Really glad you guys liked how I handled the kidnapping and Daryl's leave. Yes, I am BIG for uniqueness and originality, so long as it makes sense. This week is officially my last week of school! Art class ended last Thursday. My last day of English is Tuesday, Math and Film on Wednesday. Then I'll be spending the next week cleaning my room (it's a mess, the sight made me cry) and setting things up for my friends to move in. I've written up to chapter 13 so I'll be posting every Sunday as promised! Enjoy!
At the Prison, Carol and Carl were at the gates awaiting for their group to return. The new people consisting of Tyreese, Sasha, Ben and Allen were in C Block. They had just lost a fellow member, Allen's wife Donna. Beth and Axel loaned them some shovels for them to bury her, everyone was unsure if Rick would allow them to stay. Some had hoped, Sasha and Tyreese were nice people.
"It's so quiet." Carl commented, pacing with keys hanging from his fingers.
The walkers were taken care of against the fence, it was so silent it seemed off to the two at the gate. Carol was relaxed by it, but Carl was anxious. Between his dad and the others gone and the sudden silence of the day, his nerves were wracking.
"It's easy to forget how loud the world used to be." Carol commented, leaning off the tower wall and walking to the boy. "I used to complain about it all the time." She chuckled. "Traffic, construction, car alarms, noise pollution."
Carol shrugged, giving a look around as Carl listened to her. "What I wouldn't give for the sweet sound of a jumbo jet." She told, looking up at the sky wishing to see one zoom past.
Carl smiled, "It'd be even sweeter if we were all on it." he commented.
The two shared a smile, Carl's eyes scanned the road again. Carol watched him, he was growing up o fast she hadn't noticed. His hair growing longer, his height growing taller, even his voice was growing deeper. It was a crime Lori wouldn't see her son grow up into a fine man, but he had his father still. Carol was robbed of watching her daughter grow up, but was happy to see Carl be able to.
"Your mom was proud of you." Carol said to him.
Carl looked down, shaking his head. "For what? Being mean to her?" He sighed, "Kay said, she never got to say goodbye to her mom. She was probably much nicer to her mom, but didn't get to give a last word." Carol watched him, as he avoided looking toward her. "I was and I get to. Doesn't seem fair."
"No, you can't think about it like that." Carol said softly.
"It's all I think about." He told her. "I feel bad for Kaylee. She was crying the other night, after sitting with me."
Carol smiled, "She's a sweetheart." she said. "She cares about you, just like you do for her."
Carl nodded, not only worried for his dad, but aswell Kaylee. When he heard she was taken, he was completely worried. Carl didn't show it, but he was scared for the teen's safety. He had grown close to her and wanted her back home safe. The sound of a car approaching caught their attention.
"Please be them." Carl muttered.
In the distance, the sight of the pale green Hyundai was found. Carl rushed over to the gate, unlocking it as Carol pulled it opened. The car came to a stop, Carol shut the gate as Carl opened the second one. Rick came out of the car, Maggie was switching to the driver's side.
"Drive 'em up." I'll meet you there." Rick went right over to Carl, kneeling down to engulf him into a hug. "Thank God." He muttered, kissing his son's cheek as he hugged back just as tight.
The car door opened, Kaylee came out, telling Maggie to get her sister to Hershel. Carol looked through the window, trying to find Daryl as she saw Maggie, Glenn, Angela and Michonne inside. No Daryl was in sight making her worry.
"Where's Hershel?" Rick asked his son.
"He's in the cell block." Carl answered as the car moved to drive up to the prison. The boy spotted Kaylee and ran over, hugging her around the waist. She was caught off guard, but hugged him back. "Are you okay?" He asked, looking up at her seeing the bruises on her face and arms.
Kaylee nodded, pulling his closer to hug him again. "Yeah, I'm alright. Don't worry."
"Where's Daryl?" Carol asked, breaking the two and getting Rick's attention.
Seeing her worry, Rick went to her, placing a hand on her shoulder. "He's alright, he's alive." She didn't understand, looking back to see if he was maybe coming in another way. "We ran into his brother."
"He left with him." Kaylee told her, thinking back at the words her sister said.
Carol looked to her, then to Rick. "Is-Is Angela okay?" She asked, concerned the girl was heat broken.
Rick looked to Kaylee, who was trying not to scowl at the ground. He looked back to Carol, bringing a hand to her shoulder and urge her to head inside. Up outside the cell block, Maggie was reunited with her sister and father. Angela was sitting on the bleacher as Hershel took a look at her wound. Rick approached them, just as Beth spotted him. She came over, giving him a hug he hadn't expect. With a kind kiss on the cheek, she had a look that she was extremely thankful of Rick getting her sister back. Kaylee walked over to her sister, Hershel looked over.
"How's her eye?" She asked.
"Been trying to get her to open it." He told her.
"Does it hurt to?" She asked, Angela just kept silent sitting there.
"It might, she hasn't spoken since she got out of the car." He said, gently lifting her chin up to look over the wound again. "Just try to open it?"
Angela's sight was just out in the distance, not even looking or acknowledging him. With a sigh, he looked to the teen. "Clean the wound, I'll wrap it up so it can heal better."
Kaylee nodded taking her sister gently by the arm and leading her behind Maggie and Beth. Rick nodded for Carol and Carl to go inside, needing to speak to Hershel. Once inside, Hershel offered a hand to Rick, to which he took.
"You came through, like always." He praised, thankful of him to saving his daughter. "Sounds like we have a new problem on our hands."
"Yeah."
"You get a good look at him?" He asked, meaning this Governor.
Rick shook his head, remembering the sight he saw at the arena. "He had Daryl and Merle pitted against each other. A crowd cheering for them to fight to the death." He brought a hand up and dragged his index finger across his eye. "Caused the injury on Angela, she said something about eye for an eye."
"There's no blood from the eye itself, she might just be shaken up." Hershel determined.
Rick shook his head, the conditions and fate his members ended up with, the people he saw and how they lived. "What kind of sick mind does that?"
Hershel shook his head. "The kind this world creates."
Rick noticed the solemn look in the old man's features. "What's wrong? Is it the baby?" He asked.
