Chapter 46: Survival


KPOV


~5 years ago~

Tom had Carl pushed up against a wall, his eyes were wide and directly looked at me. "What did you just say?" Tom's angered and questioning gaze met me, I was trying to keep calm and had to. For Carl's sakes, I had to keep a level head and gentle tone.

Deciding to take a calm, threatening tone, I took a few steps ahead and tilted my head at him. "I said, 'If I were you, I would let my brother go,' so let him go," I ordered, my gaze challenging and I knew it would boil Tom's blood. I just hoped it would be turned to myself and not Carl.

"Or what?" Tom challenged in return. His head turned and gaze focused on me. "You know, I wonder, is he going to be like a little piglet if I squeeze his throat too tight?" Tom questioned himself, pondering in his thoughts and voicing them to me. He did something I wasn't expecting, he took Carl by the throat, his little legs dangling in the air and hands clutching at Tom's hands wrapped around his throat. "Want to watch your brother squeal?" Tom questioned me, I watched in agony, feeling my soul die a little as Carl's face looked scared, his face going red and mouth gaping for air.

My nostrils flared, I could feel my heart pounding and my body start to shake. "Let," I spoke coldly. "Him," I snarled through gritted teeth. "Go," I growled and gave them a dark look, glaring at them through slinted eyes. "Fine, you've asked for it," I said with a small shake of my head, quickly, I pushed his friends away from me and punched Tom square in the jaw.

Watching him stumble, he let go of Carl and I leaned down to give him a hand. Carl coughed, clutching his throat as the color slowly returned to his face. He took my hand, getting off his ass and to his feet once more. Turning back rapidly, I saw one of Tom's friends go to punch me, blocking him, I took hold of his arm and elbowed his own, breaking it and heard him scream. The crunch was indication my move worked, seeing another come up from behind, I was suddenly pulled back and restrained.

My feet dragging and I kicked the air, trying to hit the guy who had taken hold of me, the other crying and clutching his broken arm. Tom's mouth was bloody, I called to Carl, telling him to get someone and quickly. Carl didn't listen, he was stood there with wide eyes, seeing Tom spit blood and wipe it from his lips. My heart pounding, I tried to slow down and calm myself. Needing to think clearly, I stayed still and watched Tom's hand clench into a fist.

With one swift, solid punch, it flew to my stomach and left me winded. Groaning from the pain, I tried to regain my breath and glared at him. Gathering my strength, I was about to make a move, when I felt another hit land on my left cheek. Feeling my lip become bust, the blood began to seep from my mouth and lip. Fuck. Gritting my teeth, I bowed my head back and quickly bumped my head against the guy behind me's head.

He grunted, letting my go and making me fall to my knees. Tom saw this advantage and was about to kick me in the stomach, rolling, I dodged his blow and cralwed to my feet. Swinging my fist, I punched him in the back of his knee, making him drop and cry out. Using up all the strength I had left, I kicked his back, hearing him groan and fall face forward to the gound. Knocking him out, he laid on the ground and wasn't moving. Just as I backed up, I saw the two remaining guys about to try and hurt me, but I kept backing up. Thinking of ways to damage them, but not kill them.

To some surprise, during the fight, Carl had ran off and done as I said. Shane's fast, uniformed form was speeding his way towards me. "Hey, hey, hey!" Shane shouted, raising his gun and aiming it at the two. The pair of Tom's friends saw Shane, looked at each other surprised and sprinted out of the scene. Exhausted, I could feel my mouth going numb and the taste of blood flooding my senses.

Watching the retreating form, I was a little faint, but I Shane caught me and made sure I didn't fall. "Freeze!" Shane tried to call to the boys, but they didn't stop, they kept running and disappeared. "God damn it!" Shane shouted when he realized they had ran away, lowering his gun and placing it back in his holster. "Kat, Carl," Shane spoke softly, alerted and trying to keep my upright. "Are you two okay?" Shane asked us, Carl was beside me, his hands pressed to my waist and trying to keep me on my feet.

I had ignored Shane, taking a small gulp, I blinked a few times. The effect of the blood and blow to my face was making my body sway. My head feeling like it was underwater. "Carl, are you okay?" I asked Carl, glancing down at him and keeping my gaze glued to him. It was incase he ever hesitated, not wanting to keep the attention on myself, seeing as it was Carl who had almost died.

Carl's blues stared up at me, showing such innocence and gentle hearted actions. His voice small and soft. "Yeah, I'm fine," Carl assured me. "What about you Kat?" Carl questioned me, his eyes staring into my soul, I could feel his concern and I felt a smile curve my lips.

My smile gave him a little comfort, seeing the worry fade in his eyes and the warmth of his soul shine up at me. "I'll be fine," I told him, my voice gentle and soft. I didn't want to worry him, even if I could feel myself adjust to damage taken. My stomach aching a little, my mouth bleeding and my bottom lip slightly busted.

Shane's eyes darted around, still trying to check to see if the boys were somehow hiding, I knew they were long gone and I knew Shane knew it too. "Who were those pricks?" Shane asked, carefully, he moved to give me to Carl, Shane stalking over to Tom who was knocked out, checking his pulse and cuffing him.

Thinking over my options, I chose to not reveal who they were to Shane, instead I'd speak to Dad about it. "They're nothing," I stated. Shane was then met by Dad, who, the pair of them took Tom into custody, Mom took me and Carl back home. Mom decided to clean up my face and give me some ice for the swelling of my jaw.


~A few hours after the fight~

Relaxing in my room, I was laid out on the bed and holding a sack of ice pressed against my face. Trying to numb the swelling and hope that my mouth would go back to normal. Hearing a knock on my door, I grumbled a small 'Come in' and waited. Seeing Carl enter, I sat up and gave him some space to sit beside me. "Hey, Kat," Carl had greeted as he sat beside me, giving me a small hug and offering a kind smile. "Are you okay?" Carl asked me once again, concerned about my health and the hits I had taken for him.

Smiling the best I could, I looked at him with kind eyes and nod. "Yeah," I reassured him once again, lowering the bag from my face, so I could speak and it wouldn't sound muffled. "It was only a punch," I informed him, hoping Carl wouldn't think much of it with this now known fact. "I'll be fine," I pointed out, trying to ease his mind of worry for me. "How are you?" I asked him, my eyebrows furrowing and my face contorting into one of serious concern.

Carl had to over think it, keeping his eyes on his feet and thinking through his answer. "I'm..." Carl drifted as he spoke. "Better," he concluded, nodding and his bright blues flashed up to look at me. "Why did you do that?" he asked me, curious as to what I would answer. "How?" he questioned me, throwing these answers and leaving me a little speechless.

"Well, I've learned how to fight, kind of had to," I spoke with a small shrug. "I asked uncle Shane to teach me, when Dad wasn't around," I told Carl, hoping he would keep my secret and something told me he would. "I did it because you're my brother Carl," I informed him, reminding him that we were tied by blood and by our strong connection. "I won't let anyone hurt you," I said seriously, offering a single nod in his direction. "Not me, not anyone and not even yourself," I decided as I shook my head, all seriousness was evident in my voice as I spoke. "I won't let it happen," I declared firmly, keeping my face gentle, but my tone strong and confident.

The way Carl stared at me, told me he took into account what I was saying and was letting it sink into his mind. "I'll protect and save you too Kat," Carl informed me, nodding and offering a small smile to grow on his features. "I love you," he comforted me, his arms wrapped around me, his head resting on my chest and his eyes hadn't met mine. "I couldn't ask for a better sister," Carl declared, his head nestling and rubbing as he turned to look up at me, his bright blues showed honesty and love.

The sentiment was heart warming, it made me smile and tears threatened to build. Ignoring the tears, I pushed them back and placed a kiss above Carl's head. "I love you too, Carl," I whispered, holding him to me and ignoring the pain of my mouth. Carl meant more to me than myself, I promised myself to keep him safe always and that I would never be selfless when it came to Carl.


RPOV

We were sat around a campfire, cooking up beans in a can and there wasn't much of it left. We had to try and reserve as much as we could, seeing as we had used up as much as we could without going over the limit and without starving ourselves. "How hungry are you, scale of one to ten?" I asked Kat, Carl and Michonne.

"Fifteen," Carl had answered me, his gaze glued on the food I was cooking and I smiled a little to myself. Carl said it with a small laugh, his lips pulling at the corners in a little grin. He can be sweet when he wants to be. I just worry that it's not all the time, being out here like this, it can ruin him and make him learn to survive again. Like animals.

Glancing at Michonne, she was poking a stick at the fire and Kat kept trying to add something that was dry. Trying to put more flame into the fire. "Twenty eight," Michonne had said, only raising the amount, going over the scale I had set for them.

Turning my gaze to Kat, her bright blues were the ones that connected to mine directly. Michonne had peered at me from under her lashes, Kat was sat directly in front of me. "Thirty four," Kat said with a shrug, their voices were teasing, but I knew they meant it when they said they were hungry. I too was hungry, now that I had thought of it.

Their answers made me chuckle, pouring some of the beans into a small bowl for Michonne and waiting to see if we could find anything else. "Yeah," I said out of filling in the gap of silence. "Well, it's been a while," I pondered aloud, remembering that I had set a trap not far from where we were all gathered. "I'm gonna go check the snares," I told them, getting to my feet and preparing myself to go look for the snare I had fixed.

Carl's bright blues flashed up at me, he was handed the stick and began to poke to fire. Turning to log so it could burn a little slower. "Can I go with you?" he asked me, his voice curious and soft. A voice filled with wonder.

Looking to Carl, I thought out my options and saw that teaching him was the best choice. He needs to learn sooner or later, because if something happens to me, he'll need to know in order to keep Kat fed. Even if Kat knows how to hunt because Daryl taught her. "Well, how else are you gonna learn?" I teased Carl slightly, smiling and kicking at the dirt. Putting out the fire while Carl helped me. "Hey, both of you are joining us too," I said as I stared down at Kat and Michonne. Without protest, they got up and we all made our way towards the trap.


CPOV

Dad was letting my learn how to catch rabbits and trap them. Wandering down a path, we had gathered some of the stuff, but we left most of our things back at the small camp we had made. "We'll stay another day or two," Dad told us. "Get some more rest," he stated the reason as to why we would stay at our camp for a few more days.

Michonne's eyes darted between Kat and Dad. As though she knew why Dad would suggest this. Honestly, I felt like I too knew why we were staying. "Finish healing up?" Michonne said, stealing the words from my thoughts. Kat is better, she can walk a whole lot better than before and Dad looks like he never got beat up by the Governor.

Dad had his hands shoved into his coat pockets, following his example, I too had my hands in my pockets and kept close to Kat. "We're almost there," Dad spoke up, Kat was silent and staring at her feet. "Aren't we Kat?" Dad asked, silently, Kat raised her head and began to nod vigorously. Not needing to verbalize her answer, she kept walking and stayed silent.

Taking a few steps forward, I could hear the crunching of leaves and feel the snap of twigs under my feet. The gentle rustling of leaves being pushed by our toes made me feel like when I was a kid, when me and Kat would go with Mom and Dad camping. "We're close now, right?" I asked, wondering what anyone would answer me with, I glanced up first at Dad and then to Kat.

Kat's eyes landed on me, her eyebrows furrowed in curiousity. "To Terminus?" Kat questioned, me and kept her voice soft. The tone she had, reminded me a little of Mom and gave me a slight shiver down my spine. She sounds more and more like her every day. Next thing I'll hear, is her screaming my name and telling me to get in the house. I miss Mom. I miss her every day.

"Yeah," I had answered Kat quickly and bluntly. Cutting to the chase and not needing to make things anymore difficult.

Michonne was staying silent, staying alert and keeping her gaze focused on the path we were headed. "We are," Dad had answered, we all continued to stare on and walk in a line. It went Dad, me, Kat and at the end was Michonne. Like some huge, happy family. It's weird not seeing Judith in Kat's arms, or Daryl beside her. I swear, I think he was falling in love with her and they were both too blind to see it. Guess love really is blind.

Feeling a little nervous, I thought about how we dealt with new people near the prison. How we asked them three questions. How many walkers have you killed? How many people have you killed? Why? "When we get there, are we gonna tell them?" I asked them, wondering what we would have to tell the people in Terminus, what they could be expecting of us and what they'd want us to do.

There were leaves falling from the trees, the wind blowing them and they swirled in the air. A fast and graceful dance, as hues of red, yellow and faded orange fell around me. "Tell them what?" Michonne asked, a piece of a leaf fell into my eye, making me blink and wipe my eye. Michonne's voice was calm, questioning and curious. I like Michonne, she's nice. Kat was right about her.

Deciding to take my time, once it was out of my eye, I looked around and kept my voice level. "Everything that's happened to us," I began. "All the stuff we've done," I continued to list, feeling my nerves and worries flood into me once more. I've killed someone before, I've had to kill Mom and...I don't know what else I can say to these people. "Are we gonna tell them the truth?" I asked Dad, looking up at him and then to Kat.

Dad kept his eyes ahead, but would glance at me and then over my head. Possibly to exchange looks with Kat and possibly Michonne too. "We're gonna tell them who we are," Dad said, as though this was the easy way of ending the conversation. That this was the best way for me not to question further.

I wasn't going to stop there, I was going to ask him more and I wasn't going to let this slide. "But how do you say that?" I questioned Dad, testing him and wondering what he would say about this. "I mean...who are we?" I had drifted with asking my question, wanting everyone to think long and hard about who we all were. A walker snarling, creeping from behind the trees startled us, Kat, Dad and myself jumping back a little.

Michonne froze. Dad and myself pulled out our guns, Michonne slid out her Katana and Kat pulled off her bow, slithering out her arrow and preparing to shoot the walker. We quickly kept moving, Michonne's blade slicing the walker and effectively killing it. When we heard the thud of the body falling, we continued to walk and were more aware this time.

Getting closer, Dad pulled off his bag and looked excited. His pace became faster and he was drawing nearer to the dead rabbit on the ground. "There you go," he sighed out in proud relief. "It's a small one," Dad had got to his knees and examined the rabbit. Dropping to my knees beside him, I stared at him as he took the rabbit off the noose. "It'll do," Dad concluded, thinking that it will be enough to share between the four of us.

