Between Arrows and Hearts - Daryl Dixon

Crazy sheriff on town

Going into town for supplies had always been Glenn's job. Cass had only gone with him twice, once when the group decided it was too dangerous for just one person and another time to haul back more supplies than Glenn could manage alone.

She hated going to the city. It wasn't just the walkers, though they were enough reason to stay away. It was the memories —the noise,  the smell of death, the chaos— that brought her back to Atlanta and everything she had barely escaped. Cass preferred to stay in camp, taking care of the kids or helping with chores. But when the group asked her to go with Glenn, she couldn't say no. Not to him. Not after he and T-Dog had been the reason she got out alive.

"You were right," Cass said quietly as she joined Glenn on the rooftop. "If you and I had come alone we'd probably be going back already." She thought for a moment before adding with a smirk, "Actually, if it was just you, you'd already be back."

Glenn didn't look at her, his focus locked on the city below. "Doesn't matter now," He muttered. "What we need is for them to stop fighting so we can get out of here."

Cass followed his gaze, thinking about the fight between Morales and Merle. "I know...but you have to start talking when you have an opinion Glenn." She said, placing a hand on his shoulder. "You're the expert on this. If Shane thinks bringing a group is better, but you know it's not, then say something. Because otherwise, we end up stuck in situations like—"

"Come on!" Glenn darted to the edge of the rooftop, cutting her off mid-sentence. His voice was sharp, urgent. "I heard something."

Cass hurried to his side, her heart pounding as she scanned the street below. At first, she didn't see it. Then her breath caught. A man, dressed in a sheriff's uniform, was on horseback, surrounded by walkers.

"We have to help him!" Cass's voice rose, panic edging her words as she watched the man fall off his horse and scramble under a tank. Gunshots echoed through the streets, making her flinch. "Is he... is he dead?" Her stomach twisted at the thought. No one deserved to die like that, not surrounded, not alone.

Glenn's sharp intake of breath drew her attention. "No," He said, pointing. "Look, he's still alive."

Cass exhaled in relief, her eyes following the stranger as he peeked out of the tank. 

"Do you have the walkie-talkie?" Glenn asked.

Cass never thought she would appreciate Glenn's quick thinking so much. She fumbled with the walkie clipped to her belt, shoving it into Glenn's hands. 

Glenn adjusted the dial, his fingers moving fast. When he finally found the right channel, his voice came through clear but sharp. "Hey, you! Dumbass. Yeah, you in the tank. Cozy in there?"

Cass chuckled, caught off guard by his choice of words. Before she could say anything, the man's voice crackled back. "Hello? Hello?"

She grabbed the walkie from Glenn, her relief spilling out before she could stop herself. "God, you scared us." She said, her tone trembling with leftover adrenaline.

"Where are you? Outside? Can you see me right now? " Cass felt sorry, the man's voice sounded desperate, and how could it not be, he had just been chased by the largest horde she had ever seen and was locked in a tank without many options for escape.

Glenn took control of the walkie and answered. "Yeah, we can see you. You're surrounded by walkers. That's the bad news." 

The answer did not take long to arrive. "There's good news?" Cass looked hopefully at Glenn. 

"No." She let out a nervous chuckle, to which Glenn just shrugged his shoulders, giving her a 'I didn't know what else to say' look. 

"Listen, whoever you are," The man's voice broke through again, his desperation palpable. "I don't mind telling you that I'm a little concerned in here."