Radioactive Chapter Eighteen
Waking up in a tent Avery looked around some realizing that she was in Merle's tent. She had stayed here because Jessica had asked her too and now as she woke up she saw that her sister was gone. Slipping out of the sleeping bag she looked down at the pajamas she had gotten after having sex with Shane on top of the RV. A fact she wanted to ignore had happened.
Finding her shoes she put them on and then left the tent. Looking around she smiled some as she saw Jessica sitting with Zoe. Jessica seemed in better spirits for now anyway.
Starting to walk towards her sisters she stopped when she felt someone grab her arm and she turned around, raising an eyebrow as she came face to face with Taylor. "Is Jessica okay?" he asked her. "I mean for someone who lost the man they were using to replace their first love she sure seems fine now."
As Avery opened her mouth to answer him she stopped when she heard children's screams. She could hear Lori holler out her son's name and she could tell from the look on Taylor's face another one of those kids was Ezra. Seeing him take off she ran behind him seeing a few others from the group come running as well.
When they got to where the kids where near the woods she smiled as Carl,Sophia and Ezra all ran to their respective parents and as she came to a stop she felt her smile drop some seeing a walker eating a deer. A walker that all the men who had came running where now beating, trying to kill.
It was only when Dale chopped it's head off with an axe that it seemed to die and she took a deep breath feeling just a bit relieved.
"It's the first one we've had up here," Dale said as he looked down at the now dead walker. "They never come this far up the mountain."
"Well their running out of food in the city, that's what," Jim spoke in response to Dale's words.
Hearing a rustling in the trees Avery felt herself go on alert again as her heartbeat slowed some and she watched all the men go towards where the sound was coming from. Seeing Daryl come out and then stop as he saw the men who had been advancing towards him ready to kill him if he had been a walker she bit her lip. Now that he was back he would soon find out about Merle. Something she wasn't prepared to see.
"Son of a bitch," Daryl muttered as he took in the scene spotting the deer he had been tracking obviously having been gnawed on and the culprit laid beside it. "That's my deer," he grumbled as he walked closer. "Look at it all gnawed on by this filthy disease bearnin motherless proxy bastard," he ranted as he kicked the headless walker over and over once he got close enough.
"Calm down son that's not helping," Dale said trying to calm Daryl down.
Going towards Dale, Daryl got in his face, "What do you know about it old man?" he asked before raising an eyebrow. "Why don't you take that stupid hat and go back to On Golden Pond?" he asked him sarcastically before turning to look at the dead deer. "Been trackin this deer for miles," he muttered bending down to get his arrow out of it. "Was gonna drag it back to camp, cook us up some venison. What do you think? You think maybe we can cut around this chewed up part right here?" he asked as he pointed to where the walker had ate on the deer.
"I would not risk that," Shane answered as he looked at the younger Dixon.
Daryl sighed before shaking his head, "It's a damn shame. I got some squirrel about a dozen or so. That'll have to do," he told the men as he looked around at them.
Hearing a popping noise Avery made a face as she watched the walker's mouth open as well as his eyes something that she guessed from Amy's reaction that the blonde had seen as well. Seeing Amy and Andrea start to walk off back to camp she headed with them feeling just a bit sick at the site she had seen.
Making it to camp she had caught up with Amy and Andrea by then and just followed them to the awning of the RV. It was when she heard Daryl hollering for Merle that she looked towards where he was. She could feel Jessica start to move towards him and she reached out grabbing her sister's arms to stop her. "He needs to hear it from someone else," she said knowing Jessica shouldn't be the one.
Daryl who had made it back to camp and kept hollering for Merle to come out and help him stew up the squirrels sighed when Shane asked him to slow down some cause they needed to talk about Merle. Hearing him say there was a problem in Atlanta he raised an eyebrow. "He dead?" he asked Shane after looking around at everyone who had as it seemed come to watch him get told the news.
"Not sure," Shane answered honestly to Daryl's question.
"He either is or he ain't," Daryl spat getting angry at Shane's answer.
Rick who had been watching decided to speak up, "There is no easy way to say this so I'll just say it," he said as he walked closer to where Daryl and Shane stood.
Watching an unknown man walk towards him Daryl just looked at him. "Who are you?" he asked keeping a harsh edge to his tone.
"Rick Grimes," Rick answered as he came to a stop not far from Merle's brother.
"Rick Grimes," Daryl muttered out sarcastically. "You got somethin you wanna tell me?"
Keeping his cool Rick could sense Daryl's hostility, "Your brother was a danger to us all. So I handcuffed him to a roof. Hooked him to a piece of metal. He's still there."
Turning away from Rick, Daryl ran his hand up to his eyes trying to keep his emotions in check, "Hold on let me process this," he spoke before turning to face Rick again. "You handcuffed my brother to a roof and you left him there?" he asked as he raised his voice.
"Yeah," Rick answered as he turned his head away briefly.
