Radioactive Chapter Twenty-One
Waking in the tour bus the next morning Kate stretched and moved out of her bunk. A bunk which Zac had somehow fit himself into as well last night and slept beside her the whole night and he was still sleeping so she chose to let him do just that as she crept down the hall and towards the front of the bus. Opening the door she stepped outside and sighed seeing Taylor still sitting outside over Ezra's body.
Looking up as he heard the bus door open Taylor glared seeing Kate coming off, "I don't want to see my child's murderer," he spat at her refusing to believe that Ezra had been dead before hand. He just couldn't have been. Natalie had given him a dream that things would be okay so how could things be far from okay?
"I didn't murder him," Kate told Taylor as she walked over and bent down beside him. "I was kind of hoping last night was all a dream when I woke up this morning but I knew the moment I stepped out here and saw you and him that it wasn't and I wish it was. I wish he hadn't died but he did and he was dead before I shot him Tay. I wouldn't just murder him," she defended as she felt tears come to her eyes. "I had to do what I had to do to keep him from turning."
Taylor shook his head, "Yeah like you had to leave Natalie behind too," he spat knowing his words were cruel but he was angry. "You let her die and now my son is dead because of you."
Feeling tears going down her cheeks Kate looked away from Taylor, "Natalie was my friend," she told him calmly as she wiped at her eyes. "I didn't want to leave her behind but I had too. Ezra was already gone by the time I saw him," she said as she looked back at Taylor. "I didn't want to lose the last piece of Natalie we had left but we have," she said as she tried to get her emotions back in check. "I am hurt that you think I would kill him especially after you helped me the day that Zac was gone to Atlanta. I wouldn't do that to you," she frowned before standing back up. Walking away from him she headed towards the front of the RV.
Watching Kate leave Taylor frowned as he looked down at his son seeing the bite mark on his neck. Even with that he still wanted to blame Kate because the other way he looked at it, it was his fault. He had been the one who let Ezra stay on the bus. He could have just made him come to the fish fry even if he hated fish.
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Avery sighed as she sat in front of the RV. Andrea was still hoovering over Amy and Taylor was still over Ezra though unlike Ezra, Amy was still not put down. She could come back at any minute and that thought scared Avery. Looking over at Lori she shook her head, "You should go say something to her," she spoke before standing up and spotting Jessica sitting beside Zoe's remains. Jessica unlike the rest of them hadn't kept vigil over the dead but she had slept in the tent beside Zoe's body saying she had wanted to be near her sister.
Walking towards Jessica she watched as Lori reluctantly went to Andrea. Hopefully to talk some sense into her. Shaking her head at that thought Avery took a deep breath before bending down next to Jessica. "I wish I had got to say goodbye," she spoke as she frowned.
Jessica forced a smile as she reached down to stroke Zoe's hair, "All I said to her was goodnight," she whispered as tears went down her cheek. "I guess maybe that's better than goodbye. I'm starting to hate goodbye's at that moment," she said as she looked over at Avery. "Goodnight doesn't sound as final."
Avery laughed some at Jessica's words but eventually tears came down her own cheeks, "I feel guilty for even going. I feel guilty for being alive while Zoe and Ezra are dead."
"Don't talk like that," Jessica scolded her sister. "You are here for a reason and I'm glad you are here," she said as she smiled again this time it was more genuine. Reaching out she pulled Avery to her, "I am glad you came back and I'm glad you are alive," she nodded as she kissed her sister's forehead.
Smiling at Jessica's words Avery reached up and wiped her cheeks, "How can you be so cheerful?" she asked as she pulled away spotting tears on Jessica's cheek. "I mean Merle's gone and more of our family is dead."
"Merle's gone because of his own stupid self," Jessica nodded knowing what Merle had done. Glenn had filled her in last night after all the chaos. "And our family is dead and while I am sad I don't need to feel so much sadness anymore. I have to keep going so that I can survive. I don't wanna die. I realize that now. I don't want to die or be dead and I don't need an escape from my pain," she said as she shook her head. "I need to feel things and let them progress naturally without letting them consume me like they did when Joe and Mom died."
