Unturned.

Whisper.

The next morning, Jimmy wakes up to the sunrise and finds Matt gone. He hears the car rev and drive and he guesses that Matt's gone to get supplies for Base. Jimmy looks down and realizes Ryan is asleep on his side, and she's holding his hand tight. "Ryan, you awake?" he whispers, smiling and stroking her hair with his free hand. She stirs, and slowly lifts up her head and gazes up at him. She smiles and tries to say something. But then her smile fades as quick as it had come. "What's wrong?" asks Jimmy, noticing her suddenly panicked expression. She looks at him wide-eyed and sits up, breathing heavily and holding his hand tighter. He sits up, too, and wraps his arm around her. "Ryan, tell me."

"I can't unless I whisper," she whispers in his ear. "I think the salt water permanently damaged my throat, Jimmy!"

He worriedly takes her face in his hands and leans his forehead against hers. "You were out in the water too long. It's a miracle you at least survived. You probably strained the last of your voice when you screamed for help.." he says in his raspy deep voice. "It's good you can at least whisper. But stay close to me now."

"Why?"

"I can't let you out of my sight. This place is crawling with zombies and only Matt and I can fight back. You're too weak right now. If I let you out of my sight and a zombie attacks you, you won't be able to scream for me and you will get killed and I'll be in a mad rage," he says, staring into her eyes intensely. "Kay?"

"Kay." she says, staring into his beautiful blue eyes.

A few moments passed and the two remained like that in silence, mesmerized with each other, before he started to lean in. They would've kissed, but then they heard Matt screaming like a madman from the bottom of the ladder. "JIMMY, ALL HELL IS GONNA BREAK LOOSE ON US IF YOU DON'T GET YOUR F***ING ASS DOWN HERE RIGHT NOW!!"