A/N: This story is a sequel to my story Too Far Gone, but it is perfectly possible to read this story without first reading the other one.
A brief summary of Too Far Gone: terrible things happen to the Governor while he is with Lilly, Tara and Meghan Chambler, doing his utmost to keep them safe. Along with the rest of Martinez's group, they go to Terminus in search of refuge. Lilly and Meghan wind up dead; and the Governor loses his remaining eye in grief and guilt. He tells Tara everything about his past, and she takes him to Rick's prison. The Governor now calls himself Philip Blake. Rick is convinced that there is nothing left of the Governor side of the man, and allows Philip and Tara into the prison, initially for a short rest, but eventually letting them stay to live there.
This story will have a different timeline to that implied by the prologue and epilogue of Too Far Gone: it's a very loose sequel.
To note: in this story, the plague/infection at the prison never happens. I enjoyed that part of the show, but as it doesn't add anything to my story I've decided to disregard those episodes. Life is uneventful and 'normal' at the prison … until the Governor and Tara show up outside the gates.
This is the first time I've tried my hand at a 'Bethernor' story. I fell in love with this pairing after reading LadyIngenue's They Seek Him Here and Doctor Blake and Mr Hyde. I will do my best to do it justice.
Thanks to LadyIngenue for all her help with the inception of this story, and her insightful notes on this chapter.
She sat just like the others at the table.
But on second glance, she seemed to hold her cup
a little differently as she picked it up.
– 'Going Blind' – Rainer Maria Rilke
Chapter 1
'I'm going to tend to his eye now. I want you to come with me, Beth.'
Herschel didn't need to clarify who his intended patient was. An hour previously the man who had once been the Governor had been brought into the prison, along with a young woman he must have met since Woodbury. Herschel had explained that their stay would initially last no more than a few days, but it could be extended indefinitely depending on how the trial period went.
The news had generally been received with grim silence. No one had forgotten all the things the Governor had done. But the Council had voted; and he would be blind, and weapon-less. There was nothing more he could do to them, Herschel had insisted. 'I know that every one of you remembers the things he's done – done to your friends and family.' He was silent for a while, remembering no doubt just what the Governor had done to his own family. Then he spoke sternly. 'But that's just it. "Done." That was then, and this is now. I want you to remember that.'
Beth had listened in silence.
Now he looked at her with infinite patience. 'Will you come?'
'Yes, Daddy.' She kissed his cheek briefly then held his arm as they left Cell Block C. As they crossed the entrance yard she felt a vivid sense of déjà vu. Just over an hour earlier all forty or so of the prison's inhabitants had gathered around the edges of the open space to watch as Rick and Daryl escorted in the two strangers.
The distrust and malcontent in the air had been palpable. Many faces showed anger, some fear. But all Beth had been able to feel, as she gazed at that mutilated face, the sightless eyes hidden behind dirtied bandages, was pity.
What had happened to him?
Rick had spoken sternly, his chin jutting, fixing each person present with his steely blue gaze. 'Here's what's going to happen. I'm taking these two to Cell Block A, where they'll stay for four days, enough time to recover from their journey. As you can see, they're in pretty bad shape.'
The man who had been the Governor remained impassive, only the bunching of his jaw betraying emotion. He was tall and broad, taller than any other man in the prison. He held himself stiffly, as if apart from everything. His head was slightly bowed, but did not turn. If he felt the suspicion directed at him from every side his set expression gave no sign of it.
'While they're there, they're to be left alone. There'll be a guard outside at all times. No visitors but Herschel and myself. We'll bring them food and anything else they need. None of you have to come into contact with them.'
For the first time Beth looked at the young woman. What must she think – what must she feel to be treated like a pariah, lumped in with this man she must have protected with her life, while he was intensely vulnerable. What was it that had brought them together? And what was it that kept her with him, when his blindness meant she risked death every second of the day?
The tension was so thick that Beth felt herself grow faint.
'All right,' said Rick. And he gestured to the young woman, who took the blind man's arm and began to lead him after Rick, Daryl on their heels, his crossbow still in hand.
No one spoke until the group had left the yard.
As she and Herschel walked towards Cell Block A, where the two strangers were being kept, Beth wished she could question Herschel about what the Governor had said to persuade the Council to take him in. But she knew that her father would say that those words were the Governor's business alone – and he would be right.
Only a week had passed since she had gone to her father with the intention of training as a nurse. Life at the prison had been good to them for the last six months – almost impossibly good, but she could not forget the harsh reality of the world outside their walls. Medical skills were invaluable, and she would be a fool not to learn them while she could. She might not be as good at raids as the others, but she would learn to fix them when they came back with cuts and burns or broken bones.
She had not been training to be a nurse long, and though she had seen her share of injuries over the last year and a half – and even before then, as the daughter of a veterinarian – she still felt unease at the thought of the Governor's ruined eye. But the gore was only a small part of it.
'There's nothing to be afraid of.' Herschel was looking at her with a gentleness that made her heart soften. 'He can't do any more harm. And even if he could, I don't think he would. He's changed. You'll see. But you'll need to prepare yourself. The wound won't be pretty.'
Daryl stood outside the cell block, his crossbow in his hands.
'How are they?'
'They don't say much.' He shrugged. 'They're resting, mostly.'
Herschel turned to Beth. 'Are you ready?'
'Wait – Beth's going in with you?'
She frowned. 'Yes. Daddy's training me as a nurse – how else am I to learn?'
Daryl blinked. 'You ain't neither of you met this man. You don't know what he used to be like. I'll come with you; make sure it's safe.'
