Chapter 51-Deciding if they stay
The Prison
Adam, Carl, and Carol were outside on watch. Waiting for everybody to come back. "It's so quiet. It's easy to forget how loud the world used to be. I used to complain about it all the time. Traffic, construction, car alarms, noise pollution. What I wouldn't give for the sweet sound of a jumbo jet," Carol says.
"It'd be even sweeter if we were all on it," Carl says. They hear a car coming. "Please be them," Carl says. They see the van.
"It's them hurry," Adam says as they open the gate. The car drives in as Carl opens the other gate. Carol shuts the gate. Daryl gets out.
"Drive 'em up. Get Oscar taken care of. I'll meet you there," Daryl says. T-dog nods. Adam looks in the car. "Where is everybody?" Daryl asks.
"In the cellblock," Carl says.
"Where's Dean?" Adam asks.
"It's all right. He's alive. We ran into Sam. Sam almost killed Glenn. I couldn't bring him back with a weapon. Dean went with him to convince him. He'll be back in a few days," Daryl says.
"Sam?" Adam asks.
"Yeah. We'll talk when we get inside," Daryl says. They nod as they walk up towards the prison.
Woodbury
Andrea walks into the Governor's apartment. "What the hell was that?" Andrea asks. "You put a round in a man's head in front of all those people and just take off? You have to talk to them," Andrea says.
"Why?" The Governor asks.
"They're panicking. They were ready to charge through those gates," Andrea says.
"So let 'em," The Governor says he walks away from her to his guns bag.
"Those people won't last a day," Andrea exclaims.
"Those people have had it easy. Barbecues and picnics. That ends now," The Governor says as he puts the gun bag on the table.
"Don't blame them for the mess that you created. They're scared," Andrea says.
"Well, I'm through holding their hands. We're at war. I should have seent that," The Governor says as he checks the guns.
"So why was Dean here? Was he part of the assault? Why? Why would he do that?" Andrea asks.
"He came for his friends. The other people you know. Glenn and Maggie. Sam scooped them up on the run. Was holding them to find out where his brother was," The Governor says as he to his desk.
"My friends and possible, my sister is still alive and were shooting at each other? You're trying to execute them?" Andrea asks in anger.
"Your friends killed six good people. Crowley Tim, Garguilo, Eisenberg, Bob Adams. Haley. That man out there, Rich Foster, he makes seven. So that's what your friends did," The Governor asks.
"Why didn't you tell me they were here? You kept that from me while we were...," Andrea was saying but stopped herself.
"You're just a visitor here. Just passing through. So why should I tell you?" The Governor asks.
"Don't do that. Don't drive me out. Not now," Andrea says. There was a knock at the door, and the door opens.
"What is it?" The Governor asks.
"The whole town is out on the street. It could get ugly again," Milton says. The Governor ignores him. Andrea looks at him.
The prison
Daryl, Carol, Carl, and Adam walk up to prison and see Hershel and Beth hugging Maggie. "Take you, sister, inside," Hershel tells her daughter, who nods. Beth comes over and hugs Daryl and kisses his cheek before she takes Maggie inside.
"Go on," Daryl says. They nod as they leave. "Where's Oscar?" Daryl asks.
"Madison is patching him up," Hershel says. Daryl nods. Hershel holds his hand out to Daryl, who shakes it as Shane and Alicia come out. "You came through like always," Hershel says. Alicia runs over and hugs Daryl, who hugs her back and kisses her. Shane comes over and hugs his best friend.
"Sound like we have a new problem on our hands," Alicia says. Daryl nods.
"You get a look at him?" Shane asks.
"He had Sam, and Dean pitted against each other. A crowd cheering for them to fight to the death. What kind of a sick mind does that?" Daryl asks.
"The kind this world creates," Hershel says.
"What's wrong, is it, Lori?" Daryl asks.
"No, she and the baby are healthy. They have both been eating like a horse and sleeping like a rock," Hershel says.
"So, what is it?" Daryl asks.
"Carl found a group in the tombs. Three of them Clem knew and another group with them. Daryl Rick's with them," Shane says. Daryl says. He knocks as he walks inside the prison. Everybody looks up at them as Daryl stops in the middle of the floor. He looks at Rick.
"We'll talk in a little bit. I have something to deal with," Daryl says. Rick nods as Daryl walks into the cell block. Lee nods to Kenny. He had hugged his old group. He walks into the cellblock. Daryl sees Oscar, who was standing up.
"How are you doing?" Daryl asks.
"Good," Oscar says.
"What are we doing about them," Jane asks as she looks towards the resting area.
"Let me and Shane talk. Rick and Lee's friend and stay because I know they won't leave. We'll have to talk to the others," Daryl says. The others nod.
Woodbury
Andrea and Milton walk outside. "Everybody, if I could have your attention. Everyone," Milton says.
"All right, everybody shut up!" Martinez shouts. Everybody stops talking.
"The biters on the perimeter have been dispatched. The fences have been repaired," Milton says.
"For now," Karen says.
