Chapter fourteen: Nightmare or Vision? Boy or Girl?
"We should take over the prison." Rick suggested.
"It's full of them! We can't go in there!" Lori said, eyeing the prison.
"Rick's right though," Chris agreed, "We need to have a secure place to survive the coming winter. Soon, Andrea and Lori will be too big to move."
"Are you calling me fat!?" Andrea snapped, whacking Chris's head.
"No, I don't mean that," Chris said, glaring at Dean, Sam, Glenn and Maggie whom were snickering. "What I mean is, that soon you two won't be able to take much more of this moving around. Plus the fact that you can't stress out. I mean, the babies should be coming in about two weeks. I don't know about you, but I wouldn't want to give birth surrounded by walkers."
"Let's do it then." Daryl said.
"Me and Dean will go get the others." Sam said, dragging Dean away.
"What's wrong?" Dean asked once they were out of ear reach from the others.
"What do you think about Shane?"
"Shane?" Dean questioned with an arched eyebrow. "He's a dick. It's as simple as that. Why do you ask?"
"I don't trust him." Sam spat.
Dean stopped walking. "Sam."
"What?" Sam inquired as he turned around.
"I know you don't like him, I don't like him either but you don't have to worry about Chris's safety. I don't think he'd be that stupid to try anything."
"You don't know that for sure!" Sam snapped.
"You will NOT do anything stupid, do you hear me Sam?" Dean snapped back, "Yes, he's our little brother but he can defend himself easily. I'm not worried about him because I know he has more chances to survive since he's a hunter, it's our unborn nephew or niece that I'm worried about!"
"What do you mean?" Sam asked with a frown.
"Babies and walkers do not mix well." Dean responded while starting to walk again. Sam quickly followed.
"Like you said, Chris is strong so I doubt that he wouldn't protect his child."
"But what if something happens to our nephew or niece when he's on a hunt or something?" Dean asked through gritted teeth.
"Then you and me will protect him or her." Sam smoothly replied. "Along with Andrea, she can be quite dangerous."
Dean nodded in agreement, "Yep, she has put our Chrissie in a tight leash."
"Ed," Shane's voice boomed through the forest, away from the rest.
"What?" Ed sneered, while lighting his cigarette.
"You hate Chris just as much as I do, right?" Shane inquired.
"Yes." Ed replied.
"Then why not get rid of him?" Shane proposed.
Ed turned around, facing Shane with a sneer. "I always knew you were a psychopath."
"So you're in?"
"Hell no." Ed replied, "Listen, I won't stop you. I don't care about that piece of shit, but I will not compete in it. I prefer to live."
"You've become weak." Shane spat in anger.
Ed started glaring furiously at Shane, "Like I said, I don't care as long as I live! Now get lost!"
"Coward!" Shane snapped, walking away.
Ed watched as Shane disappeared further into the woods, shaking his head, muttering, "I might be a coward but at least I will still live." He never noticed the black smoke closing in from behind.
"If we can shut that gate, prevent more from filling the yard, we can pick off these walkers. We'll take the field by tonight." Rick said, wanting to take over the prison.
"So how do we shut the gate?" Maggie inquired with a frown.
"I'll do it." Beth said, "I've been useless to this group for too long already. It's time I do something useful."
"No Beth! You won't, daddy would agree with me if he was present here!" Maggie snapped, hoping her father would arrive soon to stop Beth from doing something ridiculously dangerous.
"No," Chris said, "I appreciate the fact that you want to help the group but it's too dangerous. Hershel would kill me, even if you survive it."
"But-"
"NO!"
Beth glared at Chris, not happy about being overprotected from a guy about her age. Chris sighed," Look, I'll talk to Hershel to see if you can come on the next trip to the shopping mall, happy?"
"Very." Beth said with a smile.
"Women…" Chris said while shaking his head. Andrea whacked his head, not happy about his comment. Chris glared at her.
