Sorry for the delay! I had a few chapters written out and my laptop went psycho and deleted a bunch of files. *FACE PALM* So - I hope to get them all written out again and I hope you enjoy the rest of Rick and Sarah's story!

Maggie came out of the house to help Sarah comfort Patricia, whose body was wracked with heart wrenching sobs over the loss of her husband. Sarah held her close as she watched Shane's face, noticing that something seemed really off while he talked to Rick, Hershel, and Christy about his injuries. She heard Christy telling Shane she had to get him inside to assess his head injury and get his ankle wrapped up.

As they went to walk by, Rick shot Sarah a worried look. "Don't stay out here too long," Rick whispered to Sarah, running his hand over the top her head as he walked by to escort Shane into the house. She nodded and held Patricia tighter while Maggie continued to rub Patricia's back. "Daryl, can you organize a watch and keep an eye out for them?" he asked his friend, gesturing to the three women sitting on the ground. Daryl gave him a short nod in agreement.

Christy and Hershel followed behind them and Hershel stopped to squeeze Patricia's shoulder for a moment, the pain from losing his friend written on his face as silent tears fell.

"Who's got watch tonight?" Sarah heard Daryl ask quietly. T-Dog, Andrea, and John all raised their hands. "Okay...T, you and Andrea stay up here by the house and John and I will take the RV and perimeter."

"Daryl, are you sure? You were on the run today. You must be tired," Sarah spoke up quietly, still holding Patricia as she sobbed, though quieter than before.

He nodded. "I'm good...couldn't sleep if I tried anyway," he muttered.

She nodded. "Okay...if you're sure." He smiled at her and nodded once, turning his back to walk with John to the RV. T-Dog smiled at her and stood nearby, keeping an eye on them while Andrea went to her perch on the backside of the house.

Sarah started to think about what had transpired...how Shane appeared to be distraught about Otis but how the emotion didn't reflect in his eyes. She knew him well enough to be able to tell when something really upset him and when he was covering something up. But the thought of him intentionally allowing someone to die didn't sit well with her at all and she truly hoped that her intuition was wrong in this case.

Once Patricia's sobs settled to quiet hiccups, Maggie nodded at Sarah. "Let's get you back inside," Maggie whispered to Patricia as she and Sarah helped her to her feet. They stood on either side of her, each with an arm around her waist to support her weight as they walked her up the stairs.

They walked through the door and straight past the others in the living room and kitchen, guiding Patricia to her room at the end of the hall past the stairs. Beth was waiting, pulling the covers back on her bed. Sarah and Maggie sat her gently on the edge of her bed and proceeded to remove her shoes and socks as Patricia stared into space, tears still falling silently. They helped her lay down, covered her up, and Beth lay next to her, rubbing her hair back as tears fell from her own eyes.

Maggie gestured to Sarah and she followed the brunette from the room, closing the door behind her. Maggie leaned against the wall and slid down to her butt, resting her arms on her knees and her chin on her arms. Sarah sat cross-legged across from her and waited patiently for her to speak.

"Otis and Patricia are like second parents to me," Maggie started, staring at a spot over Sarah's shoulder. "My mom died when I was seven...she had cancer...Otis was a farmhand at the time and when she died, he and Patricia moved in to help Daddy...Daddy had a hard time with her death. He drank...a lot. Otis helped him through it all. Told Daddy that he had me to worry about and needed to clean up his act. Got him sober enough for us to start going back to church...that's where he met Annette. She was the pianist at the church and when she and Daddy started dating, boy did I resent her. I didn't want Daddy to marry anyone after Mom died. She had a son, Shawn, who was one year younger and he didn't like it much either. When I was 10, they decided to get married and I threw the biggest fit." She laughed at the memory and Sarah smiled. "I packed a bag and went to the barn and started to get our old horse Penny ready to go. I was going to run away...to where I had no idea. Otis found me and took me up to the loft. We sat down and just watched the farm in silence for about a half hour until I calmed down." She smiled as tears filled her eyes. "He finally spoke up and told me to stop being a brat." Sarah laughed quietly as Maggie grinned. "He told me that Annette was there to stay and that I would just have to learn to love her and Shawn. Daddy was happy and he knew my mom was looking down from Heaven and was happy for us...that she was thankful that I would have a stepmom that would love me and take care of me." Maggie put her head down. "He was right. Annette was an incredible woman. Plus she gave me Beth - I'd always wanted a sister. Otis was right...he was always right. He was a good man and I am going to miss him so much." Tears rolled down her face and Sarah moved to sit next to her, putting an arm around her and pulling to her side, hugging her tightly as Maggie cried.

