De Novo
"Carol, I'm sorry you had to wait so long. Come in please, and if you don't mind let Sophia stay where she is for just a few minutes."
Sophia nodded at her and Carol stood up and went toward Dr. Ferrell. He smiled at her wearily and she thought, he has the kindest eyes of anyone I ever knew. He must be in his seventies, a dark skinned African-American who walked with a distinct limp and a smile for everyone he met. He held the door open for her and called to the restless man staring out the window. "Daryl, I will be with you in just a little while."
Carol would have gladly allowed Daryl to go first. He could be uncivilized, prone to anger, and bad language. She didn't like leaving Sophia with him, and he had stalked around the small waiting room like a wild animal in a cage. He wouldn't hurt Sophia but he might frighten her.
Dr. Ferrell smiled again and Carol went through the door to an almost bare office. There was a desk, a file cabinet, and three chairs a sense that it would take about two minutes to vacate the premises. Dr. Ferrell motioned for her to sit and he waited until she sat down. Carol didn't know much about him except that he was a psychologist and he was in charge of allocating where survivors were sent to after they left the resettlement camp. He and his staff had given her and all the other survivors from the CDC a battery of tests and then today she had been summoned to the exit meeting.
Dr. Ferrell spoke softly, "Carol, I want you to listen carefully to what I have to say. I know from your personal interviews that you were in an abusive marriage and that your abuser is dead. You have a daughter that you love very much and you will do anything to protect her. Is that all true?"
Carol nodded. She knew from the first interview with Dr. Ferrell that someone in the group had told them that Ed had been abusive. She would do anything to protect Sophia. It was impossible to keep secrets from Dr. Ferrell anyway. She had told her last lie to protect Ed. Dr. Ferrell knew her story because they had talked together through several "interviews" that were really counseling sessions.
"Carol, my first duty here is to protect Sophia. Every decision that I make is always in what I believe to be in the best interest of the child involved. You are a single mother who had stayed in a long term abusive relationship. You don't know how to fight to protect your child."
Her first thought was that he was taking Sophia away from her and it must have shown on her face. He hastened to say, "Sophia is your child and we won't separate you. Now listen carefully, it is in Sophia's best interest that you have a strong fighter by your side protecting your daughter. You need a partner and we have one that we have picked out for you."
"My husband has been dead less than two weeks and you want me to be with someone else." Carol had not intentions of going near another man. Ed had long ago beat any romantic or sexual notions out of her. "I won't do it."
Dr. Ferrell seemed pleased at her defiance, "That's the spirit that I want to see from you, and I understand why you don't want another man in your life. Carol, you are highly intelligent, capable, and resilient. You are kind and considerate. Carol, you are an innate protector. You just need a little assistance in learning how to fight. You need help in protecting Sophia and I have someone who can do that for you."
Carol muttered, "Who do you have in mind?" She thought of Rick Grimes, a single father. Maybe T-Dogg who was a sweetheart. Dale was older but had always been kind. Her mind flashed back to the last man standing in the waiting room; the last man she would pick to be at her side, Daryl Dixon.
Dr. Ferrell's smiled at her look of horror, "Daryl Dixon. He is a little rough around the edges and he lacks some social graces but he is very smart, has incredible survival skills, and you two have similar backgrounds. Daryl was abused by his father. Daryl loves his brother but Merle wasn't good for Daryl. He became Merle's guardian and that was a full time job. He's adrift without his brother and he wants to just go it alone out there. He might survive physically but Daryl isn't the island that he thinks he is. He needs to live in a home where the mother loves her child and he needs to have friends that respect him. He has kept his own secrets too long."
"What exactly do you want this relationship to be?" Carol wasn't sure if she was supposed to be a partner or a parent in this set up.
"You will both live in a house with Sophia. You can have separate bedrooms and I would certainly advise that right now. If you both decide later to have sexual relations, then that would be your business. The rest of the community will believe you to be a couple and that is for your protection, Carol. You are an attractive woman and men will be attracted to you. Daryl Dixon will discourage those would be suitors from coming around with one glower in their direction." Dr. Ferrell seemed delighted at the thought of a jealous Daryl.
"He'll never agree to this. Daryl would rather go live in the woods and be a carnivorous Grizzly Adams than play house with me and Sophia." Carol knew that Daryl wouldn't sign on to this arrangement.
"Please wait outside. The convoy is leaving in an hour to take you to your new assignment. I'll bring you back in here in a few minutes."
