Rose was outside with the girls, trying to get their clothes washed in the creek just a mile or so outside the prison. Glenn and Rick were standing guard on each end of the creek, while Daryl and Michonne were off hunting in the woods. "Make sure you get all that soap out of your hair Jamie!" Rose shouted out to Jamie who stood in the creek with Andrea, the two splashing each other, soap sods still in Jamie's hair as she tried to dodge the water being thrown her way.
"Don't be too loud now Jamie," Rose warned as she sat back on her bottom and stretched her legs out in front of her, happy to be clean, or as clean as she could be, "We don't want to give Rick and Glenn any trouble with walkers."
Jamie giggled as Andrea mocked Rose while she talked, looking over at her friend who had her eyebrows raised, and her jaw cocked to the side before Andrea closed her mouth and folded her arms behind her back, whistling innocently, making everyone laugh. "So Rosie, where'd you sneak off to last night?"
Rose blushed, and turned her head, looking anywhere but at Andrea as Jamie walked back over to her, and held her arms our so Rose could wrap a towel around her. "I snuck off nowhere."
Andrea snorted as she made her way back over to Rose, catching the towel she threw up at her, and sat down beside the brunette, drying her hair off. "Uh well according to Michonne who was patrolling with Rick you and Mr. Dixon snuck off together."
Rose sighed, shaking her head, "Yeah, so?" She asks, tilting her head back as she soaked up as much sun as she could, squinting over at Andrea as she nudged her in the side.
"So give me the details Rose, what happened? You know I live for this kind of stuff." She laughed and Rose smiled shaking her head before she sat up, looking over to Jamie who was walking over to Carol, who had been drying her clothes.
"Things may, or may not have gotten heated." Rose said, laughing when Andrea's eyes widened, and her friend gripped onto her arm, pulling her close.
"Seriously?" Rose nods at Andrea, watching as Andrea smirked, "Well how was it?" She asked curiously, pulling a clean shirt over her head as Rose smiles, blushing a bit at the memory of Daryl's hands on her hips, his lips nipping at her skin.
"It was great," Rose bit her lip bringing up one of her legs to her chest, and rested her cheek against her knee, looking over at Andrea as she smiled, "It was sweet… and hot and just… perfect." She blushed, turning her head when Andrea laughed shaking her head. "He was so gentle."
"Daryl Dixon gentle, now that's something I didn't expect," Andrea teased and Rose just rolled her eyes before looking back at Andrea, "What brought it on?"
Rose chuckled, "You actually," She said, letting Andrea pull her to her feet, "He heard your little comment about the cell sex." Rose pursed her lips, looking over at Andrea as her eyes widened, and she laughed loudly again.
"Well I'm glad I could get you laid." Andrea chuckled looking over at Rose; the look on her face makes Rose roll her eyes. The two girls both sighed while Carol walked over with Jamie, Rose's daughter running over, begging for her mother to french braid her hair when they headed in. The sound of puerperal blades whirling around drew their attention to the sky, and Rose's eyes widened as she saw the black smoke that filled the sky. "Oh my god." Rose eyes were wide as she watched the large helicopter trying to gain control of it's flight, before disappearing into the trees far out in the north, Rose's grip tight on Jamie's shoulder as Rick and Glenn ran over to them.
"Oh shit, do you think it landed?!"Rose turned to look at Glenn for his question, giving him a look as Rick shook his head, sighing sadly.
"No, I think it crashed." Rick said putting a hand on Rose's shoulder when she sighed, "We need to investigate the crash… there could be survivors."
"I'll go," Andrea said taking a step forward as Rick nods, his head turning at the sound of quick footsteps, seeing Michonne and Daryl running back over.
"Did you see it?" Daryl asked looking up at the smoke filed sky, and Rose nods biting her lip as she looked over at Rick.
"I'll go with Andrea," Rose said quickly, looking over at Daryl as he raised a brow shaking his head.
