A day.

An entire day he's been asleep. Not one hint he was conscious.

Clementine knew she shouldn't worry. He hasn't slept in a while. He was bound to sleep for a long time but he's never slept this long. A full eight hours was heaven for the both of them, even if it was mostly due to the threat of walkers. She took advantage of the safety of the truck for some well deserved sleep as well bit now she couldn't help but stare at him with increasing worry.

She remembered that after Duck had gotten up from beside the truck's door and moved to her side, he sat silently. She remembers asking him if he was okay or if he needed anything but he said he was and waved off her worry. Saying something along the lines of "I'm not dead, please don't worry,". Not even a few hours later she heard the telltale sign of him falling asleep. His breath hitches in a specific patten that she knew all too well from him sharing a cover with her.

Something akin to annoyances etched her face as she remembered his habit of drooling. It's calmed down since she first shared a sleeping space with him, but that doesn't mean it's stopped. She caught herself smiling as she glanced at him despite the thought, her eyes used to the dark enough to make out his sleeping features.

He looked calm, even after taking a beating like that (which she was still mad about). He always looked that way when he slept. It was one of the times he didn't looked stressed, cautious, scared or even like he was about to scream. Any smiles he had were genuine in this state but so we're frowns. He was most honest when he slept. It was something she admired. Something she learned about when she shared a sleeping space with him.

It was something she liked about waking up first.

Looking at him like this was something she never thought she'd enjoy. In fact, she never thought she would like seeing someone sleep so much. Even if his annoying sleep habits still happened, she adored the state.

She remembers trying to position him more comfortably when he fell asleep but to no avail without waking him. Once she gave up, she went to sleep beside him, thinking that it'd be better to wake up to a new day. Where his injuries healed slightly and where the could calm down a little bit.

Now she can't help but worry. She had woken up a while ago, being kept awake by the people around her holding conversations and listening in. She had grown increasingly worried by the hour, stealing more than a few glances at her partner and always being met with nothing but his soft sighs. Sarah seemed to have noticed her glances growing longer, turning into stares and gazes as she studied his face, his breathing and any reactions as to what's going on in his unconscious mind.

"...Hey, Clementine, is Duck okay?" Sarah decided to ask, seeming to catch the other girl by surprise at being caught watching her partner. Clementine stayed silent though, making Kenny stare with worry and caution written all over his face. Silence wasn't a good thing when that question was presented beforehand. Especially by someone who would no doubt hide a zombified loved one.

He knows he'd do the same in her situation and bit his lip, anxiety in his chest and he tried to get words to come out. There's gotta be a misunderstanding. Duck's not dead. Not right now, not after all this. Not by a fucking beat down.

"Clemmie, is Duck okay?" He asked, his voice soft as he spoke to her. Trying to get her to speak about his son's condition. If Duck was dead, she'd know.

"Y..Yeah. He's just been sleeping for a while. I'm just... you know...." She said, trailing off as she looked to the floor below her, suddenly more interested in that than anything else. She was obviously nervous.

"How long?" Carlos asked, his accent covered in a coat of weariness.

"He's been out for an entire day. He fell asleep not long after we left the lodge," She replied, avoiding eye contact and still staring at her shoes.

"Did he have dilated eyes before sleeping or trouble walking? Did you notice?" Carlos asked, making Clementine think. She did notice him stumble a bit on his way to her inside the truck but that could've easily been because of the dark, right?

"He stumbled," Clementine said, making Carlos hum. "I can't remember his eyes," She added. "I don't think I looked," Now she wanted to see his eyes again. Of all the times to not look and it had to be then.

"If he has a concussion, shouldn't he be awake?" Sarah asked, looking to her father's expertise. Clementine grew fearful then. Sarah's his daughter. Was it really dangerous? Was she at fault? Should she of kept him up?

"No. With a concussion, sleeping is good. But if he had those symptoms I mentioned before he slept, we might have a problem," He said, looking in thought.

"What kind of problem?" Kenny asked, worried and defensive. Duck couldn't become the type of problem Carlos implied, it wasn't possible.

"Can he die, dad...?" Sarah asked quietly, not wanting to overshadow Kenny's question but finding it important enough to have it high enough in volume. That thought petrified Clementine, making her heart pulse fast and hard inside her rib cage as she waited for an answer. Not only would she lose Duck, he was right beside of her and her hands were tied behind her back. He was unbearably close to her, she'd be the first person he'd attack if he died in the truck.

"No. At least, not unless it's severe but I don't think it is. But a coma is entirely possible, since this might be it. I don't think it'll be for long though. Don't worry yourself, Clementine, he'll be okay. I don't even think permanent brain damage is possible with the circumstance. There might not even be a concussion at all, he might just be tired," He said, reassuring the girl beside him.

"Better not be. I shoulda took that shot. It was close but I could've done it..... Carver could even be over with at this point," Kenny ranted under his breath, huffing as he finished with a sour look on his face. Clementine felt guilty as she looked at Duck. He was right to some degree, she supposed. But then again, she knew it was too close. She didn't want to hurt Duck in any way.

"Hon..." Sarita said, trailing off as she smiled at Kenny. "If it was close, then it's possible Duck could've been shot. Don't jump to conclusions like that. It's better this way, anyways," She said, seeming to keep a hold of Carlos' comment on the seriousness he thinks of Duck's injuries.

"I think she's right. Besides, what if you didn't shoot Bill? He could've easily finished Duck off with a single shot," Rebecca spoke up, looking just a worried but seeming more calm than Kenny. Nick sighed before speaking.

"The kid couldn't even survive a shot that close. I think it was a good call to not shoot," He added and Clementine smiled. Nick seemed to like Duck enough to not like if he died. Sometimes she couldn't tell.

"Yeah, well you can praise Clementine. I woulda taken the shot if she hadn't told me we had to surrender," Kenny said, still sticking to what he thought was a good call on his part. Clementine remembers what happened. She had told him that before Duck was held hostage. He didn't surrender but he didn't have a choice. As soon as she saw Duck was in Carver's grip, she stood and shouted her plead for mercy.