"No, the baby, she's healthy. Eats like a horse, sleeps like a rock."
Rick chuckled, glad she was doing alright. "So what is it?"
Angela sat with Kay in Hershel's cell, she had a wet cloth to clean the crusty dry blood off. Angela winced now and again, but still stayed silent. The barred door opened and closed, with the click of a lock indicating Rick and Hershel entered the cell block. Step, click, step, click. Hershel appeared in the doorway, taking a seat in front of Angela.
"Kay, mind getting me my medical supplies? They're in the other cell." He asked her.
"Sure thing." She said, standing from the bed and leaving the room.
Hershel moved his crutches to his side, leaning on his knees as he watched the spaced out woman. He saw something balled in her bloody hands, seeing something red. "Might want to get it washed." He told, reaching for her hand.
She allowed him to opened her palms, assuming it was a once was white rag turned red, he saw the shades of the darker blood red on the usual lighter tinted red of the rag. He knew this was Daryl's, always keeping it in his back pocket, Angela was loaned it many times by him. Her eye was casted down to it, seeing she was staring at it.
Kaylee returned, giving him the medical bag of stuff. "Thank you, go on and clean up. I'll take a look at your injuries next."
The teen shook her head, "Just a few bruises. Angela and Glenn need it more." he assured. Kaylee gave a concerned look to her sister, then left feeling staying wasn't going to help.
"Good sister you have there." Hershel told, bending down to get his bag and finding the gauze. He inched the chair closer and lifted her head to wrap her wound. "We'll keep this on to keep any dirt out and infection from happening. Does it hurt?"
Angela didn't answer, but winced when he made the wrappings a bit tight. He loosened it, and reached for a bandage to cover her eye and continued wrapping around her head. "We should keep it covered for a few days."
"...ever."
Hershel perked up, hearing words croak from her. "Sorry?"
"Forever. Keep them on forever." She mumbled, he paused at her words.
"They'll need some air. Keeping them covered won't-"
"I can't let people see me like this." She told, eye shifting up at him. "A reminder to them, that's what this is."
Hershel sighed, finishing the wrapping and letting her gaze return to her lap. He leaned back, folding his arms at her. "Don't think of it like that."
"How else should I think of it?" She told, making Hershel frown. "Daryl saw it that way too. Everyone will."
Hershel leaned forward again, placing his hand over her balled up ones. "He would never think that, that why you chased him away?"
Her head lifted at that, "I chased him away because he wanted Merle here. He chose Merle over us." she hissed.
He knew she wasn't taking her anger out on him, but he felt she was hiding how she was really feeling. He saw those two grow close and care for each other so much over the course of eight months. Hershel even remembered how protective he was of her back on the farm, refusing to leave without her. The sight of her alive at the highway, rushing right to her. In Savannah, she wandered off and he was the first to go after her. He can only imagine his reaction to her injury when he first saw it, or possibly watched her receive it.
Angela sighed, ducking her head at his silence. "Sorry, Hershel."
"It's alright." He assured her, patting her hands. "Just a lover's spat, never mean what you say to someone you love."
He moved to get his crutches, standing. Angela frowned, looking up at his words. The old man smirked, taking his bag and moving to check on Glenn next. Angela stood, careful of her footing as her eyes was covered, making her sight half for a while with a blind spot for her left side. She looked around, leaning on the doorway and looking down to the rag in her hands. Angela was not denying that she thought of Daryl, where he was out there how he was doing. She moved to the stairs, slowly walking up stopping at the perch. Some of Daryl's stuff was shoved into the corner, probably by Rick. She spotted the poncho he wore proudly through the winter and many times covered her with it in her sleep. Angela picked it up, taking it to her cell and tossing it onto her bed. She took a bottle of water she kept by her bed and went to the sink, cleaning Daryl's rag of her blood.
Once deemed cleaned enough, she wrung it out and hung it over the edge of the sink to dry and sat on her bed. Angela picked up the poncho, rubbing her fingers against the thick warm material. Bringing it to her lips, she smelled the scent of smoke and dirt, which she was sure was just the scent of the hunter she was growing to miss.
By now, the guilt was setting in for Angela. She rubbed the poncho against her cheek, laying back against the bed as she curled into her right side to ease the other side of her head with the wrappings.
"Hey, little D! We got us a good dinner!" Merle laughed, starting the fire for the two sitting in the woods. Daryl was skinning the squirrels they found, not much but it was the best he could get.
"Would've gotten somethin' bigger if ya'd keep yer mouth shut." He told, cooking the squirrels.
"Ah, we'll find something bigger in the morning. I saw some tracks for a coon along the way."
Those were the squirrels he found, Daryl thought to himself. Sitting on a log across from his brother, he noticed Daryl looked distracted. "Just us brothers again, no one else."
"Hm-hmm." Daryl nodded, tossing more sticks into the low fire.
"Ain't thinking about 'em, are you?"
Daryl stood, "Gotta take a piss." he excused, walking into the trees from his brother.
Yes, he had his brother back, it was exactly like before. But, something hung heavy in his heart. Daryl went through his vest pocket taking out a pack of cigarettes and lighting them, taking a drag for the nicotine to enter his system. With a sigh as the smoke floated into the air, Daryl had wishes he had his poncho feeling a chill in the air. Merle was back, it was the Dixon Brothers once again. But everytime he thought of how everything was back to how it was, Daryl couldn't help but feel that heavy sinking in his chest.
Daryl cleared his throat, shrugging off as just hunger since he was used to cooked food by the time the sun had set. Now dark, they would eat the small squirrels he had found. He looked up, finding stars in the dark skies above him. He stepped forward from the tree, turning a bit to try and spot the constellations.
"Where's the damn scorpion?" He asked himself.
"Right there, you can always find it from the Big Dipper and Little Dipper." Her voice in his head, it felt the same when he heard Merle a few times before.
Daryl pinched the bridge of his nose and looked back up, finding the Big Dipper, and in turn Scorpio. There, he had found Sagittarius, the archer in the skies.
"You remind me of Sagittarius."
"Why?" He asked the voice he heard.
"He's an archer, like you."
