Disclaimer: Please check out chapter 1 for this – Thank you!
"The Pathway of Fate"
Chapter 3: Reunited
Season 1, Episode 6: "TS-19"
Main Pairing: Kagome Higurashi/Daryl Dixon
Author's Note: Hope you enjoy the extra-long chapter (: I can't guarantee that every one will be this long, though :P Lastly, important note at the bottom!
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Daryl and the others quickly filed inside, but the hunter was disappointed when a tall, unshaven man stepped in front of them to block their path. An automatic was plainly displayed in his hands, though Daryl was more concerned over the fact that Kagome hadn't been the one to let them in. Where is she?
"Why are you here, and what do you want?" Jenner asked, cautiously, as he eyed the group of survivors he had saved on a whim.
Rick answered, "A chance."
"That's asking an awful lot these days," Jenner replied. He looked over the group again, considering. "Alright. You can come in – if you all submit to a blood test. Are any of you bitten?"
Again, Rick answered honestly, "One of us was. He didn't make it."
Jenner nodded once in understanding. "Grab your things," he instructed. "Once this door closes, it stays closed."
Thankfully, they didn't have a lot. Carrying in their things only took one trip. Daryl did his best to grab as many bolts from Walkers' heads, however, as he passed them. While the hope was that they could stay at the CDC, he still planned on using his crossbow to hunt.
That, and he needed to find Kagome, wherever she was. As of this moment, she was his top priority.
Jenner touched a control panel, instructing, "Vi, close and lock the entrance then cut the power up here." Once the task was complete, he gestured for the group to follow him towards the awaiting elevator. "Follow me."
Daryl sidled up to Jenner's side, suspicious. "Do doctors always go around packing heat like that?" he questioned.
"There were plenty lying around," the other man deadpanned. "I familiarized myself. But you look harmless enough." They situated themselves within the small space of the elevator car. Jenner threw an amused glance down to Carl. "Except you. I'm gonna keep an eye on you."
In response, Carl smiled, rather pleased with the joke.
The doors opened, and Jenner led the group down a hallway. "The rooms aren't much, but I'm sure the couches and cots are comfortable enough. Electricity is limited, so you can't turn on anything that'll drain it too much, like the TVs. There's air conditioning, though." The last came out a tad sheepish, but his words were otherwise casual and trying to be welcoming.
"Are we underground?" Carol asked, holding Sophia close in front of her.
Jenner paused in his steps to glance at the shorter woman. "Are you claustrophobic?"
"A little."
He nodded in sympathy. "Don't think about it too much." He then led the group into the control room. "Vi, bring up the lights in the big room." When the lights came on, he turned to face the newcomers. "Welcome to Zone 5."
Daryl carefully glanced around, noting the absence of other doctors and scientists. His stomach twisted, dread filling him. There weren't any signs of Kagome still being here. Where was she?
Rick voiced one of his inner questions, wondering where the other doctors were.
Jenner couldn't look at any of them. "I'm… all that's left," he said, hesitantly. "There was another, but… she said she was going out, going out there. She said she'd be back in the afternoon but from what I saw outside, it's night now. She…" He paused, brows furrowing in a combination of sadness and frustration. "She was never late before." He could only assume the worst had befallen Kagome.
Jaw clenched, Daryl looked away before he did something rash – like beat the shit out of Jenner. If the other man had known that Kagome was going out alone, why hadn't he gone with her? She shouldn't be on her own, not when the world had turned into such a dangerous place.
I should've been here sooner.
His only hope now was that Jenner hadn't been talking about Kagome at all. He hadn't said any names, just that 'she' would be back in the afternoon and was never late.
Lori's voice broke into Daryl's thoughts. "What about the person you were just talking to? Vi, was it?" she asked.
Jenner's thoughts refocused, his mournful feelings put aside for now. "Let me introduce you. Vi, introduce yourself," he said.
And that was how Daryl and the others 'met' Vi, the CDC's computer system.
