A/N: So this is a long one, and I hope you guys like it, I switched a few things around so hopefully that doesn't annoy anyone too much. I'm not sure how I feel about this chapter part of me thinks it stinks and that I tried to fit too much in. Once again I want to build a background for some of these relationships. Let me know what you think. The next chapter will be a little bit of a filler I think. Do you guys want a little bit of them out on the road? Or should I go straight to when their at the prison; I said it before but I'll say it again... looking forward to them at the prison! The doubt is seeping in thick right now. So please review with what you think and what your interested in seeing. Thanks!

Chapter 9: Choices Must Be Made

Randal was a boy in trouble, granted he brought some trouble with him, but Rick couldn't leave him behind, he deserved a fighting chance just like the rest of us. Herschel set to work trying to fix the boy's leg which was mangled in the fence accident.

Once Herschel did all he could Randal was tried up and blindfolded in the shed. Discussions were held on what to do, everyone had an opinion. Rick wanted to know what this Randal kid was up to and if his group would come looking for him. Daryl was chosen to try and make Randal talk.

Riley walked with Daryl down towards the shed "You ok with me doing this?" he questioned slinging his crossbow higher on his shoulder

I glanced towards the shed and nodded; Randal wasn't one of us and because of him and his group; members of my family could have died. Daryl looked over unconvinced that she sister was truly okay with this situation. As they neared the shed Daryl stopped and looked at her, she gave a sigh but nodded and started to turn back towards the farm house. She froze for a moment turning back around and calling after her brother

"Daryl" she called. Daryl stopped walking and looked back as her.

"Choices have to be made…. I know you'll make the right ones" and with that she turned and ran towards what Daryl could make out as the Carl standing a few yards away.

As he continued on towards the shed he mulled over Rye's words. He approached the door; nodded to himself and stepped inside.

Riley sat on the porch steps with Carl next to her. Carl was debating between the qualities Batman and Superman while Riley sat with an amused grin on her face, she didn't real care but it was nice seeing Carl be a kid and explore and discuss kid related things. She looked up though when Rick started talking

"We'll know soon enough" he spoke with his eyes staring at a figure walking towards them. Daryl approached the porch and glanced at Riley

Rick spoke "So, what you find out"

"That boy" Daryl begin looking at Rick "has a group of about 30 men, and if they roll through here, our men are dead and the women he too another quick glance at Riley "are going to wish they were" Daryl finished glancing back at Rick who looked down and shook his head

"No one goes near this guy" Rick looked up and meet eyes with Shane, Shane stared back and Rick nodded; he then made eye contact with Daryl and said "we do it tonight" with that he walked down the steps pass Riley and Carl and joined Shane by the truck. Daryl made eye contact with Riley before disappearing to clean his banged and bloody hand.

Riley watched as Daryl walked away, she could hear Carl still talking but she was too focused on what her brother just said

"Riles….Riles…Riley" the boy repeated finally poking her in the side. Riley jumped and looked over at the boy. He grinned while she ruffled his hair the hat he usual wore now, discarded on the step below them. "What do you think?" he questioned. She knew he was talking about the decision with Randal; she repeated what she said to Daryl "Choices have to be made; your dad will make the right one" She truly believed in Rick, he was noble man and wanted what was best for the group as a whole. Carl nodded agreeing with her statement.

Later that night Rick, Shane and Daryl stood in the shed. Randal on his knees in front of them; Rick had his gun raised, he was doubting himself internally though, it wasn't until he heard "do it dad, do it" that he looked over saw Carl; he lowered his gun rubbing the back of his neck. Shane ushered Carl away while Rick had Daryl retie Randal.

Rick had changed his mind, he couldn't do it. It was now decided that tomorrow he would drive Randal eighteen miles out and leave him. Shane was not to pleased but had lost all say in matters recently.

Riley was sitting on the rocking chair located on the porch, when Rick walked out of the house. He didn't notice Riley at first, which gave her time to study the man. He looked worn out carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. Riley finally chose to make herself known and spoke out "For what it's worth, I agree with whatever you choose." Rick's head snapped up and he stared at the girl

"You seem to be the only one" Rick sighed while rubbing his eyes.