That's right, Angela called him a Sagittarius. He tried to remember what other ones she named off, he knew the Scorpion was beside the centaur. What was that weird named one? Scutom or something? He continued with his cigarette, his mind wandering about as he tried to ease his nerves.
Feeling tired from what had happened the past- two or was it three days? Ugh, he didn't know anymore. He blamed it on that and his nerves. He made sure no fire was caused from the cancer stick and turned to go back to the fire. He found his brother eating his squire while Daryl's sat there waiting.
"That was a long piss." Merle commented, earning a look from his brother. He only snickered as he chucked the inedible parts of his meal into the fire. "Want to take first watch?"
Daryl glanced up, taking a bite from his food. "Sure."
That same night back at the prison, everyone was patched up and it was time to discuss the recent events. Axel was just told of Oscar's fate, to which he was fairly upset about. He was his only friend left from the prison, Carol and Kay consoled him.
"Whenever Tomas went off, Oscar always stood up for me, you know?" Rick and Hershel approached the quivering man. "He was my friend."
"He was your brother." Kaylee corrected him, to which he nodded at her kind words.
"He went out fighting." Rick told him.
Beth passed by Angela who sat at the stairs in silence, not moving to give a word in the growing conversation. "So, what now?" She asked, holding the baby now named Judith. "You think the Governor will retaliate?"
"Yes." Maggie answered from her cell.
"Let him try." Glenn dared, a cell away from his girlfriend.
Carol folded her arms, "Sounds like he's got a whole town. We're outnumbered and outgunned." she commented.
"We could use some reinforcements." Hershel commented, nodding toward where the four new visitors were being kept.
Rick considered his words, with Daryl leaving them and Oscar dead, having four more people would help even a little. He turned toward the barred door, unlocking it as everyone followed him out to meet them. Angela followed last, keeping her distance from the others as she stood by the door. It was just like back on the farm, keeping herself out of their problems and conversations. Angela was growing back to her old self from before.
Rick approached the dark man standing before the three. He held a hand out to Rick in means of greeting. "I'm Tyreese."
Ignoring it, Rick just looked away clearing showing no friendly greeting was welcomed here. Hershel introduced them, as the black girl Sasha, the older pale man Allen, and the younger boy Ben.
"How'd you get in?" Was Rick's first question.
"Fire damage to the administrative part of the prison. Wall's down." Tyreese informed.
"That side's completely overrun with walkers." Rick told, trying to find a lie in his words. "How'd you get this far?"
"We didn't." He told the scrutinizing man. "We lost our friend Donna."
"They were lost in the Tombs." Carl told.
"You brought them here?" Rick questioned his son, whipping around to look at him.
"He had no choice." Said Hershel.
Rick nodded, turning back to the four. "I'm sorry about your friend. We know what that's like."
Tyreese didn't keep that subject going, it was a tough one for both, he figured. "Hershel said you could use some extra hands. We're no stranger to hard work." Rick looked up, hearing his words.
"We'll go out and get our own food, stay out of your hair." he offered. "You got a problem with another group, we'll help with that, too. Anything to contribute." Kay and Carol perked at that, rarely people just offered to help. Even knowing the dangers it could cause.
Rick thought about it, but it wasn't long as he looked down shaking his head. "No."
"Rick..." Kay spoke out..
"Please." Sasha begged. "It's like '10 Little Indians' out there. It's just us now."
"No." Rick repeated.
"Let's talk about this." Hershel tried to reason. "We can't just keep-"
Rick turned to him, "We've been through this. With Tomas, Andrew- Look what happened."
Kay took a step forward. "They could've taken the prison while we were gone, but never did."
Carol placed her hands on her shoulders. "Axel and Oscar weren't like them."
"And where's Oscar now?" He snapped silencing everyone.
Angela just watched, arms folded tightly around her chest. If Rick said no, then he meant no. If he says yes, then he meant yes. She clearly knew the reason why he denied them was he didn't want anymore to die at his hands. Angela would agree with her sisters and argue with Rick on it. At this current point for Angela, she just didn't care anymore.
"I can't be responsible." Rick told them.
"You turn us out, you are responsible." Tyreese argued.
"Rick." Hershel called, he walked over and the two whispered to one another.
Something Hershel said affected him, he looked around at his people. They had done everything, they followed every word he claimed to them. He wanted to claim the prison, and they claimed it. The one time his group, people- family, the first time his family want something and it's to trust people. The eyes of his group were begging him to see reason. They showed no sign of harm or that they were dangerous. If it was to happen, then they'd be dealt with like Tomas and Andrew were.
Rick glanced over to Kaylee as she stood by Carol and Axel, the one who trusted more people than she should. She gave her word and was right by them. Then to the most distant group member, Angela. To his surprise, she simply shrugged and looked away. She defended Axel and Oscar, and despite what she was going through right now, Rick knew she was agree to trusting them.
He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose and flashed Hershel a smile. "Yeah." He understood, patting the man.
Angela looked over the group, learning only a bit from Hershel and Carl when they explained a few things. Tyreese and Sasha looked to be the supposed leader of their little band, seeing how Ben and Allen took back seat of their conversation. Unlike her group were everyone had a word to say, the two were silent watching over them.
"Why are you here?" Angela glanced up, seeing Rick walk past Hershel and looking up at the catwalk. "What do you want from me?"
"Dad?" Carl questioned, worried about what his father was doing.
Angela glanced up, assuming something was up there but not a thing was spotted. "Why are you- No" He looked terrified, he was trembling and his voice quivered. "I can't help you. Get out!"
He turned around, walking away but spun back around. Carol pulled Kaylee back by Axel, Glenn stepped away as Rick barked out. "Get-Get out!"
Tyreese stepped back, concerned for the man's sudden barking and pacing. "Hey, come on. It's all good."
Sasha was concerned, holding her hands up. "What are you doing?"
Angela frowned, stepped to the side to try and see what Rick was seeing. But, once again, she saw nothing up on the catwalk. He was growing into a panic.
"Hey, easy Rick." Maggie told him gently. "There's no need to-"
"You don't belong here!" He bellowed, making Maggie jump and pull Carl back. "Get out! Please!"
Once he ripped his Colt from his holster, everyone grew tense! Maggie pulled Carl back more, Axel moved Carol and Kaylee aside as Rick rose his gun about. Angela backed to the wall, still looking between Rick and the catwalk as he kept demanding them to get out.
