Kings County, Georgia
Rick rubbed at his forehead as he hung up the telephone, placing it back into its cradle. Morning sunlight filtered through the blinds of his office, giving the room a bright golden glow. The large bay windows were directly to the left of Rick's desk. From outside the window he could see the slow swaying of the backyard tree as a cool breeze blew from the southwest. It was an honestly beautiful sunny day, filled with the sounds of birds chirping and life moving about. How long has it been since he heard such carefree going ons? Life following the outbreak was anything but happiness and carefree living. It became all about survival. The quiet was something haunting, which only broke with the sounds of the growls and moans of the Walkers, as they caught scent of humans, fresh meat calling to them like a shark smelling blood in the water.
Rick flipped through the papers spread out on his desk. They were filled with ideas and designs for what he had in mind, but he was always willing to hear other people's inputs. As they likely would have thought of something he hadn't. Directly across from his desk was a bookshelf that filled the wall from left to right. It was completely full of books of numerous variety, from survival books to romance literature. In the middle of the room was a couch, two arm chairs on either side of the small glass coffee table that was in front of the sofa. The couch was up against the wall, beneath the bay windows on the left side of the room.
He had been talking on the phone all morning with the realtor about selling the house. It had taken some sweet talking to her, but he was finally able to get Mrs. Carolyn Burnham to agree to immediately start the paperwork to get the house up for sell. He wanted the house sold as quickly as possible, as long as it was sold for what it is worth. Rick had no doubt that Mrs. Burnham found him a bit odd and the request even more unusual, but they didn't have a lot of time, and he needed to get the money to start building.
He was honestly considering using funds from the Sheriff Department as well. He was going to use the money he gained from selling his place, from Lori's and his own parents, Shane's parents insurance money, and that was about it so far. It wouldn't be nearly as much as he needed for the plans he had. If he used the funds that were received from the state and government for the department, it would be extra help. It's not like they'd be able to use those funds in a few months time anyways. So why not use it now? It had more than enough money at its disposal.
Rick considered his options, on whether or not it was a good idea to do so. If he was caught or people noticed, especially Sheriff Stilinski who was as honest as they came, there could be some serious penalties on him. Unless he spoke bluntly and honestly with the older man. Sheriff Stilinski was a kind and honest officer, who followed his own moral code. He had three young kids, his older ones are either out of the house and in college or have their own lives. The youngest children the Sheriff has, was a teenager and the other children were around Carl's age if not younger. Could he save the Sheriff and his family this time, perhaps get him on his side now?
The blue eyed man rubbed his mouth as he thought this over. He had already called in sick from work, and he had learned Shane did too, when he called in. Lori, had also called in sick at work. Since Lori wasn't going into work, they had also called Carl in. Maybe after he came back from his visit with Hershel, he'd talk to the Sheriff, see if he could get him to believe what was going to happen.
Rick was definitely hoping that Lori's parents would come through. Her parents were extremely wealthy, they came from old money. If they had their money at his disposal, it could go a long way in preparing.
He also knew he needed to get in contact with his parents, but he was going to delay it for a few more days. They were enjoying their vacation in the caribbean, and would be back in a couple of days anyways. It gave him some extra time to think over what he should say to his parents to get them to believe him about what was to occur in a couple of months. Rick hopes it won't take too much convincing to get them to believe him.
His head turned at a knock on his office door, and watched as Carl, Lori, and Shane walked into the office. The trio took a seat on the couch and chairs in front of the windows. They didn't look upset, if anything they looked tired and a little frustrated. With a sigh, Rick stood and walked around the desk, before collapsing on the couch beside Carl.
"I talked to Uncle Jeff and Aunt Evie," Carl began before he could ask. The young boy looked over at his father with darker blue eyes. "Aunt Evie says she can't come, since she has some big things going on in her life right now," Rick nearly rolled his eyes at his son's reiteration of what his Aunt told him. Evie always seems to have some "big thang" going on in her life. Whether it was a new relationship, some drama of the romantic sense, or a new adventure she and her friends decided to go on. It was always something.
