Daryl and Davia sat there dumbfounded at the news Milton had just delivered.
"But how…we've been so careful." Davia said, still trying to come to grips with the fact that she was expecting a baby.
"The kitchen table Davia, we got carried away." Daryl said.
Oh God, he was right. Since there had been a limited supply of birth control pills, Davia and Daryl had switched to using condoms for protection, and they had been religious about making sure that they used one every time they made love, except for the kitchen event. Davia smacked her head.
"What are we going to do Daryl? April is due in a few months, and then I will have this baby just a couple months later. I am already freaking out about caring for one child, and now we have a second one coming. What am I going to do…Oh God…" She said.
Daryl noticed that Davia was panicking and he grabbed her hand and squeezed it tightly. "You ain't in this alone Davia, you've got me and I will help out any way I can. We will get through this." He reassured her. Honestly, Daryl was freaking out a bit too, but he needed to keep his shit together for Davia's sake.
"I need to talk to Ingrid." Davia said.
"Later, right now you need to rest. I almost lost you today Davia and if that had happened…I don't even want to think about it." Daryl said.
"I wasn't going to let you lose me Daryl. I fought hard to keep everyone safe so we could all return to the people we love, and there was no way I was going to let them take me from you." She told him.
"You do know this means you won't be doing any patrols now. I can't risk having you out there in your condition and I don't want you to argue about it." He said.
"I understand Daryl, but just because I'm pregnant doesn't mean I can't still help out around here. I agree, no patrols, but I can still work in the camp and make sure we get this greenhouse up and running. At least until the babies come. Having one child is going to be difficult…but two? I am trying hard not to get overwhelmed." She admitted.
"We will do it together baby girl. You and me can do this, but I ain't gonna lie, I'm scared as shit about this too. This makes catching these son of a bitches that did this to you and killed Andrea just that much more important. I gotta find 'em or we will never have peace." Daryl told her in an adamant voice.
Daryl noticed Davia's eyes were starting to droop, between the medications and her ordeal she had to be exhausted. "Your mom and dad will probably be thrilled about this." She said sleepily.
"Yeah, they will. Davia, I am going to do everything I can to make this easy for you. You ain't in it alone, we're a team and I am gonna protect ya, and there are others here that will help too, like my parents, and Beth. You know, it takes a village and all that shit." Daryl said trying to alleviate her fears.
"I'm thankful we have Milton. If we didn't I would be terrified, but I feel so bad for him because he just lost Andrea, and I know he needs time to mourn her. I wish there was something I could do." Davia said, thinking about the poor man.
"I'll see if I can get my old man to talk to him, he seems to be good at getting through to people. I'd do it, but you know how good I am at that touchy-feely crap." Daryl said, chuckling slightly.
"Um, yeah, your Dad would be a better choice. No offense. You are good with me though Daryl and that is exactly what I need. I don't know what I would do without you." She said to him.
"You wouldn't be pregnant right now, and we wouldn't be panicking." Daryl said.
"Hey, we managed this one together, and as scared as I am, I'm glad I'm carrying your baby. Now if we could skip the whole labor and delivery thing I'd be great." She said sleepily.
"Get some sleep darling." He told her.
"Don't leave me Daryl, do you mind staying?" She asked.
"Ain't got a choice, I ain't gonna leave your side unless I absolutely have too." He told her.
As Davia began to drift into sleep she said one more thing "Can we tell your family together? I wanna see their reaction when we deliver the news."
"Anything you want darling, but be prepared for all the fussing over ya they are gonna do. Never thought Dixon's could be all sappy like that, but I guess nothing in this world is the same anymore." He mused.
…
"Baby brother…looks like one of your swimmers hit the mark." Merle commented.
"Merle, what the fuck are you doing here?" Daryl asked.
"Checking on ya, and bitching at ya for the mess you just made. Two babies, great planning there Darylina." Merle chastised.
"Shut the fuck up…look at what a mess you made asshole. You knocked up April, a fucking psychopath, and then went and cut off your fucking hand... You ain't go not right to judge me." Daryl yelled back.
"Ouch…fighting dirty ain't ya?" Merle said.
