FORTY. bargaining chip

"THE field is filled with stalkers." Adeline announces, walking into the cell block and over to where the majority of the group stood. "We didn't see any snipers but Maggie said she'll stay on watch." She informed, sliding the strap of her rifle off of her shoulder and leaning it against the concrete stairs leading up to the second floor.

Rick nodded at his sisters words as Daryl came down the stairs. "I'll get up in the guard tower, take out half them walkers and give these guys a chance to fix the fence." The red neck offered, standing next to the widow.

Michonne shifted on her feet from her spot, "Or we can use some of the cars to put the bus in place." She spoke up, her plan sounding good to the ears of Adeline.

"That's smart." The brunette complimented, leaning against the railing of the concrete stairs.

"We can't access the field without burning through our bullets." Hershel added while situating his weight on the crutches as he stood up from the steps and walked over.

"So we're trapped in here. There's barely any food or ammo." Glenn reminded once again, stepping in the circle to stand between Adeline and Rick.

Daryl looked over to him, "Been here before. We'll be alright." He assured while chewing on the skin around his thumb before crossing his arms over his chest.

"That's when it was just us." Glenn was quick to retort, "Before there was a snake in the nest." He added, subtly which caused the redneck to stare at him with a glare.

"Man, we gonna go through this again?" Daryl spoke, taking a step towards Glenn - "Look, Merle's staying here. He's with us now. Get used to it." He pressed.

Rick started to intersect, "Hey."

"All y'all." Daryl cut him off, excluding Adeline from his serpents tongue before taking off up the stairs.

The widow sighed, turning to face Glenn. "Listen, I know that Merle put you through hell but he's here now. It's Daryl's brother, so have a little faith in the Dixon that we actually do trust." She pleaded, not being able to take another argument within their close knit group.

"It doesn't sit right with me." Glenn spoke, turning his head to look at their leader. "Seriously, Rick. I don't think Merle living here is really gonna fly." He added.

"I can't kick him out-" Rick started, only for his voice to be cut off by the boy next to him.

"I wouldn't ask you to live with Shane after he tried to kill you!" Glenn yelled, his voice slamming into Adelines stomach as her eyes fell to the ground.

"Addy..." The now guilt filled boy started to speak, only for the woman to look up from her spot and meet his eyes.

The widow shook her head before running a hand through her tangled hair - "A plan needs to be made. So just... just get your shit together and stop throwing the dead into it." Adeline pleaded before making her way up the stairs.

Her footsteps echoed around the prison, avoiding all of the careful glances sent her way as she pulled back the sheet in front of her cell and slipped inside. Taking in a deep breath, she stood in front of the metal desk in her room before gripping the edges with her calloused hands.

Shifting on her feet, Adeline squeezed her eyes shut and calmed down the harsh beating of her heart. It seemed like every single mention of him ripped the healing scab off of the wound and it was clear to her that all she wanted was for the pain to be over and done with.

Her caramel eyes fell down to the rings on her finger. Two of them, one from when Shane proposed and the other from the wedding. Adeline let go of her tight grip on the desk before sitting down on the chair by the table and pressed her elbows against her knees. The widow twisted the rings around on her finger, contemplating her choices.

Not even sparing another second, she pulled the two rings off of her finger and held them in her grasp. Adeline eyed the ring lines around her finger, tracing the skin that had grew to be incredibly soft over the years. Their was a tan line from the two thick rings, a small smile curling around her lips at the odd feeling of them being gone.

It felt like a weight of a thousand pounds had been taken off of her shoulders. Adelines eyes softened, sitting up and turning around in the chair to open the desk drawer. The metal screeched as she fiddled with the rings one more time before carefully placing them inside the desk.

Before shutting the drawer, the widow raised her head and her attentive eyes landed upon the wedding picture that sat propped up against the wall. With a long minute of reluctance, Adeline grabbed the picture and ran a hand over the image before her.

Taking in every last detail, she closed her eyes and allowed a deep sigh to leave her chapped lips. But before she could sit the picture in the drawer alongside her rings, the sound of rushed footsteps and her sheet being pulled open led to her turning around in her chair.

Carl eyed his aunt, "You need to go outside."

"Why?" Adeline questioned, quickly grabbing the rings from the drawer and sliding them back onto her finger.

"Andrea's here."

━━━ ｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆

IT wasn't but a matter of seconds when Adeline found herself rushing out of the prison alongside Beth, one of the groups sniper rifles held tightly in her grasp. Carl had stayed inside with Hershel to look after Judith, just in case Andrea had decided to bring some of her Woodbury friends along with her in her journey.

The sun immediately brushed against the widows pale skin, eyes squinting as she jogged down the stairs behind Daryl Dixon. Beth decided to stay close to her, the two girls sticking side by side as they took shelter behind the bleachers and positioned their guns against the metal.

And sure enough, one Adeline took a peek into the snipers scope - she spotted the blonde hair of Andrea walking among the walkers. She used a diversion tactic, a stalker hooked around a stick that she held out in front of her. The only difference it had from the other walkers were that it's arms and jaw were gone, leaving it no way to bite or infect anyone.

