Brady Pov:
Brady lay on the bed, eyes closed, elbows bent behind her head, and feet crossed at the ankles. She wasn't sleeping, just taking a moment to rest. It dawned on her that this was the first time in months she had laid in a bed like this, but she wasn't about to give that too much thought.
Her moment of peace was startled when she heard a loud crash from downstairs. Instantly she jumped to her feet and flew down the stairs.
As the yelling echoed from behind the door, which Brady assumed led to the garage, her instincts kicked her ass into high gear. She recognized the voices of Carl and Ron, and that was enough to make her spring into action. Whatever was going on, she wasn't about to stand idly by. It sounded like they were fighting. Although Carl was more than capable of handling himself, Brady couldn't help but feel a protective urge.She reached for the doorknob, only to find it locked. Frustration boiled within her as she put all her strength into her shoulder, trying to break through. After three attempts, she managed to create a small crack, but it wasn't enough. Just in time, Rick and Jesse arrived on the scene. Rick motioned for Brady to step back as he took a hatchet and skillfully chopped through the locks. Together, they managed to get the doors open.As the doors swung open, the two teenage boys came rushing through, followed closely by a horde of walkers. Quick thinking was required, and Michonne and Gabriel sprang into action, providing a couch to use as a barricade. With the group's combined efforts, they managed to block out the walkers.
In the aftermath of the chaos, Brady's mind drifted to a sudden realization. Gabriel was there too? Had he been there the whole time? She shook her head, chiding herself for not paying closer attention.
Rick and Jesse had questioned the boys about what had happened, probing to see if they were fighting each other. But neither of the teens admitted to that; instead, they claimed they were fighting off the walkers together. The adults didn't seem convinced, but they let the matter rest as the boys walked away. However, Brady couldn't just let it go.
As she was about to step in and confront them, Carl turned to her in the hallway, a plea in his eyes, "Look, Braids, I got this handled, okay?"
Brady couldn't help but scoff, a half-laugh escaping her, "Carl, lying for him isn't going to do either of you any good."
His expression showed a hint of hurt, and she reconsidered her approach. Carl was far from being naive; she knew he was smart and capable. There was something about Ron that rubbed her the wrong way, but she decided to hold off on giving him a lecture.
"I trust you, Carl. I trust you to make the right choice. Just don't trust him to do the same," she said in a softer tone, hoping he'd understand her concern.
He nodded in response before walking away, and Brady couldn't help but worry about the situation.
Brady headed to the living room where she found Michonne and Gabriel. Rick had gone upstairs to check on a crying Judith.
"Do we ever get to catch a break?" Brady chuckled, her voice tinged with a mix of exhaustion and wry humor. She and Michonne were working together, swiftly moving a bookshelf in front of a window that the relentless walkers were clawing at. Brady took a moment to glance at the grotesque faces pressed against the glass, their desperate hunger evident in their half-decayed expressions. One of them even had its tongue slathering the window, as if trying to reach them.
Despite the dire situation, Brady found herself surprisingly unfazed by the sight. It wasn't that she underestimated the danger they were in, but after everything she had been through, facing the undead had become somewhat routine. She had learned to keep her fear in check and rely on her instincts and the people around her.
"Life would be too dull if it were that easy," Michonne responded, her eyes gleaming with a touch of humor.
Brady chuckled, her spirits lifting slightly. "True, but once we get a break from all this madness, I'm definitely seeking out a hot tub or a roller rink."
Michonne smirked, "You know what, count me in for that adventure."
The ladies looked at each other and chuckled, a moment of levity.
It was funny to her, how she was really starti g to feel like her old self. Now of all moments she didn't quite understand it but she wasn't about to question it.
"How're you two so calm?" Jesse butted in, nervousness evident.
Brady just shrugged, "I guess you just get used to it."
And just like that what seemed to be a contained situation turned on a dime as more and more walkers pounded on the walls and doors. Conversations were left behind, and panic spread among the group as they pushed on the reinforced furniture, desperately trying to hold off the relentless onslaught.
"There's just too many of them," Gabriel cried out, his voice tinged with fear.
Brady jolted as she was pushed forward, her braid coming loose, and the bookcase digging into her back. She gritted her teeth due to the bookcase digging into her back, determined to hold her ground and keep the barrier intact. But deep down, worry crept in as she noticed a kitchen barricade starting to fall apart. Michonne, ever the warrior, instantly went to the rescue, wielding her katana with precision and strength.
Brady's mind raced. Shit, okay, she needed to think of a solution. Nope, she had none to the overwhelming odds they faced, but her thoughts were interrupted by Rick's urgent voice. He had come back downstairs, his face grave and determined. Without hesitation, he ordered everyone to retreat upstairs, seeking higher ground for a better advantage.
Okay, mad dash to the stair, Rick and Michonne are your cover, Brady thought to herself.
She pulled put a knife from her boot, one Malcolm had given her just in case.
The others had already reached the stairs, and she was one of the last ones to make it. As she approached the staircase, Rick gave her a nod, urging her to move faster. The walkers were closing in, and there was no room for hesitation.
In a split second, she felt the adrenaline surge through her veins as she leaped over a fallen piece of furniture, narrowly avoiding the clutches of a walker that lunged towards her. The barricade she had set up crumbled as the undead forces pushed through, inches away from grabbing her unbraided hair. But in the nick of time, Michonne swung her katana with deadly precision, severing the heads of the walkers before they could reach Brady.
With the way now clear, Brady bolted up the stairs, her heart still racing from the close call. As the last three survivors made it up, they grabbed a couch that was already propped up and used it to block the staircase. The makeshift barrier would give them some breathing room, but they knew the walkers wouldn't relent.
