Contagion Chapter Three
Zac who had been walking in the woods with the others paused in his steps when he heard a gunshot in the distance. It was only one gunshot but it was still a gunshot. Looking around at the others who had also stopped he knew they too had also heard it. Not saying anything though the group started walking on for a bit longer until Zac saw Andrea who was beside him turn around. Turning too he saw Lori looking behind them.
"Are you still worrying about it?" Andrea asked as she saw Lori look behind them.
Lori kept her back turned to Andrea, "That was a gunshot."
"We all heard it," Daryl told the woman who was stopped in her tracks.
"Why one?" Lori asked as she turned to face the group her expression serious. "Why just one gunshot?"
Daryl shrugged at the woman's question, "Maybe they took down a walker."
"Please don't patronize me. You know Rick wouldn't risk a gunshot to put down one walker or Shane. They'd do it quietly," Lori said before turning to look behind her again.
"Shouldn't they have caught up with us by now?" Carol added in as she looked at Glenn and Jessica who were standing closest to her.
Daryl sighed, "There's nothing we can do about it anyway. Can't run around these woods chasing echos."
"So what do we do?" Lori asked him as she kept her face serious once she turned back to look at him.
"Same we've been. Beat the bush for Sophia, work our way back to the highway," Daryl answered simply as if it should have been apparent to Lori.
Jessica nodded, "I'm sure they'll hook up with us back at the RV," she spoke and the moment she watched Lori walk towards the rest of the group she smiled. Hearing the others in front of her head off she turned to face Carol. "I'm sorry for what you're going through. I know how you feel."
"I suppose you do," Carol agreed as she looked at the younger girl. "Thank you," she smiled before feeling like she was going to get chocked up again. "The thought of her out here by herself. It's the not knowing that's killing me. I just keep hoping and praying she doesn't wind up like Zoe," Carol spoke and the moment she saw Jessica's face change slightly she instantly regretted what she had said.
Walking closer she reached out for Jessica's hand, "Oh god that's the worst thing I ever said," Carol sighed.
Jessica shook her head trying to keep her emotions in check, "We're all hoping and praying with you for what it's worth."
"I'll tell you what's it worth," Daryl said as he walked down to where the two women were stopped. "Not a damn thing. It's a waste of time all this hopin and prayin. We're gonna locate that little girl. She's gonna be just fine. Am I the only one zen around here?" he asked before walking off. "Good lord."
As the group started moving again Zac picked up his pace and walked to where Taylor was, "I'm sorry," he whispered under his breath.
"For what?" Taylor asked not even looking at Zac.
"I know you were standing there when I went off on Kate the other day," Zac shrugged as he ran a hand through his hair. "I shouldn't have said it."
Taylor laughed slightly, "But you meant it," he said looking over at his brother finally. He could tell from his brother's face that he was correct. "Don't ever apologize for things you mean," he told him before walking faster and going ahead of Zac.
Watching Taylor leave Zac just frowned. He was hoping the conversation would have went better than that.
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Kate stood beside Dale as he bent over one of the cars on the highway. He was working on it for something though to be honest she didn't know what. Hearing foot steps coming closer to them she saw T-Dog was headed to where they were.
Dale turned to look at T-Dog when the man came to a stop beside him, "We are going to have quite a collection of spare parts I tell you."
"Shouldn't they be back by now?" T-Dog asked as he moved away from Dale.
Looking up at the sky Dale shrugged, "It's still light. Let's not worry just yet," he said as he looked to where T-Dog walked off too. "How are you feeling?" he asked knowing the man had hurt his arm yesterday. Heck his arm had a huge white bandage on it now.
Kate crinkled her forehead when T-Dog ignored Dale's question and she walked with Dale the few steps where the other man now stood.
"T-Dog I asked you how you were feeling just now," Dale said once he reached where T-Dog was. "Please don't blow that question off."
T-Dog sighed as he looked down, "It really hurts," he admitted honestly. "It's throbbing something awful."
