A/N: Yes, I know, I should be ashamed of myself. Promising faster updates and then postponing the chapters like this. The next one will be up sooner, I really, really mean it this time.

Anyway, bit of a shorter chapter this time, because Chuck isn't really a large character in the game. I still love it though, so I did my best. Hope you'll like it, don't forget to fav/alert. Also review! It's like water for me.

PS: somebody pointed out I made some errors. I'm not a native English speaker so please excuse me for them and point them out so I can fix them if you like.

The roaming and the legacy

The smell hit Lee before the sight did this time. A combination of sewer water and rotting food, it reminded him unpleasantly of how the end of the world had reeked.
But the smell wasn't obnoxious; and though he was standing in shadows, Lee felt comfortably warm, reminding him that he was still on the 'nice' part of death, how crazy that even sounded.

"It's not much, but it's all I've got..." said a gruff voice.
And before Lee stood Chuck. Nauseating images come back to him of this same man lying in a drainpipe with a bullet in his brain and his gut spilling out.

Now, Chuck seemed quiet unharmed. Ruffled and a tad dirty, but not dead by a long shot. Lee remembered how Chuck had been a Vagrant and studied his surroundings. They were indeed in the shadows, underneath a bridge to be more precise.
Judging by the packed duffel bad, dingy mattress and tiny blanket, this was one of Chucks temporarily residencies. And going by the smell, he wasn't even the only one to ever use it.
Lee felt suddenly ashamed about complaining to his (ex)wife about their specious apartment.

Instead, he swallowed and answered: "It's nice.", plastering an easy smile on his face.
"Well, it's the lot of a rootless, that is. Ain't always like this.. seen plenty worn-down motels in my lifetime." Chuck answered with a laugh, lowering himself upon his mattress, making some dust lift of it.
"What about your family?" Lee wondered out loud.
Chuck merely gave him a remorseful look, shrugging his shoulders. "Don't know what happened to 'em... but I hadn't seen them in 14 years anyway so... I'm figuring Rochelle probably didn't make it though." for a moment a deep sadness settled in his eyes, and Lee had the uncomfortable notion that he had never asked Chuck about his relatives before, no matter the short time they were acquainted.

"It doesn't matter anymore. It's the past, ya know. I left that live behind me when I choose for the road. You've heard how I think about this, Lee. Your story, your motives, whatever... they don't mean shit when you get down to it. I guess we've seen that firsthand."
Lee swallowed again and recalled Chucks speech mere hours after meeting them. Their group had been a real mess at the time, no wonder considering all the fucked up things that had happened those previous hours. You gotta consider her a living person, that's it! You're either living or you're not. You ain't little, you ain't a girl, you ain't a boy, you ain't strong or smart, you're alive.

"Things weren't grey anymore, Lee. We did what we could to survive, That's it."
Lee settled himself beside Chuck, who had pulled out a guitar from god knows where (Lee certainly didn't) and started absentmindedly strumming it.
"But did we do enough?" Lee asked, both knowing who they were referring too now.

Chuck sighed deeply and lifted his head slightly. "She's out there somewhere, Lee. And there is nothing in this world or the next we can do about that. Was it enough? Hell, of course not. There are horrors out there, new ones everyday, that we couldn't prepare that girl for if we had all the time of the world. Will she suffer? Naturally. Will she be sickened? Undoubtedly. But she will also survive, and there isn't anymore we could possibly hope for."

And of course he was right. Because Lee knew Clementine would brave on. Despite seeing agony, destruction and terror... she would stand. Because he had picked up a frightened vulnerable child without any parents in a world full of death. And he left behind a brave girl, that knew that sometimes, men had to do painful deeds because they are simply for the better.

A soft tune came from Chucks instrument now, and for some reason Lee could think of nothing else to do than just lay back and let the notes play on.

Take us back, oh, take us back
Oh, take us, take us back,
Take us back, oh, take us back, oh, take us, take us back

When the higher hills have turned blue
And the waves are lapping where the children grew

All that we have know will be an echo
Of days when love was true
Muted voices just beyond
The silent surface of what has gone