Rick sat atop the watchtower, staring off into the wilderness. He heard footsteps walking up the watchtower. He watched as Glenn entered through the hatch and looked at him. Glenn walked up to him.
"Come on, Rick. He has been gone for a day now. I don't think he's coming back."
Rick thought of Lori, just sitting in the prison, waiting for him. Glenn patted Rick's shoulder.
"Come on, a few of our people are down there, waiting for you."
Rick nodded. "Alright, you win."
Glenn smiled and walked down the stairs, with Rick following him. Rick exited the watchtower Rick and looked at the small group standing in front of him, consisting of, T-Dog, Glenn, Maggie, and Daryl.
"Let's go back inside." Rick said, walking back towards the prison.
"Are you sure you just want to leave Tomas out there? He could come back." Daryl asked.
Rick sighed. "We're taking Dale's ethics into account. I'm not killing him."
Daryl shrugged and walked with him.
"Listen, Ma'am. We don't mean you any harm. We just want to help." Big Tiny said, his hands on the metal bars.
Lori turned to him. "I don't decide anything around here. You'll have to talk with my husband."
Lori groaned and felt her belly. "Hershel!" She yelled, groaning in pain.
Hershel walked out of the cell, where Dale was being held. He turned to the prisoners and then to Lori.
"Are you okay?"
"I think the baby is kicking." Lori said, continuing to groan.
Hershel observed Lori, before examining her belly. After she relaxed, he looked up at her with a smile.
"Don't worry. The baby isn't coming yet." Hershel said with a smile.
Lori smiled back and hugged Hershel. Hershel looked over at Carl, watching the prisoners.
"You can take a break, Carl. They aren't going anywhere."
Carl didn't acknowledge Hershel. He continued to stare at the prisoners, his gun dangling back and forth. Hershel walked up to the prisoner's cell.
"I know that you are good people. I just don't make the decisions within my group. I'm sorry."
Big Tiny nodded. "How's that old dude? Is he okay?"
Hershel chuckled. "That 'old dude' is going to be just fine. We just need to wait for him to wake up."
A loud noise echoed through the prison and Hershel looked over to see Rick. Rick looked horrified as he stared at Hershel.
"Hershel, get away from them!"
Hershel looked back at the prisoners, who were sitting down, calmly. "They aren't hurting anyone. Even if they were malicious, they wouldn't be able to hurt anyone anyway."
Big Tiny stood up. "Are you the leader?" He said, directing it towards Rick.
Rick nodded and walked up to the cell, next to Hershel. "Yes, I am. I'm sorry to tell you, but I'm going to let you guys go. I can't take the risk of having you here."
"But you told us-"
"I know what I said about the outside. You'll have a fighting chance out there."
Hershel held up a finger. "Wait a minute, Rick. You're just going to send them out there without any food or weapons. They're harmless towards us."
Rick sighed. "Really, Hershel? You're willing to put your life, as well as everyone else's, in danger."
"At least give them a chance." Hershel said, almost pleading.
"With what supplies? We have nothing to help them. Besides, I can't risk Lori's safety. Especially with our child."
"Please, I'm begging you here, Rick."
Before Rick could respond, a thud was heard from Dale's cell. Hershel started to walk towards the room, but Rick held him back.
"If anything happens, I need you alive for Lori."
Hershel nodded and let Rick pass him. Rick slowly walked towards Dale's cell and looked into it. He saw Dale struggling to stand up. Rick sighed in relief as he looked at Dale.
"Can I have some help?" Dale asked, reaching for Rick.
Rick smiled and assisted Dale to his feet. He assisted Dale out of the room and the group just stared, shocked for both his survival and for what happened. Glenn looked at Maggie.
"Go on." She said, smiling.
Glenn walked up to Dale and hugged him. Dale hugged him back and sniffled.
"I'm so glad you guys are okay." Dale said, almost crying.
"I could say the same about you. Oh wait, You're forgetting something." Glenn said, pulling out Dale's hat from his back pocket. Dale grabbed it.
"Thanks."
The two stood in silence.
Dale looked up at Glenn. "Can you, uh, put that up there for me?"
Glenn smiled. "Sure."
Glenn put the hat on Dale. "Now you look familiar."
Hershel walked over to Dale, holding crutches. "Here, do you know how to use them?"
"No, but I could use a stroll." Dale said, placing the crutches underneath his armpits.
Hershel assisted Dale in walking across the room. Dale passed by the prisoner's cell.
"Hey, you're one tough old dude!" Big Tiny said, giving him a thumbs up.
Dale turned to Rick. "Who are they?"
"Prisoners. We found them when your leg was amputated."
"Why are they in cells?" Dale asked.
"That's a stupid question to ask. They're prisoners, we can't trust them."
"What if we bring them outside? I personally want to get some fresh air, as well as walk around."
"I'll let you go, but not them."
"Rick, please. What harm can they bring to us? Haven't you promised them death on so many occasions? We'll keep an eye on them, we promise." Hershel said, hopeful.
Rick sighed and looked at Lori. She nodded at him.
"Okay, but I want you to stay here with Lori. Just in case."
Hershel nodded and looked at Dale. "How are you?"
"I'm actually feeling quite well. Thanks for asking."
"No, I mean, how are the crutches?"
"I'm starting to become used to them."
Hershel smiled and patted him on the back. Rick nodded to Daryl, who unlocked the prisoners cell. Big Tiny looked at Dale.
"Thanks, old dude."
"My name is Dale."
"Don't matter. I'm callin' you old dude, just because you're just awesome."
Dale smiled. "Well, thank you very much.
Dale led the group outside and Dale stopped after walking outside. Dale took a deep breath and looked around him.
"Did you clear the courtyard?"
"We did, as a matter of fact."
Dale looked at the wilderness, past the chain link fence. "It's very beautiful. I honestly feel that we'll be safe here."
Rick chuckled. "I'm really hoping you're right."
The prisoners walked out into the open and they all took deep breaths.
Axel held his hand up. "Damn, that's bright."
Big Tiny looked at him. "That's obvious, man."
Rick looked at the prisoners. "You're aren't free, you know?"
"Well, if the world is filled with flesh eating freaks, I'm happy to be here." Oscar said, smiling.
Big Tiny turned to Daryl and T-Dog, keeping their weapons trained on them. "Please, you can trust us."
Daryl looked at him. "We can't risk it, man."
Dale saw other members of the group walk outside in the surrounding courtyards. He heard the door open behind him to see Carol walk towards them.
"T, Carol, go over with those guys. Keep an eye on them, okay?"
T-Dog nodded and walked with Carol over to other members of the group. After T-Dog closed the gate behind him, a loud noise played over the speakers. Rick recognized it as an alarm. He immediately drew his revolver towards Big Tiny.
"What is that?! How do we turn it off?!"
"I know how to turn it off. It's the backup generators."
"Let's go!"
Rick looked over at T-Dog. "Get everyone inside!"
Rick looked in horror as he saw walkers make their way into the surrounding courtyards, as well as their own. Dale looked at the watchtower next to him and looked at the group.
"Get inside!" Dale yelled, moving as fast as he could, into the watchtower.
Daryl and Big Tiny held Rick back as Dale entered the watchtower. Dale climbed up the stairs of the watchtower, hoping he could make it to the top.
