Conversation With Carver
Worry filled Jeff and Clementine's minds as they finally reached the roof. To make matters worse, they saw Rebecca walking away from Carver crying. The man was so convinced that the baby was his and wasn't about to let anyone tell him otherwise, which explained why Rebecca was so upset. I'm gonna laugh if that baby is Alvin's, Jeff thought, as they reached Carver. "Thank you, Jeff," Carver said. "You can return to your post, for now." As much as he wanted to let the man have it, after how he treated Rebecca and Reggie, Jeff just nodded and walked away. As he went, he couldn't help but notice Alvin through the skylight of Carver's office, bound and showing signs of torture. Clearly, Carver has some personal issues with Alvin, beyond the baby, Jeff thought, as he moved on.
Carver watched Jeff leave, then turned his attention to Clementine. I want you to be completely honest with me, when you answer. Or else you'll end up like Alvin, down in my office. "What did you do to him?" she asked. "I didn't kill him," Carver replied. "Not yet, anyway. I did give him the punishment he deserved for his part in the original escape, though. Now, Clementine, I want you to know that, even with what happened earlier, I liked Reggie." "Is that what you called me here for?" she asked. "One of the reasons," he replied. "Reggie was the kind of person we needed here: Funny, kept a smile on his faceā¦.but he was weak. Not because of his arm, but in character and will. We don't have room for that, here. Not anymore." "Even so, he didn't deserve to die," she said. "See, that's where you're wrong," he replied. "If I let him live, the failure I allowed to slide would look bad on the community. I let it go long enough, with the string of screw-ups he's had, lately. Killing one to save many is one of the tougher decisions that a weaker person couldn't make. It's up to people like us to lead others to safety. I really wish it was different, but they are weak...and we are strong." "I'm not like you," she said, with conviction. "I'm not a killer." "That's where you're wrong," he replied. "We're more alike than you think. There's no way you could've lasted this long, otherwise. I realized it back at the cabin. You were scared, but you looked me straight in the eye. Kept your nerve. That's what we need. If we're gonna get through this, the next generation has to be stronger to lead us out of this. And having support helps too." He paused, letting the words sink in. "Take your friend, Jeff, for example. He's had your back for how long now?" "Two years," she replied. "For two years, he's been there for you," Carver said. "Watched your back, kept you safe, and taught you self defense. It's that kind of support that'll make kids like you strong. Raised right, that's what they'll be. My child will be raised that way, so that he'll be ready to take over, when the time comes." "What if the child isn't yours?" Clementine asked. "Ever consider that?" Carver's face expressed his disgust at the thought of Rebecca's baby not being his. "Even if that were true," he said. "It's mine now, and I'll raise it the way I see fit. Now-" "Bill? You there?" Tavia said on the radio, interrupting him. He picked up his radio. "Yeah, I'm here," he said. Tavia then told him about how Troy messed up the loading dock door tracks, on the last supply run, angering him. "That idiot," he said. "Herd of walkers on its way and Troy goes and does something stupid like that! Go on back to the yard. It's almost suppertime." Feeling more uncomfortable about Carver than when she had arrived, she got off the roof and headed back to the pen, as Jeff looked on, with concern.
Hello again. For this chapter, I chose to make it short, as the whole conversation Clementine has with Carver deserved it's own short chapter, as I feel it's a seperate matter of it's own, compaired to the rest of the events at Howe's. Not much was changed (surprise, surprise), but I did make sure some things were modified, to fit the story. Enjoy!
