Act 1 Part 3: Trouble.

Weeks passed, it had been 500 days since the outbreak and everything had been doing well.

Vanessa was doing an inventory count with her hair tied in a ponytail, taking notes while counting.

"Tavia, can you take over? I gotta get ready for the supply run."

"Sure, you go on ahead," Tavia replied before taking over with the note taking, letting Vanessa get ready.

Kara was running around, giggling as she hugged her stuffed bunny, chasing a ladybug around the warehouse.

Bill, who was loading his revolver, slightly stretched.

He had his team all together except for his wife.

"Alright people, today we are going over to one of the local save lots close by to see if they left anything behind," He spoke to his small team which consisted of Luke, Russell, Vince, Bonnie, and Pete.

Kara began to listen in as per usual from her hiding spot, smiling a bit when she noticed Pete and Luke.

Out of everyone there, she got along with them the best, aside from her parents of course, and she was always happy to see them.

"There should be a lot left for us to scavenge," Bonnie replied as she checked her gun with a smile.

"Should be a good find."

Vanessa ran over, almost completely out of breath.

"Sorry I'm late," She breathed as she adjusted her jacket, continuing as she put her pistol in its holster, "Inventory took a bit longer today than normal."

"Well, that's a good sign at least," Bonnie replied with a warm smile.

Vince looked to them as he chimed in while the group turned to look at her, "Well at least that means we have a lot of stuff."

"Seems we are doing something right," Bill spoke up as they began to walk towards an old delivery truck.

Vanessa nodded, following at Bill's side, gazing up at him.

"Do you think any raiders will be there?" She questioned curiously, putting her combat knife in her boot.

"If there are, it would be an understatement to say we're armed," He replied, looking to her as they got into the truck.

She nodded, hopping into the passenger seat before turning to the crew in the back with a smirk.

"You kids ready? Buckled up? Got your juice boxes?" She teased with a chuckle, realizing how she and Bill always sat up by the front together like they're the group's parents.

He chuckled hearing as he started the truck and began to drive, everyone saying yes in response.

As Bill began to drive, Vanessa buckled up, relaxing in the passenger seat as they made their way to Save Lots.

"Remember everyone, stay in groups of two, no one goes off on their own. If there's raiders, radio us immediately," She spoke as she checked her ammo once again.

"No kidding, the world has gone to shit and I don't need my people getting killed because we were ignorant. Be safe, be smart, and be vigilant, we don't need an accident, especially with some of my best shots," He instructed, looking to Russell, Vince, and Bonnie from the rear view mirror.

"We'll be alright, you can count on us," Bonnie reassured with a warm and comforting smile.

"We're not kids, we know what we're doing," Russel replied, causing Vanessa to laugh a bit.

"What?"

"Kara says the exact same thing when she wants to help her dad," Vanessa replied with a smirk, causing Russel to flush in embarrassment.

Bonnie couldn't help but laugh at the comparison, covering her mouth to try and muffle her laughter.

Bill smiled, looking over at his wife, "No need to embarrass the kid."

He then looked back towards the rear view mirror, changing the subject, "So, I've been wondering what did you five do before the outbreak?"

"Well," Bonnie began, relaxing her back against the seat as she continued, "I won't lie, I used to just work at a grocery store. Plain and simple, got myself from here to there and gave me enough money to make do."

"I just graduated from University when the outbreak hit, hadn't even had the time to search for a job before it all went to hell," Russell replied with a shrug, crossing his arms.

"I was imprisoned, killed someone to help my little brother just an hour before this all started on an old prison bus," Vince said looking to them before gazing down at the floor of the car.

Luke looked to them as he spoke up, "I was studying agriculture at the local college hell I even met Bonnie down there once or twice."

The man next to them, Pete looked around as he chimed in, "I was military for a little while, retired just a few years ago."

"That's amazing, it's crazy how this outbreak is bringing people together from all different walks of life," Vanessa commented with a smile.

"How about you two? We can take an educated guess with Kara, but honestly with the both of you it feels like a mystery," Bonnie replied with a relaxed smile.

Vanessa sighed, placing her hand to her forehead as she stared out the windshield.

"I used to work in a sad old office building with a bunch of rich douchebags. I was trying to get promoted before the outbreak hit, but the pay was pretty good."

"I used to work for Howes, I was a manager. Used to work for construction, but I got out of that, mainly because I wanted to spend as much time with my family as I possibly could," He chimed in, looking to them with a smile.

"When this entire thing happened, this teacher just wouldn't stop treating our daughter like shit, so I killed him. That's when I first saw them."

"...Well damn," Russell spoke up in shock, Bonnie's eyes widening in surprise as well.

"Oh my, I'm so sorry. What did the teacher do? If you don't mind me asking," Bonnie questioned curiously.

