"We've got you, Runner Five! You're home."

Home.

That's the last word that echoes in my mind before the world fades, exhaustion engulfing me into a world of sleep.

I don't dream. Instead I just stay in a peaceful darkness with no sound or movement. It's not cold or hot or any temperature really. I'm just... there. Or really, I don't see myself there either. It's a world of comforting nothingness; a solitude of sleep-filled black.

But then... then images start to appear-memories I'd rather not think I'd dream about.

"I know you're hurting. I am too, but you can't just sit here and do nothing."

"You don't understand," The girl, Runner Forty-three, replies. Her chocolate eyes are dead and soulless, her voice holding no emotion. "I killed him. I killed Wes."

"He was already dying," The younger girl states.

"But I'm still the one who pulled the trigger. I shot him." The girl breathes in sharply. "I murdered him."

"It was a mercy kill. He was suffering."

Runner Forty-three doesn't respond. She just turns away and stares at the wall with a blank expression. The younger girl sighs as she takes in the runner's state.

"You haven't been sleeping... or eating," The girl murmurs. "It's been effecting how you run."

"I'm still alive, aren't I?" Runner Forty-three snaps, but the younger female just purses her lips and crosses her arms in annoyance.

"You won't be for long if you keep this up." She rubs her temples before pulling out a bottle about half full of pink liquid. "Take this; it will help you sleep. It doesn't taste bad. The medicine was mixed with punch to mask it."

Runner Forty-three raises a brow questionably. "How did you get this?"

She shrugs. "It's... complicated to explain. But don't worry, I won't get caught."

"Of course you won't," She deadpans at the younger girl.

"It's just to help you sleep, and maybe if you get some shut eye it'll help with... you know."

"I doesn't feel right without him here."

The girl sighs. "I know. I miss him too."

Runner Forty-three feels tears prickle and sting her eyes. "We were a family. Him and you were the only thing that made this place feel like home."

The girl cringes slightly at that, but the runner barely notices. "This will be the start to making everything better. You'll get through this. We'll get through this. I promise."

Runner Forty-three takes the bottle of liquid and smiles in appreciation. "Thanks, Katelyn."

"Anything for you."

•

I grimace as consciousness returns to me. Light flitters into my vision, stinging my eyes as I blink rapidly. I slowly push myself into sitting position, my muscles screaming in agony at the action.

Taking in the sight before me, and I instantly recognize it as one of Abel's hospital rooms. There aren't many, and the rooms themselves are pretty bare-just a shelf on the far room with only a few pill bottles and med kits and a sheet hung up by a string and clothespins to be a makeshift curtain, with another cot on the other side. But it's the best we've got.

Looking away from the room I'm in, I turn my attention to my skin, which is now scrubbed clean and is spotless besides the few bruises I don't remember getting. I notice I'm in clean clothing as well-a simple gown that's thin and light.

"You're finally awake, I see."

I jolt at the sound of a calm voice, immediately regretting it as a sharp pain runs up my neck. After a second of keeping still to let the pain fade I look in the direction I heard the voice, and find Dr. Meyers smiling softly at me.

"You've been out for quite a while," She informs, "although I can see why. You were moving for what, five, six hours?"

'How long have I been out?' I sign slowly, hoping she'll remember the little bit I've taught her.

"Um, you just asked how long you were asleep, right?" She questions, and I can see the hope in her eyes. I nod, and her face breaks out into a smile. "You've been asleep for about twelve hours, give or take."

I blink, surprised that's all I slept considering how tired I was. But I just nod in reply, still feeling an ache in my entire body. But strangely my thoughts aren't on my pain. My still somewhat foggy mind has wondered enough place its thought on one person in particular.

Sam.

I remember him talking to me just before I passed out, but the memory is so blurry I can't make anything out, except one word...

Home.

He said I was home, but... was this place my home? I don't-or didn't think I'd ever have a 'home'. Yes, there would be a place I stayed and took shelter but a 'home'? No, that thought is just that-a thought. I can't have a home. I don't have a home...

