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CHAPTER ELEVEN
"Leave us alone!" Maggie yells back at them as she helps her father and sister along to the house. Rick can't believe Shane would do this, he was handling it. It might not have been the best but he had to ease Hershel into letting them take care of the walkers in the barn. Not breaking it open and shooting them in front of him and those girls and Carl.
"You knew and kept it from us. We were right by the barn in tents." Shane yells back still pumped up from what just happened. "I can't believe you would let that happened to us." Shane yells as the other walk up the stairs to the house.
"I don't care what you believe!" Hershel said turning around and facing them, tears still in his eyes, from the walkers in the barn and his dead wife almost killing his youngest daughter.
"Everybody just calm down." He said pushing against Shane chest to get him away from Hershel and them. "Get him off my land!" Hershel yells and Rick's heart clenches in fear, they can't leave this farm.
"Let me tell you something..." Shane said pushing his arm away and starts to get closer to Hershel but is stopped by Maggie who stands before her father.
"Hey! Don't touch him!" She yells as she slaps Shane across his face which makes him take a step back from her and Hershel and Rick lightly pushes him farther back.
"Haven't you done enough?" She says before turning and walking up the steps to her sister and Patricia and is followed closely by Glenn and Hershel. "I mean it... off my land." Hershel's says staring only at him before turning and going inside with his family.
Rick turned from looking at the front door to look over at Shane and his anger and fear grew each passing second, what he is supposed to do now.
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"I hate that you wanted to come, hate it more that I let ya." Charlie said looking over at Eva who looks away from the map. She shakes her head before looking down at the map in her lap.
"I need stuff to do, when I'm by myself or when it's quiet, I think about what happened. I think about it over and over, it's too much Charlie." Eva whispers as she looks out the window watching the trees pass by.
"I lived through it once, I don't want to keep going through it just because I have nothing to do." She felt the truck slowing down so she looks over to Charlie to see him just staring on a head. He looks over at her and pats her arm that is leaning on the center console before speeding back up to check the next area to see if Sophia's group has replied yet.
"It has been only two days since we put those notes up, don't get too sad about it." Charlie says as they stare at the last place that the note indicated for them to reply.
"She has been missing from her group for almost six days, Charlie. Her mother doesn't know if she is dead or undead, starving and scared or hurt." Eva says as she rubs her eyes trying to get the headache to ease. "We don't even know if her group or her mother is alive."
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Charlie sighs hating that he has been thinking about that too, Eva looks out the window and watches the trees fly by seeing some of the trees have started changing colors, fall is almost here and then winter, just something else they have to worry about.
Charlie takes the long way back, taking back road after back road all the way back making sure no one is following them. He drives up to the house and before he can even open his door Eva jumps out and starts limping her way to the house.
When he gets inside he sees her and Sophia sitting on the couch with Sophia cuddling up to her. She is crying but not in hysterics like she was yesterday.
He makes his way to the kitchen and he sits down at the table, he lightly picks at the sheet that they are using as a table cover, to cover up the blood stains that they can't get out of the table.
He rests his elbows on the table and starts massaging his forehead trying to block out the girls soft crying from the next room, or the fact they will need to pack up and leave soon.
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Daryl walks slowly up the steps of the RV, when he gets inside he sees Carol sitting at the table holding onto Sophia's doll. He hops up onto the kitchen counter and they both sit there in silence.
What Shane just did breaking open that barn, it will cause them problems with the old man's favor. He knows that they need to clear the barn but not right in front of Hershel's family or Carol, Lori and Carl.
He knows it has hit Carol hard, seeing that small girl come walking out with the rest of the walkers. She couldn't be any older than Sophia.
"That little girl isn't Sophia, I know that, I do. I don't know what hurts more, my baby being a walker or me never knowing if she is one or alive somewhere." Carol sobs as she pulls the doll to her chest trying to get some comfort out of it.
Daryl didn't know what to say to that so he just kept quiet, hoping that just being there will be enough. He feels the RV shake as Lori walks up the steps and he watches her sit down on the other side of the table across from Carol.
Carol reaches out and Lori grabs her hand in both of hers and they all sit there in the hot RV, in silence, trying not to let their fears get the best of them.
