A/N: This is my first try at a DarylXCarol fanfic. Walking Dead has been my favorite show, since we saw it on Netflix when they only had the first couple of episodes from Season 1. If you guys like it, or have suggestions on my writing style, let me know.
This chapter of the story is set after the season finale. I may not get all the details that were in the show correct, but that's why they called it fanfic :).
It's been a couple of months since the major battle between Woodbury and the Prison group, and people were still mourning. Rick was still mourning Lori, though he has been having fewer episodes where she appears in an angelic form. Daryl was still upset over his brother, Merle, and how he tried to solve the Governer problem without more bloodshed. Carol was saddened at the loss of Axel. Though she didn't have romantic feelings for him, she felt an immense amount of guilt: one minute he's laughing, joking, and even touching her, and the next, she's using his corpse to shield herself from the volley of gunfire. Michonne was at a loss on how to handle Andrea's death, she had been with her since Hershel's farm overran, and she found Andrea sick and half-dead.
Emotions have settled down, Hershel's sermon he began hosting weekly in the common area seemed to be what everyone needed, whether they followed religion or not. The main gate has been jimmy-rigged for the time being, but everyone knows it won't hold for long, especially if a herd of walkers gets the urge to test its strength. After Hershel's weekly sermon, Rick called the group to a meeting before everyone wandered off to their individual cells. The subject everyone knows needs to be addressed, but none willing to do so, is the first out of Rick's mouth.
"Everyone knows that recent attack has been bad. Bad on them, we got some of their sharpshooters thanks to Daryl, Glenn, and Carl. Their curses were evident on that, so they're down for now. But we lost some good ones of our own. Axel was a good man, in his own way. I know everyone's still upset over T-Dog, and Andrea," Rick notices Daryl shifting his body, as if he's about to interject his brother's name into the list of the dead, Rick's gentle nod of his head easing the discomfort, "And as much as some people might not like to admit, we took a loss when Merle went after the governer. As dumb as it was, you have to admit Merle had a good heart, in an attempt to save lives here in the prison, he lost his own. Both sides took a loss, and we know it."
A few sniffles here and there, tears are wiped. Judith's whines started to ring slightly, a sign that she's waking up but not there yet. Beth, seated between her father and Maggie, started to lift herself from the folding table someone had found in the cafeteria, where the prisoners were found locked away, and brought it out for meals and meetings, if any were called. Carol was standing by the stairs, leading up to Rick's cell, which he shared with Carl and Judith. She held her hand up, signaling that she would be the one to take her leave and attend to Judith. Everyone remains still, letting the inevitable topic sink in without much said on it. Daryl remained quiet during most of the meetings, unless he was called to voice his opinion. He remained more so after he returned to the prison, from his brief leave with Merle, feeling that he had abandoned them and didn't feel he had any right to voice any opinion at this point.
Everyone eyed him in a stunned kind of way, rarely did he say anything unless it was of vital importance. "I know some of you might think I don't have my right to an opinion on the issue of prison's security and the safety of everyone, but to avoid everyone else forced to say what no one wants to hear, I'll do it. This prison is too compromised now. We were fine with the breeched wall, but with the Gov'ner smashing down our front door, practically, and good people lost...Our numbers are lower, our strength is not as good as it was before...This prison ain't safe no more. We need to move on and find somewhere else. More walkers are coming in by the dozens, and we're not able to go on runs as much as before."
There were stifled objections, but nothing out loud. They knew he was right, but no one was willing to admit it. Not even Rick.
"You know he's right, people." Carol had emerged from Rick's cell, little Judith's soft snores and coos echoed slightly behind her. Some were taken back by Carol's support for Daryl, considering she was most upset about Daryl leaving. "Everyone knows we can't stay here for much longer. We're low on food, for us and Judith. Ammo is low, fuel is low, many things we need are practically non-existant. No one wants to say it, and Daryl is the only one with balls enough, despite the fact he might be hated for it." The group nodded in agreement, whispers of yesses and that's rights could be heard. Daryl looked up from the wall lining the cells, his greyish blue eyes that have seen hell met Carol's, but she only returned with a glaring look of betrayal on his end. "We have to leave soon, but we can't really risk packing everything up and wishing for the best, but we can't afford to scout either with supplies low."
"There's another option, one no one would enjoy to listen to, but one that could benefit us for the time being." Rick finally found his voice, after Daryl speaks up and Carol's defense of him. "The Governer wants us gone, he wants this place to himself or just wants the possible threat out of the way so they can live their pleasant, little lives. We can negotiate that for our benefi..." Rick was instantly cut off by shouts of objections. Daryl stood up strait, hissing for everyone to remain silent. "You guys can disagree all you want, but hear the man out," he whispered as softly as he could to avoid waking the baby, but loud enough to be heard. Silence befalls the group once more, and Rick nodded a thank-you to him before continuing. "The Governer wants us out, don't much care why he wants us out. He doesn't know about the breech in the south wall, only the one he made. We can negotiate for him to give us some food and fuel, in exchange we leave the prison. It'd strengthen our supply, no matter how short lived...Might give us a better chance to search a bit longer than with what we have right now."
Hershel stood up, supporting his weight with the crutches he relies on to get around. Normally, Hershel has a lightness to his tone, but he was stone serious.
