Curative
By Kaimaler
Review replies are at the bottom!
As a quick recap of what happened against the show with comparisons of what DID happen:
Bold what happened in story.
-Italics what happened in show.
Micheal went scavenging with Maggie and Glenn.
-Maggie and Glenn scavenge alone.
Laura hunted Michonne more effectively than Merle.
-Merle hunts Michonne, but loses her.
Merle's lost two men.
-Merle lost three men.
Neil Gargulio survives.
-Neil Gargulio killed by Merle when he wouldn't give up chasing Michonne.
Laura injures Michonne, but not enough to incapacitate her.
-Merle's bullet ricochets and injures Michonne. The bullet wound severe enough to injure her leg, causing her to limp, and eventually pass out from blood loss.
Laura chases Michonne to the parking lot, but is able to stay on her trail.
-Merle haphazardly trails Michonne to the parking lot. Loses her trail after spotting Glenn and Maggie.
Laura is caught by Glenn, Maggie, and Micheal while searching for Michonne in the parking lot.
-Merle catches Glenn and Maggie off guard in the parking lot. Merle tries to bargain with Glenn and Maggie to take him back to his brother.
Laura attacks Michonne, shattering the back windshield of their car when the group lets their guard down once realizing the intruder is Laura.
-Glenn and Maggie deny Merle's bargaining. Glenn tells Merle to wait here for Daryl. Merle distracts Glenn and Maggie by using a hidden pistol to shoot out the car back windshield and lunges at Maggie, putting his pistol to her head and threatening Glenn.
Glenn, Maggie, and Micheal break up the fight by pulling their guns on Laura and Michonne. They direct them to get in the car as they would return to the prison with Laura and Michonne as unexpected and reluctant visitors.
-Merle orders Glenn get in the car, pushes Maggie inside, and demands Glenn to drive to Woodbury.
Laura and Michonne are taken by Glenn, Maggie, and Micheal to the prison.
-Merle delivers Glenn and Maggie to Woodbury, handing them over to the Governor.
Laura was patient, she did not need to kill Michonne within a certain time frame. She was sent to hunt this woman, bring her head and sword to the Governor, and she would be fed and given her cell back dark and silent. It was not much better than anything else, but these strangers posed more danger to her than anyone else. Knowing Glenn from an obscure memory she was picking through as best she could there was the concern he knew what she was.
If he knew, he knew how to kill her. Her prey did not, sticking her with a sword did nothing to stop her hunt. A few of those swings did raise up too close to her head though, if that went... just like any undead she would be finished. Even here in the car with everyone Maggie held the gun not to Laura's body in general, but the barrel was aimed directly at her head.
These people either knew or just took no risks at all. It was not much of a risk if no one knew her condition. Any human shot at near point blank with a gun would be incapacitated. In this case the only way to stop Laura from attacking was to actually cut off limbs or kill her. Pain was a factor at times, more precisely fire changed her mind about her actions.
The searing pain of her fresh branding burned into her head. Extreme heat, burns, fire. It was mercilessly agonizing. It was only yesterday this brand was made and it was still incredibly raw and sensitive. When she was struck there, the burn agitated, it would distract her from whatever she was doing.
Laura resist buckling under the strain. The pain in her side, the aching of her body, and the anxiety to find out who these people were. There was stress about Woodbury and Merle - Where is Merle? She was concerned for him, someone she dared to consider more than just another Woodbury thug. He was her only lifeline, so what happened to him. We left him in the woods, we were too distracted. This is a dangerous area.
"He is either dead, eaten by or kin or he is alive and searching for us. It doesn't matter, right now we must be ready for anything. These people could be worse than that rat Governor. If they are, we have to be prepared to find a way out." The Voice supported Laura's fears. The same nervous fears she had some time ago, long before she could remember anything about herself or these people. "Once we arrive we must begin finding an exit. Anything. A local herd wandering the area, a breach in their walls. We can escape from any makeshift fort they created for themselves and bring the head of our prey severed by her own sword with us."
The sword was in the front seat with the dark haired woman. The one aiming a pistol at her and always watching her. Laura had that monster the living feared inside her, the Voice or whatever the infection called itself was aware and inside her brain. As Jenner explained during the viewing of TS-19 the infection reanimates the brain stem, a wealth of impulsive natural instinct, uncontrolled by the more complex human morals.
Laura, of course, could not remember the doctor who died inside the CDC with Jacqui. Those memories were far too long ago to even reclaim a glimmer of their existence. The oldest memory Laura had was hitting fairly deep water, enough to submerge her, and feeling two hands grab her. The person pulled her out of the water and onto the flat river rock. Looking at this person brought nothing to her head; they were there but Laura could not see through the blurr.
Without her knowledge the Voice, the Infection in her head, did its best to block out the memories that might remind Laura of the people she cared for. It was a constant struggle in the last few days as Laura tried harder and harder to piece her past together. Now with Glenn in the front seat and one broken memory solidifying Laura's suspicion that she knew this man; the Voice strained to keep everything in place.
The car roared, slowing down a bumpy road. Glenn maneuvered through the fallen trees and dead cars, they neared the prison as the fence was just ahead. His anxiety peaked as he watched the fence drawing near. He wondered what would happen to Laura and this woman. Carol said Laura was changing, if they see her like this... This stranger that Laura was fighting, if they explained what happened would it go over well? He did not know how to voice his suspicions without appearing to be against Laura for what she is and what Carol told them.