"I assumed as much," he stated with amusement. Shane was also smirking, as they both knew how Evie was. She had been the wild child out of the siblings. Being the youngest and the only girl, she had been treated more like a Princess, and so she was a bit more different than her brothers because of it. "What about your Uncle?" Rick questioned.
"Well, Uncle Jeff says he'll talk to Aunt Patty, but from the sounds of it, he seems willing enough to come here," Carl said with a shrug. "I think Uncle Jeff might remember...but I'm not sure. He's always been hard to read," he remarked with a roll of his eyes. His Uncle was a lot like his father in regards to being hard to read. His dad was the King at hiding his emotions behind a mask. Although the other half of the time, his father could be too emotional. There was never a steady emotional reaction in regards to his father or Uncle Jeffrey.
"I also talked to moms siblings too, but they couldn't come out either," Carl added. He had kind of expected that to happen too. He didn't know his mother's family as well as he did his father's. That was mostly because of how they were raised and their wealth. They always kind of treated everyone else differently. As if they were better than them.
Rick had expected that, as much as he hadn't wanted to. It was going to be harder to save people when they find it hard to believe what was going to happen. Or get them to leave their daily lives. It wasn't surprising that Lori's siblings couldn't come, they had their own lives and didn't know what was going to happen. Even though he had lived through it he still had trouble believing it wasn't just an extremely intense nightmare at times. "Alright," he sighed with a nod. "We'll figure another way to save them. Or leave them on their own,"
Lori grimaced at Rick's remark. "We have to try something Rick," she replied with a frown. Those were sisters and brothers he was talking about. They had to try and save them. She had nieces and nephews, and her parents to try and keep alive. They had to do something.
"And we will," Rick soothingly responded to his wife as he gripped her hand in a short reassuring squeeze. Lori nodded slowly and leaned back against the couch beside him. He would do what he could to save her family and his sister. Maybe he could get someone from the group that remembered to help him save his sister and Lori's family. He knew Riley had lived in Virginia before the outbreak started, but had been in Georgia for something when the global outbreak happened.
"I called Riley," Carl blurted out before he could stop himself. All three adults turned their attention to Carl. Each one of them raised an eyebrow in question. Shane and Lori weren't sure why it was so important that he had talked to Riley, but Rick merely smiled and looked curiously at his son.
"Riley Teller?" Shane asked in surprise. He remembered the blonde vividly. He had left quite an impression on him and their group. The teenager had been a parent to his younger brothers and son, and hadn't been afraid to tell the adults that tried to bud into his raising of his brothers and son to "fuck off". Riley had been a force to be reckoned with and had no problem telling anyone what he thought. If Shane remembers it correctly, Riley had been the one that found them medical supplies during a supply run that first go around. He had also been the one to come across Rick first, before he reached Atlanta. Riley had also found cans and dried foods from a large warehouse type store for their group. That kid had the best of luck when it came to finding supplies.
"Yeah...he remembers…" Carl replied hesitantly, even while butterflies twirled around in his stomach at the thought of his older partner. "He said he'll be driving down here with his brothers and Eli," he added with a small smile. Abel, along with Conner Asher, had been his best friend during the global outbreak. "He should get here late evening or night and that he wanted to talk to you dad. Says he has some ideas that he wants to go over with you,"
Rick's smile grew across his lips at the thought of seeing Riley Teller again. The younger man had been like another son to Rick, someone that he was proud of to call family. It was refreshing to hear that he remembered, though it made Rick feel sorrow to know why he could remember. From what he's understood so far, those that have remembered had died in the other timeline. Though Rick wondered if that was going to be the case for everyone, or if only particular people will remember.
Rick remembered suddenly the conversation he and Jenner had back in the alternate timeline. Jenner had mentioned that many of the other countries had also lost power like they had, but France, Russia, and Italy had held out the longest, before they too had succumbed to the overwhelming power of this disease. They could never figure out whether it was a virus, bacteria, or something else, but they did know that everyone ended up infected with it during the months that led up to the global outbreak. It had been daunting, to realize that 90% of the world's population died by becoming Walkers, that so many people fell to the power of it. Over the next couple of years, the other 9% had either been murdered by other people, committed suicide, or fought with each other over supplies. It was not just in the United States that this occurred, but everywhere. The first time he had heard about this, it had been difficult to wrap his mind around the fact that only 1% of the world's population would survive this global outbreak.
