A Complete Unknown | TWD

044: But Not Enough To Save You

"Is that your dog?" Gabriel asked Danny, glancing back at him as Apollo ran past.

Danny shrugged. He didn't really feel he belonged to anyone. "He's a dog."

"He's very- oh, blood!" Gabriel coughed as Apollo ran past him and back to Danny. "He's covered in blood."

Carl tapped Danny's shoulder. "That's a sick name!"

"Covered in blood?" Danny asked.

"No, Blood. Blood the dog."

Danny shrugged. "Better than Apollo. What do you think?" He looked at the dog. "You like Blood?"

He barked, and Rick glared back at them. 

"Keep the dog quiet."

"He's just speaking, Rick." Sami said from beside him. "Lord knows you do enough of that, can't tell someone else to shut up."

As the pair bickered, Carl smiled. 

"Blood's a sick name."

Danny wasn't sure, but was too tired to argue. 

The Church stood across a road with a dirt car park surrounding it. They did a perimeter check and swept inside, finding nothing but a hell of a lot of cans of eaten food. Gabriel said it was thanks to the charity donations before the walkers appeared.

Inside, the church reminded Danny of something from when he was young, Another church, probably, though he didn't remember being in one for very long. But that man, the one like Shane, came to mind, too. Maybe he made them go to Sunday church. Danny was a little too young to remember.

The pews were wooden, and the church itself was rather small, the windows glazed. There were two small rooms on either side of the back of the church - one an office, one converted into a bedroom. 

"I'll go with you." Sami said to Rick, as Danny slowly walked over to them. 

Rick nodded. "Run like that, you'll be useful."

"Where are you going?" Danny asked, looking up at him.

"Suppy run. Not far, right, Gabriel?" 

He shook his head. "No. It''s close by."

"Bob and I will go with you." Sasha walked over. "Tyreese can stay here and take care of Judith."

Tyreese smiled, and nodded.

"You okay with that?" Rick asked.

"Anytime you need me to watch her - anytime she need anything, I'll do it. Same goes for Dan, Sami." 

Sami nodded, doing that weird thing men do where they hit each others arms and hold them. "Thanks, man. We're grateful."

They worked out a few jobs for everyone. Glenn, Tara and Maggie were to do a sweep of some nearby buildings, while Rosita, Abraham and Eugene, the three new people, worked on a van around the back of the church, trying to get it running again. 

After saying goodbye to Sami, Rick pulled Danny and Carl aside, sitting them down in the pews and speaking low.

"Listen, I don't trust this guy-" 

"Why?" Carl questioned. 

Rick eyes shifted to Carl. "Why do you trust him?"

"Not everyone can be bad."

Danny thought it over for a minute. He didn't trust the guy, either, but he knew there were enough of them to kill him if they need to, right? 

Then again - Lizzie was one person. Lizzie was someone Danny trusted.

"Well, I don't trust this guy," Rick repeated. "And that's why I' bringing him with me. But he could have friends. So I need you both to stay alert. To help Tyreese protect Judith. Just as you've been doing, Dan. Okay?"

They nodded, as Blood sat beside Danny on the pew, panting. He didn't bother telling Rick again that he'd failed at Protecting Judith already.

"Now, I need you both to hear what I'm about to say, okay?" He paused. "You are not safe. No matter how many people are around or how clear the area looks. No matter what anyone says, no matter what you think, you are not safe. It only takes one second. One second, and it's over. Never let your guard down. Ever. I want you to promise me."

Carl nodded. "I promise."

Rick looked at Danny. "Both of you."

"I promise." Danny's voice came out much quieter than theirs. 

"Okay." Rick got up, and followed Sami out of the church, but Carl ran after them.

Danny glanced around in the quiet church as they left. Rick was right - they can't let their guard down. And Danny had, that day. Laying on the grass with Judith and Mika. He thought it anything happened, Mika would scream before she was hurt. 

The silence reminded him of the grove. Of the trees, and the house, and the blood. 

He looked out the window, seeing Daryl and Carol gathering containers for water. Maybe they found a creek. 

Beside him, Blood was still panting, soaked in his namesake on his snout.

That'll stop him from letting his guard down. Being out there.

"Come on, Blood." Danny stood up, and the dog climbed down to stand with him. "Let's get you cleaned up."