Finally back home! Anyone who didn't know, I was gone for almost two weeks helping my friends move from the mid-West to the East Coast up in New Jersey. I was greatly homesick after a week but we got everything done. Had to handle my niece's birthday yesterday and handle my classes for Fall this week. The trip was amazing, but man did I miss the East Coast. Anyway, enjoy!
Wind blowing through her hair was something near foreign for Angela, as she rode on the back of Daryl's bike. It had been so long since she was on his bike, she almost forgot how loud the motor was and how the wind hitting her face felt like. Merle teased earlier about Daryl's hair being longer than Angela's, and it was true. Still not long enough to hide her first scar, but was longer than Carol's that she felt the strands whip about from the wind hitting her. Her arms were tight around Daryl's waist, anxious about this meeting. Rick had decided to bring her, Daryl, and Hershel to the meeting. Angela knew he was going to keep space between her and Merle, she was hoping Maggie and Glenn would be good to keeping Kay from him best they could while she was gone.
The cold wind stung her cut, though Hershel recommended she wrap it, she insisted that he should see what he had done to her. Angela pressed the left side of her face into Daryl's back, he glanced over his shoulder seeing she was just using him to block the cold wind. Angela wore her faded green jacket, Daryl in his leather jacket with the winged vest over top, and Rick in his tan/khaki jacket. Cold was rushing back to them sooner than they thought.
The meeting location was chosen to be an abandoned feed store, Daryl slowed the bike down, circling in front of two large silos. The Hyundai consisting Rick and Hershel pulled up beside them. Rick got out as Daryl and Angela got off the bike, removing the crossbow from the back end.
Looking to one another, the three went out to fan the area, as Hershel stayed in the car to keep watch. Daryl lead with Rick and Angela behind, weapons up in case this turned out to be an ambush. Rick and Angela eyed up the building and silos, looking for any snipers that could be hiding. No sign of their cars, like during the attack on the prison, were spotted.
Daryl stopped the two, pointing toward the barn where the meeting would be held. Being cautious, they slid between the silos to get to the barn, not wanting to be in the open for too long. Along the way, Daryl spotted a walker laying in the grass, or a decaying body. It was hard to tell with how long people were found dead if they had actually turned or not. Angela bent down, checking to make sure it was dead for sure. Seeing no movement or reaction to her nudging it, she confirmed it dead to the men. Rick nodded for Daryl to head to one end of the barn as she and Rick approached the opened doors to the other.
"Stay sharp." He told her, earning a nod as she gripped her gun tightly.
Rick entered first, allowing Angela to stay by the doors keeping watch before entering behind him. Rick stopped, hearing the clacking of something against wood, footsteps. He cocked his Colt Python, as Angela slowly raised her gun up with her finger on the trigger. She also was being careful that it wasn't Daryl coming in from the other end.
Walking further in, Rick held a hand up for her to pause, as she approached up a ramp to where a chair and table were found neatly placed in the center. Angela felt the hairs on her neck stand, he was here, somewhere. A metal clattered, the two turned to see the man himself emerge from the darkness the Governor. Instead of a bandage covering his eye, he now wore a black eye patch to hind the wound. For once, Angela felt a bit proud for not hiding her wound, while he looked more evil than before hiding his own.
As he approached, Angela felt herself grow stiff with fear. His eyes bore into hers before shifting over to Rick. Rick eyed the man up, taking in his stature and features. This was the Governor.
When walking around to the opposite side of the table, he spotted guns in Rick and Angela's grips. He raised his hands, showing them bare without a weapon and broke into a smile. Angela seethed through her nose, trying to hide the fact she was near trembling at the sight of his grin.
Seeing Rick found no amusement in this, he shrugged and dropped his hands.
"We have a lot to talk about."
"You attacked us." Rick said, shifting his footing. "Makes things pretty clear."
"I was trying to make things clear. I could've killed you all. I didn't." He replied calmly, shaking his head as if he was doing them a favor.
"And here we are."
The Governor looked past Rick, toward Angela who was gulping dryly at the sight of him. "See you made it. Got 20/20 vision?" He waved his hand, as if checking if she could see him.
"Yeah, miss it?" Angela questioned, hiding the shaking in her voice. Be it anger or fear, Angela claimed it to be both. "Nice eye patch."
He chuckled, "Nice scar." he replied.
Daryl outside, watched through the window to make sure no horse hockey was going to occur, especially with Angela standing right there in front of him. The Governor's hands moved toward his belt, to which caused Rick and Angela to raise their guns in defense. He placed his hands back up, shaking his head.
"I'm gonna remove my weapon." He told. "Show that I mean to negotiate in good faith. I'd like you to do the same, and maybe have some privacy." He hinted, glancing to Angela. "May I?"
Rick tilting his gun, giving him permission to do so. He wanted the weapons off him before sending Angela out with Daryl. He wanted to send her out the second the son of a bitch came into view, but couldn't risk what he could pull out on them. Removing his gun belt, he hung it on a nail in a beam behind him. He turned back, smile coming back again.
"See? No trouble." He extended his hand out at him. "Now you."
Rick glanced back, nodding at Angela. She was hesitant, but walked back out of the barn, gun still trained on the bastard. Lowering her gun she took a few steps away from the barn before feeling her legs grow weak, leaning on the silo. Daryl jogged over, concerned by her sudden state.
"Ya a'right?" He whispered.
She nodded, reaching for his arm and leaning into him to stand back up. "I'm okay." She took even breathes, nodding vigorously at him. "I'm alright, I'm okay."
Daryl and her walked back around the front once she got her feet moving again. Hershel turned the car around coming up toward the two. "He's a'ready in there." Daryl informed him. "Sat down with Rick."
