Edwin spends his first night out of the CDC shaking with fear. He's been awake for at least forty-eight hours, and it's hard to focus his vision or to pay attention to what anyone around him says. He's distantly aware that T-Dog, Dale, and Andrea have designated themselves as his guards; one of the three is always nearby. He wants to say he's grateful, but all he can feel is terror.
The only point of light in the fog of fear surrounding him is Mouse. She's far more awake than he is, more aware. Where he has shrunken in on himself unable to do more than mumble incoherent responses to questions he can't remember, she blooms. Tentatively, she ventures forward, accepting whatever small rations they are due, and forcing him to eat with a stubborn glint in her eyes. When she isn't nestled against his side, he sits there and grits his teeth against tears, only reassured when he can feel her curled in his arms.
He passes out eventually and comes to spread across a double-sized bed, gently swaying with the subtle bumps and turns of a moving vehicle. He sits up in a daze, head pulsing and mouth dry. It's an effort to get onto his feet, but he pulls it off somehow. Rubbing his head, he stumbles to the curtain, pulling it aside and stepping out into a narrow hall that leads to the main living area of an RV.
Andrea is sitting on the small couch, watching the trio who settled at the tiny dining table. T-Dog is across from Glenn and Mouse, both he and Glenn holding a hand of cards.
"What do you think?" Glenn shows Mouse his hand, grimacing visibly.
"Man," T-Dog shakes his head and chuckles. "You have got to get a better poker face."
Glenn gives the other man an exasperated look as Mouse narrows her eyes down at the cards. Before she can make a call, T-Dog notices Edwin standing in the hall.
"Hey, doc!" He puts his cards down and gestures him to come forward. "Looks like you finally caught up on your beauty sleep."
The moment T-Dog speaks, Mouse shoots up from the table. She whips around and dashes forward, throwing her arms tight around his waist. Edwin catches her, crouching down and returning the hug with a breathless whimper. Just having her against his chest is enough to ease the tension between his shoulders.
"Come sit down," Andrea offers, scooting to make room on the couch.
Unsteadily, Edwin follows her advice, settling onto the couch and reluctantly releasing Mouse when she tugs away. She darts over to the kitchen counter, climbing up onto it to get access to the cupboard above.
"Whoa hey, Mouse!" Glenn scrambles up from his seat, abandoning his cards. "What did we say earlier about climbing?"
She shoots Glenn a scowl and pulls the cupboard open. She climbs back down with a half-empty water bottle which she brings over to Edwin, ignoring the bewildered look Glenn gives her.
"I guess she considers taking care of her scientist more important than following instructions," T-Dog laughs. "Just take a few sips though, okay? We're running pretty low."
"I…" Hesitantly Edwin accepts the bottle, glancing around at the others. "I shouldn't—"
"Don't be a martyr," Andrea narrows her eyes. "The kid climbed a counter for you, Jenner. Drink up."
It takes him a moment to catch the flash of amusement in her expression. Edwin nods, giving Mouse a fond smile and forcing himself to take a few sips.
"I'll get it," Glenn takes the bottle and returns it to the cupboard while Mouse makes herself comfortable on Edwin's lap. She slings her arms around his chest and buries her face into his neck. Edwin lets himself slump, clutching at her and shivering.
"How long was it since you slept?" T-Dog asks as Glenn settles back down across from him.
"I don't know," Edwin admits, rubbing at his eyes. "Probably at least sixty hours. I had uh, I hadn't slept for— for at least twenty-four hours before— before you all arrived."
"Wait," Glenn frowns. "But, you slept that night, right?"
The silence is broken by Andrea snorting. "No Glenn, he did not. Obviously."
Glenn blushes, ducking his head down. Edwin swallows, running a hand down Mouse's back to soothe his nerves before he speaks.
"I wasn't exactly obvious about it," he points out, giving Glenn a small smile. "I didn't want anyone to know. Anyways, how long did I sleep?"
"About twelve hours," T-Dog chimes in, nodding to him. "Sounds like it was needed."
