It was almost midday by the time they arrived at Walmart, the entire group going at a much slower pace than normal. Just as dinner had been the previous night, breakfast was a leisurely affair, everyone eating and drinking until they couldn't possibly take another bite. The opportunity to indulge themselves the way they were was rare, and with the security of the bunker and the enormous supply of food, they had taken complete advantage of it. It was a good choice too, for Carrie could tell that the group was exhausted, both physically and mentally.
Now though, after a shower, two good meals and a generous sleep in, the group was ready and raring to go, even though it took a while for them to get the motivation to actually leave the bunker. Nevertheless it had to be done, and when ten thirty came, Abraham clapped his hands together and gave them ten minutes to get their asses into gear. Under the threat of being left behind, the group hastily piled into the cars and made a hasty departure for the city of Franklin. Still having a good amount of gas in their tanks, siphoning more from the gas station didn't take quite as long as it normally did, the tedious task completed at record speed despite the five vehicles that needed to be filled.
It was only then that they eagerly headed for Walmart. The city of Franklin appeared to have fallen quickly, the effects of which meant that the streets were jammed up with abandoned vehicles. Having thought ahead, Rick and the others had checked out the town yesterday afternoon, their work at clearing a path meaning that the large convoy of vehicles moved about the city with ease. The only annoyance was the Walkers, of which there seemed to be plenty. Largely penned in by the traffic jam of cars, they were quite the nuisance, forcing the group to fire a couple of flares to prevent them following the convoy to Walmart.
The shooting lesson Rick had given her had paid off, and with the support and encouragement of the others, Carrie found herself happily standing on top of minivan when they opened the doors to Walmart, helping the others gun down the Walkers that emerged. Though she still carried her machete and knife, knowing she would fall back on her preferred weapons if she ever needed to, she was confident as she took aim at each Walker, taking a moment to line up her sights and take a proper shot.
Even with suppressors in use, the gunfire was startlingly loud, no doubt alerting every Walker in the vicinity to their presence there. Nevertheless it was a necessary risk given that the Walkers inside the store just kept coming, the fallen piling up on one another as they were taken out. It took less than a minute to take care of the initial influx of Walkers, and a minute more after that to take care of the stragglers. When they appeared to have all been taken care of, Glenn tentatively stepped over the dead Walkers and peered through the doors. There was absolute silence as he walked through the doors and placed a kitchen timer in the middle of the floor, the buzzing making it jump around noisily. Hoping to get the attention of every Walker that might still be inside, Glenn shone his flashlight through the darkness, flicking it on and off a few times.
A moment later Glenn came back outside, shrugging at them. "We'll have to do a sweep ourselves."
Nodding in agreement, Rick turned to the others. "Let's check for head shots," he requested, gesturing to the pile of Walkers. "Carl, you keep watch on the doors…Nicholas, you watch the car park."
The rest of them quickly set to work, dragging the Walkers away from the doors and dumping them aside. Just as Rick had worried, a few of the Walkers were still active, knocked over by the others falling, or shots that didn't quite reach the centre of the brain. They disposed of them quickly, their work stalled only by the arrival of three more that finally came out of the depths of the store. Taking expert care, Carl shot each of them before they could get close to the others, the teen taking them out the moment their heads came into sight.
"We'll do a full sweep of the building in two teams," Abraham told them when they had finished moving the Walkers. Exhausted, they stood by the entrance doors, eagerly anticipating what they might find inside. "It's very dark, there're lots of places that Walkers might be hiding."
"Lurkers," Daryl added, reminding Carrie of the one she had encountered on her first day with them in Silverpine, and those in the Big Spot.
"Exactly. We'll do a full sweep, clear the aisles as we go. Once we've got a good idea of what's left, we'll prioritise what to get first. Fill a cart, bring it out and dump it. Rinse and repeat."
"Let's get this over with," Rick began now, looking around at the groups. "Rosita, Nicholas. You two head to the intersection, keep an eye on the amount of Walkers coming our way. Take a radio and a rifle each. Tobin, you stay here with Carl to watch the carpark and back them up."
Looking around at them, Abraham decided on two teams. "Aidan, Aaron and Glenn. You're with me. Daryl, Michonne, Carrie…you're with Rick."
"Let's do this already," Daryl grunted impatiently, holding his crossbow ready. "Ain't got all day."
They formed their particular groups, Carrie's cheeks reddening as Michonne gave her a knowing smile. She busied herself by loading her gun and checking the safety, trying not to watch Rick out of the corner of her eye. He stood by the removal truck, tossing Carl and Tobin a radio and spare magazines before giving Carl a few stern instructions. Carl said something in reply, Tobin's booming laugh determining that it was humorous. Suppressing a smile, Carrie turned her attention back to her group and slipped her gun into her leg holster.
"Here," Daryl grunted, passing her a set of thick gloves. He looked her up and down, determining that her clothing would protect her in the event that they were taken by surprise.
"Thanks," she said, suddenly feeling awkward. Looking from Michonne, who smiled in that knowing way, and back to Daryl who was pointedly avoiding her gaze, she started to feel embarrassed. Michonne was far too gleeful about Carrie's late night tryst with Rick, and Daryl had….he had seen them.
"What's wrong?" Rick enquired, joining them and sensing the awkwardness too.
"Nothing," she replied quickly, clearing her throat as she pulled her gloves on. "What's wrong with you?"
"Nothing," he said in confusion. He looked between the three of them, and realisation slowly dawned on him, coming to the same conclusion as Carrie. As he too cleared his throat awkwardly, he passed them each a flashlight. "Come on. Let's go."
With everyone in falling into position, Carrie traced her hand over her machete and knife, reassuring herself that they were there. Holding her gun carefully, for she still didn't completely trust it, she followed Rick and the others into Walmart, her boots slipping a little on the blood and viscera on the floor. It stank of death inside, but it was a familiar smell by now, one that no longer took her by surprise. Shining their lights around, the group took in the sheer volume of the store.
