Shane slumps against the RV's wall, his hands shaking. That alarm still echoes in his ears, the computer's dispassionate voice describing their doom. He can't stop feeling that little girl, limp beneath his foot. He doesn't think she'd have moved, not even if he jammed the gun in her face. She'd have just laid there and let him shoot her. He feels sick. Then the door lifted.
He wouldn't have shot her, couldn't have, but he can't stop seeing those glassy eyes. He can feel the fearful looks the others give him. They should be fucking thanking him for saving their asses. He wouldn't have shot her, but he had to do something. Rick talked them into the Dragon's Lair, and Shane got them out. They'd have died down there if he hadn't done what he did.
He can't sit still anymore. He staggers to the front where Rick and Glenn are. Rick is driving while Glenn examines a map, mumbling about where they might find gas.
"How's it look?" Shane asks, frowning at the two vehicles leading the way. Somebody's driving Carol's Cherokee, and Daryl is out front on his motorcycle.
"We've got a little time," Rick squeezes the steering wheel. "We just need to get some distance right now. Daryl said—"
Shane feels the explosion inside his lungs. The RV swerves, the windows rattling in their panes. Rick stomps his foot down onto the break, bringing them to a stop just in time to avoid a crash. Shane slams into the wall, catching himself on the arm of Glenn's seat with a grunt of pain. There's screaming from the back, Lori and Carol hanging onto Sophia and Carl. Shane struggles upright with a gasp, twisting around before Rick can even ask him to check on the others.
"Everyone alright?" He stumbles into the main living area of the RV. The women and children are all sitting around the dining table, crammed into the bench seats. Lori's grip on Carl tightens, and the flicker of anger in her eyes makes Shane's stomach roll.
"We're fine," Lori states coldly.
He stares at her dazedly, that fucking alarm still ringing in his ears. He saved her, saved Carl. Sophia won't look at him, crying into her mother's neck.
Rick calling out for him snaps Shane out of his daze. With a shudder, he heads back up to the front.
"We need to stop," Rick gestures to Daryl and the Cherokee, both stopped as well. "Re-connect, see if we can find the walkies."
"You really think here is the best place?"
Rick shakes his head. "I don't think anywhere is, but we can be quick. I don't want to go any longer without a way to communicate."
Shane nods, his fingers brushing the shotgun slung over his shoulder. He lets Rick take the lead, stepping out of the RV with his python drawn and ready while Shane covers his back. Glenn pulls the door shut behind them. He'll tell Lori and Carol the plan, then wait in the driver's seat just in case they need to get out fast.
T-Dog steps out of the Cherokee when he spots them, an assault rifle slung around his back. Daryl sits straddling his brother's shitty motorcycle, eyeing them calculatingly. Someone is still inside the Cherokee. Dale? Shane frowns, trying to get a better look.
"T-Dog, do you know where the walkies are?" Rick asks.
"Uh, maybe?" T-Dog steps forward warily. "Just, wait. We need to talk about—"
The backseat passenger door opens, and Doctor Jenner climbs out.
Shane's gun comes up, aimed at the man who nearly killed them all. Rage spills through his gut, fury with T-Dog for putting them all at risk, fury with Rick for leading them into danger in the first place.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" T-Dog darts forward and puts himself between Shane and the other man. "Man, stop this! Stop this shit!"
"Shane!" Rick shouts, grabbing for his arm and trying to jerk the gun towards the ground. "Shane, stop it, goddamnit!"
"This is his fucking fault, Rick!" Shane snarls, trying to jerk the gun back up. "We almost died. Lori and Carl almost died! Where the fuck is Andrea, Jacqui, Dale?! They're all dead because of him!"
"Man, enough!" T-Dog yells, glaring at him like this is somehow his fault. "Jacqui didn't have to stay, that was her decision. Besides, I fucking dropped the kid, alright?! This is my damn fault! I lost my grip, and I was too scared to go back down."
At last, Rick manages to get the gun pointed at the ground. With a snarl, Shane jerks it away, but rather than lift it back up, he just steps back, glaring at T-Dog. "What are you even saying, man?"
"Mouse," the T-Dog explains, his expression flashing with guilt. "She— She started thrashing on the way up, and— and I— I lost my grip. She went running down those stairs before I could grab her, and I— I was scared that there wasn't enough time. I didn't go back, okay? He came up with her, so it's on me, not him."