Avery who had been watching the scene take place felt her mouth drop open as she watched Daryl throw the squirrels he had been holding towards Rick before lunging at him though he didn't make it because Shane stepped in like the good best friend he was obviously trying to be.
Seeing Daryl get taken to the ground her eyes grew wide when she saw him grab for his knife that he carried around his belt. Something that T-Dog must have seen because she had heard him warn the others about it too. It was the knife that again made Shane come towards Daryl and grab him from behind, a move that caused Avery to frown, especially when Shane held him in a choke hold.
"I'd like to have a calm discussion on this topic," Rick told Daryl as he bent down some to look at the man Shane now held in a choke hold. "You think we can manage that?" he asked and it was at Daryl's silence he decided to ask again. "Do you think we can manage that."
When Shane finally let Daryl go Rick stayed right at Daryl's level, "What I did was not on a whim. Your brother does not work and play well with others."
"It's not Rick's fault," T-Dog interrupted watching as both Rick and Daryl turned to look at him. "I had the key. I dropped it."
"Couldn't pick it up?" Daryl asked as he eyed T-Dog.
"Well I dropped in a drain," T-Dog answered as he kept his eye on Merle's brother and Rick.
Huffing Daryl looked away and towards the ground before standing up, "It's supposed to make me feel better it don't," he lashed out at the man who had dropped the key.
"Maybe this will," T-Dog said as he watched Daryl come towards him some. "I chained the door to the roof so the geeks couldn't get at him. With a padlock."
"It's got a count for something," Rick added in trying to be positive.
After Rick spoke up Daryl wiped at his eyes again as he turned away from him. He hated that he was being weak in front of these people. "Hell with all of ya'll," he spat as he raised his arm towards the whole camp. "Just tell me where he is. So's I can go get him."
Avery had to look down at the ground when Daryl spoke those words. He sounded so heartbroken and like a little boy. It had made her heart hurt in the worst possible way. A feeling that surprised her though it probably shouldn't seeing as how she was coming to realize that in some weird way she cared for Daryl.
"He sounds so hurt," Jessica whispered as she looked at Avery. "I can't watch anymore of this," she said before turning and heading towards the tour bus.
Lori watched Jessica walk away and then she looked at her husband. She just knew Rick would go after Merle, "He'll show you," she told Daryl seeing Rick look at her. "It'nt that right?"
Rick nodded at Lori's words, "I'm going back."
Sighing at Rick's confirmation Lori walked into the RV. She didn't like the idea of her husband going back to Atlanta.
Watching as Daryl walked off and then Rick, Avery turned spotting Zac and Taylor. She hadn't even realized Zac had came out. Walking towards them she looked at Zac, "I..how bad is Atlanta?" she asked raising an eyebrow.
Zac looked at Avery curiously, "Pretty bad. Why?" he asked her scared for the answer he'd get.
"Just wanna know," Avery nodded as she pushed past Zac and headed to the tour bus to change clothes.
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Coming off the tour bus awhile later after having dressed Avery stopped in her tracks. She wasn't surprised to see a confrontation going down between Rick and Shane over Merle and Rick wanting to go to Atlanta. She had almost expected it.
Walking closer to the fire pit where everyone was Avery heard Lori ask Rick if it was just gonna be him and Daryl. If that was his big plan. It was when he looked at Glenn that she chewed on her lip.
"Oh come on," Glenn muttered making a face. He really didn't want to go back out there.
At Glenn's resistance Rick sighed, "You know the way," he defended knowing Glenn knew the city better than he did. "You've been there before. In and out no problem. You said so yourself. It's not fair of me to ask I know that but I'd feel a lot better with you along and I know she would too," he nodded before looking towards his wife.
"That's just great," Shane piped at Rick getting Glenn to go along with him. "Now you're gonna risk three men huh?"
"Four," T-Dog added feeling he should go along since he dropped the key.
"And one woman," Avery spoke feeling everyone look at her. "He was dating my sister. I feel like I owe her one," she muttered as she blushed some.
Huffing again Daryl shook his head, "My day just gets better and better don't it."
Looking towards Daryl, Avery crossed her arms, "You see anyone else here stepping up?"
"That's five," Dale said as he looked at Rick.
"It's not just five," Shane said in response to that. "You're puttin every single one of us at risk. Just know that," he said before pointing right at Rick. "Come on you saw that walker. It was here. It was in camp. They're movin out of the cities. They come back we need every able body we got. We need em here, we need em to protect camp."
Rick listened to Shane and he got what he was saying. He understood where his friend was coming from but that still didn't change his mind. "It seems to me what you need here are more guns," he nodded his head before locking eyes with Shane.
"Right," Glenn spoke up as he remembered saving Rick. Rick had dropped a bag of guns in the street. "The guns."
"What guns?" Shane asked confused by Glenn's comments to Rick's words.
"Six shotguns, two high powered rifles over a dozen handguns," Rick answered. "I cleaned out the cage back at the station before I left. I dropped the bag in Atlanta when I got swarmed. It's just sittin there on the street waitin to be picked up."
Shane sighed as he let Rick talk, "Ammo?"
