Author Note: I do not own The Walking Dead or any of it's characters

Axel Dixon and Cath Carver belong to me.

Emily Carver belongs to HiddenTruthandLies2

Chapter 43: Blowtorch

Axel's POV

We approach the train station, as Cath came and walked next to me.

"So what do you think about Christa and Omid?" Cath asked with a happy tone in her voice.

I rolled my eyes and shrugs too. Well, Omid seems okay to me like he's a positive character, but Christa... I'm not sure if I can trust her 100%. She was little cold and little paranoia when we introduced us each other, probably she was little afraid of strangers and it seems like she and her boyfriend has never been in a crew before us. But she still have her eye on us even she saw and know we have a couple of little girls.

"That comedian dude, Omid seems fine to me. But Christa seems to refuse let her eyes from us." I replied as Cath got a questionable expression on her face.

"What do you mean by that?" Cath inquired and glanced at me.

"Eh, Christa doesn't wanna trust newcomers so easily. She might is little paranoia, but not negative like Lilly. So I think you and Clem should... light her up." I stated.

"Oh, okay. But I think she's good. She didn't even tried to hurt us." Cath said.

When we heading to the door of station train, I noticed something on the roof as I stopped walked.

"Hey, look over there." I said as Lee and Cath looking at where I pointing with my finger on the roof.

On the roof, it was white paint message where it said, "SOS Survivors", which someone must have painted and hope the military will found survivors here. But I don't think the military was been here.

"Hmm, seems like we need to be on guard now. I don't think the military saw this message and came here to rescue survivors." I said firmly.

"I think you're right. Let's be careful when we-" But Lee was interrupted when we heard someone's tried to open the door.

It was Clementine and she didn't get the door opened because it's locked. What the hell is she doing without us?

We approached her and Lee say, "You should wait for me before trying to open doors."

"Sorry." Clem apologized and feel guilty for trying to open the door alone.

"Luckily it's locked. We'll get better at working together." Lee stated as I sighed.

"I wish I could say that luckily the door is locked because we're here for search after what we need." I said.

"We'll figure out how we get this door opened." Cath said hopefully.

We started looking around the door until I notice an opened window above the door.

"Hey, the window's open up there." I said as Lee and the girls looked at the window too.

"Maybe I can look in?" Clem suggested and didn't look afraid about her idea, but she wanna help us.

I looking at her and then at the window again. I'm little certain about her idea as Lee approached her.

Cath went to me and say, "So what are we looking after?"

"Well, we need something to cut off that tanker out of our way. With Blowtorch I'd say." I replied and look around while Lee carry Clementine up and put her on his shoulders right he standing right front of the door so the little girl can peek into the window. "Why would you look around in case if there's some walkers or strangers shows up while I go to talk with Lee about how to open the door?"

"Okay, thanks for trusting me to be on watch." Cath said with a grateful smile.

I nodded as I turned around and walked to Lee who still have Clem on his shoulders as I getting wonder if she see something inside of this train station.

"See anything?" I asked.

"Lots of crates and stuff. But it's pretty dark in there." Clem replied.

"What do you think, Lee? Find the key or figure out a way to knock this door down?" I asked.

Lee just looked down while holding Clem's legs in balance on his shoulders. "I don't know. Kenny'd probably have me pick the lock." Lee said as I rolled my eyes.

This pick the lock up again?

"I though you're really bother to his stupid ubar joke." I scoffed.

"I talking about how I opened that slaughter room..." Lee explained and have disgust expression on his face to remind about that bloody room as I got the same expression too. Then Lee's look exchange to normal and looked at the door again.

"What's an "ubar"?" Clem asked.

"Umm, it's you should don't bother about it, okay?" Lee replied.

She doesn't need to know about that word.

"Good point there, maybe... but we sure don't have much time-" I said, but cut off by a sound from

"I think I opened it." Clem said and I saw her arm was reached down into the window. Then I saw Cath approached us and it seems she heard what Clem just said.

"For real?" Lee asked in surprised.

"I think so." Clem said and is very sure about it as Lee put her down to the ground while I trying to open the door and it's opening.

No way. We're lucky now I think.