"He seemed alone, took his weapons off and-" She paused, gaining Hershel's concern. "I'm okay." She repeated, more to herself than to them.
"I don't see any cars." Hershel told.
"It don't feel right." Daryl looked around, feeling tense with this whole thing.
"Nothing we can do, can't back out now." Angela looked to the dirt below her feet then back around.
"Keep it runnin'." Daryl said, referring to the car in case they need a quick get away. The sound of a car quickly approaching caught their attention. "Heads up!"
Daryl and Angela took a stance, aiming their weapons up at the car coming toward them. Hershel climbed out, hand on his rifle and on the door to lean on. Three people climbed out, two of which Angela knew was Andrea and the man who brought her to the Governor was Martinez. The third guy, glasses and clean outfit she never saw before.
"The hell? What's yer boy a'ready in there?" Daryl questioned.
"He's here?" Andrea asked, they must not have known he went on ahead- or Andrea just didn't know.
"Yup."
Martinez and her shared a look, she sighed marching toward the door. Nope, she had no clue. Andrea pulled the door open and walked in. "What's going on?" She questioned.
"Nothing." The governor replied. He had sat down at the table but Rick kept his distance by the beams. "Your friend isn't much for small talk."
Rick shrugged. "You want to talk- Talk."
"I wanted you to talk," She told, approaching the two. "Too many people have died for no reason. Let's end this. Save the bullets for the real threat."
Andrea walked over, leaning onto the table looking between the two who paid her no mind. "Let's solve this. That's why I asked you to come here."
Rick stared right at the man. "I know what you've done. I heard about the raids, the heads, Maggie-"
"Merle did that." The Governor excused.
"But you did that to Angela." He told, pointing a finger at him. "Tried to get her back for what happened to you."
"She attacked my people." He excused again.
"No. You know what I'm talking about." Rick argued.
"You know all about me and I know all about you. I don't care about any of that." He dismissed, as if it was a thing of the past. "We're here to move forward."
Outside, Daryl was pacing around the car, watching the one man in glasses jot something down in a small notebook. Angela's eyes were locked with the door Andrea just walked through, expecting to hear gunfire at any moment. He paused by Hershel and Angela as he leaned on the car.
"Maybe I should go inside." Hershel suggested.
"The Governor thought it best if he and Rick spoke privately." The clean man in glasses informed, as if he had a right to speak up.
Angela looked over, Daryl gave him a look. "Who the hell are ya?"
"Milton Mamet."
Daryl glanced to Angela, who shook her head thinking the same. Some assistant or such, judging by his clean clothes and the gun that awkwardly hung from his waist.
"Great. He brought his butler." Daryl commented.
Martinez chuckled, finding his comment offensive toward Milton. "I'm his advisor. He corrected."
"What kind of advice?" Daryl asked.
"Not good ones, apparently." Angela added.
Milton sighed, glancing up. "Planning. Biters. Uh, you know, I'm sorry. I don't feel like I need to explain myself to the henchmen."
Angela perked up at that. "Pardon?"
"Ya better watch yer mouth, sunshine." If Daryl wasn't going to show this nerd a thing or two, Angela sure would.
"Look, if we're gonna be out here pointing guns at each other all day," Spoke up Martinez. "Do me a favor, shut your mouth. I'll put you in your place, too, Scarface."
Daryl stepped up toward him, snarling at the name he called her. "If I remember right, I kicked your ass. I can do it again." Angela dared from her spot by the car.
"We don't need this." Hershel spoke up, not needing to launch gunfire over petty words. "If all goes South in there, we'll be at each other's throats soon enough."
The two stared each other down. Enjoying how he riled the hunter up, he just smirked as Daryl turned away. He looked up to Angela, who softly shook her head, not wanting the comment to bother him, let alone her. Daryl moved to the truck, squinting up at her then back down as he stood by.
Back the prison, everyone was checking the ammo in what weapons they had. Glenn was in charge giving everyone a job to do. Kaylee stood with Carl, loading their handguns and holstering them. Merle watched from his cell, not liking how this was all being handled.
"Carl, come here." Glenn called. The boy rounded the table and was handed boxes of bullets. "You stash these at the loading dock. All right?" Carl nodded, Glenn handed two more boxes to the blonde teen. "Beth, put more up on the catwalk. If anyone gets pinned down we need to make sure that they have plenty of ammo." He picked up gloves and a blowtorch. "I'll go work on the cage outside, Kay give me a hand?"
The teen nodded, walking over taking the rifle off the table ready to follow him.
"What we should be doing is loading some of this firepower in a truck and paying a visit to the Governor." Merle suggesting, pausing the two from leaving. "We know where he is right now."
"Are you suggesting that we just go in and kill him?' Glenn questioned, finding that idea stupid.
"Yeah, I am."
Michonne glanced over toward him. "We told Rick and Daryl that we'd stay put."
"I've changed my mind, sweetheart. Being on the sideline with my brother other there," Merle shook his head. "Ain't sitting right with me. Don't ya agree, Princess?"
Kay looked up, seeing Merle was talking to her. Glenn didn't favor that he was trying to have her side with him. "The four of them are right in the middle of it." He told. "No idea we're coming. They could get taken hostage or killed. A thousand things could go wrong."
"And they will." Merle called out as Glenn and Kay stepped to leave.
Carl came up, glaring at the redneck. "My dad can take care of himself." He turned back, going up the stairs.
"Sorry, son, but your dad's head could be on a pike real soon." Merle nodded toward Kay. "Your sister with him."
The teen looked to him not expecting him to say that. She just turned away, jogging up the stairs to follow Carl outside. Maggie shook her head, not approving of those words to the younger ones.
