The caravan of scavengers from the prison set off in a Westerly direction. They were tasked with sourcing food, wood suitable for building, fabric and general supplies they rapidly ran out of, as well as items needed for the approaching winter. The real task was to find medical equipment and any type of associated products, such as bandages, ointments and medications.
They rolled down the main highway they had travelled along numerous times on their regular runs. Michonne was in front on her horse, then the pickup, with Daryl at the rear on his bike.
Occasionally Daryl roared ahead to scout the area, relishing the opportunity to hit the gas and clear his mind for a few minutes. Michonne was constantly preoccupied with looking for signs as to the whereabouts of the Governor. She was desperate to kill him in revenge for everything he had done to her and her friends, especially Andrea.Glenn, driving the pickup, fiddled with the stereo. He hated driving in silence and insisted upon playing the few CDs they had at an acceptable volume. He slipped in a Driving Anthems CD and waited for the music to start as he felt Zack, who was in the passenger seat, turn to look at him.
The younger man opened his mouth as if to speak but seemed to have a change of heart. The opening intro of 'Total Eclipse of the Heart' flowed from the stereo as Sasha groaned in the back seat and Bob clapped his hands together in glee, it was one of his favourites.
Glenn glanced over as Zack leaned with one arm out of the open window. "Spit it out then."
"What?" Zack looked startled. "Oh, it doesn't matter, wasn't important."
Glenn shook his head, his eyes on the road. "C'mon man. It's not like I haven't heard this song a million times in the last few months. Something bothering you or….?"
Zack pulled his arm back inside the car and his shoulders slumped. "It's Beth."
"Oh boy." Glenn grimaced.
"One minute, she's super keen and all over me, the next, she's all one word answers or ignoring me. Wasn't even interested that I was coming out here today. I don't know what the hell is going on with her. I mean, does she like me or am I just a way to pass the time? It's driving me crazy so I was going to ask for your advice. You know, you being with Maggie and her being Beth's sister. Thought you could give me an insight into the Greene mentality."
Glenn snorted. "It's no good asking me for advice when it comes to the ladies. I have no idea how I managed to get with someone as awesome as Maggie." He gave Zack as small smile. "But if it helps, she did blow hot and cold with me at the start too. I didn't know which Maggie I was gonna get half the time. And for the record, I'd say Beth does really like you"
Zack leaned back against the headrest, "You think it's just mind games, maybe?"
"I don't know, man" Glenn groaned. "But if you want advice on girls, you'd be best asking the advice of a girl." Glenn motioned with his head to Sasha in the backseat. As Zack turned to look at her, she laughed.
Before she could say anything, Bob piped up. "If I could go back in time and give the seventeen year old version of me one piece of advice, this would be it. Listen up."He leaned forward in his seat which was directly behind Glenn, a big smile on his face. "I'd say, that when it comes to the fairer sex, any time you think you're wrong, you are wrong. And anytime you think you are right….you're wrong."
Zack looked to Glenn and then Sasha in confusion and gave a small laugh, "What?"
"You just have to embrace the chaos and confusion, my friend." Bob explained, still leaning forward in his seat motioned out of the windscreen in front of him with his hand. "They are as changeable and thrilling as the weather. The sunshine you get is worth the storms." He then spread his hands as though he had imparted some celestial knowledge and looked around at Sasha. "Am I right?"
She laughed and rolled her eyes. "Oh, you better believe it." She caught Zack's eye and winked, her pretty face lit up with humour.
Zack looked from her, to Bob and back to Glenn. They were all in high spirits when they heard a bang on the roof of the cab. Daryl had appeared beside the truck on his bike. No one had noticed him pull up alongside the truck. Glenn cut the engine.
"What's all the hootin' and laughin' about?" He asked as he leaned his arm on Glenn's window. "Sounds like a mother's meetin' in there. Know how much noise you damn women are makin'?"
Zack leaned forward. "We were talking about matters of the heart, Mr Dixon."
Daryl eyeballed each of the passengers in turn, before addressing Glenn. "We gotta job to do. This ain't no road trip. And it sure ain't no damned romantic comedy movie shit neither. Keep your mind on the job so we can get back to the prison soon as we can." He kicked up the stand on the bike and gave his friends a stern look.
