𝐒𝐀𝐅𝐄 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐒𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐃 - 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐖𝐀𝐋𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐃𝐄𝐀𝐃

𝟎𝟒

- Vatos

After leaving Camp, Sarah was sat beside T-Dog in the back of the van enjoying the silence as she leaned her head against the steel frame struggling to get comfortable due to Ricks driving as it was a bumpy drive, " are you okay?" T-Dog questioned with a concerned look on his face as he noticed how pale she had gotten. Sarah opened her eyes to snap her attention towards the man as she sent him a soft smile, " why wouldn't I be? Just little bean here... it feels like I've ate three thanksgiving dinner and one of the turkeys came back to life inside my belly and started doing breakdancing"

T-Dog couldn't help but laugh in amusment as he patted her knee and assured her, " everything is going to be okay. We have to have hope for the children and your little one" Daryl turned his head glancing between the two of them before he narrowed his eyes dangerously at T-Dog and warned him, " He better be okay. It's my only word on the matter" T-Dog sighed heavily with an annoyed look and firmly told him, " I told you the geeks can't get at him. The only thing that's gonna get through that door is us"

The van suddenly pulled up as Glenn glanced over his shoulder at Sarah, Daryl and T-dog, " we walk from here" Sarah rose to her feet opening the shutters climbing down from the van making her way around the van catching up with Glenn and Rick with Daryl and T- Dog following after her as they had reached the outskirts of Atlanta and had to make the rest of the way towards the store Merle is suppose to be on foot as they made their way down the train tracks.

Soon enough, Glenn lead the rest of the group to an empty underpass holding up a small hole in a chain link fence for them to slip through only for them to appear in an empty alley, " Merle first or the guns?" Rick questioned causing Daryl to scoff in disbelief and immediately answer, " Merle! We ain't having this conversation" Rick ignored Daryl as he turned his attention to Glenn, " we are! You know the geography. It's your call"

"Merle closest. The guns would mean doubling back. Merle first" Glenn answered tightening his grip on his backpack as they walked. Sarah glanced over her shoulder at Rick, Daryl and T-Dog who were walking behind her and Glenn only for her eyes to lock with Rick's causing her to quickly look away from him as they continued their journey to where Merle was left by the others.

"This is it" Glenn announced as it didn't take long until they approached the building where Merle was held captured leading them across the street and towards the main entrance of the department store causing Sarah to frown at the broken glass on the ground, " Walkers break through, huh?" She guessed causing Glenn to nod his head in agreement and muttered, " Yeah!"

Sarah licked her lips as she followed behind Rick and questioned, " How many were they?" Glenn shook his head in response sending her a pointed look and said, " A herd of them. We barely made it out alive if it wasn't for Rick" Sarah pushed her hair out of her face grabbing her knife that she had tucked away in her waistband, " That's just great... hopefully the dead decided to go elsewhere"

Sarah gasped as she followed after Rick looking around the store noticing clothes scattered on the floor and ornaments smashed to pieces on the ground. The sound of glass breaking was heard beneath their boots causing the blonde to gasp as Rick grabbed ahold of her hand pulling her behind him at the sight of a walker that was at the back of the store. Daryl walked ahead of the group with his bow in his hands ready to take a shot, " Damn, you are one ugly skank" Daryl muttered before his finger hovered over the trigger shooting her in the head with an arrow watching as the dead women fell to the ground.

Sarah turned her head to share a look with Rick only for her shrug her shoulders as she brushed past him following Daryl who stormed towards the rooftop staircase. Sarah watched Rick grab the bolt cutters from T-Dog before he cut through the heavy chain that was held against the door so no walker would be able to enter. Daryl kicked the door open shoving his way past the group calling out for his brother, " Merle! Merle! Merle!"

The group walked across the small landing and onto the platform where Merle is suppose to be only there was no one there as Sarah approached Daryl her eyes widened in shock her hand going over her mouth at the sight of a bloody handcuffs and on the floor next to what she assumed is Merle hand was a bloody hacksaw that he probably used to cut off his hand, " No! No!" Daryl cried out with tears welled up in his eyes at the sight.

Sarah gaze shifted back onto Daryl and couldn't help but send him a sympathetic look as they assumed that Merle would be okay as T-Dog chained the door shut and was surprised that Merle had cut of his own hand desperate to escape from the walkers. The blonde didn't dare to move any closer to Daryl knowing he was a ticking time bomb and at the moment he was devastated as he didn't know weather his brother is alive it not as he could of died from blood loss than being tore apart from a walker.

Suddenly, a burst of rage erupted from Daryl as he grabbed his crossbow turning around his finger already hovering around the trigger as he aimed it directly at T-Dog head, " No! Are you insane!" Sarah yelled as she rushed forward standing protectively in front of T-Dog grabbing Daryl arm trying to pull him away but it was no use as he stood his ground not removing his eyes from the man who had left his brother here, " Daryl, trust me. You don't want to do this. It won't change anything or bring back Merle"

"Sarah!" Rick called out in worry as he immediately appeared by her side pulling out his revolver, pointing it towards Daryl temple. Sarah released her grip on Daryl arm taking a step back as Daryl stiffened slightly when he felt the pistol against his head yet he didn't lower his crossbow as the only thing that was on his mind was vengeance for his brother making him pay for leaving his brother here chained up alive and now they don't know if he's still alive all they have is his hand that he left behind after he had cut it off.

