Chapter 5 – Damn it Pt 2

"Cat." Shane says in a tone like he was talking to a wounded animal, from behind as soon as I was in my tent, causing me to stop but otherwise ignore him by simply throwing my med bag and the prescription bottle on my cot.

Guess he followed after me despite me yelling at them to leave me alone. Figures. He never did when I told him to.

"I'm sorry, okay?" He says then, tone still wounded animally.

I just turn my head to the side and slide my eyes to him.

He slowly raises his hands up in defense while repeating "I'm sorry, okay?"

"Why the hell did you involve the Dixons?" I question then, my voice harsh.

"I didn't mean to. I was over there questioning them about your bag as I thought for sure Merle had taken it. Then when Glenn ran over in a panic and I went to help you, they just followed. No words were exchanged. I know I shouldn't have let them. But at the time I was just focused on making sure you were safe. And if they were going to help, I was going to let them." He answers dropping his hands to his sides.

"The hell's up with that? Glenn, I understand. But the Dixons?" I breathe out sliding my eyes away from him.

He was telling the truth. He doesn't lie to me. What the hell?

"I guess they're not total assholes. At least when it comes to you." He says in a half-laugh.

I huff out a half-laugh then too before muttering "Is it because I told them that?"

"Told them what?" He questions as soon as the last word left my mouth.

"What I told you." I answer, yet not answering.

When it comes to him, Rick, and Carl. I don't lie. Though stretching the truth to them was another thing sometimes.

"Stephanie." He says in his cop voice then.

Damn it.

"That I probably won't live." I answer quickly then keeping my eyes trained on the tent wall.

He releases a heavy sigh and questions "Damn it, Cat. You're still thinking like that?"

"I'm just realistic Shane. I don't have the delusion that I can win in a fight." I answer looking at him.

"I knew you didn't even consider the possibility that Ed wouldn't stop with one hit." He tells me then, tone and face serious.

I flinch and fully look away from him, turning my head forward again.

I had not thought of that possibility. It's a very possible one too. And what did I just say about not being able to win a fight? I just dug my own grave. Damn it.

"Yeah, that's what I thought." He sighs out before explaining "That's why I got so mad at you. Yes, a single hit wouldn't hurt you too much but multiple? He could have very well beaten you to death."

I stay silent, focusing my attention on my tent's wall again.

I know I shouldn't have gone on my own. But the kids ran off to tell Glenn so he would've shown up to help.

"Cat, I know what you're thinking." He says then in an almost scolding tone.

I just turn my head to the side and slide my eyes to him again, daring him to say what he thought I was thinking.

"But the kids ran off to tell Glenn so he would've shown up to help." He says, in his imitation voice of me, causing me fully look away from him again, turning my head forward yet again.

Damn it, Shane. How he got that so accurate was insane.

He releases a heavy sigh again then before going back to that almost desperate tone as he says "Glenn's a good guy and all, but he wouldn't be able to stop him alone."

"Just what do you want me to say?" I breathe out looking at my feet.

"Just look, Cat, I'm sorry, okay?" He says, tone back to wounded animally, then before telling me "I just don't want anything to happen to you. I don't know what I'd do if I lost you too."

"I know." I mutter shifting on my feet.

What would happen to him if I died? What would he do?

"I lost Rick and look what I'm doing." He says then before muttering a "Damn it."

He then releases another heavy sigh before questioning "Can I tell you?"

It's silent for a minute then, neither of us acknowledging what he'd just said.

I knew this was probably coming, him spilling the beans to me. But I hadn't noticed if him and Lori were in a relationship now like the original. But maybe I just didn't want to notice since I was kind of hoping it wouldn't happen.

"Fine." I sigh, looking at him and turning to fully face him, finding him looking at his feet now.

"I never meant for it to…but it just happened. L-Lori and I…well…we…We're sort of in a relationship." He tells me, his attention never leaving his feet as his face held shame and guilt and he shifted on his feet.

I release a heavy sigh myself before telling him "I'm not a phycologist Shane. I can't tell you why. But it isn't uncommon. Many people develop romantic feelings for a close relative or friend after a break up or death."