They would have to be careful about this, the situation was more tense than anyone back in the prison could anticipate. Once they said "Hey guys, we found Laura and brought her back with us." He knew Daryl and Rick would be up and running to her, thrilled to have their companion back. She was so close to Rick, they were friends that spoke to each other and would not share those details with others. Laura and Daryl being together was a surprise to everyone, though Daryl's change from the loudmouthed outcast to an integral second in command to Rick was equally as shocking.
Glenn was glad to have Rick and Daryl around, their leadership through the rough winter was the only reason most of them survived at all. Daryl's hunting ability began to really shine. Rick's strategy and planning saved them when their backs were against the wall. Glenn knew it was everyone banding together that made it possible, that gave them the prison. He was still thankful to be with this group.
Laura was a unique person, she had a skill no one else had. Hiding people from the walkers, bringing Sophia back after turning, and her loyalty to Rick helped develop an unexpected right hand the group never knew they needed. She was Rick's right hand for a while, nothing she was worried about was ever brushed off. He valued her as a friend and fellow survivor.
Glenn remembered T-Dog and how they used to talk about Laura walking off with Daryl or Rick back on the farm. It hurt to think of his friend, someone he held so high. Here with Laura now Glenn wished he was still alive to see her coming back. Different or not, Laura was still someone T-Dog appreciated and considered a friend. He never had much time with her and she never ventured far into the group after Shane started attacking her openly.
Shane. Glenn gripped the wheel tighter. Laura was scared about being with the group more and more everyday. There was a barrier around them and Glenn knew Shane wanted to protect them, but he did it by hurting a member of their group. It caused many people to exclude Shane more and want Laura around. The day at the barn Glenn knew if no one stopped Shane he was going to kill Laura in front of them all.
What could they do? Shane held a gun to her head and fought her. She put up the best fight she could, but Shane was much bigger and much stronger. Over the months Laura was starved, beaten, and hiding to protect herself. It did not give her much time or chances to put on more weight or learn to fight. After everything was over Glenn waited until Maggie felt ready to talk.
They stayed together as long as they could, talking about Hershel and Beth. That she knew what the walkers were and just wanted her family to be happy despite the decay around them. Maggie was heartbroken to see her father so distraught, but she understood that while Rick was trying to respect Hershel's wishes he could no longer control Shane.
He had an inside look into the family and what they healed from. The others were not as close, Glenn had Maggie and Maggie had Hershel, Beth, Patricia, and Otis. Now it's only Maggie, Hershel, and Beth. He was glad they were there to help the family escape the herd that night; Maggie told him once she knew they would have died there without Rick and the other's help. She was happy to still have some of her family with her and to still have him.
There was tension in the group. Lori's death, Judith's birth, created an unforeseen situation where Rick could not balance the responsibility of leadership, the guilt over the death of his wife and everything that meant, and their struggle to make the prison safe. Rick took one path - clear the prison. That's how he wanted to handle Lori's death. He wanted to take out his anger on the dead roaming the tombs.
Glenn did not know the details of Red's group, but he saw how Daisy regarded him while he recounted how they lost Laura. He was upset, Daisy showed support, and the group just waited it out. There was a lot happening with the group, more than he knew and he understood that. Glenn did not need to know everything they survived, he just wanted to know if they could trust each other.
Carol trusted them entirely which is the only reason they were not shot at or kicked out of the prison immediately. She was also the only reason they found the prison if their story is true. The gunshots caught them by surprise, they wanted to move away, but Carol heard a voice and she knew even at a distance it was familiar. It was of course Rick in a panic after the walkers flooded the courtyard where the rest of the group tended to a recovering Hershel.
Truth be told everyone thought Carol had died back on the farm. There was nothing telling them she could have survived, she was not a fighter, she was not formidable, and she was terrified of the undead. She was harmless and the horde was this impossible cage closing down on her. As Carol told it right as she thought she would die out there, alone, Laura showed up and took her away from it all.
Laura saved Carol and over the next few months, Carol worked to repay her. By the time they found Red's group Carol was already tougher. When they found Rick and the others again, Carol became a survivor. She stood before them a fighter, not someone content to do laundry for the men; but a woman who stood on her own two feet and could defend herself.
Now, looking into the backseat where Laura remained almost entirely motionless, Glenn thought about how Carol and Laura made it so far. Laura's calmness being taken away at gunpoint even by them made him nervous. She was watching them the entire time, never taking her eyes off the one pistol aimed at her. He never thought Laura would attack them, but he was worried if Maggie lowered her pistol for a second if Laura might take a chance to escape them.
Which brought about an important question. Did Laura even want to be here? She left to protect them from herself; so has she changed? Has she turned into the monster she was so scared of? Glenn had no answers for anyone, not even himself. He did not know what to think about Laura and why she is the way she is now.
He could see Micheal's excitement to find Laura. He was not worried she would deny Red's story about how she stayed behind. Micheal had no concerns about it, he trusted Red implicitly. Having Laura back was a greater joy than he ever expected in this world anymore. Glenn and Maggie shared that shock and excitement for the first minute, then Laura launched herself at the woman hiding between the dead cars, tearing up their car in the process.
Glenn knew he had a way to explain Laura now. All he had to do is show them the car, the dents, shattered glass, scratches, and punctured holes. The damage from Laura's attack alone would show them, Red and Rick's groups - Laura is not the same.
He slowed to a stop at the fence and his heart leapt into his throat. At the gate was Braddock and Oscar already at the locks. His heart beat quickened as he pulled the car into the fence line. The first security fence passed, they locked it before unlocking the next. Glenn had no idea what he was going to say or how he was going to explain what was going on. He raced to find a good way to tell everyone.
