A/N Thank you all so much! Where the heck are those boys? Let's hope Sophia has information.
Enjoy!
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Everyone in the room is in a state of shock, speechless as they consider the harm that could have come to the boys, and wait anxiously for Sophia's response to her Daddy's question.
Merle's hand remains on the little girl's shoulder, her face in her hands as she cries, "I'm sorry."
He's as soft-spoken as he knows how to be, "C'mon now little girl, ya ain't gotta be sorry, just tell me where them boys got off to," and knowing the kinds of things children worry about, he repeats, "Ya ain't in trouble."
Morgan's on his feet, frantic as he points a finger at the child and harshly demands, "Tell us right now, where's my son?"
Merle gives the other man a withering look, but he doesn't want Sophia to get even more upset, so he keeps an even tone when he warns Morgan, "Don't be talkin' ta my girl like that, she ain't done nuthin' wrong."
Sophia wipes her face with her hands and her hands on her pant legs, stands on her chair and wraps her arms around her Daddy. She never looks at anyone but him as his questions continue. The room is deathly quiet and they all hear her words when in a quivering voice she answers, "They went to get some guns and other army things from those military people."
There's a collective gasp but Merle is careful not to let his tone show emotion or concern when he asks, "Ya mean the militia?"
Rick is battling with his policeman's instinct, wanting desperately to question the child. The only thing stopping him is the knowledge that she's far more likely to respond to her Dad than she would be to him.
Her little voice has become even more shaky when she says, "Yes, that was the name of it, that's where they want to go and get guns. There was a map in the library that showed right where it is, someone drew an arrow on it and everything. It's gone now, Patrick said they better take it with them in case they got lost."
Merle continues to give the appearance there's nothing wrong when he nods, "I see, n just how were they plannin' ta get there?"
"They said there are lots of cars all over, people just leave them on the road. You know Daddy, we've seen a lot of cars."
Merle agrees, "You're right little girl, we sure have. So they were plannin' on drivin', huh? An which one of 'em was plannin' on bein' the driver?"
Sophia shrugs and responds, "They all said they could. Duane said his Daddy let him start the car before, and Patrick said his grandpa let him drive his work truck for a whole mile when he went to visit him. Carl said he's watched his Daddy drive plenty of times and it's easy, he could do it."
She wipes her nose on the back of her hand and her Daddy reaches in his pocket for his bandana, handing it to her. She blows her nose and goes back to the story, "They played rock, paper, scissors Daddy, two different times to see who gets to drive first, Patrick won. I told them that was good because he's the oldest and the tallest. Anyway, they're gonna get a car and they said it wouldn't take that long to get there, maybe just an hour or so."
Merle runs his hand over her hair and asks, "So do ya know how they got outta here?"
"Sure, they've done it before. Lots of times."
There's another gasp. How could all of these adults have missed what's been going on with the kids. Merle asks, "How's that?"
"It's easy, they dig up the dirt under the fence there in the back, you know where no one ever goes. There's some kind of leaking pipe, Patrick said it's a water line. Anyways, it makes the ground real soft. They dig up the dirt enough so they can just slide under the fence on their tummies and wiggle out. It's not so hard for kids."
Merle's got a new concern, "You ever do that Sophia?"
"Just once, I promise Daddy, just once. I was so scared but they said it was easy and then my pant leg got stuck on the fence. Carl accidentally tore it when he unstuck me, and then I was more scared. I was afraid one of those dead people would get me, so I crawled back under the fence and said I was going back to the library. They made me promise not to tell, and now I broke my promise and they're all gonna hate me."
"Nah now sweetie, I told ya, ya ain't done nuthin' ta be sorry for, it would be worse for them if ya didn't tell. Now, do ya know bout what time this all happened?"
"No, not really. We had our lunch and Mama gave us some time off, then she told us we had to read books. The boys waited til they knew she was out front with all the other grownups, then they left."
He doesn't know what else to ask or what more to say, except, "Go on now an eat your supper, I brought ya back a candy bar for when you're done."
Now she's all smiles, "Really?"
"Yep, really."
"But what about those boys?"
"Those boys are gonna be just fine, you'll see."
The only person in the room who fully believes that is Sophia.
Rick's agitated and fearful for his son, but he takes the time to look at Merle and say, "Good job, thanks man. You shoulda been a cop."
Merle just smiles, "Never have considered it, but I sure have had dealin's with a lot a them boys in my life."
