Welcome-to-the-404 - I hope you like where this chapter goes, and the character being introduced!
Lordmatser Endercreeper - Always a pleasure to hear that any "filler" type chapters come off as much more than that, and that the character and relationship building is working well.
Thedarkpokemaster - The Stranger is definitely going to haunt Lee, and I think that's the new way I want to explore Lee's trauma in this version, literally giving a face to the devil on Lee's shoulder that will attack him in his weakest, or worst moments.
The Spider X - Day's We've Lost will be updated very soon again, glad to see you're following both stories!
Supernova1219 - Thank you for such a long review, I love reading ones like these! Lee is indeed going through some deep level of trauma and pain but with Molly and Kenny there, he is slowly, very slowly coming back, though that isn't freeing him from what's happened. For a lot of chapters in the future we'll be seeing more of how he comes back, but also what lingers behind inside him too. Also, just a side note, they are heading towards Ohio because that's where Wellington is in canon. I believe North Carolina was maybe for the school in season 4 where Clementine and AJ went, though I could be wrong on that one.
Worker72 - Developing the characters is going to be a very big focus for this story, especially Carver when we reach him, so trust me, when anyone does bite the bullet, it'll feel a hell of a lot more impactful this time around.
Guest - Ah, a Molly and Lee supporter...well just read on to see what happens between them!
Smeake - Thanks as always bud, hope you liked this one!
PrincessNala150 - Lee Vs. Carver is going to be a long deep arc in this story once we get there, I have big plans that will be going way out of the canon storyline and I am imagining it's going to take everyone reading by surprise when it happens, so stay tuned.
Enjoy
"Easy, we don't want any trouble, we're just passing through," Lee calmly announced as lifted his one arm up,
"Everyone is just passing through these days, but not wanting trouble? Everyone is out for trouble, no one is decent anymore...no one," The voice replied, a drop in tone trailing their sentence,
Molly let out a sharp exhale and shook her head, "Look, we were checking out the RV, we had no fucking clue you were living out in this shithole of a turn off, alright? Just put the fucking gun down and we'll walk away, this doesn't have to be a whole thing!"
"Molly," Lee lowly growled to the woman, "I'm sorry, we've been having a rough time out here, she doesn't mean anything by it. I'm Lee, what's your name?"
A long silence hung in the air after Lee's question, making the pair tense, unsure if the next sound they'd hear would be the bark of a shotgun tearing through them, "It's Jessica…"
Lee let out a soft breath of relief and nodded, "Alright, Jessica, listen, we really aren't here to cause you any trouble. All we were doing was looking for some gas when we saw the RV, we thought it'd be a good upgrade for our car but clearly it's already spoken for, so we'll go and leave you be,"
"And I should just believe that?" Jessica asked back,
Lee peered to Molly then sucked in a slow calming breath and slowly turned around to face the woman. As Lee turned he finally caught sight of the woman, a tall, clearly malnourished brunette with piercing blue eyes and a twelve gauge shotgun aimed directly at his head. "I give you my word, that we aren't going to give you any problems," The former professor said in a calm firm tone while keeping his eyes directly on Jessica's who in turn kept them directly on his.
Meanwhile further up the road, Kenny and Sarita were working their way around to the final street unable to spot anything worth their while other than a small house they could hold up in. "I'm...sorry about earlier, scrapping with Molly ain't something I want to do, she just knows how to get under my skin," Kenny murmured towards Sarita, sensing her disapproval since the argument happened, just like any other time this past month.
"It almost seems as if you two find some sort of pleasure in barking at each other," Sarita lightheartedly replied,
"Ever since I met her she's had that mouth of hers and she's the one who always starts the scraps," Kenny swiftly defended, "Ain't like I go looking for it,"
"I believe that's just her way of showing her friendship, not everyone can say they like you and want to be friends," Sarita explained with a smile, "Though I'll admit, it'd be nice for it not to happen in the car,"
"I know, that's why I just want us to catch a break, find an upgrade for this hunk of junk...Lee could use it," Kenny sighed,
Sarita's smile dissipated and she turned to Kenny in concern, "What do you mean?"
"You know about Clem, not everything 'course, but you know that Lee lost her after someone tried to steal her," Kenny explained receiving a nod from Sarita, "Thing is, this is that bastards ride, and I don't think it's doing him any good being stuck inside it for days on end," The fisherman finished with a thoughtful expression, taking a moment to reflect on the thoughts of the train where he and his family took their final ride together. The hours that he was on it alone was pure hell and being distant from it was the only thing that gave him and solace that day,
"You're very close to him," Sarita warmly stated while gently placing a hand on Kenny's shoulder, "Finding that friendship, that bond, in another person is important and very rare, especially in these times,"
"He's family," Kenny nodded, the statement leaving his mouth with ease, "It sounds like bullshit, but Lee, he's my family,"
"Family is what you make it," Sarita easily agreed, "I just hope one day soon, I could become a part of that family as well," Kenny looked over to Sarita for a quick moment, letting out a flickering smile though as his eyes returned to the street it swiftly flipped to a frown, "Sonofabitch!" Sarita leaned forward and her eyes went wide as she too saw Lee and Molly held at gunpoint just down the road.
