A/N: Hey y'all, so this updating every day thing is getting too hard and keeping up with all the other stuff I have to do so I'll do it every 2 days for now. Next Tuesday uni's starting again and I have a really busy timetable so unfortunately I'm going to have to cut back twice a week, or even once a week depending on how busy I am. I'll know more once I start but I'll definitely be updating every week I can assure you.
To address another point, I said that I would change parts of the story. for instance because Pol already knew Michonne from before, instead of them wanting to kick her out, Rick reluctantly agrees to let her come and stay at the prison because he trusts Pol and her judgement so that's what I've changed from the main story.
Thank you to all the love and support for this story to Whiskeyprincess01 who is now following my story and to my reviewers!
Ryane: Oh yeah Oscar was a good one! I wish they would explore some of these minor characters more but there are too many! I definitely agree and I think seasons 3 and 4 are the best written and filmed ones! It will be exciting to write.
JasminJW: Ah don't worry they will trust her eventually! Lol don't worry you may get a massage scene somewhere...
Guest: I was going to reply to your review but then I realised I couldn't because you're a guest! To address your point about it seeming like Pol didn't care about how he treated people and how he behaved, it wasn't like that at all. But I do see where you may have thought that from chapter 22 but this is part of her personality. of course she does get annoyed at the decisions he makes and she's expressed that in the last chapter and the past chapters especially if it's something she doesn't agree with. I know you want to see her get mad but her getting insanely angry is not the way I've written her character at all. she's passionate about her beliefs and opinions and the people she cares about but she's generally a calm tempered person - but with things she doesn't agree with she'll voice her disagreement and discomfort with what Rick does as I've shown in the last chapter. I haven't written Pol to be a feisty character at all, her personality is shaped by her experiences and her abuse as a child which made her a bit shy. but since the apocalypse she had to learn to fend for herself and that's why she comes across as strong.
Although I never wrote it, of course Rick went out to look for but having the burden of looking after the whole group he lost hope she was out there and had to focus on getting the group alive especially with his pregnant wife. Pol agrees with most of what Rick says but she doesn't endlessly support what he says or does. But I completely respect your opinion if that's how it came across to you. It's completely okay about your last comment! You didn't make me doubt myself, it gave me a new perspective and I was able to rewrite some of the last chapter to make it more inline with her character. Your kind words about me as a write made me smile :) Thank you so much for reading and supporting my story, I hope you continue to enjoy it xx
Disclaimer: I do not own the Walking dead or any affiliated characters and storyline, only my OC and plotline.
- Angels and Douchebags
Daryl and Merle made their way over to us as we watched Merle apprehensively before reluctantly letting him follow us.
"Let's go!" Rick called out as we ducked down away from the arena and ran across before being discovered. I saw Michonne lagging behind and I slung one of her arms over my shoulder trying to keep up with the group, we rounded a corner and ended up on the main street.
"Come on this way, they're all up by the arena!" Merle said making us look at him incredulously.
"You're not coming anywhere with us!" Rick shouted pointing his rifle out to the street.
"How you doing?" I nudged Michonne in the ribs gently and she nodded breathing heavily.
"I'll be fine." She said.
"Hang in there." I stated reassuringly.
"I've been in worse." She shrugged.
"Oh I know you have that's why I'm saying!" I said. We backed up behind a huge truck as I sat Michonne down and went up to the front with Rick rifles out.
"You really wanna do this now?" Merle complained. The truck was blocking the gate of Alexandria as Merle starting making a lot of noise banging his sword arm into the wooden gate.
"You're making a lot of noise!" I hissed, he finally broke through the wooden gate giving us an opening to get out.
"I'm getting us outta here girlie!" Merle called out and disappeared through the gap in the wooden wall. I looked at Rick and nodded, putting Michonne's arm around my shoulders we went sideways through the narrow passageway seeing Merle pound a Walker's head in.
"A little help would be nice!" He called out as Daryl put his crossbow up.