Amy moves closer to Rick, her arm sliding around his mid-section as she does her best to reassure him, "We'll find them Rick, we'll get them back here."
He looks at her and there's so much sadness and worry in his eyes, and her heart breaks a little when he says, "We have to Amy, I can't lose Carl."
Herschel attempts to be a calming voice of reason when he suggests, "Okay now everyone, we're going to get this taken care of, but for now you all need to sit down and eat while we make a solid plan. Merle and Daryl, you didn't eat before you left and I'm sure you didn't stop to eat all day. The rest of you need to eat too. We're no good to anyone if we start gettin' sick." Then he thinks to ask, "Axel, do you know if there's another map in the library?"
Axel jumps to his feet, anxious to prove he can be of help, "I'ma go check right now."
Daryl stops him, "Hold up, me n Beth got a couple in the van, I'll be right back."
Carol moves closer to Merle, wraps her arm through his and whispers so only he can hear, "You're such a good Daddy."
He looks at her with eyes that tell her the man is worried about what's coming next, but he's also grateful for what he has right here, "Thanks Honey, I'm just glad she was too scared ta go with em. I guess fear ain't always a bad thing."
Amy's keeping close to Rick as he fidgets and paces and she does her best to try and comfort him, "You're going to find them and they're going to be okay. They're smart, they know about survival."
Her words spark hope and Morgan agrees, "You're right about that, Duane killed more than one walker with his baseball bat, but they're still kids. They're not ready to do battle with walkers or bad players."
Rick's angry, not with Amy or Morgan or even the boys. His anger is all directed at himself, "I was so busy making plans about what we were going to do and what we should do, I screwed up. I wasn't paying attention to Carl and the other kids and what they needed."
He shakes his head, admitting, "I know kids are curious, but we kept them so isolated. I should have taught them more, they should all know how to handle weapons as well as the rest of us do. I was so busy trying to give them some of what used to be normal life, but what they really need are skills to survive in this new world." His words are sobering, and except for the clatter of forks on plates, the room is quiet.
Daryl's back with the map and Karen and David quickly move plates aside so it can be laid open on the table. That's when it becomes clear how much those kids studied it, Sophia immediately points to the spot and says, "There Daddy, that's where those military men live."
She took his job but Axel's smiling, "She's right, spot on girl."
No matter what and no matter where, Axel never gives up. As everyone studies the map, he moves over close to Karen and smiles, "Hey there pretty lady."
He backs right down when Tyrese wraps an arm around her shoulders and answers, "The lady's just fine."
Tara gives Axel an elbow in the ribs and smiles, "Just keep tryin' buddy, sooner or later some lady's gonna weaken."
He nudges her right back, "Yeah, well it won't be you, will it?"
She smiles, "Nope."
The moment of playfulness helps ease a little tension, but not for the parents of the missing children.
The groups biggest hope is to find the kids unharmed somewhere along the road. Maybe in a vehicle that stalled or ran out of gas. They'll bring them home, scold them and start watching them a lot closer. But there's the very real possibility the militia has already found them, either on their land or approaching it. No one mentions the other possibility, the worst-case scenario, walkers.
Only Axel and Amy have ever actually talked to these militia folks and they're in agreement, if the kids made it to the militia camp they're most likely alright. Amy states, "The leader of the Freebirds is not a baby killer, he sees himself as a freedom fighter. Hopefully he'll see the boys for what they are, three harmless kids who ran away from home."
Although Amy has met the leader she doesn't really know him. She just knows what he believes in. She tells the group, "He's obviously believed for a long time something catastrophic was going to happen in the world, and he developed a plan for himself and his followers to survive, maybe even flourish. You can tell the minute you meet him he's a natural born leader. He's one of those guys with a really big personality and when he walks in a room he fills it up. The only other thing I know about him for sure is, he really is a military man."
The group has to be prepared when they meet this guy face to face. They'll try being reasonable at first. Try to negotiate, trade, whatever it takes to get him to return their children. If that doesn't work then all bets are off, they'll use all the fire power they have. Thanks to their new military grade weaponry they'll have a good chance at winning a battle.
Whatever the mood at the militia camp, the family intends to get their children back.
Although several of them will make the trip, they agree to send only two to make first contact. Rick as the distraught parent willing to make any kind of deal he has to make to save his son, and Beth as the sweet, pretty and non-threatening one. The militia will never suspect what a tough soldier she is.
Daryl's against her going at all and he's verbal about it, "No, it don't make sense for ya ta do this. Ya don't have to. It's better if I go. You stay here, keep our camp safe."
