A/N: First chapter of Season Five; I hope you like it. The episode was so action packed that I wasn't complete sure what or how I wanted to go about writing it so sorry if it stinks. I promise it will get better as the season moves forward and I find the rhythm again. I also feel like action paced episodes are a bit harder to write (for me personally) because dialog and character interactions seem more limited and quicker. I tried my best though so please don't give up on me or the story. It will get better! I promise! Reviews also mean a lot; love hearing what you think. Onto the story...hopefully it's up to par =)

Chapter Thirty-Four: Fight the Dead Fear the Living

'Beth sat against the wall watching as Riley sharpened her hunting knife "are you scared" Riley looked up and cocked her head to the side "scared….scared of what" Beth stood and sat beside the girl removing the knife from her hand leaning over and placing it on the desk "scared of…of dying" Riley looked at Beth long and hard before replying "no". Beth lowered her eyes she knew Riley would say that; nothing scared the Dixon's it was kind of annoying; they just rolled with the punches, but growing up in the family they did she could understand why "I'm not scared of dying because of a Walker" Riley stated staring ahead "…it's the people the alive ones that scare me" Riley spoke making Beth's head snap back up "Walkers I can deal with, you know what to expect how to handle things how to adjust, adapt….people…people are too unpredictable" Riley stopped turning; Beth watched her for a moment before grabbing her hand "I'm scared" Beth whispered "not of me dying though..." Beth hesitated she knew that saying the next part would add extra meaning to their relationship and she didn't want Riley to carry that around every time she left the prison walls or Beth's sight "I don't know what I would do if…if…" Beth couldn't even finish the sentence before tears filled her eyes and she looked away from the girl. Beth heard Riley sigh before she reached over and turned Beth's face back to look at her; using her thumb she wiped away a stray tear before gently placing her lips over Beth's "I ain't going anywhere…can't die on you" she mumbled pulling away she whispered "I may not always be here but I'll always find you…I'm not going anywhere Beth…." Beth pulled away and wrapped her arms around Riley leaning her head on her shoulder and kissing the faint pink scar that sit on the girl's neck; she closed her eyes and took in her girlfriends scent 'I wish I could believe that' Beth thought before kissing Riley again "a Dixon always keeps their promises" she heard Riley mummer into her hair, Beth smiled wondering how Riley knew what she was thinking and let a soft sigh leave her lips'

Riley's eyes snapped open as a feeling of falling jolted her senses awake, she quickly closed her eyes only to re-open them a moment later….turning her head to the side she realized she was hanging upside down her body swaying slowly left to right; foolishly she tried to reach for the rope only to hopeless feel zip ties dig themselves into her wrist. Flashing her eyes back in front of her they land on a table that is scattered in different tools and equipment; her heart beat ringing in her ears as she places the last remaining pieces of the puzzle together…..….she was cattle…..this was a slaughter room

A door to her right slammed closed making her jerk her head at the sudden noise. She watched as Gareth walked in and over to the table placing a large notebook down before looking over at her, seeing she was awake and alert he smiled

"glad to see you're awake Sherlock, was scared we lost you for a minute…..told him not to hit you so hard but…..you know"

Riley tried to yell out at him but the black gag in her mouth prevented any words from escaping. Gareth smirked and placed a hand against her cheek "Riley what are we going to do; your family out there had to go and make a mess of everything. Things could have worked out so nicely….we could have worked out so nicely"

Riley watches as Gareth's eyes got dark "you're either the butcher or the cattle" he mutters before reaching up with the knife and cutting the rope that secured Riley to the beam. Riley lands hard on her side before rolling over onto her back. Gareth stands above her a sick smirk crossing his lips "I'm not going back...it's time for others to pay...others to feel the pain, the fear, the hopelessness" Gareth then straddles Riley and places a hand on her belt...

"the gag will keep you from biting your tongue off…..this might hurt a bit"

Rick had no idea what had happened, the train car was filled with tear gas and the next thing he knew he was being dragged into a room his arms, and feet tied, his mouth gagged. He was shoved in front of a what looked like a pig trough, Daryl, Bob and Glenn finding their way next to him a moment later. Rick stared down the line watching as more men were brought in bound and gagged

Rick watched as two men appeared both wearing butchers aprons one swinging a baseball bat the other carrying a large knife. He watched as one of the men walked up and down the line before looking to his partner

"ready…."

Rick glanced to the side to see the man walk to the end of the trough raise the bat and swing knocking the last man in line unconscious before his throat was slit by the other.

