The two waited in silence, Andrea's soft whimpers of pain died and she passed out from exhaustion for a couple of hours before coming around again. Carl had fallen into a fitful sleep himself but woke before Andrea he listened to her shallow breath.
"I didn't mean for this to happen," Andrea whispered, "not like this…."
Carl didn't know what to say but he didn't have to as Andrea continued.
"I just wanted everyone to…live together peacefully. I didn't want anyone to be alone…."
Tears brimmed in Carl's eyes as he listened to Andrea, he felt a pang of guilt weigh his heart down. He recalled thinking about Andrea when he was alone, how she chose to stay in a threatening place rather than coming back to her original group. It angered him, made him feel that she didn't care about anyone in her group. Now hearing Andrea, the youth felt foolish thinking negative things about her.
"It's alright," Andrea spoke quietly as if reading Carl's mind. "It wasn't clear, I…I didn't explain it like I should've."
Carl tried not to nod but he couldn't help himself.
Andrea gave a small hiss of pain as she adjusted to a more comfortable position.
"I'm sorry about your dad."
Carl bit his lip trying not to cry, he took in a deep breath as he leaned against the wall. He looked over at Andrea who was testing her own bonds, her injured leg sent up a sting of pain.
"I have an idea," she said in a low voice in case anyone was on the other side, "I'm going to make this right."
XXXXXX
The six sat around the table, Judith had been placed in her crib after she gave a few whimpers for attention. Glad they were not going to be bothered they got down to business.
"So you were with Rick," said Daryl, it wasn't a question.
"After he got out of the hospital," Morgan confirmed, "he was still in the hospital gown and he was in a state of shock when my son and I found him."
"A son?" asked Carol, she immediately straightening.
Morgan nodded. "But he died and it's just been me."
"I'm sorry."
Morgan nodded his thanks and turned back to Daryl.
"We met a couple days back before he died," Morgan explained, "him, Carl and Michonne came into the neighbourhood. To be honest it was a shock to see him alive, and for him to find his son."
"You were the one that he tried to communicate with weren't you?" Daryl asked, "I remember when we were deciding on going back for Merle after Rick had…," the new leader tried not to look at his older brother scowling deeply - , "anyway he said that he had crappy radios and that you two had to be in a certain range to talk to each other."
Morgan nodded. "Yeah, we had a talk about communication when he visited."
There was a small silence between the adults Merle adjusted his position while Beth went to go check on Judith who started to hiccup from her crib.
"So what happened?" Morgan asked however it came out more like a demand.
They looked at each other unsure of what to tell him.
"I answered all your questions," Morgan reminded, "even the ones I tried to avoid so I think that it's fair that you tell me what happened to Rick."
Daryl gave in and nodded.
"It's a long story Morgan."
From the tone of Daryl's voice Morgan could tell that it wasn't going to be a pleasant one, but there never seemed to be a sense of pleasance in the world anymore.
"Take your time."
It took them four hours. Carol, Daryl and Merle explained the plan, the ambush and Merle even spoke honestly how he tucked tail and ran only to come back to try and rescue his brother. Daryl admitted how he used Glenn's demise to his own advantage to escape. Carol explained watching Rick die before her very own eyes, how she woke up and the beating. Milton told them about the Governor, the hell he inflicted on Michonne and his attempts to rescue and take Andrea back to the prison but was caught and the traps he had set up when he managed to free himself with the tools.
Beth who had been listening from the corner of the room felt her eyes tear up at certain times but she was glad that it was out; that she was hearing the truth. Her eyes met Daryl's and she sent a single message: thank you. Daryl looked away still feeling slightly guilty but he felt a weight being lifted off his shoulders, like he was able to move more freely – more in control. He looked over at Carol, Milton and Merle seeing the three look different as well each sitting slightly straighter than before and a bit more confidence in their expressions yet there still was pain and anger embedded deeply into each even etched in Beth. Daryl stood speaking to everyone that they should get some rest while they can before the Governor came for round three. Everyone watched as he disappeared through the door and slowly they took his advice dispersing into their own personal area wanting peace and quiet while they had it.
