Well, here we are, another chapter.

Disclaimer I don't own The Walking Dead just my ocs and plotlines.

Damien's POV

They were standing around the freshly buried Sophia, Annette, and Shaun. No one spoke, not even Hershel, he just looked, out of it. Noa, Patricia and Maggie were crying, Beth looked numb. Carol wasn't even present at the funeral, according to Daryl, Amy and Jeremy, she was in the RV, denying that it wasn't even Sophia and Summer looked distraught. He stood there with his siblings to show their respects even if they didn't know Sophie or Beth's mom and brother.

Jeremy was holding onto Amy, Andrea was beside them. Callie and Rick, well, they were standing by themselves, looking at the grave with guilt. He didn't know the story, but according to Tabby, Rick and Callie ran after Sophia and Amy after a couple of walkers chased after them. To him, they were the only ones that did something and people were pointing fingers at them to justify their own actions. They didn't even go, they don't know what choices they would have made in that moment.

After a moment of silence, the group parted ways, him, Richie, T-Dog and Andrea were carrying the bodies. He picked up a heavy walker with a grit of his teeth. Jeremy was coming back from the truck when.

"After this, I'm gonna need a shower." Richie mutters and Damien agrees with him. They all needed one.

"In Bleach." He adds on and his brother hums in agreement. The smell was horrific.

"We got lucky. If that barn had anymore walkers, we could've been overrun." Andrea buffs as

"Good thing Shane did what he did... when he did." T-Dog points out and Damien looked at Tabby and Dale who looked horrified at his words.

"You can't tell me that this was right." Dale argues and T-Dog quietens down.

"It wasn't. It'll cost us with Hershel." Jeremy says and Tabby nods in agreement.

"We'll be lucky to stay an extra night. He'll probably want us gone by sundown, if we're lucky." Tabby mutters the last part but everyone heard it.

Damien didn't want to go back out there yet, he didn't want his siblings going back out there. But now they had no choice, Shane made the choice for everyone by opening that barn, everyone who shot had no choice, they had to otherwise they'd die.

"He's grieving. He'll come around, see we had no choice."

"The only one that had a choice was Shane." Richie says and everyone turned to his brother. "He chose to open those doors, everyone else that shot at the dead, they had no choice."

Damien couldn't be more prouder of his brother. Even Dale looked relieved that a youngster was accepting his views. But Dale looked disappointed at Andrea, who looked at him like he was crazy.

"Look, I shot too. This wasn't all Shane." Andrea tells Dale, gesturing to the dead bodies on the floor.

Tabby shook her head. "No, you all shot, thinking that you knew better. Hershel wants us to leave this farm. We're gonna have to go back on the road and face god knows what out there all because Shane couldn't keep his finger off the trigger." She snaps and the group falls silent.

Damien knew she was right, Shane couldn't handle being patient and cost the whole group a safe place. He doesn't want his siblings out there again, he can't handle another loss. The world is getting worse and everyone here will be dead since they're only starting to protect themselves.

"Look I've got no qualms about it. Walkers in my backyard?" T-Dog shakes his head.

"Well, it's not your backyard, is it?" Damien finally steps in and the group looks at him. "This is not our land. We're guests."

"Not anymore." Richie mutters under his breath and he gives him a look, telling him that he heard it.

"He's right. I'm not saying that we shouldn't have taken care of the problem, but creating a panic?!- Dale is cut off from his rambling by Lori.

"There's no point arguing about it. It's done."

Callie's POV

She was just sitting by the tree, her head in arms, her knees drawn to her chest. It was all her goddamn fault that Sophia was dead, her hand was hurting from punching Shane.

"It's not your fault." She looks up to Rick who looked just as guilty and an emotional wreck as her.

She scoffs. "Really? I was the one that had her. If I just stayed with her instead of drawing those walkers away, she would be here right now. She'd be alive."

Rick nods his head. "Maybe. Or she would've died somewhere else. We can't save everyone."

Callie wipes away a tear. "I know. But I wish I could've done something more."

They were interrupted by Glenn running up to them. He was panting heavily.

