Thank you for those of you who reviewed. I GREATLY appreciate it!

Since this AU, I know it will diverge from the show in many aspects. However, I will try to keep to certain events and include places/people from the show and the comics as well as I can in order to make the story as "believable" as possible.

I have figured out a good writing schedule for myself and think I will update between Monday and Wednesday once a week, every week. I will try to keep to this, but make no promises! =D

Chapter 2 = Grave Digger, Grave Robber

The sound of screaming. Yelling.

It was full of pain.

Angry.

Gareth looked down at his left arm. What he saw made his stomach twist and bile filled his mouth. It was rotted, green and grey, congealed brown blood pooling over sick dead skin. He was going to puke. His stomach heaved violently.

"Gareth." a gentle voice brought him out of his panic. He looked up frantically.

"Mom?"

There she was, smiling. Mary's eyes were gentle and full of love. Of life. It was as if the Turn had never happened.

And then she was gone.

A large hand knotted in his hair, yanking him backwards and he could feel hot rotting breath on his neck. Another hand was grabbing the front of his pants, squeezing and pulling hard. Gareth went stiff as he remembered who it was. What had happened to him in those hellish weeks... When those demons had taken Terminus.

Screaming. Yelling.

Angry.

It was angry.

Gareth's eyes fluttered slightly.

"Bob is dead! He's gone, Rick" Sasha's pain rang clearly in Gareth's ears.

"Killing this man will not bring him back." Gabriel's soft voice tried to break through her hysteria and failed. Gareth blurry vision came slowly into focus. He was is a closet of sorts, a long pantry with no windows. Floor to ceiling metal shelving lined either side of him.

"Rick! Are you really going to let this happen?"

"It's his house. His rules." Rick did not sound happy at all, "Besides I was right about you finally getting your hands dirty Father."

Sasha made an aggravated noise and the sound of heavy stomping followed, getting quieter and quieter as she made a beeline for the outside, muttering about getting some fresh air.

Gareth turned his head slightly and he could see Father Gabriel and Rick standing in a doorway. Past them, Gareth could see Gabriel's office. He was still in the church, but stuffed into some backroom. His left hand was heavily bandaged and throbbing so he shifted slightly, trying to get comfortable, and heard a clank. Looking to his right he found that his other wrist was handcuffed to one the metal racks. Instinctively, he pulled against it, causing another clank as the chain rattled.

Both Rick and Gabriel turned at the sound. Gareth froze and looked up at them, dark eyes hooded and emotionless. He met Rick's gaze with iron determination, the leader's icy gaze only making his own harder.

Gareth was alive.

Apparently he would stay alive too, thanks to the stupid priest. Gareth felt his strength, his stubbornness, and his anger returning. He had been given a second chance, and now with everyone he had every loved gone, all the people who had looked up to him butchered, and his home burned to the ground, Gareth really had nothing to hold him back.

Or hold him down.

He felt strangely liberated.

Gareth knew that this was wrong. He should be sad, no, he should be devastated. Last night he had broken down and cried because he was so broken. However, as he stared at Rick, meeting his unspoken challenge, he felt invigorated and strong.

"You haven't killed me," His eyebrow gave a sudden quirk, "That's kind. What's with the handcuffs? I'm unarmed and injured."

"I don't trust you to not do something stupid."

"You should know that I'm not stupid." Gareth recounted smoothly. He held up both hand, palms outward and raised in surrender. "You made me a promise, now I make you one. I will not do anything stupid."

Gareth couldn't help the smirk that played casually on his lips. However, his stomach was starting to turn a little bit. Fatigue was starting to set in, making his eyes droop and his arms unbearably heavy. He was thirsty and his churning stomach yearned for sustenance.

"May I at least have some water? Food?"

Gabriel nodded and scurried away, leaving just Rick and Gareth. Rick watched the shorter man bustle about outside before turning back towards Gareth. He stepped into the pantry, taking just one more glance over his shoulder before squatting down to be down on Gareth's level. Gareth just watched him intently, leaning back against one of the metal racks, his injured handed cradled to his chest.

"I want to make something very clear. I do not give a damn about the Father's guilt or redemption. I let him save you because it is about time he woke up to reality of this world. I am going to kill you. In the end."

