“Everything all right with you two?” Hank asked. He looked beyond Devin to where Noah was sitting. It was clear he sensed the change in mood between them.

Devin nodded, dismissing his question. “How is it out there?”

“Clear for now.” Hank rotated his shoulder and ran his hand over the strap of his rifle. “You sure you’re okay?”

Devin hesitated. Noah’s question had unsettled him. He had no idea what Noah had been thinking, asking about Connor. Maybe he hadn’t. Devin recalled the first few occasions he had spent time with Noah. Noah had just kept on talking and asking questions. There hadn’t been any thought behind them, more an indication of his fear.

“Devin?”

Get a grip. “I’m good. Or I will be once we get out of here. Can’t believe I’m saying this, but I can’t wait to get back and sleep in my own bed.”

The cots back at the prison were anything but comfy, but he missed the familiarity of the lumpy, thin mattress he called his.

Mac caught Devin’s eyes. “We about ready?” he asked, slotting his knife into its sheath on his belt.

“Yeah.”

“What about him?” Mac nodded in Noah’s direction.

“I’ll take care of him,” Devin said. His tone was firm. He didn’t plan on letting Noah out of his sight, not now or ever, if he had anything to do with it.

It seemed Mac understood, as he didn’t disagree. “Okay. Hank and Yara will take point. I’ll hang back with you and the others.”

Devin sucked in his lower lip and gently bit down. “Thank you,” he said. “You saved Noah’s life. Mine and Hank’s, too.”

Mac pressed his mouth into a line. “Not a problem. Couldn’t have you dying before I got to hear the story of how you got those.” He waved a finger toward Devin’s face. “Anyway, something tells me you’d have been fine with or without our help.”

“Maybe.” Over the years, even before the world had gone to shit, Devin had faced some tough times as a soldier, as a man. As a son. Both abroad and at home. “But thank you all the same.”

With a short nod, Mac picked up his pack from a nearby desk. “Yara says there’s nothing moving out there.”

“Let’s hope it stays that way,” said Devin.

They needed to move fast and in silence. Noah was hurt. The last thing they needed was to draw attention to themselves, or get pinned down by a pack of freaks.

“Have a little faith.” Mac patted Devin on the shoulder.

Faith. His thoughts went to Emily and the faith she still had in people, in him. Mac walked away and Devin’s sight fell on Noah. Seeing Noah vulnerable and alone on the floor stirred the ever-present need within Devin to protect the people he loved. After Connor, he had sworn to protect Emily no matter what. Everything he had done, he had done for her. She was family.

He looked at his feet. Over time whom he considered family had changed—Jack, Kerry, then Noah. He would do anything for them.

You should probably tell them that. Just in case.

“Okay.” Mac raised his voice to get everyone’s attention. “We’re going to move as a unit. Hank and Yara up front. Alex, stay with March. Brandon, help Devin with Noah,” he instructed. “Things appear clear out there, but we all know appearances don’t mean shit these days. Stay together and keep your eyes open.” He approached Devin. “That all okay?”

Devin nodded. From his actions, Mac seemed honest, moral. Devin wasn’t ready to lower his guard entirely where Mac and his group were concerned, but there was room for some trust there. “No arguments from us. We’ll follow your lead.”

Mac smiled. There was a sense of gratitude in his eyes. “Okay then. Five minutes.”

Chewing on his lip, Devin glanced back at Noah. They had to get him up and moving about. “Hank, give me a hand?” He headed over to Noah.

Concern and apprehension was written on Noah’s face as he already seemed to be bracing himself to be lifted.

“Let’s get you on your feet,” Devin said and waited for Hank to join him. They stood on either side of Noah, leaning down to support an arm each. “Okay? Ready?”

Noah paled. He didn’t speak but nodded, screwing up his face at the anticipated pain. He placed a hand over his stomach and, with his other, gripped Hank’s forearm.

“On three.” Devin met Hank’s eyes. “One. Two. Three.” On three they lifted together, managing to get Noah off the ground.

Noah let out a sharp sound and swayed into Devin. “Fuck,” he said through clenched teeth. He blew a couple of breaths and closed his eyes.

“You okay?”

“Uh huh. Just waiting for the urge to vomit to pass.” Noah opened his eyes, but narrowed them.

Devin touched Noah’s wrist. “Let me see.” He leaned in when Noah moved his hand. He took care in rolling up Noah’s shirt. There was no fresh blood and the wound was still securely covered. Pulling Noah’s shirt back down, Devin dismissed Hank. “You’re fine.” He didn’t hide the relief in his voice.

Noah held onto Devin, curled his fingers into Devin’s jacket at his shoulder. “Devin—”

“We’ll be out of here soon,” Devin said.

Noah didn’t push conversation, but seemed to relax into Devin’s hold for a moment.

