Chapter 2

We're in this together

Rick had the first watch of the night. It didn't bother him, in fact he actually relished the time when everyone was asleep but him, it gave him a chance to think. About what exactly wasn't always clear. Sometimes he'd think about the next area the group would look for shelter next.

Other times he'd think about how the world got to this point in the first place. He'd wished that he hadn't been shot by that damn lunatic that put him in a comma and left Carl and Lori to deal with the apocalypse alone. Until Shane came for them that is.

Shane…...Rick would think about him often as well. What would things be like if he were around? Would he have been able to handle the whole Governor situation better than Rick had? Maybe it would have been better if it was Shane watching over the prison instead of him.

Maybe the Governor wouldn't had been able to destroy the barriers of the prison and flood it with walkers if Shane was in charge because he'd already been dead. He always insisted that he was better for Lori and Carl and that Rick didn't have the passion….the will to do whatever it took to keep them safe.

Rick sighed, he knew he couldn't think about that now. The people of this group were counting on him to lead them to safety. Why him? Why did he get this pain in the ass job of leading them, making the decisions all the time? After all he was only just one man, a tired one at that. What if he didn't want the responsibility anymore? Maybe he could just take Carl and Judith and the rest of the group would have to fend for themselves.

Before Rick could give the idea any further thought, he heard a slight rustle to his right. He scoffed slightly as he watched the silhouette of Daryl creep closer. "I thought I said I had first watch tonight" Rick said as Daryl made his way to where Rick was sitting and took his place next to him. "Figure you could use the company, besides. I can't ever keep asleep for very long anyways.". Daryl replied. "So, how ya feelin?". He added. "Don't know" "Tired I guess" Rick responded. "hmm" Daryl muttered to himself slightly amused.

"How are you holding up?". Rick asked in return. "Glad we got those bastards that took Beth.". Daryl responded with a hint of anger. Rick paused for a moment to take in Daryl's reaction. "She grew on you when you two were together, I can tell.". Rick implied. Daryl didn't reply for a moment but rather exhaled slowly. It told Rick all he needed to know. "I'm not gonna hector you about it, that's your business but for what it's worth, i'm sure Herschel would be glad to know you care so much for his daughter.". Daryl didn't respond and Rick decided not to push the matter further.

"So." "Whatcha think about that army man and his weird ass scientist friend.". Daryl asked. "It's Abraham and Eugene.". Rick countered with a slight chuckle. "Whatever." Daryl responded. "Seems to me like they're makin a lot of shit up and believin it cause it makes them feel better about all this.". He added. "Yeah, i'm pretty suspicious myself.". "I mean….you remember back at the CDC that poor hopeless bastard Jenner.". Rick said remembering the tormented doctor that told him that every person living and dead carried the infection. "I remember, stupid prick blew himself up, almost blew us up to.". Daryl snorted. "Yeah he was one sorry bastard.".

"What he told me….it made me lose hope for a while.". "The way he said it…..sounded like there is no cure and there never will be.". Rick sounded slightly dismayed in his response. Daryl noticed it and responded quickly. "Hey" "Look we don't need no cure, we're doin just fine on our own.". "Long as we have each other don't need nothin else". He said hoping to lift Rick's spirits. "You're right.". Rick said. "It's just….it would give us a reason to keep fighting to live.". "Even if Abraham's only half tellin the truth, and that Eugene isn't completely bat shit crazy, wouldn't it be worth it.". "Just the chance to take back some of our lives, maybe start rebuilding little by little.". He added. "Rick, you know by now not to fall for them types of people.". "They'll tell ya anything as long as you agree to not kill them.". Daryl responded quickly. Rick could tell he wasn't the least bit convinced about Abraham's plan to get Eugene to D.C so he could put his theory of "Fighting fire with fire" to the test.

"You know sometimes I think if i've done enough for Carl.". "I've done my best to keep him alive. Teach him wrong from right, but I wonder if there even is a wrong and a right anymore.". "I mean you have sick pieces of shit willing to eat others just because food gets scarce.". "Makes you question if there is any good people left out there.". Rick half implied to Daryl and half implied to himself. "I felt that way too Rick.". Daryl responded. "After the prison fell…...me and Beth…..we was on our own for a while.". "At first she annoyed the hell outta me.". "Always lookin for the good in everything, always telling me we would all find eachother again even when i'd given up.". "I was a real piece of shit to her at first, even gave her a hard time bout cutting her wrists.". "But…..she was always shinnin on through.".

"She made me feel something when we were holed up at a morgue.". "Don't really remember what she said, just how amazed she was that someone took the time to dress the bodies real nice before they were buried". "Then she started playin on the piano and singin….it finally gave me the person I was always lookin for.". "One that's still worth fightin for.". Daryl finished. They sat there for a while in silence after. Daryl's words still echoed in Rick's mind. He'd never heard him talk like that before. It appeared that little ol' Beth Greene had quite the effect on him. Rick came to a revelation. If a tiny 5 foot girl can convince Daryl that there was still a purpose than what excuse did Rock have to not believe in one?

Yeah, he lost his wife, her death shattered his heart and made him lose his way for a he eventually found himself again. He still had Carl his son, and he would do anything to keep him safe. He had a group of survivors that all fought and bled alongside each other. A group that cared so much for each other that they would die before anyone tried to break them apart. Carl, Daryl, Michonne, Glenn, Maggie, Beth, Carol and the rest. That was what Rick was fighting for. That was his purpose and whether Eugene was right about finding a cure or not it didn't matter.

What mattered was the group of people that he was suffering through unbelievable exhaustion so they can get some sleep while he kept watch. What mattered was the unbreakable bond he shared with the man next to him, Daryl. "I don't know where we're going next.". Rick finally muttered. "But I know wherever it is we're going, no one gets left behind". "We're a family and we're all in this together.". Daryl sighed, "Look, why don't you get some sleep. I can keep watch for a while.". He said "Daryl.". Rick replied. "It's ok, I promise.". "I already got a little bit a rest now it's your turn, you look like ya need it.". Daryl countered. Rick was hesitant at first but Daryl was right, he was exhausted.

"Thank you" Rick said placing his hand on Daryl's shoulder. "Mhm". Daryl muttered in return. With that Rick laid back and looked up at the stars for a moment. "We're in this together." he thought to himself. He finally felt a sense of peace began to take hold of him. It was foreign at first since it had been such a long time since he felt it, but after a while it became relaxing. Because still, as far as Rick was concerned everyone was accounted for and that's all that mattered.

Finally he dozed off into the best sleep he'd had in months.