Hearing T-Dog say his arm was throbbing awful Kate sighed, "Let me see," she spoke as she reached down and lifted his bandage off some. Making a face at the sight of it she slowly pulled it down hearing him scream out for her not to touch it. "I'm sorry," she said apologizing for touching his wound.
"Your veins are very discolored," Dale said knowing from what he could see when Kate lifted the bandage off that they looked discolored. "You've got a hell of an infection there. You could die from blood poisoning."
T-Dog sighed but soon started to laugh at Dale's words. "Oh man," he said in between fits of laughter. "Wouldn't that be the way. World gone to hell and the dead risen up to eat the living and Theodore Douglas gets done in by a cut on his arm," he said as he continued to laugh.
Dale made a face and put his hands on T-Dog's arms, "I've been saying since yesterday we've got to get you some antibiotics. We've been ransacking these cars the whole time I can't believe we have not found some ampicillin or something in the whole place. Can you?"
"Seems like there would be," T-Dog agreed figuring there would have been medicines in some of these cars.
"Well that's what I think," Dale nodded. "Well we uh haven't been thorough enough. So lets look some more," he said knowing that they may find something if they were more thorough. "Alright?"
Kate nodded as well and helped the two men as they both looked through the cars. In her search all she happened to find was a pack of nabs, some tampons, and a blue Gatorade.
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Taylor came to a stop to catch his breath as the group continued on their journey back to the highway. He swore it hadn't seemed that far out when they left but now with them going back it seemed like it was taking forever.
"We're gonna lose the light before too long," Daryl spoke as he looked at the people behind him. "I think we should call it," he said as he eyed Carol referring to them searching for Sophia for the day.
"We'll pick it up again tomorrow?" Carol asked hoping they did.
Lori nodded as she looked at the woman, "Yeah we'll look tomorrow." It was after she spoke that Daryl again lead the way back to the highway.
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Sitting beside T-Dog at the RV Kate looked up as she heard Dale heading towards them obviously he too had finished looking through cars and she bet he had came up empty handed.
"Found some more batteries," Dale spoke as he carried a white bag in one hand and a guitar in the other. "A bottle of very trendy pink water, an excellent new machete and I thought Glenn might like this guitar. Maybe he plays."
Kate smiled when she saw the guitar and she couldn't help but think of Isaac and she hoped he and Nikki were faring better out there on their own then the group was faring out here. Then besides Isaac she also thought of the band in general and the fact that now thanks to the world it was essentially gone. There was no more Hanson. There would be no more records or concerts. It saddened her to think of that.
Sitting down beside T-Dog as well Dale shook his head, "No drugs though. What about you guys?"
"I found a blue Gatorade, some tampons, and a pack of nabs," Kate spoke as she ran a hand through her hair. She had saved the Gatorade for Zac if he wanted it but the nabs she had ate. The tampons had been put in the RV bathroom.
T-Dog who was smoking a cigarette looked between Kate and Dale who sat on either side of him, "Ibuprofen and these," he said referring to the cigarette in his hands. "What are we doing?"
Dale shrugged, "Pulling supplies together."
"No, I mean what are we doing? Our people are off in the woods," he said pointing behind in the direction of the woods. "They are looking for that poor girl and we are here. Why? Cause they think we are the weakest," T-Dog nodded. "Well what are you seventy?"
Dale looked away from T-Dog, "Sixty-four," he answered.
"I'm the one black guy," T-Dog said as he reached up to scratch his head. "Do you realize how precarious that makes my situation?"
Scrunching up his face Dale felt confused, "What the hell are you talking about?"
"I'm talking about two good ole boy cowboy sheriffs and a redneck whose brother cut off his own hand because I dropped a key," T-Dog answered Dale's question. "Who in that scenario do you think is gonna be first to get lynched."
Kate sat there listening to T-Dog. She knew he wasn't making sense and from the look on Dale's face he knew it too.
"You can't be serious," Dale spoke trying to comprehend the man's words. "Am I missing something? Those cowboys have done alright by us and if I'm not mistaken that redneck went out of his way to save your ass..more than once."
