Thank you all so much for reading and reviewing. Just an fyi I am playing with the timing of events. It won't be exactly canon.
I don't own TWD or its characters.
ENJOY!
It had been nine days since Merle escaped from Woodbury with Sam. Everyone was on edge just waiting for something bad to happen. A few had begun to question Merle's assurances of a visit from the Governor. However they still had taken extra measures. They had dug a few trenches along the forest line on the outside of the prison fences to help catch incoming walkers. Their guard schedule rotated so the change over's weren't the same every day. He even had them patrolling outside for tracks. Merle used some of the tricks from Woodbury to help secure the prison better. They felt prepared as best as they could without knowing how he would hit them.
Merle was sitting in his cell when yelling and gunfire started. Running down the stairs and grabbing a rifle on the way out, he saw the Governor at the gate firing at the prison. One man was in the guard tower shooting at the kids trapped behind a wall. One body was down and it looked as if Carol was using it as cover. Merle brought his gun up and kneeled by a small wall. Propping it up on his metal sleeve he aimed for the guard tower but the man fell from someone's shot. Scanning the field quickly he saw Ben, a Woodbury guard, by the fence shooting toward Rick. Taking a quick pause Merle squeezed the trigger. Ben's head shattered as he bullet tore through his temple.
The firing calmed down as a revving engine could be heard coming in the distance. Merle knew what was about to happen. Governor loved his walker bombs. The bread truck barreled through the gates and drove into the grassy area of the yard. The back dropped open and walkers spilled out. Merle could tell he took time to find the biggest and freshest stock.
"Close the gates." Merle hollered to Maggie. She ran and closed the upper gates while Merle gave her cover fire. The driver of the truck hopped out and was wearing armor but fell when a bullet ripped through the back of his knees. Merle looked over and saw Sam firing at the downed man. She caught him again in the armpit and the back of his neck.
'Good girl. Aim for the weak points,' he thought.
Finding the Governor in his sights Merle aimed and fired, the bullet was intercepted by a stumbling walker. It's chest exploding into the Governor's face. Merle smirked at the man's angry and shocked expression.
"Got some dry cleanin' to do asshole." He muttered firing three more successive shots in his direction but none hit his target. The Governor was now hiding behind the truck's door.
The Woodbury men hopped in their truck, the Governor firing off more rounds in to the air. They peeled out with a huge revving of an engine, flying off down the road. Looking out into the field Merle saw it was flooded with walkers. Rick and Daryl were beyond the fences; Daryl returning from a hunt must have found Rick outside. Glenn's truck barreled by the Governor's as he returned to the prison. Once he's reached the upper fenced area Carol pointed down into the field and yelled, "Go, Hershel."
A muted popping sound made Merle turn his head. Sam was standing on a truck's roof firing at walkers approaching someone in the field. Merle saw Hershel lying down defenseless. Merle jumped up and saw Glenn driving a truck to get him. Sam shots landed without fail. Walker's dropping like flies around the old man lying in the grass. Michonne was in the field slicing down walkers making her way to the truck. Once Hershel and Michonne were safe Sam turned and hopped down.
"Come on we gotta cover Rick and Daryl. They're stuck out there. " She said jogging over to the up gate. Merle watched her reloaded her rifle easily as she stood with her rifle poised as the men approached. Each man killed walkers as they came up the dirt road. Sam popping off shots when they were overwhelmed or approached from behind.
Once inside Rick hugged Carl and nodded to Daryl. Hershel climbed out with Glenn's help and hobbled over to Sam.
"Thank you young lady. You covered my rump out there." He drawled his hair messy from lying in the field.
Merle leaned down to Sam's ear, "Got some skills there, Sugar." He smirked at her. Sam shrugged a shoulder while looking at the ground a tiny grin on her face.
"Ok get these gates secured. We need to get inside." Rick stated, apparently stepping back into the role of leader for the time being. Merle raised an eyebrow at Sam who shrugged again
Sam watched as Glenn and Daryl lock the gates making sure walkers didn't get into the last secure area. She saw Tyreese and Sasha collecting the firearms used to be reloaded. Carol was staring at Axel's body that was now being feasted on by the undead. Maggie grabbed her to lead her back into the prison. Sam had watched her hide behind the man's body and couldn't' imagine how torn she might feel for doing it. Thankful but remorseful for his death.
Sam had been helping with laundry when the gunshot went off. She saw Axel fall and then all hell broke loose. She grabbed a rifle from Maggie and took cover at the end of the truck parked nearby. Her angle was off and she couldn't reach the gunman in the guard tower. Thankfully Maggie was able to get a line of sight on the bastard.
When the truck came barreling through Sam was confused. She assumed soldiers would come out but the reality was almost worst. All those walking corpses spilling out were shocking. It pissed Sam off so badly she made it her mission to take out the driver. His body armor was good but not good enough. She aimed for the joints. The back of his knees was the best first shot. Taking him to the ground allowed her a few more good shots. Firing through his side, just under the arm pit most likely killed him but she took another to the back of his neck. A finally 'fuck you' from her. She moved her aim toward the Governor but by then he was covered in walker gore and hiding behind the truck's drivers side door.
