Hey you! New chapter! Sorry it's taken me longer this time. University's keeping me busy, then I got ill, and then this chapter caused me problems in general.
It's a bit meh to be honest, but you know those kind of filler chapters. You need them to get your characters from A to B.

Also almost 300 reviews. WAT.

setting: episode 16 "Welcome To The Tombs"

Damnation

Chapter 62 - Gathering

He woke up in the middle of the night and cursed gently because it felt like he was making a habit out of that. Connor turned his head and rubbed his eyes, and it took him a while to wake up properly. He was a bit confused at first, because the last thing he remembered was sitting on the cold and dirty floor in front of the infirmary. The Irishman sat up with a gentle sigh and had a look around, only to notice that he wasn't in his cell but in one of the ground level ones.

He rubbed his eyes once more and got up, only to let out a gentle relieved groan because the dizziness was finally gone. He wanted to cheer and yell "thank god!" because this had seriously annoyed the crap out of him for the past couple of days, but he knew that he couldn't do that because it was in the middle of the night and the others were sleeping. He didn't want to wake them up, especially not baby Judith. He stretched his tense muscles and rubbed his shoulder, but there was only a dull pain in it, so he reckoned that the nap had done him some good.

Connor turned around to have a look at the top bunk, but Daryl was nowhere in sight. He was all alone in this cell and felt how panic was slowly starting to rise. What if everything had been a dream? What if his friend was dead? Even worse, what if everything had been real, but Daryl had died while he had been asleep?

The Irishman scratched the back of his head and went outside to see where the hunter was. He walked down the cell block and peeked inside each cell. He could see Beth and Hershel, whose snoring was loud and unmistakable. He then passed Glenn and Maggie's cell and saw the couple lying there in one bed (how the fuck did they fit in there?) all snuggling and sound asleep. He then passed Rick and Carl's cell but only found the younger Grimes lying there in the top bunk, and he reckoned that their leader was probably keeping watch. Which was good, considering that Connor wanted to talk to him anyway.

The Irishman wanted to keep walking but had to stop when he passed the cell in which they were keeping the newest addition to the Grimes family. It was still incredibly odd and grotesque to see the baby. Not only because there were dead people and death all around them, but also because it was weird to see such a small bundle lie in a freaking prison cell. He couldn't really see her since they kept her in the crib Carl had brought for her, but truth was that he didn't want to see her anyway. Because all her innocence reminded him what was at stake because of the ongoing fight with Woodbury, and although he had promised Lori that he was going to look after her children, part of him doubted that the little girl was going to survive this.

Everyone was screwed these days, both physically and mentally, and now that even Daryl had almost died there was little to no chance she was going to make it. He would try anything to keep her safe, but he seriously didn't even want to keep his hopes up anymore. The only solution to the whole thing was to get her out of here, but life outside was even more dangerous for her then life in here.

Connor sighed and started walking again, and after passing Michonne's cell he finally found his friend at the very end of the cell block. He was a bit confused because this was the only cell door that was closed, but he figured that the rest of the group did that only to be on the safe side. He grabbed the bars to pull the door open, which was rather hard to do because it was creaking like hell. The older of the two friends tried to be as quiet as possible, and after a particularly loud creak he froze right where he was and just listened. There was nothing but silence and Hershel's snoring, so he kept going and then entered the cell. He got even more angry when he saw that they had cuffed one of Daryl's hands to the bed frame. It sure was uncomfortable for the hunter and he knew it, since his friend had once done the same to him when he had been about to die. He didn't have any keys to free his friend, so he just tried to adjust the arm's position as good as he could, and he knelt down next to the bed so he could take a closer look at Daryl's injury.

"Hey, buddy" the Irishman greeted his friend with a gentle low voice and waited for an answer.

An angry snarl, the usual string of insults, a chuckle or smirk, hell anything, but Daryl wouldn't react.

The remaining Dixon's eyes were still closed, and Connor wasn't sure if his friend had woken up yet at all. Daryl wasn't wearing a shirt and just lay there with the massive bandage on his chest, which was surprisingly clean compared to all the mess the Irishman had seen just a couple of hours ago. The sight made him both extremely angry and upset, because he could see all the scars and he knew that the others had seen them as well.

Add another one t'the list, he thought and adjusted the bandage with an angry growl. It wasn't like he didn't have any scars as well, but with Daryl it just seemed to get worse and worse. First all the scars from his past, then the scar from the arrow he had managed to fall on last year, the scars on both his temples from said fall and Andrea's bullet, and now another it looked like everything was far from over.

