Chapter 30: Images
KPOV
~2 days ago~
"Kat?" Carl's small voice called to me, making me turn to him and smile softly. Placing Judith back into her makeshift cot, I looked to Carl and saw that he was a little worried. His hands on his hips, eyes glancing at me from under his cap which still looked a little big in comparison to his size. My little man.
"Hey...what's up?" I asked him, curious of what was wrong and why he looked at me with that small, shy look that he wore when he was going to ask me something I might not entirely like. Something's wrong. I can tell.
"I'm just...curious," Carl mumbled shyly as he looked to the ground, we were on the stairs as he had just come up them from having his breakfast with the others. My head tilted a little to look at him curious as to what was running through that mind of his.
"What about?" I asked him. My voice gentle as to not startle him, Judith was sucking soundlessly on her pacifier which made me giggle calmly. So sweet...so small and delicate. I will always protect you baby J. My beautiful little sister.
"Michonne," Carl said which made my head whip to look at him. My eyes wide as I didn't know why he would be so curious about Michonne. Seeing him watching me, he stayed silent and when I looked up, he looked away.
"Oh...what about her?" I asked a little wary as my expression slowly changed to one of calm curiousity. I hope he doesn't think of her as crazy or unpredictable like dad does. Michonne is just...Michonne.
"Can we trust her?" Carl asked me as his bright blues connected to mine. Ah...so this is why he's curious. Considering she left my dad and the others behind to go and attempt to kill the Governor. Except...all she did was leave him without an eye.
"I know we can. She's a good person. Troubled but...she's always had my back and I trust her with my life. I trust her with you. With dad. With all of us," I tell him honestly. Knowing he would probably listen to me more than to his own thoughts.
"What if...she wants you all to herself?" Carl asked me a little worried. He took a step closer to me, shuffling on his feet as to change the weight of them. Oh no...is he...jealous? Fuck...what a silly boy.
"She wouldn't. Michonne's not like that," I said after giggling and shaking my head at his silly musings. If only he knew how much I loved him. How much Michonne cared about me that she pushed me further to find them.
"I don't know I mean...she seemed so mad whenever you spoke about Andrea. I just thought-..." Carl said trailing off as he looked down at his feet again. Possibly embarressed or feeling sad about the thought of losing me to someone else. That would never happen baby brother.
"Carl. Not walkers, earthquakes...not even the Governor himself can keep me away from you. Michonne wouldn't dare because she knows I love you and everyone else here," I tell him with the warmest smile. Pulling him to me in a hug as I held him lovingly. My very stupid little brother.
"I love you Kat," Carl told me in a sweet voice as he held me tightly to him. His arms wrapped around me in a vice like grip. Oh baby brother...so young...so foolish.
"I love you too Carl," I whispered to him softly and kissed the top of his head. The pair of us stood there for a few moments, holding each other and not letting go. How I missed holding you like this...a horrid thought flushed into my head. Thinking that I would never have the chance to do this again. A single tear escaped my eye and rolled down my cheek.
Present day...CPOV
My eyes fluttered open slowly, groaning at the sunlight that seeped through the windows and into my cell. The smell of a sandwhich rushed into my nostrils, surprising me and making me wriggle around trying to get comfortable. Hearing a small giggle, a familiar one, I rubbed my eyes and sighed. Stretching a little as I then felt a weight on my bed.
Rubbing my eyes, my vision became apprehensively clearer with ever blink I took. Her sweet face came into my view when I saw her. Her tanned skin was glowing, a small like halo of gold enveloped the frame of her figure. Kat. Her bright blues were looking at me with that warm feeling she would give me. Reassuring me that she was alive with the way she looked at me.
Her pink lips pulled at the corners as she smiled at me. Her curly hair was pushed behind one ear, the other strands falling elegantly to one side of her face. Her smile was welcoming, sitting up, I saw her holding a plate in her hand and a glass of water in her hands. Clearing my throat, so I didn't sound stupid to her when I wanted to speak. "Morning..." I mumbled, sleep evident in my voice.
"Good morning. How are you feeling?" she asked me kindly. She looked like mom but...she looked a lot more like dad than I did. Her bright blues were comforting as she helped to prop my pillow so I could sit comfortably. Her hands gentle and mother like as she guided me.
"Well...is that a sandwhich?" I asked her as I eyed the bread, butter and some sort of meat wedged between it. She giggled and appologised for not placing it on my lap sooner. When she laid it on my lap, she handed me the glass of water. Taking a sip, I felt my dry throat dampen at the impact. Refreshed. Her hand reached out to smooth out my hair, her touch was gentle and kind. I really missed her.
"Dad...he wants you to go with him on a run today," Kat informed me as we sat there silently, allowing me to eat and drink calmly for a few moments. Her voice sounded slightly strained. As though she was worried that this was possibly a bad idea. It won't be. I'm a good shot and smart enough to survive.
"Where?" I asked her and she sighed. Her eyes lowering to her hands in her lap. Her palms faced up and her thumbs gently rubbing against each other. I noticed that her nails were slightly longer than before, her hair shorter and her muscles were more defined.
