(Fall…)

"Freezing…"

Channon thought miserably as she prowled through near empty shelves of an abandoned grocery store. She couldn't remember the last time she had really been warm. It was only November but it felt like the middle of January. Channon had been sick with a stubborn cold for weeks and was feeling like shit as she tried to find her and Brian's dinner. Neither had eaten in days and it was beginning to wear on them both.

"Channon?"

She turned to see Brian walking around the corner looking at her nervously. His face was etched with worry as he walked over to her.

"What's wrong Brian?"

He looked around the empty room checking for bitters. This was there routine look for things to survive with but keep an eye out for the mindless monsters that wanted nothing more than to kill them.

"I thought I lost you."

Channon frowned looking up at him. Her green eyes looked dark.

"What are you talking about Brian? I have been here the whole time."

Brian nodded sadly. He looked at Channon and felt nothing but pity. In the past couple of months Channon had really went downhill. She had lost so much weight and looked like she could drop dead at any moment. Although she wouldn't admit it he knew she missed Phillip beyond all reason. He had tried to talk to her about Phillip and Nick but she wouldn't. Brian wasn't for sure if it was pride or depression that kept her from talking. Deep down he figured it was a fair mixture of both. Channon was possibly the most stubborn person he had ever seen in his life. She wouldn't say she missed Phillip or Nick but it didn't take a rocket scientist to know she did.

"I just don't want you disappearin or anything."

Channon smiled trying not to cough. Brian sighed looking down.

"You're getting worse. We gotta find you some medicine or something before you get pneumonia."

He whispered as Channon slipped a package of Tylenol in her jacket pocket.

"Brian it's just a cold. Come on now. Who's the doctor here?"

Channon turned with a smile shoving a few assorted can of food in the bag by her foot. She tried to keep Brian from worrying too much but it was getting harder and harder. He was worrying about winter coming and how they would survive then he would start wanting to talk about Phillip or Nick. Channon wasn't about to talk about that subject. She would talk about anything Brian wanted to talk about but that…and she meant anything! Like one night he tried to bring up whether or not she missed Phillip or not and she started to try starting an argument whether a Fig Newton was a cookie or not.

"Channon we got to find something safe before winter gets here. We can't be hiddin out in the woods much more. It's gettin too cold and you're sicker than a dog."

Channon looked up thinking about saying "DUH" but she didn't feel like being a smartass at the moment. Babysitting Brian was the only thing that kept her going. If it wasn't for him she would have probably just put a bullet through her head. "Opting out" was beginning to sound better and better by the day. She didn't really see much point in surviving anymore. If she and Brian made it through the winter it would be a miracle.

"Yeah Brian. I'm gonna go out and keep watch. Keep on lookin."

Brian looked up with a frown that resembled his brother so much it gave Channon cold chills. If she hadn't known better she would have sworn it was Phillip standing right in front of her. She

"You sure about that?"

Channon nodded turning and walking from the store. She had to get out! Any time she thought too much about Phillip Channon could feel a nervous breakdown coming on. There would be no way in hell she would let Brian see her cry. No one would see her cry anymore…never again! Channon took her revolver out of her back pocket walking into the bright sunlight with a sigh.

She stood quietly for a moment until the sound of a footstep behind her made her freeze.

"Drop the gun sweetheart and let me see your hands."

Channon looked at her feet trying to calm her pounding heart. She didn't recognize the man's voice. For a moment she didn't drop her gun until she heard the sound of a gun cock behind her. Channon dropped her revolver and held up her hands.

"There I dropped it. Ya happy?"

The man snickered behind her.

"As a fuckin kid at Christmas. Now turn around here and let me get a hold of you."

Channon rolled her eyes.

"Like hell I will go anywhere with you."

The guy snickered.

"Figured you would say that but I may have you an offer you will like. I have a safe place I can take you. You won't be in any more danger. To be perfectly honest sweetness you are lookin pretty rough."

Channon shook her head not turning.

"I ain't going anywhere."

The guy sighed. She thought she won until something struck her hard in the back of the head knocking her out cold.

Bright lights shining her eyes woke Channon up. She looked up to see a middle age black woman looking down at her.

"How are you feeling?"

She asked casually. Channon frowned sitting up looking around the room where a man of Hispanic decent stood next to Brian who wasn't saying a word.

"Just fine and dandy. What the hell is wrong with you people goin around smackin people in the back of the head like that? That'll get your asses shot in a fuckin heartbeat! WHAT IS YOUR PROBLEM?!"

