Radioactive Chapter Twenty-Three
Zac stood on the pavement in shock as the doors lifted open and a light filtered out. He like everyone else had thought Rick had made the wrong choice once they got here and there seemed to be no sign of help but he guessed after all that Rick was right. That maybe the CDC was a viable option. Maybe there would be hope here for them and Kate and their baby would be safe again now. Maybe he could stop being scared of her being pregnant.
Going inside with the rest of the group Zac looked around not seeing anyone at first but when he heard a gun cock not to far from them,he turned seeing a blonde man holding a gun on them.
"Anyone infected?" Edwin Jenner asked as he looked at the group of people he had let in. A group he knew he probably shouldn't have let in but the cop. His words had gotten to him and he knew he just couldn't let them stay out there forever.
"One of our group was," Rick answered as he too held his own gun on the man in front of them. "He didn't make it."
Hearing the answer Edwin walked closer to them and lowered his gun some. "Why are you here? What do you want?"
"A chance," Rick answered again being honest and stating the reason for why they had came here.
"That's asking an awful lot these days," Edwin stated knowing a chance in these times was something big to come by.
Shrugging at those words Rick sighed, "I know."
"You all submit to a blood test, that's the price of admission," Edwin told them as he took a few more steps closer to the group.
Rick nodded, "We can do that."
Putting his gun down the rest of the way Edwin sighed, "You got stuff to bring in you do it now. Once this door closes it stays closed," he said as he pointed to the door they had just came in through.
Looking at Kate, Zac headed outside to grab their bags soon he was followed by the others as they too headed outside to grab stuff they had left behind.
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Running back inside after getting her stuff out of the bed of Daryl's truck Avery stopped to catch her breath once she got inside. Once she had she watched as Dale and T-Dog shut the doors behind everyone. Now they were all locked inside a building that she hoped was safe.
"Vi seal the main entrance," Edwin spoke into a box on the wall. "Kill the power up here."
"Rick Grimes," Rick said as he looked at the blonde man who had saved them all. A man he knew didn't have to but he had.
Looking at the man Edwin kept his face neutral, "Doctor Edwin Jenner," he said introducing himself to the cop.
After the introductions Avery followed the man whose name she now knew was Edwin as he lead them onto an elevator. Getting in she closed her eyes as the others started to get on. It was packed and it was then she realized she could possibly be a bit claustrophobic.
Feeling a hand on her back Avery opened her eyes and looked over seeing Daryl beside her. Raising an eyebrow she looked down to see that it was his hand on her back and she felt herself blush at that realization though the contact from him helped to calm her down. Again he was making her feel safe at a time when she needed it.
"Doctor's always go around packing heat like that?" Daryl asked the man who stood at the front of the elevator. He could feel Avery's eyes on him and he needed a distraction. He needed to forget that he was touching her and that she had realized it too.
Edwin turned to face the man who had asked him that question, "Oh there were plenty of them left laying around I familiarized myself," he shrugged as he then looked at the rest of the people in the group. "Though you look harmless enough," he nodded before turning to the little boy. "Except you. I'll have to keep my eye on you."
Carl looked up at the man as he smiled some. He had found the man's words amusing.
Hearing the elevator doors open Avery looked towards them and eventually stepped off when she could. Following behind the group she held her bag to her and stayed silent.
"Are we underground?" Carol asked as she followed behind Edwin.
Edwind turned to look at the woman, "You claustrophobic?" he asked her curiously.
"A little," Carol admitted as she made a face.
"Try not to think about it," Edwin told her as he turned away from her finally. Staying silent after that he lead the group into the main center. "Vi bring up the lights in the big room," he spoke watching as the lights came on. Going farther inside he sighed, "Welcome to zone five," he said to the group behind him.
Rick followed behind Edwin seeing that it was empty in this room. Hell it was empty through out this whole place. "Where is everybody? The other doctors, the staff?"
"I'm it," Edwin said as he came to a stop in the center of the room. "There's just me here."
Kate made a face at the man's answer. "What about the person you were speaking with?" she asked as she raised an eyebrow. "Vi?"
"Vi can you say hello to our guests?" Edwin asked as he looked up towards the ceiling. "Tell them welcome."
"Hello guests. Welcome," a voice answered.
Looking up Avery crinkled her forehead. It was a computer generated voice. There was no actual Vi.