"Home," Kat told me which made me think over my options. Go with dad back to the town we grew up in...or stay and spend time with Kat and the others. Waiting for the Governor's next attack rather than going out there and preparing for the war that's coming closer with every passing moment. "You don't have to go if you don't want to...you know that...right?" Kat asked me and I nod slowly.
Finishing my sandwhich, I looked to her and took small sips of my water. Deliberating as I stopped my eating and drinking to look up at her. "I want to go," I told her being certain of what I wanted. I need to go. Not just to get out and prepare for the Governor but...because I need to get something.
"Okay. Just...stay smart, stay safe and be careful," Kat tells me, worried for me as I leaned over and took her hands in mine. Her bright blues looked down at our hands and flashed up to look at mine. I missed her so much. Even our touches are a comfort. So close. I know she'll always be here for me. She always has been.
"I will," I tell her and she smiled. There was a look in her eye. I knew what it was. Mom gave her that look, just as dad had. She's proud of me. I can tell. I wished she was here earlier. Before mom died. She would of been able to help us all survive.
"I love you Carl," she told me as she gave me a warm smile. My heart swelled as I knew she meant it. I couldn't ask for a better sister. Smart, funny, fun, caring and just...amazing. Kat is simply that. The best sister in the world doesn't cut her as a title.
"I love you too Kat," I told her in return which made he sit up a little off the bed and press a kiss to my cheek. Ruffling my hair, she giggled and I saw the familiar twinkle in her eyes before she got up. Turning her back on me, I waited for her to leave and smiled. Finishing my breakfast, I got ready for the trip and went to dad.
We were going with Michonne. She was driving us to where dad wanted to take us. The ride was silent. We left a lone survivor on the side of the road which startled me a little but then made me relax. He could be a spy or someone evil. We can't risk it. As we drove, Michonne drove onto the mud and got us stuck. Shit. Next thing, walkers were surrounding our car.
"Cover your ears," dad said as he rolled down the window a little and shot at a walker. Doing as he said, I felt fine and eventually we killed off the walkers that were surrounding us. "Yeah, this'll work," dad said as he found a dress and decided to use it to get the car out from the gunk we had drove onto. Michonne was pulling walkers away and was keeping watch.
"Tell me when," Michonne told us as we made our way to the car. Dad walking along, getting closer as I kept my arms crossed and looked to Michonne. She was keeping her eyes focused on the distance. She walked over to the walker under a truck and killed him. Keeping watch from within the car as dad and me tried to get the car out of the mess she made.
"Hey," dad called to me as he looked back at me. "Put something under the car like this with a little gravel and sticks. It gives you traction," he tells me as I helped him. The pair of us trying to get the cloth under the car when it was filled with what he told me to get.
"Wouldn't have to do it if she didn't get us stuck," I mumbled to him as I tried to keep my voice low enough so she wouldn't hear.
"It was an honest mistake," dad said as he filled the cloth with what he said and got up from his crouching position. Following his lead. Like always.
"Why'd you let her come? She took you to Woodbury and you said she just split on you. And Oscar died and you guys..." I asked him a little worried for our safety. He was placing the dress under the wheel and we were both crouched so we could talk at the same time.
"It wasn't that simple. I asked her to come today. I didn't want to leave her at the prison if I wasn't there, not with Merle. That and we got common interests. For right now, we have the same problems. So maybe we can work on them together," dad said as he secured the dress under the car. Curious to see if this would actually work.
"Just for right now?" I asked, trying to keep my voice low as I knew she could hear us.
"Yeah, just for right now," dad agreed as we got up to hear the sounds of the man pleading for us to take him. Knocking on the door, dad looked to the man and Michonne began to drive. Getting out of the mess she had made. "Let's go," dad said to me as we both got into the car and drove away.
RPOV
Parking outside the police station, we slowly walked inside and found that the station had been completely looted of guns, ammunition and any other goods. Fuck. Kicking at the wall, a pole fell and trembled on the ground. Running my fingers through my hair, I felt my frustration slowly leave me and anger slowly rise.
"You got any other police stations in town?" Michonne asked as she stepped in and checked the room. She found a single bullet on the ground which wasn't used. I was trying to think of where we could get guns. Where we could get ammo.
"I was the police here. Me and a few other guys. It ain't a big town. There's other places to check. May not have as many guns as were in here, but-" I said as I tried to think of the places. There are some places which might have a gun or two...
"We need as many guns as were in here. Ammo, too," Michonne noted as she may have made a rough estimate as to how much we would need. She's smart. That's for sure.
"Yeah, we do. But right now, I only got a line on a couple. There's a few places out on the main street...bars, a liquor store. Owners had a gun or two behind the counter that people didn't know about. I did. I signed the permits. They might still be there. Do you have a problem with that approach?" I questioned her, testing to see if she would go against me.
"No, Rick. I don't have a problem," Michonne said with sincerity. Shaking her head as she handed me the bullet. Taking it from her, I nod and decided to head further into the town. So that we could get into the bars and search for the guns.
Walking along the town, we could sense it being deserted but then was surprised to see that there were signs, burnt walkers and arrows on the ground leading to certain directions. Someone's living here. "What is it?" Michonne asked as we all became alert and could hear the rustle of something. Then something that sounded like a...is that a bird?
