Clementine ran as fast as she could, but her exhaustion and loss of blood combined, meant that her vision was soon too blurred for her to continue. Her head was pounding, her ears ringing, as she slowly turned in a circle, trying to make out whether the blurry shapes around her were really moving, or whether it was just her own dizziness. As one of the blurs indeed moved towards her, she stumbled back, falling to the floor with a cry of pain as she cradled her injured arm to her chest. She attempted to crawl away with one arm, as the lumbering shape before her lumbered its way forward, sinking to he ground as it lunged toward her. She screamed as she fought the walker off as best as she could, but with only one arm fully functioning and her strength failing, the walker was winning the fight, sinking slowly closer to her, and she knew that any moment the fateful bite would be upon her.

Suddenly a new shape burst into her vision, as the walker above her lost its head, its body dropping onto her, crushing the breath from her lungs. She tried to focus as the walker's body was rolled off of her, and she could hear shouting around her.

'I'm out! Grab her and lets go!' A deep voice boomed, and Clementine tried to turn to see who was talking, but the next moment, she felt arms roughly grabbing her and she looped her arms around an unknown neck as she was lifted effortlessly from the ground.

'Come on, kid. We gotta get!' A second voice spoke to her, and Clementine turned her face into the chest of her rescuer and succumbed to the numbing fog that surrounded her mind, as the man carrying her began to run. When she felt the man carrying her begin to slow, she forced the foggy restraints of darkness aside, and became acutely aware of two things immediately. One, she was held securely to someones chest, as they carried her. Two, that her arm hurt like a bitch.

She recalled her rescue, and released her arms from her saviors neck, biting her lip to hide a hiss of pain as she moved her arm. She turned her face up to examine her rescuer. A young man held her tightly, carrying her as if she weighed nothing. She stared at his face, drinking in the tan brown of his hair, the dark eyes in the handsome face that wasn't marred by scars or ruined by the telltale hardness and lines of stress that had begun to age every face on those living in such a time. As soon as the man caught his breath and shifted his weight, she hastily turned her eyes back down to her own lap. She needed to decide quickly whether she should trust these men who had rescued her, or escape them to try and find Christa.

'I think... I think we're good.' The other man spoke, his voice a slow rough timber of a matured man with a southern drawl, and Clementine glanced briefly in his direction from under her cap. A balding man with a trace of a beard and kind eyes was bent double, catching his own breath after their sprint away from danger.

'Yeah... Yeah, we're good.' The man holding Clementine replied, and for a long moment the only sound was that of the wild animals hidden within the woods. She sensed their eyes on her, but she did not look up. 'Hey, you alright?' He asked her, and she debated on whether to answer him at all. His voice was soft, calm and friendly. He spoke with an accent that hinted at southern.

'...' Clementine turned her head away, because really, the guy could see, plain as day she was pretty goddamn far from alright. The men exchanged glances, before the man holding her looked back at her, trying to capture her gaze, which she stubbornly avoided.

'Ok...' He sighed, finally seeming to give up. 'I'm gonna just take that as a "no".' Clementine winced as pain sliced through her arm, when the man holding her began walking.

'What are you doing out here?' Asked the older man.

'Where are the uh, the people you were with?' Asked the other gently, and she sensed his eyes flicking between herself and the path, and could even tell he was trying his hardest not to jostle her. 'There's no chance you made it on your own this long...' He added.

'...' Clementine ducked her face down, her eyes welling with tears. Where was everyone? Everyone she was with, was either dead or missing. And she was to blame for all of it. She stubbornly held her tongue, and bit her bottom lip to stem the tide of tears that threatened to overwhelm her. The man carrying her sighed heavily, and Clementine could imagine him rolling his eyes.

'The group's not gonna be pleased about havin' another mouth to feed...' The older man murmured, perhaps hoping Clementine wouldn't hear him. She expected them to talk about her, and was surprised to find that they instead kept their own silence for a time after that.

