Ch. 23

Sam and Bastard moved as soon as he heard the shots. He slung the bag over his shoulder and ran deeper into the woods. He made sure to stomp his footprints around plenty in case they tried to pick up his trail, whoever they were. Sam knew for sure that Rick wouldn't start firing unless he was under threat. Well that and they had no guns.

As he stumbled through the woods he began to notice more and more Walkers appearing. He avoided them and Bastard moved further ahead, zig-zagging in-between their legs. He slid his knife into one and spilt its guts onto his clothes covering himself in their scent. He hid himself directly after giving himself some time to get the scent all over him and the Walkers to forget that they saw him before he emerged. He walked with the heard for a bit, until they got on the tracks and then broke off and dived into a ditch right beside it and the Walkers continued on. Bastard had met him there, as if the dog knew where he was going.

He stumbled onto a cabin with a car parked out front and a few fire work tubes lying about. He knew that either someone got very sloppy, or someone had to leave in a hurry. He crept to the cabin, his footsteps light and making sure to pace out his steps, just like Oscar had taught him. When he got to the window he peaked his head inside and saw, much to his delight, Carol, Tyreese, and Merle standing over a man. He saw something in Ty's arms, or should he say, someone. It was Judith.

He smiled and let out a few silent chuckles and the dog nipped his hand affectionately. The Terminus Fucks didn't stand a chance.

He knocked on the door lightly, shouting that it was Sam. The door crept open slowly and he was met with a gun to the face and Merle glaring daggers into him.

"How are ya' Merle? Ready to do some killin'?" Merle actually cracked a smile and grabbed Sam, dragging him into the room. And Bastard followed quick.

"Holy shit! Is it good to see you Paddy! How'd you even get here?" Merle asked, holstering his gun and slapping Sam on the back. "Is that a dog?

"Long story short, after the prison I wandered, found Bastard, then met up with a group of Marauders and then found Rick. He, Daryl, Michonne, and Carl are in there right now. Captured by these fucks." Sam spat on the man from Terminus. "So, what's the plan? I assume you questioned this man?"

"We were just about getting to it." Merle said, running his bladed arm along the man's cheek, drawing a bit of blood.

"No," Carol said. "I'll use the Walkers as cover, get in and find our people."

"I'm going too. I need to express some rage," Sam said as he pulled out his knife.

"Fine," Carol said. "You two stay here. Watch him, and keep an eye out for Walkers. If he moves, kill him."

"Merle, take care of Bastard."

Carol bloodied herself up and rubbed mud on her ace to confuse the walkers. Sam simply applied a fresh coat of blood and guts before he was ready. The two of them walked through the woods and came onto a scene that filled them both with burning rage. Their people were being dragged out of a rail car and then gagged before being brought to another part of Terminus.

When they saw the gates of Terminus they saw a group of Walkers amassing on the main gates. Several of the Fucks (Sam's name for the Terminus Group) were on the fences popping the Walkers through the fence. He was tempted to shoot them, but they all began screaming as soon as a large Herd came into sight.

Carol took out a bottle rocket and Sam shot a large reserve of pressurized oxygen before carol shot off the rocket. The resulting explosion destroyed the gates of Terminus and gave the Walkers as well as Sam and Carol, easy access to Terminus. They moved through the herd of Walkers and into the compound. Sam didn't even try and saving any of the Fucks as he and Carol moved in. He didn't feel bad, they had taken their people and they got what they deserved.

They got to a narrow part of the compound that the Fucks were using as a shooting gallery. He and Carol took cover and he aimed with his rifle at the one on the roof while Carol killed the one on the ground. The only problem was that the Walkers now knew that they weren't dead and moved in on them. Sam pulled back into the room they used as cover as did Carol, and they shut the door.

They walked through the unlit corridor until they came upon a room filled to the brim with personal belongings. Clothes, teddy bears, jewelry, hats, glasses. Everything. Sam and Carol scanned through it all and looked for anything that they could see as useful. Carol paused when she saw a crossbow and immediately grabbed it. Sam went to the same rack and saw several pistols that he grabbed and shoved into his pack, and paused when he saw something that caught his eye. If was in a wooden sheath, and had a black leather wrapped hilt with a silver pommel, and silver cross guards. He grasped it and pulled out of the pile, a hand and a half sword. He's been wanting one ever since he had first seen Michonne's, and never could find one, and here it was. He strapped it to his belt, getting comfortable with the weight, and adjusting it so it wouldn't pull his pants down and then he and Carol began walking once again.

They came to a memorial of sorts, or at least that was what Sam would have called it. There were candles and names written in the chalk. The Words "Never Again. Never Trust. We First, Always." Were painted on the walls. If it wasn't for the fact that he hated these people he would have felt some pity.

"Drop your weapons and turn around!" And that feeling was gone. "I want to see your faces! Now!"