Looking away Rick listened as the same deed happened to the next man and the next. The men were standing behind Glenn now, Rick closed his eyes for a moment as the stillness settled, slowly he reached into his boot pulling out a small piece of glass

"hold up"

Rick's eyes snapped open his hand freezing as a voice speaks out, looking up there was Gareth a large notebook in hand

"what were your shot counts?"

The man with the baseball bat lowered it to the ground "38"

Gareth writes something in the book, the bat is raised

"hey….your shot counts"

The bat is lowered again, Rick looks over to see Glenn with his eyes closed

"crap man….I'm sorry it was my first roundup"

Rick turns and watches as Gareth shakes his head looking back down at the book with annoyance lacing his voice

"after you're done here, go back to your point and count the shells. Kaylee won't be gathering them until tomorrow."

Gareth looks back down, the bat is raised until a muffled voice calls out. Rick glances over to see Bob calling out to Gareth his voice blocked by the gag. Gareth looks over still with the notebook in hand. Bob calls out again Rick barely making out the words

Gareth looks pass Bob

"four from A, four from D"

Rick looks away from Bob as the man tries one last time screaming out in muffled words

Gareth lets out an annoyed sigh before making his way over sitting the notebook on the ground he squats and leans over the trough removing Bobs gag "what"

Bob licks his lips "don't do this…we can fix this"

Gareth's eyes flash to Rick "no you can't"

Gareth starts to rise the gag back up; Bob quickly speaks out "You don't have to do this. We told you there's a way out of all this. You just have to take a chance. We have a man who knows how to stop it. He has a cure. We just have to get him to Washington. You don't have to do this, man. We can put the world back to how it was."

Gareth looks at Bob for a moment before shaking his head "we can't go back Bob"

"we can, you don't have to do this" Bob spits out before the gag is put back into place

Sliding his eyes away from Bob, Gareth looks at Rick he places his forearms on the trough and stares at Rick with amusement, reaching over he lowers the gag giving Rick a small smirk

"we saw you go into the woods with a bag and come out without it; had to pull my spotters back before we could go look for it…what was in it?"

Rick remains quiet staring back at the man

"you hid it right? in case things went bad? smart….still we'll find it, but it's too dangerous to go out there right now, what was in it? I'm curious….it was a big bag"

Rick remains silent, Gareth lets out a sigh and stands

"you just have to make things more complicated don't you Rick"

Gareth then disappears from the room but returns a moment later pulling with him a person their boots dragging on the floor. The person's head is covered by a burlap sack but Rick's heart speeds up. The boots, the jeans, the shirt it's all the same…..Rick clenches his jaw as he watched Gareth push the person down onto their knees and slowly removes the sack.

Riley lay on the floor, blank eyes, face like stone she watched as Gareth stands and pulls his pants back up watched as he leaned down and replaced hers, watched as he pulled her up and felt his lips against her temple...she closed her eyes as he whispered into her ear and opened them when she felt his presence shift. Gareth walked over to the table picking up the notebook and making his way towards the door; looking back he smirks "...think I'll keep you alive for a bit"

Riley stared at the door figuring out how she would get out of this, she had to find her dad, find Daryl get back to Carl...

"you're either the butcher or the cattle; we didn't want it to come to this…..sometimes people are pushed too far, just has to go and make me do things I don't want to do…."

Riley watched as Gareth re-entered the room mumbling to himself approaching her with quick strides. He reached down and placed a bag over her head before lifting her up and dragging her from the room

Gareth watched as Rick's eyes darkened as they landed on Riley, he the pulled the girl up by the hair and held a knife to her throat. Rick was quiet for a minute he felt the eyes of Daryl on him but his eyes were only on Riley; locking eyes with her she gave him a subtle shake of the head he watched her eyes they held no fear or panic they were dark…murderess and he had seen that look before and it unnerved him…..

"you're really gonna let me do this"

Rick looked at the man with narrowed eyes and spoke out in an unwavering voice

"let me take you out there, I'll show you"

Gareth smiled at Rick a slight chuckle escaping as he replied "not gonna happen….this might" he then slowly pushed the knife a little harder into Riley's neck a few red droplets rolling out from under the blade

"There's guns in it. AK-47, 44 Magnum, Automatic weapons, Night scope, there's a compound bow and a machete with a red handle….That's what I'm gonna use to kill you."

Gareth looks at Rick and laughs a smirk on his face "thanks"

With that being said he looks at the other two men "You have two hours to get them on the driers. I'm gonna go back to public face. Now's the time we can get messy, but we need to dial it all in by sundown."

