We're A Team

by jamese765

When we last left Clementine, she had lost everyone she ever cared about. But she won't be alone for long, as the figure mentioned in the Epilogue of "When It All Goes Wrong" takes her under his wing and helps her keep her promises. (mildly altered Season 2 story) (For those who had trouble reading the first story, I will try hard to make sure this story is easier to follow)

14. Chapter 13

What's Left

Clementine

Clementine opened her eyes and, to her surprise, saw Lee standing before her. "Lee?" she said, in surprise. "Hey sweet pea," he replied. She looked around and saw she was back at her house, which looked like it had before the outbreak began. "How have you been?" he finally asked, breaking the silence. "It's not been easy, the last few years," she replied. "But I managed to find someone who taught me how to protect myself and survive." "That's good," Lee replied. "If not for that event on the train, I would've taught you myself, but...at least you're not alone in the world, with the mess it's in. I'm so proud of you...and I know your parents would be, too." This made her smile. She missed her parents and all the friends she'd made since the outbreak began, but at least she could take comfort in knowing she was still alive. Then, she remembered the events that brought her to the conversation. "Lee," she began. "I'm only her because I was shot in my side, by this Russian teen, because of a misunderstanding. I don't think I'll make it." Lee looked at her and smiled again, putting a hand on her shoulder. "You won't die, sweet pea," he said. "It's not your time, yet. Go back to your friend. He needs you." He paused, as he began to fade away. "Never forget that I'm proud of you. I always will be." The words echoed as everything around her faded away.

Slowly, she opened her eyes, with the dream still fresh on her mind. It took her a few seconds, but she finally realized that she was in the truck and they were on the move. She felt an arm around her and slowly looked up to find Jeff had been holding her. "Hey," he said, quietly. "About time you woke up." "Where are we?" she asked. "Not sure exactly," he replied. "But we're a long distance from that house." "How long was I out?" she asked. "About two days," Kenny replied, from the driver's seat. "I'm glad you're awake, now, Clem. We almost lost you, at first." "Good thing Jeff knows how to deal with gunshot wounds," Jane added. "Otherwise, you would've definitely died." What Jane said made her realize that she had almost been right in her dream, but she was relieved that she hadn't been. "Did you dream about Lee?" Jeff asked. She nodded. "How did you know?" she asked. "You mumbled his name a few times, while you were out," Jeff replied. "I'm so happy you're still around." He then wrapped his arms her and hugged her gently, reminding her of how close a friendship they had. Their happy moment was ruined, however, when Jane and Kenny began to argue about where to go. "We need to get to Wellington," Kenny said. "Why are we trying to find a place that doesn't exist?" Jane asked. "Here we go again," Jeff said. "They've been arguing off and on, since you were shot, about where to go." As he finished, the swear words began to fly in the escalating argument up front. "Both of you, stop it!" Clementine yelled, in an effort to defuse the situation. "I won't stop until this woman admits that we should at least try to find Wellington!" Kenny yelled. "Our best option is to return to Howe's, and clean up the mess we left and stay there," Jane replied. "F*** that!" Kenny said. "Wellington is our best bet! We- WHOA!" Kenny's rant was interrupted when he nearly crashed into a cluster of abandoned cars, narrowly avoiding them. The truck spun, then somehow made it to the side of the road, without damage or injury to its passengers. "Everyone alright?" Jane asked. "Yeah," Jeff replied. "You guys stay here," Kenny said. I'll check for damage, then go see if those cars have gas we can use." Everyone agreed and Kenny got out of the truck, inspected it, then went in search of gas, satisfied that the truck was still drivable. "Ok, he's gone," Jane said. "We need to leave while he's gone." "What? No way!" Clementine replied. "Clem, he may be fine now, but he'll eventually snap," Jane said. "I've seen that before. A man gets mad for a while, calms down, then gets mad again. Eventually, the man I'm referring to did snap and made the mistake of killing his wife, when she tried to stop him. I don't want Kenny to end up killing any of us, when he cares about at least you and AJ, Clem." Jeff was about to reply when he saw something approach the truck. "Look out!" he called, as a walker slammed into the side of the truck. He hurried to the front seat and started the truck, then hit the gas and hurried away. They didn't get far, however, as a car appeared too late for Jeff to react and they crashed into it. Jeff groaned in pain, as he realized his right leg had been injured in the crash. "You okay, Clem?" he asked. "I think so," she replied. "But where are Jane and AJ?" "I don't know," he said, looking around. Carefully, they both got out of the truck and tried to look for any of their companions. "I don't see anyone," Clementine said, sounding worried. "It's just us." "This isn't good," Jeff said. "We need to find them, but we can't risk losing each other." He paused and looked at her. "Clem, if we do get separated, we shouldn't give up until we find each other again. We're a team. And when a team is split up, by no choice of their own, they do what they can to get back together." "Right," she replied. "Let's get to our search." Jeff nodded and they headed into the snowstorm.