'Look, kid...' The younger man said gently. Clementine begrudgingly looked up at him, though she quickly turned away again after meeting his dark brown eyes. 'I uh... I hate to break it to you, but I am an expert at talking to girls who don't want to talk to me...' Clementine bit her lip to keep from smiling, as the other man quickly commented on the young mans statement.

'You've certainly had enough experience.' The elder man said.

'Thankyou, I do not need your help with this...' The man carrying her replied sarcastically. Clementine fought hard to stop herself from laughing, it was relaxing to hear them talk so normally around her. She furrowed her brow and bit her lip, debating whether she should continue to keep her silence.

'Well...' The man carrying her spoke again, sighing when he again received no response from her. She looked up at him, biting her lip and watching him with wide eyes as he spoke. 'I'm Luke, and this is Pete.' He said with a soft but crooked smile, and Clementine was unnerved to find herself suddenly feeling as safe as she had ever felt with Lee. Her unease went unnoticed, as the other man tagged a friendly 'hey, there' to Luke's introduction. When she said nothing, both men sighed wearily, and the man carrying her seemed to droop his shoulders slightly. She dared a glance up, and met saddened, worried eyes. She hastily looked away, blushing as she tried to find her voice.

'I can walk...' She muttered at length, not once looking up at either man. She stared at her legs, and expected at any moment to be set on her feet again.

'Oh, is that so? 'Cause the last I saw, you could barely crawl away from that lurker back there.' Luke replied, although he sounded amused by her response as much as convinced. It could have just been that he was pleased with himself for finally getting her to talk, but she hoped that someone who rescued damsels in distress couldn't have quite such a big ego as that. He seemed genuinely relieved to have heard her finally speak, for he even began to walk straighter again. Clementine clenched her good hand, and said nothing. 'Look, you're in bad shape, kid.' Clementine turned her eyes to the ground, watching it disappear beneath Luke's feet. Clementine sighed as she released her clenched fist, realizing that if she were going to trust these men, she needed to do it entirely, and that meant giving them the whole truth.

'My friend and I got attacked...' Clementine said, picking her words carefully. She couldn't let these people think her weak. But then, she had already resolved to trust these men, and after all; they were helping her, with no expectation of reward.

'Hmm...' The older man mused, flashing a look at the man carrying her, that Clementine did not miss, before he turned his gaze to her. 'These folks mention what they were after?' He asked, and though Clementine knew he meant to sound lighthearted and merely curious, she noticed the tense set of his shoulders as he waited for her to answer. She hesitated, and then decided that being honest was her best option at the present moment.

'They might have just wanted our food...' She said, looking down at her arm. It stung like hell, and she wished she had her backpack with its tiny bottle of painkillers. 'We were cooking some sort of weasel...' She mused quietly, not realizing she had spoken aloud until the younger man carrying her replied.

'They attacked you for a weasel..?' He asked incredulously, lifting her slightly closer to his chest as he stepped over a broken branch on the path. Clementine said nothing, but relished the extra heat the movement provided her, and tried to subtly shift herself so she could press her face closer to the warmth. 'Damn... That is low.' He said. Clementine saw from the corner of her eye that he glanced at the elder man as they continued walking through the now near silent woods. 'They, didn't mention any names, right..?' He asked, and again Clementine noted that while he tried to sound nonchalant, his hands tightened, implying a greater importance to her answer than he was willing to admit to. When Clementine didn't answer immediately, he continued with another question, this time catching her eyes so he knew she had heard him. 'They weren't searching for anybody..?' Clementine said nothing, but shook her head minutely, which she instantly regretted as it made her vision foggy again.

'My name...' She said, shifting her weight slightly as she tried to mask her discomfort. 'I'm Clementine.' The two men shared a look, smiling at each other. Clementine felt slightly irritated that they were amused on her behalf, but she was still more preoccupied with how she had so quickly come to feel safe around the younger man, Luke.

