Chapter Twelve: Leaving the Farm

WARNING: I sadly don't own QAF or WD:(

AUTHOR'S NOTE: PLEASE READ! OK, so I know a lot of you probably hate me for how long it's taken me to update my stories. But I've been super busy! I am sorry that it's taken me so long but with me now in school and working so just assume that my updates will be far between from now. I'll try my best to update quickly though!:) and I've updated this one first because, besides Please Don't Leave Me Alone, it's my most popular story lol:)

"Talk"

'Thoughts'

Dreams

Chapter Twelve: Leaving the Farm

TWO WEEKS LATER

(Just to let ya'll know it's two weeks from Dale's funeral cuz I don't know how long it was after that when the herd showed up so I'm guessing about two weeks later lol)

Daryl's POV:

"Hey Sunshine how you feeling?" I asked as I walked up to Justin who was sitting on the stairs. It's been two weeks since Dale's death and the group's been closer then ever. No one goes anywhere alone anymore and everyone's eyes are always doubling checking on Carl and Gus.

"I'm about the same. My strengths back but not fully and I get tired easy." Justin said bringing me out of my thoughts. I smiled down at him and took a sit beside him and watched the soccer game that was going on in front of us.

"That's to be expected since you got bit so close to the mark." I told him and he chuckled a little. "Brian still being overly protective of you?" I asked him playfully and he groaned which made me laugh.

"You have no idea. I can't walk away from him without asking where I'm going or following me. I'm surprised he's playing the soccer game right now." he said and I turned my smile to Brian who kicked the ball to Glenn who scored the team a point with Em yelling at him 'great job baby!' "I know Rick's been overly protective of you and Carl lately too." he said smirking and I couldn't hold back my own groan.

"I'm in the same boat as you. The only time me and/or Carl aren't in his eyesight is when I'm around you, Brian, Glenn or Em." I told him and he laughed only to hiss and clutch lightly at his side. "Shouldn't go in and rest?" I asked him and he shook his head and looked at me.

"They're about to decide what we're finally going to do with Randal and I don't want to miss it." he said and I looked at him in shock.

"I actually completely forgot about him! When do they plan on discussing it?" I asked and he shrugged.

"Don't know. I just know that it's soon and I told Brian I was sitting right here until it starts. This way he can see me, know I'm safe, and I can be in the meeting whenever it starts." he said and smiled at me and I smiled back.

"I still think you should at least lay down on the swing and give your wound and body some rest." I said and he sighed and nodded and started to stand up. I quickly stood and helped him up gently and started to lead him up to the swing when a voice stopped us.

"Where you going Sunshine?" Brian asked and I held in my laugh as Justin rolled his eyes in amusement before he turned a little and smiled at Bri.

"Dar's just taking me to the swing so I can lay down." he said and Brian nodded before turning back to the game and scoring a point for his team. I laid Justin down on the swing and smirked at him when he sighed in relief.

"Told you you needed to rest." I said and he glared at me. I smirked again and sat on the ground in front of him and watched the soccer game continue with us no longer talking, just enjoying each others company.

"We're best friends now right Dar?" Justin asked after awhile of silence. I turned to him with a look of both shock and confusion.

"Course we are Jus. Why do you ask?" I asked and he sighed and looked back at the game with a thoughtful look.

"Just thinking that I'll need someone to keep Brian in line if something were to happen to me." he said and I turned to give him a confused look.

"The fuck you talking about?!" I asked getting a little mad. he sighed and looked at me again.

"Dar you know James wants me. I'm a weapon to him and he'll eventually find me. You guys can't keep me hidden forever. This mark and wound proves that he's willing to do anything to get me and I don't want you guys getting hurt or worse for me. If and when he finds us I'll need someone to make sure Brian doesn't do anything stupid." he said and I just stared at him in shock.

"What in the hell brought this up?!" I asked and he looked back at the game, mainly Brian.

"I've thought about it since I woke up and found you guys in the room with me. I just never brought it up but I needed someone to talk to about it now." he said and I sighed and turned to face him completely.

"Listen carefully Sunshine. James will not get you. As long as we stay here and that Randal kid doesn't run off and tell about this place all of us will be safe here." I told him sternly and he sighed and looked at me.