Avery smiled more as she heard her sister, "Come on," she said as she stood up. "Let's put Zoe in the pile of bodies with the rest of our people to be buried," she said as she picked up one end of Zoe and watched as Jessica eventually stood up picking up the other end.
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Kate crossed her arms as she stood in front of the main fire pit. Daryl was complaining about how Andrea still hadn't put Amy down. Asking if they were gonna let Andrea hamstring them.
"What do you suggest?" Rick asked Daryl after he said that Amy was a time bomb.
"Take the shot," Daryl said honestly as he stepped closer to Rick. "Clean in the brain from here. Hell I could hit a turkey between the eyes from this distance."
Making a face Kate shook her head, "No," she spoke feeling eyes on her. "For god's sakes let her be," she said as she kept her arms crossed watching as Daryl walked off in a huff after her words. She didn't care that she had made him mad. It was apparent that Andrea needed to grieve in her own way and she'd put Amy down in her own time.
Avery who had finished laying Zoe down in the pile with the rest of their people looked up as she heard Glenn objecting to something. Seeing Daryl and Morales carrying one of their own to the pile for the walker's she made a face.
"Our people go over there," Glenn said as he pointed to the pile where a few of the bodies were lying.
Daryl rolled his eyes as he heard Glenn, "What's the difference they are all infected?"
"Our people go in that row over there," Glenn said again as he stepped closer to Daryl and Morales. He didn't understand what was so hard to comprehend by what he was asking. "We don't burn them!" he yelled as his voice cracked some. "We bury them, understand," he nodded as Daryl just gave him a look. "Our people go in that row over there," he said again pointing to the the row with their people."
Moving out of the way Avery grabbed Jessica's hand and walked over beside Glenn watching as Daryl and Morales carried the man over to where they had Zoe laid down.
"You reap what you sow," Daryl hollered to Glenn. It was words that made Morales object. "Ya'll left my brother for dead. You had this coming!" he yelled louder as he felt his anger boil.
Shaking her head at Daryl's words Avery sighed. She may have felt safe in his arms last night but in this moment she was reminded of why she had thought both Dixon brother's were assholes.
Looking at Glenn she shrugged, "You did the right thing," she nodded as she turned to head to the bus to see how Taylor was doing but before she could she stopped in her tracks as she heard Jacqui yelling about Jim being bit. Turning around she walked in closer to Jim watching as the rest of the people who were outside did the same, well the rest of the people minus Andrea or Taylor.
"Show it to us," Daryl demanded as he held the pick axe in his hand. It was an axe he was using to chop up the walker's and the people who had been bit.
Seeing Jim reach for a shovel in self defense she backed away some watching as Shane went closer. Feeling herself bump into someone she turned to see Zac who looked as worried as everyone else. She hadn't even known Zac was awake yet.
Turning back to face Jim she saw that T-Dog now had a hold of his arms as Daryl lifted his shirt to reveal a bite on his stomach. She could hear him proclaiming he was okay but just how okay could he be? he had been bit after all.
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Zac shook his head as he walked away from the RV. Everyone was busy figuring out what to do about Jim but to be honest it wasn't Jim he was worried about. It was his brother and he wanted to check on him. Going around to the bus he frowned to himself as he saw Taylor where he had been since last night.
"You know you are going to have to move eventually," Zac said as he bent down beside Taylor. "You need to take him to where the others are so we can put him where he can be buried," he nodded before putting a hand on Taylor's back.
Taylor closed his eyes knowing Zac was right,"If I stay with him it makes it seem less real," he said as he felt his voice crack. "Makes me think he is just sleeping."
Frowning more Zac rubbed Taylor's back. He knew Taylor was hurting, hell after last night he himself was hurting emotionally and questioning everything. "But he isn't asleep," he said as nicely as he could. "He is gone and he was bitten," he said knowing that Taylor was blaming Kate for this.
At Zac's words Taylor kept his eyes closed, "I..I know," he admitted softly. "I know he was bitten and I know he's gone but that doesn't mean I am ready to accept it," he said as he opened his eyes and looked down at his child, his first born son. "C..can you take his body?" he asked as he finally stood up. "I..I can't do it," he frowned feeling like he just wanted to fall apart. "I need some time alone before the burial."
