Only own Callie and Wes. Hey guys, it's been a while! Sorry it took so long but I've had a LOT of stuff going on. Anywho, hope you like the new chapter. Don't forget to R&R! :)

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Chapter 3: From the frying pan to the fire

As we got closer to the area where I had left Wes, I felt my stomach curl and flip as my heart edged up my throat. We drove to the point where I could see the truck, and hope blossomed in my chest.

"He stayed," I murmured, unaware I'd spoken out loud. I saw T-Dog and Glenn share grins out of the corner of my eye.

As soon as the van stopped, I hopped out. I walked around the truck, eager to see my uncle's face. But when I saw the open door, all hope I'd felt died instantly. My shoulders slumped and I slowed to a stop.

Merle followed me out of the van. "Told ya gerly! I knew he wouldn't leave ya." He stopped when he saw the empty cab, frowning.

"He's gone," I muttered, hearing the hopelessness in my own voice. My hands suddenly clenched into fists as I was filled with rage. "I should have listened to him." My voice shook. "He told me to leave you, to ignore your screams for help. But I was weak. It's my fault we got separated. I shouldn't have tried to be a damn hero!"

Merle edged away as I kicked the truck, bruising my knuckles as I swung my fists for all I was worth. I let loose a scream of rage that had all the guys cringing and glancing around for the undead. When the adrenaline finally left my body, I fell to my knees in despair. "I'll never see him again," I whispered.

Rick crouched beside me. "I'm very sorry we kept you from your uncle. If we hadn't asked for your help, then you'd be with him right now. I blame myself for that, for letting Glenn get taken. But right now, we need to go. The walkers probably heard you, and we're still too close to the city…"

"No. I'm going to look for him. Screw y'all."

T-Dog stepped forward. "We don't have time for this. The walkers will be here soon, and we need to get back to camp."

I gave him a sharp look. "You don't have time for this? Are you kidding me, you asshole! I was up on that roof, with G in my sights, same as you. I followed Merle across that damn roof to free Glenn, which got my ass caught too. Don't tell me you don't have the God damn time!"

He held his hands up in surrender. "Sorry, sorry."

Glenn was poking his head inside the truck. "He left you a note."

I stood up and stumbled over to snatch the note from his hands.

Cal, it read. Stay low. Good luck. Wes.

Glenn was reading it over my shoulder. "That's it? 'Stay low' and 'good luck'? He could have told you of a meeting place or something, right?"

I shook my head. "He's protecting us both. If this got into the wrong hands, no one would know where he went. And they'd only know the other person as 'Cal,' which sounds more like a man's name than a woman's. They wouldn't know where to look for me, and there's no hope of them finding him." I studied his writing before I let out a sigh. "No one can find him."

Rick gave me a pat on the back. I cleared my throat and turned to examine the truck. He hadn't left anything in the back, but he'd left me a few supplies in the cab. He filled a backpack with bottles of water, a couple cans of food, my sweater, the stone to sharpen my knife, some ammo for my rifle and the handgun I'd given up, a picture, and one of the unopened bottles of whiskey we'd found.

"Thank you, Uncle Wes," I muttered. After a quick glance through the glove box, I found the keys to the truck. "He must have taken another vehicle. Now I just gotta figure out which way he went."

Glenn blocked me. "You should come with us. At least for tonight."

I studied him. "Why? I went to Atlanta to save Merle. I stayed to save you. Y'all are both safe. Job's done. Now I have to find my uncle."

"We'll help you," Rick threw in. "You just gotta let us come up with a game plan."

I shook my head. "Wes wouldn't want you sticking your necks out for him. And there's no telling where he's going to go or how long I'll be searching for him. You have a group. Families. Go back to them, and let me find mine."

T-Dog was frowning. "I wouldn't feel right, sending you off on your own."

I shrugged. "I'm a tough girl, I can handle it."

Daryl was biting his thumbnail and Merle started scratching his head. "Wes was one of my closest friends," the older Dixon muttered. "If you give me 'til tomorrow mornin' to pack my stuff and get ready, I'll come with you."

Daryl glanced sharply at him. "You ain't leavin' me behind! I'll come too."

I bit my lip. "If we wait too long, the trail will go cold. Then it'll be certain I won't see him again."

Daryl looked back at me. "We won't let him get away. Merle and me can find anyone."

I sighed. "Fine. But I'm leaving at first light, with or without you two."

We heard growls and moans coming from the shadows around us. "Let's get outta here," Rick said before he bolted to the van. Glenn hopped into the truck with me to help guide me back to their camp while the rest of the guys went with Rick. We pulled away just as the first walker slammed its hands against the tailgate.

We drove without the headlights, using the light from the moon and Glenn's memory of the path to get us there. I was a bit nervous as we got closer to our destination. It wasn't all that far from Atlanta. I bet in the morning, I would be able to see the city. And now that there wasn't a good food supply in Atlanta anymore, the undead would be drifting to the surrounding areas. This couldn't be safe.

I voiced my concerns to Glenn. "It's pretty safe," he tried to assure me. "Shane set up trip wires, with cans attached. Walkers couldn't get past all that. We also keep our fires low and build up rocks around them to keep the glow from the fire hidden."

