A/N: So, saw Warm Bodies, it gave me fuzzy feelings. Then, I go and find there's barely any fanfiction. So, here's my 'cure'.

Spoilers ahead, be warned. Takes place after the reservoir/shooting scene at the end.

Disclaimer: I claim no ownership of any Warm Bodies affiliated ideas, nor did I come up with the concept of zombies. I'm just a girl with a computer and a mind too fast to follow.

~O~

Pain…pain was good, pain meant …meant blood, meant heartbeat, meant…meant everything. Pain was all he could focus on, pain and warmth, warmth of blood, warmth of sun leaking through the dusty window. Warmth…warmth seeping into his skin, flushed with life and blood, warmth drying his wet clothes, warmth in his fingers, running over his hand as blood leaked from the bullet wound set in his skin. Warmth, stinging the backs of his eyes…tears, he knew somehow, hot and wet and salty. Salt…salt and copper were blood, blood he'd fed on but…no, not anymore. He wanted to laugh, which was odd…laughter, could he laugh now? He could speak, probably, feel pain, definitely, cry…most likely, but laugh…God, maybe he could laugh…

R squeezed his eyes closed, body feeling heavy and…tired, or maybe…no tired, he was tired. He leaned his head against the window, feeling the vibrations of the vehicle, the growl of tires on pavement and rocks and gravel. His lips twitched slightly, into an almost smile…he'd be able to actually smile now, instead of his muscles just rotting away into uselessness. He let out a soft breath and felt his muscles relax…human, he was human…a single tear traced down his cheek and soaked into his soaked, grime and blood covered hoodie.

His hand slipped from his chest where a heart beat strong and blood pulsed slowly from the wound. Blood covered hand lying limply on his lap he fell into a gentle doze, dreamless but no less real.

All too soon, light was back, a hand on his shoulder, and a voice, familiar and real and…Julie.

His eyes opened all at once with a suddenness that seemed to shock her for a moment, used to as she was to sluggish movements and slow responses.

"Hey, we're going to have someone take a look at that now, okay?" she gestured to the wound, not bleeding as much as before, but blood soaked into his shirt and it was utterly fascinating.

"O-okay." He stuttered out, voice still rough, but smoother than before as muscles knit back together with blood and strength. Her smile was radiant and he semi-stumbled from the truck, taking in the small group of people around them. Mostly military they had their guns at their sides, but didn't look like they were about to grab and shoot which was good…probably.

R followed Julie through the crowd, fingers intertwined she kept a good pace until they reached the medical tents where there was a much smaller crowd.

"Ohmygodohmygod! JULIE!"

Another almost smile reached R's lips as he saw Nora streak from the small assembled group of medical personal and rush towards them, grabbing her best friend and wrapping her in an unbreakable hug. R let the blonde's hand go for a moment to allow her to return the embrace. He wondered vaguely where M was…

"Oh you're okay, thank God." Nora's eyes were red, cheeks flushed, if he focused he could see her pulse beneath the skin of her neck.

"And…holy shit!" Nora finally seemed to notice R hovering behind them. "You…you're bleeding, he's bleeding!" she grabbed Julie's shoulders and shook her. R coughed once softly in what might have been a laugh with enough practice. "He's…mother of god." She slumped standing, R thought her posture was bad enough to pass for the undead.

"He's still quiet."

Julie looked over her shoulder and gave him another smile, warm and sunlight. "We're working on that."

He shrugged and she frowned, he shrugged again and she rolled her eyes, "C'mon shrugger, let's get you patched up." She dragged the unresisting former zombie over to the tents and sat him down, frowning for a moment and unsure on what to do next.

"Shirt off dead boy." Nora piped up, coming over with latex gloves on and a tray with disinfectant, swabs, and a needle and thread for stitches. There was also a squirt bottle of water.

He gave her an odd look, confused for a moment before he shook himself and started tugging at his hoodie zipper, fingers clumsy and shaking; As long as there wasn't any more make-up.

"Here, let me." Julie's dexterous fingers replaced his and tugged the zipper down, stiff with blood and God knew what else. She pushed the red fabric from his shoulders and then tugged his grey…ish shirt up and off, ruffling his still damp hair.

Nova sucked in a breath and closed her eyes for a moment and honestly, looking down, R didn't blame her. Scars ran across his body in odd formations, there was a now healed wound from Perry's gunshot days before and the new one, which leaked ruby liquid that he kept staring at. Red…red was life.

"Okay, let's clean this up and see what we're working with." Nora brought up the water filled bottle and, holding a piece of gauze beneath, carefully cleaned out the wound. The cold and shock made R twitch, but otherwise he watched with interest and wonder. So…bleeding, this was bleeding. Lips twitched again for a moment.

"So, at least you can check your dad shooting him off your list of things to worry about." Nora stated after she'd cleaned off the wound, next came the disinfectant which stung but R barely flinched, again transfixed.

Julie mumbled something under her breath that Nora giggled at, lips spread to reveal white teeth and R wondered at that. White, white was clean, white was the opposite of black, which was darkness. Darkness was the airport, was Bonies, was flickering lights in dead hallways. White was life, was revitalization, white was Julie and clear skies and dreams. He liked white.

"Y'know, you could jump in anytime here buddy." Nora stated softly as she padded the wound dry and brought up a needle thread with black.

He thought for a moment –say something, anything, give it a try, "N-not dead." He said, voice getting clearer.

Nora blinked for a moment, so did Julie, before they both smiled –Julie's eyes were shimmering- "No…no you're not…this might hurt." Nora started to take the needle to skin and R tried a hand at smiling again, it felt stiff and awkward and wonderful.

"Good."

Julie flinched like someone hit her, "What?"

"Pain…means…I'm a-alive." He tried the smile thing again, it felt better and Julie's expression softened again so obviously it didn't look too horrendous. Nailed it!

The needle did hurt, but R savored every pinch and pull as the thread was pulled through his skin. It felt wonderful and awful and…he hoped he never took it for granted.

~0~

A/N: I'm thinking this is going to become a collection of one shots of R relearning how to be human. If people like this I'll continue. Review and let me know, or this is staying a one shot.