On The Road
Rick drives the Ferenc cube van back to camp as the sun sets.
"Best not to dwell on it. Merle got left behind. Nobody's gonna be sad he didn't come back... except maybe Daryl." Morales said.
"Daryl?" Rick asked.
"His brother." Morales answered.
"Don't worry. Daryl's not as bad at Merle." Cassidy reassured.
"He's kind of a dick, but he's a somewhat reasonable dick. Sometimes." Nathan said
"Fair warning, though. He's a little more hot-headed compared to Merle and when he gets mad. He's very impulsive." Allie said.
Rick nodded
A car alarm can be heard closing in.
"WHOO-HOO!" Glenn shouted
Glenn speeds past Rick and the others on their way out of town
"At least somebody's having a good day." Adam said.
"Lucky bastard." Nathan muttered.
~*~ ~*~
Survivor Camp
At the camp, Jim works on an alarm system. He's strung empty food cans between trees at some parts of the camp.
Eliza and Louis were fighting and arguing over something, until Miranda broke it up. Alex was playing with Sophia. Carl was getting a haircut from Lori while talking to Shane. And Jane was sitting by the R.V with a solemn look.
Hazel walked up to her
"Are you ok, dear?" She asked.
"Shannon still hasn't come out of the R.V." Jane said.
Hazel took a seat next to her.
"I don't know what to do, grandma." Jane said.
"Just be patient, sweetheart. She'll come out when she's ready." Hazel said.
"I just really hope Glenn and Dani come back soon. She really needs them right now." Jane said.
"I know she does, but all we can do now is hope and pray they come back soon." Hazel said.
Jane looked out into the camp and saw a small group gathering up. Consisting of Trevor, Amy, Trish, and several others.
"I'll be right back." Jane said, standing up.
Jane walked over to them.
"Are we all set?" Trevor asked his group.
They all nodded.
"All right, let's go." Trevor said.
Jane approached them.
"What's going on?" Jane asked.
Trevor turned to Jane.
"We're leaving." Trevor answered.
"Leaving?" Jane asked.
"We're going after them, Jane. they need our help. Don't worry, we'll be back soon." Trish explained.
"Yeah, as walkers, probably. Guys, it's too dangerous out there." Jane said.
"Hey. Hey. Hey. What's going on here?" Shane asked, approaching.
"We're doing what you don't have the balls to do, Shane. We're going to rescue our friends." Trevor said.
"Now look, I already told y'all. We can't." Shane said.
"Bullshit! If it was Lori and Carl out there, you know damn well you'd be going after them." Trevor said.
Shane took a step towards Trevor.
"Do not bring them into this, ok. This ain't about them. I'm just trying to keep everybody here safe and alive." Shane said.
"And what about the others, Shane? Huh? What about them? We can't just sit here and do nothing." Trevor argued.
"Let me tell you something, All right. I am doing my best here, Ok? I am. So the least you can do is cut me some slack." Shane said.
Trevor glared at Shane. Trish got in the middle of Trevor and Shane to avoid a fight. She looked at Shane, with pleading eyes
"Shane, we don't mean to cause a fuss, but there are people out there right now that mean the world to us. My husband— he's all I have left, Shane. I can't just sit here in camp and do nothing while he's out there risking his life." Trish said.
"Look, Trish. I get it, I do, but you and everyone else here going out into that city is only gonna do more harm than good." Shane said.
Jane looked at the small crowd and slightly push Shane back from the group.
"Everyone, please. I know it's hard and I know some of you have loved ones out there. We've all lost so much; I know that, but we need to have faith and hope that they're all okay and that they're probably on their way back right now. So please, trust me when I say this. Be patient, and if they're not back within the next few hours and you still want to go. We won't stop you. Just please, give it some more time." Jane said.
The small group looked among each other and nodded. Trevor looked at Jane and took a step towards her.
"Two more hours. And if they're not here by then. We're going." He said.
"Understood." Jane said.
Trevor nodded
Trevor's group dispersed and returned to their tasks. Jane sighed and was about to head back to her chair, until Shane touched her shoulder.
"So what, in two hours we're supposed to just let them all go out into that city to be killed? Is that what's happening?" Shane asked.
"You saw them, Shane. Whether or not we try to stop them, they were going out there anyway. When someone you love and care about is in danger and needs help, you'd do anything to save them. Even if it costs you your own life."
Shane scoffed.
"And Trevor did have a point, Shane. If Lori and Carl were out there and they were in trouble. You'd be out there in a heartbeat." Jane said.
Jane walked away and returned to her seat next to Hazel, by the RV. Shane shook his head and walked back to Lori and Carl.
Erika was sitting by the fire pit. Ian walked up to her. Erika got up from her chair and greeted him with a kiss.
"Hey." She greeted.
"Hey. How's Amy doing?" Ian asked
"I talked to her for a bit and managed to calm her down, but she's still worried." Erika said.
"About Andrea?" Ian asked.
Erika nodded
"Yeah." She said
"Well, can you blame her though? If you had someone you cared about was out there, and you knew they were in trouble. You'd wanna do everything you could to help them, right?" Ian said.
"Yeah I guess." Erika said.
"Speaking of which, I'm surprised you aren't bouncing off the walls worrying about Allie. She is one of your best friends after all, isn't she?" Ian said.
Erika looked down and had a somber look on her face. Ian looked at her and took notice.
"Look, I know the three of us share a bit of history. It was awkward, complicated, and at times a little messy, but you guys didn't know me until high school. You two have known each other since you were little. What happened back then, shouldn't change anything between you two now." Ian said.
"I know, Ian, but the thing is—" Erika started, but Ian put a hand up to stop her.
"SSH! Listen." Ian said. A car alarm can be heard in the distance. Erika looked around in confusion, then looked back at Ian
"Do you hear that?" Ian asked.
Erika nodded and looked around.
"What is that?" Erika asked.
They both got us from their seats. Ian looked up to Dale.
"Hey, Dale, can you see what that is?" Ian called to him.
"Talk to me, Dale."Shane said.
"I can't see it, yet." Dale said.
"Hold on, let him get a good look at it." Ian said.
Dale held up his binoculars and saw a red vehicle driving around the road toward them.
"Is it them? Are they back?" Amy asked.
Now Dale can see the red car as it comes up the approach to camp.
Shannon stepped out of the R.V, wiping away her tears. Jane got up from her seat and walked up to her
"Hey, are you ok?" Jane asked
"I'm ok. What's happening?" Shannon asked.
"I'm not sure. Come on." Jane said, gesturing Shannon to move with with her.
Several people walked up to the R.Vwhere Dale stood watch.
"I'll be damned." Dale muttered.
"What is it?" Amy asked.
"What's coming our way, Dale?" Trevor asked.
"A stolen car is my guess." Dale answered.
Glenn and Dani pulled up in the Charger and got out. Shannon raced toward them.
"GLENN! DANI!" Shannon yelled.
She tackled Glenn with a hug, Glenn hugged her back. Then, she moved to hug Dani.
"Holy crap, turn that damn thing off!" Dale ordered.
"I don't know how!" Glenn said
Shane, Trevor, Amy, and Trish approaches Glenn and all started to talk at once.
"Pop the hood, please. Pop the damn hood please." Shane said
"My sister Andrea –" Amy started
"Glenn, where's my husband?" Trish asked
"Where's Cassy, man?" Trevor asked
"Pop the damn hood, please!" Shane yelled.
Dani stood in front of the small crowd.
"Whoa! Whoa! Everybody calm down a second. Glenn pop the hood." Dani said
"What? Okay, okay. Yeah! Yeah! Yeah!" Glenn said.
