Episode 10

"So, are you guys gonna survive out there without your star player?" teased Bella, and Abraham gave her a clever look.

"We've got half the dream team with us. I'm sure we'll be just fine, little bird," he said, and she looked at Jordan.

"I hope you know I'm counting on you to bring everyone home."

Jordan walked toward her and searched her eyes.

"You forget, baby girl. This my family, too," he said, and she shook her head.

"I didn't forget," she whispered, feeling uneasy about them leaving.

"Don't be scared. I got them," he said, touching her face.

"Just come home before dark."

Her voice cracked, and Jordan rubbed her cheek with his thumb.

"Always, baby girl."

He bent his head and kissed her deeply.

***************************************

Bella and Maya sat on the roof, sharing a bottle of whiskey, and watched the empty road. It had been two days since Abraham, Andy, Jordan, Jimmy, and Edmond went on a run, and they hadn't heard from them.

"Where are they?" Bella slurred, sniffing, and Mya shook her head.

"I think it's time to say they ain't coming back," she sobbed, and Bella shook her head.

"No, I can't," she whispered, tears running down her cheeks.

Mya looked at her with care and sniffed, taking a swig.

"I know you don't want to, but we may have to come to terms with it."

Bella looked at her as her lip quivered, and her tears fell more rapidly.

"I knew I shouldn't have let him know how I felt. I knew this would happen," she cried, and Mya's brow creased.

"Just like Dale," Bella sobbed, and Mya held her in her lap.

She ran her fingers through her hair and saw the pain in her friend's eyes. She wished she could take Bella's pain away like Jordan could but knew she wasn't one of them. Mya sighed, sucked up her hurt, and gave Bella a thoughtful look.

"Listen, we're both drunk and.."

"Girls, why don't you come inside and get some rest? Mike and I will take watch," said Sarah, approaching, and Bella and Mya looked at her sadly.

"I know. Come on. The minute they show up, we'll come get you," she said.

Bella and Mya sighed, climbing off the truck. Sarah touched Bella's shoulder, and she only nodded.

"I know they didn't make it," Bella sobbed, and she and Mya headed inside.

Mike looked at Sarah in question, and she sighed.

"She might be right."

***************************************

Sarah gasped, seeing headlights, and she and Mike walked up with their guns drawn. They lowered their weapons, saw Liam's truck, and opened the gate. Abraham pulled into the compound, and he, Jordan, Jimmy, Edmond, and Andy got out of the vehicle. They were covered in blood and gore, and Sarah held her nose.

Jordan laughed, and Jimmy and Andy snorted.

"Like you smell nice when you come back from a run," Andy said, and Mike laughed.

"What happened to you guys?" asked Sarah.

The guys looked at each other and sighed.

"We got caught up in a horde of Berserkers. Those freaks are nasty," said Jimmy, shivering, and Andy and Edmond agreed.

"We tried several times to get you on the radio," said Mike, and Abraham shook his head.

"Edmond and Jimmy lost theirs, and mine and Jordan's died."

Mike sighed, nodding, and Sarah looked at Jimmy and Jordan thoughtfully.

"You two might be in a bit of trouble and might wanna brace yourselves before you go inside," she said, and the brothers looked at her oddly.

"What you mean?" asked Jimmy, crossing his arms.

"Bella and Mya got drunk last night and believed you were dead," said Mike, and Jordan and Jimmy looked at each other.

"Shit!" they said.

Jordan looked at Abraham.

"Any advice?" he asked, and Abraham chuckled.

"Just be very nice and walk on eggshells, son. My daughter can get a little crazy when she's angry," he said, and Jordan sighed.

Jimmy hung his head and clapped his brother on the back.

"Come on, bro. Let's go take that L," he said, and Jordan only nodded.

**********************************

Jordan cautiously walked into his room and smiled, seeing Bella sprawled out on their bed. He changed into a pair of shorts and crawled in next to her. He gently pushed her hair away and kissed her neck and shoulders.

Bella blew a breath and whimpered softly. She was relieved, feeling his lips against her skin. She enjoyed a few moments of bliss, but then anger rose from her center.

"No, get away from me," she said sleepily.

Jordan chuckled, continuing to kiss her soft skin, and she stirred.

"You know you like it when I kiss you, baby girl," he said softly, kissing behind her ear, and Bella opened her eyes.