XXXXXX
Another shot of pain gripped Andrea making her leg muscles paroxysmal spasm due to pain. She was bent forward slightly trying pull her damaged leg through, her body was weakened by exhaustion but Andrea was determined to free herself and Carl. Her was trying to bring her cuffed wrists to her front by passing them under her legs, after that Andrea would free Carl from his own bonds. Andrea would be next to Carl more in the dark so that the Governor wouldn't see that she had given herself some freedom.
She wanted to do a surprise attack on the Governor when he would come next. Pretend that Carl was still bound and when the Woodbury leader least expect it, Carl would jump him from behind with the help of Andrea the best she could.
Andrea finally slipped her wounded leg through and easily she got the other one through with no problem.
"Are you alright?" Carl asked seeing Andrea squeeze her eyes in pain.
"…yeah…," Andrea breathed. She slid over and unbuckled the collar and untied his hands and loosened the knot on his ankles to keep them thinking that the boy was incapacitated. The collar laid a little bit down on the boy's neck but enough to make it seem like it was still tied.
"Is it ready?" Carl asked his heart beat heavily in his chest.
Andrea nodded and in a low whisper said, "We just have to wait for the Governor to come in."
Carl gave the slightest of nods not wanting to make the collar fall off. But he couldn't help but take in a deep gulp of air the collar had been suffocating ever since it was affixed to his neck. Andrea gave him a weak smile and leaned up against the wall. The two sat in silence actually enjoying each other's presence even though they weren't speaking. Carl was tired but he looked at Andrea and asked, "What happened to you?"
Andrea gave him a curious look showing him that she didn't understand his question.
"After the farm, where did you and Michonne go?"
Andrea sighed leaning against the wall remembering her friend.
"Anywhere we could find shelter," Andrea finally said, "to be honest I was a little apprehensive about her but we protected each other, looked out for each other. During the winter was the roughest though, we stayed in one spot mostly until we were ambushed. After that we sort of wandered until we came across another town and stayed there, I got sick on our journey but recovered…here…."
It was difficult for Andrea to say, but it was one hundred percent true it was because of the medicine she was given that Andrea made a successful recovery.
"That's mainly what we did too," Carl said, "we ran into a couple other groups, some were actually helpful while others were not so much."
Andrea nodded. "We ran into some people too."
"What did you do?"
The young woman stifled a cry as she thought about the mother and son, she looked at Carl.
"We did what we had to."
Carl looked down at the ground feeling a bit bad that he had asked Andrea about an obvious delicate topic but before he was able to apologize the door opened and the two gave each other a firm nod each understanding what they had to do. For Carl his heart was racing against his breast, he tried not to move too much because he didn't want to disturb the undone knots the youth took in a quick breath. Andrea remained still filled with restraint however she could feel energy rise up in her as if her body agreed with her plan filling her with energy that Andrea didn't know she had. She moved over towards Carl and adjusted her position as if to comfort him but pushing back her shoulders slightly to give off the thought that her hands were still bound behind her back.
As the door closed and the keys gave an ominous jingle, both Carl and Andrea gapped at who it was. They watched as Noah came up to the cell and unlocked it, the boy was obviously uneasy in the place but he had been reassured over and over by the Governor that it was completely safe.
Carl side glanced Andrea quickly wondering what he should do fear clearly evident. Andrea didn't expect this, her jaw dropped slightly but she sent a firm message: keep with the plan. If Noah found that the bonds were undone the boy would obviously report it to the Governor. Unless…
Andrea's eyes widened, unbelievable….
She looked over at Carl and saw the boy tense.
"The Governor wants to s-."
Noah didn't get the rest of his sentence out as the thirteen year old launched himself at the teenager with an amazing burst of speed and energy. The fourteen year old gave a shriek of surprise and backed up hitting his back against the metal bars, Noah gritted his teeth and was ready to defend himself but Carl repeatedly punched him in the face and chest. Andrea struggled to her feet feeling bolts of pain run up and down her left leg, but she managed – with the help of the wall – to steady herself.
"His gun!" Andrea shouted.
