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"The Pathway of Fate"
Chapter 2: Separated
Season 1, Episode 5: "Wildfire"
Main Pairing: Kagome Higurashi/Daryl Dixon
Author's Note: Not much dialogue, but it gets the story moving along faster. Also, the next chapter will be longer. Enjoy :D
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"Daryl… hear…? Can you… me?"
He was pacing back and forth, cell phone jammed so close to his ear it would've fused with his skull if he pressed just a little harder. "Kagome," he called out, worry and fear beginning to leak into his voice. "Kags… What's going on? Talk to me!"
"… wrong… Something went wrong at… lab. Where… you?"
Shit. Why now? Why now, when he wasn't anywhere near where she was? Kagome needed him, and he couldn't get to her. Not easily, and not in time. Why had he gone so far?
"I'm in Florida, with Merle. Listen, I'm coming back. Alright? I'm comin' back right now. Just tell me where you are. I'll come get ya."
"No! Don't… here. It's… dangerous… Virus got… people are dying and… back to life! Don't get… Okay, Daryl? Don't get…" Her voice was breaking up more and more, her tone becoming desperate. Static crackled in his ear. They didn't have much time left before they lost the connection completely.
Daryl stopped, eyes flashing angrily at how useless he felt. His free hand clenched tightly, wanting to punch something. From the corner of his eye, he could see Merle glancing in his direction, obviously overhearing the conversation. The older Dixon's eyes narrowed, and his face was set in genuine concern for the Asian woman that had stolen Daryl's heart.
"Say that again," he ordered into the phone. "Kagome, say that again."
The next time her voice could be heard, it came out alarmingly clear. It sent chills down his spine, and his heart nearly stopped with dread and panic.
"Don't get bitten! Do not get bitten!"
And then the line went dead.
"Kagome!"
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His last conversation with Kagome kept playing over and over in Daryl's mind, even as his concentration was split as he continued to swing his pickaxe into the Walkers' heads. When he and the others had returned from Atlanta in search of Merle, they had been greeted with gunshots and terrified screams.
Although the Walkers had been taken care of, the group now had more firepower and ammo, the loss was still great. Many in the Quarry were waiting for a new hole in their head and a burial, while the survivors were in mourning. Daryl didn't have time for that. He wanted to move on, leave these people behind and never give them a second thought.
Hell, they had left Merle for dead, hadn't they? Left his damned brother chained to a roof, for Christ's sake. No one had even wanted to go back for him, save for Daryl himself. And now, he was alone. What was the point in staying with a group that had done nothing but look down on him and Merle? Sure, they were vulgar and racist, but they never raised a hand to any of the women or children, unlike that asshole Ed Peletier, who abused his wife and would've started in on his little girl sooner or later. At least Daryl and Merle had hunted fresh meat for the ungrateful group they had been stuck with. And the only time Daryl had raised a threatening hand to someone had been to Rick Grimes, because he'd held the man responsible for Merle's imprisonment.
I don't gotta be stuck with them for much longer, he thought, swinging his pickaxe into another Walker. Merle had been the main one who wanted to stay, for whatever reason, but Daryl no longer had to listen to his older brother. He could go off on his own now, and no one could say jack shit about his decision.
I can finally look for Kagome. That had been his plan six and a half months ago, when things first started going to Hell, but hadn't. With chaos and cities panicking, there had been no way for Daryl to make it back to her. Communications had been knocked out, and all of the alphabet agencies had taken over. The CDC, where Kagome worked and where Daryl had assumed she was, would have been swarmed with armed forces. She has to still be there, he concluded. But if she wasn't… I'll just keep looking. I got all the time I need. Being alone wasn't anything new.
And Daryl refused to believe that Kagome hadn't survived. She was alive. She was alive, and she was waiting for him to find her. He couldn't imagine the alternative, didn't even want to fathom the possibility.
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With Kagome
Bow slung over one shoulder, while a quiver of arrows was placed over the other, Kagome entered Doctor Edwin Jenner's office. More often than not, she'd find him in there, hunched over reports and documents, or in the lab, hazmat suit on and experimenting. She really wished he'd take a decent break, maybe even sleep a little, but knew it was impossible. His dreams were haunted with his dead wife and what he'd been forced to do to make sure she didn't become one of the monsters that now roamed the Earth. Kagome couldn't blame him.
She had dreams like that, too. Living nightmares that would reside inside for the rest of her life. It had been there even before the dead started coming back to life, and she didn't expect that to change just because the world was seemingly ending. She had to live. No ifs, ands, or buts. She had to live.
