Contagion

Chapter 7 - Bright

They were making their way down the abandoned streets of Jackson, in search for the gas station and auto repair shop that had to be nearby just like father Gabriel had said. They weren't the only ones on the move, Rick, Glenn, Maggie, Michonne, Tara, Carol and Tyreese were on the lookout too, scattered across town as they looked for more supplies and ammunition. Connor, Daryl and Murphy were on a new quest with their walk towards the gas station, the quest being a search for fitting spare parts and other necessary tools to get the bus from the church going again. Daryl was the one with the mechanic's knowledge, and it went without saying that the MacManus twins were on his team. Connor still wasn't too fond of the fact that the bus was going to take them straight to D.C. and some fake scientists once Daryl was done, but he tried to force himself not to ponder on it too much.

Because he was feeling much better, enjoying his own happiness, the return of his brother's friend and how everything had played out after the Terminus ordeal.

Speaking of Murphy. He turned his head a little to the side to shoot his twin a look, who was walking next to him and keeping an eye out on their surroundings. Daryl was having the lead up front since he was great with directions and scouting and knew what they were looking for. Murphy didn't seem troubled or lost in some thinking world, once again so very much unlike Connor, and that made the older MacManus twin even happier.

Murphy looked content, even better, almost at peace. It was still very obvious that the reconnection with his friend from Massachusetts and the rediscovery of their group after Woodbury's fall, as well as the fact that Sam had survived for a second time now, had really strengthened his faith and happiness even more. Murphy, having noticed Connor's thinking and staring through their mental connection that was slowly coming back, eventually turned his head and looked at Connor. He muttered an amused "What?", because he wanted to know what was on his sibling's mind this time.

Connor smirked and chuckled a little, allowing himself to shrug.

"Nothin. Just happy fer ye that ye got yer chick back" he said truthfully, making Murphy smirk right back.

The younger twin lazily walked a bit further to the right to bump into Connor, nudging and shoving him slightly.

"Same here" he teased and Connor laughed. As if he could sense what was going on and what they were talking about, Daryl turned his head for a moment to shoot them a curious but still slightly grumpy look over his shoulder. But right now he didn't really want to talk or get annoyed by Connor's joking and babbling again, so he decided to concentrate on their search instead.

"Aye, I got me girlfriend back, too, just fine" Connor answered, laughing, looking at Daryl's back in amusement.

"It really is a fuckin sign, though, isn't it" Murphy mused after a moment, making Connor look at him.

Murphy looked determined and nodded. "Everything. Can feel it. Somethin's changing."

Connor's mood dropped a tiny bit as this got him thinking again, but he still ended up nodding.

"Aye" he simply agreed, deciding to keep some of his still present worries to himself just so he wouldn't spoil anyone's mood. Or make Murphy worry for that matter. Because despite his optimism and happiness, he still remembered that Murphy had looked worried yesterday evening at the announcement about D.C., too, and Murphy certainly had voiced his concerns regarding the immunity and scientist topic more than once as well. Augusta and Savannah were still deep in their minds and bones after all. Something was coming, he was sure of it, too. And he certainly felt it, too. He just hoped that it really was something good, something connected to god and all the given signs.

"Can I ask ye something, Connor?" Murphy suddenly asked, snapping the blonde right out of his train of thought.

"Aye, 'f course. Don't have ta ask, silly" Connor answered with a little eyeroll and scoff, only to look at his twin curiously.

Murphy chewed on his lip a little nervously until he kept talking.

"If we get ta Washington…if they find something and if we survive and everything changes…if tha all works out and stuff…Would it be weird if I asked Sam t'marry me? Already?" he said and then kicked a stone a way as he looked down, laughing a little and rubbing the scar on his forehead. "I mean, she only just lost her husband Mike not too long ago…and we've only known each other fer a couple of months. And the whole being t'gether and sleepin with each other and getting t'know each other's only been going on fer a couple weeks…so it got me wondering.."

Connor suddenly stopped walking and looked at Murphy in what almost looked like shock, which confused his brother and slowly made him stop as well. Murphy frowned and responded with a confused "What?", but Connor just stood and stared for a moment longer until he snorted once, only to end up chuckling, then laughing gently.

"What?!" Murphy asked again, feeling like this was Connor mocking him and making fun of him again.

"Hey y'know what, fuck ye, at least I got te guts t'be fer real with this shit and don't spend me days fockin mockin everybody like a five year old" Murphy said after a moment and shoved Connor when he didn't get an answer. Connor shoved him back, still laughing, but ended up holding on to his shirt.

"Murph! Murph, c'mon wait a sec and listen t'Connor" he said, still overly giggly, which just made Murphy angrier.

"No, yer fuckin laughing."

