TWD: The Burden We Bear

A/N: There's a time skip here, because Eddie is resting due to his injury, and can't do much. Honestly, I didn't think it through very much when I put him in Omid's stead. Lol

**Time Skip**

Lee, Kenny, and Chuck made their way to River Street, only to find that there was no boat in sight. Chuck, however, was not particularly surprised; he had always believed that acquiring a boat was a dubious idea from the outset.

Eddie was unclear on the details, but he knew they had encountered a woman named Molly, who claimed to have nearly beaten up Kenny, Eddie's father. As fate would have it, the group soon found themselves surrounded by walkers, forcing Chuck to make a hasty escape through the sewer system.

While navigating the dank tunnels below, Chuck stumbled upon a group of survivors. He successfully persuaded a doctor in their midst to assist him in returning to the house to examine Eddie's injured leg.

Meanwhile, Clementine took it upon herself to explore the house. In the backyard, she discovered a shed and managed to find a boat hidden inside.

Kenny was elated at the prospect. However, their excitement was short-lived when they realized that the boat required both fuel and a battery. It was then that Eddie proposed a risky plan. Lee told him about the community called Crawford, notorious for its harsh treatment of those deemed unfit for survival. Yet, according to the information he heard from Molly, Crawford had managed to clear Savannah of nearly all resources—food, medicine, and more.

Eddie suggested they should sneak into Crawford and pilfer the necessary supplies. Although some, including Molly and Vernon the doctor, voiced concerns about the dangers of such a venture, Lee, Chuck, and Omid surprisingly backed Eddie's plan.

Ultimately, they reached a consensus to venture into Crawford. Thanks to Vernon's familiarity with the sewer system from his time living underground, he recalled the routes that would allow them to infiltrate from below.

Eddie insisted on joining the expedition, despite protests from the others about his injury. Stubbornly, he declared he would accompany them regardless of their opinions.

In the end, the group assembled for the mission: Lee, Kenny, Eddie, Chuck, Molly, Vernon, and a woman named Brie, whom Vernon had brought along—much to Chuck's chagrin, as he suspected Brie wanted Vernon to shoot him.

Those remaining behind to guard the boat included Carley, Christa, Omid, and of course, Clementine, who was too young to join the dangerous foray.

**In the Backyard of the House**

Lee knelt down to Clementine's eye level, holding out a gun to her. "Here, I want you to take this," he said, his expression serious yet trusting. "You remember how to use it, right? Just like I showed you."

"I remember," she replied with a nod.

"If anyone tries to get inside the house who isn't one of us..." Lee trailed off, his concern evident.

"I know what to do," Clementine assured him, wrapping her arms around him in a tight hug.

"Let's get you inside," Lee said, guiding her through the door before closing it securely behind her.

Kenny approached with a hatchet he had found, handing it to Lee. "Let's get this over with," Lee replied, determination etched across his face.

With that, the group set off.

**In the Sewers**

The group stood beneath a manhole cover in the dimly lit sewer.

"This should be it. We're right underneath the center of Crawford; the old school should be directly above us," Vernon remarked, scanning the area.

"Okay, people, this is it. Remember the plan," Lee instructed, looking each member in the eye. "We stay quiet, we stay hidden, and we stay together. We find what we need and get the hell out before anyone even knows we're here. Got it?"

Everyone nodded in agreement. Lee climbed the ladder and removed the manhole cover. "Let's go," he said firmly, and one by one, they emerged, ducking into the bushes near a building.

"Where is everybody? There should be guards patrolling," Vernon commented, furrowing his brow.

"What, are you disappointed?" Kenny replied, smirking.

"It's just strange is all," Vernon insisted.

Chuck pointed toward the entrance. "There's one by the door."

Lee unsheathed his hatchet. "Okay, Kenny and I will sneak up and try to take him out quietly. The rest of you wait for our signal before following us. Everybody got it?" He exchanged a determined glance with Kenny. "Kenny, let's do this quietly. No shooting unless absolutely necessary."

"Right behind you," Kenny affirmed.