"I'm all that's left," Edwin stated again as he looked at the group seeing realization on some of their faces. "I'm sorry."
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Sitting down in a chair after having her blood taken Kate held her stomach feeling a bit nausea's. It had been awhile since she ate and she figured the loss of a bit of blood and no food was affecting her and the baby.
"You okay?" Zac asked as he sat down beside Kate. "You look a bit pale."
Kate laughed slightly as she nodded her head, "I think I just need to eat and I'll be fine," she said giving Zac a smile before turning her attention to where Doctor Jenner was still taking people's blood.
"What's the point?" Andrea asked the doctor after he finished taking her blood. "If we were all infected we'd be running a fever."
Edwin sighed at the woman's question, "I've already broken every rule in the book letting you in here, let me just at least be thorough."
At his words Andrea rolled her eyes but stood up quickly soon losing her balance some.
"You okay?" Edwin asked as he watched Andrea almost fall but being caught by Jacqui.
"She hasn't eaten in days. None of us have," Jacqui answered as she looked at Edwin.
It was after that Kate watched as the doctor's face softened and he stood up telling the group to follow him. Standing from her chair she reached out for Zac's hand and followed the doctor as he walked them down a set of hallways until they reached a room that had a table and chairs and other stuff.
"This was the employee break room. We still have food and even alcohol here," Edwin said as he looked at the group. "Everyone here is free to help themselves."
Smiling at those words Kate dropped Zac's hand and headed to go find something to eat. Grabbing a few things she then went back to the table where some people already were. Sitting down she felt the doctor eye her as she turned down Dale's offer on wine. "I'm pregnant," she fessed up before taking a bite to eat as the others came back and soon the table got full and people started talking and laughing, heck even Taylor seemed to be having fun which she hadn't seen from him since Ezra's death.
"In Italy children have a little bit of wine these days," Dale said to Lori as he handed her a glass of wine. "And in France."
Lori just laughed as she shook her head, her hand going to cover Carl's glass so Dale couldn't pour wine in there. "Well when Carl is in Italy or France he can have some then."
"What's it gonna hurt, come on," Rick prodded trying to get Lori to loosen up some. "Come on," he said again as he locked eyes with Lori. Seeing his wife eventually move her hand away Rick watched as Dale poured Carl a little bit of wine.
Picking his glass up after Dale poured him some wine Carl took a drink and then made a face, "Ewww," he muttered as he put the glass back down.
"That's my boy," Lori smiled as she picked up his cup and poured the remaining wine into her cup.
Kate laughed at that exchange and turned to look at Zac who was sipping on his own wine, "We are never letting this baby even take a sip," she whispered keeping her tone serious.
Zac just gave Kate a shrug before picking up his glass again, "If you say so," he said after swallowing the drink in his mouth.
"Just stick to soda pop there bud," Shane told Carl from where he sat across the table.
Daryl piped in at Shane's words, "Not you Glenn."
Glenn who was holding a bottle of wine looked up confused, "What?"
"Drink it little man I wanna see how red your face can get," Daryl smirked before laughing loudly.
Rick looked at Edwin and made a face seeing him sitting away from everyone else. He looked like he was in his own little world or like there was something else on his mind. "It seems we haven't thanked our hosts properly," Rick said as he stood up from his chair.
"He is more than just our host," Mac stated as he held up his glass of pop. He was underage as well still so he too had been denied wine. Soon after that others held up their glasses and Daryl even added in a Booyah which a few others copied.
"So when you gonna tell us what the hell happened here doc?" Shane asked after the toast. "All of the uh other doctors that were supposed to be figuring out what happened. Where are they?"
Rick glared slightly at Shane, "We're celebrating Shane. We don't need to do this now," he said as he sat back down in his chair.
"Wait a second, this is why we are here," Shane stated as he locked eyes with his friend. "Right? This was your move. Supposed to find all the answers. Instead we found him," he said as he pointed with his thumb over to Doctor Jenner. "We found one man. Why?"
Edwin sat there as he listened to Shane. It was when the guy finished he spoke up, "Well when things got bad a lot of the people just left. Went off to be with their families and when things got worse, when the military cordon got overrun the rest bolted."
"Every last one?" Shane asked skeptically as he sat back in his chair.
"No," Edwin said as he shook his head. "Many couldn't face walking out the door. They opted out, there was a rash of suicides. That was a bad time," he whispered as he looked down.
