Thanks to: Emberka-2012, Spikesslayer8, WalkerScuzzie and Jaded79
Here's chapter four, hope you like it =)
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"Ya know nothing, woman, ya ain't making sense." He couldn't believe in fairy tales, he couldn't allow himself to believe again, the last time he trusted he was worthy, the last time he had fallen in love life had taught him that those things weren't for him.
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"You have to be fucking kidding me, Darlyna. You really thought that woman would stay with you! She slept with you 'because she was too fucking drunk to remember you are just a damn redneck." Merle was laughing out loud.
"Shut up, Merle just shut the fuck up!" Daryl was heartbroken, he couldn't believe she had left him, she had just told him she was pregnant with his child and then the next thing he knew about her was that she had had an abortion and was leaving the city.
"Oh, poor little thing, you really believed she loved you." Merle was now close to Daryl, one of his arms was around him, Daryl could smell the beer on Merle's breath, he knew very well Merle was having the best fucking time of his life, making fun of him, but he was done with all that bullshit, he was no more Darlyna, he would show his brother what a man he could be.
Merle was beyond surprised; Daryl had punched him hard on chest with his elbow and was now in top of him, punching him with all his strength, Merle had never seen the look in Daryl's eyes before, he wasn't just mad, in his eyes were a bunch of emotions he could never understand.
"What the fuck! Stop this bullshit, bro, you're so gonna regret this" Merle was doing his best to avoid Daryl's fists but he was so mad, so hurt, Merle doubted he'll stop soon.
"What, Merle! I'm too man for ya, I dare ya to call me Darlyna once more, come on, bro, who's a little bitch now, huh?" Daryl was punching fast and hard, he didn't see Merle anymore, he was seeing all the people that had hurt him during his life.
"I'm your blood, damn it! You ain't thinking, Daryl!" Merle had finally freed himself, Daryl was panting, but he was so mad he didn't mind, he want to erase all the pain he was feeling. "You ain't mad at me, bro; you should be hitting that stupid bitch, not me." Merle knew the second the words left his mouth he had said the wrong words.
"Shut the fuck up, she ain't a bitch." Daryl starts to punch Merle again, but the older Dixon had had time enough to recover so when Daryl tried to hit him he stopped his fist and contacted his with Daryl's face.
"You're a stupid bitch, Darlyna, you're a fucking pansy that's why that bitch dump you, ya should be glad she's gone." Merle fist had connected with Daryl's right eye and he was panting even more, Merle had punched him hard.
"I fucking hate ya, Merle, you're a fucking asshole." Daryl tried to contact with Merle's face but he was close to lose conscience, Merle took once more Daryl's hand and hit him again, this time his fist goes straight to Daryl's face and the last thing the younger Dixon saw was his brother leaning closer to him, he wasn't sure but maybe Merle had said he was sorry, but he couldn't be sure.
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"Daryl, I know it's hard to believe, but I'm telling you this because I feel it, you're a good man, a man of honor." Once Carol had seen Daryl's eyes again, she felt uneasy, there was something dark and painful, he wasn't the kind of man that talks about his life but she was sure he had remembered something that had really hurt him in the past.
"You're not going anywhere, Carol, that's my last word, you're staying here because we all need you, numbers are the difference in this world, we keep together we survive, we split we die, it's simple, I doubt ya could live with the guilt if something happen to the girl." Daryl can't deal with her right now, maybe he never could, he had believed in love once in the past and the result had broken his heart, he was done with love, with relationships, he wasn't a man of honor, even when she insists he was, she doesn't know him, but he would be damned if something happen to her while he was around. He ain't the man of her dreams, but he can protect her and he would do that.
"But, Daryl…" Carol can't continue what she was trying to say because Daryl had taken her hand in one of his own.
