"SHANE!"
"Angel?" He gasped, and then ran forward. "ANGEL!"
She ran to him and jumped into his waiting arms and wrapped her legs around his waist. She laughed into his shoulder as he swung her around.
"I have never been so happy to see you in my entire life!" She told him, planting kisses all over his face. Shane just squeezed her closer to him and let her kiss him. They stayed in that position for probably 10 minutes. He just couldn't put her down. When he finally did, he couldn't help but notice what was on her head.
"Hey. Nice hat."
"Oh, this old thing? It was my brother's best friend's hat. I should probably give it back to him, shouldn't I?" She answered pulling it off and handing it to him. He gratefully accepted it with a smile.
"Aunt Angel!" She turned just in time to be tackled to the ground by her nephew.
"My little man! I'm so glad you're ok!" Angel told him, giving him a tight squeeze and kissing his cheek.
Angel POV
Later that night, everyone settled around the campfire. Rick with Lori on his arm and Carl in his lap and Shane with me snuggled up to his side. Becky sat next to me. I could see a little light had returned in her eyes and I knew it was because we weren't alone anymore. Shane stared at Rick as he spoke, an unreadable look on his face. I nudged his side and gave him a look.
'Later.' He mouthed. I nodded and rested my head on his shoulder again. At the other fire, Ed, who I had already decided I didn't like, threw another log into the flames.
"Hey Ed, you want to rethink that log?" Shane said in response to the action.
"It's cold man."
"Cold don't change the rules does it? We keep our fires low, just the embers, so we can't be seen from a distance right?" Shane told him.
"I said its cold man. Why don't you mind your own business for once?" Ed challenged. Shane lightly pushed me off him and walked over. I tried to grab his arm and pull him back but he shook off my hand.
"Ed. You sure you want to have this conversation?" He said to him sternly.
"Go on. Pull that log out." Ed said to his wife. When she didn't move he told her again, forcefully. "GO ON. Get it out of there!" She stood and pulled the log from the flames and it made my stomach churn. How the hell could somebody put up with his big ass? I watched as Shane grimaced and then stomped out the small embers on the ground before kneeling and speaking to Carol and Sophia.
"I'm sorry about the fire." Carol said to him. My stomach churned again as she apologized for the asshole.
"No. No. Don't worry about it. Ya'll have a good night now." Shane nodded to the girls and sneered at Ed. "I appreciate the cooperation." He settled back down next to me and grabbed my hand. I laid my head on his arm once more and dozed off. I woke when I felt myself being lifted off the ground. I groaned and snuggled into the chest of the person carrying me. I heard Shane quietly shush me as he rubbed his thumb in circles on my side. My feet touched the ground for only a moment to unzip his tent before I was lifted into the air once more to be carried into the tent. He laid me on his bed before gently shaking me. I opened my eyes to see him watching me.
"Hey. You should change your clothes. You'll sleep better if you're in something loose." He said while brushing some stray hairs out of my face. I yawned and nodded before remembering that I didn't really have anything loose to wear.
"I don't really have anything to wear."
"I'll give you one of my shirts then." He smiled.
General POV
Turning to ruffle through his bag, she took off her boots and sweater. He handed her a button up shirt and stood to walk away while she undressed. When she finished, she walked to him and touched his shoulder, to which he quickly turned in her direction. Noticing a strange look in his eyes, she cocked her head to the side and touched his cheek.
"Shane? What's wrong?"
"Nothing. I'm uh I'm ok." He said in response.
"Shane."
"I'm just glad you're here. Alive."
"Oh. Yeah me too." She smiled.
"You look like your swimming in that shirt." She giggled and held her arms out.
"Just a little bit. Thanks for letting me use it."
"Looks better on you than me anyways." Shane told her and brushed a strand of hair behind her ear. She turned into his touch when he cupped her face, closed her eyes and sighed when his thumb softly rubbed her cheek. "I have to do watch for a few hours. Get some sleep ok."
Angel POV
I nodded into his hand and gasped when I felt his lips lightly brush mine. I bit my lip and watched him put his hat on his head and leave the tent.