"We'll leave. We're going." Tyreese assured him as the three started gathering their things in a haste. "Okay? Ain't nobody got to get shot here."
"What are you doing here?!" He bellowed, circling about now.
Something wasn't right, he was something some kind of mental break down. Angela reached for her gun and stepped up, pointing it at Rick.
"Stop, Rick! Stop it!" She barked.
The sudden demand at him caused him to raise his gun at her as well. A standoff was made, everyone grew scared on what was to happen. While Angela's grip was tight and steady, Rick's trembled.
"Just go! Go!" Glenn rushed to Tyreese urging him to the door. "Go!" The four rushed outside, with Glenn followed them to lead them out to the gate.
Now silent after Tyreese's group had left, Rick just eyed the gun Angela had pointed at him. She hadn't done such a deed since they first met. He, himself, had never aimed his gun at her before. Seeing the dead stare in her eyes proved she was doing this to protect the others, who huddled from him in fear. He had been waving the loaded weapon about, not realizing the danger he put the others in just now. What had just happened? Had they not seen her like he did? He looked at the gun in his hand, slipping it into his holster. Angela did the same, glancing to the catwalk making him hope she saw her too. But, she just gave one last glance to him and turned to enter the cell blocks.
Carol, concerned, followed after her as she saw her slowly making her way up the steps. "Ange." she called, causing her to stop in her climbing. "You okay?"
Without responding she turned back, her face said it all; she was not okay. Angela was exhausted, an emotional wreck and physically in pain. Of course she wasn't okay, Carol walked over to the stairs, walking up two steps.
"What happened?" She asked, thinking maybe Angela needed to vent out. Those green eyes looked like they were holding heavy emotions she refused to release. "We can talk or-"
"Leave me alone." She mumbled, turning to walk up the stairs.
Carol followed as the current one eyed women sat down at her bed, taking her boots off to prepare for bed. "You need to talk to someone, you're holding these emotions in and it's not good. Especially after what you just went through at Woodbury."
"I've gone through this process before." Angela told, tossing her boots at the end of her bed and turning to adjust the pillow. With her head and eye wrapped, she'd have to sleep on her back only. "Came out okay."
"This is different, you didn't have Daryl this time." Carol tried to reason, walking into the cell.
"No, I don't. Merle has him." She spat, laying down and adjusting the pillow so she could sit her head up. "He's out God knows where with that bastard."
Carol sat at the edge of the bed, giving those caring eyes to her. "I know what you're really thinking." She raised her brow, only to feel it rub against her bandaged, as it was the left brow that stood. "You miss him, and you think you don't deserve him."
Angela sat up a bit, leaning back on her hand. "How do you know what I'm thinking? I'm clearly pissed off."
"You're feeling a lot of emotions right now, and don't know what to do." Carol sighed, looking down at her lap, not wanting to talk about what she thought this reminded her of. "Before we left the quarry, I had a husband. His name was Ed."
Angela tilting her head, "Walkers?" she asked.
Carol nodded. "But, he deserved it." This caught Angela off guard. She noticed the expressed and chuckled. "Yup, Ed was a bastard. Took me so long to finally accept and say those words. He would.." She looked down, wringing her wrists, fearful of the others listening outside the cell.
"Did things a man shouldn't do to his wife." Angela indicated. "I've heard kids talk about abuse their mom or dad got from their spouse." Carol remembered Angela was a teacher to those kinds of kids, she probably would've been a great guidance to Sophia through it.
"There were many times I blamed myself for things I did that got him mad. At the quarry, Shane saw his abuse towards me and beat the ever loving shit out of him." Carol looked him, shaking her head thinking back. "I cried and apologized over ten times to Ed, blaming myself for it all."
Angela scoffed, the one good thing Shane probably did. Carol sighed, rubbing her hands on her pant legs to forget the memory. "My point is, don't blame yourself. Merle isn't a good influence on him, and Daryl will learn that soon enough."
Angela looked down, fingering a small tattering hole in her jeans she just now noticed. "You sure?" She asked.
Carol smiled, "Sure I'm sure. He'll come running back, wanting you in his arms like those cheap lifetime films."
Angela shook her head at her. "You're expecting too much." She told her bluntly.
Carol shrugged, "If you won't dream it, I will for you." she stood and patted her leg. "Get some sleep. You need it badly."
The next morning arrived, Kaylee was up in the guard tower on watch duty. She saw Michonne had chosen to sleep in the bus by Hershel's suggestion. It was more likely for her safety with how Rick reacted the night before. She watched her climb out, getting her sword, Kaylee guessed she seemed content not being near the others and having her own space. She looked up, spotting the teen at the tower. Kaylee waved, as Michonne sent her a reluctant one.
Angela was Kay's biggest worry right now. With how reserved she grew yesterday and how quiet she became got her attention. When Kay woke up that early morning to take the watch, she saw her sister sleeping in bed. What caught her attention was what she was using as a blanket, Daryl's poncho. It was obvious she was missing him but couldn't admit it. The teen gently took the poncho from her sister and replaced it with her blanket. Kay took the now dry red rag off the sink as well, walked down the steps and outside carrying the items with her to the far main gate guard tower. She was burrowing keys from Carl to access the gates and towers. Once up top, she remained there watching the yard and trees outside the prison.
Kay had been up there since sunrise, the poncho sitting beside her as she scooped out the property. Something had caught her eye, someone making a run toward the front main gate. Worried someone was attacking, Kaylee rounded the tower and searched for the intruder. But, she found none. Confused, she looked down seeing Rick rush out of the prison as if looking for someone. He walked over to the small bridge across the pond, careful of his steps as if he was fearful of spooking something. Kay frowned, his hand reaching into the air like something was standing before him. She looked down to Michonne who looked equally confused.
Angela was distant to everyone, Daryl was gone, now Rick was losing his mind. Kaylee feared that this family she had and longed to stay with was falling to pieces.
The next morning, hunting for the Dixon Brothers wasn't faring wall compared to last night. The two were on break from their searching, Merle was taking a leak while Daryl kept watch.
