FanFicReader47: Your wish is my command, though probably not in the way you were expecting by the end...XP
Enjoy y'all!
It was sunrise the next morning and Rick was up and watching the field. Through the binoculars, the same image from yesterday shown, making him leave the courtyard and walk all the way across the field to Lori's grave. He could see her standing there in her white dress, and all he wanted to do was hold her. But when he reached her grave, Lori was gone. Looking around, he saw her again outside the fence line. Michonne was by the bus, watching him as he quickly unlocked the gates leaving them open for her to close before he completely exited the prison grounds. She watched him carefully as he walked to a bridge, looking as if he had seen a ghost. Realization dawned on her as she watched him carefully hold a non-existent person in his arms; he was suffering from hallucinations.
~x~
Andrea was sitting quietly in her room, thinking about everything that had happened the day before. A knock on her door brought her out of her reverie. Opening it, she found Philip, who looked like he was much calmer than he had been, thankfully. She allowed him entrance, although she was still pissed at him for lying to her about her friends and then what he had said afterwards.
"That was, uh, that was quite a speech you gave," he praised her. "Exactly what these people needed to hear."
"What about the prison?" she asked.
"As long as they leave us alone, we have no problem," he told her.
"So no retaliation?"
"No. What would it get us?" he asked her.
"I need to go see them," she told him.
He scoffed before walking around, "I thought this place could be something else, you know? Something better? I wasn't up to the challenge and I screwed it up. I've done some terrible things. I'm not fit to lead these people. But you are. They don't need to be terrorized. Certainly not by their own leader."
"So you're abdicating?" Andrea asked flustered.
"You know, I really believed if I kept her alive long enough, Milton would find a-" he left that sentence unfinished as he sat down. "I just need time to get myself together."
"So you want me to fill in for you?"
"Well, who else can? Milton? Martinez?" he asked with a chuckle. "If you choose your friends in the prison, I understand. But these people need you. I- we need you."
He walked out after that leaving Andrea to think by herself. If it hadn't have been for Merle snatching up Glenn and Maggie, none of this would have happened, but he'd been planning for the situation, which meant he was trying to get the two out of Woodbury, right? She was confused about the whole situation, but Philip was right that the people of Woodbury needed a leader and that she had just stepped up into that role, even if it hadn't been meant. Either way, she still needed to get to the prison.
After a couple hours, she walked to the wall, intending to talk to Martinez about the watch schedules. Unfortunately, she didn't find any of the usual people standing watch on the main gate. It was the citizens that acted in reserve when the scavengers ran out, and that didn't bode well to Andrea. Walking up to the gate, she spotted Karen and called out to her.
"Where's Martinez?"
"I don't know," came her reply.
"Did you see him leave?"
"Yeah."
"Who was he with?" Andrea asked. When Karen refused to answer, Andrea told her, "Karen, it's okay, you can tell me."
"I don't know anything," Karen told her before turning her back to hide her guilt.
Turning around, she began walking away only to spot Milton in the distance. She called out to him as she ran up to him; if anyone would tell her what was going on, it would be him. He was an easy man to get to fold at the end of the day.
"You startled me," the man said, pretending to check his pulse.
"Where is he?"
"Where's who?"
"The Governor?"
"He's out on a run?"
"Is that an answer or a question?"
"I'm not sure..." Milton said before quickly tacking on, "where he is. I mean, not whether it was a question or an answer It was an answer."
"A run meaning what?" Andrea asked, fed up. "Specifically."
"Supplies would be a safe bet. We were wiped out."
"Milton, I want you to give me a specific answer to a specific question. Where. Is. The Governor?!"
"On a run?" the man answered, still as unsure of himself as ever. "You know, I, I'll bet he'll be back soon. And I, I'm sure he's okay if that's what you're worried about."
Andrea just continued walking off.
~x~
"Why don't we just stick it out here on our own?" Merle asked. "Three of us could survive just fine."
"Ain' leavin' me family ta fend for 'emselves," Tea told him.
"They ain't your family, girl. We are," Merle said seriously.
"The blood a the covenant is thicka than the wata a the womb, Merle. Me covenant is at that prison, and right here, too. Merle, ya me family jus' as much as the people at the prison are. Always were. Consida'd meself a Dixon since the quarry, ta be honest," she said, shocking the older brother.
"'Sides, they got food, shelter. A pot to piss in. Might not be so bad," Daryl told him.
"Yeah, for the two a you maybe. Ain't gonna be no walk in the park for me."
"That's 'cause ya a surly old coot that needs a good smack upside the head every now and again," Tea teased, earning a chuckle from Daryl.
