Contagion Chapter Nineteen
Avery crossed her arms as she looked at the shed where Daryl was inside with Randall. She wasn't sure what was going on in there but she was almost afraid to find out but hell what was going on in there really couldn't have been worse than out here where everyone seemed tense.
Kate and Zac weren't even anywhere near each other and there was still the tension with Lori, Shane and Rick that had been there for days maybe even a week or so. Avery wasn't sure what was happening but it seemed the group was slowly breaking, had been since Sophia had came out of that barn as a walker.
"You okay?" Mac asked as he came to stand beside his sister who had seemed in her own little world.
Coming out of her thoughts Avery shook her head as she looked at Mac, a blush coming across her cheeks, "Just worried about Randall is all," she said not sure if they should trust him or if they should worry about his group, if they'd come to the camp looking for him or not.
"I didn't know you cared about strangers so much," Mac teased as he nudged Avery playfully.
"I don't," Avery teased right back as she shook her head though her mind went back to the group that had saved her and Jessica yesterday. She did sort of care for them because of the kindness she had been shown. "I just worry about trusting him or his group."
Mac nodded his head, getting where Avery was coming from, "But we'll find out soon enough if we should worry. I mean your lover boy is in there now getting answers out of him."
Rolling her eyes when Mac called Daryl her lover boy she uncrossed her arms, "I guess you're right," she said biting her lip as she shook her head and tuned into the conversation going on around her.
"So what you gonna do?" Lori asked from where she was bent over the campfire making breakfast. "We'd all feel better if we knew the plan," she said as she looked up at her husband.
"Is there a plan?" Andrea asked as she paced back and forth.
Sliding his hands in his pockets Taylor leaned against a tree, "We gonna keep him here?"
Rick nodded his head as he saw Daryl heading back towards the campsite, "We'll know soon enough," he said knowing Daryl had questioned Randall for answers that would hopefully tell them what they'd do.
"Boy there's got a gang, thirty men. They have heavy artillery and they ain't looking to make friends," Daryl spoke letting the group know what he had found out. "They roll through here, our boys are dead...and our women," he stated as he looked at Avery. "They're gonna wish they were," he finished though his mind kept going back to the story of what Randall's group had done to the father and his teenage girls. How they had raped the girls and made the dad watch and then they hadn't even killed him after.
"What did you do?" Avery asked Daryl as she broke eye contact with him and looked down at his hand, his knuckles were covered in bruises and blood.
Daryl shrugged as he looked down at the hand on his crossbow, "Had a little chat," he answered knowing he did indeed chat with Randall, in between beating him.
Shaking her head Avery turned her back and walked towards the tent she normally stayed in when she wasn't staying in Daryl's.
"No one goes near this guy," Rick warned his group not trusting any of them near him.
Lori just looked at her husband skeptically, "Rick, what are you gonna do?"
"We have no choice," Rick said as he shook his head. "He's a threat. We have to eliminate the threat."
"You're just gonna kill him?" Dale asked as he scrunched up his face.
Rick ignored Dale's comment, "It's settled. I'll do it today," he spoke sounding confident as he turned to walk away, Dale hot on his heels.
"You can't do this," Dale pleaded as he walked behind Rick, trying to catch up to him. "You don't wanna do this. I know you don't."
"I've thought about it all night," Rick said as he turned to look at Dale who was now walking beside him. "Knowing what we know now, I don't see a way out of it."
"But you can't just decide on your own to take someone's life," Dale argued not sure if this choice was right. It wasn't moral to him.
"The group seemed supportive," Rick told him knowing no one had objected.
"What, because they didn't speak back? You didn't let 'em," Dale shook his head knowing Rick hadn't given anyone a chance. "There's gotta be a...a process," he reasoned out loud.
Rick came to a stop briefly as he turned to face Dale, "And what would that be? We can't call witnesses, go before a judge."
"So he's automatically guilty by association and sentenced to death?" Dale asked as he raised an eyebrow. "He's just a kid. Gimme some time to talk to everyone..."
"We can't..." Rick spoke hearing Dale talk over him saying they needed to figure out another way. "We can't drag this out! People are scared."
"Which is why they need time to discuss this," Dale still argued hoping Rick would agree.
Rick shook his head, "They need to be safe, I owe em that," he said before turning to walk away again.
