Chapter 32 - THE END?
*Carl's POV*
When I went out onto the porch, I wanted to see what Dodger was doing for the rest of the day. Maybe her and I could hangout or she could show me how to use her crossbow. I sat on the porch, waiting for her and Daryl to finish talking.
I didn't say anything, I tried not to pay attention to what they were talking about but I how could I not, they were right next to me… When Dodger was telling Daryl about her dream, I didn't know what to think. Then she was talking about how she wasn't ready for a baby again. I didn't really know what she meant when she said again, but after I listened for awhile, I figured it out… She lost a baby before it was born… That's why when she first met Judith she didn't want to hold her and that's why she almost cried when Judith called her 'Mama.'
I didn't know what it was like to lose a child or sibling but I knew what it was like to lose your actual family. Now I got why she was so caring to Judith and I. We were like step children to her. Dodger really wasn't a mom to me, but I looked up to her. Dodger and Daryl were so close but I didn't want Judith and I to get in the way of them.
When my dad came out looking for me, he didn't even notice that Dodger was straddling Daryl behind him. He took me inside and that was that. Sitting me on the couch, he went into the kitchen and I heard Abraham propose something to my dad.
"Hey Rick?"
"Yes Abraham?" My dad answers
"Me, Eugene, and Rosita are going to Washington"
"Why?" My dad questioned, confused on why they were leaving
I couldn't hear what they spoke about after that, I could just hear whispers.
*Dodger's POV*
After some alone time, Daryl decided to go see what was going on. He left and didn't come back for some time. Almost a hour later he returned, looking tired as ever ;)
"What Rick say" I ask throwing my hair up
"Eugene claims he has a cure, Abraham wants to take him there" He wouldn't look at me when he spoke
"Now all of a sudden he has a 'cure'? That sounds like a load of bullshit if you ask me" It was a stretch, it really was
"Yeah that's what I was thinkin' too. And Rick said we are leaving here, we have zero supplies…" Daryl looked at me as if he told me the worst news ever
"We'll be okay" I said calmly, going over to him and resting my head on his chest, his arms wrapping around me
"I know we will but we ain't got any water. The sun has been brutal lately…"
"How far we have to go then?" I look up at him
"Well Abraham, Eugene, and Rosita are taking a car they found…"
"You're kidding right"
"Wish I was" Again, he looked crushed
"When are we leaving… It's nearly noon"
"...Now" Daryl grabbed my shirt and put it on me
"Rick isn't being serious... We didn't even have a meeting!"
"He wants to talk to you 'bout it but I can tell you right now there is no changing his mind..." Daryl gently kissed my forehead
With a sigh, I grabbed my boots and slipped them on. "I'll be back shortly"
Before I could walk out the door Daryl grabbed my wrist pulling me over to him. I couldn't speak, he pulled me into a simple kiss. "Just don't hurt nobody"
"I won't I promise" I smiled, grabbed my knife, and went to find Rick
Arriving at the house we had breakfast in, I entered without a knock. "Rick?!" I called, my voice echoing throughout the house
"Dodger what's wrong?" Carl asked
"I need your dad. Need to talk to him alone"
Carl nodded and ran out the house, soon returning with his father.
When they entered, I was sitting on the armrest of the couch looking at my knife. Man I needed to clean and sharpen this thing...
"Everything alright?" Rick asked, not sounding the least bit concerned.
I looked up at him, my eyes slightly narrow. Carl quietly left, closing the front door behind him.
"Yeah, everythin' is fine and dandy Rick" I reply sarcastically
"Well what's on your mind then?"
"Why we are leaving right now, that's what"
"What's wrong with that?" He asks confused
"Did everyone agree on this? Did you call a meeting? Whatever happened to us, the rest of the group and what they thought? This isn't 'Ricktatorship', we all decide on what goes on Rick" You could hear the anger in my voice but I tried not to get too angry
"I thought you would have been alright with this..."
