Worker72 - That is a really interesting and original concept for Tavia's character but yeah, the focus for Lee will be Carver and having his ex-wife being involved would just add too much to the plate. Cool thought though!
Haldir639 - Glad you've been liking it, sorry for the wait on this one.
Melonkolly2 - Thanks, glad you like it!
Guest - Hope the love continues on to this chapter!
Killernooch - Sorry for the long wait, but here it is!
PrinceDanial19 - I am looking forward to writing some more interesting chapters based on season 2 really soon!
Supernova1219 - As always gotta say thanks for the longer review, it's always a treat to read. I think you'll definitely enjoy this chapter as I tried to focus it a lot on personal interactions instead of an overarching goal they were trying to reach. Lots more wisdom from Sarita and antagonizing banter from Kenny and Molly, haha.
A Good Fan - Thanks a lot for being a fan of my stories, sorry that they take so long to write out but always know I'm never abandoning any of them, I always come to keep going!
Garrus Skywalker - Prosthetic arm is a possibility for sure but it'll be down the line if it were to happen for Lee, so we'll see.
Lady Angel Sanada Doji Date - There will always be more, sometimes just takes a bit haha.
Welcome-to-the-404 - I hope you like the chapter, a big focus is on those duo's interacting with each other so I think you'll like it!
Thedarkpokemaster - Things always eventually have to go wrong, but only time will tell when that finally happens haha.
Smeake - Thanks as always man, sorry to make you wait on this one for so long.
Enjoy
Heavy boots clunked against the pavement as Kenny sprinted up the street, the sun getting ever lower in the sky. The middle-aged fisherman looked around for a moment, sucking in a few deep breaths as he slowed down, in the far distance he could see a few walkers, nothing that worried him. What did allow a mixture of fear and frustration to fill his chest was the absence of Molly. The blonde woman had disappeared only minutes into their run up the town roads, and he had not seen so much as a glimpse of the woman since.
Kenny lifted off his head, wiped his brow quickly, and returned to running up the streets alone, reaching an intersection a few moments later. Crouching down Kenny scanned across the street, his eyes perked to the sight of a strip mall and he swiftly scanned the shop signs until they locked on a building at the edge of the strip, a large green sign on the top read out "Urgent Care" followed by a standard medical logo.
Kenny wet his lips and nodded a few times, "Okay...there's our fucking clinic, now just gotta bust in and -"
"And get yourself killed," Molly suddenly finished for the man making him spin around in haiste, grabbing for the knife on his belt, "Easy Grandpa, it's just me, I went through and did some scouting without your old ass,"
Kenny let out a scoff and shook his head, "Leaving me on my fucking own ain't exactly something I apprciate, Molly,"
"You we're fine, Jesus Christ," Molly retorted with a toss of her eyes, "I cleared the way, notice how you didn't run into any walkers?"
Kenny glanced behind him, now noticing a few walker corpses dotting the street, "Whatever, I ain't gonna argue with you,we got work to do," Kenny rebuffed, forcefully dropping the subject, "That's our clinic, course it ain't gonna be simple, we're gonna be sitting ducks out there while trying to get inside,"
"Uh, I don't know about you, but I'm not walking jimming the front door," Molly easily denied as she knelt down next to the man, "Look through the fucking windows,"
Kenny squinted his eyes and his brow instantly furrowed as the multiple lumbering figures inside the clinic, "Son of a bitch...can't we ever get one fucking break in this damn world?" Kenny grumbled under his breath before finally looking to Molly, "Well, if you got a fucking idea, I'm all ears,"
"Do you ever think for two solid seconds or do you always immediately give up?" Molly sarcastically retorted while kneeling down, glancing up and down the street for a moment, "It'll be a little more involved than I'm used to but...we can do this," Molly murmured to herself. Jutting a finger out, the blonde girl pointed to a semi-truck. The trailer was overturned keeping it in place but the truck itself was in perfect condition, "Remember my trick back in Savannah?"