"I know Dar. I'm just thinking and you can't deny that James finding this place is a big possibility. I need you to promise me that you'll take care of everyone, especially Bri, if he does." he said and looked at me with begging eyes.

"Jus-" I began but he interrupted me.

"Please Daryl. You and Rick are the only ones I know could take care of everyone and keep an eye on Bri." he said and I sighed and just looked at him.

"Alright, I promise. But know that nothing like that will happen." I said sternly and he gave me a sunshine smile and nodded.

"What you two talking about over here?" Brian asked walking up and sitting by Justin's legs and placing a hand on his hip.

"Just talking about our overly protective boyfriends and how we can't go anywhere anymore, right Dar." Justin said and looking at me still smiling but I could see him begging with his eyes.

"Ya I was teasing Sunshine that I have more freedom than him." I said and smirked at him playing along. He stuck his tongue out at me and Brian laughed at us.

"Not our fault that we love you guys so much." Rick said walking up to us. I stood up and wrapped my arms around his neck and sighed when his arms wrapped around my waist.

"They got a point that Dar. I rather like being loved that much." Justin said and smiled at Brian who smiled right back and rubbed his hip lovingly.

I looked at them and smiled. 'Nothing's going to happen to you Sunshine. I'll make sure of it.' I thought and was about to reply to him when we heard Shane's annoying voice.

"RICK!" he yelled and all of us huffed in annoyance and turned to him only to have our guards up when we saw his face all bloodied.

"The hell happened to you?" Brian asked and Shane glared at him.

"That damn kid got the jump on me and stole me gun!" he yelled and everyone's eyes widened and I turned to Brian and Justin to see fear in Justin's eyes.

"Take us to where you last saw him Shane. Bri you go warn the others and get them inside just in case he's close." Rick said and followed Shane once Bri nodded to him.

"Come on Sunshine I'm getting you inside the house." Brian said and made to lift Justin up only to have him stop him.

"No Bri I wanna help find him!" Justin said and Brian looked at him.

"I know you do Sunshine but you don't have the strength to look for him." Brian said and Justin looked at me. I nodded my agreement with Bri and Justin sighed and nodded and let Brian pick him up this time. When Brian came back out he nodded at me and the both of us went to tell the others.

Brian's POV:

"Let's go find Rick and Shane and look for this kid." Daryl said once everyone was safely in the house. I nodded and the two of us ran to the edge of the woods where Rick and Shane were.

"Wait I wanna help!" Glenn yelled and ran up to us. We nodded at him and we turned and headed to Rick.

"Good you guys made it. Is everyone in the house?" Rick asked and the three of us nodded. "Good. I'll go with Shane to where he last saw Randal. The three of you will look in the opposite direction we go and see if he ran that way." Rick said and the others nodded and I gave Shane a suspicious look.

"You sure you'll be OK Rick?" I asked and Shane growled at me but Rick held his hand up to him.

"I'll be OK Bri. You guys start looking and we'll all meet at the house OK." he said and we nodded and split up.

About an hour later Daryl stopped us. "Guys take a look at this." he said and we walked over to the tree he was looking at.

"Must've been the tree Randal used to knock Shane out." Glenn said and Daryl and I looked at each other.

"Didn't Shane take Rick down the path that he had found Randal?" Daryl asked getting worried.

"Don't worry Dar I'm sure he's fine. Maybe the path will bring him this way. I'll go look for them though OK." I said and he nodded his gratitude and he and Glenn turned and walked away and I turned in the general direction I'd find Rick and Shane.

Justin's POV:

"What's taking them so long!" Em asked loudly to know one and I looked at him.

"I'm sure they're OK Em. They'll probably be walking in any second now." I said and as if by magic the front door opened and Glenn and Daryl walked in.

"Oh thank God!" Em said and pulled Glenn to him tightly.

"Where's Bri and the others?" I asked now getting worried which only grew when the two of them gave me a confused look.

"You mean Rick and Brian aren't back yet?" Daryl asked getting worried himself.

"You guys were the first to arrive. Where could they be?"Debbie asked and looked out the window.

