He knew he was dying. He couldn't tell the others, that was all. Ellis gripped his chest, staring into the sky, the swirling black clouds and soaking rain, waiting for his time to end. His breath was ragged, and he was hidden from view in the corn field from his comrades, and the approaching Infected.

A smile slowly crept onto his face as he felt the warm rush of blood wrap around his half-submerged body. The cold numbed his limbs, so no pain was felt. It was until a few seconds did he hear the call of Nick's voice. Ellis's heart gave a lurch. Nick.

"Ellis, where are you?" Nick called. He seemed a couple meters away, hidden from view in the corn field. The squish of Nick's shoes in the mud and water was loud in Ellis's ears, since his ears were under the murky water.

He couldn't call out to his friend, so he only stayed there, staring into the clouded stormy sky. Nick's voice was getting closer, and tears ebbed into Ellis's vision as he waited for Nick to find his battered body, half dead in the mud and bodies of the Infected.

"ELLIS!" Nick screamed, finally finding Ellis's dying body. His view of the cloudy sky was blocked by a pair of green orbs. Nick's eyes…

Ellis smiled, seeing Nick. "Guess I'm not gunna be tellin' Keith 'bout this…" Ellis said, his voice still bright, even in his state. Nick smiled, tears ebbing in his eyes. Nick hated him, Ellis knew. They would tease each other about everything, but now it seemed Nick only wanted to help him…save him…anything.

"We're going to get you out of here, bud." Nick said, grabbing his first aid kit. Ellis smiled softly at Nick. Why did he want to save him so badly? They were just friends, he was sure Nick would find someone much funnier and someone who didn't get on his nerves as much…

"I'm f-fine Nick…jus' go back n' help Rochelle an' Coach." He breathed, closing his eyes. Nick bit his lower lip, "Shut the fuck up." Ellis opened one eye to see Nick frantically applying ointment to Ellis's ripped chest. "That Witch is going to get a bullet-full..." Nick mumbled to himself.

"Wh-why do yah care so much, Nick?" Ellis coughed, blood spurting from his mouth in little droplets. Nick was filled with blind rage and turned to him, his cheeks red, "BECAUSE IF I LOSE YOU I'D HAVE NOTHING TO LIVE FOR GODDAMNIT!"

Silence.

"N-Nick…?" Ellis mumbled, his cracked lips bleeding. Nick ignored his weak question and continued to work on him. "If I lose you….I'll kill myself." The sentence made Ellis's heart lurch in his chest.

His eyes were wide, and tears churned with the rain that splattered on his face. He'd…kill himself? He got quiet as Nick continued to work on him, cursing under his breath. Tears were in Nick's eyes, which shocked Ellis. He had never seen Nick cry before…

"You have no idea how bad I had to mask my love for you with sick, cruel mocking jokes and name calling…I felt like an asshole. But now I don't have to hide it anymore." Nick growled, wrapping Ellis's muscular torso up.

Ellis smiled softly, the light coming back into his eyes. "N-Nick…there were some nights when you were on guard duty tha' I would lie awake too, watchin' you pace back and forth…I didn't know but I loved watchin' you…" His cheeks flushed red, making them stand out against his pale cheeks.

"Let's get you out of here…" Nick mumbled, picking him up bridal style. Ellis was too limp to curl up and make the carrying easier, only lean his head limply back and stare at the world upside down. The screams of the Infected had faded and only the distant calls of Coach and Rochelle could be heard in the rain.

Suddenly, the wind howled around them. Coach screamed out into the rain, "ANOTHER STORM, LET'S GET OUT'A HERE." Nick bent his head down from the hard rain and wind, toward an abandoned Trailer. "Stay with me, Ellis…come on, we're almost there." He said it to himself more than the injured bundle in his arms.