Chapter 5 - Love Ain't Easy In A Prison
Note: I am still bewildered and blessed by all the follows and favorites and REVIEWS from you wonderful people. I am trying not to freak out by the spoilers out there that Daryl might die. If that happens, I will no longer be able to watch the show, and have to drown my sorrows in Fan Fiction. But hopefully, the executive producers aren't that stupid..
Anyway after my last post, I felt like I went to romancy with Daryl...all holding hands. That's not him, so I'm working on getting the tone right. He seems more 'open' but he's still Daryl. Please bear with me. Plus, my intention was to update after each week. But last week left me hanging, since it was all Woodbury. I had to make some guesses based on previews...So I guess we'll all see!
marianasgirl: I'm so glad you think so. I hope I don't disappoint.
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ShadowCub: Thanks for reading. I can't live without romance, but I tried to tone down the smushy smushy, and add a little more bloodshed.
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Chapter 5 - Love Ain't Easy In A Prison
Lane walked, or rather stumbled, into the much cleaner and better smelling prison Cafeteria. She'd opted to stay with Hershel the second half of the night. Her aunts hadn't wanted her too, but Lane hated how they'd both acquired dark bags under their eyes. She knew her aunts weren't exactly young anymore...but no matter how they aged, they were her vivacious surrogate parents. So it was disturbing to see how this way of life was affecting them. How it was aging them.
"Hey!" Lane protested when she saw Aunt Ethel in the kitchen, doing her best to doctor up a large pot of oatmeal. "You! You and Miriam are supposed to still be sleeping! That was the whole point of me staying with Hershel." Lane yelled at the two of them.
"Pshaw! My eyes snapped right open at the same time they always do. But thanks for staying with Hershel...I don't like to admit it, but Miriam is getting older and she needed the extra rest," Ethel playfully condescended.
"I heard that!" Miriam stepped out from the back pantry, gleefully holding a carton of raisins. With her free hand, she gave Ethel a playful swat.
"They aren't SunMaid but they'll do!" she set the box down, and gave Ethel a light kiss on the lips good morning.
It was just the three of them sitting there in the early morning, almost making Lane think things hadn't gone insane. Lane inhaled the coffee, periodically nibbling on the oatmeal.
"I could sure use my Times Crossword..." Miriam still struggled with this part of the day. For almost 50 years her day began with the renowned puzzle.
"...and a cigarette," Ethel chimed in. This had long been a bone of contention between them. In fact, Lane knew the routine so well their voices actually just became white noise.
"Stop it...you know I quit years ago," Miriam snapped back.
"Except those times when you haven't," Ethel pointedly reminded Miriam of the times she'd caught her sneaking on out on the patio for a smoke.
"I feel bad for those two boys over in that other cell block," Ethel rambled now that the smoking debate had concluded. "and us sitting here eating."
"Do you think they'd like some oatmeal?" Ethel asked matter-of-factly.
"I'm sure they would, but we can't go over there," Miriam reminded her.
"Yeah...but" Ethel paused. "What if we asked Rick if we could take some over?"
"Rick's going to be asleep a few more hours. He had last watch," Lane explained.
"Well, I can take it over. It's not that far for heavens sake." Ethel continued her rambling.
"You aren't going to let this go are you?" Lane accused. But Ethel just sat there innocently, adding another spoonful of raisins to the bowl.
"Fine...make up a couple of bowls and I'll run it over there," Lane acquiesced, knowing Ethel would obsess and harp on this until something was done. Ethel had always fought for the underdog. She would probably just go herself if Lane didn't.
"Lanie...I think you should wait for Daryl to go with you." Miriam warned her headstrong niece. "Or I'll go with you." she offered.
"I'll be fine. That area has all been cleared and I won't go into the cells...I'll just hand it to them through the bars and leave." Lane already had the bowls in the bag and was halfway out the door.
Miriam stared at the door slam shut.
"Ethel? I've got a bad feeling you've just stirred up a hornet's nest," Miriam warned.
"Who's there?" Oscar jumped out of the cell he had claimed. Axel jumped out not a second later.
"It's just me...I just brought ya'll some breakfast," Lane stated cautiously. "If you want it?"
"Ya'll poison it?" Oscar asked cautiously, causing Lane to laugh.
"Only if you consider raisins and brown sugar poison?" Lane dropped the bag next to the gate and quickly stepped away. She watched as Oscar slowly approached and grabbed the bag and pulled it through the bars, looking at it suspiciously.
He took off the covering and took a big whif.
"Lordy, that smells good." he complimented.
"Oscar, gimme one of those. It smells so good, I don't care if it is poisoned." Axel yanked the other bowl away.
Lane smiled and turned to leave.
"Hey Ma'am? Thank ya kindly," Oscar called out.
With a turn of her head, she looked back and met his soulful black eyes. The other guy barely glanced up, too busy eating.
"You're welcome." Lane had thought her aunt crazy for wanting to do this. But maybe it had been a good thing to do. The right thing to do.
"Where's Lane?" Daryl asked when he made his way into the cafeteria. He'd checked everywhere he could think of: the RV, the watchtower, the infirmary with Hershel...nothing. And he hated the knot that was forming in his gut because of it.
"Oh she's just fine. Why din't you sit down Daryl." Ethel charmed, already bringing him a bowl of hot oatmeal. "She should be right back any second."
"Back from where?" Daryl grumbled, suddenly feeling ridiculous for getting excited.
"Oh, she just took those other boys in that other cell block some breakfast," Ethel continued puttering, having no idea the effect her words would have on Daryl.
"She did what ya say?" Daryl yelled, standing up so quick the table came up and slammed back down with a clang.
Just then Lane walked back into the Cafeteria.
"Hey. Good morning," she shot him a beaming smile. Until she realized he wasn't smiling back. Instead he was standing there, red-faced and glaring at her.
"Did ya just go over to the other cell block...take 'em Damn breakfast in Fuckin' bed?" Daryl snarled and ran over to her, unable to believe her stupidity. "Are ya that stupid?"
