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Let the right one in
Chapter Two: Help
"I need you to take care of things while I'm gone"
Daryl nodded, slinging the crossbow lazily over his broad shoulder. This was a compliment from Rick without a doubt. The leader entrusting the safety of the prison to him while he was gone, was something that made the archer feel warm from the inside out.
Always the man of few words, Daryl watched as Rick armed the gun holsters clinging desperately to his narrow hips.
His eyes followed Rick to the door, turning slightly on his heel to watch him leave.
"Be careful" He muttered, uncertain if Rick had heard the profound worry in his voice.
Michonne was sleeping when Rick thundered into the holding cell unannounced. He clapped his hands loudly, waking her up with a surprised start.
"Get up. It's time to go"
She wiped the encrusted sleep from her eyes, yawning, she slowly stood up. She was hungry, her stomach as empty as her pockets. The thought of a road trip without breakfast did little to settle her nerves, not that Rick could care less.
Somehow he did care though, because now his cold eyes had softened. Maybe even with a glimmer of sympathy.
"You've got ten minutes to get sorted. Grab yourself somethin' to eat from the canteen and meet me outside in the yard"
With that he left. Leaving her standing in the cell alone.
Outside the air was cooler than the day before. The sun just starting to make an appearance through the greenery of trees.
Michonne spied Rick standing with Daryl outside the gate, the engine of the car already quietly humming.
She made her way towards them, greeting Daryl with a sly smile.
"My katana?" she asked Rick.
He shook his head, looking down towards scuffed boots he moved behind her to open the passenger door.
"If things go south, I'm armed. Get in"
His voice was thick with Hostility as Michonne slid down onto the seat. She watched as Rick nodded towards Daryl, making his way to the drivers side he got in. Long legs adjusting to the space as his boots found the peddles.
The archer opened the solid double gates as Rick put the car in gear and they were off. Gliding along the dusty dirt track, bumps and holes galore.
Michonne sat sullen. Her face indignant as Rick drove the car west, picking up speed with each passing tree.
She turned to the window, gazing out across blue haze of sky, the sun now casting shadows along the wide girth of the road.
She stole a glance towards Rick. He was deeply concentrating, eyes narrowed on the distance ahead. She zoned in on the curve of his jaw, the scruffy stubble on his chin. He must have felt her gaze burning holes because he turned towards her, clearing his throat when their eyes met.
Michonne never looked away.
Rick felt he should say something. Anything to avoid the awkward silence that now overwhelmed the car.
"So er...how far is this place"
Michonne looked ahead. "The last time I knew I was on foot. Shouldn't take too long in the car though"
She was on foot.
Rick was still amazed by that detail.
"So why did you leave?" he asked, curiosity getting the better of him.
Michonne was silent for some time. Maybe she would never actually answer. Maybe she just didn't want to. She continued to stare blankly ahead, her eyes glowing darker with an intense look Rick couldn't quite pin point.
"I didn't trust him"
"It's not far from here now. We should walk the rest on foot" Michonne advised. The car then pulled off the beaten track and rolled to a gentle stop.
"So what makes you trust me then?" Rick asked, his stare intense.
Her back straightened into the seat, avoiding his eyes she thought over the question.
"What makes you think I trust you?"
"Well your here. In a car, weapon-less"
"That wasn't my choice to be weapon-less" She shot back, dark eyes fiery.
Rick was studying her now. Really studying her. Her sarcastic comments were designed to mask the hurt beneath, he could see that. Feel it. Although her body language failed her. She was composed but the tension was mapped across each ripple of muscle, just begging to be explored.
"You must trust me enough to drive you out here" Rick calmly stated, his head titling to look out the window.
"I want to help" She coldly shot back. What was he trying to get at exactly?
Thing was Rick didn't entirely trust her. How could he?
She had found her way to the prison from a place he knew nothing about, his people lost, supposedly taken there, kidnapped.
"What makes you want to help me?" he asked, his piercing gaze now staring into the deepest depths of her eyes.
"I want to help you because I can. I trust you because you don't trust me"
They were moving now through bushes, branches and leaves. The dampness in the forest clung to the air, masking their bodies in sweat.
Michonne was cautiously leading Rick to the outskirts of Woodbury. Somewhere they wouldn't be spotted by the men keeping watch on the gate, armed and dangerous.
Having spent the last few weeks there, she knew a passage way the Governor's men would use to slip in and out undetected and this was where they were heading.
The wound in her thigh started to throb as she moved with the stealth of a hungry cat through the woodland, occasionally stopping to rest the leg. Rick could sense her discomfort and felt guilty for putting her through more strenuous exertion, but this could not wait another day. He needed to find Maggie and Glenn, he would not rest until he did.
And Michonne was the vessel he needed. He was wary of her intentions, his gun now close to hand. The hope was strong that she wasn't in fact leading him into an eventual trap. That this wasn't all some ploy in favour of the governor.
"There it is " Her almost black eyes were peeping past the vibrant green of leaves. It was a beautiful contrast, almost savage.
Rick absorbed the image of the gates, surveying every fine detail for the plan he would later con-cock to get inside. For now though he observed the henchmen on duty. They looked trained beyond the experience of the apocalypse, maybe even ex soldiers?
"Follow me and keep low"
Rick did as he was told. They moved through the bushes in silence, their bodies moving gracefully together until they reached the wall of Woodbury.
"You first. I'm not takin' any chances" His voice was rough, condescending almost.
Michonne's eyes portrayed an understanding of Rick's distrust, somehow putting him at ease. She slid her body through the small passage way as Rick followed, mimicking her actions until they were both inside.
She led Rick towards the end of the short cut so he could get a better look of the town.
And boy, what a town!