Andrea looked at the doctor, "You didn't leave. Why?"
"I just kept working," Edwin answered as he looked up at the blonde. "Hoping to do some good."
Glenn eyed Shane as he stood up, "Dude you are such a buzz kill."
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Jessica laughed to herself as she sat in Daryl's room after dinner. She had only joined him in his room because he had the good booze. The bottle of southern comfort and while she had, had wine at dinner, probably more than she should have she still wanted his booze and to her amazement he had agreed though only while he was showering in the hot water that the nice doctor had said they had here.
Hearing the bathroom door open Jessica looked up seeing Daryl come out in the clothes he had worn previously, "You know," she slurred as she watched him sit down beside her. "I think the point of a shower is to change clothes not put on the same ones," she said before handing him the now half empty bottle.
Daryl rolled his eyes as he looked at Jessica, "And I think you've had too much to drink," he told her honestly as he looked over at her. "You should go back to your room."
Jessica stuck her tongue out at him, "I'm fine," she lied as her voice slurred again. "And so are you," she blurted out without even thinking. "I can see why Avery likes you. You're better than Merle was. You are the better brother," she said sadly as she frowned some.
Shaking his head Daryl looked at her, "I ain't no better than he is," he said honestly as he looked at her. "And your sister doesn't like me. We've had this conversation before."
Before Jessica could speak up and protest she heard a knock on Daryl's door and she heard him mumble something that sounded like curse words before going to answer the door. When he opened it she turned to see Avery standing in the doorway dressed in her pajamas.
"I figured my sister would be here," Avery spoke spotting Jessica as soon as Daryl opened the door. "I wanted to get her off your hands now."
Daryl nodded and moved aside so that Avery could come in, "For once I find myself wantin to thank you for doing something," he said as he watched Avery walk over to Jessica.
Jessica pouted but stood up when Avery reached her, "But I was just having fun with my nice looking friend," she giggled as she looked at Avery. "If you don't tie him down soon I will," she said as she started to walk away and lost her balance.
Avery watched as Jessica lost her balance and she reached out stopping her from falling. "Yeah well I think your fun is over for tonight," she said as she kept her arms around Jessica and walked her sister to the door where Daryl was still standing. She was surprised though when they reached the door and he put his arm around Jessica too, helping her escort her sister down the hall to the room Jessica had claimed. It was the room right beside her own.
Getting her sister settled down she stayed in her sister's room until Jessica had showered and changed into her pajamas. After Jessica was laying down on her cot Avery eventually left along with Daryl who she was surprised had stuck around. Walking the short distance to her door she stopped at it before opening it. "You didn't have to stick around," she told him as she eyed him. "I mean you don't like me. Can barely tolerate me even so I'm sure it was torture having to even be in my presence."
"But Jessica meant something to Merle and I wanted to make sure she was okay," Daryl shrugged as he looked at the girl beside him. "Anyway you were silent the whole time and it's better when you ain't talkin."
Laughing at his words Avery shook her head, "Then I'll just shut up and go in my room now," she said honestly as she nodded. Before opening the door though she leaned in quickly and kissed his cheek an action which made him flinch just like her reaching for him in the truck had done.
Seeing him giving her a look after that she felt her cheeks go red and she backed away opening her door and slipping inside without another word. Shutting the door she slid down it and sat on the floor. "How fucking stupid of me," she muttered to herself as she shook her head again. "How really stupid of me. How could I do that? God I'm really stupid."
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Kate sat on the the cot in the room she shared with Zac. Zac was off in Mac's room playing some board game and she was sure Zac was still drinking on a bottle of wine he had stolen from dinner. She on the other hand was reading a book that Natalie had packed for the trip which was meant to be a short one. A trip which had turned out so wrong. Of course though since it was Natalie's book it was a romance book and Kate wasn't sure it was her kind of book. She was more into Jane Eyre and Romeo and Juliet.
Hearing a knock on the door she laid the book down and stood up, "Zac if that's you, you didn't have to knock," she said before opening the door. Once the door opened though it wasn't Zac on the other end. It was Taylor who she came face to face with.
"Not Zac," Taylor told Kate as he pushed his way in. He was a bit intoxicated from the alcohol he had drank at dinner. "I just wanted some company. It's kind of lonely without Ezra," he frowned knowing he had grown used to just having his son there.
