Author's note: Agh! I meant to have this out sooner seeing how my vacation was canceled thanks to the crappy weather here in the Midwest. Either way I had plan to have multiple chapters out by now but got distracted by my new favorite movie Boondock Saints. God, Norman Reedus is sexy in that movie! Along with Sean Patrick Flannery! I swear to God I am now obsessed with the McManus brothers. Heck I'm debating on writing a story about them-it would be a Murphy/oc/Connor fic with a three-way relationship, not pick and choose like this one. So would anyone be interested? An
Anyway I am kind of disappointed with this chapter I won't lie. I feel like there's a lot of build up in tension but no action to make up for it and Mara kind of pissed me off this chapter for some reason. Anyone agree? Plus there isn't a lot of interaction between Mara and the others. It's really Mara interacting with the situation. Whatever I'm ranting-sorry, next chapter will have more fluff between both Mara/Rick and Daryl/Mara so don't worry!
Question1: Would anyone be interested if I did a Boondock Saints story?
Question 2: This chapter ya or nay?
Question 3: The ending with Mara's vision, did you folks like it or should I delete that idea?
Finally I would love it if I could get ten reviews, just so this story can break my record and come in second place as my story with the second most reviews. If I can get at least ten by tomorrow afternoon, I swear I'd be so grateful/happy I'll force myself to write the next chapter and update by Friday night. Please.
~Cassandra
Disclaimer: No I don't own Walking Dead. So quit asking!
Mara looked down into the scope attached to the rifle Rick had given her. It was a lot different from the iron sight of the M16. And although you did learn how to use a scope in basic, it was part of the ARM (advanced rifle marksmanship) secession of the training. Something Mara didn't get to do having failed the basic rifle marksmanship or BRM portion of basic. That plus the fact the weapon Rick had given her was way different from an M16, made Mara a little uneasy. As if it weren't bad enough Mara was worried about her shooting, her absolute ignorance of the weapon only added to it. Hell, Rick had to quickly show her how to load it and turn off the safety. "Alright R, you may not be like my last weapon Dimitri-but that's probably a good thing seeing how he kind of failed me." Mara muttered to herself, "but that's not going to happen this time. The targets are closer and there's no First Sergeant around to bully you."
As weird as it sounded her pep talk to herself actually made her feel slightly better. Keyword being 'slightly.' There was still the painful hammering in her head from when she was slammed into the wall. And though she refused to say anything to Rick about it, it was only getting worse. Before it was only a dull pounding, now the throbbing evolved into an excruciating pain that Mara felt with almost every move she made. A pain that almost forced Mara to burst into tears. "You ready, Mara?" T-Dog asked loading his rifle quickly.
She gave him a small smile not moving from her spot. "As ready as I'll ever be. Truthfully I haven't thought I would have to kill anyone since basic."
"Yeah, well neither did I. Let's just hope the trade goes well and no one has to shoot anyone." T-Dog muttered.
"If anyone can do it, it's Rick." Mara assured peering down at where her friends were. Rick may have convinced her to stay on top of the roof with T-Dog, but it didn't mean she liked it. Especially not when she could clearly see through Rick's lie about her being up there for the group's sake rather than him wanting her out of sight. The sheriff had a way of taking advantage of his leadership role to guarantee Mara's safety. Which if anyone asked Mara, was pointless. For one whoever these guys were, they definitely knew who she existed. After all she sank an axe into one of their guy's shoulders. Secondly even if she were safe from these assholes, there was an infinite amount of possibilities that could go wrong. However for Rick's sanity, she relented this time.
"Someone's coming out." Mara hissed to T-Dog. Her eyes narrowing as a skinny man came out followed by a large crowd of what her brothers would dub vatos. She bit her bottom lip as her nerves began to run wild. Sure she could probably take out this Guillermo dude and a few of his lackeys, but not enough to keep Rick and Daryl safe in time.
"Well at the very least then I'll take out the son of bitch in charge." Mara muttered to herself.
T-Dog glanced over at her, before turning back to the scene. "Hey, it's going to be okay. Even you said it, if anyone can convince these guys to let Glenn go peacefully it's that man down there."
"You're right." Mara breathed, "Besides you know better Mara, all four these guys make it to season three."
"What?"
"Nothing. Just watch for Rick's signal." Mara muttered as Rick turned looking towards them. She pushed the rifle further into her shoulder, aiming the scope right for their leader's head. It was a shot she refused to miss. Besides her, T-Dog muttered something to himself. From her scoped she watched Guillermo cock his head before yelling 'hey' in Spanish.