'It's nice to meet you Clementine.' Luke said, looking pleased as he gazed down at her while he continued to walk carefully. She met his eyes shyly, uncertain of her own conflicting feelings as they churned within her. To trust someone so quickly was often a danger in these times, but she also couldn't bring herself to distrust the man. 'For now, we're gonna take you back to our group, okay?' He smiled at her, and Clementine let herself feel gratitude that she had not dared to feel for a long time. These people were helping her, because they could, and they wanted to. Even Christa had only stayed with her because of a promise she had made to a dead man. It had been so long since she had felt like perhaps she had some hope for her future. 'We got a doctor with us, and you look like you could use some... OH SHIT!' There was no warning before Luke's reassuring warmth was suddenly snatched from her, his arms retreating from her body as she were radioactive. She cried out in agony as she landed on her wounded arm, tears stinging her eyes as she slowly righted herself, and looked up at the now pacing man above her.

'What, what is it?!' Pete said, his gaze flicking between Luke and Clementine. Clementine stared up at Luke with hurt, watching as he took several large steps away from her as if she were contagious.

'She's... she's been bit, man.' He said, running his hands up into his hair as he stared at her crumpled form on the ground. 'FUCK! Fuck, fuck, fuck...' He muttered as he paced, his eyes flicking between her, and anywhere else. 'What're we gonna do, man? Fuck... fuck...' His tormented gaze landed on her, and Clementine fought back the urge to cry as best she could.

'No! It was a dog!' She said, cradling her bitten arm before her. She risked a glance at Luke, and was hurt by the so drastically different expression on his face. Where there had been warmth and kindness only moments ago, now there was only fear and suspicion. She lowered her eyes and cradled her injured arm.

'I didn't see any dog Clementine...' Pete said sternly, shaking his head sadly.

'Come on, kid!' Luke spat, glaring down at her as he resumed his nervous pacing. 'We just saw you with those lurkers back there!'

'No, no, no, no! I'm telling you the truth!' She cried, wishing she had never tried to feed Sam the stray in the first place. But, her life was filled with many a regret now, and this was just one more to the list. 'Just look at it, please!' Clementine pleaded, trying her best to stay calm. Luke and Pete continued to stare down at her. She was desperate for them to believe her. She met Luke's gaze as he looked at her and silently pleaded with her eyes. 'Please.' Luke turned away, while Pete crossed his arms, and if Clementine weren't so afraid for her life, she might have laughed at the way they both sighed the same weary sigh.

'What, and have you sink your teeth into Pete's neck?' Luke muttered spitefully, 'no way!' He yelled, turning back to her. 'I don't think so!'

'Why's it gotta be my neck?' Pete asked, watching Luke with amusement.

'Cause, I don't know a dog bite from a mosquito bite from a damn lurker bite!' Luke cried, his distress rising at the thought of his friend in so imminent danger. Pete shook his head at the younger man, and turned his gaze back to Clementine.

'Hmm...' Pete murmured thoughtfully, shaking his head as if he couldn't believe his own thoughts. He unfolded his arms and stepped closer to where Clementine lay sprawled on the ground. 'All right.' He crouched down beside her, and held out his hand to her. 'Let's see it.'

'Whoa, whoa, whoa. Hey, watch yourself!' Luke called to him, and Clementine turned an irritated glare toward him. 'Hey, don't look at me like that! You're the one tha's bit here, okay?' He said, turning away from her accusing glare. She continued to stare at his turned back, finding it easier than to face the man examining her arm so thoroughly.

'See?' She muttered quietly, finally averting her eyes as Luke turned to look back at her.

'Is it uh... is it like she says?' He asked, and Clementine noticed from the corner of her eye that he slowly approached, stopping right beside Pete.