"It's a long story. Short version is that he favored the richer families who had the privilege of donating more money to their school, and while I don't approve of what Bill did, I don't blame him. I was considering chucking a heel at that teacher's head for multiple reasons," Vanessa chimed in, keeping her gaze past the windshield.

"Well, it shouldn't matter now, you've already helped us so many times, we've all done things that we aren't proud of, but we should try and forgive. Anything before this shouldn't matter," Vince replied, gazing around at all the people within the vehicle.

Vanessa nodded, gently holding Bill's free hand as he continued to drive.

"Everything before this doesn't matter anymore, what happens in the now matters the most," She spoke with a smile, gazing back at the road.

"Agreed," Bonnie replied before spotting the Save Lots up ahead.

"Oh! There it is!"

""Alright, we don't use our guns unless we have to. We be as quiet as possible, and like I said, stay safe, stay smart, and be vigilant," He instructed, looking at them once more as he parked and got out, beginning to walk inside.

Bonnie nodded, readying her pocket knife just in case they ran into any trouble.

"Remember, don't get reckless," Vanessa spoke before grabbing out her wrench, walking at Bill's side as she began to search the area.

Everyone followed Bill and Vanessa, getting ready incase they found any walkers.

As Vanessa searched with Bill, she began to grab some supplies from the shelves of the store, looking around cautiously for any signs of life.

Bonnie had already filled up a bag with supplies, casually walking about.

"I guess our luck really is turning up."

Vince was keeping watch of everything as they grabbed most of the stuff people on day one didn't grab.

"Yeah, no kidding," Vince spoke as he looked around.

"Maybe they have ammo here. I know they didn't sell guns here, but maybe they kept a case filled with ammo," Bill suggested, looking over and seeing a glass case filled with tons of ammo.

Vanessa nodded before noticing a door leading to an employees only section.

"There might be more ammo back there," She spoke as she pointed towards the door, looking up at Bill.

"Russell and I can keep collecting supplies over here if y'all wanna go and check it out," Bonnie suggested with a smile as she held up another bag for the supplies.

"Sounds good, we'll be in here, radio us if anything happens," He replied as they walked inside the employees only area, drawing his revolver as he looked around to see what was there, making sure it was safe.

After a few moments Vanessa gently nudged Bill, gesturing to a sleeping bag with several cans of food beside it, one of the cans looking as though it was opened recently.

"Someone's been living here," He said quietly as he began to inspect the area more closely to find whoever was living here.

She nodded, inspecting more closely before finding a few fresh muddy footprints leading to another door, causing her to pull out her pistol, gesturing Bill to come over and help her.

He walked over, keeping watch of everything as he counted to three with his fingers before he opened the door, looking around cautiously.

As she followed him in she began to search around with him, carefully inspecting the surrounding area before feeling something grab her from behind, causing her to jump as she felt the barrel of a gun being pressed to her temple.

"Drop the gun! Now!" The man demanded in a panic as he gripped onto her, keeping the barrel pressed against her temple.

She dropped the gun, glancing up at the man and took note of how he had only noticed her so far.

"...I'm not here to hurt you."

"Oh yeah?? Then why're you here??? You're clearly not a raider, but you can't be trusted!" He shakily replied.

"What can I do to get you to trust me? I've dropped my gun, what else could I do?" She questioned, hoping for Bill to make a move while she keeps him distracted.

"Let go of her now," Bill demanded, looking to him as he trained his gun on the man's head.

"You're way outgunned, and we aren't here to hurt anyone, just grabbing supplies for my group."

The man roughly shoved the barrel of the gun closer to her head, gripping onto her tighter.

"I can shoot faster! You think I won't!?" He exclaimed in a panic.

Vanessa winced a bit as she felt the man's nails practically digging into her skin.

"He won't shoot if you just let me go."

"You're lying! I can see it on his face!" The man exclaimed, yanking her towards a door as he kept her pressed against him.

"As long as you don't hurt her, I won't hurt you," He spoke, keeping his guard up, continuing to aim at the man.

"Just let her go and we can talk. I'll put my weapon away once you put yours away."

"I don't believe you! You could be a raider using the weak woman to make me drop my guard!" The man exclaimed as he gripped onto her even tighter, drawing a bit of blood with his nails.

She winced again, trying to ignore the pain in her arms.

"Listen to him. What're you going to do if you don't? You don't have a lot of options. In this day and age you need friends, so let me go and we'll figure out something."

"I'll take you to my car if I have to! I'm not getting my head blown off!" The man exclaimed as he gripped her as tight as he could, almost like he was clinging to her for dear life.

She winced in pain once more before quickly replying, "We have people who are armed that wouldn't let you get far if you try and take me. Please, just listen to him and put the gun down."

"Yes, just put the gun down" He instructed, keeping his gaze on the man as he slowly approached.

