These Different Times (Nick Clark FF)

09.

this doesn't exactly follow the plot but everything should hopefully be in here some way or another.

**

Day nine inside the fence started like any other; we'd get vague updates on how the rest of the city was doing and for some reason, we always woke up expecting things to be back to normal but of course, it was never better.

After taking a shower and stuff, I walked into the kitchen to see Alicia sitting with her phone in her hands.

"Hey," I said quietly, making her look up at me, "Let's take a walk, yeah?"

She looked reluctant but nodded, "Where?"

I shrugged, "Dunno. The perimeter? I know it's not far but it's out of the house, which you haven't been for two days."

She laughed quietly and led the way outside, me ducking into the living room to tell Maddie and my mom that we were going. Alicia called a goodbye to Chris who was sitting on the roof, video camera in hand.

We walked in silence until we found a spot where we could stop and sit, which she did with a sigh and the two of us just stared out over the silent city.

"Why'd you really bring me up here?" she asked, not looking away from where she was looking.

"You've been really quiet. I just thought you'd maybe want to talk about it?"

She shook her head, placing the device down on the rock beside her, "It's just Matt. I haven't heard from him since the day we had to leave him behind. I know he's probably dead but I can't...I can't imagine him as being one of those things."

"I know what you mean," I murmured, toying with my hands, "Fran. Y'know my boss? She was bitten by one of them. They're saying that's the main way that it spreads, through bites and I think she probably became one. I should have went with her."

She shook her head, "No. She did the right thing leaving you. If she hadn't done that, you could have been with her when she turned and then you wouldn't have come back to Nick. And he needs you. He might not say it a lot but he does. If you weren't with us, I wouldn't have my brother back."

I felt myself blush at her words, "You don't know that."

"I do." she said firmly, "Because he would have gone looking for you."

I stayed quiet, looking down at her arm to see a funky heart that was drawn onto the skin, "Did he draw that?"

"Yeah," she replied, a smile on her face, "It was just pen but I tried I tried to make it last longer."

We both looked up when we heard the gate to the community being opened, seeing a bunch of army vehicles rolling out.

"What could they possibly be looking for? They cleared the buildings around here a week ago." Alicia said quietly and stood up, "Maybe we should head back to the house."

I agreed and got up too, grabbing onto her arm when I stumbled and we both shared a small laugh at how I always managed to trip over thin air.

The journey back was a lot quicker and as we made our way up the driveway to her house, I spotted Nick floating in the neighbour's pool.

"I'll see you inside," I told Alicia and quietly snuck into the yard, creeping up to the edge of the pool.

He fell off his lounger when I whistled loudly, spitting out water when he resurfaced, pinning a glare when he cleared his face of his hair, "Not cool."

"Couldn't resist." I giggled, slipping off my shoes.

"You should come in. The water's nice."

"There's one problem there, isn't there?" I mumbled, picking up the small white pill that was laying on the concrete, "I can't swim and what is this?"

He swam up to me and rest his hands on either side of me, "I don't need it. Told my mom to give it to Griselda. I'll help you swim."

I hummed quietly, "But the point is to get you off it slowly. You quit cold turkey before, remember?"

He kissed my nose, "I do, but that's not going to happen this time."

"You don't know that."

"That's true," he agreed, hands moving to rest on my thighs, "Come swim with me."

"Nick," I panicked, arms automatically wrapping around his neck as he began pulling me into the cool water, "Please don't."

"I've got you," he whispered, laughing as I tightened my grip on him, "Look, it's easy."

"Nick, don't." I begged when he started to let me go, "Don't let me drown."

He stopped laughing, slowly removing my arms but his hands found my waist under the water, "Hey, I've told you before that nothing will happen to you and I certainly wouldn't let you drown."

"Thank you," I whispered, kissing his cheek, "But can you please put me back on the edge?"

He said nothing but waded through the water, easily lifting me back onto my previous spot, where I picked up the pill again, holding it out to him, "Please?"

"Nope," he repeated, "Don't need it."

I shook my head and stood up, "You said you were serious about getting clean this time."

"And I am!" he argued.

"Fine," I waved a hand as I walked away, "Enjoy your swim."

**

That evening as night started to fall, I climbed up onto the roof to watch the sunset. It had been a while since I had sat down to properly watch one.

However, the sound of a truck coming to a stop had me looking back down, watching as a slim woman climbed out after Liza.

"Who's she?" I called, making them both look up.

"Taylor, this is Dr. Bethany Exner. She's here to see Griselda and Nick."

"Nick?" I repeated, "Why is she here to see him?"

The woman beside Liza stepped forward, "I've been told that he's he might be in need of some morphine."

While they made their way up the driveway, I climbed down again and met them at the front door.

"Do you know where Nick is?" Liza asked, following me inside.

I nodded, "He's out back. Follow me."

There was a jacket over his face which I swiftly pulled off, getting a groan of protest in return before his eyes opened.

"There's a doctor here to see you." I informed, which made him look even more confused.

"Why? I'm not sick."

"I understand that you may need morphine." Dr Exner said as she appeared beside me, "Liza told me that you're a recovering addict."

"Recovered." Nick corrected, "I don't need anything, I'm fine."

The doctor gave him a smile, "For my own peace of mind, let me give you a quick examination."

His eyes met mine, agreeing when I gave him a pleading look and he cleared his throat and sat back, "Go on then."

Smiling, I stood behind the chair he was in, watching as the woman wrapped a blood pressure cuff around his arm, "So are you here to check on everyone who's sick? Like Hector next door?"

"I am," she agreed.

Nick looked up from his arm, "Is he okay?"

"Yes. He's being transferred to a nearby hospital for treatment."

I saw Nick's shoulders tense through his shirt and placed my hand on his shoulder, "Are you okay?"

He craned his neck back to look at me, "Of course."

"Really?" Exner questioned, "Because your heart rate is elevated."

Smiling, he reached back to place his hand on top of mine, "I'm in the presence of my beautiful girlfriend."

"Well isn't that sweet." she mused while I narrowed my eyes at the back of his head.

He couldn't lie for shit.