Living After: Book Two

Chapter One: Nick

  It was barely dawn on the settlement and Elyza was making her rounds for the day. Nick paced the floor of their room, only glancing over when Troy made a noise. Nick thought everything was going to be fine, but the day after the fight Troy woke up with a temperature high enough to cause hallucinations. The situation had Nick sleepless and irritable, waiting for him to get better. It felt like an eternity had passed. The sunrise was creeping through the curtains of the large window in their room. He was trying to not hover over Elyza as she held a stethoscope up to Troy's back. Alicia and herself had quickly become the den-mothers of the group, taking care of injuries while Madison prepared the camp for them. Nick saw how his sister was trying to learn all of the medical terminology and advice that she could from Elyza. They made a really inspiring team.
  Troy coughed and spit blood into the trashcan next to him. Elyza held him up while he wiped his mouth over the bin. He coughed again and fell back onto the bed, closing his eyes.
  "Why isn't he better? It's been-"
  "I know how many days it's been Nick," Elyza said, "He isn't getting better because the infection turned into some sort of pneumonia on his lungs. There wasn't a way to clean him out on the road and I sewed walker guts up inside of his brain," she turned around with a small finger pointed towards her blonde hair, "It's a miracle that he hasn't lost eye sight, there's no brain damage. The antibiotics weren't working at first... But now they are. He seems to feel better than yesterday, yeah?"
  Nick sighed, "Yeah I guess so... He's still coughing up bloo-"
  "But he isn't dead," Elyza gathered medical supplies as she spoke, "Give him his medicine. Make him rest. I have to go join Alicia on guard now, she's expecting me. We have to clear an infected from the barbed wire." She rushed over towards the door to leave.
  "Wait, wait," Troy whispered, "But I won't give this to him?"
  Elyza groaned, Nick knew she was tired of this question, "Ive told you both a million times. This won't spread. It's from the dead, yeah it is an infection, but not a virus. You'd have to be dead to give it to him. Troy, stop worrying. I'll see you both later."
  Nick nodded to her and she left. Troy was already snuggled back underneath of his blankets, fighting the fever that was rising beneath his skin. Nick went ahead and got him some water and medicine, knowing he would want to fall back asleep soon. "Here Troy, take it." Nick handed him one antibiotic and a pain killer. His hand shook. He hadn't bothered asking Elyza what they were, he didn't want to know. He had suffered in silence for two days after Mikey had forced drugs on him. Troy had been ill and he didn't want to speak up about his own needs. He felt ashamed of what happened, even though he shouldn't of. He sweat it out silently, avoiding his mother for two days. Troy couldn't notice because his injury had him so out of it for hours afterwards, Nick was thankful he didn't know yet. He took the medicine and drank the whole glass of water.
  "Thanks," Troy smiled, "Will you sit with me?"
  Nick sat down by him on the bed and smiled back, "You have to rest."
  "I've been resting for a week and a half," Troy grabbed Nick's hand, "It's exhausting."
  Nick traced Troy's knuckles with his fingers, smiling again when he saw tiny goose bumps rise where his hands had been. He wanted nothing more than to lay in bed with Troy all day. He moved Troy's curls away from his eyes, taking in how adorable he looked after just waking up. His eyes were puffy, the bandage on his head was clean. Nick noticed how scruffy his facial hair had grown in over the last week. The faults in him made him seem even more beautiful to Nick.
  "You need a haircut, a real one. Not just trimming around your wound.. I have to go out today."
  "I know Nicky, and I know you don't want to," Troy coughed and twirled a finger around in Nick's shirt sleeve, "I'll be fine. Meanwhile, Blake gets all of your attention-"
  "Stop."
  "I'm serious! I'm laying here, not contributing.. Wasting away." Troy smiled and rolled his eyes back into his head dramatically. He was teasing Nick. He knew how irritated it made Troy feel, not being able to help. Nick was going out with Blake to hunt today, they had to start gathering food for the winter since planting was out of the question for a good while. Blake knew lots of things about tracking and killing animals, even in harsh territories like these. He had insisted on teaching Nick and Tasha. Nick caught Troy staring at him in the silence.
  "Can I kiss you Troy?"
  Troy's eyes fell soft, not expecting that response from him, "Yes please."
  Nick bent his head in to kiss Troy subtly, holding his hand and his face with another, the entire room seemed to sway away from them. For a moment, he forgot how every negative thought was dragging at his emotions, tearing at his cravings. He forgot Troy was sick. He forgot that he hadn't slept in days, afraid to wake up to a man he cared so much about, turned or gone. It was just them, together, for a moment. Back to reality.
  "I miss you," Troy said, barely backing away from Nick as he spoke. His breath smelled like mint toothpaste and Nick felt woozy for a moment, still so soft for Troy.
  Nick leaned his head down on Troy's shoulder, a gesture that had become so common for him, finding comfort in his chest. He sighed, "Miss me? I've been right here."
  "Yeah, but you're not here," Troy said, pulling Nick's face back up to look at him, "Something is bothering you." He searched Nick's expression with teal blue eyes.
  He's found me out. He knows about what Mikey did.. He knows he did something, Nick thought. Troy's eyes were red and weary, but they glistened looking at him.
  "It has nothing to do with you," Nick murmured.
  "Then why don't you tell me what it is-"
  Nick stood up, he put his hands in his pockets and turned around from Troy's eyes. "It's fine, I'm fine.. Everything is perfect. I have to go help Blake. I want you to take a nap, don't worry." 
  Troy tried to stand up, failed, falling back onto his pillow, "Nicky wait-"
  "I'll see you afternoon-ish."
  Nick almost sprinted down the stairs. What is going on with me.