"I'm laughing cos I'm fuckin happy, alright? Jesus, fuck, Murph, hold up" Connor said and successfully stopped Murphy from scowling at him and shoving him in sheer protest. Connor simply held on to his siblings arms as his hands were still clutching to his jacket. "I mean, are ye shitting me? Why do ye even have ta ask me here?" the older of the two siblings went on and Murphy's grip on him relaxed as he ended up giving him a confused frown. "Murph…Macho Murph, sweet brother dear" Connor said and laughed once again, only to gently slap Murphy's cheek and pat his shoulder. He beamed an overly joyous grin at him but ended up laughing yet again as he looked down to try and get himself back together.

"What t'hell are you clowns laughin at? Keep your cheers down!" Daryl, who had slowed down by now and was approaching them with a confused and angry frown, shouted as he fixed his eyes on Connor. Connor, who wouldn't stop chuckling to himself while he patted a confused Murphy's shoulder.

"So what te fuck's that supposed t'mean? Is that a yes?" Murphy asked Connor in the meantime, just standing there. Daryl stopped in his tracks as well as he was curiously waiting for an answer to his question, but he was also impatiently waiting for them to catch up so they could get going. Instead of answering Murphy right away Connor turned around to look at Daryl instead, grinning at him.

"Murph's thinking 'bout getting fuckin married!" he shouted back with that grin, which just made Daryl scoff. The hunter looked at Murphy for a moment and gave him an acknowledging nod, but then he turned around again to keep walking.

"Hey, how 'bout we make it a double feature while we're at it? Oi! Honeybunch! Wanna marry me, too?" Connor kept shouting at Daryl in the distance. Murphy shoved Connor angrily, kicked his butt once and got going as well with an annoyed "Yer a fuckin asshole." Daryl answered his friend's suggestion with a very sympathetic "Get fucked!" and middle finger that was aimed at Connor as well.

Connor kept chuckling to himself for a moment longer and shook his head, staring at Murphy's back with intense pride. He then finally jogged after his twin and got himself together. "Murph, wait, wait. 'm sorry. Ye just flashed me, alright" he said, grabbing him by his shoulder to stop him from walking. Murphy did stop walking and rolled his eyes, folding his arms. He gave Connor a slightly annoyed look but seemed willing enough to listen. Connor was still grinning but no longer laughed. Instead, he got back to touching and patting Murphy, which annoyed the younger even more and made him avoid the touch with an eyeroll. Connor eventually truly calmed down and nodded at their surroundings.

"Fuckin look aroundche, Murph. The world is fucked. Yesterday ye thought he might've lost her t'walkers or cannibals or some shit. And yer seriously wondering if it's weird ta ask her ta marry you?"

Murphy looked around, observed the abandoned houses, the burned down rumble of a building in the distance, the abandoned cars and trash and bodies everywhere. Eventually, he scoffed once and looked down, nodding.

"Yeah, yer right."

"Damn right, I always am. I tell ye, you go right fuckin ahead and get that woman while ye both still can" Connor said and patted his sibling's shoulder once again. But he ended up chuckling once more and pulled Murphy into a happy hug. Murphy huffed in surprise and writhed at first, still feeling somewhat uncomfortable around Connor every once in a while because of the shot, but eventually, he relaxed and hugged back, patting Connor's shoulder and gently chuckling, too.

"Ma'd be so fuckin proud and happy right now" Connor breathed after a moment and looked up at the sky, knowing that she was probably watching. Murphy wouldn't say anything to that and instead felt a hard ping of sadness and guilt because he couldn't remember her, didn't even know what she'd looked like or sounded like. He only had Connor's stories and memories, but even with all that, he was still sure and knew that she would have been just that. And that idea alone made him smile and a bit happier again, if only slightly.

"'m fuckin proud'a ye" Connor then added and was actually very surprised by his reaction and thoughts, now that he came to think of it. Up until now, he'd reacted on basic emotion and instinct, said only truthful things, and these exact things were only just now dawning on him. He knew that not even two years ago, a big part of him probably wouldn't have felt like this. He knew that not only two years ago, before the outbreak, he would've panicked on the inside. Felt incredible jealously, feared abandonment.

He knew that they were still very codependent and way too attached. Especially and even more so him, now more than ever. Marriage, women, relationships, family other than themselves, those things had never been on the table before the fall. Never would have been, and if they had, they would have been painful and very unhealthy, a danger to him, not a joy.

Strangely enough, now, after a year of separation from Murphy, after having grown to be a man of his own, finding Daryl and having a functioning somewhat healthy relationship of his own, Connor was surprisingly and finally comfortable with the very prospect of seeing his brother with someone else. Now, his joy was genuine. A ping of jealousy and fear of complete abandonment would always be there, but in a healthy amount that was certainly overshadowed by very honest pride and happiness right now, which pretty much made him proud of himself as well.