"Mother Di…" Abraham began, trailing off when he looked at Carrie. He cleared his throat. "I mean, God Bless America."
"You're such a gentleman, Abe," she quipped, she too looking around in awe. "And I think you mean, God-fucking-Bless America."
Shaking his head, Abraham readjusted his grip on his rifle and looked around. "We'll take the right…you lot go left. Double check the dead ones, and inspect every nook and cranny for active ones…every change room, every office, behind every counter. Don't open any doors without back up, and…"
Letting Abraham run through his list, Carrie tried to keep her attention focused on the store, on looking down the aisles and determining their route. It was becoming awfully difficult to stay focused, especially with Rick standing right beside her. Like an infatuated teen, she couldn't stop thinking about the previous night, and that morning too. It had been so long since she had real sex that it was easy to forget how good it could be. Glancing at him from the corner of her eye, she wondered if he was thinking about the same thing, if he was remembering too. He must have been dwelling on it at some stage for this morning he seemed happier and more amenable in general…typical man.
Last night, he had laughed. There had been lots of laughter, thankfully not directed at each other, but with one another. He had smiled too, an action that had become rare in this world. Most often his smile was only half genuine, forced for the benefit of others. But not last night, and not this morning either. Thinking on the unusually cheerful demeanour he had adopted, Carrie couldn't help but feel proud of herself for doing that for him.
The groups split up as planned, and Rick's methodically made their way around the left hand side of the store. They talked loudly and rattled shelves, drawing out the Lurkers that were hidden amongst the aisles. Taking down two with ease, they proceeded on, taking note of the goods that have been left behind. Just like Aidan had told them, North Carolina had fallen in less than a day, and while Walmart had been the target of frightened shoppers, this was to their advantage. Corpse after corpse littered the ground, telling the story of how the store had been overrun until someone closed the doors and chained the security gates. A gentle nudge was all it took to make sure the corpses weren't Lurkers, and as they went they methodically moved them all aside, making clear paths for them to bring their carts down later.
The pharmacy and garden centre were relatively in tact, Michonne and Rick checking the back shelves where there were plenty of prescription medications left. Heading further in, they passed the homewares and the automotive section, taking careful note of what remained in each. Reaching the back of the store they came across the sporting section, something catching Daryl's attention. Waving them over, he shone his flashlight into some glass cabinets, the reflection momentarily blinding her.
"That's the shit I'm talkin' about," he said in satisfaction, raking his eyes over the large display case of crossbows. He gave a very rare smile, but typical of Daryl, it only lasted a moment. "Hey, Rick…this one would suit Carl."
Taking a look, Rick nodded in approval. "Thank you."
It appeared they held an entire conversation in only two sentences, something typical of people who had navigated this world together since the very beginning. Being as thorough as possible they moved through every single aisle, but it seemed the further back in the store they went the fewer Walkers there were, dead or alive. It even smelled better further back, a convenient advantage given that's where the clothing was. As they passed the children's section on their way to meet up with Abraham, Carrie noticed the way Rick slowed down a little, his eyes roving over the racks of dresses and hair accessories. But as quickly as he had slowed he was paying attention again, marching onward as the others appeared ahead.
"Find much?" Michonne asked them.
"There's plenty of food left in the grocery section…just don't go near the refrigerated aisle," Aaron grimaced. "What did you find?
Rick answered first, starting to run through their list. "Pharmacy looks well stocked, there're some weapons and ammunition left…there's more here than we expected, but that doesn't change anything. Essentials first. Food, medicine, weapons."
"Let's split in twos," Abraham decided. "Each take a section, fill a cart. And for the record, if anyone puts alcohol in their cart before essentials are packed, not even Pete will be able to excise my foot from your ass."
He looked at Aidan as he said that, who at least had the decency to look a little chastised. "Got it."
"Good. Let's go."
There was a slight murmur of agreement, everyone looking around for empty shopping carts they could take advantage of. Carrie and Rick glanced at each other, wondering if teaming up together would look too obvious. But to her relief, Michonne stepped in first and slung her arm around Daryl's shoulder.
"Come on Dixon, you're with me."
"Get off me," he grunted, shrugging her arm off his shoulder. Still avoiding eye contact with Rick and Carrie, he grabbed a shopping cart and told Michonne to hurry up. "We'll take weapons."
There was a short pause in which they looked at each other, Rick trying to keep his expression platonic. "Pharmacy?" he suggested, glancing over at Glenn and Aidan who already seemed to be arguing.
Carrie gave in to her urge to smile. "Why not?"
They lingered for a long moment, both of them waiting for the other to make the first move. Finally Carrie moved, taking an abandoned shopping cart and looking at its contents. There was a slab of bottled water which she left there, but cleared out the rest of the items and dumped them onto the floor. Giving Rick a lingering look, she set off down the wide aisles back the way they had come. They quickly caught up to Daryl and Michonne, the glass cabinets shattering as they broke in to retrieve the weapons. Leaving them behind, Rick and Carrie turned the corner and headed in the opposite direction as he fell into step beside her. It wasn't long before he reached for her, running his hand down her lower back before slipping it into the back pocket of her jeans. He gave her a small smirk before checking over his shoulder, paranoid that someone would see them.
"Can I help you, Derrick?"
"That's yet to be determined," he replied, his smirk twisting into a grimace at her use of his full name. She loved using his full name, knowing how much it annoyed him.
Enjoying the reaction she got from him, she let him feel her up, trying not to laugh as he raised his hand to tickle the skin on her lower back. He kept this up until they reached the pharmacy, reluctantly taking his hand back in favour of getting a second shopping cart. Without a word they split up, Rick heading for the prescription medicines while Carrie checked out what was left in the aisles. In the panic of the outbreak, there had been a rush for medical items as people tried to flee, but to her surprise there was still plenty left. Aside from a few broken shelves and some corpses on the floor, it was relatively intact, looters having been unable to access it after the doors had closed..