"You know what I'd like?" she asked.

"And what's that, gorgeous?"

"I'd like to punch you in the face," she stated.

"Now, why would you wanna mess up my pretty face?" he teased.

Bella scoffed, turned toward him, and punched him in the nose.

"That's for scaring the hell out of me and making me think you were dead," she snapped and rolled toward the wall.

Jordan rolled backward, grabbed his face, and sat up. He pushed his nose back into place and sighed.

"Babe, come on. This isn't my fault," he said, crawling into bed, and she turned toward him with tears in her eyes.

"You scared the hell out of me," she whispered, searching his eyes, and Jordan put his hand on her cheek.

"I'm sorry, Bell," he said, and she kissed him passionately.

"I'm sorry I scared you," he whispered as the kiss ended, holding her against his chest.

Bella sniffed, resting her hand on his chest, and huffed a breath.

"Did you bring my Dad back?"

"Safe and sound, little bird," said Abraham, standing in the doorway.

"Daddy!" she breathed, scrambling off the bed and jumping into her father's arms.

"I thought you were dead," she whispered, and her father sighed, hugging Bella tightly.

Jordan chuckled, and Abraham looked at him as he let his daughter go.

"I didn't get a hug. I got punched in the face," he said, and Abraham looked at Bella.

"Damn, Bell. You get so violent. Why'd you punch him in the face?"

"Because you guys scared the hell out of me, and see, he's already healed," she said, gesturing to Jordan, and Jordan pouted.

"But the emotional scar still remains," he sniffed dramatically, and Bella snorted.

"I'm glad you guys are okay," she said, and Abraham smiled, nodding.

"We are. I'm going to get cleaned up," he said, leaving the room.

Jordan got to his feet, and Bella gave him a clever look.

"You must have feelings to have emotional scars, and as for you, Jordan Baker. I don't think you have the required tools," she teased, and he pulled her close.

"Oh, I gots all the tools I need," Jordan snickered, and she wrinkled her nose.

"I'm sure you think so, and damn, you really stink," she laughed and took a step back.

He smirked, hung his head, and looked at her, biting his lower lip.

"Yeah, you right. Imma go take me a shower, and I be back for that hug."

She grinned, gesturing to the door, and he laughed, shaking his head, and walked out of the room.

******************************************

"So, do you have any skills or special trades?" asked Sarah as she and Mya cleaned the kitchen, and Mya shrugged.

"I guess that would depend on what skills and trades you're looking for," she said, and Sarah gave her a thoughtful look.

"What did you do before the world went to shit?"

"Well, I was a bartender in Manhattan for a while, dealt with some pretty rough crowds, but I was paying my way through college to become an archaeologist, and when that fell through, I became a nurse's assistant," explained Mya, and Sarah smiled.

"Well, I'm a doctor in need of a nursing assistant. My brother Waylon was my assistant until he died a couple of months ago."

"I'm sorry," said Mya, putting a stack of dishes away.

Sarah nodded, drying the silverware and putting it in the plastic container.

"Have you had patients during the apocalypse?"

"A few. My brother Marcus accidentally shot Bella and Dale. The bullet went through her shoulder and into Dale's arm. Had to pull the bullet out and stitch them up. That's how I met Abraham and the rest of his group," explained Sarah, and Mya looked at her oddly.

"But I thought Bella could self-heal?"

"She can now, but that happened before she was bit."

Mya nodded, drying a glass, and sighed.

"It's so strange getting used to this stuff. I've known Jimmy and Jordan since high school, and Jordan is a completely different man compared to the one I used to know," she said, and Sarah chuckled, drying the last spoon.

"Would it help if I told you he's changed since Bell brought him home?" she asked.

Mya thought momentarily, watching Bella, Charlie, Bonnie, and the girls dance to an upbeat song. Seeing Bella pull Jimmy and Jordan from the couch, she smiled and giggled.

"Maybe she has something to do with it," she said, and Sarah looked at Bella thoughtfully.

"Bell has everything to do with it."

Abraham spun Bella in a circle, and she saw Mya and Sarah standing in the doorway. She danced toward them and grabbed their hands. She pulled them into the room, and everyone danced together, laughing. The group danced for a while, leaving the chores unattended, and had fun for the first time in a long time.