Knowing what he had lived through, it made him twice as determined to get this safe place built for his family and those that needed a safe place to live. While he would never be able to trust people like he once had, not after what he and his family have been through, he was willing to give them a chance, but only one.
It made him curious if Jenner might remember what was going to happen in a few months time. To have scientists and other medical doctors with them this time, it'd be a goldmine for the group. Especially with how frequent an injury could happen or someone getting an illness. He still vividly recalled the Prison and the outbreak that happened inside. How that virus had caused many to die, and turn into Walkers. That pandemic had been difficult to manage with limited medical supplies. This time he planed on hoarding their supplies. He was going to ensure that they were self sufficient and had enough supplies to last them years.
"I got the process going' to get the insurance money Rick, but it's gonna take a couple of days," Shane stated as he leaned forward. His arms rested against his knees while his hands gripped each other. "Have ya thought 'about using' the Sheriff Department's funds?" He asked his best friend with curiosity.
"Good, that's real good," Rick nodded to himself at the news, his mind was already running with thoughts and ideas again. "I have thought about it," Rick said, " I'm thinking' of speaking with Sheriff Stilinski, get him on our side," he added with consideration. "He's a smart man, it may take a bit of talkin', but I think he'll come round."
"That might work," Shane agreed hesitantly. He wasn't completely sold on the idea. If it was a good idea, but he was going to trust Rick's judgement. The man had the survival instincts to last in the world when it went all to hell. His moral code was something to be inspired by. Even if that wasn't always the case, it was close enough most of the time.
"I talked to my parents Rick," Lori stated, once she saw the two men were done speaking. "My father says that I still have that black card he gave me, that I can use it for whatever I want, that it doesn't have a limit."
Rick and Shane shared a look. Their expressions equally showing how it still could surprise them how easily Thomas Wayne was with giving his money away. "Don't know why that still surprised me," Rick said with a shake of his head. Being related to such wealthy folks, who had so much money, left his head reeling. Lori had moved to Kings County, when she was in the ninth grade, with her parents and younger brother and sister when Mr. and Mrs. Wayne wanted to get out of the city. It wasn't until he was a senior and Lori a freshman in High School that they were introduced by Jeffrey. It was love at first sight for Rick. He had thought she was the one, and she had been, for a time.
"That's good, now we should start heading over to Hershel's, it's just about 9 o'clock and I talk 'im we'd be there about 10," They were all dressed in their daily clothes and ready to leave. They just had to head out and head to the Greene Farm.
Georgia State Highway 74 to Interstate 85
"Fuckin' asshole," Rick cursed as he had to abruptly slam on the breaks as another vehicle cut him off. The group of four were forced forwards, only held back by the seat-belts they all wore. It had been a change, having to wear a seat-belt when for so long no one had ever really felt the need. It was their saving grace at the moment, from any bruised heads. Rick pressed down the horn and flipped the car off in front of him. Fuck people and their goddamn need to drive as fast as possible without using blinkers. Everyone was in such a rush to get to the places they needed to get to, that they cared little for the accidents they might cause.
Rick was quickly starting to remember why he was thankful about the dissemination of most of the population. It was a lot easier to drive without having to deal with others on the road. Rick could hear the snickering of Shane and Carl in the backseat as they laughed at his misery. The pair had always been close, before the outbreak. Shane had been the cool Uncle that Carl had looked up. Of course, Carl had looked up to Rick too, wanting to be like him and live up to his expectations for a time. Lori sat in the passenger seat while gripping the door handle, but still giggling at the frustration and irritation that was coming off Rick in waves.
He had forgotten about how horrible traffic was and the other people's driving. With eight years worth of not having to deal with other cars on the road, cutting him off any chance they got, it was jolting and shocking to suddenly have to follow the rules of the road again. He couldn't drive above a certain speed limit in certain areas. He had to stop at stop lights and stop signs, he had to use a blinker to change lanes, the list went on and on. When the world went all to hell, the only plus to it all was not having to deal with other assholes on the road. Unless it was another "villain" of the day they were worrying about, as Carl had so aptly put it a long time ago.
