In all of the chaos, the gate doors had been left open, allowing everything and everyone to enter the prison yard. They walked in silence, drawing strength from one another as they prepared for anything. Abe took the point position. It wasn't that he didn't trust the others to keep their eyes open, he just knew it would be a difficult task for anyone who had witnessed what was essentially a massacre. Rosita walked along the left side of the group, while Tara took the right side more towards the back. The women had agreed without a word to keep an eye out for dangers that might appear. Tara felt she owed it to these people to offer protection in any way she could after her part in the attack.
It was the opposite of when they first ran up the dirt path, happy to find a promising shelter after successfully clearing the yard. Now, it felt more like a graveyard filled with memories of those who lost their lives here.
Rick, Glenn, Michonne, and Sasha handled the walkers that inhabited the yard, searching the faces for any that were familiar. Rick recognized the Irish woman from the woods, and Glenn and Sasha found a few former Woodbury residents who had made a new home for themselves in A block. Michonne sliced through each one of the men and women that stood at the Governor's side, venting her anger and frustration with each slice of her katana. She didn't talk about it, but she was still devastated by the way the madman ended the life of someone who had become a friend not even three feet from her side.
They paused outside the cell block, agreeing to survey the outside before going into their old home. That was something they would do together A plan was made to meet at the dining tables before moving into C block. Rick was anxious to see if anything in his garden was edible, and Michonne decided to search for any weapons with Tara. Tyreese checked the cantina storage for food, while Glenn and Sasha looked for signs of anyone being there since the ambush and secured any open gates. They couldn't afford to be caught off guard while they were here.
It was Carol who first saw the sunlight glinting off of the chrome. She reached for Daryl's hand and led him to where the bike was She sat down on the metal bench of the picnic table nearby and kept watch as he checked it over, finding the bike in better shape than he imagined. It had been knocked on its side, probably from the cannon blast. With a little bit of polish, it would look as good as new. Opening the saddlebags, all of the contents were found when he looked inside, including Merle's pocket knife and the Cherokee rose he kept safe in the book.
"This is the rose that I put on your grave," he stated, gingerly lifting the wilted bloom to his nose to see if it still held any fragrance as he walked towards her and sat on the table. "Right after Asskicker was born, she had nothing to eat. We never planned for Lori not being around to feed her, so Maggie and I went on a run. Couldn't lose anyone else." His last words were barely more than a whisper as he tried to contain his emotions.
"We took the bike out looking for anything that might help. Just a short ride away, we saw an abandoned daycare and turned up the drive. The place was completely untouched and was a jackpot of baby stuff. Maggie pointed me in the right direction and I grabbed enough diapers, wipes, and formula to get the kid through about a week while she picked through the clothes and grabbed a couple blankets. I stood in the middle of the room for a moment, trying to see if anything else looked important when I noticed the a wall covered with tiny handprints. I felt bad enough for all of those kids that might not be around, but when I saw one handprint, it was a small orange and purple one. The name on it was "Sofie", and I felt lost all over again."
Carol's heart ached hearing the name so similar to her daughter's and seeing how it affected Daryl. She leaned into his legs and reached up to wrap her arms around him as the wetness pooled in her eyes. The sadness had been building since the first mention of a possibility to return to the prison, but the way Daryl was opening up to her, was unexpected.
"Before I found you in the tombs, I sat there on the ground, stabbing your knife into the cement repeatedly, thinking about everything I did wrong. I shoulda told you how I felt a long time ago."
The thought of how easily she had accepted her death, that she would take her last breath in that cold, dark cell made her angry. Maybe part of her did die that day, burned the weakest parts of her away like a phoenix. Maybe she did rise from the ashes, ready to set the world on fire to protect those she loves. Carol turned her attention back to what Daryl was saying, and closed off the part of her brain that was overthinking things.
"I love you, Carol," he said, smiling at her like a blind man seeing the sunset for the first time. "I should have told you that a long time ago."
