Carl was up on the second floor, his legs dangling over the edge and his arms crossed on the metal bar that kept him from falling forward. The cut stung as Hershel had wiped it again with rubbing alcohol to make sure all the poison was out before reporting it clean. He looked down at his empty gun holster and felt his heart sink a little bit further.
After the initial incident Rick took Carl's gun and said that Carl was under strict supervision meaning that he couldn't go anywhere without an adult with him. The youth protested but his words went unheard and he found himself standing beside Hershel while Rick left with Daryl and Glenn. Carl felt bad for the medic, while he was doing his job it was clear that he was still disturbed about Beth, his youngest, being held prisoner under the Governor's rule. Carl wanted to say that the leader promised not to hurt her but he quickly bit his tongue immediately realizing how stupid he would sound.
The youth wanted to go but for the first time he didn't know where. It wasn't because Daryl was behind him rather he oddly felt like he needed to stay in one place for a few seconds. On the run he was always moving and in Woodbury the youth still moved, Carl nearly forgot what it was like to sit still. Even though his mind told him to get up and walk, his body wouldn't reply; he remained.
"Ya holding up?"
Carl looked up to see Merle coming along the catwalk. He clapped his brother on the shoulder and told him to take a hike. A ghost of shock was visible but disappeared behind an annoyed expression but Daryl left anyway. Once making sure his young brother was gone Merle walked up to Carl and told him to follow.
"I don't want to," Carl groaned.
Merle raised an eyebrow. "An hour ago you looked like you had the energy to run back to Woodbury and take down the Governor himself, now you're…smaller."
Carl shot a dark glare at Merle. The redneck gave a small chuckle and grabbed the youth by the collar pulling him up.
"What are you doing?" Carl asked.
"I need your help," Merle answered cryptically, "and don't worry about your dad, locked him and Benji in cell block D."
Carl didn't have any trouble picturing his father's face.
"What about the others?"
"You're with me kid, aren't I an adult?"
"Probably not the most notable."
Merle scowled and gave the youth a small slap upside the head, but rather than pushing the redneck Carl let out a joshing chuckle.
"Come on boy."
"Where are we going?"
"To the garage, grabbing us a vehicle."
Carl stopped, "wait what? Why?"
"To save Girly of course."
The youth stopped and immediately, flabbergasted at first then narrowed his eyes he wanted to save Beth and he was waiting for someone to say it but he just didn't expect it to be Merle. The redneck continued to walk forward and Carl ran to catch up.
"You want to go save Beth," Carl repeated trying to get his mind wrapped around it. "You?"
"Don't act so surprised boy!"
Carl caught up to Merle. "Does this have to do when you went off to meet with the Governor?"
Merle didn't answer instead quickened his pace making Carl to do the same.
"You're not going after Michonne are you?"
"Nah, girl will make too much noise."
Carl had a hard time seeing Michonne make a lot of noise. It was painfully obvious that Merle was hiding something and that if Carl got to close the redneck would clam up and not speak.
On the way to the garage Carl continued to question the redneck demanding to know details and most importantly the reason for why Merle would want to save Beth, what was in it for him? Merle however shrugged off every question and demand the same way one would to any annoyance. Finally the youth gave up on the questions and walked through the open door into the garage.
"What do you need me for?" Carl asked.
Merle took a set of keys off the wall and walked to the car. He went to open the door when Carl quickly side stepped blocking his way.
"What are you doing?"
"I need you to open the gate for me," Merle answered.
Carl raised an eyebrow. "Really? Is that the only reason you want me to come?"
Merle took something out of his pocket and handed it to Carl.
"Give that to Daryl when ya get the chance."
Carl easily placed the pieces together and shoved it back to Merle.
"You give it to him," the youth stormed off, he didn't get far as he felt a hand drop on his shoulder and spin him around.
"I was surprised when the Governor chose Beth over ya," Merle admitted, his eyes went downcast for a brief moment. "That wasn't part of the plan."
