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Chapter Thirty Eight: Middle Name Interlude
I stood by the gate long after the car disappeared down the road. My arms were crossed and walkers were snarling at me through the gate, but all I did was stare down the road. I knew why Rick was going and I knew why he took Michonne, but I had no idea why he took Carl. If he wanted father-son-time he could have chosen a different activity. "You're gonna make yourself crazy if you keep staring at the road." I just shrug as Hershel steps up beside me. "He'll be back. Rick hasn't gotten this far too just give up." he says, crossing his arms and looking out with me.
"Every time he goes out I get nervous. I always have. But this just feels wrong. I know why he's doing it, and I know it needs to be done, but I still feel uneasy."
"Your brother can think fast on his feet. He'll be back before you know it." Hershel says, gently pulling on my arm, leading me away from the fence. "Come on, Beth is giving Judith a bath. You'll never get these moments back."
Daryl's PoV
"Come on, I gotta check the tombs." I say to my brother, tossing my crossbow over my shoulder. I look at my brother as he slowly stands up from the bed.
"So you're in charge when he's gone huh?" He says in a condescending tone. "So what are you when he gets back?"
"Are you coming or what?" I ask rolling my eyes. "I don't have time to wait on you."
"Relax baby brother. I'm coming." He says, grabbing his new attachable knife and following me through the cell door.
There don't seem to be as many today, which didn't make sense. There should be more. Maybe they were making a big circle and filtering back out of the prison, or they were wondering into other cell blocks. When I was more focused I would look more into it. I couldn't concentrate today. There was so much going on right now that a few walkers that were stuck behind a barred metal door weren't even registering as a threat. After several minutes killing the straggling walkers we turn back.
When we get back into the main room nobody is there, but from the laughter and Judith's small cries they were in the cell block giving the poor kid a bath. "So, how long have you an Officer Rick's sister been knocking boots?" Merle asks, plopping himself down at one of the tables.
"Does it matter?" I ask, setting my bow on the table and pouring myself a glass of water. It was wonderful having it at my disposal like this. Those days on the road during the winter were brutal; we would go days without water.
"All I know is I went away you were strong, independent. Now I get back and your weak and playing first officer to the same man who cuffed me to a roof."
"And Kelly fits into that how?" I ask, annoyed that he was calling me weak. It was something he had always done, and it seemed that no matter what I did I could never chance his mind.
"Women complicate things little brother. It's best if you stay away from them."
"I already had a life without her. Not happening again."
"So this life with her is better than the life we had before her?"
"I'm not talking about before this, jackass. When I left with you after Woodbury I thought she was dead. I thought I was without her."
"Just like I said, soft." He says with a condescending smile. I roll my eyes and finish my water.
"She might save your life one day. She saved mine." I say before standing up and leaving my empty cup and my brother behind in the grey room.
Kelly's PoV
"Judith Lori Grimes you are the messiest little girl." I say as I try to dry off my squirming niece. She still has some small white bubbles on her body.
"What's with the middle name?" I turn my head and give Daryl a quick smile before I return to my struggle.
"Everyone needs a middle name. What else would I say when she's in trouble? Judith Grimes hardly instills the fear like Judith Lori Grimes." I ask, as I pull I diaper from the box that was brought back from a daycare. According to the name on the box, according to the name on the box they had belonged to a baby named Amber Dexton. "Can you distract her while I get her dressed? She is wide awake today." Daryl sits down on the bed next to Judith and he starts talking to her, poking her nose, blowing gently on her face, letting her grip his finger in her hand. I get her diaper on and together we button up her onesise. "Now was that so bad?" I ask my niece as I brush down what little hair she had on her head down. "Here Uncle Daryl." I say, holding my niece out to him. "I have to clean up."
I toss the towel on the floor with the rest of the clothes that have built of. Since Carol wasn't coming anywhere near this cell now I would have to do it. Consequences of my actions, but punching her had felt very satisfying. "What's your middle name?" I ask Daryl as I kneel down to reach under the cot, I pull out three socks and a pair of underwear.
"What?" he asks me, clearly he wasn't paying attention to me, and considering he was still looking at Judith, I didn't think he would hear me this time.
"What's your middle name? I mean, what was called out when you were in serious trouble?"
"Little bastard." He says without looking up.
"I'm serious." I say, I really wanted to know.
"I am being serious. My parents weren't really part of the whole full-names-mean-you're-in-trouble thing."
"Well you should tell me so I know what to call you if you make me mad." I say, feeling bad at how he had grown up.
"It doesn't matter. It doesn't fit with the rest of my name."
"Mine doesn't either. Just tell me." I say, tossing one of the socks I had found under the cot at him.
