Soft hands gently shook Nick awake as lips kissed his neck. He knew it was Alice, it's not like Ellis would be kissing him, at least he hoped that wasn't the case. Nick rolled over and looked up seeing a haggard Alice looking down at him smiling softly. It seemed Rochelle and the others pressed her for answers, something he knew she wouldn't give.

"It's time to get up Nicky unless you want us to leave you here. I'm getting you guys as far as I can to the port then I'm leaving to head north. You're still welcome to come with me pretty boy."

Nick rolled back over grabbing a hold of one of her arms pulling her on top of him as a way to avoid the subject. As he hoped Alice fell over, and landed on top of him with a gasp.

"Ally don't call me Nicky, and we can stay here a bit longer? Besides I'm sure the kid needs some rest."

Alice sighed, and Nick felt her free her arm; seemed she wasn't buying it. Before Nick knew it Alice cuddled to him and shook crying some.

"Hey what's wrong? God I've never been good with this shit. Alice just talk to me stop holding whatever it is in."

Alice moved to get up, but Nick grabbed her arm not wanting to let her wiggle free this time.

"Nick let me go dammit. We're not talking about this now or ever."

"No we are Alice. It's obvious that something is bothering you to the point of not even caring about your own safety. Why the fuck are you going to kill yourself getting to DC. I'm not dancing around it this time, and I'm not going until you tell me."

Alice's face had become a deep red, and Nick knew he had pissed her off, but he didn't care this time. He was going to get the truth even if it meant losing her. Alice spoke in a low growl.

"Nick I'm not fucking telling you anything. You tried to con me, and now you want the truth from me? How damn ironic. Ok fine I'll tell you the truth, I fucked up at CEDA, I killed people and I keep doing it. There is that what you wanted to hear?"

She yanked her arm free as Nick was in shock. Alice killed people at CEDA? How could this be? She would die for others not hurt them. As Nick was lost in thought he felt a powerful punch to his cheek followed by searing pain. Alice was in tears, and fury was written on her face. He didn't understand but knew he pushed too much and just let her run out of the room. He sighed and got up.

He rubbed his cheek seeing now that there was more to her guilt then what she was letting on, she did something. At this point she might not tell him anything else. He heard Alice in the other room talking to Ellis in an angry tone explaining to the kid that Nick just said something stupid; he didn't care honestly. Nick joined the others ignoring the cold looks from Alice; everyone else seemed to act like nothing had happened.

"So are we heading out, or are you all going to look at me like I'm an asshole?"

Alice ran her shoulder into him as she passed and opened the door; she headed out ahead of everyone else. Nick heard shots from her weapons as well as the groan from a Boomer. Shit, Nick was going to need to patch things up with her before she'd even talk to him.

Ellis walked over to him about to put his hand on his shoulder, but Nick shrugged it off, and headed out. He could see Alice was already several feet ahead and a Boomer was heading her way about to blind side her. Nick didn't want to yell, and attract more plus she might shoot him. Instead, he ran over, shoved the Boomer away and shot it with his shotgun. Alice looked back, her face expressionless, then looked back taking out a zombie that headed her way babbling.

After a few hours of travel everyone was covered in gore, Alice more so then anyone else. Nick figured he was to blame for that; not that he felt bad for what happened, ok maybe he did a little bit. She needs to talk this out with someone, and he has a goddamn right to know.

"Damn we killed a ton of those sonsabitches. Ally you're a damn fine shot."

Ellis was gabbing away like always and Alice was still angry, but entertained Ellis by engaging in conversation with him.

"My father taught me to shoot, hell he gave me a mini Marine boot camp experience. Threw me out in the woods with only a knife and a bed roll, had to survive for 7 days."

Her smile was fake but the kid didn't seem to notice, or care. Nick wasn't surprised that she was raised by a Marine. Her skills with a gun screamed of years of practice. Nick just stood back and watched as Ellis and Alice talked.

"Damn, you're like som' kinda expert zombie hunter Ally."

Couch and Rochelle sat back watching them both talk throwing out a few comments of their own. Nick started to get bored of the event, and started to look around the house to get away. He stepped into a room nearby, and smirked finding a stock of ammo as well as some food.

"Well this will do nicely."

He smirked then turned around running into Rochelle; she didn't seem happy. Nick scoffed.

