Lucas goes down to the lake after his early morning jog. He's still unable to sleep even after everything he did the day prior.
He also found out that Isabell is having trouble sleeping too. But for a different reason than himself. She just is scared about being attacked in her sleep, which Lucas understands well. But after he and Amy talked with her about it she calmed down slightly.
As he gets down to the lake he turns around and sees Kyle Baker coming down to the lake.
Lucas waves and Kyle returns it. 2 minutes later and Kyle walks up to Lucas.
"Early bird gets the worm?" Kyle asks. He's holding a bowl of something.
Lucas wipes the sweat from his forehead. "Something like that. What's up? I didn't think most people would be up yet?"
Kyle rubs the back of his head. "Because most people aren't up yet. I was a house husband so I'm used to waking up early and getting things ready for my wife, but lately she's been asleep because she doesn't need to go into work. But me? I'm stuck with my internal alarm telling me to get up and do something. I was cooking some breakfast and saw you running back and down here. Figured you could use some food. It might not be at the level of a professional chef like Karla but I'm pretty confident in my skills. Here" He holds the bowl out.
"Thanks" Lucas takes the bowl. "Speaking of you and your wife. How are you two doing?"
"Us? Good. We feel much safer now that we have some room to breath and stretch. The apartment wasn't bad, but it was just a bit cramped you know. But now that we have our own tent and all this space…" Kyle motions around them. "…. It feels like me and my wife can actually get some time to ourselves again"
"Glad to hear that" Lucas stirs the food in the bowl.
"What about you?" Kyle asks.
Lucas looks up from the bowl. "About what?"
"About you and some of the women here in camp. Surely there is someone that caught your eyes?" Kyle quietly asks, even if they might be the only ones up.
"I guess even house husbands like drama" Lucas jokes.
Kyle shrugs. "I've gotta keep myself entertained somehow"
"Sorry to disappoint but relationships tend to be a touchy subject. Not sure if I'm even looking to date anyone" Lucas shrugs.
Kyle nods. "Right. It's a big step and some people have difficulty. But that's when the other person helps you take those steps. I'm sure you'll find someone eventually. And I won't judge if you bat for the other team, Chase is currently single as well"
Lucas waves the words out of the air. "I don't bat for the other team. I prefer tits and ass. Not dick"
Kyle holds his hands up. "Technically us men have tits and asses as well. Just saying"
"Just saying" Lucas rolls his eyes. "Still like women. Specifically a woman's ass and tits"
Kyle rubs his chin and looks out over the water. "They are great"
Lucas pats his shoulder. "You are the one with a wife. Right? Then go get some instead of fantasizing about them"
Kyle smirks. "I am married. And I'd rather keep it that way. If I woke her up for some sexy time I'd be finding a new tent with a couch"
Lucas nods. "That checks out"
"Besides. We already made some time in our new schedules for stuff like that. After a few weeks of holding back we finally get some time to ourselves and all this space. I think she likes the risk of getting caught. I'm not one to talk though. It does get the heart pumping" Kyle slyly says.
Lucas rubs his face. "Dude. I swear to god. If I start finding horny people fucking in the woods on my runs I'm gonna actually lose my shit"
"Dude" Kyle lightly jabs his elbow into Lucas' side. "Then don't go running through the woods"
Lucas helplessly smiles. "I guess I should have grabbed some condoms. I don't think we're ready to start raising kids here in the quarry"
Kyle puts both hands on Lucas' shoulders. "I'd you grab condoms. All the other guys in relationships will either love or hate you" He jokingly says seriously.
"Which side are you on?" Lucas asks.
"Whichever side lets me have more fun time with my wife. So you better get those condoms fast. Consider this the most important quest you've been given yet….. Besides rescuing us from that apartment….. but you get my point right?" Kyle takes his hands off of Lucas.
