Redneck Takes a Wife Chapter 25, a walking dead fanfic

Redneck Takes a Wife 25 – Standing Firm

All recognized characters, situations, locations and dialog belong to AMC, the creators, writers, and actors of The Walking Dead. I only own this basic storyline. This one ends season 3, basically covering pieces of episodes "I ain't a Judas", through "Welcome to the Tombs". Kind of jumpy but to be honest I just want/need to get to the next season that I've already started writing.

Everyone together now – Joaquin – stay out to sea! If I blow away, it's been nice writing for you all.

*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*

Rick paced the floor with Judith wailing in his arms. She had emptied a bottle and refused it when he'd offered more. She was dry. He shifted her to his shoulder and tried to burp her again but she just cried louder. Beth was standing off to the side, her arms crossed as she resisted the urge to snatch the baby away. Frustrated beyond words, Rick stalked over to Beth and handed the baby over with a fierce scowl. Beth's chin quivered as she took Judith and cuddled her close. By the time Rick's angry strides reached the gate to the cellblock, Judith's cries had subsided to a soft whimper and a snort.

Rick's irritation took him all the way outside where he sucked in a deep breath. He gripped his hair in both hands and yanked. He bent over at the waist and forced himself to take slow deep breaths. Footsteps approached him cautiously and he straightened to see Carol. "She hates me."

"Oh Rick, no," Carol soothed. "She doesn't hate you, she just doesn't like anyone who isn't Beth right now. It's normal. And it's good really. Judith bonded with Beth. Those first few days of round the clock care. All babies naturally bond to…"

"Their mother," Rick finished when she fell silent. "She's bonded to Beth like she would have her mother." He blinked rapidly. "I'd forgotten. When we brought Carl home, Lori was recovering and basically stayed in our room with him. She would freak out if I even tried to take him out for a minute. But I forgot how he would scream if she wasn't right there. I even had to stand in the bathroom with him so she could shower."

"Sophia was the same way for the first six weeks or so," Carol replied. "But Ed didn't really try to…" she stopped that train of thought and shook her head with a smile. "It'll be OK. Beth's a natural."

"Guess I need to thank her. Probably apologize too."

Carol smiled, "It's not unusual for adoptive mothers to go through hormonal craziness at first too."

"I made her cry too?" he sighed. Carol nodded. Rick blew out a long breath. "Is that true about adoptive mothers?"

Carol shrugged, "I don't know. Sounded good. Could be she's just exhausted." She patted his arm, "She'll be OK. And Merle and Daryl didn't see, so you should survive it." She glanced out to where Merle stood watch in the tower. He was scanning the wood line with binoculars. Suddenly his back tensed. "Something's wrong."

"Get back inside," Rick commanded as Merle suddenly let out a shrill whistle.

Daryl ran around the building where he'd been reinforcing the interior fences. "What is it?"

"Dunno," Rick said as they raced to the tower as Merle emerged. "What's going on?"

"Fucked if I know," he replied and handed the binoculars over and pointed.

Rick focused on the sight of Andrea coming across the walker infested grounds with two armless walkers on leashes.

*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*

Beth cautiously emerged from the cell block with Judith asleep in her arms. Andrea was glancing nervously from one of them to the other, but she perked up at the sight of her. "Oh, Beth… is that…?" she smiled at Rick and took a step forward. Rick blocked her path.

"Take Asskicker on back," Daryl said with a gentle push to Beth's back. He held the gate for her to slip back out.

"Rick, it's me!" Andrea protested. "What is with you guys?" She looked from one face to the other. "Where's Lori? Dale? T-dog?"

Hershel sighed, "The baby is a girl. Lori didn't survive the delivery."

"Oh. Carl I'm so sorry," Andrea said. Carl turned away and walked into the block, letting the gate close behind him.

"We lost T the same day," Glenn reported.

"Dale died at the farm, a little while after you left," Merle continued. "Patricia, when we left the farm. And Shane…"

"Shane?" Andrea gasped. "He was with me, then I woke up and he was gone. I thought… I don't know what I thought.

"He came back to the farm, said you two got separated," Merle advised. "He came back for Lori and Carl, tried to lead a herd to the rest of us."

