Dark Days

Trying to Heal

©JRF2016

Rachel woke in the morning to discover Reid's empty spot in the bed next to her. She knew her actions, or rather inactions, have crippled her relationship with Reid and Charlie, not only her inactions but her very unkind words. She had thought that this whole apocalypse was the worst thing that had happened to her but four days ago she was proven wrong. She never knew she could love someone so much that losing them could hurt like this, now she's losing Reid and Charlie too. If she doesn't do something she'll be all alone, again. She quickly gets dressed and walks out into the hall. She raises her head to see Reid coming out of Grace's room with her in his arms and she smiles for the first time in almost a week. "Reid," she calls down the hall. He looks up and his smile drops. He sets Grace down holding onto her hand and quickly turns around and starts walking away, Grace tugging on his arm in the other direction. Rachel lets out an exasperated sigh as Grace's efforts are null and walks downstairs.

"Rachel, you're up," Cathy says surprised and smiling at her, "Breakfast is almost ready." She holds out a hand for Rachel to have a seat. As she pulls out a chair Reid comes in with Grace who lets go of his hand and runs over to her, he isn't keeping her from her mommy this time. She wraps her arms around Rachel's legs. "I'm so happy you're feeling better, mommy." Rachel hugs her back looking at Reid who was taking a chair on the opposite side of the table. Rachel opens her mouth to respond when she was interrupted, "She's not your mommy, Grace." Charlie bumps into her on his way around the table to sit next to his father. He pulls out his chair and glares over at Rachel, "She isn't anyone's mommy anymore."

"That's enough, Charlie." Reid says putting his hand on Charlie's shoulder. He says it flatly with no emotion for Rachel at all. Charlie glances at his dad and then back up at Rachel, "Sorry." His sorry matched his anger for her. Conner walks up and slings an arm over Rachel's shoulders. He had been standing there listening to everything and decided it was time to break this up. "Hey sugar tits. Glad you finally feel up to joinin' us."

Rachel smiles up at him, "Looks like you're the only one." She glances back over at Reid and Charlie who were looking down at their empty plates. They both quickly inhaled the food Cathy put on their plates and took off out the door. Grace had climbed up in Rachel's lap to eat her breakfast. "Rachel, why aren't you eating?" She asks as she looks up at her. "Oh, we're calling me by my name now huh?"

"Well, bubba said," Rachel stops her there. "I know, it's okay. Rachel's fine as long as you just keep talking to me, as long as you still love me." She smiles and turnes around to hug her. "I love you." Rachel slides the small girl her off her lap and starts her walk back upstairs. "Hey," Conner's gruff voice whispers in her ear, "We all love you too. Reid and Charlie still love you. This is just a little fight, every family has 'em. Hell, at least they ain't like the ones me and Darrick had with our old man." I nod to him as a tear slips down my cheek. "Go outside and get some fresh air. Hell, go say goodbye to that baby boy, you ain't done that yet and you need to."

She did as Conner said. She walks out onto the porch but when she glances over at that big oak tree marking Liam's final resting place she just couldn't bring herself to go over there. She desperately wanted to fix things with Reid and Charlie first. They were out there plowing a field for crops. Rachel walks over to them, "Can I help?" Charlie keeps his head down and keeps working. Reid stands all the way up and turns to look at her. "Naw, I think we got," he said coldly, "Cathy's probably got some chores she needs help with."

"Reid, I want to talk. Can we talk?"

"I'm doin' stuff Rachel," he says as he turns his back to her to continue working. "Later," I said, "After dinner, can we talk?" He didn't respond, "Charlie, I owe you a serious apology, will you talk to me later?" He looks up to his father for reassurance but didn't respond to Rachel either. "Fine." she said finally walking away.