After a few moments of hesitating, the man shakily put the gun down, keeping Vanessa pressed against him.

"F-...Fine, o-okay."

He put his revolver in his holster, keeping his gaze focused on the man.

"Ok, now let her go," He instructed once more, walking over to grab her.

The man shakily began to loosen his grip on her, his nails slowly coming out from his skin.

It wasn't clear to the man, but it was obvious to Bill that she was mortified and tensed up, using the same attitude she used to have in the office to try and hide her fear.

He quickly grabbed her and kept her beside him, grabbing the gun that the man had put down. "Now, are you here alone?"

Vanessa kept a calm demeanor for the most part, but she now held onto her arms while staying at Bill's side when normally she'd immediately grab her weapon, trying to calm down.

The man hesitated for a moment before replying quietly, "Y-Yes."

"Vince, Russell, I need you back to the employees only room, now," He commanded, holding the radio up.

Russell walked in, gripping his gun tightly as he walked over.

"What's up?"

He then notices the marks on Vanessa's arms, growing a bit concerned and glaring at the man across from them, awaiting further orders.

Vince followed behind him, sticking close to the partner he was assigned to.

"Vince, keep a watch of this piece of shit, there's more people here. Russell, you come with me," Bill commanded while Vince aimed his rifle at the man's stomach.

Russell nodded firmly before looking back at Vanessa while the man began to panic again.

"What should we do with Vaness—?"

"I'll be fine," She quickly cut him off, shakily picking up her gun.

"J-...Let's check out the area. He might be from another group of raiders who's trying to elude us, we have to be sure."

Russell hesitated for a moment, considering telling her to not do this, but he simply nodded, waiting to hear Bill's orders.

"Come on Russell, we got to find that piece of shit," He spoke once more as they went on the hunt to find who the man was with.

Russell stayed close to Bill and Vanessa, searching carefully as he had a firm grasp on his gun.

Vanessa was laser focused in, shaking a bit as she gripped her gun, trying to stay calm as they searched.

"I suggest you come out, we have your friend and we will kill him if you don't come out now, you're outgunned!" He shouted, trying to lure the man's buddy out in the open.

Russell noticed the barrel of a gun being aimed at Bill and he gasped, "GET DOWN!"

He quickly shot at the person, but the person shot and accidentally hit Vanessa in the leg.

"Gah!" She exclaimed as she gripped her leg, trying to force herself to stay standing as she started shooting back.

He quickly shot at the person and kept himself close to Vanessa.

"YOU'RE A FUCKING DEAD MAN!" He yelled, shooting at where the person was last.

The person cried out in pain as one of Bill's shots hit him, quickly trying to get away.

Vanessa tried to pursue the man, but she gasped in pain and fell down, gripping her leg.

"I got him!" Russell exclaimed before chasing after the guy.

Bill quickly aimed and shot the man's leg, crippling the man.

"You ok Vanessa?" He asked, concern filling his voice as he looked to her and held her hand in his.

The man cried out in pain, gripping onto his leg as he shakily looked up at the group, Russell keeping him at gunpoint so he wouldn't try anything.

Vanessa gazed up at Bill, gently squeezing his hand as she tried to ignore the pain.

"I-I'm fine."

"You can't stand up, you're not fine."

"I'm alive, I just—...need something to support my leg," She replied, about to try and stand up again.

"You're gonna make your bullet wound worse! Carver, don't let her stand, please," Russell quickly replied.

"Hun, I need you to just sit tight for a moment, we can't have you standing up right now," Bill spoke with concern, looking to her leg as Luke and Pete came to them.

"What the hells going on? What happened?" Pete questioned, looking around at the scene before them alongside Luke.

She gritted her teeth as she gripped her leg, nodding at Bill's words before replying, "Two douchebags were hiding out here and one of them got the jump on me, it's fine now."

"Fine?? Your leg looks like hell," Bonnie commented as she entered the room with a look of concern.

"I'm fine," She sighed, trying to bite back the pain.

"You're not fine hun, we need to get that bullet out and get you stitched up until we can get you back to Howes," He replied as he continued to look at his wife with concern.

"Bonnie, did you grab any medical supplies?"

Bonnie quickly nodded, bringing the medical supplies to Bill.

"Do you need anything else?" Bonnie questioned eagerly as she worried for Vanessa after seeing the pain she's in.

"No," He replied, taking out some gloves, tweezers, peroxide, needle and thread.

Vanessa winced as she rolled up her pant leg, gritting her teeth as she pulled the pant leg over her knee.

She then took off her belt and put it in her mouth, biting down on it so that she doesn't accidentally bite onto her tongue while he's getting the bullet out.

He put some gloves on as he began to try and get the bullet out carefully, and when he pulled it out, he noticed it hadn't been broken or chipped.

He thanked God for that as he looked back at her, a wave of relief washing over him.

