XLI

—/<3/—

Rory raised her arms and waved to try and get the attention of her people stood in the prison courtyard. It was too dangerous to shout with the amount of walkers around the fence.

She huffed a sigh of relief when Rick started walking towards her and Michonne, unfortunately not fast enough. She had her knife drawn and downed any walkers that came close. Luckily, or unluckily, Michonne was coated in walker guts, so they walked right past her assuming she was one of them. Rory was glad for that, the older woman had only gotten weaker as they trekked on towards the prison, and fighting was the last thing Michonne needed.

Rory signalled to the gate as Rick got closer and he complied, not before eyeing down Michonne as if she were a threat to his very existence. She dragged the woman towards the gate, taking on most of her weight in her weakened state and they slipped through the gate quickly before Rick slammed it behind them.

"Rory, who's this? Where Glenn and Maggie?" Rick questioned, his voice thick with worry and veiled anger.

"Can we get inside first? She's injured." Rory strained with the combined weight of Michonne, the heavy basket and her pack.

"Is she bit?"

"It's a bullet wound," Michonne answered weakly, her vision swimming.

"Where Maggie and Glenn? Didn't you take a car?" Rick asked again.

"Rick please, inside first." Rory pushed. The rest of the group had wandered over and watched the woman curiously.

"Fine," he said after a moment. Michonne passed out a moment later and Rick rushed forward to grab her before she and Rory both went tumbling to the floor, Carl grabbed the basket of food and formula from Rory's hand and they all hurriedly made their way up to the prison.

"Carl, get some towels and Beth, get water." Rick grunted. Michonne started to groan as she stirred. "She's not coming in the cell blocks." Rick said as he and Rory laid Michonne down on the ground.

Michonne visibly started to panic as she gained consciousness and she lunged for her sword. Rick pinned her by the shoulder and kicked the weapon away.

"Hey!" He yelled.

"Rick you're scaring her!" Rory hissed.

"We ain't gonna hurt you, not unless you try something." He eased up and allowed Michonne to sit upright.

"Rory, who's this?" Daryl asked as he entered the room. Rory looked back at him and then to the woman again.

"Her name's Michonne, I met her at the department store."

Daryl grunted and then turned to Rick. "Come on in here, you're gonna wanna see this."

"Everythin' alright?" Rick panted.

Rick turned to the rest of the group and nodded. "Go ahead, Carl get the bag. Rory, you brought her here, you're responsible for her. Stay here." He gave her an authoritative look and turned to follow Daryl and the group. "We'll keep your sword safe. The doors are locked so you'll be safe here."

Rory rolled her eyes at him and turned back to Michonne. Archie and Mikey lingered behind her curiously but ultimately left when Daryl pulled out the keys to lock the door behind the two girls.

"Rick, let Rory out for a minute, she needs to see this too." Daryl pushed, leaving the door open a crack. Rick furrowed his brows but agreed. "C'mon," Daryl nodded towards the door.

"I'll be right back," Rory whispered to Michonne. Michonne stared at her and nodded slowly. Rory jogged towards the door and Daryl locked it behind her, ushering her towards the others.

Rory gasped when she set eyes on Carol, smiling widely as relief flooded through her. She was so glad Carol had lived despite the grave they'd dug her the day before. Carol pulled Rory into a hug and then broke away with a teary smile. She cried harder when she set eyes on the baby for the first time, and then her tears turned sad as she realised what happened to Lori.

"I found her in a cell, she was passed out and dehydrated," Daryl said quietly, a small smile decorating his lips as everyone greeted Carol. Rory eyes darted to the door where Michonne was watching the scene through the bars curiously.

Rick sniffled and wiped his tears away as he stormed back towards the cell. He placed a hand on Rory shoulder and took her with him.

"You need to tell me where Glenn and Maggie are and why exactly you thought it was okay to bring a stranger back," he said as he unlocked the cell door. Daryl and Carl followed after them.

"Michonne will tell you, if you actually give her a chance to talk. I wouldn't have brought her here if I thought she was gonna cause trouble. She's injured."

"You," he pointed to Michonne as she pressed one of the towels to her leg. "We'll take care of that wound for you, give you a little food and water and then send you on your way, but you're gonna have to tell us how you got shot."

"I was being chased by a few guys. I managed to get away and turned up at the same place your people were at. The same guy who shot me took the young Asian guy and the pretty girl. Your friend ran out after she heard the gunshot and found me."

"Those are our people. You need to tell us the full story, now!" Rick lunged forward and pressed his hand harshly on Michonne's wounded leg.

"Rick!" Rory yelled. She stomped forward and ripped Rick's arm away from Michonne. She sent a sharp slap to his cheek and he sneered, turning to her with a furious look. Rory held her ground with just as much fire in her eyes. Archie rushed in a moment later after hearing his sister yell, "why don't you give her a chance to talk before you lay hands on her?"

Michonne stood and took a step back from Rick, breathing heavily as she looked between Rory, Rick, and Daryl, who had his crossbow pointed at her.

"Archie get her out of here." Rick hissed through clenched teeth.

"The fact you think I'd take your side over my sister's is hilarious." Archie scoffed. "You said she was Rory's responsibility, so let Rory deal with it. I don't know what's gotten into you, but you need to stop. She isn't gonna want to talk if you hurt her."

Rick paced for a moment, laughing humourlessly. "Fine. But I want answers soon." He stormed to the other end of the room and took a seat, watching Michonne like a hawk. Hershel cleared his throat and Rory tossed him the first aid kit from her backpack.

"There's a town, Woodbury. 'Bout 75 survivors. It's run by a guy who calls himself 'The Governor'. My bet is that they were taken there." Michonne began to talk, wincing every so often as Hershel cleaned her wound.

"They got muscle?" Daryl asked.

"Couple of military wannabes. Henchmen patrolling every wall."

"You know a way in?" Rick questioned. He didn't move from his seat across the room.

"The place is pretty secure from walkers but we could slip in easily."

Rick hummed and then got up and left. Daryl spared one look at Rory and then followed after him, deciding it best not to try and talk to her whilst she was visibly seething with anger.

—/<3/—