There is friction in the future folks but thankfully it may be what our little group needs to finally stop fighting one another and focus on the real problem. DunDunDun... Anyway, this isn't the most exciting chapter, more a filler, but I hope you enjoy it anyway. Thank you for reading and thank you for the reviews! I think I have the coolest group of readers in all of ff! You are loved and appreciated! Even the ones that are reading but not reviewing! Thanks! Now, as always, I hope you all have a fantastic day =)
Chapter Seventy Nine
Carol couldn't keep her eyes off Sophia as they loaded up in the vehicles. It hadn't taken long for her and Carl to make up but that wasn't what she was worried about. She saw the girl apologize with her own eyes and for just a few moments it felt like she was looking at the sweet quiet girl that used to be her daughter. But as soon as she came outside, giving Duane and Carl a conspiratorial wink she knew something was up. And she had no doubts that Daryl and Merle were involved.
He was in front of her on the bike, waiting on the others to get everything situated, her arms around his waist.
"Daryl?" She asked, only a hint of hesitation in her voice.
"What?" He turned his head and glanced back at her.
"You and the kids aren't planning on shooting up that town once we get there, are you?" She asked and had to shake her head. How bad did things have to be for her to have to ask him something like that in all seriousness.
"No." He scoffed.
Rick was coming towards them, Lori and Carl in tow. He wore a look of concern and she could hear Daryl growl low in his throat.
"What's the problem now?" Daryl asked when they stopped next to the bike.
"I think we're missing guns." Rick said worriedly.
Carol wasn't paying much attention to Rick. She had her eyes on Carl who was watching Daryl expectantly.
Daryl shrugged. The corner of Carl's mouth tilted up.
"You don't think this is a big deal?" Rick asked.
"We never got around to taking inventory Rick. Maybe we left with less than we thought." Daryl suggested.
Rick ran a hand through his hair. "Five rifles and six handguns, plus ammo for both are missing. We didn't have to take inventory. I know exactly what we had."
"You tryin' to say somethin' here Rick?" Daryl growled and she tightened her grip around his waist. She could see Merle approaching with Maggie, Sophia and Duane.
"He isn't trying to say anything, Daryl. He just wants to know what's going on." Lori said quietly.
"And I'm the one he comes to ask. Well, go ask somebody else, Rick. I don't know where the fuck they went. Maybe your new friends took'em." He bit out angrily.
"What's the hold up?" Merle bellowed as he came closer.
Carol still kept her eyes on the kids. Something was definitely up. And it most definitely did involve the Dixon's and their minions.
"Rick here thinks I might have stole our own guns. You know, cause that's somethin' I'm in the habit of doin'."
Rick narrowed his eyes. "That isn't what I'm saying. And you know as well as I do that those guns were in the other apartment. The one Lori and I used. Those men didn't have a way to get in there."
Merle scratched his chin and smiled lazily. "You lost our fuckin' guns? Ain't you suppose to be stayin' on top of shit like this, Rick?"
Carol watch Sophia as she listened to the men. The girl's eyes never wavered as she watched the men bicker over the guns. Duane and Carl on the other hand couldn't stop glancing towards one another and then back to the men. Carl was actually wearing a guilty expression. Carol had an idea about who could have taken the guns. But why so many?
Rick finally gave up. Merle wordlessly handed his jacket over to her and then gave Daryl a nod before walking away. Sophia and Duane waved and then followed him.
"Daryl." She growled.
He chuckled, gave her thigh a squeeze and then they were flying down the road.
~H~
Merle was right behind his brother, Rick right behind him.
"You know where those guns are, dont'cha?" Maggie asked as they turned onto the highway.
Merle glanced at her. Sophia and Duane were between them. "Yep."
"How'd you get'em?" She asked.
"I thought we were gonna keep this to ourselves." Duane grumbled as he shifted nervously.
"She ain't gonna say nothin', boy." Merle said as he nudged him with his elbow. "She don't like this anymore than we do."
"You made the kids steal'em?" Maggie guessed.
"It isn't stealing." Sophia said with a small smile. "Those guns are just as much ours as they are Rick's or anyone else in this group."