"Thank you for telling Kenny to not shoot, Clementine," Alvin said. Clementine only nodded, not finding a reason for any thanks. She only had Duck's best interest in mind. And even if Kenny made the shot, Duck could've became deaf from how close it was to his ears. That would've been a disadvantage to his survival overall. It was what they were supposed to do for each other, she didn't need thanks. What she did need, however, was Duck to wake up.

"Dad...." Sarah said quietly, grabbing Carlos' attention and whispering something in his ear. Carlos sighed, making his way to the closest wall near Carver's group to catch their attention. He knocked on the metal wall, hearing a muffled and annoyed "What?" from the other side.

"My daughter needs to pee. We have to make a pit stop," Carlos said as gently as he could as to not anger the people on the other side. Not long after, the truck stopped and the door was lifted.

"Alright, c'mon girlie," A man said with his gun resting in his hands. Sarah looked uncomfortable before she spoke her concerns.

"Can...Can Clementine come with me? I don't... trust you looking at me..." She said and the guard groaned but agreed.

"No funny business," He said as he took off both Sarah's and Clementine's bounds. Once the girls left, he looked in the truck, his eyes grazing over everyone before they landed on Duck. "What's wrong with him? Tired?" He asked and Sarita nodded.

"He's very tired. We're letting him rest," She said, silence once again falling over them all. The guard shook his head and closed the door, blanketing them all in darkness again.

---------------

I looked over the side of the high building, the usual disgust making my face scrunch up as I smelled the rotting bodies and saw the sea of walkers. They infested the streets like roaches, looking for another meal as they wait for themselves to rot away to nothing. I briefly wondered if Clementine had joined them, dread and another emotion I didn't know how to name showing up as I finished the thought.

We were looking for her and the radio guy was still talking to us. She had to be alive. Lee wouldn't allow for her to be gone. How did she even make it over here on her own? Was she helped or escorted? Either way, I couldn't help but find it impressive of her. I couldn't do it.

I stood up to full height, getting away from the edge of the roof before I fell and standing in the center of the roof. I looked over to Lee's cut off arm. The way he looked, cutting it off didn't help any. He was going to die, wasn't he?

I crossed my arms, all but glaring at my own two feet. I wasn't supposed to be here and yet Lee's the one leaving. I took too many lives to be surviving by my own skills by now, figurative blood covered me as I stood beside Christa and Omid, who was currently listening to Lee.

Lee didn't have to kill others to survive. He didn't have his mother shield him while a walker dug into her flesh. He didn't have his father drop into a walker infested building just to retrieve his stupid son.

I looked down at my clothes, grimacing as I reminded myself of my mother's dried blood, which still stained my clothes and even my face. I never washed it off, which I regret. It was only a reminder each time I looked down at my clothes.

"Duck," Lee's soft voice cut through my thoughts as he kneeled to my level. He smiled at me, a smile that shouldn't be given to me. "You wanna hear what I want you to do with Clementine?" He asked, taking me by surprise as I blinked at him. I had a role? Personally, I think that's a weird choice. I'm not even gonna live much longer. Not without mom and dad protecting me all the time.

"...What?" I asked, not understanding what his thoughts process was with choosing me for a role. 

"Christa and Omid said they'd take care of her while I'm gone. Do you want to hear what I want you to do?" Lee asked, giving me a choice on whether to hear his wish or not. I couldn't speak as I looked at Lee's pale face and bloodshot eyes. Even I could tell he wouldn't have long to live. I had to grant him this wish.

"S..Sure. Yes, please. I want you to tell me," I said, feeling exhausted but still trying to find the energy to take on one more task. It couldn't be hard. Lee was silent for a moment, though, and I was confused. Now I realize he was trying to find the right words. Now I know why he took so long. This was the most important thing I've ever promised to anyone.

"Clementine's a strong girl, but she's not wise yet. She's still going to need guidance. She's showed me that by getting snatched like this. She'll get smarter over the years, but you're older than her. You know about stranger danger amongst other things," He said, his words deliberate.

I knew that. I remember multiple times that she talked to me about her radio friend. I warned her, I had even told her what dad told me and what mom had told me. She got really mad at me for insulting her friend but I knew I was right. She told me on the train, in the house, in the shed with the boat and each time I told her it was dangerous.

She never listens to me.

She's stubborn. She's determined.

Then again, what did I expect from Clementine? I insulted her friend the last time I spoke to her. Before she ran off. I didn't know she'd do that. She never told me that. Maybe I was the reason. Maybe she saw that as a reason to go to her friend. Maybe I pushed her to go.

"You're just as young as her. You're her closest friend, Duck. Believe it or not, she looks up to you. Guide her for me. Protect her for me. She's gonna be able to do that by herself at some point but that is not today," To this day I can't believe Lee said that. He trusted me. Christa and Omid were the adults that were to take care of her. I was going to guide her. I was going to protect her. He trusted me with this. Until she was able to do it herself, and I think she's to that point right now.

I still don't know why he trusted me with that. I don't think I did much of anything over the years for her.

"I need you, Duck. You can do it," I know I took a long time. I was still in shock. For the first time in weeks I felt needed. I felt like I was doing something. I felt renewed determination. I felt like I had to stay alive now. I couldn't die anymore. This time I mattered.

"Thank you for trusting me, Lee," At the time, that was all I could say.

"Clementine trusts you, Duck. She's close to you. She'd listen to your advice more, she's done so before many times. I trust you, but Clementine's the only person who needs to trust you in this situation," Lee said, finding Clementine's trust to be important. I was her age, so I can see why she trusted me a lot. She trusted Omid too but saw him more as authority than a friend. Sometimes that's a good thing but I think Lee thought he needed her friend.

"But she doesn't listen to me all the time..." I remember saying.

