Open up, Survivors Inside

Chapter 20

"So Chuck's gone...?" Elizabeth asked. She and Duck had moved near Puffer as he told the group, minus a few, what had happened.

"He is, but he never turned," Puffer answered, "He saved my life, and it won't be in vain."

"I tried finding a weapon so that situation wouldn't happen again," Travis said, "But this place is picked clean. I'm thinking of smashing the oven or microwave glass at this point."

"Absolutely not, we do not need broken glass around here," Boyd quickly said, "You wanna get an infection from a cut too?" That made Travis drop the plan.

Kenny pinched the bridge of his nose as he entered, "We'll figure something out. In the meantime, what are we going to do about your ankle? It's dead weight now, and slowly you down."

"It's not like hacking it off will help," Puffer sighed, "I don't know...guess I'm dragging it for a while. So there's no boats?"

"No...there isn't," Kenny frowned, "Except for the one Clementine found. Problem is it needs a new battery and some gas. Other than that's it's in good shape."

Vernon sat beside Christa, who was clearly stressed, "We'll need stronger medicine. He's doing alright now, but his infection will last longer with your current antibiotics."

"How do we even get that stuff? I doubt there's gas or a battery in the bunker," Christa pointed out.

Puffer thought for a moment, "Crawford."

The cancer survivors looked shocked at the suggestion. "Now hold on a minute," Vernon started.

"Surely we have to try," Christa spoke up, "If there are people left in this city who are still alive and still have supplies, what harm can it do to ask?"

"Trust me, you don't know these people, I do," Vernon said.

"Who said anything about asking?" Puffer said, "We can sneak right in from under them. Vernon you said the sewers go all over the city, right? So there has to be some that run under Crawford."

Vernon paused, "I know the sewer system that runs beneath Crawford like the back of my hand. Y'all got a map?" Lee pulled one he had been keeping in his pocket, and Vernon looked it over, "I think I could lead us through so we could pass under the perimeter and right into the center, where they keep all their supplies. We come up right underneath them, take them by surprise, grab what we need and get out before they even knew what hit him."

"That's actually not the worst idea I've ever heard," Molly said.

"I've thought about it before, just never had enough people to do it," Vernon added.

"Then that's the plan," Puffer said, "I'll have to walk a bit faster but-"

"I don't think you should go..." Brie said, "Your ankle doesn't work anymore, and tripping could get you killed."

"I am not going to become a burden in this group," Puffer responded, "I don't care if I have to use the entire joint as something to walk on, I'm going and I'm making sure we succeed. Some need to stay with Omid and Joyce."

"I will," Clive spoke up.

"So will I, but you keep your leg in check, alright," Boyd said, "We don't want to lose you just after meeting you."

"Trust me, I have no plans on dying anytime soon," Puffer stood up, having to limp to walk now that he was shorter on one side. Thank god for the cane. It was funny, how he had the cane practically since day one. He was glad to have it, especially now.

"I can help, the supplies are kept in the school I used to work at," Brie spoke up, "I know where to look."

"Best we get prepared," Vernon said.

"Can I stay with Omid...?" Elizabeth asked Christa, who nodded.

"Puffer, a word," Kenny said. While everyone else got anything they might need, Kenny and Puffer headed into a different room, "You should stay."

"I mean it, I'm fine-" Puffer started.

"It's not about that," Kenny frowned, "My son's been following you around since Katjaa...since she died. While you were gone, he kept standing at the door waiting for you."

Well, that was a bit sad to know. "So?" Puffer questioned.

"So you know he's going to want to go with us if you are," Kenny grumbled, glaring a bit at Puffer, "Go with you. And I don't trust you to keep him safe."

Where the hell was this coming from? "Why? Because all of a sudden I'm crippled?" Puffer questioned, a bit annoyed.

"Because I know how you see him," Kenny growled darkly, "I saw how you looked at him the day after Shawn died."

"That was months ago! You think I hate him now?!" Puffer retorted

"I know you do! Even if you don't show it, and right now I gotta worry about my family!" Kenny argued back.

"Mother fucker if I hated your son, I wouldn't have saved his damn life!" Puffer spat, "I could have let him turn! But I didn't, because guess what?! I got to know him and I realized he was a stupid brat, he was just a kid that made a mistake!"

"Then what about earlier," Kenny glared at Puffer while speaking, "How do I know you weren't ready to ditch him-"

"WHEN?!" Puffer demanded as his voice rose several octaves, catching Kenny of guard, "Not once since I got back have I looked at him in any way! Stop drinking goddamn alcohol and think clearly! Now piss off!" Kenny looked ready to argue more, but Puffer was clearly done. Kenny grunted and walked off, leaving Puffer to lean on the bar.

"I didn't know your voice could go that high," Puffer jumped until he saw it was just Duck.

"A natural gift," Puffer said, then sighed.

"But dad's right, I was gonna follow," Duck said, "I wanna help get supplies!"

"Duck..." Puffer started, but stopped himself as he thought, "...fuck it, yeah, you can come. But stay close, got it?"

"I will! And I'm be your ward, just like before," Duck promised, and Puffer snickered at this.