"Oh, you're gonna get it, girly," Merle warned, a smirk on his face nonetheless. "Just 'cause I respect you now don't mean I like ya."
"Uh-huh," she said. "That why neitha a ya woke me up for me turn for watch last night?" The Dixon brothers shared a look, "Uh-huh, that's what I thought. I got a cuddle bear for a lova and a teddy bear for a brotha."
"I dare you to say that again," Merle growled, though Tea could still hear the humor in his tone.
"Don't worry Mer-man, I won't tell anyone," she laughed, which turned into a screech as he lunged at her.
She dodged and ran behind Daryl who held his arms up as he watched the pair run around him. He was completely confused about what was going on. All he knew was that she was laughing and his brother was the cause and chasing her like a madman. And then what she said registered; she'd called him a cuddle bear, Merle a teddy bear, and then called him 'Merman'. The chase that ensued was basically him and Merle attempting to catch her, all three laughing hysterically as they ran through the woods. It was probably the most fun Daryl had ever had with his brother and the most free he'd ever felt period.
This was not the Merle he knew. Whatever the full version of Ania's past was, it had changed Merle, at least when they were alone. They had fun until the brothers managed to corner her, Merle herding her right into Daryl's arms. They just stayed laughing and catching their breaths for a few minutes before deciding to head back to the prison.
"You know they're all dead, right?" Merle asked as he followed behind the two.
"How can you be so sure?" Daryl shot back, his arm draped over Ania's shoulders.
"Right about now, he's probably hostin' a housewarming party where he's going to bury what's left of your pals."
"Don' say that," Tea said as her anxiety began to build over the situation; she'd taken the three strongest players in the group and put them out of commission with her little outburst. "It'll be me fault if somethin' happens ta 'em. 'Cause we're out 'ere and not back at the prison. We need ta go!"
"Do you even know where you're goin', little girl?" Merle asked as she trudged along. "Smells to me like the Sawhatchee Creek."
"We didn't go west enough," Daryl tried to correct him. "If there's a river down there, it's gotta be the Yellow Jacket."
"You have a stroke, boy? We ain't never even come close to Yellow Jacket."
"We didn't go west. Just a little bit south. That's what I think."
Merle stopped walking and scoffed, "You know what I think? I might a lost my hand, but you lost your sense of direction."
"Nah, he's right. I only veered south. Even durin' that chase, we only really went south, so we should start headin' north ta get ta the prison," Tea chimed in.
"What do you wanna bet?" Merle asked.
"Don't wanna bet nothin'. It's just a body of water. Why does everything gotta be a competition with you?" Daryl asked.
"Whoa, take it easy little brother. Just trying to have a little fun here," Merle said. "No need to get your panties in a bundle."
"Ya hear that?" Tea asked, silencing both men and sharing a look at Daryl who's eyes widened.
"Yeah, wild animals gettin' wild," Merle said.
"That's a baby!" Tea said.
"Oh, come on," Merle replied. "Why don't you just piss in my ear and tell me it's raining, too?"
"There's a baby at the prison, I know what a baby cryin' sounds like!"
"There's what now?" Merle said.
"Come on!" Tea urged, running through the trees towards the sound.
They cleared the trees to find a family on a bridge surrounded by walkers. She and Daryl took off for the bridge immediately, Tea wielding a knife Daryl had been kind enough to grab from the vehicle for her. Out of all her weapons, the only one she would have left was Jewel, which she'd left with Rick back in Woodbury to lighten her load; she might be strong, but carrying too many weapons into battle was just asking to be caught. All her knives had been confiscated by Woodbury, and she suddenly felt very naked. As Daryl used his bow, Tea used a combination of striking the walkers with her knife and using various kicks to keep the others at bay or knock them back. The Mexican man that had nearly been bit when they walked up jumped for his gun and began helping as well. Even so, there were a lot of walkers.
"I got ya, D!" Tea told Daryl as he went for the car.
And she did for the most part, although Merle did have to take out a single walker that was a little too close for comfort on Daryl's other side. In the end, they were able to quell the oncoming walker assault even with the language. Tea was greatly disappointed in Merle as she stood and shook her head at his behavior as he raised his gun to the man they'd just helped. This got him and Daryl into an argument as Daryl could no longer abide by that type of behavior.
"Let 'em go," Daryl said.
"The least they can do is give us an enchilada or something," he said, crawling through their things. "Easy there seniorita."
"Merle, ya got two seconds 'fore I kick ya nuts up inta ya spine ta get the fuck outta that car," Tea said, sounding dangerously close behind him.