"Yeah well she's also not a doormat," Lee said with a smile that I could remember any day. I remember smiling at him too before I nodded.

"Okay. I'll do it. Until she can do it herself," I said. I guess I've accomplished that.

--------------

Duck woke up blearily and let his eyes flutter open, feeling the fabric of jeans against his head. He tried to pinpoint what he was laying on, shifting from his side to his back and looking up only to find the sleeping face of his partner. She must've made him lay in her lap at some point. She seemed to be sleeping while keeping herself upright. Not really suprising but he felt bad. He wouldn't of minded being her pillow instead.

He let his eyes trail over her face, letting them linger on the parts of her face that was his favorite. She never liked when he stared while she was awake, always telling him that he had nothing to look at. That there was nothing interesting to hold his attention but he thought she was wrong.

In fact, there were many things that made him want to stop and stare about her. One thing being how she handles herself. He was sure he would never be able to actually stand back at watch her fight though. Not unless he wanted to lose his own fight.

He noticed she always had a calm face while she slept. A small ghost of a smile on her relaxed features as she kept breathing evenly. The smile was one that he would've missed had he not known what she looked like with that smile. That same smile she gave him when she wasn't trying to laugh at his jokes. The same smile she gave him when she was trying to be mad but couldn't ignore him. One she never intentionally wanted him to notice.

Her breathing was the even tempo that he expected. Kinda shallow with the occasional big heave of breath when her lungs needed more air than what she was getting. Yet it was kinda like a lullaby that he had gotten used to, something he associated with going to sleep. Like a song that was never sung until he met her.

But he couldn't fall back asleep now. Instead he carefully and slowly sat up, not wanting to wake up Clementine as he sat and leaned on the wall of the truck beside her. Seems she wasn't in too deep of a sleep. He saw her hazel eyes flutter open in the dim of the truck, looking in her lap in confusion. She was looking for him.

"Duck...?" Clementine groaned out as she squinted in the dark, spotting him and getting closer to get a better look. She smiled in what looked like relief before it turned into a glare and Duck was about to question it before she said something. "You look like shit," It wasn't the last thing he expected from her, but it wasn't the first either.

"Oh, thanks," He said, wanting to retaliate with a snarky comment but having none come to mind. His brain was still waking up, he guessed.

"No, I'm talking about the bruises and stuff. Other than that, you look great," She said as she stared at his injuries. He knew she couldn't see everything in the dark, so he wondered just how bad he actually looked in the light.

"You're awake!" Kenny said enthusiastically with hints of relief in his tone. "Clem doesn't wanna help your old man out. Do you think you can?" He asked his son patiently. Duck would've agreed if only Nick didn't start talking, keying Duck into what exactly happened when he was out.

"Hey, you heard the girl. She's got good reasons to not help you. Your plan is shit," He said hostily, the short fuse he always had with Kenny getting shorter as he persisted.

"I'm getting tired of you. Please just shut up and let my son do what he wants!" Kenny argued back. Duck's eyebrows furrowed in concern. Why wouldn't Clementine help? Was Dad's plan really that shit? It was entirely possible, his father never really used any time to form an actual plan and ran off of emotion more than anything. He and Clememtine would at least have a small amount of logic and realism with their plans. Emotion didn't always take over like it did Kenny.

"What is it?" Duck asked, wondering what exactly the plan was before he vetoed it.

"I'm plannin to get these bondages off but I need somethin sharp. Got anything around you? I can't see shit in this truck!" Kenny said, making Duck wonder exactly what he'd do without cuffs.

"So what're you gonna do? After you're free?" He decided to voice his concerns.

"I'm gonna punch one guy, take his gun and shoot the next," Kenny said, explaining it faster than he had the first time when Duck was out. Duck could tell by the rushed tone in his voice that he had told the others already and thought there wasn't enough time for extra words.

"I thought we were over this, Kenny," Clem said, exhausted at the conversation. Duck knew his dad wouldn't give up. He was notorious for keeping a hold of his beliefs. He knew his dad didn't let go easily.

"Clem, you already established you didn't wanna help and that's fine, I promise you. I'm asking Duck for help right now, though. You don't have to help at all. It's alright, promise," Kenny said, Duck finding the calm a little weird as he spoke to Clementine. Especially since she shot down his request to help him. Maybe he had calmed down in the time it took for him to wake up.

Maybe it was good he was out.

"Listen, dad, you know I love you and everything but if you're free, think of how the people on the other side will react. What if they kill us all because you're free?" Duck asked, his first thought coming out of his mouth in an attempt to win his father's compliance.

"And why would they do that?" Kenny argued back but Duck was quick on his feet, an answer being obvious to both him and Clementine.

"Maybe because they could think of multiple things you did while free and think we're all putting them in danger? Or maybe you got something? Or more of us are free? I don't know, I just don't wanna die today," Duck said, letting his head fall to the wall. Arguing with his dad was futile, he knew and he was exhausted already. His tone was already half hearted as he said the last few words.

Kenny and him had many things in common. Clementine reminded him over and over again whenever something truly Kenny came out. Such as his temper and stubbornness. His determination and, sometimes, self-sacrificing nature. But, unlike his father, he knew when to settle down. He knew when to keep calm and not start anything. He knew when his actions would put someone in danger. He's way too self aware of his actions. He's entirely too petrified at the idea of doing something that hurts someone else.

It was one of those times. Duck had no idea what these people were capable of, not really. It'd be easier to behave and not allow anyone else to get hurt because of his dad. He knew they could murder a stranger that had nothing to do with anything. It was better to not help his father this time. Duck was damn near close to getting his head shot off twice by the same man. At this point, he's sure Carver would shoot him for anything. Maybe Clem too. He knows he'd shot dad if he stepped out of line too much.

He really should be more careful.

"We already had this argument, Duck. Your dad just can't get it through his thick skull that Carver isn't to be messed with," Carlos said, his voice gravelly. "We're close anyways. Give it up, Kenny," He added as he felt the familiar way the truck jiggled on the road.

