August 16, 2010

~*~ MD ~*~

It took a week to transport and install the containers from the company's site to the Homestead. Drivers made two trips a day to load and reload, each of their shotgun riders able to run the equipment on the other to load the containers onto the trailers. In all, they had 46 units, most residential in some format, but a handful of extras for hygiene facilities and finally a building set up as a command center to move the security room out of the office at the equipment barn. The paperwork Glenn discovered showed they were prepping for two separate orders - one a migrant farm camp and another a disaster relief effort going overseas.

It was the second order that delighted the medical personnel. The company was halfway through completing a modular hospital on larger semi-truck trailers. The radiology unit was built but lacking equipment, as were the inpatient and outpatient units. But since the surgical unit was completed, everyone was considering it a score. They could pilfer the equipment from local clinics and hospitals. The new 'infirmary' is now set up next to the nursing home to share the septic and water system. With any luck, they wouldn't use it much at all.

They now have an entire container village, stacked in four container stacks, secure on foundations and could conceivably sleep almost the entire population in the Village without assigning every bunk in the four ten-bed bunkhouses as well as the other units. Luckily, they didn't need to, and the ones in those units didn't seem to resent some folks got private bathroom facilities and even tiny galley kitchens.

It probably helped that no one's showers were usable yet, not even the shared washrooms for the non-bathroom units. The wells on the property couldn't sustain this level of water use until they finished upgrading the system. He was just grateful the toilets were all composting units, although that was going to cause a lot of the residents some adjustments. Showering in the RVs for a few more days wouldn't bother anyone.

Most of units were in various stages of furnishing with only the kitchen and bathrooms complete, but Glenn's teams solved that problem with runs to furniture stores. Today was move-in day, so the open area next to the Village looked like an explosion of furniture as Patricia and Carol allotted what each place needed.

"Surveying your kingdom, oh Mufasa?"

He snorts and accepts the hug in greeting from Cricket. "No more than you've been drooling over having an actual infirmary. You gonna be able to share with Edwards?"

"Yeah. Didn't make it far enough in med school to have my bedside manner permanently removed, but he's not bad if you remember it's not weird for doctors to develop God complexes. I think he's just so glad to answer to Hershel and not an uninformed cop that we could probably make him live in the infirmary staff room 24/7 and he wouldn't object."

"I think your younger siblings ended up with as much paint on them as the buildings when they put up the addresses." To save on everyone's sanity, they debated on some sort of labeling or addressing system for the Village. In the end, since there were twelve of the four container clusters, they were all named after the signs of the zodiac, narrowly beating out the twelve Olympians. Sophia, Honey, and Jazz volunteered to stencil the buildings and finished up just before move-in, looking like graffiti artists gone bad.

"I'm not entirely sure Jazz ending up with purple hair isn't on purpose from either one of the girls, you know. You think Carol's going to have a fit that Sophia's is about half blue?"

"I doubt it. She's usually just happy Sophia's getting to have small bouts of mischief still."

"You've been a lot happier lately, other than the hiccup with Scout and Daryl."

Calling it a hiccup was an understatement, considering Scout ended up off duty on doctor's orders for two full days. Shane didn't leave her side, but Jamie and Glenn stepped in nicely, proving they could safely rotate their outside crews to allow down time without exhausting Scout and Shane.

"I am happy." He meets her searching look and smiles.

"Carol's so much better than Evelyn, you know."

"Never intended to marry Evelyn any more than she intended to marry me. You kids worried a lot for nothing."

"Well, I'm glad you decided to take a chance finally. This definitely isn't a world to be alone in."

~*~ SW ~*~

Shane follows Scout's move instinctively, just like the other six on their team. Under the awnings of the shopping center, she tracks the flight of the helicopter with her binoculars.

"Looks like Guard, although there's no guarantee it's still in military hands, or that they haven't gone rogue."

She lowers the binoculars to exchange a look with Tim, who was assessing with his own binoculars. The former Ranger shrugs.

"Want to go find out?" she asks, turning to Shane.

"Might as well. If they're rogue, we don't want them finding the Homestead."

