How the Man Designed Me

Chapter 21

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Special thanks to by reviewers as always: FrankiKaos; FanFicGirl10; fanreader01; Mikaylah; middlekertz and Guest. I'm glad you're still enjoying the character development now that were getting back in sync with the show. I'm grateful you've stuck with me and I also love to hear from new people!

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Bryan Adams - Please Forgive Me

watch?v=9EHAo6rEuas

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Janessa shook herself, 'get your head in the game' she chastised, as she took the pick-up out of neutral and slipped into drive, aggressively knocking over walkers with her vehicle in a desperate bid to stop the flood of them entering the prison yard. Bob got there first having been in the rear taking out as many as he could, and blocked the first gate while she spun out the tail of the pick-up to block the second one. She enjoyed crushing the heads and pinning other walkers that Bob had knocked over with satisfying, wet squelching sounds. Their barricade wasn't permanent by any means, in fact she wasn't sure if it would stop them, it would hopefully slow them down as they'd have to climb under and over the vehicles, but at least they couldn't just stroll in anymore.

Grinning, she smiled over at Bob and returned the thumbs up he had given her, but then groaned with dismay when she saw the amount of walkers that had already gotten in. She could tell she might be stuck here for a while, there'd be no getting to the prison without the pick up and moving that would be out of the question. Seeing the sense in Daryl's instructions she rolled up the window and stayed low in the cab, listening to the shots that were still being fired from the aggressors outside the fence. Glad that they'd had their "conversation" earlier about these types of situations. She could wait for him, knowing he or someone would come as soon as it was safe.

Bob was uncertain on what he should do next until he saw Philip in the distance. He suddenly realized a part of him previously hadn't been able to fully accept what Merle had told him to be true. He had to admit a small part of him had hoped it was an exaggeration founded on a misunderstanding. As he felt his world shatter around him as his heart caught up with his mind he could see now for himself that the man he thought he knew and had come to admire, was an illusion.

His departed wife had said the Man had designed him to protect women and children and until now he thought that was what drove Philip too. This man was a stranger and was firing on women and children and it broke his heart to accept it because it went against absolutely everything he stood for, and was unredeemable in his eyes. There's no reasoning with what he'd just seen. He needed to cut that man out like a cancer before he got everyone killed.

He knew what his beloved Rose would say if she were still alive, how he still ached for her. She'd say 'Robert, there was a bigger picture at stake here' and he knew he simply had to get back to Woodbury, and fast. There was only a couple of days left and as much as he'd love to run out there and kill the son of a bitch with his own hands, he knew the only chance the townspeople in Woodbury had lay with Blake and his plans.

He needed to get back there and with the freedom to move around. That meant both he and Janessa had to stay out of sight for this to work and he was glad the windows were tinted on both vehicles, concealing that they'd ever been here. They were going to need another car all the same and it was only a matter of time before the roads out would be blocked. He wondered if they were already being watched.

He lay on the seat just in case a shot came through and kept an eye on what was going on around him and started to formalize his part in Blake's plans in his mind on how he was going to deal with "The Governor". Something told him it wasn't going to be easy, but it was simple. A man who could do this wasn't the type that would likely let his guard down, but Bob now knew he would be able to do what needs to be done, when the time comes.

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Blake rushed forward with Daryl and Merle to clear the rest of the walkers that had surrounded Rick. He slung his rifle and pulled out his Mark II blade and easily skewered the one closest to him through the eye socket. Merle had found an iron rod and did the same to another as Daryl quickly came up to them from behind, pulling his bolt from a skull and gave them a nod, while Merle grinned and Blake tipped his hat. All them panting from the exertion as they looked to the chaos that was still all around them.

Rick looked at them with a faraway look, bent over with his hands braced on his knees, still in shock from what had just happened. A few moments ago he'd been outside the fence talking to Hershel and the next thing he knew all Hell had broken loose. He was glad to have Daryl back, he didn't think his absence had really hit home until he saw him there in front of him again. The aching pit of despair was still there but he could feel Daryl's quiet strength and was grateful. Merle was another matter and Rick felt the burn between his shoulder blades with the man's intense stare behind him. Great he thought, can this day get any better?