"I'm sorry, Maggie," Sarah said quietly. "I'm so sorry..."

The next day, the group gathered outside at dawn to have a memorial service for Otis by the old oak tree next to the horse barn with the exception of Lori, Lisa, Carol, and the kids, who remained in the house, and Daryl who was on watch on top of the RV nearby. Maggie and Beth stood with Patricia, arms around her, as Hershel, Rick, and Glen piled rocks up around the base of the tree and a makeshift headstone with Otis' name and dates etched into the wooden cross fashioned by Carol overnight.

Sarah stood next to Jovan and Ashleigh, watching as Shane stood on the opposite side of the group, his face void of any emotion as he favored his sprained ankle and sported a newly shaved head.

"I see he's the same old Shane," Jovan whispered to them, keeping a watchful eye on Shane as well. Sarah nodded as Christy walked over to them. "You buying his story?" he asked.

"Not at all," Christy replied. "It really doesn't add up. His scalp injury doesn't make any sense. He said that his hair got caught on the fence, but it would have taken a lot less of the hair...it couldn't have pulled out that much or caused that much of an injury." Sarah glanced over at her friend to see she was also watching Shane, who was apparently oblivious to their stares. "No...I think something or someone grabbed him...a walker...Otis?" Sarah's heart skipped a beat, the bad feeling intensifying.

"Did you tell Rick?" Jovan asked. Sarah looked over at Rick as he placed the last rock on the pile and wiped sweat from his brow.

"Not yet...but I will."

Rick walked over and stood between Sarah and Christy, putting his arm around Sarah's waist and pulling her to his side as Hershel started speaking about Otis. Sarah took a deep breath and Rick looked down at her. She glanced at him and he gave her an inquisitive look. She shook her head, letting him know she would talk to him about it later.

"Shane..." Patricia spoke up. "Would you mind saying a few words? You were the last person to see my husband alive. What were his last moments like?" she asked, wringing her hands and looking at him. Sarah felt like she might throw up as Shane hobbled to stand next to Hershel.

"Otis...he was a hero. He...he knew the walkers were gaining on us. He told me to go ahead and he would hold them off. 'Help Carl, get those supplies to Christy and Sarah,' he yelled as he shot the walkers. I...I made it to the truck and by the time I turned to see Otis...he was already gone. He died a hero. He saved my life and helped us get the supplies we needed for Carl and anyone else that may need help." Patricia's tears flowed, as did Maggie's and Beth's. Sarah watched Shane's eyes dart around and land on hers. He stared for a second and looked away. Sarah knew why...he knew she could tell he was full of shit.

After the memorial, Rick gathered the group on the front porch while Dale and Jimmy took up their watch duty.

"Alright," Rick said as he spread the surface map Hershel provided him out on the table, "Jovan says their old camp was right here...near the middle school at the crossroads of Maple and Main Streets. Groups will be as follows: Daryl and me; Jovan and John, Christy and Ashleigh, and T-Dog, Glen and Andrea. I need Dale, Maggie, Jimmy, and Sarah to stay here and keep watch." He looked around. "We'll split up when we get to the school." Everyone nodded. "We leave in 10."

Everyone dispersed and Rick stepped up to Sarah. "Hey sweet girl. Sorry I didn't get to really talk to you last night. You and the kids were sound asleep by the time I got upstairs, so I just crashed on the pullout. Didn't want to wake you." He put his hands on the sides of her neck, pulling her to him gently as she put her hands on his waist. He tilted her head up to him and placed a soft kiss on her lips. "You doing okay?" he asked softly, resting his forehead against hers. She sighed and leaned into him.

