This chapter is going to have lots of Jamela and Allen in it. I haven't given up my Caryl ship but I want you to see it from third person point of view. Jamela and Allen are going to get some lessons in loving from my favorite couple, Carol and Daryl. So I hope you like this new addition to the group as much as I do.
Role Models
Daryl sat by a sleeping Carol and waited for her to wake up; she was an early riser and he knew that she would be waking her soon. Carol hated to be woken up; it startled her and upset her morning so he would just wait until she was ready to face the day. He was more than ready to go home, back up on the mountain to the log house with Carol.
Carol opened her eyes and saw Daryl sitting beside waiting for her to wake up. She smiled at him and stretched and sat up beside him, "I want to go home," she declared, "I want to sleep in a bed and have a shower."
Daryl took a quick glance around the room, no one was close to them, "I just want to go home and have sex".
She leaned on him and teased, "Not until the shower, I love you enough to tell you that you might be keeping walkers away because they can't stand the smell".
"Keep leaning on me like that and I'll start thinking that I don't have to wait until I get home or have a shower," Daryl mock threatened her.
"Just make it worth my time this evening, big boy", Carol kissed him and got up from the mat bed almost gracefully and went off the restroom that still flushed. She used the facilities, washed her face, and brushed her teeth. She found herself smiling at the Carol in the mirror, Daryl wasn't the only one who wanted to go home and have sex.
Daryl looked out the window to the parking lot; the battery on every car would be dead now, but there was usually an extra battery in the run vehicles. There wasn't any cars in the lot but if they loaded up all the food on the dolly and moved it out by the door and then go get a trailer or a truck.
Carol offered to drive him and wait until he got the other vehicle moving. He took Allen instead; it was quiet outside and no walkers had shown up overnight. He drove and Allen unlocked the gate and locked it back after he had driven it out. Daryl was testing Allen to see how he would react in a tense situation. Allen looked like a warrior with a machete type sword, knife, and pistol but being a warrior was not the same as looking like one.
Daryl found a truck about a mile away. It was sitting in a driveway and Daryl parked his vehicle on the street. Allen pulled the battery out and hoisted it toward the truck. Daryl found the key still in the ignition. He opened the engine hood and took the old battery out and put it in the back of the truck. He put the new battery in while Allen took out a big male walker and a smaller female one. He tried the engine several times and it finally caught. He gave Allen the thumbs up salute and Allen jumped in the other vehicle and they headed back, Daryl saw that there was a half a tank of gas in the truck and that should be plenty.
They loaded up the food supplies quickly and Daryl covered them with some of the mats. They went back to the highway by a slightly different route and were rewarded by finding a pharmacy. Allen and Caleb stood guard while the others went through the shelves. Most of the painkilling drugs were gone but Carol took everything she could find.
Jamela found some boxes and loaded up on everything that looked useful. Daryl took all the condoms, razors, soap, deodorants, and body lotions and then veered over to the vitamins. He had a box full of beauty products; he had learned that the women got really pissed if you came home without tampons and shampoo. Alyssa was helping her mother carry things to the vehicle and he took Carol's heavy load off her hands. They got as much as they could before the walkers started coming and they had to leave. Daryl watched Caleb kill walkers; the boy knew how to get the job done. He wished Merle could have been there to see his boy.
Carol drove the Tahoe back with Allen, Jamela, and Alyssa. Daryl took the truck and let Caleb drive. The kid wasn't all that good a driver but all he had to do was keep it in the middle of the road. Caleb was a hell of a fighter though by the way he was going through those walkers outside the pharmacy. Merle would have been proud to see that but he would have called the kid Caleblina and a pussy for sure. Merle didn't know how to express love and pride in some one. What would Merle have been like if he had allowed someone like Carol in his life? Someone who had the patience to wait him out until he couldn't fight loving her anymore?
Carol's had maneuvered Jamela in the front seat of the Tahoe. She wanted to get to know her better before they got back on the hill. Carol asked, "Allen said that you had a doctorate, what was it in?" Carol was hoping that it had nothing to do with law; she loved Michonne and Andrea but enough was enough.