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Off to the side and away from everyone, Daryl paced like a caged animal. He'd given the doctor a blood sample, as promised for price of admission, and now he was ready to leave. Kagome was obviously not there, so what was the point of him staying? Staying with this group was pointless too. The only thing honestly stopping Daryl from walking away for good was that it was currently night time. Even he knew it wasn't smart to be wandering around, especially with the amount of Walkers they had encountered earlier. By now, the entrance had to be filled with them, waiting for fresh prey.
"What's the point in taking our blood samples?" Andrea asked, obviously irritated with the whole procedure. "If we were infected, we'd all be running a fever." It didn't take a genius to hear the scoff in her words. She probably thought Jenner was a quack, not knowing that little fact at least. And he called himself a doctor? A scientist?
Jenner didn't take any obvious offense. "Humor me," was all he said. When Andrea stood, she wobbled and nearly fell to the ground. Thankfully, Jacqui was quick to act, catching the blonde woman and lowering her safely to the ground. "What's wrong with her?"
"She hasn't eaten in days," Jacqui answered, hands resting soothingly on Andrea's shoulders. "None of us has."
Before Jenner could respond, a new voice spoke up from the doorway. Everyone jumped, startled, clearly not expecting the newcomer.
"Why didn't you say so sooner? I hope you like rabbit stew."
Daryl whipped towards the voice, shock widening his eyes, as disbelief colored his expression. He wasn't the only one either. The rest of the group and Doctor Jenner turned to find out who had suddenly appeared.
Kagome stood in the open doorway to the room they were using to take blood. Her clothes were dirty, and dirt smudged one porcelain cheek. Her long, raven colored hair was tied into a slightly lopsided ponytail, with pieces of hair framing her face. A messenger bag crossed her body, also dirty and half covered in mud, with one rabbit foot sticking out from the top. In one hand, she held her bow while a quiver of arrows was slung over the opposite shoulder.
All in all, Daryl was relieved to see her. His eyes hungrily drank in her form, head to toe, instantly noticing the blood that was slowly seeping from a wound near one shoulder and left side.
"Who are you?" Shane demanded to know, bringing up his shotgun defensively. If the stranger turned out to be a threat, especially to Lori and Carl, he'd kill her without a second's hesitation.
Instead of her answering, it was Daryl's voice that spoke up, further shocking people that the hunter knew the newest arrival. Even Doctor Jenner had to stare with wide eyes as Daryl made his way swiftly towards her.
"Kagome…"
Kagome smiled so wide she was afraid her face would crack from the sheer amount of happiness she felt, amethyst eyes sparkling. "Daryl," she murmured back, relieved that they were reunited against all odds. She'd known, however, that they would meet again. It was fate, after all. Or, at least, that's what she'd like to believe.
Without another word, she flew into his arms with a laugh.
He easily caught her, holding her tightly to his chest, like he'd never let her go ever again. His eyes closed, soaking in her presence and familiar scent even under the smell of mud and sweat. If they'd been alone, he would've kissed her but there was no way he was giving the others a free show. That sort of affection was reserved for Kagome, and Kagome alone. Their private time was just that – private.
Daryl did, however, mutter one thing into her ear meant only for her.
"I'm never leavin' you again, Kags."
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"So, let me get this straight," Dale said, staring curiously at Kagome and Daryl. After the couple's little reunion and Jenner had brought out a first aid kit to dress her wounds and clean up a little, everyone had wanted to know how the two knew each other. Of course, Daryl had (more or less) told them to mind their own damned business, but Kagome had been more than happy to tell them everything they wanted to know if they could move the conversation to the CDC's cafeteria so that she could start dinner. "You two," he gestured between Kagome and Daryl, "are dating – have been dating since before the world went to Hell. And you," he looked pointedly at Kagome, "work for the CDC." His words were impressed, as was his expression.
"Yes," Kagome answered, smiling, stirring the bubbling pot of stew. Daryl, who had taken perch on a nearby stainless steel counter, rolled his eyes. "Daryl and I started seeing each other a few months before… everything happened." Grabbing some bowls, she started portioning out the food. "And yes, I've been working for the CDC for a while now. I couldn't leave, not when Doctor Jenner was still working on finding a cure." The last was mostly directed towards Daryl, hoping that he understood her reasoning for staying versus going out to find him.
