Chapter 3: My Daddy...


KPOV

~12 years ago~

Peeking through the door, I saw how my parents cuddled and kissed the bundle that was in their arms. The soft sounds of a baby cooing, while I felt my heart drop and freeze over. Running through the hallways, I got on my tippy toes and reached for the door. Grabbing a coat as I left the house, my gloves and hat were in my pocket as I ran down the dark streets.

I ran for what felt like hours, alone and watching cars rush by. My parents that once loved me, now were too busy with the new 'member of the family' Carl. His small pale face, blue eyes and chubby structure made me want to cry. They didn't want me anymore, so I would go to a place where people would want me and be alone like I already felt.


RPOV

Smiling, I looked down at Carl and Lori as she put him down in his cott. Walking out of the room, I placed a kiss to both their foreheads and went to go find Kat. When I saw she wasn't there, I began to search for her through the house. "Kat?" I called down to her. Knocking on the bathroom door as I looked for her. Nothing was to be found. She wasn't around. There were no answers to my calls.

"Kat?!" I called out again, my attempt failing as I tried to find my daughter. Rushing through the halls, I tried to keep my calm, checking every room and gaining no result, other than she wasn't responding. Going into Carl's room, I found Lori cradling him while he slept and this made me look at her panic-stricken. "Kat...she's missing," I tell her as I came up with a theory as to why she was nowhere to be found.

Lori gave me a look of worry and shock, unsure of how to process it and ran out of the room. Calling for her as we both checked around the house, seeing that she wasn't anywhere to be found. Lori and I met in the livingroom, she sped her way towards the phone and dialed a number I knew well...

"Hello?" the voice on the other line called, his voice deep as he spoke. His rough voice and familiar voice asked from the phone. "Rick? Lori? Why you calling?" he asked after we stayed silent, Lori's shoulders shook as she took a deep breath and decided to answer.

"Shane...Kat's missing," Lori said as she sobbed, hoping he could help us. My body shivered at the thought of our daughter out there alone and wandering the streets at night. Gently taking the phone off of Lori, she sobbed as I spoke to Shane, telling him what had happened and hung up, grabbing my coat as I hurried out the door in search of Kat.


Present day...(RPOV)

"Best not to dwell on it, Merle got left behind. Nobody's gonna be sad he didn't come back," Morales tried to comfort both me and T-Dog. "Except maybe Daryl," he said after a single sigh.

"Daryl?" I questioned him. Who would honestly miss the asshole we left on the roof? I know I wouldn't.

"His brother," he tells me and this makes me nod. Makes sense. Glen was passing by, the alarm approaching us as Glenn whooped. "At least somebody's having a good day," Morales said as he watched the happy Glenn drive around without a care in the world.


KPOV

We were sat around the fire by the RV, kids were running around, others were fixing tins to a string so we could hear if walkers got too close. Mom was cutting Carl's hair, she offered to do mine but I just giggled and shook my head. I liked my long hair, it was what I had left...that connected me to my past other than my...

"Baby, the more you fidget, the longer it takes. So don't, okay?" Mom asked of him, pulling me away from my thoughts as I watched Carl really concentrating, making me giggle at him and shake my head.

"I'm trying," he told her and this made me laugh. Carl pulled an angry face at me, which made me bite my bottom lip and smile at him. Giving him a small 'sorry' as he looked down at the ground with a sigh.

"Well, try harder," Mom said and this made me giggle again. Causing Carl to glare at me again.

"Why doesn't Kat get a hair cut?" he asked mom and this made me smirk.

"Because I'm a girl...and I like my hair long...don't you?" I ask him as I shook my hair out of my pony tail, only to tie it back up again.

"If you think this is bad, wait till you start shaving. That stings. That day comes, you'll be wishing for one of your mama's haircuts," Shane said as he was fixing his shotgun.

"I'll believe that when I see it," Carl said, disbelieving as I smiled, remembering how Dad would shave in the morning and always smelled of his strong cologne...

Shane chuckled at Carl's reply. "I'll tell you what You just get through this with some manly dignity and tomorrow...I'll teach you something special," he said which caught Carl's interest. "I will teach you to catch frogs," Shane said while mom looked at him with a small smile.

"I've caught a frog before," Carl answered which made me shake my head and smile at him. We all catch a frog once in our lives baby brother.

"I said frogs plural, and it is an art, my friend. It is not to be taken lightly. There are ways and means. Few people know about it. I'm willing to share my secrets," Shane teased with a smirk on his face.

"Oh, I'm a girl. You talk to him," mom said as Carl looked up at her. Causing chuckles to erupt from Shane, a beaming smile on his face. Carl then looked at me, to see if there was approval or if this was simply a waste of time.

"I say...you should find out his secrets and tell me them later," I tell him with a smile and wink. This made him laugh and give me his toothy smile, making me grin at him. Looking at Shane, he began to chuckle, nodding as he looked at the three of us.

"I like it...you askin' the women in your family for advice...that's good. That's man quality there," he said to Carl which made me smile at them. "It's a one-time offer, bud not to be repeated," he told Carl, who just looked at him questioningly.

"Why do we need frogs, plural?" Carl asked with a confused and slightly quizzically tone.

"You ever eat frog legs?" Shane asked him with a raised eyebrow and playful manner to his tone.

"Eww!" Carl said, squirming on the ground and pulling a face of disgust.

"No, yum!" Shane teased as he looked at the three of us, all of us laughing and smiling at Carl. Shane's eyes often drifting up at mom.

"No, he's right. Eww," Mom said and I nod, agreeing with the both of them. A little bit of vile came up my throat at the thought of eating frogs legs. Or frogs period.

"When you get down to that last can of beans, you're gonna be loving those frog legs, lady. I can see it now 'Shane, do you think I could have a second helping, please? Please? Just one?'" Shane teased at mom, imitating her voice incorrectly.

"Yeah, I doubt that," Mom said as she watched Shane, finishing Carl's hair and looking at me, shaking her head and giggling to herself.

Chuckling, Shane looked at Carl and gave him a small smile as he continued the joking and teasing. "Don't listen to her, man. You and me, we'll be heroes. We'll feed these folks cajun-style. Kermit legs," Shane said a little proudly, I wasn't sure what he was trying to prove but...I decided to get up and walk towards Dale.

"I would rather eat miss Piggy," Mom said and this made me laugh, getting up to walk towards the RV. Carl's hand struck up and grab onto mine. His blue eyes looking straight up at me as he held me there, stood beside him as he clutched onto my hand. "Yes, that came out wrong," mom said as she giggled to herself, the rest of us laughing with her.

"Heroes, son, spoken of in song and legend. You and me...Shane and Carl," Shane began to joke again, it started to die down, as did his laughs as he saw Carl take no notice. Only focusing on me. Sadly I bent down to Carl's level to speak, but as I went to open my mouth, there was a car alarm approaching from the distance.

Rushing towards the others, we found out that someone had stolen a car and was making their way towards us. When it stopped in front of us we saw Glenn get out of the car, people screaming at him to turn it off and Amy asking him about Andrea. "Yeah, fine. Everybody is. Well...Merle not so much," Glenn said a little sadly, as though there was something he wasn't telling us.

"Are you crazy, driving this wailing bastard up here? Are you trying to draw every walker for miles?" Shane questioned Glenn, trying to pin point him as if he was an idiot and the bad guy.

"I think we're okay," Dale defended Glenn, stepping closer to the front, I watched as the interaction took place and crossed my arms firmly around my chest.

"You call being stupid okay?" Shane asked Dale as he tried to intimidate him.

"Well, the alarm was echoing all over these hills. Hard to pinpoint the source. I'm not arguing. I'm just saying," Dale spoke as he looked at Shane. "It wouldn't hurt you to think things through a little more carefully next time, would it?" Dale asked pointing at Glenn. Glenn just looked around slightly being ganged up on, his whole body tense and rigid from the tension and sadness. Everyone kept giving him a hard time.

