Know Where (A Walking Dead Game Contintuation)

Lessons

"I know," AJ said. "I love you back. I want to do this, it's been a while since we went out beyond the safe zone."

"Exactly," Clementine started. "It's not bad to stay here. We're settled at home."

"Yeah, but there's something that you need now, and I want to get it for you," AJ looked at Clem with classic puppy dog eyes. AJ was determined to do this.

"Okay kiddo, promise me you'll return home?"

"Pinky promise!" AJ smiled at her and went to prepare with everyone else. He started saying pinky promises since Clem taught him it. He'd say it every time someone asked something from him, even though he wouldn't use it right at times. She found it endearing.

Within the next hour, everyone was prepared for the plan and ready to leave. Clementine planted a kiss on Violet's lips and one on AJ's forehead before the group departed out the gate, bidding them all to be careful on the journey. She couldn't help but feel bad. They were risking their lives for her. She should have been doing this. The leg was for her after all.

Ruby took notice of Clem's pensive face and approached her.

"Hey Hun, I was thinking about starting up the green house again today, would you like to join?" Ruby asked, softly so as not to startle Clem. The brunette turned to her and smiled softly, nodding. The two began walking toward the greenhouse.

"How are you doin'?" Ruby asked, looking to Clem as she crutched alongside her.

"Okay," Clem feigned a smile, which Ruby saw right through.

"But really, how are you?" Ruby pushed again. Clem sighed in defeat. Ruby opened the greenhouse door for her to enter through. She hobbled in.

"Honestly, I feel so much guilt right now," Clem confessed. "I hate that everyone is risking their lives for me. I hate that I can't protect everyone like I used to. I feel so useless and like a burden on everyone. I should have been walker food, and now that you guys saved me you all have to work harder and risk more to pull my weight. And now they're going on a death-wish mission for me and I can't even go and protect them."

Clementine was fiddling with a leaf as she spoke, accidentally crushing it in her fingers as she continued to let go the emotions she had been locking in. Ruby frowned.

"But Clem, we care about you, a lot. You don't have to feel bad, we do this because we want to. We're a family. Families help each other when they're down," Ruby replied, a sincere look of concern etched into her face. "Take care of yourself right now, we got it handled."

Clem looked to Ruby and smiled, touched by what the redhead had said. "Thank you Ruby, I know you guys want to, and I appreciate you all, it's just been really hard coming to terms with this. In that barn I thought I was dead and then I woke up here. I'm thankful, but god it's hard."

Ruby laid a hand on her shoulder, grabbing a shovel and handing it to her, "I know, but know I'm always here to be a shoulder to lean on. Now! How about we plant some of these beans to get your mind off it."

"Think fast!" Ruby exclaimed as she took a bean and threw it upward. Clem smiled, reaching out for it and catching it with precision.

"I may not have a leg but I got two working arms!" Clem laughed as she playfully shoved Ruby and tossed some soil in the air, it landed on both their heads. The girl's chuckled a little while longer, brushing themselves off before going to work on the bean plants.

~~~

Half a mile away from the urgent care, while walking down a battered asphalt road lined by trees, Violet expressed concern to Louis.