These Different Times (Nick Clark FF)

39.

It had been days since we arrived here at The Colonia and I was happy to say that we were settling in nicely.

Nick was mostly with Luciana and the others who were in charge of running the Oxy to Marco and his gang while I stayed behind and helped Alejandro with his patients. 

It was early in the morning when there was a harsh knock at the door and after pulling on a vest, I stumbled my way over to open it. 

"Hey," I murmured, opening it further to let Luciana and Reynaldo, another man from the traders, in, "Are you okay?" 

"Francisco's gone," she said, looking at Nick, "He took his family and he's gone." 

"Are you sure?" Nick asked, sitting up in the bed. 

"Yes," Reynaldo answered, "We went to his trailer. Their clothes, everything, gone."

"They have a little girl," I whispered, "Why would he risk taking them out there?" 

"I'm not doing the trade without him," Reynaldo said, "I'm not going in there alone." 

"We need water," Luciana muttered, looking up at him, "We're running low."

"I'm not going." he repeats firmly. 

I look at Nick, who's already looking at me, the two of us silently communicating and I nod. 

"Me and Luciana could do it." Nick offers and she quickly agrees. 

"Yes. We'll do it and we'll bring back water." 

"Does Alejandro know?" 

She shook her head, "No. We will have to tell him before we go." 

Nick nodded, "I'll meet you there."

Once they had gone, he looked at me, "Fransisco wouldn't just leave without a reason." 

"I agree. When you're gone, I'm going to ask about that bite," I murmured, pulling on some pants, "Something's not right there, Nick." 

"Let me know how you get on." 

I nodded and the two of us left our trailer, crossing the yard to get to the infirmary.

Alejandro was taking inventory for our medicine and we saw that Luciana was trying to talk to him. 

"No thank you, no goodbye," he muttered bitterly, practically throwing the medication back into the cupboard, "Steal into the night like cowards."

"He has a sick child," Luciana offered, "The infirmary is full and water is scarce."

"Times of strife are a true test," Alejandro said firmly, looking at her, "You should let them hear you, the scouts. They should hear your words; our strongest, most faithful. You know what they face outside the wall. The dangers. You see what they see. You speak to them and keep it quiet." 

Luciana looked at the two of us before nodding and leaving the room, Nick giving me a firm look before following. 

"Are you going to help me here or not?" Alejandro snapped and I quickly moved to stand beside him, picking up a couple of packets of medicine to put away. 

As we worked, I kept glancing at him to try and get some sort of idea as to where the bite was and after a while, he noticed. 

"Luciana told you?" 

I ran my tongue over my teeth and nodded, "Yeah. Said you were bitten and survived." I notice his hand stop as he was reaching for some more pills, "But that's not true, is it?" 

"Excuse me?" 

"Cut the bullshit," I murmured, not looking up from what I was doing, "No one can survive a bite." 

"You don't know that," he said quietly and I smirked. 

"Then tell me I'm wrong." 

He moved to sit down on a stool by the medicine cabinet, my eyes following as he did so, "I can't."

I turned and leant against the counter, "Then what happened?" 

"I was trying to rescue a junkie boy who a mob had mistaken for an Infected when I got bit." he started to explain, "The wound on my shoulder, it healed no problem and before I could set her straight, Luciana started spreading that I was immune." 

"Why didn't you tell her you weren't?" 

Before he could answer however, we were interrupted by Nick and Luciana returning from talking to the scouts. 

"We're heading out." Nick announced and I gave him a sly nod when he looked at me.

Alejandro sighed, "Have you spoken to the scouts?"

Luciana shook her head, "No, but I will as soon as I-"

"You said you would speak to them." he interrupted.

"I will as soon as I-" 

He cut her off again, "Did you not just hear what I just said? I need everyone here."

"Alejandro, Marco's not gonna wait on us." Nick said quietly, "We need his water."

"Why must you go now, Luciana? Hmm?" 

"Because he expected us today. He expected Francisco and Reynaldo hours ago." I answered, "If he-"

"I would appreciate it if you don't butt into something you don't know anything about." he said in my direction before looking at her again, "Do you wish to follow Francisco?"

"No!" Luciana said immediately, "How could you think that of me? This is my home. You're my people. I wish to serve."

"Then speak to the scouts as I asked." Alejandro demanded, "This is how you serve."

"If we don't deliver the Oxy, they'll come looking for it." Nick tried to explain to him.

"You covered your path, no?"

"Yes." 

"Then they will not find us. Nobody leaves the colonia."

"What?" I gaped, "Until when?"

"Until I say otherwise. That's all I'm going to say on the matter." he said firmly before leaving the three of us in the infirmary. 

**

Luciana came back to the trailer with us, sitting down on our bed with a dazed look on her face. 

"Hey," I murmured, placing my hand on her shoulder, "Are you okay?" 

"Why would he say that?" she asked softly, "He knows that I'd never leave him." 

I glanced at Nick before taking a seat beside her, "He's just scared. People are leaving him, his flock's fractured." 

"Tay's right," he muttered, "He sees that and he's holding on too tight. We still have to go." 

"He said there's no trade." 

"These people are waiting for their medicine!" Nick said loudly, "Best case, we get a case of water. Worst case, they come looking." 

"We're not going!" she snapped, "He always knows what to do. Right from the beginning." 

 I looked at the door when someone tapped on it lightly, looking at the two of them warily as I opened it. 

 "Is Luciana all right?" Alejandro asked, climbing the small step and I nodded. 

"Yeah, she will be. If you tell her the truth." 

He pinned his heated gaze on me, "You're going to make me do this now?" 

"It's a good a time as ever." I shrugged, "But I'm not gonna let her follow you blindly anymore. She doesn't deserve that, none of these people do." 

"What is she talking about?" Luci asked, getting up from her spot on the bed. 

"Taylor?" Nick was confused too. 

"Are you going to tell them?" I asked, "Or am I?"