♤

"Do you really want to go back there for a douchebag like Merle Dixon?" Shane grumbled to Rick.

I scoffed as I handed Daryl his bag. "Hey, chose your words more carefully next time" Daryl snapped as he took the rucksack off me.

Shane turned around quickly. "I did. Douchebags what I meant" His eyes were slits as he glarred at us both.

Rolling my eyes, I followed Daryl to the back of the van. "Hey, be careful. Please. Charlie needs you...I need you...especially if Merle doesn't come back..." I muttered with folded arms and a head facing the ground.

"Merle's coming back." He said in an almost aggressive tone.

I took a step back and nodded as everyone clambered into the truck. It killed me knowing they were looking for Merle and I was staying here, but my son needed me.

The remaining of the group watched and waved them off as they drove down the dirt path, heading back into the feeding frenzy they had only left a few hours ago.

♤

"Charlie, sweetheart, do you want to come and sit by the water and read while I help out with the laundry?" I called out to him as he finished off his beans and but the tub in the bowl so we could wash it later.

"I've read all my comics.." He moaned as he looked at me. "Can't I stay with Grandad Dale and wait for Daryl and uncle Merle to come back?" He asked in a whiny voice.

With a sigh, I crossed my arms. "They wont be back for a while, you know"

He nodded.

"Fine, but you better go ask nicely" I ordered and watched him slump away.

Taking the opportunity while I was alone, I rushed over to the tent and grabbed all the dirty clothes that were scattered around the tent before I emerged with a wash basket full.

I leant it on my hip and looked over at Dale as Charlie asked to stay with him. "You can come and catch frogs with me and Carl if you want, bud?" Shane's voice echoed as he came up from behind me. "If that's alright with your mom.." He looked down at me as he stood next to me, hands on his hips.

"Sure, if that's what you want to do" I smiled.

Charlie leaped in excitement and Shane laughed, I only shook my head and trotted down to where all the other women sat, chattering.

"Alright, Ed?" I asked with a smile on my face as I walked past him. He only shot me a glare as I passed. "Joyous as ever I see.." I mumbled and sat on an over turned basket.

Jacqui stopped and looked at us all. "How did we all get stuck doing the Hattie McDaniel work?"

We all looked up and nodded as we scrubbed the clothes on washboards. "The world ended, didn't you get the memo?" Amy muttered.

We all laughed and nodded and began making small talk, talking about how life used to be, what we loved doing and then talk turned to what luxuries we missed.

"Hm, I miss my washing machine" Carol chuckled, clearly referencing the hand washing that we were all doing.

We all nodded and Jacqui looked up at the sun and moaned. "Mhm. I miss my coffee machine"

"I was never one for coffee, or tea" I admitted and everyone looked at me like I shot them, mouths open, eyes wide. "What? Is that a crime?" I laughed.

Jacqui shook her head. "No, but it should be!"

We all broke out into laughter until Andrea spoke. "I miss my vibrator..." She admitted quietly.

There was some silence as we all glanced at her with a smirk. "Me too..." Carol confessed which caused us all to laugh louder.

Gravel crunched as Ed, Carol's husband, stormed over and threw his cigarette on the floor. He stood nearby and glared at us. "What's so funny?" He asked with slitted eyes.

"Just swapping war stories, Ed" Andrea grumbled.

Amy nodded in agreement.

"Problem Ed?" Andrea asked as he towered over us.

He shook his head. "Nothin' that concerns you" He turned to look at Carol who was cowering away. "And you ought to focus on your work. This ain't no comedy club" He spat.

Out of the corner of my eye, I watched Lori storm down to Shane and I watched as they began to argue until Lori walked away with Carl. Shane ordered Charlie to follow and so he did, he moped after them.

Andrea stood up and I sighed. We all knew that Ed bet Carol, we saw the bruises and I sympathized. I had been in her position a long time ago. "Ed, tell you what...you don't like how laundry is done, you are welcome to pitch in and do it yourself. Here." She spat and threw a shirt at Ed. Immediately, I dropped the towel that I was washing and stood up. I was preparing myself for any punch thrown.

