Disclaimer—I don't own or make claim to the characters from The Walking Dead. I only own my original characters.

"Woah, no reason for guns," crazy dude responds, putting his hands up to show he isn't a threat and taking a step backwards.

"No reason for guns?" I ask. "And yet, didn't you point one at my daughter and me, just minutes ago?"

"And I just explained why I did that. I'm sorry," he continues. "But we just worked together. Not just as strangers, but as a well-oiled machine. You and your kids have it together."

"Thanks," I smirk. "Does a Mother's heart good to know she's raised her kids to be killing machines," I say with a sarcastic lilt. "Thanks for the help, but we wouldn't have needed it had you not interrupted us and pointed the gun at Kira holding us up until we were surrounded. I don't want to shoot you, but I will if I have to. All I want is to continue on our way and you can stay here or head your own way. Kids, over here, let's head out. Fun time is over."

I grab Kira and pull her and Jordan with me as I back away from him. The kids give me confused looks but obey and start to step away with me. The one-eyed kid has a very surprised look on his face. "Hey," he says. "We have a community, a good place for kids. Why don't you put the gun away and we can talk?"

I chuckle. "I'm sure you do. Probably play monopoly on Thursdays and Movie Night on Saturday's, right?" I sneer. I don't trust a word out of strangers mouths. I used to, but no more. Nobody has anything worthwhile these days. And if they do, they certainly aren't inviting people to join. Those who have something don't share. And those who offer to share don't have anything-except an angle they are working to either get something from you or kill you-or both. Did I mention I'm a cynic now?

Kira pipes up, "Mom, what if they..." I cut her off, "They don't have anything. You know better by now."

We are halfway in the direction I want to be now. However this walking backwards thing is for the dogs. Unfortunately, crazy dude and the one-eyed kid are walking along, following us. Why can't they just take a hint and stay behind? I huff in frustration. "That's far enough. No need for you to follow us, in fact, please don't. If you keep coming I'm going to have to do something I'll regret."

Crazy dude eyes me. "It doesn't seem you'd regret anything right now. Please just stop a minute and let us talk to you," he's cut off by more growling. I look behind him as he and the kid swing around. More dead ones pour out from both sides of the gas station. They see us and head for us. Food. That's all they're after. They think we're on the menu.

Crazy dude looks back at me. "We don't have time for this," he says. "We need to get out of here, now!" I reluctantly agree with him and turn to look at our path. Luckily no dead ones that way yet. I can see our van just around the corner. Nothing blocking the way yet. "Kids, move! To the van!" I yell. We pick up the pace, all knowing the direction we are going. I glance back and see the two guys following. I really should get tougher. I know I shouldn't let them come with us, but I just can't bring myself to leave them for the dead. "If you're coming you'll have to be quick," I yell back at them. Crazy dude gives me a nod of appreciation and they pick up the pace.

I look forward and see the way is still clear. The kids will get there before me, I need to get the van open. I pull the key fob from my pocket and hit the unlock, side door and back hatch buttons. The doors and hatch start to slide open in preparation just in time for the kids to pile in. I run around to the driver's side and pull the door open to jump in. Instead of Kayla in the passenger seat I come face to face with Crazy dude. Great. Just what I need, the crazy riding shotgun with me. Then again, I'm probably lucky he didn't try to wrestle the driver's seat from me. He looks like one who likes to be in control. I look back and see the hatch coming down and Kira is in the far back with the one eyed kid. The side door is sliding closed and 3 more kids are in the middle section. All accounted for. I heave a sigh of relief, but we aren't out of the woods yet. As I'm counting kids, I jammed the key in the ignition and got the van going. I peel out of that place going as fast as I can. The street ahead is clear, but we got out just in time. I look around for a place to dump the hitchhikers, but decide I'm not that horrible of a person yet and head out further to give them a better chance.

Suddenly I feel a hand on my upper arm and just manage to hold onto the wheel as he startles me. Stay on the road, that's the goal here. Once I steady things I look down at the hand on my arm-woah, that was like a crazy electric spark that flew through me at his touch. What did he do, shock me? That's some wacky kind of static buildup he has. Every nerve in my body feels wide awake and on edge now. I look from his hand to his face trying to figure out what his game is here. He looks shocked as well, staring at me intently. "What?" I say. "Are you trying to make me crash?!"

