The Mini Badass

Chapter 29

Night passed and now I'm standing in the same room as the group we met yesterday, making breakfast.

"We're running low on supplies, but we've got noodles." I tell whoever has woken up behind me, feeling their eyes on my back. "I'll make a run when the rest get back."

"I want to thank you." Tyreese says making me turn around. "You could've left us all back there, but you didn't." He continues and I turn back to my big pot. "You give someone a second chance, let them prove they deserve it." I mutter but he picks it up.

"Where'd you learn that?" He asks me as I swirl noodles around. "My dad." I say, biting my cheek. "Is he with the rest of your group?" Tyreese asks as the rest of his group wakes up. "No, he's passed."

"I'm sorry." Sasha tells me and I turn to her smile and shake my head. "It's okay." I whip back around as tears fill my eyes. 

A hiss from behind me catches my attention. The man who's name I don't know has his pant leg pulled up an deep wound clear as day.

"It's not from the dead, I swear." He starts panicking, pulling his pant leg down again. "We have a doctor here, I'll have him look at it." I tell him as Carl joins us, locking the door behind him. 

"Good timing, help me drain this." I ask the boy who drains the water for me, handing me the pot filled with noodles. 

I take some for me and Beth, followed by Carl who gets some for Hershel. "Help yourselves, but try and save some for two." I tell the group, thinking of Carol and Axel.

We go back into the cell room to eat. I give Beth her plate and Carl hands Hershel his before we all start eating.

"Hershel, one of their men has a pretty nasty leg wound." I tell him, spinning my noodles on my fork. "Can you take at look at it please." I ask, taking a bite.

"Sure." He tells me as Beth rocks Judith, trying to eat while holding her. I scarf down the rest of my food, offering to take the baby.

Beth hands her to me with a small thanks, eating the moment the baby leaves her arms. I cradle the baby in my arms as everyone eats, Carol and Axel joining us. 

"There's some food in the main room." I tell them, as Judith tugs on my finger. "I'll come out with you." Hershel says, struggling to stand with his crutches. Carl goes out with them and Beth and I stay back.

We don't get a lot of girl time in as Judith starts fussing for a bottle. Beth and I both sigh, walking towards and into the main room.

The two of us don't say anything as we pass everyone, going to where we store the formula. "How old is the baby?" Sasha asks as Beth starts preparing the bottle.

"Barely a week." Hershel tells her as Judith squirms in my arms. "To be honest, we never thought we'd see another baby." Sasha says, walking over to me and Beth. "Beautiful." She says from my side, looking down at Judith.

"How are you feeling?" Sasha asks, her eyes focused on Beth. "She's not mine." Beth tells her with a sad smile. Sasha quickly looks down at me, concern across her face. "Not mine either." I quickly clarify.

"Where's the mother?" Sasha asks and my eyes find Carl, who's jaw clenches before he turns his gaze to the floor. Sasha gets the hint and mutters an apology. I pass Judith off to Beth as she's better with feeding her.

"Man, you people have been through the mill." Tyreese says as Beth walks out and I walk over to Carl's side. "Haven't we all?" Hershel asks, using his crutches to stand. "It's only getting worse out there." Tyreese says as I squeeze Carl's hand.

"Dead are everywhere." He continues as let go of Carl, walking over to Hershel and taking his medicine bag. "it only makes the living, less like the living."