"Please. I'm tired of this," Clementine said, making Duck lift his head from the wall to look at her. She really did look tired of this conversation. Was this debate going on for a while before she fell asleep herself?

"Yes, Ken. It's important that you calm down. It won't help anything, it'll just make it worse," Sarita said in a calming voice and Duck was sure that, if her hands weren't bound, she'd be touching Kenny soothingly.

"But maybe I can do what I'm thinkin, if I had the chance," He said, still fighting on it.

"There's no way you could do what you want. You think you always win, huh?" Nick asked, annoyance evident in his voice.

"Fuck no but we gotta try. You remember that freezer at that farm, right, Clem? Those goddamn cannibals wanted to 'tenderize our meat,'" Kenny said, directing his attention to Clementine as Duck remembered that farm house. The woman hadn't put him in the freezer. Instead, she held both him and his mother hostage in the house.

What for? Duck still couldn't put his finger on it. He wasn't skinnier than Clem at the time and she was in that freezer so that was out of the question. A million possibilities came to his mind that night but he didn't dare push on one too much. He remembers trying to get out the house while the woman was distracted at one point. He still remembers how the gunshot rang in his ears and the bullet zipped through the house, landing on the wall beside of him. Her yelling, "You better not leave, boy! If I find out you freed your friends, you're first!"

His mother was calm for her situation that entire night. But once that happened, she screamed at the woman. The woman hid him at that point, making sure he couldn't leave before threatening his mother. He remembers Lee's voice. He remembers how his mother had the gun pointed to her head, calmly negotiating with that woman.

He has no idea what happened in that freezer or how they escaped. He never asked. He looked at Clementine. Now he was curious.

"Kenny, this is different. Rebecca already said she was sure they wouldn't kill us," Clementine said desperately, almost pleading with him. Duck had his doubts but at least he knew that the chances of survival were better if they didn't cause trouble. How close were they?

Almost as if his silent prayer were answered, the truck came to a halt, beeps signaling it was moving in reverse before it stopped fully with a jerk.

"Well now we ain't gonna have any chance," Kenny said, sulking at where he sat. It was for the best, really but he hated that he couldn't help more. The truck door opened, a light suddenly filtering in and making Duck squint.

"All right, get up and out!" The guard said, making each of them get out at gun point. Duck would've focused more on the gun's aim had Carver's voice not come over the intercom, forcing his survivor brain to look for the source of such a loud noise with no luck. Isn't that a bit too loud to be safe? I'm pretty sure this will attract a horde. Loud noises drew walkers and walkers make even more walkers meet. Did someone seriously have to tell Carver that? God, he hoped not or they were doomed. Maybe it was safer than he thought?

"We've got a few familiar faces joining us tonight. Now I understand some of you are confused as to why we'd bring back these people when they left us like they did," Rebecca muttered something under her breath in reply but Duck couldn't decipher it. He supposed it was something she didn't want anyone to hear.

"It might not come all at once but time will heal all these wounds. So be patient with them until it does. Take solace in knowing that they're here to make our home a better place. All these feelings you have of anger... Betrayal... Hate. They're all valid. Nobody needs to forget what they did but we need to find it in our hearts to forgive them,"

Carver continued to speak until a guard Duck forgot the name of caught his attention, effectively putting his voice as nothing more than background noise.

"C'mon. We need you for somethin," He said to Carlos and looked down at Duck. "And someone wants to see you,"

"Can we wait until morning, Troy? We're all exhausted," Carlos said, seeming put off by the way the guard, Troy, addressed Duck.

"Just come the fuck on," He said, forcing Duck and Carlos to follow him.

"Duck?" He heard the small voice of Clementine before she was drowned out by Sarah's panics over where her dad was going and he couldn't help but look back. Clementine wasn't looking though. Her face was conflicted, however. Almost like she was biting down her own questions involving Duck to try and calm Sarah instead.

Troy led Duck to a female guard, who then led him an opposite way than Carlos.

"Where's he going?" Duck asked the female in charge of him, who then looked back to Carlos.

"He's gonna look at some people. He was the only doctor here who knew how to take care of adults. But you're getting a check up from the children doctor," She said, turning back to lead him and Duck kept quiet. Duck suppressed a shake of his head. It was obvious Carlos didn't know about children, he couldn't even tell a dog bite from a walker bite on Clem's arm. Well, maybe he just wasn't the best with bites.

It took only two minutes until they arrived and the woman pulled back the curtain of the small space. "Patient for ya," The doctor turned around from her desk, her eyes growing wide as she looked at Duck.

"Oh my god, what happened to you?" She said, rushing over and touching his face, which hurt a lot more than he thought it would. He didn't think it was that bad. Clementine didn't seem that worried. Then again, it was dark when she looked at him and she was no doctor. Meaning that she didn't really know what was bad or not.

"Carver happened. Boy didn't tell him what he wanted to know so Carver took measures. Shouldn't be a shock," The guard woman said, making the doctor huff a breath. She seemed miffed over the situation.

"But he's a child. Carver needs to control himself," The doctor said as she shook her head. "This could cause serious damage to someone his age. How old are you, sweetie?"

"Um... 14? Something like that," Duck answered, remembering he was only two years older than Clementine and she was 11 or 12. He was pretty sure she was 12 though. She looked 12. Maybe he was 13?

"Well, take that up with him," The guard said, leaving through the curtain. He wondered if she'd actually take it up with Carver or if he was a feared tyrant.

"Here, take a seat," She said, leading him to a firm couch that vaguely felt like a doctor bench. He sat as she retrieved her first aid kit along with actual medical tools that only came from actual hospitals (Duck's sure that she must've packed some from her office and hulled ass when this whole thing started. Hospitals are overrun.). "What's your name?" She asked.

"Duck," He responded and she smiled as she walked back to him.

