Hey guys! So this chapter made me frustrated but I'm not giving anything away! That's right, I'm frustrated with my own character but I wanted to show how desperate Brooke is to keep the group safe and what she thinks is best. Thank you for all the reviews, views, favorites, and follows. Remember that reviews mean a lot and I really appreciate it so please feel free to leave a review! Thanks and as always, happy reading!

Chapter 9: A Good Man

Two weeks later, Daryl sat in his cell waiting for his watch to come. He barely got any sleep lately because he was so worried about Brooke. He didn't know these men, he didn't know if they wanted a doctor or if they wanted a girl to throw around. He wanted some sort of sign that she was safe. He needed a sign before he went completely crazy. He heard a knock on the wall and looked up to see a very pregnant Lori. She had a morose look that was filled with guilt.

"Daryl, I'm sorry. I've seen the way you've been acting these past weeks and I feel awful about what happened." Lori said. "I treated her so terribly before she left and I can't help but think I should've stopped her from leaving." He grunted and turned away. Daryl held on to grudges and ever since she tried to get Brooke kicked out of the camp he had just ignored her and her drama she had built. He was confused on whose fault it was. Was it his for letting her go out without him? Or was it Lori's because she asked her to do it? This was his final question to himself before he would doze off, only to be awaken two hours later with a nightmare of what may have happened to her. He went to the cafeteria and up into the watch office. He did something that he hadn't done in a long time.

"God, I know you don't hear from me often but I feel like this is the only thing I can do. Please let Brooke be safe. I know that my brother wasn't a good person but Brooke is. She's the only thing I have left and I can't lose her. I love her so much. Please just let her be safe and let her know that we are okay. Please. Amen." He sighed and walked back to his cell. He had hit rock bottom. He turned from his cell and went to Carol's.

"Daryl what's wrong?" Carol asked.

"Care to talk?" he asked and she smiled warmly at him.

Brooke

A week later, Brooke sat on the top of her roof looking through binoculars. It was show time as Brooke saw a flash of a mirror reflecting the moonlight. She took a deep breath and knew that she may never see Andrea or Michonne again. If they timed it right, they could get back to the prison with what Brooke was doing. She took her bow and arrow with cloth wrapped at the end covered in lighter fluid. She lit it and took aim.

(Earlier that morning)

It was Sunday, which meant that the office was closed. She was grateful she got one day off. She had gone to church with Becky and Meghan earlier that morning. They went back to Becky's house for some coffee and to chat. Michonne and Andrea soon arrived to talk.

"So that's it?" Michonne asked.

"Yes, you two will sneak back to the store and douse it with gasoline. Use this." Brooke said and handed Michonne a mirror.

"So after we signal you, you will send an arrow to the store?" Andrea asked.

"Yes and you two will take down however many soldiers are needed for you to escape." Brooke said.

"Sounds good." Becky said.

"Sounds really good." Michonne said.

"If we survived for that long out there, we can get past the soldiers." Andrea said. They went past their plan and chatted one last time before the two left Woodbury. Brooke excused herself and went to the bathroom for the fifth time that hour. Brooke sighed and her heart beat sped up. She washed her hands and walked out. She found a calendar in Becky's room and started to count days. She would keep recounting but she came to the worst conclusion. She sighed and held her face in her hands.

"This can't be happening." She mumbled.

"Honey, are you okay?" Becky asked and saw Brooke's face was white. "What's wrong?" she asked and sat down on the bed next to Brooke. Brooke breathed hard and Becky held her. "You have to say something, you're scaring me."

"Becky, I'm late." She breathed. Becky gasped and held her a little tighter.

"That could mean different things." Becky tried to calm her but Brooke gave her a morose look. "Give me a minute I think I may have a test." Becky said. "The people that lived here before me had some." She explained and left. She heard Andrea and Michonne ask what was happening and Becky told them. Becky came back with a blue box. "Found one." Brooke sighed and rubbed a hand through her hair. She grabbed the box and went into the bathroom. She came back out and left the test on the sink.

"Everything will be fine." Andrea said.

"No matter what, it'll all turn out in the end." Michonne said. They all sat and waited the three minutes in complete silence. Brooke got up but sat back down almost instantly.

