Nick woke up alone in the bed with a raging headache. He didn't remember going to bed at all last night or even what happened after he started to drink, but he had a feeling it was something that would not be pleasant for him. He found a half empty bottle of rum next to the bed on Alice's side.
"Shit what happened last night? I just remember drinking to relieve stress; after that it's a blur."
He held his head about to get up as Alice walked in seeming a bit angry.
"Looks like you're up pretty boy."
Her voice was harsh, not like her normal banter. She was clearly angry about something. She threw a bottle of pills at his head and walked off. Shit what did he do last night? Nick rubbed the spot where the bottle hit and sighed opening the bottle. After the pills kicked in Nick got up and looked for Alice; she was sitting in the same chair he was drinking in last night waiting for him.
"Nick what the fuck is wrong with you? I find out you tried to con me when you came into my room drunk off your ass and rambling like an idiot. With the same breath you also admit that you can't do it to me. How the fuck do you expect me to take that? So explain yourself before I leave now and let you fend for yourself."
Shit, he was hoping that's not what happened last night but it seemed he let the whole damn cat out of the bag.
"Yes I was trying to con you but Alice conning 101 states you can't con someone you have an attachment to. Damn it Alice I've never had this much of an issue with a con. Yea it was easy at first but then, then I saw who you are and I was drawn to you god damn it. I tried pushing it out of my mind but my feelings for you grew. Fuck, what a mess I'm in. I'd rather face the damn zombies."
Nick was sitting in a chair opposite to Alice his face in his hands sighing. Alice was quite in thought but Nick had walked up to her and softly rubbed her cheek with his thumb. Alice just sat there not moving.
"Alice I.. don't like the idea of you dying. Fuck, I don't what you to go to DC for that same reason. The idea of you being hurt makes me feel sick. I feel like a god damn idiot right now but Alice please forgive me. I'm sorry Ally."
Alice sighed and took his hand in hers. He felt her shake some; he wasn't sure if it was out of rage or if she was upset. He didn't want to push his luck. He got his answer when a tear ran down her cheek.
"I forgive you Nick. I do understand the magnitude of what you just told me and I'm the same damn way. I'm honestly not that pissed off, I'm just a bit hurt. Nick if you want to come with me you can but I'm sorry I need to go to DC. If I die then I die."
Nick felt relieved but then that feeling was back in the pit of his stomach. She was still going to go to hell. He wanted to push more on the subject but he just got out of the shit house, no point in jumping back in. Nick kneeled down to meet Alice at eye level and smirked his hand still on her cheek.
"Well I guess that means you're my bitch princess then, and that it's my job to protect you. Well if that's the case I should tell you I have spent some time in prison and I'm not legally allowed to carry a weapon in case you were worried."
Alice laughed some and rolled her eyes. Nick smirked more and rubbed her cheek bone softly.
"Wow you doing time, not that surprised. I bet a pretty boy like you became someone's bitch really fast."
Nick laughed some out of amusement. No one fucked with him in prison, in fact a lot of people were his bitch. He looked in her eyes then pulled her up into his arms and smirked more.
"You're still mine and I might as well make you mine."
Nick pressed his lips to hers holding her tightly trying to lead her to the bedroom playing with her pants but felt her hands move his away. Nick sighed realizing he just pushed his luck.
"No sex Nick, not yet. I'm still not happy with you so I'm not 'rewarding' you for it. Besides my wounds could still open back up and bleed. I was thinking of heading out today."
Nick sighed again but nodded. He was going to go for another kiss when there was a bang on the safe room door.
"Damn zombies have shitty timing."
Then Nick blinked hearing someone on the other side calling for help, a voice he knew all too well.
"Hey is anyone in there? We've got a man down and we've been runnin' for our lives for a while."
Nick jumped up quickly and opened the door seeing Coach, Rochelle and a bleeding Ellis. Alice tried to stop him but wasn't fast enough. Nick stood by to lead them in quickly and looked a bit worried.
"Nick, you're not dead? Never mind that shit just let us in."
Coach walked in quickly Rochelle following as she supported Ellis. Nick closed the door quickly seeing a horde of infected right behind them then turned to face the group.
"Nick what the hell are you doing? We don't know if they're infected."
Nick cut Alice off and turned to her after he secured the door.
"Alice this is my group, looks like they just saved us some time. Now don't you have a job to do Ally?"
Nick pointed to Ellis as the infected pounded on the door hissing and growling. Alice just looked around the room at the new faces as Ellis spoke up.
"Hey guys, it's nice we're all back together but I'm not feelin' so good. Them sons-a-bitches beat the shit out of me. Whoa, who's the girl Nick? Did you find yer self an angel too? God damn Nick we were worried about ya and here ya are."
Nick just ignored him as Alice walked over to Ellis running her eyes over his wounds.
