Dead Days

Chapter Two

Finding Hope

Sorry, this has taken so long for me to update. As I've stated in the past there are many chapters already written and waiting, but my holidays ended up getting busier than I had planned and left me feeling drained and stressed. Everything is just now starting to settle and allow me to breathe, so I really wanted to go ahead and get this chapter updated.

You've all waited for so long already and I really appreciate it!

But due to the fact that I've been feeling stressed my ability to write has taken a toll and because it's been hit and miss, I've decided to only update this story once a week for a few weeks, so I don't blow through my backup chapters. Hopefully, by then my writing will pick up speed and I can go back to my usual updating schedule.

Again, thanks to everyone who has been waiting patiently for this!

I hope you all enjoy it!

The next few days consisted of Remington not actively avoiding her brother, but making it clear she didn't wish to talk unless he had changed his tune. The fact that he hadn't pulled her aside told her he was still feeling the same frustrations. It was better for the both of them to hold out until all possibilities of a fight were smoothed over.

He had helped raise her, and she had inherited his stubbornness. They were both a little too similar, and in the past, it had caused them to butt heads plenty of times. Remington hoped they would get by this soon, she had never liked to fight with those she loved, and holding grudges was not easy for her, but this felt like something she had to stick by. If he would just cave already, and she knew he wouldn't easily, if ever, then she could ask him the questions that littered her thoughts.

She wanted to know what he had meant by it wasn't safe around the group. All she could think was that he knew more than he should have if he was from this universe. She needed to know, felt a flicker of hope, that this was her brother.

Remington needed that more than anything. To have that connection. Even if he was being a bit of an asshole.

So, the feeling of building frustration, and annoyance had become her new normal.

Those she shared a room with had begun to notice.

It had begun to bother her even during her sleeping moments.

The night she had her first nightmare happened to be two days after her brother arrived. Maisie and Landon shared the couch, one on each end, and were fast asleep. Merle had passed out soon after snoring softly on his cot. Daryl had begun to nod off, she could see the way his head dipped, as his cot was pushed into a corner of the room, as he had been sitting up against the wall while they talked.

Shane was leaning against Remington's cot, who slept in front of the couch, visiting for the night, but hadn't left at his normal time. Instead, he and Remington continued to stay up talking, all the way up until she had laid down, and mid-conversation fell asleep. Shane hadn't been much further off before he was mimicking Daryl's position, head tilted forward, and sleeping.

Waking to the sound of sniffling and an ache in his neck hadn't been the warmest of awakenings he has had in the past. He could tell by the way everyone was fast asleep that it was the early hours of the morning. Maisie usually had her mother up shortly after daybreak, but after quickly surveying to find out that it wasn't one of the children crying, his gaze fell to Remington.

Her eyes were closed, but her face was scrunched up in pain, as she moaned softly in her sleep. Tears coated her cheeks and soon the quiet crying began to grow louder as she rolled over onto her side. They now faced one another, and Shane could see that it must have been a nightmare to cause her to react like this. Something he had never seen her have before, and since Merle, nor Daryl had mentioned an occasion, she must not have them often.

Leaning against the cot he reached out to cup her cheek in his hand, gently swiping his thumb to clear the tears from her skin, as he softly began to call out to her.

"Remi," he murmured softly. "Come on, wake up for me darling." He gently coaxed her awake as the tears continued to fall. She shifted forward, burrowing into his hand, as she sought out comfort blindly. "Hey, you all right?"

A few hiccups escaped her as she slowly came to. Sniffling Remington blinked her eyes, trying to clear them, and her head. She felt like she couldn't breathe. Her lungs wheezed as a scene played out behind her eyes.

"Darling?"

The touch of skin shocked her. She flinched back. His fingers jerked, pulling away, carrying with them the smell of sawdust and dirt. She clutched at her throat as her eyes danced around the room, pausing on the shadows, before landing on Shane.

"Shane?" she sobbed, suddenly reaching for him. The nightmare faded away, leaving behind foggy remnants of horror and sadness.

"Hey," he whispered. "It's okay. Shh. Shh." He leaned closer to her, his fingers searching out for her face once more, as she accepted the comfort, not flinching away like before. Shifting his upper body onto the bed he leaned forward softly whispering to her to calm her breathing, to listen to his voice. "Come on, lay back down." He reached over, helping her, before pulling the blanket back up to her shoulders.

