A/N: Merry Christmas! I know, it's just the 24th, but in Poland we celebrate today, and with lockdown, in UK and whatnot I got to make it today, not that my husband complains. I'll still try to post on Sunday, so no worries. I wish you all peaceful and healthy Christmas, this year sucked, but hopefully, 2021 will be much better!


Day 484

"Nah."

I looked sternly at Merle and crossed my arms below my breasts. Daryl next to me snorted and put his vest on, starting to lace his shoes on.

"What you mean, 'nah'?" I asked the older Dixon and my eyes bore into his blue ones, and I hoped I was as intimidating as I could.

"Look, Sugar. Ya family, I get that, really. But men sometimes need time to themselves. We hunt together all the time. Ya and me, ya and Darlina, three of us. Now, all I'm sayin' is that I wanna some time with my baby brother, is all," Merle explained slowly as if I were a child, and I scoffed at that, glancing between two men. I raised my eyebrows when my eyes met Daryl's, but he just shrugged, as to say that he's not getting involved in this conversation.

"Really? And what the hell you two need to talk about that can't be done in here? And how can I be sure that you going to check every single snare? You have a tendency to forgot where we placed them."

Merle jabbed his thumb in his brother's direction and smirked. "He doesn't. Go relax, maybe go back to sleep, read a book, dunno."

"Uhh, fine!" I threw my arms up with irritation and placed my bow back on the top bunk, still unhappy with the whole ordeal.

It was early in the morning, merely six o'clock. Rick's alarm clock sounded around the C block just minutes ago. We were getting ready to go for our morning hunt when Merle, the dick, decided that I should stay behind.

I strapped a machete to my waist and placed a quick kiss on Daryl's lips, and then pushed out of the cell, bumping my shoulder into the older Dixon's.

"Where ya goin'?"

"Fuck knows, maybe I'll help Rick, now that you don't want me around you," I stated and pressed my lips together. Yeah, that was super bitchy of me, but Merle deserved it.

I crossed the cellblock silently and pushed the door open, bringing my hand to my eyes when the sun hit my face. I tugged at my jacket, hoping to cover myself from the morning breeze, and started walking down towards the fields. I could see Rick and Carl right in front of me, and I jogged to catch up.

"Wait for me!" I yelled, and they stopped looking back, both sending me small smiles as I got to them.

"Not hunting today?" Rick asked when we started walking again, and I shook my head.

"No. Dixons want a men time. What the hell it means, Rick?" I asked the sheriff, and he laughed at my displeasure.

"It's the time men use to get away from their women," His voice was laced with amusement, and I whipped my head to the right to look at him properly.

"Oh, because I'm so hard to live with?"

"Whoa, it's not me you're angry with," Rick answered, and Carl giggled under his breath. "And that's not what I said. Truth be told, they didn't really have much time to spend with each other since we found Merle. It could be good for them."

"Right." I took a deep breath and pushed my anger down. It wasn't worth it. I just hoped that Merle won't give Daryl any stupid ideas or that he won't blab what we talked about those few months back. I still didn't tell hunter that I love him, and I swear if Hook spoils it for me, I'll kill him.

"Careful out there," Rick said in a strained voice, and I looked ahead to where Michonne was leading Alma, our horse, out. I sighed heavily, really hoping that she would stay and try to connect with us more. It was months since we scared Governor away, and he wasn't anywhere near. Chances were that he died, and now she just looks for a walker. In my opinion, she only runs away because she's scared of getting too close to people, something I could relate to, but it was a dangerous way those days.

"Bring me chocolate?" I told her and winked, making her roll her eyes.

"If there's any left, you can be sure I'll eat it before I come back," Michonne replied, and I laughed at that, nodding to myself. "Any other requests?"

"Stale M&M's?" Carl joked with the woman, and she shook her head.

"Sure, I'll look for some stuff you like, too. Why don't you wear your hat anymore?" I glanced between Grimes' and lowered my head, trying not to get involved in this conversation. I knew why, Carl told me a few weeks ago, but it was in my office, in confidence.