"Rick is right, and it's not often this man and I agree on a lot. Him and Daryl both make good points, no matter how ugly they seem. Our best chance is leaving, but we can't scout and we can't hope and pray that God gives us a sanctuary worth staying in. The Governer wants us out of here, we need to us that to our advantage. I don't much like the thought of avoiding to tell them about the broken wall, but I'd much rather it be them to get overrun, than my daughters," he nods to Maggie and Beth, "My son, I know you're not kin, Glenn, but you might as well, since you and Mag are practically man and wife," Glenn wipes away a tear, content to know that Hershel gives his consent, "Rick, you or your kids, I want to see grow happy and old, as long as God allows me to see. Carol, you broken woman who emits strength and love to those most deserving." As he named off each person, he would face them, giving them a look of love that a father would give to his children. He finally hobbles over to Daryl, instinctly Daryl reaches out and supports him with his arms. "And you, Daryl Dixon, the man who claims to be alone, but constantly lends support and aid to those with no shared blood. You coming back in our time of need, whether you agree with it or not, is God's way of showing you that you DO deserve the love and care that this group is known for, the only reason I allowed them to stay on my land. I see the love these people give, and I have seen, no matter how well you think you hide it, that you love and care for everyone else. Whether you want to be or not, you are family here, and I'd rather hundreds of their people die instead of one scratch on your head. Same goes for everyone else. As much as a man this makes me less of, I'd rather them die instead of you, and if making a deal with them and leaving this place insures that...Well, Rick, you have an obligation to follow through with it."
The hard truth really began to sank in, everyone solemn looking as they darted their gaze around at one another. With the exception of Judith fussing in her sleep now and then, no one was making a sound. A few seconds, a few minutes, an hour passed by without a word before Rick shifted around, making the first movement in what seemed like forever.
"Unless anybody has any objections to the matter, it's settled. I'll send word to him that we want a real negotiation that will involve us leaving, and hopefully with some more supplies." Rick saundered off to figure out how to send a message to Woodbury, everyone else tending to their normal duties. Maggie and Glenn went out to burn more walker bodies, Hershel went to take inventory and Beth would help when she wasn't called to help Judith. Michonne and Carl decided to patrol the gates, which left Carol and Daryl alone. Carol was still kind of hanging onto the railing one floor up and slightly to the left of Daryl. She looked at him, the man who seemingly betrayed her more than anyone, then saunters back in to rescue the group in their hour of need. Daryl, head slightly turned towards his left shoulder without locking eyes with Carol, was the first to break the silence between the two.
"Carol, I thought I was doing y'all a favor. Cut me a break."
"Sure, you were." She said snarkily before going to organize the kitchen area they had set up in a cell one floor up. Daryl's chest sank, not fully understanding why her comments were affecting him. Hershel looked up at them, sensing a lover's quarrel between two who weren't bonded together. Beth started to go after Carol before Hershel grabbed her arm, shaking his head no. Daryl followed her up the stairs, standing in the doorway as he watched her move cans and tins around, unnecessarily. He figures it was to get away from him, but being the stubborn man he is, he wasn't going to let bad blood get between them.
"Carol, you gotta talk to me. At least hear me out."
"Why? So you can try to explain and justify you leaving us? And not even be man enough to tell anybody, including me...You just left us..." Carol braced herself over a sink in the cell, fighting back stinging tears. She never cried over a man like she was at the moment, not even the times Ed would hit her or take sexual advantage of her. But this redneck with a crossbow, one she never claimed any sort of feelings for beyond platonic, and visa versa. Here he was, simply being near her, and all she can think about is that pain in her chest when Rick told her he wasn't coming back. "Daryl, did you even think about how the rest of us would react to you disappearing? Did you think about any of us while you were out playing in the woods?" Carol wanted to ask him if he even thought about her, but it would imply she cared for him beyond what friends would. And she promised herself she wouldn't let herself love another man, not after Ed...
"Of course, Carol. That's why I left. Y'all were gettin' riled up over Merle, though he wasn' helping matters. And he knew he couldn't stay here, so he was gonna leave. He tried to get me to stay, but I couldn't just abandon my brother again..." Daryl slipped his hands into his pockets, like a kid getting in trouble by a mother. "I'm sorry I left ya...I mean, the group, like that. Didn't wanna get caught between him and everyone else again.." He started to turn away from Carol, as she eased her posture and stood a little straighter than before. Before he completely walked away, he gave her one last glance over his shoulder.
"Don't hate me, Carol. Can't stand you mad at me." Carol stood with her jaw wide open, almost stupefied. He didn't want her mad...at him? What did he mean by that? Before she could ask him for more answers, he walked away. It was only a few minutes after he left that Beth almost charged in.
"What on Earth did he want?" She demanded.
"I don't know," Carol replied, "But I think we need to ease up on Daryl a bit. It wasn't easy for him to leave us.." Beth nodded slightly, and returned to help her father.
Carol and everybody gathered around for dinner, talking about things they could do to get ready for the move, with or without the Governer's help. Carol and Beth were tag-teaming with Judith, feeding and bouncing her. Daryl walked in, and everyone kind of went silence. Maggie gave him a bit of a glare, almost a 'What the hell do you think you're doing' kind of look. Carol handed the baby to Beth as she stood up.
"Daryl, there's a place here for you, if you want to sit next to me."
"Thanks," He said as he sat down between her and Beth, "What's up, Ass Kicker?"
Rick wiped his mouth with a cloth napkin, made from jumpsuits found within the prison, and stood up. Both hands on either edge of the table, he cleared his throat to get the attention of the room. "I spoke to the Governer earlier." Clinks of dishes and silverware as they clattered to a stop, every body still as they listened to Rick's words. "He agreed to listen to our requests, we meet tomorrow."
Is this a trap? Or might they actually escape to find a peaceful place? Everybody looked worried, wondering if the Governer is planning a nasty surprise for them...
I hope the story wasn't that bad. There will definitely be another chapter, but may be a few days. I've got plans for everyone, but I promise the story will focus more on the Caryl team. Just wanted to get things explained first. Let me know how everything is, either by review or PM. Have a good day.