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Rose paced back and forth in her cell where she and Jamie had spent most of the day, Daryl and the rest had come back… But she hardly got a chance to speak with him, he and Rick came straight in, dragging a prisoner who was spouting out muffled curses behind the gag that was placed in his mouth, and the bag over his head. T-Dog wouldn't let her enter the hall where they were, when she asked for Daryl all she'd get was a 'He'll be out in a moment'. She didn't understand what was happening, what all the secrecy was about, and now because of her angry outburst at T-Dog she was told to stay in her cell to cool off.
"You're leavin' tread marks the way you're pacin' like that angel." Rose turned at the sound of Daryl's gruff voice, and her eyes widened when she saw him. His right eye was blackened, his cheek was bruised, and his lip was busted.
"Mr. Daryl your face!" Jamie exclaimed as she hopped off her cot, and ran over to Daryl's side, letting him pick her up while Rose stared at him.
"That bastard made me uglier than usual huh?" He chuckled halfheartedly while Jamie gripped his face in her hands, turning his head to the side so she could look at the damage the convict had caused.
"You were never ugly Mr. Daryl." Jamie rolled her eyes as she looked at the cut on his lip frowning a little when he chuckled, "Why'd he hurt you?" She asked curiously, and Daryl bit the inside of his cheek looking down at the ground before clearing his throat.
"That's uh, well… He was angry." Daryl mumbled, shaking his head as he set Jamie back down, "why don't you give me a minute with your momma darlin'?"
Jamie pouted but nodded, and wrapped her arms around Daryl's legs making him run his hand over her head before she left the cell, off on her search for Carl while Daryl took a step towards Rose, who hadn't spoken a word since seeing his face.
"You okay Rosie?" Rose took in a breath, nodding quickly as she tried to regain her thoughts, and wiped at her eyes when she felt the tears threatening to slip out.
"M'fine, Just... I." Rose looked back at Daryl, noticing the confused look on his face… his bruised and swollen face, before his eyes widened when Rose let out a sob.
"Rosie, Rose, what's the matter? What is it?" Daryl took one stride forward, closing the distance between them and gripped the sides of her face when Rose started to sob, tears tricking down her cheeks.
"He… He could have killed you." Rose's words came out in a broken sob, and Daryl couldn't help but smile a little, "Why are you smiling? You could be dead right now! I could have lost you… Jamie could have lost you." She snapped, hitting his chest, making him laugh before wrapping his arms around her and press his lips to hers.
Rose kissed him back trying to stop her cries when he pressed his lips to hers over and over again, before pulling back to look at her, "I am fine Rose." He said, his eyebrows raised giving her a look that made her tears stop, "Nothing can kill me, I'm a Dixon."
Rose shook her head sniffling some while Daryl wiped the tears from her eyes, kissing her forehead, "What happened? Why wouldn't you let me in the hall?" She asked, looking back up at him as he pursed his lips.
"The… prisoners… The spic, he tried to kill us, kill Rick." Daryl explained slowly looking down at the ground, "Rick killed him… and then when he chased after one of the black ones, this fella attacked me… He uh, wanted something." He stuttered some, and Rose looked at him confused when he looked back at her.
"Wanted what? Why did you bring him back here? If he tried to kill you then we should kill him!" Rose was furious, that much was obvious, and Daryl couldn't quite understand why he found it so amusing. But he did, and he watched as the five foot four mother paced in front of him, her hands clenched into fists as she went on about how it was a mistake, a stupid decision on the men's part for bring the convict here, and Daryl wondered if she would keep that mind set when and if she found out just who that convict was. Ryder Marks – the father of her child, the man who she always talked shit about to Andrea and Lori whenever Jamie was asleep and Daryl was only an earshot away… He knew that the two parted on bad terms, that the man had got thrown into prison, and Rose had refused to pay his bail… But if she knew it was him, someone from her past, someone she was tied to on the account of having a child together… He was sure she'd drop him in a second for that pretty boy.
"Daryl, are you even listening to me?" Daryl looked up when Rose snapped her fingers in front of his face and he met her gaze, nodding quickly.