They had been searching in the snow and wind for several minutes when Jeff heard a sound. "Do you hear that?" he asked. Clementine tired to hear over the wind, and finally heard something that didn't sound like anything they had already been hearing. "I think so," she replied. Slowly, they moved toward the sound, until it became like a cry in the wind. Please tell me that's Jane and AJ, Clementine thought. Finally, they reached another abandoned car and looked inside. To their shock, AJ was in the back seat, all alone. "Oh AJ, you poor little guy!" Jeff said, carefully picking the infant up. "What are you doing in here alone?" As soon as he asked the question, the answer hit him like a snowball to the face. "Jane." "What?" Clementine asked. "Jane did this," Jeff replied. "She left him and went to find Kenny. I bet she did this to prove a point, by making him snap, thinking AJ's dead." Acting fast, they run toward the nearby rest stop, as the snow began to let up. Finally, they reached the building, where they heard Kenny and Jane yelling. "Where's AJ and Clem?" Kenny shouted. "I-I'm sorry," Jane said. "I tried to save them, but a walker got em." This, of course, was a lie, but Kenny didn't know that. Wait- If she wants to prove a point, why is she letting him think AJ and Clem are BOTH dead? Jeff thought. "And you didn't do ANYTHING the save them?" Kenny replied, glaring at Jane. Before the others knew it, they began to fight. "I'll kill you for getting the kids killed!" Kenny declared, knocking Jane outside. They tumbled around the abandoned playground, just outside the building, as Jeff and Clementine tried to figure out how to stop them. Finally, Jeff handed AJ to her and then dragged Kenny to his feet, holding him back as he tried to get after Jane again. "Let go!" He yelled. "She got Alvie and Clem killed!" "Kenny!" Clem yelled. "We're alive!" Kenny stopped and turned around, as Jeff released him. "Clementine? You're alive?" he said. "And AJ too? But, Jane said-" Then, it hit him. She had lied to him and almost succeeded in proving the point she had been trying to make. Anger rose inside of him like never before as he turned to glare at Jane. "You- you- You lied to me!" he yelled. "You tried to ruin my life! I'll kill you for that!" He charged, but Jeff stopped him. "Kenny, killing her will still prove her right!" he said. "You need to think! Clem and AJ are alive, so there's no need to attack her, anymore." After a few seconds, Kenny sighed, realizing he was right. "What do we do, then?" he asked. Jeff looked at Kenny, the kids, then Jane. "You're not welcome with us, anymore, Jane," he said. "You're a danger to us. Especially to Clem and AJ. So get out of here. Leave, before I let Kenny get what he wants." Jane just stared at them. "I'll go," she said, after a minute. "But, if I'm proven right, don't come crying to me." With that, she turned and walked into the next wave of heavy snow. Satisfied that she was out of their lives, they made their way to the truck, which was still drivable, despite heavy damage, and made their way to Wellington.

And that's it for Jane! I chose to leave her alive, but permanently out of the picture, because I knew there had to be a way for Kenny and Jane to both live, yet only Kenny stay with the little group. Hope you enjoyed this chapterJust one more and the epilogue and this story will be all wrapped up!