"It's not a farming hat," He replied casually, but I knew he tried to steer her away from the real reasons. "See you soon?"

"Pretty soon."


We were working for maybe fifteen minutes, pulling weeds out. Rick and I kneeled down on the ground while Carl stood next to us with a bucket. It was nice and sort of calming, but it wasn't the same as being out there, between the trees with a soft moss under my shoes. I sighed quietly and pulled another plant out, chucking it into the bucket.

"They only took out one cluster yesterday," Carl finally broke the silence, and my eyes flickered towards the fence, where a herd of walkers was shaking the chain-link.

"With a run and everything that happened, yeah," I answered, still observing the dead.

"We probably going to need more people today. Maybe we could help?" That was directed to Rick, and I looked down on the ground. Now I felt like I was intruding. I didn't even ask if they wanted me here, just invited myself.

"I got other plans involving dirt and cucumbers and keeping people fed," Rick finally answered, his voice indifferent, but I sensed that this subject was brought up before. In reality, the sheriff truly pulled away from us and any kind of job that involved walkers or going outside.

"Well, if you don't want to, maybe I could? Could I?" Carl asked softly, and Rick stood up abruptly, taking the bucket from the boy's hands.

"We have other plans. That's what I should've said."

I followed them to the pigpen and passed them the buckets, not going nowhere near the dirty animals. The air between the two men was tense, and I decided to make myself scarce.

"I'll see if I can gather extra people for fences—Carl's right. We need to take care of them before they bring it down," I said lowly and turned around, making my way back towards the courtyard.

I got to the gate that separated the main building and the field when the first shot echoed in the air. I furrowed my brows, but when I heard another one, I started running, pumping my legs as fast as I could.

"Help, help!" Two girls, who were close to Carol, and whose names I couldn't remember, got out of the block D and started shouting. I reached them quickly and grabbed the older one by the shoulders.

"What's wrong?"

"There are walkers inside!"

Not waiting for anyone else, I grabbed my machete and pulled the door open, my heart hammering inside my chest. I could hear shouts and someone calling out to me from behind, but I didn't turn back. Lucy was there, spending this night with Ellen, and that was all I could think about.

Fear and adrenaline overtook me, and my insides clenched when I finally got inside, taking in the chaos. With my blade in one hand and Glock in the other, I pushed the gate and started shooting at the closest walkers.

Bodies layed on the ground, blood was covering the floor, and there were screams of fear and pain coming from everywhere. Some people tried to stop the geeks, but there was more of the dead than the living.

Three walkers turned their attention towards me, and I decided to not play with my blade, moving it to my left hand. I switched the weapons, so the gun was in my dominant hand and aimed at the first geek. I recognized him immediately. Greg. His insides were torn, and there was a gaping wound in his neck, his skin gray and whites of his once green eyes focused solemnly on me. With knitted brows, I pulled the trigger, sending the bullet into his brain.

Not hesitating any longer, I stepped forwards, shooting again and again until there were no more geeks in my path.

"Ellen!" I yelled in panic, making my way to the back, where her cell was located. "Lucy!"

I swang machete at the geek that came at me from the right when I got distracted and kicked another one to the ground, finishing it off with the headshot. I spotted Chloe lying on the ground, her side ripped open, eyes glazed over, unmoving. What the hell happened here? Not hesitating any longer, I swang my blade down towards her head, preventing the redhead from reanimating.

"El!" I heard shouts behind me, and I glanced back to see Daryl coming into the cellblock, his bow shooting down a walker straight away.

"I'm fine," I yelled back but didn't go to him. My path was clear, and I reached the cell at the end, pushing the door, but it was locked. I mumbled something under my breath, and my heart flinched when I heard a soft cry from inside. I pulled down on the sheet, ripping it down, and nearly choked on the tears that threatened to spill from my eyes.

Ellen layed on her back on the bed, her body not moving, and from where I stood, I could see blood oozing from her eyes, ears, and nose. Lucy was sitting next to her, crying, and pushing with her small hands at the woman's arm, trying to shake her awake. I quickly yanked at the keys that I always got attached to my belt and with shaking hands, started looking for the right key.