"You guys need to give the boy a break. He probably used that alarm for that purpose back at Atlanta. He's learned his lesson...now get off his back," I tell them and they look at me sadly and Shane a little irritated by my opinion.

"Sorry. Got a cool car," Glenn said a little shyly, his shoulders shrugging slightly as he felt his happiness go down with his fun. Slowly the truck approached us and parked up behind the RV.


RPOV

We had pulled up, my hands were shaking as I felt my body freeze over. My family weren't yet to be found and taking a rest was what I needed...but would it be what I needed more than my actual family? Sighing, I looked around and saw everyone climb out to go towards other camp members and family.

"Come meet everybody," Morales tells me as I stopped the engine. Sliding door opening as others hopped out and greeted their loved ones.


KPOV

People started exiting the van as I saw Carl turn to mom, she crouched to his level as she looked him in the eyes and held his hands. Carl would have dreams that Dad was still alive, that he was looking for us. Fighting for us. That he didn't die and that one day he would come find us.

"Baby...it was just a dream, dad...he's...gone. He ain't coming back," mom tried to comfort him while telling him what she thought was needed to be said. This made me frown as I leaned down with them and wiped away a few stray tears of Carl's. Holding both their hands as I kissed it.

"I thought we had lost you folks for sure," Dale said as he greeted Morales. Pulling him into a manly hug, only to pull him away and look at him. "How'd y'all get out of there anyway?"

"New guy he got us out," Morales told us as he looked back, probably to the new guy as mom and I looked to Carl sadly.

"New guy?" Shane questioned him confused with a hint of unsure thought in it.

"Yeah, crazy vato just got into town. Hey, helicopter boy!" Morales said to Shane but then looked towards the van. "Come say hello," Morales said to the guy in question, we heard a door open then shut, some feet shuffling towards us and then Morales said "The guy's a cop like you," to Shane.

Looking up at the man to get a good look at him, I felt my heart pound from within my chest. The man who stood before us was...Dad. His brown hair short, not scruffy like it was the last time we saw him, his stubbly beard was gone and he looked...like the day he was shot. His blue eyes connected to each of our faces as I felt tears start to run down my cheeks.

"Oh my God," both me and Dad whispered at the same time as I giggled. He smiled at me brightly, Carl saw him and stopped crying, when mom saw him she froze and took in the sight which was Dad. Alive. And in the flesh.

"Dad! Dad!" Carl screamed as he slipped his hands out of mom's and ran towards him, running up behind Carl, I followed closely and saw as Dad fell to the ground as he hugged Carl. Tears forming in my eyes as I got to him, the two of them getting to their feet. Dad was crying with joy, just as I was and Carl.

Dad placed a hand on one side of my face, rubbed his thumb against my cheek to wipe away my tears, he then attacked the two of us with kisses, as we both kissed our father's cheek, who we believed was dead after all this time. The same man who gave us life, who gave purpose and was the strongest man in my life. Smiling, I hugged the two men in my life tightly, mom coming up beside us as we all hugged each other in a group.


Crickets were chirping in the distance as we sat together by the burning fire. The crackling of the fire as it lit up the dark sky, giving light and thankful warmth. We had finished eating our night-time meal, so now we were all just relaxing by the fire. I sat beside Dad, my head rested on his shoulder, Carl's legs resting on my lap as his torso laid on Dad, his head on mom's lap. Mom sat on the other side of Dad, her fingers intertwined with his. Dad's head rested atop mine, his free hand on Carl's head caressing and playing with Carl's hair. Carl's hand was in mine as we placed them on his chest comfortably. All of us in a comfortable family tangle.

"Disoriented. I guess that comes closest. Disoriented, fear, confusion...all those things but..." Dad said as thunder rumbled in the distance. "Disoriented comes closest," Dad said sadly as he stared into the fire, keeping us close to him. He stopped stroking Carl's head as he moved his hand up to rub at his lips, probably shocked to wake up to this world.

"Words can be meager things. Sometimes they fall short," Dale spoke as he looked at Dad and then around the other camp members. Mom would glance up at Shane and then back down at Carl. Gently resting her free hand on his face, gently rubbing up and down the side of his neck to his cheek.

"I felt like I'd been ripped out of my life and put somewhere else. For a while I thought I was trapped in some coma dream, something I might not wake up from...ever," Dad said as he gently placed a kiss on the side of my head. Making me sigh and shut my eyes tightly to his kiss, holding in any tears that threatened to escape.

"Mom said you died," Carl whispered up at Dad sadly, his hand in mine trembled a little which made me rub the back of his hand with my thumb, giving his hand a little squeeze to try and relax his nerves.

"She had every reason to believe that. Don't you ever doubt it," Dad said as he moved his head a little, making me look up at him and him to look at all three of us.

"When things started to get really bad...they told me at the hospital that they were gonna medevac you and the other patients to Atlanta...and it never happened," Mom said a little saddened and pleased that it didn't end up happening, unsure if Dad would have even survived there in Atlanta's hospital.

"Well, I'm not surprised after Atlanta fell," Dad said as he looked around at the others, realising that it was multiple other families and survivors around us. Calmly sat by the fire and chatting amongst the others. Mom responded with a simple 'yeah,' "And from the look of that hospital, it got overrun," Dad pointed out more to himself than anyone else.

"Yeah, looks don't deceive. I barely got them out, you know?" Shane said as he looked at me, Carl and Mom but telling Dad this information. Not us. We knew what he told us, what he had said to both me and Mom at least.

"I can't tell you how grateful I am to you, Shane. I can't begin to express it," Dad said and I silently placed my head on his shoulder again, waiting for anyone to probably speak up and say what everyone already knew about Shane and...gratitude.

"There go those words falling short again. Paltry things," Dale spoke as he looked to Dad, Shane, Mom and me. Wood clattered in the distance as we all turned to see it was Ed throwing wood into the small burning fire he had for him and his family.

"Hey, Ed, you want to rethink that log?" Shane questioned him, using a voice that would be recognised for a cop. His tone authoritive, taking charge of what was right and wrong.

"It's cold, man," Ed said lazily as we looked at him, raising my head from Dad's shoulder as I looked at Ed and his small family. All wrapped up and a little afraid of what was going to happen. We could all tell that something was going to happen.

"The cold don't change the rules, does it? Keep our fires low, just embers so we can't be seen from a distance, right?" Shane questioned him again, Dad looked at Shane from the corner of his eye, knowing what this meant. His eyes meeting mine for a second, I was slightly worried because I didn't want there to be a fight.

If there's a fight...or any type of argument...he'll beat up poor Carol and vicious things to little Sophia. No one deserves that type of punishment from others within the group. Dad possibly sensed my slight fright, gently pressing a kiss to my forehead and letting his lips linger there. Making my breath shiver in a little worry. When he pulled away he gave me a small smile, a hopeful but sad one and it made me shut my eyes for a few seconds.

"I said it's cold. You should mind your own business for once," Ed answered back to Shane, my head slowly resting against Dad's shoulder again as Mom gently let go of Dad's hand and reached over to caress my cheek. Me and Mom would discuss Carol and Sophia when Carl wasn't around, unsure of what to do but letting our feelings out so that we didn't have to bottle them up.

"Hey, Ed," Shane started as he got up and pats down his pants. When he got closer he spoke softly to the man. Barely audible but it was loud enough for some of us to hear. "Are you sure you want to have this conversation, man?" Shane asked Ed, not so politely but not as threatening as he could be.

"Go on. Pull the damn thing out," Ed demanded of Carol as he gave in to Shane's complaining. "Go on!" he ordered Carol, his patience running thin and poor Carol stumbled out of her seat and rushed to the fire. Pulling out a log with her hands.

"Christ," Shane muttered as he watched Carol get out of her seat. The wood thunking to the ground, sizzling as Shane stomped the fire out. "Hey, Carol, Sophia, how are y'all this evening?" Shane asked kindly, crouching to their level as he looked at the two girls.

