"Let's try and make this work." - Rick Grimes

THROUGH THE SCOPE
CHAPTER TEN
ANOTHER HOME

Michonne and Daryl unintentionally stayed the night with Teddy's camp. By the time Daryl had come out from seeing Merle the sun was going down and there was no way they wanted to drive in the dark. Teddy gave them a place to stay. A large empty room with several beds. It was used by a group that was currently out scouting areas almost three hundred miles away so they wouldn't have any use for it yet.

Michonne told Daryl about her tour around the camp. She believed that this place could be the start of a new life. Somewhere for Carl and Judith to thrive. She hoped Rick agreed to come back with them.

When Daryl and Michonne returned to find the rest of the group, Teddy went with them, driving another car, so that if Rick decided he did want to join her group, there was a way of transporting everyone there.

The spent the entire day driving, only stopping to stretch their legs. Eventually, they arrived at the office blocks where they last saw Rick and the rest of the group.

The car park was eerily quiet, and they couldn't tell if the group was still there or not.

Slowly, the three made their way into the building keeping their eye out for any walkers or the living.

Michonne let out a relieved breath when she saw Carl on watch with Maggie, stood by two large doors.

"Michonne," Carl called out, a smile stretched across his face.

Carl and Michonne had greeted each other before Carl and Maggie allowed Teddy, Daryl and Michonne inside.

As Teddy stepped into the large room where the group was, she could feel all their eye staring back at her. Rick was still hesitant about having her around, his face stone cold and his hand on his hip where his gun was.

"Well?" Rick asked, looking at Michonne and Daryl for answers.

Michonne smiled. "It is a great place. You wouldn't believe what they've accomplished in such a small space. They have a great routine, great plans, and amazing people."

Rick looked to Daryl, hoping he would voice his opinion.

"Michonnes right. I didn't see as much as she did, but they had everything you could need. Food, weapons, trusting men and women. Everyone's got a place, it's what we need Rick, we can't be jumping from building to building when we have Judith," Daryl explained.

"I never doubted you for a minute, Teddy," Abraham said as he stood up and patted her back. "She's a good woman, Rick. You need to trust her."

Rick looked around, seeing that everyone was nodding in agreement.

Rick looked at Teddy and nodded. "Alright, let's try and make this work."

Teddy nodded. "Of course. I'll do my part, but you have to do yours," she began. "It's obvious that you're the leader here, but when you get there, you won't be. You control your group, but don't try and control mine. They have their orders, they do their jobs, they won't listen to you."

Rick pressed his lips into a thin line, his hands on his hips as he listened to her speak. She could tell he was too use to being in charge and knew for a fact he wouldn't like being out of control when it came to her group.

"I will let you in on our way of living, explain our routines, who does what and so on. You will each have jobs if you choose to come with me, whether you like that or not. I need to know what each of you is good at, what you would be best doing."

Rick nodded again. "I understand."

Teddy nodded. "Good, because one wrong move Rick and I won't hesitate to kill any of you. Those people back there," she said referring to the group at the lake. "They're my family; I protect them. I know you see me as a piece of shit because of my past, but you don't know the full facts and you never will, I was portrayed as a monster by the media, but I'm far from it."

"Carl and Judith," Rick began, but it was like Teddy could read his mind. He didn't have to ask for her to answer his question.

"We don't have all that many children living there, an illness took the weak, but there are people who were fully qualified to take care of children before the outbreak, but Carl-"

Carl stepped forwards to cut Teddy off. "I want to fight; I want to be a valued member of your group. Don't push me into school work or babysitting because you think I'm just a kid."

Teddy smiled at him. "I wasn't going to. I want to watch how you fight, observe how you handle situations, you don't have to do anything you don't want to. Your father will have the final decision, but if you think you can handle fighting, supply runs, going on watch, then that's your choice, but maybe think about having some time where you don't have to worry about the dangers."

Carl nodded slowly. Taking in what she had said. He was surprised she wasn't pushing him into being a kid, he didn't want to sit on the sidelines and watch everyone he loved fight for their lives, he wanted to be in the mix, battling what came at them and helping his family. "Alright," Carl replied quietly.

Teddy looked back at Rick. "How safe is this area?" She asked.

"It's been quiet, a few walkers here and there, but no sign of the living," Rick replied.

Teddy nodded. "Alright, well I suggest staying here tonight as it's already late and driving back as the sun rises. It will be an all day ride, so be prepared for that."

"I'm sure we can handle it," Rick replied.

"Good," Teddy replied. "I brought some supplies with me; they're in the car. There are food and water. I'm not sure how old your daughter is, but there are some jarred baby food and formula."

"Thank you," Rick said for the first time. He was still extremely hesitant of Teddy and her intentions, but the rest of the group had warmed to her quickly, maybe it was time he did too.

"I'll go fetch them," Teddy said.

"I'll follow," Daryl mumbled as he followed Teddy to the door.

Teddy and Daryl walked in silence back out of the building and toward the car she had bought with her. She opened the boot revealing the box of supplies. "I can carry it myself; you didn't have to follow," Teddy said as she pulled the box out of the boot of the car.

"Yeah, but you can't carry a box and fend off walkers. Just be grateful, yeah?" Daryl grunted.

Teddy smirked. "Should have known when I first met you that you were Merle's brother."

"Whatever," Daryl mumbled as they headed back towards the building. A lone walker strolled by them, growling and stretching its arms out towards them.

Daryl shot an arrow through its skull, watching as it dropped back to the ground. Daryl retrieved his arrow as Teddy watched. "You're good with that," she observed.

Daryl shrugged. "I guess," he mumbled.

Teddy spoke up again, trying to keep the conversation going. "You hunt, right? Merle mentioned it."

"Yeah, I suppose that's my part of the group," Daryl replied.

He opened the door to the building, allowing Teddy inside first before following afterward.

"Do you trust me yet?" She asked.

Daryl scoffed but didn't answer.

He didn't know what to think of Teddy; she was odd. Usually, he felt he was good at differentiating between a good guy and a bad guy, but with Teddy it was confusing. She was so different and a mixture of both bad and good, but that didn't mean she couldn't be trusted.

He just needed some time to understand her better.

Again, I'm sorry this took so long to post. Hopefully, there won't be such a wait between chapters anymore.

This isn't the best, nor the most action packed chapter, but we're getting there.

What do you think?

Predictions?