"There ain't nothin' out here but mosquitoes n' ants." Daryl complained, leaning on a tree as he waited.
"Patience, little brother." Said Merle. "Sooner or later, a squirrel is bound to scurry across your path."
"Even so, that ain't much food." he told, remembering the small ones they managed to eat last night.
"Better than nothing." Merle countered.
"I'd have better luck goin' through one of 'em houses we passed back on the turnoff." Daryl commented.
"Is that what your new friends taught you?" Merle finished his business, zipping up and turning to his brother. "How to loot for booty?"
Daryl shook his head, wishing he'd stop mentioning them in such a disdain manner. "We've been at it for hours. Why don't we find a stream, try out luck with some fish?"
Merle eyed his brother, "I think you're just trying to lead me back to the road, man." He knelt down, checking a trap he set up the night before. "Get me over to that prison."
Daryl shrugged, lazily crossing one leg over the other. "They got shelter. Food. A pot to piss in. Might not be a bad idea."
"For you, maybe." Merle told, looking up at him. "Got yourself a warm bed to snuggle with your girl." He teased, earning an annoyed sigh from the archer. "Ain't gonna be no damn party for me."
Merle yanked at the trap and pulled the rope, wrapping it around his stump of an arm. "Everyone will get used to each other." Daryl tried to convince, raising his crossbow in case something came by to eat.
Merle shook his head, "They're all dead." he told him. "Makes no difference."
Daryl lowered the bow, the thought of them dead seemed impossible for him. "How can ya be so sure?" He questioned, a nerve wracking thought to grow on him.
Merle accepted it, heaving a careless sigh. "Right about now he's probably hosting' a housewarming party where he gonna bury what's left of yer pals. Tha'ts including your hot headed bitch?" Merle spat at the ground, Daryl turned at his brother.
"She ain't a bitch, ya kidnapped her sister. Do ya blame her wantin' to at least slug ya?" Daryl questioned.
Merle chuckled, gathering the thin rope. "Yeah, she's got a good fight in her. Seeing her screaming our name and crying for you." He shook his head and walked past his brother, heavily slapping his shoulder. "Let's hook some fish, come on."
Daryl felt his thoughts grow heavy with his chest. The Governor would attack, as Merle kept repeating over and over. The thought of Rick, Glenn, Maggie, Hershel, Kaylee, all of them killed would be something Daryl just refuse to happen. Angela, her dying was something he never wanted to imagine. It grated him, Merle knew Angela was his soft spot and kept referring to her as 'his girl' in some condescending way, as if it wouldn't be true.
Kaylee had thrown the poncho onto her shoulders, then slipped on one of her sister's extra beanies and tucked her hair up into it. With the reg rag she found dry over the edge of the sink, she tied it around her face covering her mouth and nose. The teen had managed to take advantage of the distracted Rick Grimes to exit the tower and close the gate as she locked it from outside. Kaylee ran off into the woods, hoping to search for Daryl and Merle.
While the teen was up to this, her older sister was in her cell looking all over the place. She had woken up to the poncho gone, then when going into the cell found the red rag was missing as well. These were Daryl's, and Angela was trying to take care of these items for him and now they were missing. She woke up in a bit of a panic when the cry of Judith had woken her up. Angela looked under the beds, the mattresses, through their bags and even peeked in each cell. Maggie was resting in hers, peeking over to see the distraught looking woman. Angela turned her head, only able to look with her one eye and moved on before Maggie could question. Exiting the cell block, she had found commotion going on with the group. Glenn was wearing some blood covered riot gear standing in argument with Hershel who was packing bags.
"For the last time, running is not an option." Glenn stated at them.
"Glenn," Carol spoke. "If the Tombs have filled up again, it may just be a matter of time before they push in here."
"Or until some fence gives way." Beth added.
"What is one of them herds is passing through?" Axel asked, now worried after hearing about them. "Or settled?"
"Can't handle that with just the few of us." Carol considered.
Glenn considered the options, hearing everyone out. "Okay, we just need to scout the far side of the prison. Find out what's going on."
At this point, Angela crossed the room towards the door wanting to get outside and away from it all. She kept her arms crossed and felt eyes on her as she passed them.
"You're going out there?" Hershel asked.
"Take a car and make it quick." Glenn confirmed.
Axel pocketed his gun, "I'll drive." he offered.
Glenn shook his head. "No, you stay here help with the fortifications." He looked to Angela, seeing her climbing the steps. "Angela." He called, making her paused but didn't turn to him. "Help me scouting the prison?"
Everyone watched, knowing how Angela had been avoiding them all night and day. She tried to keep out of things by hiding in her cell, she hadn't even spoken to her sister. Carol had been wanting to talk to her regarding Daryl, knowing that's why she was acting so distant.
"Glenn, she's not in the right condition to…" Carol tried to explain, earning a dark look from Angela. So, she was considered useless.
Angela simply turned away and opened the door. Carol walked over toward the steps, "Angela, I didn't mean-"
She shut the door before another word was heard. Angela trudged down the steps into the courtyard, expecting to find Rick outside. Though, he was nowhere in sight. Angela walked down to the open yard, she spotted Michonne looking outside the prison gates. Angela would usually question this and go over to see what's up. She then saw something moving in the grass, she realized it was Rick wandering around the bridge and pond. After seeing how he acted the night before, Angela sought it best he was alone for a while.
With only minimum tracking taught to her, Kaylee hoped she wasn't lost, limping around the forest. She was lucky to get away without Rick or Michonne spotting her, with the gear she had on, Kay hoped Daryl and Merle wouldn't attack her or mistake her for an enemy. She wore the poncho for Daryl to see it was someone he knew since it was his, the beanie to keep her hair from getting caught by anything, and the rag over her face to return to him. She was heading towards a creek, the smell of water hitting her nose when she tugged down the rag to her chin.
The teen had heard voices as she saw a bridge in the distance. Fearful it was wither the Governor's men with it sounded like more than one person, the sound of a baby crying made her doubt it. She also knew it wasn't the Dixons, a scream answered that it was someone who needed help! Kaylee pulled the rag back over her mouth and nose, removing her gun and running towards the sounds. She ran past a sign, 'Yellow Jacket River'.