"Don't leave."

"Course not," he said. "Not going anywhere tonight. I'll stay here until you wake again."

Shaking her head Remington shifted moving to clear a small space next to her.

"Stay, please." She lifted the blanket, patting the side of the cot she had freed. "Stay with me."

"You sure?"

She hiccupped again feeling shaky, not comfortable with being alone, and needing physical touch to be reminded that someone was there. Being able to hear those around her and see them wasn't enough. Those senses in her dreams always failed her, but touch could be trusted.

"Yes." Pulling himself from the ground he lay on his side, tugging the blanket up, and over him, as a sigh of relief escaped his lips at no longer being on the floor. She snuggled into his chest, her face burying itself in his neck, as she took several deep, calming breaths. His arm wrapped comfortably around her waist, resting on her back, as he pulled her closer. He pressed his cheek into her hair as he began to whisper soothing words. The hand on her back dragged comfortingly along her spine.

Exhausted, Remington sank into his embrace. Shane kept his eyes open, listening as the small cries dried up, and she fell completely silent. Her body stopped shaking and her shallow breath brushed against his collarbone.

He stayed awake a while after, making sure she felt comfortable, even in her sleep, and didn't wake up terrified.

․° °․

The next morning, she woke to soft snoring in her ear, breathing tickling her forehead, and Shane's leg intertwined with her own. For a moment as sleep still clung to her mind she lay there in comfort, relishing the contact before the reality of her situation sunk in. Shane was wrapped around her, and Remington could hear movement from the others. Her eyes fluttered open, and she carefully began to extract herself from his arms, trying not to wake him up. Her cheeks reddened when he mumbled in his sleep and the arms, she had been escaping from rewrapped around her.

He tugged her close, nuzzling back into her, as she let out an embarrassed noise before glancing up to where Merle was walking by. He reached out, ruffling her hair as he passed by. Daryl had been no more help than his brother.

Merle had given her a shit-eating grin for the rest of the day, while Daryl's had been more subtle, but neither man mentioned what they had woken up to, and Shane had only grown more protective. He had moved permanently into the room with them all, no one had any objections, and Maisie had been more than excited about it. Landon had only smiled but Remington knew he was looking forward to someone he looked up to being closer. He had placed his couch pressed against the opposite wall from Daryl, the last space left in the square room.

No one brought up the change in sleeping arrangements. She had seen the look of anger in passing on Lori's, the confusion in most of the others, and a few who sent her sly little smirks that only left Remington feeling confused. She understood what it meant, she could read that much, and even knew what it looked like, but there was nothing going on. She felt safe and comfortable around them. They all felt safer in a room together.

Was it really that strange?

Remington decided not to put much thought into it and just do whatever made her happy.

It didn't have any negative effects on Maisie or Landon, and that only solidified her decision to do whatever she felt comfortable with.

Especially as things were beginning to look bad once more.

With Morgan's help, Remington checked on the fuel, putting the last drum into place and noticing that it would only last two more days. Things were awkward between the two, mostly silent, but when he had spoken up it wasn't with as much resentment as before.

It was an improvement.

Heading toward the lab She realized she would need to call a meeting with the others and talk about their options. Options that they really didn't have. She was scared that they would need to move on soon.

She would do it after her meeting with Jenner. As she entered the room, she mentally prepared herself for the tests that would be run. He was leaning over a sample, gazing intently, and not acting like he had heard her enter at all.

"What's on the agenda for today?" she asked, pulling on the jacket.

"I need more blood." Snorting, she took a seat on the stool that she had silently designated as hers.

"What happened to the other samples I've given you?"

Turning from his work Jenner sighed as he grabbed the needle. "I'm only able to take a little at a time from you. Not nearly as much as I need to go on a full-scale search."

"What are your plans for today?" He cleaned the area on her arm before pricking her with the needle. Blood began to fill the vial and as quickly as it started it ended. Jenner only ever took a small amount due to the rationing of food. He didn't want her passing out or growing weak. He was always stating that she needed to be kept in top shape.

"Today I'm separating a protein from your blood and adding it to my own before introducing the infection." She hummed. He had done something similar the previous day before cursing himself about the failure. He had been feverishly searching for any sign of what could remotely be a cure in the last week they had been here. Remington had stepped in several times to remind him to take care of himself.

