Oceanside – a year later
Daryl and Caroline stood near the truck while they handed out the crates of supplies and water and people smiled at them.
"Did you remember the medicine?" Doctor Kyle Lang asked. He was one of the doctors from the Commonwealth and had volunteered to open a small clinic in Oceanside.
"Right here," Caroline said as she tapped the lid of the plastic container. Nodding, Kyle walked away after he took the plastic container and Caroline flexed the fingers of her right hand.
"You need a break?" Daryl asked.
"Yeah," she said while shaking out the pain in her right hand. After two guards took over handing out the supplies and water, Daryl and Caroline went to sit on the crates while Daryl removed the cigarillo and silver lighter out of his shirt pocket then he placed the cigarillo in his mouth. He lit the light then the cigarillo and he puffed out some smoke. Caroline took a sip of water from the canteen when she handed the canteen to Daryl, but he shook his head.
Neither of them noticed the two men standing on the porch of the command center as they looked at Daryl and Caroline and one of the men strummed their fingers on the porch railing.
The first man was tall with white hair and hard gray eyes walked toward them. He was wearing a black sweater, a black leather belt, black jeans, black boots and a black Navy pea coat.
The second man was tall with short brown hair and brown eyes. He was wearing a gray shirt, a black leather belt, black pants and black work boots.
"Is that them?" Captain Hank Trask asked, nodding his head toward Caroline and Daryl.
"Yes," Duncan Keller said, glaring at Daryl. Duncan was the warden when Oceanside became an outpost and Daryl had been the one who brought him back to the Commonwealth after the Commonwealth fell. He turned to go back in the command center as Trask followed him and the door closed behind them.
Daryl squashed the cigarillo out with his boot when he stood and Caroline flexed her fingers. He held out his right hand while she took hold of his hand and he helped her to her feet. They started walking toward the beach while the wind moved through their hair and Daryl placed his hands in the pockets of his jeans.
"Thinkin' of headin' out again?" Caroline asked. She knew Daryl had been going out on trips over the last year and she had gone on a few with him.
"Maybe," Daryl said.
"Still no sign of Michonne or Rick?"
"Nope."
"Where do you wanna go this time?"
"Was thinkin' about goin' northeast."
"Got anywhere in mind?"
"Boston."
Her eyes widened as she smiled and shook her head.
"Been thinkin' about goin' there. Carol might even wanna join us," Caroline said.
"If she can find the time."
Carol had taken over Hornsby's job and had been helping Ezekiel and Mercer rebuild the Commonwealth.
"Yeah," she said with a nod and they walked along the sand. Caroline looked out at the water as she smiled and he glanced at her. "Sorry. Bein' here keeps remindin' me of the time Dad took me to the beach."
"Is this the time you wore that damn bikini?" he said with a growl and she lightly shoved him.
"No," she said with a laugh and rolled her eyes. "I was four or five. We were walkin' on the beach when I noticed these baby sea turtles movin' across the sand. We stood there watchin' them headin' fer the water. Dad looked up and saw these seabirds flyin' overhead. He looked worried, but none of them went after the baby sea turtles. When the last of them went into the water, Dad saw the seabirds fly away and told me they left the baby sea turtles alone because we were there."
"Hunh," Daryl said and they walked back to the truck.
After they finished handing out supplies and water, Daryl steered the motorcycle toward the gate and Caroline held onto his waist. Duncan watched from the porch as the motorcycle headed by the gate and he strummed his fingers on the railing.
Hilltop – four weeks later
The motorcycle moved by the gate while Daryl steered the motorcycle to the main house and the wind blew through his hair. Maggie had asked him to come to Hilltop and he had been curious about what she wanted. He parked the motorcycle as he placed the kickstand down, got off the motorcycle and he headed for the stairs.
"Mister Daryl!" Hershel called out as he ran to Daryl and Daryl smiled.
"Hey," Daryl said.
"Did you bring RJ with you?"
"Not this time. He had tests at school."
"Nuts," Hershel grumbled.
Daryl knew Hershel and RJ missed hanging out together when Maggie stayed for a while at the Commonwealth, but she wanted to return to Hilltop and start rebuilding.
Daryl headed up the stairs when he opened the door and walked inside. He headed down the hallway when he saw Maggie in the kitchen and she smiled at him after she saw him standing in the doorway.
"Hey," he said.
"Hey. Thanks for coming," Maggie said as she wiped her hands with a cloth and walked to him.
"What's up?"
"I got word from Lydia."
Lydia and Elijah had been traveling and delivering packages, but sometimes they heard gossip. She would send word to Hilltop after they had investigated the gossip and most of the gossip turned out to be true.
"What did she say?" Daryl asked.
"She said there were some people who might have information about the virus which ended the world and, maybe, a cure," Maggie said.