"Ain't no church bells on a highway exit, Molly," Kenny frowned, blatantly ignoring what she was pointing at,
"Jesus Christ, why did I have to get paired with you," Molly hissed out, "Fucking look, dumbass. The truck, you go over to it and get inside while I head over to the clinic. I'll break the window and get these geeks out on the street, you slam on the horn, get their attention and we both book it. I'll head up that street and up to a roof, you circle back through that alley and work around the block until you're back at the clinic. These things aren't hard to confuse, I never understand why people fucking forget that,"
"That...ain't too bad of an idea," Kenny surprisingly agreed, "Truck would get all the walkers crawling out of their holes,"
"Exactly, now go on," Molly ushered while jumping back up and swiftly making her way across the street and right towards the clinic. Kenny nodded, standing back up and running up the western street towards the wrecked semi-truck. Of course, the middle-aged man only realized one major issue in Molly's plan just as he was reaching the semi. What if the horn didn't work?
Kenny pursed his lips and yanked open the door, climbing up into the vehicle and giving it a once over. Laid over the passenger seat was a deceased man, blood streaked his window and in his limp rotten hand sat a revolver. Kenny eased his hand over in with a yank, and an audible crunch, Kenny pried the gun from the man's hand. He opened the cylinder and spun it, checking each round finding only a single one used. "Poor dumb bastard…" Kenny grumbled out, immediately struck with a mixture of anguish and profound anger, knowing this trucker took his own life.
Before Kenny could continue to process what he was feeling he heard the sound of a window shattering and he looked over seeing Molly slowly backing away in the parking lot as half a dozen walkers poured from the clinic entrance, "Shit…" Kenny growled as he quickly tucked the revolver into the back of his jeans and pressed both hands hard on the horn. To his relief a loud blaring began to echo down the abandoned streets, rousing the nearby dead.
Molly glanced over her shoulder and smiled as she watched Kenny hold the horn down for a few more seconds before jumping from the truck and taking off. "Atta boy, gramps," Molly smiled as she tightened her hold on Hilda and ran off towards the north street. A few more walkers pulled their way out of the clinic and while a majority followed the sound of the horn, a few kept their milky eyes locked on Molly, following her up the road.
Molly wasted no time, however, and after only a few buildings ducked down an alleyway. She made it halfway down and just as her chasing walkers lumbered around the corner she sprinted forward, jumping to the building at her left bouncing off that wall to the right one and in a smooth motion caught herself on a fire escape with Hilda. The petite blonde hoisted herself up and ran up the escape towards the roof while her pursuing walkers slowly lumbered on, wondering where their fresh food disappeared to.
In the meantime, Lee and Sarita waited patiently for the return of their friends, praying everything was going alright. Jessica, meanwhile, decided she had some better use for the pair, seeing as they were the first decent pair of hands she'd seen since holding up in the house. With a thunk, Jessica sat her shotgun down on the coffee table in the mainroom and tied back her hair, "You two mind pitching in on a project while we're waiting?"
Lee looked at Sarita silently before returning to Jessica with a slight raise in his brow, "What kind of project are we talking about here?"
"I've done everything I can on my own when it comes to fortifying this place for me and my dad but it's not enough," Jessica thoughtfully explained while motioning at the duo to follow her into the kitchen, "When Alex got back we were going to do another pass fixing the major weak spots but...obviously he's not here," The woman hardly finished as the reached the kitchen downing a large bay window, "As long as that window is open, I'll never feel safe in this place,"
"I can imagine I'd feel the same," Sarita murmured in agreement, "What can we do to help?"
"Well, I measured it all out, and this dining table is a perfect way to cover it," Jessica said, giving the thick hardwood table a small pat, "You two give me a hand putting it up and nailing it in?"
Lee let out a nod and stepped forward, "Sure, let's get this up," Jessica hesitated as Lee moved to the other side of the table to lift. The former professor tilted his head and looked at the woman in confusion, "What?"
"No offense pal, but...I was thinking she'd help with the table and you could hold it in place while we get it nailed in," Lee took a small step back, "Not trying to offend you, but...considering your situation, you're more likely to hurt yourself doing this," Lee lowered his head, staring down at his stump for a moment before silently nodding in reluctant agreement,
"I forget sometimes that I...can't do the things I used to," Lee lowly stated as he and Sarita switched positions, "I still wonder if I'm any use at all without my other hand,"
"Just because you can't do things physically does not for one moment mean you have no use," Sarita immediately grunted as she and Jessica began to lift the table, carrying it over to the window and flipping it on it's side, covering the opening. Lee moved over to the center and rested his back against the table, keeping it in place, "Some of the most important and influential people in the world changed everything without ever having to lift a hand. They used their words. They inspired people. Led them. That is much more important than any simple task,"
"She's got a point," Jessica nodded, grabbing a hammer and nails, and quickly beginning to hammer the table in place,
"I know that, but the world is different now," Lee pessimistically reminded the duo, "Words only get you so far, what gets you further than anything else is a gun or an axe,"
"I disagree," Sartia thoughtfully stated as she and Lee stepped away, letting Jessica finish nailing the table in place, "The only way things will get better is by remembering how our world used to work. People get desperate and act out but that's only for a time."
