succumb - glenn rhee

[TWENTY-EIGHT] fear of the word

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT//  OF THE WORD
"YOU'RE SCARING ME OVER HERE."

ִֶָ 𓂃⊹ ִֶָ

The group didn't make it back until morning, no doubt worrying their family members and friends. Jade had a new piece of cloth over her wound, with a belt above it to stop most of the blood flow until someone would be able to properly help her. Her hand had lost most of it's color and had a dull numb feeling accompanying it.

As they drove onto the farm, they could all see the other members of their group flocking into a small kind of congregation in front the farm house to greet them. Dale was the first one to Jade, having some type of a father super-speed once he saw his child. He immediately noted the bloody wrapping around her left hand, he sighed as he carefully hugged her relishing in the fact that she was alright.

Theodora was soon running towards her with a giant smile on her face, hugging onto her waist as Jade wrapped an arm around the younger girls back. Nick walked towards them, a relieved smile on his face as he side-hugged his sister, giving her a short kiss on the forehead.

"Now what in the hell did you do to yourself, Horvath?" Maggie asked, pointing at the bandage on her arm.

"Bullet. Can you help me, m'lady?" Jade joked before she began to head inside as Glenn assisted Rick in getting the kid out the back of the car.

"Patricia, prepare the shed for surgery." Hershel ordered, heading into the house.

"Who is that?" Maggie questioned Jade.

"Randall. He was with the group that shot me. Probably was the one who shot me, honestly." Jade explained as Maggie had lead her into the house.

Maggie sat her down at the dining table, readjusting the makeshift tourniquet before undressing the wound and cleaning it properly. Glenn soon joined the two, wanting to be near Jade to hopefully provide her with comfort as she went through the semi-painful process.

The Greene had given her some pretty heavy painkillers, but as soon as she began, Jade was gripping onto Glenn's hand as a way to control the pain. Maggie talked her the whole wat through it, as well as talked herself through it as Patricia was assisting Hershel.

Soon enough, she was done and the others moved into the dining room to talk about what to do with Randall. Each person subconsciously looked to Rick for guidance, all of them thinking of him as their leader.

"We couldn't just leave him there. He would bleed out, it's gotten bad in town." Rick started, leaning on the chair at the head of the table.

"What do we do with him?" Andrea questioned.

"I repaired his calf muscle as best I can, but he'll probably have nerve damage. Won't be on his feet for at least a week." Hershel explained.

"When he is, we give him a canteen, take him out on the main road, send him on his way." Rick added.

"Isn't that the same as leaving him for the walkers?" Andrea spoke up, again.

"At least he'll have a fighting chance." The Grimes answered.

"So, we just let him go? What if he figures out where we are? He brings his group of assholes here and kills us all." Jade asked with a raise of her eyebrows. "It's pretty obvious his friends aren't 'friendly' people."

"For once, I agree." Shane added. "You four killed three of their men, you took one of them hostage. And they just won't come lookin'?"

"They left him for dead. No one is looking." Rick spoke, exasperated.

"We should still post a guard." T-Dog proclaimed.

"I thought we had a guard posted." Jade mumbled in confusion.

"He's out cold, now. Will be for hours." Hershel explained with a wave of his hand.

"You know what? I'm gonna go get him some flowers and candy. Look at this folks - we back in Fantasyland." The Walsh said, his voice dripping in sarcasm.

"You know, we haven't even dealt with what you did at my barn yet. Let me make this perfectly clear, once and for all- this is my farm. Now I wanted you gone. You're people talked me out of it. but that doesn't mean I have to like it. So do us both a favor; keep your mouth shut." Hershel spat.

"Yeah. I'd like to second that motion." Jade agreed, raising one of her hands before her father slapped the back of her head. "Hey! I'm injured, you can't do that."

"I'm your father, I can do whatever I want." Dale replied with a smile.

Jade watched as the others dispersed to their household duties, Patricia, Maggie, and Hershel however went to check on Beth. as Jade began to stand, she was stopped by Glenn's hand attaching itself to her hand.

"You okay, Glenn?" Jade questioned, noting the serious look on her face.

"Yeah, yeah." He answered with a short nod as he rubbed the sweat from his other palm onto his jeans. "I'm just.. I'm really glad you're okay. That was really scary when you said you were hit."

Jade gave him a comforting smile as she resituated in her seat, turning to face him better. "I know, it was scary for me too, dude."

"Liz, I don't really think you're really understanding what I'm trying to say.." Glenn spoke, his voice getting quieter.

"Then tell me what you mean, Glenn. You're scaring me over here." The Horvath replied as her leg bounced up and down in nervousness.

"I've known you for almost three months now, Liz. And you are constantly making people stronger, and being a good leader. You have a way of being such a strong person, you make other people stronger. And, it's amazing how you can do that." Glenn started as he stared into her eyes.

"Glenn, you don't know what you're talking about." Jade interupted with fear in her voice.

"I think I'm in lo-"

"No!" Jade shouted as she stood, quickly sliding the chair back, slamming it into the wall behind her. "No, no, no. Okay? That's not- it's not- I'm sorry." The brunette stuttered before speeding out of the house.

Glenn was left alone at the table, feeling regretful for his decision to tell her, and feeling heartbroken at what her response had been. He ran his hands through his hair with a sigh as tears began to well up in his eyes. "God, what the fuck have I done."

xx
word count: 1121