Author's note:
So I just finished watching the season 4 mid-season premiere, and I have to say, I loved the Carl-centric episode. I think it really broadens him as a character in his own right, not just "Rick's son". Also it's quite cool that the last chapter I posted was also Carl-centric. It was completely coincidental, I assure you!
I'm not going to lie, this is a bit of a filler chapter. There's some issues which need to be said before we get to the fun stuff, and I prefer writing shorter chapters and posting regularly, over spending days working on the same exhausting piece. So just deal with it! That said, there are some funny bits in here too ;-) Enjoy! I love you peeps, and thanks for the reviews!
CHAPTER 29
Two weeks passed slowly as the group had a rare period of peace in the cemetery. It was quiet, far enough from the road to be safe from people, and shut-away enough from the surrounding woodland that they went relatively unnoticed by walkers. A few came up to the gates occasionally, having somehow caught scent of the group through the tall fence, but never more than two or three at once, and they were quickly and easily dealt with.
Sarah's leg healed quickly with the amount of time she had to rest around camp, and though the joint was stiff in the mornings, she had the full range of movement and flexibility. It seemed that the five days drifting in and out of consciousness, off her feet entirely, had speeded up the healing process considerably. Herschel seemed to have made it his mission to ensure she ate regularly and well. After Beth and Maggie, Sarah was the first to receive his careful attention, and she put on the much-needed weight quickly. Her ribs stopped showing through her skin so much, and a healthy colour returned to her face. But it wasn't long before he noticed she was slipping into bad habits again. Just days after she was up and about around camp he noticed she was late for meals, not getting enough sleep, spending too much time on her feet... and Sarah was stubborn. She wouldn't listen to his complaints. She felt that she was fully able to take care of herself, thank you very much.
Late one night, Herschel came out of the tent with a yawn, and joined Carol and T-Dog, who were sitting around the fire, being the last ones up. It was about 11pm, and everyone else had headed to bed.
"Who's on watch?" he asked, pouring himself a cup of water from a container.
Carol grinned at T-Dog. "Sarah and Daryl, of course." She said, her voice layered with meaning.
Herschel frowned. Hadn't she taken the last watch as well, from 6pm? That was a lot of time spent patrolling up and down the fences, for someone who had just stopped using a walking stick three days previous. "Those two again?"
"Uh-huh." Said T-Dog, putting another log on the fire. "Wanna hear our theory?"
Carol and T-Dog launched into an animated discussion about their new favourite topic, explaining all the schemes they were considering, in order to ensure - as they put it - "progress". Herschel listened to their half-serious conversation with interest, though he was sceptical of their gossip.
The next day, Rick addressed the group during breakfast about what everyone's roles would be in the coming days.
"Now that Sarah's healed up, and the rest of us have had a break too," he said, with a nod to Sarah, "We've gotta start thinkin' about where we're goin' next."
There was a bit of an uproar as certain members of the group disagreed with the prospect of moving on.
"You want us to leave?" said Maggie, in a shocked tone. She was not one to shy away from expressing her opinion. "Why? - we finally have a safe place again." She looked to Glenn for support, who nodded, but Sarah thought he didn't seem too enthusiastic about her point of view.
"You really wanna stay here?" said Rick incredulously. "In a cemetery?"
"It's safer than out there!" she replied boldly.
Rick shook his head. "This is no home," he said firmly, "We gotta believe that there's a better place out there for us."
"I agree with Rick," said Herschel heavily. "This... can't replace the farm. I don't know if we'll ever find somewhere that could, but... we have to try." At her father's words, Maggie stepped down, but still looked resentful. Rick saw the defeat in her eyes, and turned away.
"Carl?" he said quietly, and the young boy in the sheriff's hat silently handed over the map he'd been holding onto for his father. Lori sat on the other side of camp, a silent outcast from her own family. Rick opened the map and spread it on the table in the centre of the group, eyes darting as he considered their options.
But T-Dog still had something to say. "I don't know, man..." he burst out, uncomfortable. He, like everyone else, was cautious of voicing dissent, ever since Rick's "this is not a democracy" speech. Rick looked up from the map with cold eyes. It wasn't a friendly expression. But T-Dog was no coward. "I'm jus' thinkin' that we shouldn't give up on this place so soon, is all. I don't mind the gravestones, if it means I don't get eaten... know what I'm sayin'?"
Daryl stepped in before Rick could reply. "T, no one gives a damn about the stones! Fact is, there ain't no food left." He was abrasive as usual, but also persuasive. He waved the arm that had his ever-present crossbow in it at the woods around the cemetery. "There ain't nothin' out there 'cept small game, and I ain't bustin' my gut huntin' every day, jus' to feed y'all on squirrels."
T-Dog glared, stung, but had no reply.
Rick began outlining his plan as if there had been no interruption. "Now, what we've learnt from what happened at the house is that we have to be ready for walkers... or people." His eyes travelled slowly around the group, meeting each of them seriously. Sarah didn't miss out that he completely skipped Lori. "So we're headin' for the stash of weapons and supplies Sarah was tellin' us about first. It's in this direction." He traced the route on the map with one finger.
Glenn shifted closer and craned his neck to get a better view. "That'll take a few days' travelling... we'll need more gas." He said, doing the calculations quickly in his head.
