The Walking Dead Game What Ifs: What if Nick shot Clementine?
[TWDG What Ifs Master List] [Volume 1]
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What if Nick shot Clementine? Prompt Submitted by Guest on FF.net
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The first thing Clementine was aware of was people shouting. She couldn’t decipher what they were saying, so she shifted and started speaking, “I—” Clementine was cut off by a gunshot and a sudden stab of pain in her side.
“Nick!”
“What the fuck is wrong with you!”
Clementine started to scramble away from them, quickly turning and getting to her feet, she ran into the forest, deciding to take her chances with her mangled arm and her, now, injured side.
Luke stared after the girl, while Pete wrenched the gun from Nick’s hands.
“That was the last thing anyone of us needed.” Snapped Pete, casting a glare around them, “Luke, come with me.”
“Where’re you going?” Demanded Rebecca, getting a pissed off glare from Pete.
“Luke and I are going to find her and explain that what Nick did was an accident.” Said Pete, “Hopefully, we’ll find her before someone else does.”
Reluctantly, Luke followed after Pete, giving Nick a reprimanding look. The rest of their group watched as Pete and Luke disappeared into the forest.
“Maybe…” Carlos spoke, after a moment of silence, “maybe we should’ve just…”
“What?” Demanded Rebecca, “Patched her up? How the hell do we know that she’s not one of Carver’s?”
Carlos sighed, before looking at Nick, “Let’s just get inside before any Lurkers show up.”
T
Clementine didn’t know how long she’d been running. She was hot and dizzy, and everything was a haze to her. Her foot caught on something, making her tumble down across the ground. Finding herself unable to move, Clementine saw a pair of feet appear in her vision. Bracing herself for when the Walker started eating her, Clementine attempted to close her eyes, before a hand slapped her face and she felt something press down on the bullet wound. Groaning, Clementine looking at the source of the pressure.
“…Christa?” Croaked Clementine, as Christa carefully picked her up.
“Yeah, it’s me,” Muttered Christa, “you’re gonna be fine, Clem.”
For Clementine, everything went dark. Christa tried not to worry about how wet Clementine’s clothes were or the amount of blood on her shirt. She’d managed to give the bandits the slip, even managed to snag a couple of guns and a large hunting knife from them. Clementine looked small as she carried her, Christa dispelled her train of thoughts and ducked into a shed.
Carefully setting Clementine down, Christa lifted her shirt up. Grimacing at the bullet wound, Christa carefully lifted Clementine and looked at her back, finding an exit wound. Sighing in relief, Christa rummaged through her pockets of the limited medical supplies she had.
Meanwhile, Luke and Pete followed Clementine’s blood until it abruptly stopped. Pete frowned, before kneeling down and looking at them.
“Where’s she gone?” Asked Luke, looking around, “Did she stop bleeding?”
“No,” Said Pete, “She collapsed, and someone picked her up, but Lurkers have completely covered their tracks.”
“You don’t think she’s with Carver, do you?” Asked Luke, getting a frown from Pete.
“No,” Pete stood up, “they would’ve come for us by now.”
Luke sighed, “We better get back, don’t want to worry the others.”
Sighing, Pete nodded and the two backtracked towards the cabin. Leaving the cold trail left by Clementine and whoever took her.
T
Clementine winced as Christa helped her walk, Christa found the dog bite and had stitched it up along with the bullet hole in her side, after Christa discovered that Clementine had injured her left leg when she fell. Christa managed to find a bunch fish traps, so they got to eat for the first time in a while. They had just reached a bridge and started crossing when a guy in a grey hoodie ran up to them. He’d given his name as Matthew, where they met his group. Led by Kenny. Soon, they were inside the lodge, with Matthew leaving to go back down to the bridge.
“I thought you were dead.” Said Clementine, looking up from Kenny.
“Same,” Said Christa, “the last time I saw you, you were getting swarmed by Walkers after you and Lee tried to save Ben.”