Devin hooked his arm around Noah’s waist and encouraged him toward the door.

Noah grunted. He tensed with each step.

“There you go.” Devin focused on Noah’s feet, on each of his unsteady steps. He imagined that each one caused Noah pain.

“Can I help?” Brandon clasped his hands behind his back and furrowed his brow. He seemed hesitant, as if he was waiting to be invited, despite Mac’s instruction for him to assist Devin with Noah.

Devin straightened a little. As much as he wanted to take care of Noah and be the one to protect him, he knew he couldn’t do it alone. Not with Noah injured. “Take his other arm.”

Brandon nodded and went to Noah’s side. He lifted Noah’s arm over his neck, mirroring Devin’s hold.

“Thank you,” Noah said.

Brandon smiled. “No problem.”

A fleeting sense of loss passed over Devin. Noah wanted to help them and so he should. Devin just didn’t know what that meant for them, for him. Though Emily had found ways to move on, Devin would never stop wanting to protect her. Could he leave her and follow Noah on a mission to God knows where?

“It’s time.” Mac’s voice drew Devin back to the present.

Blinking, Devin glanced at Noah as Noah took another step forward. It didn’t seem to be getting any easier for him. “It’ll be over soon.” Noah met his eyes. “We’ll get home, get you healed up.”

“And then?”

“Then we figure out what happens next.” Reaching up with his other hand, Devin wrapped his fingers around Noah’s wrist and gently squeezed.

Noah held his gaze and seemed to be comforted by the contact.

“We’ll work it out. Together.” Devin touched his head to Noah’s. “It’s what we do.”

“You got him?” Devin slipped from beneath Noah’s arm, relying on Brandon to take Noah’s weight.

“Yes,” Brandon said.

Devin pulled back the canvas cover of the vehicle and checked inside. “Okay. Clear.” He dropped down the back and jumped up. Hank slid his rifle and pack across the bed of the truck and hopped up beside Devin.

“Okay.” Devin knelt down. “This might hurt.”

Noah looked up at him. He didn’t say anything but reached up, touching Devin’s leg. Sweat clung to his brow at his hairline and he swallowed hard.

“How do want to do this?” Brandon rested his free arm on the edge of the open tailgate.

Devin glanced between Brandon and Noah. He didn’t know what was for the best. “Turn him around.” They could do this together.

“Get a move on, boys,” Yara said. She raised her rifle and spied through the scope, casting her gaze over the street behind them. “I’ve made enough new friends for one day.” She lowered the weapon and raised an eyebrow, side-eyeing Hank before moving around the side of the vehicle.

“Take his arm,” Devin told Hank. They both hooked an arm. Devin nodded at Brandon. “Hold his legs.”

Between the three of them they lifted Noah into the truck.

“Jesus.” Noah struggled to bring down his arm over his stomach as Devin and Hank dragged him back across the truck bed.

“Okay?” Devin checked Noah over as they sat him up.

Noah pressed his lips together in a grimace as he seemed to swallow back his discomfort.

“Where’s March?” Devin asked Brandon.

“Here,” March said and stepped into view at the back of the truck.

Hank walked back to the tailgate and offered his hand.

Ducking her head, March took it and allowed Hank to help her up.

“Look after him, okay?” Hank told her. He briefly met Devin’s eyes.

March nodded and made her way to Noah’s side. “He’ll be fine with me. Go do what you need to do.”

There were a few crates of supplies they had to load. After a few hours of fitful sleep, Devin had joined Mac in searching the hospital for anything that might be of use to the groups.

Devin squeezed Noah’s shoulder. “Hold on in there. It won’t be long now.” He straightened and stared beyond the end of the truck and to the street. Briefly, he closed his eyes and took a slow, deep breath. He would feel better about things once they got on the road.

Nearly home.

“Devin?”

Devin opened his eyes and looked down at Noah. “Sorry? What?” The gentle vibration of the moving vehicle had helped Devin to relax and given him the rare opportunity of clearing his mind. It was a strange peaceful moment after everything that had happened before.

Noah wore a curious expression.

Sitting up, Devin asked, “Is everything okay?” He rubbed at his face.

“Yeah. Yes,” Noah said. His features softened, but were still edged with regret. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to disturb you.”

Devin leaned forward and rubbed Noah’s shoulder. He glanced to where March was lying on the opposite bench. She was on her side, but she wasn’t asleep as she stared back at him.

“You didn’t,” Devin said, focusing back on Noah. “You sure you’re all right?” He was relieved when Noah smiled. He stroked Noah’s cheek with the back of his hand. With a sigh, he stretched out his legs and slid to sit on the bed floor with Noah. He leaned against the bench.

A rip in the canvas drew his eye and Devin watched the tattered material. “Connor was a good man,” he said. He cast Noah a sideways glance. “He had this frustrating habit of always being right.” Devin smiled to himself at the brief memories of moments between him and Connor.