"So, this is just a simple slipknot," Dad said after he had shoved the rabbit into his bag. His eyes glancing up at me and Kat was stood next to me. Her hands on her knees, her back curved so she could see what Dad was showing us. "Tie one on both ends, then you tighten one side to a branch," Dad explained as he pointed around and indicated to what he was explaining. "Now, you see how the ground here is sort of like a funnel shape?" he asked me, his blues glancing between me and Kat.

Seeing it, I could see the dent and the way it would hide the perfect trap. It was a trail, one that was certain animals would follow. Ones that were small, much like a rabbit or a squirrel. The squirrel reminded me of Daryl. I hope he's okay. For Kat's sake, more than ours. "It's a trail?" I questioned Dad, thinking I knew the answer to be correct.

Dad was on one knee, I was on both, Kat was crouched and Michonne stood. Michonne was clearly the one to be on watch. "That's right," Dad said, pleased with my observation and good guessing. "That's where you want to set the noose," Dad spoke as he prepared the scene a little. "So you hide it with leaves," Dad continued, pushing leaves ontop of the noose and hiding it. "Then you put sticks all around it, so any animals going by have to run this way. Right into the trap," Dad finished, demonstrating a rabbit using his hand and unfastened the noose from being wrapped around his wrist.

The sudden sound of a man screaming "Help! Somebody help!" made me get to my feet. Kat shooted up from her crouching position, the pair of us began to run and dodged trees, branches and walkers. Dad had called after us, telling us to stop, but I wasn't listening. The man kept screaming, walkers were coming closer and were crowding him. His gun was up, pulling up my gun, I saw Kat stop beside me and she too took out her gun.

The man was surrounded, the only weapon he had was a stick and it was horrific what happened next. Michonne was the one to take hold of me, pulling me back and stopping me from shooting. Dad had took hold of Kat from behind, pulling us both back as we attempted to push them off us. All we could do was watch. "We can't help him," Dad told us, suddenly, the screaming sounded more painful. The man kept screaming 'No' while the walkers took hold of him, biting off a chunk of his eye and bringing him to the floor. All so they could devour him, making him nothing and just another of their meals.

Blood, guts and the image of his eye being bitten off terrorfied me. It was disgusting. All I could think about was how gross and scary it would be to lose your eye. Not only by losing an eye, but losing it to a walker as a meal. Holy shit. The screaming continued, but gradually we saw the walkers begin to notice us and make their way towards us. "We've got to go," Dad told us, pushing us and we all began to run in the other direction. Back towards the train tracks.

We then became trapped, seeing as there were a few walkers on the tracks, munching on some more flesh. I fell back a little, seeing Dad run towards the walkers and hit them with the butt of his Colt. Kat pulled out her machete, slipping her gun back into her holster and began to slice the walkers heads off. Michonne took out her sword, swinging it and killing any walkers that got too close to any of us. Eventually, the path was cleared and I kept moving, hearing the walkers come out from the woods and slowly gain on us. "Let's go," Dad had said, leading the way as Kat pushed me ahead of her.


KPOV

I felt bad, seeing as we had left a man behind and we were now walking along the train tracks. Michonne took to higher ground, trying to find food and hopefully, some more supplies. Myself, Carl and Dad were walking side by side, Carl was in the middle and the two men had their hands shoved into their front pockets. "You two did something brave, but very stupid of you two," Dad began the conversation. "You did initially, what was right and I'm proud," Dad stated.

Dad's head turned to look at us as he spoke his next words. "You're Mom would be proud of you two," Dad told us, making my heart stop for a second at the mention of Mom. "But, we can't always save everyone, especially not in situations like the one that man was in," Dad tried to explain to us, only making myself and Carl glance at him with curiousity and confusion. "Not to mention, it's my job to keep you both safe," Dad stated which made me feel loved, I knew he cared about us and wanted us to be smart about things. "People, aren't like we thought they would be and I can't risk that anymore," Dad pointed out, making me think of the Governor and what I originally believed about him, noticing that he truly wasn't what we believed he was.

The way he spoke, also made me remember the rest of the people we had met on this wild and unexpected journey. People such as Hershel, Andrea, Bob, Tyreese, Sasha and especially Daryl. People we didn't trust before, people we believed wouldn't make it and people who were previously mean, but always kind. They had proved us wrong, in our judgements and beliefs. "But, how are we meant to save people, if we don't even try?" I asked him, curious as to what he would answer me with.

Dad sighed, glancing away from us and I could see his jaw clench. The skin over his muscles flexing in waves. "Because, in times like these, we need to be smart," Dad tried to explain, hinting and throwing us small curve balls. That what myself and Carl did before wasn't the smartest thing. "Besides, that's not the reason I wanted to talk to you two," Dad drove the conversation into another direction, making myself and Carl hang by a thread. "About all three of us, now, I want us all to discuss some things," Dad repeated himself. "Clear the air of any tension, of any thoughts we have about one another," Dad said, which only made myself and Carl's eyebrows furrow and our eyes stare at him in confusion.

Carl was the first to speak, "What do you mean, Dad?" Carl had asked Dad aloud, asking the questions that had yet to escape my lips. Dad seems a little tense, he wants us to talk about something and I'm unsure what it is. Could he hear what Carl had said about him before? When he was out cold? No, he couldn't have.

Dad glanced at us, his eyes bright and peaceful, it was one that showed us he was in a positive mind set with what he was about to say. "I mean, we've been holding things back and now is a good time to discuss it," Dad continued to explain, which only made me gulp and feel a little nerve-wrecked.

Making up my mind, I had a question for Dad and chose to ask him quickly. "Okay, so what exactly are we going to talk about?" I questioned him, wondering what exactly he wanted us to discuss, seeing as it could go in multiple directions. Please don't let us argue, please, please. I can't stand arguments in this moment in time. After seeing that poor man getting chewed up, I don't think my head can withstand another round of pain and other stuff.

Dad sighed, he looked around and kept his jaw clenched for a few moments. His features relaxed, his eyes shinning down at us and making me feel like I was looking up at the man I once called Dad. To the man I grew up with, the wise, gentle, loving and kind man. "Well, how about we'll start by commenting on each other's flaws?" Dad asked me, curious and I knew it was going to be hard for the pair of them to discuss about each other. So much damn tension.

"Sure," I agreed, shrugging my shoulders and giving them a kind smile. "You guys want to start with me?" I asked them out of curiousity, knowing I could handle whatever blows they wanted to give me. "I know I have plenty," I stated, knowing myself enough to know that I had flaws and more where they came from. Hey, you know what they say right? Nobody's perfect.

Dad gave me a look that told me he was glad to see me go first, he looked relieved and like he was more at ease. "You do," Dad stated which made me gape at him. He's meant to say 'No you don't you're prefect to me, Kitty Kat'! "But you also have many redeeming qualities," Dad quickly recovered, side eyeing him through slints. Nice save.

Carl glanced between me and Dad, probably waiting for the pair of us to finish this interaction. "I guess we'll start on Kat then," Carl suggested, agreeing with my offer and taking it by the horns. Well, shit. I don't know if I can handle this, I hope to God I can. Christ, I'll need all the strength I have to not breakdown at their comments. Relax, you can handle this. Keep calm Kat.

The pair of them stayed silent, neither of them spoke as we kept walking ahead and stayed on the tracks. "Okay, so..." Dad began, thinking over his choices of words and what to say about me. "You're brave, but that can make you very reckless Kat," Dad stated which made me sigh slowly through my nostrils. "It worries me, because even though you'd risk your life, it scares me that you might one day lose your life," Dad spoke, it was like a punch to the gut, but I took it in stride.

Gulping, I took a few seconds to process what he said, nodding and glancing at him. "Okay," I agreed, not wanting to argue or continue the conversation any further than it needed to. Turning my head, I looked to Carl and stared down at him. "Anything you want to say Carl?" I asked him, curious for what he would want to tell me, to whatever he was holding back on me and if I should be concerned about it.

Carl was silent for a few seconds. "I don't know any others," Carl told me, as though he honestly didn't have anything negative to say about me. I wasn't sure if I believed him. "I mean, you were good with Judith, you're smart, talented, pretty, smart and quick," Carl listed. "You've got more skills than I ever would have," Carl said with a shrug, his hands still burried inside his coat pockets. "Oh!" Carl exclaimed when he thought of something, as though he was close to telling me. "I thought of one, with you being reckless, you're also very selfless," Carl spoke which made me feel like rolling my eyes.

Restraining the teenager side of myself, I stopped myself from rolling my eyes and groaning about it. "Is this about me and my wound?" I asked him, seeing as he threw me this hint towards what had happened back at the house, before Michonne arrived. Ever since then, I wondered what happened to him, what was going on in his mind and why he was being so intense. He had me worried about him, almost twenty-four-seven.

"Yes," Carl spoke bluntly, making me have to blink repeatedly, seeing as I was right and I had sort of wished I wasn't. "It's also about you going out there, risking your life to save Dad," Carl sighed out, clearly not liking the actions I had done back at the prison when it was attacked. "It was stupid, it could have gotten you killed," Carl stated and spoke hypothetically. "The Governor almost killed you for your choice to go out there and save Dad," Carl said which made me shut my eyes for a second.

Processing it all, I could aleady feel my head thump with the upcoming argument and the thoughts that ran in my head. "I'm still alive, aren't I?" I asked him, waving my arms around a little and fed up with people believing I would be quicker dead, rather than surviving. Nothing's killed me yet, maybe it was luck, maybe it's just me adapting to this world quicker than I believed. But God damn it! Where has everyone's faith gone?

"Barely," Carl spoke, his eyes lowering and his hat covering my sight on his face. I could only see the hat and the curve of his face, judging by his features and the smoothness of it, I could tell he wasn't so pleased. Although, I could sense he wasn't going to continue the discussion.

"He's right," Dad butted in. "Kat, I've told you before, you were lucky to survive the way you did," Dad reminded me of a conversation we had recently. "I think, while it's good that you would do anything to save and protect us," Dad spoke in a calm tone, his voice leveled and I could tell he was being honest. "It can get you killed," Dad said after a few seconds of silence, his eyes glancing to mine and staying focused on me.

"Your loyalty and love for us, it's going to get you killed," Dad repeated, his expression was one of concern, but I could tell he was only saying it for my own good. "If you keep risking your life, every time, I'm worried we'll lose you," Dad spoke, concern laced in his voice and it was all sincere conversation. One I wished we had earlier, but was thankful that we were having it now.

I didn't want to argue, but I wanted my point of view to be seen also. "I wouldn't have a problem with it," I told them, shrugging my shoulders and glancing at the pair of them. "I would be dying for the ones I love, protecting and saving them, the best way I can," I stated, trying to make them see and understand what I thought of when it came to dying for them.

Carl's eyes shied up at me carefully, cautious and was focused on me. "I didn't say it wouldn't be a good reason, because you would do anything for us, especially Carl," Dad said, knowing me well enough to do whatever it took to keep Carl safe. Carl was my priority, he always would be and he would always be my weakness. "But don't risk your life again, not for me," Dad stated, rather than asked me and shook his head. His eyes flashing up at me from under his lashes, his chin tucked in and his gaze was one that made me tense. He's being serious about this.

"But-" I went to cut in, to argue back at him and he had stopped me from doing as such.

I could tell Dad was having none of it. "No 'but's," Dad had cut me off. "It's my job to protect you two," Dad said, his eyes locked on the pair of us, knowing he was serious and every word was filled with meaning. "I love you two," Dad spoke softly, his voice smooth and sincere. "I'll do everything in my power to keep you both safe and alive," Dad promised us, making me and Carl focus on him and nod in silence.

Deciding to continue the discussion, I felt it was time to move the target off my head and threw it in Dad's direction. "Anyway, Dad..." I began, knowing Carl would have enough to say to Dad himself. "You're a good man, you're smart, kind and we can tell you truly care about people," I complimented him, telling him the good qualities and then going towards the bad. "But, your flaws are: you're too stuborn, you're not rational and sometimes, I feel like you're lost," I listed for him.

Carl's eyes glanced up to stare up at me, his expression was one of surprise and there was something in his eyes that made me question things. "Yeah, I thought that too," Carl agreed, nodidng his head and turning his head to look up at Dad.

"Dad, I try to pull you back, to keep you safe and sane. I try to make you see clearly again, but sometimes I watch you think too qickly," I admitted, not liking to tell him this, but it needed to be done. "You're not the same man you used to be, and I don't understand why sometimes," I said with a small shrug, I couldn't look him in the eyes. My gaze glued to my feet and the tracks. "I think it's because you lost Mom sometimes, but I don't know what's made you lose your mind," I tried to understand, to lessen the blow of coming to terms with these facts being thrown at him. "I honestly don't," I said, focusing my gaze back on him and making a bodily gesture, shrugging and shaking my head at the same time. Blue colliding with blue.

It was silent and it was also Carl's turn, his time to say what was on his mind and let go of what he was holding back on Dad. "I think Kat summed it up perfectly," Carl spoke softly, like he was measuring his words out carefully. "But," Carl said to cause some tension. "I do think you don't trust us," Carl said to him, which in fact was a flaw when it came to Dad. "I'm fine Dad, I can keep myself safe and I can stay who I am," Carl tried to defend himself, to explain his view on how Dad was treating us. Espeically how he had been treating Carl for the past few months. "I just, need help and I think you need to trust us a little more," Carl said, slowing his speech and shrugging near the end. "We're not kids," Carl pointed out to him, making me frown a little and side glance at Dad.

Dad was nodding his head vigorously, looking around and keeping his gaze away from us. "Okay," Dad agreed, coming to understand our words and taking them into account. "Carl, you're a man, you're strong and you're a good shot," Dad began to compliment Carl, making me tense up a little. Knowing what Dad would say would either hurt, or make you doubt yourself. "But you're way too confident about you're shots, you're not that smart, but it's only because you're still a kid," Dad reminded him, making us feel a little confused, considering Carl had said he wasn't a kid anymore.