"It's true, look at yourself right now, I had a shotgun to your head only thirty minutes ago. If it wasn't for you two...let's say it might have gone a different way," Jessica added while yanking the table legs off, and tossing them too the ground,
While Lee couldn't help but feel a bit worried over Jessica's omission that he'd probably be dead right now if he hadn't reached an accord, Sarita was smiling ear to ear. "Being human, starting a dialogue, it's the most powerful tool we have. Once we reach Wellington you'll see, you'll see that once people are back in a civilized world that words have more power than ever before,"
"I hope you're right," Lee nodded back, giving the Indian woman a small uncertain nod. With a final few wacks, Jessica put the hammer down on a counter and turned back to face Lee and Sarita, "Appreciate the help, feel safer already. Just need to light the candles and get the fire started in the fireplace,"
"We can help you with that too," Lee offered, heading back into the living room with Sarita and Jessica right behind him.
Meanwhile, Molly ran and hopped along rooftops for a few minutes until she reached the strip mall. With another few skips she reached the edge of the building right above the clinic. Peering out she could see a mini herd of the dead crowded around the semi-truck shuffling their way up the street and away from the clinic. Glancing down she smirked as she saw Kenny glancing around, a small half pace in his step, "Where the hell are you, Molly?" Kenny grunted under his breath,
Molly swung herself off the roof, catching the edge with Hilda, hung her body low and let go, landing lightly behind the fisherman. "Nice work, I guess you're not totally useless," Molly announced, causing Kenny to jump.
Spinning around he yanked the revolver from his belt, though Molly smoothly slapped his arm away, an annoyed look now resting on her face, "Jesus Christ, don't fucking sneak up on me like that. We just got this whole part of town moving!"
"Relax, the plan worked, keep your gun in your pants and let's get these tanks," Molly retorted as she turned and stepped through the now broken panel window. Kenny let out a sharp exhale and tucked the revolver away, following Molly's lead.
Room by room the duo worked their way through the clinic, seeing it mostly tossed and in a wrecked state. Regardless of being there for the oxygen tanks, that didn't mean either were going to miss anything important that they might need down the road. "Ought to give these to Lee once we're back," Kenny softly said to Molly as he held up a bottle of antibiotics that he had luckily found in the mess on the floor in the third treatment room,
Molly held up her hand and caught the bottle as Kenny tossed it over to her. She tucked it into her pack, along with the few bandages, suture supplies, and two mini packs of painkillers. "These are good but if we don't find those tanks soon we're shit out of luck," Molly reminded the man as the continued through the building,
"Let's not start pissing in the pot just yet, storage room is this way," Kenny replied, shining his flashlight at the labeled wooden door, "Still shut, might be a good thing,"
"Or bad, who knows what's behind it," Molly murmured back, taking out Hilda once more. As the duo reached the door, Molly glanced behind them catching sight of the backdoor propped open. With a frown she walked over and swiftly kicked the brick keeping it open out of the way, letting it shut, "That's asking for a geek to get up behind you,"
Kenny gave a quick nod before looking at the storage room, "Are you ready for this?" Kenny asked as he took up position next to the door,
"As I'll ever be," Molly sarcastically replied.
Kenny gave the handle a twist and was minorly relieved when it turned, the door however did not budge. He gave the door a firm shove with his arm, feeling a little give but still resistant to open, "Damn it, it's blocked up. Hang on, I got this," Molly readied her weapon as Kenny stepped back and with a grunted shout slammed his boot against the door. A filing cabinet toppled over and the door flung open.
Molly stepped forward, pick in hand while Kenny shined a flashlight inside the room. The pair were surprised to see nothing lumbering inside, no scent of rotting flesh, in fact there seemed to be nothing at all, "Looks alright, unless somethings got it pinned down," Molly suggested to Kenny as she began to relax,
"We woulda smelt it by now," Kenny reminded the girl as he glared his flashlight around before letting out a smile. The beam landed on a cluster of eight tanks strapped on a flat cart, "Bingo, now we're fucking talking,"
"Good, grab the fucking cart, I'll take a look around for anything worth while, then we can get the fuck out of this shithole,," Molly smiled as she and Kenny stepped into the room.