She knows he's scared; she loves him for how much he loves and worries about her, but she loves those children too and she wants to help bring them back. She doesn't get to tell him all of that right now, because Rick says, "Daryl, I need you to lead the group of soldiers. You wait in the shadows, ready to use all the power you have to attack if they refuse to turn our kids over. I'll give you a signal when it's go time."
There's no time for further planning and discussion, they've got to get going. Daryl gives Beth one last pleading look that puts a crack in her heart and almost has her changing her mind. She mouths the words, "I love you," and he nods back while furiously gnawing on his bottom lip.
It's agreed, Rick and Beth won't seem menacing at all pulling up to the militia camp in Maggie's Subaru. They'll each be openly carrying a pistol in a holster, and there will be a on their belts too. That should seem perfectly normal, just enough to defend themselves from walkers and bad guys.
The group has decided Axel will travel with Rick and Beth as well. Axel would much rather wait it out at the prison, but they're hoping the Big Dog might remember him as harmless, and also remember that he has family there. That could make the leader more agreeable to negotiating with them.
It will be the big black dually waiting in the wings that packs the punch if needed. Rifles, flash bangs, grenades and even the rocket launcher are stowed back in the bed. Merle might even be smiling as he ponders out loud, "I wonder what the hell would happen ta the big log house if one a them rockets hit it."
Morgan is solemn and antsy, "Let's hope we don't have to find out."
As they lay a big tarp over the cache of weapons, they all agree once more, trade the weapons or use them, whatever has to happen they're all on board.
Merle will drive the dually, Daryl will ride shotgun, and Morgan, Tyrese and Glenn will be in the back and ready to roll. There's also someone they've decided to test. He's ex army, he knows how to fight, he wants to fight and prove himself, so Caesar Martinez will be traveling with Oscar. They'll be following behind the dually in the jeep. It's got its own stash of military grade weapons in the back, hidden under an old blanket.
If the fight is on, they're well-armed.
They've estimated the time the children left as one that afternoon, it's now just after seven in the evening. If the kids actually found a car and managed to drive it the 75 or so miles, they've been at the camp a while.
The vehicles are loaded with weapons and people, they're in line as Carol hurries to slide the big gate open, then suddenly freezes in place. A large military transport vehicle is approaching, flanked on either side by a pair of jeeps.
The family members quickly pile out of their vehicles grabbing rifles, ready to defend the prison and each other. They watch as the door of the transport vehicle opens and a huge man with flaming red hair and the biggest mustache any of them have ever seen climbs down from the rig.
He beckons to someone inside the vehicle, and the family members don't have to strain to hear him. His voice booms when he sternly orders, "C'mon, c'mon hurry it up. Like I told you, goin' AWOL is a serious infraction, not ta mention a chickenshit way of letting your comrades down. Once I release you to these folks, I believe you're in for a court martial."
He reaches out a hand and Carl, Duane and Patrick hop down from the big vehicle. Rick's pretty sure this is the first time he's breathed since Carl went missing, and Morgan can't stop grinning.
A woman climbs down from the passenger side, she's small, darkhaired and not exactly dressed for battle. She's wearing a pair of impossibly tiny shorts, a sleeveless shirt with the tails tied just under her breasts to expose her bare middle, hiking boots and a ball cap with her ponytail hanging out the back of it.
The woman grabs Patrick by his ear, while the man, who they're all sure has to be the Big Dog, grabs the collar of Carl's and Duane's shirts and half carries them to the gate.
By this time Morgan, Rick, Daryl, Merle and Beth are all at the gate as well. The big redhead looks at them and says, "My name is Sergeant Abraham Ford, I'm the leader of the Freebird Militia. I found these stray pups on my property, you folks wanna claim ownership?"
Rick nods, "My name is Rick Grimes," he introduces the others and says, "We were just on our way out to see if we could locate these three." What the hell, he'll just ask, "You gonna give our kids back?"
Abraham Ford barks and the boys look sheepish, "Hell yeah I'm givin' em back. You think I'd waste my time on soldiers who desert their post? Soldiers who just leave camp on an adventure thinking they'll steal some weapons and raise a little hell? Shit no, I can't use em. I need real men, men I can count on. I got people I need to kill."
Rick nods at Carol and the gate slides open, and Sargeant Ford still sounds like he's barking orders in bootcamp when he notes, "They've had their dinner."
