Chapter 28: Return


RPOV


~7 months ago~

I was sat alone, staring over at Daryl. We had been moving from house to house for weeks. Yet...he was one of the first people to decide to stay after everything that happened. After claiming that we would all be under a 'Ricktatorship' as I heard Maggie once phrase it. Daryl said I had honour to Carol. It made me respect him.

"Hey dad...what are you doing?" Carl asked me as he walked closer to me. I smiled at him and looked over my shoulder at him. His hair was growing, as was he in height. He was looking more like his sister every day. This made me gulp at the thought of Kat. She died so young...

"Just...thinking. About Daryl," I answered him but then realized how weird it sounded coming from me. A grown man with a son, unborn child and wife. Shaking my head I tried to rephrase that. "I meant...I was thinking about what kind of man he is and if I trust him," I tell Carl in a better version than what I did. Explaining myself clearly.

"Oh...well...I like him," Carl said with a small nod as he looked to Daryl. It made me curious as to why. Did these two share some secrets that I don't know about? Or is he thinking the same as me? I mused in my thoughts as I looked at him through slinted eyes.

"Me too," I said after a long while. Nodding my head and looking in the direction of Daryl. He was munching while he sat beside Carol. The pair had grown close ever since all that happened in the farm. Made me wonder if they were seeing each other when we weren't looking.

"Why do you like him dad?" Carl asked me a little curiously as he gently placed his hand on my shoulder. Overlapping my hand on his, I caressed the back of it gently. His hands were almost as soft as Kat's were. Except...after all that had happened between us these past few weeks...his hands had hardened from all the hard work we had been putting in.

"He's done right by me. We went to go look for his brother...he helped me go look for Kat. Not only that but...he's changing. He wasn't that man that wanted to kill Jim. He respects people and...he was good with Kat. He's good with you. So...it makes him a good man," I inform Carl. Telling him the values I liked about Daryl. Not only was he loyal...but he was honest.

"He'll do what's right. Especially for the group. You know...I always thought that Kat and Daryl were going to end up being together. They looked like a good couple and sometimes...back at the camp...I could see how Daryl looked at her across the fire. He liked her dad. I know that now," Carl told me before he left. Making me think of how Carl might have been right. Thinking as to if Daryl would have been good to my little girl and treated her right. He probably would have been good to her...


Present day...RPOV

I was in the distance. Seeing if the Governor was hiding or preparing to strike us at any given moment. Seeing that no one was around, I felt my heart pound and suddenly stop. A white figure stood by the graves. Rushing down I knew who it was. Running to the graves my head and body spun in circles. She wasn't there. She's not here. She's not real.

Seeing the white figure again but outside, I saw Michonne hiding her sword in one of the cars and ran to the gates. Openning them, I ran to where the figure was and saw her turn to me. Her long brown hair swaying in the wind. Her big hazel eyes staring up at me. The white dress clinging to her beautiful curves. She looks like when I married her...

Her gentle hand slowly touched my face. Caressing me in the way that only she knew how. It felt...real. So real. Sliding my hand up, I cupped her face with one of my hands and kissed her. Her lips were gentle and soft. I didn't want to pull away. Not for a moment. Afraid that she would disappear if I stopped. The touch of her made the empty space in my heart fill up. Just like when I had seen Kat back in Woodbury. God...I love you so much Lori. I thought, ignoring the weight of the gun that slung along my body and focused on Lori's figure. Of her haunting ghost.


KPOV

Michonne was running to me. Her body swaying in her natural way as she looked at me a little shocked and surprised. As though she had probably seen a ghost. "Kat. I need to talk to you," Michonne said to me calmly, as though the amount she had just run meant nothing. I could see in the worry in her eyes and knew it was something she had real concern over.

"What about?" I asked her and this was when she looked towards me and looked a little worried. Her fingertips rubbing along each other in the way that told me this was really concerning her. Glancing at where she came, I could see a figure in the distance. Dad?

"Your father. He's losing it," she told me which made me look to him again. Walking closer, Michonne stopped me from getting too close and gave me a look that told me not to get too close. That this was where I should stop. Her eyes staring at me in that way I knew so well. She's warning me...

Glancing to the distance, I could see dad stood there. Reaching out for something that wasn't there. His body seemed tense but relaxed at the same time. I felt myself worry for him. Especially since he threw those people out of the prison. Something's wrong...very wrong.


