They bury Dale by the other graves, under the willow. Sophia and Carl had picked some flowers and Carol helps them plant them on the overturned earth. Rick's Pack does a perimeter check, looking for the way the Walker had entered the farm, Glenn and T-Dog follow Daryl as he tracks its path, Andrea following them at a small distance. She needed something to distract her, so Daryl took her with them. They found a small herd of Walkers eating a cow and take them out, found the hole in the fence, and mark it on the map to fix as soon as they grab the materials.

"Join us?" Maggie looks at the Pack, "All of you; join us in the house? It's going to start getting cold soon and the Flock can fit, that way you have more than thin fabric and a small fire keeping you warm."

"14 members in one house?" Rick sucks in air between his teeth, "Gonna be a tight fit."

"Creek drying up, swamp hardening," Hershel says, "not to mention the 50 or so cattle we have and the rest of our livestock…"

"It's like ringing' the dinner bell to an all you can eat buffet." Daryl huffs.

"Exactly. We should have moved you in a while ago, and for that I apologize." The Elder says.

"Alright, we move the cars closer, each facing the road in case we need a quick getaway. We'll build a lookout post on the windmill and in the barn, give us a better view of both sides of the property. T-Dog, you take the perimeter around the house. Keep track of everyone coming and going." Rick starts to direct everyone.

"What about standing guard?" T cuts his eyes to Shane, who they had let out after what happened to Dale. The Gamma may not be part of their Flock anymore, but while he was on the property, he was their responsibility. He'd be staying in the RV, away from everyone else. They would also need to guard Randel, since the Beta was still with them.

"I'll need you and Daryl on double duty." Rick nods to the Omega. Shane was watching everyone move around him in disbelief.

"I'll stock the basement with food and water," Hershel gathers the crates and assorted containers the Pack had been using, heaving them up into his arms, "enough that we can all survive inside for a few days if need be."

"What about patrols?" Andrea asks.

"Let's get the house and camp locked down first. Take it step by step, then we'll worry about that." When the Beta, and Gamma, roll their eyes, Rick rumbles a warning, "The faster this get done, the faster we can move on to the next thing. After this is done, Glenn will assign shifts while Daryl and I take Randel offsite and cut him loose."

"We're back to that now?" Shane laughs, pissed.

"It was a good plan, just poorly executed."

"Ain't that a slight understatement."

"You don't like the plan, I get that. But that IS the plan. Swallow it, move on." Rick growls.

"Randel and Dale's death are two separate things; you know that right?" At Rick's glare, Shane huffs, "You want to take Daryl as your wingman, be my guest."

"Thank you." Rick snarls, "But I don't need YOUR permission, Shane."

….

Rick sends Shane to build the lookout post up on the windmill by himself, to give him busy work so he wasn't disturbing the rest of the Pack. Carol had Carl and Sophia again, this time inside cleaning up the rooms and making space for the Flock to move in, more work that needed to be done and would benefit everyone, while at the same time kept the little ones busy and letting them feel like they were helping without everyone being on guard watching them. Daryl was fixing up the holes in Randel's shack; this way Carl couldn't get back inside and the Beta couldn't get out. Randel seemed to be quiet, but Daryl could see him through the cracks yanking at the hand cuffs. T-Dog and Glenn were helping move things into the house from the cars, while Maggie tried to convince the Asian Alpha she was Courting to her room. Glenn refused, saying they could do as they please but he wanted a boundary they would honor and pass, as old fashion as it was. Glenn's parents had been Traditional and New-School, so he was raised believing there was steps to courtship he would have to earn the rights to; including sleeping in the same room as his Mate-to-be. Maggie was understanding, if not a bit frustrated, but she would respect Glenn's decision and left the offer open.

Daryl was on his way to meet Rick to discuss how they were going to deal with Randel when he saw Lori out by the windmill with Shane. He watches her touch the Gamma's face, almost lovingly, if Lori could love. Then she touched her stomach, then wiped her eyes. When Shane went to comfort her she shakes her head and walks away, one arm wrapped around her stomach, the other hand hiding her mouth. As she gets closer Daryl watches the hand lower, showing a victorious grin. With one last wipe of her eyes, Lori seems to transform from a weak, crying and scared Beta, to a confident and fearless one. And when she sees Daryl watching her, she glares at him and storms passed him to go inside. Daryl hears her mumble something under her breath, something that sends his guard up and a rumble from his chest out into the open.