Riley stood and made her way over to Rick "Not true…Carl will go with you no matter what" Rick looked over with a grin. "Daryl too" she added looking out over the land. Rick didn't know what to say he never thought he would see the day when the Dixons would trust him.

"You think I'm doing the right thing?" he asked looking at her as she watched the shadows bounce off the house from the moonlight.

"I think…" she paused "I believe that you will always do the right thing; it may not be the easy thing but it will always be true. You're a good man Rick, better then you give yourself credit for" she looked over at the man she thought of as a father gave him one last small smirk and walked down the steps towards her camp with Daryl

Rick watched her go, with a smile gracing his features. He would do anything to keep Riley believing in him. He knew that the girl needed; wanted the father she never got. He would do whatever he could do uphold that image.

As morning arrived Rick and Shane loaded up the car with supplies that would last Randal a couple of weeks. Riley watched, and when Shane was busy getting Randal she walked over to Rick "you sure you're okay on our own with him" Rick stopped looking through the bags and looked directly at Riley "I'll be fine" Riley gave a unsure nod; Rick pulled her into a hug "I'm not leaving you or anybody" as he pulled away he saw Shane approaching and went to open the trunk the holding place for Randal. Riley backed away and let them do what needed to be done; she trusted Rick and if he said he would be fine and come back; then he would be fine and come back.

A few minutes later and they were packed and ready to go. Rick gave Lori and Carl a hug and then headed to the car, when he opened the door he looked back at Riley and gave her a nod. Daryl who was standing behind her noticed and realized that Riley's love for Rick was not one sided; Rick wanted to be that father figure for her as much as she wanted him to be, Daryl now knew he could trust Rick and would back him up whenever needed. As the car drove away, Carl walked over to Riley and asked if he could do something with her. Riley looked at the young boy and nodded her head. That was until Maggie came out and asked if Riley wanted to take a run into town. Riley liked Maggie and wanted to get to know her better. She looked down at Carl and saw his face drop "if I go I can try and find some comics" she whispered to the boy who's head raised and he gave a smile and a nod. Riley looked at Maggie "I'm in"

With Riley gone, and Daryl out hunting Carl was bored so he did something he shouldn't have done; he went into Riley's bag and took out her gun. He then wondered into the woods.

Maggie and Riley rode into town, Riley loved being back on a horse

"You seem real comfortable up there" Maggie commented

"Yeah my brother Merle…he would take me to ride horses, it was something special me and him did" Riley trailed off

'Don't worry baby girl, Merle won't let anything happen to ya' Merle's buddy Mark had found out the Riley was obsessed with horses so he allowed them to come to his farm and ride one of his. Riley stared at the horse it was just like the one Merle showed her in the backyard that day; black with a white strip down its nose. Riley never being this close to a horse before stood behind Merle with her arms wrapped around his leg. Merle kneeled down and looked at Riley right in the eye. Blue orbs meeting blue orbs "look at me Rye bread…I ain't letting anything happen to you ya hear me" Riley nodded her head Merle leaned over kissing her forehead "You're my Rye bread ain't nothing bad happening to you when I'm here" he spoke pulling her into a hug'

Maggie nodded her head, she could tell by the way she spoke and stared off that this brother Merle was a touchy subject. Once they reached the town they hopped off and ran into the local store. They grabbed whatever was left on the shelves then headed to the pharmacy and grabbed whatever medicine they could find. They then returned to the horse and headed back home

"You think Rick made the right call" Maggie spoke breaking the silence that surrounded them

Without missing a beat Riley nodded her head "yes" she then looked at Maggie and then back out at the road "Rick is a good man, he'll make the right call" Maggie glanced over and something about the way Riley spoke about the members of her group and the way she cared made Maggie know that the two of them would become fast friends. Maggie would have Riley's back and she knew Riley would have hers.