I frowned as I took all this in. The things he said only made me more anxious to stay away. It sounded like a death trap. "Who's Shane?"

"He was our leader, before Rick came along. Apparently, they were best friends before all this. They were both cops. Shane protected us and provided for us, but he's kind of stepped down since Rick came into the picture."

I wondered if Shane would have some ill feelings toward the new leader. Rick had just shown up and dethroned him. It was an attack to any man's pride. I decided to keep an eye on the two men, in case a fight or something broke out.

I pulled to a stop behind the van, but was careful to leave enough room for a quick turn around and escape. I even left the keys stuck in the ignition. There were people gathered around fires that, although there were plenty of rocks stacked up, still cast a glow that could be seen by any walker passing by. The people's laughter and talking could also draw some unwanted dinner guests. I kept my hand on my knife handle and a wary eye on the shadows and trees around us.

The others were oblivious to my tension. Rick went to a woman and boy and gathered them in his arms. T-Dog approached a man with white hair and a beard with the bag of tools and the bag of guns. Since I'd given up my handgun, I would have to talk to Rick about replacing it. I didn't need their ammo, but I would need something else to protect myself.

Glenn and both of the Dixons went to one of the campfires and started loading their plates with fish. Cautious, I followed them.

"Fish?" I questioned as I glanced over Glenn's shoulder at his plate.

He grinned. "They said Andrea and Amy were fishing today." When I merely blinked in response, he explained further. "There's a rock quarry, just through those trees. It's convenient."

A black woman stood and made her way over to us. "Help yourself, honey. There's more than enough. I'm Jacqui." I introduced myself. "The boys pick you up in Atlanta?"

"Something like that."

She smiled as she noticed my hesitation to reveal much about myself. "Well, you're welcome here. Just be thankful you came to us when we had a good supply of food. Usually, it's squirrel and beans." Her smile easily slid into a smirk. "And that gets old after a while."

"Didn't hear you complainin' when I was out there gettin' them squirrels!" Daryl threw in as he shoveled fish into his mouth.

I raised a brow at him. "You hunt?"

"What you think this bow is for?" he responded.

I grabbed a plate and eased a couple fish onto it. There was a space to sit next to Jacqui, but I stayed standing, uncertain if I was welcome to the seat. She saw me look over and patted the log next to her. I shot her a small smile as I sat down.

As I ate, I felt someone staring at me. I glanced up and met the gaze of a tall, dark haired man with a large nose that looked like it had been broken several times. We stared at each other for an immeasurable amount of time, sizing each other up.

"I see you've noticed our new companion," Rick said as he too grabbed a plate of food. "This is Callie. Callie, this is Shane." He proceeded to give me the names of the entire group around us. There were more people seated further away, but he didn't give me their names and I didn't care enough to ask. I'd be gone in a few hours.

"You from Atlanta?" Shane asked.

I didn't answer. There was something about the man I didn't trust. He had a gleam in his eye that made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. My instincts were screaming at me to not trust him, and to get away as soon as possible.

The woman named Lori spoke up next. "Is that where you ran into my husband?"

I turned to her. There was something off about her as well, but I didn't see her as being dangerous. "I ran into Merle first."

Carol was the next to speak. "Did you save him? Help him escape from that roof?"

I shrugged, uncomfortable with the attention I was receiving. Wes had told me to stay low. I didn't want these people knowing anything about me. "Tried to."

She frowned. "Tried to?"

"The damn handcuffs wouldn't break," Merle drawled. "I thought about cuttin' off my hand, but the boys got there in time." He ruffled Daryl's hair and the younger brother shoved him away.

Carl, Rick's boy, wrinkled his nose. "That would've hurt!"

I stood and tossed my empty plate over to the pile of dishes. I thought about eating another fish, but I didn't want to be greedy. "Where are you going?" Rick asked.

"The truck. I'm gonna go ahead and sleep so I can leave in the morning."

Shane frowned. "You're not staying?"

"No."

I gave Rick a warning glance, asking him not to reveal much about me. He nodded slightly and I turned and walked away from the circle of people around the fire. Rick told them a bit about the walkers that had appeared from the shadows, making it necessary for us all to leave together. He said I'd had no intention of staying, that I just needed someone to watch my back for the night. I could feel Shane's gaze on me the entire walk to the truck.

I got into the cab, rolled the windows down an inch so I'd be able to hear everything, locked the doors, and laid down across the seat. I didn't sleep, but I listened to the laughter and light talk coming from the group.

They thought they were safe in this little haven they had created. I'll admit, if there were better defenses set up, this place would be the perfect spot to live. They had a water source close by, shelter from the weather, game they could hunt, and a city close enough that they could send out scouting parties. It was a pretty sweet deal, for the most part.

But sooner or later, the undead would find them. They'd set up trip wires as their only defense. They had no fences or blockades of any sort. Walkers would end up leaving the city. And although the group thought they were careful enough, they were just sitting ducks. All their talking and laughing and fires at night would serve as the dinner bell. They were beacons flashing in the dark.