"Where's the Governor?" One of the men asks. The crowd starts to talk.
"His condition is unsteady. The wound he suffered,-" Milton was saying.
"Our friends were killed, man," Another man says.
"He hot, Richard. I we've all suffered. We want answers," Karen says. Everybody starts to shout.
"You're right, Karen. You're right. Everyone one of us has suffered. We don't even have funerals anymore because the death never stops. We're never gonna be the same. Ever. So what do we do? We dig deep, and we find the strength to carry on. We work together, and we rebuild. Not just the fences, the gates, the community but ourselves. Our hearts, our minds. And years from now, when they write about this plague in the history books they will right about Woodbury," Andrea says as the Governor watches from his window. The crowd starts to agree with Andrea. "We persevered," Andrea says. Martinez smiles at Andrea. Andrea looks up at The Governor.
The Prison
Hershel was patching up Glenn. "You got worked over good. Surprised, no bones were broken," Hershel says.
"It's courtesy of Sam," Glenn says. Maggie comes over and stands in front of Glenn's cell door. Glenn looks at her. Maggie looks at them before she walks away.
"You two all right?" Hershel asks. "Thanks for looking out for her. If anything. I'll go check on her. You need something else?" Hershel asks Glenn shakes his head. Hershel starts to leave but stops and looks at Glenn. "Same thing goes for you. If anything worse than this happened to you. You're like my own son, Glenn," Hershel says before he leaves. Hershel walks to Maggie's cell. "You got something needs looking at?" Hershel asks.
"Is Glenn alright?" Maggie asks.
"Go see," Hershel says. Maggie does nothing. Hershel sits down beside Maggie. "You two seem to be holding something back. You want to tell me what happened?" Hershel asks. Maggie does nothing. "I rest easy knowing you can handle yourself. You've got your mother's spirit and her stubbornness," Hershel says. "You hungry?" Hershel asks.
"No," Maggie says.
"Hey," Hershel says. Maggie looks at him. "Don't disappear on me," Hershel says he hugs his daughter.
Daryl was watching Hershel look at Michonne. "She's out like a light. Must be days since she slept," Hershel says as he stands up.
"You look pretty shot yourself," Hershel says.
"How long before she can travel?" Merle asks.
"Have to keep an eye on her. Pretty sure she has a concussion," Hershel says as Merle shits the cell. "Couple of days if she's up," Hershel says. Daryl walks over to Oscar, who was talking to Oscar with a smile.
"So, what now?" Victor asks.
"You think the Governor will retaliate?" Jim asks.
"Yes," Maggie says.
"Let him try," Glenn says.
"Sounds like he's got a whole town. Andrea included," Shane's says.
"We have a decent number but were outgunned," Carol says.
"We could use some more help," Amy says. Daryl nods as they walk into the resting area. Everybody looks at them.
"I'm Tyreese," Tyreese says as he holds his hand out to Daryl, who shakes it.
"Daryl," Daryl says.
"You're the one Rick talked about," Sasha says. Daryl nods as he looks at them.
"Sasha Ben Allen Tom Lilly Carley and Kenny," Rick says.
"How'd you get in?" Daryl asks.
"Fire damage to the administrative part of the prison. Wall's down," Tom says.
"That's side completely overrun with walkers. How'd you get this far?" T-dog asks.
"We didn't. We lost our friend Donna," Tyreese says.
"They were lost in the gyms," Carl says.
"You brought them here?" Daryl asks.
"He had no choice. Bobby Travis and Adam went with him," Daniel says.
"I'm sorry about your friend. We know what that's like," Daryl says.
"We could help," Tyreese says.
"We'll go out and get our own food stay out of your hair. You got a problem with another group. We'll help with that too. Anything to contribute," Tom says.
"When I came back, I planned on throwing everybody but Rick and Lee's friends. Shane and I talked, and we will let you stay. You need to know that we are already in a fight with another group. They have more numbers and guns. I can't say that we'll all live because I don't know if we will. If you stay, you are one of us. If you gain our trust, you are part of our family. We fight together and for each. We fight to be the good guys. If you stay, you could die," Daryl says. Tyreese Sasha, and Tom nod.
"We're in," Tyreese says. Daryl nods.
"I'm sorry, but we're not," Allen says. Tyreese looks at him. "I can't put my son in danger," Allen says.
"We made two boxes of supplies for you guys, and we have an extra car. You and your son can take that," Daryl says. Allen nods.
"Thank you," Allen says. Rick walks up to Daryl, and Daryl punches him.
"I deserved that," Rick says.
"Yeah, you did. Welcome back, Rick," Daryl says.
"It's good to be back," Rick says.
About an hour later, the group watches as Ben and Allen leave the prison. The groups head back in the prison to sleep.
Thanks for reading. I have a bigger plan for Ben and Allen, but it's not for a few seasons. They will have a different story. The new pairings are T-dog and Lilly. Lee and Carley and Shane and Sasha. Merle and Michonne too. As always, suggestions are welcomed. Until next time