Chapter Fifty-Nine
Daryl took a deep breath and gave one last look over the group. Beth and Randall had been sent to the center tower for watch, needing only two – Rick had insisted for the mid-day shift – since no one was aware of their occupation of the prison as of yet. The marines were lined up on one side of the gate leading into the courtyard, Daryl wanting them to watch the purge and learn technique. The five going in now wouldn't try to take on the entire walker population by themselves. Despite the training Daryl had put them through over the last several weeks, he still wasn't sure they were ready. This would give them a demonstration they weren't likely to soon forget. Carol, Lori, Patricia, Maggie and Andrea stood to the left of the gate, armed with various weapons to pop walkers through the fence, though they seemed to be more nervous than the group of their men going in. Daryl couldn't bring himself to take that last long look at his wife. He was ready, his mind focused on the task before them.
Rick took point on the right, Shane ready to cover his partner to the left a pace behind. Glenn and T-Dog stood ready just behind them, and Daryl would bring up the rear, covering their six. Their formation was good … as long as no one panicked. Hershel opened the gate at Rick's quiet command and the advance was on. Adrenaline flooded fast and furious through his veins, his head swimming in a thousand different directions before everything came together and he found his center. He could feel Carol's gaze on him, tempering and filling him with a strange peace.
The former deputies went in strong, taking on the dead head on as T struck right, taking one out with his rebar lance. Glenn moved with an uneasy gait, hacking away with his machete, but soon found his groove, all the while watching out for the others. Daryl armed with bow and knife, bloodlust simmering just below his skin, worked to take out those closing in from behind.
"Come on!" Rick commanded, urging the group forward, encouraged by how well the purge was going.
Glenn felt a moment of panic as a gap opened up between himself and Shane on his right. "Get tight!" he warned, his blade sliding smoothly into the skull of one of the walkers in a blue jumpsuit identifying him as a prisoner.
Maggie and Andrea were loud as they banged on the fence, doing their level best to attract walkers over to them and away from the men. "Come on, over here! Hey! Over here!" Carol took her eyes away from Daryl for a split second to pop one of the geeks through the fence, her knife finding a squelching home in its eye socket.
The group continued to advance. "Don't break rank!" Shane called, glancing briefly over his shoulder to check on the others.
Daryl cursed as T darted forward to retrieve a riot shield. "We need that!" the big man explained before resuming his position in their formation. The hunter was ready to smack him for breaking rank, but settled for taking out the walker wanting to make a meal out of him.
Carol pulled Lori away from the fence, her arm slipping around her waist to steady her. Alexandra and Tori moved forward into their place and began the messy task immediately. "Breathe, Lori," Carol ordered. "Come on, deep breaths. They're fine, but if you decide to pass out here at the gate, it's going to distract them. Now suck it up, sweetie. You can do this."
Lori huffed out a breathy laugh as her gaze swung to her friend. "Well, someone's channeling their inner Dixon this morning."
She hugged Lori to her side and grinned. "Considering you're not pasty white any longer, I'd say it worked."
The purge group shored up into a tighter formation as they approached the inner courtyard where they could see more than two dozen geeks milling behind the fence. Rick had them fall back against a part of the building which jutted out from the main block. There were four guards – or what had been guards at one time – in full riot gear.
Daryl fired a bolt which bounced harmlessly off the armor. "Well, fuck!" he cursed quietly, his gaze flitting furiously as he looked more closely for an opening.
Lori held tightly to her knife as she edged closer to the gate. "I can't see them. Can you see them?! Carol! Where are they?!"
"They're there," she assured the brunette. "Back there around the corner. Listen and you can hear bodies hitting the concrete."
As the crowd of geeks began to thin, the group was able to loosen the formation. T-Dog, fueled with a new burst of adrenaline, worked furiously, pushing back the walkers with his shield before spearing them with his rebar lance. It enabled Daryl to move forward, slamming the stock of his bow into the head of one and then finish it with his knife.
"Daryl!" Rick bellowed, knocking one of the armored walkers to the ground while slashing at another. Daryl advanced quickly to his side, rushing for the open gate to the fenced in courtyard. Rick brought up his boot, landing a swift kick to the lone walker making his way towards his live meal, sending him sprawling back into several others. Together, they managed to get the gate closed and secured.
