"What do you think about Ethan?"
"Here's one."
"That's too big. You didn't answer me."
"Nonsense, you tie it around your waist and it's perfect."
"I like these."
"Those would look good on you."
"None of these coats look like they will fit."
"We can go over to the women's department and see if any of those will. The reason I haven't answered you is I don't have an opinion yet."
"Well, maybe you will and maybe you won't. Maybe I will find some skinny fit jeans too."
"Why? The bootcut look fine on you."
"But they don't stay on my hips."
"Then you need a belt."
"The skinny fit sit perfectly on my waist and they're not baggy for a walker to grab onto."
"I swear, you sound just like Rick."
"Really?"
"It's not a compliment."
"It is to me. He trained me, Carol; he took me out and showed me how to defend myself, take care of myself …"
"Shoot that honker on your hip."
"That I learned the hard way, and it's got a kick to it."
"I bet it does. I never understood why he chose that over some of the other more powerful guns in our arsenal."
"This thing is powerful enough."
"Ladies," Mitch spoke as he walked up. "Dinner is served in the commissary."
"What dinner?" Beth asked.
"We broke out the grills and other things then started grabbing food."
"I don't eat meat," Beth cringed.
"So you're the reason he's grilling tofu with soy and hoisin."
"That sounds delicious," Beth grinned. "Too bad no fresh vegetables."
"No, but we got enough cans of the damn things. Me personally, give me a hunk of meat and potatoes any time."
Carol and Beth laid their clothes over the rack as they followed Mitch to where they were cooking. Shaking her head, Carol grabbed a pack of plates and silverware from the shelf and then reached over to grab a large bucket of tea.
"Do we have anymore of those little red sodas?" Groves asked.
"Plenty," Carol smiled and sat two in front of him. "Tea, Beth?"
"Yes please." She watched as Ethan walked over and sat a plate of seared tofu with bean sprouts and cauliflower in front of her. He reached behind his back and produced a salad with a jar of bleu cheese and smiled.
"I have a pile of salads in the fresh freezer that still works, along with a ton of dressing. I remember something about you only eating bleu cheese dressing for some reason," he smiled as he sat.
"It's part of my lifestyle," she replied and spooned some out on her salad.
"What are you, vegan or something?" Mitch asked as he took a bite of steak.
"No, vegetarian," she replied as she took a bite of the tofu. "This is delicious, it reminds me of that Japanese place you took us that one night."
"I remember that," Ethan chuckled as he savored his steak.
"Do you eat seafood or dairy?" Groves asked. "My wife was a vegetarian, and she loved to eat seafood constantly."
"I am an ovo-vegetarian, which means I eat dairy products and eggs," Beth explained. "I'm not real fond of seafood, it makes my throat tighten up and I can't breathe that well. Daddy was going to get me tested for food allergies, but it never happened."
"That definitely sounds like a seafood allergy to me," Mitch commented, taking a long drink of tea. "I'm the same way with nuts, especially pecans and walnuts."
"Can you eat peanut butter?"
"Nope."
"I love crunchy peanut butter."
"We have several cases if you want some," Groves grinned. "I like that chocolate hazelnut spread stuff, my grandkids used to fight over it."
"How many grandchildren did you have?"
"Nineteen."
"And how many kids did you have?" Carol questioned.
"Seven."
"Damn man, you were a baby making machine," Mitch chuckled softly.
"I was also deployed from the time I was 19 to right before this shit happened," Groves explained. "I married her straight out of high school."
"Good man," Ethan smiled. "Reminds me of how Beth's mother and I met."
"She's not yours?" Groves asked.
"No, her half-brother was my son," Ethan explained. "I consider her my daughter though."
"You're a good man in my book then," Groves smiled and took a long drink. "My granddaughter Stephanie got me hooked on these."
"Nothing but sugar and caffeine," Carol scoffed.
"Yea well, at least I quit the alkie for these," Grove reminded her.
"True."
"How nice is this that we can sit here and eat together," Ethan grinned.