'Traditional Beta has a thing against Omegas.' Daryl thinks with a huff, adjusting the crossbow on his shoulder, 'Figures.'

If the Beta didn't act on her words, and by default put Sophia, Beth, and Carol in danger, Daryl would leave the hateful bitch to her lonesome. He meets up with Rick on the porch, the Prime was already looking at the maps, planning their route. Daryl walks around him and sets the bow down, patting Rick on the shoulder before leaning over it, "What we got?"

Rick scents the hunter's hand before pointing out their path, "We'll take him out here, Senoia- an hour there, an hour back, give or take. We might lose the light, but we'll be halfway home by then."

Daryl stands up and moves away from Rick, placing both hands on the map to get a better look at the red lines Rick had used to show which roads they'd take. "Then this little pain in the ass will be a distant memory. If we're lucky, he won't find his way back around here; head in another direction. Good riddance."

"Carol and the pups are putting together some food for him, enough to last him a few days, if he rations them right." Daryl hops up onto the porch banister, as they watch Shane drive back to gather more wood. Rick sighs, "That thing you did last night- for me and Dale. I wanted to thank you and apologize."

Daryl looks at Rick like he had spoken in another language, "What for?"

"I'm your Alpha, all of you. I should have been able to do it and I couldn't, I'm sorry."

"Don't be." Rick looks at the Omega, "You named me the Pack Theta. It's because I cared even if I hate making myself vulnerable by showing just how much. Dale was suffering, and you were in pain just from pointing the gun at him. Everyone was crying, and I needed to stop it. I took the gun from you because it would make it easier for all of us; Dale's death was quick instead of painful, you didn't have to shoot a member of the Flock, the others could leave Dale's body to grieve once it was done, and I could ease everyone's hurt, just a little."

It was the most Rick had heard the hunter speak before, and it was amazing.

"Besides," Daryl shrugs, "just cause you're our Prime doesn't mean you have to do all the heavy lifting. That's what Packmates are for."

"Still. I also wanted to apologize for what happened after too. I know that, as the Theta, your bonds with the Pack are different than mine, and with you ending Dale's suffering…. Sorry. For scenting you like I did while you were working out your grief. I didn't ask beforehand if it was ok and I apologize for that as well. Not for scenting you as Pack but the manner I did it in." Rick clarifies.

"I'm the one who hugged you, Rick, and I scented you first as well. No apology needed…. And you're welcome for…. ya know." Daryl had come a long way from throwing squirrels at him in the Quarry. Which reminded Rick of something.

"Those two are up to something." Daryl rumbles watching Lori bring out a water bottle and give it to Shane.

"What do you mean?"

"Did ya know your Ex was sexist? At least towards Omegas."

Rick huffs out a laugh and growls as he shakes his head, "I'd forgotten that."

"How do you forget that?" Daryl growls.

"Because the last time Lori said anything sexist while in the same building as me, I was almost arrested for spousal abuse and assault. Lori dropped the charges when I agreed we would get married instead of Bonded and we'd move here to be closer to her family. I had to lose contact with all Alpha and Omega family members and friends and Carl would go to a Traditional school and we'd live in a Traditional neighborhood. I also had to wear Dampeners at all times. She agreed to never say anything like that again." Rick sighs and leans against the banister next to Daryl.

"What'd she do? And say?" Daryl exclaimed quietly, throwing a look at the Beta from over his shoulder.

"It was Christmas, a year before Carl began Emanating, so maybe two. Jeff- Jeff brought over his fiancé." Rick swallows loudly with a whimper, "She was this sweet girl in his literacy class, and she was an Omega."

"Jeff?" Daryl asks.

"Jeffrey; my kid brother. He was an Alpha too, but he always acted like a Beta. Said the status wasn't his style. I met Lori through him; they were best friends in high school. I haven't talked to him in years. Last I heard, two weeks before my coma, they were heading to Barcelona for their honeymoon." Rick laughs out his sob, "The last time I saw him was that Christmas and now the dead are walking and he's on the other side of the world. I'm never going to see him again."

The Omega croons softly at the distressed Alpha, which prompts Rick to respond with a purr as he wipes his eyes, "Claudia, his mate, she came over for Christmas that year and Lori went off. Most of the time, the Omegas of my family were like Carol; soft spoken and what not. Claudia was like you; strong willed and ready to break bone if someone looked at her funny. I think that was the only time I ever saw her cry, when Lori went off about how Omegas were 'supposed to act' and she kept telling her that Jeff was going to leave her unless she acted as she was 'bred to'."