Not concerned about conserving space, for determining what ultimately made it onto the trucks was Abraham's burden, Carrie grabbed anything that might be of use. Medicines, first aid items, toiletries…it was all tossed in, Carrie not wanting to waste too much time. Heading into the next aisle, she smiled as she shone her flashlight among an array of baby items. Her eyes scanning the shelves of pacifiers, bottles and teething rings, Carrie glanced up at the back of the store where Rick was, wondering what things he would need for Judith. Her heart swelling more than expected, she picked up one of the tiny toothbrushes, observing the soft bristles and trying to imagine a baby's teeth. She never had much to do with children before, but babies in particular. Growing up as an only child, she had no siblings to play with, and subsequently no nieces and nephews.
"Rick?" she called out, not trusting herself to decide what to take and what to leave.
"What's wrong?" he asked, by her side less in seconds.
"Baby stuff. That's your field of expertise."
He scoffed at this, but looked nonetheless, Carrie watching as his expression softened. Quickly making decisions, he grabbed some of everything. Pacifiers, teethings rings, shampoo, diaper rash creams, powder…it all went in the shopping cart .
"Are there any other babies in Alexandria?"
He shook his head. "Maybe one day. Did you get children's Tylenol?" he asked, tossing all the items into her cart. He grabbed some thermometers before turning to diapers and wipes.
"I got everything," she promised. "Even the little syringes for dosage."
"Thank you." Getting a new shopping cart, he almost cleared the shelves of the diapers, wipes and every kind of formula, but in typical Rick fashion, he left adequate amounts for others. Earlier she had heard him telling the others to leave some food behind.
"I err…I left Tylenol and a few other things behind," she spoke up, feeling the need to tell him.
"I noticed," he smiled, his gaze lingering a moment before he turned back to the shelves. Together they moved on up the aisle, coming to adult toothbrushes and paste. Letting her push the cart, he tossed the supplies in. "Every bottle of formula we gave Judith was scavenged one or two tins at a time. She wouldn't be here if others hadn't left it for us…not with Lori gone."
"There're good people out there."
"Some," he agreed. He paused now, a smile still lingering as he turned away and continued. "Would you believe me if I told you Daryl was the first to feed her a bottle?"
"No," she scoffed, slowly realising he was being serious. "Really? Daryl?"
"Yeah. He's got the touch when it comes to her."
"Why didn't you give her the first bottle?"
"I was…" he began, hesitating a little. "I was with Lori. I didn't see Judith until the next day."
Carrie just nodded, unsure of what to say. "You sound like you feel guilty for that," she stated boldly, hoping she didn't press the wrong topic too hard.
The expression on his face was not annoyance or anger, but exasperation. "Stop reading my mind," he scolded her. They carried on through the pharmacy, returning to the shopping cart full of prescription medicines he had abandoned momentarily. "I do, sometimes."
"Why? Weren't you entitled to grieve?"
"Sure. Excessive guilt is a normal part of being a parent. I still feel guilty for the time Carl fell off his bike ten years ago…he had to get six stitches."
Shaking her head in amusement, Carrie followed him through the aisles, swapping the cart out for a new one when it was full. The new one had a wobbly wheel, and she struggled to keep it straight as she followed Rick down the aisles. When he stopped suddenly to grab something from a shelf Carrie accidentally bumped the back of him leg, having been preoccupied by checking out his ass. He glanced up at her, an amused smile crossing his face when he saw her expression.
"Sorry," she said demurely, her eyes darting back down to his ass. She didn't have to hide her ogling right now.
"You don't look sorry," he shook his head, tossing some hand sanitiser into the trolley.
When he turned forward and continued down the aisle, Carrie made a point of bumping him again, and when he turned around and looked at her incredulously, her intent was clear.
"Okay, now I know you're not sorry," he said lowly, facing her properly. Looking at her with challenge in his eyes, he put his hands on the front of her shopping cart and leant towards her. "Is this flirting? Are you flirting with me?"
Echoing his stance, Carrie too leant forward over the handles. "Got a problem with that?" she asked slowly, enunciating each word.
Giving the cart a swift shove, she grinned when he yielded and let it hit him in the knees, pretending to be hurt. An idea coming to mind, she told him to stay put and then headed into the next aisle. She was going there next anyway, but why not give him a preview of what was there? She quickly made her choice, smiling as she looked at him over the top of the shelf. Coming back around to him, she grinned and threw the box at him. Catching it, his eyes grew wide as he looked at the packet of condoms, a mixture of alarm and excitement crossing his face.
"Seriously?" he asked, his voice sounding a little weak.
"Why not?"
"But here?"
"Why not?"
"Well," he began, his eyes darting up to the ceiling as though racking his brains. "Err…there could be Walkers, or-"
"Is there an office back there?"
He hesitated, beginning to smile. "Yes."
Coming forward now, she kept her hands strictly to herself as she came and stood right in front of him. "So? What's the problem?"
Looking torn, Rick hesitated again, and Carrie felt disappointment when she saw that he had made his decision. His expression was sorely apologetic as he tossed the condoms into the shopping cart and came towards her. "We can't now. It's not a good time."
Reluctantly accepting this, she instead settled for the kiss he offered next. Making sure she got her fill of him for now, she kissed him deeply, letting her arms wind around his neck while his did the same to her hips. It would have to be enough to quell the sudden excitement her idea had brought her, and accepting his refusal, she allowed him to break the kiss when he tried. Just as he had been all morning, he was smiling when he pulled back and looked at her, brushing his lips across hers one last time.
"We'll find a better time?" she suggested hopefully.
He just nodded before letting her go and heading off down the aisle, but the ghost of the smile that lingered on his face was enough to keep her happy. It was an ego boost to see the effect she had on him, that her suggestion of them sneaking off for a quickie had definitely taken him by surprise. Trying to refocus, Carrie grabbed a few more bottles of hand sanitiser and then moved on down the aisle. The shelves weren't exactly tall, and even with only their flashlights to illuminate the pharmacy, Carrie could see Rick in the aisle beside her. He had slowed to a stop in the very centre of it, and when she realised what it was he was looking at she nearly burst out laughing.