"Do you need my help on anything?"

"Not today," he said dismissively as he turned back to his work. She could see the way he settled in for the day and reminded herself to pull him away for lunch later on.

"Holler if you run out of blood."

Slipping from the room Remington glanced one last time at him. She noticed the way he had dived more into his work. He almost seemed desperate to finish, but she couldn't blame him, their time here was coming to an end. She wondered if he would follow them or stay behind and op out as he had before.

"What were you doing in there?" a voice called out, causing Remington to jerk and spin around. Her brother stood in front of her, casually leaning against the door as if he had been there for a long time. Remington knew it was entirely possible. He could have been there before she had ever even gone into the lab. He had always been better at hiding than she was.

"Are you here to apologize?" she asked, not caring to talk to him or answer his question if he wasn't. She kept walking. He pushed from the wall and fell into step beside her.

He stayed silent; she knew he was struggling with himself. Her brother never had trouble apologizing to her when he knew he was in the wrong, but she understood that he thought this was for the best. He believed his actions had been right, and her having the opposite desires, did not change that.

"I see that you're not going to give in to what I have to say," he began, wording everything carefully. He had not come here to fight. He understood his sister. She didn't hold things against anyone, and having gone this long without talking to him, meant he had trodden on something she truly cared for. He didn't understand but that's why he was here now. "You want to stay with these people?"

"Yes."

He frowned and thought over those she spent the most time around. She shared a room with three of them but when asking around most only said they were close but didn't believe anything was going on between them. He knew Remington could remember the signs that presented with her ex, and he wasn't bought on the idea that nothing was going on.

Jackson watched the men. The way they followed after her, always in sync, and wanting to help. At least one of them wanted more. The ex-cop hadn't been hiding his desires since he moved in with the rest of them. He was always hanging around his sister, leaving small touches, and words of comfort. He was the one Jackson had decided to keep a closer eye on for the time being.

"Got anything to do with one of those men that you're bunking with." He asked, his disapproval shining through, and causing Remington to bristle. She turned to glare at him.

"What do you mean by that?" Closing her eyes, she tried to keep her frustration from leaking through. There were things they needed to talk about, topics that were eating her up inside, and they couldn't have a civil conversation long enough to do it. It wasn't like them. Before her ex, Remington and Jackson had been one unit, always on the same page, but something had changed. Remington had begun to go against what he thought was for the best, and he had seen changes that weren't his strong-willed sister, had watched her crumble, and that had frustrated him. It had left him feeling hopeless. How could you force your help on someone who didn't want it?

He had only succeeded in pushing her completely away. His parents had been upset. Jackson still hadn't forgiven himself for pushing that asshole into moving them away.

Loosening the reigns, letting Remington do what she wanted, was hard, but it was harder for him to think that she would up and leave him now that he had just found her. He didn't want to push her away.

Except that was exactly what he was doing.

"Look," he sighed, frustration hissing through his teeth, as he shifted on his feet. It was his tell. Remington stopped, allowing him to continue, as she saw the way he was struggling. "I went about it completely wrong. I just want to protect you and that kid."

"We don't need it thanks." She made to move away, to go about her business, until Jackson could accept her wishes, but he stopped her.

"Remington don't be stubborn about this. I'm trying my best here."

"So am I. If you want to run off, then please don't let me keep you from doing that. I would love to have you stick around Jack, but you've got to accept that I'm not walking away from these people."

She had too much invested, emotionally, and time-wise. There were things she needed to follow through with.

How could she ever live by abandoning them all to their fates?

She couldn't. Maybe, before she had gotten to know them, she could have been talked into following after Jackson, but not now.

"We're not staying here for much longer anyway," Remington said, cutting off anything he would have said. "Fuel is running out and we have no clue where to look for more. So, unless you can be helpful with that, then please go. I got things I need to get done."

With those final parting words, Remington walked away. Maybe the next time they spoke she could finally ask what he had meant and get answers to whether or not he was her Jackson.

Either way, if this wasn't her universe's brother, then they acted exactly alike.

Both were far too stubborn and used to being listened to. And they cared deeply for their little sister and niece.

․° °․

Remington stood in front of the group. She had made it clear that the kids should be here. She thought it was counterproductive to leave them out of things. This was not like the topic of a building blowing up. They didn't need to know that, to live in constant fear of the building they slept in, and Remington would make sure it didn't get brought up during the meeting, but she thought it was only fair that they were aware of the possibility of leaving.

