Chapter Nine

They loaded the dead, covered bodies into sheets, but they saved Amy's. Andrea, taking the hint, dragged Amy's body to the final empty grave, insisting that she could handle it when Dale tried to help her.

Maryanne sighed, and she felt a small hand slip into hers. She looked down, and Carl looked up at her. She smiled a small smile at the boy, her arm slipping around his shoulders.

"Go find your mom, okay?" she said as the group began to walk back to the quarry.

"I don't want to," he said quietly, and Maryanne sighed.

"Just go, okay? I'll find you soon."

Carl nodded sadly and went to go find Lori, who walked back with her husband.

"Burying other people is bad enough, but the thought of one of us-"

"Shh," Maryanne said, turning to him. "I know."

"Your brother blames me for not bein' here."

"That's not surprising," Maryanne muttered.

"Do you?" he asked, his hands taking her own. Maryanne's look softened.

"Rick-"

"We have guns, we're stronger now."

"Rick," Maryanne said, her hands coming up to touch his face. "I understand that. I know you wanted to go back for Merle and the guns. But you also have to remember that we have fewer people now. That could be a good or bad thing. And I know you want me to be on your side and I am. But all I'm saying is... you're not entirely right but neither is my brother."

Rick sighed. "What about the C.D.C.?"

"It's our best shot. And Jim's best chance. You're right there, and I will stand by you with that. But-"

"But what?" Rick demanded, removing her hands angrily.

"Rick, listen to me," she said firmly, and he sighed. "You have to look at their faces. Hell – look at mine. We're all terrified, honey. We're heading into the city that's overrun with those... things and I don't know how many of us are going to make it out of there. There's so much that I don't know I just-"

She cut herself off when her voice cracked, and she looked at the ground. A hand came up under her chin, forcing her to look at him.

"You what?" he asked gently.

"Tell me something with certainty," she said just as gently, and he stared at her.

"I love you," he said firmly. "That's all I got."

Maryanne smiled, and she kissed his cheek.

"I love you, too," she whispered into his neck, and the two embraced.

Soon, they went to the R.V., where they found Jim in the back room.

"His fever's worse," Carol informed them.

"You need anything?" Mary asked Jim.

"Uh... water. I could use more water."

"I'll go get some. Carol, can you come help me, please?"

The two women left, and Rick took Carol's place.

"You save a grave for me?" Jim asked, and Rick looked around awkwardly.

"Nobody wants that."

"It's not about what you want. That, uh, that sound you hear? That's God laughing while you make plans."

"What I want, Jim, if – if God allows, is to get you some help."

Jim began to cough, and Rick handed him the white pot, which Jim took and began to spit blood into it.

When he was done, he groaned and rested his head against the R.V.

"Watch the mangroves," he said. "Their roots will gouge the whole boat. You know that, right? Amy is there... swimming... you'll watch the boat, right? You said you would."

Rick nodded, a sadness filling him even more. "I'll watch the boat. Don't worry."

"Okay."

Maryanne was sitting on the stairs of the R.V. when her brother knelt in front of her.

"I need you to talk some sense into Rick."

Maryanne rolled her eyes, and got up, trying to walk away.

"Look, Mary, the C.D.C thing, keepin' Jim alive, it's a mistake."

When Maryanne didn't say anything, Shane sighed.

"So you're backin' him?"

"You should've seen that comin'," Maryanne argued, crossing her arms. "He's my husband."

"And you can play dutiful wife some other time. But we're puttin' people's lives at risk!"

"The last time I checked, Shane, people had free will. If they think it's a mistake, they don't have to follow. You don't have to follow us, Shane, we'll be just fine without you. And you need to start makin' up your own damn mind without bringin' my damn marriage into it."

"I guess I'll just add that to the list of habits I need to break, whether I like it or not."

"What habits?" Rick asked, stepping out of the R.V.

"Him bitchin' all the time," Maryanne replied, and Shane glared at her.

"Just talkin' about my need for a plan," he said. "So, what is it, we leavin' or not? Maybe we could just stay here, we could just hang some more tin cans."

"We can't stay here, you know that," Maryanne hissed with narrowed eyes. "We need to trust your gut, Rick."

"Let's go do our sweep," Shane suggested, still glaring at Maryanne. Rick nodded, and they left with Dale.

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Thank you for reading, and I'll talk to you next time. Have a great day!

-SparrowEyedGirl