.
Dysfunctional
.
Maybe it was dawn... Maybe it was already morning and she was just too comfortable to care; one thing was for sure, someone woke her up. With a lazy stretch, Eleanor rose her head to peak by the closed curtain. She managed to catch a pair of police cargo-pants and a tall shadow looming over her tent. Rick's pants were not cargo, and they were brown. These were black.
Without thinking too much about it, she groaned and fell back down. Only one other cop-person could be awake at this ungodly hour of the morning.
"You awake kid?" Shane said with another nudge at her tent.
"I'm... barely awake," she groaned, rubbing her eyes. "What happened? Are we moving?" With uneven steps, she crawled to the entrance of the tent and unzipped it mid way. Her head peaked outside and she almost wanted to groan once again. There was barely any sunlight. With one eye closed and the other barely open, she looked up.
"I wanted you to accompany me to get fresh water at the stream," he said and Ellie frowned, her brain still working at half its speed. She nodded and closed her tent again. Eleanor moved to tap around and change onto her pullover, when she finally realized.
Shane was having a private conversation with her... probably, certainly, without Rick's knowledge. Eleanor couldn't help but feel nervous, what if he had a change of heart and decided to kick her out? What if he wanted to force her to give up her blades and leave her unprotected and in the open?
No, no... these people were not like that. Eleanor decided to take a couple of breaths to calm herself down; and with a full awake mind, she moved to get out of her tent, and leave it closed. She looked around, there were more early birds in this group. Carol was already up and drying some clothes; Did that woman ever stop working? She looked to the RV, Dale was on the watch post, and next to it was a pickup... and Shane; leaning against the door frame, hand resting on his hip.
She better act cool. Still tired, she fished out a big yawn. At that expression, Shane smiled.
"Not a morning person, are ya'?"
"Hmm, not really," she commented, climbing up the copilot seat.
"I get it you slept well," he commented while smirking. Then, he ignited the car and they drove off trough the same road they arrived with the other car.
"I did, thank you," She said and turned again at him, "Actually, thank you for everything. The tent, the food and the quilt... oh that quilt," she said with a wanton expression. Shane huffed.
"What you haven't got a quilt back at Atlanta?"
After his question there was a pregnant silence. Eleanor already knew that he was not taking her on this chore out of the goodness of his heart. Even so, what could she do, apart from obeying?
"Even if I had ten thousand quilts, it's not the same. The grunts of the walkers all night, sometimes trying to get to the building I was in. I had to take watch for myself... those nights were always filled with fretful sleep."
She hoped that had let it clear. Shane shared a restless face with her. He wasn't hiding his unease... so Eleanor thought that maybe this conversation wasn't going to be that bad; or at least, she would know when it turned dangerous. After some turns they reached a small stream, the current was good and the bigger amount of rocks and river sand filtered the water, leaving it almost crystalline. Shane pulled over and got out, Ellie behind him, and she started mimicking his actions when he reached the truck and started lining the plastic containers along the riverside.
"I also brought you here because I've been wanting to ask you somethings... that I cannot ask freely back at camp," He stated, Eleanor shrugged. Taking one container and carefully harvesting the water without touching the bottom of the stream.
"I know. Ask away,"
"Where did you get those blades?" he began "Why are they special? and What about the weapons you gave me?"
Those were many questions. "The blades are the only thing I have left from my father, his hobby and passion was hunting and he had those custom made,"with a thug, Eleanor moved the filled container out of the way and closed it. Then, took another with similar size and repeated the process "The other weapons... well. When you travel from city to city on your own you tend to scavenge more trading goods, weapon replacements, and medicines... rather than food. I've been slowly hoarding everything useful and in good shape that I could find. The handguns, they are not that big of a deal. You pick those and then throw them away along the line. I think this last pair... I picked then from the corpse of a police officer. I can no longer remember how long have I been with them, maybe a month." she commented.
"You also know how to use guns,"
"It's a given," she said, smiling to him. But her smile faltered, looking at Shane's concerned and angered expression. "It seems it's not what you expected to hear,"
"It's got nothing to what I expect or don't," he answered "But... fuck; I just don't get you. Why did you save Rick? Why did you follow him? I mean..." he huffed and smirked, shaking his head "You were alone, and by the looks of it... not helpless. Why did you suddenly-" He scratched his head. "What were you even doing? H-have you even taken a look at yourself? Just, How old are you?"
"Do I look that young?" Eleanor teased with a smile.
"That's not what I mean," he said between his teeth. Eleanor let out a sigh.