"Don't need your shit now Merle. This is gonna be a lot on Davia to deal with and there ain't no going back. Just because you fucked up your life doesn't mean I'm gonna do the same thing." Daryl bit back.
"Fine, just checking to see if you were gonna be able to handle all of this. You know me, I ain't gonna let anything be easy for ya. Look, I'm here for a reason…this Alaskan thing ain't gonna last forever, and you gotta have a plan." Merle said.
"What are you talking about? This will work…that's why we came. Ain't nothing left anywhere else." Daryl reminded his brother.
"Just listen, there's a military base in Anchorage…and when the time comes, and you will know when that is, you gotta make it there. That is going to be your best solution." Merle said emphatically.
"But Merle, there ain't anywhere to go. I don't think the military bases made it either." Daryl said.
"Just do as I say baby brother. I gotta check out for a while…You make it to the base, and then you will make it to the place that you can survive…Home." Merle said.
"Merle, what is going to happen?" Daryl asked desperately, but Merle was gone.
…
Daryl woke with a start. As crazy as it seemed, Merles "visitations" usually meant something was up. But if they had to leave Alaska, where would they go? Home? That was a ridiculous idea, wasn't it? Getting here was a harrowing experience, and now things were even worse. The last broadcasts they received had let them know that not only had the virus spread like wildfire throughout the US, but the political environment was a mess as well. Philip Blake had done a good job of causing a political division between the survivors and if the reports were true, he had pretty much set up a violent dictatorship. If Alaska didn't work out…they were pretty much screwed, so that meant Daryl needed to make sure that this new life would work out, and that they were safe.
In order for them to be safe, they had to take care of the problem with the marauders, and that meant they would need a plan. The villagers weren't willing to help, but Adelaide had given Zeek and Daryl some idea when the violent men would interact with Ray. That meant they were going to need to keep a watch on the village. Daryl didn't want to go to war with the villagers, but they had made their allegiance known, and it wasn't to help the camp.
Davia was still sleeping and Daryl took the time to go find Milton. Right now they needed Milton more than anything. With three women now expecting children, and with the dangers that loomed outside the wall, Milton was invaluable to the group. However, with what happened with Andrea, Daryl wasn't sure what Milton's mental state would be. Though the man was strange, he was brilliant, and Daryl knew how much he loved Andrea. Milton had been hesitant to allow Andrea to help out with defending the camp, and now it looked like he had been correct in his hesitation.
Daryl found Milton in the small lab, but Milton wasn't working. Instead he had a bottle of Crown Royal open and was sipping it out of a high ball glass.
"It's a bit early in the morning for a drink ain't it doc?" Daryl asked.
"Does it really even matter anymore? Are you here checking on me because you think I won't take good care of your wife?" Milton snapped back. Apparently Milton wasn't a happy drunk.
"I would think that drinking at six in the morning ain't normal protocol for a doctor. I don't want you treating Davia if you ain't straight." Daryl said.
"You know I have never been a social man. I spent my entire life engulfed in science and education, then medical school, and then my residency. I was fine being alone…until I met Andrea. I met her for the first time at the hospital Café and she actually made an effort to speak to me. No one had really done that before and I was suspicious of her intent at first." Milton said.
"She was a looker, and seemed to have a good head on her shoulders." Daryl said as he listened to Milton talk. Daryl could relate to how it felt to be socially awkward.
"Since she worked with adoptions, she was at the hospital quite a bit, and we began meeting at the café on a regular basis. The friendship was nice and before I knew it, I had mustered up enough courage to ask her out. I was shocked when she agreed. From there, our relationship grew. I fell in love with her, and I believe the feelings were mutual. I hadn't had any experience with women, but she was patient and kind, and I learned how to share my life with another person. I was completely in love with her, and now…" Milton said sadly.
"Look Doc, I get it. If anything were to happen to Davia I don't think I could make it another day, but I know I would have to because that is what Davia would want. You can't give up on life, we need you and Andrea would want you to carry on with your work. We'll give her a real nice service today, because even in death she still managed to help save the girls." Daryl said, trying to encourage the lost man as best he could.
