Chapter 5

A/N Betaed by Deanandjo4ever1 all mistakes are hers. Please read review and enjoy. Warning this chapter does contain drug use by a minor.

Two Days Later

Peyton was setting alone in the cell that she shared with her sister, thinking over the events that had taken place over the forty eight hours, Oscar had been killed trying to save Glenn and Maggie and Axel had been shot in the head when the governor attacked the prison. Daryl had come back with his older brother Merle and her young body and mind was exhausted. Tamera was out doing something with Carl, only God knew what and it was clear to anyone that took the time to notice the two kids had major crushes on one another.

Peyton's mind wondered to the small group that Rick had thrown out in a madden rage; she was glad that they were not allowed to stay. Something about the man and his son had made her uneasy, nervous even. Peyton was about to go look for her little sister and see what kind of mischief her and Carl had been into and see if she could help.

Rick walked in and by the look on his face he was about to given her an order.

"You're on guard duty with me."

He spoke with authority; he then turned and left her cell. Peyton picked her piston and started out of the prison and headed toward the tower that Rick was in and she took her post beside him. The two sat in an uncomfortable silence that felt like it stretched forever. Rick finally broke the ice.

"Why were you and Tamera alone?" Rick asked trying to get a sense of the two young sisters. "When the infection hit, I grabbed her and took off." Peyton told the older man, she had not really given her family much thought since that fateful day.

"What about your parents?" Peyton looked at Rick and tried to think of an answer to give him, but all she managed to do was open and close her mouth which gave her the appearance of a fish out of water.

"I don't know." She finally spoke.

"You don't know?" Rick asked looking at her.

"I'm sorry." He spoke sadly.

"Don't be! I hope their dead." The words fell out of her mouth before she could control them. Rick looked at her and wondered if he had made the right call by letting them stay.

"Why do you say that?" He questioned.

"I hate them; I hate what they did to Tamera and me." She said as the tears began to form in her big brown eyes. Rick's mind began to wonder what kind of hell these two young girls had gone there in their short life.

"What did they do Peyton?" Rick asked with compassion as he placed his hand on her right shoulder looking her in the eyes, his sheriff training kicking in.

"Can we not talk about this?" She all but yelled at the older man. Rick stopped pushing and changed the subject to the cold weather approaching. Rick looked over at the young girl and noticed the dark circles under her tired eyes. In that moment she looked way beyond her sixteen years.

"Why don't you go and get some rest." Rick said with deep caringly. Peyton got up and left the guard tower thankful for the exit. Rick sat alone in the darkness and pondered on the two young girls that Maggie and Daryl had brought back with them. Something had happened in their past and it had left many emotional scars.

Peyton woke the next morning and sat up and stretched in her bunk. She looked down at the bottom bunk and took in her sister's sleeping form. She decided to try and find some different clothes to wear. It had been days since had the chance to change. She found a basic t-shirt and a pair of shorts. Peyton began to change clothes, when she took off her shirt she noticed the scars that covered her and the pain from the past came rushing back like a hard punch to the gut that took her breath it all came back to haunt her. Tear began to flow freely down dark young beautiful face. She grabbed her back and began digging for what little cocaine she had left. Just when she had found it and was about to pull it out Rick walked in. She grabbed the clean shirt she was about to put on and covered her chest quickly afraid of what he might see or think. Rick turned around quickly to give her a chance to change.

"Sorry." He said with honesty.

Peyton didn't realize that he had seen the scars and the tears fall down her face and now knew that she had physical scars to go with the emotional ones as well. He needed to find these girls secret out and soon, he needed to help them.

"You act like you never seen a woman before." Peyton said flirtingly.

"You're not a woman Peyton you're a kid and I don't look at children that way." Rick said as uncomfortable prickle begin to creep down his spine knowing that they young girl was getting dressed. Behind him

"You can turn around now." Peyton said with a sigh. Rick turned toward the young girl.

"Carl, Michonne, and I are going on a run for guns and I want you to come." Rick said as more of a statement than a question. Peyton turned to look at her little sister.

"She'll be safe here." Rick said kindly.