Connor sighed and massaged the bridge of his nose because the worry took over again. It was still night and the prison was still standing, but he was pretty sure that all hell was going to break loose soon. He looked at Daryl and gritted his teeth, because there were so many things he regretted now, so many things he wished he had done different. Killing the Governor had been one step ahead, but it had also caused them about a thousand problems more, and he really wasn't sure how he was going to solve all that without any more people dying.

"Why'd ye have ta fucking be in coma when all this shit happens, man" he muttered and kept staring at his friend, as if it was going to wake him up somehow.

Since he was still a bit paranoid he checked his pulse and breathing once more, just to make sure that Daryl really was there, that he was okay and still alive.

"'m so going to kick yer arse as soon you wake up you fuckin dumbass."

He shook his head with a gentle snort.

"And yer telling me tha my plans are shite. Now look at you. Now I gotta handle te fuckin problem all on my own and watch over yer ass instead of you watchin mine" he went on and fell quiet for a while, because he just wanted a moment to enjoy the fact that his friend was still there. He seriously had no idea what he would've done without him.

Just for a second he tried to picture it: how he would've felt without Daryl in this very moment. He already knew what it felt like, he already knew how much the death of a beloved person had screwed him up. No, he thanked god that it wasn't like that again, and he thanked his brother for making him ready for all this. If he had not let go of Murphy until now then it could've been just as fucked up.

I need you, he remembered Daryl say and nodded gently. Yes, he was right here, Daryl was right here, and no one was going anywhere, and everything was going to be fine. He couldn't wait until all of this was over. There were so many things he needed to tell his friend, so many things he needed to apologize for and make them right again.

He also knew that there would be a lot of issues as soon as Daryl woke up. First the whole thing with the blood, because he was pretty sure that his friend was just as fucked as him now. Maybe not immune, but there certainly were going to be strange side effects with all the blood. He just knew it. And Daryl was going to kick his ass for that.

Then there was the other issue he was going to have to face with Daryl waking up.

Merle's death.
The grief.

Because of all this mess around the Governor and the car chase his friend had not yet been able to really process his brother's death. -Really- process it. Connor couldn't wait to help him there, and he really wanted to help his friend, because he knew what it felt like, and because he really wanted to give something back to Daryl after everything his friend had been through with him back on the farm. But there was also a part of Connor that was actually glad that Daryl was not awake yet.

Maybe it's better that way, he thought and gently nudged his friend's shoulder.

Maybe it really was the best to let his friend rest a bit more, to keep him away from all that pain for a little while longer.
This time it was his job to make everything right. This time it was his job to make everything better.

"Y'know, I just realized that I never really thanked you fer everything you've ever done fer me" he said after a while and looked at his friends face.

"After all the shit with Murph...When I tried t'kill me, when I nearly got eaten by walkers after that car crash..." He sighed and looked down on his friend, at the bandage.

"And then with te bite, when that prison fuck attacked me, the Woodbury thing and all the crap that happened t'us ever since you people found me.
Ye've always been there fer me. So ye don't get t'die, you hear me?" he muttered and looked at his friend's face again.

It really was weird, everything. The whole role reversal. He was not used to it anymore, being the one who had to look after someone, who had to take care of someone. Daryl being there for him had always been a fact, and now that it wasn't like that for the very first time he actually realized how much he had taken everything for granted without really appreciating it. He had been quite selfish until now. It had always been about him, his depression, Murphy Murphy Murphy, his injuries, his immunity, his wounds, his jealousy. And as he stared at his injured friend he realized how unfair he had been the whole time.

"So yeah, 'm sorry fer getting you into this shit, and 'm sorry fer getting your brother killed, really. I'm gonna make it right.
Not just cos I owe ye, but also as thanks fer everything you stupid redneck've done fer me."

He really hoped that Daryl wouldn't wake up now, because he hated being so girly, and because he knew how much Daryl hated it when he was like that, but he had felt the sudden need to tell his friend that.

"Alright, gotta go" Connor muttered after a while of just keeping his friend company. He got up and cleaned his jeans from all the dirt. After making sure that everything was alright he headed for the cell door. Once he reached it he looked at Daryl once more and warned him "And you better survive that shit or I swear 'm gonna kick yer arse six ways from sunday" before leaving the cell to head outside.

It was pitch black outside, but he didn't even need his eyes to find Rick. The steady hammering could be heard all over the yard, and it was drawing even more walkers in. Connor could see all the undead by the fence, heard the steady moaning and the rattling of chain links. The group had given up fighting them by now, since they had actually and finally agreed with his suggestion to use them as extra shield against snipers and other attack. The Irishman walked across the bridge that connected cell block's C and D. He could see Rick, who was hammering wood panels and metal table tops to both sides of the bridge.

The policeman looked up and rubbed his forehead when Connor got closer.