"I don't know," I informed her, unsure of what exactly was in a cage.
"It looks like someone's already make this theirs," Michonne mused as we noticed the amounts of wires, spikes and traps that surrounded an entrance to a street. Holy shit...someone really is living here.
"Doesn't mean they found what we're looking for," I told her. Trying to reassure her that we might still have a chance of getting what we needed. "Couple of the places are just up ahead. Let's get in and get the hell out of here. There. Tyrell's. A shotgun and two handguns. License issued to Tyrell Debbs," I spoke as we dodged wires and spikes. A walker was following behind us and I saw Michonne about to go and kill it. "Wait. She'll get caught," I predicted and eventually...it became fact.
The walker bumped into the line and suddenly, a noise caught the attention of someone as a shot was fired at the walker's head. "Hands! Now you drop what you got and you go. Your guns, your shoes, and that sword. All of it. 10 seconds," a masculine voice barked down at us.
"Run for the car now," I ordered of Carl as we all raised our hands.
"10..." the man shouted at us.
"Dad," Carl said a little panicked.
"We need that rifle," Michonne said to us as we felt our hearts speed up. Adrenaline either telling us we were about to die or get ourselves into serious danger.
"...nine, eight..." the man growled down at us.
"I think I can get up there," Michonne whispered to us.
"...seven, six..." the man shouted at us as he was pointing a rifle at us.
"Carl, go!" I demanded and this was when I started to shoot up at him, running to somewhere safe. Somewhere I could hide from his sight. Fires were being shot, I emptied my gun and slipped the single bullet that Michonne had given me earlier into my gun.
I was about to shoot up at the man but he was no longer there. He was gone. Where the hell is he?! I looked up to see Michonne on the roof and she gave me a signal that told me she didn't know where he went. Suddenly, gun shots came from around the corner. Scurrying away, I hid behind a barrel and kept running to different hiding spots.
Just as I was going to shoot him, Carl came up and shot the man in surprise. Shit! Carl's gun was raised as he looked down at the man he had just shot. Michonne coming out from another corner, sword raised and ready to fight. Panting I looked at him a little worried. "You okay?" I asked him. He could have killed a man.
"Yeah," Carl answered as though nothing had just happened. His face stern and his body still. He's not shaking or...crying. It's...weird. Usually he would be but...ever since he killed his mom he's been more...I don't even know what to call it. Stronger?
"I told you to run for the car. I didn't want you to have to do that," I told him. Trying to regain my normal breathing rate. His eyes were on the man but suddenly, they shot up to look directly at me.
"I had to," he growled up at me. He's acting more like me every day. What example am I showing him? The words of Dale came into my mind. "Shoot first, think later?"
Ducking down to crouch, I thumped the man's chest. There was no bleeding. "He's wearing body armor," I said as I heard the small thumping sound it would make. "He's alive," I told them as I lifted his shirt and the body armor to examin him.
"Do we care?" Michonne asked me a little sarcastically as she looked over my shoulder at the man.
Pulling off his mask, I saw his face and was stunned. It can't be...Morgan? "Yeah," I answered as I felt my body tense and go into a small shock. He just tried to kill me. The same man who once saved me tried to kill me.
KPOV
"Hey Carol," I said as I looked to her. She was stood in the cafeteria, clearing up and fixing things. We were alone, the others were around the prison doing certain things. Either clearing, preparing for the Governor or in their cell.
"Hey...how's Judith?" Carol asked as she looked at me over my shoulder. Taking a seat, I sighed and pushed a few strands away from my face. Judith was actually a good baby. She rarely cried. It was only when she wanted something. Like food, or if she pooped or pissed herself.
"Sound asleep," I told Carol with a proud smile. I had been spending a good few hours cuddling her, rocking her and singing a soft song to her. It was soon time for her to feed.
"Aw. That's good," Carol said with a small smile and sigh. She would take her own time with Judith whenever I would shower or go eat. Juggling Judith between me, Carol and Beth. "Is everything all right?" she asked me as she came to sit in front of me.
"Yeah I'm just...I mean. I was going to say you must be pretty happy now," I said with a small clearing of my throat. I didn't like prying in someone elses business but I could tell Carol was happy to be here again. To have Daryl back with us. Even if it did include Merle in the equation.
"What do you mean?" she asked me a little curious as to what I meant. Her blue eyes were soft and slinting at me wondering what I had possibly meant by that statement.
"I mean that...well...Daryl's back. He came back for you," I said which made her smile slightly and nod. Her fingers brushing stray crumbs off the table.
"Oh. He didn't come back for just me sweetie. He came back for all of us. Back to where he belongs. To somewhere he knows he is cared for. Somewhere he's respected," Carol told me with a warmth that told me she cared about Daryl more than she led on.
"Well yes but...I mean...the way they talked about you when he was leaving. I mean...well...are you a little mad with him? I see you don't sleep in the same bed as him," I said and blushed lightly. I really don't want to imagine these two sleeping together. Or doing other...activities that involve beds.