"Yeah," Edwin admits with a chuckle. "I can't really remember much past the explosion. I don't even remember coming in here."
Mouse whimpers, hugging him even harder. He squeezes her back, letting out a shaky breath and resting his chin on top of her head.
"So uh," Glenn glances up, biting his lip nervously. "Locking us in, was that because you were sleep deprived or…"
The friendly atmosphere evaporates, leaving Edwin's chest constricting into a brittle icy ball. He struggles to sort his thoughts, to think of some way to apologize for what he nearly did.
"Oh, so that's the excuse you're gonna go with?"
Edwin's head snaps up, rage rushing up in a wave as he catches sight of Shane hovering in the entryway to the driver's cab. The cop's dark eyes narrow, anger radiating from every inch of him.
"Knock it off, Shane." Andrea snaps. "Or are you going to be that annoying little bitch who never lets anything go?"
Shane's fists clench. "What, you'd have been okay with him trying to kill Amy?"
There's a moment of shocked silence in the RV. Andrea's face drains of color, before her cheeks flush with fury.
"Of course I wouldn't," she hisses, scrambling to her feet in order to place herself between Shane and Edwin. "The point is, it's done. It happened. He didn't kill us, get over it. If any of us is going to make it, we're only going to pull it off by working together. So get with the program, or get out. Me?" She laughs bitterly, shaking her head and staring at the far wall. "I wanted out. I had that choice taken away from me. So here I am, but you don't see me throwing a fit every chance I get."
Silence descends, thick and heavy like a hot day where the air is so humid it fogs. After a moment, Edwin takes a deep breath, focusing his gaze on Glenn and trying to dismiss the angry cop nearby.
"I don't know why I did it," he lies. "I shouldn't have. I'm sorry, and I know that's not enough. Rick— Rick wouldn't have been wrong to kick me out. But I— I'm never going to be separated from Mouse. She's—"
He stops, shuddering hard. Her arms squeeze him, and she shifts up enough to press a kiss to his cheek. He huffs out a laugh, burying his face into her tangled curls to hide the tears that are already welling in his eyes.
Shane snorts, stopping by the kitchenette long enough to grab a sip from the bottle of water they're all sharing before he heads back up to the front. A murmur of low voices is followed with the RV slowing down and stopping. When the speed picks back up Dale emerges from the front, glancing around the group, his gaze lingering on Andrea.
"Glenn, do you think you could go up and help Shane navigate—" Dale begins to say.
"I'll do it," Andrea brushes past Dale coldly. Dale starts to reach for her before letting her go with a sigh. He moves to the couch, sitting beside Edwin.
"Sorry about the rough welcome," Dale mutters, glancing towards the front and shaking his head. "Just so you know, we don't all think like the meathead."
Edwin smiles involuntarily. "It's fine. Everyone has been more than accommodating."
"Well that's good," Dale grins, leaning forward to get a peek at Mouse. "How's our littlest member holding up?"
Mouse shifts so she can shoot Dale a thumbs up before she returns to hiding against Edwin's side.
"I guess she's good," Edwin smiles down at her. He strokes her hair, feeling her relax into his arms.
"How old is she anyways?" Dale asks, straightening up and eyeing Glenn's cards over his shoulder. "Glenn, that hand is—"
"Yeah— Yeah I know," Glenn groans, dropping the cards and his face down onto the table's top. "Ugh…"
"She's twelve," Edwin shares. "She told me on her hands, a few days before you all arrived." When Dale opens his mouth, Edwin cuts him off. "I'm not sure how long she was there with me. Everything got blurry towards the end. I wasn't sleeping well, or eating really. Maybe a week? I don't think it was much longer than that."
"Well, Miss Mouse," Dale waits for her to lift her head and nod, giving him the go ahead. "Can you write?" She nods, but when he reaches for a notepad Edwin feels her stiffen.
"Selective Mutism is— complicated," Edwin hurries to explain, rubbing Mouse's back to reassure her. "Mouse wouldn't respond to anything I said at first. Not even with gestures. It took her about a day to do anything more than nod or shake her head.
