Clementine's POV
I was ready to say goodbye, though I wasn't ready to leave him. I prepared myself to finally be with Lee again, to see my mother and father, Sandra, Omid, Duck, Kenny... at least that's what I hoped happened when I got to the other side. I took one last deep breath and closed my eyes, this was it, this would be my last moment with Aj; at least for awhile. As I prepared to die a surge of pain raged through my body, I screamed; he didn't aim for the head Aj chopped off my leg. The walkers roar matched mine as tears ran down my face, my leg was gone in two strikes. Aj was fuzzy through my tears I tried to mumble words the pain was agonizing, it was too much, I blacked out.
Aj?
Black out.
Louis?
Black out.
Ruby?
Black out.
Blood?
Black out.
I kept fading in and out, I could barely hold onto any consciousness. I just remember a pain like no other, and how I still wasn't dead, yet.
My eyes felt heavy with sleep, and there was a tingling pain coming from my left leg. The sound of classical music played lightly in the background, my eyes slowly split apart as I stared at the top of the bunk bed. I started to wiggle my fingers just a bit as my body felt stiff. As I moved my leg I felt a pain like no other coming from my left leg, I yelped with pain, what happened?
"She's up! Ruby she's awake!" I heard Aj's voice as he ran out the room. I tried to get up but as I sat up the pounding in my head played on repeat, I fought through it. Next, I flipped the covers and saw one leg but not the other. The door busted open before I had a moment to react.
"Clementine! Whoa, take it easy. Come on lay back down." Though I couldn't take my eyes off the stump that was now my leg, I recognized his voice: It was Louis. He lightly touched my arm and helped me back down. My head was banging and my body was sore, it was easier not to move.
"My leg!" I started to panic a little bit.
"Hey, hey, hey. Look at me, breathe." I looked at him and started to breathe. "I was bit..."
"Shh, Clem, you made it. Aj saved your life, you lived." He caressed my face. The door busted open as Aj busted in with Ruby.
"Clem!" Aj ran to me as I accepted his embrace. It caused me pain but every second was worth it being with my goofball again.
"How long have I been out?" I asked.
"4 days." Ruby held onto the ladder of the bed. "We kept you medicated and watered, but I bet your starving."
"That's an understatement." I felt my stomach.
"I'll get you something to eat, so I can give you something for the pain." Ruby smiled. "It's good to have you back with us Clementine."
"It's really good to be back." I shared her smile.
"Aj why don't you come help me get some things for Clem." As reluctant as Aj was to leave my side, he still willingly left to help Ruby.
I sat up off my elbows as I supported my weight against the back of the bed. Louis helped me adjust then took my hand in his.
"I thought I lost you." He held my fingers close to his lips.
"Me too." I closed my eyes, not trying to think about how heartbroken I would of left him.
"Clem, I know we haven't been... well... a thing for long, but I care so much about you and ever since I met you a month or so back, you've been the best thing to walk into my life since forever and the thought of losing you-" he choked on his words as I saw him wipe a quick tear away. His words slightly took my breath away. I didn't have words to comfort his pain, so I kissed him. It was something I didn't know I needed till now. He lightly touched my face, I could tell he was being as gentle as he could, but I held onto him with as much strength as I can offer. The kiss lingered between us for a few minutes before my hands fell on top of his. I still don't understand how I cheated death, I was bit, I was gone, how did I live?
"Louis." His eyes slowly met mine.
"Hmm." I loved the affect my kiss had on him.
"What happened?" His face dropped with mine following his.
"I just remember we were all searching for you guys, when we heard a scream. We followed it, then heard another one. It led us to the barn. We all fought so we could get you guys out. I just remember seeing your leg and all the blood... Aj told us you were bit but he cut it off and that you need a doctor. I picked you up and him and I ran the whole way back, I didn't stop for a second until you were in Ruby's care. Luckily she had just finished helping Violet and was able to help before you lost too much blood. When Minnie cut your leg, ironically she saved your life. She got you patched up, and a fever set in. We all thought you weren't going to make it, well all of us except Aj. You ended up pulling through and let me tell you, he never left your side. I came and stayed for as long as I could, but the other kids needed me and I knew you were in good hands." I took my time taking in all the information. Aj made a call and he saved my life. "I'm just glad you're still with us, with me." I smiled as he kissed my forehead. The door slowly opened and Aj entered.