'You've already checked him for weapons.' Herschel's voice was quiet but firm. 'He won't hurt us. I've never needed an armed escort to tend to a patient before, and I don't need one now.'
'What about Maggie? You gonna let Beth get near him after that?'
Beth flinched, struggling to conceal the sudden sick feeling that gripped her.
Herschel's brows drew together. 'I won't pretend I've forgotten what he did to her. I never will. But he's a patient, and it's my duty to tend to him, same as any other. Now let us through.'
Daryl watched him steadily. Then he let out a sigh. 'All right. But you call me if anything happens.'
He unbolted the door and they went inside. Beth blinked a few times to adjust her eyes to the gloom of the cell block after the brightness of the yard outside.
A dark-haired young woman was sitting on a bench in the main walkway. She glanced up, unsmiling, as they came in.
'Tara,' said Herschel. 'I'm glad to see you're resting. Have you slept yet?'
'Not yet.'
'This is Beth, my youngest daughter. She'll be accompanying me from now on. If Philip consents, she'll help me treat his eye.'
'He's in the cell at the back.' Tara pointed behind her to the right, then nodded to Beth.
Beth smiled back.
Tara frowned slightly, not quite smiling. When she spoke there was something like anger in her voice. 'He doesn't talk much. Not even to me.' Then she grew serious. 'I want to thank you for taking us in. For taking him in. You'll see he's nothing like what you knew him as.' Her chin jutted. 'I'll make you see it even if he won't try.'
The Governor lifted his face towards them as they came to the doorway of the cell. He was sitting on his bed, his hands folded. A bandage was wrapped around his head, where his eyes used to be. The left side was bloodied. She couldn't help but stare; all too aware that he couldn't see her.
Up close he was pale and exhausted. His clothes hung loosely on him; his hair was dirty and unkempt.
She remembered those tense days in which she'd gone to bed every night fearing the next day he would come and raze the prison to the ground. Kill Herschel, kill Maggie, and everyone else she'd come to love.
She thought of Maggie after she got back from Woodbury; how it had felt to see her fierce, outspoken sister so silent and withdrawn. How could she stand here in the same room as him? How could Herschel regard him so calmly?
But she saw the way his face lifted as they came to his cell; seeking them out with eyes no longer possessed of sight.
Once again pity lumped in her throat.
She kept all these thoughts hidden as she waited for her father's instructions.
'Mr Blake,' Herschel said. 'I hope you're comfortable.'
His voice was dull. 'Just Philip.'
'All right. Philip, I'm here to treat your eye, if you'll let me. I've brought my daughter, Beth, to help. She's training to be a nurse. Is it all right with you for her to be here?'
The Governor shrugged.
'Good.' Beth thought she saw strain in Herschel's features; this was not much easier for him than it was for her. As she looked at the Governor again, more closely this time, she saw tension in his face and the set of his shoulders; he could not quite fully hide his pain. Somehow he must have been managing without any medicine or pain relief for days.
She could not see pain without responding to it. Some part of her dread and curiosity vanished, replaced by the intent to give him what aid she could.
'Beth is just going to take the bandage off now.' Herschel nodded to Beth.
She went to the Governor's side cautiously. Nerves were knotting in her belly; she dismissed them, telling herself it was because she wasn't used to nursing yet. His jaw was rigid as she put a hand to the side of his face to keep his head steady. His alert wariness was nearly a physical thing; her touch seemed to bring forth something almost like abjection in him. She was very gentle as she unwound the bandage. She felt rough stubble under her palm; he hadn't shaved in days. How would he manage to shave now that he was blind?
Did he know that she was Maggie's sister?
Then the last layer of the bandage came away, and the wound was revealed, hideous; raw and red. Beth didn't make a sound, just moving back and watching as her father examined it closely, then called to her to pass him a torch. Throughout the examination the Governor stayed stiffly upright, his fingers tense as though he was fighting the impulse to clench them.
'You're very fortunate that it's not infected,' Herschel told him. 'But we'll have to keep it bandaged for a while.'
When Herschel offered drugs to counter the pain, he refused bluntly. Nothing Herschel could say on the subject would move him. Beth listened in silence.
'Then at least let me test your sight,' Herschel said. He raised the torch. 'Can you see any light?'
'Nothing.' Neither the Governor's voice nor expression gave any sign of emotion.
Herschel put the torch away and spoke clearly. 'The tear ducts are intact. But the other nerves are damaged beyond repair. I won't say it isn't possible that they might heal over time. But it's very likely you will never have sight again.' He paused. 'I do have one bit of good news.'
The Governor waited; his expression unreadable.
Herschel's voice was very gentle. 'You'll still be able to cry.'
'Huh.' He let out a low laugh, neither bitter nor amused. The sound of it wrung Beth's heart.
'The eyes are expressive,' Herschel went on. 'You've not lost all the ways they can convey emotion. You'll be glad of that one day.'
His patient was silent.
Herschel turned to his daughter. 'Bethie; will you put a fresh bandage on?'
She went to his medicine bag and drew out a length of clean dressing.
The Governor spoke dully. 'You might as well put it right the way around my head.'
She was tender as she put on the fresh bandage.
Herschel picked up his medicine bag. 'That'll be all then, unless there's anything else you need?'
The Governor bowed his head, already retreating from them.
'The best medicine I can prescribe now is rest. We'll be back tomorrow morning to check on your eye again. Make sure to get plenty of sleep.'
Herschel and Beth went to the door.
'Thank you,' came that quiet voice. When Beth looked back his face was turned towards her. But even as she paused, his head drooped, and she felt him slipping, slipping somewhere far beyond reach, lost in his own thoughts and his private pain.
