Disclaimer: TWD owns all rights to the stories and characters. I am just borrowing them so that the characters aren't in limbo for these long months.

Preparing

Morgan was too wound up by what he had seen at Terminus to take much notice of the girl that Carol introduced as Beth. Carol got him a glass of water and a plate of some mac and cheese that she had made from a package she had found in the pantry. Morgan washed his hands and sat down to eat. Carol sat down across from him and asked, "What did you find out, Morgan?"

Morgan looked at the two women and the baby and thought that they should all just get in the truck and start driving as far away from this place as they could go. He looked at Carol's worried face and knew that she wouldn't run. She had no run in her. And there was the boy to think about. Rick's son and the baby's brother. "Great mac and cheese, just like Momma used to make".

Carol's serious face transformed into a grin and his heart skipped a bit. He knew he would never be able to resist that grin even if it killed him and considering the circumstances it very well might. "Did your Momma serve two year old stale packaged mac and cheese to her son?" Carol recognized a feint when she heard it but she played it with him.

"You and Momma make it taste like the finest cuisine". Morgan smiled back at her. Maybe they could just sit and smile at each other and no one had to go out and be a damn hero.

Carol asked again, "What did you find out?"

Morgan finished his mac and cheese and drank his glass of water. He saw that Carol had boiled water so that they would have plenty in reserve when they took off. She was a preparer, someone who thought ahead and then acted on it. Someone good to be with in this world.

Finally, he answered, "I went back to the fence after you left in the truck. I stayed back in the woods because there are cameras at certain places on the fences. I climbed a big tree so that I could high enough to get a visual on what is going on in there."

"I heard rifle fire and the sound kept coming closer and closer to where I was sitting in the tree. The snipers were shooting at something but not hitting it. Then I saw people in the area of Terminus in front of me."

"Four people were forced to throw down their weapons and go into an old railway car. Rick Grimes, a man who had carried a crossbow, a woman who had carried a katana, and Carl Grimes. They locked them in and I don't think anything good is going to happen to them."

Beth said, "They have Daryl and Michonne too."

Carol turned away. She saw their faces before her. Rick as he had been when he met them that day at the quarry and Rick as he left her at the housing development. Carl as the little boy who played with Sophia at the quarry and the boy who loved his sister enough to do almost anything. Michonne who had been there when she found out that Lori was dead and the smiling Michonne that brought Carl comic books and chewing gum. Daryl the roughhewn guy who everyone but her had been a little afraid of and the slightly preening rock star Daryl who still had problems living with the love. Those four people were in a boxcar and she remembered watching a documentary about the Holocaust and watching the trains pull into concentration camps.

"We have to get them out now. We wait too long and they'll move them inside or somewhere else." Carol was decisive and Morgan admired her again. Beth could watch Judith while they were off saving the world. One of them would have to cause a diversion while the other got over the fence and into the boxcar. Piece of cake, really.

Morgan found a pencil in the everything drawer in the kitchen and he drew Terminus on the living room wall. He labelled the buildings, marked sniper's positions, and drew a box for the location of the boxcar. He added the fence last and showed camera positions. "We need to create something over here that attracts their attention and then one of us sneaks down here and kills the guard and releases those people inside. Everyone runs for the fence and we rendezvous here and hoof it back here through the woods. I came back that way just now and that is the way we will go back."

Carol looked at the map. "Do you have bolt cutters? We need to cut holes in those fences. It will take too long to climb the fence. They are probably hungry and thirsty. We need to carry lots of water and some food too. What would shake them up enough so that they would rush toward that?

Morgan had been thinking about that for hours, "They have their fuel storage right here" and he put an x over a spot that was on the side opposite of the railway car. "I think I can blow that up and that will attract their attention. We need to go in before it gets too dark. I will ignite the fuel and then I am going to move through this section. It' a little out of the way and I think they are keeping people in there from the looks of things. I'll try to release anyone l find. You are going to get the boxcar children out and run for the fence. Take your people out and I'll meet you at our new place. "

Beth was curious about Morgan. "Where did you learn all this stuff?" She waved at the drawing on the wall.