Gareth just sat there, drinking in those words. He turned them over inside his head, tasting them and finding them true.

"I know." Gareth replied softly, nodding.

"Dad? Dad?" Carl strolled into Gabriel's office, looking around with his hand on his gun handle. The boy's eyes settled upon his father, watching him as he stood back up. For a brief second Carl looked past his father and curiously peered at Gareth from beneath his sheriff's hat. Rick noticed and quickly blocked both of the younger males' view of each other.

"They're leaving." Carl said finally. Rick nodded and threw a warning glance over his shoulder at Gareth before following his son outside. As he exited, Father Gabriel came hurriedly back in, carrying water and a few nutrition bars. The shorted man almost ran into Rick, but backed away and danced nervously around him, never looking up.

Gareth took the large cup of clean water that Gabriel offered.

"Thank you Father." Gareth purred. Gabriel didn't answer just nodded and starting pulling wrappers off of two of the bars. He placed them on Gareth's lap and then pulled a first aid kit off of one of the shelves.

"Give me your hand please," Gabriel was so polite, Gareth almost rolled his eyes, but presented his hand instead. The priest went about examining the bandages. "Well it looks like the bleeding has stopped. I am going to take them off, disinfect your wounds and then stitch them up. I don't have any anesthetic, so it's going to hurt. I'm sorry."

Gareth just smiled, willing down the nervousness.

"That's fine," He paused and then leaned forward a little, making Gabriel jump, "Who's leaving?"

"Um... Abraham, Rosita, Eugene, Maggie, Glenn and Tara. They're heading for Washington."

Gareth frowned. He had not expected that one.

"Rick doesn't strike me as the kind of guy who would split up your merry band."

Father Gabriel licked his lips as he carefully pulled off the bandages. "He's not. Abraham won't tolerate setbacks, and you being here didn't exactly help convince him staying was a pleasant option. Rick can't leave because Daryl and Carol aren't back yet. He'll follow once they return."

"The Archer and that silver haired bitch that killed my mom? Yea, I'll wait for her too." Gareth watched the dread wash over Gabriel's face. He slunk backwards, as if Gareth was some sort of poisonous snake. "Don't worry, Father. I'm joking. I told Rick nothing stupid."

Gareth gave a short laugh and took a large bite of the first bar. Strawberry. Gareth hated strawberry.

The priest now had all the bandages, discolored with blood and dirt, piled neatly to one side. Gareth finally braved looking at his hand. He knew what he would see, but his heart still sank when looked and saw that his two fingers were gone. Just gone. He could almost feel them there, itching and throbbing. He could almost move them...

"Ok, so this is going to sting." Father Gabriel warned. He had a small jug of clear vodka in his hand now.

Gareth shifted nervously, "What's a priest doing with alcohol?"

Gabriel just smiled and then, holding Gareth's hand steady, poured it over Gareth's wounds. Gareth bit back a cry, clenching his jaw tight. He pushed himself back into the metal shelving, his eyes closed. Gabriel did it again and this time Gareth couldn't help but let out a short shrill yelp of pain, but he kept his hand still.

Gabriel released him and then pulled out a hooked needle and some thin white thread.

"Have you ever done this before?" Gareth asked, honestly hoping that Gabriel had.

"Yes, actually."

"How?"

Gabriel paused. "I wasn't always a priest. When I was a young man, I went to med school to be a doctor. I was about 3 semesters from graduation when I was called by the Lord to do His will. I left that future behind and went to Seminary and never looked back. Now it seems that a doctor is more useful in this world than a priest..."

"How ironic." Gareth and Gabriel sat quietly for a moment. As annoying and naive as this priest could be, Gareth actually liked him.

"Just lay down and keep still." Gabriel said, the comforting nature of his voice betraying the fact that he was done treading the needle and was eying Gareth's wounded hand with it poised delicately between his fingers.

"I'll hold him down." A low voice cut in. Rick was back, Carl standing closely behind him in the pantry doorway. Gareth felt his neck heat up. His anger rose in his chest.

"I don't need you too." He was surprised by the coolness of his own words.