Rick cocked his gun, the sound echoing on the roof as he kept his eyes on Daryl and firmly warned him, " I won't hesitate. I don't care if every walker in the city hears it." Daryl hesitated clenching his jaw before he cursed under his breathe signing in defeat as he lowered his crossbow so he was no longer aiming at Sarah and T-Dog. The blonde placed her hand on T-Dog arm silently asking if he was okay as he let out a relieved sigh nodding his head sending the pregnant women a grateful smile.

" You got a... got a do-rag or something?" Daryl questioned T-Dog after a couple of moments he had calmed down slightly. T-Dog frowned as he pulled the cloth out of his pocket handing it over to the redneck who used it to wrap up Merle hand, " I guess the, uh, saw blade was too dull for the handcuffs. Ain't that a bitch?" He muttered before moving towards Glenn who had a look of disgust on his face as Daryl forcefully unzipped Glenn backpack, and then placed Merle's severed hand carefully inside.

" He must've used a tourniquet... maybe his belt. Be much more blood if he didn't" Daryl trailed off as he followed after the blood trail into another building, " Merle! You in here!" Daryl loudly called out as the group slowly made their way down a flight of stairs when they heard no response only to to come across a female walker that he didn't hesitate in shooting in the head before he walked over to the dead walker pulling out his arrow from its head, " Had enough in him to take these two sons of bitches. One handed. Toughest asshole I ever met, my brother. Feed him a hammer, he'd crap out nails"

"Any man can pass out from blood loss, no matter how tough he is" Rick pointed out moving past Daryl with his gun raised in his hands encase they run into other walkers while searching for Daryl's brother. The hunter glared at Rick but didn't say anything as he knew he was right especially after his brother had cut off his hand, " Merle!" Sarah lightly hit Daryl arm shooting him an annoyed look and sternly told him, " we're not alone here. You're just gonna attract more of the dead and make it harder for us to find your brother"

"Screw that. He could be bleeding out" Daryl shrugged his shoulders casually before glancing over at Rick from beside him, " Sheriff Rick the prick said so himself" Sarah rolled her eyes letting out a sigh as she continued following the blood trail that lead them towards the kitchen where the stove was still lit, with Merle belt sitting on top of it, " what's that burning stuff?" Glenn curiously questioned stepping beside Sarah keeping his eyes on the large cake cutter knife laying over the flame that was covered in blood.

Sarah picked up the knife examining it before she informed the group, " Skin" as she could tell it was burned skin as she had worked at the hospital as an intern before the world went to shit, " He must've cauterised the wound" Sarah placed the knife back down on the desk top as Daryl looked between the group and snugly said, " told you he was tough. Ain't nobody can kill Merle but Merle"

Rick turned off the stove raising his eyebrow and resorted, " don't take that on faith. He's lost a lot of blood" Daryl scoffed in disbelief as he continued following the blood trail to a broken window at the back of the room, " Yeah? Didn't stop him from busting out of this death trap" Sarah followed after him as she looked down where fresh blood was splatted on the ground below the smashed window, " He left through the window?" Glenn questioned in surprise as his eyes widened, " why the hell would he do that?"

"Why wouldn't he?" Daryl inquired shooting Glenn a look from over his shoulder, " he's out there alone as far as he knows, doing what he's gotta do." Daryl leaned over the window to see a white towel covered in blood that Merle probably used to wrap up his wound, " surviving" T-Dog scoffed in disbelief sharing a look with the rest of the group, " you call that surviving? Just wondered out in the streets, maybe passing out? What are his odds out there?"

"No worse than being handcuffed and left to rot by you sorry pricks!" Daryl snapped standing next to Sarah glaring harshly at T-Dog before moving his gaze over to Rick, " you couldn't kill him. I ain't so worried about some dumb dead bastard" Rick signed in annoyance taking a threatening step forward and resorted, " what about a thousand dumb dead bastards? Different story?" Daryl rolled his eyes once again at the ex Sheriff trying to keep his anger at bay, " why don't you take a tally, do what you want. I'm gonna go get him"

Daryl moved towards the window getting ready to climb out but Rick grabbed his arm pulling him back only for the redneck to yank himself free from Rick's grasp, " get your hands off me!" He harshly snapped in anger glaring at the ex Sheriff who stopped him from following after his brother, "You can't stop me." Rick raised his hand in surrender trying to attempt to calm him down, " I don't blame you. He's family, I get that. I went through hell to find mine. I know exactly how you feel. He can't get far with that injury. We could help you check a few blocks around, but only if we keep a level head. Do you think you can do that?"

