The First Days (As the World Dies #1)(56)

"The flu," Travis said with relief. "Thank God, just the f*cking 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."

"I would insist on you laying back down, but I don't think that will work."

"Absolutely not." Katie fussed with her greasy, matted hair and threw up her hands. "Ugh!"

"Okay, you can take a shower, but I'm staying right here and you're leaving that door open. If you fall I need to be able to go in immediately."

"Fine…fine…"

She stumbled about a bit and he considered helping her, but figured she wouldn't appreciate it. Grabbing up a fresh pair of jeans and a white tank top, she managed to get herself into the bathroom.

There was a gentle knock on the door and Travis opened it. Nerit stood there with her yellowish hair falling over one shoulder and one hand holding her flannel robe shut.

"How is she?" Her voice was anxious, then she saw the empty bed and heard the shower. "She's up?"

"And lucid. And feisty. Weak as hell, but she's okay."

Nerit clasped her hands together and smiled. "Oh, thank goodness! I woke up fearing the worst!"

"Honestly, I almost put one between her eyes. But, luckily, she spoke. I was so convinced she was gone."

Nerit hugged Travis and looked toward the open bathroom door. "I must tell Ralph!"

She scurried off and Travis hesitantly walked toward the door.

Maybe I'm dreaming and she died and I shot her and I'm dreaming, he thought for a moment.

And then he saw her outline behind the shower curtain and the tension between his shoulders lessened.

Again, for a moment, he saw a flash of Katie sitting up, eyes dead, screaming, and trushing toward him…

But that hadn't happened.

He stood with his back to the bathroom and hands in his pockets as he waited. He was still afraid. Afraid of what had nearly happened and he was shaken.

Katie finally emerged with her wet hair up on top of her head. Damp little curls spilled over her brow and her shoulders poking out of the tank top were a little bonier than before. The men's jeans she was wearing slung a little low on her hips and showed that she had lost a little weight. But despite her delicate appearance, Travis knew she was going to be okay.

"I need to talk to Jenni," she said, ignoring his obvious examination of her appearance.

Feeling a little embarrassed and awkward, he nodded.

Taking her arm, he helped her down the hall. He knew she was feeling weak because she did not protest. They entered a small room where the CB radio was set up and a man in his forties with a wide, pleasant face looked up.

"Hey, you made it!" He gave her an enormous grin that lit up his rather plain face.

Katie nodded and said, "You're Bill, right?"

"Yep, that's me. I take it you want to call your friends?"

"Please," Katie sat down heavily in a chair and Travis steadied her with one hand. "Then I want to eat something really bad."

"Sure thing, give me a moment." Bill messed with the dials and started talking.

Katie looked up at Travis and laid her hand over his. "Thank you. For watching over me. For making sure I was okay."

Travis felt a little flushed and nodded. "No problem. Really?"