"Your leg is to damaged Rose," Rick said before Daryl could and she groaned, crossing her arms over her chest, hating being so useless to the group, "Michonne you go, take whatever ammo you need, and keep off the roads you two… and if those men are in need of help blind fold them before bringing them here."
Rose looks over at Michonne and Andrea as they both nodded, taking in Rick's orders before Rick told them all to head back into the prison, "Hey, guys wait up a sec." Rose said hurrying after Andrea and Michonne before they could head out towards the crash.
"What is it Rosie?" Andrea asked as she checked her guns for the ammo, before looking up at Rose when she stopped in front of them.
"Please be careful," Rose whispered sadly, "I lost you once A, I don't wanna have to lose you again." She said, looking up at Andrea as she smiled sadly before the blonde pulled her into a hug, and Rose gripped Michonne, forcing her into the hug despite her groan.
Rose pulled away from her friends, wiping at her eyes as they gave her small, sad, sad smiles before going on their way to investigate the crash, and Rose bit her lip, feeling Daryl's firm grip on her shoulder.
"Come on now," He whispered, his other hand going to her waist and she felt his rough cheek against hers when he pulled her into his chest. "They're gonna be just fine Rose." He mumbles, and she sighs, leaning her head against his shoulder as she nods.
"Right, no, I know." She said, tilting her head some so she could see him, smiling sadly, "I'm just worried they won't make it back."
Daryl shakes his head, "They're going to come back, a white feminist with anger issues and a black ninja are going to fair perfectly well out in that shit hole."
Rose couldn't help but chuckle, "Black ninja?" She questioned and Daryl just shrugged, giving her a toothless smile before, wrapping his arm around her neck, and pulled her close. "God, you smell like ass." Rose groaned, pushing against his chest as he laughed keeping her close despite her struggle.
"You don't smell to great either princess!" He defended, finally letting go of her, smiling at her glare.
"I smell perfectly fine; I just washed, not like you know what that is anymore." She teased, sticking her tongue out at him as he rolled his eyes.
"Ain't got time for washing, I'm out there catching you some food to cook up so we don't starve." He said with a nod, and she rolled her eyes, smiling when he pulled the fence open for her.
"You should at least wash up, you're covered in blood, it's not a pretty sight." She said looking over at him as he wired the fence shut again, the two walking towards the prison.
"I'll do that after we clear out this next cell block," He said, pulling at the string of squirrels and rabbits he had caught on the hunt, "No point in getting all prettied up just to get bloodied again."
Rose rolls her eyes, "Philosophical advice by Daryl Dixon ladies and gentlemen."
҉
Rose was busy getting a cell situated for her and Jamie, right across from Daryl's perch. She was scrubbing the walls as clean as she could get them with what little water she'd gathered, and some cleaning supplies she'd found in an old janitors closet. "You're going to scrub your fingers to the bone Rose." Rose smiled as she turned, looking back at Carol as the older woman came in and took a sit beside her, and reached into the dirty bucket, pulling out the other wash cloth.
"Hey, if it means getting this cell clean enough for Jamie to sleep in it, it's fine by me." She said with a shrug, flexing her sore fingers as she rinsed out the cloth. "You're staying in Lori's cell right?"
Carol nods, "I've been keeping an eye on her while Rick's busy." She said, and Rose nods, "I worry about her."
"I wish we could tell wither or not she really lost the baby." She whispered sadly, her scrubbing on the wall going a little slower, "That baby in her… it's due soon, wither it's dead or alive, it's going to come out eventually."
Carol nods, glancing over her shoulder at the sound of humming, smiling a bit when Jamie came in, humming some song as she flopped down on the clean mattress Rose had already placed on the bunk beds. "That's a lot of blood." She observed, and Rose smiled when all the blood was gone from the wall.
"That it is Jamie," She said, looking over at Carol, "Thanks for the help… I'll come help with your and Lori's cell once I get the rest of this cleaned up."