"Doctor Jenner," she softly called out, not wanting to surprise the man. She stood in the doorway, watching him carefully. She never breached his inner sanctum. It felt… sacred. His office was where he kept his pictures of his wife, after all.
Jenner looked up, his face remarkably blank of emotion, yet his eyes undeniably sad. "Yes, Kagome?"
He's giving up. They were short on man-power, and the generators would only last so long. They'd run out of fuel any day now, Kagome figured. And then what? Just her and Doctor Jenner weren't enough to find a cure. Hell, they couldn't figure out what exactly the virus was, not with the limited materials and resources they currently had. If anything, they needed time they didn't have. More people, more information.
"I'm going out again," she said, "I was wondering if… you'd like to go outside, too?" Once the military had been overrun, there'd been plenty of guns lying around. She'd encouraged Jenner to practice, and he was now a decent shot. She was too, for that matter.
"No," he instantly answered, turning back to his paperwork. "No, thank you. Be safe."
Kagome nodded once to acknowledge his words. She'd known what his response would be, but had hoped… had hoped for something.
However, when she turned to take her leave, Jenner surprised her with his next question.
"When will you be back?"
She glanced at him over a shoulder, a small smile on her face. His tone had been concerned. It was a start. Was this a sign he was ready to live again? "Tomorrow. There's somewhere I want to check out to hunt, and I'd rather save the food supplies we have for when we really need them. I'll come back around noon."
Jenner nodded as his only answer.
And Kagome was left wondering if she was doing the right thing by leaving him alone, even if for only one day.
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With Daryl
He was fed up. He was fed up, angry, and overall frustrated. The Quarry group of survivors were full of bleeding hearts, yet, he knew, if it had been he or Merle who had gotten bitten, they'd be lining up to end them and not a single one would shed a tear. They'd probably be relieved they no longer had to deal with the 'dumb rednecks.' But no one wanted to even consider killing Jim. Bunch of hypocrites, Daryl thought. If they weren't going to handle the situation, then what had been the point of screaming and making a big deal out of Jim getting bitten by a Walker?
Currently, what to do with Jim was being discussed. Daryl had no idea why his opinion mattered; they all knew what his standpoint was.
"I say we put a pickaxe in his head," he said, stating the obvious. By this point, he was starting to feel like a broken record. "The line's pretty clear: Zero tolerance for Walkers."
"Now, hold on. Hold on," Rick insisted, holding out a placating hand. "I think the Center for Disease Control is our best bet – maybe even the only place that can help Jim."
Unnoticed by the group, Daryl froze where he stood. The Center for Disease Control? That's where he'd been headed, to finally start looking for Kagome.
Shane shook his head. "My bet is on Fort Benning. The place would provide food and shelter, if they're up and running," he said, putting in his two-cents.
"Fort Benning is a hundred miles in the opposite direction," Lori pointed out, shaking her head.
Rick cut back in, adding that he believed the army base had been overrun like all of the other military cordon they'd seen. "The CDC is Jim's best chance. And in the event of a nuclear disaster or terrorist attack, the government would protect the CDC at all costs. If there's any form of government left, it'd be there."
Seeing the matter as settled, Daryl picked up his pickaxe once more. He was determined to get this over with as soon as possible. The sooner Jim was put to rest, the faster he could start making his way to the CDC. Honestly, he didn't know why he was sticking so close to this group of people; he could've just left and been done with them. They could get killed off on their own.
Before Daryl could take a swing, Rick pointed his gun at his head.
"We don't kill the living."
Daryl scowled. "Funny, coming from a guy who just put a gun to my head," he snapped.
When Shane moved to stand between him and Jim, Daryl shook his head in disgust and threw his pickaxe down. To Hell with them. If they didn't mind housing a to-be Walker, let them. When Jim turned, like Amy was going to any minute now, they could deal with it on their own. Daryl didn't plan on sticking around, especially once they reached the CDC and he either found Kagome there or went on his own to look for her.
As things currently stood, he was planning on parting ways with the lot of them as soon as possible.
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With Jim safely tucked into the RV's bedroom, Daryl had gone back to putting holes into the Walkers' heads as well as the campers that had been lost. He'd been set to finish off Ed before the abusive man could reanimate, but Carol had stopped him.
"He's my husband," she'd said. When she began swinging the pickaxe down, sobbing, taking out years of abuse, Daryl couldn't help cringing. There was a lot of anguish behind the older woman, a lot of fear and rage for everything she'd suffered through because of Ed.