“Yeah, well,” Shrugged Kenny, “I almost was. Ben was screaming so loud I couldn’t hear myself think. I didn’t realise I’d gotten out until it happened.”
Christa looked around the lodge, Walter was making dinner and Sarita, Kenny’s girlfriend, was rummaging through some boxes, “This is a nice place.”
“Yeah,” Kenny laughed, “we’re stopping here for a bit before moving on north. There’s a place called Wellington, high walls and cold ass winters that’ll freeze Walkers right up.”
“We were heading the same way.” Said Christa, “We got attacked by some bandits and Clem and I got separated for a bit.”
“Really?” Asked Kenny, looking around, “What happened?”
“Clem managed to get away, I was stuck with them for a bit,” Said Christa, as Clementine rubbed her arm, “I managed to get a couple of guns and some supplies before escaping. I stumbled across Clementine shortly afterwards.”
Kenny nodded, “How bout you, Clem?”
Clementine swallowed, “I, er, I got chased and I fell into the river. I washed up at a campsite, and I met a dog there, his name was Sam.”
Kenny frowned, “Okay, what happened then?”
“I found a can of beans,” Continued Clementine, “I gave some to Sam and, I don’t know, he attacked me. He bit my arm.”
“That’s putting it mildly,” Interrupted Christa, “her arm was mauled, I’m surprised that it wasn’t infected.”
“I, I kicked him onto some spikes, and I put him down.” Clementine swallowed, “I almost got killed by a Walker, but a couple of guys saved me. They… they were taking me to their group when they saw the dog bite and, and thought it was a Walker bite. I think I passed out, when I woke up, I heard people yelling. I, I just started speaking and one of them shot me.”
Kenny and Christa stiffened, as Clementine continued, “I ran. I think I heard them yelling for me, b-but I just kept running. I don’t know how far I got, but I tripped on something. Christa found me not long after.”
“Jesus.” Swore Christa, as Kenny snarled.
T
A couple days later a truck turned up. A man with a furred collar appeared, looking inside the lodge through the window, when Clementine and Christa found him.
“Who the hell are you?” Demanded Christa, pointing her gun at the man.
“Hello,” Smiled the man, his voice was gruff, “I’m sorry to startle you. I’ve just collected some of my people and we’re on our way home. Just stopping by and checking that there ain’t anyone in need here.”
“We’re fine.” Said Christa, keeping her gun aimed at the man.
“You’re not very trusting, are you.” Mused the man.
“My kid and I were attacked by some bandits, never hurts to be cautious.” Said Christa, getting a nod from the man.
“That’s fair.” The man started walking away, “Best of luck to you.”
Christa and Clementine watched the man walk away, before brushing it off and going back inside. A week later, a group of people turned up. Clementine frowned as Kenny, Christa and Sarita rushed out the door to confront the people.
After a moment, making sure that Walter was still busy with the food, Clementine followed them out. They were yelling, making Clementine worry that they’ll attract Walkers. Pushing her way to the front, she looked up at Christa, when someone said her name.
“Clementine?” Turning to look at the group, Clementine froze.
“What?” Christa looked down, before looking back at the group, then the penny dropped, “Shit.”
“What?” Asked Kenny, glancing to the side.
“I think these are the people Clem talked about.” Said Christa, tucking Clementine behind her, “The ones that shot her.”
Kenny immediately raised his rifle and aimed it at the group.
“Wait!” Said one guy, “It was an accident!”
“Like hell it was!” Bellowed Kenny, “How the fuck do you accidentally shoot someone?!”
“She moved man.” Protested a guy in a baseball cap.
“Of course she’d move,” Snapped Christa, “she’s not dead!”
Clementine looked around the group, she recognised Luke, but she couldn’t see Pete. There was a heavyset man with glasses, a heavily pregnant woman, a man in a flannel shirt and a guy in a trucker’s hat holding a rifle. Frowning, Clementine searched through their group.