"Mierda!" Mara hissed as she looked across the roof to where the asshole had cocked his head. It was Glenn tied up like an animal with two hulking men next to him. Her grip tightened angrily on the rifle. Part of her wanted to shifted into a kneeling position and just shoot the two bastards right there. Something Mara knew she could actually do. When it came to shooting while kneeling Mara could hit anything, unfortunately for her though kneeling was only twenty-percent of her qualification test. However this wasn't her qualification test and the reality of the situation came down to this. If Mara were to shoot, everyone was dead. Making her move completely pointless. Gritting her teeth she watched helpless as everyone pulled in.
"What just happened there?" T-Dog murmured though it was more for himself.
Mara frowned glancing at the retreating figures of Rick, Daryl and the kid. She drew back, flicking the safety back on. "I don't know for sure, but if I had one guess, I bet puto wants our bag of guns."
T-Dog swore shaking his head. "If that's the case then I hope Rick can think of a plan and fast. We can't afford to lose those guns."
"Rick will think of something. He always does and if he doesn't, I will. I didn't spend most of my life listening to my father's war stories for nothing." Mara replied heading towards the stairs, "Now come on, there's no sense in brooding over it without the others."
It didn't take long for them to regroup and find somewhere to discuss their options. Both Rick and Daryl had been waiting for them at the bottom of the stairs with the kid (Miguel as his name turned out to be) close at hand. Whereas their discussion spot had simply been an office in the building next to them, since there was no sense in going anywhere else. From there Rick quickly filled T-Dog and Mara in what happened. His voice filled with growing frustration upon each word said. The tolls of being a leader was starting to raise on Rick. Tolls Mara could only hope to help ease for him somehow, especially in his days to come. "Them gun are worth more than gold." Daryl announced as Rick shuffled through the bag, "Gold won't protect your family or put food on the table. You willing to give that up for that kid?"
Mara glared him. "That kid has a name, you know. He's not a piece of shit we can easily forget about. Side's which he volunteered to save your piece of shit brother, remember?"
"Watch what you fucking say about Merle, woman!" Daryl snapped.
He was now face to face with her. His posture almost threatening. Mara continued glaring at him. There was a lot she was afraid of, but Daryl Dixon wasn't one of them. "Go ahead hit me. We both know you won't do it, Daryl. You're too much of a good man to ever hit a woman cause you're mad. It's not who you are. And it's not in your man code." Mara said in a low voice, "Your brother not so much."
Mara pivoted away walking toward Rick, ignoring the slightly stunned audience. She took her spot next to Rick ignoring the small impressed yet confused glance he was giving her. He sent her quite a few of those today for some odd reason. Meanwhile Daryl stood frozen in his spot jaw clenched. His brain worked in overdrive picking at the bits and pieces of her speech. The majority of it sounded like a compliment, but Daryl knew that couldn't be right. No one ever complimented him. Let alone ever called him a good man.
From across the room T-Dog shifted uncomfortably, his dark brown eyes on the pile of weapons Rick took out. "If I knew we'd get Glenn back, I might agree." He admitted solemnly, "But you think that Vato across the way is just going to hand him over?"
"You calling G a liar?" piped Miguel, sitting below him.
"Are you a part of this?" Daryl snapped, before hitting Miguel , "You wanna hold onto your teeth?"
"Knock it off Daryl." Mara chastised, but glared at the kid, "As much as I want to slap him around, you don't see me doing it. Do you?"
"You couldn't if you tried." Miguel snapped.
Mara frowned, "Soy la úníca persona que se interpone entre usted y Daryl, recuerde? So I'd be nicer to me or I'll let him chop off your feet like he wants too."
T-Dog gave her a tired look before looking back at Rick. "Question is, do you trust that man's word?" he asked.
"No question is what are you willing to bet on it?" Daryl rephrased, "Could be more than them guns. Could be your life. Glenn worth that to ya?"
Rick locked his python before sticking in his gun holster. Mara's frowned deepened. Daryl didn't know it, but that was Rick's answer right there. Yes. Glenn was worth it. And the more Mara thought about, the more she agreed that he was worth her life too. Even though neither of them were in the army Glenn could easily be considered what the army called her battle. Which to her and her family meant everything. Battles were your comrades as well as your family and like family you never left a battle behind. "What life I have, I owe to him." Rick admitted, "I was nobody to Glenn, just some idiot stuck in a tank. He could've walked away, but he didn't. Neither will I."
