Authors note(sorry this chapter would be a time lapse in coverage of what I couldn't come up with in the last chapter. I'm going to go back and possibly add more to show what happened before all this or in the next chapter I'm going to have Laura have a flashback to what was going on.
Hope you enjoy this chapter and better have a box of tissue.
(Laura's POV)
My head was pounding up a storm when I began coming to, opening my eyes I was staring up at the ceiling of the infirmary room. Reaching up I placed my hand against my temple where the pain was coming from, I could feel a big bump against my skin.
Fucking hell, I should've slowed down with Spirit when we came through the gates.
Suddenly everything that happened last night came to me, where the fuck was Brent?
Looking around the room I saw that no one else was in here, frantically I rushed out of the medical bed.
Hissing from the pain I instantly felt from the right side of my rib cage, going through the discomfort I went to push open the door and began walking down the hall.
"Where is he..where is he?" I kept asking myself, panic started to come over me.
Trying to escape those things was like something off of a horror movie, I've never been so terrified in my life but I had to push through my fears to go and rescue Brent.
He was shot at by the bastards who ambushed the outpost and then those things came out hearing the sounds of gun fire.
Holding onto my side I rushed down the hallways trying to find anybody or anyone who knew where Brent was, Simon, Negan or even fucking Dwight for all that I care.
Going down the stairs I can hear voices coming up towards me, reaching half way down I saw that it was Maddie and Carson.
"Maddie!" I called out loud , her eyes shot up to me and she rushed up to pull me into a hug.
"Oh my God. I thought you were dead!." she exclaimed , I pulled away and looked at her while wiping away at her tears.
"I'm fine I'm fine, do you know where Brent is?" I asked, for some reason Maddie's expression changed to grief, looking over at Carson she tried spill out what was caught up in her throat.
"Laura...he's in quarantine." she spitted out, when she said Quarantine my heart literally dropped down to my stomach.
"Qu..quarantine..why is he in quarantine?" I asked in a stutter, Carson walked up toward us and placed his hand on my arm.
"He was bitten last night...Laura I'm so sorry." he said in a sad apologetic tone, I shook my head in disbelief to hearing this.
"No..no he didn't get was shot at.. he told me." I said in reassurance, I want to believe what Brent said to me wasn't a lie.
"Laura there was no bullet wounds on him, he was bit..." Carson said causing my breath to hitch.
My mind began going back to the familiar setting and emotions I had once experienced before, shaking I clenched my hands into fists.
"Where was he bitten..." I asked, realizing where it Brent was holding was supposedly where he was shot at.
"His shoulder ..." Maddie answered, I felt the tears begin to silently fall from my eyes.
Clenching my jaw I tried to not let myself break down right here on the stairs, I have to see this for myself to known that its true.
"How long does he have left?" I asked looking at Carson, Carson looked back at me with a sadden look.
"He's getting the fever and constant sweating, I'm predicting he has only a few hours left" he stated, shaking my head I reached out and grabbed his hand.
"Can you take me to him?" I asked.
"Laura..I don't think you should.." he tried to go against my request but I clenched his hand tight and cut him off.
"Please!" I begged with tears dripping down my chin and onto the stairs, having no choice Carson escorted me and Maddie down to the floor where they aided the quarantine people who were to sick or were bitten.
Before going to the room where he was placed, Carson handed me and Maddie a mask to go over our mouth and nose.
"You both need to wear this while being in here, be careful and not touch you're face till cleaning off your hands before leaving." he informed then began stepping into the room.
When he opened the door I saw Negan and Simon were standing at the other end talking with each other, both eyes roamed over to me and their demeanor changed to grievance.
"Hey..sweetheart" Negan said while trying to hug me, but respectfully I put my hand against his chest to decline the attempt to comfort me.
When I looked at the other end of the room I saw Brent layed out on a bed, his appearance made me stifle a sob against my hands.
I walked over and knelt down to him, latching my hand over his.
"Oh my God Brent.." I gasped while looking over his body, this clothes from last night looked a lot worse then I realised and his skin was pale and clammy.
His eyes drifted open and looked up at me, a soft pained smile spread across his lips.