When T-Dog said and don't forget about Andrea that was when Kate stood up not wanting to hear anymore of this conversation. She knew the man's infection had to be making him say what he was but she didn't want to hear it anymore.
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Taylor stayed close to the group as they walked farther. At least now he knew they were getting closer. They were passing by places he remembered passing on the way out this morning.
"How much farther?" Avery asked from where she walked in the back of the group her steps matching Lori who walked beside her.
"Not much," Daryl answered as he looked ahead of him. "Maybe a hundred yards as the crow flies."
Andrea made a face at his words, "Too bad we aren't crows," she spoke more to herself as she kept walking letting herself move away from the group some. As she did she walked over a few logs and made a face as she stepped right in a spider web or something. Once she got out of it she eventually kept walking, "As the crow flies my ass," she spoke sarcastically.
It wasn't long after she said that, that she heard moaning and when she turned around she saw a walker just a step or two away from her. Backing away from it she screamed.
Hearing a scream in the distance Taylor stopped in his tracks. Hearing Lori call out for Andrea he sighed but eventually he followed everyone else as they all ran to where the screams were coming from. Right when they got there though a woman riding a horse knocked the walker who had obviously been chasing Andrea down. A bat being the weapon she had chosen.
Taylor couldn't help but stand there dumbfounded as he looked at the brunette on the horse. She was almost like a lady Zorro with the way she had rode in and saved the day.
"Lori?" Maggie Greene questioned as the horse she rode came to a stop. Looking down at Andrea she raised an eyebrow, "Lori Grimes?"
Lori heard the woman asking Andrea if she was Lori Grimes and she spoke up, "I'm Lori."
"Rick sent me. You've got to come now," Maggie told the woman as she turned to look at her.
"What?" Lori asked confusion clear in her tone of voice.
Maggie kept her tone serious as she replied to the woman, "There's been an accident. Carl's been shot. He's still alive but you've got to come now," she said as she watched the woman take in her words. At the woman's silence and inability to move to get on the horse Maggie sighed. "Rick needs you. Just come."
Watching Lori take off her backpack and start walking towards the horse Daryl made a face, "Woah woah woah we don't know this girl," he objected as Lori walked closer to the horse. "You can't get on that horse."
As Lori got on the horse Maggie looked at the group standing on the ground, "Rick said you had others on the highway. That big traffic snarl."
Taylor just looked at the woman as she looked at him and he nodded. He was too mesmerized to do anything else at the moment.
"Backtrack to Fairborne Road two miles down is our farm. You'll see the mailbox. Name is Greene," Maggie told the blonde haired guy as she grabbed the horse's reigns once Lori was fully on the horse. Turning the horse around she headed off back to the farm.
Turning around after the woman with the last name Greene rode off Taylor just watched her as he closed his mouth not even realizing it had fallen open. Hearing the walker that had been knocked down by him moan and start to sit up he heard Daryl say shut up and before he knew it an arrow had been put in the walker's skull.
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Kate crossed her arms as she stood by Dale on the road. The group had just arrived back and they had been told Carl had been shot.
"Shot what do you mean shot?" Dale asked sounding shocked at the news.
Taylor climbed over the guard rail and shrugged panting and out of breath, "I don't know Dale. All I know is this chick rode out of nowhere like Zorro on a horse and took Lori."
"You let her?" Dale asked another question this time to Daryl.
Daryl sighed, "I'm down to my asshole man. Rick sent her. She knew Lori's name and Carl's," he said as he walked away from Dale.
Kate stayed in place as she shook her head. When Dale asked Andrea if the screams they had heard had been her she just ignored the question though Glenn answered it saying she got attacked by a walker.
"Andrea are you alright?" Dale asked as Andrea almost made it to the RV.
Turning to look at Dale, Andrea just gave him a look and shook her head before opening the RV door and stepping inside.
After Andrea went inside the RV, Kate chewed on her lip seeing Zac walk over to her. Frowning she shook her head and pulled her husband into a hug just glad that he was safe. She was also glad when she felt his arms go around her and he hugged her back. At least he no longer seemed mad at her.
