Summary: When circumstances change, so do people. The group has grown closer, but when strangers threaten and bonds are broken. Will this group make or break?
Disclaimer: I don't own anything except for my two characters :)
"Go back"
"Huh?"
A young curly haired man outstretched his arm, he shakily pointed to a scattered array of walker limps. "Go back" He repeated, "That's what it says"
"Well I'll be damned, they gave us a bitergram" Merle laughed, he looked back at the three henchmen.
"They're smart"
"I can't believe this is happening" The brown haired man whispered, he stepped back worriedly.
"Hey, knock it out" Merle snapped, he stepped forward and grabbed a hold of the man's shirt. "The Governor chose ya 'cause he thought ye were ready. Ah want ye ta succeed, ah do. Buh' if ye keep announcing ta tha world, that ye pissing yer pants. Imma 'ave ta smash ya teeth in"
The man gave a short nod and Merle released him from his hold, he pushed back slowly. "Now wha' ye say ya name was again?"
"Gargulio"
"Well imma keep callin' ye Neil"
He walked away from the young man, aware of his relieved intake of breath. He circled the clearing quietly, his ears perking when the bushes rustled nearby. The group tensed, raising their weapons and readying themselves into attacked stances.
Merle raised his pistol and glanced around the circle, "Wha's tha deal Michonne, Rivers?" He called, "Yew gunna leap outta tha woods against four, all of us armed ta our teeth?" Merle raised his eyebrows, " 'N yew and yer liddol pig sticker 'n busted leg?" He chortled.
"No-no-no Michonne" He muttered. "Ya both gunna die"
Suddenly Michonne dropped from the tree behind Gargulio, her sword raised high as she sliced through the head of Merle's left man. Rivers raced forward quickly, gathering all his strength and pushed his machete through Merle's right man. Gargulio cried out in surprise and fell backwards, causing Merle to turn in surprise.
Merle fired off his gun quickly.
Rivers and Michonne rushed away, they pushed through the bushes with panicked heavy breathing.
#
"She's pissed at me!"
"What do you mean? Why?"
Stone frowned at Glen. He had rushed into her cell block, awaking her with hard shoves and hushed whispers. His face was crumbled, his mouth drawn downwards with grief. Stone placed a hand on his shoulder, "Tell me" She urged.
"Maggie found out" Glen groaned, he sat down on her bed and she rose.
"How?" She mumbled.
"How do you think? Daryl! I can't believe he told her" Glen grumbled. "When they went and got the baby formula, Daryl told her"
Stone blew out a breath of aggravated air, she shook her head.
"I went and confronted him. I nearly got the air knocked out of me." Glen looked at Stone with a raised eyebrow, "What's his problem?"
Stone shrugged, her eyes shifted away from Glen's.
"Why's he angry at me all the time" Glen mumbled. He paused and looked at her, "YOU!" He shouted, pointing at Stone. Her eyes widened, had Glen known all this time? she opened her mouth to hush him, and he cut her off "You would know. Why don't you ask him? You both are close friends" Glen interrupted.
Stone visibly relaxed, she shrugged "He's not talking to me, I don't know whats going through his mind" She said. Glen's shoulders deflated and he let out a long sigh, he rose from his bed and stepped forward.
"Wanna come with me to go find supplies?" Glen asked.
Stone raised an eyebrow, "And piss Maggie off even more?" She scoffed.
"Well Hershel told me to go, and he doesn't want me going alone. Beth isn't allowed to go and I'm certainly not taking Daryl or Maggie" He explained, he gave her a pleading look and Stone shrugged. Might as well piss of Daryl some more too she thought. Glen grinned.
"Meet you out by the car, bring your sword just in case" He said before disappearing out of her cell.
Stone did as she was told, she shouldered her sword and prepared a small bag just in case. She left her cell slowly, her eyes shifting to Carol's cell. With an anxious sigh, she glided forward and stepped inside.
"Daryl?" She questioned. She paused when she only found Carol inside, "Oh Carol, have you seen Daryl?" She asked.
Carol gave her a hard look, one she had grown accustomed to throughout the months. "He's not here" She sneered, she scowled angrily. Stone rolled her eyes.
