UNANIMOUSLY is how Morgan, Duane and Nellie had made decisions for the past few weeks since the pandemic began.

All decisions were made unanimously to ensure safety and all precautions were taken.

They had all sat and decided to head down to the Sheriffs Department to search for some weaponry, aka guns and amo. It had been a suggestion by Rick who knew the codes to the locks on the supply gates.

At first Morgan was hesitant to even hear the suggestion till Nellie bargained for Rick, saying that he was staying with them now so his vote would be counted as well in the name of fairness.

Which is what lead them to their present position, carefully rummaging around the Sheriffs Department.

They swept it first to ensure no Walkers resided and then they locked it up to make sure none got in during their indefinite stay.

"Rick look," Nellie said in a quiet voice, holding up an abandoned deputy's hat that she had snatched off one of the desks, as she walked over to the other three.

Rick let out a small mix of a chuckle and a scoff.

"Really?" He asked as she put it on and stood on her tippy toes, scrunching up her face in a clear attempt to mock him.

"Yes really. I swear this is what you look like," She reiterated scrunching up her nose, eyes closed.

Rick rolled his eyes at her and began walking to the showers.

She smiled to herself, amused by her own joke and left the hat on as she followed him.

"Here are the showers. Theirs a water heater so they should still work," Rick said turning one of the knobs to test it out.

They all smiled and both Duane and Nellie let out soft laughter of shock.

"Holy shit," They both mumbled.

Morgan -not to harshly- slapped the two across the head.

"No." Is all he said. Nellie rubbed the back of her head giving him a stink eye, while Duane just mumbled a soft apology.

Rick turned away as he bit down on his bottom lip in an in vain attempt to muffle his amusement.

Nellie smacked Ricks shoulder as she passed him. "It ain't funny," she said, waking away to look for towels.

Rick followed after her, while Duane and Morgan got ready to get in the shower cubicles.

"Sorry—" Rick said as he walked over to her. She was by the lockers of personal effects.

Nellie raised her hammer over her shoulder.

"Hey what are you—" he began, eyebrows furrowed together. He was cut off by the resounding sound of her smashing the lock off the locker.

She blew the fallen hair out of her face and put the hammer on her shoulder, other hand resting on her hip before turning to face Rick.

"I'm lookin' for towels. We can't take showers without 'em," Nellie informed him of the thought her common sense had provided her that the surrounding men hadn't.

A look of realization filled his face then more confusion came after. "Why didn't you just ask me to open them up?"

"...This seemed like more fun." She shrugged.

"Okay then," Rick mumbled, peeking at her from the corner of his eye as she rummaged through the lockers effects.

"Oh!" Nellie pulls out a big sweater. "This is mine now," She said unfolding it by holding one end and letting the rest unravel by gravity.

"Lana Del Ray?" He said confused as he read what was printed across the sweater.

"She was a singer, I loved her shit so this is pretty cool," she smiled happily.

"What was your favorite song of hers?" He asked, just making small talk.

"Probably Cherry or Chemtrails," Nellie informed after a moment of mental debate. He nods.

"I know neither of those." Rick said after a moment of faking knowledge over the singer.

"It's fine. Hey look! Towels," Nellie said spotting them at the bottom of the locker.
She grabs them and hands three to Rick.

"Let's go then." Nellie walked off before he could answer.

"That's the wrong way," He spoke up after a moment.

She turns and heads the other way, passing him on her new route. "I knew that... I was testing you," Nellie said.

"Uhh huh. Sure." He responded flatly, following after her.

• • •

The group headed over to the weapons section of the deputies building after taking their showers.

Nellie was wearing the new sweater and hat she had found, she clearly held no moral obligations over looting objects of non-necessity.

The hammer resting in her belt, held up by the shape of the head.

"You really gonna keep the hat?" Rick questioned a little annoyed by the sight of the mimicry.

"Maybe, maybe not." Nellie said easily.

"Are you just doin' it to annoy me?" He asked.

"Maybe, maybe not." She repeated.