'Hmm...' Pete mused, as Clementine rolled her eyes and repressed a sigh of frustration. She wondered if perhaps it might not be a better idea to just have them leave her behind. 'Well, could be a dog. Hard to say.' He finally concluded. He glanced up from the bite to meet Clementines gaze. 'So where'd this "dog" go? The one that did this?'

'Now what...' Luke muttered, before saying louder, 'What does that matter Pete? Seriously.'

'I...' Clementine felt her heart clench at the echo of the tortured cries of the hurt animal, and turned her face to the floor so they wouldn't see her eyes should the treacherous tears that were stinging, actually fell. 'I killed it.' She almost whispered. She shut her eyes as the memory hit her, forceful as all painful memories were.

'What?!' Luke's incredulous cry startled her, and she looked over at his angry face. 'Really? A dog shows up and bites you and you just, kill it?'

'What would you do?' Pete asked, turning a withering glare on the younger man. Clementine felt a rush of gratitude for the man, he might not believe her, but he still stood up for her. That meant a lot in these tormented times.

'I don't know...' Luke muttered, as he walked away from them.

'It attacked me!' Clementine shouted at his retreating back, and she felt embarrassed by her outburst when he turned back to glare at her.

'Still...' He said, before lowering his gaze as if he were embarrassed himself. 'You don't... you don't kill dogs.' Pete shared a brief amused look with Clementine at the other mans sulking, before he became serious again.

'Clementine?' He asked.

'Yes?' She replied.

'You tellin' us the truth?' Clementine stared at him in response, raising her chin in defiance of his question. 'You look me in the eyes when you answer.' He said firmly. Clementine knew if she wanted the help she so needed, she had to answer. Her pounding head was making it difficult to think clearly, and so she met the mans eyes with an easy confidence.

'...' She raised her chin, and stubbornly refused to answer, indignation and disgust raging through her at the insinuation she would lie at all, let alone over something so serious. Pete stared at her for a long moment, before she saw a glimmer of amusement reappear in his eyes.

'Hmmph... All right, Clementine.' He said, standing and offering her his hand. 'That's good enough for me.' He smiled as she took his hand and slowly got to her feet, wobbling as she tried to stand on her own.

'What?!' Luke roared, clearly dumbfounded by the fact Pete had said such a thing, 'She didn't even say anything!' He cried, glaring at her. Clementine wanted to return his glare with one of her own, wanted to feel angry at his hurtful words, but she only felt tired, and she turned her eyes away from him to hide her pain.

'Girl doesn't like being called a liar.' Pete said calmly, as he started walking again. 'I got a good bullshit detector, Luke. That's why you could never beat me at poker.' He added as he passed the other man. Clementine would have giggled at the exchange, had she not been so exhausted. She clumsily followed after Pete, walking slowly so she didn't stumble too badly.

'Pfft, you don't always beat me at...' Luke seemed to notice he was being distracted, and frowned as he gestured toward Clementine, though she barely noticed. The rushing sound of water in her ears made everything sound far away, and Clementine had enough trouble focusing on the path. 'All right... How can you be sure?' He asked.

'Well, I'm sure I ain't willin' to leave a little girl in the woods to die, when we got a doctor with us who can make the call.' Pete snapped, stopping in the middle of the path as he turned back to glare at Luke. 'We can have Carlos take a look at it first.' Luke looked down at Clementine, as she swayed gently on the spot, weariness invading her every muscle.

'Nick ain't gonna like this...' He said quietly, as he looked back at Pete. 'Not with what happened to-'

'You don't have to remind me of that, boy.' Clementine looked up at Pete's sad tone, noticing that Luke seemed to regret his words by the way his eyes shifted guilty to the side.

'Right. Sorry, sir.' He muttered. A long silence hung between the three of them. Clementine tried hard to stop her eyes from blurring, but it became harder with every breath she took. The urge to give in to the foggy darkness around her was so tempting. Pete raised his hand and gently patted Luke's shoulder, setting things to right between the two men. If she had the energy spare, Clementine would have rolled her eyes at the macho display.