"Got it" Lucas wonders where he might find some. "Next week I'll be sure to find some. They won't be too hard to find"
Kyle nods. "Exactly. Something like condoms should be easy enough. And I'm sure you have a reason to have some on hand for yourself, huh?" Kyle nudges Lucas with his elbow and wiggles his eyebrow.
"Maybe in the future" Lucas says noncommittally. "Thanks for the breakfast, I'll eat it and get back to training"
Kyle smiles. "Hey man, no problem. Just keep us supplied and we will keep your belly full, y'know"
——————
Lucas finished the food Kyle gave him and then waited a few minutes before he started practicing his knife skills again.
He imagines fighting the walkers he killed so far. He runs simulations in his head based on the way the walkers shuffled and moved. How much strength it takes to break their skulls open and destroy their brains. The way they reach out towards him to try and grab ahold of him to tear his flesh from his bones. How their teeth chatter and the sounds that escape their throats, even if their lungs are destroyed or their throat is collapsed.
Lucas focuses on speeding up his movements. If he is too slow he will be grabbed and that'll be the end. He also focuses on keeping his feet moving. Because if he fights more than one walker he will need to be able to move around as well.
——————
Back up at the camp people are beginning to start their days. Karla joins Kyle in preparing breakfast. Tobias gets prepped to start getting the meat cut. Amy and Isabell take the kids after breakfast and watch them together. Raul and Myles stick together and do their tasks. Lori, Carol, Andrea, Sasha, Alister, and Chelsie get ready to do laundry. Shane, Leon, Chase, a reluctant Alex, Tobias, Morton, and Jed go to the supply tent after breakfast to begin sorting the supplies.
Dale goes ontop of his RV and is on watch duty again. He looks down near the lake and sees Lucas swinging his knives around and running along the shore as if he is attacking something that Dale can't see. "What is that guy up to now?"
——————
Lucas stops and sheathes his knives. He grabs the bottom of his shirt and wipes his sweat off his face. After he gets the sweat off he puts his arms behind his head to open up his lungs and let more air get in them. He looks out across the water as the sun starts to reflect off its small waves. How can this view be so good when the world is so bad?
"Hehehe" "Shhhhhh~! He will here us~" "Can you two be any louder?"
Lucas turns around and looks up the slope to where camp is and sees that he has an audience. His chest rises and falls in a quickened pace as his body starts calming down. He sees the women of the camp standing out in the open with laundry baskets in hand. The kids are laying down and we're watching him. Amy and Isabell were crouched next to the kids and were babysitting the matching Lucas. Even Raul and Myles were watching.
Carl slumps his head. "See? He did hear you two. Now we can't watch him train and be cool"
Both Amy and Isabell blush and move away from the ledge, out of Lucas' sight.
The other women in camp talk amongst themselves. Some of them complaining that their partners either aren't built like Lucas, or weren't built like Lucas.
Alister nudges Karla with her elbow. "Maybe I should start working out. Get some abs of my own, what do you say about that?"
Karla blushes and looks to the side. "I'd- I think I would be a lot more distracted"
Alister rolls her eyes. "Aren't you supposed to say you love me the way I am?"
Karla smirks up at her girlfriend. "Well, some exercise wouldn't hurt you~" She teases.
Alister's left eye twitches. "And who's fault do you think that is?! You're the one who's food is too damn good!" She messes with Karla's hair and Karla can't really resist since she is a foot shorter.
Carol, Chelsie, and Lori form their small group since they are the married/previously married wives of the group.
"I might need to have Kyle join Lucas on his morning workouts if he will end up looking even a little like Lucas" Chelsie quietly says.
Lori bumps Chelsie. "Kyle isn't that far off. Maybe if you incentivize him a little he will do exactly what you want"
Carol rubs her arm awkwardly. Ed couldn't be more different from Lucas. But she herself doesn't particularly like the muscular type of guy like Shane. Someone fit with a bit of muscle was more her type. Someone similar to Daryl's body type.