"Where's Judith?" Beth asked, glancing around.
"The crib right there," Groves said, pointing over a few feet. "We brought it over and laid her down. She was happy, watching us cooking and all. I fed her some applesauce and butternut squash puree, then gave her some meat sticks and a cookie. She had some juice in her cup then was gone before the steaks hit the grill."
Beth reached up and wiped tears from her face. "Thank you, that's the most food she's had in awhile. We've done the best we can for her, but …"
"Sweetheart, you keeping that baby alive after her momma died is awesome. She didn't have her mother's milk to boost her immune system, but she is fine. She's no worse for wear, and besides we have three aisles full of baby food to make her happy for a long time."
"Thanks."
"If you are interested," Mitch spoke up, "there is something around here called meatless jerky, I think it's made from the stuff you're eating."
"We need to check into that for you," Carol spoke up. "You are too lean, you have no muscle mass. You need to watch out and take care of yourself."
"I will, and I will try some of that," Beth smiled as she went back to eating. "I know you may think I'm crazy for maintaining this type of lifestyle with all that's happening, but in truth I don't like the taste of meat."
"Maybe someone hasn't cooked it right for you," Groves spoke up.
"I used to make her and Shawn hamburgers, and I will give her credit that she did try them but she just couldn't eat it," Ethan grinned.
"I hated the taste of it for some reason," Beth replied.
"Some people just can't stomach the taste or texture," Grove added.
"Well, we're all like that," Mitch commented. "Here is to the things that make us different and the things that bind us together."
"Here here."
"Are you sure you want me to take your office?" Beth asked as Ethan walked around, gently rocking Judith in his arms. "This is your room after all."
"It's just where I crash at night."
"But still …"
"I can crash on the air mattress out the door by camping," he smiled as he leaned over and laid Judith gently into the crib. "I brought her some bottles we warmed in case she gets hungry and here are some diapers too."
"Thank you Ethan," she smiled. She leaned over and kissed his cheek. "I'm glad at least you are here with me, I don't know what I would do."
"Get some rest, things will be seem better in the morning," Ethan smiled and turned the light down. "I'll leave it on in case you need it."
"Thanks."
She settled into the bed as he pulled the door shut behind him quietly. Smiling, he walks away and goes to sleep.
"Gas station!" Glenn called out, hanging out the window and pointing.
"Sounds good to me," Tyreese chuckled as he flicked the lights.
Daryl pulled into the station as the other cars pulled in behind him. "Any idea where we are?"
"Somewhere around the 261 corridor I think," Glenn commented. He saw Jack and Sasha climb out without Rick. "How is he?"
"Out like a light," Jack grinned.
"Damn fool gave him tranquilizers," Sasha spat as the door opened behind her.
"I've taken tranquilizers before," Rick growled and glared at him. Shaking his head, he headed out to the tree line and vanished.
"Should we go after him?" Maggie questioned.
"NO!" came the loud reply.
"Bathroom break," Daryl chuckled as he reached out. "Damn, pumps are still running."
"Can I not go to the bathroom alone now?" Rick growled as he walked back over.
"You need coffee dude," Glenn laughed aloud as he put the nozzle into the truck's gas tank. "Glad I never had to wake you up before now."
"Yea well, I also need a bottle of whiskey sour too," Rick snorted and popped the gas tank open on the car. Unscrewing the cap, he slid the nozzle in and started pumping gas. "How are we doing Sasha?"
"We were down to a quarter tank," she smiled and leaned back against the car. "Damn, I haven't had a whiskey sour in a minute."
"Half bottle and two tranquilizers and I was ready for anything," Rick chuckled. "Damn I miss those days."
"Never pictured you as a drinking man," Jack commented, crossing his arms.
"I wasn't," Rick smiled. "That was the only way tranquilizers would work on me, my body got too accustom to them."
"Oh really, why is that?" Jack asked.
