FADED SCARS | the walking dead

[ 07 ] cdc

[ season one, episode six ]

"Hello? Hello?" Shane calls out as the group walks into the CDC building. JJ was now standing a little behind Glenn and next to Dale. The group is startled when they hear a gun cock, followed by a loud voice.

"Anybody infected?" JJ follows the voice to see to see a middle aged man, standing a little away from the group holding a gun to them.

"One of our group was. He didn't make it." Rick answers for the group.

"Why are you here? What do you want?" The unknown man asks them, stepping a little closer to them. JJ notices Dale stepping in front of her, acting as a shield.

"A chance." The Grimes man answers shortly, to which the unknown man replies, "That's asking an awful lot these days."

JJ watches quietly the conversation between the two men. She can feel the tension in the air rise with every word spoken.

"I know." Rick answers, understanding he was asking a lot of a man they did not know.

The man looks around the group, seeing the terrified faces before answering. "You all submit to a blood test. That's the price of admission."

"We can do that."

"You got stuff to bring in, you do it now." The man says quickly before pausing and pointing at the door they had just walked through and speaking again. "Once this door closes, it stays closed."

After collecting the rest of their possessions the man seals the door. Glenn passes JJ her shoulder bag with her stuff inside, to which she utters a quick 'Thank you' in response.

"Rick Grimes." The leader introduces himself

"Dr. Edwin Jenner." The man replies before telling the group to follow him. He leads them to an elevator that they all quickly stuff in. JJ ends up with her back to the wall, Glenn in front of her and T-Dog to her left. The ride is tense, the only sound being heard is the elevator's hum.

Surprisingly, Daryl is the one to break the silence. "Doctors always go around packing heat like that?"

"There were plenty left lying around. I familiarized myself." The doctor quickly answers then looks around the group. "But you look harmless enough." He says then looks to Carl. "Except you. I'll have to keep my eye on you."

JJ sees Carl smile slightly, making her snicker softly. She really adored the boy and his smile never failed to brighten her mood.

After a few more seconds, though it felt like more, the elevator dings and the group makes their way off and follows Dr. Jenner down a hallway. JJ sticks to Dale's side until they reach a new room.

"Vi, bring up the lights in the big room. Welcome to zone 5." JJ looks around seeing the place empty.

"Where is everybody? The other doctors, the staff?" Rick asks the Doctor, looking around with everyone else.