"Seven hundred rounds," Rick answered as he shrugged. "Assorted."
Lori who had noticed Shane change some in his demeanor after knowing about the guns and ammo spoke up again, "You went through hell to find us. You just got here and you're gonna turn around and leave?"
Avery turned to look at Rick's wife and child when she heard Carl speak up saying he didn't want Rick to go. She felt for the child but she could understand some of the reasons why Rick wanted to go back. She could understand T-Dog volunteering to and she herself had her own reasons. Everyone but Glenn who was being dragged along had their reasons.
Turning away from the scene before she could see more she headed closer to the RV stopping when she saw Zac standing at it and glaring at her.
"So that's why you asked about Atlanta?" Zac asked when Avery was close enough. "You asked so you could volunteer yourself on a death trip?"
Avery nodded her head, "I'm doing it for Jessica," she said though her words and reasons were part of the truth. She was also doing this for Daryl. "You and Jessica have both been out. Now it's my turn," she muttered as she pushed past him. He couldn't change her mind.
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Zac stood by the stopped truck awhile later. The group going into Atlanta was getting ready to leave. Rick was off making some deal with Dale and Daryl was standing in the back of the truck watching everything. Looking to Avery who stood beside him he heaved a sigh, "I can't change your mind?" he asked her as he raised an eyebrow.
Avery shook her head before giving Zac a small smile, "No," she answered as she looked at him. "I'll be fine Zac. Glenn knows his way and Daryl's good with his crossbow," she nodded remembering how well he had used it while hunting. "He's the best I know with a crossbow."
Zac just sighed again before pulling Avery into the hug. It was during that hug he took a gun from the pocket of his jeans and slipped it into her back pocket, "In case of an emergency," he told her as he squeezed her tighter hoping there was no emergency she needed to use that in.
Pulling away as Daryl honked the horn and said for them to go Avery gave Zac another smile. "I'll be fine," she nodded before getting in the truck. Sitting down she stayed quite as she watched Shane hand five bullets to Rick which she found ironic. Five bullets and five people.
After that she watched as Rick went to the passenger side and got in beside Glenn who was gonna be driving the truck which meant she was left alone in the back with Daryl and T-Dog. It wasn't her most ideal place to be but maybe she could keep them from killing each other or well keep Daryl from killing the other man.
Closing the back of the truck Daryl moved going to sit down beside Avery, "Why you comin little girl?" he asked as he looked at her. "You're just gonna be a liability and no one has time to take care of you and I swear if you get hurt I ain't savin your ass even if my brother does like your sister."
Rolling her eyes at his words Avery shook her head, "I don't expect you to save me," she told Daryl. "But I'm coming because Merle's your brother," she answered as she reached out to touch Daryl's hand. It was a move that made the man flinch and she raised an eyebrow though she didn't question him on it. She knew what it was like to be scared by people's touches sometimes.
"And what does him being my brother have to do with anything?" Daryl asked as he scooted away from Avery some.
At his question Avery went silent as she looked away from him. She hadn't mean to reveal that as the main reason for her going but she had. She had used Daryl's own words when he tried to justify how he was with Merle. He was Daryl's brother. He was Daryl's brother and she had hated seeing the man all torn up at his brother being gone. She just wanted to see him happy and reunited with the asshole.
At Avery's silence Daryl turned to look at T-Dog, "He better be okay. That's my only word on the matter."
"I told you the geeks can't get at him," T-Dog said feeling and sounding a bit frustrated. "Only thing that's gonna get through that door is us."
Glenn who had been driving parked the truck before turning it off, "We walk from here," he said knowing the train tracks was as far as he wanted to drive in.
Standing up Avery followed behind T-Dog as he went to open the back of the truck and got out. Getting out as well she walked to the front staying in the middle of the group for now.
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Kate sat down at the water with a few of the women as she did clothes. It was the usual wash day and for once she was kind of glad to be out here doing the work. It got her away from Zac who was now worrying about Avery's safety. She got Zac worrying she really did but Avery was a Hanson and well Zac had proved to her by coming back yesterday that Hanson's could survive tough situations.
Looking up she caught sight of Shane and Carl in the water. She wasn't sure what they were doing but from the laughter it was clear they were having fun.
"I'm beginning to question the division of labor here," Jacqui spoke as she shook her head at the scene of Carl and Shane playing in the water. "Can someone explain to me how the women wound up doing all the Hattie McDaniel work?"
Kate laughed at Jacqui's words, "The world ended didn't you get the memo?" she asked playfully.
Carol looked over towards her car where Ed stood watching her, "It's just the way it is," she spoke as she looked over at Jacqui quickly.
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Running as they made it to the end of the train tracks and stood under a bridge Avery tried to catch her breath feeling proud that she had been able to keep up with the men. Watching as Glenn opened a hole in the fence she stepped through it after Rick and Daryl.
"Merle first or guns?" Rick asked as he turned to face the others watching as T-Dog and Glenn both came through the fence as well.