"Oh. Why would you think-" Carol asked me as her brows furrowed. "Oh no...you thought me and Daryl are dating?" Carol asked me a little stunned as her eyebrows shot to her hair, her eyes blinking at me surprised by my words. "Honey...we're not. We're just...close. Like you, Michonne and Andrea are," she told me which made me blush darker.
"Oh. My mistake," I said which made me want to create a hole and allow it to swallow me. My face must have resembled a cherry because I felt as red as one. What a fool. The most comforting sound echoed around the room which made me rush to my feet. "I better get back to Judith," I said as her cries was heard all around the prison. Allowing me a swift escape from a laughing Carol. Taking a bottle of already prepared formula, I went to Judith and fed her.
RPOV
"Keep an eye out for booby traps. Looks like he's gotten pretty creative so far," I say as I glanced around. Carl was keeping watch on Morgan. Allowing me and Michonne to check the place out. Keeping watch of walkers, traps and other things Morgan could of left around for us to find.
"I thought we were just gonna get in and get the hell out of here," Michonne said as I could feel her gaze glaring at me slightly. Her eyes looking at me through slits as she was curious as to my possible change of heart.
"I'm not leaving him on the street," I told her as I was going to be stubborn about this. I'm not leaving him out here to die. Not after everything that happened.
"Look, I know you said he helped you-" Michonne said as she tried to convince me otherwise.
"He saved my life," I growled at her. "He wasn't like this then," I informed her. Remembering the good, kind and cautious man I had met when this all started for me.
"Okay," Michonne agreed as I looked over at Carl, aiming his gun at Morgan who was unconcious. A young and small face popping into my head as I remembered something.
"Jesus, he has a son," I said as I remembered young Duane.
"You think he's in there?" Michonne asked me. Without giving her a reply, I slowly stepped closer towards the door we had been peering into. It was guarded with spikes and had a small 'welcome' mat on the floor. "Don't," Michonne growled which made me stop in my steps. "You said booby traps," she told me which made me pull up the mat and look at it in slight surprise.
Morgan had made a huge hole where he placed multiple knives into the ground. To cause damage to any feet that walked over it as I had almost done. I felt a small relief as I looked over my shoulder at her. "Thank you," I said as I appreciated her warning.
"Let's just get him inside and go," she growled as we made our way to Morgan and lifted him to support against us. Leading him into the house and looked up at the stairs.
"Whoa!" I shout as my own warning when I see Michonne's foot almost push down on a trigger that would send us to our possible death. A wire as thin and naked to the eye as particles in the sky. Taking caution, we slowly got into the room and saw that there was an axe that would have swung down and sliced us. "Carl, watch the wire," I warned Carl as he followed behind us.
"I showed him that weapons locker last year," I said as we entered the room to be greeted by ammo, guns and other weapons everywhere. The whole room was covered by weapons. Or by writing along the walls.
"And it had all of this in it?" Michonne asked as she looked around slightly amazed by the amount of things Morgan had.
"No, not even half. He's been busy. The cot," I said as I looked around and noticed the bed in the corner. Placing him on the bed, I began to check for any hidden weapons. Hearing Carl and Michonne pack weapons, ammo and other things into their bags. Going over to a part of the room, I picked up a gun, went to check it and something caught my eye.
The writing on the wall. Morgan's been busy. It wasn't just that. It was the walkie talkie I had given him to use. For us to keep contact. The one I gave up on after leaving to be on the farm. The same one I went back for, putting Glenn's life at risk. "No. We're gonna wait for him to wake up. Make sure he's okay," I said as I saw something on the walls that caught my eye. 'Duane turned' in red.
"He tried to kill us," Michonne growled at me.
"He told us to go. He didn't know who we were," I said defending Morgan. If he knew who we were he wouldn't react that way.
"He tried to kill us and we didn't leave him for the walkers. He's had a good day. He doesn't need half of these guns. We do," Michonne tried to convince me again. Was she always like this with Kat?
"We're waiting for him to wake up. That's it," I ordered.
"Have you taken a look around this place? The axe, the spikes, the walls," Michonne asked me as though I had been blind or something.
"You think he's crazy?" I asked her curious as to what she would say.
"No. I think he's dangerous," Michonne countered my thoughts by telling me this.
"I know him," I said forcefully.
"He wasn't like this then," Michonne said, repeating my words from before.
"We're gonna wait for him to wake up," I said as I grabbed some things that would restrain him. Putting them on him to ensure we were safe when he would wake up. "What do you see?" I asked Carl as I saw him staring at a drawing on the wall.
"It's our neighborhood," Carl told me. "It's gone," he said as our eyes looked directly at the same place. Our home.
"Is that why you wanted to come? To see the house?" I asked him. My hands on my hips as I looked at him. His back to me. "Carl," I called to him after he hadn't answered me.
"I just wanted to come," Carl said with a shake of his head, stuttering as he thought of what he wanted to say. He's keeping something from me.
"We're eating his food now?" I asked after I shut my eyes, lowering my head I could hear the crunching of loud eating coming from behind.
"The mat said 'Welcome.'" Michonne said as she ate noisily, sitting down on a table as she looked between me and Carl. Shaking my head, I walked back to stand beside Morgan.
