S2 E1
The next day was spent scavenging and filling up on gas. They had 125 miles to go. They had to travel lighter, not enough gas for all the vehicles. Hazel refused to leave her van. Daryl dumped his truck to ride Merles motorcycle, Shane let go of his jeep and T dog left his van. So the RV was full and they headed out with the remaining 4 vehicles. An hour in, they came to a blockade of vehicles stranded on both sides of the highway, Daryl went ahead with his motorcycle, leading the group through a zigzag of cars. A little ways through, the RV gave out, and they had to stop. Hazel got out of her van and walked towards the group. "I said it. Didn't I say it? A thousand times. Dead in the water." Dale said walking to the front of the RV looking at the smoke. "Problem Dale?" Shane asked looking around. Hazel looked around at the cars. "Just a small matter of being stuck in the middle of nowhere with no hope of..." Dale stopped as he turned around realizing where they were. "Okay, that was dumb." He finished. Hazel watched as Daryl began going through a near by car. "If you cant find a radiator hose here..." Shane said. "There's a whole bunch of stuff we can find." Daryl said rummaging. "We can siphon more fuel from these cars for a start." T dog said. Walking past Dale. "Maybe some water." Carol said holding onto Sophia. "Food." Glenn said looking back at her. Lori was hesitant, "This is a grave yard." She said. Everyone stopped to look at her for a minute. "I don't know how I feel about this." She finished. "I get it but we need the supplies, more than they do." Hazel said looking to Lori. Lori slowly nodded and looked down to Carl, taking his hand.
They began walking around collecting and syphoning tanks. Hazel found a laundry basket full of clothes that she dumped out. Daryl kept a close eye on Hazel, he looked over just in time to see Shane walk by her looking at her ass while she was bent over in a car. Daryl's eyes narrowed and the familiar feeling of jealousy built in his stomach. Shane's eyes met Daryl's as he looked back up, Shane tried to play it off, and walked away. Hazel left Oogie in her van with the overhead a/c on low. She was snapping pictures as she scavenged. Daryl and T dog were going car to car popping the gas tanks open to siphon the fuel. Hazel was close behind them with her basket. She was looking through the empty cars. Some not so empty, with rotting carcasses. She would find things like soap and toilet paper, tooth paste, and some canned food. She came across a beat up black pinto with bumper stickers all over the back. She opened it up and found a suitcase. She opened it to find some new black tank tops with old rock bands names on them. She was ecstatic as she continued to rummage through the clothing, and there on the passenger side floor she found exactly what she needed. Big black Harley boots. A smile spread across her face as she reached over to grab them. Daryl quickly grabbed Hazel and pushed her down on the ground. She heard her camera shatter as she hit the ground. "What tha fu..." She looked over at him as he shushed her. "Get under." He growled lowly. He pointed under the car and she quickly rolled under. "Daryl!" She whispered. But he was gone.
The cement was hot and rough on her stomach. She franticly searched around her. What was going on? Then she heard the moans and the shuffling feet as the herd began to pass them. She covered her mouth, trying to stay as quiet as possible. It seemed like hours but the herd passed and everything was quiet for a moment. Hazel waited under the car until she saw Daryl and T dog's feet. Daryl whistled at her. She quickly climbed out and ran to them. She looked down at T dog's arm. It was ripped open and gushing blood. He was out of breath and in a lot of pain. Daryl held his rag over the wound and helped hold him up as they quickly and quietly ducked through the maze of cars. That's when they heard screams, they quickened their pace to the RV, and saw Rick running into the woods. Sophia had come out from under a vehicle too soon and had two walkers after her, Rick had gone after her. Hazel and Daryl sat T dog on the ground by the RV. "Glenn the first aid." Hazel said sternly sitting next to T dog. Glenn rushed into the RV. returning with what was left of the first aid kit. Daryl headed towards the woods. "Daryl no!" Hazel yelled. He stopped and looked back. "She's right, we need to just wait for Rick." Lori said. He looked back towards the tree line, staying put. Everyone stood anxiously waiting for Rick to bring Sophia back. Hazel rubbed an alcohol pad over the opened wound. T dog winced in pain, groaning. "I know but its all we got. It really needs to be stitched. And I have no fucking idea how to do that, cant even sew clothes right, so this is gonna have to do." She said as she used medical tape to hold the wound closed. Then she put a piece of gauze over it and taped the sides. "That's all I can do." Hazel said. "Thanks." T dog said weakly, nodding. Hazel nodded and headed to her van, luckily Oogie stayed down where the walkers didn't see him.