"Electrical Engineering, " Jamela answered. "The job market is really tight right now."
Carol laughed in response, but asked, "Do you know anything about building hydroelectric dams?"
"I taught a class in designing power plants with water power way back in the day, " Jamela said, "I was all about saving the environment and see how that worked out. The human carbon footprint is almost wiped out".
Carol thought about the last two weeks; she had been captured and met Allen. She had visions that led her to finding Jamela. "I think the job market just opened up a bit, our little town is building a small hydroelectric dam. You can check it out in a few days. No rush"
Jamela found herself smiling at the thought of actually helping to turn the lights back on. She glanced back at Allen and saw how happy he was for her. She slammed her smile down and cursed herself for looking at him. He had spent two years in comfort and safety while Alyssa had been in constant danger.
Allen saw the anger in her face, and hoped that someday to give his side of the story. The first leader of the New Americans had been a racist thug who had kept him chained at night and worked as a slave during the day. He was not impressed by Allen's books or his attitude. Allen had made one escape attempt and been caught. He had been whipped in front of the others as an example. Allen still had the scars on his back; the wounds had become infected and he came close to dying. Fortunately the thug and some of his cronies had gone on a run and never returned. That was about six months into the ZA and he had given up hope that he could find them by then. He spent the rest of his time at Eagle's Nest learning how to fight with weapons. He wasn't the man she had married and divorced; he had scars of his own.
Carol kept the conversation light after that. This highway was fairly familiar from the other runs and every landmark was bringing her closer home. Jamela was glad that they were going to be with Carol and Daryl in this new place; it felt good to be able to trust someone again. Carol kept glancing at the rear view mirror to see how the truck was doing; Caleb had the hang of it now and Daryl wasn't hanging on to the door anymore.
Carol stopped at the guard post and said hello to the guys on duty today. She went on through and was soon headed up the mountain. Jamela watched her face; Carol was glowing at being back up here. The houses seemed to be inhabited and kept up. There were large garden spots close to all the houses and some of the houses had strong fences around them.
Carol drove by a large house with strong fences and beeped her horn shortly after that she pulled up in front of high fence and jumped out. Jamela looked at the large log house behind the fences when the front door opened and a blond woman with a baby came running out. She unlocked the gate and hugged Carol. A little black and white dog made a beeline for Carol and jumped into her arms. The next hour was a blur of people coming to see Carol and welcoming them all to McAllister Mountain. She and Alyssa were given a bedroom upstairs with two twin beds. There was warm running water and solar powered electricity; it was as close to heaven as this earth had now. Allen had a room in the basement to put his stuff in and he could either sleep there or sleep on a couch.
Ashton and all his family showed up to welcome Carol back and to thank Allen for protecting Ariel and Arya. Jo was saying that being at Eagle's Nest had been like a trip to a fat farm; she was now pounds lighter and working out with weapons almost every day. She invited them over for a welcome home dinner. Andrea had made fresh bread this morning and they had peanut butter sandwiches and a glass of milk for lunch.
Alyssa had a shower and got dressed in clothes they had scavenged yesterday. Beth and Ariel waited for her and she went over to Beth's house to hang out. Jamela was a little surprised at how quickly Alyssa adjusted to the new living arrangement.
Jamela enjoyed a warm water shower and being able to dress in clean clothes. Carol, Andrea, Judith, and the dog name Canary took her and Allen on a tour of the place. They were just leaving when Daryl and Caleb drove in. Carol had left sandwiches on the counter for them and they trooped in to eat. Carol showed them the greenhouse and the high tunnel. Crops were growing in both places and they were looking forward to having fresh vegetables for at least part of the winter. They went by a spacious log cabin that wasn't completed; this was Andrea and Rick's house. They walked over to Glenn and Maggie's house and asked Alyssa if she wanted to walk with them. The girls wanted to go over to Ariel's house and walked out with them. Maggie and Glenn joined them for a walk.