He shakes his head and removes his hand. "No," he replies. "I was just trying to get your attention. I know a place that isn't overrun. Our vehicle is near there. If you wouldn't mind dropping us off..."

I cut him off. "If you think I'm just going to trustingly drive to wherever you direct me, you are truly crazy! How do I know you don't have reinforcements there?"

He looks at me and slowly shakes his head with a smirk. "You sure don't trust easy, do you?"

"No, I don't. And I'm not about to start. You haven't done anything to give me an indication you are somebody to trust, so I'll continue under the assumption that you are not."

"OK, you pick a spot then. My son and I will get back to our vehicle on our own," he says.

I glance at the kids in the rear view mirror and they are giving me the looks. Kira speaks up, "Mom, can't we just drop them at their car? We can scope it out first and make sure it's OK. They helped us, we can't repay them by dumping them where the dead ones can get them."

I sigh. "Kira he had a gun on you!" I exclaim. She responds, "Yeah, but he explained it. It was my hair that make him think of someone else who was dead."

Oh, to be a kid that's so trusting. I glance at the Crazy dude. He stares into my eyes intensely. Ugh, good thing he won't be around much longer. He's way too intense to be around comfortably for long.

He speaks up, "It's OK, Carl and I know how to survive. Anywhere you want to drop us will be fine."

I look back to the rearview mirror to all my kids judging faces. They haven't lost their innocence and trust. That's a good thing-I guess?

I groan, "Alright, where is your car? I can make a pass and see what it looks like."

"You really don't have to..."

I cut him off. "Just tell me before I change my mind."

"It's about a mile further down the road. At the school on the corner of the highway and Park.

I glance at him like he's crazy. Well, I knew that already, why does this surprise me? "That school is overrun!" I exclaim.

He responds, "Yeah, the inside is crawling with them. But the school bus lot is clear. Nothing but busses and it's secure and the fence would keep the walkers out even if they managed to get out of the school. I locked it up myself before we left."

I roll my eyes at him. "Yeah, real secure. Wait...you call them walkers?"

Carl pipes up from the back. "Yeah, cause all they do is walk around. Ya know, walkers."

I smirk. "I guess that makes sense." Kira adds, "I like it, it's truly what they do all the time. Well, except when they're feeding and eating. But the feeders or the eaters just doesn't have the same ring to it."

I give her a look of disbelief in the rear view mirror. "The feeders? Or Eaters? Have you lost your mind."

She shrugs. "I said it didn't work didn't I? I'm going to call them walkers now. It's even better than dead ones." I glance over at my passenger. He is chuckling under his breath. He sees me looking and tries to hide it, taking a deep breathe and looking serious.

I slowly drive past the school. Around the corner I see the busses, all lined up like someone is coming back soon. We know how that goes though. I circle around. Nothing. Not even the school shows signs of life and I already know there are a lot of walkers in there. It could have made a good home but there were too many to clear out. And they were kids. I just couldn't do it. There are other places that work, we have a pretty good one now.

After the second pass I still see no signs of life. I glance at Mr. Crazy Dude. Yep, it's his official name now. He just stares back silently, waiting for my decision. Huh, whaddaya know, he can learn when to keep his mouth shut. I suppose I can reward that behavior. My danger alarm is silent, things look quiet and it's not like we have to go inside the fence. In fact, the kids can stay in the car, that'd be better. I pull to a stop by the gate in the fence. I can see the padlock on it, just like he said he locked it up. I glance at him and he pulls a key out of his pocket, showing it to me.

"OK, smart ass, here is your fence," I say. He smirks. "I just wanted you to know I was telling the truth about it being locked and having the key," he replied.

We sit there for a second. "Well, good luck to you," I say as I hit the unlock button and the button to open the hatch. I hop out of the van to supervise and ensure there are no surprises. I see Crazy Dude get out and I circle to the back to make sure Kira is OK while Carl gets out. Crazy Dude meets me back there. I keep a wary eye on him as the kids climb out and hit the button to shut the door again.

I glance around and see nothing changing. It's still quiet. Good, maybe he was telling the truth.