"You think about your son!" Dale yelled out seeing Rick stop in his footsteps. "The message that you're giving him....shoot first, think later. I'm asking for one day to talk to everybody, you can give me that. Think..think about Carl."
Swallowing hard Rick sighed and turned to look at Dale, "I am," he spoke knowing his family was the only thing on his mind. "We reconvene at sunset, then what happens, happens."
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"Zac!" Kate called out as she cornered him just as he was about to go into Taylor and Mac's tent. "Will you please talk to me?" she asked seeing him fully stop though his back was to her but he made no effort to move the closer she got.
"I don't think we have anything to talk about," Zac answered as he refused to face Kate. "You showed your true colors yesterday and I'm done with this fight of you being paranoid."
Kate closed her eyes as she pushed some loose strands of hair that weren't in her ponytail, away from her face, "I don't want Beth dead," she said knowing still her words probably didn't mean much to Zac. "I just thought she should decide and maybe I should have let Taylor decide as well but I can't change the past."
Sighing Zac listened to her and he finally turned to face her, "I don't know if I believe you," he said as he chewed his lip. "Aren't I supposed to trust my wife?"
"Yes," Kate answered as she nodded. "But I don't trust you either with some things but I don't think running from our problems will solve them. Not when we are going to be having a baby join us in a few months. We need to fix our issues."
Zac went silent, knowing Kate was right, "I...just give me some time Katie," he said as he nodded his head and stepped inside the tent. He just wanted to be stubborn for a bit longer. He just wanted time and lately he felt he had so little time for anything.
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Walking onto the RV, Dale came to a stop as he looked at Andrea who was standing towards the back, looking for something. "I need a favor."
"Did you move the gun bag?" Andrea asked as she looked into the empty closet in the RV.
"Yeah," Dale answered as he bent down to get the bag of guns and he laid them on the table, watching as Andrea came to sit down and go through the bag. "I need you to guard Randall, protect him."
Andrea gave Dale a skeptical and confused look, "Why?"
"Rick's giving me time to talk to the others, try and talk some sense into them," Dale answered Andrea's question. "But if Shane finds out...."
"You think he'd just shoot the guy himself?" Andrea asked as she went through the gun bag.
"You know killing the boy had to be his idea," Dale reasoned. "Are you with him on this?"
Andrea looked up at Dale and nodded, "He's a threat," she said hoping that was answer enough for him. "Tell me this isn't all the ammo," she muttered as she pulled out what ammo was left in the bag.
"You're a civil rights lawyer," Dale argued not seeing how Andrea could be for killing someone who could very well be innocent.
"Was," Andrea corrected.
"You fight with words, the power of ideas," Dale continued. "Using a gun, that's his way," he nodded knowing that seemed to be the only way Shane ever thought.
"You really want to debate about saving a guy who will lead his buddies right to our door?" Andrea asked as she raised an eyebrow.
Dale nodded his head at that, "That's what a civilized society does."
"Who says we're civilized anymore?" Andrea asked as she stood from where she sat.
"No, the world we knew is gone, but keeping our humanity?" Dale asked as he sighed. "That's a choice."
Andrea looked down after his words, "I'll watch your prisoner but not because I think you're right," she clarified before picking up a gun and heading off the RV.
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"You okay?" Jessica asked as she went into the tent that Zac and Kate had. Kate was sitting in there and she was crying. "I mean you seemed off at breakfast and well now you're crying and I was just wondering if I should go and get Zac for you."
Kate wiped at her eyes as she looked up at Jessica, "Zac's the reason I'm crying," she admitted honestly. "Wouldn't do no use in getting him."
"Oh." Jessica whispered as she sat down beside Kate on the cot. "Want to talk about it? I'm good at listening."
"Shouldn't you be with Glenn?" Kate asked as she raised an eyebrow.
Jessica shrugged, "He went off to do something with T-Dog," she said. "So I have time to listen to whatever's wrong."
"I screwed things up with Zac," Kate confessed as she looked away from Jessica. "Leaving Beth alone. He thinks I wanted her dead and I didn't. He doesn't trust me now."
"But why would he think you wanted Beth dead?" Jessica asked feeling like she was missing a piece of the puzzle.
Kate felt her cheeks grow hot knowing how she had to answer this question, "Because I'm jealous of her. He seemed to care for her more than he did me."
Taking in Kate's answer Jessica chewed her lip before speaking, "Well then it seems like maybe you both have trust issues and you need to work on those."
