A/N: Okay, so, this chapter is Day 4 but here's a quick recap if anyone needs it. This story takes place in the eight months between Seasons 2 and 3. It will deal with issues such as how the group regains their trust in Rick, how Carl is forced to start growing up, how Carol becomes more independent, etc.
The story is currently in Part 1: The Hunting Grounds, which this is the last chapter of. The characters continued on their trip from Hershel's farm towards Fort Benning and ended up getting run off the road by a group of "Hunters" in the area. A Hunter is someone who uses Walkers to hunt for food and supplies. This group of Hunters is at war with a rival group in the same county led by a psycho named Michael. When Daryl gets kidnapped by Michael's men, Rick and the group are forced to trust strangers in order to get him back.
PREVIOUSLY on K2323's 239 Days...
(Based on AMC's The Walking Dead)
Part I: The Hunting Grounds
Day One: When the group is ran off the road by a "Hunter" – someone who tracks Walkers to find food – they are forced to set up camp off an old country road.
Day Two: The group is held at gunpoint by Meagan, one of the local Hunters. They capture her and tie her up to a tree until they can gain more information, but in the process, they are dragged into the middle of a turf war between Meagan's group and another group of Hunters to the north led by a man named Michael... And the cost of getting involved in this war? Daryl is kidnapped.
Day Three: Michael's group contacts Rick and arranges a hostage swap – Meagan and two of Michael's people whom Meagan's group is holding hostage. In exchange? Daryl. Meagan introduces Rick to her people, and Rick decides to help Meagan's people fight Michael and free Daryl. Rick's camp joins Meagan's and prepares for war. Michael's men try to kill Rick's group and fail. Rick and Michael meet face-to-face in the nearby town and Michael reveals that he was a killer before the Walker outbreak – and that he and Rick have met before. Daryl escapes captivity with the aid of Evans, a mysterious man who is apart of Meagan's group.
And now, the conclusion of Part I: The Hunting Ground.
Day 4
CALM BEFORE THE STORM
Ten Years Ago
Rick Grimes
King County
The television blared loudly throughout the station, each and every word coming through the speakers like stingers of a bee, ripping through the ears of all those who could hear. The words were painful for no one more so than Rick Grimes as he nervously – solemnly – angrily – sat at his desk, waiting. Waiting. Waiting.
The reporter on the TV was broadcasting live.
"Thank you, Charles. Now, I'm told that here at any moment, the Sheriff Department's Public Relations Officer will be speaking here at the podium behind us. No word yet as to rather or not they will be issuing a public apology on behalf of their Deputy."
The scene on the TV changed, from the steps of the King County Courthouse to a news room where Charles, the news anchor, sat, staring at the camera.
"Alright, we'll get back to that King County courthouse in just a moment where, any moment now, the Sheriff Department is expected to release a statement. Now, for those of you who are just joining us, just to re-iterate, we are awaiting a statement from the King County Sheriff's Department today after hearing the shocking testimony from Michael Seymoure today in court. For those of you who do not know, the case that I am, of course, referring to, is the case of King County vs. Seymoure. Michael Seymoure was charged last October with the murder of Van Da-"
The television cut off. Rick looked up from his melancholy sulk to see that the newest Deputy, Shane Walsh, had cut off the TV.
"Hey, you mind?" another Deputy asked from his desk.
"Have a little respect, asshole," Shane replied, "Rick was Van's partner, the last thing he – or anyone in this office – needs to hear is Van's name being ran into the ground. You got a problem with it and we can settle this outside like men."
There was a grumble of complaint throughout the room but nobody dared to push it further. Everyone knew Shane was right. Van had been a good officer. But it was easier to demonize Van, to remember him as the media was portraying him, then to face the fact that he'd been murdered in cold blood. Easier for most people, anyway. But not for Rick, who knew Van better than anyone else in this building. Not for Rick, who'd looked up at Van like a father figure.
Not for Rick.
The sullen country boy gave Shane, his best friend since high school, an appreciative nod. Shane had only just moved back to King County and joined the Department. Rick was thankful to have his best friend back in town. Especially now of all times. Shane had been very supportive and had tried to help Rick through this tough time. Rick owed Shane everything. He really did. And Shane, all the happy to help, returned Rick's nod like any good friend would do.
"Grimes," an older, gruffer voice spoke up now. "My office."
Rick rose from his chair and silently walked across the room to the office of the Sheriff, an older, larger man who's long hair had long ago turned gray. Entering the office, Rick gently closed the door behind him and sat opposite of the Sheriff, waiting to hear what his boss had to say. And for a long moment, nothing was said, as the Sheriff tried to find the words to say what he had to say.
Finally, he did.
"The DA just called... The jury still has to make the final decision, but it doesn't look good. The defense is painting this as a case of self defense. And with Van's... history with substance abuse, the defense has a pretty good shot."
"Sir, Van was clean for years, and you and I both know it!" Rick protested.
"You're right, Rick! Hell, who do you think you're talking to!? Van and I were partners for years! The man was like a damn brother to me! But none of that means a damn, Rick! We've got to let the legal system take it's course!"
"To hell with the legal system!" Rick shouted.
"THAT LEGAL SYSTEM IS THE REASON YOU'RE SITTING HERE!" came the response. "AND AS LONG AS YOU WORK IN THIS OFFICE, YOU WILL RESPECT IT!"
Silence. Finally, the Sheriff spoke again.
"I understand what you're feeling, Rick. I really do. There's a reason I paired you with Van, you know. Why I had him show you the ropes. It's because I see a lot of myself in you, Rick. I see an honest young man – a good father and a good husband – and a good Deputy. But one thing you're going to learn is that, out there on the job, sometimes we win some... And other times, we lose some. Now, you take all the time you need to recover. Your job will be here when you get back. Go home and spend some time with that new son of yours, take your family on a vacation. Do something to get your mind off what happened. You don't need to be here when the jury makes their decision, Rick. It's just not healthy for you."
"Sir, I don't need a vacation. I need to get back to work."
"Not yet, Deputy. I don't want to see you in my office for at least two weeks. Don't worry. We can hold down the fort without you for awhile. The sky's not going to start falling. Besides, you're going to need your rest. When you get back, I'm pairing you with the rookie. I can see that you two are pretty close friends. It'll be up to you to show him the ropes. Think you can handle it?"
"Yeah," Rick replied, nodding. "Yes, sir. I can handle that."
"Good," the Sheriff replied as Rick stood and started to leave. "Oh, and Rick. One more thing."
Rick smiled. He'd heard the Sheriff's famous catch phrase a million times and recited it along with the Sheriff:
"If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is to stop digging."
Present Day
Midnight – Unknown Location
Daryl Dixon
The helicopter had been flown for what seemed like hours before it had finally touched down. Daryl had been left with a lot of questions and not many answers. Sandwiched in between two young men with M16s wearing black vests, Daryl kept his eyes locked in front of him most of the trip. Evans, who was the strange man in the suit, and the pilot sat in the front.
They'd finally landed in an abandoned parking lot in what seemed to Daryl like a complex in the middle of nowhere. Daryl had absolutely no idea where he was, but he felt like he was still a prisoner, oddly enough. Who this Evans guy was and what he wanted, Daryl had no clue, but something told him it wasn't good. But another part of Daryl was amazed. Whoever these guys were, it seemed they had military grade weapons, helicopters...
Daryl knew that he was about to meet some really nice friends or really bad enemies.