Daryl snarled along with Rick at the words, glaring at the Beta as she went over to the cars to grab something, "Claudia was already scared that Jeff would leave her because of me; we were really close, and she was scared I wouldn't approve. Hearing that from Lori, who was my Mate and wife at the time…."

"Would have sent her into a panic." Daryl nods, "Didn't know you had a little brother."

"Like I said, haven't seen or heard from him in ten years." Rick shrugged, looking at his feet, "Speaking of…. You haven't said anything about Merle."

Daryl tenses up, "Ain't got nothin' to say about 'im."

"Ok." Rick rolls the maps up, tight, "But I want you to know, if you ever want to, I'll listen. I scented him on that roof; he's Pack as far as I'm concerned. I still feel him sometimes, so he's alive at least. I'm always willing to listen."

The Alpha taps the map against the railing, "So, you good with all this?"

"I don't see us trading haymakers by the side of the road. Nobody'd win that fight." Rick chuckles and leaves Daryl on the porch, knowing the last thing the Omega would want would be a scenting from the Alpha that had brought up the brother he left for dead. The Theta watches Rick leave pleased he was giving Daryl the space he wanted but conflicted as to whether he would have wanted the man's hand at his neck or not.

…

Randel was gone. Daryl and Rick were waiting by the car when T-Dog came by and told them he had found the shack empty, bloody handcuffs on the ground and the smell of Pack all over the place. Shane. Rick went after the Gamma while Daryl herded everyone but T-Dog and Glenn back to the house. Hershel was to stay with Carol, Beth and the pups, but the others could help search if they wanted to. Everyone else decide to barricade the house.

"Daryl, can you track them?" Rick was looking at the lock on the door while Glenn and T-Dog checked out the interior and exterior for the exit route. Shane hadn't been told the combination because Rick was scared something like this might happen, and the lock had still been secured, meaning he knew it anyway, he was told it by someone, or they got out another way.

"This way." The four men follow a path only Daryl could see until they were deep in the woods and the Theta stops. "There was a fight, something fell, was bleeding. Then the tracks split and disappear. They split up."

"Then so will we. Daryl come with me; Glenn take T and go right. Shoot to kill, even if it's Shane. And remember they aren't the only threat out there; keep an eye out for each other."

The Alpha nods and turns the flashlight he brought onto the trail, the Beta follows after a glance at the others. Rick follows Daryl, staying low when the Omega does, hiding behind trees when the other hears something that puts him on edge. They end up just past the tree lines in an open field, when Randel shows up with a shovel, hitting Daryl in the back of his head, sending the Omega down to his knees. Rick snarls and lunges at the Beta when he goes to mount the Omega, Randel's teeth digging into Daryl's loose scruff, but Shane appears behind him and yanks him back with an arm around his neck.

"Don't bother man, the bitch is going to be fine. Randy's gonna make sure he knows his place when we drag him back to our new Pack." The Gamma laughs. Randel had Daryl pinned beneath him and was pawing at his clothes, which Rick found worrisome. It became pure fear and rage when he saw the blood and dazed look in Daryl's eyes, the weak attempt to fight back hindered by a concussion most likely. Shane pushes Rick away from the two and points his gun at Rick. "Hurry up man, we still have to get Lori and my pup."

"You better have a good reason I shouldn't kill you right now." Rick snarls.

"For what?" Shane gasps, "Protecting MY family? Yeah, betcha didn't think Lori would tell me that huh?"

"What?" Rick was beyond confused; what did Lori have to do with Shane letting Randel out and encouraging him to rape Daryl? "Lori's your Mate, what-"

"EXACTLY!" Shane bellows, "AND THAT PUP IS MINE!"

"Shane what the hell are you talking about?!" Rick growls.

"Lori told me man. You're trying to move in on what's mine. You told me you and Lori were done, that she was mine and now you're trying to court her again and steal MY CUB?!" Shane's eyes were almost white, his pupils shrinking. Daryl was gaining his movement again, throwing Randel off him. Rick was relieved to see that the Omega's bottom half was still clothed, his shirt in shreds and some new cuts on his stomach. Randel was able to keep the dazed Daryl down, but barely.