"I can't look." She said on the verge of tears. Andrea sighed and hugged her.

"I'll look." She said and got up. She grabbed the test from the sink and came back into the room with pursed lips.

"What is it?" Becky asked.

"It's positive." Andrea said quietly. Brooke buried her face in her hands and silently sobbed. "Don't cry, Brooke."

"I just can't believe that I had to get pregnant now. Of all the times I could've gotten pregnant it had to be now." She wept and shook her head.

"What does this mean for what we have to do?" Michonne asked.

"You can't possibly go through with it, honey." Becky said. "You can leave with them tonight and go back to the prison."

"No, that means that Blake will come and kill everyone at the prison. He'll have everything he needs and they'll all be dead." Brooke sniffed and rubbed her nose. "We're still doing this."

"If Daryl finds out that you're doing this while you're pregnant-" Becky said.

"I know he'll be furious but it'll keep him alive." She said.

"And if Blake figures it out? What if he finds out what's been happening and kills you?" Andrea asked with a pointed look.

"I'd rather me be dead than close to twelve people." Brooke said.

"It wouldn't just be you that's dead, Brooke." Becky said and Brooke sighed.

"I know."

"So what are you going to do once they come to the prison?" Michonne asked.

"I'm ending The Governor once and for all. I'm not going to kill him but we'll arrest him. Merle gave me the scoop on the troops. Most hate him and they want to see him dead but a lot of them are scared. They just want to be able to live and some actually agree but that's only a small amount." Brooke explained. "If they see that I've got a gun to his head they'll aim at him as well."

"You'll be three months by then." Becky said. "I'll help you hide the bump, I have some baggy clothes you can borrow and I have a maternity pant band from the last couple that lived here."

"Thanks Becky." Brooke said. They all talked a little more before Brooke went back to her quarters. She lied in bed still in disbelief. She had to do this, pregnant or not, she had to. She heard a knock at the door and ran downstairs.

"Hello Dr. Walsh." The Governor greeted and walked into her office.

"Hello Blake." She replied.

"Dr. Walsh, I was wondering if you would accompany me on a stroll tonight." He asked and Brooke's breathing stopped short. She had to go on with the plan.

"I would love to." She said.

"I'll pick you up at about six." He said.

"I'll be here." Brooke said and he left. She ran a hand through her hair. "This isn't cheating right?" she asked herself quietly. "I'm only pretending to like him. It's not like I'm attracted to him, it's for Daryl. I'm doing this for Daryl." She repeated. She felt sudden nausea and ran to her bathroom. She threw up into the toilet and gagged. She walked back out and saw some altoid mints on her table.

'Thought you could use these.' –Becky

"Just in time." She smirked and popped two mints into her mouth. Six was there before she knew it and Blake was never late. He was always on time and not a minute too soon or a minute later. She heard a knock on her door and she jumped. She slowly opened the door after a few deep breaths. "Hello Blake." She greeted with a smile.

"Hello Dr. Walsh." He replied.

"Call me Brooke." She said and he nodded. He offered his arm and she took it, pretending to enjoy it. "So where are we going?"

"I know a place I think you'll like." He smirked and they walked around town. Brooke knew that Blake had begun to trust her almost whole heartedly and that would cause to his certain demise. Before they got to their destination Blake saw some of his soldiers, including Merle. "Let me talk to them for a minute." He said and she nodded. Brooke felt a roll in her stomach again and she backed away near some bushes. She threw up and only made one gagging sound. She threw up small quantities about three times before she was fine. She popped three mints into her mouth and wiped her mouth. She turned to see Merle.

"The Governor asked me to come get you." He said softly. "Why are you throwin' up, sugar tits?" he asked.

"I just had a bad lunch." She lied. "Nothing to worry about." He gave her a pointed look. "I'll tell you later, now isn't the time." She said and he huffed.

"Come on sugar tits!" he called as Blake was walking closer.

"Don't call her that Dixon!" Blake ordered. "You refer to her as Dr. Walsh."

"Sorry, Dr. Walsh." He said in a mocking manner and walked away.

"Again, you just tell me if he's bothering you." Blake said and sniffed. "Do you smell that?"

"No Blake." She said sniffing herself. "I don't smell anything."