Carol took a deep breath of cool mountain air and resisted the impulse to kiss the ground at her feet. She opened the fences and they walked out into a glorious autumn day. The mountains were ablaze with color, and she was home. She smiled at Jamela and said, "Isn't it beautiful?" Daryl and Caleb joined them but Caleb took off with the girls. Carol laughed and said, " You've been dumped Daryl." He laughed, "He's Merle's son and they are cute girls is own age." Daryl took Carol's hand, " You won't dump me, will you?" She squeezed his hand, "Not anytime soon, its gets really cold up here in winter."
Sam and Dave had been invited to dinner and were working on a dessert recipe. Jamela had never been with any group of people so affectionate and loving. She found herself wanting to talk to Allen and wasn't surprised that he had sidled up her. "Allen muttered, "I don't care that you hate me, but will you at least talk to me?"
Jamela contemplated telling him to go to hell, but he did say that she could still hate him. "I do feel as if they aren't quite real"
"This people love each other and they will love you too. Alyssa seems to be making friends and I'll be your friend," Allen promised and his laughing eyes were as blue as the October sky.
"I think letting you be my friend is how I got Alyssa", Jamela retorted but she could wanted somebody to talk all this over with and Allen was there.
"So how did you protect Carol and the girls?" Jamela wanted to know since he hadn't bothered to show up for Alyssa.
"Our group at Eagle's Nest has been overtaken by Nazis. They were kidnapping women and bringing them back so that they could breed more children. They had attacked this place and been repelled and a scouting party had grabbed Carol, Jo, and the girls and brought them back to the compound. I convinced them that Carol looked so much like my dead wife that they let me have her and Caleb claimed Ariel. He is such a perfect specimen of blond manhood that they let him have her. Arya was so young that they let her stay with Carol."
She gave him a questioning look, "No, I didn't touch her and Caleb didn't touch Ariel. Things were getting dicey there but the good guys showed up in time. Daryl might still kill me at any time so I would appreciate you not bringing that subject up."
Jamela had to laugh; a jealous Daryl would be reason for concern. She had caught the look Carol had given Daryl when she told him that she wasn't going to dump him anytime soon. She had spent the last few days watching them love each other with their eyes. They could transfer more information with a glance than any two people she had ever met; they just seemed to have this amazing ability to communicate without saying anything.
Rick was sitting on the front porch when the group got back. He ran and opened the gate for them. He hugged and kissed Andrea and Judith. He had already talked to Carl who was hanging out at Glenn and Maggie's house. Jamela watched a new round of reunion hugging go on. She got it; they loved each other.
Michonne and Tyreese came out and there was more hugging and kissing. Jamela was happy to see that love seemed to come in a variety of colors. Everyone went into the house and she found it a little overwhelming and took a walk outside. She wasn't surprised that Allen followed her. They walked out along the road so that they could enjoy the outdoors. They didn't talk very much; they just enjoyed the day.
Everything had settled down when they got back. Michonne, Andrea, and Carol were sitting at the table talking and they called her over to join them. She sat down thinking that she was going to be the odd one out but found herself laughing along with them at their stories.
Carol left to take a nap and Andrea went to check on Judith. Jamela sat with Michonne and they got better acquainted. Michonne started talking about meeting the group at the prison for the first time. She was wounded and ready to collapse when they brought her in and they were rough on her because they didn't trust her. She had been locked up but could watch the group. Rick's wife had died in childbirth and Carol had been trapped in some room and didn't know that she had died. Rick was happy to see Carol and Carol was overjoyed to see the baby. Then, Carol realized that the wife was dead and her joy turned to sorrow. Michonne said that she realized that these people had not lost the capacity to love and she had been willing to earn their trust. Michonne excused herself to go upstairs and Jamela was left to sit at the table and think about all of that.
Alyssa came in to the house with the news that she wanted to move in with Beth. They had already moved twin beds in from Ariel's house. Caleb and Carl were going to move in there too to relieve the crowding in this house. Jamela said no, over and over again, she wasn't going to let Alyssa go live with a bunch of teenagers.
Rick said no, over and over again, as well. Carl was too young.
Allen talked with Caleb and said yes. Caleb wasn't asking for permission and Allen thought he was only being polite enough to let him think that he had a part in the decision.
In the end, Alyssa, Caleb, and Carl moved in with Glenn and Maggie for a trial period.