Looking up from the shelves of condoms, he flexed his jaw as they made eye contact. There was a long moment in which they simply looked at each other, and Carrie could practically see his resolve crumbling away. He looked away and swallowed heavily, clearly trying to reason with himself as his breathing became heady. With a long sigh that she recognised as defeat, he reached for the radio on his hip.
"Carl? Is everything alright out there?"
There was a long moment before he replied, and as Rick waited he looked up at her in exasperation. She loved that he was always so concerned, that he took every measure to ensure that his group were alright if he were dropping his guard. It reinforced everything she knew about him, everything that she trusted about him.
"Jesus, Dad, pay attention," Carl replied in frustration. "Abraham just asked me that."
Rick laughed shortly. "I love you too, Carl." Putting his radio back on his belt, he beckoned Carrie to join him in the other aisle. "You're a bad influence on me," he scolded her.
"Me? I just made the suggestion."
She stood by his side and watched as he reached for a packet of condoms, hesitating at the last moment. He glanced at her with a grin, taking his sweet time to choose which pack he wanted. Just as she was about to tell him to hurry up, he finally made his choice, the assorted pack greatly meeting her approval. Relieved, she thanked him with a searing kiss, grabbing hold of his shirt and not letting him away. He kissed her back now, satisfied that everyone else in their group was alright, Carl in particular. Pushing his jacket aside, she began opening the buttons on his shirt, feeling the warmth of his skin beneath her fingers. Before she could do much more, the radio at his side crackled, Abraham's voice making him lurch in surprise.
"Everyone getting on alright?"
Michonne and then Glenn replied, confirming that they were fine as Rick hastened to pull away from Carrie's kiss. He hastily stepped back and he reached for the button on the radio, not bothering to take it off his hip.
"We're fine here too," he said loudly. Releasing the button, he opened the cardboard box and pulled out the long chain of condoms, clutching them as he went to kiss her again.
"You need any help in the pharmacy?" Abraham asked.
Trying not to laugh, Carrie watched as Rick's face contorted in frustration and panic. This time he grabbed the radio from his belt, taking a deep breath before he began speaking. Carrie however, shrugged her jacket off and tugged at the hem of her shirt, the move distracting him for a moment. Keeping eye contact, she grinned as she turned and walked towards the back of the store, looking over her shoulder as she went.
"No," he said a little too quickly, hastening to follow her. "We're fine."
"Are you sure?" Michonne's voice came next, a hint of a tease coming through. "I can come and help you right now, if you-"
"Just leave us to it, alright?" Rick's voice was strained, trying to stay level as he followed Carrie into the dark, and blissfully empty, office. He closed the door loudly.
Enjoying his frustration, Carrie unbuttoned her shirt but didn't take it off. There wouldn't be time for that…they'd have to be quick. Rick dumped his radio and flashlight to the ground as he came to her, capturing her lips in a searing kiss as his hands went straight for her jeans. It was difficult to keep the smile off their faces, both of them racing to get the necessary clothing removed. Just like last night, Carrie wrestled with Rick's two belts, finally making them cooperate. As his duty belt fell to the floor with a heavy thud, they pushed one another's jeans down, their lips never parting for long.
"You're a very bad influence on me," he scolded again, sliding his tongue into her mouth as they kissed again.
She nodded in agreement, stumbling as she kicked off her boots and freed one foot from her jeans. "Desk. Now."
He picked her up by the back of her thighs, making her squeal in surprise as she grabbed for him. Setting her onto the desk, Rick didn't even bother clearing away the paper and books. "It's very small."
"That's not what she said."
Rick groaned, silencing her sass with a kiss. "I was talking about the desk."
"Ah huh," she nodded. Taking charge, she snatched the chain of condoms from his hand and tore one open.
"A bad influence…and good for my ego," he sighed, watching as she rolled the condom onto him. Going slowly, he pressed himself into her with a hiss of pleasure. "Whatever am I going to do with you?"
"Don't know," she shrugged, her eyes drifting shut. "Just don't mark me up again."
"Can't make any promises," he ground out through clenched teeth.
Sealing his lips across hers, Rick started thrusting inside her, his forehead coming to rest against hers. It felt profoundly intimate to be hidden away just the two of them, and it went some way to satiating the need she had felt for him ever since they had parted ways that morning. While rushed and secretive, they simply made the best of their opportunity, and when they redressed a short while later they made the effort of checking one another's appearance. While Carrie applied some fresh foundation to the bruise on her neck, Rick roughly neatening his hair as he stuffed the rest of his condoms safely into his pocket.
They emerged from the pharmacy office as though nothing was amiss, and simply got back to work…but with a little extra spring in their step.
Finding solitude in the dark shelves of the Home Security aisle, Rick consulted his list of required items and cast his flashlight around the shelves. Despite their desire to get their work at Walmart done as soon as possible, it was increasingly difficult to Rick to concentrate, let alone to get rid of the dumb smile that seemed to have plastered itself on his face. The knowledge of what he and Carrie had done, in the Walmart pharmacy no less, both exhilarated and astounded him. The old Rick would have never done something like that, would have never let his guard down to indulge in something as gratuitous as sex, even good sex. Last night had been different, as he had ensured their safety well beforehand. Though today he had paused long enough to ensure that Carl and the rest of the group were okay, his actions were irresponsible…reckless. Hell, they could have been caught.
Then again…perhaps that's what made it so good.
Judging by the disgusting look of pride on Michonne's face, she suspected what had gone on, what he had been doing only two hours ago. In discomfort Rick pictured she and Daryl talking about it, gossiping and making a big deal out of his private business…God, what if Daryl told her what he saw last night? Shaking his head to himself, Rick felt a little reassured. He knew Daryl…he'd never tell a soul what he saw, partly out of respect, and partly from sheer embarrassment. Looking back down the aisle the way he had come, he wondered where Carrie was now and what she was doing. The last he had seen of her she was outside with Abraham and Rosita, helping them sort out the shopping carts full of supplies they bad brought from the pharmacy.
