AN: Thank you for all your awesome comments! I'm glad I could redeem Lori for some of you. You thought the last chapter was rough? Well, hang on to your butts! :)
Warnings: Death, violence. Wasn't this supposed to be a romance? WTF Pretty!
Chapter Eighteen
"I still don' see why we had ta stop and help those people. An' you people wouldn' even let me take an award for our services. A token of gratitude," Merle grumbled for the zillionth time.
Sasha wanted to bang her head against the nearest tree, but she was already suffering from nausea and vertigo alongside her aching ribs, so that probably wasn't the brightest idea. They had been travelling all day with the smallest stops for breaks. Daryl was leading them back to the prison, Rick at his side trying to learn tracking from the only tolerable Dixon. Sasha and Michonne were behind them and Merle brought up the rear of their group. Merle had been complaining nonstop, their only reprieve was when walkers were drawn in by his voice and they had to stop and dispatch them, and even then Merle would taunt the walkers as if they could understand his barely clever quips.
They also stopped to help a family travelling with a baby fend off a herd of walkers. Daryl had heard the baby crying and pointed it out to Rick, neither man hesitated to throw themselves into the fray, even Daryl who no longer had his crossbow. And of course Sasha, Michonne and a reluctant Merle followed to help. The family hadn't spoken a lick of English, and Merle being Merle only made them wary and confused as he attempted to seize some of their supplies. Luckily they had Daryl there to rein his brother in and Rick to offer his police smile in apology. Normally Sasha could speak a bit of Spanish, but between her exhaustion and injuries her vocabulary was reduced to her favorite foods.
"Steal an award, more like it," Michonne mumbled quietly as she limped along side Sasha. Michonne hadn't elaborated on how or why she fought with the Governor. Sasha had caught a glimpse of the man when Rick tossed the gas canisters into the jeering crowd around Daryl and had felt grim satisfaction at seeing his head bandaged. Allen paled in comparison to the light eyed man that watched with a sick sense of glee as Glenn was beaten in front of her.
Merle apparently heard Michonne's quiet words. "Steal? We deserved somethin' for helpin' 'em. Officer Friendly and I are takin' care of three invalids-" Merle didn't pause at Rick's snort, "-Takin' time out of our busy schedule to help complete strangers when we got our own problems!"
"Invalid? Watch yer mouth, I can still whip yer ass!" Daryl glared at his older brother. Sasha was glad to see Merle's own brother just as sick of his yammering as the rest of them.
"With what? Them Woodbury jokers took yer crossbow and then beat ya silly," Merle taunted.
"For the love of Christ, Merle, can we get five minutes of silence?" Rick finally snapped, exasperated. "I'd really like to stop attracting every walker within the state to our location." Rick punctuated with a wave towards the newest walker, so eager to reach them that the former woman tripped over a log and smashed into the ground.
Michonne wearily stabbed the walker with her sword, she was lacking her usual finesse with the blade but they were all tired. Exhausted. All Sasha wanted was to hug her brother and then sleep for a thousand years. She was even looking forward to her thin, lumpy, prison mattress. Supposedly they were close to the prison, according to Daryl. If she was in better condition she'd knock Merle out and then drag him the rest of the way just for the peace and quiet.
"Fine," Merle huffed, "We're real close now anyways. First thing I'm gonna do is knock sum sense inta Shane, that jackass." Sasha couldn't help but grin at that.
"Did you hear that?" Daryl frowned, straightening up a bit.
"Oh lordy, it better not be another baby," Merle groaned.
"Shut up, Merle," Rick hissed. It looked like he had heard the same noise Daryl had. Sasha hadn't heard anything, but then again, as she watched Rick his outline blurred and split into two.
Rick held up his hand and they all stopped around him. Sasha took a moment to enjoy the quiet and lean against a tree, until a distant rat-a-tat filtered through. "Gunfire," Rick cursed and took off at a full sprint, Daryl right on his heels. Adrenaline fueled by fear pumped through Sasha giving her the energy to follow at a run. Her ribs stung with every footfall but the gunfire kept her moving. She dimly noted Michonne and Merle crashing through the brush behind her. It had to be the prison. Tyreese, Duane, Beth, tiny Judith, they were all in danger. Sasha held her side as she ran, her rifle thumping against her back.
