It was decided that they would go together to the CDC a week after it fell, Michonne was impressed by Amy's planning. At the other camp, the run team was driven to a store or neighborhood. They were given a time to be picked up and let loose, if someone didn't make it back then they were dead. There was a close call once where there were more dead than what she was prepared for, she almost missed the van that was driving by the house she was fleeing.
They left early in the morning, with Jamie in charge of the kids and Andrea popping in as the semi-responsible adult. Michonne was still on edge about it, after all she couldn't even trust her long time boyfriend and father of her child. But Andre loved all of Amy's children, especially Braden. So, it was no hardship to sit in the blonde's air conditioned RV watching movies and coloring for hours. They were explicitly told not to go outside while they were gone and if someone other than Andrea came, Jamie would lock the bus down.
The drive was not as smooth as Amy originally thought, someone had wrecked in the three days since she had been there last. It was a simple matter of driving around but the bullet holes and suitcases ripped apart made them uneasy. It wasn't an accident. Someone had purposefully shot the minivan and made them crash, just to tear through their belongings once they were dead. Neither of them had had a bad encounter with other people, just worried endlessly for when the day would happen. Seeing proof killed any kind of good mood they started out in.
The smell hit them first, there were so many dead soldiers mixed with walking dead, piled on top of each other so thick that they couldn't even see concrete. Sandbag barriers were blown apart or smeared in blood, three tanks sat ominously still, but the worst was the helicopter that's blades were bent downward in odd angles. It was almost as though walkers or soldiers grabbed hold and wouldn't let the helicopter take off. Amy and Michonne shared a wary look at all the death that happened, wondering if they should just head back. The blonde took out a long broom stick she had glued and sanded a sharpened ice pick to, then offered another one to her friend. No point in dulling her precious katana.
"We stab them all, do it slow and quiet." Amy whispered and Michone nodded, glancing over at the large tents that she knew would have supplies they needed.
Holy fucking jump scare. The dead liked to play dead, alot. They got incredibly lucky that of the hundreds of corpses that littered the CDC, most of them had died by a headshot. However, they came across more than thirty that opened their eyes just before they were stabbed. It was gross and grueling work and they decided to check the bodies for supplies after the tents. Scavengers could have their scraps.
Crates of gear were all stacked in the tents, along with even more bodies. MREs, rifles still in the original boxes, metal tins filled with ammo of varying calibers, clothes, blankets, etc. There was everything they could ever hope for, even six heavy machine guns packed and ready. They counted another ten out in front, all of them soaked in blood. There was so much, too much to fit in her new truck, so Michonne volunteered to try and find a personnel carrier so they could load the rest for camp. After all, if the campers had to flee quickly it would be good to have something for them all to safely ride in. However, the only vehicle with keys was a humvee with a Browning machine gun mounted and loaded on top.
They had no idea that the six hours it took them to clear out the dead and load up their vehicles that a man sat safely in the CDC watching.
"I take back everything I ever said." Shane spoke after a full thirty minutes running his hands over the gun cages and ammo boxes that were stored in the back of the humvee.
Most of the group was crowded around nervously, waiting for Shane to tell them all that Amy and Michonne brought back. No one asked where they went or how they got their hands on a military vehicle. Didn't care much for details, only that there was food and lots of guns and gear. Amy already separated hers and Michonne's choice loot from the humvee into her truck.
The humvee was a pain in the ass to drive and they had their own ride, Amy had two. Not to mention it was loud and guzzled diesel. While Amy could probably figure out how to make diesel from vegetable oil, that was for the future not so Shane could keep his Barbie dream car. Michonne pulled the truck up beside her RV, quick to get away from people and see her son. Billy was in love and begged to sit up in the gun chair but she was pretty sure that big ass gun was still loaded so he could dream on another day. After all, she fully intended to mount one onto her own truck somehow. It had a sunroof, she could weld and make things happen.
"So, what did you keep?" Dale asked in feigned curiosity, such a meddler that man.
"Mostly MRE's to be stored in the trailer and Michonnes's RV, one of those gun cages, a crate of ammo, some gear, little bit of everything we brought back." Amy answered honestly, holding Emma in her arms for a much needed cuddle, completely ignoring the dried blood on her clothes and skin. "Everything we kept, we left more of in the humvee. I'm leaving all the guns in Shane's hands unless someone suddenly remembers that they have experience in the army."
"I was in ta marines, blondie." Of Course it's Merle, yelling loudly from the back of the humvee where Shane has blocked him from entering. Daryl wasted no time in eying the loot brought back with an impressed nod.
"You are funny as shi-schnecken." Amy falters for only a moment before glancing at Emma smiling up at her. "I saw you tripping in the woods in only your underoos just last week."
"I was puttin' on a show for you darlin'!" Merle never seemed offended by anything her or Andrea said, it was starting to get weird. "But I thank it's ma baby brother you-"
"Merle!" Amy interjected seriously, not looking towards Daryl so that she could function. There was no way in hell looking at him would help her gently let the old redneck down. "Maybe when you're sober."
"What?!" Shane shouts, his face is full of betrayal as he slams the hatch up. "I think we need to talk about this. You brought this back to the camp and already said that it would be in my hands."
"Yes, I did." Amy nods placidly. "However, I did what you asked and brought back a shi- shiitake mushrooms worth of guns! Merle has the tattoo so maybe he really does have military expe-"
"You don't know men like them!"