"Lucy, sweety, come here," I spoke up, searching and trying to keep an eye on the body inside the cell. The girl spun around when she heard my voice and jumped down from the bed, running towards the door.

"Mommy!" Her cries became more hysteric when she realized that she can't get out, and I swallowed harshly, finally finding the master key.

"It's fine, it's alright," My voice was soft and calming when I twisted the lock and slid the door open, immediately reaching Lucy and cradling her in my arms. Her small arms wrapped tightly around my neck, and she hid her face in my hair, sobbing quietly, not really understanding what's happening. I placed her on my hip and slowly approached the bed.

Ellen's eyes were wide open, still pale blue, but there was no movement, and her chest was not moving. Slowly I reached out and brought my fingers to her neck, searching for a pulse. There was none.

"Mommy?" I glanced down at Lucy, observing her dirty, tear covered face, and smiled softly at her.

"It's alright, sweety. It's gonna be alright. Just hug me tightly, and it will be OK," I told her and holstered my Glock. Lucy hid her face in my neck, and I used that to dip machete in Ellen's forehead, stopping her from turning. I scrunched my face at the noise it made but ignored it, and slowly, my senses were coming back, taking in what was happening around me. It couldn't be longer than a few minutes since I entered the cellblock, but it felt like hours.

I tightened my arm around Lucy and gripped my blade in my right hand, getting out of the cell. People were still shouting, and I noticed Tyreese and Karen a few yards in front of me, both making sure that the other is safe.

"Elena!" Man spotted me, and I quickly jogged towards them, glancing inside the cell they stood next to. There were the girls and Luke. I turned towards the black-haired woman and pushed Lucy in her arms. Karen didn't hesitate and pulled the girl towards her.

"Take care of her."

"Mommy!" Lucy cried again, reaching her hands towards me, but I shook my head at her.

"Stay with Karen, sweety, please. I'll be back, alright?"

"She'll be safe in here, I promise," Karen said solemnly, and I gave her a strained nod before taking off. On my right, I noticed Glenn sinking his blade in walker's head, but he didn't see the other that was coming at him from behind. Where were they coming from?

I reacted immediately and reached under my ribs, pulling one of the throwing knives. Instinct took over, and my body moved at its own, one leg slightly back, a hand rose up near my ear, and I breathed out when I released the blade, making it fly through the room. It lodged itself in the geek's ear, making it stumble to the ground, right beside Glenn.

Man's head snapped to the corpse on the floor, and his eyes searched mine, nodding quickly and pulling my knife out.

"Check inside the cells, all of them," Daryl's voice boomed in the cellblock, stern and confident. I moved to check three cells at the back, I knew what was in the last one, but I ignored the others when I was looking for Lucy. Now, focused, with adrenaline pumping in my veins, I quickly looked inside them.

Two were completely empty, but the third had Carol sitting beside Ryan, speaking quietly. When she heard me approach, I noticed a sad expression on her face. A quick glance over the man made me realize he had several bites on his body, and he was shaking. Either from pain or fever settled already.

"I got it, Eli," Carol whispered, looking back at Ryan. With a sigh, I turned around, joining the others.

"Are we clear down here?" Rick shouted while Daryl was already moving up the stairs.

"Clear," I announced and jogged after the hunter, not willing to let him go up there alone.

I barely made it to the upper level when I heard the wooshing of a bolt, making me move faster until I reached Daryl. I stood beside him while Glenn was standing up, a dead walker by his feet. Rick pushed past us and pulled the cover away, revealing what's inside. There was a body lying on the floor, blood pouring from many holes, face unrecognizable. I stepped inside and sank my blade in its head, just to be sure it won't come back to life.

"Oh, it's Patrick," Daryl spoke softly, and I turned back to the man and followed his line of sight to the walker he shot just moments ago. It was clearly the boy that was serving us breakfast yesterday. Dammit, Carl will be upset. He was one of not many kids that young Grimes could call a friend.

Rick crouched down by Patrick's side, and his eyes quickly run over his body, looking for bites. He reached out, but I bend down, gripping his wrist, to stop his movements. The sheriff looked up at me with knitted brows, and I shook my head.

