The Walking Dead : Lee Everett

Lee and the group continued down the road, driving with heightened caution. The two cars ahead of him mirrored the same careful approach, their pace deliberate as they kept a close watch on their surroundings. The silence in the vehicles was heavy, and each member was alerted to any sign of danger. 

Suddenly, something clicked in Lee's mind, a thought he had momentarily forgotten. He turned to Natasha, who was seated next to him, her gaze fixed on the road ahead. For a brief moment, he studied her, wondering if she, too, had remembered what he had just recalled. 

"They had a woman with them right? I didn't see her when we stopped"

Lee couldn't help but wonder about the woman who had slammed her car into Clementine's house, causing the wall to cave in. Her reckless driving had forced Lee and Natasha to take the perilous route through the dense forest, risking their lives just to reach their destination. Yet, as the group gathered to discuss Carl's fate, Lee realized with a strange sense of unease that he had never seen her.

"Ah, she's sleeping in that Jeep, Sandra mentioned that the woman had been in a state of panic for a while, too frightened to calm down after the crash. Your father suggested she take a quick nap in the car to rest and recover. That's probably why you didn't see her when the group gathered"

Natasha explained, her voice steady as she offered the missing piece of the puzzle. Lee felt a sense of calm wash over him, the weight of uncertainty lifting slightly. He had been lost in his thoughts, caught in the spiral of possibilities, and allowing any potential threat to slip by would have been a mistake. His mind, ever cautious, demanded certainty before taking the next step. He needed to be sure about everything—every detail, every person—in order to plan ahead and move with confidence.

They finally arrived at the barn, the distant structure looming against the moon. One by one, everyone descended from the cars, their footsteps crunching on the grass as they moved toward the secluded house. Nestled away from the prying eyes of the world, it stood with its weathered barn beside it, a quiet refuge in the wilderness. Shawn led the way, his figure cutting through the fading light, guiding the group toward the safety of the house, the sense of isolation both comforting and unsettling.

Shawn pointed at the barn, and everyone understood and started walking towards the barn to rest, It was obvious that they wouldn't just get to live inside their house, Lee and Natasha stayed behind since they had a lot to talk about with Shawn before settling in.

Shawn knocked on the door, the sound echoing in the quiet evening. Moments later, the door creaked open, revealing Hershel, his face etched with both relief and concern. Without a word, he pulled his son into a tight embrace, holding him close as if making sure he was really there. The worry that had been gnawing at him for so long melted away at that moment. "I've been so worried about you, Shawn," Hershel murmured, his voice thick with emotion. Shawn, visibly relieved, returned the hug, knowing his father's concern had never wavered. It was a reunion, but it was also a quiet acknowledgment of the dangers he had been facing.

"You brought guests, Huh"

Hershel looked over at Lee and Natasha, his gaze softening as both greeted him politely. He nodded in return, offering a respectful smile, though his mind seemed elsewhere. Shawn quickly filled him in on the situation, explaining that Lee and his group had settled in the barn for now. At the mention of people residing in his barn, Hershel's expression shifted slightly, a flicker of concern crossing his features.

Then, without hesitation, Shawn launched into a more urgent discussion. He began explaining the dangers sweeping through the city—the chaos, the undead, and how their peaceful refuge needed to be fortified before it became a target. But Hershel didn't seem to take it seriously. He listened quietly, his furrowed brow giving away his skepticism. He couldn't quite grasp the idea of zombies—creatures from the movies—actually walking around, wreaking havoc.

In defense of his father's disbelief, Shawn knew that it was difficult for anyone to accept such a surreal reality. After all, it wasn't something anyone had ever truly expected to face. Hershel hadn't seen it with his own eyes—he hadn't witnessed the horrors Shawn had. For him, it was too much to accept. But Shawn had lived through it, and the weight of that experience made him desperate for his father to understand the seriousness of the situation.

"Alright, I've heard enough, Take rest for now and we will talk tomorrow"

Hershel stood up from his spot, his movement slow and deliberate as he walked into the house, leaving Shawn, Lee, and Natasha standing together, the air thick with unspoken tension. Shawn glanced at Lee, a faint look of embarrassment crossing his face. His father's inability to grasp the gravity of the situation weighed heavily on him. He had expected more understanding, more urgency, but Hershel seemed lost in his own world, unable to fully comprehend the danger they were all facing.

Lee, sensing his friend's discomfort, offered a reassuring nod. He didn't hold it against anyone—how could he? It was a situation so unbelievable, so far beyond what anyone could have imagined. It wasn't easy to accept the truth that the world had changed, that the dead were walking among them. But reality was what it was, and sooner or later, everyone would have to face it. He could only hope that Hershel would come to understand, even if it took time.