Shane, Glenn and T-Dog battled together to take out the remaining guard walkers, becoming frustrated when they weren't able to do much damage through the heavy riot armor. It was Shane, with a quick upward thrust beneath the guard's chin, who discovered the weakness. "See that?! Hot damn!" he whooped. T joined in his excitement as he and Glenn set off together to take out those remaining. Daryl finished off the last one with a knife to the base of its skull.
They all took a moment to look around and catch their breath, standing there underneath the gated catwalk above them where it offered a bit of shade. They were covered in blood and bits of nastiness, weary but inwardly jubilant to have met with such success.
"Stop," Rick called out to Glenn as the young man took a step towards the gate, anxious to let the others know they'd cleared the courtyard.
Glenn frowned. "Well, it looks secure."
Daryl shook his head. "Not from th' look of that courtyard over there." He pointed to one of the walkers littering the concrete, a woman in a pink frock. "And that's a civilian."
T-Dog clucked his tongue in disgust. "So, the interior could be overrun with walkers from outside the prison."
"We already knew we'd be facing something like this with that breach to the rear. Looks like a bomb went off back there," Shane added.
"What are we going to do?" Glenn asked. "We can't rebuild this whole place."
"We can renovate as we're able. We've talked about this," Rick sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "But right now, we have to secure a block; we have to push in. After we do that and get our people settled, we can discuss how we can shore up any breaches from the inside."
"A'right," Daryl agreed, which was enough to get them moving again. "We're wastin' daylight standin' around here." The group advanced as one across the courtyard, stepping over the bodies of the dead until they reached a caged stairwell. It led to a metal sliding door. Rick took point as Daryl slid it open, ready for whatever they might encounter.
The silence which greeted them was eerie, a shiver tripping along the hunter's spine as Shane closed the door behind them. Rick swung the barred door inward, and proceeded down a short set of steps cautiously, weapons raised, into what appeared to be a common room. They split up to search the room. Rick pointed upwards to the control room and set off up the metal staircase, trying to be as silent as possible. There he found one of the guards who seemed to have died from a headshot when the prison fell, and the inmates had been rioting. Luckily, he also came up with a set of keys.
The former deputy hurried down the stairs and motioned for the others to follow as he let them into the cell block. Daryl took point, taking a wide berth around the cell doors as he peered into one after the other, making his way to the other end to make sure the barred door was secure. Paper, clothes, litter and debris were scattered over the concrete floor, and though many of the cells were empty, others contained the bodies of prisoners who'd been put down in the chaos. Daryl preceded Rick up to the second floor, turning left as a sound had his sharp ears pricking.
The hunter inched along the catwalk, sticking close to the railing as he peered into the shadowed cells. His skin hummed with anxiety, that itch just beneath the surface which made him long to be near his wife. He needed her soothing presence to rid him of the ache building behind his breastbone. A sweet kiss and gentle touch of her hand would be his reward today for a job well done. He leaned back, his hip pressing into the railing as skeletal arms reached through the bars and a desiccated face pressed against them, snapping and snarling for his blood. Rick followed his lead as Daryl continued onward, encountering more.
"They'll be easy t' get rid of," the hunter shrugged, "all locked up as they are."
"It'll be those roaming the corridors that'll give us hell." Rick huffed out a sigh and turned back, knife in hand, to rid them of the unwanted pests. Finally, he leaned over the railing and whistled for the others. "We're clear. Probably going to take us the rest of the day to get this place livable, so Glenn … go on out and tell everyone else it's safe to come inside."
Daryl slung his bow onto his back and leaned in next to his friend. "Our wives ain't gonna be too happy about th' mess."
Rick clapped the hunter on his shoulder and shook his head with a wry grin. "Yeah … let's just hope Lori remembered to pack some bleach. We're gonna need it."
*.*.*
The group gathered around the fence leading into the courtyard breathed a collective sigh of relief to see Glenn heading their way. Carol was trying her damnedest to hold it together, to show support for Lori who was a basket of nerves. Maggie threw open the gate as he approached and didn't hesitate to begin checking him over for bites or injuries.