Daryl came around the car and raised his bow and warned him, "Get outta the car."
"I know you're not talking to me brother," Merle groaned.
"Get in your car and get the hell out of here!" Daryl told the man and his family. "Go! Get in your car."
Merle closed the door and stood there looking about ready to murder them. But Tea didn't care. She simply followed Daryl back north through the woods. They were done with Merle's bullshit if he thought it was cool to steal from babies. Catching up to them, Merle's temper got the better of him as he pulled Daryl to a stop.
"What the shit you think you're doin' pointin' that thing at me?" he asked.
"They were scared, man."
"They were rude is what they were. Rude and they owed us a debt of gratitude."
"They didn' owe us shite, Merle. If that's what the Governor taught ya, it's wrong. If that's what ya learned 'fore the world went ta shite, still wrong. We helped 'cause that's what doin' the right thing means, with or without gettin' somethin' in return. I know I once said nothin' worth doin's free, but I was wrong 'bout that too. Bein' human, doin' the right thing, that's worth everythin'. That's how we don' end up like the Governor."
"Even if it means dying? Is that what this bitch taught you?" Merle asked his brother.
"There was a baby!"
"Oh, otherwise you would have just left them to the biters, then?"
"Ya don' know shite, Merle!"
"Oh, so what, your bitch got a bleeding heart so you gotta have one too?" Merle asked Daryl who just stood and stared at him for a good minute.
"Man, I went back for you. You weren't there. I didn't cut off your had neither. You did that," Daryl said, standing up for himself for once, making sure Ania was behind him. "Way before they locked you up on that roof! You asked for it!"
Merle started chuckling before responding, "You know—you know what's funny to me? You and Sheriff Rick are thick as thieves now. Right? You got Tea's finger so far up your ass you might as well be her puppet. I bet you a penny and a fiddle of gold that you never told them that we were planning on robbing that camp blind."
"Didn' have ta with me, called it the second day a camp, or don' ya rememba?" Tea said with a chuckle before Daryl had a chance to respond.
"It didn't happen."
"Yeah, it didn't," Merle said, ignoring Tea to deal with his brother, not realizing how tense she was. "'Cause I wasn't there to help you."
"Ya mean ya weren' there ta force 'im inta doin' ya dirty work with ya," Tea countered, earning her a glare.
"What do you know of it, huh?"
"I know ya tried ta help Glenn and Maggie and told Michonne ta stay put so she wasn' caught. Ya betta than that, Merle. Betta than what ya jus' pulled. Definitely betta than ya daddy."
"What the fuck do you know?" he roared at her, his turn to be angry at her knowing about his past as he tried to storm through Daryl, who held him back.
"I know ya got the same scars Daryl's got. I know ya get ya anga and aggression from ya daddy. And I know ya got a hell a lot more control ova it than ya daddy. Othawise ya'd have smacked me around a hell of lot at the quarry and would be fightin' Daryl ta get ta me. Ya know I'm right and ya know ya got a damn good man unda all that anga. Ya were a damn soldia! Did ya forget the honor, pride, and dignity that come with that?" she told him. "I know ya left Daryl ta fend for 'imself a lot and I know that it wasn' 'cause ya don' care for 'im, but 'cause ya woulda killed ya damn daddy if ya didn'. Daryl gave me 'nough a the cliffnotes for me ta get a pretty decent picta a the hell ya went through." Merle stood there in stunned silence, looking at Daryl who refused to look at him. "Ya don' gotta be like that, Merle."
"Man, I don't need to get my head shrank," Merle said.
"I dunno, that ego a ya's could do with some shrinkage," she quipped back with a smirk.
"You're gonna get it, girly," he replied, his glare softening just a bit.
"Let's go home," she said, putting an arm through each of the Dixon brothers' and continuing their northward trek.
~x~
Glenn was using a piece of chalk to draw a basic sketch of the prison schematics on the floor, huddled between Sophia and Carl, "Now you said you found Tyreese's group here?"
"Yeah, and Tyreese and Sasha are going to swing back around in a day or two when Tea's here," Sophia said. "Come in the same way as last time."
"We secured this!"
"He thought he came through here," Carl said, helpfully pointing out a different but connected passage.
"Means there's been another breach," Glenn said thoughtfully. "The whole front of the prison is unsecure. If walkers just stroll in, then it's gonna be cake for a group of armed men."
"Why are we even so sure he's going to attack?" Beth said. "Maybe you scared him off."
