Chapter Text
[35 mins later]
[Atlanta]
The truck arrives outside the city limits. I hear T-Dog stop the truck and Merle Glenn and I start to move towards the back door.
Merle opens the back door and we all jump out the back and right away huddle into a group. Just in case Walkers appear out of nowhere.
"Alright let's move. Remember this has to be fast. T-Dog you're gonna take the truck to the building close to where we were." I say to him as I need him where I can find him in a hurry.
"Yeah, I know. But how will I know when I'm supposed to be going when the time comes?" T-dog says to me while getting back into the truck.
"Well, I put a walkie-talkie in the glove department. I will get in touch with you when I need you and when you should be expecting Glenn. If anything happens before then contact me." I say to him as he starts the truck.
As he gives me a nod of his head I watch as he starts to drive away. I turn to the others and we start to get a move on jogging into the city.
[20 mins later]
[Inside Atlanta]
I watch as the men cut through a fence. And as they finish Merle turns to me and hushers me to go in first. We head into the building, we turn a corner, and find a Walker in the department store.
"Daryl take care of it. The rest is with me. Remember what I said we have to be quick." I say to them as I start walking towards the other side of the building.
"Damn. You are one ugly skank." Daryl says as he takes his crossbow and shoots it through the head. I turn just in time to see him pull the arrow out.
As we make our way towards the back door of the department store. We are all too focused on not getting caught by surprise we hardly make small talk.
When we make it to the door I turn to the other and point to Merle.
"Alright you go out first I'll be right behind you. And the others will follow after." I say
We head out of the building and I watch as Merle looks around to make sure that the coast is clear. As I walk out after him I see a walker make his way around the corner.
I speed walk over to it before it can make any noise to alert the others. When I turn to head back to the others I see a herd of walkers headed our way.
"Run quick there's a herd. Quick into the building before they see us." I say in a rushed whisper voice.
Hoping they heard me and from the looks of it they did because they started to run towards the other building door. I run after them and when I make it I can feel myself get moved in between Daryl and Merle.
We all walk in and Merle looks around to make sure the coast is clear. I wait until everyone makes it into the office building and quickly close the door.
When I close the door and make a quick turn to see if I didn't leave anyone outside. I see them all huddled around me as if to protect me from whatever could be in here.
"Alright I know you guys are tired so let's take a 10-minute break then get back to it. This building will be our home base for this run. And someone checks in with T-dog." I say wanting to make she they have some rest but also taking that time to check in with T-dog.
They all get to work on it and I see Merle and Daryl go check the rooms surrounding us. And I see Glenn pull out his walkie-talkie and start reaching out to T-dog.
While they do that I go sit down and try to think of a way to meet the vatos without them trying to kill us or fake it at least. 'Let's be honest the bigger my group is the stronger it will be. More manpower but sadly more mouths to feed.'
"Lexa?" Glenn says to me as he sits down next to me.
"Are you alright? You seem a bit out of it." He says to me with worry in his voice.
"I'm alright but can you get the boys? We should get a move on. And did you get into contact with T-dog? Also, try getting into contact with Rick I need to see if he's alright as well as the others." I say to him worried about our whole situation in general.
"I talked to T-dog and he said he is ready whenever you are. And yeah I'll try getting in contact with Rick." He says to me while nodding his head at me. I watch as he gets us and heads over to the boys who I assume have already finished clearing the rooms.
I watch as he makes it over to them. They hand him a protein bar and a water. Glenn takes it and from what I assume tells them it's time to go because they start to pack up.
Glenn walks back over to the corner he was using to contact T-dog. I watch as he eats his snack while trying to contact Rick. Daryl and Merle are packing everyone's things that got unpacked.
[5 mins later]
"Alright, Lexa we are all ready. I contacted Rick and he told me everything was fine just that a fight broke out." Glenn tells me and I get up and start walking towards the back door.
"Oh, really well there's nothing I can do about a fight from here. But it good that everything is all good." I say to him with a shrug of my shoulders.
Well, all head out of the building and I turn to the boys and motion for Merle to come next to me.
"Alright, so the plan is for Daryl and Glenn to stay here. Glenn knows where the building we will be going to so if we don't make it back. Just go back to camp I will figure out a way back to you." I say to them letting them know what my plan is.
And with a nod of their heads, they head back into the building and Merle and I start to make our way to the vatos.
Merle and I run down the street. Several Walkers notice us but aren't yet being aggressive. I make my way first while Merle waits behind the trashcan. And right as I was turning the corner a familiar young man of Mexican descent, Miguel, walked down the alley. Merle spots him and points his gun at him with intent to shoot.
"Whoa, don't shoot me! What do you want?" Miguel says to Merle more than me. Because I don't intend to shoot him anyway.
"It's alright kid. We were just passing through. Merle put your gun down he's just a kid." I say to Merle while also trying to comfort the kid.