"Fine. We're just fine," Carol answered quickly, knowing that Ed didn't believe women were to be heard. They were to sit there and look pretty. To not cause any trouble, if not they would be hit. Shane agreed with a nod and a small 'okay'. "I'm sorry about the fire-" Carol began but was cut off by Shane.

"No, no, no. No apology needed," Shane said with a small smile at the two, Ed huffing a little at the side, knowing it was pointedly his fault. "Y'all have a good night, okay?" Shane suggested kindly before he got up onto his feet and gave a nod to the two.

"Thank you," Carol answered politely, Sophia never looking up at Shane. Only to the ground or the fire.

"I appreciate the cooperation," Shane said to Ed, a hint of sarcasm mixed with anger in his voice was evident. Walking back to us, he sat back down and stayed silent.

"Have you given any thought to Daryl Dixon?" Dale asked us, making me remember as to why we would think about the other Dixon brother. He wasn't much of a talker, he was more of the action type. He would do the hunting for us with his brother Merle, they both would throw insults to others but...he always seemed to keep his distance.

He was good to the kids, never spoke badly of them. He kept his distance more away from Sophia, Carol and us. As in, Carl, Mom and me. "He won't be happy to hear his brother was left behind," Dale stated. I wouldn't either. Especially Carl. Carl is my baby brother, I would kill anyone who left him behind or kill whoever tried to hurt him.

"I'll tell him. I dropped the key. It's on me," T-Dog said a little sadly, we didn't know he dropped the key, only that the guy was cuffed to a roof. This made me a little sad. T-Dog may have dropped it but...it wasn't his fault.

"I cuffed him. That makes it mine," Dad said which made me move my head to look at him, a little shocked and surprised he would actually own up to something like that. About Merle Dixon...owning up to that to Daryl Dixon...does my Dad really want to get killed? After he just finally found us? While we believed he died of a gun shot?

"Guys, it's not a competition. I don't mean to bring race into this, but it might sound better coming from a white guy," Glenn said but I kept my eyes on my Dad. His own blue pair gazing into mine. I was looking for answers while all he gave me was blank.

"I did what I did. Hell if I'm gonna hide from him," T-Dog said, trying to be tough, to be a man and to stand up for what he did. Accepting any consequence that was thrown at him from Daryl.

"We could lie," Amy suggested but I looked over to her and shook my head. My free hand was on Carl's legs, keeping them close and on my lap.

"Or tell the truth," Andrea suggested as she looked at the rest of us, Amy had her head on Andrea's shoulder, much like how I had mine on Dad's. "Merle was out of control. Something had to be done or he'd have gotten us killed. Your husband did what was necessary," Andrea said as she looked at Mom then Dad. "And if Merle got left behind, it is nobody's fault but Merle's," Andrea said which was agreeable at most but...no one would be happy if that was someone they cared about on that roof.

"And that's what we tell Daryl? I don't see a rational discussion to be had from that, do you?" Dale asked us, his eyes searching the group for any answers, but everyone stayed silent. We all knew Dale was right. "Word to the wise...we're gonna have our hands full when he gets back from his hunt," Dale tells us while some of them nod, some others staying silent and unmoving.

"I was scared and I ran," T-Dog spoke up as he looked from the fire, up to us a little sorrowfully. "I'm not ashamed of it," T-Dog admitted. Everyone gets afraid sometimes and run, it's normal. Why is he pointing this out?

"We were all scared. We all ran. What's your point?" Andrea asked him, just as confused as I was. As all of us were.

"I stopped long enough to chain that door. Staircase is narrow. Maybe half a dozen geeks can squeeze against it at any one time. It's not enough to break through that. Not that chain, not that padlock. My point...Dixon's alive and he's still up there, handcuffed on that roof. That's on us," T-Dog said as he got up and walked off towards his tent.

"Dad...if you own up to something like that...please be careful. I'm not saying that Daryl or Merle are bad people but...if that was me...and I found out someone had left Carl or Mom...or you behind...I wouldn't be thinking clearly. So please...be careful on how you word it and if you admit to your part in leaving Merle behind," I say to him, gently placing my hand on his chest to get his attention. His eyes searched mine as I spoke, the silence enveloping us as we all kept to our own thoughts.

The crickets and fire crackling were all that was left to be heard. Gradually people started to talk among themselves, mom suggesting that we should get to bed, especially Carl since it was past his bed time. This made me giggle as I got up with him, Mom and Dad slowly following our lead. I went to stop Carl by gently holding onto his shoulders and turning him to face me.

"Hey Carl...how about you spend the night with me? In my tent? We'll read a book together of your choice and let Mom and Dad talk about adult stuff. Yeah?" I asked him and he smiled at me, nodding but Mom opened her mouth to speak.

"Wait. I-" she went to speak but I shook my head and raised a hand to her. Standing up straight, I carefully pulled Carl to my side and hugged him to me. He smiled at Mom but it soon dropped as he knew what she was going to say.

"Mom...I can protect Carl if there are any geeks around. Anyway...I don't mind my baby brother sleeping in the same bed as me," I tell her happily, looking down at Carl with a smile as he looked at me excitedly. He gave mom a pleading look as we both did the same face.

Mom agreed to it, making me crouch down to Carl's level again and hold onto his elbows. "Now...go get some clothes for tonight, tomorrow morning we'll move your stuff into my tent...yeah?" I ask him with a bright smile and his eyes twinkled with happiness and delight. Giggling, I watched as he ran to the tent, grabbed his favourite book and mom followed him to help him decide what to take.

This left me with just Dad and the others around the camp who watched us. Dad gave me a proud smile as I felt my heart swell up with happiness and...sadness. I thought I would never see that smile again...or that face. From instinct, I walked to him and attacked him in a hug.

He chuckled and wrapped his arms around me tight. His head resting on top of mine. "What's this for Kitty Kat?" he asked me slightly teasingly. Chuckling as his nose breathed in my scent, his nose wriggling its way into my long brown curls. Smiling, I nuzzled my face into his chest.

"I thought you were dead...I- I didn't know if I would ever see you again," I told him with a small whisper. He pulled my head back a little to cup my face in his hands. The tears were escaping my eyes as I looked at every inch of his face. The face of my father, the man who raised me, the one who gave me life with Lori. My dad. His kind and sweet face, one that gave me hope in this shit hole of a new world.

"I know baby girl. I know...but hey...I found you, didn't I?" he asked me with a small smile. Wiping away at my tears and gently kissing my forehead for the hundredth time since he got here. "I'm not going anywhere...I promise," he tells me kindly and this makes me smile, giggling a teary giggle.

"I love you, Dad," I tell him as I felt my heart beat happily, finally having my long lost Dad back. For him to protect us and be with us in this crazy world. The love for the man who raised both me and Carl. The man who we believed had died thanks to Shane.

"I love you, Kat...and Carl...and Mom," Dad said with a small chuckle, tears forming in his own set of blues. His bottom lip trembling slightly, my hands gripping onto his shirt as I clenched them into fists. "I found you all," he whispered more to himself than to me or anyone else. I answered with a small nod and a quiet 'yeah'. "I knew I would," he said which made us both laugh.

"You're getting cocky now, a little bit," Mom said as she walked to us, making me and Dad pull away with a laugh. Dad shook his head as he pulled the other two into a hug. Kissing the top of Carl's head as he looked at mom and teased her.

"No. No, I knew. Walking into our home, finding an empty house, all of you gone," he said as he looked to all three of us. Mom frowned and clutched Dad tightly.

"I'm so sorry," Mom said sadly. Dad shook his head as he looked directly at her.

"I knew you were alive," he said as he let his eyes bounce between me, Carl and Mom. Carl walked towards me and slipped his hand in mine.

