Safe and sound, Carl Grimes

023. AN OLD FRIEND COMES TO VISIT

Chapter twenty three

"An old friend comes to visit."

The next morning, they all were reloading their weapons "we're not leaving." Rick told them "we can't stay here." Hershel told him "what if there's another sniper? A wood pallet won't stop one of those rounds." Maggie shared "we can't even go outside." Beth shared "not in the daylight." Carol said "Rick says we're not running, we're not running." Glenn shared "no, better to live like rats." Merle shared from standing behind the door in the cafeteria as they all looked to him "you got a better idea?" Rick asked.

"Yeah, we should have slid out of here last night and lived to fight another day. But we lost that window, didn't we? I'm sure he's got scouts on every road out of this place by now." Merle shared "we ain't scared of that prick." Daryl told him "ya'll should be. That truck through the fence thing, that's just him ringing the doorbell. We might have some thick walls to hide behind, but he's got the guns and the numbers. And if he takes the high ground around this place, shoot, he could just starve us out if he wanted to." Merle shared.

"Let's put him in the other cell block." Maggie told them 'no. He's got a point." Daryl said "this is all you. You started this." Maggie said "what difference whose fault it is? What do we do?" Beth asked, walking to the stairs "I said we should leave. Now Axel's dead. We can't just sit here." Hershel shared, as Katniss turned and began walking out, Rick followed her "get back here!" Hershel voiced, as Rick stopped, Hershel got up from the steps walking over on his crutches "you're slipping, Rick. We've all seen it. We understand why. But now is not the time. You once said this isn't a democracy." Hershel shared.

As Rick turned and looked at him "now you have to own up to that. I put my family's life in your hands. So get your head clear and do something." Hershel told him, as Katniss brought the keys up, she unlocked the door and opened it, purposely hitting Merle with it, as she walked out, Rick turned following her.

Rick slid open the door, as he and Katniss walked out to keep watch, seeing all the walkers that were up against the gate, Katniss brought her binoculars up and looked through them out toward's the woods "what you said, about you feeling safe with me.." Rick told her "if you're gonna tell me I'm wrong.." Katniss told him, as the door behind them opened, Rick turned around and looked at it while Katniss kept her eyes on the woods, Carl came walking out standing on the left side of Rick "you shouldn't be out here. Either of you." Rick shared.

"I'm a good shot." Carl said "yes, you are." Rick told him, as Katniss brought the binoculars down "hey, dad?" Carl asked "yeah?" Rick asked him "if I say something will you promise not be mad?" Carl asked "I won't get mad." Rick told him "you should stop." Carl told him "stop what?" Rick asked "being the leader. Let Hershel and Daryl handle things. You deserve a rest." Carl shared, as he turned walking back inside, Katniss raised her brows "he's not wrong." she told him, bringing the binoculars back up and looking out into the woods again.

Where Rick and Katniss then swapped watch with Maggie as they headed back inside "fields filled with walkers." Rick shared "didn't see any snipers." Katniss told them "but we'll keep Maggie on watch." Rick shared "I'll get up in the guard tower, take out half them walkers, give these guys a chance to fix the fence." Daryl shared "or use some of the cars to put the bus in place." Michonne shared "we can't access the field without burning through our bullets." Hershel shared "so we're trapped in here. There's barely any food or ammo." Glenn shared.

"We've been here before. We'll be alright." Daryl shared "that was when it was just us. Before there was a snake in the nest." Glenn shared, as Daryl turned to him "man, we gotta go through this again? Look, Merle's staying here. He's with us now. Get used to it." he shared "hey." Rick told him 'all ya'll." Daryl said, walking off and up the steps, Glenn looked at Rick "seriously, Rick, I don't think Merle living here is really gonna fly." he shared "I can't just kick him out." Rick told him "I wouldn't ask you or Katniss to live with Shane after he tried to kill you both." Glenn shared, and when he did, Katniss turned around, walking out of there.