"No shit, where is he?" She pressed.
"Why?"
"Just wanted to tell him I was going with Glen to get supplies." She explained.
"I don't see why he'd care" Carol snapped back, a smile crept it's way on her mouth.
"Pardon?"
"I said I don't see why he'd care. It's obvious he doesn't care anymore, you're finished" Carol hissed.
Stone frowned at her and stepped forward tensely, "Oh yeah?" She coaxed.
"You're done for. Did you really think he'd stick around with some immature emotionless young girl? He needs someone his own age, someone who understands him more" Carol pressed, "He even told me you were just a fling"
Stone scoffed, she didn't believe a word she said. "You're lying Carol, and it's pathetic."
Carol's lips stretched into a smirk, "Am I?" She snorted, "And I suppose you're the only one he told you"
"Told me what?" Stone sneered.
"You're the first one I've trusted, I have never told been like this with anyone and I'm so unsure of myself" Carol quoted. "Ring a bell? How 'bout this. I've never shown this scars to a girl willingly before, you'd be the first that didn't find them ugly" Stone staggered back, it couldn't be true. "This ones my favourite, 'no girl has ever blown me before' " Carol broke into laughter. The thought must of showed on her face because Carol nodded, "You don't honestly think you were special"
Many months ago, Daryl had opened up to her slightly. He had told her exactly what Carol just said, at that moment she had felt more closer than Daryl than she ever had. She wanted to believe it wasn't true, Daryl couldn't be like that, could he?
"And I suppose he told you that you were his" Carol scoffed.
"How do you know all this?" Stone choked.
"Do I have to spell it out to you? Daryl was having his cake and eating it too. Unfortunately for you, he's chosen me." Carol said seriously.
"He wouldn't choose you" Stone argued weakly.
"Then why did he lay in my bed last night?" Carol said. "Believe all you want Stone, but you know the truth"
Stone felt like she had been slapped. No worst. Stabbed repeatedly in the stomach would suffice more. She felt her eyes sting briefly, she willed them back, swearing to never cry and especially not in front of Carol. "You're a bitch" She uttered.
She rushed out of her cell and bumped straight into someone she definitely didn't want to see. She gazed up at Daryl's face and she was met with cold eyes, she shook her head and shoved him aside.
She left the cellblock quickly, her vision blurred as she stumbled her way out of the prison building and approached the car. Glen lent against the car, his eyes focused on Maggie from a distance.
"Ready to go?" Glen called while hopping into the car.
Stone nodded, avoiding eye contact with Glen. She slid into the front seat, her eyes glued to the front as Glen started the car to life and drove it away from the prison.
#
Rivers lent against a tree, his breath heavy as he stood. Michonne winced beside him, she covered her leg protectively and looked up at Rivers with irritation. "You get shot?" Rivers asked, he looked down at her leg. She removed her hand and showed a small wound, the bullet had brushed by her leg but left a small gaping wound. He ripped off a small part of his t-shirt and wrapped it around her leg for pressure.
They tensed suddenly when they heard their names called.
"Shit!" Rivers hissed.
They ducked down, raising their weapons high as the sound of footsteps came closer.
"They gotta be 'round 'ere" Merle's voice drawled.
Rivers spotted the older Dixon brother appear, his eyebrows were drawn together in concentration. He briefly reminded Rivers of Daryl, the pair both had some obvious commonality between the pair but as Merle said, Daryl was more softer.
Rivers looked up suddenly, Michonne was moving forward with her sword raised. She swung it at Merle, but he turned quickly and kicked her to the side. Rivers raced forward, his eyes set on Gargulio. He pushed Gargulio to the ground, while Michonne wrestled with Merle on the ground. Merle's gun fired off as they wrestled, attracting unwanted guests.
Midway of punching Gargulio in the head, Rivers raised his head to spot a small cluster of walkers surging through the bushland. He pushed himself off Michonne, and raised his machete and sliced through the head of one. The contents of it's brain poured over Rivers, the black blood staining his dirty white t-shirt. He made a noise of disgust and pushed himself further away, dragging Michonne with him.