The children run to their parents' arms, except Patrick, he has no parents. Daryl knows what he's feeling and isn't going to let the kid think no one gives a fuck whether he lives or dies. No one should have to feel like that. He drapes an arm over the boy's shoulders, pulls him in for a fast one-arm hug and says, "Glad you're back boy," drops his arm and that's that.
It's the best Daryl knows how to do, but it must be enough because the boy is smiling, "Thanks Mister Dixon."
"It's just Daryl kid, and the next time ya run off like that I'ma kick your ass up between your ears."
That exchange has Abraham Ford smiling, and by then Amy's walked down from the prison and joined them. The man recognizes her right away, "I know you, you're the woman who's too pretty to be a lawyer. Glad to see ya made it out of Atlanta, what a shithole that place is."
She smiles and says, "It's good to see you again, Sergeant Ford."
Merle's ready to get to the point, "Just who is it you're plannin' ta kill?" He figures if it was the prison family Abraham Ford and his soldiers would have already shot the place up.
"You get right to it, don't you? Ever heard of a shit show called Woodbury? There's a certain worthless son of a dick that calls himself the governor running the place. I'm plannin' to kill him and any members of his fan club. I'm not going to concern myself with all the other chuckleheads of Woodbury, they can scatter, or stay and elect themselves a new leader for all I care, but after I kill that son of buck Philip Blake, I'm gonna wait for him to re-animate just so I can kill him again."
Rick doesn't stop to think it over or bother to ask the others, he offers, "Let's talk strategy, we've been planning on going after the guy too."
The rest of the group is a little stunned. The man seems agreeable enough, after all he brought the kids home safely, but they don't know him, and yet Rick plans to share their strategy with him? When the militia leader expresses interest in getting a tour of the prison, Merle puts the brakes on, "Yeah, well that comes later. For now, we're gonna sit right out here n have us a little front porch confab."
Abraham Ford looks at Merle with a great big grin and asks, "Military?"
"Army."
"Good man." Ford pulls too fat cigars from his shirt pocket, hands Merle one and they fire them up.
Chairs and even a bench are carried out from the prison, and Oscar builds a nice fire they all gather around.
They spend the next hour talking about the governor, and both sides share everything they know. Although Abraham is very serious about the topic, he has a certain way of talking that kind of throws the others off. His speech is peppered with crazy expressions that take a some time to process.
There's something else going on. No one's mad about it, there's just a lot of curiosity. The small woman he neglected to introduce at first, Rosita Espinosa, who he later referred to as his "spicy bed partner," is currently throwing flaming hot daggers from her eyes directly into his heart. The family members rightly assume, it must be because Abraham Ford has not been able to take his eyes off Sasha Williams.
Finally Rosita has had all of that bullshit she can take. She gets up from her chair, walks around to the other side of the fire and sits herself as close as she can possibly get to Caesar Martinez, cooing her question, "Do you mind if I sit here?"
Caesar smiles, shit he knows what's going on. He knows he's the lucky bastard Rosita has chosen to use. He couldn't give a fuck less, this pretty little woman can use and abuse him all she wants, "No Miss, I don't mind at all."
Abraham doesn't seem angry; his head is full of thoughts about the things that could happen between him and Sasha sometime soon. He just looks at Caesar and warns, "You be careful now, that woman's fire."
Daryl is impatient with all these stupid games, "Can we cut the romance bullshit n talk about makin' a plan ta get rid a that fuckin' governor?"
Abraham snorts, "I like your style, and you look like the kind who's ready for a fight."
"Yep, always ready, like a damn boy scout."
Together the two groups firm up a tentative plan but agree there are a few details yet to be ironed out. For once the children have not been left out. They've been sitting right here with the grownups the whole time, although Sophia has long since fallen sound asleep.
Both groups agree there will be one more meeting, three days from now at the militia camp. That's when all plans will be finalized, and five days from today the combined groups will be on their way to Woodbury to rid the world of the governor once and for all.
As the militia folks are preparing to leave, Rosita looks at Caesar and says, "You be sure and come to our camp in three days, in fact, don't wait for the others, come anytime."
Caesar smiles at Rosita, "I'll get there as soon as I can."
That has the Sergeant looking at Sasha and saying, "Someday soon I hope to be given you the grand tour of my compound, among other things."
She smiles at Abraham Ford and says, "We'll see big man, we'll just see," But the look on her face has everyone thinking she'd go with him right now if he asked.
Beth reminds herself for the 100th time, life is so unpredictable these days people just grab onto what they want when they want it.