"Daryl, can we retrieve the body from the house?" Milton asked.
"I don't know what would be left of it after the fire, but we can check." Daryl said, not wanting to think about Andrea's remains still in the rubble of the house.
"Thank you. I will take a shower and drink a good strong cup of coffee and then we can go." Milton said.
"Before you do all that, can we talk about Davia?" Daryl asked.
"Of course. She should be able to go back to your cabin today. I want her to take it easy for a week, and I will stop by and check on her each day. The same is for Beth as well. Both girls are lucky that the wounds weren't any worse. Davia is lucky that the explosion didn't injure her, with the exception of the few bruises and contusions she received. She might have some ringing in her ears for a few days, but that is normal. I will also send her home with antibiotics and pre-natal vitamins, but I would like to refrain from giving her any pain medication unless she really needs it. I have some Tylenol that can help with the soreness, which she will have for a couple of days." Milton said.
"And what about the baby? In case you didn't pick up on it, it wasn't planned." Daryl said.
"She's very early in her pregnancy and a lot of changes will happen. Have you ever had to deal with a pregnancy in your past?" Milton asked.
Daryl laughed "No, can't say I ever saw myself as a family man."
"That makes two of us, though Andrea and I were discussing the possibilities of starting a family. Anyhow, I will give you a book to borrow so you can read about all the changes Davia's body will go through. I am not sure if you have noticed Daryl, but she has lost a considerable amount of weight since we left Blue Ridge. She is going to need to focus on eating healthy so that she can sustain this pregnancy. Right now our supplies are plentiful, but it's important that all three women that are expecting continue to get proper nutrition. I do have some concerns about April that I wanted to discuss with you and Davia, but maybe I should just share them with you right now." Milton said.
Daryl's stomach dropped at the tone Milton took when he mentioned April. "What's going on with her?"
"Mentally, she is doing better than I expected. She seems to have accepted that this is her life, and she needs others to survive. She has mellowed out quite a bit, but she is riddled with guilt and regret. She has expressed on more than one occasion to me and to Father Gabriel that she wants to mend things with you and Davia."
"I don't see a problem with that, but why is that a concern?" Daryl asked.
"Normally, there is a doctor/patient confidentiality agreement, but since her child is going to be raised by you and Davia, I am going to break that rule. April is sick…terminal to be honest. I believe she has an autoimmune disease that is taking a toll on her. I don't think she is going to be able to go full term with this pregnancy. She is around thirty weeks, further along that I thought. I don't want to do this, but I believe we should take the baby at thirty-four weeks. Ingrid has a lot of experience with childbirth and she has agreed to help me deliver the child. She will be pre-mature, but if we allow April to continue with the pregnancy I don't know if either will survive. Unfortunately, I don't think we have many options." Milton said.
Daryl felt like he had just been slugged in the stomach. "What are the chances of survival for the baby?"
"Seventy percent, but being prepared will help. I have an incubator we can use, but we are going to need some additional supplies I don't have. That means someone will need to risk a trip into Homer to try to locate some items from the hospital there. Bob has agreed to go along, as he is knowledgeable with medication and medical supplies, but I was hoping you and a few others could go with him. There is a special formula that will be needed that for the child to get the proper nutrition. April will not be able to nurse the child. To be honest, I don't know how much longer April has." Milton said candidly.
Daryl sat down in a chair and placed his face in his hands, trying to process everything that Milton had just told him. "Does April know?"
"She does, and she has been incredibly accepting. That is good for both her and the baby, but I think it would go a long way if you and Davia can forgive her." Milton said.
"We will make sure April has a sense of peace. Thanks for letting me know, Doc. I will tell Davia myself because she needs to know. Davia is a lot stronger than I gave her credit, and she will get through this just fine because she has me there for her as well. Also, I will head up the run. Get together a list of things we will need, and we will bring them all back. Thanks for getting Bob on board, because I am clueless when it comes to medical shit." Daryl confessed.
"OK, just give me a few minutes to pull myself together. I wanna thank you for listening to me Daryl. You helped me realize a few things, the most important being that I can't give up because of losing Andrea. She would want me to continue my work, and I will in her honor." Milton said.