The men nod both replying with a "you got" or "yes sir"

Gareth pulls Riley more tightly into his body "you my dear are staying with me"

Just as Gareth is about to exit the room letting the butchers continue with their task, gunshots are heard making everyone freeze. Holding Riley pinned to his side with one arm Gareth reaches for his walkie talkie

"Hey Chuck"

All that is picked up is static before an eruption shakes the ground making the building vibrate with a tremor

"hey what the hell was that….do you copy" Gareth looks from the device and over to the men

"you stay here….."

The men look at Gareth then at the prisoners "Gareth" one of them calls out

"stay here until I know what's happening….there not going anywhere…"

Gareth then disappears from the room pulling Riley along with him

"I ain't stupid…..I know your dad ain't either he's smart enough to get himself out of there….he was smart enough to piece the puzzle together…."

Gareth walked through the warehouse and out into the open, he stops in front of a small blue rusted train car pulling the door open and pushing Riley inside

"if your anything like your father and I believe that you are; you'll figure this out, but by then he'll be long gone…." Gareth had almost closed the door when he stopped and poked his head back in "and by the way you have a few roommates"

The door was slammed shut the metal shaking under the force, turning Riley is overtaken by the sudden darkness, there is only small streams of sunlight filtering through due to the various cracks and holes that littered the box. It wasn't until the snarls and shuffling of feet from the far end of the car sound did Riley truly start to panic.

Riley watched as a small group of Walkers ambled their way out of the darkness and towards her their decaying bodies moving slowly but their hands and arms outstretched their jaws snapping. Reaching into her boot Riley pulled out her hunters knife. Gripping it tightly in her hands she takes a step forward

Rick had managed to escape the butchers and free Daryl, Glenn and Bob the men were now making their way throughout the warehouse stopping when they approached a room with hanging meat…..meat…..Rick took a look around his thoughts going to Riley

"cross any of these people kill them, don't hesitate... they won't"

Daryl made eye contact with Rick a nod in his direction, both thinking the same thing

'where is she…'

Rick looked around the room one last time before making his way towards the door, Glenn Bob and Daryl following.

Once out in the open Rick halts seeing Walkers everywhere, some of the Terminus people were fighting back while others ran, some were taken down by the dead or their own it was hard to tell.

"we have to get back to the train car find our people…"

Glenn looked around the area his eyes settling on a broken down blue train car. Grabbing Rick's shoulder his eyes still on the vehicle "we have to let them out….that's still who we are it's got to be"

Rick looked around and clenched his jaw before moving swiftly towards the train. Looking at Glenn he nods his head as the Asian pulls the latch up and out.

The train car door opens and two people tumble out. Rick watches as a dirty bloody Riley wrestles with a male Walker before turning them both around and straddling him, lifting a knife and jamming it into his skull. Rick watches as she pulls the knife out her hands covered in blood, trembling slightly. She looks up squinting against the sun her eyes land on her dad, Daryl and Glenn before she is pulled to her feet being crushed against her brother

"Riles" Daryl breathes before she pushes him away Daryl looks at her, her body drenched in blood and sweat. His eyes flash to Rick as Rick looks to Riley, her eyes dark and haunted….

"we got to double back" Riley eyes shifted over to Bob at the sound of his voice

Shaking her head and moving away from Daryl "no….A is back that way, we double back we have no idea where we are"

"look around we don't really have a choice"

Riley walked towards Bob "Carl is in there….." she hisses out her eyes flashing "….just….just wait here" and with that Riley is running towards an overturn car, her eyes watch as Walkers filter by shortly followed by Terminus members firing guns. The sounds of snarls snap her back to the present she turns just in time to see Daryl drive a metal pole through the forehead of a Walker, the siblings connect eyes a gentle nod exchanged before Riley looks back watching as a lone man walks gun aimed and firing. She slowly creeps out grabbing the man and quickly securing the gun at his neck choking him before he falls to the ground, lifting the gun Riley fires left to right not aiming to kill this time but to wound…these people deserved to be eaten alive….

Riley turns gun raised when her eyes scan an empty lot they quickly go back to her father

"Carl…." she breathes before heading off; Rick and Daryl share a look before following after her

Michonne takes her eyes away from the scene outside and drifts them across the train car, they find Carl's blue orbs and she gives the boy a weak smile

"what the hell is going on" Abraham grunts hitting the side of the train car with his fist

Michonne glances back outside "sounds like they got hit"

Tara steps out of the shadows "maybe our people got free…." she speaks as Eugene pushes his way through kneeling by the door with the empty tear gas can in hand

"what the hell are you doing…." Sasha asks pushing herself up from the floor

"I might be able to use this shell to compromise the door, from the sound of things, there may not be anybody left to open it."