"Glenn, what's going on? What's wrong?" She asks him.

"It's Beth." Her stomach dropped, was she bit from before? Was it her fault that she's dead since she didn't react fast enough? "She collapsed."

"Take us to her." Rick demands and the three of them run to the house.

Glenn took them to a room where Maggie and Noa were next to Beth.

"What happened?" Callie asks the two sisters.

"I-I don't know. One minute she was fine the next..." Noa trails off and Callie looks at Glenn.

"Find Tabby, she'll know what to do." She orders him and he springs out of the room once again, they hear the screen door close.

Maggie was pressing the back of her hand on her head, keeping an eye on her temperature.

Callie gives a side glance to Rick who understands, if Beth dies, will she turn like Jenner said? She was hoping the man was high on some shit and making up lies to scare her.

After a few minutes, Glenn came in, with Shane and Tabby in tow.

"Glenn told me she collapsed." Tabby says, quickly going by Beth's bedside.

"What's wrong with her?" Lori asks and they all turn to her, everyone was watching Tabby analyse her.

"She's in shock. I need an IV to insert into her arm to give her some fluid to keep her from being dehydrated." Tabby says and Noa quickly runs out of the room to grab the equipment needed.

"Where's Hershel?" Lori asks and Callie looks down.

"We can't find him anywhere." Glenn answers the woman.

Noa returns with a bag full of kit and hands it over to Tabby.

"Let's give them space." Callie suggests and they go to the next room. Maggie follows them

They walk into what was Hershel's bedroom and see a box of things on the bed. Callie looks inside and sees women clothing.

"Your stepmother's things?" Rick asks Maggie who nods.

Shane quickly looks through drawers. There were a lot of questions that they all wanted to ask Maggie but didn't know where to start.

Maggie gives him an awkward glance before answering. "He was so sure she'd recover. They'd just pick up where they left off."

Callie looks at a picture frame on the bedside table, of the woman Hershel loved.

"Looks like he found an old friend." Shane taunts before tossing the flask at Rick who catches it.

Maggie's eyes widen at the sight of the flask. "That belonged to my grandfather, gave it to dad when he died."

Rick looks confused. "I didn't take Hershel for a drinker."

"Definitely doesn't seem like the type." Callie comments and even Shane agreed with the pair.

Maggie shook her head. "No, he gave it up on the day that me and Noa were born."

Noa walks in at that point. "He didn't allow liquor in the house. I guess it was to stop his temptations."

Callie looked at Maggie then. "What's the bar in town?"

"Hatlin's. He practically lived there in his drinking days." Maggie answers.

Callie and Rick meet eyes and know where they'll find him. He'll be going there for comfort especially since it's been 22 years since he was last there. "That's where we'll find him."

Glenn perks up. "I've seen the place. I'll take you both there."

"Alright, I'll get the truck." Rick says and they start to leave the room before Maggie says something.

"N-no." She looks terrified at Glenn and Callie wonders what has happened out there on their runs. They've only been on two.

Glenn looks at her a bit stupid. "It's an easy run."

"Like the pharmacy?" Maggie retorts and Rick looks at her then.

"Hey, Maggie?" He calls and she looks at Rick then. "We'll bring him back."

The pair walk out while Glenn talks to the girl.

"Rick, you want to have a conversation about this before you leave?" Lori asks and Callie feels uncomfortable being in the middle of them.

"So, you're seriously gonna go after this guy with everything that's going on, huh? What you gonna do?" Shane asks him. Rick clenches his jaw.

"He's right. This is not the time to head off, not today." Lori argues with her husband. "You don't know what's-

"I'm not arguing." Rick snaps. "It's the least I can do for Hershel after we..." he trails off.

"After we what?" Shane asks and Callie clenches her jaw then.

The corridor falls silent then.

"Carl said he would've shot Sophia himself." Lori announces and even Callie was surprised at that. "That's your son. He's getting cold. He's growing up in a world with- he's growing up in a world where he needs a father like you. Around, alive, not running off, solving everybody else's problems."

