Sitting in the chair that he was literally taped into Taylor glared as he watched Merle slowly walk down the table with the knife on his stump dug into the wood. It was an irritating sound and Merle was an imposing force who kind of scared him but he was doing his best not to show it because he had to be strong, he had to be strong like Zac usually was.
"You don't even know why you're here, do you?" Merle asked as he finally made it to where Taylor was strapped down into the chair with duct tape. "I didn't mean you no harm. I lowered my gun, but you raised yours. You were an asshole out there, just like your brother was an asshole on that roof in Atlanta," he muttered as he shook his head. "What they did, leaving me up there...people wouldn't do that to an animal."
"They went back for you," Taylor told him hoping maybe that would ease things slightly.
Merle chuckled bitterly at that, "Ain't they thoughtful?"
"They did," Taylor reiterated because it almost sounded like Merle didn't believe him. "Rick, Daryl, T-Dog, Glenn and Avery."
"Mm, T-Dog," Merle said as he looked down at Taylor with a glare. "Yeah, big ol' spear-chucker. The one I was pleading with. Mm-hmm, the one that dropped the key," he nodded as he locked eyes with Taylor. "Tell me where he's at. I'm sure T-Dog would like to bury the hatchet, let bygones be bygones."
Swallowing hard Taylor looked away from Merle's gaze, "He didn't make it."
"Well, I hope he went slow," Merle spoke as he bent down towards Taylor's eye level so he'd have to stare at him. "How about the rest? Hmm?" he questioned before standing up and leaning against the table. "How about my baby brother? You can't tell me he's alive and then hold off on where he is," he said getting only silence from Taylor. "No? Well, maybe the farmer's daughter will help me out," he smirked knowing he was hitting Taylor were it hurt.
It was apparent to Merle after all even without Taylor saying that they were involved, even if back at camp he had always thought Taylor was a little gay minus him having a child.
Maggie who was in a room right next door to Taylor's closed her eyes tightly as she listened to Merle taunting Taylor, trying to get him to crack.
"Tell me something...when she's scared and she's holding you close, and her trembling skin is close to you," Merle continued as he put his knife against the bottom of Taylor's jaw. "Her soft lips are touching you here, all over here," he muttered as he let his knife go down Taylor's neck slowly. "And over here," he said moving his knife to the other side. "Feels good, don't it?" he asked rather mockingly.
"I remember you," Merle nodded as he smirked again. "Yeah, You're the sneaky one, the one with nerve. You don't scare easy do you?" he asked him as he finally moved his knife off his skin though he kept it hovering there. "I like that," he said before moving from the table and walking behind Taylor.
Once he was behind him he put his hand against Taylor's forehead and he rested his knife on Taylor's lips as he pulled his head back slightly, "Now I wanna know where my brother is," he spoke before moving his hand away from Taylor's forehead and holding onto the pointy end of the knife as he dug it into Taylor's mouth some almost like a gag for a bit liking the sounds of him struggling.. "I wanna know where the sheriff is," he said as he finally moved his knife and walked around to where Taylor could see him.
Looking at Merle, Taylor just glared before leaning over and headbutting him because it was the only thing he could really do in the position he was in right now.
Merle who got pushed back away from Taylor thanks to the headbutt, grabbed onto his nose as it started bleeding and he was half sure that Taylor had broken it.
Wiping some of the blood away he walked back to Taylor and gave him a smile though it was a fake one and after he had smiled he hit Taylor across the cheek, hard, hoping that it hurt.
"Now, I wanna know where they're hiding, where your camp is and I wanna know now," Merle demanded as Taylor finally turned his head to look at him again. "And I wanna know now," he growled repeating his words as he grabbed onto Taylor's cheek roughly and when he didn't get an answer from Taylor he let go of his cheek, landing a punch on his face and hopefully giving him a black eye.
Feeling tears welling up under her eyes, Maggie opened them as she looked hesitantly over at the thin wall that divided her from where Taylor was and she felt hopeless, absolutely hopeless because she couldn't help him from whatever tortures he was enduring at the hands of Merle. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Standing at the gate with Michonne as they had what seemed to be a staring contest with the man who had came down Lucy looked over when she saw Michonne grab onto her leg and blood came out of it some. It seemed to be after that, was when walkers noticed their presence or well Michonne's and she had to fight them off and Lucy moved away slightly just in case she too had to help the woman fight off walkers.
"Should we help them?" Carl asked from where he now stood at the gate's door, a place he had ran too after handing his sister over to Zac.
As the boy asked that question Lucy who was stuck in place as Michonne fended off walkers turned to watch the man just stand there for a bit before walking off and she glared before letting her attention go back to Michonne who was being moved farther away from her.
Dropping the basket filled with stuff Lucy ran forward a bit, knocking down one of the walkers who was going after Michonne and once she had the walker down, she lifted her leg smashing the walkers head in with her shoe.