"Nor I." Mara added. Her dark eyes met with his as she gave him a small smile. "You weren't the only idiot stuck in that tank. Besides which I haven't left your side since the day we met. Not even when you forced me to ride that atrocious beast all the way to Atlanta. So what makes you think, I'll stop now?"
"It'll be dangerous, Mar." Rick reminded.
Mara shrugged. "Since when is anything I do safe?"
A brief smile flashed on Rick's face, but it quickly disappeared at Daryl's next question. "So you gonna give the guns away?"
"I didn't say that." Rick replied.
Mara watched as mixture of shock and respect flashed on both men's faces. She smirked a little to herself. Sure she hadn't seen this part in the episode yet, but from what little Mara knew about Rick, he wasn't the type of person to think things halfway through. He might be a little naïve at worst. But who could blame him for that? The poor man was in a coma when this whole thing started. "There's nothing keeping you two here. You should get out, head back to camp." Rick suggested.
"And tell your family what?" T-Dog asked.
It went silent as Rick gave T-Dog a look. A reluctant sigh escaped the African American man, but Mara knew it was just his way of agreeing on their 'suicide' mission. She glanced over to Daryl. Her dark brown eyes meeting his pretty blue ones. Daryl stared back contemplating. His eyes glanced over briefly to Rick who was also staring at him, before darting back to her. He took another moment to stare at her, before reaching for a rifle-his silent way of saying he was in. A small smile appeared on Mara's face as she reached for a handgun. She couldn't help but notice the small embarrassed blush on Daryl's face as their eyes met once more. "Come on, this is nuts." Miguel protested as T-Dog walked over.
Daryl pointed at him warningly. It was obvious how much he wanted to beat the shit out of the kid right then. His restraint caused Mara to give him another brief smile of admiration. "Just do as G says." Miguel moaned slumping down against the wall.
"Sorry kid." Mara said cocking her rifle, "But I hate being told what to do."
From what Mara could tell so far, they seemed to be doing alright. Hell they were even moving in a diamond formation like in the army; Daryl leading the front, Rick and T-Dog on the sides, and Mara only a few feet behind Daryl. However Mara knew the real test began the moment they walked into the Guillermo's lair. Her heart began rush has the large metal doors opened. It pounded hard against her chest, almost hard enough for her to forget the pounding going on in her brain. She winced slightly. The fucking pain was only getting worse and worse.
Daryl pushed Miguel into the building, before instantly repositioning his grip on his rifle. He walked in a fearless manner that only made Mara's admiration grow. Behind him, Rick and T-Dog followed then lastly her. She glanced wearily around her as the doors closed. Rule number one: don't ever get into a room you can't get out of. Unfortunately the only exited Mara could spot was behind them, being blocked be rough street thugs. Mara frowned her eyes narrowing dangerously at a couple of the men who decided her ass was their prime target. "I see my guns, but they're not all in the bag." Guillermo spoke grabbing her attention.
"That's because they're not yours." Rick answered sternly, "I thought I mentioned that."
"Let's just shoot these fools, Ese. All right? Unload on their asses, Ese." A plump man encouraged.
Guillermo raised his hand to silence him. "I don't think you fully appreciate the gravity of the situation."
"No I'm pretty clear." Rick replied, cutting Miguel loose, "You have your man, I want mine."
Guillermo gritted his teeth. He stepped to closer to Rick. "I'm gonna chop up your boy. I'm gonna feed him to my dogs. They're the evilest nastiest man-eating bitches you ever saw. I picked them up from Satan at a yard sale. Then I'm gonna kill you fucking bastards and take that bitch of yours over there. And my men and I are going to have fun with her."
Rick's stare narrowed at Guillermo's threat. If Guillermo wanted a rise out of him, the threat on Mara's life did the trick. He wouldn't stand for anyone in his group being harmed, but Mara-well Mara was a special case. If someone so much as accidently bumped into her, Rick wouldn't hesitate in killing them. "Vas al infierno." He heard Mara snort from behind, causing Guillermo's eyes to shifting to her somewhat shocked. From behind Rick could feel the heat of Mara's rage emanating from her, as well as his own. Moreover he could sense Daryl shifting closer to the young woman. Something Rick was thankful for. Mara was liable to do something stupid if they weren't careful. "I told you how it has to be. Are you woefully deaf?" Guillermo insulted, ignoring the more than ever violent look Rick was giving him.