"How?" Carl asked him confused and slightly surprised, his brows furrowing in question. Thunder rumbled in the distance as we watched our Mom stare at Dad as he looked at the three of us.

"The photos were gone, all our family albums," he said with a small chuckle, making mom giggle and me smile brightly. Carl blushed a little but smiled at our happy parents. "I told you so," Dad teased as he looked at Mom and nudged her gently. Making the camp members chuckle and giggle.

"Now you're getting cocky, huh? A lot," Mom teased as we all laughed, sighing I saw as Carl tried to hide a yawn. Giggling, I swung our joined hands back and forth, smiling at our parents as I gave them a small nudge to Carl.

"I'm going to go take little Carl here to sleep. Goodnight," I tell them and then the others in the group. Letting go of Carl's hand only for him to reach up for it again. Moving my hand away, I looked down at him and raised my eyebrows at him. "You're not going to give Mom and Dad a kiss goodnight? Or tell the others goodnight?" I questioned him and he sighed. A backpack in his free hand where I assumed he held his clothes, necessities and book.

"Are you?" Carl asked me as he raised an eyebrow at me which made me laugh and roll my eyes. Telling him I would, he ran up to Mom, hugged her and pecked her lips. He then jumped up to Dad like he did earlier and pecked his lips too. Walking over, I hugged Mom and kissed her cheek, she whispered a small thank you and let go of me. Moving to Dad, I squeezed him in a tight hug and kissed his cheek twice.

Going back to Carl, he took my hand in his as we both waved to the others and said our set of 'goodnight' to them. Walking into my tent, we both took our turn to get into comfortable clothing, looking at my bow which was at the corner of my tent. Carl crawled into his side of the bed, book in hand as I read to him calmly. Half way through, he stopped me by grabbing onto my hand before I could turn over the page.

Looking down at him, his bright blue eyes looked into my own as he frowned and stayed silent. "What's wrong?" I ask him but he just moved closer to me and wrapped his arms around my waist. His head resting on my stomach as he cuddled up to me.

"I missed Dad and...I'm just glad were all back together again," he mumbled into my shirt. "Mom didn't believe me..." Carl said as he was referring to his dreams and then looked up at me from the space I had left between me, the book and my chest. "At least we don't have to remember him anymore...right?" he asked me and I just put the book to one side. Wrapping my arms around Carl tightly as I thought about what he said.

"I suppose we don't...but...It's always good to think about the past, to remember things from what they used to be. Things change and we just...have to keep moving on with our lives," I tell him and he just nods, his eyes still looking up at me as he then stayed silent. "Want me to continue reading or...do you want to keep talking about something?" I asked him and he shook his head.

"You can turn down the lights, I'm ready to sleep...if you are," Carl suggested and I just nod. Leaning over, I turned down the lamp as I wriggled down onto my pillow and let Carl place his head on my chest, cuddling me tightly to him as I held him in my arms. Kissing the top of his head he whispered "Goodnight Kat," gently into the dark tent.

Sighing, I wriggled a little and got comfortable. Staring at the ceiling in thought as to the future and this surprising day. "Goodnight Carl," I whispered back to him. Quickly he fell fast asleep and shortly after I succumbed to the darkness too...


RPOV

People were chatting, birds were tweeting and my eyes slowly opened and closed, gaining vision of the empty space beside me. Last night, I had made love to my wife and made up with her for all the shit we went through before the outbreak. Before the shot. Getting changed into fresh clothings Lori left placed in the tent, I walked over out and headed towards Lori who was hanging clothes up on the line.

"Morning," I would answer to other camp members who would greet me as I walked by. No Carl or Kat to be found, a woman I believed wa called Carol was fixing my clothes.

"Morning" the woman greeted me.

"Morning," I replied kindly with a nod of my head.

"They're still a little damp. The sun'll have 'em dry in no time," Carol said softly, timid and kindly. Her eyes looking up at me briefly before she looked down again to the clothes she was ironing.

"You washed my clothes?" I asked her surprised that they did such a thing and in a little amount of time.

"Well, best we could. Scrubbing on a washboard ain't half as good as my old Maytag back home," she tells me as she looked down at the clothes, getting closer to her and noting she was in fact scared. Her eyes looking up at me briefly in an act of politeness.

"That's very kind. Thank you," I tell her, grateful for what she had done for me.


KPOV

This morning I woke up to a very sleepy Carl in my arms, still clung onto me in sleep and snoring softly. Giggling, I shook and wriggled around, hoping it would stir his sleep and it did. "Good morning sleepy head," I teased and he just groaned and chuckled.

"It's so...early," he complained as he turned his body away from me, his back facing me as he grumbled that he wanted more sleep, giggling, I leaned over and began to tickle his sides. His body squirming and rolling as he tried to get me to stop. Laughing his face turned bright red, his eyes tearing up and his laughs becoming more silent and tired. "Please...stop! I surrender!" he begged and I let him go.

His laughter started to die down as I quickly got up and slipped into a new set of clothes. "Get up and let's have breakfast," I tell him and he rubbed at his eyes, rolling over, he slipped out of bed and watched me slip my bow around me. "I'm going to do some practicing later, you better not be there when I am," I tell him and he nods, sniffling and reaching for his clothes.

Slipping out, I waited for him to get ready and we both made our way towards the fire, having our breakfast silently with Mom as we all smiled and talked among our little group. Talking about Dad and that he needed his rest. Mom left to go the laundry, I left to go practice my arrow shooting skills so that I wouldn't grow rusty and Carl left to go play with Sophia and the other kids.

Tools were clanging as Dale and the others tore apart Glenn's baby. The car they had stolen was used for extra things for the RV and other cars. Glenn was sad that they had to break apart his car, the thing that made him happy and free. Dad soon woke up, making his way over to the others and stopping to talk to mom.


RPOV

"Morning, officer," Lori said with a small smile and kind eyes. She was folding up laundry and watching me intently.

"Hey," I replied, seeing Andrea and Amy helping Lori, watching us as I got closer to Lori.

"You sleep okay?" she asked me politely.

"Better than in a long time," I told her, chuckling as we both looked at each other and she giggled.

"Well, I didn't want to wake you. I figured you could use it," Lori told me, rightly so but...I still wanted to have breakfast with my family. "God. What?" she questioned me as I didn't move from looking at her.

"I've been thinking about the man we left behind," I answered her truthfully.

"You're not serious," she asked me as though I was being stupid. Sighing, I was going to speak when I heard a car approaching. It was Shane driving with a few big bottles of water.

"Water's here, y'all. Just a reminder to boil before use," he said and gave me a quick nod of his head. Raising my hand to tell him I got the message.

"Are you asking me or telling me?" she questioned, making me think of what Kat had said and it was true. Leaving someone you loved behind...it wasn't right or human. No matter the reasoning behind it.

"Asking," I told her bluntly. Trying to cut to the chase.

"Well, I think it's crazy. I think it is just the stupidest way to break your-" Lori began but was then cut off by a woman screaming in the distance. Then the sound of children calling. Of Carl calling. By instinct both me and Lori began running towards the sound of our son screaming. Both of us looking for Kat and Carl. Calling out to them.


KPOV

Just as I shot an arrow at my target board, I then heard a woman scream, children calling out for their parents...and Carl's voice calling to me, Mom and Dad. Pulling out my arrow, I ran towards the voices, to Carl and found him crying. He ran to hug me, sobbing as I got to my knees and held him. Relief washing through me to seeing that he was okay.

"Nothing bit you did it? No scratches? Did it grab you? Are you okay?" I bombarded him with questions, not giving him a chance to answer as I checked every inch of skin. He was fine, Mom and Dad were soon beside me. Lifting me and Carl up to check us, asking us if we were fine. I told them we were perfectly fine. Then groups of men told us to go a certain direction, Dad followed and grabbed a weapon. Rushing after him, I told mom to look after Carl while I would look out for Dad. That I would be fine.

