A Second Chance

Chapter 7

"Ah!" I grunted, squeezing my eyes shut in pain.

"I'm sorry, Lee. I'm going as fast as I can…" Katjaa apologised, applying disinfectant to my bleeding gunshot wound.

"It's fine.I just- AH!" I shouted, feeling the bullet being drawn from me.

"Sorry…Sorry…" She repeated. "So, how's things with you and Carley?"

"It's great. It's not the time for romance but it's going pretty well." I replied, wincing as she dabbed the blood away with cotton wool.

"Well… You seem to be really hitting it off." Katjaa smiled, wrapping my side tightly with bandage. "Okay… I think I'm done."

"Thanks Kat. I really appreciate this." I said, sitting up and touching my ribs tenderly. The RV's seats were never the most comfortable place to lay and, to add to my pain, my back was hurting. Katjaa had made the RV into a mobile surgery, using it when we needed it.

"No problem, Lee. Can't have Clementine seeing you in pain now, can we?"

"I guess not…" I replied, I was about to stand when she stopped me.

"Take ten minutes to rest. Give the painkillers some time to work." She said, smiling as she walked outside. We were nowhere near getting that train working. We'd been there a day and had already met Chuck.

"Hey…" I heard. Looking up, I saw Carley in the doorway. It was the first time we'd spoken since we pulled away, taking Lilly with us.

"Hey." I replied, pulling my blue shirt back on.

"How's that feeling?" She asked, sitting beside me softly.

"It could be worse. How's bump?" I asked, wincing as I stretched my side.

"It's fine." She replied, sitting back. She rested her hand gently on her stomach. "I never said thank you…"

"You don't have to. Either I got shot…or you died. No choice really." I shrugged, placing my arm around her shoulders.

"Still, I knew what would happen. I'd have dodged it." She said, raising her eyebrow in a scolding manner.

"Hey! You were all hormonal! You might've forgotten! I couldn't risk losing you or the baby!" I defended. Her eyebrow came down and her expression softened.

"Still, you stupid man, you could've been killed." She sighed, hugging into me.

"You're probably right." I laughed.

"Of course I'm probably right!"

"Wanna go outside?" I asked, standing hesitantly. I winced again as I steadied myself.

"Sure." She replied, taking my hand and walking out of the open door.

Outside

"Hey! The wounded soldier returns!" Kenny shouted, seeing me limp over.

"Shut it…" I mumbled, sitting on the log we used as a bench.

"Jesus! We've got a badass over here!" He laughed.

"Har-dee-har." I grumbled, cranky from pain.

"Anyway…" He started once he recovered from his laughter. "I need to talk to everyone about something important."

"What is it, Ken?" Carley asked, plopping down beside me.

"Well… I found this back at the motor-inn." He said, producing a long, white rod from his pocket. I saw Carley's eyes widen in shock and fear. I could hear blood pounding in my ears.

"What?" Katjaa asked, her eyes filling with curiosity.

"It's a pregnancy test. A positive one at that. Now, is there anything that anyone wants to tell the group?" He asked, passing the test to his wife. "I KNOW it's not Kat. So… It's Lilly or Carley."

Everyone's gaze shifted from one woman to the next, eventually, Carley broke the silence.

"It's mine." Carley stated, gritting her teeth and closing her eyes tightly.

"What?!" Everyone gasped, turning to look at her.

"I said it's mine. I'm pregnant." She repeated, her knuckles turning white.

"How the…?" Kenny asked, running his hand through his unruly hair.

"Um… That would be me…" I piped in, my hand finding Carleys.

"You didn't tell us?! Lilly almost shot you!" He exclaimed, taking his cap off and rubbing his knuckles to his eyes.

"That's why I took the shot. I saw her reach for the gun and just jumped. I couldn't risk losing Carley or the baby." I explained, gently squeezing my girlfriends hand.

"I almost shot a pregnant woman…" Lilly muttered, her voice disbelieving.

"Yeah. You did." I agreed, glaring at her. I smiled slightly at the rest of the group. "We're sorry for not telling you but… Clem doesn't know and we aren't out of the woods yet. It didn't seem too important at the time. We'd appreciate it if you didn't tell her."

"Of course, man. We would have helped you. Jesus! Lee! You're gonna be a daddy!" Kenny exclaimed happily, bringing me in for a man hug.

"In a way, we already are parents. We've got Clem to look after." I replied, smiling at Carley who was breathing a sigh of relief.

"So…you're not mad?" She asked, chuckling slightly.

"Why the hell would you think that?! This is what we need! We NEED a new generation. We wouldn't hold it against you." Kenny laughed heartily, sitting with his wife.

"Thanks, man. I owe you." I replied, hugging Carley tightly.

"No problem, Pal. You deserve to be happy. Both of you do."

"Well, do you think we should make a start on that train? All we have to do is take the link off and we're sorted." I asked, standing slowly.

"Sure, bud. I'll go if you're not feeling up to it." He replied, standing.

"Nah, I can manage." I assured, kissing Carley on the lips and limping over to the locomotive.

An Hour Later

I sat in the corner of the old boxcar, playing Go fish with Clementine and Carley.

"Hey, Lee?" Clementine asked, attracting my attention.

"Yeah?"

"Got any fours?"

"Well, looks like you're goin' fishing." I laughed, seeing her expression. She had taken her cap off while we were inside and was currently lounging on her side.

"Shit!" She mumbled. Carley and I caught it.

"Hey! What did I say about using swear words?" I scolded, fixing her with a stare.

"Sorry. I won't say it again." She replied, looking down.

"Nice save, Lee." Carley teased, kissing my cheek.

"Thanks." I retorted, squeezing her free hand. Suddenly, a shout came from the front of the train.

"Aw shit! Hold on everybody!"