However, just as Kenny and Sarita caught sight of Jessica, so did she see them. "Who the hell is that? Some of your friends ready to pull your asses out of the fire? I can fucking promise you that I'll get you two before they get me!"
"Hey, hey, hey, nothing like that is gonna need to go down. Yes, they are our friends, but we aren't out looking for trouble, I swear," Lee rapidly replied, "Look, they are driving down here, just let me tell them this was all a misunderstanding, no one needs to die, no one needs to fight,"
Jessica let out a few sharp exhales but seeing as the station wagon was growing ever closer, she knew that she needed to take a risk. "One wrong word, or any kind of signal, she gets the first shot," Jessica warned while turning her gun to Molly,
Lee nodded, giving a glance of assurance to Molly before stepping towards the road, flagging down Kenny and Sarita in the station wagon. It was only moments before the car reached him, screeching to a halt while Kenny jumped out reaching for his pistol," Lee what the hell is going on?!" The man called out, positioning himself behind the open door for cover,
"Ken, you need to take it easy, things aren't going sideways,but what I need you to do is keep your gun in your pants, and your temper cool," Lee called back, doing his best to stay calm and collected,
"What is happening, Lee?" Sarita called back,
"This is Jessica, she owns this RV, and she's worried that we're here to hurt here," Lee replied, "I was in the middle of explaining that we're no trouble,"
"Which I find hard enough to believe when it was just you two!" Jessica added on,
"Listen girl, Lee and Molly, ain't no threat to you! Just let 'em go!" Kenny roughly demanded,
"Jessica was it?" Sarita quickly interjected, "I'm very sorry that we trespassed into your home, and I hope you can excuse my friends for any uncomforting actions but please, you don't have anything to fear, we aren't robbers or evil people. Only people trying to get by!" Sarita explained, "Lee and Molly, they only want to get north, they have no wish to hurt anyone, nor do we! Please, I beg you, lower your gun and let us talk like civilized people!"
Jessica gulped and readjusted her hands on her shotgun, "That's...that's asking an awful lot these days!"
"We know, but we wouldn't ask at all if we didn't mean it," Lee softly replied.
Jessica let out a sharp exhale and pursed her lips, her shotgun still aimed at Molly's back for a few more moments before finally pulling away, aiming up towards the sky, "Okay! You keep your guns holstered and we can keep this friendly!" Jessica announced, filling the group of four with deep relief.
Kenny got back into the car and pulled it forward while Sarira approached the women along with Lee and Molly, "Thank you very much, I promise, you won't regret this, we really are good people," Sarita assured the woman,
The woman took a step back towards her porch and narrowed her eyes at Kenny who continued to stare at her with a frown, "You're not making me feel too comfortable,"
"Feeling's mutual," Kenny retorted as he motioned to her shotgun,
"Kenny, please," Sarita quickly interjected, "This is her home, we're being the intruders, she has the right to be cautious,"
The five survivors stood for a few minutes in a long silence before Molly finally glanced back at the woman, "So you gonna shoot us or are we going to talk about this shit? Because if it's the former, just fucking do it already, I'm sick of this,"
Jessica breathed out slowly and lifted her shotgun resting it against her shoulder. Both Molly and Lee let out sighs of relief while Kenny and Sarita slowly made their way to their side, "So, you guys want my RV, huh?"
"Didn't know it was spoken for, but if you'd be willing to part with it, we'd appreciate it," Lee replied as he gingerly turned around to face the woman,
"These days, giving up anything for free is like shooting yourself in the foot," Jessica replied while looking over at Kenny and Sarita, "And I doubt I need to explain how difficult working vehicles are getting to come by,"
"We could offer a trade, that way we're all happy," Sarita suggested, "We can offer food, batteries, our vehicle which is working just as well,"
Jessica looked over to the station wagon before glancing around the streets, "We did enough yelling out here that I'm thinking some company will be coming by soon. Let's negotiate in the house," The woman suggested before giving Kenny a hard glare, "But if I so much as see a hand move somewhere by a belt, you're gonna be missing a head,"
Kenny frowned but Lee answered before he could speak, "Fair enough, your house, your rules,"
The group headed up the porch steps and into the household, entering a boarded up living room, thick black drapes covering any sight into the building from all but a few windows which let in light. Jessica immediately brought them into the living room, though as they entered she continued to the far side of the room where a hospital bed sat. She leaned over and planted a kiss on an elderly man's forehead, "It's okay dad, these people seem...well, they didn't shoot at me,"
"So what do they want then?" The man asked in a short wheezing breath,
"They are offering a trade, our RV for their car," Jessica replied as she turned back to the group, motioning for them to sit, "I was just starting to think that over,"
"That m-machine brought me cross country without breaking a sweat, you think I'll just give it up for a - a fucking car?" The father coughed out with a wave of his hand,
"Sir are you alright?" Sarita asked with tender concern,
"He has a lung condition, it isn't killing him but without oxygen he has trouble getting his breath and trouble walking," Jessica explained, "That RV was taking us to DC before we ran out and held up in here about four days ago,"
"What it run outta gas too? Why wouldn't you keep moving?" Kenny asked with a disapproving tone, "Old man coulda just laid in the back, right?"
