A/N: I thank all who have reviewed, they have really been great and are keeping me going, so please enjoy these missing scenes to the recent Season Two chapter, please Read & Review.

Disclaimer: I don't own the show or characters I'm just having fun with them

POVs as written: Daryl, Glenn, Maggie, Dale, Shane, Glenn, Shane

Warnings: Violence, Blood and Gore, Bad Language

M.S for Episode 3

Failed Again

Shortly after Glenn and T-Dog left the sun had gone and we went into the R.V. for the night. Carol took the bed in the back while Andrea sat at the table and started reloading everyone's clips mine included, I laid on a sleeping bag that I had placed on the floor, next to the bathroom, I kept my hands behind my head as I was thinking. The ABC book I'd snuck out was hidden in the sleeping bag; I didn't want anyone to see it.

I could hear Andrea loading the clips, the ammo clinking into place; then she'd pick up another one and repeat the motion. Carol on the other hand was crying. I lifted a little in a crunch like style as I looked at her curled up with a blanket as she sobbed. I lied back down, as I lifted my head to look at Andrea.

Finally I got tired of it, and I knew I wasn't going to sleep any time soon, that was the first time I'd been without Glenn since I found out, and I didn't like it. I stood up and walked to the table, on the seat across from Andrea is where I'd rested my bow. I picked it up and swung it on my back.

"I need my clip now." I told Andrea. She handed me my recently reloaded clip as I placed it in my gun. "I'm gonna walk the road, look for the girl." I told her.

I looked at Carol who took notice of that as she looked at me while wiping her tears. I nodded at her before I headed out with a flashlight letting the door shut behind me.

I didn't need the flashlight but if Sophia was out there she might see it and realize that it's us. I turned around when I heard the door open and shut again. Andrea had followed me.

"I'm coming too." She said.

I looked up at Dale who'd been keeping watch on top of the R.V. "I'm going for a walk; shine some light in the forest. If she's out there give her something to look at." I informed him.

"You think that's a good idea right now?" Dale asked, worry in his voice.

"Dale." Andrea said as she passed me, I guessed she was still pissed at him; hey it was none of my business. I turned and followed.

We were silent for a long while after we made it to the woods, I was now walking next to her instead of behind, our flashlights were lighting the path so Andrea wouldn't stumble or trip, possibly that Sophia would see it, and this search could be over. I wasn't going to stop looking till I'd found her, that's for sure. Andrea finally broke the silence as she asked. "You really think we're gonna find Sophia?" As if she'd been reading my thoughts.

I looked at her, my flashlight pointed straight ahead as I took in her expression. "You got that look on your face same as everybody else." I told her as I looked forward before continuing. "What the hell's wrong with you people? We just started looking."

"Well, do you?"

"It ain't the mountains of Tibet, its Georgia. She could be holed up in a farmhouse somewhere." I told her. "People get lost and they survive. It happened all the time."

"She's only twelve."

I glanced at her before I explained a little bit about my past. "Hell, I was younger than her and I got lost. Nine days in the woods eating berries, wiping my ass with poison oak."

"They found you?" She asked as she looked at me.

"My old man was off on a bender with some waitress. Merle was doing another stint in Juvie, didn't even know I was gone. I made my way back though, went straight into the kitchen and made myself a sandwich. No worse for wear. Except my ass itched something awful." Andrea snorted at that, I looked at her as she was trying not to laugh.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry, that is a terrible story." She failed as she cracked up. I started laughing then to, 'cause looking back it was kind of funny.

"Only difference is Sophia's got people looking for her. I call that an advantage."

We stopped talking then for a long while as we walked, just the silence between us, I was thankful for that, it made concentrating easier so we didn't get attacked. My thoughts did keep circling around Glenn, I hopped him and T-Dog made it safely to the farm, I hoped that slut was keeping her hands to herself and off of what was mine. Okay, so I got a little possessive at the time, I won't say I'm completely cured, but I did get better at letting go.

I was brought out of my thoughts as there was the sound of rustling to the right of us. I aimed my bow as I looked out into what was supposed to be darkness, but of course me, it wasn't. Andrea stayed next to me as I headed down the small incline to where the rustling had come from.

We arrived at what had once been a camp site; there was a tent, and chairs and a table with a lantern on it that wasn't on. There was more rustling only this time it was above us. The tree branches were moving, but since there was a lack of wind I had my suspicions as to what it was.

