~DEAD but ALIVE~

3

-(Y/n)s pov-
I was wondering around the camp with Bixby and seen Dale and T-dog. They were over by the well. Dale slapped the ladel out of T-dogs hand. 'The heck?'

Soon we had a group of people walking up to the well. Everyone looked down it and seen a big walker just swimming at the bottom.

"Looks like we've got us a swimmer." Dale says while shining his flashlight. "Who long do you think it's been down there?" Glenn asks the group. "Long enough to grow gills." Andrea pipes up. "We can't leave it in there, God knows what it's doing to the water." I say looking at everyone. "We got to get it out." Shane states. "Easy. Put a bullet in it's head." T-dog says without hesitating. "I'll get a rope." He continues. "Whoa whoa, guys. No." Maggie says. "Why not? It's a good plan." Glenn questioned. "It's a stupid plan. If that thing hasn't contaminated the water yet, blowing its brains out will finish the job." Andrea answers him. "She's right. Can't risk it." Shane says. "So it has to come out alive?" T-dog asks. "So to speak." Shane replies. I give him a confused look. "How do we do that?" Glenn asks looking up at the group with a questioning look.

-with rick- no one's pov-

"The interstate where you broke down is here. There's your creek. My farm is here." Hershel says. He looks up and points out to the land. "We're looking out that way, south- southeast." He says staying up. "We missed this branch of the creek entirely. If she went that direction, she'd be miles from where we looked." Rick says looking at the map. Hershel is standing up looking into the landscape. "Rick take a moment. Come look." He says. Rick followed his command and goes up to next to him. "That's something, isn't it? It's good to pause for an occasional reminder." Hershal says. "Of what?" Rick asks. "Whatever comes to mind. For me it's often God. No thoughts on that?" Hershel said looking at Rick. "Last time I asked God for a favor and stopped to admire a view my son got shot. I try not to mix it up with the almighty anymore." Rick said looking into Hershels eyes before looking at the land once again. "Best we stay out of each other's way." He continued. "Lori told me your story-- how you were shot, the coma. Yet you came out of it somehow. You did not feel God's hand in yours?" Hershel asks. Rick laughs. "At that moment? No, I did not." Rick replied. "In all the chaos you found your wife and boy. Then he was shot and survived. That tells you nothing?" Hershel says looking at him. "Tells me God's got a strange sense of humor." Rick says as he starts to walk away. Hershel still standing there.

-back with the group-

A ham was tied onto a rope as it was railed down into the well. The walker paid no mind to it. "He's not going for it." Dale states. "Maybe cause a canned ham don't kick and scream when you try and eat it." T-dog says. "Great." (Y/n) huffs out. "He's right. There's a reason the dead didn't come back to life and start raiding our cupboards." Lori says. "We need live bait." Andrea said and looks straight at Glenn.

"Have I mentioned that I really like your new haircut? You have a nice shaped head." Glenn says. He looked nervous as he was tied onto the rope. "Don't worry about it, bud. We're gonna get you out of here in one piece." Shane said. "Living piece. That living part is important." Glenn states. Shane walks over to the pipe. "Nice and slow please." Glenn begged. "We got you." (Y/n) says looking at him worried. They all grabbed onto the rope as Maggie watched it all. "Oh, you people are crazy." She says. "You want to get it out of your well or not?" Shane shoots. "Give us an eye there, maggie." Dale says. She walks up to the well. Glenn is then lowered into the well. "Doing okay?" Maggie questioned the boy. "Yup, doing great. Living the dream." He said. The last part more to himself than anyone. A few moments kater the rope started to pull the pipe and everyone panicked to get Glenn out of the well. "Oh my God! Oh my god!" (Y/n) exclaims as she joined everyone in pulling the rope. Glenn was being lifted up as everyone was yelling. He jumped out of the well panting. "Back to the drawing board." Dale says. "Says you." Glenn says with a smirk on his face as he stands up and hand the man the rope. Dale looks at him confused for a moment. Then suddenly pulling the rope a small bit to get a look. "Thank fuck." (Y/n) mumbled.

"Come on, guys, pull." T-dog shouts. "Come on, y'all." Shane joins. "Almost there. Come on, pull, guys." T-dog says. Everyone was pulling hard on the rope. "Come on, y'all. Together." Shane says as he grips the rope harder. Seconds later the walker is seen coming in from the well. "It's stuck!" (Y/n) tells everyone. Everyone pulls harder. Then the walker cuts in half. The top on the ground and the lower body falls back into the well. Everyone has a look of exhaustion and disappointment. "We could seal off this well." Dale says. "Yeah, might be a good idea." Shane said. "So what do we do about--" Andrea was interrupted by T-dog slamming down on the walkers head. Maggie looks away in disgust as everyone watches and walks away. Glenn watching her. "Good thing we didn't do anything stupid like shoot it." T-dog says. Everyone walked off to do their thing.

-few hours later-

Rick and Hershel stopped by the porch as Rick turned to loom back at the group. They were doing their own things. "You need to reconsider." Rick says. "I beg your pardon?" Hershel questions. "Asking us to leave. You need to reconsider.. If you saw how it was out there you wouldn't ask. You're a man of belief. If you believe anything, believe that." Rick says turning towards Hershel. Who shakes his head before speaking, "You're putting me on the spot." "Well, I mean to. Those people look to me for answers. I wish they didn't, but they do. But I'm not asking for them or myself. I'm asking for my boy. After the price your friend Otis paid, the least you can do is give it some thought." Rick said. "You're a plainspoken man." Hershel said. "I'm a father. He's the one thing I don't want to fail. I feel like I do everday." Rick said whole sitting down.

"I lied to him this morning. It wasn't a big lie, but it was enough." Rick says. "My father didn't bother with comforting lies. He used his fist. He was a loveless, violent drunk and was no good to anybody. He drove me from home, when I was 15. Didn't lay eyes on this place again for many years. I was not at his deathbed, Rick. I would not grant him that and to this day do not regret it. Some men do not earn the love of their sons." Hershel spoke sitting down next to Rick. "I don't see you having that problem." Hershel said. "Will you consider my request?" Rick asks. "There are aspects to this, things that I can't and won't discuss. But if you and your people respect my rules, no promises, but I will consider it. You have my word." Hershel said. They both stood up. "You have mine." Rick said reaching his hand out to shake Hershels.

Rick walked into the bedroom where Lori was with a sleeping Carl. "Hey." Rick said. Going to the side of the bed. "I'll sit with him." He said. "He was awake earlier. When you were gone. He asked for you." Lori said kissing Carl's head before leaving.

Glenn and Maggie rode up to the farm on their horses. (Y/n) noticed a look on Glenn's face as Maggie walked to her father. And soon Lori rushed to the boy. He handed her a white bag before walking away. (Y/n) walked up to Lori. "What's wrong with him?" She asked. Lori's head turned toward the (h/c) female. "I don't know." She said looking concerned.

(Y/n) walked away to her shared tent and laid down. Soon it was nighttime and she decided to call it a night.

Word count: 1454