"I have a pup; Carl. Lori and you betrayed me when you took her from me. I refused to have a cheating Mate before, and after everything she's done; renouncing Carl, attacking MY Pack? Why would I want her back?!" Rick snarls. Shane's eyes start to widen, his mind clearing.

"But why? Why would she tell me that you made me a Gamma to take her and claim my cub? Why would she tell me to kill you, so we could be together?" The man's hands were shaking almost as much as his voice.

"Why did she make me cut contact with my family? Why wasn't I allowed to talk about our Mating or the fact that she was my Mate? Why was I only allowed to be around other Betas; at the store, on the force, at Carl's school?" Rick holds his hands out, trying to make himself less threatening… For now. "I was forced to be a Beta husband, only talking about the wedding and calling her my wife. I was only allowed to talk to and about other Betas. You were the only Alpha I had contact with for over twelve YEARS, Shane. My only Pack, and you remember how pissed Lori was; she walked into the precinct and started throwing racial slurs at every Alpha and Omega in uniform, but mostly at you and the captain because you all refused to give me a Beta partner. She was seven months pregnant and you got in her face and yelled at her because of me. I was an Alpha and so reduced-"

"You looked like a skeleton, on your first day." Shane said, lowering the gun. Randel and Daryl were frozen, watching the exchange with laser focus, "Bleached skin and sunken eyes; we could see every one of your ribs and the knots of your spine through your uniform. You didn't look like that when you left for college in Georgia, man. The nurse was barely over four foot and she could wrap her whole hand around your wrist when she went to take your pulse; you scared her bad with that. You passed out after a panic attack not five minutes after you walked inside because of all the pheromones. They rushed you to the hospital because you wouldn't stop seizing. Lori came in while the doctors were giving you forced hormones to balance you again, talking shit about how you weren't allowed near half of us. I think you scared all of them the next time you came in smelling like an Alpha; there was a betting pool about you being her Omegan Breeder, or a submissive Beta. The captain said it was the worst case of Alpha suppressancy and spousal abuse he'd ever seen, but you refused to press charges because of your pup. She had you by the balls man, and Carl was the chain."

Shane lowered the gun completely, it goes limp in his hands. "She's playing me, isn't she? Getting in my head, making me do things at her will. She tried to make me kill you, she wanted you gone. She kept saying that if you were gone, I'd be the Prime again, we'd be together and no one else would be able to challenge me again. I didn't want to be Prime, Alpha, not when we first got to the Quarry. Lori took charge, but the other Alphas didn't want to listen to a Beta housewife. The Omegas and Betas took her as their leader except the Dixons', but the Alphas looked to me or Morales or Dale. Lori started sending everyone to me, and then I was it. I got so used to the others listening to me, and the more I did the more Lori came to me too; the more we…. I'm sorry Rick."

"It's her, Shane. She's manipulative and a control freak. There's something wrong with her but that's not your fault. But you fed into it, you let her make the rules because she rewarded you with your Knot. You saw what she was capable of, what she did to me. You're to blame for this too, just like her. But we can reverse what she did to you, just let us help."

"I'm sorry." Shane raises the gun again, "But the only way to help me now is to kill me. Rick please, do it, before I hurt someone else."

"Shane I won't murder you. Not in cold blood. I can help you, as your Alpha." Rick watches as Daryl's struggle starts up again, more frantic than before. Randel had pulled down his own pants and was rubbing against the Omega's clothed backside, holding Daryl in place by his hips, but making no move to further remove his clothing. The Theta's eyes were focused behind Rick.

Shane points the gun at the Alpha, "Then I'll make you kill me. I won't go back and be her puppet again."

"RICK!"

POW!

"Dad!" Rick spins on his heel when the bullet misses him, to see Carl behind him, a smoking hole at his feet. The pup was shaking, staring at Shane with teary and fearful but understanding eyes. The pup had heard them talking about Lori and everything the two men before him had worked so hard to keep from him about his mother. Carl seemed to nod at the Gamma… then he let the tears fall and chirped.

Rick roared and threw himself at Shane. The loud sound of something snapping, and then Daryl was on his feet and sprinting towards Carl, checking him over for a new gunshot wound, then hiding his face in the Omega's chest. The pup didn't need to see his father kill his godfather. Rick yanked the gun from the Gamma's and throws it away from them, towards Daryl. He tackles the Gamma to the ground with black eyes and teeth bare. He shoves his hand into Shane's chest, Carl's sobs and chirps in his ears along with Daryl's soft purrs. Rick rumbles as Shane grasps for breath, grabbing his Alpha's hand. Rick's eyes clear as Shane's mouth fills with blood and he pulls his hand from the Gamma's chest with a sob of his own, turning his brother so the blood pools on the ground instead of the back of his throat.