If he was honest, he didn't really care much about Samantha. He would've been completely indifferent to her further disappearance or death or whatever. He didn't see her as a true threat or person of interest or significance no matter which scenario. But even with all that, he appreciated her, appreciated having her around simply because she made Murphy happy. A part of him knew that maybe Murphy didn't love her overly much as well, probably never could, too, but he certainly seemed to want the attachment, something similiar to what he had with Daryl, just like Murphy had told him by the campfire two days ago.

He knew that Murphy needed her no matter what. She was a new piece of something that Murphy had once seen within him but that had been lost with that headshot in Boston. A piece that was missing in Connor now but which he had found in Samantha instead. Now, Murphy needed those things with two important people in his life instead of it being united in just one person. Now it was split. Blood and family in Connor, companionship, tight relationship and lifelong trusted partnership in Samantha. A much healthier combination and the way it was meant to be. They both knew it. They both saw it. After all, Connor had found the same combination and adjustment with Daryl and Murphy now.

And now, more than ever, the idea of the MacManus clan not dying out with their deaths, the idea of an expansion and continuation of the MacManus legacy with Samantha and that possible marriage plus possible future children, really was appealing to Connor. Which was exactly why he did no longer consider her as a threat to their relationship and family but saw her as a great possible blessing instead.

After all, after Murphy's 'death' during the past year, this - seeing Murphy have a family, maybe become a husband and father, have a future - had been Connor's dearest wish for an 'alternate' better reality, one that now seemed to come to life. So damn yes he was no longer terrified of the words 'marriage', 'woman' 'serious relationship' and 'Murphy' being in one sentence. So instead he hugged and grinned and was genuinely happy and excited.

He didn't really notice it simply because he was so lost in his thinking world again, but Murphy really responded to the fact that he had said that he was proud of him, and that was something that actually surprised Murphy as well. They still had their ups and downs. He still had his ups and downs with Connor. Had some bad dreams about Boston and the headshot every once in a while, had actually secretly feared Connor every once in a while with his sheer wrath and violence and obsessive behavior over anything connected to him and their brotherhood. After all these weeks and troubles together and his brother being so dark every now and then, he still simply didn't want to forgive Connor sometimes, make it easy for him, pretend that they were still best friends and brothers forever like nothing had ever happened.

He wasn't naïve. He wasn't stupid. He knew that something was still damaged and lost between them and inside each of them, always would be, that they would never truly go back to the way they had been before that day in Boston, before the fall. The easiest explanation for it was that he simply couldn't remember, never would. But that aside, he honestly and deeply appreciated Connor's reaction right now, the hug, but most of all, these words.

I'm proud of you.

It felt so good to have this boost of confidence, this kind of backing and honest appreciation of his decision and future. It made him incredibly happy to know that despite everything, despite the immunity and Washington and end of the world and death and decay and destruction scenario, he still had this and always would have this now. Family. His brother. Having his back. Loving him unconditionally despite his own troubles and darkness. Always giving him hope and appreciating his sheer existence. Connor being proud of him - this was everything to Murphy, was incredibly important to him, and actually, a lot more meaningful to him than his dead mother's thoughts. No matter how cruel it sounded, he sadly simply couldn't remember her and didn't feel much because of it, so it was only natural to him that Connor trigged true emotions instead. He still would never admit it or say it out loud with his troll of a brother around, but moments like this one made him absolutely sure that Connor was and always would be his big brother. His big brother was proud of him and that meant the world.

The hug only lasted for a couple of seconds and then Connor let go, so they could both grin at each other a final time and get going. They started walking and tried to catch up to Daryl, both lost in their own thinking world, until Connor slowly got more serious again. They had almost reached the gas station and repair shop that Daryl was already inspecting from the outside. He had found a car close to the front entrance and got ready to check its interior for anything useful.

Connor knew that as soon as they found the parts and gas and everything they needed for Washington they would mark what could probably be the most important next part of their journey yet, so he needed to get it off his chest before the stones were put in motion to play their parts. "Listen Murph. Washington is going ta work out no matter what we come across up there, alright?" he said because he was actually starting to believe that, too, although for entirely different reasons that were notconnected to Murphy's, Daryl's or Rick's prep talk from yesterday.

"Shit is gonna work out, yer gonna ask that woman t'be with ye and she better fuckin say yes" he said, which made Murphy laugh with a shake of his head and amused "Oh shut up."

"No I mean it. Listen t'me. One more thing" Connor said and slowed down once again. Murphy frowned a little and slowed down, too, having noticed the sudden shift in his brother's mood, how his joking and pranking and annoying overly joyous self was suddenly replaced with the serious, almost cold and calculating Connor. "If shit goes down in Washington, if something goes wrong and we got another Augusta situation, you grab her and the child and you leave and you marry her some day and keep going and you're gonna be fuckin happy with her" Connor said, matter of factly.

