Hello all! Here's the next chapter! Thank you to everyone who reviewed, followed and favorited Second Chances! Also, a huggge thank you to Pastel Shades for beta reading this for me! Go check out her Walking Dead story, Kindred Spirits and her Boondock Saints story, Saints Alive! They're awesome!
Disclaimer, I do not own Walking Dead, I only own Piper, Bailey, and Claudia
Please review so I know what you guys think! :D
The next day started fairly normally. Most of the women were doing laundry, washing the few dishes the camp had, or other various tasks. Most of the men were cleaning guns, walking around the perimeter of camp or managing their families while the children ran around playing.
Piper found herself double checking her bag and braiding her hair to the side of her head to keep it off her neck as she made sure she had everything she would need to go into the city. She carried a couple cans of beans and two water bottles in case she got stuck there for a while and also to give Merle something when she found him. Which she would.
She was dressed in a white tank top with a dark red flannel over the top with the sleeves rolled up to her elbows. She had on a pair of dark green cargo pants with multiple pockets and her trusty sneakers, laced up tight. In her pockets she kept spare ammo for her pistol as well as a pocket knife, a utility knife that was given to her by Shane with a passing "Just in case" the first night she was in camp and a small map of the area that she had found in Merle and Daryl's truck during the drive. When she was sure she had everything, she grabbed her pistol from on top of her bag and tucked it into the back of her pants after making sure the safety was on. She also grabbed the large hunting knife Merle had given her and strapped its sheath over her pants on her right thigh, putting the knife inside and clicking it shut.
Bailey was seated on her little flowered sleeping bag, sadness in her eyes as she watched her aunt pack up the bag. "Don't leave me..." The little girl managed to whimper out before barreling into the woman's side and crying uncontrollably.
Piper was surprised at the little girl at first, but then understanding dawned on her. Merle left the other day and didn't come back, and now she was leaving. The poor little thing thought she would be leaving permanently. She sighed and hugged the little girl, before gently pulling away and putting a finger under her chin and tilting her head up.
"You listen to me honey, I promise I won't leave you. I have to go get Mr. Merle, and then I'll come back okay? I could never leave you, you're my favorite niece!" She ended with a light tone, tickling the now squealing girl's belly. The little girl laughed out an 'Okay!' before Piper released her, giving her one last hug before taking her hand and leading her outside.
Just as she was making her way out of the tent, she heard screaming and she recognized it as the children. She pulled a panicked Bailey up into her arms and began running with the others and was met with the other four young children yelling and crying, running to their parents and clinging for dear life.
"There's a walker over there!" Carl said, pointing towards where they had been coming from. Shane lead the way as everyone followed. After reaching a small clearing, they found a lone walker pulling the insides out of a dead deer, ignorant to their presence. Amy gagged and turned while Piper and Andrea held her arms and watched with horror as the men began beating the walker, which did no good until Dale finally cut its head off with a shovel.
Everyone was just beginning to settle down when they heard stomping and a loud "Sonuvabitch" come from the woods in front of them. Daryl stalked up to the deer and kicked the body of the walker a few times, cussing it out. When he asked if they could cut around the chewed part, Piper nearly lost her breakfast, but contained herself and kept Bailey faced away from the gruesome scene.
"Probably not a good idea man." Shane said as looked at the deer in disgust.
"Dammit. Well, got us some squirrel. That'll have to do." Daryl walked off towards the camp yelling for Merle, which caused an uncomfortable sadness and tightening in Piper's chest. She walked after him to tell him about Merle, but Shane beat her to it.
"Slow up a bit man, gotta talk to you 'bout somethin'." Daryl narrowed his eyes at Shane but said nothing as he waited for the man to continue.
"There was a problem in Atlanta-" he started but was quickly cut off.
"He dead?" Daryl asked quietly. "Don't know." Was Shane's response.
"He either is or he ain't." Daryl was getting angry at this point and began pacing like a caged animal.
Rick walked forward at this point. "Listen, there ain't no easy way to say this so I'll just say it."
"Who the hell're you?" Daryl spat.
"Rick Grimes."
"Rick just tell him." Piper cut in, causing both men to look at her. She handed the little girl off to Claudia before walking up to the three men.
Rick nodded and continued his explanation. "Listen, Merle was a danger to everyone. Nearly got us all killed. I was forced to handcuff him to a pipe on a rooftop in the city. Still there."