"Over worked and under paid back in the day," Rick commented as the pump shut off. He pulled the nozzle out and rescrewed the gas cap. "Being a deputy sucked for a long time. I hate to say this, but I think the criminals had it better than I did most of the time."
"We did, most of the time," Daryl chuckled as the bike filled up. "How's that doing?"
"Almost on half," Tyreese replied. "This thing is a work horse when it gets going."
Pulling the map out, Glenn looked around and started turning. "We're getting close to the state line, but to which state I do not know."
"I don't know if I can leave or not," Rick spoke up.
"We're not leaving, we're relocating," Jack spoke and gripped his shoulder. "Now get your ass back in the car and go back to sleep!"
"Touchy aren't we," Rick chuckled as he opened the back door. "Beth said you could be a bear at times."
"And why would she tell you that?" Jack asked.
"Oh she told me lots of stuff," Rick smiled. "She could talk for hours and then, she could say nothing at all and I knew exactly how she felt."
"I was right!" Maggie snapped. "You two were together! She lied to me!"
"No we weren't together, not yet anyway," Rick replied. "We were working on it."
"Sasha, you might want to tune out the conversation Rick and I are getting ready to have when we get back in the car," Jack growled. "It has things to do with my good foot and his backside where my daughter is concerned."
"I have heard that speech plenty of times," Sasha laughed. "My daddy told that to every new boy-friend I had."
"Smart man," Jack spoke as he climbed in the car.
"You are dead," Glenn chuckled as Maggie shoved him in the truck.
"I agree with him," Tyreese laughed and climbed in.
"Nothing says more than a pissed off father and the man who is in love with his daughter in the same car," Michonne giggled as she put her arms around Daryl.
"Glad it's him and not me," Daryl chuckled as he cranked the bike.
"Tell me something."
"What?"
"Which color do you prefer … decadent blonde or cascading honey blonde?"
"I like the color you have now, it's more natural."
"I know but to me I look old."
"I bet you'd make a nice brunette."
"Brown huh, and what about you? What would you pick?"
Beth reached out and pulled out a box. Carol took it and looked down. "Brilliant Bordeaux … a redhead, why?"
"I've heard redheads have more fun."
"Oh they do," Carol grinned. "Want to dye it?"
"I don't know, what do you think?"
"How about something like this?" Carol reached in and produced a reddish-blonde color. "It's still red without being overly dramatic about it."
"That's actually quite nice."
"Which one?" Groves asked, walking up.
Carol turned to show him the reddish-blonde hair color. He took the box and held it to Carol's face. "Nah, it would wash you out too much."
"It's for her silly."
He held the color to Beth's face and stared at the box. "Beautiful choice, and it's enough red to set off your eyes." He pulled a box of honey chocolate brown out and handed it to Carol. "Now this is definitely you, right color for your skin and eyes."
"What were you in a former life?"
"Came out of the Marines and went to work at a supply house. My wife developed cancer and her hair fell out, so I started buying her wigs to make her feel better. I got so used to doing it, I would spend $500 at a time for a nice wig. One time, I bought her one about this color and your length, Carol. She fell in love with it … I buried her in it."
"I am sorry to hear that."
"At least it was from cancer and not from this shit now."
"Is your first name Groves?" Beth asked.
"No, it's Wallace … hate Wally, so I go by Groves."
"Nice to meet you, I'm Beth Grimes."
"Beth Greene."
"No, Beth Grimes."
"Glad it's not Beth Blake or Herriott or whatever he uses now."
"Were you and Rick really that serious?"
"Yea we were."
"If you ladies want some help, I am more than happy to help with the dyeing," Groves grinned and wiggled his eyebrows.
"All right, let's do it then," Carol smiled. "You in Beth?"
She took the hair color and stared at it. She pulled her blonde streaks around and looked back at the box. "Beth Grimes is a reddish blonde while Beth Greene was a blonde. I need this new start for not just myself, but for Judith too. Let's do it."
"Follow me ladies, the sinks are this way."
