Hey guys. New chapter for you lot. Would have finished it earlier but I've been distracted by many films. Hope you all enjoy it and sorry for any mistakes.

Want to thank those that have read this story from the start. It does mean a lot to me. Also want to thank everyone for reviewing - 'BlueEyedSalvatore' and 'Kira Tsumi' (who I know has read one of my other stories.)

Please review - it lets me know that people are actually reading the story. Makes it worth writing. Comet96 xxx


"I told you we'd never get far on that hose. I said I needed the one from the cube van." Dale muttered as we all gathered around the front of the RV which was smoking something nasty. Dale glanced over to me then, his eyebrows furrowed and looking at me confused. Rick smiled down at me, shaking his head and running his hand through his hair.

"I said that out loud didn't I?" I mumbled already knowing that I had. Of course it would be something weird like that to come out of my mouth.

"Yeah honey," Rick stated giving me a soft smile before looking at the RV and then Dale. "Can you jury-rig it?" he asked looking back at the RV waiting for the older man to reply.

"That's all it's been so far. It's more duct tape than hose." He grumbled dropping his hat back on his head before giving us a sad smile. "And I'm out of duct tape." I smiled at that, shaking my head and leaning back on Rick as he stood behind me.

"I see something up ahead." Shane announced running his hand through his hair looking over at us before nodding his head toward the distance. "A gas station if we're lucky." I couldn't help but look away from him. I could still feel his hand on my wrist from earlier back at the camp.

"I need you to help talk some sense into Rick." Shane muttered grabbing my wrist as I stepped out of the RV stopping me from moving away from him. I shivered at his touch. It made me feel disgusting. I couldn't get him beating Ed out of my head, it just repeated over and over and sometimes I saw him kill the guy. "Look, this C.D.C. thing Faylin, it's a mistake." He stated and when I didn't reply he looked at me in disbelief. "So you're backing him?"

"I know Rick's making the right decision. We have a sick man that needs medical attention. He won't last long on my drugs. I trust Rick, of course I'm going to back him, he's my husband." I snapped at him trying to pull my arm from his grip but he only held on tighter.

"Look, it may be time for you to play the dutiful wife, but you can't tell me that fixing your marriage is worth putting people's lives at risk." Shane spat bitterly at me and I was stung by his words. My marriage was thing with Rick, nothing needed to be fixed.

"You have no idea what the hell you're talking about. My marriage is fine, we have no problems you asshole!" I fired at him ripping my arm form his hand feeling it burn slightly form the pressure he had on it. "You may have gotten me and Carl out of Kings County Shane but that doesn't make me yours. I am Rick's wife and you need to stop looking at me as if it weren't true. You need to snap out of that habit!" I hissed at him remembering the looks he had sent me when we first came to camp before he got with Lori.

It was like Kelly said one night in our tent. The man really looked like he wanted to be rolling under the sheets with me. Didn't he understand that I just lost my husband? Did he really think I would sleep with him after losing the man I loved?

"I guess I'll just add it to the list of habits that I'm breaking whether I like it or not." He snorted back eyeing my over and I knew that he was stating that was one of his habits. I felt bile rise in my mouth and was about to reply to him when Rick stepped out of the RV looking at us both in confusion.

"What habits?" my husband asked looking to his best friend and waiting for his reply. Rick's hand settled on my hip and I noticed the way Shane tensed and rolled his shoulders back.

"Just talking about my need for a plan, man." He replied through clenched teeth his eyes dropping to Rick's hand before looking up to meet his eyes. "So what is it? Are we leaving or not? Maybe y'all just want to stay here. We could hang some more tin cans." He suggested and I knew he was trying to start something with Rick. I knew Shane blamed Rick for all the deaths last night, for Lori's death but he didn't see that Rick saved us all from the same fate.

"We can't stay here." Rick stated giving his best friend a weird look of misunderstanding. "We both know that." He added tilting his head to the side as he took Shane in. that was Rick's signature 'something is wrong' look.

"I was telling Shane that we should head to the CDC. That your idea was right. Jim needs medical attention, I can't keep treating him. He'll only get worse." I told Rick running my hand up his back, leaning into him slightly.

Shane glanced between us quickly and then darted his eyes over to the forest and then back to Rick. He lifted his gun up and gestured to the one hanging by Rick's side.