"Does it even matter what age you are? I lost all I had and knew with the outbreak; the only thing left with me are the means to survive. But... I've been alone for five months now; and I'm tired of being alone. Rick... he contacted me first, then he got himself in some shit and I helped him, because he was willing to help me first," She stood, leaving the container in between her legs. She raised her arms. "I get it... It's hard to believe, but it's as simple as that. I get why you are being like this, and believe me... were I in your position, I would do the same," she let her arms fall in resignation. "Rick, for better of for worse, is not a stranger among you. I'm the odd man out, and I don't really mind... that's to be expected. Maybe as much as you not being so sure about letting me stay. It's completely fair,"
"And a smart-ass to boot," he commented with a huff. He also stood, and scratched his chin. His stern expression softened, and Eleanor detected something new in his gaze. "So, you being in my place... should you trust yourself,"
Eleanor laughed at the phrasing. She willed her mirth down to giggles and grinned at Shane. "Being in your place... I honestly think, that I should put myself on probation. After all, I have some skills that this group could use. I know how to hunt, use weapons, scout and scavenge. In the end, my own experience tells me that my good-natured disposition means far less than my capability,"
Shane remained immobile, until in between his fingers, Eleanor could spot a smirk forming. It soon turned into a crooked grin and the tall man shook his head, huffing in mirth.
"Definitely annoying. Now I get why Rick likes you so much," To that Eleanor beamed and Shane extended his hand. "Pass me that; we better speed this up... before the others start complaining,"
"aye! Aye! Captain"
.
By the time they returned, there was far more light. Most people were already up and having breakfast. Eleanor turned to sport Rick, he was talking with Lori. They looked upset; With a frown, Ellie moved to the back of the car and started distributing the containers of fresh water. She couldn't help but turn her gaze back again at the Grimes couple. The argument was not dramatic, there were no raised tones or sharp movements... but even from where she was, she could feel the tension. Nervous Eleanor looked around her, everyone else seemed to be ignoring then, trying to give the couple the most privacy they could given their circumstances. She barely registered the children not being on the vicinity when a series of shouts and calls for help rose in the air. They were coming from a hill.
All arguments ended. Lori screamed Carl's name and ran into the woods, Rick following close behind. A feeling of dread invaded Eleanor and she also started running in the same direction.
It could not be, could it?
She wouldn't have imagined that they let the children roam freely on the woods, what about the walkers? She picked up her pace, once she saw the silhouettes of Jackie and Lori, kneeling. By the time she arrived to their side, she noticed that Lori was hugging Carl and Jackie was watching over Sophia.
"What happened? Was it a walker?"
Lori turned surprised and alarmed. Carl looked scared, even paler and Sophia was crying. Jackie was the one to talk. "Yes, but nothing happened,"
Eleanor frowned, "You didn't got bit?" Lori hugged her son in a protective manner. "Scratched... maybe?"
"N-no, they ran back to the perimeter before it could reach them,"
Eleanor nodded, "Stay here," she said, and pulled out her blade. Jackie and Lori called out to her but Eleanor payed them no mind. Past some bushes, she identified the sound of a hard object against flesh. She frowned and hurried her pace.
What she found was both worrisome and mildly angering.
Andrea and Amy stared in confusion at the group of men that were beating up a walker that was on the ground. Literally beating it, not aiming at the head, but trying to reduce him by pain as if it were another living man. Eleanor walked forward.
"stop that! it's enough!" She raised her voice and some of them stopped. Rick turned to her surprised, as well as Glenn. Dale extended his hand trying to stop her from going any closer, but at the sight of the large hunting blade he stepped back in a jump. In a continuous motion, She kneeled over, her knee lodged in the beaten back of the the walker. The creature swung around his arms until it became completely still. Eleanor twisted her blade on the back of the skull, the sound of breaking bone making flinch more than one. She then extracted the blade and grabbing the shirt of the walker, she cleaned it before standing up.
"It's no use hitting down a walker to submission. They don't think of feel pain. The only way to stop them is to bash their heads, destroy the brain," she explained. Looking around her, she noticed that Jimmy had a shovel, Dale was turning the gun in the opposite direction. Only Shane had a shotgun but he obviously had hesitated on using it.
"Have you scouted? Was this the only one around?"
"We believe so..." Adventured Dale "this is the first one we had up here... they never come up this far into the mountain,"
"Well, they're running out of food in the city, that's what" said jimmy. Eleanor looked down at the creature and scratched her chin.
