Feeling the pressure, Clementine looks back and forth between the two tables before her stomach growls at her to make a decision already. So she did, walking towards Kenny's clique. She noticed Luke pout, then quickly turned back so she didn't catch him feeling sorry for himself. Sarah didn't seem to mind, simply refocusing her attention on Duck across the room. She sits next to Lee and across from Kenny and Sarita, with Duck next to Kenny on his right and Ben on Clem's right.

The group smiles at her, aside from Lee who's got one eyebrow raised as he stares down at his food. "What is this?"

"Peaches and beans. It's all we got aside from liquids." Kenny replies.

"Seriously?" Clem questions, skeptical of the taste as a bit of it pools in her spoon.

"Canned stuff is gold 'round here, man." Ben answers as Kenny slurps down some food.

"Also it's delicious, thank you very much." Matthew adds, rolling his eyes back with a satisfied sigh as he chews and swallows. Sarita eats politely, a far cry from Duck gobbling up portions as if it were the last plate of it he'd ever eat. Clem and Lee look at each other, shrug and take a bite together.

"Mm.." The two moan slowly, officially satisfied.

Matthew smirked at them. "See?"

Clem rolls her eyes playfully while Lee continues to eat. "Alright, you win."

His cocky smirk remains as he takes another bite. "As usual."

"So.. Lee, Kenny once told me that you were a teacher before all this." Sarita says. Lee nods.

"That's true. I taught at the University of Georgia for a while, my hometown. I taught world history to slackers and dopes, and the occasional good kid. I miss it. Grading papers is a lot easier than slashing walkers."

"Dude, that's awesome. Walt's a teacher too!" Matt enthuses. Lee looks over at him with intrigue.

"Really now?"

"Yeah! Except he taught Philosophy." Matthew smiles as he watches Walt in the background cleaning up the kitchen. "He insists I eat while he cleans, and then that I do the dishes when we're done so he can eat. He's a really smart leader."

"Like I said, almost too nice, but it's very welcome." Sarita warmly adds.

"There are times where I wish he was a bit harder on folks, but yeah, we're a tight group." Kenny says.

For a moment the group eats. Eventually, Clem asks a question: "Hey, Ben, can I ask you a question?"

"Is it muscle and growth related?"

"...Maybe."

Ben smiles, shaking his head, his teeth showing. Then he looks more serious as he explains. "When we left with the boat, we went on the water and didn't look back to land. That was until supplies became scarce, purified water, other foods aside from fish, ammo. It turns out water doesn't stop walkers either."

Lee looks apologetic. "Damn. I'm sorry. Maybe we should have made you stay."

"If I had stayed, I wouldn't have met my Sarita. I'm good." Kenny replies, holding his lover's hand. She nuzzles into his shoulders whilst he feeds her.

Ben continues. "It wasn't all bad. Supplies were low and the walkers were annoying, but we were okay. We eventually found an island and spent a while there until we drained it of resources. Then we left and got caught up in a settlement war. That's when we got picked up by the cancer survivors and.. Travis ended up getting killed by their new leader."

Clem sympathetically looks up at him."Was it.. Quick?"

"It was. Still, in his last breath I promised him I'd get stronger, and so over the course of a year I have gotten stronger. I helped build stuff, I made dumbbells from car parts, I jogged on supply runs. And now, here I am." He flexes to emphasize his words as Duck finishes his food.

Kenny chuckles. "From a coward to a regular farm boy. Ain't that something?"

"Kenny!" Sarita scolded.

"What? I'm just teasin'." The other group members share a small laugh as they eat together, a peaceful moment between people who could get used to living like this together. But some of them know that just isn't going to happen without a fight.

Are you going to get me killed too Lee? Like Sam? Or like your wife?

Lee's eyes snap open as Carley's voice fades. He drops his spoon and collects his bowl. "Does anyone want seconds? I'm full."

Matthew looks worried. "Already? Aw man, did you not like it?"

"No, no, it's great. I'm just full is all."

"I'll take it!" Duck quacks.

"Here ya go. I'll be waiting." Lee says, specifically to Kenny, who nods in response. Sarita looks confused as the teacher walks away.

"What did that mean?" Sarita questions.

Kenny looks down at his hands, focused. "You'll see. Finish your food, hun." Clem, Ben, Sarita, Duck, Matthew and Kenny continue to eat until they're done.