"Let's go do our sweep." Shane grunted leading the way over to the forest not bothering to wait for Rick. My husband placed a quick kiss on my lips before jogging to keep up with his best friend. God I hope Shane stops his talk with Fort Benning and listens to Rick. There hadn't been many times when Rick was wrong when he followed his gut and I doubt he was wrong now.

"Y'all, Jim… It's bad." Jacqui exclaimed shaking me from my thoughts of early and gaining my attention. I could see she had the attention of the others as well. "I don't think he can take anymore." She admitted before turning around and entering the RV again. I sighed knowing she was deeply hurt by this. She had become great friends with the mechanic, to see him in this pain my hurt her as well.

"Hey, Rick, you want to hold down the fort? I'll drive ahead, see what I can bring back." Shane suggested lifting up a set of keys and nodding towards the car. Rick nodded his head not really glancing at his friend but looking towards the RV instead.

"Yeah, I'll come along too and I'll back you up." T-Dog muttered walking over to the car Shane intended to take and climbed into the front. Shane looked to the rest of the group and nodded his head slowly.

"Y'all keep your eyes open now. We'll be right back." Shane told them before running to the car and climbing in. He started the car and drove the car ahead and down to the 'gas station'.

Rick took my hand in his and led us to the RV and I knew he wanted both of us to check on Jim. I knew he wanted me there so I could tell him if there was anything we could do to ease Jim's pain. As soon as I saw Jim I could tell he was in pain and I knew a simple injection of pain medicine wouldn't help him/

"We'll be back on the road soon." Rick assured him leaning against the wall of the RV while I checked Jim's wound and his temperature. He had burned up a lot since I last checked and I knew I couldn't do anything more for him then. This fever was burning though him faster than I would have wanted.

"Oh no." Jim started and I could hear that to hurt him to talk. "Christ… My bones…" he stopped taking a deep breath, looking up to my husband. "My bones are like glass. Every little bump…" another needed breath before he continued. "God, this ride is killing me. Leave me here. I'm done. Just leave me. I want to be with my family." He begged and I pushed up off the bed and into Rick.

I had never begged anyone to die before. I knew that was what Jim was doing, he had told us his family was dead. Did he really want that?

"They're all dead." Rick reminded him resting his hand light on my waist as he spoke to Jim. "I don't think you know what you're asking. The fever…" he stopped then not knowing what to say. Rick sighed deeply and I knew he knew that Jim's wishes were for best. "You've been delirious more often than not." Rick muttered weakly and I knew he was trying to stop Jim and have him change his mind.

"I know. Don't you think I know?" Jim groaned leaning forward slightly and coughing into his hand. I saw how weak he was then lifting his hand to his face. Jim was right, he would never make it. "I'm clear now. In five minutes I may not be." He told us reminding us that when this fever was done with him we will wake up as one of the dead. "Rick, I know what I'm asking. I want this. Leave me here. Now that's on me. Okay?" Jim understood Rick well. He knew that this man, my husband would blame himself for something he had no control over. "My decision. Not your failure."

Those words would haunt Rick. He always felt he failed whenever something bad happened on his watch. God he even blamed himself for our lack of a baby. That wasn't his fault and now that the world was like this I was thankful not to have a small child under four to care for. What type of parent would I be to being a defenceless child into the world?

I felt like that with Carl as well. Every morning I would wake up and hate myself knowing my son had to live in this world now. But then I would be so thankful that he was still alive.

Rick muttered something to Jim, took my hand and led us back out of the RV to face the others. They were all watching us, quiet as if to assess us and figure it out themselves. We didn't say anything for a few seconds just taking in their desperate faces and the longing they held there. They all wanted Jim to survive but I think they all knew he wouldn't.

Shane's car pulled up to us and he exited with a shake of his head. Seems his adventure to the gas station was a bust. Something else to let this group down. Something else to fill us with disappointment.

"He wants to stay," Rick announced gaining surprised looks from a few of the group. Carol looked up shocked and I could see the confusion on her face. "It's what he says he wants." Rick added letting them all know that this was Jim's idea and not his.

"And he's lucid?" Carol asked and I knew she was worried he was making the wrong decision.

"He seems to be. I would say yes." Rick answered her but her eyes flashed to me as if she didn't believe Rick. I nodded my head at her and watched her face fill with sadness and disappointment.

