Maggie and Glenn were sat against a tree not far from the barn. Maggie was crying gently as Glenn's arms were wrapped around her shoulders. She had been that way since they arrived.

"It's ok Maggie, let it out" Glenn whispered softly as he rubbed her arm lovingly.

"Sorry, Glenn. It was just a really hard night. Poor, Y/N. Hearing him, in his nightmare, the state he was in, Beth's fear... it was horrible."

"I'm really sorry, Maggie. I'm sorry you had to see all that."

Maggie smiled, and leant up, kissing Glenn softly.

"You're a good man, Glenn. You really are" she smiled. It was returned before his face saddened.

"She was raped before she was murdered wasn't she, his girlfriend."

Tears welled in Maggie's eyes again. She didn't want to betray Y/N's confidence, but she couldn't lie to Glenn, not in the state she felt right at this moment. She nodded.

"It was... it was horrific... he was planning to kill himself after he was done hunting them. He's hurting really bad. Please don't say anything to-"

"I won't. I won't tell anyone. Rick's right though. That guy needs to die" Glenn said as his voice hardened.

They sat there for a few minutes feeling the breeze when they saw Y/N exit the house on crutches. Beth was right next to him. They could see her face beaming even from this distance.

"How's Beth doing?" Glenn asked, happy to see Maggie's face light up.

"Better, a lot better. She's had such a quick turn around. Y/N's helped a lot, I think."

She smiled as she watched the pair talk with her father and Beth's head then rest on Y/N's shoulder.

"I think she has a bit of a crush on him, not that he's in any state to notice, but they really get on well. He's a nice guy. I think a good friend could be just what they both need at the moment. Let's go introduced you, hey?"

Glenn smiled and nodded as the two got up and walked over. As they got within ten yards they heard Y/N making a strange noise, one Glenn recognised from a documentary he remembered watching at school about Australia.

"Sick Kookaburra dude" Glenn smiled as they reached the pair, Maggie giggling at the smile on Y/N's face as he laughed:

"Thank you, mate. I was trying to educate Beth here on our wildlife back in Oz and she asked if I was any good."

Beth's face lit up as she smiled at his pretend outrage.

"Yeah he's spot on, Beth. Fairly confident he's the best kookaburra impersonator in the country" Glenn chuckled.

Beth smiled and nodded, still blushing. Maggie took the attention off her for the time being.

"Y/N L/N this is my boyfriend, Glenn Rhee. Glenn and his people came to stay with us when Carl was shot. Glenn this is Y/N L/N."

The two shook hands.

"Must be nice to be out of bed and have some fresh air" Glenn smiled. Y/N nodded.

"Definitely is. I'm grateful that you guys had these crutches. I became a pro on them last year when I wrecked my knee."

"What happened to your knee?" Beth asked worriedly, quicker than she had meant to. Maggie smiled at her eagerness. Y/N didn't notice, or at the very least responded like he didn't.

"I played pretty high level underage AFL, uh Australian Rules Football. It's the biggest sport back home. I was running through the midfield one game in the national under 18 champs and I zigged when my leg stuck in place and it zagged. Tore my acl and mcl. Was in rehab for twelve months" Y/N said as he showed Beth a couple of scars on his right knee.

"That must have hurt" Glenn grimaced.

"Yeah, the initial snap is agonising, but it dulls to an ache pretty quickly. Long way back though. I was supposed to be playing footy again this year, but we came here instead."

Y/N's face dropped momentarily, thinking about home. Maggie changed the subject quickly after noticing.

"So have you thought any more about what you're doing, once you're back on your feet?"

She smiled seeing Beth absolutely light up with joy.

"Y/N's gonna stay here, with us."

Y/N smiled at Beth's innocence and replied.

"Like I said to Beth, it seems rude to just take off and not repay the people who saved your life by helping defend their home."

Maggie smiled, more so when she saw how happy Beth was at his words.

--~--

Randall was struggling in his cell, fighting against the chains that kept his hands behind his back. He grunted and groaned before calling out:

"Hello! Anyone there? Can I get some water? Please? I'm very thirsty."