"Yup, he's a mistake, one that should be taken up with Rick… But for now i'ma need you to do as I say and stay the hell outta that hall got it?" He said quickly and Rose looked up at him, her eyes narrowed as she decided whether or not to follow his order, or do as she pleased…. But it was Daryl, and every time she when against what the man said she either ended up almost being walker chow, or limping for weeks.
"Fine." She grumbled, crossing her arms over her chest in defeat as Daryl's lips twitched, hiding a smile. "I still say we throw his ass out of here." She mumbled under her breath, letting Daryl push her out of the cell in front of him as they made their way down the stairs to where the others were, spotting Rick speaking to Jamie and Carl.
"You two stay in here alright? That area of the hall is off limits until I say so; you break the rule you're going to be punished." Rose smiled a little as she heard Rick lecturing the two children, Jamie looking up at Carl as he nods, accepting his father's rules. Jamie on the other hand, had a hand on her hip, her chin turned up, and a look on her face Rose knew all to well.
"Why can't we go into the hall? If the man is locked up then what's it matter what we do? We could talk to him… maybe he's friendly, he could be our friend… and he could shank people."
Rose heard Daryl laugh and she herself chuckled some, looking over at Rick who looked confused and shocked at the words that came out of the young girl's mouth, "Jamie, do you even know what you just said?"
Jamie pursed her lip, shifting her weight to her other foot as she shrugged, "I heard mommy say it to Daryl once… about prison movies… she said something about Mr. Daryl dropping soap to… and it made Daryl yell at her."
Rose wasn't able to contain her laughter anymore, and she looked over at Daryl who only stared at her, his jaw set as the woman laughed her ass off before taking a step towards her daughter, gripping her gently by her ponytail and pulled her head back so she'd look up at her, "No more repeating what I say." She laughed shaking her head as Rick stood up, smiling over at Rose as he shook his head.
"You two go play, "Rick said, pointing in the direction of T-Dog and Glenn and the children ran off, leaving the three adults alone. "Your daughter…"
"I know, I know." Rose chuckled, shaking her head as she watched Jamie skip over to T-Dog, and demanded for him to give her a piggy back ride. "She's a fire cracker that one." She mumbled, and the men nodded in agreement before turning to look at Lori as she waddled her way over, her hands on her large belly.
"Any of you hear anything from the girls?" Lori asked quietly, looking over at Rose as she shook her head slowly, then looked back towards Daryl and Rick, both men shaking their heads.
"It's been a day…" Rose said biting her lip ,"The crash wasn't that far… we should go out looking for them."
Rick nods, "Daryl, you think you can handle going out by yourself?" Rick asked quietly, and Rose's jaw dropped, about to argue when Daryl sent her a look, making her shut up.
"Yeah I'll be fine, I can bring those talkies we found if I get into any trouble." He said looking over at Rose as she pouted, "Keep an eye out for the girls… I'm sure they're just hauled up some place until a few walkers clear out."
"Yeah, Daryl you get your things together, then head out once I've spread the world around alright?" Rick said and Daryl gives Rick a nod before moving up to gather his belongings, Rose and Jamie following after him.
"You sure you should be going out there alone? I mean, I want to find Andrea and Michonne more than anyone here… But it's dangerous, and we can't afford to lose you too…. And I just got you back.. " Rose trailed off, looking away from Daryl as she went on slowly.
Daryl stopped his packing and turned to look at Rose as she hugged herself, not looking at him as she rambled and he reached over and put a hand on her arm, making her look up at him, "I'll be fine Rose, you know that already."
Rose frowns, but nods slowly, both her and Daryl looking down at Jamie when the little girl sighed, "What are you going to do about the man in the cell?" She asked craning her head back to look up at Daryl who pursed his lips.
"For now nothing darlin'," He says reaching down to grab his poncho and pulled it over his head, before slinging his pack and cross bow over either shoulder. "Rick's going to handle him while I'm gone, probably decide what to do with him while he's at it."
Rose groaned, "I hate not being able to go with you." She mumbled, wrapping one arm around herself, rubbing her dirty arm, trying to soothe herself as Daryl turned to her.
"Baby," Rose perked up a bit when she heard Daryl call to her in such a sweet way, and she bit her lip watching as he walked over, and put his hands on her shoulders, "I will be fine, you're safer here, with Jim Jam, and where you can't get yourself killed by hobbling to slow."
