Daryl helped a wailing Carol stand up and she pushed off him before running back towards camp. I picked up a crying Jamie and Beth broke away from Jimmy before walking towards one of the walkers.
"Mommy." She whispered, turning a female walker over.
It growled before reaching for her. Everyone ran to help but Daryl signaled me to stay back. They pulled Beth away from her mom and Glenn and T-Dog kicked at the walker before Andrea ran up with the pickaxe and shoved it into its brain. Hershel and Jimmy comforted the blonde and the family started walking away, followed by Shane, Glenn, and Rick.
Daryl walked over to Jamie and I before grabbing my hand and leading me back to Jamie and I's tent.
"You okay?" He asked me.
I nodded, "Go see Carol."
Daryl nodded before kissing my head and leaving. I held a crying Jamie in my arms until he calmed down, comforting him with words like she's in heaven and that she's in a better place and she didn't feel anything. Daryl came about an hour later, telling me that they're ready for the funeral. We were mostly silent, everyone standing there except Carol and Tyler. I doubt Tyler gave two shits about the people we buried. Jamie and Carl stepped forward and put Sophia's doll on her gravestone, a rock.
Afterwards, I put Jamie down for a nap before I finished my chores. I took down dry clothes and folded them before placing them in everyone's tents.
"Hey." I heard Daryl whisper as I place his clothes on the ground in his tent.
"Hi." I replied.
"How's Jamie?" He asked.
"Sleeping." I answered. "He's pretty shaken up. I guess we all are, really."
Daryl nodded and he walked up to me before grabbing my waist and kissing me hard. I have no idea why he's doing this, or what we are, but whatever it is, I'm kinda liking it. He moved his hands from my waist to my ass and pushed me against him harder. I felt his tongue swipe across my bottom lip and I gave him access to my mouth. I moaned into his mouth as his tongue tangled with mine.
He picked me up and I wrapped my legs around his waist before he sat down on his cot. Daryl tugged at my shirt and I lifted my arms so he could take it off. His lips left mine and went down to my neck, nipping and licking along the way. His hands moved up my back and fumbled with the clip of my bra. I let out a small laugh and reached behind me to help him out.
I threw my bra to the floor and Daryl leaned down further and took my nipple in his mouth.
"Daryl." I moaned and gripped his short hair.
Okay, this is a little uneven. He still had all his clothes on and I was shirtless. I moved my hands down and unbuttoned his sleeveless shirt. I slid the shirt off his shoulders before sliding my hand up his neck and cupped his cheeks before bringing his face back up to kiss him. I started to unbuckle his belt and he moved me to lay down in his cot. He unbuttoned my jeans and looked down at me,
"You sure you wanna do this?"
I nodded before leaning on my elbows to kiss him again.
About an hour later I walked into the house and saw Maggie and Glenn freaking out.
"What's wrong?" I asked.
"It's Beth. She's in shock and I can't find dad." She answered.
"Oh my god." I said.
Lori rushed into the house with Shane and Rick behind her and we went into Hershel's room to figure out where he might of gone.
"You step-mother's things?" Rick asked, eyeing the things on the bed.
"He was so sure she's recover." Maggie replied, looking at Shane, "They'd just pick up where they left off."
Shane picked up a flask that was sitting on the drawers, "Looks like he found an old friend."
"That belonged to my grandfather, gave it to dad when he died." Maggie said.
"I didn't take Hershel for a drinker." Rick commented.
"No, he gave it up on the day I was born." Maggie replied. "He didn't even allow liquor in the house."
"What's the bar in town?" Rick asked.
"Hatlin's. He practically lived there in his drinking days." Maggie answered.
"Betting that's where I'll find him." Rick said.
"Yeah, I've seen the place. I'll take you." Glenn replied.
"I'll go, too. Might need back up if there's a lot of walkers." I said.
"All right, I'll get the truck." Rick said.
"No." Maggie said, looking at Glenn.
"It's an easy run." Glenn replied.
"Like the pharmacy?" She asked.
"Hey, Maggie?" I asked and she looked at me, "I'll bring him back."
I left the room and Rick followed behind me, but Lori and Shane stopped him in the hallway. I left the house and found Jamie with Dale.
"Hey, baby." I said and Jamie smiled up at me.