When she knew he was safe she made her way back to the edge of the highway with the others. Daryl was pacing in the tall grass. When Rick did get back, Sophia wasn't with him, and hadn't come back on her own. So Rick, Daryl, Shane and Glenn went off to find her. Distraught Carol stood at the edge of the highway waiting. There was nothing Hazel could do and even though she was worried as well, she went back to work. She made her way back to the pinto. She grabbed the bag of clothes, swinging it over her shoulder, then the boots and her basket of stuff and made her way back to the RV to unload. she placed the basket next to an old yellow mustang that was next to the RV. then brought the bag of clothes and boots to her van. She turned around as Shane and Glenn made it back, telling everyone to be calm, that Daryl and Rick were on her trail. She picked up a new crate and walked back out going car to car. She was able to find some some more knives and a couple of hand guns, but they were empty and she didn't find any bullets. Still she threw them in the basket. She even found a couple small bags of cat food and dog food. It would have to do.
When she made it back to the RV again, the small group had gathered. Lori and Carl came up carrying crates of stuff. Glenn had been gathering spare parts for Dale. Dale had been working on the RV. Andrea had been helping Shane move cars so they could turn around and head back to a bypass Glenn had found on the map, they had enough gas to back track now. "Going backs gonna be easier than trying to get through this mess." Shane said. "We're not going anywhere till my daughter gets back." Carol said. "Hey, that goes without saying." Lori said as she passed her. "Rick and Daryl, they're on it, okay? Just a matter of time." Shane said. "Cant be soon enough for me." Andrea said tossing a water bottle to Hazel. "I'm still freaked out from that herd that passed us by, or whatever you'd call it." Andrea finished. "Yeah, what was that? All of them just marching along like that." Glenn said. "A herd." Hazel said nodding, looking at Andrea then to Shane. "That sounds about right. We've seen it. It's like the night camp got attacked. Some wandering pack, only fewer." Shane said nodding looking between all of them. He took a breath. "Ok. Come on people. We still got a lot to do. Let's stay on it. Lets go. Come on." He said walking away.
Carol continued standing on the side of the road waiting. Hazel walked up to her trying to be supportive. She didn't say anything just wrapped her in a hug, Carol hugged back letting out a few tears. Hazel rubbed her back as she released her, she nodded and walked off to help the others. Flashlights, batteries, blankets, food, water, gas. Hazel was multitasking. She began to go a bit further out. "Hazel!" She turned at Shane's voice. "You don't need to go that far out." He said. "But what if there's stuff we need out there?" She asked looking at him confused. "We'll get to it, I just don't want us spread too thin right now. Within shouting distance. Don't wanna get stranded if another herd comes through." He said. She turned around looking at the cluster of unsearched cars. "Come on. Come on. Lets go." Shane said. She turned around and walked back to him. There was still a lot of cars to move and look through, in the so called safe zone. Shane walked off headed towards a new car. Hazel looked over to see him and Lori having a discussion. Once he had gotten the car started, the radio came onto an emergency broadcasting system loop. Glenn, Dale, Andrea and Hazel walked up to them. "Is that a local signal?" Glenn asked. "Its gotta be within 50 miles of here." Dale said. "Its a fuckin machine, there's no one there." Hazel said grimly. After listening for a second Shane turned it off. "Asshole." He mumbled. "Okay, lets get back to work." He said.
Time stretched on, evening came, the sky was getting darker. Hazel was bringing in her last loot of the day when she heard Andrea talking loudly to Dale. "Where's my gun? You have no right to take it." She said. "You don't need that just now, do you?" He asked. Hazel put the basket down by the RV. "My father gave it to me. It's mine." She answered. "I can hold onto it for you." Dale said not looking at her. "Or you can give it back to me." She said. That's when Shane walked up. "Everything cool?" He asked. "No, I want my gun back." She said crossing her arms. "I Don't think its a good idea right now." Dale said to Shane. "Why not?" Asked Shane. "I'm not comfortable with it." Dale answered looking at Shane. Andrea scoffed. "The truth is, less guns we have floating around camp the better." Shane said. "You turning over your weapon?" Andrea asked. Shane laughed. "No. But I'm trained in its use. That's what the rest of y'all need is proper training. but until that time I think it's best if Dale keeps them all accounted for." He answered. Andrea scoffed again. "Uh huh." She said and walked off. Hazel kept her distance, since Amy died, Andrea had become some what of a brat, or maybe she always had been. Either way it was leaving a bad taste in Hazel's mouth.