"I'm sorry. You've been through so much," Andrea said. "I came back to the farm after Shane… But it was all burned out. That's where I met Michonne."

Glenn nodded, "She told us."

"Yeah, what else has she been telling you?" Andrea snapped with a glare at Michonne.

"Nothing," Michonne retorted. "Didn't have to."

"We saw you there, with him," Glenn snapped. "That Governor."

"We had a good set up here until your boyfriend knocked down our fences and dumped a truck load of walkers on us," Rick said. "Killed the last surviving prisoner here with the first shot."

"He said you shot first," Andrea protested.

"Seriously?" Carol snorted, "You believed that? We're here with the kids, you think we'd just shoot?"

"You greeted me with guns," Andrea replied angrily.

"Because our last guests tried to kill us all," Merle growled. "For all we knew you were the bait for us to open the gates."

"I wouldn't do that! I came as soon as I knew you were here!"

Glenn shook his head, "We were there days ago. Do you have any idea what that guy did to me? To Maggie?! Your new boyfriend is a psychopath, but then your last one…"

"HEY!"

"Enough," Rick growled.

"With him right there by his side!" Andrea waved her hand at Morales. "You've been there for months. You never said a word."

"Because every day since we got there it was clear we owed him," Miranda snarled. "For the medical help for Louis. Then for every bit of food, for the roof over our heads. Woodbury is secure from the walkers, but it certainly isn't a good place. You saw how quickly the entire town was screaming for Jose's blood, for Merle and Daryl's."

"They thought we'd been attacked!"

"We..." Daryl snorted.

"I did what I had to, to keep my family safe," Jose said firmly. "And Glenn's right, the Governor is crazy."

"He had a walker child in his closet in chains," Michonne said.

"His daughter!" Andrea explained. "He has someone working on a cure, trying to find answers. He hoped she could be saved."

"She was dead, Andrea!"

"The best minds at the CDC couldn't find an answer, and you expect some regular guy to?" Glenn shook his head.

"And the heads? He looking to cure them too?" Michonne asked.

Everyone fell silent. After a few minutes, Rick cleared his throat, "Why are you here, Andrea?"

"I wanted to see you all."

*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*

After Andrea had been sent on her way, Rick stood quietly at the entrance to the cell where Beth and Daryl slept. Beth was rocking in place with Judith fussing softly as she fought sleep. "Hey," she whispered to him. "You want to take her?" There was a slight shake to her voice.

"No," Rick shook his head as he came in. He stroked Judith's hair. "I won't take her away from you. I'm sorry I was such an ass earlier. It's not you. You're amazing with her. I'm just… I'm lost. When Carl was born… Lori told me what to do and I did it, but now… I can't even soothe her."

Beth smiled, "Babies can tell when you're tense." She shifted Judith into Rick's arms but stayed close. "So take a deep breath." The baby settled against him and yawned. "Right now all that matters to her is she's fed, and dry, and warm. She feels safe and loved." Judith fell asleep as she spoke.

Rick gently laid the baby in the plastic bin sitting on a table against the cell wall. "You make her feel safe and loved. I can't thank you enough for what you're doing for her." He cupped Beth's face and kissed her forehead. Daryl walked into view. Rick smiled at him, "Just thanking your wife. Guess I should thank you too, again."

Daryl shrugged, "It's what we do."

Rick nodded, "It's what we do for family. I need to talk to you and Merle."

*x*x*x*x*x*x*x* CLEAR *x*x*x*x*x*x*x*

Merle watched as Carl and Michonne walked down the street in Rick's home town. "You're really OK with this?"

Rick sighed from where he was wrapping Morgan's gunshot wound. "No. But it's just around the corner to the baby store. He'll be fine."

Merle opened a bottle of water and drank deeply. "He's growin' up good."

"That's his mother's doing."

"Nah. It's you."

"Please do not tell me boys are their fathers," Rick replied. "If I'm him, just shoot me now. You certainly aren't yours. I've seen your back. Daryl's."

"Didn't say boys are their fathers. Said you are raisin' your boy good. You love your father? I didn't. Never once did I think he loved me. Your boy will never doubt that you love him." Rick was quiet as he processed. Merle watched his face, "Sorry 'bout your house."