"Merle we ain't even having this conversation," Daryl answered as he walked around Rick.
Rick looked at Daryl glaring slightly, "We are," he said before turning to Glenn as they started to walk again. "You know the geography, it's your call."
"Merle's closest, the guns would mean doubling back. Merle first," Glenn nodded his words coming out labored from all the running they were doing.
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Kate turned her head as she heard Carol speak up again after a long while of silence. The woman had admitted to missing her Maytag and Kate had to agree. She kind of missed hers as well.
"I miss my Benz," Andrea added in as she looked up after having to think of her answer for a bit.
Kate chuckled some, "I miss my coffeemaker with that cool drip filter and built in grinder," she spoke knowing that she also missed drinking coffee period. She was starting to crave coffee even if right now coffee wouldn't be that great for her.
"My computer," Amy added in as she pouted some. "And texting."
Looking up at that Andrea thought of one more thing, "I miss my vibrator."
Kate who had blushed at Andrea's comment about her vibrator was even more shocked when Carol agreed with Andrea that she too missed her own vibrator. It was a comment that then made the others chuckle.
"What's so funny?" Ed asked as he walked closer to the women as he saw them laughing. He didn't understand why they were laughing when they should be working, especially Carol.
"Just swappin horror stories Ed," Kate answered as she turned to look at Carol's husband. Seeing the man walk even closer she chewed on her lip. She hated that man worse than Merle.
"Problem Ed?" Andrea asked as she too kept her eye on Carol's husband.
"None that concerns you," Ed replied harshly as he looked over at Andrea. "You oughta to focus on your work," he told Carol once Andrea looked away. "This ain't no comedy club."
It was after Ed's words that everyone went silent and Kate rolled her eyes before looking away from the man and getting back to the business of washing the clothes. Now she was beginning to second guess thinking being down here was a good thing.
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Walking through the department store Avery stayed in between Glenn and Daryl and just behind Rick. Watching as Rick put his hand up she slowed down some before seeing him turn around to point out a walker he had noticed that was just wandering around. She was glad it was just one.
Seeing him move in closer slowly she moved as well trying to stay as silent as possible and she stood up some more when she watched as Daryl got closer to the walker, aiming his crossbow right at it. She couldn't help though to be amused when he called it one ugly skank before firing the arrow right at the walker. An arrow that hit it's target right in the head.
Once the walker fell she followed Rick over to where Daryl was pulling the arrow out of the walker's skull which made her crinkle her face in disgust.
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Finishing up washing her clothes Kate was putting her stuff in the basket when she turned to see Andrea looking at Ed again. Turning away from the blonde Kate was dreading seeing what ever was about to happen.
"Ed tell you what," Andrea spoke as she stood from where she sat, walking to Carol's husband. "You don't like how your laundries done you are welcome to pitch in and do it yourself," she offered before throwing one of his wet shirts at him. When Ed threw it back harshly she let out a gasp as it hit her neck.
"Ain't my job missy," Ed told the dumb blonde bitch his tone still staying harsh.
Andrea could hear Amy telling her not to say anything else but she didn't listen, "What is your job Ed?" she asked the man as she walked a bit closer. "Sitting on your ass smoking cigarettes?"
"Well it sure as hell ain't listening to some uppity smart mouth bitch," Ed lashed out as he walked a bit closer to Andrea. "Tell ya what. Come on," he muttered out to Carol. "Let's go."
Kate looked up from where she sat seeing Carol stand up as Andrea continued to badger Ed. Standing up as well she picked up her basket watching as Andrea tried to stop Carol from leaving with Ed. That was an action that made Ed threaten Andrea. Saying he would knock her on her ass regardless of her being some college educated coos.
It was those words that made Kate angry enough to stick around and see what happened next and it was a scene she figured wouldn't be pretty and she was right because the minute Andrea stepped in again she felt her mouth drop open as Ed threw a punch which started a bit of a tizzy with him and a few of the other women though Kate dropped her basket as she watched Shane come and grab Ed away.
Walking to where Amy was with Carol she put her arms around Carol as she watched Shane beat Ed up. Shane was just going to town on Ed's face and while she thought Ed deserved it she did think Shane was taking things a little too far but then again maybe he was letting out his pent up frustrations with Rick being gone out on Ed's face.
Once Shane had finally let up and walked away Kate frowned as Carol pulled away from her and Amy and made her way over to the man, apologizing to her husband for what had happened.
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Walking up the stairs of the department store Avery sighed. This was the most she had worked out in a long time and she was sure she'd feel it tomorrow. Coming to a stop when they reached the doors she moved out of the way so T-Dog could use the bolt cutters and open the door.
Once the door had been opened she followed Daryl and T-Dog out coming to a stop when she found the roof empty of Merle or well part of him. There where Merle should have been was his hand laying on the roof.
"Noo," Daryl cried out as he paced back and forth. "No."
Frowning at Daryl's reaction Avery stayed frozen in place. At that moment she wanted to reach out and comfort Daryl but she knew there was nothing she could do.