More walkers came stumbling up to the Woodbury perimeter growling and snapping their jaws, the decaying flesh depositing on the floor around us. Urgh. It never failed to make me gag. I let go of Michonne and pulled out her katana from the back handing it to her as I pulled out my machete from my belt.
We sliced through a few of the walkers when Maggie and Rick finally came through the wooden gate. They pulled out their guns and began shooting into the walkers who were getting closer.
"We ain't got time for this!" Merle shouted before running off into the forest.
"Let's go!" Daryl turned around to the rest of the group then followed his brother.
Maggie looked at Rick with an unsure, incredulous expression that we were actually letting Merle come with us.
"Is he really comin' back to the prison?" Maggie asked.
"We don't have time for this right now, he's right." I said slicing another walker.
We both looked at Rick who nodded at us as we followed Merle and Daryl into the woods, Michonne was jogging by herself, seemingly able to keep going beside us but I could see she was reaching breaking point.
We slowed down once we were clear of the town and I saw Michonne leaning heavily against the trunk of a tree.
"Hold up you guys!" I called out to Rick, Maggie, Merle and Daryl who stopped and turned around.
"Michonne? Just a couple of miles okay. We can't stop." I said gently as she nodded.
"I just need a minute." She breathed out.
"You should've stayed with Glenn." I said looking around through the trees for any Walkers.
"I insisted remember." Michonne smirked.
"You don't owe Rick any explanation or a debt." I said to her looking back at Rick.
"He's rough around the edges. I don't agree with some of the things he did, but he's a good guy." I smiled glancing at his weathered expression.
"I know." Michonne said.
"I-I wanna stay, with you at the prison. Your group, you guys have each other's backs and I haven't had that. In a while." She admitted and I beamed at her giving her a wide smile.
"I would love that. And I know the rest of the group would too." I grinned at her.
"That's why I said I'd help get your other guy out. So your guy over there," She gestured to Rick.
"Rick."
"Yeah, Rick can see that he can trust me." She explained and I nodded.
"Me trusting you should've been enough for him." I frowned.
"No," Michonne shook her head.
"It's not." she looked up as Rick came jogging over to us.
"You alright?" Rick asked Michonne who nodded slowly.
"Alright, let's go then." He said before walking back off to the front of the group. Michonne brushed my hands away from her using the tree to push herself up to standing position. We walked slowly behind the rest of the group, tired and exhausted ready for home. I looked up at the sky where the sun was coming up.
About half an hour later we reached where my car was parked in the woods and saw Glenn leaning against it holding a gun.
"Glenn!" Rick shouted harshly from the woods. The man in question came jogging to meet us halfway.
"Rick! Oh thank god!" He smiled looking at the leader.
"Now we gotta problem here I need you to back off," Rick put his hand up as Glenn pulled out the gun and pointed it at Merle.
"What the hell is he doing here?!" Glenn walked forward intending to fully shoot Merle.
"Hey, woah! Woah!" Daryl stood in front of Merle putting his hand out and preventing anyone from getting close. Maggie stood beside her boyfriend and also pointed her gun out towards Merle as I kept a hand over my holster, Michonne was no longer beside me and had her katana towards Merle.
"He tried to kill me!" Michonne screamed at Merle.
"You did what?" I said pulling the gun out and also pointing it at Merle, feeling nothing but hatred for him.
"Hey, he helped us get outta there." Daryl said to Glenn trying to placate the situation which was getting rapidly out of hand.
"Whilst also beating the crap out of Glenn and Maggie." I argued making Daryl glare at me. Rick was standing between us and Daryl and Merle who had his back up against the tree.
"Hey we both took our licks, man." Merle said from behind Daryl.
"Jackass." Daryl turned around to shut his brother up.
"Shut up," Merle said back to him.
"Okay Enough! Relax!" Rick shouted as Michonne edged her sword closer whilst Rick pointed the gun towards her. I placed my gun back in my holster crossing my arms.
