Author's Note: Thanks Paper Grenade, JadedTinks, bigtimerushlover101, transf0rmer, and Lila-Renee. Seriously thank you guys sooo much for the nice reviews of the last chapter. I wish I could give all of you a pet unicorn! Or whatever you would prefer, a pet Daryl? YES. (Pet Merle for Lila-Renee ;D) Whew, this chapter took forever to come through, mostly because of health issues, but I digress. I truly hope you like it because we are finally on our way to Woodbury! After this, there will be plenty of action for Taylor and the gang.
Enjoy! xoxo
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR.
WHERE ARE WE RUNNIN'?
"Ahhhh..." Taylor spun back around and started to push Daryl backwards, making him almost trip over his own feet and almost fall down the ladder.
"What the hell?" He narrowed his eyes at her glancing behind her but seeing no reason why he was being pushed away.
"You don't want to go in there."
"One 'a my good knives is in there. Move-" He tried to get past her, stepping right to left and back again with her movements stopping him every time. She finally held her hands up to chest level, shaking her head vigorously from side to side.
"Seriously Daryl. Don't." Taylor warned. She dropped her arms to the side in defeat when he used his strength to push her to the side. He came back out a few moments later with two screams following behind him. He gave her a wide-eyed look, shaking his head quickly and bolting past her. Taylor ran in the lone room of the guard tower and Daryl could hear her shout 'sorry' before returning. He stood at the bottom of the ladder, looking up at her with his hand shielding his eyes from the sun. She climbed down and grabbed onto the side of it, taking her feet off and letting her hands slide along the metal like a fire pole. She swiftly jumped off three rungs high, handing his knife over with a wry smile. "You're welcome."
"Thanks," he smirked, glancing back up when he heard arguing and the door being slammed shut.
"Let's go." Taylor gave him a sideways glance before they both started to hurry off, Maggie hot on their trail. Neither one wanted to discuss the fact that they had walked in on them doing the deed, and Taylor was especially not in the mood to be reamed out by her cousin.
"Taylor!" Maggie called, jogging to catch up to them. She gave Daryl a curt nod and he could have sworn a death stare was accompanied with it. He stood a few feet behind the women, impatiently waiting for their preparation for Woodbury to continue. All he could think about was loading up the car and their weapons. Only one night of sleep, which he knew he probably would stay awake the entire time, stood between him and his brother.
"Yes?" She rose both eyebrows curiously, wondering if she was there to yell at her or for some other reason. Her question was quickly answered.
"I'm going with you guys."
"What?" The blonde shook her head, not wanting to even listen to her cousins explanation. There were already too many people going for her liking and she knew it would be dangerous, she couldn't live with herself if she had to return from Woodbury and tell her uncle and Beth that Maggie had died on her watch. "No way."
"Yes way. I'm going to help." Maggie clutched onto her shoulders tightly. "We're cousins, I'm here for you."
"This isn't your fight."
"No offense," the brunette peered over Taylor's shoulder at Daryl, who stood impatiently looking out onto the horizon. "But it's not your fight either. You shouldn't do this alone."
"Michonne is coming with us." She stepped out of her reach and gave her a sympathetic half-smile. "We'll be okay. I don't want you to get hurt. Stay."
"Glenn told me him, Rick, and Claire are going up a couple of hours after you guys as back up." She rose one eyebrow and a small smile crept onto her lips. "I'll go with them then. Maybe Glenn and I can make out in the backseat and then-"
"Okay, you can come with us!" Taylor held her hands over her ears and started to back away, sticking her tongue out. "Just don't ever make me picture that shit again."
"You guys loved it! Got you all hot and bothered!" Maggie called out to them, a fit of giggles following when the pair picked up to a jog to get away from her. "Don't do it in our garage!" She screamed out with her hands cupped over her mouth. Taylor's hand snuck around her back to flip her cousin off before heading back into the prison. Glenn stood next to her now with his hands on his hips, giving her a shrewd glare. He couldn't hide the small smirk on his face though.
"Think we freaked them out?" He pulled the hem of his shirt down, tugging up on his jeans so they covered properly again. Maggie followed suit and adjusted her clothes, realizing they weren't on correctly from being put on in such a haste.
"Nah, probably just made them jealous," she turned and stood on her tip-toes, her arms feverishly wrapping around his neck to crash their lips together. Glenn returned the favor with his own set of open-mouthed, hasty kisses, trailing some down her neck, eliciting a small moan from her.
