It was weird. I was having an out of body experience or dreaming. I could hear others talking around me, but couldn't move or talk. The voices sounded like Roy and Elaine but I wasn't sure. My brain wasn't working right, everything was jumbled.

"...do with him?"

"Shot him..."

"Concussion..."

"...where's Tim?"

At that, I tried to pull myself out of whatever state I was in. My fingers finally twitched at my command. Consciousness became clearer. I could sense light all around me.

"She's waking up, pass me that!" the female voice demanded.

I felt hands on me, "Bailey?" male voice.

"Wha?" I tried to speak but my mouth felt like it was stuffed with cotton.

"Don't try to speak," the female voice commanded.

My eyelids opened, like a blind being yanked up on a window. I had to reclose them when the light burnt my eyes. A wave of nausea rolled over me in a fierce wave. I turned and heaved.

"Here!" Someone passed me a pail shaped item.

My arms wrapped around it as my stomach emptied its contents. Tears burned my eyes from the force and my headed throbbed like an open wound. Thud, thud, thud. My head pounded in an increasing tempo. More nausea. More vomit. Until my stomach was completely void of contents. I was finally able to take a breath as the retching and rolling in my stomach subsided.

I slowly cracked my eyelids open to reveal two concerned faces. Elaine and Roy were staring intently at me.

"Chloe?" I croaked.

"Chloe's fine. She's in the common room with Amanda," Roy answered quietly.

My body sagged as relief made my muscles lax.

"Do you know where you are?" Elaine asked, her voice as clinical as her office.

"Your office," I answered.

I had spotted the desk behind them and the cabinet against the wall. She must be testing my head injuries.

"Good. Do you know what happened to you?"

I swallowed, my mouth tasting like sour battery acid, "I hit my head."

"Yes, you have a concussion. Do you remember being attacked?" she asked in a soft tone.

"Yes, two men. I got one and was thrown by the other."

"Are you still feeling nauseous?"

"No."

She took the garbage can from me.

"I want you to stay lying for a little while longer. Then you can get up slowly," she instructed.

I obeyed. "Can I have some water?"

Elaine moved to her desk and came back with a water bottle with a straw in it. "Sips only."

She allowed me to hold the bottle as I took small drinks. The water helped to wash away the acrid taste and sooth my burning throat.

"What happened to the other man? Did he get to Chloe?"

"I heard her scream as I was already heading up the stairs," Roy relayed. "I saw you unconscious on the ground and found the guy trying to subdue Chloe. He pulled his gun on me, but I shot first." His face was pinched.

My eyes closed as I groaned. I had failed again at protecting her. And now she had just witnessed a man get shot.

"She's doing very well considering," Elaine added. "She's been here every five minutes demanding to see you, banging at the door."

I smiled at that.

"What about the other guy?" I opened my eyes again.

"Dead. His lung collapsed and couldn't breathe," Elaine said matter-of-factly.

She basically was saying he drown in his own blood. I felt sick again and it had nothing to do with the concussion. Two people now that have died at my hands. A few more and I'd be considered a serial killer. I let out a harsh laugh.

Elaine and Roy shared a look. I knew that look, Zoe used to give it to me. They were concerned for my mental well-being.

"You did what you had to. Just like me," Roy tried to reason.

"Mmm," was all I replied with.

He didn't understand. Neither of them could.

Elaine sighed, trying to change the subject, "I have a feeling you were the person always in the nurse's office in school. Oh, and thanks to you I won't be getting any sleep tonight; having to wake you up every three hours."

I could tell she was trying to make a joke, but either she wasn't very good at them or I just was beyond that right now. I felt my head; a bandaged had been wrapped around it and a chunk of gauze stuck out in the back.

"You have a pretty bad concussion, but the bleeding has stopped and I sutured you up while you were out," Elaine continued. "Only took three stitches as the cut wasn't deep, it was more the impact that was the problem."

Great, another injury to add to the growing list. I heard banging at the door.

"Is she awake?" a little voice demanded from the other side of the door.

Roy walked over and opened it. As soon as he did, Chloe burst through and ran to the stretcher I was on.

"Bailey! Thank God you're okay!" Her face was right beside mine.

I could see her eyes were red and tear streaks down her cheeks.

"Hey, kid. Yep, I'm going to be okay as per the good nurse Elaine," I smiled at her.

Chloe looked over at Elaine, as if for conformation and the nurse nodded. Chloe turned back to me, her smile wavering.

"I was so scared." Tears welled in her eyes.

My vision blurred in response, but I blinked away the tears. I was beyond happy that she was okay, but rotten with guilt that she had to go through that.

"Want to know something? I was too, but we got through it," I offered and she nodded.

"Yea', we sure did."

"She's alive!" Mac boomed from the entrance and then came over to the increasing spectacle.

"It would seem," I said back. "Can I try to sit up now?"

Elaine grabbed my forearm, "Alright, but slowly."