"Good to hear. While you are getting ready I'm gonna go check on my wife. If she is awake I'm gonna take her home and you can meet me at my cabin when you are ready. Make sure you are armed, just in case someone tries to catch us off guard." Daryl told Milton.
…
Daryl returned to Davia's room to find Nora, Will, and Jacqui all visiting her.
"Son, how are you doing?" Will asked.
"I'm fine, it's Davia you should ask. How are you feeling baby?" Daryl asked his wife, who looked exhausted.
"I feel fortunate to be alive and surrounded by family." She said smiling at her in-laws.
Daryl looked at Davia, and she nodded. "We have an announcement to make. It appears that there is a second grandchild on the way. Looks like it's gonna be Irish Twins for the Dixon clan." Daryl said.
"What, you are having a baby?" Nora asked in disbelief.
"Yes ma'am, it wasn't planned, but sometimes things have a way of happening." Davia said smiling proudly.
"Well I swear you are absolutely glowing." Will said as he made his way over to Davia and gave her a kiss.
"Thanks, but I think I must actually look a mess." She replied.
"No baby, you look beautiful." Daryl said…he wondered if Davia would ever accept how beautiful she was.
"Thank you." She said as she reached her hand out to him.
"Doc says I can take you home, but you have to take it easy." Daryl told her.
Nora then spoke "Davia, I stopped by your cabin and gathered up some clean clothes for you. I found some things that would be easy for you to slip on and off while you are healing up."
"Oh thanks so much Nora, that's going to make getting dressed much easier." Davia replied.
Jacqui then spoke "We'll get out of here so you can get dressed. Don't you worry about anything for a while Davia, we'll all be pitching in to help you out until you are back on your feet. I've already got dinner cooking for you both and I will bring it over this afternoon."
"And I will stop by at lunch time to bring you something to eat as well Davia." Nora said.
"Please, you don't have to fuss over me like this, I will be fine." Davia insisted.
"Nah, let them help Davia. You need to save your strength. Doc said you need to eat better too, He says you have lost too much weight since we left Blue Ridge." Daryl said.
"That's hysterical. I've never been told I've lost too much weight." Davia said.
"Honey, we can all see you melting away. You do need to eat more and take better care of yourself young lady." Jacqui added.
"OK, OK…you guys win. Y'all know how I hate to burden anyone." Davia said.
"It isn't a burden, it's what family does." Will said, giving Daryl a nod.
…
Zeek and Ingrid had spent the night at the main lodge with their daughters, who were all distraught at losing their home and belongings. Daryl took Davia back to the cabin knowing it was empty and she insisted on walking, even though Daryl knew she was hurting and said he could get the truck and drive her the short distance. But Davia refused and Daryl had learned that Davia had a stubborn streak in her that he wasn't happy about. She had the best intentions at all times, but right now she needed to let others do for her.
When they arrived at the cabin Daryl quickly got Davia settled in, but not before she insisted on a bath and washing her hair. Daryl helped her clean up and wash her hair, which she promptly braided as soon as she toweled off after getting out of the tub. Daryl then did something he had never done with her before; he lifted her up bridal style and carried her to their room. He realized what everyone had been saying about how much weight she had lost and he chastised himself for not noticing. He made a note to pay better attention to Davia's eating habits. She was doing a great job of keeping him and everyone else fed, but it would appear she was neglecting her own eating habits.
"You are light as a feather Davia, you gotta eat more before you lose all your curves." He told her.
"Trust me, I'm never gonna lose those." She said.
"Davia, you probably have lost at least forty pounds since we have been here. Your clothes are falling off of you. I'm gonna need to get you some more things to wear. You keep this up you and Beth are gonna be sharing outfits." Daryl said.
"I wish." Davia mumbled.
Once Daryl was sure that Davia was situated in their bed he administered her some Tylenol and told her she was not to leave the bed unless it was for a bathroom break. He informed her he would be going with Milton over to try to retrieve Andrea's remains and that there would be a memorial service for her later in the day.