He caught sight of a blonde woman through the cracks in the wooden board walls of the chicken coop.

"They gonna kill me, right?" he asked the woman. He saw her turn her head and look back at him, the two making eye contact before she looked down and away.

Randall started pulling harder on his chains before he heard a voice coming that scared him to his core.

--~--

Shane was walking towards the chicken coop when Carl ran up and joined him.

"So he's a kid?" the boy asked excitedly.

"He ain't a kid. That was a figure of speech" Shane replied.

"Can I see him?"

"No. Look, man, this is... this is grown up stuff, all right? You just let us handle this."

Shane tapped him on the shoulder and walked off, around to the side where the back door was. Carl stood for a moment before looking around at the front of the coop, at the awning over the door.

Shane walked around the back and scoffed, seeing Andrea sat guarding the door.

"Dale huh, he put you on death watch? Let me ask you something, say I wanted to go in there right now, and just take care of this, you gonna stop me?"

"I had a pretty good teacher"

"Yeah. So what, you buying into Dale's sob story?"

"I told him I was with you on this" Andrea replied.

"Mmm. You just... here for him, huh?" Shane chuckled. "That's cute. You see what's happening don't you? These guys aren't gonna go through with this. I'm telling' ya they gonna pussy out and if they do we gonna have a big problem on our hands."

Shane looked away, a snarl growing on his face.

"Let me ask you something, every time we have a problem here who do you think's behind it?"

"Some would say you?" Andrea answered quickly.

Shane chuckled.

"No one listens to me. I say it's the guys who make up the rules. The boys that always have all the answers, even though their answers always prove wrong."

"And torturing that kid was the right call?" Andrea asked skeptically.

"We had to get answers, Daryl only did what-"

"No not Randall, Shane. Y/N. When you tortured him, right after he woke up."

"Tortured... I pushed on his stitches a bit, made him bleed a bit."

Shane tried to hide his frustration.

"Look maybe I was a little... harsh with him, but the kid had fired at me and Rick, tried to kill us. Sounded out of his mind. I just had to be sure we were safe."

Andrea sighed and nodded.

"Ok so back to the Randall problem, what are you gonna do? Rick's the leader of this group, it's Hershel's farm-"

"Maybe we oughta change that" Shane said looking at her with a serious face.

"What, are you gonna lock 'em in a room and take their guns?" Andrea asked with a chuckle before noticing the look on Shane's face.

"I don't know. That could get out of hand."

Shane quickly moved to reassure Andrea:

"No, no, it won't. Okay? I won't let it. Listen, I don't-- I don't want anybody to get hurt, okay? Rick's my friend, Hershel... He's all right by me."

"And Dale?"

"Dale got a big mouth, but he's harmless. Look, I just-- I wanna know what it's like to sleep without keeping one eye open. Ain't that... ain't that what we all want? Hey, ball's in their court. Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe I'm getting all worked up over nothing."

--~--

As Shane and Andrea talked, Carl climbed up round the other side of the chicken coop. He looked around, making sure no one was watching him before he entered the small building through a hole on its small first floor balcony. As he walked in Randall looked up at him and smiled.

"Hey. That's a sweet hat. I'm Randall. What's your name?"

Carl looked down and smiled at him.

"The sheriff guy, that your dad? I like him. Yeah, he's a good guy. I can tell. Your mom out here too?"

Carl was to young to notice a lecherous look grow on the young man's face. Randall continued, trying to make Carl feel sorry for him.

"You're lucky you still got your family. I lost mine. Hey, I don't know what people been saying about me, but I didn't do nothing. I swear. Your dad was gonna let me go till his friend started fighting with him. It got pretty bad. I was kinda worried. Then that crazy guy turned up."

Randall tried to stay calm, despite his fear. He knew who the crazy guy was. He smiled at Carl again.

"My camp, we got lots of supplies. You help me, I'll take you and your folks back to my people. We'll take good care of you."

