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

I stood by the main gate outside the cell block with a small book in my hand as I kept an eye on the group every now and then with several glances.

Maggie and Carl were near the first tower, using pots and pans to bring the walkers from inside the courtyard towards the fence as a distraction.

Michonne, Daryl, and Glenn were driving around the courtyard in one of the trucks and putting down several wire traps for the next time the Governor tries to roll in with his friends.

I watched as Michonne put down a walkers that were in the way as the door to my left creaked and foot steps came rushing out.

I slightly turned my gaze and saw Rick running over with a sniper in his hand. He grabbed the grate and let a sigh of relief out when he noticed no harm was being done out in the courtyard. I quickly looked down at my book as he was turning his head to look at me.

I was finishing up my sentence when he decided to speak, "Are you on watch?"

I hummed with a nod of my head, tucking a few strands of hair behind my ear without making eye contact. "They're fine."

His boots shifted across the dirt on the pavement, his body turning to face mine as he still kept hold of the rifle. "Are you still going to ignore me?" I haven't properly spoken to Rick since yesterday when he came up with the idea of letting Michonne go. I was still unbelievably pissed the thought could even cross his mind.

I shut the book and crossed my arms over my chest, looking out towards the field. "You're wrong Rick, I don't know what else you want me to say."

"You won't give it a chance," he spoke above a whisper. "What if this is the answer."

When I turned around to face him, our bodies had almost collided with how close he was standing beside me. I slightly stumbled back, looking up at him while clutching the book that I desperately wanted to throw at his head. "It's not, you know it's not. There's nothing to discuss because you already made the decision." The truck started driving up the gravel and I turned away from Rick, rushing over to open the guide and allowed them to pull inside.

Truthfully, it pained me to be angry with Rick. We haven't even faced what we did the other day — practically brushing it off like it never happened and honestly, at this very moment I was okay with the denial. Because we had other problems on our hands and I didn't want to lose focus thinking about other things.

But sometimes — sometimes, Ricks choices drove me insane. I didn't know how else to put it and after everything we've been through, I didn't want to put a cold distance between us.

If he hands Michonne over to the governor, I don't think i'll ever be able to look at him the same way again.

The truck was put in park and the three of them collectively jumped out with pleased facial expressions. "They try to drive up to the gate again, maybe some blown tires will stop them." Glenn pointed towards the field where himself and Daryl laid out fence wires as traps.

Rick nodded, "thats a good idea."

"It was Michonne's," Daryl pointed out, making Rick go silent with his thoughts which were soon interrupted with Michonne's voice. "We dont have to win. We just have to make their getting at us more trouble than it's worth." I looked over at her and smiled, nodding my head in agreement.

When Maggie and Carl came back from distracting the walkers, we went back into the cell block and Rick parted ways with the group.

I was awoken from my small nap inside the cell when my curtain was pulled back and Rick stepped inside. I rubbed my tired eyes and sat up on my elbow as he kneeled down in front of my bed.

"What is it?" I asked with a hint of worry — subconsciously listening out for my father or even Judith incase something was wrong.

It didn't take me long to gather my thoughts, concern washing over me as Rick glanced towards the opening. "I can't do it."

I sat up straighter immediately on my bed as Rick placed his hands on my knees. "I won't. I thought about what you said, what you've been saying." I blinked several times but remained quite as he continued to speak. "It wouldn't make me any different. She's been a huge asset to the group. She's one of us now."

I took a small breath, a smile forming on my lips as I placed my hand over his, squeezing it tightly. He slipped his hand in mine and helped me out of the bed, pulling me out of the cell with him as we ran up to Daryl who was just leaving the cell block.

This was the Rick Grimes i've come to respect and appreciate.

And I would be lying if I said I didn't want to kiss him right now out of pure happiness that he changed his mind. His true character was showing — something I've always seen in the beginning.

"It's off. We'll take our chances." Rick ran up to Daryl, coming to a stop as I took my place beside him.

Daryl looked between the two of us then shrugged his shoulders. "I'm not saying it was the wrong call, but this is definitely the right one." Rick seemed to have pause and our hands disconnected as he turned his head. "What's wrong?" Daryl asked.

"I can't find Merle or Michonne. They're gone." Rick breathed out a heavy breath.

Daryl nodded, nudging his head towards a door beside them. "Come on." He lead us into a room full of generators and random prison supplies. "He was in here. Said he was looking for drugs. Said a lot of things, actually."

"Like what?" I raised an eyebrow.