Rose smiled a little, shaking her head as she pushed against his chest playfully only to get her wrist caught in his firm grip, looking up at him as he brought her knuckles up to his lips, and pressed a kiss to her hand. "You be careful out there." She murmured, taking his cheek with her free hand, and ran her thumb along the cut there, frowning a little, "No more fights either."
Daryl smiles and nods, before cupping Rose's face in his hands and pressed his lips to hers, reviling in every second of it, like it be the last time he'd get to do it… but for all he knew it would be. Ryder was here, he obviously had some sort of hold on Rose, and Daryl was going out into the world where he could get killed… okay maybe not killed, but who knew. Rose was all he had in this world-Hell Rose and Jamie were his world, and he didn't know what he was going to do if he lost them. "Rose I…" Daryl trailed off, leaning his forehead against Rose's, and Rose smiled.
"I know Daryl," She murmured, and pressed her lips to his again, before standing on her tip toes to reach his ear, "I love you too." She whispered, before pulling away, leaving Daryl standing there, smiling weakly, "Which is why you got to get back to me…To us."
Daryl nods before pulling her back to him, and kissed her with more force, his hands tangling in her hair, not wanting to let her go, and Rose fought back just as hard, her hands moving up his chest, and bunched his poncho up in her fingers, pulling him down closer to her, and the couple was finally pulled apart when they heard someone clear their throat, and the sound of Jamie's gagging noises as she giggled with Carl, the couple turning to look at Rick who stood on the stairs.
"You ready to go?" Rick asked, putting a hand on Carl's shoulder who had a slight blush to his cheeks, shushing Jamie when she started to make kissy noises, and Rose smiled shaking her head before putting a hand on Daryl's arm, and motioned for him to go.
"Make it back before sun down," Rick said as they made their way out of the prison, Rose squinting up at the bright sun glaring down in her eyes, putting a hand on Jamie's head as they followed after the men and Carl, noticing the rest of the group filing out after them.
"The crash is towards the east," Rick said as he walked alongside Daryl, "Maybe only about a two or three hour drive." Daryl shakes his head, moving to mount his bike.
"More like a four or five hours," Daryl said as he looked up at Rick who nods, "You just keep that walkie on you and I'll let you know if anything goes wrong."
Rick smiles, and claps a hand onto Daryl's shoulder, everyone gathering around the motor cyclist, bidding their goodbyes as Rose stands to the side, watching as Daryl starts up the bike, glancing her way, a forlorn look on his face before driving through the gates T-Dog and Glenn had opened up, and shut after him.
Rose let out the small sigh she'd been holding in, and took a hold of Jamie's hand, the two girls walking back into the prison, both their heads and hearts full of worry, wondering what was going to happen if Daryl ran into trouble.
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The sun was hot beating down on Daryl's back as he made his way through the small abandoned ghost town, nothing but rotting unanimated corpses in his company, and a few birds twittering about, pecking the flesh from the bone of his company. He hadn't made sight of the girls yet, the trail was still going on, heading towards the crash, but there was no trail leading back the way they came, meaning either they ran into trouble, or have strayed to far into the woods. Daryl raised his bow at the sound of footsteps, looking around, his gaze moving over the buildings, seeing nothing, but he kept his guard up, and made his way further down the empty street, and into the woods where he was sure he'd either find the corpses of his friends, or the bastards that had tried to get in their way. He encountered a few live walkers, and took them out with no problem, gathering his bolts from their decayed skulls before making his way towards the smoking heap of metal. He noticed a few bodies scattered around, fresh kills, only alive maybe a day or so ago, and human too. He frowned as he crouched down, examining the tracks. There was a struggle, mostly males, and then two females… Michonne and Andrea. He shook his head, standing up slowly, knowing he was either going to have to travel further into the woods and into a fight he was sure to lose, or go back to the prison and give Rose the bad news. As Daryl decided which option he preferred, he heard hushed whispers, and footsteps crunching the leaves on the forest floor, and he spun around quickly, only being met with the sound of a young man shouting.
Daryl held up his crossbow, the safety that's never been on – off, as he stood his ground, staring at the boy who was flailing his arms and legs, yelling for him to stop.
