Me and Colt jumped awake when Jaquie lightly tapped my shoulder. As we got out of the van i held Colt in my arms since he was still tired. He was young and needed as much sleep as possible. I stopped in my tracks when i saw my brother standing there watching Ricks family reunion. My brother was here right in front of me.
"Joelle?" i cringed at my name. I don't know what made my parents choose that as my name its horrendous.
"Shane." he walked over to me pulling me into a hug being mindful of Colt. i relaxed in his embrace smiling.
"Where the hell have you been? When shit went down you should have came back home." i scoffed and shoved him away. I didn't need a lecture from him. I knew what my duty was. Its to protect the innocent.
"Can we please save this for later. Its been a hell of a day for all of us. T needs to rest his ribs. And i think all of us deserve a nap and some time with our loved ones." i walked over to Rick and Lori and hugged their family. Looking down at little Carl i smiled at how big he's gotten.
"Who's this cutie Jo? I don't remember you having a son." Lori asked me with a smile. She always wanted me to get married and have kids but that just wasn't my thing.
"His name is Colt. is there any place i can lay him down? He's heavier than he looks." Lori pointed me to the RV, said i can set him down on the bed in there. Thankful that he would get to sleep in a real bed i wasted no time taking him inside and set him down.
I jumped when an older gentleman walked into the RV. "sorry i didn't mean to startle you. I'm Dale. you and your boy can sleep in here until we can get you both a tent. You look like you need a comfy bed."
I could tell he was a kind soul. Not one you would find in this world. I quietly said thank you before laying next to Colt. sleep taking me as well. I woke up when Shane shook me telling me it was time for dinner. Letting him know i'd be out in a minute he left the RV for me to wake Colt up.
"Hey sweetheart its time to get up. Everyone is outside having dinner and i doubt you wanna miss food." shoving his head into the pillow i heard him mumble something along 'still tired'. Rolling my eyes i poked his side causing him to squirm. Smirking i kept poking him until he started laughing and pushing my hands away. That laugh was the best thing i've heard in a while, telling me that there's nothing to worry about. That he hasn't lost his innocence. Finally getting lazy butt out of bed we made our way outside and sat next to Shane.
~3rd Person POV~
Everyone sat around the campfire almost as if it were normal weekly getaway with friends. Rick had his family back and Jo had her brother and Colt. almost nothing could destroy what peace and happiness this group had. The group besides Ed's family who sat away from the rest listened intently to Rick's coma story. Jo wasn't surprised when Carl had told him that Shane said he died. In that sort of situation its easy to believe. Especially since it wasn't uncommon for her to hear how some of her fellow soldiers went awol killing everyone they seen infected or not.
Everyone turned their attention to Jo when Dale asked about her. "There isn't uh much to tell about me." both Shane and Rick scoffed at that answer. She was always modest and hated the spotlight which confused them because she went into the military and became a Sergeant which almost demanded the spotlight.
"Well i am or i guess was Sergeant Jo Walsh of the United States Marines. When everything started i was overseas in Afghanistan with my team. When they set up the refugee center in atlanta they needed every able body protecting it. Since i guess my record is known for protecting people i was on the top of that list. We were overrun the night they bombed the streets. I found Colt hiding and me and him escaped together. He's been my partner in crime ever since."
"Combat training will be useful around here. Especially ant medical training you have." Dale chipped in. with storytime over and Shane dealing with Ed everyone decided to turn in for the night. Jo and Colt were out the second their heads hit the pillow while others *cough* Rick and Lori. *cough* were busy doing other things.
That morning Jo drug Colt down to the quarry to take a much needed bath and clothes change. The bath quickly turned into a water fight causing them to burst into a fit of giggles. After goofing off for a while they got dressed and went back up to camp. Colt ran to play with Carl while Jo helped Lori hang up clothes.
Jo instantly felt some tension when Rick walked over. And no it wasn't sexual tension either. Jo and Lori both knew that look on Ricks face. He was thinking about doing something Lori wasn't gonna like. Growing nervous Lori asked him what he was thinking.
"I've been thinking about that man we left behind." He wasn't possibly thinking of going after Merle was he? Of course he was. Good ol Rick doing the good thing no matter what.