Everyone. He contemplated knowingly. Rick and Daryl. He meant. The group would understand, they would not react poorly to the decisions of Glenn's team. They chose to bring Laura back but this woman, this stranger could not be allowed to leave. Not because she knew anything, but because they wanted answers. Laura was keen on killing this person, to protect this stranger and Laura they brought both parties.
Not to mention if this woman was actually the one attacking Laura... they had to bring her with them. If she found the prison Glenn did not want to think of the risks. If she had a group, if they were nearby. Just like Randall the risk was too high.
The second gate rattled as they pushed it open. Both men were sweating in the hot humid Georgia sun. Glenn had to be careful with what he said to Rick and Daryl, he already could see Braddock getting suspicious as Glenn drove through the second gate.
The silhouettes in the car... three in the back, two in the front with Glenn's diver side window rolled down. Braddock had a confused expression, knowing the run was carried out only by Glenn, Maggie, and Micheal. It took him a minute, but he gestured to Oscar who gave him a confirming nod and went to lock the gate behind them. Braddock grabbed onto the back ledge of the car, holding the now bent rack on the roof to ride the car back up the hill.
Shattered glass jingling in the back of the car, some still barely on the edge of the bumper. Braddock frowned, knowing something had gone wrong. Glenn barely even looked at him when they arrived. He figured Glenn was still nervous about the group and them having so much freedom and responsibility in the prison within a day. No one liked it, but they were in no position to deny it.
The gravel path up the hill lead them to the last gate before they reached the car park off to the right of the cell blocks. Braddock hopped off the back and walked around the side, looking out the corner of his eye into the car. He saw the faint features of a woman, but he did not recognize her. Micheal was leaning forward beside her, gun on her. Braddock understood the situation immediately.
He did not expect to see Maggie aiming her pistol to the other side of the car. Narrowing his eyes slightly he tried to get a better look. The person was sat on the far side of the vehicle, but something hid their face. He figured they found some other people while out on the run for more formula. He would have to be careful and help protect the group if these people were a threat to them.
He patted the door beside Glenn, letting him know he was ready for it. Glenn nodded softly, appreciative. He knew Braddock had no idea still that Laura was in the backseat with them.
As the car pulled in Glenn took it around to the park, the other vehicles tucked in beside the wall collecting dust. Glenn felt his mouth go dry and Maggie sensed his nervousness. She placed a hand on his arm to show her support and he took a deep breath.
"Wait here, don't take them into the courtyard yet. I need..." Glenn looked to Laura and the stranger. "I need to tell them before they see her. Maybe make sure everyone is calm." Maggie knew Glenn was talking about Rick and Daryl most of all. Though Carol and Red were also likely to go be as excited to see her... perhaps less excited in Laura's condition.
Maggie affirmed his decision by squeezing his arm gently. With a few calm, deep breathes Glenn popped the driver side door. She watched him leave, turning the corner to find the others. Micheal looked at Maggie, slight concern behind his eyes.
"Open the door." Micheal flicked the barrel of his gun to the handle. The stranger glared, her hand slowly moving to the old styled handle made of worn metal. The handle clicked and the door cracked open. Moving slowly, she began to slide out of the seat. When her feet touched the ground she saw Micheal's other hand pressing the door open for himself.
He came up behind her and directed her to the truck end of the car. Maggie cracked her door, kicking it open with her feet. Laura's eyes followed her as she reached for the exterior handle. The back passenger door popped open and Maggie's pistol was immediately on her again, barely having left for half a second. "Come on, Laura. I know you can't wait to see everyone." She tried to offer a kind smile, but it failed to appear happy.
Laura swung her legs over the side, moving at her own quick pace unlike the other woman. She jumped out of the car and Maggie stepped back, straightening her handle on her pistol. Laura leaned up and turned her head to stare at the relatively nervous farm girl. Maggie nodded her head up, gesturing their path to the back of the car with Micheal and the stranger.
Her boots scrapped the stone ground below their feet. Laura looked up and around, inspecting the area. "We have to plan an escape, find a weak point in their defenses."
In a rare moment of amusement, Laura had to resist snorting after the Voice suggested escape. Don't you realize where we are? She surveyed the fences, all three rows outfitted with barbed wire. The tall flat stone walls and metal bars on the windows too high to dream of reaching without climbing equipment. These people have taken us to the one place in this world still designed to keep people inside. They did not put up the fences to keep the dead out, the fences were made to hold prisoners. We are the prisoners.
"Hmph." The Voice growled, "If they got in, there must be a way out."
What, did you not see the fences? The gates? The towers? I will add the now locked and guarded gate that was likely just open when they got here. And what is likely to be fully manned guard towers? They would kill us before we ever even made it out the first gate. Laura rolled her eyes. Escape could not be made so brazenly as the Voice wanted. It enjoyed being loud and proud as it were, but Laura knew the only way out was to be smart. Think about what we do before we do it. We are not in the woods hunting. We are in a prison as prisoners with armed guards. Here we will have to rely on humans to survive, not ourselves or the dead.
The low rumble in her head told her the Voice, the Infection, was agitated. If they wanted to survive it would have to give up its control and allow Laura to plan, but it was aware relinquishing control over even a part of Laura's brain would risk not being able to regain it. The struggle to keep Laura in its desired path was a constant challenge.
Inside Laura's tough exterior was still the same broken girl from Atlanta. She existed deep inside the brain torn between the infection and Laura's humanity. If the Voice wanted to escape the prison the only person who could make that happen was the real Laura who encompassed human intelligence while the infection was only instinct. It would mean Laura would break a large portion of hold the infection had on her memories, personality, and self awareness.
