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Chapter 7: Slowly But Surely

Brooke had cancelled her dinner with Becky for a dinner with the Governor and his colleagues. Brooke walked down the corridor to the dining area of town hall. She took a deep breath and opened the door. She stepped into a very large room with a long, wooden table.

"Ah, Dr. Walsh!" The Governor said after he took a sip of his red wine. "So glad that you're here." She was the only female in the room. She took the only seat left, a seat next to the Governor. "Everyone, this is Dr. Brooke Walsh. She was out there all alone with her canine companion this entire time." He introduced.

"Hello." Brooke said and was served a bowl of hot soup.

"So you were out there all alone?" An Asian man asked.

"Yes, does that surprise you?" she asked politely.

"Just a little. A woman like you wouldn't last that long out there." He said. "It's very surprising actually that you didn't have a group."

"Just my dog." She said. "Didn't need a group to take care of me."

"So, where are you originally from?" The Governor asked.

"King County." She answered. "You?"

"Kosciusko, Mississippi." He replied.

"I'm guessing you came to Atlanta for the "safe zone"." She said and put air quotes up. The Governor chuckled.

"Well yes. Didn't realize it would be bombed by the time I reached Georgia." He replied. "Were you in Atlanta when they bombed?"

"I left the day before they bombed the city." She said.

"You were really cutting it close then." Merle said.

"You have no idea." She said charmingly and they all chuckled.

"Well, since you are such a survival expert, we knew you must have a lot of logic." The Governor said. "Maybe you can help us plan our attack."

"Attack?" she asked.

"On the prison. A group is staying there and I want the land. We need the land." He explained. "We'll need some sort of strategy because they have access to all the rooms in the prison, including the armory." He said.

"I think we need to attack them now, just so we can get it over with." The Asian man said. "We can get it early and enforce our laws."

"That will take a week of getting ready." Merle thought out loud. "Who knows how cold it'll be then."

"Both true." The Governor said.

"Wait." Brooke added bluntly. "You need to wait. It's going to be a harsh winter this year, you need to wait a couple of months until the climate changes to where the cold doesn't destroy us." The Governor nodded his head.

"Sounds good to me but how long?" A red haired man with a mousy face asked.

"Now it's December?" she asked and the Governor nodded. "December, so I would wait about three months before attacking. That way you have plenty of weapons and a skilled plan." She received impressed looks and she could tell the Governor was very impressed.

"That's excellent." The Governor said. She knew it was a test of her abilities. As a woman, she knew she would have to be able to prove herself.

"They probably have a watch on 24/7 so when they start to get comfortable that's when we attack. That means we need to drive by there as little as possible to let their guard down. Once they think they're safe, that's when we swoop in and attack. Maybe they'll be so scared and caught off guard they'll surrender so that way we have no bloodshed." She continued to say.

"Brilliant." The Asian man nodded. "That will work, Governor."

"It'll work nicely." He said. "Well I think I'll turn in for the night. Very good talk gentlemen." He said and looked down at Brooke. "And lady." He walked away and Brooke watched how he left. He left with confidence but there was still something off about him. He slammed the door behind him and she was left with the others. The men were staring at her and she got really freaked out.

"Can I help you?" she asked them.

"You sure came up with that plan quickly." The red haired man said.

"It's common sense not to go in the middle of winter. Unless you want to make a mistake that both Napoleon Bonaparte and Adolf Hitler made, you should wait until it's warmer. They're probably prepared for an attack if you have threatened them before." She snapped back and the men looked at each other. "Didn't think a woman would come up with the strategy now did you?" she asked and got up from her chair. "Goodnight gentlemen." She said and flounced away to her room. She walked up the steps and saw Andrea and Michonne.

"How did it go?" Andrea asked.

"I was able to buy the group three months but who knows, that could change very easily." Brooke said.

"What did you find out about the Governor?" Michonne asked.

"He's from Mississippi, he came to Georgia for the safe zone, and he doesn't really have ideas. Never had any ideas about the attack on the prison." She said.

"I'm just saying what if, but what if this whole plan doesn't work." Andrea said.