They came through the trees not far from the road leading to the gate of the prison. Sasha barely processed the scene before her: the gate torn wide open, a delivery truck spilling walkers into the yard, two trucks parked outside the fence with men shooting at the distant figures outside the prison. Rick was already at one of the trucks while Daryl headed for the mangled gates.
There were two men in the bed and Rick vaulted over the side landing among the very surprised men. Rick shot one point blank in the face with his python and then socked the other hard enough to drop him instantly.
"Rick!" A familiar voice yelled. Allen. Rick dove out of the bed as Allen shot at him. Sasha paused to take aim herself, her aim was normally impeccable but the shot at Allen instead imbedded into the side of the second truck.
"Let's move out!" Another voice called. The Governor, with a recently acquired eye patch ducked into the second truck and the remaining men scrambled into the trucks. All except Allen.
As the two trucks took off Allen stayed on the ground, aiming his gun at Rick now that his cover was driving off. Sasha aimed again and squeezed the trigger. Allen went down, clutching his leg and Rick scrambled towards him. Sasha took aim at the retreating trucks and let out a burst of bullets. None of her shots connected but neither did the men return fire as they ducked down out of the line of fire. Sasha turned back to face Rick, Michonne was nearly at his side. Allen had let go of his gun in his fall but he drew a knife and slashed at Rick. Rick dodged the knife and tackled Allen and pinned him to the ground. Michonne was on him with her sword daring him to move.
"We should kill 'em!" Merle howled as he came up alongside Sasha.
Rick shook his head, "No. He's more useful alive."
"Oi! I could use some help!" Daryl hollered from in the prison yard. He was struggling with one walker with only a knife as two more walkers zeroed in on him. Merle took off towards his little brother. Rick and Michonne hauled a cursing Allen to his feet, he was fighting every move until Sasha came up behind him and slammed the butt of her rifle into the back of his head. He went limp in Michonne and Rick's grips.
The yard was crawling with walkers and more were staggering out of the trees behind them, drawn in from the gunfire. "C'mon," Rick grunted and he and Michonne headed through the ruined gate with their captive with Sasha on their heels.
As they approached the gate the sound of another truck came through. Sasha whirled, gun aimed, but it was Morgan in his jeep, Oscar beside him. "Rick! Sasha! What the-?" Morgan floundered as he stopped the jeep and took in the carnage.
A loud, anguished cry sounded from closer to the prison, grabbing all their attention, "Lori!"
Rick and Michonne manhandled Allen's unconscious form into the back of Morgan's jeep. Sasha ran up the hill, pain ignored and thoughts frantic about her brother. She wasn't prepared for what greeted them in the courtyard.
Everyone around Beth sounded far away, or as if they were underwater. Even Judith's cries were muted as Beth checked the baby again and again for wounds with shaking hands. Shane had appeared some time ago at Lori's side, Beth noticed when she looked up. No one seemed to accept that Lori was dead. Her father was still checking for a sign of Lori's pulse while Shane who was shaking Lori's shoulder and yelling her name. Beth also registered Axel's still form under the hanging, freshly laundered sheets, blood around him much like Lori. T-Dog and Andrea were huddled over his still body.
"Beth!" That voice didn't sound like it was underwater. Beth looked up to see Rick running toward them, along with the other missing group members hot on his heels. Rick was alive. Rick was here. It didn't seem real. Was Beth hallucinating? Or was she dead too? Just a ghost sitting amidst carnage? But Tyreese was rushing to a limping Sasha. Merle and Daryl were closing the gate from the yard to the courtyard behind Morgan's jeep.
Rick reached Beth, his warm hand was on her shoulder as he squeezed it tight, Beth was pretty sure she wasn't hallucinating or dead. Rick's attention was on Lori's still form. Beth could tell Rick knew instantly that Lori was dead. Rick let out a quiet, "Oh God," and then he was up and moving again. Beth turned to watch him approach a shell-shocked Carl.