It was only when she heard gunshots that she looked up to see two walkers on the ground, around a passed out or fallen down Michonne and she ran over to the scene getting there right as the man who it seemed at first was going to let them stay outside the gates did, along with the boy who had asked if they should help them.
As she stood in front of Michonne Lucy got her gun out, firing at oncoming walkers with the man, as the boy ran to get the basket she had dropped.
"Is she bit?" Hershel asked as he made it down to the now open gate.
Turning her head to look down at the brunette man Lucy watched as he began to check Michonne out. "It's a gunshot," she spoke up finally breaking her silence before pointing to the place where Michonne had been shot.
Rick looked up at the redhead after her words though he didn't say anything, he just picked up the passed out woman, carrying her over his shoulder as he headed for the inside of the prison so that they could help her and then find out why these people were here. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jessica who had came into the main cell block area with Avery, looked up as they heard the door open and watched Rick come in, holding some woman over his shoulder as well as having a redhead following behind and she just stood there frozen in place as she watched the scene unfold.
"Carl, get a blanket," Rick called out to his son as he slowly put the woman down, though he slung one of her arms over his neck. "Beth, water and a towel."
Seeing Beth rush off, Rick turned his head as he heard Carl ask here and he saw Carl moving a blanket towards him and he slowly laid the woman down. "They're not coming in the cell blocks," he spoke not trusting the two women in the cell blocks at all.
When Beth brought over the water and a towel, Rick poured some water on the woman laying on a blanket as she came too and then he handed the water bottle up to the redhead for her to wipe herself off as well since it was apparent that they both had done like he and and Glenn once had in Atlanta.
"Shh..it's all right," Rick told the woman laying down as she began to get panicked. "It's all right," he reassured her slightly as he saw the redhead bend down to his level obviously trying to do the same. "Hey, hey look at me. Look at me," he spoke trying to keep his voice even. "Who are you guys?"
Lucy stayed silent at the mans question and she chewed her lip as she watched Michonne getting even more agitated before lunging for her sword which the man pushed away from her.
"Hey, hey," Rick spoke as he grabbed onto the woman. "No. We're not going to hurt you unless you try something stupid first, all right?" he asked as he eyed the woman he was holding onto before looking at the redhead.
"Rick?" Daryl questioned as he came out of their cell block and he eyed the commotion going on in there. On the floor was someone lying on a blanket and beside her crouched down was some redheaded chick. "Who the hell are they?"
"You wanna tell us your names?" Rick asked as he looked at the two women.
Again Lucy chewed on her lip as she watched Michonne stay silent which caused her to stay silent at Rick's question too.
"You wanna tell us your names?" Rick asked again in both women's silence.
Daryl shook his head as the two women ignored Rick's question, "Ya'll come on in here," he spoke wanting the group that had just came inside to see what he had found.
"Everything all right?" Rick asked as he stood up and looked at Daryl.
"You're gonna wanna see this," Daryl answered knowing Rick would want to see his find.
Turning to the others Rick nodded his head, "Go ahead," he told them letting them know it was okay for them to go. "Carl get the bags," he said as he turned to look at his son as everyone began to disperse around him and the two women.
"We'll keep this safe and sound," Rick said as he reached for the sword that the injured woman had, had before turning to the redhead looking down at the gun that was attached to the holster on her pants.
Lucy sighed before reluctantly giving up her weapon.
"The doors are all locked. Ya'll will be safe here," Rick told them before looking down at the one woman's injury. "And we can treat that."
Michonne looked up at Rick a glare on her face, "I didn't ask for your help," she hissed out finally breaking her silence.
"Doesn't matter," Rick told her as he shook his head and turned to walk to the cell blocks. "Can't let you leave."
Daryl who had been standing in the room silently waited until Rick had walked past him and into the cell block before shutting the gate and locking it on the two women.
It was after that, that Daryl caught up with Rick, leading him down to a cell where Carol was.
Carol who had been laying on the bottom bed sat up when she heard footsteps and when she saw Daryl and Rick at the cell door she smiled slightly, getting up and walking to Rick who she hugged.
As they hugged Carol could hear Rick muttering thank god and she watched as the others in their group began to crowd around the door way.
"How?" Hershel asked as he too walked into the cell to hug Carol.
Carol pulled away from Rick and enveloped Hershel into a hug, "Solitary."
"Poor thing fought her way into a cell," Daryl revealed knowing he had found her there and before the others came inside he had gotten that story out of her. "Must have passed out. Dehydrated."
Pulling away from Hershel, Carol smiled more as she saw Zac come forward with a baby in his arms and she couldn't help the happiness at knowing the baby was safe and as she turned to Rick the smile stayed at least until she realized Lori wasn't there and when Rick nodded his head and looked away from her it was then that Carol knew Lori hadn't made it.
