Chapter 5: - Simple talk.

Maggie walked out of the building, with Melanie following, and catching up. They remained silent, walking around the campground. Maggie went over to the guard tower, and walked up, and relieved Enid. "Go get some rest." She smiled. The young brunette looked at Melanie and nodded, keeping silent and running back to camp. Maggie looked out at the scene beyond the fences. "Beautiful."

A slight smiled curled on Melanie's lips. "Yeah." She took her ponytail down and played with her hair, and french braided it back and leaned against the railing. "What did you want to speak about?"

Maggie didn't speak for a few minutes just watching everything beyond the walls. She inhaled and shook her head, "Just still can't get past it all.. Rick never mentioned you and then poof one day you appear. Suddenly - he's like a kid in a candystore.."

"I never spoke of him either - or anyone in my family. I never told my Spouse either." She sighed. "Well he kind of knew of him but didn't know much about him." Melanie frowned slightly. "I'd rather leave the past behind me. It wasn't my favorite time of life."

"This is?" Maggie asked looking over at her and smiling slightly.

Melanie laughed, "Yeah, kind of." She flashing a smile. "Not the best - but a hell of a lot better than before."

Maggie and Melanie talked for a while, about the past, and how the future could be better.

Finally, Maggie sat on the stool that was up there. "How did you do it Mel? Forget?" She asked looking down.

"Me forgetting? That never happens.I bury it deep down and pretend it never happened." She sighed taking out a flask and opening it. "Fake it till you make it.." She smiled and took a drink - Then handng it to Maggie. "One sip wont hurt."

Maggie sighed and took it, then took a drink. She frowned and spat it out. "What was that?"

Melanie let out a giggle, "Homemade Apple cider that Sam made."

Maggie handed it back to her, "thats just nasty." She shook her head. "Whats wrong with you?"

" So many things - where would you like me to start?"

Maggie rolled her eyes and shoved her lightly. "Smart ass."

"Thats my speciality."

"I can see why Harlan has been keeping tabs on you."

Melanie shot Maggie a look, not saying anything, playing with the wedding band on her finger - it was a simple gold one, not like the others - the others complained until he gave them one with a diamond. "I doubt it has anything to do with my smart mouth."

"He was worried as hell for you, the first time you where brought in - Not sure if the amount of blood threw him off - or he seen how cute you where" She said pulling an apple out of her jacket pocket. " He never checks on his patients as much as you."

"If blood terrified him - God him help continue his medical career...At least I'll have a cool as scar." Mel laughed rolling her eyes averting the conversation. " Just another for the collection."

"Gosh. how many does your ass have?"

"So many.." Melanie said taking off her shirt and turning arond, exposing her back - then faced her, having muliple on her stomach - chest- and arms. "Shoot….stabbed….shot...shot...burned...shot…" She said having a repet pattern.

Maggie watched. "Your ass is lucky." She said looking at them. "How many times you been shot?" She asked looking at the ones on her back.

"That's another story." Mel sighed putting her shirt back on.

Maggie shook her head, and sat back. "Damn.. You are one crazy chick."

"I just adapted to my surroundings." She winked. Maggie laughed slightly.

"Don't blame you there." She sat back and rubbed her stomach."We all had to."

Melanie took a seat and watched over the railing. "If - When this all goes according to plan. I would love to help more around here. If you'd have me that is."

"Good. We need more people like you around here." Maggie replied, and kept watch along with her. "Can i ask you - more info about something?"

"Shoot." Mel replied as she put Maggie's gun back together after cleaning it.

"If you had to choose - when it came down to something dying - who would you save? Negan… or Rick?"

Melanie shot her a look. "Seriously?" She asked sighing. "Well… Rick is my uncle… I'd have to save him… Negan can handle his own ass." She smiled slightly. "He's survived death so many times. He'd be fine."

"But if you had too... choose... Who?" Maggie pressed.

"Rick."

Maggie nodded and got up to head down the tower, as the sun was starting to rise. "Lets go get some shut eye… Hard to believe we stayed out all night."

"We got a lot of shit covered." Melanie smiled helping her down and heading back to camp. She walked Maggie to her place and seen Harlan coming out of someones house with his bag. "Morning."

"Good morning." He smiled walking with her.

"Busy one?"

Harlan nodded, "Yes. Enid wasn't feeling good, could hardly move. Her appendix ruptured. Good thing Michonne got me when she did."

"Yes. Wouldn't want anything to happen to her."

"Yeah, we are down on supplies. I'm going to see if Jesus and the others can run to the hospital about 60 miles south..."

"St Marys?"

Harlan nodded. "Hope they find what I need. I need to make a list." He said walking into his house next to the trailer. It was a small cottage, he put his bag down and threw on the kettle. "Join me for breakfast?"

"Sure." Melanie smiled and helped him.