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Tomorrow Never Dies

I like you

“Dale could...he could get under your skin. Sure got under mine. Because he wasn’t afraid to say exactly what he thought, how he felt.” Everyone was quietly stood around yet another grave on the farm. It was beside Sophia’s, and twice the length, and they all stared at it with sad eyes. Only Rick spoke; everyone knew he would say the right things on Dale’s behalf. He was good with his words, always speaking the truth, and always willing to stand up and say what the others wanted when they were too afraid to open their mouths. “That kind of honesty is rare.” He said, staring at Dale’s grave with small tears in his eyes. “And brave. Whenever I’d make a decision, I’d look at Dale, he’d be looking back at me with that look he had. We’ve all seen it one time or another. I couldn’t always read him, but, he could read us. He saw people for who they were, he knew things about us. The truth.”

Parker held back her tears, not wanting to cry anymore. She had cried all through the night whilst they buried him; Daryl, T-Dog and Glenn. She had sobbed into her pillow and pulled her comforter up over her head to muffle the whimpers and sniffles that came from her mouth. She didn’t want anyone to see how much it was affecting her, even though they were all in the same boat. Dale had made a difference in everyone’s lives, their way of thinking, and his death had hit them all hard. Parker wasn’t by Glenn’s side this time, she let Maggie hold his hand and rest her head on his shoulder comfortingly. She stood off at the edge, further away from the others, right beside Daryl. At first, the two were tense with one another as everyone gathered for the funeral, but Parker didn’t care if Daryl was uncomfortable with how close she was standing next to him, how her arm brushed against his and she just let it happen. All she could think of was that Daryl had been the one to end Dale’s suffering, and all she wanted to do was thank him. She never thought she would have to think about something like that, but if Daryl hadn’t stepped up Dale could have died in a far more painful way...or worse; returned as a walker and attacked someone else.

Daryl had done the right thing.

“Who we really are.” Rick continued. “In the end, he was talking about losing our humanity. He said this group was broken, and the best way to honour him is to un-break it. Set aside our differences and pull together.” Parker didn’t know it, but Daryl was looking at her with soft eyes, not his typical harsh gaze that met hers whenever she felt brave enough to look his way. He knew she was hurting, it wasn’t difficult to see that, and he knew being angry or rude with her would just cause more problems for them both. He still thought about the kiss, every day in fact, and how he had reacted. He didn’t regret it, not really. He wasn’t ready for that and he wasn’t even sure what he felt for her was real or a side effect of loneliness. He tried not to dream about her at night, but sometimes she would pop into his mind and refuse to leave until he finally opened his eyes. She would just smile at him, still sitting in that beautiful, colourful field, and hold his hand or stroke the stray hairs from his forehead. It relaxed him, he could admit that, but the thought of going any further scared him to death. He didn’t now what to do, how to react, or how to do what she wanted him to do. He scoffed internally, kicking a stone beside his shoe. How pathetic, he was in his thirties and a pretty girl wanted him, yet he had no idea what to do about it. His brother would be teasing the shit out of right about now, if he was still around.

“Stop feeling sorry for ourselves.” Daryl glanced at Rick as he said that, as if managing to read his mind, and felt his cheeks grow warm. He was overthinking everything, again. This was Dale’s funeral, a time to honour and remember him, not to think about Glenn’s sister holding his god damn hand. “Take control of our lives, our safety, our future. We’re not broken, we’re gonna prove him wrong. From now on, we’re gonna do it his way. That is how we honour Dale.” Rick said firmly, looking at every member of the group in turn. Parker bravely pushed her arm into Daryl’s, feeling their fingers brush against each other. Daryl flinched, naturally, and looked down at her hand. It was much smaller than his, more slender and dainty, her fingers long and angular with sharper nails and smoother skin. His were large, calloused, and stubby. But for some reason, that feeling of her pinkie finger slowly circling his made his skin tingle and he felt his chest heave underneath his checked shirt.

Why did this feel so...okay?

The group slowly made their way back to the camp after the funeral, and Parker didn’t leave Daryl’s side the entire time. She kept on the side furthest from the group, her head down and her hair cascading across her face like a curtain, shielding her tired eyes and puffy skin from where she had been crying all night. Daryl just held onto his crossbow with one hand, and allowed Parker to grip his little finger with hers. This was the closest the two would get to actually holding hands, he thought, and allowed himself this small moment to give in to what he had been dreaming about for weeks. Just for a little bit.