"And furthermore," Jack spoke, "no bodily fluids will be exchanged …"
"They already have been," Rick chuckled as he laid in the back seat with his eyes closed. "We've been kissing since her birthday."
"I don't mind the kissing, it's the other things I have issue with," Jack smarted back at him. "I don't want to have to remind you of what happened when I finally caught Glenn and Maggie. I am only glad they had sense to use protection."
"I was there, you don't have to remind me."
"Are you two going to be like this the entire time cause if you are I will beat you both up," Sasha growled. "Where the hell is Daryl taking us? We've been down this road before."
"Sasha, he is driving in circles to avoid walkers."
"He's driving in circles cause he's lost!"
"Daryl doesn't get lost," Rick chuckled. "If he's driving in circles, it's because there are too many walkers and too few of us."
"They're stopping," Sasha spoke up, putting on brakes and setting the car in drive.
They climbed out and walked up front. Daryl stood with a pair of binoculars looking out at the road ahead. "Shit."
"What's wrong?" Jack asked.
"There's a herd of at least 50 or more headed towards us and I can't find a way around them. We can't go through them."
"Can we double back?" Glenn asked.
"Either that or go offroading," Daryl commented.
Tyreese walked over and picked the motorcycle up and walked to the truck, depositing it in the bed. "You can drive, I don't understand 4-wheel offroad that much."
Daryl looked at his bike then back to Tyreese. "Damn."
"Which way you want to go?" Sasha asked.
"We can head down that offshoot behind us," Daryl commented. "Glenn, hop in back and use the flares to keep the road lit for us."
"Gotcha," Glenn spoke and climbed in back. "Where are they?"
"In the back in a box," Daryl called out.
"You mean this box," Rick chuckled as he walked up with it. "Wrong car."
"Thanks," Glenn smiled.
"Let me drive Sasha, I can handle it offroad better," Rick spoke, reaching for the keys.
"Sure why the hell not," Sasha spoke. "I can climb in back and drown out your chat."
"Foot and butt?" Glenn asked. "Been there, heard that many times."
"I'm gonna give you a foot in a minute," Jack snapped. Glenn ducked as Jack waved his fist at him.
"Uncle Jack," Maggie giggled.
"This is all I've heard for the past 100 miles," Sasha growled. "You ride with them and give me some peace!" She stomped pass Maggie and climbed into the truck.
"Well then," Jack smiled. "Would you care to ride with us darling?"
"No thanks," Maggie laughed and climbed in with Sasha.
"You're leaving me alone with him?" Jack asked.
"Yep," Tyreese smiled as he flipped Daryl the keys.
"I'll go with them," Michonne huffed, "just to keep them from wrecking from the fights."
"You're braver than I am," Glenn chuckled, peering over the lip of the truck.
"Here's the straightener."
"Thanks, hand me that brush too."
"Where's the comb at?"
"Here you go."
"I never thought I would have a hair dryer again."
"You and me both."
"What the hell is going on over here?" Mitch asked, walking up with Judith.
"Makeover," Groves smiled.
Beth flipped her now reddish-blonde hair up from her face and smiled.
"Damn, you look hot."
"No cursing in front of the baby."
"She heard Ethan cursing so I took her."
"How is she doing?"
"Two jars of meat sticks, three pouches of apple kale squash puree and two cookies. No diaper changing as of yet and loves this doll he gave her."
"Where is Ethan at anyway?" Carol asked.
"He is doing something or another with that black car he brought over from the upper parking lot," Mitch commented. "Hey, while I was out I went looking and didn't see any signs of them. I saw where it looked like they went offroad a few miles from here, but nothing yet. We need to stay inside, there's a herd heading this way."
"How big of a herd?" Groves asked.
"At least 50 or so."
"After I finish with the ladies, we'll go around and lock everything down so they can't get in."
"Already ahead of you and done that across the front, I even pulled the metal doors down so they couldn't see us inside."
"Good cause I sealed up the loading docks and pulled the cars inside," Ethan spoke as he came up. "Looking lovely ladies."