"Mommy!" Jamie exclaimed before jumping into my arms.
"Whatcha doin'?" I asked.
"Carl is teaching me how to read!"
"Or really?" I smiled looking up at Carl.
"Glenn said he found a children's book on his last run and gave it to Jamie a few days ago." He said.
"You have fun okay? Mommy is gonna go with Rick and Glenn to fetch Hershel. You be good." I told Jamie as I set him on the ground.
"Mommy, where's daddy?" Jamie asked and I looked at him in confusion.
"Who?" I asked.
"Daddy." Jamie pointed his finger at where Daryl's tent was an hour ago when we, uh, did our activities.
"I, uh, I don't know, sweetheart. You can ask Dale. He'll tell ya. But I got to go now, I'll be back in a hour tops." I told him
I left Jamie with Carl and went over to Carol's car where Rick was at. I sat in the back seat of the car, waiting for Glenn. Rick was standing outside the driver's door, loading his gun. I watched as Maggie and Glenn talked, then kissed.
"You ready?" Rick asked Glenn as he walked over.
"Yeah." Glenn answered before getting in the car.
We were silent for most of the drive, and I could tell something was up with Glenn.
"Maggie said she loves me." Glenn blurted out.
"Mm-hmm."
"She doesn't mean it. I mean, she can't. She's upset or confused. She's probably feeling, like-" Glenn started.
"I think she's smart enough to know what she's feeling." Rick interrupted.
"No. No." Glenn said and we chuckled, "You know what? She wants to be in love, so she needs something to, like, hold onto."
"Glenn, it's pretty obvious to everyone that Maggie loves you." I said, "And not just because you're one of the last men standing. So what's the problem?"
"I didn't say it back." Glenn said.
"Oh."
"I've never had a woman say that to me before except my mom, of course, and my sisters. But with Maggie, it's different. We barely know each other. What does she really know about me? Nothing. We're practically strangers. But I didn't know what to do with it. I just stood there like a jerk." Glenn continued.
"Hey, this is a good thing, something we don't get enough of these days. Enjoy it. And when we get back, return the favor. It's not like she's going anywhere." Rick replied.
"Well, what about you and Daryl?" Glenn asked, looking back at me.
"I-I don't know, honestly. He hasn't really said anything about it. Ever since the CDC he's been showing affection, but he's never really said anything about it. It's definitely not a relationship on your level, Glenn. Actually, if we still had Facebook, my relationship status would be complicated." I answered before we pulled up to the bar.
Rick parked the car and we got out with our guns and started carefully walking towards the entrance to the bar. The door was unlocked, so we walked right in and saw Hershel sitting at the bar.
"Hershel." Rick said.
"Who's with you?" Hershel asked.
"Glenn and Violet." He answered.
"Maggie sent him?" Hershel questioned.
"He volunteered." I said. "He's good like that."
Rick walked up beside the man, "How many have you had?"
"Not enough." Hershel answered and Rick looked back at us.
"Let's finish this up back at home. Beth collapsed, is in some sort of state. Must be in shock. I think you are, too." Rick said.
"Maggie's with her?" Hershel asked.
"Yeah, but Beth needs you." I answered.
"What could I do? She needs her mother or rather to mourn like she should've done weeks ago. I robbed her of that. I see that now." Hershel replied.
"You thought that there was a cure. Can't blame yourself for holding out for hope." I told him.
"Hope?" He questioned before looking at Rick, "When I first saw you running across my field with your boy in your arms, I had little hope he would survive."
"But he did." Rick replied.
"He did. Even though we lost Otis. Your man Shane made it back and we saved your boy. That was the miracle that proved to me miracles to exist. Only it was a sham, a bait and switch. I was a fool, Rick, and you people saw that. My daughters deserve better than that." Hershel finished before downing the glass and repouring more alcohol.
Rick walked over to Glenn and I, "So, what do we do? Just wait for him to pass out?"
"Just go." Hershel told us. "Just go!"
"I promised Maggie I'd bring you home safe." I replied.
"Just like you promised that little girl?"
That was a touchy topic for me. I told her I'd be back, and when I did, she wasn't there. It was my fault that Sophia was left in the woods, I should have stayed with her.