"Stop it, let's go with the others, we need to tell the girl you're staying, maybe she wants to stay once she realize you're not going." Carol couldn't believe him, he was taking decisions for her, without asking her opinion, she felt so frustrated, Ed had done the same for so long she was tired and she wasn't letting Daryl be the next one, she was done with all that.
"You can't decide for me, Daryl." She was trying to get free, without results.
"Ya said ya'll stay if I say I need ya, well I said everyone here needs ya that means you're staying, now move your feet we're wasting time." Daryl looks at her and she just nods. Maybe Daryl didn't need her the way she needs him, but at least he wants her to stay with the group, she could stay a little longer for on her own good and for Daryl's too. She had seen something in the man's eyes that told her he was scared, even more than her, and she would figure it out sooner or later what was it. Daryl deserves that much.
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Lucy looked Carol and Daryl and noticed right away the man's hand around Carol's wrist, she almost smiled but at the end decided against it, neither of them looks happy, something had happened.
"Carol, it's that true?" Lucy asked even when she already knew the answer.
"Lucy, Daryl said it would be dangerous to go away just the two of us, he said maybe you could stay with us." Carol said unsure about all this again, but she knew deep down that Daryl was right, numbers could make the difference in this new world.
"Carol, I think I should apologize to you for last night, I didn't mean what I said." Rick said feeling guilty for the way he had treated Carol.
"It's ok, Rick, I know everyone was scared and angry, I didn't act right either and I apologize to all of you too."
"Well, then you're staying, right?" Lucy feels bad because she was all alone again, but she knows Carol's place was right beside Daryl.
"You can stay too, Lucy. We need all the help we can find and so do you." Daryl released Carol's hand allowing her to go close to Lucy.
"Carol is right, Lucy if you want to stay, you're more than welcome." Rick said before Lucy could answer Carol.
"Ya know it's the best ya could do, girl." Daryl said, Lucy looks at him and nods.
"I know is the best I could do, but sometimes people do not do what is best." Lucy smiled to all of them.
"Are you leaving then?" Carol feels bad for the girl, she was alone and she can totally imagine how lonely she felt.
"Yes, I'm going Carol, but first I want to make sure you're capable of take care of you and the people you care for, I'll be close to you for a while it's my mission."
"We should plan our next move, then." Rick suggested
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Andrea can't believe she was still alive, she had been so close but Michonne had appeared just in time to save her, the hooded woman was less than talkative, but Andrea was good with that, at least she had saved her and for that she was grateful and if she doesn't want to talk that was ok.
"What were you doing back there? What the hell were you thinking?" Michonne had finally spoken.
"I was trying to save my life." Andrea almost laughs at her, what a stupid question to ask.
"I know that, what I want to know is what happened to you so you ended running for your life?"
"I was with my group on a farm, the farm got overrun by walkers, it was a herd, the second we had seen; the first time we lost a little girl, this time I lost my group." Andrea said a bitter thought crossed her mind: they had left her behind.
"I see… why did your group leave you behind?" Michonne saw the sadness in Andrea's face.
"I don't know, I was safe in a truck with one of the guys, but my friend was surrounded by walkers, she didn't have a gun or a weapon, I knew if we go she would die so I decided to save her, I did my best I hope she's still alive, but when I was trying to save her a walker knock me down, I killed it but maybe the only thing my friends saw was the walker on top of me, I can't blame them, everything was so confused." Andrea said that with a bittersweet tone, she had saved Carol, at least she hopes that, and she really didn't blame them, but somehow she still felt betrayed, maybe if Shane had been there.
"You did a great job back there, I saw the farm, there were thousands of walkers, I'm impressed." Michonne put a hand in Andrea's back.
"Thanks, for everything, you saved my life and you didn't know me."
"Well, you were there by yourself with no ammo and surrounded by walkers, no much of a threat if you ask me." Michonne smiled warmly.
"Yeah, anyway thanks a lot." Andrea feels her lips moving, she wasn't sure she could smile in a while.