"Your whole camps dead" Carl said calmly.

"Wh-what?" Randall asked in shock.

"My friend, Y/N killed them all. Snuck up on them and killed them all."

"Is he... is he Australian, this Y/N?" Randall asked in fear. Carl nodded.

"You hurt his girlfriend. So he's gonna hurt you. I bet he's gonna kill you!"

Randall flipped. He was there that night, stood and watched while the other guys... Ever since then people had started going missing from their group. Every morning they'd wake up and someone was gone. They'd gone looking for the Australian but could never find him.

"You gotta get me outta here man. He's gonna.. you gotta get me out, please!"

Randall was yelling, running at Carl and pulling on his chains as hard as he could. The door suddenly shot open, Shane standing there furious.

"What the hell are you doing in here?" He snapped at Carl before turning to a terrified Randall.

"What did you say to him? What did you say to him, huh?"

"I didn't say nothing" Randall answered with tears in his eyes.

Shane shoved Randall back into the wall and pulled his gun.

"Let me tell you something. I will shoot you where you stand"

"Okay Shane, not now" Andrea tried to calm him.

"Open your mouth. Open your mouth" Shane yelled, trying to force his gun into Randall's mouth.

"Shane."

"You like talking, man? You like talking?!"

"Back off!" Andrea screamed. Shane let go and turned to Carl, shoving him.

"Get your ass out this door. Let's go."

As they got outside Shane continued yelling:

"The hell you doing?"

"Please don't tell my parents" Carl begged, terrified. Shane sighed and calmed.

"Carl, that ain't cool, man. You could've gotten hurt in there."

"I can handle myself" Carl replied.

"Let me tell you something, you do not go near him again. Do you hear me?"

"You won't tell my parents, will you?"

"Carl, man, this isn't about getting in trouble, okay? A guy like that, he will say anything to you. He'll try to make you feel sorry for him. He'll try to make you get your guard down. You let your guard down out here, people die. Now, just do me a favor, man. Go find your ma. Go on."

As Carl walked off Shane called out:

"Carl, quit trying to get yourself killed, man."

--~--

Y/N had met Lori, Carl's mom, who seemed nice, as well as Carol, who was introduced by her daughter Sophia. Lori was happy and outgoing, Carol much quieter but also nice. T-Dog, the African-American man from earlier also introduced himself.

Y/N had gone in with Hershel and Patricia to have his wounds and coverings examined. His abdomen was fine, healing nicely, as was his face, and both coverings could stay off.

The gunshots were also healing well but needed to stay covered. Patricia helped Y/N pull his shorts up and he was grateful.

"Thank Pat. Haven't had my old fella out this much in front of strangers since I was playing footy. At least you two are nicer than the old Willy watchers" Y/N chuckled.

Patricia looked at Y/N concerned, Hershel confused.

"The what?" Hershel asked. Y/N laughed again.

"The old Willy Watcher. When I was playing representative under age footy there were random urine drug tests. The dude from the anti drugs in sports mob would have to stand there and watch you pee, but because we were under 18 we had to have either a parent or an approved parental figure in there as well. Too bad if you couldn't go with an audience."

"That's enough willy talk for me, I'm going back to my chores, thank you very much" Patricia chuckled.

"Your gunshots are healing well. You're strong, Y/N, you may be able to try walking tomorrow, unaided."

"Thanks to you and your family, Hershel. I would have died if not for you mob. I won't forget it. Thank you" Y/N spoke sincerely. "And for letting me stay" he added.

"Bethie will be happy to hear you are" Hershel smiled. "How is she today?"

"She's good. Seems really happy"

"I've got you to thank for that. Seeing such a big turn around has been such a relief, when she..."

Hershel trailed off and composed himself, almost allowing a rare display of emotion out.

"Ah, I didn't do much but show up and give her something to focus on, help keep her busy. But I'll take the thanks, gives me one back for the millions I owe you people" Y/N chuckled.

