Author's note: I apologize for any grammar/spelling/misreading mistakes I make it's one AM and I just had to write this. I have mixed feeling about this chapter, I feel like the beginning is rather wooden but towards the end it gets better. That or I am just really really tired. Either way I hope you enjoy it. Next chapter should have Daryl in it-finally. Though I don't make any promises. Next chapter though also marks the fact that I now have to watch the episodes on Netflix rather than on Itunes as I normally do, so it'll be a tad bit harder.
Question: Should Mara stay with the group or go to Atlanta again with Rick/Daryl? And I'm trying to decide what it is in Mara's rucksack-any suggestions?
~Cassandra
Disclaimer: I don't own anything from the Walking Dead except the Rick bobble head I bought at hot topic and a few I Love Daryl shirts…so technically it owns me.
To the Atlanta group Rick and Mara were a mystery. An odd one at that. Neither one of the two seemed as affected by the rise of the walkers as the others were. Rick still clung to his belief in humanity, common law and the right way. Mara-Mara was just was too relax for someone in this type of situation. While Glenn and Rick were both reluctant to be covered in walker's guts and be sent out into a herd of starving walkers, Mara was more than willing to go with. Sure she grimaced and gagged slightly as the team placed guts on her, but other than a faint compassionate look in her eyes, she was okay about it. "We smell like them?" Rick asked, his eyes on Mara.
It was obvious the police officer had a bigger problem with Mara going than herself. In fact if Rick hadn't mentioned his wife and kids, Andrea would have sworn the two were in a relationship. "Oh yeah." Andrea assured.
"We smell worse than a skunk does." Mara sniffed herself, "In fact if my brothers were around they probably bottle this stuff up and force me to wear it, saying it's a better man repellent then them."
"Well I'll keep that in mind for when my daughters start dating." Morales joked, earning a half-smile from the group. Everyone was on high alert, even someone oblivious like Mara could tell that.
Rick gave Mara one last look. "Mara, you don't have to come with. Glenn and I can handle it-"
"Don't try and talk me out of this, Officer Friendly. I did not just get covered with walker guts to stick around here." Mara lectured, "Besides, you need someone with experience. The last two years of my high school career I was a zombie for my dance class's performance of Thriller. Granted me being rhythmically challenged isn't something of worry here, it's still the same thing."
Surprisingly enough Mara managed to get a few chuckles and soft grins out of the group. It appeared that even in the face of danger Mara could still make people laugh…even if it wasn't her intention too. Rick smiled softly at his friend as he picked up the axe at his feet. They had only known each for two days yet it felt like a lifetime to him. Everything about Mara screamed trust and loyalty. Perhaps it was fact that she was currently his only friend in this new world. Wearily he eyed the dead walker, Mara couldn't end up like that. It was his duty as a friend to protect her. "Be ready when we get back." Rick said swinging the axe, "We're going to need more guts."
Mara grimaced as Rick hacked the walker with a strange new resolve. Despite volunteering to be covered in walker guts and sent out there, Mara couldn't stand the process of creating walker mush. So instead she decided to focus on more important things…like her having to leave her rucksack behind and the fact that stupid Easton was carrying all her clothes at the moment. "Hey Andrea, I hate to ask you this, but I need a favor." Mara whispered to the blond.
The blond looked at her a slight hostility in her eyes. She probably hadn't forgiven them completely for bringing the walkers out to roost. Nonetheless the blond's lips twitched into a small smile. "Sure, what is it"
"My rucksack over there, I can't take it with me this round. Could you watch it for me? Plus if you could just grab me some random clothes from upfront, I'd be really grateful. I literally have nothing but what I have on." Mara requested.
Andrea gave her a curt nod. "Sure, no problem."
"Thanks." Mara smiled. It was only then did she notice, that Jacqui had covered her in walker mush the whole time they talked. She sighed. Her drill sergeants were right, she was far from situationally aware. How she survived so far was a mystery.
"You ready?" Rick asked them.
"As ready as I'll ever be." Glenn muttered.
"I'm ready." Mara assured softly.
Rick nodded, his hand on the door handle. He paused glancing at Mara. "You stay as close to me as you can, ya hear?"
"Rick, just open the damn door! I'm twenty-two for god's sakes." Mara snapped. This time the group laughed. For some reason they had a feeling this wasn't the first or last time this conversation would happen. Then without another word Rick swung the door open.
Once outside, Rick and Glenn exchanged heavy looks as they caught sight of the walkers surrounding them. It was the dramatic moment of truth. Would they pass? Could they make it? Meanwhile Mara had already walked two feet away from them and was more or less casually/stupidly walking around the walkers. Rick swore to himself. Glenn shot him a panic look, but Rick just shrugged and headed towards her. If they made it out of this alive, he was going to handcuff that damn girl to him. Luckily though not only had Mara stopped so they could catch up, but her whispers proved right. As long as they were coated in walker mush and acted like walkers, they would be okay. So they walked on for what seemed like eternity, but was really just a few minutes. Although passing many walkers undetected, Mara was the only one fully comfortable about it.