Grabbing my bow, I pulled out an arrow from my quiver and got ready to aim. Stopping at a spot, we saw a geek munching on a dead deer, his back to us and this was when I slipped my arrow back, placing my bow to sit around my torso. My machete in my hand-made utility belt, I slipped it out and watched as my Dad saw me, pushing me to stay behind me. The walker getting to his feet and turning to growl at my Dad.

Dad quickly hit it with his spear, stunning the walker and then Shane hit it with his gun, everyone getting their hit as I just stood back and watched them a little confused. Pushing dad out of the way, I gripped onto the handle of my machete and sliced the walker's head off. Finishing this piƱata like fight and stopping the walker from moving or attacking.

"It's the first one we've had up here. They never come this far up the mountain," Dale spoke first after everyone was panting, Dad rest his hand on my back and patted it gently. As if to tell me good job and that he was proud.

"Well, they're running out of food in the city, that's what," Jim commented which made me look around slightly stunned. Suddenly a branch snaps, causing us all to become alert again. Trying to calm our breathing, only to hear footsteps come closer, the bushes rustling and Shane edging closer to the sound. Shotgun at the ready.

"Oh, Jesus," Shane grumbled as we all lowered our weapons, seeing Daryl stumble towards us, looking at us and then down at the deer he was possibly hunting.

"Son of a bitch. That's my deer! Look at it. All gnawed on by this," Daryl began to complain, kicking at the walker that was laying on the ground dead and unmoving. "Filthy, disease-bearing, motherless poxy bastard!" he said and then stumbled towards the rest of us, pacing around angered at the fact he was hunting and it didn't go as planned.

"Calm down, son. That's not helping," Dale said, Dad placing a hand near me to push me behind a little. Daryl glared a little at Dale, his eyes drifting to all of us in the group, then to me and quickly back to Dale. His soft expression turned hard and vicious.

"What do you know about it, old man?" Daryl questioned threateningly at Dale as he got face to face with the elder man. "Why don't you take that stupid hat and go back to 'On Golden Pond'?" Daryl teased, trying to insult Dale and then moved towards the deer.

"I've been tracking this deer for miles. Gonna drag it back to camp, cook us up some venison," Daryl explained as he pulled out the arrows from the deer's now infected corpse. "What do you think? Do you think we can cut around this...chewed up part right here?" he asked the others, looking up at them and showing the part he was talking about.

"I would not risk that," Shane said as he shook his head and pulled a face of disgust at the deer. This caused Daryl to sigh and walk towards the camp. He turned his back to look at us over his shoulder. I saw Mom and Carl come over to us, stood by Amy and Andrea and watching us.

"Kat," Carl called out to me, sighing, I leaned over to Dad and slipped my hand in his. Giving it a small squeeze before wandering towards them, leading them back to camp and were about to enter the RV when we heard Daryl calling out to Merle...


RPOV

A walker was in a small clearing, Kat had chopped off it's head and soon left when a mysterious man I assumed was Daryl came out from behind the trees. Complaining about the walker that was eating the deer he had been hunting. Insulting Dale and kicking at the walker, this man was clearly one not to trust.

"That's a damn shame. I got some squirrel About a dozen or so. That'll have to do," he said as he looked over his shoulder. Kat had left to go with Carl and Lori back to camp. Leaving me with the others, making up my mind on how to explain to this man about his brother.

"Oh God," Amy said as she quickly turned away, seeing the walker's head start to move and come back to life. Daryl raised his crossbow as Andrea quickly followed her sister back to camp.

"Come on, people. What the hell?" he questioned us, aiming, he shot the bolt into the walker's head. Right into it's eye, stopping it from moving anymore. He walked to it, stepping on it lightly and pulled out his bolt. "It's gotta be the brain. Don't y'all know nothing?" he mocked us as he turned his back and headed towards the RV.

"Merle! Merle! Get your ugly ass out here! I got us some squirrel! Let's stew 'em up," Daryl called out as he walked towards camp, placing his bow to the side as we all followed closely behind him.

"Daryl, just slow up a bit. I need to talk to you," Shane said as he walked behind the redneck, placing his shotgun in his car and walking up to a sudden stop.

"About what?" Daryl asked Shane, his body tensing slightly, his voice was questioning but I knew that he could tell what it would be about.

"About Merle. There was a...there was a problem in Atlanta," Shane tried to start it off, unsure of what exactly to say seeing as he wasn't there but knew the story well enough.

"He dead?" Daryl asked as I placed my spear on the ground, Lori was out, blocking the RV door's exit and entrance. Kat stood there in the RV with Carl as I saw Kat's breathing become heavy with possible fear.

"We're not sure," Shane told him truthfully, no one would be able to tell the boy any different. As non of us had 100% the right or wrong answer.

"He either is or he ain't!" Daryl complained, unsure as to what happened and where his brother was. He only wants the truth...he wants to know what happened to his brother. It's only fair.

"No easy way to say this, so I'll just say it," I begin to say as I walked forward, moving my way closer to the two other men. Standing between the two who were facing each other.

"Who tha fuck are you?" he asked me, looking over his shoulder at my family behind him. Kat looked like she wanted to run to me, to protect me. Lori looked tense, unsure of what would possibly happen with this discussion and Carl looked like he just wanted this to end.

"Rick Grimes," I inform him.

"Rick Grimes, you got something you want to tell me?" he said as he mocked my name a little by exaggerating it.

"Your brother was a danger to us all, so I handcuffed him on a roof, hooked him to a piece of metal. He's still there," I tell him, unsure of any other way to tell him other than being blunt and straight to the point.

"Hold on. Let me process this," he said as his voice began to shake either with anger or sadness, I couldn't tell. "You're saying you handcuffed my brother to a roof and you left him there?!" he shouted at me, anger evident as he spoke this time as he built up to it.

"Yeah," I reply, not about to rat out T-Dog and to take the blame by myself. There was no other way to say it and it had to be done. Like Kat said...she would hate it if it was Carl or Lori or me on that roof.

Grunting, Daryl threw the squirrels he had in his hands and I dodged in time. Shane then pushed Daryl away from me, blocking his attempt to make a run at me. Both of them tumbled to the ground as I saw T-Dog make his way towards us. "Hey, watch the knife!" he gave a heads up.

"Dad!" Kat screamed as she pushed against Lori but she kept her arm firm, not allowing Kat to get in the way and get hurt accidentally. Kat then suddenly ducked under, but Lori grabbed her in time and made them both fall to the ground. Shouting, grunting both Shane and Daryl got to their feet, Daryl trying to get a slice at me but missing.

Dodging, Shane then came up behind him and grabbed him in a choke hold. "Okay. Okay," Shane said as I twisted Daryl's hand and taking the knife from him.

"You'd best let me go!" Daryl growled as he was trapped in the choke hold, Shane slowly backing them up towards the car Glenn drove before.

"Nah, I think it's better if I don't," Shane replied as they got down to the ground.

Grunting Daryl struggled to get out of Shane's grip but finally began to calm down. "Choke hold's illegal," Daryl complained but I just looked over to see Lori and Kat still on the ground.

"You can file a complaint," Shane teased sarcastically. This worlds gone to shit, choke holding is the least of his problems. "Come on, man. We'll keep this up all day," Shane spoke as he tried to get Daryl to calm down and to succumb to his authority like manner of handling the situation.

"I'd like to have a calm discussion on this topic. Do you think we can manage that?" I asked him as I crouched down to his level, keeping an equal eye contact as I tried to reason with him. "Do you think we can manage that?" I ask him again when he didn't respond.

"Hmm?" Shane asked me, his eyes meeting mine as we looked down at Daryl who was panting in this stance.

"Mmm," I nod at him as he asked me silently with his eyes if it was the right time to let Daryl go. Shane let go of Daryl with a small nod and 'yeah' before dropping the boy to the ground. Panting Daryl looked up at me.