Lee crept forward, moving soundlessly toward the guard. Just as he was about to strike, the figure turned around, revealing itself to be a walker.

"What the hell?!" Lee exclaimed, instinctively swinging his hatchet and striking the walker down.

The rest of the group emerged from their hiding spots.

"Why is there a walker in here?" Eddie asked incredulously as he approached the fallen body, giving it a kick.

More walkers began to converge on their location. "Get inside, fast!" Lee shouted, pulling Eddie along with him.

They all dashed into St. Felicity's Catholic Elementary School, with Lee bolting the door behind them. They raced up the stairs and burst into a hallway lined with lockers; Vernon and Eddie quickly secured the door. Eddie, still limping from his injury, was the last to enter, prompting a disapproving look from Vernon.

"Fuck! Do you think they saw us?" Kenny asked breathlessly.

"Definitely," Lee replied grimly.

"Calm down, everyone!" Eddie interjected. "We're good. This just means we only have to deal with the dead ones."

"The boy's right," Vernon agreed. "Better than facing armed guards."

"I agree. As long as we don't let them box us in, we can still pull this off. The plan hasn't changed," Kenny added.

"We need to move quickly, and we'll be out in no time," Chuck urged.

"Come on, I think I know which way to head," Brie stated, leading the way.

The group proceeded down the hallway, passing a boarded-up door marked with an X, behind which several zombies growled ominously.

"Just keep moving," Molly urged, her tone steady.

They reached a door at the end of the hallway. "Here," Brie directed, pointing.

Lee cautiously opened the door, assessing the room. "Looks okay. Everybody in."

The group filed into the abandoned classroom. Lee tried the handle of a door labeled "Armory" but found it locked. "Figures," he muttered.

"It looks like they were using this room as some kind of command center," Kenny observed, surveying the clutter.

"Okay, so now what? Where do we start looking?" Molly asked, her brow furrowed in concentration.

"Here," Brie said, gesturing to a hand-drawn map hanging on the wall. "Just give me a sec..."

"What about the fuel? Where should I start looking?" Kenny pressed.

"There's a maintenance shed across from the playground," Brie said, indicating a spot on the map. "If they were storing fuel, that's probably where it'll be."

"And the medicine?" Eddie asked, glancing anxiously at his injured leg.

"Right here," Molly said, pointing. "Nurse's station—they were using it as a medical facility."

"Any idea where the battery could be?" Lee inquired, scanning the room.

"Maybe at the auto shop? There used to be one in the alley outside the fire escape," Vernon suggested.

"Yup, it's called Herman's; you can't miss it," Brie confirmed.

"Okay, I'll make the run to the maintenance shed for the fuel," Kenny decided.

"It'll be faster if I go with you; I can take you right to it," Brie offered.

"Want me to come?" Eddie asked, a pained expression crossing his face.

"No," Kenny shook his head firmly. "You're injured. Focus on getting the armory open."

Eddie sighed but nodded, limping toward the locked door.

"I'll go for the medicine," Chuck volunteered.

"I'll come with you. I know what to take," Vernon said, joining Chuck.

"Okay, I guess that leaves me to find us a battery," Lee concluded.

"I'll go with you to watch your back," Molly said, stepping forward.

The group split up, each person heading in their designated direction.

Eddie approached the locked door, initially attempting to break through with his shoulder. However, his injured leg hampered his strength, and he stumbled back in frustration.

After a couple of failed attempts, he began to scour the old classroom for anything that could help him pick the lock. To his delight, he discovered a hairpin tucked away in a student desk.

Returning to the door, he straightened out the hairpin and carefully slid it into the keyhole, feeling around for the mechanism inside. He worked meticulously, concentrating hard as he twisted and turned the pin.

Minutes ticked by as Eddie remained focused on the lock, his frustration mounting with each failed turn. Just as he was about to give up, he felt a slight give. With bated breath, he continued to manipulate the hairpin until, at last, a satisfying click echoed through the quiet classroom.

"Hell yeah!" he exclaimed triumphantly, though a grimace of pain crossed his face as he stood up. Ignoring the discomfort, he pushed down on the door handle and slowly opened it.