NICOLETTE

As Rick, Glenn, T-Dog and Daryl had left, the camp had soon come back to the usual routine; trying to get useful even just for a bit.

Shane's irritation was palpable; he paced around the camp, clearly displeased with the decisions that had unfolded. Lori walked off towards her tent, where Carl was likely lying awake, lost in thoughts of his own. It wasn't easy to understand what he was thinking about, no matter how much Nicki had observed him.

Meanwhile, Sarah had returned to Dale and Jim, eager to learn more about mechanics. It was a new passion for her, one that helped distract her from the weight of their situation. As she watched Dale explain the intricacies of the RV's engine, she seemed genuinely intrigued.

"See this part here?" Dale pointed, his face lighting up with enthusiasm as he explained those things to Sarah. "It's crucial for getting the engine running smoothly."

Sarah leaned in closer, her focus sharpening. "What else do we need?" she asked, eager to contribute.

In the meantime, Nicki sat on the ground, feeling the breeze on her face. At some point, she had seen Sophia walking past her with Morales' children waving at her, so silently, Nicki did the same.

"Hey, Nicki!" Amy's voice broke her reverie. Nicki turned to see her approaching, a friendly smile on her face.

"What are you up to?" Amy asked, glancing around.

"Looking at the clouds," Nicki replied. That was all she could do apparently; that, and look after running children.

"I know... there's not much else to do," Amy said, looking behind herself before returning her gaze to Nicki. "Listen, I'm sure it's not the best of the ideas," the blond girl said. "But what about you help us with the laundry?"

Nicki considered it. Helping with laundry didn't sound particularly exciting, but it was better than just sitting around. Days ran by very slowly, even too slowly. Nicolette often couldn't wait to go to sleep, but then she remembered it would have started all over again the next morning.

"Alright," Nicki answered, getting up, brushing some dirt from her trousers.

Nicki walked past the RV, where Sarah was deep in conversation with Dale. When Sarah noticed her, she called out.

"Do you need something to wash?" Nicki asked, glancing at her sister.

"Of course, always," Sarah replied, her arms went to her hips. "Where are you going?"

"Down to the lake," Nicki explained. "Amy asked me to help her and the others with laundry."

"Oh, alright," Sarah said, nodding with approval. "I've put the dirty clothes inside a plastic bag. Just stay close to Amy. Don't go wandering off."

"Okay," Nicki promised, then she turned toward their tent.

Once she was inside, Nicki moved the sleeping bags aside to find the plastic bag. It wasn't hard; she and Sarah had so little left. They had left everything in the taxi back in Atlanta. Most of their belongings had been gifts from Amy, Andrea, and even Lori and Morales' wife. Carol had tried to give Nicki one of Sophia's shirts, but it didn't fit. Thankfully, Glenn had brought back some shirts the last time he went to the city, so maybe now they owned something after all.

As she walked out of the tent, Nicki spotted Carl passing by. When he noticed her, he stopped.

"Hey."

"Hey," she replied, holding up the plastic bag.

"Where are you going?" Carl asked, eyeing her curiously.

"You're an inquisitive one, aren't you?" she said playfully, but he just glared at her, a bit annoyed. "Gotta do laundry," she added after a breath. "And you have nothing to do?"

Carl shrugged. "My mum went to search for some dry wood." He turned his gaze away, and Nicki noticed the flicker of worry in his eyes.

"Worried about your father?" she asked, observing him closely.

"No." When he turned back to her, she was surprised; it didn't seem like Carl was faking it. "He came back to us once, even when we thought he was dead. I know he will come back."

Nicki observed him impressed.

Nicki felt a surge of admiration for his confidence.

"Hey, bud. Nicolette!" They both turned toward Shane, who was walking toward them. "What are you two doing?"

"Nothing," said Carl. Shane looked at them both before talk again.

"What about we go catch some frogs?"

"Frogs?" Nicki asked, her brows raised in surprise.

"Shane is going to teach me how to catch them," Carl explained, his excitement palpable.

"Why are you all so grossed out by it?"

"Mum, too," Carl chimed in, but Nicki just shrugged her shoulders.

"I ate squirrels," she said. "I think I've already passed my limit to become picky now."

Shane chuckled, shaking his head. "Fair enough. Do you want to join us?"

"Don't worry," she replied, lifting the plastic bag to show him. "I already have something to do. Have fun."

And they were having fun, for sure. Shane was with his feet in the water, and Carl was in front of him with a net in his hands. The man suddenly moved water around, creating sprayers that flew all around. Carl erupted into laughter as Shane got soaked.

"I'm beginning to question the division of labor here," Jacqui remarked, joining Nicki, Andrea, Amy, and Carol.

"They're coming, little man! Get 'em! Get that net in there and get 'em!" Nicki turned again to look at Shane and Carl, "What have you got, bad boy? What do you got? What do you got?"

Carl pulled the net from the water, grinning wide. "Dirt!" he exclaimed, and his little snort made Nicki chuckle.

"Can someone explain to me how the women ended up doing all the Hattie McDaniel work?" asked Jacqui, not hiding her annoyance about the situation.

"The world ended," Amy replied. "Didn't get the memo?"

"It's just the way it is," Carol said, looking down, her voice tinged with resignation.

Nicki glanced at the women before speaking up. "I'd rather not walk around in dirty clothes," she said, rubbing her shirt in an attempt to clean it. Then her eyes drifted to Ed, who was sitting not too far away, watching them like some creepy jailer. "Even if..." 