"I tried to tell him that," Kate told Jessica. "But I don't think he heard me."
"Then maybe you should just stop," Jessica reasoned not sure if that's the words Kate needed to hear. "My brother will either come around or he won't and if he doesn't then that's on him."
Going silent at Jessica's words Kate wanted to just yell out that stopping wasn't the right answer, especially with the baby on the way but then again she didn't need the same arguments with Zac, she didn't need him stressing her out just like he needed to trust her and she had broken that maybe more than he had broken her trust in him.
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"The whole point of me coming up here is to get away from you people," Daryl responded as he turned to see Dale walking into the makeshift campsite he still had built away from the others.
"Gonna take more than that," Dale said as he looked at Daryl.
"Avery send you?" Daryl asked figuring Avery had sent him to talk to him about something, especially since she seemed upset about how he had done with getting answers out of Randall.
"Avery's not the only one that's concerned about you," Dale answered as he came to a stop. "Your new role in the group."
Daryl rolled at his eyes at that, "Oh man, I don't need my head shrunk," he muttered as he shook his head. "This group's broken. I'm better off fending for myself."
"You act like you don't care," Dale responded after Daryl had finished talking.
"Yeah, it's cause I don't," Daryl spoke trying to sound honest.
"So live or die, you don't care what happens to Randall?" Dale asked curiously as he watched Daryl put on his angel winged jacket.
Daryl shook his head, "Nope," he answered popping his p slightly.
"Then why not stand with me, try to save the kid's life, if it really doesn't matter one way or the other?" Dale asked him wondering what he'd say to that.
Adjusting his jacket Daryl listened to Dale's words, "I didn't peg you for a desperate son of a bitch," he muttered once Dale was done speaking.
"Your opinion makes a difference," Dale told him knowing it did whether he thought so or not.
"Man, ain't nobody looking at me for nothing," Daryl told him as he reached down for his crossbow and began to walk away.
"Avery is," Dale spoke as he walked behind Daryl. "And I am. Right now," he said once Daryl turned to face him again. "And you obviously...you have Rick's ear."
Daryl walked back towards Dale, "Rick just looks to Shane," he stated his words almost a bit harsh. "Let him," he said before turning to walk away again.
"You cared about what happened to Sophia," Dale said seeing Daryl stop in his track. "Cared what it meant to the group. Torturing people? That isn't you," he nodded knowing Daryl was a good man regardless of how he acted. "You're a decent man. So is Rick...Shane he's different."
"Why's that?" Daryl asked sarcastically. "Cause he killed Otis?"
"He tell you that?" Dale asked as he walked a bit closer to Daryl.
Daryl shook his head, "He told some story, how Otis covered him, saved his ass. He showed up with the dead guy's gun. Rick ain't stupid," he said shaking his head again. "If he didn't figure that out, it's cause he didn't want too. It's like I said the group is broken," he finished before walking away for good.
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Tracking down Avery, Zac sighed as he slung his arm around her shoulder, "Wanna go for a walk?" he asked raising an eyebrow.
"I have a feeling you'll take me on one whether I say no or not," Avery spoke as she let Zac lead the way. "Why do you want to go on one?"
"Need to get away," Zac told her honestly as he walked with her. "Kate's bugging me and Dale just tried to get me to vote with him for not executing Randall," he sighed as he shook his head. His mind was already made it up when it came to Randall. The best option was to kill him, it would make him feel safer with Kate and the baby, even if he was mad at Kate he did care about her safety.
Avery scrunched up her nose, "How's Kate bugging you?" she asked curiously wondering if Zac would tell her what their tension this morning was about.
"Cause I'm mad about the Beth thing..her leaving Beth alone," Zac answered honestly. "I can't trust her and she can't trust me cause she thinks I'm in love with Beth."
"Seems like you guys have trust issues," Avery stated more so to herself.
"No shit Sherlock," Zac spoke sarcastically. "I knew you were always a genius."
At Zac's sarcastic words Avery shook her head, "Oh fuck you," she replied back before pushing him off her playfully but she did continue to walk beside him. "D..do you love Beth?"
Zac was taken aback by Avery's question but he heaved a sigh, "I don't know," he answered honestly. "If this was a few weeks ago I could say no of course but I don't know."
"Maybe you should figure that out then figure out where you and Kate stand," Avery spoke as she turned her head to look at him. "Just get your shit together before she gives birth."