By the way he gave a small nod, she knew he did. And he accepted it.
Jacqui gently placed a hand on Kagome's arm. The kind older woman smiled. "I'm just happy you two found each other, honey. The world has turned upside down, and even more has changed. I'd count my blessings."
"Forget counting blessings," Dale said, waving a dismissive hand. He held up a bottle of wine he'd found with the other, grinning. "I'd say we should be celebrating our good fortunes."
Daryl hopped down from his seat. "Now you're talkin'," he agreed.
Kagome and Jacqui, along with Carol and Lori, helped to distribute the food to everyone seated at the cafeteria table. It was just big enough to fit them comfortably, with Doctor Jenner seated at the very end and Kagome seated to his left, with Daryl taking the spot on her free side. Rick and his family sat at the other end, with everyone else filling in the leftover spots in the middle.
Happy chatter filled the air, everyone content and relieved that they didn't have anything to currently worry about. Having a safe place to eat and just mingle had been something none of them could do for a long time. Outside, they had to constantly keep the noise level down, and they always had to keep alert to anything that went bump in the night.
Daryl mercilessly teased Glenn, though the Korean didn't seem to mind for once. "I wanna see how red your face gets," the hunter said, grinning, as he held up the wine bottle.
From his seat, Jenner watched with a small smile as Kagome conversed with the women and the children. Sophia was a sweetheart, thanking Kagome for making a delicious dinner, and Carl seemed awe-struck by the Asian woman. T-Dog was bragging about how good he could make powdered eggs, and Kagome easily challenged him to a cook-off tomorrow morning. Andrea and Shane were the only ones who didn't appear willing to partake in the merrymaking.
Dale stood to pour a small glass of wine for Carl, saying, "You know, in Italy, it wouldn't be too unfamiliar to see kids drinking a little wine with their dinner."
Lori laughingly replied, "Yeah, well, Carl can have some when he's actually in Italy."
"Come on, Lori," Rick coaxed, grinning, "It's just a little bit."
Giving her husband an incredulous yet amused look, she shook her head and conceded. "Alright. Let him try some."
When the cup was placed in front of Carl, everyone seemed to watch in anticipation as the youngest Grimes picked it up. He sipped cautiously and, just as quickly, his face scrunched up in disgust. "Eww," he said loudly, causing everyone to laugh.
"That's my boy," Lori said, pleased, as she took Carl's cup to dump the remaining red wine into her own glass.
Once Rick finished laughing at his family's antics, his eyes trailed to land on Doctor Jenner and Kagome. His expression softened with gratitude, and he raised his glass to catch everyone's attention. It went quiet, the others waiting to see what the former Sheriff had to say.
"We're being rude to our hosts," he said, "We should properly thank them for their hospitality. The only reason why we're here right now, drinking wine, talking, even getting to eat this wonderful food… is because of them. So, thank you." He tipped his glass in a toast.
Jenner nodded from his end of the table, raising his own glass to salute Rick and his kind words. Kagome did the same, smiling at the group, especially Daryl.
However, Shane ruined the good mood. His voice confrontational, he demanded to know, "When are you gonna tell us what happened here?" His dark eyes were focused on Jenner and Kagome.
"Shane," Rick warned, tying to keep his tone light. "We're celebrating right now. We can talk about this tomorrow."
"We came here to get answers," he scoffed back. He gestured between Rick and the two doctors. "This was your plan, Rick. We came here, and what do we find? Two doctors. That's it. I think we deserve to know why." He gave a mocking, expectant look towards Jenner and Kagome. "Don't you?"
Daryl growled, "Watch it." His eyes narrowed, just waiting for Shane to try something. He still had to pay the other man back for the chokehold from the other day.
Kagome laid a comforting hand on Daryl's shoulder. She exchanged glances with Jenner, wondering if they should get into everything now or wait, like Rick clearly wanted. Shane wasn't the leader; that much was obvious. He didn't get to call the shots.