I heard someone walking close to the truck. Ever the cautious one, I waited until they passed before I allowed myself to peek over the dashboard. It was a walker. Glancing around, I caught sight of a couple more stumbling through the trees. If the group was quiet, they would have heard them too.

The girl named Amy was walking towards the RV, completely unaware of the danger around her. I thought about honking the horn, but that would draw more walkers in the area, if they weren't already drawn by the talking and light.

I checked to make sure the doors were locked again before I turned on my headlights. A couple of people around the fire held up their hands, surprised by the bright light. They turned to look over at me and I turned off the lights so they'd be able to see better. Mouths dropped open in shock.

A walker noticed me in the truck and slammed against the driver's side door, eager to get to me. I grabbed my knife, backpack, and rifle. Then I slid over to the passenger's side. After checking for any walkers too close to the door, I opened it and leaped out.

Moans and screams filled the campsite. Amy scrambled away from the open door of the RV and I saw her bolt to the back of it as a walker leaped in after her. Chaos erupted around me. "I hate when I'm right," I muttered under my breath.

I went for the RV, knowing Amy wouldn't be able to really protect herself, especially in close quarters. I hated the thought of being trapped, but I went against my instincts and jumped up the steps into the vehicle.

Amy had locked herself in the bathroom but the door was flimsy. Any minute now, the walker would bust it open. "Hey, you filthy parasite!" I called out.

The walker turned slowly, allowing me to take in all the little details. It was a tall male zombie with part of his face bitten off and the typical gray, decomposing flesh. He snarled and for a moment I was frozen in fear. If he so much as scratched me, I'd be just like him in less than a day. The odds were kind of stacked against me.

Then I felt steely determination overcome my body. I would kill this walker, and any others I could get my hands on, until it was my turn to join them. He took a couple steps towards me and I closed the distance. After ducking under his arms, I tripped him. While he was still on the ground trying to flip over and get up, I stabbed my knife deep into his skull.

I cleaned off my knife as I turned towards the bathroom, keeping a wary eye towards the front of the RV. "Amy! Were you bit? Answer me, the walker's dead!"

"N-no! He didn't touch me!"

"Stay in there! I'm going to go help the others." I dragged the zombie towards the door, tossing him outside before I leapt out.

Rick and Shane both had guns and they had Carol, Sophia, Lori, and Carl between them. They were edging their way back to the RV. Jim and Morales were running around with bats, taking out the walkers that weren't in groups. Dale, Glenn, T-Dog, and Daryl were using rifles and shotguns to take out the majority. Merle had gotten his hands on a handgun and was going to town. There were walkers everywhere.

One walker came stumbling up to me and I used my rifle to knock her down and bash her skull in. I looked up and saw a walker between Rick and Shane and the RV. Without hesitation, I lifted the rifle and took aim. The walker's head exploded, startling the children. They screamed and moved closer to their moms.

"Rick, Shane!" They glanced over. "The RV is clean. Amy is in the bathroom, safe. Get your family in there and we can protect it easier. I'll tell the others." The group turned and ran to the RV, eager to protect the women and children.

"Glenn!" I yelled as I got closer. "Protect the Winnebago. T-Dog, go to the RV!" They listened to me without the slightest hesitation. "Dale, head to the RV." He nodded.

The camp was still chaotic. Merle was hysterical as he shot the undead, laughing as if it was a carnival game. Daryl was in full rage mode, attacking with hatred written all over his face. I couldn't see Jim or Morales, but I could hear them beating those things with their bats.

I gathered Morales's family and Jacqui and ushered them to the RV. Just as I was about to turn around and go get the Dixons, something grabbed me. Without thinking about it, I turned to dead weight. As we both fell, I twisted my body around to ease from the grip of my attacker. She held on tight.

I lost my rifle in the fall and couldn't reach for it because the zombie was snapping at my throat. I kept her pushed away as we rolled around, each trying to gain the advantage. I tried to keep an eye out for other walkers, knowing that if a second one joined our little wrestling match, I'd be done for.

"Callie!" I heard someone shout. I was on top of the zombie, but I was losing my grip on her arm. She was ready to scratch me and pull me closer.

"Shoot her!" I yelled to no one in particular. "Kill the bitch!"

I heard a twang, and then the zombie had an arrow through her temple. As soon as she relaxed, I scrambled off of her. "Holy shit, that was close," I mumbled. I looked up at Daryl. His blue eyes were concerned and intense.

"You alright?"

I nodded and reached a hand up just as he reached out his own hand. I smirked as he pulled me to my feet. "Thanks. Nice hunting." He returned my smirk. I picked up my rifle and glanced around.

There were bodies everywhere, both walker and human alike. I felt saddened for the people who had died, but I was also pissed off. Everyone here had lived in their own fantasy land, pretending that they were safe from the fucked up world around us. There was no such thing as safe anymore, not really. Just safer.

"Straight from the frying pan," Daryl muttered as we looked around at the damage.

"And into the fire," I whispered in response.

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So more craziness. Woohoo! Hopefully Callie will be able to take care of business and find her uncle. Please R&R with any thoughts or random comments. I need your opinions like I need air! haha but seriously, I love getting reviews. Thanks for reading!