Waking up was quite a process. In fact, I was incredibly dizzy and confused as I came to in the back of that Police car. After the fuzziness of unconsciousness faded out of my brain, I realized exactly where I was. Equal parts joy and terror immediately suffused my body. On one hand? I could try and make things better! On the other? I've got to deal with all this bullshit again! I almost regretted agreeing to The Kid's offer.

Clementine….

It didn't matter, I decided. The only thing that matters is keeping her and the group safe. By god I will NOT fail her again.

After a couple seconds I realized I didn't have that god awful pain in my leg from the last time around. I looked down at the rip in my jeans. And right before my eyes I saw my flesh knitting together until nothing was left but an off-color scar. And even that was slowly fading back to the natural brown.

Holy shit. The Kid wasn't joking. This is a huge fucking game changer. In fact, I feel better than I have in years. All those aches and pains that come with age have essentially disappeared. My skin feels tight and supple, and the small amounts of fat that I had before were gone.

While this does wonders for my self-image, I can already feel the hunger eating at me. I remembered that I hadn't been able to eat before they were going to take me to prison. Shit… how am I gonna deal with that this time around?

I shook my head. I'm getting way of myself. I need to get to Clem. Everything else can be dealt with at a later date. Looking down at the cuffs I decided to try out the strength that the kid had mentioned.

Grunting at the effort, nothing happened other than a minor creak of the metal. Well fair enough. Too much to hope that it would start me off significantly stronger. Well… time to sack up.

I maneuver myself over to the window, deciding to try to bust the window open.

Crrk!

Well… that was unexpected. Ok… so im strong enough to break the window open immediately but not strong enough to break steel. It'll work for now.

Dragging myself out of the car I fell about as gracefully as a sack of bricks. Shuffling to my feet I walked around the car, taking into view the scene of my first face to face encounter with a walker. That poor officer is lying face down in a little puddle of his own blood. Looking over at the shotgun on the ground, I carefully load the shell next to it into the gun. That bit of fumbling taken care of I walked over to the keys, of course right next to the officers face.

Picking them up and swiftly removing my cuffs, I leaped back attempting to put some distance between me and the new reanimated officer. Just in time as the officer began snarling and dragging itself toward me. Picking up the shotgun I spared a moment to hope that the old guy was somewhere better.

Let's do this shit.

I pull the trigger, the recoil barely affecting me, splattering the walkers head to pulp. Looking up swiftly, I see the small figure that started my journey.

"Help! Go get someone! There's been a shooting!"

She immediately ran back toward her house.

Hearing the walkers congregating toward my location I sling the strap of the shotgun over my shoulder and book it towards Clementine's house. Taking a running leap, and most assuredly not looking back, I clear the the tall fence in one swift motion. Standing in the backyard of the house, I consider how easy that was. I haven't been able to move like that since I was in college playing basketball. Even now I can feel something subtle in me adjusting my capabilities as I exert myself. But now its official. Im starving.

I steadfastly ignore the treehouse, knowing that I would just end up scaring her if I tried to scale the tree, and deciding to follow The Kid's suggestion, I entered Clementine's house keeping an eye out for Walker Sandra. I immediately drink a cup of water to quench the thirst that had just made itself known. Looking around for something to eat noticed a box of power bars that lay in the back of a cabinet. I grab the box, and it automatically makes my good list. High in protein, high in fiber, and 800 calories a bar. And there was almost an entire box left! I immediately tore open 4 and devoured them quickly.

Oh my god.

I grabbed the glass of water and gulped it down trying to get the taste out of my mouth.

Good lord those things taste like actual ass! ... lets not go into how I know that.

However they definitely did what they said. My stomach felt a lot calmer and once again that subtle feeling swept over my body somehow I could FEEL my body becoming stronger. The beeping from the answering machine caught my attention. The messages played reminding me that there are still people who will be hurt regardless of my second chance. That sobered me up a bit. Finally I just shook my head, deciding that I need to focus on what I actually have a chance to change.

" Daddy?" I hear her voice coming from the walkie-talkie.

Oh honey…

I pick up the walkie-talkie and speak into it.

"Hello?"

"You need to be quiet."

God it's good to hear that voice of hers.

"What's your name?"

"Clementine."

"Well hello Clementine. My name is Lee"

"Hi.."

She's obviously leery of strangers at this point. I'll need to change things up to convince her to come down quicker.

"So Clementine.. where are you right now? The treehouse?"

"Y-yeah. How did you know?"

" It's where I would go. It's a smart idea. Those things can't climb, and you've got a good view of the land."

" Thanks." She sounds a lot more confident. Good. Now let's try and get her down.

" Now you being the smart girl you seem to be, do you happen to have something I could use as a weapon? A hammer or a screwdriver? I'm kind of unarmed currently."

"um… I have a hammer. Would that work?"

" absolu-"

Walker Sandra apparently put on her ninja shoes and snuck up on my dumb ass.

She snarled at me, trying to bite my damn face off!

I shoved her away with full strength tossing her a good 6 feet away.

I led up with a soccer kick to her midsection tossing her further.

The glass door opened and there was my little girl. So scared but so brave. " h- here!" I took the hammer gently and with the efficiency born of months of hunting these things , I slammed the head into the walkers skull, killing it for good.

" Lee?"

Her voice was different.

I turned around and saw it in her eyes. Recognition.

"LEE!"

She launched herself at my midriff, crying into my shirt.

" I hurt you! I SHOT you! I'm so sorry Daddy!"

My heart clenched at the title, and I hugged her tightly. " it's ok sweet-pea.. it won't happen this time. I promise."

She looked at me with those eyes of hers. So expressive. " Promise?"

" Promise."

AN: Hello everyone. it's been years since i touched this and for that i apologize. ive been going through some very rough times and it has essentially killed my creativity. but no more. Not only am i continuing this story i am currently in the works of making an original Novel. if anybody has any questions or wants to just chat, pm me or leave a review. they are seriously what made me come back to this. Have a good day everyone.

SignlessAcolyte out.