digging graves// rick grimes x OC//

Pretty Much Dead Already Part 3

Hershel and Jimmy lead Rick through the forest, "The slit on the bottom is like glue. You just sink in," hearing a walker growl, Hershel turns to Rick, "That's Lou Bush."
"You knew him?"
"Lou as in Louise," the older man corrects, "She has a farm up the road. Sweet corn mostly. Worked at Hapman's Bar on weekends. The man, I don't know him, but the coveralls, I've been to where he worked. How many have you killed?"
"Too many to count," Rick answers truthfully.
"Can you stop?" Hershel asks. Rick doesn't answer, Hershel points towards the two walkers, "There are people out there who haven't been in their right minds, people who I believe can be restored," Jimmy hands the older man the snare pole.
"You're not talking about the walkers, are you?" Rick questions.
"Doesn't matter if you see them as human beings anymore. But if you and your people are going to stay here, that's how you're gonna have to treat them. My farm, my barn, my say," he hands the pole to Rick. Rick nods in understanding.
——
Daryl was in a better mood, as he leads Carol towards the edge of the pond. "You see it?" he asks.
"See what?" the older woman asks, confused.
He points to the blooming Cherokee Roses, "I'll find her." A small lapse of silence comes over the two, "Hey, I'm sorry about what happened this morning. Wi made me realize what an ass I had been."
"You wanted to look for her," she furrows her brows, "Why? This whole time I've wanted to ask you."
"'Cause I think she's still out there," he answers, "Truth is, what else I got to do?"
Carol looks at the man before walking over to touch the rose, "We'll find her. We will. I see it."
——
Hershel had the catch pole around the female walker's neck. The undead woman was trying to reach Hershel, but the pole blocked her from doing so. Rick was attempting to help Jimmy with the other walker that was stuck in the mud. "Otis said if you get them halfway out they'll do the rest of the work," Jimmy reveals.
"How many times did he do this?" Rick asks, strained.
"If one wandered onto the property, Otis would get them into the barn," Hershel explains, the walker still trying to rip into him, "Now we have to."
"What happens when the barn gets full?" Rick asks. As he speaks, Jimmy loses footing and falls into Rick, "Jeez!" he exclaims.
The walker begins to get closer, "Get the pole!" Hershel commands, "Jimmy. Jimmy. You got it." Jimmy ignores Hershel, trying to get as far from the gnawing walker as he could. Rick grabs the pole, pushing the walker back, "Easy. Easy, Rick. Lead him. Jimmy will spot for us. Lead him. Lead him, Rick. You're the carrot, not the stick."
"What?!" Rick yells.
"You heard me, just lead him. He'll come to you."
"You told me he handled them easily. This is easy?"
"It's easier than some things."
"Come on, this way," Jimmy leads.
——
Glenn sits on the RV, overlooking the farm. His eyes wander to a familiar figure walking down the road. He lays the rifle down, and stands up, taking his hat off, "Maggie," he calls to the woman. She glances up to him but keeps walking. "Hey," he tries again. He quickly climbs down, walking over to her, "Maggie." No answer as she still walks away from him. "Maggie," he jogs to her, "Maggie, just stop for a second."
"You talked about it. You told Dale and Winona, fine. I asked you. I told you. I just asked you for one thing. One thing," Maggie argues.
"I couldn't do it."
"My dad's gonna kick you guys out now. He told me," she admits.
"No, Rick's gonna work something out with your dad. Okay? I had to tell them."
"You did not," she yells.
He grabs her arm, making her face him, "No, I did. Okay? I wanted to," he takes the basket from her and sets it down, "Listen, you see I forgot. Okay? I forgot or I stopped thinking about it or maybe I didn't want to think about it. I let them lower me into that well like it was fun, like I was playing 'Portal.' It's a video game," he explains.
Maggie nods, "Of course it's a video game."
Glenn doesn't stop, "And then the pharmacy happened yesterday and I realized something. I forgot that they're dangerous. I don't care if they're sick people or dead people, they're dangerous. And then I realized something else. That I don't want you in danger ever. So I hate to blow your dad's big secret, but I'm sick of secrets. Secrets get you killed. And I'd rather have you pissed off at me and alive than liking me and dead. So that's why I told them," he turns around, walking away.
"Hey, walker bait," she calls out.
"Don't call me that," he says turning to face her.
She walks over to him, "Okay, Glenn," she chuckles, looking up at him. Smiling, she presses her lips against his, he doesn't kiss back at first, shocked at the sudden affection, but he quickly returns the gesture.
——
Dale carries the duffle bag of guns through the woods. Once he finds a spot, he lays a garbage bag on the ground, placing the bag of guns on top. "Man, this is a good hiding place," a gruff voice calls out from across the marshy area. Dale looks over to see Shane, "We ain't been in the swamps much, huh?"
"Imagine if you applied your tracking skills to finding Sophia," Dale says continuing with his plan.
Shane walks over, "How about... you just give me that bag, huh?"
"I'm not gonna do that."
"Yeah you are, Dale," he tilts his head, "Unless, well, you do have that rifle over your shoulder."
"You gonna shoot me like you did Otis? Tell another story?"
He chuckles, "Heh. No, man. Hell, when you really look at it in the cold light of the day, you're pretty much dead already," Dale looks at him, "Just give me the guns. Do it now."
"You think this is gonna keep us safe?"
"Mm-hmm," he hums, "I know it is."
"Rick is trying to get Hershel—"
"Dale shut up," he cuts him off, "Just shut up and give me the guns."
Dale leans the bag against the tree, and cocks the rifle, "Am I gonna have to shoot you? Do I have to kill you? Is that what it's gonna take?"
Shane lets out a dry chuckle and scoffs. He begins to step closer to Dale until he chest is against the barrel of the gun, "Yeah. That's what it's gonna take."
Dale lowers the gun, "This is where you belong, Shane."
"How's that, Dale?"
"This world, what it is now, this is where you belong," he slings the rifle over his shoulder, "And I may not have what it takes to last for long, but that's okay. 'Cause at least I can say when the world goes to shit," he picks up the bag of guns, pushing them into Shane's chest, "I didn't let it take me down with it."
"Fair enough," he smirks, sauntering away.
——
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