A/N: I really do love hearing from you all and these reviews have been fantastic. Thanks to: ashencharlie; songbird11; literaturechick; Richonne1317; KK; severelybabykryptonite; focusedOnProsperity; blacklitchick; Beautiful77; CodeName-M.e; kdthle23; and A. Thanks to all of my silent readers as well. You all rock!

What some of you said about Rick not realising what he had until it was gone is so true for this; Michonne has spent so much time with him and the kids and now when she wants to spend time with other people, he misses having her around. Michonne should definitely spend time with others; as for Morgan, I'm trying not to spoil what his intentions with Michonne are. He does like to be around her though. Is Rick reading too much into it or should he be genuinely worried that his neighbour is trying to cut his lawn? LOL Loving how some of you want Rick to suffer! Haha He really needs to show her how much he appreciates her, how will he do that? They communicate so much without words, is it time for him to sit down and let it all out? Or does he need to make a gesture? I love hearing what you all think! Okay, let's check in…

Warning: unsolicited violence


The night was still and quiet; one rarely heard the sound of any nocturnal creatures in the surrounding area, save for the occasional hideous groan from a walker.

"I'm so glad you brought these," said Michonne as she and Carol sat in the tower on first watch eating the cookies Carol had baked.

"I know how much of a sweet tooth you are," Carol smiled. "Don't ruin your appetite now. Wouldn't want Rick slaving over a hot stove for you and then you end up full from cookies."

Both women laughed; their shift was almost coming to an end as they glanced out across the darkness.

"How is Rick? I haven't had the chance to talk to him much since we've been on alert," Carol queried.

Michonne kept her eyes trained on the surrounding area as she finished chewing her cookie.

"Rick's Rick, ya know. He's good. Be better when we get this under control," she explained.

"Is he thinking of stepping up more in the leadership role now that Deanna's steppin' back?" Carol asked further.

Michonne shrugged, not feeling comfortable in talking about Rick's intentions.

"Not sure," she answered honestly. "I think people just naturally gravitate towards him and expect that he will so he'll do whatever we all want, I guess. Whatever's best for us."

Carol nodded; she went to say something else but the women heard the distinct whistle that let them know someone had arrived to relieve them of their duties.

"They're early," offered Carol as she made her way down first.

Michonne gathered up her katana on her back and the remaining cookies in her pocket and then followed along behind her friend. Once she reached the bottom of the tower, she found Carol standing with her hands in the air and speaking to someone.

"It was only me in there," she said. "Why don't you put the gun down and we'll talk about it."

Michonne could hear the unfamiliar voice of a man, but could not make out what he was saying.

"There's only you and me here, buddy. Let's just be cool and talk this through. No need for anyone to get hurt," she said loudly enough for Michonne to hear.

The younger woman peered outside and saw a rough looking man with straggly hair, a dirty face and what looked to be a 'w' written on his forehead. He held a gun to Carol as the older woman tried to talk him down while pretending she was alone, thus giving Michonne the element of surprise should she move to take him out.

"I got ten minutes before someone comes to relieve you two," the man said. "Quit playin' games and tell the other bitch to come out. I been watchin' people take watch here for a while now, so I know you're not alone, bitch!"

He cocked the hammer on the gun.

"Hey, easy," Michonne said as she stepped from the darkness and held her hands up. "You got us. Just don't do anything stupid, now."

The young man sneered as he shifted the aim of his pistol between the both of them.

"I'm gonna need you to take that sword and put it on the ground, right now!" he ordered and Michonne slowly complied.

His eyes darted from Michonne to Carol trying to ensure neither of them tried anything; he did not want to have to shoot them both after he had made the decision to enter the Safe-Zone and accost them. He was relatively certain he could take down two women, kill one and abduct the other. Each night since he had been casing the tower, it had been a male and female pairing; he knew trying to subdue a man would be far more difficult so he took his chance when two women were at the post. So far, his impromptu idea was working. Now all he had to decide on was which woman he would kill with the sword.

As he tried to think quickly, there was a sharp pain that flashed through the back of his head as something struck it, knocking him unconscious. As he slumped to the ground, Carol grabbed his gun and Michonne looked for something to tie him up with as Maggie and Rosita stood in front of them; Maggie with the brick she had used as a weapon still in her hand.

xXxXx

The small light bulb swung overhead in the garden shed as Glenn and Aaron tied the intruder to a rusted chair using electrical wires. Maggie and Rosita took their watch shift; Carol went to get Rick while Michonne and Morgan waited silently out in the backyard of the vacant home near the shed.

Rick's face was covered in an expression of anger coupled with a trace of disbelief as he approached the shed; Carol had stayed with Judith and Carl. Michonne straightened up as he stopped in front of them. He looked her over and his expression softened drastically.

"You okay?" was the first thing he said.

She had expected to receive a reprimand for being on watch when the man had infiltrated their walls, instead Rick asked about her wellbeing. She thought he was going to scold her for failing, instead he looked relieved that she was alright. Michonne nodded and felt self-conscious as he looked at her with something akin to adoration.

"He's inside. Daryl and Abraham are doin' perimeter check right now, but I think it was just him," she said softly.

Rick then nodded and placed his hand to her shoulder before entering; Michonne followed after him while Morgan stayed outside.

"Has he said anything?" Asked Rick as he looked at the man with disregard.

"No," answered Aaron.

"You two should go help Daryl and Abe, we got this," he said of him and Michonne.

The two men nodded and left the small space; Morgan then entered the shed, causing the young man to chortle.

"You," he said as Rick and Michonne looked questioningly.

"You know this asshole?" Rick asked his friend.

"He sure does. He let me and my buddy live after we tried to kill him," he spat.

