Chapter Twenty-Five - He Left

"It was my idea. Like what I've told the others earlier, our group needs the additional muscle. Especially during my absence. This group can't just rely on Me, Rick, Shane, Daryl, T-Dawg, and Glenn, while Dale is a pacifist. No offense, but he can't be relied on when it comes to human threats."

"Ouch, that's harsh." Dale looked at Michael, who just smiled at him.

"Andrea, Cole and Alan, these three have just started to gain some experience while the rest are mostly made up of women and two old men. These ex-cons will prove beneficial to the group when it comes not only to walkers, but also to human threats. We'll make sure they don't get anywhere near your home." Michael calmly explained to them and made emphasis in regard to potential human threats.

"He's right. We'll inevitably encounter hostile human groups in the long run." Shane, the most pragmatic person and the one who had adapted quickly with the change of the world order also voiced his opinion.

"How will I trust your words when you're planning on leaving soon?" Hershel was more annoyed than convinced.

Michael smiled. "Well, even without me. You have two former cops here with you who will keep an eye on them."

Hershel remained silent while contemplating about something. "I want some supplies in exchange for them."

"Deal." Rick quickly sealed the deal and continued. "And since all of us are already gathered here, I want to negotiate our permanent stay on your property in exchange for supplies."

Heshel looked around him. He knows Rick is trying to pressure him with the presence of the others. "No, I still expect you to leave my property when your boy is fit for travel, and didn't you say you've cleaned up the prison? Instead of staying here, why not just head over there and make it your own."

Hershel immediately left with Maggie after saying those words. He didn't want to hear anymore words from Rick on trying to change his mind.

"Stubborn old coot" Michael clicked his tongue and muttered before turning around and started making his way to the RV.

Everyone heard him and couldn't help but stare.

Michael didn't have anything against Hershel. He just doesn't like how stubborn the old man can be sometimes.

"When are you leaving?"

Michael was inside the shower in the RV while Andrea was just outside the shower.

"Two days from now." Michael responded while brushing his teeth.

"Can't I come?"

"No."

Michael didn't even hesitate to reject her.

'If you come, wouldn't I need to alter my plans again?' Michael thought as he came out of the shower.

"I would prefer if you stayed here with the group and look after your sister. I've discussed this with Rick on the way back, and that starting tomorrow. We will begin a crash course on how to properly handle a firearm." Michael notified her while drying his hair with a towel.

Andrea's heated gaze immediately disappeared when she heard him mention about gun training tomorrow. "Really?"

"Only handguns though. The following training for higher calibers will be overseen by either Shane or Rick." Michael replied.

"Learning the handgun is already enough for us." Andrea smiled in excitement.

It didn't take long before the women in charge of tonight's dinner were done with their preparations and began tonight's dinner.

Excluding the former prisoners, the survivors gathered around the campfire.

Since it has been a while when they last had a proper meal. Everyone wore joyous smiles on their faces while enjoying the food.

Michael didn't want the prisoners to feel that they weren't welcomed and joined them with Andrea. Which were soon followed by Shane and Daryl joining them.

"I never thought there would be a day that I would be this happy eating a Spam." Andrea chuckled out of nostalgia. "Damn, I suddenly want to eat some steak."

"If you want, you can have venison steak for lunch tomorrow." Daryl suggested. Which quickly got a positive response from Andrea, "Are you for real? That'd be great, thank you!"

Axel and the others also wore looks of anticipation on their faces since they were already tired of eating canned food every day.

Michael silently ate his food while listening to the chatter of the people around him. The same goes for Shane too, he had been somewhat acting like a recluse ever since that night when they returned from that high school.

"Shane, can I have a word with you right after this?" Michael looked at Shane.

Shane looked up from his plate, then to the others who had suddenly gone silent and was watching them.

"Yeah, sure."

After dinner, Michael led Shane away from the camp and out in the open.

With moonlight shining over them, Michael and Shane stood against each other, while Rick and the others curiously watched them from the camp.

"What is this about?" Shane asked in a grim tone when he immediately felt the somber atmosphere between them when they got there.

Michael stared at him for a moment. "This matter had since come to my attention for quite a while, but I ignored it since I really did not want to meddle in your affairs. Though recently, your actions have gotten our people worried."

His expression quickly darkened. Shane looked at him with his face slightly facing the ground. "What is it? Get to the point."

With his hands on his waist, Michael let out a sigh. "Lori. I would appreciate it if you kept your distance from her."

Hearing his words, Shane's eyebrows jumped in surprise and quickly dismissed his words. "What are you talking about? What's this between me and Lori?"

