The mechanic held his friend close...and maybe let some tears slip out of his face while he could. He had to allow himself this moment of weakness, of having done so much, killed so many Infected, and now this? To kill their fellow survivors or whatever they were for someone else's sport?!

"But what if...I don't want you or Nick t' suffer an' goddamn, Nick got so close," he whispered, broken for this one instance. It was physically impossible for Ellis to be the happy-go-lucky young man all the time as he used to be, "I don't wanna see you guys die. I don't wanna lose ya." Over and over again. That was his hell, wasn't it?

"S-Sorry," he immediately tried to get his bearings for her. He tried to smile again, "Just had to let that out. I'll be all right." No he wasn't but at least he had someone to be honest with. To not be afraid in baring his heart to.