Bob muttered "Sure thing, boss" and gave an army salute.
"You bein' smart?" Daryl snapped, leaning back into the cab and subjecting Bob to his steely gaze.
Sasha spoke. "No, not all. We were giving Zack some advice about Beth. It was just to make conversation on the ride. We will be fully focused once we get to the store."
"Huh." Daryl revved his engine and sped off in front of Michonne, who's horse reared up slightly in shock. She calmed the steed down, turned and shot a look of indignation to Glenn. He shrugged and grimaced but started the engine of the truck again.
They started off again. 'Achy Breaky Heart' flowed from the speakers.
"What's up with him?" Zack wondered aloud.
"Not getting any." Bob deadpanned and they all laughed again.
They reached the large red brick building around noon. Michonne had scouted it out on her last lonely mission out to try to bring her own brand of justice to Philip Blake, the man known more commonly as the Governor.
At some point during the initial 'outbreak' a makeshift Army base must have been located in the parking lot of the store. There was long abandoned folding tables and cordons and paraphernalia littered around amongst the rotting corpses of the Walkers whom Michonne had put down previously.
Glenn pulled up as close to the main doors as possible, reversing in so they had the pickup ready to load up and go. Daryl parked next to it and Michonne secured Blaze's straps to the railings of the building. They all congregated at the large store windows once they'd gathered their kits together. Sasha made her way to the door and rattled on it, listening and waiting for the now familiar sounds of the dead. She then elected to take Bob with her to scout the rest of the building for other exits.
Daryl leaned against the window, almost letting his weariness overcome him. He wasn't sure he had the energy for this but his friends needed him. He just wanted to get back home, get back to her. If only he could sleep. He spotted something sparkling in the gutter, leaned down and scooped it up, examining it. Jasper. He rolled it around his fingers and thought for a moment before slipping it into his pants pocket and leaning back against the window.
Glenn approached him cautiously, "Hey, Daryl. I know you hate talking about things, but, are you…are you ok, man?"
"Yeah," Daryl answered, lighting up a cigarette. He took a drag and narrowed his eyes as he scrutinised his friend. "Why?"
"You just don't seem your usual self. You seem a bit….distracted." Glenn looked around nervously as though regretting starting the conversation. "I just think we have enough to worry about with the whole Rick thing. We kind of need everyone operating at full capacity."
Daryl exhaled, turned and leaned his head against the window. "I just got a bad feeling. Like something is gonna go wrong soon. Back home." He shrugged slightly, feeling stupid. "Can't sleep much. Never could before, but I feel on edge. Pathetic, I know."
"It's not pathetic at all," Glenn took a deep breath, "I wouldn't be any kind of friend if I didn't ask you this and risk my head being bitten off, but, do wanna talk about it, maybe?"
Daryl looked to the ground, kicking it slightly with his boot. He sighed and pushed his hair out of his eyes. He took one last puff of his cigarette before dropping it and crushing it underfoot. He crossed his arms across his chest and shifted his weight. "I just got somethin' on my mind. Besides the bad feeling. Maybe that second part is all in my head" He tapped his temple and looked at his friend, "Fuck," he sighed, "Maybe the first part is too, I don't know. Can't figure shit out."
"The first thing you got on your mind, is it…..is it something or someone?" Glenn leaned in and lowered his voice as he asked the last part of the question.
Daryl muttered something Glenn barely caught under his breath and shook his head, chewing his lip.
"Did you just say 'she's in my head'?" Glenn straightened slightly and placed a friendly hand on Daryl's arm. "Like I told Zack, I'm not much good with advice, especially about women, but if it helps, I am sure she feels the same about you too. You two are like two peas in a pod. A duo. Like mac'n'cheese. You just fit. Always have, since Atlanta. You know it, I know it. We all know it."
"You get yourself a girlfriend and suddenly you're running around fixing everyone else's problems?" Daryl chuckled slightly and nudged Glenn to let him know he wasn't mad at the prying. "I dunno. Dunno know how to deal with any of this shit."
"Look," Glenn spoke earnestly "You didn't see how totally devastated she was when you left us for Merle. She was so upset, she was beside herself. Rick couldn't console her, none of us could until she'd cried it out. And we all know, she always believed in you, even when you didn't believe in yourself. If that's not love, I don't know what is."