"I love you Katie," Zac whispered as he held Kate close to him. "I love you but I still think your pregnancy is wrong especially more so with Sophia being missing and Carl being shot but I love you and I think in time I can get over the CDC thing and you risking your life for Taylor."
Smiling to herself Kate buried her head in Zac's neck, "I love you too Zac," she whispered as she left a soft kiss on his neck.
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"I won't do it," Carol shook her head. It had been awhile now since the group came back and they were deciding what to do about the farm. "We can't just leave."
"Carol the group is split," Dale spoke as he leaned against the opened RV door. "We're scattered and weak."
Carol made a face feeling angry at the man's words, "What if she comes back and we're not here?" she asked though no one said anything. "It could happen," she shrugged not wanting to give up hope.
"If Sophia found her way back and we were gone that would be awful," Avery said as she turned to look at Dale.
Daryl nodded, "Okay we got to plan for this. I say tomorrow morning is soon enough to pull up stakes. Give us a chance to rig a big sign. Leave her some supplies. I'll hold here tonight. Stay with the RV."
"If the RV is staying I am too," Dale said as he eyed Carol. He wasn't sure he wanted to give up just yet but he did agree with Daryl's plan. Not to mention he couldn't leave his beloved RV.
Carol smiled and nodded her head at Dale, "Thank you." she said before also looking at Daryl. "Thank you both."
"I'm in," Avery said as she agreed to stay behind as well. After her Kate,Zac, Jessica and Mac also agreed to stay though they knew they'd probably have to sleep in some of the abandoned cars.
Glenn who had been listening sighed, "We'll if you're all in then I'm staying.." he started but was stopped by Dale.
"Not you Glenn you are going. Take Carol's Cherokee," Dale said after interrupting the boy.
Glen felt his eyes widen, "Me?" he asked. "Why is it always me?"
"You have to find this farm, reconnect with our people and see what's going on but most importantly you have to get T-Dog there," Dale explained to the young man. "This is not an option. That cut has gone from bad to worse.. He has a very serious blood infection. Get him to that farm, see if they have any antibiotics because if not T-Dog will die no joke."
Listening to Dale talk Avery watched as Daryl went back to his bike and grabbed a plastic bag out of a messenger bag that was draped over the front of it.
Daryl walked over to Dale holding rags that had been put over his messenger bag, "Keep your oily rags off my brothers motorcycle," he told the old man. Laying the plastic bag on the hood of a car he sighed, "Why'd you wait til now to say anything?" he asked as he opened the bag and went through the medicines. "I've got my brother's stash. Crystal X don't need that," he spoke as he found another bottle and pulled it out. Reading the label he threw the bottle to Glenn, "That's some kick ass pain killers," he spoke before getting another bottle out. "Doxycycline not the generic stuff either it's first class. Merle got the clap on occasion," he shrugged once he finished up going through the medicine.
Watching Daryl walk away after giving the medicine up Avery just stood there and shook her head. It was after that she watched as Taylor pulled Glenn aside and talked to him for a few minutes then he walked over to her which made her raise an eyebrow.
Taylor gave Avery an innocent smile, "So we are kind of going with Glenn and T-Dog to the farm," he said knowing that Avery had agreed to stay here but he wanted to go to the farm tonight though it was partly just because he wanted to see that woman again and it was partly because he felt sympathy for Lori and Rick with Carl being shot.
"We are?" Avery asked knowing Taylor had volunteered her without her permission. "And why are we going?"
"Because I don't wanna sleep in a car tonight," Taylor shrugged still trying to play innocent.
Avery shook her head, "No, it's because you want to see the woman on the horse again," she replied as she rolled her eyes. "I think seeing her on a horse got you all hot and bothered," she teased. She was kind of glad that Taylor was again seeming to come around and maybe be happy, especially if he was developing a crush on strangers.
Taylor blushed though he didn't deny Avery's comments. Part of her comment was correct. He did want to see that woman again.
