Sorry for taking soooooo long to get this chapter to y'all. It was a bitch for me to write. I rewrote it 3 times before I was finally happy with what was written. TY for all the AWESOME reviews for this one too. I know some of you want to see certain characters be redeemed, others hook up with other characters, etc... As I said when I started this story, I dreamed it and what I write is 90% what was in the dream. The other 10% I thought just needed to be added and or changed somewhat, lol. Anywho, hope you enjoy.
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WARNING: Character deaths.
The evening was fast approaching when the search party reached the farm where they thought Rick and Beth might be held up at. Having gotten to the boat, they had paddled silently up the inlet to the other dock so not to attract walkers to them or alert Rick and Beth to their presence. They needed the element of surprise on their side if they wanted to insure getting Judith back safely.
The four hunkered down in a ditch that ran alongside the back of the property and spread out, watching the house and the herd. The car that Chad had described to them was now parked a the back door of the house, ready for a quick escape. When nightfall finally settled, they moved quickly, blending in with the night, and busted the lock on the garage door on the side of the building. Clearing it, they decided to stay there until first light.
Rubbing a clean spot into the window facing the house, Merle looked out, "I'll take first watch. You three get some sleep. Gonna be a long ass night and maybe even mornin' if this herd ain't passed."
"How long do you think it'll be before that happens?" Glenn asked, pulling out a water bottle from his pack.
Shrugging, Merle kept his eyes pinned to the house, "Hard ta say. Could be as early as tomorrow mornin'...or could be another day or two. Herd this size had to be travelin' from Charleston or one of them bigger cities."
"Charleston is the closest," Michonne confirmed. Handing out some of the goat meat and venison they had made into jerky, she stopped at Merle, giving him his, but looking back at Glenn, "It isn't as big as Atlanta, but it's spread out. I'm sure that herd we saw when we went looking for meds back at the prison had came down from Atlanta, but it was a lot bigger then this one."
Merle stood to the side, chewing on a piece of the dried meat and watching closely. Seeing movement from one of the windows of the house, he smirked, "I see Officer Friendly is making his rounds. Just looked out the back window near the door."
Daryl came over, staying back but able to see out towards the house. Not seeing anything, he shook his head, "Sure ya ass ain't seen things? It's almost pitch black out."
"Nope, he's got himself a light in there." Thinking about something, Merle turned and looked at his brother, "You still got his piece?"
Daryl nodded and then moved back to the spot he'd left his pack, "Yep. Got it hid up in the attic. Ain't no one goes up there."
"Good. So he shouldn't be armed with anything except his knife then," Merle said as he looked back out again. Leaning against the wall, he sighed, "Shit's gonna hit the fan soon. Rest up. Gonna have ta be on our toes."
"Wake me up for second shift," Michonne said as she lowered herself to the floor and used her pack as a pillow. With her sword within reach, she breathed out, "We'll need to come up with a plan in the morning."
Merle blew out a breath and shook his head, "Plans simple, get that kid back by any means necessary. Friendly will probably put up a fight, but Daryl will handle him. Little Blondie will probably be too scared to even think 'bout doin' anything. Then we'll head back ta the dock. Chad's gonna bring that little john-boat back and tie it up there for us in the mornin'."
Glenn sat on the floor, leaning against the wall and sighed heavily, "Maybe we can talk Beth into coming back with us. Hershel and Maggie both don't want to see her out there alone..."
"She made the choice to go with Rick, Glenn. She knew what she was doing. She could have easily went to that barn with Judith...but she didn't. She chose to leave. She made her decision," Michonne said firmly from her spot. "Whose to say if we brought her back that she wouldn't try to take Judith again? Do you want that on your conscience?"
"No," Glenn breathed out. Closing his eyes, he spoke to no one imparticular, "Just no one hurt her, okay?"
Merle looked over in Glenn's direction, but said nothing. Merle could tell the Asian was struggling with the situation at hand, Beth being part of his family. Glancing over to where his brother sat, he could barely make out Daryl's form on the floor. They were all exhausted and tired, but each of them would push themselves if need be. Judith's life depended on them to find her and bring her back to their family, safe and sound.
Most of the morning walkers milled about the property in no rush to get to where ever they might be going. Several had all but stopped moving, almost becoming stationary where they stood and looking more like scary Halloween yard ornaments that had been left out too long. The stragglers were ones that seemed to have been injured in one form or another which was causing them to move at a slower pace then the main part of the herd that had moved on.
Michonne stood guard at the window, watching the house but seeing no movement from within. Merle, Daryl and Glenn were working out a plan to get into the house without drawing more walkers down on themselves. The one's between the house and garage they could take out with there knives and Michonne's sword. But if any loud noises were made or gunshots fired, it could draw the herd back to them in a heartbeat.
Movement at the back door caught her attention and Michonne saw someone move the curtain on the small window. When the door started to open, she stood up from her perch on the back of a chair, "Door's opening."
The three men moved to the window, staying back from the glass just enough so they couldn't be seen. Seeing Rick slip out with a large machete in hand and start clearing out the walkers, they pulled back.
"We gotta do this now," Daryl said, whispering so there wasn't a chance Rick would know they were there.