Carl and Duane had moved from the picnic tables to behind a brick wall at some point. Carl had a gun drawn, had he fired shots at their attackers? Carl's gaze was on the hubbub around Lori until Rick reached him and went to his knees in front of his son. Beth was distracted from watching Rick and Carl when Sasha came beside her to check on her and Judith, Tyreese hovering behind his sister.
"Sasha, what happened?" Beth asked as she looked around. The gates had been run down by a truck and the grassy yard was full of walkers with more approaching from the woods. "Who did this?"
Sasha's brown eyes were full of anger as she replied, "the Governor."
Shane's fist crunched into Rick's jaw, surprising everyone. One minute Shane was on the ground over Lori's prone form the next he was yanking Rick away from Carl and socking him in the face.
Rick, a bit dazed, barely had room to dodge Shane's next punch and in response he tackled Shane to the hard cement. Shane's head cracked on the pavement but that didn't stop him from struggling against Rick. Beth gaped, just as slow as everyone around her to react.
"This is your fault, your fucking fault! Lori is dead because of you!" Shane snarled, looking more animal than human.
Morgan reached them first, a cautious Oscar on his heels. Morgan hauled Rick off of Shane while Oscar dragged Shane off the ground. Shane immediately sprang at Rick and Oscar was barely able to hold the man back.
Merle then joined the fray but his punch to Shane's stomach did little to help matters. Merle shrugged off Tyreese's attempt to pull him back and didn't attack again, at least not physically, "Maybe yer woman would still be alive if you hadn' abandoned my baby brother to them vultures!"
Shane snarled at Merle and fought against Oscar's grip. Tiny came to Oscar's aide and helped hold Shane back. Rick was rubbing at his jaw while Morgan looked him over. Judith was making hiccup noises and Beth tried to rock her against her chest to keep the baby from crying again.
"An' how did two trucks and the welcome wagon sneak up on ya?" Merle yelled in Shane's face.
"I was on watch," T-Dog spoke up. Beth just then realized the man was holding his shoulder and blood was seeping between his fingers. "Someone shot at me from the trees and then the trucks pulled up."
"If you had been here, we'd've had more man power! Lori would still be alive!" Shane shouted at Rick, ignoring Merle and the others.
"You left us! We would've been here if you had just waited!" Rick yelled back.
"Easy, Rick," Morgan cautioned at Rick's side.
"Was it worth it? A Dixon in exchange for Lori?" Shane taunted.
"Shut up, shut up, shut up!" Carl finally erupted. He stomped into the arguing group and shoved at Shane. "You don't know anything! She didn't even love you! She loved me, she loved Judith, and she loved Dad and now she's gone!" Carl roughly wiped at his face. He then took off, back towards the prison, running for the door.
"Carl!" Rick ran after his son.
Shane finally shoved off Tiny and Oscar. He paced for a moment, face darker than a storm cloud and hands flexing restlessly. "What are you looking at?" He barked at everyone staring at him. Beth flinched and cradled Judith even closer to her chest. He snarled and huffed and then stalked back towards the prison as well.
Beth let out a shaky breath. She had tears running down her cheeks that she hadn't noticed until now. She glanced over at Lori's body, eyes still staring and unseeing. Judith let out a wail.
Carl was hiding in a cell, not wanting to see or talk to anyone. Shane was in the prison's endless tombs, taking his anger and grief out on what was left of the walker population. Glenn was on ordered bed rest, Maggie ever vigilant at his side. Sasha had finally passed out in exhaustion, Tyreese hovering nearby guarding his sister. Allen was still unconscious, laid out on the cement floor of a locked cell.
Rick surveyed who was still standing with a heavy weariness on his shoulders. They were gathered in the communal area, all staring at Rick expectantly. "I know you all are tired, but our first priority is to go clear out the yard and fix the gates," he started.
"Our first priority should be to bury the dead!" Andrea interrupted and was supported with a round of "yeahs" from most of the group. Lori and Axel had been killed. T-Dog was the only one injured, his shoulder had been cleaned and wrapped tightly. They had been lucky no one else had been injured.
"And where are we going to bury them?" Rick asked, voice firm. Andrea shrank down as the realization hit her. The courtyard was still walker-free but it was all cement. "Like I said, our first priority is the yard and the gate. Then we can bury and mourn the dead."