They set off back to their vehicles. Today's trip is primarily about the propane supplier here in Acworth, but the untouched pharmacy took as much priority. Unfortunately, it didn't have back up power, so all the refrigerated medication was a loss, even if the rest is a good haul.

Shane slides into the driver seat of the truck, with Scout beside him and Gage and T-Dog behind them in the crew cab. Tim follows with Karen, Bello, and McGinley in their own truck.

"There's an old campground out this way," Scout explains. "Angle's right for where it disappeared. Gonna radio it in. Tihu's crew is too close for my comfort."

Shane agrees. Daryl's systematic stripping of marina resources is bringing his two teams to Lake Allatoona every day. He listens in as she alerts Homestead, leaving it to them to relay the message.

T-Dog chuckles from the backseat. "You know, we thought Rick was crazy when he talked about seeing a helicopter in Atlanta. But now I'm thinking maybe it was whoever this is."

"Always possible," Shane notes.

Scout motions for him to pull over. "Gonna take Tim for a little recon."

He doesn't like separating from her, but he can't argue that she and the former Ranger are best suited for this. "Giving you half an hour, like always."

He watches the minutes track slowly by, glancing occasionally to the truck parked behind his. At the wheel, Karen is equally alert. He's glad neither of his companions feel the need to babble to fill the silence.

Radio on the dash sounds at last. "Follow the signs in to the campground. Got ten stray Guardsmen."

He puts the truck in gear and follows the instructions, but keeping alert. Scout's message didn't contain any codewords for duress, but it pays to be wary these days.

Her posture is loose and relaxed when he pulls up. Tim is at her left, hyper alert like he usually is outside their safe haven. Facing them is a weary looking man wearing Lieutenant rank, with a Sergeant close by. The others of their little unit aren't even standing, except for two doing checks on a trailered helicopter. With luck, they've found friendlies.

Shane joins her while the rest of their people stay in the trucks.

"This is my second-in-command, former deputy Shane Walsh," she begins. "Walsh, this is former Lieutenant Thomas Welles. He and his men were part of a refugee camp up at Rome before it fell after walkers got inside."

"Former?"

The older man sighs. "Resigned my commission and was out couple months before this started. Reported in to see if I could help my old unit. Never had any paperwork done in the chaos and not retired so..." He shrugs

"Kept us going," the sergeant says. "Paperwork don't matter."

Shane exchanges a look with both his own people, realizing he's in some grey area about military service. Using his own surname is far more formal than they ever are, but then again, her only two active military members she considers family.

"Was thinking there's no point in these Guardsmen living in a campground."

"Some might consider us deserters," Welles days.

"Not sure the military regs ever mentioned procedures for dead people cannibalizing the public. You kill civilians to get this far?"

Welles looks horrified. "Of course not! We tried to gather people to come with us, but it was chaos. Regrouped and went back to look for survivors and there were none. So, I took my men and kept them safe. We take the bird up to look for survivors but you're the first we've seen."

"Nature of the beast is most are keeping well hidden." Scout signals for his opinion and he taps back the yes on his thigh. They could use the manpower and they've got the space. Nothing about either man close enough to observe closely triggers his instincts.

"Got a safe haven I can offer, if you're tired of being a nomad. Plenty of civilians collected up."

"And if someone turns in a big group?"

"We've got our precautions in place. Haven't lost anyone since assholes ambushed us a few months back."

Welles and the sergeant exchange a look. The enlisted man nods and smiles, the first change in his solemn expression Shane's seen.

"And if any of my people do want to be free of military obligation, Staff Sergeant?"

"Don't exactly have a higher authority to process a discharge, but for my purposes, if they want to be civilians, that's how we'll treat them."

"Including myself?"

"Got no pressing need for an officer when we run things by civilian rules where we're from now."

"Good. I was always more committed to being a teacher than an officer. It paid for college and I honored my commitment, but I never made above lieutenant for a reason."

"We could probably use a teacher more anyway," Shane acknowledges. "Ever work with elementary kids?"

