I own nothing but Ellie and Gerty
The Broken Group
When she came to, she was laying on a couch in a very cookie-cutter living room. The lights above her still surged with incredible vibrancy even though electricity for most places had gone off months ago. Her head was still foggy, and slightly ached from what she assumed was caused by the fall.
"Ellie." Gerty said, rushing forward and wrapping her arms around her elder sister. "Ellie, I thought you died." She whispered, she sounded as if she was on the verge of tears, but she knew she shouldn't cry. So she didn't. Ellie pushed her back examining the younger girl for any damage that could have been done to her.
"Are you okay?" She whispered, her blue eyes wide, trying to speak so only her little sister could hear. Gerty nodded her head, her own blue eyes darting to the men in door way.
"They didn't do anything to me." She swore, a faint smile on her mouth. "They even gave me pancakes for breakfast."
With a quick blink of shock and confusion, she turned to the men, Rick and Shane. "How long?" She inquired, trying to push herself up.
"Shane, why don't you run to the kitchen and get Hershel?" Rick said. The other man shot him a disgruntled look, and walked past the couch and through a white swinging door. He walked around the couch, sitting on an old recliner next to her and leaning forward, his elbows on his knees and his hands clasping each other. "About a day. Don't worry, we took care of the girl for you."
Ellie smiled, running a hand through Gertys tangled mess. She was in one piece and alive. That was all she needed to know. Gertrude smiled up at Ellie, positioning herself on the floor next to her older sisters feet. "Thank you so much. I don't know what I could ever do to repay this deb-"
Rick held up a hand, stopping me as the kitchen door opened. "You don't owe us anything. We were just helping out." But she wasn't listening, the smell of heaven wafted to her nose, and she let out a content sigh, her stomach gurgling in response. It only reminded her of how hungry she was.
An old man came around the corner, a plate stacked with pancakes and apple slices. He set it on top coffee table infront of her, handing her a fork. She didn't even wait a second before she slid onto the floor next to Gerty and consumed the food with startling quickness. The old man let out a laugh.
"Ellie is it?" He said after a moment, and she puller herself away from the food with dismay. Wiping at the syrup on her cheek, she nodded.
"My name is Hershel Greene, I own this farm that you're on. Rick said his group found you and saved you, but you fainted. Now, your sister says that you hadn't eaten in a few days, and that you hadn't drank anything in a long while." He raised an eyebrow at her, and she gave another sheepish nod. "I'm just a vet, but I know what dehydration and starvation look like when I see it. And that fall gave you a nasty bump on your head. We feared that you had a concussion and wouldn't wake up. We closed it easy, with the use of a couple stitches."
Gertrude nodded, as if to confirm it. "While you were sleeping,"she added almost silently "they gave you water and broth."
Hershel nodded to confirm this. "If we hadn't, you surly would have died. You can't just neglect your human needs, or you will die. And then where will your sister be?"
"I...I don't know." Ellie whispered, her eyes darting around the room. A fresh wave a shame overwhelmed her and she froze. Why had she done something so incredibly stupid?
Because she hadn't wanted Gerty to experience hunger. She was older and stronger, and it had been her job to make sure Gerty was safe and full and hunger free.
"You're young, but not to young to be doing such foolish things. She needs you." Hershel sighed, and then stood up. "I was informed by the others that a tent has been set up for you outside, so you'll be sleeping there tonight. You'll be fine, as long as you keep drinking that water. I'll send Maggie out with some bandages and alcohol to clean your head wound." And with that, the old man turned to leave, heading back into the kitchen.
Rick stood up, his hands in his pockets. "I hope you don't mind, but since you were pretty much out of it, Carol took your and Gertrude's filthy clothes and washed and folded them, with Gertrude's help, of course." He pointed to my bags that were sitting on the floor, the clothing folded and sitting outside of it. "Hershel is being kind enough to let us use their showers, so why don't you take a shower, and then come join me on the porch?" He pointed out the bathroom door, and then he was gone, leaving Ellie sitting on the floor, staring at her pancakes as Gerty shifted uncomfortably behind her.
She took another slow bite out of her food before turning to her sister. "So...what do you think?"
Gerty looked up from the line she was tracing on the floor with her finger, cocking her head in thought. "I think they're good people. The Carol lady...she's was very kind to me, and so were the others. They even gave me candy...and you know how rare that is."