Crouching down again, I looked at Daryl directly in the eye and watched as he tried to calm down from the fight we had two minutes ago. "What I did was not on a whim. Your brother does not work and play well with others," I informed him, trying to reason the fact I had put Merle to the roof in the first place.

"It's not Rick's fault," T-Dog spoke, which made us all look towards him and made me frown a little. "I had the key...I dropped it," T-Dog admitted as he clenched his jaw, owning up to his role in the whole situation.

"You couldn't pick it up?" Daryl asked T-Dog, confused as to why it was even an issue. A mistake like that wasn't a good enough reason to not help someone escape. Everyone knows that.

"Well, I dropped it in a drain," T-Dog explained further as he looked at Daryl sadly, un happy with how things turned out for the Dixon brothers.

"If it's supposed to make me feel better, it don't," Daryl said as he got up, a fist full of dirt in his hands as he threw it to the ground beside T-Dog's feet. He was about to continue walking off when T-Dog stopped him.

"Well, maybe this will. Look, I chained the door to the roof. So the geeks couldn't get at him...with a padlock," T-Dog tried to keep Daryl's hopes up.

"It's gotta count for something," I but in, encouraging that hope as Daryl looked between both me and T-Dog. Daryl just gave us his back and you could tell he was holding back tears.

"Hell with all y'all! Just tell me where he is so's I can go get him," Daryl pleaded slightly, his tone desperate and demanding at the same time.

"He'll show you. Isn't that right?" Lori said as I looked towards them, both Kat and Lori were on their feet again. Kat holding onto Carl's hand lightly and Carl staring at me, waiting for my answer...all three of them waiting on my reply.

Nodding, I looked around to see everyone else waiting on my reply as well. "I'm going back," I announced and this causes Lori to walk into the RV and for me to sigh. Kat looking at me shocked and Carl staring at me with heartbreak...


"So that's it, huh? You're just gonna walk off? Just to hell with everybody else?" Shane questioned me and my purpose, trying to make me change my mind and to stay put. Letting a man die out there, alone and on a roof...it isn't right.

"I'm not saying to hell with anybody. Not you, Shane; my family least of all," I tell him and tapped his stomach when I said his name, slipping on my work shirt and started to walk off.

"Tell them that," Shane called out, making me stop in my track and turn to look at him. Surprised he would even try and threaten me like this. This isn't normal of him...

"They know," I answer back bluntly. Turning my back to walk away from him.

"Well, look, I- I don't, okay, Rick? So could you just...could you throw me a bone here, man?" Shane called out to me as he followed me closely. "Could you just tell me why? Why would you risk your life for a douche bag like Merle Dixon?" he asked me which made me turn to look at him. Nearing Daryl, Daryl clearly heard and pointed one of the arrows he was cleaning lazily to point at Shane.

"Hey, choose your words more carefully," Daryl said as he glared at Shane, angered that Shane had just insulted his brother.

"No, I did. Douche bag's what I meant," Shane said as he looked at Daryl, moving his head to look at me then Daryl repeatedly. "Merle Dixon," Shane dragged out the name as he mocked the name itself. "The guy wouldn't give you a glass of water if you were dying of thirst," Shane said and...maybe it was true but that doesn't justify what we did.

"What he would or wouldn't do doesn't interest me. I can't let a man die of thirst. Me. Thirst and exposure. We left him like an animal caught in a trap. That's no way for anything to die, let alone a human being," I explain, trying to sound true to what I believed in, looking over at my family to see Kat smiling sadly at me.

"So you and Daryl, that's your big plan?" Lori asked me, as though I was crazy of even thinking it and I then turned my head to look at Glenn.

"Oh, come on," Glenn complained as he probably reflected on what happened last time he brought a group.

"You know the way. You've been there before. In and out, no problem. You said so yourself. It's not fair of me to ask I know that, but I'd feel a lot better with you along. I know they would too," I tried to reason, to convince him to join us an to put all our minds at ease.

"That's just great. Now you're gonna risk three men, huh?" Shane asked me, sounding angered that I was being stupid enough to follow through with this plan.

"Four," T-Dog stepped up and this was when Daryl huffed and cleaned his bolts roughly.

"My day just gets better and better, don't it?" Daryl complained as he mumbled it mostly to himself.

T-Dog glared at the redneck boy who sat down and fixed his crossbow. "You see anybody else here stepping up to save your brother's cracker ass?" T-Dog questioned and this was when I saw someone stand up and speak that I didn't think would even imagine would let this sort of thing cross her mind.

"I am," Kat spoke up, Lori's eyes looking up at her stunned, my jaw clenching and Carl's eyes looking up at her worried. Stepping closer I shook my head, Kat raised her hands and backed away from both me and Lori. Shane laughing dryly and sarcastically.

"No. I don't think it's safe for you to go," I tell her, wanting nothing else than her safe and protecting our family. She glared at me and gave me a look of determination and disappointment.

"So it's not safe for me...but it is for you?!" she argued and this made Shane nod his head. The rest of the camp members were watching us as the scene unraveled itself. "Let me go with you...we're safer together and you know it. I can back you up, I know you'll keep me safe," she tried to reason, he blue eyes turning sad and pleading. The look she knew that would break my heart and give into whatever she wanted.

My facial expression began to soften as I deliberated on answering her. Lori quickly taking that slot to talk herself. "No. I won't risk losing you out there Kat. It's dangerous, your father barely made it out of there alive...right Rick?" she asked, Lori's eyes searching mine for back up but I just look down. "You've got to be kidding me..." she said as she got up and pulled me away to have a private discussion.

"She'll be safe and...she's tough. She needs to know what it's like out there, not everything is hidden and safe like this is," I try to reason to Lori. "She's willing to go and we need to respect her decisions, she's grown up now...not a child anymore and...Lori...she handled a walker when all we were doing was hitting it like some...party decoration," I told her and I saw tears start to form in her eyes.

"If anything...happens to either of you...especially our baby girl...you'll have no one else to blame but yourself...got it?" she threatened, a few tears ran down her cheeks as she wiped them away and walked towards Kat, kissing her cheek and hugging her tightly, a sad look on Lori's face as she sat down next to Carl and held him to her.

Stopping, I looked at Kat and gave her a nod. "I'll keep you safe but...you do exactly as I say and don't leave my sight. Got it?" I negotiate with her and she nods, a smile on her face as she ran up to me and hugged me tightly. Her long curly hair was in a neat bun, her bow strapped around her torso, clinging onto her and her belt that held her machete rested above her hips.

Hugging her back, I kissed her cheek, breathing in her smell which was soft vanilla mixed with gentle rose. As she pulled away, she smiled that heart warming smile and kissed my cheek. Her bright blue eyes sparkling with excitement and happiness.

"That's four men and your own daughter! It's not just that. You're putting every single one of us at risk. Just know that, Rick," Shane rambled to me, angered at the fact that even now I had more people on my side and even my daughter had volunteered to help.

"Come on, you saw that walker. It was here. It was in camp. They're moving out of the cities. They come back, we need every able body we've got. We need 'em here. We need 'em to protect camp," Shane growled out, trying to prove a point and only making me decide that the best option was to go back to Atlanta and retrieve three things.

"It seems to me what you really need most here...are more guns," I said as I knew what my goal was and that it was something necessary, like a bargaining chip for Shane's approval.

"Right, the guns," Glenn nods, remembering the day of me being in the tank, dropping the gun bag and telling me going back for them wasn't an option.

"Wait. What guns?" Shane asked us curious, as if we had our own little secret joke or something. He wanted to know what we knew about that he didn't.

"Six shotguns, two high-powered rifles, over a dozen handguns. I cleaned out the cage back at the station before I left. I dropped the bag in Atlanta when I got swarmed. It's just sitting there on the street, waiting to be picked up," I informed him as he looked at me curiously.

"Ammo?" he asked, an eyebrow raised as he looked at me. Wondering if this was even worth the trip and possibly allowing us to go retrieve it.

