I couldn't stop thinking, right up until I saw Glenn look towards the house. I glanced as I shoveled the last of my eggs into my mouth, and found Maggie on the porch, looking this way with her arms crossed.
I watched her shake her head; The gesture visible even at this distance.
Glenn looked to his other side where Dale stood. The old man nodded, like a parent encouraging their kid to apologize.
I'm assuming the four of us having this awkward mental debate are the only ones aware of the barn at this moment. Glenn swallowed, looking at his own hands before finally looking to me.
I sighed, looking at him with sympathy. Agh, I'm sorry you always wind up stuck in the middle, Ace.
When we met, I really hoped I wouldn't be one of the people putting you in a tough place...but it's time to face the music.
Looking back at his hands, he found his conviction and stood; Going from the side of the group to a place directly across from me, where the entire group would be able to see him.
"U-ummm, guys." Glenn rubbed the side of his face, while the others looked at him.
"So..." Glenn glanced at me and I gave a subtle nod to reassure his decision.
"The barn's full of walkers."
I've never seen a more synchronized movement in my life.
Everything stopped; Conversation, eating, breathing, and all eyes fixed on Glenn.
I watched Rick turn slowly, the movement ominous and foreign to his everyday. Even from behind him, I can tell exactly where his eyes are.
It was the stillest moment in history. The next second, everyone was on their feet, heading straight for the barn in a frenzied panic.
I followed Daryl and as I came up beside Glenn, I clapped him on the shoulder.
I don't know if this was the right course of action, but it's better than doing nothing. We can't leave it there forever, and it's better if we deal with this as a group.
I watched Shane inch up next to the old chained barn doors and peer between gaps in the faded graying panels.
He didn't have to, you can hear the shuffling, growls, and moans right here 20 feet from it, but apparently seeing is believing for him. Even if it gets your eye poked out by a walker finger.
Would that infect you? I mean we don't know how exactly it spreads, all we know is bites and scratches do the trick, but would that count as a scratch? Would it have to break into the bloodstream to infect you?
Shane backed away and turned with a huff, coming back towards us with a powerful stride.
"You cannot tell me you're alright with this." he moved past Rick
"No I'm not, but we're guests here. This isn't our land."
No offense Rick, but this is a little more important than being good house guests.
"God, this is our lives! Man" Shane pulled off his hat, arms swinging down in exacerbation.
"Lower your voice." Glenn warned, shooting a nervous glance at the barn doors.
"We can't just sweep this under the rug" Andrea interjected.
I hate to say it, but I agree with Andrea and Shane on this one. Even if it means upsetting our hosts, this isn't something we should ignore.
"It ain't right. Not remote" T-Dog spoke up
"We either gotta go in there, we've gotta make things right, or we just gotta go. Now we've been talkin' about Fort Benning for a long time—"
"We can't. go." Rick cut Shane off
"Why, Rick? Why?" Shane argued, fed up with this shit; frankly we all are, to be honest.
"Cause my daughter's still out there" Carol stepped up.
I watched Rick glance at Carol over his shoulder but there's something off about his expression. What was that? Guilt? For what?
"Okay, okay" Shane covered his mouth & nose with his hands. "Okay, I think it's time we all just consider the other possibility."
"Shane. We're not leavin' Sophia behind" Rick put his foot down.
"I'm close to findin' this girl. I just found her damn doll a few days ago." Daryl moved beside me, in front of Carol and started pacing.
"You found her doll, Daryl. That's what you did— you found a doll." Shane stressed, leaving a moment of silence to fall.
Oh shite, this is gonna get ugly.
"You don't know what the Hell you're talkin' about!" Daryl swung his arm at Shane, moving forward but I jumped in front of him, cutting off his clear path to start a fight.
"Hey man I'm just sayin' what needs to be said here. Now you get a good lead, it's in the first 48 hours." Shane kicked off.
Please, don't take that bait Daryl.
Rick put his arm out in front of Shane, trying to detour the fight from getting physical but God— I think it's inevitable.
Daryl & I may be partners but I can't stop these two by myself without threatening their lives.
That may have worked on Merle but Merle was just an asshole, he wasn't stupid, I seriously doubt the same tricks will work on these two.
I put my hands on Daryl's arms, blocking him from getting any closer as he paced back & forth like a shark circling in the water but he didn't even glance at me; itching to get at Shane.