"She'll probably be up to writing things down soon," he continues after a moment, "but I doubt she'll manage right now."
"Well," Dale frowns, trying to catch Mouse's gaze and failing. "Would you at least like to try?" She shakes her head hard, and Edwin shrugs, giving Dale an apologetic look.
"That's alright," Dale tucks the notepad back where he'd pulled it out from under the couch. "We have it for later when you're ready."
"Dale," Shane calls out from the cab. "Need you up front."
Tension floods the RV, and Dale stands swiftly. "Just stay where you are," he reassures the rest of them, his voice shaky with nerves. "Whatever it is, we'll handle it."
Even in the main living portion of the RV, the rest of them can hear Dale's, "Oh jeez," loud and clear. The RV pulls to a halt, and the roar of Daryl's motorcycle approaches.
"See a way through?" Dale asks, and since the RV begins to pull forward he must have indicated there was.
As they drive on, Edwin finally sees the cause of alarm. There are countless cars strewn about the highway, crashed together, flipped, or simply abandoned. Most are empty, but bodies hang out the opened windows or doors of a few, sprawled wherever they fell. He cups the back of Mouse's head, holding her against his neck and murmuring, "Don't look."
"I'll— I'll go see if I can help," Glenn mutters, face green as he abandons his cards.
While T-Dog puts the game away, Glenn suggests they take a bypass. Dale's assertion that they don't have the fuel leaves Edwin's chest tightening with fear. No fuel will mean no vehicles, which would leave them stuck on foot.
The shrieking of steam exploding into the air makes Edwin jump. Dale's muttered, "God damnit…" is not encouraging. The RV rolls to a stop, and the engine's rumbling ceases.
"Dead in the water…" Dale mutters as he comes out of the driver's cab, heading straight for the door outside. Everyone else follows, and hesitantly, Edwin does the same.
"Stay close," he orders Mouse, edging up to the door and peeking outside. Most of the group has gathered around the front of the RV where Dale is ranting about them being in the middle of nowhere. Daryl brushes past everyone, making for the opened back of a sedan. He starts rifling through the abandoned luggage of people who are more than likely dead.
"Okay, that was dumb," Dale mumbles, glancing out at the countless cars before them with a glint of interest in his eyes.
"If you can't find a radiator hose here…" Shane shrugs his shoulders.
"Can find a whole bunch of stuff," Daryl grunts, ripping open an abandoned packet of crackers and stuffing a few into his mouth.
"I can siphon some more fuel from these cars for a start," T-Dog points out, his expression easing into a slight grin.
The people in the vehicle following them join the crowd, edging forward to assess the situation. "Some water, maybe?" Carol suggests.
Sophia offers Mouse a smile and a wave. Mouse blushes, hiding her face into Edwin's side, before she returns the wave with a small one of her own.
"Yeah, and food," Glenn suggests, eyeing Daryl's crackers longingly. The hunter snorts, twisting to throw the packet to the young man.
Glenn catches it with a yelp, mumbling thanks to which Daryl waves a hand dismissively. "Hey kids," the young man grins. "Want something to eat?"
Sophia and Carl dart forward, pulling out of their mothers' grips and holding out their hands. Mouse hesitates at his side, but Edwin takes a deep breath, pushing her forward and stepping out onto the asphalt.
"Go on," he tells her with a smile. "Get a bite, you must be starving."
With his permission, she doesn't hesitate. She rushes up to Sophia's side, holding out her hands for Glenn to place the crackers in. Glenn divides them out between all four of them, three crackers a piece, and he eats them nearly as fast as Sophia and Carl.
Mouse is more cautious, chewing slowly and grimacing in distaste. While she's still working through her first cracker, Sophia and Carl are licking their fingers clean.
"This—" Lori steps forward, interrupting the spreading cheer with an uncertain look on her face. "This is a graveyard." She fidgets in place, shaking her head as she adds, "I don't know how I feel about this."
It takes a moment, but soon everyone returns to what they were doing. No one acknowledges what Lori said, except for Mouse who stares with uncertainty down at her crackers.