"Did she say where this information came from?"
"Yeah," Maggie said when she went to get a piece of paper off the counter then she walked back to him. She handed him the piece of paper as he looked at the information and frowned. "Do you want to check it out?"
"Hell yeah," he said with a nod.
"Problem is you'll have to go through CRM territory."
"See that."
"Daryl, I don't want you to risk your life over something that might not be true."
"I get that. But even if this turns out to be bullshit, they might also know where Rick and Michonne are."
Maggie looked at him with concern in her eyes as she nodded and he placed the piece of paper in the pocket of his shirt.
"How are things?" he asked.
"We're good. Still have a few stray Walkers coming by from time to time," she said.
"Saw some of those new Walkers on the road the other day. One of 'em tried to jump outta a tree onto my bike. Got outta the way before it could."
"Did you kill it?"
"Yeah. Spun the bike around and shot it with my crossbow."
"Aaron said he saw a small swarm north of here. He's keeping an eye on it."
"I'll tell Ezekiel."
She became quiet as he sighed and walked to her. He placed his hands on her shoulders as they locked eyes and Maggie cleared her throat.
"Look. I'll talk it over with Carol. If she doesn't want me to go then I won't," he said and she saw the truth in his eyes. Nodding, she watched him leave the room and he headed down the hallway. He opened the door as he headed outside, down the stairs and he walked to the motorcycle. He got on the motorcycle when he moved the kickstand up and he started the engine. He steered the motorcycle to the gate as the guard opened the gate and Daryl steered the motorcycle by the gate. The wind moved through his hair as he thought about the mission and he made the motorcycle go faster.
The Commonwealth
Daryl had asked Carol to meet him at the park as they walked toward the pond and Daryl noticed the Cherokee roses growing along the edge of the pond. He had told her he liked that she cut her hair short again and she teased him about getting a haircut. They walked to the cement benches when they sat down and Daryl turned to face Carol. She knew he had something to tell her as she waited for him to say something and Daryl pressed his lips into a thin line.
"Talk to me," Carol said, placing her left hand on top of his right hand.
"I went to see Maggie," Daryl said. He told her what Maggie wanted as he showed her the piece of paper and Carol read the information.
"Is Maggie sure this is legitimate?" Carol asked.
"No, but it doesn't mean it's not."
"And you want to go check it out."
"Yeah. You wanna go with me?"
Carol licked her lips as she moved a little closer and he cupped her cheek in his right hand.
"Look, I know runnin' this place ain't easy. Not fer Ezekiel. Not fer Mercer. And not fer you. If you don't want me to do this then I won't. Hell, Caroline and I were plannin' on goin' on a trip to Boston."
"Why?"
"Just to see what's goin' on."
"And you want to help her look for her friends."
"Yeah," he said with a nod then he looked at the piece of paper. Carol crumbled the piece of paper in her hand as he leaned in and kissed her lips. He didn't care if anyone was looking. She dropped the piece of paper on the ground when she held his head in her hands and she deepened the kiss. They moved back as she smiled and he placed his forehead against hers. "Hell with it."
"What are you talking about?" she asked.
"Maggie's right. Ain't worth riskin' my neck fer somethin' that might not be true."
"You're not going?"
"That's what I said."
"But you still want to go to Boston?"
"Yeah. Not sure why, but it seems like somethin' that needs to be done."
"And it sounds a lot safer," she said with a smile.
"What sounds a lot safer?" Caroline asked while walking down the path and she felt a sense of guilt coming from her brother. "Am I interruptin' somethin'?"
"Just tellin' her about somethin' Maggie wanted me to do," he said as he picked up the piece of paper and handed the piece of paper to her. Caroline looked at the information as she frowned and glanced at her brother.
"Is this legit?" she asked.
"Dunno. Wanted to check it out, but somethin' doesn't feel right."
"What do you wanna do then?"
"Want to go on that trip we were talkin' about at Oceanside."
"You mean goin' to Boston?"
"Yeah."
"You wanna come along?" Caroline asked, looking at Carol.
"Can't. I got things to do," Carol said. She saw the disappointment in Caroline's eyes and Daryl frowned. "When do you want to go?"
"In a few days. Need to talk to Ezekiel about a small swarm of Walkers Aaron saw north of Hilltop," Daryl said.
"And about that Walker who jumped outta that tree and nearly knocked you of yer bike," Caroline said.
"Yeah."
Carol moved closer as Daryl held her and Caroline started to feel uncomfortable. He watched his sister walk away while Carol leaned her head against his shoulder and he lighted rubbed her upper arm.
Alexandria
Daryl scanned his room with his eyes as he tried to figure out if he needed to pack anything else in the backpack and he frowned.