"Don't say that to them." She warned, giving Merle a look. He only shrugged, finding it the solid truth and that they should accept that.
Glenn sighed, shaking his head. "It's not the right move." He told him. "Not now. Can't take the risk of putting them in the crossfire. That's my decision. It's final."
"I've known you both at different times, but only after the world went to shit." Andrea told the men, seeing as Rick was still keeping his distance. "And you both stepped up for the good of others at great personal risk. There's no reason-"
"Get to it." The Governor told Rick, growing tired of Andrea's speech.
Rick stepped over, tossing the map onto the table to him. "Woodbury takes West of the river. The prison takes East. No one crosses. No one trades." He explained.
The Governor unfolded the map, spotting the circled locations of the prison and Woodbury. "He's right." Andrea agreed, he frowned looking over the old worn out map. "We should hammer out boundaries, then leave each other-"
"Sorry, what is this?" He questioned Rick, cutting Andrea off a second time.
"It's a solution." She answered for him.
Philip laughed, tossing the map onto the paper. "Absolutely not."
"What the hell am I doing here?" Rick questioned Andrea, seeing he wasn't for making peace. "You told me-"
"Told him what?"
"You told me he was willing to talk!"
"I am, but the truth is, Rick, she's in no position to make such an offer anyway." He informed the furious leader. He folded his hands onto the table, grinning up at Rick. "I'm here for one thing only- Your surrender."
"Oh, you want surrender?" Rick questioned, leaning onto the table. "Come get it. You think we hit Woodbury heavy last time?"
Andrea tried to calm him down, the Governor was just enjoying the growing anger in Rick. "Just take it easy, alright?" She scolded. "We're here to settle this."
Philip nodded, "You're right." he glanced to Andrea. "Would you step outside?" He asked, thumbing toward the door.
Andrea looked to him, offended by his favor. "What?" Rick gave a short glance than back to staring down Philip.
"Rick and I, we got a lot to talk about."
Andrea scoffed, "I'm not leaving."
"I came to talk to him." Rick told, Andrea's words weren't working and it was indeed this man he came to talk to. Not to Andrea.
Seeming ticked off by getting kicked out, Andrea marched out of the barn seeing the others looking toward her. She moved to sit down at a nearby bench. The Governor extended his hand toward the empty chair, Rick took careful steps and slowly eased into the chair. Martinez sauntered over and closed the barn, silencing any words the two leaders inside would say.
"So, you're the Governor." Rick started.
He shrugged, as if bashful of such a name. "That's-That's their term, not mine."
"Oh." Rick nodded, calling bullshit on that claim. "But still, you're beholden to your people."
Philip nodded. "Well, of course."
"You have a responsibility to them."
"Hm-hmm."
Rick rubbed his fingers together, legs crossed and his arm resting on his knee as he looked to him sideways. "Wasn't Merle your lieutenant?"
"He was helpful, yeah."
"But you knew he was erratic." Philip nodded. "You blame him for scooping up Glenn, Maggie, and Kaylee in the first place?"
"Exactly. I was trying to sort it out when you attacked." He told, playing the victim card.
"So, it was his fault?" Rick questioned, trying to get to the bottom of the blame.
"He's a wild card, but he's effective." Philip smirked. "He gets the dirty jobs done."
Rick found a flaw in his words there. "I thought you'd take responsibility."
He chuckled, looking away for turned back, holding a finger up. "I thought you were a cop, not a lawyer." Philip countered.
Rick tilted his head, "Either way, I don't pretend to be a governor." he retorted.
Philip sighed, "I told you, I'm their leader." he tried to compromise.
Rick turned, leaning onto the table suddenly at those words. "You're the town drunk who knocked over my fence and ripped up my yard, nothing more." He hissed at him.
Philip found his claim amusing. "Didn't you ever misjudged someone?" Rick leaned back slowly at his words, Philip saw he found a nerve to poke at. "Andrea told me about your baby. That it might be your partner's. But you're caring for her and I admire that."
Being a father once before, Philip could understand Rick at this level. And seeing how silent Rick got, he knew he had gotten to him. "Restitution for you own lack of insight. For failing to see the devil beside you."
Rick wasn't too lost as he instantly responded, staring evenly with him. "Oh, I see him, alright."
Philip laughed, finding that a good answer to him. It was silent for a few seconds, until he slammed his hands onto the table, it didn't jolt Rick one bit. "I brought whiskey." He told, as if he had just made this meeting into a party.
Philip laughed as he smiled, standing to go get it. What kind of man was this? Rick understood why Angela was trembling at the sight of him. Something was unhinged on the man, but Rick couldn't lose his nerve on this.
Despite Angela feeling tense, rubbing her hands to calm down, it was Daryl who was showing signs of anxiousness. He kept pacing about and exhaling, crossbow hung off his shoulder. Hershel and Angela shared a look, she wanted to ease his mind but felt it difficult with the two men watching them. Daryl looked to Angela, who tapped her finger on the car hood as if asking him to come over. Getting the signal, he nonchalantly walked over, leaning against the car as she sat on the hood. Milton finally noticed the anxiety with the other two members of the prison, stepping from the vehicle.
"There's no reason not to use this time we have together to explore the issues ourselves." He offered, walking over to them.
"Boss said to sit tight and shut up." Martinez ordered, sitting on the bumper of the van.
"Don't ya mean the Governor?" Daryl retorted, earning a look from the man.
"It's a good thing. They're sitting down, especially after what happened." Milton told, fingering the notebook in his hands.
"You mean this?" Angela questioned, pointing to her face.
Milton opened his mouth, but looked away not able to respond to her. Daryl watched him, as he gulped and spoke again. "They're gonna work it out. Nobody wants another battle."
