Chapter 28-Preparing for winter.

Shane's P.O.V

Shane drove his car down the road, Michonne was beside him, Ben, Donna and Allen were in the backseat and Tyreese and Sasha were following behind them in another car. "You two alone?" Allen asks.

"Yeah," Shane says. "We meet a little while away, been on our own since," Shane says as he looks at Michonne. "What about you guys, been together since the start?"

"No, we just met up with Tyreese and Sasha last week," Ben says. "You two been alone the entire time?"

"No," Shane says. "I was with another group before, but I didn't fit in with 'em," Shane tells Benn who nods. "We've been camping out in a building, trying to find somewhere to hold up in before winter."

"That's what we were trying to do," Allen says. "You saw how that went. You mind if we join you two?"

Shane looks at Michonne who nods. "We don't mind," Shane tells him as Shane turns down a dirt road that led to a house. Shane stops the car and climbs out. "We'll get you guys settled and then we'll figure out what we are going to do next."

The next day

Daryl's P.O.V

Daryl stood on top of the R.V watching the streets. "Quiet?" Glenn asks as he climbs on top of the R.V.

"Yeah, not much has happened," Daryl says. "Had a couple of walkers but nothing to worry about."

"We'll start searching the town today, I would like to be out of here as soon as possible, I don't like being in a town."

"Agreed," Daryl says. "We'll have Rick set up the run, he knows the place better than we do."

Glenn nods as he looks at the sun. "This is bad, Daryl. I haven't said it out loud but this is bad."

"I know," Daryl says. "Believe me, I know. But we'll get through it."

Glenn nods. "We've lost Jacqui, David, Otis, and Patricia, just in the last two weeks. Shane left, we've lost five people."

"But we got Hershel, Beth, Maggie, Jimmy," Daryl says.

"Hershel and Maggie more like it," Glenn says. "Beth and Jimmy, they don't know what they are doing out here."

"We'll teach 'em," Daryl says. "Show 'em how to make it."

"You think we can?" Glenn says.

"It's like you said, man. This group, we can do anything," Daryl says. "Come on, let's get inside and eat."

Madison's P.O.V

Madison walks into a cell and found Travis sitting on the bed with his hands on his face. "Hey," Madison says softly as she sits beside him. "What's wrong?"

"It's hopeless, Maddie," Travis says softly. "This is what our lives are now, surviving one fight to another, going from one place to another. We can't build anything."

"That isn't true," Madison says. "We're in a bad place right now, I won't deny that, but it isn't hopeless, we'll get through this, we'll get through the winter and we will find somewhere to build a life, for Alicia, Nick, Chris, Sophia, Carl and Lori's baby, I have hope. We are going to get through this. If you can't believe that for yourself, believe it for Chris, he needs to see your strong right now, he needs to see that his father still hope, even if it isn't real. Now come on, get up, Glenn's calling a meeting."

Travis nods as he stands up and follows Madison into the main part of the station where everybody was standing. They look at Glenn.

"We aren't in the best place right now, I'll say it. We can't change what happened, so we're going to keep going forward," Glenn says. "Rick has marked down places we can search for supplies; four groups will go out. Daryl and Amy have already volunteered Rick's street and the houses around it."

"She's coming with us," Daryl says as he looks at Beth who looks at him. "You gotta learn girl."

"I don't-" Beth says.

"Bethy, he's right," Hershel says. "But I would like someone else to go with you if you're taking my daughter."

"I'll go," Nick says. "It's time for me to get out there."

"Hershel, you and Madison are going to come with me and Alicia to the hospital. We need medicine and get whatever we can for Lori."

"I know what I need, I should come," Lori says.

"Lori-"

"Glenn, I'll be fine," Glenn looks at the woman and nods. "Alright."

"I'll take a group and hit the stores," Rick says.

"I'll go with him," Merle says.

"So will I," Ofelia says.

"Lexi, Andrea, Maggie, and I can hit the houses that Daryl isn't," T-dog says and Glenn nods.

"The rest of you start searching this place, anything, I would like to be out of here by the end of the week. Let's get to work."

Daniel's P.O.V

Daniel slowly opens his eyes and looks around. He was in a building and he could hear machines and people talking near by. "Hello," Daniel says softly and the talking stops. A man and a woman walks over to Daniel.

"It's good to see you away. My name is Alice, I've been taking care of you," Alice says.

"Where am I?" Daniel asks.

"A town called Woodbury," One of the men says. "My name is Gavin, I'm the leader of the town. We found you out in those woods, saved you."

"My daughter," Daniel says. "I have to find my daughter."

"You can't leave," Alice says. "With your wounds, you wouldn't make it two miles."

"Where is your daughter?" Gavin asks.

"The farm," Daniel says weakly before his eyes close.

Gaven's P.O.V

Gavin looks at Alice. "He's alive, he just passed out," Alice says. "I'll let you know when he wakes up."

Gavin nods as he leaves the infirmary and finds Martinez standing outside. "How is he?" Martinez asks him.

"He's alive," Gavin tells him as they walk. "He's banged up though."

"Why save him? We could have left him."

"I got a feeling about that guy Martinez, could be helpful, if not, we'll deal with him," Gavin tells him. "Keep an eye on him, if he causes any problems, kill him," Gavin says before he walks away from Martinez who nods as he walks back towards the infirmary.

