C H A P T E R  2 4

❛ tough calls ❜

QUINN

    SHE WATCHED FROM A DISTANCE AS Rick, Daryl, Glenn, Maggie and her brother were discussing what to do with Merle. She was leaning against the car, Michonne standing next to her. Multiple times she could hear her own name but she could never make out what they were saying.

Merle was leaning against a tree in the forest behind them, being quiet for once. She hadn't so much as looked at him since he'd woken up again, too tired from his ever childish behaviour. It seemed like he was determined to make the whole world hate him and he was doing a pretty good job of it too.

Sighing she pushed the man away from her thoughts, her eyes drifting back to Milo and the others. Whatever they decided, Quinn knew her brother was coming with her but part of her couldn't help but wish Rick would take them back to the prison. She still needed rest from her almost death experience and Michonne could use a break as well. If they wanted them to leave after a few days, she was fine with that but for now all she truly wanted was a safe place to get some sleep.

She was startled out of her thoughts when Glenn called out Daryl's name. Frowning she watched Daryl walking away from the group, followed by a distraught looking Rick.

'There's gotta be another way,' Rick said while jumping in front of Daryl to prevent him from walking away.

Daryl simply stared at Rick, his expression unreadable. 'Don't ask me to leave 'em,' he finally said, 'I already did that once.' And without another word he started walking towards the car, opening the trunk to take out a backpack.

'We started something last night. You do realise that?'

'Well, no him no me, that's all I can say,' Daryl replied.

Quinn frowned while watching the whole scene, only now realising that Daryl was planning on leaving with his brother because the group didn't want Merle around.

'Take care of yourself,' Daryl said when Rick seemed unable to find any more words. 'Take care of little asskicker, Carl, he's one tough kid.'

Rick shook his head all while Daryl was talking, seeming unable to grasp the idea of his friend leaving.

Daryl threw the backpack over his shoulder, his eyes finding hers as she watched him pack his stuff, as if he'd sensed she was watching him. 'Thank you for not killing my brother,' he said, echoing her earlier words, surprising her once again.

She offered him a small smile, feeling strangely sad by his choice to leave. Apparently almost dying together created somewhat of a bond. 'Didn't mean to,' she echoed his earlier response.

A little spark of amusement danced in his blue eyes, but it died so quickly she wondered if she hadn't imagined it. Then he turned around and disappeared into the forest, heading towards Merle, who greeted him with a mocking smile. Quinn felt her stomach turning at the sight. It wasn't right.

'Daryl!' Rick called out, his voice breaking but Daryl didn't do as much as glance over his shoulder as he and his brother walked away.

The silence was heavy as they loaded their weapons into the car. Quinn kept her eyes focused on the ground, not willing to believe what just happened. Glenn, Maggie and Rick were clearly in pain by the sudden absence of Daryl and suddenly she wished she'd told them about Merle back at the prison so this situation could have been avoided.

Rick walked up to her and Michonne, his eyes hardened and anger radiating from him, though Quinn knew the anger wasn't directed at them. 'We'll patch you up, and then you're gone!'

The ride back home was uncomfortable with so many people in one car. The silence, however, was much worse. It was pressing on her heart even though she barely knew these people. She'd chosen a very unfortunate time to start being empathetic to others' troubles.

Suddenly Rick pulled over, gesturing for them to step out of the car. They did so and Quinn immediately saw what had made the man stop. A tree had fallen down the road, a few cars standing around it.

Rick nodded at Glenn. 'Get the brakes,' he ordered.

Glenn walked over to the car and opened the door. A walker that had been locked inside jumped at him, but Glenn saw him coming and managed to grab it by the shoulders and throw it on the ground. He kicked its head with an aggression that could only have been the result of being captured and everything that had followed since.

Rick walked up to Glenn, staring at him with an unspoken question lingering on his face.

'You didn't kill him,' Glenn said.

'That's not why we went back,' Rick replied.

'No, you went back for Daryl and now he's gone again and the Governor's still alive.'

'Daryl was the priority.' Rick tried to calm his friend down and in that moment Quinn realised that Daryl was the reason she was still alive. If he hadn't been captured as well, his friends wouldn't have come back and she would've been executed in that arena. Milo could have tried all he wanted but they wouldn't have risked it. And so maybe Milo might've been killed as well...It was strange how a complete stranger could change your life.