"I wouldn't exactly call it a battle." Daryl told.
"I would call it a battle and I did." He held his tan little notebook up. "I recorded it."
Angela looked at the notebook, finding herself curious to his words. "For what?" Daryl asked.
"Somebody's got to keep a record of what we've gone through. It'll be a part of our history." He explained.
Angela scoffed, a historian like her found that claim offensive. "You think this is history?" Milton looked to her again, she shifted her sitting, leaning her arms onto her knees, locking her fingers together. "I'm a historian, and this is something that should be forgotten, shouldn't even be happening. I bet you're writing in there how much of a big hero your Governor is, aren't you?"
"As-As a matter of fact-"
"I don't want to hear it." She slid off the hood, dusting the dirt off her pants. "I would say stick to your day job, but you can't even be a good advisor, can you?"
Milton wanted to say some retorted back, but judging how her stance was held and how he heard her attack Martinez and the Governor, he decided not to engage. Hershel looked to the Angela, seeing her getting more antsy than he had expected.
"That makes sense." Hershel told, perking Milton back up. It was as if he had just praised a child of their horrible science project.
He flipped through his notebook, walking up to approach the once was farmer. "I've got dozens of interviews-"
The sound of a walker snarling and metal clanging caught their attention quick. Almost forgetting about the dangers of walkers, when there was danger sitting right in front of them. Milton and Hershel stayed put, clearly one of them too scared to investigate, as the other four rushed over to check on the noise.
Daryl and Angela ran off, Martinez took a bat from the car and followed with Andrea behind. Between some silos, three walkers were staggering over, they must have knocked into something to cause the noise. Daryl, finding this an opportunity, lowered his crossbow and gestured toward the walkers.
"After you." He offered to Martinez.
He grinned and pointed his bat at the two. "No way. You first."
Andrea and Angela shared a look, she shrugged, not knowing what Daryl was doing. The blonde sighed and walked over, slamming a walker into the silo and stabbing it in the head with her switchblade.
The men looked to one another, "Pussy." Martinez spat at Daryl.
He spun his bat, approaching the second walker, as if showing off. Angela shook her head, whipping out her baton and slamming it into the third walker approaching them. Martinez slammed the bat against the walker's head, squashing it against the silo. He looked back, grinning at Daryl as if he had just showed him who the real man was. Daryl shrugged, showing he wasn't too impressed. Angela and Andrea turned over, seeing more walkers coming through as the men moved toward them. Andrea sighed and turned to leave, but Angela was curious to what Daryl was trying to prove here as he started it.
Daryl stepped forward, shooting a bolt into a walker, letting it slump into the dirt. He looked to Martinez, indicating it was his turn. He twirled the bat some more, and swung at the next walker as a chunk of its head and brain flew out. Angela walked up to Daryl as he was loading the crossbow.
"You watching this, Scarface?" Martinez called, walking over some pipes to attack the next walker.
Angela heard Daryl growl at that name, quickly lifting the crossbow and firing. The bolt had flew not only through the one walker's skull, but lodged into the neck of the one behind it as well. Martinez chuckled, ready to swing his bat. Daryl wasn't done yet, taking his hunting knife out, he threw it, nailing the walker in the skull. Martinez jumped back, looking up at Daryl, impressed.
Angela, watching it all, was in awe by that. She hadn't seen Daryl try to show off before, something new she learned about the hunter. Sure, seeing him attack walkers and use the crossbow was nothing exciting to see. But, something the way he just was quick to beat Martinez to that walker, how he threw that knife-
Whoa, where were these thoughts going!? Angela shook her head, following Daryl as he walked up to get his knife back. Angela made the move to yank it out and use the walker's jacket to clean the blood off. Daryl knelt beside her, spotting something in the walker's shirt pocket. Digging into it, he had found some cigarettes, showing them to the two.
"Look what he's got."
The two stood, Daryl placed the cigarette between his lips and offered one to Angela. She hesitated, but shook her head. She hadn't smoked since high school, and quit halfway through college. Angela never minded being around Daryl when he smoked, the smell never bothered her and she didn't want to keep him from doing what could help his stress. She did have the itch now and then, but resisted well to keep him from noticing.
Daryl held the box out to Martinez, who shook his head. "Nah, I prefer Menthols."
Shrugging, he pocketed them and in turn took his lighter out. "Douchebag." He mumbled, lighting the cigarettes. Angela chuckled, reaching over to slide the knife back into his sheath for him. He turned his head, blowing the smoke away from her. Martinez watcher their interaction, Angela stepped back and slid her baton back and sighed looking around.
Curious, Daryl glanced to him. "Ya army or somethin'?"
"Nah, I just- just hate these things." He confessed, looking down at his blood covered bat. "After what they did to my wife, kids."
Angela and Daryl glanced to one another, seeing this man had a life before all this. A family, maybe a decent job. "Sucks." Daryl commented, sucking in the nicotine and blowing away from Angela's direction again.
"Thanks." He muttered, looking down and around again. He looked to the two, glancing between them. "You two a thing?"
Daryl looked up, Angela looked to the ground feeling her cheeks grow warm. Be it the sun beating down or the notion itself. Though Daryl didn't answer, he just rolled the cigarette between his fingers. Didn't seem to be any of this guy's business, the hunter thought.
Martinez guessed they indeed were, how the two interacted, sent signals to one another, almost had their own language. How he was defensive of her, stuck close to one another, reminded Martinez of when his wife was alive. Times were different, he sighed shaking his head.
"This is a joke, right?" They looked to him, Angela folded her arms. "They ain't gonna work anything out. Sure, they'll do their little dance and tomorrow, the next day." Martinez eyed the two up, nodding. "They'll give the word."
