Dark Days

Stuff

©JRF2016

"Hey," Reid said walking up to me, "We need to talk, I need to talk." I kept working on the walkers through the fence.

"Well, talk then."

      I didn't look up at him as he told me about how they lost his wife, Lucy during childbirth. My heart broke for him and for Charlie. I stopped what I was doing and turned my back to him. I felt tears welling up but I didn't want him to see. "Aren't you gonna say anything," he asked. I just stood there, I had no clue what to say. "Okay then," Reid started again, "When you feel like you wanna talk you know where to find me. I gotta go do stuff, thangs." I turned around slowly and watched him walk away.

      We didn't speak to each other for a few days after that. I just didn't know what to say to him. Charlie wasn't warming up to me, I figured it was going to take a while for him to warm up to anyone the way he lost his mother and everything else this whole group had been through with other people. I wasn't angry but I still avoided any conversations with them. Truth was I wasn't really sure how I felt but I knew I didn't feel like talking.

     I walked up to Darrick who was getting ready to go on another run. "Hey," I said as he looked up at me, "You need any help?" He nodded and bit his lip.

"We can always use an extra set of hands. Seems like the dead are growin' in numbers everyday."

"Well, then," I said, "let me grab a bag and I'll head out with ya." I ran inside to my cell and grabbed my bag as I turned to run back to the car Reid was standing in the doorway.

"Hey," he said staring at me.

"Hey," I said darting my eyes toward the floor avoiding his gaze.

"So we haven't talked in a few days. Are you mad at me or something, I know I stormed off a little angry last time we talked, but..." I held up my hand to stop him there.

"You don't have to say anything. I get it, I just didn't know what I was supposed to say to that. So I just kept my mouth shut, I find it is usually better that way." He chuckled.

"Yeah sometimes, I guess. Where are you going?"

I looked up into his eyes this time, "I'm going on the run with Darrick." Reid nodded and looked a little sad.

"You two be careful out there and watch each other's backs." I smiled as I slid out the door and brushed against his body.

"You got it Chief." I heard him let out a low grumble. I had realized early on that he hated it when I called him chief, due to him being a deputy sheriff, so I started doing it just to get to him. I was laughing as I walked up to the car where Darrick and Cearra were waiting.

"What are you laughin' at?" Darrick asked me.

"Nothing much, just in a good mood today." Darrick and Cearra eyed each other and then turned to see Reid leaving the cell block right behind me. They glanced at each other and then back at me and started laughing. I quickly turned to see what they thought was so hilarious. Reid had stopped in his tracks and was watching me as I climbed into the car with them and I felt my face heat up.