Author's note: This semester is actually going to kill me. Too many presentations and seminars and not enough time for naps. I will try my best to update as often as possible. I know once season 4 starts and I get some Caryl inspiration, more stories will start! Anyway, thanks for the reviews,alerts and faves! I love you all!
Waking up with a beautiful woman in his arms was something that Daryl Dixon had never done. He had had a couple of one night stands in his past, but nothing that compared to this.
Carol didn't take any of his shit. When he got angry, a simple hand on his arm could calm him down and make him realize that he no longer needed to be so defensive and withdrawn. She wouldn't let him pull away anymore and she was vital to the incorporation of Merle into the group. Daryl knew that this was solely for his benefit and even though Merle was turning out to be an asset, she would not be trying this hard if he wasn't blood.
Since the night that she had stood toe to toe with him on Hershel's farm and stared him in the eyes while he ripped her apart, he had watched her grow. She was on his radar from the moment that he witnessed the bruises back at the quarry, but after Ed died and she had taken the pickaxe from his hand, he saw the changes.
He snapped at Sophia and she stood up to him, a rough redneck with a crossbow. Then he had all but blamed her entirely for Sophia being dead and she stood her ground, even as he was lashing out. When he saw her chin raise in defiance as he cut her down, he knew that this woman would outlive most. She had lost everything, but had gained inner strength. She would never let another child get injured or go missing while she was around and she would ensure the safety of those whom she had grown to love.
Daryl had watched her evolve and he slowly realized that he loved this woman. His woman. They had joked about that title numerous times. Carol said that she had been owned for years and would never be owned again, but that isn't what Daryl meant.
His woman and her man, that's what they were. Not in an ownership sense, but as a way of completion. He needed her to be whole and he had never felt more stupid in hi entire life until he tried to explain this to Carol. Talking was not his strong suit, but with Carol, he managed to express what he meant.
They hadn't been apart since returning from Woodbury and death was the only thing that would separate them now.
The Governor was coming and Andrea was still missing. The prison was ready for an attack and now it was simply a waiting game.
He lightly traced the scar on her arm where the stitches had just been removed and knew that when the Governor showed up, he would not be leaving this prison alive.
From his place in the guard tower Daryl saw the trucks before anyone else, "We got company!"
He ran down the stairs as fast as he could to find everyone gearing up and Carol handing a sleeping Judith to Beth and going over the plan, "You know the drill. Stay with your father and Carl and don't come back in here until you hear from one of us first."
Rick was having the same conversation with Carl and it looked as though this decision was causing him physical pain. Carl was not happy about having to leave the prison during the fight, but Rick had managed to assure him that he was needed elsewhere. As young as he was, Carl could defend his sister better than most. Judith needed Beth and the young girl could hold her own, just not while holding little asskicker, and even though Hershel was nothing short of a badass, he could not fight here. Carl was the best decision to defend the others and he was slowly beginning to realize that.
As Hershel, Beth, Judith and Carl made their way out the back of the prison and into a planned safe zone, everyone else was starting to get into their positions. Daryl immediately went to Carol's side, "got your knife? Gun loaded? Why ain't you in the riot gear?"
"Daryl, stop!" She put her hands on his chest gently, "everything is going to be alright, I have everything, do you?" she was trying to reassure him that they would both get through this, but the weight of the situation was crashing down on everyone.
He grabbed Carol into a crushing hug, no longer worried about physical displays of affection. Everyone knew of their relationship by now, so Daryl kissed his woman and held her close before they both went to fight for their lives.
Maggie and Glenn were sharing light kisses in between a clearly personal conversation as they held each other close. Rick watched as his last two lifelines walked out the door and Carol felt an urge to hug him and reassure him that they would be completely safe, even if the rest of them would not.
Michonne, as per usual, opted to fight by herself and she left the room first as the small remaining group began to split up. Daryl had no desire to let Carol go off without him, but with a quick nod to Merle, he knew she would be safe. Carol placed a lingering kiss on his lips before turning to leave with Merle and giving Rick a quick hug on the way.
Rick and Daryl had become a well oiled machine and knew that in a fight like this, they would be front and center, fighting together to protect their family. The two men walked away, side-by-side to get in place.
Michonne had warned them of the tanks and of the machine guns that topped the trucks, so they had expected a full attack and had certain plans in place for just this occasion. Hershel's misguided attempt to keep those he loved safe, had given them the inspiration that they needed to keep their home safe.
The rocket launcher was something that they were not expecting.
The main guard tower was brought down quickly, but everyone stayed silent and in position. Thankfully the guard towers were not manned, but as it fell, the thought of a rebuild began to go through Glenn's mind. They were going to win, they had to.
The machine guns ripped apart the walkers that were in the front yard and then the military trucks tore through the fence. The Woodbury group scrambled out of their vehicles and began to search the prison, which they found empty, well, mostly empty.
After easily getting inside the prison, the Governor found the cells and kitchen area completely empty. He slowly made his way through the cells, noting anything that had been left behind, but all he found was a bible.
The Governor split his group in two to better search the prison. The ones who were not under the Governor's command found themselves in the lower levels, where Rick and Daryl had previously led a dozen walkers on snap-poles.
The strategically herded walkers worked perfectly at scaring the innocent members of Woodbury back outside. As soon as they were in the courtyard, Daryl and Rick began to open fire. The Woodbury men and women were taken by surprise and immediately retreated to their vehicles. These people weren't soldiers and had not signed on for a bloodbath. So without their terrifying leader, they simply fled.
When Rick and Daryl noticed that the Governor was not with the, now retreating, group, they took out the remaining walkers and ran to meet up with Carol and Merle on the other side.
"They split up," Carol whispered as she and Merle slowly followed the Governor.
"We's stickin' with this one," Merle had not taken his eyes off the enraged man since he had entered the prison and Carol knew that, should they meet face to face, it was unlikely that both men would survive.
Carol and Merle were right above the Governor and his group of fighters. They were being as quiet as possible as they slowly followed them towards another area where they knew that walkers were waiting to block their escape.
As they neared the exits, Carol and Merle each threw flash-bangs ad smoke bombs at the unsuspecting invaders that sent them into a frenzy. The walkers could barely be seen between the bursts of light and the smoky air, but that did not stop the Woodbury fighters from firing their weapons. This resulted in many casualties from friendly fire and caused Merle and Carol to give up their hiding spot in fear of being caught by a stray bullet.
Most of the group became scared and ran outside where they were immediately confronted by Maggie and Glenn and a barrage of bullets. They fled to their trucks in retreat with the Governor screaming at them from inside the prison.
Carol and Merle emerged from the smoke with their guns at the ready and began firing at walkers and humans alike. The Governor shot like a madman in order to give himself cover and retreat from the room.
He was not expecting the extra man power from Maggie and Glenn on the outside and took cover along with four of his most loyal. Each group had taken refuge behind some strategically placed barricades that the prison group had erected.
A standoff had begun.