Sam saw shadows under the door and knew that there were walkers waiting for them on the other side. But the woman had the drop on them. So, he and Carol dropped their weapons. Or he thought they were. Carol suddenly opened fire and dove at the woman. Sam drew his sword, hoping to bloody it early when he saw that Carol had the fight, pretty much covered without him. He had forgotten what a badass she was.

"The signs…" the woman began, "they were real. It was a Sanctuary. People came and took this place. And they reaped, and they killed, and they laughed. Over weeks! And we got out, and we fought, and we took this place back, and we heard the message! You're the butcher or you're the cattle."

"Where are the men they pulled from the train car?" Sam stalked over to the woman, as he fully grasped what she was saying. He would definitely bloody his sword. When she didn't speak, Sam slid the blade on her calf exposing the muscle and letting the blood flow freely. "Where are they?"

The woman remained on the ground groaning in pain as she tried to hold the muscle in her leg. "Now…" she said through heavy breaths, "jam it, in my head." She began to crackle madly. "You could have been one of us. You could have listened to what the world is telling you."

"You lead people here and you take what they have, and you kill them?"

"No," Sam said as he knelt beside the woman. "They eat them. Butcher, or the cattle. Isn' that right?" The woman tried to explain, but Sam kicked her in the jaw and felt satisfied when it cracked against his boot. "Enjoy what comes next."

He and Carol holstered their weapons and made for the exit. When they threw it open and the Walkers ignored them, the woman inside began to scream. Sam didn't bother to hide his smirk.

When the Walkers became to much they snuck out. Sam had assumed that Rick would most likely go to where he had left him and the bag. When he and Carol neared the location, she began to speak.

"Do you know what happened to Sophia?" Sam almost stopped walking. "Tyreese said that he saw you with her and Beth. Are they with Rick and the others?"

Sam swallowed a bit of bile that had crept into his throat. "No. I was with her. And Beth, but we were overrun one night. Beth and Sophia ran with Bastard. I hold them off. When I went to the meet up point a car was driving off, had a white cross on the back. I ran after it, all night. Came to a cross road, didn't know where to go. I'm sorry."

Carol didn't respond to him. She only kept walking.

Rick and the others were looking around, whispering 'Sam! Sam!' over and over. When he emerged from the trees with Carol in tow, they all raised their weapons, but they all, except for two, lowered them. Daryl Ran over to Carol and hugged her tightly. Sam smiled and threw down the bag of guns.

"Did you do that?" Rick asked the two of them.

Sam smirked and motioned at the ag of guns. "Load up Kiddies! We got a bit of a walk and to many Walkers to count."

They stuck to the woods and Sam and Carol led the group to the cabin. When they got there, Merle was sitting on the porch with Bastard, dried blood on his bayonet and on Bastards snout.

"Everything alright?" Sam asked as he reached for his pistol.

"'s fine. Guy tried to have a go at the girl, I killed 'im. Ty's watching her righ' now."

On cue, Tyreese came out holding Judith and Carl and Rick rushed over. Sasha and Daryl did the Sam hugging their respective siblings. Through Merle tried to hide it, he was overjoyed that his brother was back. Bastard yelped and nuzzled Sam's leg, and he patted the dogs head. They had made it.

Shortly after they made their way away from the cabin and to the road. Sam knew what happened now. They would take their chances on the road.

"Sam, you got a sec?" Maggie asked him after about an hour of walking. "Do you know what happened to Beth? Carol said that you were with them, but, nothing else."

Sam looked into Maggie's frantic eyes, she was desperate for news. "I was. We were together, with Sophia. When— when the prison went down we escaped. After that, we ran for a few days before we found a funeral home. We stayed for a two day, then we were, overrun." Bastard made a few whimpering noises. "You did the best you could. I shoulda been there."

Maggie was silent, and Sam could tell that some of the others were listening. Not because they were nosy, but because of the close proximity. "Is she dead?"

"I don' know."

"Either she is, or she isn't."

"I honestly don' know. We were separated, and then a car with a white cross drove off with Beth and Sophia. I ran after it. All night. I came to a crossroad. I didn' know which way."

Maggie scoffed. "You gave up?"

Sam's anger flared and he stopped walking to look at her. "No! I didn'. I'm keep looking. No matter what, I'll find those girls, and bring 'em back. Cause that's what I do. I don't give up on them. Giving up, well that would be like, 'Glenn, go to Terminus, Maggie. Glenn, Glenn, Glenn.' That's giving up."

They had been walking a few days. Supplies were beginning to run low. Maggie hadn't talked to Sam again, for obvious reasons, and he was fine with that. He would still save her if need be, but the silence between them was absolutely fine with him.

