A/N - Absence is explained more at the end guys but just wanted to say look at my pretty new cover for the story! Gives you guys a chance to see what I imagine Sara would look like too! What do you think?

Chapter Ten

It's the moment of truth, and the moment to lie,
The moment to live, and the moment to die,
The moment to fight, the moment to fight.

30 seconds to Mars – This is War

-0-

Maggie and Glenn were gone.

After Merle had been in contact, the group had learned that one of their own, Shane had made his way to Woodbury. Shane had been barely hanging onto his humanity even before Lori was gone but now, now he didn't have her acting like some anchor, keeping him tethered to his sanity. He'd obviously traded up and headed to Woodbury despite having heard about what kind of a man the Governor was. Whilst this didn't bode well for any of them, the one it affected the most right now was Merle.

According to Merle, Shane had announced he had some information to share, information he was sure the Governor would be interested in. By some stroke of luck the Governor had been on a run, so Shane was instead greeted by Merle who managed to quickly subdue the other man before locking him up in one of the 'interrogation rooms'. The plan had been for Merle to get out of there before the Governor returned and discovered Shane and in turn, learned that Merle had betrayed him. Both Rick and Daryl had set up a meeting point, where they'd then bring Merle to the prison.

Things didn't exactly work out according to plan.

Maggie and Glenn had been found by the Governor during their raid on a nearby convenience store. It wasn't clear why they'd been taken prisoner, but Merle had radioed ahead and told the prison group that the Governor had radioed in that he was bringing them back. At first Merle himself hadn't cared why or even who it was, until he saw Glenn, that's when he knew he had to stay, he'd radioed Daryl and knew his brother was coming to Woodbury with others to rescue Glenn and Maggie.

Of course, Merle's first instinct was to look after number one, but after spending so long looking for his brother he was damned well going to make sure he was around to help when Daryl got here. Not to mention he had to make sure the Governor didn't get near the other prisoner just yet. Shane had been bound and gagged when Merle had knocked him unconscious and right now, not that many people knew he was here and those that did wouldn't say anything to piss off Merle.

Watching both Glenn and Maggie being ushered in through the back of the building and into the separate interrogation rooms, Merle began to grow antsy. He wanted out, he didn't do well sitting around especially when he knew his life was in danger should the Governor discover Shane and learn of Merle's deceit and the location of the prison.

-0-

"I'm not arguin' with you about this. You're stayin', that's final."

Sara bit her tongue and shook her head. Following after Rick, she hurried to move in front of him forcing her husband to stop so as not to run into her. Holding up a hand she glanced back towards the car before looking back at Rick. "You need me there…"

"You barely got out of there alive Sara. This isn't up for discussion, you're staying here!" Rick growled out and Sara shook her head, holding a hand against his chest as he made to move past her once more. She opened her mouth to argue then caught the look in his eyes, the fear. He didn't want her to go, he was scared for her that's what this was. After what it had taken for her to get out, what had almost happened she suddenly understood.

Rick was her husband, a husband she'd long since feared dead. By some divine miracle, they'd found their way back to each other despite the overwhelming odds. In the process of finding her way back to him, she'd crossed the Governor and God only knew what would happen to her if he ever got hold of her again. Despite her desire to go, Rick needed her here, she knew he wouldn't think straight if he was too busy worrying about her.

"Okay. You're right, I'll stay here." She said softly, her hand resting over his heart. "Just come back to me." The tension in Ricks body only seemed to fade a little underneath her hand, he was still carrying so much worry and weight on his shoulders. His people were out there, captured by a mad man and he couldn't relax until he got them back.

His fingers wrapped around her hand, pulling it off his chest and lifting it up to his lips where he placed a soft kiss on her palm. With that he let go and stepped around her, not saying another word as he stepped towards the car.

Sighing softly, Sara closed her eyes temporarily, her arms crossing over her chest. It didn't sit well with her that Rick was going without her, she didn't like the idea of them being separated. Yet at the same time she also knew she had to be here for their children and Rick had managed to surround himself with good people so she had faith they'd keep each other safe. At least she hoped that was the case.

As the roar of the car engine filled the courtyard she turned around slowly on the heel of her boot to watch as it pulled out through the gate. Her eyes remained glued to the vehicle as it tore down the dirt road and finally disappeared out of sight.

