Chapter 3-Old Faces
Daryl's POV
Daryl and Shane sat in silence for a while before Shane looked at Daryl. "Who all made it off the farm?" Shane asks.
"Everybody besides Jimmy and Patricia. We lost Andrea, but we found her a few months later," Daryl says.
"How's Carl doing?" Shane asks. Daryl looks at him.
"Carl's dead. It's only been a month or two since he died," Daryl says. Daryl could hear Shane take in a inhale of breath.
"How did he die?" Shane asks, his voice breaking a little.
"He got bit saving someone. Rick was there with him in the end," Daryl says. Shane nods.
"Lori?" Shane asks.
"Died about 8, 9 months after the farm. Died giving birth to Lil' Ass Kicker," Daryl says.
"Lil' Ass Kicker?" Shane asks with a small smile.
"Judith is her real name. Carl gave it to her," Daryl says.
"What about the rest, T-dog, Glenn, Maggie, Hershel, Rick?"
"Glenn's dead. A man named Negan beat him to death with a baseball bat in front of Maggie, his pregnant wife. He died because of me. Negan killed a man named Abraham first, and he pushed the blood-soaked bat in his ex-girlfriend's face. I got mad, and I punched him. Glenn was killed because of me," Daryl says.
"I would have done the same thing," Shane says.
"T-dog died on the same day as Lori. He died saving Carol. Andrea got a bit and shot herself. Maggie is still alive so are Rick and Carol. We found Merle, but he didn't live long," Daryl says.
"And Hershel and Beth?" Shane asks.
"A man named the Governor cut off Hershel's head in front of all of us. In front of Beth and Maggie. Beth was killed in a hospital by a cop. Shot her in the head. I killed that cop," Daryl says, his voice breaking a little. "We lost a lot of people along the way,"
"I'm kinda surprised Carol made it this long," Shane says.
"I would be too. She wasn't who she was the day we lost you," Daryl says.
"Why did you leave?" Shane asks.
"How is the audio, Al?" Daryl asks. They hear a sigh from inside and the front door open as Al comes out with her camera lowered.
"Sorry," Al says.
"If I cared, I would have said something sooner. I figured you would want to see my face," Daryl says. Al nods as she turns the camera on. "Rick let Negan live. Even after what he did to Abraham and Glenn. He locked me up, and he got another one of our friends killed, and Rick let him leave. I thought seeing him die would make me feel better. It didn't, and I felt that guilt, and I lived with Morgan for a little while. Nobody would leave us alone. Rick told us we'd end up with people one way or another. I guess he was right," Al turns the camera off and lowers it.
"Abraham Ford," Al says. Daryl looks at her. "Was his name Abraham Ford? He was with a man named Eugene Porter," Daryl nods. "Hold on," Al says. She walks back into the truck and comes back out with her camera. She holds it out to Daryl, who grabs it and turns it on. He feels his throat goes dry when he sees Abraham. "That's him. The one Negan killed?"
"Yeah, Eugene is still alive," Daryl says.
"He was a good man," Al says.
"He was," Daryl tells him as he stands up. They hear a growl and see a walker coming towards them. Daryl grabs his crossbow and shoots the walker in the head.
"Not bad," Al says as Daryl goes up to the walker and pulls his arrow out. He walks back over to them and reloads his crossbow.
"We should probably get some sleep," Daryl says. "I'll keep watch," Shane and Al nod as they go inside the truck. Daryl lays his head back against the truck and looks at the stars. About two hours later, he felt someone push against the back door. Daryl stands up, and John opens the door and comes out. He sits down by Daryl.
"You should get some sleep," John says to him. Daryl nods as he goes into the truck. Daryl sets his crossbow down and lays down. The next morning Daryl wakes up when he hears Al and John talking outside. Daryl opens the door and walks outside as Al closes the camera.
"I want to see that later," Daryl tells them.
"You're awake," John says. "Has she done you?"
"Last night. Most of it was audio," Daryl says as he sits down by Morgan. She turns the camera around and looks at Morgan.
"How long have you two been on the road?" Al asks Morgan.
"What does it matter? These questions-There are no news stations left," Morgan says. Al lowers the camera.
