(Rose)
"What's up with you and Shane anyways?" I pull my eyes away from the window at Daryl's sudden question.
"Nothing."
"Nothing? You jump every time he so as much looks at you. That ain't nothing."
"Why does it matter?" I whisper.
"Why? Because whatever is going on is getting your boy worried. He thinks something is wrong."
"Nothing is-"
"Don't bullshit me, Rose. I know something is bothering you. Something recent. Shane scares you even worse than before."
"It's nothing." My voice shakes and even I know I'm lying. I close my eyes, but all I can see is Shane raping me again and again. I didn't even realize I was crying until I felt the salty tears hit my lips.
"What did he do?" Daryl asks, his voice taking on a more gentle tone. I squeeze my eyes shut and try to stop the image from replaying. "Rose." I nearly scream as I feel Daryl's hand on thigh. I open my eyes and look at Daryl. I'm not with Shane. I'm with Daryl. I'm safe. "What did he do?" I swallow the lump in my throat. Should I tell him? Shane told me never to mention it. it could cause more problems in the group if I spoke up. Daryl probably would want Shane dead. Even though Daryl tries to act tough I know he has strong views of men hurting women. "Rose." I sniffed and looking at his hand on my thigh. His rough calloused hand is creating warmth and comfort to spread over my leg. I'm safe.
"It'll only make things worst." I find myself saying.
"Whatever it is I think the group would want-"
"Not for the group. The group would become worst, but I mean it'll be even worst for Nix."
"For Nix?" I nod, still keeping my eye on Daryl's comforting hand. Should I tell him Nix is Shane's. That Shane raped me twice, once before all this and once recently. "Rose." I sigh and wipe the tears from my eyes.
"Daryl, please just drop it." I whisper.
"I'm not going to drop it until you tell me what's wrong. What did he do to upset you so much."
"Daryl-"
"Just answer me, Rose." I run a hand through my hair and look at him.
"Why do you care so much?"
"What-I... Look... Nix is worried and-"
"You're not just asking because Tommy told you to or because Nix is worried. You're asking because you're worried. Why are you worried about me? Why do you care enough to be worried?"
"Rose-"
"If you answer me then I'll answer you." He looks at me before shaking his head and glaring at the road ahead of us. "When you do get around to answering me then I'll answer you." I say as I go back to staring out at the passing scenery. I feel Daryl take his hand off me, causing me to close my eyes and force back a sigh.
(Tommy)
I step out of the rv as we check out what is wrong only to see the motor smoking. "I told you we'd never get far on that hose." Said the old man, Dale, he told me his name was Dale. "I said I needed the one from the cube van."
"Can you jury rig it?" I ask as I lean against the rv.
"That's all it's been so far." Dale tells me. "It's more duct tape than hose." I open my mouth to say something, but Dale cuts in. "And I'm out of duct tape." I close my mouth and fall silent.
"I see something up ahead." Shane tells them. "A gas station if we're lucky."
"Y'all, it's Jim... it's bad. I don't think he can take anymore." Jacqui says.
"Hey, Rick, you want to hold down the fort? I'll drive ahead, see what I can bring back."
"Yeah, I'll come along too." T-Dog says. "And I'll back you up."
"Y'all keep your eyes open now. We'll be right back."
I hop up onto my dad's hood as I begin to sharpen my arrows. "Hey, Tommy." Amy says as she tries to hop up beside me, but struggles to get up. I snickered before grabbing her hand and helping her up. "Thanks."
"Sure, weakling." Amy shoots a glare at me and pushes me.
"Shut up, Dixon." I laugh as I slip my arrow into my quiver and my knife into it's holder.
"Whatever, blonde."
"Amy." She snaps.
"What?"
"My name is Amy."
"Oh, right, forgot." I grin before jumping down as Rick walks back out.
"Arrogrant ass." I hear Amy mumble as she jumps down. As we head over to the rv Rick begins to tell everyone what Jim wants, which is to be left here.
"It's what he says he wants." Rick tells us.
"And he's lucid?" Carol asks.
"He seems to be. I would say yes."
"Back in the camp when I said Daryl might be right, you shut me down. You misunderstood." Dale says. "I would never go along with callously killing a man. I was just gonna suggest that we ask Jim what he wants. And I think we have an answer."
"We just leave him here? We take off?" Shane asks.
"If it's what he wants." Tommy shrugs.
"Well, Dixon, I'm not sure I could live with that like you could." I open my mouth to say something back, but Rose meets my eyes and gives me a warning look, causing me to fall silent.
"It's not your call." Lori jumps in. "Either one of you." With that Shane and Rick both help Jim out of the rv and prop him against a tree.
"Hey, another damn tree." Jim laughs.
