The First Days (As the World Dies 1)

"Oh, God, Katie! I thoughtShe kept blinking in the bright light, shielding her face with her hand. "I told you nothing bit me. "

"Katie, you've been so sick," Travis looked down at the gun and set it upon the dresser. As the heavy weight of it left his hand, a heavier weight lifted from his spirit. With great relief, he walked toward her.

For a crazed split second, he saw her with empty eyes, mouth opened in a scream, rushing toward him, then it was gone and Katie was giving him a look that said pretty much what she was thinking.

She thought he was nuts.

"Sorry, about the gun, but you were burning up and we couldn't get the fever down for the longest time…"

"That's what I get for not getting the flu shot," Katie pushed a hand through her hair, wincing at the grubbiness of it. "Gawd, I must be a sight. "

Travis laughed suddenly and impulsively leaned down and hugged her.

In just two days, she felt so tiny and frail. Already slim, the drain on her body resources had been powerful. She awkwardly hugged him back. She tried to stand up. Her body was determined to keep her seated.

"Okay, I guess I was really sick. " She fell back onto the bed and looked a little woozy.

"Scary sick. " Travis responded and sat next to her on the bed. He took hold of her hand and looked at her arm. "We couldn't figure out if it was the zombie infection or not. Your scrape happened on one of the trucks. I didn't know if the blood and guts from the zombies may have infected you. " Peeling back the bandage, he revealed a nicely healing wound. "But we saw no signs of infection but you were burning up and we couldn't keep anything in you. "

Katie grimaced and shook her head. She touched her hair again and made a face. "Gawd, I'm so gross right now. None of you could have known this, but when I get the flu I go down like an elephant. I always have and that is why I usually get the flu shot. I skipped this year due to a big case and just never finding the time. Who knows what diseases all those dead bodies have unleashed into the air?" She shivered at the thought. Looking down she saw she was dressed in a nightgown that was probably Nerit's.

"The flu," Travis said with relief. "Thank God, just the fucking everyday flu. " He

leaned forward and ran his hands over his face.

Katie draped her arm over his broad shoulders and gave him a little hug.

"I'm a tough bitch. A little bug like that can't keep me down for long. I always bounce back. "

He looked up at her and said, "You're something else, you know that. "

She gave him an impish smile. "I was called the Bitch Queen of the Prosecution. That has to say something about me. "

"Tough as nails, eh?"

"Eat them for breakfast," Katie said.

She looked frail, but her voice was strong. She had ridden out the worst of it and was on the mend. He could tell that by the brightness in her eyes.

Now that she was sitting next to him, smiling at him, he couldn't imagine why he had thought she would go out of the world so easily.

"I was really worried about you. " He took hold of her hand. It felt a little cold, fragile, the bones under her skin so very delicate. "I thought you were gone. And we need you. You're smart, resourceful, and…and…"

"Bitchy. "

"No, very real. I feel like what I see is what you are. I like that about you.

That is why I wanted to know you better the second I met you. I knew in my heart that you were the type of person that could help all of us survive and keep us human. Not just keeping us from being zombies, but keeping us compassionate. "

"You give me way too much credit," Katie said swiftly.

"You rode into town with a kid, a dog, and a woman who doesn't have all her marbles and you were all alive and not bitten. That is an amazing feat all unto itself. When Jenni told me all you've done…" He shook his head. "To have lost you would have cost all of us. "

Katie frowned at him and said, "Stop it. I'm going to cry. And I don't cry!"

Travis laughed and his eyes sparkled with tears. "Well, I'm much more butch than you and I cry. "

Katie rolled her eyes, than laughed and ran a hand over her hair. "Ugh, my hair!" She staggered to her feet and went to the mirror on the wall. "I need a bath. Fast. "