AN: I was relived to hear that people are interested in this story.
Graeshires: I guess we'll have to find out! :)
FoxfaceFan1: I love your name and profile picture! Nothing more terrifying than Eva surrounded by flames! I'm curious where this is headed too.
Here is the next chapter! Sorry if I get any of the cell blocks wrong, I wasn't really sure where everyone was.
The Governor woke up next to Lilly, feeling uncomfortable on the small prison bed but he knew she needed him last night more than ever. It was bad when her father died and now. . .
"Brian," he heard a voice call his name. He looked up and saw the man Hershel standing above him. He had a gun in his hands, but by the look on his face he didn't seem to honestly feel like he would need to use it. That made one person who was beginning to trust him. Either that, or Hershel knew Brian was out-powered and wouldn't be able to even try to put up a fight.
"Rick wants to talk to you in Block B," Hershel informed him.
Brian looked down at the sleeping Lilly and slowly got out of bed, doing his best not to wake her. This was difficult because she was practically on top of him due to the bed being so small. He somehow managed however, probably because his wife loved to sleep on top of him and he had a great deal of practice getting out of bed without disturbing her when he needed to go to work.
He was out of the bed and cast a quick glance at the sleeping Lilly to make sure she was truly undisturbed. He went to bed fully clothed with the exception of shoes and his belt, being to tired and uneasy to get undressed. At the time he was uncomfortable sleeping in all of his clothing, but he was now grateful that he didn't have to get dressed in front of a man who was once his enemy.
He slipped on his boots and looked at the older man. "What does he need?" Brian asked him quietly.
"We'll talk outside," Hershel whispered back, understanding that Brian didn't want to wake up the sleeping woman. Brian nodded and followed him out of the cell block, into the early morning sun. Once outside, Hershel locked the doors the their block behind him, causing a feeling of frustration to bubble up inside of him. Keeping the block locked was one of the agreements Rick had decided on and Brian couldn't help but feel amused at how much the tables had turned. One minute Brian had a sword up to a man's throat with Rick begging for some kind of agreement, and the next Brian was in a locked cell block with only a few knives for his people and a limited amount of daylight coming through windows. Brian knew for sure that if it hadn't been the fact that Meghan needed to be buried, he wouldn't have been allowed to leave the block at all.
Meghan. . .
Brian hated how weak the little girl had made him feel. He shouldn't have had a problem killing a child who wasn't even his- especially since the girl had been bitten and was going to rise up as a Biter. Yet he wasn't able to shoot Meghan because he really had grown attached to her and she really did remind him so much of Penny.
"I'm sure you and your people would appreciate that."
Brian hadn't even realized Hershel had been talking. "What?"
Hershel stopped walking and looked over at Brian. "I'm truly sorry for your loss," he said gently and Brian couldn't help but feel annoyed as yet another person pitied him. He didn't need anyone's pity- pity didn't get you anywhere, it only made you weaker. "I know you lost your daughter and to have to lose another child who you began to think of as your own child. . . Well I just can't even imagine."
"What makes you think that Meghan and I were that close?" Brian asked him. "She was a little girl who happened to live in the apartment across from the one I was staying in. Nothing more."
"I'm a father," Hershel reminded him. "You and I both know that I can see through your lies. I know you're not the kind of man that likes to share your feelings which is actually another thing that you and Rick have in common, but there's nothing to be ashamed of for growing attached to people."
Brian didn't reply to his comment, he didn't feel like it was necessary. He did wonder, however, what else this man believed he and Rick had in common.
"I wanted to talk to you," Rick said as Brian stepped into their current cell block. It really was much larger, having two floors instead of one. Rick was coming down the stairs to meet him.
"So I heard," Brian replied. "What do you want from me?"
"Look the council and I agreed that we are treating your group a little unfairly," Rick said, almost sounding apologetic. "I promised your people I would welcome them with open arms and treat them like leaders."
"So what made you change your mind?" Brian asked him.
"You did. I didn't expect you to be okay with living in the prison with everyone because I sorta' expected your group to drop their weapons and abandon you and for you to just give up and leave." Rick sighed. "But you didn't. Now I'm a man of my word and I felt guilty for going against it. Tell your people that they are welcome in whatever cell block they want and that they can go outside as long as they are pulling their weight around here just like everyone else. They are going to be treated as our equals despite everything that happened.
"Now as for you," Rick continued. "You had a tank, you had an army, you had a chance! You could've taken this prison out along with everyone in it, but you didn't. I want to know why."
"Because I didn't need to," Brian answered simply.
"What the hell does that mean?" Daryl asked, coming to stand beside Rick.
"After I burned down Woodbury-"
"You burned it down?" Rick asked, interrupting.
"Yes," Brian said, slightly annoyed, not understanding why he made such a big deal out of it. "And afterwards it made me realize that I didn't need the feeling of power anymore." Images of him and Martinez playing golf on the roof of the RV innocently until Brian murdered him flashed through his mind. Then of course there was Pete. . .