"I will," Zac nodded hoping he did have his stuff together before then but really just trying to patch things over with Kate for the time being felt easier than trying to sort his feelings out. Maybe he'd just apologize to Kate tonight and take her apology too, it would save them from arguing anymore, at least for the time being. At least until some other problem hit them.
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"What happened?" Dale asked as he stood in front of Hershel who he had tracked down finally.
"A dozen steer busted through the fence. Been wrangling the runaways all morning," Hershel answered as he looked up at Dale. "But you're not here to talk cattle."
Dale shook his head, "The boy."
"The prisoner," Hershel stated.
Dale again shook his head yes, "Randall."
"I don't want to know," Hershel said honestly knowing it was probably best if he didn't know. "I'm told they're deciding his fate. I'll leave it with Rick."
"But this is your home," Dale argued knowing Hershel could have a say in this.
"I want him away from my girls," Hershel finally spoke being honest on his fears for Maggie and Beth's safety. "I don't care how."
"It's an execution," Dale told him.
Hershel just shook his head, "I don't want to know."
"But you can't stand by the sidelines," Dale tried to tell him. "You're a man with convictions. You..."
"To tell you the truth, I was," Hershel acknowledged the last of Dale's statement. "Or at least I thought I was but I've made too many mistakes."
Dale just sighed as he looked down, "Would you at least talk with Randall before making up your mind?"
"No," Hershel stated as he shook his head. "I'll leave it with Rick."
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Mac raised an eyebrow as he watched Jessica come out of Zac and Kate's tent, "Everything okay in there?" he asked her knowing this morning things hadn't been good between Zac or Kate and last night Zac had slept in his and Taylor's tent.
"I'm not sure Zac's marriage is gonna last," Jessica answered honestly as she sat down beside Mac who was sitting beside the RV. "Zac's an ass and stubborn and is probably going to ruin his own marriage."
"Probably but what else is new?" Mac asked as he laughed trying to lighten the mood. "I've noticed ever since the barn that he seems preoccupied with things other than his wife or his baby."
Jessica shrugged, "That makes one of us. I was surprised to find it out."
"Not your fault you're too busy with Glenn," Mac said laughing again when Jessica smacked him playfully. "How is Kate doing?"
"As well as someone in a dying marriage can be," Jessica answered raising an eyebrow. "Since when do you care about Kate though? Should Zac be worried about competition from his not yet legal brother?"
Mac huffed playfully at Jessica's words, "I cared when I knew Kate was pregnant with my niece or nephew. This world is stressful enough and she doesn't need Zac being an asshole. It's not because I like her."
Jessica wasn't entirely sure she bought Mac's words but she nodded anyway, "If you say so."
"Trust me, I don't like her," Mac spoke again knowing from Jessica's tone she sounded unconvinced of what he said. He knew he didn't like Kate though...she wasn't really his type per say but he wasn't ready to announce that to his family.
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Shane who was putting stuff in the back of one of the cars watched as Dale approached him and he shut the back hatch, leaning against it, "What's up Dale?" he asked the old man a smirk forming on his lips.
"I wanna change your mind," Dale told him knowing it was a last ditch effort to let Shane see that killing Randall was wrong.
"What, you serious?" Shane asked almost wanting to laugh at Dale's words.
"I know you and I will never see eye to eye," Dale spoke knowing he and Shane just saw things differently, their many clashes ever since arriving at the farm proved that.
Shane raised his eyebrow at that comment, "I'd say that's the understatement of the year," he muttered sarcastically.
"But uh..you're not going anywhere," Dale started again hearing Shane mutter a nope. "And I'm not going anywhere. So let's talk about this like men."
"Okay," Shane said as he nodded. "You deny we're in danger, Dale?"
Dale shook his head, "No, but there's a dozen of us, one of him."
"There's thirty of them," Shane corrected him knowing Randall's group had numbers.
"Killing him doesn't change that...." Dale said hearing Shane add in a no. "But it changes us," he continued on after the brief interruption."
Shaking his head Shane just crossed his arms, "You..you got balls, Dale. I'm gonna give you that. Now I'll tell you what, in a little bit when ya'll gather, you're gonna talk about this. If you've convinced them to keep this guy alive, then I ain't gonna say a damn word about it, okay? But I'm telling you now, man to man, you're wrong. And when this guy kills somebody, I ain't gonna need to say anything, because that blood...that's gonna be on you. You're wrong about this, Dale. You're dead wrong."
