Five Years Later

Chapter Three: The Mystery

Dean didn't mean to hear any of it. He had been laying Joanna down for a nap and ended up by the door when the conversation outside started. 

"We can't leave. Not with Dean how he is." It was Katharine. She sounded agitated, and her footsteps paced the main room in anxious frustration.

"I'm sorry, but we have to. When Negan comes back tomorrow, he is going to teach us another one of his lessons. We don't have enough supplies to give him, and we saw what happened last time..." It was Charlie, her tone soft and calm. The words she said, however kindly they were put, stabbed Dean in his heart. 

"Dean will die if we try to leave the bunker." Katharine retorted sharply, her pacing growing more frenzied. For the rest of the conversation, Dean could hardly make out the words, much less who was speaking.

"Katharine, please."

"I can't believe you guys could be so callous. Most of you knew him before I ever did and you're digging his grave, making a move like this!"

"We're doing it for Joanna. Do you want her to die?"

"...No, of course not."

"Then it's settled. Everyone, get packing. We'll leave tonight."

"Stop, you're not listening to me!"

Dean was still standing behind the door, his ear pressed against the wood as he listened. He truly hadn't been trying to eavesdrop, but Katharine had left him with Joanna to get her to take a nap and the little angel had fallen asleep against his chest half an hour ago, leaving him with nothing better to do.

"Please, please--stop." Katharine's voice rang out down the hallway, loud and clear to where Dean was standing. "We can't do this to Dean."

"Katherine, you're the only one who is fighting us on this. Just... go pack your things. We can talk more about it in the car."

There was a loud huff as Katherine stormed out of the room. Dean heard her coming, and in order to avoid being found out, collapsed down on the nearby bed with Joanna curled up against him, as though they had been this way the entire time. When Katharine did open the door, she slammed it shut behind her, footsteps heavy against the hardwood floor. She pulled open one of the dresser drawers and began searching through it frantically, tossing various articles of clothing onto the floor in a frenzy.

"Honey?" Dean rolled over on his side to face her and Joanna stirred, murmuring in her slumber.

"What is it?" Katharine seethed, pulling a suitcase from the closet and stuffing it with the clothes she had put aside.

"Is everything okay?" Dean whispered, trying not to wake Joanna. Her breathing was so soft and sweet against his chest, and he dared not disturb her.

"No, Dean. It's not." Katharine slammed the suitcase shut, latching it and heaved it to the side to begin with another. "Thanks for finally asking."

"What can I do to help?" Dean shifted so that Joanna was settled against the pillow and carefully got up, the dizziness of standing nearly knocking him back down.

"We have to leave the bunker." Katharine's eyes were filling with tears and she wiped them away furiously as she slid the second suitcase to meet the first, grabbing another to begin packing it. "They won't let us stay, and if we get left behind, we'll die. But if we go..."