𝐂𝐑𝐎𝐒𝐒𝐇𝐀𝐈𝐑𝐒.
chapter eighteen; A New Home
"Never lost, always found. "

IT HAD BEEN a long eight months, not just winter. They'd gone house to house the entire season, and even into spring, they hadn't found a place to settle down yet.

They picked through Dean's rations rather quickly-- he'd prepared for three people. Not thirteen.

Luckily a few things remained; the excess clothes and blankets, sparse medical supplies, and a good bulk of Vex's pills. There were other things too, less important than they seemed; paper, pencils, and books.

Things had changed, and more than just this.

Vex had heard the words her brother said, 'There is no us or them', but by now, they rang true.

There was no separation anymore.

She'd gotten to know the group, all of them. Closer with some than others; Vex remained close to her daughter and brother, as well as the Greenes, but she'd found friendship in Carol and T-Dog.

And she found something in Daryl Dixon.

Half the time, they were stuck together, either hunting or guarding for the group and half that time they got along. Shared food, and talked like normal people.

The other half they argued.

"Vex, where the hell'd you put my arrow?"

"I didn't touch your fuckin' arrow, Dixon," Vex said, "Did you stick yourself with it again?"

"I thought you said you'd drop that shit--"

"Yeah, well I lied," She informed bitterly.

"God, you guys sound like an old married couple," Dean groaned, "Knock it off, I have a headache."

Vex rolled her eyes, shouldering her rifle.

"You goin' huntin'?" Vex questioned, looking back to Daryl.

"Yeah, for the damn arrow," He grumbled, pushing past the woman.

She stared, raising a brow as he collected it from one of the bags on his motorcycle.

Daryl looked over his shoulder at her, approaching her slowly.

"So. . ?" Vex drawled out.

"So, we huntin' or what?"

"You're impossible," She mumbled, shouldering him on her way to the forest. "Hey, Rick, we're goin' huntin'-- you coming?"

Rick nodded, joining the two.

This had also changed.

Rick stuck to his word for the most part. He still allowed others an opinion, but his call was always final.

But Vex didn't mind it as much as she thought she would.

She never wanted to be a leader; having to make tough calls for a team or a group. Vex liked where she stood with them; Rick respected her, he gave her and her family their own space when situations allowed, and supported most decisions she offered.

"Damn shame," Daryl spoke up, earning Rick and Vex's attention.

Just over the ridge, they walked on, a massive prison sat, roaming walkers in the yard.

Daryl continued on, as did Vex, but Rick remained.

This was what they'd been searching for.

🗡

They made their way to the prison, Rick cutting open the fence as the group took out walkers approaching them. He ushered everyone through quickly, Glenn and Daryl tying it closed with rope once everyone had made it.

They were in between the fence to the outside, and the one closing the yard, making their way quickly to the door that entered the yard.

"It's perfect," Rick said, "If we can shut that gate, prevent more from fillin' the yard. . . we can pick off these walkers. We'll take the field by tonight."

"So how do we shut the gate?" Hershel questioned.

"I'll do it," Glenn said, "You guys cover me."

"No," Maggie denied, "It's a suicide run."

"I'm the fastest."

"No," Rick said finally, "You, Maggie, T-Dog, and Beth draw as many as you can over there. Pop 'em through the fence. Dean, Zep, same thing, but draw any stragglers over there. Vex, Daryl, go back to the other tower. Carol, you've become a pretty good shot. Take your time, we don't have a lot of ammo to waste. Hershel, you and Carl take this tower. I'll run for the gate."

Vex, Daryl, and Carol hurried for the tower; Vex taking the lead and setting up quickly.

"In your element, ain't you?" Daryl teased, joining Vex's side.

"Somethin' like that," She smiled, lifting the scope to her eye.

Vex watched as Lori pulled the gate open, and closed it behind Rick.

The woman worked quickly, marking out a path for the man by shooting down the walkers. Daryl landed some bolts, as well as Carl and Hershel taking down their own.