Trying to ease the tension, I decided to speak this time. "Sometimes, I think you can be vicious," I said to him, feeling bad about it instantly, I rest the palm of my hand on his shoulder and shook him a little. "Not that it's bad, because we know you care and that sometimes you don't mean it," I finished off, making it kind and soft, much like how Mom used to speak to us. Going all soft for Carl. Shit, he's like my little boy now. "You're a good and kind man, Carl, you just need to remember who you are and not let the evil of this world get to you," I tried to encourage him, complimenting him at the same time as advising him.

Hearing a bush rustle above our heads, I raised my gun and lowered it when I saw it was Michonne. "Hey!" she called down to us, placing my gun back in my holster and smiling up at her. "There's a deer trail up ahead, it connects to a road," Michonne called down to us, nodding the three of us made our way towards her and began our walk down a road. "Thought maybe there'd be some houses down this way," Michonne tried to explain while we walked, and walked, and walked. It felt like we had been walking for hours, the sun was starting to go down and we needed to look for shelter. "Maybe even a store," Michonne said with a small shrug. "There's got to be some food around here somewhere," Michonne continued, glancing around and sounding a little out of breath from all the walking we had done.

"Hey, look," Carl called to us, he had spotted a car in the distance and I knew that this was where we were going to rest for the night. There was a walker gurgling on the ground, his legs were removed and his body crawled along the ground. Michonne was about to head towards it, her Katana pulled out and her eyes glued to the figure on the ground. Stopping her, I shook my head and gave her a look. Telling her 'I got this' and pulled out my machete. Hacking off the top part of his head, he stopped his gurgling and stretching up to try and reach for me. Making my way back, Dad was preparing the fire, Carl was checking out the car with Michonne and I began to skin the rabbit.


RPOV

It was dark, we had eaten what we had from the rabbit and Kat and Carl decided to go to sleep. The pair of them in the front seats of the car, Carl sat in the passenger side and Kat in the driver's seat. Myself and Michonne decided to stay outside, take watch for a little while and whichever of us grew tired first, would go sleep in the back seat of the car. "That was one small rabbit," I commented as we stared down at the fire.

Crickets were cherping, our hands would rub and get close to the heat of the fire. I liked Michonne. She cared about my children, she protected them and offered them friendship. Kat was best friends with her, but Kat's best friend would always be her brother. Daryl was more of a love interest, he was a good match for her and I had no doubt he was out here looking for us. "It was something," Michonne replied, keeping it light and calm.

Michonne's brown eyes stared back at me, her expression was kind and I knew I could trust her. "Got to hand it to the thing," Michonne began. "It traveled well," Michonne said which made me chuckle. A smile forming on my face, my eyes shying away and staring down at the fire. I can see why the kids like her.

Realizing something, my eyebrows furrowed and my eyes glanced around the area. This thought really surprised me, both shocking me and concerning me. "Have you noticed, that's all we talk about anymore?" I asked her, glancing around the woods and remembering the times when it wasn't a huge worry. "Food," I stated, making things clearer for her. "I forgot what this feels like," I admitted to her, feeling a weird sensation come over me.

Michonne was picking at something, glancing up at the stars, I saw how they shone above us and it was a pleasant sight to see. "Me, too," Michonne spoke, possibly thinking of the times when her, Kat and Andrea were surviving together. "I hope we're able to forget again soon," Michonne said in a positive light. I too hoped for that, since I didn't want to have to think of Kat and Carl possibly starving themselves to death. I'll die than let that happen.

Trying to keep things hopeful, I shuffled a little and tried to get comfortable. "We're close," I stated, talking about Terminus. "Just got to make it through another day," I spoke in a hopeful tone, knowing that it would only be a day's travel for us to get there. "If folks there are taking people in, they have to be strong," I told her, kicking dirt onto the fire and stomping it out with my foot. "They have to have a system," I finished and glanced down at my fingers, getting comfortable again.

Michonne stayed quiet while I spoke, the crackling sound of the flames gone and only silence was in the air. Other than the sounds of nature, we were as silent as could be and I only hoped walkers wouldn't find us. "I wonder if the whole thing's legit," Michonne said, but the distant sound of a branch snapping made me a little alert. Maybe it's just a rabbit.

The sound had me get to my feet, stood straight and glancing around for anything that could attack us. There was silence, nothing was moving and Michonne had her hand on the handle of her Katana. Glancing towards Kat and Carl, I noted that they were still peacefully asleep and I was thankful. "We let people in," I reminded Michonne.

Sitting back down, Michonne relaxed beside me and offered a small smile. "We did," she agreed, her voice was kind and smooth. It was quiet relaxing, making me think of more reasons why Kat and Carl liked her so much. "So did the Governor," she reminded me in return, making me nod and think over what that asshole had done. Killed Andrea, Merle, almost killed me, took Kat, Glenn and Maggie as hostages. Tortured Kat, almost killed her and killed Hershel. He had also killed Axel, but I hardly knew the guy and I'm just glad Michonne saved us in time.

After nodding, I looked to Michonne and felt my heart sink at the thought of Hershel. "Yeah, it's always the same, isn't it?" I questioned her, not allowing her the chance to answer and quickly gave the reply for her. "Don't get to know until we know," I stated, my hands waving around as I spoke. "Maybe this place isn't even there anymore," I suggested, unsure if it was still stood and if there were people still living there.

The sudden sound of a gun being pointed to my temple made me freeze. "Oh, dearie me," a familiar man's voice said as I felt the barrel of the gun, cool and pressed against my head. "You screwed up, asshole," he told me. "You hear me?" he asked, Michonne had reached to go and grab her sword, but another man showed up and kicked it away from her.

There were guns pointed to our heads, Michonne and myself unable to do anything, unless we wanted to be dead by a sudden shot to the head. "You screwed up," he informed me as a few others of his men came out from behind the trees. "Today is a day of reckoning, sir. Restitution," more guns were pointed at us, my body trembling and hands up in surrender.

"A balancing of the whole damn universe," the man said as I saw one of them make their way towards the car. From the corner of my eye, I saw Kat and Carl in the car, both wide awake and Kat attempted to push Carl behind her. The pair staying very still. These assholes better not kill my kids, or touch them. I swear to God, I will kill them. Every single, last one of them.

Carl jumped back a little, the man had eyed them and pressed his hands against the glass. Seeing Kat about to pull up her gun, the man showed them the knife and Carl shoved Kat's hand down. "Shit, and I was thinking of turning in for the night on New Year's Eve," the man declared, joking with the others and he laughed at his own joke. "Now who's gonna count down the ball dropper with me, huh?" he questioned. "Ten Mississippi! Nine Mississippi! Eight Mississippi!" the man counted. Carl and Kat had rolled down their windows, the man stared at them and I could feel my heart racing. Another man with a gun walked to Kat, eyeing her as he pointed his gun at her from her rolled down window, Kat and Carl stayed still.

Just when I thought I was about to die, I heard more footsteps make their way towards us. Slowing when the passed Kat and Carl in the car, I instantly knew who it was when I saw the figure come closer. "Joe!" he familiar voice called out to one of the men. "Hold up," Daryl said, surprised, his expression white, like he had just seen a ghost. A string of emotions clouded me in that instant. Confusion, worry, terror and a sick feeling in my stomach, which for me, was known as adrenalin.


DPOV

Joe's laugh echoed, I was about to leave and disappear into the night. There was a pull, something in the back of my mind, telling me to go and check out who they were about to kill. Walking closer, I saw there was a big, blue car and there were guys who looked like they were ready to kill. "Now who's gonna count down the ball dropper with me, huh?" Joe questioned.

"Ten Mississippi!" I heard Joe called as I walked closer. Crossing the window where one of the men was, I looked inside and had to blink quickly to see if I was imagining things. Kat? Her bright blue eyes wide, her face pale and her chest rising and falling quickly. Her entire body quivered at the sight of the man by her window. "Nine Mississippi!" Joe continued to count.

Walking closer, I saw Carl on the other seat, staring up at one of the others who held a knife, ready to slice Carl and I was on overload. I didn't know what to do. I didn't know if this was even real. "Eight Mississippi!" Joe continued to count, when I rounded the corner, I saw two other people I had never imagined to see. Rick and Michonne.

Deciding to speak up, I didn't want to let these people die. I had no idea it was Rick we were tracking down, judging by how angrily Joe was staring down at Rick. "Joe!" I called to him, halting him from continuing his count and blowing Rick's brains out. "Hold up," I told them, staring at all of the Grimes family and Michonne. All of them were either at gun point, or threatened with a knife. Shit...

Joe glanced up at me, his expression was cool but by the sound of his voice, I knew he was angry. "You're stopping me on eight, Daryl," Joe claimed to me, making me glance around and feel my heart pound. Rick, Michonne, Carl and Kat were all trembling. People I had believed had died, actually had survived and I would have been over the moon. But in that moment, I was terrified.

I didn't know where to look, walking past one of the men, the one by Kat's door slowly backed away and aimed his gun towards Michonne. Dan held up his knife, twirling it and smirked in Kat's direction, as to say she knew Carl would be her weakness. "Just hold up," I pleaded. I can't lose them, not after I just find them. I need to find a way to make them continue to live. I won't let them die, not after finding them safe and alive. Kat's alive. But I-

"This is the guy that killed Lou, so we got nothing to talk about," one of the men glared and growled at me. He stood holding the gun, pointing it at Rick and side glared me. Clearly, he didn't like what I had said and wanted to kill Rick. To get it over and done with. I'm not going to let that happen. Rick is my friend. He's family.

Joe ignored the other guy, his eyes glued to me and the gun still pressed to Rick's head. "The thing about nowadays is we got nothing but time," Joe bit back to the guy who had made the choice, Joe proving he was still the leader in this situation. "Say your piece, Daryl," Joe encouraged me. I could feel the sweat build on me, my heart pounding and the fear of the outcome for the others. I needed them safe, it was no longer want. It was need.

Taking the gentle and calm approach, I knew I didn't need to lie and I could feel all the truth in my heart. "These people, you're gonna let 'em go," I told him, making it sound more like an order than it was a request. "These are good people," I informed Joe, believing this statement with everything I had. My soul, my heart, my mind and words.

Joe's face changed, of one of mockery and his head tilted to one side. "Now, I think Lou would disagree with you on that," Joe began. "I'll, of course, have to speak for him and all, 'cause your friend here strangled him in a bathroom," Joe spoke quickly, making me feel a little tense and this was when I notice Michonne's eyes widen and glance around a little scared.

This isn't going to happen. Nothing is going to happen to them. I won't let them. What if Lil' Ass-Kicker is in the back? I ain't letting anything happen to any of them. "You want blood, I get it," I reasoned with them, understanding their anger and frustration. "Take it from me, man," I told them, dropping my crossbow and raising my arms out to them. Sacrificing myself for Kat, Carl, Rick and Michonne's lives. Possibly even Lil' Ass-Kicker. "Come on," I encouraged them, pleading them to not do anything to the others.

Joe stayed silent, like he was considering what was going to happen and if I was telling the truth or not. Come on. Kill me instead. "This man killed our friend," Joe said as he stared into my eyes. "You say he's good people," he repeated what I had said, but instead he directed it only to Rick. "See, now that right there is a lie," Joe stuttered. "It's a lie!" he decared which made the other two close in on me.

I stared at Joe, hoping he would change his mind and see the truth. "Come on," I pleaded and suddenly felt the butt of a gun punch into my stomach. Groaning, I arched my back and was suddenly being beaten by the pair. I could hear two pairs of 'No!'s scream in my direction, I knew instantly that it was both Rick and Kat who had cried out for me. Being beaten, I was then shoved to the ground, beaten and tossed around.

I could feel my body begin to ache, my skills to fight weren't brilliant when I didn't have my crossbow and I could hear Merle screaming at me. Telling me to hit them, to stop being a pussy and to stop dancing around on my toes. "Teach him, fellas," I could hear Joe call from all the sounds of my grunts and the feel of the punches, kicks and other things being thrown at me. "Teach him all the way!" Joe told the others, this was when I was thrown against the car, seeing Kat's wide eyes, her stance was protective over Carl. Like a mother lion protecting her cub.

Being punched was hard to control, but I could only stand there and attempt to fight back, seeing Kat jump out when Carl cried out a small 'No!'. Carl was pulled out by Dan, only making Kat pounce and attempt to get Carl. Being shoved back onto the ground, they lunged and kept beating me, I couldn't hear Kat, but I saw from the gap under the car and it looked like she had been knocked out by something.


KPOV

"Oh, dearie me," an unfamiliar voice said, making me and Carl jolt in our seats. The pair of us panting, watching Dad get a gun pointed to his head. "You screwed up, asshole," the man spoke down at Dad, both myself and Carl stuck in the car. The pair of us panting in fear. "You hear me? You screwed up," the man threatened Dad, more men had made their way from the trees. Michonne too was held at gunpoint, myself and Carl began to search for our weapons. My body curling so I could claw at the guns and weapons on the back seat floor.

"Today is a day of reckoning, sir. Restitution," the man continued, but I could hear Carl's soft whisper of 'Kat' alert me. Making me turn back, I saw a man approach us, his look was threatening and the way he sneaked on us, made me feel more than uncomfortable. "A balancing of the whole damn universe," the man said to Dad, but my eyes were glued to the man who was now staring at me and Carl, his stare wasn't the type to keep people calm, it was one of desire and threat. Making myself and Carl freeze.

"Shit, and I was thinking of turning in for the night on New Year's Eve," the man said, laughing at his own joke. Just as I was about to reach for my gun, trying to be sneaky, the man caught on and slammed his hands against the window. Showing us his large, shinny knife. "Now who's gonna count down the ball dropper with me, huh?" the man asked, the other at the window told us to roll down our windows. Doing as he asked, I saw one of the men with a gun point it at me. His eyes hungry as they trailed along my body.

I felt disgusted, my back pressed against the seat and my eyes glued to Dad. From the corner of my eye, I saw Carl tremble and panting. I tried to keep calm, but the vibrations that coursed through my body wasn't something I could control. "Ten Mississippi!" the man shouted. "Nine Mississippi!" the man continued to shout, I glanced to the side of me, past the man by my window and I saw a flash of blue. Then a figure, a very familiar figure. One I would know anywhere. Oh my God.

