Chapter Fifty-Six

Daryl pressed a kiss to Carol's brow as they pulled down the long drive to the colonial. Even after he'd joined her in bed the previous night, she'd done little more than toss and turn. Thankfully, Sophia had been able to sleep. Carol had finally given up in her fight against slumber when they'd hit the road and the gentle swaying of the car had lulled her to sleep. She'd rest better in their own bed – for however long that would be. Rick was anxious to call the council together and decide when would be best to make the move. The prison was going to take a lot of work, and they needed to make sure everyone was on board for the monumental task.

He squinted out the windshield, happy to see Glenn and Maggie hadn't been idle while they'd been gone. They were working diligently with several members of the new group on weapons training. Lori and Tori were sitting on the front steps, encouraging those fighting, their own cheering squad, but the willowy brunette's demeanor changed when she spotted the car pulling up the gravel drive. She sprinted towards them, her hands planted on her slim hips, tight lines of worry creasing the corners of her mouth. The progress Carl and Rick had made in their relationship during the trip was about to be shot all to hell by the boy's mother.

Rick hopped out before the car had even come to a full stop, jarring its passengers, his hands settling gently on his wife's shoulders. "He's fine. Lori, he's ok. Breathe."

Her face flushed with anger as she smacked him in the center of his chest. "How could you take him on that run when we'd already decided – together – that he'd stay here with me!? Why!?"

Daryl nudged Carol awake so she wouldn't miss the drama happening just outside their window as Carl leaned over the back seat for a better view. "Boy, y' best get your ass out there an' let y' mama see with her own eyes y' ok."

Carl shared a worried look with his mentor. "I think I'd rather have you shoot me in the ass with your crossbow."

Sophia snickered. "Time to face the music. You can run, but you can't hide. Mamas have a way of ferreting us out sooner or later," she mumbled sagely, grinning at Carol when her mother ruffled her blonde locks. She sobered, contrite for causing the worry to crease his brow. "It's not going to be that bad, Carl. You were able to talk with your dad last night and it worked out. Your mom, she'll understand … as soon as she's done being mad."

"Yeah," he grumbled, "when I'm fifty."

"Baby, I'm telling you, I didn't bring him along behind your back," Rick said, his tone soft and placating.

"Don't patronize me, Richard Grimes!" she screeched furiously.

"He stowed away in the back. None of us knew until we were halfway to the prison. We would've wasted too many resources bringing him back."

Carl waited until Sophia climbed out of the Hyundai before slipping out behind her. He squared his shoulders and moved to stand beside his father. "Hi, Mom."

Lori stared at him long and hard, her sharp eyes searching for any injury before yanking him into her arms. "Do you have any idea how worried I was? Any idea what I went through when we couldn't find you?!"

"I left a note," he muttered lamely.

"Carl! 'Mom, Gone with Dad. Be back in a few days. Love, Carl' didn't go very far to relieve my anxiety!"

"I'm sorry I worried you," he mumbled, shuffling his feet. "I just … I couldn't let Sophia go without me."

The girl took a step to the left, hiding behind her father as the woman's sharp gaze pierced her. "You went because of Sophia?! Carl, I know she's your best friend –"

"Mom, it's more than that!" he cried, trying to get through her anger and make her listen to him. "She's my partner. We work together. If she was going, it didn't make sense for me not to go with her." He shoved her hands away from his shoulders and backed up a step, colliding with his father's chest. "You're so scared something is going to happen to me, you won't let me breathe. I'm not a baby anymore, Mom! If I leave with Dad or Daryl or even Shane, I'm safe. They'd die before they let anything bad happen to me or Sophia. And this time she really needed me."

He could see it was pointless from the look on his mother's face. His face twisting in disgust, he wrapped his hand around the strap of the pack on his shoulder and ran for the porch. "Carl!" Sophia called after him, shooting an apologetic look at Lori. "Hey, Carl, wait up!"

Lori shook her head, hating the animosity which had been growing between herself and her child. "What happened out there?" she murmured quietly. "Are you sure he's ok?"

Daryl shifted uncomfortably on his feet, even the hand Carol rested on his back bringing him little comfort. "There was a man – one o' Blake's, we think – in th' woods around th' prison. He grabbed Soph, was gonna try t' make off with her."

"We had him covered. I'd told Carl to stay back, but of course, hardheaded as he is, he didn't listen. He came up behind the man and …" Rick let his voice trail away. How did one tell his wife their child had killed a man?

Lori's hand rose to cover her mouth in horror. "He killed him?" she rasped. "Oh, god!"