"if that were the case... we need to look around. Walkers don't go around alone like this, normally if one moves the others move... if this one comes from the city, then there could be more," She looked around her, and with her blade... she moved the high grass out of the way. Soon, she found a deer, it had it's intestines chewed and exposed. She covered her nose, the smell was strong, but not putrid.
"A deer?" asked Rick, he was behind her. Eleanor turned to him.
"It looks like he died recently; maybe this is what attracted the walker," she walked over it, and noticed a carbon arrow lodged on its side. The trail of blood looked dry, she moved to take it out, and showed it to the rest. "This arrow, do you recognize it?"
There was a rustling coming from the woods.
"Son of a bitch! That was MY deer!" a young man with a crossbow emerged. He may have been on his late 30's, and his outfit resembled Merle's in some way. This guy may be his brother, Daryl. Eleanor swallowed, restless.
Daryl walked around the dead animal, "Arg, damn! Look at it; all munched on by this filthy!... disease bearing!... motherless bastard!" he said kicking the corpse of the walker.
"Calm down son, that's not helping" interrupted Dale.
"What' do you know about it old man! Why don't you take that stupid hat and o back to 'On Golden Pond'?" he huffed, and returned to the half eaten deer annoyed. "I've been tracking this deer for miles, gonna drag it back to camp; cook us up some venison" he trailed on, Ellie could see the uneasy faces of everyone. Nobody dared to open their mouth and make the young man even madder "Where the fuck is my arrow!"
"Here..." Eleanor said. Daryl turned to her in a heartbeat, she offered the arrow by the nock and she mumbled, "I pulled it out," Daryl turned, but did a double take.
"Who the fuck are you?"
"I'm new, my name is Elean-"
"Whatever," he ended, and turned to the animal once again, signaling with the arrow, "What do you think... we can cut up this chewed part right here?" he said signaling the guts.
"The deer is already starting to swell. The walker must have eaten on it for a while. Maybe you shouldn't risk it;" tempted Ellie, the man turned to her and then back at the deer. He raised his shoulders.
"We'll that's a damn shame!" he spared a look at the walker and then back at Ellie. He trailed his gaze on her arm and then signaled to the blade "Yours?"
"What?" she blinked, "Oh! oh... yeah, sorry," She moved fast to guard it. But Daryl gave her a confused frown and walked past her. Eleanor shared a look with Rick and he moved fast to catch up to the Dixon brother.
Eleanor knew what would happen next, and she had a bad feeling about it.
Daryl Dixon walked into camp, calling for Merle. Shane stopped him, telling him the bad news slowly and carefully, but everything was thrown out the board when Rick stepped in and told him directly what happened... not stopping to think it twice before taking all responsibility. It was over. Daryl went nuts, screaming and pulling out his gun, clearly in rage. However, before a tragedy occurred, Rick and Daryl reduced Daryl together; one took the weapon while the other had the man by a hold. Daryl fought but soon the lack of air had him sagging against Rick.
"What I did was not on a whim! Your brother doesn't play well with others and he left me no option," said Rick between his teeth. Shane called to Rick and he let go of the young man. This one stood and stumbled, trying to regain some air.
"This isn't his fault..." T-dog stepped in "I had the key and dropped it... It fell down a drain... I'm sorry," he said as Daryl got up, and passed back and forth, like a caged lion, looking at the different faces.
"Damn you all people!" he said, in a combination of hate and pain, and Eleanor felt terribly guilty, and couldn't help to step in.
"Wait! Not everything is lost. When T-dog and us left, he managed to barricade the entrance to the ceiling," she began, Daryl turned to look at her on a swift move "Given the narrow of the stairs and the chains and padlock he used, your brother could still be alive," With a deep breath, she sustained Daryl's murderous glare and said with finality "You only need to take a car, some chain-pliers and a person to guide you,"
"And that's gonna be you?"
"No, I will"
"Rick!" Eleanor exclaimed, the police officer ignored her. He repeated his proposal, and Daryl eyed the man before he walked to his motorcycle. "He better be alive!"
"Rick, this is insane. You just met your wife and son! Let me go! I have nothing to loose!"
He turned and Eleanor stopped. His gaze was filled with a mix of pity and anger. She backed away, and Rick let out his breath with a defeated sigh. "Because I know you think that way, I'm not going to let you go,"
He walked to his tent, and Eleanor turned away... too much of a coward to look at Lori in the eye. Even so, she did look at Shane, who looked angered and disappointed. With long strides, he walked to the tent. Carl was with Carol, beside Sophia. Now there was another gaze she wasn't sure how to meet.
