DEFIANT | Carl Grimes

24: you are it

"now we're gonna work this out right now," the woman says. "and it's going to go our way."

"pick him up," rick says. daryl and glenn pick up the guy on the floor. rick brings the walkie to his mouth.

"you can see we have one of yours," rick says. glenn puts a gun to his head. "we'll trade."

"i'm listening," the woman says.

"first i want to talk to maggie and carol, make sure they're alright." rick says.

"rick, it's carol but--" there's a pause. "rick, it's maggie. we're both okay we're gonna figure this-- you have your proof. let's talk," the woman demands.

"alright. this is the deal right here," rick says. "let 'em go, you can have your guy back and live."

"two for one, that's not much of trade." the woman says.

"you don't have another choice," rick tells her. "or you would've done something about it already."

another pause. "look, i know you're talking it over." rick speaks up again. "it's a fair trade. just come out, we do this, we all walk away. do we have a deal?"

"i'll get back to you," the woman says and then silence. he puts the walkie on his pants.

"where could they be going?" i ask.

"did andy ever mention another place?" rick asks, turning to jesus.

jesus shrugs and glenn sighs in annoyance. "well we need to come up with a plan and quickly," he demands. "they have maggie."

"and carol," daryl adds.

"and," glenn says and turns to me. "i don't want you in this."

"what?" i ask defensively. "why not?"

"i don't need your life at risk too." he says and looks over at rick.

"i can defend my—"

"i agree with glenn," rick tells me. "we can't afford to lose you. you stay between us. if we run into them you find a place and hide."

"and what if someone sneaks up on her?" michonne asks, trying to prove this may not be a good idea.

"yeah, i ain't leavin' her," daryl says.

"why are you guys talking about me like i'm not here? i can defend myself," i speak up and everyone gets quiet. i look over at rick. "if you couldn't afford to lose me then you shouldn't have brought me. you risked my life asking me to come. i might not want to kill but i will if i have to so i'm doing this."

"she's tough," the guy says. "i'll make sure she's the first to go."

daryl hits the man with the butt of his gun, knocking him and then looks around at us. "ain't no one gonna take her except us," daryl says after a while. "and that'll be to take her home."

"is that okay?" i ask glenn.

"fine." he mutters.

"we need to get moving," michonne says. we all get in our vehicles and start driving. daryl takes his bike.

rick puts the walkie up to his mouth again. "have you thought about it?" rick asks. "talk to me."

we stay quiet as we wait for a response. "you weren't listening," the woman says. "i said i'd contact you."

"would it make a difference if i said i was sorry about that?" he asks.

"what do you think?" the woman asks coldly.