"Daryl and I will go back and look for them." Glenn said and he and Daryl walked out the door when Deb sat on the couch with me and placed a hand on my arm.

"Jesus Sunshine you're freezing!" she yelled and everyone looked at me and finally noticed that I was shaking rather badly.

"Please tell me you're just really cold Jus." Linds said and I looked at him then looked out the window.

"We might want to leave. Like now."

MEANWHILE

Rick's POV:

"You made me do this! You made me!" I screamed as Shane and I fell to the ground. I pulled the knife out and cried as Shane took his last breath. I cried over his body for a few minutes when I heard someone call to me.

"Dad?" I heard and turned around to see Carl looking at me with big, confused eyes. I slowly got up and walked to him and stopped when he held his gun up to me.

"Carl, it's not what you think." I said and took a step to him but he kept his gun up. I took another step and he pulled the trigger and I looked behind me to see Shane fall to the ground.

'The fuck?!' I thought before I turned and ran to Carl and pulled him to me. "What are you doing out here?" I asked him when I pulled back.

"I followed Glenn and Dar when they came back out to look for you and Bri when neither of you came back. It's a good thing I did to. What happened to him dad?" he asked and looked at me.

I sighed and looked back at the man I once saw as a brother and back at my son. But before I could say anything we heard something walking towards us. I stood and placed myself in front of Carl and a hand on my gun just in case.

"Finally found you! Why's Shane dead and Carl why aren't you back at the house?" Brian said and I sighed in relief as Carl ran to him and threw his arms around Brian who picked him up and held him close.

"I'll explain everything later once we're back with the others." I said and he nodded and put Carl back on the ground and we began to walk back to the house. We got about half way when Carl looked at me.

"Dad, Shane didn't have a bite or scratch on him. How was he a walker?" he asked and Brian looked at me with the same expression on. I sighed and was about to answer when I saw a walker coming towards us. I looked around and saw that we were surrounded.

"Oh shit run now!" I said quietly and the three of us took off for the farm.

Emmett's POV:

"Where the fuck did they come from!" I yelled as Daryl got on his motorcycle and the others got into cars and began to circle and shoot the walkers.

"I don't know hon but keep driving and don't slow down!" Glenn yelled and shot a walker between the eyes. I looked out the window at all the walkers and couldn't stop the worry for Rick, Brian and Carl.

'Please be OK you three.' I begged as I turned the car and Glenn continued to shoot.

Debbie's POV:

Girls get to the RV now and make sure you get Gus locked as safe as possible! Mel you start it up and we'll get everyone else OK." I said and they nodded and ran to the RV. (For the record I KNOW they don't keep the RV in the show but there's more people in my version of the story so they have to keep it at least for now so no crap about it!)

I turned to Beth and the other girl who looked like they were about to faint from fear. "You two run to the RV too. You'd be more help there making sure Gus stays safe." I said and they nodded.

"What about Carl?" Beth asked and I turned to look for him only to see that he wasn't with us.

"Fuck don't tell me he followed Glenn and Daryl out and got around them!" I yelled and turned to Hershel who was shooting the walkers that got close.

"Hershel come on!" I yelled and turned to Justin who's eyes were wide and unfocused and he was shaking, but not out of fear or cold. "Come on Sunshine we need to get away from here. It's not safe anymore." I said and he just shook his head.

"What about Brian, Rick and Carl? They're still out there and I can feel that there's too many for us to get out of here safely. I'm not leaving until I know they're safe." he said and looked at me with a stern look but I could tell that all these walkers around were affecting him badly.

"I know you don't want to leave Sunshine but they wouldn't want you to be at risk just to be here when they get here. They'll know they need to leave the farm and will most likely go to the car graveyard on the road. We'll get out and meet them there OK?" I all but begged and he just stared at me. "Plus you're still healing and you don't have the strength to fight right now." I told him hoping that'd get him in the RV.

Justin sighed and nodded and I let out a small sigh of relief and lead him into the RV and laid him on the couch. Once everyone that wasn't shooting walkers on I turned to Beth who was trying to get Hershel to follow them only to turn and watch the other girl get bit on the neck. "Beth honey let her go or you'll die with her!" I yelled and started to pry her off the girl while she screamed for her. Once I had her in the RV I turned to Hershel.