As we walked passed what had been a camp fire pit a walker came into view. I shined the light on him for Andrea as I said. "What the hell?"

Hanging from one of the branches was a walker; his legs were all chewed and gnawed on, leaving some muscle but mostly bone. He was trying to reach out, to grab us, but with the noose around his neck, couldn't, so he did nothing more than flail around. Andrea shined her light in his face as I took notice of something attached to the tree.

I pointed to a piece of paper stabbed into the trunk. Andrea looked at me, I sadly shook my head, she must've gotten the hint as she walked up to it while I shined the light on it for her; he read aloud. "Got bit, fever hit, world gone to shit, might as well quit." She backed away as I looked up at the dead guy again.

"Dumbass didn't know enough to shoot himself in the head. Turned himself into a big swinging piece of bait. And a mess." Andrea groaned as she bent over. I glanced at her as I asked. "You all right?"

"Trying not to puke."

"Go ahead if you gotta." I'd gotten used to it from Glenn, and seeing someone get sick never really bothered me much, my stomach toughed up with all the kills I'd skinned and gutted over the years.

"No, I'm fine. Let's just talk about something else for a minute. How'd you learn to shoot?"

"Gotta eat. That's one thing these walkers and us have in common." I told her as I kept looking at the guy who wanted to eat me right then. "I guess it's the closest he's been to food since he turned. Look at him, hanging up there like a big piñata." I pointed to his legs as I continued. "The other geeks came and ate all the flesh off his legs." That's when Andrea lost it and vomited.

I looked at her as she spit a couple of times and stood back up. "I thought we were changing the subject."

"Call that payback for laughing about my itchy ass."

"There wasn't a lot that came up."

"Huh. Let's head back." I said as I turned the way we'd come.

"Aren't you gonna…" I looked at her, then the swinging walker.

"No. He ain't hurting nobody. Ain't gonna waste an arrow either. He made his choice, opted out. Let him hang." I have no sympathy for someone who just quits, gives up and takes his own life. In my opinion that makes him a coward, along with Jenner and Jacqui and anyone else who takes their own life instead of trying to fight to survive. Not that I don't understand his reason, I just don't respect it.

Andrea walked up closer to him keeping her light on him. She felt sorry for him; I could see it in her stance, in her eyes a minute ago. "You want to live now or not?" I asked. She turned to me. "It's just a question."

"An answer for an arrow, fair?" I agreed to that with a quick nod. "I don't know if I want to live or if I have to or if it's just a habit."

"Not much of an answer." I told her, but a deal was a deal. I aimed my bow and fired shooting an arrow between his eyes. He finally shut up and hung there limp, getting the peace he wanted. "Waste of an arrow." I turned and headed back. Andrea followed a few seconds later.

We walked for a while longer then decided to turn back, we hadn't found Sophia, and I hated having to tell Carol that we failed again.

Do We Ring the Bell?

The drive had been silent the whole way there, T-Dog just stayed wrapped up in his blanket as I drove. I tried not to think about Daryl and the rest as I made the turn at the Greene's mailbox, I got out of the car to open the gate before driving in, and where I got out again and closed the gate making sure it was latched. Then drove down the dirt road until we saw a house. I pulled up next to a tree and parked as T-Dog got out of the car. I shut the engine off then followed, I left the diaper bag in the car it'd be safe and I could come back and get it, as long as I knew where it was.

I had noticed that T-Dog started shivering half way here and he still hadn't stopped. I put my pack on my back then grabbed the shotgun we'd been given as T-Dog stopped in front of the car and waited for me, I then slammed the door and together we headed for the front porch. It looked like a pleasant two story place as we saw lights inside, which was a nice sign of life.

We stopped as we got to the steps to the porch unsure of what to do. I asked as I looked at T-Dog. "So do we ring the bell? I mean it looks like people live here." I looked back at the lit up porch and house.

"We're past this kind of stuff, aren't we?" T-Dog asked as we headed up the steps. "Having to be considerate."

"Did you close the gate up the road when you drove in?" That woman from earlier asked where she was sitting on a chair her knees drawn up. We hadn't even seen her till she spoke as she had been sitting in the shadows.