Lane stood there open-mouthed, staring into a pair of blazing blue eyes that were absolutely furious...and she had no idea why. Daryl, meanwhile, was having trouble controlling his breathing he was angry. He clenched and unclenched his fists to gain control. But it didn't seem to be working.
"Ummm, No." Lane made sure to make her response measured and controlled...in stark contrast to his.
"No, actually I took our 'neighbors' some hot oatmeal, which I dropped outside the bars and then left." Lane's voice was firm yet direct. Miriam recognized that tone from when Lane had to deal with those assholes from the Pentagon.
"By the way Aunt Ethel, Oscar said 'Thank You', " Lane made a point to say over Daryl's looming shoulder, doing her best to ignore his rage.
"And you decided to do this on your own...and not bring backup? Don't you know how dangerous that is? Jeezus!" Daryl was still incredulous, though he had stopped screaming. Lane had to admit, this calmer Daryl was more scary.
"If I'm not mistaken, we've cleared these halls and I took my weapons. It was no more dangerous than walking out to the watchtower or the RV," Lane pointed out.
But Daryl was neither impressed or convinced. Within a step they were chest to chest, both staring daggers at each other.
"You don't go near those men...or that cell block unless either Rick or I goes with you! Ya here me!" Daryl ordered. Daryl wasn't sure Lane's eye's could open any wider, but he was wrong.
Ethel and Miriam both gasped at the sudden gauntlet that Daryl had just thrown down. 'Don't do this boy,' Miram pleaded silently. 'This is not going to be good!".
"Excuse Me?" Miriam heard Lane's voice rise an octave. Oh, no...here we go. Miriam gripped Ethel's hand..
"I put no one else in danger...I was prudent and careful, as well as caring for my fellow man... which is something that happens to be in short supply these days." Lane snarled sarcastically.
"Second, just because we live in a prison does not, by any stretch of the imagination, make me a prisoner and you sure as hell are not my warden." Lane was getting ready to full out rant.
"And if that's a problem for you ...or Rick" Lane paused for everything to settle in.
"Then you best tell me now...and we'll be on our way!" and with that Lane stormed out. As soon as she left, she had to lean against the double-doors...gasping for all those breaths she'd refused herself take before. And then she ran.
"Well, you handled that really well," Ethel scolded Daryl sarcastically, who reluctantly sat back down, no longer hungry. Ethel had seen Lane get angry, but never like this. Never with such passion.
"Did you maybe consider saying, "Lane, good morning. I'm glad you're safe, but I'd feel better if you let me go with you next time," Miriam suggested. But Daryl just grunted, randomly stirring what was now a cold, sticky blob of oats.
Daryl knew he'd fucked up...really bad, if she was threatening to leave. And the look in her eyes gave him no doubt that she would if he pressed her.
But how could she not see how wrong she'd been? They'd made progress in the prison...damn good progress fer sure. But there was still danger. What if those other guys had jumped her? She didn't how tricky cons could be. They could easily have reached through and grabbed her by the neck. Daryl forced himself to stop thinking about.
Daryl figured the two old ladies would be pissed at him too, so he snapped his head up when they sat either side of him.
"Daryl...you're not the first man to do something like this." Miriam told him. "But you're gonna need to fix it...because I'm starting to like it here with you all. And I've also taken a bit of a shine to you." Miriam winked at him. Daryl couldn't figure these crazy old ladies out. Why were they talking to him, much less being nice to him after he just yelled at their niece?
"But make no mistake...if this doesn't get sorted she will leave, which mean we go to. She's stubborn like that. And I have a pretty good idea of where she gets it," Miriam looked pointedly at Ethel.
"Oh please Miriam...I am the most conciliatory person you know," Ethel rebutted.
"Sweetie, sure you are. So long as you're getting your way," Miriam chided.
Suddenly Daryl looked around at the absurdity of the situation. Him, a white trash redneck receiving what? 'Relationship' advice from two old lesbians just after he going apeshit on their niece.
He didn't even want to think what Merle would say. And the thought of his brother being 'Merle' to Lane or her aunts made him furious.
And then everyone (except Lane) began wandering in for breakfast.
As they ate breakfast and discussed the plans for the day. No one could miss what a foul mood Daryl was in. Carol couldn't even coax but a few grunts out of him and T-Dog couldn't get a laugh.
Rick just observed and tried to put things together. Living in close quarters was never easy...and with as diverse a group as this, he had to admit they'd done a pretty well at getting along ...considering everything. Considering Shane, anyway.
Rick tried not to think about Shane. It was the only he could get through the day. But still, there were those times. Those unguarded moments when his first instinct was to look for Shane, to ask what he thought. But for six months now, instead of Shane he'd looked to Daryl. Daryl was the one he truly trusted to keep him in check.
"Everyone...I been thinking. We've been cooped up in here a while now. We've made it secure...at least as secure as we can," Rick made sure to qualify. "I'm thinking it's time we cleared that yard and burned the walkers...maybe get started on that irrigation trench T-Dog's been planning. Prepare to plant some crops." Rick knew they all needed this. Hell, he needed this.
"Later, if we clear some of those interior courts, it'll be safe out there..." Rick almost said to play. But did Carl even play anymore? Maybe they all had already forgotten how to play.
"Maybe we can get some animals too?" Carl asked. Rick and Lori both smiled at the sight of the glimpse of their little boy, not the zombie killing man he'd been forced to become.
"Maybe some goats and chickens..." Beth joined in.
"Whoa! One step at a time!" Rick reminded them all. But he didn't want to dampen their newly enthused spirits.
"But that sounds like a great plan. We'll need to clear a space...make us a prison barn, so to speak. But only then do we even think about venturing out to bring back any animals."
Rick's announcement put them all in positive spirits...except Daryl, and of course, Lane who wasn't there.
"You wanna tell me what crawled up yer ass?" Rick sidled up next to Daryl, keeping his voice low. "And how much of it has to do with a certain missing woman?"
"I lost my temper at breakfast," Daryl mumbled. "But she took breakfast to the prisoners. She went alone," Daryl's voice became firm, in no way apologetic.