"Back in the camp when I said Daryl might be right and you shut me down, you misunderstood." Dale stated stepping towards us as he spoke. "I would never go along with callously killing a man. I was just gonna suggest that we ask Jim what he wants." He told us looking to Rick with a fatherly expression before looking to the RV. "And I think we have an answer."

"We just leave him here? We take off?" Shane questioned shaking his head and proceeding to run his hand through his hair. It was something that pissed me off. He seemed to do it all the time. Did he really need to do it? "Man, I'm not sure I could live with that."

"You don't answer for Jim, Shane. It's not your call. That man's dying in there and the least we could do I respected his last wished!" I snapped at him leaving him no room to argue as the rest of the group nodded in agreement and told Rick that they approved with whatever Jim wanted.


We left Jim by a tree. It may have been insensitive but he liked the shade, it helped him forget about the fire burning within him. The breeze was a comfort to him. Knowing he was somewhat comfortable allowed me to have peace and deal with the loss of Jim. I didn't know him well so it didn't touch me deeply but I was thankful it had been his choice.

The RV soon pulled to a stop outside the compound build around the CDC. We could smell the corpses once we climbed out the cars and I knew that we had walked into a mass of dead walkers. We slowly approached the metal doors of the CDC, Rick in the lead. The men surrounded us, all carrying weapons and making sure that the woman and children stayed within their perimeter.

"All right, everybody. Keep moving. Go on. Stay quiet. Let's go. Okay, keep moving. Stay together." Shane muttered from the back of the group making sure we all stuck together as we ventures closer to the metal door.

"Keep moving. Come on." Rick whispered stopping outside the doors looking up in confusion. Shane reached his side and pounded on the door trying to get the attention of anyone inside.

"There's nobody here." T-Dog muttered in disbelief. My heart dropped at that. I had been so sure that this place would still be standing. It was the CDC for Christ sake, it should still be standing. Everything in my gut told me that.

"Then why are these shutters down?" Rick asked him looking over to T-Dog before nodding towards the metal grates covering the doors. Rick was right, someone must be here for them to be down.

"Walkers!" Daryl grunted pushing me forward slightly, further away from the oncoming walkers. It was his action there that showed he cared about us even if his actions and words said otherwise. He lifted his crossbow, releasing an arrow and shooting a walker in the head. The walkers fell to the ground with a thud but more were stumbling towards us. "You led us into a graveyard!" he shouted directing his words to Rick as he looked to the man over my shoulder. I gave him a warning look and Shane walked over to the crossbow wielding man.

"He made a call." Shane told him shoving Daryl back when he took a step towards Rick.

"It was the wrong damn call!" Daryl yelled stepping in front of Carl and shooting at the stumbling walkers.

"Just shut up. You hear? Shut up. Shut up!" Shane seethed at him and I caught his eyes as he spoke to Daryl. He looked dangerous then, his eyes flashing with such anger it made me feel sick.

"Shane cool it!" I spat at him, pushing him back away from Daryl. I wouldn't have him starting anything when our lives were at risk.

"Rick, this is a dead end." Shane started turning to his best friend waiting for answers.

"Where are we gonna go?" Jacqui asked looking frightened as it looked like we were about to become walker food.

"Rick, Jacqui's right. We can't be this close to the city. You know that." I muttered to my husband trying to get him to understand that what we were saying was right.

"Fort Benning, Rick… Still an option." Shane called out to his friend but I knew that this was his dream. I knew he was hoping Rick's plan would fall through from the beginning and he could lead us to 'safety' and become the 'hero'.

"On what?" Andrea asked clutching Amy to her side as she questioned the man. "No food, no fuel. That's 100 miles."

"125." Glenn muttered wanting to be accurate when discussing out future 'plans'. "I checked the map." He added when Shane glanced at him. He had that same look in his eye – the one he gave Daryl.

"Shane back off!" I hissed when he went to step forward towards the young Korean man. I looked over to Rick then knowing he would be looking at me. "We need answers Rick. We need answer now." I begged him clutching our son to my side in hopes that it would shake Rick from whatever he had gotten into.

"We'll think of something." Rick sighed finally giving into this dream he had of the CDC being the place for us. I smiled at him softly knowing he didn't really want this.

"Come on, let's go." Shane muttered and I could hear the glad tone in his voice. He was happy that Rick had given into this, happy that this gave him a chance to lead us again. "Let's get out of here. Let's go. Please." As Shane started pushing everyone back to the cars Rick stopped and glanced at something on the wall. Was that a camera he was looking at? "All right, everybody back to the cars. Let's go. Move." Shane order shoving me forward, causing me to stumble and almost fall.