Not yet, anyway.

I have mixed feelings on that thought.

"You're very lucky, Runner Five, to come back with no bites after being out for so long. Although you're going to have to let your neck and shoulders heal a bit before you can go running. There's been some muscle strain, which is lucky in your case, but we don't want to cause anything to tear." Dr. Meyers says, frowning when she sees my unfocused state. "Is everything alright?"

I nod, now giving away some of my attention to her to calm my raging mind. But still I can't help but wonder where he is now, and if anyone else has come to visit me.

"You're thinking about Sam, aren't you?"

My eyes snap up to meet her gaze and I clench and unclench my fingers as she smirks. How does she-

"Caleb helps me out at the hospital," She laughs, answering my unasked question. I glare at her, and she giggles even more before pulling back the makeshift curtain, revealing a sleeping, messy-haired Sam.

"I had to give him something to actually get him to sleep," Dr. Meyers muses. "He swore up and down he wouldn't rest until you woke up. I assured him you were okay but... I had to slip in a Melatonin packet into his drink when he wasn't looking. He'll be happy to see you're awake though."

My lips twitch at that, but I force back the smile. If the doctor sees my expression I'm sure she'd tell it to Caleb, and his teasing is not something I need to hear right now.

"He'll probably wake up soon, since I gave him the Melatonin just after we got you cleaned up." She pauses for a moment and looks at Sam thoughtfully. "I'm surprised he's not awake yet. I guess all that stress tired him out."

I remember everything he told me as I was running last night. I remember the ice cream rolls, and the French and engineering and Steve or Simon or whatever his name was. I remember the sadness and pain in his voice. But most of all I remember him calling me 'friend'. I remember him telling me to come home...

Home... I barely remember what it's like to have a home. Will... would if feel any different if I were too call this place home?

A mumbled out sentence and the ruffling of sheets pull me back to reality. I look at the cot beside me, watching as Sam sits up to run one hand through his hair while the other rubs his eyes. He looks at me, still a bit disoriented, and after a couple long seconds of staring it finally seems to click.

"Five, you're awake!" He exclaims, scrambling over beside me. "H-how are you feeling? I-I mean, you probably feel horrible but... still, how are you feeling?"

'Why do you think I'd feel horrible?' I question, as a teasing smile appears in my lips. 'Do I look that bad?'

My smile grows as the tips of his ears turn red. "N-No, I mean, you don't look as good as you normally do but-wait, that came out wrong. I mean, you look... great-fine. You look fine."

By now his entire face is red, and I bite my lip to keep from giggling, although my laugh would be voiceless...

'Thank you, Sam. Although I'm not sure I can say the same for you.'

My joke seems to ease some of the tension, and Sam runs his hand through his already messed up hair.

"You're probably right," He laughs, rubbing the back of his neck. "I haven't really looked in a mirror today."

He pauses a moment as a pained expression appears on his face, his eyes trailing away from my face. He swallows and there's an emotion in his eyes I can't quite recognize. I furrow my brows in confusion. His breathing becomes a bit shaky as his eyes bore into mine.

"Were you really going to do it?"

I blink, my face contorting to one of confusion. 'What?'

"Were you really going to..." His fingers reach up and brush against the skin of me neck, making me shudder and pull away slightly. "There's a pretty dark bruise, but even it weren't there we saw the rope around your neck."

I shrug. 'Well, I'm still here, aren't I?'

"The rope was broken, Five!" He fumes, and my eyebrows raise at his sudden anger. "Not cut, which means you didn't back out of it and... a-and you weren't going to, were you?"

I sigh through my nose, my eyes downcast as I sign out my honest answer. I remember the feeling of the rope around my neck, the desperate gasps for air although none came. I remember my feet kicking in attempt to find some kind of leverage. I remember coming rather close to death-I remember dying.

'I was going to try again after the rope broke,' I admit, glancing up at Sam and seeing his eyes glued to my hands, waiting for me to continue, 'with my axe... I was desperate. I knew my chances to find shelter were next to nothing and I didn't want to turn so I... was going to do it with any means possible.'