"I see! I guess I need to talk to the group. Set some ground rules. I told the prisoners, but not our own people," Rick realized his oversight. "But let me guess. You pointed out the error of her ways?"
"Damn straight... I mean, yeah. I get that we cleared them halls. Got rid of the walkers. The ones we know of," Daryl qualified. "But we haven't secured it 100%. And we've seen what these guys are capable of...or at least their buddies." Daryl continued his justification.
"Yeah...sounds about right," Rick murmured as he continued to listen, remembering the Tomas incident.
"But?" Rick prompted.
"She threatened to leave..." Daryl paused. "Said just cause we was staying in a prison that didn't make her no prisoner. And if we had a problem with that...well then, she and her aunts were outta here."
"Sounds like an awful lotta drama over oatmeal," Rick continued his calm analysis.
"It ain't about the damn oatmeal," Daryl steamed. "She coulda been hurt...or killed."
"Ahhhh," Rick listened. "You were upset because you were worried about her."
"I didn't say that," Daryl protested. "It's just...we need to have some damn rules around here!" Daryl was stunned when Rick couldn't hold back his laughter any longer.
"Daryl Dixon demanding some damn rules!" Rick chuckled at the strange twist of fate. "I'm beginning to think you'da made a fine policeman," Rick slapped him on the back. But Daryl didn't take to it all that kindly.
"That's harsh," Daryl accused, but not with any real anger.
"Well, you make a damn fine partner!" Rick's tone changed, strangely serious. Daryl's head whipped around, more moved than he could really handle.
"You know, you have to fix this, right?" Rick said, realizing his admission had sort of freaked Daryl out. "You were absolutely right! You just need to work on your delivery."
"That's what her aunts said. But Rick...we both know she ain't fer me. So maybe it's for the best. I should just leave things be." Daryl snorted while he kicked his feet against the floor.
"Now we both know that's not fer the best," Rick chided. "What? Ya can storm a walker infested prison yard...but yer too afraid to apologize to a woman?"
"But I ain't wrong. Ya just said so yerself," Daryl stomped, reminding him of Carl at age 5. "Why I got to apologize?"
"Word of advice...it's best if ya stop asking why and ya just get used to it," Rick chuckled. "Now, let's quit gossiping like a pair of teenage girls and go clear that yard. Do something manly."
"Sounds 'bout right," Daryl joined in, still thinking about everything Rick said.
Lane raced to her favorite thinking spot when she ran from the cafeteria. But when she reached the watchtower, she found it 'otherwise occupied'. It didn't take too much for her to realize it was Glenn and Maggie 'gettin busy' in there. With a smirk, she headed to the other watch tower.
'Who the hell does he think he is?' Lane began her private rant before she even made it to the top. 'Treating me like a just fell off the damn turnip truck. Like I'm a child. Hell, Carl gets more respect around here than I do'.
'Christ...we fed them. They looked like they were about to starve to death when we found them,' Lane's inner voice kept arguing back and forth, reliving their 'discussion'.
But she couldn't get over the way his eyes flashed...they way they bored into hers while he yelled at her. They sparked with anger and passion. If she hadn't been so pissed herself she'd have jumped his bones right then and there.
She wasn't sure how long she'd been there lost in her raging thoughts, but the sound of voices below broke her reverie. She looked down from the tower at the group Rick had gathered to help clear the yard.
'Well, if I'm gonna demand to be treated like an equal I better damn well pull my weight,' Lane yelled at herself. With a sigh, she heaved herself up, gave the laces on her boots a quick double-knot and raced down the stairwell.
"Hey Baby Gerl, nice of ya to join us?" T-Dog teased.
"Yeah, well my masseuse just called. Jerk cancelled our standing appointment so you lucked out and I'm free." Lane smiled, doing her best not to look at Daryl.
"Well that sucks! But if you need a reliable replacement, just let Ol' T-Dog know. These are some magic fingers!" T-Dog joked while suggestively waggling his fingers, as much to get a rise out of Daryl than anything.
"Speaking of massages, anyone seen Glenn and Maggie?" Rick knew what T-Dog was doing, and he really didn't want to deal with Daryl going off on T-Dog right now. Everyone was wound a bit too tight.
Lane hung her head and stared at the dirt. She was not going to rat out her cousin. Lane marvelled at how quickly Maggie had become 'cousin', no longer some qualified twice-removed literal definition. Simply, they were family.
"Lane, do you know anything?" Rick, cop that he was, picked up how she quickly looked away.
"I know lots of things Rick," Lane smart alecked, more joking than sarcastic. But she made the mistake of glancing toward the other tower. She would never hold up under an actual interrogation.
"Not again? They're like rabbits!" T-Dog threw up his hands in frustration. Carol started laughing and even Rick seemed to find something funny about it. Except Daryl... Who stomped forward with his hands on his hips.
"Yo! Glenn! You coming?" Daryl screamed up at the tower. But his choice of words, and the sight of a barely dressed Glenn put them all into a state of giggles. This time it was Daryl who stammered in embarrassment.
"They were just up there this morning," Rick announced, somewhat impressed actually. Lane looked over at Rick, marvelling at the way his features softened when he really, truly laughed.
"Glenn, Maggie! Get yer sorry asses down here. We got work to do. Give us some help!" Daryl yelled again, this time choosing his words better.
"Jeezus, we ain't got that many condoms!" T-Dog shouted in exasperation. The underlying subtext being they didn't need another situation like Lori's.
"Would now be a bad time to mention the entire case of condoms we found in the infirmary?" Lane said sheepishly.
"Oh Lord, we'll never get them down from there," Rick exaggerated good-naturedly.
"Be right down," Glenn promised, when he briefly re-emerged. This time with his shirt on and jeans buttoned.
"Hurry the fuck up! It's hot! We ain't got all day," Daryl yelled in his familiar drawl. Except they all saw the middle-finger salute from Maggie to Daryl, just before she left to follow Glenn.
"So things have soured between you and my favorite redneck?" Maggie asked under her breath, grabbing the arm of the other walker as they dragged it to the big fire they'd started.