"I did things even after Woodbury that I'm not proud of," Brian confessed.
"What kinds of things?" Daryl demanded.
"What do you think, Dixon?" Brian asked, which caused him to shut up. "They were things that helped me get to the top again."
"So how did you end back down to the bottom?" Rick asked.
Brian shrugged with a slight smile. "I met people who reminded me who I used to be."
Rick looked at him for a while, as if he were looking for a clue that told him what Brian said was a lie. "All right," he sighed after a while, finally giving up. "You and your people will be under surveillance, at least until we know for sure that there's nothing going on. In the meantime, you will be stuck with knives but will be able to roam the prison as you please."
Brian was surprised the final decision, expecting to be kicked out and left to survive on his own. Instead, they were doing their best to treat him and his group as equals. "I thought you told me that you didn't make the decisions anymore, Rick."
"It wasn't just mind," Rick told him. "Thank Hershel."
Brian found it funny how it was the man he held at sword point that talked Rick into giving Brian's group freedom. Brian wondered why the man would be so willing to do so after he forced his daughter to strip her clothing and pushed her naked body up against a table. He may not have done anything- that was even beyond the Governor- but still. . . he had violated his daughter.
"Tell your group," Rick ordered. "And offer that woman my condolences again, please." Brian knew who Rick was referring to and nodded. He turned around to head to his cell block, surprised when he realized no one was following him with a gun pressed up against his back.
Brian headed back to Block B, thinking about his discussion with Rick, wondering why he and his group seemed to be so understanding and welcoming. Then again, it wasn't like Brian had given him much of a choice. . .
Suddenly, an ear-piercing scream interrupted him from his thoughts.
Without hesitation, Brain reached for his belt only to realize he was unarmed. Damn it! He wasn't used to being unarmed and felt almost insecure without a weapon by his side. He thought about turning around and asking Rick or someone for help, but it would take up time and he wasn't ready to lower himself and ask the ex-enemy for help yet. Still silently cursing himself, Brian ran straight for the block.
"Did you hear somethin'?" Rick heard Daryl ask him.
Rick looked at Daryl curiously. "No-"
He was cut off by Beth running to them, Judith in her arms. "I heard someone scream!" she cried.
Rick instantly pulled out his gun from his belt. "Where?"
"It came from the cell block!" she informed him.
"Shit", Rick cursed, and began heading down the stairs, Daryl right behind him.
"I thought we cleared the place out!" Daryl yelled, a little breathlessly.
"I did too," Rick admitted. "Damn it!"
Rick quickly wondered who else could assist him, but realized most people were unavailable. Hershel and Maggie were in Block D, tending to the recovering Glenn, Tyreese was with Sasha, Michonne was probably off killing Walkers to blow off steam, and most everyone one else was still recovering from the illness. Wait. . .
"Carl!" Rick called out, realizing he could use his son's help.
Carl came running, gun in hand, prepared. "Yeah, Dad?"
Good boy, Rick thought proudly at his ready son. "Come with us, there's something going on in Block B."
Carl nodded, and held his gun up higher, ready to fire if he needed to.
Brian entered Block B slowly, preparing himself in case a Biter was waiting for him. He didn't hear the usual groaning that indicated a Biter was near, in fact. . .
There was only silence.
He stepped inside the block and at first didn't see anything. Not really sure what to think of that, Brian made his way through Block B.
Then he saw her.
"Dad, it's quiet," Carl said hesitantly, looking uncertainly at his father.
"Yeah, I know," Rick mumbled, standing outside of Block B with his son and Daryl. He had noticed it, too, not really wanting to say anything about it.
"Door's already open," Daryl pointed out. "I doubt there are any Walkers in there otherwise they would'a come out here."
Rick knew he was right but still stayed skeptical. "Carl, make sure you're behind me," he ordered his son, leaving no room for argument. Carl didn't protest and only nodded.
Daryl stepped inside first and Rick was close behind him, followed by Carl. At first there was nothing, but as they made their way through the block, they saw Brian and the rest of his group huddled together, completely silent as though they were in shock.
It didn't take Rick long to find out why.
He, Daryl and Carl approached the huddle hesitantly and a pool of blood came into view and in the center of it was Lilly Chambler, the mother of Meghan, her wrists slit open.
"I was on my way to the block when I heard someone scream. I ran straight here and saw everyone looking down at Lilly's body."
Rick listened to Brian's explanation carefully, making sure no detail left out.
"I didn't kill Lilly," Brian said, numbly. "Believe it or not, I actually cared for her."
"There's no doubt 'bout it Rick that she did this to herself," Daryl informed Rick, closely looking down at Lilly Chamber's body. After Rick had been able to get a hold of himself, he apologized to Brian's group and shot the woman in the head before she could come back as a Walker.
"I figured that," Rick said, more to Brian than anyone else. "I just had to make sure."