"He could have, but I actually would like my father to be able to breathe," Jessica retorted, "We stopped here because this exit has a clinic, and we were going to fill up on oxygen tanks,"
"Were?" Lee asked with a raised brow, "What stopped you?"
Jessica shut her eyes and sighed, "I...I don't know,"
"Cold feet? Stagnating?" Molly guessed in confusion,
Jessica took a hard gulp, "No, we're waiting for my boyfriend to get back," Jessica explained, "Why I secured the house for dad, he went off to the clinic to get the tanks,"
"And that was four days ago?" Lee lowly asked making the woman let out a sullen nod,
A loud cough came from Jessica's father as he sat himself up, "And he'll be back anytime now, and then we'll be back on the road. So you four can just beat it,"
"Dad," Jessica chastised while getting up and leading Lee's group just outside of the room, "Look, I'm not stupid, I know he's gone. Four days, out there? Only way he's alive is if he ran off, and I know he wouldn't have done that either," Lee let out a short, understanding nod, feeling the girl's loss on a level even, "You want the RV? Then you need to do something for me,"
"What?" Lee asked back,
"The clinic, I need the oxygen for my father, but I'm not going to be able to get it myself. So you send a few of your people, get me those tanks and...and maybe my boyfriend," Jessica weakly added on, "Get me those tanks and the keys to your car and the RV is yours,"
"What about your dad, old bastard clearly doesn't want you to give us the thing," Molly reminded the woman,
Jessica shook her head, "You're right, he doesn't, but he needs oxygen tanks more than an RV sitting outside," She explained before letting out a frustrated exhale, "And, let's get real, we're not going to be making it anywhere. I can't protect the both of us on my own. The safest thing for us to do is stay here,"
"You could come with us," Sarita offered, "We get the tanks for him and then we all leave for Wellington, together,"
"He won't make any kind of journey," Jessica softly denied, "I appreciate the offer, really, but we're here now, we're relatively safe, and I can stash your station wagon for an emergency escape way easier than that big thing,"
"So that's it then?" Kenny finally asked, "We get the tanks, give you our car, and then we get to roll out of here in that machine all friendly like?"
Jessica nodded, "Yeah, that's the deal, right there. I'll give you folks a minute to think about it,"
Kenny looked to Lee who thought it over for a minute, "I...If we do this for her, getting those tanks is going to be dangerous and I...without my arm, I'll just be a liability in there,"
"That's putting it lightly," Molly agreed while she glanced at Lee's stump, "So I'll go,"
"Alone? Hell no, you just heard what she said about her boyfriend," Lee instantly denied, "No one goes alone,"
"Agreed," Kenny nodded, "I'll go with her, us two, we can move in there quick and quiet. Lug out a few of these tanks for them and then before you know it, we're on the road."
"I can go as well, and-" Sarita began to offer before swiftly being cut off by Kenny,
"Out of the question, you and Lee will stay right here until we get back, end of story, end of discussion," Kenny all but ordered before shutting his eyes, swallowing with a touch of embarrassment, "It's just...safer that way, ya know?"
"I think that's for the best," Lee reluctantly agreed with his friend, understanding the fear he must have been feeling. "Besides, Sarita, we should unload the car and load up the RV in the meantime,"
"Yes...okay, I can see the worth in that," Sarita agreed, looking at Kenny with a comforting smile, "Do be careful, both of you,"
"Be back before dinner," Molly grinned while looking at Lee,
"You better be," Lee said in a serious, concerned tone before weakly letting out a chuckle, "I don't want to have to go save your ass,"
"Wouldn't that be a nice change of pace," Molly easily joked back with him,
Lee stepped into the living room and looked to Jessica, "You've got a deal, where is this place?"
Jessica jumped to her feet, a smile wide on her face, "Thank you! You don't know what this means to us both," She said while moving back to the group, "The clinic isn't far, only up the road a few blocks. It's in the corner building of this strip mall, you can't miss the sign,"
"Alright then," Molly said while pulling up her hood, "Let's move, grandpa,"
Kenny shook his head irritably as he followed Molly out the door, "I told you to knock that shit off,"
Alright, I'll be honest, I gave myself a serious care of writer's block when I added this extra scene during the journey to Ohio. I must have rewrote this chapter six times, changing the plan, character, and interactions everytime, trying to find the right way to do it. This time though, I think I finally got it, and after the next chapter, it'll be back onto Ohio and eventually meeting Walter and Matthew! So sorry for the wait but the next chapter will be up in just a few days, as I have already been working on it and am decently far into the chapter. Thanks for the reviews, and I look forward to seeing what you think of this final product.