"Uh, hi. Yes, we closed it. Did the latch and everything." She moved her feet to the floor and leaned forward. "Hello, nice to see you again. We, uh, met before briefly." I was nervous, I hadn't had much experience with the opposite sex, and so talking to women even now was difficult. I won't say she wasn't attractive, 'cause she was, and me, I'm bisexual. So, very much into women as well as men, of course I hadn't told Daryl that, and I didn't plan on it, because while she was attractive I just couldn't see myself with anyone other than Daryl.

"Look, we came to help. There anything we can do?" T-Dog asked. She stood and walked up to us as she took notice of T-Dog's bandaged wound. "It's not a bite. I cut myself pretty bad though." T-Dog explained.

"We'll have it looked at, I'll tell them you're here." She said.

"We have some painkillers and antibiotics." I informed her as I pulled out the pills Daryl had given me. "I already gave him some, if Carl needs any."

"Come on inside, I'll make you something to eat." She said as she opened the screen door and led us into the house. She took us to a room close by where Carl and his family were.

First Time

"You got here right in time. This couldn't go untreated much longer." Patricia said as she was nearly finished sowing up the young black man's arm. I'd led them to the dining area and got them both something to eat and drink and once they were finished Patricia started working on his cut. Since there was nothing more she could do for that young boy, dad was taking care of him.

I had my hand in his to keep his arm still and on the table, I wish I had Beth's gift to take his pain away, but with her still sleeping from the strain of Carl's all I could do was hold his hand. We'd been talking to him to keep him distracted, Patricia asked. "'Merle Dixon.' Is that your friend with the antibiotics?"

The young Asian leaned against the archway with a mug in his hands as he answered. "No, ma'am, Merle's no longer with us. Daryl gave us those—his brother."

"Not sure I'd call him a friend." The black man T-Dog said before biting down as Patricia was starting to tie off the thread.

"He is today. This Doxycline might have just saved your life. You know what Merle was taking it for?" Patricia asked.

"The clap." Young Asian Glenn said. I looked at him as he explained. "Um, venereal disease. That's what Daryl said."

"I'd say Merle Dixon's clap was the best thing to ever happen to you." Patricia told T-Dog.

"I'm really trying not to think about that." T-Dog said through gritted teeth. Glenn headed outside; T-Dog relaxed once Patricia cut the thread and wrapped his arm in a bandage. I followed him out, the guy intrigued me, and he was cute. He was sitting in one of the rocking chairs on the porch.

He had his hands clasped and his head bowed, so as I leaned against one of the posts I asked. "Are you praying?" He looked at me.

"Why do you sneak up on people so much?"

"You're easy to sneak up on." I told him as I sat on the porch rail.

"I was praying." He said as he looked at me. "I was trying to."

"You religious? You pray a lot?" I wanted to know more about him, everything actually.

"Actually, uh, this was my first try."

"Ever?" He nodded. "Wow. Sorry. I didn't mean to wreck your first time."

"God probably got the gist."

"Praying for what?"

"My friends. Looks like they could all use a little help right now." He sighed before continuing. "You think—you think God exists?" He looked at me.

"I always took it on faith. Lately I've wondered. Everything that's happened; there must have been a lot of praying going on. It seems quite a few went unanswered."

"Thanks, this is really helping." There was sarcasm in his voice.

"Sorry, go ahead. Really."

"You gonna watch?"

I stood up and walked over to him, as I bent down picking up his empty mug I said. "I'll get you a refill instead." I started to walk away when I stopped and looked at him again. "I know it's not my business, and feel free to believe in God, but the thing is you've got to make it okay somehow no matter what happens." I went back into the house leaving him to his thoughts and his praying. I had no idea that he wasn't just praying for his friends, but for something much more important, his own unborn child.

Forgive Me

I was standing on my R.V. keeping watch, Andrea and Daryl had left a little while ago to look for Sophia. It was dark so they'd taken flashlights, I was pretty sure Daryl no longer needed a flashlight, but he took one anyways, I think it was more for Sophia's benefit then his.

I reached into my pocket and pulled out the pack of cigarettes I'd taken from T-Dog, lifted it up to my noise and smelt them. I hadn't had a cigarette in a really long time, I quite several years ago 'cause my wife asked me to, she wanted me to live as long as I could to be with her. Who'd have thought it'd actually end up being my wife who died first.

I looked at them again debating, when I heard someone climbing the ladder. I dropped them as I turned and saw Carol; she tossed her pack up as I bent down and picked up the cigarettes. I put them back in my shirt pocket before I asked. "Can't sleep?"