"What stopped you?" He asks lowly, and I almost laugh at the fact he hasn't realized it yet.

'You.' His eyes widen and his lips part slightly.

"Me?"

'I was just about to do it until I heard you on my headset," I explain, my mouth stretching into a smile. 'You have great timing, by the way.'

"But... all the things I said about being better off as-as one of them and no one remembering... ah, I'm sorry, Five," He groans and burrows his face in his hands. "I didn't mean it-any of that I didn't mean. I just... I didn't think-I couldn't think you were alive."

I reach up and touch his arm to get his attention. I examine his guilty expression as he finally brings himself to look back at me, and I send him a questioning look.

'Then why did you keep talking to me?'

He sighs at that. "Because I wanted to believe it. I wanted to but I-I knew if I did and you didn't come back or-or you did but it was too late..." He groans in frustration, not sure how to voice his thoughts while I just watch intently.

'If it weren't for you, I'd be dead,' I say, a few seconds later. 'I was about to commit suicide, and if I hadn't heard you through the headset, I would have. You kept me going. Everything you said, whether it was about ice cream rolls or your family or even about me being an undead fiend,' Sam chuckles at that.

'It all kept me going.'

"Well, I'm glad," Sam utters softly. "I'm glad you came home."

'Although I do have a question.'

He straightens a bit at that, the weird sort of comforting moment gone. "Ask away."

'Did you really mean it when you called me your friend?'

"Yes." There's no hesitation in his voice whatsoever. His face is serious with eyes sincere and God, it shouldn't feel as good as it does to hear him say yes to that question.

"Do you want me to be your friend?" His voice is calm and small, eyes wide and searching as if trying to find the answer before I say it.

I raise my hand to reply but a new voice sounds out before I can.

"Do you like to nearly giving me a heart attack?" Caleb shrieks as he barges in. "I was worried sick! The only cool person I've met since the zombie apocalypse and she decides to nearly get herself killed. Oh, hey, Sam. And another thing-"

His voice comes to a stop when he takes a look at the two of us-me frowning and Sam sending him a sharp glare.

"I'm totally interrupting something, aren't I?"

"You could say that," Sam grumbles under his breath.

"Should I leave?"

"No, I'm sure you've been wanting to speak to Runner Five just as much as I have," He responds, to which Caleb raises a brow before smirking at me.

'I doubt that,' He signs as Sam's attention is elsewhere. I scowl at him and shake my head, and he snickers in reply.

Sam notices the unspoken conversations between us and glances back and forth questionably. "What? What am I missing?"

"Nothing." Caleb grins, before looking back at me, his smiling slipping. "What's with that bruise going along your neck?"

I can feel the blood drain from my face as I look away. Biting my lip, I desperately try to think of someway to say this and make it sound not as terrible as it actually is... was.

"It's complicated," Sam answers for me. I send him a grateful smile and I see him strain to keep his straight face and not return it.

"Uh-huh," He replies skeptically, but quickly changes the subject. "So, Five, for real... are you okay? I know I was yelling and ranting just a minute ago but you scared the hell out of me. If I would've gotten any more worried I would've become holy water."

I snicker at his joke although I myself am Baptist, and Caleb's practically beaming at the fact that I laughed at his joke.

'I'm fine, although I do feel like I've been beaten with a stick many, many times.'

"Yeah. You're not going to able to run for a while," Sam remarks. "Especially since..." He eyes my neck with a slight frown and I turn my eyes back to Caleb, who is standing there awkwardly shifting his weight from one foot to the other.

'So, the only cool person you've met since the apocalypse started?' I grin. 'I'm flattered.'

"Well, I may have exaggerated a little bit on that," He extends out the word 'little' for a few extra seconds. "I have maybe one or two other interesting people, but don't be any less flattered. You out rank them by far."

