>>Word count; 1018<<

~Katherine's Pov~

"We're not leaving." Rick said. Daryl was back.. but he brought Merle with him. "We cant' stay here." Hershel said, "What if there's another sniper.? A wood pallet won't stop one of those rounds." Maggie said. Daryl, Beth and Carol were on the upper level while the rest of us were down here. "We can't even go outside." Beth said. "Not in the daylight." Carol said. "If Rick says we're not running, we're not running." Glenn said. "No, better to live like rats." Merle said. He was locked out of the Cell block. "You got a better idea.?" Rick asked. "Yeah, We should have slid out of here last night-" he said. I hesitantly looked up feeling eyes on me. I saw Daryl looking down at me, leaning against the railing. "- and lived to fight another day. But we lost that window didn't we?" Merle said. I looked away from Daryl and over to Merle.

I'm glad he was back but i was upset he ever left in the first place. I get why he did it but didn't realize how much i needed him around until he was gone. I haven't spoken to him yet, "I'm sure he's got scouts on every road out of this place by now." He said. "We ain't scared of that prick." Daryl said walking closer to Merle, but he was still up on the second story, "Y'all should be. That truck through the fence thing, that's just him ringing the doorbell. We might have some thick walls to hide behind, but he's got the guns and the numbers. And if he takes the high ground around this place, shoot. He could just starve us out if he wanted to." Merle said. I sighed a bit and looked at Rick.

"Let's put him in the other cell block." Maggie said. "No, he's got a point." Daryl said. "This is all you. You started this.!" Maggie said. "What's the difference whose fault it is? What do we do.?" Beth asked looking at Rick. "I said we should leave. Now Axel's dead. We can't just sit here." Hershel said. I licked my lips a bit and leaned against the wall looking at Rick. He started walking towards Merle, towards the exit. "Rick we need to do something, don't walk away." I said. He ignored me and kept walking. "Get back here!" Hershel yelled. This is the first time we've ever heard him raise his voice. His yell echoed through the walls. Rick stopped walking and Hershel went over to him.

"You're slipping Rick. We've all seen it. We understand why. But now is not the time. You once said this isn't a democracy. Now you have to own up to that." Hershel said, Rick turned slightly and looked at him. "I put my family's life in your hands. So get your head clear and do something." He said. Rick looked back at me and i looked at him too.He started walking again then walked out completely. I walked away too and went to my cell, it was the very last one upstairs. All the way to the right, I sat down and took my hair out of the ponytail it was in, running my hand through my hair a few times. I pulled on the ends of my hair gently and wrapped the few hairs that came off around my fingers.

"Hey," I heard Daryl's voice, I looked at the floor and stood up, tossing the hair on the small bin in here. I looked over to him, No one's really seen me with my hair down, like i said i always have it up. Only one to see it down was Sophia and Carol. I looked over to him and went to him. He was in the cell with me. "You came back," I said crossing my arms. He gave me a small nod, "Yeah." He said, "Why.?" I asked softly. "I made a mistake." he said. I nodded a bit looking at him, I was standing close to him. "..Yeah, you did." i said softly. "Thought you understood," He said. "I did.." i said nodding a bit.

(I wanna grab the back of their heads and just make them kiss already😤😂)

"Why're you mad then?" He asked. I licked my lips again slightly and looked down at his shoes then back at him. He didn't kiss me for a reason when he left.. i didn't wanna push it. "Because, i missed you.. I didn't know i needed you around.." I said softly. He kept looking at me and gave me another small nod, "Yeah, me neither.." he said. I saw him look at my lips quickly too then back at me. "I'm glad you're back.." I said. "Kat?" I heard Carl's voice and footsteps coming up the stairs. I kissed his cheek quickly as i passed him then walked out, "Yeah," I said putting my hair back up in a ponytail. He smiled at me. "Whoa wait- wait wait. Put your hair back down again." He said smiling. I gasped smiling. "No you missed your chance to see it. Too slow kiddo." I giggled tightening the ponytail. He clicked his tongue, "Oh cmon." he said, I shook my head smiling. "Next time," I said softly. "Can we make it a game? Count how many times you see me without my hat and i'll count how many times i see you with your hair down." He said, "Okay," i smiled at him. "Clean slate, we start now." He said. I nodded laughing again. "Alright, What's up?" I asked. "If i were to ask you and Daryl to- take over.. while my dad's working things out, would you say yes.?" He asked. I nodded, "Of course, someone needs to be in charge. You don't wanna be in charge?" I asked.

"I'm not old enough," he said. I smiled at him and nodded winking at him. "Yeah we got it." i said softly and put a hand on his shoulder, we headed downstairs. "My dad could use a break.." He said as we walked. I nodded, "Yeah i know, If he does take it we'll be here." i said. "Thanks," He said.