Glenn gets in and reaches for the hood release.
"Come on, man. Talk to me. Is she fine?" Trevor asked
"Is she okay? Is she all right?" Amy asked.
"Yeah! Yeah!" Glenn answered.
"She's okay! She's okay!" Amy said.
"Is my husband coming back?" Trish asked.
"Yes!" Glenn said
"Everybody! Just take a minute, please." Dani said.
Dani opened the hood and pulled some wires and the alarm stops. Dale and Jim are there, too.
"Why isn't she with you? Where is she? She's okay?" Amy asked.
"Yes! Yeah. Fine. Everybody is. Well, Merle not so much." Glenn said.
"Are you two crazy, driving this wailing bastard up here? Are y'all trying to draw every walker for miles?" Shane asked.
"Hey, just so you know. This "wailing bastard" here practically saved our lives. Oh, and we're fine by the way, thanks for asking" Dani said.
"I think we're okay." Dale said.
"You call being stupid okay?" Shane said.
"What'd you say?" Dani said, stepping up to Shane, But was stopped by Shannon.
"Now. Now. Calm down. There's no need to fight. Look, the alarm was echoing all over these hills. Hard to pinpoint the source." Dale reasoned.
Shane glared at Dale.
"I'm not arguing. I'm just saying." Dale said.
Dale turned to Dani and Glenn
"Although, it wouldn't hurt either of you to think things through a little more carefully next time, would it?" Dale said.
"Whatever." Dani said.
"Sorry. Got a cool car." Glenn said.
A truck approaches the camp. Glenn and Dani smiled as Rick drives up in the Ferenc cube van.
~*~ ~*~
Inside The Van
Inside the cab Morales pats Rick on the arm.
"Come meet everybody." Morales said.
Adam put his hand on Rick's shoulder.
"Here's hoping your family's here, man."Adam said, before getting out.
~*~ ~*~
The Camp
The slide door opened. Everybody walked out of the van.
Amy ran to Andrea in tears and they hugge tightly.
"Oh my god." Andrea said
"You scared the shit out of me." Amy said.
Trish and Trevor ran to Adam and Cassidy. Adam and Trish held each other tightly. Trevor hugged Cassidy, then kissed her passionately.
"Are you ok." Trevor asked, caressing Cassidy's face.
"I'm fine, babe. I'm fine." Cassidy said, smiling.
"Never leave me again." Trish said, still holding Adam.
"I won't. I promise." Adam said.
Kristen walked past the happy reunion. Jane walked toward her.
"Hey, good to see you're okay." Jane said.
"Yeah, no thanks to you." Kristen said. Pushing past Jane and kept walking.
Jane sighed.
Morales is holding his daughter and hugging his wife. It reminds Carl of how happy he would be when his dad came home.
"I told you I'd be back." Morales said
Allie walked up to Ian and Erika.
"Hey, guys." Allie greeted.
Ian hugged Allie.
"Good to have you back." Ian said.
"It's good to be back." Allie said. She looked at Erika and waved awkwardly.
"Hey." She said.
Erika nodded. Allie nodded back and walked over to Dale with Nathan.
Dale shook Nathan's hand, then Allie's
"I thought we lost you folks for sure." Dale said.
Nathan scoffed.
"Good to see you too, old man." Nathan said, smirking.
"How'd y'all get out of there anyway?" Shane asked.
"New guy—he got us out." Glenn said, standing next to Dani, who was holding Shannon.
"Even though he got us into that mess in the first place." Dani added.
"New guy?" Shane asked.
"Yeah, crazy vato just got into town. Hey, helicopter boy! Come say hello." Morales called.
"The guys' a cop. Like you, Shane." Adam said.
Rick walks forward slowly, a sad unsure look on his face.
Shane sees Rick, a look of disbelief on his face. Rick looks at Shane as Shane backs up shocked and no sign of happiness. Carl turns and sees his father. Lori turns her head to see what he's looking at. Rick reacts as if he can't believe his eyes.
Rick and Carl run to each other. Lori runs after Carl.
"Dad! Dad!" Carl cried.
Carl hits Rick with a hug and they both go down on the ground. They both cried.
Rick picks Carl up and carries him to where Lori stands looking as if she'd seen a ghost. She is stunned and blinking, her eyes wide open as if she still can't believe them. She grabs Rick and pulls him to her. The three of them hug tightly, crying. Lori tries to understand how he could be alive. She looks up to see Shane with a sheepish smile. A look of disbelief comes to her eyes. Shane looks away but he smiles and tries to be happy. Rick looks around to Shane happy to see him. Shane smiles back at Rick.
~*~ ~*~
Night
Rick, Lori, Carl, Shane, Glenn, Dani, Shannon, Jane, Andrea, Amy, Nathan, Allie, T-Dog, Adam, Trish, Cassidy, Trevor, Erika, Ian, Hazel, Dale, and Marlene sit around a campfire
"Disoriented. I guess that comes closest. Disoriented." Rick said.
Rick is sitting with Carl in his lap. Lori is sitting close, her hands in Carl's hair.
"Fear, confusion – all those things but..." Rick started.
"Disoriented comes closest." Rick finished.
"Words can be meager things. Sometimes they fall short." Dale said.
"Damn, when I said that I thought you were in a coma since this all started. I wasn't being serious." Dani said.
Everyone chuckled.
"I felt like I'd been ripped out of my life and put somewhere else. For a while I thought I was trapped in some coma dream, something I might not wake up from ever." Rick said.
"Mom said you died." Carl said, looking up at his father.
Lori lays her hand on Carl's forehead. She doesn't speak.
"She had every reason to believe that. Don't you ever doubt it." Rick said.
"When things started to get really bad, they told me at the hospital that they were gonna medevac you and the other patients to Atlanta, and it never happened." Lori informed.
"Well, I'm not surprised after Atlanta fell." Rick said.
"Yeah." Lori said.
"And from the look of that hospital, it got overrun." Rick said.
"Yeah, looks don't deceive. I barely got them out, you know?" Shane said.
"I can't tell you how grateful I am to you, Shane. I can't begin to express it." Rick said
"There go those words falling short again. Paltry things." Dale said.
Marlene scoffed, then lightly tapped Dale's shoulder.
"Come on, Dad. Cut the man some slack. He literally just woke up to a whole new world. It'd be overwhelming for anybody." Marlene said
"Count yourself lucky, man. You didn't have to see it all, like most of us did. And you've still got your family intact. Not all of us can say that." Adam said.
Trish grabbed Adam's hand and squeezed tightly, while leaning her head on his shoulder.
Wood clattering could be heard. They looked back and saw a second camp fire, a man has put on another log. The light flares up and glows in the night
"Hey, Ed, you want to rethink that log?" Shane said.
"It's cold, man." Ed said
"The cold don't change the rules, does it? Keep our fires low, just embers so we can't be seen from a distance, right?" Shane said.
"I said it's cold. You should mind your own business for once." Ed said.
Jane rolled her eyes.
Shane got up and went to the other fire. Jane looked around noticed someone was missing.
"Where's Tyler?" Jane asked.
"He's in his tent, sleeping. He was very tired from working all day, the poor dear. So, he decided to turn in early for the night." Hazel said.
Jane sighed.
"Has anyone spoken to him at all today?" Jane asked
"I tried once, but he ignored me." Ian said
Jane shook her head.
"Just give him some time, Jane. He's still reeling after what happened to Lisa." Dani said.
"I know, but its been weeks now. I figured he'd be okay by now." Jane said.
"People grieve differently and at their own pace, Jane. That's just how it is." Dani said.