Looking up the man standing in front of him, he could only see his tall silhouette as he had his back to the sun and all he could make out was his tall frame and black cowboy hat. But there was something familiar about the way he stood, a calm strength that although different, mirrored Daryl's coiled energy. He cupped his hand over his eyes as he stood up and pointed his gun at the ground as a show of faith, as he'd come in with Daryl.

Blake stepped forward with his hand extended palm up to show he wasn't a threat.

"Rick? Rick Grimes? It's good to see you. I hoped it was you. Hard not to recall a deputy on a horse in all this mess. It's Blake Turner."

"Blake?" Rick tilted his head and took a deeper look. "Yeah I remember, we met on the road last year, seems like it was another lifetime ago. Thanks for your help back then and again today." He said as he reached out his hand to shake Blake's. Rick meant it, but he was a different man now and smiles were hard to come by.

"My pleasure Rick. In these times good folks have to stand together. Found the Dixons on the road yesterday and gave them a lift. I'm sorry we were late."

Rick nodded in reply.

"Daryl told us about the baby and so we knew we had to come right away. I'm real glad you found your family, and congratulation on your daughter." Blake said with sincerity.

Rick was slightly more responsive, if barely.

"We wanted to offer our help and to warn you that even more trouble is on it's way. Rick."

He paused waiting for Rick to return his eye contact and then continued softly, "I'm very sorry about your wife."

"I thank you for your condolences but we know all about troubles." Rick said with a grimace as he turned back to survey the walkers in his yard and rolled his shoulders looking back at the vehicles blocking the busted gates.

"Those yours?" Rick asked abruptly nodding towards the gates.

"Yes, Janessa is in the pick-up and Bob is in the SUV." Blake replied seeing that the kind gentleness Rick used to have was gone now and in it's place was a hardness that he'd seen before in soldiers who'd been on the line too long.

"Right, you were lookin' for her, so I guess it worked out?" Rick replied remembering the conversation they'd had that night they shared on the road, about how she'd been taken by a group of rough men, he'd felt bad he didn't offer to help find her, but he was as focused on his own family then, as he was now.

"Not how I would have liked, let's just say stay out of Texas, which is where I caught up with them. It wasn't pretty but she's ok now." Blake replied mirroring Rick's hard tone.

Daryl stepped forward at the mention of Janessa, which wasn't missed by Rick.

"Need to go get 'em, and we got some supplies." Daryl stated gruffly, not happy with hearing about Janessa's troubles being talked about and how cold Rick was bein'. He was glad Rick already knew Blake, wondering if there was there ever gonna be a time when the man didn't surprise him. It might make talkin' to Rick easier, but he seemed more than a little distracted. Lookin' to the woods beyond the fence and not in the direction of where the Governor and his people had left by.

"Yeah sure, good you got stuff...thangs." Rick's attention was minimal at best, before he shook his head and walked away toward the inner yard fence.

Blake, Daryl and Merle exchanged meaningful glances of concern. Rick was clearly not quite right, they were going to need to be very careful around him. Merle was pissed off that he'd barely been acknowledged, knowing it didn't bode well for him.

"Daryl, I think you need to keep an eye on him. You're the closest to him so he'll be more relaxed with you. Merle could you come help me with the walkers and collect Janeesa, Bob and the supplies? I could use your skills." Shaking his head at Rick's comment about "stuff…thangs". It would be almost funny if it didn't suggest how unstable he was. He could also see that Merle had some anxious energy he could stand to burn off in a productive way.

"Yeah, I can see that. Merle, I don't need to tell you not to start a fight when you get back. Things don't look too friendly right now." Daryl said to his brother and then back Blake and nodded.

"No shit bro, don't need to tell me twice." Merle said gruffly and then walked over to Blake's SUV.

"Rick's been through a lot, he'll feel better when he sees the supplies, the extra vehicles will give us more options too." Biting his thumb nail Daryl looked over at the pick up truck, and the walkers that were gathered around that part of the yard. Don't worry about this part of things, I've got this. You take care of Rick and the others. We'll be quick, I saw Carol was ok but I don't think she's seen me yet." Blake assured him.

Daryl nodded quickly and then disappeared after Rick.

"C'mon Merle." Blake said climbing into the SUV, "Let's go plow the field."

"Shit yes! I could blow off some steam. That Rick just rubs me the wrong way." He growled.

