Mark slept for as long as he could, but his body still wasn't used to getting much sleep. He had always been the one on guard for Sean's sake. He just couldn't relax for long. Opening his eyes, his looked at the window. No light was coming from between the shutters. So, it had to be late still. Sean was fast asleep in his arms and for a while he stayed very still. He loved seeing Sean like this. He was so calm, and he must have felt so safe to sleep so soundly. Mark let his hand stroke Sean's chest lovingly. He couldn't help it. Even as close as he was to him... it never felt like enough. He just wanted to wrap him up in his arms and protect him from this world. He didn't want Sean to change. He wanted him to stay like this. To remain his loving and playful self. Sean was everything to him right now. He was the only thing keeping him from breaking and becoming the monster that Zero had become. Sean was the light in this darkening world. Mark's heart began to ache as he thought about Zero's words.

He didn't see himself as sheltering Sean. He saw it as protecting him. There were things out in this world that he didn't understand or were too strong for any one person. He only wanted to keep him safe. His mind drifted to the idea that Sean would never wake up and his heart twisted painfully in his chest. With watery eyes, he leaned over him and kissed his shoulder desperately. He couldn't remove the image from his brain. It was suffocating him. It was like a nightmare that he couldn't wake up from. It was the worst daydream he had ever had, and his body took it as an inevitable truth. One day he would screw up... He'd fail to be there for him... and it would be the moment that he'd lose him. Trying to choke back his feelings, he laid over Sean more protectively and kissed his neck. Tears rolled down his face against his will, landing on Sean's skin and causing Sean to jerk awake beneath him. Mark lifted his head with a small sniffle, mumbling out very softly. "I'm sorry... I didn't mean to wake you..."

Sean twisted in his arms to lay on his back, reaching up to touch his cheek. While his other hand turned on a dim lamp as he asked him gently. "Mark? What's wrong?" Mark lowered his forehead down onto Sean's shoulder, whispering to him honestly. "Nothing. Just had a bad dream... Go back to sleep." Sean's hand caressed his cheek and neck, whispering to him lovingly. "What was it about?" Mark gruffly cleared his throat before straining out in a shaky voice. "You didn't wake up... It was just bits of all the ways I could fail you..." Sean wrapped his arms around Mark's neck, coaxing him to lay over him. When he obeyed and was nestled over Sean, Sean brushed his lips over his before whispering warmly to him with a loving smile. "Oh, Mark... What am I going to do with you? You put too much weight on your shoulders. Listen to me. If I fall... It won't be your fault. It will because we couldn't outrun it forever." Mark shook his head, straining out in a broken voice. "I can protect you... I can save you..."

Sean pulled Mark's head down to press his forehead to his, replying as gently as he could. "Mark, stop. You're torturing yourself planning and thinking about a life without me... but I'm still here. Stop looking to a future that may or may not happen. You won't find me there, because I'm right here in the present. I'm here right now with you." Mark sniffled, trying to say that he wanted it to stay this way, but his voice failed him. Sean pulled him into a deep passionate kiss. Mark felt the kiss throughout his whole body. His twisting heart relaxed and filled with a powerful relief. It felt like Sean's kiss was breathing life into him. Clearing away his pain and calming him. The raging storm in his head cleared to reveal the blue skies. As blue as Sean's eyes. Mark's heart leapt in his chest as he opened his eyes to see Sean's staring up at him. Sean grinned, brushing Mark's tears away with his thumbs as he lovingly whispered to him. "I love you, Mark. You frustrate me... but I love you so much." Mark couldn't suppress the chuckle that escaped him.

Mark sniffled, mumbling out in a deep buttery tone. "Well, it's good that some things never change... right?" Sean grinned even brighter, replying sweetly. "Ya. You're stubborn enough for the both of us." Mark smirked, telling him just as sweetly. "I love you, Jack. I sorry... I wanna be better... I just-" Sean covered his mouth, lovingly purring back with a smile. "Don't apologize. Deep down, I understand why you do what you do. You've kept us alive. But somewhere along the way you took all the burdens and left me feeling... like a shadow. I can help you if you let me." Mark hung his head a little, uttering out under his breath. "I just didn't want to cause you anymore pain... We both can't shut down... One of us has to keep it together." Sean wrapped his legs around Mark's hips and rolled him over onto his back. Laying over Mark innocently, Sean told him with a warm smile. "We all deal with grief differently, Mark. I prefer to show my feelings... You lock them away. You lock them away so tight that when I can handle it, you won't let me in. You shut me out. If you think that I'll see you as weak? You're wrong. I'll see you as human. We stumble. We fall. We fail. We make mistakes. We grieve. I can't help you if you don't let me try."

