Rick knew everyone was getting tired as he tried to find a place for them to get some sleep and he frowned. Daryl had gone off to hunt for some food and they had a small meal of rabbit and squirrel. They walked down the road when Rick could just see what appeared to be a church hidden behind the trees and he held up his right hand to stop them. The sign read Saint Sarah's Church Episcopal and he looked back at the group.
"Daryl. Abe. You're with me," Rick said. They headed for the church while Rick looked at the stain glass windows and what looked like graves and he slid the Colt Python into his right hand. They carefully headed for the stairs when Rick walked up to the door and he wrapped his knuckles on the wood. "Hello?"
The wind moved through their hair as he wrapped his knuckles on the wood again then he turned to look at Abe and Daryl.
"Looks like no one's home," Abe said.
"Then why's someone pointin' a rifle at us?" Daryl asked as he pointed to the end of a rifle barrel sticking out from the slightly opened door.
"Uh…"
"Who are you!?" came from behind the door and Rick placed the Colt Python back in the holster before holding his hands up in surrender.
"I'm Rick. This is Abe. That's Daryl," Rick said.
"Are you clean?"
"Yes."
"Yeah," Abe said.
"Yep," Daryl said.
"Is it just the three of you?" the male voice asked.
"No, we have some more people. They're clean," Rick said.
"How many more?"
"Fourteen."
"Go away!"
Something made Rick signal for them to drop to the ground just before the sound of rifle fire filled the air and Daryl heard the sounds of footsteps.
"Rick!" Michonne called out as she and the others ran down the path then they stopped just as another sound of rifle fire filled the air. The ground near her feet exploded as she removed the katana from the scabbard and the others armed themselves. The sharp cry coming from Judith filled the air as Carl hushed her and he gently rubbed his sister's back.
"You….? You have children with you?" made Rick slowly rise to his feet and he held his hands up.
"Yes. Three," Rick said.
"Are they yours?"
"Two of them are. The other one is traveling with us."
He watched the end of the barrel of the rifle slid back inside when he looked at Abe and Daryl and Daryl shrugged his shoulder.
"Lower your weapons," came from behind the door as Rick nodded and they lowered their weapons. The door opened as a man dressed in preacher clothing walked outside and he looked at them. "Hello. I am Father Gabriel Stokes."
"Hello, Father," Rick said.
"Who are the rest of you?" Gabe asked as the others walked closer and he looked at Carl, Judith and Mika. The others introduced themselves as he nodded and Rick gave him a blank look.
"Why did you shoot at us?" Rick asked.
"Sorry. I have been having trouble with robbers lately."
"Are you here on your own?"
"Yes."
"How long have you been here?"
"Since things fell apart."
"How do you take care of yerself?" Daryl asked.
"I go into the woods and scavenge for supplies."
Rick and Daryl looked at each other as they sensed Gabriel was hiding something and Rick looked at Gabriel.
"We're looking for a place to stay. Mind if we go inside?" Rick asked.
"No. I'm sorry."
"I thought churches were places of sanctuary," Abe said.
"They are, but…"
"Please," Carol said with a sad look in her eyes and Gabriel looked at Carl, Mika and Judith.
"Alright," Gabe said with a nod and he stood back so they could go inside. Rick stopped when Abe tapped his right shoulder and Rick looked at him.
"We need to get Eugene to DC.," Abe said.
"I know," Rick said.
"Then let's go."
"We're tired and hungry. Staying one night won't change anything."
"There's a church bus. We take that, everyone can rest while we're on the road."
"The bus doesn't work," Gabe said and Abe looked at him.
"We'll fix it."
Gabe nodded as he went inside and Rick and the others followed him. Daryl looked at the pews, the small alter at the back of the room, the stain glass windows and the cross on the wall while the others went to look around the chapel. Daryl walked in one room while he looked at the carving of the Last Supper and he titled his head to one side. He left the room as Carol, Mika and Judith headed for him and Daryl smiled.
"Find anything?" Carol asked.
"Nope," Daryl said with a shake of his head.
"Why did that man shoot at us?" Mika asked.
"Guess he's not used to havin' people around," Daryl said, taking Judith from Carol and he held Judith in his arms.
Rick watched Daryl and Carol interacting as he smiled then he looked at Gabe. The feeling Gabe was hiding something was growing stronger and Rick walked to him.
"You said you go into the woods to get supplies," Rick said and Gabe gave him a puzzled look.
"Yes, I have snares in the woods and have had luck finding cars or empty houses," Gabe said.
"Are there any other people in town?"
"No. I'm the only one left."