"He'll attack," Chrystal said sadly. "He lost his daughter in the attack on Woodbury. She was such a sweet girl."
"His daughter was a walker," Michonne told them coldly, squinting her eyes at the woman. "He had fish tanks full of heads. Walkers and humans. Trophies. He's coming."
"We should hit him now," Glenn said.
"What?" Beth asked.
"He won't know be expecting it. We'll sneak back in and put a bullet in his head," Glenn said.
"We're not assassins," Carol said. "And even if we were, Tea would be the only one even potentially capable of it."
"You know where his apartment is," Glenn told Michonne. "You and I could end this tonight. I'll do it myself."
Michonne looked at him in consideration for a moment before nodding in consent. "Okay," Glenn responded.
"He didn't know you were coming last time and look what happened," Hershel said. He turned to Michonne, "You were almost killed. Daryl and Tea were captured. And you and Maggie were almost executed," he finished turning to Glenn.
"You can't stop me," Glenn said.
"Rick would never allow this."
"You really think he's in any position to make that choice?"
"Tea wouldn't be alright with you going alone. She'd want you to wait at least for her."
"She's not here now. We can't always rely on her to make the hard decisions."
"Think this through clearly. T-Dog lost his life here. Lori too. The men that were here. It really isn't worth any more killing. What are we waiting for? If he's really on his way, we should be out of here by now."
"And go where?" Glenn argued.
"We lived on the road all winter," Hershel said.
"Back when you had two legs and we didn't have a baby crying for walkers every four hours," Glenn shot back.
"We can't stay here," Hershel tried.
"We can't run," Glenn told him. "And Tea wouldn't want us to. We'll stay put. We're going to defend this place. We're making a stand. Carl, you and I will go down to the tombs. We need to figure out where the breach is."
"Got it."
"You'll need some help," Michonne offered.
"No, in case anything happens, I need you out here," looking around he realized everyone except Rick was in the room. "Who's on watch?"
"I can keep watch," Chrystal suggested.
"No, Carol, you and Axel take watch. Michonne, keep an eye on our guest," Glenn said before walking away.
He and Carl suited up in riot gear before going down to the tombs. It was a mess and it didn't take long for them to be forced back up into the commons. Frustrated and growing impatient for Tea's return, Glenn stormed into the room.
"The tombs outside the boiler room are over run again."
"That whole section had been cleared!" Beth said as she locked the gate behind them.
"There's a steady stream of walkers," Carl told her.
"We're wasting time," Hershel said. "The Governor's supposedly on the way and we're stuck in here with walkers."
"Trapped between a rock and a hard place," Carol said, side-eyeing Chrystal who was hiding a smile at the situation they were in.
"For the last time, running is not an option," Glenn told them.
"Glenn, if the tombs are filled up again, it may just be a matter of time before they push in here," Carol told Glenn logically.
"Or until some fence gives way," Beth added.
"What if one of them herds is passin' through?" Axel asked. "Or settled?"
"Can't handle that with just the few of us," Carol said.
"We're waiting for Tea to come back," Sophia said. "When she and Daryl and his brother get back, we'll be fine."
"But the question is, are they coming back?" Chrystal asked, seizing her chance to sow discord. "Titania's not a very reliable person. If the Dixons wanted to stay out there, she'd stay with them and woulnd't fight it."
"You don't know your sister," Glenn said to her. "She'd never abandon her family."
"Hasn't she already by running off?" Chrystal asked in a worried manner.
"No," Maggie said. "She just needed time to process. Whatever Merle knows, she didn't want anyone to know."
"I can't imagine it's easy being charged with murder so young," Chrystal sighed in understanding, making several lips turn up in disgust; those present at least had picked up on her game.
"We just need to scout the far side of the prison. Find out what's going on," Glenn said, bringing the conversation back to what was important.
"You're going out there?" Hershel asked.
"I'll take a car, make it quick," Glenn said.
"I'll drive," Axel offered.
"No, you stay here. Help with the fortifications. I'll take Maggie," Glenn said.
"You sure she's up to that?" Hershel asked.
Glenn just walked away to check on the woman, leaving the rest of the group to themselves. He talked to Maggie, seemingly making things worse over what happened between her and the Governor in Woodbury. He certainly hadn't made things any better between the two of them. Glenn was starting to feel like a failure as a leader and wondered how Tea had held it together for so long when Rick was cracking under the pressure now that Lori had died and he wasn't even able to handle it for 24 hours. As he stormed his way over to their remaining pick-up, Hershel called out to him.
"You're not going back to Woodbury are you?" he asked as he caught up.