"Yeah. I was so proud when I was able to buy it," Rick said. "We lived in a shitty little apartment when Carl was born. Barely able to pay rent." Rick snorted, "Lori's parents hated me anyway and they really hated that apartment. They wanted her to go to college and move as far away from this town as she could. Instead she got pregnant and married. She never wanted to leave here. So I went through the academy, got my first decent pay, and we bought the place. I actually thought they'd like it, just because she loved it so much. Instead the first time they walked through the door, it was to tell Lori they were moving to Florida."

"Only place I felt like home was the mountain," Merle admitted. "Kept the same apartment for years so Daryl could find me. Moved right after he came, so our father couldn't and take him back. Found a place with a lot of windows. Daryl doesn't like bein' confined. But home was always that cabin."

"I wonder if we should've just gone there when we left the farm," Rick said. "If we should go now."

"It's too late now, Rick. You know that. This guy would come for us no matter where. So we get these weapons, and when he comes we end him and anyone that stands with him," Merle replied. "The prison will be our sanctuary again. We'll plant. Build and secure and clear. We'll make it good."

"Yeah,' Rick smirked, "Still shocks me that I could be friends with a guy like you."

Merle snorted, "Tell me about it. Me friends with a cop. Never thought I'd see the day." He swallowed more water. "Only cops I ever dealt with were either arrestin' me, or I was bribin' 'um to not." He took a deep breath. "This town got a pharmacy nearby?"

"Morgan probably emptied it."

"Maybe. But there's shit he wouldn't need. Girls' stuff. Baby stuff."

Rick nodded, "OK." He went to Morgan's map and pointed it out. "And the… the baby store is here. Just… if you want to check on him."

"You got it."

Merle evaded the traps on his way down the stairs and went outside. He found Carl and Michonne walking back towards the baby store. "You get lost?"

"Had to do something else first. Something for Judith," Carl reported.

Merle nodded, "OK. You two grab ever'thin' you can from the store. Little Darlin' will be growin' outta those clothes quick."

Michonne nodded, "I know what we need."

Merle waved and started to walk away, "Cool cat!"

"Thanks!"

*x*x*x*x*x*x*x* ARROW IN THE DOORPOST *x*x*x*x*x*x*x*

Merle paced angrily. He'd been adamant that Rick shouldn't go to this meeting with the Governor. Even firmer that Daryl shouldn't go with him. But they voted in favor of going and left him behind. He really shouldn't have started letting Daryl have a vote.

"You know this is wrong," Morales said as Merle strode by.

"Yep."

"We should just go," Morales hissed. "I've seen you shoot, take a rifle and put an end to this."

"Can't."

"Why not?"

Merle sighed heavily, "Because I suggested this and Rick said no. Rick is in charge."

"Rick," Jose scoffed, "Rick is hanging on to sanity by a thread."

Merle rounded on him, "Rick is in charge. If you don't like it, the door is that way." He snorted, "Right. You're too much of a coward to walk. You'd rather stand by and watch the Governor kidnap, rape, and murder, then try to make your way without his protection."

Morales lunged at him. Merle was ready and they grappled for a moment. The noise brought the others into the block. Glenn tried to separate them and got shoved back.

"Knock it off!" Beth yelled then scowled as the baby screeched from her cell. "Damn it, it took me an hour to get her settled." She turned and stomped away. "If you're gonna kill each other, do it quietly."

Merle shoved Jose back and wiped the sweat from his face. Carol handed him a dishtowel. "She needs to sleep."

"I know," Merle nodded. "I got it. Find somewhere else for the taco vender to be."

Merle went to the cell where Beth was swaying with the baby in her arms. "We need to get you a rockin' chair."

Beth looked at him, tears in her eyes, "What if he kills them? What if this is a trap? Why are we trustin' Andrea?"

Merle pulled her to rest against his chest, "Daryl's gonna be fine. So's your dad and Rick. This bastard has something planned, but this ain't it." He rubbed her back. "You need to lay down for a bit. Give me the baby and lay down."

"I'm OK," she sniffled and pulled back.

