Chapter seventeen: Hostage situation.

"Doing the right thing sis not the problem, but knowing the right thing to do, is."

After bringing Carol my bag of washing, I noticed that Rick and Glenn were missing and that Dale looked annoyed as I set out towards the well to get some more water for Lori. At the well, I ran into Shane, who was washing his face; he raised his head as I started to pump the water.

"Good mornin'." I said shortly and the man bobbed his head, staring at the floor.

"I just wanted to say I was sorry about the other day. I didn't know your mom was in there." I glanced at Shane before nodding.

"I know you didn't, no one did…you were right though," he frowned, "about the barn, it was too dangerous to ignore and one day it might have been compromised. I think movin' on is a good idea as well, this place isn't safe enough, we keep forgettin' these things are dangerous and soon, supplies are gonna run out."

"Rick will never agree to move on with Lori pregnant." Shane muttered bitterly as I finished pumping the water and stared hard at him.

"You love her?" His head snapped up and his eyes met mine. "It's none of my business, but have you considered maybe movin' on? I know Andrea has the hots for you." I finished, hefting the bucket of water and turning around to leave.

"You think that's a good idea? Rick won't want me around."

"No, not while you're second guessin' him at every turn. You and Rick always have the same ideas but different execution methods and I'm thinkin' that's why you two butt heads." I replied before starting to walk away. After maybe ten steps, Shane caught up and took the bucket from me.

"I think you might be onto something, I'll talk to Rick when he's back."

"Here's your laundry." I grinned at Carol as she handed me my backpack, it smelled much nicer as I opened it.

"Thanks Carol, let me know if I can help with anythin' in return."

"Could you check on Lori? She was in the house with Beth and Maggie earlier, don't know if she's eaten." I nodded and first returned my clothing to my tent before entering the Greene house, which was eerily silent. As I crept through the halls, my skin crawled; Lori and Patricia were talking in the hall, hushing up as I approached.

"Hey, Carol sent me to make sure you'd eaten." I said softly, hearing Maggie talking inside Beth's room as Lori nodded. "Alright, everythin' okay in here?" Both women nodded as I then bowed my head and went back outside; with a sigh, I put my hands on my hips and looked around. Shane and Andrea were talking by the blue truck that had belonged to Otis, Carol was with the kids doing school work, Dale was on watch atop the RV and Daryl was fiddling with his brother's bike. Down the driveway, Hershel's car was returning but Rick and Hershel got out before the gate with a third person supported between them as Glenn returned the car to its spot and got out.

"We couldn't just leave him behind, he would've bled out, if he lived that long. It's gotten bad in town." Rick began, hands on his hips and face turned towards the floor as we stood gathered in Hershel's front room.

"What do we do with him?" Lori asked, the cut on her face was healing already; at some point in the night, she had tried to go after Rick an ended up in a car accident, Shane had brought her back.

"I repaired his calf muscle as best I can, but he'll probably have nerve damage, he won't be on his feet for at least a week." Hershel explained, rubbing his hands on a cloth.

"When he is, we give him a canteen, take him out to the main road and send him on his way."

"Isn't that the same as leaving him for the walkers?" Andrea asked cynically, arms folded over her chest as she stood beside Shane.

"He'll have a fighting chance."

"Just gonna let him go? He knows where we are." Shane argued and Rick glared at his friend, who shook his head and looked down.

"He was blindfolded the whole way here. He's not a threat." Rick assured and for most of the group this was enough.

"Not a threat, how many of them were there? You killed three of their men, you took one of them hostage, but they just ain't gonna come looking?" Shane scoffed and I rolled my eyes as Rick shook his head.

"They left him for dead, no one is looking."

"We should still post a guard." Andrea decided; hand on her gun as Daryl glared around the room.

"He's out cold right now and he will be for hours." Hershel replied.

"You know what? I'm gonna go get him some flowers and candy. Look at this, folks...We back in fantasy land." Shane made for the door, Andrea flanking him as they passed Hershel.

"You know, we haven't even dealt with what you did at my barn yet. Let me make this perfectly clear, once and for all...this is my farm. Now I wanted you gone. Rick talked me out of it, but that doesn't mean I have to like it. So do us both a favour and keep your mouth shut." An awed silence captured the room as Shane looked around incredulously and after a few minutes, he sighed and left, realising that no one was going to take his side and contradict Hershel.

"We're not gonna do anything about it today, let's just cool off."

The two groups split again, most of us going back outside to argue amongst ourselves about Randall's fate; I went and sat in my tent where the sun wasn't as harsh, along until Daryl returned, trailing who I heard to be Carol.

"What are you doin'?" Daryl asked and I heard him perching on the bike.

"I'm keeping an eye on you." Carol replied and the redneck scoffed.

"Ain't you a peach?" I smiled and pulled Jonah's jacket towards me.

"I'm not gonna let you pull away. You've earned your place with this group." The older woman said softly, there was a silence until I heard one of them spitting on the floor.

"If you spent half your time minding your own business instead of sticking your nose in everybody else's, your little girl wouldn't have gone missin'."

"Go ahead." Carol muttered, I held my breath and waited.

"Go ahead and what? I mean just go! I don't want you here!" He stomped around camp for a few minutes and Carol hadn't left him alone yet. "You're a real piece of work, lady. What, are you gonna make this about my daddy or some crap like that? Man, you know Jack shit. You're afraid. You're afraid 'cause you don't know what to do with yourself. You ain't my problem none of you are." Daryl shouted and I turned my head and looked over at the exit of my tent with a frown; she still hadn't gone scurrying away.

"What about Ellie then, is she your problem?" Carol demanded and no other sounds could be heard, even the main camp had fallen silent, listening to the argument. "She was the one riding away from the CDC with you, the one who went food hunting in the retirement home with you, the one you sneak up on and take on runs."

"Stop talkin'." Daryl warned and I crawled to unzip my tent, knife in hand. Both of them looked at me as I grinned and jerked my head towards the camp.

"I'm headin' out; wanna look in the forest for any berries." I announced and Carol was pale but nodded as I passed her. Rick hurried over whilst shaking his head.

"No one leaves camp, not until we know where Randall's group is." He contradicted and I scoffed. "I'm serious."

"Oh come on, I'd be willin' to bet that his group ain't nowhere near us." But Rick shook his head again. "Seriously, I'm only goin' a little way; I'll still be in sight."

"No exceptions." He then walked away with an air of finality, Shane met my eyes as I sighed and put away my knife.