"I'm gonna wait for them to come back." I looked out in the darkness as she continued. "You can go down and sleep if you want to." I faced her.

"No, we can keep watch together." I walked a few steps back to where I'd been standing, Carol followed.

"Which way did they go?" I pointed out in the general direction I'd seen them walk off in. Neither of us said another word as we waited for them to return, hopefully with some good news about Sophia.

We were silent for a while; Carol had decided to sit at my left as I continued to stand, keeping watch, worrying about Andrea. It seemed Carol could read my thoughts as she said. "You don't need to worry, she's with Daryl. If something happens he can protect her." I looked down at her as she looked up at me. "You hear what I'm saying?"

"Sorry, all I heard was if something happens." I started to take off my riffle as I asked. "You mind keeping watch?" I tried to hand her the riffle.

"I don't know how to use that."

"I won't be gone long." I told her, I just needed to go find them. They've been gone for too long now and I couldn't stop worrying. "If you see anything, call out. I'm not going far, I'll hear you." I headed to the ladder at the back of the R.V. I place my riffle back on before I climbed down to the street below.

I started walking pass all the abandoned cars to the guardrail where Daryl and Andrea had gone a couple of hours ago. I probably should've brought a flashlight as I stood there looking out into the inky blackness without the perfect vision that Daryl had.

I stood there for several minutes before going back to Carol and the R.V. I climbed the ladder and sat down as we waited for them to get back. It was maybe an hour later when I saw the flashlights and movement from the woods as they came back.

Carol made a small noise of sadness as she grabbed her bag and headed down the ladder. I followed a few seconds later as I saw them get closer. As I reached the ground I saw Carol go inside the R.V. slamming the door behind her. I noticed that Sophia wasn't with them; I figured they hadn't had any luck.

I looked at Daryl who made eye contact as he flipped off his flashlight, then opened the door and went inside.

Andrea was going to follow, I stopped her. "Andrea, wait."

"What do you want, Dale?" Andrea asked impatiently as she faced me.

"To give you this." I pulled her pistol from behind me. "I care about you so I made a choice for you—choices. I know why I did it, but this is not my gun. And the choices that I made for you were not mine to make." I explained, as I held out her pistol. She walked closer and took it from my hand. "But I can still ask, and this is not to make you guilty or put me ahead of you, but I can still ask, please…Don't make me regret this."

She looked at the ground, but as she looked back up at me she said. "I'll take watch." She headed to the back of the R.V.

"So—so do you—do you forgive me for—" I paused as she stopped moving. "Do you forgive me?"

She looked at me as she gave her best answer. "I'm trying." That was that. She headed up to the roof and I went inside the R.V. Daryl was laying on his pallet and Carol was in the back crying. I knew it would take time, I just hoped in the end she would truly forgive me before it was too late and regret never having done so.

High School Blues Part Two

It didn't take long for the glass in the windows to start breaking, and as they came shattering in, Otis and I ran down the halls. With the bags on our backs and guns in our hands we ran, there was nothing else we could do. Dozens of walkers following, and I realized how weak I truly was, I may have super strength but at that very moment it didn't really matter, I turned around and ran backwards as I took in all the walkers behind us.

I spun back to look ahead as I slowed when I saw two big doors locked with a chain and padlock. If I had the time I could break it, with my bare hands, problem was the walkers were almost on top of us and I couldn't spare any ammo, so Otis and I turned and headed down another hall, up some stairs and to a basketball quart in a gymnasium.

There was the bleachers and some wooden platforms pressed against a wall, they were thick enough, so we climbed 'em and stood there with the dead trying to reach up at us. I shined my flashlight around looking for an exit knowing we couldn't stay here all night.

To the left was stairs leading up to a stage of some kind, more bleachers I guessed, but there were windows, and that would be perfect. "Those windows, what's on the other side?" I asked.

"About a twenty-foot drop with nothing to catch you, maybe some bushes, then the athletic field." Otis explained, this gym had been a good run but we'd come to a dead end, possibly literately

"We just need enough time." I told him. "We got to get up there. We got to get 'em open, and get out."

"Not me, maybe you."

"Hey, hey, hey."

"Come on, man, look at me. You really think I can squeeze through one of them tiny windows? They'd be all over us." He explained as we shimmed keeping our backs close to the wall. "Look, we lay down some fire to get a head start. You stay here; I hop down and draw them away. That gives you the chance to get up the bleachers and out a window."