"Daryl, I want to attend. She saved our lives, even in death. You should have heard what they did to her, it was bone chilling to hear, and she didn't deserve to die like that. I just can't imagine why she would have gone over the wall." Davia said as she explained the rest of everything that happened to them, including Ingrid offering herself in exchange for their freedom. Daryl couldn't get over the strength that the Lindstrom's had as a family. He thought at first it was just Zeek, but Ingrid and the daughters had all proven themselves to be courageous and noble people. Daryl was sure he wanted to instill the same values in his children as well.
Davia was drifting off to sleep when there was a knock at the door. Daryl assumed it was Milton, but was surprised to see Rick.
"How's Davia?" Rick asked.
"Resting, but she seems to be in good spirits. I've got something to tell ya, she's pregnant." Daryl told his surrogate brother.
"Holy Shit Daryl, when did you find out and how far along is she?" Rick asked, shocked at what Daryl had just told him.
"Found out last night, she's just a few weeks. It's not ideal, but I guess that doesn't matter. We had one slip up and now we have a child on the way. Milton also said April isn't doing to good. He's planning on taking the baby in four weeks, but I haven't told Davia yet. I'll tell her tonight once everything is settled. What brings you by?" Daryl asked.
"We need to have a group meeting, but I wanted to discuss what happened with Andrea with you. I think I know what sent her over the wall. I found a child's footprint just a few feet from where she was keeping watch. You had mentioned that the lady in the Village said that two children were taken, and I wonder if these men are using the child as bait?" Rick said.
"Shit, I didn't think about that. But knowing Andrea, if she saw a child in need she wouldn't think twice about heading over the wall. We need to warn everyone. One thing that is bothering me is how close to the camp these assholes seem to be able to get. It's like they are playing a serious game of cat and mouse." Daryl said.
"They want to pick us off one by one…waiting on us to make mistakes. They can't take us as a whole, but if they can manage to pick us off one by one, then they can take this place, and I think that is what they want to do." Rick said.
"You gonna tell the group this?" Daryl asked.
"I think it is best. There's something else, Milton and Eugene are pretty sure that we all carry this virus that causes the turn. Somehow, after death something in the brain starts back up. It's the only explanation for Vienna and Andrea turning without being bitten. Maggie was emphatic that Andrea had no bites anywhere on her body. That means that if anyone is to pass, then there needs to be a knife or shot to the brain to keep the brain from firing back up." Rick told Daryl, his tone very serious.
"Fuck me. Do they know how it's spread? Obviously a bite will kill ya, but if we all have it, then why aren't we sick?" Daryl asked.
"I can't answer that, it's what Eugene and Milton have been trying hard to figure out. Apparently a bite makes you sick and leads to death, but once you are dead if your brain is left in tact, then you re-animate. Daryl, I really need your support in this meeting today because I'm going to lay down the law. It's the only way we are going to survive." Rick said.
"You got it, you've done right by me and my family. Milton is pretty sure that April's dying. That means that if what you just said is true, after she passes someone is going to have to…" Daryl couldn't finish the sentence. April was a pain in the ass, but she had been coming around lately, and she was doing everything she could to try to deliver Merle's daughter as safely as possible. This also meant that both children would be born with the virus, same as Lori's child. However, if it didn't effect you while you were living, then did it really matter? A knife through the brain after you died didn't really seem to be that big of deal. Hell, Daryl would welcome it.
…
Everyone gathered around in the main lodge and Rick stood up to address everyone. He had already briefed Daryl, Morgan, Zeek, and Abe about what he wanted to discuss just to make sure they were all in agreement with the decisions that He had made.
"As y'all know, we lost Andrea yesterday and we almost lost Maggie, Beth, Davia, and Ingrid as well. They were able to escape this group that is taunting us, but it was a close call. Beth and Davia both took a bullet, and we were lucky it wasn't worse. Effective immediately, no one goes beyond the wall without notifying me, and I will assemble a group together to make sure adequate protection is provided." Rick said.
Michonne then spoke "Rick you can't be serious, shouldn't we vote on this?"