For now it decided to wait and see if desperation to escape would outweigh the risk. While Laura fought to remember Glenn and everything about herself, the Voice could see the memories with ease. Though the more it recalled them the more Laura could remember as well. So it pushed back any recognition it could, trying to force their names, faces, and identities out of their mind.
Around the corner from this internal war between Laura and the infection inside her was the group now exiting the cell block. Glenn was on his way up, moving relatively slowly as he scrambled for words. The metal door clanged loudly as it was opened, the sound alerting Glenn and breaking his train of thought. Walking down the steps was part of their group.
Rick came out first, Carl opening the security gate outside the cell block door for him. He had his newborn in his arms and he was smiling at her. Hershel's crutches clacked on the ground as he approached with Beth beside him. Just behind Rick stood Red and Markus, both happy to see Rick around. He was clean and appeared to have come out of the thick of his grief.
Red had been concerned after Rick's loss. His group needed leadership especially with a newborn, but it appeared Daryl had been up to the task. They had enough formula to last about two weeks and after Glenn's run today they were likely about to have even more. Now that their leader stood in the sun, his infant daughter in his hands, he seemed to have accepted the loss of his wife.
Tension between Rick and Red were nonexistent currently. No one really spoke to Rick about what happened, there was time for that later. For now they could all relax seeing Rick bonding with his daughter and reconciling with his son.
Glenn stood still, frozen in place without the proper words to express what was happening. When he saw Rick with the baby he was glad to see he had come back to the group, willing and able to accept his daughter and Lori's passing. He could not find it in himself to interrupt. Though when Rick looked up from the baby and Carl, he saw Glenn staring at them and he had no choice.
There was a mixture of relief on Glenn's face to see Rick again. Something else was there, just beneath that relief and it told Rick he was needed again. Hershel saw it too, Red and Markus catching on as everyone came to focus on Glenn's stunned silence.
Red took a step forward, hoping to give Rick more time with his children. He stood closer to Glenn, but far enough away so Rick did not feel threatened. "Glenn, where are the others? Micheal and Maggie?" He was concerned at why Glenn was here before them alone.
Glenn stared at Rick. He faltered, his voice strained from dry throat and the inability to describe the day's events. "They're at the car... they're fine." That's not the problem. Red frowned, there was still obviously something wrong. If this was just Glenn being happy to see Rick back with the group, there would not be this thick feeling in the air.
"What's wrong? Was there no formula?" He tried to gently pry, but Glenn blinked rapidly, looking to the ground and shook his head. Red was confused what that meant. He gave the man time to find his words.
Rick turned to Carl knowing he needed to talk to his friend. Carefully he lowered the infant into Carl's arms, ensuring the boy supported the baby's neck and body properly before returning to Glenn. Beth came up to help Carl with his sister, a bit nervous seeing the men worked up. She kept to herself, listening in as Rick came up to Glenn.
Markus stayed with Hershel just to make sure he was still steady on his crutches. This talk between Glenn would happen with Rick and Red nearby, he would wait patiently for whatever had happened to be discussed in the group.
Glenn took another deep breath as Rick came to him, stopping only a couple feet in front of him. "What's the matter?" His voice was hard and dry. Rick was tired and strained. His people needed him now no matter how much he wanted to go sleep or spend time with his baby and Carl. Glenn was not easily shaken so he knew it was important.
He stuttered momentarily before biting his cheek. "We found... we went out and we didn't know, but there she was." Glenn struggled. Saying she caught Red and Rick's attention. "There was a lot of formula there so we started to pick it up. Then there was a sound outside, a loud banging and it wasn't a walker. It had to be a person so we got ready for a fight."
Red held his breath still trying to remember that Glenn said they were still with the car. Micheal and Maggie, or what else. He assumed she referred to someone with another group and he thought about that cannibal camp back before the farmhouse. There were so many way this could go and it felt like Glenn was not explaining fast enough.
"You said Micheal and Maggie are okay." Red confirmed, Glenn's quick nod made him feel a bit more comfortable.
Braddock approached from the fence, keeping a respectable distance from Rick, Red, and Glenn. He neared Markus and before he could ask, the smaller man just shrugged. "I saw people in the back of the car with Glenn and them. Probably the run went south." Braddock spoke to Hershel and Markus, the three men sharing a look between themselves before watching Glenn explain.
They were too far away to hear, but the reactions should tell them enough.
Glenn held Rick's attention, keeping solid eye contact as he said what he could not find the words to say. His heart stopped and he knew Rick would want to see her. He twitched, barely able to open his mouth. Rick gave him time regardless of the concern etched across his face, both for his friend and what happened on the run.
Then he spoke, "Rick..." He had a defeated tone in his voice. "When we came outside there were two people and one- one of them was Laura." The moment he uttered her name Rick and Red's expression changed.
"What?" Rick was in disbelief. No one expected to ever see Laura again. "Are you sure?"
"Yes. She's with Micheal and Maggie at the car." He answered carefully, Rick looked behind him to the edge of the building. "Rick-" The ex-Sheriff turned to pass Glenn, but he grabbed Rick's arm halting him. "Rick, just... she's different." It was a clear warning.
Rick felt Glenn release his arm and still hesitated. He needed to see her, he needed to know this was real. Red was close behind and Glenn ran up to get ahead of Rick and Red. He came passed the corner, leaving enough space for the two men to continue their rush to see her. They had sped up to a hurried power walk, desperate to see what Glenn claimed.