Carol was doing well, too, up until she shot a bullet right in front of Rick's feet.

"Sorry," She called.

Vex only laughed, continuing to take down walkers as Rick latched the gate, before ducking into another tower.

"He did it."

"Light it up!" Daryl called.

And so they did, taking out every walker in the yard with ease.

It was a wonderful feeling, entering the yard that prior to the world falling apart, would have meant entrapment, but now, felt like freedom.

"So much space, Mom!" Zeppelin grinned, running through the grass.

Vex laughed, shaking her head.

They'd set up, started a fire, and cooked what had been caught that day. Vex had stayed at the fire longer than she should have, soaking in the calm moment she had with her daughter.

"Momma, how do you catch the best food in the world?"

Vex grinned as she took another bite, looking down at the girl resting on her leg.

It hadn't been a year, but it felt like she'd gotten so much older.

She sprouted up, taller than Carl now-- who was very distraught by this. But more than this, Zeppelin had jumped right past the rebellion streak she'd been toeing months prior.

"Hmm, it is one of my many talents," Vex smiled, patting her daughter's back, "I'll be back, Daryl needs some dinner, too."

"Okay," Zeppelin smiled, pulling herself up only to rest against Dean, "Miss you already."

"Miss you more," Vex teased, grabbing a bowl of food, before starting off toward the flipped car Daryl stood upon.

He nodded in greeting, offering a hand. Vex took it, accepting his help in climbing up.

"Food, eat," Vex said, taking a seat on the vehicle.

He grunted but accepted the bowl.

Vex sighed longly as he sat beside her, picking at the meat.

"You know we're good, right?"

"Mhm."

"Daryl," She groaned, "I mean it. I just. . I know we argue, but I wanna make sure you know. We're good."

"You're ruinin' it."

"Ruining. . . what?"

He gestured a hand between the two of them.

"It works," He said, taking another bite, "You're ruinin' by talkin' 'bout it."

Vex dropped her jaw, scoffing at the man.

He tried to hide a grin.

"You're an asshole-- the king of all assholes," She nodded, elbowing him, "I just care, that's all."

"I know."

The woman sighed, pulling her jacket tighter around herself as he continued eating every last bite, licking each finger after he was done.

"Thanks," He said seriously, nodding his head toward the fire, "C'mon."

Vex watched Daryl hop down first, following suit and landing perfectly-- despite Daryl's hands hovering around her.

"You thought I would fall."

"You ain't the most graceful."

"Okay, Dixon," She scoffed, starting toward the fire.

"See? Isn't that better?"

Vex rolled her eyes, but couldn't deny the smile on her face as they approached the fire together.

Vex reclaimed her seat beside Zep, listening as Maggie and Beth sang a familiar tune.

"Beautiful," Hershel spoke once they finished.

"Better all turn in," Rick said after a moment, "I'll take watch over there. Got a big day tomorrow."

"What do you mean?"

"Look, I know we're all exhausted," Rick started, "This was a great win. We've got to push just a little bit more. Most of the walkers are dressed as guards and prisoners. Looks like this place fell pretty early. . . It could mean the supplies may be intact. They'd have an infirmary, a commissary."

"An armory?" Daryl questioned.

"That would be outside the prison itself," Rick said, "But not too far away. Warden's offices would have info on that location. Weapons, food, medicine. This place could be a gold mine."

"We're gettin' dangerously low on ammo," Hershel spoke up, "Even with Dean's supply. We'd run out before we'd make a dent."

"That's why we have to go in there. . ." Rick said slowly, "Hand to hand."

This was a sobering thought for Vex. Sure, she could do hand to hand-- but with a walker? Where a scratch or a bite meant death? The danger of it skyrocketed.

"After all we've been through, we can handle it, I know it. These assholes don't stand a chance."

Vex stood as Rick walked off, the woman laying out sleeping bags for herself and Zeppelin as Dean set his own up.