Zac who had been walking in the woods with the others paused in his steps when he heard a gunshot in the distance. It was only one gunshot but it was still a gunshot. Looking around at the others who had also stopped he knew they too had also heard it. Not saying anything though the group started walking on for a bit longer until Zac saw Andrea who was beside him turn around. Turning too he saw Lori looking behind them.
"Are you still worrying about it?" Andrea asked as she saw Lori look behind them.
Lori kept her back turned to Andrea, "That was a gunshot."
"We all heard it," Daryl told the woman who was stopped in her tracks.
"Why one?" Lori asked as she turned to face the group her expression serious. "Why just one gunshot?"
Daryl shrugged at the woman's question, "Maybe they took down a walker."
"Please don't patronize me. You know Rick wouldn't risk a gunshot to put down one walker or Shane. They'd do it quietly," Lori said before turning to look behind her again.
"Shouldn't they have caught up with us by now?" Carol added in as she looked at Glenn and Jessica who were standing closest to her.
Daryl sighed, "There's nothing we can do about it anyway. Can't run around these woods chasing echos."
"So what do we do?" Lori asked him as she kept her face serious once she turned back to look at him.
"Same we've been. Beat the bush for Sophia, work our way back to the highway," Daryl answered simply as if it should have been apparent to Lori.
Jessica nodded, "I'm sure they'll hook up with us back at the RV," she spoke and the moment she watched Lori walk towards the rest of the group she smiled. Hearing the others in front of her head off she turned to face Carol. "I'm sorry for what you're going through. I know how you feel."
"I suppose you do," Carol agreed as she looked at the younger girl. "Thank you," she smiled before feeling like she was going to get chocked up again. "The thought of her out here by herself. It's the not knowing that's killing me. I just keep hoping and praying she doesn't wind up like Zoe," Carol spoke and the moment she saw Jessica's face change slightly she instantly regretted what she had said.
Walking closer she reached out for Jessica's hand, "Oh god that's the worst thing I ever said," Carol sighed.
Jessica shook her head trying to keep her emotions in check, "We're all hoping and praying with you for what it's worth."
"I'll tell you what's it worth," Daryl said as he walked down to where the two women were stopped. "Not a damn thing. It's a waste of time all this hopin and prayin. We're gonna locate that little girl. She's gonna be just fine. Am I the only one zen around here?" he asked before walking off. "Good lord."
As the group started moving again Zac picked up his pace and walked to where Taylor was, "I'm sorry," he whispered under his breath.
"For what?" Taylor asked not even looking at Zac.
"I know you were standing there when I went off on Kate the other day," Zac shrugged as he ran a hand through his hair. "I shouldn't have said it."
Taylor laughed slightly, "But you meant it," he said looking over at his brother finally. He could tell from his brother's face that he was correct. "Don't ever apologize for things you mean," he told him before walking faster and going ahead of Zac.
Watching Taylor leave Zac just frowned. He was hoping the conversation would have went better than that.
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Kate stood beside Dale as he bent over one of the cars on the highway. He was working on it for something though to be honest she didn't know what. Hearing foot steps coming closer to them she saw T-Dog was headed to where they were.
Dale turned to look at T-Dog when the man came to a stop beside him, "We are going to have quite a collection of spare parts I tell you."
"Shouldn't they be back by now?" T-Dog asked as he moved away from Dale.
Looking up at the sky Dale shrugged, "It's still light. Let's not worry just yet," he said as he looked to where T-Dog walked off too. "How are you feeling?" he asked knowing the man had hurt his arm yesterday. Heck his arm had a huge white bandage on it now.
Kate crinkled her forehead when T-Dog ignored Dale's question and she walked with Dale the few steps where the other man now stood.
"T-Dog I asked you how you were feeling just now," Dale said once he reached where T-Dog was. "Please don't blow that question off."
T-Dog sighed as he looked down, "It really hurts," he admitted honestly. "It's throbbing something awful."