He could go at any second. His jaw is clenched so tight I can see the muscles on his neck straining.
"Shane" Rick put himself at my back, between Shane and Daryl, trying to stop this. "Shane, Shane stop."
The backup is much appreciated, Officer. If he can get his partner to back off, I can try to get mine to walk away. He'll still be steaming for a while, but I can keep him at a distance till he cools down.
"Let me tell you something else, man. If she was alive out there and saw you comin'"
If? I looked over my shoulder at Shane, running his mouth.
"All methed out with your buck knife— geek ears around your neck, she would run in the other direction, man!"
My effort in keeping Daryl back dropped with my jaw.
The skin under my fingers disappeared and Daryl all but launched around me.
Daryl went for Shane and I was gonna let him, but Rick got between them and I jumped in front of Daryl again, pushing him back; for Rick's safety.
Hell at this point, if I had a clear shot, I'd knock Shane's ass out myself. If he's lucky.
Rick and Glenn both at my back, worked to push Shane back. I can handle Daryl on my own, but there's so much shouting I can barely hear my own thoughts.
I finally got Dixon to look at me, by pushing hard on his stomach, almost hard enough to push him back, and as soon as his blue irises locked on me, I gave him a warning look.
He ground his teeth a moment, no doubt seconds from snarling at me but surprised me a little by reigning in his temper enough to stop trying to get past me.
It's not a fight he'd win. His brother learned that the hard way, but I didn't think Daryl had learned just from watching & scoffing on the sidelines that day.
There was a lot of pushing but all the shouting came to an abrupt stop when Rick forcefully pushed Shane back, shouting, "Back off!"
"Keep your hands off me." Shane warned Lori in front of him, before he started to storm off.
"Now just let me talk to Hershel." Rick called. "Let me figure it out"
Ah Hell, Rick.
"Man, what are you gonna figure out!?" Shane went as if he was gonna go after Rick.
I jolted, ready to do a lot more than grab or push him back, but Lori beat me to it, getting in between them.
"Enough!" Lori snapped at Shane, pushing her hand against his chest; keeping him from getting any farther.
I thought this would end here, but it will end one way or another.
I felt a presence behind me just before Daryl came into my vision, tapping my elbow.
I glanced down and slowly released my knife, letting it slide back into the sheath.
"If we're gonna stay, if we're gonna clear this barn. I have to talk him into it. This is his land." Rick gestured widely to both the barn and the fields around us.
"Herschel sees those things in there as people." Dale interrupted. "Sick people."
"His wife, his— his— his— his stepson" Dale stammered, gesturing to the barn just as wildly as Rick had.
"You knew?" Rick looked at him with an accusing gaze of disbelief, I didn't even know he was capable of.
"Yesterday. I talked to Hershel." Dale confirmed without missing a beat.
"And you waited the night?" Shane irked. As if he didn't have enough arguing material already.
An ache bloomed in my jaw and I forced myself to unclench my teeth but every muscle in my body is rigid and tense. Ready to react to whatever happens.
"I thought we could survive one more night. We did." Dale stated, 100% done with Shane's hissy fit.
If anyone can shut down an argument, it's Dale. The man has a gift.
"I was waiting until this morning to say something but Glenn wanted to be the one." Dale motioned to Glenn and he nervously glanced at me. I'm guessing he never told Dale, that he told me about this last night.
I gave Glenn an affirming nod, hopefully conveying he did the right thing.
None of this is his fault. This was gonna happen no matter who or how they found out.
I watched Daryl put his hands on his hips, looking at the barn with a fierce scowl, shifting his weight from foot to foot.
He's still pissed but it's a step down from the livid state he was at a moment ago.
He'll cool down so long as no one exacerbates this argument, again. Uh-huh, I'm lookin' at you, Rick.
"The man is crazy, Rick, if Hershel thinks those things are alive or no—!" Shane shouted and the barn doors banged, pushing against the numerous locks on the door.
I jumped, pulling my knives before the signal fully reached my brain.
The chains on the doors strained and rattled.
Growling erupted from the inside and grew louder with every thud and scratching of rotting broken fingernails on faded wearing wood.
My jacket was tugged from behind and I glanced over my shoulder to find everyone retreating, Daryl right behind me moving back himself.
I walked backwards, knives still up until I was a good distance from the doors and turned to follow the quick pace of the entire group as we all headed back to camp.
Many eyes still looking over their shoulders every few seconds.