We Don't Die

On The Road Again

Derek, Clementine, and AJ walk on the open road hoping to find somewhere to stop and rest. "Do we have any water?" AJ asks. "No kiddo. I'm sorry." Derek responds. Clem frowns. She doesn't like her kid being dehydrated and miserable. AJ notices this. "What's wrong, Clem?" She snaps out of it. "I just don't like seeing you miserable is all." She responds. AJ turns north and continues walking. "I miss Dad.." he says. Clem looks down. "Me too.." is all she can say. Derek frowns. After everything he has done for AJ, he doesn't consider Derek as his father. He shrugs the sadness off and continues walking. They stumble across an old shack. They smile. "Let's go!" AJ yells. "AJ stop!" Derek calls out. He stops and turns around. "Why? We might have a chance here." He replies. Derek approaches him and gets on his level and stares directly into his eyes. "AJ, listen to me, we don't know what's in there. It could be a trap. Let me go first. Your life is far more precious than mine." He says. "Fine." AJ comments while crossing his arms. "I just want you safe. Please understand." Derek says. AJ walks over to Clem. They watch as Derek enters the shack. After a couple of minutes, they get impatient. "See anything?" Clem calls out. No response. "Derek?" Nothing. She pulls out her knife and slowly approaches the shack until Derek comes out. She gasps then is relieved that he's okay. "Nothing. Just a stack of fuckin' toothpicks." He responds. "Fuck." AJ says. "Don't worry, kiddo. We'll find some food and a place to stay. I promise." Derek says. The three leave the shack and continue searching for food and a home.

Nighttime

The three place themselves right in front of a fire. Derek places sticks in there and then sits back down. "Think he'll be okay?" He asks Clementine. "I don't know. I really hope so. These rabbits won't do the job fully, but it'll make us survive." She replies. He nods and stares into the fire. Something about the burning wood brings Derek back into the ranch. "Derek, I'm sorry." Her comment makes Derek snap back into reality. "What do you mean?" He asks. She scoots closer to him. "I know you have something for me and I've been pushing that away, I shouldn't be. I should be happy that I have someone like you here to protect me and AJ. You're the closest thing to Jeremiah and I'll always be grateful." She says with passion. He stares at her then down at AJ who's sleeping on his leg. He shifts his head to look at her. "Clem, I can't. It doesn't feel right. I thought it would but it doesn't. It doesn't sit well knowing we could never do that while you still think about Jeremiah everyday.." Clem hugs him and he embraces it, trying not to cry. "No matter what happens, I'll always love you and AJ, Clementine." He says. They break the hug. Clementine leans in and gives Derek a soft, but passionate kiss on the cheek and rests her head on his shoulder. "Get some rest. You deserve it." Derek suggests. "What about you?" Clem responds. "I don't need it. You and him are my priority. I'll take watch." She yawns and closes her eyes.

Morning

Derek wakes up and looks over. He notices Clem is still asleep and AJ is too. He smiles. He slowly moves and carefully sets Clem next to AJ, trying not to wake her up. He goes over to a tree to relieve himself. He hears leaves and sticks cracking and he instantly looks around. He finishes urinating and brings his knife out. It goes quiet. All he can now hear is nature. The birds chirping and the wind blowing. He sheathes his knife and heads over where Clem and AJ are. Clem begins moving and sits up. "Morning." Derek calls out from behind her. "Good morning." She responds. AJ begins waking up too. "How'd you sleep kiddo?" Derek asks AJ. "Good. Thanks for letting me sleep on your leg." He replies. Derek nods. Clem spots a man walking towards Derek. "Behind you!" She calls out. Derek turns around quickly and pulls out his gun and points it at the stranger. AJ aims his gun at the man. The man aims his gun too. Something seemed... off about this man. He had a hook on his right hand that is currently holding a cane. "Listen, I don't want any trouble. I just wanna talk." He says to the three. They don't lower their guns. The man lowers his. "What are your names?" He asks in a respectful manner. Derek lowers his gun. "I'm Derek. That's Clementine and that's AJ." He says. The man waves. "It's nice to meet you. I'm sorry if I scared you, it wasn't my intention." He begins. "Do you have a group?" He questions. "Doesn't matter." Derek snarls. The man takes two steps forward. "I ask and you answer. It's common courtesy, right?" The man says. "Alright then." Derek replies. "Why are you here?" Derek questions. "I noticed you three and I wanted to ask if you wanted to be a part of my community." The man says. Derek and Clementine look at each other. "We have walls, food, shelter, protection. You'll be safe there. We have everyone go on shifts at certain times and we're allies with other communities as I speak. We're working with a new community who call themselves the Commonwealth. Have you heard of the Kingdom or the Hilltop?" The man questions. "I have." Clementine says. "Guy who calls himself Jesus says he stayed there." "He still does. You know him?" The man asks. "Yeah, it's a long story." She responds. "What do you think? You want to at least visit and make a decision on whether you want to stay or not?" Derek asks. "Let's do it." AJ suggests. "Okay. It's settled." Clementine says. "Thank you." Derek says. The man nods and he begins walking. "Hey!" Derek calls out. "What's your name?" The man turns around and puts his gun in his holster. "Rick. Rick Grimes."