AN: Hey people! How's it going? so we got one month to go for the return. Is it me or did that go by faster than I thought? Saying that, watch now it will go so slow!

New chapter. Hope you enjoy it!

Chapter 25: Heaven and Hell

"So what are you going to do?" Lori asked Rick when everyone gathered for breakfast, "We'd all feel better if we knew the plan?"

When she turned her head away from poring water in a cup to give to Carl, Rick didn't say anything, Andrea then spoke, "Is there a plan?"

"We gonna keep him here?" Glenn looked to Rick.

Shane and Rick exchanged a look, "We'll know soon enough."

"What's that suppose to mean?" Diana said from sitting in her chair. Rick nodded his head to behind the group. Everyone turned and saw Daryl walk up with his cross bow. His knuckles were bloody and bruised. He looked at Diana and she looked at him. "He beat that boy. That's what him and Rick were talking about," she realized.

"Boy there's got a gang, thirty men. They have heavy artillery and they ain't looking to make friends," everyone was listening to Daryl, "They roll through here, our boys are dead. And our women," he glanced at Diana before speaking, "They're gonna wish they were."

"What did you do?" Carol asked.

"Had a little chat."

"Some chat," Diana mumbled. Rick then got everyone's attention, "No one goes near this guys."

"Rick, what are you gonna do?" Lori's voice was soft.

"We have no choice. He's a threat," Diana's eyes got a little big, "We have to eliminate the threat," he continued. Dale was by Lori, "You're just gonna kill him?"

"It's settled, I'll do it today," Rick walked off with Dale behind him.

"Damn, remind me to never get on Rick's bad side," Diana told Carol as she helped her up.

"He's only looking out for us," Diana gently pushed herself away, "I think I can walk fine," Diana only had a small limp on her, "See, getting better already."

"Not if you keep walking around," Daryl hugged her from behind. Carol smiled at them, "Let me do this. I got it," Diana continued for a little bit longer until she stopped at a tree to lean on.

Daryl smirked at her, "Come on, little miss tough shit. I'll help you to the RV to visit Sophia."

Daryl picked her up bridal style over to the field, just close enough to the RV and set her down, "I'll walk from here."

"You sure?" she nodded, "I'll be fine. Go."

Daryl pecked her on the forehead and left walked back to his camp. Diana climbed up the RV and saw Andrea there looking for something.

"Walking around?" she asked.

"Looking around?" Andrea smirked at her. Diana sat at the table, "I wanted to visit Sophia, but I guess she's with Carl."

"I was looking for my gun so I can go practice my aim," they heard someone come into the RV. When Diana turned she saw Dale, "I need a favor," he looked down at Diana and was a little surprised to see her there.

"Did you move the gun bag?" Andrea asked.

"Yeah," Dale reached under Diana's seat and pulled out the big black bag, "What's up Dale," Diana asked. He looked at her then to Andrea, "I need you to guard Randall. Protect him."

"Why?" Andrea seemed like she didn't want to do it.

"Rick's giving me time to talk to the others, try and talk some sense into them," he turned to Diana, "And don't share this with anyone, as far as me asking Andrea this."

"Why not? I'll guard the little worm," she said.

"Not on that leg."

"Come on people! How is it going to get stronger if I don't work it out."

Dale then sighed, "Fine, you can help Andrea," the blonde's face turned annoyed, "Hold on, when did I agree to this?"

"Can you do this while I talk to the others. If Shane finds out-"

"You think he'd just shoot the guy himself?" Andrea cut in.

Diana looked up at Dale and she nodded. Dale took that as a confirmation that he is right, "You know killing the boy had to be his idea,"

When Andrea didn't say anything Dale thought the worst, "Are you with him on this?"

"He's a threat," she looked in the bag, "Tell me this isn't all the ammo."

Diana was a little surprised with Andrea. She is seriously shaking this off for wanting ammo? "You're a civil rights lawyer."

"Was."

"You fight with words, the power of ideas. Using a-a gun, that's his way."

Andrea stopped and gave him an irritated look, "You really want to debate about saving a guy who will lead his buddies right to our door?" she had a point there.

"That's what a civilized society does."

"Who says we're civilized anymore?" no one said anything for a moment, until Dale held up his finger like one of Diana's old teachers did while teaching a lesson, "No, the world we knew is gone, but keeping our humanity? That's a choice."

Diana had to agree with him on that. When it really comes down to it, everything is a choice. Andrea sat there absorbing what Dale had told her. He pushed her gun toward her. She sighed and picked it up, "I'll watch your prisoner, but not because I think you're right."