"Can you trow me a bone here man?"
Ellie looked back at Rick and Shane, the former had taken barely a couple of minutes to get back into his police uniform and was heading to the vehicles. "Tell me! Why are you risking everyone's security over a douche-bag like Merle Dixon!"
"hey, you might want o rethink your words there man," said Daryl that was next to the campfire.
"No, I did. Douche-bag is what I meant" Shane shared a sarcastic smirk, "Merle Dixon... the guy wouldn't give you a glass of water if you were dying of thirst,"
"What he would or wouldn't do doesn't interest me. I can't let a man die of thirst, ME," Rick said while pointing at his chest "And nor of thirst and exposure; we left him like an animal caught in a trap, that's no way for anything to die, let alone a human being,"
"So you and Daryl... That's your big plan?" asked Lori, that had exited the RB, Carl walked to rest to her side. Rick turned to Glenn and the young man grimaced in defeat.
"Oh, come on..." he whined.
"You know how to move through-out the city," Rick began "and I'll be more at ease around you... and she will be too" he said referring to Lori, but she didn't give any sign of approval.
"So you are going to drive of with three of our men and leave he camp unprotected?"
"four" said T-dog suddenly
"my day keeps getting better and better aint it?" said Daryl cleaning his arrows. Shane moved Rick to the side, talking in hushed tones.
"you saw that walker... It was in camp! They are moving out of the cities, and we need all the manpower we've got, your are putting us all at risk here,"
"I'm not. Eleanor is staying," The woman in question blinked befuddled. Shane looked to the side almost eye rolling.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa... slow down a little," she walked over. Rick turned to her fast.
"I've seen you fight, I've seen you handle a gun. You have survived surrounded by walkers for months. You've said it yourself, you are not here to feel protected," Rick said, and put a hand on Eleanor's shoulders. "I wouldn't trust my family's security to anyone else." Rick turned to Shane, "You two, I know you can handle it,"
Eleanor let out a sigh. His wife begged to differ; Eleanor was a stranger and suddenly, she was forced to be responsible for a group of people she didn't know? All because of a drug addict that was forgotten on the top of a building. Slowly dying of thirst, an unmerciful sun and eventually, the walkers that would make those chains give in. Because, no matter what T-Dog or Rick said, those chains were going to give in. She knew.
"Okay, I'm staying. But... if you are going to return back to that place at least make a good use of your time," She answered with the same boldness, "The bag of ammo you left could still be there, and if you are passing by you cannot leave it there again,"
"You're right, The bag you asked about," said Glenn in suddenly realization.
"What guns?"
"Six shot guns, two high-powered rifles, even a dozen handguns; I cleaned out the cage back at the station before I left... I dropped the bag in Atlanta when I got swarmed, and Eleanor couldn't retrieve it when we escaped the tank... it's just sitting there on the street waiting to be picked up"
"Ammo"
"700 rounds... Assorted" Shane took deep breath, suddenly it was worth the shot. At this moment, Lori looked desperate. Eleanor couldn't blame her, suddenly she lost all support from the others to make her husband stay; she stood beside Shane.
"You went through hell to find us" said Lori suddenly "You just got here and you're gonna turn around and leave?...and for what? Merle Dixon, it's too much of a risk even with guns thrown in!" Rick shook his head, trying to fish out a way to convince her. She raised her hands taking a breath "Make me understand," she urged.
"I owe a debt to a man I met and his little boy," Rick began and Lori frowned. "Lori, if they hadn't taken me in back at home, I wouldn't have even met Eleanor, I wouldn't be here in the first place... They said they'd follow me to Atlanta, and they'll walk into the same trap I did if I don't warn them first. I gave them a walkie-talkie, the other pair is inside that bag. If there's still a chance to get it..."
"Is it our walkies?" asked Shane
"Yeah" said Rick
"so why don't use the CB?" offered Andrea
"The CB is fine... It's the walkies that suck to crap, they date back to the 70's, don't match any other bandwidth, not even scanners in our cars"
Lori nodded, defeated. At that, the little man walked over. Rick turned to Carl and caressed his head, promising to come back. Suddenly, more deals and trades were being made. They were leaving in the truck they arrived, no cars from the camp itself. Rick made a deal with Dale so that he could lend him the bolt cutters for the chains on the roof, Shane gave his partner some extra ammo for the trip. Decided, Ellie sighed and walked up to them, Rick turned to her confused and frowned when she got out one of her blades and handed it to him.
