Slightly Undead. || Glenn Rhee || DISCONTINUED

17.

// Jade //

I awoke inside Daryl's tent and looked around frantically, "Woah, calm down." Daryl's voice cooed me, pushing me down gently, "I got the bullet out. It wasn't too far in the skin and it was all in one piece." he said, motioning to my side, "Thanks." I muttered, "Now, c'mon. Everyone's inside, talking about this Randall guy. Think you can make it?" he ask, standing up. I nodded to him and took his hand to help me up. A sharp pain shot through my body, "Son of a bitch." I muttered, doubling over, "C'mon, Jade. I'll help you." Daryl put his arm around my carefully and helped me out of the tent and across the field. We walked inside the door and caught half the conversation, "Isn't that the same as leaving him for the walkers?" Andrea said, glancing up at me and Daryl, "He'll have a fighting chance." Rick tried to argue. Carol looked up at me and Daryl with a small smile, which Daryl returned with a nod, "Just gonna let him go?" Shane ask, obviously not too happy about the idea of a random stranger here, "He knows where we are." Shane snorted, "He was blindfolded the whole way here." Rick said with a quick tilt of his head, "He's not a threat." I snorted at this remark, "Not a threat? Sorry to butt in, but he was the asshole that shot me." I smirked sarcastically, "How many of them were there? You killed three of their men, you took one of them hostage, but they just ain't gonna come looking?" Shane ignored me, "They left him for dead. No one is looking!" Rick said through clenched teeth, "We should still post a guard." T-Dog said, getting a nod from Andrea, "He's out cold right now, will be for hours." Hershel said. Shane scoffed, "You know what? I'm gonna go get him some flowers and candy." he pushed himself off the wall and stormed off, "Look at this, folks-- we back in FantasyLand." he scoffed once more before heading outside. Hershel turned to Shane, obviously angry, "You know, we haven't even dealt with what you did at my barn yet." Shane stopped in his tracks and turned to face the old man, "Let me make this perfectly clear, once and for all-- this is my farm. Now I wanted you gone. Rick talked me out of it, but that doesn't mean I have to like it. So do us both a favor-- keep your mouth shut." Hershel's voice was stern. Shane got was coming to him. Shane cocked his left then right, then turned to leave. He slammed the screen door open and marched out. Rick walked up to Hershel, "Look, we're not gonna do anything about it today. Let's just cool off." Andrea was the next to leave, probably trailing after Shane. Everyone else followed, "You comin'?" Daryl ask me. I shook my head, "I'm gonna go check on Beth." I said, looking at Maggie. She noticed my glance and walked over to me, offering a hand to help. She gave a nod to Daryl, "I got her." she said with a sad smile on her face. Maggie sat with me at the table, "Your dad saved my life today." I said, leaning up against the back of the chair, pulling my stitches a bit, "And Rick saved us both." I smiled, mostly to myself, "And I-- I froze." I said, shrugging my shoulders, "You were being shot at! Heck, you got shot, Jade!" I nodded and smiled, "I know, but--" Maggie cut me off, "You don't have anything to prove." she said, a worried look in her eye, "All I've done! It's my fault Sophia was bit. I left her there!" I sighed and threw my head back. She wrapped me in a hug, which I returned.