"He's a changed man, that's for sure. I know you've got some history but we need to find a way to get past it for the greater good. We have bigger issues at stake and the rest of our lives are going to be determined in the next couple of days." Blake said in a way that put things in perspective.

"Ok then, let's go get the guitars and make nice." Merle grinned.

"Smart ass." Blake chuckled as he headed back to the gates to collect Janessa, Bob and the supplies.

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Janessa, Blake, Bob and Merle found themselves locked in the dining area for hours while Daryl spoke for them in the cell block. Although grateful for the supplies Rick's group was still cautious of strangers bordering on paranoia, they were understandably shaken by the attack and so they found themselves on the outside edge of an argument.

Sitting at one of the tables out of the line of sight waiting for things to settle down and shaking their heads, wondering if they'd made the right decision to come in when they did. Blake and Janessa had a highly developed silent language and Bob being a smart man was quick to pick up on most of it. Their main concern was that they might be locked in here for too long to be able to help anyone, including themselves.

Merle was also highly intelligent, something many people overlooked with his rough edges but he didn't have the same emotional intelligence as the others and often had maladjusted responses when he felt threatened. Right now he'd been separated from his brother and he didn't like that. He found himself pacing like a caged animal not comfortable being locked up again, bringing back memories he didn't want to think about. The voices from the cell block became raised and he walked over to the locked and barred door to investigate.

"We're not leavin'." Rick said assertively.

"We can't stay here" Hershel replied repeating what he said before countless times.

"What if there's another sniper? A wood pallet ain't gonna stop one of those rounds." Maggie said with an aggressive tone, supporting her father.

"Can't even go outside" Beth added plaintively.

"We can in the daylight." Carol said softly. Blake turned his head towards the sound of her voice.

"If Rick says we're not running then we're not running!" Glenn stated, parroting Rick's position with blind loyalty.

This was just too much for Merle, this was his life and the life of his brother and his friends they were bickerin' about, let alone their own, without holdin' all the facts and it just stuck in his craw.

"No, better to live like rats." He called out quietly in his husky deep voice.

"You got a better idea?" Rick snapped back, not liking Merle challenging his decision.

"Yeah, we shoulda slid outta here right away. Live to fight another day. We lost that window didn't we. I'm sure he's got scouts on every road outta this place by now." Merle replied, irritated by Rick's tone. Blake would never talk to people this way he thought, Hell even the Governor knew how to handle people. Rick was an amatuer.

"I ain't scared of the prick!" Daryl postured. Something about the way Merle was showin' how weak they were made him want to defend Rick. Falling back into old patterns of thought and behaviour, feellin' like the little brother while Merle was the all knowin' big brother pissed him off. Before things unravelled further though he kept his peace, remembering the bigger picture, he needed things to deescalate for Janessa's sake, if nothing esle.

"Y'all should be!" Merle declared in exasperation. "That truck through the fence thing. That was just him ringin' the doorbell. We might have some thick walls to hide behind but he's got the guns and the numbers and if he takes the high ground around this place. Shoot. He could just starve us out if he wanted to." Merle trailed off, seeing how fucked they truly were. He could taste his death for the first time.

"Let's put him in the other cell block." Maggie snapped, not willing to hear any more of the truth.

"No, he's got a point." Daryl called down quietly from the second floor.

"This is all you, you started this." An enraged Maggie yelled as she stormed towards Merle at the end of the cell block, behind the barred and locked door.

"What's the difference who's fault it is? What do we do?" Beth's sweet voice carried, trying to defuse the situation as she walked down a few of the stairs towards the group. She hated when they fought and it never made things better.

Carl looked up at her from where he was standing in the corner near where the groups were divided by the bars, taking everything in, pride swelling his chest with Beth's questions, that's one of the things that made her so special. Her goodness made him want to keep her safe all the more. He knew his dad wasn't hearing people right now and it scared him. He was listening though and he thought Merle was right. This place wasn't safe anymore.

"I said we should leave. Now Axel's dead. We can't just sit here." Hershel repeated.

At this point having heard enough, angered that Hershel was throwing that in his face but more strongly feeling the call of Lori from outside and that these people were all in his way, he walked away from the discussion, towards the new group and the exit beyond them.

"GET BACK HERE!" Hersel yelled commandingly and Rick stopped in his tracks.

"You're slipping Rick, We've all seen it. We understand why. But now is not the time. You once said this isn't a democracy, Now you have to own up to that. I put my family's life in your hands. So get your head clear and do something." Hershel commended.