"We know." Daryl understood what he meant.
Martinez sighed again, glancing up at the scar faced woman. It was worth a shot, even if the two leaders wouldn't put things past them. "Angela, right?" She glanced up, squinting with the sun in her eyes. "Didn't mean to…" He cleared his throat, pointing at his face to indicate her scar. "Just following orders."
Angela scrutinized him, looking for a bluff at his words. She nodded, looking away. Angela wasn't forgiving him or letting her grudge go. Orders were orders though, and being ordered by that psychopath, probably meant follow them or punishment.
She glanced back at him, seeing Daryl give him the cigarette he declined before. It was a peaceful ceasefire, and Angela was curious seeing how this was all viewed by the other end. Angela crouched down to the grass, watching the smoke from the two wafted into the air. The sun warmed her face, feeling like being stuck in that cold prison made her paler. She remembered being slightly tanned through the first few months of the apocalypse, it had faded over the winter and it was returning until the attack of the prison. Angela didn't care if she was pale white or bronze tanned, looking up at her hunter, she for now enjoyed the peace. It was true what Martinez said though, no peaceful agreement would happen of what occurred since the kidnapping.
Daryl kept an eye on Angela, watching her look relaxed as possible as she crouching in the dead grass. He inhaled the nicotine stick and exhaled through his nostrils, the smoke flying up and disappearing into the air.
The bottle of whiskey sat between the two men. The Governor had sat now at the corner of the table with Rick, pouring each of them a shot. He shrugged, taking the glass and being relaxed as if he was at a bar with an old friend.
"I care about my people and I don't take their deaths lightly ,and I know you don't either." He told, trying to get onto the same level as Rick once more. "In a way, this fight," he picked up the map and tossed it toward Rick. "It's a failure of leadership."
"Then leave us alone." Rick prompted, pausing Philip from taking his drink.
He shrugged, bringing the glass to his lips. "Well, now, that would be an even bigger failure." He took a sip and nodded. "You've moved into our backyard. You shot up Main Street." Philip looked to Rick. "If I let that threat persist, I look weak and, well, the whole thing crumbles."
"Well, that's your problem. Your choice." Rick told him, pointing out that it was his fault.
Philip pointed a finger at him. "Now, isn't that why we're here? Choice. If we choose to destroy, everything we've fought for over the past year." He eyed Rick, he kept that even low stare, still trying to find that nerve he had before. "We're gonna kill everyone we know. At your prison. Back in Woodbury. People we love, Rick."
Rick finally looked away, thinking on the members he's lost already, not able to handle losing more. Hershel losing his daughter, Angela losing her sister. The Governor noticed his contemplation, leaning back and putting his glass down.
"I was at work one day," Philip spoke. "Taking shit from a boss half my age and an IQ even lower. And the phone rang. My wife had been in an accident. 'Sorry, Mr. Blake, we did everything we could'." He told, remembering those words through the phone line. "I sat there holding that phone, knowing that I would never see her again."
He snapped his finger, Rick kept still not affected at all. "Gone." Philip said. "It was just an accident. No one's fault."
Rick was looking down, unable to keep eye contact. He thought back to his wife, Rick was thinking bitterly how lucky the Governor was. His wife died of something that could happen to anyone in a modern day. Lori died over the choice of her life or Judith, and she chose the baby. If this was the normal world, she would've been saved in a hospital and alive right now. Rick was calling him lucky, as he didn't have to go search for her body to be eaten by a walker like he did.
"She had left a voicemail asking me to call her, but I hadn't had a chance yet. I sat there clutching that phone thinking, 'What did she want?'." Rick glanced up, Philip shook his head looking down at the table. "Just to check in? Ask me to pick up something for dinner?"
He leaned forward, stirring the contents in is glass as she gave an unsettling smile now and again. Rick looked away, unable to handle seeing them as he told this story. "What did she want?"
Rick shot his eyebrows up, shaking his head knowing he didn't have the answer. Feeling rattled by the tale, he reached for his glass and takes a sip. The Governor watches, downing his own drink as the two now sat in silence of their lost wives.
Glenn and Kaylee were working on the rusted metal fencing that covered the entrance to the cell block. She was helping with his work, on how to keep the defense up on the prison. He had the idea to cut an opening for the gun nozzles to fit through. She had used the same marker Merle gave her to outline for her box, as she outlined to where to make a opening. Glenn had just finished, putting the blow torch down.
"Now just, bend it halfway." He told her.
Wearing the protective gloves, she pressed her fingers and pushed down to make the opening, making sure not to bent it completely so it didn't fall off. Despite the rusted old metal, Kay grunted at the amount of force to bend it. Glenn took the rifle and held the gun up, making sure the nozzle fit through.
"Is it, maybe, too big?" She asked, as Glenn collected the items.
"It's the best we got, so we can move and aim." He explained, turning to the door. Before opening it, he paused and looked to Kay. "I think, your sister is right." She looked up at him quizzically. "About you staying away from Merle. It's best to keep your distance."
Kay sighed, shaking her head, "You're just saying that because my sister told you to keep me away from him."
"No, I'm telling you because I've seen what he is." Glenn explained, bending down to look her in the eye. "What he's done, what risks he takes-" He paused, turning away to keep calm, not wanting to yell at the teen. "Just, keep away from him. It's best for your safety."
Kay huffed, folding her arms. "He was desperate to see his brother, Angela was the same when I went missing. You saw how she acted, it's the same thing."
He spun back at her. "No, no it's not. It's nothing close to that."
