Thanks to gaara king of the sand for the help.
"Are you okay? How does it feel?" Mike asked.
Rebecca sent him a look. "It feels wet, that's how it feels! It's too early… This shouldn't be happening…"
"No… Apparently it's the right time…" Kenny said.
"It can't be…. It's too early…" Rebecca argued.
"Well, the baby decided now is the time… The baby doesn't want to wait any longer." Kenny said.
"What should we do?" Luke asked.
Rebecca swiped her hands across her hot cheeks while trying to control her breathing. She gasps as another contraction gripped her.
"Alright. Alright... Gimme a second." Kenny said.
"No way can Rebecca travel like this."
"I've been having contractions all day, but it hurts more than before. Is something wrong?" Rebecca panicked. Oh, god."
"Don't worry, everything's gonna be fine.
Rebecca shook her head. "I'm not supposed to be in labor yet, Kenny. What if something's wrong?"
"Nothing's wrong. Babies know how to be born." Kenny said.
Rebecca frowned, "I wish Alvin was here. I know it's a waste of time, but I can't stop thinking about things I should've said to him... Things I should've talked to him about. How am I ever gonna do this without him?"
"You'll have help… You won't have to do this alone…" Molly said.
"Thank you…" Rebecca said before suddenly groaning in pain. "Ugh! Oh, shit...
Kenny went to her side. "I got this. The rest of you keep an eye out. Like I said, we don't need walkers sneaking up on us."
"Shit, shit. Oh, god..." Rebecca gasped.
"Breathe like I told you." Kenny said.
Rebecca nodded. "Okay, okay, okay, okay. Oh, god, oh, god."
Some of the group members decided to patrol the area.
Everyone waited anxiously for Jane, Shel, and Becca to return. They just hoped they would get the gate unlocked soon.
Luke was practically glued to Nick's side.
Clementine remained with Sarita watching Rebecca who seemed to be going through contractions.
Clementine is nervous as she sees how much pain Rebecca is in. She thinks about the pregnancy test and feels sick.
An hour passes and the group is going between checking on Russell, Nick, and Rebecca.
Eventually Shel comes over, "She got it open!"
"Thank God…" Rebecca breaths out.
"Let's get her there," Molly said. "Vince, help Russell. Luke and Wyatt, you two carry Nick. Mike you got the water. Sarita get Sarah, I'll get Clem—"
"I wanna walk." Clementine said.
"Clem, we don't have time for this. Just let me carry you…" Molly argues.
"No… I wanna walk…" Clementine protests.
Molly sighs. "Fine, just let me help you."
"…Okay…" Clementine gives in.
Eventually the group gets to the deck, they make sure to move Rebecca into the enclosure that Jane had just opened while putting Nick in the other one.
Mike sets the water down and the group does their best to make Rebecca comfortable.
"What are we gonna do about him?" Jane suddenly spoke
"Who? Nick?" Luke asked.
Nick had lost so much blood. They knew he was fading fast.
"What if he turns?" Jane asked.
"He's not gonna turn." Luke said
"He will… He's not gonna make it. Why prolong his suffering? We should just put him out of his misery." Jane replied.
Luke glared at her. "He's not some animal. He's a human being. He's my best friend."
"Which is why you should think about it… He's only going to suffer." Jane said.
"It's not happening. He's gonna be fine. You'll see." Luke really hoped he would be fine.
An hour had passed, and Rebecca's contractions were becoming stronger. The group would switch out turns on who sat with Nick while Kenny, Sarita, and Shel tended to Rebecca making sure the woman was comfortable.
Rebecca's pants had been removed and she was covered with a blanket below the waist. The woman seemed to be dilating fast. Kenny recalled his experience when Duck was born, that took hours, but it seemed this birth would be a quick one.
As Rebecca's contractions grew stronger, her yells grew louder. And much like they had figured, the noise drew walkers. Many, many walkers.
"Keep the walkers off us! I'll do this. I've been here before." Kenny called.
The adults rushed outside to deal with the undead, leaving Kenny to tend to Rebeca. Clementine also stayed at the woman's side.
"They can't rush us on the stairs! Shoot 'em before they get to us!" Mike said.
"Shit, that's a lot of 'em. We need EVERYONE to be ready to fight!" Luke called.