Carol tried to pull Daryl away, but he was having none of it. "He saved her, Lori. Carl's a hero. I cain't ever repay what he did for Sophia."

Rick nodded at him as he wrapped an arm around his wife. "Don't go far. We need to assemble everyone and talk about this move. Get a vote and all."

"Lemme know when you're ready."

*.*.*

"Gawd! What is that smell?" Daryl groaned, his stomach rumbling as he stepped into the kitchen on his way to the basement to drop off his pack.

T-Dog sat at the center island next to Patricia, his hands and forearms covered in flour as the two worked together to roll and cut dumplings for the pot Alexandra was stirring. "That, my friend, is going to be one fine dinner," he grinned.

He didn't miss the fond smile Patricia shot towards the big man. Those two had been inseparable of late. Carol slipped around from behind him and moved to inspect the new girl's culinary prowess. Alex blushed under T's praise. "I took some of the rabbit your husband had stored away in the freezer. It's not chicken, but I think it'll make a fine pot of dumplings."

Carol took the spoon from her and tasted the broth, her eyes alight with pleasure. "This is wonderful."

"I used some of those dehydrated onions, bell pepper and scallions to make a stock. It was easy from there. Our men don't care as long as it's filling," she explained. "Not my usual fare, but I suppose it'll do considering our limited resources. I put some things on your list while you were gone … for the next run. I hope you don't mind."

"Y' keep cookin' like that, an' we'll get what y' need," Daryl said, laying a hand on his wife's shoulder as she held the spoon up for him to taste. "Damn, woman, y' got some competition in th' kitchen now."

Carol chuckled. "It's nice t' know we have help with the cooking. I was running out of recipes for rabbit and squirrel," she teased.

"Alex used to own a restaurant before everything went to hell," Patricia remarked, setting the rolling pin aside and adding more flour to the mix. "Y'all lucked up in finding her group."

Daryl left them to their work, tugging on Carol's hand to move her along towards the staircase leading into their basement room. He didn't miss her smug smirk as he set his pack and bow down in the corner. "Shut up."

"What?" she asked, her lips blooming in an innocent smile.

"Y' know what. Y' all smug and shit about what Patricia said … 'bout findin' th' group. Y' not always gonna be right, woman. One o' these days, y' gonna come across people who ain't so nice."

She stepped closer to him, sighing softly as she toyed with the buttons on his shirt. "I know. We got lucky."

"Need t' be more careful." It was all he said, but he made himself clear. He wasn't going to harp on the dangers they faced every day. He'd already scolded her for the risks she'd taken to get him back.

"Take your shirt off," she commanded gently, stepping back to remove her boots and set them aside.

He arched a brow. "Feelin' frisky, baby?"

"Just do it, Dixon."

Daryl did as she'd asked, reaching for her, but she side-stepped him, avoiding his grasping hands. His face fell in disappointment. "Carol –"

"Lie down on the bed … on your stomach." She knew how to soothe her beast.

He gave her a long searching look before he finally complied. The position made him uncomfortable, exposing his back to her in such a way, unsure of what she would do. He trusted her; he did, but it was hard to quell years of memories … memories of pain and torment which haunted him. And she banished it all with a single touch. His wife's delicate hands – hands which could cause untold destruction just as easily as offer comfort – smoothed over the rigid scars on his back, her fingertips kneading into the tense muscles. Daryl groaned, feeling himself sink into the cool quilt beneath him, his worries fleeing his mind to make way for the pleasure her touch wrought on his weary flesh.

"Gawd, woman … that feels fuckin' amazing," he sighed, closing his eyes and giving himself over to her, happy to be her willing slave.

Perched low over his hips, she leaned forward and pressed a kiss to the sensitive spot behind his ear. "I love you," she whispered, resuming her tender ministrations to rid him of the knots of stress riddling his body.

"Love y' too."

"I know you didn't sleep well last night. You couldn't have with all my tossing and turning," she retorted, a frown knitting her brow. "I'm sorry. I just thought since we had a minute, I'd try to make you feel better."

He groaned, wrapping his arms around his pillow and burying his head in its softness as she worked on a particularly tricky knot beneath his left shoulder blade. "Definitely makin' me feel better, baby."

"Daryl?"

"Mmm?" he sighed again, knowing by the tone of her voice she had something on her mind. "Spit it out, woman. What's wrong?"

Carol bit her lip, her thumbs continuing to dig deep into the ridge of his spine. "How do you think the council will vote? Do you think they're going to want to move to the prison?"

"Dunno. We'll jus' have t' see how th' meetin' goes." He turned his head to glance at her over his shoulder. "Still don't tell me what's botherin' y'."