Jane nodded
"I know. I'm just worried about him. That's all." Jane said.
"He'll be okay, sweetheart. Don't worry." Hazel said
Shane returned and sat back down.
"Have you given any thought to Daryl Dixon? He won't be happy to hear his brother was left behind." Dale said.
"I'll tell him." T-Dog offered.
"You sure, T? I mean, you know how Daryl is." Trevor said.
"Yeah, I'm sure. I dropped the key. It's on me." T-Dog said.
"I cuffed him. That makes it mine." Rick said.
"Guy's, it's not a competition. I don't mean to bring race into this, but it might sound better coming from a white guy." Glenn said.
"I did what I did. Hell if I'm gonna hide from him." T-Dog said.
"It doesn't matter who tells him. Bad news is bad news, he's not gonna be happy either way." Erika said.
"We could lie." Amy suggested.
"Lies only make things worse ...and it's risky. If we tell Daryl that Merle is dead and he finds out he isn't. What do you think he's gonna do?" Jane said.
"It was just a suggestion." Amy defended.
"I know, I'm sorry. It's just... we need to be careful about how we tell Daryl about this because he might be more reasonable than Merle, but he's got a bad temper and he will lash out." Jane explained.
"Well I say we tell the truth. Merle was out of control. Something had to be done or he'd have gotten us killed." Andrea said.
Andrea turned to Lori.
"Your husband did what was necessary. And if Merle got left behind, it is nobody's fault but Merle's." Andrea said.
"And that's what we tell Daryl? I don't see a rational discussion to be had from that, do you? Word to the wise—we're gonna have our hands full when he gets back from his hunt." Dale said.
"What choice do we have, Dale. Whether we tell him, don't tell him, or lie. He's gonna be pissed off. We're damned if we do, damned if we don't. I'm with Andrea on this. We should just tell him the truth and get it over with. And whatever happens afterwards, we'll deal with it." Ian said.
"That's a nice idea, Ian. Do you want to be the messenger in this scenario." Nathan said.
Ian stayed silent.
"Yeah, that's what I thought." Nathan said.
"Well, someone's gotta tell him." Cassidy said
"You're all acting like he's some kind of rabid dog waiting to bite someone who gets too close. Y'all should give him a chance. You'd see he's a decent man." Marlene said.
"Are you volunteering yourself?" Nathan asked.
Marlene looked unsure.
"Nate, could you maybe stop being a jackass for a few minutes. This is serious." Allie said.
"Being a jackass is how I cope when things get real, Allie. All right, it's just what I do, take it or leave it, but seriously though. Who's gonna be the lucky guy or gal, that's gonna to tell Daryl that brother dearest, got handcuffed to a roof and then left to fry like an egg." Nathan said
"I was scared and I ran. I'm not ashamed of it." T-Dog said.
"We were all scared. We all ran. What's your point?" Andrea said.
"I stopped long enough to chain that door. Staircase is narrow. Maybe half a dozen geeks can squeeze against it at any one time. It's not enough to break through that. Not that chain, not that padlock. My point—Dixon's alive and he's still up there, handcuffed on that roof. That's on us." T-Dog said
T-Dog gets up from the fire and leaves for his tent.
Hazel gets up from the fire.
"Well, here's my suggestion. Today has been a long day and emotions are running high. So I suggest we all get some rest for tonight and we'll have all of tomorrow to decide what to do when Daryl returns." Hazel suggested.
"Now that's an idea I can get behind. Night folks." Nathan said, before getting up and loving to his tent.
Everyone got up from their seats. The fire was put out. And they all headed to their tents and got some much needed rest.
~*~ ~*~
The Next Morning
The morning had arrived and everyone was up their daily tasks. Laundry was being gathered and breakfast was being cooked and eaten.
Jane exited her tent and stretched. She saw Rick walk by and waved to him. He waved back. Dani looked over at the RV and saw Dani conversing with a man. Jane walked over to her.
"And if they need anything just let me or Glenn know, ok?" Dani said.
"Ok, thanks Dani." The man said Before walking away. He waved to Jane as he past her.
"Hey." Dani greeted.
"Hey, how'd you sleep?" Jane asked.
"Eh fine. Shannon and I stayed up for a while talking. She doesn't want me or Glenn going on runs anymore and wants us to stay here." Dani said.
"And what'd you say?" Jane asked.
"I said that I'll try to stick it around, but I can't speak for Glenn since everyone here relies on him for supplies." Dani said.
"Speaking of which, where is your brother?" Jane asked.
"Probably drowning his sorrows. Dale, Nathan, and Jim are dismantling the sports car we drove up here yesterday for fuel and extra parts." Dani said.
"Oh." Jane said.
"Yeah, he's not too happy about it, but you know they gotta do what they gotta do." Dani said.
"Yeah. And Shannon?" Jane asked.
"She went off with Carl, Sophia, and Alex. Said they were gonna walk in the woods a little bit. I told her not to go far from camp." Dani said.
"That's good." Jane said, looking around.
"What is it?" Dani asked.
"Nothing it's just-" Jane started.
"You're looking for Tyler, aren't you?" Dani asked.
"Was it that obvious?" Jane asked.
Dani chuckled.
"A little. He went down to the quarry with Shane to get some water." Dani said.
Dani looked over Jane's shoulder and saw Shane's Jeep pulling up with Shane and Tyler.
"Oh speak of the devil." Dani said.
"What?" Jane asked.
Dani pointed towards the Jeep. Jane turned around and to where she was pointing and saw Tyler.
"Oh good he's back. Thanks, Dani." Jane said before walking over to Tyler
"Anytime." Dani called out to Jane as she walked away.
"Water's here, y'all. Just a reminder to boil before use." Shane said as he and Tyler stepped out of the Jeep.
Jane walked up to Tyler as he was getting out of the Jeep.
"Hey cuz, what's up?" Tyler greeted.
"Nothing much. How are you though, are you ok?" Jane asked.
"Yeah I'm fine. Why do you ask?" Tyler asked.
"Well it's just lately you've been-" Jane started until suddenly they heard screaming in the distance.
"Mom!" A boy called
"Carl?" Lori called back.
"Dani! Glenn!" Shannon called.
"Shannon?" Dani called back
Everyone ran out of the camp and into the woods where the children were screaming
"It's over there." A man called
Shane tosses a shotgun to Tyler, he catches it and they run into along with everyone else.
"Dad!" Carl called
"Baby!" Lori called
"Mama! Mommy!" A girl called
"Mom!" A boy called
"Dani! Jane!" Shannon called
"We're coming, Honey!" Jane called.
Rick, Lori, Jane, Ellie, and Dani met up with Jacqui, Sophia, Carl, Alex, and Shannon.
Lori and Ellie hugged their sons and Sophia ran into Carol's arms. Shannon ran to Jane and Dani.
"Nothing bit you? Nothing scratched you?" Lori asked Carl.
"No, I'm okay." Carl answered.
"Are you ok, honey?" Ellie asked Alex.
"I'm ok, mom." Alex answered.
"Shannon, baby, what happened?" Jane asked
"There's a walker back there." Shannon answered fearfully.
"Run back to camp, ok. Jane and I will be there soon." Dani said.
Jane nodded and took Shannon back to camp
Rick, Shane, Glenn, Dale, Adam, Tyler, Morales, Ian, Nathan ran under the tin can alarm system and past Jacqui, Lori, Ellie, Carl, Alex, Shannon, Dani, and Jane
"Dani! Jane!" Erika called out.
They looked back at her. Erika tossed them both a baseball bat. Dani and Jane ran to catch up with the men
In a small clearing they see a man hunched over a deer carcass. Shane and Tyler cover him with their guns.