Mark moved his hands over Sean's sides, stroking him from ribcage to hips and back. He didn't know what to say to him. He just wanted to hold him. Sean moaned softly, resting his head down on his shoulder. Mark's hand accidently rubbed Sean's shirt up, but Mark didn't stop. He simply let his hand transition off Sean's shirt to his smooth skin. Sean felt so warm from all their snuggling. Sean scooted up his body a bit more, allowing Mark to let his hands drift up over Sean's back. Running his fingers down Sean's spine, he whispered to him in a deep purring voice. "You feel a little thin. You should eat more." Sean chuckled, mumbling out sleepily. "We're supposed to be rationing, remember?" Mark hummed to himself, his hands moving to Sean's lower back. His fingertips burned with a desire to slip beneath the hem of his pants. He resisted by just lightly clawing his fingertips over his lower back. Sean giggled, bringing his lips to Mark's as he whispered playfully. "How badly do you want to touch my ass, right now?"

Mark blushed, grumbling out with a smirk. "What gave me away?" Sean reached back to push Mark's hand over his ass, answering over his lips a little teasingly. "Nothing. I've just been waiting for it." Mark chuckled until Sean's lips pressed into his in another long passionate kiss. Mark let his hands slip under the hem of Sean's pants to grab his ass, squeezing it enough to make him jerk up from the kiss in order to giggle. Mark leaned up to capture his lips again, coaxing him back into the kiss. Sean complied with a smile. When Mark let his kiss travel down to Sean's neck, he moved his hands back up Sean's back to hold him and keep him close. Sean buried his head into his shoulder, muffling a moan as he adjusted more comfortably over him. Mark kissed his neck, then whispered out longingly. "Jack? I want to..." Sean nibbled his ear, muffling out between his teeth. "I know... but we can't." Mark's hands moved around Sean's torso to stoke his chest. He knew Sean was right, but he still wanted to touch him.

Sean sat up, reaching up to grab the underside of the bunk above them. Mark pushed Sean's shirt up, then coaxed Sean back down to kiss his exposed chest. Sean's hand went to his pants, undoing them to push down the front. Mark left a few hickies around Sean's nipples without touching the nipple itself. It was his way of playfully teasing him. Sean took a hold of his hand, guiding it between his legs as he breathlessly panted over his lips. "We can do this though." Mark swallowed guilty thinking about the first time they did this. He had thought of Amy the whole time. Reaching up with his free hand, he slid his hand around Sean's neck and pulled him down enough to look into his eyes as he whispered lovingly to him. "Jack? This time... I'll only be thinking of you." Sean smiled, leaning in to kiss him without a word. Sean's hands unbuttoned Mark's pants, pulling the front down enough to slip his hand in. They tried to keep their moans to a minimum. Muffling them in the heat of their kisses. Mark tried to keep the bed from rocking too much, but as their passion increased... he lost track of it.

Reaching their peak together, Mark forgot himself and wrapped his arms around Sean to roll him onto his back. Sean giggled a little loud and breathlessly as Mark snuggled into him. Nothing else mattered to him. He didn't care if Zero or Mari caught them. The only thing that mattered was the way Sean held him and loved him. Mark used a dish towel in one of the drawers to clean them off, but never left Sean's side. He stayed snuggled with him, kissing his shoulder and watching Sean blush into the blankets like a little kid. This time felt so much different from their first time. It felt more personal. There was so much more of a connection between them. Mark wrapped his arms around Sean, not wanting to fall asleep. He couldn't bare to miss a single moment with him. Sean seemed to feel the same way, because he kissed Mark until their lips were sore. Mark didn't think the moment would ever end. That was until Mari slipped into the trailer. Mari stepped around a sleeping Chica to get to them using a tiny flashlight. Once she was close enough, she whispered to them with a cheerful smile. "Sean? It's your turn on watch."

Almost on cue, she yawned and shook her body a little to stay awake. As her eyes reopened, she blushed a deep red as her flashlight panned on them and caused her to quickly look away. She must have been too tired to notice the first time where Mark's hand was. Mark had been spooning against Sean with his head resting on his shoulder. They were both still dressed... but Mark's hand was in the front of Sean's pants. Mark had been hoping she wouldn't notice but was afraid to remove his hand in case it exposed Sean's parts to her. Mari bite her lip, clicking off her flashlight as she awkwardly whispered out. "Good to see you two getting along... Um... So... I'm gonna go." Sean covered his face with his hand, mumbling out completely embarrassed. "Ya... I'll get out there in just a minute." Mari chuckled with embarrassment, trying to back up past Chica. Only to stumble back across the floor with a loud 'THUD.' Mark hide his grin behind Sean's shoulder, listening to Zero utter out sleepily from above them. "Mari? You good?" Mari hopped to her feet, stammering out a little too quickly and awkwardly. "Ya! I'm fine. Why wouldn't I be? I didn't see anything. Honest!"