DPOV

"There ain't nothing out here but mosquitoes and ants," I grumbled, annoyed with the fact we had found nothing. We spent a night up in the trees, away from walkers as we tried to sleep. We hadn't got very far, but it was far enough from the prison that I felt my body shiver with every step I took away from it.

"Patience, little brother. Sooner or later, a squirrel is bound to scurry across your path," Merle spoke as he pissed against a tree. Keeping guard, flexing my arms and checking to see if any walkers were close. Nope.

"Even so, that ain't much food," I grumbled as I pushed myself off of a tree I was leaning against. Looking to see if there was any excuse not to turn back around and go back to the prison. I have family there too...they must miss me as much as I miss them...don't they?

"More than nothing," Merle mumbled, pulling me out of my thoughts and back to where we currently were. Guess it is better than nothing...but...we still have nothing. Zero. Nada.

"I'd have better luck going through one of them houses we passed back on the turnoff," I explained as I remembered all the homes we had passed. All the scavenging we had done. The thought of it making me want to turn back even more.

"Is that what your new friends taught you? Hmm?" Merle teased me a little too sarcastically than what I was used to. "How to loot for booty?" Merle said which made me feel like he meant something else all together. Is he talking about Kat? Surely he isn't. Kat's not just booty. She's a friend.

"We've been at it for hours. Why don't we find a stream, try to look for some fish?" I suggest. Trying to get away from all the squirrels and deers. They all reminded me of the group I had left behind. Of Rick, Carl, Glenn, Maggie, Hershel, Ass-kicker, Beth, Carol and...Kat.

"I think you're just trying to lead me back to the road, man. Get me over to that prison," Merle said, knowing exactly what I was thinking. Does the prison really seem that bad to him? We are safer there. With people we can trust. People who will look out for us. People who care.

"They got shelter. Food. A pot to piss in. Might not be a bad idea," I suggest as I list the good things that might seem stupid to Merle but...they were all valid reasons. I want to get back to them. To defend them against the Governor. To get to know Kat again. To see Ass-Kicker and Carl grow up even more.

"For you, maybe. Ain't gonna be no damn party for me," Merle said which made me remember what Rick said. That everyone would be at each other's throats with Merle around. Are we really that controversial?

"Everyone will get used to each other," I tried to convince him. Remembering what Kat said. That we would all put it in the past and learn to live together. Always the wise girl...always who she is. Kat...and only Katherine Grimes.

"They're all dead. Makes no difference," Merle told me which made me tense. They can't be. They're stronger than that. They have to be. They can't die. Not with Kat and Michonne now there. They're both strong people.

"How can you be so sure?" I asked him as I waited for his answer. I want to know. What is this Governor like? Is he really going after them to kill them? Then again...he did want me and Merle to fight to the death. Fuck.

"Right about now he's probably hosting a housewarming party where's he gonna bury what's left of your pals. Let's hook some fish. Come on," Merle said and spat out some of his saliva. Bitting the inside of my cheek, I looked away for a moment. Flashes of graves for my friends. I couldn't stand it. I don't want to see another grave for Kat. Or Kick-Ass...or Carl. They don't deserve that. Not after all they've been through...Following Merle's example, I spat and followed after him.


KPOV

We were all gathered. Glenn was crouched down with Carl following his example. Glenn was drawing a map of the prison. Reminding me much of the day we were in Atlanta looking for Merle. When Daryl was still with us..."Right. Now you said you found Tyreese's group here?" Glenn asked Carl as they both looked at the map. Glenn pointing to a certain spot.

"Yeah," Carl agreed as he looked to the map and nods. Such a little man. My little man. I'm proud of him. So proud.

"We secured this," Glenn said as though this was impossible.

"He thought he came through here," Carl said as he directed our eyes to look to where he was pointing. Michonne kept her eyes glued on Carl. On Glenn and how they were all trying to figure out how to handle this all.

"Means there's another breach. Okay. The whole front of the prison is unsecure. If walkers just strolled in, then it's gonna be cake for a group of armed men," Glenn said as he was examining the possibilities and the dangers in what they could be planning.

"Why are we even so sure he's going to attack? Maybe you scared him off," Beth said innocently as she crossed her arms and looked to Glenn. Trying to suggest it was all a waste of our time.

