Hey you guys! This chapter probably isn't going to be one of your favorites and I'm really sorry about that. I've restarted it over and over and I always end up with the same results. It's not much fun but it's necessary. I hope you are at least slightly entertained by it. I may not get another chapter out for few days. I'm going on a road trip. It'll be a short road trip so I won't go MIA for weeks or anything. Okay, thanks a million for reading! Hope everyone is having a great weekend =)

The Tangled Webs We Weave

Candace Jenner proved to be just as amazing as Jenner had claimed back at the CDC. Not only did she have a brilliant mind but that mind was also strangely open. She also came off as a bit unstable. But Carol didn't dwell on that fact. She guessed everyone was a little crazy. Who was she to judge.

Carol hadn't been sure how to explain things to the other woman and oddly enough she didn't have too. Sophia had spotted her when her and the other children had finally emerged from the barn. Her face had broken out in a wide grin and Candace Jenner stood there wonder struck, staring at the little girl with wide eyes.

Carol watched in amazement as Candace knelt down, looking Sophia in the eye. "I know you, but I don't understand how," she said in a quiet voice.

Sophia told her everything. She left nothing out and it was all still just as confusing to Carol's ears as it had been every other time Sophia had explained it. Candace may not have believed it if it hadn't been for the fact that she recognized a little girl that she never should have recognized. A little girl that told her things that she couldn't have known about her unless she had told Sophia those things herself. Carol didn't interrupt. She just let Sophia work whatever magic she was working.

"I would have died, then? If your crazy uncle hadn't have had the foresight to come kidnap us?" Candace had asked, her face as serious as Sophia's.

"You both would have died," Sophia said quietly.

"Looks like I have a lot of work cut out for me then," Candace gave the girl a small smile.

Sophia nodded sagely. "Yes, ma'am. You both do. You just have to make sure you're careful out there. And when you leave the CDC you come straight here."

Candace nodded. "You see that? Right now?"

"Yes. If you do what we say then you both make it out. Not only that..." Her voice trailed off and she frowned. "I think you can save us. You can't stop the walkers but somehow you save the living."

Candace stood up then and clasped Sophia's hands in her own. "When do we go back?"

"Tomorrow. Get in as quick as you can and make sure you get inside fast." Sophia sounded so sure that it was almost frightening. But Candace just nodded, squeezed Sophia's hands affectionately, and didn't ask anything more about it.

As the afternoon waned on people began flowing in. Beth brought her boyfriend, Jimmy, with her. Patricia and Otis had been invited to the fake festivities. Dale showed up in her R.V. His car had broken down on him sometime during the week. Morgan and his family were right on time but Shane had called them earlier, upset over the traffic, telling them that he was running behind but would be there soon. There were apparently several stranded motorists that he was doing what he could for.

Carol hadn't asked him who it was. She did tell him that he should bring them, going with her gut on the matter. Fate was sending the people to them, she would go with it. Shane had told her that he would do just that as soon as they could get off the highway.

There was a body upstairs, wrapped in plastic and there Carol was, discussing recipes with the women. They flocked around Hershel's wife, Annette, as though she were some domestic goddess who held all the kitchen mysteries of the world. Andrea was the only female that opted to hang out with the guys. This didn't surprise Carol at all. She smiled fondly when she looked through the doorway into the living room and saw her showing her gun, a gift from her father, to the men. Andrea's parents were on their way up from Florida and Carol prayed to whatever God was listening that they made it.

Lori looked in that direction and snorted, shaking her head. "Figures," she muttered angrily.

Carol gave her a curious look. She knew that there was a storm brewing between the two women but as far as Carol could tell, Andrea wasn't actually trying to do anything to provoke Lori. "You okay?" She asked quietly. She wasn't a fan of being stuck in the middle but she truthfully loved both women. They were both her friends.

Lori didn't take her eyes away from Andrea. "No," Lori said with a wistful smile. "I'm indulging in a lot of self loathing. I created this mess, and now I'm trying to blame anyone else that happens by."

Carol took Lori's hand and led her to the back door, leaving the other women behind to listen to another one of Annette's stories. The older woman was quickly becoming the matriarch of this house and that was fine as far as Carol was concerned. She didn't think she had ever met a more kind and compassionate woman in her life. She didn't understand the loss that the Greene's had suffered until now. The woman was a blessing.

She sat down on the back steps and pulled Lori down with her. "I'm going to agree with you. You made this mess yourself," Carol said firmly.

Lori's body tensed next to hers and she looked at Carol, her eyes wide. "You used to be a lot nicer," she mumbled.

Carol huffed. "Lori, it's a mess you created yourself but that doesn't mean you can't fix it. Fight a little harder. There's always hope."

