Triggerfinger
Rick slid his revolver back into its holster. Glenn exhaled sharply, his voice barely above a whisper. “Holy shit.”
Rick turned to him “You alright?” he asked.
Glenn nodded quickly, his movements stiff. “Yeah.”
Rick’s gaze shifted to Hershel. “You?”
Hershel gave a curt nod, his face lined with exhaustion. “Let’s head back.”
Rick didn’t respond immediately. Instead, he crouched down, beginning to search the bodies of Dave and Tony. Glenn and Hershel exchanged a glance but said nothing.
As Rick rifled through Dave’s jacket, all three froze at the sound of a voice outside. “Dave? Tony?” someone called, their tone cautious. “You in there? We heard shots.”
Rick’s hand stilled, his eyes darting to the others. Glenn’s breath hitched, and Hershel’s jaw tightened as they all remained perfectly still, listening intently.
The voices outside continued, muffled but growing closer. The group outside was talking, their words indistinct but laced with tension.
Rick, Hershel, and Glenn didn’t move, their breaths shallow as they waited,
Road
Lori’s eyes fluttered open, her head pounding as she slowly regained consciousness. The world around her was blurry, but the growls of a walker snapped her back to reality. Its decayed face was pressed against the broken windshield, its head sticking through the jagged glass as it clawed toward her.
Panic surged through her as she scrambled to climb out of the car. Her grip slipped, and she fell back into the seat, her breath hitching as the walker grabbed her hair. “Damn it!” she swore, her hand fumbling for her knife. With a desperate thrust, she stabbed the walker in the head, its movements ceasing instantly.
She exhaled sharply, her heart racing as she climbed out of the wreckage. But before she could catch her breath, another walker lunged at her. Lori reacted instinctively, knocking it down and pulling out her revolver. The shot rang out, silencing the creature as it collapsed to the ground.
Her eyes darted around, scanning for more threats. The woods were eerily quiet, and she saw no other walkers. For now, she was safe.
Back at the farm, the group was gathered around the table, the atmosphere tense despite the meal in front of them. Shane leaned toward Carl “Keep your head up,” he said. “Your dad’s tough.”
Patricia called out for Lori, Maggie frowned. “She’s not here.”
Harry glanced around, his expression concerned. “Where is she?”
The room fell silent, the weight of the question hanging heavily. Shane turned to Carl and Harry, his tone sharp. “When’s the last time you saw your mom?”
Both boys exchanged a glance before answering. “This afternoon.”
Dale’s voice broke through the quiet. “Did she go after Rick?”
Andrea hesitated before speaking. “She’s been worried.”
Shane stood abruptly, his chair scraping against the floor. “Don’t panic,” he said firmly “We’ll find her.”
The group dispersed quickly, searching the house for any sign of Lori.
Bar
Rick, Glenn, and Hershel pressed themselves against the door, peering out through the cracks in the wood. The tension in the air was thick, suffocating.
Glenn exhaled sharply. “Why won’t they just leave?” he muttered.
Rick shook his head, keeping his grip tight on his revolver. “We can’t stay here any longer,” he said firmly. “We need to make a run for the car.”
Before they could move, gunfire erupted from the street. Glenn ducked instinctively, Hershel tensing beside him.
The door rattled as someone pulled at it “It’s stuck,” they hissed.
Outside, voices rang out. “We don’t want trouble!” someone yelled. “We’re just looking for our friends!”
Rick exchanged glances with Glenn and Hershel, his expression grim before he shouted back. “They drew on us!”
A brief pause. Then, “Are Dave and Tony alive?”
Rick’s voice was steady. “No.”
A hush fell over the group outside. Then a whisper: “They killed Dave and Tony.”
Another voice, frustrated but wavering. “We should just leave.”
“No,” someone else snapped. “I’m not leaving. I’m not going back and telling everyone Tony and Dave got shot by some assholes in a bar.”
Rick clenched his jaw. “We didn’t have a choice!” he shouted back. “You know it! We’ve all lost enough people doing dumb things we didn’t have to do.”
Silence.
“It was the wrong place at the wrong time.”