"Will you shut up?!" Daryl exclaimed, confounded by the boy's rather fatuitous reaction. When he stopped jumping around, Daryl got a good look at the kid. Pale, tall, literally skin and bones. "What are you, fifteen?" Daryl asked with a roll of his eyes as he let his crossbow down, just a little.
"Twenty-two actually." The boy answered before he looked back, "Told ya he was clear." He called, not too loud for a walker to hear. Daryl lifted a brow and stepped aside, sighing once when he saw a girl stepping out from behind a few bushes she'd been crouching behind. Daryl looked back at the boy who tucked the girl into his side, and she peered up at Daryl with quizzical eyes, "You were hunting around the town's borders the other day. I thought you were one of them." She muttered with a frown.
"So you were the deer…I almost shot you." Daryl nodded in acknowledgment. "What were you doing out on your own?"
"Collecting herbs." She nodded and Daryl narrowed one eye, before deciding to talk to the boy instead. "What's your name, kid?"
"Logan. That's Johanna. Are you on your own?" Logan asked immediately, his face –despite the childish attributes—clad with a serious expression.
Daryl decided to take him seriously, and shook his head, "You on your own?" He asked, and Logan nodded this time, looking down at Johanna as he rubbed her arm, both of them looking like they had just lost someone important to them.
"We were with a group," He started choking up on his words, "My uh, family, a few friends but a heard came… we got over run." Daryl's face softened some, and he frowned nodding towards the boy, his way of letting him know he didn't have to go on. "We've been hiding here for a good two days now. We seen you get into that prison." Logan explained, "That's why we followed you here. We need in, we can't stay here forever. The walkers got us sniffed out."
Daryl stepped back, his brows shooting up in acknowledgement. "Is she gonna slow us down?" He asked as he gestured down at Johanna, who now collected and reloaded a couple of guns from the ground that had once belong to the dead soldiers from the helicopter. The petite girl shot him a startled glare as she picked up one of their bags and handed it to Logan, who shook his head, "You would've shot her if she was slow."
Daryl had to agree with her. She was too fast to be walker; that's why he thought she was a deer. But she moved too fast for his arrow to catch up with her. He nodded slowly, "Fine. Get your stuff, let's get back there, but I ain't promisin' the sheriff is gonna let you stay."
Daryl made his way through the woods towards the town the two had been staying at, stopping only to glance back at them, "Ya'll better not be playing me either," Daryl said quickly, his eyes narrowed as he stared at the two kids, "Because if you are I am perfectly capable of killing a pretty face and a sissy, so don't try anything." He warned before stomping back down the trail, Logan glaring at the back of his head.
"I'm not a sissy," He grumbled shaking his head as he took Johanna's hand, "You're the sissy, I'm the pretty face." He told his girl, Daryl rolling his eyes as he heard the two.
"You keep telling yourself that baby, whatever keeps you going." She laughs, and Daryl fights back a smile as he leads them towards the prison, to where they might be accepted.
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Rose was sitting at the picnic bench that the men had brought in from outside and cleaned up, where they had been eating most of their meals at, while she tried to re-read 'The Great Gatsby' one of the few books she'd been able to save from her car before she had to get rid of it. Jamie was off some place with Carl, the two playing some form of tag that they made up, and the rest of the group was off working on their daily chores or trying to entertain themselves.
Rose was just about to finish the book when the screams started up again, and she groaned, slamming her head against the her book as she listened to the convicts shouts for freedom that flooded through the room, echoing throughout the corridor, and etching into her mind. It been like this for hours now, and now no one was guarding the hall, no one to stop her from strutting through the door way, down the hall, and putting a bullet into the man's head. It's not like Rick would be to mad at her, if anything he'd just lecture her about obeying orders, like a father would do to his teenaged daughter… So Rose decided to take her chances.
Rose grabbed her colt from the table, and shut her book. She stood up quickly and gripped her gun in her hand before trotting down the hall, and into the corridor leading to the man's shouts, where his voice grew quieter at the sounds of footsteps.
Once Rose stood in front of the cell the man's shouts had stopped completely, and Rose raised her weapon, holding it up at the man's head, only seeing his silhouette in the shadows. "Either you shut the fuck up or I blow your brains out… You pick."