Sarah's gawks at the table, hiding behind her sleeve. When Carlos, Rebecca, Alvin and Christa finish their food and take their bowls away, the teenage girl becomes more obvious. "Ducky.. I think you have a little admirer." Sarita draws out the last word, a big grin on her face.

Duck blinks, looking around. "Huh? Who?"

"Oh, nobody." She giggles, picking up both her plate and Clementine's. "I'll take these."

"Thanks, 'Rita." Matthew says.

"It's not your job to bring the dishes to the water, Matty, you still have to wash them." She cheekily replies.

"Yeah, yeah." Matthew gets up with her, following her to the cleaning bucket with the rest of the table's dishes. Kenny looks at Clem in the eyes and gives her a grin.

"Y'all ready?"

"Ready for what?" Nick walks up to the table alongside Luke and Pete, who look more understanding.

"Whenever you are. I guess this is it." Luke sighs, looking down.

"It was nice while it lasted." Pete adds, gripping his chairs arm rests.

"What are you guys talking about?" Nick asks, lost. Kenny walks away from them shortly before putting his hands up and waving.

"Everyone, can I have your attention?" His loud, southern voice echoed through the lodge. Everyone could hear him, so they found him back at the cafeteria and stood before him near the tree. Walter enters with Matthew and Sarita, eyebrows raised.

"What's going on, Kenny? You sharing a toast?" Walt asks, smiling. Walt jumps cheerily.

"Ooh, I'll get the champagne."

Kenny's face becomes more serious. "Sorry, guys, but.. No. We're in trouble."

"What do you mean?" Carlos questions. Everyone who doesn't know looks to be on edge. Lee stands next to Kenny, alongside Pete, Luke and Christa.

"We.. we told them about Carver, and they want to help." Lee answers.

Rebecca looks visibly furious. "You did what?!"

"Relax, it's not a bad thing." Luke clarifies.

"Who's Carver?" Walter asks, his voice shrill.

Christa explains, "To make a long story short, he's the leader of a settlement down south who has a few of our people. He's been chasing the cabin crew and us for five days, and now here we are."

"We can use this place as a fortress in case he comes across us, while another team of people can go to Howe's and take back our friends." Kenny adds.

Nick scoffs. "It's suicide. We're not doing that."

Lee nods. "No, you're not. The cabin group members stay here and defend the lodge with whoever else wants to stay behind. Meanwhile, me, Kenny, Christa and Ben are going to Howe's. I agree, it's too dangerous for anyone else to come. So, that team will do just fine."

"Hold on, you're going to take Duck with you? The thirteen year old? You're gonna take a kid on a mission to rescue someone from Howe's? You're crazy." Alvin shakes his head, ashamed of what this plan was, ashamed of Lee.

"I'm not a kid! I'm capable." Duck barks, folding his arms.

Sarita walks up to her adopted son and boyfriend, upset. "Yes you are. Kenny, what are you thinking?"

"Duck can help. He's a capable boy, saved me from a few jams. I'm bringing him."

"No! He's not like you, we don't know what we're dealing with!" She stabs a finger into his chest. He grits his teeth at her.

"Wait, what about me?" Clem questions, looking up at Lee for an answer. He gets down to her level.

"Clem.. Honey, it'd be best if you stayed here." She sighs, anger coursing through her. "You're.. Capable, but lately everything's been so messed up. I don't want to lose you too."

"Are you fucking kidding me?" She looks into his eyes with fury he's never seen before. Sarah hides behind her dad. "After everything I've done you don't think I'm strong enough to do this?"

"Clem, it's not-"

"After living through my parents' deaths, being groomed and kidnapped,"

"How do you know that word-"

She yells, interrupting him. "I hear you! I hear all of you talking behind my back like I'm still the annoying eight year old who got herself into trouble constantly and depended on you! I'm different now!"

Lee narrows his eyes at her, raising his voice. "You're still a kid. Don't talk back to me."

"I thought Chuck said there were no kids, Lee? Just people. That's what he taught me."

"Don't you fucking talk about them right now, Clementine. Stand down."

"You were going to take Duck over me to save our family!" Her voice rings through the wood throughout the structure. Luke comes up behind her but stops when she continues to speak, everyone else just gawking in shock. Tears begin to flow down her cheeks. "What is wrong with me? What can I do to prove to you that I can fight?" Her voice breaks.