When I woke hours later, I was lying on the cot, which smelled completely of Shane. This was probably because his large arm was draped over my body and my head was on his chest. I started to snuggle into him until I felt the urge to use the restroom increase when I moved. I thought I had successfully moved his arm but realized I didn't when he quickly pulled me back to him and he all but lie on top of me.
"Where you going?" His sleepy voice mumbled from above me.
"I have to pee."
"I'll go with you." He said, half asleep.
"Shane. I'm a big girl."
"Lori. You're not going outside by yourself." My eyes widened and I struggled to push him off.
"Get off me." He must not have known his mistake as he rolled off and fell completely back to sleep. I stepped outside the tent and struggled to keep myself calm. Why would he call me Lori? Was something going on between them?
'I'll talk to him about it tomorrow.' I said myself and went back into the tent after relieving the pressure on my bladder I noticed Becky lying in a sleeping bag on the ground and pulled a few blankets to lie next to her. I let a tear slip down my cheek at the thought of Shane kissing me in my dorm. Was that only because he couldn't have Lori? Was I a rebound? Shane had to have known about my feelings for him. Shane has been Rick's best friend for as long as I could remember. If he didn't figure it out on his own, Rick would have told him.
I woke the next morning by myself in the tent. Back on Shane's cot. 'He must have put me here' I dressed and walked outside to catch Carl running by with Sophia and the other kids, playing tag. Becky sat with Amy and Andrea, helping them fold clothes. I went to them and helped as much as I could while keeping an eye on Lori and Shane. There was something going on with them. Lori's actions towards Shane was saying it all. Shane had the same movements but I could see he was trying to hide it. He soon left to get water and Lori gave me a dirty look.
There was a mutual dislike between us. I never liked her. She treated my brother like trash and acted like she was God's gift to earth. I punched her in the face a couple years ago when she ratted me out to my parents about my tattoo and the partying I had been doing. Shane and Rick had to pull us apart but not before I had broken her jaw. That was the best we had ever gotten along is when she had her jaw wired shut. It wasn't long before Rick had emerged from their tent and Shane returned.
"Water's here people. Just a reminder to boil before use." He smiled in my direction and started to walk my way until we heard screaming. "Stay here!" He yelled to me and took off running. Becky clutched my arm and we waited. Soon a man carrying a crossbow and a string of dead squirrels, who I figured was Daryl, came out of the woods yelling for Merle. Shane came out after him and started telling him of what happened in Atlanta. I watched as Rick tried explaining but failed when Daryl threw the squirrels and lunged at him. Shane locked him up in a chokehold and held him there while Rick spoke to him calmly. I stayed calm until I heard Rick claim he was going back. Then I stepped in.
"Excuse me? Did I just hear you right? You're going back?" Rick nodded his head to answer me. "You can't be serious Ricky? You just got here! We barely made it out! You barely made it out! Now you want to go back into that madness!" Shane came over to try and calm me but I swatted his arm away.
"I can't just leave him there!"
"He could have gotten us killed!"
"I don't care! I can't do that to a human being! I just can't! That's not who I am! That's not who you are either!" He ran his hands over his face before throwing out one more remark. "Don't tell me that you're turning out to be a heartless bitch."
Then I got pissed. Instead of answering, I took a swing at my brother. He didn't react in time and my fist connected with his jaw. Before I could do anything else, I was hoisted in the air and thrown over Shane's shoulder. I punched his back and struggled to get out of his grip but he just tightened his hold and tossed me into his tent.
"Damn it Shane!" I yelled at him before throwing a punch in his direction. He swatted my fist away and grabbed my arm to stop me from hitting him again. "Why did you pull me out of there?"
"Beating the hell out of your brother is going to cause nothing but more problems."
He tried pulling me into his chest but I just pushed him away.
"Don't touch me." He looked at me confused before reaching forward.
"Hey. Look at me." He said and pushed my chin up with his finger. "What's wrong?"
"Is there something between you and Lori?" Shane's eyes widened for a moment before shaking his head.
"No. Why would you ask?" A few more tears fell and I knew he was lying.
"Don't lie to me."
