A/N:
- I'm sure someone is going to be upset by David drugging his daughter. Keep in mind that his options are having her wake up and freak out and draw attention or to keep her asleep. Also, there would be huge consequences if David got found out somehow. Not exactly your every day situation.
- Secondly, I left out Tyrese's group and plan to leave them out of this story.
-Thirdly, there will be more information about Merle in the chapter after this, I'm not forgetting him.
-Finally, in my story, the Governor never went after Rick's group.
Ch. 11
God must have been smiling down on him. At least, that's what David hoped was happening. Everything had come together much faster than he had anticipated.
It was dark outside, but David didn't dare turn on the lights. It would draw attention to them. So he paced back and forth inside the small house that he and Elena lived in, carefully walking the same path to avoid tripping.
He would have to leave soon. Very soon. And he still hadn't figured out what to do with Elena yet.
He held the pill he had in his hand up to his face, squinting to see it. It was a Benedryl that he'd swiped from the infirmary, and it was one of his two options.
David planned to go to the prison where Daryl's group had been staying. He intended to talk to them, figure out why they'd yet to come back for their friend. He also wanted to secure a place for himself and Elena. Woodbury looked nice, but he didn't want his daughter growing up there, in a town run by a monster like the Governor. Maybe she could have a better life elsewhere.
Frowning, David got down on his knees, and took a piece of paper and a lighter out of his pocket. He flicked the lighter on, making sure to keep the light low so it wasn't visible through the windows.
The paper that Merle had given him listed the location of one of the vehicles that the Governor had brought back from a recent outing. Merle had assured him that it had enough gas to get him to the prison and back to town.
Now, the question was whether to bring Elena along.
David's biggest fear, besides Elena somehow being attacked, was that she would make noise and draw attention to them. To avoid that, he'd stolen the Benadryl. It would likely keep her asleep for most, if not all of the evening. By keeping her asleep, it lessened the chances that she would somehow attract attention to the house and thus attract attention to David's absence.
The thought of drugging his child didn't sit well with him though.
He flicked off the lighter and walked towards the bedroom. Elena lay on her bed, curled up under the blankets. Her cats Bella and Mew lay near her, sleeping by her side.
David closed his eyes.
"Maria… Give me guidance," he whispered.
Realistically, he knew what he had to do. Elena stood a much better chance of being safe if he left her behind and he himself stood a much better chance if he left her home.
He walked into the kitchen, felt around for a bowl and a spoon, and began to crush the pill. When it was reduced to powder, he mixed it in with a half of a glass of water and brought it back to the bedroom. Then he sat on the edge of Elena's bed.
"Sweetie", he said, rubbing his daughter's back.
Elena tried to bat him away. She loved her sleep, just like her mother had.
"Baby, you need to wake up for daddy," David tried.
The kid opened one eye, then sat up.
"Daddy needs your help, baby."
Now, the girl seemed interested.
"Whas wrong?"
"Daddy needs to go run an errand, and I need you to help me by being real quiet. As quiet as you can be. Do you understand?"
"Quiet," the girl repeated. "Okay."
"I will be back tomorrow morning. Whatever you do, do not make any noise when you wake up. Don't cry. I know that's hard, baby, but it's really important. If I'm not back by the time you have to feed Mew and Bella, you need to go see Mrs. Andrews next door. She'll help you." He and the older woman - their neighbor - had struck up a friendship. She often watched Elena while David worked with Daryl. The woman didn't know about his plans - no one besides Merle did - but he trusted her to take care of Elena if something were to go wrong.
The girl started to look worried.
"No, daddy. Stay," she begged. "Please?"
The look on Elena's face broke David's heart, but he had to go. He had to help Daryl, and he had to get the three of them out of there as fast as possible.
"I have to go, baby. I'll be back though. Now, you need to drink this, okay? It's going to make you tired. When you wake up, if you wake up before I come back, you need to stay quiet, like I told you. Can you do that?"
The girl pouted, but shook her head 'yes'.
"Good girl. I know I can count on you."
David held the glass up to Elena's lips and helped her drink it. Thankfully, she didn't seem to notice the additive. When she was finished, the girl laid back down. David rubbed her back for a few minutes, trying to help her sleep.
Just as she was about to drift off, David spoke one more time.
'Baby, I promise that I'll be back… but if you need to see Mrs. Andrews, give her this note." David put a folded piece of paper on the night stand. It explained how David had left Woodbury and asked that Mrs. Andrews take care of Elena in his absence. David made sure not to let on to where he was going in it.
"You give it to her and tell her it's from me."
"Okay, daddy," the girl agreed.
"I love you, baby girl. I'll see you soon." David kissed her on the forehead.