"Well I'll be damned." Lee chuckled and proud over Clem for a good work to open the door.

"Good work, Clem." Cath said.

"Thanks." Clem said with her smile.

"You are really Chi's sister, even he'd probably smash the door down with his own hands and muscles." I said as the girls giggled.

"I guess his and Clem's ideas would be opposite." Lee chuckled and open the door.

"Let's go. Be careful." Cath said as Clem nodded.

"I'm supposed to tell you two that." Lee said with a smile.

"Well, too late. We thought the same and telling right before you could." Cath said playful as Clem giggled.

"Thanks for your warning, girls but that goes double for you two." I said firmly as Cath rolled her eyes and Lee opened the door.

We walked into the train station and we saw some boxes, crates and stuff as what Clem told us earlier. But then, the door closed itself and which it's so dark inside here.

"Goddamn it's dark in here." Lee said.

"Yeah, I can't even see a damn thing front of us." I said.

"Maybe I can hold the door open while you guys check around in here?" Cath suggested.

"I don't like that. I prop it open with this." Lee said and raise up a wrench from one of his pockets. "Where the hell did get that?" I asked.

"I found it somewhere in the train." Lee replied and laying the wrench on the floor to prop the door so it can't close itself no more and now we can see in here.

"I don't see any walkers or living either. You guys we're clear?" Cath said after have looked around in the train station.

"Too early to say that." I replied as I narrows my eyes around of this room. Then I noticed something behind of bars where right front of the door. I approached and looking through the bars to take closer to the object and then I smiled. "Fuck yeah. Now we're talking."

"What is-" Lee asked, but interrupted when he saw what I found. "No shit. That's exactly what we need."

"Over there?" Clementine asked.

"Is that a blow-thing you mentioned earlier, Dix?" Cath asked as she and Clem is right beside me and Lee, right front of the bars.

Jackpot! Now we have-

But when I was trying to open the gate of bars, it's locked too.

Fuck. What now?

"Why's everywhere is always locked down?" I complained.

"There's some space up there, it look no much, but I think it is enough for me and Clem." Cath said and pointing her on the gap above the bars. "I guess you'd boosts me or her up to get to the other side of the bars and open up the door."

Hmm, not bad idea. I aiming my eyes at Clem and then Cath. I think Cath would do this time because Clem have already a good work with that door.

"You're sure you are ready for this?" Lee asked.

"I am. For anything." Cath said and so confident.

"Okay then, come over here so I can boosts you up." Lee said as Cath approach him and he carry her up. He place her feet on his shoulders as Cath start reach to the gab and crawling through. Then she landing down on floor.

"Good, grab the keys over there and open this door." I said as Cath nodded, but then she wide her eyes in chock and horror. "Cath?"

Cath grab her gun as I wide my eyes too.

Why did she grab her... wait a minute... then we heard someone sighed, but it wasn't one of us.

"Guys, behind you!" Cath yelled as we turned around and see there was two walkers shows up from nowhere.

One of them has already grab my arms as I struggling with that rotten as Lee was going to shot that walker, but the other one attack which he lose his grip of his gun and drop it away.

Fuck! Where's these comes from?!

"Lee...! Need little help here!" I exclaimed.

"Little busy here!" Lee shot back and struggling with the other walker.

Clementine was running to the door and grab the wrench. She gave the wrench to Lee as he notice and accepted. He punch the walker away from him and then he hitting the head with the wrench twice until the walker collapsed down.

"Stay right there." Lee said to Clem and went to me and the other walker who trying to get over me.

Lee hit on the head and the walker leaned away from me as I getting up now. I grabbed my crossbow and stomp om the head with crossbow's tiller three times quickly before the walker could stand up on feet.

Oh man. What a bunch of surprises in this damn place.

"Man, that was close. Thanks, Clem. You saved us." Lee said grateful to Clem who still look nervously and looking at someone as I and Lee did too.

I see Cath holding Lee's gun and aiming at the walkers, her was little nervous. Not much like Clem. I approached her slowly and waving my hands up.

"Hey, it's okay. Cath, just lower your gun now. They're dead now." I ensured her as Cath lower her gun down but after a couple seconds, we heard another sigh-sound again and we already assumed it was another walker.