"I saved you. Noodles and effort. You owe me. Daryl did it, and I thought he'd be the harder one," Al says. Morgan stands up and pulls food out of his bag. He starts to set it down on the truck. "No. I don't need that. I need your story," She raises the camera again, and Morgan shuts his bag. "What brought you out here? You goin' somewhere? Getting away from something-"
"We didn't ask you to save us," Morgan says. He grabs his bag. "I'm gonna go. Or are you saying I can't?" Al lowers the camera as Morgan starts to walk away. Daryl grabs his crossbow and follows him. John follows.
"Are you not going?" Al asks Shane.
"I'm hoping Daryl will convince him otherwise," Shane tells Al.
"Hold up. Hold up, friend," John says as he comes behind the two. "Hey, you've been held at gunpoint with somebody. I think you earned the right to call them friend,"
"I don't want to answer any more questions," Morgan says. "I just want to be left alone, with the exception of him," Morgan says as he looks at Daryl.
"Well, I just want to give you something," John says. Morgan turns and looks at him. "Okay? Clean socks," John says as he hands them to Morgan. "Worth their weight in gold. 'course, gold ain't worth much nowadays. I seen the pair you was wearing 'round the campfire. I think it's time for an upgrade," Morgan grabs the socks.
"Thanks," Morgan says.
"Apologies about the corn. Especially since they're for your feet. You two sure you're gonna be all right out there on your own?" John asks.
"This world... we're always on our own," Morgan says.
"Wait. Wait," John says. The two men look at him before they spot a car. Al and Shane start to load the food.
"Mornin' Al," Leland says. Shane pulls out his gun. Another man points his gun at him.
"Bad idea," He says to Shane. John moves his hand to his gun.
"Hands," A man says from behind a car. Daryl looks at him and the man on the roof. Leland aims his gun at Al.
"I wouldn't do that," He says as Al looks at the van. "Yeah, you and your boyfriend aren't so tough without that lever. Huh?"
John, Daryl, and Morgan look around them as another man comes up behind them. "This doesn't have to be hard, Al. We just want the truck," Leland says to Al. "Why don't you give us the keys?" A man pulls John's gun out of its holster and looks at Morgan and Daryl.
"Hands," He says. "Hands," He repeats. Morgan pulls his bag off as Daryl does the same. They raise their hands. "Drop the stick and crossbow. I ain't gonna ask twice, now," He aims John's gun at their backs. John kicks the other man, and Morgan hits the man with John's gun. Daryl shoots the man John kicked in the chest with his crossbow as John grabs his gun and shoots at the man on the roof. He hits the man. Al grabs Leland's gun and elbows him in the face as Shane elbows the man behind him and climbs in the van. Daryl and Morgan get in cover behind a car as John gets in cover behind a tree. A man on the roof shoots at them. Morgan goes to the semi and looks.
"One man," Morgan tells Daryl, who nods as he reloads his crossbow. Leland grabs Al as she tries to grab the lever and the man grabs Shane. Leland climbs in the van. Morgan hits the man in the head as he comes across the semi, knocking him out. Daryl aims his crossbow at him. "Daryl, you don't need to," Daryl shoots him in the head.
"They are trying to kill us, Morgan," Daryl says as he pulls his crossbow bolt out of the man's head. Morgan climbs onto the semi and onto the roof. Daryl looks at John as he runs to a trailer and opens the door letting walkers out of it. John uses the door as cover before he runs past the walkers and to the side of the trailer. Al looks at Leland, who tries to start the van. She raises the keys and shakes them. Leland looks at them as Al throws them. Leland gets out of the car an runs for the keys. Al gets in cover as Shane punches the man in the face and pulls out his knife. He stabs the man in the throat and pulls his knife out as the man goes to the ground. He joins Al.
"Bunch of assholes," He says. John looks at them from the trailer.
"Al, Shane!" John yells, making them look at him. He motions them over. John shoots at the man on the roof. Shane pulls out his knife as Al pulls out her knives. They run across the trailer park killing walkers until they get to John. Leland yells as a snake bites him. A walker gets ready to bite him but gets shot. Morgan runs across the roof, and the man turns to shoot at him. Morgan jumps across roof, and as he lands, the man hits him in the leg. Morgan gets behind cover. The man starts to reload. Morgan stands up and jumps again, letting out a grunt as he lands. He hits the man's gun and then his side and hits the gun out of his hand. Morgan hits the man in the stomach and tries again. The man ducks and hits him in the stomach. The man grabs a metal pipe with a flag and pulls the flag off before he swings it at Morgan. Morgan knocks the pole out of his hand and hits him in the side. The man jumps to the other roof. Morgan follows him and hits him as he tries to stand. The man grabs a pole as he is about to fall down. Walkers start to grab at him. Morgan looks at him for a second. As he is about to reach his hand out to the man, a gunshot goes off, hitting the man in the chest. Morgan looks up at Daryl, who lowered his handgun as the man fell into the small herd, which started eating him. Morgan goes across the roofs again. Daryl runs over to the trailer as Morgan goes to the other side. Daryl stabs a walker and goes to the other side as Morgan jumps down.