"My hearing's fine. You said come lock and loaded." Rick cocked his weapon. Simultaneously Mara and Daryl followed suit, with T-Dog following closely behind. Instantly the rest of the Vatos stirred ready for a fight. "Okay then, we're here."
"Felipe! Felipe!" a voice of an old woman suddenly cried.
Mara froze as an old woman made her way through the crowd. The woman glanced at the group confused. While everyone else surrounding her looked at Guillermo unsure what to do. It took everything in Mara not to burst out laughing. If this wasn't both awkward and a tension reliever then Mara didn't know what was. "Abuela, go back the others-now!" Felipe ordered, his eyes darting between his grandmother and them.
"Get that old lady out of the line of fire!" Daryl ordered.
Guillermo turned to the old woman. "Abuela listen to your mijo, okay? This is not the place for you right now."
Mara rolled her eyes. Liked that ever worked when it came to a Mexican grandmother. She should know, she had one after all. And if Mara ever spoke to her like that she would be getting wacked with a wooden spoon. "Mr. Gilbert is having trouble breathing. He-he needs his asthma stuff." She announced worried, "Carlito didn't find any. He needs his medicine."
A sigh escaped Mara as she lowered her weapon to a down ready position. Yep, that did it for her. There was no way a bunch of people who took care of an old lady could be psycho rapist murderers. And she had to admitted it made sense. The show wasn't ready for some big blood bath. It was only the fourth episode after all. Besides her, the boys eyed her both flabbergasted and slightly annoyed. Obviously everyone but Rick figured her to be stupid. Like Mara said though…the vatos turning out to be good guys was a pretty good way to end the conflict.
Guillermo glanced fervently from Rick to Felipe. "Felipe, go take care of it, okay? And take your grandmother with you!"
"Grandmother come with me, please." Felipe asked respectfully.
Abuela glanced at Felipe then at Rick. Her eyes narrowing at his badge. "Who are those men?" she asked.
"Please come with me." Felipe pressed in Spanish in time with Abuela yelling at Rick.
"Don't you take him." She ordered sternly, "Felipe's a good boy. He has his troubles, but he pull himself together. We need him here."
Rick glanced at Guillermo before looking away thoughtfully. "Ma'am, I'm not here to arrest your grandson."
"Then what do you want him for?"
"He's…helping us find a missing person. A fella named Glenn."
"The Asian boy? He's with Mr. Gilbert." She smiled, "Come, come, I show you. He needs his medicine."
Rick glanced at Guillermo before following Abuela. Guillermo sighed, "Let 'em pass."
Mara could fight the grin from her face as she followed after Rick. It was good to know that even with the world ending grandparents and parents still had the ability to embarrass the shit out of the younger generation. It was a fact Mara always found endearing seeing how her father was always cold to her. But luckily being embarrassed by family was one category her brothers did manage to successfully fill. She took a step forward only to be met with worst throb so far. A small gasp nearly escaped her at the feel of it. Instead she bit down hard on her lip drawing blood. Black spots began to cloud her vision, as Mara pushed herself onward. There would be no hints of agony until after Glenn was rescued.
"What the hell is this?" Rick voice muttered bringing Mara back to attention.
She nearly jumped back in surprise when she realized they were no longer in the grungy warehouse, but in what looked like some old folks' home. Or more importantly that Glenn was standing right in front of them perfectly fine. "An asthma attack couldn't get his breath all of the sudden." Glenn explained nonchalantly.
"I thought you were being eaten by dogs!" T-Dog snapped angrily.
Glenn glanced behind him at a bed of adorable Chihuahuas. If Mara wasn't trying to concentrate on standing upright then, she surely would have squealed. Rick turned towards Guillermo. "Can I have a word with you?" He said moving a little ways from the group, "You are the dumbest son of a bitch I've ever met. We walked in there ready to kill every last one of you."
"Well, I'm glad it didn't go down that way." Guillermo admitted.
"If it had that blood would be on my hands." Rick pressed. His eyes glancing towards Mara who gave him a small smile. He had feared her being killed thanks to his actions. Feared that she would do something against her nature just to back him up. Feared that not only would the blood on his hands be his fault, but the on Mara's hands as well.