One more? This time, it will go so fast before anyone... SHIT!

We getting panic in horror now when we saw the walker came out of the shadow among empty shelters, behind of these bars where Cath is alone with that monster on that side.

"Keys! NOW!" Lee demanded as Cath went to the walls where the keys is there and grab it.

I raise my arm through the bars as Cath give the keys to me and I accepted. I turn the key on the lock and opened the door quickly as the walker limping to Cath. I starting aim at the walker with crossbow and-

BANG!

A gunshot appear and the walker got the bullet into the head.

What the?

It collapsed down as I, Lee and Clem look wide our eyes and turned to Cath who still holding Lee's gun and aimed at the walker.

Did she shoot... that thing?

Cath look shock and surprised that she got the walker. This is actually the first time she killed a walker.

"I... got it." Cath said and looked at the walker.

"Yeah, you really did. Jeez, I was really worried about you when you were stuck alone with that fucker behind of these bars." I said as I looked at the walker and turned to Cath. "Are you okay, Cath?"

"I'm fine... just little shock that I killed a walker for a first time." Cath replied and walked to Lee. "Here, sorry for borrow it without ask you."

Lee accepted as he looking at Cath worried and proud too. "Don't say that. You really needed it when it comes emergency." Lee said.

"That didn't go so good." Clem said who was behind Lee and still look little frightened, but getting calm down now.

"No, it did not go so good. But we're okay. Everything's okay." Lee ensured Clementine as he placed his hand on her shoulder and she smiled then.

"What's going on? We thought we heard a gunshot." We heard someone called to us from outside as we recognize it was Carley's voice.

She must heard the gunshot when Cath shot that walker.

"We're okay." I replied as Carley opened the door and she's with Christa and Emily.

The three came in and look around, looked at the walkers. "We found some walkers." Lee explained.

"Are guys really okay?" Emily asked.

"We're fine, don't worry. And guess what; Cath shot one of them, over there." I replied and pointing at the walker behind of bars.

Emily wide her eyes in surprised and looking at Cath then. "How're you feeling, Cath?" Emily asked and looked little worried if killing a walker for the first time would affecting inside of people and then change.

"I'm fine, just... feel little exhausted now." Cath replied her older sister's question.

"Me too." Clem said.

Then Christa approach us with a skeptical look. "You two, a man and a teenager with a ten-year-old and an eight-year-old girls versus three of them, huh?" Christa said and placed a hand on her hips.

What's that supposed to mean? Of course we versus them and took 'em down.

I narrows my eyes as Lee did same. "We handled them." Lee said icy.

"Yeah, it seems like it. What if y'all hadn't?" Christa said sarcastic as I widened my eyes surprised and feel insulted by her words.

"What? You think they'd got us easily?" I scoffed sarcastic back.

"No, it just-" Christa shot back with a surprise look, but interrupted by Emily. "Let's go back to the train and make sure the gunfire didn't attract anymore of those things." Emily said and don't want anyone to fight about my and Lee's actions with the girls.

"She's right. We have already enough today." Carley agreed.

Christa looking at Emily and Carley with a disappointing glare, but she release an annoying sigh out of her mouth.

"Once we got the tanker out of our way, we'll gonna eat a lot of fresh apples that I picked a few days ago before the raid." Emily stated as Cath and Clem shares their smiles to each other and to Emily too.

Great, I wonder when was the last time I eat apple.

"Don't wait too far, guys." Carley said as she, Emily and Christa start walk away from us to the door, but Christa stay behind when the others walked out.

She looking over her shoulder at us with a glare as I narrows my eyes. "I hope you both know what you're doing with them." Christa said.

I wide my eyes and feel my blood's boil by her attitude.

"We're still alive, aren't we?" I replied coldly with an angry tone in my voice.

"Yeah, y'all are." Christa said sarcastic and walk away through the door.

Lee shook his head, he feel insulting too by Christa's attitude, but he turned around and walking to the blowtorch.

What the hell is wrong with her? Honestly, first she were skeptical at us, and now she started criticize our actions.