Frowning as well at Taylor's words Kate shut the door behind him. "You aren't going to yell at me again or blame me for his death are you?" she asked as she turned to see him sitting down on the cot and holding the book she had been reading. "Because if you are I am gonna kick you out," she told him as she walked over to the cot and sat down beside him.
Taylor shook his head as he looked down at the book still, "I know the truth. I've always known I was just too stubborn to realize it," he admitted as he looked at Kate sadly. "Ezra was bit because I wasn't there. I was a bad parent and I let him out of my sight."
"It was a mistake Taylor," Kate told him as she took the book from his hands. "Everyone makes them. That doesn't make you a bad parent."
Smiling at Kate's words Taylor looked up at her, "You know it was the talk you gave me the morning after that made me realize it," he confessed. "But even then I didn't want to admit it," he sighed as he moved even closer to Kate.
"But you have now and that's a start," Kate nodded as she reached out to pat Taylor's leg some. She was glad to see that it finally seemed to be hitting him that she wasn't too blame.
Taylor nodded, "Yeah I guess it is a start," he muttered as Kate turned to look at him. Leaning in he kissed her on the lips feeling her freeze as he did so. He wasn't even sure why he did it but in that moment it was what he had wanted.
Feeling Taylor kiss her Kate froze before pulling away and staring at him half shocked and half horrified, "Zac," she stated seeing reality wash over Taylor's face. When it did she looked down away from him. "I..I won't tell him you kissed me but you need to leave."
Standing up at Kate's words Taylor sighed, "I'm sorry," he apologized before leaving her room and he was sorry. Heck the kiss had meant nothing to him.
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Coming out of the bathroom after getting sick Jessica looked up at the ceiling in her room. Tears were in her eyes and it had finally hit her that Zoe was really gone and that Merle was too and even if she had realized that maybe being with Merle wasn't so good it still hurt.
Closing her eyes as the tears went down her cheeks she sighed, "Why do I keep losing everyone I love?" she asked out loud not caring that she was talking to herself. "Why can't I keep someone? Why can't I have someone who loves me and have them stay?" she asked before crying harder. She had no one and she was alone now.
Zac stood on the pavement in shock as the doors lifted open and a light filtered out. He like everyone else had thought Rick had made the wrong choice once they got here and there seemed to be no sign of help but he guessed after all that Rick was right. That maybe the CDC was a viable option. Maybe there would be hope here for them and Kate and their baby would be safe again now. Maybe he could stop being scared of her being pregnant.
Going inside with the rest of the group Zac looked around not seeing anyone at first but when he heard a gun cock not to far from them,he turned seeing a blonde man holding a gun on them.
"Anyone infected?" Edwin Jenner asked as he looked at the group of people he had let in. A group he knew he probably shouldn't have let in but the cop. His words had gotten to him and he knew he just couldn't let them stay out there forever.
"One of our group was," Rick answered as he too held his own gun on the man in front of them. "He didn't make it."
Hearing the answer Edwin walked closer to them and lowered his gun some. "Why are you here? What do you want?"
"A chance," Rick answered again being honest and stating the reason for why they had came here.
"That's asking an awful lot these days," Edwin stated knowing a chance in these times was something big to come by.
Shrugging at those words Rick sighed, "I know."
"You all submit to a blood test, that's the price of admission," Edwin told them as he took a few more steps closer to the group.
Rick nodded, "We can do that."
Putting his gun down the rest of the way Edwin sighed, "You got stuff to bring in you do it now. Once this door closes it stays closed," he said as he pointed to the door they had just came in through.
Looking at Kate, Zac headed outside to grab their bags soon he was followed by the others as they too headed outside to grab stuff they had left behind.
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Running back inside after getting her stuff out of the bed of Daryl's truck Avery stopped to catch her breath once she got inside. Once she had she watched as Dale and T-Dog shut the doors behind everyone. Now they were all locked inside a building that she hoped was safe.
"Vi seal the main entrance," Edwin spoke into a box on the wall. "Kill the power up here."
"Rick Grimes," Rick said as he looked at the blonde man who had saved them all. A man he knew didn't have to but he had.
Looking at the man Edwin kept his face neutral, "Doctor Edwin Jenner," he said introducing himself to the cop.