"Occasionally, to introduce then to the potential of the middle school band program."

"If you survived middle schoolers, our kids should be a walk in the park," Tim says, making everyone chuckle.

"You can really take in ten more?" the corporal asks.

"We've had a remarkable string of luck. Ten more able-bodied people is an easy addition. If you're coming, get loaded up. We have a supply run to finish out on the way back."

It takes them less than half an hour to strike camp. Shane thinks they're just grateful there's proof they aren't the last handful of people among the dead.

He has to say that bringing a helicopter back isn't among the expectations he had for today. He's doubtful of the long-term usefulness of it, but better secure with them than potentially with a violent group.

~*~ GR ~*~

Glenn flops onto the full-size bed with a grin. The container housing ranks among his favorite finds ever, especially since it means precious privacy with Maggie. He isn't sure her father is all that happy with them living together, but he didn't object.

They ended up with an upper unit in one of the duplex containers, one with a galley kitchen and eventually their own bathroom. There's no one next door yet on this side, with Rick and Morgan each having one of the two-bedroom family units below them. T-Dog has the unit on the other side of little building, with the last also open.

"I can't believe how many people took the triplexes with no bathrooms,' he says to Maggie, who is still unpacking her things. Their run went smoothly, leaving them time to settle in before supper and the community wide meeting in the community center after.

"Less obligation to look after a composting toilet or afraid it'll stink despite ours being essentially the same as a regular toilet."

He supposes that makes sense. He didn't know exactly how all the system worked with talk of composting and leach fields and didn't really care. When his turn came around to empty the composting bins, he'll grin and bear it. Wasn't like it's a daily chore.

Although it shows how weird life has become now that he's thinking about toilet function while alone in the first home he's ever shared with a woman. But after Maggie laughed so hard she fell over at his horrified reaction to his best friend and former roommate describing cholera and dysentery in graphic terms. He was surrounding himself by women who delighted in torturing him.

But when Maggie finishes her unpacking and joins him on the bed, he thinks that's a good thing.

Of course, that's when they get interrupted by the squawk of the cheap radios that serve for communication until a better system can be sorted out.

"Scout's teams are incoming with ten newbies. She's got the council meeting and wants you and Maggie to settle in the newbies."

He sighs and acknowledges, giving Maggie a rueful smile. She just pops up in her usual cheer, leaving him to take the few minutes he needs post-interruption.

"She's been giving you more responsibility lately."

He sits up and neatens clothing and hair. "I'm just glad she trusts me this much."

Maggie comes back to plant a tender kiss on him. "You've more than earned it."

They get downstairs in time to see the convoy pulling through the gates.

"Is that a helicopter?"

"Yeah."

"This ought to be an interesting orientation."

The four new military vehicles pull to park near their previously appropriated military gear. They still tend to stick to civilian vehicles for runs to draw less attention if spotted. Scout's vehicles hauling propane and related supplies pull further down to be unloaded.

She spots him and angles to cross paths, waving a summoning had toward the ten people dressed in military gear. They come forward, looking around in open curiosity.

"When you said you had a safe haven, Dixon, I was thinking a little walled off community, not this." Glenn catches the lieutenant rank on his fatigues and wonders if having an officer here is going to be a problem. But Scout only smiles, so maybe not.

"Glenn, Maggie, meet our National Guardsmen. I'm going to need you to get them settled in so I can clean up before the meeting." She turns back to the Lieutenant. "Glenn kept a group of just over a dozen people fed and supplied with solo runs into the Atlanta hot zone for nearly two months. He's the authority beyond myself and Shane Walsh on supply runs. Maggie's his partner. They led the team that discovered the building blocks of our little village."

The Guardsmen nod as Scout is summoned away. Once she's gone, Glenn turns to his new charges.

"You're in luck that we just finished most of the housing today as far as being able to move in. Only downside is that the showers aren't working yet while they amp up the water system. I hope you don't mind a bit of a dorm situation for now. Carol will ask some folks to double up if you want more individual housing, but she's going to be in the council meeting so it'll be tomorrow before that can happen."