With his back to the group the walker looks like a man as he tears meat away from the carcass and feeds on it. Andrea, Amy, Trish, Allie, and Erika run up onto the scene.
Andrea gasped.
The carcass has arrows sticking out of it. Circling the deer the men attract the walker's attention. He turns and growls at Rick. Rick takes his shovel and hits the walker. The walker keeps trying to get up so Jane, Adam, Morales, Glenn, Dani, Tyler, Rick, Ian, Jim, Dale, and Nathan continue to beat on it with their weapons until Dale cuts its head off with his axe.
"It's the first one we've had up here. They never come this far up the mountain." Dale said
"Well, they're running out of food in the city, that's what." Jim said.
"Well maybe it's time we pack up and get going." Adam said.
"And go where exactly?" Nathan asked.
"Anywhere, but here. Look, it's starts off with one and before we know it, there's a whole horde of them. I'm just saying the sooner we leave, the better." Adam said.
Suddenly, footsteps and a branch snapping can be heard. The group raises their weapons ready to kill any other walker. Shane and Tyler raise their shotguns and scan the forest. A man with a crossbow comes around a rock outcrop. Shane lowers his gun, everyone relaxes.
"Oh, Jesus." Shane muttered.
"Relax, gentleman. It's just Dixon." Dani said raising a hand to tell the group to stand down.
"Son of a bitch. That's my deer! Look at it. All gnawed on by this. Filthy, disease-bearing, motherless, poxy bastard!" Daryl said while kicking the dead walker.
"Calm down, son. That's not helping." Dale said.
Daryl walked over to Dale, angry.
"What do you know about it old man? Why don't you take that stupid hat and go back to "On Golden Pond"?" Daryl said.
He sighed.
"I've been tracking this deer for miles." Daryl said.
He pulled his arrows out of the carcass.
"Gonna drag it back to camp, cook us up some venison. What do you think? Do you think we can cut around this chewed up part right here?" Daryl asked.
"I would not risk that." Shane said.
"That's a damn shame. I got some squirrel—about a dozen or so. That'll have to do." Daryl said.
"It's better than nothing, Daryl." Jane said.
"Yeah, whatever." Daryl muttered
The head of the walker started snapping.
"Oh God." Amy said.
"I'm gonna be sick." Trish said.
Amy, Andrea, and Trish leave in horror and disgust while Erika and Allie stay behind, unfazed.
"Come on, people. What the hell?" Daryl said.
He shoots the head with an arrow through the eye, killing it. He puts his foot on the head and pulls the arrow back out.
"It's gotta be the brain. Don't y'all know nothing?" Daryl said.
The man walks to the camp. Rick watches him. Jane stood next to Rick.
"If it wasn't already obvious. That's Daryl Dixon, Merle's brother. Ain't he a sweetheart?" Jane said.
"Merle! Merle! Get your ugly ass out here! I got us some squirrel! Let's stew 'em up." Daryl calls out.
Daryl looked up at the Marlene, who sat on top of the RV, reading a book.
"Hey Mar, you enjoyin" that book?" Daryl asked.
"About as much as I enjoy seeing your face Dixon." Marlene teased.
"Whatever. Hey, you seen Merle around?" Daryl asked.
Marlene had a concerned look on her face.
"Daryl, just slow up a bit. I need to talk to you." Shane said.
"About what?" Daryl asked.
"About Merle. There was a—There was a problem in Atlanta." Shane said
Daryl looked down and back up at Shane
"He dead?" Daryl asked
"We're not sure." Shane said
"He either is or he ain't." Daryl said, upset
Rick walks over to Daryl and Shane.
"No easy way to say this, so I'll just say it." Rick said
"Who are you?" Daryl asked
"Rick Grimes." Rick answered.
"Rick Grimes, you got something you want to tell me?" Daryl said, still upset.
"Your brother was a danger to us all, so I handcuffed him on a roof, hooked him to a piece of metal. He's still there." Rick explained.
T-Dog and Trevor came into the camp with his arms full of firewood.
"Hold on. Let me process this. You're saying you handcuffed my brother to a roof and you left him there?!" Daryl said, now even more upset.
Everyone in camp watched Daryl and Rick. Dani watched carefully, preparing herself to jump in if she had to. Jane held Shannon close to her as they watched the conflict unfold.
"Daryl, just calm down." Marlene said.
Daryl looked at her and glared.
"Did you know about this?" Daryl accused.
"I—" Marlene started.
"Hey. Hey. This ain't about her, this about your brother. And to answer your question. Yes, I did." Rick said.
Daryl grunted and he threw the rope of squirrels at Rick. Shane body slams Daryl knocking him to the ground. T-Dog and Trevor dropped the firewood and ran up.
"Hey." T-Dog called
"Dixon, chill out." Trevor called
Daryl pulls out his knife and goes after Rick.
"Watch the knife!" T-Dog warned.
Daryl shouted and grunted as he swings the knife at Rick and misses wildly. Rick punches Daryl in the gut while Shane grabs him behind and puts him in a choke hold
"Okay. Okay." Shane said, holding Daryl.
"Shane, take it easy. Don't hurt him." Marlene said.
"No worries, Marlene. This ain't my first rodeo." Shane reassured
Dani runs in and takes the knife away from Daryl as Shane forces him to the ground.
"You'd best let me go!" Daryl warned.
"Nah, I think it's better if I don't." Shane countered.
Daryl grunted
"Choke holds illegal." Daryl said.
"You can file a complaint. Come on, man. We'll keep this up all day." Shane said.
Rick kneels down to be face to face with Daryl and looks him in the eye.
"I'd like to have a calm discussion on this topic. Do you think we can manage that? Do you think we can manage that?" Rick said.
"Hmm? Mmm. Yeah." Shane said.
Shane let's go of Daryl.
Daryl panted.
"What I did was not on a whim. Your brother does not work and play well with others." Rick explained.
"It's not Rick's fault. I had the key. I dropped it." T-Dog said.
"You couldn't pick it up?" Daryl said.
"I dropped it in a drain." T-Dog said.
Daryl chokes up but pulls himself together.
"If it's supposed to make me feel better, it don't." Daryl said.
"Well, maybe this will. Look, I chained the door to the roof so the geeks couldn't get at him—with a padlock." T-Dog informed.
"It's gotta count for something." Rick said.
"He's right, Daryl. At least this means he's still alive." Marlene reassured.
Daryl wipes more tears out of his eyes.
"Hell with all y'all! Just tell me where he is so's I can go get him." Daryl said.
"He'll show you. Isn't that right?" Lori said rhetorically.
"I'm going back." Rick said.
Lori, angry, goes into the camper.
Rick sighed.
The camp had now calmed down for the mean time. Dani looked over at Jane and Shannon and walked over to them.
"Hey." Dani greeted.
Dani looked at Shannon
"You ok, Shan?" Dani asked.
"How did that walker get here, Dani?" Shannon asked.
"I don't know, sweetie. I don't know." Dani answered.
"Are we still safe here?" Shannon asked.
"Of course we are. It was just one walker. As long as I'm still here. You'll always be safe, ok?" Dani said.
Shannon smiled
"Ok." Shannon said.
Dani nodded.
"Good." Dani said. Shannon walked off, leaving Dani and Jane.
"Well, That was intense." Dani said.
"The walker or Daryl?" Jane asked.
"Both. What if Adam's right? What if there's more coming?." Dani said.
"Hold on, let's not get paranoid just yet. Look, Adam's just scared, we all are, but that's no reason we need to jump the gun on this." Jane said.