"Love you too, daddy," the girl replied.
00
David had heard talk of a group of walkers near the far end of town about an hour earlier. Now, several wall guards seemed to be running in that direction.
David carefully slipped out the back of the house, carrying only a small pack with a couple bottles of water and his gun. From where he was, he had a decent view of the closest wall. The one guard that was left seemed to be focusing more on the left side of it then the right. The right side was closest to David.
This was it. This was his chance.
Taking a deep breath, David made a run for it. When he reached the wall, he began to climb. It wasn't that high and it didn't take him that long. Still, he held his breath nearly the entire time, praying that the guard wouldn't hear him.
And somehow, against all odds, he didn't. David managed to clear it and run off into the surrounding area, hiding amongst the remnants of buildings and broken down cars.
00
The car that Merle had told David about was exactly where he said it would be - about a half a mile from the outskirts of Woodbury, hidden from sight behind an old factory. David ran the whole way there.
From the corner of his eye he could see some walkers around the edges of the building. He sprinted past them, making it to the car with a few seconds to spare.
"Keys…" he said to himself, looking around. Merle had said that the keys were hidden on top of one of the wheels. Which one?
The walkers were coming closer and David forced himself not to panic. He reached on top of the wheel on the driver's side.
Nothing.
"Fuck," he said, louder this time.
He tried the rear driver's side wheel. Within seconds, he had found what he was looking for. Just in time, too.
David unlocked the car, got in, and sped off, hitting one of the walkers on the way.
00
There was a certain feeling of freedom that came with driving.
It was something that David hadn't done in a while. Not since he'd come to Woodbury.
The roads were clear for the most part, thankfully, and David was able to concentrate on finding his way. It wasn't too long until he found his destination.
Unfamiliar with the layout, he pulled the car up to the gates as closely as possible. He put the car in park and looked around.
Someone was nearby. They had a flashlight and were shining it at him. David put his hands up. The last thing he needed was to have come this far just to be shot.
The person shining the light - a young woman - looked him over. She must not have seen him as a threat, because she quickly moved to open the gates before motioning for him to pull up inside.
The young woman locked the gate back up. Meanwhile, another person had come outside. This one looked to be little more than a child, and he held a gun.
"Who's that?" the boy asked, keeping his gun fixed on David.
"I don't know," the girl replied. "He just pulled up."
The boy looked at David again.
"Get out of the car."
David nodded and opened the door, keeping one hand raised the whole time.
"I came from Woodbury. I'm a friend of Daryl's," David started to explain. "I came here because he needs help. So does me and my daughter."
"Hold up. First things first, I'm Beth," the woman said, reaching out to shake David's hand. It was then that David realized that she was relatively close to his age.
"David. It's nice to meet you."
She smiled at him, "And that's Carl."
Carl didn't move, keeping his gun up the entire time.
"Were you bit at all?" Carl asked.
"No."
Carl didn't look like he believed him, so David tried again.
"You can see for yourself. Here," He used one hand to pull up his shirt. "There's nothing."
Carl stared at him, still looking serious, but lowered his gun.
"You said you know where Daryl is?"
"I do. And he needs help," David repeated.
Carl looked at Beth, the back at David.
"I guess you'd better come inside."
00
The boy led David into the prison and through a maze of stairways and corridors. Beth stay behind outside. As they walked, it occurred to David that Carl was Rick's son. He remembered Daryl mentioning that.
After walking for a few minutes, they came upon the doors to a cell block.
Carl hesitated for a minute before opening them.
"Do you know anything about us?"
"Just your names… basic information," David answered. "He said that your father is your group's leader?"
Carl suddenly looked even more serious, if it were at all possible.
"Was our leader. Alright, let's go on in."
00
Carl opened the door to reveal a line of cells. A few had people in them, and a few people were standing outside of them as well. Those standing outside looked like they had just woken up but seemed to be on guard. Carl tried to assuage their fears.
"It's alright, guys. This is David. He says he knows Daryl."
One of the women - a thin lady with very short, gray hair, instantly perked up.
"You know Daryl?!" She asked, hopefully.
"I do," David replied.
"Is he okay? Oh - I'm Carol," she said, coming closer.
"Oh. Daryl's talked about you," David answered.
"He did? How is he? Is he okay?" She asked again.
"Calm down," another voice - an adult males - called out. "Let's all introduce ourselves and then talk calmly." He turned to David.
David noticed that the man was on crutches, so he took a few steps closer to shake his hand.
"I'm Hershel," the man said.
"Glenn," A young, Asian man said. He was standing near a cell and holding a baby.
"You were at Woodbury, right?" David asked.
"Yeah. Maggie and I were."
"I remember hearing about you."
