Disclaimer: Don't Own, Don't Sue! ;D

A/N: Many apologies for taking entirely too long on updating this. I was trying my best to stay away from watching the show and keep my speculations to the trailer. I tried to make this fairly long to make up for the gap in updates. Thank you to those who read and reviewed! It really means a ton. Enjoy!

Part II

"You're a stranger
So what do I care
You vanish today
Not the first time I hear
All the lies"

-"A Stranger" by A Perfect Circle

As the group proceeded to spread out through the wreckage and abandoned vehicles, Andrea stood her ground; gazing up at the sun for a moment in concentration.

"I'll keep an eye out for anything." Dale announced, glancing at Andrea unsurely before scaling the RV to stand guard.

"Carl, stay by the RV." Lori instructed her son.

"But—"

"I want you to stay by the vehicles in case something should happen." Lori cut off his protest. "Don't go anywhere unless told to. Do you understand me?"

"Yes."

Andrea ignored the exchange as she turned her gaze back to the RV and got back inside it.

"Sophia, how about you stay too?" Carol suggested.

"Yes, mamma." Sophia replied following Carl back to the RV where they sat on the steps.

Andrea sat back down at the table and pulled out her handgun.

She hadn't touched the gun since she'd used it to—to shoot Amy.

Andrea ran a hand across her eyes to quickly wipe away the tears that began to well up.

She turned it over again and again in her hands.

It was a nice gun.

Her mind turned over to the day her father gave it to her.

"Now, you girls will remember to—c"

"Call when we get there." Andrea had casually cut him off. "Of course we will. You know we will."

"Well, you know how I worry." He said sternly, but a smile protruded.

"We should probably get going, it's getting late." Amy interjected.

They had gotten up early that morning to pack the car and were supposed to leave before ten. Andrea had planned out the whole trip and had even taken time off of work. It was supposed to be a make-everything-up-to-Amy trip where they would hopefully bond and catch up on everything the other had missed.

"Oh, I've got something for you." Their dad said brightly as if he'd almost forgotten something.

Before they could inquire what exactly that something was, he opened a drawer of his desk and pulled out a handgun.

He took Andrea's hand, placed the firearm in her palm, and closed her hand over it.

"Why are you giving me this?" Andrea asked half-seriously, half-frightened.

Their father smiled warmly. "Because, two girls out on the road alone ought to know how to defend themselves."

In other words, 'don't be stupid and talk to strangers.' and of course, 'don't let anything happen to Amy, Andrea.'

Their father stepped forward and hugged them both.

"Thanks Dad." They said simultaneously.

"I love you both; but if you want to make it at least halfway to Atlanta before sunset, you better get a move on." He said with a hearty laugh.

They had left in hurry to get on the road. They were already running a couple of hours behind schedule.

"I can't believe Dad really gave you a gun!" Amy said more adventurously than scared.

"I didn't even know he had the thing. Did you?" Andrea asked, glancing briefly in Amy's direction before glancing back to the road.

"I've never been in his study before." Amy had shrugged.

A brief silence passed before either spoke again.

"What's he think we're going to encounter anyway? The mob? A murderous hitchhiker?" Amy asked with a laugh.

"There's a lot of dangerous people in the world nowadays, Amy." Andrea replied matter of fact.

"Do you actually think we're going to need to use that?" Amy asked doubtfully.

"You never know." Andrea answered indifferently.

"Well, until our shootout, how about some music?" Amy inquired as she leaned forward and switched the radio on and cranked the volume.

"Nice piece you got there." Shane said conversationally.

Andrea snapped from her reverie and looked up at Shane as he stood in front of her holding a couple jars of jam, peanut butter, applesauce, and some other food items.

"It was a gift. From my father." She answered, trying to shake off the memories.

"He thought Amy and I should have something to defend ourselves with if need be." She added.

"Smart man, your father." He nodded. "You know how to use a gun?"

"Close range." She admitted.

"Thought as much."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"You weren't planning popping yourself with that, were you?"

"Of course not." She retorted disgustedly.

Though, in truth, the thought had occurred to her.

"You know, get someone to teach you how to use that properly, you'll have no trouble defending yourself."

"Like you?"

Shane shrugged. "Anybody, really."

"We need more people who actually can use a firearm. Hell, could use anyone with a gun, really."

"I can learn how to use a gun." Carl chimed in from where he was sitting with Sophia on the steps of the RV.

Shane turned back to him. "That's between your mom and your dad and you, Carl."

Carl pouted as he took his seat again.

"Sorry Bud." He apologized.

"Maybe a conversation for later." Shane directed at Andrea before setting the few supplies on the table and heading back outside; ruffling Carl's hair on his way out.

Twenty minutes later...

"Hide! Under the cars!" Rick ordered in a hushed tone, waving his hand.

"Sophia!" Carol began to cry as Lori dragged her under the car.

"She's fine. She's in the RV with Carl." Lori whispered, holding a hand over Carol's mouth.

"Get inside and close the door!" Dale strained in a hushed tone to Carl and Sophia.

"Walkers!" He hissed.

"Mama!" Sophia cried jumping to her feet.

"Come on, we have to close the door." Carl said trying to pull her inside.

"Andrea!" Carl called, as he tried to pull Sophia on board to shut the door.

Andrea slowly peered out the window and noticed the herd of Walkers headed their way.

"Oh my God." She panicked as she fell out of her seat.

She jumped up to go pull the kids on the street, but Carl and Sophia were both already gone.

Andrea fell backwards on the stairs, dropping her gun and scrambled back onto the RV as the Walkers started to pass by.

She managed to make it to the bathroom as a Walker boarded the RV. She shut the foldable door as quickly and quietly as she could and held her breath.

Its footsteps thumped and dragged in her direction.

Andrea held her breath.

'So this is it.' She thought, placing her feet up against the door to brace it. 'We all die here because the duct tape couldn't hold out. And I get to die next to a toilet.'

"Andrea." Dale whispered from up above, tapping lightly on the vent for the bathroom.

She glanced up at him half-glaring.

Another life and death situation and Dale a witness to it.

Maybe this would actually be better this time. She could die and be with Amy and the rest of her family. This time Dale couldn't stop her.

Andrea was semi-aware of Dale informing her of a screwdriver setting on the shelf above the toilet from when they'd had to adjust some of the facilities a few days ago.

Her back against the wall and her feet firmly against the door, Andrea strained to reach the screwdriver.

She could still hear the Walker shuffling aboard the RV, but was unsure of where exactly it was.

Just as her finger tips brushed the tool, her foot slipped from the door and met the floor with a thud.

"Shit." She cursed under her breath.

Everything happened in slow motion.

The Walker began to pound on the foldable door trying to gain access.

It became an undertone to Andrea's screams.

All of a sudden, the screwdriver became less and less tangible.

Andrea began to wonder if this was how Amy felt in her last moments.

If their parents had encountered this fate.

The door was giving way.

Was the screaming in her head now?

She didn't feel like she was screaming anymore.

Even Dale's words faded as her brain started to shut down.

And she realized something.

Perhaps it was just the heat of the moment type deal.

Perhaps not.

One thing was certain right now:

She didn't give a damn about anyone or anything that at any point mattered to her.

All she knew was there was a threat and she wasn't going down via a Walker.

Andrea doesn't remember grabbing the screwdriver.

Or even attacking the rogue Walker for that matter.

Just the ache in her hand after she blinked to find the Walker's skull smashed to bits on the floor of the RV and blood everywhere.

I'll try to get something up soonish.

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