Chapter Two

Dani drove through the night, non-stop. She was so wide awake and anxious about what she would find in DC. As she noticed the gold pink rays of dawn breaking through the clouds in the sky, she sighed. She drove through without an incident. No Walkers stumbling down the streets or anyone trying to stop her. And thank God, no stalled cars were blocking her path. The cars she did see were off to the sides of the road, and seeing some that were pushed head first into ditches. It meant the path was cleared for other people. She had only hoped that the people who did this weren't psychos or killers. For once, it would be nice to meet good people. And to her big relief, she saw a green street sign that read: Washington DC 20 MILES.

She quickly smirked at that thought, for she knew the only good people she saw now were the Walkers. They were originally good people when they were alive. Too good for this God Forsaken world now. She surmised that maybe a lot of these things tried to help others when all of this happened, and they got killed for it. It always seemed to be that way now. Good people can't live in this world now. And she wondered what did all the horrors she went through make her?

Suddenly, her engine started to stall, as she saw white steam escape from underneath her hood. She pulled over immediately and popped the hood. She got out and flew the hood open, allowing herself to be enveloped in hot steam. She saw that it was the coolant, and it wasn't coming from the radiator, but the radiator hose. "Shit," she muttered. "What the fuck do I do now?"

She looked around and saw no one nearby. Her best chance now was to find a hose that matches the one she has. Or try to find one that is a close match. She grabbed her Winchester and a bottle of water. She looked around again, making sure she was alone. The car wouldn't go anywhere, but she did have some good things a survivor would kill his mother for. She left the hood open, and continued on her way to the other cars she had seen. Hopefully she could find something for her radiator.

After about an hour of searching, she did find a hose that resembled the one she needed. She only hoped it would work. It would be a shame to abandon Dave's car now right when she is getting so close. She strolled back to the car, whistling a little to herself. She then started to hum one of her favorite songs, an old Blue Oyster Cult song called Veteran of a Thousand Psychic Wars. She started to think about that movie she first heard that song in, Heavy Metal. She and Dave loved that movie, despite the bad animation. She remembered it was the music she loved the most.

And now it's the music she treasures the most. It's all she has left now of her brother. She only hoped that he would have…

Just then a man jumped out right in front of her, holding a crossbow right to her head. His hair was long and dirty and he wore a beaten leather vest. She quickly aimed her rifle right at his head. "Put down the bow, Asshole, or I'll plug you between the eyes."

"Not b'for I shoot you first," he exclaimed, his blue eyes gazing right at her. "Where your people?"

"I'm not with anyone," Dani said, still keeping her rifle at him. "I don't have anything on me. I just want to go."

"Not before I ask some questions." He then whistled and snapped his fingers, and a group of 2 men and 2 women walked out of the woods, aiming their guns right at her. Dani let out a sad sigh. One of them, a man with a full beard and angry eyes walked right up to her. The look he was giving her made her blood run cold. He stood directly right in front of her.

"Now, would you mind giving me your weapon while we ask some questions," the man in a southern accent said. "We just need to know some things. Then you can be on your way."

Dani shook her head, now pointing the gun right at him. "Sorry, Grizzly Adams. I never give my gun to anyone." She heard the redneck with the crossbow scoff. Still, she kept her aim on the man in front of her. She knew his people had their guns on her, but no way would she be taken prisoner again. She tried to think of something else to say as fast as she can. "I just want to get the hell out of here. I don't want to hurt anyone."

The leader cocked his face a little, still keeping his gaze on her. "Well, we don't want to hurt anyone either. Thing is, this morning, someone was screwing with us." Dani still kept her composure, still keeping her sights on him. "Someone's been watching us. We want to know if that was you."

"You been watchin' us or what," she redneck answered right back.

Dani gave them a very puzzled look. "Why the Hell would I do that? My car just broke down about a mile from here. I was trying to find a goddamned radiator hose for it, and you guys ambush me because you think I'm stalking you?" She shook her head. "Sorry, fellas. I have way better things to do with my time rather than worrying about strangers I don't know or care about. So just let me by!" She started to walk up, and the leader pulled his gun up to her head. "Jesus Christ, Asshole! Let me go!"

An older woman with short gray hair immediately stepped forward. "Rick, we don't need to do this," she said as she stepped next to the redneck. "She's alone. I don't see anyone else."

"Eh, bullshit," the redneck bellowed to her. "Ever since the prison, everyone we've come across with has tried to kill us. This girl is lyin'."

"I'm not lying!" Dani almost heard the sob in her throat. She was starting to feel shaky all over. "I swear!"

A young Asian man stepped up, lowering his gun. "You mean, you didn't leave jugs of water by our camp last night," he asked her out of concern.

Dani gave him a very confused look. "Why the hell would someone do that? Why waste whatever precious resources on people they don't know?"