"The camera… it moved." Rick muttered out causing Shane to turn with a sigh. I stopped then and turned back to my husband. Had he really seen the camera move?

"You imagined it." Shane told him grabbing onto his arm.

"It moved." Rick stated looking to his best friend. His eyes shot back to me and I knew he was begging me to believe him. "It moved."

"Rick, it is dead, man. It's an automated device. It's gears, okay? They're just winding down." Shane said grabbing hold of Rick's arm pulling him back and away from the shutters blocking us from the CDC. "Now come on." Rick fought against his friends hold, trying to rip out of his grip. "Man, just listen to me. Look around this place. It's dead, okay? It's dead. You need to let it go, Rick." Shane wasn't begging, I knew that tone of his voice. It was so unusual of him to use that I never forget what it sounded like. This was more of an order.

Rick flew from Shane's arms then and rushed to the covered CDC, banging his hands on the shutters, glancing up at the camera as he did. What was he doing? Carl cried out and I knew he just wanted his dad to follow us and forget about this place. More walkers were coming and soon we would be trapped, surrounded by them.

"Rick!" I shouted out taking a step forward to my husband. I stopped when Carl clutched onto me and I looked to Kelly. I needed to speak with Rick but I didn't want Carl to come. Kelly rushed to us then and took my son from my arms, wrapping him in her own.

"I know you're in there. I know you can hear me." Rick called out looking up at the camera as he smashed his hands against the metal. Shane tried to pull him away again but my husband fought him off.

"Rick please," I begged stopping at his side, placing my hand on his arm. His eyes flashed to mine then and I saw how desperate he was. "Please,"

"Please, we're desperate." He whined looking away from me and up to the camera again. "Please help us. We have women, children, no food, hardly any gas left." My heart was tearing at his words but we couldn't stay here. Here we were dead.

"Rick we need to go!" I spat at him placing myself in front of him, between his hands and the metal shutters. Rick glanced down at me then and I could see his eyes shining.

"We have nowhere else to go." He shouted but I knew his words weren't directed at me. He reached around me and started pounding on the door again but I knew it wouldn't do anything. I could hear a few cries from the others as more walkers appeared and Daryl shouting orders to kill them. "If you don't let us in, you're killing us! Please!" Rick begged glancing up at the camera again.

Shane came up behind him and gripped him under the arms, pulling him back. I didn't want to do it but I knew we had to go. I pushed my hands on his chest, helping Shane move him away from the door.

"Come on, buddy, let's go. Let's go." Shane whispered to him pulling him over to the others.

"Please help us." Rick cried out fighting in Shane's arms. "You're killing us! You're killing us! You're killing us!" he called out looking to the camera with such raw emotion it had me eyes welling up.

He had so much hope in this place and now it was a let-down. He felt responsible for leading us to a dangerous place.

"Everybody get back to the cars now!" Shane ordered when he was sure Rick wouldn't fight him anymore. At his words Rick tried to scramble out of his arms but the bigger man had his hold tight.

"No, no, please!" Rick shouted again but this time we got an answer. Just as the others went to turn and run back to the cars an illuminating light shone over us, freezing everyone in their spots. I barely noticed Rick pulling out of Shane's arms as the door clicked opening and the shutters slid away.

Someone had been watching and whoever it was had opened their doors because of Rick. We all stand there for a few seconds not believing that the doors just opened before Rick leads us through without hesitating.

"Daryl, you cover the back." Shane called out to him glancing back at the crossbow wielder before following Rick into what looked like a lobby.

"Hello? Hello." Rick called out glancing around the lobby for whomever let us in. I couldn't see anyone and that scared me. Kelly walked to my side, Carl hanging onto her but when he saw me he let her go, clinging onto my hand. When everyone was in and the doors closed Rick looked around the room again before calling out. "Hello?"

The cocking of a gun put me in edge as I didn't know where the noise was coming form but then a man stepped out of the shadows and into the light. He had a rifle in his hands and he was standing under a doorway, taking us all in.

"Anybody infected?" He called out asking looking around at us all before settling on Rick.

"One of our group was. He didn't make it." He told him giving the man the answer he was looking for.

"Why are you here?" the blond man asked looking around at us all again. "What do you want?" There were many things we wanted but in this new world we couldn't have them. This world was full of hopes and dreams half of them never getting to come true.