"How is he?" Rick greeted him and the blonde came to a halt right in front of him whilst lighting a cigarette.

Connor took a closer look at the construction and nodded.

"Okay I guess. 's asleep right now."

"Well, you saved his life."

Connor snorted and looked down at the walkers again.

"Did I?" he muttered and knelt down so he could take the nails and help Rick a bit.

He still couldn't stop thinking about the possible consequences of him giving Daryl his infected blood.

"How'd it happen?" the former policeman asked after a while, and Connor blew out some smoke with a gentle sigh.

"What, Daryl?"

Rick hammered a few more nails with a grunt.

"Everything."

"Andrea already told ye" Connor just answered.

"Well I would like to hear your version" Rick answered and kept working. Connor watched him for a while until he finally answered.

"Merle let me out. We was gonna kill the Governor t'gether. We knew te location since you were meeting that sick fuck..but shit went wrong. I split my stitches, Merle knocked me out cold and locked me in tha motel. He went by himself, and got shot. I tried t'help him, it was too late though."

Rick stopped hammering and turned his head so he could look at Connor, who wouldn't look back at him. The Irishman kept smoking and stared at the walkers instead.

"Ye can imagine Daryl's reaction when he found us. He wanted revenge. We were on our way t'Woodbury, and we was gonna kill the Governor, but then Andrea came right at us, and it looked like tha fucker chased her. So Daryl waited and we hunted him down with a car until we both crashed. I let 'im go after the Governor cos I had t'look after Andrea, he stabbed the fucker but didn't kill him, and because of that he got shot."

Rick kept staring at him for a moment, completely lost in thoughts.

"What about the Governor?"

"Andrea shot 'im. Fucker's dead. Really dead."

Rick just nodded and resumed his work.

"Hey listen, about earlier.." Connor muttered and moved closer.

"I didn't mean t'be so fuckin harsh, alright? The whole thing with Daryl just scared the crap outta me, and I overreacted a bit. I knew ye were just trying t'help our group.
And I was trying the same. Guess both our plans didn't work out. It's not just yer fault."

"I know. But you were right" the other man answered and Connor frowned.

"What?"

"I should've told the group. We should've handled this differently. We need a plan. It can't stay like this. We lost too many people already."

Connor folded the arm with the broken hand above his belly and took another drag on his cigarette.

"Aye. So what do ye wanna do? And what's all that about?" he asked and pointed at the construction.

"We're gonna call everyone out tomorrow. And we're going to make it a group decision. I'm just getting started on the fortification process in case people decide that we should stay. Andrea told me that the Governor definitely trained those people to attack us and they will. They would've sooner or later. Your little plan just sped the whole process up."

Connor pressed his lips together and nodded, feeling guilt rise in his chest.

"Aye."

"You still got your map, your ideas with the walkers?"

The Irishman nodded once more.

"'f course. They're in my cell."

Rick nodded as well and got up.

"Good. Because I need your help, should we all stay here. I think your experience with this sort of thing will come in handy."

"Okay. Whatever we have t'do to straighten this mess out" Connor agreed and then threw his cigarette away.

"But there's one more thing we gotta do if we're gonna stay here and if they come."

"And what's that?" Rick asked and frowned.

"Should they attack us then the majority of the people from Woodbury will be here. And I need you, Andrea and Michonne t'take Daryl to Woodbury."

"What? And why do you think this is a good idea?"

Connor snorted and turned around to point at the prison.

"Just look at this place. It's crowded with walkers everywhere, it's dirty as hell, it's dangerous and we got no real Doctor, food or ammo here. I mean fuck, Daryl survived the arrow last time cos it was an arrow, and cos he was in a real bed on a clean farm and everything wasn't too bad. And now he's got an open chest wound, and Andrea happens t'know those people over there. She said there's a real Doctor, and then there's that guy who took care of my bite wound and they got medical supplies and all that shit. Maybe we can even take this place as soon as we've shot everyone up."

Rick raised his hand to slow Connor down.

"Let's just..let's just see where everybody stands. We can discuss all of that tomorrow."

They were all sitting on the benches in the prison yard, wrapped in blankets and jackets. It was an exceptionally cold morning, and although Connor didn't really like the idea that they were sitting around talking instead of preparing the upcoming war he had still obeyed Rick's request and was outside with them. He was standing a bit off from the others and kept staring at the door to cell block C, because Daryl was still in it. It was day two and his friend still wasn't awake, which made the whole preparing even more urgent. Connor sighed and let his gaze wander, to take a look at his group. He saw them all: Glenn, Maggie, Beth, Hershel, Carol, Judith, Michonne, Andrea, Carl, sitting there on the benches like children in school.