"So what now? What are you planning to do?" Michonne appreciated the effort, she knew how difficult could be to smile again, this life wasn't for smiles anymore.
"I don't know, I think I want to find my group, I want to know if they're safe and sound, but I don't know where to start, we were supposed to meet at the highway once we left the farm, but by now they should be long gone, they couldn't stay there." Andrea was thinking in all the possibilities, they was sure of something she had to find them, they have to be fine.
"I was heading to a prison not so far from here, if your friends are smart enough they must go there too, there's not much of a choice anyway."
"But a prison would be full of walkers, I don't think…" Andrea was interrupted by Michonne
"I know it doesn't sound like the best option, but it is, think about it, if the prison is not overrun there had to be enough food to survive for months, maybe there's still some guns and of course you have a lot of space." Michonne said counting the benefits with her fingers.
"You could be right, maybe my group is heading that way, it makes sense." Andrea was thinking about everyone, hopefully the prison could be their new heaven.
"Well then, it'll be better if we just keep going it's not safe here."
They were now close to the highway, not where all the cars were, Andrea was sure she had run in the opposite direction, but according to Michonne they were on the right direction, they had finally leaved behind the walkers, except for the ones that Michonne had with her, but anyway it wasn't save to stay in the same place for long, Andrea was more than tired but Michonne had allowed her to sleep two hours or so, she can't complain, maybe later, when she finds the group, she would be able to sleep all day.
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"I think we must go to the beach." T-Dog was more than determined to head to the sea, cities weren't safe anymore.
"But what are we gonna do once we're there, T-Dog?" Rick asked him hoping he would understand they have no changes in the sea.
"We can take a boat; leave the city were all the dead are walking. We can survive once we're at the sea." T-Dog said like it was the most obvious thing in the world
"A saw a prison near here, it looked safe." Lucy said before Rick or any other could say a word.
"A prison?" Lori and Carol asked at the same time.
"Yeah, I know it sounds crazy, but I think it's a good idea, there has to be food, lots of food and of course we'll have a lot of space, maybe there'll be ammo and fuel. I saw the prison, it had some of those things at the entrance, but that's all, maybe we can take care of those and live there." Rick was listening very carefully, it indeed sounds crazy, but maybe it was the only option, the safe heaven they were looking for.
"What about my idea?" T-Dog spoke once more; feeling like anyone there was paying no attention to him.
"T-Dog, don't take me wrong, man, but Lucy's idea sounds much more appealing than yours." Rick said patting T's back.
"What? Go to a prison sounds appealing to you! You have to be fucking kidding me, man!" T-Dog was almost screaming they had lost their minds.
"Theodore, you have to calm down, let me explain something to you, okay. Go to a beach is not the solution, how many people do you think had the same idea you had? When I left my house most of my neighbors had decided to head to the sea, they thought it was safer, so imagine how many of those thing could be close to the sea, it's not safe, we should stay in land, at least here we can tried to build something, in the sea we'll sooner or later lose our minds." Lucy was sure the prison could be a safe place for the group, it has to be.
"I had never thought of that before." T-Dog was kind of devastated, he was sure the sea was the answer to all their problems.
"It's okay, T, it would be lovely to go to the beach, but for now we must stay in land, and the prison sounds like a good start." Rick felt bad for his friend.
"I think we can go now, it's not so far from here, an hour and half, maybe less." Lucy was saying while looking to the map Glenn and Maggie had found on their car.
"Are we gonna discussed this or Rick will take all the decisions for us?" Lori spoke for the first time.
"Lori, I know what I said yesterday was wrong, we're together in this, of course everyone can share opinions, but I thought you'll agree with me on this." Rick said hoping his wife will understand his point; the prison could be a safe place to have their baby.
"I think all this is nonsense, a prison would be crowded with convicts, we have to worry about them too, we can't share the prison will a bunch of killers, rapists, we can't forget the living are as dangerous as the walkers." Lori was pissed at Rick, at everyone for be so sure everything would be okay, nothing would okay anymore.
