meanstreak
rick grimes 𝘹 fem!𝘰𝘤
© WANDARYEN ──── 2024

I looked at the woman sitting on the cafeteria bench, a red basket full of baby supplies sitting on the side. I had no clue my sister and Glenn left to do a supply run for the baby — which caused me to start feeling regret for falling asleep in the first place.

The woman held onto her thigh where she bled through a fingers. It seemed like a gun shot wound, a twist of pain resting on her face as Daryl and Rick stood beside me. My arms were crossed over my chest, waiting patiently for a form of explanation until Rick spoke up.

"We can tend to that wound for you, give you a little food and water, and then send you on your way." Rick spoke calmly, his hand resting on his hip. "But you're gonna have to tell us how you found us and why you were carrying formula."

The woman remained quiet, her eyes shifting around the quiet prison before sighing. "The supplies were dropped by a young Asian guy with a pretty girl."

I chewed on my inner cheek, "what's your name?"

The woman finally looked up at me, "Michonne."

I nodded my head, looking over at the basket full of formula. "Tell us what happened. We're they attacked? Drove off by biters?" I turned to Michonne again and her stare shifted up to Ricks.

"They were taken." My father now entered the room on his crutches, her attention gathering on my fathers legs. Her nose scrunched in disgust with a shake of her head. "By the same son of a bitch who shot me."

Rick now hunched over to look directly at Michonne. "Hey, these are our people." He stuck out his hand and suddenly grabbed her wounded thigh, a hiss leaving her throat. "You tell us what happened, now!"

Michonne quickly shoved his hand away and jumped up as Daryl pointed his crossbow in her direction. "Don't you ever touch me again!"

I quickly stepped in front of Michonne, holding up my arms in both Rick and Daryl's direction. "Rick, Daryl; enough!" I raised my voice, my eyebrows furrowing tightly before I looked back at the woman. "Tell us what happened, they won't make this easier."

The men didn't back down and I knew my father was still lingering behind us quietly. Daryl shifted on his feet, not lowering his crossbow. Michonne bit her tongue, her hand holding onto her wound that bled a few more from Ricks angered grasp.

"You'd better start talking or you're gonna have a much bigger problem than a gunshot wound." Daryl snapped.

"Find 'em yourself." She glanced at him from the corner of her eyes.

Rick took a deep breath, eyeing Michonne as he reached over and pressed his hand against Daryls crossbow to lower it. "Hey, shh, shh. Put it down." As Daryl obeyed his orders, Rick walked past me and stood in front of Michonne. "You came here for a reason," he pointed out.

Michonne sighed, looking away from Rick as her voice lowered. "There's a town. Woodbury. About 75 survivors. I think they were taken there."

I arched an eyebrow, "A whole town?"

Her gaze flickered over to me then back up to Ricks. "It's run by this guy who calls himself the Governor—, pretty boy, charming, Jim Jones type."

"He got muscle?" Daryl asked, still holding his crossbow for protection if needed.

"Paramilitary wannabes. They have armed sentries on every wall."

"You know a way in?" Rick questioned.

"The place is secure from walkers, but we could slip our way through."

I sighed deeply, "How'd you know how to get here?"

Michonne adjusted the cloth covering her wound that she had off to the side, keeping her eyes locked with Rick. The woman knew Rick had to be in charge, it was as clear as day. So her attention was mostly on his. "They mentioned a prison, said which direction it was in, that it was a straight shot."

Rick nodded, turning and pointing to Hershel who waited on the side lines while he listened. "This is Hershel, the father of the girl who was taken. He'll take care of that." Rick looked between Daryl and I, nodding his head towards their cell-block to follow.

When we gathered together in the cell block, we discussed the idea of getting Maggie and Glenn. It was already decided that I was going with on this mission, no second guessing.

"This is Maggie and Glenn, why are we even debating?" Beth piped up protectively as I stood by her side, rubbing her back soothingly.

"We ain't, I'll go after them." Daryl suggested as he held the strap of his crossbow over his chest.

"You cant go alone," I pointed out. "Im coming with you."

Ricks eyes flickered over to mine while shifting on his feet as he listened. I looked over at the man, knowing he had a want to protest. But with a raise of my eyebrows and a stare in his direction; he nodded his head. "Daryl, Sienna, and I will go with the woman. She'll have to lead the way. The rest of you stay here, hold the fort down." Rick ordered, resting his hand over his gun as everyone walked off.

I slipped my hand up to Beth's shoulder, turning her to face me. "Don't worry, I'll bring them back."

Beth nodded her head understanding. "As long as you come back too."

I nodded my head and she turned away, going up the stairs to the homemade box they put together to hold the baby. I smiled a bit, backing out of the cell block and making my way outside.