"That's right." Merle confirmed. "And if Rick is too goddamn stupid to take some precautions then it's up to the only ones in this group with any common fuckin' sense."
"Like you Dixon's and three kids." Maggie looked out the window to hide her smile but he caught it before her head was turned all the way.
"That's right, darlin'. We don't know what them sons of bitches have planned for us. It could be legit. If it is then that's just fine. If it ain't then we got a plan. Ain't nothin' wrong with havin' a plan."
"And the plan is?" Maggie asked, looking at him again, her eyes narrowed slightly.
"The plan is, we have some truck trouble here in about two miles. Gonna have to ditch the truck." He glanced up in the mirror. "Me and Duane leave once it gets dark, gather up our stolen guns, sneak back in and stash'em."
"Why leave'em to begin with? Why not bring the truck all the way there?" She asked.
"We don't know if they'll check for weapons." He shrugged. "And this very well could all be for nothin'. But if the shit hits the fan I'd rather have a back up plan."
"You think somethin' might happen from the start?" Her voice was low, causing him to glance at her again. There was worry etching her features.
"Don't matter." Sophia chimed in before he could say anything. "People, even most crazy ones, would have a hard time gunning down kids. If something happens from the beginning then the three of us make a break for it. We go to the truck ourselves. We get the guns."
Maggie put her arm around Sophia's shoulder and looked down. "Then what?"
"Well, according to Merle here, we bring down the fury of hell on the mother fuckers." She smiled.
"Jesus, Merle. What the hell have you and your brother done to them?" Maggie breathed.
"Hey, don't you look at me. This whole thing was her idea." He did look a little sheepish. "Well, except for that fury of hell part, I guess that was all me."
Maggie shook her head. "So, what if someone finds the guns in the truck? Then that kills your plan."
Duane smiled at her. "They ain't in the truck. They're under it. Me and Carl tied them up earlier. It wont matter if they do something crazy and maybe gun us all down or something but if something bad happens and we can get away then at least we have a chance. We wont be out here unarmed."
"I guess that's smart." Maggie muttered. "I just wish it wasn't something we needed to think about. I don't understand how everyone else is just gonna trust these people."
"They're desperate." Sophia said simply. "Lori's pregnant, we've all nearly starved out there, we've all had close calls with Walkers. Not to mention that everyone thinks Duane, Carl and I have turned into the antichrist triplets." She rolled her eyes.
Merle had to laugh at that. Not because it was funny that everyone was worried about them, he didn't care about that part, let the fuckers worry. He laughed because it was the damn truth. Everyone had started watching the kids like they were ticking time bombs. Lori was constantly trying to coddle Carl who was finally becoming bearable. Hell, even Daryl watched Sophia like a hawk, waiting for her to snap. Duane was the only one that didn't have too much to worry about.
Merle was proud of the boy. He was good with a gun, good with a knife, learned to fight real quick. But he was also pretty even tempered and ready to listen to anything Merle had to tell him. He liked the boy. Never in a million years would he have ever guessed that he would say something like that. But it was true. He'd kill somebody over the kid.
"We ain't bad." Duane said after a while. "We're just smart. That's how people are gonna survive in this world. Not by being kids, but by knowing how to survive."
Merle nudged him again. "That's right."
~H~
Daryl pulled the bike over. Merle had pulled the truck over onto the side of the road and was just now walking around the side of the truck, opening the hood. He reached in as Daryl approached him, Rick was coming too.
"Turn it over, boy!" Merle called to Duane who had moved over to the drivers seat.
Daryl wasn't sure what Merle had done but the truck sputtered a bit and then nothing. Maggie and Sophia got out on the passenger side.
"Looks like we're gonna have to ride in with someone else." Maggie muttered as she slid her arms around Merle's waist.
Merle gave Daryl a slight nod.
"We only have about half a mile to go." Rick said as he approached. "It shouldn't be a problem. We can come out in the morning and see about the truck."
Merle nodded. "Duane and Sophia can ride in with you. Me and Maggie can go with Hershel and Beth."
Rick just nodded and walked away with Sophia and Duane.
"You sure you're okay with her riding in with Rick? I thought you wanted her to stay close to you or Merle?" Carol asked.
