The Walking Dead isn't mine.
I spent a lot of time listening to 'Devil's Got A Gun' by Whitehorse while writing this.
Huge thank you for everyone taking the time to read and review. You're awesome and you give me silly smiles every day.
"Herd." The words were barely out of her mouth when the door to the tower banged open revealing Daryl this time. Michonne had stepped back and Merle had his hand on her wrist, easing the gun down and away from where it had been trained on the other woman.
Daryl raised his crossbow and pointed it toward them, but Carol couldn't be sure if it was Michonne or Merle he was targeting. "Where you been?" He asked angrily.
"Just saying my goodbyes." Merle said easily, still not letting go of Carol. "Don't shoot." He said softly in her ear. "Save your ammo for the geeks."
"Looks like we're not going anywhere just yet." Daryl said. He strode toward the railing, pushing himself between Carol and Merle as he did.
"Yeah, we just spotted them. Christ, that's a sight, ain't it?"
"Much bigger than the herd that overtook the farm." Carol said. "Do you think the fences will hold?"
"Herd?" Daryl looked to the East where they were pointing. "I was talking about them." He said, pointing in the opposite direction.
Carol could make out a convoy of vehicles coming at them in the distance. "Is that a tank?"
Merle grunted his confirmation.
"He's coming." Michonne said, joining them at the railing.
"Yeah, but is he coming for me, or is he coming for you?" Merle grinned.
"You betrayed him." Michonne said.
"You cut his eye out." Merle countered. "I'm guessing he'll skip me and go for the main course. He's been wanting that head of yours for his collection."
"Let him try." Michonne declared.
"I don't understand." Carol confessed.
"The Governor put that herd together." Merle said. "He's got you on both sides now. Don't matter if the fences will hold. What do you think the tank is for? He's going to drive you out and kill as many of you as he can while he's doing it."
"So what do we do?" Carol turned to Daryl who was staring out at the horizon. "Should we get more guns? Get someone in the other tower?"
Daryl shook his head and then turned to look at her. "We have to run for it." He said.
"Leave?" Carol froze. How could they give up this place that they'd fought so hard for? How could they go back to living day to day, out of the cars? She hadn't realized how safe she'd come to feel at night, locked tightly in her cell. It took her a moment to recognize the sensation of fingertips lightly touching hers.
"Come on." He said, not looking directly at her, but taking a firm hold of her hand. "Don't have much time."
Carol let herself be pulled along by Daryl who paused long enough to gesture to Michonne to lead the way down the stairs. Carol glanced back at Merle and wondered how he could appear so calm.
Rick was waiting for them at the bottom of the stairs. "How's it look?"
"Not good." Daryl said, honestly. "They've got heavy equipment coming this way, including a tank. And a herd is gonna hit us from the East. We should get out before we get pinned in here."
Rick nodded once and Carol saw him accept everything Daryl said. "Okay, we're getting out. Get everyone." He said to Glenn. "We've got to move fast."
"How?" Carol asked. Hadn't anyone else done the math? "We're down to two vehicles. We can't all fit in the Hyundai and the Ram."
"How many of us?" Daryl asked.
"Sixteen." Rick said after a quick count.
"How the fuck did that happen?" Daryl asked.
"Tyreese's group. You haven't had a chance to really meet them. Axel. Michonne. Merle." Rick grimaced. "We lost the Suburban when Glenn and Maggie got taken."
"Hell, just put it on my tab." Merle spat. "We ain't got time for this. Looks like we're packed, little brother." Merle nodded toward the bike. "That's two you don't have to squeeze into your escape pods."
Carol felt Daryl's grip on her hand tighten. She hadn't even realized he was still holding it. She tried to flex her fingers to get the blood moving but he didn't ease up.
"Let's get Glenn, Maggie, Hershel, Beth and Carl into the Hyundai." Rick decided. "They can take Judith."
"Carol, I'll get you to drive the Ram. I know you're a decent shot, but we're in a hurry and we can't waste any ammo."
"No problem." Carol heard herself saying. The others were running out now with the baby and a few quickly gathered backpacks.
"Carl, you stay with Beth and the baby." Rick instructed. "You're in charge of her, understand."
"I've got it." Carl said, loading the bags into the trunk of the car.
Carol glanced up at Daryl who hadn't moved or said anything. "You're going to have to let me go." She said, pulling her hand a little.
"Carol, we're just going to punch through the back fence and head out across that field. Think you can manage that?" Rick asked.
"Yes." She said, again sounding more sure than she felt.
"We'll run into the herd that way." Daryl pointed out.
"I'd rather take my chances with a few walkers than with whatever the Governor and his crew are packing." Rick declared.
Carol tugged on her hand again. The others were squeezing into the car and piling onto the back of the truck.
"Daryl," Carol began, but he pulled her with him, a few steps away from the group.
"I don't like this, but I got no choice." He said. "I've got to take Merle."
"Of course." Carol said. She hadn't imagined he'd do anything else.
"I'm gonna be right behind you. You go hard and fast and don't look back."
"Alright." Carol agreed. "I guess you waited too long to leave." She said. He released her hand then and looked at her.
"I was waiting for you." He admitted.
"Why?"
"Wanted another goodbye." He muttered. But she heard him.
"I don't understand." She confessed. "I thought you were upset with me."
"Naw." Daryl said, glancing around. "I'll be pissed if you get bit."
"I'll do my best." Carol said. "You be careful."
"Daryl! Let's go!" Merle called.
Carol was about to turn back to the group when she felt rough fingers grab her chin. Before she could question his actions, Daryl's lips were on hers. He let her go just as abruptly and walked off toward Merle who was whistling.
Carol broke her gaze away from the retreating Daryl and ran toward the truck. She buckled herself in and glanced back to see that everyone was aboard.
"Just hit the gas and run at it hard." Rick said as he loaded the weapons.
"I hate to leave this place." She said as she put the truck in gear.
"There'll be somewhere else." Rick said.
Carol drove the truck through the fence and into the field. A glance in her mirrors confirmed the others following close behind.
"Just plough through them for a bit and then veer right." Rick instructed. "He thought we'd be afraid of the herd. He's given us our escape."
No sooner had Rick said this then they heard gunfire. Carol looked in her mirrors again and there was no sign of the others.
"Where are they?" She asked, feeling the panic flood through her. "Can you see them?"
"The bike is down." Rick said.
Carol circled back to where Glenn had stopped to help.
"Go!" Rick ordered the younger man. "We've got this. I want the kids out of here."
Carol leaped out of the truck and ran to the bike. Daryl was grabbing his bag and shooting walker after walker as he tried to help Merle up.
"Come on," Carol said, reaching down and helping to pull Merle up. "Are you bit?"
"Who, old Merle?" He laughed. "The geeks prefer tender meat."
"Leave the bike!" Rick ordered. He jumped in the driver's seat as Carol and Daryl helped Merle squeeze into the back of the truck.
"We can come back for it." Daryl promised Merle.
"Don't sweat it." Merle said. "Can't drive it anyway."
Rick was on the move again and Carol clutched the side of the truck to prevent herself from bouncing out of it. She noticed her hands then, covered in blood. She looked up, alarmed.
Merle held a finger to his lips and shook his head. "Ain't but a scratch."
"Walker?"
"Friendly fire." He grinned. "About as friendly as I care to get. You people are going to be the death of me."
Carol was horrified and moved to look at his wound.
"Relax, Mouse." He said, pushing her hands away. "I was kidding."
"Only Merle can kill Merle." Daryl said confidently, winking at her.