"We have to bury her!" Tara cried out, taking Rick's attention away from Brian. The young woman was clutching her girlfriend Alisha for dear life. "And please let Alisha come."
Rick realized that with everything that happened, Brian was obviously unable to tell his group about the discussion the two of them had. "Anyone who wants to can," Rick told Tara. "I told Brian that all of you can roam the prison as you please. You'll be watched and stuck with knives however, but you do have freedom."
Rick knew that under any other circumstance, Brian's group would be pleased by this news, but everyone was a little too occupied with the body that was currently being wrapped by Daryl and Carl. Tara watched the two of them with tear-filled eyes, clearly trying to keep it together. Rick approached her and gently said, "I'm sorry for your loss." He couldn't believe that he had already had to say that to someone from Brian's group twice when they hadn't even been at the prison for a full day yet.
Rick walked back over to where Brian was standing and watching Lilly's body get wrapped up. "She was a good woman," Brian told Rick. "She sorta reminded me of my wife the way she would do anything for her daughter."
Rick nodded, understanding what it was like to lose someone who you shared romantic feelings with. Brian may not have known Lilly for long, but there was an obvious romantic connection between the two of them, especially when it came to Meghan.
"She took the easy way out," Daryl grunted, standing up from the now wrapped body.
"She couldn't deal with the loss of her child," Brian said to Daryl, not hesitating to jump to Lilly's defense. "I was there. I know what it's like to not be able to let go."
Rick for a brief second thought Brian was referring to Meghan until he remembered hearing about his daughter that had turned into a Walker but he still kept tied and locked up. At first he thought it was a sick thing to do, and maybe it was, but then he couldn't help but wonder how he would feel if it were Carl or Judith. He lost it after he found out about Lori's death and he couldn't imagine how it would be if it were one of his children.
Daryl didn't say anything, but instead looked at Brian, clearly knowing what he was talking about, too. Michonne really didn't hesitate to inform everyone what Brian did as the Governor and how sick he really was.
"Brian," Tara spoke up. "Lilly would want you to-"
"I know," he interrupted. "And I will." Rick knew they were discussing burying Lilly's body.
"We'll leave you to it then," Rick told Brian and Tara as he started to head out of the block, gesturing for Carl and Daryl to follow.
Brian panted as he dug yet another grave outside of Cell Block B. This one had to be much larger than Meghan's and despite being in good shape, he was growing tired.
"Need some help?" Tara asked him, holding Alisha's hand. It was just the three of them out there, despite everyone being granted freedom. He guessed the rest of the group decided to give them privacy, not knowing Lilly like Tara and Brian had.
"I got it," he answered breathlessly. "I'm just about finished." A few minutes later, he was, and he and Tara grabbed the wrapped body and put it gently in the ground, right next to where Meghan was buried.
"She was my sister," Tara said as Brian began filling up the hole, covering Lilly with dirt. "I knew once the world starting going to shit that her and I would make it far because we would have each other's backs." She stopped and took a deep breath. "I left her alone for five minutes!"
Brian didn't say anything as comforting people really never was his best strong suit. Even as a father whenever Penny would cry he would always be a little unsure of what to do.
"I'm a piece of shit!" Tara exclaimed. "I shouldn't have left her alone!"
"Hey!" Alisha scolded her gently. "Don't you dare start blaming yourself for things like this, Tara. Once you do, there's no going back, you know that."
Brian was glad Alisha was comforting Lilly's sister as he was unable to. He finally finished filling up the hole and he lowered himself down to the ground both out of respect and exhaustion. He felt Tara and Alisha do the same next to him.
"I can't believe she left me alone!" Tara cried.
"You're not alone," Alisha reminded her. "You've got me, you've got Brian."
Brian snapped out of the haze he was beginning to fall into after Alisha mentioned his name to Tara. Lately, he had been the reason why people were grieving so it felt almost uncomfortable to be a person who people looked to for comfort after the death of a loved one. He didn't say anything though, he knew it would be inappropriate and he didn't really want to start anything at the moment.
"After her ass of a husband left, Lilly never really did try again," Tara told Brian softly. "It was like she. . . gave up." Brian still remained silent and kept his gaze on the new grave as he heard Tara continue. "You were the first person I noticed her ever getting attached to in that kind of way since Dick Face, so. . . I guess. . . thanks."
Brian stood up from the grave, unable to take Tara's speech any longer. He hadn't allowed himself to actually get fully upset over Meghan's death, not wanting to look weak in front of either of the groups, and it was the same for Lilly's. But now both loses came crashing down at him almost at once and he knew Rick and his group were all watching him and still refused to break in front of all of them.
"Brian!" Tara called after him, but he ignored her and continued to head toward the prison block, not daring to look back at Lilly's grave.
That night, Brian had slept alone, without Lilly for the first time in months.
I know, I know, I keep torturing Mr. Villain, but I do have my reasons. I don't just like watching him suffer. . . okay I do, but that's beside the point.
And I do because I love him, I swear!