"What do I do?" Clementine asked.
"Stay here with me." Kenny said to the girl.
Clementine reluctantly nodded.
Meanwhile, the group tries to block the doors and kill the walkers.
"We can't hold it forever! They're gonna pile up on us!" Jane exclaims.
"Keep shooting! They are NOT gettin' up here!" Luke said.
"We're gonna run out of ammo!" Bonnie said.
"Find something to block the gate." Vince said.
Molly noticed the cannon and motions to it. "We could block the gate with this!"
"I'll help, I'm coming!" Luke said.
Luke and Molly turn the cannon around.
"Together. Ready?!" Luke said.
Molly nodded.
They push the cannon forward, but the deck starts to break. One of the cables attached to the deck breaks loose.
"Aw, shit!" Luke huffs.
"Holy fuck!" Mike exclaimed.
"What the fuck is goin' on out there?!" Kenny called.
"Get back! Get back!" Luke calls to the others as most of the deck collapses. Most of the group moves to back to a sturdy part of the deck near the shutter, however, Jane falls and hangs onto the edge. Luke quickly grabs onto her arm.
"Fuck! Fuck, hurry! I can't hold on!" Luke panicked.
From inside Rebecca screams and ear piercing scream.
"PUSH!" Kenny says.
Molly rushes over and grabs Jane's other arm, helping Luke pull her up.
Once they think they're safe, they are quickly proven wrong as Jane realizes something.
"Oh, shit... They're climbing up." Jane said.
Bonnie's eyes widened. "What?"
"They're gonna make it up here!" Jane said.
"Fuck!" Wyatt huffed.
"Does this shit ever end?!" Luke exclaimed.
"We need to break the rest of the deck." Molly said.
Luke nodded. "She's right. She's right! Drop the whole deck!"
"Drop the...are you fucking crazy?" Mike inquired.
"How are we gonna do that?!" Bonnie asked.
"I don't know, just look around!" Luke starts stomping on the deck to break it. After a few tries he huffs. "This ain't working!"
"We need to destroy the support plate." Molly tells them."
"That'll work! We bust that; the whole thing comes down.
"How the hell are we gonna reach that?" Mike asked.
"Boost me." Becca speaks up.
"Got it." Mike puts Becca on his shoulders, and she starts to hack away at the cable's support plate. After a few hits, Becca successfully breaks the plate off the wall.
"Watch it!" Luke said.
Mike backs up putting Becca down. "Son of a bitch!"
The part of the deck the group is not standing on falls down, and so do the geeks.
Clementine couldn't help but wince, Rebecca's screams were making her head hurt. She couldn't imagine being in this much pain… It made her even more scared about that pregnancy test.
"I see the head! Push!" Kenny's voice exhorted with excitement. "Just push and let mother nature do the rest. I see the shoulders."
Kenny leaned in and positioned his hands to catch the infant as it was born.
"You're doing good, Rebecca." Clementine assured the woman.
Rebecca screamed and with one last push, the baby was in Kenny's hands.
Dread fell over them when they realized the baby wasn't moving.
Clementine's eyes widened.
The others entered and terror struck them as well.
Bonnie: Oh...oh, no.
Kenny held the baby, in shock as Rebecca began sobbing.
"God...no...no.." Rebecca cried.
Suddenly, the baby coughs and cries, color returning to its body.
A unanimous sound of relieved sighs are heard.
As night fell most of the group settled down to sleep.
Clementine wakes up with a start after yet another nightmare. The child takes a few moments to catch her breathe. A soft humming reaches her ears and she sits up to see Rebecca holding the baby, now swaddled in cloth.
"Hey, Clementine." Rebecca greets. "Are you okay?"
"I… I'm fine…" Clementine lied. "How's he doing?
Rebecca smiled. "He's perfect. Who's a perfect little man? Who's the most perfect little man in the whole world? You are! That's right. You are."
"What're we gonna do now? We can't stay here, can we?" Clementine asked.
Rebecca sighed at that. "I've gotta rest."
"It's getting colder." The child pointed out.
"Clementine. I can't think about that right now. We'll think of something, just not this second." Rebecca said.
