Impregnable {A Walking Dead Fanfiction}

Forty

    "Like I said, nothing happened. At least not like that," I said as we paced in the field near the Wrangler. "I was visiting Cameron's grave and I guess that he saw that I was alone. He just came up and touched my shoulder and I told him to back off." "That isn't everything that happened," Shane said, stopping and staring at me. "I mean, yeah he was weird...he acted like a lot of men I've known. He said something about how quickly you and I had been drawn to each other; I guess he thought that I would be easy and he tried to come onto me. He was pushy, but at least he stopped. I told him that I would end him if he ever tried anything again, and he's avoided me like the plague since." My voice didn't sound like it belonged to me. My body felt ice cold and on fire at the same time. "Hollie..." Shane sighed, walking over and hugging me, "Why didn't you tell me?" "Because it didn't go further than him touching my shoulder, and because I knew how upset it would make you," I said, sucking in a deep breath. "What, did you think I was going to beat the shit out of him?" "No...I just knew that it would hurt you," I said. He sighed loudly before responding, "Hollie, you don't have to go through something like that alone. You don't have to worry about hurting me, you can tell me anything." He said, walking to me and taking my hand. "There's something else," I blurted out, feeling completely numb. "What?" He asked. I froze, beginning to regret that I'd said anything. I'd promised Maggie... "Hollie, please just tell me what's going on," He said anxiously. "You have to promise that this stays between you and I." "Promise." "...After Maggie and Glenn got back from their trip, Maggie let me go through her bag and...there were pregnancy tests. She told me they were for Lori, and I promised her I wouldn't tell anyone." I whispered as Shane's jaw dropped. "Oh shit..." He said, taking a step backward and rubbing the top of his head. "Did you...y'know..." I asked, awkwardly making an exploding motion with my hand. He took in a deep breath and sighed loudly, nodding his head once. "...And Rick doesn't know?" I asked. "As far as I know," Shane said, shaking his head. "Well... Since we're getting everything out on the table, Rick told me earlier that Hershel's asking us to leave once Carl's up and walking." "What?" I asked in shock. "Could be as early as next week, he's been improving so quickly. I think Fort Benning's still our best option. It's where we were heading before everything happened." "But what about Sophia?" "Hollie, how long has it been? At this point we're trying to recover a body," He said. I took in a deep breath, my lip curling, "What would you do if it was Mable?" "At this point..." He said, his voice trailing off. "Shane, it's hardly been a week. We can't just give up." "Do you really think a little girl can survive out there that long on her own? Honestly, Hollie, are we supposed to wait until we lose someone else?" "I know you're just being realistic, but who's going to explain that to Carol?" "I will if someone won't," He said bluntly. "Good luck with that, I don't think she'll leave without a fight. I tried talking to her earlier today." "Hollie, I would too if I were in her shoes. That doesn't mean that we're going to stay here forever. What happens after Hershel asks us to leave? Were back to being just as vulnerable as we were on the mountain. At this point, we have to move on." "But...a week? And now Daryl's down, we can't go until he's up and moving." I said. He sighed, rubbing his face, "Listen, Hollie, you and Dale convinced Jenner to open the doors at the CDC. Maybe one of you can get him to budge, Rick and I aren't getting anywhere. "It wasn't me, it was Mable, Jenner said it himself. He told me he'd watched people die trying to get in, he just couldn't watch her." I said, glancing over at the Wrangler. "Well, then maybe she can do it again."

    I awoke the next morning to Mable stirring next to me, Shane had woken up earlier and left the keys behind. I hopped out and put Mable on my hip, finding Rick and Shane talking in the field nearby. "Any advice before I talk to Hershel?" I asked, approaching them. "Not much other than good luck, I don't think he's budging," Rick said.  "How's Daryl?" I asked. "I've seen him up and around this morning, it's hard to tell he was on death's door last night." Shane replied. 

    I said goodbye to them before walking towards the farm house, knocking on the wooden door frame and entering after I heard Hershel call from the kitchen. "Hey, I like the new hat?" I said, peaking my head into Carl's room and seeing him sitting in a chair. "Thanks, Dad gave it to me." He said, taking off the oversized officer's hat he'd been wearing. "How are you feeling?" I asked, stepping into the room. "Not great, but better." He said with a small smile. "You are quite the trooper, aren't you?" I asked. "Sure is, Hershel said he'll be on his feet before the end of the day." Lori said at his bedside. "That's great news!" I beamed, staying and visiting with them for a moment before going to find Hershel.

    "They haven't sent you yet, I guess it will be nice to hear the same argument from three different people," Hershel said sarcastically, sitting at the kitchen table holding a steaming cup of coffee. "I'm not here to argue, I'm sure both you and I have had enough of that," I said, and he sighed. "Well that's good, with Carl improving I expect y'all will be on your way soon. Fort Benning, I hear," He said. I took in a deep breath, seeing he wasn't budging. "So, you've been out here since it started, have you ever been up close to a walker?" I asked, leaning on the wall behind me. "I've seen a few, but Otis always handled them for me. Also, Miss DiAngelo, I would appreciate it if you didn't call them walkers while you are in my presence." He said, I cocked my head to the side without thinking. "Well, what would you have me call them, then?" I asked. "People, Hollie. Sick people." He said, I clenched my jaw. "You really have never been near one, have you?" I asked flatly, feeling something strange in the pit of my stomach. "Thank you for your help with dinner last night," He said, ending the conversation.

    I left the house as quickly as possible, feeling the pit in my stomach growing. I found Shane and Rick in the same place outside. "Look at what he found yesterday, we're getting somewhere." Rick said. "We found a doll. We also lost one of our men, and almost lost another. Two men who know the woods better than any of us. How long are we going to keep doing this, Rick? Honestly?" Shane asked. "Are we still having this conversation?" Lori asked, approaching from behind us. "Lori..." Rick started, "No, this isn't something that's up for debate. We can't ask Carol to leave her baby behind." She said, cutting him off. "Lori,  we can't keep doing this forever," Shane said bluntly, "I'm sorry but..." "No. Just because you're parading around playing house with someone else's kid doesn't mean you have any clue what you're asking of her," She said, her eyes on fire with anger. I stared at her in shock before looking at Mable. She looked concerned that they were arguing, but didn't seem to understand what she'd said. "Well what's your plan after Hershel kicks us out then?" Shane asked, sounding like he was struggling to stay calm. She glared at him for a moment before turning and storming back into the house. "What was that about?" I asked, running my hands nervously through my hair. "I mean seriously, what's our plan B? Go back and sit on the highway with our thumbs up our asses?" Shane said. Rick didn't respond, staring off into the distance. "Rick, seriously, what's going on?" Shane asked, stepping towards him. "There's no talking to her about it, her mind's made up." "Listen, I don't really like the idea of heading off into the unknown either, but what other choice do we have?" I asked. "It's more than that, isn't it?" Shane asked, staring at Rick. "She's just been so angry." Rick sighed, "Y'know...we'd fought over divorce papers the night before I got shot. I thought that going through this would change something, but..." He trailed off. Shane and I stood frozen, knowing there was a chance she was watching from the window. "I had no idea." Shane said, sounding shocked. A wave of panic rushed through me. Is Shane going to tell him, did Rick even know about the pregnancy tests? Had they even... "She might not be winning any 'wife of the year' awards, but she's so passionate about keeping Carl safe. I understand why she wouldn't want to leave this place behind." Rick said, watching the house. Shane sighed before speaking. "Like I said, we'll keep following the trail Daryl and Merle found, we just have to start thinking about what comes next."