--~--

Dale was approaching people, trying to convince them to come round to his way of thinking. He was currently walking up to Daryl Dixon, the group's resident hunter and tracker, who had set himself up away from the group a bit.

Carol had been so pleased with and relieved Daryl had saved her daughter she had come on too strong in her gratitude and scared Daryl off. He wasn't used to any kind of niceness from people, and it made him uncomfortable.

He was currently sorting through arrows he had made and looked up and sighed as Dale approached him.

"The whole point of me coming up here was to get away from you people" he said to the old man.

"Gonna take more than that" Dale replied.

"Carol send you?"

"Carol's not the only one who's concerned about you."

"Man, I don't need my head shrunk. I'm better off fending for myself. This groups broken."

"You act like you don't care"

"Yeah that's 'cause I dont"

"So live or die you don't care what happens to Randall?"

"Nope"

"Then why not stand with me, try to save the kid's life, if it really doesn't matter one way or the other?"

Daryl chuckled.

"Never pegged you for a desperate son of a bitch."

"Your opinion makes a difference."

"Ain't nobody looking at me for nothing."

"Carol and Sophia are, and so am I, right now. And you obviously have Rick's ear."

"Rick just looks to Shane. Let him."

Daryl began to walk off.

"You cared about what happened to Sophia. You didn't give up and you found her. That little girl is alive because of you. Shane wanted to stop. He's different..."

Daryl turned back.

"Why? Because he killed Otis?

It was like all of Dale's fears had been confirmed in that moment. Otis was Patricia's husband, and the one who accidentally shot Carl. He and Shane had gone to get medical supplies to operate on the boy, and only Shane had come back. Dale rushed forward.

"Did he... did he tell you that?"

"He told some story. How Otis covered him. Saved his ass. He came back with the dead guy's gun. Rick ain't stupid, if he didn't figure it out it's cos he didn't wanna. It's like I said, this group's broken."

Daryl turned and walked off, leaving Dale looking down.

--~--

Shane approached Y/N and Beth, who were both still sat on the porch laughing together.

"Hey Beth, is it ok if I talk to Y/N here, man to man, for a minute?"

Beth looked at Y/N worriedly, but he only smiled to her reassuringly and nodded.

"I'll go fix us some lunch" Beth said as she stood. She had felt the urge to kiss Y/N's cheek but thankfully stopped herself in time.

As she turned and left Shane watched her walk through the front door, particularly her backside, with a gaze that made the hairs on the back on Y/N's neck stand up.

"She's taken quite a liking to you, hasn't she?" Shane chuckled, turning back to Y/N surprised to see the fierce glare he was receiving from the Australian.

"Just came over to see how you were. How you were feeling. Walking so far with a bullet in your hip, getting two cops pinned down. Killing thirty dangerous men, you a tough son of a bitch ain't ya, tougher than a lot of the men here, no doubt."

"Did you come over here to piss in my pocket, or is there something you wanted?" Y/N replied with a cold tone.

"Piss in your...?" Shane asked confused. Y/N really had to remember to tone back the Australian.

"Kiss my arse" he replied, still with a cold tone.

Shane was instantly angered and snapped:

"I was trying to be nice but fine. Apparently I went too far when you woke up and-"

"It's fine. I shot at you, you were protecting your people. I'm not bent outa shape about it."

"Good then" Shane replied and walked off.

"Try it again" Y/N stated loudly. Shane stopped and turned.

"What'd you say?"

Glenn and Maggie had approached and stopped in their tracks, seeing how the two were looking at each other.

"When I'm off these crutches and back on two feet, try it again, see what happens" Y/N replied calmly.

"You threatening me?"

"No. Just stating facts. I grew up in a Samoan household with three Samoan adopted brothers. You know what Samoans do for fun?"

Shane shook his head, wondering what the hell Y/N was talking about.

"They fight. So I've been hit with a lot worse, by a lot tougher. Try it again. See who loses, and by the way... I catch you looking at Beth like that again, you won't like what I do to you. That wasn't a threat either, that was a promise. Ask those other thirty guys."