Clementine lowered her head. "Okay… I'm sorry…"
"No… You didn't do anything wrong, baby…" Rebecca said. "Come here…"
The child hesitantly makes her way over. She send Rebecca a concerned look when the woman starts coughing. "Are… Are you okay?"
"I'm fine, I'm fine... Don't worry…" Rebecca said. "Do you...wanna hold him?"
Clementine was hesitant. "I… I don't know how…"
"It's easy. Just keep him close and support his head." Rebecca said.
"B-But I shouldn't… I'm naughty. I'm a whore." Clementine frowned.
"That's not true, Clem… Don't talk that way…"
"But it is true…"
"No… It's not… You're a good kid, sweetie…" Rebecca said. "Here… I'll help you hold him."
Clementine is still reluctant, but Rebecca hands the baby to her. AJ soon starts crying and Clementine frowns. "He's crying. What do I do?"
"Just rock him a little. You got it." Rebecca said.
Clementine does as Rebecca says and rocks the baby a bit. "Shh, shh. There you go."
Rebecca smiled at the cute sight. "You're a natural."
"Look at you. Like a big sister." Kenny's voice reaches their ears as he walks over. "Here, let me take him. You both should rest. Especially you, Rebecca."
Neither of them protest as Kenny takes the baby.
Rebecca cocked a brow, "When's the last time you slept, Kenny?"
"About two years ago. I'm fine. Plus, somebody's gotta watch you while Mama gets her beauty sleep."
Clementine raise a brow herself as Kenny sniffs the baby.
"You never forget that smell." Kenny says and walks away.
Rebecca turned to the young girl after a few seconds and asked her, "Are you tired, Clem?"
"A-A little…" Clementine admitted.
"Why don't we try to get some rest, you can lay with me if you want…" Rebecca said.
"But what if I have a bad dream…?"
"I'll do my best to keep any bad dreams away… I promise I'll wake you up if you do…" Rebecca said.
"…Okay…"
To be honest, Rebecca just wanted the company at the moment. And Clementine didn't mind a bit…
They made sure to have someone keep watch outside while someone else would sit with Nick. Luke offered to stay with Nick despite being exhausted. When someone would offer to stitch with him so he could rest he refused. He wanted to be there for his friend. His best friend who he had known for years.
"Knock Knock... I came to check on you." Bonnie spoke as she entered.
"I'm fine, Bonnie..." Luke said.
Bonnie looked to Nick and then back to Luke. "How is he?"
"Not any better..." Luke said with a sigh.
"Oh... Gosh…" Bonnie frowned. "I umm... I brought you something."
"I don't want it." Luke said.
"Don't be like that. You haven't even seen what it is." Bonnie said.
Luke sighed. "Okay. What is it?"
Bonnie dug in her bag and revealed a bottle of rum. "I figured this might... help you out..."
Luke looked to the bottle for a while before saying, "Yeah...It just might help… pass it here."
The two ended up drinking a lot more than either of them had planned to. And they weren't stopping yet.
It wasn't until they heard Nick coughing a bit that they stop.
"Nick? You okay, man?" Luke asked.
"I feel like shit..." Nick wheezed out. "Wh-What're you drinking?"
"It's Rum." Bonnie replied.
"Give me some of that." Nick said.
Luke helps him sit up slightly and drink some of the rum.
Nick coughed a bit.
"Shit is strong..." Luke said.
"Yeah..." Nick nodded weakly. "…Give me some more..."
The three ended up finishing off the bottle. They spent the night, reminiscing on stories of the past, laughing and joking.
Nick even chuckled through his pain, wheezes, and coughs.
They didn't realize how loud they had been until Kenny called for them to keep it down.
"Wh-What an asshole…" Nick wheezes out.
Luke chuckled and nods in agreement.
"It's probably best to turn in anyway." Bonnie says.
Both Luke and Bonnie were in an alcohol induced sleep. They didn't stir as Nick groaned.
Another few groans and Luke's eyes fluttered open. He looked to his friend assuming he was in pain. "You alright, man? You need some pain meds or-"
Luke didn't get another word about before a zombified Nick started to attack him.
Bonnie woke as well and gasped. "Luke!"
Jane had been outside on watch, lost in her own thoughts. She jumped when a sudden scream reached her ears. It sounded like Bonnie.