"We've been sleeping in tents and you're apologizing for beds, electricity, and plumbing?" The man laughs and extends a hand to first Glenn, then Maggie. "I'm guessing you go for informal address here. I'm Thomas Welles."

Glenn shakes his hand. "Yelling Dixon around here will get about ten different people summoned, so first names do tend to be best. It's their family property. Follow me and I'll show you the bunkhouse so you can get your things and settle in. The RVs over there are all vacant, so you can shower there."

"How many people are there here?" Welles asks. Glenn looks to where a few of the nursing home residents are out enjoying the sunshine and overseeing a handful of kids playing soccer in the grassy space between the nursing home and infirmary.

"About 150, before your group," Maggie answers. "Up until today, we were crammed into RVs and doubled or tripled up in the houses, except for the elderly. Their residence was completed first out of necessity, then the community center to feed everyone. Finding these housing containers meant for some migrant farm was a blessing."

They've reached the building designated for the men's bunkhouses and Glenn hesitates. "With three women among you, they have the option for other housing, but we understand if your group prefers not to be split up just yet."

"How far away would we be?" One of the women asks, glancing at the little twelve building village curiously.

"This building is dubbed Pisces. Upstairs are two ten-person bunkhouses and downstairs is a men's washroom with six toilets and six showers. The other unit is a triplex of rooms with no bathrooms or kitchens. All three of those rooms are occupied. The men can take one bunkhouse and the women the other, but the ladies would need to go two buildings down to Scorpio for the closest washroom. Although honestly, no one's going to really kick up a fuss if you all share the washroom here. There aren't any kids in the building, and two of the men are Marines used to close quarters."

"If there's a men's bunkhouse, I'm guessing there's a women's?" Welles asks.

"Yes. It's the Taurus building at the far end of this row. Both of those are empty now because we still had space to spread out when Carol assigned rooms yesterday."

Maggie glances toward the other buildings. "One of the two-person dorm rooms is still open on the ground floor in Scorpio. Joan and Michaela decided to room together."

The two women were the ones that Glenn knew suffered the most under the executed assholes at Grady, so he understands their wish to stay together.

"That'll give two of you a bathroom and galley kitchen. You don't have to cook for yourselves, but it'd leave the option open. The other building residents were all sequestered at a hospital in Atlanta by surviving members of the police department. The former officers are all actually in the building in between here and Scorpio."

Two women exchange a look and grin. "We'll take the dorm room. These are good guys, but we've lived with their B.O. long enough."

"Not sure how to break it to you that you aren't smelling like roses, either, Miriam," one of the men snarks, but it's friendly.

"What about couples?" the third woman asks. She glances toward one of the men, who also seems interested in the answer.

"Ah. That's easier. This row is meant for singles. Everything is set up with bunks with a few exceptions. But the other row is for families and couples. You get a room pretty much identical to the dorm the two ladies are getting, but with a full-size bed. The one next to mine and Maggie's is free."

Maggie helpfully points to the upper level of the Aquarius building right across from Pisces. "Number four. There are two single fathers with teenagers downstairs, so you won't have to sidestep the really small kiddos."

It's the male half of the couple who speaks up to accept, so Glenn motions at the stairs on the Pisces building. "There's five sets of bunks in each, so if you six want to split up for more elbow room, feel free. We could get new residents at any time, or not ever again, so might as well spread out while you can."

Welles directs everyone to grab their gear, and when they meet back where Glenn and Maggie are waiting, Glenn smiles at the anticipation on their tired faces.

"Drop off your stuff and aim for the RVs to shower. There are towels and soap available. You can leave your dirty clothes in the baskets, since they'll know it's your group's since it won't be tagged yet. Supper will start in the community center at seven, but if you're hungry before that, there's usually someone in there who can help you rummage in the leftovers."

The men head up the stairs, splitting off in four and two between the bunkhouses. Maggie leads the two women off to their building while Glenn just waves the couple on their way. He's pretty sure two military trained adults can figure out how to get to a home they can see from here.

