Zac smiled as he and Rick arrived back at the cell block door, "Food's here!" he said excitedly as he watched Carl open the door for them.
"What you got?" Carl asked as he looked at Zac carrying two boxes full of food and his dad had some more boxes that he was carrying.
"Canned beef, canned corn, canned cans!" Zac answered as he walked down the cell block to go put the stuff away and he could feel Rick following him. "There’s a lot more where this came from!"
Rick who was following behind Zac watched as Lori came out of the cell where Hershel was, "Any change?" he asked as he stopped to look at her.
"Bleeding is under control and no fever, but his breath is labored, his pulse is way down and he hasn't opened his eyes yet," Lori answered informing her husband of Hershel's condition.
Hearing Lori's answer Rick turned around as he looked at Taylor, "Take my cuffs, put them on him. I'm not taking any chances," he said knowing he wasn't going to risk anyone if Hershel died and then came back.
Taylor sighed but reluctantly reached down and took Rick's cuffs from where he had them in his jeans. Once he had taken them he watched as Rick took the food he was carrying over where Zac was putting the stuff away thanks to Carl and T-Dog's help and soon Rick and Lori had went off to talk on their own too. ____________________________________________________________________________________
Once everything had been put away Zac eventually found himself outside the cell block again as he, Rick, and Daryl all watched the prisoners look at the weapons they had laid out for them to use.
Picking up one of the weapons Tomas examined it before holding it out some, "Why do I need this, when I have this?" he asked as he looked down at his gun.
"You don't fire guns," Daryl answered the man as he shook his head. "Not unless your back's up against the wall. Noise attracts them, really riles them up."
"We’ll go in two by two," Rick spoke letting everyone know how they'd go about their job. "Daryl will run point with Zac, and I'll bring up the rear with you," he said before looking towards Andrew. "Stay tight, hold formation, no matter how close the walkers get. "Anyone breaks ranks, we could all go down, anyone runs off, they could get mistaken for a walker, end up with an axe to the head."
Daryl who heard Rick's words nodded, "And that's where you aim. These things only go down with a head shot."
"Ain't gotta tell us how to take out a man," Tomas said as he looked at Daryl.
Zac heard Thomas's words and spoke up, "They ain't men. They're something else."
"Just remember, go for the brain," Rick reiterated wanting to make sure they remembered that point if anything else. ________________________________________________________________________
Taylor who had been in the cell with Hershel for awhile finally walked over to where the man lay and he took the cuffs that Rick had told him to use. Reaching for Hershel's hand he put one cuff on Hershel and he put the other around the bed, making sure that Hershel couldn't get loose if he did come back. If things took a turn for the worse.
Turning when he heard foot steps he saw Maggie coming back to the cell and giving him a look after seeing her dad handcuffed, "We had to," he told her.
"It's just for precaution," Carol added in as she gave the younger woman a smile.
At their words Maggie just nodded, she had for a second been scared that he had already died, "You think maybe I could have a minute alone here?"
"Yeah, do you want me to..." Taylor started but was stopped when Maggie interrupted him.
"No, just...by myself," Maggie said knowing she needed time alone with her dad. She needed to say goodbye just in case and also tell him it was okay for him to go if he was hanging on for her and Beth.
Carol stood up, "Of course," she said before exiting the cell.
"I'll be right outside," Taylor said to Maggie before he too left the cell. He had wanted her to know that he was there in case she needed him. ______________________________________________________________________________
Avery who had finished putting a sheet up over the door of her cell made a face as she ran to the toilet and got sick yet again. After she did get sick she stayed in the floor and closed her eyes as she felt tears wanting to form. She wasn't sure what was wrong with her but she just wanted it to stop. She wanted to feel better and she hated that she was so upset with how she felt when Hershel was just down stairs fighting for his life.
Opening her eyes again she turned when she saw the sheet open and she watched as Beth came into her room.
"I just wanted to make sure you were okay," Beth smiled or at least she tried too as she looked at Avery. "I heard you getting sick from down in my cell."
Nodding Avery just stayed in the floor, "I'm fine Beth," she said trying to reassure herself more than the blonde. "Anyway you should be more worried about your dad than me."
"My dad's going to be fine," Beth spoke her voice coming out confident. "He is a Greene and we're fighters much like you Hanson's are," she said knowing she had learned that over the months. "I don't even think a shot to the head would kill you guys."
At that Avery laughed, "I'm sure a shot to the head could kill us. That is kind of fatal."
"Sometimes it's not," Beth shrugged as she ran a hand through some of the hair that was falling out of her ponytail. "I should go check on my dad again," she said before leaving the cell.