He rolled his eyes. He felt like he had begun doing that a lot since meeting her.

As he moved to find the spare key to access the weapons cage, she took the hat off and placed it firmly of Duane's head, bored of her joke.

He smiled up at her. The hat tipped over a bit as he did, covering his face, she used her pointer finger to push it back up for him so he could see again.

He unlocked the cage and pulled the gate open.

"Looks like someone took most of it but theirs a good bit left," Rick said, beginning to gather what's remaining, Morgan helping.

Nellie shifted, adjusting the weight from one foot to the other boredly.

"Are we almost through here gentlemen? We've been here a while and I don't fancy any walkers dropping by," she told them.

"We did a thorough sweep before we locked up." Rick reminded in gentle reassurance to the woman.

Nellie nodded in turn but still kept a sharp eye... just in case. Duane decided to make her feel better by helping, exaggeratedly putting a hand up to his forehead as if scouring their surroundings.

She chuckled gently at his antics as he kept the hand to his forehead in a position akin to saluting as he glanced about.

Morgan handed her a gun. "You know how to shoot?" He asked.

"A bit," She responded with a firm nod.

Morgan reluctantly let go of the gun fully, letting her take it.

Morgan and Duane carried one bag of ammunition and guns as they moved out of the way to get ready to go. As Rick slung the other bag over his shoulder. He held out a few extra bullets to Nellie. She glanced at him confused.

"You can put 'em to the side... just in case." He said with a nod.

She smiled his way, nodding. Taking the few strays, shoving them into her pocket before walking off after Duane and Morgan.

Rick caught up to them and they all took the back entrance to head out.

"Does this mean I'm gonna learn how to shoot?" Duane asked.

"You bet." Morgan nodded, patting the boys shoulder.

Duane smiled excitedly, not fully understanding that this wasn't exactly a good thing. But alas, he turned to look at Nellie, brightly smiling. Wanting to know if she heard the good news.

Nellie noticed and smiled tightly in congratulations. Giving his back a light tap.

"We'll do target practice another time. You gotta be careful, remember it ain't a toy." Rick informed Duane and the boy nodded, hat flopping around a little as he did.

"Bullets go fast, especially during target practice. So preserve your ammo," Rick advised. Duane nodded.

Morgan protectively keeping a hand on the young boys shoulder. Nellie searching the horizon and surroundings as they headed out the building.

"There," Rick nodded to a car.

They headed over and Rick tossed the keys to Morgan. Rick had his gun up, guard up.

A Walker groaned, in vainly pushing itself up against the fence. Rick paused, recognizing the Walker.

Nellie kept her hammer in hand, gun reluctantly held in her other.

"Rick?" She gently called, wanting to keep moving.

"I knew him... he was a pain but..." he began.

Nellie glanced over to Morgan and Duane. Morgan opened up the car and put the bag inside, leading Duane in.

"I can't leave him like this," Rick tells them.

"They'll hear the bullet," Morgan warns.

"Then we won't be here when they come." Rick answered swiftly.

"Buckle up Duane." Nellie said, heading over to the car as Morgan got in the drivers seat.

She hopped into the back with Duane as Morgan started up the car, Rick aimed the barrel  of his gun at the Walkers head. As it snarled and snapped at him, trying to reach him through the chain link fence.

The shot went off and Rick hurried over to them, hopping into the passenger seat. Morgan instantly hit the gas before Rick could even shut his door.

• • •

"Are we going to go and find Ricks family?" Duane asked from his spot next to Nellie in the back.

There was a pause. None of the adults were really sure what was next.

"I've gotta head up to Atlanta..." Rick started.

"I think we need a few more days to get ready before we can take off," Morgan said interjecting.

"Give me some time to get reacquainted and teach Duane." Morgan said.

"I need to head out as soon as possible to try and find my family," Rick responded.

There's another pause. "I hate awkward silences," Duane pouts, reaching forward, over the consul and pressing the volume on the cars dvd player.

'Bye! Bye! Bye!' Blared though and the two men in the front seats groaned and quickly went to shut it off.