Taking two steps into the cramped storage room the pair froze in place, a crackle of a dry weak voice called out from the far corner, "Jess?"
Back at the house, Sarita began to hang heavier sheets over every window, making certain that any passing roamers wouldn't notice the flickering of light and come to investigate. Jessica filled the fireplace with more wood and brought over some more remaining logs from the back deck. Lee, in the meantime was attempting to light the candles in the house but unfortunately the lighter Jessica lent him was now completely out of fluid, "Shit…" Lee breathed out as he dropped the lighter onto a end table, "Sarita, I'll be right back, gonna go grab a lighter from the car,"
"Okay, give me a holler if you need me," Sarita warmly offered as he headed out the front door.
Lee took a moment, scanning the darkening street for any roaming walkers, and luckily, all was quiet. Moving to the station wagon Lee pulled open the passenger door and get inside, shutting himself in. He pulled open the glove box and began to dig around inside, knowing he had seen Molly messing with a zippo lighter earlier that day. It only took a few moments before Lee found the lighter but also a family photo of the stranger and his family. Lee swallowed hard as he stared at the photo, the smiling faces of the two kids and loving wife, how normal they all seemed, how happy.
"This was our car…" A voice suddenly said, causing Lee's eyes to shoot up, catching sight of the rearview mirror where he found the stranger sitting. His face was ghostly white, his neck bruised and a single gunshot wound still sat apparent on his forehead. "Tess was so happy when we picked it out...a true family vehicle," The stranger thoughtfully continued,
Lee glanced over his shoulder, finding the backseat empty but when he looked back to the mirror the stranger reamined, his dark eyes staring back at Lee, "You're not here...you're dead,"
"And whose fault is that?" The stranger merely replied. Lee shut his eyes, trying to force the phantom away but he continued, "We both know what kind of man you are, and what you've been thinking since our friends left,"
"I haven't thought about anything," Lee sharply replied before shaking his head, scolding himself for even replying to this mirage of a man,
"Even if they don't find the oxygen you're taking the RV," The stranger continued, "I know you've thought about it. I've seen the way you looked at Jessica...she's weak...trusting...all you'd have to do is get her shotgun and she'd be powerless to stop you," The stranger frowned, "And you'd do it too, you'd steal from here just to make things easier for yourself,"
"We need the RV, she already said it wasn't going to be used," Lee shot back,
The stranger blinked in silence while dismissively staring back at Lee, "Like how my family wasn't using the food you stole from this car that night?" The man asked causing Lee to shut his eyes once again, "You'll always come up with a way to justify the evil things you do, because that's who you are,"
"I...Kenny and Molly are going to be back with those tanks any time now and once they are this deal will be done and we'll still leave with that RV," Lee stated as fact, "I'm not doing anything wrong…"
"Yet…" The stranger cryptically added, "You must be so eager to get out of this station wagon. It doesn't bother that asshole in the ballcap but you have a hard time living in it. Knowing this was the home of the family you killed,"
"I didn't kill your family…that was your fault," Lee spat back,
"My fault?" The stranger began to growl back, his eyes flaring, "It's my fault that you stole from us?! It's my fault that you took advantage of two helpless parents and their daughter while they desperately looked for their lost son?! A car in the woods, lights on, and full of food and you take everything and that's my fault?!" The man shouted back, "What about your faults Lee? What about what you've done? What about the little girl you were "protecting" and "looking after" huh?"
"Shut up!" Lee barked back, "You're dead, everything that you were is dead. And Clementine is...she got out safe and alive after I saved her from you!"
"Saved her...if that's what you want to keep telling yourself," The stranger scoffed.
Lee pushed open the car door and finally jumped out, spinning around and feeling relieved in seeing the backseat empty. With a few soft panting breaths Lee slammed the door shut and gave a final glare catching the Strangers reflection in the backseat window one final time, scowling at him as he stormed back towards the house.