"But what if he tries to hurt you? I won't let him go." Merle says while getting into the kid's face.
"Enough Merle move back," I say to Merle while raising my voice at him.
I notice the Walkers start to converge on the gate as I reach for my gun.
"Quick kid before they bite or hell even scratch you. Get behind me." I say and the kid despite my surprise does what I say. And get behind Merle and I while also pulling out a gun.
"Kid you better not shoot that gun. It will attract attract more walkers to us." I say to him while trying to be stern.
"I don't have anything else to kill them with," Miguel says to me his voice shaking with fear.
Just as I pull out an extra knife I carry it with me and I hand it over to him. When I turn back to kill the Walker that was in front of me I see two other Mexicans. One of them whom I know I'd named Felipe, also came down the alley.
I watch as a car pulls up and they start to back up. One of the Walkers is crushed by one of the Mexican boys in the car.
"What going on over here? Why have you got one of my boys?" Felipe says to us trying to be what seems like intimidation. But I know they are all talk when it comes to weapons and doing things like threatening I know they can do that pretty well. if I didn't know they didn't have any weapons but I do so they don't scare me much.
But I can't help but think about how much the plot has changed when it comes to all these events that have happened and I know it all happening this way because of me.
"Yeah sorry, we were just passing through when we ran into the kid. But sorry if we gave you the wrong impression but we just started a conversation with him. I hope that's okay but if not well be on our way." I say to him but from the look on his face he's not believing me at all but that's okay he's not the man I have to get on my side.
"What could you possibly want to talk to one of my boys about?" He says to me with suspicion in his voice.
"Well I didn't have a chance to talk to him but since you seem to be his boss I guess I should be talking to you," I say to him while also wondering if he got the hint that I want to talk to someone higher than him.
"Alright what do you want to talk about?" he says to me and I realize that he wants to play boss even if it is for a little while.
"Well, I want to set up a trade with you people. Like I give you something you guys need and you guys give me what I need in return. Like I can give you some guns or maybe even some food?" I say to him and I watch as it catches his attention.
"Felipe you know we need guns lets take the deal man or at least talk about it," Miguel said to Felipe in a hurry with worry that Felipe would say no without listening to my deal.
"Fine. Fine, we can talk but not here there's too many of those things around." Felipe said to me while motioning that we would have to go.
"Alright. But we won't all fit in that car. My men and Miguel will go on foot. So he can tell us where to go." I say Felipe while motioning to my boys to get a move on.
"Alright but if doesn't come back. We will go looking for you." He says to me then jumps into the car.
[30 mins later]
After getting the boy we head out and make our way over to their hideout.
The boys and I arrive at the hideout.
"You sure you're up for this? And I thought these were gonna be people you knew." Merle says to me while trying to understand what my plans are.
"Yeah, I am sure. And stop trying to figure out what my plans are. You will know when I want you to not before. Do you understand?" I say to him tired of him looking at me like I'm hiding something.
'I mean I am but that has nothing to do with him yet.'
"Yeah, I understand. It won't happen again," he says to me while trying to act like he was not trying to get something out of me with that look.
"I hope you know that if this goes wrong I will put an arrow in you. One wrong move, you get an arrow in the ass. Just so you know." Daryl says to Miguel and I can't help but feel bad for the boy.
"Don't worry kid he won't do a thing without my say-so," I say to the boy and he just gives me a nervous smile. And Daryl just gives me a small scuff.
As we walk up to the building the doors open up. We see a man I know from a small scene. I watch as Guillermo walks out.
"You okay, little man?" he says to Miguel.
"I'm fine carnal. The woman and her men want to talk deals," he says to Guillermo and he turns to give a big look over.
I watch as he waves at the boys and the door opens and Felipe walks out.
"I am looking for a calm conversion. Just want to talk it over with you or your people." I say to him and he looks at me for a long second and then turns around to walk back in.
I watch as a few moments go by as he walks out of the building. He gives my boys and I a nod to follow him in.
The group and I follow him inside the building.
"You must be some crazy motherfuckers to follow us into here," Guillermo says as he walks me right into a room with guns pointed right at us.
"Well I must be or I just know me and mine aren't in any danger," I say to him as I look around the room.
"Nah just crazy," he says with a smirk on his face. And I give him a chuckle in return.
"My boys say you have a deal for me?" he says and he looks over at Felipe and the other man he was with.
"Yeah I have two actually but whichever you choose is fine," I say to him while looking over at my boys.
"Okay," he says with a nod of his head.
"Well, the first one is a trade of sorts. I give you things you need and you give me things in return." I say to him and wait for his response.
"That sounds good but how exactly would that work?" he says.
"Okay one or or every other month we can meet up after talking to one another about what we need. Then meet up with what we both asked for. And of course, another thing we want to trade." I say to him and he gives me a nod of his head to go on.
"I can trade from guns to food. As well as medical supplies but of course at a price." I say to him in a serious tone.