"Yeah, you're probably right." Dani said.
"Of course I am. I'm always right." Jane said, as they started walking
"Yeah. Yeah." Dani said.
They chuckled.
~*~ ~*~
Minutes Later
Things at camp calmed down a bit. Rick and Shane began to argue over Rick leaving to get Merle. Which drew the attention of the rest of the camp.
"Could you just—could you throw me a bone here, man? Could you just tell me why? Why would you risk your life for a douche bag like Merle Dixon?" Shane said.
They've walked up to the cooking fire where Daryl is.
"Hey, choose your words more carefully." Daryl warmed.
"Oh no, I did. Douche bag's what I mean. Merle Dixon—the guy wouldn't give you a glass of water if you were dying of thirst." Shane said.
"What he would or wouldn't do doesn't interest me. I can't let a man die of thirst—me. Thirst and exposure. We left him like an animal caught in a trap. That's no way for anything to die, let alone a human being." Rick reasoned.
"I don't know if I'd call Merle Dixon a human being, but whatever floats his boat I guess." Dani muttered.
"So you and Daryl, that's your big plan?" Lori asked.
Rick turned to Glenn, Dani, and Shannon and he looks at Glenn.
"Oh come on." Glenn said.
Dani and Shannon moved in front of Glenn.
"No. No way." Dani said.
"Please, Officer. Don't take my brother. I just got him back." Shannon pleaded.
"Girls, I understand how you feel, I do, but he knows the way. He said so himself." Rick said.
"My brother already risked his life twice helping you. If you think we're gonna let you try for round three, you've got another thing coming." Dani said.
Glenn gently put each hand over his Dani and Shannon's shoulders.
"Hey, chill out guys, ok? It's all right." Glenn said.
Shannon and Dani backed down. Glenn looked at Rick.
"Look, I know it's not fair of me to ask and I don't mean to take you away from your family, but I'd feel a lot better with you along. I know she would too." Rick said while gesturing to Lori.
Glenn looks at Lori and Carl. Glenn looked at Rick and nodded. Dani shook her head, then stepped up to Rick.
"All right fine, but if you're taking my brother, than you're taking me too." Dani said.
"What?!" Shannon exclaimed.
"No. No. I..I can't ask you to do that." Rick said.
"You're not asking me. I'm telling you. If you're taking him, you're taking me too. I know my way around the city just as well as my brother does and we've always been a team. So I'm going." Dani said.
"Well if they're both going, than so am I." Shannon said.
Dani turned to Shannon.
"No, you're not." Dani said.
"Why not?!" Shannon asked.
"Because you're still just a kid and it's too dangerous." Dani said.
"So, I'm supposed to just stay here and let you two go back into the city and risk your lives... again." Shannon said.
Dani looked down, then looked back up at Shannon.
"Shannon I-" Dani started
"No! You said that as long as you were around that I'd be safe! Well how am I supposed to feel safe when you keep on leaving!" Shannon shouted.
"Shannon please..." Dani said.
"And what if something happens to guys out there and I either end up losing one of you or both of you. What am I supposed to do then, huh?! Haven't I lost enough?!" Shannon said.
Dani sighed.
"You know what?! Forget it. If you wanna go! Just go!" Shannon said.
Shannon then stormed off
"Shannon wait! Shannon!" Dani called out
Shannon went into the R.V and slammed the door behind her.
Dani looked down and sighed.
"Danielle, if you've changed you're mind. You can still-" Rick started
"No. I'm still going. She's just gonna have to understand." Dani said.
Dani glances over at Jane, who shook her head while giving Dani a disappointed look. Then walked off
Dani sighed.
"That's just great. Now you're gonna risk four people, huh?" Shane asked.
"Five." T-Dog added
Daryl huffed
"My day just gets better and better, don't it?" Daryl asked rhetorically.
"You see anybody else here stepping up to save your brother's cracker ass?" T-Dog countered.
"Why you?" Daryl asked
"You wouldn't even begin to understand. You don't speak my language." T-Dog said.
"That's five." Dale said.
"Six." Erika said, walking up to the group.
Ian looked at her in surprise.
"Erika, You can't go out there, it's dangerous." Ian said.
Erika turned to him.
"Exactly. Anything could happen out there. And in case anything should happen and someone gets hurt, they're gonna need someone like me. Allie and Cass went last time, so it only fair that I go this time." Erika said.
"No. No, I don't like this." Ian said.
"I know you don't, but they're gonna need me. You know that." Erika said.
Erika put her hand up to Ian face gently. She smiled
"I'll be ok, all right?" Erika said.
Ian sighed.
"Ok." Ian said
"You sure you can handle this miss?" Rick said.
Erika turned to Rick.
"Miller. Erika Miller, and yes I can. I did JROTC in high school and made cadet captain. And after graduation, I was gonna enlist as a hospital corpsman. I know what's out there and I'm not scared of it." Erika said.
"Are you sure?" Rick said.
"Of course. I'm ready when you are." Erika said.
Rick nodded.
"Ok." Rick said.
"So I guess that's six." Dale said.
Marlene started walking down from the RV with her rifle over her shoulder.
"Well then, let's turn this into a party and make it seven." Marlene said, walking down.
Dale looked back in surprise at his daughter.
"Honey, What are you doing?" Dale asked.
"I'm going with them." Marlene answered.
"Why?" Dale said.
"Because I'm sick of just sitting on top of the Winnebago doing nothing." Marlene said.
"You're not doing nothing, sweetheart. You're helping take watch." Dale said.
"And nothing's happened so far, Dad. I want some excitement and I want to help." Marlene said.
"And that's why you're going?" Dale asked.
Marlene glances over at Daryl. Daryl looked back at her.
"Daryl's gonna need at least one person he can trust with him out there. And believe it or not, I'm the closest thing to a friend that Daryl has here." Marlene said.
Daryl scoffed.
Dale felt nervous and worried about his daughter's decision.
"Dad, I'm not a little girl anymore. I can take care of myself. I'll be fine. I promise." Marlene said.
Dale still felt uneasy, but looked back at his daughter and nodded reluctantly
"Ok." Dale said.
Dale looked back at Rick.
"Well, looks like that makes it seven." Nathan said.
"It's not just seven. You're putting every single one of us at risk. Just know that, Rick. Come on, you saw that walker. It was here. It was in camp. They're moving out of the cities. They come back, we need every able body we've got. We need 'em here. We need 'em to protect camp." Shane argued.
"It seems to me what you really need most here are more guns." Rick said.
"Right, the guns." Glenn said.
Dani shook her head slightly.
"I knew there had to more of a reason than just saving Merle's pathetic ass." Dani said.
"Hey, watch it." Daryl snapped at Dani, but she ignored him.
"Wait, what guns?" Shane asked.
"Six shotguns, two high-powered rifles, over a dozen handguns. I cleaned out the cage back at the station before I left. I dropped the bag in Atlanta when I got swarmed. It's just sitting there on the street, waiting to be picked up." Rick explained.
"With that kind of fire power, we'd be able to take on anything." Erika added.
"Ammo?" Shane asked.
"700 rounds, assorted." Rick answered.
"You went through Hell to find us. You just got here and you're gonna turn around and leave?" Lori spoke up.
"Dad, I don't want you to go." Carl pleaded.
Rick felt moved by Carl's plea.
"To Hell with the guns, Shane is right. Merle Dixon? He's not worth one of your lives, even with guns thrown in." Lori said.
Rick walked up to Lori.
"Tell me. Make me understand." Lori said.
"I owe a debt to a man I met and his little boy. Lori, if they hadn't taken me in, I'd have died. It's because of them that I made it back to you at all. They said they'd follow me to Atlanta. They'll walk into the same trap I did if I don't warn him." Rick explained.