"Thank you," Shane gasps with his last breath, "brother."

Rick Howls his loss into the Gamma's bloody, unbeating chest, then remembers his Pack behind him. With blood on his face and tears in his eyes, he turns around and stands up, moving closer to them with a soft whine. "Carl, Daryl…. I-"

The two stand up, Carl with a gun and Daryl with his bow, both trained on him. No…. his Pack…. His pup… they had to understand… he….

Rick raises his hands, tears in his eyes. "Please-"

"RICK GET DOWN!" The Alpha drops when Daryl tells him to, a bullet and arrow passing over his head. He turns around to see two Walkers go down with headshots. Randel's was further away with an arrow in its eye, the Walker as indecent as before; Shane's was closer with a bullet in his forehead. Rick felt arms pull him up to a sitting position, and Carl drops into his lap, crying and chirping. Rick buries his nose in his son's glands and breathes, crooning softly as Daryl retrieves his arrow and wipes the blood off on Randel's open shirt. The Walker's neck was oddly twisted, meaning Daryl must have snapped his neck to get away when Shane shot at Carl's feet. A warning shot, not for the pup but for Rick. The pup had shot his godfather after the Gamma had shot at him to make Rick kill him.

"They weren't bit, I checked." Daryl kneels, scenting Rick and Carl. Rick shifts his pup around to pull his button up shirt off, passing it to the Omega to cover his tattooed and scarred abdomen. The Alpha's white undershirt was stained red. Daryl rubs Carl's back as the pup cuddles closer to his father, the Omega's eyes never leave the bodies, "How are they Walkers?"

"Maybe they don't need the bite." Carl sniffles, "My science teacher, back when this first started and schools were still open, said it was a virus. Like bacteria or something, and we were talking about the ways it spreads and how to avoid getting sick. He said sometimes we can't help getting sick, that the bacteria's in the air and it attacks our immune systems. What if this is like that, and we don't need to get bit, but the ones that do just get sick quicker because of the bite?"

"Then we're all infected." Rick's eyes widen in fear, looking to Daryl's wide eyes as well, "And when winter hits, we'll be in even more danger."

….

The three Pack members were half way through the field when they heard the growls of the dead. Rick looks behind them and sees the Walkers pouring out of the trees in the hundreds.

"Shit." He whispers, pushing Carl forward while Daryl grabs the pup and pulls him along, "Go! Go go go go. Daryl, run ahead, warn the others. We leave NOW!"

The Omega spares a glance back at the dead, then one at his Alpha and Carl, then with a nod he takes off sprinting towards the house. Rick herds his pup towards the barn; they needed to get to higher ground.

The Flock meets Daryl on the porch, the Omega panting and pointing towards the herd as the first Walker passes the barn. "We leave now."

"Carl's missing again and Rick's-"

"Rick's got Carl." Daryl cuts Glenn off, "He said to get in the cars and go. Now, come on."

"We need to grab things from the house." Carol says, "We won't survive without some of these things."

"Damn it." Daryl curses, he sees Rick and Carl running to the barn, taking out every Walker that gets to close. "The meds and nonperishables only. T bring the jeep up front, we'll put the supplies in there. Andrea grab the guns and Sophia," Daryl leans down and puts a hand on the girl's shoulder, drawing her attention from the herd, "go to every room and kill the lights. Not a single light left on; we don't need to give the herd a focus point."

The Packs splits up, moving to do as the Theta says. Daryl keeps his eyes on the barn; they wouldn't leave without the Grimes males.

When the Packs come back out, Andrea passes out the guns while T helps Sophia, Carol and Beth load up the jeep. Hershel grabs a gun and loads it, shooting at one of the Walkers at the fence to the barn.

"Are you serious?" Daryl asks. The plan was to leave, not defend, but the Omega wouldn't back down from a fight if the Elder wasn't going to. He loads his crossbow and checks the ammo on his gun.

"It's my farm," Hershel says, aiming again, "I'll die here."

