Beth was sitting on a spread out blanket underneath a small tree, narrowing her eyes as she watched the guys make a pile of dead walkers. A herd had gotten in that morning because somebody (Carl) didn't close the gates all the way. Judith was laying on her back, fists swinging in the air.
Beth had basically been Judith's mother considering Lori had died during the "C-section". Now, the responsibility was pushed onto her. She adored the little girl but she hated how everyone thought she was only capable of being a babysitter. The only time she had been asked to use a gun was when the herd had gotten into the area and there were too many for the rest of them. Obviously she wasn't like her sister, Maggie, or Michonne, or Carol. Beth was Beth and she accepted that. Killing wasn't something she was very comfortable with but she had come to terms with it. Everybody had, hadn't they?
"Hey Beth, why don't you get inside?" Rick, the leader of their group had approached her. Ever since his wife died, he had a permanent frown. He looked like he had been through Hell and back, literally.
"It's so nice outside, Mr. Grimes." Beth's eyebrows furrowed in confusion though she picked up Judith in her arms.
"Glenn has spotted a few guys approaching the backside of the prison. I think it'd be safer for the two of you if you just went back to your block." Rick's voice was steady and stern and Beth stood up, collecting the quilt.
"Well, I can help. I'll give Lizzie the baby. I don't have to go and hide. I'm 18 now and I-"
"Beth," He began, looking back towards the gates, noting that the men were coming even closer. "we don't know what they want or who they are. I understand you're a woman and I can't make you do anything but I'm asking you to go inside until I know what their intentions are."
Judith was tugging at Beth's golden braid, gurgling obliviously. The poor child had no idea of what was going on around her. For all she knew, life had been that way for everyone.
"I'll go inside…" Beth finally gave in, not wanting to put any more stress on the single father, survivor, widow, and leader.
"If you need me, you know where I'll be." Rick gave her an assuring pat on the shoulder, squeezing it lightly before releasing her. As soon as the two were inside, he made his way to the gates where the majority of his group already was. His fingers discretely slid into his waistband and he pulled his gun out, holding it to his side. After only a few minutes, the strangers were up at the gates. The only thing between Rick and the outsiders was the chain link fence between them.
The only thing between Shane and his new home was a chain link fence. He was bound and determined to take the place over. Did he want the prison for protection? Yes. Did he want it even more because someone else had it? Absolutely.
"Nice place you got here. It's pretty big. How many of you are there?" Shane spoke up, cocking his head to the side and looking around them at the large structure.
"A dozen or so."
Shane could sense the tension in the man's voice. He was nervous. He should be.
"Oh, yeah? We've been on the road for a while… saw this place in the distance and figured it'd be empty."
"Say, you don't mind if us fellas stay with ya for a night, do ya?" Merle spoke up, a childish smile on his face. The innocent voice was convincing, but Rick wasn't so sure.
"We uh, we don't exactly take in anyone. You guys seems to look pretty capable. I'm sure you could find another place." Rick nodded, studying every single man, looking all of them head to toe.
Shane sighed and dropped his head, running his fingers over the bald flesh. "Listen, man. We've been trying to find a place for a long time. We're exhausted, Why don't you just let us in and get to know us? We'll answer your questions. You can even take our weapons."
"What!? You're not taking my fuckin' gun. I don't just-" Merle was frantic, getting cut off when Shane slapped the back of his head. All of them waited for Merle to strike back.
"We won't want your weapons..." Rick turned his head over his shoulder, looking at the rest of his group.
"Tell you what, go around to the entrance and we'll let you in. If you're thinking of trying anything, remember that you're outnumbered." Rick spoke in his usual too-calm of a voice.
Shane and his group walked around the property, the weeds up to their waists.
"Why'd you offer our weapons? Are you fuckin' crazy?" Merle exclaimed incredulously.
"We're smarter than them. We don't need weapons, anyway."
"Alright, 'boss', so what's the plan?"
"We go in. We act pleasant. We pull our weapons and explain that we're taking over. Y'all act like we've never done this before." Shane reloaded his pistol as he spoke. They didn't necessarily need the weapons to take over, but it'd make things a whole hell of a lot easier.
The gates were opened once they reached the entrance, striding past the teenage boy as he shut it behind them. A group of people met them in the middle of the courtyard, all of them standing stiffly.
"This can't be everyone." Shane acknowledged, raising a brow when an Asian kid said that there were more people inside.
"Wonderful. Go get 'em and we'll introduce ourselves."
AN: HELLO! So I'm trying to make the updates fast so no one gets bored. This one isn't THAT long but it's longer than the other. I might have the next chapter up tonight. But, Shane's group is in the prison! Uh oh…