Michonne glanced at Morgan incredulously while Rick felt the ire start welling inside of him.

"You wanna explain?" He said as he stepped towards Morgan.

"It's how he said it happened," Morgan offered calmly. "He's the one I let go."

"You two workin' together or some shit?" Rick questioned as he stepped closer still to his friend. Morgan lifted his chin defiantly.

"No!" was his firm reply, disbelieving that Rick could ask him such a thing.

"Then what the fuck is goin' on here? You show up talkin' about people wantin' to kill us, then this piece of shit breaks into our home!" Rick yells in Morgan's face as he grabs his shirt; Morgan does not react.

"He got in here where my kids are! Pulled a gun on my…on Michonne! Someone better start fuckin' talkin'!" Rick fumed.

Michonne stepped over and placed her hand at Rick's chest, drawing him away from Morgan before he did something he might regret. He stared Morgan down a moment longer before he turned to face their prisoner.

"What the fuck are you doin' here?" Rick asked as placed his face close to the stranger's.

"Fuck you!" he spat back.

Without warning Rick's fist came into contact with his jaw and he fell as the chair toppled over with him still attached to it. Morgan flinched and went to step forward, but Michonne looked at him and shook her head.

"How about fuck you!" said Rick as he kicked the man in his stomach causing him to cough as he fought to breathe.

Michonne then helped Rick pick him up and place the chair firmly to the ground. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth where Rick had struck him; he used his tongue to lick it and then smiled at them all.

"Tell us who sent you," Michonne said determinedly.

"How about you come and sit on my face, bitch!" He said with a laugh as he wriggled his tongue at her.

Rick's fist landed square between his eyes this time causing his nose to break in the process; the man let out a pained groan.

"Watch your mouth, you stupid prick or you'll lose that tongue!"

Said Rick as he shook his right hand in an attempt to get the feeling back. He then reached behind his back and retrieved a hunting knife. Rick stepped closer and held the knife to the man's throat.

"Rick…" started Morgan, not wanting to see any more blood flowing.

"I think you better wait outside if you're feelin' squeamish," Rick said callously, not looking around.

"No, I'll stay," Morgan offered.

"Okay, but I'm gonna need your opinion on somethin'; which hand do you think this motherfucker uses to jerk off?" Rick asked, waiting for a reply.

No one answered.

"Nope, he don't know. How about you just tell me?" Rick said as he pressed the knife into the man's neck. "Which hand do you jerk off with?"

"Don't matter which one I use 'cause your girlfriend here will be jerkin' me off later after my people kill all of you. Then again I might just let you watch while I fuck her. Ain't that right, sugar tits?" he said laughingly as Rick used the butt of the knife and smashed it against his temple.

He was knocked unconscious as Rick stood up straighter. He asked Michonne to get him some water from the garden, she did so and Rick tipped it over their prisoner's head. He came to and looked at them all mockingly, though still a little slow.

Rick grabbed a crate and took a seat directly in front of the man; he tapped the blade of the knife against the intruder's knuckles and smirked.

"I could do this shit all night. But it doesn't really matter whether you're left or right handed," said Rick as he looked at Michonne then to the bleeding man before him. "You won't be too worried about jerkin' off or fuckin' after I cut your shrivelled little dick off."

xXxXx

"What's happened?" Asked Morgan while he fell into stride alongside Michonne as she walked out into the darkened street.

"Rick got him to talk," she said as she stopped noting the look of contempt Morgan wore. "They have a camp not too far away. We're gonna hit 'em tonight."

"Hit 'em? Like attack?" Morgan asked.

Michonne nodded.

"Yes. Tonight we'll attack," she said in a matter-of-fact manner; Rick then came from behind the house.

He felt annoyed as he saw Michonne and Morgan standing and talking; he made his way over to catch what their conversation was about.

"But they haven't done anything," Rick heard Morgan say.

"Yet," replied Michonne. "There's still time. We're just lucky that asshole in the shed was such a dumb fuck, otherwise they could be attacking us in the middle of the night."

"Maybe we should negotiate with them, save some lives in the process," Morgan offered causing Rick to laugh.

"They were gonna hurt my family, they all die, tonight," said Rick as he walked away.

"Killing people isn't the way to go. Can't you talk to him? He'll listen to you…" said Morgan.

Michonne watched as Rick got several yards away, turned and looked back at them. He then called out: "Michonne, you comin'?"

She looked back at Morgan, shrugged and then followed Rick.

…..

"So that's the plan?" Asked someone in the group.

Rick nodded.

"Yep, torch their compound and shoot whoever runs out. We don't leave until they're all dead."

Everyone was now aware of the plan; the whole community was awake and on high alert. Rick would take four others and execute the plan. Michonne stood back holding Judith while he spoke to the group.

"This is the way we protect ourselves; these people were watching us and plotting to do us harm. This is war. We do what we have to do. We either kill or be killed." Rick said as he finished addressing them and gathered up weapons and ammunition.

Michonne ambled over and Rick stopped what he was doing.

"You okay?" He asked, noticing her uneasy demeanour.

"Yeah, just worried. I should be going with you," she said.

"No, I need you here with the kids in case anything happens," Rick said softly as he loaded another rifle.

Michonne nodded.

"We'll be fine," she offered with a weak smile which he returned.

Rick placed the gun down as Michonne passed Judith to him; he kissed his daughter's head before reaching over and taking Michonne's hand.

"I know," he said quietly while squeezing her hand. "I'll see you soon."

Michonne took Judith from her father and went to walk away; she stopped and then walked back to him before searching her pocket.

"Here," she offered as she handed over a slightly crumbled cookie.

They shared a smile and then Michonne left Rick standing there as he watched them leave with a mixture of love and fear gurgling in his stomach.