"Wasn't askin'," Merle gently took Judith from her. "Hey, hey darlin',' he crooned as she fussed as he took her away from Beth. "It's OK, all good," he brought the baby to his chest. "Lay. Down."

Beth obeyed, stretching out on the bunk and burying her face in the pillow. Merle sighed and carefully laid down next to her. Judith fussed until he settled her on his chest and Beth rubbed her back. By the time Carol peeked in, Beth and Judith were sound asleep and Merle was staring at the bottom of the bunk. She smirked at him, he rolled his eyes, "Didn't think this all the way through," he whispered very softly.

"Want a book?" she teased quietly.

"Nah. Could use an aspirin though, son of a bitch hits pretty hard."

Beth murmured against his chest and Merle rubbed his chin on her head until she stilled. Carol returned a moment later with a pill and a bottle of water with a straw. She dropped the pill into his mouth then held the bottle as he drank. She left with a stroke of his hair and after a while he drifted into a light doze.

It was a few hours later when she returned, "Merle? They're back."

Merle awoke with a sharp indrawn breath. He glanced down and Beth stirred. "Daryl's back."

"Hmm," Beth sat up. "Thanks. I needed that."

Merle smiled at her then slowly sat up, "You're welcome. You can pay me back by washin' my shirt," he looked down at the large wet spot from the baby diaper leak.

Beth took Judith and quickly changed her into a dry diaper and fresh clothes. Merle dropped his shirt in her laundry pile and went to his own cell for a fresh one. Beth walked out with the baby against her shoulder as Daryl, Rick, and Hershel walked in. Daryl came straight to her and wrapped her in his arms. She could tell from his face that things were bad.

Rick looked at them and took a deep breath, "We're goin' to war."

*x*x*x*x*x*x*x* THIS SORROWFUL LIFE *x*x*x*x*x*x*x*

"So that's his offer," Rick said to Daryl and Merle, "He gets Michonne, and he'll leave us alone." They'd gone outside to the interior courtyard to talk.

"You know he's lyin'," Merle replied. "He'll take her, torture her until he gets bored, kill her, then attack."

Rick nodded, "Yeah. He wants us gone. No. Not gone. He wants us dead. He wants revenge on Michonne for killing his daughter. Or what he sees as killing his daughter. Take out the rest of us for daring to attack his town. Or just because we dare to exist outside of his control." They were silent for a long moment. "Do you two think he'll wait the two days?"

"Smart thing to do would be take out whoever brings her to the meetin'. Gotta think he's expectin' someone'll at least show up," Daryl said. "Take out the leadership. You, whoever you bring with. Then hit the prison."

"I need to talk to Morales," Rick said. "Get a line on who this Governor's closest followers are." He looked to the two men again. "I don't like the idea of taking the fight there. Too many innocents in the town."

Merle nodded, "Plus we don't know the setup as good. Better to have it on our turf. Get them inside, wanderin' in the maze of hallways in the dark. Easy to get lost. Easy get trapped inside. Easy to panic even a skilled fighter." He took a deep breath. "We gotta get the kids out. Beth. Miranda. Hershel too in case it comes time to run."

"Beth's gotten real good with a gun," Rick reminded.

Daryl glared, "No. She goes."

Merle gripped his brother's shoulder for a minute, "Need her to keep the little one quiet and content. I assume you don't want her mannin' a post with your daughter on her hip."

"No," Rick admitted. "OK so, Beth, Judith, Sophia, Miranda, Louis and Eliza. Hershel. Carl."

"You should tell Carl it's guardin' not hidin'," Daryl suggested.

"Yeah, he's not going to buy that but I'll try," Rick sighed. "Let me go get Morales, see what he can tell us."

*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*

Rick walked into the main area where everyone was gathered. Sophia was sitting with the baby, awake and alert in her arms as she and Carl talked to Eliza and Louis. Carol was at the stove with Miranda. Hershel sat with Beth, Maggie, and Glenn.

"Where's Jose?" Rick asked Miranda.

Miranda looked confused, "He went out a little while ago to find you. Weren't you in the courtyard?"

"Yeah, but I didn't see him," Rick replied. He looked around again and realized who else was missing, "Where's Michonne?"

*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*

Morales glanced over at the woman sitting angrily in the passenger seat of the vehicle. "I am sorry, I don't want to do this."

