Walking Dead: Dark Burdens

Next chapter of my Walking Dead story, enjoy.

Reviews

Boris Yeltsin: Thanks :)
Wolfgirl2013: Thanks :)

Now onto the story.

Disclaimer: I don't own Walking Dead or its characters.


Chapter 22: Mending

Once again the police station found itself faced by a protest group, this time by the fervent members of Delta, along with a handful of less fervent ones that still stuck by the group, all of them trying to demand the release of their arrested leaders and those 'stolen' from them. But unlike the protest in support of Clementine it was much smaller and had very little support. Not helping them was their inability to refrain from hurling abuse at family members of those saved from the cult, those who had come to take them to safety after they had been taken to the cult by a family member or friend who was a follower.

'Of course they can't see that this behaviour makes people less likely to have any sympathy for them.' Sam thought to herself sardonically.

But she had to push the thought away and focus as she tugged at the new clothes she had been given. She was so glad to get out of the dress she had been forced to wear at the homestead she gladly pulled on the black pants, white shirt and black flats, finally feeling human again.

"Mom, Greg, that's enough!" She snapped.

Sophia stood there, glaring, Greg by her side. Both were clad respectively in a dark blue long dress with matching flats and black pants a white shirt and black shoes, still clad in the clothes that marked them as members of the cult.

Sophia however was furious at her daughter's defiance.

"Sam, you will listen to me. I am your mother and you cannot betray us like this." She snapped. "Now enough, you are coming with us, we need to save the Delta before-"

"No we don't." Sam snapped. "I don't need to do anything you say. I'm an adult in case you've forgotten."

Greg then interjected. "Sam, you are denying yourself salvation, you are ruining all our hard work and-"

"No Greg, I am cooperating with the police and helping other families out. Families ruing by that damn cult, those poor kids will be placed in the care of their more 'stable' family members and given a chance to actually have a life." Sam shot back.

"Sam!?"

Sam shook her head. "I'm disgusted with you, Greg, to think you used to be a nice person, until that religious bullshit twisted you."

Sophia immediately reacted with outrage. "Samantha, how dare you blaspheme-!"

"Sophia that's enough, listen to yourself."

Sam reacted to that voice, drawing the attention of the police as well. The figure who approached was a tall broadly built middle-aged Native American man, tanned with black greying hair and eyes with facial hair and clad in cargo pants, a brown polo shirt and black shoes. It was Sam's father, Sophia's ex husband, John Fairbanks.

"Sam is right, she is an adult and can make her own choices. Forcing things like this on her, is deplorable." He growled.

Sophia had no reply, she was still shocked at his sudden arrival.

She quickly gathered herself however when she saw that John wasn't alone, their youngest sons were present too. Thirteen year old James who was of medium height with medium length black hair, dark brown eyes and tanned skin, wearing cargo shorts, a yellow T-shirt, white socks and matching sneakers. Then seven year old Alex, also tanned with black hair and dark brown eyes, although his hair was shorter than James' and he was clad in jeans, a white T-shirt with matching socks and red and blue sneakers. Sophia reacted to their presence at once.

"James, Alex, finally, come here at once, we are getting out of here!" She demanded.

Sam rolled her eyes, she knew her mother had been adamant about trying to get the boys, James especially, but for such naked opportunism.

"N-no." James replied, flinching back.

That startled Sam, James actually looked scared, even more so than Alex who shook his head, staying hidden behind John.

"Sophia, enough." John remarked. "I have already made it clear, the boys are staying with me."

Sophia scoffed. "Oh yet you bring them here, to me, clearly intending to hand them over."

John shook his head. "You are delusional. I brought them to finally see their sister again, after you robbed them of her for three years."

"You dare-!" Sophia spluttered. "I can easily take the boys, they will be safer with me, you are going to-"

"No Sophia. You are a danger to them, with this zealotry. I am giving them a safe and loving home and I am not giving up custody of my boys."

Sophia looked outraged and Sam braced herself for the no doubt further deluded statements she prepared to make with Greg preparing to back her up. But before either of them could say anything, the chief, who had been watching this unfold, stepped up.

"Actually, Mr. Fairbanks is right; the law is on his side and the boys are safe with him, there is no reason for him to lose custody. Your arguments would not hold up in a court of law."