Shane scowled but turned and walked off. Hershel had been listening in from behind his screen door. He smiled happily.

--~--

Rick was up the top level of the barn, looking down with a length of rope when he was joined by his wife. She smiled at him.

"So uh... the nights are getting colder and we're pretty exposed. I was thinking-"

"We could clear all this hay out, station lookouts up here?"

Lori looked around puzzled: "uh..."

Rick chuckled, having pulled her leg.

"Or we could talk to Hershel about staying in the house?" He asked with a smile. Lori nodded. She looked at the rope in his hand.

"Is that really the best way to do it? String him up?"

Rick sighed.

"I don't know. It's my first time look I know how you feel about the death penalty but-"

"And I know the word has changed. And after everything thats happened you and Shane are in agreement about this."

"So you support this decision?"

"If you think it's best."

Rick stared at her for a minute before looking away. Still putting it on his shoulders. Still deferring to him. Still refusing to take accountability. As he sat and stewed she asked.

"You never did tell me what happened on the road with you and Shane. You said you found Y/N, and that he'd shot at you, but not why you and he got into it."

"He won't be a problem anymore" Rick replied as he tied a noose.

--~--

Carl was in a mood. He had been since Shane had told him off. He'd then got in an argument with Carol and Sophia, been told off by his dad, stolen a gun from Daryl's bike when he wasn't around and was currently in the woods near the farm, throwing rocks at a walker who was stuck in the mud.

He was laughing, swearing at the dumb walker as it reached for him, before its foot got loose and it grabbed him as it fell forward.

Carl screamed, his previous bravado forgotten as he grabbed the gun he dropped and ran.

--~--

Dale walked up to Shane who was looking at his car boot. He closed it quickly and chuckled.

"What's up, Dale?"

Dale looked at the man apprehensively.

"I wanna change your mind."

Shane chuckled.

"You serious?"

"Yes. I know you and I will never see eye to eye on much."

"I'd say that's the understatement of the year, huh?"

"But you're not going anywhere."

"No."

"And I'm not going anywhere."

"Okay"

"So let's talk about this like men."

"Okay" Shane nodded. "You deny we're in danger, Dale?"

"No, but there's a dozen of us, and one of him."

"He's one dangerous guy. The Aussie confirmed that."

"Killing him changes us, though. It makes us dangerous too, like him. Like the Aussie."

"I'll give the Aussie credit, at least he's got the balls to do what needs to be done to dangerous, bad, men. I tell you what, in a little bit, when y'all gather, you're gonna talk about this. If you've convinced them to keep this guy alive, I ain't gonna say a damn word about it, ok?"

Dale nodded but Shane continued.

"But I'm telling you now, man to man, you're wrong. And when this guys kills somebody, or gets one of our women alone and rapes them, I ain't gonna have to say a damn thing. Cos that blood, that blood will be on your hands."

--~--

Rick and Lori were outside on Hershel's porch as Carol and T-Dog were cooking everyone's dinner down at their campsite.

"It's almost time. I know this isn't easy for you" Lori said as she rubbed Rick's arm.

"It isn't easy for anyone. But I thought it through. I made the call. I'm ready to do this."

"You don't have to be the one to do it. Shane, Daryl."

"Yeah, yeah, it has to be me. I brought him back here, maybe I shouldn't have. Maybe I should have left him to the walkers."

"You brought him back because it was the right thing to do. Same as you did with Y/N, look how well that is turning out. That's who you are Rick, someone who does the right thing."

"Yeah. Before you said you agreed with me. You didn't say it was the right thing."

Lori looked away silently. Rick sighed and looked away as well.

--~--

Y/N had had a great day sitting with Beth, meeting everyone except the old guy who was running back and forth all day. Everyone seemed nice, except dickless, but Y/N would keep an eye on him.

He'd enjoyed sitting with Hershel, Patricia, Maggie, Glenn and of course Beth at dinner, having a nice family meal. Conversation had been thick and fast, coming easily. Beth had smiled to herself, how quickly Y/N had become like part of the family.