Daryl snorts, his lips twitching with wry amusement, though for what Shane can't begin to grasp. Shane just gapes, unable to process a word that T-Dog said. It feels like they're speaking two different languages.
"The hell did you let him in the car for?" Shane demands at last.
"I wasn't gonna just leave him," T-Dog insists, his tone appalled. "And even if I would, what the hell do you think that little girl would do?! She went sprinting down into a facility that was about to explode. She'd throw herself out of the damn car!"
Shane grits his teeth, his finger twitching on the trigger of his gun. Jenner hasn't said a word in his defense, standing behind T-Dog and staring at them all with dead grey eyes.
"This is not alright," Shane growls under his breath. "Rick, tell me that this isn't alright."
"It needs to be discussed," Rick responds, leaving Shane to turn away and curse. "As does the fact that you pointed a gun at a child."
Shane looks at his brother in disbelief and sees nothing but sincerity in Rick's eyes. "That I— You want to discuss the fact that I pointed a gun at a fucking dead girl, when the guy who was planning to murder her and all of us is standing right there?!"
"Yeah, I do!" Rick shouts, getting up in his face. "But not now, not here. I want to find the radios and get back in the damn cars, before some walkers show up and make everything—"
"Heads up," Daryl calls out, getting off his motorcycle and swinging up his crossbow. "We got company."
Shane brings up his shotgun, expecting walkers and half hoping one gets Jenner. It would solve all their problems. Instead, a car pulls around the bend of the road, all the windows cracked and the back ones outright shattered. There are two people inside, and he's lowering his gun in amazement and disbelief as he recognizes Dale and Andrea.
They pull up to the impromptu huddle, spilling out of the car on shaky legs. Andrea stands there, dull eyed and silent, while Rick rushes forward to hug Dale.
"Jacqui?" Rick asks. Dale shakes his head.
"We gonna sit around and suck each other's dicks, or what?" Daryl calls out, rolling his eyes. "Dale, you remember where the radios are?"
"Ah, yeah— yeah," Dale bends over and takes a deep breath. "They're uh, they're supposed to be under the passenger side front seats of each car, let me, uh," he heads back towards the car he just exited, rubbing a hand over his face.
Andrea walks past the RV, holding up a hand to stop him when Shane tries to ask if she's okay. She wanders towards T-Dog, passing him and finally coming to a stop in front of Jenner.
"Mind if I take the front seat?" Her voice is flat, the same cold exterior she's had for everyone since her sister died.
"There's room," Jenner offers, stepping to the side and pulling the door open for her. She sinks into the car, pulling the door shut and slumping in place.
"Shane," Rick comes back, his expression determined. "Could you go find our radio? We should get moving."
Shane stares at him for a long moment, before nodding and heading back to the RV. He glances over his shoulder and sees Rick moving to talk to Jenner. T-Dog is still standing beside him, but he seems more relaxed now that Shane is gone. With a disgusted snarl, he steps back inside.
"Dale's alright?" Glenn demands the second the door opens, his expression relieved. Shane nods as he heads up to the front seats. "What about Andrea? Jacqui?"
"Andrea left with him," Shane explains, getting down on his knees and checking for the radio. Sure enough, it's there, though it got pushed pretty far back. "Jacqui's dead because of that fucking doctor."
"Shit," Glenn mutters, glancing outside and eyeing said doctor nervously. "Uh, is it okay if I go say 'Hi' to Dale?"
"Yeah sure, whatever," Shane sinks down into the passenger seat, scowling at Rick who has his hand on Jenner's shoulder. "Seems everyone's fine with the situation."
Glenn frowns but he heads outside after a moment, leaving Shane to fume as Jenner gets back into the Cherokee and T-Dog heads up to Andrea's side to look for the radio. After he finds it Rick and T-Dog share a moment talking before T-Dog heads around to the driver's side.
"Everything alright?"
Lori steps into the driver's area, her expression tense, but her curiosity evidently overwhelming her distaste for Shane. Shane sighs, waving a hand dismissively to Carol's car in front of him.
"Yeah, since everyone seems to be just fine with having a murderer along for the ride."
"Jenner's in that car?" Lori confirms. She lets out a shaky breath when Shane nods, grabbing her hair and pulling it back like she's going to put it up into a ponytail. She releases it after a moment, breathing heavily and hanging her head.
"You can't be fuckin' okay with this," Shane mutters, looking at her in disbelief.