A heavy feeling began to weigh down on her chest when she could no longer see the car her husband had driven off in. Quietly she prayed for her husband's safe return, as well as his friends before taking a reluctant step back towards the cellblock and her children.

-0-

"Let me go!"

Carl screamed, violently pushing the at the arms holding him in place. Tears streamed down his young face as he tried to turn in his seat, his house disappearing as the car he was in rounded the corner. Sobbing loudly his whole body shook in despair and terror over what was happening. It was all too much. First his Dad had been shot, school had been closed, people getting sick and now he'd been torn away from his family by two people he didn't want to know.

Were they even still alive? His Mom and little sister? A loud sob tore out of his throat as he shrugged out of Lori's hold, "Mom! I want my Mom, take me back!" he screamed, his hands banging at the windows.

"Knock it off Carl!" Shane barked back, no remorse for leaving Sara or her child. As far as he was concerned he'd gotten Carl out for Lori, he was alive and that's all that mattered. "We're not going back. They're gone, there's no way they got out of there…"

"Shane stop!" Lori ordered, devastated by her sons reaction to his rescue, but also feeling guilty for not even attempting to help the only Mom he'd ever known. Though she had to keep reminding herself that she was Carl's Mom, Sara had cared for him there was no doubt but Lori was blood, and that trumped everything else in Lori's opinion.

Carl looked down at his wrist, and sobbed quietly. His vision was blurred from the tears that continued to fall, but it was clear enough for him to stare down at the brightly coloured cracker jack bracelet his little sister had put on him only a couple hours previous. She'd been so excited after finding it at the bottom of the cracker jack box and since she already had one, she'd made Carl wear it and make a promise to keep it on.

Grace had held up her own arm next to his and determined that the fact they matched meant they were best friends forever. Now she was gone, probably dead. He'd seen the blood, saw those monsters converging on his Mom and sister, he wasn't stupid, he knew they were both gone.

As Lori placed a hand on his shoulder he shook it off again and shuffled across the seat to the place furthest from her and brought his legs up, resting his head on his knees. Leaning against the interior of the car door he cried, his whole body hurting in a way he'd never felt before as he realised that he was alone and his family were now all gone.

"I was supposed to take care of her…" he whispered.

Carl looked down at his left wrist, down at the multi coloured crack jack bracelet he still wore. It was extremely girly but a gift from his little sister, he'd never take it off. Smiling, he dropped down beside Grace in the communal area of the prison block and gently bumped her shoulder.

The adorable little blonde looked up at her big brother and smiled brightly. It was a smile that lit up Carl's entire world and eclipsed all the badness that had happened over the last few months. Being a big brother had been something he'd taken to the moment he'd met Grace, before they even knew if Sara and Rick were going to stay together. Carl had found someone he loved so much, someone he was going to look after no matter what. He'd missed out on that for 8 months, Carl was for sure going to make up for that.

"Hey squid…look." He said, pulling his sleeve up to show her his arm and the bracelet that adorned it. Grace frowned then smiled brightly when she saw what it was Carl was showing her. Her eyes lit up and she turned quickly, giggling lightly before she held up her own arm where a matching bracelet hung around her little wrist and put it against Carl's. "Who's the best brother and sister team in the world?" he asked her and Grace giggled again, throwing her arms around him.

"You and me obviously." She replied and Carl smiled, hugging her back before they pulled apart. Grace sat back on her legs as she looked up at Carl, the older boy reaching around his back. After a moment, her brother pulled a knife out and held it between them. When the young girl saw, it she looked up at her brother in confusion, not sure what he was doing or trying to say.

"Come on then, I need to show you how to do some things." He said, determined to be the one who taught Grace how to look after herself and use the weapons they had on offer. Grace stared back at him for a moment before smiling and nodding her head enthusiastically. Carl laughed and ruffled her blonde hair as they stood and headed into the cell block.

-0-

Rick shook with a rage he'd never felt before. The retrieval of their friends hadn't gone as expected, or as smoothly as he'd wanted. By time they'd reached Woodbury, The Governor had returned and discovered Shane bound and gagged in an interaction room. Of course, Rick's erratic best friend had been only too happy to spill the dirty details of Merle's betrayal, the prisons location and just who Maggie and Glenn were. Then there'd also been Sara's involvement and apparently, that'd been enough to put him in good favour with the obviously unhinged man who had labelled himself the Governor.