After the introductions Avery followed the man whose name she now knew was Edwin as he lead them onto an elevator. Getting in she closed her eyes as the others started to get on. It was packed and it was then she realized she could possibly be a bit claustrophobic.
Feeling a hand on her back Avery opened her eyes and looked over seeing Daryl beside her. Raising an eyebrow she looked down to see that it was his hand on her back and she felt herself blush at that realization though the contact from him helped to calm her down. Again he was making her feel safe at a time when she needed it.
"Doctor's always go around packing heat like that?" Daryl asked the man who stood at the front of the elevator. He could feel Avery's eyes on him and he needed a distraction. He needed to forget that he was touching her and that she had realized it too.
Edwin turned to face the man who had asked him that question, "Oh there were plenty of them left laying around I familiarized myself," he shrugged as he then looked at the rest of the people in the group. "Though you look harmless enough," he nodded before turning to the little boy. "Except you. I'll have to keep my eye on you."
Carl looked up at the man as he smiled some. He had found the man's words amusing.
Hearing the elevator doors open Avery looked towards them and eventually stepped off when she could. Following behind the group she held her bag to her and stayed silent.
"Are we underground?" Carol asked as she followed behind Edwin.
Edwind turned to look at the woman, "You claustrophobic?" he asked her curiously.
"A little," Carol admitted as she made a face.
"Try not to think about it," Edwin told her as he turned away from her finally. Staying silent after that he lead the group into the main center. "Vi bring up the lights in the big room," he spoke watching as the lights came on. Going farther inside he sighed, "Welcome to zone five," he said to the group behind him.
Rick followed behind Edwin seeing that it was empty in this room. Hell it was empty through out this whole place. "Where is everybody? The other doctors, the staff?"
"I'm it," Edwin said as he came to a stop in the center of the room. "There's just me here."
Kate made a face at the man's answer. "What about the person you were speaking with?" she asked as she raised an eyebrow. "Vi?"
"Vi can you say hello to our guests?" Edwin asked as he looked up towards the ceiling. "Tell them welcome."
"Hello guests. Welcome," a voice answered.
Looking up Avery crinkled her forehead. It was a computer generated voice. There was no actual Vi.
"I'm all that's left," Edwin stated again as he looked at the group seeing realization on some of their faces. "I'm sorry."
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Sitting down in a chair after having her blood taken Kate held her stomach feeling a bit nausea's. It had been awhile since she ate and she figured the loss of a bit of blood and no food was affecting her and the baby.
"You okay?" Zac asked as he sat down beside Kate. "You look a bit pale."
Kate laughed slightly as she nodded her head, "I think I just need to eat and I'll be fine," she said giving Zac a smile before turning her attention to where Doctor Jenner was still taking people's blood.
"What's the point?" Andrea asked the doctor after he finished taking her blood. "If we were all infected we'd be running a fever."
Edwin sighed at the woman's question, "I've already broken every rule in the book letting you in here, let me just at least be thorough."
At his words Andrea rolled her eyes but stood up quickly soon losing her balance some.
"You okay?" Edwin asked as he watched Andrea almost fall but being caught by Jacqui.
"She hasn't eaten in days. None of us have," Jacqui answered as she looked at Edwin.
It was after that Kate watched as the doctor's face softened and he stood up telling the group to follow him. Standing from her chair she reached out for Zac's hand and followed the doctor as he walked them down a set of hallways until they reached a room that had a table and chairs and other stuff.
"This was the employee break room. We still have food and even alcohol here," Edwin said as he looked at the group. "Everyone here is free to help themselves."
Smiling at those words Kate dropped Zac's hand and headed to go find something to eat. Grabbing a few things she then went back to the table where some people already were. Sitting down she felt the doctor eye her as she turned down Dale's offer on wine. "I'm pregnant," she fessed up before taking a bite to eat as the others came back and soon the table got full and people started talking and laughing, heck even Taylor seemed to be having fun which she hadn't seen from him since Ezra's death.
"In Italy children have a little bit of wine these days," Dale said to Lori as he handed her a glass of wine. "And in France."
Lori just laughed as she shook her head, her hand going to cover Carl's glass so Dale couldn't pour wine in there. "Well when Carl is in Italy or France he can have some then."
"What's it gonna hurt, come on," Rick prodded trying to get Lori to loosen up some. "Come on," he said again as he locked eyes with Lori. Seeing his wife eventually move her hand away Rick watched as Dale poured Carl a little bit of wine.