"Hey get that thing outta my face!" Daryl shouted advancing on Glenn who dropped the gun. Michonne and Rick dropped their weapons which were pointed at each other and turned to Daryl.
"Look like you gone native, brother." Merle laughed at Daryl who was scowling.
"No more than you hanging out with that psycho back there!" Daryl spat out to his brother.
"Oh yeah man he is a charmer I'll tell you that. He's been putting the wood to your girl Andrea big time, baby." Merle laughed smirking at us. I gave Michonne a wide-eyed look.
"Oh God." I groaned trying to get the image out of my head. Michonne came forward with her sword towards Merle as I pulled her back before she did something she regretted.
"You guys were with Andrea right?" Glenn asked.
"Yeah, but then she chose to stay in Woodbury." I said regretfully. I wished we had forced her to come with us because now she was at the mercy of the Governor.
"Yeah these two spent the whole winter cuddling up with Andrea. Mhm hmm." Merle smirked licking his lips. I pulled out my knife intending to embed it in Merle's face before Rick pushed me back harshly as I glared at him.
"And my Nubian queen here had two pet Walkers. No arms, cut off the jaws, kept them in chains. Kind of ironic, now that I think about it." Merle drawled, as Rick looked back to Michonne apprehensively.
"Shut up man!" Daryl pointed to his brother.
"Daryl if your brother doesn't stop I'm going to shove the knife up his ass." I threatened Merle who just laughed.
"So what you gonna do now Sheriff? Surrounded by a bunch of liars, thugs and cowards." Merle taunted as Rick looked around at the group not knowing what to think.
"Shut up!" Rick shouted back to him.
"Look at you all, all these guns and no bullets in me. Bunch of pussies-" But before Merle could finish Rick knocked Merle had the base of his neck with his gun knocking him out as he fell to ground with a loud thud.
"Asshole." Rick said walking away from his body.
"Rick," I pulled him over to the side, trying to push down the annoyance I still had with him for not trusting Michonne.
"Merle coming into the group? This is not gonna work." I shook my head.
"It's gotta." Daryl said standing beside us on the road. Michonne was leaning up against the car as Maggie and Glenn also came over.
"It'll stir things up in the group." Rick stated.
"Look, the Governor's probably on the way to the prison now and Merle knows how he thinks. We could use the muscle." Daryl justified.
"I'm not having him in the prison." Maggie said.
"He put a gun to our heads you really want him to be sleeping in the same cellblock as Carol and Beth?" Glenn asked Daryl.
"He ain't a rapist." Daryl shook his head.
"Well his buddy is." Glenn said as Maggie gave him a sharp look. I didn't miss the way her eyes widened with fear and sadness.
"Well they're not buddies not after last night." Daryl said.
"You gonna cut Merle loose but bring the last samurai home with us." Daryl pointed to Michonne.
"Hey!" I said.
"How many times do I have to say it, she helped me survive all winter, she came back for me twice! She saved me and I trust her." I said making the rest of the group quiet.
"She can't be on her own." Maggie reasoned.
"And she did bring you guys to us." Glenn stated and I nodded looking at Rick expectantly.
"She ditched us then." Rick said.
"She had her own stuff to take care of too." I defended.
"We don't even know who she is. She's unpredictable." Daryl said.
"At least let my dad stitch her up." Maggie reasoned. I looked her gratefully pleased she was on my side.
"She's my family guys. She may not be blood. But she's family." I said looking at them.
"Alright, we'll take her back with us for now. But if she poses a danger to the group, she's out." Rick said firmly.
"Thank you," I sighed with relief and I looked at Daryl nodded.
"Merle's blood. If we're taking her back, I want him to come too." Daryl said making me look at the ground unsure. I would take Merle back to the prison if it guaranteed Michonne staying.
"He's your blood. My blood and family are here and waiting for us back at the prison." Glenn said crossing his arms.
"And you're our family." Rick said holding Daryl's gaze.
