Bell Book and Candle

Rick was still sore but ready to get on the road. He packed the bare essentials into a bag and went to throw it over his shoulder. The added weight threw off his balance and he started to list to one side. As he tried to straighten back up, he overcorrected and started to fall backwards. Strong arms steadied him from behind.

"Carful there cowboy."

Pansy walked into view and placed one hand on his chest to make sure he was ok. She had been more than helpful these past few days, and Rick couldn't imagine that he and Carl would have made it without her. She smiled up at him and he felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. She started packing a bag and was bent over a desk trying to reach some unnamed object. As she leans over, her tank tops slips down her back revealing an inch of creamy white skin. On her left hip there is a tattoo of a sock with a banner underneath that reads "Freedom".

"Take a picture, it last longer."

Rick was contemplating what it could mean and was unaware that he was staring at her backside. Too embarrassed to explain himself, he looks away only to find Carl smirking at him.

"Jeez dad."

Rick decided that it was too late to redeem himself so he might as well go with it.

"Hey, I'm old I'm not blind."

Carl made a horrified face as he walked away. "Grosse dad, seriously."

Pansy belly laughed. She wiped away tears that were not caused by fear or pain.

"Oh, that was priceless, his face..." she started laughing all over again.

"Yea; I wasn't trying to be a creep or nothing. What's it mean anyway?"

Pansy look confused and then realized why he was staring. She had gotten the tattoo the day her divorce was final. The story of Dobby's liberation spread around Hogwarts like wild fire and it seem very appropriate to her at the time. However, there was no way she was going to be able to explain this to Rick.

"Um...it's like an inside joke. I don't think it would translate well. Sufficed to say it was the first thing I did after my divorce."

Rick nodded in acknowledgement. He understood well enough. That was all she would say, but what she wanted to say was that she loved the idea that he was staring at her for whatever reason. She wanted to tell him that she dreams about him, and that he makes her feel happy and safe; two things she believed she would never feel again. Instead, she smiled and followed him out the door and down the tracks.

Carl took the photo from his pocket and ran his fingers across the faces staring back at him. He brushed the hair out of his eyes for the twentieth time today and he remembered fidgeting on a tree stump while his mother cut his hair. Shane's voice echo's in his ear; saying 'one day you'll be begging for her to cut that hair.' The taste of metal in his mouth tells him that he has cut open his lip by chewing on it. He touches his finger to his mouth and confirms that there is blood. Pansy walks up to him and hands him an alcohol wipe.

"You shouldn't chew your lip. Is likely to get infected."

He took the wipe and watched her for a moment. She has this uncanny knack for knowing what is going on at all times.

"Dad, you ready?"

Ricks movements were stiff and slow, but he was in great shape considering everything they had been through. They continued to follow the tracks down to Terminus. Carl was relieved to see his father doing so well and they were making progress. Hopefully they would not be on the road to much longer.

Carl dug out the three granola bars from his backpack. He unwrapped Rick's and hands it to him. Placing the second one in his pocket, he extends the third out to Pansy. She reaches for it and Carl pulls his arm back.

"Word."

Pansy rolls her eyes at him and holds out her hand. Carl's eyebrow raises and he keeps his hand by his chest.

"Word."

"Sodding...as in give me that sodding bar before I kick your fanny."

"Ah so it's like damn." Pansy nodded. "Or fu..."

"Carl!"

Pansy laughed and began to eat the bar that Carl tossed to her.

"Sorry Rick; but yea Carl you've got the gist."

Carl shrugged his shoulders at Rick and continued down the track. As they walk, Carl and Pansy joke around and Carl actually laughs. Things start to feel normal and that feeling makes Rick nervous. Calm always proceeds the storm, and Rick is well and truly done with storms.

