Chapter Seven:
"NO…. Daryl wake up!" Rick cries hitting Daryl's cheeks again while a couple of tears rolled down his face. He looked around at everyone to see shocked faces on all their faces. "Someone help me carry him to the RV" he asked wiping away his tears with his hand and pulling himself together.
Merle walked over to them "Come on let's get 'im outta 'ere" helping Rick pick him up. Once they made it over to the RV they carefully laid him on the bed, and Rick immediately kneels down and grabs Daryl's hand in his. He looked up when he felt a hand rest on his shoulder to see Merle looking down at him " 'e'll be fine, 'e's been through worse and come out okay"
"I know that but it don't make me feel any better" Rick whispered putting his eyes back on Daryl looking for any signs showing that he's waking up.
"Come on Rick yer need to help us burn these walkers" Shane said storming into the RV causing Rick and Merle to look round in surprise. "I aint leavin' him" Rick replied adamantly, he had no intention of leaving Daryl until he woke up and he knew he was okay.
"You have to man, there's a ton of 'em out there, I'm sure Merle will call when he wakes" Shane replied angrily glaring at Rick's back.
"I said I aint leavin' him" Rick replied sternly, his eyes not leaving Daryl's.
"Ya can't ask 'im to leave his partner ya asshole, if you need the help s' badly I'll go" Merle said before Shane had a chance to say anything else. Shane closed his mouth and glared at Merle, then promptly left the RV muttering something about stupid bloody brothers.
"Thank you" Rick says softly turning to face Merle who gave Rick one of his rare sincere smiles. " 's okay, ya in no fit state to be carrying walkers anyhow" he then clapped Rick on the back and started to walk out of the RV. "Ya shout when 'e wakes though" he said sternly turning back to Rick. "I promise" Rick said giving Merle a small smile.
Rick had been stroking Daryl's hair for a few minutes when he heard a groan and felt Daryl's hand twitch in his. "Daryl?" Rick asked quietly not entirely sure if he had imagined it. However a few seconds later he heard another groan and Daryl starting slowly blinking "Rick?" he asked groggily. "I'm here love" Ricked replied softly still stroking Daryl's hair. "What happened?" Daryl asked squinting as eyes adjusted to the light. "You don't remember?" Rick asked concerned "You got beat up in Atlanta, you got hit in head with a baseball bat and then came back to fight off a group of walkers" Rick said hoping to jog Daryl's memory.
Daryl looked at him deep in thought "O' yeah, I remember, 'splain's why I have the mother of all 'eadaches" Daryl said rubbing his forehead. Remembering the events of the day he suddenly sits bolt up-right "Shit the walkers" he exclaimed wincing at the sudden movement. "Hey calm down, we killed 'em all remember, you collapsed after it all happened" Rick said softly. "Oh yeah" Daryl said dazedly, his memories coming back to him.
Seeing that Daryl was in pain he handed him two painkillers "Take this, complements of your brother". Daryl swallowed them dry and laid but down on the bed and sighed. "Go back to sleep love" Rick said whilst leaning over to kiss Daryl's forehand. " 'm kay" Daryl whispered and fell asleep almost immediately.
….
"How is he?" Rick turned around to see Lori standing in the doorway. "He's okay" Rick replied quietly.
"Merle told me he woke up earlier" Lori stated walking over to towards Rick to place a hand on his shoulder. "Yeah not for long, think he's okay, no memory problems or anything" Rick said trying to believe what he was saying.
"That's good cause Shane wants to leave in morning" Lori said looking down at Rick. "We found out that Jim got bit as well" Lori adds causing Rick to look round in surprise "What? Is there anything we can do?" Rick asks feeling sorry for the guy knowing the guys already lost his family. "Not much we can do" Lori says sadly.
"We should head to the CDC, the guy I was with before I came here said they were looking into finding a cure" remembering the conversation he had with Morgan. "I'll go wherever you go you know that, but you need to talk to Shane, he's on about going to Fort Bene" Lori says knowing Rick wanted to try and help Jim.
Rick looks back round at Daryl not wanting to leave his side. "Go, you need to talk to Shane, I'll look after him, I'll yell if he wakes up again" Lori says knowing exactly what Rick was thinking.
…..
"We can't just go there on a whim Rick, the place could be overrun with walkers for all we know" Shane shouted. "We gotta try though, there's a man's life at stake her Shane. They could help us out with shelter to, it's gotta be worth a shot aint it" Rick replied just as angrily, not believing that Shane could so easily give up hope on someone.