"You didn't have to do that," Morgan says. Daryl doesn't say anything as they run to the front of the trailer as Al, Shane, and John come over.
"Get to the van," John says. Al grabs the door to the van but is hit in the head with the door from Leland. Leland climbs out.
"Keys, don't work, sweetheart," Leland says.
"Because they are to my footlocker asshole," Al says. Leland grabs Al as the other four fends off the walkers. John jumps on a car, followed by Daryl and Shane, who help Morgan up. Al holds Leland up against the van.
"Hand over the keys," Leland says.
"You don't look so hot," Al says.
"The keys!" Leland says. John and Daryl raise their weapons, and both shoot Leland in the shoulder. Al goes under the van as walkers start to eat Leland. Al climbs in the van.
"Get down!" She yells. The others jump off the truck and run and get down. Al pulls the lever, and the guns go off, killing all the walkers. The others push the walkers off them. "Everybody in one piece?"
"Boy, I tell you what. That is some ugly mustard," John says.
"Get's the job done," Shane says.
"Thanks for the assist," Al says.
"That guy-that was a unique kind of asshole," John says. "But I did not want to kill anybody today," Morgan looks at Daryl.
"You didn't have to kill them," Morgan says to Daryl, who scoffs.
"I didn't kill Dwight in those woods, and he killed Denis. It seems like when we don't kill the people trying to kill us, it comes back and bites us in the ass. I get it you don't want to kill anybody, and that is fine. I'll do it, maybe that's why we work. We balance each other out. Now I am going to get our shit, and then we are going to get into that van," Daryl says. Morgan looks at him and starts to shake his head. "Nah, this isn't a choice. We traveled halfway across the goddamn country, and we still found people. I found a man I thought was dead. So maybe Rick was right. Perhaps we are connected. Now we are going to get into that van, fix your leg, and then we'll make a plan, and that plan might involve staying with them or at least John. Now get in the van," Daryl says as he turns around and walks to the bags. John follows him and helps him picks his bag. He sees the man he shot in the chest start to turn. Daryl pulls out his knife and stabs him in the head, and grabs his crossbow bolt before he goes to the van.
They drive down the road with Shane and Al in the front. Morgan patches up his leg. "Anybody know what that 51 means?" John asks as he looks at a flag.
"Markers like that had been popping up around here the last few weeks," Al says. "But never anyone to ask but the dead," Shane looks at the flag but doesn't say anything.
"The dead? I call 'em the passed," John says.
"We call 'em walkers. That's what the people we were with called 'em," Morgan says as Morgan puts his coat on. Al looks at Morgan.
"Look at that. A piece of personal history. You still owe me," Al says.
"Then pull over," Morgan says. Al pulls the van over and gets out of the van. Morgan sits down. She sits down in front of him.
"You're name?" Al asks.
"Morgan Jones," Morgan says.
"Where do you come from?" Al asks.
"Atlanta, and um...then Virginia," Morgan says.
"How'd you get here?" Al asks.
"We ran. Then we walked, drove...walked again," Morgan says.
"Were you part of a settlement in Virginia?" Al asks.
"A couple," Morgan says.
"Can you tell me about them?" Al asks.
Morgan chuckles. "One of them was called Alexandria. That's where Daryl lived. There was a place called the Kingdom. It actually had-had a king," Morgan says.
"A king?" Al asks.
"Even had a pet tiger," Morgan says. Al and John chuckle as Shane looks at Daryl, who nods.
"All right, we're gonna have to sidebar that one. These settlements, were they good places to live?" Al asks.
"They were safe places. Good people inside. I had been with some of them a while. Daryl since the start," Morgan says.
"What happened?" Al asks.
"There was a fight with another group. It was a big, big group. We won," Morgan says.
"But you didn't stay," Al says.
"I already left...before I left," Morgan says. Al glances at Daryl.
"I don't understand," Al says. "Did they do something, or did you?"
"I told you things, and that was the trade," Morgan says.