"Clear!" Merle shouted, scouting ahead for any snipers in the tree line, his own gun held tightly in his grasp.

Rick nodded in confirmation before rushing over to the gate that Andrea had finally neared, "Are you alone?" He shouted, drawing the attention of the walkers.

"Open the gate!" The blonde yelled.

"Are you alone?" The leader repeated, pressing his back against the concrete surface of the guard tower.

"Rick!" Andrea pleaded, growing nervous of the walkers that started to surround her.

With a reluctant step, Rick tossed the set of keys to Daryl who quickly unlocked the chain around the gate before sliding it open and allowing the panicked blonde to slip through. Adeline watched carefully as her brother harshly shoved Andrea against the fence and started patting her down for any weapons.

Refusing to let her guard down; the brunette stepped out from behind the bleachers and pointed her rifle towards the concrete of the courtyard. Making her way over, she stood by Merle and hovered her hand above the hilt of her machete and kept her eyes on her brother.

A walker slammed against the fence Andrea was pressed against, which led to a cracked scream leaving the blondes mouth as Rick quickly pulled her back and shoved her to the ground - "Get down." He ordered.

"He asked if you were alone." Adeline spoke up, curling her hand around the red handle of her machete. There was a certain hatred that bubbled in her stomach, and knowing that Andrea lived at Woodbury cuddled right into the Governors side only made matters ten times worse.

"I am." Andrea panted, raising her eyes to meet the widows as Rick harshly pulled her bag off of her.

The sound of her voice caused Adeline to take a step back, remembering that the last time she had talked to the blonde Shane was still alive. And now he's gone.

"Sure." The widow mumbled, pulling her stare away from the woman and turning around to make her way into the cell block while a shaky breath left her chapped lips.

The group followed her back into the cell block while Rick pulled Andrea from the ground, directing the blonde into the prison behind the group. Adeline hastily rushed down the stairs that led into common room outside of their cell block, her rifle clamoring against one of the metal tables as she tiredly sat atop the surface.

Carol made her way down from the catwalk that peered into the room, her eyes landing upon Andrea who had saved her life back at the farm. Adeline watched as the two shared a embrace, her head turning to the ground as Daryl slid onto the table next to her.

"After you saved me, we thought you were dead." Carol breathed, her arms wrapped around the blondes figure as the rest of the group filed into the room.

Andreas eyes landed upon Hershel who entered from the cell block, quietly whispering for Beth to watch Judith as the teen quickly nodded and rushed out of the room. The blonde widened her eyes, "Hershel... oh my god."

"I can't believe this." Andrea spoke, pulling away from Carol as she took a look around the room. When her eyes sat on Adeline, she became confused at the absence of the figure that was always beside her. "Where's Shane?" She questioned, a tense silence wavering over the group.

Rick dug his knife into Shanes stomach, a loud gunshot ringing throughout the midnight air that blended with a broken scream that left Adeline's lips, tears calling their home permanent on her face as her body rushed over to the fallen one of her husbands.

The widow looked up from her spot, tucking her brown hair behind her ears. Searching for words, Adeline felt her eyes began to sting as she quickly turned her head back to the ground. Pressing her elbows against her knees, her hands snaked around the back of her neck as she squeezed her skin assuringly - it was the first time someone asked.

Andrea sighed deeply, "And Lori?" She continued, causing the tension between the group to only grow heavier by the second due to her questions.

Tightening her grip on the knife, Adeline allowed a shaky breath to leave her chapped lips - "I'm sorry." Her voice came out as a whisper, the sharp blade of the knife tearing into the scarred over cut from the mothers previous C section. Crimson splattered against her hands as an ear piercing scream that came from Lori bounced off of the walls, the voice of Carl begging for his aunt to stop hurting his mother ringing in her ears.

"She had a girl. Lori didn't survive." Hershel informed the blonde, shifting on his crutches. His voice pulled Adeline out of the distant memory, a shaky breath leaving her lips as she kept her head to the ground.

The feeling of a calloused hand was felt on the middle of her back, the widow hastily wiping away at the wetness under her eyes as she turned her attention to Daryl who assuringly rubbed his hand against her spine. He didn't look at her, he kept his eyes on the situation at hand and offered her the exact type of comfort she needed; silent.

Lifting her head, Adeline felt her heartbeat calm as Daryl trailed over her spine with his thumb. The shirt she wore scrunched up slightly, cold air gushing up her back and causing chill bumps to cascade down her skin. She rested her chin against her hand while looking over at Andrea.

"Neither did T-Dog." Carol spoke, clearing her throat.

For a split second, Adeline had the urge to turn around and find T-Dog to talk to - knowing he was always good at making the tense silence go away. That thought led her to reminder of his recent death, a shaky breath leaving her lips as she turned her head to the concrete of the courtyard in attempts to calm herself. Adeline didn't even notice the tears welling in her eyes until one slid down her cheek, falling onto the pavement.

Andrea looked around. "I'm so sorry." She breathed, her eyes landing upon Carl who stood behind Hershel- "Carl..." She started, only for the boy to look down. The blonde turned to the Grimes siblings, her eyes softening. "You guys, I..."

