Chapter Text
Lee, Kenny, Katjaa, Duck, and Clementine just arrived in Macon, they ran out of gas, they looked for anyone… Just people that can help them. They spotted what seemed to be a woman, “Hello?” Kenny called out, waving both his arms to signal the person. “We need help, we ran out of ga…” The woman was actually a walker, moaning loudly, attracting other walkers as well as the dead slowly started walking towards them.
“Shit, we’re surrounded!” Lee exclaimed as they were cornered with walkers, groaning loudly as the bad smell of flesh was becoming more unbearable. One walker tackled on Duck, “Wahh…!” Duck shouted as he got pinned in the ground by the walker, just as the dead were about to bite him, a gunshot was heard near them.
The walker on top of Duck was lying on him motionless, Lee and the rest of the group looked at the direction where the gunshot was from, there, they saw a woman in her late twenties to early thirties, brown hair with sharp eyesight. “GET OVER HERE, NOW!” She said while shooting off the walkers, the group immediately ran towards the pharmacy gate, a guy with a cap, Glenn, was waiting for them by the gate frantically as they all managed to get inside the pharmacy.
Lee was breathing heavily, hands on his knees trying to catch his breath. He heard another woman, scolding the person who saved them earlier. “When I tell you that door stays shut, I fucking mean it” she hissed, glaring at the other woman. Lee immediately intervened, “easy now, if it weren’t for her we would have died” Lee said, that pissed the woman more, she looks around mid thirties, brown hair, and she looks like she’s about to beat someone up.
“Just ignore her, she’s always like that” the younger woman said, “bitch…” the older woman muttered loud enough for them to hear and walked away from the other side of the room. “Anyways, I’m Carley, the woman who just called me a bitch is Lilly” Carley introduced herself and Lilly on her behalf. “I’m Lee, That’s Kenny, that’s his son, Duck, and the woman with him is his wife, Katjaa” Lee introduced himself and the group. Carley looked at the little girl who was hiding behind Lee, “and who is this?” Carley asked.
“I’m Clementine” the young girl said in a shy tone, “Clementine? That’s a cute name,” Carley replied, giving Clem a soft smile. “You’re a great shot, where’d you learn how to shoot?” Lee asked curiously, arching an eyebrow. “You don’t fuck a reporter who had her last coffee three days ago” Carley chuckled, Lee hummed, sensing that the reporter wants to tell more about something. “So uh… You and Lilly, It looks like you two don’t get along. Lots of tension, do you guys have history? If you don’t mind me asking” Lee asked, crossing his arms in his chest. Carley laughed nervously.
“Actually… Yeah, believe it or not, umm… She’s my ex-girlfriend back in college” Lee’s eyes widened, but silently urged Carley to speak more. “I was in my first year of college majoring in Journalism while she enlisted in the Air Force after she graduated college. I knew her since we were kids, so she’s basically my childhood friend turned lover then back to strangers” She chuckled sadly, there was sadness in her eyes, as if that she still hasn't moved on from Lilly.
“We didn’t break up on good terms. It was a messy, and harsh break up, like the ones where you tell them that you regretted dating them and curse at them type of break up.” Carley continued speaking, Lee was listening carefully, understanding her. “Oh, I’m sorry to hear that…” Lee said sympathetically, earning a sad sigh from Carley. “She’s five years older than me and serving in the Air Force before this shit, yet, she’s the one who is acting immature” Lee could feel Lilly’s glare on Carley across the room.
Before Carley could continue, Lilly went towards her and slammed her hands against a nearby shelf, knocking some granola bars off. “Why the fuck are you telling strangers about our past, huh?” Lilly asked angrily, gripping on Carley’s arm too tightly, the reporter whimpered in pain. “H-hey! Let go of me!” Carley said, trying to break free from Lilly’s grip but she was just stronger than her.
“Let go of her” Lee warned, stepping in the fight. “Or what?” Lilly challenged him, glaring at him while effortlessly still gripping on Carley. “Or you and I are gonna have problems, you’re hurting her for no reason” The professor said, breaking Carley free from Lilly. “Look, I’m just reminding her not to talk about our past, she always paints me as the bad guy” The ex-military replied, giving Carley a warning glare as the reporter stood beside Lee.
Before Lee could reply, Carley walked up to Lilly “Fine, you’re right. It was wrong of me to talk about our past relationship, I’m sorry” She apologized, she just doesn’t want to fight with her ex right now. Lee swore he saw Lilly smirking a bit but she immediately wiped the smirk off her face. “You better be sorry, I didn’t even talk to people about our past and you’re here babbling your mouth to some guy you just met” Lilly snapped at her, not wanting to draw the walkers outside some attention, she went where Katjaa and Duck was sitting.
