Down by the water • TWD

Rotted.

Avery huffed as she exited the car swiftly. They were stopped because a truck was blocking the road. She hasn't spoken to anyone since they left. No one has spoken at all. She took her gun out holding it lowly as she eyed the area walking towards the red truck.

"Get the brakes," Rick instructed Glenn as he got ready to move it. Glenn was met with a walker as he opened the driver's side door. Avery raised her gun as Glenn tore it from the seat and threw it onto the ground. Avery had her finger on the trigger tempted to kill it but she only stood aside as Glenn mumbled 'I got it.' He slammed his foot into the skull repeatedly. With more aggression each strike. The rest watched lowering their guns slowly and making their way towards him as he finished.

"You didn't kill him," Glenn said to Rick standing before him.

"That's not why we went back." Rick expressed to him. 

"No. That's right. You went back for Daryl." Glenn threw in Rick's face. "And now he's gone again and the Governor is still alive." 

"Daryl was the priority," Rick stated letting Glenn's words sink in.

"I should have been there with you," Glenn argued.

"You were in no condition." Rick shook his head in disbelief.

"But my girlfriend was?" Glenn shouted as Rick looked at Maggie.

"Glenn, this isn't about us," Maggie told him shaking her head lightly.

"I should have been there," Glenn spoke angrily at Rick, letting his emotions out.

"Hey, hey, you didn't come back with us 'cause you could barely walk," Rick shouted back. Avery hated to see them argue. Everything was falling apart, the governor was pinning them against each other.

"What about her?" Glenn asked with rage, referring to Maggie.

"What about me Glenn I'm standing right here?" Maggie asked growing angrier. 

"Do you know what he did to her?! What he did to Avery!?" Glenn shouted in Rick's face. Avery shot Glenn a glare for bringing her up. 

"Don't do that." Avery spat at Glenn defending Rick. He wasn't allowed to throw that in someone's face who was trying to help.

"Leave it alone!" Maggie screamed stepping closer to the two fighting.

"Do you know!? How could you not kill him." Glenn calmed his voice but his words still laced with rage.

"Let's go," Maggie told them standing behind the truck ready to get on with it.

"After all that effort, all the risk we took, Daryl just takes off with Merle?" Glenn asked like it was Rick's fault. 

"Well, he had his reasons," Rick spoke in defense of Daryl.

"Yeah, you keep telling yourself that, Rick," Glenn said nastily pausing for a moment. "Doesn't change the fact that we're up to our necks in shit." 

"You want me to turn the car around, beg him to come back? Throw down a welcome mat for Merle?!" Rick shouted finally snapping. "This is the hand we've been dealt!"

"Let's just get this out of here and get back." Maggie broke the silence after Rick's outburst. Avery could tell she also hated the fighting. "Get some rest. We can talk it out there."

"No, you guys do all the talking you want. I'm done." Glenn said his last words before walking away and into the driver's seat as Maggie, Avery, and Rick stood behind the truck ready to push. 

--- 

Carol and Carl pulled open the gates for the familiar car with their family inside. The first person Avery's eyes went to was Carl. This made her realize she didn't want anyone inside the prison to see her. She felt too vulnerable. She wanted to get rid of any blood traces left on her. Her head still pounded from Merle's hit but it calmed. When the wind touched any of the two cuts on her cheeks she winced. Even the one with a bandage, any air contact stung like hell. 

"Drive 'em up. I'll meet you there." Avery watched Rick closely as he exited the car telling Maggie to drive ahead.

"Okay." Maggie hummed in response as she drove the four of them up the gravel and into the courtyard. As She drove away Avery kept her eyes on Carol, on her reaction to Daryl being gone. She felt the same way as the girl. She knew how it felt, Avery was sorry for her. When she exited the car she saw everyone waiting out front, Hershel, Beth, Axel, and Jackson. She didn't bat an eye at any of them. She kept her focus on the door to the cell block. She didn't stop walking even when she felt the gazes from the group. She didn't look back, she just kept walking through the cell block until she reached the end. Her cell. She put her gun next to her bag and quickly put her hair in a ponytail.