Their group was weak.

That was all he could think about. All their fighters were gone. T-Dog, Axel, Oscar, Merle, and now Daryl. He had been pretty positive about everything yesterday. He had thought that they could do it, but now he was facing the truth. Daryl was actually getting worse, he was feverish and still unconscious, and he was facing a group of unprepared civilians. He looked up just like everybody when he saw how Rick entered the yard. The policeman was staring right at him and nodded, and when Connor nodded back Rick finally started talking.

"Everything Connor said yesterday was true. When I met with the Governor, he really offered me a deal. He wanted Michonne in exchange for peace" their leader said and looked at Michonne, who still seemed to be angry with him, but kept listening to what he had to say.

"And I was gonna do that. To keep us safe. I had no idea about his real plans, and part of me believed him, but now I'm glad I didn't. I was wrong not to tell you and I'm sorry that I considered that" he went on and looked at Michonne just a moment longer, but then he turned his head and looked at the rest of the group.

"And now Connor and Daryl killed the Governor, Merle is dead and Daryl might not make it. The rest of the Governor's follower is on their way over here" he explained and looked at Andrea, who nodded.

"And I really don't know if it's too late for everything. But I do know one thing. What I said last year, that first night after the farm?"

There was a long pause after that, and while everyone waited Connor automatically flexed his left arm and placed his healthy hand on it, and even after so many months it still felt like he could feel the scar pulsate, poison him, remind him of that night when everything had changed, when everything had made it even more fucked up and difficult for him.

Yeah, that night. How could he ever forget that one.

He sighed and looked at the door again, remembering that this time it was Daryl who was badly injured, that it was his friend who really needed help and protection this time.

"It can't be like that. It can't. Connor was right in the infirmary" Rick went on and made everyone look at the Irishman, who was quite surprised by the mention of his name.

"Too many people have died because of me making decisions on my own here. It can't stay like that. What we do, what we're willing to do, who we are, it's not my call. It can't be. We can't sacrifice any one of us for the greater good, because we are the greater good. Each and every one of us" he said and looked at each member of the group before going on.

"We're the reason we're still here, not me. Not you. Not her. Not him. We. This is life and death. How you live, how you die. It isn't up to me. I'm not your Governor."

Another pause, as everyone just listened.

"We've all made mistakes because of doing everything on our own. But that stops now. Once and for all. We choose to go, we choose to stay. We stick together. We vote. We can stay and we can fight, or we can go."

There was one final pause, and Rick looked at Connor again, who just nodded and waited for the others to say something. The whole group exchanged a few glances and some of them muttered something, but after just a few moments they seemed to have settled their minds.

"I want to stay" said Carl, and Beth nodded as well after looking at her father.

"Me, too."

Hershel sighed. He took Beth's hand and nodded slowly.

"Well I can't leave you here all by yourself."

"We're staying, too" said Glenn and Maggie just nodded.

"I think we should leave" Andrea said after a while, and Michonne just stood there and rubbed her back.

"There's no way I'm staying out there another winter. Not with Judith" Carol countered and looked at the small bundle in her arms.

Rick then looked at Connor, who folded his arms and chewed on his lower lip for a while, trying to think everything through.

"Y'know my opinion" he told the policeman and shifted.

"Whatever we're gonna do, 'm not goin anywhere without Daryl, and he ain't going real far with this sort of injury."

Rick nodded. He considered all answers for a while and then nodded.

"Alright. We're staying. I'm not going to lie. This is going to be our greatest challenge yet" he went on and looked at the rest of the group again.

"But we can manage, just like we've fought our way through everything so far. And we can solve this by working together.
We can do that by letting everyone do what they can do best."

He started walking and stared at the surrounding walls of the prison.

"We need to make sure that this place is secure. We've got fences, towers and walls surrounding the entire area, we've put up tire traps on the field since that last attack, and we're using the walkers to help us protect the property from snipers and attacks on foot. We need to make sure we secure all the breaches, put up more defences and make out escape routes for supply runs and emergencies. If everyone really works on all that, then I think we're going to be just fine. We weren't prepared last time they attacked us. This time we are" Rick explained and a few nodded.

The former policeman then turned around to look at Connor again, who was listening and watching the whole scenario with a worried frown.

"All we need now is a decent strategy and plan" he said and kept looking at the Irishman, making it obvious that he wanted him to speak up.

Connor was surprised that Rick was really going to pull this through, that he really was going to step down a bit more. After staring back at the policeman for a while to make out what all this was about he finally came to the conclusion that their leader really meant the whole democracy thing, and it actually really looked like part of the old Rick from back at the farm was back. Connor stepped forward with a sigh and nodded.

"Alright. Here's te plan."