"Then don't," Michonne snarled. She was twisting her wrists but the zip ties held firm, keeping them secured to her waist.

"He wants you. He told Rick he'd let us be if he got you. I gotta keep my family safe."

"He won't," Michonne replied. "He won't let them be. You ran away from him, betrayed him. He's going to shoot you on sight. Then he's going to go to the prison and slaughter everyone else."

"You don't know that."

"I do. And so do you."

The rest of the drive was made in silence. Morales drove to the meeting place first and saw that the Governor's vehicles were still there.

"He's setting a trap here. Otherwise he'd be gone. I hope you said goodbye to your wife and kids, because you are going to die today," Michonne said.

"Shut up!" Morales shut off the car and honked the horn twice. The door opened and he saw Cesar peek outside. Jose emerged from the car and held up his hands. "Tell the Governor I brought the woman."

"I can see that," the Governor said from behind him. Morales whirled around. "Even with only one eye." Shumpert walked into view with a rifle trained on Michonne.

"Sir, I… I'm sorry about everything that happened. But I've brought her. You gave Rick your word that if he turned her over, you'd leave the prison alone."

"Rick told you that?"

"I overheard," Jose admitted. "But the deal was offered. So I brought her."

"Just you?"

"Yes."

"Pity."

The Governor pulled a gun from his waist and fired a single shot into Jose's abdomen. Jose collapsed. Michonne slammed out of the car, but Shumpert tossed her to the ground easily. Three more men emerged to surround her.

"You always were a coward Morales. Never realized you were a complete idiot too." The Governor walked closer and stooped down. "I am going to kill every single one of them. Miranda. Eliza. Louis. But before I do, I am going to tell each of them that this is all your fault."

"Please," Jose begged as he tried to keep the blood inside his body.

"Cesar!" The Governor rose to walk away, "Take this traitor over and secure him to one of the pipes. Then leave him. He doesn't deserve a quick death. And bring her."

Cesar gestured to one of the other men who walked around the back of the car to where Morales lay. As he reached the rear bumper, his head exploded in a burst of blood and bone. The echo of the gunshot reached them. The men all reacted, ducking for cover. The Governor dropped in front of the car and reached inside to release the hood for more protection. The side view mirror shattered. Then another man fell with an arrow in his chest.

"Fall back," the Governor ordered. He glared at where Michonne lay in the dirt, then turned and ran. His men followed.

Rick raced over to Michonne and dropped down to cover her, "You hurt?"

"No," she replied as he cut through the binds on her wrist.

Merle ran up to the opposite side of the car and stooped over Morales. Jose looked up at him, "Tell my family… I'm sorry."

"No way, Jose," Merle replied. "Tell them that shit yourself." He yanked open the car's back door. "Rick you got it?"

"Yeah," Rick replied. "Move him."

"This is gonna hurt," Merle said as he grabbed Morales under his arms and dragged him into the back seat.

Morales moaned in agony, "You've been waiting forever to use that joke."

"Since we met." Merle got him stretched out in back and climbed out. "Get in with him, keep pressure on the wound," he ordered Michonne. "Rick, go. We'll be right behind you."

The car tires spun a bit in the dirt as Rick sped away.

"We should go after him, end this," Daryl suggested.

"No, we ain't separatin' again. Let that bastard come to us, we'll end it like we planned," Merle said as they jogged back to their truck. The engine roared as Merle floored it to catch up to Rick.

"You were right."

"Usually am. 'Bout what, little brother?"

Daryl sighed, "He wants to torture Michonne. Otherwise he'd'a just killed her at the car. Tryin' to take her… means he wants to do it slow."

"He's a psychopath."

"Yeah. Jose said he was the devil. Maybe he's right."

"S'OK. Even the devil has his weaknesses. Even the devil has been defeated."

Daryl was quiet for a long moment, then suddenly he snickered, "No way Jose?"

Merle smirked, "You gotta time these things just right."