"She'd be upset at anyone leavin'" countered Daryl.
"Not like that," Glenn was stern, his eyes alive. "She reached out to you and made sure you were always a part of the group. She'd never be without any of us, but you especially. Not again, not after you came back without Merle. You guys have this connection, you don't even have to speak."
Daryl thought back to the farm when he was in turmoil and considering taking off, just after Sophia stumbled out of the barn. Carol almost knew what he was thinking, it freaked him out a little, truth be told, it was like she could read his mind. She pulled him back into her orbit and back to the people he now considered the family he craved. Without her, he'd probably have ended up following Merle to certain death.
"How do you even know who she is?" Daryl teased. "Could be talking about different women."
Glenn rolled his eyes with good humour, "Oh, come on! Carol is always on your mind. That moment, that scene, back at the prison? I don't know how any of us didn't shout out 'Kiss her!'" His smile dropped. "You gotta sort your shit out, man. Really, we could all be dead tomorrow, you know that, right?"
Daryl sighed, remembering their losses and how quickly life could be snuffed out. He was about to answer as Bob and Sasha approached after walking the perimeter of the building. It had been good talking to the friend he had known since the early days of the end of the world. Like some chinks of light had chipped through that wall of his.
"Where's Zack?" Bob asked, looking around. "Immediate area is surprisingly clear."
"He's checking out those Army tents with Michonne." Glenn gestured down the parking lot. "We'll continue this talk later." He gave Daryl a serious look as Bob called to the other two members of their group.
"Can't wait." Daryl muttered, his hand on the jasper stone in his pocket, as he followed his friend to the main entrance. ~ Once inside, they immediately set about gathering the items they needed. Daryl heard to the baby aisle, clearing the shelves of diapers and formula. Bob and Sasha gathered all foodstuffs, Michonne found a pharmacy and with Zack's help, they stripped it clean. After several trips to the truck, they decided to make one last sweep of the shop.
While the others were checking the back rooms of the building, and Zack was looking for batteries, Bob lingered near the wine racks. They had taken several bottles of both red and white wine, the adults back the prison often savoured a glass with meals. Bob enjoyed drinking for an entirely different reason. He found he needed alcohol to sleep and to relax. He was starting to need it more and more, he had a number of bottles of differing liquor stashed around various locations at home.
He'd been the lone survivor of two groups before Daryl picked him up off the road weeks back. Bob thought there was nothing worse than surviving death, but sometimes the noise of living got to much, but he couldn't stand the quiet either. He picked up a bottle of Merlot so deep red, it was almost black. He didn't care what he drank, so long as it helped him feel less, think less, remember less.
Thinking about the others on this trip brought a sudden flash of guilt. He was selfish, standing here wallowing in his own problems – any of the others could seek peace at the bottom of a bottle, they'd all survived horrors – he was just weaker than them. Feeling sickened, he slammed the bottle down. Damp conditions must have weakened the wood because the shelf gave way, but then the whole stand tipped backwards into the shelving behind.
Bob watched in horror at the domino effect which occurred. To him, it was in slow motion and the noise was like several bombs going off. Wooden units crashed into metal ones. Glenn rushed from the opposite side of the store with the others running after him. All except Zack who was in the line of the final wooden stand.
"Zack!!" Glenn screamed as the boy was frozen to the spot, horror on his face. Glenn grabbed his arm and tried to pull him out of danger. He almost succeeded, but Zack's left leg took the crushing weight of the shelves and he was pulled from Glenn's grasp. "Shit!"Zack screamed in pain and landed heavily on the floor, hitting the left side of his head on the floor with an indescribable sound. He was instantly knocked out.
The aftermath brought shocked silence amongst the dust, everyone too shocked to move. The silence seemed louder than what had come before. Then came the familiar sound of a cold body hitting the window at the front of the store, followed by two more.
"The noise…must have brought them." Michonne said in a flat, stunned voice before heading for Zack. She knelt down woodenly and put two fingers to his neck. "He's alive. You guys try to see how badly he's trapped and I'll go get rid of the Walkers. We're going to have to figure a way to get him out from under there and home." Her dark eyes looked up at each of them. "Come on, get going." She raised her voice with urgency. Then she stood and unsheathed her katana.