Lee came back to us while carry the blowtorch.

"Heavy is it?" I said as Lee chuckled.

"He, he, you want hold this?" Lee offered.

"No, no, no, you should carry this because you're a strong man." I declined playful.

"Oh man, Dix. You sounds like Chris when he teasing our stupid dad." Cath said as I rolled my eyes.

"Well, you're your brother up to the day." I said back and referred how she got that walker just like I teach Chris how to use a crossbow to hunt an animal and he already got a deer with his first shoot.

"Come on, let's go back to the train." Lee said while carry the blowtorch and went to the door, but stopped walking when he decide to tell something to Clem and Cath too. "What did we learn today?"

"Well, I'm not ready for a gun yet." Clem said and feel little shame for not being a good help as Cath placed her hand on her friend's shoulder.

"Relax, you will be soon." Cath ensured Clem and looking at Lee then. "For me, I know everything isn't easy."

"What we learned is not to be afraid. They should've gotten us, but we got them." Lee explained.

"And, our fear keeping us safe like we always worry about dangerous things. We fighting against our fear along with walkers." I said.

The girls nodded us and understand what we mean. Then we start to get out of train station and walking back to the train.

Back to the train

We four heading to the train as our people noticed us and looking at what Lee carry with his hands.

I see Omid came out of the train as the girls went to Chuck who still playing with his guitar. They wanna listen his melody songs. Then I looking at Christa who sitting on her spot next to Carley and Emily.

Let's find out what's her problem.

I approached her as she, Carley and Emily noticed me. "Hey, Christa?"

"Yeah?" Christa replied.

"About in that building; We were just trying to help Cath and Clementine get more used to being on their own." I explained.

"So you and Lee take them into a dark, boarded up building to build character?" Christa scoffed as I give her an intense glare.

"Not exactly, but it wasn't many options to where they'd learn than that building or here and do nothing than just sitting to chat with you three. Everything isn't getting easier." I said.

"I think that it's a good idea; helping em figure stuff out and taking care of themselves, for what it's worth at least. But you guys should be smart about it, you know? Teach em to scan the area for things; you all shouldn't ever being looking in the same spot, that's a waste. Stay the hell away from places like that building back there, especially when you don't have more than one way to get out." Christa said and giving some advice to me as I nodded. "And be more afraid of groups of the living than the dead."

"Everyone knows that, but what do you mean by that?" I inquired as I crossed my arms.

"What I mean Omid and I are still alive because we are only two people. Not four, eight or ten. I don't believe in strength in numbers, and you shouldn't either." Christa explained correctly which I sent a disgust glare to her. "Don't being barbarize." I said icy as Christa widened her eyes.

I shook my head. "And don't act like that you and your boyfriend are the last Eva and Adam in this dead world." I criticized her philosophy of being alone with her boyfriend.

I walk away, but I already noticed Christa sent an intense glare to me while Carley and Emily who look little shock for I snapped at her.

I saw Lee have already climb up the ladder while holding the blowtorch with just one hand as Doug and Omid was right behind him. Maybe I should go up and see if the blowtorch will really working on.

I walked to the ladder and start climbing up the ladder.

When I was on the top of the underpass, I saw Lee placed the blowtorch down next to the wreck. I approached them and stand right beside Omid and Doug.

"So, you like Civil War as your lady down there mentioned me, right?" I asked as Omid smiled and nodded. "Fuck yeah I do! I'm glad to meet some people who understand me!" Omid exclaimed happily. "What about you?" Omid asked to Doug.

"Ehh, no, sorry. I'm honestly expert on computer and doing some things in my own way." Doug replied but even his answer, Omid widened his eyes and looked interesting. "No shit! You know computers?" Omid exclaimed happily.

"Yeah. Inside and outside. I wish I could make an info about civil war on a computer if there is still network which there is no more." Doug said and rubbed his neck.

"If you want some service from me, I used to be history teacher in UGA." Lee said.

"Really? Awesome! You know anything about Quantrill's Raid?" Omid asked so eager with happy tones.

What a history fan club right here now.