As the stone corner of the prison wall neared them Rick was terrified to see her, if it was her. He did not know how she would have come here, what the odds were to discover her in the same area. Some damaged part of him doubted Glenn and simultaneously hoped that Laura was with them again, that the group was restored more than they ever dared to believe.
Once he felt the air rushing around the corner, the edge of the car bumper come into view, he saw her.
Red stopped dead in his tracks and stared, unable to understand and almost not wanting to. He looked at her in her entirety and saw the damage; it was overwhelming. He never imagined, he thought she died, and seeing her alive but covered in scars and pain. What could he say to her?
Seeing Laura standing there felt like someone had punched him in the stomach. Air rushed out of his lungs and he was left with an ache. It was the same shock he felt when he saw Carol again, but without the urgency of walkers attacking the group. Carol came back to them and Rick was happy to have her back. They all feared the worst that Carol met her end in the herd.
Now seeing someone he grew close to, someone that left when she could have been right beside them, he did not know how to respond.
"Rick." Maggie was surprised to see him here. He had been unreachable and his grief so strong she doubted he would even be here. Daryl was not which told her no one told him yet, otherwise he'd have been here with the others.
"Laura." Rick uttered quietly, coming closer to his friend but becoming acutely aware of Maggie's pistol on her. His eyes followed the line of the gun to Maggie and he raised a brow, wondering why their friend was held at gunpoint. He had only just rejoined his group after handling Lori's death, now he began to think about Laura. What losing her could do.
"They were fighting." Maggie answered quickly. She looked to Glenn and back to Rick. "We should talk."
Rick nodded while he inspected his friend. He noticed immediately the damage to her clothing, the rips and tears, blood and dirt. Heavy boots, large camouflage utility pants, and a plain tan tank top, torn from the just below the neck to the bottom hem. Regular clothing really, almost complimenting how abnormal she was.
A large, black leather muzzle was strapped across her face. It appeared to have some spots of metal riveting on the sides. The object obscured her face, but Rick knew this was Laura. He saw her eyes, the black sclera and white iris which gave her away. They appeared sharper, somehow, almost more defined. There was no emotion on her face, only a flat expression that told him nothing.
Underneath these plain clothes was deep blue skin, far stronger than he had ever seen her before. Back on the Greene family farm she was pale with a blue tint, it made her appear different but not too obviously strange. Rick took a step forward, wanting to welcome his friend, but Laura's eyes shot to him, remaining still, only her fingers clicked together as she prepared herself.
The sound of metal ticking on metal brought his eyes to her hands. He was not sure what he expected to see, but these odd bolted together gauntlets were not it. From her elbow to her fingers she wore a metal glove, the metal just passing half way up her forearm. The rest on her elbow and just below her bicep was leather straps holding the gauntlet on her arms and material underneath to keep them stable while also not damaging the skin underneath.
All at once Rick became aware of the blood on her arms and face. It was disturbing to see his friend, someone he felt he could trust, so mangled. There was blood on the ends of the gauntlets, black blood trailing down barely visible behind the mask and some down her neck. They were thin trails which still did not mean much comfort to Rick.
"Laura, what happened to you?" Rick asked lowly. He almost felt like speaking too loudly would put her on guard or maybe even hurt her, seeing her condition now was not pleasant. She stared at him, not answering. A moment passed before Maggie looked to Rick again.
"She can't talk, Rick." Maggie explained and he understood. She always had issues with her voice, it being gone now is not too much of a stretch for him to imagine. Rick nodded, a bit concerned about his next step if she could no communicate.
"We have to tell Daryl." Rick turned to Glenn, the group knowing instantly how that might be a problem. Though their crossbow wielding friend was not as volatile as he used to be, seeing Laura here and having to see how not welcoming she is to their company would complicate things.
This was making Rick uncomfortable as it was. When Laura needed support or to talk to someone about sensitive issues, she would go to Rick. From Atlanta to the Greene farm she had chosen him as her rock. Rick was the support of the entire group, the work was straining. Between the two of them they could rant about their stress, vent about people or the world, and come back together as friends.
He wanted that- he needed that right now. These last few months he had needed her more than ever. After the farm, Lori's death, T-Dog's death, the hard winter spent running and hungry. Laura was his greatest ally, both in ability to hide them from walkers and also because she would listen to him. She did not fake her affection for him or doubt his decisions like the others did. Daryl stood by Rick after the herd; Rick knew Daryl made decisions for himself, but how much did Laura rub off on him? She was far kinder than the hunter, maybe her company softened him up a bit.
Looking at Laura now soft did not appear when he tried to describe her. "He's gonna be pissed." Glenn commented, not expecting any reply.
"Who's she?" Rick turned to the stranger beside Laura. He was more interested in Laura for sure though he needed to know why there was a second person. This woman was unfamiliar, bleeding clearly, and glaring at all of them. She did not appear friendly.
"Don't know." Micheal answered, "When we found Laura she was there too... they were fighting. Like actually trying to kill each other." It explained the blood on both women. Rick did not like the sound of that though, he could not remember a time where Laura tried to kill anyone. Even when Shane attempted to kill her more than once she never made a move against him.
Now she was out there fighting this stranger. It was time to figure out exactly what happened out there. "Let's bring them inside. We'll talk about it."
Red turned to Rick, holding up a hand to stop him. "Hold on," Rick looked to the man beside him, "Give me a minute. I'm going to tell Beth to get Carl and the baby inside. We can go to the other cell block my group stays in." For a moment Rick paused, still not trusting this new group. Red was concerned about the kids though and it was genuine; Rick also knew Red's group put themselves out there to help find formula and supplies for the baby.