"Why did you come here?" Adeline broke her sympathetic tone with her sharp one, feeling Daryl's hand disappear from her back as she slid off of the table and stood next to her brother. "Did your boyfriend send you?"

"I'm not an enemy, Addy." Andrea assured, stepping closer to the woman who only took a step back.

"We has that field and courtyard." Rick started, "Until your Governor tore down the fence with a truck and shot us up." He informed, looking at the blonde.

Andrea shook her head, "He said you fired first."

"He killed an inmate who survived in here. He was a good man." Adeline spoke, crossing her arms over her chest as she eyed the woman before her.

The feeling of being at peace flourished through the courtyard, making Adeline wish that everyone that didn't make it was here to share the moment. It wasn't until Axel passed by the table that she remembered the guard tower vacant of a watcher, worry settling in her veins as she whistled for his attention. "Hey, Axel."

Hearing his name, he stopped in his tracks and walked over to the widow with a smile on his lips. "What can I do for you, pretty lady?" Axel questioned, causing a chuckle to topple from the woman's lips.

"Do you mind finding Carol for me? It's her turn to take watch." Adeline requested, "I meant to do it but I got caught up with cleaning guns." She informed, her head nudging towards Carl who nodded at the former prisoner.

Axel nodded reassuringly at her request - "Don't mind if I do. I think I've started to like that woman an awful lot - you follow me?" He inquired, a suggestive look on his face. "I follow you." Adeline responded, stifling a laugh as he winked before walking away.

Daryl nodded at the widows words, "He was one of us." He confirmed as Andrea placed a hand over her mouth.

"I didn't know anything about that." She informed, "As soon as I found out, I came." Andrea added before casting another glance around the room - "I didn't even know you were in Woodbury until after the shoot-out."

"That was days ago." Glenn spoke up, bruises still freshly marked in his skin from the beating he had received.

Andrea sighed. "I told you, I came as soon as I could." She reminded, the sound of Michonne leaning against the cell Merle slept in causing her to turn around. "What have you told them?" She questioned.

"Nothing." Michonne spoke, a smug smile on her face.

"I don't get it." Andrea started, "I left Atlanta with you people and now I'm the odd man out?" She questioned.

A scoff left Adelines lips as she shifted on her feet, "We let you come into our home... and you question us?" The widow started, "You're the one sleeping with the enemy here, Andrea. Do you even know what that man did to-"

Everything cracked. All of the grief, the pain, everything she hid and held in her mind. All of it came crashing into her body like an unwelcome wave, the unwanted fingers between her thighs as a choked scream left her lips, "Go away!" Adeline cried out as adrenaline pushed through her veins.

The crack in her voice caused her to step back, her body feeling foreign as she looked at the woman with hate filled eyes - "You have no right to come here and pretend like we owe you something." Adeline spoke, clearing her throat of any emotions.

Andrea ran a hand over her face, "Look... I cannot excuse or explain what Philip has done." She started, causing the widow to scoff underneath her breath before sitting back down next to Daryl with an exhausted expression. "But I am trying to bring us together." The blonde added.

"We have to work this out."

"There's nothing to work out." Rick was quick to speak up, his hands perched against his hips. "We're gonna kill him. I don't know how or when, but we will."

"We can settle this." Andrea took a step forward, "There is room at Woodbury for all of you."

A raspy chuckle left Merle's mouth from where he stood, "You know better than that." He spoke to the woman.

"What makes you think this man wants to negotiate? Did he say that?" Hershel questioned, looking to Andrea.

"No." The blonde reluctantly answered.

"Then why did you come here?" Rick inquired.

Andrea turned to him, "Because he's gearing up for war. The people are terrified. They see you as killers. They're training to attack." She informed the group.

"I'll tell you what." Daryl spoke up from his spot next to Adeline. "Next time you see Phillip, you tell him I'm gonna carve off his other ear." He added, causing the widow beside of him to gratefully look his way.

"We've taken too much shit for too long." Glenn announced, shifting on his feet. "He wants a war? He's got one." He assured the blonde.

Andrea looked over to the leader, "Rick. If you don't sit down and try to work this out, I don't know what's gonna happen. He has a whole town. Look at you. You guys have lost so much already." She spoke, turning around.

"You have no idea what we've lost." Adeline insisted, slicing her sharp glare into the woman's figure.

"I don't know what Phillip did to you, but-"

"You want to make this right?" Rick cut Andrea off, stepping in front of his sisters figure - "Get us inside."

Andrea quickly shook her head in denial, "No."

"Then we got nothing to talk about." The leader spoke, hastily pushing past the woman and into the cell block.

"There are innocent people!" Andrea called out after him, only for Rick to blatantly ignore her as the gate slammed shut behind him.

Adeline stood from her spot, stepping over to the blonde and eyeing her. The widow stood a few inches taller than her, a dark look looming in her eyes as she crossed her arms over her chest - "We're innocent people." She spoke, turning on her feet and back into the cell block.

----END OF CHAPTER.