"Yeah...yeah, I'm fine..."

He smiled at her, leaning back to look at her and smoothing her hair back. "Uh huh...you're lying, sweet girl."

She laughed a little. "You're right." She gave him a sad smile. "I've been better." He nodded, urging her to continue. Once she started, she couldn't stop. "I'm worried about Max and Jovan and Ashleigh. Christy says Hershel is a little weird about what's going on in the world. I'm so upset for Patricia and the Greenes - and I don't believe Shane is telling the truth about Otis. He's lying. I can tell." Rick sighed and stepped back a fraction and put his hands on her shoulders.

"You think so?" he asked, giving her an inquisitive look.

"Do you believe him?" she asked, looking up at him. He looked torn and Sarah felt a rush of frustration run through her. She took a step back out of his embrace. "Rick...do you believe him?"

He ran a hand through his hair and sighed. "Sarah...I want to believe him, to think that he would never intentionally cause someone's death or outright murder someone...but I know better and my gut instinct is screaming that he's not telling the truth." She sighed in relief and he shook his head, heaving a sigh of his own. She reached out and grabbed his arm.

"I know it's hard, Rick, but even Christy and Jovan don't believe him. He's acting strange for starters. But most of all, his injuries don't match up with his story...how did he lose that much hair and have a huge laceration on his scalp from getting caught on a fence? Christy is right - a fence would have torn a few strands, not an entire chunk of hair and scalp. Something else happened out there with Otis."

"You're right..." he whispered, his face showing his conflicting emotions. "His story doesn't really add up and I felt that last night when I was talking to him. Unfortunately, we have no way of getting the real story."

"That's the most frustrating part," she replied, " that there's no way to prove it. It's his word against a dead man's. We can't just act on our suspicions...so what do we do?"

Rick reached out and held her upper arms, rubbing his hands up and down them. "How about for now, I let Daryl, Dale, and Glen know about our suspicions. We can keep a close eye on him without him knowing. I trust them to help out and keep it under wraps. I also want to make sure Christy and Jovan know to keep their thoughts to themselves. But I seriously doubt he would try anything here, not with all of us around. Most importantly, I can guarantee you he won't be going on any more runs alone with anyone else."

"What about while you're gone on the search for Max?" she asked, staring intently into his eyes. He reached out and pulled her back to him, wrapping his arms around her shoulders as she wound hers around his waist and he dropped his forehead to rest on hers.

"I'll talk to Dale before we leave. I need you to be extra vigilant - keep your distance, but watch him too." Rick leaned down and brushed his nose against hers. "As far as the rest of your worries go: I'm hopeful we find Max today - we have a good group going out and I want nothing more than to reunite him with his parents. I also feel for Hershel's family and Patricia - Otis was a good man and it will take time for all of us to heal. And we'll talk more about Hershel when I get back this evening. I want to sit with you and Christy and see what's happening there." He kissed her lightly on the lips. "Deal?"

She grinned and poked him lightly on his chest. "I'll hold you to it, officer." He smiled and put his hands on the sides of her face, tilting her face up to meet his. She pulled him as close as she could, staring hard into his eyes. "Please be careful out there," she whispered against his lips. He kissed her gently.

"Yes ma'am."

A few hours later, Sarah and Lisa sat on the camp chairs by the barn and watched Maggie teach the kids how to do chores on the farm. They had already picked peaches and apples from the orchards, tended to the chickens, and were currently learning how to clean the horse stalls. Sarah was surprised to learn that her kids had asked Maggie how they could help around the farm, considering she usually had to bribe them to make their beds in the morning. She smiled as she watched Olivia brushing Toby while Noah mucked the stalls with Maggie.

"Maggie looks like she's doing better," Lisa said from her perch beside her.

"Yeah she does. She was pretty upset last night." Sarah's heart clenched as her thoughts returned to Otis and the events of last night, her conversation with Maggie running through her mind.

