Better Days

Chapter 353

Author's Note: My computer blue screened. It's not responding at all. I don't know if I can get it to work before I go to the hospital. I'm trying out the new program on my Kindle. Let's see if I can figure this out. Review please.

Rick, Jewel, Jes, Eugene, Michonne, and Quinn's POV:

Jes stood next to Carter and glared at him. Try to follow along Carter," she said.

Rick pointed to the map. "Marshall and Redding, we force them west here," he told them.

"How?" Deanna asked.

"We block it off so they can only go one way, west, away from the community," Rick told him.

"Cars, we'll use the RV'S, some of the bigger trucks, park them end to end," Rick told them.

"We'll be drawing them away, they'll keep moving," Michonne said.

"We can use flare guns, keep them distracted by the noise. I'll be on the over pass, with flash bombs and we'll have more flare guns. It'll work," Summer said.

"Yeah but how many? Just bouncing off some sedans? And then when they start distracting the rest and you stop drawing them?" Carter questioned.

"Man's got a point," Heath responded.

Eugene moved to the front. "We've got plates, the big ass metal ones from the construction site," he told them. "We can use them to fortify the whip wall, it'll help disperse the Walkers. Clean like a pool table, eight ball in the corner pocket."

Jewel grinned. "Eugene that's brilliant."

Carter looked at them. " That's an army out there. What happens when this doesn't hold and they push on through? The curve in this hillside is gonna send them right back east, right back here. You seriously want to risk that?" Carter questioned.

"How about instead of criticizing everything dad suggests, you actually try to help?" Summer questioned.

Rick looked at Carter. "No, I don't want to risk it, so you need to help make it hold," Rick told him.

"These wall's you built them, so you've already done the impossible," Morgan pointed out.

"He's right," Jes said. "You can either complain and point out everything that could go wrong or you can help us make it right."

"Carter please," Deanna pleaded.

"Dad would have been the first one out there helping. You can honor him by making sure this works," Quinn told him.

"Fine," Carter begrudgingly agreed.

Mika Mitch, Mar and Daryl's Pov:

Mitch looked at Mika then at Mar and Daryl. "Dad, you make it sound like leading a large herd of walkers is something you do every day."

"Aren't you scared?" Mika asked

Mar looked at Daryl and raised an eyebrow. "Daryl wouldn't be human if he didn't feel a bit of fear. Fear is what makes us know we're still very much alive and kicking. Isn't that right Daryl?"

Daryl gave her a glance know he'd be in trouble if he tried to play it off. "It has to be done and we all have jobs to do. That's what Herschel would have told us," Daryl informed them. "So this is my job," Daryl told them.

"But aren't you scared?" Mika asked again.

Mar smirked at Mika's insistence on that particular subject.

"I'd be stupid not to be a little scared," Daryl admitted. "I'd be stupid if I wasn't. And anyone who says they aren't is blowing smoke up your ass," he told them.

"Daryl," Mar warned.

"It'll work. It has to," Mitch said.

"What if it doesn't?" Mika questioned.

"It's the best plan we have," Mar told them.

"Rick knows what he's doing. He's kept us alive this far," Daryl told him.

"He's right. We've done things that other groups haven't. If we could all survive our first meeting between the Terminus people, we've got this," Mar told them.

"But we didn't have to watch the Alexandrian's back or hold their hands," Mitch pointed out.

"Are they going to get any of us killed?" Mika questioned.

"Not if I have anything to say about it," Daryl told them.

"Can't they fend for themselves? They don't know what they're doing, how to survive, they'll endanger us," Mitch told them.

"That's not who we are, and we can't become that," Mar informed them.

"We can't do this alone either. It's to big of a job for us to do alone," Daryl added. "I'm going to do my hardest no to let any of us die. I'm going to overlook the fact these people are idiots and trust that we have enough smarts to over rule their stupidly."

Mika snickered. " They have to learn right? Just like I did," she said. "At least they aren't doing it alone and they have us to help them to learn. I wouldn't still be here if it wasn't for all you."

"You're stronger than you think you are," Mitch reminded her. " You'll be careful right dad?"

"Always am. Coming back to all of you that's the goal," Daryl told them.

Rick and Jewel's Pov:

Jewel put Hope down in her bassinet and felt Rick wrap his arms around her. "Thank you Mrs. Grimes," he said.

Jewel smiled as she turned around and kissed him. "What are you thanking me for, Mr. Grimes?"

"For what you did at the meeting. As always you knew exactly what to say and when to say it. I am pretty sure I wasn't going to be able to refrain myself from hitting Carter, and I'm pretty sure that wouldn't have won me any more fans," Rick informed her.

Jewel kissed him. "You never have to thank me for being on your side. If I had disagreed with you then I would have told you, you know that," Jewel told him. "Carter is going to be a liability out there. He's not going to listen to anything you say and that's going to put you and everyone else at risk. That's not something that I'm really looking forward to," she told him.

"I need you inside here, keeping everyone in here calm," Rick told her. "I'm not going to be out there by myself," Rick told her. "I know you are used to being out there with me and watching my back. I'm used to you being right there with me to but this time there's enough other people who can help. You have other responsibilities to take care of inside here. I need to know that you, Judith, and Hope are safe. And this is one of the times that I can make sure you aren't out there in danger. Let me, just this one time, not have to worry about you being out there," Rick begged.

Jewel kissed him. "Just this once. But I'm going to be firing the flare guns behind the barrier," she warned him. "You make sure Summer is safe."

"She's safer on the over pass then leading the Walkers away. And we both know that she'd be the first one to volunteer," Rick told her. "I don't want to have to worry about Summer being out there anymore than I want you out there."

"And it's not like you could have said no to her," Jewel stated. "I get it and she is the best one for that job," Jewel admitted. "Quinn and I are going to stay here while all of you are reinforcing the gate. We're going to make sure everyone has a bag packed. You get to deal with Carter and I get to deal with the Stepford wives," Jewel said as she kissed him.

Rick, Jes, and Daryl Pov:

Jes bent down next to Rick as he was digging holes. "Jewel not joining us out here digging in the mud? I mean who would want to miss this fun?

Rick gave a small laugh. "Surprisingly she decided to leave the fun to us and go with Quinn to make sure everyone gets a bag packed."

"Smart play," Jes agreed as Daryl approached with a wheel barrow. "Daryl," she greeted.

"Jes," Daryl responded. "Hey, what you said before about us needing to take care of ourselves? Going out there and finding more people, that is taking care of ourselves. But it's your call though," he said as he walked away.

Rick looked at Jes. "What do you think? Do you think we should bring more people in?"

"Nope that's not my call. That's yours and Deanna's call. I'm already keeping my eyes on the incompetent Alexandrian's," Jes told him.

"That's not on you Jes. You don't have to do it yourself," Rick assured her.

"Yeah, Rick I do. You and Jewel got us this far, got us here. Now it's my job to make sure no one does anything to get any of us killed. I think I need to have a talk e Carter, make sure he knows not to do anything to get any of us killed," Jes told him.

"Don't think it would do anything. Carter is just one of those people that have to learn. He shouldn't be alive right now," Rick told her

"He's alive because of those gates. I should be out there with you and not in side the gates," Jes told him.

"I need to know that some one is in here that can shoot straight and from the distance. The wolves are still out there, the Walkers aren't the only threat. I left the people in our group that I know can fight human threats as well as walkers," Rick told her.

Jes nodded. "Understood," she responded.