For about ten minutes, I sat on the hood of a shiny new red mustang I hadn't seen before, until Rick, Daryl, and Shane came back; bringing another argument with them.
I swear, all these people do is argue; since the minute I met them that's all any conversation has ended in.
"Why would you risk your life for a douche bag like Merle Dixon?" Shane followed Rick with visible frustration.
"Hey. Choose your words more carefully." Daryl threatened but it didn't faze Shane.
"Oh I did. Douchebag's what I meant."
Hopping off the car, I walked over next to Daryl, hoping I won't have to play referee. If I have to intervene, someone's gonna get hurt and it's not gonna be me.
"Merle Dixon...Guy wouldn't give you a glass of water if you were dyin' of thirst." Shane mumbled. Sadly, that's probably true.
"What he would or wouldn't do doesn't interest me. I can't let a man die of thirst. Me. Thirst and exposure. We left him like an animal caught in a trap. That's no way for anything to die, let alone a human being." Rick argued.
Merle…you lucky bastard. Not a lot of people have this kind of morality anymore.
I mean, Daryl would go back for you no doubt and I would likely go with him whether he asked me to or not but them…I can't believe this guy has managed to talk these people into going back for you.
"So you and Daryl? That's your big plan?" Lori nearly scoffed.
Rick looked at Glenn with a look Glenn knows all too well.
"Aw…Come on" Glenn groaned.
"You know the way. You've been there before. In and out, you said so yourself."
Glenn ran a hand through his hair, readjusting his hat.
"I know it's not fair of me to ask. But I'd feel a lot better with you along. I know she would too." Rick glanced at Lori.
"That's just great. Now you gonna risk three men huh?" Shane huffed.
Three?
"Four" T-Dog volunteered. Daryl scoffed bitterly.
"My day just gets better and better, don't it?" he didn't bother looking up from cleaning the blood off his bolts.
"You see anybody else here stepping up to save your brother's cracker ass?" T-Dog pointed out.
I raised my hand but they carried on, without noticing.
Haaaa, just like school.
"Why you?" Daryl asked.
"You wouldn't even begin to understand. You don't speak my language." T-Dog replied. I know how you feel.
I got up and came up behind Daryl, waving my hand.
Finally catching Rick's attention, he sent a confirming nod my way and I returned it, with a half-smile.
"That's five" Dale stated the obvious. Daryl turned, subtly jumping when he noticed me.
"How long you been there?" he growled audible to me alone. I shrugged, holding up 3 fingers.
"We need 'em here, we need 'em to protect camp." I tuned back into the conversation— if it can even be called that. It's just back and forth arguing. I feel like I'm at a diplomatic meeting of two countries no one's ever heard of.
"Seems to me what you really need most here, are more guns." A knowing look settled on Rick's features.
"That's right. The guns." Glenn smiled, catching on.
"Wait what guns?" Shane voiced the confusion which had passed on the many faces of those listening in.
"6 shotguns, 2 high powered rifles, over a dozen handguns." Woah, that's a lot of firepower.
"I cleaned out the cage back at the station before I left. I dropped the bag in Atlanta when I got swarmed. It's just sitting there on the street waiting to be picked up." That's like finding the fountain of youth in the eye of a hurricane underneath the ocean floor.
"Ammo?" Shane asked, as if he was considering it.
"700 rounds. Assorted." Rick answered.
I let slip a low whistle. In my opinion, that alone is well worth the risk of a little trip into the city.
Shane was silent for a long time, clearly thinking about how much that could help, if not immediately than in the future.
"You went through Hell to find us. You just got here and you're gonna turn around and leave?" Lori stammered in disbelief. Concerned housewife.
"Dad, I-I don't want you to go." Carl spoke up.
Dad? So I was right. They are related. But wait, isn't his dad dead? Looking back and forth between the two, I noted the small similarities. It's certainly possible.
"To Hell with the guns." Excuse me? Those bullets could save our lives. "Shane is right. Merle Dixon? He's not worth one of your lives, even with guns thrown in." Lori argued.
God, people. We could've been there and back by now. Why are we still arguing about this?
Maybe I should just grab Glenn & Daryl and bring Merle back while they argue. We'll be back by the time they're finished.
I tapped Daryl on the shoulder and he looked at me. I glanced at Lori and Rick arguing, then back at Daryl.
Looking back at me, he grumbled, "They're married"
I looked back and forth between those three, then to Shane. That explains why Shane is on edge. Hooking up with your "dead" partner's wife during the apocalypse, only to have said dead partner come back alive and well…I don't envy him.
They're lucky nobody except -unfortunately- me, has seen them…ahem, hooking up.
God that's an unpleasant memory. I did not need to see that, I can handle blood, people being eaten alive, and dead folk walking around but that…no. Just no.
I feel bad for Carl...and Rick.
Climbing into the back of the cube van, I looked around the old truck.
It wasn't a minute before Daryl honked the horn with his foot impatiently
"Come on. Let's go!"
At least his temper's tapered slightly.
Going to the edge of the back, I held my hand out and helped T-Dog climb in with the bolt cutters.
"Thanks"
Nodding, I turned my eyes towards Daryl. Seeing him going for the horn again, I threw a warning look and gave a little growl just for good measure.
If he touches that horn again, I'm gonna knock him out and leave him here. There's only so much I will tolerate.
We can't afford to be impatient in the city. Not with all those walkers tucked into every crevice. One slip and we'll all be joining them.
Rick & Shane talked at the back for a minute, something about bullets and old lady purses, while I went to the front by Glenn.
"You think he'll still be there?" Glenn asked, I nodded without hesitation.
Of course he'll still be there. Merle's not smart enough to know how to get out of handcuffs.
Rick opened the side door and got in the passenger seat. I went to the back and reached up, grabbing the door the garage type door and pulled it down as the truck started moving.