Hershel and Rick started discussing plans to move everyone from the camp into the main farm house, seeing as the perimeter fence wasn’t doing a very good job of keeping the walkers out. It was dangerous outside, especially with winter closing in on them, and Hershel had realised that the moment Dale was found lying in the grass the previous night.

“We should have moved you in a while ago.” Parker heard him say as she and Daryl neared the camp, being the last two people to approach. Glenn was already packing his and Parker’s belongings into Patricia’s blue truck and looked up when he saw his sister coming closer. Almost immediately, she dropped her hand from Daryl’s and he glanced up at her, only for her to look straight ahead and make a beeline for her tent, wanting to pack her things and get inside before she froze to death. Daryl tried his best to ignore the loss of contact, his pinkie feeling colder than before, and grunted, heading up the hill to get his own things. Everything he owned could fit on the back of his brother’s motorcycle anyway; it would take about ten minutes to pack it all.

He let his tired legs carry him up the hill, not looking back at the camp, and he put his crossbow down before pulling everything out of his tent and shoving it into the bags on either side of the Chopper. He quickly folded up his cot and hooked it to the motorcycle before starting on his tent; that’s when he heard footsteps behind him.

“You need help?” He was startled to realise it was Glenn behind him, not Parker or Carol like he expected. Daryl looked over his shoulder at the kid and he shrugged. That was all he was getting in response. Glenn awkwardly cleared his throat. “Okay, I’ll be honest, I didn’t come up here to help you.”

“Figures.” Daryl said gruffly and Glenn pinched the bridge of his nose.

“I wanted to...talk to you, Daryl.” He said and Daryl just carried on dismantling his tent, really not liking where this conversation was heading.

“‘Bout what?” He asked. Glenn didn’t say anything so Daryl sighed and stood up, turning to face him. He clenched his jaw and stepped towards him. “Well? You gonna stand there all day?”

“Do you like Parker?” Glenn blurted and Daryl blinked at him, stunned that the kid had the balls to be so blunt with him. Daryl scoffed and turned back to the tent, folding it up and dragging it over to the motorcycle.

“She’s annoyin’.” He said with a grunt as he attached the tent to the side of his bike, hooking the corners onto large leather bag strapped to the engine. “Nosy, too. Like you.”

“Doesn’t really answer my question.” Glenn said quietly.

“No, I don’t like her.” Daryl said, his tone a little harsher than he meant it to sound. Glenn bit the inside of his cheek.

“So...you don’t, you know, like her?”

“What?” Daryl asked, straightening his back. Glenn seemed to back down slightly, realising who he was actually speaking too. This was Daryl, he wouldn’t like Parker...there was no way.

“Look, when Dale said-” Glenn took a moment to swallow the lump in his throat, before sighing. “He said she meant something to you. I just didn’t understand what that meant.”

“She don’t mean nothin’ to me.” Daryl said simply, collecting the rest of his belongings and shoving them into the leather bags before leaning on his bike. “That clear enough for you?”

“Look,” Glenn said, his patience starting to feel tested. “I just wanted to ask, okay? You don’t have to act so hostile all the time. She seems to like you, or at least...she tolerates you.”

“Thanks, that really makes me feel better.” Daryl said with a roll of his eyes and swung a leg over the bike, leaning back in the seat and gripping the handles.

“You know what I meant.” Glenn sighed and Daryl glared up at him.

“Yeah, I do.” He snapped, making the younger guy flinch. “I know you all think I’m some piece of red neck trash, and maybe you’re right. Parker probably does too, she’s just too kind to say anythin’, right?”

“That’s not what-”

“Just forget it.” Daryl said, revving the engine to life. Glenn stepped back as Daryl turned the bike around before looking at him one last time. “Just remember somethin’. I’m just here to survive, okay? So stop pokin’ your nose in my god damn business!” Daryl warned and Glenn went red in the face. Daryl scoffed. “Tell your sister to do the same.” He revved the engine again and kicked off, hurtling down the hill and leaving Glenn by himself. He huffed and shoved his hands into his pockets before slowly making his way to the farm house where the others were all headed.

