Chapter 29-A sense of peace
Two months later
Rick's P.O.V
Rick heard the snow under his feet as he walked up to Daryl and Glenn. "T just radioed, he may have found something," Rick tells the other two leaders.
"We need something, man," Daryl says as he looks at the white landscape. "The snow's going to keep coming, we're all cold and can't keep a fire going for shit, we need some better shelter than these shitty house or we ain't gonna last long."
"Well let's hope what T-dog found is good," Glenn says. "I'll start getting the group loaded up, Rick, T-dog tell you where he was?"
"About ten miles north. Near a old resort," Rick tells Glenn who nods. "I have a pretty good idea."
"Alright, let's get a move on then," Glenn says and the two men nod as they head inside.
T-dog's P.O.V
T-dog stood with Jim, Lexi, and Chase as they waited for the group. "You know, we could go inside instead of freezing our asses off," Lexi offers.
"We wait for the group," T-dog says. "We don't know what is in there," T-dog says as he looks at the gate that led to a large cabin. "This place used to be an resort it looks like."
"Hopefully it's safe. We might be able to stay here longer than a few days," Chase says. "Cause I am tired of freezing my ass off,"
T-dog smirks as they hear engines and see the group stopping their cars near the entrance. Rick climbs out of a truck and walks up to him. "You been inside yet?"
"No, wanted to wait, just in case," T-dog tells Rick who nods.
"Dale, can you get on the R.V, scope it out with your rifle?" Glenn asks the older man who nods as he climbs the ladder. He pulls his rifle off his back.
"No lights in there. If someone is in there, they don't want anybody to know," Dale tells them.
"Alright, T-dog, Glenn, Daryl, Amy, Andrea, Madison, Alicia and I will check it out, the rest of the wait back here, be prepared to leave. Dale stay up there," Rick says as he grabs a radio from the bag and throws it up to Dale. "Radio us if you see anything."
"Alright, let's go," Rick tells Daryl who nods as he grabs a pair of Boltcutters and cuts the chain. He pulls it off and hands the Boltcutters to Nick as he pushes the fence open. The group of eight walk forwards. "Madison, Alicia, Andrea, Glenn take the back," Rick tells the four of them who nod as they separate from the group. Rick goes up to the door as Glenn taps on the glass. They stood there for a moment and when nothing came Rick pushed the door open and the group entered the cabin. The four of them split up into groups of two, Daryl and Amy taking one side while T-dog went with Rick. The two men checked every room finding nothing in them. As they walked out of the room lights in the building turned on.
"Rick, what's going on?" Dale asks.
"I don't know yet," Rick says as he goes towards the entrance with T-dog and meet Amy and Daryl.
"You guys find anything?" T-dog asks Daryl who shakes his head as Glenn, Andrea, Madison, and Alicia come in through the back.
"There's a generator in the basement, cans of gas too. You guys find anything?" Glenn asks.
"No," Rick says. "Place is clear, Madison, Alicia, Andrea, go get the others," Rick tell the women who nod as they leave. "Glenn, we should get those gas cans in the cars."
"I disagree," Glenn says. "We have gas, Rick. Those gas cans could keep this place powered for a week, maybe two. It's been a hard couple of months, we need a morale boost," Rick looks at Daryl.
"Couldn't hurt man, and he's right, we have fuel and there's a town near here, saw the signs driving here, we can hit it, find some more for the cars," Daryl tells Rick who nods. Rick looks at T-dog who nods agreeing with the two.
"I guess I'm outvoted, alright," Rick says and Glenn grins as the cars start to pull up in front of the building. T-dog walks outside as Andrea gets out.
"Let's get the cars facing the gate, someone shut it?" T-dog asks.
"Yeah, I did," Travis tells T-dog who nods as they start to move the cars.
Daryl's P.O.V
The group all stood together in the cabin. "The place is clear and there are enough rooms for everyone," Rick says. "So everybody get settled in, take a little bit and we'll meet back here in two hours, alright?" Everybody nods as they seperate from each other. Daryl and Amy walk up the stairs to a room at the end of the hall. Amy pushes the door open and turns the light on. She grins as she drops her bags and falls on the bed. "Oh, how I've missed a bed," Amy says. Daryl smirks as he sets his stuff down.
"Comfortable?" Daryl asks Amy who nods as she holds her hand out to Daryl who takes it and lays in the bed beside her. "We might be able to stay here longer than two weeks," Amy says.
"Yeah, but it aren't permanent, fences aren't strong enough, can't reinforce 'em in this weather."
"I know, but we have some time, can we just enjoy the peace?" Amy asks and Daryl nods as he kisses her cheek. Amy smiles as she gets up and walks into the bathroom. Daryl hears water and looks at the door as Amy comes out. "The showers work," She says with a grin. "You coming?"