“Where’s Matthew?” Asked Clementine, making everyone go silent.
“We haven’t met anyone called Matthew.” Said the heavyset man, looking at them, “Look, we’re not looking for trouble. If you want us to, we’ll leave.”
Christa looked over them, before looking at Clementine, “How about it, Clem? You’re the only one they’ve met before.”
Clementine looked at Christa and Kenny, “They… they could stay, just for tonight.”
Kenny and Christa didn’t look happy about it, but silently allowed it. Sighing, Kenny gestured for them to follow him, they almost had a problem with the guy in the hat when they were asked to leave their weapons by the door. After that, everything was quiet and somewhat peaceful, then Clementine saw Walter by their weapons, before he went outside.
“Hey.” Clementine looked up at the guy who wanted to keep his gun, “Er, Clementine, right?”
“Yeah?” Nodded Clementine, as the guy, Nick, looked at the floor.
“I, er,” Nick scowled, “I wanted to apologise for, y’know, shooting you. I freaked out and acted without thinking. I’m sorry.”
Clementine blinked and stared up at him, before he hurried off somewhere. Everyone was quietly talking amongst themselves when the wind turbine supplying them with power suddenly went crazy. The adults went outside to fix it, leaving Clementine with the heavyset man and the pregnant woman, Alvin and Rebecca. Rebecca was panicking about something, while Alvin tried to keep her calm, looking out the window, Clementine saw Kenny and Christa dealing with the turbine and the Walkers, while Luke vanished off somewhere. Clementine sighed and looked down at her gun, idly removing and reinserting the magazine.
“You okay there, Clementine?” Asked Alvin, making Clementine look up.
“Yeah, just bored.” Shrugged Clementine, wincing slightly as she shifted, “Where’re you planning to go?”
“Don’t know.” Answered Alvin, “I’m just focused on Becs and our son.”
“How do you know it’s going to be a boy?” Asked Clementine, just as a bullet tore through window. Thinking quickly, Clementine grabbed her gun and pointed it at the window, “Guys?”
Clementine slowly made her way down the stairs, spotting the guy from the week before walk through the door, holding a gun to Nick’s back, “You’re the guy from last week.”
The guy didn’t say anything to her, marching Nick and the guy in the flannel shirt, Carlos, in at gunpoint, as a couple of people marched Christa, Sarita and Walter in. The next thing Clementine knew, they were all on their knees with the guy from the week before stalked in front of them. Clementine flinched as the guy, Carver, grabbed Carlos and started beating him. Shifting slightly, Clementine felt her knife shift in her pocket. Discreetly as possible, Clementine removed her knife from her pocket and started to cut her bindings. One of Carver’s guys got shot in the head, making Carver grab Walter and haul him over to the window. Clementine heard a gunshot and a thud, followed by Carver yelling at Kenny.
Carver then came back and grabbed Alvin, with everyone yelling and crying. Carver had just reached the window with Alvin, when Clementine got up and charged at him. She plunged her knife into Carver’s back. Grunting, Carver let Alvin go, before grabbing Clementine’s wrist. Forced to let go of the knife, Clementine found herself being held by the throat, with Carver holding her hostage instead of Alvin.
T
Clementine looked around the community Carver had brought them to, there were at least a dozen people watching them. Carlos was led away somewhere, while they were guided to a yard by a woman called Bonnie. Looking around the yard, Clementine saw Pete and a girl wearing red glasses with a black eye.
“Uncle Pete!” Yelled Nick, running over to them.
Pete looked around the group Nick was with, his eyes settling on Clementine, “You found her?”
“No.” Christa spoke up, glaring at him, “They stumbled across her, while she was with us.”
Pete gave her a regretful look, “I apologise for her injuries, I have no real excuse or reason for it.”
Christa looked at him, “I guess you do a lot of apologising for him.”
Pete gave her a nod, before looking at the others, “Carver’s guys found me after that Lurker got me, took the leg. They’ve had me filling guns, they came back with Sarah a couple days after that.”