“I’m sorry.”

Devin turned his head. “For what?”

“I don’t know. Everything?” Noah lifted his shoulders.

“Everything. That’s a lot to be sorry for.” Devin shook his head. “You don’t need to be.”

Noah tilted his head and raised an eyebrow.

“Okay so maybe you have a few things to apologize for. One being me having to follow your ass out here.”

“For which I am grateful.”

“But, everything, all this…” Devin frowned. His thoughts returned to Connor. “Connor always said stuff happened for a reason. Fate or whatever.” He stroked his chin. “I guess I struggle to see how a lot of things that have happened in my life, in others’ lives, can be called fate.”

Noah laid his hand on Devin’s thigh. “I don’t know about any of that. But I guess people find comfort in thinking it was meant to be, good or bad, maybe in the end there’s a reason, something bigger going on.”

“Maybe.”

Connor had been convinced that their meeting had been fate, though Devin wasn’t so sure he saw a knife to the gut in quite the same romantic light. Connor had been on duty that night in the ER, had been sweet and charming despite the bloody chaos.

Why did fate bring us together only to rip us apart? He would never get his head around that.

Clearing his throat, Devin glanced down at Noah’s hand on his leg. “Something bigger,” he said, his voice almost a whisper.

Guilt seemed to darken Noah’s eyes and he hesitated before resting his hand over Devin’s. “I know you and Connor were…and losing him must have been terrible, horrific.” He stopped and held onto Devin as if he thought he might lose him.

Devin’s mind went back. He remembered the blank look in Connor’s eyes, his contorted expression before he lunged wildly forward.

“I know it doesn’t help make anything that’s happened okay, but…” Noah seemed unsure.

“What?” Devin said. “It’s okay. Just say it.”

“I get that it’s different for you. You had someone.” Noah’s grip on Devin’s hand tightened. “Someone who was more than family, friends…” His hold on Devin didn’t falter. “But I want you to know, for me, the one good thing that’s come out of all of this, this hell, is you.”

Noah’s hand relaxed for a moment, as if offering Devin a chance to pull away. Devin didn’t know what to say. The churning in his gut was a reflection of his unease. It was as if his heart was broken in two. Half cold, consumed by the loss of Connor, and yet, in the other lay a spark of need. Despite his attempts to keep his distance, Devin couldn’t deny what he felt for Noah.

“I’m sorry,” Noah said. “I said the wrong thing. I said it wrong.”

“It’s fine.” Devin stared across the truck. He circled his thumb over Noah’s knuckles, comforted by the feel of Noah’s hand in his.

“I would never try to undermine what you two had. That it wasn’t important.” Noah shook his head. “That’s not what I meant.”

“Hey.” Devin turned his head. “I said it’s fine.” He noted the desperate expression on Noah’s face, how his eyes were glassy, bloodshot from lack of sleep, but they still held their familiar warm charm.

An ache spread across Devin’s chest as he shifted his gaze, settling on Noah’s slightly parted lips. He took a shaky breath as he found himself overwhelmed. “It’s fine,” he said, low and uneven. He arched his head back, blinking as he struggled to raise his eyes.

I know I have to let Connor go. No matter how many times I come out here, Connor is gone.

Hesitation and fear melted away as Devin leaned in and pressed his mouth to Noah’s.

I have to embrace what I do have. What isn’t gone.

The kiss was firm but brief. Devin lowered his head when Noah curled his hand around the back of Devin’s neck. They remained with their foreheads touching for a long moment until Devin’s radio crackled to life and Hank’s voice sounded out.

“Devin, you there?”

Devin gently stroked Noah’s cheek. “Don’t ever think you don’t matter to me,” he said. Taking a deep breath, he got to his feet. Speaking into the radio, Devin confirmed he was there.

“I see a vehicle up ahead.”

“Okay.” Devin raked his hand back through his hair. “And?” They had been on plenty of roads, seen plenty of abandoned vehicles.

“It’s headed our way and it’s not just one.” Hank paused. “I think they’re ours.”

Devin glanced over his shoulder at Noah. “Ours?” Why were their people on the road? He didn’t think any supply runs had been scheduled for another couple of days. Had something happened?

“What do we do?” Hank asked.

What could they do?

The sound of a car horn chimed as the vehicles drew closer.

Devin made his way to the back of the truck, crouching as he drew back the canvas cover.

“Devin?” Hank prompted.

“I don’t know.” It was too late anyway. The vehicles were already alongside them. Their tires sounded harsh on the road. Devin gripped the side of the truck as three cars passed them. There was no flash of brake lights, no indication they were going to stop, and Devin’s heart sank.

What were they running from?

“What’s going on?” Noah asked from behind him.

The cars shrank into the horizon.

“I don’t know,” he said again.

What waited for them back home?