Chapter 38 – Lauren

The next morning, instead of walking the five miles back to the cabins, over breakfast Charlie volunteers to drive us back instead. I think he was still hoping to see my Dad, but that would just be a wishful pipe dream. After a quick meal of honest to god real scrambled eggs… yes real eggs…we all squeeze into the old blue Ford pickup truck and we bounce our way down the rutted dirt drive.

"Charlie, any idea why no people have moved into town?" Daryl asks as we drive through the back roads headed towards town.

"No, but I don't mind not having neighbors," Charlie answered keeping his eyes on the road. He was a slow, but careful driver. Then again with these potholes if we didn't go slow, we'd probably lose an axel.

"I hear ya, man," Daryl replied. I gave his knee a little squeeze. I knew he didn't do well with groups of people either.

After we passed through the deserted town I asked, "Charlie, do you know how to get to my Dad's cabins?" I was pretty sure he'd know but I wanted to make sure.

He smiled at me. "Oh yes Miss Lauren. Your daddy took me fishing on the lake sometimes."

Just like Big Jim to take him under his wing. Dad always helped the underdogs of the world. The ride took about forty or so minutes and Daryl had Charlie stop before the truck pulled into the yard. Sasha and Abraham stood in the clearing with rifles pointed at us.

"Charlie, flash your lights twice, pause then once more," Daryl told him. Charlie did it without questioning Daryl. We saw the rifles dip down towards the ground. Daryl encouraged Charlie to drive slowly into the yard. By the time Daryl had opened his door, the house was emptying of everyone we called family.

"Miss Lauren?" I heard Charlie whisper.

"It's okay, Charlie. They are our friends. C'mon I'll introduce you to everyone." I took hold of his arm and steered him towards Rick and the gang. Daryl joined us.

I looked at Daryl and he gave me the nod that he wanted me to talk. "Guys, this is Charlie Loomis. He lives on the farm that Daryl saw. He was a friend of my dad's and I remember him from when I was a kid. He's a good guy." I gave Charlie's arm a squeeze. "Charlie has figured out something incredible. Electromagnetic fields repel the walkers. It won't kill them, but it keeps them away. He has set up a bunch of these pulse stations around town. That's why we haven't seen any walkers here. I saw several doubtful faces looking at me. "Daryl, tell them what we saw."

"She's right. When we left here to go back and get you guys we met a small herd out on Route 47 right at the town line. It was like they were stuck behind some invisible line they couldn't cross. We had no idea what was going on, but it made it easy to take them out. Knowing about this magnetic stuff… now it makes sense." Daryl made eye contact with Rick, but I don't think Rick was a believer. Neither did Daryl. "I know it sounds crazy," he continued, "But if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes I wouldn't have believe it either. Right Lauren?"

"Guys that's the truth. In all the time that Daryl and I have been here and the short time that you have, none of us have seen walkers. That has never happened before, they are all over the damn place now. Except, the time we met them on Route 47. It was like a hand was pushing on their chest to keep them back. Very weird, but now it makes sense."

Abraham spoke up. "Why ain't he saying anything?" I can see him glaring at Charlie.

"Charlie's a bit intimidated by you all. Who wouldn't be?" I said glaring right back at Abraham. "You guys should know me and Daryl well enough to take us at our word. We're not bull shitting ya." I turned to Daryl. "I'm going to take Charlie over to the dock, can you fill them in on the rest please?"

Daryl gave me another of his patented nods. I was becoming very protective of Charlie, so I threw another glare at Abraham before I walked Charlie over to the dock.

"I'm sorry Miss Lauren," he told me.

"Don't worry about it, Charlie. They don't know you yet and how smart you are. We've met up with a lot of bad people, so they are slow to come around, but Daryl will fix that."

"I like Daryl," he said with a big smile.

"So do I, Charlie, so do I." I turned to watch the group with Daryl. He was still talking to them, but I could see them asking questions and looking relieved with his answers. He would smooth things over. I had full confidence in him. Suddenly he waved us over, so we rejoined the group.

"Charlie, how about you, me, Rick and Michonne head into town? You can show us these pulse stations. I'd like to show Rick how it repels the walkers so we'll have to go to where it stops working and see if there are any walkers. Is that okay?" Daryl asks.

"Yes, Daryl. Do you want to go in my truck?" Poor Charlie still looked nervous.

"Yeah, I'll go with you and Rick and Michonne will take their own car, then I can come back with them," he explained. Charlie looked happy that Daryl was going with him. I think Daryl was going to replace my dad as Charlie's friend. Rick and Michonne went to get their gear. None of ever went anywhere without it. Carol and Tara wandered back into the main cabin, while Maggie and Glenn headed to the bunkhouse. Everyone else waited in the yard. There was no need for me to go along, so I planned on staying here.

It didn't take long for Rick and Michonne to reappear with their packs. I felt Daryl grab my hand and I turned my attention to him. "Be safe," I told him.

"I will…I got somethin' to come back for." He started to lean in to kiss me, but stopped. He was never one to show much affection and we were surrounded by most of our friends. Daryl looked at me and I just smiled at him. I saw the corner of his mouth crook up into a half smile. He then put his hand behind my head and pulled me to him into a deep passionate kiss. I was happily surprised. We broke apart when we heard applause. I started to laugh when I saw Tara and Sasha clapping, even Rick gave us a few. Daryl just turned away to get into the truck. He wouldn't look at me and I knew he was blushing. I just laughed even harder.