With an appreciative yet still hesitant nod, he allowed Red to pull the kids aside. Red turned to hurry back up the hill, Glenn watching to make sure the kids are out of sight before they moved.
"Rick." Glenn got his attention, his head tilted to the side to gesture him to come to the side. He complied, following Glenn around behind Maggie and Laura towards the car. "Look." His eyes did not turn off of their damaged vehicle. Rick turned to the car and was stunned; the vehicle was never in the best shape but it never was this bad.
"What happened?" He circled the pick up slowly, inspecting the damage. Dents, punctured holes, scratches - the vehicle was still operable but the condition left much to be desired.
"Laura happened." Rick's head spun to Glenn, confused. He came up to the hood of the car and pointed at the holes. "When we found her we didn't know. The moment we let our guard down she just jumped on the car and started chasing the woman we brought back. And Rick... they were trying to kill each other, no holding back. That woman ran Laura through with a sword and Laura didn't even flinch; she used it against her. It was so messed up." The panic in the moment froze Glenn, but looking back on it now was still troubling to see.
Rick rounded the far side of the car with Glenn's recount still in his head. It was clear Laura was not the scared girl she used to be, but there was too much to think about as he came up beside Micheal and the stranger. The back window was completely smashed, but not by a hit directly to the glass. The top edge around the windshield was bent down, which shattered the glass. More damage over the top of the vehicle told him that Laura had gone over the car.
Red's approached was watched by everyone, all curious as to what was going on down by the cars. Glenn saw Red did not talk to anyone, but neared Beth and Carl. He leaned over slightly, said something, and Beth nodded. Hershel frowned seeing Red send the children inside, he knew there was something wrong now. Beth ushered Carl to the security gate, opening it while he held the baby and lead them both inside.
The door banged shut, locking in place. Red turned around, sighed, and waved the others up. Glenn walked back to Rick and the others, not needing to say anything for Rick to know it was time to bring their two new guests up. Micheal brought the stranger in front with Glenn just behind him. Maggie brought Laura up last with Rick beside them.
For Glenn the hard part was over now it was Rick's turn to carry this burden. Maggie was still worried about everything, but no one questioned each other when holding these two women at gunpoint. It was for their protection and the safety of the others, Laura did not look herself and was on guard around them if her reaction to Rick approaching her was an indication.
They kept to a line and Red was ready to hear it from his group. Braddock was first to see her and for a moment did not recognize the blue woman being lead by Maggie. After a few seconds of confusion looking at this strange woman did he realize who this was. Braddock's head turned to Red, disbelief across his face. Red shook his head subtly, letting Braddock know to wait.
Markus and Hershel saw the newcomers being lead towards the far cell block. The stranger kept her head down and moved, trying to keep her wits about her. Laura was less concerned. These people knew her and they did not appear aggressive towards her. If this was the case and Laura needed to escape, their familiarity with her could be something to exploit.
When she tried to plan this route the infection in her brain hindered her. She delved too close to who these people were and why she felt connected to them. It fought to resist her attempts at uncovering these faces and her memories. The longer she looked at Rick and Glenn the harder it became.
A few memories began to scratch the surface and Laura's mind went to explore them. Memories of herself in the water were the furthest back she could go. She saw Glenn's face in one, that she already knew. But looking at Rick she realized he was more prominent in the same memory. Just as before when she saw Glenn's face in this memory she realized she knew Rick once as well.
This piqued her curiosity. The Voice could not withhold that from her, it was well and truly out of its grasp. The feeling of water, the memory of wanting to remain in its embrace was a stronger stimulant than anything Laura ever excepted. Out on the road with Merle when she rediscovered her love of the rain, of being submerged, it left an imprint on her mind.
In the memory Rick was near her, beside her, and comforted her. He was gentle and kind, but urgent. Something was going on and it was extremely important, he spoke to her in the memory, but it was not negative. Rick looked at her, made sure she was alright, and then argued with another man. Shane, someone she always seemed to remember.
Thinking about Shane brought a strange tightening in her throat, like an old wound. In this short memory Rick was good to her, she was comfortable near him. This feeling of relief to see Rick after she stood from the creek water was confusing. Laura felt a bit conflicted, her instincts were telling her no one could be trusted but this image in her head of Rick and Glenn... it was not bad. They were not causing her trouble, harassing her, or anything of the like. It felt alien to think about these two men she had only just remembered today actually having treated her well, like any other person.
No one here was threatening her really. Maggie held a gun up, Micheal did the same; it was less of a threat and more to insist restraint inside the prison. Even then they were incredibly lax with their pistols, barely even holding them up anymore. They knew Laura and the stranger were aware trying to attack or escape right now was simply not possible. With fences, armed guards, and nearly the entire group around them they would be insane to try anything here. It was smart to wait for their time.
Braddock and Red were in front already opening the security gate and main door entrance to the second cell block. The stranger entered first, eyeing the men on the way in. As the rest of the group filed in the heavy metal door slammed shut behind them. Inside was a large multistory room with benches and was clearly lived in. With clothing, dishes, and storage Red's group began to make themselves at home here.
The pistols were holstered and the group dispersed through the room, the exits blocked by locked doors and a few group members too close to make any attempts to escape. Not that they believed Laura would and this stranger did not appear so reckless. Rick remained standing with Red taking a seat on the bench just beside him. Others that had filtered in had either sat down or leaned on the gates inside.
A moment of silence passed. Red's group both thrilled and disturbed to see Laura. Braddock and Markus still had no idea what was going on, but Micheal and Red knew the explanation was coming.