"Well, I know that it happened about a thousand miles down in that way." Lee replied and pointing to the west as Omid nodded. "And we're heading the other way. But, if it's somehow crawling filled with the dead, there should be cool things to see there."

"Excellent! Just... don't tell Christa, though. That won't be as big a selling point for her." Omid agreed and have a worry expression on his face.

"No problem with that. Secrets would be a payment enough to her." I mumbled and referring Christa's stupid philosophy.

Lee chuckled and unwraps the hose from the tank and twists the valve to switch it on. But when he did it, there was no fire from the hose. What the hell?

"Shit." Lee mumbled. "What's up?" Doug asked.

"The horse has a leak in it." Lee explained the problem which it made Doug and Omid looked panicked now.

"Oh shit!" Omid exclaimed in horror. "Turn it off! Quickly! It might gonna explode!" Doug exclaimed and raising his arms up to defend himself.

Lee switch the valve to turn the blowtorch off.

"Man, that was close before our eyebrows would've burns up" Omid huffed.

"Or worst, we'll probably be explode into pieces." Doug said as Omid gulped.

Wait a minute. I think I have something in one of my pockets. I approached Lee.

"Here, this might will help." I said and brought up a duct tape from one of my pockets.

I bend down and applied with the duct tape it to the hole in the hose. "There we go. Try again." When I was done, I stand up on my legs as Lee grabbed the horse and switch the valve to turn it on again. Now a flame comes out of the hose.

Great! Now we'll talking!

Lee holds the horse directly onto the coupling, causing sparks to fly out from it.

"That's crazy, look at it go." Omid said and look very impressive.

He, he, yeah it is crazy. But I wonder what if the tanker will explode when it landed on the ground.

"Just little... more..." Lee said while he looking away and eyes closed so he will not get any sparks into his eyes.

Suddenly, the trunk started shift and rolled as Lee didn't noticed.

SHIT!

"LEE!" I yelled as Doug and Omid rushed and pulls him away from being hit by the truck.

Whoa, that was close. If they didn't pulls him away he would have knocked off the edge.

"Whoa... thanks, guys." Lee said and look shock.

"No sweat, man." Omid said.

"No problem. We got watch our backs each other." Doug said and looking at the wreck. "Hmm, it seems like the coupling little far from us now. I don't think you can reach it from here."

I sighed and looked down to think. Well, if we can't reach it from here, how we gonna finish the cut from here...?

Then Lee looking at Omid and holds the hose in front of him.

"Here. The weak portion of the coupling is out of any our reach." Lee said.

"You think it'll be within mine?" Omid said doubtfully.

"Heh. No, but I'm gonna dangle you over the edge." Lee chuckled as we widened our eyes by his idea.

Wait, what?

"Whoa, hold on there. You gonna really doing that?" Doug said and have a shock expression.

Yeah, that sounds crazy. I looking at the wreck then. Well... what do we have another idea than his?

"Have you a better idea? I'm sure you're not the type that I can not hold you longer than this lightest one." Lee said.

"The hell I am." Omid complained with an intense glare, but not hostile. But then he noticed we staring at him as until he sighed and accepted the hose from Lee. "Alright, let's end this show."

Omid standing right on the edge as Lee holding his hand so hard while the comedian start to dangle over the ledge with the torch in his other hand to the coupling. Then sparks appear again from it.

"God, you're a real son of a bitch, aren't ya?" Omid criticized Lee and his idea.

"Shut up and start cutting." Lee scoffing.

I rolled my eyes and Doug shook his head while smiling. What a crazy day. Once we got this tanker off-

"Guys?! There's something coming!" Ben shouted out and saw something far away from us, behind the train.

As I and Doug start looking what Ben talking. We widened our eyes in shock.

HOLY FUCK!

We saw hundreds or thousands of walkers heading for the train. Jesus, I have never see them so many.

"Oh my god! There's SO many of them!" Doug exclaimed in horror and surprised.

"WE GOTTA GO!" Ben yelled as he start running and jump down off the top of the boxcar.

"Kid's right! Hurry up to cut off the coupling!" Doug exclaimed.

"I AM! I AM!" Omid shot back and still cutting the coupling with the blowtorch while Lee holding him.