After Beth was gone Avery laid her head against the cell wall. She wished she were half as strong as Beth saw her or as everyone else saw her. Truth be told she still considered herself the weak girl who couldn't fight off her dad. __________________________________________________________________________________
Walking beside Daryl as they walked the dark corridors Zac was on high alert for any walkers. Behind him he could hear one of the prisoners complaining.
"Man, it's too damn dark in here," Big Tiny complained knowing they didn't have enough light to see.
"Gotta hold it up high out in front of you," Daryl spoke as he looked at the man briefly. "You're gonna hear' em before you see 'em."
After Daryl said that they walked a few more steps before Zac heard one of the prisoners scream out that a walker was coming which made Daryl shush him. Watching the end of the hallway Zac watched as two walkers slowly made their way around the corner though before any of his group could do anything the prisoners ran at them screaming and the scene in front of him was almost comedic as the men tried to fight the walkers, hitting them every where but the head. ___________________________________________________________________________________________
Taylor who stood outside Hershel's cell held the pocket watch that the man had given him several months back in his hand. He was wrapping it around his fingers and then unwrapping it. It was the only thing he could do to occupy his time as he waited to see if Hershel would wake up or not. It was the only thing that made him concentrate on something else.
Hearing a door at one end of the cell block open Taylor looked up and raised an eyebrow as he saw Carl coming towards the cell a bag in hand. "Thought you were organizing the food?"
"Even better," Carl smiled to Taylor before entering the cell where Hershel and several others were at again. "Check it out," he said as he laid it down and watched as his mom and Carol went through the bag.
"Where did you get this?" Lori asked as she looked up at Carl.
Carl looked at his mom, "Found the infirmary. Wasn't much left, but I cleared it out!"
Lori felt her eyes widen at her son's words, "You went by yourself?"
"Yeah," Carl answered as he felt all eyes on him after he said that.
Hearing the boys response Taylor shook his head as he thought back to his children who he had lost. What Carl had just did was a damn risky move.
"Are you crazy?" Lori asked as her voice went up some.
Carl just shrugged shaking his head, "No big deal, I killed two walkers."
"Alright," Lori muttered as she pointed down at Hershel's leg which Carol was bandaging up. "Do you see this? This was with the whole group!"
"We needed supplies, so I got them!" Carl defended not seeing the bigger issue with him going to get that.
"I appreciate that, but..." Lori started only for her son to interrupt her.
"Then get off my back!" Carl responded as he just glared at his mom.
Taylor who had listened to that whole exchange made a face, "Carl! She's your mother, you can't talk to her like that!" he said knowing the boy should give his mother a break. The woman was trying and doing her best.
"Listen, I think it's great that you want to help but..." Lori again started but watched as her son ran from the cell. __________________________________________________________________________________
Zac again walked down the darkened corridors after the two walkers were taken care of. An act that had been done by his own group.
"It's gotta be the brain," Daryl grunted out as he watched a walker approach where they were standing. "Not the stomach, not the heart, the brain!" he said before shooting an arrow into the walker.
Axel nodded, "I hear you, the brain," he repeated as he watched Oscar take down another walker who was coming at them.
"Like that?" Oscar asked after getting the walker in the head and watching it go down.
"Uh huh," Daryl nodded soon watching Axel take one down as well.
After Axel took down the next walker Zac watched as another one came that Rick killed and then he heard Rick telling them to stay in tight formation, no more prison riot crap. It was after he said that, that Zac watched as a lot more walkers came down to where they were at and they all began to take them down, this time with no more comedic scenes from the prisoners trying to fight the walkers. _____________________________________________________________________________________________
"These bandages will help prevent infection," Carol smiled as she finished wrapping up Hershel's leg.
"That's good. It's good that he taught you all this stuff," Taylor nodded knowing it was good that during their months on the run Hershel had taught Carol all this stuff.
Carol looked at Lori quickly then to Taylor, "He didn't teach me everything," she said as she shook her head. "I need your help with something."
"Now?" Taylor asked surprise clear in his tone.
"Yeah, now," Carol answered as she stood up.
Raising an eyebrow Taylor just looked at Carol, "What is it?"
"Not here," Carol answered him again as she started to walk out of the cell.
"I can't leave Hershel," Taylor said knowing he couldn't leave Hershel. He had promised Rick he would stay here.
"This is important," Carol told him as she turned to look at him.
Taylor shook his head at the woman's instance, "Carol, I can't.."
"Go on," Lori spoke up interrupting Taylor. "We got it."
"No way," Taylor said again not wanting to go.
Beth turned to look at her sister's boyfriend, "We'll be fine."