Chelsie taps her chin. "I don't know. But him working out might be good in the long run I think. I'd love to see him protect me and hold me. Might even feel like we're dating again"
——————
Raul and Myles decide to join Lucas in his training. Partially because they want to be in better shape, but also because they want to be able to protect each other so they don't need to rely on Lucas, Shane, Leon, and especially not Chase in the future.
Even if Raul doesn't like Lucas, it's better to learn from him and not rely on the guy in the future.
——————
The ladies with laundry make they're way down to the lake.
Sasha goes up to Lucas. "You worked up quite the sweat. How long have you been up?"
Lucas looks at the 5'5" woman. She has long red hair and freckles on her cheeks. She's wearing Jean shorts, that barely go past half her thigh, and a tshirt almost two sizes too big for her. "Since before the sun came up. Guess I lost track of time"
Sash holds her basket of laundry out. "You can take your shirt off and I'll wash it for you"
Lucas drops his arms to his side. "You want me to strip right here? But there are children watching. And I barely know you. Sasha, right?"
Sasha rolls her eyes. "Yep. That's me. Now I'm not asking you to strip. Just take your shirt off"
Lucas puts his hands on his hips. "Wow, quite demanding aren't we?"
Sasha smiles. "I just know what I want when I see it"
Lucas rolls his eyes this time. He grabs the bottom of his shirt and pulls it off over his head. He pauses when he is about to place it in the basket. "I expect to have this returned after it's cleaned. Right?"
Sasha looks down on his abs. "Yeah. And would you let me wash it on your abs, I think it would be better than the washboards"
"Haha" Lucas chuckles. "I'm afraid that I'd have to wash myself before that though"
Sasha takes out a bag with soap, detergent, shampoo, and other various cleaning products. "I'd be happy to help you with that too"
Lucas raises an eyebrow. "Guess you really do know what you like"
"I'm good at telling if an idea is good or bad. And pursuing you isn't a bad idea" Sasha says without a hint of embarrassment.
Lucas is almost shaken by the blunt force trauma Sasha is throwing at him. "I think washing each other is a little advanced for how well we know each other. What's my last name?"
Sasha winces. "Lucas… Mmmmm~" She nods. "Lucas M." She snaps. "Just like Leon K."
Lucas drops his shirt on the other clothes in her basket. "Close. But you do know that K. isn't Leon's last name right?"
"It's not? Why would it be on his name badge?" Sasha inquires.
Lucas shrugs. "It is weird since it's normally the first name that is an initial while the last name is spelled out. But then again Leon isn't your typical police officer"
"He's not?" Sasha asks.
"Well, I'm not exactly sure. But he is a police officer. An over qualified police officer" Lucas considers the oddity that is Leon. It seems that he wasn't as put off by his time in the Military as Lucas himself was.
"So what is your last name?" Sasha asks. "Mine is-"
"Jehsen" Lucas answers with a smirk. "I remembered. And I also remember you dating Morton"
Now it's Sasha's turn to smirk. She shakes her head. "Tsk. Tsk. Tsk. So close. My last name is Jehsen. But I'm not dating Morton. We're just childhood friends. And we decided that we wouldn't be a good couple so you don't need to worry about him being jealous if we started dating….. or anything"
Lucas rubs his chin as he smiles. "I'll keep that in mind. And my last name is Meyers"
Sasha tucks some of her red hair behind her left ear. "Meyers. Lucas Meyers. Interesting. I kinda like Meyers more than Jehsen. Sasha Meyers sounds a lot better. Don't you think?"
Lucas gently puts his index and middle finger on her forehead. "I 'think' you are getting a little ahead of yourself. Thanks for doing the laundry by the way"
Sasha pouts as Lucas takes his hand back to his side. She puffs her right cheek. "It's not a problem"
Lucas begins walking away and waves over his shoulder. "Sasha Meyers does have a nice ring to it. See you around, Sasha~"
Sasha watches him leave and mutters to herself. "I knew I was right"
—————————
Lucas goes up the slope and goes back to camp.