Lori looked away, out towards the newer buildings. She was silent for a few long minutes and when she finally spoke Carol had to lean her head in closer just to hear her. "I used to pity you," she said, almost bitterly. "I pitied you and I loathed you all at the same time. I thought you were weak and I thought you were pathetic," a bitter laugh escaped her.

Carol tried not to let her words get to her but she felt a flash of anger anyway.

Lori still didn't look at her, her voice still low. "I never would have thought that you, after everything, would turn out to be the strongest one out of all of us." She grew quiet again and finally turned her head so she could look Carol in the eye.

"Lori, I wasn't..."

"Carol, I'm not like you. I just don't want to fight," she said tiredly.

"What?" Carol asked, feeling the frown on her face deepen.

"Rick. I don't want to fight for that. I don't think there's anything to fight for. I..." She trailed off and wiped at a stray tear.

"You what, Lori?" Carol asked, genuine concern lacing her voice.

"I've been miserable. Really miserable. Not just here, but for a long time. And today when..." She cleared her throat and lowered her voice even more. "When Shane called and said he was on his way, it was the first time I felt happy in a while."

Carol's eyes went wide but she had the good sense to keep her mouth shut. This was going to complicate things. This was like some sort of soap opera that was about to play out. And everyone involved were people that she cared about.

~H~

"What was that shit about?" Daryl asked Rick once they were the only two left standing on the front porch.

Rick shrugged and shoved his hands in his pockets. "Me and Merle never did get along. You expect it to be different now?"

Daryl scowled. "You heard what Carol said. This ain't your group. You need to stop with this shit right now. You push him far enough, Merle won't hesitate to kill you."

Rick looked at him, his face calm but his eyes a storm cloud of anger. "Is that what kind of place you want to run? A place where people can't even speak their minds to a Dixon without fearing they'll be killed for it?"

"You wasn't speakin' your mind, Rick. You were doin' everything you could to set him off. But you need to know somethin' right now. I took your lead in the beginning. In those dreams. I followed your lead and I lost everything. I wont choose you over my family. If it comes down to you or my blood, you're the one gonna find yourself out there on your own. Not Merle."

He didn't wait for Rick to say anything else. He shoved away from the banister and went inside. Wondering who else was going to be showing up. He was starting to think that the house wasn't big enough. The numbers were growing and the last thing he wanted was for everyone to be piled on top of one another.

~H~

Andrea watched as Daryl came in alone. She was wondering if him and Rick would end up having a falling out over what happened with Merle. It seemed like things weren't going to be all roses and candy, even if they were safe here. She excused herself from the group she had been talking with. Morales and Dale gave her a quick nod and she hurried out the front door before Lori showed up. She was constantly feeling the eyes of the other woman on her and it was starting to wear on her nerves.

She found Rick outside, slumped in one of the chairs that flanked the front door. She sat down next him, perched on the edge with her elbows on her knees and her chin resting on her hands. "What you said back there, on the way to get the Jenners," she shook her head. "It wasn't right."

He made a frustrated sound in the back of his throat. "You too, huh?" He chuckled darkly. "Seems like Merle has himself quite the fan club around here."

Andrea sat up straighter and shot him an angry look. She didn't understand why he was acting this way. This wasn't the Rick that she had first met and it wasn't the Rick she had reunited with at the prison. It seemed to be a combination of the bad qualities of both versions. "It's not a popularity contest, Rick. It's about surviving. You of all people should understand that. Merle isn't who he was then. a blind person can see that. He's my friend."

He raised up, angling his knees towards her. "What we talked about, back at the prison. The conversation that you've been avoiding since you got here..."

"Your wife is alive, Rick," she said quickly. He was right. She had been avoiding this conversation. She had feelings for him. Deep feelings for him. But she didn't see them going anywhere. Not anymore. Maybe if she had survived in that other world then they could have made a life together. But not here. He wasn't the man he was then. He was something different. Something less than who he had been.

"My wife," he nodded, looking down. "My wife who slept with my best friend and most likely died giving birth to his child?"

"Rick you know..."

"I know that I can't get past that. I've tried. I tried hard. The way she was then. Do you know she asked me to kill him?"

Andrea's head shot up. "What?"

He nodded and folded his hands together, staring off at nothing. "She came to me in the tent one day, when we were on Hershel's farm. It was after we brought Hershel back, when I had to shoot those men at the bar. She asked me if I would kill again to protect what was mine. When I told her I would she told me that Shane thought she was his. She said he thought Carl and the baby were his. What else could she have meant?"

Andrea felt sick to her stomach. She had no idea that Lori had done that.

"And then when I did kill him. Killed him to save my own life, she acted like I was a monster. Everything I felt for her, it all turned to dust. I still loved her. I love her now. But it's all because of Carl. It has nothing to do with her. I hate her more than I love her. Does that make sense?"

Andrea reached out and grabbed his hand. "Rick..."

