All Nightmare Long

Chapter 506

Author's Note: The poll is still up about keeping Rick around. It seems like I am, now I just have to come up with ideas. And reasons why Jewel hasn't killed Negan yet. That may be a sticking point for Jewel at some point. Yeah, she's not a Negan fan, but who is? The episode with Carol really isn't changing so I'm not going to do every single bit. And I couldn't help putting in the actors who played Jeffrey Dean Morgan's sons on Supernatural (which I haven't watched past half first season because all I saw was him beating Glenn and Abraham's head in). Jenson may show up at the Hilltop or as a savior. Please review.

OC: Jared Padalacki as Dr. Wyatt Barker

Kiera Knightly as Dhara (pronounced Dara) Barker

Morgan and Carol's POV:

Dhara walked in with a tray of food and placed it next to Morgan. "I went over to your room to take you breakfast, but it looked like you didn't sleep there again."

"I didn't want to leave Carol, in case she woke up," Morgan stated.

"Well you aren't going to be any good to Carol or anyone else if you pass out from hunger. You eat, and I'll sit right here on the other side of her," Dhara told him. "Are the two of you together?"

Morgan picked up a piece of fruit and shook his head. "Friends."

"Before or after?" Dhara asked.

"After," Morgan asked. "I'm originally from Georgia, had a wife and son, at the start. I met a man, a friend, he offered my son and I a chance to come with him, but I told him I would join him in a little bit. My son got bit, I went a little crazy, and that friend came back, made me see things weren't all bad, I went to join him, but he had already moved on from where he was. I finally caught up with him and his family, that's where I met Carol. Things are going on back home, Carol felt like she needed to be alone, went out on her own. But my friend, he couldn't let her do that, lots of dangers out there. I told him I'd find her, bring her home. That's what I plan to do when she gets better," Morgan told her. "I got a little girl back home to take care of, her brother died, I promised to take care of her. But she's being watched over by good people. And I'm watching over Carol," he informed her.

Dhara nodded. "That trouble you speak of? The saviors?"

Morgan nodded. "They come here?"

"Not inside the gates, not a lot of people know about them. King Ezekiel made a deal with them, so they won't come inside the gates. I only know because one of my former students was going outside the gate and I wanted to know why," Dhara told him.

"You were a teacher? Before?" Morgan asked.

"I was a teacher at this very school when the outbreak happened. I stayed, along with a couple of other teachers for the kids who parents were late to pick them up, some never did make it. Wyatt, the doctor that worked on Carol, he was an intern at one of the hospital. We were newlyweds, hadn't been married six months at the time, he came to pick me up. I refused to leave, and he stayed."

"Good thing I did, I went back to the hospital a couple days later, they had killed everyone," Wyatt said as he kissed Dhara.

"It happened it Georgia too, the army came in, killed the infected, the healthy, everyone, then bombed the city," Morgan said.

"Any change during the night?" Wyatt asked as he checked on Carol.

"She's been resting comfortably," Morgan reported. "So you two stayed here?"

They looked at each other. "It was a good place as any, the gardens were already here. Ezekiel came in, with a tiger, and the few of us that were here, we weren't interested in leading. And he is good at it," Wyatt answered.

"The tiger did take some getting used to," Dhara admitted. "But you've spoken with him, you know how charming he is. When this first started, it was mostly kids. People from surrounding areas came in, some parents of students returned with their kids because there was nowhere else to go. We grew under the King's guidance," she said. She looked at Carol who looked like she was waking up. "I'll go get some food for her," she said as she kissed Wyatt and left.

"How long have I been asleep?" Carol asked Morgan.

Morgan gave a small sigh of relief and a smile before answering. "Two days, more or less. This is Dr. Barker, he helped you."

"Wyatt please, you gave us a scare," he told her.

Carol looked at him skeptically before touching her wound then looked at Morgan. "Where are we?"

"Can I take her out in a wheelchair? Show her around?" Morgan asked.

"Under normal circumstances, I wouldn't agree to it, but I am sure you are curious about the Kingdom. But I want to see you back here to check on the wound," Wyatt instructed as he got a wheelchair for her.

"I'll see that she comes back," Morgan said as he helped her into the chair. "Easy," he told her as Wyatt opened the door to let them out. They passed several people gardening, kids playing, and normal activities. "The doctor said you're healing up, it could have been much worse, but you had some luck. And your pack with your weapons, they wanted to lock them up. Seeing as they were helping us, I didn't argue. It'll be with them until we're ready to leave. The doctor said it may be a week maybe two, but knowing you I figure it'll be a week or less. Then we can head back to Alexandria," Morgan told her.

Carol looked around. "What is this place?"

"Well the people here, they um call themselves the Kingdom. They were helping you, so I've been helping them," Morgan said.

"Did you…did you tell them about what happened to me, about who we are?" Carol asked.

"Why? Who are we Carol?" Morgan asked.

"What did you tell them?" Carol demanded.