Carol may have been beaten down many times, but Daryl knew a survivor when he saw one. She was frail now, still licking her wounds and recovering, but she'd be able to stand on her own if given the time and opportunity.
Daryl's thoughts traveled to Kagome, not that it was anything new. She was always there, sometimes even in his dreams. She was a survivor, too, and smart. He just hoped she was waiting for him at the CDC. After everything that happened with Merle, Daryl wanted more than anything to see her.
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With Kagome
Sitting on a branch in the tallest tree she could find, Kagome calmly ate from the small package of trail mix she'd scavenged. Hunting for fresh meat was difficult, especially so close to a city, but not impossible. Animals – and the undead – tended to roam and somewhat scatter when their environments were disturbed.
And she had noticed something peculiar. The undead were beginning to leave the city. Possibly to find food? No one came into Atlanta anymore – not unless they were fools. The big city had been overrun for a while now. It only stood to reason that the undead would eventually leave to venture elsewhere.
A muffled snapping noise caught her attention, as did the leaves that rustled as it was disturbed.
Kagome glanced down and towards the trap she'd set for anything that would fall into it. Daryl had actually been the one to teach her how to set it up versus her using an arrow and possibly breaking it. At least this way, the small animal was trapped and couldn't escape unless it somehow gnawed through the rope.
"Hmm," she hummed thoughtfully, "at this rate, I may be able to catch a couple more. I hope Doctor Jenner likes rabbit stew."
However, she didn't plan on staying at the CDC for much longer. Doctor Jenner was on the verge of giving up. She could read it in his aura – Hell, anyone could see the depression and resignation on his face. He no longer believed in a cure, in saving mankind from this virus. He didn't see the point anymore, especially after his wife got bitten and subsequently died. Kagome could barely remember the last time he'd left the building, let alone went upstairs.
He plans to die down there. She'd known it for a while. She'd done her best to encourage him, show him that there was still hope out there, but it had done no good. Doctor Jenner had sealed his own fate.
But the same couldn't be applied to her. Kagome was a fighter, a survivor. She had learned from the best while traveling in the Sengoku Era, and had learned some helpful tips from a certain hunter in her life. She could beat this world, and she'd find Daryl while doing it.
Kagome stowed her trail mix in the messenger bag she used whenever she went out. The sudden sounds of shuffling feet and gnashing teeth, however, made her freeze for a second. When her eyes tracked the noise, the amethyst orbs narrowed. Her captured prey had also caught the attention of an undead one.
"Oh no, you don't," she mumbled. Slipping a hunting knife out of its sheath, she silently dropped from her perch to sink the blade into the skull before greedy, hungry hands could spoil the rabbit.
Unfortunately, what Kagome didn't see were the two Walkers that appeared from behind until one of them grabbed her by the shoulders to pull her down to the ground to feast upon. The second quickly followed the first, teeth snapping and hands ready to tear into fresh meat.
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With Daryl
He listened with only half an ear as Shane talked about agreeing and trusting Rick's instincts when it came to going to the CDC. It was a quick turnaround, but it wasn't like Daryl cared either way. He'd been planning on going to the CDC with or without the group.
Although, he did have his suspicions. Shane had been adamant about going to Fort Benning, insisting that he knew what he was talking about versus a man who'd been stuck in a coma from before Walkers became a problem. It was obvious to Daryl that Rick was fast becoming the leader of the Quarry survivors, while Shane was being demoted.
It also didn't help that Shane no longer had his little fuck buddy. Said 'buddy' had immediately gone back to Rick, having previously thought him dead. Daryl may be a lot of unflattering things but he was damned observant. It didn't take a genius to figure out that Lori and Shane had been doing the nasty for a while now. The only one ignorant to the situation was Carl for obvious reasons.
So, the main question was: How could a man suddenly put his faith in another? Another who was clearly taking his place as leader even though he hadn't been there from the beginning? It made Daryl absolutely suspicious. There was no way a controlling bastard like Shane would just out-of-nowhere throw in his support behind Rick.
Daryl's conclusion? Something must've happened during Rick, Shane, and Dale's scouting expedition to make sure any lingering Walkers were taken care of. Something bad enough that Shane decided to back off and regroup. Probably rethink how he's gonna kill someone and get rid of the body.
And from what Daryl could see of Dale observing Shane… Yeah, the old guy was beginning to suspect something, too.
This group is breaking.