"700 rounds, assorted," I told him, causing him to nod and back away, agreeing that it was a good deal and reason to go find that bag.

"You went through hell to find us. You just got here and you're gonna turn around and leave?" Lori questioned my reasoning, my thoughts and my beliefs.

"Dad, I don't want you or Kat to go," Carl told us shyly, making Kat lean over to him and kiss his cheek softly. Kat shouldn't have to go...Carl and Lori clearly need her.

"To hell with the guns. Shane is right...Merle Dixon? He's not worth one of your lives, even with guns thrown in," Lori spat out at us, her eyes searching my face for answers. "Tell me. Make me understand," she pleaded as I was about to answer her.

"I owe a debt to a man I met and his little boy," I told her, she was about to speak and I stopped her before she could "Lori, if they hadn't taken me in, I'd have died. It's because of them that I made it back to you at all. They said they'd follow me to Atlanta. They'll walk into the same trap I did if I don't warn him," I reasoned, trying to let her see the reason I needed to go and find that bag of guns.

"What's stopping you?" she asked me, slightly confused as to why I couldn't just go find them and tell them not to go to Atlanta. That it was all a trap and that there was no refugee center.

"The walkie-talkie, the one in the bag I dropped. He's got the other one. Our plan was to connect when they got closer," I tell her, she could understand a little as to why it was important but not fully as to why.

"These are our walkies?" Shane asked me, he was rubbing ferociously at his chin and mouth as he spoke. Sitting down my the burned out fire and looking up at me.

"Yeah," I answered quickly, getting straight to the point and not trying to discuss it any further.

"So use the C.B. What's wrong with that?" Andrea tried to find another way to try and communicate to the man I spoke of. Clearly unsure as to why we couldn't just use the C.B to contact Morgan.

"The C.B's fine. It's the walkies that suck to crap. Date back to the '70s, don't match any other bandwidth. Not even the scanners in our cars," Shane explained as best as he could to Lori as she just looked at me defeated.

"I need that bag," I tell Lori and she just looked at the ground defeated. "Okay?" I crouched down to look at Carl. He smiled and looked at me, nodding and agreeing that it was the right thing to do silently. Looking up at Kat, she smiled at me and gave me a nod. "All right," I say as I stand up and got everyone ready to leave.


KPOV

Dad went to go talk to Dale and Jim about something while I grabbed my bow and quiver, stocking myself of arrows, checking the amount of ammo I had for my Beretta 40 caliber handgun and making sure my machete was sharp. When that was done, I walked towards Dixon who was pacing around, whistling he looked at me and I saw as his eyes trailed up and down my form. His face serious as I got close enough to speak to him.

"Can you come down here please? I need to talk to you," I tell him and he just jumps down from the back of the van and stood in front of me. He stayed silent but his eyes watched my every move quizzically.

"Whatcha' wanna talk 'bout?" he asked me and I just cross my arms at him. Looking him seriously in the eye, my jaw clenching and posture strong and straight.

"That thing back there...with my dad? Don't threaten his life like that again. He may not have made the best decision in the world with cuffing your brother to that roof...but...your brother brought it on himself," I start. He went to speak but I raised my hand, stopping him from being able to say anything.

"Now...I don't normally insult people and I understand the meaning of diversity...but...my father is a good man. He did what he believed would keep everyone safe at the time. If there is anything I know about my father...that is, he would do what he believed was right and what he thinks is right..." I drifted off as he watched me intently, adding suspension. Curious as to if he would answer or not.

"Is us going back to Atlanta to find your brother and save him. What you can't do is threaten his life like that again. We work as a team, not as individuals...otherwise we get no good result by working alone. I have never been rude to either you or your brother, so do me the favour and...no more fighting my father or anyone for that matter," I try to reason and he just looks me up and down.

"We'll talk when we find my brother, until then...whatever," he growled at me, not hinting that he wasn't disagreeing. He climbed into the truck again and honked the horn repeatedly. Grabbing everyone's attention as I sighed and looked to see my dad's eyes drift from Daryl to me. "Come on, let's go!" Daryl shouted to my Dad and T-Dog who were talking to Dale.

Mom walked towards me, Carl close to her and mom hugged me tightly. Kissing my cheek and cupping my face. "My brave and strong girl...when did you grow up to be become a woman?" she asked me teasingly. Laughing I shook my head at her and smiled. "It's because I grew up with such a great mom," I smiled at her, her eyes drifted down sadly and I knew why but I ignored it. Smiling at her kindly as she kissed my forehead.

"Kat?" Carl's small voice called up to me as I crouched down to his level, he looked sad and scared. "When will you be back?" he asked me but before I could answer, he threw his arms over my shoulders and hugged me tightly. "I'll miss you," he whispered, his voice trembling in sadness and fear.

"I'll be back before you know it," I tell him as I hugged him back, pulling away I looked into his teary eyes and kissed his nose. Making him giggle as I did so. "I'll miss you too but...you need to be brave...to look after mom while i'm away...so stay close to her, alright?" I asked of him and he just nods.

Dad walked over to us, bolt cutters in hand as we could hear Daryl pacing behind us. Dad hugged and kissed mom softly, crouching down to hug and kiss Carl as they said their good byes. "Keep each other safe and be careful," mom told us as she looked between me and Dad.

"Same goes to you two," Dad said to Mom and Carl. Pulling me to his side, he kissed my temple and patted my side, telling me to get into the truck. "Unless...you don't want to go," he tells me and I shake my head.

Smiling at him, I shook my head some more and looked at the ground. "Someone has to make sure you don't disappear on us again," I teased and he just chuckles. He was following me closely when Shane stopped him to give him some rounds.

Stepping up to sit at the back, I saw a hand reach out to take mine, surprised I looked up and saw it was Daryl. Taking it, I held on tightly as I watched his arm flex and help pull me up. Looking up at him, I steadied my feet and saw him still holding my hand. Quickly he let me go and wiped his hand against the back of his pants.

"Thank you," I said timidly, sliding my own hand into my back pocket and walking into the truck. Turning my back, I looked to see everyone stood there watching us as we were preparing to leave. Carl looking up at me in a daze, his mind probably making him think of me as brave and hoping we come back soon.

Mom just looked at me, he gaze breaking when she finally couldn't hold back her tears anymore. Waving I mouthed to the them 'I love you' and saw mom turn her back on me, her hand reaching up to her mouth as she cried to herself. Her shoulders and back shook as she held back her sobs. Carl's bottom lip trembling as he looked at me with those bright blue eyes. He mouthed a 'I love you too' which made me smile at him sadly.

I'll come back for you. For both of you. With Dad. Safe...and sound. All of us together again and happy. I promise.

Pulling the door shut, I sat down and watched as my dad climbed into the front while Glenn started the truck, revving the engine and driving off. Slipping off my bow and quiver, I looked down at my arrows, counting them and looked up to see both Dad and Daryl watching me. Daryl playing with his own bolts as he quickly looked away, Dad's eyes locked on mine as he gave me a small and hopeful smile.


DPOV

I was pacing around in back of the truck, Glenn backing it up so that people could get in easily and I just paced in circles. Hoping that Merle was fine. That he was still alive. I was surprised to find out that more people wanted to join us to find Merle. Rick Grimes, the one everyone believed was dead while Lori was banging Shane, the best friend of her 'dead' husband. T-Dog, the dumb ass who left my brother for dead and dropped the key in the drain.

Glenn, the Chinaman, who supposedly knew his way around and was always so afraid of dealing with walkers. Then...the pretty girl at camp. The one who was Rick Grimes' daugher...Katherine. She seemed strong but...she was going to be a problem if we were going to have to fight a herd of walkers.

There was a sudden whistling noise that caught my attention. I looked to see it was the girl. Her hair in a bun, her big blue eyes looking everywhere but me and she saw my eyes trail up and down her body. My expression serious as I took in her sight, she got close enough to speak to me.

