The Thunder Before The Storm

(Daryl's POV)

Rick's voice was low, full of hate and he didn't repeat himself. Glenn was beyond furious, but the way he and Michonne were guarding Merle on our trip made him feel a little better. The whole ride home, he had his gun on his temple and Michonne had her katana on his throat. Along the way, Zayla was telling Rick every single advantage Merle could be to us in defense to Woodbury because we all knew the Governor was going to be out for blood. None of them wanted to admit it, especially Glenn, but Zayla's reasoning's were solid and beyond convincing.

When we got home, what was left of it was falling apart.

The gate was busted open and there was a truck in the middle of the courtyard with Walkers spilling out of it. We parked the car in front of the gap to prevent more Walkers from flooding the yard and we helped pick off the remaining Walkers…with the aid of a few new people. After we reinforced the prison was as best we could, Carol explained that the Governor attacked them and the situation with the 4 new people. They said they were just wanders looking for someplace safe, but right now, we weren't in a position to trust anybody so Rick threw them out.

Merle was locked in the separated cell in the kitchen. He explained that even after our minor attack on Woodbury, the Governor still had enough weapons and manpower to overpower us. Hershel wanted to leave instead of fight, but where the hell could we go? We've been through too much to give up this place. We voted on whether to fight or flee and of course the most votes were to fight.

We spent a few hours getting rid of the bodies piled up in the yard, including Axel's, and Zayla avoided me within every second of it. After we were done, I talked to Merle and made sure that he knew if he fucked up, I wasn't going with him. Beth told me that after an introductory gun lesson, Zayla and Michonne went to a lower part of the prison to train.

I didn't expect them to be doing yoga or some easy shit like that and I was right. Michonne was doing some hard crunches, but I didn't see Zayla anywhere. I didn't get a chance to ask where she was before Michonne pointed to the pipes on the ceiling. When she came up, Zayla suddenly hung down from the channels with her hands on back of her head. She was doing upside down leg lifts and she did a few more before she opened her eyes and saw me. She let her arms dangle as she kept her emotionless stare.

"Where I'm at, 'Chonne?"

"135. Switch to your arms."

She dropped down and went back up, this time pulling herself up with her arms as Michonne started doing wall pushups. I watched her for the next 20 minutes, not saying a word. Michonne sensed the tension in the room and told her to take a break before she left. Zayla sat on one of the tables and sipped her water, her shirt and face coated in sweat.

"Glenn cool off yet?"

"We ain't talkin'."

"Oh…you alright?"

"Just peachy." She didn't sound too peachy.

We sat in silence and normally this would be fine, but I knew there was something wrong with her.

"…you ain't talk ta' Merle yet…thought you'd-"

"Stop being indirect. What the fuck do you want?"

My head snapped up and she was standing.

I was exhausted, cranky from being sleep deprived and kinda hungry but I still wanted to look out for her. In return, I get snapped on for thinking about her wellbeing? Women were pieces of fucking work sometimes.

"I thought you'd be happy ta' have Merle back, but you ain't even talk to him since we got here! Ya' actin' like we shoulda left him out there!"

She looked at me like I was crazy.

"You think I don't want him here? After all this time not knowing if he was alive, half dead or worse don't you think I'm thrilled to have him with us again? Why do I have to tell you this?"

I might have been a little harsh there. I knew she was the happiest person to know that Merle was okay, but I knew she was still kinda mad at him for beating Glenn. The real problem was why she suddenly seemed to hate me from out of nowhere. Maybe she was just mad at Glenn

"What the hell's wrong with you then? You ain't even look at me since we came back! I ain't do a damn thing an' yer avoidin' me like I did somethin' wrong!"

"You did do something wrong!"

"I got my brother back! The hell's wrong with that?"

"If Rick didn't let him stay, you were gonna leave us, leave me, like it was nothing! You had your shit packed and you were gonna run off! You think that's okay, to just abandon people?!"

"You made me choose between you an' him!"

"I didn't make you do anything! You made that choice on your own! You expected me to run off and play forest family with you when you know we've got responsibilities here!"

I groaned and hit the table. The last thing I wanted to do today was argue, but I knew she wasn't going to let up. I wasn't mad at her for deciding to go with everyone else because she was right. The Governor was going to attack the prison and I was already leaving, so she was the best chance they had, but she was irritating me from how she made it seem like I didn't care.

She scoffed and started heading out.

"Yer bein' such a bitch right now." I mumbled, but she caught it and stopped dead in her tracks. I was really in for it now.

"The fuck did you just say?"

"You heard me, yer bein' a bitch! Yer supposed ta' be my girl an' you ain't stand by me when I needed you to! The hell kinda commitment is that?!"

"If I'm bein' a bitch right now, you were bein' a bitch back at the farm! Where the hell were you when I needed you to stand by me with the Randall situation or here with Axel and Oscar?! The fuck was your commitment then?! I've stood by you though everything and now you wanna try an' throw this at me?!"