Waking up in a tent Avery looked around some realizing that she was in Merle's tent. She had stayed here because Jessica had asked her too and now as she woke up she saw that her sister was gone. Slipping out of the sleeping bag she looked down at the pajamas she had gotten after having sex with Shane on top of the RV. A fact she wanted to ignore had happened.
Finding her shoes she put them on and then left the tent. Looking around she smiled some as she saw Jessica sitting with Zoe. Jessica seemed in better spirits for now anyway.
Starting to walk towards her sisters she stopped when she felt someone grab her arm and she turned around, raising an eyebrow as she came face to face with Taylor. "Is Jessica okay?" he asked her. "I mean for someone who lost the man they were using to replace their first love she sure seems fine now."
As Avery opened her mouth to answer him she stopped when she heard children's screams. She could hear Lori holler out her son's name and she could tell from the look on Taylor's face another one of those kids was Ezra. Seeing him take off she ran behind him seeing a few others from the group come running as well.
When they got to where the kids where near the woods she smiled as Carl,Sophia and Ezra all ran to their respective parents and as she came to a stop she felt her smile drop some seeing a walker eating a deer. A walker that all the men who had came running where now beating, trying to kill.
It was only when Dale chopped it's head off with an axe that it seemed to die and she took a deep breath feeling just a bit relieved.
"It's the first one we've had up here," Dale said as he looked down at the now dead walker. "They never come this far up the mountain."
"Well their running out of food in the city, that's what," Jim spoke in response to Dale's words.
Hearing a rustling in the trees Avery felt herself go on alert again as her heartbeat slowed some and she watched all the men go towards where the sound was coming from. Seeing Daryl come out and then stop as he saw the men who had been advancing towards him ready to kill him if he had been a walker she bit her lip. Now that he was back he would soon find out about Merle. Something she wasn't prepared to see.
"Son of a bitch," Daryl muttered as he took in the scene spotting the deer he had been tracking obviously having been gnawed on and the culprit laid beside it. "That's my deer," he grumbled as he walked closer. "Look at it all gnawed on by this filthy disease bearnin motherless proxy bastard," he ranted as he kicked the headless walker over and over once he got close enough.
"Calm down son that's not helping," Dale said trying to calm Daryl down.
Going towards Dale, Daryl got in his face, "What do you know about it old man?" he asked before raising an eyebrow. "Why don't you take that stupid hat and go back to On Golden Pond?" he asked him sarcastically before turning to look at the dead deer. "Been trackin this deer for miles," he muttered bending down to get his arrow out of it. "Was gonna drag it back to camp, cook us up some venison. What do you think? You think maybe we can cut around this chewed up part right here?" he asked as he pointed to where the walker had ate on the deer.
"I would not risk that," Shane answered as he looked at the younger Dixon.
Daryl sighed before shaking his head, "It's a damn shame. I got some squirrel about a dozen or so. That'll have to do," he told the men as he looked around at them.
Hearing a popping noise Avery made a face as she watched the walker's mouth open as well as his eyes something that she guessed from Amy's reaction that the blonde had seen as well. Seeing Amy and Andrea start to walk off back to camp she headed with them feeling just a bit sick at the site she had seen.
Making it to camp she had caught up with Amy and Andrea by then and just followed them to the awning of the RV. It was when she heard Daryl hollering for Merle that she looked towards where he was. She could feel Jessica start to move towards him and she reached out grabbing her sister's arms to stop her. "He needs to hear it from someone else," she said knowing Jessica shouldn't be the one.
Daryl who had made it back to camp and kept hollering for Merle to come out and help him stew up the squirrels sighed when Shane asked him to slow down some cause they needed to talk about Merle. Hearing him say there was a problem in Atlanta he raised an eyebrow. "He dead?" he asked Shane after looking around at everyone who had as it seemed come to watch him get told the news.
"Not sure," Shane answered honestly to Daryl's question.
"He either is or he ain't," Daryl spat getting angry at Shane's answer.
Rick who had been watching decided to speak up, "There is no easy way to say this so I'll just say it," he said as he walked closer to where Daryl and Shane stood.
Watching an unknown man walk towards him Daryl just looked at him. "Who are you?" he asked keeping a harsh edge to his tone.
"Rick Grimes," Rick answered as he came to a stop not far from Merle's brother.
"Rick Grimes," Daryl muttered out sarcastically. "You got somethin you wanna tell me?"
Keeping his cool Rick could sense Daryl's hostility, "Your brother was a danger to us all. So I handcuffed him to a roof. Hooked him to a piece of metal. He's still there."
Turning away from Rick, Daryl ran his hand up to his eyes trying to keep his emotions in check, "Hold on let me process this," he spoke before turning to face Rick again. "You handcuffed my brother to a roof and you left him there?" he asked as he raised his voice.
"Yeah," Rick answered as he turned his head away briefly.
Avery who had been watching the scene take place felt her mouth drop open as she watched Daryl throw the squirrels he had been holding towards Rick before lunging at him though he didn't make it because Shane stepped in like the good best friend he was obviously trying to be.
