I got to thinking after going over this chapter. I can totally picture the Governor all tied up saying, "I woulda gotten away with it too if it weren't for you meddling kids... and your freaky Ninja friend." Okay, enough of that. Just thought I would share some of the weird crap that goes through my mind every now and then. It would be pretty funny though. But unfortunately the Governor doesn't get tied up in this chapter ;) Anyway, I now know what direction I am going to go in now! Either way, I'm excited for Merle. I love that man! XD Thank you to everyone that reviewed and thank you to everyone that read and didn't review! As long as you're reading =) That's all I care about! I do appreciate your input though. You all are great! XD
Chapter Eighty Four
Merle nearly jumped straight out of bed when he heard the light knock at the door. He yanked his pants on, grabbed his gun and then looked towards the window to confirm that it was still night. He was opening the door before whoever was on the other side could even knock again.
Morgan stood on the other side, Merle's eyes narrowed at the sight of the man. "What they got you doin' now, playin' babysitter." He growled.
Morgan's eyes hardened at Merle's tone but he kept his voice pleasant. "I came for Duane."
Merle frowned and then stepped out into the dimly lit hallway, shutting the door silently behind him. "Ain't seen him since we got back from that little party across the street. He ain't in your room?"
Morgan shook his head. "I just thought he didn't want to be alone. Figured he came over here to sleep."
"He ain't the same boy you lost. He ain't scared of shit. He wouldn't have came here."
The door opened then and Merle saw Morgan's eyes widen. He glanced back and there was Maggie, hair a mess, rubbing sleep from her eyes and wearing nothing but one of Merle's black t-shirts. "Merle?" She mumbled sleepily. "What's wrong?" The shirt barely reached mid thigh and even Merle had to swallow hard to get his voice to work
"Jesus, girl." He grumbled. "Get back in bed. It's just Morgan, and I'd say you're bout to give him a fuckin' heart attack." He glanced at Morgan, who was politely looking away with a small smile playing around his lips.
"Kay." She mumbled and then smiled. "Hurry up." She reached up and kissed his jaw.
She shut the door, both men staring after her for a few long seconds. When Merle looked back Morgan's eyebrows were raised appreciatively. Merle had to fight off the smug grin that threatened to take hold of his face.
"You check Sophia's room? If he ain't where he's suppose to be then he's gotta be there."
Morgan nodded and then looked at him questioningly before Merle could slip back into his room.
"What?" He asked, a little more irritably than he should have. But all he think about was getting back to bed.
"I never had a chance to thank you. You know, for taking care of my boy and for teachin' him things I never even thought to teach him."
Merle just nodded and then left the man in the hall. Damn right he needed to thank him. If not for Merle the boy wouldn't know the first thing about defending himself. As soon as he crawled quietly back into the bed Maggie rolled over and burrowed in as close to his side as she could get. She'd ditched the shirt.
"What'd he want?" She asked after a minute of silence.
"Couldn't find the boy. Thought he'd be here."
She raised her head up. "Where do you think he is?"
"By now?" He shrugged. "Probably on his way back from the truck with the other two." He smirked.
Her eyes widened. "Merle! You sent them out alone? At night?"
"No. But I'd bet everything I owned that they snuck out to get them guns."
"You ain't afraid they got caught?" She asked, sitting up all the way now. "Merle, we don't know what those men would do to them!" Panic was lacing her words.
"If they went to get those guns then they didn't get caught. They didn't get bit. They didn't get ambushed. You don't understand them kids like I do. Too smart for any bullshit like that."
She relaxed next to him once again and twined her fingers through his. "I hope you're right."
"I am." he said quietly.
~H~
It didn't take them as long as Sophia thought it would to get to the truck. They, thankfully, managed to avoid any more Walkers. Randal and Duane helped Michonne once Beth deemed her able to make the walk back. She could have used some stitches but there wasn't anything they could do about that now.
"You can't come back to Woodbury with us, and you can't just stay in the woods while your injured like that." Sophia observed as the woman leaned against the truck for support.
The boys were under the truck, untying the guns. Randal was pacing nervously. "So what can we do help her?" He asked as though Michonne weren't standing right there.