"Ok, now for the sucky part," He spoke, grabbing the peroxide and put it on her wounds.

She gasped in pain, wincing and hitting her fist against the ground to try and cope with it, cursing under her breath.

"Damn, I don't envy her..." Russell spoke quietly, causing Bonnie to elbow him.

"Oww! What was that for?"

"You know what that was for," Bonnie replied casually.

"Quiet, both of you," He commanded as he began to stitch her up, trying to be as gentle as possible as he knew it hurt like absolute hell.

She bit down onto the belt in her mouth as tight as she could, trying not to scream in pain as she let him stitch up the wound.

Bonnie kept a close eye on the two men while Russell couldn't help but watch Vanessa get stitched up, a face of deep concern as he saw how much pain she was in.

"You're going to be ok hun, I promise," He assured his wife as he finished up, bandaging her wound.

"Bonnie, go grab something she can steady herself with."

As Bonnie searched, Vanessa dropped the belt from her mouth as she leaned against a shelf, sighing in relief.

"Th-Thank you Bill," She replied as she took a breath.

Bonnie came back over with a sturdy cut plank to help steady Vanessa, gently handing it to her.

"Here you go hon."

She nodded, gazing at the plank as she replied, "Thanks..."

She shakily used the plank to steady herself, trying to ignore the pain as she slowly stood to her feet.

"Alright, as far these bastards go, we'll put it to a vote. Kill em' or leave them," He spoke up, looking to the two bastards that had hurt his wife.

"If we let them go, they might just attack Vanessa again," Russell quickly chimed in.

"Now that's just silly Russell, they only attacked her out of convenience. The first man was freaked out, and the second one was just shooting at everyone. It wasn't targeted," Bonnie replied as she crossed her arms.

"I think we've scared them enough for the day."

"Are you serious??? If they're with the raiders, then it won't just be a one time thing!" Russell replied.

"Russell's right, if that guy Nate was as bad as Russel said he was and we have some bad judgment in this situation, then we could end up getting attacked, just like Shel's old group," Vince warned, looking to them as he kept his gun pointed at the man who had attacked Vanessa.

"H-Hon, it's not worth it," She spoke quietly as she looked to Bill, leaning against the makeshift crutch.

"If we let them go, it might not just be you that gets hurt next time! We have to do this," Russell replied, aiming his gun at the other man.

"It's a tie. I guess I'm the tie breaker then," Bill spoke with a sigh, looking to them as it seemed Luke and Pete weren't sure on what to say.

"Let em go. Take their guns, but let them go, it's not their time," He spoke while looking to the two men.

"Tie them up and let's go,"

Vanessa smiled as she watched the rest of the group immediately following Bill's orders, gently resting her head on his shoulder.

"...Thank you for that hon. I know it wasn't easy to make that call."

"Of course, it's the right thing to do," He replied, looking to her with a smile.

After they had made it home, she used her jacket to hide her arms, looking up to Bill as the other group members left the car.

"Hey, I'm sorry for getting grabbed back there. I know that put you in a tough spot, and I should've been more careful."

"As long as you're ok, I'm happy love," He spoke before kissing her cheek.

She smiled warmly, gazing back up at him once more before hearing Kara call for them happily, causing her smile to fade.

"I hope this doesn't freak her out..." She sighed, taking a deep breath before hopping out of the car with her makeshift crutch.

"Hey sweetie."

Kara's eyes widened upon seeing the crutch, looking concerned as she questioned, "Are you okay mommy?"

Vanessa nodded with a smile, laughing a bit as she made sure her arms were covered before quickly lying, "Of course sweetie, mommy just got a bit clumsy and hurt her leg falling down some stairs, I'm alright."

Kara gazed down at her leg with concern as she replied, "But you're never clumsy mommy."

"Even the most graceful of people can be clumsy at times," Vanessa teased with a giggle, gently ruffling her hair.

"Why don't you go hang out with Pete and Luke for a while before they turn in? Go on."

Kara hesitated for a moment, looking up at her father to look for reassurance that her mother was okay.

"Go on ahead Kara, mommy's fine," He assured with a smile as he saw Pete and Luke pass by.

Kara hesitated for a moment before nodding, following after Luke and Pete with her stuffed bunny.

Vanessa sighed, taking off her jacket once Kara was out of sight, checking on the nail marks on her arms.

"I guess I'm gonna be wearing a jacket for a while," She sighed, standing back up as she held onto her jacket.

He smiled and held her hand in his.

"It's getting colder anyway, it won't seem out of the ordinary."

She smiled, gently squeezing his hand as she glanced over at him, "I guess you're right."

She sighed, thinking back to the incident before continuing, "I don't know what I'd ever do without you. Even with us being in this messed up situation, I'm glad we have each other."

"Me too hun, me too."