Naturally, as she had been the one to call the meeting, the others looked to her to take charge of it. The idea of being the one to do that was daunting, but Remington understood that if she wanted them to take her seriously, so she could make changes, then they needed to start feeling comfortable following her. She wasn't sure if she wanted to be the leader but having the ear of the leader felt like a nice position.

"The fuel is going to run out," Remington began. "Morgan and I checked it earlier this morning. We're on our last drum."

"How long do we have?" Rick asked, sitting forward in the seat.

"Depends," Jenner announced. "On how much energy we use." He was already frowning, thinking of how much his lab uses. It drained a lot of resources having it up and running. "Two days, maybe less."

"We shouldn't wait that long," Remington said.

"You expect us to leave?" Lori said. "Where are we going to go?"

"We can't stay here." Remington glared, her eyes narrowing, as she hinted at the reason why they needed to leave. "No one knows where we can find any more fuel and we're running out of time to find some."

"We went out on a run yesterday and didn't find any," T-Dog said.

"Not a damn sign," Shane said.

"We should push forward," Remington said, easing into her plan. "Make our way to the cabin I left some supplies at and start searching for a place to take residence. Somewhere we can fortify and live out the winter. Maybe longer."

"It's not a bad plan," Merle said in agreement.

"Why did you leave a pile of supplies anyway?" Lori asked, her voice annoyed, and distrustful. "We could have used them."

Jackson who had been leaning against the cafeteria wall decided to come to his sister's defense.

"She was only making the smart decision," he said. "She didn't know who you people were, or if it would be a good idea to stick around. It was damn nice of her to offer a part of her hard-earned food up."

"I did it just in case," Remington agreed. It didn't matter that she thought she wouldn't be leaving. There was always a possibility of it working out and she planned on keeping her kids fed. "It's being shared with you all as I had planned. I just need all of us to agree on leaving."

"Don't have many choices now do we?" Lori asked, sounding haughty and upset. Remington forced herself to ignore it as Rick leaned toward her and tried calming her down. She wanted to lash out like Lori was, but Remington wasn't petty, she didn't like arguments, and knew it would not get her anywhere with Lori. She just had to hope Rick dealt with it and they didn't receive any more outbursts.

"When were you thinking of leaving, darling?" Shane asked, causing Lori's bad mood to darken considerably more. Remington had noticed the way he sat the closest to where she stood, and as far away from Lori and Rick as he could. They still hadn't talked, and she understood why, but it only made her more irritated with Lori. She was forcing Shane to keep it bottled up and was not able to properly deal with it.

"I think we should start making preparations to leave tomorrow," she said. "The earlier the better. We shouldn't take the chance of staying longer."

"Everybody in agreement?" Rick asked, taking control of the conversation. "We shouldn't make decisions without everyone being okay with it."

Remington frowned a bit. She agreed. Most conversations should have everyone on the same track, but this she felt didn't have much to agree on. If they didn't leave, then they would die. She just needed to make sure they were willing to follow her to the Greene farm.

"Where would we go?" Andrea asked. "After the cabin?"

"That's close to the quarry, wasn't it?" Amy asked. "Would it be safe?"

"It was a couple of hours away from the quarry," Remington said. "There's always a chance of danger, but we need to stop and grab that food regardless of how long we stay. I think we should find a farm. Fix up the fences, get livestock, build some kind of fortress around it, and hunker down."

Remington liked the idea of being able to stay at the farm. If they were able to make it truly safe and keep Walkers out, especially one like the herd that tore through it, then she didn't mind. However, she still planned on finding the prison. Having a backup plan was only smart.

"A farm?" Rick asked. "That could work."

Biting her lip, she listened as all the others talked it over.

"What should we bring with us?" Glenn asked. "There's a lot here that we could use."

"Prioritize," Rick said. "Start making groups of everything that's here and what we've got. We'll pack it away in the vehicles."

"You could use your help with packing the lab, Remington," Jenner said, standing from his seat, not caring what the others took from this place. Lori perked up at this.

"What do you guys need from the lab?" she asked. "Wouldn't that take up space we could use for something more important?"

"It's Jenner's things," Remington said. "There's no need for him not to be able to take a few things. We'll find space."

"I just don't think it's a practical use of space."