"And where do you go?" I asked, he took my flashlight and shined it at some door at the other end of the gym.

"Locker room, down those steps." He handed the flashlight back.

"Look, like a good way to get trapped."

"It's got windows too, and more my size." Otis finished explaining as I put the flashlight in my pack. "I get out through one, I double back; we meet up out on the field."

"You're a crazy son of a bitch, ain't you?"

"Just trying to do right for that boy."

"You take three shots and you go. After that I fire, I'll lay down a cover for you. I'll get you a lead." I set my gun as he nodded.

"All right." Otis said, and then he aimed his riffle and took his three shots on a few of the walkers. He ran to the end of our height advantage and jumped off, he landed wrong twisting his ankle with a scream of. Then he cried. "Oh God." As one of the walkers crawling on the ground grabbed his leg.

Otis twisted around screaming as he tried to pull away from it. It was drawing the attention of the rest; I aimed my shotgun and blasted a round in its head. Otis struggled to his feet using the butt of his riffle as a crutch and rose as the walkers headed his way.

I shot several as Otis ran for the stairs leading to the locker room. Once I could no longer see him and most of the walkers had followed I headed to the other end where the bleachers and my exit were waiting.

I jumped down and ran up the steps to the window I placed the pack Otis had given me on the floor under the window; I used the butt of my shotgun and busted out said window, not wanting to cut myself. I grunted with the effort as I continued to break the window until I could get out, my muscles were protesting as the ache I'd been feeling all day made its self-known.

I heard a moan behind me, I turned and saw a couple of walkers that hadn't followed Otis, I cocked my shotgun and fired right in its center mass, throwing it off balance as it fell back into the one behind it which was pushed back, that one lost it's footing as he fell over the rail to the ground below.

I grabbed the pack on the floor and looking through the broken window down at the bushes, I let the bag go, then took the one off my back and repeated the motion, and last I dropped my shotgun, leaving my hands free of anything that could get in the way of crawling out of this blasted second story window, it was several feet between myself, and the not so soft landing of the bushes and hard packed earth.

I eased myself out keeping a hold of the window frame still attached to the building as I sat in on the window sill, I was going to jump, but then I had a second thought and decided against it. So I turned around holding the ledge as I hung there preparing to let go, bracing myself for the impact, when unexpectedly another walker grabbed me by the front of my shirt. I let the ledge go and punched it in the face, my hand came away bloody, as I dented its cheek in, but it still growled at me as it tried to bite me. So I used all my strength and punched again, right in the head, I must've hit the head just right 'cause the thing went limp as it released me.

I wasn't ready for the impact at the point, 'cause when my feet hit the ground one of my ankles twisted excruciatingly, and the rest of the pain I'd been feeling increased tenfold up my leg as I laid on the ground holding it. I sat somewhat on my side as I held my throbbing ankle and groaned trying to keep from screaming in agony. Would you believe that after this event, this moment, this accident, my strength increased further than before? But at the same time, the pain in my muscles increased as well. So much that I thought I might've been going insane at times, from the sheer pain, of the gift I'd been given, it was like the mutation didn't know when to stop and it in fact started to rip my muscles little by little as time went on.

But at that moment I sat there trying to force myself to rise, when I heard gunshots. Three of them, I knew it had to be Otis, I just didn't know if it meant he was alive, or just got over run, which meant I could very well be on my own. So I got to my feet reluctantly and grabbed the packs, throwing one on my back and grabbing the other one shouldering it as well, then with my shotgun, I limped around the school to the field to meet up with Otis, if he was alive that is.

As I came around the school the grassy incline to the back doors that led out into the field that had fences all around the place. I stayed low behind a wall, as I heard and saw the walkers. I moved slowly, keeping low to the ground as I went around the second building to where the field was. I walked up the stairs then stopped as the fences surrounding the field came into view.

I saw a walker there that noticed me; I shot him in the head as he'd headed my way. I limped toward it as walkers were trying to get at me through the fence, I turned and saw three coming from the side, I turned and walked to the fence, I rested my back against it as I pulled the last shell from my pants pocket and loaded the gun while walkers were coming at me from behind, the side and the front.

I felt them push against the fence I was resting on; I pushed back as I cocked my gun then looked at them. I knew this was bad, as I saw part of the fence being pushed down. I hit my elbow against it, a few were knocked back by the force, and I then aimed my gun at the ones in front of me.

