DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN ANYTHING.
Author's Note: This was never intended to be anything more than a one shot that was inspired by a song. However, I've decided to take on the task of developing it into something more. This chapter was inspired by "Never Surrender"- Skillet …I'm currently working on another story 'Daddy's Girl' but I don't see why I can't do both. With that being said, review and enjoy.
Chapter 2
One month. It had been one month, at least that's what it was according to Carol's makeshift calendar on one of the prison walls. After her and Peter explained why he hadn't turned once he got bit, they had been offered by the former sheriff and "vampire slayer,"(still had trouble wrapping my head around that one) to come back to their hold up at the prison nearby. They had been introduced to the rest of Rick's group. Then Peter had explained his abilities to them and tested out a range of them to see what exactly had returned. Come to find out, he regained them all…even her healing. It wasn't fair. She never thought she would say it but, she missed her healing powers. It sure would come in handy right now.
Do you know what it's like when
You're scared to see yourself?
Do you know what it's like when
You wish you were someone else
Who didn't need your help to get by?
Claire had been trying for a few days now to get the others to let her get bitten by a walker. In theory the bit would return her abilities like it did Peter's. The others had shot her down, even when she argued that not only would she be safer but she would be able to give blood donations. Hershel and Rick had seemed to consider her proposal but were quickly shot down by Peter. At the end of the day, regardless of if they agreed with her or not, they would not risk crossing Peter. He was an asset that the prison group badly needed.
She'd tried pleading her case to Peter, that if it didn't work, he could heal her. But he wasn't sure if he could heal people who had been bitten. No one had wanted to volunteer to test that theory.
Do you know what it's like
To wanna surrender?
That's why she had waited until now to put her plan in motion. Up in the towers keeping watch were Glenn and Maggie. The two had just gotten married recently so she was sure they would be occupied enough for her to get across the yard and through the cut in the fence they had tied back up. Quickly unlacing it, Claire climbed through before re-lacing it back. Sure that no walkers would be getting in, she stepped away from the fence.
Claire looked back at the prison from over her shoulder. She knew Peter would come after her but she had to do this. She couldn't keep living in fear. One way or another that ended tonight.
I don't wanna feel like this tomorrow
I don't wanna live like this today
It didn't take her long to stumble across a walker. The petite dark haired walking corpse had been wandering in a direction slightly to her right but stopped and turned to let out a growl her way when it caught wiff of her fresh flesh.
As the creature moved closer, Claire had to fight against her survival instinct to run. Just before the walker could bite down Peter appeared, seemingly out of thin air. She rationalized that he could locate people, thanks to his run in with Molly.
"Claire what the hell are you doing! I told you no!"
Claire watched with dismay as he held out his hand to blast the walker. Dread began to settle in her chest. No, she couldn't let him do this. Without thinking twice, Claire shoved him. Not expecting her action, he stumbled, missing his target.
With no time to waste, Claire held out her arm which the walker eagerly bit down on.
Make me feel better, I wanna feel better
Stay with me here now and never surrender
Never surrender
Before the walker could do any further damage, it collapsed as Peter hit it with a bolt of electricity. Feeling somewhat safe, I stumbled into Peter's arms.
As he wrapped his arms around me, I sighed. I always felt safe in his arms. It probably wasn't a very niece like sentiment to an uncle, but who cared. It was the end of the world and he was all she had. Hell, if this didn't work, these would be her last moments and she argued with herself, she might as well enjoy them in the arms of someone she loved.
His fingers threaded through her blonde locks as he stroked the back of her head. By this point when he spoke his rich voice had taken on a low almost hopeless quality.
"Claire…how could you? You're all I have left. How could you do this?"
Pulling away a little, I looked into his eyes as my hand came up to touch his cheek. I could feel the bite taking hold and the fever setting in.
Do you know what it's like when
You're not who you wanna be?
Do you know what it's like to
Be your own worst enemy
Who sees the things in me I can't hide?
"Peter…I had to. You know what it's like to live in fear. Fear of being eaten alive by one of those monsters. I had to try."
Do you know what it's like
To wanna surrender?
"Let me try to heal you."
She gave him a sad smile. "I can't. I have to see this through. If you heal me I'll be back to living with that fear and never knowing if this could have worked."
Silent tears began to run down the dark haired man's face. His voice becoming choked with emotion.
"Claire."
I don't wanna feel like this tomorrow
I don't wanna live like this today
Make me feel better, I wanna feel better
Feeling the pulls of what? Death? Claire couldn't go without telling him at least once. Words she had choked on so many times in the past.
"I love you."
Stay with me here now and never surrender
Make me feel better, you make me feel better
You make me feel better, put me back together
She sighed in contentment as his beautiful voice reached her ears just before the darkness claimed her.
"I love you Claire."
I don't wanna feel like this tomorrow
I don't wanna live like this today
Make me feel better, I need to feel better
Stay with me here now and never surrender
Peter looked down at the beautiful blonde. She wanted this and he couldn't go against her wishes. He wanted to so badly to try to heal her. What if she didn't wake up? How could he go on?
Put me back together
Never surrender, make me feel better
Her breathing finally stopped and time seemed to freeze as he waited. He wondered if this was his punishment for loving his niece in that way. For wanting nothing more than to feel her skin against his own. He was convinced…this was his hell. To be forced to kill her remains then live forever in a world of animated corpse.
You make me feel better
He held his breath as she began to stir.
His heart sank as the moan reached his ears. Slowly pulling back he looked into her eyes. The pale inhuman glaze coated her once bright blue eyes.
"Oh Claire. How could you leave me."
Just as he reached forward to snap her neck, something amazing happened.
She stopped growling and stared at him.
Right before his eyes, the film of death in her own began to fade.
Almost as if by magic, she blinked and her bright baby blues returned to normal.
Peter's eyes widened in disbelief.
"Claire?"
She let out a small noise in the back of her throat.
"Peter…Did it work?"
Simultaneously they both looked down to her arm where the walker had delivered the fatal bite.
Only flecks of dried blood remained on otherwise smooth sun tanned flesh.
It had worked. Meeting her eyes, he couldn't stop the grin that broke out across his face.
"You're totally my hero Claire Bennett."
She let out a small giggle.
"Shut up you goof."
"Make me," he smirked.
And she did. Catching him off guard, her lips pressed against his.
Stay with me here now and never surrender.