"All the same." Rick handed his gun and knife to Carl and walked forward. Without waiting for Gareth to agree or protest, he knelt down close with one knee settled between Gareth's spread legs. He roughly grabbed Gareth's forearm with one hand and Gareth's wrist with another, leaning his elbow on the younger man's chest to pin him against the metal shelving behind him.

Gareth's breath hitched slightly as frightening memories came rushing back. Memories of Terminus that Gareth had suppressed, hidden deep within and convinced himself never happened. Rick's weight on top of him unsettled him in a way that Gareth vowed he would never let happen again. Gareth closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he opened them he could see that Rick was focused on Gabriel. He hadn't even noticed Gareth's reaction.

Gareth finally followed Rick's gaze to Gabriel. The priest had settled on his course of action and gave Gareth one last look before nodding.

"Here we go."

Gareth's face screwed up in pain as the needle pricked into his raw inflamed flesh. He could feel fresh blood starting to pour down his hand. He managed to keep steady though and didn't pull away. His body was taunt and rigid. However as needle dug into him repeatedly over several agonizing minutes, Gareth felt lightheaded.

Rick suddenly let go of his wrist and grabbed his hand. His larger hand was tight around Gareth's, unforgiving.

"Thanks." Gabriel muttered, focus completely on his work.

Gareth gave a loud cry as the needle dug in again. His head sank forward, his stomach doing somersaults. He wanting to puke. He wanted to sleep.

A pillow caught him and he sighed against it's warmth.

He belatedly realized that there were no pillows and he had buried his face into Rick's shoulder. He gave a small moan of protest, trying to pull himself back. His stomach gurgled and salty bile filled his mouth. Damn Strawberry. Disgusting. He didn't want to puke, but maybe if would be worth while if it were all over Rick.

Another searing prick radiated from the needle driving into him.

"Done." Gabriel breathed out finally.

Gareth felt Rick let go of his iron grip on his arm and hand. Suddenly Rick was gone as he rocked back onto his heels, wiping away at the blood covering one of his hands. Gareth almost fell forward, but caught himself just in time to prevent doing a rather spectacular face plant. Gabriel's soothing hand holding his shoulder also helped to steady him.

"Why?" Gareth's question made all of them pause, "Why are you doing this? Helping me?"

He looked from Gabriel quiet face to Rick's.

"Just rest," Gabriel carefully avoided answering.

Rick didn't answer. The older man didn't say anything, just rounded on his heel and left.

Gareth awoke later to his left hand completely bandaged, his right hand hanging awkwardly from the handcuff clasped firmly around his wrist. The closet door was slightly ajar and Gareth couldn't hear any movement or voice beyond it. Looking around at his new home, he spied the glass of water, still half full, and the other nutrition bar.

Gareth's mouth was raw and dry. He grabbed the water and downed it in two large gulps. It probably wasn't the smartest thing to do, he thought retrospectively, but he didn't care. He was in the middle of eating the bar when he heard footsteps outside. He looked up to see Rick, his face tired but fierce.

Without another word, he pulled out a key from his pocket, reached down and unlocked the handcuffs. Gareth paused before pulling his wrist away and rotating it around and massaging it with his left thumb carefully.

Up." The single worded command cut through the silence.

"Why?"

"Up." It was lower, more deadly.

"No." Gareth squinted his eyes and pursed his lips stubbornly.

Rick hooked a hand under Gareth's armpit, yanking mercilessly, so Gareth had no choice but to rise. His feet scrambled underneath him; he managed to find his footing just in time to escape embarrassment. Rick immediately started dragging Gareth out of the pantry. At first the captive went quietly, but his gut told him not to so he dug in his heels.

"What are you going to do with me?" Gareth had a nagging feeling that Rick was done humoring Father Gabriel. "You finally going to kill me?"

Rick looked Gareth up and down slowly. "No." He spat, and Gareth could see that Rick wanted nothing more than to say yes.

When Rick tried to grab Gareth again, the younger man jerked away but held up his hands. "I'll go with you then. Just don't drag me."

Rick shuffled angrily, but nodded his head. "Outside."

Gareth led the way solemnly, walking down the center of the church towards the front doors. Only Sasha was inside, sitting in a pew with Judith wrapped lovingly in her arms. The moment she saw Gareth, she flew to her feet, eyes wide and angry.