Seeing Daryl get taken to the ground her eyes grew wide when she saw him grab for his knife that he carried around his belt. Something that T-Dog must have seen because she had heard him warn the others about it too. It was the knife that again made Shane come towards Daryl and grab him from behind, a move that caused Avery to frown, especially when Shane held him in a choke hold.
"I'd like to have a calm discussion on this topic," Rick told Daryl as he bent down some to look at the man Shane now held in a choke hold. "You think we can manage that?" he asked and it was at Daryl's silence he decided to ask again. "Do you think we can manage that."
When Shane finally let Daryl go Rick stayed right at Daryl's level, "What I did was not on a whim. Your brother does not work and play well with others."
"It's not Rick's fault," T-Dog interrupted watching as both Rick and Daryl turned to look at him. "I had the key. I dropped it."
"Couldn't pick it up?" Daryl asked as he eyed T-Dog.
"Well I dropped in a drain," T-Dog answered as he kept his eye on Merle's brother and Rick.
Huffing Daryl looked away and towards the ground before standing up, "It's supposed to make me feel better it don't," he lashed out at the man who had dropped the key.
"Maybe this will," T-Dog said as he watched Daryl come towards him some. "I chained the door to the roof so the geeks couldn't get at him. With a padlock."
"It's got a count for something," Rick added in trying to be positive.
After Rick spoke up Daryl wiped at his eyes again as he turned away from him. He hated that he was being weak in front of these people. "Hell with all of ya'll," he spat as he raised his arm towards the whole camp. "Just tell me where he is. So's I can go get him."
Avery had to look down at the ground when Daryl spoke those words. He sounded so heartbroken and like a little boy. It had made her heart hurt in the worst possible way. A feeling that surprised her though it probably shouldn't seeing as how she was coming to realize that in some weird way she cared for Daryl.
"He sounds so hurt," Jessica whispered as she looked at Avery. "I can't watch anymore of this," she said before turning and heading towards the tour bus.
Lori watched Jessica walk away and then she looked at her husband. She just knew Rick would go after Merle, "He'll show you," she told Daryl seeing Rick look at her. "It'nt that right?"
Rick nodded at Lori's words, "I'm going back."
Sighing at Rick's confirmation Lori walked into the RV. She didn't like the idea of her husband going back to Atlanta.
Watching as Daryl walked off and then Rick, Avery turned spotting Zac and Taylor. She hadn't even realized Zac had came out. Walking towards them she looked at Zac, "I..how bad is Atlanta?" she asked raising an eyebrow.
Zac looked at Avery curiously, "Pretty bad. Why?" he asked her scared for the answer he'd get.
"Just wanna know," Avery nodded as she pushed past Zac and headed to the tour bus to change clothes.
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Coming off the tour bus awhile later after having dressed Avery stopped in her tracks. She wasn't surprised to see a confrontation going down between Rick and Shane over Merle and Rick wanting to go to Atlanta. She had almost expected it.
Walking closer to the fire pit where everyone was Avery heard Lori ask Rick if it was just gonna be him and Daryl. If that was his big plan. It was when he looked at Glenn that she chewed on her lip.
"Oh come on," Glenn muttered making a face. He really didn't want to go back out there.
At Glenn's resistance Rick sighed, "You know the way," he defended knowing Glenn knew the city better than he did. "You've been there before. In and out no problem. You said so yourself. It's not fair of me to ask I know that but I'd feel a lot better with you along and I know she would too," he nodded before looking towards his wife.
"That's just great," Shane piped at Rick getting Glenn to go along with him. "Now you're gonna risk three men huh?"
"Four," T-Dog added feeling he should go along since he dropped the key.
"And one woman," Avery spoke feeling everyone look at her. "He was dating my sister. I feel like I owe her one," she muttered as she blushed some.
Huffing again Daryl shook his head, "My day just gets better and better don't it."
Looking towards Daryl, Avery crossed her arms, "You see anyone else here stepping up?"
"That's five," Dale said as he looked at Rick.
"It's not just five," Shane said in response to that. "You're puttin every single one of us at risk. Just know that," he said before pointing right at Rick. "Come on you saw that walker. It was here. It was in camp. They're movin out of the cities. They come back we need every able body we got. We need em here, we need em to protect camp."
Rick listened to Shane and he got what he was saying. He understood where his friend was coming from but that still didn't change his mind. "It seems to me what you need here are more guns," he nodded his head before locking eyes with Shane.
"Right," Glenn spoke up as he remembered saving Rick. Rick had dropped a bag of guns in the street. "The guns."
"What guns?" Shane asked confused by Glenn's comments to Rick's words.
"Six shotguns, two high powered rifles over a dozen handguns," Rick answered. "I cleaned out the cage back at the station before I left. I dropped the bag in Atlanta when I got swarmed. It's just sittin there on the street waitin to be picked up."
Shane sighed as he let Rick talk, "Ammo?"