"Hey squirt..Glad you're alright.." he wheezed out, looking closely at his shoulder blade I could see the infection from the walkers bite getting worse and spreading through his skin and veins.
Even the blue color in his eyes were nearly changing to a sickly mold green, I was trying to not feel angry at him but I couldn't help my emotions from coming out.
"Why didn't you tell me?.." I asked with my hand tightening on his, he could tell how much this upset me.
"I didn't want you..to worry.." he groaned out while trying to reach up to cup my face, angry I pushed his hand away and glared at him.
"And you think hiding it from me would make things better?!...Why Brent..why!?" I screamed while gripping at his arm.
Brent was trying hard not to let the sight of me breaking apart affect him but the tears seeping through his eyes were winning the fight.
"Laura I'm sorry...I just wanted to protect you from what'll happen." he said with dread, pulling my arm away I looked down at him with sickened pain at what he was referring to.
Shaking my head I looked back at Carson and Negan in desperation.
"Wait..there has to be something you can do ..Negan please." I begged , the expression both them gave made me almost fall to my knees.
"Laura there's no way out of this..." Brent said to me, all of a sudden a hand was placed on my shoulder.
"I'm sorry Laura, this is all we can do."Negan said, my blood began to boil in rage and mixed emotions.
Without even thinking I turned around and slapped him hard across the face, Maddie and Brent yelled at me.
"You son of a bitch! You promised that you would look out for him!" I screamed at him, Negan looked over to me with a deep red print forming on his cheek.
"Laura..sweetie... Listen to me I didn't mean for this to happen." He tried to say, but all my rage was consuming me.
Reaching back I grabbed the pistol in my pocket and aimed at him.
"This is all your fault!" I yelled as hot tears rolling down my cheeks, not thinking clearly to what I was doing but the overwhelmed emotions I began feeling clouded my better judgement.
Everyone appeared to be panicked by me drawing my weapon at Negan, but he didn't seemed scared or threatened by this at all still held out his hands in surrender.
"You said you'd bring him back to me safely, but lied to me and just left him behind!" I screamed while looking him right in the eyes.
It felt like it wasn't me that was talking or aiming the gun ,I was so overcome with anger that I lost control.
Before I could begin pulling the trigger Maddie ran over and yanked me back in a tight hug causing the gun to fly out of my hand.
"Maddie get off..He needs to pay...Let me go!" I yelled hysterically while trying get out of her grasp, all I felt was rage pumping through my veins.
"Laura calm down please..think about what you're doing!." she stated while trying to pull me away from clawing at Negan , Simon reached down and retrieved my gun.
"You promised me. You're a liar..you're a liar...you promised!" I sobbed while staring into his eyes showing how torn apart I was, not being able to look at him anymore I slumped my head down in defeat.
Brent started coughing and wheezing, catching my attention I went back over and hovered over him. There was dark blackish blood seeping through his mouth and out his nose.
Ripping at the paper towel hanging on the wall over his bed I tried to wipe the blood away off him, but his hands stopped me in mid motion.
"Laura..stop please..there's nothing we can do..." he said in acceptance, my eyes looked into his and I knew that there was no fighting.
Feeling worthless I sat down at the edge of the bed and stared at him, my hand placed over his arm clenching onto the fabric of the shirt.
" Laura if ...you and Maddie want to leave before we.." Carson tried explaining but I already know what he was trying to say.
"It should be her ..." Brent wheezed out, my heart instantly shattered at his words, buried memories started flashing before my eyes to this same scenario.
" Brent don't I can't do that again I can't." I pleaded with sobbed breaths, he reached up to wipe the tears rolling down my cheek.
" I'm sorry... But I want you be the one to put me at peace." he said with pleaded eyes, sobbing weakly I shook my head and placed my hand over while tightening my finger through his hand.
Maddie put her hand on my shoulders and looked down at Brent, she was crying uncontrollably at what's going to happen.
Shaking his hand went to reach over to hers and squeezed it tightly, there were no words to describe how much Brent loved Maddie.
"Maddie..I love you.. Watch over Laura for me so Aarat and her won't do any stupid shit." he said with a weak laugh, both of us smiled at his demand and hugged him deeply into his chest.