“Sarah,” Said Rebecca, walking over, “are you alri—”
Sarah got up and walked away. Frowning, Christa leaned down and whispered into Clementine’s ear, “Go talk to her.”
“Why me?” Clementine whispered back.
“Because you’re a people person,” Responded Christa, “and you have a calming effect on people.”
Clementine gave Christa a sour look before walking over to Sarah, “Hey.”
Sarah looked at Clementine, “You’re the girl that Nick shot.”
“Yeah.”
“Did it hurt?” Asked Sarah, tilting her head.
“Yeah.”
“Why are you with them?” Asked Sarah, as Clementine crouched down.
“We made the mistake of letting them stay for the night.” Said Clementine, “Did… you know them?”
Sarah nodded, “They left me behind in the cabin when they left.”
Clementine blinked, “…what?”
“The day after Nick shot you.” Said Sarah, “Pete and Nick went to get fish, Nick came back, and everyone left, Carver found me in the cabin. They all abandoned me and left Pete to die.”
Clementine didn’t know how to process that particular nugget on information, so she just nodded and sat down next to Sarah.
T
Sarah didn’t say anything to other members of her former group, despite Carlos trying to engage with her. Clementine was taken to the armoury by Bonnie to fill up magazines, where the woman gave her a coat she’d found at the Ski lodge, then another woman appeared and took Clementine to the greenhouses, where the guy missing his arm had her and Sarah pruning a pair of plants.
“…Did… did they talk about me?” Asked Sarah, making Clementine pause.
“I… I don’t think so.” Answered Clementine, “I didn’t stick around them very much. Except for Rebecca, but I think that was just to tell them if she started giving birth.” Clementine bit her bottom lip, “…What do you do here?”
“I do as I’m told.” Said Sarah, “Carver’s had me learn some first aid with another doctor he has here. Is it true you stabbed him?”
“Yeah.”
The door to the greenhouse opened and admitted Carver, with Reggie stuttering greetings to him.
“Sarah,” Carver looked at her, “take Clementine to Tavia, the guys need more nails.”
Sarah nodded, before leading Clementine away. Sarah left her with Tavia and went over to a doctor that was supervising Carlos and Sarita. Clementine found Kenny and Mike trying to fight, with Christa between them.
“I’d expect this from Clementine and another kid, not two grown adults.” Grunted Christa, as Kenny tried to shove her out of the way.
“What are you doing?” Asked Clementine, getting their attention.
“Nothing, they’re acting like children, Clem.” Said Christa, stepping away from Mike and Kenny, giving the pair a warning look.
Clementine frowned but carried the bucket of nails over to them.
“Lift with your legs, Clem.” Admonished Christa, “Not your back.”
Clementine immediately straightened her back and bent her legs, with Christa sighing and taking the bucket, “How’s your leg?”
“Still hurts.” Said Clementine, “that doctor said it’s a light sprain, whatever that means.”
“It’ll heal in a couple of weeks.” Sighed Christa, “We’ll—”
Christa was cut off by some Walkers breaking through the glass. Everything became a mad dash, Clementine managed to deal with a Walker, before she been forced to deal with another after it chased her into another room. A Walker grabbed her sprained leg, resulting in a stab of pain to run up the length of her leg, letting out a short scream, Clementine tried to kick the Walker away from her. The Walker was wrenched away from her, with Christa shoving it towards one of Carver’s guards. Clementine grabbed her ankle, freezing when she felt something wet. Removing her hand, Clementine stared at the blood, before her eyes zeroed in on the bite mark on her left ankle.
Christa looked at Clementine, spotting the bite mark and freezing. Christa was suddenly shoved to the side, as Mike advanced on Clementine with a line of cord. Dropping down, Mike quickly located a tear in Clementine’s trouser leg and pulled it part, before roughly tourniqueting the leg and picking Clementine up. The man ran out of the store, with Christa following after him.
