I emerged onto the roof, seeing Mackenzie leaning against the edge, her hair blowing slightly in the breeze.

   "Care to join me?" She asked, not once turning around.

   I hesitated a little before walking up next to her. "I figured you'd rather have Doctor Smiley join you."

   She chuckled. "Oh, please. I could see right through the flexing. He's just lonely and looking to score."

   "And? You think I'm not?" I replied.

   She took a quick glance at me. "No... I think you're lonely. But, not horny... You're... Missing the touch of another person... I could see it in your eyes when I was patching you up."

   I looked out over the demolished city, a stray tear building behind my eye. "What would you know anyway?"

   She faced me, hesitantly running her hand up my arm. I tensed at first, but the warmth of her hand soothed me. Relaxed me.

   I faced her as her hand made it's way up the side of my neck to my cheek. She looked into my eyes. "See... An egg..."

   I averted her gaze, a slight blush forming on my cheeks. Then, a smile started tugging at my lips.

   "I like it when you smile." She said, her free hand interlacing with mine.

   I looked back into her eyes then. "Why me..?"

   She shrugged a little. "Why not you? You're strong and beautiful. You're protective and you have a good heart. I feel safe around you... Those qualities are hard to come by these days..."

   I looked down at my feet, setting my gun on the ledge. "I'm also stubborn and cynical."

   She smiled. "Just part of your charm."

   My eyes darted between hers and her lips. "I haven't done this in a long time..."

   She ran her thumb gently over my cheek. "Then we'll go slow..."

   She leaned forward, gently pressing her lips to mine.

   My eyes instinctively closed, a breath releasing through my nose.

   She pulled away then, resting her forehead against mine.

   "You're so beautiful..." I whispered.

   She smiled up at me before capturing my lips once again. This time, her kiss was more heated, passionate, begging.

   I grabbed her waist, lifting her up. She wrapped her legs around me, deepening the kiss.

   I sat her down on a nearby air duct, pulling her shirt over her head. "Are you sure you want this?"

   She bit her lip, nodding.

   I kissed her again, leading a trail down her chest. She tangled her hand in my hair as I loosened her belt, pulling it through the loops.

   She stoop up then, sliding her jeans down her legs as I pulled my shirt off.

   She knelt down in front of me, helping me out of my pants before I joined her on the ground, moving a few stray hairs out of her face. "What if someone comes up here?"

   She smirked. "I don't care."

   She captured my lips again, laying us down, her hand drifting down my stomach towards my panties.

   I looked up into her eyes, my breathing heavy, my heart beating quickly.

   Then, her hand slipped past my panties and my head lulled back, a slight moan escaping me.

She swallowed the moan, her tongue gliding across mine as I rolled us over, moving my kisses to her neck.

Her nails scraped across my back, her breath short and quick.

I moved my kisses down her chest to her waistline, looking up into her eyes with a little smile before kissing lower...

   We laid on our backs, our clothes in a pile next to us, as we looked up at the night sky. Makenzies hand locked lightly with mine. "What happens now?" I asked.

   She gave me a quick glance before looking back up at the sky. "It's up to you, I'll keep quiet if you want. But, I don't think you should be afraid of being vulnerable."

   "Vulnerability can get you killed in this world." I replied.

   "So, you'd rather spend the rest of your life closed off?" She asked.

   I sighed. "No..."

   "Then, when the time permits it, embrace it." She replied.

   I faced her then, looking deep into her eyes. "You would've made quite the philosopher, Doc."

   She giggled, pressing a kiss to my lips. "I studied philosophy in college."

   "Why'd you become a doctor?" I asked.

   She averted my gaze. "Stability... I needed a job."

   I let out a low sigh. "Funny how that works, huh..?"

   She rested her head on my chest then, her eyes fluttering closed. "Good night, Corporal."

I closed my eyes as well. "Night, Doc..."

   The next morning, we loaded up the vehicles and hit the road. Chicago was on the horizon and spirits were high.

   "Do you think there will be other people there?" Mackenzie asked.

   "Hopefully. But, the cities got hit the worst during the outbreak." I replied.

She looked over at me. "With you leading the way, I have faith we'll make it through just fine."

I smiled a little, taking her hand in mine. "I promise, I won't let anything happen to you..."

She smiled back, rubbing the back of my hand with her thumb.

Laila leaned forward then. "Wait a second, what the hell did I miss?"

We both took a quick glance back at her before sharing a look.

Laila broke out into a grin. "I knew it. You know I've always had a knack for reading people."

"Oh, shut up back there." I said.

She leaned back, laughing, Mackenzie letting out a little chuckle herself. I smiled and shook my head.

"So, how was the Corporal? I bet she's fierce but tender." Laila said.

"Alright, take it easy back there." I said.

Mackenzie shot me a smirk. "She's got a point."

I rolled my eyes, a blush forming on my cheeks.

The ride was filled with laughter and smiles all around after that. Maybe the Doctor was right. It was the little moments that kept us going. Reminded us that we're still human. Embracing the vulnerability when we could and enjoying what little life we had left...