CHAPTER 13

– Kate -

Even after Daryl's return and their scene in the prison yard, Kate wasn't sure where she and Daryl stood. The rest of the group seemed to assume and accept that Daryl and Kate were together now, and in a way, she guessed that they were. There was an unspoken understanding, something wordless that had passed between them as he had held her sobbing in the courtyard. She knew their intentions, it was just a matter of getting through the steps. Starting a relationship wasn't an easy thing when your group is preparing to fight an enemy who has already shown himself capable of unspeakable actions. She imagined things like first dates, first kisses, declarations of love and affection weren't easy things for Daryl as it was, but it was almost inappropriate to consider doing any of that when they could all be dead by tomorrow. If they could deal with their new threat, she and Daryl could explore the rest of it then. For the time being, it was enough to know they were back under the same roof.

Daryl had returned, black sheep brother in tow, just as the Governor and his men were retreating. They had driven up to the gates, peppering the courtyard with rounds and killing Axel (and almost Carol) in the process. They were lucky it wasn't much worse, the Governor had filled their yard with a truckful of walkers and Hershel was stranded, vulnerable and on crutches far from the safety of the prison building. Rick was caught outside of the gates, leaving the rest of them in the courtyard to fight off the sniper that had managed to make it into a guard tower on their own.

That night, as Kate sat on her bed, removing her boots, Daryl knocked softly on a bar of her cell. He stood there, filling up most of the open space between the cement wall and the bars.

"Hey" He said in a coarse whisper.

"Hey" She said with a big smile, unable to hide just how happy she was that he was home.

"I wanted to say sorry, um, for not comin' back right away. After how we said goodbye, the promise I made you..."

"Daryl." She cut him off. "Thank you for apologizing, but seriously, you don't have to. He's your brother, I completely understood that you were in a no win situation."

He looked at the ground. "I feel like an asshole."

"Don't. I mean, I was upset, I'm not going to lie, but not because I was mad at you. I was upset because the situation sucked and I was afraid I'd...we'd lost you. I'm just happy you are home, we all are. That's all that matters."

Kate wanted to get up and go to him. Wrap her arms around him and feel him hold her. Confirm to herself he was there, but she wanted Daryl to set the pace. She had already made the first 'move' with her impulsive plea when he left for Woodbury. So instead she just sat their lamely on the edge of her bunk with her hands holding onto the mattress.

"I'm not goin' anywhere." He promised, looking at her intensely.

"Good" She squeaked, digging her fingers even tighter into the bed to convince herself to stay put. There was an awkward moment where neither of them said anything. She was silently willing him to walk in her cell and stay, but instead he mumbled,"G'night Kate."

"Good night Daryl."

He turned and took the four paces to his mattress on the perch at the top of the stairs.

The next day tensions were high at the prison. Their field was filled with the walkers the Governor had released and with the fences down, they had been joined by several dozen since. Rick decided it wasn't worth the ammo to kill them now to fix the fence. They needed all they could get for when the Governor returned. Rick also insisted they all remain inside as much as possible to avoid having anyone else fall to the same fate as Axel. With the exception of whoever was placed on guard, they all were in "C Block" together. That normally would be fine, they'd spent plenty of time in tighter quarters, but the anticipation of the next attack and the fact that Merle was now sharing their space only days after bringing this all upon them was making it particularly difficult.

Kate felt torn. She sympathized with Glenn and Maggie. They had every right to want him gone. Truth was, after what he had done she wasn't thrilled he was there either. But if it was the price they paid for having Daryl back, she wasn't going to complain. She knew Daryl would keep him in line. He couldn't control his mouth, but at least he wouldn't let Merle hurt anyone. Merle did seem to be on the best behavior Merle could manage and they were making him sleep in one of the caged cells in the common room to give everyone a little space and peace of mind.

She felt bad for Daryl who had to defend his brother's presence more than once to Glenn, who couldn't seem to keep himself from reminding everyone how he felt about it. His patience pushed to the edge when Glenn referred to Merle as 'a snake in the nest'.

"Man, are we gonna go through this again!?" Daryl had snapped.

He was growing impatient with it all. Kate knew he must hate having to defend someone he knew was wrong. She wished Glenn would give it a rest, even if she understood why he couldn't let it go.

That afternoon, Carl came running in. He had been on watch with Maggie when they spotted Andrea approaching the prison. The group headed to the yard, but instead of welcoming her warmly she was ordered to the ground and searched.

Andrea had been one of them, but their paths had diverged and now she was in the enemy's camp. They were all relieved and happy when it was discovered that Michonne had been with Andrea all winter. Kate had hoped she had somehow found safety, but knew it was unlikely that she made it off the farm alive. But now, they didn't know if they could trust her.

Andrea seemed offended and in disbelief that they weren't overjoyed at her appearance at their gate, but Andrea had always demanded people treat her with more grace than she ever afforded anyone else.