I limped into the house with the help of Glenn, "Thanks. I'm gonna go see Maggie." I said to Glenn, who was supporting me by the waist, "Alright. Be careful, Jade." he said, "I will." I kissed him on the lips, then felt his hand slow come off my waist. He smiled at me and turned to go back to watch on the RV. I smiled to myself and walked into the kitchen, "Hey." I said, leaning against the island. Maggie smiled at me then turned to see Lori walking into the kitchen. I smiled at her, too, "Lori, Maggie, can we talk?" I ask the two women, "What is it?" Lori replied, wiping her hands on a rag. I took in a deep breath, "I missed my period." I blurted out. It was silent for a moment, "So, do you think you're--" I cut Maggie off, "I don't know. I've been feeling pretty sick and my stomach has been cramping, but no period." I said, running a hand through my hair. Lori faced me, "Does Glenn know?" she ask, "No. I won't tell him until I know for sure. We're using condoms, but do you think one of them could've broke?" I said, wrapping an arm around myself, "It could've, sweetie. But don't worry. Just come talk to me if you need anything. I'm gonna go check on Beth, see if she ate her food." Lori smiled. I nodded and watched her leave, "What if you are! That'll be so exciting!" Maggie smiled. I saw Lori running across the field toward Andrea and I. She looked up at Andrea, "Andrea, have you seen Maggie or Hershel?" Lori called up to her, her voice in a panic, "I haven't seen Hershel, but I saw Maggie walk by about 20 minutes ago." she said, "Could you find her for me? I gotta get back to the house." Lori was in a rush. I stood, "I'll go with you." I said, getting a nod from Lori. Andrea said she'd try to find Maggie as Lori and I ran toward the house, my side hurting with every step I took. I stood between Lori and Andrea in the kitchen, listening to Beth and Maggie arguing, "Where's Hershel?" Andrea ask, "He doesn't want to find out yet." Lori hopped up on the kitchen counter, "It's a family affair. We'll let them work it out." Lori said, pushing a piece of hair behind her ear, "That's working it out?" Andrea ask, looking toward the room, "When Beth stops fighting, that's when it's time to worry." I muttered, "This could've been handled better." I raised an eyebrow at Andrea's words, "How so?" Lori ask with a sigh, "You shouldn't have taken the knife away." I looked up from doing the dished, "Excuse me?" Lori said, "You were wrong, like Dale taking my gun. That wasn't your decision." Andrea said. This made my blood boil. Lori draped a rag over her shoulder, "She has to choose to live on her own. She has to find her own reasons." Andrea said, "Want me to tie a noose for her?" I scoffed, drying off a dish, "If she's serious, she'll figure out a way." Andrea said, rolling her eyes, "Doesn't mean I can't stop her or let her know that I care." Lori said, taking the words from my mouth, "That has nothing to do with it, Lori. She only has so many choices in front of her, and she believes suicide is the best one." Lori just turned her back, "That's not an option." I held in my anger, "Of course it is. She doesn't need to be yelled at or treated like a child." I broke, "Oh, so she needs a loaded gun, right? You'll understand if I don't send you in there." I scoffed, "I came through it." she said to me. I smiled, "You came through it? Let me show you something--" I raised my shirt to about my bra, "I came through it." I mocked her, now feeling embarrassed about what I did, "I've been going through this every day of my life! My childhood! I've been in the hospital god knows how many times?! And YOU came through it?" I repeated, scoffing. I threw my towel down, "The men can handle this on their own. They don't need your help." I spat at her, feeling Lori's hand on my back, "I'm sorry. What would you have me do?" Andrea ask, putting a hand to her side, "Oh, theres plenty of work to go around." I said, stepping up to her, "Are you serious? Everything falls apart, you're in my face over skipping laundry?" I took in a deep breath, "Puts a burden on the rest of us. On me, Lori, Carol, Patricia and Maggie. Cooking, cleaning, and caring for Beth. And you-- you don't care about anyone but yourself. You sit up on that R.V., working on your tan with a shotgun in your lap. The day you shot Daryl? Yeah, we specifically told you that WE WOULD HANDLE IT. NOT TO SHOOT! And guess what you did anyway?! Trying to be hero." I said, getting a look from Lori telling me I needed to tone it down, "No, I am on watch for walkers. That is what matters, not fresh mint leaves in the lemonade." I smiled, "We are providing stability. We are trying to create a life worth living." I cracked my neck, "Are you kidding me?" Andrea rose her voice, "Looks, I went after Rick. I took down two walkers. Don't act like you're-" Andrea cut Lori off, "After crashing Maggie's car. Ever apologize for that?" I got fed up, but walked out of the house before i would put my hands on her. Before I opened the front door, "Listen up. You don't know what Beth is going through. You NEVER will. Oh, poor baby. Your damn sister died and I was there for you! I was there for you when you tried to kill yourself, too! And now look who is saying no one should talk Beth out of it. You best stay out of this, Andrea. I will not hesitate to stomp your ass in the ground. Again." I snarled, slamming the front door open and walking out to meet Glenn.