"I'm just going to inspect your wounds kid but I need to take off your shirt. I'm trained as a doctor. It might hurt a bit."
Ellis nodded allowing Alice to take off his shirt. There were some deep gashes on his chest and stomach. She hummed to herself some as she pulled out her medical supplies and cleaned out the wounds.
"Hmm it just seems like some deep wounds. I'll need to stitch them up and wrap them but you'll be fine. There's a place for you to rest but we can't stay here for much longer. As for you Nick you better not pull that shit again. I've not been careful for you to put us both in danger. We got fucking lucky."
Rochelle was in the back laughing some as she watched.
"Nick you better introduce me to your 'angel.' I mean I'm happy we found another woman that's alive but I'd like to know her name."
"Whatever Ro. Anyway this is Alice, she saved my ass after that damn charger dragged me away. Ally the women is Rochelle, the big guy we call Coach and the annoying kid is Ellis."
Ellis rubbed the back of his head smiling some and laughed. Nick was already regretting letting the kid in.
"Well it's nice to meet ya Alice. Is it ok if I call ya Ally? Well shit Alice and Ellis rime."
Alice looked Ellis square in the eye and smirked then went back to her work.
"So this is Kiddie Land I see. Damn you we're right Nick he does act like a 5 year old with gun."
Ellis blinked and laughed some just as Nick expected. The kid could take an insult like a champ so Alice would have fun with him.
"Hey Kiddie Land is amazin' and I ain't no 5 year old Nick. Ally you already remind me of Nick but you're purty."
Nick looked at Ellis and growled some.
"Hey I'm a handsome man Ellis. Even a hick like you can see that."
"Well I hate ta disappoint ya Nick but I don't swing that way. You're ma bro, besides my heart belongs to that girl Zoey."
Nick sighed face palming. Rochelle put a hand on Ellis' shoulder.
"Sweety it might be a long time before you see her again. Besides we need to get to New Orleans. I'm sure she want to see you again but you need to take care of yourself."
While everyone was bantering Coach had unrolled his map and Rochelle was looking over the map with him, it seemed to have more marks on it then he remembered but he was back with them. He looked over to Alice and she was digging in her medical bag.
"Ok Ellis I need to stitch you up. I don't have anything to numb the pain so you'll have to bear with me."
"Well alright Ally. It'll hurt like a son-of-a-bitch but I thank you for healin' me like this."
Alice smiled some and started to gently stitch him up. Ellis gasped and grunted but took the pain. After some time Alice tied off the last stitch and stood up pulling out gauze to wrap the wounds.
"There. I'll check them in a few hours but you should be fine Ellis. I'd normally say we should say here for a few days but after the infected wander off we should head out. I'll stay back with Ellis to make sure he'll be ok. Once we find a safe house I'll stay for a few days then I'm heading out."
"Wha', where you going Ally? Can't ya come with us? I mean you saved Nick and fixed me up. We could use ya."
"I have my reasons Ellis. I think we should eat and get some rest though. I'll give the infected a few hours before we can head out."
Alice took a cigarette out and handed one to Nick and light hers. She then pulled out some cans and her generator going to hook it up to the oven in the kitchen to start cooking after she was done smoking.
"I don't feel like one right now Ally but thinks. I'll just save it."
Alice just shrugged and tuned around. Rochelle watched Alice then looked at Nick waving for him and Ellis to come over.
"I know that woman, we interviewed her at WTTQ for a story on the infection. She works for CEDA. Hell she was one of the scientists on the front lines researching the Green Flu. So why is she here and not with CEDA?"
Ellis perked up and looked at Alice.
"Really? Man this reminds me of the time my buddy Keith met this women at a bar. She wasn't a scientist or nothin' but she was on the news a few days ago for.."
"Ellis is it really the time for this?"
"Ok Nick. Sorry."
"Anyway I don't know. All I know is she has a damn death wish and is heading to DC for some damn reason."
"That's a suicide mission. She can't go there. God damn it Nick she'll be a zombie burger in a matter of days. What I wouldn' give for a burger right now."
Before anyone could say anything else Alice walked over with bowls of rice and baked beans over it.
"It's not much but it's food."
Everyone took a bowl and at quietly. It seemed the four of them were thinking over Alice and her working for CEDA. It blew Nick's mind why she wanted to go to DC but he was going to stop her.
"God damn, this is one of the best things I've had in ages. Shit Alice you can cook."
Coach give Alice a pat on the shoulder and put his bowl down, the others were in agreement but Nick just sat there silent.
"I'm heading to bed for the time being. Wake me up when you're ready to leave Ally."
Before Alice or anyone else could ask what was wrong Nick was gone. He walked into the room and looked at the bottle of booze tempted to drink the rest of it be remembered what happened last time. Instead he got in bed resting his head on the old pillow. He didn't want to talk to them about Alice wanting to leave and didn't want to hear them ask her about it. Nick just wanted to be alone right now.