You don't control me, Dixon

➊ 21: Scars aren't only from the past

♤

I laugh and take the cup and down it with a smile.

I lower the cup and raise an eyebrow at Daryls, Dales, Ricks, and Alecs faces.

I pointedly ignore Shanes perverted face and smirk at the adult's faces.

I look down and sip my water. Lori smiles at me but praises her son as she pours the rest in her own cup.

Dale shakes his shock and assures Carl "Well, just stick to soda pop there kiddo."

I smile at Dale being the grandfather to everyone, this is like a family unit.

Daryl who had to nurse his wounded ego sat back up and teased Glenn, a sight that I thought would never come. "Not you Glenn, I wanna see how red your face gets."

I laugh at Glenn's confused face and sit back from my empty plate. I see a glass full of booze slide my way from Shane, I pointedly pick the cup up and place it behind me.

Hell, no bitch.

I look over and see Jenner pouting in the corner, I poke Rick and point over to Jenner.

I see Alec smile gratefully over the table at me, I give a soft smile back and wait for Rick.

Just as I do that Rick stands and clink a knife to his glass and toast "It seems to me we haven't thanked our host properly."

I smile and speak up "He's more than our host,"

Dale ruffles my hair and hollers "Hear Hear!"

I smile at the group's silliness and jump slightly by Daryls "BOOYEAH!"

I look over to see a sulking Shane and as the cheers die down his eyes cut up and he asks darkly "So when are you gonna tell us what the hell happened here doc? All the... the other doctors that were supposed to be figuring out what happened, - where are they?"

I slink back in my seat and force the corners of my mouth down. Alec looks at me confused but I roll my eyes and flicker my eyes at Shane.

His face turned into one of understanding. I nod and sip my water and Rick sits down and groans "We're celebrating, Shane. Don't do this now."

Shane sits up and scoffs "Whoa, wait a second. This is why we're here, right? This was your move... Supposed to find all the answers. Instead we"

He pauses and chuckles darkly then continues "We found him. Found one man. Why?"

Alec whos almost has a smile on his face was now frowning and stands from his place and pats Jenner on his shoulder as he mutters in a sad tone just loud enough for us to hear "Well, Lads n' Lassies when shite the fan, many left. Be with their families, ye ken? When it got worse, many bolted,"

He hangs his head low as Shane pestered further thinking he caught them in something "Every last one?".

I sigh exasperated and snap "Shut it, its obviously hard for them to speak of their friends running and dying, shut it"

Shane scoffs at me and presses "No-no, go on. Alec is it?"

Alec's face turns sour as he corrects stoney "Its Doctor Fraiser to ye lad, everyone else is fine. But no, many found an easier way out, there was a rash of suicides."