She could sense the unease emanating from the group whenever he was around. He had always made her uncomfortable. Nicki had witnessed how much Carol feared him and how terrified Sophia was in his presence. The way he loomed over them felt like a constant threat.

"I do miss my Maytag," Carol said, letting out a sigh.

"I miss my Benz," Andrea added with a playful grin. "And my sat nav."

"I miss my coffeemaker with that dual-drip filter and built-in grinder, honey," Jacqui chimed in, smirking as she remembered the luxuries of the past.

"My computer," Amy said, glancing wistfully at the ground. "And texting."

Nicki joined in, "I miss my room. And my bow."

And my parents...

"I miss my vibrator," Andrea said, causing Nicki to drop the t-shirt she was holding in shock.

"Me too!" Carol exclaimed, and the laughter erupted around them. Even Nicki couldn't help but chuckle, her cheeks flushing slightly.

"You're maybe far too young to hear this stuff, Nicki," Andrea said between giggles.

"Teenagers are the worst," Nicki retorted, looking down to hide her embarassment. "We know far too much."

"What's so funny?" Ed's voice cut through the air, halting their laughter and instantly creating a tense atmosphere. Nicki's gaze darted to Carol, who looked visibly shaken.

"Just swapping war stories, Ed," Andrea said, her glare fixed on him. Nicki could see the tension in the air; Ed stood there with a cigarette dangling from his fingers, his expression menacing.

"What are you looking at?" Ed spat at Nicki, but she held her ground, continuing to rub the t-shirt.

"You smoke too much," she replied coolly, earning surprised looks from Amy and Carol.

"And who are you to talk?" he growled.

"Someone who doesn't want to smell smoke all the time," she shot back. Just as Ed opened his mouth to retort, Andrea intervened.

"Problem, Ed?" she asked sharply.

"Nothin' that concerns you," he shot back, his tone dismissive. "You ought to focus on your work. And make little miss over there learn her place."

They worked in silence for some more, with Ed constantly observing them like he was some kind of boss or something. Nicki felt a wave of frustration rise within her; she didn't like to be stared at, and she didn't like feeling stressed. That must have been something that they were all thinking because Andrea suddenly got up.

"Ed, tell you what," she said, "You don't like how your laundry is done, you are welcome to pitch in and do it yourself. Here." Andrea threw him the shirt she had in her hands; Ed threw that back aggressively at Andrea making they all stand up.

"Ain't my job, missy." he spatted.

"Andrea, don't," Amy said, seeing her sister getting angry.

"What is your job, Ed?" asked the woman.

"Told you, sitting on his ass smoking cigarettes," Nicki said before Ed turned to her.

"You don't have to talk!" he yelled as Jacqui put a hand around Nicki's shoulders that just glared at him.

"Hey, you are talking to me," said Andrea, putting herself in between Ed and the others.

"I ain't listening to some uppity smart-mouthed bitch. Tell you what," Ed said before turning to Carol. "Come on. Let's go."

"I don't think she needs to go anywhere with you, Ed," Andrea said with a challenging look.

"And I say it's none of your business. Come on now!" Ed exclaimed toward Carol, who was walking slowly toward her husband. As the woman passed by them, they all tried to stop her from going any further, but she just sadly looked down, telling them that it was okay.

"Andrea, please," Carol said. "It doesn't matter."

"Hey, don't think I won't knock you on your ass just 'cause you're some college-educated cooze, all right?" Ed said, making them all gasp. "Now you come on now, or you gonna regret it later," Nicki shook her head as Jacqui still hugged her close.

"So, she can show up with fresh bruises later, Ed?" the woman said.

"This ain't none of y'all's business," Ed said, starting to get really angry. "You don't want to keep prodding the bull here, okay? Now I am done talking. Come on."

Everything started in the blink of an eye. They were all trying to stop Carol from moving forward when Ed slapped her across the face. Immediately, Andrea started to push Ed, and Amy and Nicki brought Carol closer to them. When the man was about to hit Andrea, he suddenly was pulled back harshly. Nicki looked from behind Jacqui to see Shane stranding Ed and punching him right in the face with such force as to make him bleed. The noise of the fists against Ed's face made Nicki shiver, that was a bastard but if Shane kept that up, he would have killed him.

"Shane, stop!" Andrea exclaimed as Carol was pleading him. Nicki looked towards Carol; from her lips, a trickle of blood had appeared after the slap Ed had given her, and Nicki couldn't help but wonder how many times that could have happened. How many times he had hurt her and then made her feel like it was her fault? She turned again towards Shane, who was still punching Ed; maybe Carol and Sophia would have been better off without him. Maybe Shane didn't have to stop.

Nicolette shivered at what she had just thought.

It wasn't right, was it?

Shane had to stop, hadn't he?

Suddenly, the cop took Ed by the face, hissing in his face, "You put your hands on your wife, your little girl, or anybody else in this camp one more time; I will not stop next time. Do you hear me? Do you hear me?!" he yelled before giving some more punches "I'll beat you to death, Ed. I'll beat you to death!"

When Shane stood up, Carol ran away from Amy's grip to run towards her husband, who was crying and apologizing. Nicolette observed them, how he was moaning in pain as she tried to help him.

Nicki felt nothing for him, just disgust, and she hoped that maybe this had scared him as much as he had terrorized Carol and Sophia for all that time.