Beautiful Mistakes~ A Rick Grimes Love Story

*| 12 |*

"We're not leaving." Rick says.

"We can't stay here." Hershel says.

"What if there's another sniper? A wood pallet won't stop one of those rounds." Maggie says.

"We can't even go outside." Beth says.

"Not in the daylight." Carol says.

Glenn speaks up. "Rick says we're not running, we're not running."

Rick looks up at me, as I'm in the second floor, holding Judith. I turn away from him and walk back to the cell. I could hear everything I needed to without having to see him. We weren't exactly speaking since the last time he was loosing it and turned his back on us, when we needed him the most.

"No, better to live like rats." Merle yells, from the locked cell.

"You got a better idea?" Rick asks.

"Yeah, we should have slide out here last night and lived to fight another day. But we lost that window, didn't we? I'm sure he's got scouts on every road out of this place by now." Merle says.

Daryl says, "We ain't scared of that prick."

"Y'all should be." Merle says. "That truck through the fence thing, that's just him ringing the doorbell. We might have some thick walls to hide behind, but he's got the guns and the numbers. And if he takes the high ground around this place, shoot, he could just starve us out if he wanted to." Merle says.

Maggie wants to put Merle in the cell block. She was tired of hearing him bitch and so was I. Daryl argued and says he's got a point. Maggie starts blaming Merle.

I start to walk down the stairs and say, "What's it matter whose fault it was? What's done is done." I say.

"Now Axel's dead. We can't stay here." Hershel says. Rick starts to walk away again. Hershel gets up and yells, "GET BACK HERE!" as I'm still standing on the steps.

"You're slipping, Rick. We've all seen it. Luna's suffered from it. We understand why. But now is not the time. You once said this isn't a democracy. Now you have to own up to that. I put my family's life in your hands. So get your head clear and do something." Hershel says. Rick looks back at me, but I turn away and walk back up to our cell. He nods his head and walks outside anyways, not saying a damn thing.

Carl and Sage go outside to find Rick.
"You shouldn't be out here." Rick tells them.
"I'm a good shot, and Sage is even better." Carl says.
"Yes, you both are." Rick says.

"Hey dad?" Carl asks.
"Yeah?" Rick replies.
"If I say something, will you promise not to be mad?" Carl asks him.
"I won't get mad." Rick says.
"You should stop." Carl says.
"Stop what?" Rick asks.
"Being the leader." Carl says.
"And avoiding mom. She needs you." Sage says.
"Let Hershel and Daryl handle things. You deserve a rest." Carl says.
"And spend time with mom, she really needs you right now." Sage says.

Rick doesn't respond. Carl and Sage walk back inside together.

"I'm worried about him, Carl." Sage says.

"Me too... let's go check on Judith." Carl says. Sage bursts with excitement.

Rick walks back inside. He tells Maggie to take watch and keep her eyes open. She was mad at Rick, only because I was. You know, girl talk. She asked me if I was okay this morning. I broke down and told her. She said he would come around, but still didn't dismiss his actions.

Now, everyone was arguing about what to do next and still arguing about Merle being here. That's when I hear Glenn go off on Rick, "I wouldn't ask you to live with Jared after he tried to kill you." Damn. Hershel tries to further defend Merle, because of his background in the military.