AN: OMG I can't believe how long it took to get this chapter out! I've been exhausted lately, I just switched jobs and haven't moved yet so I am currently enjoying a 100 mile round trip commute every day and it is draining me! I usually write before I sleep but lately I conk out ridiculously early. Really it's embarrassing. Especially if I drink anything. One beer and Pretty is snoring on the couch. :) Anywho, I hope you all enjoy this chapter! I had a lot of fun writing Michonne, hopefully I keep her true to her character, I haven't really written much for her in the past. I tried to make her similar to how she is in 'Clear.' Her last scene of this chapter is my favorite. We're also starting to see some more canon things happening in this chapter. Read on!

Warnings: Brief mentions of suicidal thoughts.

Chapter Ten

Michonne was like a silent specter that haunted the group.

For the first week she stayed on the fringes, not truly a member but unwilling to leave them, a silent shadow with her walker companions. She didn't travel with them as she was reluctant to leave behind her leashed walkers, instead she elected to meet them at their next plotted location. The group wordlessly agreed to not cover more than a few miles at a time to accommodate Michonne. She would disappear and reappear without any notice.

Beth made it her mission to get the woman to assimilate into the group.

Tyreese had managed to catch two rabbits in snares he had set up earlier in the day. Tyreese had been trying for weeks to build snares and traps, using a book he had picked up at a house they had scavenged. So the day his snares finally caught something was a bit of a celebration. Beth prepared a stew with canned okra and wild onion. They were camped out at a construction lot at the crossroads of two county roads. A layer of chain link fence surrounded the lot and there was a small trailer that had been used as an office. They had cleared out the desks to use as firewood and set up bedding and sleeping bags in the trailer. Morgan had built up a fire in the pit the equipment had been digging before the Turn, and for once they didn't have to worry about how high the fire was in the seven-foot deep pit.

The group was gathered around the fire, Duane and Sasha talking about how to construct the perfect s'more, which only made Tyreese moan about how much he missed s'mores. Morgan offered up a saltine cracker to toast over the fire and Sasha laughed at her brother's put out expression. Beth watched Michonne watching them, she was standing at the edge of the incline that sloped down into the pit. Her walkers were presumably still tied to the fence and she had one hand resting on the bottom of her sword sheath. Even as Beth announced the soup was ready Michonne stayed where she was.

Beth filled two bowls, Rick gave her a curious glance but Beth gave him a reassuring smile. She approached Michonne slowly and with an easy smile. "Rabbit stew, Tyreese's ego is going to be unbearable for a while now that he finally caught something," Beth said as she handed over the bowl.

Michonne took the bowl and studied it for a moment before taking a hesitant sip. She nodded appreciatively and Beth beamed at her. Beth started into her own bowl, staying with Michonne. The next several minutes passed in quiet, both eating and observing the others, until Michonne spoke up, "You with Rick?"

It sounded more like a statement than a question but Beth nodded affirmatively. Michonne studied her for a moment before speaking again, "How old are you?"

"Nu-uh, none of that," Beth settled into a resolute stance, one hand on her hip and ready to defend her relationship. "No matter what number I tell you ain't gonna like it. Age doesn't matter anymore. I'm not some silly high school girl rebelling against my daddy. I'm old enough to know what I want and when I want it." Beth finished her tirade only to notice Michonne was watching her with a faint smile. It was the first Beth had seen on the stoic woman and made her look substantially more human.

"Just makin' sure," Michonne responded. Beth relaxed again and they stood in a comfortable silence while Michonne took a few more bites of her stew. "This is good," Michonne's tone was slightly confused, like it was hard to remember that food could be eaten because it tasted good as opposed to eating only to survive.

"I collect any spices that we come across. You gotta enjoy the little things, right?" Michonne nodded and finished her meal. They didn't exchange anymore words for the rest of the night, but the following day when Michonne reconnected with the group she handed Beth a bottle of seasoning salt.

"What do you think of Michonne?" Rick asked, watching Beth as she raided a pantry. She was standing on her tiptoes and stretching to get to the top shelf. Rick knew he should do the gentlemanly thing and assist her but he was enjoying the view Beth was presenting him. Rick had found a box of condoms just the day before and he was a strange mix of nerves and anticipation. The still civilized part of himself was disgusted about how much he wanted such a young girl but the world was very different now Beth wasn't some young, immature girl. Beth was strong, full of hope, and the glue that kept their group close. And the glue that kept his sanity together.

Rick hadn't told Beth yet about his find, he didn't want her to rush into anything, especially when privacy was very hard to come by. The others were spread out in and outside of the house. Rick could hear Duane and Morgan's steps upstairs, Sasha was a few rooms away from the kitchen, and Michonne was on guard outside with Tyreese.