"What's stopping you?" Lori asked.
"The walkie-talkie, the one in the bag I dropped. He's got the other one. Our plan was to connect when they got closer." Rick said.
"These are our walkies?" Shane asked
"Yeah." Rick answered.
"So use the C.B., what's wrong with that?" Andrea asked.
"The C.B.'s fine. It's the walkies that suck to crap. Date back to the seventies, don't match any other bandwidth, not even the scanners in our cars." Shane explained.
"Also no offense cowboy, but how are you so sure that this guy and his son are still alive? If it's just them and they go into that city, they're as good as dead. I mean if we're being completely honest here, if it hadn't been for Glenn and I. You'd still be in that tank." Dani said.
"What tank?" Lori asked.
"It's a long story I'll tell you about later, but my point is. Is it worth the risk?" Dani asked.
"She's got a point, man." Shane agreed.
"Look, I just know that they're alive, all right. They lasted this long on they're own. That's gotta count for something." Rick said.
Rick turned back to Lori.
"I need that bag." Rick said.
Lori didn't like it but she couldn't refuse him. Rick goes over to Carl.
"Okay?" Rick said.
Carl nodded yes.
"All right."
~*~ ~*~
Later On
Rick, Marlene, and T-Dog walk over to Dale, Nathan, and Jim who are near the RV.
"Rumor is you have bolt cutters." Rick said
"Maybe. Did your tell them?" Dale asked Marlene
"It may have slipped out." Marlene said.
"We get to that roof, though; we'll need to cut that chain and the handcuffs." T-Dog said.
"I never like lending tools. The last time I did—and yes, I am talking about you—let's just say your bag of guns wasn't the only bag that was dropped. My tools got left behind with Merle." Dale said.
"Dad, come on please." Marlene pleaded
"Oh no, don't try that puppy-eyed look on me, young lady. That's stopped working on me the day you turned 18." Dale said
Daryl paces back and forth in the back of the box truck impatiently. Glenn is in the driver's seat. Dani was leaning against the truck, outside of it. Erika was standing outside the truck, talking with Ian, Cassidy, and Allie.
"We'll bring your tools back too. Think of the bolt cutters as an investment." Rick said.
"Sounds more like a gamble, if you ask me." Nathan muttered to Jim.
He opens the tool box and gets the bolt cutters. T-Dog reaches for them but Dale doesn't give them to him.
"What do I get in return?" Dale asked.
"What do you want?" Rick asked.
"How about one of those guns you bring back? My pick." Dale said.
"Done." Rick said.
Jim cleared his throat.
"Dale, let's sweeten the deal a bit. Now that cube van of yours..." Jim said.
"What about it?" Rick asked.
"The R.V.'s radiator hose is shot. That's a problem if we need to get somewhere and wanna get very far. And the hose on that van is just about a perfect match. Well, enough that Nate and I can make it fit." Jim said.
"I'll tell you what—we get back, you can strip that van down to the bare metal." Rick said.
The truck horn honked.
Dale hands the bolt cutters to Rick.
Daryl is using is foot to honk the horn of the cube van while Glenn is in the driver's seat.
The truck horn honked again.
"Come on, let's go!" Daryl yelled.
"Calm down, Dixon. We're coming." Marlene yelled back.
"Thank you." Rick said.
Rick started walking towards the R.V.
"Oh and Rick, one more thing?" Dale called.
Rick turned back to Dale.
"Just from one father to another. Keep my daughter safe and bring her back to me in one piece. She's all I got left now." Dale said.
"I'll keep her safe. I promise." Rick said.
Rick walked over to the truck.
Ian, Cassidy, and Allie were gathered around Erika.
"Ok, so you've got the essentials, right? The gauzes, The bandages, rubbing alcohol, painkillers, stitches, everything?" Cassidy asked.
"Yep. Everything." Erika answered.
"Ok." Cassidy said.
Cassidy hugged Erika.
"Good luck. And be safe." Cassidy said.
"I always am." Erika said.
Cassidy walked back to camp.
"Be safe, ok. I love you." Ian said.
"I love you too." Erika said.
Ian and Erika kissed gently. Ian walked back to camp. Allie gingerly walked up to Erika.
"Hey." Allie greeted.
"Hi." Erika greeted back.
"You know, you could just stay here and I can go instead." Allie offered.
"After What you went through last time, I think you've earned a break." Erika said.
"Yeah I guess." Allie said
Allie felt uneasy.
"Look, Allie. I know things between us have been weird. Especially since...you know, but I do want us to stay friends. I mean, it won't be like how it was before, but we can still talk." Erika said.
"Yeah I know." Allie said.
"So what do you say? Friends?" Erika asked.
Erika reached out.
Allie looked at Erika hand, then back at her. She smiled and grabbed her hand.
"Friends." Allie said.
They shook hands, smiling. They let go. Allie heads back to camp and Erika boards the truck.
Dani was sitting by the edge of the truck. She was approached by Jane, who still carried a disapproving look.
"What is it, Jane?" Dani asked. Not looking at her.
"You're really leaving? Again?" Jane asked.
"I gotta look out for Glenn." Dani said.
"What about Shannon? Aren't you looking out for her?" Jane asked.
"Of course I am." Dani said.
"Really? Cuz it doesn't look like it." Jane said.
"Glenn needs-" Dani started.
"Glenn's a full grown adult, more or less. He can take care of himself, but Shannon is still just a kid and she needs you, Dani." Jane said.
"Look, I promise. After this, I'll stay in camp. I'll try and be there for her more." Dani said.
"Yeah that's what you said last time, they were just words, Dani. Words mean nothing without action behind them." Jane said.
Dani sighed.
"Just be careful, ok and come back alive. Shannon doesn't need to lose any more that she already has." Jane said, before walking off.
Dani looked down. She pulled out a crumpled picture from her back pocket. It's a picture of her, Shannon, Glenn, and their parents.
"I wish you guys were here. You'd know what to do." Dani muttered.
Dani sighed.
Dani saw Rick get into the passenger seat. He loads his weapon. Daryl closes the sliding door and Glenn starts the truck. Shane and Jane watch them drive off.
"I really hope they'll be okay." Jane said.
"Me too." Shane said.
They walked back to camp.
~*~ ~*~
Atlanta
Glenn pulls the cube van up along some railroad tracks.
Daryl glared at T-Dog.
"He'd better be okay. It's my only word on the matter." Daryl warned.
"I told you the geeks can't get at him. The only thing that's gonna get through that door is us." T-Dog said.
"We won't know anything until we get there. So let try not to kill each before then, shall we?" Erika said.
Daryl huffed.
The brakes of the truck squeaked and the engine stopped. Glenn turned to Rick and everyone in the back.
"We walk from here." Glenn said.
They get out and head up the tracks and into Atlanta.
~*~ ~*~
At Camp
Back at the camp, Dale was on watch up on the R.V. He still felt anxious about Marlene going into the city, but tried to keep himself busy. Jane and Hazel walked up to the R.V and looked at Dale.
"Hey, Dale." Jane called.
Dale looked down at them.
"Me and a few others are going down to the quarry to do some laundry. You mind keeping my grandma entertained till I get back?" Jane asked.
"Sure." Dale answered.
"Thanks." Jane said.
"All right, see you soon, Grandma." Jane said.
Jane have Hazel a quick hug before leaving her with Dale.
Jane met up with Andrea, Amy, Trish, Carol, Jacqui, and Allie
"Is this all of us?" Jane asked.
