Thanks for your reviews. Hopefully you will keep enjoying.
The following is after they have met up again with Aaron and Maggie and just after Maggie dies. (Perspective)
Charlie sat outside the run down café, picking at her fingers. Her face was covered in dried tears and her head was aching. It was all her fault. She shouldn't have let Maggie come with her. Even though she had been so cold towards Maggie, having a mother figure around had been a comfort, even a blessing. She never realised how much she relied on the people around her until they were gone. Maybe Miles was right. She needed to toughen up.
"Charlie"?
Alex stood a few feet away, her hands clean of Maggie's blood and her arm bandaged where she had tried to transfuse blood to Maggie. Alex had told them she was a universal donor and had tried to give Maggie some of the blood she had lost. Unfortunately her attempts were in vain. She sat down beside Charlie, knowing the pain she was feeling. Her mother had died slowly and painfully and it was not something she would wish upon anyone.
"Can I do anything for you, Charlie"?
There was a moment of silence before Charlie could bring herself to answer. She shook her head, a sad smile on her face. "You've done more than I could have asked for someone I've know less than a month. Thank you by the way".
Alex patted her shoulder softly. "You're welcome. I just wish I had been able to do more and faster". Charlie shook her head again. "You made and effort which is more than most people". Now it was Alex's turn to nod. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a folded piece of paper. After fiddling with it for a minute, she blew in the base and handed it to Charlie. "You should put this on her grave". She stood as Charlie turned the folded crane in her hands. "It will free her soul and help her rest in peace".
Miles chose that moment to appear with Aaron following close behind. "Everything's set", Aaron said quietly, the remainder of tears on his cheeks. Alex nodded and left them, feeling their eyes follow. All this was too sad for her.
Takes place after the drug dealers' house as the group approaches Philadelphia on the back roads.
Miles watched everyone as they scattered around the clearing, taking a break. He couldn't stand still or relax. They were about two days walk from Philly and it was going to be the hardest and most dangerous of this god forsaken trip. There were more Militia wandering the roads and more guard camps than anywhere else. He had to keep them to the back roads and bush areas and the going was not easy. Nora was still recovering from her wound but thanks to some rather unusual treatments fro the girl, Alex; she was almost a hundred percent.
Just as it had with Charlie, his opinion of the girl had softened during the time she had been with them and Miles hated it. Being soft could kill people. They had found that out the hard way. "Uncle Miles"? Miles shook his head clear as he focused on Charlie. She hadn't made a sound and he hadn't noticed her approach. "What"? She held out a piece of sandwich which he took thankfully. "Are you ok, Uncle Miles"? Her big eyes stared at him, full of worry. She had been very subdued since they had left his drug dealer contact, barely speaking to him. A year ago he would have preferred it but now, he wasn't sure what he wanted.
"Yeah, kid, I'm ok". He paused. "How are you doing"? He watched her as she fidgeted without leaving.
"Yeah, of course….. No, I'm not". Her hands began to shake and her eyes filled with tears. When she spoke, her voice was hushed and shaky. "I'm so sorry Miles. I am so, so, sorry". Perfect! A crying girl. Not something he was good at.
"Hey kid, take it easy. What are you sorry for"? Charlie sniffed, trying to hold back the tears.
"For everything! For Danny, for my dad, for ruining your life, for Maggie, for everything". Her voice had risen, making the others stop and watch, Alex stopping from re-bandaging Nora's wound. Charlie's sobbing echoed through the trees and Miles could feel himself getting more and more embarrassed.
"C'mon kid, calm down. There's no need for the water works". Charlie continued to cry as she sat on a fallen tree trunk, her shoulders shaking. Miles had no idea what to do. Thankfully Aaron stepped in.
"Hey, Charlie girl. Talk to me. What's wrong"? She didn't answer him and just continued to cry as Aaron rubbed her arms and whispered to her. Miles sighed. This is why he didn't do the whole relationship and family thing. He tapped Aaron's shoulder and motioned for him to move away. After a moment's hesitation, he complied and Miles slowly took his place.
"Hey kid, look at me". She refused silently. Miles didn't know if he was annoyed with her or himself. He gently wiped her tear streaked face with his own dirty fingers and carefully lifted her head so he could look her in the eyes. "You listen to me kid and you listen carefully. None of this is your fault. None, you hear me". Slowly she was calming down so he decided to keep going. "A few decisions you have made may have gone all screwy". He quickly continued when her face fell again. "But none of this is your fault. You can't blame yourself". He watched her sniff, rubbing her hands together.
"But I wasn't there for Danny or my dad. I brought the Militia spy into your bar, literally inviting them to kill you, I tried to kill people I didn't even know. Killing…. I don't kill".
Ok, this needed to be finished. "Charlie, god knows I'm no good at the whole pep talk thing and I am definitely not the person to do it, but one thing I am definitely good at is knowing when someone has screwed up big time and has caused so much pain and suffering that their life isn't worth living". He paused as she looked at him; seeming to understand the direction he was heading in but choosing to remain silent. "And that is not you kid. That is no where near you, you know that. If anyone is to blame, it's me. I wasn't there for your dad or your mum or Danny. I was the one who created an army of merciless killing machines that can't be stopped and who were responsible for your losses".
Charlie tried to shake her head but Miles wouldn't allow it. He gripped her face and stared intently. "I know I have been telling you to toughen up and stop dwelling on things but I know that is who you are and who your parents were and what is most important in this dog-rot world. I told you that you were a different girl. You, Charlie are a small piece of the true goodness that is non-existent in these times. You are something that we don't see". He could feel a lump rising in his throat and he tried to swallow it quickly. He knew the others were watching intently now but he needed to make sure Charlie understood. At that moment, he realised exactly what to say. "Maggie is not the only one you saved".
Finally she smiled, gripping his hands tightly. "Really!? I thought…".
"Yeah, yeah, let's try to keep that quiet, alright"? Her smile widened as she nodded.
"I think they might know about it".
Miles rolled his eyes and glanced at the trios of onlookers. "Mouths shut about it, ok", he said gruffly. Nora was grinning cheekily and Aaron had almost as many tears in his eyes as Charlie did. Alex though looked sad and somewhat forlorn. To Miles, she seemed to silently want the family connections. Clearing his throat he stood, helping Charlie up. "We really shouldn't linger too long. It will make it easier for the Militia to find us".
Aaron and Nora nodded, gathering their things. Miles watched Alex as she came over to them, the look of longing gone, replaced by a soft smile. Quickly and quietly she wiped Charlie's face clean of tears and grit.
"Your uncle is right, you know", she said softly, giving her the small cloth. "No matter what you do, bad things will happen. It's always best to be a good person like you instead of being someone like Monroe. You have no reason to feel like the bad one".
Miles felt his heart lighten as she smiled at them both and went to get her things. Before he could speak, Alex turned to him, her eyes intent. "You should stop blaming yourself for things too. I know you are a good man".
Miles found himself staring at her. "How can you be so sure"? All he got in response was a soft smile as she walked away and it was in that moment that he realised who this girl reminded him of.