The man does pause to introduce himself while his girlfriend heads upstairs. "William Brady, but I prefer Brady. She's Denova. Carlisle for now, until I can convince there's enough of a future in front of us to finally accept my proposal."

"Good luck with that, man."

He grins and trots up the stairs after Denova, leaving Glenn waiting as Maggie comes back down the little roadway between the buildings. From the look on her face, they're about to return to their interrupted christening of their new bed.

~*~ CP ~*~

Carol smiles warmly as she takes a seat at one if the empty spots with their newest residents. "I hear that Glenn and Maggie got you all settled in."

The older man pointed out to her as the former lieutenant nods. "They did. And everyone we've encountered has been so friendly. Your family is putting together an amazing community here."

"It has been the effort of many." She slides her notebook on the table. They're trying to develop a process for newcomers, and while she's still reeling a little at her inclusion in the expanded and now formalized council, she intends to do her part. "Everyone has their roles to play."

"And ours?"

"That's what we're about to find out." She clicks her pen and begins her gentle interrogation.

It takes about an hour, and the community center is mostly empty when the Guardsmen leave her sitting thoughtfully at the table. Even the cleaning crew is finished, although Alaina is leading a team to prep for tomorrow's breakfast now that they have room to plan ahead. Carol's really looking forward to the berry French toast bake, especially when she didn't cook it.

Cricket settles into the empty seat opposite her with two mugs and pushes one toward Carol. It smells of rich cocoa and she marvels at how closely all Merle's children notice her preferences, like cocoa instead of the peppermint tea they all seem to adore.

"So, what sort of newbies are we breaking in this time? At least they won't be afraid of weapons."

"A fairly diverse bunch. One couple for certain that took the place next to Glenn and Maggie. He was a web developer and she's a mechanic. He says he knows enough to get us a working network too."

"It would be nice if we didn't have to do everything on paper for the most part. Glenn will be over the moon to clear out a Best Buy."

"As for the others, their leader was a band director also qualified to teach science, so Gail will have company and that'll let Alaina move on to something else. I think she enjoys children in smaller doses than daily for four hours."

Cricket laughs. "I'm surprised she volunteered at all. She might have been a librarian, but she worked at a college library. Small children have never been her forte."

"On the other two women, one is a fitness trainer and the other a CNA. After they get a couple days off and you clear them medically, I'm going to have them rotate in the nursing home staff so G's crew gets some downtime. Miriam speaks Spanish, so that'll help with the residents who aren't bilingual."

"Scout will probably talk the trainer into taking over some of the beginner classes for self-defense. She should be capable with her military background."

"I'll go ahead and do that. What about the other five?"

"Paralegal, special ed paraprofessional, locksmith, security guard, and city parks worker. I'm also about eighty percent certain the security guard and the locksmith are a couple and not admitting it because they're concerned about the reception. They're rooming separately from the other single men, too, but everyone is friendly."

"I'll make sure to drop by with Tara and suss them out. Don't Ask, Don't Tell can be considered obsolete, I think, so they shouldn't feel like they need to keep private if they are a couple. Our world is too risky for that crap."

She fiddles with her mug and Carol figures the conversation she's had with exactly none of Merle's children is about to happen.

"I told Daddy this morning he looks happier than I've seen him in a long time."

Carol smiles, some of her nerves dispensed by the fond tone Cricket uses.

"My only worry is that it's so soon for you, and all the experts before would say you should wait a lot longer. But I've seen a lot of evidence in my lifetime that expertise that works for one person can flop for the next."

She gives Carol a bashful look. "And I know that Tara and I definitely make me a little hypocritical here. It's just that Daddy's been alone for such a long time because he didn't trust a woman around us as much as himself. So, if it doesn't work for you and you need out, just please remember the kids love you too, and they've never had a mama to care for them like you do."

Carol feels tears well up, happy and bittersweet, but blinks them away. No one can miss the easy affection Honey dispenses like sunshine to everyone she cares for, so Carol's never needed a conversation to understand the girl. But Jazz? He's a mystery most days on what he's feeling. It's a serious conversation she needs to have with him.