Hearing T-Dog say his arm was throbbing awful Kate sighed, "Let me see," she spoke as she reached down and lifted his bandage off some. Making a face at the sight of it she slowly pulled it down hearing him scream out for her not to touch it. "I'm sorry," she said apologizing for touching his wound.
"Your veins are very discolored," Dale said knowing from what he could see when Kate lifted the bandage off that they looked discolored. "You've got a hell of an infection there. You could die from blood poisoning."
T-Dog sighed but soon started to laugh at Dale's words. "Oh man," he said in between fits of laughter. "Wouldn't that be the way. World gone to hell and the dead risen up to eat the living and Theodore Douglas gets done in by a cut on his arm," he said as he continued to laugh.
Dale made a face and put his hands on T-Dog's arms, "I've been saying since yesterday we've got to get you some antibiotics. We've been ransacking these cars the whole time I can't believe we have not found some ampicillin or something in the whole place. Can you?"
"Seems like there would be," T-Dog agreed figuring there would have been medicines in some of these cars.
"Well that's what I think," Dale nodded. "Well we uh haven't been thorough enough. So lets look some more," he said knowing that they may find something if they were more thorough. "Alright?"
Kate nodded as well and helped the two men as they both looked through the cars. In her search all she happened to find was a pack of nabs, some tampons, and a blue Gatorade.
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Taylor came to a stop to catch his breath as the group continued on their journey back to the highway. He swore it hadn't seemed that far out when they left but now with them going back it seemed like it was taking forever.
"We're gonna lose the light before too long," Daryl spoke as he looked at the people behind him. "I think we should call it," he said as he eyed Carol referring to them searching for Sophia for the day.
"We'll pick it up again tomorrow?" Carol asked hoping they did.
Lori nodded as she looked at the woman, "Yeah we'll look tomorrow." It was after she spoke that Daryl again lead the way back to the highway.
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Sitting beside T-Dog at the RV Kate looked up as she heard Dale heading towards them obviously he too had finished looking through cars and she bet he had came up empty handed.
"Found some more batteries," Dale spoke as he carried a white bag in one hand and a guitar in the other. "A bottle of very trendy pink water, an excellent new machete and I thought Glenn might like this guitar. Maybe he plays."
Kate smiled when she saw the guitar and she couldn't help but think of Isaac and she hoped he and Nikki were faring better out there on their own then the group was faring out here. Then besides Isaac she also thought of the band in general and the fact that now thanks to the world it was essentially gone. There was no more Hanson. There would be no more records or concerts. It saddened her to think of that.
Sitting down beside T-Dog as well Dale shook his head, "No drugs though. What about you guys?"
"I found a blue Gatorade, some tampons, and a pack of nabs," Kate spoke as she ran a hand through her hair. She had saved the Gatorade for Zac if he wanted it but the nabs she had ate. The tampons had been put in the RV bathroom.
T-Dog who was smoking a cigarette looked between Kate and Dale who sat on either side of him, "Ibuprofen and these," he said referring to the cigarette in his hands. "What are we doing?"
Dale shrugged, "Pulling supplies together."
"No, I mean what are we doing? Our people are off in the woods," he said pointing behind in the direction of the woods. "They are looking for that poor girl and we are here. Why? Cause they think we are the weakest," T-Dog nodded. "Well what are you seventy?"
Dale looked away from T-Dog, "Sixty-four," he answered.
"I'm the one black guy," T-Dog said as he reached up to scratch his head. "Do you realize how precarious that makes my situation?"
Scrunching up his face Dale felt confused, "What the hell are you talking about?"
"I'm talking about two good ole boy cowboy sheriffs and a redneck whose brother cut off his own hand because I dropped a key," T-Dog answered Dale's question. "Who in that scenario do you think is gonna be first to get lynched."
Kate sat there listening to T-Dog. She knew he wasn't making sense and from the look on Dale's face he knew it too.
"You can't be serious," Dale spoke trying to comprehend the man's words. "Am I missing something? Those cowboys have done alright by us and if I'm not mistaken that redneck went out of his way to save your ass..more than once."