"Conn…"

"No. Let me finish" the older of the two said and immediately shut his twin up almost angrily.

"Abraham and mullet guy don't really know about ye yet. Maybe they figured with te scar on yer head, maybe Abraham wondered if yer the same when ye came running fer me and Daryl in that slime hole t'help, I don't know. If he's too stupid t'consider this and if mullet guy is a fraud or even if he isn't, ye keep yer bite and yer immunity to yerself. And you keep it that way even when we're in Washington. They know about me fer sure, we don't know if they know about ye. So far they only said that they wanna take me there. And that's te way it's gonna be."

Murphy almost immediately looked stubborn and angry, wanted to say something, but Connor kept talking and shutting him down to get his point across.

"If all of this is real, if this is happening, if this immunity thing finally pays off and…" he swallowed once and licked his lips, momentarily looking at Daryl who had opened the hood of the car by now to check it out. "If someone has ta die t'find these people a cure, then it's gonna be me."

"Don't talk stupid. No one's gonna die" Murphy said angrily, but not because he was stubborn or filled with temper, he did it because he meant it.

"Just promise me. Yer gonna think all about yerself. And her. And that kid. And however many fuckin kids yer gonna have in the future because of this marriage thing ye wanna do. The immunity, the scientists, the cure, dat's up t'me."

"Jesus, I know what this fuckin is about" Murphy growled and frowned angrily, glaring at Connor. "If ye think that by foolishly getting yerself killed t'protect me is some sorta penance or quid pro quo fer the thing in Boston, then…"

"This isn't about fucking Boston" Connor said, matter of factly. "I'm saying this and fuckin mean it because yer my brother, and because you just told me that a bright future is very much fuckin likely fer you and I want that t'happen no matter what."

"Exactly, yer my fuckin brother and I told ye because I want ye ta fuckin be there if it gets ta it."

"I know. And I plan t'fuckin be there and I better be yer best man, ye little shit" Connor said, gently hitting the back of Murphy's head, which made him writhe but chuckle. Connor eventually stared at Daryl again who was fiddling about with the car's engine, back turned on them and oblivious to their talk.

"I'm just planning ahead fer every possible scenario, alright. 'm not being pessimistic, in fact, 'm more optimistic than I've ever been lately. I don't wanna die. Not fer a long time. I know that we've handled stuff that was way worse and that's not it. I know it's way more likely that we'll get t'flee, fight, keep going. But it still needs ta be said and it needs ta be considered."

"Con" Murphy growled again, but Connor pointed at him with his finger instead and shut him up with a warning "Shut it."

They turned it into a stare contest of some sorts, challenging each other, until Connor withdrew a bit, while still shooting a warning glare.

"No one's gonna die anyway, so no need ta get huffy now" he said, and pointed at Murphy once more with a challenging look when Murphy seemed to want to say something, successfully shutting him up before the word got out. Daryl interrupted them with a cheery "BOOYAH" in the background when the car he'd been working on suddenly came to life with a roaring engine. He had a smoking cigarette in his mouth as he cheerfully clapped behind the wheel, obviously pleased with his skills. Both twins looked back at him for a moment, then Connor got going, gesturing a vague "what the fuck?" at his friend as he approached him.

Murphy stood a second longer, dumbfounded because it suddenly dawned on him how Connor had successfully shut him up with that stupid pointing finger of his. He got moving as well and jogged after his sibling.

"How te fuck's my future any 'brighter' than yers?" he asked, utterly confused.

"Because fuck you, I know shit" Connor simply answered and kept walking.

Murphy snorted.

"Seriously? Is it just because of the marriage thing? Dude, compared t'me and Sam, you and Daryl? Are wayyy more textbook definition of old married couple already, so that can't be it."

"Har-dy-fuckin-har. Do ye hear anyone laughing? Cos I don't" Connor just said and Murphy snickered, knowing that he had successfully annoyed his twin. Connor chose to ignore him and patted the hood of the car instead when they got close to Daryl who had only just closed it.

"Son of a bitch was already good to go, even has some gas in it. All it needed was some tweaking, got rid of some hair 'n junk in the ventilation" the hunter announced and had a look around. "Whoever left it sure left in a hurry, found some rotten food and weapons in the trunk, clothes in the backseat, ain't been here since the beginning" the hunter explained to Connor, who nodded as he rubbed his chin and observed the car a little closer. Daryl looked at Connor curiously and then shot Murphy a short look too, scoffing and spitting on the ground as he cleaned his oily hands with his red rag.

"You two finally done goin' full Oprah back there?"

Murphy smirked and was just about to say something to mock Connor as well, but his sibling shut him off yet again.