Sam twirled his sword, taking a few tips from Michonne who admitted that she felt a bit naked without hers. Merle gave him a few tips as well on how to handle the blade but admitted that he was more use to knives.

When night fell, Sam addressed the elephant in the room with Merle, asking him what had happened with Oscar. Merle sobered up a bit and told Sam how, they had found a group of men the middle of a town. They didn't even do anything before the men attacked them without warning before driving off. Oscar was shot in the gut, while Merle did what he could, there was no stopping him from dying. He bled out right there on the pavement. Merle had buried him himself, took him hours with his one hand, but he had done it.

They both took a quick swig out of one of Sam's whiskey bottle for him, before turning in for the night.

They were waling the next morning, business as usual, when they heard someone screaming for help. Sam's first thought was to ignore it as keep walking, but Carl and Rick moved toward the voice. WHEN THEY ARRIVED, Sam was glad that they had gone, as a Priest was sitting on top of a rock three Walkers trying to get at him.

Sam unsheathed his new sword and whistled at Bastard. Immediately the dog ran at the first walker and tore into its muscles sending it to the ground. Sam jammed his sword into it and the others dispatched the other Walkers just as easily.

"Clear, keep watch," Rick said before turning to the Priest. "Come on down." the Priest lid down and looked nauseas. "You okay?"

He held up a finger and then vomited. "Sorry. Yes, thank you. I'm Gabriel."

"Do you have any weapons on you," Rick asked and Gabriel laughed.

"Come on Rick," Sam whispered to the man.

"Does it look like I would have any weapons on me?" Gabriel asked.

"We don't give two shorts and curlies what it looks like." Abraham said.

"I have no weapons of any kind," Gabriel informed them. "The word of God I the only protection I need."

"Sure, didn't look like it," Merle chuckled.

"Shut up," Sam snapped at the man. "Forgive him Father he's a bit uncivilized, we all are to be honest."

"No, it is fine. Besides, I called for help, help came."

"Amen to that."

"Oh, don't tell me you believe this shit Paddy!" Merle laughed.

"Irish Catholic. My ma' would've killed me if I didn't go to church."

"Excuse me but," Gabriel said quietly. "Do you, uh— have any food? Whatever I— had left, just hit the ground."

Carl held out his hand and offered the Father a few pecans. Gabriel thanked him and took the pecans.

"Do you have a camp?" Gabriel asked.

"No., Do you?" Ricked said quickly.

"I have a church," Gabriel said, unsure of whether it would be accepted.

"Hold your hands above your head." Rick ordered the man who complied and Rick quickly patted him down. "How many Walkers have you killed?"

Gabriel seemed nervous, but Sam could understand it. "Uh… not any, actually."

"Turn around. How many people have you killed?"

Gabriel seemed confused. "None."

"Why?"

"Jaysus Rick leave the Father alone," Sam said before preforming the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit.

"Because the Lord abhors violence."

"What have you done?" Rick asked him, Gabriel seemed uncomfortable and confused so Rick pressed on. "We've all done something."

"I'm a sinner," Gabriel admitted. "I sin almost every day. But those sins I confess them to God, not strangers."

Sam could respect that. "Father, you said you had a church?"

Gabriel nodded quietly and then led them to the church. It was a short walk but they eventually made it to the church. It wasn't an Irish Catholic, but it would do for Sam.

They made sure that the church was clear and then began moving what little belongings they had into the church. Sam sat down and preformed the cross again and closed his eyes. It had been a long time since he had been in a church.

When Rick told the Father that he was going with them to clear out a dozen Walkers Sam stepped up and asked if he could have a minute or two with Gabriel. Rick allowed it, and Sam turned to the Father.

"Do you do confessions?" He asked quietly. He heard Merle scoff and saw several others roll their eyes, but held firm with his stance.

"Of course. This way," Gabriel led Sam to the confessionals. They entered and Sam relaxed in the small space, closing his eyes.

"In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. My last confession was most likely a year ago." Sam paused and looked down at his hands. "I've killed. A lot. Couple dozen men and women maybe. I've stolen, to survive. Tortured, for the same reason. I've laid with a woman, out wedlock. And I think, perhaps the greatest sin, is that I don't regret any of it. I feel guilt sometimes, but, that was when I made a mistake in the acts. But, do I regret taking lives. No. I don't. I am sorry for these and all the sins of my past life, Father."

Gabriel seemed shocked but quickly regained his composure. "An act of Contrition a day, to remember all you have done."

"Thank you, Father. In the name of the Father, Son, and the Hold Spirit. Amen."

AN: Okay, so I do not know a lot about confession, considering that I have never been to confession, I figured that an Act of Contrition a day would make Sam remember all he has done, and Gabriel hopes that it will make him better. Anyway! Who would like to see scenes of what happened to Beth and Sophia next chapter? I may do it, I may not, tell me what you think! Review! ~Pacco1