When T-Dog said and don't forget about Andrea that was when Kate stood up not wanting to hear anymore of this conversation. She knew the man's infection had to be making him say what he was but she didn't want to hear it anymore.
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Taylor stayed close to the group as they walked farther. At least now he knew they were getting closer. They were passing by places he remembered passing on the way out this morning.
"How much farther?" Avery asked from where she walked in the back of the group her steps matching Lori who walked beside her.
"Not much," Daryl answered as he looked ahead of him. "Maybe a hundred yards as the crow flies."
Andrea made a face at his words, "Too bad we aren't crows," she spoke more to herself as she kept walking letting herself move away from the group some. As she did she walked over a few logs and made a face as she stepped right in a spider web or something. Once she got out of it she eventually kept walking, "As the crow flies my ass," she spoke sarcastically.
It wasn't long after she said that, that she heard moaning and when she turned around she saw a walker just a step or two away from her. Backing away from it she screamed.
Hearing a scream in the distance Taylor stopped in his tracks. Hearing Lori call out for Andrea he sighed but eventually he followed everyone else as they all ran to where the screams were coming from. Right when they got there though a woman riding a horse knocked the walker who had obviously been chasing Andrea down. A bat being the weapon she had chosen.
Taylor couldn't help but stand there dumbfounded as he looked at the brunette on the horse. She was almost like a lady Zorro with the way she had rode in and saved the day.
"Lori?" Maggie Greene questioned as the horse she rode came to a stop. Looking down at Andrea she raised an eyebrow, "Lori Grimes?"
Lori heard the woman asking Andrea if she was Lori Grimes and she spoke up, "I'm Lori."
"Rick sent me. You've got to come now," Maggie told the woman as she turned to look at her.
"What?" Lori asked confusion clear in her tone of voice.
Maggie kept her tone serious as she replied to the woman, "There's been an accident. Carl's been shot. He's still alive but you've got to come now," she said as she watched the woman take in her words. At the woman's silence and inability to move to get on the horse Maggie sighed. "Rick needs you. Just come."
Watching Lori take off her backpack and start walking towards the horse Daryl made a face, "Woah woah woah we don't know this girl," he objected as Lori walked closer to the horse. "You can't get on that horse."
As Lori got on the horse Maggie looked at the group standing on the ground, "Rick said you had others on the highway. That big traffic snarl."
Taylor just looked at the woman as she looked at him and he nodded. He was too mesmerized to do anything else at the moment.
"Backtrack to Fairborne Road two miles down is our farm. You'll see the mailbox. Name is Greene," Maggie told the blonde haired guy as she grabbed the horse's reigns once Lori was fully on the horse. Turning the horse around she headed off back to the farm.
Turning around after the woman with the last name Greene rode off Taylor just watched her as he closed his mouth not even realizing it had fallen open. Hearing the walker that had been knocked down by him moan and start to sit up he heard Daryl say shut up and before he knew it an arrow had been put in the walker's skull.
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Kate crossed her arms as she stood by Dale on the road. The group had just arrived back and they had been told Carl had been shot.
"Shot what do you mean shot?" Dale asked sounding shocked at the news.
Taylor climbed over the guard rail and shrugged panting and out of breath, "I don't know Dale. All I know is this chick rode out of nowhere like Zorro on a horse and took Lori."
"You let her?" Dale asked another question this time to Daryl.
Daryl sighed, "I'm down to my asshole man. Rick sent her. She knew Lori's name and Carl's," he said as he walked away from Dale.
Kate stayed in place as she shook her head. When Dale asked Andrea if the screams they had heard had been her she just ignored the question though Glenn answered it saying she got attacked by a walker.
"Andrea are you alright?" Dale asked as Andrea almost made it to the RV.
Turning to look at Dale, Andrea just gave him a look and shook her head before opening the RV door and stepping inside.
After Andrea went inside the RV, Kate chewed on her lip seeing Zac walk over to her. Frowning she shook her head and pulled her husband into a hug just glad that he was safe. She was also glad when she felt his arms go around her and he hugged her back. At least he no longer seemed mad at her.
