I feel my heavy eyelids open, I'm awakened by the rain pouring down my face; letting me know Travis kept his promise. My head is still spinning and aching.

"OH GOD!" I hear a distant but familiar voice, that I know belongs to my sister.

I realise I'm being held by someone, his arms are gripping my hip and back, and my arm is draped around his neck with my head resting against his chest.

"Penny?" I hear Carley's voice again, this time closer. I try to open my eyes, but they're so heavy. "Oh God. Is she alive?"

"I don't know." I hear the terrified voice of the boy holding me, the voice belongs to Travis. I want to reach out to my big sister and wrap my arms around her, but all I manage is to twitch my finger slightly. I feel Carley try to take me out of Travis' arms, but his grip tightens when she does.

"No." he shouts through the storm, "I've got her. Lee needs you!" She places her cold, rain soaked hands on either side of my head and kisses my forehead, shortly after I hear a gunshot. Travis is still moving forward while gripping me tight, his physical strength in contrast with my own.

"Penny." I hear the soft voice of Travis, "Penny can you hear me?" I try to move, talk, blink, do anything. But I can't. A heavy feeling of paralysis is upon me.

"Get back here and fight me like a man, Lee!" I hear the desperate voice of one of the St John's sons shout.

Then I hear the dreaded sound of walkers "They're getting in!" a little voice squeals. Travis' pace picks up.

"Leee!" the sound of the St Johns and walkers are soon in the distance.

I can no longer feel the heavy downpour of rain as we all walk back to the motor inn together. Ben came with Carley and didn't leave Travis' side the moment they rejoined, his loyalty to his friend endeared me to him. I heard Carley, Lee and Katjaa discussing my leg as I was falling in and out of consciousness. Katjaa promised she'd clean it up for me, but Lee insisted we do it once get back to the motor inn; so less walkers would be attracted to my screams in the open woods. The thought of more pain made me wince. Carley tried to take me from Travis' arms a few times, but he wouldn't let her. He told her she had a better shot, so having her hands free would keep our group safer. He had fair points so she reluctantly accepted, but she also never left his side. Occasionally she would say things to me, but all I could do was twitch or maybe force my eyes open.

"Hey dad, what's that noise?" I hear Duck say; I'm comforted by the fact he's safe.

Everyone listens.

"Sounds like a car." Kenny replies.

"Oh God, not more strangers." Ben says, making Travis laugh a little.

Everyone steps closer to what seems like an abandoned car, my eyes adjust to light radiating from it.

"Oh crap!" Kenny exclaims, "Baby you gotta see this. There's a shitload of food and supplies back here."

Travis' pace picks up, towards the brightness from the vehicle.

"Is there a first aid kit?" Carley asks, "For Penny."

Katjaa scans the supplies through the window, "There is. These supplies could save all of us." Katjaa says.

"Not all of us." Lilly adds, having just lost her father.

"We don't even know if these people are dead." Travis says.

"If we don't take this shit Penny will be dead." Carley says defiantly, her words stinging me slightly.

"If they come back then we're just monsters who came out of the woods and ruined their lives." Lilly says, her words ringing truth.

"But what if we just explained about Penny. Maybe they'd let us?" Ben says, his voice unsure.

"Don't be so naive, Ben." Travis scoffs, his grip tightening on me.

"This stuff isn't ours." a little voice adds.

"Dad, whose car is it?" Duck asks his father.

"Don't worry about that Duck, it's ours now."

"It's abandoned Ducky, don't worry." his parents reassure him.

"What if it's not?" Clementine asks. "What if it is someone's?"

Silence falls upon the group; knowing she's right.

"You're right, we shouldn't take this." Lee says to the girl, he throws the keys to Kenny while everyone else sifts through the supplies, handing boxes around to take back with us.

"There's bandages and antibiotics in here." Carley looks over to me, safe in Travis' arms, "You can have your shirt back, kid."

He looks down at his blood soaked, dirty tee, wrapped tightly around my wound, "I'm good."

She smiles, taking the kit over to Katjaa; asking her about what she can do for me. I try to take a deep breath through my mouth but I find myself coughing and spluttering, wincing at the pain it gives me.

Travis rubs my back, "Hey, is there any water in there?"

Ben looks through his box and finds a cartoon of juice, "Here."