"Don't touch him. He doesn't look like regular walkers. We don't know why. Just let's wait for Hershel and Doc."


Members of the council sat down in the library, all tired, covered in sweat and blood. Doctor S' best guess was that it's a viral infection, like the swine flu, or something. It is possible, considering that one of the pigs died just yesterday after a few days of sickness, and Rick admitted to spotting several fresh walkers with similar symptoms. Blood oozing out of the eyes, nose, ears, every possible body hole as if the pressure within the body couldn't contain it.

Once it was all cleared out, I left Lucy with Oscar, who wasn't inside the cellblock and told him to stay away from all of us and keep her safe.

It seemed that the peacefulness of the prison was over. I scoffed under my breath and nearly laughed out loud, looking around me. We were all sitting down around one of the bigger tables, all but Merle. Later, I found out that when everything happened, he went to help Maggie and Carl with bringing Michonne back inside. She sprained her ankle when she tried to come back inside after hearing the shots. So now, older Dixon was prevented from coming anywhere near us, including this meeting.

"Patrick was fine yesterday, and he died overnight," Carol started, disturbing the silence that fell over us since we sat down. "Two people died that quick?"

I sighed heavily and leaned back in my chair, feeling a big, warm hand on my shoulder. I closed my eyes for a second, enjoying Daryl's comforting presence, and focused back on a room full of people.

"We'll have to separate everyone that's been exposed," Carol continued, and I nodded.

"That's everyone in that cell block. That's all of us," Daryl commented, and I squeezed his hand, knowing that he is worried about others as much as I was.

"Rick already knows, but the others... How we do that without raising panic?" I asked and glanced at Hershel, who was stroking his beard. "We need meds. But we also don't know how this disease actually works."

"We know it can be lethal," Hershel started slowly, his voice grim. "If it's indeed like the flu, there will be fever, general tiredness, with all the blood caught up in lungs, a lot of coughing."

"Flu is viral, though, isn't it?" I asked, and the man nodded in confirmation.

"We don't treat the flu, just the symptoms. That's what kills you. Is anyone else showing any that we know off?"

"We can't just wait and see, there's children," Carol said in a small voice, and my heart clenched for a moment, thinking of Lucy, and all the worst thoughts flooding my mind. "And it's not just the illness. People die and become a danger."

"We need a place for them to go. They can't stay in D. We can't risk going in there to clean it up."

"We can use cell block A?" Carol proposed, and I hummed, but Glenn seemed shocked at that proposition.

"Death row?"

"It's clear and secure. And if it gets out of control, everything will be contained inside," I said lowly with a blank face. "But we also need to separate the valuable. Kids and the elderly."

Hershel was looking me in the eyes when I said it, and I knew he didn't like the idea, but that was the truth. He wasn't young anymore. Therefore he could easily catch it, and that's a loss we might not get over.

"Put them in administrative wing, separate rooms," Hershel announced, and he was about to continue when a cough, not far away from us, echoed in the corridors. I sat up straighter, and through the open doors, I could see Tyreese leading pale Karen away, back to cells.

My heart skipped a beat when she coughed again, and my throat dried out, thinking about the woman touching Lucy just hours ago.

The others stood up, and I quickly followed, making our way towards the corridor.

"You sure you alright? You don't sound so good," Carol was first in there, clearly overhearing the conversation couple had. I stood next to the gray-haired woman, my eyes racking over Karen, noticing her sweaty face.

"We're just taking her back to my cell so she can rest," Tyreese admitted, and I shook my head.

"I'm sorry, but you can't."

"What you mean?"

I glanced at Hershel and then clenched my jaw, taking a step towards the couple.

"It's some kind of virus. Airborn. We all been exposed; we can't go back down there. We need to try to avoid spreading it."

"Is that how Patrick died?" Karen asked in a small voice, her brows knitted.

"Yes. We gonna prep A for patients, but for now, we could get you to one of the cells leading to it? By the back yard," I told her, and Tyreese bore his eyes into mine.