*x*x*x*x*x*x*x* WELCOME TO THE TOMBS *x*x*x*x*x*x*x*

The group sat together at the tables. Hershel entered the common area wiping his hands clean, "I think he'll survive," he announced. Miranda burst into tears and leapt up to hug him. "Go on. Carol and Maggie are still with him. It's OK, take the children to see him." Hershel sank into a chair and gratefully accepted a bottle of water from Sophia. "Thank you sweetheart. The bullet almost made it all the way through. If I had an X-ray I probably could've gone in through the back for it. But it seems to've missed everything vital and the bleeding has mostly stopped now."

"He'll still be out of commission for the fight," Daryl said.

Hershel nodded, "We'll have to let him stretch out in one of the SUVs to move him."

"OK," Rick said, "So let's plan this out."

*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*

Carl was scowling fiercely as he carried a bag out to the truck. "Hey," Daryl stopped him. "I know you hate this, but I need to know you're gonna focus. You've gotta keep Beth, Sophia, and Asskicker safe, OK?"

"Dad said the same thing, you're just trying to get rid of me."

"Carl, truth is this plan will prob'ly work and you won't see anybody. But if one gets through, you gotta be ready. Guard duty ain't playin'. 'Specially not when it comes to your sister. N' my wife. Keep your head straight. Worse case, and this goes to shit, Beth knows where to go to wait, OK?"

"Yeah," Carl nodded. "I'll keep them safe. I promise."

Hershel crutched over, "Miranda has things under control with Jose, so I'm going with you."

Carl scowled again as he watched Miranda drive away with Eliza and Louis. Jose had been carried out on a stretcher to the back of the SUV where Eliza sat with him. "So babysitter."

"Nope, chauffer," Hershel replied. "I'll drive, you take shotgun, OK?"

Rick carried Judith out following Merle and Carol with Sophia. Beth emerged last, carrying her backpack and a diaper bag. Daryl went to her.

"I love you," he whispered, kissing her firmly.

"I love you," she replied against his mouth. "I'll see you in a little while."

Sophia hugged her mom, then Merle, "You both be careful."

"You too, Angel," Merle replied.

Carol kissed her cheek, "I love you, baby. See you soon, OK?"

Sophia nodded, fighting tears. She climbed into the back seat. Daryl walked Beth to the other side and helped her climb in. Rick brought her Judith and Beth laid the baby into the plastic mail bin, now strapped firmly to the seat.

Daryl stood watching as Hershel drove away cautiously, aware of his precious cargo.

"S'OK little brother," Merle soothed. "Gonna be back in no time. Let's get this shit done."

*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*

Hershel parked in the woods, close enough to hear the prison, but far enough that they should be safe. Hershel, Carl, and Sophia emerged to their position to be able to listen. Beth stayed in the truck with Judith who had fallen asleep as the truck was moving.

When the boy emerged from the woods in front of them, and Carl shot him, the gunfire woke the baby who wailed in fear. Beth was quick to get a bottle into her mouth to quiet her. She watched stunned as her dad carefully pushed Carl's arm down so that the gun was pointed at the ground.

*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*

Merle stayed at the prison while the others followed the Governor's fleeing 'army'. He was on guard when the group returned, bringing along the survivors from Woodbury.

Carol and Sophia emerged and stood with their arms around each other. Carl and Beth walked out together, but when he saw the bus full of people he stomped away from her. Beth sighed and shifted Judith to her shoulder. Rick followed Carl to talk to him

Merle went to where Daryl sat on the bike. Beth was surprised that he didn't immediately come to her. Then she saw him shake his head, and Merle grip his arm. Merle turned and looked sadly at Carol. The brothers walked shoulder to shoulder through the increasing crowd of people. They drew Beth over to Carol and Sophia and broke the news about Andrea all at once. Beth began to cry softly. Daryl took Judith and held her against his shoulder as Beth wept on his chest. Merle held Carol and Sophia as they cried out their grief.

Both groups came together to bury Andrea in what had become their cemetery on the prison grounds.

*x*x*x*x*x*x*x* End Season 3 *x*x*x*x*x*x*x*

Pack your things, leave somehow
Blackbird's song is over now

Oh –

Mouths are dry, River runs
Hands are tied, preacher's son
Pack your things, leave somehow
Blackbird's song is over now

Oh –

Don't be scared I'm still here
No more time for crying tears

Oh –