Before we get started, there were some issues with alerts and everything. I emailed the support people, and everything should be fixed now :):)
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MissTeller-Ortiz-Dixon: Thank you for the review :):) I actually have to look up the whole, "If you're a bird, I'm a bird" thing (I haven't seen The Notebook before :P ). I guess it's just got to the point, after being separated over and over again, that these two finally divided it was about time they stuck together. I'm glad you're loving the story so far, and that you're excited for whats to come :):)
Bamby
VPOV
A group of us stood on the road, listening to dad as he took us through the plan. Today we were doing a simple test run. Walking the road, so we'd know where to go. Checking out the walkers so we'd know what we're doing. Everyone else was still back home, but the people who'd be working tomorrow were here, getting themselves ready.
"All right, this is the finish line." dad gestured up at the balloons we stood by. "When we make it to green, we fall back. The ditches and ridges will keep them on the road. We head home, let Daryl, Vickie, Sasha, and Abraham take them the rest of the way. Twenty miles more." he told everyone before turning. "All right, let's go."
Daryl- who had his arm around me- held me back as everyone walked off. I looked up at him with question in my eyes, wanting to know what he was doing. "You okay?" he asked.
I nodded. "Fine... Why?"
He shrugged. "Just makin' sure."
I sighed, seeing right through his mask. "I tell you what. If today doesn't work out. If we get back and I'm too sore, I won't come tomorrow. I'll stay back home, bake some cookies, take care of Aly, and be a perfect housewife. That what you want?"
He gave me a knowing look. "Cookies?"
"Would you rather something savoury?"
Rolling his eyes, he gestured to the others. "Come on."
Grinning I took the lead, knowing he was only one step behind me as we followed the group.
MPOV
Deanna and I stood in and open space, just outside the gate. I carried two shovels, one for her and one for myself. With most of our workers out dealing with the walker situation I felt it might be a good idea to do a few things as well.
"We got some panels to put up, but we don't have to wait to start growing things." I told her. "There will be some sore back and tired feet. That's how you know you've put in a hard day's work." pulling out a packet from my back pocket I shrugged before handing it to her. She looked down at it without saying a word. "They found crates of these at a nursery just a few miles out. Tomatoes, carrots, you name it. We can plant them right here." I looked around. "Just need to finish the expansion and the wall needs to go up." I turned to her. "Reg wanted this community to grow. You did, too. Has that changed?"
She still didn't answer. She hadn't actually spoken to many people since that night... the two people she seemed most willing to talk to were Rick and Vickie. I understood that she could see Rick was right now, and so she was willing to learn off him. But Vickie was another story.
Now that Deanna could see the mistakes she'd been making she was more set on getting Vickie to join us and help lead the community. But like I'd told her, Vickie wasn't interested.
It would take a lot, something huge, before she would take charge. She was confident, and had the skills, but she believed she belonged on the sidelines. She'd been that way since I met her, even though she'd done things most people couldn't. She'd done things a leader could.
I offered Deanna a small smile. "Everyone that's here is here because of you. You need to show them you're still here." I offered her the shovel.
She hesitated a moment, but took eventually took it from me.
VPOV
We all stood by a tractor shop which was filled with walkers inside.
Dad nodded at the building. "We're gonna take 'em right past here. All that noise could distract them. We'll clear it on our way back tonight." he told us before moving on. "We don't want any surprises tomorrow."
I went to follow the others but stopped when I saw Glenn pulling Nicholas to the side. I stood back and watched, listening to the two. "I'll catch up." I told Daryl. He hesitated a moment, but didn't ask questions as he started to follow the others, leaving me there to watch my friend.
"Hey, what you've done, you're gonna sit with it a while, 'cause I don't want you out here tomorrow. You're not ready. You will be." Glenn shrugged. "Sometime soon, I'll make sure of it. And then you start to make it right."
Nicholas nodded. "Thank you."
With nothing left to say, Glenn moved around him, ready to leave. But he stopped when his eyes landed on me. Sighing he headed over.
I waited until he stood next to me before moving to follow the others. "You really think you wanna go there?"
"Where?"
"You know what I'm talking about, Glenn. He's a ticking time bomb." I looked around us, keeping an eye out. "He got Noah killed. He left Aiden for dead. You really think trying to fix him is worth the trouble? It would be so much easier with him gone."