"She's gonna be OK. Now that we know how Patrick died, we can treat it, right?"

"It's the symptoms that are deadly. I'm gonna get on it, alright, Tyreese?"

The man nodded, and I breathed out, glancing back at the woman, who must be scared for her life.

"David, from Dacatour group. He was coughing as well."

"Alright, I'll get him," Glenn announced and took off in another direction. Hershel slowly made his way to the couple and urged them towards A to separate Karen from others.

I turned back and took in the rest of the people.

"We will need meds. Sasha, can you have a look at the maps for any places we didn't search yet?"

"Yeah, will do." The Black woman looked back to where her brother was, just seconds ago, and with a shake of a head, walked back to the library.

"Carol, do we have anything? I know we lack antibiotics, but anything anti-inflammatory will do, and something to take fever down."

"Some Tylenol and aspirin, but that's it."

"I have some herbs in the cafeteria, been bringing them back for a while, but I need to check my book; which ones would help," I said, not looking at them anymore, my brain running over the list of things that has to be done, and how to manage it most safely.

"I'll burn the bodies," Daryl growled, and his arms went around me. I sighed heavily and pushed myself closer to him, burying my face in his chest. Now that adrenaline and immediate danger was over, I had a moment to be grateful we are both alright.

"Be careful. Wear gloves and cover your nose and mouth."

"I'm always careful, woman."

I chuckled into his shirt and lifted my head to face him. I climbed on my tiptoes, bringing my hands to his shoulders for better support, and kissed him slowly.

"You better be, Big Guy. If you gonna get ill, I'll kick your ass." Daryl smirked at me and brushed his thumb over my cheek in a tender gesture. Finally, I stepped away and pushed him gently away. "Come on, let's do shit."


I placed two hot bowls of yesterday's stew on the small kitchen cart. I induced it heavily with garlic, which we grew in the fields. Then I turned around to the small metal kettle that was set up over the stove. Water was nearly ready, and I glanced back at two mugs that I had in front of me. There was already grated ginger on the bottom of it, and I shuddered internally, remembering my mother's home recipes for cold. I always hated it, but now I was grateful that I remembered something.

With the book's help about herbal medicine, I managed to grab a few things we did have in our storage, which was not a lot. But that's a worry for another time. We have to beat that fucking flu right now, and then I can think about searching for more plants or seeds for things we could use to self-medicate.

Another ten minutes past and I was ready. With two steaming bowls and mugs with ginger-honey tea on a cart, I made my way towards the toombs. That's where Karen and David were temporary until Doctor S will prep the Death Row block. I really hoped, though, Sasha found something on the maps because if more people become sick, we really will need proper medication.

I pushed my cart around the prison, finally rounding the corner to the cells where two sick people were when I heard someone yelling. Forgetting food and mugs, I pulled my machete out and sprinted towards the sound.

"No!"

I stopped abruptly near the door leading to the small build-in courtyard and gasped, not believing my eyes. Tyreese was on his knees, his face full of sorrow and rage, with two bodies on the ground. Two very burned bodies, to the point, that there was no way of recognizing them. A small bouquet of wildflowers layed beside him, and my eyes filled with tears at this view.

As if he heard me, the man moved his head to face me, scowling, slowly standing up. My heart sped up for a second, worry that he will do something stupid washing over me.

"What happened?" I asked him softly, and he gestured at still smoking remains on the ground. Then he brought his hand to cover his face while his shoulders shook silently. "I was just bringing them food when I heard you, Tyreese. Do you know what happened?"

"I don't- I came to check on her, and all I found was that!" The man strode towards me, fury on his face, but I stood my ground, not letting him see that he was frightening me right now. "Where were you?!"

"I was in the cafeteria, making them food and tea with herbs that could help. I was there since I last saw you, Tyreese," I spoke softly and calmly, hoping to get through to him. He was towering over me, and I could see his eyes, full of grief and regret.

"I need Rick. He needs to see it!" He said to himself, stepping away from me and leaving the courtyard in a rush. Breathing out in relief, I closed my eyes for a second to calm down my hammering heart. I didn't want to hurt him, not when he was so valuable and not in control of his emotions.

