A Second Chance

Chapter 26

The first thing I noticed when I awoke the next morning was the sleeping form to my left. I looked down to see the slumbering woman in my arms, her naked chest rising and falling in time with her slow, soft snores. God, I loved this woman. She was the person who I could turn to for anything, who had encouraged me to confess my past to everyone and was the only other person I could truly trust, besides Clem.

She started to shift in my arms, yawning deeply and running her hand over her eyes. I laughed, kissing her forehead.

"Morning missus Everett." I whispered, smiling broadly when her emerald eyes opened, settling on mine. She reached up and cupped my cheek in her soft hand and mirrored my expression. I leaned down and captured her lips with mine. She quickly brought me in closer, flipping us over so she was straddling my midsection. We broke apart for a while, just letting our hands roam over the others body and whispering sweet nothings. "I love you…" I muttered as she reached down for the waistband on my boxers.

"I love you too." She smiled back. Before we could go any further, however, a tired and rather worried voice called from outside our tent.

"Guys! You decent?" Lilly's voice sounded, snapping us from our newly-wedded bliss. I threw my baggy t-shirt over to Carley, who had hurriedly scrambled off me and was now hastily searching for her discarded underwear. She sent me a thankful smile and slipped it on, glaring when I laughed at it falling to her knees.

"Yeah, come in Lilly!" I shouted in response, covering my bare chest, which made Carley laugh at my embarrassment. The young woman peeked through, looking very tired and dishevelled. We both laughed this time, seeing baby sick and god knows what else on her shirt. Her face, however, stopped us in our tracks when we noticed the fear etched upon her features. I swallowed down the nerves that had suddenly built up. "What's wrong?"

"Clementine… She's not good…" She mumbled. We both bolted up (thankfully, I had pulled my boxers on before I fell asleep) and followed her to her tent, where she gestured to the half-open compartment.

"Clem…" I whispered, crouching down to see how she was holding up. Her cap was slung by the corner, folded awkwardly. I went to pick it up when I felt the sweat-soaked material beneath my clumsy fingertips. Her sleeping bag was open, showing me her small, shaking form, covered in her sodden clothes. I moved a bit closer, sitting down beside her and simply holding her little, warm hand in mine. God, she was so frail!

"L-lee?" She mumbled, stirring slightly and opening her eyes a miniscule amount. Her normally bright, hazel orbs that were so full of life were dark and unrevealing.

"It's okay, honey… I'm here." I assured, smoothing down her sweaty locks with my free hand. She made a sudden retching motion and I knew immediately what was about to happen. After all, I was a teacher. I picked her up and took her outside, setting her shaking form down and rubbing her back as she expelled the contents of her stomach painfully. I looked up to see Carley watching in pity. I gestured for her to bring a thin t-shirt over, to which she nodded and retreated back inside our tent.

I heard footsteps approaching and looked over to see Christa (who was now waddling, rather than walking) and Chuck with their brows creased in confusion and sympathy towards the small girl.

"Hey sweetheart…" Christa soothed, bending down (as best she could) to see Clementine's tired face. "What's wrong, huh?"

"I think it's a couple days of bed rest for her." I replied for her, as she once again threw up, doubling over and squealing in pain. "She's running a fever." I felt a hand on my shoulder and turned to see Chuck, who had a small smile on his face.

"I'll go get some medicine for her." He said, running his hand through his messy, white hair as he walked away.

Clementine sighed, straightening up clutching onto me tightly. I brought her in further, easily picking her up and kissing her temple lovingly. Christa ran her finger through the damp tendrils of the little girl's hair, looking at her sympathetically. She looked up to me and smiled.

"If you need any help… any at all, just shout." She ordered, smirking as she walked away. I gave a small salute and headed towards our tent, still holding Clementine tightly.

I slowly entered, seeing Carley clearing up our compartment and making a space big enough for a small sleeping bag. As soon as she noticed us, she was over, making sure Clementine was okay. I set the small girl down and bent down to her level, taking her clammy hands in mine.

"Alright, sweet-pea." I whispered, squeezing her hands gently. "Carley's gonna help you get changed out of these sweaty clothes into something much cooler while I go and get some medicine for you. Okay?"

She mutely nodded, burying her head into Carley. I turned and grabbed my jeans, pulling them on quickly and heading back outside in an attempt to find Chuck.

Ten Minutes Later

"Hey girls, I'm back!" I called, ducking through the tent flap and entering the bedroom. Carley was laid with Clementine, talking in hushed tones and smiling lightly. The small girl was now wearing Carley's baggy, green t-shirt, leaving her discarded clothes in the corner. I knelt down beside them, taking the bottle out of my pocket and unscrewing it. "Alright, sweet-pea. This medicine should make you feel better."

She nodded, sitting up so she could swallow it and gulping it down with a pained expression. She laid back down, coughing slightly.

"Hey, Car…" I whispered, thinking that Clem had drifted to sleep. "Go get Logan? He's still with Lilly."

"Yeah." She agreed, standing up from her position and gesturing for me to take her place. I padded over, avoiding the random debris that was spread all over the floor. She kissed my cheek softly and made her way out, sending me a small smile at the entrance.

"Lee?" I heard and looked down to see Clementine with red-rimmed eyes.

"What's up?" I asked softly, gently smoothing her hair. She looked up at me, clutching my hand in her tiny one as if I'd disappear if she didn't.

"Please don't leave again." She begged, desperation evident in her voice and her face. "Please don't leave me…"

"I won't." I assured, smiling down at her and kissing her forehead lightly. "I promise."

She was soon dragged into the realms of sleep and I simply watched the slow rise and fall of her chest with her steady breathing. I wasn't trying to replace her parents. God no! I would never replace them. I knew that, but somehow I found myself wishing that she was mine. I wouldn't ever admit it, but when she asked me about finding her parents, it tugged at my heartstrings.

Was I really that bad a guardian?