"Eight Mississippi!" the man continued to count. My heart had dropped, my mind spiraled and I could feel my blood pumping. Daryl. His figure was recognizable, seeing as I was one of the people he spent the most time with. His hair was longer since I last saw him, his looked dirtier than usual and his face turned pale when our blues collided.

Daryl rounded closer to the front, the man staring at me noticed Daryl and began to walk back. To point his gun at Michonne, the other pointing his to Dad. Glancing at the man beside Carl, I was about to do something, but the man looked at me with an expression that told me he knew Carl was my weakness. "Joe!" Daryl called to one of the men. "Hold up," Daryl ordered, a little shocked to have come across myslef, Dad, Carl and Michonne like this.

"This is the guy that killed Lou, so we got nothing to talk about," one of the men snapped, cautiously, I had my hands raised and I moved a little closer to Carl. Shielding him from the man, glaring up at him and keeping my stare on him. Carl was panting, his body attempting to hide behind mine, all while trying to stare at Dad and to see what was going on between them all.

The man glared at the one who had just spoken. The one holding the gun to Dad's head was evidently the one who was in charge of this group of bandits. "The thing about nowadays is we got nothing but time," the man had stated pointedly. "Say your piece, Daryl," he encouraged Daryl to speak.

On edge, I waited and listened out for what Daryl was about to say. "These people, you're gonna let 'em go," he ordered, rather than suggested. His tone was cool, his eyes darting to look at every one of us. Worry was shaking him too. "These are good people," Daryl stated as he took a few steps towards the man he called 'Joe'.

Joe stared directly at Daryl, keeping his eyes and expression serious. "Now, I think Lou would disagree with you on that," Joe said to Daryl, as though any of us knew who the hell this 'Lou' was. "I'll, of course, have to speak for him and all, 'cause your friend here strangled him in a bathroom," Joe said, pointing at Dad and making me tense up. Shit.

Daryl looked between us all again, as though he was deliberating in his head and trying to come up with a solution. "You want blood, I get it," Daryl spoke calmly, as though he understood what was going on. He possibly did. He had reasons to relate. "Take it from me, man," Daryl said, throwing his crossbow to the ground and extending his arms out. Sacrificing himself for the rest of us. "Come on," Daryl pleaded, taking a few steps closer and making my heart pound louder. My breath caught in my throat, the color draining from my face and a fear inside me grew.

Joe kept his eyes glued to Daryl, the other two were eyeing Daryl suspiciously. "This man killed our friend," Joe stated to Daryl. "You say he's good people," Joe had repeated, making my heart stop and the sweat develop, making a sheet over my skin. "See, now that right there is a lie," Joe stuttered, pointing at Daryl and waggling his finger at him. "It's a lie!" Joe declared and the other two men closed in on him.

Daryl's expression made me feel worry, Carl's hands grasped my waist and held tightly to the fabric stuck to my skin. "Come on," Daryl pleaded, keeping his eyes on Joe, but it was too late. A blow was landed in Daryl's stomach, using the butt of a gun and making poor Daryl groan in pain.

"No!" I shouted, almost jumping from my seat and my eyes widened. I wasn't the only one to exclaim, Dad too shouted the same thing and went to get to his feet. Instead, Joe pushed Dad back to his crouched position, all while Daryl grunted and was being beaten up. Oh my God. No. Our eyes connected, his stare was on me but I quickly glanced at the man beside me. Trying to protect Carl, I felt the crazy moments flooding into my head, unable to control my emotions and what was honestly going on.

Daryl was being thrown, dragged and brutally beaten. The men punched, kicked and threw Daryl around like he was nothing. I felt like crying, I felt like doing something and I knew I had to protect Carl from the man beside him. "Teach him, fellas," I heard Joe call. "Teach him all the way!" Joe ordered the others who were beating the life out of Daryl.

With my musings, I caught sight of Daryl and felt a lump in my throat grow. Tears began to build, my heart rate must have been faster than I could ever count. With this small distraction, I saw the man begin to pull Carl from me, he had opened the door and pulled Carl out. "No!" Carl shouted, his small hands attempting to grab hold of me.

The man grabbed hold of Carl, placing a knife against his throat and Carl's thin little legs were off the ground. "Come here, boy," the man told him, making my heart race and instinctively, I jumped out and tried to reach out for Carl. To knock the man from his feet, save Carl and hopefully, save the others.

"Carl!" I shouted as I went to reach for Carl, jumping over the seat and falling to the ground. My hand grazed the man's coat as I fell to the ground, knocking onto my side and hitting my wound. The sharp pain was too much, it was like a flash of white, red and then black. Heat rushed into my, making me groan and clutch my side in pain. My head spun, the impact from the pain and my side made me lose consciousness.

Faintly, I heard Carl's whimpers and cries. The man shushed him, making me feel like my head was swimming. Attempting to fight the darkness, it was too much and I felt myself lose the fight. "You leave them be!" Dad's muffled voice said before the darkness overtook my senses. Muffled noises could be heard, but I couldn't move and I couldn't hear the words being spoken. The sounds were as though they were being muted with a pillow, my eyes shut and body limp.


RPOV

Carl had been pulled from the car, Kat had quickly jumped out and tried to get the man's hold on Carl off. "Carl!" she screamed as she fell to the floor. Her grip on the man hadn't worked, Carl was turned to face me, the man taking a few steps, blade sharp and placed against Carl's neck. Carl squirmed and whimpered, trying to get out of the man's hold.

Kat didn't move, she groaned and gave out a yelp as she collided to the ground. Daryl's grunts, fists flying and connecting to Daryl as they beat him. "You leave them be!" I snarled, my body couldn't be controled. Shaking, I felt the rage and fear rush through me. All sorts of adrenalin coursing through my veins, pleading to God to give me strength and to let my children be okay.

My muscles snarling, I felt like a wolf father, ready to pounce and attack those who were about to hurt my children. Kat wasn't moving, she laid on the ground and the man only placed Carl to his feet. "Shh," he hushed Carl, his lips close to Carl's ear as he held the whimpering Carl at knifepoint. Carl was trying to get the man to let him go, his eyes shut and his face turned pale. He better let Carl go. Shit, is Kat moving?

Michonne began to shuffle, trying to get to her sword quick enough. All I could hear was the pounding in my ear drums, Carl's whimpers, the fight that was going on with Daryl and Kat's groans and her rolling around a little on the ground. "You'll get yours," the man spoke to Michonne who held her at gunpoint. "You just wait your turn," he suggested to her, which made me see no way out of this, other than to own up and take full responsibility for my actions.

I wasn't going to let anyone die for me, especially not my children. I wasn't going to make the same mistake with Kat, she would get out of this with the others and find somewhere safe. Either it be Terminus or wherever the hell they wanted to go. "Listen, it was me," I growled, trying to keep calm and make the man stop his men. "It was just me," I stated, not knowing why he had to hurt the people I cared about. Take me God damn it! Leave them alone!

The man 'Joe', came closer to me and still kept his gun placed to my temple. "See, now that's right," he agreed a little sarcastically. "That's not some damn lie," he said as he looked towards Daryl. "Look, we can settle this. We're reasonable men," Joe said, placing his hand on my shoulder and shaking me. "First, we're gonna beat Daryl to death," Joe said, Daryl was grunting and being punched around. Currently, Daryl was on his feet and was flying around while punches landed on him at all angles.


KPOV

Slowly, I was coming back, my senses were back and there was only a small sting in my side. Getting to my hands and knees, I saw the man stood infront of me and with Carl staring at Dad. Hearing the man known as 'Joe' talking to Dad, I ignored them and focused on my main mission. To keep Carl safe. "Let go of him!" I shouted to the man as I got to my feet, tackling him but failing, only dropping us all to the ground and trying to let Carl escape.

Next thing I knew, a man ran up behind me and pulled me off of him. Carl was scurrying to try and get the knife, suddenly, I was thrown to the ground and punched in the face. The guy who pulled me off, landed ontop of me the same time Carl was straddled by the man who weilded the knife. Being pushed onto my back, Carl was on his front, squealing and trying to get the man off of him. All while he reached for the knife.

I couldn't move, the man had me pinned to the ground, his knees were on my forearms and legs pressed against my hands. His feet was pushing me to the floor from my torso down, his hands wrapped around my neck and gripping tightly. Choking me. "Kat!" I heard Carl, Dad and Daryl shout out. Unable to move, I tried to shuffle out of his lock, but I couldn't and my face was going red from the lack of oxygen I was getting.

"Then we'll have your girl," Joe spoke to Dad, my eyes glancing up at the man above me and then towards the one on Carl. "Then we'll have your woman friend," Joe spoke of Michonne. "Then the boy," Joe said, which made me want to grit my teeth, but I didn't have the power to do so. "Then I'm gonna shoot you and then we'll be square," Joe said and laughed.

Dad was watching us from the sides of his eyes, I too did the same. Checking on Dad, he was still held at gunpoint and I saw Carl squirming. Trying to get out of the man's hold, trying to get away from him and reaching for the knife. The man above me continued to strangle me, his hold on my neck shook and made me cough. Gaping, I knew I was out of time and at this moment, I was close to death. "Let them go," I heard Dad growl.

The man who was atop of Carl kept trying to stop him from moving. "Stop your squirming," I heard the man order of Carl, laughing and clearly enjoying how he tormented my brother. Making Carl uncomfortable, I saw how Carl cried and struggled against the man. His cries breaking my heart, my eyes glued to his and I kept them on him. Seeing the man hit him, there was blood beginning to seep from the fresh cut he had developed from the blow.

"Let them go," Dad ordered, firmer and I could hear the anger in Dad's voice. Carl kept whimpering, the man laughing and a sudden gunshot surprised me. I was coughing, trying to get my breath, but I was losing this battle. More so when I saw the man move his knees from my arms, straddling me normally and adding some pressure near the spot where my wound was, making me gape more and tremble under him. Losing the battle to keep my breath.

From the corner of my eye, Dad was on his feet and he had punched Joe. Only for him to recieve a blow to his face, falling and to get kicked in the stomach by Joe. "I got him," Joe had declared, but Carl's cries and squeals was the thing that held my attention. "Oh, it's gonna be so much worse now," he snarled and Carl's whimpering was what kept me alive. His cries, my head sinking and my life slowly escaping me. The laughter only fueled my fire.

The man continued to try and shush Carl, feeling myself fight against the pain, my arms reached up to try and push the man. It didn't work. "Come on, get up!" Joe shouted. So much was happening, Carl was still squirming, trying to reach for the knife. Daryl was fighting with one of them, Michonne went to go attack the man who held a gun at her, only to get slapped. Dad was fighting Joe the best way he could, all while the man above me was strangling me to death. "Come on. Let's see what you got," Joe enouraged Dad.

I could hear Daryl groaning, Carl's sobs and when I looked to him, I noticed he wasn't reaching for the knife. He was pushing it towards me, his eyes glued to me and our blues connecting. He was wanting me to kill the man with the knife. I couldn't and I wouldn't. I wanted Carl to get the knife and kill the man above him, but I knew in that instance he wanted me to survive. "Shh," the man said again, laughing and the next sound made my heart stop. The sound of a belt buckle clinking rung in my ears.

Dad was getting furious, a single tear escaped my eye at the sight of the man attempting to rape my brother. Something burned within me, with this fighting battle against myself, trying to stay awake and not allow the darkness to win. Seeing Carl and the man attempting to rape him, I felt a fire burn within me. Gathering enough strength, from one I hadn't known I had stored, I took hold of the man's face above me. Taking advantage my hands were now free from his restrain, I began to dig my nails into his eyes.

Feeling the gunky texture, I dug my fingers in deeper, until I felt the socket. I didn't stop there. Hearing the screams from above me, I kept squeezing and gritted my teeth. Feeling his fingers loosen from my neck, I had enough room to push him a little back and could finally breathe from my nose and mouth. His screams were so loud, I kept digging my fingers and nails into his head. Until, I heard a smash and knew I had caved his head in. His blood, brains and the sticky gunk of his eyes landed all over me.

Attempting to close my mouth and eyes, I was surprised to see that I had successfully killed the man, only using my bare hands. Multiple things happened the same time the man began to scream above me, Dad had been caught in a bear hug by Joe, Dad bit into Joe's neck and tore off a piece of his jugular. Joe fell to the floor, gurgling and blood pouring from his neck. Dad had spat out the piece of flesh he tore out, Michonne shot the man using his own gun and Daryl had attacked the guy he was fighting with.

Daryl was stomping the man's head in, while I dumped the guy I had killed to one side, getting to my feet and pulling out the man's gun. I saw the man who attempted to rape my brother, Michonne aimed a gun at the man, her eyes wild and the man rose to his feet, bringing Carl with him. Standing, he placed the knife against Carl's neck, Carl squirmed again and cried. My heart shattering, I wanted Carl to be safe, but I also wanted to kill the jackass for trying to rape my brother.

"I'll kill him. I'll-I'll kill him!" the man shouted, hoping any of us would listen to him. Something in his eyes told me, he knew he was fucked. Out of all of us, myself, Dad and Daryl had survived against his friends. Two of them dying brutally, by myself and my Dad. All because this asshole was attempting to rape my brother.

Michonne's aim was on the man's head, her voice firm as I was worried for Carl and I was close to losing it. "Let the boy go," Michonne ordered for me. I was praying to God that Carl was safe, that he would be and that this man would do as Michonne said. Please. Not my baby brother.

Dad was somewhere behind me, but the familiar sound of a knife swiping along clothes alerted me that Dad was armed. "He's mine," Dad growled. Something came over him, dark and I could sense it. Something I wasn't sure was sane or if it was. This man's just tried to rape Carl! Of course Dad's going to react all 'dark' about this. You almost got raped and Dad almost lost it too!

The man threw Carl away from him, Carl almost fell, but luckily, it was into my arms. "Carl," I cried out, holding him in my arms as both of us fell to the ground. Carl holding onto me, as I cushioned our fall and Michonne kneeled down beside us. "Oh my God," I whimpered, unable to control our tears. "It's okay," I whispered, the tears flooding from my eyes. "We're okay," I stated, knowing we were both alive. "Thank God," I thanked God as I stared up at the sky. Clutching Carl's head, we rocked back and forth.