Rick led her into the common room and Andrea looked around the small, gray space.

"Hershel, my God." She said, looking sorrowfully at his missing leg. "I can't believe this. Where's Shane?"

Rick shook his head and looked away.

"And Lori?"

Hershel spoke up, "She had a girl. Lori didn't survive."

"Neither did T-Dog." Carol added.

"I'm so sorry. Carl."

The boy eyed her coldly.

"Rick, I-" She tried again to offer sympathy, but Rick turned away from her. "You all live here?"

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They didn't miss the pity in her voice. The prison was their home. They all felt a sense of pride that they had established this refuge together. It didn't sit well with any of them that she seemed to be sorry for them. They didn't need her sympathy.

Andrea had come with the intention of talking some sense into Rick or to somehow elect herself the mediator between the two sides. The way she spoke of the Governor, Phillip, as she called him, made it clear she didn't know the side of the man they had seen. She even thought the resolution could include them all living at Woodbury together, peacefully. As if Maggie and Glenn could just set up house where they had been tortured. As if Daryl and Merle could put their experience with the Governor aside. No, it was clear Andrea didn't know the Governor. She also didn't know them anymore. She seemed taken aback that her attempts at convincing them a reasonable solution was possible were met with threats and promises of war.

Later that afternoon, they watched their old friend drive off in one of the cars left at the prison. It probably belonged to one of the guards that had died at the fall. There were plenty to spare and despite her short sightedness, they still cared about her. They would welcome her back when she eventually realized 'Phillip' wasn't the man she thought he was.

That night they all gathered together in the cellblock. Merle had told them the Governor would attack again, but hearing Andrea say he was preparing for war was sobering. Rick had decided they weren't leaving and so it was a lot like sitting around waiting for the sky to fall. They sat, or stood, wordlessly, feeling helpless.

The next morning, Rick, Michonne and Carl set off to replenish their weapons supply. It was Kate's turn to take watch up on the catwalk, behind the wooden pallets that lined the chain linked fence, providing the barest of covers. Binoculars in hand, she surveyed the prison fences and the edges of the woods. Aside from the walkers that still wandered aimlessly through their yard, she found no sign of life. The door opened and Daryl stepped out, his crossbow across his back - a nearly permanent part of him. Her face broke out in a grin.

"Want some company?" He asked.

"I do."

He picked up a crate and set it down next to the one she was sitting on. She was peering through the pallets, allowing his shoulder to touch hers. She handed him the binoculars and watched him scan the fence.

"Kind of interesting that Rick took Michonne. Do you think he's starting to trust her?" Kate was curious if Daryl had any insight to Rick's thoughts.

"Guess we'll see."

"Ya. I hope so. I like her."

"Not much to like. She barely talks."

"Neither do you and I like you a lot!" She teased, nudging him playfully with her shoulder until he gave her a smile. He looked at her intensely and swallowed hard.

"Lucky for me you're a terrible judge of character." He said without a hint of humor.

"You know that isn't true Daryl."

They both turned back to the field in front of them, but she allowed herself to rest her head against his arm and she felt him tense ever so slightly.

They sat together like that for a few minutes, talking about how they could clear the yard, when they thought the Governor would attack, how Merle was doing amongst them all. They both heard the sound of the engine at the same time and stood up quickly to get a better look at the gravel drive.

"It's too early to be Rick." Daryl thought aloud.

The car slowly came into sight and they recognized it as the car they allowed Andrea to take yesterday. Kate looked through the binoculars.

"I don't recognize the driver. Some guy. Andrea is in the passenger seat."

"Stay put!" Daryl instructed her urgently as he took off through the door to C Block. Less than a minute later, Daryl, Merle and Glenn exited the door to the courtyard and Maggie and Carol joined her on the catwalk, armed.

The car rolled to a stop at the only remaining gate between the yard and them. Andrea and the man emerged, no guns or weapons pulled. Their group continued to aim at them.

"What do you want?" Daryl bellowed.

"To talk." Andrea replied, annoyed.

"Didn't we do that yesterday?" He returned. Walkers started to approach the car slowly. "Better make it quick. You ain't comin' inside."

"Come on Daryl. Its me." Andrea said, looking over her shoulder. Daryl didn't reply. She sighed. "Where's Rick?"

"Anything you have to say to Rick, you can say to me." He said. "Might want to take care of your friend there."

Andrea turned, pulling her knife and sending it through the rotting skull of the approaching walker.

"Look, Phillip agreed to sit down and talk to Rick." She turned again to stab another walker while her companion took care of a couple on the other side of the vehicle. She faced them again, breathless and annoyed. "Tomorrow, 10AM."

"Where? We ain't going to Woodbury."

"Feed mill, about 5 miles north of here."

"I'll give Rick the message. Now leave."

Andrea gave another exasperated sigh before she and the man got back in the car and reversed back down the road. They all watched them go before heading back inside.