Back at the clinic Kenny spun around and shined his flashlight into the far corner, his eyes widened as he found a thin, frail looking man propped up against the wall. His skin seemed paper thin, lips cracked, blood smears clinging to his hands and face, and the bottom of his half leg severed off and hastily wrapped up, "Ho-ly shit…"
"What the fuck?" Molly breathed out in shock as she stared back at the man, "Are you...are you Jessica's fucking boyfriend?"
The man painfully swallowed and nodded, "H-Henry...Jessica sent you?"
"For the tanks...she said you left four days ago, figured you were dead," Kenny explained as he took a tentative step closer and looked over the man's stump, noticing the remains of his lower leg chopped off and tossed aside, "Jesus Christ, you got bit?"
"My own fault…" Henry wheezed back,
Molly swung her backpack over and quickly pulled out a bottle of water, "Here...drink something,"
Henry desperately grabbed the water bottle from Molly and chugged every last drop that he could get, letting out a relieved exhale as he finished, "Thank you...I never knew you could be so thirsty,"
"You've been lucky then," Kenny lightly joked as he knelt down and looked Henry over, "You bit somewhere else?"
"Four days with a bite, he'd be dead by now if he was," Molly scoffed,
"Wasn't four, just two," Henry corrected as he scooted himself up. He let out a pained whine and groaned, "I left the back door open so I could run in and run out without any of the deadheads seeing me. Only problem was, a few from the street followed me," Kenny glanced at Molly who gave him a small shrug in response, "Got stuck in here, and figured they'd leave eventually but they wouldn't go. After two days I tried to make a break for it...didn't get lucky. Got back in here, looked around and found what I needed to...to survive until Jess came for me,"
"Don't want to break your heart pal, but she didn't come looking," Molly sighed as she pulled out a pack of painkillers from her pack, "They're weak as shit, but it's better than nothing," Henry nodded and tore open the small pack, swallowing the two pills quickly,
"Shit, so what do we do here? I mean...you got one fucking leg," Kenny pointed out, "And I doubt carrying you is a smart call,"
"I know...I saw that wheelchair over there but...I couldn't get it and I wasn't gonna be able to wheel out of here alone," Henry replied as he looked between the pair, "Could you...help me get out of here?"
Kenny lowered his hand, stroking his chin for a moment as he thought until he looked over to Molly once more, the pair silently coming to an understanding in mere moments, "Hell...can't just leave ya. Molly, grab the chair, I'll help hoss up,"
Molly ran over and pulled over the wheelchair, popping it open as Kenny reached down and hoisted Henry up. The man let out some guttural growling yells as he was pulled over and dropped into the chair. With Henry set Kenny returned to the flat cart of oxygen tanks while Molly began to push Henry's wheelchair, "Look buddy, we're gonna get you out of here but you need to shut the hell up when we're out there. We want to help you but if you start screaming and drawing the dead...all I'm saying is I'm not dying for you,"
"Got it…" Henry nodded with a gulp,
"C/mon y'all, we gotta move," Kenny grunted as he pulled the cart out behind him and led Molly and Henry out of the storage room and towards the exit.
As the trio made their way back towards the house Sarita and Lee got to work unloading the station wagon together, though Lee mainly loaded the RV with supplies while Sarita unloaded the car itself. Jessica chose to keep an eye on the pair, regardless of how well things were going, she was going to be keeping a sharp eye on the vehicle as long as she was waiting on the oxygen.
"Jessica, I was talking with your father earlier, he seems like a remarkable man," Sarita said as she passed Lee over another box which the man had to carefully balance with his one arm as he walked it into the RV,
"He was always a hardworking man," Jessica nodded, "If it wasn't for his condition I'm sure he would have stayed at his sawmill until he dropped,"
"I'm sure, he talks about that job with such passion," Sartia agreed with a warm laugh, "Lee...I'm sorry, I've only just realized that I never asked what you used to do before...all of this happened,"
"I...was a professor," Lee replied with a quick wipe of his brow, "Worked at UGLA for six years,"
"That's amazing, education always struck me as a fulfilling career," Sarita wholeheartedly replied, "Shaping the minds of the future leaders of this country is among the most important jobs,"
"That was the thought when I was getting into it," Lee lightly chuckled only to stop as he saw Jessica step forward with wide eyes,
"Henry?" Jessica softly gasped as she watched Molly, and Kenny returning with both oxygen and her now maimed boyfriend, "Henry!" Jessica exclaimed rushing towards the man, collapsing down as they met at the property edge,
"I'm okay...I'm okay," Henry reassured the woman as she did her best to embrace him, "Just had a little accident,"
"Your leg...I knew I should have sent you with the shotgun," Jessica replied in anguish,
"And leave you and Bill defenseless, hell no," Henry firmly replied, "Besides, this was my fault, through and through,"
Jessica gave her wet eyes a quick wipe and looked at Kenny, "The tanks?"