Jenner sighed, but relented. If that was what Shane wanted then the rest of the group would just have to deal.
"Most of the scientists fled," he answered, keeping a neutral tone, "to be with their families and loved ones. The rest, after the government took over and were subsequently overrun, couldn't face walking out the door after that."
Kagome cut in, delicately saying, "They… opted out." The rash of suicides had been a very sad, very depressing time. The worst part was when they didn't completely destroy their brains, so came back as the living dead. Kagome had been forced more than once to permanently put down an old colleague.
Silently, without words being exchanged, Daryl held her hand under the table. She gave him a grateful smile, squeezing the comforting appendage, and linking their fingers together. In response, he gave a small nod of acknowledgement.
Jenner slowly stood from his seat, finished with dinner and wanting to go to his office. The current discussion had effectively brought up darker memories, and he didn't wish to be around so many people anymore, especially the children who shouldn't yet know about the ugliness of the world.
"Kagome and I," he said, catching everyone's attention again, "stayed, in the hope of doing some good." Turning to leave, he added over his shoulder, "Kagome, please show them to the rooms they can use. You know which ones."
"Yes, Doctor Jenner," she replied, watching his retreating form in concern.
The moment the doctor was out of sight and out of hearing range, Glenn said to Shane, "Dude, you're such a buzzkill."
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After Dinner
Kagome led the group down a hallway, hand clasped with one of Daryl's. Behind the couple, the women, minus Andrea, secretly smiled and muffled any giggles they wanted to release as they watched the hunter and young doctor. The men, on the other hand, couldn't help questioning where and how Daryl had managed to snag such a beautiful and intelligent young woman to call his own.
Everyone from the Quarry was used to seeing a more rough and hotheaded Dixon, but the one they were currently witnessing was more… content. It wasn't the exact word they would use to describe him, but it fit too. From the way Daryl would interact with Kagome, they were definitely seeing a new side to the hunter – a good one. And he was definitely not as racist as Merle had been, and Daryl's own racial comments had to have been influenced by his older brother.
All in all, they were beginning to see the good qualities Daryl had to offer, not just the bad and off-putting ones. It was obvious he cared about Kagome, and vice versa. They may not have known the Asian young woman long, but it was clear she didn't let anyone walk all over her and she had a spine of steel.
"You guys can stay in these rooms," Kagome directed, gesturing to the mentioned doors that lined the hall. "We also have a Rec room if the kids are interested," she added, smiling at Sophia and Carl. "Just please don't waste electricity by turning on the bigger gaming systems and things of that sort. We do, however, have a lot of books to read from just as many genres. And board games, of course. Help yourselves."
"Thank you so much, Kagome," Lori said, smiling gratefully. "This is all wonderful."
"Don't mention it. I'm happy to help. If you have any questions, let me know."
Carol asked, "Where's the bathroom? If it's okay, I'm sure myself and the others would like to freshen up a little." She couldn't even remember the last time she'd given herself a sponge bath.
Kagome smiled, laughing lightly. "Yes, that's perfectly understandable. The bathroom is around that corner." She pointed to indicate which direction she meant. "I would suggest taking quick showers, though." She started to walk away, heading towards her own room to give the others time to settle in. Daryl easily followed behind. "With this many people, I imagine the hot water will run out pretty fast."
"Did she say… hot water?" Glenn asked no one in particular, a slow, dreamy smile starting to form on his alcohol-flushed face.
T-Dog slapped his friend on the shoulder, grinning. "She did, my friend. She did."
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With Kagome & Daryl
Her room wasn't located that far away from everyone and, as soon as the door closed behind the couple, Daryl swept her into his arms to hungrily slant his mouth across hers. He backed them into the nearest wall, her legs wrapping tightly around his waist to bodily cling to him. As her arms slid around his neck, fingers playing with the hair at the nape of his neck, his own hands were busy with roughly tugging her dirty top off and throwing the mud-covered garment somewhere over his shoulder. Underneath, she'd worn a thin, spaghetti-strapped tank top that would've bared too much cleavage and toned abdomen for Daryl's liking – unless she was wearing it only for him.
