Chapter nine.
After agreeing, rather reluctantly for some, to wait for Rick to speak to Hershel, everyone dispersed and tried their hardest to go about their routines. T dog was on watch and Glenn had raced off to find Maggie, Ellie assumed.
Daryl stormed into the stables, followed by Carol and Ellie. He grabbed a saddle from a rack on the wall and began to lift it off, talking it to over by the horses.
"Daryl!" Ellie said quietly, not knowing where to go from there.
"You can't." Carol said softly, putting a hand on the man's shoulder.
"I'm fine." Daryl's voice was low and gravely. He winced at the weight of the saddle and shifted it slightly to the other side.
"Hershel said that you need to heal." She continued.
Ellie nodded. "You do Daryl. It's still painful for you."
He grunted in response and opened a door to one of the horses. "Yeah? I don't care."
"Well we do." Carol said, frowning slightly. "Rick's going out later anyway."
"He'll follow the trail." Ellie continued.
"Yeah well, I ain't gonna sit around and do nothin'." He grumbled, hooking a lead around the horses head. Cooper sniffed curiously at the edge of the stable, keeping his distance from the horses.
"No. You're going to go out there and get yourself hurt even worse." Carol sighed, crossing her arms and looking at him with a sad smile. "We don't know if we are going to find her Daryl. We don't."
Ellie was slightly shocked by the statement the older woman just made. We don't. But that doesn't mean we just give up. I would never stop, Ellie thought to herself. "Carol-." She began.
Daryl looked over his shoulder at the sad woman in disbelief.
"Please don't." she stuttered, her eyes brimming with tears.
Daryl dropped the horses lead and took a few steps towards Carol. "Why?"
"We can't lose you too." She said in a quiet voice, blinking rapidly.
Daryl looked confused and frowned slightly at her words. Silently he threw down the chain he was holding and walked through stable, away from the two woman. He grabbed the saddle from the rack and threw it onto the ground. A loud cry came from his lips as he doubled over in pain.
"Daryl!" Ellie cried out, rushing to his side.
"Are you alright?" Carol added, touching his shoulder.
"Just leave me be!" He shouted at the pair of them, swinging himself away from them. Embarrassment and frustration was clear in his face. He groaned and clutched his side as he walked away, cussing so softly that they couldn't make it out. Cooper looked at Ellie before following Daryl out of the stable and across the meadow.
Carol turned to Ellie. "I didn't mean to-."
"No, it wasn't you Carol." Ellie reassured her, gently squeezing her shoulder. "He's working through his frustration. He wants to be out there, helping. We all do."
Carol gave Ellie a small smile before tears began to leak down her cheeks. "Thank you Ellie, I don't know that we would have found anything without you and Daryl trying so hard. Word's cannot express how grateful I am."
Ellie felt a tug at her stomach and a tear formed in her eye. "Don't, it's nothing. It was all Daryl. I just wish we could have found her already."
"Me too." Carol said, her cheeks completely soaked now. Ellie gave her a sad smile before reaching out to the older woman and pulling her in for a hug, patting her back as she did so. Carols tall frame made it hard for Ellie to keep balance, and she toppled a little into Carol.
Carol pulled back suddenly with a small gasp. "Oh."
"Oh?" Ellie questioned, puzzled.
"You… You're…"
Ellie frowned in confusion. "I'm?"
"You're pregnant?" Carol whispered, eyes wide.
Ellie felt her heart drop, and her eyes widen too. "I- Um… I-."
"It's ok." Carol soothed.
"I just… how did you-?"
"Your stomach. When you fell into me, I felt your bump. It's unmistakable." Carol said calmly, looking ever so slightly amused at Ellie's reaction.
"Oh. Oh." It was all she could say at first and then she continued slowly. "Oh… You see, I was going to tell you all… I just couldn't find a time." She stuttered. "Oh Carol, I'm so selfish and sorry. I wasn't going to say anything until we found Sophia, I just didn't expect-."
"Ellie, calm down." Carol smiled softly. "It's all ok. Sweet heart, you need to take some deep breaths and listen to me. You do not put this on hold for me, or for anyone for that matter. Your baby is a blessing, a bit of light in all of this darkness."
"I don't think everyone will see it like that." Ellie said quietly. "I'm more of a burden than everyone knows. I am a risk to the group… to camp."
"Don't you be so silly? Rick is a good man. He will not let you leave with your baby. You are part of our group, our family. You and your baby are staying." Carol reasoned.
"I… Thank you. I need to tell everyone soon but I'm just not ready yet." Her voice was so small.
