Chapter 18

His hand was warm as he led me up to the apartment.

I hesitantly looked around noting how not much had changed as I went to sit in my favorite spot.

I grinned happily.

Henry shook his head at me in amusement and I shrugged.

We had a running joke where my spot was my spot and he would get raisins in his blueberry muffins if he tried to sit there instead.

Ah!

Yeah it was blueberry muffins that would wake him up whenever he was out cold.

I looked around the kitchen, noting how there really wasn't much food as Henry showered.

He was never one to cook since it would result in something burning, so it didn't surprise me honestly.

I would like to make him muffins again though…..

Maybe I could get Sarah to let me use the hospital's kitchen?

The thought excited me and I started checking for all my pans.

There was dust on some of them and I rolled my eyes, knowing he probably hadn't used them since I….

I swallowed and replaced the back in the cupboard.

Maybe digging in the cupboard was bad since technically I didn't live here anymore….

The thought made me sad.

I sat back down in my spot as Henry walked out with only pants on.

I flushed and looked up at the ceiling, trying not to stare at his abs.

Yes yes yes yes…...he DEFINITELY works out.

I could remember licking down them-

Ok maybe a bad idea to think of these things being in a place that smelled like him to.

I couldn't really calm down from our earlier activities when I was surrounded by his scent especially when my senses were stronger.

He always had smelled good to me before but now it was nearly lust inducing being in his home.

Or maybe it was the alcohol.

Henry walked over and sat beside me and my eyes nearly popped out of their skull when I looked back down and he STILL hadn't put a shirt back on

I wasnt going to lie he looked yummy and not in the zombie wanna eat way but more of please fuck me-

I really should leave, I let out a nervous laugh.

Henry held my hand and I hesitantly glanced at him, trying to keep my eyes on his face.

He kissed my knuckles playfully.

His eyes were gentle but alluring as he slowly kissed up my arm.

My name flashed on his chest, making my heart swell as I saw the very matching tattoo we had.

My body was basically playdough from that point as his kisses melted me.

He had my shirt off and was sucking marks on my chest, making me squirm and moan.

“So Maxy Baby…..you're still pretty flexible right?”

My face was beyond red at this point and I could only let out a strangled choke as he laughed.

“I'm teasing you Maxy… or am I?” He mused with a raised eyebrow.

I let out a whine and pushed at his chest.

“Mhmmm? You really want to go?” He said with a grin.

No.

But probably best to not go farther.

Though going farther would be 100% ok with me if not for the whole transmitting virus thing.

He let out a sigh when he saw my face but nodded.

“If it wasn't for the virus I would have already fucked you twice.” He muttered under his breath.

My face was burnt to a crisp and I covered my eyes as he sat up.

He was always a lot more aggressive when drunk.

Not that I normally minded.

I slid my shirt back on while he went to go get one of his own.

My face was flushed still as he led me back to the hospital.

Sarah raised an eyebrow and her eyes flashed to Henry’s new shirt and my embarrassed blush.

“I HOPE you didn't do anything you WEREN'T supposed to…..”

I shook my head violently no.

I was pretty sure he had stayed within the realms of not being infected but Sarah forced him to take a quick exam to check for infection before he was allowed to leave.

He was cleared and I sighed with relief as I watched him head home from my window.

Sarah huffed and came into my cell.

She came over to pull on the collar of my shirt, frowning at the bite mark on my shoulder.

I flushed in embarrassment.

“He's lucky he didn't go deep enough to make you bleed!”

I frowned.

“Well… too much of your blood could cause an infection.” She sighed.

I went and sat down on the bed, still blushing.

“I'm going to run some samples of your blood tomorrow and check to see how high the virus’s count is compared to your white cell blood count. Be prepared for needles.” She warned.

I flinched but nodded.

“Talk Max, you still need to practice.”

I let out a croak that sounded similar to an Ok.

Sarah nodded and left.

I laid down on the bed, blinking blearily up at the ceiling.

I smiled with a blushing face as I fell asleep to thoughts of Henry.

Waking up however was nowhere near as fun as going to sleep.

I let out a groan probably similar to a zombie as Sarah came into my cell.

She laughed at my pained face.