The answer came fast—bullets tearing through the wood of the bar as the group outside opened fire.
Farm
Carol stormed up to Daryl “We can’t find Lori,” she said. “And the others aren’t back yet.”
Daryl barely glanced up from sharpening his knife, scoffing. “Dumb bitch must’ve gone looking for ’em.”
Carol’s eyes narrowed.
“She asked me to go,”
“And you refused.”
Daryl shrugged, unconcerned. “I ain’t an errand boy.”
Carol exhaled sharply, shaking her head as she turned to leave. But after only a few steps, she stopped, clenching her fists before whirling back around. “Don’t do this,” she said, her voice quieter now, strained. “I already lost someone I cared about.”
Daryl barely flicked a glance her way. “Not my problem either,” he muttered.
Carol stared at him for a moment before turning on her heel and walking away.
Back at camp, Shane and T-Dog returned, their expressions tense. “We couldn’t find Lori,” Shane announced.
Carl’s breath hitched as he turned to Harry. “Where is she then?” he asked, his voice shaking.
Carol stepped forward “She asked Daryl to go,” she admitted. “And he refused. She must’ve gone herself.”
Carl’s face crumpled, his chest tightening as tears welled in his eyes. He turned abruptly and rushed off, sobbing. Harry hesitated only for a second before following after him, his own worry clear.
Shane squared his shoulders, his voice sharp. “Did anybody know about this?”
The group exchanged uneasy glances before collectively shaking their heads. “No,” came the quiet responses.
Shane’s face hardened. “Did she take a gun?” he demanded.
Dale, standing nearby, frowned deeply. “I don’t know,” he admitted. “But I wouldn’t have let her go alone.”
That was enough for Shane. Without another word, he turned on his heel and took off to the cars.
Bar
Rick took a deep breath, his voice booming over the gunfire. “We all know this won’t end well!” he shouted. “There’s nothing in it for any of us—just back off, and no one gets hurt!”
The response was nothing but tense silence from outside. No movement. No retreat.
Rick glanced at Glenn, giving him a quick signal with his hand. Glenn nodded and hurried toward the back room. He pushed through the doorway, scanning the area for any way out.
Before he could get far, he heard someone curse under their breath, followed by the frantic jiggling of a doorknob. Instinct kicked in—Glenn raised his shotgun and fired, the loud blast echoing through the space.
“Glenn!” Rick called, his voice tight
“I’m fine!” Glenn shouted back.
Road
Shane spotted the wrecked car on the side of the road, its frame twisted and glass shattered. His heart sank as he approached. The scene was eerily quiet, save for the faint rustle of leaves in the wind.
He scanned the area, his grip tightening on his weapon as he checked the walkers sprawled nearby. Their lifeless forms confirmed they were no longer a threat, but the sight of them only deepened his worry.
Shane leaned into the car, searching for any sign of Lori. The interior was a mess—blood smeared on the seats, belongings scattered across the floor. He whispered her name, his voice low and strained. “Lori…”
The road stretched out before him. He turned in a slow circle, his eyes darting to the woods, the fields, anywhere she might have gone. “Lori!” he called again, louder this time, but the only response was the distant rumble of thunder rolling across the sky.
Bar
Rick crouched low, his voice steady but urgent. “I’ll hold them here. Hershel, cover Glenn while he makes for the car.”
Hershel frowned, his tone skeptical. “You’re really asking me to cover Glenn?”
Rick shot him a pointed look. “You missed gun training. Would’ve been useful right about now.”
Hershel huffed, gripping the pistol cighter. “I can shoot.”
He moved behind Glenn, who jumped slightly as Hershel’s presence startled him. Hershel pushed the shotgun away from his head, his voice calm but firm. “Rick wants you to try for the car.”
Glenn hesitated, his voice shaky. “Try?”
Hershel’s expression softened slightly. “You’ll succeed,” he said. “I’ll cover you.”
Glenn nodded, swallowing hard as he steeled himself. He slipped out into the alley, moving cautiously toward the car. Suddenly, a shot rang out, narrowly missing him, Hershel firing back. The man who had shot at him fell to the ground, clutching his wound and sobbing.