“Asshole.”

***
Parker grabbed the bag with all of her belongings and set them down by the fire place, taking the small, cushioned foot rest beside the couch and sitting down whilst the others unpacked their things. Glenn had gone with the rest of the men into the dining room where Hershel was setting up a pillow and blanket for himself on the sofa. He had given his bedroom to Carl and Lori, and when Parker asked why, she wasn’t expecting the response he gave her.

“In Lori’s condition, a proper bed is the best thing for her.” Parker frowned at him.

“Condition?” She asked, looking over the older man’s shoulder as Lori hauled a box upstairs.
“What are you talking about, is she okay?” Hershel blinked at her.

“She’s pregnant.” Parker felt her stomach drop. When Hershel realised how shocked she was, he awkwardly cleared his throat. “I thought you knew, your brother did.” Parker shook her head without saying a word. “I’m sorry, I probably shouldn’t have said anything anyway.”

“No, it’s fine.” Thanks.” She then walked away with a far off look in her eye and from across the room Daryl noticed it clear as day. He didn’t do anything about it though; he couldn't. He shook his head and carried on unfolding his sleeping bag and pillow onto the floor closest the large window near the front door, wanting to stay on look out whenever he could.

Parker felt the urge to get some air so she hurried outside, ignoring Andrea’s worried calls, and rushed out onto the porch so she was out of sight. She noticed Shane loading some planks of wood into the boot of his car; getting ready to head up to the new makeshift look out he’d be building on the edge of the farm. Security had to be tighter than ever with more walkers appearing from the woods, and Shane had taken it upon himself to secure small lookout spots across the farm, starting with the small wind turbine at the edge of the fence, which had a perfect view of the forest. Parker sat down in the rocking chair on the porch and rested her head against it, letting out a sigh. She wasn’t going to dwell on Lori’s pregnancy, she couldn’t. She just knew that Lori needed more protection, and until the baby came that was the most important thing now. She rocked the chair back and forth, letting the cool air brush over her skin, before the door in front of her slammed shut.

“Parker?” Carl asked hesitantly. She sat up slightly and smiled at him.

“Everything okay in there?” She asked and he nodded. Carl slowly walked up to her and jumped up onto the porch railing, letting his little legs dangle off the edge.

“If I tell you something, will you promise not to tell my parents?” He asked after a while of silence. Parker looked up at him.

“Depends, is it bad?” She teased. Carl looked down and she leaned forward in her seat. “Carl? You can tell me anything, it’s okay. I’m not a snitch.”

He avoided her gaze for a moment but then eventually looked into her eyes. Carl then reached behind his back, grabbing for something underneath his red jacket, and pulled out a gun. A pistol, in fact, and one that Parker had seen before.

“Is that-”

“I took it from Daryl’s motorcycle.” He said in a rush and Parker stared at in shock, not quite believing Daryl’s gun was in the hands of a child. Parker reached over and took it from him, holding the weighted gun in her hands and staring at the black, metallic body. It shone in the sunlight, and was weirdly enough one of the most beautiful guns she had ever seen. It was strange that it belonged to someone as rough as Daryl...but after she thought about it, this gun might just be the perfect match for him. “If he found out I took it, he’d kill me.” Carl said and she scoffed slightly.

“He wouldn’t lay a finger on you, trust me. I wouldn’t let him.” Parker said, keeping the gun close to her in her lap. “But Carl, you shouldn’t have taken this. You shouldn’t steal from anyone here.”

“I know.” He said shamefully and looked at his feet. Parker didn’t really know what to do. She wasn’t used to handling kids, but now that Carl was the only one around he was one of her top priorities, bar her brother of course.

“Why do you have this, anyway?” She asked, looking up at him. “I’m not against you having protection, but doing it behind your parents back isn’t the way you should go about it. You know better than that, kid.”

“I...I…” Carl couldn’t seem to get the words out, but then he swallowed and gingerly looked up at Parker. He knew he could trust her, it was just being honest about what happened the other night that was getting to him. “Dale...was it my fault that he died?” Parker instantly frowned and pushed herself off the chair, standing over Carl and looking down at him.