T
Christa’s leg bounced as she sat in the yard, she’d been guided in by Sarah, while Carver’s doctor worked with Carlos and Sarita. The sound of the gate opening made Christa look up, Mike was walking in with Kenny, Sarita, Carlos and Nick. Rushing to her feet, Christa made her way over to them.
“Is Clementine alright?” Christa looked around them, “Where is she?”
“Abrahms is watching her,” Said Carlos, “we had to cut her leg off.”
Kenny let out a growl, “Where do we go from here?”
“What do you mean?” Asked Nick, looking Kenny.
“That Luke fella flagged me down,” Explained Kenny, “He wanted a radio, said something about knowing their guard schedules.”
“How’re we going to get him one?” Asked Rebecca, as Christa frowned.
“Would telling Carver about him get us out of here?” Asked Christa, sending them into silence, “We’re here because of you, you led Carver to the ski lodge and got Walter killed, and you killed Matthew.”
“We couldn’t control any of that.” Said Carlos, as Rebecca gave Christa a glare.
“Clementine only got bit because Carver brought her here.” Stated Christa, as Pete went over to them.
“And it’ll take a few weeks before she’d be fit to travel.” Said Pete, looking around them, “Christa’s right, her, Clementine and the group they were with were only attacked because Carver caught up with you. Besides,” he gave Nick a hard look, “Bonnie and Vince are already working on getting us out of the yard.”
“What about Reggie?” Asked Nick, looking around, “Maybe he’ll help.”
“Reggie isn’t getting back in.” Said Sarah, matter-of-factly, “He’s been out here since we left the first time and he’s done enough to get out of here, but they’ve just ignored him.”
Kenny let out a snort, his eyes glancing towards the man at his place by the fire.
T
Meanwhile, inside the makeshift hospital area in the community, Dr Abrahms silently watched the girl as she slept. Carver had appeared and watched her with him.
“Why are you here, Bill?” Asked Abrahms, not looking away from her.
“That girl’s a survivor.” Said Bill, “She and her caretaker saw me off when I stumbled across their group.”
“Really?” Abrahms frowned, turning his head to look at Bill, “Why’d you bring them in?”
“We tracked our people to them, probably got half the story.” Carver frowned, “Things got a bit out of hand, one of the guys in that group saw us gathering our people up and shot Johnny.”
“Makes you wonder what they’ve been through if they don’t trust and assume the worst of people.” Said Abrahms, before sighing, “Sarah and Pete should be let out of the pen, they’ve learnt their lesson, and I’m concerned at how Pete’s leg’ll progress if he’s kept out there throughout winter.”
Carver sighed, “Anything else?”
“I think that nurse would do well if she was in here.” Said Abrahms, before sighing, “What’s going on, Bill?”
“What?”
“Your obsession with Rebecca and her baby, the state Carlos was in when you brought him in, what you’ve been doing to Alvin.” Abrahms glared at Bill, “I followed you because you were reasonable and honest. I thought you weren’t like Negan. Now, I’m not sure. Yes, I understand that Alvin killed George, but that man was a full-on bastard.”
“Dan,” Abrahms looked away from Carver and at Shel, “Russell’s injured himself.”
Abrahms sighed, before grabbing a first aid kit and looked at Carver, “Don’t go anywhere.”
Carver watched as the doctor left with Shel, before looking at Clementine, “I know you’re awake.”
Clementine opened her eyes and looked at him, “You lied. You weren’t gathering Rebecca and the others, you were taking all of us prisoner.”
“Those are the same thing.” Dismissed Carver, looking down at Clementine, “You know that better than the others.”
“They’re not the same thing.” Argued Clementine, “Gathering people doesn’t include tying them up.”
“Why are you so upset for them?” Asked Carver, “Sarah told me that Nick shot you, that nurse you and your caretaker were with said that Nick shot a guy in your group.”
“I’ve shot people.” Dismissed Clementine, “I’m not going to hold it against him.”