Once back at the farm Maggie took the horse back to the sables while Riley walked towards the farm house. Once close enough Carl ran forward. He looked different like he was nervous about something but he spoke up before she could question it "dad brought Randal back, they got cornered by Walkers and had to come back" he spoke quickly. Riley nodded her head and threw her arm over his shoulder both walking into the house.

Inside the house you could cut the tension with a knife. Maggie walked in a couple minutes later and Rick spoke "now that we're all here we can start" Lori gave Carl a look and the upset boy went upstairs.

Riley went over and stood by Daryl the two exchanging a look. Rick stepped forward and opened the floor up for peoples opinions on what should be done with Randal.

Dale was the first to come forward saying that this was a young mans life and we needed to take this seriously. He then looked at Glenn who stutter out

"Dale I usually think you're right about pretty much everything…but this…he's not one of us"

"They got you scared" Dale replied looking at Glenn and then around the room.

Maggie spoke trying to get Glenn out of the spotlight "can you try to take him out again drop him off further out"

"They barely got back in one piece this time" Lori pointed out

Shane who had been quiet this whole time looked at Rick

"You know what we got to do" he spoke looking only at Rick

"This is a mans life….it deserves more then a five minute conversation" Dale cried out

"I'm with Dale" Andrea said stepping forward and going near the older man

Rick looked over at the Dixons who had remained mum this whole time. "What about you guys? What do you think?" Daryl looked at Rick

"He ain't one of us" Daryl said "I wouldn't feel comfortable with him here walking around…or even tied up for that matter" he ended glancing down at his sister. Rick nodded feeling the same way; he then turned his eyes to Riley

"we have to eliminated the threat, he's not one of us, he needs to go" Rick nodded feeling better that the Dixons were on his side

"then its set"

Dale threw his hands in the air "are you all going to watch too; no you all can decide a young's man fate but turn the other cheek when it gets dirty." As he walked by Daryl he stopped "you're right this group is broken" he then continued out the door disappearing into the field.

The group broke apart; and Riley feeling like even though she agreed and stood by what she believed in felt bad for Dale; he was always so kind to her and seemed to truly care about the members of this group, she ran off after him in hopes of lessening his pain.

She got to the field and saw his white fisherman's cap. "Dale" she called out. The older man didn't stop however. Riley gave a sigh "Dale slow down, please!" Riley bowed her head 'please don't hate me' she then started to jog when she heard a blood curdling scream coming from where Dale just stood; she glanced up and didn't see his hat anymore. She took off sprinting to where she knew he should be. As she approached she saw a Walker digging its teeth and nails into Dales abdomen. Riley withdrew her knife from her boot and rushed forward pulling the Walker off and drilling the knife into the Walkers skull. She then turned to Dale , she reached down and started to grab his insides not sure what she was doing she just shut down and let her body take over. She worked on trying to place his intestines back inside his body, unaware that the others were approaching and what she was doing was futile. She was in a complete state of shock. Dale reached over bringing his bloody hand up to her equally as bloody hands. At this point the rest of the group had arrived Lori pulling Carl into her blocking his view. Dale looked over to Rick pleading with his eyes to end the misery. Dale looked back over to Riley looking at her telling her not to take this blame on as well with his sad dying brown eyes. Rick dropped to one knee bringing his gun to Dales head, he's hand started to shake, he glanced to Riley watching as she worked on trying to fix the unfixable. Rick didn't glance back at Dale until he felt another hand slipping into the gun taking it from him. Daryl squatted and put the barrel of the gun to Dales head "sorry brother" he spoke before pulling the trigger

The next morning the funeral for Dale was held. Riley stood in the back her head bowed as she listened to Rick speak. Daryl while listening to Rick kept his eyes on Riley. Rick spoke about how good a man Dale was and that from now on we are going to do things Dale's way. He ended by saying we can't lose our humanity. Dale wouldn't want that.