CPOV
"I'm going on a run," I told dad after glancing around at the map. I felt a little heart broken to find our house no longer existed. My childhood...Kat's childhood. Our lives there...it's gone. Forever.
"Where?" dad asked me, sounding as worried as mom would about mine and Kat's safety.
"I thought maybe the one thing people didn't loot was cribs and there's that baby place that Mom's friend Sara ran. It's just around the corner," I tell him. Remembering how everything looked before. Where everything was.
"Carl," dad said as he started to protest.
"Dad, it's just around the corner. And there's all those walker traps," I said as I cut him off. Please bite for the bait. Please. Please.
"You're gonna need some help carrying the box," Michonne said as she looked at the map, eating noisily as she kept her eyes on the drawing on the wall.
"What?" I asked confused. Why would I be carrying a box?
"If you're gonna get a crib, you have to get the box. It's big and heavy. You're gonna need help carrying the box. You are getting a crib, right?" she asked me as she was probably just going to follow me. She probably wants me dead so she can have Kat to herself.
"That's what I said," I agreed. Trying to hide the fact I was lying.
"Then I'll go with him," Michonne volunteered as she ate on the food noisily, looking over her shoulder at dad and finishing the packet.
"Right there, that's the deal. You get into trouble, you holler, okay? I'll hear it from here," dad told me as he agreed to the settlement of Michonne coming with me. Feels like she's just coming with me to babysit me.What dad said reminded me of Dale when it was just me, Mom and Kat back at the camp. When everyone was still alive.
"Okay," I agreed with a small nod. Making my way out with Michonne following closely behind me. "You don't have to come with me. I can handle it," I said to Michonne as we made our way outside. Walking ahead and not looking back at her.
"I told your dad I'd help you," Michonne told me which made me feel like she meant she would protect me. She only cares about Kat. Not about me, my dad or Judith.
"Yeah, okay. Guess we should take care of that," I said as I saw a walker come closer to us. It got stuck and noticed us.
"Mmm," Michonne agreed as she got distracted for a moment. Killing it and allowing me the chance to run away from her. Towards the place we would eat on special occasions. Pulling out my gun, I heard footsteps follow after me quickly. "What the hell was that?" Michonne asked me as she pulled me to look at her, spinning me on my feet and stopping me from my travel towards the restaurant.
"I want to do this on my own," I tell her. Wanting my own independence. Why does everyone treat me like some sort of...kid. I'm not one. I live in this fucking world and I've dealt with more walkers than they could imagine.
"You just passed the baby place," Michonne said as I had turned my back on her and began to walk towards the restaurant. Wanting peace and to be alone. To do as I pleased and not have people constantly looking out for me.
"I'm getting Judith something else first, okay?" I tell her. The way she looked at me before I turned around again was a weird look. As though she could...see my sister in me. Do I remind her of Kat?...
RPOV
I was touching the walls, reading his writing. Sitting down, it was silent. I could tell he was awake. "I'm sorry this happened to you," I told him sadly. Getting up, I walked to one of the weapons I had given him. Suddenly, I heard quiet footsteps then it became rushed. Spinning quickly, I smacked him with the end of the gun and knocked him to the ground.
"Do you know who I am? Do you see who I am?" I asked him as I pointed to myself and then to him. Hoping to God he could tell it was me. That he remembered me.
"People wearing dead people's faces," Morgan growled up at me as he clutched his knife tightly in his hand.
"Morgan, listen to me," I shouted as I slowly got closer to him.
"No, I don't know you!" Morgan sceamed as he knocked the gun out of my hands and pushed me. Grabbing his arms, I pushed him hard against the wall. Restraining him of any movements.
"You do know me!" I shouted at him as we struggled against each other.
"I don't know you!" he screamed at me as he tried to lower the knife down to kill me.
"You saved my life, Morgan! You know me. Look at me," I struggled against him but I was then punched in the face and rolling on the ground.
"You don't clear, man. You turn. You just die," Morgan shouted at me, stuggling as he got on top of me and was aiming the knife to plunge through my heart or head. I couldn't tell as we were fighting against each other. Trying not to get killed or to hurt him at the same time.
"You know me!" I shouted up at him for the millionth time.
"I don't know anyone anymore! You don't clear!" Morgan screamed at me as he drove his knife into my shoulder. The pain of it making me scream and push him off of me. The way it dug through my skin, sliced open my muscles and blood pour out made me push him off as hard as I could.
"You know me," I told him as I got to my feet, clutching at my shoulder in hopes it would stop the bleeding. "You crazy son of a bitch!" I shouted as I raised the gun at his crawling figure. He saw the gun cock to his head, his arms were to his sides in surrender. The crazy look in his eye told me something I didn't want to see.
"Please. Please kill me. Just kill me. Just kill me. Just kill me. Just...just kill me," he pleaded as he looked up at me. Grabbing my hands and pressing the barrel of the gun to his forehead. Asking me to kill him. He wants me to kill him.
"You found me last year in my front yard, Morgan. You and...you found me," I spoke as I wrapped a cloth around my shoulder and waist. Holding the wound tightly enough until I reached Hershel who would treat it better.