A scream breaks the silence and everyone braces for the worst. A small group of people are fighting off walkers. A younger man is holding his own and slices through a number of walkers, but he is too far from the rest of the group and a large chunk of his arm is now missing. An older man yells and runs to assist, but he is also attacked. Once the three of them kill the remaining walkers, only the older man is alive and was bitten. He is muttering to himself about what he should have done. While he is muttering to himself; Pansy walks up behind him and inserts her knife into the base of his skull. Silence falls over the group and they begin rummaging through the limited belongs of the fallen group. After they have taken anything of use, the silence is again broken by screams. Carl looks up and takes off toward the screams at a full run. Rick shouts for him to stop, and Pansy is following close behind. They find a man surrounded by walkers in a clearing. Carl heads out to him and begins to kill walkers, but it is soon obvious that he is gravely outnumbered. Pansy runs out to assist, but they are going to be overwhelmed. The man soon falls and several walkers begin devouring the fresh caucus. Pansy takes the opportunity to grab Carl and run. She shoves him in front of her and they both start hacking their way towards the tree line. Pansy reaches down to grab her wand, but trying to run from walkers and retrieve her weapon proved to be too much. She stumbles to the ground and one of the faster walkers dives for her. Pansy kicks him away long enough to get her wand, but one of his buddies grabs her arm, She manages to get free, but the first walker sinks his teeth into her left side. She uses her wand to keep the group frozen. Checking her wound, it doesn't look too bad, she figures that can clean it up a bit before she reaches Rick and Carl. She uses a cleansing spell and a basic mending spell to stop the bleeding. She will have to attend the wound and bruising later. She finds Rick admonishing an out of breath Carl. Both look up with astonishment as she approaches. Carl runs up to her and wraps his arms around her torso, burying his face against her. He's taking through sobs. "I saw you fall down and it was my fault. You shouldn't have been there; we shouldn't have been there. I'm so sorry Pansy."

Pansy brushes his back.

"Hey now, what's all this about? I'm fine, just a bit clumsy is all. No need for all that fussing."

Carl releases her and wipes the tears from his eyes. He nods.

"I'm sorry, turning to address Rick; It will never happen again."

Rick puts an arm around his son and the other around Pansy.

"You ok?"

Pansy feels her heart rate triple. "Ah; yea. Just a bit winded."

He smiles and pulls them both in close.

"That's ok, we'll just walk slow."

He releases them both and the trio goes walking down the tracks. Pansy desperately wishes that the tracks would just keep going on forever.

Carl is unpacking the stuff they will need for the night. He looks over at his dad who is also getting things set for the evening. Pansy is outside the abandoned building doing a check of the parameter.

"You need any help?"

Rick stood up and looked around. The space would do nicely for the night.

"Nah, how about you. Need an extra hand?"

"I'm good."

Pansy joined them, placing what little she had found on the rickity table in the center of the room.

"Looks pretty secure. I didn't see any signs of the living or the dead. We should be fine for the night. I'm gonna set some alarms for the night and then we can eat."

"Be careful; if you aint back by the time the food is ready we will come looking for you."

"No worries, I'll be back in no time."

Carl grabbed the sauce pan from the table and poured the soup cans into the pot. They had been eating fairly well as Pansy had a knack for finding food and she always had the right tool for whatever they needed. Once the food was cooking over the gel flame canister. Once the beds were set up, he checked the soup and put out the flame. There were no cups or bowls, so they would just have to take turns, they do have three spoons. Blowing on the spoon he takes a sip and finds that it's hot and the taste is decent. Carl looks up to call over his dad, and notices that Rick is staring at the door.

"She'll be back soon dad."

Rick turns around. "Yea, I'm sure. It's just that It's almost dusk. I don't want her out there too late. I was thinking about going out there, you know just to check."

Carl hands the soup pot to Rick and he begins to eat. "She's gonna be fine. You don't have to worry about her. She's tough enough to hold her own."

"Oh, she's plenty tuff. She has to come back, I mean what would you do tomorrow if there was no one to teach you rude British words?"

Carl smiled. "Yea, she's cool. I know you like her too dad."

"I like her just fine."

"No; I mean you LIKE her like her. It's cool dad. I mean you deserve to be happy and all."

"First, what do you know about like her like her and second I do not like her like; well not in that way"

Carl held up his hands. "Ok, you don't like her, but it be cool if you did. I'm just saying."

The door opens and Pansy walks into the building. "Ok, alarms are set and we are good. Oh soup is ready. Goody." She sits next to Rick and he hands her the pan and a spoon.

"I was starting to think I was going to have to send out a search party. Glad to see you made it back ok."

"Oh I didn't mean to cause alarm, I just wanted to make sure that everything was secure."

Carl walks up to his father and places a hand on his shoulder. "It's cool dad; just saying."