Rose didn't lower her gun when the man stepped forward, but her eyes widened some, frozen in place as the light from the hall shone on his face, revealing his features.
"You really know how to hold a grudge now huh Rosie?" Ryder's voice rung out in the hall and into her ears… how had she not known? How could she not recognize his shouts? "What? Cat got your tongue?"
Rose swallowed down the lump in her throat, "You… you should be dead." She whispered, and Ryder chuckled shaking his head as he scratched at his chin.
"Right, cause I was in prison back in Louisiana… but no, I was sent here about… two, three years ago? Not that you'd know or anything since you never checked up on me.."
Rose glared at him through the bars, feeling the few tears slipping down her face, "You know why I didn't check in." She murmured shaking her head, but before she could say anything more she heard a soft gasp.
"Daddy?" Rose turned quickly to look over at Jamie, who was standing beside Rose now, Carl only a few steps behind her. Rose looked back at Ryder, and watched as he smiled, tears filling his eyes as he crouched down, gripping on the bars so hard his knuckles where white, and pressed his face in between the metal bars.
"Yeah baby," He whispered his voice cracking some, "It's me, it's daddy." Rose put a hand over her mouth, and closed her eyes as she listened to Jamie whisper things to her father, who spoke back, his voice full of unshed tears, and before Rose got the chance to explain things to Jamie Rick can bounding down the hall, his eyes wide as he examined the scene.
"Rose," Rick started but she shook her head, looking up at the sheriff, her eyes glassy.
"Did he know?" She asked, raising one of her eyebrows as she clutched onto the ends of her shirt, looking up at Rick who bit his lip, "Daryl did he know who he brought here? Is that why they fought?"
"He overheard T-Dog asking Daryl about you two sneaking off the other night," Rick whispers glancing over at Ryder as he stood up slowly, his eyes finally leaving Jamie's now, "He said something to Daryl, pissed him off… then they fought… From what T told me Daryl didn't find out who he was until after the fight."
Rose nods slowly looking back over at Ryder, "Why did you bring him here?" She asked, earning a glare from Ryder before looking back over at Rick, "Why bring him here so he could find us? Why not leave him with the other prisoners?"
Rick shrugged, "Daryl wanted to bring him here…. to… to let you and Jamie decide what to do with him…" Rose sighed, and ran her hand through her hair.
"Let him out then," She grumbled looking down at Jamie as her eyes widened, a smile growing on her daughter's face.
"You sure about that Rose?" Rick asked, and Rose nods taking Jamie's hand in hers.
"Ryder ain't gonna hurt anyone, he's an asshole, a druggie, and a thief." She starts looking back over at Rick, "But he isn't a murderer."
Rick frowns looking over at Rose as she keeps a hold on Jamie, "Will keep him out in the yard for now," Rick says as he pulls the keys from his pocket, "Give you a chance to talk to your girl."
"No, wait, mommy, can't daddy just say with us and Mr. Daryl?" Jamie asked looking up at Rose who shook her head.
"No Jamie, he can't." She says pulling Jamie closer to her, "In fact, Ryder… I want you to tell Jamie right now what you did." She says looking over at Ryder, "Tell her what you did, the night you ran off with our money."
Halloween in New Orleans was always one of Rose's favorite holidays, everyone got into the spirit, everyone decorated the house, people parties in the streets, passed out candy to the children, it was just beautiful. This year was especially great; because it was the first Halloween she'd spend with her daughter. Rose walked into the living room in her small studio apartment smiling when she saw Jamie crawling around after their small kitten, Murphy.
"Are you trying to get the kitty?" Rose called out, smiling when she caught her daughter's attention, the one year old looking over at her mother, her little red and black polka dotted wings bouncing as she moved to sit on her bottom, holding her hands up. "Nu uh baby girl, you gotta walk to me."
"Mommy," Rose chuckled when Jamie spoke, so far the little girl had at least a 20 word vocabulary, consisting of a numerous of ways to say mother, kitty, and milk… She could even say dada, not that she used it quite often.
"Come on Jamie, walk to mommy." Rose said crouching down, grinning when Jamie stood up on her wobbly legs, and hurried her way over to Rose, who caught her with ease and picked her up, spinning her around.