"No," Glenn said dejectedly. "I'm just going out there."
"I'll go with you."
"I got it."
"By yourself? How can you possibly think that's a good idea?"
"I can't just sit on my hands and I can't take someone from watch and I can't trust Chrystal enough to leave her without a guard."
"You went on a simple formula run and got the crap beat out of you and Maggie was attacked."
"Are you saying this is my fault?" he asked, suddenly very angry.
"No," Hershel tried.
"I did what I could!"
"I know you did. So does Maggie. She's one of the two people most precious to me in this whole world. I trust you with her life. I still do," Hershel told him. "This rage, it's gonna get ya killed."
"With Daryl and Tea MIA and Rick taking a trip to Crazytown, I'm the next in charge," Glenn told him.
"What are you proving?"
Glenn didn't answer him, simply got in the truck and drove away. Hershel scanned the fence line and saw Rick out beyond it. He wondered how soon Tea would get back to help their other leader. He was starting to think they might be better if Rick step down. Tea had warned that there could be a longer psychological break if there was a history, and Rick's family had indeed had a history that skipped a few generations. Calling out to the man, he waited for Rick to get all the way back to the fence line.
"You know I wouldn't hobble all the way down here if it wasn't important," he told the man. "Are you coming back soon? Glenn's on the warpath. As smart as he is, he can't fill your boots, let alone Tea's. We need one of you, and you're the one that's here. We need you now more than ever."
"If you're so worried about him, you lead," Rick told him.
"What are you doing out here?"
"I've—I've been, I've got, stuff out here," he stuttered and stumbled.
"How much longer do you need?" Hershel asked him.
"I don't know," he said, sounding like a small child, repeating himself twice.
"Anything I can help you with?"
Hershel went to turn away when Rick didn't reply until he said, "I saw something. I saw. Lori. I saw Lori. I'm seeing Lori. Listen, I know it's not really her. But there's gotta be a reason. It's gotta mean somethin' you know. Shane too, in the town."
"Do you see them now?" When the man shook his head no, Hershel said, "You're looking for them."
"I'm waiting."
"For what?"
"I don't know. Something. There's an answer. I know it doesn't make sense. I mean it does. I think it does. I mean, I think in time it will make sense," he said, stumbling over his words.
"Rick?" Hershel called, gaining the man's attention. "Come on in. You need rest. It's not safe out here."
"I can't. I can't," Rick said, walking away from the prison.
Michonne watched the whole conversation from the back of the bus before turning to watch the two inside the courtyard. Gunfire broke out all around them as Michonne saw the Governor standing on the other side of the fence and tried to take aim. Carl and Beth managed to take cover behind a cement block as the man in the guard tower fired at Carol, who was hiding behind Axel's fallen body. Maggie came out and called to Beth, handing her a rifle and laying down cover fire for Carol to make it to safety. As the gun fire calmed down, an engine could be heard.
Barreling down the road, a delivery van broke through the gate and into the courtyard, where it dropped it's tailgate. Hershel and Michonne were caught in the courtyard as nearly three dozen walkers poured out of the vehicle. Glenn came up the road with his truck just as the Governor's truck swung around and took off, leaving him shocked at what he was seeing. Not stopping, he drove straight into the field and towards Hershel. Michonne made her way towards the older man, too, sword raised and taking out as many of the walkers in her path as possible. Together, they managed to get Hershel and Michonne into the truck and to safety.
Rick tried his hardest, but there was very little he could do to help those inside. The gunfire had drawn a lot of attention from walkers beyond the prison gates and Rick was pinned down by them. He was holding three back when one stopped moving, a bolt an inch away from Rick's forehead through the walker's. With a battle cry, Merle came up and shoved a thick branch straight through the skull of the second, and Tea with her knife took out the third. Between the four of them, they fought their way back through the gate and up through the field into the courtyard. After a round of cheerful welcomes for Tea and Daryl and some curt welcomes for Merle, the bomb was dropped as Chrystal strode out of the commons and into the courtyard with Rick.
"Baby sis!" Chrystal cried as she ran to Tea.
Daryl pulled her out of the way before the woman could even touch her, "Rick?"
"It's true. She was in Woodbury. Followed us out after Merle," Glenn answered. "Talked the whole way here about you and your achievements. She made it sound like she really missed you, Tea."
"T? Is that what you go by now? Oh, Titania, do you really hate us that much you won't even use your name?" the girl asked, sounding hurt.