Jo had outdone herself. She had made vegetable lasagna and fresh rolls. Carol brought a salad made from greens from the greenhouse. Sam and Dave had brought apple crisp and vanilla ice cream. They ate in the center courtyard and everyone had taken care with their appearance. Jo had decorated with candles and fall leaves.
Ashton gave the blessing before the meal, thanking God for bringing his loved ones home and he thanked him for adding new loved ones to their family He concluded with a Scottish blessing.
May love and laughter light your days,
And warm your heart and home.
May good and faithful friends be yours,
Wherever you may roam.
May peace and plenty bless your world
With joy that long endures.
May all life's passing seasons
Bring the best to you and yours!
Jamela, Alyssa, and Allen ate together at a table with Carol, Daryl, and Caleb. The food was marvelous. Beth and Jonathan sang after dinner and. Jamela had never seen Alyssa happier; she looked all grown up sitting there. Jamela had forgotten how much she looked like Allen; she had his blue eyes and his smile.
After dinner the women all went into the kitchen and helped clean up. The men all sat in the center courtyard and talked. The kids all went into the family room and played video games. It didn't take all that long to clean up and soon it was time to go home. Sam and Dave had driven over but the rest walked home together. Jamela had never seen so many stars and the trip back seemed too short.
Everybody went to bed when they got back; Daryl took Canary for a walk and Jamela and Allen were left sitting on the couches looking at each other. Daryl came back in and locked up the house, checking all the doors and windows, and then went back to the bathroom. Jamela knew that she should go upstairs and get away from Allen but she seemed frozen in place. Allen laughed, "You do realize that everybody in this house is having sex tonight but you and me and Canary." He looked at Canary who was rolling around on the floor and acting goofy and he added, "And I am not sure about Canary."
Jamela said, "I will never forgive you for not coming to Asheville when this all went down."
Allen thought that lesser men might be deterred by such a statement and he ventured, "You were pissed at me for most of our married life and you had sex with me. It doesn't have to be a deal breaker."
"Do you have any idea what I have done to keep me and Alyssa alive?" she whispered.
"Jamie, I love you, I always have. You hate me but you love me too. Daryl gave me some good advice, he had seen me kiss Carol and he thought that she had slept with me to stay alive. He decided that it didn't matter what Carol had to do to stay alive; it might change her but it wouldn't change how I felt about her. I can't change the past, but I can try to make you happy here and now. Why don't we just be friends with benefits?" Allen said gently. She knew how gentle Allen could be.
Jamela thought of Carol looking at Daryl and telling him that she wasn't dumping him anytime soon,. She sighed, "The weather does get awfully cold up here in the winter. This better be good or your ass is back in the basement".
He gave her the smile that he shared with Alyssa. "Now that is an incentive to do my best. The basement is dark and scary."
He stood up and reached for her hand. Canary was fast asleep in his bed beside the door, "Was it good for you, my furry friend?" Jamie took his hand and they went up to their room. They kissed each other's scars and she found herself happy to be here and happy to be with Allen.
Carol and Daryl had lain in bed curled up together and waited until they heard two sets of footsteps going up the stairs together. Then Daryl had looked at Carol and asked, "Are you ready to make it worth my time?"
"Can we pretend that we are the guard tower and Beth doesn't yell and break the mood?'
Daryl handed Carol something that he had looted from the pharmacy that morning. She read the label and smiled at him. Daryl had brought back prenatal vitamins for her and the baby. Carol had cautioned Daryl so often that something could go wrong with their baby that he called him their "maybe baby." She kissed him and asked, "Do you think that I will need this to keep up with you tonight?"
He kissed her back, and said, "Yes, do you know how long it's been since we have had sex?"
She laughed and said, "Do you want the time in hours or minutes?"
Carol wondered if it was pregnancy hormones that made her so insatiable that night. Daryl told her if she didn't settle down he was going to start popping the prenatal vitamins. She told him that she had taken a nap that afternoon just to be rested for tonight. She just kept on chatting until Daryl stopped her conversation with a kiss and said she could ride the bronco tonight since she had had a nap. She called him "Old Dobbin" and they rode through the night together.