Carol smiles, and nods before excusing herself from the cell, and Rose stood up, lifting the bucket of bloody water up, "Looks like all this room needs is your drawings to decorate the walls huh?" Rose asked as she dumped the water into the sink in their room, before setting the bucket in the corner beside the bed.
"I don't like to draw anymore," Jamie said, leaning back on her bed, and Rose sighed crossing her arms over her chest, "Drawing is for babies."
"Jamie," Rose started but before she could finish the shouts of Rick flooded the cell block, and she jumped, turning to look at Jamie when Rick shouted out her name, "Jamie you stay right here, don't move." Rose said, pointing to the bed before running out of the cell and down the stairs, her eyes widening as she saw Rick and the others wheeling the car in, Hershel on top of it with a bloody stump that used to be his right leg.
"Oh god," Rose said quickly and hurried after them when the wheeled Hershel into his cell, "Get him on the bed, on the bed now!" She shouted, pulling her hair up quickly into a messy bun before going to Hershel's legs, "Go get bandages, towels, anything, we need to stop the bleeding." She ordered out, shrugging of her flannel shirt and used it to cover up the bleeding stump, pushing down on the severed limb as hard as she could, trying to stop the bleeding.
While Rose and Carol worked on getting Hershel's leg from bleeding, Daryl walked back into the corridor that lead into the other cells, loading up his crossbow as he waited for the prisoners to file out. Daryl kept his crossbow raised, watching as the prisoners entered the room, the first some spic, followed by a few black folks, a white crack head looking type, and the a pretty boy.
"That's far enough," He said, watching as the men looked around, his eyes remaining on the last man, noticing something oddly familiar about him as he stared Daryl down.
"Cell block C," The spic was talking, but Daryl really could care less, he could hear Rose's shouts as she tried to calm the Greene girls down while trying to patch up their daddy, "Cell four that's mine gringo , let me in."
"Today's your lucky day fellas, you been pardon by the state of Georgia, you're free to go." Daryl's head snapped to the side when he heard Jamie's voice, sending her a look that made her stop before running over to him, watching as she stayed by the door, hiding from sight of the prisoners.
"Whatchu got going in there?"
"That ain't none of your concern," Daryl answered quickly, looking away from Jamie and back at the prisoners, keeping them from taking any more steps toward the cell block.
"Don't be telling me what's my concern." Daryl reacted quickly when the Mexican pulled the gun from his pants, and Daryl moved forward, aiming his crossbow right at the bastard's head, his finger on the trigger, ready to pull.
"Chill man," Daryl didn't even glance when the larger black guy spoke up, his eyes locked onto the spic's, "Dude's lead his messed up, besides we're free now, why're we still in here?"
"Man's got a point."
"Nu uh," Daryl turned his head when the other man spoke up, the white guy with a pretty boy look about him, "Why are you fellas here; a bunch of civilians breaking into an old abandon prison? Something ain't right." Daryl raised an eyebrow at the accent the man carried, one very similar to Rose's.
"Well why dontchu go find you what's not right." Daryl spit out, not liking the tone the man, making him take a few steps forward, about to give the hick a piece of his mind when he heard a shout, making him stop.
"I gotta go check in on my old lady." Daryl glanced over at the man who spoke, did they really not know?
"I think we'll just be going." Daryl glared over at pretty boy as the other white man tried to reason, but the spic and pretty boy just weren't having it.
"You ain't coming in either!" T-Dog shouted, walking out, pushing Jamie to the side gently, Daryl looking over at her quickly when he noticed her gun raised at the Hispanic man.
"Put the gun down Jamie," He said quickly never lowering his crossbow, but keeping his gaze on her, "Go back to your momma," Daryl said but Jamie looked at him, then back at the men, never dropping her gun, "Jamie Go!" He shouted at her, making her jump, before scurrying off and he sighed, turning back to look at the prisoners, noticing the spic with his gun raised at T-Dog.
"This is my house, my rules, I go where I damn well please!" He shouts, and Daryl glares shaking his head as he steps forward, causing the man to turn the gun on him.