"You ready to go trick or treating?" She asked, smiling when Jamie nodded, wrapping her hands in her mother's hair, "Say bye to the kitty, say bye Murphy."
"Bye kitty," Jamie called out as Rose laughed, and made her way to the door, but before she got a chance to open it the door swung open, almost hitting Rose in the process, and the loud clash it made with the wall scaring the cat, and causing Jamie to cry.
Rose looked quickly at who at swung her door open, and she glared, spotting a very waster Ryder Marks making his way into the studio apartment, his hands trembling as he walked over to the kitchen area. "Rose, Rosie, baby, I need money." He said, his words slurring together, and Rose shook her head, and closed the door, walking into the kitchen, watching as Ryder went through the drawers, and cabinets.
"What for this time?" She asked, patting Jamie's back as her daughter sucked her thumb, watching as her father hurried around the kitchen saying, calling out 'dada' a few times.
"I uh, I uh owe some money to my dealer," Ryder said turning to look at Rose, biting his lip as he glanced at Jamie who raised her head to look at him, smiling a bit when he heard her say 'dada', "She can talk now?"
"Are you high right now?" Rose asked quickly, ignoring his question, "I don't have any money to give you Ryder… All I have is the money I've been saving for Jamie's school."
"School? She's one; she doesn't need school… just give me that money." Ryder said quickly, holding his arms out, like he wanted to hold his daughter and Rose shook her head.
"No, that's Jamie's money… I'm sending her to St. Margret's school for the gifted… it's preschool through high school." Rose said quickly, "The younger I can get her in… the less I'll have to pay for her as she gets older."
Ryder laughed, "St. Margret's? Isn't that where I sprung you from?" He asked scratching the back of his head, "Man, our girl don't need to be sent to some school for rich snobs, send her to public school like her daddy, it ain't that bad."
Rose chuckled humorlessly, "'Ain't that bad', well we see what good it did you, shooting up crack every chance you get." Rose commented, nodding towards his bruised arms, making Ryder glare.
"Just… let me hold my baby, and you go get the money.. Please Rose, he's gonna kill me."
Rose stared at Ryder, swallowing down the lump in her throat as she clutched Jamie closer to herself, and shook her head slowly, "Get out of my home Ryder."
Ryder stared at her for a moment, before shaking his head, "Rosie, I just… I need some money, please, I just need a bit, just enough to get me through."
Rose raised an eyebrow, "Get you through? I thought you needed money to pay back your dealer?" Rose snapped taking a few steps away from Ryder as he came closer to her, his shakiness getting more noticeable, his sunken in eyes, "You're crashing aren't you? You need money to go get more drugs?"
Rose glared over at Ryder as he looked down at the ground, nodding slowly, "I just need a little bit… Just enough to get me through the week, then I can… I can sober up like I promised, and we can be a family, you me and little Jammy." He said looking back over at Rose as she shook her head, and she bit her lip looking away.
"Ryder… I have to go." She whispered, "St. Margret's… They're doing this Halloween thing, where everyone part of the parish goes trick or treating… you're making us late." She said looking back up at him, "I want you gone by the time we're back."
Rose had left, expecting Ryder to leave right after her, but when she got home, Jamie asleep in her arms, and a huge bag of candy slung over her shoulder, she cried… Their home, the place she'd worked so hard to make perfect was trashed… some of her belongings were gone, and when she made her way into the room, the safe she'd been keeping Jamie's money in was wide open, with only a few of the legal documents spread out across the floor.
Rose pulled herself from her memories, and swallowed back the tears, "You stole from me… from Jamie." She said looking over at Ryder, "You trashed our place… Tore up our furniture, you stole the money for Jamie's school Ryder, all so you could go get high with a bunch of friends." She laughed brokenly, a few more tears slipping down her cheeks. "I want you to stay away from me…stay away from Jamie…Until…Until I think things through." She said, gripping on to Jamie's hand tighter.
"Mommy, daddy's different now! Daddy wants me," Rose shook her head as Jamie began to cry, and Rose picked her up, despite Jamie wanting down, wanting to stay, Rose just kept walking, ignoring the shouts of Ryder who called after his daughter and Rose, and ignoring Jamie's chants of 'Daddy wants me now'
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Daryl crouched down behind a tree, glancing at the prison gates that were lined with walkers, shushing the two bimbos that came bounding up behind him, lowering his hand so they'd crouch down beside him.