"Thank you."
"Beth, that red suits you nicely."
"Thanks."
"We need a way to keep an eye on the herd somehow," Carol spoke, finishing her hair.
"There's access points to the roof in the stock area," Ethan commented. "We can climb up there if we have to."
"That works," Mitch commented then sniffed. "Baby doll, your butt is rotten."
Looking at him, Judith threw her head back and started laughing.
They rolled through the woods, being careful not to puncture the tires as they continued. With the roads blocked, the only way to move was the way they were going. Daryl and Rick kept close to one another as they drove. The forest opened into a large field as they started driving a little faster. The field broke into a large area of what appeared to be crops next to a road. They climbed out as Jack walked over to inspect.
"Corn, dry as a bone. None of it's worth eating."
"Why does this look familiar?" Daryl asked, lighting a cigarette.
"Because the farm house was three miles over that hill," Rick spoke. "We're almost back to the farm."
"Hard to believe," Daryl spoke.
"I don't want to go by there, it's too hard," Jack spoke, biting his fist.
"We have our bearings now, we know where the gas stations are," Rick spoke, laying a hand on his shoulder.
"So what are you planning on doing once we find them?" The question was simple. She wrapped her arm around his as they strolled through the abandoned store. He leaned over to peer down at the baby in the stroller. "She's getting there."
"Maybe in another aisle or two," she laughed softly. She leaned her head against him, lost in thought. "I haven't thought that far ahead yet because I don't want to get my hopes up and be disappointed."
"That's understandable," he spoke as he stood, straightening his back. "I have an idea for you to consider, I don't care one way or the other."
"What's that?"
"Stay with me."
"With you? And these idiots?"
"No, we would pack up a car and leave, just the three of us. We would find a safe haven, a place in the middle of nowhere, wherever to get out of this."
She kept silent for a few moments. "What about you? How would we explain her and your eye? Could you live with me?"
"Beth, we're family …"
"That's not what I meant. Could you live with me and not want that?"
"Ah, I see what you mean. I guess we would have to add someone in for me, and later someone for you. We would cross that road when we came to it."
"Even though I love someone?"
"Even though you … wait, who? Please don't tell me Rick."
"What's wrong with loving Rick? He is a great man!"
He stopped and looked at her. "What has he done to you?"
"Nothing why," she shied away from his gaze.
"I saw the pregnancy test in the trash, and I know it wasn't Carol's." She looked at him. "Did he do something to you?"
"Yea something," she smiled. "He didn't force himself on me if that's what you're thinking. It was my birthday … we were scouting abandoned houses, and it started to rain. We took shelter and just sat and talked. He kissed me and said 'happy birthday' and the next thing we know we're in bed with one another. That was not planned, but it certainly didn't hurt." She blushed brightly. "Why am I telling you this?"
"Would you rather be telling Maggie or Jack?"
"Hell no."
"Beth, you have always been able to tell me things over other people."
"Yea I know. It's just I would hope to tell them if they're still around. "
"What do you mean 'if' they're still around … Beth, what happened? What is the real reason you've been with us for over a month?"
"There was an accident … a fire," Beth began.
"We found them," Mitch spoke as he walked in.
"Where are they?" Carol asked.
"The abandoned truck stop up on Route 208. There's only about seven there; they got three vehicles, one of which is the motorcycle. We could hit them now and be done with this." He looked around. "Where the hell have you been?"
"Pushing Judith around in a stroller, talking."
"Talking? Damn, what is his problem? First the chicks and that kid, and now blondie and the baby. Are we a freaked daycare all of a sudden?"
"I'm not sure what Ethan is up to with Beth, and to be perfectly honest I don't like it."
"Why, thinking he's planning on getting him some farmer's daughter?"
"None of your business, Mitch!" he hissed.
"They're at the abandoned truck stop on 208. Daryl's motorcycle and two other vehicles. Does that sound like enough for everyone, Beth?"