"A chance." Rick replied with resting his hand on my lower back as I shuffled over to him, Carl still clinging onto my hand.

"That's asking an awful lot these days." The blond man muttered settling his eyes on me. I shiver slightly at his intense look but knew he wouldn't do anything. And if he did Rick was here.

"I know." Rick stated and the doctor – I think I could call him a doctor – looked at him with a strange look. The man looked around at everyone, his eyes stopping at Carl and Sophia for a few seconds longer before he looked back to Rick.

"You all submit to a blood test. That's the price of admission." He finally alleged nodding at us all waiting for someone to question or fight him.

"We can do that." Rick told him sharing a look with the doctor that had him lowering his weapon.

"You got stuff to bring in, you do it now. Once this door closes it stays closed." The doctor stated nodding his head to the closed door that would lead back to the cars and the walkers looming outside.

Knowing that we had all come with our bags, Rick led us to follow the man as he opened an elevator door. I could only hope that this was worth it. I watched the doors slide shut and sighed at the thought of us being safe. I hope that Rick made the right decision after all the effort it took getting into this god damn building.


The burning water felt amazing against my skin. I had forgotten what it felt like to stand under an actual shower and to have hot water caressing my skin. I would die if I ever got to feel this again. I could already feel my muscles relaxing and I was so thankful to Dr. Jenner.

Soft lips against my back announced Rick presence as he joined me. I sighed deeply pressing my back against his chest loving the feel of his arms wrapping around me. He pressed his lips to my neck leaving a trial to my shoulder before he turned me around and pushed me against the cooled, tiled wall.

"Oh," I whispered enjoying the feeling of his hands as they ran down my body, settling on my hips. I rested my head against the wall as his lips ran down my neck, placing feather light kisses over my chest. "I love you," I told him bringing my arms up and wrapping them around his neck.

"I love you," he mumbled leaning down slightly before lifting me up. I loved that he could do that and he knew that I enjoyed having sex this way. It was stupid really, I enjoyed having sex with him anyway but I always loved the feeling it gave me when we had sex like this. I always found Rick to be more primal when we had sex this way – I knew he enjoyed it just as much as I did.

He dropped his head to my chest when he slid inside me and starting a slow pace. I sighed as he gripped into my hips tighter, sliding one hand down, caressing my thigh as he picked up the pace. I dropped my face to his shoulder, biting into his skin lightly as I cried out in pleasure. I wasn't sure if they others could hear so I wanted to take precautions.

Rick let out a familiar groan, one I knew was leading to his release. He pulled me to him, turning us around so he was pressed against the wall, resting against the cool tiles when his release washed over him. He sunk to the floor with a sigh and I rested my head against his chest not bothered by the water washing over us.

"We should wash up," I whispered to him knowing Jenner had told us not to go too 'heavy' on the water. I pulled away from his chest, resting my hand lightly over his heart. It was still beating hard, the pounding vibrating against my fingers.

"Yeah," he mumbled pressing his forehead against mine and placing a light kiss on my lips. He pushed himself up then, pulling me up with him and then setting my gently on the floor. His hands were running over my body again this time with soapy hands as he washed away the dirt. Along with the dirt any pain and sorrow I felt washed away with it.


I wandered down to the rec room Jenner told us about knowing Carl would be down there if they had games. It had been so long since the boy had acted like a child and I knew he would enjoy this. I could hear Carl and Sophia laughing as I opened the door, Carol was with them sitting on the couch reading a book.

Carl looked up when I entered giving me a big smile before going back to the game of checkers with Sophia. I loved that the boy was happy, it had been a long time, especially after Rick got shot. Carol looked up when the door shut behind me softly and looking relaxed and if I must say happy for once.

"You enjoying your book?" I asked her tugging at the Rick's shirt I had thrown on over my underwear. I was barefoot, my feet sinking into the carpeted floor. It felt nice and it was something I thought I would never feel again.

I stood in front of the large bookshelf looking over the collection of books that was presented to us. I could see a few classics, there was romances as well but they had never really been my types of books. Horror was more my genre but now that I was living in a world of horror I don't think I could settle on one of them.

"Uh-huh." She mumbled closing her book and smiling over to me. "Enough to keep us busy for years." She joked standing from the couch, stretching and looking to the kids. "All right. Come on, kids, its bed time." She announced holding her book to her chest and ushering the kids up to stand.