The small town had already been in chaos when Rick and his people had arrived and it hadn't been till they'd made it out with an injured Glenn the first time, that they'd discovered the reason why. Turned out the Governor had pissed someone else off, a woman they'd learned was called Michonne. The sword yielding Amazonian had helped them to get out after saving Maggie's life but tried to dissuade them from heading back inside. Once she'd figured out they weren't just going to leave their people behind though, something had shifted and she'd promised to help them get back, to which she'd been offered sanctuary back at the prison if she did.

They'd gotten back inside and saw the barbaric way Daryl and Merle were being treated. Medieval entertainment, the audience blood thirsty and demanding that the two brothers be killed. Rick had wasted no time in firing the first shot and hell had once again broken loose in Woodbury. Seeing all this, experiencing it all, Rick could handle but the part that had enraged him, had been seeing Shane stood beside the Governor's side.

He'd been stood there watching as one of the men he'd been surviving beside for the last eight months, fought for his life. Not once had he stepped in to help, not once had he looked like he wanted to. He'd stood there with no remorse, letting it happen. Without Lori he'd finally slipped away, turned on the people who'd fought by his side for so long. Then, during the battle to escape again it had been Shane leading the charge against his own people and Shane who'd fired the shot that had killed Oscar.

Rick was done. For so long he'd despised the man he believed had been the sole reason his family were dead but now he felt nothing. There was no lingering hatred, no resentment towards the man who'd lied to him for so long before Carl had been born and running off with his wife. Now he was no one, he was just a man who ran out on his people, abandoned his baby and was a risk to the group. Baby or not Rick's new focus was putting him and the Governor down.

"It's suicide…"

Rick shook off Daryl as the other man grabbed his arm. Undeterred though Daryl reached for him again, his grip that much tighter as he forced Rick around. "Let go of me." Rick growled. Daryl shook his head, getting right up in front of Rick and stopping him as Rick tried to walk away again.

"Ain't gonna happen man." Daryl said, pushing Rick back.

"You saw him! He was just stood there…almost got you n' your brother killed! He shot Oscar!" Rick roared, violently pushing Daryl's hands away.

"Ricks right…we can't just leave them alive…" Glenn chimed in, an arm wrapped tightly around his ribs from the beating he'd received from one of the Governor's men. He was furious he hadn't been able to go back into Woodbury after escaping the first time and any other time he might have understood it was because he was hurt. What he didn't understand was why Maggie had been taken back in, after everything she'd been through in that room alone with the Governor.

Glenn was feeling a rage he'd never felt before and he wanted the Governor dead. He'd laid hands on Maggie, the woman Glenn loved and although she insisted that he hadn't forced himself on her, Glenn knew she'd been violated. She was hurt, feeling exposed and he was feeling guilty at his inability to protect her.

"Ya'll try and go back in there, may as well offer yourselves up to the Governor yourself." Merle said, looking at them all like they were insane. Smiling he shook his head, "Your Samaria took the guys right eye, killed his already dead daughter…you killed some of his men and your buddy Shane's all kinds of happy to whisper in his ear about how easy it'll be to wipe ya'll out…so by all means go back in!"

"He's right!" Maggie said, stepping forward and drawing focus onto her, "We need to get home, regroup and get ready." There was no doubt in her mind that the Governor was coming, that Shane would be the one leading the charge against the prison. He'd seen the state she'd been in, the way the Governor had made her undress and he did nothing. After so long of surviving together, none of it meant anything to him, not now that Lori was dead.

Glenn shook his head, disagreeing with that decision, his body practically shaking with rage at the possibility of walking away and leaving that man alive. "Rick…we can do this, come on."

Rick stared back at Glenn, at the man who'd saved his life in the beginning, who'd risked his own life time and time again for their people and wanted to follow through on his idea. He wanted to go back and end this for good, but when he looked at everyone else, took in what they said he knew he couldn't. Merle was right, there was no way they'd be able to get away with going in for a third time. They'd started something last night, they'd started a war and now that one of their own had joined the opposing team, they were more vulnerable than ever.

"Not now. Maggie's right, they all are. We need to get back to the prison, get ready." He said after a few moments. Despite everything inside of him screaming against it, he knew he had to get back to his family and get everyone up to speed. Glenn shook his head, combing his fingers through his hair, his battered face full of a rage Rick had never witness from him before.