I didn't shoot though, they were getting closer and I was breathing hard, I had one last shotgun round and three walkers, I knew I was screwed, until a gunshot sounded and one of them went down, I saw Otis standing there with his riffle. He shot a second one, and I took out the last of them.

I took off one of the packs and handed it to him as he turned around and we headed away from the fence and all those walkers. "Man, I thought I'd lost you." I told 'em as I passed.

"That was my last rifle round." Otis grimily told me.

"Mine too." I informed him as well. "Come on." We both limped our way down the walk headed for the back alley that would bring us around to the street and to where we'd left the truck. I wasn't sure with this many walkers if we'd be able to make it though. But I knew at least one of us had to for Carl's sake, in the back of my mind I knew it had to be me.

We finally got far enough away from those fenced in geeks as we got to the back of the school and down the incline. As I let go of the small fence Otis and I used to help us down with our injured ankles, Otis said. "Come on, man."

"We need a way out." I said as Otis leaned against another fence for support, I did the same resting my back against it as I looked down the street.

"Just let me catch my breath." Otis said between pants.

"Come on." I said calming myself down. We didn't get to rest long as a whole herd pressed against the fence we were leaning on. We backed away as I aimed my pistol at them. I grabbed Otis around the arm as he placed it around my shoulders then we used each other for support. We limped away as fast as we could around the fence straight to the back alley.

We made it to the filthy alley behind the school, when my ankle gave out and I fell. "Oh, shit." I said as I brought Otis down with me. We both groaned as we laid there.

"Got to get to the street, double back to the truck." Otis said. I had my doubts.

"Look, we ain't gonna make it okay?" I told him, I started to give up the hope that we'd make it back to the farm, with the supplies for Carl, I wanted to live, I wanted to survive, I was just so fucking tired from running.

"Got to try, man. Come on, get up." Otis said as he stood.

"You're gonna take these bags and you're gonna go." I told him as I took the pack off. I was done, given up, what happened next and in the week to come I wish he'd done what I had told him to do, leave me there.

"I ain't leaving you behind." Otis was a good man, he deserved better than me as his partner in that moment. I could hear the growling and moaning from walkers as they found us.

"Okay." I said as I hit the pavement, I noticed it splintered a little, I slowly rose to my feet with Otis, I grabbed the pack I'd taken off as I asked. "How many rounds you got left?"

"Four, you?"

"Five and one in the pipe."

They were getting closer, snarling and growling after us. I stood then helped Otis to his feet. We moved as fast as possible with our sore ankles, he turned and shot one. I turned and did the same, watching it fall.

I made it to the truck threw the pack in the passenger seat and started the engine, then closing the door I drove for the farm, hoping I wouldn't be too late to save Carl as I pushed the peddle to the metal. I arrived at the gate, got out long enough to open it, and close it behind me. I was greeted by Hershel, Rick, Lori, that Maggie chick, even T-Dog and Glenn who'd shown up at some point while I was gone.

I gave them the sad news about Otis; I didn't know how to tell them what really happened, so I lied, I painted a picture of Otis's heroic death. They believed me, every word I said. Then all we could do was wait for Hershel, who'd taken the packs with the equipment needed to save Carl, too come out and tell us the verdict. If I was in time or not, I sat in front of the truck as the events replayed in my mind over and over and over again.

Friendship

After the news of the man named Otis not making it, I'd taken a pack in for Hershel, once he was set up I left closing the door behind me. I saw Maggie come back in, she headed to the kitchen, and I could tell she was hurting, possibly needing someone to talk to, so I followed.

I didn't say anything as I stood there, I didn't need to say anything as Maggie looked at me, then she looked at the floor as she said. "I've known Otis since I was a kid. He's run this farm since before my mother died." Maggie had tears in her eyes, and grief in her voice. I moved from my perch against the counter, I walked to the fridge which was covered in pictures, men, and women, young, and old.

"Who else?" I asked as I looked at her, I specified my question. "Who'd you lose?" She looked at me, tears falling down her cheeks. "You told me I had to make it okay somehow. That's what you've been trying to do, right? Which ones?" I placed my handed against the white fridge that stood there with happier times on it's doors.