"Cassidy said she was gonna stay up here in case she needed to patch anyone up." Allie said.
"And Kristen?" Jane asked.
"She hasn't left her tent all day. I tried talking to her earlier, but she shut me out." Trish said.
Jane sighed.
"Ok, y'all go on ahead. I'll talk to her a little bit." Jane said.
"You sure?" Andrea asked.
"Yeah." Jane answered.
The women all left for the quarry. Jane looked over at Kristen's tent and walked over to it.
Jane looked in and saw Kristen reading a book, while listening to an MP3 player. Jane pulled Kristen's headphone off.
"Hey!" Kristen exclaimed.
"Are you coming?" Jane asked.
"What?" Kristen asked.
"Me and a few of the girls are going down to the quarry to do laundry. Are you coming?" Jane asked.
"Are you asking me or telling me?" Kristen asked.
"I'm asking." Jane said.
"Oh really? Kinda like how you asked me to go on the supply run where I almost died. In that case, i think I'll pass." Kristen said.
"Kris, we all have to pitch in and do our part. You can't just sit in your tent and listen to music all day." Jane said.
"Of course I can. Watch." Kristen said, before putting her headphones back in.
Jane rolled her eyes. Jane pulled the headphones off of Kristen again.
"Ok look, first off, what happened on that supply run wasn't my fault. Things just happened, so you can't blame me for that. And secondly, I'm not gonna force you to do anything you don't want to, but a few of us will be down by the quarry and we'd really appreciate the help so if you change your mind. You know where we are." Jane said.
Jane exited Kristen's tent, leaving her with her thoughts and her music.
As Jane was about to head down to the quarry to meet up with the women. She saw Ian still standing by on the dirt road where Rick's group left for Atlanta. She walked over and stood next to him.
"Worried about Erika, huh?" Jane asked.
"Was I that obvious?" Ian asked.
"Well, just standing here staring at the road isn't exactly subtle." Jane said.
Ian chuckled a little bit.
"Anyway, don't worry about Erika. That girl is a warrior if I've ever seen one. She's one of the toughest people I know and certainly not someone you wanna mess with. She'll be fine." Jane said.
Ian smiled and looked at Jane.
"Trust me, I know. I mean, those first few weeks back in Detroit. Than all that time on the road. All the way up to now. I know that she can take care of herself. I'm just a anxious, cuz I care about her. I wouldn't be a good boyfriend if I didn't." Ian said.
"That is true." Jane said.
"What about you, how've you been holding up?" Ian asked
"What do you mean?" Jane asked
"I saw you chewing Dani out earlier before they left. Care to tell me what that was about?" Ian asked.
"It a long story." Jane answered.
"I got time." Ian said.
"Well I on the other hand, don't because I've got people I need to meet up with and a lot of work to do. I'll probably tell you about it later. See ya." Jane said. Waving to Ian as she walked off, heading for the quarry.
~*~ ~*~
The Quarry
Jane walked down to the quarry and met up with Jacqui, Amy, Andrea, Trish, Allie, and Carol, who had all already got started on the laundry. She noticed Ed standing by his and Carol's Cherokee Jeep, watching them.
"Oh great, this asshole's here." Jane muttered under her breath.
The woman looked up from their work and saw Jane approaching.
"Hey, hun. Kristen not coming?" Jacqui said.
Jane shook her head.
"Mmm. Mmm. Mmm. You know what, someone oughta teach that little girl some manners." Jacqui said.
"It's fine, Jacqui. If she doesn't wanna help out. She doesn't have to. I'm not gonna argue with her." Jane said.
Jane started helping Jacqui unload the laundry.
They could suddenly heard splashing and shouting. They looked over and saw Shane and Carl splashing around and looking like they were having fun
Jane rolled her eyes
"I'm beginning to question the division of labor here." Jacqui said.
"That makes two of us." Jane added.
Shane and Carl continued to have fun in the water, while the women did their work and occasionally looked up at them.
"Can someone explain to me how the women wound up doing all the Hattie McDaniel work?" Jacqui asked
"The world ended, didn't you get the memo?" Amy said.
"Oh come on Amy, like that's a good reason." Allie said.
Carol looks up and sees Ed. He's sitting on the tailgate of the Cherokee smoking a cigarette, watching them intently
"No She's right. It's just the way it is." Carol said.
Jane looked at back at Ed, while watched them all intently, like a guard. Jane felt irritated, but didn't let it get to her.
~*~ ~*~
Atlanta
The group of seven ran to the opening in the fence that Glenn and Dani made for their trips. The fence clattered as they went through the fence, one by one.
"Merle first or the guns?" Rick asked
"Merle! We ain't even having this conversation." Daryl said sharply.
"We are." Rick said to Daryl emphatically. Rick turned to Glenn and Dani.
"You two know the geography, it's your call." Rick said.
The group took a moment to stop and listen to Glenn and Dani as they discussed what to do.
"I think we go for the guns. Merle's already been up there for what, a day now? He can wait another hour or two, but those guns are valuable. If another group sees that bag, they're gonna try to get to it before us. Out here it's first come, first serve."
"Yeah, but Merle's closest. The guns would mean doubling back. I say Merle first." Glenn said.
"As usual, we don't always agree." Dani said.
Erika cleared her throat. Gathering the groups attention.
"If I can give my two cents on the matter. Like Dani said, Merle's been on the roof for almost a day now and it hasn't exactly been cool or breezy today. So I think we should go get Merle first because at this rate, being exposed to direct sunlight with no shade or water nearby for this long. He's bound to be dehydrated and possibly get heatstroke. And given how long it's been since he got handcuffed to the roof, he might not have another hour." Erika said.
"Well there you have it. Doctor's orders." Dani said.
"Well then, what the hell we standing 'round for. Let's go." Daryl said.
The group jogs toward their goal
~*~ ~*~
The Quarry
Back in the quarry the women continue with the laundry.
"I do miss my Maytag." Carol said.
"I miss my Benz, my Sat Nav." Andrea said.
"I miss the comfort of my bed." Jane said.
"I miss my coffeemaker with that dual drip filter and built-in grinder, honey.
"My computer... and texting." Amy said.
Allie smiled.
"Same here." Allie said.
Trish had a solemn look on her face, but it went unnoticed by the women, except Allie, but she said nothing.
"I miss my vibrator." Andrea said.
Jacqui raised her eyebrow.
"Oh." She said.
The women laughed.
"Oh my god." Amy cringed.
"I could've gone my whole life without hearing that." Jane said, jokingly.
Carol looks around furtively.
"Me too." Carol said
The women looked at her in surprise and laughed harder.
Ed has gotten up from the tailgate and walked closer.
"What's so funny?" Ed asked
"Just swapping war stories, Ed." Andrea said.
"Yeah." Amy added.
"It's just girl talk, Ed. Nothin to worry about." Trish said.
Still smoking Ed walks up behind Carol. Staring at her. Jane and Andrea felt unnerved by it.
"Problem, Ed?" Andrea asked
"Nothin that concerns you." Ed said.
Andrea and Jane rolled their eyes.
"And you ought to focus on your work. This ain't no comedy club." Ed said to Carol
Jane huffed and looked over to Amy.
"Why's he even here? He's not doing anything, but watching us as if he's a prison guard and we're the prisoners." Jane whispered to Amy.
"I don't know, but I wouldn't piss him off. Maybe if just ignore him he'll go away soon." Amy whispered back.
"He better, if he knows what's good for him." Jane muttered.
~*~ ~*~
Atlanta
The group was in a darkened building. It's the sales floor of the department store they'd been in before.
Shuffling footsteps could be heard.