It was dark outside and Daryl didn't really know what was going on as the helicopter died. He could hear shuffling feet and not long after he could see the vague outline of a number of armed men outside the helicopter.
"Now, now," he heard the one named Evans tell the men, "Is that any way to treat an old man?"
"Evans," he heard one reply. "We weren't informed that you were coming. He wasn't informed you were coming. You know how he feels about unannounced visitors."
"Oh, I think he'll want to hear from me," Evans replied, "Tell him I have Daryl Dixon with me."
...Okay, now Daryl was worried. It was time to make a plan.
Meagan's Camp
The cry of a warrior in the middle of the night awoke the sleeping masses in Meagan's camp. Carl had been having sweet dreams of candy canes and marshmallows when he heard the cries outside the tent he'd taken temporary residence in. Alarmed, he felt for his gun as his eyes adjusted to the darkness. He could see Jacob beside him, already dressed and weapon in hand. Carl quickly followed suit.
The two stepped out into the busy camp site before them. Carl examined the chaos unfolding as people ran from one tent to another, handing out heavy weaponry and supplies. Just what the hell was happening!? Where was his Dad? Carl started to make his way through the crowd, trying to not be in the way, searching for his dad. He could hear Jacob behind him yelling for him to wait up but he did no such thing.
Carl spotted his mother in the distance, outside her tent, along with Carol. He quickly jogged over towards them. Lori, upon seeing Carl, let out a sigh of relief as she placed her arms around her boy. "Oh, thank God," she muttered, relieved that her son was safe.
"Where's dad?" Carl asked, breaking away.
"I'm not sure," Lori replied.
"Did he ever come back last night?" Carol inquired.
Lori spotted Meagan walking by and ran up to her.
"Where's my husband?" she demanded.
"There," Meagan replied, pointing backwards. Lori turned her head to see Rick limping, half-clutching his knee, behind Meagan. Beside him stood Jackson, who was helping Rick walk. A few well-armed men followed behind Jackson as well.
"What happened to you!?" Lori demanded, worried about her husband.
Rick ignored his wife, the woman whom he could barely stand to look at lately. He had more pressing things on his mind. Meagan, Jackson, Rick, and the men who had been with them made their way towards the Command Tent. Lori watched in horror at her husband's subtle reminder of how bad things were between them. She felt her grasp on Carl loosen as he chased after his father.
"Carl, wait!" she commanded, but there was no stopping the boy.
Lori had other things to pay attention to anyway. A few moments passed and the chaos that the camp site had displayed moments ago faded, giving away to the sound of a trumpet echoing throughout the camp site. As the trumpet began to play, everyone stopped what they were doing and started making their way towards the center of camp. Lori glanced at Carol and, the two, exchanging a glance, decided to follow.
Inside the Command Tent, Rick slammed his hands on the table as he nearly collapsed into a chair.
"What the hell was that!?" Rick demanded. "What the hell happened!?"
"Evans should have been there," Meagan replied, worry in her voice, "Did he get taken out?"
"Fat chance," Rick replied, "He had the most secure position in the entire town square. Your man went AWOL -"
"EVANS WOULD NEVER DO THAT!" Meagan replied.
"I TRUSTED YOU!" Rick yelled back, "WITH MY LIFE! With my son's life! WITH MY PEOPLE'S LIFE!"
Rick set his foot on the table in front of him, wincing in pain as he examined his injury. He'd been shot in the leg with some kind of dart which had ripped through his pant legs. Rick ripped a piece of his pant legs off and, taking a deep breath in, pulled the dart out of his leg before using the cloth to apply pressure. It hurt like hell. Why had they shot him with a dart?
"Just what the hell did they shoot you with?" Meagan asked, echoing his exact sentient.
"Poison, maybe," Rick replied. "I'll have our doctor check me out."
Rick took a deep breath to collect his thoughts.
"I was out of line before. I don't know what happened to Evans, but even if he did betray you, I know it's not your fault... Hell... My best friend was traveling with us. I trusted him with my life. And he... He betrayed that trust. I had to put him down. I had to watch my son put him down when he came back. These aren't exactly... normal circumstances, after all."
"Rick," Meagan replied, "What did Michael say to you? Why did you break from the plan?"
"He..." Rick closed his eyes. "Michael is... A murderer."
"Tell me something I don't know," she replied.
"No," Rick replied, "He's been a murderer... I was a sheriff's deputy in my old life. A few years ago, my partner, Van... He was walking home after work. It was dark. He saw a woman getting raped on his way home and stopped to help her, but he was... Killed. By the rapist. Michael... Michael was the rapist. He killed my partner. We caught his ass, threw him in jail... He somehow intimidated the woman he had raped into keeping her mouth shut. The lawyers made it look like Van had been the one who attacked Michael. He got off easy. Only did two months in jail for a misdemeanor."
"But that doesn't make any sense," Meagan replied, "Evans said that Michael was like a son to him. Don't you think he would have mentioned that Michael was a murderer?"
"I don't think Evans has been telling us the truth," Rick replied.
Meagan sighed, closing her eyes. She turned to Jackson.
"Gather up everyone who last communicated with Evans, everyone who was posted near him. Anyone who may have seen where he went. Find out whatever you can."
Jackson nodded. "You can leave it to me."
Meagan turned to face Rick. "You ready to go give a war speech?"
Unknown Location
Daryl Dixon
The next thing Daryl knew, he had a blindfold over his face and he was being escorted... Somewhere. He could feel an air conditioner, signaling he was now indoors. Judging by the number of footsteps, he estimated that he was currently surrounded by five other men. Two in front. Two immediately behind him. One further back. They seemed to be in a hallway of some sorts, Daryl guessed. His hands were cuffed and he felt that he probably couldn't do much of anything considering this.
Damn, Merle, if you were here, you'd kick my ass.
Daryl heard a door in front of him open as he was brought into a room. The room smelt like a hotel room to him, but he didn't know why. That's when he heard a familiar voice.
"Are the cuffs really necessary?" the voice asked. "Uncuff him and leave us."
"But, sir-" he heard one of the men protest. The source of the first voice must have shot the guard some kind of look because that was the end of that. Daryl felt his restraints loosen and his blindfold was taken off... The first thing he noticed, as the other men left, was that he was, indeed, in a hotel room with two beds. The next thing he noticed was the man with the familiar voice.
No fucking way.
"Well, well, well," the man greeted Daryl. "It's been awhile, hasn't it... Daredevil?"
Meagan's Camp
The people had gathered in the center of the tent city where a few cinder-blocks served as a sort of pedestal for announcement purposes. Meagan had made her way onto these blocks and was facing the hundred or so people before her, a solemn look on her face. She waited as the mummers in the crowd died down, everyone giving her their attention.
"A lot of you are wondering what is going on," Meagan replied, "I am aware of this... I am sorry to awaken you all at this hour, but the moment of battle approaches quickly and this may be the last chance I get to address you all before it begins. As many of you know, we have taken in strangers who were passing by when they got caught up in our war with Michael and his men. They have lost one of their own, who we believe Michael has likely killed."
A number of gasps could be heard throughout the crowd.
"We attempted to undergo negotiations with Michael just a few hours ago. Unfortunately, a number of troubling events occurred. It would seem that one of our own, Evans, has been lying to us for months now about his connection to Michael. If anyone sees Evans, you are to detain him and bring him to me immediately..."
Meagan paused, examining the crowd further.