"Why didn't you leave?"
"I was afraid to venture off on my own."
"You could have gone with a group."
"When I said I was the only one left, I meant I was the only one left alive."
Rick locked eyes with Gabe as Gabe swallowed the lump in his throat and Rick flexed his fingers in and out.
"If we're going to leave, we need to go on a supply run. Do you know anywhere we can find food?" Rick asked.
"There… There might be some in the food bank in town. We just had our annual food drive before everything fell apart," Gabe said.
"Do you know where the food bank is?"
"Yes."
"Then you're going with us."
"No. I have to stay here."
"You are going with us," Rick repeated and something in Rick's eyes made Gabe nod his head. Rick turned as he looked at Bob, Sasha and Michonne. He nodded his head toward the door as they headed for the door then he walked to Carl.
"I'm going with you," Carl said.
"No. I need you to stay here," Rick said as he looked at the gun Carl had in his hands. "Keep that handy."
"Yes, Sir," Carl said with a nod. Rick patted Carl's right shoulder then he walked to Gabe and Rick pointed to the door. Sighing, Gabe followed him and they walked to Michonne, Sasha and Bob. Daryl walked to Rick and Rick noticed the look on Daryl's face.
"You sure this is a good idea?" Daryl asked, glaring at Gabe.
"We need food and supplies. Why don't you go get some water? I saw some water jugs in the office," Rick said,
"Ok," Daryl said with a nod. Rick led the others outside while Daryl stood on the top of the stairs and he watched them walk down the road.
The town
Gabe walked next to Rick while they walked down the sidewalk and Rick scanned their surroundings with his eyes.
"How far to the food bank?" Rick asked;
"It's not far," Gabe said. He glanced back at Sasha, Bob and Michonne when he looked straight ahead then he sighed. "I remember how it was after things fell apart. People turning on each other. The fighting. The looting. It was like people had given into their base instincts and turned into animals."
"Some people have."
"Are you one of those people?"
Rick didn't answer as they walked around the corner and he scanned their surrounding with his eyes.
"I sometimes wonder if we're been abandoned. Like God has turned his back on us," Gabe said with a sigh.
"Then why aren't we all dead? Why spare some and not others?" Rick asked.
"I don't know."
They kept walking as Gabe looked at him and he hoped he hadn't made a mistake in trusting Rick and the others.
The woods
Carol and Daryl walked side-by-side as they walked along the road and they carried the plastic jugs of water. Daryl noticed she was looking troubled about something and he lightly swung the plastic jugs back and forth.
"We can still go back," Daryl said.
"What?" Carol asked.
"The cabin. We can still go back."
"I have been thinking about it."
They walked in silence when Carol saw a car at the side of the road and they carefully walked closer. Carol placed the plastic jugs on the ground near the trunk of the car when she walked to the passenger side of the car. She checked to see if there was a Walker in the car then she walked to the other side of the car and she opened the door. She slid into the car when she saw the keys in the ignition and she tried to start the engine. The engine clicked as she sighed then she got out of the car.
"Shit," Carol whispered, walking to the trunk and she found the trunk was unlocked.
"Need help?" Daryl asked.
"No," Carol said as she lifted the lid and she looked down at what was in the trunk. "This looks like one of those battery chargers."
"Let's get the battery charged an' take the car back to the church," Daryl said.
"Not right now," Carol said, closing the trunk then she picked up one of the plastic jugs.
"Want me to carry one?" Daryl asked when he accidentally tossed the plastic jug onto the ground and a smirk moved across Carol's face. She tried not to laugh at how cute Daryl looked when he was embarrassed and he covered most of his face with his right hand.
"Uh… No," Carol said. He picked up the plastic jug as they headed down the road and she lightly nudged him.
The town
Gabel led the way while they walked down the sidewalk and he felt the fear and anxiety rising in his chest. They stopped in front of the building with FOOD BANK written in black lettering on the sign near the door. Gabe watched Rick cautiously walked to the door and Abe and Sasha followed him.
"This better not be a trap," Michonne whispered. Gabe looked at the handle to the katana as he swallowed the lump in his throat and she and Bob walked to Rick.
"Lord help me." Gabe whispered. He walked to Rick when Rick pointed to the door and Gabe removed the key from the pocket of his pants. Gabe opened the door as they walked inside and they could barely see in the dim light.
"There's nothing here," Michonne said as she removed the katana from the scabbard and Rick held his right hand out to stop her from attacking Gabe.
"It's downstairs," Gabe said.
They walked toward the large hole in the floor as they saw the water and Gabe sighed.