Carol was sharing a room with Kelly, and Sophia but tonight Carl was going to stay with them. Carol said it would be fun for the kids to have a sleepover of some kind. Try and remind them of life before this happened.

"Go on baby, go to bed." I called to the boy when he looked at me hesitantly. I gave him a smile and nodded to the door where Carol and Sophia were waiting for him.

"Come on you two," Carlo looked to me then and I knew she was happy to be here. "This is the first night we might actually get some real sleep." She whispered and I knew she was thankful for that. We wouldn't have to stay alert in case walkers attack, we would be able to sleep properly.

"I know," I told her feeling the same relief she felt.

"It's a real miracle, isn't it?" Carol whispered tapping Sophia on the nose before leaving them both down the hall to their bedroom. I watched them go before turning back to the books looking for a mystery or supernatural one to read. I guess I could say we were living in a supernatural story now but I was in the mood for ghosts or something.

The door slamming closed had my head snapping toward it that I almost got whiplash from the action. Shane stood by the door, his hand holding the doorknob as he looked at me, his head tilted to the side. I could tell he was drunk.

"I wanna speak to you." He grunted slurring his words as he stepped towards me. He almost stumbled when he stepped closer but I could see the look in his eyes. It was the look he had when he was about to go for Daryl, the look he got when he let his anger out.

"I think you should go to bed." I told him sternly hoping he would listen to me. I could tell he wouldn't listen to me but I could try. "Sober up."

"Come on," Shane chuckled stumbling closer as he looked down at my exposed legs, running his eyes up until they rested on the hem of Rick's shirt. I looked away from him and back to the books pulling one off the shelf and holding it close to my chest. He was behind me, I could feel him there but I could also feel his breath blowing against the back of my neck as he bent down close to me.

"I think you need to leave Shane." I told him firmly sliding alone the bookshelf and out of his shadow. His hand slammed down on the shelf in front of me and I jumped, stumbling back into his chest.

"How can you treat me like this?" He snapped forcing me to turn around as he pushed me into the hard wood, grabbing my chin and pushing it up with one of his hands.

"Shane stop," I whispered trying to turn my head away from him. His fingers gripped my chin, bringing it back to face him as he dug his nails into the skin, holding me in place.

"I just want to talk," he mumbled pressing his face close to mine until I could smell the whiskey on his breath. It made me feel sick and the tears blurred my eyes as I tried to twist away from him. The grip on my chin was like steel, I couldn't pull away. "Since Rick returned. Why have ya been ignoring me?" he asked and I felt furious at him. Did he really not know why I loved having Rick back? Did he really have to ask?

"He's my husband you asshole!" I snapped at him lifting my knee and aiming it at him. His other hand caught my knee before I could get him in the family jewels.

Shane slid his hand up from my knee until it was resting on my thigh. His fingers started running against my inner thigh and I cringed as he raised them higher.

"I got you and Carl out of there. I keep you alive! I had you and Carl, and I needed to think about –"

"No!" I spat cutting him off before he could go any further. "You do not get to use my son against me. You could have gotten Rick out. You don't get a say in what I do anymore. I don't belong to you!"

"I saved you! What did Rick do? He couldn't protect you!"

"You told me my husband was dead! You didn't give him a chance! You left him there to die!"

"If you thought for one second that he was still alive, would you have come? So I saved your life—you and your little boy's. That's what I did. Right?" he snapped pushing my head back against the shelf with such force I went dizzy and saw white dots before my eyes.

"I wasn't your choice to make!" I fired back at him trying to get out of his grasp again. This man was crazy. Did he think he could put some clam on me because he saved me? I had a husband, a man that loved me and was here now. Shane needed to back off.

"Things were falling apart. They were slaughtering people in the hallways. It was a massacre. There were walkers everywhere." Shane muttered shaking his head back and forth as if he was trying to fight off those memories.

"You left him there Shane. You left him to be killed!" I spat at him knowing that it was true.

"Everybody else ran. There were no doctors there. It was just me. He was hooked up to machines and I did not know what to do. I even took my ear and I put it on his chest and I listened for a heartbeat and I did not hear one. And I-I-I-I—I don't know why. Maybe it was gunfire. I don't know what it was, but there was no way he could've survived that. No way." Shane told me letting his hand that was on my thigh settle on my hip. I had Rick's hands on my no less than an hour ago and no I had his hands over me. It made me feel disgusting and I wanted him to back off. "I needed to get to you."

