Okay so as there was a time jump after the war with the Governor so there shall be again! This takes place after that time jump. Enjoy!
Chapter 14:
Amber hadn't been wrong. And when the Governor came he took down much with him. But their group prevailed, gaining new members. Some that would become very important later on. She knew this. And even though all went as she had remembered, things were also different. They lost Lori, leaving Rick broken and somewhat alone inside. Even surrounded by those who care for him he sat alone most days, not speaking.
They didn't kill the Governor either. This had kept Amber up most nights, knowing that he was out there ruining others as he had done so many times before. And soon he would come back for her family. She was helpless to stop it now.
Merle had lived, much to her surprise. But he and Daryl were growing apart. She wasn't so sure what was going on past what she had heard from Glenn and Carol. Evidently Daryl stood up to his brother during a day of hunting in the woods around the prison. Merle had come back with two black eyes and a cut lip. Daryl with nothing.
They hadn't spoken either; her and Daryl. He didn't try to either. He kept his distance from her, trying his best not to interfere where he wasn't welcome. At least he thought so.
Amber wasn't so sure she had treated Daryl fairly. He hadn't hurt her, she knew that. But the way he had ignored what Merle had done to her... It hurt her in a way she hadn't expected. She had come here, to this place against her will. And by being here she had made friends. This was rare for her. But to be in Daryl's inner circle and then to have ruined it? She felt awful.
It was hot now, the sun an unfriendly reminder of where she was. She wished for home so many nights that it became normal for her. To close her eyes and see the wind in the trees and the rain that followed. She missed it. Sometimes she would dream of going back there.
She wondered about that to. Could she go back there? What would she find? Had she existed in this world? What was waiting for her back home? But she shrugged it all off, knowing that now she had to focus on what was next.
The compound was so different these days. 30 days after everything went down they all seemed at peace. 30 days with no accidents, no fights. Everyone who had come back from the small town had fit right in, doing their part to help the place become a home. And as Amber walked towards the canteen that lay on the side of the building she smiled to herself. This was all she had wanted for them. But was it all they would get? Soon sickness would hit them all and most of them would die. Then the Governor would be back to take out the rest, leaving only a shell of what they were now behind.
She knew she could save some of them, but was it worth the effort?
She heard laughing as she was drawn from her thoughts; a place she had spent so much time as of late. Her eyes landed on Daryl's, a new smile lay on his face as he was drawn from the hand shake he had received from a kid not much older then Carl. His smiled wavered a moment as they stood, staring at each other. It was something that threw Amber off in that moment, causing her to stop in her tracks as she watched him falter along with her.
He was a different Daryl these days. At least from what she had seen. He was taking a more active role in the group, stepping up and becoming part of the small council that made decisions for everyone. This included her, Glen, Hershel, and Carol. Since Rick had lost Lori they had lost him as a leader. He had given up his weapons and took to gardening. Amber wasn't shocked by that, but the idea that Lori had died despite her changes scared her. Did this mean they were all meant to suffer the same fate as in the show? Or was it just a fluke?
As the others dispersed so did Michonne, who had been sharing lunch with Daryl. It had always caused Amber to wonder just what kind of friendship the two had. But the show never delved deep into it so she just assumed it was nothing more than that; friendship. And she was happy for it. She found herself moving towards him, her feet taking over as she joined him under the awning that covered the tables.
"It's nice isn't it?" She said to him, smiling as she watched the small group of kids saunter off towards the prison.
"What's that?" He asked her, just happy that she was talking to him at all. He wasn't going to ruin in by being himself. Not this time anyways.
"They see all you do for them. They're grateful for it Daryl." She told him, looking up at him. It felt like there was to much to say so for some reason she made small talk instead...
"They need all of us. I ain't the only one keeping them alive." He spoke of the runs Amber had made with Glenn and Maggie recently into town while he and Michonne were out in search of the Governor.
"Ya but you are the only one who rides a motor bike and shoots a cross bow." She laughed at that, realizing how true it was.
"You're talking to me." He said, leaning against a table nearby, "Didn't think ya would talk to me unless ya had to." It seemed that meant only during council meetings, nothing more. He watched her as she took a seat next to him, crossing her arms over her chest.
"Why did you and Merle fight?" She asked him, wanting answers before she gave her own. She had to know for some reason why all her effort to bring his brother back had been for nothing.