"Fuckin Pussy," she muttered before scanning the field for other Woodbury men. It was at that point she saw Hershel lying in the field. The Governor peeled out of the area and Sam took her spot on top of the truck to cover Hershel. He was a sitting duck out there surrounded by hungry monsters. Lucky the grass had laid down near him making her ability to cover him easier.
"Ya comin' Sam?" Merle asked while holding the door open. Sam brought back to the present tore her eyes away from the walker filled field and followed him inside.
Everyone was talking loudly and arguing. Sam leaned against the holding cell while Merle sat unstrapping the blade from his metal sleeve.
Rick shouted, "We're not leaving.
"We can't stay here." Hershel said, walking on his crutches to a table before sitting down. "What if there's another sniper? A wood pallet won't stop one of those rounds."
Glenn sighed and said, "We'll fix it. Find metal panels or move desks, thicker wood."
Hershel crossed his arms, his face steely, "We can't even go outside. Not in the daylight."
Daryl grunted, "Rick says we're not running, we're not running."
Everyone started talking over each other. "This is why we were planning. We knew this was coming!" Glenn shouted, standing up and pointing outside.
"Glenn we need to realize running might be a better option." Hershel said calmly.
Merle chimed in after the comment, " 'm sure he's got scouts on every road out of this place by now. We can't run now, missed the window."
Daryl grunted, "We ain't scared of that prick."
Merle snorted, "Y'all should be. That truck through the fence thing, that's just him ringing the doorbell." He stood up and walked toward the center of the room, pointing, "We might have some thick walls to hide behind, but he's got the guns 'n the numbers. And if he takes the high ground around this place, shit, he could just starve us out if he wanted to."
Maggie growled, "This is all you. Y'all started this. If ya hadn't come here none of this would be happenin!"
Daryl shouted at her angrily, "What difference whose fault it is?" Maggie huffed and stomped over to her father's side, showing her allegiance in the argument.
"Well, what are ya suggestin' Merle?" Daryl asked. Merle shrugged nonchalantly, "We gotta take 'im out. Go in kill the fucker."
"Now wait a minute. We aren't assassins." Hershel said angrily. Sam wanted to roll her eyes and shout at the old man. Sam looked at Rick who was barely listening to the argument. As the others kept arguing he started to turn and walk away.
Hershel stood up and shouted, his voice louder and angrier than Sam had heard it, "Get back here! You're slipping, Rick. We've all seen it. We understand why. But now is not the time."
Walking over to the man, talking to his back, "You once said this isn't a democracy. Now you have to own up to that. I put my family's life in your hands. So get your head clear and do somethin'!" Rick looked at the ground, his back still facing the group. After a long quiet moment he walked away without a word.
Everyone kept talking, discussing what should be done. Hershel was adamant that they find a way to leave. Merle kept saying they send a group in, kill the Governor and the high-ranking soldiers. Leave the town hamstringed and without anyone leading. The town would either crumble or someone else would take over. Some one less like the sadistic bastard running it now.
Carl left shortly after his father and followed him outside. Sam sat listening to the arguments with Tyreese, Sasha and Michonne. They were all on the outside of the decision. Having only been there a short time the final call wouldn't be by them.
"What do you think?" Tyreese asked Sam. Sam chewed her lip and said, "We kill him." Sasha narrowed her eyes at her, "Just like that?"
"Yeah just like that. The man shouldn't be allowed to live. He's a sick bastard." She responded without looking at her. Michonne grunted in agreement.
"I could do it." Michonne said, "Snuck into his place before."
Sam smirked and said, "He was wearing an eye patch." Michonne grinned widely, "I wish I shoved that fucker deeper. Wouldn't even be talking about it now."
"Me too." Sam said quietly. Tyreese and Sasha didn't comment on the conversation, only looked at each other worriedly.
Rick returned with Carl and looked calmer. "We prepare for him to return and we discuss how to get into Woodbury to take him out. Merle we need your knowledge of the town. We need people who can enter without be caught."
Hershel looked distraught and finally walked away, going to his cell. He was followed by Maggie and Beth who was holding Judith. Carol stood on the outside of the group looking torn on her opinion. Glenn, Daryl, Merle and Rick all sat discussion the town's layout and the best time to get inside. Carl and Sam were on guard duty, watching from the fields from the catwalk. Sam had her rifle poised as she used the scope to scan the trees beyond the prison.
Carl was looking through binoculars and said, "Something weird out there." Sam looked in the direction he was facing and saw a woman walking with a corpse in front of her.
"Andrea?" Carl muttered. Sam looked over at him, "Get your dad and the others."
Sam kept her eye trained on the blonde and saw she had an animal control pole with a walker on the end. Everyone else came outside into the courtyard. Sasha and Tyreese walked out on the catwalk, joining Sam to watch from above as the group waited for Andrea to reached the upper gates.
Rick shouted at her, "Are you alone?"
She looked scared. Walkers were noticing her and starting to shamble toward her. "Open the gate." She begged.