"We think we should all give the CDC a chance at least" Rick turned around to see Amy and Andrea walking towards them. "Who say's Fort Bene's gonna be any safer?" Andrea questioned. "Least if we go to the CDC we have a chance of saving Jim… our only chance"
To that Shane had no response, he just grumbled and walked away in defeat causing Andrea to smirk in satisfaction.
…..
"It's a habit you need to break" Rick heard Lori say to Shane as he left the RV after checking on Daryl "What habits?" He questions seeing Lori and Shane looking nervous, something was going between those to, they've been acting odd together ever since he found them again.
"Just telling Lori about my need for a plan, we goin' or not man, or we just gonna hang some more tin cans" Shane answers. "I gotta do what's best for my family" Rick replies trying to ignore the niggling feeling that, that's not what they were really talking about.
"Tell you what man people aint convinced, you could be the only one going to the CDC, you gonna expose your family to that?" Shane asks trying to get Rick to see where he's coming from. "As opposed to what? Travelling 100 miles along hostile territory? I say when you see a lifeline you swim towards the closest ship, not go further out to the sea, why can't you back me up, Andrea and Amy seemed pretty convinced" Rick exclaims.
"I want to but I don't see it" Shane admits. "I've got a family, I need to put them first, going to the CDC could mean shelter, protection, hope, and hope for them, for all of us and a chance at saving another man's life" Rick explains, emphasizing the last part.
"I spose, but it all turns out to be crap there then I'm going to Fort Bene whether ya join me or not" Shane retorts.
…
Heading back on the road after leaving Jim under the tree the car was silent, everyone lost in their own thoughts. Rick couldn't help but feel he had let the man down, he should have made him stay, he wouldn't be able to live with himself if it turns out the CDC has a cure now. He looked across at Daryl feeling the man give his hand a squeeze "He wanted this, he wouldn't 'ave made it to the CDC, the ride wouldda killed 'im. He's with 'is family na" Daryl told Rick, always knowing what to say.
"Spose, I still feel like I let 'im down though, what if the CDC has a cure? We couldda saved 'im" Rick says still not convinced he did the right thing. " 'e's with his family now Rick that's all 'e ever wan'ed" Daryl replied knowing he was never going to truly convince Rick.
Rick gives Daryl a small smile "I guess your right…. How's your head?" he asks wanting to change the subject. " Bit sore but 's' fine nothin' I can't handle" Daryl replies hating admitting any pain, but knows Rick hates it when he tries to hide it.
…..
When they finally arrived at the CDC everyone cautiously exited their cars, all on high alert for any walkers. All they saw however was lots of dead walkers with fly's all around them, the smell was horrible and everyone coughed, choking on disgusting stench.
Upon arriving at the building door they noticed the shutters were down and Rick's heart started to beat a little harder. He couldn't have made the wrong call, he banged on the door hoping someone would come and open- no one did.
"Fort Bene Rick, still an option" Shane said whilst staring at Rick with a slight panic in his eyes. "Shuddup man, we have no fuel or 'nough food to make that journey, the shutters are down, someone's gotta be inside" Daryl exclaims banging on the door a bit harder, still no one answered.
"WALKERS!" Merle shouted causing everyone to turn around and see a couple of walkers heading in their direction. The women and kids hugged each other while the guys fought them off easily. They all started backing off towards the cars to rethink their plan when Rick spotted the camera move besides the door.
"The camera, it moved" Rick said staring at the camera to see if it moved again. "You're imagining it Rick come on!" Shane urged.
"Someone's gotta be controlling it" Daryl said as he had seen the camera move as well "come on let us in asshole" slamming on the shutters again.
"Come on brother it's probably just automated" Merle said pushing his brother away towards the cars.
"Please we have women and children, we got no food or water, barely any fuel, you can't leave us out here to die" Rick pleads with the camera, desperate for the shutters to open.
Daryl wrapped his arms around Rick trying to give him some comfort "Come on the asshole aint lettin' us in, there not worth it" said loudly staring at the camera hoping the person behind the camera was listening, and slowly pulled Rick away from the shutters.
"YOU'RE KILLING US!" Rick shouted angrily, he couldn't believe they still hadn't opened, they must know they're not walkers, that there still alive, for now.
Just as Rick was starting to lose hope he heard the most amazing sound, the sound of shutters being opened.
Notes: Not sure if I like this chapter but I didn't know how else to write it. Anyway let me know what you think.