The two stared at one another, Glenn opened the door nodding for her to walk in first. She rolled her eyes at the Korean and entered, Glenn following in closing the door behind him. He paused at the barred door, seeing Kay watch Merle with a bag. He was packing the guns into it just as Maggie came in spotting his actions.
"Hey, you're not going." Glenn told him.
"I don't need permission." Merle tried shoving a rifle in the bag, struggling with one hand.
"I can't let you." Glenn informed.
"You can't stop me." He retorted.
Maggie shook her head at him. "If you're gonna live here with us, it's gonna be on our terms." Merle ignored her, heaving the bag up and turning toward the steps. "If Michonne can do it, why can't you?"
Kay turned to see Glenn quickly putting the items down and readying his rifle as if he'd have to gun Merle down to stop him. Angry at their demands and questioning, Merle spun back at her just as Michonne entered. "'Cause that's my brother out there, that's why. What's the matter with ya'll?"
Merle stepped up, standing over Glenn as the Korean stood his ground. Kay nervously stood beside them, not knowing what to do. "I'm not gonna let you put them in danger." Glenn glowered at him.
"Nut up already, boy." Merle snarled at him. "This guy cops a feel of your woman and you pussy out like this?" He turned to Kay, making her tense up at his piercing blue gaze. "You're sister is out there, Kaylee. Don't you want her safe, you understand. Having family be out there with the enemy."
The teen stammered, looking down to her shoes not wanting to answer. "Merle, I…I just…"
"Leave her out of this." Glenn told, bringing his arm up to put some barrier between her and Merle.
His glare returned to Glenn, Merle nodded his head to the side. "Get out of my way."
"No."
Merle contemplated, nodding at Glenn's defiance. He suddenly shoved him over to get to the door, "Get out of my way!" he shouted.
Glenn instead, wrapped his arms around his waist and tried to push him away from the door. The pushing and pull of their weight caused them to tumble down the steps, Kay stood out of the way as Maggie and Michonne jogged over. Merle got on top of Glenn, holding his down as he held his knife at his face.
"Get up!" Maggie cried, grabbing Merle and trying to yank him off her boyfriend.
"Merle, no!" Kay cried, running down and wrapping around his arm to pull the knife from Glenn.
Merle was strong! Michonne helped Kay keep his arm up, as Maggie got him into a headlock. A sudden shot of a gun startled them, seeing Beth shooting her revolver into the air, glaring at them.
"Let me go!" Merle barked, making Kay let go instantly. "Let me go!" Maggie and Michonne let go, Glenn shoving Merle's hand off his face.
Merle got to his feet, panting at the struggling fight he just had. Maggie helped Glenn up, Merle wiped his chin looking to Kay. She felt split, his look was one of betrayal, as if she was expected to defend him. So far, she had been defending him when Daryl didn't or wasn't around. She was conflicted on actually going to attack the Governor or stay put as Rick and Daryl said to.
"Better pray your sister is alive, Princess." He spat, shoving past her to enter his cell.
"Hey!" Glenn barked, only to have the redneck ignore as he collapsed onto the bed of his cell.
Maggie went over to Kay, putting a comforting hand on her shoulder. The teen shoved her off, marching to her own cell wanting to be alone. Her sister was fine, Angela was fine, Daryl was fine, they were all fine. Kay jogged up the steps and into her cell, climbing up into her bed. She sat against the wall, curling her legs up against her chest, hugging them close.
Why did she feel so split? Kay was so used to trusting and it went well first meeting Rick's group, then meeting the prison survivors with Oscar and Axel. Why wasn't Merle given a break? Sure, he did bad things, but he was trying, right?
"Why can't we all just be peaceful?" She asked herself, pressed her forehead to her knees and repressing the urge to cry as her emotions were taking a rollercoaster of a ride right now.
The Governor had just finished his glass and smirked at Rick. He stood, walking around with his arms folded behind his back. Rick scrutinized him deeply.
"You know, the truth is, I didn't want any of this." He confessed, turning to Rick. "They chose me because there was nobody else around." Philip chuckled, "And they still think that I'm the man that can keep them safe." he explained. "They still think I know what I'm doing."
Philip shrugged and sauntered toward his belt, picking it up from the nail and buckling it back on. IT was clear this meeting was coming to an ending for the two. "I know you got guns. Mmm? That was quite a stash you brought back the other day."
Rick tilting his head, so they did have someone watching them. Was there someone watching the prison right now?
"Now, my people, they're not combat-tested like yours are, but I've got more of them." He warned, stepping back up to the table. "So this fight, it will go down to the last man. So let's end it." Philip offered, seeing Rick's glare and urge to snarl as he lip twitched upward.
"Today. Let's not do this. We can walk away." Rick nodded for him to continue, slightly curious of his words. "You have something that I want. One thing that makes this all alright."
"I'm not giving up the prison." Rick growled.
Philip laughed, "No." he assured sitting back down. "No, I- I don't want your prison. That doesn't sound safe at all." He kept grinning, finding Rick's threat a joke. "I mean, you lost your wife, another man."
Rick swallowed back the bitter taste, but nodded. "We're not moving on." He told, trying to find out what this guy wanted.
"What good would that do me?" Philip questioned, hands folded onto the table. "Best you stay where I can keep my one good eye on you."
He ducked his head, lifting the eye patch with an internal struggle. He soon removed it, and looked up to reveal the wound inflicted onto him by a certain woman in Rick's group. "I want Michonne. Turn her over and this all goes away. Is she worth it? One woman worth all those lives at your prison? Is she?"
The Governor leaned back, letting Rick think about his words. "Now thinking, what was that brunette teen's name? Key or Kay?" Rick looked up, the mention of her got his attention.