Merle nodded in agreement, finding he could respect this ol' man. Blake looked over at Merle nodding his approval that he'd explained susinqintly that this place was not defensible from a human attack anymore. That was the first step.

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Striding through the cell block Rick unlocked the door leaving it open behind him as he blew past them all to the outside without a word, Carl trailing behind.

Merle looked to Blake who raised an eyebrow and nodded towards the open door. Stepping forward he looked to Hershel to see if it was all right if he came into the cell block. He wanted to see Daryl and try to figure out what they should do next.

Hershel, could see that Merle's strength and the things he knew would be an asset to the group. Lord knows they needed all the help they could get. 'Please God he prayed, see us through this, I implore you.' He motioned Merle forward wanting to make up for the welcome that had previously lacked. Behind Merle, Hershel saw the taller frame of a man who was younger but much like himself, their eyes met and he could see that here was a man that just might save them all. His chin wobbled as he felt a wave of hope swelling from within, unable to stop himself he found himself grinning like a young man.

"Hello." Blake said quietly as he entered the cell block, Janessa by his side and Bob following behind. His rich baritone reaching everyone like a caress, sounding like the guy who used to sell trucks on TV. It was a voice that evoked trust, strength and hope. All eyes snapped to him.

Carol gasped, that was a voice she felt in her soul, looking down from her place at the top of the stairs to the man who had walked in. Everyone else disappeared as she strained to see through the years. Could that be...no. There's no way that it could be.

"Blake?" she called out hesitantly. "Blake? Is that you?" she asked breathlessly. She couldn't believe it. How? How could something like this have happened? It was inconceivable that out of the blue, at the end of the world her first love would walk back into her life. She looked down at the rags that she was wearing and then seeing the beautiful woman at his side and felt the conflict of joy and despair all at once.

"Carol!" he called out to her with his arms outreached as he walked towards the staircase. "Now you're a sight for sore eyes!"

Maggie looked to Glenn with curiosity. Mouthing "Carol?" Daryl, Merle, Janessa and Bob grinned at the reunion, crossing their fingers it would be as happy as they had hoped. She just stayed on the stairs struck dumb and so Beth gave her a push.

"Go on silly! Oh my, wow, he's hot for an old guy!" Beth giggled.

Carol looked up to Daryl who was grinning at her. She felt confused, and pulled in two directions. A little hurt that Daryl didn't seem jealous and that Blake had come in with a woman that could easily be his daughter, but then she followed Daryl's gaze to the woman who was looking up at him lovingly, and she understood. She looked back at Blake and she could see the old fire in his eyes, the way he used to smoulder when he looked at her. She must be seeing things, she thought. Her internal shitty committee was working overtime. There was no way someone like him could still have feelings for this old shoe after all this time. Taking a deep breath she calmly walked down to him, although inside she was screaming like a schoolgirl.

She came to a stop at the bottom of the stairs and looked down at the ground. There was simply no way he could feel the same way after all these years. She could hear Ed in her head saying she was worthless, that no one would ever want her. She thought she was done with all that but here it was again. That kind of man could get inside your head even after they were long gone.

Blake closed the gap between them with his long strides and when she looked up at him with her huge blue eyes that were starting to well up with tears with her chin wobbling as she tried to smile, he felt undone. It was time to put all his cards on the table.

"Oh, C'mere woman!" Blake exclaimed pulling her into his arms and swinging her off her feet as he whooped and spun her in a circle making her laugh, just like they used to all those years ago.

"Put me down Blake!" She laughed. Holding on as he slid her tiny frame down his body making it clear his interest wasn't platonic as he leaned in saying,

"When Daryl told me you were here, there was nothing else I could do but come for you. Please forgive me for taking so long." He started to sing softly to her, just like he always had. "Please believe me, every word I say is true, Please forgive me I can't stop loving you"

With that she tightened her grip on his broad shoulders and taking that as a green light he kissed her passionately, not caring that they were on full display. She was shocked at first, overwhelmed, and then she gave into it and kissed him back. Daryl whistled from above and Merle followed suit. Janessa started to cry as she clapped looking up at Daryl who returned her gaze. Before long everyone joined in and the prison that had previously been filled with such foreboding, was suddenly filled with joy.

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