"No," he shook his head at her and started to walk away.
"Whyyyyy," she whined, following after him with quick steps.
"We just got done, and just got caught, by your cousin no less." His head repeated its earlier action and promptly shook. "Doesn't it bother you that Daryl saw you naked?"
"No," she shrugged her shoulders casually. "Does it bother you?"
"YES, it does bother me that both of them saw me naked." Glenn's face contorted into disgust for a moment. Maggie frowned that he was so upset and distressed over something so menial.
"Taylor only saw your butt." She attempted to make him smile, but his frown creased further.
"That makes it so much better." Glenn chided, giving her a small smile for her efforts, he knew she was trying to make him feel better. Maggie was always just trying to make him happy, and that thought made the smile spread a little further.
"It should, you have a cute ass, she'll be jealous." Maggie chuckled as she spoke, unable to hold a straight face. He laughed along with her at that and turned to her, pulling her into his body.
"Shut up and kiss me."
"Hey Taylor, watch what I taught Bailey to do." Carl called over when he saw her come into the cell block. She stopped in her tracks and folded her arms over her chest, facing both the dog and the boy. Carl shaped his fingers and hand into a gun and pointed it at Bailey, a small smile on his face.
"Boom!" He called out, the dog falling onto the ground and laying motionless. Bailey stayed like that until they Carl began laughing wildly, the pup jumped up instantly, licking his face and running in excited circles around him. Taylor giggled too, giving him a thumbs up.
"That's awesome shortman." His grin broadened and he focused his attention back on the Bailey. Taylor started to walk backwards, watching him start to attempt to teach the dog a new trick, sitting on the ground and shouting 'sit' over and over again. She chuckled to herself and shook her head when the dog just stood in its place staring blankly into the child's eyes.
Taylor finally found her cell and walked in, her hand grazing the wall as she made her way over to the bed. She flopped down and laid on her back, staring up at the bed above her, it was still taking time to process everything, especially the fact that they were living in a damn prison. The thoughts of going to Woodbury loomed heavy over her thoughts, what if Merle wasn't there anymore? What if he didn't want to come with them? What if the Governor caught them? She couldn't keep her mind from reeling with all the bad ideas that were currently spinning in her brain.
"Ya okay?" Daryl's voice broke her from the deep concentration she found herself in. She titled her head up for the briefest of seconds and sent him a faint smile, then laid it back down.
"Of course." He crept over, placing his hands on the metal bars of the top bunk and leaning his weight inwards, looking down at her with concerned blue gems.
"If ya don't wanna go tomorrow-"
"I do," she hissed, rolling over on her side and propping her head up with her left hand.
"I just didn't want ya to feel like ya owed me." He said, almost sadly she noticed. She felt an unintentional giggle escape her lips.
"I don't feel like I owe because I don't owe you, I repaid my life debt, remember?" She smirked and he sighed in defeat, plopping down on the bed next to her. "Plus, you shot me. So if anything, you owe me." The devilish smirk that tugged at her lips grew and he rolled his eyes with a small mocking scoff. He laid down beside her, and took up the same position as her, she flipped onto her stomach and crossed her arms in front of her, resting her head on them.
"I still feel bad for that." He watched her eyes close slowly and her body move slightly as her shoulders shrugged.
"Don't." He watched her body relax as she grew closer to sleep, her back moving up and down slowly with every breath. For a moment, he imagined what it would be like if she had been bit and he was lying in the bed by himself. He figured it wouldn't be much different, he was a natural loner after all, but the thought still made him cringe. "What are you thinking about?" Her voice was breathy and soft and he almost didn't catch her words, too engrossed in his own imaginary world.
"Hm?" He looked over at her, she had moved to face the wall without him even noticing. "Nothing. Just that... tomorrow when we go..." he reached his hand out but retracted it, not always being the biggest fan of affection. "Don't leave my side, okay?"
"Why?" She rolled back over now, laying the same way as him and looking into his eyes. He blinked dumbly at her for a few moments before stroking the side of her face with his thumb.
"'Cause this Governor asshole sounds like three shades of crazy. I don't want ya to get hurt again." She nodded slowly and he sighed, pulling his hand back. The more he thought about it the less he wanted her, no, anyone to go with him to Woodbury. He counted the seconds go by in his head and soon enough he heard her the soft breathes coming from next to him. He glanced over and saw she was asleep, he pulled the blanket up over her and gently lifted himself from the bed. Daryl stood in the doorway, hovering between the doorway, he looked back at her sleeping form and thought what he couldn't find himself able to say before, cause I love you.