Nodding slowly, Ellie scooped the rest of the pancakes into her mouth, handing the plate to her younger sister and asking her to return it and thank them for the food. She nodded and skittered off into the kitchen. In seconds it was filled with laughter, Gerty's clear bird like laugh twinkling underneath the cracks. With one last look towards the door, she walked forward, grabbing the first pants, under garments, and shirt she could find. She reached for her boots and then made her way to the bathroom.
WDWDWDWDWDWD
It was a godsend. The hot water had coursed over her skin, making her feel that she had never once been clean since this had all started. She couldn't even remember her last real one. It must have been ages ago. The most Gerty and her had done in weeks was run already dirty rags over any body parts covered in blood.
The shower made her almost feel human again. But human blood was something you could wash away, but never truly be rid of.
But once she was dressed in her shorts and yet another ragged shirt, with her boots snug on her feet, she was wishing to still be in there, even though the tub was now ringed in filth. With a deep breath, she stepped out onto the porch, her hair still slightly damp and waving down her back in blonde tangles, and her face pulled into a look of complete concentration. They swept over the layout of the place quickly, landing on the Rick, leaning against the railing, a long, brown haired woman next to him, peering out into a field, where a young boy was sitting with what looked like Gerty.
Ellie's heart swelled with the fact that Gertrude had made a friend. The older sister hadn't seen her so laid back since before the world went to shit. It was a comforting feeling, that their was normalcy in this little farm, hidden from the raging war against the living and the dead.
Walking over slowly, hands tucked into her back pockets, she gave the couple a small smile when they looked over at her. The brown haired woman pushed herself away from the railing, a smile on her face that didn't actually reach her eyes, but still polite as ever, she took a few steps forward.
"So, you're the girl that's been crashing on the couch." The older woman said, that smile looking more strained. Ellie held out a scarred hand, and she held out her own. "I'm Rick's wife, Lori. Here, let me get Carl over here. Might as well introduce you two, so that he doesn't think you're an intruder." She smiled, waving over her son, who walked over quickly, despite the disapproving look of his mother. When he reached us, he climbed the steps uncertainly, darting past me to stand next to his mother.
"Hi." Ellie said, a real smile on her face at the look the boy was giving her. She had always been a fan of kids. If it wasn't for the monsters lurking everywhere, she probably would have had plenty of them. But that was a different time, and now her legs would forever be closed to the reproduction aspect of it.
"Carl, manners." Lori said, a small laugh, she gave a soft squeeze on his shoulder, and he stepped forward slowly, hand out.
"I'm Carl."
"Hey handsome, I'm Ellie, " Her grin widened at his blush, and he looked up at his mother, who was also smiling. Rick reached a hand up patting on his own shoulder.
Lori looked at the watch on her wrist and then sighed, "Sorry, but me and Carl have to go get his medicine. It was nice meeting you. I'll see ya around." She gave one last smile before walking into the house, Gerty gave her blonde sister a quick smile before following them into the house.
Rick pushed himself away from the railing and went to head down the steps of the porch. "A week ago, almost two weeks, Carl was shot, almost died. Ever since, Lori has been incredibly protective. But don't worry, she wont aim for your throat if you make a wrong move. He's not supposed to be running around like that, shouldn't even be outta bed, but dang is he stubborn. Gets that from Lori." He laughed. "So if you see him horse playin, make sure to stop him. He doesn't need to be tearin' those stitches."
It took a second for Ellie to realize the throat comment was a joke. It had been so long since she had real human contact with someone other than her sister that she assumed her ability to understand social interaction was starting to get rather dull. She hoped she wouldn't make a fool of herself, and her stomach clinched in nervousness. She was so easily trusting of them that she felt confused. Her main rule was always be wary. Why couldn't she follow it around them?
"Look, about you being here. The group voted on a temporary stay. Didn't want to put that sweet girl of yours out there. She looks a lot like the girl we lost, so they have a soft spot for her." Rick smiled at her uneasily, testing the waters for the girls reaction. "So you work, and you don't screw up, you can stay. But the moment everything goes sour, you're out of here."
Ellie wanted to hug him, but she settled for nodded and agreeing a thousand times promising a thousand times.