"Hey," Vex called to Daryl, the man slowing to a halt, "Want me to take first?"

"Nah, you can't be trusted with first anymore," He waved, "I'll get you later."

Vex scoffed but did not argue, settling down beside her daughter.

She'd take all the rest she could get.

🗡

Vex and Dean were a part of the group that entered the gate, taking out walkers as a group. The seven of them kept close together, not a spot unwatched as they approached the building.

Rick lifted a hand, halting the group as he spotted another group of walkers just ahead.

Vex only worried when she saw walkers in riot gear.

The riot walkers approached them, Daryl firing an arrow to no avail.

Rick and T-Dog took them on while the others worked on the walkers filtering into the space; Vex only moved to Rick's side when she saw neither he nor T-Dog was succeeding.

Vex placed a hand on the walker's helmet, pushing its head back before driving a knife up through its chin.

She pulled back, letting the body hit the ground, as Rick and Daryl secured another gate.

The others followed suit, easily taking down the remaining four walkers in riot gear.

"Stop," Rick said as Glenn began walking.

"But it looks. . . secure."

"Not from the look of that courtyard over there," Daryl pointed, before looking to one of the walkers, "And that's a civilian."

"So the interior could be overrun with walkers from outside the prison," T-Dog said.

"Well, if there's walls down, what are we gonna do? We can't rebuild this whole place. "

"We can't risk a blindspot," Rick said, "We have to push in."

And they followed.

🗡

Vex was behind Daryl, standing at the ready as he slowly opened a door to the cell block.

But nothing waited for them.

Rick entered slowly, pushing the metal door open to enter the cell block.

It was large, but messy. Other than this, Vex thought, it wasn't bad. It was silent, and seemed relatively clean, considering.

She turned, watching Rick enter the guard stand, only to find the guard already deceased.

They ventured further into the cell block, this one being slightly messier. Vex remained to Daryl's right, eyeing each cell as they passed, either empty of holding a corpse.

Until they searched the second floor and found two walkers in cells.

Everyone entered the cell block, claiming their own cells rather quickly. Vex dared to approach the landing Daryl had set up on.

"What, don't wanna bunk with me?" Vex questioned, offended, taking a seat beside him.

"Figured Zep'd be with you."

"Zep has chosen a cell to share with Carl, which means I'm stuck bunking with my brother," Vex laughed, "Her loyalties change so quickly, I mean, pfft."

Daryl raised a brow at the woman, resting his crossbow on the wall behind him and settling down in his makeshift bed.

He was starting to pick up on Vex Williams's coping mechanisms, and this was the perfect example of it.

She was clearly affected in one way or another by her daughter choosing to room separately from her, but Vex didn't want to upset Zeppelin, and she didn't want to offend Dean, so she'd come to Daryl, in hopes of joking about the matter until it didn't bother her.

"He's the only one her age," Daryl mumbled gruffly, wedging his arm under his makeshift pillow.

Vex breathed out, standing slowly.

"I'll let you get your rest," Vex said with a weak smile.

Daryl lifted his head, rolling his eyes as Vex began descending the stairs.

"What, don't wanna bunk with me?" Daryl questioned, mocking her earlier words, "Be easier for us to keep an eye on e'eryone, anyway."

He watched her as she grabbed her things, setting up on the opposite side of the landing that he did.

Daryl couldn't help but smile as she crawled into her sleeping bag, sighing deeply.

"What's funny?" Vex questioned, looking at the man.

"Nothin'."

"You're lying now, I thought we were past that."

"You. . ." Daryl said pursing his lips, "You look like you're on your first campin' trip."

"Hey, this thing is comfortable," Vex defended, "Oh, whatever, you'd love it if you gave it a try."

"Nah."

Vex rolled her eyes, turning over so her back was to Daryl, and tried to focus on sleep instead of the man behind her.