"Couldn't sleep?" Rick nodded towards Daryl who approached him on the moonlit pavement. Rick was leaning against the fence that had a large wooden pallet in front of it.
"Nah," Daryl bobbed his head from left to right, joining Rick and gripping onto the fence with one hand. He used his free hand to grab a pack of cigarettes out of his pocket. He slid one out and stuck it in his mouth, letting it hang while he fumbled to find the lighter. "Want one?" Daryl offered the pack to Rick who shrugged lightly before taking one for himself. They both took turns lighting them and Daryl returned the box and lighter back to their proper places.
"I didn't normally smoke," Rick commented casually, blowing out a steady stream of smoke.
"Social smoker?"
"Yeah, just when I went to the bar and stuff. Lori would of had my head if she ever caught me with one." They both blew out smoke in unison, watching it drift into the stale night air.
"Sounds about right, women always like to ruin the fun shit." Rick laughed along with him, knowing that he wasn't directly speaking about Lori, just women in general. He found it to be true anyway, girls had always brought him down when he wanted to do something dangerous or fun, Daryl chuckled being able to completely relate. Rick sucked in a deep breath.
"I gotta be honest about something."
"Shoot." Daryl glanced over at Rick who adjusted the gun over his shoulder.
"I don't like the idea of everyone going out tomorrow, to Woodbury, I mean..." Daryl blew out the smoke again slowly knowing exactly where Rick was headed with this. He turned to Rick fully and gave him a curt nod, agreeing with the plan he was proposing without so many words.
"Just me n' you?"
"Kinda," he let out his last swirl of smokey air and threw the butt to the ground, stomping it out with his boot. Daryl imitated his actions, also snubbing out the cigarette. "Leave Taylor and Maggie, take Michonne... she knows what she's doing. Less likely to get hurt, but-"
"I get it," he slipped his crossbow off his shoulder and held it in his hand, "let's go."
Taylor woke up with the light streaming through the barred windows of the prison. Her body jolted upright, instantly feeling a knot in her stomach, she knew something wasn't right. She slid out of the cell and slipped on jeans and a t-shirt, her boots coming last. Taylor pulled her hair out of the shirt as she made her way through the cell block, not having the time to do anything without walking in the process. She stopped short outside when she saw Shane and Lori huddled together and whispering on the bleachers.
"Have you guys seen Daryl?" They both gently shook their heads. Lori clutched her stomach, averting her eyes from Taylor's, but the blonde didn't have time to ask questions about their odd behavior. The last time she confronted Shane about it, it didn't end well, and frankly she wasn't up for round two.
"Okay, thanks..." she rolled her eyes as she spun around on her heels, looking for someone else to target. The knot in her stomach was growing heavier, the feeling of nausea washing over her in a wave as the feeling of already knowing where he was played in the back of her mind. The familiar click and scrap of a foot and crutch against the cement floor drew her to the noise. Taylor ran up to her uncle, her forehead creasing with her lips. It still shocked her to her core to see him without a foot, but thinking that it kept him alive made it slightly better; at least he was here with Beth, Maggie, and herself.
"Uncle Hershel," she whispered, when he stumbled, catching him and helping lean him against the wall.
"Just lost my footing," his weak smile made her heart break for him a little more. "I'm fine, dear." She smiled back at him, trying to hide the sadness in her eyes.
"I need to ask you something." Their eyes squared on each other, Hershel knowing the next words out of her mouth before she did. "Where's Daryl?"
"I can't say anything Taylor." He shifted his weight on the crutch, feeling guilty for keeping it a secret from her, but not wanting to tell from his promise with Rick and Daryl. They weren't stupid, they knew if Taylor found out she would try to come after them.
"Uncle Hershel," she felt herself automatically shift into pouting mode without even realizing it. "Please," she grabbed his wrist gently. "Please." Hershel's face fell at her desperate plea, but in the back of his mind he knew that no matter what he did or didn't tell her she was still going to go. She was a smart girl, something he couldn't credit his sister or brother-in-law for, but somehow she had pulled through the horrible part of her family and turned out good. A truly warm heart, smart, and willing to sacrifice anything for those she loved. He quickly discovered she also had a tendency to make rash decisions, acting first and thinking later.