Refocusing, he turned his attention back to the shelves in the Home Security aisle, scanning the various boxes for the one phrase he absolutely needed to see. It was strange to be disregarding the price tags on each of these items, his eyes widening as he shone his flashlight over a few of them. Some of these systems cost more than his monthly wage…but it wasn't the quality of the cameras or even the size of the hard drive that mattered to him most. There was one specification he needed more than anything else, and that was -
"Software included," he muttered in relief, finally seeing it written on one of the boxes.
He set his flashlight on the shelf and took the box off the shelf, looking at it in the beam of light. The Walkers with W on their foreheads were never far from Rick's thought, their presence foreboding another enemy that was right on their horizons. Rick and his group were not naive, and knew that Alexandria was a target for whoever it was doing this to Walkers. Hell, they could have attacked Alexandria already, making a move the moment they lost almost a dozen of their strongest members. That's what had prompted Rick's desire to set up surveillance outside the walls, and it had only been an off hand comment that Eugene over heard that set the desire into motion.
Eugene may not be a scientist, but he did know a hell of a lot of…stuff. With the right cables, hardware and computers, he assured Rick that it was possible to set up a surveillance system even without wireless technology. Trusting him, though he hadn't often proved himself worthy, Rick had told him to make a list of items required. Reading the details on the surveillance system, he checked it against the list Eugene had given him, mentally ticking off each item. Software included, battery operated, high resolution, night vision and a one terabyte hard drive. As an unexpected bonus, the cameras were weatherproof.
Satisfied, Rick gave the box another once over, scrutinising the colour of each camera. They would have to paint them…there was no use in keeping an eye on their surroundings if anyone hanging about could see they were under surveillance. Placing the box into his cart, Rick took the other boxes too, wanting to make sure they had more than enough. Consulting the remainder of Eugene's list, he moved on down the aisle, collecting every extension cable he could fin. Looking at the shopping cart full of cameras, cables and security lights, Rick knew they would have a lot of work to do once they got home to Alexandria. Not only were they going to work on expanding the walls, he had plans to start setting up safe houses in surrounding areas, just in case something went wrong.
The hardest part of the safe houses would be convincing the Alexandrians they were necessary. Rick suddenly thought about the children that resided within the walls, uncomfortably aware of just how vulnerable they were. None of them could drive a car, and he doubted they knew how to properly wield a hand gun. They had to learn these things, or else their chances of survival if things went wrong were very low. His heart clenching, he thought of the children that had lived in the prison, wondering where they were, if they were alright…none of them had come back. Aside from Luke and Molly who they had found dead, he didn't know the fate of any. They had been trained…they knew the basics of driving a car and using a gun…perhaps they were alright. For a brief moment he thought of Lizzie and Mika, wondering what had happened to them. Daryl had glimpsed them carrying Judith as the prison fell, and then never again.
Urging himself back into action, Rick carried on. He pushed his heavy cart back into the large aisle with the others that were full, waiting for someone else to come and collect them. Looking into another one that hadn't been there a few minutes ago, he noted that Glenn had found the large batteries they would need to help power some of their endeavours. Leaving them be, he found another empty cart and headed for the computer section. As before, he collected any cable and accessory that looked like it would attach to a computer. USBs, hard drives, adaptors…he had little idea of what they could be used for, but he put them in his cart nonetheless, suspecting he might regret it if he didn't.
"Any luck?" Glenn asked, joining Rick as he broke into one of the cabinets holding the computers.
"Plenty," he answered, pulling white boxes out and dumping them on the customer service bench. "You any good with computers?"
"Good enough."
"Find me a Macbook Pro…the ones on Eugene's list."
Sorting through the boxes, Glenn set a few aside before finding the one Eugene had requested. "God, I would have loved one of these," he said reverently, placing three of the boxes into the cart. "They were so damn expensive though."
Rick just shrugged, handing him more boxes and hoping they were the right ones. Glenn put a few more into the cart and then consulted the list, frowning. "He wants a Mac and a Windows? Why?"
"I don't know," Rick shrugged again, casting his eyes over the iPods. He missed the MP3 player that used to drown out the noise of the Walkers while he worked in the gardens, and an iPod would certainly prevent Carl from trying to play his music in the house. "What's the difference?" he asked, grabbing all of the iPods and throwing them into the cart too.
"What's the diff-" Glenn began in outrage, trailing off with a sigh. "There's a big difference."
"Just get what Eugene wants. And, hey…have you heard of a Time Machine? Is that an actual thing, or is he just shitting me?"
Glenn snorted and rolled his eyes. "He means a Time Capsule, and yes, it's a real thing. I'll get it."
They made quick work of Eugene's list, Glenn fetching another shopping cart and filling that up too. Thinking about their vehicles, Rick wondered how on earth they were all going to fit all of their supplies inside. They had been pleasantly surprised to find a significant amount of long life food in the grocery section, which unfortunately was taking up a great deal of space. Aside from that, they had collected a great deal of clothing and general supplies for the people of Alexandria…basic necessities like toilet paper and dishwashing liquid had been found. Then there were the supplies Rick and his group insisted on bringing back, essential items they would need to fully stock the safe houses they wanted to set up. Camping lanterns, solar powered batteries, knives and bows, sleeping bags, blankets…they all took up space and added weight…there was only so much they could fit in. Thinking about the many packs of diapers he wanted to take back, he hoped they were able to fit them, dreading the thought of having to switch to cloth.
When they were finally done with Eugene's list they headed back to the centre aisle where the other shopping carts were, finding Daryl waiting for them. Impatient, he had lit a cigarette as he waited.
"I got camouflage nets," he showed them. "Reckon they'll be good all cut up…wrap 'em round the surveillance stuff. Got some huntin' cameras too."
"Don't they only take still shots?"