Wasting no time, Jane got to her feet and rushed towards the source of the noise. She was shocked to see Luke struggling with walker Nick. While Bonnie shakily aimed her gun. Jane knew if Bonnie shot at this angle, she would hit both Luke and Nick.
"Don't shoot." Jane said.
"Bu-But-"
Jane ignored the woman, rushing forward, she stabbed Nick through the head with a knife and then shoved his body of Luke. "You okay?"
"N-Nick... fuck... You... You killed him..." Luke stammered.
Jane shook her head. "I didn't kill him. He was already dead."
"I... I could've handled him..." Luke claimed.
"It didn't look that way to me." Jane said.
"What the hell is going on in here?" Kenny stepped in holding the baby in his arms.
Nobody had to answer, seeing Nick's body on the ground was answer enough.
"Fuck..." Kenny mumbled.
"You had no right. I should've been the one to deal with him." Luke said to Jane.
"You should've dealt with him hours ago." Jane argued.
"He was still alive hours ago. We couldn't just kill him." Bonnie said.
"It would've been a mercy killing. So he didn't have to turn. We all knew he wasn't gonna make it." Jane said.
"That's fucked up." Mike cut in.
"It's all fucked up..." Luke said.
"She saved your lives. It was better him than us. He would've killed us all. And if you two weren't getting fucked up you would've noticed." Kenny cut in.
The group head into the other area, and their bickering continued.
Rebecca wakes up from the noise. She furrows her brows when she hears Luke mention Nick. "What's going on? How's Nick doing?"
They exchanged looks at the question.
"Uh…. Rebecca…" Luke muttered.
"What? Is he okay?" Rebecca asked.
Luke sighed and answered, "He's gone, Becs…"
Rebecca started crying.
"We need to get moving. Like soon." Kenny said. "We're gonna need a good place to raise the baby, which ain't here. We gotta push on. We head north. Get to Wellington. That's our best shot."
"There's a town across the river, it might be safe there." Shel said.
"Or at least, it might be a good stop on the way." Kenny said.
"Shel's got a point. That could be a whole town full of supplies, and not that far from here!" Wyatt said.
"Whole lot better than here, anyway. Looks like that's our best bet. We need to get on the road as soon as possible..." Kenny said.
"Whoa, whoa! What're you talkin' about? Rebecca needs rest. A few days...at the least!" Luke said.
"We've got that baby formula..." Bonnie said.
"That won't help the rest of us. And what about shelter? We'll freeze out here." Mike pointed out.
"Rebecca needs to rest..." Vince said. "We can't just rush out into the middle of nowhere."
"Exactly. Rebecca is not in ANY condition to travel. We need to stay here, for at least a few days." Luke said.
"Maybe that's for the best. We don't want to push Rebecca too hard." Molly said.
"But we NEED to get a move on." Kenny argued.
"Just give me a day or two, Kenny. I'll be fine." Rebecca said.
Kenny looked to her. "This is a mistake."
Mike: Look, we should all try to get some sleep. It's been a long day.
Rebecca coughs, "Sorry."
Luke went to her side to comfort her. "Okay, Becs, it's gonna be alright."
They all knew it was going to be another long sleepless night.
The next morning the group once again bickered about what they should do. Molly could hear them from outside. She just wished they would knock it off already.
The woman groaned trying to block them out. It wasn't long before Jane stepped outside to relieve Molly from watch duty.
"I'm here." Jane said.
"Alright..." Molly stood. "I hear they're at it again."
"What's new..." Jane shrugged.
Molly noticed something was off with the woman and asked. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine..." Jane said. "I just... This group is cracking... I know you can see it... And I'm gonna be honest with you, I don't think I'm gonna stick around much longer."
"I... don't blame you for that decision..." Molly said.
"And I know you probably don't want me telling you what to do with your girl, but if you're smart, I suggest that you take Clem and get the hell away from them...Sometimes it's better to be on your own..." Jane said.
Molly didn't respond to that. "I should... get inside and check on her..."
"Yeah. You do that. I'll be fine here..."
Molly simply nodded and headed inside to find Clementine. She couldn't help but contemplate the woman's words. There had been a few times when leaving crossed her mind...