"It's going to work…can't believe it." Glenn whispered to them.
"Don't…Draw…Attention…" Rick gritted through his teeth.
Mara rolled her eyes . And they were worried about her being a problem-
Boom!
Mara felt her blood freeze at the sound of thunder. Oh shit….she forgotten about the cloud burst. She forgot about the fucking cloud burst. How the hell could she forgotten about that and remember Rick hitting his head on the tank?! Small droplets of rain began to fall and than an onslaught of them fell. The blood and guts began to wash off the coat. It took everything in Mara's power not to panic or seem panicked. Neither men needed to freak out prior to the right time. Rick looked down at the ground then at Mara whose face turned pale. Something wasn't right and as hard as she tried to hide it, Rick could see right through her. He continued walking deciding not to alarm Glenn, but his brain started to come up with an emergency plan.
The walkers growled moving closer in. Cautiously Rick moved in towards Mara. His shoulder now up against hers. Glenn glanced at them nervously. "The smell is washing off-isn't it? Is it washing off?"
"No it's not." Rick assured hastily, just as he bumped into a walker, "Well…maybe-"
He was cut off by a walker lunging towards Mara. Quickly he swung the axe into its head. "Run!" he yelled pushing Mara forward with his body.
"Shit!" Mara cried as Glenn screamed, "I shouldn't stayed on the roof. Fuck the guilt trip!"
She kept close to Rick as he swung their way through the herd. Fear and adrenaline ran through her like never before. Her heart raced a million miles per hour, but for her mind everything seemed to go in slow motion. It was as if everything she learned in her ten weeks of basic kicked in. Without hesitation she ran full speed, hoping over the fence alongside the others. Mara fell to on ground hard but she was alive. "Holy shit, if I ever thought I had one Mary-Sue moment in my life it has to be this." Mara said to no one in particular, "Cause any other day I would have been eaten alive by fucking walkers."
"Come on, Mar. You can ramble later." Rick said helping her up.
With a nod, Mara discard the terrible smelling trench coat and ran after Glenn. Behind her, Rick shot at the few walkers who managed to climb over the fence. "You got the keys?" Mara called out to Glenn.
"Here!" Glenn cried tossing her the keys.
She caught them before quickly handing them to Rick. There was no way she would be driving. Thanks to her mad skills, she'd probably crash them into something the second she was behind the wheel. "Let's go!" Mara cried rushing to the van.
Mara leaped in just in time to catch sight of a walker stumbling towards them. Rick scooted in besides her turning the key in the ignition. Not long after that Glenn jumped into the passenger seat slamming his door on the crazed walker. Mara gasped, her nails digging into her arm. "Go! Go! Go!" Glenn yelled as Rick stepped on the peddle.
Using expertise that Mara was sure she'd never have Rick drove away in reverse just in time for the fence to break down. Mara stared wide eyed at the mob of walkers. If she weren't so petrified she'd make some comment about Rick's bad ass cop skills. Thankfully though Mara was a silent scardy cat contrasting to Glenn. "Oh God. Oh God. They're all over the place!" Glenn freaked.
Rick shook his head. "You need to draw them away. Those roll up doors in front of the store that area-that's what I need cleared. Radio your friends, tell them to get down there and be ready-"
"Draw them away how? I missed that part!" Glenn panicked.
Rick eyed him. "Noise."
Glenn turned paled. Mara gave him a smile and patted him on the shoulder. "Trust me," she said, "You'll like this part."
The poor Korean boy blinked owlishly at her. Rick casted her a curious yet knowing look. Mara just shot him a grin, before her eyes landed on exactly what they were looking for. Sexy fast obnoxiously loud red sports car left to be abandoned. "Rick, stop here. We'll use that one over there." Mara ordered pointing at it.
Rick nodded parking the car right next to it. "Glenn, you come with me. Mara stay here where it's safe."
"Why can't she go instead?!" Glenn protested.
"Long story short I'm so bad at driving the DMV told my license was invalid before I even took the test." Mara replied leaning back comfortably. Normally she'd defy Rick and get out of the van, but she wasn't going to risk the option of her having to drive that thing. Plus by the look in Rick's eyes, she knew now was not the time to push his buttons.
"This sucks." Glenn muttered climbing out.
"You'll be thanking me later, believe it!" Mara called out.
