Hey all! I'm surprised I had time to crank out another chapter so soon but I've had a break with work so I was able to focus! :) hope you enjoy, next chapter might be extra long idk.

Chapter 20

Later in the day everyone was gathered around in the Green's living room having a discussion about Randall. Dale had gone around all day to try and save the boy from his fate, it was sad but he knew where they were, even blindfolded. Brooke bit her lip and sighed, she wanted to spare him, it didn't feel right to kill someone who was as young as Randall. He couldn't be more than eighteen years old , just a kid still. Brooke shifted as everyone spoke about him as if they just didn't care, that he was just some threat that needed to be eliminated. Voices where being raised and Brooke had had enough "Fuckin g Stop it!, look at you people?! You talk about this kid as if your talking about which fucking cookies your going to eat, hes a kid, this is wrong and you all know it, I'm done" she said seething and took off outside, sitting on the porch wiping tears from her eyes she turned as the door opened again this time Dale coming outside. "Thank you for trying, maybe the group isn't completely broken but, it has a lot of work" he paused and then gave her a sad smile "walk with me, I don't want any part in this". Brooke merely nodded and gave him a fake smile back before hurriedly standing and walking with him, ignoring the pain in her leg.

They walked around the farm till it was dark and when they saw Rick, Shane and Daryl leading Randall to the barn they walked even further out onto the property, still not wanting to be around what was about to happen. They had reached the cow pasture fairly quickly and Brooke could see where Daryl's camp was from here but knowing he wasn't there she didn't go over to it. "Everything will be ok ... I have to believe that" she said as the continued to walk close to the sparse cows in the field. "i know, its just bad right now, won't be this way forever" Dale agreed and was about to open his mouth to say something else when he frowned staring at something on the ground that darkness was making it hard for her to see, that was until the cloud that was covering the moon drifted away and gave some light she gaped in horror as she saw past Dale to the mutilated cow. "We need to get back to the others befor-" a snarl from behind her startled her just as the walkers hands clumsily grabbed her knocking her to the ground. Her head hitting with a thump, bouncing off the hard ground. But just as soon as the walker followed her down it was gone off of her, the dizzily sat up seeing the walker on Dale. "Dale" she called out with slurred words. She went to sit up to help him but her world spun, and this time when she fell back knocking her head another good one her world went black.

Reba frowned as she checked the back of Brooke's head "no bleeding it must have just jarred her enough to knock her out, she is otherwise fine". Everyone let out a murmur of relief and then looked to Dales dead body. "We should move her, don't think she needs to wake up and the first thing she see's is Dale like this"Rick said softly , worried about his niece. Daryl silently walked over to where Brooke lay and scooped her up "i'll take her to ya'll's R.V" he said to Reba with a quick nod. As he left everyone else started to disperse, Lori , Andrea and Amy following close behind, luckily Carol had stayed behind with the children to keep them from seeing what had happened, even though Carl had evaded her and seen anyhow at least Sophia was spared the scene. Reba had followed Daryl as well, opening the R.V's door for him to walk in, surprisingly Rick also followed after them and when Reba turned a questioning look his way he shrugged "we need to ask her what exactly happened out there, we also need to see if she has and scratches from the walker, she wouldn't lie to us about it." He explained and sat down on the little couch. Daryl was sitting on the bed trying to lightly rouse Brooke from her state of consciousnesses. It worked after only a few minutes as she began to stir on the bed, holding her head with a groan..

Brooke shot up as soon as her head stopped swimming "Dale!" She shouted, but with a quick inspection she realized she wasn't in the field any longer, but in her R.V she glanced at the three faces in the room and bit her lip. "Where is Dale? What happened?" Rick hung his head and Daryl and Reba avoided eye contact with her, and that was all she needed to know what had happened to him "No... No no no no no"she said as a sob rose in her throat and she covered her face with her hands "we wanted to ask if you remembered what happened." Rick said gently coming to sit on the other side of the bed and taking her hand. She looked up at him with watery eyes and told him how Dale had shoved the walker off of her and saved her life. "That thing would have taken a chunk out of me if it wasn't for Dale" she said with a sniffle, leaning into Daryl then, letting him run a hand through her hair, calming her aching heart just enough for it to be bearable. "We will give you some space, you two just take a moment." Rick said and put his hand on the small of Reba's back as he stood, leading her out to the main part of the R.V, shutting the bedroom door to give them privacy. Sitting on the couch together Rick pulled Reba into a much needed hug "she will be ok, we all will. I wont let anything happen to my family" he promised. That should have comforted Reba but it didn't, she just shook her head . "Don't make promises you can't keep Rick" she said softly clutching him a little tighter. "I Will promise, I may not be able to save everyone but my family, I Will keep you all safe, I'll prove it to you" he said before getting up and giving her a sad smile and exiting the R.V.

Another knock came just a few minutes later and when Reba opened it Beth, Maggie, Amy and Carol where standing there looking concerned. "Is she ok, Andrea and I were worried about her" Amy said biting her lip and looking around. "Us girls brought Brooke something to eat thinking she might not want to join us all for dinner" Carol said softly making Reba smile and shake her head. "oh no she will be joining us Brooke can't resist family dinners" They all chuckled and nodded their head, taking there leave. Reba sighed and went to the door "dinner is soon I expect you both to be there ok?" she didn't wait for an answer she merely left the R.V. And headed for the house.