He looked at me. "If you really believed that you would have told Deanna or Rick what you know by now."
A grin formed on my lips. "And what do I know, exactly?"
"I know you know he lured me out into the woods and tried to kill me. You knew the moment you saw us in the infirmary."
He was right. But I'd told Maggie I wouldn't say anything to anyone, so I wouldn't. I hadn't even said anything to Daryl. Keeping a secret like this, it was stupid, dangerous, and wrong. But if I told anyone, Nicholas would be exiled, and part of that guilt would land on Glenn. I couldn't do that to him... So, I was just going to play dumb.
I shrugged. "I don't know what you're talking about."
He laughed lightly. "Yeah, right."
I just turned to him, both of us smiling. We walked side by side in silence after that, just enjoying each other's company, and following the others.
DPOV
Rick climbed on to one of the vehicles by the trucks. We'd driven here earlier and headed down the road to follow the path we'd be taking the walkers, before heading back. Now that we were here, he had just a few more things to say, and then we'd be off.
Vic came to stand next to me, her head resting on me as my arm wrapped around her. She'd been walking with Glenn, but I'd kept my eye on her. I was pretty sure I'd never be taking my eyes of her again.
"I know this sounds insane, but this is an insane world." Rick started. "We have to come for them before they come for us. It's that simple." he looked down at the walkers before turning to the rest of us again. "This is where it all starts tomorrow. Tobin gets in the truck, opens the exit, and we're off. He hops out, catches up with his team at red, staying on the west side of the road. Daryl and Vickie get on the bike-"
Before he could go on the sound of an explosion caught everyone's attention. We watched the pit, seeing rocks give way. One of the trucks on the other side fell, and with that, the plan changed.
"It's open!" Rick yelled. "We gotta do this now! We're doing this now!" he jumped off the truck.
Vic grabbed her gun, aiming it for the gap between the trucks we stood by where a few walkers were pressing to get out. I stood by her, crossbow ready, aimed at the first walker that was already trying to push through. Everyone else ran around, getting themselves prepared for what was about to happen.
"Sasha! Abraham!" Ricked called.
"Damn straight. We'll do it live!" Abraham rushed to one of the cars, Sasha right behind him.
"You meet Daryl and Vickie at red." Rick told them. "Let 'em take 'em through the gauntlet."
"Yeah, we meet at red." Sasha nodded before the two got in the car and drove off.
"Rick, I'll hit the tractor place." Glenn offered.
"Okay. Who else?" Rick yelled over the noise of everything and everyone.
Vic sighed, lowering her gun. "I gotta go."
I looked at her for a split second before turning to the walkers again. "No."
"Glenn needs help." she rested a hand on my arm. "We have to clear that store."
She was right. I knew she was. But I didn't like it... If she went with Glenn it meant she was gone. That was it. She'd be stuck with the others, while I left to lead the walkers away. She'd have to go back home without me. I'd have no way of making sure she was safe. I would have no way to take care of her.
But like I said, she was right.
Sighing I lowered my crossbow and turned to her. I pulled her to me and pressed myself against her as our lips met in a hard and heavy kiss.
When I pulled back I looked down at her. "Don't do anything stupid."
She gave a short nod. "You too."
With one last quick kiss, I felt part of myself break as she rushed off, following Glenn, Nicholas and Heath.
RPOV
"Rick, this was supposed to be a dry run." Carter was in my face. He was not ready for this, I could see it. But he didn't realize that we had no choice now.
"Daryl, get ready." I called.
"They're comin'!" he warned, crossbow aimed at the walkers.
"Rick, we haven't even gone through the whole plan." Carter yelled.
"You want to go back, go back. We're finishing this!" I told him before turning away. "Tobin, you hit it on my signal! They're heading for home! We don't have a choice! Get ready to hit the flares!" I watched, making sure everything and one was in place before nodding. "Now!"
Four flares were set off, getting the walkers attention.
"Tobin, hit the truck!" I ordered.
He moved it forwards, opening a space up for the walkers to move forward. As they began to pile through, we all knew this was it. Now or never. If we failed, no one would make it.
VPOV
As we ran along the road I heard dad through Glenn's walkie talkie.
"You all have your assignments. You know where to rendezvous. Daryl leads them out. Sasha and Abraham join him at the bottom of the hill. Glenn, you hit us when you take care of the walkers at the tractor place. That's the one thing we gotta get ahead of. Everybody, keep your heads... Just keep up."