"Exactly," the leader, whom she now knew was called Rick, spoke again, and this time he was lowering his gun as well. "We found jugs of water right by where we were camping last night. This person left a note, saying he or she was a friend. We just wanted to know if you knew anything by it."

The redneck then stepped forward, not lowering his crossbow, still keeping aim on her. "You tellin' us you don't know nothin' about this?"

Danni nodded her head. "Yes. I have no idea what's going on, or whose doing this. It is weird though." She then heard what she assumed to be a cry of a baby. She turned her head, and saw a teen of about 14 wearing a sheriff's hat walking up to the group, carrying a baby in his arms.

"Dad," the boy said, Rick turning his head to meet him. "Judith needs water. She's been crying all morning."

"Not now, Carl," Rick exclaimed. "We need to know if that water's safe to drink."

Dani turned her attention towards the baby. She smiled faintly at the little girl in her brother's arms. "You guys have a baby," she said. "I thought I'd never see another baby again."

The boy, Carl, walked up to her, giving her a thoughtful look. "My name is Carl Grimes. Pleased to meet you." He extended his hand to her. Dani was taken aback by this action, for all she had met on her days on the road was hostility from the living. And here was this boy, trying to show at least some decency and trust in an unforgiving place. Dani smiled, and shook his hand.

"Nice to meet you, Carl. My name is Danielle Evans. Most people used to call me Dani."

Carl then held up the baby so that Dani could see her better. The little girl placed her head against his chest, but looked at Danni with a frightened look. "This is my sister, Judith."

Dani smile at the baby. To her amusement, the little girl gave her a smile. Then turned her attention to her big brother.

"Were you the one who left us the water," Carl asked her. Dani shook her head.

"I'm sorry, Carl. It wasn't me. That's what I've been trying to tell your dad and your friends here." She turned her attention back to Rick. "I do have water back at my car. And I have no reason to contaminate my only supplies. I'm willing to give you some, especially for the baby." She then held up her radiator hose that she had found. "If someone could help me reattach a radiator hose as a fair exchange, I'd be very happy."

Slowly, one by one, they turned their heads towards the redneck. He merely scuffed and uttered some profanity under his breath. "C'mon," he motioned to Danni as he turned to walk down the road. Dani followed him, with the rest of the group on her tracks. She knew they were watching her. As she was paying close attention as well. She then noticed the redneck had gray wings on the back of his vest. She nearly gave a chuckle, for he appeared to be no angel to her. Still, she kept quiet. Make sure these people have a little water, get the hose fixed, and be on her way to DC. That was the plan, and she was sure sticking to it.

"You're not from around here," she heard Rick ask her. "I noticed your accent." She turned her head towards him and nodded.

"I'm from Chicago. When all this happened, we were heading towards Washington DC, hoping there was something there," she said. She gave out sigh. "We got stuck outside of Louisville for the winter. We had a good place, but.." her voice trailed off. She didn't want to bring that part up.

Rick nodded. "We had a place too, not long ago. We lost that too. I can't imagine what it's like, being on your own out here. You've been out here for how long?"

"Several weeks, since we lost our place. It was a strip mall, but we tried to maintain it. But, the dead always win."

A lone figured walked out into the road ahead of them. As they got closer, she could see that it was a woman with long dread locks, holding the handle of a sheathed sword behind her. She approached them cautiously. Rick waved to her.

"Michonne," he called out. "Did you see anything?"

Michonne shook her head. "Still looking, but whoever it was is long gone."

"Woulda told you that already," the redneck stammered, sounding very annoyed. "I checked the woods this morning. I found no tracks."

"We know, Daryl," the white haired woman replied, putting a hand on his shoulder. He immediately shrugged her hand away. The way this guy was acting made her nervous. Some of the people seemed nice, but Daryl, if that was his name, seemed scary, like the men she had to kill in the town the other day. She wondered what he would have done to her if Rick and his people hadn't walked out of the woods to talk to her. She wanted to get as far away from them as possible, especially from him.

"What kind of car you drive, Dani," Daryl called out to her. She was reluctant to respond to him, but Rick nodded to her, letting her know it was okay.

"Dodge Challenger," she replied. "Just up the road."

"What year," he asked.

"1970."

"Really," the Asian man perked up, walking right up to Dani. "A 1970 Dodge Challenger?"

"It was my brothers," she dryly replied. The man gave her a sad look, letting her know her he understood and walked with her.

"My name is Glenn," he said to her. "We're not really bad people. You just met us at a bad time."

"It's a bad time all around," Dani said, still walking forward. "It never gets any easier."

Glenn nodded and continued to walk with her.

Michonne immediately walked up to Dani, looking her over. There was something very intimidating about this woman. Still, Dani kept herself calm, but very vigilant. "Who are you," she asked, still holding the handle to her sword.