"I assume there's nothing I can do to make you not go?" Dale looked down at Diana. She just shook her head, "Nothing at all. You're right though. It is a choice, I mean I'd want the same thing if it was me in that shed," she got up, "Besides, anything to piss off that piece of shit Shane is worth it for me," Diana smirked and walked off to follow Andrea.

They sat out side on the barrels listening to the prisoner rattle his chains, "Hey? Can I get some water?" Diana looked at her gun and over to Andrea, "Can you stop being a little bitch?"

Andrea smirked at the comment, "Please?" Diana looked back to hearing him beg then to see Andrea pull out her gun.

"I'm very thirsty," he finally stopped rattling after a minute. It seemed everything was quiet for that moment right before he spoke, "They're gonna kill me, right?"

They turned their heads as they felt him staring through the small crack between the wall. Andrea and Diana didn't know how to answer that. Diana got up and walked over to the side of the shed.

"What are you doing?" Andrea asked.

"I gotta pee," she whispered. Trying not to be too loud for Randall to hear. He might look through the cracks. After she was done steps were then approaching and that brought Diana's attention over to Shane walking on the other side of the shed.

When he saw Andrea he chuckled, "Dale, huh? What, he put you on death watch?" Andrea approached him. They were a few feet from the shed.

"Let me ask you something- Say I wanted to go in there right now and I just wanted to take care of this, you gonna stop me?"

"I don't know about you Andrea, but I will," Diana made herself known. Shane just chuckled again, "This just gets better and better."

"How's it going, Shane," such a rhetorical question, of course Diana could care less on how his day is. She pulled her gun out and held it to the side.

"Didn't I have a talk with you?" his voice got irritated.

"Did I give a shit?" she countered. Andrea felt all the tension and couldn't have felt more awkward. Shane shook his head, "So what," he crouched down trying to get back to his conversation with Andrea, "You buy into Dale's sob story?" his voice lowered.

"I told him I was with you on this?" Diana rolled her eyes. It really made her agitated that Andrea agreed with Shane.

"Mmm. You're just still here for him, huh? You and Di. That's cute," Andrea didn't say anything and let him continue, "You see what's happening here, don't cha? These guys ain't gonna go through with this. I'm telling you, they gonna- they gonna pussy out and if they do we gonna have a big problem on our hands."

Diana stepped a little closer to them so she could hear more, "Let me ask you something- every time we have a problem around here, who do you think is behind it?"

"I say you," Diana said as Shane glared over at her. Andrea nodded, "Some may say that," he chuckled, "Nah. No one listens to me. I say it's the guys that make up the rules, the boys that always have all the answers, even though their answers always prove wrong."

"So what are you gonna do?" Andrea's hands were on her hips, "Rick's the leader of this group, it's Hershel's farm."

"Maybe we ought to change that," Diana's eyes got a little big and she stepped even closer as Andrea threw out a bizarre thought, "What, are you gonna lock 'em in a room and take their guns?"

Shane looked up at her like it wasn't a bad idea, "That sounds like it could get out of hand."

"No, no," Shane stood up, "It won't. Okay? I won't let it. Listen, I don't want anybody to get hurt, okay?"

Diana walked up to him, "That's a lie. Andrea don't listen to him. This guy it crazy," she pointed to him.

"Lot of people could say the same about you," he sneered. Diana scowled at him and then turned back to Andrea, "Crazier than me. Trust me on that."

"Look, Rick's my friend, Hershel - he's all right by me," Shane was name off those in charge.

"And Dale?" Andrea asked, "Dale got a big mouth," he shrugged him off, "but he's harmless.

Diana shook her head at him, "Look I just- I wanna know what it's like to sleep without keeping one eye open," Shane looked to Diana, trying to get her to see things his way, "Ain't that what we all want?"

"I think you're too paranoid. I sleep just fine," Diana told him.

Shane then let out a sigh, "Maybe I'm getting worked up over nothing," Andrea nodded, "Rick is going to work this out."

"Everyone always says that, but things turn south."

"At least he owns up to it," Diana spat at him. They locked eyes exchanging the burning glances.

"You gonna keep on with that?"

"Until one of us dies, yeah," Andrea needed a time out, "What is the deal with you two? Why is it each time you two are in a room, Di is about to kill you?" she looked at Shane, but he held up a hand, "Shh!"

They then heard noise coming from the shed, "Who is he talking to?" Diana asked. The three then ran over and Shane opened up the door. Inside Randall was standing and Carl was in front of him.

"What the hell are you doing in here?" Shane hissed at Carl, "What did you say to him? What did you say to him, huh!" he yelled at Randall.