"Huh. Nice name," This was the first time somebody didn't call it weird or question it. Other than Clementine but he knew she was just quiet and respectful when they first met. "My name's Dr. Martinson but you can call me Heidi," She said. "What did Carver do to you, sweetie?" She asked. Duck tried to remember everything but he couldn't. It was spotty.

"Well, I remember getting hit in the stomach a couple times so that hurts. My head really really hurts.... I can't remember anything else," Duck said and Heidi seemed to not like that.

"Can you follow this light for me?" She asked, holding a small flashlight up and making sure he looked at it before moving it back and forth. She looked please when he followed it with ease. "Good. Alright, that's fine. Now your memory... It doesn't seem too good," She said, turning his head gently as she studied his injuries.

"I can't really remember much. I do know there were screams. Someone cried. Rebecca kept yelling at Carver,"

"For hitting you?"

"Yeah. And all I remember is that my nose hurts, this eye hurts," He said, pointing to his right one. "My stomach really hurts and everything's kinda sore," Duck finished, watching Hiedi as she retrieved another instrument and put it in his ears.

"Hows your hearing?" She asked.

"Well.... Now that you mention it, when he beat me, at some point everything sounded like it was underwater. And I have to keep popping my ears to keep things normal,"

"I don't think it's that bad then. He didn't shatter an ear drum so that's good," She said, smiling at him kindly. "Please stand," She said, Duck following orders. "Okay, now walk in a straight line for me," She said, stepping back as Duck walked back and forth, stumbling a couple times but not too much. "That's enough. Thank you," She said, pausing as she wrote something down on her desk, or what could pass as one. "I think you have a small concussion. Don't worry, it should go away soon as long as you don't get hit anymore. Other than that, I can give you ice for that shiner you got and any additional bruising," She paused as she considered what she was going to say. "Please lift your shirt for me," She said, making Duck give her a weird look. She didn't seem to notice until a few seconds later and sighed. "I need to check for bruising. You said you were hit there,"

"Well yeah, but—"

"It's just quickly, Duck. Unless it's extremely uncomfortable for you. Then I might need to get someone you are comfortable with to check it," She said, looking to him for a decision. He thought over his options quickly, not really wanting anyone but Clementine looking at anything under his clothes. Eventually he sighed, lifting it up slightly and letting the doctor examine it, tsking as she did. "I'll really have to talk to Carver. Nobody should be treating children like this," She said angrily. "Well, it doesn't look too bad, believe it or not. You haven't vomited blood, right?"

"No,"

"And you haven't peed blood, right?"

"No. I haven't peed since I was on the way to the lodge,"

"Really? Well, come back to me if you find that your pee is blood. You also should try and pee, it's not healthy to hold it," She said, turning around and making Duck put down his shirt. "Here," She said, handing him a jacket. Suddenly, he was very aware of where he left his hoodie. His old plaid shirt was very worn, dirty and covered in blood. Both his own and other people's.

He hates be reminded of the people he's killed or indirectly killed. Granted, it wasn't too terribly many on purpose but he remembers Clementine sharing a horrified look with him when his first murder happened. It was an accident, he swore but Clementine still had her doubts, as he was angry at the time and kept the gun pointed at the person. That was maybe a year ago.

They didn't talk about it but he knows she watches him when he's angry at someone and has a gun in his hand. He was happy she didn't care if he was angry at her. She wasn't scared to talk back or yell at him or really anything. She wasnt scared of him. She was scared of what he could do to others.

The jacket had a zipper, which Duck loved. If it got hot, he could just wrap it around his waist unlike his hoodie, which would take some time to take off. It was a heavier jacket but would still be considered light, comparable to how cold it's getting. It was a dark color though, which meant it'd trap heat a little better.

"Its gonna get cold. You should have something," She said. He put it on, noticing it was both long and tight on him. He was sure this was her jacket but kept quiet.

"Thank you," Duck said, thinking it better to be genuine than question her actions.

"No problem. Just sit tight while I do something," She said as she sat on a stool, turning around to write something else in a medical journal. Probably to write down his name and add him as a patient. He looked down at himself.

It looked pretty good on him, even if it was a little long and snug. He wondered if he should give it to Clementine tonight. Was there any covers where they were sleeping? It was cold, getting very close to Winter. Were they even sleeping inside? Were they sheltered? From how Carver treated him the first two times they met, he could only guess of the treatment.

"Okay!" Heidi said, standing suddenly and clasping her hands together with a smile. "Feel free to come back even if you just have small medical questions! Or you're concerned about something!" She said as she left her small office, Duck following. She came to a stop in front of a guard. "No major things to be wary of but a mild concussion is very possible. Not strong enough to die or put him in a coma but make sure he doesn't vomit any blood and please don't allow him to get hit in the head anymore," She said to the guard and turned back to Duck, smiling. "Have a good night, Duck,"

And then he was left alone with the guard, who looked him up and down and tsked but said nothing.

He was lead to a garage door, which the guard promptly opened and pushed him in. "Get in there. Carver can see the doors so stay away from them!" He said harshly, closing the door behind Duck.

"There ya are, Duck! Where'd they take you? They didn't hurt you or nothin, right?" Kenny said, dotting on him with worry. Duck only smiled at his dad before speaking.

"No. I was taken to this really nice doctor. She gave me a new jacket," Duck said, turning as if to show him. "I wasn't hurt,"

"That's good. Clem's doin Clem things right now. You can find her, she ain't hard to spot," Kenny said as he walked back over to a man Duck didn't know the name of and continued talking to him. Duck looked around, finding Sarah first and smiling. She didn't notice him and just stared at the fire. She looked like she was waiting for her father. She didn't have a smile, which probably meant she didn't want to be bothered.

He then saw Rebecca, who was looking in the fire just like Sarah. He looked around for Alvin and, when he realized he wasn't there, a sinking feeling appeared as he came to a realization. They must of took Alvin away somewhere but Duck couldn't think of what for. It wasn't like with Carlos, where he could be looked at by a doctor for his broken hand or could be the doctor. Alvin didn't really have anything, except he was with Rebecca and was possibly the father, which was not a good thing to be when taken away.