"I won't say anything hunny. You take your time." Carol patted her shoulder lightly, giving her a smile before setting off to the camp. Ellie smiled after her. It felt good to have someone else know. She shut up the door of the horse stall that Daryl had opened and set off down the trail to the tents, a little behind Carol.
As she was walking up the path by the house, she noticed Rick walking towards the door. Without thinking, her feet moved her in his direction, and she called out to him. He turned to her, looking wearily and tired.
"What's up?" He asked. "I'm on my way to talk to Hershel."
"I… Rick, there is something I need to tell you." Ellie's head hadn't quite caught up with her mouth yet. She didn't pause, through fear that she would back out. "I am pregnant. Around 13 weeks. I was meaning to tell you right from the get go but you were missing a child and I couldn't bring myself to talk about my unborn baby when Carol's baby is missing in the woods. I was scared that you'd make me leave and I know that was selfish but I'm ready now for whatever you decide, and-…."
Rick cut her off with a hand. "You're pregnant?" He asked again.
"Yeah… I'm sorry I didn't say sooner." She looked down at the floor. He shook his head slightly and smiled at her.
"That's great. I… Lori and I are expecting too. You aren't going anywhere El, you're part of us now." He reassured her softly.
"Rick, Thank you." She felt a tear escape her eye and fall down onto her cheek. "I honestly-."
"Stop. It's ok. Do you need anything?"
She shook her head.
"OK then. If you do, let me know. I have to go and talk to Hershel now but thank you for coming to me." He smiled at her lightly and made his way up the steps and disappeared through the door.
Ellie watched him go and took a deep breath. She had done it. She had told Rick that she was pregnant. She wiped her forehead with the back of her hand and stretched her neck, hearing a satisfying click. A load had released from her shoulders, and as she made her way to the tents, she let out a small smile.
…
Ellie reached the tent that she shared with Daryl and stooped to go inside. Daryl was sprawled out on his bed, Cooper resting next to him with his head on Daryl's stomach. Daryl was absent mindedly scratching Cooper's ears. They both looked up as Ellie entered, and watched as she sat down on her bed.
"You ok?" she asked Daryl hesitantly.
"Yeah. You?" he asked back. Ellie nodded, picking at the fraying sleeping bag. "Look, I'm sorry about before, at the stables. I just want to be out there helping. It sucks to be on my ass all damn day when that kid is out there."
"I know. It's ok. It's Carol you need to apologies to."
Daryl looked down sheepishly. "Aye, I know. I will."
"I told Rick." Ellie said quickly, avoiding his eyes. "About the baby."
"Yeah?" Daryl asked, surprised. "What did he say?"
"Nothing much. He was ok with it. Said I'm not going anywhere, and that I'm part of the group."
"Course ya aren't going anywhere." Daryl grunted, turning onto his side.
"I just thought that it would be too much of a burden." Ellie sighed. "I but I guess now that Lori is pregnant too-."
"What?" Daryl asked, surprised. "Lori is too?"
"Damn it, I wasn't supposed to say." She groaned. Daryl let out a small chuckle.
"Damn. Bet its Shane's."
"Shane's?" Ellie gasped. "Why… I mean how?"
"Rick didn't join our group until a long while after the outbreak. Shane knew the family before I think. He told Lori that Rick had died after being shot before the outbreak, from what I can gather. He wasn't dead, obviously. Didn't stop Shane screwing Lori every damn chance he got until Rick returned though. They think no one know, dumbasses."
"Oh my god. That's bad. Does Rick know?"
"No idea. Damned if he won't find out though. Everyone else knows."
"Poor Rick." Ellie sighed. "I hope it isn't Shane's baby. That would be awful."
Daryl grunted in response and reached in his bag for his water.
"Carol knows too. About me." Ellie said quietly.
"That's good. No secrets anymore then." He joked. She nodded with a small smile. Her hands ran over her tiny bump and she closed her eyes, letting her mind drift. She thought she remembered Daryl saying that he was going to talk to Carol but she couldn't bring herself to open her eyes and check.
…
Shouting. Lots of it. Ellie woke with a start and jumped up. Cooper had raced out of the tent and was barking at the commotion. She shook off the sleep and climbed out of the tent, watching as Shane made his way to the group of people gathered at the house, shouting his head off.
"Oh no." She said to no one, and began running towards Shane and the house, reaching them just as he was shoving a gun under Daryl's nose.
"What's all this?" Daryl asked, taking the gun from Shane's hand.
"Be with me man. Time to grow up." Shane shouted, giving a gun to the next person. "You got yours?" he asked Andrea.
"Yeah, where is Dale?" She asked quickly.