"Bury and mourn? What about revenge?" Merle spoke up. Merle's words also earned support.
"Yard and gate. Bury our dead. Then we start thinking about our next actions," Rick told them firmly. Finally no one argued against him. "We need every able body to take care of the yard. Beth, are you okay to stay with Judith and keep an eye on the others?"
Beth looked like she might lash out at the first person to try and take Lori's baby away from her, the infant was still clutched to her chest. She nodded at him. Rick wanted more than anything to take her to bed and hold her. Ignore all the prying eyes. Soothe away all her fears. Beth had been right there with Lori when she died, and her vacant expression had scared the hell out of him. He wanted to make sure she was really okay, but there was no time. Instead he nodded back at her, focusing on keeping the rest of his people safe. He didn't know if the Governor would strike again so he needed to focus on defending the prison. The best thing he could do for Beth right now was make sure she didn't lose anyone else. "Good, Michonne, you should get some-"
"Don't even start," She interrupted with a glare. Hershel had sewn up the gash on her leg and Michonne had bore through it without a hint of pain medication. She still looked ready to take on an army if needed.
"Okay, Daryl—"
"I'm fine," the youngest Dixon was glaring, at least not at him but instead at the ground. Merle was standing to attention at his brother's side just daring Rick to try and bench him too. Rick sighed but didn't argue. They really did need every able body to fix the mess outside.
Clearing the yard went smoothly, and Rick was glad for something finally going their way. Morgan and Duane sniped from the guard tower while the rest of them moved as a line down the hill towards the gate, using every blade available to take out the walkers. Rick wanted all ammo conserved, now was not the time to be wasting bullets. Morgan and Duane sniping were for close calls.
Rick then split the group into gate fixing and grave digging, keeping the biggest group at the gate where they would need defenders against walkers from outside the fences. Rick left Morgan in charge of figuring out the make-shift gate while he headed up graving digging.
Rick hadn't thought about Dr. Jenner's crazed words, or the strange actions of the Governor's men at the helicopter since arriving at the prison. Not until he was knee deep in a grave with Daryl digging beside him, and Michonne and Andrea filling in the dirt on top of Axel's grave just a few feet away. They heard a strangled moan.
Rick froze and so did Daryl. Daryl looked confused towards the fences, the few nearby walkers were headed to the noise at the gate and not paying them any attention. Rick felt dread as he turned to the body wrapped in the yellowed sheet between them and the ladies.
"Lori?" Andrea's eyes were wide as she stared at the wrapped body. Michonne and Andrea had clearly heard the moan as well. Lori's head moved. And then her shoulders wiggled jerkily against the confinement of the tightly wrapped sheet.
"She's alive!" Andrea started to reach for her but Michonne jerked the blonde woman back. "What are you doing?" Andrea yelled as Michonne refused to let her go. Rick felt sick as he watched the corpse of his estranged wife move with the telltale signs of a walker.
"She ain't bit," Daryl stated, he was staring at Lori's body confusion still on his face. This time Lori snarled, and they could see her teeth straining against the sheet.
"Lori wasn't anywhere near a geek," Andrea agreed with Daryl she stopped struggling against Michonne and Michonne released her. Andrea then slowly reached for the sheet, Michonne hovering warily beside her. Her sword was still on her back and she held the shovel as if ready to strike. Rick wanted to stop Andrea, but found he couldn't move. 'We're all infected,' whispered through his mind on an endless loop in Dr. Jenner's grief stricken voice.
Andrea pulled at the sheet enough to reveal Lori's filmed over, infected eyes. Her body still struggled against the sheet and her teeth gnashed at Andrea. Andrea stumbled back and then fell to her knees, emptying her stomach.
"Jesus," Daryl swore. Rick drew out the knife that was sheathed on his belt and moved the two steps to stand over Lori. Lori caught sight of Rick's movement and turned to face him and Rick stared into infected brown eyes he didn't recognize anymore.
Michonne reached for the knife, taking it from Rick's loose grasp. Her look was full of understanding as she said, "I got this."
The knife went in through Lori's ear.
Lori stopped moving.
AN: Does anyone remember back when I wrote fluff?
Review please!