Nodding at Taylor's words Zac leaned down and picked Ezra up, carrying him to where the rest of the bodies for their group was. Looking down he frowned as he spotted Zoe's body as well. He had lost two family members as well as his sense of safety last night. Now he was just scared of losing Kate and he feared for the child she was carrying more than he had before hand.
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"I say we put a pick axe in his head and the dead girls and be done with it," Daryl spoke to the group that was gathered around trying to decide what to do with Jim.
Shane looked at Daryl raising an eyebrow, "Is that what you'd want if it were you?"
"Yeah," Daryl nodded being serious. "And I'd thank you while you did it."
"I hate to say it and I never thought I would but maybe Daryl's right," Dale added knowing what some of Daryl said made sense.
Avery shook her head, "Jim's not a monster Dale," she said defending the man who now sat against the end of the RV.
"Nor he is some rabid dog," Rick chimed in as he looked down at the ground. Hearing Dale speak again Rick shook his head. "He is a sick man. A sick man. We go down that road and where do we draw the line?"
"Line?" Daryl asked sounding perplexed. "The line is pretty clear. Zero tolerance for walkers, or the to be."
Rick sighed as he looked around him at the people, "What if we can get him help? I heard the CDC was working on a cure."
"I heard that too," Shane piped in at Rick's words. "I heard a lot of things before the world went to hell."
Kate shook her head as she listened to the men talk. She wasn't sure going to the CDC was the right thing. Looking over at Jessica she watched the blonde just roll her eyes before heading off towards Merle's tent.
"What if the CDC is still up and running?" Rick asked as he looked at Shane.
Shane shook his head, "Man that is a stretch right there," he said not even sure he could think of that.
Putting his hands on his hips Rick kept looking at Shane, "Why? If there's any government left, any structure at all they protect the CDC at all costs wouldn't they. I think it's our best shot. Shelter, protection, rescue."
Feeling agitated at Rick's words Shane sighed, "Okay Rick you want those things, I do too okay," he said as he pointed to himself. "Now if they exist they are at the army base in Fort Benning."
"That's a hundred miles in the opposite direction," Kate spoke up finally as she eyed Shane.
"That is right," Shane said as he looked at Kate. "But it is away from the hot zone. Now if that place is operational it would be heavily armed. We'd be safe there."
"The military were on the front lines at this thing. They got over run," Rick spoke again not understanding why Shane couldn't see his option was best. "We've all seen that they got over run. The CDC is our best choice and Jim's only chance."
Daryl who had looked back at Jim turned back to the group, "You go lookin for aspirin. Do what you need to do," he said before running towards Jim with the pick axe. "Somebody needs to have some balls and take care of this damn problem!" he yelled as he raised the pick axe the closer he got.
Avery watched the scene fold out after Daryl took off running. Rick soon followed suit holding a gun to Daryl's head again telling him they didn't kill the living. She couldn't help but chuckle to herself when Daryl called him on the fact that he had a gun to his head again.
Staying silent she watched as Shane agreed with Rick telling Daryl to drop the axe and leave. When he did she kept her eye on the man as he walked off. Shaking her head she went to go after Jessica who had went towards the tents.
Kate watched as Avery walked off and she too walked off, sitting down on a seat that had came out of one of the cars. Seeing Zac coming out from behind the tour buses carrying Ezra's body she ran a hand through her hair. It pained her to see the site but she was glad someone had finally gotten through to Taylor.
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Taylor again took a deep breath as he walked off the bus some time later. He had, had time alone to himself. Time in which he had cried and confessed that he felt like dying. Time in which he had realized he had been harsh to Kate. Time in which he knew that once the opportunity came he'd find a way to die so he could be with his family again.
Going towards the main camp he spied Kate sitting on a seat next to Carol with Dale beside it and Zac behind it. Walking towards them he put on his best face as he reached them. He knew now would be the perfect time to apologize to Kate but he didn't. Instead he turned to see what they were staring at.
