virago|c.g.|

xiii

The drive back to Alexandria was long and quiet, the tension filling the air as the group left behind the bodies of the two they had lost. The girl seated in the passenger side of the van found herself glancing to Glenn multiple times, her eyes always resting on the tight grip he held the steering wheel with. Luckily, the hair that fell in her face hid her glances, but it didn't hide her surprising worry for the man. She knew it was not easy to lose someone you cared for, she knew it all too well. That thought stayed, along with the tension as they entered the gates of Alexandria. As the gates shut behind them, Glenn turned off the van before immediately stepping out, his eyes resting upon the first person they saw. "Help! We've got injured!" Glenn called out as Clary made her way towards the back of the van before opening the doors. She helped Eugene out as Pete came to the back, Clary pointing towards Tara, who was still unconscious. "Tara got caught in a blast. All we know is it's some pretty severe head trauma. She hasn't woken up since it happened." Pete nodded, his eyes moving towards the man in the back. "And Nicholas?" Clary only shrugged. "Few bumps and bruises, he'll live. Check on her first." Pete nodded before Eugene helped the doctor take Tara into the infirmary. There was two other men Clary hadn't seen that helped the now-conscious Nicholas into the infirmary, his eyes steady on the girl before turning away as he entered the building. 

Clary shut the doors to the van before going around, seeing Glenn lean against the vehicle for support. His eyes met hers and a certain look of understanding passed through them. "Let's go home, Glenn." Glenn didn't say anything as she came closer, allowing him to wrap his arm around her and transfer his need for support from the van to her. He also didn't mention how she had called the house where she stayed with Glenn and Maggie 'home'. A smile would have made it to his face had he not been overcome with grief.

As they walked into the house, Clary saw that it was empty, no Maggie or even Daryl to be seen. Instead of waiting, she helped Glenn upstairs and into his room, letting him sit down on the bed.
She watched as he silently plopped onto the mattress, feeling a hint of his grief as he was nonchalant. She stood still for a moment, unsure if it was safe to leave him alone or if he needed company. She made the decision upon seeing the bruised and bloody hands that sat upon his lap, going into the bathroom before coming out with a damp towel. Seating herself besides him, she gently grabbed his hand before beginning to clean it. "I've never been good at comforting. My friend, Millie, she always did it better than I ever could." She let out a soft sigh. "But I know how it feels, losing someone like that. I'm sorry that you had to." Glenn looked to her as she finished with one hand and began to clean the other. He didn't question her, and she didn't want him too, but just the two knowing they could understand each other was enough. "Nicholas will pay, I promise you. He— he can't get away with this. I won't let him." As she finished cleaning his other hand, Clary looked up towards Glenn. With their eyes meeting, there was a silent promise passed between them. They had each other's backs, and that wouldn't change.

Clary allowed herself to glance away before standing, folding the towel as she looked to him. "If you need anything, I'll be in my room." Glenn nodded solemnly, his eyes far off, to which she knew they would be. She knew he'd be grieving for some time and she could only do so much to help. As Clary made her way towards the door, she stopped as a soft voice sounded. "Thank you." His voice cracked, and she could tell the emotion it held, but she simply looked back to him. With their eyes meeting again, Clary allowed a small, sad smile to appear upon her face. "Of course, I owed you anyways." With those words, Glenn knew her aid was not only because of debt. He could see that she had begun to care about him and maybe even those around him. He knew her past heartbreak of losing her family, and that was why she was so hesitant to get closer, but he also knew that in due time she would come to see him and the group as family.

Clary walked out of the room and into her own. As she shed herself of her weapons and gear, inwardly promising to turn them in later, she ran her hands through her hair in thought. But as she stood in front of the window, she looked through to see Carl appearing at his own. As she let her hands fall, she saw his eyes before he disappeared, only to reappear with a journal he pushed against the window.