"No, that's only about 7 or 8 of them." She stopped as tears began rolling down her cheeks. "Did you see who was there?"
"Nope blondie, we didn't get that close."
"Only 7 or 8 left after the fire," Ethan breathed. "My God, there was over fifty people living in that prison and now there's only 8 left."
"And we don't know which 8," Beth spoke softly.
"Wait, what about the prison?" Carol asked. "What are you not telling me?"
"The prison caught fire; people were running away, that's how Mitch found me and Judith. We were in the forest with walkers closing in."
"There were over 50 people there," Carol breathed.
"That sickness killed 15," Beth admitted.
"So we go from 50 to 35, so where's the other 27?" Mitch asked.
"Dead or not with them," Ethan spoke as he put his arm around Beth and pulled her into a hug. "We will figure out who is there, and if it's not them then you will stay with me." She nodded quietly. "You should have went to see who was there!"
"Hey, you don't give me orders!" Mitch snapped. "Besides, I know Daryl is there … his bike was in the lead with some black chick on the back."
"That could be either Sasha or Michonne," Carol spoke up.
Groves took that time to walk in and hand a set of car keys over to Ethan. "It is gassed up and ready to roll whenever we are."
"I got us a car, okay Mitch," Ethan spoke, noticing the look on his face. "Groves was nice enough to go put gas in it."
"Why?" Mitch asked.
"We needed gas for the Trailblazer to get it to the gas station," Groves told him, "or your skinny ass would be walking and I wouldn't give a shit."
"Okay whatever. Carol, Groves, let's ride … Ethan, you can drive your lady friend and the baby in whatever car you got. We're taking blondie back home."
"If it's no one but Daryl, I am taking her and we're leaving," Ethan spoke up. "If it's Rick and the others, I will ride back with all of you."
"All right, I can dig that … wait, you're going to give her the car?"
"It has all the baby stuff in it, that way if she wants to run away from them she can," Ethan explained. "You never claimed territory over the cars in the outer parking lot … just the ones close to the building."
Groves gave him a hi-five and grinned. "You did say that bro, so don't deny it."
"Whatever, let's just roll."
"We're going to go see daddy," Beth smiled as she looked down at Judith.
Judith leaned her head back and grinned a huge broad smile. Ethan chuckled at her as he started pushing the stroller for the door. "I can't believe how happy she is with everything that is going on. It is a true test to how you care for her."
"Thanks," Beth smiled and leaned her head on his shoulder. "I wish things had been better for Lily and them."
"Me too," he spoke as they headed out into the parking lot. He walked over and opened the door; unfastening the walker, he lifted Judith up and sat her in the car seat. Folding the stroller, he dropped it in back and shut the trunk. "Go ahead and get in, I need to speak to Mitch for a moment. He and I have some unfinished business we need to discuss, like him and his attitude for starters."
"All right." She climbed in and fastened her seat belt, watching him walk over to the Hispanic man. The two seemed to argue briefly before they shook hands on something. He walked back over and climbed in. "What was that about?"
"If you run, you can come back here and grab what you will need for the road. We will stay gone for two hours so you can. If you don't run, I don't come back."
"Ethan."
"It's only if you don't leave."
"But how will you know?"
"Oh, I'll know. Don't worry about that."
"Ok." She gripped his hand and smiled. "I have missed you."
"Same here." He cranked the engine and pulled out behind Mitch.
"Okay, so if this is the 208, then the highway headed north is about fifteen miles from here," Glenn spoke as Maggie held the flashlight for him to read the map. "We might want to find a gas station between here and there." He looked around. "I wish I knew which exit we were at so I could get a better gauge on how we have to go."
"Don't worry, just do your best," Maggie smiled.
"Do you think we can get around on the roads?" Sasha asked.
"Not sure, we'll have to be careful, I know 285 around Atlanta is clogged badly," Glenn acknowledged. He looked around. "Where's Rick?"
"Daryl's keeping an eye on him," Maggie spoke, looking over. "He's walking around like a caged animal wanting to break loose and kill something."