Stopping when he did he frowned seeing Andrea laying over what was her dead sister. He hadn't even known that Amy had died but he couldn't help feeling sorry for Andrea. She had lost the last person she had left too. Staying frozen in his place he watched as Amy started to move and eventually open her eyes. It was when the girl opened her eyes that he looked back to alert the others but he saw Carol nudging Kate and also motioning for Lori who wasn't too far off.
Closing his eyes as Amy started to sit up he wasn't sure he could watch Andrea let herself get bitten. He wasn't sure if he was ready to see that again after seeing it with his own son when this stuff first happened. Feeling himself jump though as he heard a gunshot he opened his eyes to see Amy laying on the ground dead. Andrea had put her down before her sister could do any harm.
Falling to the ground again he had to blink a few times to fight off tears. If he was being honest with himself he was glad that Kate had put Ezra down before he could become one of those things and it took this moment for him to realize that.
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Sometime later Avery walked up the hill to where Jim had apparently dug graves yesterday. Graves that would now house the bodies of the people they had lost. As she got there she heard Daryl who had gotten there before everyone else thanks to him driving the truck with most of the dead bodies in it say that he thought this was a mistake. That they should be burning the bodies instead.
Shaking her head she came to a stop behind him as he continued to complain blaming it all on Glenn getting all emotional that had changed the plans on burning the bodies.
Rick glared some as he looked to Daryl after Daryl finished his rant off saying that the people didn't know who was in charge or what the rules were. "The are no rules," he said as he finished putting dirt on one of the graves.
"Well that's a problem," Lori spoke after her husband had told Daryl there were no rules. "We haven't had one minute to hold onto anything of our old selves. We need time to mourn and we need to bury our dead. It's what people do."
Avery watched as Lori walked away after saying that and she sighed walking a bit closer to Daryl, "She has a point," she scolded the man. "Stop thinking of things your way," she hissed before moving away from him watching as he turned to face her and glaring though he didn't say anything which just made her shiver slightly.
Seeing Jessica make it to the graves she walked over to her sister. Laying her head on Jessica's arm she watched as the bodies in the truck were put into the ground. The last body to be put down was Amy's. Something that Andrea was insisting to do on her own even as Dale offered to help.
It was a site that hurt Avery to watch because of the own loss of her baby sister but she could say she was at least handling that death better than Andrea who in a way was acting like Taylor though she was glad that Taylor hadn't put Ezra's body into the grave. She was glad that Taylor had opted to stand between Nikki and Isaac and not move.
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Making it back to camp once the burial was over Kate looked at Zac as he came to a stop outside the RV. Rick and Lori had walked in not long ago more than likely to check on Jim. Biting her lip she raised an eyebrow looking at her husband expectantly. It was obvious he had something he wanted to say.
Zac blushed when Kate gave him that look she always did when she knew he was going to say something. Running a hand through his hair he looked at her hoping she didn't kill him for what he was about to say. "I..I wish you weren't pregnant now," he confessed feeling slightly guilty. "I mean we lost the camp and I know what the outside world is like. It's no place for a baby."
Nodding at Zac's words Kate moved closer to her husband, "And now I am okay with being pregnant," she told him as she laughed a sarcastic laugh. "It's funny how our roles are reversed," she said as she shrugged.
"How can you be okay with it now?" Zac asked her figuring last night would be something that had made her belief that not wanting this baby had been the right one.
Kate shrugged again as she looked down, "I just knew I was okay with it when I put Ezra down," she said knowing that sounded weird. "I had the strength to do that and I know I have the strength to raise this baby in a world like this," she said as she looked up at Zac. "Anyway we may go somewhere safe soon. Rick wants to go to the CDC and Shane wants to try Fort Benning. I think we should stick with whatever decision is made. Stick with this group. It's gotten us this far."
Hearing Kate's words Zac looked down now. He hadn't been so sure about staying with the group now that the camp had fallen. He half wanted to just take his siblings and leave but if Kate wanted to stay and stick out whatever plan they went with then he'd stay for her.
"If you want to stay then we will stay," Zac nodded as he looked up again and gave her a smile. "I'll stay for you."
Kate smiled at Zac's words and she leaned in pecking his lips briefly, "Then we are staying," she said to him knowing she felt safer with a group of people besides just Zac or even just Zac and his family. At least with some of them they had a few extra hands on deck.