I stopped, aiming my flare gun at the sky before pulling the trigger. Each one of us had a flare gun. We were to use it to keep the walkers on track.
Still running I made sure I stayed with Glenn and the others. My side was burning, it had only been two weeks since I was hurt. But I'd learnt a long time ago that you just have to pull through. That's exactly what I was doing.
"We're at red, bottom of the hill." Sasha's voice spoke from the walkie.
"Alright, here comes the parade." Daryl called back.
Hearing his voice, I looked at Glenn's walkie. We'd planned on having me with him. We'd planned on having me with the others to keep the walkers in check. We'd made a lot of plans...
RPOV
Michonne, Morgan and myself ran out from the trees and onto the road. I pulled my walkie out, slowing down to a brisk walk.
"Glenn, you there yet?"
"Almost. We'll have it handled before they get here. And we'll meet you at yellow."
"Copy that." I called back before putting the walkie away.
The three of us stopped, looking at the cars, RV and wall in front of us. We were all lucky we'd managed to get everything up and in place. If we hadn't of, we would be screwed.
"It'll hold." I nodded.
"Well, that's good." Michonne started. "You know, considering where we're standing."
"Michonne?" Morgan spoke up, breaking the silence that had appeared.
"Yeah?" she looked at him.
"Back when you were in that place, where I lived..." he hesitated a moment before asking, "Did you take one of my protein bars?"
She didn't answer right away. I looked over, through the corner of my eye, watching as she just gave a simple shrug.
"No." she lied, a tone in her voice we all knew meant she was lying. She just didn't care.
He shook his head. "See, I could have sworn there was one more peanut butter left."
But Michonne just sighed. "That's how it is, isn't it?" she shook her head. "You always think there's one more peanut butter left."
VPOV
"Glenn, you have to hurry. The noise could distract the herd right off the road." dad said through the walkie. "Talk to me."
Glenn lifted his walkie to his mouth. "We're here." he told him as we reached the windows of the store.
I pulled out my knife, moving to the walker that was stuck under a tractor, killing it easily before moving to the others.
"Sounds like a lot." Nicholas noted.
"We need it quiet." Glenn shrugged.
Heath turned to him. "So, what's the plan?"
Glenn turned to me, knowing I was the only other one here who knew how this was going to get done.
"We take them out." I answered.
"A few at a time." Glenn finished before heading around to the side of the building.
We all followed, the others getting their knives out, readying themselves for this. We all knew it was up to the four of us. We were going to be the ones who either kept the walkers on the road, or lead them straight home.
When we stood in front of the door Glenn reached for it. When he pulled he found it was locked. "Nicholas, you're at the door." he ordered as he pulled out a crowbar from his bag. Nicholas did as he was told. "You let one or two out, and then you close it. You keep doing that. That's the trick. That's how we control it." he nodded before turning. "Heath-"
"Wait, what if he can't close it?" Heath cut him off.
"I'll be able to." Nicholas assured him.
I shrugged. "If he can't, we take them on."
"We take 'em on?" Heath looked at me like I was crazy.
"She's right." Glenn backed me up. "If we get into trouble, we go behind the building, into the woods, we draw them away."
Heath sighed, shaking his head, looking like he was ready to bolt.
"Hey, you've been out on a run since they got here." Nicholas started. "They know what they're doing. Me and Aiden, we didn't."
With that Heath nodded, though still wasn't happy about the situation. "This was supposed to be a dress rehearsal."
"I'm supposed to be delivering pizzas, man." Glenn told him.
I sighed. "Look, I get you're scared or whatever, but we have to do this. Daryl's leading the walkers this way. And they're closing in. That noise is gonna pull the herd right off the road, and lead them straight to home. We don't have a choice."
Heath looked to me, thinking it over for a second before he lifted his knife, ready. "Okay."
"Okay." I nodded to Glenn. "Let's do this."
Glenn put the crowbar between the two doors, looking at Nicholas. "On three." he got ready. "One. Two. Three!" he grunted, pushing the crowbar to open the door.
Nicholas, with his eyes shut tight, swung the door open... There was a shutter in the way.
I sighed. "Shit."
CPOV
"And then she let me hold the hammer. And then she let me hit a nail. And then Eugene said it was dangerous, so Tara told him to shut up..."