The man squealing and pleading for his life. He had dropped the knife, but Dad wasn't having any of it. The man screamed as Dad stabbed him furiously, gutting him like a fish and turning him into what Hannibal would eat. The sound of skin and bone squishing with blood, was disgusting, but I knew Dad was angry and I was to comfort Carl. Weird thing was, I cried continuously and I had to shut my eyes, but Carl was silent and he stared ahead. I could feel it, because I knew my brother and I couldn't feel his lashes against my skin anymore.


RPOV

Michonne had been holding the kids, seeing Kat react that way proved I wasn't the only one furious. Kat had almost been raped before, but seeing it almost happen to Carl, it drove me wild. I killed for the pair of them, seeing Kat almost die twice was not something I wanted to see ever again. Seeing her pop that guy into nothing, it was horrorfying, but it was impressive.

I had rage at seeing that man, I wanted to do the worst of things to his body, to make him scream and turn into nothing. Kat was holding Carl, the pair of them were close to horrible moments in that time. We were all going to die, but we survived and when I was finished cutting the man into pieces, I ordered Michonne to make sure they were all dead. That they wouldn't turn. Daryl decided to help her out, they also moved the bodies away and checked for supplies from the bodies.

Kat and Carl retreated to the car, the pair of them needing personal and safe closure. To spend silent and time alone with one another. Carl was shaken up about what had almost happed, Kat was scared and sad, but the rest of us tried to deal with the after-math. I took some time to myself too, my hands shook and the blood on me ran cold. I was in a state of shock, seeing as we almost died, Kat almost died again and this time, Carl was almost raped instead of Kat. It irritated me that both my children were close to being raped, I wasn't going to stand for it.

When Daryl headed towards me, I saw Michonne search in bags and other things for supplies. Daryl held a cloth that had been wet with water, so that I could use it and wipe my face with it. "We should save it to drink," I told him, I had sat against the car and the windows were rolled down. The windows covered with shirts and we had shut the doors, clinging the cloth to the frames so it could shield Kat and Carl from our sights.

Daryl handed me the cloth, shaking it loose of any water that began to slide down it, rather than soak into the material. "You can't see yourself, we can," Daryl stated as he indicated to himself and the others, especially my children. Taking it from his gently, I rubbed away the blood from my face and around my mouth. "I didn't know what they were," Daryl said after a few seconds of him sitting beside me.

I kept wiping blood of of me, from my mouth, chin and my nose. I wondered how I looked, but Kat too looked terrible after what she had done to the guy strangling her. Blood, brains and other gunk landed on her. It had covered her face, neck and had stained her shirt. "How'd you wind up with them?" I asked Daryl, curious to see what his answer would be.

Daryl looked pained, but he seemed more relaxed than he was before. His face was a little busted, a bruise forming around his eye, his eyebrow had a cut and his lip was busted in one corner. "I was with Beth," Daryl informed me with a nod. "We got out together," he said, which made me think of the blonde who held and looked after my Judith. "I was with her for a while," Daryl stated which had me curious, as to what happened with her and where she was.

Not beating around the bush, I asked Daryl "Is she dead?" and awaited his answer. Daryl's eyes shied while he glanced towards me, quickly away and back to whatever he might of looked at, other than me. He's nervous.

Daryl's eyes were fixed on me, telling me he was going to tell the truth and be calm about it. "She's just..." Daryl drifted at the end, with a small shrug. "Gone," he stated bluntly, which concerned me, as the blonde Greene had just 'disappeared' and there was no trace of her. "After that, that's when they found me," he said, which made me look away and begin to wipe the blood off my hands. "I mean, I knew they were bad, but they had a code. It was simple. Stupid, but it was something. It was enough," Daryl explained as I kept wiping blood off my hands, feeling like I was in some Shakespearean play.

Hearing him, I knew he was being sincere and I knew Daryl had codes. They were things he respected. Such as 'Family comes first', or like these people, which was claiming shit. "And you were alone," I sympathized, unsure how he could of made it this far with people like the ones he had travelled with.

Daryl didn't look in my eyes, I kept wiping away the blood from my hands and face. I was curious as to what Kat was going to do, seeing as she had taken care of her brother, all before they entered the car and attempted to get some rest. "They said they were looking for some guy," Daryl informed me, shrugging as he spoke. "Last night they said they spotted him," Daryl continued informing me, glancing at me as though to confirm it was me who killed the man back at that house.

Daryl seemed stunned himself with what these men were capable of, possibly even afraid of what I could do. Of what Kat could do. "I was hanging back," Daryl further explained. "I was gonna leave," he revealed, which surprised me, seeing as if it weren't for him, we probably would have been dead. "But I stayed," Daryl pointed out, giving me the obvious facts. "That's when I saw it was you four," Daryl said, as though this was something he was happy but sad about saying.

Daryl must have been just as shocked as we were. Seeing how these men had found Daryl, how they had a code and Daryl went along with it. How he must have felt when he saw what these men were trying to do to us, to do to Kat and Carl. I don't want Daryl to feel like he was responsible for this. "Right when you saw me," Daryl said in a tone that showed he was unhappy with it all, that he had hoped it wasn't us, but was happy to know we were alive. "I didn't know what they could do," Daryl told me honestly, his voice sad and I could sense he regretted being with them, but was thankful he did. He wouldn't have found us if he had left.

Thinking over it, I knew I couldn't blame Daryl for what happened. In all honesty, I had thought that those men would have come looking for us. With, or without Daryl being with them. "It's not on you, Daryl," I told him, trying to reassure him and make him feel less guilty about it all. "Hey," I called to him, trying to gain his attention. "It's not on you," I began, his blues staring into mine as we sat against the car. "You being back with us here, now, that's everything," I stated, making him see that it meant a lot to us, his loyalty was heart warming. He's the right guy for Kat. "You're my brother," I stated to him after a few seconds silence, when I saw him look at me, I could tell he believed my words, but there was something wrong with the words that escaped me.

We sat there, in silence as Daryl nods and processed what happed. What I had said to him. "Hey, what you and Kat did last night..." Daryl trailed, reminding me of the taste of blood in my mouth. The screams of the man above her, his head smashing and her body covered in the man she'd killed's blood spill onto her. "Anybody would have done that," Daryl said, which made me think of myself stabbing the man, cutting him up and gutting him like a fish.

I felt like I was the most brutal out of us. Kat had killed the man in order to save herself, to save Carl and stop the attempted rape. I killed the man out of anger, to kill him for the fact my children had been almost raped in the past. Kat back in Hershel's farm, Carl here, in my line of vision. I wasn't going to stand for it. Killing them was a satisfaction, but it terrorfied me the strength I had and the anger I had inside of me. "No, not that," I disagreed with Daryl. "Not what I did," I told him, feeling a little surprised with Kat and how she had gained so much strength, how she faught and won in a brutal way.

Sensing Daryl understood what I had meant, he was biting the inside of his cheek and I continued to clean the blood off of me. "Something happened," Daryl said, his tone kind and his voice was naturally rough. "That ain't you," he tried to make some excuse for me, as though he didn't know me and what I was actually capable of. I killed my best friend. I beat up Tyreese. I've chewed out a man's jugular. I've shot two men in a bar. I've sliced a man's head with a machete. I've left Carol out alone. I've stabbed a man, gutted him and chopped him into what would have been a meal for the walkers. I don't know what I'm capable of anymore, but I know that there aren't any limits anymore.

I felt he needed to know at least a single example I knew he had seen. "Daryl, you saw what I did to Tyreese," I reminded Daryl. "It ain't all of it, but that's me," I stated to him, knowing there was a dark side to me, and I wasn't sure how long it would be, until I lost my sanity once more. "That's why I'm here now," I informed him, knowing that this crazy and angry side of me was one that could fuel my strength, all in order for me to keep surviving.

"That's why Carl and Kat are," I continued to list, feeling my heart thud against my chest at the mention of my kids. They are everything to me. I won't let them die. I can't and will never let that happen. "I want to keep them safe," I told Daryl, knowing he knew I cared about my children, more than my own life and above anyone elses. "That's all that matters," I spoke, showing Daryl my soul, and just how much I loved and adored my children.


KPOV

After Dad was done, I had cleaned up Carl's face a little, using some water Daryl had offered me. Using some alcohol, I warned Carl that it would sting and made sure the cut wouldn't get infected. We had help from Dad, securing the car and placed t-shirts to cover the windows. Having some air come in, myself and Carl climbed into the back. Attempting to get some rest, I sat while he laid his head on my lap.

I couldn't sleep, I could only imagine what had happened and how close we were to dying, getting raped and whatever else those men had planned for us. Carl was calm, I had to be, even if I shook and felt worry for my brother. For my father, seeing as he had done something that would worry any sane person. I could hear the conversation that was going on outside, Carl fell in and out of sleep. His hands on my lap, one of my arms holding him and the other was in his hands. When he would sleep, I'd slip my hand out and push strands of his hair away.

The peaceful moments were filled with worry, horror and silence. Silence where we couldn't stop thinking. Pondering about the issues we may face, pondering what may of happened and how we were going to move on from this all. "Hey," Michonne said after she woke Carl and alerted me, opening up the door a little and catching one of the shirts we had placed, blocking sight out of the window. All so Carl couldn't see them kill the men, so they couldn't turn and dragged them away from the scene. "Let's get that wound of yours checked," Michonne suggested to me, knowing the pain was still a little numb, but at times I felt my side throb.

I felt worry run through my veins, Carl had sat up a little and leaned his head on my shoulder. "But, Carl ne-" I went to make an excuse, not wanting to leave Carl alone after everything that had happened and wanted to keep him safe. To keep him in my line of sight at all times. A part of me also wanted to discuss what he had done, pushing the knife towards me and not using it to save himself. But, I knew it wasn't the time, nor the place to discuss such matters.

Carl placed his hand in mine, making me move my gaze from Michonne to Carl. "I'll be fine," Carl tried to reassure me, his features soft and eyes kind. "You'll come back to me," Carl spoke with confidence, but it wasn't enough to make me move and I didn't want to leave him. "I'm not going anywhere," Carl said, which made my own expression soften, my heart warming and I blinked a few times. Thinking over my choices, I agreed with him and nod.

"Okay," I agreed, cupping his face, I leaned over and placed a kiss to his forehead. Feeling my heart shatter a little, only at the thought of all that had happened and with how much I loved him. I didn't care about the blood that had dried up on me, I didn't care about anything in that moment, I cared about Carl and how he must have felt. Knowing it wasn't easy, almost getting raped and having to fight to survive.

Pulling away, we gave each other kind smiles and I sighed. Turning to Michonne, I climbed out and saw Daryl glance at me. Heading into the woods, Michonne lifted up my shirt and examined my wound. A little bit of blood came out, but my wound was more or less better than it originally was. Michonne pulled my shirt down, using water, she cleaned up my face, neck and chest. Clearing the blood, brains and other gunk that was on me. "I thought I was going to lose you back there," she spoke as she began to clean me.

Her fingers were lightly touching my face, turning it and her other hand wiping my face with a cloth. "Yeah, well, you didn't," I reminded her, relaxing under her touch and side eyeing her. "Takes more than some shitface to strangle me to death," I informed her, she had stopped and looked at me. A sad smiled formed on her face, nodding, she then continued with cleaning me and kept her eyes on my skin.

When she was done, she went to work on my wound, using cotton buds and alcohol. Clearing the wound while making sure it didn't get infected, so it could heal cleanly. "Just, stay safe, okay?" Michonne asked me, her eyes on mine and I couldn't help but nod, Michonne had replaced my bandaid and pulled my shirt down. When we were done, I didn't vocalize my response, I only nod and stayed silent.

Returning to the others, I saw them getting ready to go and they were waiting for us. Approaching Daryl, I saw he looked badly beaten up. Not the same state Dad was in, but enough that he had cuts, bruises and a cut on his lip. "Hey," I spoke shly, approaching him and I did something he didn't expect. I wrapped my arms around him in a hug, my chin resting on his shoulder and my eyes staring up at the sky. Daryl's body stiffened in the hug, he didn't seem to wrap his arms around me, nor did he relax like he normally would of.

Pulling away carefully, I saw his face turn to look at me a little as I pulled away. Reaching on my tip toes, I pressed a gentle, sweet and lingering kiss to his cheek. When I had pulled away completely, I had only my hands on his shoulders and smiled up at him. "Thank you," I spoke softly, pursing my lips in a tight and thin smile.

Daryl's expression was one of confusion and he looked a little...confused. I wasn't sure, I couldn't read him that well and I was curious as to why he was acting so strange. "For what?" he asked me roughly, the way he spoked, it sounded like he was being reserved and a little cold. Reminding me of the times we were starting to get to know each other, like the time when I was at the farm with him.

I felt my heart race, surprised to be here with Daryl and to be reunited with him again. Even if it wasn't in the best scenario. "You were going to sacrifice yourself for us," I reminded him, my lashes fluttering as I would glance around everywhere. I looked everywhere, except at him. "That was brave, honorable and I'm always going to be greatful for it," I stated, feeling my heart warm and something made my stomach clench, I wasn't sure if it was because of him, or of what had happened. There is too much going on right now. With me, with the others and I feel a little spun out of control.


DPOV

Seeing Kat walk off with Michonne, I knew Kat was going to get cleaned up and possibly fixed up. I was curious as to how she survived, but I knew she lived and that was all that mattered. We were all safe, we were all alive and we could keep going. Keep surviving, together. "Hey," Kat spoke, we had been waiting for her and I had wanted to say something, or to give her a nod of aknowledgement. But, I couldn't. I felt like I was to blame, for everything.

Kat did something that surprised me, her arms flung around me and wrapped themselves tightly. Embracing me. Her chin resting on my shoulder, her scent invading my nose and giving me proof that she was in-fact, here. Alive. In my arms. I was frozen, I couldn't move and I couldn't relax in her hold. Her Dad, Michonne and Carl staring at us, watching this exchange, only to make me feel even more awkward than I normally was.

Kat slowly pulled away, her bright blues staring into mine, our faces inches apart and my heart had skipped a beat. We were so close. I could feel her breath, I could almost taste her lips and it scared me. When she moved away, she did something even more surprising. She had placed a lingering kiss to my cheek, her lips were featherlight, soft and plump. The touch sent a spark inside me, giving me hope that we could keep going and that I could do right. Fix the mess that I felt responsible for. "Thank you," Kat had spoken kindly, she had pulled away and stared up at me. Her hands resting on my shoulders, keeping me here and holding me in her stare.