"I suppose you could say that?" Lane gagged out over the stench. And with the bandana over her face, chitchat wasn't too easy.
"You don't want to talk about it?" Maggie's voice was curious rather than insulted. Growing up with two sisters and family practically living on top of her, the idea that a person wouldn't want to talk was baffling.
"Just isn't much to say. He's just an overbearing neanderthal, that's all" Lane added with an extra stomp to add oomph.
"That sounds like Daryl?" Maggie admitted. .
"All I did was take some oatmeal over to our neighbors in cell block B" Lane explained. " When I got back, Daryl was there and he went frickin' nuts!"
"I can only imagine," Maggie reacted. "Daryl's real protective..." but something else was concerning her.
"Lanie...?" Maggie asked under her breath. What was she missing. "I don't know, but I think something happened when they cleared that other block. Glenn has been real vague about it. He just said that three of them died trying clear the way," But Glenn's been different than when they left."
"You think that's why Daryl went nuts? Something about those prisoners?" Lane asked, wondering how such simple things were becoming so complicated.
"Daryl's a hothead, but he's a really good guy," Maggie told her with complete confidence.
Lane glanced around over at Daryl who was helping Rick move that rusty truck back to camouflage the entrance.
"Maybe," Lane mused. "Does it make me an awful person that I am glad that Tomas guy is dead?"
"I think there'd be something wrong with you if you didn't" Maggie said with a recently acquired grim pragmatism.
Lane did her best to stop obsessing on Daryl and focus and dragging more walkers to the fire pit. But it was Carol's blood curdling scream that ripped through the yard.
A walker was quickly bearing down on an unsuspecting Daryl. And at least a dozen more were right behind it. Without thinking or planning, Lane drew her knife and raced towards the walker, shiving it in the head just as Daryl spun around to see what all the commotion was about.
Chaos broke out as everyone struggled to make sense of what was happening. Daryl immediately switched to warrior mode. He grabbed his knife and pushed Lane behind him. But with a sidestep she was again, right back at his side, taking more walkers down.
"Where are they all coming from?" Lane screamed.
"Aw Shit! The gate is open!" Glenn yelled and pointed to the far gate...the one they'd made sure was locked that first night.
"Shit. How the fuck did that happen? " Rick yelled. "We gotta secure the gate again!" Rick and T-Dog ran for the gate and managed to shut it, taking notice of the broken chain.
Once they'd stopped the influx of walkers, they reformed the familiar tight circle that had been so successful before in taking down the walkers. And eventually, they completed the job with no casualties or injuries.
Lane stood there in shock, chest rising and falling as she tried to catch her breath. Her arms quivered and ached at such intense use. Then the group slowly walked over to the gate to try and figure out what the hell happened.
"This was cut," Daryl held the broken link in his hand. "Chopped with an axe or somethin',"
"Who would do that?" Carol asked.
"I've got a damn good idea," Rick said with such coldness, it chilled Lane to the bone.
"Them prisoners did this," Daryl clarified, looking Lane straight in the eye, as if to say 'I told you so'. .
"We gonna go take care of this Rick?" Daryl was ready to go put a bullet through both these guys heads.
"Maybe we should wait at least a minute or two. Not go off half-cocked, in the heat of the moment?" Lane suggested. Good rarely came out of rash actions.
Carol scoffed at Lane out loud. "We can't exactly give them a trial?" This was a different, colder Carol than the one who couldn't decide Randall's fate.
"Really Carol? Are you so gung ho you'll kill two men without even finding out what happened? If both of them did it or just one? Or if it's someone else in this prison, we don't even know about yet? Well ok, here ya go! Have at it!" Lane forced her handgun into a startled Carol's hands.
Carol just stood there, staring at Lane. Infuriated that she'd been humiliated by this interloper.
"No?" Lane accused when Carol didn't more, exposing Carol's hypocrisy. "But it's fine if Rick or Daryl goes and does it for you? Make them live with it? While you sleep safe and sound?"
"I'm not saying that after we take a few minutes and figure this out, we shouldn't go do exactly what Daryl suggested. But this can't always be on Rick and Daryl," Lane pleaded.
"Killing a person steals a piece of your soul, no matter how much it's deserved. We can't put the follow through on one person all the time," Lane struggled to control the emotion in her voice. "It has to be on all of us, or none of us."
"If both of them did it, then I'm willing to do it myself . Are you?" Lane asked a still seething Carol, who refused to respond.
Carol refused to even look at Lane, but the others were also taken aback. Lane didn't know just how badly her words cut to the quick. The others all had to face everything they'd put on Rick.
Only Rick stared at her, a strange look in his eyes. A look of profound ...something. Gratitude? Not exactly. Maybe it was appreciation that someone else recognized the toll this apocalypse had taken on him.
"Lane's right. Let's find out what happened. Make sure it wasn't an accident first. But if they did do it, I'm for taking care of it myself too, " Maggie sided with Lane.
With consensus they all went over to look at the broken chain. The rough hewn marks on the chain links indicated that it had obviously been smashed apart.
"Did they even have an axe?" Lane asked.
"Yeah. We took the handgun, but left them some weapons so they could clear the rest of their wing," Rick told them.
"Motive?"Lane asked. "Maybe they wanted us out, leave them the whole prison. Make supplies last longer?" she brainstormed.
"Or they're pissed at what happened to Tomas," T-Dog whispered. But Daryl's glare shut him up. Maggie glared at Lane.
"Only one way to find out," Lane figured on heading back to cell block B. Go straight to the horses mouth.
"Hey, where you think yer goin'!" Daryl pulled her arm back and held her back behind the others.
"To see the prisoners. Like you said, if they're a danger to us we need to handle it.". Lane answered, trying to remain calm. But her muscles twitched.
"You need to stop going off and just let Rick an I handle this," Daryl growled. Lane didn't take to being ordered around nor being treated like a child, but there was more to this than machismo.
"Is that what everyone here does? Let you two take everything on?" she asked incredulously. Suddenly Daryl saw her eyes flash from anger to empathy.