Rose looked over at Rick at the sound of a man's shouts, "What was that?" She heard Beth ask while she went back to work on keeping Hershel's leg elevated. "Prisoners, survivors." Rose groaned, shaking her head as Rick told them not to worry.
"Jamie, someone get Jamie back in here." Rose said quickly, glancing back at Lori as she nods, before hurrying out after Rick and Glenn. "Carol keep pressure on his leg for me," Rose said snapping to get Carol's attention before hurrying over to her bag, and shuffled through it, finding the last bit of antibiotics she had. Rose grabbed one of the unopened syringe packs form her bag, and made her way back over to Hershel who was now unconscious, getting the shot ready and searched for a vein to inject it in.
"This should stop it from getting an infection, but it only last so long… and he's going to need bandages, and some pain killers so when he comes to." She whispered as she leaned back on her heels looking up at Beth and Maggie as they cried. "He's going to be okay… If we can just… keep him alive, he should be okay." She was kidding herself of course, he was bit, he was carrying even more of the virus than he had been before, and if it spread, he would end up getting another one of them killed.
Rose sighs, looking over to Jamie who was clutching onto Lori's leg, and Rose looks down at her bloodied arms and shirt, frowning. She noticed the shouts of the prisoners and Daryl had subsided, actually, the cell block held an eerie silence, one that made Rose's skin crawl, and get a feeling of dread wash over her.
She stood up slowly, wiping her bloodied hands to her jeans, thinking back to Daryl's earlier statement about getting all prettied up just to get bloodied, damn man was right, of course he was. "Mommy," Rose looked over at Jamie when she whispered her name, and she walked over to her, excusing herself from the rest of the group as she followed Jamie out into the hall, kneeling down in front of her as Jamie rubbed at her eyes.
"What is it doll baby?" She asked, looking up at Jamie as she sniffled, looking down at her feet.
"I… I think I saw my daddy." Rose's jaw dropped at what Jamie said and she frowned shaking her head quickly, upsetting Jamie, "No… Ma, really... When Mr. Daryl yelled at me… I... I looked at the scary men in jump suits, and one of them looked just like daddy."
Rose sighed, "Baby… No, no that man wasn't your daddy." She whispered sadly, looking up at Jamie when she pouted, "Daddy was in Louisiana… There's no way he would have be able to get to Georgia baby."
Jamie closes her eyes, and looks down, avoiding her mother's gaze, "It was him… I know it was."
Rose frowned and shook her head as she stood back up, "Jamie go up to our room, take a nap…Now." She said when Jamie went to interrupt, causing Jamie to glare before stomping her way up the stairs and into the cell.
Rose it her lip, looking down at her bloodied hands before heading back into the cell with Hershel, and took over for Carol, changing the dressings on his leg, looking at Lori and Carol briefly as they picked on each other's appearance, the two laughing lightly before the sound of footsteps was heard.
"Food's here," T-Dog sang out, and Rose smiles a bit shaking her head as she sighs, and wraps a clean towel around Hershel's leg, listening to T-Dog list out some of the food they had brought back, before Rick came over and Lori gave him the run down on Hershel's condition.
"Take my cuffs, put them on him." Rose looked over at Rick when Glenn reached for his cuffs, "I'm not taking any chances."
"Where's Daryl," Rick turned his head and looked over at Rose as she wiped the blood from her hands, and he jerked his head back towards the door.
"Back with the prisoners, keeping an eye on things… We're going to clear them out a cell block to stay in, away from ours." She made a face at that, and shook her head choosing not to say anything and went back to her work on Hershel's leg.
"He needs some more antibiotics Rick, and pain killers." She said sighing a bit, "On your little run to help out a bunch of convicted felons, look out for the infirmary."
Rick nods, "I'll keep an eye out, you just be careful around him Rose, he could come back…" Rose sighs, nodding quickly as she wiped at her forehead with her forearm, turning to look back at Rick.