Waking in the tour bus the next morning Kate stretched and moved out of her bunk. A bunk which Zac had somehow fit himself into as well last night and slept beside her the whole night and he was still sleeping so she chose to let him do just that as she crept down the hall and towards the front of the bus. Opening the door she stepped outside and sighed seeing Taylor still sitting outside over Ezra's body.
Looking up as he heard the bus door open Taylor glared seeing Kate coming off, "I don't want to see my child's murderer," he spat at her refusing to believe that Ezra had been dead before hand. He just couldn't have been. Natalie had given him a dream that things would be okay so how could things be far from okay?
"I didn't murder him," Kate told Taylor as she walked over and bent down beside him. "I was kind of hoping last night was all a dream when I woke up this morning but I knew the moment I stepped out here and saw you and him that it wasn't and I wish it was. I wish he hadn't died but he did and he was dead before I shot him Tay. I wouldn't just murder him," she defended as she felt tears come to her eyes. "I had to do what I had to do to keep him from turning."
Taylor shook his head, "Yeah like you had to leave Natalie behind too," he spat knowing his words were cruel but he was angry. "You let her die and now my son is dead because of you."
Feeling tears going down her cheeks Kate looked away from Taylor, "Natalie was my friend," she told him calmly as she wiped at her eyes. "I didn't want to leave her behind but I had too. Ezra was already gone by the time I saw him," she said as she looked back at Taylor. "I didn't want to lose the last piece of Natalie we had left but we have," she said as she tried to get her emotions back in check. "I am hurt that you think I would kill him especially after you helped me the day that Zac was gone to Atlanta. I wouldn't do that to you," she frowned before standing back up. Walking away from him she headed towards the front of the RV.
Watching Kate leave Taylor frowned as he looked down at his son seeing the bite mark on his neck. Even with that he still wanted to blame Kate because the other way he looked at it, it was his fault. He had been the one who let Ezra stay on the bus. He could have just made him come to the fish fry even if he hated fish.
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Avery sighed as she sat in front of the RV. Andrea was still hoovering over Amy and Taylor was still over Ezra though unlike Ezra, Amy was still not put down. She could come back at any minute and that thought scared Avery. Looking over at Lori she shook her head, "You should go say something to her," she spoke before standing up and spotting Jessica sitting beside Zoe's remains. Jessica unlike the rest of them hadn't kept vigil over the dead but she had slept in the tent beside Zoe's body saying she had wanted to be near her sister.
Walking towards Jessica she watched as Lori reluctantly went to Andrea. Hopefully to talk some sense into her. Shaking her head at that thought Avery took a deep breath before bending down next to Jessica. "I wish I had got to say goodbye," she spoke as she frowned.
Jessica forced a smile as she reached down to stroke Zoe's hair, "All I said to her was goodnight," she whispered as tears went down her cheek. "I guess maybe that's better than goodbye. I'm starting to hate goodbye's at that moment," she said as she looked over at Avery. "Goodnight doesn't sound as final."
Avery laughed some at Jessica's words but eventually tears came down her own cheeks, "I feel guilty for even going. I feel guilty for being alive while Zoe and Ezra are dead."
"Don't talk like that," Jessica scolded her sister. "You are here for a reason and I'm glad you are here," she said as she smiled again this time it was more genuine. Reaching out she pulled Avery to her, "I am glad you came back and I'm glad you are alive," she nodded as she kissed her sister's forehead.
Smiling at Jessica's words Avery reached up and wiped her cheeks, "How can you be so cheerful?" she asked as she pulled away spotting tears on Jessica's cheek. "I mean Merle's gone and more of our family is dead."
"Merle's gone because of his own stupid self," Jessica nodded knowing what Merle had done. Glenn had filled her in last night after all the chaos. "And our family is dead and while I am sad I don't need to feel so much sadness anymore. I have to keep going so that I can survive. I don't wanna die. I realize that now. I don't want to die or be dead and I don't need an escape from my pain," she said as she shook her head. "I need to feel things and let them progress naturally without letting them consume me like they did when Joe and Mom died."