That was clearly Rick's last straw. "It's not just his problem I'm trying to solve. We need Hershel for the baby." Rick tells her and Callie was shocked at that information. But she stayed quiet.

"We have Tabby." Lori argued and Callie sighs loudly.

"Look, I don't know what's going on, but we need Hershel. He saved your son, saved Josie's son. We owe it to him to go after him." Callie says and that shuts Lori up.

"We're going." Rick says and the pair walk out of the house.

Rick goes to get the truck while Callie waits outside. Jeremy approaches her.

"What's going on? Everyone is worried about you all running to the house." Jeremy tells her and she purses her lips.

"Beth had collapsed..." she pauses and Jeremy opens his mouth to speak. "Tabby is with her now. Hershel left the farm. Me, Rick, and Glenn are going after him." She explains to him and his eyes widen.

"I'll get my stuff." He goes to walk off but she stops him.

"No. I need you to stay here. Keep an eye on things while we're gone." She tells him and he stays silent.

"You mean keep an eye on Shane?" He asks and she nods her head.

"Yeah, he's unhinged."

Jeremy snorts. "Understatement of the century." Callie chuckles at that. "Don't worry. I'll keep an eye on him."

Rick pulls the truck to a stop, turning off the engine and gets out.

"Thank you." She tells Jeremy before she goes to meet Rick. They were standing there waiting for Glenn when they see him and Maggie exit the house. They were talking quietly so Rick and Callie turn around so they knew they weren't eavesdropping.

Glenn approaches them, holding a shotgun, looking out of it.

"You ready?" Rick asks him and he nods.

"Yeah."

Callie's hand goes to her gun just to double check that its there. And the machete at her hip. Ready just in case they run into walkers.

The car ride was silent and awkward, she doesn't know if it's just her or it really was an awkward ride.

"Maggie said she loves me." Glenn blurts out and Callie looks at him amused. "She doesn't mean it. I mean she can't. I mean... well, she's... she's upset or confused. She's probably feeling like-

"I think she's smart enough to know what she's feeling." Rick interrupts and Callie snorts at Glenn's face paling.

He shakes his head wildly. "No. No. No, you know what? She wants to be in love, so she's... she needs something to... to like... to hold on to."

"Glenn, it's pretty obvious to everyone Maggie loves you, and not just because you're one of the last men standing." Rick reminds him.

"Obvious to everyone but Glenn." Callie mutters and Glenn glares at her. She chuckled at him.

Rick grins and quickly glances to Glenn before looking back at the road. "So what's the problem?"

Glenn stays silent for a moment. "I didn't say it back."

Callie let's out an oof. "Bad call."

Glenn turns to her then. "What? Why? I've never had a woman say that to me before except my mom, of course, and my sisters. But with Maggie, it's different. We barely know each other. What... what does she really know about me? Nothing. We're practically strangers. But I... I didn't know what to do with it. I just stood there like a jerk."

"Look, maybe you should talk to her. Tell her how you feel. Get to know each other." Callie tells him and he nods his head, a thoughtful look on his face.

"Hey. Hey, this is a good thing, something we don't get enough of these days. Enjoy it. And when we get back, return the favour, and listen to Callie. Talk to her. It's not like she's going anywhere."

It falls silent for a moment.

"Rick?" Glenn looks at the man before swallowing hard. "I know about Lori, her being pregnant. I got her those pills."

Callie frowns. Pills? Oh abortion pills. She worryingly looks at Rick through the rear view mirror and Rick looks worried for a second. If it worked, the baby will be gone, but it depends how far along she is, she could be a month already. But that would mean it wouldn't be Rick's. Oh for fuck sake.

"I figured." Rick mutters.

"Hey, I'm sorry I kept it from you."

"Don't be. You did what you thought was right. It just so happens it wasn't." Rick says.

The car falls silent.

Glenn looks at Callie then. "So, did you and Jeremy ever..?" He trails off and she almost gags.

"Oh god, no. Jeremy is like my brother." She says and her and Rick's eyes connect at the word.

"Do you have any siblings?" He asks her and Callie falls silent and looks at Rick which Glenn notices.