Brent looked over at Negan and shook his head in silent agreement, glancing over I watched as ushered Maddie away from us and out the room, Simon looked back at me with a pained look on his face before following behind them.
Negan walked over towards us and stopped at the side of me, listening as he unclipped the gun from his holster and placed it down the bed beside my knee.
"I just want to say... I'm so s..." ,he tried to finish his sentence but I cut him off.
"Just get the fuck out!" I barked with anger at his sad attempt of apology, sighing Negan patted Brents chest softly before making his silent exit out of the room.
It was just me and him now, this scenario felt like just before almost five years ago.
Only I was the one in medical care because I was malnourished and having to help carry Brent because he twisted his ankle badly, the realization of how much we've changed since then surprised me.
Despite how things were fucked up and out of our control we'd always be there for each other, Negan looked out for Brent because I wasn't always allowed go with him when the Saviors did rounds.
But those words that he promised me about Brent coming back safe to me were ripped to pieces, I can never ever forgive him for abandoning him when he was in dangers way.
"Laura.." Brents voice called pulling me out of my pained thoughts, my eyes met his and he placed a genuine smile on his lips in attempt to make this better.
"Brent..I'm so sorry...this is all my fault..I should've been there for you and none of this would've happened.." I cried while wiping at my face.
"Don't..its not your fault Laura...sometimes things happen that we have no control over...but no matter what happens I want you to be strong for me." he said to me while grabbing at my arm.
" ok..ok." I said, hesitantly I reached down to grab the gun, but before I could touch it he stopped my action.
My eyes locked onto his to see what he was doing, he groaned through the excruciating pain building up inside his chest.
"Can..can you sing for me before..." he asked , I could feel my shattered heart being stomped on at his request.
"You know I don't sing anymore.." I cried while trying not to laugh , he smiled at me while rubbing at the tears in his eyes.
"But I missed the way you used to sing to me..mom and dad loved it when you did", he brought up making me feel even more heart wrenched.
I truly did missed when I would sing for Brent and our parents but ever since the out break I stopped because it brought back happy and sad memories that'll never be again.
Shaking my head I accepted his request, wiping my tears away and trying to calm myself.
"Any song requests?" I asked with a choked back sob, he shook his head and smiled.
"You know the one I like, Dad used to play it constantly from his radio. But you make it sound better." he said with heartfelt compliment, laughing I tried getting my composure right.
"...When we were young we were the ones
The kings and queens oh yeah, we ruled the world.
We smoked cigarettes man no regrets
Wish I could relive every single word"
Brents hand clench onto mine tightly, his smile never leaving his face but I could see that the tears coming down his face.
"We've taken different paths
And travelled different roads
I know we'll always end up on the same one when we're old
And when you're in the trenches
And you're under fire I will cover you"
I started choking up because a sob building up inside my chest, using the sleeve of my sweat shirt I tried my best to keep singing.
"If I was dying on my knees
You would be the one to rescue me"Sniffling"
And if you were drowned at sea
I'd give you my lungs so you could breathe"
"I've got you brother-er-er-er
I've got you brother-er-..."
I couldn't hold it anymore as the tears folded down my face and onto Brents shirt, my hand clenched onto the gun.
The sobs escaped from my mouth unwillingly, more than anything I prayed that this all was just some fucked up nightmare that eventually will wake me up at any moment.
If it was possible I could turn back time to when he had left with Negan, maybe if I had pestered a bit more about coming along with then just maybe I would have been able to save Brent.
"Its ok Laura.. Thank you...I'm ready now." Brent said to me with an anguished smile, slowly he placed the gun fully into my hand a rose it up to his temple.
My breathing hitched in the back of my throat before gasping at the final moment of what I was forced to do, rising up to my feet I tried keeping my hands from shaking so much with the gun pressed to his head.
"I love you so much Laura...with all my heart..I want to know that.." Brent said, no words can describe how excruciatingly painful my chest was aching from those familiar last words.
"I love you too Brent" I cried, I watched him close his eyes in patience for his time to end.
Breathing heavily, I clenched my eyes shut and pulled back the trigger, in an instant the gun fired and the sound echoed off the walls in the room.