"I'm sorry," Carol apologized as she reached out to comfort Rick briefly before walking to the baby and taking it out of Zac's arms. It was such a bittersweet occasion now. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Phillip walked to the door after a knock had woken him and Andrea both up and as he opened the door, this time he was greeted by Milton. "Everything all right?"
"I just came to tell you Mr.Coleman...he's ready," Milton said as he gave the Governor a tiny smile.
Nodding his head Phillip sighed, "Okay, I'll meet you in the lab."
"Yes, sir," Milton spoke before walking off.
As Milton walked away Phillip shut the door behind him and he walked to his room where he found Andrea getting dressed, "Sorry about that," he said referring to their wake up call.
"No problem," Andrea smiled as she finished getting her pants on before going to where her shirt was laid down at. "I'll be back."
"Actually, I could use your help with something now," Phillip told her as he sat down on the edge of his bed.
Chuckling Andrea looked at him after she had her shirt on, "I said I'll be back."
"No," Phillip told her as he shook his head knowing where her mind had went. "I wish it were just that," he sighed knowing he'd also need Kate for the same thing he needed Andrea for and it definitely wasn't sexual related because he was sure if he tried to even touch Kate like that, that she'd kill him and while he liked his women feisty he did want to live a bit longer. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"We can tend to that wound for you," Rick spoke as he headed into the main cell area where the two women where now sitting at one of the tables. For this talk he had only brought Hershel, Daryl, and Zac not wanting to risk it if these women were dangerous. "Give you guys a little food and water then send you on your way. But you're gonna have to tell us how you found us and why you were carrying formula."
"The supplies were dropped by a young blonde man with a pretty girl," Lucy answered as she looked up at the men in the room with them.
Swallowing hard at the redhead's words Rick tried to keep his emotions in check, "What happened?"
"Were they attacked?" Hershel asked sounding urgent because he just wanted answers on Maggie.
"They were taken," Lucy said as she looked towards the older man who was on crutches.
"Taken?" Rick asked his voice getting a bit higher. "By who?"
Michonne made a face as she looked up at Rick, "By the same son of a bitch who shot me."
"Hey these are our people," Rick told the injured woman as he reached down and pushed in on her injury deliberately. "You tell us what happened now!"
Moving angrily at that action Michonne stood up as she pointed her finger at Rick, "Don't you ever touch me again," she warned him through gritted teeth."
"You better start talking," Daryl spoke as he held his crossbow up on the woman who was injured. "You're gonna have a much bigger problem than a gunshot wound."
Lucy felt herself getting angry and she stood from the table as well, crossing her arms, "Find 'em yourself," she told the group in front of her not sure if she wanted to help them if they were going to be assholes.
Looking at both women who were on the defensive now Rick reached out, pushing Daryl's crossbow down, "Shh..shh..shh," he shushed trying to get control of things. "Put it down," he said as he turned to Daryl briefly before looking at the women. "You came here for a reason."
"There's a town," Lucy spoke up again as she looked away from the men's gazes. "Woodbury about seventy-five survivors. I think they were taken there."
"A whole town?" Rick asked in disbelief at the woman's words.
"It's run by this guy who calls himself the Governor," Michonne added in. "Pretty boy, charming, Jim Jones type."
Zac raised his eyebrow as he listened to the women give up their information, "He got muscle?"
"Paramilitary wannabes," Lucy shrugged as she eyed the man who had asked that question. "They have armed sentries on every wall."
"You two know a way in?" Rick asked wondering if they could get him and his group in.
Michonne nodded her head briefly, "The place is secure from walkers, but we could slip through."
Looking away from the woman briefly Rick turned back to face her, "How'd you know how to get here?"
"They mentioned a prison, said which direction it was in, that it was a straight shot," Michonne answered being honest.
After the woman answered him Rick turned to face Hershel, "This is Hershel, the father of the girl who was taken. He'll take care of that," he spoke as he looked at the woman's injury.
Once he had told the woman that, Rick turned to leave taking Zac and Daryl with him. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"I gotta hand it to you," Merle said as he sat on the table and watched Taylor who was now all beat up with his nose bleeding as well as blood coming out of his mouth and what was going to be one hell of a black eye. "You are a lot tougher than I remember. No surprise you lasted this long," he said clearly being astounded because he would have expected Zac to be the tough one out of all of the Hanson's.
"Shoot, I figured the way Officer Friendly abandoned people he would have left you behind by now," Merle sighed as he shook his head. "But he didn't do that, did he? Hmm. So tell me, where ya'll been at?"
Taylor who finally gathered the strength turned to look at Merle, "It's just a matter of time before they come looking."
"I'll bake a cake with pink frosting," Merle muttered sarcastically. "Would they like that?" he mused as he eyed Taylor intently. "Ain't nobody coming."