"Did you really think that once I found Rick dead I would be glad to go with you? Did you really expect me to fall into your arms?" I cried to him pushing my arms against his chest wanting him to get away from me.

I hadn't been blind. I had seen the way he looked at me the first time we met. The first time I had seen Shane was in the hospital after Rick bought him in because of some accident at the sheriff's department. He had winked at me then but I had thought nothing of it. It was as the years went by that he paid more attention. Gave me longer glances, gave me the same looks he gave to the woman he was sleeping with. Gave me the same look he gave to Lori when he suggested that they sneak off into the woods to fool around.

"And if I could've traded places with him, I would have." Shane muttered but I knew he didn't mean it. I knew that he was upset about Rick 'dying' but he didn't act like it at the time. I would trade places with him right now because-"

"Let me go Shane, please" I begged him shaking my head as much as I could with him holding my chin. I didn't need to know what he wanted to say. I already knew what he was going to say and it wasn't true – he was hurt over losing Lori.

"I love you. I would trade placed with him now because I love you." He told me removing his hands from where they rested and placed them firmly on my shoulders.

"No, no you don't." I mumbled to him turning my head away from him when he brought his face closer. "You're drunk Shane, you don't know what you're saying."

"I do." He grunted pushing his body against mine and I felt disgusted when I could feel erection pressed into my stomach. "And I know there were some things that say that you love me, too. Because there's no way that you could've been with me the way that you were."

"I was never with you Shane! I never slept with you! You're confusing me with Lori." I told him pushing against his chest wanting him away from me now. I didn't know what he would do.

His sobs broke through the room and he dropped his head onto my shoulder as he shook uncontrollably. "You love me. You love me. You love me." He cried over and over and part of me felt sad for him but the majority of me didn't.

"I don't love you Shane." I whispered to him keeping my face away from him as I glanced over to the door wishing someone would come in now. "I love Rick."

At my words he froze, his sobs stopping as he pulled back and looked at me. It was that look again. The one that made me think he was ready to kill. He brought his hand up to my neck in one swift motion. It was done so fast I hadn't realised he had moved.

"Get off me. Get your hands off me." I choked out clawing at his hand around my throat as his other hand went to the base of my shirt, gripping it tightly in his hand.

"I can make ya love me. I can make you love me." He seethed pushing the shirt up, his fingers swiping over my stomach as he pushed me into the wooden shelf. The air rushed out of my lungs and I fought for breath, finding it hard with his hand around me throat.

"Get – off – me." I coughed digging my nails into his hand, kicking my legs at him trying anything to get him off of me. "Please."

"Listen here Faylin," Shane muttered darkly glaring at me as he spoke. "It don't matter that Rick's here, I got you out safely, and you're mine not his, mine. Do you understand me? I said do you under-" Shane lurched to the side, bringing me with him slightly before his hand released around my neck.

I placed my cool hand over my burning neck and glanced over to Shane, my mouth hanging open when I saw Rick on top of him. His fist connected with Shane's face with such force it knocked him out. I could see his shoulders shaking and knew he was furious. He was breathing heavily, and his hand – the one he had punched Shane with – was shaking. He raised his arm again and I cried out.

I didn't need Rick killing him. He would never forgive himself for killing his best friend, even with these circumstances. Rick snapped his head to me and his face softened when he saw me. I must have looked a mess. My husband climbed off of his unconscious friend and walked to me slowly. I knew he must have thought I was afraid of him.

I threw my arms around him, letting my head drop on his shoulder as the tears consumed me. I held him close but even I could feel my body shaking.

"Oh sweetheart," he whispered bending down and picking me up, his arms under my knees. He bought me close to his chest, pressing a kiss to my head before rushing me out of the room. "I'm so sorry." He grumbled and I knew he was upset. Upset that he had allowed something like this to happen. Upset that his best friend would do this. Upset about every damn thing in the world.

He seemed sober, but I knew he had drunk a lot at dinner. I had watched them all drink, sipping at one glass of red wine as I watched them all. I wasn't the biggest fan of alcohol – not since that one night in Atlanta.

We were in our room, Rick settled me down on the makeshift bed, pulling me into his arms as he covered us in the blanket. He was mumbling under his breath and I couldn't make sense of his words but it calmed me knowing he was here. All I knew was that in the morning some real deep shit was going to go down.


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