"Hey, Jim- I mean, you know it doesn't need to be this." Shane says.
"No. It's good. The breeze feels nice."
"Okay. Alright." Shane steps back.
Jacqui gives Jim a smile. "Just close your eyes, sweetie. Don't fight." She kisses his cheek before walking away.
"Jim, do you want this?" Rick holds out a gun.
"No. You'll need it. I'm okay. I'm okay." I turn and start back down the hill with Rose.
"I hate this." I nod at Rose.
"Me too, but this is what he wants. He was dead the minute he got bit, Rose. I know that's harsh, but it's the truth. It's better this way."
"Come on." Rose sighs as she gets into the truck. I nod at her before climbing into the rv.
We take off driving again, this time Daryl and I don't talk, not until we get to the CDC. "Come on." Daryl says to me as he hops out of the truck. I follow after him and we catch up with Tommy and Nix.
"Keep your gun loaded in case you need it for backup. Use your bow, for the most part, it keeps it quiet." Tommy tells Nix as he loads an arrow into his bow in case he needs to fire. Around us are dead soldiers, many of them, but we keep walking through them.
"Alright, everybody. Keep moving. Go on." Shane whispers to us. I move closer to Daryl subconsciously, causing him to glance at me. I look away and focus on Nix, who walks with a confidence that he didn't have before meeting the Dixons. He is confident in his skills to help defend the group. "Just stay quiet. Let's go."
"Alright, keep moving. Come on." Shane says as we get closer.
"Shh." Rick hisses.
I walk with Daryl in the back with Tommy and Nix in front of us. "Keep it together. Come on." Shane says as we reach the doors.
"We're almost there baby." Lori tells Carl. "We're almost there." Rick and Shane try to get the door opens as the sun begins setting.
"There's nobody here." T-Dog says.
"Then why are these shutters down?" Rick asks.
"For all we know the scientists are dead inside." I hear Tommy says.
"Walkers!" I jump as Daryl suddenly shots this.
"Baby, come on." Lori says as she holds him closer. Nix, Tommy, and Daryl fire their arrows into the skulls of the walkers.
"He led us to a graveyard!" Daryl shouts.
"He made a call!" Shane argues as Nix grabs Daryl's bolt and Tommy's and his arrows.
"It was the wrong damn call!" Nix hands the black arrow to Tommy and slips his red and black arrow in his quiver, holding the bolt in his hands.
"Shup up. Just shup up. You hear me? Shut up. Shut up!" Shane yells at Daryl.
"Shane, back off!" I snap, causing him to look at me as if he was ready to kill me. I swallow my fear and push him back. "Just back off." Shane looks like he wants to hit me, but he glances at the group before storming off to Rick.
"Rick, this is a dead end."
"Where are we gonna go?" Carol asks.
"Do you hear me? No blame."
"She's right. We can't be here, this close to the city after dark." Lori tells Rick.
"Fort Benning, Rick-still an option."
"Fort Benning is in the opposite direction!" Tommy shouts.
"Yeah and on what?" Amy asks. "No food, no fuel. That's 100 miles."
"125. I checked the map." Glenn corrects.
"Forget Fort Benning. We need answers tonight, now." Lori says as Carl and Sophia cry. Nix eyes them over and shakes his head.
"Well, think of something." Rick says.
"Guys, stop crying. It's not going to solve anything." Nix tells the kids.
"Come on, let's go." Shane tells the group. "Let's get out of here."
"Let's go. Please." Lori begs Rick as Tommy scops Nix into his arms and put him on his shoulders. I follow after them.
"The camera! It moved!: Rick shouts.
"You imagined it." Dale says.
"It moved. It moved."
"Rick, it is dead, man." Shane yells. "It's an automated device. It's gears, okay? They're just winding down. Now come on." Rick ignores Shane. "Man, just listen to me. Look around this place. It's dead, okay? It's dead. You need to let it go, Rick." Rick pulls away. I subconsciously seek out Daryl's hand, taking it in mine. I expect Daryl to pull away, but he holds my hand tighter.
"Rick, there's nobody here!" Lori screams as he hits the shutters.
"I know you're in there. I know you can hear me." Rick says.
"Everybody get back to the cars now!" Shane screams.
"Please, we're desperate. Please help us. We have women, children, no food, hardly any gas left."
"Rick!" Lori yells as I feel Daryl dragging me away, but it's like a train crash, I can't look away. "There's nobody here."
"We have nowhere else to go."
"Rose, come on." Daryl says, causing me to look at him. "We have to go."
"If you don't let us in, you're killing us! Please!"
"Come on, buddy, let's go." The group begins to leave as Rick shouts trying to reason with whoever is inside. Just as Rick is giving in to leave the doors open.
"Daryl." I whisper. He squeezes my hand.