"Must be Dixon." He shrugged and she chuckled. "Come on we're almost there." She took his arm again and he led her into the bookstore. It was indeed very tiny but it had as many books as they could fit in there.

"Oh thanks Blake!" she smiled. "I haven't been here yet!"

"Not this." He grunted. "Follow me." She warily followed him, slowly following his steps and watching his every movement. "This." She walked in and saw a back room with mountains of books. All organized and in tall bookshelves.

"Wow." She gasped. "Why isn't this out front?"

"It's mine." He said. "It's yours too. It has all the classics that you like and several history novels."

"Thank you so much Blake." She replied. "It's lovely." She looked around and checked out the books. She could fell his eyes going up and down her, following every step she took, and she was officially freaked out. This man was watching her like a hawk and she didn't even know his last name. She tried to keep her breathing normal but that didn't last very long.

"Brooke?" he asked almost too close to her. She turned around about to ask what he needed but he grabbed her cheeks and planted a kiss on her lips. She felt disgusted with herself and as if she was the scum of the Earth instead of him. She felt like she had betrayed Daryl in every way, from leaving the group to kissing another man, while she was carrying his baby.

"I'm doing this for Daryl." She repeated in her mind over and over again until it burned. She kissed him back a little and he pulled away, leaving her relieved.

"I have to go." Blake said.

"Thank you for the lovely evening." She replied and he gave her another small kiss.

"Goodbye Brooke." He said.

"Goodbye Blake." He led her out of the library and led her back to her quarters. He left her alone and she quickly ran upstairs. She cried into her pillows, she tried to blame the pregnancy but she knew it was because she had let that happen. She looked over at her clock and it was about eight. She knew that Becky would be done with dinner and she needed to talk to Becky, and the rest of the small group. She walked over and Meghan could tell something was wrong.

"Aunt Brooke?" Meghan asked. She picked her up and saw Merle at the table.

"What's wrong?" Becky asked. Brooke explained everything and Becky agreed that she was doing it for the group.

"Now, why were you throwin' up today?" Merle asked and Becky looked over at Brooke. She sighed and ran a hand through her hair.

"I'm pregnant." She said and Merle almost dropped his glass to the floor.

"Pregnant?" he asked and she nodded. "I ain't lettin' you go to the prison when we attack. It's too dangerous and that's my kin."

"I have to." She replied.

"You're wearing something then." He said after several moments of thought. "Don't tell Daryl I knew."

"Merle, he'll know even if we don't tell him." Becky said. "Daryl's smart, he'll know that she didn't keep it a secret." They kept quiet for a while.

"Man, you two have the worst timing ever." Merle shook his head and the women chuckled at first, but then it turned into full on laughter. Brooke left and met up with Andrea and Michonne at her quarters five hours later.

"Alright, what do you want us to tell the group?" Andrea asked.

"Just tell them that Merle and I are alive. Tell them what's most likely going to happen and for them to be prepared." Brooke answered.

"Do you want us to tell Daryl about the baby?" Andrea asked.

"No, he probably won't take this news well. The fact that I'm pregnant will send him on a rampage to come and get me. Tell him that Becky's alive though and Meghan."

"We will, you be careful Brooke." Michonne said and gave her new friend a hug.

"You too Michonne." Brooke said letting some tears fall. "Be careful Andrea, please." She said and Andrea gave her a hug.

"Good luck Brooke." Andrea said and the two went off on their mission.

Present

Brooke aimed the flaming arrow at the store. She exhaled and fired it at the store that was doused with gasoline from the pumps. The fire roared over the store and she sighed. She quickly hid her things and laid back down in bed. She put her hand on her stomach and rubbed it. She said a prayer that Michonne and Andrea were safe, along with the group and the usual things that she prayed for. She looked down at her stomach.

"Hey bump." She said to her stomach. "I just want to let you know that you'll be safe here. I won't let anything happen to you. I don't care if you're a boy or a girl, I'll love you just the same. You're Daddy will too. I know he'll love you and when he finally meets you. I know he won't ever hurt you like his daddy did. Your Daddy's different, he's a good man." Her hormones found her along with her real feelings and she cried again in happiness. Calling Daryl a dad gave her hope. She rubbed her stomach lightly and fell asleep thinking of their family.