Carl's back went ramrod as he stared bewildered at the redneck. A few seconds passed and Carl punched Merle in the stomach the redneck groaned as the youth took a couple steps back until he felt the wall, cautious he placed a hand on his gun.
"Don't do anything stupid kid," Merle suggested in a bored tone. "Or I might just go with plan A."
"Is that what you talked to the Governor about? How to get back in? Still looking for revenge on my dad?"
Merle ignored him and walked back to the car. The youth jogged up to the car placing his hands on the driver door.
"Take me with you," Carl demanded giving the window a strong pound.
"Not a chance."
"It's my fault Beth got captured in the first place."
"No it's whoever tossed her out the front gates fault," Merle corrected, "she ain't ready for this kind of heavy shit, never was and besides she would've been caught then if Martinez found her."
"You don't know that."
"The enforcers take any stray survivors, they don't discriminate. If they have a group the Governor'll find out and if they're alone then they'll be incorporated into Woodbury. And if not-."
"They die."
Merle put the car into drive and muttered, "yeah."
The engine roared and Carl felt his heart sink as he pushed himself off the door feeling drained. Merle gave the youth a solemn look before pressing the gas pedal lightly and heading out into the courtyard.
Outside Carl untied the fence and pushed it with all his might listening to the rusty wheels groan across the broken up asphalt. He got out of the way and turned to see Merle pull up to him. The redneck rolled the window down and held the item out to Carl.
"I ain't begging."
"You're going to kill him aren't you," it wasn't a question. The item was still held between them and with a small sigh Carl took it stuffing it into his back pocket.
XXXXXX
The youth walked back into the cell block, Carol was there taking care of Judith. When she saw the distressed state Carl was in she tried to console him but he said that he needed to lie down for a bit and walked to his cell.
He found himself back at the prison with only a flashlight in hand in the dark labyrinth. The windows were smeared only allowing specs of light stream through vaguely. At every turn it seemed the hallway got longer until it seemed that he was walking in a straight line forever. Carl started to run hoping to get to the turn faster but he lacked the energy to continue and collapsed onto the ground in exhaustion. He looked up and shone his flashlight down the hallway and saw another corner. The youth went to stand when something in the back of his mind spoke up.
It's just another corner, no entry no exit.
Carl leaned back on his heels letting the flashlight fall to the ground.
The youth bolted upright and ran a hand down his face rubbing out the grit from his eyes. He blinked a couple times and looked up surprised to see his dad sitting on an upturned bucket.
"Are you alright?" Rick asked.
Carl nodded.
"Where has Merle gone?"
"He left."
"Where to? Did he say?"
Carl paused, "Woodbury."
Rick nodded gravely letting out a small sigh. He looked at his son spotting the bruise on his forehead just below the hairline and the cut underneath the scar on his left eye. He raised his hand gently pressing it against Carl's face his thumb hovering over the scar. His heart beat rapidly within his chest.
"I don't think I can say it enough," Rick finally whispered.
Carl felt a familiar tightened grip on his heart, one that had he'd grown accustom to.
"I don't think I can explain it," Carl admitted.
A lump grew in the leader's throat as he looked at his son who had his head slightly bowed. Rick closed his eyes and took Carl's hands in his.
"Whatever it is Carl, I want to hear it both good and bad I won't judge."
The youth looked down at his hands that were encased between his father's, a collage of events plagued his mind demanding to get out banging on the bars like an inmate would do during a riot.
"It's a long story," Carl whispered.
XXXXXX
Carol looked at the closed off cell. It had been three hours since Rick had gone in to check up on Carl. She turned back to helping clean up dishes from lunch thinking if Carl was opening up a bit to his father if knowing it would probably do both of them good. As she was stacking away the plates Daryl came in with a few rabbits leaving a small splatter trail.
"Really Dixon?" Carl sighed.
