Since outside the first gate was mowed down by the truck when the Governor attacked, we now had to clean it out of the new walkers that had gotten inside. We had groups, and mine was with Daryl and Rick and Carl. Maggie and Glenn were the other group, while Hershel and Beth stayed with Judith. I was given a full gun, and a long pipe Daryl found outside by some rubble.

"We're trapped, the Governor's men are probably out there, waiting for us to leave on a run so they can kill us," Glenn says, "We barely have any food left."

"We've been here before," Daryl says, "We'll get through it."

"Like we always do," I smile, trying to lift up the mood.

Glenn mumbles, "That was before we had a rat in the nest."

No one reacted to his words, so I assumed I was the only one that hear him.

"You mean Merle?" I ask, confused.

Daryl looks up, "What the hell did you say about my brother?"

Daryl was frustrated. Everyone, especially Glenn was bashing on Merle. While I agree with Glenn, I think he needs to take into consideration how Merle is Daryl's brother.

"I said," Glenn looks Daryl straight in the eyes, "That was before we had a rat in our nest."

Oh shit.

Daryl's face turns red with anger, and he throws a punch at Glenn. Time seems to slow down, I see Daryl's punch flying, Maggie's fear and arms trying to protect Glenn, and Rick looking over and astonishment on his face. Carl wasn't even looking this way until the punch landed with it's target.

Rick then grabbed Daryl and pulled him away, and I heard Merle make a snide comment from his cell.

"Oh gosh girls, no need to fight over me!" He says sarcastically. He bursts out laughing, and I feel like the next hit might be me hurting Merle.

"This isn't the time for your shit Merle," I say darkly.

Daryl shrugs his shoulder out from Rick's grasp, and walks away.

"Merle's with us now," he says, "Y'all better get used to it."

Daryl walks off into the upper level via the stairs, and that's when Glenn starts talking.

"Seriously, Rick, I don't think Merle being here is gonna fly-,"

"I can't kick him out," Rick says with emphasis. He looks to the ground, frustrated he can't do anything without pissing off either Glenn or Maggie.

"I wouldn't ask you to live with Shane after he tried to kill you!" Glenn whisper shouts. Carl looks over then.

Something in Rick snaps, "Well he's dead. And don't bring him up this is different," Rick tries to explain.

"How the Hell is-," Glenn starts yelling.

"Merle has military experience," Hershel butts in, "He may be erratic, but do not underestimate his loyalty to his brother."

He does make a valid point. I listen in, crossing my arms over.

"What if we solve both problems at once?" Glenn asks, "Deliver Merle over to the governor as a bargaining chip. Give him his traitor, and call for a truce."

"Hey girlies," Merle says with a smile in his voice that you can even hear, "I don't think The Governor really wants me back, he want's the bitch who stabbed his eye out," he points with his metal arm to Michonne.

All of us look at her, and she shifts uncomfortably at the staring. I look away first, knowing how it feels to get stared at and it be awkward, so I looked at my shoes and waited for someone to say something.

"There's no reason for her to be here, is there?" Merle says, "She's just gonna make things worse. The Governor will want to kill you a lot more is she's with you."

Michonne stays quiet, as if she doesn't want to add anything into the argument. I don't blame her.

I was about to say, I'll take my leave now, but I felt it would be even more awkward to speak. I walk out of the room, letting Rick and the others deal with the drama.

I head outside before the first gate to one of the watch posts. There's a pair of binoculars hanging on a nail, and I take them. I check around the perimeter. There's nothing too bad, just the normal amount of walkers roaming around. I notice a walker come out of some tall grass, but something metal is attached to it's neck. I try to look closer, and I see a person holding a pole that's attached to the walker. It's a women: Blonde wavy hair up in a hair tie. She seemed familiar. I peer closer and adjust the lenses of the binoculars.

It's Andrea?


I thought she was dead. I was told she was probably dead by Carl, and in this world, it was unlikely to survive on your own.

But here she was, moving around the walkers with her pet one that disguises her as one of them so she doesn't get attacked. Smart of her.

So how was she alive? Is she with a group?

I knew that Maggie was out here too, on watch, she was out here before me.

"Maggie!" I yell over. She looks at me.

"What?"

A piece of white hair falls in my face. I shove it out of the way, "Andrea's out there!"

I point out to where she's coming towards the gate. Maggie sees her, and runs inside to get the others.

I grab for my gun, just in case some of the walkers around her decide to attack.

The door opens again, and Rick along with Glenn, Maggie, Daryl and even Merle come out guns raised.

"Are you alone?" Rick shouts loudly, unlike his normal voice.

"Open the gate!" Andrea yells as she's becoming cornered by a group of walkers up against the gate.

I shoot down one, and then two others.

"Are you alone?" Rick shouts even louder. He's at the gate, unlocking it.

"Rick!" Andrea yells, her voice saying 'this isn't the time for that'.

The gate unlocks and opened. Andrea unclips the metal thing off the walkers next and kicks it to the ground, running inside.

"Oh thank god," She says, going in for a hug to Rick, however, he shoves her away and up against the gate.

"Rick!" I say, what the hell, Rick? She hasn't seen you for so long, why the harshness?

"What the hell, Rick?" Andrea says, speaking my mind.

"Hands up and get on the ground!" He says rudely. She sits on her knees as he searches her for weapons and I take this moment to run over.

"I asked if you were alone," Rick grabs Andrea's arm.

She looks at him, so much confusion on her face, "Yeah, I'm alone."

Everyone calms down, takes off their guns, and heads inside.

Rick takes her hand and lifts her up, "Welcome back."

She's confused by the change in Rick's actions, and quite frankly, so am I. Why did he freak out like that? Did he think she was going to kill us? She might've been gone for a while, but we were her friends, she wouldn't kill us.