"How do you think that happened?" Bob asked.
"Looks like someone set off explosives," Rick said while he looked at the scorched areas around the hole then he looked up at the hole in the ceiling. "And the rain filled the hole with water."
"There has been a lot of rain lately," Gabe said, looking up at the hole.
A loud gurgling and snarling sound made them look into the hole when they saw Walkers trying to reach them and Rick sighed.
"Now what do we do?" Sasha asked, looking down at the Walkers.
"We need to find the stairs," Rick said. He did notice Gabe staring at one of the female Walkers as Rick lightly shoved him and Gabe looked at him.
"We… We can't go down there," Gabe said.
"Where are the stairs?" Rick asked. Sighing, Gabe led the way when he pointed to the door and Rick opened the door. They carefully moved down the stairs with their weapons drawn while the Walkers sloshed through the water and Gabe stayed near the stairs.
"No. Please, God, no," Gabe whispered.
"We need to get to the food," Rick said.
"Be careful," Michonne said.
The Walkers moved closer as Gabe looked at the female Walker wearing glasses moving toward him and he pressed his back against the wall. Rick noticed where the female Walker was going and his eyes slightly widened.
"They want Gabe," Rick whispered.
They fought the Walkers while Rick tried to get to Gabe when Bob was pulled under the water by a Walker and Sasha gasped.
"No!" Sasha said.
Bob resurfaced as she moved to him and he gave her a reassuring smile.
"Don't scare me like that again," Sasha teased and he nodded.
Rick headed for Gabe as the female Walker moved closer and Gabe felt like he was going to pass out. Rick killed the female Walker as the body fell into the water and he gave Gabe a furious look.
"Did you know her?" Rick asked.
"N-no," Gabe said with a shake of his head.
Rick knew he was lying as he sighed then he looked at the others.
"Everyone ok?" Rick asked and they nodded. "Let's get the food and get out of here."
After they packed as much food and supplies as they could carry, they went back upstairs and Rick pointed to the door. Gabe walked in front of them as Rick glared at the back of his head and Rick felt the anger and rage building in his chest.
Saint Sarah's Church Episcopal
Carol listened to Rick talking to the group when Abe made an offer about what to do then she looked at Daryl. He held Judith on his lap while he fed Judith some baby food Michonne had found and he gave Carol a tiny smile. She was in awe with how comfortable he was with children as she leaned back against the pew and her mind started drifting.
The quarry
Carol and Sophia headed for the forest when she felt like someone was behind them and she prayed it wasn't Ed.
"Hey," Daryl said and they turned to look at him. He was dirty and sweaty, but it was the tiny hint of a smile which made her smile at him.
"Hello," Carol said.
"Hi, Mister Dixon," Sophia said.
"Where're you goin'?" Daryl asked.
"Just going for a walk," Carol said.
"Ain't safe to go in there on yer own."
"Wanna come with us?" Sophia asked.
"Sophia, he might have something to do," Carol said. She remembered the hurt and sad look in his eyes as he looked toward the forest, the camp then at them and he scratched the back of his head.
"Hell. I'll go with you. Ain't worth the trouble if you two go an' get lost," he said.
They headed into the woods as they walked along the long path and she noticed how he watched their surroundings with his eyes.
"Mister Dixon?" Sophia asked and he glanced at her.
"Daryl," he said.
"Hunh?"
"I ain't Mister Dixon. I'm Daryl."
"Oh. Daryl, how do you know so much about the woods?"
"Spent a lot of time here."
"Ever get lost?"
Carol saw something in his eyes as he bit his lower lip then he frowned.
"Yeah. Once. That's why it ain't a good idea to go in here unless you know where you're goin'."
They walked in silence for a long time until he started showing and telling Sophia about what plants, berries or mushrooms were safe to eat and she saw the joy on Sophia's face.
"You never got around to teaching her how to track or what to do it she did get lost," Carol thought as she frowned. Her mind drifted off to the day that she wished she had let Daryl do something which would have changed everything and she watched Daryl talking to Mika, who was holding Judith on her lap.
The quarry
"Here," Daryl said, placing a fresh rabbit carcass on the table. Carol looked at the rabbit then at him and he lowered his head.
He had been giving them food, water and supplies, but she knew Ed hated the fact he was becoming closer to her and Sophia.
"Thank you," Carol said.
"Yeah," Daryl said with a nod when they heard a scream and Carol saw Ed pulling Sophia toward their tent. "What the hell?!"
Daryl started to move, but he stopped when she lightly touched his left forearm and the anger in his eyes burned into her soul.