"What?" Glenn asks before realisation dawns on him. "You and Rick are siblings?!" He screeches and Rick sighs.

"Yeah." Callie nods her head.

"What- How?" Glenn asks and Callie raises a brow. Glenn pulls a face, nodding his head. "Stupid question, but you met during the apocalypse." He points out.

"Our parents put her up for adoption. I didn't even know her. But that's the very short version." Rick cuts in and Glenn looked even more confused. "Only Jeremy knows, so you can't tell anyone, not just yet, okay?"

Glenn looked even more panicked then. Oh, boy.

"Glenn?" Callie pushes and he relents.

"Fine." He sighs before it falls silent in the car. "So is there anyone that you like in camp?" He asks her and she shakes her head. Clearly he was trying to change the subject but she could tell that he had a lot of questions.

"Not at the moment."

Rick gives her a look. "What about Josie?"

Callie looks at him. "What about Josie?" She echoes back at him.

Glenn smirks. "Now look who's oblivious."

"You like her." Rick points out and she is caught off guard for a second.

"Yeah, but she was married and has 2 kids and one on the way." Callie mutters, even though she was trying to point out reasons why she can't, it sounds like excuses to her.

"So you're a lesbian?" Glenn asks her and she shakes her head.

"No, I'm bisexual. I like both."

"Oh, right." He mutters awkwardly. "So any guys you like at camp?" Glenn asks her and she stays silent. "Daryl's good looking. I would say he's nice but he scares me too much for that comment."

Callie just stares at him at that. "What do you want me to say?"

"Would you fuck him?"

Rick grimaces at Glenn's words. "Oh my god, please stop." Rick moans. He looks in pain.

"I would. Would you fuck Maggie?" She retorts back at him and Glenn looks smug.

"I already did."

Callie blinks at him and Rick looks irritated.

"You did? When?"

"At the pharmacy." Glenn answers.

Callie pulls a face. "I asked when not where."

Glenn swallows hard for a second, looking embarrassed. "When we met Damien and his siblings." He answers and she falls silent. Rick was gripping the steering wheel tight.

Callie watches as Glenn fidgets in his seat. "They walked in, huh?"

"Yeah." Glenn murmurs and Rick turns to him then.

"Glenn." He scorns sternly.

"What? It wasn't free porn, we were already finished when they walked in on us naked." Glenn was blushing harder if that was even possible.

Callie cackles at that before she realises. Oh no. "That was your first time." Glenn looks down. "Really? Not even before?"

Glenn looks uncomfortable at the comment. "No. No one was lining up to sleep with a nerdy pizza delivery guy."

It was silent for a moment before "Was it good?" Callie asks him.

"Callie." Rick snaps, his eyes connecting with her hers for a second.

"Yeah, it was. It was amazing." Glenn says dreamily. "Have you had sex?" He asks Callie.

"Oh for the love of God." Rick looks ready to blow off his face with his colt python.

"I have. Twice. Callie answers. She sees Glenn's thoughtful look. "Once was with a girl, that was my first time. And the other..." she trails off. "He was my fiancé."

Glenn whirls around then. "You were engaged?!"

She sees Rick look curious then. "Yeah. He broke up with me because I wanted it to go forward. He chickened out I guess. He didn't want to follow his parents ways of being a surgeon, getting married, having kids. So he rebelled I guess and broke it off." Callie scoffs angrily at that.

The car fell silent at that and was for the remaining time of the car ride. Luckily it wasn't for long.

They get out of the vehicle and she looks down the street, noticing how quiet it was. It was too quiet. She wanted to see a few walkers because not seeing any was too eerie to her. The trio walk into Hatlin's and let the door slam shut, Hershel was sitting at the bar, his back facing towards the door.

"Hershel." Rick calls but he doesn't even turn around.

"Who's with you?" He asks, still not turning around.

"Glenn and Callie." Rick answers.

Hershel's head raises. "Maggie sent him?"

Glenn looked uncomfortable at the comment, clearly not realising Hershel worked it out that they were a couple.

"He volunteered. He's good like that." Rick comments. "How many have you had?"

"Not enough." Hershel quips and Callie sighs.