"Good a night as any, I guess." Daryl hops over the banister and enters the fray, the Packs behind him. They get into their cars and ride out to the fence, setting up just as the barn catches fire. Daryl was watching in silent horror, shooting the Walkers as they get closer. T-Dog and Andrea drive in the pickup shooting all the Walkers on the right side of the fence, while Glenn and Maggie shoot the ones on the left. Jimmy was driving the RV towards the barn to grab Rick and Carl, everyone else stays close to the house with Hershel to pack up what they could into the remaining two cars.

"We're going to run out of ammo before we make a dent." Andrea turns to T-Dog.

"We need a new plan." He agrees.

"Hershel! Come on, it's time to go!" Lori screams at the Elder. The other women were on the porch behind her, waiting, "Come on we have to go!" They make a run for the cars, but Patricia is grabbed by a Walker. Beth refuses to let the Beta go even as the woman is bit on her shoulder until Lori comes back and forces her to let go, dragging the crying Omega away. Andrea jumps out of the truck as T-Dog pulls up next to them, yelling for them to get in.

"Carol ran that way, we have to get her!" Lori points in the direction of the Omega. If the damn bitch had followed the plan she would have been in one of the other cars with them, but she bolted after her daughter when Patricia went down. Maggie and Glenn follow T-Dog as they flee the farm, the female Alpha sobbing at her lost home and scattered Pack.

…..

Rick and Carl race to the barn, shooting the Walkers that get too close, hoping to pull their attention away from the lit house. Rick locks the two of them in the barn, trying hard to ignore the Walkers banging at the doors and hoping the thin broom he used to block the door would hold. Rick and Carl grab the gas can they used for the generators and pour it over the hay.

"All right, here we go. Hurry go up there." Rick gestures to the hayloft.

"What about you?" Carl gasps.

"I'll be right there." Rick hands the pup a lighter and pushes him to the ladder. "Drop the lighter when I say. It'll be ok, GO!"

"Dad-"

Carl, look at me puppy." Rick wipes his son's eyes, "I love you. Go."

Rick moves to the doors as Carl starts climbing, the pup bites back his whines and chirps for his father and focuses on doing as he was told for once. Rick waits until Carl is up before he removes the broom and throws the doors open. He fights the urge to flee and backs away, trying to bring in as many Walkers as possible. He climbs up the ladder and yells for Carl to drop the lighter. The Walkers didn't seem to notice that they were on fire, as they were standing under Rick and Carl. The Alpha moves Carl outside, just as the RV pulls up with Jimmy inside, yelling for them to hurry up. Rick and Carl move quickly jumping onto the RV and down the ladder. They circle around to the front of the RV to get Jimmy but the blood on the windows, sprayed from inside, tells the Alpha he was too late. Him and Carl make a run for the woods, dodging every Walker they can and circling around to the house. They make it just in time for Rick to shoot a Walker standing behind Hershel while he reloads his shotgun.

"The Flock, where is everyone?"

"I don't know." The Elder pants.

"We have to go." Rick pulls Hershel with them.

"It's my farm!"

"Not anymore!" They pile into the last car, missing Andrea by a few seconds.

"Rick! Rick wait!" She backs up shooting more Walkers, tripping over the gun bag. She picks it up and takes off heading for the trees.

Daryl watches the barn collapse in on itself, the flames reach for the heavens. He hears screaming from the beginning of the driveway and the sound of chirping. Sophia. Gunning Merle's motorcycle, he takes off. He finds Carol and Sophia limping towards the fence, Walkers close behind. They perk up as his bike pulls up in front of them and move faster. Sophia cries out for help with her mom, "Daryl!"

"Come on, I ain't got all day!" Sophia helps Carol on behind the Theta, then puts one foot on the bike before it takes off, Walker's ripping Carol's scarf from her neck but all three are un-bit. Daryl tells Sophia to hold on and drives a little further, stopping far enough away the herd can't get them and lifts the young Omega up. She settles in front of Daryl and holds onto the handles; Carol's hands reach around Daryl to lock in front of her daughter. They drive away, the Dixon wings pressed tight against Daryl's chest.

…..

