Disclaimer: I don't any part of Tell Tales Walking Dead. I do own my OCs. No profit was made on this story. Please read and review.
Shei stretched her arms and back as she stood up from fixing the protective grill on the front of her RV. She sighed heavily. They had been a very good idea, but required constant maintanince. Especially since Savannah. She was worried that one day the grills that allowed them to plow throught hordes of undead might break beyond repair and then where would they be? Shei worried her lower lip between her teeth and crossed her arms over her chest. She had to protect her family.
Shei cast a look around the camp. Recently her family had expanded from her brother and her two closest friends plus their husbands and her dog to include a one armed, thirty six year old former teacher who had been convicted of murder. Gracie and Charlotte hadn't been thrilled with her decsion to save the man, hell Charlie had her working double duty on both RVs, but she stood by her choice. She grinned as she watched her brother chase Cleo around the campsite, Lee watching from the steps infront of her RV. Charlotte was busy trying to roast the wild turkey they had caught earlier and failing horribly. Gracie and Edgar were inside the other RV; Shei could only guess at their activities. Don was off to the side taking stock of their ammo and reserves.
Shei smiled and bent back to fixing the grill. A firm hand on her shoulder a little while later startled a yelp out of her. Quickly she knocked the hand off her shoulder and drew her knife from her boot, preparing to sink the blade into the side of her attackers head. She was met with a shocked Lee, holding his hand up in a placating gesture. She sighed heavily and bent to resheath her knife.
"Dammit Lee, you can't do that." She grumbled. "Announce yourself."
Lee lowered his arm and seemed unsure of what to do with himself. "You, ah, weren't kidding about the security of your vehicles."
She raised an eyebrow. "I'm glad I have your approval."
He gave a weak grin. "You modify them yourselves?"
She nodded. "When our group vacation in Florida went FUBAR, we holed ourselves up in a mechanic garage for a few days. When we figured out we were going to starve ourselves out before this plague was over, Ed and I decided to read manuals and start modifing them to protect us."
"You all seem pretty young."
She chuckled. "Listen Lee, around here, dancing around the bush with questions isn't appreciated. Be direct. If you want to know our ages, or anything else, just ask." Her eyes rolled over to check on Beaux. He was passed out in the grass by the fire and Charlotte. It looked like the two were laughing and joking while Cleo sniffed around by Beaux's shoes.
"Just trying to avoid your 'question for a question' rule." She swiveled her attention back to Lee and found him smirking at her. She grinned at him.
"My brother was in the RV with us.I have to say and do stupid shit around him."
"Tying to keep a sense of normalcy?" He seemed disapproving. She glared at him.
"Look. Since my parents got the chomp, I've had to worry about my brother's safety and well being realitvly on my own. Charlie, Ed, Gracie, and Don have helped with teaching him how to hunt, use a gun, gut and cook an animal, and generally take care of himself. If I want to take a few moments of silly family time in this fucked up world, I fukken will. And you can go flog your log for all I care." With that she turned and busied herself with the RV's care again.
Lee blinked at Shei's outburst. She had certainly proven, in the short time they had been aquainted, to have many conflicting moods. Joking and perfectly at ease one moment and then furious the next. Now she seemed determined to ignore him and fiddle with her RV. Lee back peddled and looked over toward Charlotte and Beaux. The two seemed relaxed as they discussed dinner. Lee walked over to them.
"Can we try to find a deep frier?" Beaux was asking. "So we can have fried turkey like my dad used to make?"
"I'll keep an eye out," The small sandy blonde girl laughed. "But really its up to your sister."
Beaux pouted and Lee felt a small smile slide across his face. Beaux certainly did seem like a normal kid. Hell, aside from the upgraded RVs and weapons, it looked like a normal family camping trip. After everything that had happened and everything he had seen he didn't wholly approve.
Beaux glanced up and noticed him. He waved and scrambled to his feet. "Hey Lee!" He chirruped. "Are you hungry? Charlie says the food'll be ready soon."