"Michonne, with all due respect, this isn't a democracy anymore. You all saw fit to put me in charge, and I'm making the call. I didn't want Andrea up on the wall, but she insisted and I gave in…so her death, it's on me. These men are doing their best to pick us off one by one…and they are patient. They wait for us to make mistakes, and then they take advantage of it. Michonne, I don't doubt your skills, but even you are capable of making a mistake." Rick said.
Jacqui then spoke "Honey, I know you are strong, but please listen to what Rick is saying. He's just trying to protect you."
Michonne grumbled to herself, but she didn't say anymore on the subject.
"We also need to go on a supply run. The Lindstrom's have lost all of their belongings, and there are some medical needs in the group that we are not equipped to handle. This trip means going into Homer, and I'm not going to lie, it will be risky. So far I have Bob, Zeek, and Daryl ready to go, but I would like one more person." Rick said.
"I'm in." Michonne said.
"Baby girl…please reconsider," Jacqui said to her daughter.
"I'm fine momma, I gotta get out of here before I go crazy." She said truthfully.
Rick nodded. "Michonne, you got your wish. Y'all will leave in two days."
Jacqui looked frustrated, but didn't say anything. Will placed his hands on his wife's shoulder and whispered something in her ear that seemed to appease her apprehension. Daryl wondered if he ever comforted Nora in that manner.
"We've been lucky with the weather, other than the brief blizzard, the weather has been unusually warm. As long as the weather holds up I want to have four people on the wall at all times. Everyone will take four-hour shifts, and there will not be any exceptions except for Sophia, Duane, Davia, April, and Lori. Father Gabriel we will need your assistance as well. " Rick said. The preacher nodded in agreement.
Carol let out an audible reaction when Rick announced who wouldn't be required to take watch "Rick, I understand everyone else not taking watch, but why not Davia? Why does she have special privileges?"
Daryl hadn't wanted to tell everyone his and Davia's news just yet, but now it looked like he needed too. "Davia is expecting."
Carol just shook her head "Of course she is. You two couldn't even be bothered to use birth control? Instead you are burdening us all with another mouth to feed. How many more Dixon's can we expect? Hmmm? Nora…Will…would you like to add to your brood?"
"Carol that is uncalled for! We all know that sometimes things just happen, whether we plan them or not. It's not our place to judge anyone and we just need to be able to handle these unplanned situations. Daryl has gone above and beyond for this group, and Davia has worked her ass off as well, so from now on can you please keep your opinions about Daryl's family to yourself." Rick scolded.
"Rick, Carol is right though. This is going to be a burden on all of us." Lori added.
Maggie then stood up "Lori, can I ask what you add to this camp? Davia has been working hard to get a greenhouse started with Daddy, and Daryl is doing everything he can to find these men that killed Andrea, Vienna…and Shane. You don't lift a finger around here."
"Maggie, I can't because of my condition. Plus, I am a mother to my son and that takes a lot of my time." Lori said trying to defend herself.
"Mom, I can take care of myself…don't use me as an excuse." Carl jumped in.
"Carl, just let your mother answer for herself." Rick told his son. Even though Carl was right, Rick didn't want his son involved in the debate.
"Fine…if you want me to risk my pregnancy I will gladly help out around here." Lori said in a frustrated voice.
"Good girl. You can help me with preparing dinner tonight for the camp." The usually quiet Jenny said. Apparently she had lost her patience with Lori as well.
"What about April, why aren't you attacking her?" Lori asked.
"Because she is dying." Daryl said without thinking, silence filling the room. Everyone looked around and Gabriel and Milton nodded their heads in affirmation.
"But what about the baby?" Will asked, concerned for his grandchild.
Milton cleared his throat "Normally I don't like to discuss a patients medical history, but in this case I will make an exception. We are gonna take the baby at thirty-four weeks, which is in one month. It's one of the reasons we need these supplies from Homer."
"But she can't be thirty weeks along." Lori said.
"Based on the size and the development of the fetus, I believe she miscalculated her date of her last cycle. She admitted that she wasn't really sure because of her previous habits. Unfortunately, I don't think she or the baby will be able to survive much beyond that time. It's our only choice and Daryl has been made fully aware of the dangers." Milton replied.