"Well, at least we don't have ta carry all the supplies and shit back t'the church this time. Nice work, we can use it fer easy transport" Connor simply said in regards to the car as he patted Daryl's back once, hard. He then got going to observe the gas station a little closer.

"Didche find anything useful fer te bus yet?"

"Nope, but I'm thinkin that as soon as we…"

Daryl was interrupted by a loud THUMP against the glass door that marked the entrance to the gas station, where three walkers had piled up aand were pressing their blood rotten faces and hands against the panes. "…yep, as soon as we get rid of these sons of bitches we'll find the stuff in the back of the building" Daryl said with a slight smirk as he took a drag on his cigarette and then looked at Murphy.

Connor followed the outline of the gas station to the right and let his gaze wander along the interior through the windows. He wasn't surprised to find the gas station looted for the most part, water and food was gone just like Gabriel had said. But they weren't exactly interested in those sorts of supplies right now. Instead, Connor took more interest in the car batteries and tools out back (and the old magazines, just be-fucking-cause).

"So, you gonna hook up with ginger, huh" Daryl surprisingly started a conversation with Murphy in the meantime as he patiently waited for his cigarette to be finished before it got back to the killing action. Murphy turned his head and looked at him, scoffing and then starting to walk with a grin as well.

"You wanna go Oprah, too? I was just gonna ask ye if ye wanna be her bridesmaid" the younger MacManus teased and Daryl snorted.

"Screw yah."

Connor checked the back of the gas station in the meantime and eventually gave Murphy a whistle and nod to let him know that he could let out the walkers so they could kill them. Daryl dropped his cigarette and stepped on it while he got up from the hood of the car and grabbed his crossbow. Murphy positioned himself in front of the door and looked back, patiently waiting for Connor to come back and for Daryl to get ready with his crossbow, too.

When Connor was ready and Daryl gave him the final nod Murphy moved and pulled the door open as fast and abruptly as he could, making the walkers stumble out of the gas station. Murphy, ever so quick and agile yet clumsy, dodged out of their way so Daryl could take the first shot with his crossbow, landing the arrow right between the eyes of the old male walker in the middle, a man that had once been a farmer of some sorts. Connor took out the next walker to the left, approaching her from the side and burrowing the blade of his knife in the back of her skull when she tried to stumble towards Daryl with loud and dry growls. Murphy took out the last walker to the right just about the same a moment later, letting him drop to the ground once the stab to the back of his head ended him. Then he quickly entered the gas station after Connor, while Daryl stayed outside until the last minute to give them cover, by the doors.

There was one more walker in the far back of the station, although they weren't even sure anymore if he could be considered a walker. At least 70 per cent of his flesh and body had been eaten. He was only a pile of dried blood, bones and partially fleshy moving arms and a head. His snarls and growls were especially hollow and dry because large portions of his windpipe and throat were missing, undoubtedly ripped out and devoured by the three walkers that had been trapped in here with him.

Connor knelt down and ended the miserable moving heap with a content stab to his head while Murphy gloomily observed the much smaller heap of devoured flesh and bones beside the walker that the blonde had just ended. The bones and slowly rotting remains of blood and left over muscle tissue that had once been a child's arm were still outstretched toward the former man's body beside it. Connor observed it, too, for a moment, knowing just like Murphy that this small pile of bones and flesh had once been a child, probably even belonged to the man. Connor shook his head and took a deep breath, only to keep walking and get started with their search for the tools instead.

Murphy stood a moment longer and was joined by Daryl, the both of them observing the remains of the child.

Eventually, Daryl spoke, although it was more of an acknowledging mutter.

"Car got stuffed animals in the trunk" he said, looking at the remains. "Blood and skin ain't too old and rotten. Looks like we owe 'em our ride and gas out there" he went on and eventually got going with a little scoff. No matter how many times he saw it, fates like this, they would always get to him no matter what. They upset him a bit, they made him feel sorry a bit, but most of all, they made him angry. But just like anybody else he had become fairly great at taking it in, acknowledging it, remembering that the world was shit, and then moving on. He kept going and followed Connor into the back of the gas station through the door, knowing that this was where the car repair shop with all the important stuff was, that he was needed a lot more back there then in here with some rotting bodies.

"Keep a look out for any uninvited pricks" was all he said to Murphy before he disappeared into the dark with his crossbow drawn.

Murphy nodded and looked up after a moment, eyeing their surroundings through the windows as he made his way down the aisle back towards the entrance, but sooner or later, he found himself staring back at the child's corpse yet again. He chewed on his lips, wondering if it made him angry or upset. He hated the look of this mess, the smell, the constant reminder that despite their own outcomes and luck, the world still was and always would be shit. He let out a little sigh and decided to make his way back outside instead, so he could keep a better eye out and check the gas pumps and immediate surroundings of the gas station for more useful things.