"Less talking, more cut, guys!" I exclaimed strictly.

I saw our people start rushing to the train. Hurry up, guys. We will be fucked if walkers get to the train.

"I'm going down to the others." Doug said and rushed to the ladder to climb down.

Suddenly, the tanker fell and hit the rail yard at last, but it move away out of the way to... SHIT!

"Doug! WATCH OUT!" I yelled out as the tanker slammed the ladder and the underpass shaking little.

"Doug!" Emily yelled from the boxcar.

I looked down to the ground ans saw Doug lying on the ground as Emily and Carley came out of the boxcar and help Doug to get up on his legs. Then they get back to the boxcar with Doug.

"Shit! Is he okay?" Omid asked and looked worriedly about his new friend.

Good question. All we know he didn't get smashed by the tanker. Thank god.

"Let's deal with this later." Lee said and looked down at the train. "Kenny, GO!"

Kenny heard him and start the train. When all of our group except me, Lee and Omid were in the train now and it start moving now. Then I almost forgot already that the ladder is broken and we can't climb down anymore.

"Shit! What the hell do we do now?" Omid asked.

Then I noticed the diesel is leaking through from a hole of the tanker. I looking at the blowtorch and thinking now. Hmm, maybe it sounds crazy, but let's hope it will slow those stubborn monsters down.

"Hope they like this piece of cake." I said and kicked the blowtorch off the edge.

"Holy crap!" Omid exclaimed.

The blowtorch landed on the puddle of diesel and then flames appear immediately.

"Risky, but smart there." Lee said as we three running to the other side of bridge and sitting right on the edge.

Okay, now here's coming to this funny way.

"Jump!" Lee demanded.

"What? No wa-" Omid replied, but cut off when I jumped off the bridge and landed on the top of the boxcar. "Holy shit, kid!"

I turned around and yell, "Alright, your turn, guys! Just bend your legs down when you landing if you don't wanna break your legs!"

Lee nodded and jumped off the bridge. He landed on the boxcar the same way I just did. Then Omid follow after us to jump off the bridge. When he landed, I saw his right leg broke it as some blood appear from it. He cried out in pain and feel off the boxcar.

Damn it.

"Oh my god! Omid!" Christa gasped in horror and she jump off the train to help her boyfriend.

Lee and I swung inside in the boxcar from the roof and stands by the door-side.

We saw Omid and Christa headed back to us fastest they can, but Omid doesn't seems good because of his broken leg which he just limp after us, the train.

When they were close to us, I reach out my hand for Christa as Lee did same to Omid. They grabbed our hands and pulling them into the boxcar with us. We laying on the floor now and take some breath now as the others came through the door.

Man, that was close.

"You guys okay?" Carley asked as she, the girls, Emily and Doug approached us.

"We're fine." Christa said as I take a look at the herd and the tanker.

I see it's fire and so much smoke appear from it. Some of walkers are still heading to us, most of them are attracted by the tanker.

"That was a lot of them." Omid huffs.

Then I take a look at Christa as she noticed. "What did you just said? "Don't believe strength in numbers", how come you still breath without us?" I scoffed and referred to save her and Omid.

Christa give me a glare, but she looks ashamed now.

"What was that about?" Omid asked curios.

"Nothing." Christa mumbled and don't wanna argue about it.

"Is somebody is hurt?" Cath asked as she and Clem looked worry now.

"No, we're fine." Lee ensured the girls.

"Speak for yourself, my leg is fucked." Omid said with annoying glare.

"Well, my arm is broken too." Doug said.

"How this happening?" Lee asked as he and I looked shock after we saw Doug's left arm is wounded just like Omid's leg.

Jesus, I guess he didn't landed pretty well.

"Here, let me see how bad is it." Emily said and bend down right next to Omid and check in his wounded leg.

I leaned behind against the wall and take a breath. I hope we'll get to Savannah peacefully right now.

To be continued

A/N: Pheeew, that was close for Doug from being smashed by the tanker, but he didn't landed so good. Now the group have two wounded men than one.

I chose to help Omid.

One chapter left of this episode.

Letter Hacks:

Soon we will meet two more OCs in Episode 4.