"God what now Ro? Are you going to start telling me that I need to apologize to Ally?"

"What did you say to her Nick? You always seem to piss of every person you come across."

Nick didn't want to deal with this shit. He just tried to push her out of his way but Rochelle stepped back in front of him. Nick gave up not wanting another fight with a woman today.

"Look, Ally has some shit to deal with ok? Her mother became a witch, and she doesn't want to talk about why she's going to DC. She told me this morning that she killed people. I don't know what the hell she's talking about Rochelle. For once I wasn't a dick."

Nick pushed past a stunned Rochelle; he was sure she was thinking the same thing he was. Nick didn't feel like sticking around, and headed to another part of the house. He found a stair way to the attic of the house. It was dusty and boarded up, but he knew he'd be left alone for the night. He pulled out a cigarette and lit it taking in a long drag. He look out between the boards nailed to the window watching the infected outside as he blew the smoke out of his nose. One was feeding on the body of a woman while others groaned roaming around. He took another drag watching the movement outside. He was starting to feel better; then he heard Alice's voice below him. There was movement below his feet; he could see Alice walking around the room. Despite his better judgment he knelt down, and watched her. She was talking to herself.

"Dammit Alice you broke your one rule: never help other people for too long unless it helps you. You let Nick in; now he knows too much. You're a fucking idiot. Remember you need to fix what you did."

Nick watch as tears ran down her cheek. She was pacing around the room then fell to the ground quietly sobbing. Nick sighed, and pulled away. He couldn't take much more of it. He took a long drag from the cigarette. He just sat there still hearing Alice sob. He wanted to comfort her, but she'd likely slug him. He was torn between forcing her to let him help her, or to just let her suffer. He shifted himself trying to get more comfortable when the broads he was sitting on creaked loudly. Shit. Nick saw Alice looked up now knowing someone was above her, and get up looking for a way up. Smooth Nick, now you have to deal with her pissed at you again. He watched as the door to the attic opened. There was Alice. He just sat there waiting for her to act. She just walked over to him, her face still wet with tears.

"What do you think you're doing Nick? Spying on me?"

Nick scoffed.

"I was here before you even found the room below."

Alice raised her hand as if she was going to slap him, but it fell to her side. Tears started to roll down her cheek again. Nick put out the cigarette, got up, and pulled Alice into his arms as Alice tried to push him away weakly then gave up.

"Ally please stop crying. I'm not going to say I'm sorry for what I did this morning. Instead, I'm sorry you're in so much pain that you can't talk about it. I.. will admit I did push a bit too hard. Alice the truth is I can't bear the idea of you dying."

Alice sighed, and nuzzled into his chest shaking her head. She gripped the breast of his suit jacket tightly and cried more.

"No Nick, I'm sorry. I was a bitch. I could have taken it better than I did. It's the biggest shame of my life, and I don't want anyone to know. As I said, I killed people, but I'm not going to say how."

Nick felt his heart jump as she pulled herself closer to him, and yearn to say something else. No, Nick wasn't going to say it. He'd never say something like that. He was with her, but letting her in that much would only make it harder for him to survive. Still, something was making him think of her, and he could feel more then lust in his heart. He started to think of holding her like this, and comforting her. He couldn't help, but pull her closer to him. She was so beautiful to him, He was so wrapped in his own thoughts that his lips moved on their own.

"Ally I love you too much to just take that, and let it go."

Alice just blinked, and looked up at him slightly confused, but she didn't seem upset. She opened her mouth to speak then closed it. She looked down as if her words had fallen to the floor. Nick agonized in the silence. Well that cat was out of the bag now. She then looked up at him smiling slightly.

"I... well, love you too Nick. I can't act on this feeling though. Nick, umm I need to go."

Alice tired to move away, and Nick knew that she was trying to push him away. Nick wasn't going to have any of that. He planted his lips onto hers then she stopped fighting him wrapping her arms around his neck kissing back then broke the kiss.

"Nick I can't."

"Yes you can Alice because I'm coming with you. You can't change my damn mind. I'm saving your ass from this."

Alice smiled some, and cuddled to him. Nick softly sat down with her holding her tightly in his lap. As she cuddled to him she nodded off. Nick ran a hand through her hair smiling. The old him was melting away, but was still telling him to stop. He didn't care as he soon joined Alice in sleep.