Sean covered his face with both hands now, muffling out to himself. "Oh my god... Mark, please remove your hand." Mark chuckled over Sean's shoulder playfully. "That won't help." Mari cleared her throat, gesturing to the top bunk and rushed up the ladder. From above them, Zero huffed and grumbled out. "Ow. Mari, that's my knee." Mari gasped, stating out. "Oops. I'm sorry... I'm just-" Zero cut her off by yelping out. "FUCK!" Zero started groaning in pain as Mari yelped out in panic. "Oh my god! Was that your... Zero, I'm so sorry! I thought you were over by the wall more!" Zero grunted and growled out through his teeth. "I was... but do you think I'm going to let you sleep on the side with no railing?!" Mari's voice took on a sudden sweet tone as she purred out. "Aww, you're so sweet. Will you be ok?" The bunk above them creaked, before Zero answered grimly. "I'll be fine. Just don't touch me... The last thing I need is you pushing me off." Mark reluctantly removed his hand to let Sean get up.

Sean climbed to his feet, quickly fixing his pants. Mark reached out to touch Sean's leg. He didn't want him to go, but didn't have the heart to tell him no. Sean picked up his tactical axe, then kissed Mark before making his way out. Mark sat up to watch him go, then forced himself to lay back down. With Sean gone, Chica took her chance to hop up into the bed with him. The guilty look on her face too obvious. He looked at her with narrowed eyes and her tail wagged hesitantly in response. Rolling his eyes, he fixed his own pants and let her stay with him as he shut off the dim lamp. It was painfully hard to sleep without Sean nearby, but he managed to get some extra time in. When he next awoke, the sun was just starting to shine through the windows. Sitting up, he listened to Mari tell Zero from the top bunk. "I'm sorry that I woke you, Zero. Will you be able to drive today?" Zero still sounded tired, when he answered in a groggy tone. "Don't worry about it. I was up before that... I should be alright. I need coffee... Or an energy drink."

Mari started to climb down the ladder, telling Zero hopefully. "I'll see if we've got anymore. What got you up though? Was it because you're used to taking first watch?" Zero hopped down from the bunk after her, glancing at Mark as he groggily smirked out. "I woke up thinking there was an earthquake." Mari's eyes widened and she shushed him, snapping back. "Don't even say that! That is the last thing we need right now! Besides, why would you think that? Wouldn't you think it was a rumbling hoard of zombies?" Zero chuckled to himself, patting her innocent shoulder as he told her sweetly. "Zombies don't moan like that." Mari watched him leave with a perplexed look. She didn't seem to get it, which made Mark laugh to himself. As Mari looked to him for the punchline, recognition slowly dawned on her. Mark ran a hand through his hair, clearing his throat with a guilty expression. Mari pointed a finger at him with a blushing smile as she mumbled out. "Oh... You two were supposed to be sleeping."

Mark escorted Chica out past Mari, retorting playfully. "We were. We were 'sleeping together.' That counts." Mari swatted him between the shoulder blades, causing Mark to laugh loudly. Stepping outside, Mark's eyes immediately scanned the area for Sean. When he didn't see him, he started to panic until a low whistle drew his attention up. Sitting cross-legged on top of the trailer, Sean waved to him and told him with a bright grin. "Top of the morning to ya." Mark shook his head, gesturing him to come down. Sean climbed to his feet, walking across the trailer to truck, while Zero informed Sean seriously. "We need to load up the animals and then start up the trucks." Mark flinched watching Sean hop down onto the truck and then down to the ground. It just made him so anxious. Mari gathered last minute things before hoping into the truck. While Zero helped them load the horses into their trailer. With the horses secured inside, Sean asked Zero with a grim expression. "There are no windows on the trailer... Isn't that bad for them?"

Zero shook his head, patting Sean's arm upon telling him. "They'll be ok. Horses get spooked if they see things that unsettle them. And with what we could encounter on the road... It's better they don't see. It will keep them from panicking and hurting themselves. It will keep them safe, Sean. Trust me." Sean reluctantly nodded, then took Chica to the truck to let her hop into the back seat. Zero moved up to Mark, informing him with a slightly nervous tone. "I'm not sure what to expect... So, we'll turn the trucks on together. Tune the CB radio to channel ten. You lead and we'll follow. Better to keep the horses between us. Just in case..." Mark nodded, then shook Zero's hand. With one finally nod, Zero ran back to his truck. Mark climbed into the truck but kept the door open to lean out in order to see Zero's signal. Zero climbed into his truck and got himself ready. After a minute, he gave him a thumbs up. Mark put his foot on the brake and extended his hand out to count down with his fingers.

Beside him, Sean began to rub his hands together and chant positive things to himself. Mark counted down from three and turned the key. Mark's truck turned over without issue. The engine purring like a cat. Behind them though, Zero's truck sputtered and squealed loudly as the engine tried to turn over. Mark held his breath, watching Zero try to turn it over three times. Then on the fourth, the truck let out a loud 'BANG' from the muffler and finally turned over. Mark let out the breath he was holding in relief. He adjusted in his seat to close the door, when Sean suddenly grabbed his wrist and asked him uneasily. "Mark? Do you hear that?" Mark froze, listening closely. He heard Chica panting and the truck running... and then a soft rustling. Both Mark and Sean turned to look out of the windshield as Chica whimpered in the backseat. Mark's jaw dropped as he saw a black swarm over the trees. Slamming his door shut, he swallowed as the swarm of black crows headed straight toward them. To Be Continued...