(1) Wolf in Me (D. Dixon)

Chapter Sixteen

Back at the building that they are currently using as a base, because that is what it feels like given how often they have been here today alone, Rick is going through the bag of guns, picking and choosing and taking out a number of them and setting them into a second bag.

"Them guns are worth more than gold," Daryl points out. "Gold won't protect your family or put food on the table. You're gonna give that up for that kid?"

"If I knew we'd get Glenn back, I might agree," T-Dog adds. "But you think that Vato across the way is just gonna hand him over?"

"You calling G a liar?" Miguel asks them, causing Daryl to snap his head around to him.

"Are you a part of this? You want to hold onto your teeth?" Daryl slaps him to shut him up causing Diana to roll her eyes. But her way doesn't matter now.

"Question is, do you trust that man's word?" T-Dog asks Rick.

"No, question is, what are you willing to bet on it?" Daryl corrects. "Could be more than them guns. Could be your life. Glenn worth that to you?" Diana grabs her bag and then leaves the room. She doesn't want to listen to them argue over Glenn's worth. Guns vs a living breathing human being, for her there is no question. No argument. Human every single time. Man power is going to mean more than guns in the long run. Especially someone like Glenn who is far better at running for supplies than any of the others. Not only that, but Glenn is the best of them. If they leave him, then what does that say about the rest of them?

"What life I have I owe to him" Rick defends. " I was nobody to Glenn, just some idiot stuck in a tank. He could have walked away, but he didn't. Neither will I" Rick admits to them.

"So you're gonna hand the guns over?" Daryl asks him.

"I didn't say that. There's nothing keeping you three here. You should get out, head back to camp"

"And tell your family what?" T-Dog counters and Daryl hums in agreement. Despite the fact that Rick is responsible for what happened to Merle, he did come back to try and help him find him when he could have let Daryl come back on his own.

"You're being quiet" Rick starts and then turns to look at where Diana had been leaning against the counter, only to find that she is no longer there. "Diana?" He asks, heading for the open door to see if she's just stepped out.

"Her bag's gone" Daryl points out and Rick sighs.

"Watch him," Rick orders, pointing at Miguel before he leaves the room to look for her. She can't have gone far.

......

Rick easily finds Diana because she hasn't gone far. She's on the roof. Sat on the edge of it, staring down at the alley below. Her bag behind her. She thought about going to get Glenn herself, but by the time she got to the roof she'd changed her mind. Didn't want to go back though. Not until she'd calmed down. Rick approaches her and she tilts her head, acknowledging that she's heard him.

"Just needed air" She mumbles, swinging her legs slightly, knocking her feet against the wall. 

"Leaving Glenn behind never crossed my mind" He assures her as he sits at her side. "He saved my life, least I can do is repay it" Diana relaxes a little. She was worried that they would pick the guns over Glenn. Daryl would. "You and him must be pretty close, you being this protective of him"

"Not really," She whispers and then sighs. "I never really had friends," She admits and glances at him. "Derek was overprotective, large and angry" She gives Rick a look and he snorts understanding, because she basically just described Shane at their ages. "We kept to ourselves for so long....and then I am here, alone" She looks down at the street below, watches a few walkers wandering around. "And Glenn is easy" She looks at Rick. "He is easy to consider a friend, even though I barely know him..." Rick nods a little, can already see that. He himself has known Glenn for less than 24 hours and here he is, risking his life and guns for him. Rick stands and looks down at her.

"I'd rather have you watching my back than angry at me" He points out and holds out his hand towards her to help her up to her feet.

"I don't know you enough to be angry at you" She counters, giving him a look. "If I thought I could get him back myself, without getting hurt, I wouldn't be sat here....I would have gone straight back" She pushes herself to her feet, ignoring his hand. She then grabs her bag and walks away. Rick lets out a breath and follows after her. Shane made her sound like she was this defenceless young woman. But she's not. Spending this small amount of time with her has shown that there is a quiet strength to her. A determination. A loyalty to her friends or to strangers she hasn't known very long. Shane has underestimated her. He sees her meek and in need of protection, not just physical protection but emotional protection as well. And whilst she is making it clear that she is worried about Glenn, she isn't letting it control her actions. She is still being rational and logical, even if she doesn't want to be. She clearly wants to go and get Glenn back, but instead of running off and putting herself in danger as well as Glenn, she is taking a step back.