"Don't throw things at your niece." He says with a smile. He tilts his arm and shows Judith to me. "Did you see what your meal old Aunt Kelly did, sweetheart? She threw something at you." he says in a mockingly cheerful voice. I roll my eyes and look at my niece.
"No, Aunt Kelly threw something at your mean old ugly Uncle Daryl." I say, catching the sock that Daryl threw back at me. I toss it on the pile of clothes before I stand up from the floor. I reach out and take Judith from Daryl before I call down to Hershel to come lay her down for her nap.
"She's getting bigger everyday." I say as I sit down next to Daryl. Judith was a lovely distraction, but I was still worried about my brother.
"Will you stop worrying." He says, flicking my arm. "You're gonna give yourself an ulcer and I hate to break it to ya, anti-acids are in short supply."
"I can't help it. So much could go wrong."
"I know. But you can't think about it. Just know that your brother is tough and he'll be back. So will Carl and Michonne."
"I need a distraction." I say, rubbing at my eyes.
"You could do that mountain of laundry. It's gonna be as high as you in a few days."
"I could, but laundry is boring. Plus I haven't done the laundry since we've been here. Where do I even do it at?"
"At the top level of the other room, at the far corner behind the wall." He says, I give him an odd look. "I helped Carol and Beth set up the water tank." He defends. I shake my head at him before I sit up with a groan.
"While I'm off playing laundry maid, what are you gonna do?"
"Glenn and I are going to try and find some ammo and guns. We haven't found the guard stations yet. Maybe we can find some stuff to help out."
"Great, not only do I have my brother, nephew, friend to worry about while they are on a run, I have to worry about you and Glenn. I think you're trying to give me an ulcer." I say, standing up and I dig out a ratty laundry basket from under the clothes pile.
"We'll be fine." He says, standing up and giving me a kiss before he heads to the door. "Besides, you'll be so pissed while doing laundry you won't even notice we're gone."
I lug the heavy basket out of the cell block and up the steps to where the laundry station was. I dropped the basket to the floor; the weight had been tugging at my still stitched up arm. I groaned when the basket tipped over and some clothes fell out. Merle was sitting at a table doing something with a knife; Maggie, Hershel, and Beth were outside with Judith doing their prayers. I thought it was a good idea for Judith to be a part of them. Even though she was a baby now, if she grew up with it she would be a better person. Again, I had no idea where Carol was. I grabbed some more stained clothes and drizzled some soap on them before I drop them in one of the tubs. I missed my washer and dryer.
"Since you're doing laundry, wanna wash this shirt for me?" I jump and turn around. Merle is standing behind me holding out a very stained white shirt.
"What is it with Dixon men and wanting to kill me?" I ask, reaching out and taking the shirt. "Why are you wearing white? You're outside running from walkers. Not exactly the cleanest thing in the world."
"There were actual machines at Woodbury. Never worried about it much." He says, leaning back against the rail.
"I'll do what I can, but I'm not very good at this. As you could probably tell by the state of Daryl's clothes." I say as I pour soap onto several of the stains and start scrubbing at them.
"My brother was never the neatest man, so I wouldn't notice any difference."
"That's good. I need to impress his family." I say, trying to make the awkward feeling disappear.
"Not a hard thing to do. You cook and to laundry. Better than anything I ever got." He says, his voice still sounding serious. I sigh and drop his shirt into the water to soak. I turn around and look at Merle.
The similarities between them were few and far between, but they were still there in the eyes and build. Merle was bigger, but they were built the same. But the similarities were more in stance and the air around them. They both walked with heavy steps, shoulders slumped, skin hard and scarred. I wonder if Merle had the same childhood as Daryl did? Probably. Child abuse hardly ever touched just one child in the same family. "Look," Merle says, breaking me out of my thoughts. "I'm not one for fancy words or threats. But you need to know that if you mess with my brother, it will not go well for you." he says, his arms crossed over his chest, the metal stump catching the afternoon sun.
"Threatening me?" I ask, crossing my arms as well.
"My brother cares about you. A lot, from what I can see. He's been down this road a few times and it's always ended the same way. He don't deserve to go through that anymore. So if you're just using him-."
"Whoa, slow down there skippy." I say, stepping closer to him. "Firsts of all, I think it's cute how you care about Daryl so much. However, you do not know me, and for you to judge me because of what some past bimbos have done is wrong. I love Daryl, and whatever you think you're protecting him from is all in your head. I'm not going anywhere."