"Daryl, what happened to Tomas? Don't get me wrong, I'm glad he's dead and everything." Lane's voice settled into a whisper. "But you've all been weird about it since it happened."
Daryl stared at Lane awhile, debating if he should tell. But in the short period of time he'd known her, he was fairly sure she wouldn't drop it until she knew.
"He tried to kill Rick!" Lane gasped at the information even though it wasn't all that shocking. "We was fighting to get to block B and Tomas tried to act like it was an accident. He swung wide and cut Rick, then shoved a walker on top of him,"
"I was clear across the room but none of those fuckers made a move to help Rick. So I left position and got Rick back up," Daryl went on.
"That dick just stood there afterward. Told Rick 'shit happens' . But he'd done it on purpose, we all knew." Daryl remembered that cold, dark look in Tomas' eyes.
"We just stood there, facing each other. Then Rick just put his machete through that fuckers head. His little buddy ran off, ended up in a yard full of walkers," Daryl finished.
Daryl jerked up in surprise when she gently placed her hand on his arm, running it up and down.
"I am in awe of you!" Lane leaned in, having no idea where such gumption came from. "I'm glad you were able to get to Rick in time," Lane was looking into his eyes with such respect, that Daryl had squeeze his eyes shut and reopen them just to make sure he wasn't imagining things.
"I'm just worried about Rick. Seems like he takes on an awful lot," Lane reached up to kiss his dirty cheek. "You too!"
"Daryl, I want to help. I don't need to be taken care of," Lane offered in a soft, non-accusatory voice. 'Not like Carol?' she thought. Daryl just nodded. She wasn't sure if that was agreement or just acknowledgment that she'd spoken.
Daryl thought back to Rick's words of thanks after he'd been the one to shoot Dale when he'd been bit. Maybe Lane was right about Rick...maybe about other things as well?
"Yo, guys! Time for a little neighborly chat." Daryl clanged loudly against the metal bars.
Lane stood with the others, except Carol who, not surprisingly had opted out. They watched Oscar peek out of his cell cautiously. No sign of Axel.
"What ya'll want?" Oscar asked suspiciously, keeping a safe distance from the bars that separated them.
"Just thought we'd discuss ya'll have been up to today?" Rick took command of the questioning.
"What ya'll talkin' about?" Oscar frowned.
"We had some ground rules! You were to stay on your side, our people stay on ours! I warned you what I'd do if I caught you near my people!" Rick's voice had gone from ice cold to menacing.
"Man! I been in here all morning. I haven't seen none of ya'll other than her," Oscar screamed.
"Where's yer buddy?" Rick was starting to actually consider Oscar might be innocent in this, but someone had broken that chain.
"Don't know. He's been taking them bodies outside... Burning 'em like ya told us. Axel must be out in the yard still burning 'em." Oscar averted his eyes.
"What happened to get ya'll in such a tizzy?" Oscar had no idea what happened, but he had a sick feeling Axel did.
"Someone broke the chain, let a whole bunch of walkers in that yard we'd cleared." Daryl accused, not really caring which one of them did it. "While we was all out there clearing it."
"Well it sure as fuck wasn't me!" Oscar didn't take to being accused of something he didn't do by some redneck sheriff.
"Then how's about we all go have a chat with your roommate," Rick unlocked the door with his master key.
"Come on then," Oscar reluctantly lead the way. Lane believed Oscar for some reason, but still gripped her weapon a little tighter.
"Yo Axel! Man, where you at? The welcome wagon stopped by for a visit," Oscar hollered out over the smaller yard they'd managed to clear. The rancid stench of walker smoke drifted around the corner.
"Where is he?" Rick asked.
"I don't know! I told ya man!" Oscar was getting scared. If Axel had done something, then these guys wouldn't care that he had nothing to do with it. Oscar raced down the steps, desperate to find Axel and prove his innocence.
They searched the yard, then ranaround the corner where they'd been burning walkers.
"Oh No!" Oscar yelled, gripping his head with both hands. They all saw the chains that littered the ground by the fence. Axel was gone, and looking around at the dead guardsmen on the other side of the fence, he likely now had a gun too.
"Ok, move out everybody! We've gotta get back, make sure the others are safe." Rick started running, pointing his gun at Oscar. "Then we hunt down Axel."
"You! You're coming with us!" Rick forced Oscar ahead, with Daryl backing up Rick.
They raced back to cell block C.
"Lori, Carl!" Rick screamed desperate to make sure they were all safe.
Heads started popping out of cells,wondering what all the commotion was.
"Aunt Ethel? Aunt Miriam?" Lane yelled when she saw them, running as fast as she could to reach them. But instead of lingering in warm hugs she pulled them into the cell handing them their guns.
"Lanie, what's happening?" Miriam was scared.
"It's that other prisoner, Axel. Tried to kill us this morning!" Lane spoke quickly. "It's not safe here while he's out there."
"Is everyone accounted for?" Rick shouted.
"Beth... I can't find her!" Maggie screamed while running frantically back and forth down the cell halls.
They all began looking everywhere but still no Beth.
"I can't find Carol either?"Lori yelled.
"Ahhhhh!" Lori screamed. In Carol's cell, a bloody heart was resting on a small dinner plate... As if it were a platter of cookies.
"He's playing games with us!" Rick slammed the plate against the wall, watching it shatter in a million pieces.
Lane walked over to look at the heart. "It's not Carol's. It's a walkers!"
"That sick fuck!" Oscar's face contorted in disgust. "That's why he spent so much time disposing of the walkers. I didn't give a shit. Was glad to let him... Now I know why." Oscar shook his head, actually struggling with nausea.
"Let's not panic. Maybe they're with Hershel?" Aunt Ethel reminded them.
"Ok. We'll all go together to check out the infirmary. You," Rick pointed to Oscar. "You're staying here!" Rick shoved him into one of the unused cells and locked it.
"Stay together!" Rick and the entire group ran to the infirmary, all armed and ready to whatever was necessary.
"Beth?" Maggie called for her sister, as soon as she made it to the infirmary.
"What's wrong? Beth looked up innocently holding her Daddy's hand.