Beth triumphantly waved a half full box of instant oatmeal and shot a grin at Rick over her shoulder before turning to address him. She set the oatmeal down on the counter and hopped up to sit beside the box. Beth looked contemplative for a moment and Rick waited. Beth had thus far gotten the most conversation out of Michonne. The woman was protective of the group while still remaining wary. Rick had probably exchanged five words total with her since the she joined them. Tyreese was also friendly with Michonne, but Michonne seemed cautious of Tyreese. Tyreese presented an intimidating picture; he was easily the biggest man in the group and their rations had done little to his former linebacker form. Beth though, Rick had no doubts that Beth could tame the most skittish of colts.

"I think something bad happened to her," Beth began.

"Something bad has happened to all of us," Rick pointed out.

"Yeah, but we're different. We have each other for support and comfort. I think something bad happened to Michonne and then she was alone, didn't have anyone to help her deal. Can you imagine what would've happened to me if Jimmy and I hadn't run into you?"

"You're strong, Beth, you would have made it," Rick told her confidently.

Beth shook her head ruefully, "I may be strong now, but back then?" Beth paused and an ashamed expression overtook her features before she spoke again barely above a whisper, "I thought about ending it, back then. My family was gone and I didn't see the point."

Rick crossed the kitchen to stand in front of Beth. He gently cupped her cheeks and pressed a soft kiss against her lips trying to soothe her. Beth clutched at Rick's arms and Rick pulled her against his chest. He knew that Beth had been depressed when she and Jimmy first joined them, but suicidal? He ached just at the thought of not having Beth in his life, Beth, his ray of sunshine. He could definitely understand Michonne turning into the shadow she was now without at least someone in her life. Rick didn't even want to contemplate how bad off he would be without Beth.

"Without you Beth... I'd be lost," he told her quietly. He wanted Beth to know how much he cared about her and how much she meant to him. He was terrible at vocalizing his thoughts and emotions, so instead he kissed her. He tried to convey everything he felt for her through the kiss and he felt Beth's breath hitch against his lips.

"Oi, you two find anything in here? Or are you just making out?" Sasha's voice interrupted them. Rick pulled back from Beth's flushed face and plump lips reluctantly.

"I found your favorite," Beth's tone was still breathless but she tossed the box of oatmeal at Sasha.

Sasha rolled her eyes even though it was a good find, "Oh joy. Oatmeal."

The helicopter almost seems like a foreign object. It was a quite a ways away, but the alien, loud thumping of the engine and blades could be heard clearly. Rick stared, slack jawed, until the helicopter's propellers started sputtering and it dropped out of their view alarmingly fast.

"We have to help them!" Beth cried out just a moment before the sound of the crash reached them. Beth's eyes were full of anguish when Rick's gaze met hers. Rick felt conflicted, he wanted to protect Beth from the danger the situation presented but he also wanted to fulfill Beth's desire to help.

"That's gonna draw every walker in the state," Sasha's tone was resolute but Rick could see she was troubled as well.

Morgan, Tyreese and Duane were standing at the truck, paused where they had been repacking and rearranging supplies they had just picked up from the rural neighborhood they were currently in. "We gotta do something, someone could still be alive, someone could know something! That's the military!" Tyreese argued with his sister.

"Michonne and I will go," Rick interrupted before Sasha could point out the danger.

"What?" Sasha blinked. Normally she was Rick's number two and she seemed offended she would be left out even though she was against going.

"We know her walkers shield at least one person, it won't draw attention like the truck or jeep. If we find anything and need help, we radio for backup." As Rick spoke he grabbed the two walkies from the cab of the truck and handed one to Sasha.

"It's a good plan," Michonne's voice was low but drew their attention. She shifted uncomfortably at the focus on her and turned to face her 'pets' chained to the hitch on the jeep.

"It is," Morgan agreed. Tyreese looked relieved and Sasha nodded reluctantly.

Beth's death grip of Rick's arm pulled his attention back to the blonde. The fear was easy to read in her eyes as she spoke, "You come back to me."

"I got this," Rick gave her a confident grin and pressed a quick kiss to her lips.

Rick and Michonne moved as swiftly as the walkers would allow. Luckily the terrain was flat and trees not thick so there was little for them to stumble over. Michonne had one hand on the hilt of her sword and her other held the chains. Rick had his python and hunting knife in easy reach and a shoulder bag that only held the walkie. They were surprised how few walkers they passed, and those they did paid them little attention, focused on their lumbering goal.