"On his way." Shane snapped. He threw T dog a gun too.
"Thought we couldn't carry?" T dog asked confused.
"Yeah, well we can, and we will." Shane stated.
"But Rick said-." Ellie began, declining the gun that Shane tried to give her.
"Do I look like I care what Rick said?" Shane cried, "Look it was one thing sitting around here picking daisies when we thought we were safe, but now we know it aint." He pointed to the barn.
"Shane-." Ellie tried again, just to be cut off.
"How about you man?" he asked Glenn, shoving him a gun. "You gonna protect yours?"
Glenn looked at Maggie before taking the gun.
"That's it." Shane nodded. "Can you shoot?" he asked Maggie.
"Can you stop?" Maggie demanded, glaring at the angry man in front of her. "You do this, you hand out these guns… my dad will make you leave tonight."
"We have to stay Shane!" Carl whined from the porch.
"What is this?" Lori asked, coming outside from in the house and looking around.
"We ain't going anywhere, ok?" Shane said to Carl. "Now look, Hershel he has just gotta understand."
"No. Shane this is stupid." Ellie argued, glaring at him.
"He's gonna have to." Shane ignored Ellie and carried on. "Now we need to find Sophia, am I right?" He kneeled down to Carl and held out a pistol. "Now I want you to take this. You take it Carl and you keep your mother safe."
"Shane!" Lori and Ellie yelled at the same time. He ignored them again.
"You do whatever it takes. You know how. Go on." He said to Carl, holding the gun out further. "Take the gun and do it."
"Stop." Lori demanded, standing in front of Carl, and pushing Shane away. "Rick said no guns. This is not your call. This is not your decision to make."
Shane shot daggers at Lori, and opened his mouth to talk.
"Oh shit." T dog exclaimed, looking out towards the barn. Ellie craned her neck to see what was going on. Rick, Shawn and Hershel had two walkers on poles by the necks and were walking them over to the barn.
"What the fuck…" Shane shouted, before getting up and running towards them. Everyone else froze for a minute before running over too.
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?" Shane shouted as he ran alongside Rick.
"Shane, just back off." Rick cried, trying desperately to control the walker on the end of the stick.
"Why do your people have guns?" Hershel demanded from Rick's other side. Rick whipped his head towards the group and saw that the majority were carrying guns.
"ARE YOU KIDDING ME?" Shane screamed, walking in front of Rick and his walker now. Ellie watched in horror as Rick struggled with the pole. "YOU SEE, YOU SEE WHAT THEY'RE HOLDING?"
"I see who I am holding onto." Hershel called back, looking weary and irritated.
"NAH MAN, YOU DON'T!"
"Shane, just let me do this and then we can talk." Rick pleaded. Ellie felt for him, but she was shocked that he was going along with Hershel's ridiculous behavior.
"WHAT DO YOU WANNA TALK ABOUT RICK?! HUH? THESE THINGS AINT SICK!" Shane screamed over the moans and growls of the walking dead. "THEY ARE NOT PEOPLE. THEY'RE DEAD. AIN'T GOTTA FEEL NOTHING FOR THEM CAUSE ALL THEY DO… THEY EAT. THESE THINGS RIGHT HERE. THEY ARE THE THINGS THAT KILLED AMY."
Andrea's face fell instantly.
"Don't" she whispered, looking away from Shane.
"THEY KILLED OTIS."
Hershel's family looked stunned at the scene around them.
"THEY ARE GONNA KILL ALL OF US UNLESS WE DO SOMETHING."
"Shane stop." Rick shouted.
"Stop!" Ellie cried at the same time.
"Hershel man, lemme ask you somethin'." Shane demanded, stepping in front of Hershel and his walker. "Can a living, breathing person walk away from this?"
BANG.
Shane shot the walker through the stomach, blood pouring everywhere. The woman walker didn't even falter. She just kept reaching out towards Shane, pulling on Hershel's pole.
"No!" Rick cried out, still struggling with his one.
BANG.
BANG.
BANG.
"Shane!" Ellie cried out, seeing the pain on Hershel's face.
"WHY IS IT STILL COMING? THREE ROUNDS IN THE CHEST… COULD SOMEONE LIVING JUST TAKE THAT? WHY IS IT STILL COMING HERSHEL?" Shane had begun shouting with a deafening bellow again.
BANG.
BANG.
"IT'S HEART, IT'S LUNGS. WHY IS IT STILL COMING?"
BANG.
BANG.
"SHANE, ENOUGH." This time it was Rick who shouted, silencing the gun shots.
"Yeah, you're right man. It is enough." He walked towards the walker.