"We're not gonna be gone long," Carol added in hoping that would get Taylor to come with her.
"Rick said for me..." Taylor again started only to be stopped by Maggie.
"We're fine," Maggie reassured Taylor as she nodded and gave him a smile. This was her giving him consent to go.
Taylor heaved a sigh after Maggie spoke, "Alright," he agreed before leaving the cell with Carol. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________
Zac raised an eyebrow as he looked up at Big Tiny after Big Tiny showed off the bite wound on his back. During their show down with the walkers earlier the man had tried to run and hide and he had gotten bit, a fact that was found out after Rick and Tomas had went to look for him and killed the two walkers that had him cornered.
"I don't feel anything, it's just a scratch," Big Tiny spoke trying to tell the others he was okay.
Rick looked down unable to meet the man's gaze, "I'm sorry man."
"I can keep fighting!" Big Tiny responded as he looked at Rick.
"You cut that old guy's leg off to save his life!" Andrew spoke up wondering why Rick couldn't just cut off something to save Big Tiny.
Rick turned to look at Andrew, "Look at where the bite is!"
"Guys, I’m fine! Just… I’m fine. Look, look at me, I’m not changing into one of those things," Big Tiny spoke knowing he wasn't turning. He didn't feel sick, he felt completely fine.
"Look, man, there's gotta be something we can do, we could just lock him up," Oscar suggested as he put his hands on his hips.
"Quarantine him!" Axel added in.
Andrew just shook his head, "We gotta do something! Why are you just standing there, we gotta save him!"
"There's nothing we can do," Rick stated knowing there was no saving Big Tiny.
"You son of a bitch!" Andrew muttered.
Zac heard Andrew and then he watched as Big Tiny started to talk again only to be stopped when Tomas stabbed him in the face and then the man just kept stabbing him over and over again and by the time he stopped Zac just stood there in shock. Tomas was covered in blood and Big Tiny was dead and the man who had killed him hadn't even batted an eyelash. _______________________________________________________________________
Walking along the prison's fences with Carol, Taylor watched as the woman kept eying the walkers as if she was looking for the right one.
"That one," Carol stated as she watched a female walker coming closer to the fence.
Taylor turned to Carol as the walker reached the fence and they both came to a stop, "Everything you're saying is completely sane, you wanting to use a walker for practice is a sane thing I mean it. Okay? I'm just, trying to wrap my mind around it."
"Lori's overdue. She had Carl by C-section, she's probably gonna have to have this one the same way. Hershel had a little bit of experience with this kind of thing, but he's not gonna be able to do it anymore. I need experience! And we have plenty of cadavers," she said referring to the walkers roaming around.
Looking down Taylor shook his head, "Like I said it's completely sane."
"I need to learn how to cut through the abdomen and uterus without cutting the baby," Carol spoke as she eyed the walker in front of her. The one she'd be using for her lessons in teaching herself how to do a C-section.
"Why not?" Taylor asked sarcastically as he moved to put the walker down only to be stopped when Carol grabbed his hand before he could.
Carol just shook her head, "I'll do it."
After Carol said that Taylor moved away from the fence watching as Carol put the walker down and he moved away drawing the other walkers down the fence so that Carol could get that walker to use without having to worry about the others getting her instead. ______________________________________________________________________________________________
Walking down the corridors Zac stayed in front of Rick and Daryl but behind the other prisoners. He could hear the two men behind him talking about the look in Tomas's eye when he had killed Big Tiny and he couldn't help but feel proud when Rick told Daryl that if Tomas made one wrong move he'd give him a signal. He kind of hoped Tomas would just so they could get him off their hands. He seemed like the worst out of all the inmates.
When they finally arrived at the cell block entrance which contained a set of two double doors Zac watched as Daryl handed the keys over to Tomas.
"I ain't opening that," Tomas said as he shook his head.
Rick turned to look at Tomas who was still covered in blood, "Yes, you are. If you want this cell block, you're gonna open that door. Just the one, not both of them. Because we need to control this."
Tomas took a breath and hesitantly walked to open the doors. He could hear walkers on the other side already, "You bitches ready?" he asked after he unlocked the door but it wouldn't budge. "I got this," he spoke after a few more attempts and this time he opened both doors, watching as walkers came into the room.
"I said one door!" Rick yelled as he moved to help kill the walkers.
Tomas just shrugged at Rick's words, "Shit happens."
Zac who watched the men's exchange then began to take on walkers as they came at him or into the room. He wasn't sure how many he had taken down when he heard Daryl call out to him to mind the gap and out of the corner of his eye he saw Daryl run towards Rick's direction.