"The battle we have ahead will not be an easy one. We will lose friends. Family. And more. Those who are able to fight, please, join us in battle. Let us avenge our lost and ensure our survival. Those who are unable to fight, please be aware that evacuation will begin immediately. You are to gather only the most essential of your belongings and report to Vinny at the tree line in fifteen minutes. God bless you, and may we meet again in a few hours, all safe and sound.
"As for the rest of you... You know the plan. You are ready for this. Everyone is to report to their positions immediately. We will begin in half an hour... Hold tight to each other. We are the only family we have left, my friends. Each and every one of us. We've been through so much... But we will not fall. We will fight to survive. And we will win. Because when we rely on trust, love, and companionship, there is nothing we can not do... Dismissed!"
RAINFALL
1:03 AM
Meagan's Camp
Rick Grimes clutched his son's shoulder lightly as the two stood alone in the Command Tent. Outside, Rick could hear the frenzy and commotion of the camp as it prepared for war. Rick didn't know what was going to happen today, but if there was one thing he did know, it was that he didn't want his son to be harmed in the upcoming battle. That just wasn't an option.
"I have a job for you," Rick explained.
There was a tinge of disappointment in Carl's voice. "You're not going to let me fight, are you?"
"There's somewhere else you need to be, somewhere more important."
"Dad, no. I want to stand alongside you and the others and help f-"
"Do you love your mom?"
"...What?"
"Do you love your mother?"
Carl frowned. "Dad..."
"Carl."
"Yes," Carl sighed, disappointment in his voice.
"I need you to keep her safe. Take her and Carol and Beth. Go with Vinny and the others to the Evacuation Site. Okay?"
"Dad -"
"No buts," Rick replied, gently handing Carl a case of bullets.
"Dad, I don't understand. If you don't want the four of us to fight, why did you bring us here?"
"That was a mistake," Rick admitted, "We shouldn't have stopped when we got ran off the road. We should have kept on moving on to the next town. But we didn't stop, and Daryl may have paid the price for it. We're involved now, and I've got to do my part to help these people out of the mess that I helped make for them... I've got to fight today, for reasons that I can't begin to explain to you. But you and your mother shouldn't have to suffer because of my mistakes."
"Dad, I-"
"There's something my old boss used to say to me, Carl," Rick continued. "He said, 'If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is to stop digging.' It's time to stop digging, Carl."
"Dad... Don't die."
"Got it."
Carl started to leave when Beth rushed into the tent, an alarmed look on her face. Carl stopped, slightly taken aback by the girl in front of him, but quickly realized that she had tears running down her face. He stopped, a genuine look of concern upon his face for the girl who stared at the boy and his father with her tear-filled eyes.
"It's my dad," she managed. "My dad... He's gone."
Unknown Location
Hotel Room
Daryl Dixon could not believe his eyes.
"Daredevil!" a skinny man with long, shoulder-length, shaggy black hair exclaimed.
"Son of a bitch," Daryl muttered as the man wrapped Daryl in a big, bear hug. A smile spread across Daryl's face as he patted the man on the back, relief spreading throughout his body. He was safe. Finally, he was safe.
"Carlos, you son of a bitch!" Daryl exclaimed as the latino man released his grasp on Daryl.
"Daryl the Daredevil Dixon. You are the last person I expected to see today. How long's it been now? What, seven, eight years?"
"At least," Daryl replied. "After the Outbreak began, I heard that all hell broke loose in Afghanistan. I figured..."
"Yeah," Carlos replied gloomily. "It got pretty bad over there. I was on one of the last flights out, before everything collapsed. Barely made it out alive."
A beat, and then a wide smile spread across Carlos's face.
"Hey, do you remember that time when we were kids and your brother broke Mrs. Nichola's window!?"
Daryl broke out in laughter. "How the hell could I forget that!?"
"Her face was so red, I thought she was going to explode!" Carlos roared. "Where is the son of a bitch anyway?"
Daryl frowned. "I don't know. We got separated in Atlanta a few months back. I haven't seen him."
Carlos frowned as well. "I'm sorry to hear that."
"Look, Carlos-"
"Actually, the name's Enrique now. I had to change it for... um... Legal reasons."
"Enrique?" Daryl spat, amusement in his voice.
"I don't look like an Enrique?"
"You damn straight look like an Enrique, you Mexican piece of s-"
"Hey, hey, hey! I'm Guatemalan, you racist bastard!"
"Okay, you Guatemalan sorry-ass! Now, can you please tell me where the hell I am?"
"You, my friend," Carlos/Enrique explained, walking over to a curtain that stretched across one wall of the hotel room, "Are in paradise."
Enrique moved the curtain aside to reveal the balcony window of the hotel room. Outside in the distance, Daryl could see an incredibly massive, brick wall the likes of which he had never seen before. Daryl's mouth nearly fell to the floor as he stepped forward to examine his surroundings closer. The wall was about a half mile away from the hotel and took on a massive height – several stories high, at the very least. Between the hotel and the wall were a number of other buildings – houses, offices, and so on.
"Welcome," Enrique stated, "To The Rock."
Meagan's Camp
Hershel had spent the last few hours doing some investigating. Something, he had feared, was wrong with the camp that had taken them in. He didn't know what it was, but something didn't feel right about them. So, he had determined that he would get to the bottom of this... Whatever this was.
It had started innocently enough. A few hours ago, he had joined George for a late-night walk. George had lit a cigar, certainly a novelty by today's standards, and offered one to Hershel, but Hershel did not accept. The two had taken a walk around the camp and they were enjoying the late night breeze.
"I've been meaning to ask you," Hershel had mentioned, "About the guns. The real story. How did... Excuse me. I'm being rude."
"You're concerned. It's okay. I'd be asking questions if my family had just moved into an extremely well-armed camp of people too."
"Yeah," Hershel replied, "That's about it... So..."
"Hm?" George asked, looking up.
"The guns."
"Oh, right. We found them. Raided a bunch of pawn shops, a few police departments. A lot of our group were army, soldiers from Fort Benning. We instituted an Armory Rule in the camp – all guns go in a Central Armory. It was easier to keep track of things that way."
"You must have raided those stores pretty quickly. Most of the pawn shops we've come across were completely empty."
"Yeah," George replied, "We got lucky, I guess."
"Yeah. And considering how hard it is for anyone in Basic Training to get their hands on anything more than an M4, well, I've got to say, you guys -"
"Hershel," George protested, "If there's something you want to say, say it."
The two stopped, glancing at each other.
"Something just... Something seems really fishy here," Hershel replied.
"You're paranoid," George replied, "We're just like you. We want to survive."
"That's what I'm afraid of," Hershel replied, "Some people will do awful things in the name of survival... Like..."
"Like?"
"Like killing innocent men and stealing their weapons."
"Is this about the Doomsday Prepper thing? I told you, I was kidding! It was a joke! We tell all the newbies that!"
"How do I know I can trust your people?" Hershel asked.
"Look," George replied, "I'm going to tell you something – something only a few people know about me. Before the world went to hell, I was in a dark place. A very dark place. All the self loathing, the hate... I was getting ready to end it all. I was going to do it. I cocked a gun and pointed it at my face... And right as I was getting ready to... you know... I heard a voice. It was Paul. My neighbor. The man your group ran off the road. He was knocking on the door to my house because he was concerned – he wanted to know if I'd heard the news about the Outbreak. Paul saved my life on that day, and because of him, my family and I are alive. If you're worried about you and your daughters, well, don't be. There's no place safer than with us."