“What are you talking about?” She asked firmly and Carl started to panic. “A walker killed him.”

“I’d seen it before.” He admitted. “I-I saw that walker in the woods that day and...I was going to shoot it. It was stuck in the mud, I was throwing rocks at it and stuff. But I-I was gonna do it!”

“I still don’t get how any of this is because of you.” Parker said gently and Carl sniffled, rubbing at his eyes with the sleeve of his jacket.

“It got free, came after me and I-I ran away. If I’d have killed it Dale would still be here.” Parker put the gun down on the chair behind her and put her hands on his shoulders. When he didn’t look at her, Parker took his face and forced him to look her in the eye.

“Listen to me.” She said, wiping a stray tear away. “You need to start being more careful out there. If not, you could get hurt.”

“But I didn’t get hurt, somebody else did, because of me.” Carl said, his voice shaking.

“Look, you did the right thing by running away. You did.” She said, emphasising her words when Carl started to shake his head. “I know it doesn’t feel like it, but running was the safest option. And you came back. Like I said, I’m not against you having protection. But you shouldn’t have stolen from Daryl. You shouldn’t have been wandering off by yourself, it isn’t safe out there. You need back up in case something does go wrong.” She paused before smiling at him, trying to calm him down and comfort him the best she could. “I’ll always have your back, okay? No matter what, you can come to me. To talk, or even just to be around somebody for a little bit. But I’ll always have your back out there too. And I hope I can count on you to do the same for me?”

Carl stared at her, expecting to have been scolded like he usually would have if he had gone to Shane or his parents. But Parker was different, she treated him how he wanted to be treated, and it was like she understood him, even though they were years apart. Carl sniffed and wiped at his eyes, not wanting to cry anymore. “I will.” He said with a nod. “I promise.” Parker smiled and stood up straight.

“Good. Now, what are we gonna do about this?” She pointed at Daryl’s gun and Carl shook his head.

“Daryl will-”

“He won’t hurt you. I promise. Besides, I’ll come with you. I wouldn’t let him touch you.” Carl hesitated but nodded and jumped down from the porch railing, taking the gun and handing it straight to Parker. “Uh-uh. You’re taking it to him, not me.”

“I don’t want to be near it again.” Carl said, stepping away from her. “I don’t like guns anymore, they’re dangerous.”

“Okay. But you’re doing all the talking.” She compromised and that seemed to be enough for Carl. Parker patted his shoulder and pushed him towards the porch steps, telling him to stay put, before putting the gun underneath her shirt and stepping inside. The others were more settled now, having unpacked their things, and she spotted Daryl walking towards the door straight away and headed over to him.

“I need to talk to you.” She said in a hushed voice, not wanting to draw attention her way. Daryl raised an eyebrow at her.

“‘Bout what?” He asked and she looked around at the others, seeing her brother eyeing her up and Lori sat in the corner with Carol. As long as Lori didn’t suspect her son was involved, Parker knew she was in the clear. She’d deal with Glenn later.

“Well, Carl actually wants to talk to you.” She said, nodding towards the door. Daryl peered outside, seeing the kid awkwardly standing there and he grunted.

“You speakin’ on his behalf?”

“Will you just come outside, please?” Parker said angrily, her voice raising slightly and gaining some looks from the others. She noticed her brother tense up and she flushed, but grabbed Daryl’s arm and practically dragged him outside before he could protest.

“The hell, woman!” Daryl growled, yanking his arm away once the front door slammed shut behind them. She ignored him and stepped down towards Carl before turning and looking up at Daryl. “What is this?” He asked, pointing between the two of them.

“I think this is yours.” Parker said and reached back to grab the pistol, holding it out in front of her so Daryl could see it clearly. He stared at it before taking it from her hands and examining it. He then glanced between the two of them.

“You took my gun?” He asked, his voice oddly steady.

“I did.” Carl said suddenly and Daryl looked taken aback.

“You went through my stuff?” He asked. Carl panicked again and looked at Parker for help, but she just raised her eyebrow, telling him to carry on.

“I-I took it yesterday. I don’t know why, I just thought...I thought I should have one.”

