Without A Voice

Chapter 8: CDC

~word count: 1236~

~Jane's POV~

We waited for someone to come out, until we heard a gun cocking. Everyone immediately raised their weapons toward the sound, looking at a man who had a much larger gun any of us. I was starting to get better at reading lips. Just had to hope nobody started speaking in long sentences.

"Anybody infected?" The mysterious man kept his shotgun aimed at us.

"One of our group was." Rick answered. "He didn't make it."

"Why are you here?" The man walked closer to get a better look at them all. "What do you want?"

"A chance."

All of us crammed into the elevator with Dr.
Jenner, who was taking us to his lab to get blood work done. He seemed worried. I observed as Daryl asked him something. I could never read his lips due to his thick accent. I kind of liked that though. Made him more mysterious. The doctor studied his gun saying something about it. Then he said something to Carl that caused him to smile. After we got off the elevator we followed the doctor through narrow hallways. It was a tight squeeze. I could see Carol tightly holding on to Sophia. Her free hand was empty so I took it, causing her to look my way.

"Thank you." She signed.

Dr. Jenner was the name of the man in front of me. Apparently him and some AI are the only ones left.

"What's your name?", He asked.

I spelled it out, "Jane. I'm deaf."

He raised a brow, "You read my lips?"

I nodded.

"Have a problem with needles?"

I shook my head.

"Good." He grabbed my arm and inserted the needle. I winced at the stinging pain. He was eyeing the bandage on my hand the entire time. When I was done Sofia and Carl gave me thumbs up.

"Good job." He signed.

I was surprised. Carl never told me he knew how to sign.

I bent down in front of him, "I didn't know you knew how to sign!"

Sophia jumped in, "He doesn't. Ive been teaching him!"

I laughed as Carl signed, "Sorry."

Soon enough we were all sitting at a dining table. Bowls and plates stacked with food and bottles of wine covered the table top. Everyone seemed...happy. But that could've just been the wine talking. I knew everyone had a little bit too much to drink by now, but I was not about to stop Dale from giving everyone another round.

"You know, in Italy, children have a little bit of wine with dinner. And in France." Dale said, as he finished filling up my glass.

I looked at Carl who was sitting between his parents. Lori covered his glass and shook her head. The world was ending and she wouldn't even let her son try alcohol. I snickered to myself at the situation.

"What's it going to hurt? Come on." Rick responded, looking over at his wife.

She agreed with a playful eye roll and moved her hand. Dale grinned, pouring a little bit into Carls plastic cup. I watched as he took a sip, his face crinkling at the taste.

"Ew! That tastes nasty!" He exclaimed causing everyone to laugh including me.

"That's my boy." Lori responded grabbing his cup and pouring the wine into her glass.

Shane snickered as Rick handed Carl a can of soda instead, "Better stick to soda pop there, bud."

"Not you, Glenn. Keep drinking little man. I wanna see how red your face can get." Daryl said as he leant over the table and picked up one of the bottles of wine.

I gazed at him and we locked eyes as everyone laughed. Maybe it was the wine but he looked different. Or was it the way he was looking at me? I don't know. My heart raced the second he laid eyes on me. I finished off my glass and he walked over, leaning over me as he poured swiftly. The closer he got the more nervous I became.

"Thank you." I signed with a slight smile.

He just nodded. Not saying anything. Everyone glanced at Dr. Jenner so I joined even though I had no idea what these people were talking about. My eyes looked around the table. Glenn? Yeah I would hit that. Rick? Hit that too. Shane? Maybe. Dale? Ew no he's like my dad. I shook my head, making myself stop and actually try to pay attention.

"He is more than just our host." T-Dog stood up and held his glass of wine to the sky.

"Hear hear!" He shouted as the others all raised their glasses.

"Booyah!" Daryl shouted, not even bothering to pour his wine into a glass as he took a drink.

I laughed at his attitude. He was usually so dark. Closed off and hidden. It was nice to see this side of him. I looked over to see Shane talking to Dr. Jenner. Everyone looked all serious.

"What's wrong?" I signed towards Dale.

He shook his head, "Shane ruined the mood."

I smirked at the eye roll he gave. Now my eyes were on Dr. Jenner.

"I just kept working. Hoping to do some good." I caught the end of the conversation as the room fell awkward due to nobody speaking.

"Dude, you are such a buzzkill, man." Glenn muttered from across the table.

People began laughing again and an hour later we were all drunk. I knew I was going to have a killer headache tomorrow but I didn't care. Jenner showed us all our rooms and told us where the showers were. They were communal but I didn't care. They had hot water. What more could I ask for?

I waited about two hours just messing around drinking in the rec room. Glenn and I played cards until he was nearly passed out. Everyone else had headed to bed. I have no doubt we're all gonna have hangovers tomorrow. I stumbled my way to the showers, grabbing my towel and hanging it over the wall. I didn't waste anytime stripping off my clothes. The instant hot water began to flow I let out a sigh of relief and got under the stream. I was thankful I had privacy plus I was the last one to have a shower which meant I could take as long as I wanted. I wasn't sure how long I spent in there, but after I finally turned the tap off, I just stood there realizing that I forgot my clean clothes. I snatched my towel off the wall and wrapped it around my waist. It was barely long enough to cover me, stopping mid thigh. I clutched it tightly before heading into the hall. But of course it can't be that easy. I ran straight into Daryl Dixon. My heart bounced around in my chest as we stared at each other. I was drunk and only wearing a towel so of course my brain immediately started thinking inappropriate thoughts.

"Like what you see?" I signed sloppily not breaking eye contact.

I can't believe I just asked him that. I need to go to bed so my brain doesn't do anything stupid. Before he could respond I marched passed him and into an empty room. The second I closed the door I let out a breath I didn't even know I was holding in. God I'm so stupid.

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A/N ~
Drunk Jane is so horny bruh 💀