Crazy Dude starts walking over to me. I back up a couple steps without thinking before I stop and hold my ground, ready to pull my gun and drop him if I have to. He slows down when he sees my reaction and says, "Nothing to worry about," he extends his hand. "I just wanted to introduce myself. My name is Rick Grimes and this is my son Carl." He holds his hand out in front of me expectantly. I stare at his hand in front of me like it's a foreign object and Kira gives me a look. I probably hesitated too long for social norms. Whoops. Then again, do social norms exist anymore? Why should I shake his hand? After that shock in the van I'm not real anxious to do that again. Instinct tells me touching him isn't good for my peace of mind. Kira widens her eyes at me as if to pull me back into acceptable behavior. Fine. Wouldn't want to embarrass my kids during the apocalypse, would I? As I reach out to shake his hand I say, "Sandi Jones and my kids, Kayla, Annie, Kira and Jordan." Then my hand is enveloped by his. Holy crap. I feel the electricity buzzing up my arm again. My eyes get wide as I look at him. He seems a bit startled as well, but recovers faster than I do. "Nice to meet you," he says.

I gotta get out of this. I pump his hand once-dang, he has a strong grip-and then pull back. He lets go, but it almost seems reluctant. And slow. I chuckle to try and cover up my discomfort. "Nice to meet you? Is that even a thing we say anymore?"

He smiles. "Regardless, it is nice to meet you. Really nice." He stares intently into my eyes. Oh wow, those eyes of his. A person could drown in there. I shake myself back to reality and I stare him down. Uh huh, sure it is. What is going on here? My mind is still racing to catch up to the pace of everything that has happened. Those eyes aren't helping.

"Dad," Carl says. "Tell them."

"Tell us what?" Kira asks. I look at this Rick Grimes with interest, wondering what angle they are going to take now.

"Sandi, we have a community," he starts. "It is a good one. We have walls, and room for the kids to run around. Homes to live in, even school-or a form of it. You seem like good people and you have skills. You are still alive out here. There is a place for you, I just have 3 questions for you."

I'm already scoffing in disbelief. "A community huh? That you are just going to invite us to join?"

He nods. "Well, you'd have to answer my questions, but if your answers are satisfactory then yes, you could join."

"Sounds too good to be true," I say.

Carl jumps in, "I know, but it really is a good place. You guys look like you could use a good place."

I see the look of hope on Kira's face. I've got to shut this down quick. There are never real good places-not ones that will let people in this easily.

"Keep your questions, we're not interested. I wasn't born yesterday."

Rick gives me a sad look. "You don't trust easy, do you?" he asks. I huff a reply, "I've learned that trust has to be earned and it's not given as easily as you'd have me believe you're handing it out. There's also that old saying."

"What's that?" he asks.

"If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is," I reply. "Sorry, I'm not buying. Thanks for not killing my kid and helping with the walkers," I stare at Kira as I say walkers, using her adopted word for them. I can give her that at least. The poor kid looks devastated to know we won't be joining their Utopia. She knows better than to question me right now at least. I'll be in for it later though. "We'll be on our way now," I say.

As I walk away, Rick's hand lands on my shoulder. Ack, does the man scuff his feet or something? That shock each time he touches me is too much. For someone I don't know, he lays his hands on me way too much. I twirl around, knocking his hand off my shoulder as I go, with my hands up in a fighting stance.

"Easy," he says. "Sandi, I just wanted you to reconsider." I glare at him. "But I can see you aren't ready to do so right now."

"You've got that right buddy," I reply.

"OK, how about I bring some of my people, meet you tomorrow. We have two recruiters that obviously know what to say better than I do, I think you should talk to them. Take the night, think it over and meet us back here at noon tomorrow."

I drop my hands and look at him in disbelief. "You think I'm going to come back when you have reinforcements?! You truly are a Crazy Dude, Rick Grimes!"

He laughs at my name for him. "It isn't reinforcements, it's other people you can talk to. Get a better feel for our community, our people. We'll bring pictures. Either way, we will be here. I hope you come." He gives me a last look before he turns away toward the fence. I can't even begin to interpret that look. "Come on Carl," he says. Carl looks at Kira and I and says, "I really hope you'll come. You need to get off the road." He turns and follows after his Dad who already has the lock undone.

I grab Kira and we get back in the van. We need to get out of here before they get to their vehicle and could follow us. Rick Grimes doesn't look like a man who gives up easily. We jump in and drive away.

A/N I hope you are enjoying Sandi's take on Rick Grimes. He's pretty intense, right? She is wary, but can't quite put him out of her mind. Stay tuned for more excitement! If you liked this chapter please consider favoriting and I would love some comments!

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