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Eva hops up the steps of the bus after she ate some dinner, she needs to do something though, so she came out to the barn to work on the bus.
She sees Cody has finished with the cage and she opens the door before hopping inside the bus. She sees that everything is pretty much done and ready if they need to leave.
She limps down the aisle pass the table and the futon, pass one of the beds and the crib all the way to the back where the emergency door is.
She grabs the blow torch and then pulls the mask down before turning it on. She starts welding the lock holder on to the bus, making sure the sparks don't go flying all over the place, last thing they need is a fire starting in the bus.
She finishes with the one holder before the pain in her leg starts to be too much. She puts everything back where it was before, before moving further back to the back where the last bed is.
She flops down wincing when the stitches pull slightly on her thigh. She looks down to the front of the bus making sure everything is where they should be before laying back and she throws her arm over her eyes.
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"Your stepmother's things?" Rick asks Maggie as he shifts through a box of clothes. "He was so sure she'd recover. That they pick up where they left off." Maggie tells them as she crosses her arm, worried about her sister and now her missing father.
"Looks like her found an old friend." Shane said so he turns to see him holding a flask and Shane tosses it over to him and he looks back up to Maggie. "That belonged to my grandfather, gave it to dad when he died." Maggie said as she walks over to him and he hands her the flask.
"I didn't take Hershel for a drinker." He said as he watches her move back over to Glenn. "No, he gave it up on day I was born. He didn't even allow liquor in the house." Maggie tells them and Rick nods his head.
"What's the bar in town?" Rick asked her and she looks over to him. "Hatlin's. He practically lived there in his drinking days." Maggie says and Rick looks at her before looking over at Glenn and then to Shane then Lori.
"Betting that's where I'll find him." He said not looking at Lori eyes before looking at Glenn. "Yeah I've seen the place. I'll take you." Glenn tells him and he nods his head.
"Alright I'll go get the truck." Rick says and Glenn goes to follow him but Maggie says no and stands before him. "It's an easy run." Glenn tells her not understanding why she is stopping him. "Like the pharmacy." she says and recollection flashes in his eyes but Rick calls her name.
"Hey Maggie, I'll bring him back." He chuckles a bit before leaving the room and he hears Lori and Shane following close behind. It doesn't matter what they say, they need Hershel here for the baby, he needs to bring Hershel back here.
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Eva bolts up panting trying to catch her breath her eyes dart around trying to remember where she is. When she realizes she is in the bus she takes in a deep breath, trying to calm down.
She gets up slowly and she makes her way back to the house, shutting the bus and the barn behind her as she leaves. She knocks on the door and waits for one of them to answer the door.
Not even a minute later Jenna opens the door and gives her a small smile before letting her pass. Eva walks to the living room, where she hears the kids laughing. "What are you doing?" Eva asks with a smile on her face when she sees all the kids smiling and laughing.
"Well I found a baby name book in the closet of our room and I figure that since he doesn't talk, he can nod when we get to his name." Kailee said holding up the book for Eva to see. "That is a great idea, any progress?" Eva asks her and she shakes her head. "No, but we are only in the B's and there are so many more to go though." Kailee says before looking back down at the book.
"But we found a name we all like for the baby. We were thinking Warren would be a good name for him." Mel said looking up at her and Eva nods her head, saying the name again. Eva picks up the baby and looks down at him, ya Warren will do nicely.
Eva has Kailee stop when she finishes with the C's so she can get the boy and Warren to bed, they can work on it again in the morning. "Come on munchkin lets go get you and your brother a bath." Eva says as she takes the boys hand and they walk to the bathroom.
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Rick looks at Hershel's back with a little pity and some anger they shouldn't be out here to long, they need to get back to the farm. "Come on. Your girls need you now more than ever." He said grabbing Hershel arm but he jerks it away from him.
"I didn't want to believe you. You told me there was no cure, that these people were dead, not sick. I chose not to believe that." Hershel said taking in a shaky breath before continuing. "But when Shane shot Lou in the chest and she just kept coming, that's when I knew what an ass I've been, that Annette was dead long ago and I was feeding her rotten corpse."