"Yeah, motion detection and all that, but their batteries last for ages. Reckon they'll be good to keep an eye on things further out, you know…the roads. Best know what's out there."
"That's good," Rick agreed, giving the cameras a once over.
"They need memory cards though. SD?"
"Got them." Casting his eyes over the eight shopping carts they had collected, scrutinising the contents in the dark. "We're almost done then?"
"Yeah," Glenn said. As he spoke he opened their extensive list of general supplies, and he pointed to the items in each cart. "We got surveillance cameras, every cable and extension cord in the store, solar powered security lights, heavy duty batteries, waterproof battery boxes, portable solar panels and batteries, duct tape. Portable generators are already on the trucks. Camping equipment including battery powered lanterns, solar powered lanterns, flashlights, coolers, portable stoves, binoculars…Daryl, did you get the peep holes for the fences?"
"Yeah, they're in there…" he grunted.
"Peep holes…I got the electronic deadbolts you wanted, Rick. Everything else is already being packed. Food, medicine, weapons are done…paper goods, Tobin and Daryl took care of the automotive section…"
Not needing to hear Glenn go through the rest of their expansive list of goods, Rick was satisfied that had all they needed. Stepping away from them, he took out his radio and called for Carl.
"Yeah Dad?"
"You can come inside now."
There was a short pause, Rick looking around the empty shelves as he waited for Carl to respond.
"I'm coming…Abraham wants to know how much more you've got to bring out? He's kind of freaking out right now."
"Why?"
"Because of all this stuff. Tobin's looking at one of the vans in the carpark…I think we need more room."
"If Tobin's getting a van ready, then ask Abraham what he's complaining about."
"I can't ask him that, he'll kill me with his devil eyes."
"No, he likes you."
Waiting to hear the next reply, Rick wandered a little further away and looked around. Once they had all of these carts outside they could start taking some personal items, things they wanted purely for themselves. His priorities were already planned out…first Carl, and then Judith. Perhaps if there was time he would try to find himself a new pair of boots…eventually the ones he owned now would give up trying to hold together. They had already cleared out most of the clothing and shoes, if he didn't have any luck there'd be something back in Alexandria he could take from the pantry. He glanced at one of their shopping carts and made a mental note to ensure that Michonne was the one who took it. Buried underneath all of the supplies was a skateboard he had chosen for Carl's birthday in August, though he doubted he'd wait that long before giving it to him. He'd seen him riding Ron's skateboard, and he was quite good on it, making Rick wonder how he had developed the skill. He sure as hell didn't learn it from Patrick.
"I'll tell you what the fuck I'm complaining about!" Abraham's voice thundered down the radio. "The metric fuck-tonne of shit you keep sending out! Where am I supposed to put all of this, Grimes? I'm not Mary - freakin' - Poppins!"
"Well you know what they say about Walmart."
"Don't even think about coming to me for another favour. I am all out of favours for you."
Rick laughed, seeing Carl and Michonne coming down the aisle towards them. "I don't need your favours," he retorted, knowing exactly what Abraham was referring to. "I've got Walmart now."
"He's pretty stressed out," Carl told him, shining his flashlight around the enormous building. There was a look of wonder on his face, his eyes scanning what was left on the shelves. As he cast his flashlight upward, Rick placed a hand on his and stopped him.
"Don't," he requested, not wanting his son to see the corpse hanging by the neck from one of the overhead beams.
"What is it?" Carl asked, shining his flashlight elsewhere instead.
"Nothing I want you looking at," he replied plainly, steering Carl towards the shopping carts. Taking his crutches for him, he laid them across the shopping cart where he could still reach them. "Go on, take these out to Abe. Once we're done, we'll get some stuff for us."
"A crib?"
"Yes," he promised, knowing how much Carl wanted his sister to have a proper crib to sleep in.
Rick felt the same. He had walked past the baby section and his instincts had kicked in…once he had found Carl a few things, Rick wanted nothing more than to spoil his little girl, to give her everything she needed and plenty that she didn't. Aside from making sure she had plenty of clothes to grow into over the next few years, she would need toys…blocks wouldn't amuse her forever…with a groan he thought of her most recent favourite past time, getting into the kitchen cupboards. Five seconds was all it took for Judith to pull out all the plastic ware and toss it across the floor, delighting in her father's frustration. Reminding himself to get some supplies to baby-proof the house, Rick took a cart and followed Michonne and Carl outside. Leaving Daryl and Glenn to do another check of the store, Rick squinted and shielded his eyes as he emerged outside. The brightness was momentarily overwhelming, especially after spending the last few hours inside the dark store with only flashlights to see by.
"Oh, come on," Abraham sighed, jumping down from the back of the removal truck. "What the fuck am I supposed to do with this shit?"
Rick didn't bother telling him not to swear in front of Carl, something he hated immensely. Instead he smiled, finding it difficult to get too annoyed that day.
"Don't come to me with your problems." Taking a proper look around, he noted that the removal and military trucks were almost full, Rosita scowling as she tossed individual items into every nook and cranny she could see. "Just pack it."
"Uh uh, wait!" Abraham griped, stopping Rick as he made to go back inside. "You want to know what I'm complaining about? I'm complaining about gas."
"You're in charge of that."
"Heavier vehicles need more gas. We're going to have to take a different route back to Alexandria, go through more populated areas so that there're more gas stations."
"Do whatever you have to do. Talk it over with Aaron."
Abraham sighed, his fists clenched as he turned around and surveyed the area. Nicholas and Aidan were on watch down by the intersection, while Carrie was bustling around helping Rosita. Catching his eye, she gave him a quick wink before turning back to work, saying something to Rosita that made her laugh.
"How many more carts in there?" Abraham asked dejectedly, Carl and Michonne returning with more.
"Not many."
"Don't avoid the question."
"Then I plead the fifth."
