Chapter 4 – Damn it
"It's gone." I mutter looking around at my tent; everything everywhere in my attempt to find my med bag. But said med bag was nowhere to be found.
"Did a hurricane go through here or something?" Shane's voice suddenly questions from right next to me.
"Damn it Shane!" I exclaim practically jumping out of my skin.
"What are you doing?" He questions with that 'cheeky brother' look on his face as he looks at me.
"Ask before coming in!" I yell at him.
"I did." He states shrugging.
"Bullshit." I scoff looking around at my things again. He'd just barged in like he always does. Stupid brother.
"But seriously what are you doing?" He questions in a chuckle.
"Looking for my med bag." I state deciding to yet again move or throw everything looking for the blasted thing. Maybe I somehow missed it the first time.
"Med bag." He repeats trailing off before stating "You mean the cat bag." Referencing the picture of a cat that was printed on said fabric bag. I forgot he always referred to it as the cat bag because of it as it quote "It sounds better than med bag."
"Did you take it for some reason?" I question looking at him with narrowed eyes, ready to throw the shoe I had in my hand at him.
"Huh? No." He says quickly throwing his hands up in defenses eyeing the shoe. It wouldn't be the first time I've thrown a shoe at him.
I sigh and drop the shoe before going back to my task of looking for the blasted thing again muttering "I wonder if someone snuck in here and stole it."
It wouldn't be a stretch to say it was possible. Though I spent most of my time in my tent I would join the others for meals and would go to the RV to take count of the meds stored there on a regular basis in case someone tried stealing from there.
"Have you seen anyone come in or out of my tent?" I question then but when I get no response, I look to see Shane was no longer there. Earning a sarcastic muttering of "What help are you then?" as I flip the empty space off.
"Aunty Cat." Carl's voice calls from the outside of my tent then.
I quickly hide my hand before going and opening the flap of my tent with an accented "What can I do ya for young sir and madam?" knowing Sophia was probably with him. The two often came over to play with me, simply steal Lexi to play with, or ask me for help with whatever "school" work Lori and the other Mom's cooked up.
I instantly get a snorted laugh from him and Sophia that had been standing there. But it was short lived as they both quickly get a look of unease and look at each other.
I just tilt my head in question waiting for them to say or do whatever they were here for.
"I think my dad took something from you!" Sophia blurts then looking up at me with big eyes.
"Ah." I breathe out glancing in the direction of where the Peletier area was. Carol was busy sorting the laundry while Ed was "busy" being kicked back on a folding chair with a magazine.
"I saw him with a bag with a cat on it last night. I told Carl about it and he said it had to be yours." Sophia says quickly her eyes briming with tears. She was afraid of what will happen to probably me, Carl, and her if it really was mine and he found out it'd been her to tell on him.
"It's your cat bag! The one you always bring when you stay over! I know it is!" Carl instantly exclaims his hands now in determined fists.
"Yeah. I think your right. Thank you both. I was just thinking that someone probably took it." I tell them gently while placing a hand on both of their heads.
"Is that why Shane stormed out of your tent and to the Dixons?" the two question then tilting their heads.
"Probably." I state ruffling both of their hairs.
"Should we tell him too?" the two question then swatting me off and looking over to the Dixon area.
"No. You two have done enough." I tell them as I look over to the Dixon area too. Shane was in fact there obviously quiet arguing with them. Though it did seem that they were being a little cooperative as Daryl was holding the tent open and Merle looked like he was shoving different medication bottles in Shane's face.
"What're you going to do?" the two question then obviously worried.
"Me?" I question before looking at them with a grin adding "I'm gonna get my bag back."
They both just give me a skeptic look then before looking at each other nodding and announcing "We're gonna tell Glenn."
"Wa-." I start but they've already took off.
Sighing I make sure my gun was still safely in the hem of my pants behind my back. I was going to be civil first but Ed would probably be defensive and quick to attack. He'd be sure to back down as soon as I had a gun at him but I would need a reason to do so other than just speculation that he stole from me. This was gonna suck and I just hope it won't screw anything up in the storyline too bad.
Making my way over Carol is the first to notice and says "Oh Stephinie. The kids aren't here."
"I know. I'm not here for them." I say giving her a smile and earning a confused look from her but a smack of Ed slamming his magazine shut.
"What do you want?" He practically seethes as he storms up to us causing Carol to flinch.
"Lori wants Carols help with something." I say trying to be as innocent as possible. Carol needs to be out of the crossfire and Lori will be quick to catch on when Carol tells her I told her she needed her help with something.
"With what?" He snaps grabbing her arm harshly and causing her to wince.