“So you stole from me?” Daryl’s voice was deeper and slightly more intimidating than it had been so far and Parker protectively moved closer to Carl, holding onto his shoulder with her hand. Her other hand brushed some hair from her face and she paused at the feeling of her partially missing ear. Her fingers traced the indent just at the very top of her ear, which her hair managed to cover when she wore it down. But when it was up, or in a cap like it was now, the ear was exposed and that meant the others could see it. They’d occasionally eye it up when they thought she wasn’t looking, but Parker always saw them.

“Daryl, lay off, okay?” Parker said after a small silence. His eyes darted to her and she felt Carl move to look up at her, not expecting her to speak on his behalf. “He’s apologising, he’s doing the right thing and returning it to you.”

“He still went through my stuff.” He grunted, folding his arms and making the muscles bulge out; he was trying to intimidate them. It made Carl gulp slightly, whereas Parker just tried her best not to stare for too long. Sometimes it was like he wanted her to stare at him.

“I’m sorry, please don’t tell my parents!” Carl begged him, stepping forward. Daryl stared him down, a deep frown on his brow, but then he snuck another look at Parker. She raised her eyebrows at him, daring him to make a move against the kid, and after a few moments of debating with himself, he seemed to visibly calm down. He sighed and then bent down into a crouch so he was eye level with Carl. Parker pushed Carl forward slightly, knowing it was safe for him to approach, and Carl reluctantly did as she wanted.

“I ain’t no snitch.” Daryl said, rubbing a hand over his face and looking over his shoulder at the house, knowing Rick and Lori were somewhere inside. He looked back at Carl and sighed. “Look just...don’t take my shit again, got it? Or I won’t be so nice next time.” Carl’s eye bulged as Daryl’s hand moved down to the hunting knife attached to his hip and he instantly nodded his head.

“Yes sir.”

“And don’t call me sir neither, I ain’t your damn teacher.” Daryl snapped before standing up. Carl looked at Parker and she nodded at the house just before Carl took off, running up the steps and flying through the door, letting it slam shut behind him. Parker gave Daryl a look once the kid was gone and he scoffed. “What?” He asked.

“Did you really have to threaten to use a knife on him?” She asked, putting her hands on her hips.

“What you talkin’ ‘bout?” He asked, feigning innocence, and it was very difficult for Parker to keep her cool when he smirked at her all of sudden, catching her off guard. “I didn’t do nothin’.” He then walked past her towards his motorcycle, putting his gun away, and Parker just stood there dumbstruck. She then closed her eyes and took in a deep breath before spinning on her heels and marching over to him. Daryl was now sitting on the bike and putting the key into the ignition but didn’t look up at the sound of her footsteps.

“Does it not bother you?” She asked bluntly, and Daryl turned the engine on, practically ignoring her.

“Does what bother me?” He replied, wiping at a small scratch on the side of the bike, grumbling as he did so.

“You’re kidding, right?” Parker scoffed and that finally made Daryl look at her. “You string me around like a puppet, making me wonder what the hell it is you actually feel about me, without ever being honest! What is your deal, man?” Daryl revved the engine and Parker nearly lost it. She reached over and yanked the keys out and Daryl stared at her with wide eyes. Before he could react she turned and threw them a few meters away into the bushes and Daryl jumped up.

“The hell?” He exclaimed glaring at her. When he went to retrieve them, Parker placed a hand on his chest and shoved him backwards so he was in front of her. “Seriously, you’re startin’ to really piss me off.”

“Well, at least we’re finally on the same page.” She snarled.

“What are you-”

“I like you!” She cried, throwing her hands up and Daryl froze. Parker was practically seething with anger, but the truth was out. There wasn’t much she could do about that now. “Seeing as you won't be honest here, then I will be! I don’t really know how much I like you because you piss me off a lot and you’re really distant and that makes things difficult, but I feel different around you! And...and I don’t know how else to explain it other than I like you more than a friend, or whatever we are, should.” She paused, her voice trailing off slightly as she realised Daryl was just staring at her, not making a sound. But he also wasn’t running away, so that was something, right? “That’s why I kissed you the other day, on the hill.” She said, nerves coming back to her. She looked at her feet and scuffed them along the ground. “I-I thought it would be a good idea-”

“It wasn’t.” Daryl said and she went pink.