Pulling back from the scorching kiss, his dark eyes narrowed as he took in her wounds. One hand gently smoothed over the bandage that covered her side, while his lips traced the one wrapped around her shoulder. Thankfully, neither was serious enough to need stitches but just the fact that Kagome had been injured left Daryl edgy.
"I'm okay, Daryl," she softly murmured, knowing what he worried about without having to verbalize it. "I'm okay."
"What happened out there?"
Kagome kissed his cheek, more to soothe than seduce. "I wanted to hunt for some fresh meat instead of relying on the supplies we had in the cafeteria's pantry. I used that trap you taught me how to make," she answered, smiling at the last. "I managed to catch a rabbit, but the sound attracted a… Walker? Is that what you and your group call them?" Daryl nodded in confirmation. She continued, "Anyway, when I dropped down to take care of it before it could infect the rabbit meat, I didn't see the other two that had crept up on me. As soon as I finished the first, the second caught me by surprise and dragged me down to the ground. The third followed, but I managed to roll away and back onto my feet. They're pretty slow, thankfully, so I was able to use my knife on them."
"You shouldn't have been out there on your own," Daryl scolded, scowling.
She pouted prettily, though her eyes flashed with defiance. "I find the situation entirely too ironic. The one time I go out and come back injured – bam, you're here." She shook her head, exasperated. "If I didn't know better, I'd think the Fates hated me."
Daryl shook his head, not commenting on her words. He knew she had grown up on a shrine in Japan. Just because she believed in a Higher Power and he tended to question it every day didn't mean he didn't respect her religion or her beliefs. He did.
He carried his precious cargo over to the couch situated near her cot, and sat Indian style in front of it, his back leaned against it, with Kagome in his lap. When she was comfortable, head tucked under his chin, he asked, "What makes you think otherwise?"
"Well… it led us back together, didn't it?"
The odds had been against them, Daryl mentally admitted. They'd been separated for over six months, maybe even closer to seven or eight, and the world had gone to Hell between then and now, with no signs of turning back. A lot could have changed since then. For one thing, either or both could've been killed by a Walker. Kagome could've left the CDC or Daryl could've left the group sooner to keep following Merle's trail after finding him missing from the rooftop. There were just too many variables to choose from.
"I guess so," he conceded.
"I know so," she replied, smugly.
He rolled his eyes. "Whatever. Smart ass."
"Funny, I don't remember you having any kind of issue with my 'smart ass' before," she coyly said, batting her long eyelashes playfully.
Kagome released a shriek in the next second when Daryl pinned her to the ground under his leanly muscled body in a move so fast she didn't have time to react. Her loud exclamation turned into girlish giggles as the hunter mercilessly found all of her weak, ticklish spots.
He grinned with predatory intent. "You think you're so funny, don't ya? We'll see who has the last laugh."
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Hot water poured over the couple heatedly kissing, hands caressing, and bodies moving in perfect rhythm. Strong hands gripped shapely hips. Legs clung to the slim waist between them. Moans and whispered encouragement and praise passed from one parted mouth into the other, each expressing how much the other pleased them without shame or hesitation.
A pale hand reached down to shut off the water. Steam cloaked the shower stall. But neither refused to pull apart just yet.
Daryl trailed his mouth down her neck, leaving wet, nipping kisses behind on the dampened skin. His hips continued to steadily pump, becoming harder and a little rougher, as the hands gripping her pulled her that much closer to meet his thrusts.
"No… not yet," Kagome panted, head thrown back. She squeezed her eyes shut, legs tightening to force a slower pace. "Daryl… please… not so soon…" A lustful mewl escaped when he gave a particularly deep thrust.
He smirked. His mouth continued to trail down her neck, passed her collarbones, and then stopped at her breasts. Using his superior physical strength, he hiked her further up his body, causing his next thrust to angle and hit the one spot he knew would shatter her control.
