Chapter 10

They had lain down for some rest after eating, and slept soundly until Rick came to their tent and whispered to them, asking if they were awake. Daryl had sat up quickly, hot, sticky and feeling almost hungover from sleeping in the heat. Glancing over at Vivienne he could see her hair plastered to her neck and face and saw little beads of sweat on her back where her shirt had ridden up. Maggie and Beth had leant Vivienne a shirt or two, unfortunately Vivienne was quite a bit more curvy than they were so the shirts were snug on her. Daryl sighed, thinking he would have to find her something more suitable to wear otherwise he and Shane would be at each other's throats daily. He told Rick he'd be right out and gently shook Vivienne to wake her. She sat up sleepily, pushing her hair out of her eyes.

"God I feel so damn disgusting," she whined. He smirked at that.

"Hey, Rick wants us up. He's gonna have a meetin' bout the ski resort," he whispered to her and left the tent to wait outside for her. She crawled out after him and stood and stretched.

"I feel gross," she muttered as she stretched. Daryl snorted and grabbed her hand to pull her along with him.

"If it makes ya feel better, ya have plenty of compny," he muttered to her. Looking up she realized he was right-the whole group was getting pretty ripe. She wrinkled her nose and shook her head.

"I never thought a flush toilet and running water would be a luxury," she grumbled. He laughed and pulled her curl.

As they approached the rest of the group that had gathered together, Vivienne caught Carol staring at Daryl and her. She glanced over to Daryl and saw he was oblivious to Carol, and she smiled a little in relief. At least she knew whatever Carol felt toward Daryl was not reciprocated. She tightened her grip on Daryl's hand a little and smiled at him when he looked over at her curiously. She came to a stop right beside him, determined that she would stay right beside him for the duration of the meeting. She wasn't giving Carol any chance at catching Daryl alone.

"I want to put an idea forward that has come to my attention," Rick began. "We already know we can't stay here at the Greene's farm indefinitely. They've been amazing to have let us stay here but in the long run this isn't really safe enough for a group our size. Besides the walkers we also have to worry about possible individuals or groups that will take advantage of the fact that there is no longer any law and will act violently towards others. We need a place that will accommodate all of us-or any of us that cares to come with me and my family. I've heard of a resort north of Atlanta on a lake that seems like it might be what we need to settle into –it's in the mountains so there'd be game for hunting, a lake for fishing, no telling what else we might find there. What do y'all think?" He paused to let the group talk amongst themselves.

Herschel blurted out, "I think it's a good idea. For your group. Me and my family are staying here." Maggie looked over at her father, as did Patricia and Otis. Beth and Jimmy stayed quiet but Vivienne could see they disagreed with Herschel.

"Daddy, I think we should at least think about this," Maggie began.

Herschel cut her off. "No Maggie. I don't need to think about anything. This is our home, this is where we'll stay."

Before Maggie could reply, Shane broke in. "This place ain't safe old man. Ya got a barn full of walkers out there." Everyone gasped and the women with children pulled the children closer to them.

Rick and Daryl stared at first Shane then Herschel. "Is this true?" Rick snapped.

Herschel grimaced. "They are my family and friends. I'm keeping them safe until we find out if there's a cure," he argued.

Daryl swore and let go of Vivienne's hand to begin pacing agitatedly. Rick rubbed his hand over his face, unsure what to say.

"I say we open the damned barn and put them down," Shane yelled. Herschel stood quickly.

"You'll do no such thing! This is my place and you have no say in what I do here!" He yelled back.

Maggie grabbed her father's arm. "Daddy, you can't keep those things in the barn! What if they get out somehow? They'll kill us all!" Glen went over to Maggie and placed a hand on her arm.

"Get off my land! Now! I didn't ask any of you to camp here, get out now!" Herschel yelled even more angrily, shaking Maggie's hand off his arm. Beth and Jimmy stood back, mouths open in shock. Patricia and Otis joined Maggie's side.

"Now Herschel, you can't throw these folks off your land with night coming on. That guarantees something bad happening to them," Patricia began.

"I don't care!" Herschel yelled again, and began to wave his arms. "All of you, get out now! Start packing or I swear I'll start shooting!" His face had turned red and he was breathing hard.

"You can't throw us off your land you sorry old asshole!" Shane yelled, goading Herschel. "We're gonna kill those things in there before they kill us you damn fool," and he started off toward the barn.

"Shane!" Rick yelled and started to run after him. Daryl gave Vivienne a look to stay put and he took off after Rick to try and help stop Shane.

Vivienne turned toward Herschel in time to see him grab his chest and go down. Maggie and Beth screamed and started to sob hysterically. Vivienne stood stock still, too much going on at one time for her mind to process.

"Do you have any aspirin in the house?" Andrea yelled at Maggie to be heard over the girls' wailing. Patricia nodded. "Go get it, quick," Andrea snapped out. Andrea knelt by Maggie's side and started to compress Herschel's chest. Amy knelt over and blew into Herschel's mouth when Andrea stopped compressing.

Patricia came back with the aspirin and she placed some in Herschel's mouth hoping it would melt on his tongue and get into his system. As Andrea and Amy worked on Herschel, they all heard a gunshot. Then another. Dale and Martinez ran toward the direction Rick and Daryl had gone in. Vivienne began to run toward the same direction, but Tdog stopped her. "Stay here, girl. May not be safe out there if Shane let those walkers out." Vivienne reluctantly agreed and stared anxiously in the direction the men had run toward.

Patricia leaned over and slowly pulled a sobbing Maggie away from her father. Tdog looked up and Patricia shook her head sadly. Tdog sighed and Vivienne looked up to see everyone coming back except Shane. Daryl looked to be covered in blood and she ran to him.

"Easy, girl," Rick mumbled as she tried to get a look at Daryl.

"That asshole Shane tried to shoot Rick, then Daryl," Martinez yelled. Lori ran over to Rick and grabbed his arm.

"Where's Shane?" Lori exclaimed and Vivienne turned to stare at her. Rick looked at Lori as if he were seeing her for the first time.

"I killed him," Rick said quietly. Lori burst into tears and Rick angrily shook her from him and continued to walk toward the group around Herschel.

"Did you get hit?" Vivienne asked Daryl anxiously. He nodded, gritting his teeth in pain. "Where?" she asked frantically.

"Shoulder," he spat out. Vivienne bit her lip hard enough to draw blood.

"I can check it," Patricia said quietly. "Bring him in the house and get him on a bed upstairs and we'll see how bad it is," she continued and turned to lead the way into the house.

Vivienne followed Martinez and Daryl toward the house, Dale went to stand with Rick by Herschel and his daughters. "Young lady, get me some warm water and some clean towels please," Patricia said over her shoulder as she led the men up the stairs. Vivienne stumbled into the kitchen and rummaged around to find some clean dishtowels and a large enough bowel to fill with hot water. She shook the whole time she moved and was afraid she'd spill the water out by the time she got upstairs.