"So what's your plan?" Rick asked, "Finish that bottle? Drink yourself to death and leave your girls alone?"
Hershel stood up and faced Rick, "Stop telling me how to care for my family, my farm. You people are like a plague! I do the Christian thing, give you shelter, and you destroy it all!"
"The world was already in bad shape when we met." Rick replied.
"And you take no responsibility! You're supposed to be their leader!"
"Well, I'm here now, aren't I!?" Rick yelled back.
"Yes. Yes. Yes, you are." Hershel walked back to the bar and Rick followed him.
"Now come on. Your girls need you now more than ever." Rick said.
"I didn't want to believe you. You told me there was no cure, that these people were dead, not sick. I chose not to believe that. But when Shane shot Lou in the chest and she just kept coming, that's when I knew what an ass I'd been, that Annette had been dead long ago and I was feeding a rotten corpse. That's when I knew there was no hope. And when that little girl came out of the barn, the look on your face, I knew you knew it, too. Right? There is no hope. And you know it now, like I do. Don't you? There is no hope for any of us." Hershel responded.
"Look, I'm done, I'm not doing this anymore, cleaning up after you. You know what the truth is? Nothing has changed. Death is death. It's always been there, whether it's from a heart attack, cancer, or a walker. What's the difference? You didn't think it was hopeless before, did you?" Rick asked. "Now there are people back at home trying to hang on. They need us, even if it's just to give them a reason to go on, even if we don't believe it ourselves. You know what? This isn't about what we believe anymore. It's about them." Rick replied.
Hershel finished his glass before tipping it upside down, he was done. We can finally go back. The door behind us opened and I pointed my gun towards to men. One of them was very over weight, and the other was kinda attractive looking.
"Son of a bitch. They're alive." The skinny one said.
Glenn and I moved back towards the bar and stood next to Rick and Hershel.
"I'm Dave." The skinny one said, while Rick poured them a drink, "That scrawny-looking douche bag there is Tony."
"Eat me, Dave." Tony replied.
"Hey, maybe someday I will." Dave took a glass, "We met on I-95 coming out of Philly. Damn shit-show that was."
"I'm Glenn. It's nice to meet some new people." Glenn introduced.
"Rick Grimes."
"What about you, sweetheart, what's your name?" Tony asked, giving me a scary smile, and I could tell he wasn't looking at my face.
"Violet." I answered, taking the glass from Rick.
Dave looked at Hershel, who didn't take a glass, "What about you, pal? Have one?"
"Just quit." Hershel answered.
"You've got a unique sense of timing, my friend." Dave replied.
"His name's Hershel. He lost people today, a lot of them." Rick said.
"I'm truly sorry to hear that." Dave raised his glass, "To better days and new friends. And to our dead, may they be in a better place."
We all raised our glasses and took a drink. I looked over at Rick, who was looking at Dave's gun. And Dave noticed, too.
"Not bad, huh?" Dave asked, grabbing his gun, "I got it off a cop."
"I'm a cop." Rick commented.
"This one was already dead." Dave replied.
Rick looked at Tony before back at Dave, "You fellas are a long way from Philadelphia."
"Feels like we're a long ways from anywhere." Tony replied.
"Well, what drove you south?" Rick asked.
"Well, I can tell you it wasn't the weather. I must've dropped thirty pounds in sweat alone down here." Dave answered.
"I wish." Tony commented.
"First it was DC. I heard there might be some refugee camp, but the roads were so jammed, we never even got close. We decided to get off the highways, into the sticks, keep hauling ass. Every group we came across had a new rumor about a way out of this thing." Dave said.
"One guy told us there was the coast guard sitting in the gulf, sending ferries to the islands." Tony said.
"The latest was a rail yard in Montgomery running trains to the middle of the country, Kansas, Nebraska." Dave continued.
"Nebraska?" Glenn questioned.
"Low population, lots of guns." Tony said.
"Kinda makes sense."
"Ever been to Nebraska, kid?" Dave asked. "A reason they call 'em flyover states. How about you guys?"
"Fort Benning, eventually." Rick answered.
"I hate to piss in your cornflakes, officer, but... we ran across a grunt who was stationed at Benning. He said the place was overrun by lamebrains." Dave replied.
"Wait, Fort Benning is gone? Are you for real?" Glenn asked.