"Okay. Give me a few." Peyton stated. Rick nodded his head and walked out of their cell. She waited until he was completely out of sight. Once she was sure the man was gone she took out her Cocaine again and took a small snort. She felt the buzz immediately.

"Tamera wake up." Peyton said a little too loudly. Tamera began to wake up and looked up at her older sister.

"What?" She asked grumpily from being woken so loudly.

"Rick is taking me out on a run." Peyton told her.

"What? No I want you to stay. It's not safe out there." Tamera said panicking.

"I have to go I'll be safe." Peyton told the younger girl trying to quill the fear she was feeling. She knew that the promise was one that she couldn't necessarily keep, because Tamera was right it was dangerous out there. Peyton hoped and prayed that the group that they had found would take care of her little sister if anything happened to her.

"Stay with Beth and Carol. They'll look after you." Peyton told her. She knew that the two women had a soft spot for children and the older man Hershel seemed to like them as well. "Okay please be safe." Tamera said

"I will." Peyton said as she pulled her sister into a loving embrace. Tamera walked her sister out to the car and watched as she got in and drove away.

Along the way they passed a man pleading at the top of his lungs for them to stop. No one said a word and the drive right past him leaving him to fend for himself. They arrived to the small town Rick and Carl had lived in before the world hat went to shit. Rick stopped the car and they all piled out. They begin walking taking down a few walkers as they went. Rick stopped and turned to everyone.

"We're going too spilt up." He told them. "You and Carl go and search for food and anything else that we can use." Rick said pointing to Michonne.

"Peyton and I are going to go and get the guns." Rick said motioning for Peyton to follow him. Michonne and Carl went one direction and Rick and Peyton the other.

Peyton and Rick had been walking for a few minutes or so and when they were out of earshot of the other Rick stopped and looked Peyton in the eyes.

"I know you're high." Rick said the look that his blue eyes carried said he wasn't going to debate the issue.

"Does it fucking matter?" Peyton asked hatefully.

"Yes. It does. You can't go out on a run high not with my son with us. If something goes wrong then you're a liability and you'll be lost." Rick yelled.

"I won't be lost when I use the drugs I feel normal I'm more alert and awake." Peyton said in her defense.

"No that's what you think it slows you down. We'll talk about this when we get back." Rick said with finality in his voice. It was clear that this issue was not over.

They found the small pawn shop and went in clearing the few walkers that were in the store. Peyton grabbed all the guns her bag could carry and Rick grabbed all the ammo and anything else he could find that would be of use such as knives and other weapons. They walked back to the car to find that Carl and Michonne was already there waiting for them.

As they drove back to the prison they pasted the guy that had tried to get them to stop and the walkers had killed him. They stopped and picked up his back pack and kept driving. They got back to the prison and Peyton ran to Tamera and hugged her fiercely.

"Peyton." Rick called from the car where he stood alone. Peyton looked at him and knew what he wanted to talk about. She walked over to him where he placed a loving but firm hand on his shoulder and walked her away from the others.

"If you want to stay here you have to give up the drugs." Rick told her.

"Why it's not hurting anybody." Peyton argued.

"Wrong its hurting you." Rick said with a sigh.

"Why in the hell do you care!" Peyton yelled

. "Because I want to help you." Rick sincerity ringing in his voice.

"I don't need your fucking help." Peyton said as she shrugged his hand off of her shoulder and tried to walk away.

"Peyton! Get back her." Peyton stopped dead in her tracks at the command in his voice and turned around. Rick sighed and rubbed his hand across his face.

"Okay. Let's just talk." He said kindly.

"Fine let's talk." Peyton said almost rudely. Rick smiled at her.

Rick and Peyton walked further out in the yard.

"So what do you want to talk about?" Peyton asked as she walked with Rick.

"Let's start with something simple where are you from?"

"Atlanta." Peyton replied.

"Any other brothers or sisters."

"No just Tamera.

"Did you live with your parents?"

"Yeah." Peyton said, Rick noticed that she was giving very short and direct answers not volunteering any more information than she had to.

"Where are they?" Rick asked kindly looking her in the eyes.