"There's nothing to do for him?" Sasha asked.
"I have given him enough tranquilizers to kill a horse and he's still on his feet," Jack spoke as he looked down at the map. "He's so on edge, he's snapping at people then he apologizes. I wish there was something to do for him. He could … become a … liability if we don't something. We might even have to think about leaving him alone."
"Jack, this is Rick we're talking about. Look at what he's been through … he lost Lori less than 9 months ago. Carl died at the prison from the walkers, and Judith and Beth …" He stopped. "He's lost everyone that is important to him." He stared over Jack. "You were getting close to having to have the speech about your good foot and shotgun."
"Oh really," Sasha mused. "Wait, you mean him and Beth?"
"Yep," Maggie spoke. "Seems as though my sister and he were getting a little too close for my comfort and not close enough for hers."
"You mean she was wanting …" Sasha's voice trailed off.
"She had it bad, and he was getting that way before the fire. They would make excuses to go on walks together after dark. When we would go out for patrol, we would catch them standing in the clotheslines surrounded by laundry and kissing. She would start taking stuff down, and there he'd be … arms around her waist and nuzzling her neck and being all sorts of cute in ways that Glenn and I never were."
"Yea well, I was scared of your father then too," Glenn grinned.
"And look at you now," Jack laughed as he turned to look over at Rick. "I hope we never have to think about leaving him. I don't know if he could survive in the mental state he's in."
"Like you said, let's hope it doesn't come to that."
"Why does it take so long to read a map?" Daryl huffed as he took a long draw off his cigarette. "Want one?"
Rick glared at him for a moment then his face fell. "Please, maybe it will calm my nerves."
"And how many tranquilizers have you had?" Michonne asked as he lit the cigarette.
"At least 10 in the past three days, with no affect," Rick spoke, running his thumb over his brow. "I had to take tranquilizers while I was a sheriff. I got to where I would work late nights and the following morning. I was working around 39 hours a day with only four hours of sleep a night. Lori got pissed and sent me to the doctor after I suffered a stress heart attack."
"Damn," Tyreese spoke. "How long were you down for?"
"Three months," he replied, taking another long draw. "Doctor refused to even let me on light duty till I passed five, count them five, stress tests."
"Man, I bet you were stoked all the time," Daryl smiled. "Helping any?"
"I used to smoke before I got shot and landed in a coma before all this and missed the first 6 months of the outbreak," Rick chuckled softly. "I survived the beginning because I was in a coma from being shot. Unfreaking believable."
"Could have been worse, you might have been on the front lines of this shit."
"I was in a coma for a year."
"Damn, you did miss the good stuff," Daryl chuckled.
He finished the cigarette then dropped it and stomped it out. Inhaling, he closed his eyes for a moment. "Was great, little lightheaded though but that comes with the territory."
"Is it helping your nerves any?"
"Not a damn bit." He leaned his head back and let out a sound between a groan and a wail. "Damn this world!"
"Preach it brother, preach it!" Tyreese laughed.
He stopped and stood, holding his finger to his lips as he tilted his head around.
"SHIT! We have company!" Daryl yelled as headlights could be seen in the distance.
"What was that?" Sasha asked. "Was that Rick?"
"Yea, but Daryl just yelled something," Maggie commented.
"Something about …" Sasha began.
"Company," Glenn spoke, pointing to the approaching headlights. "Probably the Governor and his batch."
Rick's hand went reflexively to his side but his gun wasn't there. "Easy," Daryl spoke. "Let's see what they're planning first."
"I just want someone to say something wrong to me," Rick growled.
"I know, but chill first," Daryl spoke, turning to glare at him. "Remember, we talk first then shoot unless its walkers."
"And I guess you got that from me," Rick snorted.
"Yep, and it's worked so far," Daryl grinned cattily.
"Why do you do everything I said?" Rick questioned.
"Because you are the boss … boss," Daryl grinned as Rick playfully shoved him.