I was walking down the street, Judith in the stroller, Aly by my side, Houdini next to her. With most of our people gone to deal with the walkers I'd offered to take care of my sister. Tara had been watching Aly, but when she'd gotten dizzy she'd asked me to take care of the little girl. Which is how I ended up stuck listening to Aly go on and on.
Looking around I caught sight of Enid and Ron sitting together. I hadn't really spoken to either of them for a few days. I'd spent most of my time at home, with Judy and Aly. Vickie had hung out a bit as well, when she was home at least.
Turning away I decided to leave the two in peace. But as I went to leave, Gabriel called my name, causing me to stop.
Aly had been humming away but went quiet at the sound of the priest's voice. She turned and glared at him without saying a word.
I sighed and turned to the man. "What?"
"You heard what I told Deanna about your group."
"Yes." Aly folded her arms over her chest.
I wasn't sure if she understood what he'd said, though I knew she'd been around when Maggie had told the rest of us what Gabriel had said at the meeting. But even if she didn't understand what he meant, she knew we were all upset with him. It got so bad that he'd moved out of the house next door and into an apartment on the other side of town.
"What do you want?" I asked, wanting to get to the chase.
"It was about me, not you or your group. I know that now. I want to help. You tried to teach me back at my church, but I'm ready to learn now."
I sighed again. "I think you need to tell everybody." I nodded.
"Yeah, I think you're right."
Turning away I nodded at Aly before we started walking again. We didn't get far before I called over my shoulder. "Come by around 3:00. We'll start with the machete." I told him before moving on.
Looking over at Ron and Enid again I saw Ron put his arms around her in a hug. Enid returned it, but looked over in my direction, her eyes landing on me. I could see at that moment she was conflicted, which made two of us.
"You hungry?" I asked Aly.
She nodded, smiling up at me. "Yep."
A smile of my own formed on my lips as I looked down at her. "Then let's get you some lunch."
VPOV
"This is a bad idea." Heath looked at the window we all stood in front of.
"This is the only idea." Glenn told him.
"I think there's something like a dozen in there." Nicholas was scared. I didn't blame him though.
"A dozen is easy." I shrugged, turning to look at the three guys. "We'll shoot the glass from a distance. They'll only be able to come out bit by bit. We'll shoot them down." I repeated.
Glenn nodded. "We stay back, we get on opposite ends, we draw them to each of us."
"Try and take on three each?" Nicholas asked.
Glenn shook his head. "No. This is just me, Vickie and Heath. You get back, and you stay back." he pulled his walkie out, handing it to Nicholas. "If things go south, you tell Rick and you draw them away." when Nicholas didn't do anything Glenn pressed on his chest. "Just move back."
Nicholas did as he was told, moving away, staying before the rest of us.
I turned to Glenn. "Things go bad... you leave me." I gestured to my side. "I'll only slow you down."
He just shook his head. "We'll be fine." he pulled out his gun and turned to Heath. "Ready?"
"No." Heath shrugged. "But since you're doing this thing anyway."
"All right." Glenn nodded to me.
I turned to the glass, lifting my gun. I pulled the trigger once and watched as the glass shattered, making an opening for the walkers. Just like I'd said, they came out bit by bit. The three of us kept our guns raised as we shot down each walker, always going for which ever one was in front and closest. There were more than just a dozen inside. More began to push out, and soon enough we couldn't keep it under control.
"They're still coming." Heath warned.
"Screw this." dropping my gun I pulled my knife out and moved to the closest walker.
"Vickie!" Glenn yelled as he kept shooting.
But I'd made the right move, because when they'd run out of bullets, they hadn't been ready to reload or get their knives. They struggled against the walkers while they tried to ready their guns. I moved quickly, and swiftly. Move to a walker, stab walker's head, move on. Over and over. I couldn't tell you how many I actually killed.
When I turned, and saw the last walker stumbling out of the store I turned to the others. Something must have happened because Nicholas was standing near Heath, while Glenn just looked at him.
With a nod to the last walker, Glenn sighed. "Get it."
Nicholas moved forward, stabbing the walker in the head without any hesitation.
"Good." Glenn tucked his gun away before looking at me. "Don't scare me like that again."
I just shrugged. "Still here, aren't I?"