"C-Ca-" He starts but I cut him off with a scoffed "Besides you're a Man-whore." And as soon as the last words left my mouth, he releases a snorted laugh followed by laughing like it was the funniest shit ever.

"Go die." I scoff then narrowing my eyes at him but he just laughs harder, going so far as holding his stomach, as he struggles to say "I…love…you…too." Laughing between each word.

"Go die." I repeat grabbing a shoe off the floor and throwing it at him.

Unfortunately, I miss, it just disappearing harmlessly out of the tent causing him to double over as he laughs even harder and tells me "You…missed."

I grab the other shoe and he quickly raises his hands in defense and backs up saying "I-I'm…leaving…don't….throw that one too." Struggling to stop laughing.

I chuck it anyway as soon as the flaps shut behind him earning an "Ow!" Meaning I hit him that time.

"Ha!" I exclaim triumphantly before ducking as it flew back in.

It misses and smacks the wall of my tent harmlessly and falls to the floor.

"Thought ya were leaving?" I question before breathing out a "Shit." As I have to duck again the other flying in too.

This one misses and smacks the wall of my tent harmlessly too before falling to the floor and joining its sibling.

"Traitor!" I exclaim to whoever brought and gave him the other shoe.

I only get the sound of Shane and Carl laughing in response.

I sigh then before looking over to my cot at my med bag and prescription bottle.

I still need to take my meds and I should probably double check that everything is there. I also still need to clean up my mess. And though Shane dropped it this time it's the second time I've mentioned my death to him. It's so no going to end there. Damn it.

****Time Skip****

"Cat." Lori's voice says just as I put the last prescription bottle back into my med bag.

"What?" I question looking at my mess I still had to clean up.

Talking to her would allow me to procrastinate cleaning up. But…I really didn't want to talk to her either.

"We need to talk." She says as I hear her come into my tent.

I stay silent and just look at her.

Yeah, I really don't want to talk to her. If I don't say anything, will she just leave?

She sighs and crosses her arms over her chest before saying "I know he told you."

I knew I couldn't be that lucky.

I roll my eyes and look away from her saying "I won't tell anyone. But I won't lie if Carl asks."

"Fine." She responds in a weird tone before I hear her walk away.

I just release a sigh and shake my head.

Least she just made sure of that before leaving me alone. Did she really think I would actually tell anyone without being asked? Not that I would say anything to anyone other than Carl if they did ask. Maybe I would Glenn though.

****Time Skip****

I sigh as I poke the charred meat chunks with my plastic fork as I sit on one of the farther logs around the fire for dinner.

I really didn't want to eat it. Lori knew my hate of burnt shit and gave me the most burnt pieces out of the lot. Guess she was mad that I now knew and could tell Carl if he asked.

Suddenly my plate was taken from my hand and replaced with another, with a slightly less burnt pieces of meat on it.

I look at it in confusion for a second before looking at the offender to see it was Glenn and he was giving me a checky grin.

"I hate you." I tell him narrowing my eyes at him.

"You're welcome." He laughs at me as he simply plops down next to me.

"Screw yerself." I scoff turning my attention back to my new plate.

I wasn't going to reject this trade.

"I do." He states, in a matter-of-fact tone instantly earning a snorted laugh from me.

"Damn it, Glenn. Too much info." I huff out when I calm myself.

"I'm sorry." He says then so I look at him again to find him looking at me with an apologetic face now.

"It's fine." I huff out annoyed then.

I knew he wasn't talking about the oversharing.

"But because of me you were backed into a corner." He tells me while looking down.

"I did it to myself." I huff out, annoyed.

"No, it's my fault. I should've just gone to help you instead of getting Shane." He says quickly shaking his head.

Just what am I doing shutting the door on his foot? I can afford to open the door, right? I'm probably going to be dead by the time he is brutally killed after all.

With those thoughts I release a sigh before telling him "Thank you Glenn."

He whips his head to look at me and questions "Wait. What?"

I just turn my attention back to my plate, stab a meat chunk with the plastic fork, and shove it in my mouth. Feeling my cheeks heat up in embarrassment.

"No, wait. Did you just? Did you really?! Oh my god! Am I really one of your people now?! I can die now! I will happily die now!" He says getting more excited and louder as he went.

Damn it. I'm so screwed if I live till then.