Riley approached Rick after the service "I want to come with you when you let Randal go" Rick looked above Riley's head locking eyes with Daryl. Daryl was worried about his sister; first Merle, then Sophia now Dale not to mention everything that happened in-between. Daryl gave Rick a curt nod. Rick sighed and looked back at Riley rubbing the back of his neck "I don't think that's a good idea…I need you here, with Lori and Carl. After last night Carl…he'll need you" Riley at first didn't like what Rick was saying but when he threw Carl into the mix she nodded her head; she would do anything for that boy and his mother.

Riley joined Rick though in preparing the car with supplies. "T-Dog should be back with Randal any minute" Rick spoke glancing up and towards the shed. Riley was about to reply when T-Dog came running back saying Randal at somehow escaped. Everyone took off towards the shed, and looked around. Rick noticed that the handcuffs were still interlocked on the pole "How'd he get out" Rick said out loud. Everyone rushed out exploring all areas of the shed. Rick was just about to send Daryl out to track the area when Shane popped out of nowhere screaming "Rick….he has my gun!"

Rick looked up at Shane and noticed his bloody nose. He quickly turned to everybody and told them all to get back to the house and lock the doors.

"Keep everyone inside" he said to Lori as he ushered them away

"Glenn, Rye and Daryl come with me…Shane show me where this happened" Rick spoke out starting to walk into the woods. Daryl gave Riley a look as Glenn followed after Shane and Rick.

Shane walked ahead with Rick in the middle, Riley ran up ahead and walked in sync with him; Rick glanced over and gave Riley a look, she simply nodded and slowed down to rejoin her brother. Once Shane arrived at the location he spoke

"Right here, the little SOB jumped me, stole my gun and ran off" he said looking at Rick the whole time

"You're saying that kid jumped you; he weighs what 135 soaking wet" Daryl said while kneeling down to look at the tracks.

"He's around here and loaded, that's all that matters" Riley spoke up staring at Shane. Shane glanced at her, she also caught Rick looking at her from the corner of her eye

"Well why don't Daryl and Glenn look around here maybe he's hiding out, while Rick, Riley and me go further out" Shane spoke looking at only Rick and Riley

Daryl snapped his head up and was about to protest but Riley beat him to it "Sounds good that way both groups have a tracker…led the way" she spoke gesturing with her hand for Shane to proceed. Daryl clenched his jaw and stood watching as his sister disappeared with a man he was certain wanted to kill his so called best friend and most likely his sister as well.

Daryl watched until he couldn't see them and then turned his attention to the forest floor, he sweep away some leaves and noticed footprints, he pointed them out to Glenn who also spotted some headed away from the farm. The two men followed them until Daryl stopped. He looked at Glenn "There's two sets of tracks here, they run right on top of each other. Shane and Randal were walking together" Glenn looked up and together they knew that Shane had been up to something. Glenn noticed something weird on a tree over Daryl's shoulder he walked over to it, and swiped the bark with his fingers when he removed them they were stained red, he turned to Daryl holding up his hand, Daryl looked at him "about Shane high wouldn't you say"

Rick walked ahead with Riley in the middle. Shane followed a few paces behind. Both knew what was coming but Riley played the part "the trail runs cold" she spoke, Rick nodded his head knowing she was doing this for show. They couldn't let on too quick that they knew what Shane was planning. Eventually they ran out of woods and came into a clearing. Rick walked towards the middle with Riley at his tail. Rick turned and connected eyes with Riley she stopped staying between Rick and Shane; if anything did happen the group needed Rick more then her

"So this is it…"

Daryl and Glenn were still walking the sun had gone done and darkness overtook them. Glenn handed Daryl his flashlight and they continued to follow the tracks. All was quiet until the growl of a Walker sounded. Glenn jumped back, as the Walker pinned Daryl to a tree. Glenn unsure what to do picked up the dropped flashlight and sucker punched the Walker with it. The Walker fell to the ground and Daryl finished it off with an arrow to the head.

