Author's note: Thanks to all the reviewers and faves and followers! I swear there will be a reunion soon!
She heard dogs barking and children laughing, two noises that now sounded completely foreign. She saw a young boy run to pick up a ball and throw it towards an eager dog. The houses were gorgeous, the lawns were mowed and she spotted an older woman watering flowers on her porch.
This couldn't be real.
Carol wasn't paying attention as the excited woman appeared next to Eric again and began chatting, "I'll let Rick know that you're back. I'm sure he'll want to be on welcoming duty after she meets Deanna."
She poked her head in through the window to catch Carol's attention again, "Hey, if you're up to it later I found some vodka on my last run, "she gave Carol a little wink, "it'll really take the edge off and maybe let you get a decent nights sleep. I had a lot of trouble sleeping in a real bed again for the first couple nights here."
"I may take you up on that offer if I get to stay," Carol smiled at the young woman and they waved goodbye as the car began to move.
Aaron slowly drove the car past a few houses and stopped alongside what looked to be a large garage. Eric helped her slide out of the backseat as Aaron came around to help get her inside, "I'll stay with you while Rose checks you over. I also want to warn you that lots of people are going to be curious about the new girl. The recruiting runs haven't gone so well recently, so we haven't had anyone new in a while."
She gratefully accepted Eric's offer. Meeting too many new faces was not something she was looking forward to, and though she didn't know them well, she felt some semblance of trust with Aaron and Eric. As they stepped inside, Carol saw that the place had been turned into a makeshift clinic. A couple of exam tables, some stretchers and loads of medical supplies were a welcomed sight.
Once Carol was sitting on an examination table with her foot elevated on a pillow, Aaron went to return the car and let Deanna know that Carol would be meeting with her later.
"We have a new patient for you," Eric announced as a beautiful young woman that Carol assumed was Rosita came into the infirmary and closed the door behind her, "she saved my life, so treat her well."
"I always treat my patients well," the woman held out her hand for Carol to shake, "I'm Rosita Espinosa and I feel like it's important to mention that I was not a doctor before all of this, but I'm damn good."
"Carol", she responded while shaking her hand and nodding politely as Rosita began to grab disinfectant and bandages. It had been a long time since Carol thought about her hygiene, but sitting in this sterile room with Rosita made her wish she had stood out in the rain last night. She was covered in mud, blood and gore, but no one seemed surprised or repelled.
"Is it just your ankle?"
Carol flinched as Rosita moved to remove her boots and began examining the injury, "it's just a sprain, should be fine in a few days."
Rosita nodded as she examined Carol, "you're right about the sprain. I'll get a bandage on it so it doesn't get any worse and grab you some pain killers."
Eric moved to get some gauze, "She also has a cut on her forehead that she hasn't let us look at, but it will definitely need some cleaning."
Carol reached up and removed the piece of shirt that was covering the cut, "the last group I came across weren't quite as welcoming as Eric and Aaron."
The cut looked like a jagged checkmark, and she knew it was deep. She knew it would leave a scar, but she didn't have the equipment to treat it properly while on her own. She had managed to keep it clean, but she expected that she needed some stiches, which Rosita confirmed.
The dreaded small-talk began as Rosita prepared the supplies, "So you were on your own?"
Carol nodded, "For about a year now," Rosita and Eric both seemed a little shocked at this news, "I met a few people along the way, but we never stayed together long."
Eric squeezed her hand as Rosita started the stitching process, "I'm glad we found you. No one should be out there alone."
"I was with a large group in the beginning," Carol found herself picking at the handle of her knife as she spoke, "we were together a long time, but things went bad."
"I get it," Rosita agreed, "It's tough to know who you can trust out there. I've been with a few different groups, lost a lot of people along the way due to stupid mistakes. You need people you can count on."
"When we first approached Rosita and her group they knocked Aaron out and tied him up," Eric chuckled at the memory, "I got hurt and thankfully they decided to help us out and to take a chance on Alexandria, just like you."
Taking a chance. This seemed to be a good place to take a chance.
Rosita began tying off the ends of the stiches, "The weariness will stay with you for a while, but hopefully you'll decide to stay. It took some people in my group almost a month just to start showering regularly."
Carol winced at the tug on her forehead, "well it's not completely up to me, is it?" She smiled sadly as Rosita nodded in agreement.
"Deanna is a fantastic leader. The interview seems strange at first, but it really helps the community to have a system instead of just letting everyone in," Carol couldn't argue with that logic.
"So people haveā¦failed the interview?"
Eric interjected, "I've been here since the beginning and Deanna has only exiled 3 men in that time," noting Carol's curious look, he continued, "they decided that they didn't need to follow rules or help anyone other than themselves. Deanna doesn't take exile lightly, she thinks it's equal to killing someone, so unless you really mess up, you'll be fine."
Rosita sniped the ends of the thread, "she's going to ask you about your past, before the turn, and since you've been out there for a long time she's just going to want to know how you've survived," she swiped the area with disinfectant, "I've been in some bad spots, lost a lot of people, but this place is filled with good ones, and Deanna helps to make sure it stays that way."
Carol thought back to Terminus and all of the misleading signs that promised sanctuary. She had wanted to get Tyreese and Judith somewhere safe, but that dream disappeared in a hail of gunfire.
Rosita had taped some fresh gauze into place over the new stiches, "all done!"
Eric grabbed a set of crutches and handed them to Carol as she scooted off of the table, "thank you for your help, and for what it's worth, you are damn good at your job."
Rosita laughed and packed up the remaining supplies, "Deanna's is only a few houses down, I'll walk with you."
The trio made their way out of the infirmary and down the street. Carol was no stranger to crutches, but was thankful to have Eric at her side. Eric reminded her of Glenn, fiercely loyal to those who deserved it, and apparently he felt that she deserved it.
"So you've never lived outside the walls?"
"Aaron and I got lucky and met Deanna and her family near the beginning of all this," Eric waved at a young girl as they walked, "I've been on the outside a lot for recruiting missions, but it's much easier to be out there when you know you have a bed to come home to."
Deanna's house came into view and they walked up the driveway. Carol noticed that potted flowers lined the porch and a welcome mat adorned the step.
Deanna stood in her doorway as the trio approached, "well, this is where we leave you," Eric placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, "I'll come by and get you when you're done and bring you to the house."
"Thanks for everything, Eric," Carol gave Eric a one-armed hug, "even if this doesn't work out it's great to know that there are some good people left."
"You seem like a good person, and I know it's going to be hard, but talk to Deanna," Rosita continued, "she'll find you a place here. You wont have to worry about your next meal, or being constantly on guard. It takes time, but it's amazing."
Carol thanked Rosita, and hoped that Deanna was as understanding and open as these people made her out to be. With a welcoming handshake, Carol followed Deanna to her judgement.