“Yeah. It probably wasn’t.” She felt herself laughing a little. “But I get brave when I’m drunk so...I did it. I just...I don’t want to lie to myself anymore and pretend like I don’t think you’re attractive-”

“Stop.” Daryl said and started to walk over to the bushes. Parker grabbed at his arm but Daryl flinched and yanked it away.

“Look if you don’t like me back then just say so!” She demanded and he scowled.

“Just leave it, alright?” He said roughly and stomped up to the bushes, searching through them and breaking some of the tiny branches along the way. He was making a mess, and Parker knew Hershel wouldn’t appreciate that, but in that moment she didn’t care.

“Daryl, just tell me the truth!” Parker said, her anger coming back to her. “Just for once, be honest with me!” Daryl finally found his keys and he straightened up before storming over to his bike, pushing past her and sitting down again. He was about to start the engine when Parker ran over and put her hands on the handle bars, making him halt his movements. “Just stop fucking running away from me!” She shouted and she thought she saw Daryl flinch for a second, but she brushed it off. “Every time something happens between us, you leave. You turn around and leave as if it doesn’t mean anything, as if building relationships with people and bonding with them doesn’t matter to you!”

“That’s because they don’t!” Daryl shouted back, leaning up and getting in her face. Neither of them heard the front door open a few feet away, and neither of them saw Maggie step out with Glenn at her side, both of them curious as to what the shouting was all about. They didn’t expect to see little Parker Rhee and scary Daryl Dixon having a screaming match on his motorcycle. At first, Glenn stepped forward to stop it, suddenly scared what Daryl might do or say to his sister, but Maggie grabbed his shirt to stop him.

“Don’t.” She said quietly, pulling him to the side so they were standing behind the porch pillars and slightly out of sight. Glenn stared at her as if she was insane but she shushed him, looking back at the two in front of them.

“Of course it matters!” Parker cried, leaning closer to him automatically. “It’s the end of the goddamn world and you don’t want people around you?”

“No!”

“Why the hell not?!”

“Because people get you killed!” Parker scoffed and folded her arms.

“Oh right, and I’m going to get you killed, am I? How, Daryl?” She cried. He looked away, not being able to meet her gaze, but that only seemed to ignite more fire from inside her. “You don’t try with me, you don’t try with anyone! I want you to be apart of this group and you just pack your stuff up and move as far away as you can, and for what?! So you can have some peace and quiet? Well guess what, the world doesn’t work that way anymore, you can’t just run away from the slightest problem and hope it goes away!”

“Shut up.” Daryl growled, still looking away from her. His fists were wrapped around the handlebars and his knuckles had started to turn white from how hard he was gripping them.

“No. No I won’t shut up.” Parker spat. “I’m tired of this shit, all of it. The way you treat me, the way you speak to me when you’re angry. There’s no reason for you to be like this!”

“I have a reason!” Daryl shouted, stepping off the bike, no longer being able to just sit there and listen to her. He was hot headed and stubborn, just like Parker was, and when they got this enraged it wasn’t going to end well. But neither could stop.

“Bullshit!” Parker exclaimed, throwing her arms up. “You haven’t given me a single reason as to why you act like this with me, everyone else you either ignore or you’re civil with but me? Christ, what do you want from me, Daryl? Huh?! Why are you so distant with me?”

“Because I don’t want you to get hurt!” He yelled, getting right in her face, his breath coming out in deep pants. The two stared at each other, eyes blazing and fists clenched, when from behind them someone shouted. They both turned and Maggie and Glenn, who were still watching from the porch with awe struck expressions, both ran down to see what was going on. T-Dog suddenly rushed out from behind the trees, waving his arms and calling out to them all. Parker and Daryl stepped away from each other, both trying to process what Daryl had said in the little time they had before everyone else charged out of the house.

“What the hell is going on out here?” Rick demanded, his hand instinctively on his gun. T-Dog tried to catch his breath before pointing at the barn.

“He got out!” T-Dog cried. “Randall got out!”

***
Daryl and Rick inspected the inside of the shed, yanking on all of the doors and any bits of wood that might have been moved. But they found nothing, just the padlock that had been secured on the handle and the cuffs that were still hooked to the pipe where Randall had been sat. It seemed like the kid had disappeared into thin air, and that only made them more suspicious. Rick turned the cuffs over, inspecting the blood dripping from them, and then threw them down before storming back outside to where the rest of the group was.

