Thanks so much for your feedback on what I put up yesterday! This chapter has been one of my favorites to write so far. Let me know what you think! Do you think it would have gone down this way?

Chapter 9

-Lexi-

Lexi held her breath as Caitlyn thanked Merle's "officer" brother- whose name was apparently Daryl- and the reality of her friend's insanity became clear. She watched his piercing blue eyes reassess the situation as the news sunk in with him.

"it's nuthin," he said finally to Caitlyn, turning from her as if embarrassed, "just grab your stuff and let's go."

Five minutes later they left the house and were once again sneaking towards the wall. Although she knew it was often guarded, Lexi led them through the Woodberry parking lot. it was a small car park located behind the old bank with only ten or so spaces on each side of the one-way center lane. The wall cut across where the exit had once been, so now they relied on backing out and three way turns.

They were lucky, tonight no one stood on guard. As she crept up to the first car she felt course fingertips on her shoulder blade, sending tingles down her spine. She whipped around to see Daryl press a finger to his lips and then motion to the car. Flipping out a switchblade that he'd stolen from the store, he drove it into the car's front right tire. Taking the hint, Lexi pulled out the knife at her side, motioned at Caitie to keep quiet, and slashed the tire nearest her.

They made their way down the center lane of the parking lot taking out as many tires as they could. Although she felt slightly guilty about damaging Woodberry's cars, after all they had taken her and Caitie in, she reasoned with herself that half the wall was made of tires, so this would only really slow their pursuit.

They were nearing the last two cars when they heard the unmistakable sound of footsteps.

-Andrea-

She'd been walking back to her apartment from the Governor's room in a rage when she first saw them sprint across the street. She knew he was mad with grief about losing his walker daughter, but as usual, she couldn't help herself. She needed fucking answers. She'd slept in that room with him for week, with a fucking walker barely constrained in a closet 15 feet away?

Her safe haven was crumbling and she knew it. She'd tried to convince herself that Daryl had left the group, joined up with a group of ruthless thugs and it attacked Woodberry with them but she knew it wasn't true. While she couldn't be sure how much of her original group was left after all these months, she knew that Michonne wouldn't have coordinated with just anyone.

It was them, and they would never attack Woodberry without a reason. Even if Rick had died and Shane was leading now, he'd never risk their numbers like that for supplies.

The sound of footsteps dragged her away from her thoughts and back into the present. Battle hardened from her months on the run with Michonne, Andrea dropped to the ground noiselessly. For a moment she saw nothing. She was about to push herself up again when a female figure sprinted across the street and up the steps of a townhouse,
closely followed by a tall man with a crossbow slung over his shoulder.

'Daryl' she thought, her heart thudding against her chest.

She waited what seemed like at eternity before they reemerged this time with another woman. She knew for sure now, the first person must have been Lexi. But why the hell was that bitch helping Daryl?

Andrea had always found something annoying about the younger woman, although in truth she knew it was mostly jealously. The Governor had assigned the brunette to guard duty on the wall and she had refused outright. Andrea had overheard it all from their bedroom, as the uppity little bitch had straight up refused to leave her friend at night, in an almost accusatory tone as if he was trying to hurt the quite redhead.

Andrea thought she must be delusional to think that keeping her friend company at night was better for their safety than pulling guard duty. I mean did she have any fucking clue how the world worked now-a-days?

But as she watched her led the trio down the road towards the parking lot Andrea reassessed her original opinion. No, Lexi was not some naive Woodberry miss after all. She knew exactly what she was doing. Andrea realized it made her even more jealous than before seeing the way Daryl deferred to her.

In all the months since the outbreak, Andrea realized the only person who'd respected her on that level was Michonne. The thought made her heartache. After tonight's encounter, she knew their friendship was done forever. There was no going back.

But she knew that Michonne was still out there, injured from her fight with the Governor, and almost certainly with the group Daryl and the two women were trying to reach. The group needed Daryl. Michonne would need Daryl.

Making up her mind, she pushed herself up off the ground and made her way to the parking lot.

As soon as she stepped into the parking lot they were on her, Lexi with her knife to her throat and Daryl with his crossbow drawn. Even through her fear and annoyance Andrea marveled at the team they made.

"Andrea?" he whispered, lowering his bow an inch or so. She saw him glance behind her at Lexi and mutter "Relax" and she felt the cold steel of the knife move away from her jugular.

"Eleven men were killed in the attack and five more are wounded in the infirmary. Even so you'll need a distraction to get out of here without being seen. Don't bother trying to go on foot the walkers have swarmed because of the gunfire earlier, it'd be as good as suicide. Wait until you hear my signal than drive like hell straight outta here."

For a moment Daryl just stared at her, then he said slowly, "You ain't coming with us?"

a sad smile crept over her face as she shook her head. "This is my place now. This is the last time I can help you guys."

He nodded, lowering his crossbow completely and muttered "Thanks," still too awkward to handle a proper goodbye. She could tell Lexi didn't like it, but as he jerked his head towards the black Grand Cherokee at the end of the lot she moved away from Andrea, took the redhead by the hand and started walking towards the car.

At that Andrea turned to go, determined to give them a fighting chance by calling attention to the other side of Woodberry.

"Hey Andrea."

She turned back at his call, to see him pulling a compact Sig Sauer off his belt. Clicking the safety on, he tossed it to her. For a moment they locked eyes and smiled, remembering better days together at the farm. Then she turned and ran off into the night, going ten blocks before firing off four shots. Satisfied by the sound of footsteps coming running her way, she stashed the gun, opened the door to her apartment and did her best to look concerned as the citizens of Woodberry came to investigate.