"Are you serious! Do you know what he did!" he yelled, stepping up closer to Rick only to have Daryl place himself between the two.

"Glenn, I know…" Rick started but Glenn shook his head, shoving away from Daryl.

"Look at what he's done Rick! What he did to Sara! Do you even know what he did Maggie! Do you know what he did!" he yelled.

"Leave it alone!" Maggie screamed at him, pacing her way back towards the car and ignoring the eyes on her as she did, "Let's go. We can talk about this when we get home."

A heavy silence fell over the group at the implication of Glenn's words and Maggie's reaction. Glenn's rage was rightfully founded and now even Daryl had the urge to ignore all warnings and head back to Woodbury just so he could shoot an arrow right through that bastard's other eye.

"You guys can talk. I'm done with talking." Glenn said, taking a step back and heading towards the other car, his arm wrapped tightly around his abdomen.

Rick stared after his young friend, words failing him. He knew how he felt, but the others had been right. They couldn't justify going back in, not when they had people back home waiting for them to come back. People who they'd left vulnerable to an attack. With one quick glance at Daryl he nodded his head and the rest of the group were heading towards their respective cars, the heavy weight of what they had now started weighing down heavily on all of them.

-0-

Lori was gone. The pain Shane felt at the mere thought of not seeing his wife again was almost too much for him to handle. He knew if he gave himself over to it, if he allowed himself to feel her loss, then there would be no coming back. He knew he wouldn't survive it if he allowed himself to feel it all. So instead he turned that pain into anger, let it fuel his hatred. When he'd left that prison his only focus had been to bury his wife, he hadn't forgotten their child he just needed to lay his wife to rest.

Lori had been all he'd ever wanted but when she'd married Rick, he'd tried to do the honourable thing and step back, to distance himself but he couldn't. His desire for her had been too strong and then he'd learned she loved him back, he'd been lost. He threw away his friendship with Rick, a man he had once called his brother and ran away with Lori soon after Carl had been born. He'd had no regrets and hadn't given any thoughts to those she'd left behind. All Shane had cared about was that she wanted him and that they were together. The world could burn for all he cared if he had her.

Now she was gone and he was left with nothing. Only their baby who was in the care of the woman who'd stolen Carl from Lori. A woman who Carl now called Mom, who'd broken Lori's heart when she'd laid claim onto Lori's son. Now she had her hands on his child, trying to take from him all he had left of Lori. He was going to get her back and now he had an army behind him.

The Governor had declared war, his own hatred fuelled by Shane's words of encouragement. He'd told the Governor all about Sara being there, about Merle's involvement in her escape and that it had been the prison group who'd attacked Woodbury and that they'd taken Michonne along with them. The woman who had taken away his daughter and his eye. The Governor was murderous and now they were heading out at first light to attack the prison. To lay waste to those bastards who had left Lori to die and to get his daughter back.

War had begun.

-0-

Life. Life just stole all the muse out of me. My family has been suffering one major hit after another lately and I'll admit the stress and devastation of recent losses kicked off my anxiety and depression. I've not long got myself well enough to get back to work and I've only started writing again over the last few weeks. I'm so sorry for the long gap in-between updates guys I truly am.

You also may notice in upcoming chapters and this one that I'm not spending a lot of time on certain events that occur near the end of season 3. My reasoning for this is that no matter what angle I seem to take I can't really fit Sara in and I can't really find much room to mess with things. A lot does happen but I'm not going to be spending a lot of time exploring the end of season 3, if things go the way they are right now I predict maybe 4-5 chapters before we reach season 3's end. Then we're on to all the exciting stuff I have planned for season 4 onwards!

Now onto review replies.

Angelicedg – I suppose Shane was extremely predictable in what he ended up doing. As for the baby we shall see what happens!

NicoleR85 – Hope you enjoyed this chapter to. I have a few more coming up that I'm really excited about before we end season 3.

RHatch89 – Thanks! Hopefully you feel the same about this chapter as well.

VoidImpala – I really do hope you're ready for more! I have a few exciting chapters coming up after this one that I can't wait to show you guys!

Guest – Here's the 'more' that you wanted!

Margaery – I like doing the flashbacks, which is why I've been working on a small collection that won't fit into the story but I still want you guys to see. So I'll be posting them separately at some point. I love Sara but I don't think we've gotten to see what she's capable of, which is why I can't wait for the next few chapters and season four. Hope you liked this chapter.