"No. Don't," Carol told him.
"What's he gonna do to her?!"
"She must have done something wrong. Just leave it alone."
"No! That ain't right!"
"Daryl, please…."
"Don't you care about what's goin' on?!"
"Of course, I care."
"Then why ain't you getting' off yer ass an' stoppin' him?!"
"I'm… I can't."
"You can't?!"
"You don't understand. Ed…"
"Fuck him! If she was mine, no one would do shit to her!"
"Daryl…"
"Ferget it!'
She watched Daryl pull away from her then walk off when she looked at the tent and she sighed.
"Sophia, I'm sorry," Carol thought. She carefully got up as she headed for the door and she slid outside. She hadn't noticed Daryl watching her. He handed Judith to Michonne before he went to follow Carol and the door closed behind him.
"Where is she going?" Daryl thought. He stayed a few steps behind her when he realized she had a gas can with her and his eyes slightly bugged out. "She's going to the car."
They walked in silence while he kept his distance and he watched her place the gas in the car. He then watched her charge the car battery when he started walking and she turned, seeing him.
"What're you doin'?" Daryl asked, looking at the car.
"What does it look like I'm doing?" Carol asked, folding her arms over her chest.
"Looks like you're leavin'."
"Yeah, that's exactly like I'm doing."
"Without me."
The hurt tone to his voice caused a chill to move through her as she lowered her head and he walked closer. He placed his hands gently on her shoulders while she slowly looked up at him and he sighed.
"Where do you wanna go?" Daryl asked.
"I don't know. All I know is I don't feel like I belong anymore," Carol said with a small shrug of her shoulders.
"You belong with me."
"I know."
"Ain't that enough?"
She felt like he slapped her.
"Yes, it's enough, but…"
"Then stay."
"Daryl…"
"Please."
The crack in his voice dug deep inside her and she could just see tears on the edges of his eyes. She let him pull her against him as she wrapped her arms around his waist and he held her head against him. She felt the deep rise and fall of his chest while his strength, love and protection moved over her and he started rocking her. They stood in silence for a long time until she moved back and she locked eyes with him.
"If you could go anywhere, where would you go?" Carol asked. She watched him thinking as he chewed on his lower lip for a few seconds then he looked at the car.
"Dunno. Out west, maybe," Daryl said, looking back at her.
"Out west?"
"Yeah. Maybe New Mexico."
"What's in New Mexico?"
"Dunno," Daryl said with a tiny grin. "Wanna go find out?"
"Not right now."
He understood as he nodded and she placed her hands against his chest.
"Where do you wanna go?" Daryl asked.
"Anywhere."
Daryl heard the defeat in her voice as he nodded again then she looked at the car.
"Still think we should take this back to the church?"
"Yeah."
They walked to the car, got into the car as they closed the door and they looked out into the darkness. He reached out his right arm as she slid into him and he wrapped his right arm around her. They sat in silence while she looked at him and he gave her a tiny smile.
The sudden sound of a car moving down the road made them duck down as the slight glow of headlights filled the car then the light faded. Sitting up, they looked at each other when Daryl hot wired the car, put the car in reverse, turned the car around and he steered the car down the road. He could barely see the back of the other car as it went by and he saw the red cross on the lid of the trunk.
"Did you see what was on the back of the car?" Carol asked.
"Yeah. I think it's the same one we saw near the country club," Daryl said.
"Are they looking for us?"
"No."
"We need to tell Rick."
"Yeah," Daryl said with a nod and he made the car go faster.
Saint Sarah's Church Episcopal
Bob watched the others as the pain in his right shoulder throbbed and he sighed. He looked over at Sasha while she and Tyreese laughed at something and Bob realized he would never hear her laugh ever again.
He slowly got up as he headed for the door and he silently opened the door. He walked outside as he closed the door and he headed down the path.
He knew he should have told them about what happened when he was underwater at the food bank.
He moved his shirt down as he looked at the festering bite on his right shoulder then he moved the shirt back up.
His mind replayed his battle with the Walker while he was underwater at the food bank and the pain he felt as the Walker sank its teeth into his skin before he killed the Walker.
But he didn't want to see the pity in their eyes.
The heartbreak on Sasha's face after he told them.
He also didn't want any of them to be responsible for his death.
He cared that much about them.
He wanted to be as far away from them as possible when the end came, but it didn't stop him from wanting to turn around and go back inside.
He was about to turn when someone walked up behind him and he felt a sharp pain move across the back of his skull. The world started to fade as he felt arms sliding under his arms and he was dragged into the darkness.