"Smells to me like the Sawhatchee Creek." Merle determined, after the two trailed in the woods for a while longer.
"We didn't go West enough." Daryl argued. "There's a river down there, it's got to be the Yellow Jacket."
Merle frowned at his brother's claim. "You have a stroke, boy? We ain't never come close to Yellow Jacket."
Daryl didn't back down on his words. "We didn't go West. Just a little bit South. That's what I think."
Finding his brother amused by his opinion, he paused giving him a scoff. "Know what I think?" Daryl looked to him, wanting to tell him he didn't care. "I may have lost my hand, but you lost your sense of direction."
"Yeah, we'll see." Daryl nodded, stepping over a branch. Merle might have lost his sense of direction, not Daryl.
Taking this a challenge, Merle perked up. "What do ya wanna bet?"
"I don't want to bet nothin'. It's just a body of water." He rounded a branch, giving Merle a look. "Why's everythin' gotta be a competition with ya?"
Merle rose a head taking lead through the trees and fallen branches. "Whoa, whoa. Take it easy, little brother." He mused. "Just trying to have a little fun here. No need to get your panties in all a bundle."
"Ya hear that?" The echoing cry of something reached their ears, or Daryl's as he was the only one who acknowledged it.
Merle lifted his head, wiping his sweaty lips hearing the noise. "Yeah, wild animals getting wild."
"No, it's a baby." Daryl had learned after having Lil Ass-Kicker around the difference between a baby's cry and an animal mating sound. It was fairly obvious how different the two were.
Merle scowled at him, "Oh, come on. Why don't you piss in my ear and tell me it's raining too." he denied. "That there's the sound of a couple of coons making love sweet love. Y'know what I mean?"
Merle rolled his hips suggestively and laughed. Daryl ignored him and moved past to investigate. The two followed the sounds, soon growing to walkers and people yelling in Spanish. Gun fire was soon followed at the found a bridge over a lake. Some people were stuck fighting off walkers, what caught Daryl's attention was they had a baby in the mix.
Merle let out a whistle, "Hey! Jump!" he called laughing once again at his cruel jokes. He saw his brother rushing around toward the bridge. "What? Hey, man, I ain't wasting my bullets on a couple of strangers that ain't never cooked me a meal or felicitated my piece." He called after as Daryl ran toward the people. "That's my policy! You'd be wise to adopt it, brother!"
At the bridge, a father and son were on top of a truck bed trying to fight off the walkers. Inside their car at the center of the bridge held the mother and crying baby. She was crying herself, trying to shield her precious baby in case the walkers managed to get to her. One had grabbed the man's leg about to bite it, but a bolt came right through knocking it dead to the ground.
Daryl tossed his bag down and reloaded his bow, shooting another coming at him. No time to load another, he ripped the bolt out and stabbed another from behind him. Merle sauntered his way, taking his time to watch this play out.
"Come on, man!" Daryl hollowered to the men. "I'm tryin' to help ya out! Cover me!"
The father jumped down, seeing someone had come to rescue. He fired at two more walkers, letting Daryl find a path to the car. He loaded his bow and shot the one walker on the hood. He loaded the next one, ready to aim for the one at the driver's door but a gun fire went off, making the walker fall to the ground. At first, Daryl thought it was Merle, but a figure emerged around one of the cars shooting at two more walkers surrounding the car. He swore he saw that poncho somewhere, as the figure locked eyes with Daryl as if they knew him. The beanie and red rag hiding most of their features made him wonder who it was.
Thinking the same thing, they ran to the back of the car finding a walker's claws almost reaching the mother. They pulled the walker back and slammed the trunk over his head, blood splattering and oozing everywhere. The two looked to one another again, distracted by a walker coming at Daryl's left.
"Daryl! I got ya!" Merle called, lifting his gun and shooting at the walker. About time he did something.
The two came around, the father was barking Spanish at him to which Daryl responded. "Speak English!"
The stranger, know known as a woman by her voice, responded back in Spanish to him. The man nodded and shot at another walker. Daryl eyed the woman up, he had to have known her. Her voice, the poncho, the way she looked at him. They continued killing walkers until the father was up against the bridge. He screamed for help, as Daryl as caught up with his own walkers. The woman took out a hunting knife and ran over, stabbing the walker in the head. Daryl soon got free and rushed over, kicking the walker over the bridge. They leaned over seeing its body smash into the water.
Taking a breather, they all looked to one another, Daryl's eyes lingering longer on the stranger. He knew only other person that had not only that kind of poncho, but he was sure that was the rag he had given to Angela for her injury. It was now clean, and with her face barely seeable He had to ask.
"Angie?"
The woman sighed, Daryl felt hopeful it was her. The rag was pulled down and the beanie was removed. No injury on the face and the hair was released to be revealed brunette. Daryl was still shocked.
"Kaylee?"
Before she could say anything, the crying baby caught their attention. They looked over seeing Merle opening the back door of the car. He leaned in, ignoring the distraught mother trying to ease her terrified baby. The son jumped off the flatbed at this, the father ran over ranting something in Spanish. Merle, in response, held his gun up at the man.
"Slow down, Beaner. That ain't no way to say thank you."
The father spoke something that caught Kaylee's attention. The son responded, Kaylee stepped over speaking to them in the same language. Merle raised a brow, seeing the stranger helping Daryl was Kaylee.
"Ya understand 'em?" Daryl asked, eyeing his brother pointing a gun at the father.
Kay looked to him, "Two years of Spanish in high school." then to Merle. "They said they don't have anything, the tank is empty."
"Let 'em go." Daryl ordered his brother.
Merle eyed the two, he scoffed and lowered the gun. "The least they can do it give us an enchilada or something, huh? Hey, Princess, mind translating that to their gibberish." He chuckled, turning to lean into the car earning a scowl from Kaylee.
"Merle, don't." Said Kaylee, stepping over to check on the mother through the blood covered window.
"Easy does it, Senorita." Merle mockingly cooed as he went through their supplies. "Everything's gonna be fine."
The son ran over, growing defensive of his family, but the father stopped him in fear he would hurt his wife and child in the car. Daryl looked to Kay, who looked concerned for the mother inside. He glanced to the father, seeing him tense or flinch at the sound of cans falling from the car. Having enough of this, Daryl raised his loaded bow and nudged his brother in the back.