"Rick is," Taylor replied sounding sure of that. Rick would come and get them, he wouldn't just do nothing.
"And when he gets here...he's gonna do nothing," Merle stated just as sure. "Not if he wants you and Bo Peep back. Think I'm in this by myself?" he asked as he raised his eyebrow curiously. "You can't take us all. There's too many of us. There ain't a pair of nuts between the whole pussy lot of you."
"We've been on the road," Taylor told Merle knowing that their time on the road had made them stronger. "Not hiding in some dungeon," he muttered before deciding to list off names even if he had to lie on some of them. "Rick, Shane, Dale, Jim, Zac, Kate, Andrea."
Merle smirked when Taylor tried to say that Kate and Andrea where with the group, "Really? Is that right?" he asked sarcastically. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"How do we know we can trust them?" Oscar asked Rick as he stood with the group as they had a meeting about what to do with their missing members.
Avery shook her head angrily at that, "This is Maggie and Taylor. Why are we even debating?"
At Avery's outburst Jessica raised an eyebrow almost wishing she could be that vocal but she was still so scared to speak up.
"We ain't," Daryl said honestly not seeing a reason to debate. "I'll go after them."
Rick looked over at Daryl, "Well this place sounds pretty secure. You can't go alone."
"I'll go," Beth offered knowing she'd do anything to get her sister back.
"Me, too," Axel said though in all honesty he doubted he'd be of much help.
Oscar stood there for a few seconds before nodding his head, "I'm in," he confirmed. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"I got the flash bangs and I got the tear gas," Daryl told Oscar as he loaded up the back of the car they were going to take. "You never know what you're gonna need."
After he said that he watched as Oscar walked off and he slipped on his vest, watching as Carl brought a bag to put in the back, "Hey, " he said looking down at the boy. "Don't worry about your old man. Zac and I will keep an eye on him." ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Standing with Michonne as some blonde petite girl opened a gate Lucy looked around curiously, "Wasn't this place overrun?"
"It was," Beth confirmed as she turned to look at the women.
"And you cleared it out all by yourselves?" Lucy questioned again not sure if all the people she had seen could pull that feat off.
Zac who had made it down to where Beth was looked at the redhead who he had heard questioning his girlfriend, "There were others," he said before pulling Beth away slightly so he could say goodbye to her before he left, though since everyone was out here he had to be sure not to be too lovey dovey. He really didn't want Hershel to murder him. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rick who had brought some stuff out, handed it over for Oscar to put in the car before spotting his son, "Carl," he said as he pulled his son aside. "What you did for Mom..."
"I had too," Carl interrupted defending what he did.
Nodding his head Rick kept his gaze on his son, "Yeah I...I know. I know and I'm sorry," he apologized wishing Carl hadn't had too. "No one should have to go through that."
Carl looked down briefly, "How long will you be gone?" he asked as he looked back up.
Rick shook his head not sure of that answer. "Look if something happens while we're gone..."
"We'll be all right," Carl reassured his dad.
"If anything happens, you get everyone locked in the cells, keep them all safe," Rick spoke as he bent down some so he was at Carl's level.
He knew Glenn and Axel would be here as well but to be honest Rick knew if it came to it, his son could probably handle a bad situation better.
"I will," Carl nodded as he locked eyes with his dad.
"I know," Rick spoke trying to tell Carl he knew. "I know you will. Take care of your sister, all right?"
"Daryl's been calling her Ass-Kicker," Carl revealed as he gave his dad a tiny smile.
Rick smiled as well as he repeated the name curiously, "Ass-Kicker? Has he, now?"
Carl just nodded before speaking again, "I've been thinking, what should we really call her?"
"What do you think?" Rick asked his son wondering if he had a name in mind because the look on his face said he did.
"Remember my third grade teacher, Mrs. Mueller?" Carl asked as he raised an eyebrow.
"Of course. Her first name was Judith," Rick spoke remembering that much.
"Do you think that's a good name?" Carl asked another question knowing he kind of liked that for his sister.
Rick nodded his head, "I think that's...that's a fine name," he smiled. "Judith it is." ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Daryl who had went inside the prison to get the last of the stuff they would need, slung his crossbow over his shoulder as he walked out the door and to the end of the gate that lead inside.
Seeing Avery at the open door holding the baby he stopped in front of her briefly, "Stay safe," he told her knowing he didn't want anything to happen to her while he was gone.
Avery turned her head at Daryl's words and she gave him a smile, "Ditto," she muttered before leaning in to kiss his cheek before he walked off and down to what looked to be a cramped car.
"Bring them back," Hershel told Rick as Rick got in the car.
Rick gave Hershel a nod before getting in the driver's side of the car and starting up, driving off with the intent to bring his people home.