Rick nodded. "I know." He said. "Our goal is still the farm, beyond this suburb... Greendale." He continued, pointing further on the map. "Now, it's not exactly on the way, but these supplies - if they're still there - should be worth it. In any case, it's closer to that farm than we are now, and it's our best shot." He looked around the group, but no one seemed to have anything else to say. "So this is how I wanna do it. Two people are going out to scout the road ahead and make sure we don't get stranded, before we even think of leavin'."
Carol nodded, feeling more at ease that they weren't just about to all go running off into the unknown.
"I want to go." Said Sarah immediately, excitement lighting up in her eyes. It was obvious that Daryl would be the other person, and she was sick of the gloomy cemetery anyway. Now that her leg was healed (just the occasional twinge and stiffness) she didn't want to sit around any longer.
Rick sized her up, and hesitated. He couldn't deny that apart from Daryl, she was the most capable person in the group. She would have the highest chance of returning safe...
"No," said Herschel firmly. "You're not ready to go out yet. You need to rest up longer-"
Sarah scowled at him. "I'm absolutely fine! I can walk, run, jump... I'd be-"
Rick raised a hand, forestalling her complaints. He shrugged. "Doctor's orders," he said, "You're stayin'." Sarah opened her mouth furiously, then closed it again with a huff. She turned and marched off to the tents, back stiff with anger. She tried hard not to limp too obviously.
"We start with scouting tomorrow." Said Rick, unperturbed by her abrupt exit. "I'll pick someone later to go with Daryl." From the looks on the others' faces, no one seemed super excited to volunteer.
After breakfast, they all split up to start their chores for the day. Herschel saw his chance, and walked after Daryl casually, with a determined expression. The younger man turned and frowned in surprise to see Herschel - he'd never really had much to do with the old farmer.
"What's up?" he asked.
"You're going out again?" Herschel asked him, inclining his head in the general direction of the front gates.
Daryl nodded. " 'Course. Gonna do a perimeter sweep, an' find us somethin' decent t'eat." He shrugged. "Yesterday I suggested we dig up some moles, this place is infested with 'em... Food problem solved." he waved a hand casually, "But somehow that din' go down so well."
Herschel raised one bushy white eyebrow at him. "I don't think it's that strange that we don't want t'eat an animal that lives underground and eats insects... in a cemetery."
Daryl shrugged, looking uncontrite. "You people are jus' picky, s'all..." he muttered rebelliously.
Herschel sighed. "I actually just wanted to speak to you about Sarah..."
"Huh?" Daryl looked surprised.
"I know she's been expressin' a desire to go out with you on your runs, for some time now..." he continued.
Daryl nodded. "I don' mind. Extra pair o' eyes..."
"Well, I think she should stay here longer. I don't think she's ready... she needs to take things slow." He said fretfully.
Daryl narrowed his eyes slightly at the older man. He paused before replying. "Well... Good luck tellin' her that." He said, thinking of her murderous glare before she stormed off.
"I was hopin' you would back me up, next time she volunteers." Herschel said, flat out. "I'm startin' to sound like the bad guy, saying she needs to rest more all the time..."
Daryl sighed. "I'm not gettin' involved," he said firmly, "She dun' need no one tellin' her what to do. If she thinks she's ready..."
"That's exactly my point." Said Herschel, taking an earnest step forward. "Now, I'm sure you've picked up on it too - she doesn't take good care of herself." Daryl was silent. "When it comes to killin' walkers, or," he paused, troubled, but continued, "... Or people... sure, she can hold her own better'n most. She's smart, but she forgets to eat. To drink water. She only gets a couple hours sleep each night- It's frankly a surprise she managed to make it so long, on her own." He said tartly.
Daryl shifted uncomfortably. He'd actually thought very similar things in the past. And, in fact, just the previous night while they were walking a patrol together, he'd mentioned his concerns: she had volunteered for a double shift the night, which meant she was only getting about 3 hours of solid sleep. When he asked her if she was tired, for a moment her eyes had glazed over, and he saw pure fear in them. He could guess at the truth - she probably couldn't sleep - but then she'd shrugged and smiled at him, and the moment had passed. With a few light words, she brushed off his concerns.
Herschel was continuing, worried, "She doesn't know when she's running on empty, and needs to sit out-"
"I know." Said Daryl at last, cutting him off. "I know... she ain't okay yet."
Herschel stopped. "Then, you'll-"
"I ain't tellin' her to stay behind." Said Daryl calmly, in a low tone. "Sarah, sittin' 'round camp with her feet up... Y'really think that'll help her?"
Herschel blinked at the seriousness of Daryl's expression. He must have already thought it through.
"Nah," Daryl continued, looking away from Herschel, into the distance. "She needs t'be busy. She needs t'keep movin'." He looked back at Herschel. "An' then I can keep an eye on 'er." He said, nodding. "I won't let nothin' happen."
Herschel gazed at the younger man, surprised. Was there some truth to what Carol and T-Dog had been gossiping about? Herschel nodded slowly, changing his mind suddenly. "Good... er, good... then... I'll leave it to you. If you think so, then I guess... she's ready." He said abruptly.
Now Daryl was the one feeling thrown by his sudden change of tack. He watched the older man uncertainly. "Good, good..." Herschel repeated absently, and then turned and walked off, still muttering to himself. "I'll go speak to Rick..."
Daryl watched him walking off for a while, then shrugged and left the cemetery. What was that about? Well, whatever the case, it looked like tomorrow he'd be having Sarah along for a road-trip after all.