Noah struggled to keep his gun holstered while Carl attempted to take it out. They crashed into either wall Noah easily got the upper hand and literally tossed Carl onto the ground. The angered teenager delivered a kick to Carl's stomach which made the boy curl up into a ball as pain exploded in his chest. Andrea noted that Noah was close and so with her good leg, she stepped forward and wrapped her cuffed arms around Noah's neck taking him down in the process. Carl looked up to see Noah and Andrea struggle on the ground, Noah trying to pry the chain off his throat while Andrea held fast a strange dangerous fire burned in her eyes. Carl dashed forward and grabbed the gun with one hand while the other cradled his cracked ribs. The boy backed up clearly out of breath and watched in desperation as Noah stuck his thumb into Andrea's bullet wound in hopes for her to get off. It worked. The young woman let out a scream of pain and the chain loosened slightly but enough for Noah to get it over his head slipping out. Carl raised the gun but Noah kicked the youth in the shins making Carl fall once more and Noah tried to pry his gun from the boy's fingers but Carl held fast.
"Give it here you little-."
Bang!
As the gun went off Andrea screamed as blood freshly coated the wall – and Carl. The gunshot ricocheted around the small room making Carl's head spin. Andrea sat there in shock, her jaw dropped and her eyes wide in fear and horror. Carl tasted something coppery on his tongue and around the inside of his cheeks he soon realized that it was blood – Noah's blood. The lifeless fourteen year- old slumped against the boy, his empty eyes looking at Carl who couldn't stop the tears trailing down his cheeks, his body shook like an autumnal leaf at first frost.
"Tsk tsk."
Andrea and Carl looked over to see the Governor standing at the cell entrance he holstered his gun and shook his head at the bloody scene before him. Behind him was Jody who looked like he was going to throw up.
"Such a shame," the Governor said taking a small step into the cell.
Andrea gapped at Noah's body, tears of her own trailed down her cheeks. She looked at the Governor and whispered, "What did you do?"
The Governor looked at Andrea. "What are you talking about?"
The young woman's eyes widened.
"If you hadn't done anything stupid, then this poor boy would still be alive."
Carl shrugged the deadweight off of him panting as he did so, he looked up as the Governor shook his head.
"I wonder what Karen will think."
Andrea opened her mouth to protest but immediately shut it the tears continued to pour down her face soft whimpers escaped. The Governor turned his attention to Carl who immediately shrank back.
"Perhaps a temporary stay is in order," the Governor thought aloud, "Jody."
The boy hesitated at first but walked in and grabbed Carl.
"NO!" Andrea screamed, she moved forward ignoring her own pain but the Governor back handed her sending her into the wall.
"Should've known that you still were loyal to your former group," the Governor quipped, "that you would pick them over this town."
Andrea held her bruised cheek giving the Governor the darkest glare she could but when she saw Jody holding Carl with his arms around his back she immediately looked at the teen pleadingly.
"Jody please…," Andrea whispered. Jody looked down at the bloodied body of Noah and the Governor saw skepticism in his eyes.
"They were going to kill him Jody," the Governor reminded, "see where the chain had cut into his neck? Andrea did that, and why didn't Carl just give up the gun? No they were going to kill him and make it painful, make it so that he was going to be begging them for the pain to stop. I saved him…saved him from the suffering that they were going to make him endure."
Carl and Andrea gapped at the Governor's lie but Jody looked again at Noah, no more talks of video games, girls and complaining on who had to do the most boring chore – he was dead. The Governor watched as the skepticism vanished replaced with nothing but the leader didn't care soon he would fill those eyes with hate and anger geared towards what was left of Rick's group.
"Jody…," Andrea spoke weakly.
"I…," Jody started but he straightened and a blank expression took over making it look like he never smiled in his life. "Where do you want him sir?"
"In the shed," the Governor answered handing Jody the key. The teen nodded and was ready to turn when the Governor placed a hand on the boy's shoulder. "I'm sorry about Noah."
Jody swallowed hard trying not to look at the body of his friend he nodded nonetheless and forced Carl forward. The youth tried to struggle but Jody twisted his wrist behind his back and Carl bit his lip stopping him from crying out in pain. Andrea watched helplessly as Jody and Carl disappeared.
"Such a shame," the Governor said toeing the lifeless teenager.
"You fucking bastard," Andrea hissed venom clung onto every word.
The Governor turned back to the woman and said, "I hope you and the boy had a nice little chat."
Andrea turned the Governor kneeled and grabbed her chin forcing her to look at him.
