MARCELLA SAT ON THE COLD GROUND, WATCHING OVER ANDREA AS THEY WAITED FOR MICHONNE TO RETURN.

Andrea was sick. Nothing too serious, just the flu, Marcie guessed.

But it was enough to weaken the group. To slow them down.

So they were holed up in a small town, inside a bar, and Michonne went to look for medicine.

Marcie took a sip of her water before handing it out towards the blonde, who stared at it for a moment before shaking her head, "I'm good."

"Don't look it." She commented,

"I don't want your damn water." Andrea snapped.

"Fine." Marcie shrugged and took another sip before twisting the cap back on, "Your death sentence."

"I'll be fine." Andrea glared, "Just like how you were fine after you were bleeding out."

"Yeah, no thanks to your psycho boyfriend." Marcie rolled her eyes,

Honestly, the three of them had gotten along the past six months, but in the past few weeks, Marcie was missing their group. She missed Daryl.

She sighed, knowing she was just lashing out, "Look, I'm sorry."

Andrea glanced over at her, "I miss them, too, you know."

"I know." Marcie hummed, "Let's go sit outside. I'm sure the sun will make you feel better."

The brunette helped the sick woman outside, avoiding the weird walkers that they have yet to get an explanation out of Michonne about, and they sat on the porch of the bar, soaking in the sunlight. After a cold winter, it felt nice.

"What you doing out here?" Michonne asked as she approached them,

"I needed some light." The blonde responded,

"You find anything out there?" Marcie asked, blocking the sunlight from her eyes with her hand,

The dark skinned woman nodded before holding out a few packets of medicine. She kneeled next to Andrea and put the pills into her hand. Marcie gave the woman her water bottle and helped her flush the pills into her system.

"How is it out there?" Andrea asked her after swallowing the pills,

"Same." Michonne sighed, "It's quiet."

They spotted a few walkers coming down the street and Andrea raised her eyebrows, "You're lying."

"We should go in a few days." Michonne stated,

"They're coming, you two should go."

"No."

"Why would you think we would do that?" Marcie asked,

"I'm holding you back." Andrea reasoned, "Go! I can take care of myself. I saved your asses all winter, didn't I?" She smirked slightly and Marcie knew she was starting to feel better,

She began to cough, which caught the attention of more walkers. Marcie held the water bottle out again and Andrea slapped it away,

"I won't have you dying for me. Good little soldiers... won't leave your post. Screw you." Andrea groaned,

Michonne was silent for a moment and Marcie knew she was trying to stay calm, "We'll go in a few days."

"If we stay, I'll die here."

"Fine." Michonne held out her hand, "Let's go."

They went inside to gather their stuff before heading out the back, which was a straight shot into the woods.

After walking for a few more hours, the trio plus Michonne's biter guards made it to a road, and they followed it.

Soon they reached farmed fields and farm houses. They camped out in one of them for a day before heading back out,

The trio was silent, trying to conserve energy. Plus, there was nothing to say.

Marcie came to a stop when she heard something in the distance. Then she saw it. The same thing she saw on the back of the horse with Rick in Atlanta.

It was a helicopter.

Marcie's hoped died as smoke emitted from the rear of the helicopter and it plunged into the trees, miles away from them.

The brunette glanced back at Andrea and Michonne, asking a silent question.

Do they go look? Check for survivors?

For answers?

Andrea made the decision. She began walking into the grassy field, not waiting for them. Michonne let out a short sigh before tugging on the chains attached to her biters, and they trio set off again towards the plume of smoke.

They made it over to the crash before Andrea leaned over to puke. Marcie rubbed her back, "Don't push yourself."

Michonne walked over, "You better sit." Marcie nodded and helped the sick woman over to a bush and helped her kneel down. She was covered enough by the foliage to be covered but could still see the smoking helicopter only yards away,

The swordswoman chained her walkers to a tree while Marcie grabbed Andrea's gun and handed it to her, "We'll go check it out. You stay here and catch your breath."

The two slowly walked towards the wreck, observing their surroundings carefully in case a bunch of biters also was interesting in the crash.

Marcie paused when she came across a body. Usually they don't disgust her anymore, but this was different. It wasn't a rotting corpse. This man died in the wreck, and was cut in half by the blades of the helicopter. His organs were spilled amongst the grass in between his torso and legs.

He was a soldier, dressed in camo. They were military.

Michonne went even closer, gazing inside the helicopter searching for anything. Supplies, survivors.

"Psst." Michonne's eyes widened and Marcie turned her attention to her.

People were coming.

Michonne grabbed her arm and they rushed back to the trees, and kneeled beside Andrea to watch the scene unfold.

"Someone's coming." Michonne whispered,

"Any survivors?" Andrea asked,

"Two dead, not sure about the other." The dark skinned woman answered,

The two trucks came to a park yards away from the wreck and half a dozen men with heavy artillery stepped out,

"Fan out." One man ordered,

A few men faced away from the crash, keeping watch for biters, "Save those rounds until you need 'em." The 'leader' of the group stated when one of the men raised their gun,

Andrea muffled her coughs the best she could and Marcie prayed the men wouldn't hear them. They could be dangerous.

She winced as a man went around with a metal bat and bashed the corpse's brains in.

"Got a breather! Tim!" Marcie's attention moved to the leader who was by the helicopter,

Him and another man cut the survivor out of his restraints, and dragged him out.

A walker was coming up behind the three woman and Michonne grabbed her sword, "No." Andrea stopped her from revealing herself to the group.

The corpse walked right past them and went towards the men by the wreck, and was quickly taken out by a man with a bow and arrow,

"He's saving them." Andrea whispered as they dragged the survivor out towards the trucks, "We should show ourselves."

"Not yet." Michonne disagreed,

Michonne's walker began to get restless, making noises with their chains and what was left of their mouths. Marcie bit her lip nervously and turned her eyes back towards the wreck in front of them,

She could see the arms of the dead soldier flailing, trying to reach of the man in black. She didn't understand, was he bit? Is that why the helicopter crashed?

He quickly stabbed him in the head before going back to the helicopter, possibly to take out the other dead solider in there.

Michonne's walker kept making noises, which drew the attention of the group of men, "Michonne." Marcie hissed quietly, "Shut them up."

The woman stood and took out her sword and sliced the walkers' heads off. Once the noise ceased, the men paused and searched the trees where they were.

Marcie held her breath, waiting.

The leader put his knife away, "Let's roll out."

She let out a small sigh of relief before hearing a branch snap behind her. Michonne went to use her sword once again, but hear the click of a handgun,

"Uh-uh-uh. Easy does it, girlies. Mine's a whole lot bigger than yours. Now, put down your weapons."

Marcie's eyes widened. She knew that voice. It had been many, many months since she heard it, but it was unique. It belonged to a man she promised someone she would find.

Michonne lowered her sword, "That's it. Nice and easy. And let me see your hands." Marcie and Andrea raised their hands, "Now spin around."

She turned and looked up at him to confirm it. There he was, the same jackass that Rick left up on a roof in Atlanta about a year ago.

"Merle." Marcie whispered,

"Oh, holy shit." Merle grinned, "Blondie and the sheriff's deputy."

A walker approached behind him and he lifted his arm, revealing a metal tube attached to his forearm, and on the end was a blade, which he drove into the chin of the corpse.

"How about a big hug for your ol' pal Merle?"