"You fed me. You told me what's happening. You saved me. My name is Rick Grimes. You know me. I'm not wearing a dead man's face," I told him as I patched myself up as well as I could. I had restrained him and let him sit down on the floor. He was pleaeding for me to kill him. I wouldn't allow it. Slipping on my shirt, I walked over to an object and lifted it up into my hand. "I gave you this," I told him as I picked up the walkie talkie.
"I said I'd turn it on every day at dawn so you could find me," I told him, hoping it would jog his memory a little. To remind him of who I was and what a good man he was to me. Saving me the way he did. Allowing me food, knowledge and shelter.
"Rick? I know you. Oh, man. Damn it, I...I know you. I know who you are. You said you'd turn yours on at dawn. That's what you said. I mean, I hadn't worked up to it yet, and...then I did. On the roof, every morning for days, for weeks, me and my boy," he said with a small chuckle. "And then...me. Just static, though. Nothing but static. And then nothing but nothing. You weren't there. You were never there," he told me with a sad tone in his voice.
"I was," I told him. Remembering the times I would tell him where we were off to. When I would warn him of things that happpened to us. Things that I could prevent for him. Atlanta...CDC. All of it.
"No, not when I tried. I mean, you said you would turn on your radio every day at dawn," Morgan argued.
"Morgan, I-" I went to defend myself but was then cut off by Morgan.
"You said that you would turn on your radio-" he said as he was slowly raising his voice at me.
"I did!" I shouted at him.
"Every day at dawn and you were not there!" he screamed over me. We sat there, myself crouched next to him and the both of us breathing as we would look at each other. I didn't know what else to say.
"I kept getting...I kept getting pushed farther out. I had to. I didn't have a choice. I found my wife and my kids. I had people. I had to keep them safe. We kept getting pushed back deeper into the country. I swear to God I didn't have a choice," I tell him as I would wipe at my face and pace around the room.
"You can have your radio back 'cause it looks like I finally found you. You found your wife and your children. That's what happened, right? You found them. And did they-...did she-...did your wife-...did she turn?" Morgan growled as he kicked away the walkie talkie. His eyes looking up at me sadly.
"No, she died," I informed him. Finally comfortable with telling people this.
"So you didn't have to see that, then. Of course not. Not like me. No. Not like me. Not like my wife. You remember what happened to her? You remember what she was? Yeah. Oh. You gave me the gun. You tried," Morgan rambled on like a crazy man.
"What did I try, Morgan? What did I try?" I asked him. Wanting answers from what he was about to say.
"You tried to get me to do it 'cause I was supposed to do it. I was supposed to kill her, my Jenny. Knew I was supposed to, but I let it go. Let it go like there wasn't gonna be a reckoning. We was always looking for food. You know, it always came down to food. And I was...I was checking out a cellar and I didn't want Duane to come down there with me," he began to tell me his story.
"And then when I came up...she was standing there right in front of him and he had his gun up and he couldn't do it. So I called to him and he turned. And then she was just...just on him," he told me as I crouched beside him. Watching him as he spoke sadly of what happened between him and his family.
"And I see red. I see red. Everything is red. Everything I see is red. And I do it. Finally. Finally was too late. I was supposed to. I was selfish. I was weak. You gave me the gun," he told me. "Hey, your children...are they dead?" he asked me curiously.
"No," I answered. Thank God they aren't. Kat was for what we thought as dead but...she survived. Both her and Carl are strong. I know they are.
"No? He will be. See, 'cause people like you, the good people, they always die. And the bad people do, too. But the weak people, the people like me...we have inherited the Earth," Morgan told me with a crazy smile on his face. He's lost everything. I don't want to be like this. I will keep myself sane. For Kat. For Carl. For Judith. They need me. God knows I need them.
CPOV
Glancing through the window, we saw the restaurant was what seemed to be empty. Except for two walkers that we could see. I was going to open the door but Michonne stopped me before I could. Walking away, I came up with a plan in my head. One I knew would work. "You think I was gonna let you go in there?" Michonne asked me as though I was being foolish.
"I just think it's none of your business. You don't know me. You don't know my dad. You only know Kat. But not like we do!" I shout at her, angered with her interferance. She doesn't know us. Doesn't know what we've been through. The only ties she has to us is Kat and the Governor.
"I came out here to help," Michonne told me firmly.
"You came out here for common interests. We have the same enemy and the same problem. And that's why you're here. That's it," I growled at her, feeling much like my father. "This is important. I'm going to do this. And I know how I can. You can't stop me," I told her. Being stubborn about the whole situation.
"Psst," she called to me, making me stop from my journey once again. "I can't stop you. But you can't stop me from helping you," Michonne said pointing the obvious. Fair enough.
Going back, we took some rats that were in cages, placed them on skateboards and carefully, Michonne opened the door. When Michonne held the bell, I quickly but slowly pushed the rats into the room and waited until we knew the walkers were distracted.
Going in, we sneaked our way to the desk and slowly I climbed up onto it. Reaching for the photograph, I took it down and was suddenly grabbed by a hand. The walker was about to bite me but luckily, Michonne killed it in time and slowly pulled it out while she held its head. Lowering it onto the table, I slowly got down and we tried to sneak our way out.