"How do you get in?" Logan whispered, moving so he was closer to Daryl, and Daryl pointed to the opening in the gate that was wired up, trying to spot his people, but he could only see two figures in the distance, both being much to far out to notice him and his company.
"You guys got to stay right behind me, and if any of these things get close take them out, but no fire arms." He said giving the girl a look as she went to cock a gun, watching as she frowned. "Noise draws their attention, you guys got to be aware of that by now."
"Yeah we're aware, but with a place like this, do you really have to worry?" Logan asked, his eyes bright as he skimmed the fences of the prison, the walls, the security of it.
"You always have to worry, if you don't, you get killed." Daryl muttered before moving to stand some, tilting to his head, and took off towards the fence.
"Is he crazy?" Logan whispered angrily as he looked at the huge crowd of walkers that surrounded the quick moving man, his eyes widening when he noticed Johanna was no longer beside him, but cover the man's rear, "Jo! Oh god." He groaned and chased after her, reaching for the screw driver that was in his pocket.
Daryl took out three ugly skanks that were lining the opening of the fence, and once he reached them he took his arrows back, turning to see the small girl with doe eyes talking out one of the geeks that was at least half her size, her boyfriend closing in behind her, looking around nervously, obviously upset with her for putting herself in danger. "Come on you two." Daryl whispered as he started to untie the wires, and quickly held the fence up for them, before going in himself, glancing around as Logan helped him tie it back up.
"They're not gonna shoot at us are they?" Logan asked as Daryl led them down hallway like area between the two fences, and Daryl shook his head.
"Doubt it," Daryl muttered, looking up at the watch tower where Rose or Glenn were probably placed at the keep an eye on the yard, "A bunch may come greet us though, I was sent out to get two gals, and I'm returning with two kids." He said walking over to the gate, nodding when T-Dog appeared out from behind the tower.
"You're back," He greeted as he opened the gate, stopping once he saw the two kids, "That ain't Andrea or Michonne."
"Yeah, I noticed." Daryl said walking through the gate once it was open, stopping when the two kids followed, "Anything I should know before going in there?"
T-Dog nods slowly, "Well uh, Rose knows… about the prisoner." Daryl sighed, nodding slowly as he moved to close the gate behind him, giving the two kids a look when they started to shout.
"This is just precaution; I'm about to call the sheriff up on my walkie, get him and the rest of the group out here." He says, pulling the walkie talkie from his pack.
"Yo, Rick, I've made it back." Daryl said as he held down the button on the side of the radio, letting go of it, and waited for the reply.
"Did you find the girls?" Rick's voice echoed out of the small machine, and Daryl glanced over at the shivering survivors, sighing before holding the button down again.
"No, but I found two stragglers, one male, a lanky mother fucker, and a girl, real innocent looking thing… They need a safe place to stay."
The air fell silent other than the moans coming from the walkers, and the chattering of teeth, Daryl bit his lip as he waited for the sound of Rick's voice again, looking up at T-Dog he shrugged some, "I'll be out there in a minute, take a look at them." Rick's voice finally flooded the air, and Daryl nods before looking over at the kids, who looked relieved.
Daryl shoved the radio back in his pocket and leaned against the fence, looking over at T-Dog, "Is Rose pissed?" He asked quietly, hoping the two kids wouldn't eavesdrop, but knew they would.
"I'm not sure… she's not said a word to anyone since dragging Jamie away from him… She's been up there all night." T-Dog said, pointing up at the tower, and Daryl nods slowly, "She'll pop a few walkers with the sniper now and again… I think she's practicing her aim… or taking out anger." He chuckles and Daryl groaned, knowing that if anything Rose was imaging those walkers were either him, or Ryder.
"What about Jamie? Is she alright?"
"She's pissed at Rose, hasn't been looking her in the eye, she's inside with Rick and Lori, spending more time with them than Rose… Ryder's locked up in the tower down there." T-Dog said, pointing to the tower on the opposite end of the yard, "Rick's got him there until Rose tells him to let him be part of the group or kick him out."
