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The Grimes parents made their way to their tent looking for their children so that Rick could say goodbye. Upon entering the tent they found Cali soothing a crying Carl. Seeing how upset both of her children were caused Lori's emotions to get the best of her.
"You went through hell to find us. You just got here and you're gonna turn around and leave?" The woman snapped. Normally she would try to not argue in front of the kids but Lori couldn't stop herself.
"Dad, I don't want you to go." Carl cried latching onto Rick.
"To hell with the guns. Shane is right." Lori continued. "Merle Dixon? He's not worth one of your lives, even with guns thrown in."
"I owe a debt to a man I met and his little boy." Rick sighed looking at his wife and daughter. "If they hadn't taken me in, I'd have died. It's because of them that I made it back to you at all. They said they'd follow me to Atlanta. They'll walk into the same trap I did if I don't warn him."
"What's stopping you?" Cali spoke up.
"A walkie-talkie, it's in the bag of guns I dropped. He's got the other one. Our plan was to connect when they got closer." The man explained.
"So use the CB. What's wrong with that?" Cali replied.
"The walkies are the ones Shane and I used. They don't match any other bandwidth... Not even the scanners in our cars."
"Of course they don't." The teenager mumbled.
"I need that bag." Rick stated looking at each member of his family. "I promise I will do everything in my power to make it back to you guys. Okay?"
"All right." Lori nodded knowing she wasn't going to win.
Rick smiled at her before looking down at Carl who was still hugging his waist. Carl gazed back at him with teary eyes but nodded along following after his mother.
"Cali?"
"You're going to go no matter what I say." The brunette said standing up from the bed. She sighed before moving to hug Rick. "Please be careful. I can't handle you dying again."
"I promise I'll come back to you guys." The Grimes man replied, tightly returning his daughters hug. Lori pulled herself and Carl into the two's hug creating one giant Grimes family hug. The family enjoyed the peaceful moment for a few minutes before they heard a horn beeping followed by shouting.
Rick broke the hug and exited the tent to see what the commotion was. He was swiftly followed by the rest of his family. The group was met with the sight of Daryl in the front seat of the van continuously honking the horn.
"Come on, let's go!" He yelled looking at Rick.
Said man huffed frustratedly turning to look at his family one last time. He pulled Lori into a quick but sweet kiss before giving both Cali and Carl a hug and kiss on the forehead. Before Rick could walk to the van Shane stopped him.
"Got any rounds in the python?"
"No." Rick shook his head.
"Last time we were on the gun range, I'm sure I wound up with a few loose rounds of yours."
"You and that bag... like the bottom of an old lady's purse." Rick chuckled at his best friend.
"I hate that you're doing this, man. I think that it's foolish and reckless." Shane sighed quickly glancing over at Cali, who looked miserable. "But if you're gonna go, you're taking bullets."
"I'm not sure I'd want to fire a shot in the city, not after what happened last time."
"That's up to you." The Walsh man nodded understanding where Rick was coming from. "Well... four men, four rounds. What are the odds, huh?" He shook his head handing Rick the bullets. "Let's just hope that four is your lucky number, okay?"
"Thank you." Rick smiled gratefully patting Shane on the back before walking towards the van.
There was nothing Lori, Shane, or Cali could do to change Rick's mind so they all had to stand there and watch as the man they loved drove away. None of them knew if they were ever going to see him again.
Lori and Cali had hope that Rick would return unharmed. Shane on the other hand didn't mind if he didn't make it back. He knew it was bad to think that way but he couldn't deny that Rick's death would make his life easier.
Rick had only been back a day and he'd already caused an argument in his and Cali's relationship. Not to mention the group seemed to take a liking to Rick. To Shane that meant he might have some competition for the leader role.
"Hey. You know, I bet they'll be just fine." Lori suddenly spoke up gaining both of her kids attention.
"I'm not worried." Carl shrugged shaking his head. "Are you?"
"Yeah, a little." The woman sheepishly admitted.
"Don't be."
"Why?" Cali asked looking curiously at her little brother.
"Think about it." Carl said. "Everything that's happened to him so far... nothing's killed him yet."
"I guess you have a point there buddy." Cali laughed pulling her brother into a side hug. She was surprised by how much better Carl was taking this than her. She should be the one cheering him up but here he was making her and their mother feel better.
• | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | • here's chapter thirty one sorry it's short please let me know what you guys think vote/comment • | | | | | | | | | | •
