Chapter 10
"What do you mean he's your father?" Hannah said pacing back and forth in the hallway.
Chrissie sat on the floor with her arms wrapped around her knees. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you," she said. "I didn't want you to treat me differently."
Hannah looked at her. She wasn't sure why but she trusted Chrissie. "I understand," she said, sitting down across from her. "You still could have told me."
"Hannah, I didn't even know you. Hell, I'm not sure if I know you now. For all I know you already knew who I was and you were just being friendly with me so you can get to my father."
Hannah felt a small lump in her chest. Even though they had only just met, she had shared with this woman more than she had since the world went crazy. In a way she felt slightly betrayed that Chrissie would even think that but realized that they were living in a different world now. Simply being from the good side of town wasn't enough. There were monsters everywhere. Some of them fed on human flesh and Hannah knew that some of them might have a deep knowledge of European sage.
"I know," Hannah said softly. "I'm sorry. I had no right to get mad at you. You don't owe me anything. You're right. We hardly know each other and I can understand why you wouldn't want people to know who you are."
Chrissie smiled at her. "It's alright. Besides, I like anyone who would stand up to my father like that. He can be…" She stared off into space and raised an eyebrow. "…overwhelming at times."
"You think?" Hannah said, allowing a laugh to echo off the concrete walls. The sound was followed by footsteps. Joel turned the corner and walked toward them.
"There you are," he said. "I've been looking for you all over this place."
"We were in the garden," Hannah said. "Chrissie has some plants there that are pretty amazing. This whole place is pretty amazing, isn't it?"
"Yeah," Joel said. "Amazing. Anway, I spoke with the Captain and apparently we are being given asylum here in Haven." Joel said the word 'asylum' with a mockingly sarcastic tone.
"You mean you're staying?" Chrissie said.
Joel leaned against the wall and closed his eyes. "Yes, but I laid out my conditions with the Captain and I told him if anything comes loose we're out of here. I'm pretty sure he got the message but the guy gives off the egomaniac vibe pretty hard."
Hannah shot a look at Chrissie. She just shrugged. "Joel," Hannah said. "You should watch what you say around the Captains daughter."
Joel stood to attention and stared at Chrissie. "You mean," he started, "she's the Captains daughter?"
Hannah nodded and Chrissie smiled. "Hi," she said.
"Oh great. That's just perfect." Now Joel began pacing back and forth and Hannah wondered if she had picked up the habit from him or vice versa. She couldn't remember.
"It's fine, Joel. Don't worry about it, she's alright." Hannah said, standing up and stopping him mid-stride and looking into his eyes. "Trust me."
Joel looked at Hannah and then back to Chrissie. The meeting with the Captain had been draining. It was as if there was an unspoken battle of wills in that room and it all happened without either of them lifting so much as a finger. Still, he had no energy left to fight this battle with Hannah. He had to pick his battles.
"Alright," he said. He looked at Chrissie. "If Hannah trusts you, then I trust you."
"Thanks," Chrissie said.
"So what now?" Hannah said.
"Well," Joel said. "We start working tomorrow morning. I'm going to be helping out with Strauss and work on getting the exterior doors more secure. If we can, we're going to try welding them from the outside but with all the walkers out there, it'll be a challenge. I don't want a repeat of today happening to anyone else. I'm going to try to make some desperately needed changes around here if I can get Strauss on board."
"And what about me?" Hannah said.
"I don't know." It was true, he didn't know. He remembered how the Captain had given him permission to keep Hannah and how much it bothered him to hear her spoken of like a piece of property, like she was some kind of perk. "I guess you'll have to figure out something to do. Maybe you could help out in the garden or something."
Chrissie spoke up. "It's okay. Meet me at the hospital tomorrow morning. I can always use an extra hand. It seems I'm always short the help I need. I'll clear it with my father. He won't care."
Hannah nodded. "Okay."
A bell rang twice and it echoed through the hallway.
"It's time for dinner." Chrissie said. "Everyone will be meeting on the grounds. Come on." She started walking down the hallway. Joel grabbed Hannah's arm, holding her back.
"Are you sure about this?" he said quietly. "Are you sure you want to stay here?"
"Are you sure we have a choice?" she said, catching up with Chrissie.
Joel wasn't sure. All this time he'd thought that he could pull the plug and just walk out the front door but now he just wasn't sure that they would actually be allowed to leave. He thought of Jessie. Was Jessie actually allowed to leave? Joel pushed the thoughts out of his mind and pictured Jessie arriving back at Terminus and being greeted by his friends.
Friends.
"What did that even mean anymore?" He thought. Hannah was his friend, he knew that. Or did he? His mind swam and he shut the whole thing down completely. Dinner. Food. Sleep. He would worry about the rest later, or tomorrow, or never.
Dinner.
A/N: So I have not forgotten about Joel and Hannah even though Salvation has been on hiatus for quite a while. I'm very sorry. Still, the story must be told and thank you to everyone who has read this story so far! ~ JB