Picking his glass up after Dale poured him some wine Carl took a drink and then made a face, "Ewww," he muttered as he put the glass back down.
"That's my boy," Lori smiled as she picked up his cup and poured the remaining wine into her cup.
Kate laughed at that exchange and turned to look at Zac who was sipping on his own wine, "We are never letting this baby even take a sip," she whispered keeping her tone serious.
Zac just gave Kate a shrug before picking up his glass again, "If you say so," he said after swallowing the drink in his mouth.
"Just stick to soda pop there bud," Shane told Carl from where he sat across the table.
Daryl piped in at Shane's words, "Not you Glenn."
Glenn who was holding a bottle of wine looked up confused, "What?"
"Drink it little man I wanna see how red your face can get," Daryl smirked before laughing loudly.
Rick looked at Edwin and made a face seeing him sitting away from everyone else. He looked like he was in his own little world or like there was something else on his mind. "It seems we haven't thanked our hosts properly," Rick said as he stood up from his chair.
"He is more than just our host," Mac stated as he held up his glass of pop. He was underage as well still so he too had been denied wine. Soon after that others held up their glasses and Daryl even added in a Booyah which a few others copied.
"So when you gonna tell us what the hell happened here doc?" Shane asked after the toast. "All of the uh other doctors that were supposed to be figuring out what happened. Where are they?"
Rick glared slightly at Shane, "We're celebrating Shane. We don't need to do this now," he said as he sat back down in his chair.
"Wait a second, this is why we are here," Shane stated as he locked eyes with his friend. "Right? This was your move. Supposed to find all the answers. Instead we found him," he said as he pointed with his thumb over to Doctor Jenner. "We found one man. Why?"
Edwin sat there as he listened to Shane. It was when the guy finished he spoke up, "Well when things got bad a lot of the people just left. Went off to be with their families and when things got worse, when the military cordon got overrun the rest bolted."
"Every last one?" Shane asked skeptically as he sat back in his chair.
"No," Edwin said as he shook his head. "Many couldn't face walking out the door. They opted out, there was a rash of suicides. That was a bad time," he whispered as he looked down.
Andrea looked at the doctor, "You didn't leave. Why?"
"I just kept working," Edwin answered as he looked up at the blonde. "Hoping to do some good."
Glenn eyed Shane as he stood up, "Dude you are such a buzz kill."
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Jessica laughed to herself as she sat in Daryl's room after dinner. She had only joined him in his room because he had the good booze. The bottle of southern comfort and while she had, had wine at dinner, probably more than she should have she still wanted his booze and to her amazement he had agreed though only while he was showering in the hot water that the nice doctor had said they had here.
Hearing the bathroom door open Jessica looked up seeing Daryl come out in the clothes he had worn previously, "You know," she slurred as she watched him sit down beside her. "I think the point of a shower is to change clothes not put on the same ones," she said before handing him the now half empty bottle.
Daryl rolled his eyes as he looked at Jessica, "And I think you've had too much to drink," he told her honestly as he looked over at her. "You should go back to your room."
Jessica stuck her tongue out at him, "I'm fine," she lied as her voice slurred again. "And so are you," she blurted out without even thinking. "I can see why Avery likes you. You're better than Merle was. You are the better brother," she said sadly as she frowned some.
Shaking his head Daryl looked at her, "I ain't no better than he is," he said honestly as he looked at her. "And your sister doesn't like me. We've had this conversation before."
Before Jessica could speak up and protest she heard a knock on Daryl's door and she heard him mumble something that sounded like curse words before going to answer the door. When he opened it she turned to see Avery standing in the doorway dressed in her pajamas.
"I figured my sister would be here," Avery spoke spotting Jessica as soon as Daryl opened the door. "I wanted to get her off your hands now."
Daryl nodded and moved aside so that Avery could come in, "For once I find myself wantin to thank you for doing something," he said as he watched Avery walk over to Jessica.
Jessica pouted but stood up when Avery reached her, "But I was just having fun with my nice looking friend," she giggled as she looked at Avery. "If you don't tie him down soon I will," she said as she started to walk away and lost her balance.