Avery crossed her arms as she looked at the shed where Daryl was inside with Randall. She wasn't sure what was going on in there but she was almost afraid to find out but hell what was going on in there really couldn't have been worse than out here where everyone seemed tense.
Kate and Zac weren't even anywhere near each other and there was still the tension with Lori, Shane and Rick that had been there for days maybe even a week or so. Avery wasn't sure what was happening but it seemed the group was slowly breaking, had been since Sophia had came out of that barn as a walker.
"You okay?" Mac asked as he came to stand beside his sister who had seemed in her own little world.
Coming out of her thoughts Avery shook her head as she looked at Mac, a blush coming across her cheeks, "Just worried about Randall is all," she said not sure if they should trust him or if they should worry about his group, if they'd come to the camp looking for him or not.
"I didn't know you cared about strangers so much," Mac teased as he nudged Avery playfully.
"I don't," Avery teased right back as she shook her head though her mind went back to the group that had saved her and Jessica yesterday. She did sort of care for them because of the kindness she had been shown. "I just worry about trusting him or his group."
Mac nodded his head, getting where Avery was coming from, "But we'll find out soon enough if we should worry. I mean your lover boy is in there now getting answers out of him."
Rolling her eyes when Mac called Daryl her lover boy she uncrossed her arms, "I guess you're right," she said biting her lip as she shook her head and tuned into the conversation going on around her.
"So what you gonna do?" Lori asked from where she was bent over the campfire making breakfast. "We'd all feel better if we knew the plan," she said as she looked up at her husband.
"Is there a plan?" Andrea asked as she paced back and forth.
Sliding his hands in his pockets Taylor leaned against a tree, "We gonna keep him here?"
Rick nodded his head as he saw Daryl heading back towards the campsite, "We'll know soon enough," he said knowing Daryl had questioned Randall for answers that would hopefully tell them what they'd do.
"Boy there's got a gang, thirty men. They have heavy artillery and they ain't looking to make friends," Daryl spoke letting the group know what he had found out. "They roll through here, our boys are dead...and our women," he stated as he looked at Avery. "They're gonna wish they were," he finished though his mind kept going back to the story of what Randall's group had done to the father and his teenage girls. How they had raped the girls and made the dad watch and then they hadn't even killed him after.
"What did you do?" Avery asked Daryl as she broke eye contact with him and looked down at his hand, his knuckles were covered in bruises and blood.
Daryl shrugged as he looked down at the hand on his crossbow, "Had a little chat," he answered knowing he did indeed chat with Randall, in between beating him.
Shaking her head Avery turned her back and walked towards the tent she normally stayed in when she wasn't staying in Daryl's.
"No one goes near this guy," Rick warned his group not trusting any of them near him.
Lori just looked at her husband skeptically, "Rick, what are you gonna do?"
"We have no choice," Rick said as he shook his head. "He's a threat. We have to eliminate the threat."
"You're just gonna kill him?" Dale asked as he scrunched up his face.
Rick ignored Dale's comment, "It's settled. I'll do it today," he spoke sounding confident as he turned to walk away, Dale hot on his heels.
"You can't do this," Dale pleaded as he walked behind Rick, trying to catch up to him. "You don't wanna do this. I know you don't."
"I've thought about it all night," Rick said as he turned to look at Dale who was now walking beside him. "Knowing what we know now, I don't see a way out of it."
"But you can't just decide on your own to take someone's life," Dale argued not sure if this choice was right. It wasn't moral to him.
"The group seemed supportive," Rick told him knowing no one had objected.
"What, because they didn't speak back? You didn't let 'em," Dale shook his head knowing Rick hadn't given anyone a chance. "There's gotta be a...a process," he reasoned out loud.
Rick came to a stop briefly as he turned to face Dale, "And what would that be? We can't call witnesses, go before a judge."
"So he's automatically guilty by association and sentenced to death?" Dale asked as he raised an eyebrow. "He's just a kid. Gimme some time to talk to everyone..."
"We can't..." Rick spoke hearing Dale talk over him saying they needed to figure out another way. "We can't drag this out! People are scared."
"Which is why they need time to discuss this," Dale still argued hoping Rick would agree.
Rick shook his head, "They need to be safe, I owe em that," he said before turning to walk away again.
"You think about your son!" Dale yelled out seeing Rick stop in his footsteps. "The message that you're giving him....shoot first, think later. I'm asking for one day to talk to everybody, you can give me that. Think..think about Carl."