🗡

The following morning the group gathered everything they'd found thus far, whether it was on walkers or sprinkled throughout the cell block.

It was a pretty good haul, in Vex's opinion; flash grenades, multiple blunt weapons, sparse guns, and ammo.

And the riot gear, though Vex had no interest in even touching it after seeing the walker sludge in it.

Vex started to gear up, and met with none other than her own daughter before she got the chance to descend from her and Daryl's sleeping area.

"I don't want you to go," Zeppelin informed quietly.

"Honey," Vex sighed, "We don't have much of a choice."

"But what if you get bit?"

"Baby--"

"And-- and what if there are people? Real people?"

"Kid, what is goin' on with you?" Vex asked, kneeling in front of her daughter, "You know I always come back to you."

Zeppelin nodded nervously, shifting her feet.

"I had a nightmare," She admitted, "I just. . . it felt real, Mom."

"Okay, come here," Vex said, pulling her daughter into a hug, "I'm not goin' anywhere, kid. No matter where I go, or how far is between us. I'll always come back, okay? Never lost, always found."

Zeppelin nodded as her mother pulled back, the woman cupping her daughter's face in her hands.

"I love you," Vex whispered, pressing a kiss to her forehead, "Now go on, spend some time with Carol."

Zeppelin nodded, descending the steps first, with her mother in tow.

The girl herself quickly approached Carol, gluing herself to her side.

Vex, however, noticed a certain hunter watching her approach to the group.

"Ready?" He asked.

Vex nodded, following Rick between Daryl and T-Dog.

"What'd you say?" Daryl said quietly.

"To Zep?"

He nodded.

"Told her I'd make it back to her. . ."

"No. . . the last thing."

"Never lost, always found," Vex said softly, "Just my way of tellin' her no matter what happens, I'll always be there to save the day."

They walked in silence thereafter. Passing rows of cells and corpses. the hall was only lit by flashlights, the only sound was the occasional rattle of a spray paint can as Glenn marked the walls to leave directions.

Rick lead, with Daryl and Vex on either side of him.

Vex had actually been quite surprised they hadn't seen or heard a walker yet-- but this wasn't relieving, it was terrifying. They had to exist somewhere, and she only hoped they hadn't grouped up.

Rick's arm halted Vex's movements, pushing the woman back the way they'd came. She opened her mouth to argue but spotted the cluster of walkers just around the corner.

"Go back! Go back!"

Vex turned quickly, standing still as the group ran past her, only starting her running after she ensured she was the last one lagging behind.

They ran silently, attempting to follow Glenn's arrows-- but this was much harder in a hurry.

Vex skidded to a halt as Maggie and Glenn did, the former grabbing Vex's hand and pulling her through a door Glenn had opened.

"Shit," Vex mumbled, following Glenn, "Think this leads back to the same halls, by any chance?"

"We can hope," Glenn said, continuing his march forward.

They halted only at a door, Glenn's hand on the doorknob while Maggie and Vex stood with their weapons raised.

He counted down on his fingers, opening the door when he got to one, only for them to be met with an empty hallway.

And then a scream.

The trio sprinted, quickly rounding a corner and meeting up with their group-- and spotting where the scream had come from.

Hershel Greene had been bit.

"Vex, come on!"

The woman followed Daryl, helping him in picking off the walkers that followed them, as Rick and Dean carried Hershel.

They managed to make it to a cafeteria, where Hershel was laid on the floor.

Vex's mind raced as Rick Grimes removed his belt, securing it around Hershel's leg just above the bite.

And then, he got a hatchet.

"Only one way to keep you alive."

Rick took more swings than Vex could stomach to separate Hershel's leg.

"He's bleedin' out."

"We have to get back," Dean said quickly, "Figure out how to stop it--"

"Duck," Daryl said to Rick.

Vex stood with him, holding her pistol up as Daryl held his crossbow.

There were prisoners that had not turned.

"Holy shit."

WORD COUNT : 2960