Rick gets Daryl's attention and points out a walker that's still inside. It growled at the group.
Daryl got in close so as not to miss the shot.
"Damn, you are one ugly skank." Daryl said before taking it down with a headshot.
Daryl walked over and pulled the arrow out. Marlene maneuvered passed Daryl.
"Wow, Dixon. If that's how you treat all the ladies, it's no wonder you can't get a date." Marlene said, jokingly.
Daryl huffed and rolled his eyes.
~*~ ~*~
The Quarry
Ed, still standing behind the women, lights another cigarette. Andrea, exasperated, gets up, a wet piece of clothing in her hand.
"Ed, tell you what. You don't like how your laundry is done, you are welcome to pitch in and do it yourself. Here." Andrea said, tossing the laundry at Ed.
He catches it and throws it back at her, harder.
"Oh." Andrea said, taken by surprise.
"Ain't my job, missy." Ed said.
Amy stood up.
"Andrea, don't." Amy pleaded.
"What is your job, Ed? Sitting on your ass smoking cigarettes?" Andrea asked rhetorically.
"Well, it sure as hell ain't listening to some uppity smart-mouthed bitch. Tell you what—" Ed said.
Ed looked at Carol
"Come on. Let's go." Ed ordered.
Carol gets up to follow Ed.
Jane gets up as well and gently touches Carol's arm.
"Carol, hold on a sec." Jane said to her.
"I don't think she needs to go anywhere with you, Ed." Andrea said.
"And I say it's none of your business. Come on now. You heard me." Ed ordered.
"Carol." Andrea said.
"Trish, wait." Trish pleaded, stepping in.
Andrea puts her hand on Carol's shoulder.
"Girls, please, it doesn't matter." Carol said meekly.
"Hey!" Ed said, raising his voice.
"Don't think I won't knock you on your ass just 'cause you're some college-educated cooze. All right?" Ed threatened.
Andrea gasped.
"Now you come on now or you gonna regret it later." Ed threatened.
"So she can show up with fresh bruises later, Ed? Yeah, we've seen them." Jacqui said.
Ed laughed.
"Seen them on Sophia too. One day, she came to Cass and I with a big bruise her arm. She said she trip over a log, but the look on her face said otherwise." Allie said.
Kristen, who had a sudden change of heart walked down to the quarry to help the women with the laundry. She heard the argument as she was walking down to them.
"Stay out of this. Now come on! You know what? This ain't none of y'all's business. You don't want to keep prodding the bull here, okay? Now I am done, talking. Come on." Ed said.
Ed takes Carol by the arm, forcefully.
"No. No. Carol, you don't have—" Andrea said.
"Carol, honey please. You don't have to—" Jane said.
Carol muttered something, but couldn't quite be heard.
Kristen was watching it all and she felt her blood start to boil.
"You don't tell me what! I tell you what!" Ed shouted.
Ed strikes Carol across the face.
The group of women suddenly erupted. Some of them were holding on to carol to protect her from Ed, while the rest were pushing Ed back and swatting at him with some of the laundry, shouting at him to get away from Carol.
Kristen broke into a sprint and charged at Ed, jumping in his back.
"Get the hell away from them!" Kristen shouted.
"What the—" Ed said.
Ed struggles as attempted to reach Kristen and get him off of his back.
"Get off me, you little bitch!" Ed shouted.
Ed then backed up hard into the Cherokee, slamming Kristen into the vehicle. Kristen lost her grip and fell to the ground in pain.
Ed returned his attention back to the group of women and was about to go for Carol again, but then Shane comes out of nowhere and grabs Ed and starts hauling him away from the women.
"Get off me! Get off me!" Ed said as he was being dragged.
"Ed?" Carol said, watching Shane drag off her husband.
"It's okay. It's okay." Amy said as her and Trish held her.
Allie looked over at the Cherokee and saw Kristen on the ground. She ran to her.
"Kristen." Allie said.
Kristen groaned in pain.
"Are you ok?" Allie asked.
"I'm fine, what about Carol?" Kristen asked.
They look over to Shane throwing Ed to the ground and start beating him with his right fist. Ed tries to shield himself but Shane pulls his hands away from his face and beats him more. Ed loses the wits to fight back.
"It's ok now, sweetheart. It's ok." Trish said.
"No." Carol said, on the verge of tears.
Shane, holding Ed by the shirt front, keeps beating him with his fist until the left side of Ed Peletier's face is swollen cut and bloody. Shane, full of rage, doesn't stop
"Ok, Shane. That's enough. You can stop." Jane called.
Shane continued beating Ed.
The women started shouting at Shane to stop.
"Shane, stop!" Amy called.
"Shane, that's enough!" Allie called
Carol is crying. Andrea and Jane have to hold her back to keep her from running to Ed.
"You've made your point, Shane! Stop!" Trish called.
"Just stop!" Amy called
"Stop it! Stop!" Carol cried.
Shane finally stops beating Ed. Still holding on to him he puts his finger in Ed's face.
"You put your hands on your wife, your little girl or anybody else in this camp one more time, I will not stop next time. Do you hear me?" Shane warned.
Taking Ed's face in his hand he pulls Ed up closer.
"Do you hear me?!" Shane warned.
"Yes." Ed slurred.
"I'll beat you to death, Ed." Shane threatened.
Shane hits him in the face one more time. Carol cried as she was held back by Andrea.
As Shane gets up off Ed he kicks him. Andrea lets Carol go and she runs to Ed.
"Ed, I'm sorry. Oh my God. Ed, I'm sorry." Carol cried.
Andrea and Jane look at Shane in shock.
Carol: Oh my God, Ed, I'm sorry.
Jacqui, Trish, Amy, Jane, Allie, Andrea, and Kristen watch Carol crying over Ed as Shane walks off.
Carol: I'm so sorry, Ed. Ed, I'm sorry.
Ed lies on the ground choking on blood and spitting.
Carol looks at Allie.
"Allie. Please help him." Carol cried.
Allie looked at Kristen.
"You good?" She asked.
Kristen nodded
"Yeah, I'm fine." Kristen said.
Allie nodded and went over to Carol and Ed.
"All right, let's get him in the Cherokee and head to camp so Cassidy can take a look at him. Ok?" Allie said.
Carol nodded, still crying.
Allie looked at the women.
"Anyone wanna help us load his sorry ass into the car?" Allie asked.
Trish and Jacqui stepped up and helped Allie and Carol get Ed into the car. Allie and Carol drove back up to camp.
Jacqui, Trish, Kristen, and Amy followed suit and walked back to camp.
Andrea and Jane stood feeling flabbergasted as to what just happened.
"I've never seen that side of Shane before, you?" Andrea asked.
"Nope, hopefully that was a one time thing." Jane said
Andrea nodded
~*~ ~*~
Atlanta
The group in the city ran up the stairwell. T-Dog cuts the chain that he had bolted to keep Merle safe.
As soon as the chain is loose Daryl kicks the door open and runs out on the roof.
"Merle! Merle!" Daryl called out.
T-Dog, Dani, Rick, Erika, Marlene, and Glenn follow him out. Merle doesn't answer and the men run around to the side where Merle was handcuffed.
"No! No!" Daryl cried out.
Daryl is beside himself with grief. Pacing around, he cries and cries out. No one says a word. They all looked at the sight in shock.
"No!" Daryl cried.
On the roof is Dale's hacksaw, bloody. Nearby lays Merle's right hand in a puddle, a bloody handcuff still hanging from the pipe.
"No! NO! No!" Daryl continued to crying out.
The group looked at the sighting and each other in shock and confusion. They all had the same question in their minds.
What happened to Merle?