Lee looked over at Charlotte who gave him a curt nod. "Say, Beaux, can you go get an ammo count from Don? I need to know if we need to make a trip into a city for more by tomorrow." Beaux nodded and ran off. Lee watched him, then looked up. Shei was watching her brother with a soft expression on her face and Lee almost felt bad. He turned back to Charlotte and found her watching him warily.
"I saw your argument with Shei." Well, apparently this group really was direct. "I dunno what it was about, but try and not do it again. You're staying in her RV since she has the most room and she's pretty vindictive when she wants to be."
"Right, thanks." Lee offered a friendly smile.
Charlotte continued to glare icily at him. "Look, I'm not doing you a kindness. I can and will be civil, but right now the only two in your camp here are Shei and Beaux, and Beaux only because Shei told him to play nice."
Lee blinked. No matter how many times people had turned out to be distrusting of him, it still stung. "Right. Why'd you guys pick me up anyway then?"
Charlotte shrugged. "Shei's stubborn and doesn't like leaving the living in the hands ofthe dead. We've rescued a few people actually."
"Yeah and what happened to them?" Lee asked suddenly remembering the St. Johns.
"They proved 'dangerous to Beaux's well-being' and Shei found a relitively safe spot and dumped them with a handful of supplies."
"Awful nice of her considering the circumstances." Lee commented and Charlotte nodded. "She seems really... protective of her brother."
Charlotte was silent as she fiddled with the spit the turkey was speared on. "Ok, heres the deal. We all watch out for Beaux. Shei, Gracie and I have known each other since middle school. Her family has always been very important to her. And because of this shit," Charlotte spread her arms. "Most of her family is gone. Her parents, her husband, her baby, her...sisters." Charlotte looked away. "Her sisters' passing was recent. Beaux is all she has left." She looked back at him. "Look we've all seen some messed up shit. No denying that. But just... don't question how she treats him. She's flipped out on us." Charlotte shook her head.
"We've all lost so much." Lee agreed looking over to where Don was showing a rifle to Beaux, when Shei walked over to the both of them and wiped her hands on the back of her brother's shirt. Her brother turned to her and made a face and Don and Shei started laughing. "So by that information, I take it she's the leader then?"
"What Shei? Nah, Shei hates that sort of pressure. Duties are divvied between us. Look, just keep your nose clean and don't harm Beaux or any of us and we won't have a problem. We'll get your duties sorted in the morning."
And like that Lee was dismissed.
Gracie wasn't completely sure about having a convicted felon with them. And she knew Charlie wasn't at all thrilled with the idea. But Shei rarely did reckless things with out a reason, so they went with it. As long as Shei kept an eye on him. But as they carved the slightly overcooked turkey, Gracie could sense the tension radiating from the small group. She glanced over at Charlie, and the blonde rolled her eyes and shook her head, mouthing 'later' at her. For his part Lee Everett was considerably polite. He made idle talk with the group, asking questions about where they were from, what they did before, how long did it take to modify the RVs. It was clear Edgar was firmly on hers and Charlotte's side, not trusting the man and giving away as few details as possible. But Don... Gracie shook her head.
"Yeah man, I'm fluent in Japanese."
Don was Don. A typical nice guy. Beaux was eager as well, asking questions about Lee's life. Shei however was noticeably silent and Lee seemed to avoid talking to her altogether. After the bird was mostly gone and the rest was cut away and put into their reserves they took up cleaning up the campsite and seeing the fire went out slowly. Gracie dragged Charlie to the side.
"What the fuck is going on?"
Charlie blinked. "What?"
"Lee. One minute Shei's all gung ho and defending the guy, now she's not even acknowledging he's alive."
"Oh, they got into an argument this morning. But its ok."
Gracie rolled her eyes. "No, its not fucking ok Charlotte, this isn't a videogame that we can just turn off. You saw what happened when we let our guard down and kept someone we knew wasn't trustworthy with us. What if that happens again?"
"Look I agree with you. But you know how Shei is. Besides if she really doesn't trust him, she'll wake us up at the asscrack of dawn and we'll dump his body out here."
A cough came from behind them and both women jumped and turned, readying their weapons. It was Shei. Raising her eyebrows at them like they were children. They relaxed and silence, broken only by the clattering of camp clean up, enveloped them.
"So who's got first shift tonight?"