Don't Fear The Reaper (R. Grimes & D. Dixon)

36

Kit sat next to Daryl as he and Jody tweaked their crossbows, Daryl pointing out things here and there for Jody to do.

"hey." Maggie said, walking in "everyone, this is Aaron" everyone stood alarmed, now armed; rick and kit eyed him as Daryl rushed forward with merle checking their surroundings and looking for others before shutting the door.

"We met him outside. He's by himself. we took his weapons and gear." Maggie explained as Daryl roughly patted the man down, nodding to kit and rick. He was clear.

"hi," Aaron awkwardly said. Rick handed Judith to the boys as she started to fuss. "it's nice to meet you," he continued, taking a step forward. Guns clicked around him, and both Dixons moved with him from behind, ready to stop the stranger, a very well-groomed, clean stranger.

"you said he had a weapon?" rick asked. Maggie stepped forward, handing rick a six shooter revolver. Kit snorted six shots for all of them? rick tucked it in the back of his jeans. "there something you need?" he asked

"he has a camp nearby. he wants us to audition for membership." Sasha said, side-eyeing Aaron

"I wish there was another word. Audition makes it sound like we're some kind of a dance troupe. that's only on Friday." Aaron joked. No one laughed. "um, and it's not a camp. It's a community. I think you all would make valuable additions. But it's not my call. My job is to convince you all to follow me back home. I know if I were you I wouldn't go either.-" kit raised a brow "- not until I knew exactly what I was getting into. Sasha, can you hand rick or kitten my pack?" kit furrowed her eyebrows; how the fuck? Sasha took it off her back, holding it out to them. rick took the cue kit wasn't going to touch it and took it instead. "front pocket, there's an envelope" rick kneeled setting it on the ground to open it. "there's no way I could convince you to come with me just by talking about our community. That's why I brought those. I apologize in advance for the picture quality. we just found an old camera-"

"no one gives a shit" Daryl and merle cut him off. Kit would have laughed if she wasn't paying attention to the photos rick was pulling out. 

"you're absolutely 100% right," he tried to appease the scruffy-looking redneck brothers. Kit leaned forward to get a better look at the now top photo. It was of tall walls.

"that's the first picture I wanted to show you. Because nothing I say about our community will matter unless you know you'll be safe. If you join us, you will be. Each panel in that wall is a 15-foot high, 12-foot wide slab of steel-framed by cold-rolled steel beams and square-tubing. Nothing alive or dead gets through that without our say. So like I said, security is important. In fact, there's only one resource more critical to our community's survival. The people." rick turned to look at kit; she gave him a pleading look. He turned back to face the man.

"Together, we're strong. you can make us stronger" rick started walking forward "the next picture you'll see inside the gates. our community was the first construc-" rick right hooked him knocking him out cold

"oh oh, know-how that feels," merle laughed. Kit rolled her eyes " really, rick?" 

"needed a minute to think we cant have another terminus. let's secure him; boys dump his pack," he ordered

"Anyone see anything?" he asked

"just a lot of places to hide," merle said

"We didn't even see him. if he wanted to hurt us, he could have," Maggie said in his defense

kit and walked over to the boys to see what they found; they handed her a flare gun that rick gently took from her hands. "never seen a gun like that before" carl said Jody hummed in agreement

"that's a hell of a right cross there, rick" Aaron said groaning as he came to

"sit him up" rick ordered Michonne and Maggie

"you're being cautious. I completely understand," Aaron said

"how many of your people are out there?" rick asked. Kit could see the hesitation in Aarons's face "you have a flare gun. You have it to signal your people. how many of them are there?" Aaron looked like he was going to cry as rick took another step forward. Kit waved him off and gave Daryl a look when he moved to stop her as she crouched in front of Aaron. Keeping eye contact for a minute before speaking, "I'm going to ask you some questions, and it would be in your best interest to not lie. do you understand?" Aaron nodded 

"how many are with you?" "one," he whispered, his voice cracking

"The water was it you?" he nodded

"how long have you been following us?" he didn't answer at first. rick went to move again but stopped when kit snapped her fingers over her shoulder at him. "how long?" she asked again

"since the bridge." Daryl scoffed; kit bit her lip, the burn on her hand feeling even more prominent

"the one. Who are they to you?" he swallowed "my husband," kit nodded. She got that. She literally killed to save her boys. she looked back at rick " I like him."

"kit-"

"Would it help if I showed you the community? My husband and I drove separately so we could have room for you all. East ridge road, just after you hit route 16. would've parked closer, but the storm blocked the road." Aaron offered

"I'll check out the cars," kit said, standing to face rick. "I will, too," Michonne stepped up.

"There aren't any cars," rick ground.

"well, I'm gonna find out" Rick shook his head, looking at kit

"We don't need to." 

"We do, and I am. You dragged us out here for the hope of something better; now that it's right in front of you, you're going to shy away? that's not the rick grimes I know."

"you once told me hope was blind. remember that?"

kit hummed, "but it can be an awfully grand adventure. we need to do this." rick slowly walked forward, cupping kits face and leaning his forehead against hers before nodding "okay fine, but we do. This carefully."

as rick started compiling a team to accompany kit, Daryl moved to her; she brushed the hair out of his face before kissing him. Her thumb caressed his cheek as they whispered I love yous before he moved to grab Aaron. the boys each hugged her before moving over for rick as he walked back over "you stay safe, alert." 

"I know, rick," she giggled. He shook his head, yanking her forward for a hard kiss; she smiled, pulling away "be good, sheriff, love you" he tapped her behind. 

"love you too. You've got an hour before I'm coming for you." kit saluted him as she walked out.