Departing before he could upset Abraham any more, Rick and Carl headed back inside. Heading straight to the clothing section, they took their pick of what they wanted, though they chose to take only the essentials. Scrutinising his son and seeing that the hem of his jeans only reached the top of his ankles, Rick sighed as he tried to figure out what size he'd need. Clothing had always been Lori's job, Rick and Carl always magically finding new clothing in their wardrobe as they were required. The notion that Carl was growing surprised him, though really it shouldn't have…soon enough he'd reach a height that no longer made his shoulder suitable as an arm rest.
Working quickly, they collected everything Carl would need, and he didn't bother looking at any clothing for himself. He knew Michonne…she and Carol had most likely discussed this before they left Alexandria, and he suspected he'd find a few sets of clothing in his pack that day, socks in particular. Carol was always complaining about the state of his socks these days, and how quickly he managed to wear holes into them. They finished up with some shoes, and in ten minutes flat they both had new boots in the cart, though Rick knew they'd both be reluctant to swap them out for their current ones. For now, the boots he wore were still in one piece…he'd wear them until the day they fell apart around his feet.
"Dad, do you think I could have one of those iPods, please?" Carl asked politely, the empty display case catching his attention as they walked past. "When we get back to Alexandria."
Looking at him sidelong, Rick produced a small plastic case from his back pocket and handed it to him, enjoying his gasp of astonishment.
"Woah…you got the touch screen. Thanks Dad."
"I don't know how you'll download any games for it," he apologised, one of the many times they had lamented their lack of Internet connection.
"It's easy…Olivia has some on her computer."
Rick shrugged, figuring that Carl would know what to do with it. "I got one of the smaller ones for myself…You'll need to set it up for me."
"Yeah, cool…" Carl muttered, beginning to frown a moment later. A flicker of guilt crossed his face. "Shouldn't we wait until we get back though? Let Olivia give these out?"
"No," Rick shook his head. "Essentials are rationed, but supply runners get to keep whatever luxuries they find."
Carl nodded in understanding. "Is that why Michonne's getting that cappuccino machine?"
"Yes," Rick laughed, picturing the monstrous machine Michonne wanted to put in their kitchen. "Glenn's getting one for their house too."
Carrying on through the store, they headed for the baby section at the very back of the store, the two of them immediately setting their sights on a crib. Before he even saw it Rick knew what one he wanted, what Lori would have chosen. He found it immediately, glad to find there was a display model already built.
"This one," he decided, running his hand over the curved sides. Scrutinising it's features, he raised the front up and down, checking the poster to ensure it was what they needed. Next he turned his attention to the bedding, approving of the colour and design on the soft pink sheets. There was already a teddy bear and mobile…it was all ready for her. "Mom would like this one."
"How do you know?" Carl frowned, his attention focused on another crib entirely different.
Rick scoffed, folding his arms. "We were only married for fifteen years."
"But I like this one," he insisted, gesturing to one made of dark wood and hard, angular lines.
"Why?"
"I just do."
"This one's nicer," Rick insisted, running his hand over the curved sides of the sleigh style crib. He knew it would have appealed to Lori, the soft curves and white paint suiting her taste. "Besides, this one turns into a bed for when she gets older."
"But it's white…" Carl sighed, coming back over. He looked at the display poster again, pulling a face. "I guess it's kind of okay."
"Done." Tossing the display poster away, he dragged the crib into the aisle, pleasantly surprised to find that the display model had hidden wheels underneath. "We'll need to find some more sheets and blankets too."
They went about methodically choosing the items they required, not too worried about making the perfect choice. Yet with every toy and item of clothing that he tossed into the shopping cart, Rick told himself he wasn't trying to compensate for Lori's absence, that he wasn't trying to make it up to his daughter. But a part of him felt guilty for the fact that she would never know her mother, though rationally he knew there was nothing that could have saved Lori. Even if Herschel had been there, survival after an amateur caesarian section would have been bleak, no matter how much care they took. Rick knew that Lori's absence wasn't his fault, but still…if he could give Judith these things, then why shouldn't he?
"Awe," Rosita sighed, her face softening from it's previous scowl as she walked past them. She and Carrie stopped and looked into the crib, smiling at the array of clothing and toys they had thrown in there. Picking up a pair of little white shoes, she sighed. "I think my ovaries might explode."
"Hey, we could use your opinion over here," Carl appealed to them. "We can't decide on a rug."
Rosita immediately raised her hands in objection. "No way. I'm not getting into an argument with you two. This will be Monopoly all over again."
"Monopoly?" Carrie asked, raising her eyebrows.
"Don't ask."
"Come on Carrie," Carl pleaded, using on of his crutches to wave her over. "Side with me, alright?"
"Yes, Carrie," Rick smiled at her, tilting his head. "Come on over and pick a side."
Carrie looked at him with narrowed eyes, but the smile in the corner of her mouth betrayed her interest. She looked him up and down, no doubt thinking about what they had been doing only an hour or so ago. To her credit though, her expression displayed nothing more than polite interest, particularly to Carl. She came over to them, one hand on her hip as she looked at the two rugs on the floor. He and Carl had spent the last ten minutes arguing over which one they preferred, and neither were willing to budge.
"Who want's which one?"
"Dad wants the pink and grey zig-zag, and I want the white shag pile."
"Huh," she pondered, catching Rick's eye. She crouched down and ran her hands over each one, commenting. "The pink and grey is very soft…I just wouldn't have thought it was your colour, Rick."
He tried not to roll his eyes. "It's for Judith."
"Oh," she pretended to realise, running her hand over the white shag now. "Hmmm, this one's soft too."
"I don't want pink in my room," Carl argued, putting his hands on his hips.
"Your poor little sister," Rick teased.
"She doesn't care!"
"The poor little thing…"
Carl glared at him, giving a long sigh. "Why are you in such a good mood?"
He just shrugged, making a point of not looking at Carrie. "Don't know…must be Walmart."
Carl sighed again, pulling a face as he looked down at the rug. "But it's pink."
"You won't even notice it." Seeing that he had won, Rick crouched down and starting to roll the rug up. Hoisting it over his shoulder, he smiled at Carrie. "Thanks for your help."