Rick gripped the steering wheel tightly as he restrained himself from shoving people off the road with the force of his white 2008 GMC Sierra 1500 truck. You will not push people off the road because they don't know how to ducking drive, he thought to himself as a mantra. He could not use violent force now just because people were pissing him off. The world wasn't going to Hell yet. It wasn't acceptable behavior in polite society. It'd been a long time since he'd been a society unuse to not having to resort to violence. Rick cracked his neck as he attempted to loosen his stiff muscles.
Lori smiled in amusement as she shook her head at Rick. she could still remember the "Ricktatorship", as their group had fondly called it, during those winter months, after the fall of the Greene Farm. That was the first time she'd seen this new side of her husband that she'd never seen before. She gently patted his thigh in reassurance. She could see how he was barely holding on his temper that was wanting to release. She could tell it was killing Rick to have to follow the rules of the road again, after so much time without.
"You alright there Rick?" Shane chuckled with a smirk.
"I'm fine," Rick grumbled irritably.
"You don't look fine dad," Carl replies with a chuckle at the irritation in his voice.
"I haven't killed anyone yet," Rick shot back, "so I'm fine," Carl would only nod his head in assent. That was true, his father tended to shoot first and ask questions later when it came to people that pissed him off or that he distrusted. For his dad to be restraining himself, it did show that he was doing better then most.
The background noise of the cars radio station was discussing the recent news. "This is LilMiss Anarky and I'm your radio host for the day," the radio host began with a husky drawling tone of voice. "It appears some crazy shit is happenin' in the world right now," she said. Rick reaches out and turns the dial up, allowing the voice to echo within the truck as a sudden silence fell over the small group.
"From what stories are sayin' people are sayin', there's an illness going around," the radio host said in a smooth voice. "Sounds like we best be hopin' that the doctors in white get a vaccine to handle this issue."
Rick, Carl, Shane, and Lori listened quietly as the radio host began to discuss other news occurring in the world. The four shared a look, each thinking about quickly about how this illness would only be getting worse in the coming months. Rick presses his foot down on the gas pedal, going just that little bit faster.
Senoia, Georgia
Rick drove down the familiar highway, filled now with cars driving both ways, rather than a congested highway he remembered. The previous time, they had lost Sophia here, from a small herd that they had encountered for the first time. The realization in that moment, made Rick release just how green they had been, dealing with a large congregation of Walkers, in that first year. It had taken years and experience for them all to finally understand how to truly survive in the hellish world they found themselves in.
It was like muscle memory as Rick turned onto the dirt road that led to the Greene Farm. The truck meandered down the road, driving over dips, bumps, and holes on the dirt road. The windows within the truck were rolled down, emitting the smell of blooming spring flowers, damp fields of pasture, the rustling of branches as the trees swayed with the breeze, and the scent of nature in all its glory. The smells of flowers and various crops tickled their noses lazily as the breeze smoothly whipped the vehicle, leaving a sense of calm in its wake.
Rick hadn't truly realized how stressed and how stiff his muscles had been until he felt himself relax with the familiar smell of the farm. If there had ever been a time and place that felt like home, even with all the stress and complications they had experienced, it was the Greene Farm. No place had truly left Rick feeling comfortable. Even Alexandria had never really made him experience a sense of home, not like the Greene Farm.
Bright blue eyes glanced over at Lori, and he smiled at the look of content across his wife's face. Her eyes were closed and her head leaned back against the seat as the wind made her hair lazily dance around her face. He was glad to see her relaxed, ever since this morning there's been a heaviness pressing down on her shoulders. Rick glanced back at the windshield to ensure he wasn't going to crash, before his eyes quickly glanced up at the rearview mirror. At the sight that he found, he couldn't help but chuckle softly at Carl. He looked his age, from how he had his upper body partly hanging over the window. His eyes were squinted against the warm breeze, his head slightly tilted back as he seemingly enjoyed the smells and familiar landscape. Rick looked next to Shane, only to see his friend was also appearing to enjoy the relaxing atmosphere. He was slouched in the backseat, his head tilted back and a small smile gracing his lips.