Avery smiled more as she heard her sister, "Come on," she said as she stood up. "Let's put Zoe in the pile of bodies with the rest of our people to be buried," she said as she picked up one end of Zoe and watched as Jessica eventually stood up picking up the other end.
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Kate crossed her arms as she stood in front of the main fire pit. Daryl was complaining about how Andrea still hadn't put Amy down. Asking if they were gonna let Andrea hamstring them.
"What do you suggest?" Rick asked Daryl after he said that Amy was a time bomb.
"Take the shot," Daryl said honestly as he stepped closer to Rick. "Clean in the brain from here. Hell I could hit a turkey between the eyes from this distance."
Making a face Kate shook her head, "No," she spoke feeling eyes on her. "For god's sakes let her be," she said as she kept her arms crossed watching as Daryl walked off in a huff after her words. She didn't care that she had made him mad. It was apparent that Andrea needed to grieve in her own way and she'd put Amy down in her own time.
Avery who had finished laying Zoe down in the pile with the rest of their people looked up as she heard Glenn objecting to something. Seeing Daryl and Morales carrying one of their own to the pile for the walker's she made a face.
"Our people go over there," Glenn said as he pointed to the pile where a few of the bodies were lying.
Daryl rolled his eyes as he heard Glenn, "What's the difference they are all infected?"
"Our people go in that row over there," Glenn said again as he stepped closer to Daryl and Morales. He didn't understand what was so hard to comprehend by what he was asking. "We don't burn them!" he yelled as his voice cracked some. "We bury them, understand," he nodded as Daryl just gave him a look. "Our people go in that row over there," he said again pointing to the the row with their people."
Moving out of the way Avery grabbed Jessica's hand and walked over beside Glenn watching as Daryl and Morales carried the man over to where they had Zoe laid down.
"You reap what you sow," Daryl hollered to Glenn. It was words that made Morales object. "Ya'll left my brother for dead. You had this coming!" he yelled louder as he felt his anger boil.
Shaking her head at Daryl's words Avery sighed. She may have felt safe in his arms last night but in this moment she was reminded of why she had thought both Dixon brother's were assholes.
Looking at Glenn she shrugged, "You did the right thing," she nodded as she turned to head to the bus to see how Taylor was doing but before she could she stopped in her tracks as she heard Jacqui yelling about Jim being bit. Turning around she walked in closer to Jim watching as the rest of the people who were outside did the same, well the rest of the people minus Andrea or Taylor.
"Show it to us," Daryl demanded as he held the pick axe in his hand. It was an axe he was using to chop up the walker's and the people who had been bit.
Seeing Jim reach for a shovel in self defense she backed away some watching as Shane went closer. Feeling herself bump into someone she turned to see Zac who looked as worried as everyone else. She hadn't even known Zac was awake yet.
Turning back to face Jim she saw that T-Dog now had a hold of his arms as Daryl lifted his shirt to reveal a bite on his stomach. She could hear him proclaiming he was okay but just how okay could he be? he had been bit after all.
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Zac shook his head as he walked away from the RV. Everyone was busy figuring out what to do about Jim but to be honest it wasn't Jim he was worried about. It was his brother and he wanted to check on him. Going around to the bus he frowned to himself as he saw Taylor where he had been since last night.
"You know you are going to have to move eventually," Zac said as he bent down beside Taylor. "You need to take him to where the others are so we can put him where he can be buried," he nodded before putting a hand on Taylor's back.
Taylor closed his eyes knowing Zac was right,"If I stay with him it makes it seem less real," he said as he felt his voice crack. "Makes me think he is just sleeping."
Frowning more Zac rubbed Taylor's back. He knew Taylor was hurting, hell after last night he himself was hurting emotionally and questioning everything. "But he isn't asleep," he said as nicely as he could. "He is gone and he was bitten," he said knowing that Taylor was blaming Kate for this.
At Zac's words Taylor kept his eyes closed, "I..I know," he admitted softly. "I know he was bitten and I know he's gone but that doesn't mean I am ready to accept it," he said as he opened his eyes and looked down at his child, his first born son. "C..can you take his body?" he asked as he finally stood up. "I..I can't do it," he frowned feeling like he just wanted to fall apart. "I need some time alone before the burial."