"He had fish tanks full of heads. Walkers and humans. Trophies. He's coming," Michonne informed us as I looked to her stunned. This can't be true...can it? I kind of want to see...Andrea's got a lot of shit she's probably having to deal with now. I hope she's safe.

"We should hit him now," Glenn said firmly.

"What?" I asked a little stunned. We can't! We don't have the weapons, ammo or the right amount of people to follow a plan like this. I don't even think that some of these people know how to shoot or fight correctly!

"He won't be expecting it. We'll sneak back in and put a bullet in his head," Glenn growled as though this plan was bound to work.

"We're not assassins," Carol spoke up which made me nod. It would be impossible. Especially after what Michonne told me she did to him. That she had in fact killed his walker daughter and gave the Governor one useable eye.

"You two know where his apartment is. We could end this tonight," Glenn said as he walked closer to me and Michonne, looking between the pair of us. Gulping, I looked at him wide eyed. He can't be serious. "I'll do it myself," Glenn said as though he would be capable. Glenn needs rest. Not revenge. "Okay," Glenn said after Michonne gave him a nod. I was speechless.

"He didn't know you were coming last time and look what happened. You were almost killed. Daryl was captured. And you and Maggie were almost executed," Hershel said trying to reason to him what had happened.

"You can't stop me," Glenn growled.

"Rick would never allow this," Hershel said which made me decide to take over the role of my dad.

"Neither will I. Speaking on behalf of my dad...I think you should calm down Glenn. You need to think things through. The Governor will have patrols at every weak spot. Especially men close to his aid in case Michonne ever returned to finish the job," I tell him and he just looked at me a little angered.

"You can't say anything. You've been under his protection for all this time. We've been surviving out there. You come in here and suddenly you're in charge Kat? I think not," Glenn said a little angered.

"Don't do this Glenn. I've been out there surviving too. As for you against the Governor...you wouldn't stand a chance. You wouldn't even stand a chance against me. Not in this state. It isn't revenge. It's thinking for the greater good. Not because you're mad that he got Maggie in a compromising situation," I growled at him thinking of how stupid he was being.

"We should wait for Rick's return from watch," Hershel said as he tried to reason with the pair of us who were glaring at one another. My eyes blazing as I looked directly at Glenn. Glenn's nostrils flaring in anger to my words.

"You really think he's in any position to make that choice?" Glenn asked Hershel a little angered.

"Think this through clearly. T-Dog lost his life here. Lori, too. The men that were here. It isn't worth any more killing. What are we waiting for? If he's really on his way, we should be out of here by now," Hershel tried to reason with Glenn.

"And go where?" Glenn was clearly having none of it as he growled at Hershel.

"We lived on the road all winter," Hershel tried to suggest us all going on the run again. That would be impossible.

"Back when you had two legs and we didn't have a baby crying for walkers every four hours," Glenn stated which made me sigh.

"We can't stay here," Hershel demanded.

"We can't run!" Glenn growled back at Hershel which made Maggie walk off and not look back at any of us. "All right. We'll stay put. We're gonna defend this place. We're making a stand. Carl, you and I will go down to the tombs. We need to figure out where the breach is," Glenn informed as he went to crouch back and look at the map.

"You got it," Carl agreed before I could even protest. He's old enough. Besides...he's probably seen more walkers than I have. I won't deny him his maturity.

"You'll need some help," I said as I went to go step forward. Not wanting to deny Carl his freedom to fight against walkers but not allowing him to leave me sight. Not for a moment.

"No, in case anything happens, I need you out here," Glenn told me before he gave me an appologetic smile. "Who's on watch? Damn it," Glenn asked as he looked around and growled. He went to go to the tower but I pushed him lightly back.

"I'll go," I say as I gave him and Carl a nod.

"Thanks Kat," Glenn said politely and without a word, I pursed my lips and gave a nod. Heading out to go towards the guard tower and keeping watch for the Governor's arrival.


CPOV

"The tombs outside the boiler room are overrun again," Glenn said as we made our way back to the cell block. We were both panting and sweating. Blood covering our bodies as we had killed a few walkers back to where I had lead us.

"That whole section had been cleared," Beth said startled as she looked to us. Closing the gate behind us and locking it. If only she saw how many walkers were there...she would have a heart attack.

"It's a steady stream of walkers," I tell her as I went to take off my protective gear.

