The End of Days

-50-

"Hey Texas," Liam's hand shoved down on the back of his head playfully where it laid curled in a pillow. "Come on, it's half till. You're gonna be late-..Sam."

His eyes slid shut at the hand on his head again, gentle that time. The sun shone in just barely through the windows, lighting the outside. Sam usually loved him some rays but he couldn't bother thinking bout much at the moment.

Got word of a group of survivors squatting at this abandoned department store, him and the guys cleared the place a million times before and never noticed a thing. West was his name, Ezra West. The one that died just the day before. Just this kid, just barely 19 but damn could he fight.

He was good and Sam gave him a chance, said to take it slow. It was his 4th run, he'd done great so far. A little cocky but it always paid off. Sam worried about him every damn time, lecturing and reminding him. "I got it, pops." He'd say.

Everythin's smooth sailin till some rabid dogs pull out of nowhere on the way out, West thinks he can gun 'em all down and he does just that. Everyone's tellin' him to get inside; barricade, get to safety but Sam couldn't so much as blink before a whole herd of walkers came running right through him.

He ached from the fight they had. Fought fucking hard and lost less than half his team but that first was enough to do him in, just that fuckin kid. Hell, maybe Black had a point.

Shuffling sounds took place behind him. He caught Liam through the reflection of the window as he began to strip again.

"What are you doing?" Liam shrugged, pulling back the covers and settling in behind him. "Personal day."

"Go to work man, I just need a minute."

Sam huffed at the hand running across his chest, pulling him tighter to him. He shook his head, knowing exactly what the man was playing at. He knew it was working when his walls began to come crashing down and his eyes started to sting.

They spent the next hour drifting into sleep, relaxing, takin' that minute. Sam would admit, he needed the break. He was used to death by now, he'd numbed himself to it as far as he knew. Getting worked up over one of his mens deaths wasn't somethin' he saw playing out but here they were.

"He wasn't much older than those kids."

"Mm, I'm sorry. Bad timing I guess, Paige and all. I thought I was making the right choice but..who knows. I don't want that being her one of these times."

Sam curled in on himself further, guilt weighing deep. Liam pulled back, "Can you look at me?" Sam took a heavy breath but turned on his back, eying the  ceiling before his eyes drifted over to meet Liam's.

A thumb rubbed at his chin, those gorgeous fuckin eyes watching him. "Will you spend the day with me? You gotta get outta bed right?"

Sam rolled his eyes, "I gave you a month notice first."

"Well we don't have a month, it needs to be today."

"Why? I'm grieving." A dry laugh escaped him at the sound of that, didn't sound much like him. Liam stared harder, conflicted.

"It sounds awful, I know but..can't you grieve tomorrow? Please," Liam insisted. His eyes wondered a bit, considering as he tried to work up the gut to drag himself from the mattress. Sams gaze settled on Liam's neck briefly where a gold chain hung, the usual cross there but no rings.

"Uh," Sam got up then, eyes wide.

Liam looked confused for a second before following with his eyes and immediately dove to put on his shoes before realizing he was only in boxers and starting over.