Nora, Will, and Jacqui all had a look of concern on their face, but Daryl did his best at staying positive "We'll be sure to have the supplies that are needed, and that baby girl is gonna be just fine. She's a Dixon and that means she is a fighter."
Will then spoke "No truer words have ever been spoken Daryl."
"OK, if we can please get back to the agenda here." Rick said frustrated.
"So I have some jobs I would like to assign to everyone. Tyreese, Glenn, and Cesar I would like you three to be in charge of Security. That means I want you managing the watch schedule. Brad, You and T-dog are going to be in charge of maintaining the weapons. Tara and Liesel are going to assist. Nothing leaves our supply room without one of you four knowing about it." Rick told them.
"Carol, I want you back at the clinic along with Bob. Rosita, Abe informed me you were also a former medic, so I would like you to help out as well in the clinic." Rick said.
"That isn't a problem, anything I can do to help." Rosita said. Rick wished everyone had her positive attitude.
"Hershel, you are doing a great job with the livestock, and I am going to ask that you take the younger kids as well as Will under your wing. Beth and Davia will also fall under you as well." Rick directed.
"I know this is going to sound sexist, but I would like the rest of the women to help Jacqui with keeping up with an inventory of our rations as well as helping out with keeping up with laundry. With the weather here, it is critical that we keep our clothing clean and in good shape. It's not like we can head to the mall whenever we need a new jacket." Rick pointed out.
"Daryl and Zeek, I am putting you in charge of hunting and fishing and making sure we have adequate protein sources. Anyone you think can help out, please let me know." Rick said, both men nodded, knowing they were perfect for the job.
"That brings me to Sasha, Maggie, and Michonne. I want you all to work with Morgan and Abe to learn how to handle the Sniper rifles. We need to have three really good shots around here, and so far, all of you have the best aptitude. You three will be part of a group that does routine patrols. The others in this group will be Daryl Zeek Morgan, Abe, and myself. That means we will have two groups of four, one that will patrol once in the morning and one that will patrol once in the evening."
"Dale, I want you on communication at all times. I was thinking you could train Karen as well so that she could assist in monitoring any and all broadcasts. It is critical that we know what is going on in the world outside of us, and if there is any possibility of conditions improving, then we need to be aware and have a discussion. We also need to know if there are further threats. I know the broadcasts have been limited, but Dale's radio is the only lifeline we have to the outside world." Rick said.
"I will be glad to assist, and I am thrilled to teach Karen how to operate the radio. Anyone else who is interested I would be glad to show them as well." Dale said.
"Dale, I wouldn't mind learning either." Carol said.
"Certainly Carol, I would be glad to show you too." He said.
"That brings us to the last thing we need to discuss, and it's probably the most important. There is no easy way to say it, but Milton and Eugene believe that we are all infected with this virus that has over taken the country. Both Andrea and Vienna turned without being bitten, and in order to be sure, Milton has requested a blood sample from each of us." Rick said it quickly knowing it would take a moment for it to sink in.
The room exploded with various responses "How can it be?" "Are we all going to turn" "What about the children"…shock, fear, and even a few tears quickly enveloped the group.
Milton stood up and explained to the group his suspicions. The one good thing he reiterated with everyone was that as long as they weren't bit or didn't die, the virus remained dormant. That meant they would live a normal life until death, and when someone died, that meant that a quick shot to the brain would keep the person from reanimating. It wasn't an easy piece of news to deliver, but it seemed to appease everyone.
Finally, after an hour, Rick dismissed everyone and they began to assemble with their assigned groups.
"Well that went as well as could be expected." Rick told Daryl.
"Yeah, Just wish I knew why Carol hated me so much. I'm thinking about cornering her to find out what her problem is." Daryl told Rick.
"It's not worth the effort Daryl. She's losing her grasp on reality. I am hoping that by re-assigning her to the clinic and maybe her working with Dale, she might come back to us. She needs too for Sophia's sake."
"Hope your right." Was all Daryl could muster.
…
Daryl returned to the cabin to check on Davia. She was just waking up and He helped her get up so she could relieve herself. He then sat down and informed her about April's condition. Remarkably, Davia handled the information pretty well.