Daryl and Rick were coming back from the tree line, no Sophia. Carol became more distressed, Rick told her that her trail had gone cold and that they would find it again in the morning. Hazel walked up to join them. "Out in the darks no good. We'd just be trippin over ourselves. More people get lost." Daryl said calmly, Carol protested. "But she's 12 . She cant be out there on her own. You didn't find anything?" "I know this is hard. But I'm asking you not to panic. We know she was out there." Rick said. "And we tracked her for a while." Said Daryl. "We have to make this an organized effort. Daryl knows the woods better than anybody. I've asked him to oversee this." Rick said. "Is that blood?" Carol asked noticing Daryl's blood soaked pants. Rick and Daryl begin to explain the blood, how it was only walker blood, and that it never crossed Sophia's path. How they cut it open to be sure. Carol sat on the guard rail, trying to catch her breath. Lori sat next to her and attempted to comfort her. Carol started in on Rick, Rick trying to explain himself. After she had calmed a little, Rick walked away, questioning his choices. Hazel kneeled in front of carol and took her hands, holding them together with hers, a tear running down her cheek. Daryl started back to his bike, Hazel looked over and handed Carol's hands to Andrea who came up behind her. Hazel stood up as Andrea sat on the other side of carol on the guard rail. Hazel made her way to Daryl, joining him at his bike, Daryl leaned on it. "You ok?" Hazel asked. "Nah, something don't feel right, about her tracks." He answered. "What do you mean?" She asked. "She was going the right way, and then swerved off the wrong way. Like something spooked her but there were no other tracks. Then later they just faded away." He said. "That's odd. What are you thinking?" She asked. "Donno, but we gonna pick it up tomorrow. She's out there somewhere." He answered. "Good." She said.
That night everyone had gathered into the RV to sleep, except Shane who sat on the RV's roof keeping watch. The next day came, Hazel sat in the doorway of her van putting on her new boots. She stood up and walked in a circle trying them out. They were a little big, but they would work just fine. Daryl walked up to her. "Got me some new motha fuckin boots." She said with a deep voice and a smile. "Yeah." Was all he said looking down at them. She walked over to the doorway and pulled her top off, exposing her black bra. Daryl looked away embarrassed. She pulled on a new tank top with "Ozzy" on the front. "What?" She asked as she threw her old tank top into her van. "You gonna do that in front of everyone?" He asked. She looked around, there was no one in sight. "In front of who?" She asked in a whisper looking back at him. He looked annoyed. She pulled out a pack of cigarettes, pulling one from the pack and placing it in her mouth then handed the pack to him. He took one and lit it, then reached over and lit hers. "Such a gentleman." She said with a flirty smile. "Stop." He said looking away from her. She went back to the doors and hooked Oogie onto his leash. He jumped out of the van and she closed the doors. "We getting ready to leave." He said. "Okay, well I gotta let him out for a bit." She said nodding to Oogie. He nodded and walked away, putting the cigarette in his mouth.
She walked over to the edge of the highway into the grass. Oogie was enjoying the walk. He was sniffing around and pawing at the grass. Eventually he found a good spot to do his business and Hazel walked him over to where the group was gathering. "Oogie!" Carl said happily. He walked over kneeling down as the cat walked up and began rubbing on him. Hazel watched with delight as Carl smiled at her. Hazel handed him the leash and made her way to the car as the guys began handing out melee weapons to everyone, they were heading out to look for Sophia. "These aren't the kind of weapons we need. What about the guns?" Andrea asked. Hazel couldn't roll her eyes hard enough. "We've been over that. Daryl, Rick and I are carrying. We cant have people popping off rounds every time a tree rustles." Shane answered. "It's not the trees I'm worried about." She said. "Say somebody fires at the wrong moment, a herd happens to be passing by. See then it's game over for all of us. So you need to get over it." Shane said to her. Daryl started telling everyone his plan. Staying close to the creek. When Daryl was done talking, Rick walked over to Dale. "Dale, keep on those repairs. We've got to get this RV ready to move." He said. Dale stood up. Hazel walked over and put her arm around Dale's neck and laid her head on his shoulder, he wrapped his arm around her waist. "We wont stay here a minute longer than we have to. Good luck out there. Bring Sophia back." Dale said leaning in the RV doorway. "Keep an eye on Carl while we're gone." Rick said looking at Carl and holding his hand out towards him. "I'm going with you." Carl said. Rick took a breath. "You need people right? To cover as much ground as possible." He said. Rick groaned. Hazel picked her head up as Rick looked to Lori. Lori shook her head. "Your call. I cant always be the bad guy." she said. Hazel smiled and looked back at Rick who was struggling for an answer. "Well he's got all you to look after him. I'd say he's in good hands." Dale told Rick. Rick slowly agreed, Dale winked at Carl as he happily walked away. Hazel smiled and squeezed Dale's shoulder.