The air between us feels thick and heavy. I look right in his eyes, not flinching when he takes a step closer. I should be scared, but I'm not. I may not know Merle, but I've known guys like him. He's trying to intimidate me, trying to get me to back off. I know this moment will define my relationship with Merle. It feels like hours have gone by, but it has only been a few seconds, maybe a minute tops, before he gives me a small nod. I feel the tension break as he backs away. "None of them have stood up to me before." He says his voice steady. He gives me a once over glance before turning away. "Welcome to the family."
It felt like it took hours, but I finally finished the laundry. I carried the still heavy basket full of wet clothes outside to hang on the line. all the bending up and down was making my back hurt, I was so grateful when I hung up the last shirt, a good thing it was Daryl's, cause if it would have been mine I would have just left it there to dry and get wrinkled. I drop a rock into the bottom of the basket so it wont blow away if a breeze picks up then I drop down on one of the metal benches. I yawn and pop my back before I lean against the back. The walkers are still frolicking in the yard, I cursed that stupid van very second I could, I could go for a run right now. I could run around the cell block, but I would feel really dumb, so I just sit here.
A few minuets pass and the sound of a car catches my attention. I stand up and squint my eyes towards the road. I feel disappointment followed by fear when the vehicle approaching isn't the same on my family left in this morning. I quickly run inside and tell Hershel about the car coming, and when we got back outside he told me it was Andrea. I go over to the gate and I open it so she can drive in before closing it again. I relock the gate before I turn and see Andrea stepping out of the car. Why was she here again?
"So he wants to negotiate?" I ask, crossing my arms as I lean against the wall next to Daryl.
"He is willing to talk." Andrea says, she sounds desperate. "Too much has happened and if this doesn't stop people are going to die."
"Is he willing to negotiate?" I ask again. "All you've said is that he wants to talk. Talking is not negotiating. Look at D.C. before the world ended. Lots of talking, no action."
"He will consider what Rick has to say." Andrea says, and I know that's all she can give. I shake my head.
"I don't like it." I say, looking at Hershel. "It could be like walking into a death trap."
"But if they don't sit down we'll be walking into a death trap anyway." Hershel says. Again, he was always the voice of reason.
"Look, I'm not saying that he shouldn't, but I am saying that if Rick goes he doesn't go alone." I say, not wanting my brother anywhere near this crazy psycho who had tanks full of walker heads and his walker daughter chained up in a closet. Michonne felt that we needed to be made aware of the guy we were dealing with.
"We can't decide anything right now." Hershel says, sitting down at a table. "When Rick gets back we can discuss this with him." then he looks up at me. "What's for dinner?" he asks. I roll my eyes and go back outside.
I know Daryl followed me, so when he leans against the outside wall of the prison as I look back out at the road leading back here I just ignore him. I want him back. He's been gone all day and I wanted him to get back here before dark. "So you don't think Rick should talk to this guy?" Daryl asks after a few minutes.
"I don't think he needs to go in unprepared. We've heard about this man and we've seen his actions. He could do anything to Rick in a flash. He could kill him." I sigh and lean against the warm metal of the wired cage around the doorway. "I don't think it's worth the risk. At least if he stays away we know what's coming."
"Let's just see what Rick says when he gets back." He kicks off the wall and wraps an arm around my shoulders. "Come on, if you don't start cooking Carol will. And you are much better at it than she is."
"How's the bandages feel?" I ask as I sit down next to my brother, offering him a can of soda from our limited stash. "We have to share." When they got back from the trip I had ran right into my brother, and when he grunted in pain my heart had dropped. He had been hurt. But, under the ever watchful gaze of Hershel I got my first lesson in dealing with stab wounds.
"I think a few more stabbings and you'll be a pro." He says, taking the can and taking a small drink from it.
"I think I'd rather stay an amateur thanks." I say as I prop my head up on my arm. "So you found Morgan?" I ask again, all Rick had said when he got back was say he say Morgan, but he didn't give me any specifics. Too much other stuff going on, including getting their massive gun load into the prison and Andrea's offer from The Governor.
"I did. I tried to get him to come back with us. But he wouldn't."
"Did you see Duane?" I ask, wondering why he hadn't said anything about the sweet little boy.
"He turned. Morgan changed. He's not like he was. He stabbed me."
"What?" I ask in shock. "Why?"
"He went mad. I guess it's what happens if you're cut off from people for that long."
"I'm so sorry Rick." I say, dropping my gaze.
I hadn't thought about Morgan and his boy in a while. I just assumed they had moved on from King's County and were somewhere else, somewhere safe. I assumed that Duane was alive just like Carl was. But children didn't last too long in this world. My mind drifted to Sophia and that little baby Daryl and I had found strapped in his car seat in a car on the side of the road. "Do you think he'll ever snap out of it? Think he'll get better?" I ask, I didn't think so, but my brother had always been more optimistic than me.