"This is getting out of hand.." Walter gets between both parties, putting his hands up. "Lee, Clementine, please, settle down. Neither of you is wrong or right. We don't have to yell to get our points across. We can take this one at a time and plan it out as a group. No more secrets." The two glare daggers at each other until Clementine wipes her tears away and looks away from him. Luke puts a hand on her shoulder to comfort her.

"It's alright, Clem. Easy." His voice soothes.

"No children, no matter who you are, can go. I forbid it." Sarita adds, sternly standing next to Walter, her eyes firmly set on Kenny. Duck rolls his eyes at Sarita, holding back an insult.

"Dad, I can come, right?" Duck asks, looking up at his father. Duck had grown considerably, had bigger arms and came up to his dad's chest. Kenny sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"..I don't know. No. Stay here and protect Katjaa."

Everyone went silent. Kenny gasped and lowered his head. Not even Sarita knew why his group was silent, looking as confused as the cabin and the rest of the lodge group.

"Katjaa? Who's that?" Luke asks, whispering.

"That.. was his wife." Clem answers, complete silence filling the otherwise booming room. Even the music had stopped playing just a few minutes ago. Lee walks up to Kenny and puts his hand on his shoulder.

"Hey, man.. Let's take a walk, okay?"

Kenny nods wordlessly and the two leave. As they walk, Lee peaks back at Clementine apologetically and sighs. Duck tightens his fists before walking away, just as Ben is trying to console him. He watches him leave to his art station in defeat. Sarita wants to follow Kenny and Lee, reaching her hand out, but ultimately decides it's better to give him space. So, she heads back to her and his room.

"I'm sorry. We can talk about this more tomorrow." Pete says, directed at Walter. Matthew and him nod. The older man is wheeled away by Nick.

"You okay?" Luke asks carefully. Clem turns to him, still wiping tears.

"No.. I'm pissed off." She sniffles.

"I know.. I know." Luke offers a hug and she takes it, fully embracing him. Walt and Matthew approach them.

"Hey, why don't we go outside? It'll help you cool off."

"Okay.."

Luke takes a step away. "We'll be here when you're ready, your sleeping bags upstairs." She nods, so he goes to help Nick take Pete upstairs.

"Should I come with?" Matthew asks.

"Nah, stay here and clean up. Maybe.. Check on the others too?"

"Will do." Matt gives his boyfriend a kiss on the cheek before leaving.

"Come on, this way." Walt leads Clem outside to the cold, windy air. "I'm sorry about that. I used to be a teacher, so I remember what it's like to be caught in the middle of two clique's. I suspect we'll all find common ground soon enough. It may take some time, but that's just how these things work. Everything will be fine." He gives her a happy story book smile, continuing to walk with her. She just listens. "Listen, relationships are like any machine: you don't throw them out when they break down, you get your hands dirty and you grease the wheels! What do you say, will you help me work on them?"

He stops again, waiting for a reply from the unfortunate girl. She finally clears her throat and says, "You're.. You're not mad that we didn't tell you about Carver? Or that you might be in danger."

Walt shakes his head. "Mad? No. Scared? A little. I don't know about this fortress plan of Kenny's, but I'm sure we'll all figure it out by morning." She isn't sure how to respond to that, so she just lowers her head. "Look, they say the world is over, but I'll tell you a secret: It's not." She looks up. "People are more political now than they ever were before. In the end, we can't change the world. All we can do is continue to learn from each other and empathize and use our heads."

He looks upward and smiles. "All war is a symptom of man's failure as a thinking animal." Clementine seems confused, but gets the spirit. "Steinbeck, have you read him?" She shakes her head. "That's alright, my partner Matthew and I have amassed quite the literary collection. We'll get you back to reading soon enough."

"I miss school. Me and Lee used to talk about setting up a classroom somewhere peaceful and going back to school. Teaching stuff, reading, just.. Just like the old days. But.. things changed."

"Well, here you are now. You're safe here, it's peaceful. Is Lee a teacher?"

"Yeah, he taught stuff like social studies before all this. World History, in university."

"Wow. Impressive. I'm a philosophy teacher, also in university. We can co-teach you!" She smiles, feeling better now. He smiles back. "Anyways, the point is, as long as we have our wits about us, we can always make the right choice. Right?"