BANG.
The walker fell to the floor the moment the bullet entered its head. Hershel fell to the ground, both in defeat and under the weight of the walker. His daughters ran to his side but he was too busy watching Shane with a disgusted look.
Ellie looked around. The majority of people held guns and were watching in shock as the scene played out before them. Daryl held his gun up high, trained on the walker that Rick was holding. Rick looked angry. Beyond angry. And Shane looked like a mad man.
"ENOUGH. ENOUGH RISKING OUR LIVES FOR A LITTLE GIRL WHO'S GONE."
Carol clutched her chest and gasped, and Ellie made a move to squeeze her shoulder in reassurance.
"ENOUGH. ENOUGH LIVING NEXT TO A BARN FULL OF THINGS THAT ARE TRYING TO EAT US. ENOUGH! RICK, IT AIN'T LIKE IT WAS BEFORE. NOW, IF YA'LL WANNA LIVE, IF YOU WANNA SURVIVE… YOU GOTTA FIGHT FOR IT. I'M TALKING ABOUT FIGHT. RIGHT HERE. RIGHT NOW." Shane gave a roar and ran towards the barn doors.
"Shane this is crazy!" Rick shouted.
"Shane no!" Ellie yelled.
"Hershel, take the stick! Hershel!" Rick begged but Hershel had blanked out.
Shane grabbed an axe that was leant again a pile of wood and began hacking at the chain on the door.
"Rick!" Several people shouted.
"Listen to me man, please. Take it now!" Rick screamed at Hershel. "Shane, do not do this brother! Shane!"
"Don't do it!" Glenn roared over the noise. Maggie looked terrified as she clung to her father.
"Rick!" Lori shouted, holding Carl tightly at the back of the group.
"Shane please!" Rick howled, still attempting to keep the walker on his pole away from the group. It was no use.
In a matter of seconds, the chain was broken. Ellie drew in a sharp breath as it snapped off.
"Behind me. Now." Daryl growled at her, dragging her behind him as he aimed his gun at the barn doors. She didn't dare move away.
With a crash, the doors groaned open and the first of the dead stumbled out of the barn.
"COME ON!" Shane taunted the dead, holding his gun out ready. T dog and Andrea rushed to the front and held their guns out too, looking to Rick quickly with a sorry face. Glenn shot Maggie a look and she only nodded once before he too had a gun out and was stood in a protective stance next to Maggie. Ellie clung to the back of Daryl's shirt as he held his gun out, ready and waiting.
And then it came. Shot after shot of blazing gun fire. Ellie pressed her head into the back of Daryl's top and tried to steady her breathing. Peeking out, she saw as each walker fell to the floor. She felt Daryl's shoulder each time the gun fired from his hands. She heard the cries of Hershel and his family as his wife and step son littered the floor. It was straight out of a horror film. The smell that filled the air was rotten and rancid. The moans and groans of the dead were quickly depleting as they stopped one by one.
Shane looked back once at Rick, glaring at him before shooting the walker Rick held down, freeing Rick of his burden. Rick sighed, and pulled out his own gun, lining up in front of his wife and child.
And then…
Silence.
Ellie moved out from behind Daryl, but still kept close.
"That it?" she whispered. He shrugged in response. Rick and Shane exchanged glances that held so much emotion that Ellie had to look away. The silence didn't last long. A small shuffling sound could be heard from within the barn. The darkness within made it hard to see anything, let alone the shadow of a small walker. As she came into view, Ellie's heart dropped. She had never met this girl before but she knew exactly who she was looking at. Sophia. The once beautiful little girl was now… a monster.
Ellie froze, before turning around and grabbing Carol, just as the older woman made to run towards her daughter.
"Oh, oh god, oh Sophia!" Carol cried. "Sophia. Sophia!"
"Carol no!" Ellie tried to hold the woman back but she was too strong. "Daryl help."
Daryl dropped his gun down and ran towards them, holding the woman in place and sinking down to the floor with her.
"Sophia. My Sophia. Baby." Carol sobbed, staring at the advancing walker.
No one knew quite what to do, including Shane. Rick stared at Carol for a second before muttering an apology, and standing forward, gun raised.
"Oh god, don't look." Ellie said to Carol, holding the crying woman to her chest.
"My Sophia." Carol whispered, almost inaudible, just as the gun shot rang through the air.
"I'm so sorry." Ellie whispered too, tears leaking out of her eyes. Looking over, she saw that Carl was clinging and crying into his mother's chest too. "I am so sorry."
Silence again, except the sobs coming from the broken woman curled up in Ellie and Daryl's chests.