As the group's bickering quiets down Clementine looks to Sarah who is sitting along in a corner. She decides to go check on the girl. "Hey, Sarah..."
Sarah looks at Clementine, "Hi.
"I'm sorry about your dad…"
Sarah doesn't respond to that.
"I know what you're going through. But you're not alone... You'll get through this.
"I'm not strong like you... I can't be."
"I know exactly how you feel... It's one of the worst feelings in the world. Ever since...the geek, so many people I know have died. People I love. And for stupid reasons...I know what you're going through. Our friends make us strong. When everything started, I met my friend Lee. He tried to help me find my parents. He protected me more than anyone else in my whole life. He died to keep me safe. I was so scared." Clementine said.
"But you're still here…." Sarah said.
"Because he taught me to be strong. Even when I'm scared. Because he wanted me to live. And your dad protected you because he wanted you to live. He would still want that."
"My dad will come back... I know he will..." Sarah said.
"Sarah..." Clementine sighed.
"He has to come back. He always does." Sarah said.
Clementine notices Becca approach and looks to the girl.
"How's she doing?" Becca asked.
"I was trying to talk to her..." Clementine said. "But…"
"I don't want to talk right now... I just want my dad." Sarah said.
"Your dad?" Becca rose a brow.
"I hope he gets back soon. Then we can go to the cabin." Sarah said. "It's safe there."
"Your dad's dead, Sarah. He's not coming back." Becca said.
Clementine sent Becca a look. "Becca..."
"What? She needs to know the truth. She saw it with her own eyes." Becca said.
"But... You don't have to say it like that..." Clementine said.
"I'm not saying anything that's not true..." Becca replied.
"Clem," Molly suddenly calls approaching the girl. "Clem, can I borrow you for a minute?"
Clementine nodded. Grabbing her crutches, she followed the woman.
Once they were away from the group Molly spoke, "I need you to take this..."
"What?" Clementine asked.
Molly showed her the same box Bonnie had given her before. "I need you to use the pregnancy test."
The child's eyes widened. "I-I don't want to… I don't like it…"
"Please, Clem. I need you to do this… Please…" Molly said.
Clementine frowned but finally give in.
The girl stood outside waiting for the results of the pregnancy test. Molly was close by, waiting as well. With each passing second Clementine could feel her heart pounding in her chest. She felt as if she would vomit from how nervous she was.
They were both silent, waiting anxiously for the results. Several moments passed and they checked the results.
Molly looked to the results and her heart dropped. Two lines meant positive. She was pregnant...
Clementine noticed two lines and furrowed her brows, "What's that mean?"
"It's negative." Molly responded and suddenly hugged her, holding her close. "You're not pregnant."
When they returned to the group Clementine was surprised to see the adults' expectant gazes.
"Well?" Bonnie asked.
"It's negative." Molly said.
"Oh thank God..." Bonnie smiled.
Clementine stayed quiet. The adults seemed to be relieved. And as much as it felt like a weight off her shoulders, it didn't fix anything. It didn't change the fact that she was broken and didn't think she would ever be fixed.
That night when the group was asleep, and Vince was on watch Molly began searching through their supplies. She check through the medicine they had, hoping to find what she needed. Molly soon picked up a medication and read the label, sighing in relief.
"What are you doing?"
Molly jumped and looked to Jane.
"What do you got there?" Jane asked.
"Nothing..." Molly claimed.
Jane furrowed her brows and tried to get a closer look. "Abortion pills... What are those-" Jane stopped herself, eyes growing wide suddenly. "Holy shit... I thought you said the test was negative..."
Molly didn't respond but her expression said it all.
"Oh fuck... Is she...?" Jane frowned. "She's really pregnant.
"Don't say anything. I don't want everyone to know." Molly said.
"I won't... Does she know?" Jane asked.
Molly shook her head.
"Are you gonna tell her?" Jane questioned.
"...I don't know..." Molly said.
"Then... how will you get her to take the pills?" Jane asked.
"I'll figure it out..." Molly replied.
"I don't think you should tell her... It'll fuck her up more..." Jane said. "You should... just slip it in her drink."
"What?"