"Walkers?" Lucy's question breaks the tension for a while, before the group starts a new discussion.
"That's how we call the dead people." Carol said without paying attention to the question itself, Lori had a point and now she was as unsure as her.
"Okay, thanks for the info, it makes sense. And before everyone starts a fight again I'm going to answer Lori if you don't mind, Rick." Lucy was losing her patience very quickly.
"Go ahead, girl, if we're leaving I'll like to move as soon as possible." Daryl said before Rick could open his mouth, Daryl was too impatient by now.
"Lori, I know living people are as dangerous as the dead one, even more, but we don't have many options, at least you can be sure of something, we're together in this, we can go to the prison and see if the place is safe enough to stay, if it's not then we go, no one here wants to risk our lives, but think about this, maybe there we can find medical equipment to take care of your pregnancy." Lucy knows how hard was to believe in people, in future nowadays but they have to trust everything's going to be okay.
"How could you be so sure?" Lori was so uncertain, she doesn't want to be mean or anything, but she was worried, she has to take care of her children.
"I'm not, I can't, but I trust we can work together and that as far as we are together things would be okay. You have to trust Lori; Rick would not let anything happen to you, none of us would let anything wrong happen to our people."
"Thanks for your words; I think we can try, if everyone else is okay with that." Lori said a small smile reached her lips.
"Okay then, does anyone has something against this plan?" Rick asked, he looked at Lucy and thanked her with a silent look, this girl has a special power Rick thought, no one can say no to her, not him, nor Lori and even Daryl was somehow calmer when the girl was around them.
"I wonder if we can go back to the farm to look for Andrea." Carol asked unsure, she knew they can't go back but she felt guilty.
"Carol you know we can't go back, it's dangerous, if Andrea is still alive she would find us." Rick knows Andrea's changes were low, they can't risk anyone else.
"I can go back." Daryl said before Carol speaks again, seen she wants to insist in the matter, he knows very well how she felt.
"I said no, Daryl, you know better than anyone her changes are more than low, we can't go back, we're not going back." Rick had again this fierce look, the one that said there wasn't room for a fight.
"I don't know who's Andrea or where exactly is the farm, but I can totally go back and search for her, you can go ahead to the prison while I go back." Lucy said, she apparently wasn't afraid or anyone or anything.
"Andrea is the one who saved me at the farm, she was taken down by a walker but I'm sure she's still alive, she has to be." Carol said with tears in her eyes, Andrea can't be dead, she can't be.
"I think no one here is listening, we are not going back." Rick said stepping very close to Lucy "And we're leaving now."
"Andrea saved Carol's live, you can't leave her just like that, I'm going back, I'm here because of Carol not because of you Rick, so stop this, we go now to the cars, I gonna give you fuel so you can head to the prison, I can take the small car you have, someone could drive the SUV." Lucy was unable to continue because Rick wasn't planning on doing what the girl wants.
"I'm serious, Lucy, we can't go back, it's too dangerous and if you're here for Carol you have to stay for her own good, maybe once we're at the prison, if it's safe, we can go back, but not before, you hear me." Rick was dead serious and all knew that.
"I'll go to the prison right now but at soon as everyone is in there safe I'm going back, are we clear on that, Rick?"
"Fine! If that's what you want, fine, let's move on now then." Rick once again looked tired, he was getting sick of all this, even when he knows the girl was right, they can't leave Andrea behind just like that, but what else they can do, she must be dead by now, he can't put down one of his friend, not right now.
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"And what exactly did you do before all this?" Michonne really appreciated silent but she was going crazy with the entire silent she had had the last months, especially when her only company had been the two walkers.
"I was a lawyer too, but I don't really like my job."
"Yeah, me neither, but it was a good job, I was making a fortune."
"Hahaha, lucky you, I wasn't a good lawyer I believe since I barely had money." Andrea laughs sincerely.