"Man y'all don't know!" Daryl said frustrated as the rest of the group said nothing. I heard a groaning noise and snapped my head back thinking it was a walker but it was Merle leaning his head against a tree trunk.
"Fine, we'll fend for ourselves." Daryl said holding the crossbow over his shoulder.
"That's not what I was saying," Glenn said softly.
"No him. No me." Daryl was unrelenting.
"Daryl you don't have to do that." Maggie said.
"It was always Merle and me 'fore this," Daryl shrugged.
"You serious? You gonna leave just like that?" Glenn asked. I felt an overwhelming wave of sadness wash my body at the thought of Daryl leaving her group, just after we had already incurred two losses a few days ago.
"Daryl," I said softly feeling tears prick in my eyes as his gaze softened.
"What about Carol?" Glenn tried a new tactic.
"She'll understand." Daryl said. Daryl looked at Rick one last time and nodded as he looked back at him.
"Say goodbye to your pop for me." Daryl said to Maggie before walking off towards Merle.
"Daryl!" I called then walked over to him giving him a hug which he reluctantly returned.
"I'm sorry." I whispered.
"Take care of yourself for me." I pulled apart and smiled at Daryl sniffling slightly.
"Don't go soft on me." Daryl smirked.
"Take care of Rick." he said and I nodded letting him go. He walked off and Rick jogged past me talking to Daryl quietly as we opened the back of my car pulling out his weapon and pack. They opened the trunk and talked to each other but I couldn't make out what they said. A look of understanding passed between them.
"Daryl! Glenn called out. Daryl walked off leaving Rick standing there his face contorting in a range of emotions.
"You gonna be okay sheriff?" I joked to him.
"Yeah," he nodded seriously. He dumped his rifle into the trunk and I followed suit with my weapons before Rick walked to Michonne who was limping.
"We patch you up, then you stick by our rules. And you can stay." Rick said firmly as Michonne nodded gratefully to him. He got in the passenger seat of the car as Glenn and Maggie got in the back seats.
"I don't know what you said to him but thank you." Michonne touched my arm.
"Thank Glenn and Maggie." I smiled a her getting in the car. I put the keys in starting the car and drove off back towards home. This time I put no music in as we enjoyed the silence driving back. I rolled down the windows and felt the fresh air blowing in my face.
The mood in the car was depressing after Daryl's departure but I felt somewhat relaxed with a mixture of sadness and confused. Once I would have considered the scenery beautiful, the tall pine mountain trees on each side, I looked back in front where there was a red truck and a fallen tree. I harshly pressed my foot on the brake and switched off the car.
"Of course this is our luck." I groaned opening the car door as Maggie reached the tree. Rick and Glenn followed as we inspected it. Glenn opened the car door and out came a walker snarling onto him. Me, Rick and Maggie pulled out our guns ready to shoot but Glenn pushed it to the ground stamping into it's face until it was bloody. The brain matter of the walker was exposed until the head was unrecognisable as I covered my nose from the smell.
"Take that!" Glenn shouted as I glanced at Maggie worriedly. Rick backed up next to us lowering his gun as he gave us a worried look.
"Uh, Glenn." I said worriedly looking over to where he continued stomping. He was finished and breathed heavily holding his side with his arm. He went passed the red truck and stood there until Rick went to him and we followed him.
"You didn't kill him." Glenn looked up to Rick.
"That's not why we went back." Rick justified.
"No that's right, you went back for Daryl. And now he's gone again and the Governor is still alive." Glenn spat out.
"Daryl was the priority." He said firmly.
"I should've been there with you." Glenn said.
"You were in no condition-" Rick said gently.
"But my girlfriend was?!" Glenn shouted.
"This isn't about us Glenn." Maggie reminded him next to me.
"I should've been there." Glenn looked down at the ground.
"You could barely walk, Glenn." Rick said firmly.
"Do you know what he did to her?!" Glenn shouted. A look of shock passed over my face as I glanced at Maggie in sympathy.
