The funny thing is Doug didn't really have any idea what he was doing, could he take care of a kid? He wasn't really sure but seeing as he was the only one left he figured that he would have to.
It was just him and Clementine. He and Lee had gone to the motel to find Clementine and in the end Doug had to be the one to put Lee down.
Now here he was trying to figure out how to take care of a kid. Did Clementine even like him? He wasn't sure and if she didn't that would make this survival attempt awkward, where would they go? The boat was a bust and without Lee's ingenuity and Kenny's pure determination Doug didn't really have any idea what to do.
Maybe he could look for Molly, maybe he could find some sort of closed community. Not Crawford though, definitely not Crawford. Maybe if he was lucky he could find a farm house or something somewhere that he could keep the kid safe a permanent shelter for them, but for now maybe he should just think of somewhere to keep him and the girl safe for the night.
Several Months Later;
"Doug," Clementine whined, "are we there yet?" Clementine clutched his head and swung her legs as she sat on his shoulders.
"We're almost there," Doug said smiling kindly, "you know you're not very light to kid," he said light heatedly.
Clementine pouted, "Your so mean Doug!" she said that she dug her heels into his chest.
"Ow, ow, ow!" Doug cried in mock pain clutching her legs for emphasis, "Honestly I carry you all day and this is how you repay me? I'll get you to carry me next time."
"Doug no!" Clementine cried quietly as to not alert any walkers.
The two companions lapsed into a comfortable silence, they were almost there, almost to salvation. Only a half a mile or so and after months of eating rats, rabbits, and expired food they were going to make it. This so called promise land may not be the humble Farm that Doug first thought of, but it will do.
"Sanctuary." Doug said breathlessly, "It's beautiful," he grinned, "Clem hop off." she said slouching her off, "C'mon kid race you too the door!" he yelled running up the hill as fast as his chunky legs could carry him.
Clem sprinted past him and banged on the large compound gate, "H'llo!" she yelled as Doug gracelessly flopped next to her.
A woman in a wool jacket poked her head out from the gate and give a scrutinizing glance at Clementine and Doug, she closed the gate and Clementine heard her mumbling to somebody else. The woman came out a second later and gestured for Clementine and Doug to enter.
"Welcome to sanctuary," the woman said in a monotone voice, "I'm Charice. to see if you are fit to stay here you'll have to talk to the big boss," Charice said leading them down the narrow dirt road, to be honest Sanctuary looked rather desolate, seeing as Sanctuary was post apocalyptic village it was rather expected, "the big boss's name is Mr Henry. To stay at Sanctuary you're going to have to fight your case and if it's good you'll stay, if its bad we will turn you away."
Doug looked to Clementine and smiled reassuringly, Clementine at him and smiled back at him with a hopeful look in her eye. Doug nodded his head and patted her ball capped head lightly.
Thee road to Mr. Henry's domain was winding but short so before Doug could come up with a speech on why they should stay they were already being pushed into larger compound.
"You will not speak until spoken, you will not attempt to dispute Mr Henry's decision, you will not attempt physical harm unto Mr Henry," Charice continued her same monotone speech as they passed through the halls of the larger compound, "and once again to reiterate if you do not pass Mr Henry's admittance then you will be property will not be allowed to return." Charice said, not meeting Doug's or Clementine's eyes as she oped the door to Mr. Henry's office.
An elderly man sat at the desk, he looked to be sixty or seventy and he was wearing the ill fitting grey suit, "Hello there children," he said smiling warmly, "I'm Mr Henry Whitmore," his voice was pleasant and have a deep gorge in twang, "now what can I do for y'all?"
"H'llo sir," Clementine said politely putting her hands behind her back and rocking on the balls of her feet in a cute way, "my name is Clementine and this is my friend Doug, we've been travelling for an awful long time and we're looking for someplace to stay. Could we please stay here?" she said sweetly smiling nervously
Doug face drained of colour and tried to apologize to Mr Henry but the old man just laughed, "I like your spirit child," he smiled warmly, "why o'course you and your friend can stay here, make yourself right at home."
Clementine smile the Doug and he smiled back at her, maybe they just found a permanent place to call home.
"Now Charice dear show 'em they'll be staying, and don't forget dinner is at five." Mr. Henry said still smiling warmly and leaning on his desk.
Doug hoped there'd be some warm biscuits and butter, maybe some steamed vegetables, just thing about it made his mouth water. "T-thank you Mr. Henry." he said with a genuine smile, "I really appreciate your kindness."
"Don't worry 'bout it child." he said, "This ain't just kindness you better be prepared to work." Doug nodded and exited the room with Clementine and Charise