Edwin steps up to her, stroking her cheek to get her attention. "I'm sure they'd want you to eat, whoever left them." He smiles at her tightly, his nerves easing when she finally nods. She returns to munching on them slowly, offering him one, but he shakes his head.
"You eat up, I'll be okay."
"Oh God, don't look, kids," Carol mutters as she and Lori begin checking the back of a car. Edwin thinks it's a lost cause, but he understands the sentiment. There are bodies everywhere, though thankfully none of them appear to be moving.
"Mouse, come here," Sophia calls softly, digging into a suitcase. "I think these clothes will fit us."
Sophia is an inch or so taller than Carl, who tops Mouse by a not insignificant amount, but both girls are stick thin. Edwin watches them closely as they crouch down over the case, picking through the clothes and setting some to the side.
"How old is she?" Lori asks, her gaze darting between the two girls and her boy.
"Um, twelve," Edwin says, chuckling at the disbelieving look in her eyes. "It's what she told me, a day or so before you all arrived."
"She's small," Carol mutters, frowning at her daughter. "Sophia, stay close okay?"
"You too, Carl," Lori adds.
Edwin wanders between the cars, keeping Mouse in sight. Dale has Glenn working on the RV, and Shane is keeping a close eye on him. The cop's eyes occasionally wander towards Edwin, his lips twisted with disgust. Even if he can't blame Shane for forcing his hand to free the group, the anger he feels whenever he remembers that gun pointed towards Mouse outweighs any rational reasoning.
"Jenner," Rick calls out from where he's keeping watch by the RV. "Could you come over for a moment? Want to talk."
He looks towards Mouse worriedly, but Carol catches his gaze. "We'll take care of her, don't worry." She offers him a tight smile before returning her attention to the car she's going through.
"Mouse," he calls, waiting until she looks up. "Stick right by Sophia, okay? And listen to Carol and Lori." She nods, and he drags himself away, heading over to Rick.
"Just wanted to ask how you're holding up," Rick begins, keeping his voice low enough that no one will overhear them. "You slept for quite awhile."
"Well, like I was telling the others," Edwin shuffles uncomfortably. "You're considered legally insane after three days without sleep, so if there was still a functional legal system…" Edwin tries to laugh, but it sounds forced even to himself. He sighs and rubs his face. "Look, I'll be fine."
Rick nods, checking his gun and not quite looking him in the eye. "Did Shane bother you?"
"He doesn't like me," Edwin rolls his shoulders, glancing back towards Mouse. "I get it."
"You don't like him either," Rick states. Edwin tenses, but Rick waves a hand dismissively. "If Shane ever pointed a gun at Carl, I'd shoot him myself. I get it, but we all need to work together. Can I count on you?"
Edwin grimaces, nodding tightly and unsure if he's lying or not. "Mouse needs me."
"She does," Rick agrees. He frowns at Edwin, then gestures to the RV. "Why don't you lay down. I know," he stops him when he starts to protest. "I know you just got up, but even twelve hours doesn't make up for 'legally insane.'" He gives Edwin a smirk. "We've got everyone covered. If we're going to trust you, you have to trust us."
"Okay," Edwin agrees with a shaky chuckle. He looks to Mouse, who smiles as Sophia holds a shirt up to the sun. "Just, tell her where I am if…"
"No one wants to keep you two apart," Rick insists with a warm smile.
Rick isn't correct, but Edwin lets it slide. He steps inside the RV and finds Andrea sitting on the couch, staring at nothing.
"Gonna lie down," he explains quietly. He heads back to the bedroom, collapsing onto the bed and closing his eyes. Even though he just got up, exhaustion tugs at his limbs. It's easy to sink into the mattress, an arm thrown over his head.
He's half asleep when a terror stricken gasp draws his eyes back open.
"Jenner!"
He blinks his eyes open, struggling back up from the half-sleep he'd already drifted into. Andrea crawls under the curtain, her face white with fear. Cautiously, he sits up, looking around to see what's going on.