Her touch stilled on his back for a moment while she gathered her thoughts. "I don't know … I suppose I'm just worrying for nothing, but do you really think this is a good place for us after Merle warned us to stay away? And who knows what we're going to find inside. What if it's more than we can handle? I don't want to lose anyone else, Daryl."

"I learned a good while ago, y' don't worry for nothin'. They're all valid concerns, Carol. Merle warned us away 'cause Blake's got his eye on th' place, wantin' it for himself. He's gonna feel threatened by anyone who can go in there an' clear it out, for one. M' brother didn't think we could take it, an' we prob'ly couldn't've before we took in this new group. But we're stronger now. If I could talk Merle into it, we could no doubt go in an' take Woodbury. If he wasn't so goddamn stubborn." He sighed, shifting beneath her as her skilled fingers kneaded a particularly troublesome knot on his lower back. "'Sides, better than going town t' town an' house t' house. Shit's good for scavengin', not for tryin' t' find permanent shelter."

"He's looking out for us Daryl. He doesn't want to put us in danger."

"Pfft," he scoffed, tired of waiting on Merle and his harebrained schemes. "And there ain't no sense in worryin' about what we're gonna find inside. Won't know until we can get in there. No use losin' sleep over it." He rolled over beneath her, his strong arm wrapping around her waist and pulling her down to lie beside him. "Y' know I ain't gonna let nothin' happen t' you and Soph, right? I will protect my family."

Carol carded her fingers through his hair, letting her worries go for the time being to revel in the comfort of his arms. "I know you will."

That half-moon grin, she loved so much, quirked the corner of his mouth as he nuzzled her cheek. "Trust me."

*.*.*

Rick called Daryl and Carol into the den, wanting to talk to them before the council convened to discuss the move. The archer raised a brow when he saw Lori sitting stiffly on the sofa and the kids standing awkwardly fidgeting in the middle of the spacious room. "What's goin' on here?" he asked, noting the sullen expression on his daughter's usually perky features.

"Actually, the children called us all here. They claim they have something to say," Rick said, trying to keep the amusement off his face. It didn't take much to sour his mood. All he had to do was take one look at his wife sitting there, her lips pinched in disdain.

Carol moved to sit next to her friend, reaching out to squeeze her hand. It couldn't be easy for her, being so at odds with her son. Daryl crossed his arms over his chest, tucking his hands in his armpits as he stared at the kids with a wary expression while Rick planted his hands on his hips and raised his brows. "Alright, what is it you lot want to talk to us about?"

Sophia and Carl shared a knowing look, but it took a nudge from her to get the boy talking. "I wanted to apologize," he admitted grudgingly. "I know I shouldn't have stowed away in the car for the trip to the prison. I was worried about Soph and I let my emotions get me into trouble."

Daryl snorted. "How long did it take y' t' memorize what she told y' t' say?"

"Daryl!" Carol admonished, shaking her head.

"Told you this was pointless," the boy said to Sophia.

"Just tell them what you told me," she hissed furiously in his ear.

Carl sighed. "I didn't mean to scare you, Mom … really. I know you're wanting to keep me close, to protect me and keep me safe, but you have to let me grow up. I'm a part of this group, too. I don't want to waste my life hiding behind you and dad, always having one of you save me. I need to be useful. I need to pull my weight and be a part of this team, to learn to take care of myself as well as the others."

Lori truly felt for her son in that moment, seeing the struggle written so clearly upon his face. "Baby, I understand, but you're twelve. You're just a boy … my boy, and I don't want to see you hurt."

"When Daryl was twelve, he was already fending for himself –"

"Oh, hell no! Y' ain't draggin' me into this shit," Daryl growled. "I ain't had a choice. You do."

Rick held up a hand. "Enough! Carl, you've proved you're more than capable, and that you're well on your way to being a strong member of this group." He shot Lori a silencing glance as she opened her mouth to protest. "Therefore, you are going to be put in charge of you mother's safety. Right now, she's doing well. She's handy with a knife and gun, but as her pregnancy progresses, she's going to need your help. Her reflexes aren't going to be quite as quick and on point. She's going to need you to have her back. And since Sophia is your partner … she'll be with you. With the two of you watching over her, it will go a long way towards putting my mind at ease."

"Are you sure this isn't just some way of punishing me for sneaking out?" Carl groaned. He emitted a small oomph as Sophia elbowed him in the ribs.

His father stared him down. "You want to protect others in the group, show everyone you're a capable young man, well, here's your chance. Take it or leave it."

"I'll do it, Dad. I won't let you down again."

