Chapter 4

As soon as they hit camp Janis jumped out of the van, eyes finding Glenn instantaneously. Her feet moved underneath her, as she ran towards him, throwing her arms around his neck as he was trying to talk to Amy.

"Hey...hey I'm okay. I'm okay."

Janis didn't say anything, just grabbed him tighter as she could feel the laughter building in his chest, hugging her back as the rest of the group gathered around them.

The van doors opened behind her and she heard everyone jump out of the van. Andrea running straight into Amy's arms as Dale watched on. Morales went straight to his family, being enveloped in hugs and kisses. Janis checked around the group for Daryl, no sight of him, he must still be out hunting.

"You are a welcome sight." Dale said, after hugging Andrea he had wandered over to Janis and Glenn, pulling Janis into a hug as they both laughed "I thought we had lost you folks for sure."

"How'd y'all get out of there anyway?" Shane called, fiddling with the cap on his head

"New guy he got us out." Glenn said, looking behind himself to Rick still in the van.

"New guy?" Shane was moving closer now, subconsciously shielding Carl and Lori behind him.

"Yeah, crazy vato just got into town." Morales called over from his family, still embracing, his daughter resting on his hip.

"Hey, helicopter boy! Come say hello." Glenn turned to the van, shouting loud enough for Rick to hear.

"The guys a cop...like you." Morales told Shane as Rick emerged from the van.

There was a minutes silence as Rick came in to view. You could feel the tension in the air change as Shane saw him, the looks on both men's faces were of shock.

"Oh my God." Shane, who's eyes were searching Ricks, a look of complete confusion on his face. The silence following his statement caught Carl's attention. He looked up from embracing his Mother, and instantly hit the ground running.

"Dad! Dad!" He was crying and laughing and smiling. His arms caught Ricks neck while Rick lifted him, his eyes on Lori behind Shane.

"Carl." He said finally, burying his head in the boys hair. Lori walked over now, still in shock as she clutched onto Rick.

Janis looked at Glenn who's face wasn't dissimilar to hers. A look of confusion. 'Dad?' She mouthed at Glenn who just shrugged at her.

"I can't believe I've found you...I just can't believe..." Lori was shushing him, her hands running through his hair. Shane stood awkwardly next to them, one hand still fiddling with the cap on his head.

Janis let them have their reunion, knowing how much this must mean.

Dale came up behind her, a huge smile on his face as he watched the embracing family. Carl was laughing louder now as Rick placed the hat in his hand on his head, it slipped over his eyes slightly.

"Man...man I...I don't know what to say." Shane was approaching the three of them properly now, his hand on Rick's shoulder.

"Don't need to say anything brother. You've saved my family, saved them when I couldn't, saved them for me. Thank you."

The four of them looked around now, their bubble of being reunited burst.

"I'm..." Rick started, but Lori stepped in front of him, addressing the group she already knew.

"Everyone...this is my husband, Rick."

"Hi Rick!" Janis shouted, while he laughed behind Lori.

"Man...you shoulda said, I mean 'course you didn't know. How could you? I just...what are the chances?"

"Slim...really, really slim." He said, smiling down at his son.

After much celebration and a little more hugging, Janis retreated to her tent, completely worn out from a full day in Atlanta. Taking of her dirty clothes, Glenn barged in.

"Hey, heard of knocking?"

"Funny."

Janis continued to strip as Glenn sat on his side of the tent, still dressed in clothes that smelt distinctly of Walker.

"You're not gonna change?"

"What are you going to do about Dixon?"

"What can I do? He's handcuffed to a roof Glenn." Janis pulled on a very worn flannel shirt, which was only slightly cleaner than the clothes she'd just taken off.

"Not that Dixon."

"Oh...Daryl. Why's it gotta be me?"

"He likes you."

"That's yet to be proven."

"You talk to him."

"I talk to Ed Peletier, it doesn't mean I like him."

"Janis." She flinched. He never called her Janis.

"Fine...fine, but whoever tells him, it's not gonna be pretty. Merle will be fine anyways. Just a little pissed off."

"Oh yeah, what's better than a methed out, pissed off redeck with easy access to guns."

Later that evening they were all sat around campfires, Janis was sat next to Glenn, hair wet from washing it earlier she relished in the smell of the smoke mixing with the Georgia summer air.

Rick had just finished explaining how he had felt, waking from his coma to find the whole world turned, disorientated and scared was how he described it.

"Mom said you died." Carl said, sat next to his Dad, Sheriff hat still sitting securely on his head.

"She had every reason to believe that." Rick said, looking at Carl, no hint of anger in his voice. "Don't you ever doubt it."

"When things started to get really bad, they told me at the hospital that they were gonna medevac you and the other patients to Atlanta, and it never happened."

"Well, I'm not surprised after Atlanta fell."

"Yeah..." Lori trailed off, still looking lovingly at her husband.

Rick went on to thank Shane, over and over for saving his family, extending the thank you to the group for keeping them safe.

Suddenly Shane was on his feet, marching over to Carol and her husband Ed.

"Hey, Ed, you want to rethink that log" Shand stood over Ed, the fire flickering over his face, making it look even more menacing.

"Here we go." Janis whispered, making Glenn laugh. Ed and Shane butted heads on a regular basis. Shane was the group leader, who always knew the best plan of action. He was the one to find this quarry, lead a few people stuck on the highway to it. Ed was stubborn, always thought he knew better and rarely did. They argued for a minute or so, Ed finally giving in and telling Carol to put out the fire.

Shane came back over, a smug look on his face as he sat back down, looking at no one but Lori who wasn't looking too impressed.

"Have you given any thought to Daryl Dixon? He won't be happy to hear his brother was left behind." Dale asked, Janis audibly groaned, Glenn elbowed her in the ribs.

"I said Jay would do It." Andrea and Amy laughed, Janis shot them a look which made them laugh harder.

"No...no I'll tell him." T-Dog raised his hands in defeat "I dropped the key. It's on me."

"I cuffed him. That makes it mine." Rick still felt guilty, Janis could hear it in his voice.

"Guys, it's not a competition. Jay said she would anyway."

"I have a gun Glenn."

They continued to discuss it, which ended in them discussing if Merle could survive the night.

"It's not enough to break through that Not that chain, not that padlock. My point Dixon's alive and he's still up there, handcuffed on that roof. That's on us."

Everyone was silent after that, the idea that they'd left one of their group, however volatile, handcuffed to a roof to fend for himself, made everyone feel a little guilty. They all broke away after that. Saying their goodnights. Rick gave Glenn one more thank you and a one armed hug before he went into Lori's tent.