"I'll feel better if you have it, it's more useful when you want to keep a low profile... And before you say anything about it being too precious... which it is, I'll let you know that if you don't return, I'm going back to Atlanta for them regardless of what you told me. Got that cowboy?" Rick smirked and shocked his head, taking the blade, fitting the sheath on his belt.
"I'll come back with it" said Rick with a nod.
"Don't linger. Get in, get Merle, get the bag and get the fuck out," She repeated, "Only use the guns as a last resort, don't make noise,"
"I know," The officer repeated and gave a last hand shake to Shane, before he got up in the truck, where Daryl was turning the horn insane. And they drove off.
"You also think I should have gone instead of him?"
Shane turned to her with a frown. Eleanor hugged her frame, looking at the highway.
"Who else things that way?"
"Lori? Carl?... Myself,"
"You are just a kid. If I were as stupid as Rick and wanted to turn back to Atlanta, I would not let you go either." Eleanor wide eyed at him, and she tried to hide a little smile. He patted her head, "Plus, he has just given you high praise! I've never saw him do that before... now I want to see those bad-ass skills myself," he smirked, and Eleanor smiled openly.
With that, he walked to the woods. Eleanor looked around for Lori, but she was nowhere to be found... so maybe, he went after her. It made sense, Eleanor thought, for Shane to have taken care of Rick's wife and son after they thought he had died. Still, something didn't sit right in her mind. Shane was good-natured, so she couldn't really think so badly of him, so she decided to ignore it and find something to do at camp.
That's how she found Carl, sitting alone.
"Care if I sit here?" She asked. The child turned to look at her, his bright blue eyes showed sorrow... though it was soon hidden. She sat next to him.
The silence that followed was awkward; she had hoped that if she were there, he would have talked to her and told her what he felt... like most children would. Instead, he tried to appear strong, and she was a stranger... there was no real reason for him to tell her how he felt. Still, she knew that feeling he was having, because he loved his father and he would not be alright with this kind of situation.
"My father was also a cop," she began, "When I was around your age, he was trying to make his career, and be was constantly moved from one section to another... vice crimes, murder, major crimes, terrorism... you name it. So he constantly traveled, and I hated it," Eleanor said, while picking up a stick and pushing the wood ashes back to the center of the unlit bonfire, "I would make huge tantrums, cry all night, refuse to eat. Once he called saying he wouldn't make it for my birthday, I was furious... didn't want to celebrate my birthday at all,"
She turned to look at Carl, and almost yelped when she found his eyes trained on her... intently listening to her story. Forcing down a smile, she continued, "Of course, my mother would have none of it. So we celebrated my birthday, I was told to behave and so I remained civil. Civil! mind you, I wasn't really enjoining it... then," she hunched and extended her hand, "the party was almost over, it was late... kid's standards late, around 6 or 7 pm. In between the gardens, I saw something fluffy," She gasped "Ah! It was an animal, my curiosity spiked, so I carefully walked to it... it hid in between the bushes of the neighbor. Then... wham!" she exclaimed and Carl visibly jumped beside her, she turned to him and smiled. "It was my father, he had bought me a stuffed bunny... It looked so real, I thought it was alive!" she laughed. "I was so happy, suddenly everything was better. He arrived late, but he arrived,"
Carl smiled, looking at the ashes; Eleanor took that chance to pat his back, "I know what you are feeling... because I've felt it too. But trust me, Rick is coming back... even if it's a little late," she rose her arms and flexed, "So we only need to stall for time! Say... you might not have a tight schedule today right?"
He snickered, cleaning his nose with the back of his hand, "One thing I don't miss from back then are schedules," he raised his eyebrows, "Summer schedules,"
"Those wicked things!" she said in disdain and Carl snickered again, "Then how about we do something fun! Maybe there is-"
"Hey Carl! where are you!" They both turned, Shane had emerged from the woods. Carl stood, and so did Ellie, he spotted them both and walked over, "There you are! Remembered I promised to catch some frogs! This is the time young man!"
Eleanor smiled, so he had the same idea. Carl straightened at the idea, but turned for a moment to look at Eleanor, looking worried. The young woman raised her hands.
"I hate frogs... this time, I think Shane will be better guide,"
"All girls hate frogs," he said and she gasped outraged, Shane barked a laugh, and moved Carl to the stream.
Welp, she was without stuff to do again; so she walked over her small tent, changed into a pair of clothes Carol had left for her with a note, and walked down the trail to the lake where the other women were already doing laundry. She spared a look at Shane and Carl, that were on the other side... and she smiled.