"Sadly, I am. Oddly, the truth is there is no way out of this mess. Just keep going from one pipe dream to the next, praying one of these mindless freaks doesn't grab ahold of you when you sleep." Dave answered.
"If you sleep." Tony added.
"Yeah, it doesn't look like you guys are hanging your hats here. You hold up somewhere else?" Dave asked.
"Not really." Rick answered after a moment.
"Those your cars out front?"
"Yeah. Why?" Glenn asked.
"We're living in ours. Those look kinda empty, clean. Where's all your gear?" Dave questioned.
"We're with a larger group, out scouting, thought we could use a drink." Hershel answered.
"A drink? Hershel, I thought you quit. Well, we're thinking off setting up around here. Is it safe?"
"It can be, although I have killed a couple walkers around here." Glenn answered.
"Walkers? That what you call them? That's good. I like that. I like that better than lamebrains." Dave replied.
"More succinct." Tony commented.
"Okay, Tony went to college." Dave joked.
"Two years." Tony replied before we were in an awkward silence.
"So what, you guys set up on the outskirts or something? That new development?" Dave asked.
"Trailer park or something?" Tony questioned, getting up and walking past us, not without slapping my ass along the way and I flinched. "A farm?"
"Old McDonald had a farm." Dave sang.
Tony chuckled and I heard his zipper being pulled down, oh god, is he peeing right here?
"You got a farm?"
"E-I-E-I-O." Tony sang as he pissed, "Is it safe?"
"It's gotta be. You got food?" Dave questioned.
"You got cooze like this one?" Tony asked, turning around and pinching my butt, "Ain't had a piece of ass in weeks."
I can't imagine why.
"Listen, pardon my friend." Dave apologized to me, "City kids. They got no tact. No disrespect. So listen, Glenn-"
"We've said enough." Rick interrupted.
"Well, hang on a second. This farm, sounds pretty sweet. Don't it sound sweet, Tony?" Dave replied.
"Yeah, real sweet." Tony answered, leaning against the wall.
"How about a little southern hospitality? We got some buddies back at camp, been having a real hard time. I don't see why you can't make room for a few more. We can pool our resources, our manpower." Dave continued.
"Look, I'm sorry. That's not an option." Rick said.
"Doesn't sound like it's be a problem." Dave replied.
"I'm sorry. We can't." Hershel responded.
"We can't take in anymore."
Dave chuckled, "You guys are something else. I thought we were friends. We got people we gotta look out for, too."
"We don't know anything about you." Rick replied.
"No, that's true." Dave agreed, "You don't know anything about us. You don't know what we've had to go through out there, the things we've had to do. I bet you've had to do some of those same things yourself. Am I right?"
When none of us answered Dave continued, "'Cause I ain't nobody's hands clean in what's left of this world. We're all the same. So come on, let's take a nice friendly hayride to this farm and we'll get to know each other."
"That's not gonna happen." Rick replied.
"Rick-"
"This is bullshit." Tony stated.
"Calm down." Rick told him.
"Don't tell me to calm down. Don't ever tell me to calm down. I'll shoot you four in the head and take your damn farm." Tony exclaimed and Rick pulled me over closer to Glenn and stood up.
"Whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa. Relax. Take it easy. Nobody's killing anybody." Dave said before climbing over the bar, "Nobody's shooting anybody, right Rick?"
I saw Tony grab his gun from behind Rick, ready to grab and shoot. Dave took out his gun and set it on the bar, "We're just friends having a drink. That's all. Now, where's the good stuff, huh? Good stuff, good stuff, good stuff. Let's see."
Dave reached under the counter and Rick put his hand on his gun.
Dave froze before lifting a bottle, "Hey, look at that. That'll work." He unscrewed the bottle and poured himself a glass, "You gotta understand, we can't stay out there. You know what it's like."
"Yeah, I do. But the farm is too crowded as is. I'm sorry. You'll have to keep looking." Rick replied.
"Keep looking. Where do you suggest we do that?" Dave asked.
"I don't know. I hear Nebraska's nice." Rick answered.
Dave laughed, "Nebraska. This guy."
Dave reached for his gun, but Rick shot him in the head before turning and shooting Tony in the shoulder and the stomach before the head.