Rick didn't make a move to do what she wanted, "Are you alone?!"
"Rick!" Hershel shouted from behind him. "Open it."
Grinding his teeth Rick finally relented and opened the gate, pulling her inside. He turned on his cop mode and started shouting at her, his gun trained on her head, "Hands up! Turn around. Turn around now!"
Sam watched the woman look confused at the treatment. She finally followed his instructions and put her hands up, "All right."
Rick pushed her forward again, "Get down, on the floor." While patting her down he hissed into her ear, "I asked if you were alone."
She looked horrified at his anger, "I am"
He sneered, "Welcome back. Get up."
Earlier in Woodbury
The Governor was speaking to Milton about the town's available fighters. The visit to the prison did not go as planned. He went in expecting to catch them unaware and untrained. It seemed as if they knew what to expect. Obviously Merle had informed them of a possible visit but they had turned out to more armed than predicted. Woodbury just lost three of their men to the scum holed up in the cement box with bars. The Governor wanted to enlist every possible resource to eliminate their nearest neighbors.
The Governor leaned back in his chair, propping his long legs up on the corner of his desk, "How many does that give us now?"
Milton pushed his glasses up while reading from his clipboard, "20. We have several people with chronic conditions, hearing impairments, arthritis. Adding those gives us 26."
Nodding along the Governor asked, "And if we include men and women age 13 and up?"
"You mean boys and girls?" Milton asked incredulously.
He scoffed, "Adolescence- it's a 20th century invention. Men and women."
Milton swallowed thickly and said nervously, "There're, uh, 35"
Dropping his legs down the Governor slapped his hands on the desk before pushing up from his seat, "Well, make sure they all have sidearms and plenty of ammo. We'll start training when Martinez is ready."
There was a knock on the open door, Andrea looking between the two men, "Well, come in." the Governor drawled. 'Just what I need right now. Lawyer Barbie.' He complained inwardly.
"What's this I hear about the prison? I thought I would get to speak to them?" Andrea asked without greeting.
Trying to humor her he responded, "I went to set up some trade lines. Bad enough we got biters at our gates. We can't have aggressors just miles away, thought I'd break bread s'all."
Andrea narrowed her eyes and crossed her arms, "So you went and welcomed them to the neighborhood?"
He walked around his desk toward her and said calmly, "You know they shot at us first? Killed three of our men. Good men. I don't know who these people were when you were with them, but they've changed. They're bloodthirsty." The governor was chuckling inside. 'Those fuckers haven't seen bloodthirsty. I will drink the blood of their youngest member in front of them. Then they'll fuckin' know.'
Andrea turned toward Milton and raised an eyebrow, "You knew about this?"
Shifting under her gaze Milton replied, "I was informed this morning. I didn't know."
"Don't drag him into it." The Governor snapped his anger spilling over the southern gentleman veneer.
Andrea nodded slowly, her tone nervous, "You're right. This is between you and me." Her voicing getting slightly louder but desperate, "I'm sick of this. Sick of the lies. And I'm not gonna watch this town and my friends gun each other down."
Laughing deeply the Governor said, "Well, it's too late."
"What do you mean it's too late?" she asked, her expression confused. The Governor looked at her trying to decide if she was really that stupid. That she thought he'd just walk away after being stolen from. Not only had Merle taken a prisoner and helped Michonne out. Michonne had killed his daughter, blinded him. Now they killed three of his men.
No.
No he wouldn't be walking away from this fight. He was going to settle the score and then some.
They'd pay. They'd all pay.
"I don't know what you're trying to prove, but enough is enough. I'm going to see them. I'll work this out." Andrea stomped closer to the Governor oblivious to his inner rage filled rant. The blood lust in his eyes was lost on her.
"Well, they're hostile." He said through clenched teeth. The woman was close to breaking his calm demeanor. She hadn't seen his rage, hadn't seen the real Phillip Blake. 'Soon bitch. Soon as I'm done playin'.' He seethed.
He held up the clipboard, "These are all the able-bodied people we have. They're gonna carry arms and receive training. Those… animals won't murder anymore of my people."
Andrea walked over her, her hand touching his bicep, "One car, that is all I need."
The Governor removed her hand and sat down at his desk. Picking up some paperwork he essentially dismissed her, "The roads are blocked. We barely made it back ourselves." He began writing down a list of required training for the new soldiers in his army. Andrea stood there fuming while he smiled inwardly. The woman was so weak. Bending her and manipulating her was such entertainment for him. He was the cat, she was his mouse. Without looking up as she walked out the door he called out, "Andrea. You go to that prison, you stay there."
Andrea's feet faltered, her steps pausing before retreating out of the office.
The Governor leaned back, his hands behind his head a grin on his face.
"She's going to ask me for help to go, you know that right?" Milton asked his face pinched.
"Help her. She'll come back and I'll know even more about that prison. She'll tell me who's in charge, how many people they have, any injured. Hell maybe even what kinda weapons they have. So get her there." He told the man. "Now get all those people rounded up. I want so see my available bodies."
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