"You told me both of you were with good people in Virginia, and then you left. He told me why he left. So why did you? Were you trying to get something?" Al asks. "Get away from something?"
"How about you tell me about you?" Morgan asks. "Like, um, how'd you get this van? And why asking total strangers questions like this is so important to you," Morgan says. "Huh?"
"Look, I saved your ass," Al says.
"And we saved yours," Morgan says. "Well, I want to thank you all for the help,"
"Tell me one real thing, and we'll call it even. Why did you leave Virginia?" Al asks.
"I lose people, and then I lose myself," Morgan says.
"We ain't leaving. I told you that," Daryl says.
"Then you stay," Morgan says.
"You can't walk on that leg without making it worse," Daryl says. Morgan starts to walk away.
"Thank you. I hope you find Laura," Daryl says before he grabs his bag and crossbow and follows him. They walk down the road in silence until they see the car of the man they tried to help. Daryl walks up to the door and sees that the man is gone.
"He's gone," Daryl says. Morgan opens the back and sighs. He looks down the road.
"Daryl," Morgan says. Daryl nods as they start to walk towards him, passing two walkers that start to follow them. Daryl turns around and shoots the walker with his crossbow as Morgan falls to the ground. A knife goes through the other walker's head. John looks at them.
"You were wrong what you said before about being on your own," John says. John grabs Morgan's stick as Daryl helps him up. John hands him his stick. Morgan starts to walk again.
"That walker I need to know," Morgan says.
"Give me your bag," John says. John helps Morgan walk to the walker. They get close,
"Okay," Morgan says. Morgan taps his staff against the ground, and the walker looks at them. Morgan looks at his leg and sighs before he puts his staff through the walker's head. Al brings the van to them. Morgan, Shane, and Daryl dig a grave for the man. Morgan sets the last rock down.
"Now, can we get in that car?" Daryl asks Morgan, who nods. They ride in the van.
"I'm glad we found you," John says.
"I'm just travelin' with you till this leg heals up and no more questions," Morgan says.
"I'm not gonna stop asking you questions, Especially about that tiger. I also want to know what happened after the farm," Al says as she looks at Daryl.
"We'll talk," Daryl says. Al nods with a smile.
"No more answers then," Morgan says. Al laughs.
"Fair play," Al says. John pulls out two pieces of candy and holds them out to the two.
"Come on. It's tasty," John says. They both grab it and eat the candy.
"Where are we heading?" Daryl asks.
"Well, Al took me back to my truck, but it wouldn't start. Now she's taking me to look for Laura," John says.
"In exchange for more of his story," Al says.
"That's right," John says.
"I'll give you more of mine if Shane gives me his," Daryl says. Al looks at Shane.
"It's a deal," Shane says. Daryl nods. Morgan looks at John.
"I don't know if I'll find her. I don't. I just don't think about it that far 'cause it will do me no good, but I recognize it as truth," John says. "Truth is something you can't get around,"
"No, you can't," Al says. They go down the road. "There's somebody up ahead,"
"What?" John asks. They drive towards the person.
"Thought you said there weren't a lot of people 'round these parts," Morgan says.
"There aren't," Al says. Al pulls the van over, and they get out. Al grabs her gun.
"No point in giving him a gun. He doesn't kill," Daryl says.
"Come on, dude. You gotta answer some of my questions at some point," Al says.
"I don't kill either. At least I try not to," John says.
"Great moment for both of you to share this fact," Al says.
"We kill," Shane says as he looks at Daryl, who nods. They look at the girl and start to walk up to her. The girl was on the ground crying. Morgan stayed back with Shane.
"You injured?" Al asks. Shane and Morgan start to walk forward. "Can you bring the first aid kid?" Morgan goes back to the car.
"What happened?" Al asks as he bends down.
"There are bad people," She says. "There are bad people...here," The woman puts a weapon up to Al's throat.
"Alicia?" Shane says.
"Drop it," A man says as he comes out of the woods. Followed by two more.
"Strand," Shane says. Daryl holds his crossbow at Alicia.
"Drop it," The man behind Morgan says.
"You shoot, I shoot, and she dies," Daryl says. "Five of us, four of you,"
"You are willing to risk both their lives?" The woman asks. Daryl lowers his crossbow as the others do the same.
"So what the hell your story?" Al asks. Nick looks at Shane.
"We didn't think you made it out," Nick says.
"Barley did," Shane says. "You don't have to do this," Shane says.
