Face Your Fears

Phantom Traveler

Even with Aaron back Elena still was having troubles sleeping, every time she closed her eyes she'd see that walker attacking Tara. How reckless Aiden and Nicholas were needed to be brought to Deanna's attention. There was nothing she could do about it now, in this moment all she did was lay there and watch the moon light pour through her sheer white curtains. After one final flop onto her left side Elena let out a large sigh before checking the watch that hung loosely on her wrist. It was barely past midnight, surely Aaron and Eric were sleeping, and no one would be out right now. So after a few moments of debate Elena pulled on her black long sweater and slowly tip toed out of the house. Aaron slept like a rock, Eric on the other hand would wake at the sound of a mouse sneezing. The night air was slightly chilly against her exposed cheeks, she didn't mind though. It was just another reminder that she was alive to see another day. Every now and then a walker would bump against the walls, and she'd hear their moans and groans. In the beginning it freaked her out, she'd jump at every little noise. She'd grown use to it by now. When she was out with just Aaron and Damon she was forced to fight, fight for herself as well as the two she loved. Once she got to Alexandria she rarely wanted to leave, not even wanting to look at the world beyond the walls. Then she was assigned run duty, and her fighting instincts kicked in again. Deanna only put her on run duty because Aaron told her what a good fighter his sister was, and Deanna needed someone to keep Aiden in line.

She walked silently down the empty streets, everyone was asleep by now. Most of them had been here since the beginning, so they could pretend nothing was happening outside the walls. They weren't up roaming the streets because every time they closed their eyes all they could see were the loved ones they'd lost. Elena was different, and obviously so were the new comers. Her soft foot steps couldn't be heard by the three she'd seen standing by the gate. As she squinted her eyes a bit she could make out the faces. Rick, Daryl, and Carol. Her curiosity was at an all time high, they seemed to be deep in their discussion. Her slipper covered feet inched her closer as she kept her gaze glued to the trio, unfortunately she didn't see the mail box she'd knocked into. Three sets of eyes automatically found her as her cheeks heated and began to turn red. Rick said one final thing to the two before turning to walk towards Elena. Her eyes scanned him taking in the uniform he was dressed in. "Elena, is everything alright?" He asked in a concerned tone, his expression was cool though as if she hadn't just been caught eavesdropping. "Hmm, officer Grimes, I can definitely see it now that you've shaved." She smiled trying to get the flush of her cheeks to die down. "I was a cop before this, Sheriffs deputy actually. So Deanna found it fit that I be the towns Constable." He explained as he laughed at how normal all of this seemed. "And you said yes because?" She pressed as she wrapped her arms around herself a little tighter as a slight breeze picked up. "I want to make this work. I have to." He answers truthfully, Elena was slightly taken back by him actually telling her the truth. "For the kids." She finished his sentence for him with an understanding smile on her face.

Rick liked Elena, out of everyone here she seemed to be the most accepting along with her brother Aaron. "Yes, and for the rest of my group. They need something stable, I'm just worried that.." His sentence trailed off almost as if he didn't want to finish what he was saying. "You think we are weak. You don't want to get too soft. I understand that, but trust me people aren't always as they seem around here." She explained softly, her confident voice faltering slightly at the last bit. "What do you mean by that? These are good people aren't they?" Rick asks stepping closer to her, he was not letting her go anywhere without promise that these were good people. "They are.. It's just, well Pete. I think he is aggressive towards Jessie, his wife. I've told Aaron who I'm sure mentioned it to Deanna, but no one will do anything because he's our only actual doctor. I mean there is Denise, but she isn't that experience. She's not even a doctor." Elena rambled on, unsure of why she was telling him all of this. Maybe it was the fact that he was a cop, or maybe she genuinely thought he could help Jessie. "I'm sorry, I really shouldn't have said that. I'm tired, and it's not your problem. To answer your question though, yes these are good people. They could definitely use someone like you Rick." She added before she hugged her sweater a little closer and headed back to the house.