A/N: this is a work of fan fiction and not meant to infringe upon the properties of Kirkman/Moore/AMC.
Redemption (The Road to Alexandria)
By Leah Pensotti
Chapter 9: Tom and Jeannie
Before the sun came up, Anna awoke and realized she was still on Rick's couch. And she had a headache. She silently made her way to the bathroom and when she came back out she spied Rick, Carol and Daryl in the kitchen.
Drinking coffee.
Anna thought it looked so odd, that for a moment she thought she was still dreaming.
Daryl caught sight of her and waved her over, "Hey Princess. Rough night?
She walked into the kitchen, rather salty over the "Princess" assessment. Carol handed her a mug of dark, hot coffee and Anna held it for a moment and reveled in the normalcy.
"Not rough, really. Just fell asleep reading with the kids on the couch. Where were you last night?" Anna directed toward Daryl.
"I'm no good at kissing asses," he answered gruffly.
Anna smiled good-naturedly, "I can't imagine why."
Carol swatted Daryl's arm as if telling him to be nice. Anna took a sip of her coffee and leaned against the kitchen counter, avoiding direct eye contact with Rick. She still remembers him waking her up, gently calming her down...and the feel of his palm against her cheek.
As Carol puttered around the kitchen, she spoke up, "Deanna seemed really interested in you, Anna. You held the ladies attention really well."
She shrugged and took another sip, "Deanna is the only smart one of the bunch. Well educated and groomed. That's why she made it to congress. The other ladies are about as dumb as they come. It wasn't hard. The rest of them got their MRS degrees. Transparent bunch of hens. Pick a little, talk a little. No wonder Deanna wants me to stop by for a visit today. She must be bored to tears."
Anna saw three pairs of eyebrows raise.
"What?"
Rick met her eyes with his, "Do you know why she wants you to come visit?"
Anna shrugged, "I dunno. Maybe she has ideas the other women can't understand? Or maybe she wants to set me up with her son Spencer? He asked if he could make me dinner."
"He asked you for a date? What did you say?"
Anna put down her mug and folded her arms across her chest, "I said no. He's just a kid."
Carol stood next to Anna and put a hand on her shoulder, "Remember that game you said you invented? You need to keep up appearances with Deanna. Find out everything you can about her."
Anna nodded, even if it was spying, she'd do it for the good of the group.
"Okay."
Daryl smirked, " I told ya we'd get your hands dirty."
For the rest of the conversation, Anna drank her coffee and listened attentively. Rick was the town constable, and Michonne his deputy. Carol was stealthily keeping up appearances helping the elderly and cooking. Daryl will be taking Eric's place as a recruiter with Aaron. He will be in and out and gone for days.
As everyone dispersed the kitchen, Rick caught Anna by the arm and she looked up at him questioningly.
"Anna...I really appreciate the fact that you do everything we ask. But if you aren't comfortable, you can tell me. And if you ever feel in any sort of danger...you can tell me that, too."
She stood up straight, noticing his hand was still on her arm, "Every day is danger, Rick. I haven't let this sanctuary fool me of what is outside...or what can be inside. I'll do whatever I can if it means keeping Carl and Judith safe."
His eyes softened and his hand dropped to his side.
Anna wanted to step closer to him, but instead she stepped away. She would be making a fool of herself if she let herself act on emotion. Especially after she saw him the night before with Jessie.
"I'm gonna go next door and get ready for the day. When Carl wakes up, tell him I will walk with him again, if he wants me to."
Rick nodded and and she walked to open the door, but before she could leave, he called after her, "Anna...thank you for caring about my kids. I really appreciate it."
She turned to look at him one last time, "You're welcome. They are bright spots in all of this."
As she walked down the drive to her own yard, she mumbled to herself, "I care about you too, you idiot. If you'd look at what's right in front of you and not at what's down the street."
Anna showered, changed into a pair of jeans and a long sleeved dark green shirt. She pulled her hair into a low knot and waited for Carl in the street. As she fiddled with the pearls at her neck, she remembered the box of letters and pictures they were found in. After her meeting with Deanna, she would go home and read them and take her mind off things.
Reg walked with Anna after class and talked about gardening and what types of seeds and vegetables would be best for the area. He told Anna that he would get a list of houses with gardens or the space for gardens and bring it to her the next day.
As they were walking to the house, Maggie Greene was leaving.
"Hey Maggie," Anna smiled. Maggie was working as Deanna's assistant and hadn't seen much of her since arriving to Alexandria.
"Hi Anna," Maggie smiled back sadly.
When they got inside, Anna realized why. The scouts were going out the next morning. Glenn, Tara, Noah and Eugene among them...and Deanna had just got finished talking to them.
Anna waited silently until Deanna bid them all goodbye. Tara and Glenn waved at her and she waved back. Once everyone had cleared out, Deanna came and greeted her.
"Hello Anna. Would you like to come into my office for some tea?"