He tries to hand it to me, "I'm fine." I manage to whisper.

"Penny-"

"I am." I close my eyes, and bury myself into Travis' chest again.

"Penny..." he says, his voice tired and relieved to hear me talk.

"I just need... Sleep."

When we got back to the motor inn, we were relieved to see it hadn't been over run by walkers or been raided by other survivors. Some electricity was still being powered in buildings, the motor inn was one of them. But we tried to use it as little as we could; not wanting to draw unwanted attention. But tonight was an exception. Travis laid me down on a bed in a room upstairs. Then Lee gave me a block of wood, and told me to bite down on it. I didn't understand why at first. But then Katjaa began trying to remove the bullet in my leg, and then I understood. The pain rolled through me in waves once again, the sensation was almost worse than being shot. Ben, Travis, Kenny and Lee all held me down, and Carley squeesed my hand, her other hand wiping away the tears of pain streaming down my cheeks. It didn't take long before I passed out from the pain; making the job easier for Katjaa. When I wake up I can feel the ache in my leg and I see Carley sitting on the end of the bed, her back facing me, talking to the two boys who are sat on the couch.

"See, that's the thing with Penny." she sighs, "She finds it hard to let her guard down to people. But when she does, she has an amazing heart." she laughs a little, "And God is she strong."

They both smile. Ben looks at me, his blue eyes piercing through me.

"Hey, she's awake." Ben says, standing up.

"Penny?" Carley turns around, her voice unsteady.

"Hey." I manage to whisper, my throat dry and my head pounding.

"Penny!" she exclaims, wrapping her arms around me. I wince as I try to wrap mine around her. Ben and Travis crowd around me. She releases me and pushes my hair from my face, placing her cold hand on my cheek she says, "I was so worried you weren't going to wake up."

"What? And miss out on all this?" I say with a smile.

"How're you feeling?"

I take a breath; my mouth feeling dry, "Thirsty."

As the words slip from my mouth, Ben grabs a bottle of water that was resting on the couch arm and hands it to me. I reach up, my fingertips gripping the plastic.

"Are you sure?" I ask, straining my voice.

He shrugs, "You uh- need it more than me."

"Thanks." I whisper, then proceeding to drink the remaining water left in the bottle. I don't mean to finish it, but once the water meets my lips I can't stop.

"Besides thirsty, how do you feel?" Carley asks me, now sitting on the double bed next to me.

"Like I've been shot." I say, forcing a smile.

"How's your leg?" she asks, wanting a real answer.

I screw the lid back on the water bottle, "It aches."

"Here," she grabs the first aid kit and pulls out antibiotics, "Take these."

Before I'm able to fully swallow them, she wraps her arms around me again, "I'm so glad you're okay." she whispers as she softly strokes the back of my head. I wrap my arms around her and close my eyes, not wanting her to release me from her comforting embrace. But she does.

"I'll go tell Katjaa." she says, kissing my forehead like she always does and leaves the room.

I pull myself up in the bed, having to put slight pressure on my leg; the pain making me wince. I look up at the two boys; Ben's clear blue eyes are concerned and warm, Travis' shoulders are rolled back and he's looking at the doorway; where Carley was.

"I never thanked you." I say, searching Travis' gaze. "Travis."

He turns to me with a forced smile, "Well." he shrugs, "If it weren't for Ben we'd probably be having this conversation from a different plane."

My gaze shifts from the two boys; my eyes questioning.

"He got us out of the meat locker." Travis explains

I look up at Ben, my gaze warm, "Thank you." my voice cracks and tears begin to fill in my eyes. I laugh and cover them up "God, I'm such a girl." I wipe away my tears.

"Don't worry about it." he says, his voice warm. I look up at Travis, the events from the meat locker running through my head.

"Travis, can we talk?" I ask, with unsteadiness in my voice.

Ben looks at Travis, his brow clouded.

Travis shrugs, "She probably just wants to kiss me again." he says bluntly.

"Travis!" I exclaim, covering my face in embarrassment.

"What? How did-" Ben stutters. I take my hands from my face.

"She kissed me in the meat locker." Travis says, with a smug smile.

"God Travis!"

Travis steps closer to the bed, then kneels on it so I can feel his weight on the mattress, "I don't know if I've just lost a lot of blood but..." he says, his face close to mine, "Come here." I roll my eyes and push him away. He can't help himself from laughing and he rolls back on the bed; sitting opposite me.