“I brought some water since you probably need it and we can skip food for now ok?” She said with a teasing grin.

I let out a whine and slowly sat up.

My head fucking HURT.

I gulped down all the water and sat blinking as Sarah took some blood, gave me my meds, and even took a nail clip sample.

I blinked at her curiously.

“I'm going to see if the infection is still in your nails or not, it's been awhile since you started treatment and i've been seeing a reduction of the virus in your blood. There's a chance you might not be able to transmit the virus from the DNA in your nails.”

I let out a huh sound and was still gripping the cup as I tried to get over my throbbing headache.

“You're going to be coming up on 4 months since treatment, I'm hoping by next year or so to have you not infectious at all and no longer need medicine.”

I paused and grabbed my white board.

*How long was I actually sick outside?*

Sarah paused for a moment.

“You disappeared on your mission roughly 4 years ago so about 3 years outside before we found you?”

My eyes widened.

*I'm 27?* 

She nodded.

The zombie apocalypse had happened when I was about 21 and Henry and I spent about a month on the road.

Then we found that old rancher man who let us live with him before his farm got over run….

And then here for a little over a year.

So Henry was about 28.

I wanted to ask….

*Did Henry….date anyone after me?*

Slowly Sarah shook her head.

“Its not exactly common to be gay and alot harder to find a partner you actually like during the apocalypse.”

I nodded.

I felt bad that he had been alone so long….

I remembered he had a lot of issues of feeling lonely before we started dating as teens.

He had a bout of depression when I went off to college to….but I was able to call him and visit over the course of my college experience.

I brought my knees to my chest.

…..I was pretty pissed with myself for leaving him.

He couldn't handle it well when I went off to college even with contact but 3 no almost 4 with him thinking I was dead?!

I felt really bad.

*Can I do some baking or something in the hospital kitchen?* I wrote.

“What do you want to make?”

I blushed.

*I want to make blueberry muffins.*

“Well…. We dont keep blueberries here….the farm would have some but I don't know if you can get any….plus sugars a bit hard, you could use a bit of honey?”

I nodded.

*Are there any guards besides Henry that can take me?*

Speaking of Henry I was surprised he wasn't here, but he was probably nursing his own hangover.

Sarah gave me an amused look.

“Well so long as you keep your mask on you can go out by yourself ok?”

I blinked and then grinned at Sarah.

I nearly flung myself out of the bed, half tripping over blankets as I ran to take a shower.

After taking a shower and doing my best to get the smell of alcohol off my breath I ran out of my cell, waving bye to Sarah.

The sun hurt my eyes as I still had a throbbing headache.

But my excitement kept me going as I made it to Louis’s house and knocked on the door.

I quickly wrote out a message as he answered.

*Would it be possible to get blueberries and a bit of honey?*

Louis blinked in confusion.

“Uh….well your in luck, blueberries are being picked today, if you want you can help me. I have some honey you can take to in storage.”

I grinned and nodded.

Louis and I spent about 3 hours collecting berries with some other field hands.

I took enough in a small container to make muffins and a little bit of honey.

Sarah led me to the kitchen and I put on gloves as I started making the muffins.

“I checked the sample from earlier Max, you can't pass it from your nails anymore.”

Oh…

Well….

I washed my hands after removing the gloves, pleased since it was kinda hard to use the spoon to mix with them on.

I had a black apron on as I mixed, remembering the recipe about as clear as day.

It made me happy how far I had gotten and how far I hopefully would get in the future.

Plus knowing that Henry was indeed single even though I felt bad about him having to be alone.

I took a clean spoon and got a taste of the mix before tossing the spoon into a sink with bleach where most of my utensils would go after meals.

It tasted pretty good honestly and I was tempted to eat the whole bowl.

Instead I measured them out into the pan cups and tossed them into the oven.

“I get one.” Sarah said from the door and I rolled my eyes but nodded.

I was making enough to give Louis 2 as well so I could give her one.

But Henry was getting 5, I nodded to myself.

Sarah and I spent a bit of time practicing talking while we waited for the muffins.

I got a container for them and a baggie for Louis’s share.

I was planning on going over to Henry’s and give them to him and figured I would just stop at Louis’s place after.