Chapter 11-The Group's return
So my John, who is James' brother, his name will be changed to Mason. So people do not confuse John Winchester and John. So if you see Mason, that is John.
Camp
Daryl and Shane were sitting beside each other as Alicia combed Charlie's hair. Lori was cutting Carl's. "Baby, the more you fidget, the longer it takes," Lori tells her son.
"I'm trying," Carl says.
"Well, try harder," Lori says.
"If you think this is bad, wait till you start shaving. That stings. That day comes, you'll be wishing for one of your mama's haircuts," Shane says. "Ask Daryl," Shane says. Carl looks at Daryl, who nods.
"I'll believe that when I see it," Carl says. Daryl and Shane chuckle.
"Tell you what. If you two get through this with some manly dignity and tomorrow, we'll teach you something special. We will teach you how to catch frogs," Daryl says
"I've caught a frog before," Charlie says.
"Me too," Carl says.
"He said frogs plural, and it is an art, my friends. It is not to be taken lightly. There are ways and means. Few people know about, and we're willing to share our secrets," Shane says. Carl looks at Lori as Charlie looks at Alicia.
"Oh, We're girls. You talk to them," Alicia says. Lori nods as the two kids look back at the older men.
"It's a one time offer, guys. Not to be repeated," Daryl says.
"Why do we need frogs, plural?" Carl asks.
"You ever eat frog legs?" Shane asks.
"Eww," Carl and Charlie said.
"No, yum," Daryl and Shane said.
"No, he's right, eww," Lori says. Alicia nods as she smiles at Daryl and Shane.
"When we get down to that last can of beans, you're gonna be loving those frog legs, ladies," Daryl says.
"I can see it now, Shane Daryl. Do you think we could have a second helping, please? Please? Just one?" Shane says.
"Yeah, I doubt that," Alicia says. Lori nods with a smile on her face. Daryl looks down the hill at John, who was loading up a car. Daryl looks back at the kids.
"Don't listen to them, guys. Us four, we'll be heroes. We'll feed these folks Cajun-style Kermit legs," Shane says.
"I would rather eat miss piggy. Yes, that came out wrong," Lori says. Daryl, Alicia, and Shane laugh.
"Heroes, guys, spoken of in song and legend. Us four, Shane, Daryl, Charlie, and Carl," Daryl says. They laugh as they hear a car alarm. Daryl and Shane stand up.
"Talk to us, Dale," Daryl says.
"I can't tell yet," Dale says.
"Is it them? Are they back?" Amy asks.
"I'll be damned," Dale says.
"What is it?" Ofelia asks.
"A stolen car is my guess," Dale says. The car pulls into camp as Daryl and Shane walk down, followed by others. Merle and Nick come back up.
"Holy crap turn that thing off," Mason says.
"I don't know-how," Glenn says.
"Pop the hood," Daryl says. Glenn nods as he heads to the car.
"My sister Andrea. Is she okay?" Andrea asks. Glenn pops the hood. Jim and Shane turn the car off.
"She's okay," Glenn says.
"Is she coming back?" Amy asks.
"Yes," Glenn says as they turn off the car alarm.
"Why isn't she with you?" Andrea asks. "She's okay?" Amy asks again.
"Yes, yeah, everybody is fine," Glenn says.
"Are you crazy driving this wailing bastard up here?" Daniel asks.
"Are you trying to draw every walker from miles?" Shane asks.
"I think we're okay," Dale says.
"You call being stupid, okay?" Mason asks.
"Well, that alarm was echoing all over these hills. Hard to pinpoint the source," Jim says. "I'm not arguing. I'm just saying," Jim says.
"It wouldn't hurt you to think things through a little more carefully next time, would it?" Dale asks Glenn.
"Sorry. Got a cool car," Glenn says. Daryl smiles and walks down to Glenn. He hugs the younger man as a truck pulls in.
"Good to have you back," Daryl says. Shane does the same as Merle comes over.
"You dumb bastard," Merle says.
"Right back at you," Glenn says as Amy hugs Andrea. Lori pulls Carl away. Alicia hugs Glenn. T-dog walks over and hugs Daryl, Shane, and Alicia. Dean hugs his brother and father.
"How did you all get out of there anyway?" Daryl asks.
"Dean, Glenn, and a new guy. They got us out," T-dog says.
"New guy?" Shane asks. Merle claps his hand on T-dogs shoulder.
"Yeah, crazy vato just got into town. Hey helicopter boy! Come say hello," Morales says. Rick steps out of the truck. "Guys, a cop like you," Morales says. Daryl looks at Shane and sees his face. He looks at Rick.
"Dad!" Carl yells as he runs towards Rick, followed by Lori. Rick picks Carl up and walks up to his wife. Daryl looks at Shane and then Lori. He looks at Rick, who stares at Shane. Daryl lays his hand on Shane's shoulder.
"Come on," Daryl says to Shane, who follows Daryl behind the R.V. "That's him. Rick Grimes, your old partner and Lori's husband and Carl's father?" Daryl asks as he holds the strap on his crossbow. Shane nods.
"I swear to you I thought he was dead. I put my chest up to his chest, and there was no heartbeat. I didn't know if I did, I would never have done what I did," Shane says, on the verge of tears. Daryl pulls Shane into a hug.
"I know, I know you don't have to explain anything to me," Daryl says. Shane pulls back. "I know who you are, Shane. I told you not to get too attached," Daryl says.
"They were my family," Shane says.
"And they still are. This group is your family. Alicia, T-dog, Glenn, Merle, Nick, Madison, and everybody else they are our family. We did this. We brought this group together Me and you, Shane, and Daryl. Not Rick, not Lori, and not Carl. We did. You didn't lose a damn thing. You gained so much. You don't need Lori and Carl. You have all of us," Daryl says. Shane nods.
