Chapter 2: New Camp

Abby had stopped driving for an hour or two to try and sleep but she couldn't relax so she took over from john. She took over driving as they passed through a small town, it looked deserted but she suspected there were walkers lurking somewhere. They came to the main road that headed to Atlanta and she swerved off onto a side road,

' Where does this go?' Carrie said

' Heads to an abandoned quarry mine, we're not going to the mine obviously but we can head out into the woods'

' Freaks me out being so close to the city' Carrie said shivering,

' Carrie maybe you should lose that big sweater you're wearing you look like you're burning up?' Abby said eyeing Carrie with concern,

' No I'm fine…just freaked out'

' I know it was your moms Carrie but you can take it off'

' No! I'm fine Abby' Abby nodded but as she continued driving she and john exchanged worried glances.

Abby drove carefully up a rocky dirt track, the car swerved and rumbled over the rocks, Carries head swayed and john put his hand over his eyes as they trundled on. Abby paused as she saw something, the something seemed to have seen her too because less than a minute later people had gathered just ahead of them,

' What do we do?' Carrie said, her voice shook with nerves

' Let me go speak to them, they look like they're in the same boat we are' Abby said shifting in her seat,

' Take this…just in case' johns face was deadly serious as he handed her his treasured colt pistol, she slid it inside her jeans and pulled her vest over it before opening the car door.

An elderly man with a white beard stepped forward, Abby couldn't help looking at the shotgun in his hands,

' I'm Dale, you folks alright?'

' I'm Abby, we were camping a few miles from here but…'

' Walkers?' Abby nodded

' Well you're more than welcome to join us' he had a kind face, the kind of face you instantly trusted and Abby smiled and nodded. She walked back to the truck and started the engine,

' What are they like?' john asked

' Nice, just nice people in the same situation as us' she pulled away and followed the people up into a small clearing. Dale stood beside a Winnebago; he smiled at them as she parked close by.

' Thanks for helping us, that's Carrie and john in the truck' Abby said walking over to join Dale,

' Oh wouldn't be decent people if we didn't help others would we'

' Well I'll be damned…Abby Murphy is that you?' Abby turned on the spot in surprise and started laughing,

' Holy shit Shane Walsh I don't believe it' Shane moved over to her and dale and pulled her into a hug,

' You two know each other?' dale said in surprise

' Hell yeah best nurse in the county right here' Shane said smiling

' You're a nurse? Well that's excellent we could use a medical personnel round here' Dale said smiling,

' Hey Lori this is Abby she patched me and Rick up a few times' the woman smiled at her and shook Abby's hand,

' Where is Rick?' Abby said looking around

' He err…he didn't make it' Shane said quietly as Lori looked down at the ground

' Oh god I'm so sorry he was a good man' Lori nodded and walked away,

' Your friends gonna leave that truck?' Dale said smiling

' They're still a little jumpy from the other night' she said walking back over to the truck,

' Guys you can come out it's ok there's some folks from the county here' john looked relieved and climbed out, Carrie followed but still looked terrified.

Everyone met everyone and Dale gave them a tour of the camp,

' There's usually more of us but some of the camp have gone into the city for supplies and we got one other guy out there hunting us some dinner' Abby stared at Dale incredulously,

' They went into the city?'

' Had to, we need supplies'

' Is there a hospital in the city Dale?'

' Sort of, it's overrun now we tried to get a few basic medical supplies but we couldn't get near the place'

' What about that town back there, is there a doctors surgery?'

' I believe so, I take it you need to get some stuff, I'd say that place was the safer bet'

' Yeah…I'm just worried about leaving Carrie, she's so scared'

' Don't worry she's been settling in with Amy wait till the others come back and we'll sort it out'

' Thank you Dale, I don't know what we'd do without your help'

' Think nothing of it…to be honest it's nice to know that there's others out there besides us…you start thinking…'

' That you're all that's left and you just can't win?' he smiled faintly and nodded.

They joined the others back at camp, Dale had been right Carrie seemed very relaxed with Amy and john was talking to Shane. Everyone froze at the sound of a car alarm blaring in the distance, they all watched with baited breath as a red dodge challenger roared into the campsite.

' Turn that thing off!' dale shouted as a young Asian man got out of the car with his hands over his ears,

' I don't know how' he yelled back, Abby moved around Dale,

' Pop the hood' she yelled, he argued with others as he sat back in the car, Abby pulled a few wires and they were surrounded by silence again,

' Who's this?' he asked gesturing to Abby, Carrie and john, they were introduced to Glenn just as another truck pulled up. People began to climb out and others rushed to their friends and family, Lori and Carl rushed forwards as Rick walked towards them, Abby and Shane gaped at each other,

' I thought he was dead?' Abby said quietly to Shane, he didn't answer he just walked away in disbelief. They sat around a small fire that night after everyone had been introduced,

' Where's Merle?' Dale asked a man who Abby learned was called T-Dog,

' It's my fault'

' Is he dead?'

' No he's on a roof'

' Someone's gonna have to tell Daryl' Dale said solemnly

' Is Daryl the one who's still out hunting?' Abby asked Dale quietly; he nodded

' I handcuffed him there it's on me' Rick said

' I dropped the keys I should tell him, it's my fault' T-Dog said

' Not to sound racist or anything but it might sound better coming from a white guy I mean come on look what he did to you on that roof' Glenn said squirming slightly

' You really should let me clean those cuts properly' Abby said

' I don't wanna be no trouble' T-Dog said

' No trouble, we owe you guys for taking us in plus it's my job…was my job' he smiled gratefully.

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