Walking Dead: Building Your Own Hope

Chapter 2 of my Walking Dead story, enjoy.

Reviews:

Boris Yeltsin: Thanks, cool :)
Parent12D: Thanks, glad you enjoyed it, yes indeed and now we have someone new and things are starting to build already.

Now onto the story.

Disclaimer: I don't own Walking Dead or its characters.

Season 1: Episode 2

Almost immediately Shane was on edge when the woman introduced herself and who she worked for.

"FBI?"

Michonne nodded. "Yes, I'm here in light of the recent kidnappings here, including the most recent one, resulting in a death of a girl, Lizzie Samuels?"

"Yeah, so…?" Shane queried.

Rick stood up at this point too. "Is there an issue, Ms. Hawthorne?"

Michonne shook her head. "The Bureau is concerned regarding these incidents and I've been sent to liaise with the police here to work on the case and to try and bring this, individual down before someone else is hurt."

"Meaning you Feds are once more trying to one up us simple cops, gonna take over this investigation and act as if it was all you." Shane snapped. "I know how you lot work-"

Michonne was cool however as she shot back. "How have you progressed with this case, deputy Walsh, what leads do you have, how have you ensured that no one else will be kidnapped or worse, killed?"

Shane flushed at that, glowering but Rick shook his head and stepped around his desk and past Shane.

As he did he hissed to Shane. "That'll do Shane, behave."

Shane still glowered but Rick turned to face Michonne.

"It's true Ms. Hawthorne, we've not exactly had much success, four teens kidnapped, one killed, the other three seem to have had their memories of what happened to them wiped and we've not made any progress in the case." He explained. "I accept full blame for this, it's my case and I'd be more than willing to hand it over if it helps bring this individual to justice and save anyone else from being hurt this way again."

There was a stunned silence after that.

Finally Shane broke it.

"What, Rick, you...this isn't-"

Rick shook his head. "There's no point in pretending, Shane. We're getting nowhere with this. The FBI have more resources than us, they have a better chance at solving this. This isn't about something as stupid as some turf war, it's about keeping the people of this town safe."

"This...urg."

With that Shane growled and simply stalked out of the station, they could hear him eventually start up his car and then drive off. There was a lengthy moment of silence then finally Michonne spoke up.

"Well, I have to admit, as unexpected as that was...your humility and honestly speaks well of you deputy Grimes." She paused and glanced towards the door. "deputy Walsh's reaction was as expected but your reaction, I'll admit you surprised me and that's not happened in some time."

Rick nodded slowly. "Ah well, I suppose I can see why. But I meant what I said."

Michonne also nodded. "True, but given your response, I have a different suggestion."

"Oh?"

"Yes, instead of the Bureau taking over the case, I'll gladly work with you on this case, together to bring this sick individual down." She offered.

Rick was a little taken aback by this but then smiled lightly and nodded.

"Alright, thank you Ms. Hawthorne." He said at last. "I'll gladly work alongside you to bring this case to and end and bring the perp to justice."

With that they shook hands and settled their impromptu partnership, ready to begin their efforts to bring an end to this evil torment being set upon the local teens.

XXXXX

"It ridiculous, I can't believe he'd just give up like that, that's not like Rick at all." Shane grumbled.

"Shane, that's not giving up, think about it, are the lives and well-being of the town's teenagers worth some stupid jurisdiction squabble." Lori queried tiredly.

Shane sighed and looked over at Lori Grimes, Rick's wife, a medium height woman with long dark hair and eyes.

"Lori, this-"

Lori shook her head. "Think about what you're saying Shane, how it sounds. Remember that as a deputy you have a duty to the people of this town, if this saves anyone else from being hurt, it's worth it."

"So wait, you're telling me that...you're okay with this?" Shane wondered aloud. "Lori, that's-"

"Sensible. Look at it from my point of view, they took Carl's friend Mikey, what if they take Carl...I'd rather they be stopped before something like that can happen."

Shane's shoulder's slumped but he didn't argue any further. Instead he considered something else, something that had happened during the time Rick had been injured in the line of duty, ending up in a coma.

"Lori, we really should talk."

"Isn't that what we're doing?" Lori replied.

Shane shook his head. "You know that's not what I mean, I mean about-"

She scowled and cut him off. "No Shane."

"Lori-"

"We have nothing to discuss about that, you know that." She said sharply.

"But-"

Lori turned away from the kitchen counter where she'd been dicing vegetables for dinner that night.

"Shane, no, that's it, there's nothing to discuss, end of story." She told him firmly.

Shane glared at this, frustrated.

"Lori-"

But before he could say anything, before he could even try to explain himself, give vent to his frustration at her refusing to discuss this, given how important it was, the door opened. Shane straightened up, locking eyes with a rather suspicious looking Carl who narrowed his eyes at Shane.

"Shane?"

"Oh Carl." He greeted, trying to give an easy smile.

But Carl continued to watch him with narrowed eyes, clearly suspicious as he walked further in. Only adopting a much calmer look when he finally tore his gaze from Shane, turning his focus to his mother. Carl couldn't deny he was suspicious, but he had nothing he could really say about it, not yet anyway, but he felt he'd need to talk to his dad later.

End of chapter, hope you enjoyed it, read and review please.