I felt nervous, especially when I glanced behind her and saw her family behind her. Our family. It was nerve wrecking, seeing as, if I pulled a wrong move, or said a wrong thing, I would be judged. Possibly, even hated. "For what?" I asked her, keeping my voice level and knowing it sounded rougher than I had intended.

Kat seemed to stay calm, her skin was clear enough and no longer was covered in blood. The memory of it hurt, seeing her almost die a second time. Except, this time, she was stronger and smart enough to save herself. "You were going to sacrifice yourself for us," Kat reminded me of my offer to Joe. I kind of still wished Joe took that offer, but now, I'm better. We're all alive. I can keep going, staying with these people and saving Kat. Protecting her better this time. I won't let anything happen to her, or her family. "That was brave, honorable and I'm always going to be greatful for it," Kat said with a pursed lipped smile.


RPOV

After seeing the interaction between Kat and Daryl, we took what we needed and continued our journey. Staying on the train tracks, I walked side-by-side with Michonne. Kat, Carl and Daryl were all falling behind. Going in their own, calm and silent pace. "You okay?" I asked Michonne, making light conversation, but wanting to take time to see if she was okay. She was held at gunpoint, got slapped and killed a man that had her at gunpoint.

Michonne took a few more steps, her hands gripping onto the leather strap that held her sword around her. Kat, back at the camp chose to bring the compound bow one of the men had been using, I wasn't sure why. But Kat said she felt she might need it in the future. "Yeah," Michonne said, nodding and offering me a tight lipped smile.

I was surprised by this response, seeing as she didn't ask me if I was okay in return. "I'm okay," I informed her. She's not worried that I'm not okay? We just killed a group of men back there. We could have been killed, raped and worse. She's not the slightest bit worried about my mental health? Not just my physical and emotional?

Michonne's brown eyes flashed to glance at me, side eyeing me and then looking away. A small smile formed again, her head turning to look at me and her expression was kind. "I know," Michonne replied, telling me that she somehow knew we were okay. How can she know? I mean, she's not some fortune teller, is she?

We kept walking, I could feel Kat, Carl and Daryl's eyes glued to mine and Michonne's backs. They were possibly curious, but I wasn't focused on them at that moment. I was curious as to how Michonne could possibly know, so I decided to voice my thoughts. "How?" I asked her.

"'Cause I'm okay, too," Michonne answered me, keeping it short and simple. It made me curious as to what she had meant, but I took it as though she could relate to me. Like she might understand what it may feel like. Whatever it was, I trusted her and I knew I could count on her to keep my family safe.

Nodding, we kept walking and came across one of the signs. It was on the ground, mucky with mud and dirt from the leaves. Scraping it off with my foot, it read the words 'Terminus' and I knew we were getting closer. "We're getting close," Daryl had spoke, plucking the words from my mind and making me nod at him. "Be there before sundown," Daryl stated, knowing better than I did how long it would take us to get there. Kat stayed beside me, her hand on Carl's shoulder and Michonne stood on the other side of me. Daryl walked a little ahead, to check the distance and to judge by how much we had walked, only by looking at the sky.

Something inside me, told me not to trust what these people had been writing on their signs. Something told me to be cautious, that it wouldn't hurt us to be careful and to play it smart. "Now we head through the woods," I said after I decided what was the best thing for us to do. "We don't know who they are," I stated, hoping that these people would prove to be good and kind. That hopefully, we could survive there and stay safe. Maybe, we could even find the others there and regroup.

"All right," Daryl agreed. He looked like he was up for anything I would say. Reminding me of the talk we had, where he told me to be the leader again. That when shit began to hit the fan, I was meant to step up and I could do a good job at it. We made our way into the woods, I lead the way, then Michonne, then Carl, then Kat and then Daryl followed last.

We kept walking, switching up where we would go and kept our eyes opened for people, or walkers. Sometimes, Daryl would lead, but Kat and Michonne were always behind Carl. Getting closer, we stopped by the fences and stared down at what was called 'Terminus'. It was silent. Something that made my head spin with questions, and my stomach clench and churn. Something wasn't right. "We all spread out, watch for a while, see what we see, and get ready. We all stay close," I informed them, glancing around and saw Daryl get to work. He was alert, checking out the place and walking around the outside of the fences.

Turning my gaze on Kat and Carl, I saw them look to each other and I knew they would stay together. They were stuck like glue, neither of them wanting to be separated from the other. "You two want to stick with me?" I asked them hopefully, I saw Kat wouldn't of minded, but she stayed silent and waited for what Carl would say.

Carl began to walk past, making Kat look to me and offer a small, sad smile. "It's all right," Carl said, brushing me off and wandering towards Michonne. Carl kept his distance from me, watching Kat wander off and leave me alone with Daryl. The pair of us looked to see if there were any weak spots, seeing no one outside and hearing no children, or people living lives. It made me feel a little nervous, an unsettling feeling coming over me and making me worried. Something is not right.

Myself and Daryl were alone, Carl, Kat and Michonne had wandered off somewhere in the woods, but I knew they were safe. I thought it was the best time to address something with Daryl, something I needed him to know and something to give us both an understanding. "You know, I see the way you look at her," I began, keeping my voice cautious and a small smile forming on my lips.

Daryl's head turned, his blue eyes staring at me and he looked a little surprised to hear this, coming from me. "And I know you care about her," I stated, nodding and feeling something I hadn't felt in a while. Relief. "I don't care what you did, I don't care about your past," I told him, being blunt and honest. Feeling that this approach, was the best one to have with Daryl, seeing as he respected it and I could sense it.

He didn't speak, but he didn't have to. "I care about my little girl and her happiness," I stated, as this is what every father wants for their daughter. I want her safe, happy and most of all, alive. "Not only do you make her happy, you're a good man and you keep her safe," I told him, knowing he was a good package deal for her, as he would look out for her and keep her safe. "All I'm gonna say is..." I said, taking a step closer and my voice level, dark. Serious.

"If you want to be my son-in-law, rather than my brother," I paused for a moment, giving him time to process it, he looked nervous and a little scared for what I was about to say to him. "I'd be fine with it," I revealed to him, Daryl hid his eyes away and didn't say anything. He only nod and we stayed silent, continuing our observations and walked around the fence.


KPOV

Michonne, Carl and myself kept walking deeper into the woods. Keeping close to Terminus and needing some time to ourselves. I was still feeling awkward, especially whenever Daryl made eyecontact with me and quickly looked away. Carl was the one in the middle, myself and Michonne on either end of the line we had created. "Why didn't you two go with your Dad?" Michonne asked us, but the question was quickly directed to Carl. Seeing as, I would follow his lead and stay close to him. Carl simply shrugged, not giving her an answer and showing her he was unsure as to why he did it. "When I told you two about Andre, you never asked how he died," she stated, which made me feel sad for her and made me remember little Judith.

Carl was staring at the ground, he had been silent as we walked and a part of me felt bad for Dad. He was alone, other than with Daryl and he had been rejected verbally by Carl. "I knew why," Carl spoke, but this made me feel a little more depressed than I wanted to be. Imagining Judith, her small face and how she was now up in heaven, along with all the others we had lost. Judith had reunited with Mom and Andrea. Along with Sophia and Hershel. And many more.

Michonne was cautious with her words, as though she was figuring out a way to say them. And all in a way, so that she didn't cry and didn't hurt herself with her choice of words. "Yeah, but the how is important," Michonne informed us, making me feel sad and I stayed silent. "We went to a refugee camp. Andre and my boyfriend Mike, that was Andre's father, and our friend Terry," she began the story. "At the camp, it just got worse and worse. People were leaving. People giving up," she continued, both myself and Carl silent as we listened to her story.

During her story, we had stopped and stared at her. "But I didn't," Michonne told us, making me feel sad but admiration for her. She keeps going, even after everything and all that she's lost. I don't know if I would be able to do that. She's a whole lot stronger than me. "I was coming back from a run. I saw the fences were down. I heard the moans. It was over," Michonne had set the scene for us, I could almost see it, just by looking into her eyes.

Michonne's eyes were pooling with tears. I could see she was still effected by it, seeing as we were the first and the only people she had told. "And Mike and Terry, they were high when it happened," her voice quivered, making me sigh and feel worse for her. "They were bit," she revealed and it made my heart sink for her. Shit. Stupid, stupid men. "Could have stopped it. Could have killed them," Michonne admitted as she kept her eyes away from us, staring off into the distance.

"But I let them turn," Michonne spat, anger evident and her gaze fell on us. "I made it so they couldn't bite, couldn't scratch. I tied chains around their necks," Michonne said, which was a revelation for me, seeing as I was in the company of these walkers. They were her pets. The ones that companied me, her and Andrea on our journey. "It was insane. It was sick," she snarled, angry with herself and a tear fell from her eye. It had left a wet trail, down her cheek and staining her face.

"It felt like what I deserved, dragging them around so that I would always know," Michonne spoke, as though those walkers were some sort of reminder to stay with her. "I found out that they kept me safe. They hid me," she informed us, reminding me of the time we were at Woodbury and they took the walkers for research. "The walkers didn't see me anymore," Michonne explained which made me remember the times with Andrea.

The next words that came from Michonne made my heart shatter for her, made me want to scream 'No' to her. To deny it and prove she wasn't a monster. "I was just another monster," Michonne had said. "And I was," Michonne spoke, making Carl's head bow and his eyes shy away from her. "Me. I was gone for a long time," Michonne admitted, dragging out the 'long' for a few seconds. "But then Andrea brought me back," Michonne said as her eyes flashed up to look at mine.

I felt my eyes sting, the memory of Andrea and our time together. It made a few tears escape my eyes and a small smile appear on my face. Andrea was a good friend. Our sister. "Your Dad brought me back," Michonne said as her eyes landed on Carl again. "You two did," Michonne revealed and nods, her eyes darting between mine and Carl's. His head finally tilting up to look at Michonne again. "I see how you've been looking at your Dad and sister," Michonne surprised me, confronting Carl and making me watch him carefully. "You don't have to be afraid of me, Kat, or him," Michonne informed him, making me feel worried. Am I a moster too?

Something in the back of my head, something in my head told me I too was a little wrong. I wasn't who I used to be. I may have been stronger, but I was uncontrollable when it came to Carl. When it came to protecting the ones I loved. "He told me the other day that he was proud of me," Carl said, his head bowed and eyes staring at the floor. "That I was a good man," Carl spoke softly, in a small whisper and laughing softly to himself.

The way he spoke, had me worry but, I could somehow understand what was going on. I wasn't who I was either, none of us were. We'd all changed in different ways. Some for better, some for worse. "I'm not," Carl admitted, like it was true and that he truly felt he wasn't a good man. That he wasn't a man to be proud of. I'm proud of him. No matter what. Just like Mom was proud of me.

"Carl," I went to argue with him, to tell him how good of a person he truly was. But, Carl cut me off and stared up at me and Michonne.

Carl's eyes were light, a bright blue and I felt like I was staring into his soul. There's a light, but it's slowly burning out. I'm losing him too. I'm losing him and Dad. But, I'm losing myself too. What a mess. "I know more now," Carl said, tears threatening to build in his eyes, a sniffle alerting me of this. "About what he wanted from me," Carl continued, making my heart sink and I didn't know how to comfort him. "And I tried, but..." Carl spoke, his voice small and his eyes hidden from us.

Carl took a second, thinking over his words and I saw his body quiver next to me. "I still have these thoughts," Carl revealed, which made me want to cry, but I held it back. Be strong. You need to be. For him. Do it. Just like Mom taught you. You can do this Kat. "I'm not what he thinks I am," Carl's eyes glanced up at me, darting between me and Michonne. His voice shook as he sighed. "I'm just another monster, too," Carl whispered with a shake of his head.

There was nothing I could say to convince him otherwise, so I did the only thing I could. Pulling him to me, I held him in a tight hug and shut my eyes tightly. Michonne's arms wrapped around me, but her hands rested on Carl. The three of us stood, in a hug and listening to Carl cry softly. My heart shattering, but I stayed strong and kept my tears at bay. Not wanting Carl to see me weak, I forced myself to keep composed and told myself this was his time to cry. I have to find a way. We all need to get back to being who we are.


RPOV

Finding a spot, myself and Daryl had dug a hole. When we were done, I thought it was time to go find Michonne, Kat and Carl. They were all in, what looked like, deep conversation. The three of them falling into a hug, I witnessed it and thought it best to let them come find us, when they finished. After their return, I gathered up the weapons and placed them into the ground. It had guns, pistols, rifles, all types of things. Quickly, Kat pulled out the compound bow and slipped off her custom bow. She had also placed her machete into the bag, like it pained her to let it go and smiled up at me.

I was changing my Colt for the Smith and Wesson Joe had pointed at my temple. "Just in case," Kat and I had said in unison. The pair of us smiled, I knew Kat well and if she was going to get in a fight. One where she might lose, where they take her things and run, I knew she would use something she wouldn't mind losing. That damn bow cost me and Lori a fortune. But, I know she loves it and takes care of it. That thing is like her baby. No way would she bring it into a fight she could lose in.

Burrying the bag, we then hopped over a fence and had our weapons at the ready. We chose to enter through a back door, somewhere they may not have expected us. Opening the door, Daryl went first. Myself and Carl had our guns up, Kat and Daryl had their bows up, while Michonne had her sword at the ready. The sound of a woman echoed through the halls, taking cover and checking to see if it was a trap. The woman was repeating words we had read off the signs they had made. Daryl walked into the huge room first, Kat followed after, then me, then Carl and finally was Michonne. "Hello," I greeted the older woman at a desk, speaking into a microphone.

"Those who-" she had cut herself off, spotting me and I made my way towards her. A group of others were fixing signs against the tables, they all looked and turned to stare. All of them surprised and a little nervous, as though they were all shocked about it all. What the hell? Is this how they greet new people?

"Hello," I had repeated, awaiting for a decent response and getting none. The woman was startled, stopping her broadcasting and staring at me and the others. We had all lowered our weapons, but kept them in our hands. Especially after the encounter we had last night, we weren't going to make another mistake like that one.