"Yeah I would have been, if we had supplies!" I was starting to lose it, my hands started making gestures as I protested
"We can scout ahead a few miles before we go, don't worry" He tried telling my reassuringly
"From here to Washington is all highway. There is no 'pitstop' or 'supermarket' we could clear out. If you don't come up with supplies for us before we leave, I'm taking a vote of who wants to stay with me before we leave, so no one dies on us" And with that, I stormed out of the house and off the porch. Carl didn't stop me, he heard what happened.
After returning to the house, Daryl didn't want to ask what happened but I could tell he wanted to know, who wouldn't? I was honestly against Rick on his decision to leave right now. He was putting everyone of us at risk, for some stupid cure that's probably a load of bullshit.
"Hey Dodger?" Daryl asked sitting next to me under the oak tree
"Yeah?" He was going to ask, I knew he was going to ask
"What Rick say after you talked to him" He didn't want me or anyone else for that matter to go out
"Well I told him that if he doesn't gather supplies for us, I'm taking a vote on who wants to stay with me or go with him. If they want to go with him, they can. I will not force anyone to stay with me or go to Washington, not even you Daryl. Whoever stays with me, I will look out for them and protect them like family" Telling him that he could go killed me to say and killed him too, but what if he wanted to see the cure...
"For one, I would never leave you because that is the stupidest thing I have ever done. And I knew you were going to do that" He smiled
"I was going to do what?"
He took my hand in his and looked up at the clear sky, "See who wants to stay with you, treat them like your real family. Rick was right about you when we met in the woods that night"
My cheeks may or may not have turned a light shade of pink when he complimented me on my leadership. "So who do you think will stay with me?"
"Probably everyone besides Rosita and them. I know I'd stay" A smirk grew on his face
"Don't you think Rick'll be pissed if his kids stay with me and not go with him?"
"That's his fault not yours, he would be putting his own kids at risk if we all left right now" Daryl stood up then helping me stand
"Let's go round up everyone" He says
I nod and we go to the house, which Rick had already gathered everyone out front.
"Rick is this everyone?" I ask, not wanting to hear any bullshit
With Daryl at my side, everyone still doesn't know what is going on
"Since everyone is confused on why we are all gathered here, I would like to offer you something" I paused and took a deep breath, gaining some confidence. "I am not saying Rick is being a bad person, but he wanted us all to go to Washington today because Eugene has a said 'cure'. Now I am aware we have very limited supplies, so here is my offer to you all. Either you can go with Rick, Rosita, Abraham, and Eugene to Washington to see this 'cure', or you may stay with me until we get some supplies then continue on." Before I could continue, Rosita chimed in.
"I'm staying with you. There is no where I am going to sit in a car or walk all the way to Washington with no supplies," she stood next to me.
Carl was holding Judith, without a word, he came over and stood in front of me. Carol, Tara, Maggie, Glenn, Tyreese, and Michonne all stood behind me.
"...Then I guess it's settled Rick. You, Abraham, Eugene, Bob, and Sasha are going to Washington" I put my hand on Carl's shoulder, my other hand was intertwined with Daryl's.
"I guess it is" Rick was defeated, even his own children didn't want to go with him.
*later in the afternoon*
They were packing the old shitty minivan, ready to leave for Washington. Eugene was sitting in the passenger seat, Abraham driving. Rick was saying goodbye to everyone, Sasha and Bob were making sure everything was packed.
"Dad, all of us will be fine. We have Dodger, we have family" Carl told Rick
Judith was blabbering in my arms, Daryl making her some food
"You going to be alright?" Rick asks me
"Why wouldn't I be?" I say with a smile
"I know you will" He placed a hand on my shoulder and kissed Judith on her cheek
"...I-I lied…" Eugene announced, now out of the van
"About what" The anger in Daryl's voice was terrifying
"I-I don't have a cure… Washington might be safer than here…"
Next thing I knew I was handing Judith to Carl, holding back Daryl with all my might. Without thinking, he shoved me out of the way and went straight for Eugene.
~ Well I hope you enjoyed this, even though it was a mess.. I am hoping to do a second story, following the empty roads and so on. Hope to see you all soon. ~