A/N.

Sandwich Shop Mayo, challenge accepted.

MissyMoo83, Rick is the best... well, after Carl.

bluecrush611, it better go on for years and years. ^^

6747, yes and for a good reason too.

deelove1 & idannietg, thank you!

.

Now... I have something to ask. The Governor will be ambushing in 3 chapters.

I have choices to make and so do you.

At least one and probably two of these are going to die.

Who do you want to see survive?

The options are:

Beth, Maggie, Glenn and Carol.

Happy deciding!

.

From the Watchtower

Andrea had been introduced the last surviving prisoner and the new people. Tyreese was spending a lot of time talking to Carol, but the others kept their distance. Andrea had apologized to Michonne and they had reached some sort of understanding. They weren't back to where they were. Andrea had made some pretty big mistakes defending Phillip but hopefully Michonne would forgive and forget sooner rather than later.

She offered to keep watch later that night and went out on the watchtower, cold breeze numbing her skin. She looked out the scope of her rifle. It was going to be a long night.

"Hey."

Andrea turned her head as Rick came up the ladder and stood beside her.

"Hi stranger." It was hard to be light-hearted with him after all they'd been through. He was probably still grieving for his wife. She was stuck kicking herself for all her mistakes. Part of her didn't believe that she deserved to be back here with the group but that was a small part that she was trying to actively ignore.

"You could have waited a night before taking post. Get some rest."

She gave him a weak smile. "Thanks. But I'd rather be doing something." It reminded her of how Phillip hadn't let her do anything, purposely keeping her in her place. Just remembering that turned her off ever resting again. She'd rest when she was dead.

"Your choice."

Damn right it was. Andrea glanced over at him. It was good to be trusted again. Rick was a better man than most and Shane had tried to get rid of him. She still couldn't get over that. How could she have been so wrong?

"So what's this new guy like?" Rick spoke again. She had wanted to bring up Shane and what happened but didn't know how to start the conversation. It took her a moment to realize what he was talking about.

"Milton? He's a scientist. Sensitive. Not much of a fighter." She'd seen him kill one walker on the way back and it seemed like his first kill. He was more normal than most though. Andrea remembered the sick thrill she got out of killing walkers and how Phillip had told her it was a human response. Now it felt like that was another lie. Maybe Milton was the normal one. Maybe there really was something seriously wrong with her. "Philli-the Governor was using him to do experiments on walkers. To see how human they really are." He was doing it for his daughter Penny apparently but Andrea didn't want to tell that story yet.

Rick didn't appear amused. "And are they? Human?"

"I was there when he conducted his experiment but it didn't work. I had to kill his subject."

"I'm betting that's a no then."

"Yeah..." They stood in silence for a while and Andrea wondered when he was going to leave. She wanted to be alone with her self pity for a while but when he didn't go she frowned at him. "Look, I know Michonne might tell you so I'll come out with it. I was with the Governor when I was there. Seeing him. I don't know what the hell I was thinking. It had been such a long time before I felt safe and..." the words kept tumbling out of her mouth. "It was the wrong call to make. I didn't realize what a psychopath he was until I saw Daryl and after what happened with Michonne I just put two and two together."

Andrea's shoulders stiffened as she felt Rick's arm go around her. It was meant to be comforting but it just made her think of how she messed up with Shane as well. He gave her shoulders a light squeeze and then let her go again. Immediately she missed the absence of his arm when the cold wind blew into her again.

"I doubt there are any of us that haven't done something we regret these days."

Andrea hesitated. That wasn't the only thing she regretted. There was a deep pit in her stomach as she debated about saying more. "I slept with Shane. Before everything at the farm went down." She felt like she needed to confess and Rick was the only one she felt comfortable confessing to. There was something about Rick, something she couldn't help but trust. She wanted him to know just how stupid she'd been.

He was speechless for a moment. She continued. "I guess I've been making all the wrong choices. Look, I know I don't have to apologize to you for my poor judge of character but I'm sorry."

"You don't." Shane. That was in all honesty the last person that Rick ever wanted to discuss after what happened in Woodbury but it would probably keep coming up until he dealt with it. Rick looked out over the horizon - there wasn't much to be seen. Every so often they could hear the moan of a walker but that was the only signs of anything going on out there.

"Lori did too. With Shane." Andrea stared at him again, shocked. She swore she heard his voice crack. "They..." He couldn't vocalise what they did so he cut himself off. "That's why he tried to shoot me."
Now Andrea really felt stupid. "Oh..." What else could she say? "Rick..." Her heart dropped into her stomach again.

"I never knew."

"No one did. No one does. It was supposed to be a secret." And now they were both dead. Secrets were to be taken to the grave in this new world.

"I'm really sorry." Part of that sorry was for sleeping with Shane too.

"We have other things to worry about now." Like the other psychopath that was coming to get them. They had to concentrate on that.

"Let him come. I'll sniper him from here. It's the least I can do."

"Yes it is." He smirked at her. He wasn't going to pussyfoot around her mistakes and she appreciated him for that. Andrea smiled back and ran her hand over her gun. This was the most relaxed she felt in weeks. A hundred times more soothing than being in bed with Phillip and anything else she did in Woodbury.

It was like she was home again.

You know the drill - read, review.

And decide who is on the chopping block when the Governor comes.