"That's when I knew there was no hope. And the look in your eyes I know you know it too." Hershel says and he looks away from him before looking over at Glenn. "There is no hope for any of us." Hershel says before turning back around and taking a drink from his glass.
"I'm done doing this, cleaning up after you. You want to know the truth? Nothing has changed. Death is death it has always been there." He says getting aggravated with Hershel for practically giving up.
"You didn't think it was hopeless before, did you? Now there are people back home trying to hang on, they need us. Even if it's a reason to go on, even if we don't believe it are selves." He said and he can tell that he is starting to get through to him.
"You know what? This isn't about what we believe anymore, it's about them." He says and Hershel looks away from him before taking the last gulp of his whisky before turning the glass over and setting it down.
Hershel stands up and Rick pats him on his shoulder as he nods his head. Rick's head quickly moves over to the door as it opens up and he sees two men standing before them.
"Son of a bitch, they're alive."
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After she tucks both boys into their beds she sits down on the bed and starts humming the lullaby. The boy looks up at her after she finishes she gives him a small smile before nodding her head. Her throat is finally starting to feel a bit better so she starts to sing the lullaby.
She sings softly ignoring the small ache in her throat and she smiles when his eyes close and he falls right to sleep, holding onto his stuffed tiger. When she finishes the lullaby she leans down and kisses his forehead before standing up and she makes her way back out to the living room.
She walks around the living room and she starts picking up all the toys and puts them into their bags. When she is done she sits next to Sophia and grabs the brush from her hand. She starts brushing Sophia's hair lightly getting the tangles out of her wet, freshly cleaned hair.
When she is done she pulls Sophia down with her and she leans against Eva and they sit there in a comfortable silence with the others.
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Rick still can't believe what Dave just told him about Fort Benning, that it was over run, part of him already knew that though. He halfway sat on the stool looking from Dave to Tony, not likening the feeling he gets from them.
"Yeah it doesn't look like you guys are hanging your hats here. You holed up somewhere else." Dave said and Ricks warning levels sky rockets. "Not really." He tells them and he can tell Dave doesn't believe him.
"Are those cars out front yours?" Dave asks and Glenn tells him ya and asks him why. "Because we live out of ours. Those look empty, clean. Where is all your gear?" Dave says and Rick is trying hard to not show his panic and anger.
"We are with a larger group, out scouting. Thought he could use a drink." Hershel said and he is thankful he is not the only one not liking the vibes coming off of them two.
"A drink? Hershel I thought you quit. Well we were thinking about setting up around here. Is it safe?" Dave asks them and when Glenn says it is and Rick looks back at him and Glenn finally realizes that something is not right.
"I have killed a couple of walkers around here." Glenn tells them trying not to stumble over his words towards the end. "Walkers, is that what you call them?" Dave asks and Glenn laughs and tells them yeah.
"I like that, better than lamebrains. So what you guys set up on the outskirts, that new development or trailer park? A farm… Old McDonald had a farm. You on a farm?" Dave said looking from Rick, Hershel to Glenn figuring out from them that they are on a farm.
Rick looks at Dave and then to Tony who is taking a piss over by the wall. "Is it safe?" Tony asks zipping his pants back up. "Ya you got food, water?" Dave asks leaning forward in his chair. "You got cooze? Ain't had a piece of ass in weeks." Tony asks them as he turns around to face them.
Rick looks over at him his anger rising further they need to leave and soon. "Pardon my friend... city kid's got no tact. No disrespect. So Glenn..." Dave says looking over at Glenn and Rick knows that he is not good at lying and Dave has been reading them all like a book.
"We've said enough." Rick tells him and he can tell it's about to get very complicated. "Now wait a minute, this farm sound pretty sweet. How about some southern hospitality? We have buddies back at camp having a hard time. I can't see why you can't make room for a few more. We can pull are resources our man power." Dave said taking a drink from his glass not taking his eyes off of Rick.
Rick knows that they can't let them come back, he needs to protect Lori and Carl and the rest of the group, Dave and Tony will not take the farm from them. "Look I'm sorry, that's not an option." He said giving Dave a forced smile.
"It doesn't sound like it would be a problem." Dave said his shoulder tensing up and Tony starts to get fidgety. "I'm sorry, we can't." Hershel says in an easy tone and Rick nods his head. "We can't take in anymore." He tells them making sure to keep Tony and his shot gun in his side view.