They paused when the helicopter came into sight and just as they did they heard the sounds of vehicles. Rick's first reaction was that the others had thrown his plan out the window but the Dodge truck that pulled up first was unfamiliar and Rick quickly ducked to hide and Michonne was right on his heels. There were a few walkers stumbling towards the helicopter and their noise combined with the newcomers covered the clinking chains.

The newcomers quickly took out the few walkers, it took a few moments for Rick to realize he recognized these men, and one lone woman. They were the very same that had been collecting walkers. Rick mentally cursed their luck.

Michonne was looking back between the newcomers and Rick and Rick shook his head at her. He hoped she would understand that he had no desire to meet these new people. Michonne nodded back at him. She seemed pleased that they would not be revealing themselves.

Their attention was drawn back to the group as they found one of the soldiers alive and carried him off to one of their vehicles. Rick didn't think this group could do anything new that would surprise him, but then a few of them, the gray haired woman included, started stabbing the already dead soldiers in the head. Michonne and Rick exchanged an uneasy look. What purpose did stabbing those who were already dead? Unless… Unless Dr. Jenner was right. They are all infected.

The chains behind them started to jingle again. The two armless and jawless walkers must have been able to smell all the blood in the clearing because they shifted restlessly and pathetic moans gurgled in what was left of their throats. Rick eyed the walkers, Michonne and then the group before them. The woman, her silvery gray hair a tad longer than when Rick had last seen her, looked their way peering into the foliage. Michonne was tense beside him and Rick drew both his knife and the gun, ready for his next move.

Michonne moved before he could. She stood soundlessly and in two smooth movements decapitated both her walkers. The woman was still peering in their direction trying to find the source of the noise.

"Oi, let's get a move on, we gotta get that guy back to the doc if he's gonna have a chance," a shorter man called out.

The woman nodded, turning her back on them, "I thought I heard something."

"I'm sure you heard lots of somethings. Let's go."

The woman shot one last over her shoulder before following the others back to the vehicles. Rick watched her get into a Suburban with the leader, the same tall man from before. He didn't relax until the last vehicle pulled out of sight.

"What the hell was that?" Michonne asked, her voice still quiet.

"We've seen them before. A few months back, they were collecting walkers and pullin' out their teeth." Rick told her.

"We need to get back."

"Yeah," Rick nodded. He wanted his people as far away from that group as possible. They needed shelter, a stronghold, a place to be safe. And Rick was determined that he would find it. He had a family to protect.

Duane was going to make an awful poker player, Beth thought as she watched him struggle to keep a huge grin off his face. Tyreese was staring at Duane's cards also trying to keep a grin off his face as he stroked his beard. It had been a few days since Rick and Michonne's near run-in with the other group and tensions were still running high. Beth had suggested a card game to relax. Tyreese and Duane had easily agreed, and Beth had been pleasantly surprised to see Michonne join in.

"Why thank you Duane, I know this must be a good card since it's sticking out an inch higher than the rest," Tyreese reached for the card his face falling comically as he examined it. Duane smothered his giggles behind his hand not holding the cards but Beth felt no so compunction. She laughed out loud, smiling so wide that it hurt. "Laugh it up, blondie, your comeuppance is near." Tyreese waved around the old maid card before shuffling his cards.

Michonne was to Tyreese's left and she glanced between Tyreese's face and the cards as her fingers hovered over Tyreese's hand. Michonne, on the other hand, would be the best poker player on the planet. Beth thought she saw Tyreese looking a bit nervous under the scrutiny, but then Michonne snatched one of the cards. She studied it for a quick moment before a smile broke out over her full lips. She shuffled her cards and wordlessly offered her hand to Beth.

Beth studied Michonne carefully. She didn't set down any cards but perhaps she just didn't get a pair. Surely she wouldn't smile like that if she received the maid. Beth glanced at Tyreese's face but his gave nothing away. Duane bounced anxiously on her left. Beth quickly grabbed the second card from the end and Beth's face fell. "What?" She pouted at the card in her hand. Tyreese whooped, Duane laughed, and Michonne broke her poker face with an amused smile.

The mood was broken as the sounds of cans banging against each other reached them. That was their crude warning system. They were all instantly on guard, Michonne reached for the sword on her back, until Morgan called a few seconds later, "It's just them returning."

Beth still didn't relax until Rick and Sasha walked around the truck. "Rick's got a crazy plan," Sasha announced as they joined the circle. Morgan was perched on top of the truck cab on lookout but slid off to join them.

Rick settled next to Beth and Beth squeezed his knee. Rick shot her a grin, his whole face was lit with a fire. "We found a prison."

AN: I swear the wait won't be long for the next chapter! It's nearly done already! And why weren't Rick and Michonne caught? Where's ol' Merle at? :)

Review please!