautiously looking on top of buildings and around corners.

"This doesn't seem like a good idea Alice. There could be smokers and hunters hiding all over this place."

"Do you always find fault in others or am I just that special?"

"No I'm this charming with everyone. You're not that lucky sweetie."

Nick smirked then watched a smoker attacked Alice wrapping its tongue around her and started to pull her up by the neck and shoulders. Alice wasn't able to speak as her face turned a deep red. Nick drew his weapon, fired and freed Alice. She owed him now. Alice fell to the ground coughing and wheezing as she unwrapped the tongue from around her.

"Thanks Nick really."

"Anything for you princess. I told you it was a bad idea by the way."

"Yea, yea, let's just head out."

Alice picked up her weapons she dropped when she was attacked. She wiped the infected blood off of her and proceeded forward.

After they set out they seemed to face swarms of infected and special infected each day. Alice and Nick were able to take care of them but it was starting to become too much for them after a few days. Alice was able to find one safe house after the next. In the newest safe house they both looked worse for wear and panted. They just barely out ran a tank and Alice was attacked by a hunter. Nick was helping her bandage herself up and stop the bleeding.

"Fuck first you get beat up now I do. Damn nothing is broken but the wounds are deep."

"Ally just sit back and let me. Doctor Nick's got you."

Alice panted as Nick cleaned out her gashes and feed her a dose of pain pills. Nick saw this as a chance to charm her even more.

"As much of a pain in the ass as you are you're not bad with a gun and you're beautiful as well. I hate seeing you hurt like this."

Nick smirked some tending to a gash on her hand and softly traced it with a finger which caused Alice to shiver.

"Nick come on.. you.. don't mean that."

Alice was blushing a deep red as Nick turned on the charm even more. He washed a wound on her cheek then planted a soft kiss on her lips feeling the heat of her cheek worsen. Alice wrapped her arms around him deepening the kiss but she seemed nervous and unsure and broke the kiss.

"Nick.. I."

Nick put a finger to her lips and smiled. The smile was fake but he was still getting what he wanted from her. He leaned in for another kiss feeling her fingers in his hair as he wrapped his arms around her. He had her right where he wanted her and he wasn't going to let her go until he got everything he wanted.