"Is Rick ok? The others? What's happening?" Lori said in a rush, her grip on Carol's hand bordering on painful.
Glenn slipped an arm around Maggie as she sagged against him, weak with relief. "Everyone's fine. We managed to clear out one section of C-Block, so at least we won't have to sleep outside tonight. It's going to need some work though."
"Carl, Sophia," Carol called, grasping on to the needs of the group and asserting her authority. "Fetch Beth and Randall from the tower and go out to the trucks to gather the cleaning supplies we brought from the colonial. Bleach, buckets, brushes, brooms, whatever we have. We need to have this done by nightfall."
"Miles, Cam! Go with the kids and watch their backs," Tori barked at her Marines. She stepped closer to her new friends, seeing the conflict on each of their faces. How she remembered feeling the same for her own husband. "Carol, I'm going to get the truck brought around … see about getting some of these bodies cleared out." She rested her hand on Carol's shoulder, meeting her wide azure gaze. "Go, we've got this. You're not going to feel better until you see he's ok with your own eyes."
Carol smiled with genuine relief. "Thank you, Tori. It means a lot to me."
She waved a dismissive hand. "It's nothing," she scoffed. "I'll make sure the kids get back to you quickly, and then my group can work on getting rid of the bodies while yours gets started on the inside. Soon as we're done here, we'll come in to help."
Tori watched the women move off to follow Glenn before she turned to her people. "Alright, ladies!" she barked, addressing the Marines. "Snap to! I want these bodies dumped next to the ones cleared out of the yard last night. You have two hours!"
There was a resounding "Yes, ma'am" from the four men as the sergeant shared a sly grin with his girl. Alexandra returned it, happy to see Tori resembling more of her old self. She had a purpose again, but without all the weight falling to her shoulders. Jamie and his men jogged down to slip through the fences to retrieve the truck they'd used yesterday for corpse removal. As he slid behind the wheel, he was still wearing a smile. They were fitting in well with the new group … they were going to be just fine. He was going to make sure of it.
Carol held onto Lori as they maneuvered their way around the dead walkers littering the courtyard, not wanting her to take a tumble and perhaps harm the baby. She'd never forgive herself. She could hear Daryl in her head, scolding her for feeling responsible for every member of the group when she shouldn't be taking it all upon herself, but she couldn't help it. They were her family and she loved them. She eyed the geeks trapped behind another fence as they growled and reached for them as they passed, but she could see they were no danger to them at present. Her mind was awhirl with things which needed to be done, but none of it was important enough to take her mind off her husband and whether or not he was truly well. She didn't think Glenn would lie to them about the well-being of their men, but it was as Tori had stated … Carol wouldn't be able to take an easy breath until she could see Daryl with her own eyes.
She vaguely glanced around the small common room before she was nudged to the side by Andrea and Patricia. The blonde hardass marched directly up to Shane and simply rested her hand on his shoulder, her clear blue gaze rising to meet his. He looped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her close, pressing a kiss to her brow.
T-Dog stood, quiet and patient, as Patricia's hands fluttered over him checking for injury. "You get bit? Scratched? Are you sure you're ok?" she asked, her voice strained with emotion. She'd lost her husband; she didn't want to lose T too.
The big man took her hands in his and dropped a kiss to each of her palms before holding them close to his chest. "I'm fine, 'Tricia. Don't get all upset when you can see I'm ok." She leaned in closer to him, resting her head on his wide chest, and Carol could see a solitary tear trail over the woman's cheek.
Rick hurried over to his wife and gathered her close. He could see her worry – the pregnancy hormones amping them up dramatically – and did his best to soothe her. Which left Carol standing there next to the open cell door leading into the block where her husband waited for her, his smoky blue gaze speaking volumes.
Daryl met her halfway, catching her trembling form and crushing her to his chest. He didn't know what to say, his emotions all over the place. It had been harder than he'd expected to go into a fight without her at his back, and the feel of his arms around her, the way she clung to him as if he was her whole world; it was indescribable. He hadn't thought he could love her more than the day he'd proposed, back on the farm with the moonlight shining down upon them through the trees, but he was wrong. So wrong. It seemed his love for her grew with each passing day, and it was something he didn't know how to deal with. But, by god, he'd learn.
