(1) Wolf in Me (D. Dixon)

Chapter Eleven

T-Dog, Rick, Daryl, and Diana are all gathered around Glenn who has just explained what he wants to do to get the guns back from where Rick dropped them the day before. They can at least do one thing that they came here to do. They might not have saved Merle but they can at least manage to better arm themselves.

"You're not doing this alone" Rick scolds Glenn who pulls a face.

"Even I think it's a bad idea and I don't even like you much" Daryl points out as he paces behind Rick.

"I won't be alone" Glenn argues and motions to Diana at his side. "Diana will be with me" She nods in agreement, she wouldn't let him do this by himself. Glenn is her friend and if he is running into danger, then so is she. "It's a good idea, okay, if you just hear me out" Glenn continues. "If we go out there in a group, we're slow, drawing attention. If it's just the two of us, we can move faster"

"No" Rick argues and she gives him a look because she knows this is about her and not Glenn. "I promised your dad I would get you back in one piece" Diana then reaches around to touch her back, as if looking for something. "What are you doing?" Rick asks her.

"Checking for kiddie reins" She answers and he sighs but Daryl snorts. "I'm an adult and Shane has been in my life for like three months....I don't need his permission to do anything, I am going with Glenn" She ends firmly. Because she is not about to let them boss her around. She's been through a lot, and is more than capable of looking out for herself. She turns to Glenn and nods encouragingly. Glenn however still looks at Rick for guidance and permission here. Rick watches Diana a moment before he sighs, knowing he is not going to be able to talk her out of this, before he gives Glenn a nod too. Pushing him to explain his plan to him. Glenn crouches and uses his finger to draw a map of the street on the ground and marks the tank and the bag of guns.

"Look. That's the tank, five blocks from where we are now. That's the bag of guns. Here's the alley I dragged you into when we first met. That's where Daryl, Diana, and I will go"

"Why me?" Daryl asks.

"Your crossbow is quieter than his gun" Glenn nods to the gun on Rick's waist. It is a very powerful little gun, makes a lot of noise when it is shot. "While Daryl waits here in the alley, Diana and I run up the street, she watches my back with her knife whilst I grab the bag"

"You got us elsewhere?" Rick asks and Glenn points down the street.

"You and T-Dog, right. You'll be in this alley here"

"Two blocks away? Why?"

"We may not be able to come back the same way. Walkers might cut us off. If that happens, we won't go back to Daryl. We'll go forward instead, all the way around to that alley where you guys are. Whichever direction we go, we got you in both places to cover us. Afterwards, we'll all meet back here" Glenn explains to them. Rick nods along in agreement. It is a sound plan after all. With an exit strategy, which is always a benefit.

"Hey, kid, what'd you do before all this?" Daryl asks Glenn.

"Delivered pizzas. Why?" Glenn asks as he looks around them. He is just good at finding shortcuts, which makes sense when delivering pizza, to avoid traffic and the likes. Daryl glances at Diana.

"What about you?" He inquires, she glances at him and tilts her head as she tries to think of a good answer that won't make her sound crazy. Daryl might get it but the others. They have no idea what else is out there.

"Oh, urm...Private security" She answers with a small smirk. It is not a complete lie. She protected and defended Beacon Hills from dangerous supernatural beings. That is technically private security.

.......

Diana checks her gun, even though she doesn't plan on using it. They want to do this quietly, so her knife is going to have to be enough, but she can make sure her gun is ready to go just in case. Honestly, they should be starting to think about preserving bullets. It isn't like there is a manufacturer out there making more. Once they run out, once they can't find any more they are going to be stuck. Finding weapons that don't require bullets makes sense. Daryl has the right idea with his crossbow. Bolts can be made from wood, which can be found and grown easily enough. She lets out a breath as she tucks her gun away into the back of her trousers before she lifts her foot onto a chair and rolls up the bottom of her jeans to get to her boot. From the counter next to her, she grabs her knife as her eyes meet Rick from where he is watching her. Studying her. He didn't know that she worked in private security, he doesn't even think Shane does, otherwise he wouldn't be as worried about her as he seems to be. It means that she knows how to defend herself, to look out for herself. She raises an eyebrow at Rick who turns away from her to check his own weapon. He lets out a breath before he turns to the rest of the group.

"Everybody ready?" Rick asks as he slides his gun away. Diana twirls her knife and slides it into her boot resting on a chair. She lowers her leg and nods in agreement as T-Dog and Glenn murmur their readiness. Daryl cocks his crossbow and hums with a sharp nod. They have one shot at this. Trying again just increases their odds of failing and one of them getting hurt or worse. They have to get those guns if they want a better chance of survival in the days and weeks to come.