Rick wordlessly point to the little room off the right where he had put Carl's stuff. Carl shrugs and walks off. Pansy and Rick clean up and Rick leaves to get rest in the room next to Carl's. Unable to sleep, she stayed up until her eyes began to burn. Stretching out she took out a mirror and set it on the table next to a candle as she examines her wound. She had cast a few more healing spells while she was outside but what she really needs is time to make a potion for the bruising and to make sure that it does not get infected. However she didn't have all the right ingredients and it was healing nicely on its own. The glass reflected the purple and red bruising around the teeth marks in her flesh. She poked at it and flinched. It was still pretty sore, she would have to be careful about how she moved tomorrow so that Rick and Carl would not know. Letting her shirt fall back over her would she put up the mirror curled up on her cot. As she slept, she suddenly got that feeling that something was wrong. She sat up and rubbed her eyes trying to figure out what was wrong when she realized that Rick was standing in front of her and his gun was pointed at her.

Rick had been pretty tired that night, but what Carl had said was stuck in his head. I mean sure; it was great having Pansy around and she was certainly pretty. Does she think that he has feelings for her? They did flirt back and forth a bit but it seemed harmless enough. Had he given off the wrong impression? Now he was really confused. He heard her shuffling around the room and decided to check on her, maybe talk to her while Carl was asleep. He cracked the door and watched as she set the mirror on the table. She raised her shirt and he almost turned away for modesties sake; but he saw it. The nasty wound on her left side that could only be a bit mark. She pokes it and flinches. Ricks heart drops. How is he going to break this to Carl? He really likes Pansy and this was just one more loss. Then he got angry. How could she not tell them? She knows the danger that she is putting them in. He is still trying to decided what to do. He thinks about leaving her here, but how long before she turns? She could follow them for some time and worse yet she might lead other bitters to him and Carl. Maybe he could tie her up and leave her here. No, Carl would see her like that and it just didn't strike him as right. After debating for some time; Rick determines what must be done. He takes his gun and walks into the room. He points the gun at her sleeping frame. Yes; this was the right thing. She would just never wake up, never feel anything. He stands there; hammer pulled back for what felt like an eternity but he just can't do it. He very nearly went back to his room when she started to move. Then she sits up and stairs at him, standing over her with a gun pointed at her.

The two of them stair at each other for some time.

"Rick."

"I know."

"What?"

"I know, I know about the bit. I'm sorry but this is the way it has to be."

"Rick no; you don't understand. I'm fine really. It's just a bruise that's all."

Rick shakes his head. "It ain't no bruise."

"No it is really, you can check it in the morning, once there is some light."

Rick looks at her face. He wants to believe her, but he knows what he saw. Waiting until morning involves Carl and he has had too much tragedy already. No this would be resolved tonight.

"Lift up your shirt."

Pansy shakes her head. "What?"

"Let's take a look now. Lift your shirt."

She is shaking as she slowly raises her shirt to revile her wound. If he could wait until morning she could use a charm to hide the bit marks and leave it as a nasty bruise. She was desperate to get him to wait and put away that gun.

He looked at the wound up close. Even with the weak light from the candle, the teeth marks were clear. He was visibly angry. She tried to reach out to him and he extended his arm so the gun was now inches from her face.

"Rick please, I 'm telling you it's nothing. Just wait until morning I promise you'll see." Her voice was filled with fear and desperation."

"NO. Now I'm sorry Pansy, I am; but this is the way it's gotta be." He pulls back the hammer and keeps the gun aimed at her head.

Now Pansy is in a full blown panic.

"No no no no no no. Don't do this Rick please don't" She begins to sob.

He is starting to waver, but he still has the gun pointed at her. She keeps talking in the hopes that he will back down.

"Listen to me Rick just listen. I'm not sick and I'm not running a fever. Just look at me, I'm fine really it's just a bruise."

He looks away for a second, he is having second thoughts. Pansy can't trust that he will change his mind and this might be her only chance. She sweeps his wounded leg and he falls to the floor. She dives for his gun and points it at him. He is confused but puts his hands up.

She is angry and confused. All of her options run through her mind, but the only one she is willing to do is the most risky. It's also the only option that would allow her to stay with Rick and Carl.

"Taking a deep breath and praying that she was right about Rick, she puts the gun down next to her.

"Now tie my hands. That way I can't hurt you or Carl if I really am bitten. If I'm fine in the morning, then you'll see that it's just a bruise. I want you to trust me but I know you can't; so I'm going to trust that you are a good man and you will not shoot me."