The pair quickened their paces, leaving both Merle and Gargulio to fight off the rest of the walkers. They were both drenched in walker blood, Michonne had small pieces of organs over her vest which quickly begun to create an awful odour around the pair.
#
"Maggie did not look happy when you hopped in the car" Glen remarked, his eyes were set on the road in front of him as his hands gripped the wheel tightly.
"Just explain how it happened, she's got to understand" Stone said, her tone icy cold.
"Yeah if she'll talk to me" Glen sighed, he looked over at Stone. "Hey, you alright?"
Stone looked over Glen, there was a hint of concern in his eyes and Stone gave him her best smile. "Fine" She lied, "Just tired"
Glen shrugged, "I feel ya" He nodded and pulled the car to a stop.
They were parked outside an old supermarket store, it was bordered up. The pair slid out of the car, taking cautious steps towards the store and pulling at the wood over the door. "Hopefully theres nothing in there" Stone mumbled, she ripped off a piece of wood and coaxed Glen to help.
"Only one way to find out" Glen said, he pulled off the last piece of wood and swung open the door. A flood of birds poured out of the door, their wings just sweeping over their heads. Stone squealed and side stepped the birds, her hands raised to cover her head.
Glen laughed at her loudly and she scowled towards him. "I've never liked birds" She hissed.
"Oh you don't even blink at a herd of walkers but you squeal when a dozen birds fly over you" Glen chortled, "Ridiculous" he muttered under his breath. Stone slapped his shoulder playfully, and joined him inside of the market.
#
Michonne left Rivers waiting by the fringe of trees, he was growing tired and they needed a place to stay. She moved forward to the supermarket in hopes of finding some shelter, she immediately stopped when she spotted Stone and Glen.
She watched the pair laugh together and enter the store, their laughter still echoing out of the door. She hadn't seen them at Woodbury, she anxiously peered over the car hood at them.
They came out of the store quickly, two shopping baskets between the pair filled with baby formula, a toy and some basic food supplies. Michonne focused on the baby formula and looked up at the pair, they were playing childishly with a duck toy they had found.
"Mmm I can't wait to bring these back to the prison. We're gunna have a good meal tonight" Glen cheered, opened one of his car doors and looked back at Stone.
"It's really starting to feel homely there." Stone commented, her hands were entwined with a shopping basket. "Wonder if baby will like this" She gestured to the toy. Michonne cocked her head to the side, they definitely had a baby in their group.
"Come on, lets get home before it gets dark" Glen said, coaxing Stone forward.
" 'N where is it that ye good people call home?" A familiar southern voice drawled.
Michonne ducked further behind the car as Merle stepped forward, with a raised gun. He pointed at the two strangers. Glen and Stone pulled out guns and pointed them back at Merle, they dropped their baskets and moved forward.
"Merle?" Glen said.
Michonne took in a short intake of breath.
"Holy shit" Merle laughed, he stepped forward excitedly.
"Back the hell up!" Stone shouted, her gun raised even higher. Michonne studied her quickly, the woman had a similar sword to her.
"Okay hunny" Merle said, "Jeez"
"You made it" Glen said quietly. Michonne watched as Stone looked at Glen with confusion.
"Can ye tell me is ma brudder alive?" Merle asked. "Huh?"
"Yeah" Glen admitted.
Stone looked at Glen, "Brother?" She whispered.
Glen looked over at Stone, he gave her I'll tell you later face. Stone nodded quietly and looked back at Merle.
"Can ye take me to 'im?" He asked.
Michonne watched as the group talked quietly among themselves, she hoped the pair wouldn't allow Merle to come with them. She looked over at Rivers, he was perched by the tree with his eyes closed with tiredness.
Michonne jumped with surprise when a gunshot was fired off, she ducked immediately and was aware of Rivers limping frantically towards her. She watched him approach as a car started to life. She looked up over the car, and watched as the car Glen and Stone arrived in, drove off with another passenger.
"What happened?" Rivers asked, he checked over Michonne protectively.
"There were another two people, they knew Merle. He took them" Michonne whispered as her eyes set on the red shopping baskets.