After dinner Beth went with Glenn and Maggie to do the dishes. Y/N had tried to offer his help but was shot down, again. Patricia went off to relax and Hershel sat smiling at Y/N.

"What?" Y/N asked with a chuckle before yawning. He covered his mouth and then said "uh- excuse me."

"Getting tired, son?" Hershel asked. Y/N nodded.

"Usually I'm full of beans, ADHD and all, but right now I'm yeah, pretty tired."

"Your body has been through the wringer, and you've been up and about a lot today. Come on, I'll help you up to rest."

Y/N nodded and stood, calling out:

"Night guys"

"Night" Glenn and Maggie called out, Beth putting down her tea towel to rush over and surprise Y/N with a hug.

Y/N looked shocked at Hershel who simply smiled and nodded. Y/N gently placed a hand on the girl's back and held it there.

"Thanks for today Beth, I hope it wasn't too boring for you."

"No, I had a great day" she smiled. "I'll be up in a little while, keep you company, if you like?"

Y/N chuckled.

"That would be great, but you don't have to."

Beth went back to the dishes and Hershel helped Y/N upstairs. They got to Y/N's room and Y/N turned, about to thank Hershel when he saw the look on Hershel's face.

"You ok?" Y/N asked.

"Yeah, I just want to talk to you about something, alone."

"Hershel if it's about the hug then-"

Hershel chuckled.

"No it's not about the hug. I'm glad Bethie feels comfortable around you. It's about you and Shane today. I heard you both, what you said to him."

Y/N nodded, unsure what Hershel was about to say.

"I want to thank you, for warning Shane off the way you did. Bethie may be an adult now but she's still my little girl. I'm glad she's got you looking out for her. Thank you."

"No thanks are needed, Hershel. Maybe I'm a bit sensitive, given... everything.. I just didn't like the way he looked at her."

An anger rose on Y/N's face again.

--~--

Rick came to the front door and knocked just as Hershel got to the foot of the stairs.

"It's time" Rick said, Hershel nodding as he, Patricia, Maggie and Glenn followed Rick down to the group's campsite. Beth stayed on the porch. At the campsite Lori looked at Carl:

"Carl, baby, I want you to go with Beth and keep Y/N company, ok."

"You too Sophia" Carol smiled. Sophia nodded and ran over to Beth. Carl though argued:

"No, not this time. Come on."

Carl sighed in anger and slumped off as Hershel called to them:

"Not a word about Randall, it's important, for Y/N's recovery."

--~--

Beth knocked on Y/N's open door. He looked up from where he was in Stephen King's It and smiled.

"Look who I found who wanted to say hello" Beth smiled as she walked in with Carl and Sophia, closing the door behind her.

--~--

The meeting had not gone how Dale had hoped for. Not even Glenn was with him. Andrea had came over to his way of thinking. But that was it. The group had decided. Randall was to be executed.

"Are y'all gonna watch too?" Dale asked, tears in his eyes as he walked off.

--~--

Hershel knocked on Y/N's door and opened it smiling, seeing Beth, Y/N and the kids playing a board game on Y/N's bed. They were all smiling and laughing.

"Can I steal you for a minute, Bethie?" he asked.

Beth nodded and as they left Carl excused himself to the bathroom, closing the door behind him as he did.

--~--

Rick, Shane and Daryl were walking Randall to the barn under the moonlight. As they entered Randall started begging:

"Wait, wait, wait"

"Put him there" Rick said coldly, walking in front of him as Daryl and Shane put the young man in place.

"It's all gonna be over soon" Shane said as he took the bag off Randall's head and replaced it with a blind fold.

"What's gonna be over soon?"

"Just relax" Shane reiterated.

"Hey no no no" Randall panicked.

"Get on your knees" Rick said coldly. When Randall didn't comply Daryl kicked him in the back of his legs, bringing him down to a kneel.

"Any last words?" Rick asked as he cocked his Colt Python.