It was this contentment that made Rick desire to build the safe place at the farm. He didn't want his family to have to go through that stress and terror again, not if he could help it. The horrors that they had been through last time, he didn't want them to have to be forced to endure it again. Rick turned the truck onto the wrap around driveway that led up to the Greene Farm house. A smile spread across the Deputy Sheriffs lips as the familiar figure of Hershel Greene stepping out onto the porch met his eyes. The blue eyed man pulled the car into a stop and shut the engine off, leaving a calm quiet to follow.
As if in an unspoken gesture, the group of four stepped out of the truck and onto the dirt driveway. "Rick," Hershel greeted with a smile as he stepped down the porch steps. The two men met in the muscle and with little fanfare, Rick pulled the man into a hug. It was a hug much like how Rick had felt from his own father. It was altogether comforting and warm.
"Hershel, I'm glad to see your familiar face again," Rick replies with a forceful blink of tear filled eyes as the two men pulled apart.
Hershel smiled at Rick, before his attention was pulled to the three figures standing behind him. "Carl," he greeted warmly. Carl merely smiled before lunging for a hug. Hershel's strong arms around around the young boy that he had considered family. "It's good to see you again," he said while the two pulled away.
"You too Hershel, it's really good to see you again," Carl replied with his own blue eyes shimmering with held in tears. He still could recall with vivid recollection Hershel's death and the way the air had left his chest. He had lost another member of his family, and it had hurt.
"It's good to see you Lori," Hershel greeted Rick's wife with a small friendly smile.
"Hershel, it's good to see you again," Lori replied with an equally warm smile. During her pregnancy with her second child, she had an attentive ear with Hershel. He was someone who had become a close companion for Lori, willing to listen to her woes.
"Shane," Hershel said with a small nod to the dark haired man. He wasn't sure how to react to Shane, particularly when he could still recall clearly how Shane had acted the first time. However, as his blue eyes looked over the other younger man, he could see that he had coherence and sanity within his dark eyes.
"Hershel," Shane replied with a small smile. He felt uncomfortable and could hear the unsaid words behind Hershel's greeting. But Shane wasn't sure what to do about that at the moment.
"Follow me," the older farmer said as he turned from the small group and began making his way towards his farm house. It had been in his family for generations and he loved his farm. He hoped they'd be able to protect it this time. "I heard from Riley," he explained to the group as the climbed up the porch steps.
Carl's attention immediately shifted to the older man with interest. Rick merely smiled to himself, while Lori and Shane looked on in confusion at the reaction Carl had to Riley's name, and the mellow reaction Rick had. What was going on here that they didn't know? The pair wondered with furrowed eyebrows and a frown gracing their lips.
"And he informed me he was going to be here around 6. Some traffic on the way here has delayed his arrival," Hershel continued to explain to the group. As if he wasn't aware of the reactions going on between the four behind him. He may be old, but he wasn't oblivious. "Now come on and meet my wife and some of my children," he said with a warm smile. He was honestly thrilled to finally have his second family meet his first, while he knew Rick, Carl, Lori, and Shane knew Maggie and Beth, they never got to meet his wife and his other children lived off in other states, with their own lives and family. He only hoped he would be able to see them again and save them too. Although, he wasn't sure if they had survived the first time or not.
Author Note: Yet another chapter I have finished. I honestly forgot to post this one here on Fanfiction, as I have some other stories from here, and a few new ones, on AO3 with the same username, TheWeepingRaven, that I tend to post to first. While also attempting to move stories over to AO3, and editing them to my liking as well. So, if you would like to see the information I've posted for the characters and their families that will make an appearance, just go to that site and look for my username and the story "I Found". It'll give you a glimpse of some of them that I've posted so far.
Also, this story will have various minor crossovers of different television series and movies, that could honestly actually work in the Walking Dead verse, but it won't be blatantly obvious and it's mostly the characters that will make the appearance in the story. Considering this story is all about survival and trying to succeed in surviving what is to come.
Can anyone guess what three verses have been mentioned already? One was rather obvious, the second was just a character I used from one, and the third one was not really evident, unless you're a fan of it.
Anyways, this isn't my most favorite or greatest chapter I've written, but it keeps the story moving along.
I hope you all enjoyed it.
TheWeepingRaven