Daryl nods slowly, wondering to himself if he should have just killed of Ryder while he had the chance.. taken Rose and Jamie for his own, and not have put Rose through whatever she was going through now… maybe it would have been better that way. Before Daryl had a chance to answer his own internal questions the watch tower door opened up, revealing Rose, washed up, and only in a denim mini skirt, a tattered blue Christmas sweater, and her hair braided to the side. They met eyes for a moment when the rest of the group showed up, Rick in the front with Carl and Jamie on either side of him.
"This them?" Rick asked as Daryl stepped out of the way of the sheriff, nodding as Rick stepped in front of the two kids. "How'd you know about us?" Rick asked quickly, and Logan looked over at Daryl, quietly asking for help at the man's harsh voice, but Daryl just nods.
"We… We saw you get into the prison." Logan started, taking a hold of Johanna's hand. "We saw your two girls go out… and we were going to ask them to take us back… but a bunch of men took them."
Rick narrowed his eyes, "What men?" He asked quickly, and Logan shrugged, squeezing onto Johanna's hand some as he held onto the fence.
"We don't know them… they just, they came, and they took them… we didn't stick around to find out." He whispered, "Look man… I know it's hard to trust people now… Believe me I know… But I just, my entire family was just killed… maybe four days ago… Johanna is all I have left…. And where we were staying… It wasn't safe, the walkers knew where we were… If Daryl hadn't brought us here we would have been dead… please just, let us stay…. I swear to you we won't hurt anyone, we won't steal… and we'll help out… I can hunt, and I was in med school before all this happened… I could help out." Daryl noticed Rose perk up some when they boy mentioned med school, and Rick's face soften some when he told them about his family.
"I think they should stay," Rose said, crossing her arms over her chest as she looked over at Rick, who met her gaze, "There just kids… and there's only two of them… they could help us out a lot Rick." She said shrugging some and Rick looked around the group, collecting votes and ideas… all of which agreed with letting the kids in.
"Alright then," Rick said, "You two can stay… but you won't be stay in our cell block at first, we'll find you a place to stay, until we can be sure you're trust worthy." Rick said as he opened the gate, Logan and Johanna both grinning as they entered, and introduced themselves to the group. Eventually everyone migrated back in, and Daryl stood alone with Rose, who hadn't moved from her spot in front of the watch tower door, that sniper slung over her back, her arms crossed over her chest.
"You should have flat out told me Daryl," Rose said making Daryl turn and look at her, the expression on her face unreadable. Daryl didn't say anything, he just stared at her, watching as she chewed on the inside of her cheek, tapped her foot nervously on the ground before taking a step towards him and wrapped her arms around his neck, surprising him.
"You're not mad," He whispered, as he slowly wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling back to look down at her, and she smiled as she shook her head.
"Not mad at you… Just, at the fact Ryder is here." She murmured, glancing back at the tower he was in, "He isn't going anywhere either, Jamie's seen him… she's going to hate me forever if I make him leave." She said sadly, looking back up at Daryl. "What do you think I should do?"
Daryl grew quiet as he moved to stand on his own, but didn't let go of Rose's hand, both staring towards the watch tower Ryder was locked up in, "Let him stay…" He said, looking back at Rose, "Jamie… she deserves to get to know her father….and it's not like he can run away with your money, you don't have any… and there's no drugs for him to get addicted too." He muttered and Rose nods slowly.
"He's going to be an ass to you, you know." She said, and Daryl chuckles, pulling her back over to him, and held onto her hips.
"Oh I know, I'm perfectly aware… but I'm not letting him anywhere near you." Daryl murmured as he pressed his lips to hers, and Rose smiled kissing him back slowly, running her fingers along the back of his neck before pulling back some, smirking.
"You know what we haven't done lately?" She whispered biting her bottom lip as she glanced up at the watch tower, and Daryl quirked an eyebrow.
"Doesn't Glenn have next watch?" Daryl asked, and Rose nods taking a step backwards again, pulling him back with her.
"We've got a good twenty minutes before he relieves me of my duty, let's go make it count."
Okay so, yes, it's been awhile! But I'm back! Since The Walking Dead went on hiatus I can update all the chapters on time hopefully! I hope you all liked this one, don't forget to review!