Carol went back to the outer room and sat down by Sophia. She allowed herself one look at Daryl Dixon and she did admit that he was attractive underneath the surface grime. Daryl had gone hunting in walker infested woods to bring food back to the group at the quarry. He fought to protect them when walkers attacked and he wasn't as out of control as his brother Merle, but he even Dr. Ferrell could not convince Daryl to play house with her and Sophia. Daryl was striding angrily toward Dr. Ferrell and she knew a Dixon meltdown was in order.
Daryl refused to sit down once he was inside the room. Dr. Ferrell knew that Daryl was angry about being kept waiting and an angry Daryl could be trouble. He was going to appeal to the goodness in this man.
"Daryl, I am going to be a straight shooter with you. The convoy is leaving for your new home in less than an hour. I want you on that truck with Carol and Sophia beside you. They need you and you need them. Congratulations, you just won the marriage lottery."
Daryl stared at him, "What the hell are you talking about. I ain't marrying nobody. Dixons are shitty to their women and kids. Chapter one, verse one in the Bible of Dixon." Dr. Ferrell had called him in several times to just talk and Daryl had told him more that he meant to about his life. Now the old man was trying to "cure" him by giving him a wife and child. Fucker.
"You aren't marrying Carol today, but you are going to move into a house with her today and help her keep her daughter alive. She can't do it without you, Daryl. No one person can do that now and especially a woman without fighting skills. Sophia needs you. Carol needs you." Dr. Ferrell gave Daryl a pat on the shoulder which the other man shoved off of him.
"Get Rick to do it. He'd be good to her." Daryl wanted Carol and Sophia to have the best chance to make it and Rick was the best choice.
"Rick has already been assigned to someone else. Someone who doesn't have children. Carol isn't going to expect you to be her husband. She needs a friend. You don't get to have sex with her unless she agrees and I don't that is on the table right now. You'll have your own room. Daryl, Carol needs time to process the death of her husband and not be pressured into another relationship. You don't want a relationship either. This is a win-win for both of you."
Daryl shifted back and forth, "I need to be looking for my brother."
Merle Dixon had been on a run in Atlanta when he became out of control and Rick Grimes had handcuffed him to a rooftop in Atlanta. The group had left and then came back the next day to find Merle had gotten out of the handcuffs by using a hacksaw to cut the handcuffs loose. Merle had disappeared and Daryl still felt guilty about not finding him.
"I promise you this, Daryl. I will put Merle Dixon's name on our hit list. If he shows up anywhere I'll be notified and I'll send him to you at Fort DeNovo. That the name of the community that will be your new home. De Novo. New start."
Daryl took a new tack, "Carol won't do it. She is scared of me, of her own shadow, and you can't expect her to live with me."
Dr. Ferrell knew he had him now. He was just going to set the hook so that Daryl wouldn't make a leap for freedom. "Your actions speak louder than your words. I see on the notes for your interviews that twice you asked that Carol and Sophia be given priority for our safest community. Daryl, there isn't a completely safe haven anywhere and she and Sophia are safest when you are looking out for them."
Daryl was beaten and Dr. Ferrell called Carol back in. They looked at him and not at each other but he was satisfied with this coupling. He left them with this happy quip, "My first name is Rahmiel and if you want to name your first son after me, I'd be pleased."
Carol said through clenched teeth, "Goodbye, Dr. Rahmiel Ferrell."
Daryl muttered, "Fucker."
Dr. Ferrell was there when their group climbed aboard the transport truck. He was hugged by everyone leaving today but Daryl who managed a last glare. Then Daryl helped Carol up on the truck and then boosted Sophia up to her mother. Dr. Ferrell limped closer and hugged Daryl, "You're a good man, Daryl Dixon".
Daryl pulled himself up on the truck and sat down by Sophia, "Let's get our asses in gear. I ain't got all day."
Carol gave him an eye roll and Sophia giggled. Daryl nodded at Dr. Ferrell. He wished he had hugged him back because he was going to miss that old man.
Carol and Andrea sat beside of each other in the truck. Andrea had been paired with the single father Rick Grimes. Next was Morgan, Ginny, and Duane Jones. Glenn was sitting beside of Maggie Greene and her little sister Beth. Their dad had resisted being taken to a resettling camp until they brought a helicopter in and flew him to see a herd. One long look at a massive herd had sent the veterinarian home to pack. Billy, Otis, and Patricia were apparently going to be together.
The convoy had picked up three men along the road. The leader introduced himself as Philip Blake. He had shaken hands with everyone in their truck showing an old fashioned friendly courtesy that Carol didn't trust to be more than a facade. She didn't like the way that he looked at Sophia and Beth and the attention he gave all the women.