"No, no, please don't. Please" Randall begged. Rick aimed the gun at his face steadying himself. His finger began to squeeze...

"Do it, Dad. Do it!" Carl said eagerly from the barn doorway. None of the three men had noticed him sneak in behind them.

Rick looked at his son, horrified, before looking across to Shane, who walked up to the child furious.

"Are you kidding me? What did I say to you? Huh? What did I say to you?" Shane asked as he pulled Carl from the barn.

"Take him away" Rick said to Daryl. Daryl looked at him shocked as Rick put the Colt away.

"Take him away" he nodded again. Daryl moved quickly, pulling the youth up and pushing him out the barn. Rick looked to see a look of distain on Shane's face, Shane punching the wall before storming out.

Rick followed Carl back to the campsite. Carl rushing into his tent, knowing how much trouble he was in. The others looked across at Rick anxiously. He looked around the group:

"We're keeping him in custody, for now."

Maggie and Glenn nodded, returning to the house to tell the others. Andrea smiled widely and said:

"I'm gonna find Dale."

Rick walked up to his wife.

"I couldn't."

"It's ok" she smiled. Rick shook his head, looking towards the tent.

"He followed us. He wanted to watch. I couldn't..."

Lori squeezed him tight, whispering "It's ok. It's ok."

--~--

Dale was walking along the paddocks, heartbroken, on the way back to the farm. He was about two hundred yards out when he came across a cow laying dead on the ground, it's internal organs ripped out. He looked at it in shock before turning and being set upon by a walker. He screamed as he fell back.

The people at the campsite jumped in fear. Rick instantly ran towards the screaming, yelling "T-Dog, get a shotgun, now!"

Lori grabbed Carl:

"I want you to go back to the house and lock the door ok."

She and Carol quickly followed Rick.

Daryl did the same from where he tied Randall up back in the coop. Glenn jumped up from the porch next to Maggie:

"What the hell is that?"

"I don't know, go" Maggie replied before turning into the house.

"Dad! Somethings happening, there were screams!"

--~--

Hershel was sat on his bed, reading his Bible when Maggie yelled. He got up and opened the drawer next to his bed, pulling out the loaded revolver he kept there, in case.

Instead of heading to the front door with Maggie he rushed upstairs and into Y/N's room where Y/N, Beth and Sophia were happily playing snakes and ladders.

"There were screams outside, I have to go" Hershel almost yelled. Beth replied:

"Daddy?" in panic as Sophia grabbed Y/N's arm. Hershel walked in and held the gun out to Y/N.

"Take this. Protect them?"

Y/N was quickly out of bed, stepping with a grimace but without crutches. He took the gun with a look of sincerity.

"If anything were to happen to my little girl" Hershel said sadly.

"It would have to happen to me first. Go. I'll keep them both safe" Y/N said with determination. Hershel smiled and nodded, leaving the room as Y/N grunted, lifting the spare chair and placing it between the girls and the doorway.

"Stay with Beth on the bed Sophia. I won't let anyone in this room" Y/N said as he sat and checked the bullets in cylinder.

--~--

Hershel rushed up to where the others stood crying. Dale was on the ground, eviscerated and in agony. There was a dead walker at the side of him. Carl arrived, having disobeyed and followed his mother and saw the walker. He instantly sobbed into his mother's arms.

Hershel arrived just after the others and asked "what happened?" as Dale laid there panting and moaning.

"Can we move him?" Rick asked in tears.

"He won't make the trip" Hershel replied.

"Then we operate here?"

Hershel grabbed Rick's arm, and shook his head.

"No" Rick screamed in pain as the group cried. Andrea looked up from next to Dale.

"He's suffering."

A tear rolled down Rick's cheek as he pulled his Colt out and aimed it at Dale's forehead. He pointed and pointed, unable to pull the trigger when Daryl gently grabbed his arm, and took his gun from his hand.

Dale looked up at Daryl with grateful eyes, for the pain to be over. Daryl looked down at Dale with regretful eyes, saying simply.

"Sorry, brother."