Swallowing hard Rick sighed and turned to look at Dale, "I am," he spoke knowing his family was the only thing on his mind. "We reconvene at sunset, then what happens, happens."
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"Zac!" Kate called out as she cornered him just as he was about to go into Taylor and Mac's tent. "Will you please talk to me?" she asked seeing him fully stop though his back was to her but he made no effort to move the closer she got.
"I don't think we have anything to talk about," Zac answered as he refused to face Kate. "You showed your true colors yesterday and I'm done with this fight of you being paranoid."
Kate closed her eyes as she pushed some loose strands of hair that weren't in her ponytail, away from her face, "I don't want Beth dead," she said knowing still her words probably didn't mean much to Zac. "I just thought she should decide and maybe I should have let Taylor decide as well but I can't change the past."
Sighing Zac listened to her and he finally turned to face her, "I don't know if I believe you," he said as he chewed his lip. "Aren't I supposed to trust my wife?"
"Yes," Kate answered as she nodded. "But I don't trust you either with some things but I don't think running from our problems will solve them. Not when we are going to be having a baby join us in a few months. We need to fix our issues."
Zac went silent, knowing Kate was right, "I...just give me some time Katie," he said as he nodded his head and stepped inside the tent. He just wanted to be stubborn for a bit longer. He just wanted time and lately he felt he had so little time for anything.
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Walking onto the RV, Dale came to a stop as he looked at Andrea who was standing towards the back, looking for something. "I need a favor."
"Did you move the gun bag?" Andrea asked as she looked into the empty closet in the RV.
"Yeah," Dale answered as he bent down to get the bag of guns and he laid them on the table, watching as Andrea came to sit down and go through the bag. "I need you to guard Randall, protect him."
Andrea gave Dale a skeptical and confused look, "Why?"
"Rick's giving me time to talk to the others, try and talk some sense into them," Dale answered Andrea's question. "But if Shane finds out...."
"You think he'd just shoot the guy himself?" Andrea asked as she went through the gun bag.
"You know killing the boy had to be his idea," Dale reasoned. "Are you with him on this?"
Andrea looked up at Dale and nodded, "He's a threat," she said hoping that was answer enough for him. "Tell me this isn't all the ammo," she muttered as she pulled out what ammo was left in the bag.
"You're a civil rights lawyer," Dale argued not seeing how Andrea could be for killing someone who could very well be innocent.
"Was," Andrea corrected.
"You fight with words, the power of ideas," Dale continued. "Using a gun, that's his way," he nodded knowing that seemed to be the only way Shane ever thought.
"You really want to debate about saving a guy who will lead his buddies right to our door?" Andrea asked as she raised an eyebrow.
Dale nodded his head at that, "That's what a civilized society does."
"Who says we're civilized anymore?" Andrea asked as she stood from where she sat.
"No, the world we knew is gone, but keeping our humanity?" Dale asked as he sighed. "That's a choice."
Andrea looked down after his words, "I'll watch your prisoner but not because I think you're right," she clarified before picking up a gun and heading off the RV.
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"You okay?" Jessica asked as she went into the tent that Zac and Kate had. Kate was sitting in there and she was crying. "I mean you seemed off at breakfast and well now you're crying and I was just wondering if I should go and get Zac for you."
Kate wiped at her eyes as she looked up at Jessica, "Zac's the reason I'm crying," she admitted honestly. "Wouldn't do no use in getting him."
"Oh." Jessica whispered as she sat down beside Kate on the cot. "Want to talk about it? I'm good at listening."
"Shouldn't you be with Glenn?" Kate asked as she raised an eyebrow.
Jessica shrugged, "He went off to do something with T-Dog," she said. "So I have time to listen to whatever's wrong."
"I screwed things up with Zac," Kate confessed as she looked away from Jessica. "Leaving Beth alone. He thinks I wanted her dead and I didn't. He doesn't trust me now."
"But why would he think you wanted Beth dead?" Jessica asked feeling like she was missing a piece of the puzzle.
Kate felt her cheeks grow hot knowing how she had to answer this question, "Because I'm jealous of her. He seemed to care for her more than he did me."
Taking in Kate's answer Jessica chewed her lip before speaking, "Well then it seems like maybe you both have trust issues and you need to work on those."
"I tried to tell him that," Kate told Jessica. "But I don't think he heard me."