Daryl was dangerously still and quiet before he exploded, yelling and tossing his arms around. He threw the squirrels at Rick, who just managed to dodge out of the way before Daryl ran at him. Shane caught him in the side with his shoulder and tackled him to the ground, holding him firmly around his neck with his arm.
"Shane! Let him go!" Piper yelled as she tried to make her way over, but was held back by Amy and Andrea.
"You'd best lemme go!" Daryl yelled as he fought against Shane's strong grip.
"I think it's best if I don't." Shane held firm as Rick approached.
"I would like to have a calm discussion about this if you think you're capable." He waited for Daryl to stop struggling before he nodded to Shane to let him go. He did, tossing him to the ground slightly in front of him.
Daryl sat on the ground for a while, composing himself before he rose to his feet and started pacing angrily. Piper pulled out of Amy and Andrea's grasp, making her way up to Daryl. She rested her hand on his arm, causing him to whip around to yell, but seeing it was her, he just jerked his arm away and kept pacing.
"Look, I know you're upset, but if you're going to help me find him then you're going to need to calm down." She said as she planted her hands on her hips, watching him expectantly. He looked over at her, shock crossing his features before he shook his head angrily.
"You ain't goin' nowhere. Ya don' even know where he is!" He began to raise his voice as his frustration built.
"He'll take you there. Won't you Rick?" Lori's voice came from the RV where she stared blankly at her husband. Rick looked shocked for a moment before he turned back to face Daryl. "I'm goin' back." Lori shook her head and walked into the RV.
Carl walked up to Rick. He looked down at his hands sadly before raising his gaze to meet his father's eyes. "I don't want you to go dad…" He said sadly. While Rick comforted his son, Piper turned and saw her niece barreling towards her and caught her, lifting her up and hugging her tight.
"Be careful mama." Bailey muttered into Piper's shoulder. Piper froze when she heard the little girl, shocked and unsure of what she should say. Claudia heard what the little girl said and nodded encouragingly to Piper.
"I will baby, just promise that you'll do whatever the grownups tell you to do okay?" Piper told her seriously. Bailey nodded and hugged Piper around the neck tightly. Piper adjusted her grip on the little girl, settling her on her hip as she sent a sad grimace towards her mother, worried for what had befallen Bailey's actual mother.
"Shane, can I talk to you for a minute?" Piper turned as she called out to the policeman. He turned to her and nodded before following her a little ways away from the group.
"What's up Piper?"
"Well, I know this may be weird for me to ask, but can you watch Bailey for me while I'm gone?" Shane looked at her shocked.
"What about yer mom? Won't she wanna be watchin' her?" Piper sighed and turned to face him.
"She does so many things for this camp, washing laundry, cooking food, managing camp, watching the other kids. She has so much on her plate right now, and Bailey really likes you. I'd feel better knowing she's with you and my mom can take a little break now and then." She looked up at him hopefully as she readjusted her grip on the little girl in her arms.
Bailey looked up at Shane seriously for a moment. "I pwomise I'll be vewy good. I do evewyting you say." She smiled up at him and reached her arms out to him. He smiled at her and took her from Piper, settling the small girl on his hip as she gripped his shoulder with one hand while the other rested at her side.
"Don't worry 'bout her Piper. I'll keep an eye on her for ya." Piper squeezed his arm in thanks and made her way back to the group now gathering to leave for the city after giving Bailey a quick kiss on the cheek.
She saw Daryl pacing the inside of the large white van with impatience as the others finished with their goodbyes. The others that would be searching for Merle were T-Dog, Glenn and Rick along with Daryl and Piper.
"Hurry yer asses up!" Daryl called from the van as he stomped his foot on the horn. Piper shook her head and picked her bag up from outside her tent and strode up to the van, pulling herself inside. Rick and Glenn sat up front while T-Dog and Daryl sat in the open back with Piper.
The drive to the city was mostly filled with a tense, awkward silence. Suddenly Daryl turned to T-Dog, sending him an angry glare. "You'd best hope he's there. For your sake." T-Dog scoffed and shook his head, but gave no response and Piper sent Daryl a chiding look that he mostly ignored.
The van eventually rolled to a stop a short distance out of the city. "We walk from here." Glenn sent over his shoulder as he opened his door and climbed out of the van. Rick was right behind him and with the three in the back climbing out the large doors at the back of the van, the group quickly began their trek into the city.
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