"Has every right to hate you, bitch," Merle growled out, moving to stand in front of both Tea and Daryl. Now that he knew who she was, he understood why she always had reacted how she did at the quarry. He was an abusive asshole to his blood, and she wouldn't stand for it because what hers had done to her.
"Oh, Merle!" Chrystal whined. "Is that how you treat an old friend? And you found your brother! He's quite the looker, just like I thought."
"Stay out of this, Merle. Tea," Rick said, sounding disappointed as Tea brought Daryl behind her, literally growling at Chrystal's ogling of her man. "She's been looking for you everywhere since this all started. Said that there was some sort of dispute and you ran away when you were a teen. Said she's been keepin' an eye out for you even though you kept getting in trouble," Rick said, as if there was a deeper meaning to the words making Tea cock a brow at him. "Now's not the time for grudges. With Lori, I...I didn't get a chance to make things right. Don't make my mistake."
"Grudges? Fuckin' grudges?!" Tea yelled. "Don' fuckin' speak a shite ya don' know 'bout, Rick. That bitch ain' got no business bein' with us. Whateva she's told ya happened, 'twas twisted ta make her look betta! A damn lie ta make it seem like she ain' done shite 'erself yet I'm the crazy and unstable one!"
"She's staying, that's final," he told her, giving her a cold glare.
"Ta hell with that! Ya want 'er ta stay? Ya can stay in a damn cell locked in solitary with 'er then, Rick! She ain' comin' in with my family," Tea responded venomously.
"She's already been in the cell block," Carol told her.
"WHAT?!" Tea roared so loud Merle was sure Woodbury heard her. "Ya wanted ta keep Michonne out 'cause ya didn' know 'er. Threw the convicts in a different cell block, but let in a bitch ya know nothin' 'bout jus' 'cause she tells ya she knows me? Are ya fuckin' outta ya gods damned mind, Rick?! Fuck, am I gonna have ta take control? Is that it? 'Tween ya psychotic break and ya bringin' this sick bitch back and fuckin' lettin' 'er in the cells, I don' trust ya fuckin' judgment anymore! Ya don' even know that bitch and ya think ya can bring 'er back jus' 'cause she knows knows me?! Fuck nah! Even Merle agreed ta wait 'til Glenn and Maggie brought Daryl ta him!"
"That's true," Glenn said sheepishly.
"We didn't even know you had family," Rick tried to reason, not wanting to bother with her quirks anymore.
"I did," Carol said. "So does Sophia."
"She's mentioned them a few times, now that I think of it," Maggie said thoughtfully.
"Obviously, I knew," Daryl commented.
"Hell, even I know, more'n any a y'all, and it's all thanks to that little vixen over there," Merle said, pointing at Chrystal.
"I told ya how I view family. She ain' me fuckin' family. Me family is here, right here in this prison. Not some outsida tellin' a sob story ta get me family ta turn on me," Tea told them, looking to Maggie. "Ya asked me ova the winta 'bout me scars. I told ya, me blood gave me 'em. That was fuckin' her, Mags."
"Had no problem tellin' all the bad seeds in Woodbury 'bout all the fucked up shit she'd done. Hell, I thought my daddy was a mean bastard, but I think hers could a taught mine a thing or two. Shit, even Chrystal herself could give him a few lessons! Even the Governor took a page outta her playbook with Maggie!" Merle input, earning him an astonished look before Glenn and Maggie looked at Chrystal in disgust.
"Tea," Rick tried to reason. "Whatever grudges you had in the past need to be buried. Don't make the same mistake I did with Lori. Maybe she's changed, maybe you're remembering things wrong. She doesn't seem like the kind of person who could do anything to anyone."
"Fuckin' grudges, Rick?! Again with fuckin' grudges?!" Tea roared. "Ya don' know fuckin' 'er, Rick! And ya gonna regret bringin' 'er back 'ere. She's gonna start shite ya can' even undastand and find a way ta make y'all blame me for it. That bitch'll take pride and pleasure watchin' ya tear me down as ya lift 'er up. And that's 'fore she starts the shite she did as a kid up. Trust me when I say, ya eva leave us alone, one a us is dead 'cause she'll try ta kill me. Won' be the first time and I sure as shite don' plan on dyin' any time soon."
She walked away with Daryl, Merle, Carol and Sophia in tow. Hershel watched her before turning back to secretly look at Chrystal. She had a small smirk on her face and a look he did not like at all in her eyes. It was almost like watching a cat toy with a mouse and did not bode well with him. Glenn and Maggie were just standing and looking at each other with worried expressions; they had been beginning to question whether they were right not to trust Chrystal right up until the attack. Rick walked up to Chrystal, who's face morphed from the almost predatory look to pitiful and hurt under Hershel's watchful gaze, and assured her that everything was fine.