"There are some things we can make space for. If you want to make a big deal out of it, then maybe you should leave behind your photo albums." Remington took a step back from the table. She stood over Lori as they spoke to one another. Some would state she was asserting dominance, but Remington was just over with her attitude and wished to end it as quickly as possible. She did not want to waste time fighting about this. Especially since she wasn't ready to come out and let the others know about their experiments.

There still wasn't any proof that her blood mattered.

And if Jenner had found anything he hadn't told her.

"Cause those could be seen as a waste of space for anyone else other than you," she finished. Lori would not let up and Remington did not want to deal with it anymore. "Got any more complaints?" When Lori didn't respond, she nodded, turning to leave. "Good."

Turning, she left the room, following Jenner out, as she helped him pack the things, he would need to continue anything after they left.

"Will you tell them why you fought so hard on that?" he asked her as they walked down the hall.

"If you find something. They don't need hope that's going to be pulled right out from underneath them. Not something like that."

"Everyone needs hope."

"Not the kind that's going to break them."

"Fair."

․° °․

Jenner stared down at the blood sample in front of him. They would be leaving soon. The building would start to shut down soon, but Jenner couldn't help going back into the lab and using the equipment he planned to leave behind. He would need so much of it, but without space, and the ability to use it, it would all be useless. He could hear those that moved about outside of this room. The way they readied themselves to go back out into the unknown.

They dreaded it. He could see that. He could not, however, understand how it felt to live out there. The looks of dread on their faces were enough to hint at the horrors he would be experiencing soon.

Jenner never planned to leave this place.

He had fully expected to work, looking for a cure, to live by his promise, until the fuel ran out, and like the building, he would cease to exist. He had come to terms with that end.

He had found peace within it.

But now, he would not be allowed such a luxury, as the promise he had given his wife was standing right in front of him. He couldn't die until he succeeded in carrying it out.

There would be nothing but hardships to keep him company.

Jenner almost wanted to curse God, for sending him hope, and for not keeping the one alive that could have figured out the code that lay within Remington Solaces' DNA. He should have been the one who died. His wife should have been the one here.

Peering into the lens he watched as the drop of infected blood entered the new mix of Remington's and his own blood. The last several trial runs had ended in nothing but failure. The blood darkening and overrun. His hope for this one was just as fleeting. Except he couldn't stop there, so he did what he had to, and waited.

And waited.

Before it would have taken mere seconds for the small blood sample to turn and change. It took much longer in a body, but no one realized the paths and distance it had to cover before reaching the brain.

He greedily took in the sight. Allowed hope to fester inside of him as he watched and waited. Then he saw it. The flicker of something wishing to happen, but it fought, infection and health battling for dominance until finally, infection won out.

Jenner sat back in his chair. His eyes glazed over as he thought over what he had just experienced. The antibodies had fought back.

He had to be on the right track.

If only he had more time here in his lab.

"Jenner," a soft voice spoke behind him. He hadn't heard the door open. "We're ready to go."

"Give me a moment. Have everyone go upstairs. I just need to do one last thing here."

"Sure. We'll be waiting."

Remington exited the room. For several long moments, Jenner just sat there. He was waiting. When finally, he thought everyone would be gone, he stood from his stool, shoving it to the side, as he made his way to the main room.

He turned on the camera, picked up the microphone, and began to broadcast it, out to whoever may be listening in the world. It may be nothing, or it could be something, but there was potential in Remington Solace, and the world deserved to know. Even if no one heard the message it would still be out there, floating around inside the emptiness of what was left, and someone other than Edwin Jenner would be aware of the potential for a future.

"I must stop here. I've run out of fuel, but not out of faith, for I have received a woman who has the potential to stop this maddening disease from spreading. Her blood is far more precious than any gem, and I must follow to make sure nothing happens to it." He paused here, taking a breath, and steadying himself.

He would not be dying here.

He would be living.

Funny how it seemed easier to come to terms with his death.

"I am Dr. Edwin Jenner, and I have found our hope."

Many of you figured out it was her brother. I was pretty excited about bringing him in and showing the dynamics between the two. Her past with her brother is going to be slowly coming out, especially with how their first meeting started out. Their being at odds with one another is not an everyday occurrence and eventually, their relationship will settle!

I love Jacksons' character and have had so much fun incorporating him into the story. I hope you all enjoy him as well!