"We're wasting time. The Governor is supposedly on the way and we're stuck in here with walkers," Hershel said a little angered at the fact we were still in the prison. We just need to be smart. As should the group of the Governors. If they go through that tomb...they won't survive.

"Trapped between a rock and a hard place," Carol spoke up as she wrapped her arms around her chest. To give her some warmth or some sort of comfort.

"For the last time, running is not an option," Glenn growled, angered as to how everyone was turning against him.

"Glenn, if the tombs have filled up again, it may just be a matter of time before they push in here," Carol tried to reason to him kindly.

"Or until some fence gives way," Beth stated which was more than likely possible to happen. Especially if the Governor was coming our way.

"What if one of them herds is passing through? Or settled?" Axel asked Glenn a little curious as to what he would say to this.

"Can't handle that with just the few of us," Carol noted before any of us had to. We all thought it but Carol simply said it.

"Okay. All right, we need-...we just need to scout the far side of the prison. Find out what's going on," Glenn said as he looked to us and nods. Finally coming to some sort of agreement.

"You're going out there?" Hershel asked him a little stunned that Glenn would be so quick to leave. Considering the last time he did, they got captured by the Governor and his men.

"Take a car and make it quick," Glenn said as though this was the perfect answer to it.

"I'll drive," Axel offered as he walked up to follow Glenn out.

"No, you stay here. Help with the fortifications. I'll take Maggie," Glenn said as though this was the perfect answer.

"You sure she's up to that?" Hershel asked him, slightly challenging.


KPOV

"Kat?" Carl's gentle voice called to me. It sounded like him but...I could sense he was broken. Older since I last spoke to him. I didn't like that he seemed so...changed from this life, but I understood as I too had changed so much since last time we had seen each other. There was one thing people could be certain of though and that was...me and Carl still loved each other. Would do anything for him. To let him be safe.

"Oh...hey kid. You alright?" I asked him as I checked him for any scratches or bites. Seeing he didn't have any, I pulled him to me and kissed the top of his cap. His arms wrapped around me tightly. Making me sigh as I held him close to me. I missed him...so much.

"Yeah. I'm a lot better now that you're here. I missed you Kat. I thought I would never see your face again. That maybe...I would see you as a walker and..." Carl spoke as I held him. He froze as I felt his body tense. Pulling away, I looked at him and our blue eyes connected.

"Hey. I'm not going anywhere. Besides...I don't die so easily. If I did turn...it shouldn't be you. Should never be you, or dad or Judith," I informed him with a shake of my head. "It would have to be someone else," I said gently and he sighed.

"I had to kill mom you know..." Carl said which made me gasp. I didn't know what else to say. Pulling him to me, I fell to the floor and didn't know what to say. What the hell has happened while I was gone?! This is crazy! "I'll take over watch. Go relax," Carl said as I gave him a nod. Shaking his head with my hand, I went to the door. "Oh. And Hershel wants to talk to you," Carl informed me as I nod and walked out and down the stairs, only to find Hershel waiting for me, clutching his crutches.

"Oh...Hershel. Carl said you wanted to talk to me. Is everything alright? Is Judith alright?" I asked worried for my little sister. Hershel shook his head and gave me a small smile. There's something he's holding back on me.

"Yes. Judith is sleeping soundly. Like a brick. It's your father I'm worried about," Hershel said as his eyes glanced to the distance where dad was still stood. I didn't know what to do other than the fact he had been standing there more than two hours.

"I am too," I answered honestly as I looked to my dad who stood there.

"You need to talk to him. He's still losing it over your mother's death. If there is anyone who can get through to him...it's you," Hershel told me which made me feel a little pressured. What if I can't get through to him? What if...it's too late?

"I'll try my best," I tell Hershel as I gave a nod and with the help of Michonne, I opened the gates and shut them in turn. Killing a walker that got too close, I swipped my machete clean of blood and walked over to my dad. Placing my hand gently onto his shoulder in slight comfort. God give me strength...


DPOV

"Smells to me like the Sawhatchee Creek," Merle said out of his own observations. We were both stepping over fallen off twigs and leaves that would try to trip us. Pushing branches away from our faces as we walked closer towards what sounded like water.

"We didn't go west enough. There's a river down there, it's got to be the Yellow Jacket," I informed him as I thought of where we were. What direction we were going and noted where we were.