Carl steps forward "hey…..my dad is coming back; Riley too…."

Michonne catches Maggie's eye; the group was filled in on everything from the fall of the prison to being put in the train car which included Riley being left out there with them; both women glanced over at the boy thinking the same thought 'please let her be okay'

Eugene glances at the boy before returning his eyes to his task

Maggie steps beside Carl repeating his sentiments "they all are….and we need to get ready to fight our way out with them when they do" the girl finishes placing a hand on Carl's shoulder before moving away.

Sasha stares at Carl for a moment she truly hoped the words he spoke were true; the group needed Rick, Riley, Daryl and Glenn...if something happened to anyone of them the group would fall apart. Turning her attention to the man kneeled in front of the train car door she narrowed her eyes; this man supposedly knew the cure, the way out...the end

"what's the cure Eugene"

"it's classified" Eugene answers not removing his eyes from the can in his hands

Sasha takes a step forward thoughts of her brother, her family her friends running through her mind, this was life and death and one man held the key "we don't know what's going to happen"

Glancing up from his wooden plank Abraham speaks out "you leave him be"

Maggie cuts in "we need to keep working"

Sasha looks over at Maggie their eyes connecting "yeah but it's time to hear it cause we don't know what's coming next"

"what's next is we get out of here" Michonne pipes up her eyes still scanning the outside world

Eugene stands looking at the door for a moment before he turns his eyes glancing at each one before looking ahead, wiping his hands on his pants he lets out a breath

"even if I told you all, even if I provided step-by-step instructions complete with illustrations and a well-composed FAQ and I went red-ring, the cure would still die with me"

Without looking up the voice of Abraham fills the train "I'm not gonna to let that happen"

Eugene ignores Abe and continues "The best-case scenario, we step out into a hell storm of bullets, fire, and walkers. I'm not fleet of foot, I sure as hell can't take a dead one down with sharp buttons and hella confidence."

"yeah, but we can and we will." Sasha says crossing her arms over her chest "you don't owe us anything….not yet, but we just want to hear it."

Eugene looks at Carl for a moment sees the fear, panic, hope in his eyes before nodding to himself "I was part of a 10-person team at the Human Genome Project to weaponize diseases to fight weaponized diseases. Pathogenic microorganisms with pathogenic microorganisms. Fire with fire. Interdepartmental drinks were had, relationships made, information shared. I am keenly aware of all the details behind fail-safe delivery systems to kill every living person on this planet. I believe with a little tweaking on the terminals in DC, we can flip the script. Take out every last dead one of them. Fire with fire. All things being equal, it does sound pretty badass."

Sasha smiles slightly "well let's get back to work"

Just as everyone is about to turn and return to their jobs a loud bang sounds from outside the train car before the door slides open and Rick stands there " come on fight to the fence"

Riley watches as everyone jumps out of the train before a sheriffs hat appears in her vision "Carl" she yells, the boy looks up and takes off towards her "come on" she breathes once he is by her side. She then pushes him forward taking off after him.

The group weave in and out of Walkers and gun fire making their way quickly over to the fences, Abe is the first one to reach the fence getting Eugene up and over followed by the rest. Riley glances back watching as a bullet hisses by her head glancing at the rooftop there is Gareth; rasing her gun Riley fires striking the man in the shoulder sending him down to the ground

"Riles" her head snaps over at her name her dad is at the fence "come one" with one last glance Riley runs over and climbs up and over followed by her dad and lastly Abe.

Riley walks behind her father as Daryl tracks down the location of the guns

"right here" he speaks leaning over and pulling the small shovel from the cover of leaves; Rick grabs it and starts to unearth the bag

Abe looks on and then back over at the fence "what the hell are we still around here for"

"guns, more supplies" Rick answers without looking up

Riley steps forward squatting down so she is eye level with her father "we have to go back….we need to finish this…" she stands and looks at the fence "we can go along the fence use the rifles take them all out"

Glenn looks from Riley to Rick "what" he questions looking at the rest of the group "Riley we got out…it's over"

"it's not over till they're all dead….they don't get to live" Rick speaks up grabbing ahold of the bag and dropping it at Riley's feet

Maggie walks forward and places a hand on Riley's shoulder "the place is on fire….full of Walkers"

"I'm not dicking around with this crap" Abe mumbles from the side; Riley's eyes shoot over to him and she is in front of him in a heartbeat "you didn't see what these people did…..what they do….what they'll keep doing…."