Michael chuckled. He couldn't believe that this guy before him was acting ignorant. "You know what I mean. Did you think no one would notice the extracurricular activities going between you two? It only ceased when Rick was reunited with his family."

"You-"

"Don't. I don't want to hear your excuses, man. I don't care what happened between you two. We are only having this discussion because I want to advise you to keep your distance from her. You don't love her, you're just obsessed. There's a lot of fish in the sea. Just take the time to look around and you'll find someone without any baggage. Someone who is more plump, younger, or someone who has a..juicier ass? I don't know. Just find one." Michael advised him and at the same time, warned him.

Yet again with a sigh, Michael went over to Shane and placed his hand on the man's shoulder. "Listen, I don't want to return to be met with the news that one of you had to kill the other. For what, just for a woman? That'd be the stupidest way to die. But if you think that what I'm asking is too hard for you. Leaving is also a choice. Just…just think about it tonight, alright? I don't want to lose any of you here."

With nothing more to add, Michael turned around and started making his way back to camp.

"Why only me? Why can't Rick be the one to leave?"

Michael had just taken a couple of steps forward when Shane made him pause in his tracks.

Michael didn't turn around but turned his head to the side. "I recently heard you've already started making plans to leave the group. That's why."

He was really disappointed when the news that Shane was making plans to leave the group reached his ears. He really thought with the recent positive changes that he created for the group; Shane would at least try to stay since the group's survival had increased with his addition.

'I guess I'm also part of the reason why he wants to leave. The leadership that was only supposed to be divided between him and Rick was further divided into three with my appearance. His obsession with having an authority over the group is not impossible to overlook, but his obsession over Lori has begun to strain the unity of the group and might possibly even endanger it in the long run.' Michael just can't understand what Shane sees in Lori that he would not hesitate to destroy his years of friendship he had with Rick.

'You already tasted the prize multiple times. Shouldn't you move on at this point?'Michael was annoyed but he couldn't blame the man since Lori and Carl are probably the ones that are keeping him grounded, keeping him sane to the current reality of the world.

The next day, Michael was woken up by the loud chatter around him.

Michael came out of his tent and saw the people at the camp gossiping in hushed tones.

He went over to a nearby Amy who's busy hanging the laundry and asked about what was happening. "What's happening this early in the morning?"

Amy stopped what she was doing and hesitated to answer. "Uhhh..Shane left."

When those words came out her mouth, Michael became dumbstruck for a moment. He felt that he might have heard it wrong since he had just woken up and asked once more. "What do you mean he left?"

"Well..he left for good. He also took your truck." Unlike the others, Amy wasn't really affected with Shane's departure. They weren't really that close.

"What the..that idiot."

Michael wasn't concerned about Shane leaving. Instead, his concern was directed to something else.

'My truck!'

When Rick noticed Michael had woken up, he immediately went over to him. "You and Shane discussed something last night. What was it about that it caused him to leave?"

Michael didn't immediately respond and instead looked at the people around them. Everyone started pretending to do chores near the two. They were curious to hear why Shane left without saying a word.

"There's nothing to see here. Disperse and resume your duties elsewhere." The group slowly dispersed with Michael's insistence.

He turned his attention back to Rick. "Don't act like you have no idea now, you already know the reason behind his departure."

Michael stopped beside Rick and whispered to his ear. "I wouldn't easily trust someone who tried to kill you before."

Rick quickly turned his head towards him. "What do you mean?"

"Ask Dale." Michael smiled and repeatedly patted his shoulder before walking away from him.

Rick bit his lips in annoyance and immediately turned around. He ignored Lori who came over and walked past her.

"Dale!"

"What?"

Rick entered the RV to see Dale cleaning his hunting rifle and was looking at him with a bewildered expression.

"Is it true? Did Shane try to kill me before?" Rick walked over beside the table and inquired in an almost interrogating tone.

"Ohh, that. I wouldn't say he tried to kill you, but he contemplated doing it." Dale immediately realized that Michael must have told Rick about what happened back at the quarry.

Hearing those words, Rick felt like someone had just pricked his heart, while Lori, who followed after Rick, covered her mouth in shock. "Since when?"

Since the cat was already out of the bag, Dale didn't bother hiding it. "Back at the quarry, I saw Michael holding Shane at gunpoint while your best friend was pointing his gun towards you."

"Is that why they have always been cold to each other?' Lori interjected. She was having multitudes of different feelings, but mostly guilt.

Dale looked at her and with a shrug. "Probably."

Rick took a deep breath and immediately left the RV.

"Rick." Lori softly called out, but her husband just ignored her.

Dale watched the dejected Lori exiting his RV while thinking along the lines.

'So, I was right all along'