"You have a stroke, boy? We ain't never even come close to Yellow Jacket," Merle growled at me as though I was completely ignorant. I know my geography. Especially since I was with the group. We've crossed this path once.

"We didn't go west. Just a little bit south. That's what I think," I told him. Knowing I was being stubborn but I wasn't a kid that Merle could push around anymore.

"Know what I think? I may have lost my hand, but you lost your sense of direction," Merle said teasingly, as though he knew what was happening and where we were. We're both as stubborn as each other.

"Yeah, we'll see," I growled. Knowing that I was in fact right and that Merle just wouldn't accept me being right for once.

"What do you want to bet?" Merle asked as we were both walking over twigs and trying not to fall over.

"I don't want to bet nothing," I growled at him. Seems to me all he likes is competitions. His eyes shone at the thought of kicking me around back in Woodbury. "It's just a body of water," I reminded him. "Why's everything got to be a competition with you?" I asked him a little irritated with how he was like.

"Whoa, whoa. Take it easy, little brother. Just trying to have a little fun here. No need to get your panties all in a bundle," Merle said as he walked ahead of me. Like when we were kids. He was always first. Slowing down, I heard a baby's cry echo through the woods.

"You hear that?" I asked him and he just rubbed the back of his hand under his nose. Taking a sniff at it as though he was snorting some of the white things he loved so much.

"Yeah, wild animals getting wild," Merle said as though that was what it was. Has he ever heard a baby cry? I have. Ass-Kicker. Not to mention...to Merle it's always a competition or a sexual joke.

"No, it's a baby," I state as we both stopped to listen up to the cries of the baby.

"Oh, come on. Why don't you just piss in my ear and tell me it's raining, too? That there's the sound of a couple of coons making love, sweet love. Know what I mean?" Merle said as he swirled his hips and chuckled. Ignoring him, I walked ahead and walked to where the sound was louder. "Jump!" Merle said as he saw a group of people struggling a small herd of walkers.

Pushing past Merle, I went back into the woods and hid as well as I could as I made my way towards the family. "Hey, man, I ain't wasting my bullets on a couple of strangers that ain't never cooked me a meal or felicitated my piece. That's my policy. You'd be wise to adopt it, brother," Merle shouted after me as I ran in the woods.

The image of Ass-Kicker made me push harder. The family were fighting as hard as they could. Walkers surrounded a tipped truck and a car. The baby's crying came from the car. Just as a man was about to get bit, I raised my bow and shot at the walker. Preparing the next arrow, I shot at another walker. Pulling out the same arrow from the walker, I slammed it into the skull of one that was lingering behind me.

Merle was throwing insults at me. Telling me I was being stupid for defending this family. That I was going to get myself killed. The family started to use their guns again, covering me as I pleaded for their help. Shooting as many walkers as I could, I looked to the car and aimed two arrows at the walkers that were on the front. Walking closer, I smashed one's head in with the but of my bow.

The woman was clutching the baby. The image of Kat and Judith ran into my mind. Except...Kat would fight as well as she could with the baby in her hands. There was one walker clawing at them from the back. It's feet dangling at the boot of the car. Grabbing it by it's ankles I pulled him out by his shirt and shut the door as hard as I could. It's brains splattering in the matter of seconds. Blood pouring down the curves of the car from where the head had exploded.

Blood covered my hands, grabbing my crossbow that I had thrown to the ground, I saw a walker coming closer to me. Just as I was about to kill it, Merle raised his gun and told me he had it. Shooting it he smiled at me, as though he was being a better man or...a better brother. He's nothing like Kat. Or Rick. Or Carl. Shooting down a walker with my bow, I rushed over to the car to pull out the other arrows. Placing one into the bow, I prepared my next shot.

I shot another walker but then saw the man struggling against a walker. Pulling out my knife, I shuffled towards them and dug my knife into the walker's skull. Pulling out the knife as quick as I drove it in, I stepped back and gathered strength to kick it over the edge. His body flying over and making a loud splash against the water below us. The fight was over.

Merle had pulled off a walker from the car and was opening the door. The man went to protest, speaking in Spanish as I looked to see the scene unravel itself. Merle raised his gun to the man. "Slow down, beaner. That ain't no way to say thank you," Merle growled as the woman sobbed along with the baby. The family were innocent. They didn't need or deserve this.