Maybe he should check on her.

Duck walked over to Rebecca, sitting beside her and staying silent until she sighed. "I'm just thinking, Duck. I mean, I was so mean to him before. I was so focused on surviving I never paid attention to him. When was the last time I said 'I love you'?" She asked herself, pity taking place in herself. A feeling he knew all too well.

"...I should say I love you more too. You know, to Clem and Dad...." Duck said and Rebecca gave a breathy laugh.

"We should just be nicer in general. Who knows when someone will be taken away?" Rebecca said and smiled at Duck. "Thank you, but I'm fine now," She said and Duck stood for a moment, looking at Sarah for a couple seconds, who was currently sitting on the other side of Rebecca. He found it rude to just skip her, so he sat beside her carefully. Testing the waters before saying anything important.

"Hey," He said, giving her a lopsided smile. She seemed to hear him but didn't look at him even if he could tell she wanted to.

"Hey..... I'm just trying to be good," She said, slightly worrying Duck with her wording. Be good? What'd happen if she wasn't good?

"Why?" Duck asked. She was a good girl anyways. She followed the rules, obeyed her father. Sometimes he thought she was too good for the environment they're in. She was the most well behaved person he knew his age. Unless she was somehow a rebel when she was at Carver's beforehand? Which seemed impossible for the boy to think of as he looked over her. She didn't look like she'd be capable to misbehave.

"Reggie will get in trouble if I be bad. So I'm trying to be quiet and still until bedtime," She said, her eyes trailing to the man his dad was talking to. Reggie, huh? Duck still didn't understand why she was so afraid. Honestly, if anyone had problems with that, it'd be him and Clem.

"Okay. I'll be good too," Duck promised in response to his thoughts. Sarah smiled warmly at him as she looked at him. Her smile held something he only saw when Clem or his mom smiled at him. He returned the smile and Sarah turned away again but this time she had a lingering smile as she looked at the fire.

"Thank you, Duck. For checking on me and making me feel better," She said. He couldn't understand what he did to make her feel better but took that as his que to leave anyways and got up, looking around. He saw Nick laying down and decided to leave him alone. He was probably trying to sleep. He went further along the fence, running into Clementine soon enough as she examined it.

"Hey," He said, causing her to jump. She turned his way, shock on her face until realized who it was and sighed with a face of relief.

"Hey," She said quieter than he had, her eyes falling from his to his new jacket but didn't say anything as she turned back to the fence.

"What're you doing?" He asked, causing her to look at the fence a little longer before she turned back to him, her eyes looking anywhere else on his face than his eyes. She stared at his lips when she talked to him this time, which meant that she didn't want to tell him something.

"Something," She said as an answer and got closer before he could say anything. Duck had to suppress the urge to back away as she suddenly invaded his personal space, which he wouldn't normally mind but she was oddly secretive beforehand. Why was she coming closer? She stood just a couple inches from him before she stopped, staring at his face as she squinted her eyes. "It's worse,".

"What?" He asked confused. What was she talking about?

"The swelling. It's worse than when it started. Does it hurt?" She asked and he could see her hand coming up to touch him before she thought better of it and returned her hand to its original position.

"Yes. But it's more like a constant, throbbing headache. Sharp pains here and there but not too much. Dr. Martinson said I had a mild concussion,"

"Is that okay?" She asked, her face a mixture of worry and frustration. At what? Don't ask him.

"Yeah, I think so," Duck said, smiling at her. "She also said I didn't have any internal bleeding. At least she doesn't think so but she can't check properly,"

"Internal bleeding? Why would you-" Clementine asked and gasped when he lifted his shirt slightly, just enough for her to see a slight, purplish bruise at his hip. "Oh! You need to warn me before you do that but that looks....bad. You sure she said it was okay?" She asked and Duck put his shirt down.

"Yeah. You haven't seen my entire thing so don't worry too much. I just need to watch and make sure I don't pee blood or vomit blood," He said. She looked him up and down, lifting an eyebrow as her eyes made it back to his.

"So..." She has a tone in her voice that made him rather suspicious of what she was thinking as it was his turn to raise an eyebrow. He leaned on the wood boards, other hand on his hip as he gave her a suspicious glare. "Don't look at me like that,"

"Don't look at me like that!" He said as he stomped down a snicker at her. She smirked at him but seemed content with just his reaction at her look before she turned back to the fence and pulled lazily at one of the boards in a half hearted attempt to get it off. He was about to scold her before Reggie beat him to it.

"Hey, Clementine? Please don't do that," Reggie said, before staring at Duck for a good moment. Duck stopped leaning on the boarded wall as he was looked at but it seemed Reggie wasn't looking at him for that reason. "Hey, uh.... Sorry, I don't know your name but could you please make your friend behave for me?" He asked. Duck would've laughed at anyone else for even suggesting that was entirely possible but he only nodded this time with a hint of a smirk as he tried to stop a laugh from bubbling up.

"She ain't doin anything," Kenny said, defending Clementine.

"Everyone would just feel safer if they just didn't do... that," He said. Duck sighed and looked at Clementine.

"You heard the man," He said and Clementine gave him a glare. "Come on, Clem..." He groaned.

"Kenny asked me to look for something weak in the fence," Clementine said to him, close enough to whisper as quietly as she needed to.

"Yeah, and? Look, we don't wanna start anything. We're not in danger right now," Duck said, making Clementine have a moment of consideration before sighing.

"But what if we are?"

"My dad's just gotten inside your head. I swear, were not in danger. And we don't wanna put ourselves in any by doing... what you're doing. Please, just relax?" Duck pleaded, giving her a soft smile. Clementine let her eyes drift away and then nodded slowly.

"..Maybe you're right," She said. "Maybe I should just let it be,"

"Exactly. Look, we can wait for Carlos to come back, we can hang out, or we could go to sleep. Your call," He said to her, an emotion close to relief showing itself as she caved in. She was stubborn, but at least she listened to him when it was important.