Noticing a rat rush towards us, this was when panic set in. Walkers rounded the corner, chasing after the rat and found us. We ran around, trying to get away while I fired shots and Michonne swung her sword. A walker went to reach for me, instead it grabbed the photograph and made me drop it."No!" I screamed as Michonne pushed me out and slammed the door shut.
"I've got to go back in," I told her as she looked down and realized the photo frame was no longer in my hands.
"Where is it?" she asked me as she held the door shut as tightly as she could.
"We have to go back. We have to. I have to. I think it's the only one left!" I screamed as I felt the panic rise again. I need that photograph. I need it. We need it. Judith needs it. "Fine," I growled as I was about to push in but she stopped me.
"Not like this," she told me as she pushed her hand down on the doors. Stopping me from entering. "I don't know you. I get that. But can you do something for me? Wait here," she ordered and pleaded of me.
"I can help," I said as I offered to go back in there. I need to get that photograph. I need to.
"No. And no more bullshit. You wait here. That's how we get it done," Michonne growled at me. Giving me orders. Is this what Kat had to deal with during those 8 months? She got close to Michonne like this? I guess...Kat was smart for her own knowledge or...maybe they became smarter by being together. I don't know.
Sighing, I decided to take her advice and stood against the door. She walked off and left me there for a few minutes. Alone and thinking to myself. "Hey," she said as she slowly walked towards me. One hand behind her back as she handed me the photograph.
"I just...I just thought Judith should...should know what her mom looked like. Have it in a cell for her. Hang it on a wall," I looked down at the dusty picture and smiled. It was one of me, mom, dad and Kat. All of us cuddled together for the photo. Smiling at the camera. We all looked so...happy. "Thank you," I said to her as we began to walk off.
"I was gonna go back in anyway. I just couldn't leave this behind. It's just too damn gorgeous," Michonne said as she revealed the ugliest, most stupid cat ornament I had ever seen. Laughing, I shook my head and looked to her. She's all right...I can trust her. Kat was right. She is a good person.
RPOV
"I'm not going to kill you. I don't think that's what's supposed to happen. I think you're supposed to come back with us," I told Morgan as I deliberated what to do now. Cutting him free of his restraints and allowing his wrists to breathe.
"After all that? After me trying to blow your head off, stab your heart out, happily ever after together?" he asked me as he rubbed at his wrists. There was still no sign of Carl or Michonne. I was starting to worry.
"You couldn't kill me, I couldn't kill you. I'll take that as a sign," I tell him. He looked up at me for a moment after rubbing his wrists.
"Huh," he said with a small smile on his face.
"We found a prison. The fences can keep 'em out," I informed him as I crouched down in front of him. Looking at him straight in the eyes.
"Is that where your wife died?" he asked me which made me silent. "Just go. Don't go back. Don't stop. Just get yourself some more time," Morgan told me as though he knew what he was talking about.
"Look, I can help you. You can come back with us. You can heal," I tried to make him see sense.
"You're taking a lot of guns, Rick. No, I'm just saying that that all is a lot of guns. Why do you need the guns, Rick? 'Cause if you got something good, that just means that there's someone who wants to take it. And that is what is happening, right?" he asked me. He knows a lot more than I thought.
"We're gonna win. You can be there. You can help," I tried to convince him to come with us. To help us against the Governor.
"You will be torn apart by teeth or bullets. You and your children. Your people, but not me. Because I am not gonna watch that happen again. Man, you take the guns," Morgan said as he got to his feet and began to walk away.
"You know there's a chance. That's what you can't square. That's what hurts. You know there's a chance!" I shouted after him, getting to my feet and raising my arm to point at him.
"I don't think you heard a damn word that I said!" Morgan shouted as he turned to look at me. We were both angered. Both lost in our own ways. Both of us troubled. We were so different but...so similar at the same time.
"We both started out in the same place. Things went bad for you, things went bad for me. But you're not seeing things right. I don't blame you, what you've lost, what you've been through. You're not seeing things right, but you can come back from this, I know you can. You have to," I said as I thought of Shane when I said this. It was the same type of speech I had given him. Over and over again.
"This can't be it. It can't be. You got to be able to come back from this," I pleaded. Remembering Shane and when I had killed him. How he tried to kill me. How we fought over Lori. Over the farm. CDC. Everything. I gave him too many chances. I couldn't give him up.
"No," Morgan said bluntly.
"Morgan, please," I begged of him as I walked closer to him.
"No! I have to clear. That's why I didn't die today. That's the sign. I have to, man. I have to. I have to clear," he said to me. I guess...he's got to do what he's got to do.
KPOV
Placing Judith into her cot, she was sound asleep once again and I noticed Daryl stepping out of his cell. "Daryl?" I called to him and he stopped by the balcony. His rugged looks would of alarmed anyone but...it was comforting to me. Showed me that they've all been through a lot. That it wasn't just me.
"Yeah?" he asked me with his rough voice. This was one of the first times he's ever verbally answered me since my return. His eyes glanced up at me, the flash of blue soon disappearing under his lashes as he lowered his head a little.