Daryl nods as he stands up.
Rick's P.O.V
Rick set his bag down and looks at Lori as she sat down on the bed. "You feeling alright?" Rick asks his wife who nods.
"Just tired," Lori says and Rick nods as he sits down beside her and lays his hand on her shoulder. "Rick, we haven't talked much since the farm, about everything, the baby...Shane."
"I don't know what you want me to say," Rick says softly. "It's not like we were in the best place before the world ended."
"No, I think the only reason we were together was because of Carl," Lori says and Rick nods.
"You're probably right," Rick says as he looks at her. "I'll always protect you and this baby, I need you to know that."
"I do," Lori says as he wipes the tears from her eyes. "I know."
Rick nods. "I just don't...I don't think we were ever going to fix this."
"We weren't," Lori says. She lightly kisses Rick's cheek and stands up. "I'm going to find a different room."
Rick nods as Lori grabs her bags and leaves the room and he runs his hand over his face.
Merle's P.O.V
Merle stood by the door watching the snow as it fell to the ground. "We are safe," Merle turns his head and looks at Hershel as he walks down the stairs.
"We're never safe," Merle says.
"We're as safe as we've been since the farm," Hershel says. "Did you find a room?"
"Mmmhmm, as far away from my brother and Amy as possible," Mere says and Hershel chuckles as he sits down. "You doing alright, old man?"
"I'm fine, just tired, we might actually get a good night's sleep tonight."
Merle nods as he walks over to the table and sits beside the older man. "I gotta say, you've impressed me."
"How so?" Hershel asks.
"You're alive," Merle says. "Hell, we're all still alive. But you, you're old, but you are one strong son of a bitch."
"That I am," Hershel says with a smile. "I have no plans of dying, Merle. My daughters still need me."
Merle nods as the group starts to come down stairs. Merle looks at Daryl. "I see you took a shower baby brother, must have been something pretty enticing in there."
"Shut up," Daryl says. "You take one, cause damn you need one."
"Don't worry, I will," Merle says as the group starts to sit around the room.
"Tomorrow, we'll sent a group into town, see what there is to find," Glenn says. "The rest of us will rest here."
"I'll lead it," Merle says making Glenn look at him. "Problem with that?"
"No," Glenn says. "Who you want to go with you?"
Merle looks around the group. "Ofelia, Travis, Nick, Andrea, Alicia, Chase, Jim," Merle says and Glenn nods as he looks at the group who nod.
"May I make a suggestion?" Hershel asks and Rick nods. "The last couple of months have been hard, for all of us, we've only known moments of happiness and for the first time since the farm, we are safe, we should enjoy it, celebrate."
"How?" Carol asks.
"It's winter, snows outside, close enough to Christmas," The older man says as he looks at Rick, Glenn, Daryl, and T-dog. "What do you say gentlemen? Let's have a little bit of normal before we're reminded of how bad the world is."
Rick looks at Daryl, Glenn, and T-dog with a smirk on his face and they nod. "Alright, fine," Rick says. "The pantry here still has some food, I'm sure we can find some kind of bird."
Hershel grins and nods. "We may need to change our run then," Merle says. "You see any other signs out there baby brother?"
Daryl nods. "There's a mall in town, didn't think it was worth mentioning."
"Whoever wishes to come tomorrow may," Merle says as he stands up. "With that being said, I'm taking a shower and getting some sleep," Merle says before he leaves.
Rick's P.O.V
Rick stood in the main part of the cabin. "Look what I found," Daryl says as he walks over to him with a bottle of whiskey.
"Shouldn't we save that?" Glenn asks as he walks down the stairs with T-dog.
"Nah, I think we need it, there was some wine in there too," Daryl says as he sets four glasses down. "Hershel was right you know, the group needs this."
"I know," Rick says as he takes the glass. "Just feels a little reckless."
"Might be, but a think we all deserve to be happy, even if it only for a couple of nights and I wouldn't mind a home cooked meal," T-dog says as he takes a drink. "God, feels like my first drink."
Daryl chuckles as he looks at Glenn. "You better start drinking," Daryl tells Glenn who smirks as he takes a drink. Daryl looks at Rick. "We'll find somewhere man, stop worrying so damn much. Just enjoy the moment," Rick looks at Daryl and nods as he takes a drink.
"Alright," Rick says. "You should get laid more often, you're much more optimistic."
"Shut the hell up," Daryl says before he takes a drink.
Glenn holds his glass up. "To us, to the ones we've lost."
The other three men nod as they tap their glasses together and take a drink.
Thanks for reading. These next couple chapters are going to be character building. I want to show the bond the group has with each other, show how close they are before we go into the prison. I had a lot of fun with this chapter and I am excited for the next one. As always suggestions, ideas, and feedback are welcomed. Until next time.