There was a moment of silence, and then Hershel spoke. "Good."
He started walking forward, leaving George standing there, blinking curiously.
"There's just one little problem with your story," Hershel called out to George as he kept his eyes on the treeline ahead. "Your wife told me that your family is from Birmingham. She said you guys only met Paul a few months ago."
Clink.
Hershel hit the ground and fell unconscious.
Lori Grimes held a shrieking Beth close in embrace, shielding her eyes from the horror before them. Hershel's blood-stained shirt laid stretched across the ground in the clearing outside camp. Rick was bent over the shirt, examining it closely. Things didn't look good.
"Take her back to camp," Rick demanded of his wife, who silently obliged, turning the girl away. Rick looked up at Carol and Jackson who had both accompanied him.
"Who was the last person to see Hershel?" Rick demanded.
"He was sleeping in the tent with Maggie and myself," Carol explained, "He sat up around ten o'clock and put on his boots. I asked where he was going and he just said that he needed to go for a walk."
"You didn't follow him?" Rick demanded.
"What the hell do you expect me to do, Rick?" Carol asked. "Stalk the man!?"
"I don't need this right n-"
"No, you know what? I am sick of your attitude. You walk around here acting like you're the fucking king of the world, you know that? You kept a huge secret from all of us, you killed one of our own. You have no right to judge me!"
Slap.
Carol was stunned, her hand clutching her face as it burned red with the sting of the slap Rick had just given her. Memories – brutal memories – of Ed came flooding back into her mind.
"I said it before, and I'll say it again. If you want to be apart of this group, you're going to have to start taking orders. We tried it your way, and it didn't work. We're not going to be led under a fucking mob rule. Not anymore! WE'RE NOT LOSING ANYONE ELSE. Now, you can get your ass back to camp and evacuate with the rest of the non-combatants, or you canleave, out there, in the woods, alone. It's your choice. But let me say this. If you stay, if you EVER talk to me that way again, I will not hesitate to drop you off miles away from our group and let you fend for yourself. AM I CLEAR!?"
Carol did not respond.
"AM. I. CLEAR!?"
"Crystal."
Rick could not afford to be Mr. Nice Guy anymore. People were dying, disappearing. He had to start being a leader. He had to live up to the promise he'd made.
And he had to start now.
BATTLE ON THE BRIDGE
2:34 AM
Peach Blossom Trail – Near The Bridge
T-Dog had volunteered to help with the evacuation. His job was to join the evacuation group as one of the escorts until they made it safely across The Bridge into the neighboring county. He road shotgun calmly in the seat of a Jeep Wrangler, M16 in his hand pointed at the road in front of him as Vinny drove. Neither were saying much.
The jeep slowed as they turned onto another, more curvy road. He could see a caravan of other vehicles in the side mirror of the jeep – the rest of the group following closely behind. Headlights off, of course, which made it rather difficult to drive in the dead of night. And difficult to see any enemies that might be waiting up ahead.
"You don't talk much, do you, sonny?" Vinny asked as he rounded a curve.
"Not unless there's something to say," T-Dog replied.
That was the end of that conversation.
It was hard for T-Dog to stay awake. He hadn't really gotten much sleep over the last several... months. And right now, with the lights off, it was easy for T-Dog to just... start... dozing... off...
SCREEEEEEEEEEECHHHHHHHHH.
T-Dog came wide awake and looked over at the alarmed Vinny who flashed his headlights to get a better look at their surroundings. Illuminated in the headlights, they could see the Bridge only a few yards ahead. Salvation. The road to safety. The path out of here.
And it was being guarded by a caravan of military vehicles.
"Oh, shit!" T-Dog shouted as Vinny clamored with the stickshift, trying to put the jeep in reverse, all the while making wailing motions at the vehicles behind him to turn around.
"Is that-?" T-Dog asked.
"Michael's men," Vinny confirmed.
And then, there was the sound of a gun firing, just once at first.
Pow.
And that's how the Battle on the Bridge began.
City Square
Dr. Johnson's Pediatrician Office / Improvised Medical Facility
Carol was a bit surprised with herself. She'd somehow found the courage to volunteer for the coming fight with Michael. Maybe it was a stupid, rash move. Maybe she just wanted to prove Rick wrong. But she knew that it was also the right thing to do. If there was a chance in hell that Daryl was still alive, she wanted to help rescue him.
Of course, she had no actual skills when it came to firearms, so for now, she would help out at the new Command Center. The group had abandoned the camp and taken the City Square, a surprisingly easy task considering how abandoned they'd found it. Carol'd learned a bit about these things from Hershel already. But she was still learning. She wasn't sure how much help she'd really be.
Hershel. She hoped he was okay, she really did. Part of her just wanted to leave here right now and go join the Search Party. But she knew that this was where she was most useful.
Useful.
She was never useful, was she?
A frown spread across her face as she tried not to break into tears.
"Carol," one of the nurses asked Carol as sat alone in the break room, "Can you check out the Patient in Exam Room 3?"
"Huh? Oh. Yeah, sure."
Carol wiped her eyes and stood up, ready to get to work.
When she entered Exam Room 3, she saw the one person she did not want to see right now. Rick Grimes sat impatiently on the exam bed, waiting. Carol stood in the doorway, blinking, as Rick studied her. Finally, he broke the silence.
"Are you wearing Scrubs?" he asked, unamused.
"What are you doing here, Rick?" Carol replied, equally unamused.
"Meagan made me come in, said I needed to get checked out before I'm ready to fight."
"Why?"
Rick pointed at his leg.
"I got shot. With a dart. I'm not sure if it's poison or what."
"When did you get shot?" she asked, examining the wound.
"About six hours ago," Rick replied, pulling his pant legs up to give Carol a better view of his ankle.
"Do you feel sick? Sluggish? Anything?"
"No," Rick replied, "Are we done?"
"Well, if it was poison, you'd probably be dead by now."
"Then why the dart in my leg?"
"I don't know," Carol replied, "But I've got to admit, that's really strange."
"I'm leaving," Rick replied, shaking his head and standing up.
"Rick, about earlier. I-"
They were interrupted by the frantic opening of the door. Meagan stood at the doorway, an alarmed look on her face.
"The – group – evacuation – trapped – creek – ambush!"
"Slow down," Rick demanded. "What's going on?"
"The evacuation group!" Meagan shouted, "They're under attack!"
3:09 AM
Near The Bridge
Glenn and Maggie ran quickly towards the battlefield that was The Bridge, hand in hand. They were not alone. A total of three hundred soldiers were running towards the battlefield, ready to provide reinforcements to the 75 already there helping defend the evacuation group. Well armed and ready to fight, Glenn did not dare let go of Maggie's hand. He knew she was scared – terrified – that her baby sister had been hurt. Glenn was terrified that Maggie was going to get hurt.
"Mags," Glenn whispered to his wife-to-be as he spotted the edge of the treeline up ahead.
"What is it?" she replied.
"I love you."
He squeezed her hand tight as together, the soldiers rushed out of the woods and into the battlefield that was The Bridge.
All hell broke lose. They were on the country road that led to the Bridge. Glenn could spot The Bridge up ahead, down the road a bit, but the fighting had spread back a bit and Glenn and Maggie had run straight into the battlefield. It was dark and chaotic but Glenn could hear shouting all around him, bullets flying, and suddenly he noticed that he was not holding Maggie's hand anymore.
