*non-consensual touching between teenagers*
"I'd like to have a gathering tonight. I'll determine Rick's and Pete's fate then and let everyone know." Deanna said with her usual authority. Maggie called it Deanna's work voice. Then there was her social voice which she used while talking to people which sometimes included her work voice and then her family voice. At first it was hard to keep track because Harry was unsure of how to act around her sometimes with her moods but once Maggie brought up the voice thing he was able to tell instantly and it made working with the woman easier. Harry nodded. He didn't like her having that much power over a person. It was unfair to the situation especially since she didn't personally know Rick but she hoped that she looked at things unbiasedly and made a smart decision.
"We will tell everyone and gather with you tonight." Michonne said. Michonne sat in place of Maggie who wasn't feeling well that morning. Harry had a feeling he knew what was wrong but he wasn't going to tell her until she came to him.
Once Harry and Michonne were out of earshot and out of the house she pulled Harry in between houses. Spencer was lurking nearby like a creep and neither Harry nor Michonne liked it. But he was Deanna's son so they weren't inclined to say anything.
"What are we going to do if she want's to get rid of Rick?" Michonne asked Harry. The day was bright. If Harry wasn't busy and there wasn't walkers roaming the streets he would take Jamie for a hike somewhere and get lost for a few hours like they used to do. He misses those days. Harry let out a sigh. "I don't really want to think about that possibility Michonne. After all things are nice here. I don't want to leave." Harry said resting against the house. No one wanted to leave Alexandria.
"What does that mean?" She asked. A few Alexandrians walked by. To the naked eye people would think Harry and Michonne were two lovers engaging in a heated conversation.
"It means that if she kicked Rick out, I would walk with him." Harry grumbled. He crossed his arms. Michonne was staring at him as if she were studying the most interest or complicated work of art she has ever laid eyes on.
"You could have said that to begin with." She smiled at him. Harry couldn't help but smile back at the warrior goddess.
"Like I would leave the father of my son out there on his own." Harry said feeling the intensity of the situation drain away.
"You should tell him." Michonne said pulling Harry along towards the house where Rick was being held.
"What?" Harry started to panic. And suddenly the intensity was back.
"Calm down Harry. I meant tell Rick about magic. That way if something does happen and we end up leaving this place he knows it's not a death sentence and he doesn't end up trying to kill Deanna who is simply trying to look out for her people." Harry thought about what Michonne said. Rick would hurt Deanna if it meant them staying there. He wouldn't do it out of maliciousness but to keep the group safe. It was the kind of person that Rick was. He wanted to keep those he loved safe. Harry decided it was best to tell him then.
Michonne let Harry and herself in. Rick was sitting on the mattress that was on the floor. "I'm surprised to see you." Rick said. Then he straightened up when he saw Harry follow Michonne in. He was a sight for sore eyes.
"Hello Rick." Harry said green eyes meeting blue.
"I take it this isn't a social visit." Rick commented. He was glad Carl left earlier. Shane came and got him and took him to get showered and a fresh change of clothes.
"I actually need to tell you something. Michonne brought up a point that I think needs to be addressed." Rick ran his thumb across his lips and let out a sigh.
"What is that? If it's about Lori, I already know."
"No. I don't care about that. We discussed what would happen in case Deanna decided that you weren't fit for Alexandria." Rick wiped his face. He ran his fingers through his hair.
"That won't happen. I won't let that happen. I will do whatever it takes first." Rick said. Harry shared a look with Michonne. Their instincts about Rick were right.
Harry cast a repair spell to fix the remainder of the room they were in. The wall that wasn't finished along with the carpeting and a hole that needed repaired were finished right before their eyes. He levitated Rick, made the bed he was sitting on. Then he cast a freshen-up charm on Rick real quick. The man stood frozen in his place. "What the hell was that?" Rick asked his voice barely above a whisper.
"Magic." Harry said. Michonne was smiling.
"I watched Kings do it several times but it's been so long I forgot how fun it was to watch." Michonne giggled. She was like a little kid. Harry remembered when magic was something new to him.
"You knew about this?" Rick asked incredulously. Michonne nodded.
"It's nothing bad. We aren't evil." Harry became defensive.
"Harry." Rick grabbed the man's hand and pulled it up to his chest. "I never thought it was bad. I'm just surprised. I didn't...I can't even… Is Jamie and Lena?" Rick asked. Harry nodded.
"That explains some things." Rick said with a laugh. He smiled. "I never expected us to survive that night in the barn but you helped." Harry nodded.
"Lena and I did."
"Why didn't you tell me sooner?"
"I'm sorry. I wanted too. But I was scared. People don't exactly handle our kind well. We had laws preventing us from telling people who weren't like us." Harry said sadly.
They stared at each other for a moment. To Harry it felt like a lifetime. "What now?" Rick asked.
"I don't want you to be afraid that if Deanna kicks you out. We will all go with you. No one else has to die. We will be fine. I'll make sure of it." Harry added. Rick brought his hand up to Harry's face cupping his cheek. Normally Harry would have leaned into the touch but after having Daryl warm his bed he doesn't know how he feels about Rick anymore.