I had attended some basic protection classes while Charlie's dad, Tomas, was away in the military. Ed didn't miss a beat and threw it right back at her.

"Ain't my job, missy" He spat. "Come on" He snarled at Carol as she stood up.

Andrea jumped forward but Carol shook her head. "Andrea, don't..."

"What is your job, Ed? Sitting on your ass all day smoking cigarettes?" She growled. Andrea was smart, intelligent and was good at fighting with words.

"Well, it sure as hell ain't listening to some uppity smart-mouthed bitch! Tell you what...come on. Let's go." Ed tugged at Carols arm with more force.

Andrea shook her head as I stepped out of the water. "I don't think she needs to go anywhere with you, Ed"

"And I say it's none of your business. Come on. Now. You heard me." Ed snapped, he was getting irritated.

Andrea tried to hold onto Carol. "Carol.."

Carol had tears in her eyes as she tried to pull away from everyone. "Andrea, please, it doesn't matter.."

"Hey!" Ed growled as Andrea held on. "Now don;t think I won't knock you on your ass just 'cause you're some college-educated cooze, alright?"

I stepped forward. "Hey! Don't you dare even think about it" I spat.

His eyes were burning with fire and rage was pouring from his nose and ears. Pure, red, rage.

He glarred at Carol. "Come on now, or you're gonna regret it later"

"So she can turn up with fresh bruises later, Ed? Yeah, we've seen them" Jacqui exclaimed.

Ed laughed in her face as I tried to push Carol away. "Don't lay a finger on her!" I screamed.

"Stay outta this. Now come on! This ain't none of y'alls business. You don't keep prodding the bull here, okay? Now I am done talking, come on" He ordered as Andrea kept her hand wrapped around Carols arm.

"No, no!"

"Carol, you don't have to.."

"Get off her!" I screamed before Ed lost it.

He began screaming and shouting for all to hear. "You don't tell me what! I tell you what!" And with that, he slapped Carol and bust her lip. She fell backwards into the girls who caught her.

Anger and sympathy flooded my body. I couldn't remember te last time I'd seen this and it enraged me. I pushed him backwards with force but he only came back stronger. He pushed me and I fell into the shallow water beneath me.

He walked forwards, his eyes burning through me. He was about to grab me when Shane appeared and tackled him to the floor. Gathering my strength, I stood up and watched as he threw a punch at Ed's face, then another, then another, and he kept going.

He mutilated Ed's face and soon it was swollen and covered in blood. "Shane!" We all cried out in horror.

"Shane, stop!" Andrea cried out.

Shane pulled Ed up to face him by his collar. "You put your hands on your wife, your little girl or anyone else in this camp one more time, I will not stop next time. Do you hear me? Do you hear me?!" Shane screamed. Ed nodded slowly. "I will beat you to death." He spat, throwing one more punch.

Carol was in tears as Shane looked at our shocked and horrified faces.

Shane looked at me as I clambered to my feet, my clothes wet. "Come with me" He ordered.

Slowly, I obeyed and followed behind, though, I kept looking back at the scene behind me. Carol was crying over her husband and the girls were watching as I ambled away.

Shane led me into the RV. "Are you okay? Did he hit you?" He asked quickly.

I shook my head quickly.

"You were quite out of character back there, any reason?" He asked.

I took a few seconds before answering. "...Charlie's Dad, when he came back from the army, he was violent, constantly hitting me, screaming at me, telling me how worthless I was, how he hated Charlie. He accused me of cheating because Charlie looked so different...he looks the spit of him sometimes, some of the faces he pulls.." Shane nodded at me.

"I've heard the whispers, 'why doesn't she just leave?'. I understand why she doesn't just leave...she loves him, she chooses to believe that there's something underneath that monster, whether we see it or not.."

Shane looked at me helplessly for a few seconds before he looked down at my hands that were dirty.