One of the men, dropped his paintbrush and looked at me a little irritated. "Well, I bet Albert is on perimeter watch," the man spoke sarcastically. Judging by his confidence, he was the one in charge around here. "You here to rob us?" he asked us as he took a few steps closer to us. We were in a line. It went me, Carl, Daryl, Kat and then Michonne. All of us staring at their leader.

I chose to go with the honest route, as I still believed that honesty was the best policy in moments like these. "No," I spoke clearly, my voice echoing in the huge room we were all stood in. "We wanted to see you before you saw us," I told them, which made me glance around. Everyone was very still, watching us and not moving. I know this is a surprise, but surely they would keep doing their jobs and let us discuss. Something's not right.

I took a few steps forward, showing them that I was the leader of this small group. Slipping my gun inside my holster, I saw the man smile and wave his arms out. "Makes sense," he commented, as though he was impressed by us. "Usually we do this where the tracks meet," he said and cleared his throat. "Welcome to Terminus," he welcomed us which felt a little false by how he smiled. "I'm Gareth," he introduced himself. "Looks like you've been on the road for a good bit," he observed. He has no idea.

Keeping my eyes on him, there was something not quite right about him and I was unsure what it was. "We have," I agreed, keeping it short and blunt. My voice level and strong. "Rick," I introduced myself. "That's Carl, Daryl, Kat and Michonne," I listed us, seeing the line we were in and introducing the rest of us. Taking the lead and being as intimidating as neccessary.

Gareth kept getting closer and closer to us. He waved awkwardly to us, making me question him and the others more. "You're nervous. I get it," he spoke, he would glance back at the others and it made me feel curious. We're the ones nervous? Is he sure? "We were all the same way," he said as he pointed towards the people behind him. "We came here for sanctuary," he stated as he looked me directly in the eyes. "That what you're here for?" he asked a stupid question.

Did he really just ask that? No, we're here to kill you all. Of course we're here for sanctuary. Stupid piece of shit. "Yes," I said, feeling a little volatile. Trying to stay civilized, but I didn't know how to treat these people. Considering how uncomfortable they were and how uncomfortable they were making me feel. Something wasn't right, and I couldn't quite put my finger on it.

There was something in his eyes that didn't scream sane to me. "Good. You found it," he said as he first looked at me, his voice level and cool. His eyes glancing at Carl, offering him a kind smile and Carl didn't even blink. "Hey, Alex," Gareth called to one of the men behind him. "This isn't as pretty as the front," he said which made me wonder why we would want to see the front. The way Alex walked towards us, wiping his face and staring at us like we were dinner was unsettling. What the hell is wrong with these people?

Gareth couldn't control his arms as he moved them around. "We got nothing to hide, but welcome wagon is a whole lot nicer," he said, but it made me doubt his words. Usually, when people say 'We got nothing to hide' usually do have something to hide. "Alex will take you, ask you a few questions," Gareth spoke, his eyes darting from Kat to me and making me look at them curiously. Alex waved a shy and nervous hand, looking at him, reminded me of drug addicts. All itchy and nervous.

Gareth's eyes glanced around at all of us. "Uh, but first, we need to see everyone's weapons," he told us, like this was standard procedure and it could have been. "If you could just lay them down in front of you," Gareth stated suggestively. It made me look to the others, trying to see their confirmation and when Kat's eyes met mine, I could see the cogs turning in her head. Something wasn't right to her too, her chest was heaving and her eyes were a little panicked.

Chosing a decision quickly, I was going to give them a chance and hopefully find out what was happening. "All right," I agreed aloud, starting it off and placing my gun to the floor. The others followed my lead and trusted me with making this choice for them. Crouching, I pulled out my gun and knife. Placing them to the gound.

"I'm sure you understand," Gareth spoke down at me, making me look up at him and never let my gaze waver from him. Something is wrong. Really wrong. What the hell kind of place is this?

Keeping my gaze on him, I wasn't going to let him think I was someone he could mess with. Especially not someone he could talk down to. "Yes, I do," I spoke coldly, keeping my voice level and words cautious. Not trusting these people and getting to my feet. Raising my arms, the others had followed my lead and dropped their weapons. Gareth then began to frisk me, while Alex frisked, Daryl, Michonne and Kat.


KPOV

The way these people were acting was strange. They seemed nervous, afraid and like we were a threat to them. It would have been fine, but when I heard some familiar words, my eyes flashed to look at Michonne. Her expression was one of surprise and it was the same expression she used when we were at Woodbury. My eyes wide as I realized where I had heard those words before. Didn't the Governor say those words? That 'He has nothing to hide'?

When Dad had been asked to put our weapons in-front of us, he'd decided to play along, even with my warnings from my eyes. Going along with it, I lowered my weapons and raised my arms. Alex began to frisk Daryl, his eyes glancing up at Daryl. "I'd hate to see the other guy," he commented, probably seeing how Daryl was cut up and bruised from the fight. Asshole.

These people were all either staring at us, or touching us and checking for weapons. The way they stared was ways I wasn't sure how I felt. Alex was one that really frightened me, he looked at us like we were his next meal. "You would," Dad spoke roughly at them, his voice dark and I could see the men again. All of them dead, on the ground and murdered in brutal ways.

Alex then moved to frisk Carl, his eyes on Carl as he patted him down. Gareth was thorough with Dad, whereas Alex's version of it was a failed attempt. They really don't know anything, do they? "They deserve it?" Alex asked Carl.

"Yes," Carl answered him bluntly, his tone dark and his eyes stared straight ahead. I was worried for Carl, but I was going to find a way for us all to come back from this. We have to come back from this. There has to be a way.

Alex then moved to frisk me, Gareth moved to frisk Michonne and the way Alex's hands patted down my body was uncomfortable. My body shook, his hands tapping my sides and then he began to pat my back. Thinking none of it, I had let the way his hands linger a little too long on my ass slide. When I felt his hands grope my breasts lightly, I glared at him and jumped back from him. "Hey, watch where your hands go asshole," I barked, not liking how his nervous reaction was false innocence.

Alex flashed a nervous, 'I-just-got-busted' smile and he quickly moved away. "My bad," he apologized. Glaring at him, when both he and Gareth moved away from us, I lowered my arms and glared at him. Asshole. Touching me like that.

"Yeah," I growled at him, keeping my voice cool like Dad had taught me. My tone level, but my gaze dark and almost threatening. I could see Dad too was glaring up at Alex, along with Carl and Daryl. Daryl looked more tense than usual, making me curious as to why he looked like he could kill Alex with just his stare. I am so confused right now.

Gareth stood before us, proud and confident. "Just so you know, we aren't those kind of people, but we aren't stupid either," he informed us. "And you shouldn't be stupid enough to try anything stupid," he hinted with a suggestive tone. "As long as everyone's clear on that, we shouldn't have any problems. Just solutions," he continued, we were all armed and we were standing still. "Okay," he concluded. Turning his back, Gareth walked back to his work station and Alex offered us a nervous, drug addict like smile.

Alex then began to hand us our weapons, one by one. Michonne looked like she was confused as to this gesture, but when I went to take my weapons from Alex, I was hesitant. Daryl didn't allow Alex to hold his crossbow, he shot down and straight back up. Glaring at Alex as he collected his weapons. Carl took his weapons from Alex coldly, his stare was as cold as ice. But Dad's glare, he played it calm, but I could see the daggers in his stare as he watched Alex. "Follow me," he encouraged us as he lead the way towards a big, outdoor area.

Daryl was the one to walk ahead of me, as though he was shielding me from this man. Dad had shoved me back, away from Alex and Michonne stayed beside me. Carl and Dad beside each other, while Daryl caught up with Alex. "So how long's this place been here?" Daryl questioned him. What the hell is going on with these people?

Alex was keeping his cool, one woman followed us and Dad slowly fell behind, alongside me. Michonne went to walk beside Carl and Daryl. "Since almost the start," Alex informed us. "When all the camps got overrun, people started finding this place. I think it was instinct, you know? Follow a path. Some folks were heading to the coast, others out west or up north, but they all wound up here," he spoke, but I was hardly listening. Instead, I had began to look around and checked for anything that looked suspicious.

We had met with a woman, holding out meat she had been cooking on the grill and something about it didn't look right. "Hi," she greeted us. Her image was one that made me think a little. I felt like I recognized her. Where have I seen her before? "Heard you came in the back door. Smart. You'll fit right in here," she commented and complimented us.

"Hey, Mary, would you fix each of these new folks a plate for me?" Alex asked. Glancing over to Dad, I saw he was doing the same as me. Checking for anything, observing the area and finding things that seemed a little strange. We spotted objects that were from the prison. Pants, bags, the riot gear and the thing that stood out to me, was the poncho Daryl had given Maggie.

Michonne was one of the first of us that began to ask questions, especially after Daryl had initiated the questions. "Why do you do it? Why do you let people in?" Michonne asked them, glancing around, things didn't make sense to me. Where have I seen this woman before? Why do they have our things? Something is terribly wrong.

"The more people become a part of us, we get stronger. That's why we put up the signs,invite people in. It's how we survive," Alex continued to speak, droning on about shit I didn't honestly care about. Something was wrong and I didn't like the feeling my stomach was giving me. "Here," Alex offered a plate to Carl and Michonne.

The smell was off. The meat didn't seem right. The color, the shape. Something was screaming at me, I wasn't sure what it was and I didn't know how to address it. Dad took a few steps forward and took hold of Alex. Keeping him in a headlock, Dad did multiple things at once. He raised the gun to Alex's temple, held him in the headlock and pulled out a watch that was in the pant pockets. "Where the hell did you get this watch?" Dad questioned him. "Where the hell did you get this watch?" he asked again. We were all at the ready, I had pulled off the bow and aimed it at one of the people from Terminus.

Something about them isn't right. Carl, Daryl and Michonne all held their weapons up and stared at the people. Aiming at each of them, we had formed a circle and kept gaurd. "You want answers? You want anything else? You get 'em when you put down the gun!" Alex told Dad, but it wasn't going to be enough for us. Carl had his gun raised, Daryl had his crossbow raised, Michonne had her sword out and I held the bow up at them.

Dad was proving he was the clever man, the most observant out of all of these people. "I see your man on the roof with a sniper rifle," Dad showed him, his voice was stern and I could sense he wasn't afraid. "How good's his aim?" he questioned Alex. "Where'd you get the watch?" he asked, but didn't get an answer. "Where'd you get the watch?!" he questioned again, shouting it down Alex's ear and demanding an answer this time.

Alex was clearly panicked, seeing as he had a gun to his head and there was no way out of this one. "Don't do anything! I have this! You just put it down. You put it down!" Alex shouted up at the sniper. "You want to listen to me. There's a lot of us," he spoke to Dad, his voice was beginning to be angry, but at that moment, none of us gave a shit. Keep your eyes on them Kat. You need to keep your family safe.

Dad wasn't threatened by the numbers, none of us were and we had gone through worse. "Where did you get the watch?" Dad tried again. I kept still and my eyes on the target. He had his hand itching to pull out his gun, but I wasn't going to let him do that. This baby can put an arrow between your eyes quicker than you can draw, buddy. Think twice, 'cause my aim is more accurate than you would believe.

"I got it off of a dead one," Alex made up the excuse. "I didn't think he'd need it," he said, his voice shook and I could tell he was lying. Something is terribly wrong about this. Our people are here. Maggie and Glenn survived, and these people are keeping them hostage. What the hell is going on?

Dad wasn't convinced, I could hear it in his tone. "What about the riot gear?" Dad asked as he threw Alex around, hearing feet shuffle and spin. "The poncho?" Dad questioned, possibly showing Alex the items he meant.

The next voice surprised us all, making us tense and stay as still as we thought imaginable. "Got the riot gear off a dead cop," Gareth explained, his voice slick and cool. It was like listening to a still water pool, there was no ripples and nothing to disturb it. It made me feel a little sick to my stomach. "Found the poncho on a clothesline," Gareth made up another excuse. I smell bullshit.

"Gareth, we can wait," Alex pleaded to Gareth.

"Shut up, Alex," Gareth spat at him.

"You talk to me," Dad snarled to one of the men, which one, I wasn't sure.

"What's there left to say?" Gareth questioned Dad. "You don't trust us anymore," Gareth pointed out. Well, no shit. You've got our people's things and you expect us to trust you? After all the strange things we've seen and the people we've met. I wouldn't be surprised if everyone here is a lunatic.

"Gareth," Alex pleaded out to him.

"Shut up," Gareth barked back.

"Gareth, please," Alex's voice shook, clearly he was in distress and he was blubbering like a baby.

"It's okay. It's okay," Gareth tried to calm someone, I believed it was Alex, judging by how nervewrecked the man was. "Rick, what do you want?" Gareth asked of Dad, but I was waiting for what response Dad would give him.

Dad spoke the words everyone was thinking from our group. It was hard to believe that from this distance, our people would quickly die and these people would find their stuff. "Where are our people?" Dad asked them, keeping his voice stern and his tone demanding.

"You didn't answer the question," Gareth said, then suddenly there was gunfire and people shouting. Shooting the man down, I had shot my arrow between the man's eyes. He fell flat onto his front and when I went to pull out another arrow, I was being pushed away from the area.

"Carl! Kat! Get down, now!" Dad screamed as he pushed us back and towards a space where we could run to. "Go!" Dad encouraged us to run down the space, back to where we came from. Towards where they had the signs, but we were stopped when they began to fire at our feet.

Daryl pulled me by my shirt, dragging me away and leading us towards a different direction. "Come on!" Daryl shouted, as gunfire followed us. Daryl stayed close to me, Dad and Michonne were close to Carl and I kept moving. We were looking for doors, for exits and all we were doing was getting trapped.

They kept shooting at our feet, stopping us from running in any direction. "Come on!" Dad shouted as he shot up at one of the people that fired at us. We headed into a room that looked like a huge garage. Cars were being stored and there was an exit, until the garage door was shut and we were trapped again.