"Perhaps you can let me in on a few words."
Andrea couldn't stop looking at the lifeless Noah.
"You killed him."
"Planning behind my back Andrea?" the Governor asked pretending to be surprised. "I thought that you knew what would happen to those who did sneaky planning."
"He didn't do anything to you!"
"Not to me, for me," corrected the Governor. "Once the news of Karen's beloved son was killed by Carl and you well I don't think I need to tell you the reaction that it's going to create."
Andrea willed herself not to cry.
"It's over Philip, you have your revenge on Michonne just leave the others, move on."
The Governor stood towering over Andrea allowing his shadow to engulf her.
"You don't understand do you?" he asked, but he gave Andrea no chance to answer. "My daughter was killed in cold blood by that bitch, and Rick decides to give her shelter rather than bring her to justice."
Andrea's dark glare returned.
"She was a Walker and killed because you weren't able to protect her. If you can't protect a child then how can you protect the people?"
The Governor faltered as he heard Andrea's words, an expression of sorrow and a hint of fear flashed across his face for a brief moment but it disappeared behind a familiar dark veil. Andrea tensed her muscles ready to take whatever blow the Governor was about to deliver but instead he spoke.
"I wouldn't be the one to talk, you weren't able to protect Amy when the Walkers invaded your campsite," he noted as Andrea. "You pride yourself over being a sharp shooter yet you weren't even able to kill a Walker who was five feet away."
"Shut up," Andrea hissed but it came out in a sort of whimper.
The Governor stood once more.
"So I'll give you one more chance to go over the conversations you and the boy had."
He walked out of the cell door and locked it.
XXXXXX
Daryl looked over as the door opened, secretly the hunter hoped that it was his brother to try and cheer the young Dixon up but instead he got someone he never expected.
"Did expect the butler to have the balls to escape," Daryl snapped.
Milton rolled his eyes, he knew going in this wasn't going to be easy but he shrugged off Daryl's comment and walked up to him.
"I know that you and I don't have the best relationship, hell I don't think we even have one but I can be of use."
Daryl side glanced the scientist. "And what sort of help can you be? You can't use a gun, you can't fight all you can do is take a hit and keel over."
"I know Woodbury."
"So does Merle."
Milton shook his head. "This is different, I've been there when the Gove-…erm Philip came to be. I saw what happened to him but ignored it."
Daryl tried to snap back but after hearing Milton he knew that it he had a point.
"Why didn't you stop him then huh?"
Milton sighed. "It wasn't my finest hour and Philip was recovering from his the passing and turn of his very own daughter Penny. I thought that it was typical when people lost family and friends but I should've known better."
"What did he do?"
Milton turned to Daryl so that the two men were standing face to face.
"You have to understand, Philip isn't a bad guy in fact when we first met he helped me out in a lot of different ways."
"Got it, best friend at the end of the world turned into a narcissistic psychopathic murderer."
Daryl's words made Milton flinch slightly but the scientist continued.
"He brought nearly a hundred people together to live, work and protect."
"To teach them how to lie, steal and murderer."
Milton took in a breath. "If I'm going to tell you anything I want you to understand that Philip was a good man that he cared for whomever he was around and was a loving father to his child."
Daryl tried to think if this was staged or not but he could hear the sincerity in the man's voice. He turned back to the field of Walkers.
"He was like Rick in a way."
The last sentence made Daryl do a double take and he turned to Milton who held a firm expression.
"Rick is not like the Governor."
Daryl turned back to the field, he found himself thinking on the what Milton had said and knew that he was right in a way, they were alike in so many ways it was almost as if they were fighting their own reflections. Both had people to protect, they had family and friends to give them support and. However the Governor had gotten more emotional no thanks to the death of Penny while Carl was still alive during the time of her death because of her death, it possibly pushed him further. Daryl thought back to how Rick reacted a few days after Lori's death with the hallucinations.
Daryl pressed his fist against the fence feeling the metals coolness against his skin. He turned to Milton and saw that the expression on the scientist's face still hadn't changed. The hunter wanted to be different not better than Rick was but then again he didn't want the position to start with, he only got it because currently he was the most logical and strongest at the time.
Daryl turned to Milton.
"What do I need to know?"