Merle turned and answered her before Daryl could say anything. "Hell, anything happens and you can bet that sweet ass of yours that Sophia and Duane have that shit handled before Rick can even draw that Python of his. We ain't gotta worry bout them kids anymore, Carol. They're just fine."
"He's right, Carol. Hell, even I feel safer with them around." Maggie gave her a smile and pulled Merle towards Hershel's truck.
"Was that suppose to make me feel better?" Carol asked as she climbed back on behind him.
"I think so." He turned his head and caught her lips with his own. When he pulled away he gave her a crooked smile. "Me havin' faith in them kids is the only fuckin' reason I'm gonna step foot in that place." And it was true. He felt a lot better knowing that, even if something happened, they could get out and get to the guns. And if nothing happened then they would get the guns tonight and bring them closer to town. Making it easier to defend themselves if something did eventually go wrong. And if that asshole thought for a second that he could start enforcing his laws on them then things would go south pretty quick. The kids already knew what they were suppose to do if something like that happened.
The closer they got the more nervous he got about what they were doing. When they rounded a bend and he saw the wall that the man had described, with seven armed men patrolling the top of it. He stopped the bike. He couldn't do it. There was no way he could do this.
"Jesus." Carol breathed as he turned off the bike.
"Now you know why the fuck I didn't wanna do this." He snapped. He was feeling panic seeping in. The men on the wall watched them.
He didn't move to get off the bike and he noticed that Carol's grip around him had tightened. He nearly jumped out of his skin when he felt a hand clap him on the shoulder and squeeze. He looked up and saw his brother, the same fear etched on Merle's face that he knew was written all over his. And that just made it worse. Merle wasn't afraid of anything. But then he realized that he had never been afraid of anything either. Not until he had something to lose.
"We'll be alright, little brother." Merle mumbled but he kept his hand clamped down on Daryl's shoulder while his other arm was wrapped around Maggie.
Rick made his way to his other side. He couldn't even look at the man. If he did then he would be off the bike and beating his stupid fucking face into the pavement. Rick was the one that wanted this. Daryl wasn't sure what he had been expecting but it wasn't this. Not armed men on a fucking wall, waiting for them to make a move.
"It's secure." Rick offered.
Daryl barely thought of what he was doing. He wretched himself away from Merle's hand and was off the bike and in Ricks face faster than anyone else could move. They were chest to chest and he took a few more steps, backing Rick up with his body. "Secure? You stupid fuck! They could gun us all down right now if they wanted."
Rick put him hands up and pushed Daryl back but it did him no good. Daryl was right back in his face. "If somethin' happens to any of them. Carol, Sophia, my fuckin' brother, I'll kill you before them fucks even have a chance. You understand me?"
He felt a set of strong arms rip him away from Rick and suddenly T-dog was right there. "Come on, Dixon. We don't need this right now, man." He said as he eyed him warily. "Let's just figure out what's goin' on. If he's led us here to die," He glanced behind him towards Rick and then his eyes met Daryl's once more, "I'll help you."
Daryl glared at the man but T didn't back away. Finally, with a defeated shake of his head Daryl turned and stormed towards the wall. Merle was at his side, Carol and Maggie were behind them. He knew where the kids would be.
He led the group closer to what very well could have been their doom. The men jumped down from the wall and then it slowly opened inward. Philip was there, smile in place. One of the men they had met earlier was standing with him, gun in hand, smirk in place. Daryl decided that he really didn't like this guy at all.
Philip nodded. "Glad you all worked everything out and decided to join us." He turned as though he expected them to follow.
Daryl and Merle didn't move but the group made their way past them like a parting sea. Dale clapped him on the shoulder as he walked by and T-dog nudged him.
He felt Carol's hand on his back and finally he moved. Him and Merle stepped through, the kids finally falling in behind them. He stopped and his mouth nearly dropped.
"Welcome to Woodbury." Philip smiled as he gestured to the town in front of them.
There were people milling around on the street. Kids on bikes. Woman pushing strollers. People sitting out on benches or stopping to chat on the sidewalk.