He sighed, "him and Rick went to Woodbury without you." His eyes wavered slightly when her grip loosened and she turned to leave. "It was for good reasons, obvious reasons, that they wanted you to stay behind... do you not realize that?"
"Of course I do."
"Daryl told me he didn't want you to go anyway, so him and Rick would tackle this alone." He chased after her when she ignored his words and headed inside. "Taylor you can't go by yourself!"
"I'm not. I'll take Maggie-"
"I can't let you do that," he simply stated. He wouldn't let Maggie or Beth go, and he was going to try his hardest to not let his niece go either.
"Fine, whoever is willing to go."
"I'll go." Claire's voice came from behind them, startling them both slightly. Taylor watched as Claire came around the corner, playing with the ends of her long black hair. "I'm sorry, I kind of eavesdropped on your conversation. I'll go with you, to Woodbury, right?"
"Yeah," Taylor looked between Hershel and Claire. "You sure?"
"Definitely. I didn't want Rick to go to begin with, but now that I've noticed he's gone... I mean, I just put the pieces together that he went alone. I'm scared that he..." she frowned and the twirling of her hair became more furious, it was obvious that she was worried.
"He's with Daryl, they'll be fine." Taylor reassured her with a smile. "I just want to go for back up, just in case." She finished with a narrowed glance to her uncle, who threw his hands up in defeat.
"Claire's very good with a gun, I would feel a lot better if you at least one other person to go with you, but..." he sighed indignantly, "but I trust Claire completely." He gave a slight tilt of the head and hobbled off towards the cell block. Taylor figured he was going to forewarn Maggie about not going with her but shrugged it off.
"So what's the plan?" Claire tucked a loose strand of her hair behind her ear, eyes widely looking up at Taylor to await the game plan that she rashly threw herself into. Subconsciously the blonde noticed her counterpart playing with her hair and began to braid her own.
"I wasn't a hundred percent sure-"
"I have an idea." Carl's small voice squeaked from below them, causing them both to back up and look down at him with inquisitive glances.
Half an hour and twenty walkers later they opened the large steel doors to the 'riot room'. The walls were lined with riot suits, helmets, bullet-proof vests, the whole nine yards. In a locker near by was another wall of guns, some were missing, for obvious reasons, but there were still a decent amount there. Carl got busy rifling through extra ammo, tear gas grenades, and smoke grenades, packing them all into a bag for the girls. As Taylor and Claire filled up a duffel bag with two of the suits and guns, Carl stepped over and handed the brown sack to them with a large grin plastered on his face.
"Listen," he started, peering between the two, "I don't think it's a good idea for two girls to go on this mission alone... you need a man." The two girls burst into a fit of giggles, stopping abruptly when Carl's face fell.
"Awwh," Claire cooed, patting his head sympathetically. "That's really nice of you Carl, but I think your dad would kill us."
"No he wouldn't! He would want you guys to have me around, I'm a really good shot." He practically whined, letting his hand fall automatically to the pistol holstered to his hip.
"Shortman," Taylor got down to his level giving him a small, understanding smile. "I know you really want to help, but I think we got this. We're just going as back up anyway."
"Then why do you need all the weapons?" He asked skeptically, one eyebrow raising as he spoke.
"In our defense, you were the one that brought us here." Claire ruffled his brown locks again before sliding the straps onto her shoulders. "But it would never hurt to be prepared."
"Right." Taylor slung the duffel bag across her chest and back, starting to leave the room. "Not to mention, they need you here to protect them. Shane can only do so much."
Carl nodded now with a bright grin, it was true, he could definitely help Shane protect the prison and all the people within it. He spun around and shut the doors tightly, pulling his flashlight and pistol back out to lead them back to the cell block.
"How did you...?" Taylor glanced around to the backseat where Maggie sat smiling with her sniper rifle sitting neatly on her lap.
"Ahh, my dad's a pushover, it didn't take long to talk him into it." She shrugged nonchalantly, showing that it was a piece of cake. Taylor eyes shifted to the snarling girl next to her cousin.
"And you are just coming for... what? Moral support?"
"To be helpful, of course." Cassidy glared up at her, a soft, fake smile slowly taking its place.
"Right." Claire gave Taylor a quick unconvinced look before strapping her seat belt. All four belts clicked in unison before Taylor revved the engine to life. She turned to Claire again with an anxious grin, "let's do this."