"Let 'em go," I said firmly to Merle. Standing beside the car.

"The least they can do is give us an enchilada or something, huh? Easy does it, seƱorita. Everything's gonna be fine," Merle spoke as he lowered his gun and climbed into the back of the car. Rummaging around in the back for supplies, the woman crying as she held tightly the baby.

"Get out of the car," I growled at him as I raised my bow to him. Seeing the faces of the family, I knew it was wrong for us to take advantage of them. I saved them out of pity. Not to gain their supplies. They have a baby. They're a family. They don't deserve this type of treatment.

"I know you're not talking to me, brother," Merle growled to me as he stopped but continued to rummage around in the back of the car. Looking for whatever he was searching.

"Get in your car and get the hell out of here. Go! Get in your car!" I shout to the family as I kept my bow aimed at Merle. My arms tense and body equally as tense. My stomach doing flips at the thought of the family, Merle and the ones I left at the prison.

When the family had finally got in the car, I stared directly at Merle as his greyish blue eyes looked directly at me. His body tense as we glared at each other. Pushing my bow around, I waited for the family to leave before I lowered my bow and walked off back into the woods. "The shit you doing, pointing that thing at me?" Merle growled as he followed after me.

"They were scared, man," I told him. I may have been stating the obvious but...it was true. The family were terrorfied of us. Of the walkers. Of everything that had happened in such a short amount of time.

"They were rude is what they were. Rude and they owed us a token of gratitude," Merle said as though that was the best reason he could give for being such an ass to the family back there.

"They didn't owe us nothing," I growled back at him as we walked over a small bump in the path.

"You helping people out of the goodness of your heart? Even though you might die doing it? Is that something your Sheriff Rick taught you?" Merle asked me. No. It wasn't just Rick. It was the others.

"There was a baby!" I shouted at him. The image of Ass-Kicker springing back into my mind. I hope she's okay. Kat will look after her. Just like she looks after Carl.

"Oh, otherwise you would have just left them to the biters, then?" Merle asked me angered. He was fuming but I didn't care. I'm pissed off aswell.

"Man, I went back for you. You weren't there. I didn't cut off your hand, neither. You did that," I told him as I pointed to his hand that was now covered by something metal like. Using my arrow instead of my finger to point. "Way before they locked you up on that roof. You asked for it," I stated. Rick said it. He couldn't work well with others. That was what he deserved for being a jackass.

"You know-...you know what's funny to me? You and Sheriff Rick are like this now. Right? I bet you a penny and a fiddle of gold that you never told him that we were planning on robbing that camp blind," Merle said as he first laughed, crossed his fingers and then glared at me.

"It didn't happen," I stated. Don't think I would of had the balls to do it either. I'm sort of glad Merle got left behind. That way, I wouldn't of been such an asshole to them. I was now valued. I had a place with them. Somewhere I knew I would always be welcomed.

"Yeah, it didn't 'cause I wasn't there to help you," Merle growled at me as his face got a little closer to mine.

"What, like when we were kids, huh? Who left who then?" I asked him angered. My face coming in close too. That way I could intimidate him.

"What? Huh? Is that why I lost my hand?" Merle asked me his voice shouting at me now. No longer holding back that slight anger. This time it was full blown outrage.

"You lost your hand 'cause you're a simpleminded piece of shit," I spat at him. Hitting him where I knew it would hurt him. A drug addict for a brother. Never stable and always being an asshole.

"Yeah? You don't know!" Merle said and this was when I felt his hand grab at my shirt. Falling to the floor, I heard the cloth rip beneath his hold. The warm air hitting my skin like a fresh slap. Revealing my damaged back to my brother. Both of us panting as we tried to gather what was happening at that very moment. "I-I didn't know he was-" Merle went to say as he saw my scars on my back. Trying to swing what was left up to cover it but failing. Dad used to hit him...until Merle left. That was when he decided to start taking out his anger on me.

"Yeah, he did. He did the same to you. That's why you left first," I told Merle as we both rememberd how horrible our dad was to us. Slipping on the backpack, I picked up my crossbow and felt my heart pound against my chest. No one has seen my back. No one but me and Dad.

"I had to, man. I would have killed him otherwise. Where you going?" Merle told me and asked me as I got up and started walking off towards where the prison was. Where my family are. My heart was being ripped into two parts. One was getting lighter with every step towards the prison while the other felt heavier.