Glenn nodded, "Yeah...I'm sure the Governor wouldn't forget us."
David then caught sight of an athletic looking black woman. He recognized her, having seen her around Woodbury previously.
"Michonne, isn't it?"
The woman merely nodded.
"I believe you met my daughter Beth outside," Hershel added.
"Yeah. I did."
There was a short silence. David wondered where Rick and Maggie were. The way that Carl had spoken about Rick earlier made David wonder if perhaps the man was dead.
Then, he heard a sound.
"No…." A man cried, "No… Lori…"
David raised an eyebrow, and Hershel sighed.
"That would be Rick."
David stared at Hershel, wanting more of an explanation. Hershel frowned.
"Yeah, okay. Let me show you."
The old man slowly made his way down the hall, David following closely behind.
"If you were talking to Daryl, he probably told you about Rick."
"He did."
"Did he tell you that Rick was married? Carl's his son, too," Hershel said, once they were out of the other's earshot.
"I remember Daryl saying something about that."
"Well, that baby that Glenn had, that's Rick's daughter. Lori gave birth to her a few weeks ago…Didn't make it."
"Oh...I'm sorry to hear that. I know how tough it is," David said, sincerely.
"Carl ended up having to put her down, and Rick took the whole thing harder than we thought he would." They stopped at a particular cell, "Here we go."
David looked inside.
A tall, thin man was inside, standing next to a wall and reaching out into thin air.
"Lori, please…" he whispered.
The sound of desperation in Rick's voice made David cringe.
"Obviously, Lori isn't really there," Hershel said softly, "But he thinks she is."
"He's lost his mind," David concluded. "That's…. terribly sad, to say the least."
"It is. Rick's a good man. We didn't expect this."
Another round of begging caught their attention. This time, Hershel moved closer to the cell.
Rick looked over at him.
"Hershel?"
"Hi, Rick."
Rick moved closer, pressing his face against the bars.
"Hershel… I need help."
Hershel nodded, "I know. Finding Lori, right, son?"
Rick nodded 'yes'.
"She's here… but she keeps going… Why? It must be my fault." He turned back towards the empty cell, "I'm sorry, Lori…"
Rick went on with his one-sided conversation, and Hershel took a step back.
"Is he always like that?" David asked, stunned at the sight before him.
"Not always. Sometimes he's totally normal. Most of the time, though, he thinks he sees her. We keep him here when he has his episodes… the last time he was out, he wandered through the gates, almost got himself killed."
"That poor man. Carl, too. Poor Carl," David whispered. Then he remembered that there was one other person missing. "What about Maggie?"
Now, Hershel looked truly sad.
"She's alive, but whatever happened in Woodbury...Well, it shook her up. She's been off ever since. Real depressed, doesn't like to do much more than sleep. I'm worried about her, but, you see, she won't talk to me. Or Glenn, either."
Everything suddenly clicked in David's mind.
"You guys stayed here because you couldn't leave."
"Exactly. Rick and Daryl were the strongest among us. Maggie's not helping, either. I can't exactly force her to. And with my leg…I suppose that we're just lucky that the Governor didn't retaliate. It's pretty much Michonne, Glenn and Carl that have been carrying us along."
"He was going too, but he's been distracted by his new toy."
Hershel didn't want to ask, but he knew that he had to.
"You mean Daryl?"
"Yeah. It… It's bad."
"How bad?"
"He's…" David tried to search for the right words, "You remember before the infection, there were reports about men getting pregnant?"
"I recall hearing something about it, why? Wait -" Hershel's eyes got wide, "You mean -"
"Yeah."
Hershel nearly dropped one of his crutches.
"Daryl?! Of all people…"
"He was surprised, too."
"Good Lord. Whose is it?"
"The Governor's. He's holding Daryl there, has him chained up like a dog. He was handcuffed to the bed for weeks, starved, beaten and raped. He's not well. I was hoping that you, or someone from your group, could help me go back."
Hershel closed his eyes.
David took this as a prelude to a refusal, so he tried again.
"I know it's dangerous, but I can try to get us in. All we have to do is get back, slip in… Merle will cause a distraction, and we can get Daryl in and out. The Governor's let his guard down, so I think we can do it."
Hershel considered this.
"I agree that we should send a team back. We'll have to discuss it with the others, though."
"One more thing. I'll help you get Daryl back, but I want in. With your group. Me and my daughter."
Hershel looked at David sympathetically.
"I understand. You, being young and strong… you could make up for Daryl or Rick, until Daryl's back on his feet, and I'm sure the women could help with your daughter."
"I sense a 'but' coming?"
"But, we have to talk it over, like I said. Let's go see what everyone else thinks."