For Those You Love

Chapter 18

As he reached the train car once again, Ben's voice roused him from his thoughts and made him stop dead in his tracks.

"Lee… It was me…"

It took a few moments for the words to sink in. Ben had done it… What it was, you may ask. But Lee knew. He knew that the eighteen year old was talking about the bandits… The medicine.

"…What?" Lee growled, taking his hand off the doorknob and walking back up to be level with the boy. "Say that again…"

"I- I was the one giving the bandits supplies…" Ben squeaked. He was genuinely terrified of what the older man would do. He had been witness to what he'd done to Andy St. John. And he still had no idea what had made him snap like that. But he had a feeling that almost being responsible in two (almost three) deaths was worse. "You've got to believe me Lee. I didn't me-"

"Save it, Ben." Lee growled, clenching his hand around the railing. He was numb. It was Ben's fault his wife had almost died… If he'd have come clean, they'd have been prepared. Katjaa and duck wouldn't have died. "…Do you even REALIZE what you've done?!"

"Kenny's just saw his wife kill herself because her son was bitten in the raid. Because you were…." He trailed off, closing his eyes and growling under his breath. "Carley… Carley lost her eye a week after she was brutally raped."

"Oh my G-"

"Shut up, Ben." Lee said firmly, cutting him off. "And listen for once. You even think about telling Kenny or Carley, I won't even hesitate to throw you off the train. I mean it."

"I-I understand." Ben choked, terrified of the man. He had never seen him so angry. This just added to his guilt. He'd had no idea about Carley being raped. He had thought she'd been beaten up.

"… Why did you do it?" Lee asked eventually, running his free hand through his hair and sighing. This was all too much. "And I don't want some spiel. I want a simple answer."

Ben gulped loudly and took some deep breaths. He didn't want to end up as a victim of Lee's wrath. So he'd have to word it very carefully.

"T-the bandits… they told me they had my friend." He said quietly, his voice cracking loudly. "They told me that they wouldn't hurt him or the group if I gave them some stuff."

Lee sighed loudly, leaning his forearms against the railing and grunting slightly. "…Okay…"

"Seriously, Lee. I'm so sor-"

"Don't Ben." Lee cut him off, standing up to his full height once again. "Im gonna get back to things okay? I'll keep this to myself and won't mention t again. But don't you dare tell Kenny or Carley. They will kill you."

"O-okay…"

"Good." The older man said shortly before walking back over to the door and opening it. He took one last look at Ben, who was leaning on the railings again before stepping inside. When his eyes landed on his daughter, he felt a grin plaster over his face. "Hey girls!"

"Hey dad…" Clem greeted, looking thoroughly sepressed at her new haircut, which was pulled back into two pigtails.

Carley was sitting beside her, still looking slightly pale but smiling supportively down at the girl and rubbing her back. She looked up at the sound of Clementine's voice and smiled sadly, almost apologetically.

"Well don't you look cute?" He smiled goofily, sitting down beside Clementine and giving her cap a small nudge. "I thought you were a different kid for a second there! I didn't think you were my daughter!"

Clementine looked up at him in pure shock before recovering. No, that was only for her and her friend to know; her friend on the radio. He'd promised her that she'd meet her real father.

Quickly, she slapped a small smile on her face and looked up at him questioningly, disguising the way her heart raced well.

"I look like a boy…"

"No you don't!" Carley said gently, still rubbing the girl's back. "If your dad had cut your hair, it would have been a different story. But I've done it. You look adorable." The woman leaned over and kissed the girl's forehead gently before looking over at Lee.

"Uh, Clem…" Lee started treading carefully. No way did he want Carley to blow up at him. "We've got to start teaching you how to protect yourself…"

"Like running away? I'm okay with that." Clem said, looking up at him with a confused look.

"He's talking about with a gun, Clementine." Carley explained, knowing just how bad her husband was with words as well as walking. She looked over at him and sent him a supportive smile. "He – WE want you to be able to defend yourself… in case anything were to happen to us."

"That's right honey…" Lee said softly, smiling back at his wife. "We're not saying that something will happen to us. But it's a precaution we have to take."

"…okay…" The girl sighed, frowning. She didn't want to learn how to use a gun. They were loud and hurt people. But she had to. "You promise that you're not going anywhere?"

"We promise." Lee said simply, standing and nudging Clementine's back. "C'mon. I'll start teaching you the basics."

Carley stood up after him and gave his hand a gently squeeze. "You mind if I sit in for this? Not that I don't trust you… but you can't shoot."

Lee looked down at her with an eyebrow raised. "I resent that, Mrs. Everett." He smirked before taking the gun out of the back of his pants. Clementine stared at it warily and he smiled. "It's okay. The safety's on."

"Okay…"

"Alright," Lee knelt beside the girl and gestured her over, holding the gun out and smiling. "Don't worry. You're not gonna start shooting yet…"

Carley sat across the boxcar, watching the exchange with a smile on her face. He was a natural father. And teaching was what he did best.

She would always remember the time when Clementine was only a month and a half old. She'd been called into work urgently and hadn't been able to take Clem in with her. So she took her to Lee.

Flashback

"Oh for fuck's sake, Carley!" Lee exclaimed, looking at the sleeping baby sitting in her carry-seat which was on the desk in his office. He'd received an email that his wife had turned up in the building and he'd left his class mid-lecture with the task of answering some questions in their textbooks. "I can't! You know I want to; she's my daughter! But I'm in a class!"

"Please, Lee." Carley begged, leaning against one of the chairs and running her hand through her hair. "I've been back for two days and they'd kill me if I brought her in. Just for today. I promise."

"Why not call a babysitter?" He asked, approaching the carry seat and letting the baby girl take his finger. She was dressed in a tiny green dress which was still too big for her, despite being a size smaller than what was recommended. Her hair was standing in tufts and a white bow was wrapped around her head. Covering her feet were a pair of white socks.

"I'm not comfortable leaving her with anyone else but family, Lee." She replied, sighing loudly once again. "Look, I'll be back at about six. Please, just… take care of her."

"Carley-"

"Sorry about this, honey." Carley said before going up on her tiptoes, kissing him on the cheek and running her fingers through Clementine's hair. "Be good for daddy…" She muttered before scooting out of the door.

Lee simply blinked dumbly, staring at where his wife had been a mere two seconds ago. "Well…" He sighed, looking down at Clementine, who was grinning up at him. "Looks like it's just you and me, kiddo…"

He picked up the carry seat and slowly made his way back to the lecture-theatre. When he entered, it was to the sounds of rowdy teenagers. "Alright, keep it down guys! We've got a visitor." He smiled, setting Clementine down onto his desk.

A chorus of "awes" greeted him from a large majority of the girls at the sight of the baby.

"Okay guys, I know you're happy to finally meet the infamous Clementine. But you'll be able to hang back after the lecture to meet her up close. But for now, let's get back to Surgery in the eighteenth century." Lee chuckled, flicking the projector back to life and smiling.