"I don't know. Maybe." He says, taking the can of soda from my hands and taking another drink.
"What are you going to do about the offer?" I ask, Rick hadn't given Andrea a definite answer yet, she said she would return in the morning for Rick's answer.
"Daryl said you didn't want me to go." Rick says, giving me a small smile that didn't match his eyes.
"No I don't. I think it's a deathtrap. We know what he's capable of."
"And that's why it needs to be done. Because we know what he can do."
"It makes me uneasy Rick. If you go, I'm coming with you."
"No, you're going to stay here."
"No, I'm going with you." he tries to speak, but I interrupt him. "Rick, today I was running around doing busy work trying to keep my mind off of what was going on with you just going on a run. And I know that if you do go you'll take Daryl with you. That will kill me. You know that Andrea will be there and we know what she's screwing that man. You need me. And you're not going without me."
He takes another drink from the can before he hands it back to me. "I think I'm going to go. It needs to be done. Maybe we can hash this out, create a border that no one crosses. Something to end this."
"How about the river?" I ask, "I was looking at the map and there is a river that's almost evenly between us and that town. A river is a defiant, immoveable border."
"Maybe." He says with a yawn. I smile and down the last few swallows of the soda before I pull my brother to his feet. I give him a careful hug and tell him goodnight. I watch as he slowly makes his way to his cell. I wait until I head him lie down and the cot shake before I walk up to my cell.
Daryl is sitting up shoving his clothes back into his bag, mine are not in the basket. "I put your clothes away while you were talking with your brother. He okay?" Daryl asks as he shoves a pair of jeans in his bag before he drops it in the basket and kicks it under the cot.
"I think so. Just tired. It sounded like they had a rough day." I say, changing from my jeans into some shorts before I stretch across the hard mattress. It felt surprisingly good to be lying down. Odd considering I hadn't done anything today besides whine and do laundry.
"You cannot take up the whole bed ya know." Daryl says, after he changes out of his dirty clothes. I shake my head when he drops them on the floor instead of in the basket.
"Maybe we can do something with these beds so we can prop them side-by-side. I love you, but I can't cuddle super close to you every night." I say as I scoot back against the cold wall and he gets in beside me.
"And why is that?" he asks, tossing the sheet over my shoulders.
"It's just to cramped." I say, yawning again as I snuggle into my flat pillow.
The following morning Daryl wakes up first and he gets dressed and leaves, but I fall back asleep. He wakes me up soon after saying that breakfast was ready and that Andrea was here. I groggily stand up and get dressed. I pull my hair up into a very messy bun and walk bare-footed to the main room. I get odd looks when I sit down, Beth asks me if I'm worried about foot fungus, but I just shake my head and eat my tasteless imitation bacon and bread before Rick, Daryl, and Hershel walk in.
"In two hours Hershel, Daryl, Kelly, and I will be going to have a meeting with this Governor. I need the rest of you to stay here, take inventory of the weapons and ammo, stash it around the block and outside. This place needs to be a fortress is this goes bad." Rick looks at everybody before he turns and goes back to the block. I look up at Daryl and he does not look too thrilled. I finish my food and head back to the cell to put my shoes on. I'm sitting on the bed tying the never-ending strings of my boots when Daryl comes back in.
"I don't want you to come." He says, I look up at him.
"Too bad." I say, confused as to why he's saying this.
"Not too bad. You're not coming."
"Yes I am." I say, going back to my boot strings. He sighs and walks into the cell and sits beside me.
"Kelly, I'm not trying to order you around or control what you do. But I don't want you to come with us. This could be more dangerous than Rick is realizing." I finish with my boots and look up at him. He reaches over and takes my hand. "I don't want anything to happen to you out there."
"That's why I'm going. So if something happens I'll know about it. I'm going with you guys. I'm not leaving you, Hershel, and my brother alone with this man. One person can make all the difference in a situation like this." He sighs and drops his head. I lean forward and give him a kiss. When he looks up I give him a small smile. "I'll be okay."
Less than an hour later we're all ready to leave. I have my gun and knife attached to my waist, Hershel and Rick have a few guns in their car and Daryl has all of his stuff. Rick and Hershel get in the car and Daryl and I get on his bike, when it comes to life he looks back at me. "My middle name is Carter." I blink at him a few times before I understand why he told me.
"Mine is Jocelyn." I say as I tighten my hold around his waist as we drive down the road.
Note: So this was basically a little light-ish interlude before all the drama begins again! Hope you all enjoyed it!