Daryl's P.O.V

Daryl knocks on a window and looks at Beth, Nick, and Amy. A walker hits the window and Daryl looks at Beth. "Get your knife out," Daryl tells her and she slowly removes her knife. "Nick open the door," Daryl tells Nick who nods as Daryl raises his crossbow. Nick pushes the door open and Daryl fires an arrow into the walkers leg making it fall to the ground. Daryl looks at Beth and motions to the walker.

"I can't," Beth says.

"You have to, if you don't you'll die out here, we won't be around to protect you," Daryl says. "They ain't people no more, there ain't no cure, you knew that when Jenner told you, you knew that when you stabbed him, now kill the damn thing," Daryl tells her and Beth nods as she raises the knife above her head and stabs it into the walker's head. "You two head inside and start searching," Daryl tells Nick and Amy who nod as they go inside. Daryl pulls his arrow out of the walker's leg and looks at Beth. "I know it ain't easy."

"You make it look easy," Beth says.

"I've been doing it since the start," Daryl says. "Look, usually I'm just an asshole but I don't think yelling at you is going to work. But you gotta be willing to kill these things, if you don't they'll kill you or Maggie and your Dad. I don't want to see anybody else die and I don't think you do either. You'll be joining Amy and I from now on, we're going to teach you how to survive out here."

"Why?" Beth. "Why do you give a shit about me?"

"Because you're part of this group and cause I give a shit about your Dad and I don't want him to have to bury his child. Now come on, time to learn about supply runs."

Beth nods as she follows Daryl inside.

Alicia's P.O.V

Alicia walks in the back of the group with Lori as they search the hospital. "You really think you should be out?" Alicia asks her.

"Yes, Hershel is a vet and Madison isn't even a doctor, I've been pregnant before, Alicia. I know what I need," Lori tells her. "I also know this hospital."

"Alright," Alicia says. "Hey, Glenn," Alicia says making Glenn look at her. "I'll take Lori and go get what she needs, you get the rest."

"You sure?" Glenn asks and Alicia nods.

"Yeah, we'll shout if we need you," Alicia tells Glenn who nods as the two women turn down another hallway. Alicia follows Lori to a room. Alicia removes her knife as she pushes the door open. In the room was medicine in a cabinets and a walker handcuffed to a shelf.

"I'll get it," Lori says as she removes her knife. Alicia nods as Lori stabs it in the head. "We're going to need to break these, watch the hallway," Lori tells Alicia who nods as Lori removes her revolver and starts to break the glass. She starts to grab medicine. "Can I ask you something?"

"Sure," Alicia says as she watches the hallway.

"Why have you been helping me, keeping my secret?" Lori asks.

"I don't know," Alicia says. Lori turns her head who looks at Alicia who sighs. "Fine, when you told me, I saw how scared you were, you didn't know where to turn, who to turn to and I just wanted to help you, be someone you could turn too."

"Thank you, Alicia."

Alicia nods as they continue to raid the place.

Merle's P.O.V

Merle, Ofelia and Rick search through a clothes store. Merle looks at Rick. "I think I saw some panties over there for you, Officer friendly."

"Thanks Merle, I asked Alicia to grab some tampons for you," Rick says and Merle smirks.

"I thought you two hated each other."

"We have a working relationship," Merle says as he grabs a coat and looks at Ofelia. "This will probably fit you."

"Thanks," Ofelia says as she takes the coat. Merle looks at her.

"What I said by the truck, I didn't mean to sound like an ass. Your Dad, he seems like one strong son of a bitch, he's probably fine."

"I hope so," Ofelia says. "I get it, it was a stressful night."

"It was," Merle says as he puts a jacket in his bag for Sophia. "He'll find us."

Ofelia nods as they continue to search the store.

Carl's P.O.V

Carl stood on the R.V. He looks at Dale as he climbs the ladder. "I don't think your parents would approve of you being up here with that rifle," Dale says.

"I just want to help;" Carl says as Dale holds his hand out for the rifle and Carl hands it to him.

"I know you do son and out here, we'll all need help, you and Sophia included," Dale says as he sits down and motions for Carl to do the same. "Today, just enjoy a little bit of peace, I don't imagine we'll get very much of that in the coming months."

"Are you scared?" Carl asks.

"I am," Dale says. "It's okay to be scared, Carl. You just have to make sure that fear doesn't control you."

Carl nods as the two men sit together.

Rick's P.O.V

The group had returned a couple of hours later. They were all eating. "I would like to talk about something," Travis says making the group look at him. "Since the start, I've been helping lead this group with Dale, Glenn, Shane and then T-dog. I think we should change that. Out here, I don't think I'm the best choice."

"I have to agree," Dale says. "I don't have the most experience out here."

"I will say, I think our choices for leaders are pretty clear," Merle says as he looks at his brother who was sitting with Amy and then at Rick. "Those two took on those pricks at the bar, work with Glenn and T-dog on everything. I think if we're gonna be lead, Rick, Glenn, T-dog, and Daryl are our best choices."

"I agree," Hershel says. Daryl looks around waiting for someone to protest.

"I think we have our new leaders," Madison says with a smile.

"Alright," Glenn says. "We have some good supplies, we'll get it sorted tomorrow and figure out our next move."

The group nods as they continue to eat.

Thanks for reading. Daryl, Rick, Glenn and T-dog will be leading the group heading into season three. There will be a couple of chapters before we get to the prison and we'll be checking in with Shane and Daniel during those times. Shane will be back in the story as a main character in season three. Next chapter will start two months later and be a light hearted one. As always suggestions, ideas, and feedback are welcomed. Until next time.