"They saw what that man did to you, and they saw what I did to him. We got split up, you found trouble, I found you. The dr's wife, she guessed it was the Savior's but that's all he knows," Morgan said.

"All who knows?" Carol questioned.

"The man I'm taking you to see, the man who's in charge of this place," Morgan answered.

"This person have a name?" Carol asked. "Morgan?" Carol asked.

Morgan stopped. "Yeah, um he's called King Ezekiel," he told her.

"What?" Carol questioned in disbelief.

"Yeah," Morgan answered. "King Ezekiel," he said with a laugh. "And he um does his own thing, see?" he told her.

"Uh, what does that mean?" Carol asked.

Morgan pushed her down the aisle of the school auditorium. "Well here we are," he told her as he stopped at the growling of a tiger. "Um, yeah, I forgot to say that Ezekiel has a tiger."

The tiger growled as Ezekiel went to pet it. "Shiva enough! The fair maiden has been through a myriad of trials," he told her as Shiva continued to growl. "They are our guests. Dhara here was just telling us that you were awakened," he said.

"We haven't been properly introduced King, I left before she totally awoke. Shiva, if you don't behave, I won't sneak you some extra meat," Dhara said whispering to her.

"Chill it up S, chill it up," the man in the corner of the stage said.

Ezekiel gave a small smirk. "Jerry you are a faithful steward, but your words have leave me pitch kettled," he told him.

Carol looked around with disbelief as Dhara gave a small understanding nod in her direction. "You'll get used to them," she assured her.

"Dhara," Ezekiel warned good naturally. "I understand your concern Shiva, you haven't met Carol nor have I. But she is a friend of Morgan's we shall consider her a friend of the realm until proven otherwise," he instructed.

"She's doing better, thanks to you and your people," Morgan said.

"Indeed," Ezekiel answered. "It pleases me to see you up and about Carol. I am King Ezekiel. Welcome to the Kingdom," he said.

Shiva walks off the steps and back around growling softly before laying down.

"You must want that extra piece of meat huh Shiva?" Dhara teased the tiger, trying to lighten up Carol's confused mood.

"Dhara you spoil her as you would a child," Ezekiel teased the woman.

"Like you don't? Don't you worry girl, you know I'll sneak you my meat from dinner," Dhara told her with a wink to Carol.

"You have been addressed by the king, yet you remain silent. Do I detect skepticism? Perhaps you think I'm mad? Perhaps you see this place as nothing more than a mirage. So tell me, what do you think of the Kingdom Carol?" Ezekiel asked. "What do you think of the King?"

Dhara and Jerry exchanged looks before they waited for Carol to answer.

Carol started to grin. "I think you're amazing…it's amazing. And you're Sheba," she started to say.

"It's, it's Shiva," Jerry corrected.

"Shiva. Amazing," Carol stated.

"Not the first time someone's said that," Dhara said with a laugh.

"I would be speechless if I wasn't already speaking. I don't know what's going on in the most wonderful way," Carol said with a laugh, which was joined in by Ezekiel.

"As Morgan is aware, I encourage those who find respite here to enjoy the fruits of our grandeur for as long as they like, so as long as they contribute. Drink from the well, replenish the well, once you've healed of course," Ezekiel told her.

"Of course," Carol said. "Of course, it's all about the well."

"Well said," Jerry joked.

Ezekiel and Dhara both looked at him. "Jerry," Ezekiel scolded as he snapped his fingers. "Ah where are my manners. I'm surprised Dhara hasn't got on me about not offering you something to eat already."

"I was giving Carol time to adjust to your presence," Dhara informed him. "They call me the mother hen because if I didn't make my husband eat, he wouldn't. Then I just make sure these two get something other than fruit."

"Please partake, we have magnificent apples, nectarines, pomegranates, all grown right here inside the Kingdom," Ezekiel said.

"It's fruit time," Jerry said as he took over the bowl of fruit.

"I…I couldn't," Carol said.

"Oh come on now, at least take a pomegranate," Ezekiel told her.

"You know I always found them to much trouble," Carol admitted.

"Sweet fruit surrounded by bitter, they're something of a contradiction, but heaven for the effort," Ezekiel said.

"You park some chocolate in front of me and watch it go by by, but pomegranates, no thanks," Carol answered.

"Well if there's anything you want or need…if you enjoy music, we have a guitarist whose talents will bring tears to the eye, and we have a small choir," Ezekiel offered.

"Thank you. All I need is some more rest, and maybe a hairbrush. Nobody told me that I would be meeting royalty," Carol said with a chuckle.

"I can have that brought to the infirmary for you," Dhara stated.

"Thank you," Carol said. "And thank you your majesty. I should call you your majesty right?"

Ezekiel nodded. "You can."

"Thank you, your majesty. It's a pleasure," Carol said.

"The pleasure is mine, Carol," Ezekiel said as Shiva growled. "Be well," he said as Morgan started pushing her out.

TBC