My body creaked as I sat up slowly, the edges of my vision swimming but steadying with each breath. Elaine was watching me closely, making sure I didn't pale and pass out again. I blinked a few times to clear my eyes, but I was stable. She finally let my arm go when she saw I was going to be alright.

Mac lifted his arm, "Here's a juice box, you need some sugar and calories to get your strength back."

With a slightly trembling hand, I took the drink from him, slowly sipping. It was grape, not my favorite flavor but I was grateful.

"If you can keep that down, we'll give you some solid food in a bit," Elaine added, returning to her desk.

"How long was I out for?" I had no idea of how much time had passed.

"Forever!" Chloe threw her hands in the air.

Elaine gave us a rare grin, "More like two hours."

"Did anything else happen?" I needed to tell them about Tim, but I had to tread carefully.

He was involved in this, I just didn't know how much. Tim clearly took that bag in exchange for telling them where my room was. He had seen my scratches and knew I was immune. It all started to click into place. That was way he stalled my leaving, involving me so I remained here until those gang people could come grab me. He's lucky I was so weak or I'd kill him myself, one step closer to that serial killer title.

I started to shake with anger and Elaine rushed back to my side.

"Do you feel like you're going to faint again?"

I took a deep breathe through my nose, trying to contain my rage, "Chloe can you grab me some food? I think I'm good to eat."

Chloe's eye's widened, "Sure can. Be right back." She took off out the door.

"Close the door," I jerked my chin towards the exit.

Mac went and shut it, coming right back, "What is it?"

I had to make sure I worded this right. Maybe it would be better if I started off with a bit of show and tell. I started to move off of the stretcher.

"Hey, you don't need to stand yet," Elaine insisted.

"Trust me," I said, as I steadied my feet.

All eyes were on me. I lifted my shirt to reveal the scars that ran up my side and realization lit up Mac's face. Roy's was a mask of anger and Elaine peered curiously.

"These are from an infected person. I got them months ago and never turned," I went on. "Tim saw these the other day and deduced that I was immune. I knew he was up to something when he kept trying to keep me here and then before the attack I saw him with those two guys out my window. He took a bag from them and pointed to the apartment I was in, and then they came after me."

There was a stunned silence in the room. I didn't need to be a mind reader to know what they were thinking. Mac's theory. Roy's wife and dead child. Elaine's clinical logic. They were putting the pieces together.

"Are you sure it was Tim?" Elaine finally asked.

"A hundred percent."

"I believe you," Mac nodded. "I always thought he was off."

"Alright, how to we proceed from here?" Elaine questioned. "I mean, we need a little more evidence than just what you saw."

"I'd say it's pretty damn incriminating," I shot back. "How else would you explain it?"

"Make's sense," Mac crossed his arms. "He always made these extraordinary finds. Like military weapons and rations while on a run. I'm willing to bet that bag he got was filled with useful items."

I nodded. That bag wouldn't have been filled with hundred dollar bills. Money was useless now, but weapons and food were gold. Whatever was in that bag was what Tim considered me worth.

"But why?" Elaine asked.

"I'm immune. Mac has a theory about it and I think he's right," I touched my side.

Mac told them what he had told me in the kitchen.

"That's all just circumstantial," Elaine played devil's advocate. "Is it true Roy? Was your wife bitten?"

I just realized Roy hadn't said one word since I revealed my scratches. He was tense, his fists tightly clenched at his side. Instead of answering, Roy stormed out of the room, the door slamming against the wall. We all looked at each other and followed him out of the room. I had to take a few shaky steps, but I was alright to walk.

He rounded the corner to the common room and ran up to Karla.

"Where is he?" he demanded.

Karla was shocked into silence. Roy grabbed her forearms and shook her.

"Where's Tim?" he yelled into her face.

Mac grabbed him and yanked him off of Karla.

She looked at us confused, "I-I don't know. He's still out I think."

Luckily the common room was empty. Everyone had been commanded to stay in their rooms with the doors locked. Only a few who knew how to use weapons were down here. Chloe and Amanda choose that moment to reappear, their arms full of food. I didn't need that much.

"Dad?" Amanda asked hesitantly.

His shoulders stiffened and Roy turned to his daughter, "You and Chloe need to go to your room right now."

"But why?"

"Just do it!" Roy yelled.

His daughter looked like she was about to cry. I had never seen Roy like this and I don't think Amanda had either. I walked over to them and took some of the food from their hands.

"Thank you guys for getting me food, but now you need to go to Amanda's room, okay?" I asked softly.

"Do you think the bad guys are comin' back?" Chloe asked.

"We don't know, but you need to stay safe in your room. I'll explain later, I promise." The abbreviated truth anyways.

Chloe looked at me and nodded, her face serious. She turned to Amanda, "Come on, we'll go to your room." With Chloe leading her out, they walked upstairs.

Roy was so agitated that he had started to pace. Karla retreated as far from him as she could and stern eyes watched Roy walk his circuit. I had no idea what to do. I hadn't expected this from Roy, but his wife was missing and his daughter had died. Someone was going to pay.