Solitary: The Walking Dead

Chapter Forty-seven.

Shut Up.

Iris looks around at the walkers stuck to the concrete floor, slowly and carefully they start walking towards the car, trying to not get grabbed by the walkers, Iris looks up and catches sight of two of the cops running, Iris starts running after them with the rest of the group, Iris glances back to see Daryl isn't with them anymore, she quickly turns and runs back in the direction that the man might be, and Rick runs after her.

When she finds him, one of the cops is pinning him to the floor, trying to get one of the walkers to bite him, Iris kicks the man in the side, making him falter long enough for Daryl to smack him up the side of the head with a walker's head. Rick shoots a walker next to the cop as Iris steps back.

Iris stands next to Rick and points her gun at the cop, "okay. You win asshole" he says holding his hands up in surrender, Rick doesn't say anything, he just gets closer to the man, Iris lowers her gun and looks at her friend, she looks into his eyes to see something else, the same look he had the night they reunited after the prison.

"Rick. Rick!" Daryl says, looking up at him from the ground, "Rick, threes better than two" he adds, standing up and walking behind the cop so Rick sees him, the man lowers his gun, and Daryl grabs the cops hands tying them behind his back, Iris moves over and takes the cops weapons, tucking them into the waistband of her shorts.

......

The group meet back up, Sasha, Tyrese and Noah have managed to get the other two cops. They make their way back to the empty building, Iris crouches down next to Rick and Noah as they start going over the plan, Iris doesn't pay much attention to the conversation though, she had zoned out at the beginning. When she notices Rick standing, she gets up and walks over to the window, looking around to make sure no one is looking for them.

She hears a whistle and looks back to see Rick signalling for her to come to him, she follows him to the cop that has been willing to help, "She'll tell you she won't make a deal. She'll tell you she won't compromise. But she will. She always does. Just-- just know who you're talking to." he explains "Probably heading out in the next 10 minutes or so. Anything you need before we leave?" Rick asks.

"Actually, water would be great." he says "Will do." Rick says "Thanks, Sergeant Lamson." Iris says, giving the man a tight lipped smile, standing up with Rick "My name's Bob." he says "you're still a cop" Rick says "No. No, the real ones are all gone." Bob says and Iris walks away from the man, Rick doing the same.

.......

Iris runs next to Rick, the sound of their heavy breathing and their boots hitting the floor, Sergeant Lamson had jumped Sasha, and is currently trying to run from them, but Rick and Iris are close on his trail. They make it to the cruiser, looking around to find the man, Rick jumps into the driver's seat and Iris runs to the passenger seat, the man turns on the car and he speeds off.

They find the man running with walkers close behind him, Rick speeds up the car, driving at the hostage. Rick reaches down and grabs the radio, "Stop... Stop right now.... Stop... I won't ask again." Rick says, into the radio, Rick throws the radio back down, and presses his foot down on the gas harder, speeding up until he hits the man. Iris jumps out of the car and walks over to Bob as he lays on the ground, groaning in pain "Help me." he says, mumbling more under his breath.

Iris stands over the man, looking down at him, "You crazy... You crazy son of a bitch. I think you... I think you broke my back." he says as Rick stands next to Iris "Didn't have to be like this. You just had to stop." Rick says "I couldn't. I don't know you. But I think... I think I'm getting the idea." Bob says "You just had to stop." Iris says and Rick kneels down in front of the man.

"Take me back... Take me back to the hospital." he begs "I did it for your friend." he adds "Not after this, no. Can't go back, Bob." Rick says, Iris pulls out her gun and looks over at the walkers heading their way "I was gonna iron it over. She's under it. And you've been out here too long." Rick pulls out his gun as the man speaks. "You'll die. You'll all..." Before Rick can shoot the man Iris has already done it, stopping Bob from finishing his sentence "shut up" she says putting her gun back in her holster. They walk back to the cruiser and drive to the rest of the group in silence.

..........

Rick and Iris walk through the building, the rest of the group watching as they walk past them, Daryl follows them and they stand away from the rest "He wouldn't stop." Rick says quietly "This change things?" Daryl asks "It has to." Iris says "Maybe not." Daryl says "She said the plan won't work. The guy who did is dead. Maybe we gotta rethink this." Rick says "They also said the cop in charge didn't have any love for him. Maybe you did her a favour." Daryl says. "I don't know if they'll play ball." Rick says "Let's find out." Iris says.

They make their way to the other hostages "He was a good man." the woman says "He was attacked by rotters. Saw it go down." she adds, "Huh. You're a damn good liar." Rick says "We're hanging by a thread here. He was attacked by rotters. That's the story." she repeats "You said the trade was a bad idea. What changed?" Daryl asks.

"Lamson was our shot. So it's this or you go in guns blazing, right? You don't want that." "If this is some bullshit you're spinning and things go south..." Daryl says "I know." the woman interrupts, "I know the good ones from the bad. Let us help you." "What about you? You wanna live? How much?" Rick asks, turning his attention to the man.

"Dawn's afraid she'll look weak in front of us. Thinks it'll tip things against her. Hell, it will. She'll see this trade as a rip-off if she thinks you took out one of our guys. So it's a good thing Lamson got aced by rotters." the man explains, Rick turns and looks at Iris and Daryl.