Carl runs up to Lucas. "Can you teach me how to use a knife like you do?! Please!?"
Sophia, Osman, Lois, and Eliza also run up to Lucas.
Osman slouches his shoulders. "I just want to watch…."
Sophia, Lois, and Eliza agree with Osman.
Lois nods. "Yeah! What Oz said!"
Lucas looks at the kids. "Oz?"
Carl points at Osman. "Oz is easier to say than Osman. And it makes him sound like a cool wizard"
Lucas can't bring himself to crush their idea by telling them that Oz was a place. And that the Wizard of Oz was actually just a normal man. "You're right. Oz does sound cool"
Osman smiles brightly but doesn't say anything.
Lucas looks up at Amy and Isabell as they walk over. Both with red faces.
"Why did you give Sasha your shirt?" Isabell asks.
"And why did you touch her?" Amy narrows her eyes.
Lucas holds his hands up. "I gave her my shirt because she offered to wash it. And I tapped her forehead because….. it's something I remembered a friend of mine used to do. And I decided to start doing it. I'll eventually tell you what it means"
Isabell walks up to the kids. "We shouldn't bother Lucas. He's probably busy"
Amy walks up beside Isabell. "And you should ask your mom before Lucas teaches you anything about a knife and how to use one"
Carl squeezes his hands closed. "What? Why~?"
Lucas tousles Carls hair. "Because it's your oarent's job to keep you safe and decide what is and isn't good for you. And knives are sharp and dangerous. So like a field trip for school you need your parent's permission"
Carl looks down at the ground. "Just say mom"
"Huh?" Lucas takes his hand off Carl's head and crouches down. "Why would I just say mom?" As soon as he said those words he realizes why.
Carl kicks a rock onto its side. "Because my dad is dead. So I don't have parents. I have 'a' parent"
Lucas rests his hands on his knees. "Carl. Rick is still your dad. He's just not with everyone anymore. Because as cheesy as it is…." Lucas taps Carls chest. "Your dad is here" Lucas then taps Carl's head. "And you remember him here"
Lucas closes his eyes and gives a bright smile. "Just like how my family is here" He points at his own chest and then at his head. "And I remember them here. So even if they are no longer here with me. I love them enough and they loved me enough to stay with me in spirit and in memories. And even when the memories get hazy and we forget things….. that still doesn't mean we truly forget them. But yeah…" Lucas pats Carl's shoulder. "Ask your parents if you should learn to use a knife. When I was your age I was learning to whittle with proper supervision"
Carl wipes a tear from his eyes. "W-what does 'whittle' mean?"
Lucas opens his eyes and scratches his cheek. "It means to carve a piece of wood by taking off small chunks at a time"
Amy smiles lightly. "Okay Mr. Boy Scout" She jokes.
Lucas pushes off his knees and stands up. "Eagle Scout, thank you very much. It looks better on a résumé"
"What was your Eagle project?" Isabell quietly asks.
Lucas rubs the back of his head. "It wasn't anything special"
Isabell shakes her head. "Eagle projects are always special. Even if the person who does them doesn't think so. The whole point of doing one is to help others. So even if you don't think it was a big deal…. It was a big deal to someone….. probably" She blushes as she realizes she was talking loudly.
Lucas puts his hands on his hips and smiles. "You're right Isabell. And you've got a cute voice"
"What is an Eagle project exactly? I still don't know what it is" Amy jumps into the conversation.
Lucas stretches his calves. "An Eagle project is a project that a Boy Scout leads himself. The Scout must lead, plan, fundraise, and execute the plan himself with the help of others. The project is nonprofit and for the public. The project can be something like building a bench for a park or it could be something that will help people out. But you must get permission from not only the place you are doing the project for but also the higher ups in the BSA"
Amy looks at Lucas like she totally understood everything he said. "Right~. So what was your project?"
Isabell smiles. She finds Amy's reaction funny.
Lucas sighs. "Paaaaahhhhhh. It was just a small project for a park. I planted a garden"