"Can you come down here please? I need to talk to you," she spoke up to me and this makes me jump down from the back of the van silently. Standing in front of her as I waited for her to say something. Not having the courage to say anything to her as, for if I did I might say the wrong thing. Watching every move she made as I deliberated on what to say to her.

"Whatcha' wanna talk 'bout?" I asked her and she crosses her arms at me. Looking me seriously in the eye, her jaw clenching and stance was one of power. Her posture strong and straight. She looked like she meant business, which only made me more nervous than I already was. I don't communicate well with women...don't have the experience or knowledge how to. Grew up around men makes you like this.

"That thing back there...with my dad? Don't threaten his life like that again. He may not have made the best decision in the world with cuffing your brother to that roof...but...your brother brought it on himself," she began to speak. I went to reply but she raised her hand up at me, stopping me from being able to reply to her.

"Now...I don't normally insult people and I understand the meaning of diversity...but...my father is a good man. He did what he believed would keep everyone safe at the time. If there is anything I know about my father...that is, he would do what he believed was right and what he thinks is right..." she drifted off as she noticed me watching her intently, adding some sort of suspension between her words. She probably thinks I'll say something bad.

"Is us going back to Atlanta to find your brother and save him. What you can't do is threaten his life like that again. We work as a team, not as individuals...otherwise we get no good result by working alone. I have never been rude to either you or your brother, so do me the favour and...no more fighting my father or anyone for that matter," she tried to reason with me but I looked her up and down. Unsure if she was begging me for something or threatening me.

"We'll talk when we find my brother, until then...whatever," I growled at her, confused with what she was asking of me. I climbed into the truck again and honked the horn repeatedly. Grabbing everyone's attention as I turned to look at the other two who were talking to Dale and Jim. "Come on, let's go!" I shouted to them, making them hurry towards me.

Stepping up to climb in the back, I saw Katherine stand up to get in, the step looked a little high for her, so I reached my hand reach out for her to take. She looked up at me surprised as I looked down at her. Taking it, I held on tightly as I strained my arm to help pull her up.

Looking up at me with those big blue eyes, she steadied to her feet, her gaze glued to me and that was when I realised I still held her hand. Instinctively I let go and wiped my hand against the back of my pants timidly. My eyes glued to the floor, in fear of looking up at her and saying something stupid.

"Thank you," she said quietly, sliding her own hand behind her back and walked deeper into the truck. Sliding my back, I saw he turn her back and looked to see everyone stood there watching us preparing to leave. Carl looking up at Katherine while Lori cried. This made me look away, down at my feet and sniffle as we got ready to leave.

When the door shut, I watched as Katherine slowly sat down on the floor opposite T-Dog and quickly averted my eyes when she saw me staring. She looked sad, like she was fighting back tears. She was being strong and courageous.

"Why'd you risk your life to help me find my brother?" I asked T-Dog as I cleaned my arrows. Looking up at him as I scanned his facial expressions to see if he was telling me the truth.

"You wouldn't even begin to understand. You don't speak my language," he said as he looked around at the different faces in the truck. I didn't know if I should take that as an insult or not.

"What 'bout you...Rick Grimes?" I asked and exaggerated his name again like I did before, Rick looked over his shoulder. The corner of his eye turning blue as he looked at me and then looked over to his daughter.

"Going back for your brother...It's the right thing to do, also...the father and son who saved me. I owe it to them," he tells us. Mostly me and his daughter as she gave him a small smile.

"What 'bout you, Chinaman?" I asked Glenn, who sighed, looked at me over his shoulder, slightly pissed off that I was being as racist as everyone wanted and believed me to be.

"I'm Korean. I'm doing this for Rick and his family...also for others at camp who will need that ammo," Glenn said as he continued to drive.

"Whatever," I said as Glenn finished his reason, my eyes were on my bolts as I cleaned them, checking to see if they were in good enough shape to use.

Cleaning my arrows, I then looked up at Katherine from under my lashes, her delicate, feminine features, small but womanly figure, her normally long brown curly hair that was now in a bun and bright blues looked down at the ground. "What 'bout you?" I asked her and her eyes flashed up to look at my face.

"What about me?" she questioned me. This made me tense up as I began to chew at the inside of my cheek to make me not say something stupid.

"Why are ya here? Rescuing Merle," I asked her and she just looked up at Rick and then back to me.

"To look after my Dad...but...also...a wise man once told me that, we never leave those we love and care for behind. That we always should do the right thing," she tells me and I just nod, chewing on the inside of my cheek.


KPOV

"Better be ok. It's my own word on the matter," Daryl threatened T-Dog as he looked at him slightly threatening but not as much as he was before.

"I told you. The geeks can't get at him. Only thing is gonna get through that door is us," T-Dog said and this made me want to put an arrow in both their heads. They said this before, why do they need to repeat themselves over and over again?

"We'll walk from here," Glenn said as he put it on park, opening the doors Daryl and T-Dog climbed out. Getting up, I slipped on my bow and quiver, stepping out, I saw Daryl stood there waiting.

"Ain't got all day!" he told me as he held out his hand for me. This was when I saw my Dad reach around the corner. Stopping as he saw Daryl held out his hand for me to take again.

"I got this," my dad said as he went to pat Daryl's back but he flinched and quickly walked off. Mumbling a 'whatever' Daryl followed after the others. Dad grabbed onto my waist, helping me jump down and looked at me for a second. "Ready?" he asked me and I nod. "Keep close. Keep quiet," he instructs and I nod, jogging up to the others we kept jogging along the train tracks.

Stopping by a fence, clattering they cut open the fence and pulled it so we could step through it. "Merle first or guns?" Dad asked Glenn as we got though, jogging a little but slowing down as we had to make a choice.

"Merle!" Daryl all but shouted, rushing forward as he held onto his crossbow tightly. "We ain't even having this conversation," Daryl spat at my dad which made me glare at him. He noticed, rolled his eyes and looked away.

"We are," Dad growled at Daryl. "You know the geography. It's your call," Dad said as he looked to Glenn, pulling me close as we started to jog again.

"Merle's closest. The guns would mean doubling back. Merle first," Glenn said as we all jogged towards the safe routes as Glenn lead us quietly to the quick and direct area that would lead us to the store.

As we got into the store, Dad walked ahead of us, stopped us and indicated to look over to where a walker was wandering. Passing me, Daryl crept up to it and raised his crossbow, examining her before he shot her. She growled at him and he just looked at her. "Damn...you are one ugly skank," Daryl insulted her as she saw him and shuffled closer to him. Shooting her right in the forehead, she fell to the ground with a solid thunk.

Pulling out his bolt, he wiped it on his pants and we continued to make our way up. Running up the stairs, we found that no walkers were there, that it was empty and when we broke the chain, we stepped out onto the roof...finding no Merle.

"Merle! Merle!" Daryl shouted out, unsure if his brother was maybe hiding around the corner or somewhere else. What we saw...shocked all of us. There on the pipe was the cuffs...bloody and with no Merle connected to it. My eyes widening, I saw what was left of Merle on the floor and gasped. Dad pulling my head to hide my face in his chest, as to not look at it.

"Don't look baby girl," Dad told me as he hushed me, I hadn't realised I was crying until I felt my dad's hand comforting me. His shirt getting soaked with my tears.

All I could hear was the crying and screaming of Daryl. "No! No! No! No! No!" he screamed as he shuffled around, crying at the fact his brother had sawed his hand off to get off the roof. To get away from the walkers.


What do you think? Can I please have 5 reviews for this chapter? I have a lot of fun writing these chapters, I hope you like them! So...there has been a lot of character POV swapping, is there any you would like? Tell me in reviews or PMs! If I can get 5 reviews by Friday, I will post the next chapter! P.S FanFic's been really glitchy right now. Sorry if it doesn't look as neat as I would like it to be!

Much love!

HeroJustInTime90 x