"Leave him alone! Let's go!" Maggie shouted putting her hands on the red truck.
"Maggie?" I asked standing next to her but she shook her head.
"I don't want to talk about it." She said pressing her lips in a thin line.
"Understood." I nodded.
"But if you do.."
"Thanks," She said. Whatever happened I could tell it deeply affected her, badly and Glenn too, I hope they were okay. They were gonna be okay, they would survive. We don't have the luxury of a choice in a post apocalyptic world.
"After all that effort, Daryl just takes off with Merle." Glenn said.
"Merle is his brother." I tried to reason but I knew in my heart it was insane what Daryl had done, I thought he had gone so close with the group and Merle's moral compass was, questionable at best - being buddies with the Governor for instance proved that.
"You say that Pol, but look at what he did to me. To Maggie." Glenn said harshly.
"He had his reasons, we couldn't just throw down a welcome mat at the prison for Merle." Rick stated.
"You keep telling yourself that Rick, doesn't change the fact we're up to our necks in shit." Glenn said angrily.
"This is the hand we've been dealt!" Rick yelled in Glenn's face.
"Come on guys, let's just get this truck out of the way and talk when we go back." I said gently.
"You can do all the talking you want, I'm done." Glenn said before stomping away back towards the BMW. Rick came beside me and put his hands on the back of the red truck. I couldn't think of what to say to make him feel better, I gave him a lot of shit for Michonne - some of which he deserved but he was getting shit from everyone. Rick was burdened with become leader of the group and having responsibility over everyone's safety and that meant dealing with the shit storm we had just encountered. He had lost the love of his life, and a friend had walked away from the group. There was nothing for me to say.
I covered my hand over Rick's as his blue eyes met mine and nodded in a single look that said: it was going to get better, it was going to get easier, we were just going through a rough time. I took my hand off his and looked at Maggie who was giving me an unreadable expression.
We began pushing the truck away from the red and after a good few minutes of heaving it was off towards the side in the woods. We walked back to the BMW and got in the car driving around the half fallen tree and back towards the prison.
I drove the BMW through the dense section of trees until coming onto the dirt track road in the clearing as the prison fence came into view. I slowed down as Carl unlocked the fence with the keys and Carol slid the metal fence door for the outer gate then closed it before any Walkers could get through. I stopped the car letting Carl open the inner gate as Rick got out of the passenger seat.
"Where you going?" I asked him.
"Drive them up, I'll meet you there." He instructed and I nodded. He slammed the door and ran over to Carl engulfing him in a relieved hug. Carol put her hands on the car door and tried to look in before backing up in worry. She must be looking for Daryl, I felt guilty pressing down on the accelerator and driving up to the other parked cars.
I parked the car in the courtyard as Maggie helped Glenn get out of the car before Hershel wrapped him in a side hug and skulked off inside the prison without saying a word. Maggie hugged her father before Beth came and threw her arms around her sister crying with happiness.
I got out of the car and went to the back to help Michonne out holding one hand so she could walk easy.
"I'm glad you're here." I squeezed her hand as she gave me a faint smile.
"I don't think the rest of your group think that." She scanned as Rick, Carl and Carol were looking at her apprehensively.
"Don't worry, they just don't know you like I do. Once they do, then I can say I told you so." I smirked.
"We'll see." Michonne said narrowing her eyes. Rick had her arm around Carol's shoulders who was looking noticeably upset. Beth came running and threw her arms around Rick before giving him a peck on the cheek. She noticed me behind holding Michonne and also wrapped me up in a hug before smiling widely and walking inside with Maggie.
"Go on." Rick said to Carol and Carl who followed the sisters inside the prison. I walked over slowly past Rick supporting Michonne before he put a hand on my arm. We both turned around to face in surprise.
"I just wanted to say, that I'm sorry." Rick said as a look of surprise passed over my face.
"For what?"
"The way I didn't believe you about Michonne." Rick nodded over to her as she looked intrigued.
"I should've trusted your judgement, and trusted you especially since she kept you safe for 8 months." He said to me.