Outside the RV, infected stream passed, bumping the sides of cars before stumbling onward. He stares in horror, his throat constricting into a knot of terror.
Mouse is out there. There are dozens, no, more than a hundred. Mouse is out there.
"What do we do?" Andrea hisses, clutching a gun in trembling hands, "Oh my God, what do—"
"Put it down!" Edwin crawls over to her and pushes the gun towards the ground. "You can't fire that! It will draw them all in, we'd be swarmed!"
Andrea whimpers, cowering against the bed and looking around wildly. He struggles to think, his heart in his throat. Mouse, she's out there somewhere, she's out there with those things.
"Where are the knives?" He asks, sweat dripping down the back of his neck. Andrea points to the front of the RV. Crouching as low as he can, Edwin makes his way up to the kitchenette.
The RV's door is open.
He freezes in place, staring at it with wide eyes. Infected stumble past, heedless. He can't close the door, it would attract attention, and if one starts clawing at it, more will follow suit. He backs away as slowly as he can.
"The bathroom," he whispers when he reaches Andrea, helping her stand. "If we squeeze, we'll both fit."
They cram themselves in side by side, Edwin holding the door shut with an outstretched arm. Andrea settles onto the toilet seat, pressing her legs into the door. She clutches the gun in a white knuckled grip.
"Don't," Edwin repeats at a whisper. "Please, if it goes off, that will be worse."
She bites her lip, nodding slowly. She lowers the gun, setting it down within easy reach, but at least not holding onto it like it will do them any good.
The rustle of scraping feet, and the soft thumps of infected bumping off the RV continue for what feels like hours. It's deathly silent outside until a rattle of something entering the RV reaches their ears. Andrea whines in the back of her throat, and without fully understanding why Edwin reaches for her hand. They hold onto one another shaking in mutual terror as unsteady footsteps thud closer.
It's just outside the bathroom. Edwin closes his eyes and holds his breath. He can't say how long it is before the footsteps wander away but at last he breathes out, shaking hard.
"Oh my God," Andrea whispers against his arm, tears running down her cheeks. "Oh God…"
The footsteps become fewer, but Edwin does not dare step out. He shivers in place, breathing raggedly. If he emerges too soon, he'll doom everyone, drawing them back before they make their way on.
Footsteps, these ones rushing and frantic. "Andrea?" It's Dale, his voice pitched low but urgent. Edwin relaxes, releasing the bathroom door with a groan.
"We're in the bathroom, Dale," Andrea calls out. She lowers her legs, bending to scoop her gun back up as Edwin gets the door open. He spills out of the cramped space, followed by Andrea. He's already looking around, because he'd have heard the screams if anything went—
"Mouse?" She's not with Dale. He'd assumed she would be, of course she would be after a scare like that.
The color drains from Dale's face. He lifts up a hand. "Dr. Jenner, I think you should sit—"
He shoves his way past Dale, sprinting for the front, uncaring if it's actually safe outside or not. He comes out onto the highway, his breath tight in his chest, eyes wide as he looks for her. His gaze passes over the various adults of the group, Carol in Lori's arms, her eyes wide and reddened.
"Mouse?" Edwin asks, keeping his voice low, spinning in place. "Mouse?!"
"She— She was hiding with Sophia!" Carl says, his eyes wide with fear. "They went into the—" Wordlessly, the boy points.
Edwin's gaze falls onto the thick forest that edges the highway, and the bottom drops from his stomach. The woods. She went into the woods. Edwin lunges forward, scrambling over the metal divider. He left her with them for a minute!
His shoelaces catch between the metal struts. He has enough time to think of all the ways he could have prevented this, and no time to stop himself from falling head over heels down the steep incline.
END NOTE: As always any comments and/or thoughts are appreciated, including politely worded critique! If you're not sure what to say, here are some questions to inspire you!
Where would you go if you found yourself in the Walking Dead's apocalypse? Would you head for the last known government run locations, like the CDC or a military fort, or would you head into the countryside?
Personally, I'd start out in a library so long as there was a source of water nearby. Lots of entertainment to keep me from going completely stir crazy!