Hello fellow fanfiction writers and readers, here is another chapter of this story that I hope you guys will enjoy. As usual I own nothing except new characters and ideas, I make no money from writing, and all rights go to the rightful owners. Thanks for reading, please leave a review! This is chapter 3, sorry for the mix up and go read the real chapter two, mistakes can be made and I am sorry for the mix up.
Last night as I walked with Reg and Deanna; we agreed on many things, the most important being Rick's group, that Rick had leadership qualities that would come in handy when she stepped down. The towns people have been clashing but even that seemed to be edging off. Reg was along with Noah make blueprints for a better wall and filtration system to help us grow. Aaron has boosted to his mother Deanna about Daryl and just how good he really is at scouting.
Reg smiled, "Maybe when the town's people grow and learn you can take a break and let Rick have a turn. So, we can have a little retirement." he was into wishful thinking, there was no retirement, there was only death. And that was only if you were killed 'right', just thinking that made me feel a twinge of bitterness.
I returned home to see Daryl sitting on the sofa doing much of nothing, just sitting and staring at the walls. "Hello." my tone low as he gave me a look. he was silent most days. Even though it has been some time they have been here, but it seems like he and I have much in common. Deep down.
"Hey."
Maybe he needed a friend even though he has many friends in his group, "Are you okay, Dixon?" at times when we spoke I called him by his last name out of habit.
"What's your last name so I can call you that?" was he joking?
"Aldridge, but not suggesting you do it. I was a Professor at Alabama state when the outbreak happened, at times it's habit to call one by their last name."
Daryl gave a slight nod of his head. "I was a drifter, never did anything really bad - petty crime, drug dealing, assault, and gang work were the worst of it. Worked crummy jobs and hunted when we had to as well." we have become friends, but this was the most he has ever spoken about his past, I was privileged to be the one he spoke with.
I asked, "We?"
"My brother Merle and I, our Ma was killed when we were young; a house fire. After that we got shipped off to our dad and he was not what you would call father material." his tone said not to ask more concerning his father, it was those little things with him are easy to pick up on.
I changed the subject, "I have six older brothers, Kyle was 42, Brice was 41, Ricky was 38, Mark was 36, Bobby was 34, and Frank was 31, then there was me was supposed to be the last boy, Cameron James Aldridge, but I was a girl. Mom once said she nearly had a heart attack and pa and the boys vowed I was never allowed to date. When the outbreak came knocking Maw and Pa were the first to die, my brothers gave me to a friend who was Military who they thought could protect me and that Daryl is how I came to be here." I smiled but maybe he saw the heart break that was lingering behind my eyes, my smile, because he came and sat with me his arm slung over my shoulder, he smelled like death and dirt, but he was warm, and I needed a shoulder at times.
"Merle was not a good person, he ended up doing what was right in the end, but this Governor killed him. He turned, and I felt it was my duty to not let him be one of them. Look, whatever it is you're holding on to; it's already gone, Cam. You have us now, we can be your family." but was it gone? Are my brothers all gone? They could survive but I never knew if they did.
"I can be your family too." my eyes are watery, but he just smiled.
"Aaron lost his bag today, I cursed him good."
"I will talk with Aaron in the morning after your scouting and my tending to the gardens. Apples and such are ripe and ready to be picked. I was going to ask Carl to bring Judith so they both might help." that is how our night ended; getting to know small but intricate details about the other.
I rose early dressing in the same jeans I like to wear, with my gardening champagne top that is made from stretch jersey with a color block and floral design. Shaped in a straight cut, it drapes over the hips, thighs and bottom, finishing with an asymmetric hemline it let the breeze hit me as the humidity became over whelming. A worn brown floppy hat with brown worn boots, my supplies ready as I walked out, the sun was up as I set to work. I filled baskets with ripe veggies, fruit, and herbs as Daryl walked out. He wore jeans and a long sleeve tee, his leather vest too. He strode from the gate keeping the chickens in as he left for his own day.
"Take a break at a point, I don't want to find you passed out in the dirt," his face peeking over the gate humor in his tone as I tossed him a large apple, he caught it without problem leaving me in peace. Carl and his sister Judith arrived she would just chase chickens but being in the sun was far better than the house day in, day out. Carl rounded up the eggs for me, he was a sweetheart.
"Thank you, Carl. I got you something, but don't you go telling and showing it off, it is for your protection." he smiled as I handed him his own hunting knife, with a case he could strap to his waist; he had a baby sister to protect. He hugged me, a damn good kid.
