A/N: The story starts off slow while I'm trying to develop the different relationships but please stick with it. The next couple of chapters things will pick up, I promise. Thank you for the reviews, please keep them coming to let me know what you think or what you would like to happen. And to answer a question, I am toying with the idea of pairing her with another character but I haven't decided for sure: leave your opinions in a review. Without further adieu, chapter two!
"Rick!" Lori called as she walked over to her husband and they hugged each other tightly, crying. I looked over at my brother who was staring at the scene playing out before him in shock. Only I saw the pain on his face, because I was the only one who knew about him and Lori. I turned away from the joyous reunion and stomped off to my tent. I didn't exit until dusk had fallen and I could smell the stew cooking over the open fires.
"I thought I was in some coma dream that I would never wake up from," Rick said, riveting the group with his story of waking up to find the world as he knew it gone and going through hell to find his family. I rolled my eyes and focused on eating.
"Have you given any thought to Daryl Dixon? He won't be happy to hear that his brother got left behind," Dale asked, bringing my attention back to the campfire.
"I'll tell him I dropped the key, it's on me," T-Dog said. We'd all been told the story now. Rick had handcuffed Merle to the roof after he had gone crazy and endangered the group, and T-Dog dropped the key down the drain as they were making their escape.
"I cuffed him, that makes it mine," Rick said, wrapping his arm around Lori.
"Guys, this isn't a competition. And I don't mean to bring race into it, but it might sound better coming from a white guy," Glenn, a small Asian boy in the group said. I snorted quietly. Everyone in the group thought that because Merle and Daryl Dixon were rednecks that they were stupid, unreasonable, and racist. Sure, Merle may be those things, but Daryl was much better than his older brother. Still, it would be interesting.
"I did what I did. Hell if I'm going to hide from him," T-Dog continued.
"We could lie," Amy, Andrea's younger sister said.
"Or tell the truth. Merle was out of control. Something had to be done of we'd of all been killed. You're husband did what was necessary and if Merle got left behind, it's no one's fault but Merle's," the older sister said.
"And that's what we tell Daryl? I don't see a rational discussion to be had from that. Do you? Word to the wise, we are going to have our hands full when he gets back from his hunt," Dale continued. Everyone fell quiet for a moment before T-Dog spoke up again.
"I was scared and I ran, I'm not ashamed of that."
"We were all scared, we all ran. What's your point?" Andrea spoke up immediately.
"I stopped long enough to chain that door. Staircase is narrow. Maybe half a dozen geeks can squeeze against it at any one time. That's not enough to break that chain, not that padlock. My point, Dixon's alive and still handcuffed on that roof, and that's on us." He finished before getting up to go to his tent.
Everyone sat in silence after that, finishing their meals and heading off to sleep.
"I'll take first watch," Shane told me, looking after Rick and Lori walking into their tent.
"You sure? I don't mind if you want to get some rest," I said, though I knew the answer.
"I'm good. I'll come wake you when I need a break," he said and walked over and climbed on the top of the RV. He sat down on the lawnchair, put his baseball cap on and stared out at the tree line. I looked at the pain on my big brother's face, sent him my love, and went to my tent to rest.