Recapture

Chapter 11

Carol stepped out on the front porch where everyone was sitting around talking. Daryl was standing off in the grass a short ways away from everyone but still in ear shot.

"We need to go on to Fort Benning. This isn't the time to stay and play house." Shane told them.

"What for Shane? What we need is a stable home, we have that here, why should we leave to go back out there? As far as we know Fort Benning will be no different from Atlanta." Lori argued.

"Of course it won't be, don't be ridiculous. It's a military installation, it's not going to be like Atlanta." Shane replied.

"Tell us Shane what is the point? Lori's right. It's safe here, we can make this a home. I'm not going to drag my family back out on the road to uncertainty when I can provide them a safe place here." Rick told him.

"But what about the walkers? We're bound to see some at some point. Shouldn't we be trying to find out what's going on in the rest of the world? If there is some kind of cure or vaccine?" Andrea asked.

"You'd think a military installation would have those answers if there are people still there." Dale added "But I don't know, I mean what if there's not, then we've made that trip for nothing and we've wasted resources. I just don't know."

"You want to leave?" Carol asked "But why? It's wonderful here. I'm tired of running. I want a place to call home, I want to stay here with all you people I care about." Carol stated as she looked over at Daryl. He only seemed to be half listening as he was pacing back and forth still agitated from what happened upstairs.

"Well we've already outgrown this house with a new person here, there aren't enough bedrooms for everyone. We need to see what else is out there and not just settle for what we think is the best we can do. We need to be thinking long term here." Shane continued to argue.

"But we don't know who this new woman is or where she came from. She might just be here temporarily. She might already have her own home." Glenn added.

"And if she doesn't?" Andrea asked.

"I think that's something we can deal with when we know for sure but even worst case scenario, this house is huge. There's an extra living room, there's the attic that can eventually be converted into another bedroom if needed. People can double up in rooms that don't mind sharing a larger room together. We can make this work here." Lori continued to argue.

Rick could tell she was starting to get upset. He put his arm around her to comfort her. He knew she was thinking about their baby and that was why she was fighting so hard to stay. He couldn't help but completely agree with her.

"I don't understand why we are arguing about all this to begin with. I say if you don't want to stay here then go! I don't care what anyone else does but I'm staying here. I'm tired of running too. Winter's going to be here before we know it and I'd rather be safe and sound in a house than out there on the road camping out in a tent. If it's not a walker that's gets you it's going to be frost bite!" T-Dog added.

Carol stepped off the porch and walked up to Daryl. She touched his arm for him to look at her.

"What do you want Daryl? What do you want to do?" She asked him.

Daryl looked into Carol's eyes. He could see tears filling them. She looked at him with such desperation he was almost afraid of saying the wrong thing. He knew she wanted to stay and the truth was he hadn't given it much thought. There hadn't been time to.

"I guess….I…." Daryl looked back at the faces of all the others. Everyone seemed to be waiting, holding their breath for him to speak. Daryl was a little confused by this sudden new interest in his opinion. "….Why don't a few of us head on to Fort Benning and see what's there…. The rest can stay here. If their ain't nothin' there then we know and we'll just stay here. Otherwise, people can decide then if they want to go back or stay here."

"You want to go?" Carol asked him shocked and saddened.

"It's not that…I just…." Daryl couldn't help but stumble over his words. He didn't want to leave but he was starting to feel overwhelmed about everything. The way Carol seemed to be looking at him constantly for comfort. He could feel a change in her behavior towards him and he didn't know what it meant. Then there was this mystery woman no one knew anything about. He felt drawn to her and he didn't like feeling that way. Not to mention he was furious with her for almost killing him. He was so conflicted by everything he was feeling he just wanted to leave for a bit and get his head straight.

Carol stared at the ground, she fought back the tears as best she could.

"Hell, even Daryl thinks we should go! I say let's go then!" Shane said.

Dale grew concerned with having just Shane and Daryl go. He was afraid with as hot tempered as Daryl was that he might meet the same fate Otis did going off alone with Shane. "Well a group needs to go if anyone goes. Two people isn't safe." Dale couldn't help but look at Shane as he said the last part.

Shane just glared back at Dale "Well you want to go old man?"

"Well I don't have a problem going as long as we're coming back" T-Dog added.

"I'm good at navigating, I'm with T-Dog, as long as we're coming back I'll go too." Glen stated.

"Well, if that's what y'all want to do I won't stop you but I'm not encouraging it." Rick said.

"Alright then it's settled, might as well go while the going's good!" Shane said.

They started to walk off when Carol grabbed a hold of Daryl and wrapped her arms around him. "Please Daryl, don't….I need you to stay here…please, I'm begging you…" Carol burst into tears she couldn't hold them back no matter how hard she tried.

Daryl was stunned by her reaction. He stood there looking uncomfortable and helpless. Lori ran over and tried to pull her gently away from Daryl to comfort her but she wouldn't let go. She just held on tighter. Lori shot Daryl a desperate look.

"I'll go, Daryl can stay." Andrea stated.

Finally Daryl awkwardly put his arms around her "Fine….I won't go…just stop that…" Daryl said softly. Daryl could feel his face turn red as all eyes were on them.

Carol slowly released Daryl, still crying and Lori was able to pull her away, wrapping her arm around her in the process. She started to lead her back to the house when Lori turned her head and looked back at Daryl. "You did the right thing…" Lori told him.

Glen, T-Dog, Shane and Andrea started gathering supplies to take with them on the road.

Daryl looked up towards the windows of the house and noticed the mystery woman now on the second floor looking out the window. She had been watching them the whole time he thought.

"Daryl, I thought if you want we could head up to the highway and see if we can salvage some parts for that truck if you'd like." Dale asked him distracting him from the window.

"Alright" Daryl replied and he walked over to the RV with Dale, he couldn't help but glance back up at the window.