"If Rick thinks it's safe—"
"Oh for—" Shane stands up, trying to ignore how Lori flinches back. "Can you stop that crap, alright? You can't be fucking okay with a goddamn murderer being around Carl—"
"Just like I'm okay with him being around a—" She stops herself only just, her expression twisted with anger. Shane stares at her in silence, the scratches on his neck burning.
"A what?" He demands, keeping his voice low.
"You know what," she hisses, her lips trembling and eyes shining with tears.
"Right," Shane mutters, sinking back down into the chair and rubbing his forehead. "Right. Why don't you run along and bitch to Jacqui— Oh, wait, she's dead because of that asshole. Just like you would be if it wasn't for me, like Carl would be—"
Lori gasps, tears running over her cheeks, and immediately Shane regrets what he's said. Before he can find the words to apologize, she turns away, leaving the front area and hurrying back to Carol and the others.
"Great job, Shane," he mutters to himself, glaring at Glenn and Dale as they exchange a tight hug. "Real class act, am I right?"
This is a fucking mess, and they wouldn't be in it if they'd have just gone to Fort-fucking-Benning.
When Rick went into Atlanta after Merle Dixon he came across a bunch of gang-bangers holed up in some old-person home in Atlanta. It's closer than the quarry, so they're heading there to see if they can bed down for a night or two, because apparently one murderer isn't enough for Rick.
It turns out to be for nothing because they pull in and find a massacre. Everyone there is dead, their belongings looted, guns, ammo, food and medicine, all gone. Shane, Rick, T-Dog and Daryl comb the place room by room, finding nothing but bodies, all shot clean in the head. Some have their hands zip-tied, old folk shot where they lay in their beds.
"Who the hell would do this?" T-Dog whispers, tears in his eyes as he looks down at the petite man who was apparently the leader. He went down fighting. Close to his body are two dead chihuahuas. It looks like someone crushed them under foot.
"Someone we don't want to meet," Rick growls, his expression grim. "Let's just move the cars into the courtyard. We'll close it off, get everyone locked into one easily defendable room. Shane, you, me and Glenn can go out and find some gas. Daryl can scout the area, make sure there isn't anyone nearby, maybe see if anyone got away. T-Dog and Dale will stay close and ensure everyone is safe."
"You really comfortable leaving a killer to hang around with Lori and Carl?" Shane demands, looking at Rick and refusing to back down.
Rick grimaces. "Yeah, we'll deal with that before we head on out," he finally concedes. "Come on, let's get everyone inside. The storage room, right off the garage. There weren't any bodies in there at least."
Everyone is escorted to the dusty old room, only one camping lamp brought along for light. Shane doesn't even let himself look at Jenner, who carries that little girl in his arms like he didn't try to murder her just a few hours ago. The doctor huddles down in the back of the room, T-Dog hovering over him like he expects Shane to attack at any moment. Mouse sits in his lap, but at least Lori and Carol keep their distance, keeping a tight rein on their children. Andrea, on the other hand, sinks down beside Jenner, stiffening when Dale walks over to stand nearby.
"Glenn," Rick says, glancing around at everyone. "Could you cover the door? Keep an ear out in case Daryl shouts."
"Yeah," Glenn agrees nervously. "I'm on it." He steps over to the door, cracking it open so he can catch a glimpse of the garage outside.
"Okay," Rick steps to the center of the store room, commanding everyone's attention with his presence alone. "I think we need to address the elephant in the room, so to speak."
"The psycho-killer, you mean?" Shane demands.
"Wanting to die doesn't make you a psychopath!" Andrea stands up, her expression twisted with fury. "And you're one to talk, Shane. Holding a gun on a little girl? That takes a real monster if you ask me."
"A monster?!" Shane bellows, storming forward. Dale steps between them, but he isn't tall enough to block Shane off completely. "A monster locked us in that damn facility to die! A monster that's in here, right here, right now! I got us out of there, me! If I hadn't done—"
"We'll talk about that later," Rick shouts, grabbing Shane's shoulder and pulling him back. Shane shakes him off, pacing away and breathing hard. Andrea rolls her eyes, sinking back to the ground and staring blankly at the far wall.
"We need to discuss what to do now," Rick continues, looking at everyone before he adds, "Whether we go our separate ways, or let Doctor Jenner join the group."
"What the hell?!" Shane demands at the same moment T-Dog says, "You can't seriously be considering kickin' him out! He has a little girl!"