Within a few steps they were upon a fire surrounded by five people, chowing down on something that looked a little to squirly for Ellie's tastes. With a distasteful look, she took a nervous step toward them, right at Ricks side. He cleared his throat, and every gaze turned to her. In her high school days and her college years, she had never been incredibly gifted at public speaking. Once she had actually thrown up all the corn dogs she had jammed into her pie hole right before an important speech. It didn't end well for her. Or the poor kids in the front row.
She felt that same feeling building up in her stomach, causing her to cast a wary glance around the group.That would be a GREAT first impression, she thought, let me just vomit all over them.
Back in reality, she only recognized one face, and it was Shane's. He gave her a warm smile, but Ellie's goose bump shivers went down her back. He stood up, walking over and patting her on the shoulder. "Hey, Killer." He stood at her other side, his hand resting on her upper back. "Has anyone ever told you that you weigh about as much as a full grown bear?"
With a raised eyebrow she looked at him. "Sorry, I guess I'll have to lay off on all the eating I'm doing." This earned a chuckle from him, and her shoulders relaxed. Maybe it wouldn't be so hard getting along with everyone. As long as they're all like Shane.
The rest of the group was a rather odd combination. A black man, a frail older woman, an Asian, and a pretty blonde. It sounded like one of those cheesy, long winded jokes about a bar. They all introduced themselves, being friendly, and asking how her how she was feeling, but that was all they said, before turning back to their meal and conversing softly.
Shane nodded his head, a smile still on his mouth, before going back to his own food.
With a sigh, Rick turned away from the group. "Sorry 'bout that." He almost whispered, putting his hand lightly on my shoulder and leading me towards an RV surrounded by a random arrangement of tents. "The day Carl was shot was also the day Carol's daughter was spooked into running away. She's been lost ever since. Moral has been low, and every one's exhausted from searching. They'll be better in the morning, But still, it'll take some time for them to warm up. Suffered a couple icy glares myself." With a warm smile he led her towards an RV. Climbing down the ladder of it was an older man with a slight pot bellied and an actually attractive, and what she assumed, red necked man, not to much older than herself standing next to it, a cross bow pulled over his shoulder.
Rick called out to them, and the older one waved, but they both walked over, slowly and tiredly.
The older one, Dale, introduced himself warmly, before grabbing Rick by the shoulder and walking towards the fire, inquiring about some part for the RV. It left her and the red neck together, the awkward silence over whelming because neither of the two said anything. She waited, thinking he would, but all he did was stare over at the trees in the distance, fiddling with the large cross bow over his shoulder.
"Eleanor. Well, I prefer Ellie. And you must be?" She said finally, holding her hand out to shake his, his eyes darted back to hers but he only gave her a cold, grey eyed stare, his eyes slightly narrowed. 'okay then' she thought, pulling her hand down and wiping it on her tattered grey shirt, as if that had been her plan the entire time.
"Daryl," The man said shortly , "that's a grandmother name." Was his only response, adjusting the bow on his shoulder, as if he were nervous of Ellie, even though she was barely half his size.
She gave an uncaring shrug, her blonde hair making a halo around her face. "Better than a rednecks name." This called his eyes to narrow at her. Before he could muster up a response, she turned around, walking towards the tents hoping to find a familiar one. "Nice meetin ya!" She called out, waving her hand behind her.
Leaving him staring at her from behind, utterly speechless.
But she was cut off from her thoughts when she rounded the corner, bumping right into Gerty as she poked her head around a tree.
Ellie and the younger sister both let out a dismayed squeak, shoving each other away in shock.
"What are you doing?" Ellie hissed, rubbing at the red spot where her sister had whacked her in the shoulder. For a malnourished 9 year old, she hit with the strength of man.
"Better than a rednecks name." Gerty mimicked in an uncanny impersonation of her sister, her deep blue eyes alight laughter. "You're such a jerk!"
Ellie narrowed her icy blue gaze, frowning at her younger sister before reaching up to pop her on the back of the head gently. "Mind your own business." She turned to stand up and walk back towards the campfire.
Gerty laughed following behind, a skip to her step. "You have always been so terrible at conversation." She giggled.
A small smile almost forced its way onto Ellie's lips. "Remember when I got pulled over for running a stop sign? And tried to flirt my way out of it?"
Gerty laughed again. "You were a horrible driver too."