"Hershel come on! We're leaving the farm's gone!" I yelled at him but he just kept shooting walker after walker.

"Deb if we don't leave now the RV will get over run!" Mel yelled and I turned to look at the RV then back at Hershel before jumping into the RV and closing the door.

"Drive." I told Mel with a lot of reluctance in my voice.

Brian's POV:

'Please let the others get out of the farm and to safety!' I begged as Carl and I watched Rick climb the ladder in the barn while walkers chased him.

"Now Carl!" he yelled and Carl threw the match and lit the barn on fire. Rick climbed the ladder and we watched the walkers burn for a few seconds before we started to climb down the barn and ran threw the herd of walkers.

"Where do we go now?" Carl asked and Rick looked at him then at me and I nodded at him and we ran towards the house and to, hopefully, the others. When we got there though everyone and the RV was gone except for Hershel who was loading his gun completely unaware of the walker behind him.

Without thinking I pulled my gun out and shot the walker just as it got close to Hershel. He turned and looked at us as we ran up to him. "Where are the others?" Carl asked and Hershel turned to look at the walkers.

"Took the RV and left." he said and I walked closer to him.

"Was Justin with them?" I asked fearing he'd say no.

"I don't know. I don't know who all made it out." was all he said and that made me more scared than if he'd said no. I looked at Rick and saw him go pale with worry himself.

"Come on Hershel we have to go." Rick said and placed his hand on Hershel's shoulder. Hershel looked at him then back at his farm before nodding sadly and turned to his truck and the five of us piled into it and Hershel floored it out of his farm for the last time.

FEW HOURS LATER

Rick's POV:

We pulled up to the car graveyard and saw that we were the only ones there. "We can't stay here long Rick. It's not safe and who knows when more walkers will show up." Hershel said as we all got out of the truck.

"We'll stay here until the others arrive." I said sternly and with a little fear in my voice still. I looked over at Brian and saw him pacing and looking in the direction of the farm. I sighed and looked at Carl who was looking at me sternly.

"We can't leave dad. Dar, Jus and the others aren't here yet." he said and I nodded and looked at Hershel.

Hershel sighed and looked at me. "You take your son and Brian away from here and I'll stay here and watch out for the others and we'll catch up with you guys. It's not safe here and right now your only concern needs to be that boy of yours." Hershel said nodded towards Carl.

I looked at him then back towards the direction of the farm.

I sighed and looked at Brian who had stopped pacing long enough to listen to Hershel and looked at Carl. I sighed again and looked at Carl.

"It's not safe here anymore Carl. We need to get away from here." I said as gently as I could and he looked at me with a mix of sadness and anger.

"SHIT!" Brian yelled and punched a car near him. Before I could say something else though we heard a sound that made us all gain hope.

The sound of cars coming towards us.

We all looked and saw two cars, a RV, and a motorcycle that were very familiar to all of us. They stopped and the doors began to open and the people I've started to see as family started to come out on by one.

As soon as I saw Daryl I took off into a run and pulled him into my arms and held him tightly. "Thank God you're OK!" I whispered to him and he nodded his agreement into my shoulder and held me closer. He pulled away from me only to pull Carl into his arms and hold him close.

I smiled at the scene and looked over and saw Justin slowly getting out of the RV and Brian running to him like I did to Daryl and watched as Justin went from standing to begging held completely in Brian's arms.

I smiled at that scene too and turned back and pulled my boys close and watched everyone reunite with each other. "How did you find us?" I asked and Daryl smirked at Glenn.

"Saw tail lights zigzagging across the road and figured it was a Korean." he said and everyone laughed while Glenn said "thanks" to Daryl.

"Where do we go now?" Maggie asked as she held Hershel and Beth close.

"We go anywhere that's far from here. Get off the main road in order to avoid bastards like this one." Daryl said and everyone looked at the way he nodded and saw a walker coming to us. "I got him." Daryl said and shot him in the head.

"Where's Andrea?" I asked and saw her missing.

"She helped me and I ran without looking back." Carol said looking guilty and Linds pulled her into a hug.