'Come on.' Said Pete, turning to lead the way again. Luke fell into step behind him, and Clementine turned to follow. She stared at the ground mostly, watching her feet move over the earth beneath them, willing them to just keep moving a little longer. She glanced up occasionally to make sure she hadn't lost her guides, and though she had fallen behind them slightly further than she would have liked, she was able to make them out easily enough. After what seemed like an age, they came to a ridge at the edge of the woods. Clementine raised her head to look upon a cabin, and felt a wave of dizziness strike her like a blow to the head.

'Clementine, are you feelin' alright?' Pete asked. Clementine noticed both men were watching her slow approach, and she fought to understand the mans question.

'I'm fine... just... tired.' She managed, struggling to fight the words from her mouth.

'Well, you better be fine.' Luke said. She turned her eyes to him to see that though his stance suggested an angry determination, there was a concern in his eyes that betrayed it. Though she doubted the concern was for her sake, so much as his own, or his groups. Despite the pain it caused her, she could not bring herself to be mad at him anymore. 'Cause I ain't carrying you anymore with that bite on your arm.' Well, perhaps she could be a little mad at him. She used every bit of energy she had left to send him a withering glare, and felt it completely worth the effort to see his amused expression afterwards.

'Don't worry... about...' Clementine lost her track of thought, her words trailing of as she felt the exhaustion and dizziness swell up and consume her. She tried to stay on her feet, but the darkness slowly stole her control, and she felt herself tilt sideways.

'Oh, shit!' Luke's voice was faraway, like from underwater. The last thing she saw, was Luke's expression quickly change from amusement to concern, as he raced toward her. The fog in her mind stole her sight as she fell, and she felt a calmness settle over her.

Lee...

Her last thought was of the man who had saved her in so many ways, her friend, her mentor, her second father. As she peacefully remembered all the things that Lee had said to her, the times he had comforted her, she saw his face smiling at her, and she wasn't afraid of the imminent death that awaited her anymore. The pain and the fear all melted away, as darkness washed over her and she fell into the black depths of the unconscious.

A/N:~ Oops.

Ahem. Now, before anyone tries to take my head for starting ANOTHER fanfic (while I still have so many others going) please just know one thing...

I HAD TO!

Seriously, played the game again recently and I just died all over again and - well, I couldn't have Luke's story end that way. Just can't. So, for anyone new to my fics; hi :) To anyone who's been waiting for me to update one of my others; um... hi... and... sorry? :D

I've tried to keep this as close to the game as I can, while still throwing my on view on things. For instance I've tried to combine all the best conversation options here; I'm not sure how it worked as I couldn't remember everything perfectly but, I hope you enjoy it anyway :)

Now, I know I know - people are wondering about my fic. SO;

Yes, this is a Clem x Luke fic, BUT... I want you to NOT start immediately lighting little fires to burn me with, because yes, I am aware of her age and I am aware of his; but, Luke and Clem have a CHEMISTRY, a CONNECTION, and I find it fascinating. It's not that I condone the kind of thing its IMPLYING, but then, if you know the character of Luke, you know he would never hurt a child.

Basically, I'm saying that if you cant see past the apocalyptic theme of the world they live in (where lets face it none of the social rules we hold now would apply) then at least remember that Luke has the decency and morals to know what he feels is right and wrong.

I'm talking horse shit now cuz I spent ages writing this and haven't actually drunk anything and I think I'm a little batshit crazy now from staring at this screen so long...

UM...

Yeah.

So, anyway.

Thankyou all for reading, I appreciate the time you've taken to read this and if you would like to make any suggestions about what might happen in the next chapter, please feel free to take my poll or pm me, etc...

Please review and let me know what you thought of this, I appreciate any and all feedback :)

I hope to see you all again

x My love to you all x

(If you're offended by anything implied or written by me, well... go cry about it elsewhere cuz if you feel that way you shouldn't have read it.)