"This is exactly why I ain't never want no girlfriend! All y'all gotta do is shut the fuck up and do what yer told, but y'all always tryna' go against us! What the man says goes an' that's it! I ain't got time fer all this arguin' an' hollerin' bullshit!"

I hit the wall this time and tried to calm down, then I realized what I said came out entirely wrong. All this time I've wanted her, I got her and now it sounds like I'm telling her to go away.

"You ain't gotta worry 'bout that no more."

"Wait, Z, I didn't mean-"

She gave me a half assed smile and left.

Zayla avoided me like the plague for the rest of the day. Michonne was the only one who knew about our argument because she was outside the door for the whole thing; she and Zayla were sharing a cell now. She talked to Merle and she told him the same thing I did. She and Glenn yelled at each other, almost ending their cherished friendship, but they worked things out. Zayla didn't act like anything was wrong and that's what killed me. She just went on about her day, making everyone smile and drilling Carl and Beth on guns like everything was okay. I didn't sleep at all that night.

The next day, Rick, Michonne and Carl went out to find more guns. When they got back, we got a visit from a ghost. Andrea found her way to the prison, getting past the Walkers by using one as cover, and she caught up with everyone. Apparently, she and Michonne were together since the farm got overrun, but Andrea decided to stay in Woodbury to bang the Governor which got her all the luxuries of living a civil life in an apocalypse. She told us that the Governor wanted to meet to settle things between or groups, to propose a peace treaty and we jumped at the opportunity.

Hershel, Rick, Zayla and I followed Andrea to the spot where he wanted to meet. There was a Mexican and a nerdish looking guy waiting for us and the Governor was already inside. Zayla and I were told to stay outside to make sure he didn't have some kind of ambush planned.

She was leaning on the front of our car while Hershel and the science guy were talking. The Mexican paced around, twirling a metal baseball bat, and I kept my eyes on his every move. He was staring at Zayla like he knew her and I didn't like it. I knew she was still pissed at me, but she was still mine.

"The fuck you starin' at her for?"

"Daryl, don't start your shit. I'm not in the mood for you today."

I glared at her from the corner of my eye, but backed off. The Mexican finally came closer, but I didn't let him get pass me.

"Could I talk to you for a second ma'am? Without your guard dog?"

"She ain't got shit ta'-"

"Sure you can!" She was being sarcastic.

She tapped a spot next to her and he took it, setting the bat in his lap and shooting me a patronizing look.

"I'm Martinez. Your name wouldn't happen to be Zayla, would it?"

"Yeah…how did you know that?"

"A little flower told me."

She repeated what he said, but she was still confused. Then she a look of total understanding washed over her. She looked at me before she pulled him away a little farther in back of the car so I couldn't hear them.

When they came back, they shared a smile and hugged. Martinez went back to his side and Zayla took her place back on the car. She didn't tell me what they talked about, but I was kinda jealous from that hug. Who was that guy? I've seen all her ex's and he definitely wasn't one of them. If they were friends, they'd be catching up by now. My thought process was interrupted by a gang of Walkers advancing on our spot.

Zayla didn't bother to move as me and Martinez charged for the small group. I'll admit, I was showing off for her, but Martinez wasn't half bad with that bat. When we were finished, everyone was coming out of the building and I got to see the newest accessory on the Governor: a black eye patch. We didn't expect Andrea to come back with us, but Martinez nodded to Zayla before we left.

Rick announced what the Governor wanted to obtain peace between us: give up Michonne or Zayla. He referenced her as Merle's sister and I already knew he told countless about Zayla's rebellious lifestyle.

"The hell does he want me for?"

"Good old Merle decided to brag about you like you were some kinda supernova. He sees you as a tactical advantage and he wants you on his side so we'll be less of a threat."

We were in the Warden's office and Rick was pacing. Zayla was sitting on the desk, Merle behind it in a chair, Michonne was leaning near the windows and I was at the door.

Merle started chuckling and he shrugged like he couldn't help but brag. Zayla was one of our best fighters, but I think he blew it a little out of proportion.

"He'll keep girlie alive, I can promise ya' that, but y'all hand over lil' Miss Bon-Bon and he's gonna skin 'er. He's gonna use all his little toys on 'er and he'll keep at it fer days, maybe weeks, just 'til he gets bored. He gets off on that shit, he's a sadist."

"So trade me." Merle's grin faded instantly and Ricked stopped pacing.

"I can't let you do that, not for me. I'm not worth it."

"And I'm not gonna let you get tortured. You're one of us, 'Chonne. You've earned your place here and you can fill in for me."

Michonne shook her head and Rick stood next to Zayla.

"We'll find another way."

"But, this is the perfect way. I'll be inside Woodbury, gain his trust, be all friendly, maybe even ladylike, then BAM! I'm gonna stab that son of a bitch in the face!"

She emphasized her point by pretending to stab something. Her smile made Rick do the same, but he looked to me for conformation. I couldn't say anything to change her mind because she'd still go along with it with or without my consent.

She was trying to save us and like she said before, nothing could stop her from protecting family...but i knew her family wouldn't let her do this.