For Those You Love

Chapter 24

a/n – Okay so again, sorry for an extended lack of updates! I've been busy with exams and deadlines, plus personal shit got in the way. The only thing that bothers me is that I maybe get one or two reviews per chapter…

And, for someone who's having a hard time with confidence, that isn't helping. So please, if you could, just pop a review down at the bottom. It makes my day and really helps me out. Thanks for reading. Now I'll shut up and get on with the story.

Within two hours, they had figured out the plan for the next day, which involved Lee and Kenny going down to the docks and scouting for supplies. Of course, Kenny was still fixated on finding the boat, but now, it was all about survival. If it meant they'd live, he'd do anything.

"Moommm…" Clementine whined, sitting in the small bed and taking her cap off of her head, placing it in her lap and looking down at it, running her thumbs over the peak longingly. "I'm not tired!"

"Yes you are, Clementine Hope." Carley countered, closing the bedroom door behind her and moving over to sit on the edge of the bed. She took the cap from her daughter and hung it over the bed post before continuing. "We've got a long day tomorrow. And you need as much rest as you can get."

Clementine just grumbled in response, looking down at the bedspread and running her hands over it longingly. As much as she wanted to sleep, she couldn't. However, she did as her mother asked and shuffled back to wriggle under the soft sheets.

"Okay. Good girl." Carley said softly, running her fingers over the side of Clementine's face lovingly. "I know it's gonna be difficult, baby… But try and sleep? Please?"

"O-Okay…" Clem said, nodding slightly. Her voice cracked slightly, which Carley picked up on. But she decided to leave it to Clementine's choice. If she wanted to tell her what was wrong, she would.

"Night, baby girl…" The woman said, kissing her daughter's forehead gently and standing, making her way over to the door. However, just as she set her hand on the doorknob, the small girl's voice sounded. It was quiet, but it was no doubt Clementine.

"M-Mom… Is dad angry with me…?"

Carley's heart dropped in her chest and she let out a low breath. "Oh honey… Of course he doesn't…" She said, turning back around and making her way once again to the edge of the bed. "He's just a little upset right now… Not with you, though…"

"B-But… He hasn't talked to me since we were on the train… A-and...-"

"Clementine Hope Everett." Carley said, effectively cutting off the girl's words. She reached out and took her smaller hand in hers, in what she hoped was a comforting yet firm way. "Your father is just upset that you didn't tell him about that man on the radio. He knows that the man's been telling you stuff that's not true."

"And he's upset you didn't tell us because you've been telling people stuff about our group. What happened the last time we let people in? Trusted people?" Carley asked, looking directly into Clementine's eyes with a soft expression. "You remember that right? Because I sure as hell do. I remember it every second of every day."

"And all I can think is 'If only we didn't go in there with our guard down'. If only."

Clementine just stared at her mother as she talked, tears brimming in her eyes. She had no idea what to say. After all, she knew pretty much what had happened. And she was surprised it took her mother this long to let it all out.

"He just doesn't want anything like that to happen again, Clem." Carley said, blinking and moving her free hand to cup her daughter's cheek. "He loves you… he loves us so much. And it'd kill him if anything happened to either of us. So he's a little upset that you kept something this big from us… But in no way is he angry with you. I promise."

The girl nodded, smiling slightly. Although she believed the woman in front of her, she didn't want to. The man had told her… No. No she couldn't think about that. No time for being a baby.

"Okay…"

Twenty minutes later, after making sure Clementine was sound asleep, Carley made her way through to the master bedroom, where Lee was looking over the inventory in his backpack.

"How's she doing?" He asked, not looking up from the box of ammunition in his hand. Numerous boxes and bags were laid about the large bed. He had slipped off his blue shirt and slung it on the desk by the window. "Any progress?"

"I guess." Carley replied tiredly, slowly moving over to the opposite side of the bed to him and sitting down, moving to take off her shoes. She let out a sigh before continuing. "She thinks you're angry at her, Lee."

His head snapped around so fast it was a miracle he didn't get whiplash. "S-she thinks what? How can she…? No…"

"I told her you were just upset she didn't tell us about the man on the radio. She doesn't need to know everything else." Carley said, throwing her shoes over by the door, landing at a ninety degree angle to Lee's larger ones. "Don't worry."

"I'll talk to her tomorrow. Clear stuff up…" He said, starting to pack everything back into his bag. He saw Carley move to take off her purple coat and waited, holding his hand out. She handed it to him with a grateful smile, laying back on the bed and closing her eye for a moment, rubbing her forehead.

Lee went over to the desk, hanging the coat over the chair near the desk, along with his backpack. He then plopped back down onto the bed, lying down with a grunt. He looked over to his wife and smiled slightly. "Hey… Love you…" He said softly.

Carley smiled, turning her head to look at him lovingly. "I love you too, you big doofus." She said quietly, turning so she was laying on her side and curling up.

Lee smiled to himself, moving so her back was flush with his chest, kissing her cheek and just relaxing. He knew they were going to get better.

All they had to do was get out of Savannah. Whether that be by boat or by foot. As long as they all got out safely, he didn't care.