Carley turned to face Lee, not really looking at him in the eyes. “Sorry you have to hear that” she mumbled an apology. “I uh… gonna need some time alone for a bit” she announced, Lee nodded in the sense of understanding and decided to check on Clementine who was now seated across the room, eating a granola bar she found in the supply box, the box was almost empty when she found so she was lucky to even have something to eat.
“I’m gonna siphon some gas at the motor inn not far from here, this place isn’t gonna hold any longer. I’m gonna go alone” Glenn announced, Lee went towards him and handed him the walkie-talkie. “You know your way around here? Local?” he asked, Glenn smirked at him and replied; “born and raised,” still smirking. “Alright then, Clementine has the other walkie-talkie, let us know if you need help” Lee said, giving him a nod, silently telling Glenn to stay safe and be careful as Glenn left the pharmacy.
Lee then looked at Clementine, the girl looked so tired and still hungry. It broke Lee’s heart. Without saying a word, Lee sat down next to Clementine, thinking about what to do next after getting that gas. “Hey, we should get all those meds inside” Kenny said, pointing where the medicines are placed neatly. “We tried that already before you guys arrived, the door is locked and we can’t find the key, it didn’t even work when we tried busting the door knob” Lilly joined in the conversation, adding a sigh with a mix of anger, and exhaustion.
“Let me take a look around to see if there’s a key,” Lee replied, standing up from his seat and starting looking around the place. Carley, who was quiet the whole time, kept stealing glances at Lilly; they hadn't seen each other for around eleven to twelve years. Look how fate brought them back. Lilly did change but not for the better, her dad isn’t around now so could it be that he passed away? She wanted to catch up with her, actually telling her that she hasn’t gotten over her, telling her that she misses her. The Lilly she knew was warm, caring, and very kind towards her despite being mean or got called an asshole many times by others. Ever since she enlisted in the Air Force, she changed, she became aggressive, always angry, cold towards her, there were times that she didn’t acknowledge Carley’s existence. Now, she was colder, like she barely knew the person she once loved. But deep inside, Carley knew the old Lilly is buried deep inside, covered with pain.
Carley went towards where Katjaa was sitting, Lilly was there too. Katjaa looked at the young woman and gave her a smile. “Oh, Carley was it? Lilly just told me how great of a shooter you are” Katjaa said, obviously oblivious about the tension. Carley looked at Lilly, arching an eyebrow, crossing her arms in her chest. “Is that so?” She replied, the mother nodded. Lilly grumbled something about that she shouldn’t have said that to a person she barely knew, not locking her eyes on Carley. “Well…” Carley began speaking again, dropping her arms from her chest, “She is the one who taught me how to use a gun, give her some credit” Carley smirked, Lilly’s head shot at Carley’s direction and gave her a warning glare.
“Oh? So you guys knew each other before the apocaly-”
“That’s enough talking for now, eh yeah?” Lilly interrupted Katjaa. “Sorry, I just don’t want to talk about my life before the apocalypse” the ex-military apologized, excusing herself to give some space.
“That bad, huh?” Katjaa asked, Carley sighed and nodded, “We’ll talk about it more later,” she replied softly, sitting next to Katjaa. Duck was sleeping soundly on Katjaa’s lap. Doug was still on watch, he was getting tired but didn’t want Carley to shift in because he wanted her to rest for a bit, he probably has a crush on her.
There was a static noise coming from Clementine’s walkie-talkie. “Psst… Hey, little girl? Is your daddy there? Mind if I talk to him real quick?” It was Glenn, Clementine hurriedly gave the walkie-talkie to Lee. “Hello, Glenn? What’s up? Are you hurt?” Lee asked, holding on the device near his mouth.
“Yeah, I’m alright, I had a couple close calls, got some gas too. I could really use your help right now. I’m outside the motor inn, I’m hiding in this closet like furniture, there are a couple of walkers outside and I can’t get pass them” Glenn explained, “Alright, we’ll come to get you” Lee replied, he heard a thank you from the other line of the walkie-talkie. “I’m gonna hold on to this for a bit, sweetpea” Lee said, showing her the device she lent him. Clementine hesitates, but knowing that it could save a life right now, she nodded. “Okay… Be safe out there, Lee” Clementine whispered, the professor chuckled and pats on the young girl’s head. “You betcha” He reassured her, getting ready.
“I’ll go with you, for cover” Carley chimed in, holding her pistol. Lee nodded as they both were about to leave the pharmacy, the reporter felt someone gripping on her wrist tightly. She turned around to see it was her ex-girlfriend.