"Something about the spices that Glenn brought back. I can't cook so I don't know." I say shrugging. I wasn't really lying. Glenn did bring back spices yesterday, Lori had mentioned something about asking Carol for recipes using them, and I couldn't cook for shit.
"Spices…" He mutters trailing off obviously thinking about better tasting food before releasing her ordering "Well get on then. She can finish what you were doing."
I nod in response to her question in her eyes if that was okay.
She nods with a grateful look before heading off.
"Get to it." He orders then motioning to her abandoned laundry sorting.
"First I wanted to know if -." I start to say only to get cut off by him snapping "Haven't seen your stupid bag."
"I didn't say anything about a bag. But that was what I was going to say. How did you know?" I say with a smile trying to be as innocent as possible. He's already digging himself a hole and will soon lash out.
"What are you talking about? I don't know anything about no cat bag. Why are you asking me and not one of those new guys?" He says quickly nervous.
"Didn't saying about it having a cat on it either." I say tilting my head to the side.
"Why are you accusing me?! You should thank me for taking it so you wouldn't get in trouble for taking them! I can't believe you've been trusted to keep track of the medication when you're the one stealing and stashing them in your tent!" He yells in rage while stepping up so he was in my face now.
"I can't steal something that has my name on it." I say standing my ground, thankful that I didn't stutter. I knew he was going to lash out soon.
Instantly he realizes that he's just admitted to taking it and of course I didn't steal anything. All the bottle in my bag did in fact have my name on them. His threat of busting me wouldn't work in his favor and only get him in trouble. And not only would it label him a thief but a thief who stole from a sick person.
"Shut up." He hisses raising his hand and going to hit me.
I close my eyes bracing for the impact but nothing connects with me and instead Ed squeals in pain.
Opening my eyes, I see Ed's arm twisted painfully behind his back by none other than an angry Shane.
"Just who are you tryin' to hit?" Shane practically growls twisting the arm more earning another squeal as I feel someone grab my shoulders and pull me back from them and into them gently.
I look up with wide eyes to see that it was Glenn who was looking at the two men with an upset look on his face. This was something I expected when the kids said they were going to tell him what was up. Guess when the kids told him he went and got Shane immediately.
"The useless bitch started it!" Ed practically squeals.
"Ya started it by taking her shit." Merle says practically growling.
Snapping my eyes in that direction I see him and the younger Dixon in front of the tent with my bag in Daryl's hand and both of them looking furious. Okay this was really not something I expected at all. I hadn't even interacted with the two Dixons since the day we met and here they are, angry for my sake.
Guess they all came together. The four of them working together. Who knew?
"You planted that!" Ed snarls only before stuttering an alarmed "W-what're you doing?!" causing me to snap my attention to them again.
Shane had his free hand in one of Ed's pockets. Guess Ed was stupid enough to have one of my stolen prescriptions on him and Shane noticed.
"He plant this too?" Shane questions, in his cop tone, pulling out the bottle from it before shoving Ed to the ground adding "Don't think yer name's Stephine." While looking at the bottle's label.
"Don't you ever try this shit again or you're out of here. I'd better not see anymore bruises on your wife or daughter either. Understand?" Shane threatens bending over Ed then.
Ed quickly nods so Shane straightens up with a "Good."
Just when I was thinking I got out of this Scott free Shane turns to me and storms over exclaiming "What do you think you were doing?! Why didn't you tell me?! Do you know what would have happened if Glenn hadn't have told me what was going on when he did?!" while Glenn removes his hands from my shoulders and steps away.
"A hit wouldn't kill me." I tell him defiantly.
"Damn it Stephinie!" Shane exclaims before dragging a hand over his face with a sigh and then continuing "That was your plan, wasn't it? As soon as he hit you it'd give you the excuse to threaten him with your gun."
"Well, yeah." I say, matter-of-factly, earning a snorted laugh from Merle, a quiet huffed laugh from Daryl and Glenn, and an annoyed sigh from Shane.
"You still should have gotten me." Shane says in an almost desperate tone. Well shit now I feel guilty.
"Or me." Glenn says in almost the same tone. Damn it not you too Glenn.
"Never thought I'd say it but I agree with 'em Girly." Merle says then while shoving my bag at Shane who snatches it from him immediately. You little shit don't add to it!
"Yeah." Daryl adds quietly then too.
"Oh fine! I'm sorry! I'm sorry I'm so fucking useless that I can't handle something like this by myself and had to get saved like some damsel in distress! God damn it!" I exclaim before snatching my bag and prescription from Shane and stalk off to my tent with an exclaimed "Just leave me alone!"