Daryl glanced around the group with an hesitant expression on his face before he sighed in defeat nodding his head in agreement, " I could do that" Rick gaze then shifted towards T-Dog, Sarah and Glenn who was watching the exchange between the two of them, " you in?" Sarah and Glenn looked at one another before turning their attention back to Rick with a nod of their heads, " we're in"

Rick then turned his head to look at T-Dog who hasn't answered, " what about you? Are you in?" Rick questioned sending him a look but T-Dog had an thoughtful look on his face letting out a breathe as he glanced between Rick and Daryl before he stated, "I'll only help if we get those guns first. I'm not strolling the streets of Atlanta with just my good intentions, okay?"

Sarah nodded her head in understanding as they needed weapons for extra protection to protect themself from the dead encase they get surrounded but before she could say anything Daryl beat her to it, " Fine. We get the guns first, and then we find my brother" Glenn cleared his throat causing everyone to turn their attention to him, " I have an idea" Sarah raised his brows sending him a look causing Glenn to explain the plan he had come up with.

"No. No way. Have you completely lost your mind" Sarah exclaimed resting her hands on her hips shaking her head frantically as Rick nodded his head in agreement with the blonde women, " Sarah's right, you're not doing this alone" Daryl snorted in amusement looking over at Glenn agreeing with Rick and Sarah, " Even I think it's a bad idea and I don't even like you much" Glenn rolled his eyes at Daryl comment before moving his gaze back over to Rick and Sarah with a pleading expression on his face, " it's a good idea, okay. If you just hear me out. If we go out there in a group, we're slow, drawing attention. If I'm alone, I can move fast"

Glenn drew a makeshift of the map on the ground with a black whiteboard pen, marking where the tank and the bag on guns where on the street, " Look, that's the tank, five blocks from where we are now. That's the bag of guns. Here's the alley I dragged you into when we first met. That's where Daryl, Sarah and I will go" Daryl frowned in confusion glancing over at the blonde before moving his gaze back to Glenn, " why us?"

"Your crossbow is quieter than his gun and Sarah thinks fast and is good with a knife" Glenn shrugged his shoulders causing T-Dog to nod his head in understatement as they won't draw much attention with weapons that won't make loud noises like guns would of, " While Daryl and Sarah waits here in the alley, I run up the street, grab the bag" Sarah scoffed leaning against the table and firmly stated, " I'm not leaving you to go by yourself. You need someone to watch your back"

Glenn shook his head in response looking up at Sarah at softly told her, " You'll only slow me down" the blonde had an offended look on her face as she exclaimed, " Please, I used to be a cheerleader in high school. I grew up on a farm I know how to be quick on my feet and secondly I'm not that big" noticing the way his eyes gazed down to the small baby bump as while she is around 4-5 months pregnant she's not really showing.

" I don't like this" Rick spoke keeping his blue eyes on Sarah as he was worried about her and should of never allowed her to come but she's too stubborn for her own good that no matter what he or the others say no one would stop her especially when she's set her mind on something, " Glenn right, you should stay with Daryl so he can keep an eye on you" Sarah sighed in annoyance turning to face Rick and resorted, " I don't need him to keep an eye on me. I can take care of myself just fine"

"Sarah, it's dangerous and I promised Amy I'll bring you back in one piece and if anything where to happen to you It'll be my fault" " Rick tried to get the blonde women to understand but she was too stubborn sending him a pointed look like she wasn't going to change her mind, " I'm well aware of how dangerous this is. But guess what, no one makes my decisions for me, All right. Nobody, this is my choice, okay. My choice and I'm doing this"

Glenn, Daryl and T-Dog watched the exchange between the two of them as they bickered back and forth but eventually Sarah got her way as Rick knew it was no use arguing with her as Sarah was the type of person to do the opposite what someone tells her to do, " but you got us elsewhere?" Rick inquired gesturing towards himself and T-Dog causing Glenn to nod his head in confirmation pointing towards the map at the end of the street, " You and T-Dog, right. You'll be in this alley here"

"Two blocks away? Why?" Rick questioned as his frown deepened in confusion keeping his eyes on Glenn waiting for him to explain. " I may not be able to come back the same way. Walkers might cut me off. If that happens, Sarah and I won't go back to Daryl. We'll go forward instead, all the way around to that alley where you guys are. Whichever direction we go, we got you in both places to cover us. Afterwards, we'll all meet back here"

There was a moment of silence as they took in Glenn plan and while no one wanted to separate the group it's the best plan that they could come up with to get the guns and meet up afterwards encase they get ambushed by the walkers, " Hey, Kid. What'd you do before all this?" Daryl curiously questioned with furrowed brows genuinely curious about him but Glenn frowned in confusion looking at Daryl for a moment before answering him, " delivered pizzas. Why?" Sarah couldn't help the amused grin that appeared on her lips as Rick and Daryl nodded their heads slightly as it was no wonder how he knew the area so well.