"Daryl's right, we need to get out there while we still have plenty of light. Judith doesn't need to spend another night out here," Glenn added, having come to terms with himself for what he might have to do.
Merle eyed Daryl and nodded, "Leave our packs here, just carry our weapons for now. When Rick's not paying attention we'll slip out and get the jump on him and get him disarmed."
Merle moved back, glancing out and seeing Rick struggling to take down the walkers that had him in their sites. Nodding towards the door, they each moved, staying as quiet as they could. Daryl slowly opened the side door, glancing out it and then slipping out but staying close to the wall. The others followed suit, Merle being the last out and closing the door back. Daryl stopped near the corner of the building and took aim at a walker that was coming towards them. Taking it down, he slipped back, letting Michonne move to where he had been and taking the lead as he reloaded.
Without a word, the four of them emerged from the spot next to the building and started taking down the walkers. Bodies fell to the ground in a heap of rotting flesh and bone, black coagulated blood splattering there arms, faces, and clothes. Rick saw the four of them, a sudden look of terror in his eyes before is disappeared only to be replaced with anger and resentment. Lashing out at a walker as it came snarling at him, the blade sunk into it's head, splitting the skull.
Seeing his opportunity, Daryl ran up behind Rick and using butt end of his crossbow, and struck the former sheriff in the back of his head. When Rick went down to his knees, Daryl heard Merle yell his name and turned, swinging his bow at a walker that had came around the side of the house. Taking it out, he dropped the crossbow and went over, hauling Rick up to his feet.
Shaking his head, Rick looked around in a daze from the hit to his head. The voice's around him faded into a loud wind type sound and he felt himself being lifted. Unsure of what was going on, he began to swing out his fist, connecting with whatever or whoever was holding onto him until he was free.
Daryl took a step back, wiping the blood from his split lip and then spitting to the side. Keeping his eyes on his former friend, Daryl charged at him, his shoulder ramming into Rick's shoulder and knocking him off balance and taking them both to the ground.
Michonne, Merle and Glenn watched as Daryl and Rick fought. The trio took out what few walkers stumbled towards them and then focused back on the two men. Both men were fighting hard, but it was Daryl who got the upper hand.
Practically sitting on Rick's chest, Daryl's fist slammed into the man's face, over and over. All the pent up anger, the fear of loosing Judith, the betrayal he felt came to a head in his punches. A gunshot rang out and Daryl's body was thrown forward and off Rick's body, his shoulder feeling like it was suddenly on fire and the breath being taken from him. Rolling onto his back, his left hand grasped at his shoulder, warm sticky blood spreading under his hand and through his fingers. Grimacing at the pain, all he could do was lay there breathing hard.
Glenn, Michonne, and Merle turned at the sound of the shot, Merle instantly pulling his gun from the waist of his pants. Beth stood not far behind them, her gun trained on Daryl and her eyes wide with fear. Only a few seconds passed before another shot rang out causing them to duck down and Beth's body jarred back before falling to the ground.
Merle looked around, ready to open fire to defend themselves when his eyes landed on Carl as he crawled up out the ditch they had hide in the afternoon before. The boy was holding tight to his gun, stalking towards them, his face void of emotion. It wasn't until he got within a few feet of them that Merle saw the boy's eyes and reached out, putting his hand on his shoulder to stop him, "Done enough here for today, son. Let's get ours and get on back for we got us a mess of trouble."
Michonne and Glenn were over helping get Daryl up but Merle kept his eyes locked with Carl's. Giving him a silent nod, he then looked over where Rick lay almost motionless from the beating his brother had given the man, "Let's get your sister and get the hell outta here."
Looking back over at the others, Merle barked out, "Y'all get ta that boat dock. Chad should have the other boat there waitin'."
Turning Carl, Merle kept his hand on the boys shoulder as they headed for the door, intent on getting Judith and getting themselves back to the farm before the place was swarmed again. Finding the back door locked, they ran around to the front and went in. Checking each room for the baby they came up empty handed.
"She has to be here," Carl growled, sweat dripping from his face.
Merle continued to look around and spotted a closet in the hallway and went to it. Opening the door, he looked in and smiled before kneeling down as Judith crawled over to him with a beaming smile, "Hey there, munchkin'. Ya ready ta get home?"
Carl came over, seeing his sister and felt a weight lift off his shoulders. Merle picked her up and stood before handing her over to him. Hugging her tight, he whispered, "Hey, sis...I missed you."
Looking towards the door, Merle sighed, "We gotta go, Carl."
They headed out and as they rounded the back of the house they were met with large group of walkers heading back there way. Rick was barely moving, but his hand was reaching upwards, his voice unrecognizable. Holding out his good arm, Merle kept his eyes on the herd, "Give her ta me. Ya stick with me and don't do anything stupid."
Carl handed over Judith and they took off running, heading for the ditch. Some of the walkers tried following them while the others headed towards the house. When they reached the garage, a terrified cry filled the air causing both to stop and look back. Two walkers were on Rick biting and tearing at his flesh. Not wanting them to be next, Merle breathed out, "C'on, boy...let's get our asses outta here."
Carl watched as his father was torn apart, not feeling any remorse for leaving him behind or for shooting Beth. Turning, he moved past Merle, pulling out his knife to help defend his sister if necessary.
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