She walked to the refrigerator and pointed to one of the pictures of an older woman who was smiling as she sat in a rocking chair. "Stepmother." Her finger moved to a young man, could've been a little older then Maggie, possible he might've been younger then Maggie. "Stepbrother." She took in a shaky breath.

"I'm sorry." I said as I hugged her. She hugged back as her tears fell unbidden, I held her, and this was the start of a beautiful friendship, one that had many bumps in the road.

Hated Myself

After Hershel came out and we all stood up, I was still in front of the truck, he gave us the good news; Carl was stable and would be just fine. I watched Lori go inside to see Carl, after Rick had left with Hershel to give Patricia that news about Otis, I followed behind.

I stopped outside the screen door as I watched Lori, she was watching Hershel and Rick telling Patricia, I heard her broken sob as I opened the door and walked in. The door closed behind me as I took in the scene with Patricia, who was bent over while Hershel and Rick stood by her side as she cried for the loss of Otis, I pushed the guilt down that kept trying to rise.

I headed to the bedroom and looked in on Lori; she was on her knees next to the bed where Carl was sleeping. She was sobbing; I think her tears were of joy, for her son. She ran one hand over his hair, the other she placed in his hand; she looked up as I came into the room.

Neither of us broke the silence as I leaned against the wall and watched her with Carl. Then she said the one thing I never expected. "Stay." I knew what she meant, I slowly nodded. She followed my nod with a nod of her own as she brought Carl's hand to her mouth and kissed it. I swallowed hard, and then I left her to be with him.

I wasn't sure where I was headed, I just walked to the stairs when Maggie came out of one of the rooms and handed me a pile of clothes. "The bathrooms upstairs. I brought you some clothes." She said as I took them from here.

"Thank you."

"They won't fit well, they were Otis's." Maggie looked sad as she walked away. I knew I needed a shower, I was covered with dirt and grime, and I stunk of guilt as well.

I walked up the stairs and entered the bathroom. I turned the facet on hot, and then took off my shirt, boots, and pants I left my boxers on as I set my gun on the toilet with my filthy clothes. I turned to the mirror over the sink and looked at myself. I had a necklace I always wore with a 22 hanging from it, the tattoo of some ex-girlfriend, and the scares of the past.

I looked in the mirror at myself, as the memory of what happened came back, again, it replayed over in my mind.

"How many rounds you got left?" I'd asked Otis.

"Four, you?"

"Five and one in the pipe."

They were getting closer, snarling and growling after us. I stood then helped Otis to his feet. We moved as fast as possible with our sore ankles, he turned and shot one. I turned and did the same, watching it fall.

Otis shot again, I fired again, Otis shot, I shot, and we went that way until I had one bullet left. "Down to my last one." Otis said.

"Me too." I knew I had to do something, we were going to die. I had to save Carl; I had to be the one that lived. I stopped and looked at Otis. "I'm sorry." He looked confused. I didn't want to waste the bullet so I picked up my foot using all my strength I kicked Otis right in the knee cap. He screamed as his knee dislocated and broke as his leg bent backwards then he fell to the ground.

I grabbed the pack and pulled it away from him, the straps ripped a little as they gave way. Otis fought me weakly as he cried in pain. The walkers were catching up as they could smell the blood that was pooling at his leg where a piece of bone had torn open the back of it.

Otis tried to grab at me, he missed, and as I limped away I heard Otis scream. "I'll kill you!" I stopped at a bus on the side of the road, when I turned and saw him being eaten alive; he gave me this look of, betrayal, so I aimed my gun and shot him between the eyes. That was the only mercy I could bestow on the man I just sacrificed to save myself, and Carl.

I holstered my gun, shouldered the pack, and then I grabbed the edge of the bus and gritting my teeth I moved it to block the street giving me the lead I needed as they fed on Otis and were slowed by the bus.

I made it to the truck and left for the farm.

I hated myself, I looked in the mirror and I didn't like who I saw. I realized then that I had to change my look, do something to get passed the revulsion I felt. I searched the medicine cabinet, nothing. I looked through the drawers until I found an electric razor. I plugged it in, and started shaving my head. At first I thought I'd miss my hair. But as I finished, I ran my hand over the condensation that had built up from the shower that was steaming away ready for me to us it, I looked at my bald head. That felt much better. I got in the shower and washed away the dirt and grime, and the guilt just melted with the heat, I was no longer the Shane of the old world. I was now a new Shane, one that would do whatever I had to, in order to survive and protect my family.