Everyone just stood there, their eyes wide. He felt Carol's hand in his. For a few seconds he felt relieved. Maybe Rick had been right to come here. Then that relief was shattered.
"You guys need to hand over all your weapons. None are allowed on the street unless it's been cleared by the Governor." The man next to Phillip said suddenly.
"Fuck you." Daryl snarled.
"Martinez." Philip glared at the other man. "This is a special case. They don't have to hand over their weapons. Not until they feel like they have nothing to worry about here."
"Not even then, asshole." Daryl snapped.
Martinez was almost on him and Daryl was ready to knock the other mans head off when Carl and Duane were suddenly in front of him, guns drawn.
"I'd back up if I were you." Duane said calmly. "Ain't none of my people getting' hurt. Not unless you wanna get hurt yourself."
"Martinez!" Philip barked.
The man backed up, glaring at the boys. Lori was on Carl then, yanking the boy back by his shirt. She was furious. He was stumbling backward.
Philip put his hands up defensively. "I made it a point to let everyone in this town know that they couldn't all just openly walk around carrying weapons. It tends to make folks nervous. As skittish as you all are I decided that until you feel like you can trust us here, you can keep your weapons. But I have to say those kids are too quick on the draw. So maybe it would be a good idea if you all hung on to theirs for now."
Daryl glanced over and saw that Rick was already taking Carl's weapon. He shook his head. What a dumb ass.
Merle didn't make a move towards Duane, who still had his gun aimed at Martinez.
"Duane?"
Daryl looked up. Oh shit.
Duane looked up at the same time. There was a black man walking towards them, he was blinking furiously and shaking his head back and forth like he was trying to shake off an illusion.
"Dad?" Duane breathed.
"Oh my God." Rick muttered behind them. "Morgan?"
The man was running now. Running right towards the stunned boy that hadn't lowered the gun yet. When Morgan got within a few feet he stopped and dropped to his knees, tears staining his face.
Daryl glanced at Merle. He was openly gaping, his large hand on the boys shoulder. Then he shut his mouth stubbornly and gave him a gentle push. Duane closed the distance quickly, the gun dropping from his hands. Merle bent down and picked it up, tucking it into the back of his pants.
Philip was watching with wide eyes, as was Martinez.
Daryl couldn't help but feel bad for Merle. The boy had grown on him over the last few weeks and he seemed to enjoy being the one to look after him. This changed things. If they decided they didn't want to stay on here Merle would have to leave the boy. Daryl knew he would. Merle didn't grow attached to things easily. Sophia and Maggie were an extreme exception, but as long as he knew the boy was with his dad then Merle would leave him.
"This is him?" Martinez said, a hint of disbelief in his voice. "But you said you thought your boy was dead."
Rick stepped up then, angling himself so he was knelt down next to Morgan. "Merle found your boy and brought him to me. He's been with us about a month now."
Sophia moved so she was at Daryl's side as she watched Duane and Morgan. He couldn't help but wonder how much this would change their relationship. Duane was a part of their group. A constant companion to Sophia and Carl.
"What about her?" Philip asked, breaking through Daryl's thoughts.
Daryl's head shot up. "What are ya talkin' about? What about her?"
"Well, considering out of everyone she is the one that threatened to kill me, twice now, I think it might be best to take her gun. For now, of course."
Daryl saw red then and he was just about to lunge at the man when he felt something cold and familiar touch his hand. Sophia was looking up at him, handing over the gun he had given her.
"It's fine. Take it for now if that's what we need to do. No need in making this worse than it has to be, okay." There was a pleading look in her eyes and she looked back towards Duane who was quietly talking to his dad.
Daryl took the gun and shoved it into his waistband. He was glaring but he understood. They didn't need this right now. It had already started off badly and there was no sense in making things worse. Yet.
"You've got yourself a smart girl there." Philip smiled. "She must get her temper from you and her wits from her momma."
"Fu..."
"Dad!" Sophia hissed.
He glanced down quickly, shocked into silence by that one word that she uttered. She winked and then her eyes flicked over towards Philip. He remembered their conversation earlier and nodded. He did look back up and glared at the men. He could at least do that, even if he couldn't shoot them in the face, which was what he wanted to do at the moment.
Temper his ass.