In the end, Rick told Katelyn the plan and had her start working on a code that Daryl would understand but Breed wouldn't. Andrea, Maggie, and Glenn worked on it in the car as they drove. The college kids decided they didn't want to go anywhere so the groups parted. Rick left them a few handguns and some ammo, along with hand axes for each and some knives, and taught them about how sound draws the walkers.
They were about twenty miles away from the camp, driving north on Highway 385, when they turned a sharp corner coming face to face with an enormous herd of walkers milling about on the road. They had never seen anything like it. They seemed to go on for miles. For a moment, Rick was frozen, overwhelmed by the sheer numbers, but quickly skidded to a halt.
"They're slow. What's wrong with them?" Andrea asked, watching them mill about aimlessly. They didn't even seem to be interested in the vehicles and were stumbling over each other.
"The one at the campground. It was the same." Rick said, watching them. The walkers began to turn, looking at the caravan before beginning to walk with rickety disjointed steps, toward them.
"Look how many there are." Michonne exclaimed, shaking her head, her eyes wide as she watched them.
"They're coming this way." Andrea whispered, hoping Rick would turn around, but he just sat staring at them.
"Rick! They're coming!" Andrea said louder.
Rick began to turn around, giving the other cars room before speeding off a few miles back the way they came and pulling over. Getting out of the car, Rick met Tyreese at his window and motioned for Glenn.
"That herd had to have thousands." Glenn said, jogging up to them.
"Yeah, and they're headed west. The same way we're heading." Rick said, letting out a pent up breath.
Madeline stood behind Rick, chewing on her lip.
"We don't have a choice though. We have to make it Colorado Springs." Madeline said, all her hope resting in the idea that NORAD would have been protected from the outbreak since it was sealed within Cheyenne Mountain.
Rick nodded as everyone else got out of the car to gather.
"All right. Here's what we're going to do. Get the map." He looked at Glenn, waiting for him to hand it to him.
Looking over the map, he planned a route that wouldn't force them back onto the interstate where Breed's gang was probably searching for them.
"Highway 36 will keep us going west where we can meet up with Highway 71 and head to Limon then onto the Springs." Rick said, pointing out the route.
Glenn nodded, pulling the map toward him to memorize the ways in and out.
"Okay." Glenn said, handing it back to him.
"All right, let's get back on the road. It's safer to travel during the day." Rick said, moving back toward the cars.
Not noticing that they were being watched, they loaded back up in the car and began heading down the road.
The lone figure waited until they were out of sight before pulling their motorcycle out from behind the tree. Pullling out his walkie talkie, he pressed the button.
"Come in, Breed. This is Juke. I got 'em. They're heading north on 385 and will be turning west on 36 to South 71 to Limon." Juke said.
"Juke, this is Breed. You said Limon?" The voice on the walkie asked.
"That's an affirmative. South on 71 to Limon. We can catch 'em before they get to the Springs." Juke said, snickering with delight.
"We'll set up a roadblock on Highway 24, just outside of Limon. I'll put some guys in Limon to watch 'em. Meet you there." Breed told Juke, before Juke put his walkie away and climbed back onto his bike.
He'd be rewarded for sure.
################################################################################
"Hey, little brother. I wanted to talk atcha." Merle said awkwardly as he approached Daryl who was grabbing supplies from the convenience store they'd stopped at.
"What?" Daryl was taken aback. Merle seemed serious and this was unlike him.
"What happens when we meet up with the group?" Merle asked, wondering if Daryl had thought that far ahead.
Daryl turned to look at him. He knew exactly what he was asking. He didn't know exactly what had happened in the shed with Katelyn since she didn't say anything, but there was no way that she was going to be okay with Merle around. When Daryl and Merle had first hooked up again, he wanted to kill him, but something in him just couldn't do it. Merle was a complete asshole, but he was the only family Daryl had left and he, in his own way, had spent his life protecting Daryl. Merle's view of the world was twisted beyond recognition, but something in him changed that day with Governor.
He didn't know what to do with him now. They'd been through a lot together during their lifetime and he loved him…and hated him.
Daryl turned and looked at Merle square in the face, his eyes intensely penetrating as if he could look into Merle's soul, and asked, "Were you gonna kill 'er?"
Merle dug his foot into the dirt uncomfortably, avoiding Daryl's gaze. He had always been the dominant one. The older brother who knew all the answers, but now, he realized that he didn't have any. He had done the best he could in his life, but he'd made a lot of mistakes and this might be a mistake he could never undo, but ironically, it was the only one he ever cared to undo.
"Maybe." He answered honestly.
Daryl turned and looked out on the horizon, his face heavy with concentration.
"I grabbed her and dragged her in the shed. I wanted to talk to her about you and her. She just…just freaked and I panicked. I didn't know what to do. She passed out or somethin' and I rolled her up in the tarp. I didn't have a plan…didn't know what I was gonna do with 'er, but I knew the whole thing looked bad." Merle tried to explain.
Daryl didn't say anything.
"I thought she was just a piece 'a ass. Hell, I've never been in love. I didn't think you…I just wasn't thinkin'." Merle stopped, knowing there was nothing he could say that would make this better.
Daryl nodded and turned to leave, but was stopped by Merle grabbing his arm. Daryl turned back to look at him.
"I'm fucked up. I know that. I ain't good for nobody, but I love ya. Yer ma brother. Yer all I got. I know it ain't the same between us, but if she can forgive me…can you?" Merle came as close to begging as Daryl had ever seen. He felt his heart beating fast. He didn't know the answer to his question so he answered him honestly.
"I don't know." He said quietly before turning and going back to the truck.