It wasn't more than a couple of days until Hershel, Daryl, Rick, and Kayla all headed to an abandoned mill so Rick could sit with the Governor and…talk. Alex had a slightly teary goodbye wither her father and same went for Carl and Rick and Maggie, Beth, and Hershel. Rick and Hershel drove together in the Hyundai and Kayla rode on the back of Daryl's bike. She was getting herself to use to being around him again, but he wasn't forgiven. And they weren't together. But there were bigger problems than their love life so Kayla knew she had to get over them for the time being.
During the bike ride, Kayla's arms were wrapped around Daryl's torso tightly and she had her head rested on his back. It felt a little like the run they took together back when they were still on Hershel's farm, but there was something in the air between them that was off. There was tension. And anger. And sadness. But none of that mattered at the moment.
When they reached the mill, Daryl waited for Kayla to get off the bike first and immediately missed her arms around him. She slid his crossbow off of her back and handed it to him as she unholstered her M911. She went over to the car and slid into the passenger seat next to Hershel. The plan was that Daryl and Rick sweep over the area for walkers and any sign of the Governor or his mean while Kayla and Hershel kept watch from the car.
Daryl returned alone a few minutes later with the news that the Governor was already there inside. "We didn't see any cars." Kayla replied.
"Yeah, it don't feel right…" Daryl responded. "Keep it running."
Just then another car drove up and Daryl immediately raised his crossbow and Kayla got out of the car with her finger on the trigger. Andrea and two other men stepped out of the car once they parked. A man who looked to be in his late thirties and wore glasses and a flannel shirt, and a young Hispanic man were the other two.
"Why's your boy already in there?" Daryl questioned.
"He's here?" Andrea asked as she walked over to the mill and went inside.
While Andrea was inside, Kayla was leaning against the hood of the car with her eyes closed as she absorbed the sun's rays. She could hear Daryl pacing when Hershel's voice broke her endless stream of thoughts. "Maybe I should go inside." Hershel offered.
"The Governor thought it be best if he and Rick spoke privately." The man in the flannel shirt told Daryl and Hershel.
"Who the hell are you?" Daryl questioned, causing Kayla to open one eye.
"Milton Mammon." The man answered.
"Great…he brought his butler."
Kayla chuckled and had to bite the inside of her cheeks from laughing. "I'm his advisor." Milton further explained. "What kind of advice?" Kayla asked.
Daryl gets pissed in three…two…. "Planning…biters, uh I don't feel like I need to explain myself to the henchmen." Milton answered. "You better watch your mouth sunshine." Daryl hissed. And ehre we go. Kayla stood up straight and took a step closer to Daryl. "Look if you and I are gonna be standing out here pointing guns at each other all day, do me a favor: Shut your mouth." The other man who was named Martinez said to Daryl. Daryl went to step towards Martinez, but Kayla put a hand on his shoulder. "Don't." she said firmly. "We don't need this. If all goes South in there we'll all be at each other's throats soon enough." Daryl met Kayla's eyes with his and backed up towards Hershel. Then she retook her position at the car.
OOOOO
A little while later, the sound of walker growls caught everyone's attention. Andrea was the first person to go in the direction of the noise, and Kayla went to follow, but Daryl told her to stay with Hershel and the butler while he and Martinez followed Andrea. Kayla rolled her eyes and slumped to the ground when Milton came over and sat down next to her. "Would you mind if I asked you a few questions for my data?" he asked her. Kayla looked at him and he took in her appearance: back skinny jeans, boots, and a grey t-shirt underneath a dark red zip-up hoodie. Her long brown hair was tied up into a ponytail and she had a stern expression on her face. "Sure." She said plainly.
"What's your name?" he began.
"Kayla Wilmington."
"What was your profession before this?"
"I was an EMT and worked in an ER."
"Do you have any family alive?"
"My group is my family. But if you mean blood family, my father."
"And spouses or relationships?"
Kayla hesitated at the last question. "It's complicated…" she answered. Milton took his glasses off. "Care to elaborate?" he questioned. "I was with the henchman, but after you're precious Governor pitted him and Merle against each other he took off with Merle. So no we aren't together at the moment." Kayla answered angrily as she stood up and walked over to the car and sat down behind it for the remainder of the time they were at the mill.
OOOOO
Rick came out a few hours later and no words were exchanged between anyone as they got into their cars. Daryl handed Kayla his crossbow and slid onto the motorcycle and Kayla got on behind him. She wrapped her arms around his torso like before and they drove back to the prison. Kayla closed her eyes as they drove and readjusted her grip around Daryl's torso, taking a deep breath and inhaling his scent.
OOOOO
Than night, Kayla couldn't sleep. The Governor wanted the prison and the group dead. Or at least that's what Rick told them when they got back. She was scared. Terrified. Normally she'd have Daryl next to her, but that was gone now. So now she was restless and afraid as she laid in her bed. In a world overrun by the dead she was afraid of the living. Sleep wouldn't come because some prick with an eye patch took three of her group members prisoner and nearly killed them and they did what needed to be done to get them back.
When it was clear she wasn't going to fall asleep, Kayla tiptoed out of her cell and went out to the eating area to sit. It was dark, but there was moonlight coming in from the windows. "Can't sleep?" a gruff voice asked. Kayla jumped and saw it was only Daryl sitting at the one table. She let out a breath and nodded. "No…" she answered as she sat across from him. He was wearing an old, ratty, brown t-shirt and a pair of pants with holes in it (shocker) to sleep in. Kayla had on a pair of leggings that were ripped in a couple of areas and a t-shirt for her sleep wear.
"What are you doing up?" Kayla questioned.
"Same as you." Daryl replied.
"Well I've run out of sheep to count."
Daryl smiled and looked at her. "Why'd you come today?" he asked curiously. Kayla shrugged. "Just wanted to get out of the prison for a bit." She answered. "Tired of seeing the same walls every day."
"You and me both." Daryl retorted. Kayla tucked some hair behind her ear and looked at her hands before standing up. "I'm gonna attempt to get some sleep again but if that fails I might end up back out here." she told him, drawing a chuckle out of him. "Alright." He replied. Kayla got to the door, but stopped and turned. "Did you…" she began to ask. "Did you love me?" Daryl picked his head up and looked at her before nodding once. "I still do." He told her. Kayla turned around and walked backed to her cell and buried her face in the pillow. Not being with him was the hardest thing she's ever done. She wanted nothing more than to be wrapped in his arms and kissed by his lips, but did he really deserve her after what he did?