"You're right, I don't know them anymore than I know you. However, you wanted the guns for the camp. Merle is a part of the camp. I'm not saying any one person gets to keep this, the guns stay inside the humvee near the road, with you responsible for them. That way something happens, they are there just in case. Just like Jim will probably want to look at the engine with Dale, I'll log all of the gear, food, and medicine into the inventory. However, I suggest keeping the food and medicine in the humvee just in case we have to leave quickly." It all sounds so reasonable that nearly all the campers are nodding along with Merle smiling wickedly behind Shane. "Most of us don't know how to use these rifles so you can be the one to teach us. It wouldn't even make sense really to split everything up."
"I know how to use them!" Ed interjected suddenly, a happy smile on his chubby face. "I should keep some stuff in m-"
"Eeecchh!" The buzzing sound leaves Amy's mouth before she's conscious of it. "You never offered up watch duty with Shane or Dale when they asked who could shoot a gun. So, you would have to go through the training too."
Andrea smiled at her sister, feeling so proud of her not backing down. "Yeah, training sounds like a good idea. With the kids my sister can't go out as much so we should be taking up the slack."
Shane nodded along, much happier now that someone else suggested he keep the guns. He had only been going to the highway to siphon fuel along with T-Dog and Jim for the past week for their generator. Glenn had suggested looting the cars but Shane shot it down, being unnerved by the idea of a car alarm going off with only his shotgun and side arm. He had limited ammo for the rifles Amy had given him but they were in Dale's RV in case they ever needed them. He had only told Hector and T-Dog because they claimed they knew the basics.
"Next time we go out for more fuel, I'll see if I can find us a place to set up targets. I can do gun safety and instructions here in camp." Shane announced to the camp, rubbing his hands together. "You'll need to know how to clean 'em, take 'em apart, and put 'em back together before you can use 'em though."
"Can I go?" Carl asked his mother loudly, much to her dismay.
"We aren't going to be arming children!"
"I don't feel comfortable with that."
"I don't even like guns!"
"Well, the men-"
Andrea cleared her throat, crossing her arms over her chest with her hips cocked to the side. Michonne glared beside Amy with Miranda Morales just to the side. All of the women were staring down Shane before he glanced around again. Lori was begging with her eyes while most of the men seemed to be on board with him. It was Carol that made up his mind. She looked so beaten and defeated, holding her trembling daughter close next to her husband's side.
"Anyone who wants to learn, can." He continued successfully, much to Lori's ire. "Parents can choose for their children. I think it's good to let them watch what I'll be showing in camp."
"Yes!" Billy and Jamie fist bump before doing the same to Emma who was still in Amy's arms. "So, we can learn?"
Amy closed her eyes and took a deep breath, before looking up at the sky for a moment. "If you do well in Shane's lessons and I think you can take this seriously we will continue. If I ever see you treat a weapon like a toy, you will live out the apocalypse with a butter knife. You understand?"
"Amy!" There were alot of people shouting her name, the loudest being Lori and Andrea. Her sister had never gone to the range with her father but she had. From the age of twelve they would go to the big gun store and pay an asinine amount of money to try out different guns. Well, she stuck to the pretty handguns, her dad however liked the loud and painful.
"Look, Michonne and I tried out some of the rifles we picked up." Amy tried to be patient but it was nearing dinner time and she was hangry. "I'm surprised I didn't dislocate my shoulder. I know how to use my handgun and maybe a shotgun. If Shane knows what he's doing I want to learn and I want them to learn from someone who has experience training others. Guns are quite literally everywhere, not just locked safely in cabinets, so they need to understand it's a weapon and not a toy."
Michonne and Andrea both gave her warm smiles and even Miranda nodded in encouragement but Lori scowled. "Well, my son is not having anything to do with guns!"
"And that's your choice." Andrea smiles a bit smugly, stepping forward to just a bit in front of her sister. "Just like it's Amy's choice to let them learn."
"Shane!" Lori beseeched her boyfriend with big eyes but he seemed more inclined to agree with the young blonde. "She's not their mother! How can she make a decision like that?"
"Mom's dead." Billy stated clearly, standing in front of Amy holding onto her shirt. His sister was scowling while Emma started to cry. "She got bit and gave my sister a gun and told us to run! When the dead came and ate everyone else we ran out of bullets cause Jamie could't hi-"
Amy wrapped her free arm around his chest, pulling him back into her while Jamie took his hand looking furious. The young boy turned his face into her stomach as he started to cry and people averted their eyes guilty. It was one thing to hear about it on the news or the people who went out to scavenge but most stayed safely in their tents unaware of how horrifying the world was getting. Even when Amy brought the children back with her they stubbornly ignored the fact that their parents had to have died for her to have them. It was easier to act as if they were abandoned instead.
Lori looked deeply upset at the sight of the orphan crying. "I'm sorry I didn't mean it the way I said, I just me-"
"My choices are good enough when I leave camp to bring things back for you without your input. My choices for the children in my care will be made without your input from now on." Amy stated factually, grinding her teeth in anger. "Come on, kids. I need a shower and popcorn while we watch Megamind."
Jamie immediately turned on her heel after glaring at Lori, tugging her brother along with her. Michonne picked up the oblivious Andre, sweeping her eyes over all the campers, looking eerily like her show counterpart. Andrea wrapped an arm around Amy while she soothed a still sniffling Emma.
Shane ignored Lori and instead turned back to cataloging all the guns and ammo. The rest of the group slowly dispersed except for a few who wanted to argue with Shane about them getting guns too. Merle grinned at his brother toothily, having gotten a good look at the loot while everyone else was arguing but Daryl just scowled at him before heading back into the woods.
"So, can Shane teach me how to shoot? Jame shot a gun and she's a girl!"