"Shut up," Alicia says. "Are you with them or us?" Alicia asks. Shane looks at Daryl, who gives a slow nod.
"You," Shane says.
"Then tie them up," Alicia says. Shane walks behind Daryl as Strand hands him a zip tie. "I'll get you out of this," He whispers to Daryl, who nods.
"Take her," Alicia says to Shane as she pushes Al towards him. Shane grabs Al as Alicia comes over to Daryl and takes his knife and gun off of him. She looks at his crossbow. "Interesting choice of weapon,"
"You use a gun barrel," Daryl says. Daryl looks at Morgan as the smaller man ties him up. Daryl looks back at Alicia. She looks at Shane. "Why would you risk your life for a douche bag like Merle Dixon," Alicia says. Shane looks at her as Daryl lets out a growl.
"How do you know that name?" Daryl asks.
"Shane talked about his old group a lot. The people who left him for dead. I remember him talking about Merle Dixon and his brother, He told us about how he said that to his partner Rick," Alicia says.
"Alicia," Shane says. "Back off,"
"This is him right? Daryl Dixon. You seemed comfortable around him and he matches everything you said about him perfectly besides the short hair," Alicia says. "So where is Merle?" Daryl let's out a growl as he headbutt Alicia who steps backwards as the others aim their guns at him. "Dick!"
"I said back off," Shane says. Alicia grabs her bleeding nose. "It's a sensitive topic,"
"He's dead isn't he?" The man behind asks.
"Yeah and I had to kill his walker," Daryl says. Alicia looks at him for a moment. She wipes the blood of her face.
"I'm sorry," She says. "I didn't know,"
"Nah, you didn't care," Daryl says. "You are after someone I can see, we ain't them. Morgan and I came from Virginia. We met John by a truck and he offered us candy," Daryl says.
"Alicia you trust me right?" Shane asks. Alicia nods. "Daryl is not them,"
"He might try to help his friends," Strand says.
"I'll make you a deal. Untie me and I keep them under control. You don't take our shit and we help each other," Daryl says. "Morgan and John don't kill so you're safe," Alicia looks at Shane.
"Please," Shane says.
"They left you for dead and you are still putting your trust in him," Strand says.
"Yeah, just like you guys did to me," Shane says.
"Only him," Alicia says as she cuts the zip ties. Daryl holds his hand out for his knife and Alicia gives it to him. Daryl picks up his crossbow and walks towards Al.
"Stop, she said one," Strand says.
"She's sneaky and may have one hidden," Daryl tells him as he bends down. He starts to search her. "When you get a chance, take it," He whispers as he searches her. He feels her give a short nod. Daryl stands up and walks to Morgan. "You okay?" Daryl asks him.
"Leg hurts a little," Morgan says. Daryl grabs Morgan's arm and hears a gun click behind him.
"He was shot. He shouldn't be on his knees," Daryl says. "If you want this to work. You can't keep aiming your guns at me," Daryl helps Morgan up and sets him down with his back against the van and his legs out. "Better?"
"Yes," Morgan says. Daryl nods as he stands up.
"Names?" Daryl asks.
"I'm Nick Clark and that is Luciana. Shane said that is Strand and Alicia," Nick says.
"Nick and Alicia are siblings," Shane says as he looks at Al. Alicia grabs John as Strand grabs Al and sets them down by Morgan. They start to bring their stuff out.
"You said you wouldn't take our shit," Daryl says.
"We're not. We are looking through it. Now sit back and shut up," Strand says. Daryl sees John looking at Strand who had his gun.
"Can I have that?" Daryl asks. Strand gives it to Daryl who empties it and puts the bullets in his pocket before he puts the gun and John's holster.
"What the hell?" Nick asks.
"It's empty and he cares about his gun. No harm done," Daryl says. They nod as John smiles at Daryl who nods back. Daryl looks at Morgan.
"I guess Rick was right. We were gonna find people one way or another," Daryl says as he stares at the people in front of him.
Thanks for reading. I am having a lot of fun with the story, and I already like writing Daryl with the Fear characters a lot. I have a lot of cool ideas heading into season four, and next episode, we will head back to the diamond and explore Shane's story with the group a little more. Also what do you think about Daryl and Alicia as a couple? Do you guys think I should bring in more characters from twd. If so, who? I don't want to bring in too many but I would not be against brining in one or two more. Thanks for all the support and comments on Nick it helped me a lot. That is all as always, suggestions, ideas, and feedback are welcomed. Until next time.