Carol tucked her head into the crook of his neck and breathed him in, reveling in his natural scent beneath the decay of walker stench. Her hand dipped beneath the vee of his sleeveless shirt and stroked his warm skin, feeling the slight shiver which ran through him at her touch. "You were amazing out there. It's not often I just get to stand around and watch you like that." She dragged in a deep shuddering breath, letting the fear drain out of her. She didn't want him to see how frightened she'd been.
He blushed at her praise, but of course, Daryl could see right through her ploy. "Why don'tcha tell me how y' really feel?" he growled lowly, his scruff tickling the shell of her ear.
Carol snorted. "I was terrified! I don't think I'll ever see you surrounded by walkers and not be scared to death. I don't care how skilled you are."
Daryl tilted her chin up and brushed his lips to hers. "I'll always come back t' you, baby. Breathe. Let it go, a'right."
She grinned up at his concern. "I'm ok … gotta be. Just another day at Chez Apocalypse."
"Where's our daughter?" he asked when his searching gaze didn't find Sophia anywhere in their new home.
"She, Carl, Beth and Randal went with a few of the Marines to get our cleaning supplies from the trucks, Tessa and Rory are on watch, and Tori and the rest of her crew are handling corpse removal," she answered, bringing him up to speed.
"M' sorry this place is such a mess. Figured it was gonna be bad though with what th' yard looked like when we got here."
Carol patted the center of his chest. "Don't worry, it's nothing we can't handle."
"We were talkin' … tomorrow, we're gonna search th' Warden's office an' see if we can't find th' location of th' armory an' anythin' else useful. Then we're gonna push further in." He waited with bated breath for her questions, surprised when she just nodded. "Y' ok with that?"
"If we're going to make this a home, we have to make sure there are no walkers which are going to sneak into the cell block while we're asleep. It has to be done. There's no sense in arguing with you, either. I know you have to be in the middle of the action. It's just who you are, Daryl."
His mouth dropped open at her acceptance before he realized … "Y' ain't goin' down there with us."
Carol sighed. "Yeah, I knew you were going to say that, too. I'm not going to fight you on it. You'll be better able to focus if you know I'm safely tucked away up here in the cells. Sophia on the other hand -"
Daryl puffed up like a wet banty rooster. "She ain't goin' down there neither!"
Carol brushed her lips along his bristled jaw and shot him a gamine-like grin. "Then I hope you have a set of keys handy, because you'll have to lock her in a cell to stop her from running after her Daddy."
His wife was still chuckling softly as she flounced away to join the other women, leaving him grumbling behind and wondering what he was going to do with his head-strong daughter.
*.*.*
Carol winced as she stretched, her back snapping and popping from the strain. It had been a lot of work to get the common room and cell block cleaned, and her body was showing its irritation. Apparently, scrubbing walker guts on your hands and knees was more taxing than a good old-fashioned fight for your life, she thought sulkily. At least the stench of decay no longer permeated the block, but rather bleach and pine sol. The courtyard was another matter, but not pressing. A good rain would help to wash it clean now that the bodies had been removed.
Alexandra and Kayla had rebuilt the fire they'd used the previous evening down in the outer yard, preferring to cook outdoors rather than waste sterno on their camp stove which had been set up in the common room. It was simple fare. The girls had found some cans of meat flavored canned spaghetti sauce and had served it over some of their stores of elbow macaroni. Packaged pasta was still an easy enough find on a run. Carol had cut Lori's workload in half, having her supervising the children and boiling water from the stream next to the prison for consumption. She was hoping she'd be able to snare a containerful to wash with later.
Pausing mid-stretch, her eyes latched onto her husband on the upper level as he dragged another mattress from the far end of the block and deposited it on the perch. Curious as to what he could possibly be up to, she slowly climbed the metal stairs to join him. There were four mattresses – two on the bottom with two more resting atop them – and he was working a fitted sheet onto them. It was one which would fit a queen which Lori and Patricia had brought all the way from the farm. Carol's thick yellow and white quilt was folded nearby.