"Keep Daryl outta trouble for me will you?" She asked, giving him a small smile when he nods, before the two told each other goodbye, and Rick headed off with T-Dog.
Daryl was leaning against the walk out on the corridor leading to the different cell blocks that were locked off, his crossbow held to his side, but his finger on the trigger, an arrow loaned and ready to be fired at any of the asshole who made a move. He glanced over at the other white guy who looked about his age, well built, with a nicely sculpted face. He was the type of guy Merle and him used to make fun of when they saw them, the type of guy who wore nice clothes, and sneakers with no a single mark on them… a pretty boy, and Daryl could already tell he didn't like him. He was quiet though, hardly said one word since they first found them, and stayed away from the other prisoners.
"You gotta name," Daryl looked when the pretty boy finally spoke, the other prisoners looking at him as well, looking a bit surprised he was talking.
"Yeah," Daryl said back, not bothering to give the man any knowledge about him or the rest of the group.
"Well… Aren't you friendly." The prisoner muttered shuffling on his feet, "You mentioned some girl named Rose."
Daryl glared when the man brought Rose up, and he raised his crossbow pointing it at the man's head, making the other prisoners react, "Don't you even think about it buddy." Daryl growled out, "You make one move to get anywhere near any of the women and you're gonna get a shit ton of arrows in your ass."
"Whoa, what's going on in here?" Daryl heard Rick's voice but he didn't lower his weapon, not until Rick came over and did it himself, his hand on Daryl's shoulder.
"Ry here was just asking your man about some Rose girl." The large black man, Big Tiny, spoke up and Rick looked over at him, before back at the 'Ry' character.
"My group is off limits," Rick said quickly looking between the men, "We're going to help you clear out a cell block, but if any of you come anywhere near Cell Block C, or the yards, I will kill you."
҉
Daryl had been around criminals all his life, his father was a drug abusing asshole, and his brother had followed in his footsteps. But men like this, the type that killed in cold blood, and didn't give a single fuck about anything? That was new for him, and he wasn't exactly okay with it. He was in the back, keeping his eye on the asshole that had brought up Rose, wondering about him, what got him in here, why he seemed so familiar, and why he was interested in Rose. But before he could dwell in his thoughts any longer Rick caught his attention.
"Rose wants us to keep an eye out for an infirmary," He whispered to Daryl, both men noticing the man in front slow down just a bit, but thought nothing of it.
"Figures, her nursing skills really only go so far without the proper equipment and medicine huh." Daryl looked over at T-Dog when he spoke up, and he shrugged some.
"The girl can stitch up a wound faster than anyone I've ever met, what's a severed leg to her." Daryl said light heartedly, shaking his head as the other men chuckled a bit.
"I uh, notice you and Rose sneaking of last night." Daryl looked over at T-Dog, giving him a look that just made the man chuckle as he shook his head, before Daryl looked back ahead when the spic shoved his way passed pretty boy, earning a glare from a man before he clutched the pipe in his hand a bit tighter and kept going.
"Head up front T, keep an eye on the men." Rick whispered over to T-Dog, and he nods before making his way to the front of the line.
"Did you see the look on his face?" Daryl muttered quietly to look, glancing at him from the corner of his eye.
"He makes one move."
"Just give me a signal." Daryl said back, glancing back over at Rick, before they all made their way into what must have once been a laundry room, thinking to himself the girls would love all the detergent that lined the walls.
Daryl followed after Rick, hearing the hungry moans of the walkers on the other side of the door, glancing over at Rick who nodded at him before fishing the ring of keys from his back pocket and tossed it so it landed in front of the spic's feet, making him look down at it, them back at him.
"I ain't opening that." He said quickly, and Daryl looked over at Rick as he spoke.
"Yes you are," Rick didn't miss a beat, "You wanted this cell block, you're gonna open that door, just the one." Rick said, pointing to the door on the left, and Daryl raised his crossbow, getting ready for the geeks. "Not both of them, cause we need to control this."