"Seven hundred rounds," Rick answered as he shrugged. "Assorted."
Lori who had noticed Shane change some in his demeanor after knowing about the guns and ammo spoke up again, "You went through hell to find us. You just got here and you're gonna turn around and leave?"
Avery turned to look at Rick's wife and child when she heard Carl speak up saying he didn't want Rick to go. She felt for the child but she could understand some of the reasons why Rick wanted to go back. She could understand T-Dog volunteering to and she herself had her own reasons. Everyone but Glenn who was being dragged along had their reasons.
Turning away from the scene before she could see more she headed closer to the RV stopping when she saw Zac standing at it and glaring at her.
"So that's why you asked about Atlanta?" Zac asked when Avery was close enough. "You asked so you could volunteer yourself on a death trip?"
Avery nodded her head, "I'm doing it for Jessica," she said though her words and reasons were part of the truth. She was also doing this for Daryl. "You and Jessica have both been out. Now it's my turn," she muttered as she pushed past him. He couldn't change her mind.
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Zac stood by the stopped truck awhile later. The group going into Atlanta was getting ready to leave. Rick was off making some deal with Dale and Daryl was standing in the back of the truck watching everything. Looking to Avery who stood beside him he heaved a sigh, "I can't change your mind?" he asked her as he raised an eyebrow.
Avery shook her head before giving Zac a small smile, "No," she answered as she looked at him. "I'll be fine Zac. Glenn knows his way and Daryl's good with his crossbow," she nodded remembering how well he had used it while hunting. "He's the best I know with a crossbow."
Zac just sighed again before pulling Avery into the hug. It was during that hug he took a gun from the pocket of his jeans and slipped it into her back pocket, "In case of an emergency," he told her as he squeezed her tighter hoping there was no emergency she needed to use that in.
Pulling away as Daryl honked the horn and said for them to go Avery gave Zac another smile. "I'll be fine," she nodded before getting in the truck. Sitting down she stayed quite as she watched Shane hand five bullets to Rick which she found ironic. Five bullets and five people.
After that she watched as Rick went to the passenger side and got in beside Glenn who was gonna be driving the truck which meant she was left alone in the back with Daryl and T-Dog. It wasn't her most ideal place to be but maybe she could keep them from killing each other or well keep Daryl from killing the other man.
Closing the back of the truck Daryl moved going to sit down beside Avery, "Why you comin little girl?" he asked as he looked at her. "You're just gonna be a liability and no one has time to take care of you and I swear if you get hurt I ain't savin your ass even if my brother does like your sister."
Rolling her eyes at his words Avery shook her head, "I don't expect you to save me," she told Daryl. "But I'm coming because Merle's your brother," she answered as she reached out to touch Daryl's hand. It was a move that made the man flinch and she raised an eyebrow though she didn't question him on it. She knew what it was like to be scared by people's touches sometimes.
"And what does him being my brother have to do with anything?" Daryl asked as he scooted away from Avery some.
At his question Avery went silent as she looked away from him. She hadn't mean to reveal that as the main reason for her going but she had. She had used Daryl's own words when he tried to justify how he was with Merle. He was Daryl's brother. He was Daryl's brother and she had hated seeing the man all torn up at his brother being gone. She just wanted to see him happy and reunited with the asshole.
At Avery's silence Daryl turned to look at T-Dog, "He better be okay. That's my only word on the matter."
"I told you the geeks can't get at him," T-Dog said feeling and sounding a bit frustrated. "Only thing that's gonna get through that door is us."
Glenn who had been driving parked the truck before turning it off, "We walk from here," he said knowing the train tracks was as far as he wanted to drive in.
Standing up Avery followed behind T-Dog as he went to open the back of the truck and got out. Getting out as well she walked to the front staying in the middle of the group for now.
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Kate sat down at the water with a few of the women as she did clothes. It was the usual wash day and for once she was kind of glad to be out here doing the work. It got her away from Zac who was now worrying about Avery's safety. She got Zac worrying she really did but Avery was a Hanson and well Zac had proved to her by coming back yesterday that Hanson's could survive tough situations.
Looking up she caught sight of Shane and Carl in the water. She wasn't sure what they were doing but from the laughter it was clear they were having fun.
"I'm beginning to question the division of labor here," Jacqui spoke as she shook her head at the scene of Carl and Shane playing in the water. "Can someone explain to me how the women wound up doing all the Hattie McDaniel work?"
Kate laughed at Jacqui's words, "The world ended didn't you get the memo?" she asked playfully.
Carol looked over towards her car where Ed stood watching her, "It's just the way it is," she spoke as she looked over at Jacqui quickly.
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Running as they made it to the end of the train tracks and stood under a bridge Avery tried to catch her breath feeling proud that she had been able to keep up with the men. Watching as Glenn opened a hole in the fence she stepped through it after Rick and Daryl.
"Merle first or guns?" Rick asked as he turned to face the others watching as T-Dog and Glenn both came through the fence as well.
