Chapter 2

"What were the questions you were going to ask?" Harry asked Carol. They were riding in a church bus that was taking them to some abandoned church, Harry found out. Rick has barely talked to him or even looked at him.

Carol was surprised. She figured that since Rick dismissed it that the man would have too. He was different, he showed compassion while treating them at the hospital. It wasn't just a job for him.

"We ask how many walkers have you killed?" Carol said.

Harry was thoughtful for a moment. "Can you really put a number on them when you kill them to survive? But to answer that question, countless amounts. For the two of us." Harry pointed to his sister. "My son however has only had to kill a handful."

Carol nodded. She was happy with that answer. At least now she wouldn't have to watch their backs. It meant more fighters not useless walker fodder. "We also ask how many people have you killed?"

Harry let out a sigh. That was the tragedy. In this world the way things are now it's difficult to have to take a human life. "Three for me. Two for Lena and…." Harry looked at James who was nearly asleep with his head against the window. "One for my son." Harry said.

"Why?" Carol asked. Harry didn't realize it but Rick was now listening. Glenn had taken over driving the church bus.

"Lena killed two patients that were terminal. It was a mercy killing. The three I dealt with tried to hurt my son." Harry's voice warbled a little. Rick watched him from his seat. He understood what Harry went through. He went through the same thing with Carl.

"What about him?" Carol asked. Harry looked at James and then he made eye contact with Rick who quickly looked away once Harry looked at him. It reminded Harry of primary school when girls and boys would sneak a peek at their crush instead it was because of the one night Harry would never be allowed to forget.

"He took care of the one that tried to hurt me." Harry said, the anguish heavy in his voice. His son was 11 years old almost 12. He shouldn't have had to deal with that. Carol simply nodded and turned to watch the road.

Harry ran his fingers through his raven hair. James has the same unruly hair but his is more blonde than brown. Harry briefly wondered if Rick had blonde hair at that age. He couldn't help but find similarities between James and Rick. It wouldn't surprise him if people asked questions. James looked very much like his father.

Harry rested his head back against the seat. He was happy to be away from the hospital. Dawn having power over him made his life hell. He looked at Maggie remembering that she was Beth's sister.

"Your sister was a very strong person." Harry said. Maggie looked at him curiously.

"You treated her?" Maggie asked. Beth told Harry that Maggie looked more like their mother while Beth took after their father. Harry nodded.

"I did. She woke up immediately worried about her sister and some man named Daryl." Maggie tried to smile. Her face shown of the sadness she was feeling.

"Thank you for treating her. Rick said that you weren't involved with whatever happened at the hospital and they actually held your son hostage to get you to work for them."

"Firstly, it's my job. Secondly, I was working my residency there when everything went to hell. Lena already had a job there, she was one of the ER doctors. When Dawn and her group took over we didn't really get a chance to go anywhere else."

"Daddy used to say the same thing when he took care of animals. " Maggie said. "Why did you get into medicine?"

"My son. I wanted to remain in England but my surrogate family ostracized me because of my son. It was an accident but I wouldn't trade him for anything." Maggie smiled.

"Daddy looked at me and my sister the way you look at your son." Harry wasn't sure what that meant. He hoped it was a positive thing.

"Your son is the light of your life." Maggie said wiping away tears. Harry smiled at the woman. It was easy to tell that Maggie and Beth were sisters. Maggie was sweet and easy going just like Beth.

They arrived at the church which Rick was quick to disembark the bus. He wanted to head off Shane's attitude and make sure Carl and Judith were fine. "Who are those people?" Lori asked. She was holding Judith while Shane went to collect wood for the fire they were setting up. Carl hugged his dad.

"Where is Beth?" He asked. Rick shook his head. Lori started crying. Carl wiped his face. Losing people in the group was something they became used to.

"Those people are doctors and the young one is his son." Rick said. Lori opened her mouth to argue but he waved at her.

"They helped Beth and Carol. They held his son hostage forcing him to care for them. There will be no arguments about that besides they can come in handy." Rick said watching Harry and his son. They looked out of place but Carol offered Harry a seat next to her. Daryl begun digging a spot for Beth to rest. The woman who was Harry's sister watched the group with weary eyes. Rick could tell she has been through some stuff. Hell who hasn't.

Shane came from the woods carrying a layer of sticks and threw them on the fire that had burned out the previous night. Carl ran over to help him. Shane was thankful that despite everything that's happened that Rick and Carl still have something to do with him. Judith was his but you'd never know it. Everyone takes care of her as if she was their own. "Beth ok?" Shane asked when Rick came into view. The look on his face told him the answer. He has been friends with Rick since they were kids. He knows…. holy shit!

"Lena?" Shane whispered. He didn't know she made it. He dropped the remainder of the sticks he was holding and walked over to her. Her face lit up when she saw him. She immediately threw her arms around him. He held her tightly. "I thought you died. I called and called." Shane whispered against her neck.

"I was working a shift at the hospital. They quarantined us when it happened. I didn't carry my phone at work." Lena was in tears. She never thought she would see him again. Carrying a on again off again relationship with the man for the last 12 years it starts to mean something.

"I should have known. God please forgive me." Shane said. Lena nodded. Of course she forgave him. Technically they were in an off again phase when the outbreak happened. Harry cleared his throat. Shit...part of the reason things were easy with Shane is because it was kept a secret. Not anymore.