"Thank you for that." He looked at Michonne who was now looking at him pleasantly.
"We more like protected each other." She smirked nudging me.
"It'll take time for the rest of the group as well as myself to be open to you stayin' here. With us. But if you're patient, we would be glad for the extra muscle. And your company." Rick said respectfully before Michonne nodded. We all stood there in silent and Rick looked like he wanted something more to say to me but in private.
"Why don't I meet you inside?" Michonne got the hint and looked at me knowingly before walking off with her katana on her back.
"I am sorry." Rick emphasised.
"It's already forgotten." I beamed at him.
"I know that I lost Lori a few days ago and I've been so wrapped up in my grief I've completely disregarded the way I've been speaking to you." Rick said sincerely.
"Rick you don't have to-"
"I do. Just please let me get this out." He pleaded making me close my mouth.
"What you told me, when we were in that cell that night about your father. I can't imagine how hard that must've been for you to tell me that story, just to make me feel better. That was a hell of a brave thing you did and I didn't even make sure you were okay." Rick looked down guiltily.
"Hey look at me," I got his attention.
"I am fine Rick. All that happened a long time ago and although I'll always have those memories, I've become a stronger person because of those events and it gives me the courage to help other people who are hurting. It's not your fault in any way, I'm glad it helped." I explained.
"Well I'm lucky, to have a friend like you around." Rick smiled slightly this time.
"Of course you are." I grinned at him as we began walking into the prison. We walked through the corridors and the cafeteria almost to our cellblock before Carol called us over.
"You guys, you're gonna want to see this." We followed Carol through the old passageways and into the cell Michonne was being kept in when she first got to the prison. We opened the cell door to the large room and Carl was standing there, finger on his holster facing 4 people sitting at the table we had never seen before.
Carl walked over to the other side with us as Hershel also joined us on his crutches and went through the other cell door locking it huddled outside.
"Lot happened when we were out?" I said jokingly as Carl launched into the story of how this group of people found their way through a burnt down part of the prison and ended up on the lower levels which were apparently crawling with Walkers. He apparently rescued them whilst some of them were injured and brought them back to this cell, waiting for us to get back.
"We'll talk to them later." Rick said decidedly as we walked back towards the cell block. Rick went to go take Judith from Beth as I went towards my cell seeing Carol doing the laundry and I immediately felt guilty.
"I'll take those dirty clothes off you." Carol said as I looked up.
"No it's fine, I can do it." I smiled.
"I'm already doing the others, I can do yours too." She smiled.
"Thanks, just give me a minute okay." I went into my cell and pulled the sheet across giving me some privacy. I took the jacket off and smelled it before scrunching up my nose. Okay definitely for the wash. I took my boots off followed by my trousers before rifling for another clean pair. I took the shirt off and looked down at my bare body. The scratches and bruises from all those years ago were still there, constant reminders of my past. I looked at my back through the mirror and saw the distinguishable mark of the hot iron still on my mid back
"Hey, are you o-" I quickly shrugged the new t-shirt over my head but the damage had already been done. Carol looked at me with wide eyes before I handed her my dirty clothes.
"I'm sorry, I just thought you were in there a while and I wanted to make sure." She said quickly.
"Don't worry about it." I smiled trying to play it off. It didn't need to be more awkward than it just was. But if anyone would understand. It would be Carol, I had heard from Lori and Andrea some of the things her late husband Ed would do to her.
I wordlessly handed her my dirty clothes as she accepted them.
"I should've knocked-"
"It's already forgotten Carol." I smiled genuinely as she returned my smile taking my dirty clothes with her.
I heard Beth and Carol talking gently outside to each other as Judith cried a little bit whilst I flopped down on my bed closing my eyes to rest for a while. Michonne was having her additional wounds tended to her by Hershel. Hopefully the group would soon see what I saw in her. I was so comfortable in my bed that I didn't notice myself drifting off into a deep dreamless sleep.