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Daryl's been going since dawn and he's exhausted by the time they're finally in their room, alone. He didn't think he was ever going to have any time with Beth, and he needs that. He needs to be with her. He was sitting right next to her during the meeting, but it's just not the same when there are so many people around and so much talking going on.
He kisses her, then says, "Sorry, I know I need a shower. Been a helluva day, and then there's the stink a that campfire," he smiles and asks, "Ya wanna come with?"
She smiles back, "That sounds like fun, and I do, but do you think it's okay for both of us, I mean, you know…"
He shrugs, "Ain't no one else gonna be in there showerin' at 10 at night, besides, we're grown up people, we're allowed ta shower whenever n with whoever we want." He could never have imagined saying that to anyone ever, but he's smiling as he adds, "Don't forget, we even got privacy curtains."
He's convinced her it's a good idea, and she's kind of excited, "Okay, let me just grab my things, this could be fun."
"Oh Baby, it's gonna be fun, I'm sure a that."
They have their pink fluffy towels and washcloths, shower kits and they're filled with a sudden burst of energy and enthusiasm just thinking about helping each other wash up.
Daryl was right, they open the door to the shower room and there's total darkness. He flips the switch and smiles at her, "It's all ours, which stall?"
"Let's go way back in that far corner, that way if anyone comes in, well…it just seems more private."
He's glad she made that choice, he's as shy about public displays as she is, and he has no interest in anyone knowing what they're up to. If someone else shows up, him and Beth will be getting the hell out of here.
They stack their clean clothes on the little bench by the shower, and Daryl turns the water on. As soon as it's warm enough, they duck in and stand close together under the warm spray, wet body sliding against wet body, and even though there's no one around, he speaks in a whisper, "Can I try washin' your hair?"
"Sure, can I wash yours?"
"Well yeah, if ya wanna, I think I'ma hafta sit down so you can reach."
It's playful and fun, also incredibly intimate and sensual, but neither is interested in making love in a prison shower, and by the time they've washed each other's hair and each other's bodies, they're feeling desperate to get back in bed and share even more intimate moments.
They scurry down the hallway toward their room, certain there's no one else around, until they see Merle and Carol come around the corner. The older couple is trying to muffle their laughter as they head toward the shower room, and Merle smiles at Daryl and Beth, "Glad ta see the two of ya are practicing proper hygiene. Me n Carol are gonna follow your good example."
Daryl bites his tongue to avoid responding with his usual, "Fuck you Merle." And although Beth is smiling at the other couple, and at what Merle said, she's plenty embarrassed and her cheeks have turned bright pink.
Daryl locks the door behind them and they hurry to hang their towels, then grab onto each other like it's for dear life. Maybe it is. That's all they do for at least a minute or two, just hold onto each other.
His right hand moves to her hair where his fingers begin playing with her damp curls, then his left hand slips to the back of her head and he draws her gently to him.
There are no sweet little pecks or any tentative tongue teasing, they go right from zero to sixty. They kiss each other frantically, deeply, neither is hiding what they want. They aren't wearing much and what there is doesn't take long for them to strip off each other. When they're down to nothing they practically leap into their bed, desperate to quench each other's thirst.
When their thirst is satisfied and they manage to catch their breathe, he asks, "I been thinkin' a lot about what we talked about. You been thinkin' about it at all?"
"Well yes, when I had the chance."
"Yeah, I know, it's crazy. This afternoon made me think about it more, there's always so much shit goin' on n so many people around."
"I know, I don't care for that any more than you do."
They're quiet for a minute and then he says, "Please don't volunteer ta go ta Woodbury, please."
"You're going to go, aren't you?"
"Yeah but that's different, fightin's what I do, been doin' it my whole life."
"It's what I do now too Daryl, you taught me. I know how and I can help."
He seems so melancholy as he rolls on his back and drapes his forearm over his eyes. His other arm wraps around her as he gently pulls her to him and her head lays on his chest. His fingertips softly dance over the silky skin of her back and he whispers, "Dammit Baby, I wish things weren't so complicated. I wish I was just that guy goin' out ta work everyday and comin' home ta you."
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A/N I hope you enjoyed this chapter and the arrival of Abraham Ford. Please leave a comment. There's a chapter photo on my tumblr blogs, gneebee and bethylmethbrick, please have a look. I'll be back next week with more of Love's Long Road, I'll hope you'll be here too. Until then remember, I love ya large! xo gneebee