He wandered about, looking curiously at the gas prices only to smirk at the ridiculous numbers that reminded him of how crazy society had gotten during the breakdown of the economy and all the infrastructure. He decided to take one of the hoses that had once been used to wash the cars and cut it up to larger pieces with his bowie knife, so he could use them to siphon gas. Next on the list was a gas can so he circled back, checked the sides of the gas pumps, the close metal shelves and cabinets, until he ended up checking the trunk of the car that Daryl had been working on when he remembered the supplies.

Murphy stilled and pressed his lips together as soon as he opened the trunk. He could see all sorts of things. Rotten supplies, water bottles, a few weapons and ammo, two gas cans…a stuffed pony, just like Daryl had said. He kept his eyes fixed on that for a while, raising his head after a moment to look back at the gas station where he knew the bodies were.

He chewed on his lower lip until it almost bleed and hurt, then forced himself to toughen up. He grabbed the two gas cans instead and then closed the trunk shut. He stuck the pieces of the hose between his belt and jeans and then grabbed the gas cans with both his hands to get going, to check each gas pump and nearby cars for whatever was left, while continuously keeping a lookout just like Daryl had told him to.

The repair shop was almost completely dark, since all the doors were shut and only a bunch of very small top light windows allowed the sun to shine in here. Connor had turned his flashlight on and held it in his one hand while he held his knife with the other, shining the light beam at the surrounding shelves, the car that was still on the lifting platform, the tires and tools that were scattered all over the place. Just like in the front area there were two half eaten dead bodies in here, but they couldn't see or hear anything moving.

Connor gave silent instructions with his hand that held the flashlight to let Daryl know that he was supposed to go right of the car while he took the left side. After a few minutes of silent walking and listening they eventually relaxed a bit. Connor whistled once and lowered his knife. To his right he could hear that Daryl was doing the same with is crossbow as well. Connor got out of his cautious battle mode and instead focused his attention on their search.

"Anything useful?" he asked after a moment, surprised how loud his voice was in here. He turned around and shone his flashlight past the car all the way to the other side of the garage where Daryl was searching the workbenches, sorting through metallic stuff and moving it about with clattering noise.

"Hmhm, place's just fine. Looks like the old pope guy's good for something."

Connor searched around some, too, grabbed the oil they needed and a few other things, a big wrench and a hammer as future possible weapons. Daryl eventually walked up to him and placed himself next to Connor by the cabinets and shelves. He was searching the place with precision and that certain look of his on his face, and when Connor saw it against the dark background, he eventually smirked a bit and then concentrated on the tools again.

"How come ye never fuckin became a mechanic or some shit. Could totally see it in ye with the motorbike 'n everything" the Irishman wondered and Daryl snorted.

"Cos it ain't ever been on the table" the hunter muttered and shook a strange metal cylinder close to his ear to check its contents. He then just threw it away and shrugged.

"No time, no money, ain't been to school. Besides, didn't need no job or 'training' t'fix bikes."

Connor snorted once and shook his head. He knew that his friend was actually a whole lot smarter and intelligent than one might think. If things had been different for him and if he'd had the support from his family the way he and Murphy had been supported and motivated by their mother, he was sure Daryl really could've been something back in the day. It was so grotesque to think about how completely different their education and training and life had been back in the day, but how they had still pretty much ended up the same.

Daryl smirked a tiny bit as he shot a quick look at Connor by his side.

"How come you ain't whining 'bout your bro and ginger?"

Connor moved to the side so he could bump into him a bit harshly with his hip.

"Shut it, cos there's no reason fer it."

"Oh yeah? Last I remember, you didn't even let the guy join any scouting missions and didn't even let him outta the house cos you were some jealous bitch as soon as he was 'round people."

Connor just scoffed but wouldn't answer. Daryl smirked a little more and put some tools and useful things in his bag, deciding to let it go. But he really was glad and happy that Connor wasn't bugging him with it, even better, that his friend seriously seemed to have moved forward in general, regarding the entire Murphy topic. He looked to the side for a final time to study Connor's face, but his friend was currently looking to the other side and scanning the shelves on the side wall with his flashlight pointed at them. It was then when Daryl noticed another important tool and piece, so he walked past his friend and half placed himself behind him. He put his hands on Connor's hips to pull himself to the side and then reached for one of the top shelves to get the stuff he needed.

Connor snorted once and then chuckled.

"Be any less fuckin subtle" he teased and Daryl stilled, looking at the back of Connor's head, until he smirked, too.

"Don't think t'high of yahself, just gettin the shit we need" he muttered, but maybe he did dig the fingers of his left hand a little more into Connor's side as he held on to him for support. He let out a breathy chuckle when his friend writhed a bit and then moved his hips, obviously to tease a little more, deadly on point. Daryl got extra close and lowered the piece from the shelf onto the table, momentarily stilling and breathing hot into Connor's neck and right ear, until he simply moved again and placed the part in the bag instead and let go, moving away.