Avery watched as Jessica lost her balance and she reached out stopping her from falling. "Yeah well I think your fun is over for tonight," she said as she kept her arms around Jessica and walked her sister to the door where Daryl was still standing. She was surprised though when they reached the door and he put his arm around Jessica too, helping her escort her sister down the hall to the room Jessica had claimed. It was the room right beside her own.
Getting her sister settled down she stayed in her sister's room until Jessica had showered and changed into her pajamas. After Jessica was laying down on her cot Avery eventually left along with Daryl who she was surprised had stuck around. Walking the short distance to her door she stopped at it before opening it. "You didn't have to stick around," she told him as she eyed him. "I mean you don't like me. Can barely tolerate me even so I'm sure it was torture having to even be in my presence."
"But Jessica meant something to Merle and I wanted to make sure she was okay," Daryl shrugged as he looked at the girl beside him. "Anyway you were silent the whole time and it's better when you ain't talkin."
Laughing at his words Avery shook her head, "Then I'll just shut up and go in my room now," she said honestly as she nodded. Before opening the door though she leaned in quickly and kissed his cheek an action which made him flinch just like her reaching for him in the truck had done.
Seeing him giving her a look after that she felt her cheeks go red and she backed away opening her door and slipping inside without another word. Shutting the door she slid down it and sat on the floor. "How fucking stupid of me," she muttered to herself as she shook her head again. "How really stupid of me. How could I do that? God I'm really stupid."
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Kate sat on the the cot in the room she shared with Zac. Zac was off in Mac's room playing some board game and she was sure Zac was still drinking on a bottle of wine he had stolen from dinner. She on the other hand was reading a book that Natalie had packed for the trip which was meant to be a short one. A trip which had turned out so wrong. Of course though since it was Natalie's book it was a romance book and Kate wasn't sure it was her kind of book. She was more into Jane Eyre and Romeo and Juliet.
Hearing a knock on the door she laid the book down and stood up, "Zac if that's you, you didn't have to knock," she said before opening the door. Once the door opened though it wasn't Zac on the other end. It was Taylor who she came face to face with.
"Not Zac," Taylor told Kate as he pushed his way in. He was a bit intoxicated from the alcohol he had drank at dinner. "I just wanted some company. It's kind of lonely without Ezra," he frowned knowing he had grown used to just having his son there.
Frowning as well at Taylor's words Kate shut the door behind him. "You aren't going to yell at me again or blame me for his death are you?" she asked as she turned to see him sitting down on the cot and holding the book she had been reading. "Because if you are I am gonna kick you out," she told him as she walked over to the cot and sat down beside him.
Taylor shook his head as he looked down at the book still, "I know the truth. I've always known I was just too stubborn to realize it," he admitted as he looked at Kate sadly. "Ezra was bit because I wasn't there. I was a bad parent and I let him out of my sight."
"It was a mistake Taylor," Kate told him as she took the book from his hands. "Everyone makes them. That doesn't make you a bad parent."
Smiling at Kate's words Taylor looked up at her, "You know it was the talk you gave me the morning after that made me realize it," he confessed. "But even then I didn't want to admit it," he sighed as he moved even closer to Kate.
"But you have now and that's a start," Kate nodded as she reached out to pat Taylor's leg some. She was glad to see that it finally seemed to be hitting him that she wasn't too blame.
Taylor nodded, "Yeah I guess it is a start," he muttered as Kate turned to look at him. Leaning in he kissed her on the lips feeling her freeze as he did so. He wasn't even sure why he did it but in that moment it was what he had wanted.
Feeling Taylor kiss her Kate froze before pulling away and staring at him half shocked and half horrified, "Zac," she stated seeing reality wash over Taylor's face. When it did she looked down away from him. "I..I won't tell him you kissed me but you need to leave."
Standing up at Kate's words Taylor sighed, "I'm sorry," he apologized before leaving her room and he was sorry. Heck the kiss had meant nothing to him.
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Coming out of the bathroom after getting sick Jessica looked up at the ceiling in her room. Tears were in her eyes and it had finally hit her that Zoe was really gone and that Merle was too and even if she had realized that maybe being with Merle wasn't so good it still hurt.
Closing her eyes as the tears went down her cheeks she sighed, "Why do I keep losing everyone I love?" she asked out loud not caring that she was talking to herself. "Why can't I keep someone? Why can't I have someone who loves me and have them stay?" she asked before crying harder. She had no one and she was alone now.