"We're all still pretty upset and probably will be for a while. I know we haven't known their family long, but they seemed to really love and respect Otis. He was always very kind and concerned about Carl. Beth said he was really beating himself up over it."

Sarah nodded, her stomach in knots. "He stopped in to check on Carl frequently. I know he really wanted to do all he could to help."

"Well in the end, he did help. You got all the stuff you need to continue his care and to help any others. That's what he wanted," her mom lamented. Sarah nodded, blinking back tears. Yes, she thought, Otis was a hero...but in all reality, he probably didn't have to pay with his life. She just knew Shane was to blame and it made her physically ill.

"He was a hero," she said out loud. She didn't tell her mom any more than that, not wanting to worry her with Shane's suspected involvement in his death. She didn't want to worry her.

"Sarah!" a voice called from behind them. Sarah turned to see Beth running to her. "It's Carl!" Sarah jumped off the fence, her heart racing.

"Oh my God. What's wrong?" Sarah asked as she ran toward her, dread rising into her chest.

"He's awake!" Beth smiled.

Sarah ran past Beth, her heart racing with excitement. When she arrived in the room, she saw Lori smiling from ear to ear from her spot on the bed next to Carl. Hershel was writing down his vitals, grinning as well.

Carl looked over at Sarah and smiled. Suddenly overwhelmed with emotion, she burst into tears.

"Sarah!" Carl said. "Don't cry!"

She laughed. "Oh, you sweet boy," she said, coming to stand behind Lori, "these are the happiest tears in the world!" He grinned, his brown eyes so similar to Lori's flashing. Lori got up and Sarah sat next to him, leaned over and hugged him. "How are you feeling? Any pain?"

"Just right here," he said, pointing to his dressing. "It's a little sore, like a 4 on the scale." Sarah laughed lightly. "Let's take a look and then we can get you some meds." Hershel handed Sarah the wound care dressings and stepped out of the room.

"Where's Dad? John?" he asked.

"They went on a run," Lori answered, giving Sarah a quick look. "They should be back soon."

"I'm going to push around your abdomen. I want you to tell me if you feel any increase in pain, okay?" Sarah asked him as she started. He nodded, concentrating on what she was doing.

"Nope. All good!" he announced.

"Awesome. The tissues are healing just fine and there's no sign of internal infection or lasting damage." She removed the bandage next and checked his wound, noting that his incision looked great. "Alright, lets get some ointment on this wound and get it redressed!"

She filled him in on the farm as she checked his stitches, redressed his wound, and gave him a dose of Ibuprofen.

"So there are horses, chickens, cows, a rooster, and goats?" he asked her, his eyes bright with excitement.

"Yes sir - and Noah and Olivia have been living it up! They are actually outside with Miss Maggie helping her with her chores."

Carl made a face. "Can I just see the animals and not do any chores?" he asked. Sarah and Lori laughed, the latter rolling her eyes.

"Well, you won't be doing much else," Sarah told him, ruffling his hair. "At least not for a while. In a few days, we'll take out the stitches and you'll still have to rest."

"Awesome. Thanks Sarah! You're the best!" Sarah laughed.

"That's just temporary, young man," Lori said, grinning at him.

"Oh man...buzz-kill!" he said, making them both laugh.

"You're a nut," Lori said, laughing. "I'm going to step outside for a minute to grab some fresh air," she said as she walked around to the other side of the bed and kissed Carl's forehead, smiling at him. "Be good and listen to Sarah." He gave her a mock salute.

Sarah helped Carl sit up in the bed, positioning the pillows behind him to make him comfortable.

"Maybe tonight we can get you up and walking. It'll be good for ya."

Carl nodded, leaning his head back. "I just can't believe I got shot. Just like Dad."

"Yeah. What are the chances?" she asked, sitting on the edge of the bed again, straightening the blankets around him.

"Sarah? Can I ask you something?" he asked.

"Sure kiddo, what's on your mind?"

"Are you and my Dad together?"