“You should.” Said Carver, “You and I are more alike than you’d think, Clementine.”
“I’m nothing like you.”
“Aren’t you?” Questioned Carver, “You’ve killed, I’ve killed. You’ve survived, I’ve survived. You know your way around a gun, and you can handle Lurkers better than so many people older than you. Our doctor told me how you stitched yourself up.”
“Everyone does all those things.”
“Sarah doesn’t,” Said Carver, “Becca doesn’t. Do you really think everyone knows how to use a gun?”
Clementine was silent, getting a smirk from Carver, “You only got bit because you sprained your leg a few days ago, everyone’s seen the limp. I’m willing to bet that you sprained your leg after Nick shot you.”
Clementine chewed the inside of her cheek, refusing to respond to Carver.
“You’ll move on from this,” Mused Carver, “because that’s what we do.”
T
Sarah watched as her former group and Clementine’s group argued. The sight made her upset, the only ones of the former group who were against leaving Clementine behind were Rebecca and Pete. Pete had said that if they left, he wasn’t going with them. Sarah supposed that Rebecca refusing also had something to do with Alvin being stuck in Carver’s office. Clementine had her leg cut off and her group was fighting to stay with her, while Sarah’s former group, her dad had left her behind and ran away.
Rebecca had said they’d gone back, but Luke had said they’d bring Clementine back and they took care of their own. They didn’t, Clementine was found by someone else, and they left her behind and Pete to die.
The gate opening got everyone’s attention, with Tavia walking in with Troy, “Sarah, Pete, you’re getting out of here.”
Tavia looked amongst the group that Carver brought in, “Who’s from the group that girl was in?”
Christa straightened up and marched over, followed by Kenny and Sarita, “Where is she?”
“She’s being watched by our doctor,” Said Tavia, “but, he’s convinced Bill to let you guys out. Don’t screw this up.”
Sarah gently tugged on Christa’s sleeve, “I can take you to her.”
T
Abrahms frowned as Stan measured Clementine’s leg, “Are you sure you’ve got the right materials?”
“I’ve got enough to make seven prosthetics,” Dismissed Stan, “The ones I’m making for her and Pete, they’ll be able to put them on and get walking before they know it.”
Abrahms continued to frown, before he heard Sarah leading some people, presumably Clementine’s group, into the medical area.
“I’ve got hers already sketched up,” Said Stan, still focusing on Clementine’s leg, “it’ll have to be adjustable, so it can ‘grow’ with her, but hopefully, she’ll be walking again before the year is out.”
“Will I be able to walk like I used to?” Asked Clementine, looking at Stan.
“Dan does,” Stan gestured towards Abrahms, “He and I were in the same unit together, dumb bastard stood on a landmine. Lee, our squad leader, had to apply first aid on our doctor. Heh, Sam and I found it hilarious.”
“Yeah, everyone was laughing until Lee punched Sam and broke his neck.” Said Abrahms, “Hell, I’m still splitting my sides about it.”
“Yeah,” Stan sighed, “Lee was a great guy, but his wife… not so much.”
“Was he a history teacher?” Asked Clementine, getting the men’s attention.
“Yeah… how’d you know that?” Asked Stan, leaning back, “Did… did you meet him?”
“He found me when everything ended.” Said Clementine, as Sarah led Kenny, Sarita and Christa into the medical area, “He looked after me, until he got bit.”
“Damn.” Stan bowed his head, with Abrahms doing the same, “How many does that make now?”
“Well,” Abrahms scratched his neck, “Sam got his neck broken by a coffee table. Clara, Danny, Mick and Razer were killed by that landmine. Al blew her brains out in the first few days. Skip, Dick, Tom and Harry were eaten by the dead. Del’s god knows where. You and me are here, and we now know that Lee’s dead… Shit, it’s just us left.”
“Fuck.”
“Hi.” Sarah waved at them, before pointing at the three adults, “They wanted to see Clementine.”