Daryl had given him a cold stare when Philip came to him and said, "This is my daughter Sophia and my wife Carol."
Philip's mask of geniality stayed in place but Carol saw something reptilian in the way he looked at Daryl. "A beautiful family, you're a lucky man." Daryl's eyes flickered toward hers and Carol made an imperceptible nod. They both distrusted Philip.
Philip had moved on to Andrea and Rick stirred to life holding out his hand, "I'm Rick Grimes, my wife Andrea, and our son Carl."
Philip said something polite and innocuous and then moved on.
Sophia went to sleep leaning on Daryl. She had taken the news that Daryl would be living with them surprisingly well and she had actually smiled when Daryl introduced her as his daughter.
The group had been told that Camp De Novo was in North Carolina and Carol knew that they had been in North Carolina for a couple of hours. They must be close.
The highway they were traveling on had been cleared for travel but the sides of the road were littered with vehicles. Carol chose not to think about that. She was noting the resources that might be useful and she had a feeling that Daryl was too.
Daryl turned to Carol, "You got a paper and pencil. We might need some of this."
She held up a small notebook that had a small attached pen. "You see the propane distributor?"
He nodded. "I think we're getting close. Hang close now. Might be some trouble getting in." He handed her a knife. "Aim for the eye socket."
Carol took the knife which was clean and well kept. "Thank you."
The convoy left the highway and turned right onto a narrow road and the walkers that had been easy to ignore when they were traveling seventy miles an hour were up close and personal at lower speeds. Daryl woke Sophia up gently, "Wake up, girl. Gotta be ready for anything at any time. You understand."
Sophia yawned, "Yes, papa." Her face looked innocent but there was a mischievous look on her face. Carol decided that she was going to have a talk with Sophia soon about that attitude. Daryl shrugged his shoulders at Carol and did a bad job of hiding his smirk.
Sophia sat up and tied her shoes tightly. It was a tell that she was afraid and Carol gripped her knife the way the soldiers at the resettling camp had shown her. Daryl had his bow out and a bolt in his hand.
Abruptly the convoy started up a steep hill and Carol grabbed the side of the truck to keep from sliding toward the back. Daryl braced himself and pushed Sophia back toward her. The convoy went through an open gate and continued along a paved road until all the vehicles were safely inside. There was a burst of automatic rifle fire and the gates were pushed shut by soldiers.
The soldiers let them out in front of a large building and they were ushered inside by armed troops. Carol could see a large open plain in the middle and clusters of houses around the perimeter of half of the fenced in area.
It felt like the first day of school. They were given a seat and a pep talk about building a community. Then Major Brown would call out a list of names and that group would leave with two soldiers. Their group was the last called. Carol was relieved to see that she knew everyone in her group and they were walked over to their cluster of houses. Five houses in a sort of cul de sac. The Greenes in one, Otis, Patricia, and Billy in the second house, Morgan, Ginny, and Duane, Rick, Andrea, and Carl in the fourth house, and the last house was for her, Sophia, and Daryl. Daryl entered the house first and went all through it before he let Carol and Sophia in. He came back out, "Home, sweet home."
There were two bedrooms upstairs with a bath between and a bigger bedroom downstairs with its own bath. Daryl dropped his stuff in there and Carol and Sophia went upstairs to check out their rooms. Not large, everything was very dusty, and there was a bed and dresser in the bedrooms. The living room had a couch and a chair. There was a small table in the dining room and a refrigerator, a gas range, and a sink in the kitchen. The cabinets had dishes, pots and pans, glasses, and silverware.
"Momma, may I got out to play with Carl?" Sophia had dropped her bag off in her room.
"No, we need you to help clean up your room." Daryl announced before Carol could give permission.
Carol gave him an annoyed look but said, "Sophia, you need to get your room dusted and mopped. The soldiers are bringing sheets and blankets in a few minutes."
Sophia grabbed a bucket and a few cleaning rags and went upstairs. Daryl turned to Carol, "Don't want her out of our sight until I have checked everything out. That damn boy runs loose too much."
Carol smiled at him, "Yes, papa". He blushed. Daryl was right. Sophia should help and Rick didn't know where Carl was half the time. She wondered how Andrea would handle sudden motherhood.
Daryl cleaned his room and then he and Rick fiddled with the range and the hot water heater to get them lit. The major had announced that each cluster of houses had its own well that worked through solar energy. The houses had solar panels for lights and to work the refrigerator. Propane fueled the range and hot water heater.