“The cuffs are still hooked.” Rick announced to everyone as he stepped out into the afternoon sun. They all looked at each other nervously. “He must have slipped them.”

“Is that even possible?” Carol asked.

“It is if you’ve got nothing to lose.” Andrea pointed out and Parker bit her lip before staring out into the woods. Where the hell could he have gone? And for how long? If he was anywhere near his group...who knows what could happen now.

“But we wanted him gone!” Carol said, her voice shaking slightly with fear. “Surely that’s solved our problems?”

“Or it’s brought even more to us.” Parker said, glancing at her brother who nodded.

“She’s right. He could already be back with his group, we have no idea.”

“It’s not safe to leave him out there.” Lori said, holding Carl against her.

“Well, what do we do about it?” T-Dog asked before everyone turned at a shout coming from the woods.

“Rick!” Everyone’s heads snapped around to see Shane appearing through the trees, his face covered in blood and a sour expression across his features. Parker frowned and spun around, looking at everyone. How had she not remembered he was missing? “RICK!” He cried again and their leader stepped towards him.

“What happened?” Lori called out to him.

“He’s armed! He’s got my gun!” Shane replied.

“Are you okay?” Carl called out, gasping at the sight of blood dripping from his nose. It was almost broken and dented to the left, and Parker had never seen Shane look so pissed off before. It made her shiver.

“I’m fine.” Shane reassured him as he stopped near the group. “Little bastard just snuck up on me, clocked me in the face.”

“Randall did that?” Parker exclaimed, pointing at his nose, and Shane nodded before spitting blood onto the leaves at his feet.

“Alright, Hershel, T-Dog!” Rick said loudly, pointing back up at the farm house. “You get everybody back into the house. Glenn, Daryl, come with us.”

“Just let him go, that was the plan wasn’t it, to just let him go?” Carol said nervously but Shane shook his head, taking a gun that T-Dog threw his way.

“The plan was to cut him loose, far away from here, not on our front step with a gun!” Rick said harshly, bringing his gun from its holster.

“You can’t go out there, you don’t know what could happen!” Carol called out as the men started to walk away.

“Get everybody back in the house.” Rick ordered, glancing over his shoulder at them all. He then turned to Shane and walked over to him just as Daryl and Glenn grabbed their own weapons. Parker stared wide eyed as they instantly started to head into the woods, but she raced after them and grabbed Glenn’s arm.

“No, no you cannot go out there!” She begged, trying to drag him back to the house. “None of you can!”

“Parker we have to protect the group!” Glenn insisted, shaking his sister off. “You said so yourself!”

“He’s armed, w-what if he brought his men back!” She cried. “And it’ll be dark soon, do you know how dangerous that could be?”

“We have to do something!” Shane spat, rubbing a hand over his head and stomping the ground.

“My brother is not going out there!” Parker shouted and she felt hands on her shoulders. She looked up to see Rick staring down at her, determination in his eyes, and she felt her body tense.

“Glenn will come back safe. I swear to you, Parker.” He said firmly. “Nothing will happen to him.” Parker sniffed and her eyes started to burn as she looked from Rick to her brother and finally to Daryl. She shook her head and pushed him away before storming off to the house, the others following her without a moment's hesitation. All the men could do was watch her go before taking off after Shane into the woods. Daryl gripped his crossbow tight to his chest and ignored the heavy weight that was pressing down onto it, making it harder to breath. He didn’t say anything, but he was promising Parker the exact same thing. Glenn would come back safe, and if he could manage it, so would he.

Notes

Comments

Still here! Yes excited for season 8! July 21st first sneak peak of it!! Love this story!!

Loul461 Loul461
7/7/17

Wow!! Other than Herschel getting hurt, that was great!! Thank you for the updated chapter and hope you keep doing it!! You are a great writer!!

JetCmoon JetCmoon
4/10/17

Yay youre back ! Cant wait to see where it goes now!

Loul461 Loul461
4/10/17

yayy you're back

milouuu milouuu
3/20/17

I'm so glad you're back, I've missed this story! :)

daniellarose daniellarose
3/19/17