Chapter 8

Rick was running toward Carl and Michonne. Once he got to them he pulled Carl into a tight hug almost lifting him off the ground. Seeing them reunited made Michonne's heart swell with emotion. She could feel tears welling up in her eyes. She had seen so much more emotion from Rick in the past day than she had ever seen from him. She had always loved Rick as a close friend and partner but the events of the last several hours had shown her a different side of him that made her question her feelings. She saw a man that loved his children more than himself or anything else and would do anything to protect them. She saw a man that wanted to do the right thing and be a good leader for his friends and family.

Seeing him break made her realize just how much pressure he had been under since this all started and she wanted to do everything she could to take some of that weight off his shoulders.

Rick put his hands on Carl's shoulders and pushed him away, his eyes searching him for injuries.

"You're okay? You're not hurt?"

Carl looked up at Rick, "I'm fine dad. Judith is fine. We're okay."

"Oh thank god."

Michonne thought Carl looked like such a kid as he looked up at his dad.

Rick went back in for a tight hug and Carl reciprocated.

"I love you son."

"Love you too, Dad."

Their reunion was interrupted by a scream from down the street. They all turned toward the scream that was coming from an Alexandrian. "THE WALL IS MOVING." Rick ran over to see a couple of the wall panels being shaken forcefully by the walkers outside. He heard Michonne and Carl come up behind them.

"Will it hold?"

"I don't know Carl, but we need to figure out a way to reinforce the wall."

Michonne started to walk away when Rick stopped her, "Where are you going?"

"We are gonna need help."

A look of uncertainty spread across Ricks face at the idea of Michonne running off when Alexandria was under such a big threat but he knew she was right; they would need more people to fix the wall.

"Be careful."

"Always," with a smile and a nod she left them to brainstorm.

Carl started pacing up and down the section of the wall that was unstable.

Rick watched Carl and realized just how much his son had grown. He was smart, responsible, and quick on his feet. He felt guilty for not having more faith in his son's ability to protect his sister and himself.

Just as Rick was joining Carl next to the fence he heard it crack. He looked at Carl who was facing him with a worried face, "What was that?"

Carl walked back down the side of the fence then waved his dad over to him. Rick stood next to Carl to see a long crack in the wall where two panels had separated.

/

Michonne had been to several houses and had yet to find anybody. She was beginning to wonder just how many people had been killed by the unknown attackers. She finally reached Deanna's house to find her and Spencer in the kitchen.

They turned to see her walk in the door, "Michonne?"

"The walls are budging. Two panels on the North side are pretty unstable. Rick and Carl are there now keeping an eye on it and trying to figure out a way to secure it." Deanna reached over the table to grab a roll of paper. Spencer and Michonne followed her to the island where she unrolled it to reveal blue prints of Alexandria.

"Which area?"

Michonne pointed to the panels on the map then looked at Deanna.

Deanna was quiet for a moment then looked up, "There are a few extra support beams toward the empty lot on the South side. We could use those to create more support on the interior but it is gonna take a lot of man power to move those polls and that's a long way to carry them."

Michonne looked from Deanna to Spencer then back at the blue print.

"It's a start. Get as many people as you can and meet me there."

/

Michonne and a group Alexandrians flanked each side of the pole lying on the ground. Together they successfully lifted the pole off the ground and began to move. They were about half way to Rick and Carl when the guy in front suddenly let go causing the end of the pole to hit the ground. Michonne was about to ask him what he was doing when she heard the groaning. She turned to her right to see walkers coming straight toward them from in between the houses.

Chapter 9 soon…