"She's a sweet one, pulled Merle's heart strings the second he met her. She's got a power to soften people up and win them over." The Governor chuckled, placing the eye patch back on with more ease than removing it. "Reminds me of…" He paused, licking his lips looking down, then back up to Rick. "Her sister did a number on my people, hunting down her her baby sister only to get herself another story to tell on her face."
Rick adjusted his seating, nostrils flaring at his words as he kept going on. Philip tilted his head at Rick, "I think she'd do better in Woodbury. Not some prison where she's gonna get killed." he grinned darkly. "I want Michonne and Kaylee."
Kaylee was lost in her own world, using the knife Merle had lent her to carve into the music box, now carving into the cement wall. She paused, fearful it was dulling the knife and didn't want to damage it when returning it to Merle. Still laying in bed, Kaylee sighed feeling her bottled emotions released had helped.
"...Know I'm right." Came a voice, echoing into the cell block. "The folks here, they're strong, good fighters." It was Merle's voice, was he starting shit again?
Kaylee climbed down from her bed and peek out the cell, she looked over the railing seeing Merle talking with Michonne. "But they ain't killers." He told her, leaning on the doorway.
"Rick is." Michonne told, walking up to him. "Maggie is. Angela is. Carl put down his own mother."
"Mercy killing." He excused. "That don't make him an assassin."
"Mmm, but you are." She inquired.
Merle chuckled, "When I have to be." he told.
"Then how do you explain letting me get away?"
"I must have been seduced by your sterling personality." He responded, tilting his head at her.
Kaylee rolled her eyes, he seemed calm enough, she supposed. So long as Merle wasn't going to start another fight.
"Ya coming with me or not?" He asked her. "Me and my brother, we have a few calls we use when we hunt. I'll give him a heads up, he'll warn the others." Michonne looked around, as if thinking over his offer. She spotted Kaylee at the top and looked back to Merle. "You shogun the Governor's ass, I'll take care of the rest. We'll be home before you know it."
There was one person who Michonne grew concern for. "And what about Andrea?"
"Bullets fly, she's gonna have to make her choice real quick." He told, seeing it as a risk worth taking.
Michonne didn't seem to favor that reply, and shook her head. "You're on your own. You get people killed, it's on you." She picked up her katana and bag and left the man alone.
Merle sighed, not able to find anyone to side with him on this idea. His eyes wandered, spotting Kaylee at the upper level watching. She looked away and walked back into her cell, sitting up in her bed once more. Everyone was against Merle, not feeling the same sympathy that she did. Was it because being a sibling helped her understand? Or maybe she was just too trusting to people. She's been lectured by her sister for so long, now Glenn and the others were telling her the same.
"Whatchya sulkin' for, Princess?" Kay looked up, not seeing Merle had just been standing there who knows how long. "Gotta be honest, impressed you can climb up there with that leg of your's."
She ignored his comment, turning to him. "Do you blame me? After the things you said and did, you're supposed to behave." She scolded, pointing a finger at him.
Merle shrugged, "Shit happens." he dismissed. He looked around the cell, eyeing up the room Kay shared with her sister. "Things I said were harsh, ain't gonna deny that. But, ya know their true."
She sighed and swung her feet over the edge. "Honestly, I want this all to just end peacefully. I wish you had just gone with Glenn's word and waited for us to bring Daryl to you. Maybe we would've set up you coming back and everything would've been fine. The Governor would never know we were out here."
Merle chuckled, leaning his back against the doorway and crossing an arm over his chest. "They knew this prison was out here, but it was in the red zone. I told him that there was no way someone could take the place, and ya'll proved me wrong. Put me in a hard spot."
"Not our fault your Governor was too much of a wuss to come find out himself." Merle laughed at her venomous words toward him. "We should leave, find another place to stay before Winter comes again."
"Ah, too late now, little lady. I wouldn't doubt they got men watching this place." He told. "'Sides, where would ya'll go? Can't go to where ya hide during the last Winter, right?"
"We were in Savannah, my home town." Kay told, leaned forward with her arms resting on her knees. "We didn't stay long, maybe two months I think then we had to leave."
"Herd?"
"...Something like that." Kay muttered, Merle noticed she something else was what chased them away. The redneck moved to sit at the toilet, ready to hear a story from the teen. "Back when this all started, there was a small becoming community, at Point University. A man, Roy, took leadership for the survivors there."
Merle nodded, "Anything like the Governor?" he asked.
"Yes and no." She told, rubbing her forehead, finding it hard to answer. "He was worse." Merle frowned, leaning onto his knee to hear more. Kay mentally sighed, ready to relive the story.
"He was super against so many things. We lost people when they went on runs, he only trusted our brother, Nolan, as he was one of the most fearless to face those walkers. He was like you, right hand man to Roy. But, he took advantage of my sister and I whenever Nolan was gone. Roy was always hitting on my sister, but she could deflect his flirts easily." Kay waved off, with a shrug. "Me, it was different."
"Did he-"
"No, I mean…" Kay groaned, hanging her head. Pausing for a thought, she looked back up to Merle to see was scowling.
"Did he do it?" He asked lowly, not toward her but the mention.
"No, he tried. But, I fought him off."
"Good." He told.
"You know that scar my sister has, the one on the side of her head?" He nodded. "That was for me. When he told the town how I was actually kissing some teenage boy, he was going to punish me for not letting him have me."
"You're sister took the blame." Merle figured.
"My sister has gone through so much for me. He shaved her head and cut her with a hot knife. As a reminder, and it is for us. I see it as how I gave it to her." Kay admitted, eyes casting to the ground.
"Your sister," She looked to him, he nodded approvingly. "She's a hell of a sibling. Doing whatever she can to protect you. I respect that."
"I'll let her know that." Kay smiled to him.