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The Next Day – With Doctor Jenner
Doctor Jenner rubbed the stubble on his chin. His eyes were weary, exhausted, and he didn't know how much longer he could continue. Day after day, he was in the lab and doing experiments. And day after day, it didn't feel like he was making any progress. Between him and his wife, she'd been the real genius.
And then there was Kagome. Jenner was positive he would've gone insane by now if he'd been left alone. Kagome always made sure he ate something, and she was brilliant at her work. Even before the virus got out, he had considered her one of the youngest and brightest the CDC had ever hired. Her continued dedication and support was further proof.
He didn't understand how she could continue going outside, however. Outside, where those… things… were. The things that used to be human until they just… weren't anymore. They had taken away his wife, had taken away countless others. What sort of life was Kagome expected to live in that type of environment? She'd be constantly targeted – and not just by flesh eating monsters. Jenner wasn't a fool. Sometimes, the bigger threats came from those who were still alive, still breathing.
How could he, in good conscience, let her live in such a cruel, dark world?
It was a question he'd been having more often than not lately.
Jenner shook his head, clearing his thoughts. He needed to do his daily log. If anyone on the other side could see him, he needed them to know that there were still people looking for a cure. That, maybe, humanity still had a chance to beat this thing.
He set up the recording, and looked directly into the camera. When it crackled to life, he began speaking.
"It's day 194 since Wildfire was declared… and 63 days since the disease abruptly went global. There is no clinical progress to report." To lighten the mood a little, he mentioned how he saved some power by finally figuring out how to shut off the scrubbers in the east sector of the building. He sighed, rubbing a hand down his face. "I've been feeling a bit off-kilter lately, thanks to living underground and sleeping odd hours."
Pausing, he then added, "Kagome has gone outside again. I still have no idea how she's leaving and coming back without tripping any alarms." At that, he smiled a little in amusement. "She's been a real help with the experiments. I think… I think if anyone can find a way to save humanity… it would be her." And he truly believed that. "She said she'd be back in the afternoon, but… Who knows when that is down here? For now, I'll continue with the next experiment with the TS-19 sample."
Giving one last glance to the camera, he shut it off.
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With Daryl
Morales and his family had broken off from the group, going to Birmingham to be with their people. Like Rick had said, Morales also had to do what was best for his family. After a tearful goodbye, especially between the kids, the family of four had gotten into their car and left. Rick had also gifted them with a gun and extra ammo.
Once the group had been on their way, it was only a few hours later when the RV's radiator hose burst and they were forced to stop. Daryl had wanted to keep going, but knew he had to be patient – as much as he could, anyway.
However, while Shane and T-Dog were away to look for replacement parts, Jim had requested to be left behind. The ride was too rough on him, his bones feeling like glass. Every bump was slowly but surely killing him.
With that, Jim had been carried to rest against a tree. Rick had also given the dying man a gun with a single bullet – to do with what Jim saw fit. Another tearful goodbye was said to another good friend, and the group was back on the road, a little more somber and a little more resigned to their fates.
Daryl honestly didn't know how much more the group could take. They were beginning to lose hope, especially with Jim no longer with them. Going to the CDC had been for his sake, and now he wasn't among them. He had decided to join his family.
More than anything, Daryl knew, the group needed the CDC plan to be a success.
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Later – With Doctor Jenner
Clearly drunk, Jenner said into the camera, "The TS-19 samples are gone. The tragedy of their loss cannot be overstated." He waved a dismissive hand, the gesture sloppy. "I bet there isn't even anyone listening to these transmissions anymore, so why bother with them? At least I can save myself some embarrassment when I kill myself in the morning…" He stared into the lens for a hard second. "Yeah. I think I'll do that." With the decision made, he turned off the last video log he'd ever make.
And in the background, unseen from the camera's angle, a digital timer slowly but surely ticked down the hours remaining before decontamination.
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Sunset – With Daryl
No, he thought, staring with narrowed eyes at his surroundings. No, no, no. That couldn't be the Center for Disease Control building. It was locked down and shuttered, with countless bodies dead on the ground. Another military cordon had been overrun.
Daryl parked his truck, eyes carefully scanning the area for any signs of movement. His only hope that Kagome was still around – alive – was the fact that the building, itself, didn't appear touched. If she was inside… He had to check. He had to make sure.
Quietly, crossbow ready and aimed, he and the group approached the CDC. Sophia and Carl clung to their mothers, while the rest formed as much of a circle as they could to protect them in the center.
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With Doctor Jenner
When the proximity alarms sounded, it was enough of a surprise jolt that Jenner snapped out of his drunken stupor.
