Glenn sat alone in his cell contemplating his life. The darkness pressed in around him and he was reminded of his time in Woodbury, the torture he and Maggie had been forced to endure. Thank goodness the group had rescued them in time, even if Glenn did feel slightly guilty for Daryl's capture. Although Daryl had been reunited with his brother, for better or for worse and he had proven where his loyalties lay, returning to the group even though he could have left with Merle. He felt sympathy that Daryl had lost Merle so soon afterwards but also a great sense of relief that now nobody could pull Daryl from the group and separate the high functioning team again.
Rick still seemed a little shaken, especially after Andrea's death, and he was constantly worrying about the Governor. Whenever he was awake he was pouring over countless maps, trying to pinpoint possible base locations and sending scouts to check them out before preparing contingency plans and setting up all kinds of defence blockades. Not that Glenn particularly blamed him of course, that was the way things were these days and while the Governor was one seriously messed up individual- bordering on bat-shit crazy-he was still incredibly dangerous and a lot smarter than a bunch of walking corpses. Glenn couldn't remember the last time Rick had gotten a good night sleep, even after no news of any attacks-both from survivors and Walkers- for nearly a month.
Herschel and Beth were settling in well, taking their time to care for the new members of the group-the outcasts from Woodbury-though everyone else seemed to avoid them, especially Daryl and Carl. Glenn got the feeling that Carl just didn't trust that the old people wouldn't just peg it and turn; they sometimes looked like Walkers despite being alive, but Daryl just seemed nervous around them, like they brought back uncomfortable memories.
Michonne generally avoided everyone but Beth-whom she had grown incredibly close to since Andrea's death-and clocked it down to her just being cautious, not wanting to become overly committed to the group in case she was forced to move on. No one had said a word to her about the whole fight with the Governor, though Daryl did seem to treat her with an air of equality and a grudging respect which was difficult to win with the badass redneck. Glenn was surprisingly proud to be counted among those few, even if Daryl would send some humorous, demeaning comments about his Asian heritage sometimes. He had appeared even more impressed when Glenn and Maggie had recounted the story of their imprisonment at Woodbury to the group, increasingly so after Glenn explained his defeat of the Walker whilst unarmed and bound to a chair, Daryl even ignoring any rude comments Glenn accidently added about his late brother's treatment of prisoners.
Maggie was being the most complicated of all, retreating back into herself more than usual; obviously traumatised by her experience, even though she had seemed to have handled it quite well at the time. Apparently she had confessed to Carol her feelings about the incident but Glenn had avoided confronting her about it; lest she take offence or become even more distant. Their relationship and love for each other hadn't waned though, and they both eagerly anticipated the right moment to choose their wedding day. Maggie had chosen Beth as her maid of honour and Glenn was determined to make Daryl his best man; although neither had plucked up the courage to ask either one in case something happened in between that resulted in a denied hope. A few nights ago they had both agreed that Rick should be the one to do the whole vicar deal, while Carl would act as ring bearer and Carol as Maggie's chief bridesmaid. Herschel was of course going to walk up the isle with his daughter, for which he had been adamant when Maggie had asked him, despite his leg injury.
Glenn grinned dreamily, absorbed in his own envisionment of a perfect white wedding, with Maggie in a beautiful, flowing dress that made her glow like an angel. Everyone dressed in tailored suits and dresses, though Glenn struggled to picture Daryl-with his rough-tough, dirty exterior- in a fancy, pressed suit. Glenn felt his face fall as Judith's hollow cries echoed down the hall and he realised how impossible his dream was; seeing as the world had fallen apart. They barely had enough food and water sometimes, let alone ironed, fresh clothes free of dirt and grime. No matter how hard Carol and Beth scrubbed, there were always remnants of past battles, gory deaths and horrifying situations. Daryl and Rick's clothes were always the worst, being the most intense, and battle active members of the group; they wore darker colours and changed their outer wear more regularly than the others, more for the group's sake than their own.
Climbing off his bed, Glenn tiptoed down the hallway and into the main room, where Beth, Rick and Carol were huddled around the baby; trying to quieten her loud, wailing cries. Carl was slouched in the corner, hands over his ears, in a pathetic attempt to block out the noise as he read some book he had probably found in one of the prisons property lockers. Glenn was unsure whether someone should check that material; seeing as this had been a prison filled with some unsavoury characters before all Hell broke loose, but dismissed the idea-the kid had seen much worse in real life to be compared to any fiction and Rick obviously wasn't particularly concerned by the prospect of his son reading any adult themes. Michonne and the others were nowhere in sight, though Glenn knew that Maggie was helping Herschel treat patients in their makeshift infirmary and that Daryl had gone to get some much needed shuteye. Judith continued to scream, the high pitch screeching echoing off the stone walls and giving Glenn a dull headache, if anyone had been asleep in the entire complex, they weren't now.
As if on cue, Daryl stormed into the room; his eyes wide and fierce, masking the heavy, dark bags under his eyes that hinted he had been in a deep, exhausted sleep.
"Wha' the hell is all this racket for, lil' Asskicker?" Daryl said, his voice tired and raspy "Some of us need our beauty sleep."
Taking the baby gently from Rick's arms, Daryl cradled the little girl; her crying dying down in an instant and everyone revering in the blissful silence. The rough, messy redneck looked out of place with the tiny, delicate baby, draped in white cloth but Glenn could see the calm happiness in Daryl's face as he gently rocked the baby girl, lulling her into a peaceful sleep. The others watched curiously, smiling subtly as they watched the group's hunter work his unusual magic. Finally, Daryl seemed satisfied Judith was asleep and shuffled toward the cradle, tenderly handing the baby back to her father before he in turn laid the baby down once again. Exchanging a few words and Rick giving Daryl a grateful clap on the back, Daryl turned away, rubbing his bleary eyes as he approached Glenn.
"Well I 'ain't gonna get back to sleep anytime soon," Daryl drawled, yawning slightly "How bought you and I head down to da river and clean up? Been dying for a shower all week."
Glenn smiled widely, adjusting the soft cap on his head "Sounds good. I'll get my stuff while you tell Rick and the others where we're headed; meet you by the gates in five."
Daryl nodded briefly, a wry smile on his face as he stretched out, grabbing his crossbow off the table and returning to Rick; who by now was stood at a nearby table, analysing yet another map of the area. With a stressful sigh, Glenn turned around, hurrying for his cell once again to grab his bag and some supplies in case of an emergency and then walking toward the entrance; pulling a gun out of the security locker at the back of the room before kicking open the large doors and heading out into the open sunlight.
It was surprisingly hot for early spring and the sun was high in the sky to signify it was around noon. A cool breeze fluttered through the yard, carrying with it a few dead leaves from the ending winter. Daryl already stood by the prison gate, his trusty motorcycle propped up beside him, looking like a mobster from a modern day, famous gangster movie. Without another word, Glenn opened the front gate, and climbed on behind Daryl as they took off, the engine purring as they sped down the open tarmac, avoiding Walkers as they went.