"I love you too, Daryl, but I think I figured out how you felt before any of this happened," she said, waving to the destruction that was all around them.
"Stop," he replied using the same tone he always did when she was teasing him. "Have for a while now, since we were on the farm. I should have told you that day in the tombs. I was so fucking happy you were alive. I just didn't know how to tell you. Ain't like anyone ever showed me how to love someone, until you.." Daryl's words softened at the end until they were barely a whisper. He leaned into her arms and kissed her forehead.
"We better go find the others. It must be about time to go into the block," said Carol, lifting herself off of the bench. She held out a hand for Daryl and he took it, holding it tightly as they walked to meet the others.
As Carol expected, the rest of the group was gathered outside the cantina. Tyreese volunteered to stay outside with Judith where they knew it was safe. Tara offered to stay with him just in case he needed a hand.
"I tried to secure the doors when I was leaving, but I might have missed something," Glenn said, acknowledging how the block seemed almost untouched. He didn't want them to let their guard down too quickly and be any more vulnerable than they already were.
Upon entering their former home, Rick fell to his knees immediately. The feelings of failure hit him hard when he saw Hershel's crutches. He still shouldered the blame for the older man losing his life well before his time and in such a cruel manner.
Hershel. Beth. Patrick. Mrs. McLeod. Lizzie. Mika. Even Merle.
All of them had lost their lives as a result of that madman. Rick was kicking himself for not listening to Merle Dixon when he knew in his heart the other man was right. If he had, the others might still be alive.
Carol walked over and crouched down at Rick's side, placing her hand on his back. Pushing aside her personal feelings she was still dealing with in regards to the man, she offered comfort to him in his time of need. His eyes went wide as he looked up and saw it was Carol consoling him. Standing up, Rick pulled Carol into a hug and allowed his tears to fall when words failed him. The sound of boots scuffing across the concrete got Rick's attention. When he looked up, Daryl was a footstep away, hovering over Carol. His stance showed Rick that he still hadn't fully regained the trust of the hunter yet, regardless of whether or not his wife was reaching out to him when he surely didn't deserve it.
Carl laughed when he spotted Michonne exiting her old cell with a big smile and her hands behind her back. Seeing the questioning look on his face, she pulled the brightly colored cat out from behind her back and held it up as if it were a trophy.
"Did you think I was joking?" Michonne questioned in a teasing tone of voice..
Carl shook his head, smiling back at the woman. "You were right. It is too damn beautiful."
"I think whenever we find somewhere more permanent, I'll put it in your sister's room," Michonne decided. "I think Jude would like something pretty to look at. Now, come on. We have a family picture of yours to go get."
"Hey, Michonne? Do you think if we find that old instant camera thing the Glenn had, we can take a new family picture?" asked Carl.
Michonne simply nodded, knowing the words wouldn't make it out with the lump in her throat the size of a golf ball. She wrapped her arm around Carl's shoulder and pulled him towards his former cell.
Walking into her cell, Carol was greeted with the colorful displays of artwork. Coloring books had become a frequently requested item whenever anyone went out on a run. The children loved brightening up the dingy, depressing prison walls with pictures of animals, flowers, and family members. Even Patrick, who was at an awkward age where he was old enough to help out with the everyday tasks still enjoyed sitting around and coloring with the younger kids sometimes. Luke enjoyed drawing whatever Patrick made that day, whether it was trees or tanks. Lizzie's pictures were mostly frenzied circles and lines, which Carol finally realized were supposed to be walkers. Knowing just how many signs telling her that the girl was having so much difficulty adjusting to this new way of life made Carol sick to her stomach. She felt the bile creeping up the back of her throat picturing Mika's blood covering her lifeless body, and Judith just a few feet away, unknowingly facing her own death as well.
She backed up a few steps until she was pressed against Daryl's chest. His hands came to rest on her shoulders, offering her strength and support as he had so many times in the past. Gently, he pushed her back into her cell and sat on the bed with her. He pulled open the drawer of her nightstand and removed the box where she kept her last few physical reminders of Sophia.