"Slip it in her drink... It's quick, and easy... She won't have to know. Let her keep being a kid... She won't be able to handle a pregnancy... Not now..." Jane said.
Molly sighed at this.
"If you can't do it... I will."
"No... I... I can do it... I'll do it..."
The next day Molly was struggling with herself to give Clementine the medicine. Part of her wanted to talk to the girl first, but she knew Clementine was already so damaged. She couldn't let her girl be tormented more than she already had been.
Jane wouldn't get off her case, continuously asking had she "done it" yet.
Molly felt sick, she shouldn't even have to do this.
"Do you just want me to do it?" Jane asked.
"No... I'll do it..." Molly said.
"Well you should hurry than... If you don't want her to suffer." Jane said.
Molly couldn't argue.
"Just put it in her drink... It's that simple." Jane told her.
Except it wasn't at all simple.
Molly waited until the group was making dinner. When everyone was distracted, she crushed up the medication, and slipped it into a water bottle much like Jane suggested. She then gave it to the small girl. "Here, Clem... Drink up."
Clementine hesitantly accepted the water. "I thought we have to save the water..."
"We do, but you need this... We can't have you getting dehydrated. You just got over being sick..." Molly said.
"Okay..." Clementine slowly began to sip at the water.
Molly noticed Jane give her a nod of approval and the blonde woman couldn't help but sigh.
That night at dinner Clementine noticed Rebecca could barely bring herself to eat. The woman seemed completely exhausted. Rebecca wasn't the only one either, Jane had refused the offer of the meal and the woman walked outside. Clementine was confused and curious. It wasn't even Jane's turn to take watch. In fact, it was Mike's turn, but he seemed too busy chatting up Bonnie.
When the others start to turn in, Jane has yet to return. With curiosity eating at her, and the adults' attention elsewhere, Clementine decided to go outside and see what Jane was up to.
She sees Jane just as the woman is about to head down the steps.
"Jane?"
Jane quickly turned to her. "Aw, shit."
"What are you doing?" Clementine asked.
"Listen...I'm sorry. I've gotta go." Jane said. "The longer I stay, the harder it'll be. Yeah...it is what it is."
"Go where?"
"Just… away." Jane replied. "You're a smart kid... You wouldn't have made it this far if you weren't smart, but I still...I just gotta warn you. A lotta times, it's better to be on your own. You don't want to be here when they start...turning on each other. Turning on you."
"How can you get along without trusting anyone?" Clementine questioned.
"That's exactly how I get along." Jane said. "For what it's worth, I like most of the people in your crew...but groups fall apart. People get killed. Give it enough time, and everyone's luck runs out. Listen...when the shit hits the fan, 'cause it always does, remember that you can make it on your own. It's not an option for everyone... If things start heading south, don't let them drag you down with them. You don't owe them anything. They'll make you feel like you do. Like it's all one happy family. But when push comes to shove...you'll see."
Clementine didn't know how to respond.
"You take care of yourself. I mean that. Here." Jane offers the girl the nail file. "Versatility is not overrated."
Clementine hesitantly takes the nail file. "Thanks."
"Yeah. I, um...I gotta go." Jane walks down the stairs. Clementine watched in silence as the woman walks away then carefully, she sits down and holds onto the railing.
Luke soon comes outside. "Hey, what are you doing out here?"
"What are you doing out here?" Clementine asked back.
"I told Mike I would switch shifts with him." Luke said. "Does Molly know you're out here?"
"Why?"
"Just... I figured she wouldn't wanna let you out her sight after what you've been through." Luke said.
"I don't wanna think about that." Clementine muttered.
"Okay... Sorry kid..." Luke sighed. "Temperature's dropping. We're low on food. I think we've gotta stay put for a while, you know, for Rebecca and the baby. So I'm thinking as soon as it gets light, Jane and I should go explore, see if we can find some place to scavenge. What?
"Jane left...for good."
"What? When?" Luke asked.
"Just now." Clementine replied.
"Are you serious? She didn't say a word to anyone." Luke hit his fist against the wall, causing Clementine to jump. "Damn it!"
"I think she'd just rather be alone…" Clementine mumbled.
"She didn't say anything to anyone... How could she just take off like that?" Luke huffed.
"Hey, keep it down out here." Kenny ordered, coming outside. "Rebecca's trying to rest."
