Ch 21 You’re going to fight, right?

Inside the house Beth lay in a bed, completely still and quiet as if in a catatonic state. She just stares at the ceiling. Her boyfriend Jimmy, and Patricia sit next to her saying comforting words trying to get a response of any kind. She didn't so much as twitch when Maggie led Machiavelli into the room. "You're a doctor right? Is there anything you can do to help her? She just collapsed onto the floor, and I don't know what's wrong."

At a glance Mac could tell her problems were psychological, something that's more in Julius' area of expertise he thought. The stress and trauma finally caught up with her and she broke, Beth had given up and checked out. That much should be easy to see. Medically there was nothing for him to do, she'll most likely get up should Hershel return.

He wanted to tell them all to piss off and so he could go do something that actually mattered, but he was on their farm. Realizing he was this miraculous doctor, they all turn to him with pleading eyes. Like there was actually some way he could make her get up... She'll have to choose to fight on for herself. "I'll see what I can do…Clear the room, your worrying won't do anything to help her."

"Thank you," Maggie says with a relieved sigh as she turns to leave. Do you want me to take him for you?" She asks motioning towards the baby.

"No he's fine with me," Mac says ushering her out of the room along with the others. Now alone with just the baby and Beth, Mac sits in a chair in the corner. "Well, I can just pretend I tried a bunch of stuff, this would be a good time to catch up on my reading." Mac pulls a copy of the manga Berserk from his inventory and starts to read aloud to the baby. "You're going to love this, Guts is one tough bastard who refuses to die."

After a short while Mac finishes the book and the baby had fallen asleep. "So, Beth was it? What is just lying here going to accomplish? If you want to die there are faster ways to go about it. Unless your goal is to worry your family more, then you're doing great." Mac says not getting even the slightest reaction.

"I'm sure the others could use your support. At least your family, didn't they suffer the same losses as you?"

Still no response, which was to be expected but that means she's just going to be dead weight…useless. Seeing no point in wasting any more of his breath. Mac started to leave when he noticed a single tear fall down Beth's face. The the girl was struggling to find her resolve to fight behind that blank mask. He

"… in the end it's on you to decide if you can keep going or not. Rebuilding society is going to take a lot of determination and grit. So I understand if you're not up for it." Mac says knowing he isn't going to get an answer. At this point he was just giving her something to think about, it's not like she's gone deaf.

A short while later Mac goes outside to check on the others. It seems the groups were keeping their distance for the most part, which at least keeps any conflict from arising. Mac takes a brief look around to see what else he can do nearby when he notices something rushing towards him at high speed. He reaches into his coat pocket only to pause when he realizes what or better yet who it is. "You must be Clementine. My new sister right?" The curly headed child is dressed like she dressed herself, wearing shorts and a hello kitty T-shirt, and pink tennis shoes. All of which looked brand new, and perfectly fitted, except for her trucker hat. Not only that she was clean, like before the end of society clean…that could only mean one thing. She was in the bunker. That means Julius was near probably stalling to make a dramatic entrance.

"Hi Mac!" She says excitedly stopping before him. "Julius says he wants to make sure Hershel get's back safely before he comes back. He saw him in town, and he's too old to be flying through the trees, so they're taking the slow way." Clementine explains as per Julius' instructions and she can see some tension leave his face.

Sizing him up she didn't think he looked that tough especially compared to Julius. She couldn't help but think he looks exactly like one of those scrawny scientists from the movies, white lab coat and all. Adding the baby he looked like an easy target. Still, something told her not to test him. She thought it was odd he let his hair grow out, Julius said he always kept it cut neatly. "Nice to meet you," Clem says extending a hand to him.

"The pleasure is mine sis," Mac takes her hand with a courteous smile, but the little girl tenses up ever so briefly.

"His smile is kinda creepy…" she thinks to herself before trying to think of something else to say. "Sooo this is your baby? He's really cute! What's his name?" She thought she was going to get an answer when Machiavelli facepalms. "He still doesn't have one?"

"I knew I was forgetting something… I've just been calling him "the baby"…" Mac says thinking that could be a viable option, until he notices Clem giving him a disapproving look. One he was familiar with because it looked just like Julius' glare. "What? You have any ideas that don't sound stupid or basic?"

"I think I can do better than "the baby"." She answers matter of factly.

"Lets hear it then brat…" Mac says feeling a little annoyed a kid was trying to correct him.

"Jerr…" she stopped when she received the same glare from him. "Edward? Mark?"

"Ok, you're done…we'll come back to this one," Mac dismisses the conversation.

"You can't just keep putting that off. Everyone should have a-"

"Want to fight?" Mac asks playing on her budding battle junky tendencies.

"Yes!" Clem forgot all about the conversation beforehand when he said that. Half of her excitement in meeting Mac was the chance to fight him. It wasn't any secret that Julius was stronger of the two, so Machiavelli should be a suitable stepping-stone to surpassing him. She wondered what kind of breathing that he would use, this she was never told. She waits excitedly for him to hand the baby off to someone.

Mac returns shortly with a simple black katana with no guard, then they head towards the area she and Julius issues to spar. In both camps most people were aware of how insane their skills were but no one had seen them in comparison to a worthy opponent. Julius was a monster who both he and Mac had admitted was stronger but, Mac still has to have his own skills to be considered a peer. Still Clem was lightning fast and growing rapidly, maybe she could pose a threat to him? Curiosity took over as many gathered around to see how Clem would fare.

"They sure gathered fast," Mac says looking at everyone coming to watch.

"I know right? You would think they have something better to do…" Clem responds annoyed that they never get any privacy. "Oh well, I guess we should show them something cool." She takes her stance tuning the whispering crowd out.

"Hmmm it's been a while since I've seen that stance," Mac says drawing his sword but he takes no stance, he actually opens himself up holding his sword down at his side. "If you can use that, I can see why you'd be a little confident…try to keep up." Mac says as all emotion leaves his face and he goes completely blank.

Clem readies herself as Mac takes his first slow calm step forward. Then he vanishes completely.