Sam also stepped up. "You scare them mom and for good reason, look at how you're behaving."

But at that moment they heard more footsteps and then a soft voice.

"Sam."

Sam's eyes widened, her heart swelling inside, as she beheld the sight of a young woman the same age as her, of medium height with medium length dirty blonde hair and blue eyes, fair skinned and slender, wearing denim shorts, a blue T-shirt, black socks and matching sneakers. It was the one person, more than any other, that Sam wanted to see right now, her beloved, Paige Palencia

Time seemed to stand still for Sam as she finally saw Paige again, the look Paige gave her, such wonder and love as she hesitantly stepped forwards. Seeing that hesitation, knowing it's source, Sam smiled and stepped up, reached out to take Paige's hands in her own.

"Yes Paige, it's me...This is real." She whispered.

With that they embraced, overjoyed while Sophia, a disgusted expression on her face shook her head.

"Come Greg, we're leaving, it's clear they are too deluded to accept the truth." She snapped. "Wash our hands of them, they do not deserve us."

Greg nodded and quickly followed his mother as they left, no doubt heading outside to join the protests and tell the others their own version of what had happened. But Sam, Paige and the rest of the Fairbanks family couldn't care less about that. For Sam was finally reunited with them and free of her nightmare, she just wanted to hold Paige, to never let go. The gentle scent of cherry blossoms that came from the blonde's hair, a scent that Sam had almost forgotten, but had lingered at the back of her mind like a desperate reminder of who she really was.

"Sam...I think it's time we went home." Her father said softly, a gentle smile on his face.

Parting from Paige Sam nodded. "Yeah, you're right dad."

She smiled and nodded to her brothers, the two of them brightened up considerable now their mother was gone, although Sam noted there was still a glimmer of fear in James' eyes. But even with that, with Sam agreeing to give official statements and testimony should things go to trial, the reunited Fairbanks family left the police station, ready to go home at last.

XXXXX

Back at the hospital, Clem met with the group outside and had filled them in on Violet's condition and how things were being handled currently.

"I know you guys wanted to see Violet." Clem finished with a sigh. "But, it's kinda complicated right now and…"

Marlon shook his head. "No, it's cool Clem, we understand."

"Yeah, we're just glad she's alright." Brody agreed.

Gabe smiled, his arm around Brody. "Give her our best wishes…"

Clem nodded in agreement and finally the group began to disperse, heading for their own homes. Meanwhile, before parting, Gabe and Brody shared a gentle smile before kissing softly and heading for their respective homes. Seeing this Sarah was devastated.

'I still can't believe this, going after Gabe and...and he wasn't even...what do I do now?' She wondered sadly.

She wasn't alone, Becca felt the same way. 'Urgh, to think, Gabe is with Brody, even after everything I...I tried and...Shit, to think this was all a waste.'

Both downhearted girls then headed home, leaving Clem to head back inside and join Amy before going to see Violet again.

XXXXX

Listening carefully as they remained hidden within the shadow of a doorway, the figure clad in all black, pants, shirt, gloves and shoes, glared.

'Where, where is she?' They wondered angrily.

They shrank back as two nurses walked past, but still listened closely.

"Did you just come from ward 12?" One asked.

The other replied. "Yes, the Adlon girl, so horrible what she went through...Still, physically she's recovered, so…"

Whatever else they might have said faded away as they walked away, but it was enough for the figure who now knew their destination, ward 12. There was no mistake, there was after all only one person the 'Adlon girl' could be.

'Finally.'

Slipping out the room, the figure made their way quietly towards ward 12, taking great care to make sure nobody else was about. Seeing the coast was clear, at least for now, the figure entered the room and upon seeing Violet, rage smothered them, drowning out all rational thought except one, correct this one mistake. Looking up upon hearing the door open, Violet froze, eyes wide, as Markus Daniels entered her room. Reacting at once she tried to hit he nurse call button, but Markus lunged forwards and knocked it away.

"I don't think so." He snarled. "You are a mistake girl, you brought nothing but ruin upon me. You are a mistake for even living, I will fix that here and now."

Violet tried to scream, but was cut off as Markus forced her down onto the bed, his hands wrapped tightly around her throat.


End of chapter, the evil cliffhanger strikes again, read and review please.