"He has a—" Shane throws up his hands. "Man, he shouldn't be looking after anything! He wanted us dead, there ain't no question about what the hell we do. We shoot his ass and be done with—"
A high pitched shriek shatters the air, and Mouse begins to thrash. She writhes half out of Jenner's grip, throwing herself over the doctor to shield him with her body.
"Shane," Rick mutters tiredly. "How about you go take watch, ask Daryl to come inside."
Shane glares at Rick, gripping his gun hard. With a quick nod, he heads for the door, pushing it open hard enough that it slams into the wall before swinging back shut.
"What the fuck?" Daryl snaps, peeking inside the garage with a scowl. "Mind keeping it the fuck down?"
"Rick wants you inside," Shane grunts, stepping past him and leaning against the wall.
"Whatever," Daryl shrugs as he heads into the garage.
It's some time before anyone emerges. Shane can faintly hear the murmur of voices, but not enough to make out words. No walkers approach, no people either. Finally Daryl, Rick and Glenn exit the room, the latter two looking exhausted, Daryl as indifferent as ever.
"Daryl, you find any survivors, bring 'em back here, alright?" Rick instructs. The hunter nods before heading out of the courtyard they parked their vehicles in.
"Glenn, could you give us a minute?" Rick asks. The kid heads over to the entrance to stand watch. Shane grimaces, rubbing a hand over his face and waiting for the lecture he knows is coming.
"Jenner's staying with us."
Shane looks up, an alarm braying in his ears. His hands tremble, and he has to clench his fists to make it stop.
"He has a little girl, and no one wants to separate them." Rick sighs, looking away as he adds, "I don't think it would be possible to separate them. She doesn't know us, doesn't trust us, and she was willing to run back down into that facility and die if it meant being with him."
"So kick them both out," Shane insists, but he knows it's useless. Rick won't be moved by common sense. "Look man, she's gonna die out here anyways. Kids like that had it bad enough before, okay? You— Look we can't save everyone, just throw them out and be done with it."
"We can't leave a special needs little girl with only one suicidal man to watch out for her," Rick tries to explain, his expression pure exhaustion.
"Is this a fuckin' joke?" Shane growls. "Because I'm not joking around here, all I want to do is make sure Lori and Carl make it through this alive. We don't need some crazy son-of-a-bitch hanging around who might decide to shoot us all in the middle of the night."
Rick shakes his head, breathing hard. "I… You're right." He finally says, staring into the distance with grief shining in his eyes.
Shane blinks, barely able to believe what Rick has just said. Ever since Rick came back, they've been at odds. He hates Rick for it, but hates himself even more. Hearing the other man say he's right, he doesn't know what to feel.
"Did I even thank you?" Rick continues softly. "We'd have all died down there if you hadn't…" He shudders, rubbing his face tiredly. "I… I know you wouldn't have shot her. You got us out of there, and I don't think I'll ever be able to thank you enough for that, for keeping them safe while I was…"
"Ya don't gotta thank me," Shane mutters, looking away and swallowing hard.
"I do," Rick insists. "I do, and I am." He sighs dejectedly. "But we're gonna lose half the group if we kick Jenner out."
Shane looks at Rick disbelievingly, but his expression is just as tired and uncompromising as before.
"Dale said he won't let them be out there on their own, and T-Dog insisted he has to take responsibility for his own actions. Glenn looked torn, but he's closest to Dale, and considering how Andrea defended him, I'm pretty sure we'd lose her too."
"Fuck." It's the only thing Shane can think to say. What the hell is wrong with these people? Do any of them want to fucking live? Since it's not like they can rely on Daryl, he'd have thrown the crazy hick out ages ago if he weren't providing so much food, that would leave him and Rick looking after Lori, Carol, Sophia and Carl. He grunts in acknowledgement, glaring at the ground.
"Now," Rick squares his shoulders and lets out another sigh. "We've just gotta live with it. We need the others, and we can keep an eye on Jenner between the two of us. Let's go find some diesel. Glenn knows the area, he'll tell us where to go."
"I'll follow your lead," Shane agrees. He trails after Rick, trying to focus on their surroundings instead of the sick feeling in his gut. He does feel better after hearing his partner's train of thought, but that alarm doesn't stop ringing, and he can feel Mouse's glassy eyes on him no matter how far he goes.
END NOTE: Do you think Shane was right that they should have thrown Jenner out? Any predictions on what you think might happen because of Jenner and Mouse's presence with the group? Again, thank you so much for reading, and as always all feedback is appreciated so long as it is politely worded!