"MAGGIE!" he yelled. "MAG-"
"Get down, son!" he heard Vinny yell from nearby. Glenn ducked just in time as gunfire sprawled over his head. One second later and he would have been dead.
"Thanks!" Glenn yelled out to Vinny, but the old geezer was already gone. Glenn had to move faster. This was war, and he was terrified. But he didn't have time to be terrified. He didn't have time to think. Just to fight. Wait. That was right.
"Don't think. Just fight."
Glenn clutched his gun tightly and started shooting.
Maggie, meanwhile, had other things on her mind. She had to find her sister. Running, searching, she tried to find the black van that her sister had been traveling in. From one vehicle to the next, she'd run, duck behind a tire, search. Try not to get shot. She ran from a car to a pickup truck and noticed one of Michael's men dressed in black rounding the corner. She put a bullet in his gut and another in his head before he even noticed her. Keep moving.
She found the van. Her sister was nowhere in sight.
"BETH!" Maggie yelled.
Another one of Michael's men tried to stab her from behind with a knife, but she saw his reflection in the van's mirror just in time and managed to duck as he crashed into her, his upper-body running into the driver window of the van. Maggie, from her crouched position, quickly sought to defend herself. Punch. Shove. Bite. Shoot. Somehow or another, she took her would-be-assailant out and continued her search.
"BETH!"
She heard a voice.
"M-M-Maggie."
"Beth!?" Maggie shouted, looking around. She saw a figure laying face-down in the green grass on the side of the road and ran to it, panic flooding her body. "BETH!"
It wasn't Beth. Turning the figure over, she recognized the dying girl as Rebecca, George's daughter. A pile of blood surrounded the poor girl.
"Rebecca," Maggie mournfully greeted the dying, younger teenager. "Have you seen my sister?"
"D-down by the creek," Rebecca managed, "Hurry."
Maggie nodded and started to leave, though she did feel a bit guilty about leaving the poor girl there to die. Before she could leave, Rebecca stopped her.
"W-wait."
Maggie bent down to hear the girl's words.
"My dad... abducted... yours."
"What?" Maggie asked, alarmed.
"Your dad's... alive... in... Key Hill V-v-" she began to cough up blood. "Valley."
"I don't understand," Maggie replied, helping to hold Rebecca's head up so she wouldn't choke on her own blood.
"Don't.. trust... anyone."
Beth wasn't quite sure how the hell to breathe anymore, but she somehow managed to keep her head above the water as she felt the rush of the creek carry her down stream. Lori was to her left and Carl was to her right. The last hour or so of her life had gone by like a flash of lightning and the sight of Lori screaming for her and Carl to run towards the creek kept replaying in her mind as the sound of gunfire grew more and more distant behind them.
At this point, what was right and what was wrong was anyone's best guess. None of them really knew where the Evacuation Site was, but they couldn't turn around. They couldn't go back into the hell that was the county over. They had to get to safety, whatever that was. They had to stay alive.
Beth noticed Carl swim up a bit ahead of her and Lori, towards the bank of the creek – on the safe side of the Creek. Beth and Lori followed him towards salvation. Towards the safe county. Towards... Survival. They had to stick together now. No matter what. There was no other solution.
"Follow me," Carl commanded. Neither Beth nor Lori rebutted Carl as he led them into the woods.
Survival.
That was what awaited ahead.
CALM OF THE STORM
7 AM
Michael's Compound
Alex was taking a walk near the creek. A fresh bruise now painted his face, and it was likely to scar, and he was walking with a limp, but he was walking, none the less. The last twenty-four hours kept replaying in his mind. How had he gotten here? How had things gotten this bad?
Early this morning, Alex had gone to war. He had killed people. Good people. And each and every one of their faces kept replaying in his mind. The hostage, Daryl, whom Alex had set free, was nowhere to be found. Hopefully he'd gotten back to his camp. Hopefully, he would make good on his promise. Hopefully, Rick's group would help Alex free his sister and the other girls.
Alex pondered these things and more as he sat on the sandy creek bank, wading his injured foot in the creek's water. He could hear the sound of gunfire in the distance, but it was dying. The battle that was going on less than a mile away was coming to an end, and any minute, troops would be arriving here, back at base, to regroup and prepare for the next attack. Alex was to be part of that next attack. He could not bear the thought of having to kill any more people.
He was interrupted from his thoughts when, to his alarm, he spotted a figure nearby, rounding the corner, wading through the shallow creek. Immediately, Alex hopped to his feet, drawing his gun and pointing it at the figure, who appeared to be a young woman with brown hair. She seemed to have spotted him as well and immediately drew a pistol and pointed it at Alex. They couldn't have been but a few yards apart from each other, guns pointed at one another.
"Identify yourself!" Alex demanded.
"I don't want any trouble," Maggie replied, examining Alex. Was he one of Michael's men? "I'm looking for my sister. That's all."
"Then put your gun down," Alex demanded.
"You first."
Alex wasn't sure what to do. Was this one of Meagan's people? Or Rick's? He knew that protocol stated that he needed to take her to Michael. He also knew that Michael would kill her without any definite proof that she was an enemy. Alex couldn't allow that. Slowly, he lowered his gun, deciding to give the woman a bit of trust. Slowly, Maggie did the same.
"Have you seen her? My sister?" Maggie asked, "She's a little younger than me. Blonde hair. Blue eyes. She's probably traveling with a brown-haired boy a little younger than her."
"Believe me," Alex replied, "She hasn't come here. If she had, she would have been killed. There's a watch-tower about a half a mile up the creek."
"R-right," Maggie replied, trying hard to stay strong in front of this stranger. Trying hard to fight the tears that she felt welling up in her eyes. She slowly started to back away, eyes locked on Alex as she started to round the bend in the creek and go back the way she'd come.
"Wait," Alex commanded. She stopped. "Are you part of Daryl Dixon's group?"
Maggie's face lit up when she heard Daryl's name but she tried to hide it.
"No," she replied, coldly.
"Did... Did he get away safely?"
Maggie paused. This man couldn't have been part of Michael's group, could he? Was he telling her that Daryl had gotten away? And he wanted to know if he had gotten away safely?
"I-I haven't seen him," she replied.
"Oh," Alex replied, frowning. "If you do, tell him that it's okay. He doesn't have to keep his end of the bargain. I'll figure something out."
Maggie chose her words carefully. "What bargain?"
City Square
Command Post
People were busy. Shouting. Maps and papers were sprawled over desks and there was a buzzing chatter throughout the room as decisions were being made. Rick and Meagan stood in the center of the chaos, trying to orchestrate their forces to bring Michael to his knees. So far, things were not looking as good as they had a few hours ago.
"Our last troops are pulling back now," Rick noted, "We lost about twenty men. I think we can mark this battle a loss," he decided, placing a red tack on the map in front of him.
"But The Bridge is still ours," Meagan replied, "We should be able to send units around the Mulberry Farm towards the bridge and have them surround the farm."
"We don't know how many units they have posted there," Rick replied, "They could be calling for reinforcements right now. For all we know, that's their main strike team."
"But we do have the element of surprise," Meagan pointed out. "It's an ambush, after all."
"Ambush," Rick repeated the word carefully, "It's risky, but it could work."
One of Meagan's men approached them.
"Sir, ma'am," he greeted them, "The first of our units from Mulberry Farm are reporting in. They have something they want you to see on one of their trucks. They wouldn't specify."