"Oh my God!" Maggie raced over to hug her sister, who still didn't know what the big deal was.
"Ok, we need some people to stay here with Beth and Hershel. Maggie?" Rick hated splitting them up but they had no choice.
"Of course!" Maggie nodded.
"Glenn or T-Dog?" Of course Glenn stepped up.
"Let no one in!" Rick ordered before he shut the door, waiting for them to click the lock.
"Let's go find Carol"
"I knew we were just alike," Axel stroked Carol's short hair. "When I saw you in the yard with that walker...I knew!" Axel burned with a desire he hadn't felt in years. When he'd snuck off and found Carol cutting that walker, wiping her brow with her bloody hand. He knew! He'd jerked himself off out in the woods while he watched her. That was when he knew he had to have her.
Carol was trembling so badly she could barely move much less talk. She'd been so pissed about Lane she hadn't noticed the door was open. He'd been there just waiting. He'd heard the exchange between that stupid girl that brought the oatmeal and his perfect Carol. She shouldn't have been in the yard though! His Lady shouldn't have been there! He blamed that Sheriff for putting her there!
"Where are you taking me?" Carol whimpered.
"Carol honey, we have to leave for awhile. These people don't understand us. You know they never will!" Axel cooed in her ear, making Carol almost wretch.
"It will be just us," his drawl so thick at times it was hard to understand him. "It's so much better to cut them when they're alive. Baby, I'll teach ya! The blood! It's so warm...so perfect." Axel's voice was heavy with desire. It sickened Carol.
They'd almost made it to the motor pool. It was closer to block B so nobody noticed it had been practically cleared. Axel let her go with one hand to open the gate.
"That's far enough Axel!" Rick's voice boomed, making him turn around. Carol instinctively ran towards Daryl who was standing beside Rick, crossbow aimed at Axel's head.
As quick as a snake, Axel grabbed Carol by her head, his other hand holding a sharp hunting knife to her throat.
"Ahhh," Carol whimpered as the sharp blade cut into her skin.
Without ever breaking eye contact with Daryl, Axel bent his head down, seductively kissing Carol's neck, then wildly licked the stream of blood trickling down.
With blood still dribbling off his mustache, he looked straight at Daryl. With a swipe of his tongue, he licked off the remaining drops of blood from his mustache.
"I suggest ya let her go!" Rick ordered, yet remaining calm.
"Or What?" Axel taunted, not a drop of fear in his voice. "Any one of ya come a step closer I'll slice her. She'll be dead before she hits the ground."
"What ya gonna do now, Mr. POliceMAN? Send out an APB. Call for backup?" Axel laughed while he taunted.
"I'll tell ya what yer gonna do? Yer gonna step aside so me and my lady love can go get into our car. We gonna drive off into the sunset together." Axel was confident his plan would work. Fact was, he'd got away with it more times than he could remember. And that was with law enforcement. It was the damn drug charge that jammed him up.
While this had all been playing out, without Rick's knowledge, Lane, Ethel and Miriam snuck around the back into the motor pool. Miriam watched Lane and Ethel's back in case Axel hadn't completely cleared the area. Now Lane and Ethel both had guns on Axel's back.
"And Oscar? Ya just gonna leave yer partner?" Rick needed to keep Axel engaged so he didn't hear Lane.
"That rube? Ya gotta be kiddin' me? He was happy to just lay around and oatmeal.". Axel derided. But suddenly he realised 'oatmeal gerl' was nowhere to be found.
Rick saw the realization and then panic in Axel's eyes. With a rise of his finger he gave Lane the signal. Without hesitating, Lane took the shot. With a steady hand and slight squeeze of her finger she shot Axel in the back, a bright spray of arterial blood exploding from his chest.
Carol screamed and ran to Daryl who held her in his arms. He pulled her away from the ugly scene, her body wracked with sobs as she clung to him.
Lane pushed open the gates to join the others and look at the man she'd just shot. This was the first time she'd killed a living person. She'd made her share of threats as she and her aunts survived these past months. She stood there over his body hating him for making her do this. Just then she heard a deafening bang and watched as Axel's head exploded like Gallagher with a watermelon.
"That fucker ate my oatmeal, then tried to take one of our own!" Ethel stood fiercely over Axel's body, having just blown his brains out at close range.
Lane looked at her aunt, then dropped her weapon as the shock of everything that had just happened overwhelmed her. Ethel and Miriam held Lanie while she shook, desperately trying to gain control.
They stood like that over the body, comforting each other. Until Rick came over.
"Lane! Ethel and Miriam! You all did good today. You not only saved Carol's life, you made this place safer!" Rick and Lane shared in the bond that they both knew the toll it took when you killed someone.
"Thanks Rick " she replied as if on autopilot. But her attention was on Carol and Daryl as he escorted her back inside.
"That woman's gonna milk this for all it's worth!" Miriam told Ethel.
"I'm afraid you just might be right," Ethel agreed solemnly.
"Carol?" Lane sat next to the traumatized woman, lying comfortably next to Hershel.
"How are you feeling?"
"I'm alive. So I guess that says a lot," Carol responded, yet curious why Lane was here.
"Carol. I just wanted to say I'm so sorry for our argument this morning. I never meant to put anyone in the spotlight," Lane didn't want there to be hard feelings between them. Lane worried that Carol's anger with her was what made her go off on her own, put herself in danger.
"Lane. Thank you for checking on me. And thank you for not missing that shot today. But lets not play games! This is about Daryl. Did you really think you could just waltz in and I'd sit back and let you take him away from me?" Carol's eyes gleamed with a ferocity she had never seen in the mild mannered woman. It bordered on crazy.
"I care about him. You do too, obviously," Lane tried to diffuse the situation.
"Don't patronize me!" Carol became excited. "I'm the only one who really cares about him. You know why? The rest of you just use him. You think he'll ever choose you over me? You're wrong! Because you will never know him the way I do?" Carol accused Lane.
"Carol? I like him. A lot. If Daryl is willing to let me in, I want to know him too," Lane calmly told Carol, refusing to let herself be baited or cowed.
