Sorry about the delayed update, but...I finally got this chapter finished. Between being sick, looking for another job, getting a new job, lol...and then also having some writer's block, I was finally able to get something out for y'all. I know it's a short chapter, but, I hope you enjoy!
THANK YOU to all you WONDERFUL, AMAZING, and SUPER SWEET readers/reviewers! You guys are why I keep writing!
DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT own any of The Walking Dead characters and I'm NOT making any money off of them! I only claim the OC characters I created for this story.
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CARYL ON!
3 Weeks Later
Abraham stood at one of the picnic tables with a notebook laid out and pencil in hand. Drawing out the plans onto a sheet of paper as the others watched, he then stood up and let them take a look. In the weeks they had been there, they had been working on securing the fences more, making them even more secure then what they had been. Even though what he was proposing would take time, hard work and a lot of searching, he figured they could do it. They had nothing else to do anyways, especially if they wanted to thrive.
With a foot propped up on the seat of the picnic table, Merle leaned on it, looking over the rough drawing and nodding slightly, "Say we can find enough trailers or even metal, how ya planning on doin' this shit? Don't know 'bout you, but I ain't never driven no semi."
"I have," Abraham said firmly, looking at the other man. "Isn't all that hard really. Hell, even Rosita over there can drive one. Would just need one or two more drivers maybe."
"Closest thing to a truck that size that I've driven was a school bus," T-dog said, crossing his arms over his chest.
Looking back and forth between Merle and T-Dog, Abraham raised his brow, "We got three good cabs here. Between me and Rosita, we can get you two driving in no time."
Looking more at the paper, Daryl then pointed out a spot on it and then looked off in the direction it was on the fence line, "That area there's gonna be a bitch with those coverts there. Might be best ta just get some sheet metal from somewhere and cover it."
"That's what I was thinking. That or if we can find some more metal poles or long sections of rebar, we can reinforce it pretty good with it." Scratching at his chin, Abraham raised a brow, "Saw some rebar at that housing development we hit for the stoves. The were using it to reinforce some driveways they had been putting in."
"What about plywood?" T-Dog asked as he looked at them, "When we hit up that fire station after we got here, we noticed a hardware store not to far from it...has a small lumber yard in the back that was stocked."
"Could work," Abraham nodded as Merle nodded silently in agreement. "Might see if they have any more tubing incase we run across any more stoves."
Rosita who had been sitting there listening to the men and sharpening her knife turned slightly, asking, "What about just building a couple small fireplaces? With all that brick y'all said was there where you got the stoves, couldn't we build something it that?"
Merle glanced at the woman before pulling a pack of smokes from his pocket and lighting one, "Could, but the problem is we ain't got no cement...not enough anyways. Even if we did I'm not even sure we'd be able to with the way this place is. But..." he said, pausing and lighting the cigarette and then blowing out the smoke from his lips, "If'n we could find some of them portable one's..." Pointing to Daryl he nodded to him, "Like the one's we had out at Mitch's..."
Lifting his head slightly, Daryl nodded, "Yeah...yeah, those would work."
Merle smirked and then continued, "Bitches are 'bout six foot tall and ya can burn wood in 'em if'n ya have ta. Supposed ta be used outside, but we could rig them for inside like we did the stoves."
Abraham pursed his lips, thinking about what Merle was describing before nodding, "Think I know what you're talkin' about. Fucker's get hot as hell...has a aluminum top...like some chimney's, right?"
"That's it," Merle said with a stiff nod.
"Where would we find something like them around here?" T-Dog asked, crossing his arms over his broad chest.
Merle looked at his brother hoping maybe he had seen some on runs, but when he remained silent, Merle shook his head, "Not sure. Just have ta keep our eyes open for shit."
"Hershel thinks maybe having a small grill in the rooms might help some on really cold nights until we can get something figured out," Daryl said as he looked around at everyone. Shaking his head, he sighed, "Gotta do somethin'...can't have people freezin' ta death."
"Then I say we organize a couple run groups to head out in different directions looking for things we need and what they think we might be able to use. Three people per group...two groups out a day. Take the week to see what we find and go from there," Abraham suggested. "What we can't haul back or is too big for the one group to load, the following day both groups go get it."
"Sounds like a plan," T-Dog said and then lifted his chin, "I'll go."
Merle nodded and then looked to his brother who also nodded, "Alright, Merle, T and Daryl will head out together then...Abraham, you, Glenn and..."
"Me," Rosita said sheathing her knife and then standing up. When Merle raised his brow and glanced at Abraham, Rosita pursed her lips, "What, don't think I can do it?"
Merle eyed her for a moment and then smirked, "Never said ya couldn't. You wanna go...fine by me, darlin'."
Daryl shouldered his crossbow and then breathed out, "We'll leave out early then. Just make sure we're all back before sundown." With nothing left to say, he turned, heading back towards the warehouse to let the others know of the plan and to also check up on is own family.