Heath shook his head. "You are one insane lady."
Grinning I lifted my own gun off the ground and tucked it away. "Come on, let's get out of here."
...
Walking through the forest, Glenn, Heath, Nicholas and myself finally made it to the others. The road was in sight, the walkers following just like we'd hoped. Things were looking good. The sound of a whistle had us look over, seeing dad gesture for us to come over. We followed him as he lead us to the few other people who were on this side of the herd.
"It's working." Carter sounded surprised. "You were right." he offered dad his hand.
Dad shook it before turning to the rest of us. "Everyone, we need to finish this. We have to keep moving, and fan out down that thing. Front to back. Like we said, cops at a parade. Glenn, you take the back. You got the other walkie."
Glenn nodded. "Got it."
Dad went on. "If it gets sloppy, we fire our weapons, pull 'em back on track."
When dad finished, Carter spoke again. "I'll hit the front."
"Okay, one after the other." dad told everyone before turning to me. "You stay with me." he gestured to my side where he knew I was hurt and went on before I could say anything. "You're not at full strength. You'll be safer. Don't argue."
Doing as I was told I followed him as we all split up.
RPOV
Vickie and I hadn't gotten very far before we heard screams coming from up ahead.
"Shit." she looked at me. "Carter."
"Tobin, they're breaking off." I called over the walkie.
"What do you want us to do?"
"Fire your guns and draw them back."
We didn't hesitate a second longer before we were running towards the screams, weapons at the ready. We both knew, that no matter what was happening, we had to be ready.
Reaching him we found a walker holding his shoulders, teeth tearing at his face.
Vickie grabbed Carter and pulled him away from the walker while I killed the thing. Turning I got to my knees, crouching over Carter as he screamed and held his cheek, bleeding everywhere. I didn't have to look up to see walkers still coming towards us even though the others were firing their guns.
"You gotta be quiet." Vickie whispered, holding her hand to Carter's cheek, putting pressure on the wound. "Carter, you have to calm down."
But he just kept screaming. "Oh, God!"
"Carter." I warned. Lifting my gaze, I saw the walkers moving our way.
I couldn't risk it. I couldn't let him keep distracting the herd. He was bit on the cheek, there was no saving him. Leaving him like this was putting myself, and my daughter at risk.
Moving without over thinking anything I turned his head to the side and stabbed him in the back of the head with my knife.
Turning to look at Vickie I saw Morgan standing behind her. Ignoring him I helped her up. "You okay?"
She nodded, wiping Carter's blood on to her pants. "Fine."
The thing is, I couldn't tell if she meant it or not. I couldn't tell if it was the truth or a lie. I couldn't tell if she even knew. After the last few years of dealing with living like this we'd all become a little numb. That made figuring out my own kids' feelings very hard.
"It's working. The gunfire is bringing them back on the road." Tobin called over the walkie.
"You got them, Tobin." I told him.
"Copy that." he paused a moment before asking, "What was that screaming?"
"That was Carter. He got bit right in the face. I stopped him." I answered before getting to my feet.
"Are you okay?" I looked over, seeing Michonne checking Vickie.
Vickie nodded. "I'm fine."
Moving over I grabbed Carter's weapon that he'd dropped before turning to the others. "We have a good hour until we have 'em to green. When we hand 'em off to Daryl, Sasha and Abraham." I looked to Morgan. "Why don't you head back, tell everyone what's happening? They should know."
"Okay." he nodded. "Rick, I just-"
I cut him off. "Will you do that for me?"
He understood that I didn't want to hear whatever he had to say, and simply nodded again.
I looked over his shoulder and gestured to a wandering walker. "I'll take care of that one. Michonne, Vickie, you two take point." I told them before walking off.
VPOV
Losing Carter, it was going to hurt the community. But I wouldn't let it affect me. I couldn't let it. People die, that's just how it goes. As long as the people I love are safe and sound, I would still have the ability to move on.
It didn't take long before dad caught up to Michonne and myself. We were simply walking along the road, hidden by the trees. As long as we kept quiet, and kept sharp, everything was going to work out. That was until the sound of a blaring horn had us all turning away from the walkers, listening out to where the sound could be coming from.
"What the hell is that?" I turned to dad.
Michonne shook her head. "Whatever that is, it's far. It sounds like it's coming from..."
"Home." dad finished for her.
BaMbY