"Good thing is that now we didn't need money." Michonne smiled.
"And how far away is that prison."
"Not so far, maybe we can be there at night, well if anything strange happen."
"Let's hope everything goes well, I'm so tired I doubt I could do anything besides walking and breathing."
"Fortunately we had these friends; they're helping us a lot."
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"It looks like you have an entire house inside your SUV, Lucy." Beth was surprised to see all the things that were inside the truck.
"Let's do this quickly, we have no time to waste, the first thing is the fuel, you have three cars, right?"
"Nop, we have two trucks, a car and a bike." Rick said while looking amazed at all the things the girl had.
"Ok, the bike it's not a good option right now, you can put it on the bed of one of the trucks, right?" Lucy said that while opening one on the back doors and without noticing Daryl's frown.
"I don't see what my bike it's not a good option."
"Because it's too noisy, we need to be quiet if want to be safe. Besides, that means the cars can have more fuel, in case we need to head back here, and if that's not enough for you rain will be on us any minute." Lucy was now inside the SUV, picking some gallons; T-Dog and Glenn were waiting for the girl.
"My bike ain't noisy." Daryl smells the air, the girl was right, he could smells the rain.
"Well, whatever, you sure know I'm right about the rain so it'll be better if you put your bike on the truck." T-Dog and Glenn had both two gallons of gas and was heading now to their cars.
"Next must be Rick, right? Let's go, boy, we don't have all day." Rick goes for the gas and head immediately to the red truck.
"What about ammo? You said you have ammo for us." Maggie was now close to Lucy.
"I know, that's exactly what I'm looking for right now, just wait a second, ok." Lucy had opened the trunk and was now over there, the girl was really fast and they wonder if she was some kind of mutant or something.
"Anyone besides Daryl know how to use a bow"
"Nop, we use guns and knives, nothing more." Maggie answered Lucy
"Well, I have some guns and knives I think I can give those to you, told Daryl I'll need him."
"What do ya want me for?" Daryl had already put his bike on the bed of T-Dog's truck and was at the SUV once more.
"How many arrows do you have?"
"Not enough." Daryl didn't need to tell her he only has five arrows left.
"Well, I have almost four dozens here, we're sharing. If you need ammo go to Maggie she already had all I have."
"Ya're a fucking bossy woman."
"Yeah, I know, by the way, are you coming with Carol and me or are you going with someone else?" Lucy not once looked at him; she was really busy looking for things for the group.
"I'll keep an eye on ya and Carol, I'm going with you." Daryl's tone leaves no place for an argument.
"Good. Now let's hurry, I need to head back once we're at the prison."
"I'm going with ya, ya know that, right?" Daryl asked not sure from where his words had come.
"I was hoping that, do you know if Carol knows how to drive?" Lucy was now looking at him with a big smile on her face.
"I can, I can drive your SUV if that's what you want." Carol had been very quiet since her talk with Daryl but was now close to both of them.
"Good, that's exactly what I want; Daryl and I need both hands to handle our guns, so we need your help, if that's okay with you, of course." Lucy walked close to Carol and gives her the keys.
"That's ok, it had been a while since I last drove but I think I can."
"Are ya sure, woman?" Daryl was having trouble with his emotions, being close to Carol didn't help but he hadn't much of an option, he would protect her.
"Yes, Daryl, I'm sure I can drive, it's an easy task, don't worry."
"Okay, let's see if the others are ready." Lucy left Daryl and Carol and head to Rick's truck T/W/D/T/W/D/T/W/D
"Ya ok?" Daryl felt very uneasy; he hates the girl for leaving him with Carol.
"Yes, thank you, Daryl, I'm a little bit worried but I think everything will be fine."
"Yeah, don't worry, nothing's gonna happen to ya." Not while I'm beside ya
"I know, I have Lucy and I have you." Carol knows she shouldn't push him, he was scared as she was, but she really needs to be close to him, she needs him.
