Bad Blood (Gabentine Fic)

Gabe and AJ

Gabe's eyes kept flicking down to the fuel gauge as the needle was centimeters away from E. AJ was totally oblivious as he watched the trees pass by outside the car window, turning his head away ever so often because he seen a wandering walker. Gabe knew that he would have to stop and look for gas sometime soon or else they would be on foot for awhile.

The miles kept going by slowly as the car was now running on fumes, the low fuel light had been on for the last two minutes and Gabe mentally cursed to himself as the car finally sputtered before stopping completely in the middle of the road. AJ looked at Gabe with panic when the car stopped and Gabe held up both hands to him.

"It's okay, AJ. We just ran out of gas and now we have to go look for some. You stick beside me and I will not let anything happen to you, okay?"

AJ didn't look too happy about going outside, but he took Gabe's hand as he unbuckled him and helped him out of the car. Gabe went around to the back of the car and popped the truck in search of some weapon that wouldn't draw noise like a gun would. The only thing he found was a tire plugger and took it because it was better than nothing. The boys walked up the road a little ways, only getting stopped every now and then by a straggling walker, before Gabe seen something that made his heart drop.

It was the junkyard. The same junkyard where Mariana died.

AJ didn't notice the older boys grief stricken face and tugged excitedly on Gabe's hand, pointing at the junkyard and Gabe gave AJ a fake proud smile.

"Good catch, buddy. Let's go look for some gas."

Gabe already knew there was a container of gas hidden inside the van that he spent a good two or more years traveling in with his family because Javi hid it there before Max and Lonnie held them hostage. There should also be some supplies in a bag that Javi also stashed there, most of it being pudding cups and a couple bottles of water. But, there was also a drawback on getting to the van, they'd have to go by Mariana's body. Gabe shut his eyes to keep the tears from falling as he thought about his sweet little sister and just wanted to curl up in a ball and die, but he couldn't because he had a kid to take care of. The two walked quietly into the junkyard and Gabe hurriedly walked towards the van, keeping his eyes solely on AJ and the ground in front of him.

Gabe yanked open the door to the van and helped AJ inside, motioning for him to grab the fuel container and also the bag of food. But, Gabe paused in helping AJ out of the van and he couldn't take it anymore because he had to know. He told AJ to stay put and opened up a pudding cup for him to eat before closing the kid inside and turning around. It took everything in Gabe not to fall to his knees and sob as he laid eyes on his sister's rotting corpse, the urge to vomit rising at the sight of flies swarming her. The boy felt like someone had placed lead into each of his shoes as each step towards her was becoming harder and harder. Gabe finally made it to her and swatted at the flies before just staring at his little sister.

"I'm so sorry this happened to you, Mari. I would do anything just to have a fight with you over euchre again or hear you singing along horribly to your pop music. It should've been me. God, it should've fucking been me. Te amo mi hermosa hermana."

Gabe couldn't stop the tears now as they rolled down his face, one after the other. Groans alerted him and Gabe looked up to see a stray walker coming towards him. Fury filled the young Garcia and he spotted a shovel nearby and just unloaded on the walking corpse, completely over-killing it before Gabe ran out of steam. He stood as he finally regained his stamina and decided what he was going to do with the shovel.

20 minutes later, Gabe had dug and buried his sister in a shallow grave and said a prayer before returning to AJ. AJ didn't say anything as they both walked back to the car with the gas and supplies, leaving the junkyard a tiny speck in the rear view mirror. Gabe drove for a couple more hours until he found an abandoned car wash to park the car for the night and to get some rest. Gabe had almost been asleep when he heard AJ whimpering in his sleep, the young boy starting to kick and thrash about in his sleep.

"AJ, wake up. Wake up, buddy. It's just a bad dream."

AJ jolted awake and clung to Gabe, his body was shaking violently and Gabe held him tight until they subsided. He rocked the kid back and forth and murmured that everything was going to be okay. After a couple minutes AJ pulled away from Gabe and looked up at him with sad eyes.

"Gabey, who was that you put in the ground?"

Gabe froze up and felt another wave of sadness come over him as he thought of his dead sister again. He was tempted to just tell AJ to hush and go to sleep, but he decided that he would tell AJ a little about Mariana.

"Her name was Mariana and she was...my best friend. We use to do everything together, play card games, mess with our uncle, and she was the greatest person you would ever meet. Mariana wouldn't even hurt a fly from how sweet she was and I wish you could've met her."

AJ nodded and took his little hand to wipe away the stray tear that escaped Gabe's eye.

"She sounds like Clemmy. Hey, I could be your best friend!"

A chuckle came from Gabe as he seen AJ's face light up and fondly smiled at him.

"Sure, bud. I'd like that. Now, let's get some sleep so we can look for Clemmy tomorrow."

AJ nodded his head and went back to his own seat to lay down before he moved back on Gabe's lap and gave him big puppy dog eyes.

"Can you sing me a song? Clemmy use to do it and it helps me."

Gabe couldn't say no to them big eyes and wrapped his arms around AJ to think of a song to sing to him before remembering a song he use to sing to Mariana when she would get upset.

" I've heard it too many times to ignore it. It's something that I'm supposed to be. Someday we'll find it, The rainbow connection. The lovers, the dreamers and me."

Gabe felt AJ's breathing grow heavier and Gabe himself soon began to fall asleep, dreaming of his sweet little sister with his mom and grandparents.

The lovers, the dreamers, and me.

This is for you @clemmbaby