"Good one" Daryl spoke with a smirk hitting Glenn in the stomach. Daryl picked up the flashlight and shone it in the face of the Walker

"Randal…" Glenn breathed out

The two exchanged a look and bent down. Daryl checked and there had been no bits, scratches or nicks. "He's necks broken" Daryl said

"He died from a broken neck…how'd he turn then" Glenn asked with a puzzled expression on his face

"Let's get back" Daryl said quickly getting to his feet. Shane had done this. Now he was out there with his sister and a man he thought could fill the gap of a missing older brother.

"You bring us all the way out here to do what Shane….kill us, make it look like an accident?" Rick spoke out looking at Shane and finally seeing how far Shane had gone down the rabbit hole.

"Good a plan as any" Shane started "it will be hard for Lori and Carl, but they did it once they can do it again" he then looked at Riley "you though, you'll be harder for him, that boy…he can't go five minutes without asking about Riles" Shane spit out a look of disgust on his face. "Then there's your brother, but hey I can just say you were a danger and things happened…won't be a far cry from the truth; apple doesn't fall from the tree" he finished with a smirk.

Rick watched as Shane started to move forward, removing his gun from the hostler. Rick however raised his hands, Riley following suit dropped her crossbow and disarmed herself

"Well it looks like your going to have to kill unarmed people" Rick calmly spoke

Shane shook his head "Take out your gun, pick up your bow" he shouted out.

Rick raised his hands a little higher and for the first time Riley saw police officer Rick. He very calmly spoke to Shane as if he was trying to talk them off a ledge

"You don't want to do this…you can come back from this, we can all work through it and then forget it" Rick said glancing at the back of Riley's head.

Shane pointed his gun at the girl now, she then decided to speak up

"I've had worse Shane, and I've learned how to forgot. We can all go back and make this life work. We all have loved ones, we can manage this somehow " Shane stared between the two looking on the verge of tears. The whole time Riley was talking she slowly made her way closer to Shane who didn't notice she had lowered one of her hands. When she was right in front of him she whipped out an arrow from back pocket and plunged it into his stomach. A shot rang out and it was quiet.

Rick ran over to see Riley had lowered Shane to the ground and was staring at his dead open eyes. She still had her hand pushing the arrow in. As she sat there she repeated "choices must be made…choices must be made…" Rick kneeled down and placed his hand over Riley's and slowly removed it. He then pulled the arrow out and dropped it on the wet blood soaked grass under him.

The two sat next to Shane looking and waiting. Rick looked over at Riley wondering why she hadn't asked to leave yet. She felt his eyes on her and looked over as well; then she said something he didn't expect

"We have to wait"

Rick looked at Riley and she simply stared back at Shane "my dad…when it happened he had been drinking pretty heavily and I guess it caught up with him…I thought that it was some fluke thing. When Daryl and Merle showed up I had already, and they just assumed…I want to make sure" Rick nodded also looking back at his friend

"at the CDC Jenner told me, before we got out, that it doesn't matter how you die, I too need to see it" Rick and Riley sat quietly for a few minutes before they heard it, they glanced down and came face to face with Shane's Walker eyes. Both jumped up but before either could handle the situation a gun was fired and Shane fell to the ground with a bullet hole in his head. Rick and Riley turned around and there stood Carl.

Daryl and Glenn arrived back at the house filling the group in on how they found Randal but he was a Walker and that he wasn't bit. The group was dumbfounded unsure of the next course of action. When Lori spoke up

"Rick and Riley are still out, will you go back out and find them" Daryl nodded "sure thing" as Daryl was about to jump off the porch his eyes caught movement in the distance. He whistled for the group who ran out and was overcome by the sight….a mass of Walkers heading right for them.

Rick and Riley didn't have time to fill Carl in on what actually happened because the air changed and the smell of discomposing flesh filled the air. Rick looked up over the hill and panic over took him. Walkers, thousands of them. He looked at the children before him and hissed "run" before leading them away.

Daryl and the rest of the group back at the farm acted quick each taking different routes in hopes of either taking out the Walkers or getting off the land before the Walkers took them out. Daryl ran to the motorcycle, while Glenn and Maggie hoped in the hatchback. Everyone else grabbed a gun and fired from the porch and land around the house.