Rick looked over to Meagan suspiciously, then back at the man. "Are we sure it's our men?"
"Yes, sir," the man replied, "I know these men well. They are our own."
"Let's go, then," Meagan decided. "Let's see what the cat dragged in."
The Rock
Freedom Park
Freedom Park was... Refreshing. It may have been little other than a few drinking fountains, a running path, and some benches, but it was nice not to see a walker anywhere nearby. It was nice to see people jogging down the trail. It was nice to sit on a park bench and feel the sunshine beating down. It was nice to be free.
"After the war, we all came here," Enrique explained. "The Rock had previously been nothing more than a training ground for White Chaos, b-"
"The mercenary group that you were a part of," Daryl noted.
"Right. We all knew this area. Someone sent out the message, before communication went down. Come here so we can survive. Together. It's taken us all this time, but things here are finally getting back to normal."
"Yeah, well. It helps that you have the Great Wall of Georgia in your own back yard. There's no way that you guys could have built this thing so quickly. How did you...? I mean, how...?"
"You've probably got a lot of questions," Enrique replied, "That's natural."
"So, what?" Daryl replied, "You just stay here, protected by your walls, and try to ignore all the suffering outside? The other survivors?"
Enrique raised an eyebrow. "No, muchacho. You've got us all wrong. Come on. There's something you need to see."
The Bridge
Glenn was going out of his mind.
He could not find the love of his life anywhere. She wasn't among the dead, and that was good, but if she wasn't here, where was she?
This was all he could think about, and it was driving him crazy.
He tossed another body into another grave and tried to recount the events of last night in his head.
"FUCKING HELL!" someone near Glenn had yelled as they threw a grenade into the enemy formation.
The battlefield was chaotic.
"That was fucking crazy!" Glenn shouted.
"I know, right!?" the man who'd thrown the grenade responded, a smile on his face.
They shared a quick laugh, but it didn't last long. A Walker rounded the corner of a car before Glenn could blink, and it took a huge bite into the man Glenn had just talked to. Glenn backed up in fear, unleashing a parade of bullets into the walker. He looked around the battlefield. All over. They were all over. Dead bodies were coming back on the battlefield as walkers, and the battle was still going on.
Glenn shuddered, remembering the chaos. Trying to distinguish between friend, human foe, and Walker... It wasn't easy. Glenn wasn't sure if all the people he'd killed last night had been enemies, and he was afraid to think about that. Worse, he was afraid that he would never see Maggie again. He... He was just. Afraid.
He grunted as he threw another body into the next grave, but he was alarmed to hear shouting from The Bridge nearby. He stopped what he was doing and took off through the woods towards The Bridge. Was it Maggie!? Was she okay!? Was it the enemy!? Was the enemy back!? What the hell was going on!?
He did not stop till he reached the bridge, where he struggled to catch his breath, examining the scene before him. Some of his comrades were on the bridge, guns pointed at the water below. Glenn rushed over to them and peered over the bridge to see what awaited below...
And he was completely relieved to see his girlfriend, grabbing hold of a rock to keep her body from floating down stream, another man along with her.
"MAGS!" he yelled in relief.
Maggie silently looked up at Glenn, who noticed that the men beside him were not lowering their guns.
"What are you doing!?" he shouted at them, "This is my girlfriend! She's with us!"
"That man," one of them replied, "Is one of Michael's."
Alex looked up at the men solemnly.
"I surrender," he announced. "I need to speak to Rick Grimes."
City Square
Rick Grimes waited patiently. One of the soldiers was fumbling with his keys, attempting to unlock the trailer of the eighteen wheeler truck. Rick had no idea what awaited him inside. Was it Daryl? Michael? What was it that these men had found? What was it that was so fucking important that they made him come out here to see it?
"Mr. Grimes," the soldier announced as he unlocked the door of the trailer and prepared to open it, "Are you ready to win this war once and for all?"
And that's when everything changed...
The Rock
"My... God," Daryl muttered.
When everything turns to black, you don't know where to go.
"Now you understand," Enrique replied proudly, placing a hand on Daryl's shoulder. "Now you know our secret."
"How the hell did this happen?" Daryl asked.
"We were smart."
You need something to justify your soul.
Daryl gripped the rail on the pathway that lined The Wall tightly. His eyes peered down into the massive pit some twenty feet below, on the outside of The Wall, where he could see Walkers crawling around like ants. Unable to escape the pit that they were being held in. Unable to do... Much of anything.
"You haven't even seen the best part," Enrique noted. He held up a radio to his mouth and said three words. "Light them up."
And you sing la, la, la, la. La, la, la, la. La, la, la, la.
That's when fire erupted up from the bottom of the pit, burning the Walkers to a crisp. Daryl stumbled backwards in surprise when the fire lit, all around the pit, for what seemed like miles. How had the group managed to create such a system!? How did they have the resources to do this!? It made absolutely no sense!
Enrique erupted in laughter at Daryl's response.
"You haven't seen nothin' yet, my friend. This is just the start," Enrique revealed.
But one thing worried Daryl – one nagging question that he was too afraid to ask:
The start of what?
ROAR OF THE STORM
2:00 P.M.
City Square
Everything had changed in the last five hours.
The face of war was ugly, and now, it was real. Too real.
A massive army had been assembled. They were armed and they were ready. And they stood in the City Square, in formation, waiting. Watching. Things were happening far too fast. And it wasn't going to stop until one side was defeated. That was what war was. Ruthless, unrelenting chaos. And it was time to end this particular war. It was time... For the final battle.
Rick Grimes stood before this massive formation, his eyes scanning the crowd, memorizing the faces. How was he supposed to give a speech? How was he supposed to motivate these people? What was he going to say? That he hoped they didn't die? That they needed to give it their all?
He was surprised when he spoke. He didn't know where the words were coming from. It was like someone else was speaking for him, using his body. He could feel himself speaking but it was like he wasn't in his own body right now.
"Today, you will fight!" he yelled, "And today, many of you... Will die!"
Chaos was unfolding.
"I DIDN'T MEAN TO KILL HIM!"
Rick clenched his fist.
"TODAY, YOU WILL FIGHT!" he yelled again. "BUT WE MUST ASK OURSELVES... ONE QUESTION! ONE QUESTION THAT MANY OF YOU... HAVE NOT ASKED YOURSELVES!"
Many in the crowd found their faces now painted with a confused look.
"The answer is clear," Rick replied, "But the question... Is not always as clear. I can not answer it for you. But I can ask it of you..."
Rick paused, images of Carl and Lori and his ex-partner going through his mind.
"ASK YOURSELVES... WHY ARE YOU FIGHTING!? IS IT FOR SOMEONE YOU LOVE!? FOR YOUR SURVIVAL!?"
Rick knew what he was fighting for.
"LET THAT DRIVE YOU! ALWAYS KNOW WHY YOU ARE FIGHTING! ALWAYS KNOW WHAT YOUR PURPOSE IS! WHY YOU EXIST!"
Somewhere in the crowd, Glenn gently squeezed Maggie's hand.
"BECAUSE WITHOUT A PURPOSE, WE ARE NOTHING! WITHOUT SOMETHING TO FIGHT FOR, WE HAVE NOTHING! WITHOUT SOMETHING TO FIGHT FOR, WE'RE JUST LIKE THE WALKERS! ARE YOU GOING TO ALLOW YOURSELVES TO WASTE AWAY WITH NOTHING TO FIGHT FOR!? OR ARE YOU GOING TO FIGHT!? BECAUSE THAT, MY FRIENDS, IS THE ONLY WAY YOU WILL LIVE!"