Rick rushed up, his shotgun pointed in one direction, his revolver in the other. “What happened?” he demanded.
Hershel stepped forward, his voice steady. “The man hit Glenn.”
Rick’s eyes darted to Glenn. “You hit?”
Glenn shook his head quickly. “No.”
Rick exhaled, his voice firm but reassuring. “It’s alright. The car’s right there. We’ll be home soon. Make a run for it.”
Before they could move, a sniper opened fire, forcing them to duck for cover as a truck screeched to a halt nearby. A voice called out from the truck. “We gotta get outta here! The roamers are coming!”
The sniper’s voice rang out, panicked. “What about Sean?”
“They shot him! We need to go!”
The sniper tried to jump off the roof, but his footing slipped. He fell, impaling himself on the fence below. The driver didn’t hesitate, leaving him behind as the truck sped off.
Rick, Glenn, and Hershel made a break for the car, the sound of walkers closing in behind them. The shot man on the ground screamed as the walkers descended on him, tearing into him.
Rick stopped by the man impaled on the fence, one of the metal tips piercing through his leg. The man begged, his voice desperate. “Don’t leave me!”
Hershel’s voice was grim. “We’d have to remove the leg to free him.”
The man’s panic escalated, his pleas turning frantic. Rick’s expression hardened. “I’m sorry,” he said quietly before gripping the man’s leg and ripping it off the post in one swift motion.
Road
Shane spotted Lori staggering down the road. Relief flooded his expression as he hurried to her, gripping her arms gently as he checked her over. “You alright?” he asked, scanning her for injuries.
Lori nodded weakly, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “I think so,” she muttered, her breath still uneven.
Shane exhaled sharply, his grip tightening slightly. “We need to get back.”
Lori shook her head, determination flashing in her eyes. “Not without Rick.”
Shane hesitated for only a beat before shaking his head. “They’re back,” he said firmly. “All of them. They’re safe.”
A breath of relief escaped her lips, tension visibly leaving her body.
Camp
Carol moved through the camp, her footsteps quiet as she made her way toward Daryl’s makeshift setup. The sight of the squirrels hanging from a line, the crude walker ear necklace swaying slightly in the breeze, made her stomach turn—but she didn’t look away.
She heard him before she saw him.
“The hell you doin’?” Daryl snapped, stepping into view, his eyes narrowed with suspicion.
Carol straightened, unfazed. “Keeping an eye on you,” she said plainly.
Daryl scoffed, shaking his head as he stepped closer. “Yeah? Maybe if you spent more time keepin’ an eye on those kids you claim you care about instead of messin’ with me, Travis would still be alive.”
Carol’s breath hitched, but she didn’t back down.
Daryl’s frustration boiled over as he gestured wildly. “I don’t want you here!” he yelled. “You’re a damn piece of work.”
Carol’s jaw tightened. “I’m afraid, alright?” she shot back. “We all are.”
Daryl shook his head. “That ain’t my problem.”
His voice hardened as he stepped even closer. “Travis wasn’t mine. Neither is Ben. Neither is Sophia.”
Carol flinched slightly, but Daryl was too fired up to stop now. “All you had to do was keep an eye on him!” he shouted.
Without another word, he turned on his heel and stormed off.
Shane pulled the truck to a stop, and before he had even fully cut the engine, Harry rushed forward, his eyes wide with concern. “Mom!” he called, reaching her just as she stepped out.
“I’m fine,” Lori assured him quickly, though her face was still pale from the crash. Her eyes darted around the farm, scanning the group gathered near the house. “Where’s Rick?”
No one said anything.
Lori’s gaze narrowed as her eyes snapped to Shane. “You lied,” she growled.
Shane exhaled sharply, his stance tense. “I had to get you back here somehow,” he said flatly.
The words were barely out before Lori’s hand cracked against his face, the slap echoing in the quiet yard. Shane barely flinched, just set his jaw and turned back toward the truck. “I’ll go look for them.”
Harry took a step forward. “I’ll go with you,” he said.
Shane shook his head firmly. “No. You need to be with Amy and the baby.”