"Sorry… It's just… Jane left." Luke said.
Kenny shrugged in response. "Whatever. We don't need her anyway. No point in throwing a fit over it."
"She could've at least said something." Luke replied.
"Screw her. Now calm your ass down." Kenny said. "We don't need you screw shit up for us anymore."
"What's your problem, man?" Luke inquires.
"My problem is you and Bonnie decided it was a good idea to get pissy drunk with your dying boyfriend in the room. He could've killed us all." Kenny snapped.
"Kenny, stop." Clementine said.
Kenny ignored the child. "We don't need you fucking up anymore."
"Nick was my best friend! You can't blame me for what I did. I needed to forget!" Luke said.
"Whatever." Kenny said. "Come on, Clem."
"I want to stay outside." Clementine argued.
"I don't care what you want. It's late. You need to get to bed." Kenny said. "Come on. I don't want you alone with him anyway."
"Why the hell not?" Luke asked.
"'Cause you might just end up getting her killed." Kenny said.
"You really are an asshole. You know that, old man." Luke huffed.
"Look in a mirror, kid." Kenny shot back. "I'm not the one fucking up."
"Would you just get off my case for once?" Luke asked.
"You put everyone at risk so you could have a damn party. Rebecca just had a baby; Clementine can barely walk… We're vulnerable in more ways than one. I'll get off your case when you grow the hell up and try to give a damn about the people around you." Kenny said.
"Please... Please stop fighting." Clementine begs.
"Fine. But Luke, these kids, they're what matters now, got it? So get your shit together." Kenny grumbled. "Come on, Clementine. Let's get inside."
Clementine didn't protest. She just wanted the fighting to end.
"N-No…" The child whimpered in her sleep. She tossed and turned. Trembles wrecked her tiny body. Kenny noticed this and frowned. He couldn't help but feel guilty seeing her like this.
With some hesitation, he went over to the girl to try to wake her. "Clem, darlin', it's okay… It's just a bad dream." Instead of waking the child, it only seemed that he made things worse as the little girl began whimpering more.
Kenny couldn't help but feel hurt. He tried to shake the girl awake and that did the trick.
"N-NO! Please don't hurt me!" The child exclaimed so loud it made Kenny jump back.
"Hey, hey, I'm not gonna hurt you, darlin'." Kenny spoke in a calm voice.
But the child continued whimpering and pleading not to be hurt.
Kenny tried to pull the girl into a hug, but that only intensified her panic.
"Hey, I got her…" Molly walked over, looking tired.
"I can take care of her…" Kenny claimed.
Molly shook her head. "Not like this… She'll be more comfortable with me?"
"Why is that?" Kenny huffed.
"Because I'm a woman." Molly said.
"What's that got to do with anything?" Kenny scoffed. "She knows me. She's comfortable with me!"
"Just give her here, Kenny." Molly ordered.
Kenny refused, "I got her." When he tried to touch the crying child, the girl screamed and flinched away.
"Kenny you're only going to make it worse. I know you're trying to help, but Clem's not in the right state of mind right now… Let Molly take care of her." Shel said.
"But—"
"You'll make her scared of you, if she hears your voice in her sleep...she'll start thinking that you're the one hurting her… Just let Molly handle it." Shel said. "I know you're trying to comfort her, but she might not see it that way. She's going through a difficult time…"
Kenny sighed at that, but gave in, allowing Molly to take the girl.
It took several moments before Molly was finally about to calm the child down.
"M-Molly…?"
"I'm here, Clem… It's okay…" Molly hushed the girl.
"Is…Is it my fault…. Is it my fault that the bad things happened to me? Is it because I'm naughty and d-dirty…?" Clementine asked.
"You're not dirty, or naughty, Clem… You're a good kid, and none of those bad things should've happened to you. Don't blame yourself." Molly said.
"So… I'm not a slut…" The child whimpered.
"Oh, Clem… Of course not…" Molly pulled the child close, try to sooth her. Eventually the girl began drifting off in her caretaker's arms.
Clementine didn't know why she was suddenly hit with intense cramps. They kept her awake the entire night. Molly did her best to comfort the girl, she knew exactly why the child was suddenly feeling ill and couldn't help but feel guilty.