I woke up from my slumber putting socks on and shrugging my boots on, not noticing my bedhead or the endless bags under my eyes. I pulled the white sheet back and came out of my cell rubbing my eyes seeing Rick standing outside a cell and Hershel inside.
"She's out like a light." Hershel's voice rang out from the cell. I turned the corner and peeked my head inside seeing Michonne safe and sleeping on one of the beds.
"Must've been days since she slept." He stood back up rubbing his hands on the clean towel.
"You guys look pretty shot yourself." Hershel looked pointedly to Rick.
"I just had the best hour of sleep." I stated with a smirk as Rick shook his head in amusement.
"How long before she wakes?" Rick asked.
"Have to keep an eye on her, pretty sure she has a concussion." Hershel said making me wake up more.
"I'll stay with her." I said immediately as Hershel shook his head.
"You need your rest. Both of you." He looked at us pointedly. Hershel put on his crutches and came out of the cell before Rick closed the cell door debating whether or not to lock it. I watched his internal struggle as he left it unlocked making me smile.
"Whenever Tomas went off, Oscar always stood up for him." Axel said as Carol rubbed his shoulder. Glenn and Maggie came out of their cells as me, Hershel and Rick walked up to join him.
"He was brave and strong." I said reassuringly to the man who had lost his friend.
"He went out fighting." Rick stated.
"So, what now?" Beth asked walking down the steps holding Judith who was actually sleeping.
"You think the Governor will retaliate?" Her innocent eyes looked around at the group.
"Yeah he will." I said, an uneasy feeling building in my stomach. One day. Just wanted one day of peace.
"From what you've all said it sounds like he's got a whole town behind him." Carol said grimly.
"We could use some reinforcement." Hershel said looking at Rick who looked down then around the group for a moment.
"Do you mean the new group?" I asked him and he nodded.
"Tyreese's people."
"Let's go see if they're up for it." Rick said as we followed him towards the cell we locked them in. Carl had been standing watch as most of us followed Rick in when he unlocked the door. He came face to face with a burly bearded man wearing a hat.
"Tyreese," The man seemed friendly holding his hand out to shake Rick's but he didn't accept.
"Sasha, Allen and Ben." Hershel introduced the others in the group and I gave them a small smile. My gut feeling was that these people seemed good.
"How'd you get in?" Rick went straight to questions. Tyrese lowered his hand and answered him.
"Fire damage to the administrative part of the prison. Walls down. We lost our friend."
"I'm sorry about your friend." I said to them and the girl Sasha smiled slightly.
"Hershel said you could use some extra hands. We're no stranger to hard work. We'll go out and get our own food. Stay out of your hair. You got a problem with another group, we'll help with that too." Tyreese said sincerely.
I looked at Hershel with a questioning nod as he returned it. They should stay here. But it was up to Rick to see what he said. Rick looked at him for a long hard moment before looking down at the ground.
"No." He said simply making all of us look at him in shock.
"Please." Sasha pleaded her eyes watery.
"No." Rick shook his head repeating his statement. This group had nowhere else to go and we were denying them shelter, food. I remember when the group took me in, not trusting me but they gave me a chance. Rick gave me a chance. But this was a different Rick. This Rick was harsh and grieving and untrusting of people.
"Let's talk about this. We can't just keep-" Hershel spoke up bravely next to me.
"We've been through this, with Tomas, Andrew." Rick explained.
"Oscar and Axel weren't like that." Carol's soft voice spoke up.
"Where's Oscar now?" Rick turned to her questioning as she said nothing.
"I can't be responsible." Rick said.
"You turn us out. You are responsible." Tyreese said. Rick looked like he was going to explode at him.
"Rick," I called out as he came over to me and Hershel.
"You've done so much for us. I appreciate that. We all do. We owe you our lives. We've done everything you asked, without question. And I'm telling you, you're wrong on this. You've got to start giving people a chance." Hershel said. Rick looked up at the rest of the group then towards me.