"Then maybe you should just stop," Jessica reasoned not sure if that's the words Kate needed to hear. "My brother will either come around or he won't and if he doesn't then that's on him."
Going silent at Jessica's words Kate wanted to just yell out that stopping wasn't the right answer, especially with the baby on the way but then again she didn't need the same arguments with Zac, she didn't need him stressing her out just like he needed to trust her and she had broken that maybe more than he had broken her trust in him.
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"The whole point of me coming up here is to get away from you people," Daryl responded as he turned to see Dale walking into the makeshift campsite he still had built away from the others.
"Gonna take more than that," Dale said as he looked at Daryl.
"Avery send you?" Daryl asked figuring Avery had sent him to talk to him about something, especially since she seemed upset about how he had done with getting answers out of Randall.
"Avery's not the only one that's concerned about you," Dale answered as he came to a stop. "Your new role in the group."
Daryl rolled at his eyes at that, "Oh man, I don't need my head shrunk," he muttered as he shook his head. "This group's broken. I'm better off fending for myself."
"You act like you don't care," Dale responded after Daryl had finished talking.
"Yeah, it's cause I don't," Daryl spoke trying to sound honest.
"So live or die, you don't care what happens to Randall?" Dale asked curiously as he watched Daryl put on his angel winged jacket.
Daryl shook his head, "Nope," he answered popping his p slightly.
"Then why not stand with me, try to save the kid's life, if it really doesn't matter one way or the other?" Dale asked him wondering what he'd say to that.
Adjusting his jacket Daryl listened to Dale's words, "I didn't peg you for a desperate son of a bitch," he muttered once Dale was done speaking.
"Your opinion makes a difference," Dale told him knowing it did whether he thought so or not.
"Man, ain't nobody looking at me for nothing," Daryl told him as he reached down for his crossbow and began to walk away.
"Avery is," Dale spoke as he walked behind Daryl. "And I am. Right now," he said once Daryl turned to face him again. "And you obviously...you have Rick's ear."
Daryl walked back towards Dale, "Rick just looks to Shane," he stated his words almost a bit harsh. "Let him," he said before turning to walk away again.
"You cared about what happened to Sophia," Dale said seeing Daryl stop in his track. "Cared what it meant to the group. Torturing people? That isn't you," he nodded knowing Daryl was a good man regardless of how he acted. "You're a decent man. So is Rick...Shane he's different."
"Why's that?" Daryl asked sarcastically. "Cause he killed Otis?"
"He tell you that?" Dale asked as he walked a bit closer to Daryl.
Daryl shook his head, "He told some story, how Otis covered him, saved his ass. He showed up with the dead guy's gun. Rick ain't stupid," he said shaking his head again. "If he didn't figure that out, it's cause he didn't want too. It's like I said the group is broken," he finished before walking away for good.
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Tracking down Avery, Zac sighed as he slung his arm around her shoulder, "Wanna go for a walk?" he asked raising an eyebrow.
"I have a feeling you'll take me on one whether I say no or not," Avery spoke as she let Zac lead the way. "Why do you want to go on one?"
"Need to get away," Zac told her honestly as he walked with her. "Kate's bugging me and Dale just tried to get me to vote with him for not executing Randall," he sighed as he shook his head. His mind was already made it up when it came to Randall. The best option was to kill him, it would make him feel safer with Kate and the baby, even if he was mad at Kate he did care about her safety.
Avery scrunched up her nose, "How's Kate bugging you?" she asked curiously wondering if Zac would tell her what their tension this morning was about.
"Cause I'm mad about the Beth thing..her leaving Beth alone," Zac answered honestly. "I can't trust her and she can't trust me cause she thinks I'm in love with Beth."
"Seems like you guys have trust issues," Avery stated more so to herself.
"No shit Sherlock," Zac spoke sarcastically. "I knew you were always a genius."
At Zac's sarcastic words Avery shook her head, "Oh fuck you," she replied back before pushing him off her playfully but she did continue to walk beside him. "D..do you love Beth?"
Zac was taken aback by Avery's question but he heaved a sigh, "I don't know," he answered honestly. "If this was a few weeks ago I could say no of course but I don't know."
"Maybe you should figure that out then figure out where you and Kate stand," Avery spoke as she turned her head to look at him. "Just get your shit together before she gives birth."