Sophia wasn't sure what to do. All she knew was that if they left her then she would surely die. And she wasn't going to be responsible for this woman's death. Her head snapped up once an idea started to take shape. "Do you think you could drive?" She asked.
Michonne nodded weakly. Her body was weak but her eyes were still sharp. "But there isn't anywhere to drive too, kid."
"The truck's broke down, remember?" Randal stated dryly.
"No it ain't." Duane said as he slid out from under the truck, dragging the bag of guns out with him. "We just didn't want them searchin' the vehicles and findin' these. The truck's just fine."
Sophia grabbed Randal's arm. "You have to take her to that town we were in. Take her to the apartments. Find something to help her clean that wound out."
"What?" Randal took a step back. "Just take off and leave you guys?"
"Randal, this is the best way." She muttered as she slid one of the rifles out of the bag and thrusted it towards him. Duane handed him a box of ammo.
"We'll be fine. If you don't get her out of here she's gonna die."
Randal took the rifle and nodded. "Alright then. But what do we do? Do we just hole up there for the rest of our lives?"
Sophia shook her head. "We'll come back and get you. All of us."
Michonne shook her head. "Kid, ain't none of you getting out of there alive. You should come too. It's the only chance you're going to get."
Sophia shook her head. "No. that man's as good as dead, lady. I promise you that. He really did pick the wrong group to mess with."
Michonne almost smiled.
"It's true." Randal said as he opened the passenger door and helped her in. "These kids alone are dangerous. You throw in the Brothers Grim and all bets are off. The Governor and his cronies, no matter how many of them there are, don't stand a snow balls chance in hell."
"The Brothers Grim?" Michonne asked with a frown.
"Would you stop calling them that." Sophia hissed.
Randal just shrugged. "It fits."
"Give us about five minutes before you take off. If there's anyone out here to hear you then I want to be as close to town as I can get."
"Are you gonna tell Merle and Daryl about this?" Randal asked.
Sophia nodded. "Everybody will know where you are. Just take care of her."
Duane hefted the heavy bag over his shoulder and the four of them hurried back into the woods. Getting out hadn't been as hard as they thought it would be. Everything was pretty much blocked off and they thought they were going to have to scale a wall and risk getting seen. They had hidden from three different men that had been walking the perimeter but the back of the town wasn't their main focal point to guard. It was the main wall that most of them manned.
But they didn't have to scale the wall. Carl had found a small opening between a cement block wall and an overturned truck that was just big enough to slip through. The only person that had trouble with it was Randal but even he managed to slip through without getting caught. As soon as they were through they heard another man making his rounds. Walking quickly. They had all held their breath and listened but he had kept on going.
Getting back in was going to be tough since they couldn't see what was going on or if anyone was there. They just had to listen and wait. At first they hadn't wanted to bring the guns in with them. But now that things were taking a turn for the worse, they needed them handy. Hopefully they could find a good place to hide them so they wouldn't be found by the assholes that took the other guns.
When they reached the same spot they had emerged from they all crouched down and listened, all of them holding their breaths. They could hear men talking not far away.
"Shit." Carl whispered. "You think they've set up post back here?"
Sophia shook her head but deep down she wasn't sure. If so then they would need to find another way in and if they had to do that then they would have to travel further, with a bag of guns, after curfew. They'd be screwed. There was no way they would get past another patrol. This spot was perfect because it was only a few yards from the back door they had emerged from. And even that had been difficult. They had made it just by the skin of their teeth.
"We wait." she said after a few seconds of silence. "They wont stay there." She hoped not anyway.
~H~
Merle was expecting another knock on the door but he still groaned out loud when he heard it. Maggie had just managed to get his jeans undone.
"I fuckin' knew it." he growled as he grabbed her hand before she had a chance to cloud his head.
He stood up, fixed his jeans and then threw the now buttonless shirt over his shoulders. This was going to be a really long night.
Morgan was there, as expected. "I'm sorry. I can't find him. Sophia's room is empty and I just saw Rick. He can't find Carl either."
"Son of a bitch!" Merle hissed. He didn't need Rick's shit and if Carol found out Sophia was missing she was going to have a fit. Hell, even Daryl would have himself a stroke if he knew that she had, once again, taken off with those boys. And now he had to keep Maggie from finding out that Beth had went with them. All this was suppose to be kept quiet. This was not quiet.