She stepped away and walked to the side of the RV. She tied Oogie's leash to a rope latched to the RV. She looked up to see Andrea walk up to Dale. "Andrea, I'm begging you. Don't put me in this position." Dale said raising his hands. "I'm not going out there without my gun. I'll even say please." she said. "I'm doing this for you." Dale said. "No Dale you're doing this for you. You need to stop. What do you think is going to happen? I'm gonna stick it in my mouth and pull the trigger the moment you hand it to me?" She asked. "I know you're angry at me. That much is clear. But if I hadn't done what I did, you'd be dead now." Dale said slowly. "Jenner gave us an option. I chose to stay." She said. "You chose suicide." He said loudly. "So what's that to you? You barley know me." She asked him. "I know Amy's death devastated you." He said. "Keep her out of this. This is not about Amy. This is about us. And if I decided that I had nothing left to live for, who the hell are you to tell me otherwise? To force my hand like that?" She asked. "I saved your life." He answered. "No Dale. I saved yours. You forced that on me. I didn't want your blood on my hands and that is the only reason I left that building. What did you expect? What, I'd have some kind of epiphany? Some life-affirming catharsis?" She asked. "Maybe just a little gratitude." He answered. "Gratitude? I wanted to die my way, not torn apart by drooling freaks. That was my choice. You took that away from me, Dale." She said. "But..." She cut him off. "But you know better? All I wanted after my sister died was to get out of this endless horrific nightmare we live everyday. I wasn't hurting anyone else. You took my choice away Dale, and you expect gratitude?" She asked. "I don't know what to say." He answered. "I'm not your little girl. I'm not your wife and I am sure as hell not your problem. That's all there is to say." She walked away. Hazel felt bad for Dale. How could Andrea talk to him like that. He had been like a father to her, Hazel and Amy. He had been looking out for all of them. He would sacrifice himself for them, obviously. Hazel shook her head in disagreement.
The group began to walk away, Hazel went after Daryl. She grabbed his arm and pulled him to the side as the group passed. "I'm gonna stay back with Dale and T dog, keep watch while Dale works on the RV." She told him. "Ya sure?" Daryl asked. "Yeah, there's plenty we haven't looked through, too." She said nodding towards the "not safe zone." He looked at her for a min. "Alright but watch your ass." He said and discretely handed her a small pistol. She nodded as she took it, put it in the back of her waist band and watched the group walk off. Oogie laid underneath the RV in the shade. Dale stood on the roof keeping watch, Hazel was loading everything they found so far into the vehicles. "Aint you suppose to be fixing that radiator? What if they come back with Sophia and Rick wants to move on right away?" T dog asked. "I had it fixed yesterday." Dale yelled down. "What? What was all that rubbing and sanding for then? That just bullshit?" T dog asked. "Yeah, that's one word. Another word would be pantomime." Dale said. "Fuckin pantomime. Ha!" Hazel smiled up to him. He smiled back at her. "Just for show. No one else needs to know that." Dale said. "Pantomime." T dog said under his breath. "If the others know we're mobile, they'll want to mobilize and move on." Dale said. "So you don't think they're gonna find Sophia, that it?" T dog asked. "I'm just guarding against the worst. Sooner or later if she's not found, people will start doing math. I want to hold off the needs -of-the-many-vs-the-needs-of-the-few arguments as long as I can." Dale said. "That is one tricky fuckin hose, huh?" Hazel said looking at T dog. He nodded to her. Dale smiled. "Very." He answered. Hazel laughed and put her arm around T dog leading him back out to the cars to continue scavenging.