"Travis..." I sigh, looking at my hands, "Okay, so I kissed you." I look at him this time, "But I thought I was going to die. And you took care of me, so I-"

"I know." he interrupts, his eyes and smile warmer; no longer mocking. I force a smile back.

"Penny," we hear the warm voice of Katjaa, we all turn to the doorway and Travis stands up, "It's good to see you're awake."

Carley is stood next to her.

I smile, "Thank you so much Katjaa."

"You're very welcome." she says, with a warm smile.

"Yes. Thank you." Carley says, with her hand on Katjaa's shoulder.

Katjaa smiles, "You know in my training to become a veterinarian, I never thought I'd ever have to deal with a gunshot wound."

"I don't think any of us thought we'd have to deal with all this." Carley says, her tone dark.

Carley's gaze drifts over my leg and then out the window opposite her.

"Get some rest Penny." Katjaa says, before then leaving.

Carley's gaze then drifts over to the two post adolescent boys.

"I can't thank you two enough." Carley says, she steps towards the two boys and wraps her arms around each of them. Ben's cheeks flush red, I hold back a laugh.

Travis shrugs, "Anything not to see more death."

Carley smiles weakly, then steps towards the bed and leans over me; pushing my hair out of my face.

"It's my turn on watch." she walks towards the doorway as if she's about to leave, but she stops and leans against the door frame, "I'm really glad you're okay, Penny." she says, her voice wobbling slightly.

"Me too." I say with my brow clouded softly; questioning her tone.

She smiles, turns away and then she's gone once again. I'm left alone with the two boys who saved my life.

"I'd get up to hug you too, but uh-" I let out a quiet laugh, gesturing to my leg.

"It's okay, I already received my gratitude." Travis says, with a grin.

I push my hands through my hair and scoff, "You're never gonna let that go, are you?"

Travis folds his arms with a smug grin and shrugs. I can't help but smile either.

"We better let you rest." Travis says, making my heart sink a little. I bite my lower lip as Travis paces towards the door. The truth is I hate being on my own. When our mom died I spent so much time with Carley, so much so I drove her insane. It's one of the reasons I had so many boyfriends in the past. I just needed to know someone would always be there for me, like my mom was. I suppose a part of me was trying to replace the pain of losing my mom with romance.

After forcing myself to sleep for a couple of hours I'm woken by Travis, as he throws himself on the double bed. I force myself into a different position; my neck feeling sore.

"You're awake." Travis whispers, with a surprised tone. Travis lights a dim candle, since it's dark out.

"I am now." I say, forcing myself to sit up like him. "What do you want anyway?"

His eyes lock with mine for a moment. He can see I'm tired. "You know, it can wait."

He begins to pull himself off the bed until I hook my hand around his arm, pushing him back, "C'mon you've already woken me up. What is it?"

He sighs and rolls his eyes, "I guess I just wanted to thank you."

"Thank me?"

"Yes." he says impatiently.

"What for?" I ask, my brow clouded.

"For not dying, I guess." he shrugs, looking into my confused eyes, "I don't think I can bare to see another pretty girl die."

"Travis, I-" I start to say something, but all I can think about is the fact he called me pretty. I feel myself leaning towards him and him towards me. His dark eyes now closed. I follow his lead and close mine, allowing his lips to sink into mine. I force away the thoughts in my head asking what this means, knowing that this kiss means more than the meat locker kiss, wondering if this kind of relationship can even exist now. I push those fleeting thoughts away and enjoy this moment; how his lips are moist; unlike mine. And for a moment I forget about the walkers. I forget about my leg. I forget about everything. For a moment I feel like a normal teenage girl, with a normal teenage crush. I can feel him pull out of the kiss. He looks into my green eyes and smiles. I softly kiss him again, this time he places his cold hand on my cheek. When he pulls out of the kiss again I want to ask so many questions, my gut tells me not to. He blows out the candle and pulls himself off the bed. I'm slightly disappointed he doesn't want to stay with me. He turns to me at the doorway, the moonlight shines from behind him.

"Travis I-"

"Shh." Travis stops me, "Don't ruin it, pretty girl." he whispers. And disappears into the darkness.