"That sounds good but there is a problem on my end," he says to me and he looks around in worry.
And suddenly an old woman who I know as well. Abuela comes out from behind all the men shouting for Felipe.
"Felipe! Felipe!" Abuela yells out practically running into the room.
"Abuela, go back with the others... now. Can't you see we are busy talking?" Felipe says to his grandmother.
"Abuela, listen to your mijo, okay? This is not the place for you right now. We are talking about something serious." Guillermo says to the old woman.
"But Mr. Gilbert is having trouble breathing. He needs his asthma stuff. Carlitos didn't find it. He needs his medicine." Abuela says to Guillermo rushing to get it out because of how serious it is.
"Oh, so you have old people here as well," I say to him with a fake look of curiousness. He looks at me with what I assume is a glare at me, saying that.
"Felipe, go take care of it, okay? And take your grandmother with you." Guillermo says to Felipe trying to get her out of here in case things went south.
"Abuela! Ven conmigo por favor." Felipe says to his Abuela trying to usher her out of the room. But it doesn't work, and she turns back around and looks towards us.
"Who are these people?" Abuela says while looking over at us.
"Por favor, ven conmigo." Felipe went to his grandmother again.
"Oh, you are a beautiful young woman. You know my grandson Felipe's a good boy. He has his trouble but he pulls himself together. You should really get to know each other." she says to me as she walks over to me.
"Oh, Abuela I'm not here for that. I'm here in business." I say to her with a small smile.
"But I can help you with your other problem. I had a work colleague of mine whose young daughter had Asthma as well." I say to her as I give her an encouraging smile.
And just like that she grabs my hand and starts taking me into the back. I watch as the others come following after in both groups.
"He needs his medicine," she says to me as we make it to the door.
"Let 'em pass," Guillermo says to the people crowding around the door.
I watch as my men look around and realize that the Vatos are protecting the individuals who are staying at home.
We make it into coming into the gymnasium where we see an elderly man having an asthma attack. Abuela leads me over to the man in the rocking chair.
"All right. All right. Nice and easy. Just breathe. Just breathe. Just let it out. Just breathe. Just relax. Here is an inhaler. Come on now just breathe." I say to the man and he looks over at me and does as I say.
"Could I have a word with you?"I say to Guillermo as I finish up helping the old man finally catch his breath.
"What the hell is wrong with you? You just let us in and what didn't think about if you couldn't trust me or something? What if I was a danger to your group or something?" I practically yell at him.
'I mean, it's not that I care if someone would've happened to them but because I don't really know how useful they could be to me until I actually have them.'I thought about if I were in a different group that would hurt them.
"Well, I'm glad it didn't go down that way," Guillermo says to me with a sigh.
"Well me too. But that doesn't explain the old people and whatnot. Were you, people doctors or something?" I say to him as I make it seem like I'm trying to understand the situation.
"Well, Felipe was a nurse.... a special care provider. And me, I'm the custodian." Guillermo tells me and j can't help but let out a sigh.
"Okay and what about the rest of your crew?" I say to me still acting like I should for now.
"The Vatos trickle in to check on their parents, their grandparents. They see how things are and most decide to stay. It's a good thing too. We need the muscle. The people we've encountered since things fell apart, the worst kind... plunderers, the kind that take by force." Guillermo says to me and I totally understand what he's saying because that's why I want them too.
"Having muscle is a good thing. But we aren't those types of people." I say to me letting it be known I just want to help.
"How was I supposed to know that? Do you know the people we have encountered already?" Guillermo says to me while throwing his hands in the air in frustration.
"Yeah, I know the world has changed," I say with a sigh.
"No. It's the same as it ever was. The weak get taken. So we do what we can here. The Vatos work on those cars and talk about getting the old people out of the city. But most can't even get to the bathroom by themselves, still, it keeps the crew busy, and that's worth something. So we barred all the windows and welded all the doors shut except for one entrance.
The Vatos, go out and scavenge what they can to keep us going. We watch the perimeter night and day and we wait. The people here, all look to me now. I don't even know why." Guillermo says and again I can't help but agree. I mean I was the same I took advantage of the weak even more so when it meant taking care of my family.
"Because they want to. And that's a good thing because it means they trust you." I say to him and he gives me a small smile in return.
"Listen I'm trying to expand my group if you want when you need it you can join my group. I'm gonna give you supplies to last you until then." I say to him and he gives me a look of shock.
"Or you don't have to but I will contact you when that time comes," I say to him. And motion for Glenn to contact T-dog to come here.
"Hereis a walkie talkie. When the time comes I will contact you. Stay alive until then."I say to him as I hand him the device.
"When the time comes I will give you my answer," Guillermo says to me as he grabs the walkie-talkie. After I can him the walkie talkie I head out first ready to get a move on not wanting to be in the city longer than I need to. Especially after I know what's gonna be at camp in just a few hours.
To Be Continued