Moving to where Daryl had been Zac continued to take down walkers and each time one didn't bite him he felt accomplished. That he was one less walker down to worrying about being bit.
Eventually after all the walkers were taken care of Zac turned to see Rick and Tomas having another exchange of words.
"He was coming at me, bro," Tomas spoke trying to defend why he had thrown that walker at Rick.
Rick just nodded at the man's words, "Yeah..yeah, I get it," he told him him as he held his axe tighter in his hands. "I get it. Shit happens," he muttered before raising his axe and putting it Tomas's head.
"No!" Andrew screamed out right as Rick raised his axe and put it in Tomas's head. Raising his bat he charged at the man only to watch him turn to face him after Tomas had fallen dead on the floor.
"Easy now," Daryl spoke as he held his crossbow higher watching as Rick kicked Andrew down to the ground and soon the boy went running out of the room with Rick saying he had got him before also running out of the room. Turning to see Oscar still standing there Daryl ordered the man to get down on his knees which he did.
Axel also got down on his knees and looked at the two men left in the room, "We don't have no affiliation to what just happened!" he said pleading his case. "Tell him, Oscar!"
Oscar just shook his head, "Stop talking man."
Taking his gun out finally Zac held it to the two men on the floor. He knew Daryl had his crossbow trained on them but he just wanted to be safe. _________________________________________________________________________________
Jessica who had been in her cell with Glenn made a face when she heard Beth screaming from down the hall for help and before she knew it she left her cell and ran to where Hershel was, getting there just in time to see Lori performing CPR on the man. Waiting with baited breath she stood next to Carl, feeling someone come up behind her and she turned to see Glenn.
It was when she turned back around that she jumped slightly in horror watching as Hershel lunged up wrapping his arm around Lori who was pried away by Maggie though the moment Lori was away they all watched as Hershel's eyes opened briefly and then he closed them, his snoring filling the room. He had escaped death.
"That was close," Glenn whispered as he leaned into Jessica, his eyes landing on Carl who had raised his gun just in case he had to shoot. ___________________________________________________________________________________________
"We didn't have nothing to do with that," Oscar said as he looked at the two men who were threatening him. Rick had came back without Andrew and now Rick held a knife out to him while Daryl still kept his crossbow in place and Axel was a few feet away being held at gun point.
Rick just looked at the men, "You didn't know?" he asked not believing that they didn't know. "You knew! Daryl, let's end this now!" he said knowing they had to kill these men.
Axel started to cry some when Rick moved towards him this time putting another gun in his face, "Sir, please, please listen to me!" he said as he shook his head. "It was them that was bad! It wasn't us!"
"Oh that's convenient," Rick growled out still not buying their words.
"You saw what he did to Tiny! He was my friend!" Axel continued still trying to plead his case and save his life. "Please! We ain’t like that! I like my pharmaceuticals, but I’m no killer! Oscar here, he’s a B and E and he ain’t very good at it neither! We ain’t the violent kind, they were! Please! Please, I swear to god! I wanna live!"
Turning to face Oscar again Rick held his gun to the man this time, "What about you?" he asked wondering if the man was gonna plead for his life as well.
"I ain’t never pleaded for my life. And I ain’t about to start now. So you do what you gotta do," Oscar said resigned to his fate at this point.
Watching as Rick finally put down his weapon Zac heard him tell him and Daryl to do the same and soon they lead the men down to their new cell block which was cleared and full of dead walker corpses.
"Oh man! I knew these guys, they were good men," Axel exclaimed as he looked around him at the dead bodies strewn every where.
"Let's go," Rick spoke as he looked towards Zac and Daryl.
Oscar watched as the men started to walk away, "So you’re just gonna leave us in here? Man, this is sick!"
"We’re locking down the cell block. From now on, this part of the prison is yours. Take it or leave it, that was the deal," Rick informed them knowing the deal hadn't changed even with Tomas and Andrew gone.
Daryl just looked at Oscar, "You think this is sick? You don't wanna know what's outside," he said before frowning at the images in his head.
"Consider yourselves the lucky ones," Rick said before finally actually walking away.
"Sorry about your friends man," Daryl said as he followed after Rick.
"Word of advice," Zac said as the two men looked at him. "Take those bodies outside and burn them," he finished before following Rick and Daryl out of the cell block. ________________________________________________________________________________
Taylor who was standing outside the cell where Hershel was looked up when he heard foot steps coming down the hall and he could see Rick and Zac both coming back.
"Hershel stopped breathing," Carl informed his dad. "Mom saved him," he said as he smiled at what his mom had done.