"I didn't say nothing!" Shane grabbed the kid's throat and was chocking him. Diana grabbed on to Carl keeping him away from Shane. As she looked at Shane choking the boy, she was reminded of the grip he had. Flashes went back to that one night and her blood started to boil.

When she snapped back to reality she saw Shane was still yelling at the boy holding his gun to Randall's head. Andrea was trying to get him to stop. Diana knew he'll only learn one way.

"You like talking, huh! YOU LIKE TALKING!" the sound of a gun click was heard from behind his head. He knew Diana was pointing her gun at him.

"Back off, Shane! Let him go," Shane threw the kid down and grabbed on to Carl's shoulder. He dragged him out, "Get your ass out this door. Let's go!"

"Hey!" Diana yelled following them. She doesn't care who you are, but you do not grab Carl that way or else there will be blood.

"The hell you doing?" he hissed

"Please don't tell my parents!" Carl begged as he ran out of Shane's grasp.

"Shane! Leave him alone!" she yelled. He walked up to the boy in the sheriff hat, "Carl, that ain't cool man. You could've gotten hurt in there."

"I can handle myself."

"Let me tell you something- you do not go near him again. Do you hear me," Shane's finger was in his face, "Damn it."

"Shane stop it!" Diana walked over by Carl.

"You won't tell my parents, will you," Carl pleadingly looked up at him and Diana.

"Carl man," he whispered, "It ain't about getting in trouble, okay? A guy like that, he will say anything to you. He'll try to make you feel sorry for him. He'll try to make you let your guard down. You let your guard down out here, people die."

"That's enough! Carl, let's go find your mom," Diana had her arm around his shoulder and turned him in the direction of camp. Carl looked over at Shane and he waved his arm, "Go on."

They walked a few steps forward until Shane called him, "Carl." Carl turned, "Quit trying to get yourself killed, man."

Diana winced her eyes and let go of Carl, "Stay right here," she ordered. She walked right up to Shane's face and whispered, "You touch him or put your dirty ass finger in his face again and I swear on my mother's grave, I will break your fucking arm!"

She turned on her heel and walked off with Carl.

"You won't tell will you?" Carl looked up at Diana as they approached the house.

"Have I ever ratted you out on anything?" she smiled, "I won't tell if you won't tell Daryl I was guarding that boy."

"Why were you?"

"To keep him safe from people like Shane."

"Shane's not all bad," Diana glanced down at Carl, "How about to go and play with Sophia," she changed the subject before she flipped her switch and said something she regretted.

Later, Diana sat over by the fire picking at it. She was back in what she called, "Daryl Territory". At the moment, she lived here. Diana looked over and saw all these squirrels tied up on these lines waiting to be eaten. It looked like a mini, out door butcher shop. Next to them was Daryl's walker ear necklace he made. Diana remembered making fun of him for it, but he tried to get her to wear it.

"Get that away from me!" she ran behind the tree.

"But I made it for you. Jus' wear it!" he was right behind her about to put it around her neck, laughing.

"No!"

She shook her head at the memory.

Foot steps were heard as Carl came over and sat next to her. Carl's face was upset, "Something wrong?"

"I want to apologize to you," Diana lifted and eyebrow., "For what?"

"I said something mean about Violet."

Diana was taken back, "What did you say?"

"Carol told me that Violet was in a better place now in heaven. I told her she was wrong and if you believe in heaven you're an idiot."

Diana's mouth opened from being surprised. She then closed it and spoke, "That is pretty nasty, but you should apologize to Carol. All she was trying to do is make you feel better."

"I know and I will."

"Carl, I don't know if there is a heaven, but I know there is a hell. We're living on it. Now everyone loved her. Glenn did, Daryl did, Sophia, your mom, your dad, me, you, and Carol."

Carl was looking at her with saddened eyes, "So if Carol wants to believe Violet's in a better place, then let her. It helps with the mourning process."

"Do you believe it?"

Diana picked at the fire again, "I believe she's with her parents again. Violet is watching over us," Diana glanced to the side. In the corner she saw the blond in the purple dress smiling at her. Diana focused back on Carl, "So don't get mad at someone if they choose to believe in something. No matter how dumb you find the idea to be."

Carl nodded, "Now before you get nightmares from looking at all these dead squirrels, hop along out of here," she smiled to him. Carl got up and gave her a hug. Before he was completely out of Daryl Territory, he took a gun from the motorcycle with out Diana knowing.

AN: Looks like Diana is getting back to her old self on telling Shane to fuck off. Let me know what you though on certain scenes, like Diana still seeing Violet or Diana talking to Carl.

Oh hey, check out this story by eG x Foxtrot called the Ravaging. It's another Walking Dead fic. What I read so far is good.

I'll update soon. See you guys!