"Nah, best ya don't." Merle told, standing and stretching his back with a grunt. "Don't think she'd be fond of the fact I'd know her past. You don't need to be scolded anymore than ya have been."
Kay agreed, knocking her boots against each other. "I'll be done the carving soon." She told, feeling her spirits up a bit after talking to him. "Then I can give the knife back."
"Take your time." He waved, walking past her to the door. "Who knows, ya might need it if we got a war on our hands."
Kay reflected on their talk as the redneck took his leave. She took the knife out from her back pocket, flicking it open to look it over.
About an hour or two had passed and still no sign of them. Daryl and Angela sat by the doors beside one another. Hershel and Milton seemed to be getting along well as the were talking among themselves. Martinez stood by the car, looking around to keep his ears and eyes out for more walkers. Andrea, was eyeing Angela. It was getting on her nerves as the blonde clearly wanted to say something, but wasn't finding the courage to do it. That, or she was staring at her newly added scar that stung from the sun's rays. Hence, she sat in the shade with Daryl now.
Angela kept messing with her hunting knife, holding it by the the blade thinking how Daryl had thrown it before. Daryl watched her a few times, mentally nothing to maybe teach her and Kaylee that trick. The sudden screeching of the door opening caught their attention. The Governor was the first to step out, swaggering to the car. Soon, Rick exited, walking over to the Hyundai, no more words exchanged. Hershel got off the car, moving to climb in as Rick opened the driver's door. His eyes were on the Governor, watching him climb into the driver's seat of his own vehicle. Daryl and Angela looked to one another, then walked to the bike as Andrea looked to Hershel, conflicted. They had spoken about which side for her to choose, hearing that he had done horrible things to her old members and strong proof of Angela's facial features, cause a conflict with her head and heart. Finally deciding, she turned and joined Martinez, Milton, and the Governor in their car.
Daryl started the motorcycle as Angela set the crossbow on the back, then climbed on behind him. Wrapping her arms around his waist, Daryl turned the motorcycle around the Dodge Ram, as it passed the Hyundai. Rick and the Governor gave each other one last look, and they left to their respective homes.
Angela pressed her forehead against his back during the ride back to the prison. Unable to look back and check on her, he reached his hand down and placed his hand over hers that wrapped around his waist. She was thankful for the comforting touch, seeing the prison coming into view eased her mind. They pulled up through the broken gates and past the walkers that couldn't keep up. Carol and Carl opened the second main gates, letting them inside and pull up into the courtyard. Maggie and Glenn were the first to greet then, as they parked their vehicles. Maggie helped her father out, Carl and Carol came over. Carol hugged Angela, she hugged back glad one another was alright.
Everyone looked to Rick, awaiting to find out what was to happen. "Let's get inside." He told them, marching toward Cell Block C.
Everyone followed, finding the rest of the members waiting for their return. Angela and Kay shared a hug, Merle clamped Daryl's back for his return. Beth hugged her father as he whispered to her that he was okay, since he had to use one crutch than his usual two. They all gathered in the cells, Rick stood before them, ready to inform what was to happen. Daryl stood by Angela and Kaylee, as she kept an arm around her little sister. Rick held his sniper rifled, looking around at the group.
"So, I met this Governor." He started. "Sat with him for quite a while."
"Just the two of you?" Merle asked, standing across the room from his brother. Rick nodded, Merle sighed and turned passing Glenn. "Should have gone when we had the chance, bro." He muttered to the Korean.
"He wants the prison. He wants us gone. Dead. He wants us dead for what we did to Woodbury." Angela held her sister closer to her. Rick looked to every member of his group, of his family. "We're going to war."
That was all that needed to be said. Rick passed by everyone, not before glancing to Hershel and making his leave to go on watch. Kaylee sighed, Angela rubbed her sister's arm leading up to her cell. Daryl stepped up, looking to his brother and giving a nod. He returned it, watching his baby brother follow the sisters up the stairs to check on them.
War was a strong word to use. The only time Angela ever used that term was to refer to World War I, World War II, Civil War, Cold War, French Indian War- Angela would never think herself or her sister to be involved in wars. Angela watched her sister climb onto her bed, sitting there to take in the information she was just given. She saw Daryl join them, he nodded to the two, who nodded back. They'd have each others back, protect one another. Angela reached over, snaking her arms around Daryl and hugging his waist. Daryl used his free hand to pull her close, as his other was holding his crossbow strap over his shoulder. He resting his chin on her head, sighing into her short hair looking to the distressed teen. This was Daryl's family, and he would fight to protect them, Angela, Kaylee, Merle, Carol, everyone. War is what the Governor wants, war is what he'll get.
I apologize how late this chapter was! I was helping my friends move furniture, get their bank accounts, license and house keys set up. It was a busy weekend. Hope you enjoyed!
RedVelvetPanPan- Cute right!? Thanks so much! Hahahaha can't wait for that to be revealed!
Gryffindor Rat- There is a softness when it comes to Merle and some members. I wanted him to grow soft and I think Kay's innocence works well! I was cheering on her death, you can guess how her fate will come to in this story. Hopefully Angela will calm down, it'll take time or some talking. If she allows it.
Bruna Pereira- So so SOOO Sorry I didn't reply before! I just now got the alerts for your review, I deeply apologize for not replying before! It's jumping between cold and hot here in the East Coast despite it's almost Summer. Growing concerned for my area over this, but hope you're enjoying the coziness with this new chapter! UGH I hate season 4 only because the flu thing. I'll try my best to get through that from my little problem with vomiting. Makes me wonder what they got planned for Jeffery for season 9 honestly. Oh! I'll be meeting him the next Walker Stalker this year! Can't wait! See you later!