Now They Walk

Recovering

——————————Jake—————————
-Three Weeks Later-

"Stitches look good " Maria said as she laid the blanket back down over my uncovered abdomen, putting her needles and thread away.

"Still hurts like a bitch" I said as I leaned up slowly. Pain shot through me but I couldn't stand to lay on this fucking couch another minute.

"Where's Nate?" I asked

"He was going to get a bath last time I seen him"

"...a bath?" I said in disbelief

"Yea.. we poured hot water in the tub upstairs so we each could take one"

"Y'all never told me"

"You couldn't if we did.. would have messed with the old stitches and plus you woke up two days ago"

"When will I be able to?" I asked

"Probably tomorrow... if we can get you up the stairs"

I leaned against the back of the couch. Most of the bruises from before are healed up, cuts too.

I heard footsteps cascading the stairs behind me. Nate came and sat beside me on the couch.

"Feeling any better?" He asked sincerely

Maria walked into the other room, smiling softly.

"Pain is still their, but I'll live" I said

Nate looked at me. I followed suite. He leaned his head on my shoulder and then grabbed my hand. My skin jumped at the touch of his clean skin. The alienated familiar feeling shocked me a little.

"What's next?" He asked quietly

"I don't know yet... plan is still standing" I said

"We don't have Ellie... we never went looking for her when we left"

"I know... I'd tell you some words to help you think she's still ok... but I don't think I can"

"I know" Nate said as he scooted closer. His thigh came in contact with my leg. The feeling jumped again.

"We can still get their" I said quietly.

"I know" he gripped my hand tighter "but not until you get better"

-Two Hours Later-

Nate walked into the kitchen to help Lemmy get stock on the ammo and food we have. Corey and Matthew went off on a scavenging trip and Maria was using a small George Forman grill to cook something for dinner.

"What time will they be back?" I asked

"Tomorrow morning hopefully" she said as she turned a dial, making the grill click a few times and then a flame started.

She set two cans of green beans on it. I was bored in the silence.

"You never told me what you did before this" I said as I leaned my head back and closed my eyes.

"You never asked" she said "I was a singer"

"A singer?"

"Yes.. I had a small town band and we played at bars and stuff like that... I sang mostly covers of songs... my favorite being Simple Man"

I smiled "that's a good song"

"Matthew and Corey were my guitarist... Lemmy found us when shit went bad and he's lead us since"

"Know what he did before?"

"Nah.. none of us do.. Only thing I think I know about him before was that he lost his family"

I nodded. Must suck to lose his family. But it must have been nice to have one too....

It was silent until Maria's voice started again "since you've bombarded me with questions, I had some for you"

"Throw 'em at me"

"What did you do before this?"

"Well I professionally failed all my classes, go into numerous numbers of fights in the school cafeteria, while still denying the fact that I had Out of School suspension and should not have been their"

"Oh a trouble child"

"Call it what you like"

She stopped for a second, but her eyes did all the talking. I felt them peering at me, digging out all the information she wanted.

"I have a few touchy questions..." she said cautiously. Like I wouldn't answer them anyway.

"Give 'em here" I said as I sighed

"Did you know Nate before this?"

"In a manner.. we went to the same school"

"So y'all were friends?"

"Oh no, Hell no" I chuckled "when the shit hit the fan we were in the bus and when we ran we made it to Nate's house. And from then on we've been together"

"Ok... and all that time made you.."
She stopped, waiting for me to finish the sentence

"Yea, like him, I know"

"Damn I was right... Matthew owes me some bacon"

"Bacon?"

"Yea.. who needs money nowadays... bacon is the way to go"

"Hold up y'all had a bet?"

"Just a small one, besides it is kinda cute"

"Don't start that" I said leaning my head back against the couch.

"You two look too young to have done the deed"

"Now your making it weird" I said

-That Night-

A hand came against my arm hard and I jumped up.

"Sorry" Nate's voice ring quietly "I tripped over your boots trying to be quiet"

"It's fine" I said. I tried to sit up, being reminded again of my affliction.

"I was talking to Lemmy and he said that he won't be going with us to Seattle..."

"Why" I asked shockingly

"He said that he has no interest, that he isn't worried about the possibility of me being immune.. said they will leave in the morning"

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