"Here!" Daryl shouted at a door, it was railed and reminded me of the cell block doors. When Daryl shook it, it didn't open and all we were doing, was pacing around, looking for an exit. A way out of here, but I couldn't help but think about the others and where they could be. Dad spotted a door with a huge 'A' painted in white beside it. Running to it, Dad opened it carefully and allowed us all to run inside. It was a storage unit, where it had boxes and crap all over the place.

Heading out a door, gunfire followed us again. "Come on, this way," Daryl encouraged us, I stayed close to him and Michonne. Dad and Carl falling behind, but Daryl had ran down a corner where there were huge crates. The types of carts that you would hook onto trains. What was weirder, was therer were voices and banging coming from them. People were pleading and it only made my eyes widen in shock. "What the hell?" Daryl voiced my thoughts. The banging continued as did the screams for help.

There was a pile of bones near the cart, which made me worry and I almost froze. "Keep going," Dad ordered of us, we ran into a huge room. Candles were lit, writings was on the wall and I felt completely confused. Statues were placed on the ground, along with the names and it startled me. Never again. Never trust. We first, always.

"What the hell is this place?" I asked as I looked around, all of us were out of breath as we tried to regain our senses and catch a break. I was in a haze, pure confusion and fear coursed through my veins. I wasn't sure what was going on and I didn't know what was going on. My voice had sounded more frustrated than it did curious.

"These people, I don't think they're trying to kill us," Michonne mused, speaking her thoughts aloud and making me glance at her surprised. What the hell? What is wrong with these people? Not that I'm complaining about not dying, but, why are they not trying to shoot our heads? They've been shooting at our feet constantly.

Dad was the one to answer this, even if I was the one thinking it also. "No, they were aiming at our feet," Dad revealed to the others, if they hadn't figured it out already. "There," Dad said with authority, pointing towards a door that was wide open.

When we reached it, it quickly shut on us and we had to look for another exit. "There," Daryl pointed towards another way out, myself, Daryl, Michonne, Dad and Carl ran towards it. Dad rushing us, shouting a loud 'Go!' as we exited. The gunfire followed us once again, but when we reached the fences, we slowed and stared at the amount of people stood there. All in a line, guns aimed at us and snipers were all on the roofs. Shit. We're screwed.

This was when I realized something. All through our run, we kept opening doors with the letter 'A' on them. They lead us this way. Trapped us and cornered us to this very spot. Shit! When Dad turned to look at me and Carl, he too had realized this. Carl was panting, a scared look on his face and I was worried. What the hell are these people going to do? "Drop your weapons! Now!" Gareth shouted, but all of us looked at each other and none of us moved.

"Now!" Gareth demanded of us. Deciding to do as he said, we all dropped our weapons at the same time. I dropped my gun, knife and the bow I had been using. "Ringleader, go to your left. The train car, go," Gareth ordered, Dad and the rest of us glanced at the train car they had. Big, red and with the letter 'A' on the front of it. "You do what we say, the boy goes with you. Anything else, he dies and you end up in there anyway," Gareth threatened. My heart stopped for a second, dropping into my stomach and making me glance at both Carl and Dad wide eyed.

Dad's eyes darted between me and Carl, none of us wanted to do this, but Carl wasn't going to die. Not on our watch. Dad's eyes focused on us, nodding, he moved to line up beside the stairs and stared at me and Carl. My heart pounding against my chest, my ear drums thumping from the blood that was pumping. "Now the archer," Gareth shouted down at us.

Glancing at Daryl, I was worried as to which one of us he had meant. "Which one?" I shouted back, neither myself or Daryl looked ready to go into formation. What the hell is going on? Where are we going? What are they going to do? Shit. I'm scared.

"The one with the black eye," Gareth called out, which made Daryl glance to me and give me a silent nod. He headed to my Dad and stood behind him. The pair of them staring towards us. "Now the samurai," Gareth ordered, which made Michonne glare up at him and move to line up behind Daryl and my Dad. "Now the daughter," Gareth ordered of me. Looking at Carl, my breathing became rapid, Carl's eyes scared and there was something in them. Telling me to go, that he would be okay.

Gulping, I kept myself calm, turned and walked to stand behind Michonne. All four of us stared at Carl, seeing him stood there, alone and frightened. "Stand at the door, ringleader, archer, samurai, daughter, in that order," Gareth ordered of us.

I was gaping, worried for my brother and I was terrified. He wasn't joining us and I needed him here. Unable to say anything, I felt a lump build in my throat and tears being to pool. "My son!" Dad shouted, wanting Carl here with us as much as I did. My baby boy.

"Go, kid," Gareth called down at Carl, making Carl slowly make his way towards us. His head bowed and eyes on where he was walking. "Ringleader, open the door and go in," Gareth instructed Dad, but Dad wasn't moving, instead he kept his eyes on Carl.

"I'll go in when he gets to his sister," Dad told them, making my heart beat faster than ever. Needing Carl beside me, so I could protect him and keep him with us.

"Don't make us kill him now," Gareth threatened down at us, making my heart stop and Dad did what Gareth said. Content with the thought that Carl was getting closer.

"Carl, hurry," I encouraged him, gesturing for him to pick up the pace and he did. His thin legs moved faster, getting closer and making me grab the back of his head. Bringing him in to a small hug, I moved him to stand behind me and saw the others start to walk into the car.


NPOV

When the small family entered the car, Rick, Kat and Carl held each other, fear and worry crossing their emotions as the door was shut. Leaving the five of them in the dark, the only light that creeped through was from the gaps of the door. Footsteps drew closer from the other end of the car, slowly the face of Glenn appeared from the darkness. His face illuminated from the small source of light they had. "Rick?" he called to the so called 'Ringleader'.

Slowly, Maggie, Sahsa and Bob appeared. Making Rick and the others take their steps closer. "You're here," Rick said, amazed with the fact that they were all in the same car and that they were together. "You're here," Rick repeated, slowly, strangers came closer to the five who had just entered. Their names were Rosita, Abraham, Eugene and Tara.

Rick's growing smile faltered when he noticed the girl. One of the girls he had seen stood beside the Governor when the prison had been attacked. "They're our friends," Maggie told the five of the other survivors. "They helped save us," Maggie informed the others. This made a smile form on Daryl's face, liking the thought they had more people now. More people who could fight, and side with them in the fight.

Kat was pleased to see them again, given the cirumstances "Yeah," Daryl agreed and stood closer to Kat. He still was in shock from seeing Kat and the others were still alive, but his faith became stronger now that they had all reunited. "Now they're friends of ours," Daryl stated which made Glenn and Maggie feel relieved.

"For however long that'll be," Abraham grumbled as he turned away. Abraham felt like it was the end of the road for them. That there was no way they were all going to get out of this. For Rick, seeing this number of people and knowing they had all gone through hell to get there, he felt pride and confidence.

"No," Rick disagreed quickly. "They're gonna feel pretty stupid when they find out," Rick spoke as he creeped closer to the door, trying to get any sight outside the car. He could see the others gathering their weapons, leave and he felt like he was going to need a lot of preparation. Kat and Carl were unsure where their father was going with this.

"Find out what?" Abraham asked him, challenging him and curious as to what Rick would answer him with. Rick felt anger burn in him, it was a low flame and everyone knew he was coming up with a plan. Those from the prison, who had seen him when he was leading, knew that this was the face he pulled when he was coming up with something.

Everyone was on edge, listening to what Rick had to say and stayed silent. Waiting for Rick's response. "They're fucking with the wrong people," Rick snarled and stated at the same time. That moment, they knew he meant business and they knew that there was going to be a storm coming. They were all ready, confident and some had their doubts. But most of them, trusted what Rick was saying and were going to stand by him.


Ooo! It felt good to write that last line. So. Fucking. Awesome. {Tries to regain composure} Sorry about that. Anyway, here's the chapter and sorry about the delay. There was an emergancy during the weekend and over these past few days, I've been dealing with the aftermath. So, can I have 10 reviews for this amazingly long chapter? It is the season finale of season 4! P.S, yes, I've seen the comic con trailer for season 6! Holy shit! It looks crazy! I can't wait! Especially to write this, I can roughly imagine where it's going. So, let's see what I can come up with!


Right, so questions, then replies to reviews!

1) What did you think of the chapter?

2) What do you think will happen in the next season?

3) What would you like to see next?

4) Do you imagine Kat to ever fall out with her Dad?

5) Top 5 moments from this season.

6) Top 5 moments of this chapter.

7) What did you think of Kat's kill (as in, the member from Joe's group)?

8) What do you think of Jessica Stroup as Kat's actress. (I saw her in The Following, and instantly thought of Kat, as this is the closest I imagine Kat to look like as an actress)

9) What do you think about Kat possibly being in AU story, where she's dreamed it all and lives through it. Already knowing the future? (I thought about this whilst in the shower. Crazy, right?)

10) Anyone want to do a trailer or fan videos on YouTube of this story? (I would love to see it!)


Replies!


Fangirl1510: I've seen it! I loved it. He got captured, so I'm excited to see what they do with Daryl. As for Rick, he lost it since season 3. As for it being a Grimes, I don't think so. I've got a completely original, out of the blue character, and it kind of ties to the ideas I had for the 'Love In Two Worlds' story.


Guest: 1) First off, I love the sound of 'Grichonne', just because they really are like a small family unit. I'm glad you liked the way I played that chapter out. It was difficult to try and pan out. Seeing as, I'm not to sure how to fill some chapters with what goes on with both Daryl and Grichonne.

2) We'll see where I go with this, so far, I think I might kill her off, but maybe I'll feel kind and won't do it. I'm not sure, so we'll see. In Alexandria, I've already planned out where I'm going to go with this. You're right about Kat, you seem to understand her and you know how I write her. I'm very impressed, dear. Well, as you've seen, I don't think much will change between Kat and her father. Carl is the one who is Kat's weakness, and strength. He'll always come first to her, along with Judith. As for solidifying their relationship, I don't think they would fully do that. They would possibly slowly come to terms with them being a 'couple'. As for Alexandria, I've carefully planned out all of season 5. So, I'm simply waiting for what will happen with season 6. Very excited for that.

With the leadership role, I agree. Originally, I was going to let Kat work with her Dad and Michonne. Instead, reading your comment, I thought it over and she's most possibly going to work in the council. Seeing, as she's a leader, but more of in the background and much like when she was back in the prison. Kat's sensible, smart and it's going to be fun when Kat notices what Gabriel says to the leader of Alexandria. Can also give her time with Maggie, and she's going to have a power and trust issues with her father.

3) Hmm. After this chapter, you might want to reconsider a little. After all the trouble they've just been through, Joe, the Governor, Terminus. I don't think Kat's going to be bothered who they are, she's going to get on and fight back. So, we'll see and don't try and think Kat is all good. She has her instincts and she has moments where she acts on them. To survive, she has to fight and she's realized that now. We'll see where it all leads, dear.

4) I've looked at these actresses, I've seen where you went with them, but as I had said. She's like a female, taller and stronger version of Carl. She's a mixture of both Rick and Lori, so I thought Jessica Stroup was perfect. Give her a quick look, and tell me what you think! I'd appreciate it. 5) Glad you would!


redangel2463: 1) I'm glad you loved it. I love writing Kat and Carl moments, I see them like they're soul mates, always looking out for each other. When they're mad, they can't stay like that and they'll always forgive each other. As for Daryl and Kat, well, this is what's happening so far. 2) We'll see dear! 3) It would be too complicated with all three, especially being in that van that drops. As for injuries, it's kind of what happens in this world. It's not that they have to like it, it just happens. 4) Nah, doesn't fit really. Thanks for the suggestion! 5) Glad you would dear!


EastDenise: Glad you liked it. Don't rush dear! It's not the type of story to be rushed. It's a slow burn. Next season, there will be lots of drama and sadly, lots of deaths too. Maybe even more than you expected! We'll see with being hit by a car. Good ideas with Selena and Sandra, but not what I had in mind. I'm very glad that you'd like to see that story!


Hannah: 1) Glad to hear you liked the chapter. I love writing Karl moments. As for Daryl's claim, of course he would! It's all he has left of her! 2) We'll see. 3) I'm not sure Kat would be up for that, but we'll see! 4) Not too sure, I prefer Jessica sadly. Thanks for the suggestion, though! 5) I'm glad you would. I love this story too. I enjoy writing this.


kayley . docherty: Thank you!


Panboa: Dear, you can always talk to me and you know that. I'm sorry to hear, but I hope you can get past this. You will get through this. Think positive! Like Kat.

1) Glad you loved the chapter and all the moments I put in it. As for Rick liking the thought of Karyl, he practically voiced it this chapter! I want them to get together but, that won't happen until a long time. I mean, come on! It's been 45 chapters and they STILL haven't kissed! Even I'm a little surprised, but hey, Rome wasn't built in a day!

2) Well, eventually they will have sex. But that moment might not happen until maybe season 7, or 8. That is, if they survive that long. I'm not sure if I'll be putting in a lot of detail, but I'll try my best! As for them getting together, it didn't happen in this chapter. It won't happen in season 5 either. They'll kiss, but they won't be a 'couple'.

3) I understand, but there are some things I'm going to do which won't make many people happy. For example, I could kill Kat. Or maybe even Carl. Hell, Judith could actually be dead right now, for all you know! I don't want to replace her, but I want Kat to have some moments with Daryl, I want Kat to convince Carol to stay, to give her purpose and many more things. So, if I do change that and make Kat be the one to be hit by the car. I'm going to say this again: I can't please everybody. I hope you can understand that and I hope it doesn't make you want to hate the story.

4) I had no idea you imagined her as a game character. I imagine Kat looking more like a Lara Croft from the 'Tomb Raider: A Survivor Is Born' game, but her hair is curled. Although, she's also to look like Jessica. Had no idea you imagined Kat with blonde hair. I can understand where you're coming from with the actors and actresses.

5) Believe me, this story is my focus. I love Kat too much. As for the other story, I think it will be a OFC, that IS in the zombie apocalypse, she will be eventually getting together with Daryl. It will start in season 1, again, but it'll be a character that is alone and mostly isolated from the group. More than what Daryl was. Daryl and Merle would say stupid shit to people, but she mostly keeps to herself, never getting in anyone's way and keeping her past to herself.


Until next chapter and the 10 reviews! Get posting, so I can get typing quicker!

Much love!

HeroJustInTime90 xxx