Judith was tired as we used wagons to take the baskets to the storage unit, "Let us help." it was Rick and his girl Michonne who I adored. So, we each pulled a wagon, I had two baskets at home, I grew them and was keeping some for myself, Deanna knew.
Rick held his daughter, "Were you a good girl?"
"She helped feed the chickens, and now we have some baby chicks she has been so much help."
Michonne laughed, "Thank you."
"For what?"
She answered, "For believing in us."
I just braced my hand on her shoulder, "Thank you, not just for being you but for the wealth of knowledge you and your group bring to us."
Deanna was marking down the food and weight as it came in, "Cam hunnie, this is more than expected. You're over working yourself, and you say eleven new chicks?" I nod as she marks it down.
Later that night I sit by the lake, I watched and listen to Rick, Pete, and Jessie as they argue, this was what Deanna was so worried about but was this not the best out come?
Deanna stand with me now as voices become raised "I see you hitting on your wife or kid again, I will kill you."
Pete attacks Rick when he was confronted in front of the crowd, he acts like the alpha male here.
Deanna calls to Rick "Stop! Stop it right now!"
Maybe Rick can't hear maybe he doesn't care, but I do not for Pete but for our community.
Deanna yelled again, "Damn it, Rick! I said stop!"
"Why, Deanna? This is what you wanted in a more violate way, he is the one who is going to lead us and make us better." she heard me but again she was a pleasant woman.
We watch as Rick lets go of Pete. Alexandrians advance towards Rick not to attack, it's not in them to do as such.
Rick takes out his gun aiming at any who advance close to him.
Rick bellowed, "You gonna kick me out?
I retort, "No Rick, we have no intention to do as such, but I will ask for you to lower your gun."
Rick is angry with every right, "They still don't get it. None of them do! We know what needs to be done and we do it. We're the ones who lived out there. You, you just sit and plan and hesitate. You pretend like you know when you don't! You wish things weren't what they are. Well, you want to live? You want this place to stay standing? Your way of doing things is done. Things don't get better because you— you want them to. Starting right now, we must live in the real world. We must control—" he points his gun at Pete who is still on the ground, "—who lives here"
Deanna finally answered, "That's never been clearer to me than it is right now."
Rick shocked, "Me? Me? You—"
Rick laughs in a tired and angry way.
Rick continued, "You mean- You mean me? Your way is gonna destroy this place. It's gonna get people killed. It's already gotten people killed and I'm not gonna stand by and just let it happen. If you don't fight, you die. I'm not gonna stand by—"
I watched as pain flashes over Michonne's face but Michonne runs in, elbows Rick in the side of the head, disarms him, and looks apologetically in our direction. "He is right, Deanna, on all account he is right. Now it is up to you to make thigs better for us, so that we can live."
Rick was well nearly two days later as we held a meeting over the incident Rick or Pete must be exiled due to their actions, right now the town is torn even as I stand with the new comers. Reg and Deanna implore them to make a wise decision, the weather is chilly as Carl watches from the porch and we all talk outside.
It is dark as the stars and moon shine brightly above us, to think I could be watching them and not the meeting laying out in front of me. But things had to change if not for Rick the walkers that managed to get into our safe-zone due to Father Gabriel leaving the gate open they would have killed many of us, but he and his group have helped us. I agreed with Maggie as she came and saw Deanna this very morning stating and reminds Deanna that she made a decision to let them in, and now she's giving the town the decision to send them back out. She tells Deanna that's not leadership, and she's right, but Deanna isn't interested in hearing any of it, not even I knew what was going on in Deanna's head.
"I'm not sorry for what I said last night, I'm sorry for not saying it sooner." Rick tells Deanna, telling her that luck runs out. They need to be ready for what's next. He continues as we all listen, this was it, this is what we needed.
His speech is powerful in the way only a Rick speech can be, but it gets interrupted by a very drunk Pete, not very abnormal.
Pete, holding Michonne's sword, declares that Rick is not one of them. Reg rushes and tries to stop him, but Pete uses the sword to slit his throat as I screamed it mixed with Deanna's own. Without word I am shoved into the porch as Tara drags me behind the covering, it was Daryl he shoved me out of harm's way. I just crawled to Deanna as Reg was bleeding out in her arms, I tried to cover his wound until Denise arrived, but he is gone as we cry. He was like a father to me. Abraham keeps Pete pinned down even as Pete continues to scream that Rick isn't one of them. But, it's in that moment that Deanna looks up at Rick and tells him to do it; we all watch as Rick shoots Pete right in the head in front of everyone.
Reg was taken to be re-executed before he could come back, then we would burn his body but right now I stumble through the streets towards my home, crying with sobs echoing when I am airborne in strong smelly arms.