"My name is Danielle. You can call me Dani." She then extended her hand to her. Michonne continued to look at her, her eyes showing a grave mistrust that Dani understood. She then looked at Rick, who nodded at her, assuring her that Dani is not a threat. Michonne then shook her hand.

"Nice to meet you, Danielle. So do you have any idea who's been stalking us?"

Dani shook her head. "No idea. I'm just as stumped as you are about this." Michonne was still glaring at her, probably looking for a sign of deceit. Dani answered honestly; "The whole thing doesn't make any sense to me. I mean, why would anyone do this?" She then turned to Rick. "Do you think the water's safe? I mean to drink?"

Rick turned to her. "That's what we're trying to find out. We woke up this morning, and there were at least seven big jugs of water close by us. We don't know who left it or why. The worst case scenario is it could be drugged, and then we'd all be killed or taken away. We can't risk that." Rick then held his head down. "Thing is, we are very low on supplies and water. I don't know how much longer we can hold out." He then walked up to her, placing his hand on her shoulder, making her flinch a bit. "If you could help us, we'd really appreciate it."

Dani looked at Rick in the face, and saw desperation and defeat. It was obvious they had been out here in the wastelands by themselves for quite a while. She wanted to help, but was unsure if she could trust them.

Then she looked over at Carl, holding Judith in his arms. To raise a baby right now in this world is dangerous and very hard. She had seen dead abandoned babies as she traveled across three states to get to this point. And to see that this group actually cared about this child was proof enough that there are people who do care. They love this little girl. And they would do anything to ensure her survival.

She looked back at Rick and nodded. "I'll give you what I can. But as soon as my car is fixed, I'm heading out."

Rick agreed. "Fair enough." He let his hand fall from her shoulder and continued to walk on. She followed behind, feeling a bit sad herself. She had to admit to herself that is was a little easier on herself on her own. No supplies to share with anyone or fight over. And here is this man, this group's leader, trying very hard for his people to stay alive with very little. She began to worry about the situation more than ever, for even a person with good intentions could rob her blind. She then thumbed the clasp around her knife in the inside of her sleeve, and kept an eagle's eye on him. If she had to, she could take out the leader, see what happens. She only prayed it wouldn't come to that.

"By the way," the white haired lady looked back at her. "I'm Carol. Sorry for the poor introductions."

Dani shrugged. "No need. I remember you trying to help me."

Carol gave her a sad look. "Well, I get it. You are out here on your own, men corner you like some caged animal, and what could you do? I knew right away you weren't a threat. You're only surviving. It's all we have now."

Dani remained silent, for she understood what Carol had meant. It is harder for women out here. That she could agree on.

They finally reached her car. Daryl then asked for the radiator hose that Dani had found. She handed it over to him. She then leaned against the driver's window for she hoped would be a short wait. Glenn was looking around at debris, hoping to find anything useful. He did look up to compliment her on the car. She thanked him, with a small smile.

"Dani," Daryl waved her over. She walked up to him, and showed her the problem. "This ain't the right hose."

"Seriously?" Her heart sank. She was so sure she had the right one. But Daryl pointed out to her how the hose wasn't the right fit. In anger, she kicked the dirt at her heels. "Goddammit! I was so sure!" She felt her throat get hard, and she fought her tears. This was her brother's car! And she was so damned close!

She felt a pat on her shoulder. She spun around and saw that it was Glenn. "I'm sorry Dani," he replied sadly. "But without a hose, your car can't make it."

Rick then stepped up to her. "I'm sorry as well. But if you could help us with some supplies, you could join us. Where are you headed?"

"DC. Not that it makes much difference." She scowled. "This was my brother's car! I just can't leave it behind!"

"I understand, Dani," Rick assured her. "But we have other people who need help. If you could help us, you could be one of us. I promise, no one will hurt you. We aren't like that."

Dani gave a soft growl. A group was the last thing she wanted. And now it appears she's stuck with them. How could she be sure they were good people?

"We're also headed to DC as well," Rick continued. "We figure something has to be there as well."

Dani gave Rick a desperate look. Like it or not, she needed help. And these people seemed to want to help her, but it seems as long as she helps them. She pulled her keys out of her jacket pocket and walked over to the trunk of her car. "I have some," she replied. "But not much. It's for the baby. I have some food, but it's up to me who gets it. Understand?"

Rick nodded in compliance, walking towards her as she opened the trunk.

What she saw next made her jump. "OMIGOD!"

"Holy shit," Rick muttered, looking at the object that Dani had found. Daryl, Glenn and Carol followed suit, and stood around Dani as they saw what she had found.

Inside, on top of the bag of supplies, was a radiator hose, with a note attached to it. Rick grabbed the note and read it out loud. The contents sounded familiar, but were all too convincing as well; someone was watching them!

Lady with the black leather jacket: figured you might need this on your way.

Signed,

A Friend.