"Eight full, that pay our way?" The man asked back expectantly. Jessica rapidly nodded and swiftly reached into her pocket throwing the man the keys, "Now we're talking,"
"Stay the night, you've all earned that much," Jessica offered as she took control of Henry's wheelchair and headed towards the house, unable to stop from smiling,
Sarita stepped over to Kenny who began to follow the woman with the oxygen tanks and suddenly embraced him, "I knew you'd return, but it didn't stop me from worrying while you were gone," Kenny fouled up for a moment unsure of how to respond but after a few moments he brought an arm around Sarita and returned the hug.
In the meantime Molly made her way over to Lee, playfully grabbing another box of supplies from his hand, "Need a hand?" The woman asked with a smirk,
"Ha. Ha," Lee sarcastically retorted, "How'd it go out there? You two get along?"
"Ah, he's still a grumpy old bastard, but he can at least take care of himself," Molly admitted as she followed Lee around to the RV entrance, stepping inside,
"Coming from you, that sounds like a compliment," Lee lightly joked as Molly set the box down on the RV table, "Run into any problems other than a legless man?" Lee asked as Molly spun around and rested against the edge of the table,
"Not really, only had to fool a couple geeks to get inside, a normal Tuesday," Molly joked back as Lee brought his hand to her cheek and brushed it with his thumb,
"You cut yourself," Lee softly said as he wiped away some blood, inspecting the slit on Molly's face,
"Busted out a window, piece must have nicked me, I'm fine," Molly scoffed as she crossed her arms and let Lee finish his inspection. The duo went silent for a few moments until they locked eyes, staring at one another as Lee held Molly's face and at once they pushed in and pressed their lips together. Though in mere seconds Lee abruptly pulled away, "What's wrong?" Molly softly asked as the man stepped back,
"I...I can't Molly, I want to, but I can't," Lee hardly replied as he shook his head, "Come on, let's get back inside,"
"Sure Lee...if you say so," Molly reluctantly agreed, disappointment hanging off her every word as she followed Lee back into the house.
The four survivors bunked in with Jessica, her father Bill, and Henry for the night, even being rewarded with a meal of canned ham. In the fully barricaded house they were all able to find a peaceful night's sleep, though while Kenny and Sarita slept close, Molly and Lee stayed away from one another, though this came with much reluctance. Early the next morning Kenny was jostling everyone awake, eager to get back on the road.
"C'mon y'all, got another long day ahead of us, let's get moving," Kenny announced as everyone gathered in the living room,
"Jessica it was an unexpected pleasure, and I hope to see all three of you in Wellington some day," Sarita warmly said as she gave the woman a surprising hug,
"You too, honestly, we lucked out running into you folks," Jessica sincerely stated, "I owe you my father and Henry's lives,"
"Don't mention, you paid us back in full," Kenny assured the woman as he reached into the back of his belt and passed her over the revolver, "Here...I don't know, I just figured...you don't need to run into the same problem of not having enough protection. It ain't much, but I hope it helps,"
"Thank you," Jessica nodded as she took the gun from him, "Well, good luck to you folks,"
"And to you," Lee nodded, "Happy things worked out this way,"
"Us too," Jessica agreed as the group made their way to the door.
With a final wave off, Kenny jumped into the driver's seat of the RV while Sarita, Lee, and Molly loaded into the back. The RV started with ease and Kenny wasted no time pulling it out of the parking lot and heading back down the road, nothing but Wellington on his mind.
Hey all, well after a long break we finally got back on track. I want to apologize for the delay, I suffered a personal loss in the family and it caused some difficulties finding the will to write for a while. That being said I want to give everyone who continues to support the story and reviews it a big thanks as nothing helps keep you motivated like great feedback! Hope you all enjoyed the chapter and in the next one we'll be seeing a big time skip moving us closer and closer to season 2 timeline!
(Updated! Not sure how it happened but the first part of this chapter was cut off when I initially uploaded it, so sorry about that, hope you guys enjoy the extra content in the completed version.)