"You guys are something else. I thought... thought we were friends. We got people we have to look after too." Dave says and Rick shakes his head. "We don't know anything about you." He says swirling the drink in his hand.
"How about we take a hayride down to your farm and get to know each other." Dave says and Rick looks him in his eyes. "That's not gonna happen." Rick tells them while shaking his head lightly. "This is bullshit..." Tony says getting angry and Rick tells him to calm down.
"Don't ever, ever tell me to calm down. I'll shoot you three assholes and take your damn farm." Tony yells and Rick jumps up his hand quickly going to his gun. "Whoa, whoa, whoa relax." Dave said standing up and holding his arm out to Tony.
"Take it easy. Nobody is killing anybody." Dave said patting Ricks shoulder before hopping over the counter to get behind the bar. When Rick turns he hears Tony grab his gun so he stops and looks over his shoulder at him before looking to Dave who holds his hand up before grabbing his gun and setting it on the counter.
"Were just friends having a drink is all." Dave said before bending down and Rick grabs his gun again and Dave stops before standing upright hold a bottle of tequila. "You have to understand, we can't stay out there. You know what it's like." Dave says as he pours himself a glass.
"Yeah I do. But the farm is too crowed as is. I'm sorry, you have to keep looking." Rick tells him keeping eyes on Tony through the mirror that is behind Dave. "Keep looking, what do you suggest." Dave asks him as he shakes his head.
"I don't know, I hear Nebraska's nice." Rick says and he sees Dave resolve break in that second. "Nebraska, this guy." Dave says laughing before going for his gun but Rick drew his gun faster and shoots Dave in the head before turning and shooting Tony twice in the chest before Tony could even grab his shot gun.
Remembering what Jenner told him at the CDC, he takes a few steps and shoots Tony in the head, not wanting to take a chance of Jenner being right.
He looks away from Tony and looks over to Glenn's terrified face before looking at Hershel who gives him a long look before nodding his head.
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Eva's head shoots up from her notebook when she hears the distance echoes of gunshots coming from town. She watches Charlie quickly running up to the window and looks outside. Eva lift Sophia's head and lays it back down on the couch after she gets up and she makes her way to the window.
"What was that?" Mel franticly asks as she and Kailee come running down the stairs and is closely followed by Jenna. "Don't panic, its coming from town." Eva says as she turns to look at them she sees Sophia sitting up groggily and over to Abigail and she leaves the room and walks to Charlie's room to go and sit with the boys.
"I don't want any of you to worry about it, but just to be safe make sure all your stuff is packed and ready to go. That gun fire is sure to attract walkers for miles." Eva says as she helps Sophia stand up and they all start to walk back to their rooms to pack, when more gunshots start to fire, a lot more.
Eva pulls Sophia closer to her as she looks at Charlie who is staring out the window again. She turns and starts lightly pushing the others along and they all turn and part ways going to their room to pack up, all of them trying to block out the sounds of gun shots.
After Eva gets Sophia to stay upstairs with Kailee and Mel she quickly makes her way back to Charlie. "If you see even one walker I want to know, one can bring hundreds. Cody and I are going to go get the bus and park it up close it the house just to be safe." She tells Charlie and he looks away from the window and tells her ok.
She and Cody pull out their guns and they leave the house Charlie shutting the door behind them. They take off running or in Eva's case some form of skipping, all the way to the barn. On their way they see no walkers around much to their relief.
When they get inside the barn Cody opens the storage door and they start piling in all the tools and boxes that they haven't packed yet. When they get done Cody goes inside the bus as Eva opens the big barn doors all the while looking for any movement out in the fields and around the house.
She climbs up the steps and into the bus and she holds onto the cage as Cody starts her up. They back up to the house so the bus door faces the house door.
After shutting the cage door they make their way back to the house, Charlie opening the door before they hit the first steps of the porch. Eva shuts and locks the door behind her and she leans against it.
There hasn't been a gunshot for a while now, part of her is relieved the other knowing that the people firing might be dead. She prays for the first time in a while, praying that it wasn't Sophia's group getting trapped trying to reply to her note.