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"Is everyone ready?" Lucy asked Rick
"Almost. T-Dog is still deciding what gun he wants."
"We need to hurry up, we were here making noise and all, walkers could be close." Lucy said worried, she still hates to kill people.
"I'm done." T-Dog was ready as everyone else.
"Okay, since I'm the one who know where the place is I'm going to drive ahead, Carol and Daryl are with me." Lucy explains to all, everyone was now on a circle, they need to be careful and quick, they must make a good plan.
"Okay, Glenn, Maggie and Beth are taking the car, T-Dog and Hershel have the truck with Daryl's bike and Lori, Carl and I have the other truck."
"Perfect, who's driving every car?"
"Lori will drive ours."
"I'll drive our car." Maggie said
"Hershel will drive the truck, if that's ok with him." T-Dog kind of asks.
"That's fine with me." Hershel doesn't feel well killing people, walkers or not, so he was glad he was the one to drive.
"Carol is driving my SUV, that way Daryl and I can kill more walkers." Lucy said and before anyone could say another word she continues. "You know very well we need to be super careful, Daryl and I have weapons that are quiet but the guns are not, even when most of those had silencers we can't risk our life. I think it will be better if we go first. You can wait for our signal."
"We don't split, we are together, you said that yourself." Rick said he doesn't want to lose anyone else, especially not Daryl or the new girl.
"We are not splitting, we are being careful that's all. You know I'm right, Rick. When I was on the road I saw the prison, I went as close as I can and there were some walkers, not to many, just a few, Daryl and I can take care of that easily and without attracting any attention." Lucy was interrupted by Lori.
"You didn't mention that before, what else are you hiding from us?" Lori can't believe the girl had lied to them, they can't trust her so easily.
"I didn't mention because you were going to go all psycho, like you're doing now, Lori I already tell you, we're going to be fine as long as we stay together, I saw walkers, so what's the big deal, you can't think things would be so easy, that we are heading to a paradise where this plague is over, we can take care of those walkers and then maybe we can build something inside the prison, I'm not lying to you, but we need to try."
"Lucy is right, guys, we need to try, Lori, you need to trust me, trust us."
"Alright, but I'll keep an eye on you, Lucy, I don't trust." Lori said trying to sound threatening.
"That's okay with me as soon as that means we can leave now."
"So was the plan again?" Hershel asked
"We're going to go first to the prison, see if it's safe; Daryl and I can take of the walkers we find on the way, then Carol can send the signal for you to come to the prison." Lucy said calmly, she needs to be at the prison as soon as possible.
"And what would be the signal?" Maggie asked.
"Carol would turn on the headlamps of the SUV and then you'll now it's safe to come."
"It sounds like a plan to me." Glenn said glad. For the first time he wasn't the one to do the hard work, he was really grateful.
"Good, let's go now; we wasted a lot of time." Lucy said heading to the passenger seat.
"Good luck everyone, if anything happen we need to come back here, ok?" Rick said
"Perfect!" All answered
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"I ain't taking the back seat!" Daryl said as soon as he had realized the girl was at the passenger door.
"Do you want to be beside Carol, then?" Lucy said with a mischievous grin in her face.
Daryl really hates the girl, she was such a smartass he can't stand her, fucking kid thought she knows everything, even when she fucking know nothing, not a damn thing, stupid girl!
"Something's wrong, guys?" Carol was waiting for them already on the driver seat.
"Nah, I told the girl I need to sleep, so she's taking the passenger seat." Lucy almost laughs at him. Fucking girl was screaming for a punishment.
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Okay, chapter four is done and I can't believe it! I know this chapter is really long and very uneventful but trust me when I tell you Carol and Daryl will be together very soon =)
Please, read and review, your words mean the world to me and they make me keep writing.
My Panda sends bear hugs to you and all his love; he's really happy and thankful ;)
Trix