Lee and Natasha walked toward the barn, their footsteps steady but weighed down by the uncertainty of what lay ahead. As they stepped inside, Lee's gaze immediately found his family. They were gathered in a small circle, talking with a woman whose back was turned to him, her voice low as she exchanged words with the group. Her presence felt new, and unfamiliar, but Lee could tell she was being welcomed into the fold.

Across the barn, Sandra, Clementine, and Carl were lying on the ground, their bodies curled up in an attempt to catch some much-needed sleep. The exhaustion from the day's events, the tension, and the constant fear, had drained them all. The world outside was harsh, but at least for now, they could find a brief respite in the quiet corners of the barn. Lee glanced over at Natasha, then back at his family. He knew the peace would be short-lived, but for now, they could at least find some comfort in the silence.

As Lee began stepping further into the barn, the woman speaking with his family turned around, and the moment their eyes met, Lee's breath caught in his throat. He immediately recognized her. It was Ava—his wife. The shock of seeing her here, after everything, sent a surge of emotion through him. 

Ava stood frozen for a moment, her eyes locking with his. The look she gave him was heavy, filled with guilt, apology, and a deep yearning for forgiveness. Her face was drawn, worn from the trials they'd all endured, but her expression spoke volumes. She had made mistakes, perhaps irreparable ones, but the sorrow in her eyes seemed to plead for a second chance, for understanding. Lee could see the regret there, a silent confession of all the things left unsaid. 

He stood still, the weight of the past rushing back, unsure of how to approach this moment.

Ava stood from her spot, her hesitation palpable as she took a tentative step toward Lee. He could feel the weight of her presence, the tension building as she neared. Sensing that a confrontation was inevitable, Lee's instinct kicked in. He didn't want this to unfold in front of everyone, didn't want the drama to unravel in such a public way. 

Turning slightly, he glanced at the barn's gate, then back at Ava, giving her a subtle but clear signal. His eyes met hers, conveying the silent request for privacy. Without a word, he motioned for her to follow him outside, where they could talk in the darkness away from prying eyes.

Ava, after a long moment, seemed to understand. She gave a small nod, her face shadowed with uncertainty and stepped quietly behind him. Together, they moved toward the barn's exit, the cold night air waiting to envelop them in the silence of their unspoken words.

"...Lee-"

Lee stopped just outside the barn, turning to face Ava with a firm expression. The words came out steady, though his mind was racing. 

"Listen, Ava, what happened, happened, alright? Let's just forget everything. I want to start fresh in this hellish world we're living in now. But let's not pretend, okay? You cheated on me. We can't just ignore that." 

His gaze softened for a moment before hardening again. 

"We can't get a divorce because there's no court left to do that, but I need to be clear with you." 

He paused, taking a deep breath before continuing. 

"I'm going to introduce you to the group. I'll tell them you're my ex-wife. Understood? Not only with the group but with everyone I introduce you to, This will be the way I will introduce you" 

His voice was steady, not out of anger, but more out of necessity. He couldn't afford the complication of pretending things were different. The world had already changed too much.

Lee left Ava standing behind, his steps purposeful as he entered the barn, not sparing a single glance back to gauge her reaction or hear her response to his declaration. He had said what needed to be said, and he wanted to be done with it. He couldn't afford to dwell on the past any longer, not when so much was at stake in the present.

Ava hadn't been with him for long, but in that short time, she had already become a symbol of misfortune. She was the reason Clementine's house had been damaged, the reason a herd of walkers had been drawn to their location. Her reckless actions had put them all in a life-or-death situation, forcing Lee and Natasha to risk everything to make it out alive. It was a chain of events Lee couldn't shake from his mind—each moment with her had only compounded the danger, each decision leading them further into the nightmare they now lived.

Lee rested on the ground next to his brother, quickly getting to sleep.

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The next morning, Lee woke up feeling surprisingly refreshed, the rest from the night's sleep giving him a much-needed reprieve. As he sat up in the barn, the world outside felt calmer, more peaceful. The chaos of the previous days seemed distant, but he knew it wouldn't last long.

Stepping out of the barn, Lee took in his surroundings. The area was surprisingly lively, with activity buzzing around. He spotted his brother deep in conversation with a short, stocky man, their heads close together as they exchanged words. Nearby, his father and Hershel were near the stables, both men seemingly engaged in a quiet discussion, perhaps about the upkeep of the property or the situation at hand.

A little further off, his mother stood with Sandra, Natasha, Ava, and another woman Lee didn't recognize. They appeared to be talking among themselves, the group forming a small circle, their voices low. Lee's gaze shifted toward the stable, where Clementine and Carl were watching the horses. The animals, confined to the stable for the moment, seemed to offer the children a brief escape from the tension that hung in the air.

Lee took a deep breath, the weight of everything still pressing on him, but for now, it felt like a moment of peace. At least, for a while, things felt normal.

For how long it will last? Nothing more than an Hour

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