"What?" the hunter asked seeing nothing wrong. He then turned to see the trail that led out the door he waved his hand dismissively letting out a small ppfh. "I'll get that later don't worry about it."
"I'm going to hold you to that."
Daryl let out a small chuckle and placed the rabbits in the drained sink. He took out his hunting knife ready to skin it when Carol stopped him.
"Wait what are you doing?"
"Skinning supper."
"Don't you usually do that outside?"
Daryl didn't answer and started to cut underneath the fur with his knife causing blood to spray against the stainless steel siding. Carol turned around and knew why Daryl was doing this.
"You're angry he didn't tell you," it wasn't a question.
Daryl continued to flay the animal before tossing it into a bucket of water he picked up another and started to cut through it.
"You shouldn't be angry with him he just didn't want to see you get hurt."
"I can handle myself," Daryl snapped.
Carol watched the sharpness in the hunter's eyes disperse leaving behind a bit of regret mixed with lingering anger.
"I don't know what Merle was thinking or what he is planning, but I think that he kept in contact with the Governor after what had happened."
"Yer don't know that."
"I think…," Carol emphasized, "but you said he went off in a different direction after the meeting."
"Well it wasn't going to talk to that prick!"
Carol bit her tongue seeing how her questions were making the hunter more and more distraught. She turned back to stack the dishes back in the cupboard while she listened to Daryl finish skinning the rabbits before rinsing them off and chopping them up into smaller pieces. The sound of innards slapping against the metal made Carol's stomach roll.
"Are yer alright?"
Carol nodded but her head suddenly felt heavy. A pair of hands grabbed her by the shoulders gently and sat her down.
"Yer can stand Walker innards but not rabbits," Daryl chuckled, "yer a strangle girl Peltier."
Carol gave a small smile come out as she turned to Daryl.
"Are you laughing at me Dixon?"
"Only when you're not looking."
Carol gave him a playful shove scowling at his audacious reply making Daryl's laugh go a bit louder. The door behind them open and Hershel came in.
"How are they doing?" Hershel asked.
"Rick went in about three hours ago," Carol answered getting up from the table.
"Three hours?"
"I think that Carl's opening up a bit."
The medic nodded. "That's a good thing it'll help Carl heal."
Both nodded and Hershel moved over towards the small medic bay when he felt something odd. He turned to the two survivors seeing a shy look on each face.
"Did I interrupt something?" he asked quizzically.
"No!" Daryl and Carol responded at the same time.
Hershel looked from one to the other before giving a half convinced nod and walked towards the back.
XXXXXX
A couple hours later everyone was gathered around the fire pit, Carl looked around knowing that everyone was wondering what to do next. The news of Merle leaving hadn't shocked really anyone except Daryl but when Rick told them his plan that was when they all did a double take.
"You can't be serious," Glenn protested.
"If you go near that place they're not going to let you in," Hershel said, "in worst case they'll shoot you on the spot."
"Unless you give him what he wants and then he'll kill you."
"Not unless I go with dad," Carl explained, "the enforcer's won't kill a kid even if they're ordered too. A lot of the new enforcement the Governor has is made up of a mix of ages but they have no experience fighting some even holding a gun all together. The most they'll do is take me to the Governor."
"Then what do you plan?"
"The plan is that Michonne died and that we're willing to exchange any of our supplies to have Beth back."
"What if you're plan doesn't work?" Michonne asked. "We already made a fool of him once, doubt he'll allow a second time. Besides the enforcers may not be able to kill you but he sure as hell might."
"Not if an enforcer is there," Carl countered, "no doubt I'll be escorted to his room. I'm going to openly request that an enforcer be there to hear me out."
"And what if that doesn't work?"
"Then I'm going to take my chances."
"It's too much," Hershel interjected before anyone could speak. He stood. "It's one thing to go after someone with a fool hearty plan but it's another to die when it's all over."
"But this is for Beth!" Carl protested.
It was clear that the medic was conflicted, the plan was dangerous and from what he heard the Governor can easily turn the plan on end using their tactics against them.
