CHAPTER 14

– Kate -

Rick, Michonne and Carl returned as the sun was retreating behind the tree line. They had had a successful trip - a stockpile of weapons and ammunition, a small, portable crib for Judith, some food and various supplies. It was also apparent that both Rick and Carl were warming to Michonne and she seemed different too. She and Carl especially seemed to have bonded on the run and Kate fully expected Michonne to be part of their group moving forward. As soon as they returned, Daryl filled Rick in on their visit from Andrea. Rick didn't love the idea of meeting with the Governor on his terms, but it might actually be worth it just to meet the man face-to-face.

It was decided that Rick would take Daryl and Hershel with him and go a little early to scope out the location so there wouldn't be any surprises. Kate didn't like the idea of Daryl going, but she knew it made the most sense. The next morning, after an early breakfast, Rick pulled the green Hyundai to the courtyard. Daryl, choosing to take the motorcycle, parked next to it. Merle and Kate were at the door, watching them pack up the car and fill the tanks from gas they siphoned from other cars at the prison.

Daryl stalked towards them, his walk always made her feel like prey in the best way, and stopped at the gate, tangling his fingers in the wire. He looked at his brother.

"Merle, don't do anythin' stupid while I'm gone or I'll kick your ass out myself."

Merle turned his head and spit. "Sure thing baby brother." He said with a grin. Daryl eyed him for a couple seconds before turning to Kate.

"Can I talk to you?" He asked, motioning her away from Merle with a nod of his head.

Kate was surprised by the request, but immediately headed down the steps to follow him.

"Ohhhhhhhhhh." Merle teased, "Where you taking Goldilocks, Darylina?"

"Shut up Merle!" Daryl shouted over his shoulder. Rick looked up from his task at the back of the car, but didn't say anything.

Daryl led Kate around the side of the building to the only area inside the gates that couldn't be viewed by those in the courtyard or on watch. It was a small alcove between the cell block, gray concrete walls rising around it and grass working its way through the cracks in the ground. He stopped and turned to face her.

"Just ignore him." He said, looking quickly from her to the ground and wiping his hands on the sides of his pants nervously.

"I do." She said with a smile. Her heart had started to race.

He reached for her hand and came up with her wrist instead, pulling her towards the wall and taking a step closer to her. She backed up a little until she was leaning against the cinder blocks. They were cool through her thin t-shirt, but she didn't mind. Daryl had never been this close to her and she worked up the courage to turn her face up to look at him. He still had his hand around her wrist, but he slid it down until he was clumsily holding her hand in his.

"I didn't want to go without saying goodbye."

He took the last half step, closing the distance between them and leaned his head down to kiss her.

They started unsure and slow. He kissed her once, twice. Her hands moved to his head and his to her waist. She inhaled his smell, an earthy musk, and as she did, he pulled her to him tightly before deepening his kiss. It was a little desperate, a little sloppy - like two people dying of thirst and finally getting a drink. He drew back a little, leaving his forehead pressed up against her's as they both caught their breath. He brought his hands up to her face and pulled her mouth to his again, kissing her softly twice before pulling her into an embrace.

'Stay safe." She breathed into the leather of his vest.

"You too." He said into the top of her head. "If anything goes down, Merle will keep you safe until I find you."

He looked down at her in his arms before kissing her one more time. They walked back towards the courtyard, fingers entwined briefly. He pulled his warm hand from her's just before coming into view of Rick and the others. Hershel was getting into the Hyundai awkwardly, with Maggie's help, pulling his crutches in after him.

"You ready?" Rick asked Daryl.

"Mmhmmm." He looked at Kate again and nodded before heading to his bike and climbing on.

Rick, Hershel and Daryl returned to the prison only a few hours later. Everyone had gone out to open the gate and see for themselves they had all made it back safely. It was obvious to all the meeting hadn't provided any answers. The three men had arrived somberly and Rick had ordered everyone inside. They all stood in the cell block in silence, not a word from any of them, even Merle. Their eyes were on Rick, waiting for him to let them know how it went.

"So, I met this Governor." Rick said. "Sat with him for quite awhile."

"Just the two of you?" Merle interrupted.

"Yeah." Merle turned and under his breath said disapprovingly to Glenn, "Should have gone when we had the chance, bro." and walked towards the back of the group. Glenn stared him down.

Daryl turned to Kate with a questioning look. Kate leaned towards him and he leaned his head towards her's.

"They had a disagreement. I'll fill you in later." She whispered. Rick continued on.

"He wants the prison. He wants us gone. Dead. He wants us dead for what we did to Woodbury." He paused then, letting everyone process his words. "We're going to war."

They all stood there silently. The air thick with fear and disbelief, exchanging looks of dread.

Rick left to stand guard.

Carol broke the silence.

"Why are we staying here? We should go. We'll find something."

"No way" Merle weighed in. "He'll expect that. They'll be watching. See a big group like this leave. Drag us back. We should attack first."

"I hate to say it." Michonne said gripping her katana. "But I agree with Merle"

"They'll expect that too." Hershel said with authority.

Most of them stayed silent. Kate was scared to death. She suddenly felt claustrophobic in their concrete cellblock. She asked herself how this could possibly be happening. They were tough, but they weren't soldiers.

Later that night, she and Daryl sat on the catwalk outside keeping watch. They sat side-by-side, leaning against the chain link fence, shoulders touching and her arm linked through his. She could tell he was getting more comfortable with her touch, but it still took him some getting used to. She wondered how long it had been since he'd been touched with any tenderness.

"Tell me what went on with Merle while I was gone."

"Oh, ya, well Merle kept insisting they should go and kill the Governor while you were meeting."

"Wouldn't have been a bad idea." Daryl looked at his boots. "Might've worked."

"Ya. Maybe. Glenn was afraid one of you would get caught in the middle. Probably didn't help that it was Merle's idea. Anyway, Glenn wouldn't let Merle go. Got in his way. They started fighting, like actually rolling around the ground, fighting."

"Goddamit Merle."

"Maggie and Michonne helped pull Merle off Glenn. I don't think anyone thinks Glenn could win that fight. Beth actually shot a gun into the air."

"What the hell?" Daryl kind of snorted a laugh in spite of the situation.

"I know. I think I might've said that out loud when she did it! We're lucky a bullet didn't ricochet and kill someone."

"Would've served Merle right. I'm gonna talk to him."

"I don't know. If we are all going to live here together, it might be better if they work some of this out themselves. It shouldn't all be on you Daryl."

They sat there in the quiet for a minute before Daryl spoke again. With amusement in his voice he told her a story about going out in the woods with Merle as a kid. Daryl had accidentally shot Merle in the ass. They both laughed as he recounted how Merle did the dance of pain, shouting the whole time how he was going to kill Daryl. It was so nice to hear Daryl with a smile in his voice and pressed up close to him she could feel the vibration of his gravely speech. Up here in the cool evening, as uneventful hours ticked by, she could almost pretend they weren't waiting to be attacked. Kate pressed her face into his shirtsleeve and breathed deep, smelling the earthy smell. When she looked up, he was looking at her and gave her a soft, slow kiss that she felt down her entire spine.