"Fucker" Connor chuckled and turned his head to the side to look at Daryl, who just gave him an almost cocky grin. The hunter simply got back to his other bag and started going through the list for a final time, to check if they had everything, the flashlight in his mouth and shining down at the small piece of paper. Connor turned around and lazily leaned against the workbench, folding his arms and watching Daryl. He eventually had a content smirk on his face again and shifted from one foot to the next.

"Y'know that as soon as we're on te road to D.C. and as soon as we get t'this place Eugene was talking 'bout, shit's gonna get more complicated, right" he said after a while and Daryl turned his head to look at him, blinding him with the flashlight that was still in his mouth. But despite the blinding, Connor still went on. "Like 15 or more people around us all the time, sleepin in a tight bus or out in the open with people everywhere..."

Daryl looked at him a little longer and then snorted, taking the flashlight out of his mouth.

"Worked yesterday, didn't it" he just said and then knelt down to get the bag.

"And here we are" Connor went on, the grin growing only wider, challenging. Daryl got up and looked at him, only to shake his head with a scoff and slight smirk. They didn't get to talk anymore because they suddenly heard a car somewhere outside, startling them and making them look to the side and listen up. It seemed to be close and getting closer still, at an alarming speed. Connor and Daryl shot a look at each other, and the Irishman was the first to speak it out.

"Dude is tha a fuckin car?" he said, listening, but there was no doubt. It seemed to be coming from further left, definitely not from in front of the gas station where they knew their working car was. A second later, they heard gunshots. Then yelling and the sounds of a fight.

"GET YER FOCKIN MITTS OFF OF ME!" Murphy was yelling outside, then there was some more struggling and fighting noise and the screeching of tires. Connor's eyes widened in sheer surprise and horror, and he was only a split second away from shouting his brother's name in complete panic. But before it got to it Daryl immediately darted forward and pressed his hand to Connor's mouth, to shut him up with an angry shushing noise and meaningful look.

Connor knew what it meant. He was supposed to shut up so they wouldn't give their position away. But he was still incredibly tense and freaking out. He struggled very hard, grabbed his gun and knife and the look on his face changed almost immediately. The panic was gone and replaced with intense rage and a murderous glare as he got moving, without a sound.

Murphy still seemed to be yelling and fighting hard outside as there were lots of glittering noises, the sound of breaking glass and possible bodies hitting the hard surface of a car. Both Connor and Daryl started running, leaving the garage and entering the front sales area again. They could soon see the struggle through the windows, the harsh fight by their car as Murphy was battling two attackers at once. Attackers who were wearing army clothing.

One was holding him in a headlock from behind while the other tried to approach him, but Murphy first kicked the man in front of him in the guts and then angrily elbowed the other one behind him, successfully freeing himself and running for his gun on the ground. He yelled an angry "CONNOR! DARYL!" and then fell to the ground when the one he had kicked grabbed him by his leg and tackled him to the ground.

"MURPH!" Connor finally yelled back, still running and zigzagging his way through the sales shelves with his weapon drawn. He shot his Beretta and broke the window, trying to hit one of the assailants but missed. The two soldiers immediately looked up and the taller one that had received the elbow blow fired back in an instant, making Connor duck down for cover, just like Daryl behind him.

Murphy yelped once, loudly, and Connor only caught a glimpse of the slimmer man who had tackled his twin down, how he emptied a syringe into Murphy's neck. Murphy still struggled hard but slowly slumped together under the influence of the substance, making Connor yell and lose it even more. Connor kept running towards the front doors half crouched down even though they were under heavy gunfire by the other man.

But it was still too late.

Because then the car they had heard came to a screeching halt right next Murphy and the men with even more fire power through the window, scattering each and every one of the glass windows and doors of the gas station to keep Connor and Daryl inside.

"MURPH! NO! YOU MOTHERFUCKERS!" Connor yelled and kept coming at them while Daryl stayed a bit further behind, taking cover behind one of the shelves as he somewhat patiently tried to take aim at the assailants with his crossbow. He did manage to shot an arrow and hit the guy who was dragging Murphy inside the car in the shoulder, making him scream and yelp and then dive into the backseat along with the now unconscious Irishman. The driver of the car, a man who was undoubtedly wearing a police uniform, and the third, taller man were still shooting at Connor as they gathered their things, then tall soldier got into the car as well. The gunfire finally stopped and the car sped forward, away from the gas station at full speed and with screeching tires.

