Dead Man Walking || RICK GRIMES POV -SLOW UPDATES-

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Refer to Ch. 31, 32, 33, & 35

After the massive success of claiming the prison courtyard, Rick found himself unable to rest like everyone else. With the newfound security, everyone took it upon themselves to exhale for the first time in about nine months, which was well warranted. After spending over half a year running from town to town and scavenging whatever they could, everyone deserved a break.

But despite all this, he paced the fence separating them from the prison and outside, religiously searching for holes, dents, or kinks. It was almost too good to be true that the prison would be unscathed after all this time. Surely, people had to have tried taking it, right? But that's not how it looked. He spent hours upon hours analyzing the fence, and it was clean – save the hole they had cut to come in, but that was easily held together by the bike lock Glenn had geniously grabbed during the winter. Who knew something we all thought was dumb would save our asses.

So when Daryl finally approached him, clapping him on the shoulder and basically ordering him to sleep, Rick was hesitant. He feared that if he slept, he'd wake up in some run-down store or stripped-clean house, struggling day in and day out to find basic supplies to live. As he lay down next to his son, his mind raced, but exhaustion finally caught up with his body, and he was out within minutes.

~*~

Rick panted as he, alongside Glenn, Maggie, T-Dog, and Daryl, carried Hershel's limp body through the darkened block, trying to retrace their steps. Hershel was bitten, and Rick had no other choice but to amputate his leg to stop the infection from claiming him.

His mind was racing, leaving no room for the newest hurdle – the inmates they had just found. However, once they had gotten the now one-legged man to safety and in the capable hands of Carol and Lori, he turned, ready to face this new hurdle head-on.

"What is that?" June asked as she ran back with her arms filled with pillows. Faintly, Rick could hear Daryl and the prisoners speaking.

"Prisoners. Survivors," Rick informed her. Her eyebrows shot up in surprise, and she handed the pillows to Lori, exiting the cell to get a good view of these survivors. The entire time she walked, Rick followed, a sinking feeling in his stomach. These men haven't seen a woman in who knows how long! Does he really wanna throw June into the fire and put her in a potentially dangerous situation? But before he could say anything, she stormed into the common room, and with a loud, authoritative voice, she ordered:

"Everyone, relax!" Rick really liked it when she took charge. It not only gave him a slight break from being the group leader but also turned him on in a strange way. But lately, he's been chalking all those feelings up to not getting laid in nearly a year.

He shook his head slightly and focused on what was being said, joining June in questioning and learning that these men had no idea what was happening in the world. They had no idea that all they knew no longer existed or that their families were more than likely dead. Rick had to admit that it was a lot to take in, but he couldn't risk having sympathy for them. They were hardened criminals, and he wasn't about to take that chance.

"Te lo juro," June said, having a conversation with the leader, a Hispanic man of about thirty who honestly rubbed Rick the wrong way, "No te estoy mintiendo, but if you don't believe us, go see for yourself." Although he had no idea what the first part of her sentence was, he couldn't allow her to deal with these guys, and he let her know. So when everyone turned toward the door, Rick wrapped his hand around her arm.

"June, please stay here." Rick pleaded, "These are criminals that haven't seen a woman in who knows how long. Please stay here and watch over the rest of the group." He watched as she pursed her lips, instantly knowing she hated the idea but surprising him when she agreed.