For Those You Love

Chapter 22

Pretty soon, the train screeched to a halt. The sound was unmistakable to the passengers travelling in the boxcar, who gripped onto the sides to stop themselves from tumbling over onto one another.

"D-dad? Why are we…?" Clem asked, waking up and yawning widely as she looked up at Lee with a sleepy look. By now, Kenny had made his way back to the driver's cab and was sitting in the chair, making sure all of the levels were good to leave.

"C'mon…" Lee said lowly, still unsure of what to do. The walkie-talkie was strapped safely onto his waistband, but he didn't know how to confront his baby girl about the man who had told her… those awful things. "We're stopping here and we're walking the rest of the way."

"Up an' at-em, kiddo!" Kenny smiled, reaching over and grabbing his gun, which rested on the dash of the train. Lee could see the pain in the man's eyes, and likewise Kenny could see it in Lee's. But they didn't mention it to one another. They were strong men, and they needed to stay strong.

"O-okay…" Clem yawned, looking at the two men tiredly. She jumped out of her seat and walked out, soon to be followed by Lee as Kenny finalized some checks.

And, once they were off of the train, Clem ran over to Carley, who immediately welcomed her with a hug and noted the walkie-talkie clipped to her husband's belt loop as he overlooked Savannah with a scowl on his face. "Hey baby!" She greeted, kissing her daughter's head gently.

"I-is he okay?" Clem asked quietly, looking up at her mother, worried she'd done something to offend him. Of course; she had. But she had no idea about that.

"He's fine, sweetheart." Carley assured, frowning herself before slapping a fake smile on her face, looking back down at the girl. "Don't worry about him. Just a little angry about something."

Clem simply nodded and kept tight hold of Carley's hand, terrified to let go. Somehow, way back in her brain, she knew what had made him so angry.

Back over with the man in question, he paced, looking out at the city with his brow furrowed. It seemed too quiet for him to feel comfortable.

"Hey bud!" Kenny greeted, after hopping down from the train. He patted his friend on the back and looked out at the sprawling landscape before them. "Whaddya think then?" He asked, frowning ever so slightly, yet his eyes held a glimmer of hope; hope they'd find a boat and be able to get away.

"I don't know, man…" Lee replied lowly, shaking his head and stuffing his hand in his pocket. He glanced back at the rest of the group, before lowering his gaze. "It seems a little too quiet…"

"Lee, that's our ticket outta here!" The other man exclaimed quietly, as not to alert the others. He moved close to him and gestured out to the water. "Out there is a boat, which will most probably fit all of us. And that's our lifeline. We've came this fucking far. And I'm not giving up yet."

"I know, I just…"

"I know you're looking out for Clementine and Carley." Kenny interrupted, looking at the younger man seriously. "Just… Help me out here, bud. There's no harm in going to check it out. And if – When we find a boat, we'll get it up and running."

Lee looked conflicted for a moment before nodding and sighing. "Fine."

He shook his head in frustration and headed back towards the gathering of people, all standing next to the boxcar awkwardly. "Guys!" He called over the low mutterings of conversation. "Guys, listen up! It's important!"

Half an Hour Later

The back yard of the mansion they'd found was clear, thankfully.

In one corner was a large garage, covered in ivy and vines. And, opposite it, was a small, wooden doghouse. The mansion was boarded up and fortified. Unfortunately, no-one realized any of this. As they were busy trying to calm a very pissed off Lee Everett.

"YOU LEFT HER!" He bellowed, his face slowly turning red. The boy his anger was aimed at was slowly shrinking back into the wall behind him. "YOU FUCKING LEFT HER TO DIE!"

"Lee!" Carley said frantically, trying in vain to turn the seething man's head her way. Unfortunately, he pushed her away and glared at Ben.

"SHE COULD HAVE BEEN EATEN OUT THERE!" Lee roared, ignoring his wife's mutterings. Clementine, the girl in question, was clinging onto her mother desperately.

"I know, Lee! I'm sorry! I don't know what happened!" Ben whimpered desperately, trying his best to show that he was genuine. "Please!"

Carley set her hand gently on her husband's shoulder and squeezed gently, hoping to help somehow. And, after a few minutes of awkward silence, it did.

"I swear to god, Ben… One last chance…" Lee growled, his voice low. "One chance, and it won't be walkers you have to worry about. Got it?"

Ben, who was trembling in complete terror, nodded mutely. He didn't want to anger the man any more. He realized something had gone on for him to snap so easily, as he didn't even react that much to Carley being shot. But then… at the St. John's dairy… He'd killed Andy for what he'd done. And he'd never shown any regret.

He saw the seething man walk away, muttering something about 'teenagers' and relaxed, gulping.

Carley saw this and laid a hand on the boy's shoulder, in an attempt to comfort him. And, as he looked into her single emerald eye, his stomach dropped. He realized just what he'd done to that family; what he could have done.

It was then he promised himself that he'd do his best to not screw up. No matter how bad things got. The two people Lee loved most in the world could have died within a few days if things hadn't saved them. Andhe wasn't about to let it happen again.

"I'm sorry…" He muttered, gulping loudly.