“Well, I’m just about finished.” Said Stan, getting up, “I’ll get to work on her leg tomorrow, since I’m going to attaching Pete’s to him.”
Abrahms gave the man a wave as he left, before giving Clementine and her group some privacy.
T
Christa swore she heard Kenny muttering darkly as he looked at an engine, “How bad is it?”
“Why did Clem have to mention I worked on a vehicle?” Grumbled Kenny, “When she’s walkin’, she’s gonna be helpin’ me.”
“She also mentioned that you were a commercial fisherman.” Said Russell, a teen from Carver group, “but it’s winter and we’re nowhere near water.”
“Yeah, well—” Kenny’s retort was cut off by a gunshot. Alarmed, the three rushed back inside, in time to witness Reggie get shot in the head. A couple feet from him, Carver was on his back and staring blankly up at the ceiling.
“Is he…?” Christa looked to the source of the voice, a girl a couple of years older than Clementine.
“Yes.” Said Abrahms, getting up from his knees, “We—”
A bullet impacted the top of Carver’s head, putting him down before her turned.
“Need to do that.” Finished Abrahms, looking for the source of the shot. Clementine stood with a gun pointed at Carver’s corpse, as brunette supporting her.
“Well, that solves one problem.”
Everyone looked from Carver’s body to a guy holding a restrained Luke, “Caught him trying to steal food.”
Troy immediately raised his gun and aimed at Luke, making Abrahms draw a pistol and aim it at Troy. Tavia aimed at Abrahms, Vince aimed at Tavia, Vera aimed at Vince, Wyatt aimed at Vera, Tyler aimed at Wyatt, Shel aimed at Tyler, Tisha aimed at Shel, Russell aimed at Tisha, Lowell aimed at Russell, Bonnie aimed at Lowell, and Hank, the guy holding Luke, aimed at Luke’s head.
Clementine, after a moment raised Shel’s spare gun and aimed it at Hank.
“Put it down, Dan.” Said Tavia, after a moment.
“Christa,” Said Dan, after a moment, “can you take the kids to that closet over there?”
Hank pointed his gun at Clementine, “No one moves!”
Vince gave a small snarl, “Everyone, drop your guns.”
“Like hell!” Shrieked Tisha, moving her gun from Shel to Vince, “We’re not fucking stupid.”
“You look stupid.” Said Clementine, resulting in Tisha aiming at her.
Unseen by almost everyone, Christa slipped into the weapon closet and took enough guns for her group and Luke’s group, discreetly handing weapons to each person as she passed them, before giving a gun to Kenny.
After a moment, Christa and the two groups aimed at Carver’s guys.
“Oh, look.” Said Abrahms dryly, “You’re out numbered.”
Troy took his gun off Luke and aimed at Rebecca’s abdomen, “Fine.”
A sawn-off shotgun pressed against the back of Troy’s head.
“I never liked you,” Stated Stan, “you fucking psychopath.”
Slowly, Vera lowered her gun, with Becca taking it from her, as Wyatt switched to aim at Tyler. Hank, deciding he’d had enough, shot at Clementine. The resulting fire fight was short, with both Stan and Abrahms killing Troy, Vince taking a hit to the shoulder from Tavia. Tisha, Tyler and Lowell hit their targets in non-fatal areas, while they themselves and Tavia were gunned down fairly quickly. Hank turned his gun on Kenny and shot his left eye out. Vera, taking her gun from Becca, shot Hank in the face. Abrahms, stepping over the dead, rushed over to Shel, where she was kneeling over Clementine and pressing down on a bullet wound near the centre of her chest.
“Let me look.” Abrahms examined Clementine, “There isn’t much bleeding, and her breathing isn’t laboured.”
Carefully lifting the girl up, Abrahms checked her back, finding an exit wound, “She’s lucky, an inch in any direction, she’d be dead.”
Carlos glanced at them, before looking up at the office, “I’m going to check on Alvin.”