"We'll lose people," Shane says.
"I know, and we'll that together as brothers," Daryl says to Shane.
"Me and you against the world," Shane says.
"I like those odds," Daryl says. "You okay?" Daryl asks.
"I'm better. You're right. I'm not alone," Shane says.
"You never will be," Daryl says. Shane nods. They walk back to the group. Alicia comes up and looks at Shane.
"Are you okay?" Alicia asks. Glenn and T-dog look at them, confused.
"Are we missing something?" Glenn asks T-dog, who shrugs his shoulders.
"I'm good," Shane says. Alicia nods as they hear a cough behind him. They turn and look at Rick. Rick walks up to Shane and hugs him.
"It's good to see you, partner," Rick says. "I'm assuming you are one of the leaders Dean told me about. Who's the other?" Rick asks.
"Me, Daryl Dixon," Daryl says as he holds his hand out to Rick. Rick looks Daryl up and down and shakes his hand.
"Rick Grimes," Rick says. Shane looks at Lori, who was glaring at him. Shane looks at Rick.
"Give me a minute," Shane says as he walks towards Lori. "I know you have every right to hate me right now, but please, give me one minute to explain," Shane says to Lori.
"One minute," Lori says as a few moments. Shane nods as he leads her away.
"Lori, I thought he was dead, I swear. I put my head against his chest, and I didn't hear a heartbeat. If I knew that he was alive, I would have carried him out of that hospital. I didn't know, and I wished every day he would come back, but then I had you and Carl, and my mind went away. My morality was gone. I was glad he was dead, and I hate that part of myself. That dark side, all I am saying is that what happened between us can never happen again. We are better as friends," Shane says to Lori, who nods.
"I agree," Lori says as she pulls Shane into a hug. Shane pulls away.
"Lori, I think you should think about leaving Rick, though, when you were by yourself. You were different. You seemed happier and stronger, and that was before me too. You and Rick were always fighting before this. That proves my point. Just something to think about," Shane says to Lori, who nods. Shane walks back up to Daryl, Alicia, T-dog, Glenn, and Rick. Rick looks at his old partner.
"Is everything okay?" Rick asks.
"Yeah, just fine," Shane says. Merle comes up from behind them with Nick and Charlie. Charlie walks past Rick and hugs Glenn.
"Good to see you too, kid," Glenn says. Rick turns and looks at Merle.
"Rick Grimes," Rick says. Merle looks at Rick and scoffs.
"Merle," Merle says as he walks past Rick and into the Rv. Rick watches him.
"He's my brother," Daryl says. Rick says.
"I can see it," Rick says. Merle walks out of the Rv with some cans.
"Teaching this kid how to shoot is harder than teaching you, baby brother," Merle says.
"I taught myself mainly," Daryl says. Merle smiles as Nick follows him.
"Is that his son?" Rick asks.
"No, that's my brother. Our mom is the blond down there helping Carol and Grizelda," Alicia says. Rick looks down at Madison.
"You guys have done well for yourself," Rick says.
"We try," Daryl says. Dean motions them down to the mustang. Daryl and Shane walk down, followed by the others.
"Is this from the station?" Shane asks Rick, who nods.
"Yeah, I cleared most of the station," Rick says.
"We can put it with the rest of the weapons. We'll just have to sort the ammo," Daryl says.
"And everybody here knows how to shoot. Andrea said you had gun training," Rick says.
"Yeah, everybody carries at least a knife and a gun. The kids too," Shane says.
"Lori let Carl carry?" Rick asks, shocked.
"It took some convincing, but she understood why he needed to carry. You'll notice Lori has changed. She's different," Daryl says. Rick looks down at Carl, who was with Sophie and James. He looks at Charlie, who was behind Daryl.
"Is that you're daughter?" Rick asks. Daryl looks at her.
"Nah, not by blood at least," Daryl tells Rick, who nods.
"Charlie, you should go down with the other kids," Daryl tells Charlie, who nods as she goes down to the other kids. Dale comes over.
"I asked Chris, Amy, and Lori if they could sort the ammo. They said they would," Dale says. Daryl nods as he picks up the bag and holds it out to Dale, who grabs it and walks to the Rv. Daryl looks at Rick.
"Ask Liza where Lori's tent is. I bet you could use some sleep," Shane says.
"Which one is Liza?" Rick asks. Daryl points at Liza, who was by Travis. Rick nods as he walks over to her. He says something to her, and she nods as she leaves Rick away. Rick walks past Carol, Madison, and Grizelda, who was hanging clothes. Daryl motions Daniel over to them. Daniel comes over.
"Is there a reason you have been watching Rick since he's got here?" Daryl asks Daniel.
"You're friend there. I don't trust him," Daniel says.
"I can tell," T-dog says.
"Just because he's Carl's father and Lori's husband doesn't make him trustworthy. Just like John being Sam and Dean's father didn't make him trustworthy. I still don't even know if I trust him," Daniel says.
"So what do you want to do?" Glenn asks.
"I am going to watch him see if he does anything," Daniel says. "Is that a problem?" Daniel asks. Daryl looks at Shane.
"He's right. Somebody should watch Rick. I knew Rick in the old world, and we have seen what this world can do to somebody," Shane says. Daniel nods as he walks away. The group goes back to do work.
That is it for this chapter. Next chapter, we will finish what I have planned for episode three and go into some of my own chapters. I have been given an idea that I would like to hear your guy's option on. What do you guys think about Merle and Carol as a pairing? I would love to know. As always, suggestions and feedback are welcomed. Until next time.