"We'll put all the bodies together tomorrow." Chris told the group as he sat down, feeling tired after hours of walker killing.
"If we can dig a canal under the fence, we'll have plenty of fresh water." Rick said.
"The soil is good," Hershel said happily, "We could plant some seed. Grow some tomatoes, cucumbers, soybeans."
"And this'll be a good place to have the baby." Chris agreed.
"Bethy, sing Paddy Reilly for me. I haven't heard that, I think, since your mother was alive." Hershel requested.
"Daddy, not that one, please." Beth pleaded.
"How about 'Parting Glass'?"
"No one wants to hear."
"Why not?"
"Okay." Beth conceded.
"Beautiful." Hershel said after Beth sung the song he loved.
"We should get some rest." Chris said to the group, "But I'd like to talk to you first, Hershel."
Hershel nodded as he got on his feet, following Chris. When they were alone, Chris turned to face Hershel.
"Why do you wish to speak with me?" Hershel inquired.
"Listen, about Beth-"
"NO! she's not going out on scavenging trips." Hershel interjected harshly.
"Will you at least listen to me?" Chris asked sarcastically.
"No, she's not-"
"HERSHEL!" Chris snapped. Hershel stopped yelling. "Look, I understand that you want to keep your daughter safe but what if she gets separated from the group when something unexpected happens? Huh?"
Hershel remained quiet.
"She needs experience. If I die, if you or Maggie dies, or if the whole group dies and she's the only one alive. Wouldn't you want her to be able to survive on her own?" Chris continued.
"She can go, on one condition." Hershel said, knowing Chris was right. "She can only go if you join the group she's in. I trust you to keep her safe, if she's hurt, I'll kill you."
"Sure."
"Good." Hershel said with a nod before walking away.
…The next day…
"Okay guys!" Chris called, "And women?" he quickly added when most of the women glared at him. When they stopped glaring, Chris continued, "We need to go on another trip outside to scavenge stuff we need. I talked to Hershel last night, and he allowed Beth to join." Beth smiled in victory. "What!?" Maggie snapped angrily. she hadn't complained when Chris mentioned he was going to ask Hershel because she was certain her father wouldn't allow her sister to go.
"Maggie dear, she'll be fine. Chris is joining her on the scavenge." Hershel said in a soft, yet stern voice. Maggie grumbled in anger but stayed silent.
"I decided that not all of the stronger people go with us, even though this place is secured, stuff can happen." Chris continued as some nodded in agreement.
"Jimmy, Ed and-"
"Me!" Maggie interjected with a glare.
"That was my plan actually, of course, if it is alright with your father that is."
"Fine," Hershel said with a sigh, "But why Ed?" he asked afterwards in distaste.
"Because it's time he starts helping," Chris said, "he's been lazing around for far too long already."
…One hour later…
"Chris,"
"Yeah?"
"I want you to be careful, especially around Ed." Sam warned, looking away. "And I also got a nightmare or vision, I don't know, I'm so confused! I don't want her to-" SLAP!
"You were starting to rant big brother. What was it about? It obviously upset you." Chris asked in concern.
"I'll show you." Sam said as he touched Chris's forehead, channeling his nightmare or vision to Chris. An ability that he got from Castiel.
'There was a silver glistening object in his hands which was pressed hard against Andrea's skin, a small red trail leaking from the little wound where the knife was pressed. "Unless you want this bitches blood all over the floor, I'd drop the guns if I were you." The blurred person sneered.-'
Chris broke contact with Sam, ending it. "That is NOT going to happen Sam, you heard me?" Chris said paling at the image of Andrea's lifeless body surrounded by blood. He got into one of the cars where Beth, Maggie, Jimmy and Ed were in and drove away, trying to cut away the image. Back at the prison Hershel and Patricia were with Andrea, delivering the baby as her water broke merely minutes after Chris left with the rest of the scavenging group.
R&R!
Danger is coming towards the group! Who will live and who will die?