"Greetings ladies! Care for an extra pair of hands?" suggested Ellie
Jackie commented "at least you volunteer" Ellie looked at Shane that was playing wit Carl, at his laugh Ellie shrugged.
"Well, he needs some cheering up. To any child whose parent had a profession of service... its a feeling that they can relate. It's hard at that age, reconcile the fact that your parents love you... but are not around as often as the parents of other kids,"commented Ellie while damping her clothes on the water.
"what did your dad do?" asked Amy
"he was a cop too," said Ellie with a small smirk, Andrea nodded and looked to the side "The only moments we had to ourselves were his vacations, when we traveled for the hunting season!" she exclaimed excited, until she heard a whistle behind her. From the top of the hill, Ed Peletier sat on a pliable chair, as if supervising their work. "Either way, I bet other asses are not In the same emotional discomfort," At her comment, Carol eyed her husband from the corner of her eye.
"Well... it is what it is" said carol as she shyly went back to work, and Ellie's mistrust and anger only spiked. "but I do miss my Maytag" she ended
"I miss my Benz" said Andrea.
" I miss my coffee maker, with that dual drip filter" said Jackie with a look of pleasure on her face
"my computer .. texting" said Amy. And a moment of silence was made, until Andrea tempted.
"I miss my vibrator" as there was giggles along the women, and Andrea smirked shrugging shyly
"me too" answered Carol and the laughs were more evident. Until Ed got closer asking what the ruckus was about, Carol looked down and Ellie tried to ignore the exchange the best she could, looking back at Carl, who wasn't there anymore. She saw Lori walking back up the hill, leaving Shane to pick up the things he got and put on his boots.
"Something wrong Ed?" began Andrea
"nothing that concerns you" answered Ed "and you should be more working less talking, this isn't a comedians stage" he said in disdain to carol. Ellie glared down, her patience was slipping away.
"well you know what Ed... if you have so much of a deal with how your laundry is done... why don't you make it yourself" said Andrea getting up and throwing a shirt at him, but the guy only threw it back at her.
"that aint my job missy," said in a dangerous tone, while Amy got up and tried to stop Andrea
"and what is your job exactly... Sitting on your ass smoking cigarettes all day?"
"well... I'm sure it aint listening to some uppity smart-mouthed bitch... tell you what... come on! Let's go" Ed Peletier urged and Carol stood up fast, already obeying but Andrea got in between.
"I don't think she need sot go anywhere with you Ed!"
"Don't you think I won't knock you on your ass, just cause you're some college educated cooze," he retorted back to Andrea that gasped.
"Well I don't think your ignorant fat-ass can hold up to her either way," Eleanor said, her patience already lost. "You like to talk big don't you? But here we all know what you are! You are a coward! That gets a sense of power by abusing your wife... you are nothing but garbage!"
His nostrils flared, and his face got really red. He walked up to Eleanor, trying to rise to his full height, but the young woman could careless.
"Ed... stop, please.." began Carol walking to him, and he decided to raise his hand at her instead of Eleanor. Eleanor wide eyed, and rushed to get in between them. She covered her face, and her forearm took full impact of the fist he was directing to Carol.
The women around gasped, and before the pain started to kick in, Eleanor kept momentum and returned the punch with all her might. There was a cracking sound, and the fat man that lost his footing and fell flat on his ass. He touched his and bloodied nose and rose again. Eleanor stretched her neck and rose position to fight. But before she could move, she felt a thug on her arm. It was Carol herself, who was begging her to not provoke him. She was distracted, and Ed was already launching a fist at her head. Eleanor closed her eyes, already expecting impact; but it never came.
It was Shane. He stopped the fist in mid air and with a forceful shove, he dragged Ed away and pushed him to the ground. He then proceeded to punch his face, over and over. Ellie watched with satisfaction at first, but her gaze turned to concern... and then to fear; Andrea and Carol screamed for Shane to stop, and Shane slightly lifted him from the ground.
"Listen to me Ed... next time you dare raise a hand to your wife, your little girl or any other person I this camp... I won't stop, you hear me!" he said tugging him as Ed agreed, giving a last punch and stepping away, Carol ran over him crying and apologizing, he remained on the ground. Ellie looked back at Shane and instinctively grabbed her left forearm, that now had a red bruise. He looked at her as he rubbed his head and walked way.
She wasn't sure why, but she wished Rick was there... yet she didn't know that they were going to take much longer than expected.