"What are you doing?" She demanded.

"He's gonna help Tyreese." Rick said matter-o-factly.

Sasha frowned slightly and shook her head in disgust. "Just get him out of my sight Rick, please."

Gareth just continued walking, giving her a wink before leaving the large apex-ed worship hall. He pushed open the heavy wooden doors and stepped outside. A clean breeze swept through his tousled brown hair and Gareth breathed in in sharply. It was late afternoon, but the sun wouldn't be setting for another two hours or so.

Gareth looking around, simply taking in his situation. He saw Carl disappear around one of the corners of the church, probably doing his own teenage boy thing. Off in the distance, Gareth saw a solitary figure with a shovel, a shallow hole in front of them indicating they had just started digging.

Gareth then realized that it was Tyreese and that there was a body next to him.

Bob's body.

Everything clicked and Gareth figured out why he had been summoned from his comfortable pantry.

"I can't dig his grave Rick. My hand..."

Rick just gave him a push to continue walking. "Oh, you'll dig alright." He then raised his voice, calling out to the large man they were headed towards.

"Tyreese. Let him do it."

Tyreese looked up, taking in the two men headed towards him.

"It's fine," Tyreese said, shrugging, "Besides his hand. He wont be able to."

"He'll dig the grave or I'll shoot him. Hand him the shovel."

"Rick-"

"Tyreese." Rick's tone left no room for negotiation. Tyreese sighed and handed over the shovel slowly.

"Thanks!" Gareth said cheerfully, faking a smile.

"Now dig."

"How deep?"

"Until I say stop." Rick's icy blue gaze was uncomfortably piercing. Gareth truly hated this man.

Gareth sighed. He held the shovel awkwardly in his hands, his injured hand unable to properly grip the shovel. He could feel the stitches stretching painfully and hoped he wouldn't pull any of them loose. The young captive gave Rick once last loathing look before scooping out a small pile of dirt from the hole. Thankfully Tyreese had already broken the ground for him, the huge man's strength loosening up several inches of dirt.

The sun slowly started setting, marking the time Gareth spent laboring away. His shirt was quickly soaked with grime and sweat, his long hair sticking to his forehead and neck. His injured hand ached in pain and made the whole process take much longer than it should have. Soon Gareth was standing in the middle of human sized hole about two feet deep.

Gareth looked up suddenly just in time to see Gabriel race down the steps of the church toward them.

"What is going on!?" Father Gabriel exclaimed worriedly. Gareth almost laughed. He's worried about a cannibal.

Rick didn't even turn to acknowledge him. "He's digging a grave for Bob."

Gabriel shook his head, "He is injured and has been unconscious for a good part of the day."

Gareth finally did give a small laugh, his arms aching. It was hard to get a good grip on the shovel because his hands where so sweaty, filled with splinters and covered in forming blisters. His head was beginning to swim in circles.

"Man, I wouldn't get involved," Tyreese said, trying to keep the situation from escalating. Always the peace keeper.

"Rick please, let him rest. Once he is stronger, he can dig all the graves you want." Gabriel's high voice was getting shriller. "Look at him Rick, he's about to pass out. Have you given him any water?"

Gareth paused for a moment leaning heavily on the shovel and looking up at the three men.

"To be quite honest I've never have more fun." His smile was forced and sloppy. Why wouldn't everything just stay still. He couldn't fucking focus. Then without warning, he leaned over and vomited the meager entirety of his stomach contents out all over the ground in front of him. He gasped for air as he body continued to dry heave. He dazedly wiped the spittle from his lips.

"Ok, that's enough. Please let him stop." Gabriel almost sounded firm. Almost.

"No." Rick gravely voice was hard.

"Rick.." Tyreese spoke up quietly, "Maybe just a break. Or I could finish it. I wouldn't mind."

"There you go," Gabriel sounded victorious, "Tyreese can dig Bob's grave."

"I said no!"

Their voices grew louder and Gareth's vision kept swimming. He stumbled slightly, the shovel the only thing keeping him from going headlong into the dirt, but his grip on it was rapidly giving way.

"I-" Gareth felt his knees buckle and he fell straight into his freshly dug grave.

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