Carl stepped forward then “You and Amy are having a baby? Why didn’t you or Amy say anything?” he demanded.
The group looked at each other, the tension thick between them. Harry crossed his arms, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “Thanks for outing it, Shane,” he muttered.
Dale cleared his throat, trying to defuse the moment. “We need to get Lori looked at,” he said, cutting through the argument.
Dale led Lori into the house, his grip gentle as he guided her toward a chair near the fire. His gaze flicked over her, checking for anything beyond the cuts and bruises from the crash. “You banged yourself up good,” he muttered, reaching for a damp cloth.
Carl sat beside her, eyes wide with worry, but Lori pulled him in close, her hand resting against his back. “I’m sorry,” she said softly. “I shouldn’t have left.”
Carl shook his head. “I wasn’t scared,” he said stubbornly, though the tightness in his voice betrayed something deeper. “Dad’s gonna be back soon, right?”
Lori brushed a strand of hair from his face. “He will,” she said, trying to make the words sound steady.
Carl shifted, his expression thoughtful. “I want to tell him about Amy’s baby.”
Lori sighed. “He already knows.”
Carl’s brows furrowed as he glanced at Dale and Andrea. “Am I the only one who didn't know?” he asked.
Lori shook her head. “Just us and Shane.”
Andrea, arms crossed, let out a breath. “Well… I kinda let it slip to T-Dog earlier today.”
Lori sighed, rubbing her temples. “Figures,” she muttered. “Harry was probably just waiting for the right time to tell everyone.”
Carl’s expression shifted, curiosity taking over. “Is it a boy or girl?” he asked.
Andrea shrugged. “Won’t know till the baby’s born.”
Lori rubbed the back of her neck “Haven’t had that talk with Carl yet.”
Andrea chuckled. “Must’ve been awkward the first time with Harry.”
Lori scoffed. “Harry knew before Rick and I could even sit him down.” She rolled her eyes. “Shane corrupted him with his stories about his one-night stands before we could stop him.”
Dale raised a hand quickly. “I am not doing the talk.”
Before anyone else could react, Harry’s voice rang from outside. “Not it!”
Andrea furrowed her brow, staring toward the window. “How the hell did he hear us?”
Shane leaned against the doorway, arms crossed, expression unreadable. “I apologize,” he muttered. “But I had to get you back here somehow.”
Lori’s jaw tightened as she stepped toward Shane, her voice sharp. “I need to talk to Shane alone for a minute.” Everyone left the room, Carl glancing behind him before leaving.
“I want the truth,” she said, eyes locked onto him. “What really happened to Ed Peletier?”
Shane looked away, his posture stiff, his face shadowed with something unreadable. He didn’t answer at first, just exhaled slowly.
Lori narrowed her eyes. “It’s not true, is it?” she pressed. “What Dale said?”
Shane let out a short breath, then finally met her gaze. “Harry did what needed to be done,” he said simply.
Lori’s stomach twisted, her breath hitching slightly. “You’re saying he—” She couldn’t finish the thought.
Shane stepped closer, his voice low “You saw Carol and Sophia that day,” he hissed. “Sophia could barely walk, barely leave the damn tent. And Carol? Had a bruise that covered half her damn face.”
Lori swallowed hard, dread settling deep in her chest. “What happened?”
Shane’s expression darkened. “I was gonna kick Ed out of camp,” he admitted. “Told him he could go, leave without his wife or daughter, or I was gonna kill him myself.”
Lori inhaled sharply, her body tensing.
“But he refused,” Shane continued. His voice was unapologetic. “Harry kicked him down a hill—straight into a pack of walkers. They tore into him.”
Lori turned away, horror flashing across her face as she ran a hand over her mouth, trying to process what she had just heard.
Shane’s voice remained firm. “Harry did the right thing,” he said.
Lori pushed herself up from her seat. She didn’t say a word, didn’t even spare Shane another glance as she walked away, her expression unreadable. Shane let out a frustrated sigh, burying his face in his hands, gripping his hair tightly.