"I don't know what to do." Morgan was on the verge of a breakdown.
"Calm down, man. This ain't the first time those kids have took off somewhere." Merle said as he looked down the hallway.
"It's the first time they've done something like this here. I'm tellin' you, Merle, these men shoot first and ask questions later."
Merle gave Morgan a hard look. "You mean your men?"
Morgan blew out a frustrated breath. "Please, if you know where he is then tell me. Please. I'll go get them myself."
Maggie came out then, dressed once again in his shirt but she had thought to throw on her jeans so her presence wasn't as distracting as it had been earlier. She didn't say anything. She just stood there, waiting expectantly.
Merle sighed. "We best head on to Daryl's room."
"They're already waiting in Sophia's room." Morgan said. "They know it would be dangerous to go search for them but that's what they are thinking about doing."
"Beth's room? Why would they be waitin' for'em in Beth's room?" Maggie asked suspiciously.
"Maggie..." Merle began but she didn't let him finish.
"Beth went with'em and you didn't tell me?" She glared. "Beth ain't trained like them, Merle! She'll get her damn self killed!"
"Keep your damn voice down, girl. She's fine! I didn't even know she had tagged along." Merle snapped, not effected by her anger.
"Wait, you know where they are? Man, if you know where my son is you need to tell me now." Morgan hissed. He looked frantically between Merle and Maggie.
"Ya'll need to calm the fuck down a second. Shit. They're fine. Just went on a little run is all." Merle said as he grabbed Maggie by the arm and led her towards Beth and Sophia's room. She yanked her arm away from him and glared but she followed him along with Morgan.
Merle cursed under his breath when he opened the door. They were all there, crammed into the small room, talking in hushed voices. When he entered everyone grew silent and stared at him. Well, some stared. Others openly glared. Maggie left his side and went to Hershel.
"I know you know where the hell my son is. You need to tell us now!" Lori snapped as soon as he shut the door.
"Fuck off." Merle glared back at her.
Daryl was leaning against the wall with his arms crossed over his chest. He didn't look as panicked as everyone else. Carol was there, standing with him and Merle was surprised to find her looking just as calm.
"Merle, you have to tell us what's going on." Hershel said quietly. "Please."
Merle sighed and leaned against the door. "I ain't positive but I think they made their way back to the truck."
"What?" Rick gasped.
"Them guns that turned up missin'. The boys were the ones that took'em. Tied'em up under the truck and then I ditched the truck in case shit went down here and our guns turned up missin'. Which they did."
Lori and Rick both went pale. "They went outside? They left the town, alone?"
"No." Merle deadpanned. "They went out there together."
"Do you think this is a joke?" Rick spat as he stepped up into Merle's face.
"Well, not a real joke. Nothin' like your marriage." He smirked.
"That's it." Rick growled. He was about to grab Merle but then the door opened, bumping against Merle's back and both men moved out of the way.
"Oh shit." Carl muttered as the four of them hurried into the room and then noticed that it was full of a lot of concerned faces.
"Oh shit?" Lori growled as she yanked him towards her by his shirt and hugged him before leaning down into his face. "What the hell is wrong with you?"
He didn't have a chance to say anything but he did manage to yank away from her grasp before the room erupted in quiet chaos at the sight of what Duane had. The guns.
~H~
Daryl felt the tension abate a little when Sophia followed the others into the room. Everyone was talking at once in hushed whispers. He had been scared. Every time the girl wasn't in his sights he was anxious, but this had to be done. He knew, as soon as Rick came to their room that her and the boys had went for the guns.
Sophia looked up and locked eyes with him. She looked at her mom and then her eyes dropped to the floor as she made her way over to them. It was obvious that she knew she had really messed up this time. Carol hadn't said much. He had asked her if she was alright several times but she had simply nodded and held his hand. He studied her face but she was like stone. Giving nothing away of what might be going through her mind.
Sophia stopped and finally looked up. There was a look of defiance on her face that he had seen a hundred times already but there was something else too. She hated what she had been putting her mom through.
"Mom, I'm sorr..."