Daryl wasn't disappointed. Kagome's entire body seized with the powerful orgasm, her eyes popping open wide as she stared unseeingly. She would have screamed too but he quickly covered her mouth with his own. He knew he was a goner the moment he felt her hot sheath clamp down and milk him of every last drop he had to offer.
"Shit," he panted, a growling undertone in the one word. He had to use one hand to brace himself against the shower wall before they both ended up in a pile of limbs on the ground. Just like the first night they'd spent together, Kagome had a way of consuming him completely and utterly. And he didn't mind one bit.
A displeased whine fell from Kagome's lips as she used one loosely balled up fist to hit him in the shoulder. Daryl pulled back far enough to raise a lazy brow at her action, silently asking for an explanation.
"I said, not yet," she said, pouting adorably. Her amethyst orbs were still unfocused and glazed with pleasure, so he didn't take her words too seriously. She didn't understand just how much that expression turned him on. But she would. "I didn't want it to end so quickly…"
"Who said anythin' about it ending?" he huskily replied. As if to emphasize his words, his cock started to harden again from its place still buried inside her. They had all the time they could want now that they were reunited.
Kagome's eyes began to clear, but a gleam of lust started to spark within. The arms wrapped around his neck tightened, as did the legs around his waist, ankles crossing to hold him close. "Now that's what I like to hear," she purred seductively.
In response, Daryl smirked. He leaned forward to capture her already-kiss swollen lips as they started their next round of sex.
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Later, they laid on the cot Kagome had set up as her bed, with a nest of blankets and pillows she'd stolen early on. Daryl's back was pressed against the wall, one arm slung over her petite frame to hold her as close as possible. She was snuggled up to his chest, head tucked under his chin, and legs tangled comfortably.
"Daryl…" she softly inquired, hesitant. She hadn't wanted to ask before – hadn't been prepared to hear the answer – but there was no avoiding it anymore. She needed to know.
"Hm?"
"Where… Where's Merle?"
From the way Daryl stiffened, Kagome knew it wasn't good. Tears instantly watered her eyes, and she snuggled closer to silently comfort him. She had known she wouldn't like the answer – she'd known!
Merle, she thought, mourning the older Dixon brother. He'd been foul-mouthed and equally foul-tempered, but he had genuinely loved and cared about Daryl. They may not have showed affection like normal families, but it had been there. "Is he…?"
Daryl seemed to struggle with what he wanted to say. Finally, he settled on, "I don't know."
Kagome pulled away enough to glance at his face. His brows were furrowed, jaw pulsing, but the look in his eyes were resigned yet determined. "You don't know?" she asked, confused.
In gruff, blunt words, Daryl explained what had happened to Merle and his unknown fate. Kagome had cringed when he got to the part about finding Merle's severed hand, so he gently squeezed her.
"He's out there, somewhere," he finished, eyes on the ceiling as he contemplated too many thoughts with too little options. He looked back down to Kagome, a small smirk curving his lips. "Knew I had to look for you first, though. Figured you would be around here, and when the others decided to head this way too…" He shrugged, letting her make her own conclusions.
A smile curved her own lips, and she leaned forward enough to press a chaste kiss to his chin. "I'm glad," she murmured. "Still… What should we do about Merle? Like you said, he's out there. We should go look for him."
She would never know how infinitely pleased he was with the way she said 'we.' The way she always threw in her support and help had, at first, confounded Daryl. But now he understood it was just a part of what made up the amazing young woman that was Kagome.
"Don't know," he answered. "But with the two of us, we'll find him eventually. Merle's a tough son of a bitch."
Kagome quoted, "No one can kill a Dixon…"
"Except a Dixon," Daryl finished, smirking in amusement.
"We'll find him, Daryl. I know we will."
He pressed a kiss to her forehead. "I know," he muttered in return. "I know."
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With Doctor Jenner
After listening to Rick's drunken confession, it made Jenner more aware of what he needed to do. If a man with a strong will like Rick could feel hopeless in the outside world, how did others stand a chance?
