Facing The walkers.

twelve

Chris stayed a sleep all through the next day. His fever was not going down. In fact, it was just rising. Kevin had gone back to the church to get their stuff. He realized that a good portion of it was gone... He hoped that James, Olly, And Henry had taken it. That they were okay.

When he came back, Naba was sitting on the couch with Chris in her arms, gently stroking his hair and singing to him. He was awake now, Staring up at her with glazed over eyes. He seemed so... Dazed. It had happened so fast. Maybe it was because Naba was singing in a different language...

The boy began coughing. It was hard to hear. Sounded painful. The coughing was followed by soft cries. Naba stopped singing and kissed the boy's forehead. "Melissa, Will you hand me the medicine. I think we'd better give it to him now or he is just going to get worse."

Melissa did as Naba asked her too. In the other room, Kevin could hear Arnold playing with the children.

"Chris take the medicine." Naba said, but Chris kept his mouth clamped shut, Shaking his head.

"Christopher..."

Still, he refused.

"If you don't take you'll die."

"Then let me die." He muttered. "What's the point in living without James?" Chris's voice was weak and raspy. It was weird how fast he reached this condition. Just yesterday he'd been fine. But now he was lying there practically dying and refusing to take his medicine. "Do not talk like that, Christopher." Naba muttered. "You will be okay."

"I went back to the church, Chris. A lot of our supplies were gone. I think... That James grabbed them when he walked out of there with Oliver and Henry." Kevin said, kneeling down beside Chris and taking his hand. "James would want you to take the medicine." He softly said.

Chris's eyes met Kevin's... And Kevin swore he saw a glimmer of hope in those dull, fever glazed, blue eyes. "Take it... Chris." Kevin softly said. And Chris did. He took his medicine.

Arnold opened the bedroom door and several little kids ran out of the room. Kaylee ran to her father and jumped into his arms. "Daddy!" She shouted.

"Shhh." Kevin put his finger to his lips, before kissing her forehead. "Hi sweetie."

Amberly came over to the two of them and tugged on Kevin's sleeve. "Did you find Daddy?" She asked, biting her lip. Kevin gave the girl a sympathetic smile. "Kaylee, go play with Luke, Okay?"

"Okay, Daddy." Kaylee said, running off to Arn and Luke. Kevin turned to Amberly. "C'mere sweetie." He softly said, gently pulling the girl on to his lap, sitting on the floor with her. She looked at him with a hopeful stare. "I didn't see him sweetie... But a lot of our stuff was gone... Ya know, The blankets and stuff. I'm willing to bet, That Olly is just fine, Amberly. In fact, They are probably Trying to find us, Right now."

Amberly's eyes lit up. She looked at Kevin with a smile. "You really think so?"

"I do." Kevin smiled a little.

Amberly got up and ran to the other kids. "Kevin says daddy's alive!" She cheered. The other children cheered. Even little Luke. Norman walked into the room, "you think we should give Chris and The kids some food?" He asked.

Melissa nodded. "We should. You too Norman, You still aren't well."

"No. I'm okay."

"You need to eat to." Kevin said, "you are getting food."

"In case you haven't realized, we only have half of our rations. I'll be fine. The kids. And chris. That's it for now." Norman said, being total serious, Though he was clearly very weak and in need of a good meal.

"At least drink some water." Melissa pleaded, grabbing the boy's arm as he moved toward the food. Norman sighed and nodded softly.

Norman got the kids some food and got Chris some soup, Which was heated up over the fire. And, After a substantial amount of begging, Ate some bread.

Kevin watched as Naba sat Chris up and handed him bowl. His hands were so shaky that everytime he tried to get a spoonful of soop, it all fell back into the bowl. He sighed, groaning in frustration. "This is stupid." He muttered, sniffing softly.

"Here." Naba took the Bowl and began spoon feeding the boy. Kevin watched Silently. Naba was so gentle... So careful. She somehow managed to make sure he was eating and make sure Arnold was Feeding Luke on the other side of the room. She had such motherly instincts... Kevin was intrigued by her talent. How she could possibly be so gentle and careful, yet sure of what she was doing and how to do it... How she had such motherly instinct, though she'd only been a mother for year... How she knew so well how to take care of Chris while was sick... It baffled Kevin. It was beyond his field of understanding

Chris felt no less than humiliated. He always felt humiliated when he was sick. Last year, James was the one taking Care of him. James was the one feeding him. James was the one kissing his forehead. James was the one who was supposed to take his temperature and hold him close and tell him to take his medicine no matter how nasty it is.

James.

Just James.

But James wasn't there...

Later that day, Melissa and Norman went out to look for the others. Chris begged to go but they all said no. And everyone else was made to stay with him.

Little did the two know, Amberly had runnout after them. "Norman!" She shouted as she caught up. "Amberly?! What are you doing out here?!" Melissa picked the small ten year old up. "I wanted to help."

Melissa sighed softly and bit her lip. "We can take her back now, We have to take her with us." Norman softly said. Melissa nodded softly. "Yeah... Yeah I know..." She sighed. "Let's go."

They looked for hours and came up dry.

"Maybe we should just give up" Norman muttered. "They are probably dead."

"Shut up!" Amberly screeched. "They are not!"

"He didn't mean it Amberly. You are right the are Alive. Norman stop it." Melissa gave him a look.

"Oh what, Don't you think this bugs me too?! Henry is My brother and He's out there somewhere with a shy panicky kid and freaking... Gay contradiction! I'm pretty fucking sick of this shit! I don't know where my brother is or the rest of my family for that matter! I don't have the slightest idea if my significant other is alright given I have seen or heard from him two months at least and My role model and pretty much only friend at the time got shot in the fucking face! I'm tired of all this loosing people! Okay!? I'm sick of it!"

Norman was in tears. Melissa and Amberly just stared at him. "Norman..." The little girl squirmed out Of Melissa's arms and waddled to Norman, Hugging him tight. "Don't cry. It'll be okay. We'll find them and then we can find your boyfriend and your parents and Its gonna be great!" She smiled at him and Norman couldn't help but smile as well. He knelt down hugged her tight. "Thank You Amberly." He whispered. Suddenly, the door to the building the were by burst open. Walkers. Tons of them. Norman stood holding Amberly tight in his arms and pulling his gun. Melissa pulled hers as well and they both started shooting.

"Norman, Run! Take Amberly back to the others, Go Fast and get them away from there! Go go!"

"No absolutely not I am not leaving you!"

"Get Amberly out of her! Now!"

Reluctantly, Norman listened to Melissa's demands, Running off into the woods.