"I'm so sorry about how I treated you. I should never have went back to Lori." Rick whispered against Harry's cheek. It was extremely intimate. Harry nodded.
"I understand Rick. It's ok." Rick kissed Harry on the forehead and pulled him into a hug.
"Thanks for sharing it with me. I can see how it's not something easy to share." Harry looked up at the man shocked at his statement but smiled. They pulled away from each other awkwardly. Michonne was pretending to find the crown molding interesting.
"Tonight is the meeting. The community will get together at Deanna's house and then she will decide what happens to you and Pete. We will be there in your favor." Harry said. Rick nodded.
"That means a lot from the both of you."
Harry felt much better leaving Rick. Finally he told the man one of the secrets that has been weighing him down. If only he could get up enough courage to tell the man that Jamie was his son.
Jamie sat reading on the couch. Ron and Sam were sitting across from him. Sam was playing with action figures and Ron was staring off into space. Jamie thought he might have fallen asleep.
Shane went to work already and Lena was in the shower. Jamie doesn't know where Lori or Jesse is at. He decided to get up and get a drink. He knew they had bottled water that Glenn brought over after their last run. He got up and went into the kitchen. He opened the fridge to grab a water and when he shut the door Ron was standing there staring at him.
"Geez you scared me." Jamie said with a laugh trying to play off the fact that he was actually a little scared. He jumped when he saw the older boy.
"Sorry." Ron said. He smiled. Ron grabbed Jamie's arm and pushed him against the counter. Jamie's heart beat started to race. Ron brought his body flush against Jamie's. "You don't want Carl. Not really. I can treat better than he can." Ron said. He wrapped his hands around Jamie's butt and squeezed. Jamie whimpered.
"Get away from me." Jamie finally said. His voice had frozen along with the rest of him. He felt Ron pressing hard against him. He was about to cast of hex on the boy when the front door open.
"Jamie?" Carl saw Ron and Jamie in each other's arms. The same time that Lena came into the living room. "What is going on?" She asked. She immediately grabbed Ron pulling him away from her nephew. She was able to see the panicked fear on Jamie's face.
It was too late. Carl took off out the door. Jamie panicked and ran after him. His magic out of control on the way out. The windows on the first floor crashed open, glass shattering everywhere. Lena cast a shield spell on her and Ron in time to protect them from any damage the glass shards might have caused..
"Now tell me you little rat, what were you doing to my nephew? And if you lie I'll know." Lena growled menacingly. At that moment she knew Severus would have been proud of her.
Carl stopped when Jamie pleaded for him to. Carl hasn't seen Jamie in a few days after being with his dad. He missed him so much only to find that Jamie was wrapped around Ron like he enjoyed himself.
Jamie was just like his mother. His mother cheating on his father and breaking his heart. Carl turned around quickly and glared at Jamie. "You could have said that you wanted to break up. You could have said you wanted him. You're like her." Carl growled. He moved into Jamie's space menacingly. Jamie's large doe eyes shown with hurt.
"You're a whore like my mother. You disgust me." Carl said. He pushed Jamie away who stumbled and fell onto the cement sidewalk. Jamie stared at Carl's back as he walked away. Carol watched the whole thing. She ran over to help Jamie.
"Are you ok?" Carol asked. She watched Carl walk away as well. She protectively shielded Jamie and helped him stand.
"Leave me alone." Jamie yelled. A sob let loose and Carol hugged him closely. Jamie pushed her away. "Please. Leave me alone." Jamie pushed Carol away and took off towards the empty houses. He cried and sobbed until he could barely see to walk.
Jamie made it to the house at the far corner of the small neighborhood. It wasn't finished but it was exactly what Jamie wanted right then, solitude.
Harry was going to be taking over as the physician for the community, there was a house that was set up for just the purpose. Pete preferred to see people in his home because it allowed him to keep a tight leash on his wife and it allowed him to drink at his leisure. Deanna decided that a woman abuser and a drunk wasn't a good mix for a doctor regardless if she decided to let the man stay or not. Harry was happy with that. She saw the fairness in what was right. It gave him hope when it came to Rick. Deanna asked Harry if he wanted the job. She said she would still want him to be by her side at least a day a week if he wouldn't mind. He thinks it's because she likes having someone else with the same abilities as her around. It makes her feel safe. It makes him feel safe too. He agreed to it and gladly jumped at the chance of being the doc. After all it's what he went to school for.
Harry opened the door. There was a examination table inside the main room as well as a desk and a cabinet stocked with medicine. Harry checked the side rooms there was two other exam rooms. A bathroom, kitchen and a conference type of room which could have been the dining room. The upstairs held bedrooms. Three of them and two bathrooms. Harry took a seat at the desk and found notes from Pete about the residents. He placed them aside to read later hoping that the man had some decency about him and really did his job professionally.
The sun shone through the window of the house. Days like today almost make Harry forget that the world is a messed up place. The warmth of the sun and wind through the trees is almost like a tease of a memory of a life that used to be. Harry drifted off to sleep thinking about a certain archer and the smell of leather. He could still almost feel the weight of the man against him if he tried hard enough to imagine it.