Brady took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the knife in her hand, and turned to face the others. The intensity in her eyes matched the determination that of Rick's.
"I got this one," Rick pointed to the nearest walker clawing at the couch, "You," he motioned to Brady, "Get the one behind it. That should be more then enough."
Brady nodded, her focus honed on the task at hand. Gripping her knife tightly, she carefully maneuvered around the couch, keeping an eye on the approaching walker. As it came within striking distance, she lunged forward, her blade slicing cleanly through the decaying flesh and bone.
The walker crumbled to the floor, lifeless once again.
Together they quickly dragged the now dead walkers up the rest of the stairs as Rick gave out orders.
"You stay here, you see anyone get through, you come and get me." He said to Carl who was halfway up the stair with gun at the ready.
Brady then followed Rick into the main bedroom.
"Were gonna need bedsheets, enough for everyone." He said dropping the body on the ground, Brady following suit. She felt like she was on autopilot at this point. Everything was happening fast but she knew she could handle it.
"Bedsheets for what?" Jesse asked not liking the scene that was unfolding before her as Gabriel went to look for some.
Oh, Brady knew what they were doing. She'd never actually done it before, but she had heard about it and seen others do it. It was a gruesome and a necessity at times.
She had to push down the nausae that rose within her. She could do this.
"We're all going to go to the armory together."
"How?" Jesse asked still clearly not quite understanding.
"We're going to gut them and use them to cover our scent," Brady interjected tight lipped clearly not content with the situation but also knew there was no other choice at this point.
Jesse and Ron just looked at her with utter disbelief.She couldn't blame them with how sheltered their lives have been.
"I've done it before," Rick said kneeling in front the body wiping sweat from his brow. "We stay calm and don't draw attention."
With that, Michonne and Rick taking care of the gruesome task of gutting the walkers, the room filled with nauseating squelching sounds. Gabriel returned with sheets, his face pale and queasy. Ron appeared completely detached from the situation, while Jesse still seemed to be struggling to accept the grim reality of their circumstances.
Brady took the sheets from Gabriel, her hands steady despite the chaos around her. She began cutting holes in the sheets to create makeshift ponchos. As she worked, she couldn't help but wonder if her emotions had shut down too. There was no time for fear or sorrow; all that mattered was getting her family the fuck out of this house.
"Put these on and keep the hoods up," Brady instructed, handing out the makeshift ponchos to the others. "We need to stay covered from head to toe."
"Anyone who stays here is gonna die," Rick added in.
Jesse seemed to still be in shock, but she followed Brady's lead and put on the sheet, her face pale and frightened. The group looked like a strange congregation of grim reapers, but this was their best chance of making it out alive.
"What about Deanna?" Gabriel asked gravely.
The question hung heavily in the air, but no one dared to respond. They all knew that Deanna was as good as dead already. The bite she had suffered was too severe, and the infection would soon take its toll if it hadn't already.
Small Time Skip to saying goodbye to Deanna:
Brady stood awkwardly at the door to where Deanna was resting. She looked like shit, sweaty and pale and exhausted.Somehow Brady found more stress in talking to this woman then she did with whole horde of walkers outside the house.
She felt guilty for constantly avoiding her now trying to say goodbye to this woman she barely new and didn't take the time of day of getting to know seemed all rather silly. And Brady felt embarrassed.
"Of just come in already, " Deanna said sickly waving a hand.
Brady did slowly still unsure what to say or why she was even bothering in the first place. This felt very similar to the whole Bob situation all over again. Doing it becauee she felt an obligation to.
"I forgive you know," Deanna said looking Brady right in the eyes, "to be fair I was never mad in the first place. I'd been wanting to apologize since the interview happened."
Brady cracked her knuckles, her nervous tick and mulled over Deanna's words. "I'm sorry for blowing up in your face." Brady said sheepishly.
"Don't be, I pushed to hard."
There was an awkward pause.
"I can see you're a bright and caring individual. People like you are going to be our future. Tough and resilient yet compassionate and understanding."
Brady scoffed, she was not those things. "No offensense but you're the one dying," that came out harsher then Brady intended, "I should be saying stuff lile bet you made a badass politician."
Deanna took no offense and even chuckled a bit, "I did make a badass politician."
Brady couldn't help but smile, appreciating Deanna's sense of humor.
"Yeah, you did," she admitted.
"You know, I see a lot of potential in you," Deanna continued, her voice softer now. "You may not believe it yet, but you have the strength and determination to be a true leader."
Brady shook her head, feeling undeserving of such praise. "I don't know about that. I'm just trying to survive like everyone else."
Deanna reached out and placed a frail hand on Brady's, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "Survival is important, but it's not everything. You have the heart and the spirit to bring people together, to inspire hope even in the darkest of times. I've seen it in you, and I believe in you."
Brady swallowed hard, she'd felt the tear welling but willed them away with a few blinks. She had never expected this kind of encouragement from someone she barely knew.
"Thank you," Brady whispered, her voice catching in her throat.
"You're welcome," Deanna replied, her eyes filled with kindness. "Remember, the choices we make in this world define who we are. And I have no doubt that you will make the right choices, even when they are the hardest ones."
Brady nodded, feeling a sense of peace wash over her. In this fleeting moment with Deanna, she had found solace and acceptance, something she hadn't realized she needed. It was closure between the two of them.
AN: Okay, Im actually going to leave it right there. Haha they finally talked and loom it wasnt that bad. Focusing on Brady really coming back into her own is fun and light but we all know whats coming up.I