Without even thinking or listening to Daryl Connor immediately got back up on his feet and started running, sprinting out of the gas station and after the car with an angry "HEY! GET BACK HERE!" He shot another bullet at it but only hit the trunk instead of a tire, yelling an incredibly enraged "FUCK!" a moment later as he kept sprinting. He could see the white cross all too clearly, taped to the rear window of the car, mocking him, reminding him that it had been around ever since that night after Terminus. Connor kept running and running but knew that it was pointless, because the car was almost out of sight given the speed it was going with. It was then when he finally heard another car, right behind him, coming to a screeching halt right in front of him, the passenger door swinging wide open only a couple seconds later.

"GET IN, HURRY!" Daryl yelled from inside, having taken their car from back at the gas station while Connor had been busy sprinting after his brother's abductors. Connor kept running and then jumped inside the car, sitting down on the passenger seat right next to Daryl, chest heaving and completely out of breath as he swung the door shut. Daryl accelerated and got the car to full speed yet again.

"These motherfuckers I swear I'm gonna fucking kill them!" Connor yelled and kicked the dashboard extremely hard, absolutely losing it.

"I saw the fuckin cross on te back, it's that same fuckin car we kept seein. I swear if they do something t'him I'll…"

"I knew the guy I hit, I saw his face, I recognized them" Daryl raised his voice as he drove faster, pretty angry about the abduction, too, although now everything made a lot more sense.

"Well then who the fuck was it?!"

"You don't remember 'em?! These fuckers from Augusta! He was there the first day we got there when they took us to their shower rooms, he and this other guy got on my nerves. I fuckin knew that sooner or later they'd keep comin after you two dumbasses! We should've listened to the old fuck back in Augusta when he told us they ain't gonna ever let you go as soon as they find out!"

"FUCK!" Connor yelled and kicked the dashboard once more, pressing his hand to his eyes for a moment to try and calm himself down, to think straight, but as soon as his eyes were closed, all he could see was that fucking syringe in their hands and Murphy on the ground. "I fuckin knew it!" he muttered to himself. He angrily let go of his face and looked up again, noticing with great dismay that the silhouette of the car in front of them was getting smaller and smaller by the second as it sped away.

"Go fuckin faster, wouldcha?!" Connor yelled angrily and glared at Daryl, who got angry as well.

"Fuck you, I'm goin as fast as this piece of shit can, I wanna get 'im back, too, you asshole!" he yelled back and they both fell quiet, as they tried to concentrate on the chase. After a moment of awkward and tense silence Daryl spoke again.

"They're headin' towards interstate 85. I think they're headin for Atlanta" he said after a while, which made Connor look at him with an angry frown.

"What?"

"They ain't heading south-east. They're goin north."

"I don't care where they're fuckin goin, I just want my fuckin brother back, alright" Connor said and shifted, but his anger was slowly losing its pace. Instead, the fear was slowly starting to creep up on him, and Daryl noticed it almost immediately. He kept quiet for a very long while and until they reached the highway, but before he got to say something, Connor eventually spoke up again, somewhat calmer, but still sounding angry and freaked out.

"Ye sure it's them?"

Daryl looked at him for a short moment but then concentrated on the road again when it took a sharp right turn.

"Yeah. It was the guy with the scar cross his cheek right here, ain't been hard t'miss" he answered, pointing at his own cheek to show what he meant. "Fuck, shit happened so fast, I didn't even see shit" Connor growled and pressed his thumb to his forehead as he thought hard, shaking his head and gritting his teeth.

"If it's them and they were after us because of the immunity shit, then they knew 'bout you'n me in there. If they want their cure so fuckin bad, then why the fuck did they shoot at me? I mean t'them we're real fuckin valuable, tha doesn't make any fuckin sense."

Daryl just shrugged and chewed on the inner side of his cheek, thinking it through.

"They got your bro. Better have one of yah and risk the other dead insteada losin yah both again?"

Connor scoffed and shook his head.

"Fuckin figures" he growled and thought all the information through a little longer. Then, it was slowly dawning on him.

"We gotta get t'them before they get'im to that location of theirs. They're gonna fuckin pull it through this time otherwise. That surgery, tha research, they're gonna fuckin kill 'im over this if we don't…"

"Hey" Daryl said angrily and shot a look at Connor, who eventually looked back at him.

"He's gon' make it" the hunter said and then fixed his eyes on the tiny car in the distance yet again.

"Done it before."

"I know, just fuckin hurry, alright" Connor said, leaning back as he nervously tapped his fingers on his knee, trying to calm his nerves although he knew it was useless. His heart was pounding hard and his mind was spinning with thoughts. He forced himself to focus, forced himself to come up with a solution, a plan, anything they could do to help Murphy out of this mess. They sped down the interstate, driving around abandoned vehicles and shuffling corpses, hoping to stay close enough to the other car as they made their way back to the abandoned city of Atlanta in the distance.