"Cut the crap. If you weren't here, Daryl would have saved me, just like he always does. And we would finally be together like we were meant to. But still, in spite of you, soon enough you'll just be a distant memory!" Carol sneered with confidence.
Lane absorbed the filth Carol spewed, as she stood to leave. "Well, it's good to know your feeling well and back to yourself." With that she left Carol alone.
Miriam shut off her recording on her iPod just as Lane stepped out of Carol's room and snuck off to the side, They now had Hershel and Carol both staying in the infirmary.
Miriam wasn't sure what she'd do with the recording, but for some reason it seemed important she keep it. She had liked Carol initially. She really did. The poor woman had gone through hell. Or had she? Miriam had known these women who defined themselves by their victomhood. Mirian was beginning to wonder just how committed Carol was to remaining the victim, long after the villian had long since passed?
Added to that Miriam was terribly concerned about Carol's proprietary attitude towards Daryl. And her subsequent hatred for Lanie.
"Hey," Lane said, feeling strangely shy as she shut the watchtower door. Daryl was sitting stoically in the plastic chair. He didn't even turn to acknowledge her presence. Great! A long as shit 5 hours, she realized.
Not knowing what else to do she took her seat beside him, looking out over the newly secured yard.
She'd never felt so terribly uncomfortable around Daryl since she'd met him. But suddenly she was, and she hated it. She struggled to even situate her hands.
Daryl watched her fidget in her chair . He realized he'd allowed himself to become entranced by the way she kept wrapping her thumb over her other thumb in some strange rhythm.
Lane hated the silence between them. It had been at least an hour, she was sure, but refused to check. She was never a person to hold a grudge, so she was always ill-prepared when someone else did.
"You're mad," Lane finally twisted around and stated. It was too obvious to pretend it was a question. So Lane stared at Daryl. After a while she just assumed he was going to pull away, give her the silent treatment. And so he did.
After a while, Lane figured she was more distraction than help so decided to head out. Maybe finally grab her guitar and bring it with her over to the other tower, soothe herself. Technically, it met Rick's decree of two on watch.
"Well, since it looks like you've got this, I'll..." Lane got up, bending down to grab her stuff to go. "I'ma just head out a while."
Daryl stared at her, bending down to get her things and leave him. He didn't know what to do. Somehow he knew, if he let her leave that would be the end of whatever had started between them. But she just kept putting herself in danger, never listening. It would get her killed. And if he let her matter, it would kill him too.
As she prepared to leave she said,"I didn't believe her at first ya know! But I guess Carol was right." with a broken heart Lane shut the door. "You are hers!". Struggling to control to her tears, she shut the door behind her.
She forced herself to take the stairs two by two. If not, then she was afraid she'd either breakdown or go back. And neither of those was an option.
Daryl stared out the slammed door, debating going after her. Ever fiber of his being told him too. But here he sat. It wasn't until he saw a shadow enter the other watchtower that he moved.
He knew in his bones it was Lane, but still he told himself he needed to check it out. He headed down the stairs, carefully making his way to the other tower.
As he approached the tower door he paused to listen. He ended up standing there by the door listening...transfixed, surprised and stunned by the heartbreaking melody she played:
Just cause I ain't lived through
The same hand that was dealt to you
Doesn't me make any less or make any more of you!
I wouldn't trade my best day
So you could validate ...all your fears
"Daryl!" she yelled, her eyes full of accusations when she finally became aware of his intrusion. "You're supposed to be on watch." She yelled,
"No, WE'RE supposed to be on watch," he corrected, moving closer to her. But still, she backed away.
"Why are you here? Everyone knows you of all people do not need help on watch!" Lane pointed out. But still he approached.
"Daryl, Carol told me about you and her. Your history together. She warned me off. So this, whatever it WAS, needs to stop right now!" Lane said as forcefully as she could. She turned her back on him, staring out over the yard, grateful for the distraction to catch her breath.
She stood still as a rabbit while she gripped the stone sill, just waiting to hear the door close behind him, and finally be left alone with her own thoughts and melodies again.
Daryl stared at her slim back trembling in the moonlight, hating the distance between them. Had it really only been two days ago they had almost been together? That they'd almost made love? Even Daryl couldn't diminish it as just 'fucking'.
Daryl had no idea what was happening? He'd wanted to be with her so badly, and for a brief moment he thought ... maybe there just might be a chance? But then, it was if the gods were against him. He couldn't take it.
Still, he took the three steps forward until he was flush behind her. Without asking permission, he wrapped his arms around her, reaching under her shirt so he was touching her heated skin.
"Oh?" Lane exclaimed in surprise. But it was when Daryl pushed her hair away from her neck so he had unobstructed access, and then began nipping and suckling her tender flesh that she began to protest. With a flurry she spun around.
"You can't do this to Carol! Or to me!" she looked accusingly into his eyes.
"Carol and I are friends...that 's all!" he insisted.
"Are you sure? Because that's not what she told me an hour ago!" Lane told him, as she struggled to pull herself away. "Or is this some fucked up game your enjoy?" Lane's eyes darkened as memories or her own psychopath took over.
Daryl stared at her, at a loss as to what to say. Carol's clinginess to him had concerned him, and after today it became ten times worse. He remembered her snide comment about him taking watch tonight rather than staying with her. She'd even cried when he left.
"Don't you dare compare me to him!" he accused, and she immediately crumbled. It had been unfair, and she knew it. "I'll talk to her as soon as possible. I don't know why she's acting like this, but Carol and I have never...," Daryl admitted.
"Yeah? So? Neither have we," Lane reminded him.
"That's different!" Daryl protested.
"Yeah! Why?" Lane pushed him.
"Because, all I can fuckin' ever think about since you stepped out of that RV is being with you. And the only reason we haven't is because of ...fuckin' interruptions" Daryl ground out while pushing forward and simultaneously pulling her back against him.
"I won't be that woman that splits up you and Carol!" she forced his arms away from her, spinning around to face him.
"Carol's a friend...That's all!" Daryl yelled this time. Lane was now crying, wanting desperately to believe him.