"Get out of the car." He growled.
Merle paused, feeling the weapon at his back. "I know you're not talking to me, brother."
Daryl looked to the father and son. "Get in yer car n' get the hell out of here!"
Kaylee translated his words to the father, who nodded and told his son to round to the other side. Hearing Daryl's demand, Merle turned finding his brother was indeed aiming the damned crossbow at him. He kept it up, as the two glared one another. The car rolled out, driving away from the three. Merle lifted his hand to move the crossbow, as Daryl stepped away feeling the heavy glares at the back of his head. Kaylee followed after Daryl, he tossed his bag on and ripped a bolt out of a walker on the ground. It was tense and silent as the three left the bridge, heading back into the woods.
"The shit ya doing pointing that thing at me?" Merle questioned him as they marched through the woods.
"They were scared, man." Daryl told.
"They were rude is what they were." Merle countered. "Rude and they owed us a token of gratitude."
"They didn't owe us nothin'." Daryl argued, refusing to turn back and look at his scowling face.
Kaylee followed the two, almost lagging behind Daryl to keep up as he stomped through the forest. Merle jogged a few times to keep up, angry boiling more and more as Daryl spoke back.
"Ya helping people out of the goodness of your heart? Even though ya might die doing it? Is that something your Sheriff Rick taught ya?" He spat at him.
"Merle, stop it!" Kaylee turned at him.
"Stay out of this, Princess." he waved her away in a shooing motion.
Daryl spun at him, "There was a baby!" then pointed to the teen. "Kay was there too, if we didn't help-"
Merle stepped back, brows raised at the two. "Oh, otherwise, ya would've left 'em to the biters, then?" He pointed his finger at her. "What she even doing out here?"
"Hell am I supposed to know?" Daryl looked to her, now bringing her as the main topic. "Shouldn't ya be at the prison?"
"I bet Officer Friendly sent her out to get ya back." Merle determined, tucking his thumb into his belt
Kay sighed, rolling her eyes at the shouting brothers. "I had to come get you." She gave a look to Merle. "You too."
"Both of us?" Daryl questioned, had Rick changed his mind on letting Merle stay?
"I snuck out." Apparently not. "The prison is a mess, Daryl. Rick had an episode last night, scared off some people Carl saved in the Tombs. He was screaming about, waving his gun. My sister and him had their guns locked, we thought a shoot out would happen."
"What?" Daryl couldn't believe this, had shit fallen apart just because he had left?
"Disappointed she didn't fire. She's the eye candy right? Well-" He chuckled tapping his finger at his eye indicating her recent wound.
"Shut up!" The two barked at him, he shook his head ignoring them.
The hunter turned back to the teen. "How's Angie?" He asked, ignoring the suggestive brow raise his brother sent him.
Kaylee shook her head, his heart dropped at that. "She's- She's a mess, Daryl. She won't talk to anyone, hides in her cell all night and day. Angie's going back to how she was before. I don't like it, she might have me and her leave the group with how this keeps up."
Daryl hadn't expect her to act like this. She wanted him gone, yet she was turning back to how she was? That meant she was avoiding people, giving no say to conversations, isolating herself alone. Judging by Kaylee's worry, she wasn't talking to her either. If she left that group, it'd be his fault driving her to do so.
Merle scoffed. "She'll get over it, grow some thick skin. Hey," Kay looked to him. "If she does leave, have her send a postcard to Little D here." He chortled a laugh, earning dark looks from Kaylee. "Get back to that prison before they come looking for ya."
"I'm not leaving until you guys come back to the prison. We need you." She insisted.
"Listen, kid." Merle sniffed, wiping his nose from an itch. "My brother made his decision, and Miss Hot Head made it pretty clear that she's content with him gone."
Daryl looked at his brother, shifting his stance. Merle noticed the way he was looking, even eyed and ready for an argument. "What, you gonna abandoned me again like back at the roof?"
The younger brother frowned, "Man, I went back for ya. Ya weren't there." Daryl retorted. "I didn't cut off yer hand neither. You did that." He pointed his bolt right at his stump. "Way before they locked ya up on that roof. Ya asked for it."
Merle was seething now, hearing his brother actually agree with Officer Prick. He stepped about, looking to Kay and chuckled. "You know- You what's funny to me? You and Sheriff Rick, are like this now." He indicated, twisting his index and middle finger together. "Or was it your girl that whipped you into what you are now? Huh, right?" Daryl knew Merle was just trying to rile him up, and it was working.
"Leave her out of this." Daryl warned.
"Talked about your feelings, huh? All that pussy shit?" Merle glanced to Kay, continuing. "I bet you a penny and a fiddle of gold that you never told her that we were planning on robbing that camp blind."
"What? Kay gasped, she looked up at Daryl. Is that true?"
"It didn't happen." Daryl told her. "Things changed." He looked pointedly at his brother to shut up.
"Yeah, it didn't 'cause I wasn't there to help ya." Merle hissed.
"What, like when we were kids, huh? Who left who then?" Daryl questioned, which struck a nerve to Merle.
"What?! Huh!? Is that way I lost my hand!?" He barked, raising his prosthetic.
Kay stepped back at this point, not wanting to get involved with their childhood. She kept looking around to make sure no walkers heard them.
"Ya lost yer hand 'cause yer a simple minded piece of shit!" Daryl turned, waving his arm. "C'mon, Kay!"
Losing his temper at those words, Merle grabbed his brother by the shirt. Kay grabbed Merle's arm in means to get him off when he knocked Daryl to the ground. "Merle, let him go!"
"Oh, yeah!? You don't know…"
The two froze when the sound of fabric ripped, Daryl's back shirt fall as it exposed is back. Ugly long angry scars across his bare back, for them both to see. Merle was shocked, to which cause Kay by surprise. Where did these scars come from? Certainly not from Merle by his reaction. They were clearly whip or beat scars, hold ones too. Not like Angela's only being months old, these were years old. Daryl panicked that not only Merle saw, but Kaylee saw them as well, judging by the dead silence of the two. He reached back to try and pull the shirt over, but his fingers lost the fabric in his hasty movement. Daryl focused to just shoving the items that fell from the bag back in it, trying to ignore the burning eyes on him.