I opened my eyes, forcing my face into a blank mask, scanning the area for potential clues. I inhaled deeply, for the first time focusing on different scents around me. Burned flesh was the most prominent, but underneath it, I could smell gasoline.

The bodies were placed next to each other, on their backs, with hands along their sides. There was no doubt that they burned, but I suspected that they were already dead, or at least knocked out enough to not move an inch when fire surrounded them.

Looking back towards the entrance, I spotted a bloody trail leading back inside, and I followed it slowly. The light above was already on. Either the killer or Tyreese had to put it on and leave like that.

The tracks split by the cells, leading to both of which were occupied by Karen and David, and reluctantly I moved closer. The doors to the first one were locked, and I scrunched my face at that, quickly trying the other one, checking if I can open it. Locked as well. I reached for my belt getting my own set of keys, and after a few minutes of searching for the right one, I opened the first door.

There was a trace of blood on the floor as if the body was dragged away from here, and more blood covered the pillow. I crouched down and touched the red liquid, rubbing it between my fingers. It was fresh, very fresh. Not warm anymore, but it didn't have a lot of time to dry. Still crimson red, not rusty brown. Maybe an hour, maximum. I wiped my hand on my pants and stood up, trying to see if I can notice anything else, but there were just some clothes and water canteen scattered on the floor.

I moved on to the other cell, and it was precisely the same, bloody trail on the floor, leading out and a big red stain where David's head was. I sighed heavily and couldn't stop myself from feeling a little bit relieved. At least they weren't burned alive. Someone finished them quickly before they set them on fire. There were no bullet holes, no shells on the ground, plus we would hear another gunshot, so it had to be a blade. Or something capable of piercing their skulls. Though the most straightforward way would be to stab through the ear, the tissue and bones there are softer, but the brain is still easily reachable.

I froze for a second, a bad feeling setting on the bottom of my stomach when I had that thought. Few people knew that and weren't strong enough to do it another way.

I shook my head and turned back around, noticing a partial handprint on the wall next to the door. Whoever did this touched the blood and then the wall for the support.

My head snapped upwards when I heard the voices and heavy steps coming in this direction. After a few seconds, Tyreese rushed past me onto the courtyard, Rick, Daryl, and Carol trailing behind him. They looked at me questioningly when they spotted me outside the cells, but I maintained my blank face and just shook my head. I followed the Black man out and heard gasps of dread behind me.

"Oh God," Carol whispered, but I didn't turn around to look at her. I observed Tyreese, making sure that he had some time to calm down and that he was no danger.

"You found them like this?" Rick finally asked, and Tyreese nodded, swallowing harshly before actually replying.

"I came to see Karen," He started explaining. "Yeah, I saw the blood on the floor before. And then I smelled it. Somebody dragged them out here and set them on fire!"

Rick and Daryl glanced at me, and I nodded, confirming the man's story. I stepped back, standing next to Carol, and looked at her, sending her a strained smile, when she touched my shoulder.

"They killed them and set them on fire!" Tyreese yelled and then took a sudden step towards Rick, making the sheriff flinch and step back. Daryl moved immediately as well, taking a position behind the big man in case Rick needed help.

"You're a cop," Tyreese spoke, and then his head snapped to me. "You and her both. You find out who did this, and you bring them to me, you understand?"

Rick nodded and tried not to look directly at Tyreese, not to challenge him in any way.

"You bring them to me!"

"We'll find out who-" Daryl started and touched Tyreese's shoulder before I could warn him, but the Black man was focused on Rick, shrugging off the hunter's hand.

"I need to say it again?" Tyreese asked aggressively, and Rick shook his head.

"No, no."

"We'll Tyreese. Whoever did this, we'll find them," I said softly, but both men were still staring at each other, so it was the sheriff who continued to calm down the big man.

"I know how you're feeling. I've been there. You saw me there. It's dangerous."

"Karen didn't deserve this! David didn't deserve it! Nobody does!"

Daryl stepped forward, and I clenched my jaw when he reached out once more to touch Tyreese. "All right, man. Breathe."