The woman looked at her raising an eyebrow looking a little amused. The Hispanic guy grinned.

"Sorry about that darlin. My names Martinez. We typically don't see women on their own anymore. Didn't know you had your boyfriend here with you."

Channon frowned looking at Brian who wasn't moving.

"He isn't my boyfriend thank you. Now where's the exit and how the hell do we get outta here?"

The man smiled.

"What's your hurry? You look pretty rough miss. Why don't you stay here and relax a bit?"

Channon shook her head.

"I don't do relaxing."

The man sighed as the side door opened. Channon was busy taking off the IV the woman had stuck in her arm.

"I swear I am the only fuckin person that could get kidnapped in a god damn zombie apocalypse. If there's bad shit that can happen to a person it comes to me."

She looked up and froze when she saw the person standing by Martinez. Phillip stood looking at her with a shocked expression on his face. Channon didn't move just took in his appearance. He looked like he was just fine minus the eye patch that was covering one of his eyes. Channon frowned looking at Brian who looked equally as confused. She shook her head fighting the urge to start screaming curses at Phillip.

"What the hell happened to you?!"

Phillip sighed looking at Channon right now as something right out of a horror story. She looked dreadful. The beautiful girl he loved so much looked like a hot mess. She had lost so much weight her clothes literally hung on her. He didn't pay much attention to his brother. It didn't make a difference if that guy was dead or alive.

"Another story for another time. Now what the hell happened to you?"

Channon snorted obviously still pissed at him.

"Oh nothing…life, starving half to death, almost getting killed by bitters you know just the usual. On the bright side I'm not having to deal with any psychos anymore."

Phillip didn't look too amused with her comment but didn't get angry like once would have.

"Well good for you."

Channon nodded standing up looking at Brian who was looking scared for his life.

"Yeah…well Phillip it's been a slice but we gotta be going. Tell the guy that knocked me over the head thanks for the concussion and to stay the hell away from me."

Phillip shook his head,

"You aren't going anywhere."

Channon nodded.

"I'm not staying anywhere close to you"

Phillip frowned. He looked at Martinez who even looked surprised by the little spitfire in front of him. For Phillip this was nothing then normal Channon Parson's behavior.

"At least stay until you are well. You don't need to be runnin around the woods sick."

Channon was about to argue but Brian stepped forward.

"Channon you should consider it. You really need to rest."

Channon looked at Brian with a furious expression. She couldn't believe that Brian was siding with Phillip.

"Fine! Whatever!"

She said angrily as Phillip motioned for Channon and Brian to follow him. Channon walked on the other side of Brian giving him a "What the hell are you thinkin" look. Martinez meanwhile, looked at Phillip.

"Governor I'm going to take care of that issue…"

Phillip nodded as Channon giggled.

"Governor? Really? Oh sweet jesus Brain we are in the 9th circle of hell!"

Phillip looked at Channon with a frown. He was ready to tell her to shut the fuck up already. As much as he still loved the feisty woman he hadn't missed her smartass personality. In all honestly he would like to just throw her over his shoulder and chain her to his bed so she wouldn't be able to escape him again! When he got her alone Phillip planned to slam her against a wall and kiss her until her lips were bright red and swollen then he would make love to her until she couldn't move for days. The girl wouldn't forget who her man was and running away would never again be an option.

For now though he would come across nice and charming to fool her. He would get her comfortable with the new "Phillip" then he would put his evil plan into action. She would pay for leaving him the way she did. He didn't want to love her anymore but he did. Love wouldn't get in his way this time though. She left him when he needed her the most.

"Martinez before you go take Brian to his room. Channon come with me."

Channon didn't say anything as Phillip led her to an empty room. She wouldn't even look at him. Her green eyes looked angrily at the ground ahead of her.

"You look bad Channon."

She looked up with icy eyes.

"No shit Sherlock."

Phillip frowned crossing his arms over his chest.

"No don't you go blamin me I didn't make your little ass leave. You left me."

Channon nodded as he held the door open for her.

"Damn right I did and I would do it again in a heartbeat. Now don't kill Brian tonight he's the only friend I got and I need something to take care of."

Phillip sighed as he looked at her with a sad expression on his face.

"Fine. Come see me in the morning."

Channon sighed giving up the fight. She didn't feel like fighting anymore. Exhaustion had overcome her and all she wanted at the moment was to pass out in the soft looking bed.

"Sure Governor. Now adios!"