Daryl took a few steps back, giving him enough range from the walkers, and watched as the spic tried to open the door, failing, saying something smart, tried again, failed, said something smart, until finally he pulled both doors open, letting in about a dozen walkers and hearing Rick shouting before the man answered with 'Shit happens'. Daryl moved fast, shoot, load, shoot, load. The process was easy, and he took out walkers left and right, getting one right before it got its hands on Rick. He noticed the spic take a swing at a walker that was close to Rick's face, Rick ducking just in time before the blade came in contact with him, but before Daryl could take out the walker making his way near the Hispanic man, he grabbed it and tossed it onto Rick, making the sheriff fall back, the goon on top of him groaning and snapping towards him, trying to get a bite out of him. Daryl took out a walker, then pushed the man out of the way and pulled the screw driver from his pocket and drove it into the geek's head, before gripping Rick's hand and pulled him up. The two both sprung back into action and took out the rest of the walkers alongside the prisoners, Daryl looking over the group one all the walkers were down, his eyes falling on Ry's who was glaring his way.
"It was coming at me bro," Daryl looked back to Rick as he stood across the man who had just tried to kill him, and Daryl glared, moving to point his cross bow at him.
"Yeah, Yeah I get it, I get it." Daryl watched carefully as Rick's hand tightened some on the machete he had borrowed from Rose, "Shit happens." Daryl hadn't expected Rick to do what he did, punch the man sure, but when Rick took the machete and brought the blade down on the man's skull his eyes widened.
"Easy now," Daryl took a step forward when the other black guy went to make a move after his friend Rick had decided to chase down the hall, "Get down on your knees." He snapped, motioning with his crossbow, watching as the man listened before looking over at Ry, who had a strange smirk on his face. "You too pretty boy, get the fuck down." He ordered and the man just chucked shaking his head.
"That what you said to Rosie?" He taunted and Daryl raised an eyebrow, taking a few steps towards him, so he was directly in front of him, his crossbow raised to his head.
"What the fuck did you say?" Daryl snapped and the man just smirked before hitting the crossbow out of his face, surprising Daryl before head butting him, causing Daryl to stumble back some before being tackled to the ground.
Daryl held an arm up before the fist came down to his jaw and he brought his knee up, before punching the man his side, and then returned the man's head butt, feeling the blood tricking down his nose, and his lip begin to swell as T-Dog pulled the man off him.
Daryl got to his feet, and pulled his gun out and pressed it against pretty boy's forehead who was knelt down in front of him, laughing.
"You can't kill me." He laughed out, looking up at Daryl when he cocked his gun.
"Why's that?" Daryl spat out, pressing his gun closer to the man's forehead, glaring down at him when he chuckled.
"Cause you've got my old lady and baby girl locked up in cell block C." He laughed, and Daryl narrowed his eyes, trying to understand what he meant. "Here's proof." The man reached into his pocket, and T-Dog snatched the piece of paper from his hands, the man's eyes widening as he looked at the picture, before handing it to Daryl.
Daryl's jaw tightened as he stared down at the picture, taking in the old photo, he knew those eyes, that smile, that beauty mark…That was Rose… That was his Rose holding Jamie, and the man in front of him had his arms wrapped around the girls, all three of them smiling back up at him. "Ryder Marks at your service fellas..."
**Dum. Dum. DUMMM. Okay, so this is short… BUT I just really wanted to get this chapter up before TWD's new episode aired so I could be on schedule! I hope you all like it, and yes guys, Ryder is back…. But for how long? That is the question, let me know what you think and I'm really sorry if this chapter sucks.. Oh, also, the derogatory terms used in this chapter are not something I normally do… but I thought I'd use some Daryl racism to spice things up, and another thing, my dear friend Yasmin will be writing parts of later chapters because, two more characters are going to be introduced, and I know for a fact you will love them. DON'T FORGET TO REVIEW!