Meanwhile, Andrea sat beside Beth’s bed, Maggie carefully checking her pulse and brushing stray strands of hair from her pale face. Otis hovered nearby, glancing between them before speaking. “I’ll start an I.V.,” he said. “Keep her stable until Hershel gets back.”
Andrea nodded, grateful for his expertise. She turned to Maggie, who stood at Beth’s bedside, arms wrapped around herself protectively. “Do you need anything?” Andrea asked.
Maggie shook her head. “No,” she said, voice distant. Then she sighed, her expression softening as a memory surfaced. “I remember one time when I came back from college… Beth was so mad at me for leaving.” Her lips curled slightly, a ghost of a smile. “She chucked my birth control pills into the pond.”
Andrea blinked, surprised. “Seriously?”
Maggie chuckled softly. “I yelled at her, she yelled back—and then Shawn heard us screaming and came running outside, thinking someone was drowning.” She shook her head. “When he realized what was actually happening, he just stood there laughing his ass off.”
Maggie’s expression shifted, growing more distant. “Dad came storming out, demanding to know what was going on. Beth just looked up at him, dead serious, and said we were just swimming.”
Andrea leaned against the porch railing, watching the horizon with quiet certainty. “Rick and Glenn will bring Hershel back,” she said, her voice firm.
Maggie, standing beside her, let out a small sigh. “Glenn’s a good guy.”
Andrea nodded. “Yeah. He is.”
The next morning, Shane, Daryl, and Harry loaded the back of the station wagon, securing supplies as Dale approached Andrea. His expression was cautious. “You sure about this?” he asked.
Andrea glanced at him. “I’m sure. I’ll be with Shane and Harry.”
Dale frowned. “Harry and Shane don’t have the best track record with people in this camp.”
Amy and a few others looked confused at the statement. Andrea’s eyes narrowed into a glare, while Lori turned away, avoiding the conversation altogether. Harry, standing beside Shane, let out a slow sigh, glaring at Shane from the corner of his eyes.
Daryl, tying down supplies, glanced between them, his expression unreadable. Neither of them noticed the way his mouth twisted slightly in thought.
Then Carley’s voice rang out from the lookout. “Car’s coming!”
The group turned toward the road as Rick, Hershel, and Glenn pulled up. Relief flooded the camp as Carl sprinted forward, throwing his arms around his father. Rick pulled him close for a brief moment before Hershel stepped out of the car “Get the shed ready for surgery,” he ordered.
Shane approached Rick quickly, “Lori went out looking for you,” he said. “For you, Glenn, and Hershel.”
T-Dog, scanning the group, suddenly stiffened and pointed. “Who the hell is that?”
Rick turned as Glenn answered. “His name’s Randall.”
Later, inside the house, everyone gathered as Rick stood in front of them, explaining everything. “We couldn’t leave him behind,” Rick said.
Kenny scoffed, shaking his head. “The hell you couldn’t. He tried to kill you.”
Andrea frowned. “So what do we do with him?”
Hershel exhaled, rubbing his temple. “I did what I could for his leg, but he’s got nerve damage.”
Rick’s jaw tightened. “We take him far away. Leave him.”
Carley shook her head, her tone sharp. “That’s as bad as leaving him for walkers.”
Rick’s voice remained firm. “He’d have a fighting chance.”
Harry stepped forward, frustration laced in his words. “Are we seriously letting a man who tried to kill us—who knows where we are—just walk away?”
Rick snapped, his tone clipped. “He’s not a threat.”
Shane crossed his arms. “How many people does his group have?”
Kenny scoffed again. “Rick killed three of their guys and kidnapped another. You think they’re not gonna come looking?”
Rick glared at the three of them “They left him for dead.”
Hershel turned to Kenny, voice sharp. “After everything you’ve done, just shut your mouth.”
The conversation halted, tension lingering as the group slowly dispersed.
Later, Maggie pulled Glenn aside, leading him into one of the rooms. “What’s going on with you?” she asked.
Glenn exhaled shakily, running a hand through his hair. “Hershel saved me. Rick saved both of us. And I—” He swallowed hard. “I froze.”
Maggie frowned. “You don’t have to prove anything.”