Rick pulls up next to the car where they had left supplies for Sophia at dawn that morning. He prays that the others had thought of the same place, that they would end up making it. Carl had been asleep in the front seat but was waking up, and Hershel hadn't said a word to them since the farm. The Alpha hopes he'll be ok too, and that his girls had made it as well. They get out and wait, Carl's quiet sniffles are the only noise around them. A few Walkers come by the few hours they're there, but they evade them and wonder how much longer they can wait. Just as the three are ready to climb into the car and leave they hear a motorcycle engine rev. Daryl pulls up first with Carol and Sophia; the little pup jumps down and runs to Carl, throwing her arms around him and scenting his glands while the both whine in happiness. Carol follows with a quick purr and scenting at Rick, then Hershel before engulfing the pups in her arms, scenting Carl deeply.

Rick walks over to Daryl and they grasp hands. Rick leans down and scents him, smelling strongly of the others, just as the other car and truck pull up. Carl moves over to the Theta for a scenting while Rick goes to greet the others.

Maggie and Beth jump out before the cars stop, sprinting to their dad and each other. T-Dog and Glenn come over too, scenting their Prime with a big hug, and Daryl with a light scenting of his shoulder, before joining the big group hug around the pups.

"Where'd you find everyone?" Rick asks the Theta.

Daryl leans over his handlebars and points at Glenn, "Those guys' tail-lights zigzagging all over the road- figured you'd have to be Asian to drive like that."

The group manages a few chuckles while Glenn rolls his eyes, "Good one."

"Where are the rest of us?" Daryl asks, noticing a few heads missing.

"We're it, all the ones who made it so far." Rick sighs. They were missing Jimmy, Patricia, and Andrea.

"Shane?" Lori asks. She had stayed close to the car while Rick and Maggie's Packs reunited, the odd one out. Rick shakes his head.

"Andrea?" Glenn asks.

"She saved me when I went to get Sophia, then we lost her." Carol adds.

T-Dog shakes his head, "We saw her go down."

"Patricia?" Hershel asks.

"She's gone daddy." Beth cries into her father's chest. "What about Jimmy?"

"RV got over run." Rick sighs, "I'm sorry Hershel, Beth."

"I'm gonna go back, see if Andrea is really gone or if she's buried under the dead, hiding." Daryl revs the motorcycle.

Rick places one hand on the bars, holding him. "If she was there, alive, she'd've left by now. There's too much woods she could be hiding in, we wouldn't find her. If she's still there, then she's dead."

"What do we do now?"

"Head east."

"Stay off the main roads." Daryl pulls his crossbow off his bike and gestures to the Walker coming towards them, "Bigger the road, the more Walkers, the more assholes like this one. I got him." The arrow goes through the Walker's eye, sending it to the ground. Everyone piles into the two cars while Daryl leads with the motorcycle and they head away from the farm.

They drive until the sun is almost set before Rick's car starts to die, running off fumes. He honks the horn to stop everyone and they pile out.

"We can't all fit in one car and on Daryl's bike." Glenn says.

"We'll make a gas run in the morning." Rick starts looking for a place to settle down.

"What; spend the night here?" Carol asks. Sophia burrows into her side, "I'm freezing."

"We'll build a fire." Daryl says, "But if you go looking for firewood, stay close. Running low on arrows, how're you doing on ammo?"

"Not enough." Rick had started pacing. "Alright, we'll set up a perimeter. In the morning we'll find gas and some supplies, keep pushing on."

"Glenn and I can make a run now, try and scrounge up some gas." Maggie whispers.

"No we stay together. We just found each other again after something traumatic, our bonds are going to make it difficult for us to be too far apart right now. We'll go in the morning but for right now we find shelter somewhere, there's gotta be a place. We'll make camp tonight over there." Rick points to some old ruins of half stone walls, "Get back on the road tomorrow."

"What if another herd or group like Randel's comes through?"

"Did we even find them?" Glenn asks, "What if Shane or Randel come out at night and try to kill us."

"They're dead." Carl says, "Both of them."

"What?" Lori gasps. Rick remembered what Shane had said, about Lori sending him to kill him. He remembers Lori doing the same to him after the Walkers in the barn.

"Shane was going with Randel back to his group, was coming back for you Lori, to take you with them." Rick turns on her, "But he said some pretty funny things too."

The Beta's eyes widened, and she paled. She knew where he was going with this. Rick kept going, "Want to explain why he thought I was trying to court you again and steal his pup? What the hell were you telling him?! Shane wasn't told the combination to the shack; someone told it to him. No one here would have done it, we knew what would happen if he did. You told him the combination, didn't you?"