He took in the view. The zone looked quiet, surreal and a lot bigger than he had expected.
The unsettling noise of boots clicking against gravel startled them both.
Without warning a man came strolling towards the entrance of the passageway. Terrified of being discovered, Michonne pushed back through the narrow walkway, edging along the wall until they were both out of sight.
Michonne could feel Rick's lean body behind her back. Strong arms pushing towards the wall to hold his weight off her. Only it wasn't working and she felt the crotch of his rough jeans rub instantaneously against her backside.
There were frantic movements to avoid the unwanted contact. Michonne shooting Rick a look of indifference as his eyes flickered upwards from embarrassment.
"Sorry" came the whispered response, his eyes darting around the enclosed space.
The journey back to the prison had got Rick thinking.
If Michonne had never turned up yesterday, baby formula and all, he would never have known about Woodbury.
Never known about a Governor or where to even find him.
He owed Michonne that much.
He kept stealing sly looks now again. Watching as her face revealed nothing, hiding everything and more.
She was mysterious to a dangerous degree and his trust in her was still undecided. Although, she had in fact pushed him back against the wall when things could have gone south, only his blood had gone south instead.
South towards his groin when they had accidentally touched and he hoped to God she hadn't noticed. However, it had been a welcome distraction to a mind long gone, a mind so preoccupied with thoughts of Lori that the sensation of just touching someone else, no matter how inappropriate, was a much welcome relief.
"Keep your eyes on the road"
That voice, so deadpan, dipped in sarcasm and rolled in boredom startled him in his seat.
She doesn't miss anything, does she?
"Don't be getting any ideas. I came with you to help find your friends, not to be touched up against a wall"
Rick felt his cheeks glow ruby red.
He looked towards her, a devilish smile playing across her face. She was joking.
Thank God.
Or maybe she was flirting? Whatever she was doing, Rick liked her style.
"Well if you hadn't trapped me there" he shot back, testing the waters.
She chuckled shyly, looking to her lap.
"I did"
Laughter echoed throughout the vast space of the canteen, the culprit almost choking on her beans.
Daryl Dixon looked pleased with himself to say the least, he watched in fascination as her smile faded, replacing it with his own.
Rick stood on the sidelines watching from the shadows.
He had came by to pick up a can of something, only now was far too invested watching Michonne and Daryl share a private joke and a sharp feeling stabbed at his gut.
She was laughing.
A sound so delicate, so rare to this shitty world they now inhabited, that he couldn't help but drink in every last drop. It was something these prison walls had been deprived off for far too long.
A woman's laughter.
Or just anyone's laughter for that matter.
And now Rick couldn't help but acknowledge that Daryl was the reason behind her hysteria. What the hell was so funny?
A feeling all too familiar bubbled within his stomach, was he jealous?
Daryl felt the nudge of someone's shoulder, it was Rick's. The leader eased onto the bench smoothly, discreetly pushing Daryl to the end so he could sit opposite Michonne.
What the hell man? Daryl thought, but then Rick had always been a cock block.
"We need to start thinkin' bout how we're gonna get into Woodbury"
Daryl scratched at the spiky island of stubble on his chin, Michonne's eyes grew serious as the humour abruptly left.
"We need a way of knowin' how this place operates. Michonne showed me a way inside, we need a way of searching the place without being seen"
"We got those grenades, we could use em if things get bad" Daryl suggested
"We need a way of gettin Glenn and Maggie out without startin somethin. Those men, that town, they look like they wouldn't stand for any bullshit"
"It's the Governor that's the problem. Not the people" Michonne added. Her voice quietly monotone.
Rick thought over her statement. "I don't want to start anythin or attack innocent people, but Maggie and Glenn are my priority"
"When we goin? Daryl asked.
"As soon as we can. We don't even know if their alive" There was a sadness to Rick's voice. Michonne could see the sincere worry written all over his face.
"I can't see a reason why he would kill them" She offered
"We need to keep watch tonight. In case their lookin for the prison"
Daryl nodded. "I'll go" He left the canteen, turning to sneak one last glance towards Michonne.
"It's gettin late. You really should be turnin in for the night. Tomorrow's gonna be a busy day. I'll take you back to your cell" Rick stood up, dusting down his shirt with his hands.
"Your not going to eat anything?"
He stopped by the door, turning to face her with suspicion.
"Not hungry much these days" He replied, intrigued by her concern. The fact of it was Rick didn't always remember to eat. Snice the death of his wife his mind was always looking for distractions and those distractions were sometimes more important than his own needs.
There were a lot of needs that Rick chose to ignore.
"Have something to eat with me, then we can go to bed"
Did he really just hear that right?
She must have seen the blush spreading throughout his cheeks, the raised eyebrow. He averted his eyes almost too quickly.
Michonne smiled warmly, showing just a hint of perfectly straight teeth.
"That sounded better in my head than it did out loud"
Rick chuckled, his eyes looking to the ground.
"You should really eat though" Her face hardened with seriousness.
He decided to give in and join Michonne on the bench. He stepped towards her, a symbol of his improving mental state until the ghostly image of Lori appeared sinisterly above on the warden's watch floor.
Rick froze, his eyes deliberately avoiding the vision.
Michonne could sense something from the leader's actions. She turned to look but nothing was there, only further confirming her original concerns.
The vision stood, arms outstretched against the raillings. White dress a strong contrast to the surrounding darkness. The face was almost a dark pit of empty space, framed by layers of curly jet ink hair. It was beyond intimidating, it was pure insanity.
"Rick?"
He pinched the bridge of his nose. Willing the disturbing image away by a single shake of his head.
"Let's get you in the cell" He finally said.
Michonne could only nod.
Following Rick from the canteen she looked back one last time towards the celling, what on earth did he just see?