Merle was stunned, almost ashamed to see these marks on his precious brother. "I-I didn't know he was-"
"Yeah, he did." Daryl's voice was cracking, trying to keep him composure for his and Kaylee's sake. He threw the bag back over, slipping both his arms through the straps in a means for the bag to cover his back. "He did the same to ya. That's why ya left first."
"I had to man." Merle sighed. "I would've killed him otherwise."
Picking up his crossbow, Daryl paused, glancing to Kaylee. Her eyes were not on his back, but right at him, his face. She understood not to stare, having a sister with scars . Something the two had in common, remembering how Angela tried so hard to hide her own back at the farm.
The wound she got on her face that bastard gave her, it would scar. What if she was blind in that eye? If she went off on her own she wouldn't make it with half her sight gone. A whole left side becoming a blind spot. Daryl was worried, scared for her to leave and die alone out in this world. He couldn't let that happen, he made a mistake. Daryl had to go back.
He got to his feet, letting them lead him. "C'mon, Kay."
Merle saw her follow, "Where you going?" he questioned.
Daryl paused, as Kay stopped behind him. "Back where I belong." Kay smiled at his words, but looked to Merle with the same hope.
"I can't go with you." Merle shook his head. "I tried to kill that black bitch. Damn near killed the Chinese kid."
Kay frowned, had he mean Glenn? "He's Korean." Daryl corrected him.
Merle shrugged, "Whatever! Doesn't matter, man. I just can't go with you." he repeated.
Kay stepped around the tree. "Merle, running around alone is gonna get you killed. The Governor is after you, and he'll kill you out here. I'll keep you hidden somewhere in the prison."
Merle frowned at her, he wasn't some puppy to hide from her parents. "What are ya so hooked up for me being there? I kidnapped you, your sister ain't gonna roll out the welcome mat. Just a bullet between the eyes."
"Merle, please. This isn't about my sister or me." She looked to Daryl, she didn't want to be the cause of these two brothers separating again. "If you love your brother more than you care about yourself, then go with him."
Her words were true, but Daryl wasn't surprised to see him stay in his spot. Not taking a step to follow or a word to agreement. He just sighed, shaking his head at her.
"Y'know," Daryl spoke, waving his bolt. "I may be the one walkin' away, yer the one that's leavin'- Again. Let's go home, Kay." He called, turning and heading through the thick branches.
The teen hesitated, looking to Merle, he put his hands on his hips and just turned away. "I guess I was wrong." She said, he looked down shaking his head as she spoke. "I thought you were different."
Kay turned and ran after to catch up with Daryl. Merle looked around, letting their words sink it. It was like a jab in the chest, his brother had always thought of him like that? After all he'd done for him? It wasn't true, Merle had abandoned his brother to their abusive father, leading to gain those scars. Seeing them was like a ton of realization bricks hitting him in the face. Merle hadn't done anything, but ran away for his own sake. And he was doing it again, right now.
"Damnit." He grumbled, trailing after thee two feeling nowhere else to go.
Thank you daigur3n, Sharin Cole for the follows and favorites.
RedVelvetPanPan- I have this fascination of the eye, could be because of my own shit eyesight. In my Sherlock one, blindness is played with my OC too. Not born but an accident is causing it. Disabilities in OCs interest me, it makes it more real. I like born with, but I am more attracted to the develops more. God, I should continue that damn story this Summer. Yup! They are struggling to pay for things and their jobs are horrible in Missouri, so I'll be letting them move in with me. (and my parents because I live at home) I'll be taking 2 trips to Missouri to help them move, I'll be posting it about it on my twitter if you wanna see! I hope to visit locations of where Walt Disney started or such, they live in Kansas City.
Gryffindor Rat- Hey! Been wondering where you were, things happen in life, it's all good! Glad the chapters were to your content! Right? It's always the Oc and that works a few times. But when you read 6 different fics that do that, it's time to change it about. I planned Kaylee to be taken very early, but the scar added to Angela was a last minute add in! Ah, write a second one! I might do so since some might want a Rick x OC with the OC being Daryl and Merle's little sister (was thinking half sister with how their father was) Merle is the kind of person that can't see their faults he saw no faults in Atlanta and saw none when beating Glenn and hunting Michonne. I know someone like that, so it's a personal understanding to , he'll grow into a bit of a softie as you see some hints, if you see them in this chapter! Carol would yes, as a big sister to her she needs to make sure she's okay. Thanks, see you soon!
Bruna Pereira- You're back! WOO! Got ya by surprise! It always bothered me when the OC begs him to stay or says 'you do whats right' and let's him go but clearly is sad. With Angela, I would be PISSED in her position and she isn't scared to back down on it. It's been a while since the two had a spat, back when Sophia was found as a walker and Daryl was unleashing her anger out on him. This time, it's her turn and once again, mean words were exchanged over the flaring tempers. Hope this chapter had what you wanted! These are written ahead of time so I feel I might have read your mind from the future. I did indeed get some of Daryl's perspective in there. This show is all over the place, unlike Sherlock, so at times I lose track and have to watch the episode about 50 times at once to keep track what's happening. Ohhh, we'll see. The Walking Dead on twitter said that he won't be around for a while. I saw photos posted on Twitter by Lauren and it looks like a time skip is INDEED HAPPENING! I saw a water tower, Rick was on a horse visiting a community, possibly Hilltop. And the Hilltop members were on a horse and carriage heading somewhere. It showed them in a city, so I wonder what will happen in the first episode. I haven't seen any photos of Jeffrey anywhere, he's still at home in NY so he must not be in the first episode. Right? You're not alone, I thought the same damn thing. Imagine Negan seeing her scars! No, you're fine, I was a bit concerned where you were for a while but I know life happens. I just finished Art class and next week the semester ends for me which means 90% more dedication to the story for the Summer! Oh, I understand completely. Sadly, I can't leak anything so you'll have to see next episode. It's mostly the two figuring out their regrets now and realizing what impacts they gave each other. My gosh, you're too adorable! See ya later!