"Kagome…?" he mumbled, brows furrowed, as he wondered if it was the young Asian woman. But she'd never set off those alarms before. Unless something was wrong and she had set them off to alert him?
Going immediately to the security monitor, he was stunned to see a group of people approaching the building. What were they doing here? It had been a while since the living had come anywhere near this particular location. So, why now? Why now, when he was ready to give up for good and end his misery?
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With Daryl
Daryl shot a Walker in the head, teeth gritted in frustration, as more started taking notice of their group. At the current rate they were going and by the way the building was clearly closed-off, they were going to have to retreat. There were no obvious ways inside to take shelter, and who knew if the situation inside was any better than outside? Hell, if the military had been overrun, what had stopped the CDC from becoming the same way?
Kagome… The last thing Daryl wanted to do was leave. He had come so far and was so close to figuring out where she was, to maybe even finding her. He couldn't just give up, but what choice did he have? Walkers were going to surround them if they kept standing around. Dying wasn't part of his plan, and he needed to be smart. He needed to survive if he wanted any chance of reuniting with Kagome.
"Rick," Shane yelled out, shotgun ready and pointed. "Rick! The plan's been shot to Hell. We gotta leave! We can still turn around to head to Fort Benning!"
"On what?" Andrea cried out, beginning to panic like everyone else. "We have no gas, no food. We'd never make it!"
Lori pleaded with her husband, "Rick, we need a plan! We can't stay this close to the city at night."
"We'll figure something out," Rick replied, trying desperately to find a solution to a seemingly hopeless situation. His eyes were quickly darting all over the CDC, praying for a miracle.
A miracle that someone was still alive and would let them in. They had to.
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With Doctor Jenner
"Go away," he mumbled, eyes transfixed on the screen. "Go away, all of you. Just leave me alone." His hand hovered over the button that would close the image down. Just one click and he could pretend he hadn't sealed the group's fate.
However, his eyes couldn't look away from the man's face – the one wearing a Sheriff's uniform and hat. Something about him… There was something different about him, Jenner could tell.
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With Daryl
"You led us into a graveyard," Daryl snapped, shooting another Walker in the head. He would have to resort to his gun at this rate, and that would just draw more attention onto their group.
Shane snapped back, defending his friend and former partner, "He made a call!"
"It was the wrong damned call!"
Rick ignored the chaos erupting behind him, eyes still desperately scanning for any source of life.
"Rick, we have to go, man," Shane yelled. "We can't stay here. We gotta go!"
Rick's eyes suddenly caught sight of a security camera's movement. Eyes wide at the chance – the miracle – they needed, he screamed, "If you don't let us in, you're killing us!"
"What the hell are you screaming about?" Shane snapped, incredulous.
"The camera – it moved," Rick insisted, knowing he wasn't crazy.
Someone from behind the former Sheriff said, "You just imagined it. Now, come on, we're gonna be surrounded soon!"
Rick slammed his fists against the metal shutters, not giving up. "If you don't let us in, you're killing us!"
Shane swore under his breath. Moving swiftly, he grabbed Rick around the waist and started to bodily move him away from the building. In the background, Sophia was crying in her mother's arms, and Carl was on the verge of tears as Lori held him as close as she could. Daryl and the others, meanwhile, did their best to defend the group from approaching Walkers.
Rick fought against his friend's grip, tearing Shane's arm away to charge forward once more. "We have children with us!" he tried, pleading with the camera. He slammed his fist against the metal shutters once more. "Please, let us in! We have children with us!"
"Rick," Shane snapped. "No one is there! We have to go!" Grabbing the other man, he started dragging him away again.
Rick screamed out one last, "You're killing us!"
Suddenly, as if the fates had decided to be kind, the shutters opened. The bright, white light that greeted the group instantly blinded them, but they couldn't help but to stare in awe at the miracle presented to them.
Kagome, Daryl thought, hoping – praying – that she'd been the one to open those doors for them.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
*Special Thanks to: Tubafox, TheOneAndOnlyDeidaraSempai, MidnightReader1, Guest (4x), Chibi-Clar, jyre aleon, KuroKat013, Unwanted Hero, XXkagomeX, erica, GiggleboxGirlie, redangel2463, HolyButterBalls, Thornado, ricebunny88, Kira703, The Voice of, AnimeAngel240, Alice, and Deadpool-girl :D
I wasn't actually going to update until January 2017, but you guys made me smile so much with your awesome reviews! Thank you so much! And thank you to everyone who followed and put this story on their favorites list (: You rock!