Carol's hand shot out quickly and covered the girls mouth. For a second Daryl thought she was going to slap her across the face and his heart had hit the floor. But she simply cut off the girls words. "Don't you dare tell me you're sorry. We both know you aren't." Carol said gently but in a voice loud enough that it broke through the rest of the chaos in the room. Many eyes fell on them. "What you did was stupid. It was dangerous. You all could have been killed." She took a deep breath and blew it out slowly as she crouched down in front of the girl. "Thank you. What you kids did will probably end up saving all of us. It took guts to do what you did." She took her hand away from Sophia's mouth then.
Daryl felt like someone had knocked the wind out of him. Everything she had said to him earlier, she had meant it.
"Are you serious?" Lori hissed. "My son could have been killed and you're thanking her for this?"
"She's right." Morgan said as he put his hands on Duane's shoulders. "You don't understand how dangerous these men really are. If they would have been caught..."
Carol stood up, her face growing hard, her eyes narrowed. "I know exactly how dangerous those men are. Don't think for a second I don't. I also know that now we at least have a chance to get the hell out of here. And Lori," She shot the woman a look that had even Daryl stepping back, "You blame my daughter for this and I'll show you exactly what being with a Dixon teaches a woman. Your son wasn't forced to do a damn thing. He did what the rest of us didn't have the balls to do. So just shut up. For once in your life, shut your fucking mouth."
Daryl glanced over at Merle who was grinning. Rick looked like he was about to say something when Carl broke the awkward silence.
"We found someone in the woods tonight. Someone alive. We saved her from Walkers." He said hurriedly.
"What?" Merle and Rick both said at the same time, causing Merle to scowl.
Duane nodded. "She was injured and was about to become a snack. Beth looked her over and she was okay but real weak. Randal's with her."
"Randal's out there?" Dale asked, looking around the room and seeming to just realize the guy wasn't a part of the party.
"Where?" Daryl asked. "In the woods?"
Sophia shook her head. "He took her back to the town we found. They're gonna wait there for us."
"Who was this woman?" Morgan asked.
"Michonne. She said her name was Michonne."
Daryl watched as the man shook his head. "That can't be. I shot her. She's dead."
Duane spun around and took a step back, unconsciously stepping into Merle, who cupped the boys neck and glared at Morgan.
"What?" Duane whispered. "Why would you do that?" The boy, who had showed so much courage in the face of everything they had been through looked as though he would burst into tears at any moment.
Morgan looked at the floor. "I didn't have a choice, son. I was under orders."
Duane shook his head back and forth. "What could she have done? Why?"
"They told me she was a danger to the town. They didn't say why. I just knew if I didn't do it then I'd probably be next."
Duane lifted his chin and glared at his father. "You told me this place was a good place. You told me that we were safe here." His voice was hard. Merle's hand was still on him which surprised Daryl a bit.
"As long as you do what they say it is. It's better than being out there." Morgan was desperate to make the boy understand.
"You know, one of the things I like best about the Dixon's, dad? One of the best things about them is the fact that when they give it to you, they give it to you straight. They don't lie right to your face just to make you feel better. That's why, to me and to Carl and Sophia, they're better than most people. I never thought you'd lie to me. I never thought you'd be a murderer."
"Duane, you don't understand." Morgan mumbled, watching as Duane backed away from him more to stand at Merle's side.
"You're right. I don't. And when it's time to go, I'm leavin' with my people. If you're smart then you'll do the same." He looked up at Merle, gave the man a nod and then left the room.
Everyone was silent for a few minutes after that. Morgan looked like someone had just beaten the life out of him. His head was hung as he stared at the floor.
"Well, kid." Daryl said as he knelt in front of Sophia. "What's the plan now?" He winked.
I know that some of you might think that the kids are just too much at this point. All i have to say to that is... =P. Because i really love them like this. They totally get stuff done and I adore their little hard core butts! XD This is where I needed them to be because some things are going to go down and they are going to play a major role in the end game. It's exciting. I can't stop writing even though now I am feeling sad about the end being so close. It's a lot closer to me than you since I am ahead by five chapters. I think you will all be as excited as I am. I hope so. This has been a hell of a story to write! And I love you all for giving me the drive to keep it flowing! Have a great morning! =)