Dog rested on the couch as the dog wagged its tail and Daryl patted the top of the dog's head.
"Yeah. Wish I could take you with me on this trip," he said and Dog made a small whimper. "Knock it off. We're gonna be fine."
Daryl picked up the backpack and crossbow as he headed for the stairs and Dog got off the couch. Dog followed him up the stairs while Daryl walked down the hallway and he stood at the bottom of the stairs.
Upstairs, Caroline checked the backpack when she closed the backpack then looked at the room. She thought back to the day Carol had given her the room and she saw the large envelope sitting on the bed. She walked to the bed, sat down and she opened the large envelope. She removed the plastic bag with the photographs in it and she looked through the photographs of her, the man she loved and his brother. She removed three photographs as she placed the photographs in the inside pocket of her leather jacket then she placed the photographs back in the large envelope. She stood as she walked to the mirror and she looked at her reflection. She had let Carol cut her hair back to the short, but wild style she had when she arrived at the Kingdom. She looked at the leather cord with the weatherworn wooden cross on the leather cord around her neck and she smiled.
Picking the backpack off the bed then picked up the crossbow, Caroline walked out of the room then down the stairs and Daryl arched an eyebrow after he saw her.
"Ready?" he asked.
"Yep," she said. She noticed he was wearing his poncho as they headed for the door and he opened the door. They walked down the stairs as they headed for Daryl's motorcycle and Daryl strapped the backpacks to the back of the motorcycle.
Caroline's motorcycle wouldn't start so they decided to use Daryl's motorcycle and he was able to find a way to renovate the back of the motorcycle.
He got on the motorcycle as he moved the kickstand up, started the motorcycle and Caroline got on the motorcycle. He felt her hold onto his shoulders as he steered the motorcycle down the street and headed for the gate.
Outside the gate, Carol, Caroline and Daryl watched while Ezekiel led Judith and RJ to them and Daryl knelt down so Judith and RJ could hug him. Caroline had placed the crossbows on the seat of the motorcycle as she watched Daryl hugging the kids and Carol light nudged her.
"Now…," Daryl said as he moved back and looked at the kids. "I want you to be good fer Aunt Carol and Uncle Ezekiel."
"We will," RJ said.
"Just wish you weren't going away," Judith said with a sad look.
"It's not forever," he said as he looked back at Carol. "And I told Aunt Carol this mornin' that if things get rough, we'll turn around and come home."
"But it's not fair that Aunt Carol, RJ and I can't go."
"Aunt Carol's busy and you two have tests at school."
Judith nodded as he stood and she saw the look in his eyes.
"Uncle Daryl?" she asked.
"Yeah?" he asked.
"It's also not fair that you and Aunt Caroline don't have a happy ending like everyone else. You both deserve one," she said and he saw she was looking at Carol.
"Maybe we will get one someday," he said with a small grin. She went to hug him again as he kissed the top of her head and she looked up at him. "Love you, Little Ass Kicker."
"Love you, too, Daddy."
He felt his heart jump in his chest and he blinked his eyes a few times.
"Daddy? What happened to Big Ass Kicker?" he asked.
"We were talking about it," she said as she looked at RJ. "Mom is Mom. Dad is Dad. But you're our daddy."
"Yeah," RJ said and Daryl blinked the tears out of his eyes.
"Take care of Dog," he said and the kids nodded. He let go of Judith then walked to Carol and he noticed Caroline was standing by the motorcycle.
"Ready to go?" Carol asked while she straightened the poncho and patted Daryl's chest.
"Still wish you were goin' with us," Daryl said.
"Yeah. But, if I was allowed to go, RJ and Judith would want to go. And Dog. How'd we all fit on your bike?"
"They could ride in the sidecar on Caroline's bike. Or we could use that RV Aaron and I found last month."
"Well, maybe next time," she said then lowered her head. He cupped her left cheek in his right hand as she looked at him and he had tears in his eyes.
"I love you," Daryl said with a small crack in his voice.
"I love you, too," she said with a small laugh and he kissed her lips. She watched him head for the motorcycle as Caroline handed him the crossbow and he put the crossbow on his back. They got on the motorcycle as he started the engine and Carol walked them to the gate while he steered the motorcycle. She, the kids and Ezekiel watched the motorcycle head down the road when a cold blast of air moved through her and Carol shivered.
Down the road, the wind blew through their hair while Caroline held onto Daryl's shoulders and he watched the road for signs of Walkers. The sun was high in the sky as the motorcycle went around the corner when Daryl saw two motorcycles moving through the forest on either side of the road and he made the motorcycle go faster. Caroline had seen the motorcycles as well as she held on tighter to his shoulders and the motorcycle head around the curve.
"Shit," Daryl grumbled as four more motorcycles roared out of the forest and blocked them in. The first two motorcycles came up behind them as the motorcycles headed down the road and Daryl flexed his fingers.