She made her way to the main exit; to get in they'd covertly smashed the bottom glass panel of the main doors. The dead hadn't seemed to grasp the concept of crouching to get under obstacles, but at the moment there was six of them gathered at the window. They would keep coming as they did at the fences of the prison, piling up until the sheer weight of them produced results.
Daryl nudged Glenn and they both approached the heap of of materials covering their stricken friend. The only sound at the moment was from Michonne's sword slicing through decaying flesh.
"What a fuckin' mess. Need to work fast. The metal shelving shouldn't be too heavy to move between us, though." Daryl observed, keeping his voice to a murmur.
"We'll have to start from the top and shift everything off him one piece at a time." Sasha said as moved around to have a better look at the devastation. As a firefighter, she had experience in dealing with devastation such as this."Bob, you lift from that side with Glenn, Daryl, you come round this side. We'll lift it off and move together to try to stop anything that's loose falling on him and doing more damage." She looked close to tears as she regarded Zack underneath the debris.
Ashen-faced Bob moved silently to his position, not trusting himself to say a word.
"Lets do this," said Glenn solemnly.
It took forty minutes to remove everything pining Zack in place. His left leg was oozing blood in several places and the ankle turned at an impossible angle, the shelves obviously catching his trailing leg as he had turned to run. Michonne had stood guard outside against any passing Walkers attracted by the noise of their task.
Zack was still unconscious. Sasha checked his pulse again. "He's still with us and I don't think he's in any danger of bleeding out, he hasn't cut any major artery. Could be a fractured ankle or broken bones but then he hit his head pretty hard. Do you think we should strap his leg to a splint?" She looked around at the others.
"Yeah." Daryl took charge. "Glenn, you go find something we can use to strap his leg to." He began removing his checked shirt. Taking his army knife from his pocket, he started cutting it into strips. "Lucky I put a t-shirt on under this thing today."
Glenn returned with a pole that would have been used by gardeners to grow tall plants and crops such as tomatoes.
Between them they managed to secure Zack's leg just before Michonne knocked on the window. Glenn ran over to her.
"There's a fairly big herd headed down the street, they'll be at the parking lot in a few minutes. Can you start moving him?" She was peering in to the scene in the shop over Glenn's shoulder.
"We'll have to. Can you keep an eye on the herd?" asked Glenn. Michonne nodded and moved toward the truck to better see the advancing dead.
"We heard." Daryl said as Glenn approached the group. They got hold of Zack, two of them at each side and lifted him. Daryl had to support the boy's head at the same time. As they got to the door, they realised they were unable to manoeuvre Zack out of the bottom panel of the door.
"Forget the door. One of us will have to shoot out a window," Sasha said, "Let me lower his good leg a second and I'll do it."
They all knew they could not avoid the sound of a gunshot and shattering glass; the Walkers were coming regardless. Once Sasha had Zack's uninjured leg back in her grasp, they climbed out of the window two at a time, one at each side. At the truck they noticed Michonne had moved some supplies to the cab so that Zack could lie in the flatbed. "Best I could do." She said once she'd hurried back over. "Someone will have to ride in the back with him. Just in case." Everyone understood her implication.
"I will," said Glenn as he lowered the door and climbed in. The others placed Zack on board as quickly as they could. "Quick!" Glenn shouted. The sound of the Walkers grew closer. The leaders of the group of the dead were almost at the top of the parking lot. Sasha jumped into the driving seat of the truck with Bob at the passenger side. Daryl hopped onto his bike and kicked up the stand as Michonne rushed to untie Blaze the horse. The pickup started off for home, and Daryl looked round to check on his remaining friend.
"'Shonne!" He cried as a Walker appeared from nowhere and reached for the horse. He grabbed his bow to shoot but he was too slow. The horse reared up in panic."Blaze!!" Michonne screamed and she made to grab her sword.
Daryl shouted "It's too late!! C'mon!!"
Michonne ran to him, then turned back to look at her horse as another Walker sunk it's teeth into the creature's neck. "No!" She cried.
"C'mon!!!" Daryl bellowed as he shot an approaching Walker coming at him from the other side of the lot.
Spurred into action, the sword woman ran and jumped onto the waiting bike and they tore off, her tears drying in the wind almost as soon as they fell from her eyes.