"I will," Zac nodded hoping he did have his stuff together before then but really just trying to patch things over with Kate for the time being felt easier than trying to sort his feelings out. Maybe he'd just apologize to Kate tonight and take her apology too, it would save them from arguing anymore, at least for the time being. At least until some other problem hit them.
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"What happened?" Dale asked as he stood in front of Hershel who he had tracked down finally.
"A dozen steer busted through the fence. Been wrangling the runaways all morning," Hershel answered as he looked up at Dale. "But you're not here to talk cattle."
Dale shook his head, "The boy."
"The prisoner," Hershel stated.
Dale again shook his head yes, "Randall."
"I don't want to know," Hershel said honestly knowing it was probably best if he didn't know. "I'm told they're deciding his fate. I'll leave it with Rick."
"But this is your home," Dale argued knowing Hershel could have a say in this.
"I want him away from my girls," Hershel finally spoke being honest on his fears for Maggie and Beth's safety. "I don't care how."
"It's an execution," Dale told him.
Hershel just shook his head, "I don't want to know."
"But you can't stand by the sidelines," Dale tried to tell him. "You're a man with convictions. You..."
"To tell you the truth, I was," Hershel acknowledged the last of Dale's statement. "Or at least I thought I was but I've made too many mistakes."
Dale just sighed as he looked down, "Would you at least talk with Randall before making up your mind?"
"No," Hershel stated as he shook his head. "I'll leave it with Rick."
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Mac raised an eyebrow as he watched Jessica come out of Zac and Kate's tent, "Everything okay in there?" he asked her knowing this morning things hadn't been good between Zac or Kate and last night Zac had slept in his and Taylor's tent.
"I'm not sure Zac's marriage is gonna last," Jessica answered honestly as she sat down beside Mac who was sitting beside the RV. "Zac's an ass and stubborn and is probably going to ruin his own marriage."
"Probably but what else is new?" Mac asked as he laughed trying to lighten the mood. "I've noticed ever since the barn that he seems preoccupied with things other than his wife or his baby."
Jessica shrugged, "That makes one of us. I was surprised to find it out."
"Not your fault you're too busy with Glenn," Mac said laughing again when Jessica smacked him playfully. "How is Kate doing?"
"As well as someone in a dying marriage can be," Jessica answered raising an eyebrow. "Since when do you care about Kate though? Should Zac be worried about competition from his not yet legal brother?"
Mac huffed playfully at Jessica's words, "I cared when I knew Kate was pregnant with my niece or nephew. This world is stressful enough and she doesn't need Zac being an asshole. It's not because I like her."
Jessica wasn't entirely sure she bought Mac's words but she nodded anyway, "If you say so."
"Trust me, I don't like her," Mac spoke again knowing from Jessica's tone she sounded unconvinced of what he said. He knew he didn't like Kate though...she wasn't really his type per say but he wasn't ready to announce that to his family.
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Shane who was putting stuff in the back of one of the cars watched as Dale approached him and he shut the back hatch, leaning against it, "What's up Dale?" he asked the old man a smirk forming on his lips.
"I wanna change your mind," Dale told him knowing it was a last ditch effort to let Shane see that killing Randall was wrong.
"What, you serious?" Shane asked almost wanting to laugh at Dale's words.
"I know you and I will never see eye to eye," Dale spoke knowing he and Shane just saw things differently, their many clashes ever since arriving at the farm proved that.
Shane raised his eyebrow at that comment, "I'd say that's the understatement of the year," he muttered sarcastically.
"But uh..you're not going anywhere," Dale started again hearing Shane mutter a nope. "And I'm not going anywhere. So let's talk about this like men."
"Okay," Shane said as he nodded. "You deny we're in danger, Dale?"
Dale shook his head, "No, but there's a dozen of us, one of him."
"There's thirty of them," Shane corrected him knowing Randall's group had numbers.
"Killing him doesn't change that...." Dale said hearing Shane add in a no. "But it changes us," he continued on after the brief interruption."
Shaking his head Shane just crossed his arms, "You..you got balls, Dale. I'm gonna give you that. Now I'll tell you what, in a little bit when ya'll gather, you're gonna talk about this. If you've convinced them to keep this guy alive, then I ain't gonna say a damn word about it, okay? But I'm telling you now, man to man, you're wrong. And when this guy kills somebody, I ain't gonna need to say anything, because that blood...that's gonna be on you. You're wrong about this, Dale. You're dead wrong."