"The good news is that there will be seven months between the babies, and maybe I will have a routine established. We do need to make amends with April. I am a bit impressed that she is so adamant on wanting to bury the hatchet, and this time it isn't between my eyes." Davia said.
"There is something else I didn't mention though, and I don't want you to get upset." Daryl said.
"What is it? When you say don't get upset, I get upset." She told him.
"I'm going on a run to Homer day after next. We've got to get some supplies for our daughter so that we can be prepared for the premature birth. We also need to get some clothing articles for Zeek's brood as well. They lost everything. I'm going over to the house with them and Milton to see what we can salvage, but I am not holding out much hope. Milton wants to try to recover Andrea's remains. I don't think there will be much to find, but if it gives him peace of mind, then I'm all for it." Daryl told her.
"I wish I could find a legitimate reason to prevent you from going on the run, but I know that we need those supplies. Just promise me you will return safe and in one piece." She said.
"Always. I've got too much to live for and I ain't gonna let nothing happen to me." He told her.
"I trust you, but it doesn't mean I won't worry." She said.
"You've got to work on that baby girl. Worrying won't do the baby any good. I'm sure you and Hershel can find something to do that will keep you pre-occupied. Hopefully we won't be gone more than a day." Daryl assured her.
"Even that seems like too long. I reckon it is what it is." She said, letting out a sigh.
…
Daryl went with the Lindstrom's and Milton to the burned out home. Before anyone had a chance to start to go through the rubble, Ingrid led Milton to the area they had last seen Andrea. It took about forty-five minutes, but they were able to locate her remains. Daryl helped the Doctor gather what was left and wrap them up into a tarp. It wasn't an easy thing to do, but Daryl knew that if the shoe were on the other foot, he would want to do the same thing for Davia. At least it offered a sense of closure. After they had Andrea secured, Daryl took Milton back to camp so they could prepare for her burial, and then he returned to assist the Lindstrom's.
The house was a total loss, with the exception of the cellar. Somehow, it had survived. The good news was that it was where Ingrid had stored most of the family photos, as well as some food sources and baby supplies. It wasn't much, but right now every little bit helped. The outbuildings on the property all remained intact, and that meant that Zeek still had access to most of his equipment and supplies.
Unfortunately, everything else in the house was a total loss, including all of the girls personal belongings and the beautiful piano that Davia had enjoyed playing. Enid was sobbing, and Ingrid was trying to comfort her youngest daughter, reminding her that they still had their lives and that material things could be replaced. Maybe when they went on the run they might be able to find a few things that would appease the young girls loss.
As they were loading what they were able to salvage, Daryl took the time to pull Ingrid to the side.
"Davia told me what you did to try to save them, and I don't know how I could ever repay you for that." Daryl said to her.
"Daryl, I didn't even think about it, it was just a natural reaction. Those girls, especially Davia, already mean the world to me. I want to help out with the birth of your child when the time has come if you will let me."
"Without a doubt…you're like a momma to her, and she needs that, especially now. You and Zeek already have become a very important part of our family. I ain't good with words, but I want you to know that what you did means everything." Daryl told her.
"Daryl, you're family, and that's what families do."
"Well I'm finally at a point in my life where I'm learning that, and I'm real proud to call y'all mine." Daryl said. Without giving him a chance to say anything else, Ingrid pulled the younger man into a loving hug.
"You just make sure you return safe from Homer, and bring that big lug of a husband of mine back with ya." She said.
"Consider it done." He told her as he hugged her back, smiling at how good it felt to have people in his life he could rely on, and people he could trust to take care of Davia if he wasn't around to do it.
I am soooo sorry for the delay, and I'm sorry about this chapter...it was kind of a transition chapter. Not a lot of action, but I was trying to get the "This is not a democracy" part of the story in here.
The good news is I hope to have an update on this mid-week, I'm on vacay this week...It's been a year. The bad news is that my job is turning into a total nightmare and I've now got some career decisions to make.
Please leave me a review and let me know what you would like to see...I'm always open for suggestions...I left a few hints of some things to come...hope you caught them.
Take care, and once again, I'm sorry about how long this took to update.
I love and appreciate each and everyone of you.
Missy
XXOO