"Then it doesn't work." Brooke said. "If they attack now then it'll be a fight but the army here is pretty large. Becky gave me the dish of the town. The Governor is very controlling, protective, and all together kind of a creep. He has police all over town and she even told me that their main focus was land. He sent out a letter saying if any woman living in Woodbury got pregnant, that she would have to get an abortion according to Becky. If it doesn't work I'll find a way for all of us to escape and go to the farm. If the group managed to stay alive they'll flee to the farm." She sighed and ran a hand though her hair. "I need my weapons though. I'll need them very soon. I'll have to get Merle for that one."

"Well, what's your plan when you do get your weapons?" Michonne asked.

"If this all goes according to plan, once you two have done everything I need then I will help you two get out of here." Brooke said. "I'll be able to get your sword and your pistol. I'll find a way for you to escape and warn the others back at the prison."

"What about you?" Andrea asked.

"Again, it's all a part of the plan." She said. "If the Governor sticks to my strategy then one way or another it'll all work out." Andrea and Michonne nodded and snuck away to go to their quarters. Brooke sighed and held her necklace. She was getting used to the huge weight of the 22. She never could understand how Shane could run around with this thing dragging him down. She wondered how Daryl was dealing with this whole thing. She really hoped he knew it was the best thing she could do for the group. "God," she began to pray like she did every night. "Please keep my friends safe. I need them to be with me through this. Lori and I may not get along but I do care about her. Please give them a sign that I'm safe and that I'm trying to keep them alive. Please let Daryl know that I love and miss him every minute of the day. I pray for Amber and Eric to be alive and healthy. Please let them be safe. Shane, if you can hear me, please be with me through this. I need you with me here and I need your strength. I love you so much Shane. God, thank you, I love you, amen." She changed into some PJ's that she had bought and crawled into bed. She laid there and thought about what her next step was.

Daryl

Daryl stood in the watch tower with his crossbow constantly circling. He wore the black Carhart that Brooke had worn a lot. He wanted her back but he knew she was doing something to help the group. He wanted to know that she was safe and that she was warm. He heard the door close and saw Carol with a steaming mug.

"I brought you some tea." She said and handed him the cup.

"Thanks." He grunted.

"She'll be fine." She said. "I know she will. She's the toughest girl I've ever met." Daryl smirked at Carol.

"I really hope so." He replied.

"Need to talk?" she asked.

"Nope."

"Daryl." Carol sighed.

"Don't you ever get the hint, woman?" he finally said. "I don't open up to people, but that's just who I am! I thought that maybe you would be able to understand that!"

"I'm just worried about you Daryl." Carol said softly and she began to walk away. "You didn't let me down Daryl."

"What the hell are you talkin' about now?" he asked.

"Brooke told me." Carol explained. "You looked for Sophia everyday even when people began to lose hope you continued to look for her. You didn't disappoint any of us and I know Brooke won't disappoint any of us. If you ever need someone, you know where I am." She walked down the stairs and back to the cells. Daryl put his forearms on the railing and held his mug. He sighed and he wished that he hadn't snapped at Carol. At the same time he wanted to be alone but wanted someone to talk to. Just like back in the quarry.

Brooke

Brooke shot up from her bed when she heard a knock at the door. She was in matching button up pajama's that were appropriate so she decided it was safe to go to the door. She opened it and The Governor was there in matching PJ's as well, slippers, and a robe.

"Good evening, Dr. Walsh." He greeted. "I hope I didn't interrupt you.

"Hello sir, no I was just getting into my bed." She replied. "Can I help you?"

"I just wanted to say I'm very impressed. That strategy was brilliant." He said.

"Thank you, Governor." She said.

"I'm guessing you're a history buff?" he asked and she gave him a confused look. "I heard you referencing the attacks on Russia from Napoleon and Hitler."

"Yes it's my favorite subject. If I hadn't gone into medical school I would've been a world history teacher." She replied.

"I love history." He said. "You should really check out our library."

"You have a library?" she asked actually excited.

"I can tell you are very studious." He smirked. "Yes, it's not much but it's the best it could possibly be."

"I'm just glad you have books." She joked and he chuckled.

"If you have any questions or more strategy's come to me." He said.

"Thank you sir." She said.

"Goodnight Dr. Walsh." He said.

"Goodnight." He turned around and she shut her door. Slowly but surely.