Of Blood and Water

by MannixMind

Through the smoke and confusion of the attack on Woodberry Lexi thinks she sees the answer to their prayers- Caitlyn's brother Rick. The only way to be sure is to risk everything and rescue the brother of the man she hates. But while Daryl is eager to bring Caitlyn Grimes back to the group, he's hesitant about Lexi. Even if she saved him, can he really trust Shane's baby sister?

2. Chapter 2

Chapter 2

-Daryl-

He tried to count the steps as they dragged him from the arena but the pounding headache he'd gotten from the men kicking the shit out of him when they first cornered him made it almost impossible. They had to have walked to blocks at least, but as far as he could tell with his head still covered they were still inside the walls of the compound.

How big is this fucking place anyway?

Finally the men dragging him stopped, and he heard the sound of a door unlocking. As they began to lead him up a flight of stairs, he knew for sure that they wouldn't be keeping him in the same place as Glenn and Maggie.

Well it looks like I'm shit outta luck, he thought, knowing that his chances of being successfully rescued were far greater if Rick actually knew where he was being kept. The thought made his heart race as he realized that they could be setting a trap in the old warehouse. He almost stopped dead at the thought, but the man behind him on the stairs gave him a bodily shove and he shuffled forward, silently hoping that Rick wouldn't be stupid enough to risk another assault on the compound. He'd seen Oscar go down before Rick jumped the fence, and he knew without the two of them the group couldn't risk to lose more men.

I'm fucked anyway. He thought remembering the hatred in the eyes of the villagers and the Governor's promise of an execution.

They finally stopped climbing and led him through a crowded room. He could feel the metal shelves on his left shoulder as he occasionally intentionally stepped out of line, using any opportunity to get a better sense of his surroundings. After about twenty paces he heard the man in front open a door and he was pushed through.

His escort pulled him to the ground and began to strap his back to what felt like a radiator. Daryl was sure another beating was in order but apart from a kick to the ribs that he earned after shouting "Fuck you!" as they bound his feet together he was left fairly unmolested.

Although he was fuming, he resisted the urge to curse them out further as he heard them begin to leave, focusing instead on the sounds of their footsteps as they closed the door.

Two left, one stayed. He thought to himself, still summing up his odds despite his growing pessimism. Either they didn't think he was much of a threat, or their attack had left too many of their men dead and injured to leave a proper guard.

The thought of the latter possibility brought a smirk to Daryl's face even under the hood.

Good. he thought, once again picturing the arena, I hope all those cheering fuckers die.

-Lexi-

She watched them drag the prisoner along for long enough to watch them push him through the door of the old general store in the center of town before turning to go back to her apartment. This was going to be tough. Of all the buildings in Woodberry, the General store was one of the largest. It has four stories, with the upper two serving as a storage space for supplies. Shelves that had once held everything from Barbies to Playboys, now held Woodberry's supply rations. With only two entrances and lots of places for guards to hide, it was not the ideal location for a rescue.

At least we'll have ammo if it comes to that. She thought wryly as she opened the door to her apartment. Caitlyn sat curled up on the couch in the living room knitting. Lexi remembered her saying that she had discovered it as a stress reliever senior year of undergrad, but she found it hard to believe. When she moved in Cait was only in her first year of her Physicians Assistant program, but she was already making full sweaters in her spare time.

Watching her knit in the the light from fire place, Lexi could almost believe for a moment that they were still living in a world before the disease. That had always been the attraction of Woodberry, that and the recovery Caitlyn had begun to make when they first arrived. As Lexi stood watching, Caitlyn shifted, spreading her legs out along the sofa. The simple move put an end to Lexi's reminiscing, as she was painfully reminded of the changes to Cait's body that had begun to take place.

No, if there was a place for Cait in this new world, it would have to be with Rick. More determined than ever, she turned from the living room and started to prepare.