Glenn took the lead on this, knowing Micheal was still not generally trusted by Rick. Maggie would help, but she knew finding their friend was better explained between the people who knew her best.
Laura sat silently on the bench, the other woman sitting on the far side of the room. Intentionally keeping them separated after the scene in the parking lot. Glenn was still cautious about how Laura kept looking at her every few minutes just to make sure she was still within sight. It was definitely a bit creepy to him.
Rick stood in front of Laura wanting to greet his friend first. The other woman was no threat unarmed and inside locked doors. She was watched and any attempts to escape the prison room would be futile.
"The group you were with, they found us." Rick started, easing onto the bench beside Red. No more than a couple of feet in front of Laura's bench. "They brought Carol with them to find Sophia. They're together again, in the other cell block. Red tells us that you stayed behind to give them time to escape... That you told them about us, our group, and who we were - or Carol did at least."
Glenn glanced between Laura and Rick. There was no response, not even a nod or blinking. Laura was still as stone.
The only sound in the room was the wind just outside the barred window and the sound of clothes brushing together as Braddock folded his arms. "Can you tell us what happened- I understand you can't speak so here," Rick got up quickly, turning to an old scratched up pen and stained notebook. It was Sophia's as she liked to draw occasionally. Writing supplies were few and far between here, not something they often cared to scavenge.
Thankfully they had done so to give the little girl something to do while her mother was gone, when they believed she had died. Every now and then they would find a crayon, pen, or pencil still working and an old notebook left in a drawer. The supplies were there, the willingness to carry them back was only made for Sophia's peace of mind.
He held them up to her and Laura did not move. "Since you can't talk there are still ways to communicate." Rick added, still she did not reach to take the pen and paper. "We want to know what happened that night at the farmhouse. About what Red and Carol have said. About how you made it here after so many months."
Laura looked at the paper and could see he was very insistent. The metal gauntlets clacked together as she reached up, displaying these twisted weapons nailed into her hands. One hand gripped the paper, the metal cutting some pages as her fingers slid over them and the other pinching the pen between her thumb and index. Dexterity on this level was not her strong suit anymore. She was more than capable using her gauntlet's accurately and many weapons she was given in Woodbury.
A pen was a bit different. Rick and the others watched her, waiting to read what she had to say. She pondered what to write, what they wanted her to write, and thought to herself about it. "We do not talk to the others, the living. We cannot risk giving anything away."
What would we be giving away? I do not understand the threat here. Back during the hunt we were ready to kill this woman or die trying. Instead they brought us here without shooting, stabbing, or otherwise injuring us. Laura pondered her eyes slowly trailing down Rick's black plaid shirt and to the pen and paper in her hands. She was holding the pen incorrectly, in the wrong hand, and her other hand nearly covered the small notebook page. They are asking us to write something. We don't know what, but they are insisting. What do we write?
"Tell them we will kill and eat every one of them if they do not give us our prey." Laura nearly choked.
Bit over the top, don't you think? She moved the pen over the paper, resting the pad on her knee. The gauntlet hindered her tremendously, but seeing them all waiting for her to write she made do. If nothing else than to stop them staring at her so intently.
The Voice hummed, "Over the top? More over the top than saying we must rely on the living?"
That is the truth of our situation. Jumping straight to threatening their lives is stupid; they captured us not the other way around. I'm not the dramatic one here. The room was quiet as Laura held her internal discussion. It did not help her situation but she did allow it to take its course. These people were anxious to see what she would say yet still gave her the time to write it.
Laura pressed the pen on the paper, holding both probably tighter than she should. The cheap notepad crinkled under her grip, the metal of her gauntlets beginning to tear through the pages. She began to write, her hand a bit out of practice. There was no memory of the last time she wrote something down herself. Plenty of memories seeing her father write down results and notes though.
The pen occasionally skipped over, having long since dried the tip. The blue ink still had enough to make her mark. She released her grip on the paper and pen, some pages of the paper now shredded and the pen scratched with a slight bend. She stopped writing and raised her head to see Rick sitting across from her, just waiting and watching. His own thoughts on her inability to write properly were private, he did not display any sign he cared if she could or could not write like everyone else.
Gingerly he took the paper from her hand, seeing her stop. Laura let him take it, her eyes following his face as he tried to read what she wrote. As he finished his eyes flicked to her before returning to the paper.
She said only one thing. "What farmhouse?" Rick read aloud, letting the group hear what she wrote for them.
It was not what they expected, but seeing how hard it was for her to write in those gauntlets Rick decided to help answer that question while they removed them.
"The farmhouse with Red and Carol." Rick answered, handing back the paper and pen. "They said you were with them back at the farmhouse. When it was attacked you stayed behind to give them a chance to escape." Laura held the pen and paper, her gauntlets shredding more of the paper. Rick and the others saw this struggle and the more she moved the worse it got.
The torn sheet of paper was too damaged to write on so she tried to flip the page, ending up tearing it in half and part of it tore off entirely. She turned a few pages in, trying to find paper still decently intact to use. Torn bits of paper hung loosely to the side as she tried to respond to him. The sounds of shredding paper began to get to Rick though, he knew she was having a difficult time writing on such heavy gauntlets.
The sight of the gauntlets alone disturbed him. He paused and began to think about how roughly she had been brought here. No one manhandled her of course, but so far she had not been treated like their friend. That was partially because she was so on guard, but also because they got her here at gunpoint. "You should probably take off those gloves; there's no need for them in here." He suggested, only getting her to raise her head without any motion to remove her gauntlets.