She picked up the doll, the one Daryl almost died finding, and clutched it to her chest. Carefully, Daryl placed the rest of the box into his backpack so nothing would fall out as they moved through the cell block. He unfolded the chenille navy blue throw blanket he brought her and wrapped it around her shoulders. After a moment, Carol stood up, holding the blanket together in front of her, and pulled a piece of plaid fabric from the top bunk.
"It was Lori's shirt. I decided since Lori can't wrap her arms around her daughter, I would make a blanket of one of her shirts for Jude to keep her warm," Carol explained, holding back the tears.
"It's a great idea. Lori would be so happy to know how you're taking care of her," Daryl said, as he leaned over to kiss the top of her head.
"Sorry to interrupt," Michonne said from just outside the cell. "Glenn wants everyone out by the gate."
The three of them walked together out of the block and down the path to join the others gathers in a circle just inside the gate. Maggie was sitting in the dirt, her arms around Glenn's leg as she leaned into him to keep upright. Daryl quickly realized the earth was freshly worked up in front of them and a black tarp was placed on top of it. He gripped Carol's hand a little tighter, and even reached out to rest a hand on Michonne's shoulder.
One by one, members of the family spoke of their fallen patriarch.
"The man had one hell of a sense of humor," said Sasha. She looked at Glenn, and they both laughed as they thought about Spaghetti Tuesday's, which she would make sure took place every Wednesday for as long as she could.
"He sure did," Michonne added, reminiscing over the run outside the prison walls the two of them had taken. He had her laughing so hard it was difficult to breathe. That moment would be what she would remember as her last moments with him, not kneeled before their family awaiting execution.
"He was the leader I hope to be one day," Rick admitted. He had learned a lot from Hershel, and hoped to pass those lessons on to Carl and Judith one day.
Daryl listened as everyone shared their thoughts and memories of the man who had become a father figure and a friend to those who were fortunate enough to know him. After the time Hershel spent caring for him after being bucked off of Nervous Nellie, tumbling down a steep hill, and being shot in the head, Daryl had shared a bond with the man. Hershel understood what kind of childhood the hunter was dealt without Daryl telling him one word. Then again, the scars he wore said enough that he didn't have to. Silently, Daryl wished he had told the older man how much of a difference he had made in his life.
After the last shovel full of dirt was in its place, the group moved as on to the cars. Abe, Rosita, and Eugene had assessed which cars were still driveable, and started to pack some supplies they had found into the open bed of the pickup truck. After everything they were taking with them was loaded, people began to split up between the cars. Abe, Rosita, Eugene, and Tara climbed into the truck. Michonne strapped Judith into one of the car seats they still had in the back of the Tucson. She shouted out her claim on the navigator seat as Carl and Rick joined her in the car. Sasha and Tyreese piled into the front of another SUV, while Maggie curled into Glenn's side in the backseat, still shedding tears over her lost family members.
The sound of an engine rumbling to life brought a smile to Daryl's face, and to Carol's as well. It had been a very long time since she sat behind him, arms wrapped around his waist as they drove down the road. He led the others, just as he had done with the other caravans, down the dirt path and out to the other side of the gates. Carl and Michonne exited the green SUV and closed the gates to their old home behind them. They still didn't really have a destination, but the pain was so great that no one dared to suggest staying at the prison.
Daryl snickered to himself, as he realized they were driving off into the sunset like some kind of crappy movie. He had suffered so much loss in this world. He knew his brother, Hershel, Sophia, and all of the others they had lost along the way were looking down on them, offering any protection and guidance they could from above. Sure, this world had taken a lot from him, but it had given him much more. With that thought, he feels the woman behind him move her hands from her legs up to them on his stomach, pulling herself just a little closer to him. It brings a smile to his face, knowing how much Carol has changed him for the better. She makes him happy, gives him strength, and makes him feel loved. With her by his side, this world, no matter how hard it gets some days, is a million times better than his life before.