Rick walked over to her. She extended her wrist toward him. He reached down and picked up the gun. Tears are running down her cheeks. He points the gun half heartedly at her. She reaches up and takes his left hand and places it on her face. "See, no fever. I'm ok Rick I really am."

He leaves his hand on her face. He starts to cry and now he realizes how badly he wants to believe that she is ok.

She places her hands on his face. "Hey now. We're fine. Everything is fine I promise."

Rick drops the gun. He knows now that he is not capable of killing her; even if she is dying. Pansy's body fills with relief as she hears the metal hit the floor. He is still crying so she pulls him close to her. They both lay back onto her sleep mat. She runs her finger through his hair and lightly kisses the top of his head. He wraps his arm around her waist which encourages her. She continues to plant little kisses on his head and face and continues to assure him that she is healthy as he slowly begins to calm. She kisses the corner of his mouth. He pulls away for a moment; looking into her warm hazel eye he is aware that she has dominated his sense. He can feel the softness of her warm skin beneath his hands, her scent fills his nose and now he is certain that Carl was right. He dose like her like her. Pansy is worried that she has made him uncomfortable.

"Rick I'm sorry I didn't mean..."

He leans down and kisses her mouth. She is certain that her body will burst into flames at any moment. Their kissing deepens and for just a brief moment, there is on one in the world but them. He slids his hand under her shirt but he pulls away when he feels her wince. He grazed over her wound. The fear and pain begin to settle into his face again and Pansy takes his face in her hands.

"We'll just sleep on it. You'll see it will all be fine in the morning." He was too tired to argue so he just laid beside her and they both fell asleep.

The next morning, Carl was surprised to find Pansy and his dad curled up next to each other fast asleep. He smiled because he knew his dad was finally happy and because he was right. A fact that Rick would not be living down any time soon. He started gathering their stuff and packing it. The noise woke Rick who carefully slid from underneath Pansy. Once he was up and moving, he began to pack as well. Carl grinned at his father like a Cheshire cat.

"So much for you not really liking Pansy."

"I don't want to hear it. You go check the outside make sure it's clear for us to leave."

Carl walked to the door. "You know if you want to make out, you could just say so."

Rick threw a blanket at him as he closed the door. "Smart ass."

He walked over to Pansy who was still sleeping. He carefully lifted her shirt. Just as she thought the charms had helped heal most of the bit itself. There was a faint outline where teeth marks had been the night before. The center of the bruise was still purple, but the outside was turning yellow and it looked smaller than it had last night. Rick sighed, maybe he had over reacted or he was just so tired that his eye were playing tricks on him. He had been so sure that it was a bit mark last night. She started to stir, Rick reaches up and brushes her hair from her face. He touches her forehead and face to make sure she is not running a fever. She places her hand on top of his.

"See I told you I'm fine."

Rick is suddenly ashamed of the fact that he was ready to kill. He looks away from her and starts to apologize. "Pansy, I'm so..."

She places a finger on his mouth. "I know you were thinking of Carl and his safety. I should have told you about it, but I didn't realize how bad it was until I saw it in the mirror. I don't blame you for doing what you have to do to protect Carl. We are both ok, that's all that matters."

He smiled at her and moved her finger from his lips. He leaned close to her ear. "I'd really like to kiss you now."

"That's funny; because I'd like to be kissed by you."

He kissed her, softly at first but soon the kisses were hard and demanding. That was of course the moment that Carl walked back into the room.

He turned away with a mock look of disgust. "Gross; seriously can't you put a sock on the door or something?"

"Calm down; and what do you know about socks on door's anyhow?"

"I read."

"What have you been reading?"

"Stuff...and thangs."

Rick pointed at Carl. "Not funny. I'm totally previewing your comics from here on out."

Carl grinned and nodded toward the door. Rick helped Pansy up and once her bedroll was packed they were on their way.

AN: Whew! This chapter was killer. I went over it like a billion times trying to figure out how to make it work. Ugh. I hope you like it. As always; reviews and suggestions are appreciated. Bell book and candle works on a couple of levels. The ceremony for excommunication in the old world church involved ringing a bell, blowing out a candle and closing a book. Also; it's a great old romantic move about a witch that falls in love with a mortal. Did I mention REVIEWS are appreciated? Just saying. :-)