"I love you Katie," Zac whispered as he held Kate close to him. "I love you but I still think your pregnancy is wrong especially more so with Sophia being missing and Carl being shot but I love you and I think in time I can get over the CDC thing and you risking your life for Taylor."
Smiling to herself Kate buried her head in Zac's neck, "I love you too Zac," she whispered as she left a soft kiss on his neck.
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"I won't do it," Carol shook her head. It had been awhile now since the group came back and they were deciding what to do about the farm. "We can't just leave."
"Carol the group is split," Dale spoke as he leaned against the opened RV door. "We're scattered and weak."
Carol made a face feeling angry at the man's words, "What if she comes back and we're not here?" she asked though no one said anything. "It could happen," she shrugged not wanting to give up hope.
"If Sophia found her way back and we were gone that would be awful," Avery said as she turned to look at Dale.
Daryl nodded, "Okay we got to plan for this. I say tomorrow morning is soon enough to pull up stakes. Give us a chance to rig a big sign. Leave her some supplies. I'll hold here tonight. Stay with the RV."
"If the RV is staying I am too," Dale said as he eyed Carol. He wasn't sure he wanted to give up just yet but he did agree with Daryl's plan. Not to mention he couldn't leave his beloved RV.
Carol smiled and nodded her head at Dale, "Thank you." she said before also looking at Daryl. "Thank you both."
"I'm in," Avery said as she agreed to stay behind as well. After her Kate,Zac, Jessica and Mac also agreed to stay though they knew they'd probably have to sleep in some of the abandoned cars.
Glenn who had been listening sighed, "We'll if you're all in then I'm staying.." he started but was stopped by Dale.
"Not you Glenn you are going. Take Carol's Cherokee," Dale said after interrupting the boy.
Glen felt his eyes widen, "Me?" he asked. "Why is it always me?"
"You have to find this farm, reconnect with our people and see what's going on but most importantly you have to get T-Dog there," Dale explained to the young man. "This is not an option. That cut has gone from bad to worse.. He has a very serious blood infection. Get him to that farm, see if they have any antibiotics because if not T-Dog will die no joke."
Listening to Dale talk Avery watched as Daryl went back to his bike and grabbed a plastic bag out of a messenger bag that was draped over the front of it.
Daryl walked over to Dale holding rags that had been put over his messenger bag, "Keep your oily rags off my brothers motorcycle," he told the old man. Laying the plastic bag on the hood of a car he sighed, "Why'd you wait til now to say anything?" he asked as he opened the bag and went through the medicines. "I've got my brother's stash. Crystal X don't need that," he spoke as he found another bottle and pulled it out. Reading the label he threw the bottle to Glenn, "That's some kick ass pain killers," he spoke before getting another bottle out. "Doxycycline not the generic stuff either it's first class. Merle got the clap on occasion," he shrugged once he finished up going through the medicine.
Watching Daryl walk away after giving the medicine up Avery just stood there and shook her head. It was after that she watched as Taylor pulled Glenn aside and talked to him for a few minutes then he walked over to her which made her raise an eyebrow.
Taylor gave Avery an innocent smile, "So we are kind of going with Glenn and T-Dog to the farm," he said knowing that Avery had agreed to stay here but he wanted to go to the farm tonight though it was partly just because he wanted to see that woman again and it was partly because he felt sympathy for Lori and Rick with Carl being shot.
"We are?" Avery asked knowing Taylor had volunteered her without her permission. "And why are we going?"
"Because I don't wanna sleep in a car tonight," Taylor shrugged still trying to play innocent.
Avery shook her head, "No, it's because you want to see the woman on the horse again," she replied as she rolled her eyes. "I think seeing her on a horse got you all hot and bothered," she teased. She was kind of glad that Taylor was again seeming to come around and maybe be happy, especially if he was developing a crush on strangers.
Taylor blushed though he didn't deny Avery's comments. Part of her comment was correct. He did want to see that woman again.