When the warm air hit my skin, I sighed once and took in the sun as I made my way to the guard tower. I walked up the stairs and opened the guard tower door, gripping onto the railing and let my head hang low.

Thinking of the baby only brought sadness to my heart and now my sister was gone, taken away by this man called the governor.

The only thing is; why? Why would someone take my sister and Glenn? Two people trying to gather baby supplies. They weren't hurting anyone, so what could this town possibly want them for?

"Sienna?"

I turned my head over my shoulder and made eye contact with Rick as he entered the guard tower with me. "We'll be leaving shortly," he instructed, joining me against the railing with his hands wrapping around the metal. "Are you positive you're up for this?" He looked over at me with an arched eyebrow, almost like he was wanting me to second guess my choices. But I wasn't going to change my mind. This was my sister. I'd enter hell to find her.

"I'm positive, Rick." I looked towards the courtyard then off near the gate where a few walkers roamed. "My sister is a priority — including Glenn. I promised to keep my family together, it's what I have to do."

Rick looked over at me and I noticed he began shaking his head, disagreeing with my statement in some form of way. I prepared myself for an upcoming argument. And if he knew better, he would stop now while he was ahead of himself. There was no way I was backing down on this one. Not when it came to family.

"Sienna," he sighed. "What you've done—, what you do for the group and your family, don't you ever want to take a break? Let us handle it."

I reached up and pinched the bridge of my nose, turning to face the man. "Rick if this was your family, you wouldn't hesitate to leave to go find them. How is it any different with me?"

He turned to face my direction, one hand still holding onto the railing as we made eye contact, my eyebrows almost furrowing with irritation. "Because—"

"Because what?" I raised an eyebrow. "Why am I any different?"

Rick paused and I could see he was fighting with himself mentally. Like he knew I had a point but he had another reason to keep me here. Unfortunately for us; we were both stubborn.

"Because I said so. It'll be me, Daryl, Michonne, and one of the inmates. It's all we need. You stay here and look after Beth and your father."

I laughed almost annoyingly, turning around and leaning my back against the railing, crossing my arms over my chest. "How'd I not expect this? A typical excuse." I looked over at Rick with a scowl —- the anger crawling up my spine now. "Give me the truth Rick, why don't you want me to go?" The stubbornness in me didn't want to give up. I wanted a real answer as to why I couldn't come along. I wanted it all.

"Sienna, you're not listening to me." He spoke sternly now.

"Rick, I'm not a child. You're not going to stand here and tell me what to do." I turned my body to face him, my head slightly tilted back to meet his stare. "I'm not your child, I'm not your sister, I'm not your wi—"

His face feel immediately and I took a step back, acknowledging my choice of words and regretting them instantly. I turned away to face the railing, my head dipping low as I closed my eyes briefly.

"Rick, I'm so sorry." I kicked myself mentally with aggravation; hating myself for letting my anger get the best of me. It was rare I ever crossed the line out of anger. I was always able to contain myself but the thought of being held back from protecting my family was eating me alive.

Rick remained quiet for several moments and I wasn't sure if I should just walk away or not. I no longer wanted to fight with him and if staying here meant he kept his sanity; then so be it.

I bit my lip and turned away, ready to exit the tower until his fingers gently grabbed my wrist to stop me from moving. I looked up at him with apologetic eyes but his stare was focused on the floor. "I don't want to lose you too," his voice was low but high enough for me to hear him.

My heart slowly fell down, tumbling into my stomach as a frown formed on my lips. "I'm—" I started to speak until his hand dropped from my wrist and was now placed on his forehead; like he was kicking himself for speaking. "You're a good asset to us," he started explaining. "You do a lot for us, in big and small ways. You're always ready to go out and fight. I didn't—I didn't expect that from you. When I first met you, you seemed so quiet; so.. calm."

My lips dipped into a bigger frown as I crossed my arms over my chest, thinking about how different I am now. I was a book worm, a finished college student who always finished her work. I was almost becoming a manager for my job until everything went to shit. I was almost somebody; it felt like.

"You're so easy to open up to," he continued. "You create this aura of calm and positivity that I always want to be around." I looked over at the prison as I bit my bottom lip, noticing Daryl coming out with Michonne and the others. But I allowed Rick to finish, looking up at him with big eyes and gentle energy. "I think if I—we lost, that, meaning you; the group would fall apart." He then gently smiled and it brought warmth into my heart. "Uhm—," he looked over at the basketball court where everyone was waiting. "I—, you, you can come with." He closed his eyes briefly then turned back to me again. "We'll need your help."

I smiled at him, taking his hand in mine gently and giving it a small squeeze as he watched me. "Thank you, Rick."