She lost her train of thought when he brought her hand up to his lips. She wasn't sure what she was feeling a the moment. Torn would be a good word. She didn't know if she felt affection towards him or... pity. Regardless she let him hold her hand for a while, twining their fingers together. It wasn't uncomfortable or unpleasant, but it just didn't feel right. Not like it had felt back at the prison when he had held her hand this way.

She waited for a while, until Carol poked her head out the door and told them dinner was ready. She glanced down at their hands and then back up at Andrea, quirking an eyebrow but otherwise not looking like she was passing any judgment. She ducked back inside quickly.

Rick stood up, pulling Andrea up with him, smiling at her warmly. She smiled back but pulled her hand out of his. "I'll go tell Merle it's time to eat."

All the warmth left his eyes then and he gave her a stiff nod before turning and going back into the house.

She sighed and turned, hurrying down the steps and towards the carriage house and her Hummer, where she knew she'd find Merle Dixon, most likely pissed off and sulking.

~H~

Merle removed the mask and stood back, admiring his handy work. He'd learned to weld years ago in the military but he hadn't had a reason to put the skill to use once he had gotten out of the service. Now he was damn glad that he had had the foresight to pick up a garage full of tools. When Carol had handed him a huge wad of cash and told him to pick up anything he might need his goal was to find his dealer and stock up on the good stuff. Instead he had found himself dragging Sophia along and picking up tools. A lot of tools.

He heard the door clatter open and turned just in time to see Blondie slip inside. She pulled the door shut and then turned, her mouth dropping open when she seen what he had done to the hummer.

"You're kidding!" She gasped and then jogged over to where he was standing.

He tossed her a grin, unable to resist. She punched him in the arm playfully and then turned shining eyes to the beautiful sight before her.

There was an M2 welded right to the roof of the Hummer. He'd already reinforced the inside so it would carry the weight. Andrea was almost hopping up and down in her excitement. "Merle, you're amazing. This is incredible! Where in the hell did you get that thing? I've never seen anything like it!"

He shrugged, genuinely pleased with her reaction. "I got myself plenty of hook ups when it comes to shit like this. Guess the best part?"

She looked up at him, excitement all over her face. "What's the best part?"

He chuckled. "Dumb fucker gave it to me on front. Only had to give him a few grand. Suppose to be bringin' his ass the rest next week," he winked and chuckled darkly.

She shook her head but didn't look disapproving. "What the hell is it?"

Merle glanced up. "M2. Military uses them, but they're illegal otherwise. 50 caliber fully auto. You can take down a goddamn buildin' with this sumbitch." He elbowed her and laughed.

"Stop talking dirty to me, Merle," she laughed with him.

He cursed himself over and over again because he was happy that she was happy. She wasn't anything like she was before. This Andrea was a totally different person than the woman he had met in his dreams. He liked her and he didn't want to like her. He didn't want to like any of them. He knew that was the real reason Rick's words had stung so much. They hit home and played on his fears. He knew he had made Carol's life much harder than he could have. He had fought her tooth and nail when all she had wanted to do was keep him safe. Even if the only reason she did it was for his brother, she had done it anyway. But caring was hard. Very hard. It made him feel responsible for them and he didn't want to feel that way.

She must have felt the change in his mood because her smile fell and she looked at him with that look that he was getting used too. The one that told him that she knew exactly what the fuck he was thinking and he hated that shit most of all.

"You're brooding," she deadpanned.

He scowled. "Don't know what you're talkin' about, Blondie."

She rolled her eyes. "What Rick said wasn't true. We all want you here. We need you, Merle."

His eyes narrowed and met hers.

She blew out a frustrated breath. "I'll be the first to admit that I didn't like you. I didn't like anything about you at all. He were cold and you were full of hate and you were so arrogant!"

"I'm still arrogant," he grumbled as his eyes shifted to spot above her head. He didn't need to hear this shit.

"You are," she chuckled and dug her boot into the soft earth that made up the floor of the carriage house. "But you aren't all those other things. Not anymore. You changed just like we all did. Rick is lashing out because he's hurting. You're an easy target to aim that pain at. But it wasn't true, what he said."

He rolled his eyes. "Why do we gotta get into all this heavy shit, huh? You used to be fun. You talked about guns and fightin'. Now I feel like I'm in a goddamn lifetime movie. I don't give a shit what Rick thinks of me. I don't give a shit what the rest of ya think either."

"Liar," she mumbled before she crossed her arms over her chest and glared at him.

"You're a pain in the goddamn ass, ya know that?" He growled.

She shrugged. "You can tell me all about it later. Carol said the food was ready. Let's go eat, cowboy. Something tells me it's going to be a hell of a night."

He snorted but followed her out into the early evening sunshine, admiring the view as she walked ahead of him a few paces.