Rick had been reunited with his family. Soon after, he'd been so desperate to come up with options to keep them safe, he'd grasped at any opportunity he could. The CDC had been his plan, his hope of finding answers to a world he no longer recognized. Jenner wasn't stupid. Rick and his group had been looking – praying – for a cure. Food and shelter, yes, that too, but mostly a cure. A way to stop them from becoming what they feared: the walking dead.
But that wasn't possible anymore. Jenner and Kagome had been working on various solutions with the materials and samples they had. Their own blood work hadn't come up with anything useful, except a few abnormalities in Kagome's samples, but Jenner had written them off as nothing. It could've been easily explained as genetic mutations that occur through generations or just based on region of birth. And now the last of the remaining test samples were completely gone, destroyed when the lab decontaminated from Jenner's earlier spill.
He hadn't told Kagome yet. When Jenner had seen that it was passed noon, he had assumed the worst. When she'd walked back into the lab a little worse for wear, he hadn't had the heart to tell her that everything was gone. It had become especially hard because Kagome had been reunited with her lover. Daryl, was it? She had looked so happy, so relieved to see him.
The least Jenner could do was give her one last night with Daryl.
His eyes tracked to the wall, looking at the decreasing amount of time displayed in red numbers, with a dispassionate gaze.
Tomorrow, everything – like the TS-19 samples – would be completely gone, burned up in flames until there was nothing left.
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The Next Morning
Kagome had managed to sneak out of bed, though she knew it was only because Daryl had drunk too much wine and was probably sleeping off its effects. The sheer amount of rounds of sex they had may have influenced it, too, but she wasn't complaining.
Besides, as much as she wanted to stay in bed with him, she had work to do. She hadn't asked how far Doctor Jenner had gotten in yesterday's experiments, and she was curious. He also hadn't seemed willing to discuss his findings, but she assumed it was only because of their unexpected but welcomed guests.
And Kagome had wanted to be a little selfish by spending alone time with Daryl, so she was thankful that Doctor Jenner seemed to realize that too.
"Good morning, Doctor Jenner," she greeted, smiling at the man. As typical, she found him in the big room filled with computers and the main system. He always started his mornings there, especially if tests needed to run overnight.
He gave her a slight glance before looking once more at the results on the screen. "Morning," he returned. "Sleep well?"
"Yes," she answered. She adjusted her lab coat, sticking her hands into the pockets. "How are the blood samples?" Her tone took on a professional quality, brain already realigning from survival mode to doctor of dangerous diseases mode.
Jenner's tone was off-hand, a little deadpanned. "No surprises."
"I see," she sighed. "I was afraid that would be the case. How about the tests you ran yesterday on TS-19? Are the results in?"
He waved a hand to a computer a few stations down from the one he was using. "See for yourself," he said. He sat back in his seat, giving Kagome his full attention. "I think you'll be interested to see what I found." Underneath his words, there was a subtle hint of something… wrong.
Unfortunately, Kagome didn't hear it. She raised an eyebrow, interest piqued. "Oh? Did something in the genetic makeup change? React?" Not waiting for an answer, she quickly walked over to see what Jenner had been talking about. "Vi, bring up the results from yesterday's experiment for TS-19." She read off the proper code for the needed information.
As she waited for it to load, Jenner slowly stood from his seat. One hand reached into his lab coat's pocket, palming a preloaded syringe he'd found from the CDC's Infirmary. After his little talk with Rick, Jenner knew what he needed to do, what had to be done.
"Ah, here it is," Kagome murmured, attention completely glued onto the video feed that had popped up. Her brows furrowed. "What's this?" She hadn't expected a video. Where were the lab results?
She started to turn. "Doctor Jenner—?" she began, confused, but gasped when a needle pierced her neck. Her amethyst eyes widened, incredulous, as she stared at the man before her. His expression was completely closed off, yet his eyes seemed… regretful.
"It'll all be okay," Jenner softly, soothingly said. When Kagome's body began to slump, his free hand easily caught her lighter weight so that she wouldn't collapse onto the cold, hard floor. He depressed the needle's plunger a little more, wanting to be sure she was deeply asleep for what was about to happen. Her eyes closed a few seconds later. "It'll all be okay."