"Rick I-"

"NO! No more excuses. Randel almost raped Daryl because of you." There was some gasps and Rick's Pack moved closer to the Theta, pushing him further away from the Beta. Sophia wraps her arms around his waist, shaking. "He begged me to kill him, so he wouldn't have to come back here; he shot at Carl to force my hand when I refused to kill him in cold blood."

"You killed him?" Lori shrieked, "You killed my Mate?" She looks at the others, as if waiting for a reaction, only to find them staring at her. She turns back to Rick with tears in her eyes, and a hand on her stomach, "But why?"

"He shot at Carl." Hershel says, "Rick did as any Alpha would and took out the threat to his pup."

"Carl is a boy, not a dog." Lori snaps, "And unless he ends up an Omegan slut, he won't be one ever."

Rick growls and takes a step forward, ready to tear into her along with everyone else, while Daryl pushes Sophia and Carl behind him, his crossbow loaded and pointed at the Beta. The others move away to give him better access. Lori sees it and tries to hide behind Rick. "You wouldn't let him…... Rick you can't let him-"

"Give me one reason I shouldn't?" Rick snarls at her, eyes black.

"Because there are still pups here, watching." Carol speaks up. "She's pregnant too, and I don't know about you guys, but I can't kill her while there's an innocent cub in her."

"So, we give her the next car we find and send her on her way." Glenn growls.

"She won't make it." Beth argues.

"A vote then." Rick says, "Send her away now, or wait for the cub?"

It was a tie between those that had presented; Hershel, Sophia, Beth and Carol for after the cub was born; Glenn, Daryl, T-Dog and Maggie for now. Rick doesn't vote, knowing his decision was clouded, and Lori wasn't allowed to. Rick turns to his pup; the decision was his.

"I know she renounced me," Carl sniffles, "and she doesn't deserve anything from us. But she was my mom until a month ago, and that baby is my half-sibling. Dad, you know I always wanted a little brother or sister. She stays with us until the cub's born, then we D&D her. And she'll be Gamified until then."

Carl, Rick and Daryl tell the rest of the Flock their idea, about the virus being aerial and them all be infected as the start setting up camp. The make a fire and huddle together in silence, Lori staying away from everyone as much as she could, silently fuming. T-Dog is on watch with Rick and Carol has the pups sleeping by her. Maggie and Glenn stay close to her family while Daryl tends to the fire. When Rick and T-Dog come back to get warm Maggie clears her throat.

"I've been thinking, and I've spoken with my dad and Beth too." She grabs Glenn's hand and pulls it close, "Me and Glenn are Courting, and when we Mate, the Packs will merge. That could be at any time…. soon or not for years. We could die at any time…. Soon or not for years. I want to merge the Packs now, so if something happens my family will be safe."

"You know we wouldn't leave one of you behind." Glenn rubs his thumb over her knuckles, scenting her behind her ear.

"I know." Maggie smiles, "But it's still a formality I want to cover as quickly as possible. And Rick," She turns to the Alpha, "I want you to be our Prime. You've proven that you're capable of taking care of us; all of us. The Greene's will follow you."

"Alright." Rick nods, "Let's get some sleep, I'll take first watch."

…

Andrea makes it into the woods with the gun bag, a small herd close on her heels. It was almost midnight by the time she finally went down, the herd still following her, and down to her last bullets. She was using a knife and the gun to bash the heads of the Walkers in, unknowing of the person following her. She takes them all down, except one. She trips over a tree root and the Walker falls on top of her, growling. In a last-ditch effort, the Beta tries to mimic the Howl for help.

A sword cuts the head of the Walker clean off, the person holding it was also holding two Walkers on chains. They had backpacks on but no arms, and their bottom jaws were cut off. They made no move to attack, just staring with unblinking eyes. Andrea backs away as the woman, an Alpha woman, kneels in front of her, flinging the blood from her katana and putting it in its scabbard on her back. She pulls her hood back, revealing an attractive, black woman with dreadlocks around Andrea's age.

"You're quite fierce for a Beta." She says, her face void of emotion except her eyes; they narrow as they consider her. "Where is your Pack?"

"Herd." Andrea gasps, "A herd of Walkers came through. I lost them. My Alpha's dead, his successor and I don't get along; I don't know if I'll be allowed back even if I do find them. Thank you for helping me."

"Come on. We move now." The Alpha woman helps her to her feet and pulls her and the chained Walkers along, "Ignore them, their scent hides ours. We'll camouflage in with them."

"My names Andrea."

"Michonne."