This time Carl walks over to Riley "the fences are down, they'll run or die"

Riley looks over to her dad before the sound of a twig cracking makes all eyes jump over to a person walking among the trees. Riley watches as the person drops two crossbows and a gun onto the ground before the blur of Daryl rushing pass her and into the arms of Carol…..Carol….Carol saved them.

Riley watches as her brother hugs Carol lifting her slightly in the air. Before setting her down and stepping back allowing Rick to embrace the woman

"you did that" Riley hears her father mumble to the woman who lightly shrugs her shoulders a sly smile on her lips

Carol's eyes go over to Riley for a moment "you have to come with me"

Riley walks slowly in the back her crossbow back where it belongs. Her thoughts are still back at Terminus, the fact that their not dead doesn't sit right with her. Daryl glances back watches as Riley walks with her head down biting her lip.

Turning his attention back in front of him a small shack comes into view with a black man holding a baby walking out shutting the door behind them. Daryl let's out a low chuckle as a smile crosses his lips….Tyresse and Judith….

Rick drops the bag and gun he was holding and rushes forward scooping his daughter out of Tyresse's arms. He cradles the baby to his chest as Carl joins him placing a hand onto the baby's head "Judith" he breathes out.

Riley stopped walking turning to look back the way they came…. she needed to go back, she couldn't let another Governor happen. Gareth wasn't dead and Gareth wasn't stupid, he would find them, he find them and finish what he started.

'you're right Rye bread…..that man…..that place; he ain't dead, you saw him, heard him he's a smart ass mother fucker and he'll find ya…"

Riley glanced over seeing Merle leaning against a tree a smug smile on his face

'you just gonna let him live….let him come and find ya, find them…..'

"I can't leave….dad, Carl, Daryl….I'll just have to stay alert, prepared, one step ahead…" Riley mumbles as the sound of Merle laughing fills the air

'you have to do something…..can't let him find her….'

Riley looks over at Merle her eyebrows knotting in confusion "whose her…"

As soon as the words floated from her lips a sound of a baby crying jolt Riley back to where she is; turning around her eyes find her dad before they settle on the small baby he's holding.

"little one" Riley whispers

Judith spots Riley in the distance and immediately reaches her arms out for the woman. Riley smiles and rushes forward discarding her crossbow along the way. Rick gently hands over the little girl, watching as Judith lays her head on Riley's shoulder as the girl rubs her back kissing her temple

"told ya" she mumbles looking at Rick through the corner of her eye. Rick smiles as Tyresse approaches, walking over he squeezes the mans shoulder; Tyresse simply nods his head looking at Riley and smiling.

As Riley holds Judith Rick walks forward a few steps eyes to the sky "don't know if the fires still burning"

"it is" Carol speaks up also looking at the sky her eyes going to Rick for a moment

Rick looks back and walks towards his children he places a quick kiss to Riley's head before scooping Judith back into his arms

"we need to go"

Daryl moves closer picking up Riley's bow and handing it to her "yeah but where"

"somewhere far away from here" Rick says kissing Judith on the forehead before Carl walks over "I'll hold her" the boy voices quietly a small smile on his face he is back with both his sisters...his family is whole again

Off to the side Riley's eyes find Abe as he speaks to Rosita; whispering words she can't hear; her eyes flash over to Carl and Judith, her dad and Daryl…..Abe's main focus is Eugene but hers is right in front of her and she won't allow him or anyone else break them apart.

As the day wears on the group make their way away from Terminus away from the reminders away from the lost hope. As they walk towards the woods a sign for Terminus comes into view; Riley stops and looks at it her father comes to stand by her side "we have to warn others" she whispers. Rick is already kneeling on the ground wiping dirt and soil onto his hand. Standing up he covers all the words leaving 'sanctuary' clear, but above it he writes the word 'NO'. Rick looks over at Riley "come on" he whispers and together the two fall into step behind the others. It is quiet between the two for a couple of minutes before Riley's voice floats through the stillness

"we should have finished it"

A/N: I'm thinking I might stop with the 'B' side of the story because it seems like Beth will hopefully be returning to the storyline soon. I have Riley and Beth's reunion mapped outed already so I can't wait till she is back with the group. What are your thoughts on that? I can do the 'B' side for this chapter if you want; just let me know but I might just wait to see what happens? As always reviews mean a lot. Sorry if this chapter stinks, it will get better once I get back into the swing of writing!