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I heard banging on a door coming from Beth's room as I stood downstairs washing dishes. I threw my rag down and ran toward the noise. I burst into the room to see Maggie banging on the door, "Maggie?!" I ask, my voice rushed, "She's in there. I heard glass breaking." she continued to beat on the door. I rushed over, "Beth, sweetie, are you okay?" Sobs from behind the door continued as Maggie fumbled with the door knob, "Don't do this, Beth. Don't do this." Maggie pleaded with her younger sister, "God, I left her with Andrea." Maggie muttered. My mouth flew open, "Where's the key?" I ask Maggie, deciding now wasn't the best time to get angry, "I don't know." Maggie threw things out of drawers, "Beth, honey, please. Open the door." Maggie tried reasoning with Beth again. I pull Maggie away, "Beth, sweetie. Watch out." I called to her, kicking a little above the door knob. The door burst open and stood in awe, "Maggie!" I called after the brunette who rushed in to her little sister who's wrist was bleeding, "I'm sorry." she sobbed. Maggie held her tight, "Maggie, go get Hershel! I'll disinfect it. Hurry!" I shouted to Maggie. She nodded and rushed out, sobbing all the way. I held Beth in my arms, "Sweetie, you're okay. You're okay now. I'm gonna clean it up, okay?" I said to the girl, sitting her down in a chair. She nodded and cried. I poured some water over it, then dabbed it with a clothe. I followed Maggie and Lori outside. Andrea came running up to the house, "Where were you?" Maggie ask her, "I heard. Is she all right?"Andrea ask, taking a deep breath, "She would be if you had stayed with her. Where were you?" Maggie kept her voice stern, "How bad is she?" she avoided Maggie's question, "It wasn't deep." I said, crossing my arms across my chest. Andrea smiled, "She wants to live. She made her decision." Andrea smiled at Maggie, "She tried to kill herself." Maggie spat at her, "No, she didn't." Andrea shook her head, "My father is stitching her wrist right now." Maggie's voice rose. I walked forward and placed a hand on Maggie's back, "She'll live." Andrea nodded at her and tried to walk around Maggie to see Beth, "Stay away from her-" Maggie growled, blocking her path. "From both of us. Don't you dare step foot inside this house again." Andrea's smile faded to a frown, a look of hurt in her eyes. She looked up at me, now seeing the wrong she done. She let a breath out of her mouth and gave a nod to Maggie, then turned to leave.
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// Daryl //
One after another, my fist slammed into this boys head, "I told you--" I cut him off, "You told me shit!" I grabbed Randall by this shirt and jerked him up, propping his back against the wall, "I barely knew those guys. I met 'em on the road." he said, spitting out blood, "How many in your group?" I ask him, my voice coming out rough. He struggled with his words for a while until I pulled out my knife, "Uh, no no no no no no no no no. Come on, man." in one sudden movement, I swung the knife, making It land in the small slit between his two knees in attempt to scare him, "How many!" I repeated, "Uh, 30. 30. 30 guys." he stuttered some more, "Where?" I ask, "Uh..." I pulled off the bandage quickly. He screamed out in pain, "I DON'T KNOW. I SWEAR." He screamed out, "We were never anyplace more than a night." I slam my knife into his stitches, "Scouting? Planning on staying local?" I ask, digging my knife deeper, "I--I don't know. They-- They left me behind." he stuttered some more, "Did you ever pick off a scab?" I snarled, scaring the boy, "Come on, man!" he shouted, slamming his head up against the wall, "I'm- I'm trying to cooperate." I dug my knife under the skin that had begun to scab over, "Start real slow at first." I said, not breaking eye contact with him, "No." he grunted, "Sooner or later, you've just gotta rip it off." I snarled at him. His eyes filled with fear, "Okay. Okay!" he broke, "They-- they have weapons-- heavy stuff, automatics." I held my knife in place, "But I didn't do anything." he rushed his words, "Your boys shot at my boys. You shot my sister. They tried to take this farm. You just went along for the ride? You're trying to tell me you're innocent?" the boy slammed his head back, "YES!" It was silent as I regained my breath, "These-- these people took me in. Not just guys-- a whole group of 'em. Men and women, kids too-- just like you people." I pulled my knife away and stood up, "Thought I'd have a better chance with them, you know? But... We go out, scavenge-- just the men." he took a minute to breathe, "One night we-- we found this little campsite. A man and his two daughters-- teenagers, you know? Real young. Real cute. Just like your sister. What's her name? Jane? Jade?" I slowly turned around to face him, " Those two girls, their daddy had to watch while these guys--they--and they didn't even kill him afterwards. They just-- they just made him watch as his daughters-- they just, just, just left him there. No, but-but-- but I didn't touch those girls. No, I swear I didn't to--" I kicked him hard, "PLEASE." he yelled for mercy, "You gotta believe me, man. I'm not like that." he cried. I kicked him hard again, a raspy scream escaping from his throat.
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