"Are you guys going to be doing that all the time now?" He said as he brought me some food.
"Yup pretty much." Louis smirked while Aj rolled his eyes.
"How do you feel Clem?" Aj asked as he sat the bowl of soup beside me.
"I'm in a lot of pain, but I'm happy to still be alive." I looked at the stump that was now my leg.
"I knew you'd live, you're still the toughest person I know." I moved over so Aj could take a spot next to me.
"I don't know Aj, I think you're becoming more tough than me. What you did was very brave." I smiled as the soups flavor overtook my senses.
" No ones as tough as you Clem." seeing Aj's face was everything in this moment. I started to eat the delightful soup, I could tell it was getting cold, probably from sitting outside for awhile. I wanted to eat slow but I was starving and couldn't help myself.
"I think you're going to need a little more, i'll be back." Louis stood from my bedside.
"No it's okay, the others need to eat." I grabbed his arm.
"Clem it's okay, we have enough. What Willy stole from the raiders will keep us going for at least a month or so, we'll make due." He touched my hand then left the room with my bowl, he's amazing.
I turned around to see Aj staring at me. I took him into my arms and held my little goofball.
"I love you Aj." A tear slipped out of my eye.
" I love you back Clem." He held onto me.
The door opened and Ruby came in with some medicine and what looked like supplies to clean my fo- I mean stump.
"Hey Aj would you mind giving us a moment." Ruby started setting things up on our dresser.
"But-" I Immediately cut Aj off.
"It's okay Aj, as soon as she's done you can come back in the room." I squeezed his hand.
"Okay." Aj left the room, but not without a fit.
"Alright let's get you cleaned up." Ruby said.
First she cleaned my stump and replaced my bandages, it hurt like hell. Next I had to take my shirt off. The bruises on my ribs and arms were ferocious, those hurt like hell. She sponged the hurt parts of me and gave me some medicine for the pain, then wrapped up. I could tell she wanted to ask about my brand, but refrained from doing so. Once she left Aj and Louis both entered in all at once with food and Aj with a new drawing of me. I happily took the bowl and beautiful artwork and watched the two change the music to jazz. Louis and Aj danced and were jolly, I laid there and watched the two before drifting to sleep.
I was swinging in my treehouse tire swing, I could see my house 5240 S Grover St., the pool covered up and the high fence behind me. It was quiet, no walkers, only the sound of nature. I took in the fresh air, it felt nice to be back.
"You did it Clementine, I knew you could." Lee gave me a push on my swing.
"I almost died, but Aj saved me." my head dropped, understanding the pain I put him through.
"Yeah sweetpea, but you're still here." He continued to push.
"Still not Bitten." I repeated those words as both my legs were high in the air.
"Still not bitten." He repeated after me.
"I found a home Lee. I really like it here." I thought about Louis, mine and Aj's room, our friends.
"I'm glad Clementine, I'm glad you found people to love you and look out for you. You found gold in this hard life, that's all I ever hoped for you." He stopped pushing and I got out my treehouse.
"Thank you Lee, thank you for saving me and teaching me how to survive." I hugged him as tears poured down my eyes.
"It was you that saved me Clementine." He hugged me back. "Now go Clem, we'll see each other again soon." He stood at my level.
"You can count on it." I smiled as i wiped the tears from my eyes.
I turned around and climbed up my treehouse. I have a new home now.
Thank you guys for reading and all the other talented fic writers for inspiring me to write! I hope you guys enjoyed as I plan to come out with many more parts to this. Before I continue I just wanted to ask if you guys prefer James to be in this story or not depending on how you felt towards him after the last episode, please let me know!