"Maybe if he drinks enough we can carry him back to the car?" Callie suggests and Rick gives her a look. She shrugs.

Rick takes a couple of steps forward. "Let's finish this up back at home. Beth collapsed, is in some sort of state. Must be in shock. I think you are too."

He still doesn't turn around. "Tabby's with her?" He asks.

"Yeah, but Beth needs you." Rick pushes.

"What could I do? She needs her mother. Or rather to mourn like she should've done weeks ago. I robbed her of that. I see that now." He looks down at his glass. "She was right. Noa was right." Hershel whispers, and Callie could tell the man was crying by his back shaking.

"You thought there was a cure. Can't blame yourself for holding out for hope." Rick tried to get through to the man.

"Hope? When I first saw you running across my field with your boy in your arms, I had little hope he would survive. But he did." Hershel says and Rick smiles.

"He did."

"Even though we lost Otis. Your man Shane made it back and we saved your boy. That was the miracle that proved to me miracles do exist. Only it was a sham, a bait and switch. I was a fool, Rick, and your people saw it. My daughters deserve better than that." Hershel mutters.

Glenn looks at Callie then. "I agree with Callie. We need to wait for him to pass out."

"Just go. Just go!" Hershel shouts.

"I promised Maggie I'd bring you home safe." Rick says sternly.

"Like you promised that little girl?" Hershel asks amused and Callie's stomach drops.

Rick approaches Hershel then. "So what's your plan? Finish that bottle? Drink yourself to death and leave your girls alone?"

Hershel stands and whirls around to the trio. "Stop telling me how to care for my family, my farm. You people are like a plague!" Callie gives Glenn a look. Wrong choice of words. Glenn pressed his lips together, trying not to laugh, it was the wrong time but it was a weird choice of words considering they're in an apocalypse. "I do the Christian thing, give you shelter, and you destroy it all!"

"The world was already in bad shape when we met." Rick points out to the man.

"And you take no responsibility! You're suppose to be their leader!"

"Well, I'm here now, aren't I?" Rick's voice raises at the end.

Hershel pulls a face before nodding furiously. "Yes. Yes. Yes, you are." He sits back down at the bar.

Rick takes a deep breath. "Now come on. Your girls need you now more than ever."

Hershel stays silent for a moment and Callie thought for one second that Rick won him over. Until... "I didn't want to believe you. You told me there was no cure, that these people were dead, not sick. I chose not to believe that." He pauses, "but when Shane shot Lou in the chest and she just kept coming, that's when I knew what an ass I'd been, that Annette had been dead long ago and I was feeding a rotten corpse! That's when I knew there was no hope. And when that little girl came out of the barn, the look on your face... I knew you knew it too. Right?" Hershel pauses and looks at Callie then. "I saw it on your face too. There is no hope. And you know it now, like I do. Don't you? There's no hope for any of us."

Hershel was quiet and takes another sip of his whiskey. And that was Callie's last straw. "It sucks. Finally realising that you were wrong. I get it. But your girls need you right now. It was bad enough when your parents abandoned you before the apocalypse but after..." she trails off and feels Rick's eyes on her. "I can't even imagine." She pauses. "Do you want to know the truth? There is one thing that this world has in common with the old world. That's death. Death is death. It's always been there and will always be there. Did you think it was hopeless before? Now, there are people back home, our people, they're trying to hang on to hope. They need us, even if it's for a reason to go on, even if we don't believe it ourselves." Callie scoffs. "It doesn't even matter if we believe it, it's about the people back home. They need to believe it."

Hershel just stares at her for a second before drinking the last of his drink and standing up. She smiled at him, and he returns it. She turns to Rick who nods at her and Glenn looked relieved. That was when the door opened and two men stepped in.

"Son of a bitch. They're alive."

Annnndd I'll leave it there. This is where it picks up in the story. We all know where we're at. This was one of the best eps in Season 2, as well as two others. I wanted Callie to have a leader moment in her own way. So yes, I used some of Rick's speech but changed it a bit. But don't worry, she will not be taking Rick's lines. Let me know what you think.