"But she doesn't know that, don't you see? I want to believe you!" Lane looked up at him. Daryl was nearly broken by the tears that streamed down her face. No one had ever cried for him. "But Carol is so convinced you belong to her!"
"Believe me! Lanie, I'm a lot of things. You probably figured a lotta that out on yer own. But I ain't no liar!" Daryl ground out, his lips so close he could practically taste her. Lane stood there, utterly mesmerized.
Daryl couldn't stop, He'd wanted her for so long. He stepped forward, giving her no room to escape. He pinned her against the cement block walls with his body, holding the back of her head so he could plunder her mouth.
Lane was stunned, not quite able to comprehend the entire day, much less what was happening now. But she couldn't help it. Within seconds she was responding with equal fervor.
As soon as Daryl felt her respond he breathed a sigh of relief, dropping his arms to grip her ass. She moaned into his mouth when he lifted her up, carrying her by her ass. Instinctively, she wrapped her thighs around his hips as she held on.
He slammed her back against the opposite cement wall, amazed at how perfect she fit against him. She wasn't dinky like Carol. She was ... in a word, perfect. He took a second to pull away, taking the time to look into her eyes.
"Are you sure?" Daryl wanted her more than anything. But he didn't want her to look back, and regret their first time being in a prison watch tower.
"I've been sure since the second you snuck up behind me to help me with the water!" Lane admitted honestly, reaching up to caress his cheek.
"Fuck!" Daryl suddenly set her down and stormed away from her, pacing back on forth in front of her.
"What? What did I say?" Lane grabbed him, forcing him to stop.
"Nothing. It's just this ain't the place for a lady like you and someone like me.." Lane didn't let him even finish. As soon as he opened his mouth, she grabbed his hair yanking him to her. She eagerly thrust her tongue in his mouth, making him moan at her frenzied attack.
"Whoever said I was a lady?" she snuck her hand down the front of his pants. She reached for his hard member and luxuriated in the silken skin that sheathed the steel of him. With her thumb she teased his tip, fascinated by the moisture that had accumulated. She played with it, then ran her hand up and down his length.
"Enough!" he finally yelled. He gripped her hips, then carried her to lay her down on the floor underneath him. She wrapped her arms around his neck, ignoring the cold concrete against her back.
"We can wait... After our shift and go to the RV?" he needed to give her an out.
"Do you want to wait?" she held his face in her hands.
"Fuck No!" he groaned then kissed her again.
"Is that 'Fuck' or 'No'?" Lane teased, raining kisses along his neck up to his ear.
"Just one thing! I don't share!" she warned him. "If that's a problem, tell me now!"
"I don't share either!" Daryl surprised her with his equally intense warning. Before she could respond, Daryl claimed her lips, his tongue tantalized and dominated.
"Jeezus, what you do to me should be illegal!" Lane exclaimed. "There is nothing I want more than to be with you, right here and right now!"
"But?" Daryl offered, knowing where this was heading.
"But we've already had one security breach today?" Lane reminded, hating to remind them both.
"Grrrrrr," Daryl growled, conceding she was right. "Fine! Come on," Daryl grabbed her stuff, including her guitar and pulled her with him ... back to the other tower.
When they got upstairs to the opposite tower, he stood behind her staring out over the moonlit yard, taking turns nibbling on her neck and running his hands under her shirt. Whenever she tried to turn around, he'd scold her and make her be still. It became a tantalizing game they played.
He would make love to her from behind until she couldn't stand it. He licked and nibbled her ear while his hands roamed freely over her body, cupping each full breast.
"Christ you are so perfect!" he would marvel and pinch then soothe her bare nipples. Excited and frustrated, she would reach around and stroke his hard length from behind her until he groaned, forcing her hand away. But she craved the gasps in his breathing while she stroked him.
"I can't take this anymore," she cried out when her knees began to give way.
"Then don't," he groaned in her ear. This time, he reached down the front of her jeans, grateful they were a size too large and provided room for his hand. He slipped his right hand down the front of her pants and into her panties, eager to find her slick center. He wasn't sure what he was doing, he was just paying attention, like Rick said. So far, he was all in fer Rick's advice.
As soon as his fingers found her, he couldn't miss the swollen bud just above her entrance. As soon as he touched it, she bucked against his hand.
"Shhh s'ok," he soothed. "I got ya," he began soothing her with his words, while still circling her with his thumb.
He grew harder as she panted into his mouth.
"Ohhh," she twisted her neck to moan into his mouth. "I need you!" she begged. "forget what I said before. Now. Please!" she'd spread her legs to give him more access. Daryl greedily teased her with his now sopping wet hand.
"Is this what ya want?" he whispered in her ear. At that moment he thrust his middle finger inside her, gently stroking her.
"Ahhhh... Yes. No. I want you! I want you now! Simultaneously in every position ever known!" she insisted, but had to wrap both hands over her head to hold onto him for support as she whispered every fantasy she'd ever had.
"I want that too! I swear to God, I want you every way, like that!" he groaned in her ear at the same he withdrew his finger. She moaned at the loss, then he entered her with two fingers. "Jeezus...you're killing me," she cried and lost control of her legs. Daryl held her up, as he rubbed his fingers inside her.
"Yo Daryl!" Glenn yelled from below. "2nd shift is here!". They both scrambled to right themselves as Glenn's approaching steps drew near.
"Hey, Glenn," Lane greeted quickly after shoving her shirt back into her pants, then rushed down the stairs.
"Later, Chinaman," Daryl raced after her, grabbing their things and quickly overtaking her. Daryl grabbed Lane's hand and pulled her along as fast as he could toward the RV.
"I'm Korean!" they heard him yell behind them.
No longer laughing now they were safely in the RV, they both stood there panting, and staring at each other. Lane made the first move. She stepped closer to him, reaching her hands underneath his shirt, luxuriating in the hard muscles and sinewy flesh that was him.
They had just had 5 hours of intense, frustrating, foreplay. What else was left?
Sorry, Sorry, Sorry. But AMC left me nothing to work with. Just my perverted imagination!