Cross of heart

Two

Jen walked up the basement stairs and opened the door finding The gov, Martinez, and Merle talking.

"Glad you're done...We were just talking about the trespasser downstairs.Stay for a bit, we'd like to talk to you"The gov. pointed to a chair but Jen stood instead.

"His name is Shane," Jen informed.

"I'm well aware of him name. Merle told me you two know each other. "

"Yeah well did Merle tell you that he knows him too?"

"I told the gov. Princess. Now we want to know your tie-in's with Shane?" Merle was sitting on a stool eating an Apple and all eyes were then turned to her. Merle damn well knew who Jen was now, but didn't know her connection to Shane.

"It's not complicated, I knew Shane before the Apocalypse; he was my brother's Best Friend and police Partner."

"Very well then, Now we need to figure out what to do with him, we can't just leave him down there forever." said Martinez.

"Well how about I continue asking Shane about my brother, then when he gives in we can send him back off into the world...or kill him." Jen's eyes grew wide from Merle's opposition
Killing Shane? Hell no, Jen was not going to let that happen. Martinez seemed okay with it of course, but the governor wasn't sold on the idea quite yet.

"No one is killing Shane..how about we let him go and ask him to join our community." Jen smiled at her offer, but Martinez shot her back down like always, "What about his group? Wouldn't they be looking for him?"

"He ain't go no group when I found him he had a little camp in the woods. It was only big enough for one person, no one else could have been with him. So killing Shane still wouldn't be that bad, no body would find or miss him."

Jen croaked and waved her hand around,"What the fuck! Why is killing him still an option?"

Then Merle yelled back,"Because he is useless!"

"No, he is not." Jen looked at the gov. and pleaded," Look Shane is not useless. Shane's great at solving situations, he's good with guns and is very loyal. He could be a great deal of help around here. Let him go and I'll let him stay with me, I promise he won't do anything to danger this community."

The gov. thought about Jen's offer again and Merle got irritated," Come on, you-really gon' listen to what she said? We have enough people here as it is."

"Jen's right. You brought him here and he should be treated better... Plus if you two crazy bastards kill him, the community is going to get suspicious."

"What?" Merle got more upset and banged his fist against his head.

Jen's smile grew large but the gov. stopped her,"Don't think Shane is off the hook because he is not, I don't trust him yet. He is still a complete stranger. You have to make sure he will be okay with joining this community.Let him settle in and If he wants to stay then he can stay but if he wants to leave then he can but We'll still need to keep an eye on him so I'll send one of my men to guard your apt. building. Meryl and Martinez escort Shane to Jen's apartment please, and without any cuffs."

"Yes, sir."Martinez went down into the basement and Merle was furious. "Fucking bull shit."

"Don't listen to Merle, we all know how he can be. Let's go outside and have a walk, I need to have a private talk with you." The gov. opened the door and Jen walked out with him, they slowly walked down the dim-lit streets.

"Is this about Shane or about me going to my shift at the barrier late...cause I can ex-" Jen tried to plead but the gov had interest in something else.