"Sure."
Anna followed the former congresswoman down the hall and and into the office where she was interviewed. Deanna poured tea into a bone china tea cup and passes it along with a saucer to Anna. She sat down at her desk with Anna opposite her.
"You must be wondering why I invited you over."
Anna sipped the tea (oolong, not her favorite) and smiled brightly, "It had crossed my mind."
Deanna sat up straight and Anna could see her preparing her words carefully, "I think you could be a great asset. A bridge."
"I'm afraid I don't understand."
"I know most of Rick's group is suspicious of Alexandria. I know you are fairly new to them, but still are seen as a part of his...family, as he calls it."
Anna put her teacup and saucer on the desk so she wouldn't spill it or show the tremor in her hands and Deanna continued, "I want you to be our advocate, with the group. With Rick."
"But I don't know you. I have seen Rick's true colors. The heart of their group. I've been here only three days. How do you expect me to advocate anything?"
Deanna held up her hands to show she meant no harm, "Let's start small. Maybe you could get to know our people a little better. Then find common ground with yours. Maybe dinners or picnics or game nights..."
"Like a social director. During the apocalypse?"
Anna felt like beating her head against the desk. The idea was...frivolous at best.
"Anna, you are charming, warm...you could help bring this community together. Make us all ONE family. No more 'us' and 'them'."
The dead were walking. And Deanna wanted her to throw glossy parties.
"Would it be ok if I took some time...to think about it?"
Deanna smiled, "Of course, darling."
Anna finished her tea hastily, "I'll let you know."
Rick had finished his "patrol" in uniform and skipped going straight home to relieve Carol of watching Judith and instead went next door to ask Anna about her meeting with Deanna.
He knocked on her door, but was not expecting a bathrobe and sweatpants clad Anna with puffy, red eyes to answer.
"Have you been crying? Has something happened?"
She shook her head, "No, no. The other day, I found a box of letters and pictures and I have been reading them. Did you need something?"
Rick nodded, "Mind if I come in?"
She opened the door for him and he looked to the coffee table and saw a box and opened, old letters and photos. Anna smoothed her hair away from her face, "Want something to drink?"
"No, I didn't mean to bother you. I just wanted to ask about your meeting with Deanna."
She laughed, in what sounded like a disgusted manner, "She wants me to be the goddamnned party planner so I can bridge our groups. Be their advocate."
Rick shook his head, not completely understanding.
"Basically, she wants me to be the activity director on the Titanic."
Rick felt relieved, knowing that Deanna was only trying to unify their groups as a community. But he still held reservations.
"I take it you said no."
Anna smiled sadly and looked him dead in the eye, "I said I'd think about it because I wanted to talk to you first."
Rick looked thoughtful, "I think you should do it. For our group. And if we end up becoming one...so be it."
Anna merely shrugged, "Maybe."
Rick motioned at the letters and shoebox, "Tell me about this. What did you find?"
She sat on the couch and motioned for him to follow. He sat next to her and she showed him a black and white photo.
"This is Tom and Jeannie. This was their home. This box, was their correspondence during the Korean War. Mostly love letters. And they are beautifully written, on both sides. I'm trying to put them in chronological order."
Rick took the photo from her and studied the faces of Tom and Jeannie. He wore an army uniform and she wore a very 50s dress and dark hair that was perfectly coiffed. They looked like film stars.
Anna traced her fingers over Tom's signature at the bottom of one of the letters, "I guess it just makes me sad, knowing they are gone. Their kids and grandkids probably are too. What horrible things must have happened to them in the end. But they loved each other so much. Even before all of this, not everyone experiences love stories like theirs."
Rick looked at the picture again and then placed it back on the table. Anna maybe traumatized, like they all were. But she had maintained her humanity and compassion. He had lost most of his. She continued to trace the signature with her finger until he took her hand with his own.
Anna looked stunned and her green eyes widened.
And in that incredibly intimate moment, all he could think of was Jessie.
Rick let go of her hand and stood up, "Let me know when you talk to Deanna again. I'm going to relieve Carol for the night. "
She looked confused for a moment, and then wished him a goodnight.
After Rick left, Anna curled up on the couch and tried not to think about his hand, his fingers...on her hand and her fingers. She covered her head with a pillow and tried to block it out. If she was to have any peace, he would need to stop touching her and then walking away.
Hours later, another knock came at the door. Anna opened it, not really in the mood for visitors. On her porch stood Spencer Monroe with a bottle of wine and a casserole dish.
"I made dinner. Macaroni and cheese from a package. But I am hoping the wine makes it more fancy."
Anna uncrossed her arms and took the bottle from him, "Well, beggars can't be choosers in times like this. White wine would've paired better."
She opened the door for him and let him in, with an inkling she was doing this against her better judgement and that she was still reeling thanks to Rick.
a/n: thanks for all the reads and views! I would love some reviews as well!