Nodding at Taylor's words Zac leaned down and picked Ezra up, carrying him to where the rest of the bodies for their group was. Looking down he frowned as he spotted Zoe's body as well. He had lost two family members as well as his sense of safety last night. Now he was just scared of losing Kate and he feared for the child she was carrying more than he had before hand.
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"I say we put a pick axe in his head and the dead girls and be done with it," Daryl spoke to the group that was gathered around trying to decide what to do with Jim.
Shane looked at Daryl raising an eyebrow, "Is that what you'd want if it were you?"
"Yeah," Daryl nodded being serious. "And I'd thank you while you did it."
"I hate to say it and I never thought I would but maybe Daryl's right," Dale added knowing what some of Daryl said made sense.
Avery shook her head, "Jim's not a monster Dale," she said defending the man who now sat against the end of the RV.
"Nor he is some rabid dog," Rick chimed in as he looked down at the ground. Hearing Dale speak again Rick shook his head. "He is a sick man. A sick man. We go down that road and where do we draw the line?"
"Line?" Daryl asked sounding perplexed. "The line is pretty clear. Zero tolerance for walkers, or the to be."
Rick sighed as he looked around him at the people, "What if we can get him help? I heard the CDC was working on a cure."
"I heard that too," Shane piped in at Rick's words. "I heard a lot of things before the world went to hell."
Kate shook her head as she listened to the men talk. She wasn't sure going to the CDC was the right thing. Looking over at Jessica she watched the blonde just roll her eyes before heading off towards Merle's tent.
"What if the CDC is still up and running?" Rick asked as he looked at Shane.
Shane shook his head, "Man that is a stretch right there," he said not even sure he could think of that.
Putting his hands on his hips Rick kept looking at Shane, "Why? If there's any government left, any structure at all they protect the CDC at all costs wouldn't they. I think it's our best shot. Shelter, protection, rescue."
Feeling agitated at Rick's words Shane sighed, "Okay Rick you want those things, I do too okay," he said as he pointed to himself. "Now if they exist they are at the army base in Fort Benning."
"That's a hundred miles in the opposite direction," Kate spoke up finally as she eyed Shane.
"That is right," Shane said as he looked at Kate. "But it is away from the hot zone. Now if that place is operational it would be heavily armed. We'd be safe there."
"The military were on the front lines at this thing. They got over run," Rick spoke again not understanding why Shane couldn't see his option was best. "We've all seen that they got over run. The CDC is our best choice and Jim's only chance."
Daryl who had looked back at Jim turned back to the group, "You go lookin for aspirin. Do what you need to do," he said before running towards Jim with the pick axe. "Somebody needs to have some balls and take care of this damn problem!" he yelled as he raised the pick axe the closer he got.
Avery watched the scene fold out after Daryl took off running. Rick soon followed suit holding a gun to Daryl's head again telling him they didn't kill the living. She couldn't help but chuckle to herself when Daryl called him on the fact that he had a gun to his head again.
Staying silent she watched as Shane agreed with Rick telling Daryl to drop the axe and leave. When he did she kept her eye on the man as he walked off. Shaking her head she went to go after Jessica who had went towards the tents.
Kate watched as Avery walked off and she too walked off, sitting down on a seat that had came out of one of the cars. Seeing Zac coming out from behind the tour buses carrying Ezra's body she ran a hand through her hair. It pained her to see the site but she was glad someone had finally gotten through to Taylor.
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Taylor again took a deep breath as he walked off the bus some time later. He had, had time alone to himself. Time in which he had cried and confessed that he felt like dying. Time in which he had realized he had been harsh to Kate. Time in which he knew that once the opportunity came he'd find a way to die so he could be with his family again.
Going towards the main camp he spied Kate sitting on a seat next to Carol with Dale beside it and Zac behind it. Walking towards them he put on his best face as he reached them. He knew now would be the perfect time to apologize to Kate but he didn't. Instead he turned to see what they were staring at.
Stopping when he did he frowned seeing Andrea laying over what was her dead sister. He hadn't even known that Amy had died but he couldn't help feeling sorry for Andrea. She had lost the last person she had left too. Staying frozen in his place he watched as Amy started to move and eventually open her eyes. It was when the girl opened her eyes that he looked back to alert the others but he saw Carol nudging Kate and also motioning for Lori who wasn't too far off.