“Sarah,” Abrahms ordered, “get some medicine and medical supplies and go with him. Sarita, I want you triaging the wounded down here.”
“Who put you in charge?” Demanded Nick, getting a glare from Abrahms.
“In the time of a medical incident, doctors and nurses become the de facto leaders until the chain of command is reestablished after everyone has been treated.” Said Abrahms, “Understood?”
T
Carlos ran his hand down his face, accidentally smearing some of Alvin’s blood on it. Rebecca had gone into labour, while Stan and some others sealed the entrances and exits. The massive herd of Lurkers passed without issue, with Shel and Becca putting down anyone who’d been killed by being shot in the chest. Kenny, and the other wounded, were tended to by Abrahms, Christa and Sarita helped Rebecca give birth.
“How is he?” Wyatt’s voice made Carlos jump.
“He’ll live.” Said Carlos, “But it’ll be a long recovery.”
Wyatt nodded, “We’re going to fall back on some of the expansion efforts, use some of the supplies to reinforce our walls.”
Carlos nodded, before walking down the stairs and looked around. Nick and Mike were keeping the damaged door shut, while Stan worked on it.
“I think they’re starting to leave.” Said Mike, making Nick crouched down and look at them, “We can stop holding the door down now.”
“You can stop holding it down when I say you can.” Said Stan, “We don’t want any getting in if you’re wrong.”
The two men grumbled, but didn’t move.
T
“We’ve got a few working cars,” Kenny looked around, “so we can get our asses outta here soon.”
“We could stay here for the winter,” Said Christa, “move on when it’s warmer and safer.”
“It’d also give Clem and Pete more time to heal up,” Added Luke, “I don’t know about you, but the cold makes me ache.”
“You got your ass kick.” Said Mike, bluntly, “Of course the cold’s gonna make you ache.”
“But, Christa’s right,” Said Jane, “we have enough to last us through to spring and it’d be safer to stay here until our injured and young are ready to be moved.”
Kenny frowned, he didn’t like the idea of staying, but he knew solid reasoning when he saw it. It’s something Lee would’ve thought about.
“Well,” Grunted Kenny, “let’s how this pans out.”
Below the office, Clementine, Becca and Sarah were showing three people who turned up a few days after the herd passed through, showing them where they sleep and worked during the day.
Coming back into the main area, Clementine saw Rebecca and Alvin looking at their baby, Abrahms and Sarita were checking the injured, Clementine absently rubbed the bullet wound, and Kenny and the others were coming down from the office. Luke and Jane went off somewhere, while Mike, Bonnie, Russell and Nick went to stand watch. Clementine let Sarah guide her over to the other injured, just as Kenny dropped down next to Sarita, as Carlos checked on Alvin and the baby.
“What are you gonna call him?” Asked Kenny, looking over at them.
“We haven’t really discussed it,” Confessed Rebecca, “We were so worried about Carver finding us and we couldn’t agree on if he was a boy or a girl.”
“I,” Alvin coughed, “I can’t think of anything.”
“You could name him after his father.” Suggested Kenny, looking from the baby to Alvin, “We could call him AJ for short.”
“He does look kinda like an Alvin.” Agreed Clementine, before tilting her head and squinting her eyes, “But, if you squint, he also kinda looks like a potato.”
Alvin started to laugh, before grabbing his chest and wincing, “Ooh, it hurts when I laugh.”
“I think you’re right,” Said Rebecca, after a moment, “I think AJ will suit him.”
“He’s beautiful.” Murmured Alvin, as AJ slept.
“Wait a few weeks,” Warned Kenny, “he’ll cry though the nights and makin’ all sorts of mess.”
“Don’t be disgusting, Kenny.” Reprimanded Christa, sitting next to Clementine, “There are little ears about.”
Clementine gave Christa a disgruntled look, as they all made quiet conversation. No one knew how long they’d actually be here, but they had to make the best of it.
Next Story: What if Clementine died instead of Sarah?
