He could only nod dumbly at her not-question, still caught up in the tornado of emotions that were crashing around inside him. No feeling stuck out more than any of the others. Regret, anger, grief, envy, happiness, frustration... It was an endless cycle that he couldn't get a grip on.
When Rae reached her hand out to try and touch him, Elliot braced himself. People had been walking through him all day and it was the strangest fucking feeling ever. Not exactly painful, but it took his spectral breath away.
Her fingers made contact.
Elliot blinked in surprise. Her fingers made contact? He could actually feel the pressure of her hand on his arm. Not as he was accustomed to feeling her touch, though. There was an energy there. A tingling or a tickling.
How was she able to touch him like this?
With his free hand, he brushed his fingers lightly over Rae's where they still rested on his arm. His touch wasn't solid, but it didn't pass through her hand. That was interesting. He glanced up from his inspection to see the tears glistening in his girlfriend's eyes and trailing down her cheeks. Still experimentally, he reached up to try and wipe away her tears. It didn't have much of an effect.
Elliot shook his head fervently when Rae, too, began apologizing. "I died protecting the both of you," he said, sparing his brother a glance. "And I wouldn't have it any other way. So stop apologizing. Please. I'm not blaming either of you."
His attention was on Rae now. Completely. He had to make sure she understood. He had to ease her pain somehow. "Rae, I couldn't let that murderer take you from me. It was bad enough that I couldn't save your father. If he'd killed you, too, I..." He paused and glanced down at their hands again. "I'd probably be in worse shape than you are now. I love you, Rae. And if I'd had it all to do over again? I'd do the exact same thing."
"I love you, and I'm sorry it had to end like this. I know you'll be okay, though. You're the most amazing woman I know. You'll outlive this whole fucking mess of a zombie world, you'll meet another guy, have some kids and this great life. It's the one thing that I wish for you, Rae. And you, David," he said to his brother. "Both of you will get through this without me."