She was soon struck by nausea, and before she knew it, the girl was vomitting.
Everyone was concerned. They assumed the girl had just come down with a bug. But Molly knew exactly what was happening...
"M-Molly, I think I'm bleeding..." Clementine whimpered.
Molly just shushed the child. She knew the bleed would happen and that it would be heavy. She was just thankful that Bonnie had packed the girl a change of clothes and some pads. "It's okay, Clem... You're gonna be okay..."
Clementine didn't know about that. The girl felt like she was dying.
Molly did the best to make the child comfortable.
Unfortunately she couldn't give the girl aspirin because it would make her bleed more.
She just had to let the girl wait it out...
After a few hours the girl's pain finally eased up a bit. The child was exhausted and spent the next day trying to rest. Molly also noted that the girl had a mild fever.
"Is she okay?" Rebecca asked.
"She's fine... She just needs to rest." Molly said.
"She said she was bleeding... That doesn't normally come with a cold. And she's already gotten a period this month... I... I don't know do you think that maybe she..." Rebecca trailed off.
"Maybe she what?" Molly asked.
"Had a miscarriage..." Rebecca said. "I know she's young... but still..."
"I... I don't know..." Molly lied.
"...I just hope she's okay... Poor kid..." Rebecca muttered.
Molly couldn't help but nod.
The next day Clementine was feeling a bit better. She was still dizzy and tired, but she no longer had a fever or nausea. Occasionally she would be gripped by on and off again cramps, but it was nothing compared to the pain of before.
She wondered what on earth could have made her sick like that.
She looked to her injured leg wondering if that was the cause, it had made her sick before. Most likely that was the reason again.
She just hoped she would feel completely better soon. She hated being sick.
Kenny continuously tried to take leadership, it was very obvious. He was dead set on trying to get to Wellington, and the others didn't know what to make of his plan.
"Once we get to Wellington everything will be fine." Kenny said. "We can't stay another day. We need to move."
"Kenny, if you keep going like this, you'll get everyone killed. We can't just march into the middle of nowhere to search for a place that may or may not exist." Molly said.
"Yeah? Well, what would a woman who just rings bells for a living know about leading? You don't stick around with groups, so you've probably never been a leader." Kenny said.
"If you're such a great leader, why don't you tell everyone what happened to the last group?" Molly retorted. "What happened to Christa and Omid, how come they weren't with you at the ski lodge?"
Clementine frowned at the mention of the old group.
"You're really a fucking bitch sometimes, you know that?" Kenny asked.
"Kenny!" Sarita exclaimed. "Don't talk like that."
"She's acting like one." Kenny said.
"Stop it, everyone… Rebecca needs to rest. There's no way she's getting any like this…"
Kenny huffed in response but quieted down. "I'm gonna take watch."
No one protested. Clementine was sick of the fighting.
The next few days were long, and the nights were sleepless. The group seemed to argue nonstop. Clementine hated it.
She thought on Jane's advice about leaving… But, where would she? What would she do? How would she survive all alone?
Each time there was a moment of silence it would be interrupted by someone's nitpicking or antagonizing.
It was getting bothersome to all of them. And Rebecca wasn't getting enough rest.
Clementine looked to Rebecca who weakly pleaded for them to stop. Rebecca was dying. It was obvious. They no longer had a doctor…Everyone was doing their best for her, but it wasn't enough…
She doesn't want to stick around to see it… She doesn't think she can handle it… She frowns as she thinks about Jane's words. And about the dream you had. Everyone around you will die. You get everyone around you killed.
The more the group brought up her leg and what she went through as an excuse for their current situations, the worse Clementine felt.
Maybe things really would be better if she was gone.
The child made up her mind… She needed to take Jane's advice.
When night had fallen and the others attempted to sleep, the girl grabbed a gun and a small bit of food. She wouldn't take much. She knew Rebecca needed food for the baby. With that, the young girl took hold of her crutches and headed outside. She noticed both Mike and Bonnie were "on watch". Which meant they would most likely be distracting each other. Getting past them would be easy.
And it was, they didn't even pay her any mind. The young girl managed to make her way off the deck without being noticed. She kept quiet just in case as she slowly began to walk away.