Carol frowned. "Pookie? Um … what are you doing?"
Daryl didn't even glance up at her question. "What's it look like, woman? I'm makin' th' bed."
"Something wrong with the cells?"
"Ain't sleepin' in no cage, Carol. The perch'll do jus' fine for us." There was a story there, Carol was sure of it. She could tell by the way he gnawed at his lower lip and averted his gaze, but she wasn't going to push. It was better when he opened up on his own. "'Sides, I can keep a better watch out here."
"Not much privacy, though," she reasoned as she dropped down to sit next to him atop their freshly made bed.
He shrugged. "Not like we can do anything here with everyone piled on top o' each other anyway." He pressed a kiss to her shoulder and let the ghost of a smile play at his lips. "But once we get this place cleared out, I'm sure we can find some place t' be alone."
"It doesn't matter. As long as we're together." She looked around their new surroundings and frowned as she noticed only two packs. "Where is Sophia's pack? Isn't she going to sleep here with us?"
Daryl shook his head. "She said something about wantin' t' bunk with Beth."
Carol arched a suspicious brow. "Did you check?"
"Well, why would I have t' –" His head swung around to his daughter's cell where Carl stood leaning against the barred door. "Oh, hell no!"
His wife crossed her arms over her chest and smirked. "As much as I love Carl and Sophia's friendship, I really don't think they need to be bunking together. And if Carl is planning on bunking with Sophia, then I'm sure Randall is thinking he'll be bunking with Beth, and we really don't need Hershel losing his mind over his baby girl."
Daryl was on his feet before she'd finished her sentence, stalking over to the cell his daughter had chosen for herself. Carl yelped as Daryl's hand clamped onto the back of his neck. "Th' hell's goin' on in here?"
Sophia bounded up from where she was sitting on the bottom bunk, her face flushed with embarrassment. "Nothing, Daddy! We were just talking."
His eyes narrowed between her and the boy. "Talkin' huh?" he growled, refusing to relinquish his hold on Carl. "Well, talkin' is for th' bright light o' day in th' common room, NOT in your cell when everybody's beddin' down for th' night."
"We've done it plenty of times!"
"Yeah, but y' weren't alone. Y' were with others."
Sophia planted her hands on her hips and glared at her father. "Daddy, are we going to have to have that talk again?"
Daryl pointed a finger in her direction. "We'll have this conversation as many times as we got t', Sophia Lynn. Until it finally sinks into that stubborn head o' yours. Now, get your ass out there an' talk t' your mama while I deal with this mess!"
Her eyes widened when he used her middle name – something he'd never done before. She hadn't even thought he knew her middle name. She shot an apologetic glance Carl's way and hurried over to where her mother was waiting for her on the perch.
Carl swallowed audibly. "We didn't mean no harm by it, Daryl, I swear. I was gonna sleep on the top bunk."
Daryl reached down to scoop up Carl's pack and then marched him down the catwalk towards the cell where he was sure to find Randall and Beth. He dropped his hold on the boy's neck to cover Carl's eyes when he found the two teenagers locked in a kiss. Fuckin' hellfire! "Randall!"
The two jumped apart as if someone had lit them on fire – and not in a good way.
"Beth, grab your shit and get your ass down there to bunk with Sophia where I can keep my eye on you two." His eyes were frigid as a fjord in January as they locked onto Randall. "And you," he spat. "You come with me."
Beth blushed scarlet and grabbed her belongings, keeping her head down as she slipped out of the cell to do as she'd been told.
Daryl didn't wait for the boys to follow. They knew better than to disobey a direct order from him. Sophia hung her head guiltily as he passed and headed down the stairs. He didn't stop his angry stride until he came to stand between the two cells which housed Hershel and his makeshift clinic, and the one shared by Rick and Lori. "Rick, Hershel," he called, trying for a calm tone and failing admirably. "Need t' talk t' y'all a minute."
Rick stepped outside of his cell, a towel slung around his neck where he'd been trying to clean up. "Something wrong, Daryl?" Hershel silently stepped to the door of his cell and waited patiently, giving Daryl the time he needed to reveal his upset.