"What about you, what do you think?" Rick asked putting his hands on his hips.
"We've been through a lot. We've made mistakes, trusting people we shouldn't." I said remembering Alejandro and how I wouldn't trust easily.
"They could be lying, or they might actually be genuine. We should give them a chance." I stated.
"Carol's right we gave Axel and Oscar a chance and they turned put alright." I explained but Rick was looking at the ground.
"No," Rick whispered looking at the ground.
"Rick-"
"No," He whispered again then glanced up until he went white as a sheet and his eyes were fixated at a point above us. I turned around seeing nothing there as Rick continued talking.
"No, no, no, no-" He continued pacing frantically whispering to himself. He placed a hand over his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose before removing his hand and glancing up again in the corner of the ceiling. I watched as our group plus Tyreese and Sasha were looking at Rick in worry and concern.
"Why are you here?" Rick asked to no one in particular, his voice shaking.
"Rick?" I prodded but he was in his own mind. Hershel moved to put a hand on his shoulder to snap him out of it but he walked off towards the other side of the room.
"What do you want from me?" Rick asked looking up.
"Dad?" Carl asked worriedly. I went over to stand beside Carl trying to comfort the boy.
"Why are you-" Rick was looking up in fear.
"I can't help you! Get out!" Rick turned around and shouted as I jumped and put an arm up in front of Carl worried if Rick was going to do something.
"Get-get out!" Rick said walking into the middle of the two groups with his hand on his face contorting in pain and sadness.
"Woah, woah it's all good." Tyreese put his hands up not wanting to antagonise him.
"What are you doing?" Carol asked.
"Hey, hey easy Rick. You're starting-" I put a hand on his shoulder before he whirled back around pulling his gun.
"You don't belong here! Get out!" He shouted pointing his gun to the ceiling as I held Carl stepping backwards quickly.
"Relax," Tyreese said trying to calm him down.
"Get out!" Rick wailed.
"Okay, we'll leave. We're going, ain't nobody got to get shot here." Tyreese stated.
"Why are you here?!" Rick shouted as the four members of the new group scrambled to their feet.
"Just go! Go!" Glenn said helplessly to them ushering them out. I had one hand on Carl's chest and another on his back and I could feel his heart beating wildly as we all backed against the wall.
Rick was panting heavily in the centre of the room as I let go of Carl who tried to pull me back.
"It's okay." I whispered to him as Rick was sobbing.
"Carol, Beth take Judith back to c-block. Okay?" I said to them and they nodded.
"Come on Carl, let's go listen to Pol's CD player." Maggie ushered the boy out of the room as I was left with Glenn and Hershel. I walked slowly over to Rick as he glanced up in one particular corner of the room every now and then.
"Rick," I said slowly. I put my hand on his arm holding the gun and took it from his hands gently thrusting it behind me for Glenn to take it.
"How about we go lie down?" I asked him and he nodded.
"Yeah? Okay, let's go." I put one hand on his back guiding him towards the door of the cell.
"Hershel it might be worth, giving them some food and water for their journey." I suggested
"Are we not gonna let them stay?" Hershel asked.
"I would let them. But with the way Rick is right now" I trailed off and Hershel agreed taking Glenn with him to get the others supplies before they hit the road.
I walked with Rick back to the cell as the others were in the common area and all stared as we entered c-block.
"Rick's just tired everyone." I reassured them but we all knew something was wrong. I just needed Rick to think they believed that.
"We can handle things for a few hours." Carol nodded as Rick looked at her. I nudged him into his cell block as he sat on the bed and I stood over him.
"Lie down." I said gently as he laid down with his head on the pillow.
"Close your eyes, we got things around here." I said to him and left him on the bed. I stayed outside the cell until I finally saw him close his eyes and I closed the cell door shut, extremely worried for our leader.
A/N: Thanks for reading! Sorry for this filler-y chapter but not much happens in the episode, I wanted to write more dialogue than action to show the group feeling in the aftermath. review?