He squinted as he stared off towards the prison from where they sat. And she could see he had to really decide what to tell her. He slowly moved his dirty, tan hand up through his now long hair before sighing. "I saw what he did to ya." His words were nothing but a mumble but Amber got it. "Ya attacked blondie back in the cells. Saw how bad it was."
"It was bad." She said back, a little shock running through her at his words.
"Ya weren't talkin to me. Didn't think to tell ya... Didn't tell no one but Michonne." He shrugged. He didn't need everyone knowing his business. He and Merle hadn't talked since that day in the woods. "Had to make up for whatever I did to ya." But not only that. He couldn't stand the thought of his brother doing her harm. He couldn't stand the idea of anyone doing her harm. It wasn't something he understood, but it was something he felt.
"Daryl." She sighed, trying to find the words to explain to him what had really been going on. "I wasn't mad at you." She turned to look at him, knowing that he was uncomfortable with this whole situation. But she had to set it all straight. "It wasn't you that hurt me. I just... Didn't want to take your brother away from you. I'm not that person. I wanted to bring him back for you and I didn't want it to be for nothing." She couldn't face him. "I was hurting and I was embarrassed. I dealt with it the wrong way, I just couldn't help it." She was angry at the world for putting her here. But eventually she had to realize that she could have prevented it. But she had done it knowing that what happened could happen... She had to get over it.
"You knew where he was."
"I told you that I did." She said calmly. She had told him that she knew where Merle was a while back. It was strange... Telling someone that she knew things. But he believed her.
"You knew what was waiting for ya."
"I knew what was waiting for Maggie and Glenn..." She didn't have any other way of explaining herself. He grunted, acknowledging her words before he pushed off the table.
"Next time... Before ya run off without a plan ya tell me. I ain't leavin ya without backup. Ya need someone who knows what you do." Not only did he worry for her saftey, he also worried for his groups. She knew things that could help them survive. He wasn't going to be pushed aside again.
"Okay. It's a deal." She told him, smiling again as she watched him walk back towards the prison. He had a way about him that always caught her off guard. And as she sat in her place she sighed. Things wouldn't get worse. She would make sure of it with the help of Daryl Dixon.
It wasn't long after her talk with Daryl that she realized how fast things were really moving. As the walker moved through the small cell block and people ran out, locking doors, she knew what she had to do. Already.
"How could this happen. We have rules about this." Carol said, clasping her knife. Her attention was partially on the council and partially on the two children in the cell nearby.
"He was scared." Hershel told her softly.
"He put us all at risk." She snapped, "Maybe we need to perform checks... After people get back from runs." She suggested.
"Wouldn't hurt I guess." Michonne agreed, "I trust these people, but sometimes I wonder if their emotions sometimes get in the way. Doing a bite check before coming back into the block may not be the worst idea."
"What about peoples privacy?" Glenn asked her, "I wouldn't feel comfortable..."
"Well... We could have women do the checks for the other women and men do the checks for the men. Simple." Amber said, her mind still on the run she had to make.
"Agreed." They all nodded at each other.
"One more thing." Amber said, scratching the back of her neck. "I need to make a run. I want to take Daryl." She made eye contact with him for a moment, hoping he understood. "It shouldn't take me long. I checked our medical supplies recently and we seem low on certain things."
"I've noticed this to." Hershel said, smiling up at her. "I think it would be a good idea Amber. Take Daryl."
"You don't need anyone else?" Michonne asked, raising her brow. She hadn't seen Amber jumping at the chance of a run with Daryl ever. She couldn't help but wonder just what was going on. But at the same time normally it was her and Daryl. She had become used to it.
"Nah, we got this." Daryl told her, "Got a plan." He lied, knowing that Amber wouldn't be able to explain just what they would be doing to Michonne. "It's still early enough. Best get the ride sorted." He told her, swooping away from the council.
"So, what are we really doin." Daryl asked as he shoved his bags into the back seat of the small blue car.
"Medicine." She confirmed, "There's an illness coming." She told him, following him into the car.
"It's bad?"
"It'll kill most of them. The rest will die when the Governor comes back. He won't leave much." She forgot she had wanted to wait to tell him about that last part. But she didn't regret it. "We'll scatter... Loose others." Beth and Hershel came to mind. It hurt to think about it. The two most beautiful souls in the prison would die for no good reason. They deserved so much in life. She hoped they would get it. A second chance.