"Are you asking me or telling me?" Feeling as though she was intruding on a family moment she started to walk away. But her walking turned into running when the kids started yelling for their parents. When Jo reached Colt she hugged him before leaving him with Lori. The men and Jo come to a clearing and see a walker eating a deer.
Circling the walker Jo pulled her knife out of the sheath. Noticing the people around it the walker stood only to get the crap beat out of it. Jo didn't both trying to hit it. Obviously testosterone was taking over. The beat down ended when Dale cut the walkers head off.
"We've never had one up this far." Everyone looked at Dale then to Jim who made a comment about how they are running out of food in the city. Everyone became alert when leaves and twigs snapped in the distance. After a few tense seconds a man with a crossbow walked out of the woods.
~Jo's POV~
I watched the man jump in surprise when he saw Shane pointing his gun at him. His rather relaxed demeanor turned to anger when he noticed the deer i'm guessing he was tracking had been chewed on by the walker. Walking over he started kicking the body in anger.
"gnawed on by this filthy, disease bearing, motherless, poxy bastard!" I watched him carefully easily knowing this was Merle's brother. Looks may not say it but attitude definitely does.
"Calm down son thats not helping." Dammit Dale. Keep your mouth shut. I couldn't remember this man's name to save my life. Mind you i was exhausted when they were talking about him last night. I snapped back to reality when Amy gasped. Looking at the walker head i rolled my eyes throwing my knife. My blade connected with its skull the same time an arrow does.
Looking up I noticed everyone was looking at me. Walking over i pulled out my knife and the arrow. "If you boys are done with your little pissing contest. Its gotta be the brain. At least the brain stem. Center of all human life." Handing the arrow off the Dixon, both of us sharing a silent nod before i made my way back to camp.
"Should listen to girl. Don't y'all know nothin?" Hearing his footsteps behind me i walked slightly faster. Wanting to be near Colt when the storm hit. When i broke the tree line Colt instantly tackled me in a hug.
"Hey sweetheart. Don't worry your safe now." We walked over to the RV and sat under the awning.
"Hey Daryl can you hold up a minute? We need to talk about something." I watched Dixons body language change. He tensed under the eyes of everyone. I'll take note of that. He doesn't like attention.
"There was a problem in Atlanta." For an officer Shane was really bad at delivering bad news. Standing up i was getting ready to jump in when i needed to. Daryl asked if he was dead and Shane answered truthfully I'll give him that.
"We don't know." Sadly that seemed like the answer Daryl didn't want. Wiping his eyes preventing any tears from escaping he started pacing. Ok his movements are more swift and getting erratic. He's turning hostile. One wrong move. One incorrect statement and he will crack. I stepped closer when Rick decided to speak up.
"Since no one else will say it i will. Your brother was a danger to himself and us. I handcuffed him to the roof hooked to a pipe. He's still there." Well you know what they say about just ripping the bandaid off. To bad it was a wrong move. Daryl's pacing cane to a halt everyone watched in worry when he threw his sling of squirrel at Rick and Shane.
When they ducked out of the way he charged at them with his knife drawn. Someone yelled to watch the knife as if it wasn't obvious. Watching Shane put all his football practice to good use he tackles Daryl causing his to drop the knife.
Rick knelt down in front of the pair. "I would like to have a calm discussion on this. Do you think we can manage that?" When Daryl didn't answer Rick asked again. Noticing the position of Shane's arm and Daryl's neck he's not doing a blood choke.
"Shane ease up on his neck before you kill him." Shane ignored me so i walked over and ripped his arms off of Daryl.
"Next time you try subduing someone try a blood choke. Air chokes make you look like a douchebag." Everyone looked at me strangely mainly because i just saved Dixons life. And possibly because i just stood up to my brother which people seem to have a hard time doing.
Rick cut the silence. "What i did was not on a whim. Your brother does not work or play well with others. But he is alive. Chained up on that roof waiting for us."
I have a poll up on whether Jo should stay in camp or go with the guys when they get merle. i have some good ideas for both and cant choose. i was hoping you guys could help me out!