AN# 1: Thank you so much for your interest in my story, I appreciate each and every review, fave and follow.
I do own or profit from the walking dead in any form( tv or comics or graphic novel)
Chapter 3
"The elephants love for him was a love I have never known~ yet always longed for. For why should he be remembered always and not I ?" ~ Benson Bruno
Carol slumped back in her chair in shock. She scanned the faces in the room searching out Beth's who could only nod morosely as she bounced a happy Judith on her knee.
" These people are, ...are cannibals?" she said her voice thick.
"Afraid so Blue Eyes" Lieutenant Paul responded watching her as though her expected her imminent unraveling. They were in the kitchen of the house she and Ty had cleared. They had decided quickly by the fence they all needed to regroup and plan in a safe location. After the Lieutenant had cut short Carol and Beth's joyful ( tearful) reunion ,Carol had lead them back.
The lieutenant's men had formed a circle around her, Beth and Judith as they walked, eyes vigilant for any walker or danger. During the walk Beth had told Carol all that had transpired since the fall of the prison. She had initially been with Daryl and Carol smiled at the way Beth spoke of him with awe like a heroic older brother. When the funeral home her and Daryl had been taking shelter in was overrun she had run out to the road as instructed by Daryl. A black car had appeared driving erratically and she had stumbled falling down, hitting her head, and knocking herself unconscious.
She awoke later in the car of Gabriel Stokes a very troubled man. Stokes had been the pastor of the funeral home. After the Turn he had refused sanctuary to friends and neighbors and as a result his tenuous hold on mental health and clarity had been permanently severed. He hadn't meant her any harm just hadn't wanted to leave Beth unconscious in a herd.
Beth and Stokes had returned to his house after the herd cleared, but Daryl was long gone. Beth had spent two days listening to Stokes mumble about Terminal Cannibals before he had taken off while Beth was sleeping and never returned. That's how the lieutenant's group had found Beth. They had come to check on their friend Stokes. With no other option they'd had taken Beth with them. The next day they had come across a message to Glenn from Maggie and made the connection. Terminus was a trap.
Beth's saviours were from a safe zone known as The Hilltop, run by Lieutenant Paul and a man named Gregory. The safe zone had been formed by survivors of various survivors of deferent branches of the millitary when communication with Washington had ceased. They quickly realized it was fruitless to attempt to completely eliminate walkers. A better option they surmised was to provide refuge for innocents, and recently had begun stamping out groups individuals/ groups popping up who took advantage of the turn to be lawless and evil.
Lieutenant Paul and his men had been on the way to investigate reports of a man named Neegan tormenting a colony named Alexandria ( bunch a hippies pacifists the lieutenant had quipped), when they had decided to check in on Stokes.
Carol glanced around the room, The Lieutenant had sent one man back to Terminus to watch the place.
"Reynolds" he'd quipped "Make sure there ain't no god damn dinner bell rung before we get back". Another was on watch ( Thomas) and two others he'd sent back for their gear and vehicles(Miller and Gallant).the remaining three(Wong, Perez, and Anderson) along with the lieutenant and Beth had just finished telling Carol that their brief recon had confirmed Stokes tale.
Carol stood suddenly
"We have to get them out of there NOW"
"Hold on Blue Eyes, simmer down. Believe me we're going tonight but it's ( he glanced at his watch) 4 pm, they ain't taking anyone else now. We gotta plan this right, I don't want this lil start up corporation starting up somewhere else. We're going in about 11 hours, hit them when it's still dark."
"Anyone else?" Carol asked her voice croaking. Oh god not Daryl..
Beth reached across the table and squeezed Carol's hand " Bob" she whispered sadly" I'm sure Daryl's fine."
"We got there too late to get to your friend, Perez and Anderson went in last night to recon the place, what they found well let's just say it wasn't pretty. We're gonna make them pay Blue eyes."
"I'm coming with you" Carol stated firmly
" Well Blue Eyes, I wouldn't have expected anything else, but now get some rest. The boys and I are gonna plan our means of attack we'll talk again in fours hours and brief everyone of the plan, so rest cause Blue Eyes you look like shit"
/
Daryl opened his eyes and looked around the train car. The area around where he was sitting against the wall was cast in a soft comforting ethereal light, the rest of the car was darkly shadowed.
"Awww Fuck, I'm dead" he said to himself.
He heard a familiar giggle coming from the darkness. " You ain't dead Pookie, just dreaming". Carol said as she stepped into the light, smiling sweetly at him.
"This is a dream ?"he whispered
"Yup"
"Then come here" he reached up grabbed her wrist and pulled her down to him, settling her in the v of his legs. Her back to his chest, his strong hers banding around her abdomen. She laid her head back on his shoulder. He placed his face in the crook of her neck and inhaled deeply.
"I'm sorry" he whispered verging on tears. Dream Carol turned her head to look up at him and placed her hand on his cheek, he turned his face into her palm closing his eyes.
"for what?" She asked.
" I wasn't there for you, I shoulda told you the truth about, about how I feel about you. Maybe you wouldn't have felt like you were alone, maybe you woulda known you didn't have to sacrifice yourself for the group" Tears began flowing down his face as he spoke.
"Oh Pookie" Carol sighed and leaned forward wiping his tears away. "I've never felt alone with you, that's why I did what I did, I wanted to protect you" she smiled sadly" I can't lose you too"
"I miss you Carol, everything feels wrong when your gone"he squeezed her a little more tightly.
" I miss you too, but I think I will take a pass on theses less than stellar accommodations."
He snorted and said "Good at least out there you got a chance"
"Don't worry we'll see each other again soon. Very soon." She replied with a mysterious grin.
"Carol I got so much I wanna say.."
" and you will "she said interrupting him and kissed his brow softly "but for now just rest Pookie, I'm with you, I'll watch over you."
AN#2: So I hope Daryl wasn't too ooc, I wanted him to be angsty and suffer a little. Please excuse any military inaccuracies. I know nothing of the military, just have a lot of respect for them. I always believed more of them would have survived. Work, life, and my kids will probably kick my ass this week. I'll update when I can. Please let me know what you think:)