"Mine too. We would have fought back." Guillermo reminded, "Wouldn't be the first time we had to. Protect the food, medicine-what's left of this it. These people-the old ones-the staff took off just left them here to die. Me and Felipe were the only one who stayed behind."
"What are you doctors?" Rick asked confused.
"Felipe's a nurse. And I'm-I'm the custodian." Guillermo admitted.
From there everything seemed to fall into place. Rick and Guillermo bonded over the similar hardships of being a leader. The half of the weapons Rick planned to leave behind-were left without complaints. And all five of them walked out of the Vatos' home safe and sound. It appeared like everything was going to winded up according to plan-minus the detours and the still missing Daryl. But Rick figured they could come back and search for him tomorrow now that they had allies. "Rick." Mara called from behind him.
Rick turned around worried as he caught eye of a suddenly very pale Mara wobbling behind the group. Her normal dark colored eyes full of cheer now clouded. Instantly he and the others were at her side, ready to caught her if she fell. "Damn it, Mar! I told you to tell me if you were in pain." Rick scolded as he wrapped one of her arms around his shoulder.
She gasped her eyes going blank in a trance like stare. Her hand shot out clutching onto Daryl on the other side of her. "Come on lil' bit, you're gonna be alright. Concussions are a bitch, but they only last a day or two." Daryl assured.
However his words as well as everyone else's fell on deaf ears. For the only sound Mara could hear was the pounding of her own brain against her skull. Each pound becoming clearer and clearer until it began to sound like words. But that wasn't the worse part, with each pound came an overwhelming scent of blood, fire and rotting flesh. Fear, horror, anguish all flooded into Mara as the sensation became more vivid. It was only when horrific images of people back at camp dying flashed before her eyes could Mara make out what the pounding really was. Bryon….it was her brother Bryon's voice saying something. "I knew it! I knew it! I told you the moment they left to rescue Merle, everyone was dead. It only makes sense. After all they can't spend the whole season at that damn quarry." Bryon's voice bragged.
Mara felt herself ready to vomit as the pain subsided. Gradually the scent, fear, and images cleared into worried faces and voices of her comrades. She stared at them dumbly for a few seconds still trying to process what just happened. It wasn't until Rick cupped her face in his hands in an attempt force her to look at him did Mara snap out of her daze. "I'm fine." Mara said pulling away from Rick.
"Fine-you nearly passed out for the third time I met you, girl." T-Dog pointed.
"It almost looked like you temporarily went into shock." Glenn added, "We nearly took you back to the Vatos for help."
"Which still might not be a bad idea." Rick said cupping her chin to get a better look at her head.
She slapped his hand way. "I said I'm fine. We don't have time for this! We need to get back to camp-and now. Something's bad is gonna happen-people are going to die-I saw it. I heard it."
They glanced at each other in disbelief. None of them believed she could see the future. Not even after everything she said would happen, happened. No, it was just coincidence to them. Fucking coincidence, seeing how that was more believable to them than Mara being clairvoyant. "Look I know it sounds crazy but-"
"We're leaving now. We'll search for Merle tomorrow after whatever crisis Mara say is diverted." Rick ordered, causing the other men to look at him. Mara breathed thankfully that at least one person believed in her sanity. Then again Rick had a longtime to come to terms with Mara's 'abilities.'
"You're joking right? You gonna believe lil'bit actually saw the future?" Daryl hissed.
"She has many times before." Rick replied, "I've learned better than to play them off as lucky guesses ."
"She predicted me dropping Merle's key." T-Dog backed.
"And that the walker guts would work as a good camouflage." Glenn added.
Mara frowned folding her arms over her chest. "I think the real question is…are you willing to take the chance not to believe me?"
Thanks for all the amazing reviews! I love hearing what you say. It really makes my day. Remember ten reviews by tomorrow afternoon will make this writer's day and give your update ;) Fluffliness insured
Thanks to Katie Loom, miaandB, shreba, Eminemchick19, Azrael Blood, Guest 22, Guest, and ScornedxRose for reviewing last week's chapter!
Eminemchick19: Thanks as always for your honest opinion and I can't wait to hear what you think about the chapter I sent you for the BS story. Could really use some of your great suggestions. ;)
ScornedXRose: I'm glad you liked Mara last chapter, hopefully she'll continue to impress you with her gradually growing badassediness. Lol
Guest 22: You review made my day, I literally couldn't stop smiling. I hope I am able to live up to your expectations.