"I mean we're safe here, nothing is going to happen to you or us. It would make it easier to write." Rick continued, still a bit unnerved by her staring.
"He wants our claws." The Voice balked, "They are our only weapon now. We cannot give them up - we need our claws." Laura did not acknowledge the Voice's adamant stance.
Rick knew those gauntlets were weapons, designed specifically to cause damage. They were not comfortable to the wearer and they hindered her movement. He could not imagine Laura making such a brutal tool, yet here they were and she made no attempts to remove them. She feels threatened. Rick realized. Holding her at gunpoint made her feel attacked.
He needed to show her they were not against her or trying to hurt her. Rick went over to the small store of food and water they had given Red's group and picked up a bottle of water and brought it back. "It hot out there, you must be thirsty." He held out the bottle to her, but she did not accept it. She looked from the bottle to Rick again, not making any moves to take it from him. "It's alright, you can have it." He mistook her rejection as fear.
At his insistence she accepted the offer with suspicion. Setting the pen on the paper she took the bottle gingerly, trying her best not the pierce the thin recycled plastic. Holding the notepad with the pen and trying to not puncture the water bottle was difficult. The dexterous task removed some of her focus on being apprehensive towards them and now she was intent on not embarrassing herself.
"Crush the bottle and shred the paper. Throw it in his face." The Voice cheered, annoyed at how gentle she was trying to be. Laura held the bottle by her phalanxes as her finger tips carried the shard metal. Her hand shook slightly from the stress of using parts of her fingers not meant to hold objects. It looked challenging, but no one spoke up.
Remember what happened last time we broke something the Governor gave us? Laura added. Her eyes watching her hand and the bottle to make sure she did not make the wrong move.
"These people are not Woodbury. He is not the Governor - they have no control over us and out here, not even the Governor can reach us. We can be free out here." Laura wanted to scoff. These people outnumbered her, they had weapons, and she was alone. She was always alone even in Woodbury surrounded by people.
Merle was her only companion, the only person who gave her the time of day and show her some level of compassion. She knew she cared about him and his well being just as he did for her. They could not show it, but last night the Governor punished them for it. The night before being the one time anyone stood up for her and it resonated.
In her distraction she failed to keep the notepad straight and the pen clattered to the floor. She looked down and her grip on the bottle tightened, cracking the bottle open and water spilled over her lap and the concrete. Rick grabbed the bottle from her and set it on the table, Braddock brought up an old shirt and handed it to Rick. The group finding watching Laura struggle with these common objects was a bit hard to see.
He leaned down and went to dry the water spilled all over her pants leg, but the moment he reached for her he was shown Laura was not the friend they remember. The second his hand with the shirt over it touched her lower thigh she became aggressive. In her mind it happened unexpectedly, no one helped her in Woodbury she expected the same treatment by strangers.
Granted she knew Rick and Glenn were something to her once. It was not clear and she did not trust them even with that old memory reminding her just a small bit about these people. When she felt a hand on her leg she was put on the defensive. He touched her, he invaded her space, and she lashed out. Memories of Woodbury still too fresh in her mind to ignore.
The now free hand shot forward and grabbed Rick just below his neck and above his collar. Her gauntlet tore into the shirt and the clawed fingers threatened to do more damage if she just strengthened her grip.
She leapt forward, pushing Rick's back against the opposite table. "Whoa, whoa, hey hey hey!" The group jumped into action stepping forward and reaching to grab Laura. Glenn got close before he saw Rick holding his hand up to stop them. He put it together quickly - he was relaxed around Laura but the sentiment was not returned.
The new Laura with defined strength and a fierce look quickly set herself apart from the scared girl they knew. It was at this tense moment with Laura raising her other hand still holding the notepad as if to hit him with it that the door unlocked and a familiar face came through.
Next chapter begins the singular person focus again. Like back in the old days. ;)
adelphe24:
Thanks you're so sweet on me! :3
But yes, Laura's memory is a tragic mess of forgotten people. I cannot write it, but I am trying to show it is similar to alzheimer's in regards to memory damage. Though this kind of "forced alzheimers" is a direct result of the Voice or Infection now trying to control Laura's entire life.
In the previous chapters back when the Voice appeared I would write them differently:
"Laura's thoughts."
The Voice's thoughts.
- Now I have inverted this as a subtle way of telling the reader Laura isn't really in control anymore and the Voice is more than just a psychotic break. There's more to the Voice than a damaged brain. Laura is not imagining the Voice or its existence, it is an entity inside of her that used to have to convince Laura to do what it wanted. Over time it became stronger while Laura became weaker. Laura's trauma, all that suffering, would break any person. Instead of it just killing her or breaking her spirit, the Voice took over and is now in command.
Laura's memories are damaged, but only because she is not in control. So she cannot confirm the farmhouse with Red or even recall time Rick and Laura spent together just being friends.
However being submerged in water created a memory that cannot be erased by the Voice entirely. Deep water Laura can rest her entire body in is like 10 hours of sleep for an insomniac. Trying to get rid of the memories created by water is near impossible. The Voice has tried and failed. So we will see how much ground Laura can gain from just those two very very short memories. :D
Guest:
Pretty soon! The actual details will be expanded on and play a deeper role in the future. ;)
Gemini's Revenge:
Thank you! I am feeling a lot better. My writing plummeted while I was sick I didn't want to subject anyone to that. xD
But I am very glad you liked the last chapter. I'm going to start writing individual moments to create a long day for characters. A lot more of Red's group will be defined and the interactions will have more depth as time goes on. I am excited to begin working with characters directly again. It's been so long! :DDDD