Taylor nodded at Carl's words knowing he had been informed of what happened when he got back, "It's true," he confirmed watching as Rick and Zac both went inside the cell. Taylor wasn't blind and he saw Zac put his hand comfortingly on Beth's shoulder.
Turning his head he again was faced with two more of his siblings and their lovers as Avery came to the cell and pulled Daryl into a hug and Jessica and Glenn both came back to check in on Hershel. The only two people missing right now where Carol and T-Dog.
"Still no fever," Lori spoke to Rick as she heard her husband come in the room, though her eyes never once left Hershel.
Nodding at Lori's words Rick finally walked closer to Hershel, watching as the man slept. It was while he watched him that he saw the man start to rouse and everyone seemed to move in closer. When the man's eyes opened Rick couldn't help but smile some.
"Daddy?" Maggie asked her voice cracking slightly when she saw her father open his eyes.
"Daddy!" Beth smiled as she moved in beside Maggie so that she could be closer to her father.
As Hershel woke up Taylor just smiled as he stepped farther into the cell and he watched as Rick took the cuffs off him and once the cuffs were off Hershel reached for Rick's hand giving Rick a smile which Rick returned though eventually Rick replaced his hand with Beth's and he followed Lori out of the cell.
Going to where Maggie stood at her father's bedside Taylor let his hand rest on her back to let her know he was here and that he'd be with her even now that her dad was okay. ________________________________________________________________________________
That night as he laid in his cell Zac sat up slightly as he heard the door open and he watched as Beth came in clad in only her night gown. "I figured you'd still be with your dad," he said as he watched her shut the door behind her.
"Maggie's with him tonight," Beth said as she walked farther into Zac's cell. "I..I wanted to come and see you," she said her voice cracking slightly. "What happened to my dad today got me thinking."
"Oh?" Zac asked as he raised an eyebrow watching as Beth eventually sat down beside him.
Beth looked down blushing, "I..I'm ready to have sex with you," she admitted as she finally looked up again and looked into Zac's eyes. "I don't wanna die not having had sex with you."
"And you're positive?" Zac asked as he locked eyes with Beth, his hand going to rest on her cheek. "This is a huge decision."
"I'm positive," Beth spoke as she leaned in to kiss Zac on the lips. "I want to have sex with you," she muttered in between kisses knowing she was sure of the decision she had made.
Kissing Beth back Zac slowly but surely took the lead with her and their kisses soon changed from slow and gentle to hot and fevered and as that happened he let his hand slide up and under her night gown as he pushed her back towards the bed where he laid over her.
Hearing her moan out as his hand brushed across the crotch of her panties Zac smirked feeling that Beth was already wet and he pulled away pulling her night gown off and throwing it to the floor. After it was off he kissed her again letting his lips trail down her neck and eventually to other places too.
Beth closed her eyes as Zac's mouth explored her body, all things he had already done during their time on the run this winter. The moment her panties were off she let out a tiny moan as she felt his tongue connect with her wet flesh. She was trying not to be loud because the last thing they needed was to get caught. The last thing she wanted was for people to find out about this.
"Zac..." Beth whimpered out as she pulled on his hair. "You're going to make me come too soon," she said knowing this wasn't how she wanted to reach her end.
Hearing Beth, Zac moved out from between her legs and he came back up to her, "Are you really positive?" he asked letting his hand find it's way between her legs and he started to rub her as he waited for her answer. "I..I guess I just need the reassurance."
"I'm fucking positive," Beth said as she moaned out again as Zac rubbed her. While he was doing that she reached up and undid his shirt, pushing him back some so she could pull it off and once it was off she pulled him into a kiss. A kiss that lasted through her taking his pants and boxers off and was only broken when Zac once again asked if she was sure after he lined himself up at her entrance.
Again with her words of encouragement it seemed like Zac was going to take her virginity and when she felt him inside of her she grimaced some knowing it hurt slightly even if he had fingered her before.
"You okay?" Zac asked onto her lips as he felt her tense up around him.
Beth nodded as she pulled away from the kiss, "Just go slow..please," she told him as she locked eyes with him.
"I can do slow," Zac smiled as he leaned down to kiss her again and he kept his hips still for the longest time and when he did start to move inside of her it was slow and gentle and he found his lips wondering to her neck where he left feather soft kisses on her skin. "I..I..I love you," he whispered on her skin knowing with all of his heart that he did love her. He was in love with Beth Greene.
"I love you too," Beth stated as she started to match Zac's movements and she let her head fall to the side as he kissed her neck. It felt good to finally tell Zac she loved him. She had known she had loved him several months ago but had never said it in fear that he didn't love her back. She had been scared he was using her to fill Kate's absence in his life.