"We should...." Clementine trailed off, looking at the fire, her eyes lingering on Kenny. "...Go to sleep,"

"Are you just saying that cause Dad's there?" Duck asked as he watched her face exhibit worry. "I mean, sure, he might be slightly disappointed at you for giving up but, I mean, I was the one that told you to. If anything, he'd be more disappointed in me. C'mon, Clem. Tell me what you really wanna do," Duck said, a smile on his lips as he comforted her. She was a people pleaser.

She was about to open her mouth when the entrance opened back up, showing the guard he saw earlier with Carlos in tow and another guard.

"Dad..!" Sarah exclaimed, her eyes shining as she ran to him and wrapped her arms around him, a big smile on her face in contrast to her flat expression when Duck first walked over to her. It was contagious, because Duck could help but smile. He looked at Clementine, giving her a nod towards the fire. She walked that way, having him in tow.

"Where'd you two come from?" The guard asked.

"We were just walkin around. We like being alone," Clementine said, lying about her intentions near the fence. The guard hummed. "Don't worry, Mr. Troy. Duck and I just like privacy," She said and the guard rolled his eyes at the two.

"Whatever," He said. "I want everyone in bed," He said harshly, closing the gate behind him as he did. Clementine walked towards the beds, having Duck follow her by pulling at his sleeve.

"These are the beds. Take your pick," She said, picking one of the bottom ones and laying in it. It was right next to his dad and Sarita. Duck looked at his options, and decided to just sleep on the ground below her instead of any of the beds. "What're you doing?" She asked.

"Sleeping," He responded.

"On the ground?"

"Yeah. Believe it or not, it's comfortable,"

"...Fine, suit yourself," She said before hulling herself back onto her bed. "Goodnight, Duck,"

"Goodnight,"

"I know you already tried to find a way, Clem," Kenny started, catching her attention. "But we've gotta find another way outta here. You up for it? Your decision," Kenny added quickly to his sentence. "And Duck?" He questioned, causing the boy to open his eyes up to his father. "You wanna help?"

"Not really. It's a bit too early to stir the pot, right?" He said, not too sure about how fast his dad wants to jump the gun. He found it unreasonable and dangerous as he kept on with his plans, finding more and more flaws and questions about the what ifs that didn't seem to have an answer.

"I'll... Help as much as I can," Clementine said, making Duck want to sigh. He admired her helpfulness but sometimes he just wants to shout at her that she can say no at any time. She wasn't a doormat by any means, God no. But.... If she knows you well.... She'd more or less agree with anything as long as you're an adult. He knew that he was the only exception to that pattern he's noticed in her.

"Alright, thanks. Try to get some sleep you guys," Kenny said, turning over to get sleep himself. Finally, Duck closed his eyes again, finding that he wasn't needed any longer.

Clementine kept her eyes staring up at the planks holding up the mattress above her, listening to the breathing of others and turning of the people around her.

After what felt like a half hour, she closed her eyes, letting herself fall asleep.

----------------------------

"These pranks are getting out of hand!" Katjaa said, holding up a dead bug that was on Duck's pillow as she turned to the two children. Duck looked down, hands behind his back. Clementine looked equally guilty, not wanting to look at Duck's mother any more than he did.

In his dream, he noticed the depiction of young Clementine seemed to be almost spot on. Her baby fat still there, her hair still grabbable by walkers or attackers and she had her hat, as always.

His mother, however, looked a little different. He couldn't help but notice his subconscious saw her as older. Her hair had more grey spots than what she actually used to look like and she looked a lot more tired. Maybe it was combining how she looked dying and how she looked regularly?

"You two need to stop doing this! I don't need to keep coming back here to dispose of whatever dead animal you put in each other's beds!" Katjaa said as she made sure they both heard her. Her gaze was moreso pointed at Duck.

"We're sorry, mom," Duck said, looking at her with a guilty expression on his face.

"Clementine?" Katjaa said, trying to get Clementine to apologize as well.

"I'm sorry..." She said.

"To Duck too,"

"But-"

"You were the one who put it here this time! Say you're sorry!" She demanded. Clementine turned to him, a small glare as she did.

"I'm sorry," She said harshly and Duck remembers that he had to stop himself from smiling or even laughing at that time. He knew his mom would force him to apologize to her for that. Instead he nodded to her, hoping the glee he felt didn't show on his face.

"Thank you. Now I better not hear of another thing and I better see you two getting along!" She said, looking at both of them and sighing. She smiled then. "You know I love you both, right? I just gotta yell a little sometimes," She said tenderly as she kissed them both on the forehead, leaving them in Duck's motel room in hopes they'd find something to do together instead of mean or disgusting pranks. She had half a mind to find more chalk for the two of them, now that the papers ran out.

"You know I love you, right, Ducky?" Those same words uttered with her last breaths. When she was still human. Still dying. Still feeling the infection spread.

Just how did it feel? Could she feel herself becoming a walker? Did she know it was going to happen? It must've been slow, painful even. That wasn't a death he wanted for his mom. He wanted it to be quick. A gunshot to the head when she was alive would've been better than that. He didn't like thinking that way before but now he admits that would've been a better way to go.

He wished he knew what she was thinking about when she was dying. When she was holding him. When she was turning. Those words were the last she uttered to him. It took maybe ten minutes later before she really died. Ten minutes of labored breaths and then one last, shuddering breath as she died. He heard it. He was still with her. He was the closest to her when she died. He still got shivers, having memorized how it sounded.

She died in the train car.

She reanimated in the train car.

She almost killed him in the train car.

He heard her heart stop beating

In the train car.

That was the day he ended up covered in his mother's blood. His shirt soaked and torn, his face covered in the blood he was never supposed to have on him. He could taste it. It took a lot of spitting to get the taste out. He wouldn't talk for a while after that, he remembers. He couldn't even cry. Too much shock had blocked any other emotions. Too much trauma made his emotions shut down to process it all. He remembered Lee telling him that, comforting him on why he couldn't feel anything.