"Tea's just difficult sometimes," he told her, walking her into the prison, only to find the cells locked and his keys missing.
"Told ya, the bitch ain' comin' in here," Tea said as she stood on the other side of the bars with a smug look on her face and all three sets of keys in her hands; she wasn't proud of her past as a pick-pocket when she was first on her own, but damn if it wasn't a useful skill. "Take 'er ta the otha cell block if ya insist on keepin' 'er in the prison, but she ain' comin' in here eva. 'Specially not with the baby and Phia. I don' even trust 'er 'round Carl."
"That's enough, Tea," Rick said, completely put out. "She's been in here all day so far!"
"Are ya fuckin' kiddin' me?! Ya right, Rick, that is 'nough. 'Nough a ya not listenin' when I tell ya shite. She ain' comin' in here so long as I'm in control a this damn prison, Rick," she restated. "There's a reason I didn' tell ya 'bout me kin. Nothin' good eva came from 'em. Ya wanna believe 'er sob story? Fine. But don' 'xpect me ta lie down and take her shite like I did as a kid. Ya ain' fuckin' callin' the shots no more. I'm takin' ova this non-fuckin'-democracy. Now, I'm goin' ta check on the baby. I find one bruise, one fuckin' bruise, Chrys, ya dead."
"She hasn't held the baby," Carol told her. "We haven't left her alone with her, let alone touch her."
"Well thank the fuckin' gods at least one a ya has some common fuckin' sense!" Tea growled out.
~x~
Tea stood in the guard tower holding Jewel on watch, thankful she'd left it with Rick when she gave cover in Woodbury. Having no time to reload, she'd opted to lighten her load and asked Rick to get her precious weapon out for her. She was happy that he had brought it back and placed it in her cell, although it pissed her off to no end that he'd let Chrystal touch it. This afternoon had been spent taking it apart and putting it back together as best as she could with Daryl's help, double checking everything and testing it a few times on walkers from the guard tower when he'd first dragged her out there.
She'd sent Daryl back to the cell block when Glenn came out asking for one of them to go handle Merle. It was just her, the walkers, and the night breeze. She hoped Chrystal saw the marks she left on Daryl; she'd purposefully done it this time. The woman had taken to trying to split the two of them up all afternoon and into the evening. Merle had been berating Rick and Chrystal the entire time, as well as anyone who tried to get in his way except Tea and Daryl, and even they still got tart words from the man. Daryl had dragged her out here on the premise of watch after dinner; there hadn't been much watching being done for the first couple of hours, much to both hunters' pleasure.
She was still livid over the fact that Rick had even bothered bringing the bitch back here. It wasn't as if it was his fault, she knew that well enough. It was the same thing Chrystal had done damn near every time people got close to her. From what Maggie and Glenn said, Chrystal had sung her praises while throwing in worrying comments about her behavior. Something hadn't added up and Michonne had stood up for her. While the sword wielder wasn't able to tell them much, she was able to tell them that the incident at seventeen was in fact self-defense and that there was video evidence in her favor. Carol, the kids, nor Hershel ever doubted her. It appeared that only Rick did, and she couldn't help but blame the fact that he was still trying to recover from Lori. Hell, he'd thrown four people out in the few hours it'd taken her and the Dixons to get back, but let Chrystal stay. That's why she was standing firm in her decision to take over.
She just wasn't entirely sure how she wanted to do it. Ultimately, the control had to be left in her hands, but knowing the opinions of others was important. With how small the group was now, that was easy enough. But what happened if they expanded? What would happen if they ended up with a large group like Woodbury? Did she really want to bear sole responsibility for that many people? Perhaps setting up some kind of council would be the best way to govern, similar to the House and Senate. She could still be the presiding leader, but the entire burden wouldn't be hers alone. Tea was so lost in thought that she didn't hear the door to the guard tower open, nor sense the presence behind her.
All she felt was a hard whack to her left shoulder, forcing her to drop Jewel. What is it with me and me left lately? she thought to herself as she stumbled and turned around. Chrystal stood with a wicked grin on her face and a metal bar in her hand. How the hell she'd managed to get out of the commons when the door was locked was beyond her. Tea was extremely surprised that the woman was already trying to do this; she was sure that Chrystal would wait until she'd gotten everyone in the group to trust her instead of Tea.