Glenn looked away, his voice bitter. “I hid to stay alive. Rick and your dad were counting on me, and all I did was think about myself.”
Maggie reached for him, but Glenn pulled away, walking out as tears welled in her eyes.
Later, Maggie found Hershel checking on Beth, his hands steady as he took her pulse. “Has she eaten?” he asked.
Maggie shook her head. “No.”
“I’ll give her a sedative.”
Maggie’s frustration boiled over. “You were drinking.”
Hershel barely glanced at her. “That’s the least of my worries.”
Maggie’s expression hardened. “You left. And I didn’t know what to do.”
Her voice cracked, and without another word, she turned and walked away, tears spilling silently as she left the room behind her.
Andrea walked beside Shane, her steps slow but deliberate as she glanced at him. “Want me to take watch?” she asked.
Shane barely looked at her, nodding. “Yeah.”
Andrea rolled her shoulders. “I’ll relieve T-Dog over the prisoner.”
Her tone sharpened slightly as she continued, “Are we seriously just gonna let him go?”
Shane exhaled, shaking his head. “If Rick and Hershel have their way, yeah.”
Andrea scoffed. “We can’t risk Randall bringing his group back here.”
Shane’s jaw tightened. “I know that already.”
Andrea glanced at him sideways. “Then try a different touch. You say the right things, but you go about them the wrong way.”
Shane let out a short laugh, though there was no humor in it. “Dale send you?” he muttered.
Andrea shook her head.
“We’re the odd ones out, Andrea. Everyone wants to play house, pretend everything’s fine, and it’s gonna get us all killed.”
“Yeah.”
Andrea lowered her voice. “There are more people who’d side with you than you think.”
Shane didn’t answer, just shook his head and walked away.
Meanwhile, inside a tent, Lori sat beside Rick, carefully cleaning the cuts on his arms. He winced slightly but didn’t complain, his exhaustion plain on his face.
“We need to talk about Harry,” Lori said, keeping her voice measured.
Rick frowned. “What did he do now?”
Lori hesitated before meeting his gaze. “He murdered a member of the group before you showed up.”
Rick’s entire body stiffened. “What?”
Lori swallowed, her voice quieter now. “It was Carol’s husband—Ed.”
Rick’s brows furrowed deeply, confusion flickering in his eyes. “That’s not what I heard.”
Lori inhaled slowly. “Shane told me last night—he told me everything.”
She began explaining what had really happened—that Harry had kicked Ed down the hill, straight into a group of walkers. That Shane had been ready to kill Ed himself, but Harry had acted first. That Ed had refused to leave the camp, and Harry hadn’t hesitated to kill him.
Rick listened, his face unreadable.
For the first time since he arrived, he realized just how much had happened before he ever stepped foot in camp.
Lori sat beside Rick, her voice quiet but strained. “Shane told me last night that Harry did the right thing,” she admitted, her fingers twisting in her lap. “And the truth is… I don’t think I know my own son anymore.”
Rick looked at her, his jaw tight.
“He’s changed since the world ended,” Lori continued, her voice catching slightly. “It’s been slow, but I see it now. He’s darker. I—I was in denial about it before.”
Rick exhaled sharply, lowering his head, his hands resting on his knees. “I murdered two men today,” he said finally. “Just to get back here.”
Lori swallowed, her heart aching as she reached out and placed a hand on his shoulder. He leaned into the touch slightly, allowing the comfort.
Rick sat up, pulling on his shirt before pushing himself to his feet. He stepped out of the tent, rubbing a hand over his face, and that was when he finally saw it.
The camp had shifted.
Carol, Dale, Donna, and Allen’s tents were the only ones still beside his own.
Doug and Carley’s shared tent sat in the middle, next to Ben’s.
But the rest—the majority—had moved.
T-Dog, Andrea, Amy, Harry, Kenny and his family, Mark and Clementine, Omid and Christa… all had positioned their tents by Shane’s.
Rick’s breath caught slightly as realization dawned.
The group was splitting.
And more were aligning with Shane.
Across the way, Harry met his father’s gaze, his expression unreadable.
Rick stared back at him, a cold settling deep in his chest.
He was the last one to realize it.