"I wouldn't walk away from them any more than your father would Sophia," she promises. She wonders it it's overstepping to tell the young woman she feels equally fond of the grown children as well. Maybe that's a conversation for another time.

The brunette finishes off her tea and stands, but pauses before she walks away. "Carol? Ask Daddy about the books on the bottom shelf in his office."

Carol watches her go, trying to remember if she's ever looked at the office bookshelf. Before her new council duties in charge of work roster, housing, and social planning, she didn't have any need to use Merle's laptop, although he suggested she do so tomorrow. She'll have to take a peek on the way to bed tonight.

~*~ MD ~*~

Merle stops short of the bed when he sees Carol's apprehensive expression and the book in her hands. He reminds himself that she's one of the most tender-hearted women he's ever met and goes to sit on the bed so he's facing her.

He reaches out to take the book. "You picked a good one to start with."

"It seemed the most expedient. There's time to read the more technical ones later, if I need to."

"He was ten before he was diagnosed. I think most of his teachers were just glad to have a boy who was quiet and read a lot that they overlooked things, and I certainly didn't have to background to know. Only thing I knew of autism was the severe non-verbal kind that got people sent away for care."

"Sophia had a classmate with Asperger's last year. I never read anything about it until now, though."

"His is mild to moderate, depending on which aspect you're looking at. Most people don't even realize it." He gives her the book back. "I should have said something sooner, so you would be aware, but you sorta just did everything right by instinct."

"Like what?"

"You don't insist on eye contact, louder speech, or physical contact he hasn't initiated. He's better with kids, mostly because they don't take offense as easily as adults. But being a big, athletic kid helps. Had a school counselor try to keep him to non-team sports, which didn't work. She never made the connection that his issues with physical contact in social situations don't apply on the team where there are strict rules and procedures. Boy was a holy terror on the wrestling team, and half the theory says he should abhor a sport that involves grappling strangers when he's got a touch aversion."

"So, I should just treat him as I already do?"

"You're already doing it exactly right." He smiles and leans in for a kiss, grateful her innate nature made her easy for his teenage son to be around.

"I just realized today we never really talked to any of the kids about us."

"About the only one I think might need a conversation would be Jazz, of the three younger ones." He settles into bed. "Honey and Sophia are obviously delighted."

"You took Honey wanting her little place down in the Village well."

"Just had to remind myself we'd have been moving her into the athletic dorms at college this month if the world hadn't turned upside down." He's also really sure that putting her in that particular building will give her several folks to rely on while feeling independent.

She sets the book aside and switches off the lamp, moving close to curl against him. "If we met under different circumstances, do you think you would have trusted me to meet your kids?"

"I like to think I'm smart enough to snap you up under any meeting, but I might have avoided you. Kids love too easily, and you're so easy to fall for," he admits. "I always figured there was plenty of time left once they were all grown."

When she stills, but before he can ask, he realizes what he said and continues. "Think I fell for you at the quarry and was just too thickheaded to realize it til later "

"I'm glad you figured it out because I love you, Merle."

He knew that without the words, because she shows him every day in her sweet care for him and the children and the friends that make up their extended family.

Merle smiles and repeats his own love declaration against her lips.

~*~ TD ~*~

T-Dog answers the knock on his door to find Honey Dixon waiting with one of the barn puppies in her arms. She hands him the dog with a lopsided smile.

"You shouldn't have to give up all your roommates. She's yours to keep. I know housewarming gifts are usually food or plants, but I figured you'd enjoy a dog more."

He's a bit overwhelmed by the unexpected gift. Although he did want one of the puppies, once he learned they were Honey's, he didn't ask. "Thank you. How did you know she's my favorite?"

"Glenn told me. She's not named yet, so you'll need to settle that and get her fully housebroken."

She starts to walk away, not toward the stairs down, but to the place next door.

"This mean we're okay now?"

"Yeah, been better about it for a while and thought I'd let you know, especially since we're neighbors." With a cheery smile, she disappears through her door.

He takes the puppy inside, feeling lighter hearted than he has in a long, long while.