“You’re not going” Lilly hissed, pulling her back in the room. “Hey! What gives?! Who are you to control my decisions?!” Carley argued, the older woman softened her grip. “We don’t have tim-” Lee got interrupted by Lilly who took Carley’s gun from her easily. “I’ll go, you stay here. I am not taking no as an answer, you got that?” Lilly declared, glaring at her. Carley let out a frustrated sigh, “you’re always controlling my decisions!” Carley yelled, pushing Lilly away but she didn’t budge.
“I don’t care,” Lilly replied, turning her back away from Carley. “You will listen to me whether you like it or not” she added, “come on guys, we’re running out of time” Lee said in an impatient tone. The reporter glared back at Lilly, but she noticed that Lilly’s eyes softened, as if it was filled with guilt? Carley doesn’t know, afterall, Lilly is hard to read. “My rifle is by the wall near Clementine, hold it for a bit” Lilly ordered, her expression hardened immediately after she noticed Carley sensed something. “Let’s go, Lee” Lilly said, walking past him, exiting the pharmacy. Lee gave Carley a sad and understanding look then followed Lilly out. Carley was left feeling frustrated, this was the Lilly she knew after she enlisted in the Air Force.
“Whatever” Carley grumbled, grabbing Lilly’s rifle and sat down furiously. Katjaa looked at her with a sad expression written on her face. “I think she’s protecting you” Katjaa speaks out, Carley turns her head towards the vet’s direction. “More like she just wants control in all of my decisions, just like in the past” The reporter let out a bitter laugh, holding on Lilly’s rifle too tightly, as if she’s gonna snap it into two.
Katjaa shook her head, disagreeing with Carley. “I know you two have history together, I think she still cares for you… In her own way” Katjaa replied, earning a scoff from Carley then she stared at the ground. “I sure do hope so, I really miss her” Carley muttered, closing her eyes, letting herself rest for a bit. Katjaa gave her some space, it looks like Carley really needed some rest.
===
Lee and Lilly arrived at the motor inn, they hid behind a wall as a walker walked past them. They heard a closet door trying to open, Lilly got up, aiming at the door as it broke open. It was Glenn, “holy shit, you guys are here!” Glenn exclaimed, feeling happy that he’s been saved. “Keep your damn voice down” The ex-military hissed, glaring at Glenn. “What’s up with her?” Glenn asked Lee, the taller man just shook his head. “Not the time, Glenn,” he replied.
“Let’s go, before more walkers show up” Lilly says, scanning the place. There were a few walkers walking around but they were too far from them. “Not yet, there’s a girl trapped in that room” Glenn pointed at a door, where there are at least three walkers banging at the door as they heard a woman sobbing inside that room. “We need to save her,” he added.
“No, she is not our problem” Lilly disagrees, Glenn frowned at her. “What if it was Carl-”
“That won’t happen to her, so you better shut up. We NEED to go now” Lilly snapped at him, more fire than she expected. She was about to point her gun at Glenn but stopped herself. “Lee? Come on man, you’re with me, right?” Glenn asked, the professor sighed, Lilly was right. That woman isn’t their problem and they are running out of time.
“I’m sorry, Glenn. We have to go, what if that girl is bitten? Then our effort will be useless” Lee agreed with Lilly, the pizza boy just sighed, looking away from them. “Alright, let’s go” They were finally on the same boat as they left the motor inn, going back to the pharmacy.
While they are walking back, Lee couldn’t help but ask Lilly a question, “hey, umm… I know it’s not my business but don’t you think you should have closure with Carley? She did mention that the break up was mess-”
“Mind your own business, Lee. It’s not my fault that Carley hasn’t moved on from me” Lilly harshly interrupted him, “just saying, you should be more considerate with other people’s feelings” Lee muttered softly, there was a walker near them as the three managed to walk past the dead quietly. They arrived quietly in the pharmacy, using the backdoor to let themselves in.
“You got the gas?” Kenny asked, walking towards Glenn, he smirked and showed him the gas can that he had been carrying the whole time. “Good, that should help us get out of here, there are a lot more walkers outside than before” The former boat captain smirked back, he can’t wait to get out of here.
“Still haven’t found the key, Ken?” Lee asked, Kenny shook his head, “Nah, but there's a gap between the counters though, think Clementine can fit through there?” he suggested, while looking at the medicine inside, there were no walkers inside. Clementine took a peek, and nodded, “Uhuh, I can do it” she replied, Lee smiled at her “Atta girl” he said as he boosted Clementine up in the counters, she successfully slid through the gaps and got in the other side.
“Now what?” the kid asked, looking at Lee for an answer “try unlocking the door” Lee said while Kenny went to the storage room that was connected to where Clementine is. Clementine walked right by the door and unlocked it, she opened the door and Kenny was there, as he stepped inside, the alarms blared loudly, attracting all the walkers nearby.