Daryl disappeared as Carol and Sophia cleaned the kitchen. Sophia asked nonchalantly, "Is Daryl going to be your husband?"
Carol kept her voice level. "Daryl and I are going to take care of you. He and I are going to be friends."
"Daryl will be a good husband for you. He can talk all tough sometimes but he isn't mean inside. Not like daddy was. De novo mean new start. Maybe we all get a new start here. I get a new papa and you get a new husband. I guess Daryl gets us." Sophia grinned, "Me and Daryl have that zen thing going on."
Dinner that night was in the mess hall for the soldiers. Food would be distributed tomorrow after breakfast and families were expected to eat together from then on. Work assignments would be given out tomorrow morning as well. Carol watched Philip Blake flutter from one group to the other introducing himself. He wanted to establish himself as a man in charge. The army was running the place right now but they weren't going to stay forever. The two men with him were henchmen ready to do his bidding.
Daryl nudged her, "That asshole is going to be trouble."
She kept her eyes on Philip Blake when she replied, "Satan was turned into a snake after he tempted Adam and Eve and that man is a snake in the grass."
The houses all had front porches with a swing on them and Carol and Andrea sat on the swing and talked. Carl, Sophia, and Duane were out in the yard in front of the house playing. Rick and Daryl had decided to take a stroll around the place. It was cool on the front porch with the evening breeze and Carol relaxed for the first time today. She loved hanging out with Andrea.
Andrea leaned back against the swing and regarded her fingernails critically. "I need a manicure and a pedicure. I'm going to bed Rick tonight."
Carol admired the way Andrea could just come out and say what was on her mind. Andrea was more worried about the state of her hands and feet than having sex with Rick. "Don't you think it is a little soon?"
"I still miss my vibrator and I notice in that box of toiletries and feminine hygiene supplies so generously provided by the army there wasn't one included. I'll just have to go old school and bang the husband tonight." Andrea smirked.
"I can imagine an army vibrator now, camouflaged, but someone would have forgotten to order the batteries." Carol dared to be funny.
Andrea laughed, "Good one, now back to me 'cause I am so damn interesting. I like Rick whenever he isn't infuriating me with his bossiness. He needs to get laid even more than I do. It will be an act of kindness to release some of that tension. I might as well break him in right."
"Have you told Rick that you are going to make all his wet dreams come true?"
Andrea laughed again, "You are all saucy tonight. I think marriage to Daryl has been good for you. I know that you are planning a life of celibacy and denial but sooner or later you are going to give him a bath and fuck him. Just make sure you do it in that order. Bath or shower first, then fucking."
Carol blushed but chose to ignore it, "Daryl and I are going to be partners, not playmates. Watch your mouth because the kids might be listening."
Her friend lowered her voice, "This is the way this is all going to work out. You two will bond for a while. Share old war stories. Waste lots of time working in UST and then you will bone. That is the way it's gonna roll."
"What's UST?" Sometimes Andrea lost her in translation.
"Unresolved Sexual Tension. Now don't take too long to get around to some action. We're in the middle of a ZA here. No promise of tomorrow and I can't wait to see that dazed look on Daryl's face after you two get together."
"Let's talk about something else." Carol changed the subject and on cue Rick and Daryl came around the house toward the porch.
It wasn't long before everyone left and Carol's crew went inside. Sophia went upstairs to read. Carol got a glass of cold water for herself and one for Daryl. "What did you find when you were out scouting?"
Daryl sat in the chair and drank half a glass of water in one long gulp, "The fences are fairly secure. The army will take off one of these days and it will be our job to maintain them. Rick talked to some guy on watch. This place was some sort of militia headquarters a few years ago. The government busted them for making meth and bombs here and confiscated the place for their own use."
Carol drank some water while Daryl talked. That was the most she had ever heard him say. "We'll need to get ready for winter," she ventured.
"Yeah, we'll have to go on runs and stock up before some other group grabs it. You need some new clothes and boots. Can't wear those floppy shoes when you are being chased by a walker. Need to find a pistol and a rifle for you and Sophia. I'm going to sit out on the porch for a while. I'll lock up." Daryl stood up and she took his glass from him.
"Goodnight Daryl." She went on upstairs to find Sophia already asleep. Ed had chosen her clothes for her and she had always hated the clothes and his need to control her. Daryl was doing the same thing but his motivation was completely different. Daryl wanted clothes that would help keep her safe. I don't care. I am picking my own clothes from now on.
C