"Right." She nods at him. Then, as they turn to continue their walk, they hear a shout from somewhere outside.

"Hey! Who are you?"

The pair looked at each other. "That was Kenny.. Stay close to me." Walter puts a hand out over Clem's chest. She gets next to him, sass evident in her face.

"I will." The two walk around the corner and see both Kenny and Lee together, with a red-headed, pale girl just as tall as Kenny holding her arms up. Kenny has his rifle and is aiming at the girl.

"What's going on?" Walt demands to know, approaching the three with Clementine. The woman puts herself against the wall so the group can form fully, all scanning her.

"This girl was looking inside the lodge. I think she's a scavenger, looking to rob us." Lee explains, disdain in his voice.

She went wide eyed. "I ain't here to rob nobody! I- my family is starved out. We have children who need food. I saw your base from a distance and thought it was empty! I swear!"

"Are you okay?"

"Just hungry, like I said. My whole family and I, w-we live down there." She gestures to the treeline.

"Why don't you come in, miss..?"

"Bonnie."

Kenny puts his gun down but keeps his guard up. "Walt.. I don't know. You're just gonna let her in like that? She could be one of Carver's people."

She looks more nervous at the mention of Carver, putting her hands down to hug her cold body.

"We don't know this woman. It's too much of a risk. Unless.."

"Then we'll have to get to know her! Right, Clem?"

"Check her for weapons."

"Alright. Empty your pockets."

"All I've got on me is this here flashlight and a screwdriver." She takes out both briefly and tries to shove them back in her pockets. As she does so, Lee grabs her hand and forces the flashlight out. "Hey! Let go!"

Walt yells and tries to get him away from her. "Lee?! What the fuck?" Lee pushes her away, much to the shock of the others, and looks down at the item. A Howe's Hardware Product is inscripted on the butt of the portable beacon. Lee reads it out and Kenny aims his gun to Bonnie.

"You're with Carver's people after all, huh?" The Florida man questions smugly.

She swallows, backing up against the wall with her hands covering her body."Wait, please, don't shoot me! I know this looks bad, but I don't even know y'all! I'm just following orders!"

"Orders that could have gotten two kids, a man in a wheelchair and a whole lot of innocent people killed? You disgust me." Lee replies, shaking his head.

Her voice breaks, "We aren't trying to kill anyone! We're here to take our group members back home. We trust Luke and Pete and the rest of 'em, we need a doctor with Carlos, and Rebecca's baby daddy is Bill! I'm so sorry for wrapping you up in this, but we need them back."

"I don't think so. Kenny,"

"Whenever you're ready, man." The two nod at each other. Clem watches, ruggedly breathing as she looks between Walter pleading with his hands clasped, Lee and Kenny coldly staring down Bonnie and the girl of the hour crying, hands shaking as she shrinks into the wall.

"Wait, please, we don't have to resort to violence! Don't sink to their level!" Walt raises his voice, his Adam's apple shaking as he was.

Bonnie sniffles, her entire body shivering."I-I don't wanna die! P-please, lord, I'm so so sorry!"

Choices (Lee)

A: Shoot her, Kenny

B: Take her captive

C: Let her go with a warning

Relationships

Relationships (Lee)

Clementine: 8/10 (Lee's lack of faith in her as of late has made her upset.)

Carley: 10/10

Christa: 8/10 (She's fine that you revealed her secret. It was now or never.)

Molly: 10/10

Chuck: 10/10

Kenny: 9/10 (He's extremely happy you were able to trust him with the information about Carver)

Ben: 9/10 (See Kenny's reason)

Duck: 10/10 (See Kenny's reason)

Walter: 6/10 (He appreciated your transparency, but does not like Lee's attitude)

Matthew: 6/10 (See Walter's reason)

Sarita: 6/10 (See Walter's reason)

Luke: 8/10 (He's a little peeved you decided to spill his secret, though he's mostly over it)

Pete: 8/10 (See Luke's reason)

Nick: 7/10 (See Luke's reason)

Carlos: 7/10 (See Luke's reason)

Sarah: 5/10 (She finds you more scary now)

Alvin: 9/10 (See Luke's reason)

Rebecca: 7/10 (See Luke's reason)

Carver: 0/10

((Wondering why Lee is like this? I hope not. Look back at your choices throughout both season 2 episodes and see which ones may have influenced his behavior and actions.))