"We saw her go down." T-dog said nodding his head towards Ben who nodded sadly. Everyone bowed there heads for the lost of a close friend before we all climbed into cars and started to drive away.

FEW HOURS LATER

Rick's POV:

"We've been riding red for an hour now."

"Let's make sure we're not forgotten." T-dog said and I honked the horn and everyone stopped.

"Out of gas?" Brian asked and pulled Justin to him who still looked out of it.

'Big herds of them must really take its toll on him.' I thought before looking back at Brian. "Ya no gas. We need to find a place soon before we all run out." I said and everyone nodded. "We need a place to sleep tonight." I said and everyone just looked at me.

"But what if another herd comes?" Linds asked and Carl wrapped his arms around himself.

"I'm cold." he said and I gave him my jacket and turned to the others.

"We need to. Everyone's tired and we need to rest." I said and Mickey looked at me.

"Where's Shane? And why was Randal a walker when he wasn't bitten?" he asked and I just stared at him.

"Ya dad Shane was a walker but didn't look to have gotten bit." Carl said and everyone looked at me in shock.

I just stood there for a moment before I sighed and looked at the ground. "We're all infected." I said and you could've heard a leaf hit the ground right then.

(Sorry I forgot the scene from season one where Rick learns this but I forgot about it until just recently lol:) since everyone's seen the episode let's just assume Rick was the last one to leave the center.)

"What the fuck did you just say?!" Deb yelled at me and I flinched at her tone of voice.

"Jenner told me as we were leaving the center." I said and Mickey took a step to me.

"And you didn't think to tell us!" he yelled and I suddenly got really angry.

"I didn't want to fucking tell you until I knew it was true!" I yelled and he raised his voice.

"That doesn't matter! You should've told us as our leader!" he yelled.

"I've done everything I could to keep everyone safe! If I keep something from you it's to protect you! Christ I killed my best friend for you people!" I yelled not entirely meaning to.

Everyone stared at me in shock until I felt a familiar hand on my shoulder. "You all saw the way he looked at me. It was a trap tonight. He lead me to a field and planned on killing me. I caught on to what he was doing before we got there but I let him lead me. He was getting out of control wanting to take my place as the leader. He wasn't safe anymore!" I yelled and no one said anything and I just leaned into Daryl's hand.

"Rick." Justin said and it was his turn to have everyone stare at him in shock. He hadn't said a word since we left the farm. "I get why you kept this information from us, but we had the right to know. Even if it was a theory of Jenner's. We had the right to know. As for the Shane thing, you did what you thought was best. Not that I like that you killed him, but you've protected us this far so you had a reason." he said and leaned more on Brian who just pulled him closer, if was even possible.

"Of course you're OK with it, you're the damn cure! You're the only one not infected!" Micky yelled at Justin which made Brian, me and Daryl all step closer to him and made Micky back up a step.

"How do you know I don't have it in me?" Justin asked and everyone went quiet at his words. "For all you know I could be infected to but the cure is keeping it at bay. For all we know I could die and become one as well. I didn't agree with Rick because of that. I agreed with him because he's not lead us wrong before why start now?" he asked and Brian nodded and looked at me.

"Sunshine's right. I believe Rick had his reasons for his actions even if he went about it wrong." was all he said and I smiled my thanks at him and turned to everyone else.

"If you don't like the way I lead then leave now. Let's see how far you get on your own. I've protected you people from the moment I became the "unofficial" official leader. Everyone is welcome to stay and follow me but know one thing." I said and looked them all in the eye.

"This isn't a democracy anymore." I said and everyone looked at each other but no one made to leave the group.

"Now, let's find us a new home."

PLEASE READ! OK so as I said I'm sorry for the delay but just know that more delays will happen again with how my schedule is. I'll try my best to update at least once a week but don't get your hopes up on that. Next, I know I changed the ending like a lot but I'm tired and just got home from work and just finished a paper for tomorrow so cut me some slack OK. Hope you guys liked the chapter and I need help finding season three cuz I don't remember how it begins like at all and it's not on NetFlix yet. Please help me, even if you write me about the beginning will help a lot!