"Back where I belong," I said as I felt the tears start to sting in my eyes. Back to the guys at the prison. Back to Rick. Back to Carol. Carl, Glenn, Hershel, Maggie, Beth, Axel, Ass-Kicker. Back to Kathrine.

"I can't go with you. I tried to kill that black bitch. Damn near killed the Chinese kid," Merle said as he looked at me pleadingly. Begging me not to go with his eyes. Why do I still not want to leave him? He's blood but...he acts like someone I don't ever want to know. Like a complete asshole.

"He's Korean," I informed Merle as I remembered the day we went looking for Merle in Atlanta. The assumption that Glenn was Chinese. Kat saving herself against the guys from the residential home. Kat's smile when she saw her father. I wanted to be back to them. To my family.

"Whatever. Doesn't matter, man. I just can't go with you," Merle said pleadingly. He knew that the others didn't want Merle there but...they did want me with them. I hope they're still alive when I get to them. I hope that they can take me back. That they've missed me as much as I've missed them.

"You know, I may be the one walking away...but you're the one that's leaving...again," I said to Merle as I remembered all the times Merle would be locked up for similar or different offences. Thinking of how alone I was at home. How isolated I was when our dad would direct his anger on me. Hitting me, hurting me and making me feel unloved. Back at the prison...I feel loved. I am loved.


KPOV

"Dad...are you coming back soon?" I asked him softly as he turned to look at me. I had gained a new gun that I wrapped around my torso, much like how I held my bow. "Glenn's on the warpath. Smart as he is, he can't fill your boots. I'm afraid he's reckless. We need you now more than ever," I tell him. Sounding pleading as I raised my hand to push his greasy, unkept hair away from his face.

"Well, if you're so worried about him, you lead. You have my permission," dad said as he gave me a caring look. His eyes seemed...so lost. Like he was waiting for something. Like he wasn't completely there with me. Dad...come back to me. Please.

"What are you doing out here?" I asked him gently as he moved his head away from my touch and looked to the distance. To where the sounds of birds made me look towards it. The sound made us both stay silent.

"I've-...I've been-...I've got... stuff out here. Stuff," dad said as he pointed around us. He was reaching for some words but struggling to grasp them. Not convinced by his words but deciding not to question his motives.

"How much longer do you need?" I asked him sadly. His face showed me something that his eyes wouldn't. He was lost. Broken. I could tell. This isn't my strong dad. My strong hero. The man I look up to.

"I don't know. I don't-..." dad said as he placed his hands on his waist. His fingers grazing on his belt. Something is terribly wrong. I can tell...what is it though?

"Is there anything I can help you with dad?" I asked him my brows furrowing at the pain of him being so...out of his normal self.

"I saw something. Lori. I saw Lor-...I'm seeing Lori. Look, I know it's not really her. But there's got to be a reason. It's got to mean something, you know," dad said as though he knew what he was talking about. He seemed confident that she was a sign.

"Was it her on the phone?" I asked him curious as to what he would tell me.

"How did you-" dad went to ask me as his eyes looked at me for once. His brows furrowing in curiousity.

"Hershel. He told me about your little...episode," I informed him that I wasn't in the dark when it came to what was wrong with him. He looked away from me, making my heart shatter and crumble. This...is very wrong.

"Yeah," dad answered after a few minutes of silence. "Shane, too. And the town," dad told me which made me look to him more curious than I already was.

"Do you see them now?" I asked him as I glanced around and then to him. Dad shook his head when our eyes connected. "You're looking for them," I stated but it sounded more like a question.

"I'm waiting," dad said correcting me of what he was actually doing.

"For what?" I asked him a little more curiously. My hand touched his chest a little carefully and I felt him tense beneath my palm.

"I don't know. Something. There's an answer. I know it doesn't make sense. Well, it does. It can make sense. I mean, I think in time it will make sense," dad said as he looked to me pleadingly. His hand reached up and touched mine lightly.

"Dad...? Come on in. You need rest. It's not safe out here," I said as I gently took his arm in my hands and tried to pull him away from where we stood. Out in the open and walkers able to pop out at us at any time.

"I can't. I can't," dad said as he pulled his arm away from my hold. Stumbling back as he mumbled his words and shook his head. Rage suddenly boiled over me, along with sadness.

