This group, which in reality seemed more like a family, looked in silence at the trio led by Rick. Unexpectedly, they only mentioned the leader who was not currently with their group, but even so, they spoke very highly of that man. There was no need to be very observant to know that all these men had been saved by him.
Elen couldn't help but feel very interested in that person. She repeated his name silently again and again, planning to meet him when she had the chance in the future.
The few people gathered in this room talked among themselves for a long time, and this group of survivors relaxed more and more as they came to understand what kind of people Rick's group were. In the end, even little Katia no longer needed to stay hidden. Instead, she stood to the side and quietly listened to the conversation, blinking her big eyes from time to time.
Without anyone noticing, night slowly fell. It was then that a voice came through the intercom of Rick's radio: "Zz... Zz... Rick! Can you hear me?"
Just when the group was chatting so familiarly, the sudden voice startled everyone. The source of the voice was none other than their good friend Shane, though they realized he was being pushed by Lori, who sounded worried.
"I get it! Lori, I heard what you just said!"
"Lori! I'm fine."
"It's late, aren't you planning to come back today?"
Looking at the fading light of the sky outside the window, Rick took the radio and pressed the intercom button: "Zz... I'm sorry, Lori, but everything seems to indicate that I won't be able to come back today. We found a good group of survivors, and as you know it always takes some time to get acquainted."
After Rick said this, it took a few minutes before Lori's voice came out of the radio again: "Didn't you tell me you'd definitely come back today?"
Looking at the people around him watching in silence, Rick showed an expression full of helplessness, and finally couldn't help but speak in an apologetic tone: "It's my fault, I didn't think it through properly. I'll come back tomorrow without fail, okay?"
"Alright... Rick, you have to be very careful out there and remember those walkers that move around at night! Did you hear me?"
"Yes, get some rest, I'll be back tomorrow without fail."
After placing the radio back in its case, Gerry by his side showed a smile.
"Your wife?"
Rick smiled and nodded slightly in response.
"Not even Morgan's wife got that nervous when he went to Texas—or maybe she didn't find out they almost died at the hands of those lunatics who sent kids with knives to fight?" Guillermo joked at a moment when he thought humor was needed, but soon realized everyone was looking at him with strange expressions.
"Ahem* Well, that's why I'm single." Guillermo muttered, only then realizing that what he said was out of place.
Gerry showed a surprised expression, but after his eyes fell on the little girl named Katia, he smiled with understanding.
"It seems you've gone through a lot and know the world better than we do right now. But you should be happy. It's wonderful to feel like you matter to someone, even if you're not related by blood."
Morgan nodded empathetically. Thinking of what Gerry had just said, he looked at the stiff Guillermo beside him and still cracked another joke: "Even if it doesn't look like it, I think my wife is the same. We'll confirm once we get back, haha."
All the men showed knowing expressions.
...
The group in this building talked late into the night, and it wasn't until Morgan's stomach growled that Elen realized it was late and she now had to prepare something to eat.
Seeing that several people were staying overnight, Gerry pointed to the door.
"Just stay with us, don't worry about anything and let the others help clean a room so you can spend the night." Rick looked at the gradually darkening sky outside the window, and could only nod helplessly. By then Guillermo had gone for a backpack and brought food—after all, he didn't know if there was enough food for everyone here.
"Then, we'll sleep in the next room."
The afternoon's communication had nearly erased the hostility this group once felt toward Rick and the others. Seeing they were going to spend the night, Elen and her sister Noa began cleaning a space for them.
To express his gratitude and trust, Rick planned to give this group of survivors a lavish dinner that night and, at the same time, discuss in more detail about bringing them back to the base.
It had been a long time since this house had been so lively. Gerry drank a lot of wine during dinner, and Rick eventually helped him to his room.
As soon as Rick set him down, he felt his clothes being grabbed by Gerry. Looking back, he saw that the man was still drunk, staring at him with wide-open eyes.
"Can we talk?"
Rick didn't understand what he meant, but still nodded and sat by the window, ready to listen to whatever this man had to say.
Gerry's face was a little red from the alcohol in his body. Although the wine had calmed him somewhat, he still had something to tell Rick, the leader of these people. "You know? Little by little I learned what it meant to be a man after Katia was born! As her only guardian, my task was to protect her from all harm—and now I've ended up like this."
As he spoke, Gerry's expression showed suppressed helplessness and he hit his leg. More than anyone, he hated the fact that he had become crippled when the world ended. When Katia—his daughter in name—needed him the most, he could only sit in a chair unable to do anything!
Rick quickly stopped Gerry's movements. He could understand the man's mood, but he couldn't just sit by. He patted Gerry's shoulder in empathy, grabbed his arm, and spoke softly: "Listen, Katia is a strong girl! Elen and Noa are strong girls who wouldn't abandon you. Do you want to hold your group together? Now is not the time to collapse. All you have to do—no, the only thing you must do—is stay strong in front of your family, do you understand?"
Gerry slowly pulled his expression back together. He grabbed Rick's hand and pleaded: "I beg you, take Elen and the others with you when you leave tomorrow. Until they can live safely... and Katia, I hope one day she'll speak again, she's still so young."
Rick leaned closer, looking at Gerry with a strange expression.
He didn't know what to say to him, and after helping him, he left the room.
...
The next morning, Rick woke up early. The weather was even worse today, the sky had begun to drizzle and the air outside the window had turned colder. Rick looked at the rain-wet ground on the road and began to think about the preparations needed for winter.
"Gerry!"
But at that moment, a sudden cry came from the next room! Rick's nerves, once relaxed, instantly tensed. He grabbed his Colt from the table and rushed out of the room.
Knock, knock, knock!
Pounding on the door next to his, a sinister premonition rose inside Rick. For some reason, Gerry's words from last night echoed in his mind.
Clack!
At that moment, it was Katia who opened the door, and Noa pushed the girl into the living room to wait.
Rick watched in silence, and as soon as he entered the room, he saw Elen pointing a gun at Gerry on the bed. Her hands were shaking violently. And when Rick looked toward the bed, he froze—Gerry was convulsing.
"Ahh!"
Right then, Gerry let out a low growl. That sound was all too familiar to Rick—walker! Gerry had turned into a walker!
Rick quickly stepped forward and supported Elen, who was already breaking down. Only then did he notice that a piece of paper had fallen from her trembling hands.
Rick bent down and picked it up. It turned out to be a letter from Gerry. After quickly scanning the contents, Rick felt that the father lying on the bed had suddenly become incredibly brave.
So as not to burden anyone, he had chosen to end his own life! Not realizing that he might have been able to live on without his problems truly being a problem.