Fight The Dead, Fear The Living (Rick Grimes)

Chapter 26

I was walking through the woods, trying to find the group. Judith wouldn't stop wiggling in the car seat which I had found back at the cabin which made it harder to concentrate on walkers and making sure none were following me. I continued walking until I heard a loud explosion. I looked around frantically, maybe it could be my group?

I ran towards where the explosion came from but kept my distance, I didn't need Judith getting hurt. I kneeled down in the woods, the explosion must have brought several herds together, I need to move. I stood and hand a knife in one hand, ready to protect myself and Judith. I heard voices which sounded like Carol and Tyreese, could the rest of the group be with them? I walked towards the voices, Judith was unusually quiet.

I slowly stepped out from the bushes, not making any noise. I saw one all too familiar back.

"Rick?" I asked, he slowly turned around, he looked at me with disbelief in his eyes, he walked over to me, hugging me. He looked down at the car seat which was faced away from him, he nodded down to the seat. I nodded with a smile on my face and turned it around, letting him see Judith. He kneeled down to be eye level with her and she squealed happily, grabbing at his facial hair.

He gave her a kiss on the forehead before standing and grabbing my arms. He forgot about the group behind us who were watching and so did I. He brought his lips down onto mine with a passion that I had to return.

"Thank you." He said when he pulled away. I blushed as Glenn made a whistle sound while grabbing Maggie and doing the same. Rick wrapped an arm around my waist and picked up Judith before we began walking. Carl walked with us, he was walking next to Judith, holding her hand.

"How did you survive for so long?" He asked and I laughed a little to myself.

"I don't always need a man to protect me." I teased and he chuckled.

"I guess not." I smiled at him, wondering what our plan was, where were we going to go? My thoughts were interrupted when we heard a man screaming for help.

"Carl!" Rick yelled as Carl ran to help. We followed him, to find a man stood on top of a rock with walkers surrounding him. We quickly cleared the walkers before the man jumped down. He was wearing a priest suit.

"How many people have you killed?" Rick asked.

"None." The man replied, he seemed really nervous.

"How many walkers have you killed?" He questioned.

"None." The man repeated. I scoffed, he can't have survived for this long without killing at least one.

"Then how did you survive?" I asked, he shrugged.

"I prayed." He simply stated.

"Bullshit." I said, as simple as he did.

"I prayed for help and it came." He gestured to all of us, I sighed, he had a point really.

"Where have you been living?" I asked, he pointed in a direction.

"In a Church. Do you have any food? I had some but I've run out since I never left. That's why I came out here." I passed him some food I had on me from the cabin and he ate it after saying thank you.

"Show us the way." Rick said, the man led us through the woods.

"What's your name?"

"Gabriel."

"Well Gabriel, if this is a trap that you're leading us into then I suggest you stop now. I don't have time for your games." I exclaimed, I don't want to lose any of the group again. When I was with Judith it was lonely. She coudn't speak, she just mumbled incoherent words that I didn't understand.

"I'm not, I promise." He said.

The rest of the walk was quiet but Gabriel was not wrong. There was a Church and a big one that we could all use for rest and planning our next move.