Rick, Riley and Carl somehow made it back to the barn, they were now locked inside; their only way out being the opening atop the second floor. Rick handed Riley his lighter and told her to wait for his sign; she and Carl then climbed the ladder and waited, once Rick had dosed the barn with gasoline he started to climb up as well. He shouted "NOW" to Riley and she flicked the lighter and let it drop. The barn was going up in flames

Daryl noticed the barn and signaled Jimmy who was driving the RV to circle around back, it must have been Rick, and Riley who set it ablaze.

Jimmy pulled up just in time and the three members were able to jump onto the roof of the RV and climb down. Poor Jimmy though got overtaken by Walkers, there was nothing they could do. Rick, Riley and Carl ran for the farm house each trying to help. Riley got separated from them as she heard Lori scream. Rick and Carl got into a car pulling Herschel with them. Riley ran over to Lori and helped her pull Beth away from Patricia who was bitten by a Walker. She ushered both women into the truck with T-Dog, when Riley heard another scream she glanced up and saw Andrea and Carol getting surrounded by a small herd. Riley was torn; should she risk getting left and or bit to help the two women in need or go with the safe choice. "Damn it" Riley hissed. She pushed Lori all the way in and then slammed the door shut "RILEY" she heard Lori shout through the window as T-Dog started the truck and pulled away.

Riley ran over and took out a few of the Walkers closest to Andrea, she then moved over in hopes of helping Carol. As Riley stabbed a Walker in the eye she heard the sound of a motorcycle approach. Daryl arrived and quickly called his sister over. She looked at the bike then back at Daryl "ain't gonna happen" Daryl looked at her confused. Riley pulled Carol by the forearm and threw her onto the bike behind her brother "take her and go, I'll meet you at the highway" Daryl froze no way was he going to let his sister go again. He looked back at Carol and then at Riley again

"we ain't got all day Daryl…GO! I'll meet you there" and she was off running into the forest

There was nothing Daryl could do but hope that his sister would be waiting at the highway when he arrived. With one last look, he kicked the bike back to life and took off away from the farm.

The sun had started to rise and so far only Rick, Herschel and Carl were at the highway.

"it's getting to risky, we have to move" Herschel spoke as a few Walkers ambled by

Rick looked down and then back up, he couldn't leave without his wife and the rest of his new family, but he couldn't risk Carl's life either

"we're not leaving without my mom or Riley" Carl hissed. Rick looked down at his son, he knew that Carl wouldn't go without Lori but the fact he also spoke of the young Dixon girl was heartwarming; Carl truly saw her as an older sister.

Just as it seemed all hope was lost and they would need to move on, the sound of a motorcycle was heard in the distance, it started to get louder and soon the sight of Daryl Dixon followed by a light green car and a blue truck could be seen. The convoy stopped and Lori jumped out of the car, followed by Beth; both running to their respected families.

Rick looked up with a smile and asked how they found each other

"saw these lights zig zagging all over the place figured it had to be an Asian behind the wheel" Daryl spoke also with a small smile gracing his lips

"good one" Glenn commented

"what happened to the others" T-Dog questioned

"Patricia was bit…I tried daddy honest" Beth spoke softly crying into Herschel's shirt while he rubbed her back

"Andrea was overtaken, she was trying to help but I lost her, and Riley…" Carol paused looking at Daryl "she gave me the space on the bike…said she would meet us" Carol ended tears filling her eyes.

Rick looked at Daryl "she'll be here then" Rick spoke not breaking eye contact. Daryl nodded. It grew quiet while everyone thought the worse. Carl walked away from his mother going to the edge of the forest. All eyes went to the boy; Lori walked next to him kneeling

"she's strong Carl…she'll be okay" Carl nodded not removing his eyes from the trees.

The group waited fifteen minutes before T-Dog spoke up. "I hate to say this but we need to get moving where sitting ducks here" Everyone looked down hating that they all agreed with the man.

Rick looked to Daryl who was biting his thumbnail, before any decision could be made though all eyes snapped over to Carl who shouted out in excitement

"RILEY!"

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