Both scrambling for the volume button or the eject button. Literally anything to make it stop.

'Don't wanna be a fool for you. Just another player in your game for two—' The song cut out.

"Morgan eyes on the road!" Nellie exclaimed when the car began to swerve.

Morgan quickly put both hands on the wheel and Rick finally got the song off.

The two men let out sighs of relief and Duane had an annoyed look on his face. Slumped in his seat, hat purposely titled over his eyes.

"We'll split up." Rick said after a brief moment, recollecting himself after the odd occurrence.

"Are you sure? You woke up literally yesterday to this world from a freakin' coma." Nellie interjected worried.

Rick hesitated. "I'm sure I'll be—"

"I'm going with you." Nellie said.

"What?" Rick looked back as if seeing her would make sure he heard her right.

"She said she's going with you," Duane repeated.

"That's not what— thank you Duane." Rick responded.

Rick looked at Nellie for another moment before turning forward again.

The rest of the ride was mostly silent.

Rick gave Morgan a radio he had found and the two talked for a few minutes about it.

"At dawn everyday for a few minutes." Rick said and Morgan nodded.

"You're smart." Morgan commented.

Rick nodded in silent thanks. "You think ahead," Morgan noted.

"Can't afford not too," Rick answered.

• • •

They get to the house and all head inside or a brief break— lunch.

Morgan heads to the kitchen while Nellie and Rick carry the bags.

"Duane go help your dad before he gets cranky," Nellie advised the boy. Duane nodded and ran off.

"...You don't have to go with me. I can see how much you care about the kid, you could just stay—" Rick began as they set the bags down, locking up behind them.

She scoffed then inturrupted him. "No offense Ranger Rick. But you won't make it too far on your own. I know you made it here fresh out the hospital but even then. You'll need a helping hand." Nellie said sternly.

Rick gaze lingered on her as she double checked the locks and such.

"Besides." She said, turning to him once it was deemed secure.

"I reckon you'll get lost somehow without someone there." Nellie said.

"Says the one that got lost trying to find the showers she was at two minutes before," Rick mumbled under his breath.

She scowled his way. "Watch it."

He gave an innocent shrug, holding up his hands in mock surrender.

"I didn't do nothin' and what's with 'Ranger Rick?'" He asked curiously, remembering her little nickname.

"It's your new nickname." She informed.

"Huh," He mumbled as she left him standing there. Wondering why this stranger had so graciously offered to help him reach his family. Granted she had insulted him while doing so by saying he couldn't make it without her... but still.

• • •

"I'll see ya soon enough kid," She said rubbing Duane's shoulder.

Duane frowned at her. "Do you have to go? I'm sure he probably won't get eaten without you," He tried to poorly convince her to stay.

"Thanks for the vote of confidence," Rick grumbled walking past the two, packing his bag.

Nellie rolled her eyes at Ricks grumble. "He's so grumpy, like an old man." She whispered teasingly to Duane.

He laughed a little but he was still upset over her temporary absence.

"...do you have to go?" He repeated.

"I'll be back before you know it and we'll laugh while I tell you all about how Rick was so grumpy on the trip," Nellie attempted to comfort.

Duane nodded and hugged her midsection.

"See ya later alligator," She said patting his back.

After that Nellie gave a simple and sweet side hug to Morgan for his goodbye, which he happily returned.

Then her and Rick were off in a car she had hot wired. Each with a bag on their backs. Rick was driving and she was messing with the features of the car.

"This thing has a sun roof!" She exclaimed suddenly, startling poor Rick.

"Jes—" he barely got to finish his word, let along the following curse before she was opening up the roof and standing up on the consul.

"Nellie get down from there," Rick said, anxiously glancing between the road and her.

"No can do, Ranger Rick. The law don't exist no more. You can't arrest me!" She happily exclaimed as she spread her arm out the sunroof as he drove.

Rick had begun to drive considerably slower out of worry.

"Rick if you don't move your foot from that break petal, I'm gonna shove your foot so far up your—"

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