Morgan shrugged his shoulders, "I was an army ranger when I was younger. I thought that part of my life was over years ago, but it is like riding a bike. You don't forget."

Carol nodded, "You found us a new place closer to Terminus?" She began to pack everything up quickly and efficiently.

Morgan nodded, "It's pretty close, but it is very secluded. I think some prepper had it. It doesn't look like anyone has been there. Even has a few supplies."

Beth gathered Judith's things and Morgan and Carol took down the plywood covers and packed them in the truck. Once everything was stowed away Morgan drove them to the next hideout. He drove along a bumpy narrow road and then turned made a sharp left through an overgrown meadow. "Good thing we haven't had any rain for a while".

The new place blended into the pine forest on the other side of the meadow. It was one large room with a kitchen area and an outhouse. There was a cistern and a well however. There was a small propane tank and oil lamps. It was dusty but dry inside. Morgan held Judith while the two women made a quick but thorough sweep of the place. There was a table and a two bunk beds along the wall. There were bars over the windows and the door was steel. They all sat a bit and watched Judith play on her blanket. The late afternoon sun warmed the room and Judith crawled to Carol. She was getting tired and wanted the comfort that Carol had brought her the last few days. Carol hugged her close and rocked her a bit. She wanted to stay here to protect Judith but Judith needed her father and brother. Judith went to sleep in Carol's arms and Beth took her and put her in the plastic bin with her blanket.

Morgan went through the plan again with everyone. Beth was to stay here and be prepared to move when they came back. They lit the stove and she was to boil water and put it in the containers that they had. She should have something to feed them too. Beth nodded.

Morgan and Carol were going to move through the woods to Terminus. They were going to see if they could cut the fence but if there were too many cameras or people then Carol would go over the fence when she heard the explosion of the stored fuel. If she never heard it then she was to go back to this house and wait with Beth until for a day or two. Then they would leave in the truck.

Morgan had taken some of Judith's baby lotion and mixed it with some soot. He covered Carol's face so that she was almost as dark as he was. He had a dark wool cap that he covered her silver curls with and he laughed as he presented her to Beth, "Meet Commando Carol".

Carol and Morgan picked up their heavy packs and took off. Carol had kissed Judith and hugged Beth goodbye. She followed Morgan through the woods that were beginning to darken around them. She had her knife handy. It was getting colder already but she was sweating under her dark sweatshirt.

Morgan stopped before they got close to the fence. "You gotta go with your instincts here. If you see that there are too many guards or it feels like a trap don't go in. You have survived this long by being smart. Be smart tonight."

They continued to the area behind the boxcar. There was a bored looking guard in front and they could see a sniper on the roof watching over that area. Morgan hissed in her ear, "If he doesn't move then you can't go in". Carol checked her rifle and pistol. "I am going to kiss you for luck." He kissed her again as he had before. Just a quick smooch as he hugged her goodbye.

Carol leaned into him and said, "I have your back, Black Knight. I will pray for you, too." She pulled back from him. "Did you kiss your army ranger buddies before you went into combat?"

Morgan bit his hand to keep from laughing, "No, they were way too hairy and ugly to kiss. Now, don't you cry and mess up your warpaint." He kissed her again and then smiled, "You look hot as a Black woman by the way. See you later".

Carol still felt his kiss on her lips. It felt warm in the cold night. Morgan was a warrior but he was also kind and sweet. He could have gone his merry way and left her out here alone with Judith, instead he had taken care of them. He was risking everything he could to save these people that he barely knew. She got her rifle out and sighted it in on the sniper. She was going to take the sniper out before she went over the fence. She waited patiently but prayed that God would forgive her for what she was doing now and what she had done in the past. She prayed that God would protect the Black Knight and that he would be able to rescue those people trapped in that building. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. She was ready.

AN

You have to wait until the next chapter to find out what happens. Carol is embracing her warrior side in this story. Beth is not the enemy. Carol loves Beth; she isn't going to braid her hair and give her a manicure either though.

Let me know how you are out there. A review please.