"Hershel we don't have a lot of time to contemplate, we need to do something soon."
"You bring her back," Hershel finally agreed, "whatever condition."
They put more gas into the car and packed a bag with a bit of supplies just in case of emergency. Carl watched as his father spoke in a hushed tone to Hershel who's expression was hard to read the youth still knew that the medic didn't like the idea but was glad that he allowed them to do this. It is for Beth after all.
"Ya sure 'bout this kid?"
Carl turned around to see Daryl coming up from behind concern was evident on the hunter's face.
"Yeah," Carl nodded, "this needs to be done."
Daryl knew that he couldn't change the youth's mind so he decided to challenge it.
"Michonne has a point."
"With what?"
"Governor ain't gonna be pleased when he finds himself duped by a kid, he'll come after you."
"I can handle myself," Carl muttered defiantly.
"He might try to kill you Carl."
The youth didn't reply right away, he knew what Daryl was getting at and he knew that the hunter wasn't going to let him go without an answer. So Carl gave him one.
"Then I will fight back."
Before Daryl had a chance to speak Carl handed him the piece of paper that Merle had given him and walked to the vehicle."
XXXXXX
The ride to Woodbury was quiet. Rick's eyes were on the road the whole way, his knuckles white from his hardened grip on the wheel. Carl had his hat pushed forward slightly blocking his view and his mind going over what he was going to say to the leader. Unlike his father Carl was relaxed but focused on the task at hand. Carl wondered how Beth was holding up, he hoped that they had left her alone let her wounds heal instead of making more but with the Governor Carl could never be sure.
Night came on as the vehicle's lights shone through the trees, Rick was careful not to park close but with enough distance that they wouldn't be detected. Carl squinted seeing the wall faintly through the thick forest.
"Are you sure about this?" Rick asked turning to Carl.
"Yes," Carl answered his voice low and unwavered.
The father closed his eyes for a second then put the vehicle into drive he drove around the bend and continued forward with the front gate in full view. A headlight blasted a beam of light in their direction causing Rick to flinch forcing him to raise a hand to protest his eyes. Rick parked the vehicle and killed the engine.
"I'll go first," he muttered.
Carl tried to protest, "bu-."
"Don't."
Rick opened the door and got out. Carl jumped as every gun on the wall clicked all together sounding like one big clap. Unable to control himself the youth flung the door open and got out ignoring the blazing light heating his face cautiously the youth raised his hands to show surrender. Immediately a chorus of whispers rose from the wall and fell on the youth and his father, after a few seconds the front doors opened and a couple enforcers came through with Martinez leading them. They walked up to Carl and Rick, they patted them down taking the car keys and weaponry Martinez watched Rick closely while this was going on and occasionally flicking his eyes over to Carl to make sure the youth was still there. When all the confiscated goods were laid out on the car Martinez then spoke: "What do you want?"
"I want to speak to the Governor," Rick said, "it's about Beth."
"Where's Michonne?"
"That's the Governor's business."
Martinez scowled not liking how Rick was withholding information from him. Then he turned his attention to Carl.
"What are you doing here?"
"He's here in ca-oof!"
Rick doubled over in pain as Martinez's bat stabbed him in the stomach. Carl instinctively stepped forward but a pair of hands fell on his shoulder gripping him tightly. Martinez looked down at Rick's pained form.
"I asked your son." Martinez looked at Carl.
The youth got the hint. "I'm here to make sure nothing happens."
"Such as?"
"You doing something stupid."
"Carl," Rick whispered, Martinez on the other hand laughed.
"The Governor wants you guys alive."
"We need to talk to him," Carl said veering the conversation back on topic.
"About?"
"That's the Governor's business."
Martinez looked at the enforcers and ordered them to bring the two in. Rick was dragged to his feet while Carl felt the muzzles of guns pressed lightly against his back. He looked up at the towering wall and stepped inside.