There were a few mummers in the crowd.
"I CAN'T FUCKING HEAR YOU!"
"FIGHT!" the crowd responded in union.
"WHAT WAS THAT!?"
"FIGHT!"
The crowd went crazy.
2 P.M.
The Bridge
The Bridge was mostly empty now. Rick was one of the only people here, sweating profusely as he tried to crank the motor on the small boat that they'd loaded into the creek. Voices were constantly speaking on the walky talky, sending in reports from the battlefield.
"Main Attack Force is advancing. The enemy's been pushed back to the treeline of Two Hill's Forest," one voice reported.
"Secondary Attack Unit is preparing to execute the flanking maneuver."
"Roger that."
The sound of the voices was drowned out by the hum of the motor as it came to life. Rick took his seat in the boat and began to propel it upstream, one hand on the steering lever and the other on a cardboard box sitting in the boat next to him.
Two Hill's Forest
"DIE, YOU MOTHERFUCKING SCUM!" Jackson shouted as he and his comrades charged through the forest, chasing the retreating forces. Jackson unleashed a hailstorm of bullets at the enemy. Everything was going just as planned. He heard T-Dog unleash a roar nearby as the man threw a grenade at the enemy forces.
But Jackson's cheering was cut short when a bullet pierced through his chest.
T-Dog stopped, dropping down beside Jackson as the rest of the group continued their advancement. T-Dog didn't know what to say.
"Oh, man!" T-Dog shouted, examining the wound, taking off his shirt and trying to put pressure on the wound.
"S-stop," Jackson protested.
T-Dog stared at the man sadly. They both knew what was about to happen.
"Do it," was all Jackson said.
T-Dog frowned, nodding.
Pow.
Big Hill
Near the Reserve Force Camp
The retreating forces of Michael could not see what awaited them on the other side of Big Hill, the hill that sat at the end of the forest. They had no idea that on the other side of the hill that they were now scrambling to climb, a reserve force was waiting, ready to unleash their bullets on the small army. Many of Michael's men fell trying to climb Big Hill, killed by the storm of bullets coming from the edge of the forest behind them.
Others managed to make it to the top of the hill just in time to see the reserve forces waiting on them below.
And that would be the last thing most of them saw before the charges of C4 placed on top of the hill exploded. Those who were lucky enough to survive wouldn't for much longer.
The ambush had been successful.
PEAK.
The Creek
Near Michael's Compound
Rick could see the turn of the creek ahead. Just around that corner. There, he realized, was victory. There, he would finally end this. As he approached, he knew that on land, nearby, Meagan was leading a small force by land in an attempt to take the compound from the south side. It was actually nothing more than a distraction. While the forces fought just south of the compound, Rick would be able to enter the compound relatively undetected, find Daryl, reunite with Meagan's group, and find and execute Michael.
That was the plan, anyway.
But plans change.
Rick rounded the corner...
And he could not have been more unprepared for what awaited him there. On the banks of the creek, waiting for him, was none other than a well-armed Michael... Who held an RPG in his hands.
And he fired.
Fire erupted all around Rick as he made the jump towards the creek, hoping to submerge himself in water and somehow avoid death.
Somehow, he did.
There was a moment of serene peace for Rick. Maybe it was the near-death experience. Maybe it was the fact that he was submerged by water. Either way, he knew that in the next few seconds, all of this was going to end. Either he or Michael would be walking away in the next few moments. One would be alive. The other would be dead.
It was all about to end. Right here.
Gripping the gun he'd stuffed in his back-pocket, Rick knew that he probably only had one chance to fire. One shot, and the gun would probably jam after that. It wasn't good to submerge these things in water. And this couldn't have happened at a worse time. One shot to determine victory. One shot to determine rather or not Rick would survive.
What does a man think about in the moments that could be his last?
He thought about Carl.
He thought about Lori.
He thought about Shane. And Sophia. And Dale. And all the people they'd lost.
And then, he thought about Van. Van, the man who had been like a father to Rick. Van, the man who Michael had taken from Rick far too soon. Van, the man who Rick was fighting for. Van, the man who had helped turn Rick into the man he was today. He thought of Van.
And then, he remembered what his old boss used to tell him.
"If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is to stop digging."
Rick came up to the surface.
"Merry Christmas."
POW.
…
…
…
As blood stained his camouflage shirt, Michael slumped backwards, his body half-submerged in the water of the creek. HOW COULD THIS HAVE HAPPENED!? Michael had planned it out so fucking well. The tracking device, usually used for hunting, that had been planted in Rick's leg! The battle at Mulberry Farm! This wasn't supposed to happen. THIS WASN'T supposed to happen!
Rick glared into the eyes of the killer before him, fallen at last.
"That," Rick revealed, "Was for Daryl."
That was the last thing Michael heard before slipping into the darkness of death. Rick just stared at the dead body, shaking his head.
"And this one is for Van."
Pow.
THE RAINBOW
2:32 P.M.
Michael's Complex
But there was a problem.
Daryl was not in Michael's Complex. In fact, there was nobody in Michael's Complex.
Everyone was gone.
Confused, Rick emerged from the complex, shaking his head.
Where... was everyone?
Then, Rick heard shouting. The dirt road that spread out from the warehouse that was The Complex was deserted, except for one figure who was running down it, towards Rick, yelling his name. Rick recognized the man running as one of Meagan's men, a man named Arnold.
"Mr. Grimes! Mr. Grimes!" the voice yelled as Rick took off in a sprint towards Arnold, alarmed.
Reaching Arnold's side, Rick stopped to catch his breath, ready to figure out what the hell was going on.
"What is it, Arnold!?" Rick demanded, "What happened?"
"It's Alex!" he replied, urgency in his voice, "He shot Megan!"
Command Center
Medical Facilities
"I NEED SOME GAUSE, ALCOHOL, AND A SCAPEL, STAT!" the head doctor demanded as Meagan was pushed down a gurney towards Exam Room #1. Carol split away from the group quickly to retrieve the demanded supplies. Rick followed the group of medical professionals nervously, somewhat in a daze. The war was over, and Michael was dead...
So why did it feel like they'd lost?
Rick tried to follow them into Exam Room #1, but the door was promptly shut in his face as someone yelled for him to remain outside.
Slumping into a seat outside the room, Rick tried to process everything. From what he'd learned so far, Alex, who had been part of Meagan's group, had shot Meagan and taken off through the woods, and now he and whoever else had been in Michael's Compound had made their escape into the county over. The few men that had been left at The Bridge were dead. And to make matters worse, the Command Center had lost all contact with the refugees at the Evacuation Site.
Rick needed to get up. He needed to look for his son. He had to find them. His son. His wife. Beth. Everything was falling apart. Rick had made the wrong calls. He knew it to be true. Half the group was probably dead now. How could he have been so stupid!? HOW COULD HE HAVE BEEN SO FUCKING STUPID!?
Rick needed to be a leader.
But he needed to be one three days ago.
5 P.M.
The doctor and his nurses emerged at last. Rick looked up from his chair, anxious to know the fate of Meagan. Anxious to know what had happened.
"She'll live," the doctor revealed, after what felt like hours. "She was lucky. Very lucky. One inch to the right, and she would have died hours ago. She wants to speak to you, but make it quick. She needs her rest."
Rick let out a sigh of relief.