I smile at the compliment. 'I'm surprised you two are the only ones who came to visit-not that I'm not glad you two came to see me-'

"I never left," I hear Sam murmur under his breath, and then eyes widening just slightly at the realization he said it aloud. I realize I've probably embarrassed the poor guy enough already so I let it slide.

'I'm just wondering why Milo and Willis aren't here to see me.'

"Oh, they wanted to," Caleb says quickly. "I did too, but Dr. Meyers only let Sam stay with you while you were knocked out. I get to visit you now but I don't think those two or Penelope will get to see you until get out of the hospital. Guess she thought we'd wake you up or something."

"I doubt you would've woken Five up if you had started playing '1000 Miles' at the highest volume while dancing along," Sam says, crossing his arms over his chest. "She hit the ground right after she made into Abel."

'That's probably where I got these bruises,' I comment before looking at my arms. It appears to be that Sam just notices this judging by his knitted brows.

"But Maxine probably just let me in here because, you know, Five is one of my runners."

I give an odd stare at that statement, not sure how to respond, or if I should respond. But I really hope that Caleb won't but going by the grin on his face it's in vein to do so.

"So you'd do this for all your runners?"

"Yes, well, the ones I like."

"So you like Runner Five?" Caleb smirks, ignoring the daggers I'm glaring at him.

"Yes, I mean, no," Sam sputters in realization, and out of the corner of my eye-I'm still glowering at Caleb-I see him grit his teeth in embarrassment. "Not... like that."

He mutters something under his breath and sends Caleb a sharp look, and I can't help but tilt my head to the side in curiosity. But Sam doesn't look at me.

"I should probably get going. Let you guys talk since I've been here the entire time." He starts to get up but I grab his arm in a flash. He looks at me with an eyebrow raised in question and I contemplate on whether I want to ask him to stay. I enjoy talking to him, but I don't want to give Caleb anymore reason to tease me over an attraction that isn't there.

'The question you asked me earlier,' I sign, watching his eyes brighten in recognition and anticipation. 'Yes. Yes I do.'

God, I pray I don't regret this.

A half of a smile slides into his face as he stands. "I'm glad we're... on the same page."

With that he gives a wave and a smile and he's gone, and the room goes silent...

For about two seconds.

"So... were you two talking about you liking him or..."

'I hate you.'

Caleb scoffs. "You know you love me."

'I don't love anyone.'

"You love Sam."

'No, I don't!' I glower at him before turning my eyes away, sure that he'll continue his teasing, but there's nothing but silence.  I look up at him and the expression he's wearing is unrecognizable to me. 'What?'

His eyes widen a simple fraction, just barely noticeable. "Oh, uh, nothing... Just thinking about how glad I am that you came back."

'Yeah," I answer. 'I'm glad too.'

•

The second I leave the hospital a day later, I'm nearly tackled to the ground as three people rush up to me.

"Runner Five, you're okay!" Willis shouts after I've stepped back into my personal space bubble. I nod, calmly, although frowning when I notice the distressed look on the three children's faces.

"We thought you wouldn't come back," Milo says, and Penelope takes a small step out from behind her brother.

'Well, I did. Don't have to worry about me.' I respond, giving a small shrug at his words.

"You must've really wanted to get back home, because you did like, the impossible."

I suffer for a moment at hearing that word, but then huff out a laugh and shake my head. 'I wouldn't call it impossible.'

"We really didn't think you were going to come back," Milo admits once more. "Which sucked because you're actually really cool-cooler now since you survived being out almost all night."

I smile at their concern, but the smile drops when I feel a hand tugging on my own.  I stare down with shocked eyes as Penelope motions me to crouch down. I slowly do, and she leans closer to talk into my ear.

"You're going to be okay now, right?" She day in a voice just above a whisper. I silently nod, still surprised she's actually talking to me.

'Yes. I'm going to be fine...'

Now that I'm here. Now that I'm... home, or as close a home as I can get right now.

A/N: Hello. Sort of a filler chap here but it's still good. Shows the relationships growing and crap. Anyway, please be sure to comment and vote if you like it! Thanks!