"Rick was kind enough to let me come have some time with my baby sister to make things right," Chrystal said with a grin. "Of course, he's the only one who sympathizes me." Her voice went sing-songy, "Tragic how his wife but oh so good for me. He even gave me weapons!" She started laughing like a hyena, "The rest actually fucking trust you! Who would have thought?! They actually think of you as one of theirs! And Daryl, mmmm, that fine hunk of a man. I'm gonna have fun breaking a stallion like him. I can tell. He's like you; a scared little child that can't fight back," she snarled. "I can't wait to carve him up like-"
Chrystal didn't get a chance to finish what she was saying before Tea began to strike. Raising her leg high, she brought her heel straight down in an ax kick to the taller woman's shoulder, forcing her to drop the bar she was carrying. Bringing her leg back to the ground, she stepped in close with a right hook, connecting with her jaw before delivering a spinning elbow strike to the other side of her head. Chrystal was completely taken back by the onslaught of the woman's attack, but that didn't stop her from pushing forward with her shoulder and knocking her sister off balance. Unable to feel anything in her good arm, Chrystal pulled her knife out and lunged down at Tea. If Tea had not been as flexible and agile as she was, Chrystal would have killed her right then and there. Rather than stabbing her heart or lung like Chrystal had aimed for, the knife dug into her left shoulder. She ripped it out, but had no time to aim another blow before Tea delivered a haymaker to the side of her face. It knocked her off the smaller woman, who rolled the opposite direction.
They both got to their feet, Chrystal thinking she could get the upper hand by grabbing a hold of the back of Tea's head with both hands. Tea responded in kind, but used the momentum to deliver a muay thai diagonal knee strike which broke Chrystal's hold. Unfortunately, Chrystal managed to once again stab her, though this time in her left thigh. Tea cried out from the feeling of her muscle being sliced open, but stepped up within her sister's personal space and delivered three quick back-fist blows to her side. Chrystal stepped back, removing her blade from the younger woman's leg and kicked at the stab wound. As Tea was momentarily knocked off balance, Chrystal stepped up and stabbed her in the low along her pelvis, right above her left inner hip bone. Tea grabbed the woman's hand and ripped it away from her, the knife coming along, twisting her wrist until the knife was dropped and Tea kicked it away.
"Dammit! You never used to be this difficult! Why don't you just die already?!" she shrieked at Tea as she pulled away; Tea didn't waste any time with words as she delivered superman punch to the woman's face, effectively shutting her up.
Having officially knocked the woman off balance, Tea took her finishing stance. She stepped up and delivered a right kick to her sister's side. Returning her leg behind her, she immediately pushed up with her left leg in a push kick, pushing Chrystal to the railing of the guard tower. As soon as her left foot fell flat on the floor, she was jumping up with her left knee forward. She lifted her right leg in mid air and used the momentum for a powerful push kick that landed right in the middle of her sister's chest. She heard the scream that sounded as Chrystal went over the railing, landing hard before crumbling in a heap. Her breathing was coming out labored and she was losing a lot of blood. Struggling to get to her knees, she could faintly hear the others shouting as she managed to get a hand over the side of the railing. I gotta stop doin' this, she thought as spots stirred in her vision.
"Oh my God! Tea! Titania!" she could hear Glenn call, followed by the others.
"Fuck!" Merle said as he and Daryl burst into the guard house, finding blood spattered everywhere and the obvious signs of a struggle.
Rick, Glenn, and Maggie were standing outside where Chrystal's body was laying motionless on the ground. They heard Daryl's strangled yell and Merle's threats towards Rick, who paled greatly, noticing her hand laying over the side of the guard tower. She'd warned him that Chrystal would try to kill her; that if they were left alone, one of them would end up dead. Now Chrystal really was dead and from the sounds of the Dixons, Tea wasn't faring much better.
"Get the fuckin' doctor ready!" Merle shouted from the top of the tower, Maggie and Glenn booking it back to the cell block as the man stared down at Rick. When they came out of the guard tower, the first thing Merle did was sucker punch Rick in the face, "If she dies, Sheriff, it's on your hands!"
Tea had blood pouring down her arm and leg and Daryl was covered in her blood along his stomach and arms as he carried her towards the prison. Merle was hot on his heels as Rick heard the gargling behind him. Turning around, he didn't hesitate to take his knife and plunge it into Chrystal's head over and over again as he roared and vented his frustration. The woman had played on his guilt and grief and he had betrayed his best friend and family member for a woman he didn't know. And she'd warned him and still he let the woman convince him to give her some time with Tea. He slowly walked up to the prison, not even wanting to enter, simply sitting on the steps of the cell block with his head in his hands.
Updated 9/9/21