"Fine dad...you've left me no choice. You want me to lead. I will. As for you having these little episodes..." I paused as he looked at me and away as though he couldn't bare my voice. "You aren't the only one who's lost mom. Me, Carl...the others. We've all lost her. You're not the only one!" I informed him, reminding him that she meant a lot to all of us.

"Do you know how hard it is to think I've been looking for you all for so long...only to not be able to see mom?!" I asked him feeling my heart break. "Carl shot her for christ's sake!" I shouted at him as I felt my voice crack. Trying not to cry as I bit back tears as hard as I could. "Dad. Get it together. Not just for me, the others and Carl. For yourself. For mom. She wouldn't want this. She would want you to think rationally. Not chasing...ghosts," I spat. Dad went to touch me but I stepped away from his hand. "Don't touch me!" I growled at him.

Dad didn't say anything, we both just stood there looking at each other and holding back my tears as I felt my chest rise and fall as I looked to him. Next thing I heard, was a gun shot. Next thing both me and dad reached for our guns. Shots were being fired at us. Jumping to cover, dad screamed for me to get down. Aiming, I shot as well as I could. Keeping myself tightly pressed to the ground and hidden from sight.

Dad shot towards the distance, reloading, I looked towards the area and saw a gun point to us. Dodging the bullet, I gasped and felt the adrenaline run through my veins. Every so often we would shoot, hearing silence, I then heard gunshots everywhere. Every so often, I would rise up a little and shoot to any direction I heard gunshots fire at us.

Rolling in, I heard the fences break and smash against a van. Looking up, I noticed it was the same van Merle stole from us when we were in Atlanta. Except it had now different colours painted onto it. Next thing I saw were walkers climb out from the back of it and roam around the fields. Dad had looked to see it all, on his knees and that was when he growled. Walkers were running for us, for Michonne and the others. Dad went to shoot the man who exited the van and that was when I heard a gun shot.

Worried, I thought dad was going to die in that moment. Instead, he ducked and pushed me down with him. I went to stand and save him but he prevented it. For the both of us. Whispering to me to stay safe, I nod and told him to stay safe too. Suddenly walkers started to surround us. Telling dad to go, I held up my gun and began to shoot. Dad called for me to follow. Instead, I began to kill the walkers using my machete, screaming, slashing and kicking walkers off of me.

The Governor then left us, walkers surrounding us and coming closer to me. Pulling up my machete, I then saw dad get caught between two walkers. Pushed up against the fence. Without looking, I stumbled backwards and fell onto my back. A walker climbing ontop of me as I tried to kick it off and push it away from me. Screaming, I called out for dad. Screamed for help. For who...I wasn't sure. I was then relieved to see a familiar arrow drive itself into the side of the walker above me's skull.

Seeing blue eyes above me, I then saw the familiar but blood covered hand reach out for me. "You alright?" Daryl asked me as I looked to him and took his hand. Lifting me to my feet, I retrieved my machete and saw Merle rushing to save my dad.

"Yeah. Thanks for coming back," I told him as we killed some walkers that were getting to close to us. The four of us killing off walkers as well as we could. Given the weapons and ammo we all had. When it was all begining to calm down, I saw Daryl and my dad exchange a look and nod. Rushing to dad, we pulled each other into a hug. Both of us panting out of worry and the adrenaline that had run through our veins. Thank God Daryl came back...


So! What do you think. Just a quick question...if I were to write a 'love scene' would you want me to or not (Of course it would be between Daryl+Kat)? It's your choice. Tell me what you think as a review! 5 please! Now...answers to last chapter's reviews...


Guest: Here you have it. Daryl has returned! Wooho!


An Amber Pen: She was...sort of. But...you know her. She understands.


Caity6991: We'll have to see hun. Only can tell you that all will be revealed soon. I'll take into account your ideas for the Carol situation. Much love hun xoxo


redangel2463: Waiting game...is over! Now we'll have to see how this all works out.


Moonlite987: Don't think Kat had time to grieve. She's a busy girl back at the prison. If she's not doing one thing, she's doing another!


jorylynn12: We'll have to wait and see what goes on. Won't we? Exciting things are happening!


KoNeKoLuvsU: No more teasing! He's back...for now. ;) {Does an evil laugh}


Until the 5 reviews and next chapter...

Much love!

HeroJustInTime90 xx