'I should've gone with you,' Glenn mumbled.

'You were in no condition,' Rick tried to reason.

'But my girlfriend was?'

'Glenn, this isn't about us,' Maggie said

'I should've been there,' Glenn repeated.

'Hey you didn't come back with us because you could barely walk!' Rick was yelling now, desperately trying to talk some sense into his friend.

Next to her Milo shuffled uneasy on his feet and Quinn knew how he felt. Like a stranger listening in to a conversation that wasn't meant for your ears.

'What about her?' Glenn suddenly screamed, pointing at Maggie. 'Do you know what he did?'

'Leave it alone!' Maggie screamed back at Glenn.

'Do you know?' Glenn said to Rick and Quinn felt herself growing terrified and curious at the same time. She had her suspicions about what happened. Maggie having lost her shirt was indication enough. She could only hope the truth was less horrific than whatever her mind had conjured.

'After all that effort,' Glenn spoke, his voice calming down slowly but clearly still frustrated. 'All the risk we took, Daryl just takes off with Merle?'

'Well, he had his reasons,' Rick said but he didn't look like he believed his own words.

'You keep telling yourself that, Rick,' Glenn spat at him. 'Doesn't change the fact that we're till our necks up in shit!'

'Do you want me to turn around and beg him to come back? Throw down a welcome mat for Merle? This is the hand we've been dealt.' The words left his mouth in a scream that echoed over the empty road and left an eerie silence. Glenn and Rick stared at each other, a glare of anger and hurt.

'Let's just get this out of here and get back,' Maggie broke the silence, gesturing to the cars. 'Get some rest, we can talk it out there.'

'You guys do all the talking you want,' Glenn mumbled. 'I'm done.'

If Quinn thought the ride so far had been uncomfortable, she was proven wrong. The last part of the ride back to the prison was the worst tense silence she'd ever experienced. Everyone refused to look at each other. It felt as though they were heading towards a funeral. And maybe, in some way, they were.

She couldn't imagine having to bring the news to the others that their friend had abandoned them. The situation reminded her so painfully of their departure with Andrea that her heart ached. When spotting her in that arena some part of her had hoped she'd change her mind right then and there. She'd hoped Andrea would have fought tooth and nail to get back with them, finally seeing the Governor, or Philip as he was apparently called, for the sociopath he really was. But she'd been proven wrong. And now she lost her all over again.

They reached the prison silenced and exhausted. Quinn helped Michonne get out of the car. She was so bruised and hurting that she didn't even bother to keep up appearances, leaning heavily on Quinn as they made their way into the cellblock.

She couldn't look at the expectant faces of the group and instead walked straight towards one of the cells. Out of the corner of her eyes she noticed Milo and Axel embracing each other, sharing their grief over their lost cellmate and friend. But her heart couldn't take much more and so she looked away.

She helped Michonne get on the lower bunkbed of the closest cell. But instead of lying down, Michonne looked up at Quinn, seeming suddenly wide awake.

'I had to do it, you know that right?'

It was the first time Quinn had ever heard her sound almost uncertain. It was such a strange sound coming from her normally self assured friend that she needed a second to form a reply. But finally she nodded. 'I know just-' she stopped herself and sighed, searching for the right words. 'Just tell me next time you plan to go solo.'

A small smile tugged at the corner of Michonne's lips, but it was gone almost as soon as it came. 'I will,' she promised.

Quinn nodded. 'Good, now get some sleep. I'll keep watch.'

For a moment she looked as though she wanted to protest, but even Michonne's stubbornness had its limits. And so she nodded, carefully laying down on the mattress. She closed her eyes, sleep taking her almost immediately.

While trying to be as silent as possible, Quinn climbed to the bed on top. She sat down with her legs crossed and took out her daggers to start working on cleaning them. It was a habit she'd developed whenever she got tired during her watch and needed some distraction to stay awake.

She knew she didn't exactly have to keep watch in here but also knew Michonne wouldn't have been able to sleep without her promising to do so. Just because Quinn trusted these people, didn't mean Michonne did and she honestly couldn't blame her for it. Her reason for trusting them was because Milo did but Michonne didn't know Milo, giving her absolutely no legs to stand on with that argument. And the reasoning of them being Andrea's old group didn't mean much anymore either, seeing as Andrea had placed her trust in the Governor.