"Wrong!? Y' could say that. I just found this one upstairs makin' out with your youngest, Hershel," he hissed, shoving Randall forward a few steps. "And this one thinkin' he was gonna share a cell with my twelve-year-old daughter!"
"What?!"
"I beg your pardon?"
Nothing like overprotective fathers.
Daryl paced belligerently before the others. "We need t' keep them separated. I got Beth and Sophia in the cell across from my perch where I can keep an eye on 'em, but we need t' get these two settled down here. Need y' t' find someone who'll be willing t' take th' cell on th' second floor. I know for damn sure they ain't gonna sneak past me up them stairs."
Further down the block, Andrea was giggling softly behind her hand. "Shane and I will take it, Daryl," she offered a second before Shane dragged her into the cell and she let go with a full-blown belly laugh. "Oh, my god, Shane! Did you see Daryl's face?" She went off again when he tried to shush her. "Papa Dixon!"
Shane shot all three fathers an apologetic look and ducked back into the cell to gather their belongings.
Rick swiped a hand over his face and groaned in frustration. "Son, what were you thinking? I know you and Sophia are close, but –"
"Dad, seriously?! It's not like that! We were just talking. I'm twelve for hell's sake!"
Randall swallowed nervously as Hershel speared him with a disapproving gaze. "Beth is eighteen, and though I can't tell her who she's allowed to fall in love with, I cannot condone a frivolous relationship between you and have her find herself in trouble."
"S-Sir, it was just a goodnight kiss. I would never disrespect her or her w-wishes," he stammered. "She's the sweetest girl I've ever met, and I don't want to mess that up. Y'all gave me a chance when you could just have easily killed me. Y'all made me part of a family, sir, and I don't take that lightly."
Hershel stared him down, making the boy sweat. "If that's true, then I expect you to act like a gentleman instead of someone I have to worry about stealing her virtue. You've only known each other a short time, therefore if you're serious, and can prove yourself, I will consider giving my blessing."
Daryl groaned and shot Randall a disgusted look. In his opinion, the farmer was going far too easy on the boy. He gave both the boys a death glare before he stalked back to the stairs to deal with his daughter. And there she sat in the shelter of her mother's arms, looking sad and dejected. His heart melted at the picture she presented. It made him want to hug her. He could practically hear Merle in his head calling him a pussy. When had he let her wrap him so securely around her finger?
Instead he crossed his arms over his chest and bit his lip … hard. "Sophia, I'm not mad." Wait! What?! That's not what I was going to say, damnit!
Her head popped up and a glimmer of hope shone in her eyes. "You're not?"
"No, but I am disappointed." He sighed. This wasn't going well. He was sure Carol would approve, but he'd catch hell if Merle ever got wind of this. "We need t' set some … um … boundaries."
"Are you going to separate me and Carl? Make it where we're not partners anymore?" she cried, fighting to hold back her tears.
Daryl shook his head and winced. How could she think he'd ever hurt her that way? "What good would that do? Y'all work together better than any other pair in this group. Naw, I'm not gonna separate y'. BUT, if y' wanna spend time together, y' do it in the common room or in the courtyard where someone can keep an eye on y'. Jus' 'cause y' don't like boys now don't mean y' won't in a year or two an' it's m' job t' make sure y' don't end up with a baby at sixteen. Y' hear me?"
Sophia looked at her mother. "Can someone literally die of embarrassment, Mama?" she asked, burying her face in the crook of Carol's neck.
Carol helped her daughter to her feet. "Come on, baby, and I'll tuck you in. You know your father is only worried about you."
Daryl collapsed down onto their bed and pulled a pillow over his head. He felt drained, and just wanted to curl up next to his wife and sleep for a bit. Didn't they have enough problems in this new world without worrying about teen angst? He'd take on a herd single-handedly any day.
A/n: Poor Daryl. He's got his hands full with those kids. I hope you all enjoyed it. Hope y'all love this fic as much as I do. Special shoutout to Geektaire. She saved me this week when I really needed a friend. You're the best, love! And if you haven't read her MacDixon series, y'all are REALLY missing out! Next time: Marty finds out some shocking news.