"Angel."
"Shane. You called me Lori last night." He stepped back and rubbed his hand across his face. "Is that why you came to see me? Because you couldn't have Lori?"
"No. No. Angel baby. That's not how it was."
"Then tell me. You couldn't have her so you came to me instead? Am I some sort of rebound to you?"
"You don't understand, Angel." He stammered.
"I don't think I want to. Look, Shane I care about you. A lot. But I refuse to be your backup girl because you can't have your best friend's wife." Shane didn't reply, I shook my head and walked past him out of the tent, passing Lori on my way back to help Becky.
"Angel." She said as I went past her.
"Lori." I nodded and continued on my way. I walked past Rick as he helped load the truck to go find Merle and went to help the women with laundry again. Becky quickly wrapped me in a hug when she saw the tears threatening to spill in my eyes and held me tight as I struggled to fight the water works that was sure to come. Soon I pushed away and helped them gather laundry and rode down to the lake to start washing. Shane and Carl came down soon after as well.
"Hey Aunt Angel. Come help me and Uncle Shane catch some frogs." Shane stood a few feet away, looking straight at me.
"I wish I could buddy but I have to help the ladies do some laundry. Maybe some other time." I told him with a smile.
"Oh. Ok." I ruffled his hair before he turned and walked off with Shane. I watched them walk away and quickly looked down when Shane looked in my direction. But I couldn't help but smile as they sat on the rocks waiting for frogs. I watched as the determination quickly started to fade from my nephews face when they weren't catching anything. But I couldn't help but giggle when Shane dove into the water in attempt to help their chances. Becky nudged my arm and I noticed the women looking my way, all with knowing looks.
"What?" They all laughed when I feigned innocence. I smiled when they started talking about things they missed.
"I can't believe I'm going to say this but I actually miss school." Becky added in.
"I miss the way things used to be." I told them as I locked eyes with Shane from across the water.
Shane's POV
I looked over my shoulder and locked eyes with her. I could hear them all laughing and wondered what they had thought was so funny. Before long Carl was fully disappointed in the result of us catching no frogs so we decided to take a break and try again in a while. But as we sat on the rock, Lori soon made her presence.
"Carl. What did I tell you about leaving Dales sight?"
"Shane said we could catch some frogs."
"It doesn't matter what Shane says. It matters what I say. Come on. I'm right behind you." I grimaced at her remark. She was a mistake that I never should have made.
"I got to tell you, I really think you shouldn't be taking this out on him."
"You don't tell me what to do. You lost that privilege." A really BIG mistake. I shook my head at her remark.
"Lori. I think we should talk."
"Nope. That's over too. You can tell that to the frogs."
"Look I don't know how it appears to you, but." Then she cut me off again.
"Appears to me? I'm sorry is there a gray area? Let me spell it. You stay away from me, you stay away from my son. You don't look at him. You don't talk to him. From now on my family is off limits to you." I had to work hard to control my anger. "That includes my sister in law." I sneered at her remark before continuing the argument.
"I don't think that's fair." I couldn't finish because she shoved me back.
"Shane! Shut up! My husband is back. He is alive!"
"He's my best friend. You don't think I'm happy about that?"
"Why would you be? You are the one who told me he died! You son of a bitch." I shook my head as she walked away and snarled in her direction.
I looked down and grabbed my gun, the bucket and the net we were using before starting on my way back to camp. I stopped for a moment when I heard commotion starting at the shore line. I watched as Ed and Angel argued and started on my way towards them, then broke into a run when he pushed her to the side and slapped his wife.
General POV
It didn't take long for justice to be served as Shane came running over and pulled Ed away before the beating started. No one said anything for a while until Angel decided it was enough.
"Shane."
He ignored her and continued punching.
"Shane! That's enough!" A couple of punches later he finally stopped but not before giving him a warning.
"If I ever see you put your hands on Angel or your wife ever again, I will beat you to death. DO you hear me? I WILL BEAT YOU TO DEATH ED!"
Carol stumbled past him and fell to her knees crying to Ed. Shane wiped his hands across his face and gave Angel an apologetic look before walking away.
.