She was alive.
Rising, he thanked the doctor and walked into Exam Room #1. Her blood-soaked clothes were discarded in the waste-bin and she lied in the bed in her underwear, dirt all over her body and a bandage across her stomach. Rick approached the woman.
"Hey," she smiled at him, her voice weak, "We got him."
She lifted her hand, and Rick grabbed it reassuringly. "We got him."
The two shared a moment of victory, silently relieved that the man who'd haunted both of their lives was dead at last.
And then, to the surprise of both Rick Grimes and Meagan, Rick began... to cry.
Tears flooded his face, and the grown man wiped them away, tried to hide his fragile state.
"Hey," she complained, "What's wrong?"
"I failed them," Rick complained, "I failed them all."
"Did you? Did you really?" Meagan replied. "Michael's dead, and you're alive. Some of you, anyway."
"My son and wife," Rick replied, "I think Alex has them."
"Then here's what you do, soldier. Wipe those tears off your face and get out there and find them. And when you do, you bring Alex to me. Are we clear?" Meagan replied.
Rick nodded, wiping the tears off his face.
She was right.
She was absolutely right.
Rick had to reunite the group. He had to fight, he couldn't give up. He had to put things back together now. It was his duty.
"Crystal."
8 P.M.
The Edge Of The City
Rick was sitting on the hood of the Hyundai, waiting patiently on the county road that had gotten the group into all this mess, staring into the city that had almost swallowed him whole. He was alone, a gun in his lap to defend him from Walkers. Patience littered his eyes. Anger filled his heart. Michael was dead, but the group had a new enemy now.
Alex had to be destroyed.
The group had to be put together.
This was the only way things could move forward. If Rick failed in this mission, then Shane was right. If Rick failed now, then Shane was absolutely fucking right. Rick had to prove that he could be a good leader. Rick had to keep the group together. Rick had to keep them alive.
Headlights echoed into the darkness, and Rick raised his hand to shield the light as the Chevvy pulled up. The light faded as T-Dog, Carol, Maggie, and Glenn stepped out of the vehicle and approached Rick. This was it. These five were the only ones left. Daryl, Hershel, Lori, Carl, and Beth were all probably dead. But Rick would not rest until he knew for sure. And if there was a chance in hell at reuniting the group, then he would.
"Rick," Maggie began, "There's something I need to tell you."
"Go ahead," Rick replied, "What are you waiting for!? I know it's all any of you have to say right now. 'I told you so,' right?"
"Excuse me?" Carol asked.
"GO AHEAD! SAY IT! I FAILED THE GROUP! I DIVIDED US! YOU THINK I DON'T KNOW THAT!? My SON is probably dead! MY WIFE IS PROBABLY DEAD! HERSHEL IS PROBABLY DEAD! THEY'RE ALL DEAD!"
"Look here, Rick Fucking Grimes," Carol replied, "You said you were going to lead us, so lead us. Shut the fuck up and lead us. You are in charge. This isn't a democracy anymore. You don't get to feel sorry for yourself. You told me to shut up or to leave and try to survive by myself. Well, I've made my choice. Now, you've got to fucking lead us."
"How can you expect me to lead you if I can't even keep my own son safe?" Rick replied.
"Rick," Maggie protested, "Carl's alive. He and Beth and Lori escaped through the creek. They're alive. They never made it to the refugee camp. I don't know where they are... But they're alive."
"What?" Rick replied, looking up, a smile starting to spread across his face. The rest of the group also started to smile.
Maggie laughed, joy returning to her face as well. "They're alive, Rick! They're probably in the county over, waiting for us to find them! And my dad, too! That girl... Rebecca. I found her, on the battlefield, right before she died. She told me that her dad took my dad to some place called... Key Hill Valley."
"That's a mental institution, not too far from here!" Rick exclaimed, "I had to escort patients there occasionally... Why would he take Hershel there?"
"I don't know... But my dad's alive. They're all alive!"
"Everyone but Daryl," Carol noted.
"Him too!"
Everyone glared at Maggie.
"Alex told us, didn't he!? That he helped Daryl escape!"
"Yeah, but that doesn't make any sense," T-Dog replied.
"He's right," Carol agreed, "Why help your enemy escape?"
"And why hasn't Daryl contacted us yet?" Rick asked.
"I don't know, maybe he-"
Glenn interrupted the conversation. "Shh.. Listen."
The group fell silent... But their silence was quickly replaced by the sound of...
"Is that a helicopter?" Rick asked, astonished.
The group stood there, baffled, as the helicopter approached them. As it got closer, a spotlight lit up the county road, locking on the group of survivors as it approached them. Instinctively, they began to get ready for a firefight. But then, they all sort of knew that anyone who was fortunate enough to be driving a helicopter right now was probably more than equipped to take them all out.
And then, the helicopter... Almost landed. Almost. It lowered itself to the ground just enough for one man to jump out of it. Only feet away from them.
"What... the hell?" Maggie echoed their thoughts.
A man in a flight suit approached them. He appeared unarmed, and Rick pointed his gun at the man.
"Don't come any closer!" Rick demanded.
"Woah, woah, woah!" the man shouted over the roar of the helicopter, his hands now raised. "Easy there, tiger! I'm looking for a Mr. Rick Grimes! Would any of you happen to know that man!? I was told I could find him here!"
A wave of confusion hit Rick.
Something told him to lie.
"Rick Grimes is dead!" Rick replied, "Who's looking for him?"
"Well, that's too bad!" the man in the flight suit replied, "I was supposed to tell him that his friend Daryl's still alive!"
Rick went from confused to alarmed, and he shouted angrily now. "Where the fuck is he!?"
The man in the flight suit chuckled. "Rick Grimes, I take it!?"
"STOP FUCKING WITH ME! WHERE IS HE!?"
"I was told to give you this message, word for word...
'Listen closely, Rick. Your friend Daryl's alive, and he's safe and sound. If you want to see him again, you will find him at The Rock. You are to leave my men unharmed. If they have so much as a scratch on them, I will not hesitate to kill Mr. Dixon. I'll be waiting patiently for you, Rick. I've got a special job for you.'
"I was also told to hand you this."
The man in the flight suit approached Rick, holding out a map. Rick grabbed the map, and the man's arm, and leaned in closely to his ear.
"You tell me where he is right now."
"You heard the message, Rick," the man whispered in Rick's ear, "You better let go of me right now or Daryl's as good as dead. You know where he is. Come to The Rock. We'll be waiting for you there."
Rick let go of the man grudgingly. The man in the flight suit grinned, turning and starting to walk back towards the helicopter. But then, he paused, and looked back over at Rick.
"Oh, yeah! I almost forgot! I was told to tell you one more thing! Boss's orders! He said you would know what it meant!"
Rick glared at the man curiously.
"He said to tell you, 'If you ever find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is to stop digging!'"
Before Rick could react, the man was back onboard the helicopter, and it was ascending into the air. Rick just stared there, dumbfounded, as the helicopter began to fly away. He could feel the stares of the others on his back behind him. But only one thing was on his mind now. Daryl was alive. He was being held prisoner. Someone wanted Rick to complete some sort of job. And...
...The Sheriff was alive.
PART I: THE HUNTING GROUNDS...
COMPLETE.
NEXT CHAPTER on K2323's 239 Days..
PART II: THE ROCK.
"Of all creatures that breathe and move upon the earth, nothing is bred that is weaker than man." - Homer, The Odyssey