Carrie laughed, looking between the two of them as she too stood up. "I didn't do a thing."
"Well, you did something for me," he corrected her, keeping his face straight.
Unable to help herself, she gave a short laugh before quickly turning away, she and Rosita making a quick departure to elsewhere in the store. Rick watched her go, his mouth twisted as he tried not to smile too much. He tossed the rug into the large aisle and then continued on though the baby section, choosing some toys and a sticky mat for the bath tub, and then a couple of pink and purple towels.
"This one talks," Carl said, showing him the potty he had found. "How cool is that?"
Trying not to roll his eyes, Rick wondered who was spoiling Judith more, he or Carl. "She doesn't need a talking potty. Just get a normal one."
"But Da-ad," he moaned.
"Did you just call me Butt Dad?"
Confused for a moment, Carl shook his head. "Seriously? Dad jokes?"
Rick shrugged, showing Carl two plush toys. "Elephant, or Turtle?"
"Both."
Tossing them both into the crib that served as a cart, they carried on, Rick forcing himself to not take everything. Looking at the array of hair barrettes and clips, he knew he was going to have a lot to learn over the next few years…Beth had trimmed Judith's fringe a week before they lost the prison, but since then he hadn't let anyone touch her beautiful locks, wanting to let them grow. He knew Lori would have wanted her hair to grow long just like hers…but he'd have to make a point of learning how to do it. Collecting a few rolls of ribbon as well, he felt a sting of intimidation, and knew he was going to have to ask Carol for help in this department. Although she never talked about Sophia, just like Rick never talked about Shane, he knew she would be delighted to teach him such things.
"Hey Dad, it's you!"
Looking around, Rick narrowed his eyes when he saw the stuffed pig Carl was brandishing. "You're very funny," he smiled, snatching the pig from his hands. "What is this?"
"That's George," Carl informed him, taking another pig off the shelf and putting it into the crib. "And that's Peppa. Haven't you heard of Peppa Pig? I bet they have the DVDs."
"Carl," Rick said in exasperation, his son almost ready to bolt to the Home Entertainment section. "One thing at a time."
"But can we-"
"Yes," he promised. "DVDs are on the list. Besides, we need to improve your Tom Hanks knowledge."
"I know who Tom Hanks is…Show me the money!" he laughed, looking at Rick expectantly.
Rick sighed, collecting a set of toy cars. If they had to play with Judith, the least they could do was play with some cars every now and then. "I never thought I'd say this, but you need to watch more TV."
"That wasn't Tom Hanks?"
"Tom Cruise."
"Oh," he said in embarrassment. "What about one of these?" he asked excitedly, coming past the colourful walkers and play gyms. "Dad, she could learn to walk."
Just like with the talking potty, Rick showed restraint. "She'll learn to walk on her own," he assured him. "As soon as she gets sick of crawling, she'll start."
"But, this could help her."
Rick shook his head, looking past the enormous boxes and finding a smaller, more suitable package. "One of these will be better," he said, putting the fold up cart into the crib. "She can push this around, put all her things in it."
"That's so boring…"
"You had one like this. You loved it."
"Yeah, but….I want to get her everything," he finally admitted, squinting at Rick in the dim light. "Don't you?"
"She's got a crib full. And besides," he continued, the rational words falling from his lips even though he didn't quite believe them yet. "She doesn't need stuff."
There was a short pause, Carl considering this. "Yeah, but…please can we get the talking potty?"
"No," he insisted, the two of them heading towards the large aisle again. "It runs on batteries…are you going to be the one to tell Olivia that you need batteries for a talking potty?"
"No," he admitted.
"Besides…the fewer toys that make noise, the better. Trust me on that. Now come on," he prompted Carl, giving him the crib full of supplies. He picked up the large rug instead, slinging it over his shoulder. "You're going to give that to Abraham, and then protect me from him."
"You'd use me as a human shield?" Carl asked, pushing the crib as he followed Rick out.
"Only against Abraham, I promise."
Heading towards the exit, they passed Carrie and Rosita who carried loot of their own. Rosita's was easy enough to identify, a shopping basket full of shoes and clothing, but Carrie's required a second glance. A large sports bag was over her shoulder the same way Rick carried Judith's rug, the tag identifying it's contents.
"Hockey set?"
She nodded, a mixture of excitement and apprehension playing on her face. "Rosita says there's plenty of space to play…sounds too good to be true though."
"You feel like someone's going to pull the rug from under your feet?"
"Ah huh."
"Well don't…It's there."
Smiling at him, Carrie looked him up and down before glancing at Carl. He was walking ahead of them, talking animatedly with Rosita.
"Carl's in a good mood today," she commented.
"That's because I'm in a good mood." He looked her in the eye as he said this, making sure she knew why.
"Well it's nice seeing you smiling for a change."
"Thanks for putting it there."
Her mouth twisted into a grin she was trying to hide, attempting to keep her face blank. "You're welcome…how many we got left?"
"Five," he said, patting the front pocket of his jeans. He didn't need to ask what she was referring to.
"Maybe tonight we could take watch together."
The idea had significant appeal, and Rick ran through the things he would have to ensure before they could indeed take watch together. Somewhere safe for the group to stay tonight…easily protected with a private space to take watch.
"I'll see what I can do," he promised, excited by the prospect. Reaching the exit, he glanced through the doors at Abraham who still looked particularly stressed. "Until then, I'm going to hide behind Carl for protection."
Carrie laughed at this, her eyes crinkling with mirth. Reminding himself to keep the stupid grin off his face, Rick braced himself and headed after Carl, pleased by how well that day was going.
A/N Thanks for hanging in there guys, I hope you enjoyed the chapter with them finally hitting up Walmart. And don't worry, there is drama coming soon, there are no smooth seas on the way home to Alexandria. Also, I've just started my draft for the sequel to this story, tentatively named The New Resident. Major thanks for my beta Angelcat70/AngieB for her enormous help with the story line! (please applaud her).