Rick strode forward and rested a hand on his son's shoulder. "You didn't let me down, Carl. I understand you're growing up and want to prove yourself. This is the way to do it, son. I can't think of anyone better to watch after your mom than you and Sophia."

Carol squeezed Lori's hand, leaning over to whisper in her ear so the children couldn't hear. "It'll be ok. He'll never be far from your side now."

"I know. I just hate that he feels as if he has something to prove, and I hate that there's even a reason why he'd need to protect me," she lamented quietly, tears sparkling in her eyes.

"You're his mother. You don't want him to grow up like this. I don't want it for Sophia either, but we don't have a choice. At least this way we'll be able to keep an eye on them."

Sophia caught Rick's arm as he turned to move away. "I have something to say, too."

"What is it, Sophia?" he asked, his head tilting to the side as he gave her his full attention.

"I want to apologize for my part in all this. I shouldn't have helped him sneak out. I was selfish, only thinking of having him with me, having my back while we were out there. I'm sorry," she said, her gaze flitting over to her father who nodded approvingly. He seemed to know how much it took for her to admit she was wrong, acknowledge it and then apologize for it.

"If y' mean it, Sophia, I expect y' t' take your job seriously an' help Carl. Y' got me?" Daryl asked, spearing her with his steely blue gaze.

"I do, Daddy. I'll make you proud; I promise."

Rick smiled at the kids. "Ok, if there's nothing more, I'd like you two to go and gather the council. Tell them we're ready to begin."

*.*.*

The council assembled, Rick swiped a weary hand over his face taking them all in. Lori sat behind him on the sofa with Andrea and Shane, Glenn, Maggie and Hershel crowded onto its twin. Daryl perched on the arm of Carol's chair, looking antsy – but when didn't the hunter seem less than a ball of energy waiting to bolt into some new problem which needed solving. Their newest members had joined them as well, Tori taking another chair, her sergeant resting at ease at her back. Hopefully, he would be able to address them quickly and come to a decision on the move.

"I'm sorry to have pulled you all from other duties," he began, "but we need to discuss a possible move. I'm sure the run we went on is no secret to any of you by now. We've located a place – a prison about fifteen miles east of Woodbury – which would give us a bit more safety than what we have here."

"The same prison marked on the map Merle gave us?" Maggie interrupted. "The one he warned us to stay away from?"

"It's a risk, I know," Rick stressed, "but I think this place has real potential."

"There's fences, guard towers, plenty o' room for all o' us," Daryl added. "Merle didn't want us takin' it for two reasons. One, it's overrun. We woulda had a hellava time clearin' it, but with our new people, that ain't gonna be a problem. Two, th' governor has his eye on it."

"With the proper precautions, we should be able to fend him off," Shane piped in.

Tori watched them all speculatively. "What about runs? If it's that close to Woodbury, surely this governor person is going to take notice of any runs we make close to his town."

Rick clipped the map to a small whiteboard they'd found in the study and positioned it where they all could see it. "Here is the prison," he pointed out. "If we only hit the towns to the east, we should be able to stay off his radar. It's a temporary solution until Merle can come through with his plans, but it will bring us a measure of safety we don't have here. We can't afford to have another herd blow through here like we had at the farm. We need fences, walls."

"It's not to say there's not going to be a lot of work. There's a breach to the rear which will have to be shored up," Shane warned. "And there's no telling what we'll find inside. With the amount of walkers we saw in the yard, you can bet there's a lot more inside. They're going to have to be cleared out."

Hershel leaned forward, bracing his forearms on his knees. "There will be food, medicine, weapons. It could benefit the group greatly. If the soil is fertile, we could possibly grow our own food as well."

Glenn nodded. "And if we can find a town with one of those home improvement stores, we should be able to reinforce the fences."

Jamie shifted behind her, drawing Tori's worried gaze. "Sounds too good to be true, honestly."

"It won't be easy," Carol spoke for the first time, remembering what she'd seen for herself of the prison, "but name one thing that has been since all this started. We're together, we're strong, and we have a purpose, a reason to keep fighting to survive this."

Tori reached up and laid her hand over the sergeant's where it rested on the back of her chair. "I want our people to be safe, Jamie. I'm tired of running."

Rick crossed his arms over his chest, looking at each member of the council. "Alright, let's vote. All those in favor?"

The decision was unanimous … they were taking the prison.

A/n: We're beginning that transition to the prison. Yay! This chapter may have had a fillery vibe, but it's necessary to move the story along :D Next time: The governor begins to doubt Merle's loyalty, the group says goodbye to the colonial and hello to the prison. Really hope y'all are still enjoying the story. Don't hesitate to let me know what you think. Thanks so much for reading!