“You gotta be fucking kidding me” Lee cursed under his breath. “Uh, guys?! The walkers are coming this way” Doug announced in a panic tone. “Shit, Kenny, Glenn, go get the vehicles ready, Lilly, go get the medicines as many as you can. Clementine, Katjaa, Duck you go with Kenny and Glenn. Carley, Doug, with me!” Lee ordered as they all did what he said, Glenn, Kenny, Katjaa, Clementine, and Duck left through the backdoor.
Carley, Doug. and Lee held the door, trying to keep the walkers away from them. The window on Carley’s side broke, “Shit!” Carley cursed furiously as she aimed the walkers with Lilly’s rifle and shot them. The barricaded window on Doug’s side broke as well, the technician ran towards the broken window and held it off using his body.
It didn’t take long that the rifle Carley was using ran out of ammo and was trying to fight the walkers off, there were two walkers on her as the reporter tried to get it off of her, Doug got held with walkers as well, both needed Lee’s help. “Fuck!” Lee thought, he can’t believe that he has to make a tough decision right now.
“Help!” Doug cried out, Lee shut his eyes, mentally preparing himself as he was about to rush to help Carley, there were gunshots inside the pharmacy. It was Lilly, she shot those walkers off using Carley’s pistol. Before Carley could say anything, Lilly grabbed the reporter’s wrist tightly and ran out of the pharmacy, Lee saved Doug on time as they both ran though the backdoor. They all got inside the vehicle just in time as Kenny and Glenn drove off.
—-
They arrived back in the motor inn, there were fewer walkers than before, They managed to kill them off quietly, “looks like this place is safe” Lee said, looking at the door Glenn had pointed earlier before they left. He decided to inspect it himself.
Lilly dropped the bag filled with medicines in front of the others, “This is all I could scrounge up. Lee needed help earlier so I had to abandon the other meds” she said flatly. The ex-military then felt a tug on her sando shirt, she turned around to look for it was Carley.
“Hey…” Carley mumbled, staring at the ground. “Thank you… for saving me” the reporter said, now finally looking at her ex-girlfriend’s eyes. Lilly let out an annoyed scoff, swatting Carley’s hand off her sando. “Don’t flatter yourself, Carley. I only saved you because you were useful, don’t get any ideas from that interaction” Lilly coldly replied, “ah, okay” was all Carley managed to say. Lilly’s response hit her like knives stabbing on her chest as she walked away to check on Clementine. She didn’t want to push Lilly further because she knew how harsh her words can be.
“You should be more gentle on her” Katjaa chimed in, looking at Carley who was now talking to the kid. Katjaa earned a glare from Lilly. “Who are you? My mom?” Lilly sarcastically replied, rolling her eyes. Katjaa shook her head, chuckling softly “no, I’m not. You saved Carley back there, didn’t you? I saw you getting in Glenn’s car holding her wrist tightly as if you didn’t want to let go of her” Katjaa pointed out, and for a second, she saw Lilly’s cold expression crack.
“So? She’s useful in the group, it’d be a waste to let someone like her die” Lilly flatly explained. They both knew that wasn’t the real reason. “Whatever you say. A piece of advice: you should straighten things out with her because you’ll never know what will happen tomorrow or the next following days. We’re in an apocalypse, so I suggest you talk things out to Carley before it’s too late” That hit Lilly hard like she had been struck by a brick as Katjaa walked away to look around the place.
Lilly stayed silent for a while, the others were now picking rooms of their own. She saw Carley picking a room near the stairs. Lilly has decided which room she’ll be staying in. She opened the room next to Carley’s and pretended to inspect it. “You’re sleeping next to my room” Carley pointed it out.
“So?” Lilly asked with a bit of an angry tone. Carley looks away, “nothing, there are a lot of rooms here and you decided to sleep next to my room” The reporter replied, “That’s none of your business, Carley. God, you’re being so annoying right now” She snapped, entering her own room and slammed the door shut. Carley sighed, she really wants to have closure with her, she wants to slap Lilly, asking her what was her problem with her, why is she acting like this but Carley guesses that she won’t find her answers, probably not now but soon.
Lee finally went downstairs after inspecting upstairs, the woman Glenn referred to, killed herself by hanging, there was a bite mark on her so Lee took care of the newly turned walker and killed it, throwing it out of the window.
“We can fortify this place, then it’ll be good as new” Kenny said, stepping out of the motor inn. Lee followed him, “we got water, heck, even the electricity is still running. There’s no better place than home” he added, Lee smiled at him, “I agree” just after Lee said that, the power went out as Clementine ran towards Lee for protection, the kid was scared in the dark.
“Oh, come on!” Kenny cursed, Lee let out a little laugh.