"I just ah...I wanted to talk to you. To tell you...'thank you'," I said as I slowly walked closer to him. "For being here, for my famiy. I heard about what you did for my family. For Judith. When she was born...when my dad lost it. You went out there and did what others probably wouldn't do," I said as I leaned against the balcony and stood beside him.
"Anyone would have done that," Daryl said as he looked directly at me. His eyes watching me intently. The way his eyes looked at me, did the same thing as last night. Like he was looking into my soul. This sent a small shiver down my spine and for my breath to hitch in my throat.
"I know...but you did. Thank you. You saved Judith. You saved my dad more than once. You saved my brother...my mother. You even saved me more times than I can count. Thank you," I told him and he just looked at me. Nodding slowly as though he was taking in my words. Soaking himself in them.
"You know...you're not such a bad person. You've changed. You're not the same man that was always looking out for himself. You care. It's a good quality and well...I'm glad you're back. You've done more for my family than I could ever repay. You've kept them fed...safe," I said with a small smile.
"As sane as they can or could be. But most of all...you've kept them alive. No matter how many times I thank you...what you've done can never amount to them," I tell him and he stayed silent. Our eyes holding each other's gaze.
Moving closer slowly, I leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to his cheek. My mouth lingering on his cheek longer than he possibly felt comfortable. I sensed him tense but slowly relax to my gesture of gratitude. His stubble, dirt and sweat covered skin tickling lightly under my lips. "Thank you Daryl," I whispered to him. His eyes locked on mine as I slowly pulled away from him and returned to my cell.
RPOV
Morgan was pulling bodies of walkers away from the spikes. The bag of ammo and guns were in my hands as I saw Carl and Michonne walk towards me with the cot in their hands. "Hey. I was just about to look for you," I told Carl as I looked at him. So small but...so strong. I'm glad I have him. And Kat. And Judith.
"Sorry," Carl said appologetically as he walked ahead of me.
"It's all right. You're here now," I replied to him with a small smile on my face. I saw him stop to look at my shoulder. Where Morgan had stabbed me. "Oh, it's nothing," I tell him, reassuring him that I'm okay. "Thank you," I said as I was struggling with the bags. Michonne taking it off me and slinging it over her shoulder.
"He's okay?" Michonne asked me as she was looking to Morgan slightly concerned.
"No, he's not," I informed her as we kept walking.
"Wait," Carl said to us. "Hey," Carl called out to Morgan who was checking a walker. Possibly for weapons.
"Carl," I tried to warn him. Wanting to get back to the prison. To Kat, Judith and the others.
"Morgan. I had to shoot you. You know I had to, right?" Carl asked Morgan who had stopped to look up at him. "I'm sorry," Carl said kindly which made Morgan walk ahead of him.
"Hey, son. Don't ever be sorry," Morgan told Carl before he walked off and continued to check the walker for whatever he was looking for.
"Everything okay with her?" I asked Carl as I watched Michonne help put things into the car with us.
"I think she might be one of us," Carl said with a small smile on his face. What happened between these two?
"What?" I asked him curious as I stepped closer to him.
"Everything went okay," he tells me with a smirk as he nods. Enough to say that she is now trusted. I can take Carl's word for that. Not just Kat's
"Hop in," I tell him with a small smile. "I'll throw this in the back," I tell him before he jumped into the car and I allowed my mind to muse about things. Thinking of Kat and Carl's relationship with Michonne.
"You see something?" Michonne asked me as she came beside me. Pulling me from my thoughts which made me look to her surprised. "I know you see things. People. I used to talk to my dead boyfriend. It happens," she informed me. So...I wasn't the only one. I'm glad she gets me.
"You want to drive?" I asked her kindly. She seems all right. She's not a threat.
"Yeah," she told me with a small nod. Handing her the car keys, she took them gently from me.
"Good," I agreed with a small nod. "I see things," I told her, informing her that what she thought was true. Just...not at this very moment.
So! I hope you liked this super long chapter! Compared to others I have recently been doing! I felt it neccessary to write this chapter. To show how different but similar Morgan was to Rick. How Carl was wary of Michonne and is slowly trusting her. How their characters are changing and beginning to co-operate. How Kat messed up big time and how Kat is getting closer to Daryl. I felt it all needed to happen.
Questions for this chapter: How did you feel about this chapter? What do you think will happen when it comes to Kat and the Governor? How was the kiss on the cheek that Kat gave Daryl? Too soon or...not? Now...replies to last chapter's reviews. 5 reviews for this chapter again please!
Caity6991: You're welcome! I hope you liked this chapter! And...oops! {Silly giggle} I love you too honey. I'm glad you liked all those scenes. I love the scenes where the characters feel more real. Where they are being who they should. When they are at their most vaulnerable but strongest because...the love they share is what keeps them strong. xoxo
casper6six6: Here you have it dear!
Guest: I'm glad you love it! I love writing it!
jorylynn12: Don't have to wait very long. Here you have another chapter! And a mega long one too! Daryl and Kat aren't the types to get together so quickly.
kayley . docherty: I'm glad you thought so! Thanks. It was emotional for me to write too. Kat is so sad over her mother but...she's strong for her father and siblings.
Until the 5 reviews and next chapter...
Much love!
HeroJustInTime90 xx