Harry knew Lena kept her love life secret because she felt that if someone knew about it that it wouldn't last. Lena didn't share much about her life with anyone. She was afraid that if it remained a mystery that she would never get attached.

When Shane pulled away from Lena he immediately noticed Lori scowling at them. He knows that he will have some explaining to Lena but when the world went to shit he and Lori found comfort in each other. Hell, he thought Lena was gone same as Lori thought Rick was gone nevermind the fact that him and Lena had a big fight about boundaries right before the outbreak happened. Shane wanted them to move in together and actually be a couple. After all they have been messing with each other the last 12 years. Most women would have hit the road long before because he wasn't ready to commit. When he finally decided he wanted to she turns tail and runs. But now here she is. And he knew that he had things to answer for as long as she wanted him.

"Shhhh. There is nothing to forgive. I should have said yes. Shane, I should have said yes. I was so stupid." Lena buried her head against his chest and he wrapped his hand around her neck and his other around her waist.

"It's ok. You weren't stupid. I was drunk when I asked you." Shane said. Lena laughed. Shane whispered against her neck how he missed her. Lena kissed his cheek.

"I miss your hair." She said. Shane looked a little sheepish. He was growing it back but it was very slow. Shane took that moment to look at Rick and the audience that was watching them. Rick knew that Shane had been seeing someone over the years but he never talked about it. He would smile and wink whenever Rick asked. That's why the thing between Shane and Lori confused him.

"We need to talk." Shane said to Lena. Lena nodded and took his hand. "Come on Rick." Shane motioned for the man to follow. Lena grabbed Harry's hand in her other and pulled her brother along. Shane pulled Lena into the church and into an office space where they could be as a small group.

"Harry, this is Shane." Lena introduced Shane to Harry. Harry reached out to shake his hand but a woman came into the room unannounced. Shane ran his hand over the back of his head, it was a nervous tick that Lena knew from before. The woman glared openly at Lena. She decided to glare back simply for the fact that she didn't know what she did to anger the woman.

"Who are these people and why did you bring them here? What if they are like Grant and those people at Terminus. You would put me and your kids in danger like that?" Rick wiped his face. He was sweaty and tired and really he didn't want to deal with this shit from Lori.

Shane was first to speak up. "They aren't like those people at all. This is Lena. She has been in my life for the last 12 years. I thought she didn't make it." Lori looked at the woman and noticed the linked hands.

"You thought that when you were sticking it to me?" Lori's voice was harsh. Lena let go of Shane's hand as if it burned.

"We were on a break. Lena, you know I wouldn't have if I thought you made it." Shane was ready to fall to his knees and beg for forgiveness.

"I know." Lena said but the sadness in her voice brooked no argument. She knew but she was hurt. "It's been months. You couldn't have known." Lena said. Shane dropped to his knees anyways and buried his head against her stomach. She ran her hand over his head to comfort him.

"They are with us. No argument. You won't say squat about them." Rick said to Lori. She stared at him for a moment.

"So you'll risk us?" She hissed.

"I don't want to cause a problem." Harry said. Rick shook his head.

"Lori, I knew Harry from before. Not to mention he has a son a year or two older than Carl. They are staying and that's final." Rick said. Harry swallowed loudly. Lori must be Rick's wife. That thought only complicated things more. How could he ever explain to the man that Jamie was his especially when he has a son with a woman. Being a wizard sometimes makes life harder.

"Judith is mine but only because I was stupid and alone and I regret it because it hurt Rick and Carl but it gave me my daughter." Shane said. Lori scoffed. Harry raised an eyebrow at Rick. The man was back to ignoring him.

Lena was dumbstruck. Shane had a child with someone else during the apocalypse. It was her fault because she was afraid to settle down. She was afraid to want a family, look at her parents after all. Lena bit her lip. She would take the high road because that's who she was. She smiled at Shane who smiled back. "I want you to meet her." Shane said wrapping his arms around Lena.

"I'd like too."

"I can give her an exam you know, to make sure she is healthy." Harry said. Rick was surprised by that. He didn't expect the man to offer after everything that's happened. It's not everyday you find the man from your past and he offers to care after the group.

"I'd appreciate it." Shane said.

"We don't know if they are real doctors." Lori said agitated. She expected Lena to take off running.

Lena started to speak but Harry put his hand on her shoulder. "You don't have to explain yourself Lena. She won't believe you anyways." Harry said. He knew the type of person she was. She was the kind of person who wanted the attention of men and would do whatever it took to keep that attention. And no doubt she would put Shane and Rick at odds because of that. Because she wouldn't be satisfied with only one.

"Ok." Lena said. Shane was still holding her. Rick disappeared. Harry was hoping to talk to him at least on his own to make sure things wouldn't get awkward but he was nowhere to be seen. Harry found his way out of the church and noticed that Carl and Jamie were talking.

The boys were similar in build and height. Jamie was taller but only by an inch or two. They both were sporting the same blue eyes. Jamie grew up with no siblings and few friends. If him and Carl could get along maybe this wouldn't be the worse thing to happen.

Harry instead went off to find Daryl. The man Beth talked about. He was digging a grave for her nearby. Harry looked at the man who was already up to his knees in dirt. "Need help?" Harry asked.

"I'll do this alone." Daryl said. Harry nodded. "I'm going to sit over here if you need any help." Harry said. Daryl went back to digging. Harry sat down with his back to a tree. With no one around except Daryl, Harry went about casting minor shield spell for the area that would alert him if a walker came near. He closed his eyes for a moment of shut eye.