He remembers rolling her body out of the car. He remembers the feel of her skin. He remembers the dead, rubbery feeling of the skin. He remembers the reason she was dead. He remembers crying and grieving finally when they were alone in that house with Omid. Clementine was startled. She was alone with him, Omid upstairs as everyone else went to that town that kills kids. She was alone, she was nine, she was watching her best friend crumble.

She didn't know what to do. She just held him at the time. She didn't talk, she didn't know what to say. He remembers her leading him upstairs in the office. He wouldn't be heard outside as easily then. She never saw him cry until that day. She never saw him break down, not have a smile, have tears, screaming, blubbering. A gigantic mess in front of her.

That was the first night he had nightmares. That was the first night she helped him. That was the first of many days he didn't try and find a reason to smile, not counting when Katjaa died. That was the first night he was held by a girl that wasn't his mother.

In fact, it was the first time someone touched him after Katjaa died at all.

His dad distanced himself. He drank so much of that alcohol to remember he had a son. Duck felt abandoned. Those thoughts and feelings were what made him resent his dad for a while. All the way until he 'died'. Not even too long after his mom. And he wasn't even there to help Duck through that death. Sure, few words here and there but nothing else. Not comforting. Telling him to do this or that, really. He was lucky if he was spoken to.

If his dad wanted Duck to be with him.

He couldn't hold him for this, though. He was grieving too but it would've been nice to not feel ignored. He knows, had he had his mom, if roles were reversed, she would've helped Duck. He wouldn't have to of depended on Lee or Clementine or Omid.

All he wanted was his dad back. He didn't want to have to hide when his dad yelled at someone (Mostly Lee), knowing he'd be dragged on the argument.

He didn't want to feel the increasing blame he knew his dad put on him. Never saying it to his face but knowing his father thought it, at least once.

He didn't want to have to soil Clementine's dress with tears that night.

He didn't want to have to depend heavily on Lee's words of comfort.

He didn't want to depend heavily on Omid's optimism to preserve his own.

He wished he didn't have to depend on his friends. He wished he didn't depend on Clementine. He wished he didn't weigh her down with his problems. He wished he had someone else, someone he loved maybe a little less, someone he didn't care about but still trusted.

He wished he wasn't trusted with her life. He couldn't keep anyone alive. He was a failure in that department and yeah, he's helped keep her alive this long but they didn't really have anyone in this group that knew of his promise anymore. Who'd care as much as he would. Who'd help him if needed. Christa and Omid did that.

It was his fault for so many deaths. He's killed more people than he could count on his finger, intentional or not. Most of them being not. Indirectly, even.

Why would Lee trust him? Why him? Why? What reasons did he have? He couldn't of possibly knew Duck would survive this long! It was surprising he survived until now! Why?! Why would he do that?! Trust his little Clementine with this idiot of a boy! A boy who couldn't keep his own mother alive! Who killed both his parents in the span of a week! Who couldn't defend himself, no less someone precious to Lee.

He was useless!

He was worthless!

He was stupid!

He was nothing!

Nobody would love him! They'd all die or leave!

Even....

Even Clementine....

---------------------------------

He felt little pats on his face, his eyes coming open to meet hazel as her hand was about to hit full force across his face, making him flinch. Her eyes widened slightly as she dropped her hand and relaxed it. She wiped her hand on her shirt and he was confused before he felt the remains of the tears she hadn't wiped off.

Oh.

"Sorry. I tried waking you another way," Clementine said as she apologized for her behavior.

"Thanks," He said, wiping whatever was left on his cheeks before sighing the heavy rock out of his chest. Clementine usually woke him up when he cried. He believed she knew little signs that told her he was crying.

"Are you okay?" She asked. He wanted her to go back to sleep instead of worrying about him but couldn't help but smile even if she needed sleep.

"Yeah. Why?" He asked. "It's just a nightmare,"

"It's never just a nightmare," She said. She was right. It was always a memory. Or his subconscious digging into wounds he tried to leave behind.

"What were you dreaming about?" She seemed tentatively quiet. He was caught off guard. She never asked really. She seemed to be able to guess but tonight was.... different.

He studied her. Her eyes looked at him with worry. Usual. Her posture, however, read.... Uncertainty? Insecurity?

"Why do you ask?" He questioned.

"You said my name. Was I.... Was I being horrible...?" She asked and he was surprised. No, she was never horrible in his dreams. In fact, she was a delight. In dreams where they weren't memories of that sort, she'd usually appear in his old school and she'd be his best friend. She didn't used to go to his school. They lived in two totally different places.

But he supposed his mind was supplying him with a what if scenario in those dreams. They were a nice contrast to the real world.

"No. You are always something I look forward to. Dreaming about you usually isn't violent. Usually, they're rather sweet dreams. Since you're so sweet to me," He said and she smiled at him.

"Are you okay to go to sleep?" She asked, noting his almost uncomfortable and queazy expression before he nodded. What a fake smile he was giving her. She hated those smiles. Like she didn't know they weren't real. Like he could trick her. "I hate those smiles," He seemed to tense before he calmed.

"..." He didn't say anything and looked guilty. Her expression softened.

"Sorry. I just meant it doesn't look good on you. Real smiles are better. How about a bed friend tonight?" She asked and he seemed to look up to her, considering her offer for a while and nodding as a smile faded into existence. She beamed, standing and pulling him up to her bed.

She sat him down on one side and went to the other, laying down and smiling as he did the same. He wasn't facing her at first. Clementine just smiled, wrapping her arms around him with comfort and feeling him relax before she felt him turn around and doing the same to her.

A/N: So I think the endings kinda rushed but you know, what can ya do? Hope you enjoyed this chapter! I kept editing and writing until it finally got to 10,493 words. Ugggghhh. Hope you enjoyed!