From the coziness of the van she watched Rick break into the car like a boss. She made a mental note to ask him, how he knew about hotwiring cars. Obviously this wasn't his first time. Meaning there had to be some story about a crazy reckless young Rick somewhere in his past. Then again knowing Shane it was probably him who actually did the crime. "You know you did that way too expertly for my liking." Mara mentioned as Rick got in.
He smirked at her, "I'll tell you later. Right now we have to get the others."
"Promise?"
"Promise."
"Then what are you waiting for? Let's go!"
Rick sped off to the shopping center. The whole ride felt like a mini rollercoaster. If Mara had no concern for what the cop thought of her, she would've thrown her hands up in the air and screamed. It wasn't long before Rick arrived at the shopping center. Mara jumped in back lifting up the door of the van. There was no sense in Rick doing everything with her there. She knocked on the metal door signaling for the others to open up. The metal door of the loading docks flung open and suddenly Mara was bombared with flying packs. Amazingly she somehow managed to catch every one of the them-minus the two that hit her in the face. "Alright, that's everything. Now get the fuck in so we can leave." Mara commanded rushing to her spot next to Rick.
The second she sat down, Rick step on the pedal. It wasn't until they were on the highway did Mara and Rick notice the absence of Merle. Mara swore inwardly to herself, she had her fucking Mollie rucksack, but a man was stuck on top of the room. Something Mara knew she would blame herself for the rest of her life. Even if she knew Merle would live on. "I dropped the damn key. Just like you told me not to." T-Dog confessed to Mara.
Everyone turned to Mara both confused and shocked. Mara closed her eyes rubbing her temples. Great. Not only was everyone looking for an explanation, but the look Rick was giving her was killing her. "It's not your fault, it's mine. I saw it happening, I just thought maybe if I warned you things would change." Mara admitted, "But how could you have known? I should fucking stayed up there myself with the key, but I'm a damn coward."
If it weren't for her father's harsh rules about never crying, Mara would have broke down. This was all too frustrating for her. She was torn between doing right or leaving things how they were originally plotted. It was like a war between light and dark. And right then Mara felt far from light. Rick reached over to her, surprising her with a gentle squeeze on her leg. "It's not your fault, Mar. I'm the one who handcuffed him-"
"Rick, I swear to God if you put an ounce of blame on yourself-I'll…I'll kick your ass, you understand? This is not your fault. You had no idea what was going to happen. I DID." Mara snapped.
The others stared at each other not knowing what to make. They wanted desperately to ask what Mara meant by 'saw,' however whatever manners they had left held them back. These people just saved their life. It wouldn't be right to push questions…at least not right then. Andrea stared at the group. "Where's Glenn?"
Thanks to everyone who reviewed this chapter it made my day. Please continue the more reviews I get the faster I work.
Azrael Blood: I'm glad you were finally able to watch this episode for yourself, I felt bad for Merle too. So bad I almost made Mara run back up there to save him.
Mysterious Writer Alison: Thank you for the wonderful review it was a nice refresher after the big math test I had, ugh :P. I'm happy that you like how Mara fights for Rick, it was one of things I wanted when I created her. And I'll consider both your vote for Team Rick/Mara-or Mack lol plus the idea of creating another OC for Daryl since we all love him.
Mystifying Reviewer Karren: I got your review right before I took my big math test and all I can say is thanks, cause I walked into it with a smile. I am so happy you find Mara refresing and not annoying, her humor is something I often worry about getting out of hand. And I totally agree about Rick, no one ever stands by his side just for him and he's always expected to clean up other people's messes. Which is why I decided when to create Mara that she'd be someone who sticks by him despite who he chooses and point out the obvious. So don't worry no matter who Mara chooses Rick won't be alone. I promise.
Eminemchick17: You should really send me more of your Daryl fic it was good. As for Mara's hair its actually black, but a dark brown would probably be a better way of describing her hair. And my mistake actually wasn't in this chapter-sorry should've specified. It's actually in chapter one and three. In the first chapter Mara's last name is Taylor , while in the third I accidentally forgot and ended up naming her Grayson. Silly me.
Just a shy anon: I am not going to lie, I am totally considering turning Mara's 'visions' and 'whispers' in reality, just because I think it might actually be better for the plot. Oh and I was really excited when Mara started to interact with others too. It's a refreshing change from her usual clinginess to Rick. I can't wait until see meets with the others-especially Daryl.
NL March: I am so pleased to be turning you into a Rick fan. Even though I am torn between him and Daryl, I totally Pro Rick. Also it's really only because of fanfiction that I stared to realize Daryl's awesomeness.
Mystery commenter Maddy: I'm glad you'll continue this story even if it turns into a Rick/OC, however I assure you there will be Daryl romance too. It's a must!
ScornedXRose: Her telling Merle what would happen to him had to be my favorite of this whole story so far. I was literally jumping in my seat cause I was so excited to write it.