"Merle we ain't even having this conversation," Daryl answered as he walked around Rick.
Rick looked at Daryl glaring slightly, "We are," he said before turning to Glenn as they started to walk again. "You know the geography, it's your call."
"Merle's closest, the guns would mean doubling back. Merle first," Glenn nodded his words coming out labored from all the running they were doing.
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Kate turned her head as she heard Carol speak up again after a long while of silence. The woman had admitted to missing her Maytag and Kate had to agree. She kind of missed hers as well.
"I miss my Benz," Andrea added in as she looked up after having to think of her answer for a bit.
Kate chuckled some, "I miss my coffeemaker with that cool drip filter and built in grinder," she spoke knowing that she also missed drinking coffee period. She was starting to crave coffee even if right now coffee wouldn't be that great for her.
"My computer," Amy added in as she pouted some. "And texting."
Looking up at that Andrea thought of one more thing, "I miss my vibrator."
Kate who had blushed at Andrea's comment about her vibrator was even more shocked when Carol agreed with Andrea that she too missed her own vibrator. It was a comment that then made the others chuckle.
"What's so funny?" Ed asked as he walked closer to the women as he saw them laughing. He didn't understand why they were laughing when they should be working, especially Carol.
"Just swappin horror stories Ed," Kate answered as she turned to look at Carol's husband. Seeing the man walk even closer she chewed on her lip. She hated that man worse than Merle.
"Problem Ed?" Andrea asked as she too kept her eye on Carol's husband.
"None that concerns you," Ed replied harshly as he looked over at Andrea. "You oughta to focus on your work," he told Carol once Andrea looked away. "This ain't no comedy club."
It was after Ed's words that everyone went silent and Kate rolled her eyes before looking away from the man and getting back to the business of washing the clothes. Now she was beginning to second guess thinking being down here was a good thing.
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Walking through the department store Avery stayed in between Glenn and Daryl and just behind Rick. Watching as Rick put his hand up she slowed down some before seeing him turn around to point out a walker he had noticed that was just wandering around. She was glad it was just one.
Seeing him move in closer slowly she moved as well trying to stay as silent as possible and she stood up some more when she watched as Daryl got closer to the walker, aiming his crossbow right at it. She couldn't help though to be amused when he called it one ugly skank before firing the arrow right at the walker. An arrow that hit it's target right in the head.
Once the walker fell she followed Rick over to where Daryl was pulling the arrow out of the walker's skull which made her crinkle her face in disgust.
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Finishing up washing her clothes Kate was putting her stuff in the basket when she turned to see Andrea looking at Ed again. Turning away from the blonde Kate was dreading seeing what ever was about to happen.
"Ed tell you what," Andrea spoke as she stood from where she sat, walking to Carol's husband. "You don't like how your laundries done you are welcome to pitch in and do it yourself," she offered before throwing one of his wet shirts at him. When Ed threw it back harshly she let out a gasp as it hit her neck.
"Ain't my job missy," Ed told the dumb blonde bitch his tone still staying harsh.
Andrea could hear Amy telling her not to say anything else but she didn't listen, "What is your job Ed?" she asked the man as she walked a bit closer. "Sitting on your ass smoking cigarettes?"
"Well it sure as hell ain't listening to some uppity smart mouth bitch," Ed lashed out as he walked a bit closer to Andrea. "Tell ya what. Come on," he muttered out to Carol. "Let's go."
Kate looked up from where she sat seeing Carol stand up as Andrea continued to badger Ed. Standing up as well she picked up her basket watching as Andrea tried to stop Carol from leaving with Ed. That was an action that made Ed threaten Andrea. Saying he would knock her on her ass regardless of her being some college educated coos.
It was those words that made Kate angry enough to stick around and see what happened next and it was a scene she figured wouldn't be pretty and she was right because the minute Andrea stepped in again she felt her mouth drop open as Ed threw a punch which started a bit of a tizzy with him and a few of the other women though Kate dropped her basket as she watched Shane come and grab Ed away.
Walking to where Amy was with Carol she put her arms around Carol as she watched Shane beat Ed up. Shane was just going to town on Ed's face and while she thought Ed deserved it she did think Shane was taking things a little too far but then again maybe he was letting out his pent up frustrations with Rick being gone out on Ed's face.
Once Shane had finally let up and walked away Kate frowned as Carol pulled away from her and Amy and made her way over to the man, apologizing to her husband for what had happened.
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Walking up the stairs of the department store Avery sighed. This was the most she had worked out in a long time and she was sure she'd feel it tomorrow. Coming to a stop when they reached the doors she moved out of the way so T-Dog could use the bolt cutters and open the door.
Once the door had been opened she followed Daryl and T-Dog out coming to a stop when she found the roof empty of Merle or well part of him. There where Merle should have been was his hand laying on the roof.
"Noo," Daryl cried out as he paced back and forth. "No."
Frowning at Daryl's reaction Avery stayed frozen in place. At that moment she wanted to reach out and comfort Daryl but she knew there was nothing she could do.