Just as I feared, Tyreese snapped and moved so quickly that Daryl didn't have a chance to react. The Black man pushed him back, shoving the hunter against the gate, both hands clenching hard on Daryl's vest, holding him in place.

"I ain't going nowhere until I find out who did this!"

I took a deep breath and took my Glock out, stepping forward, but Daryl stuck his hand out, telling me to stop. I narrowed my eyes, hand gripping the gun tightly, and slowly I brought it up.

"We're on the same side, man," Daryl stated calmly, the complete opposite of me.

"Tyreese, I already told you we'll find the person responsible. I'll question everybody in prison, and we'll know the truth," I said firmly, stepping to the side, so he could see me in his peripheral vision. "But right now, I'm slightly worried about Daryl. Are you gonna hurt him?"

"Hey, look," Rick added, hoping that with both of us, Tyreese will cool down. "I know what you're going through. When I was like that, I hurt Elena, and I still feel that regret every time I look at her."

Interesting. My eyes connected with sheriff's, but it was no time or place to feel sentimental.

"We've all lost someone," Rick continued after a second, refocusing on the big man, who was still holding on to Daryl. "We know what you're going through right now, but you- you gotta calm down."

My eyes grew wide when Rick touched Tyreese's shoulder, and the Black man released Daryl, just to charge at the sheriff.

"You need to step the hell back!" He pushed Rick away, and I saw a change in sheriff's eyes, something of his old self when he didn't take shit from anybody. Carol stepped forward, her arms outstretched between the men, signaling for them to calm down. I holstered my weapon because if they going to fucking fight, I didn't want to accidentally kill any of them.

"She wouldn't want you being like this," Rick commented, and I strode over to Daryl, my eyes scanning his body for any injuries, but he just nodded and tried to push me behind him when Tyreese finally snapped, hitting Rick in the face. Oh, my lovely caveman, thinking I need protection.

Rick stumbled back, his bottom lip split and oozing blood, but he stood back up, still trying to be calm. Tyreese stroked again, and I sidestepped Daryl, trying to push myself between the men, so did Carol.

"Enough!" I growled at both of them, but it was futile. Only because Daryl pulled me back, I wasn't clanked in the face when Rick lunged himself at Tyreese. The sheriff had more experience and apparently a lot of hidden anger. They exchanged few blows until Rick managed to push Tyreese to the ground, stranding his chest and hitting him again and again.

Carol was shouting desperately for the men to stop this madness, and Daryl tried to pull Rick off, but he was just pushed aside. I groaned silently and clenched my jaw, striding over to them.

In one swift motion, I brought the side of my straightened palm to the pressure point located on Rick's neck, into crock by his right shoulder. He grunted, and his right arm went limp, a flash of pain over his face. It was enough of a distraction for Daryl to pull on Rick's arms and lift him off Tyreese. I stood firmly between them, my hands on my hips, glancing down at the bloodied face of a Black man. Rick really did a job on him.

I scowled and finally spoke. "The fuck is wrong with you two? Rick, for fuck's sake, you are supposed to help calm him down, not beat the shit out of him. Tyreese, I can't imagine what you're going through, but if you're a danger to the rest of us, I'm going to lock you up under guard until you come to your senses!"

They both were breathing heavily, and Rick held his right arm, probing it, and glaring in my general direction.

"Let's get you cleaned up," Carol said softly, helping Tyreese to get to his feet, leading him out. A flash of metal on her belt caught my attention, and I looked at it before she disappeared. It was a set of keys, hanging freely from the back of her belt. I scrunched my face for a second, but there was a more critical thing needing my attention right now.

I spun around to fully face Rick, noticing he already stood up, Daryl watching him carefully with his displeased scowl in place.

"Farming's great and taking care of animals. But you not going to just get rid of your own aggression by doing that shit. From tomorrow you and I will spend some time in the gym," I told the sheriff, and he just closed his eyes, running a hand over his face. "Have a look around. I already did. We going to talk about this after council meeting. We need to know if the illness progressed and informed them of what happened here."

With that, I spun on my hill and walked away, struggling with my own anger.