The motorcycles came to a stop near a truck as the men got off the motorcycles and the men in the truck aimed rifles at Daryl and Caroline.
"Get off the bike, now," the man standing by one of the motorcycles said. Sunlight shimmered on the man's bald head and he had a scar going from under his left eye, down his cheek and ended at his chin. His wore a black leather jacket, a black t-shirt, a black leather belt, jeans and black leather boots.
Caroline felt the anger coming from her brother as Daryl placed the kickstand down and they got off the motorcycle.
"Put the crossbows on the ground," he said.
Daryl and Caroline removed the crossbows from their backs then placed the crossbows on the ground and two of the men grabbed the crossbows then headed for the man. Daryl glanced at Caroline while the men walked closer, but didn't have time to react when Daryl and Caroline removed the knives from the holders on their belts and attacked.
"Shit!" the man standing by one of the motorcycles said while Caroline and Daryl fought with the men and the man saw the men in the truck were arming the rifles. "No! We need them alive!"
Daryl slashed the knife at one of the men when he felt fear move through his mind and he turned to see one of the men holding onto Caroline. The man held Caroline's knife to her throat and Daryl growled.
"Don't hurt her!" Daryl said, placing the knives back in the holder.
"Put your hands up," the man standing next to one of the motorcycles said and Daryl held his hands up.
"What do you want?"
"You," he said then looked at Caroline. "And her."
Daryl glared at him as one of the men walked to Daryl and removed the knives from his belt. He searched Daryl for more weapons then pulled Daryl's hands behind his back and Daryl felt the zip ties being placed around his wrists. The man shoved him toward the truck when he glanced over at Caroline and she barely nodded her head.
"Nice knife," the man holding her said.
"You can keep it," Caroline said and the man lowered the knife, but didn't let go of her neck.
"Try anything and, money or no money, I will snap yer neck."
"Wouldn't dream of it."
The man moved Caroline's hands behind her back, but he couldn't find the zip ties and he frowned.
"Shit," he grumbled.
"Hey! Get her in the truck!" the man standing by the motorcycles shouted.
"Do anything and I'll…"
"You're break my neck," Caroline said with a nod and they headed for the truck. They went up the ramp and she saw Daryl sitting on a metal bench. They had removed the zip tie around his wrists, but one of the men had a gun pointed at him. Caroline glanced at Daryl while she slowly removed the leather fingerless glove on her right hand and dropped the leather fingerless glove onto the floor. Neither of the men noticed her kick the leather fingerless glove and the leather fingerless glove slid under one of the metal benches.
"Sit!" the man said as he let go of her and Caroline went to sit next to Daryl. The other men entered the truck as they sat on the metal benches and one of the men closed the back of the truck. One of the men walked to Caroline when he placed a hood over her head then tied it shut. She then felt a slight stinging sensation when she felt sleepy and she closed her eyes.
Daryl watched the man sedate his sister as the man walked to him and Daryl looked at the hood he had in his left hand.
"Don't worry. She's still alive. For now," the man said then placed the hood over Daryl's head. Daryl felt a slight stinging sensation then felt sleepy and he closed his eyes. The man checked their vitals and nodded to the man who was standing next to the motorcycle. The man who was standing next to the motorcycle watched the other men pushing Daryl's motorcycle into a ditch then he walked to the driver's side door and he opened the door. Getting into the cab of the truck after the men got in the truck, he closed the door, started the engine and the truck headed down the road.
Near the tree line, a large, black bear watched the truck going around the bend in the road then the bear headed down into the ditch. The red eyes looked at the motorcycle lying on its side on the ground, the crossbows and the backpacks then the bear raised its head and roared.
Alexandria
Carol walked down the stairs as she walked to the couch and she sat down. She looked at Daryl's things as she sighed and she crossed her arms over her stomach. She knew she had to stay behind, but she also knew what Daryl was doing was a good thing.
"You'll see him again," Carol whispered.
Suddenly, the air turned ice cold while the sky outside the window turned green and she heard chanting, drums and flutes. She scanned the room with her eyes when she saw Jeb standing near the door to the outside and he had a pained look on his face.
"What happened?!" she demanded as she stood and he sighed.
"I don't have all the information. But I swear, Earth Mother….," Jeb said and she growled.
"Tell me!"
"Fine," he said with a sigh. "Your man and his sister are in trouble."
She felt like he kicked her in the chest.
"What sort of trouble?" she asked.
"They got ambushed on the road."
"Where?"
"Not far from here. Like I said, I don't have all the details. Once I find out, I'll contact you."
"Wait! Are they still alive?!" she called out, but he vanished. Carol sat forward as she placed her face in her hands and she started sobbing.