"Said that Rick was gonna change his mind." Daryl bent down and picked something up from off the floor. "Here we go. Yeah, he took her here. They mixed it up."

"Damn it!" Rick spoke in frustration. "I'm going after him." He added, jogging into the next room.

"You can't track for shit!" Daryl called out as we both ran to follow after him.

"Then the three of us," Rick stopped in his tracks and turned to the both of us.

Daryl shook his head. "No, just me. I said I'd go and I'll go. Plus they're gonna come back here. You need to be ready." Daryl shifted in front of the door, pushing me and Rick back. "You're family, too." He looked at Rick and I before walking out of the door — shutting it behind him.

When Rick turned to face me, I placed a hand on his chest and nodded my head. "He's right. He's the only one who can bring back his brother. And we need to be here to protect the prison." Rick let out a nervous sigh before the both of us left the room.

I walked out into the courtyard where Glenn was waiting by. I noticed him slightly pacing and I tilted my head to the side, making my way towards him. "You okay?" I asked worriedly.

Glenn turned to face me, a bit of sweat forming on his forehead like he was nervous about something. He reached out for my elbow, gently pulling me off towards the side before he released a shaky breath. "I already spoke to Hershel — your dad — "

My eyebrow raised as I crossed my arms over my chest, staring at my friend. "Whats going on?" Glenn rubbed the back of his neck nervously, looking down at his feet. I waited patiently as he let out a sigh before lifting his head and met my eyes again. "Im going to ask Maggie to marry me."

My mouth opened in shock as my hands quickly covered my mouth. "What?" I breathed as Glenn gave me a side smile. "Hershel gave me his blessing. Im going to go ask her after this." Tears formed in my eyes quick as I dropped my hands, only to wrap them arms around Glenns neck happily. "Glenn, im so happy!"

Glenn's arms wrapped around my waist before, letting out a sigh of relief before laughing and we pulled apart. "Problem is — I dont have a ring." I looked at him and slowly smiled.

Suddenly the ring on my finger felt heavy and I knew it was my turn to pass it on to the next Greene. There was a reason why it never worked out for Steven and I.

It just so happened that I was keeping the ring safe — waiting for Glenn to come along and fall in love with my sister.

I looked down at my hand, slowly pulling my mom's ring from my finger then handing it off towards Glenn. "It's our mothers — I got engaged with it — with Steven. I promised to pass it down to whoever gets married first." I bit my bottom lip, taking his hand and placing the ring into the palm of his hand gently. "It's hers now." Glenn took the ring and looked down at it, slowly smiling.

"Go to her, Glenn," I whispered. "Go, now." He quickly nodded his head and I gently pushed him towards the cell block.

He moved a few paces away before abruptly turning back to me — an excited grinning ghosting his lips. "Oh, one more thing." He fished into his back pocket and suddenly tossed me a new pair of reading glasses.

I caught them and smiled wide, noticing the lenses were practically in neat condition. "Shit — you might just be the best brother-in-law I could've ever asked for."

Our laughter mixed together. A sound not heard often these days but I had a feeling in my gut the music would return soon — in time.

It didn't take long for Maggie to come find me soon after with the happiest smile on her face. She expressed her happiness with Glenn and how it was the only thing she had been looking forward to.

It was such a long time since I've seen my sister genuinely smile. It was a sight that I needed to see so much more.

And as much as I wished we could've kept this happy atmosphere alive, Rick called for us to have a meeting with the group. Everyone came out into the back of the cell block, gathering around a small table as Rick stood before us.

There was a bit of silence for a moment, Rick was gathering his thoughts together as we waited patiently. "When I met with the Governor,—" Rick had finally spoke," —he offered me a deal. He said— he said he would leave us alone if I gave him Michonne. And I was gonna do that to keep us safe." He took a heavy breath, his eyes scanning over the group. "I changed my mind. But now Merle took Michonne to fulfill the deal and Daryl went to stop him and I don't know if it's too late. I was wrong not to tell you. And I'm sorry." The group remained quiet — the atmosphere felt strong and I was silently praying that Daryl was going to catch up to his brother and Michonne, to stop them for going any further. "What I said last year, that first night after the farm...it can't be like that. It can't. What we do, what we're willing to do, who we are, it's not my call. It can't be."

I slowly nodded my head as Rick started to bring his gaze towards me. "I couldn't sacrifice one of us for the greater good because we are the greater good. We're the reason we're still here, not me. This is life and death. How you live..how you die— it isn't up to me. I'm not your Governor. We choose to go. We choose to stay. We stick together. We vote. We can stay and we can fight or we can go."