The clicking sound of makeshift crutches against the cement floor reached her ears, making her look up from her, now shining, blade. Hershel was standing in the door opening of the cell, a warm smile on his face. He pointed his crutch at Michonne. 'May I?'

Her eyes scanned him, seeing nothing that could be used as a weapon on him and feeling immediately stupid aftwards. Didn't she just try to convince herself she trusted these people? Apparently Woodbury screwed more with her than she would've liked. She cleared her throat. 'Of course.'

If Hershel had noticed her hesitation, he didn't show it. His smile lost none of its warmth as he maneuvered his way into the cell. He sat down on a stool besides the bed, examining Michonne's sleeping form.

'She's out like a light. Must be days since she slept.' Hershel looked up at Quinn for confirmation. She could only nod, feeling her eyes becoming heavy as well.

'Maybe,' the old man suggested, a small smile appearing behind his beard, 'you should get some sleep as well.'

Quinn gave a firm shake of her head. 'She's been watching out for me since I met her, even though I was a complete stranger. I just wanna do the same now.'

'Well, you don't have to,' Hershel told her, 'not in here.'

'Don't I?' Quinn said, but her words weren't directed at the old man. She'd turned to look at Rick who was watching them while leaning against the door.

She wasn't afraid of the man, in fact, Milo's trust in him had rubbed off on her with everything she'd seen Rick do this past day. He was paranoid, but not crazy. He didn't have the same lingering darkness in his eyes that the Governor did. And even though he was definitely intimidating, she knew he only acted like that to keep his family safe. She couldn't deny envying the length these people would go to, to keep each other safe.

Andrea was right when she said the group was close.

She only wished he could place that same trust in her and Michonne.

Rick avoided her gaze, looking at Hershel instead. 'How long before she can travel?'

'I have to keep my eye on her,' Hershel said, slowly standing up and reaching for his crutches. 'She probably has a concussion.' He turned to look at Quinn. 'Give her a couple of days and she'll be just fine.'

Quinn nodded at the man, before laying down on her mattress, watching him make his way out of the cell. Once he was out, Rick closed the door, locking it. His eyes lingered on Quinn before turning around and walking away. She folded her hands under her head, trying to get comfortable when she noticed Milo making his way up to the cell.

'I'm sorry,' he said, 'Rick doesn't trust people easily.'

'I don't blame him. Not with what the world's become.'

Milo nodded. 'Yeah about that, how did you get away? What happened?'

'I stole dad's car to get out of the city.'

A teasing smile appeared on his face. 'Did you now?'

She sat up on the mattress, looking down on her brother. 'It was complete chaos,' she whispered. 'The army had handed out maps with safe zones marked on them and so I tried to find those but...' She took a deep breath. 'Most of 'em were overrun when I got there. It was-' She shook her head, as if trying to get rid of the memories. 'It was awful.'

'I'm sorry I wasn't there,' Milo mumbled.

She gave a firm shake of her head. 'Don't be. Don't ever be sorry for ending up in here.'

He offered her a small smile which she tried to return. It felt forced and she knew that was what it must've looked like. Milo, however, seemed to find it good enough and instead of asking her about it, he changed the subject 'You know, I've been thinking.' He frowned, as if not sure he should say whatever it was he had on his mind.

'What?' She whispered.

'Maybe the world ending wasn't that bad after all.'

She opened her mouth to respond but he held up his hand to stop her. 'Hear me out, you finally escaped a life you hated, I regained my freedom and we're surrounded by more friends than we ever have been before.'

'I'm not so sure about all those friends you're talking about,' she said, but even to her own ears it sounded forced. Because she agreed with him. In some kind of twisted way, life got better when the world ended.

He chuckled and the sound brought a smile to her lips.

Silence fell between them as they smiled at each other and finally it was Milo who broke the rare peaceful moment. 'Goodnight Quinn.'

She nodded at him. 'Night.'

She watched him walk away before making herself comfortable on the mattress. A shaky breath escaped her lips as she turned on her back, staring at the dark ceiling of the cell. Never in her entire life could she have imagined feeling safe in a prison. She knew she shouldn't get used to the feeling because Rick wouldn't be likely to change his mind. But with the war they just started she could only hope he would come to his senses and let them stay.

And maybe, just maybe, she could become part of something bigger. Something that had been nothing more than a dream to her most of her life. A family.

edited: ✔