Closing his eyes as Amy started to sit up he wasn't sure he could watch Andrea let herself get bitten. He wasn't sure if he was ready to see that again after seeing it with his own son when this stuff first happened. Feeling himself jump though as he heard a gunshot he opened his eyes to see Amy laying on the ground dead. Andrea had put her down before her sister could do any harm.
Falling to the ground again he had to blink a few times to fight off tears. If he was being honest with himself he was glad that Kate had put Ezra down before he could become one of those things and it took this moment for him to realize that.
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Sometime later Avery walked up the hill to where Jim had apparently dug graves yesterday. Graves that would now house the bodies of the people they had lost. As she got there she heard Daryl who had gotten there before everyone else thanks to him driving the truck with most of the dead bodies in it say that he thought this was a mistake. That they should be burning the bodies instead.
Shaking her head she came to a stop behind him as he continued to complain blaming it all on Glenn getting all emotional that had changed the plans on burning the bodies.
Rick glared some as he looked to Daryl after Daryl finished his rant off saying that the people didn't know who was in charge or what the rules were. "The are no rules," he said as he finished putting dirt on one of the graves.
"Well that's a problem," Lori spoke after her husband had told Daryl there were no rules. "We haven't had one minute to hold onto anything of our old selves. We need time to mourn and we need to bury our dead. It's what people do."
Avery watched as Lori walked away after saying that and she sighed walking a bit closer to Daryl, "She has a point," she scolded the man. "Stop thinking of things your way," she hissed before moving away from him watching as he turned to face her and glaring though he didn't say anything which just made her shiver slightly.
Seeing Jessica make it to the graves she walked over to her sister. Laying her head on Jessica's arm she watched as the bodies in the truck were put into the ground. The last body to be put down was Amy's. Something that Andrea was insisting to do on her own even as Dale offered to help.
It was a site that hurt Avery to watch because of the own loss of her baby sister but she could say she was at least handling that death better than Andrea who in a way was acting like Taylor though she was glad that Taylor hadn't put Ezra's body into the grave. She was glad that Taylor had opted to stand between Nikki and Isaac and not move.
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Making it back to camp once the burial was over Kate looked at Zac as he came to a stop outside the RV. Rick and Lori had walked in not long ago more than likely to check on Jim. Biting her lip she raised an eyebrow looking at her husband expectantly. It was obvious he had something he wanted to say.
Zac blushed when Kate gave him that look she always did when she knew he was going to say something. Running a hand through his hair he looked at her hoping she didn't kill him for what he was about to say. "I..I wish you weren't pregnant now," he confessed feeling slightly guilty. "I mean we lost the camp and I know what the outside world is like. It's no place for a baby."
Nodding at Zac's words Kate moved closer to her husband, "And now I am okay with being pregnant," she told him as she laughed a sarcastic laugh. "It's funny how our roles are reversed," she said as she shrugged.
"How can you be okay with it now?" Zac asked her figuring last night would be something that had made her belief that not wanting this baby had been the right one.
Kate shrugged again as she looked down, "I just knew I was okay with it when I put Ezra down," she said knowing that sounded weird. "I had the strength to do that and I know I have the strength to raise this baby in a world like this," she said as she looked up at Zac. "Anyway we may go somewhere safe soon. Rick wants to go to the CDC and Shane wants to try Fort Benning. I think we should stick with whatever decision is made. Stick with this group. It's gotten us this far."
Hearing Kate's words Zac looked down now. He hadn't been so sure about staying with the group now that the camp had fallen. He half wanted to just take his siblings and leave but if Kate wanted to stay and stick out whatever plan they went with then he'd stay for her.
"If you want to stay then we will stay," Zac nodded as he looked up again and gave her a smile. "I'll stay for you."
Kate smiled at Zac's words and she leaned in pecking his lips briefly, "Then we are staying," she said to him knowing she felt safer with a group of people besides just Zac or even just Zac and his family. At least with some of them they had a few extra hands on deck.