So I have had a hell of a time with this fic. In a good/bad way!

SO first and foremost I want to thank each and every one of you for sticking with this story and with me. I am sorry about the lack of an update, but nobody could wish for guys like you! So thank you!

First thing that went wrong was my computer. I just recently bought a new one, because my last was STILL at HP getting fixed. Then the touchscreen went out in it, so then I had to return that. But thankfully this computer came back. So basically it's been a crazy ride.

Add that to the fact my muse with this story took a nap..so I don't know if my mind got too distracted by the current season I was watching to write this or not..But I can't quite get the story on the track I want. But I feel the ideas churning so we are back on track.

So just another thank you for the support of all of you the reviews and everything like that! This chapter was all I could really bust out when my muse decided to take a vacation, so soon I will have one longer and more plotty! Love you all!

Shane's POV

To say all of this that is happening around me is normal would be an outright lie. So I'm still in shock, to say the least, I want to forget every bit of this and think it is a well made joke, but the look of these people, even Rick and Carl, it's nothing I have ever seen before, other than watching military personnel coming back from the warzone. My cousin is in the army and I remember the time I picked him up from the plane , he had the same tired, worn look with eyes too haunted to fit in a 'perfect' or 'normal' society again. And the way they move together is unlike anything, it's strange to see, and I don't think they even know they are doing it. While the people without memories, like myself, Lori, the little girl and the old man's family, we don't fit in it seems. Rick and his group of people always circle each other, someone is always looking toward the fences, and they all move in a loose formation that will make sure if anything happened someone would be close enough to help the other out. I see all this because it is something you get after years with your police unit, not practiced, but made through time and mistakes.

Rick went inside earlier to shower, and it's strange, I offered to go with him and he looked like that was the last thing he wanted to do, and that is exactly why I need to speak with him, I would have prefered that it just be the two of us on the ride to get supplies, but for some reason it seemed like he and that scruffy hick were joined at the hip. I'll get the truth out of him, what could have possibly happened in two years for him to treat me like this? We have been friends since before I could color in the lines, we both dated the same girls, we both had each other's back when an idiot thought he could take one of us or the other, we both went to the Police Academy and trained together. So what could have made him distrust me so severely? I shook my head and walked over to Lori who was still sitting at the picnic table, "So can you make heads or tails outta this?" She smiled a worn out smile and shook her head.

"Shane this is insane. I want to not believe it, but honestly what else would explain it? Rick was skinny, pale, and clean shaven before. My husband, but now he is so much more muscular, he looks like he has been in the sun every day, and hasn't shaved in a while..and Carl? He isn't my little boy anymore. Shane, he is carrying a gun."

"I know. I know Lori, it is completely insane, but if what they said is true, they have spent two years running and fighting, I don't know if they are the same people or not. I still see Rick, but I don't know..something is off."

"Will you talk to him when you go get supplies. Please Shane?"

"I was gonna, but that other guy is gonna be in the car with us, I dunno if I should have the talk we need to with company."

"Just get what you can. We need answers. We need our old Rick back. We may not be a perfect marriage lately, but I won't let him hurt if I can help it."

"Alright, I'll try to get answers."

"Thank you Shane."

When Rick came out it was about an hour later, I didn't understand what was taking so long, but when I saw his clothes I understood, they had to wash and dry everything, but he did have a changed shirt. Now that I think about it his last shirt had stains that were a little too red to be just dirt. I shook my head and just walked around the corner of the house to the pair, I slowed down before I turned the corner and just listened to the two.

"I smell like a human sized flower." Daryl said I could practically hear the discomfort in his tone.

Rick just laughed lightly and shook his head, "Don't complain, after three months go by you can go back to smelling like the backside of a walker."

"I aint never smelled that bad! Least had running water in the prison. Wasn't too bad." The younger man was smiling but soon his face dropped and he spoke again, "But enough about all that we need to talk to Hershel soon. See what he remembers, you know everything is probably going to happen the same way so we have to know who he lost during the turn. "

I saw Rick nod and look to the barn again. "Daryl.." I hadn't heard that tone from Rick before, not this Rick or the one I know, it's a tired almost hurt voice that that is foreign coming from that man.

"Now Rick, that was a day that a lot of people lost faith, but we gained faith in you. You were the only one strong enough to shoot her, I'm pretty sure we would let her bite every last one of us, but you stepped up and did what needed to be done after Shane lost his shit. Okay? But we have Sophia back and nothing is going to happen to her this time she is our Cherokee Rose and she will be the third best ass kicker next to Carl and Judith. And 'sides we know more now, we have a team, scouting will be easier, we know more of what to expect, we know how to move and how they move..we have a second chance to do this right, so we are staying the hell away from Woodbury, we have the farm back, and we always know the prison is an option and who will be a problem if we have to take it again. Rick, we have a second chance at the end of the world and the people we love most. Now wipe that look off yer face before I slap it."

What does he mean when I lose my shit..what did I do? Apparently it's something with that damn barn they all keep looking at. I think it's a fair question to ask how I died, if Rick won't tell me maybe redneck will.

"What face, I don't know what you're talking about?" I heard Rick say through giggles, "All I see is a petite blonde in front of me, you sure you can't sing?" At this he laughed out loud and I was done waiting so I stepped around the corner and said, "What's so funny?"

Their faces sobered up quickly, Rick's falling from his smile to a more neutral face, and Daryl going from an annoyed smile to how I'm used to seeing him, aloof and impassive. "Nothin'. You ready to go? We gotta squeeze in the blue truck, Daryl can drive, I'll sit in the middle. I forgot Dale hasn't had a chance to fix the big red truck with more seats. We'll be fine."

"Lead the way." It's still strange to know Rick knows everything there is to know about this farm. But I guess it'll take some getting used to.

Till the next!