He was, after all, saving her from a life of constant fear, starvation, and utter chaos. Kagome would sleep, and sleep, and sleep, never to awaken again. Jenner would save her from even the split second of pain when the entire building went up in flames.
Lifting her into his arms, Jenner set her limp body on the side as comfortably as he could. He gently brushed her bangs out of her face, wanting a last look at the bright young woman he had grown rather fond of since she began working for the CDC. His wife had considered Kagome as family, and Jenner couldn't do any less.
"Yes," he muttered, though he knew no one would hear him, "everything will be okay now."
TPoF*TPoF*TPoF
With Daryl
When he awoke to an empty cot, no Kagome in sight, Daryl had a split second of panic that last night hadn't happened. However, the two aspirin pills, a bottle of water, and a note left nearby quickly reassured the hunter that it had, indeed, been real.
He'd slept most of his hangover off, though his body pleasantly ached more than his head. He was more than likely going to drink more wine for breakfast, anyway, so only grabbed the water bottle and guzzled half before feeling remotely awake enough to face the others.
Picking up the note, he squinted at the small, neat handwriting that was definitely Kagome's. It was feminine and elegant, nothing like his chicken scratch or messy scrawl.
Good morning, Daryl, the note read, I had to work in the lab with Doctor Jenner, and didn't want to wake you up. I'll see you at breakfast. – Kagome
A growling hum unconsciously escaped his throat to acknowledge her words. Rolling off the cot with only a slight stumble, Daryl cracked his neck and then began rummaging for decently clean clothes to change into.
Once he was dressed and armed with a few hidden knives, he left the room to find Kagome and have breakfast. Or, in his case, hunt up some more alcohol.
TPoF*TPoF*TPoF
It was easy to sneak in without anyone commenting on his arrival. Daryl went straight for where he knew Dale had found the first bottle of wine last night. T-Dog was cooking at the stove, a frying pan full of eggs that actually smelled good. Lori, Carol, and Jacqui were busy preparing plates for everyone.
T-Dog glanced around the cafeteria where others were beginning to trickle in, all obviously hung over. "Hey, where's Kagome?" he asked, curious. "We were supposed to see who could make the better eggs."
"She's probably still sleeping," Jacqui suggested. "The poor thing did run into a bit of trouble yesterday."
Daryl corrected just loud enough for them to hear, "She's workin'." He grabbed the bottle of alcohol he wanted and left the pantry to take a seat at the table.
"What?" T-Dog exclaimed, incredulous. He blew out a breath a second later. "Well, I guess that can't be helped. She and Doctor Jenner do important work – and it's just them two." Going back to cooking, he wanted to make sure breakfast was extra tasty for the doctors. They worked so hard, and he (and the others) were grateful for a chance of survival.
Jacqui's eyes caught sight of Glenn, whose head was buried in his arms at the table. She smiled, amused, and went over to lightly tease the Korean male. "What did you learn, honey?" she chuckled.
"Not so loud," Glenn groaned, eyes squeezing shut. Everything was just so… hyper sensitive this morning, especially his pounding headache. He groaned again. "I'm never drinking that much ever again."
Rick appeared, looking a little worse for wear, but not stumbling on his feet at least.
Carl innocently asked his father, "Are you hung over, Dad? Mom said you'd be."
"Well, your Mom's right," Rick replied, smiling.
Lori chuckled. "Mom has that annoying habit." She gave her husband some aspirin pills from the big bottle that had been left in the center of the table.
Rick took them, asking curiously, "Where did that come from?" His head nodded towards the bottle.
"Doctor Jenner left them," she answered simply.
T-Dog came out of the kitchen, a pan of eggs and a spatula in either hand. He grinned. "These will help, too. They're powdered eggs but I do'em up good," he proudly said. He began dishing out breakfast, starting with the children then moving onto the more heavily hung over group members.
Glenn looked more than vaguely ill, but still thanked the other man for the food.
Shane entered the room, practically stomping over to the coffee maker to grab a cup. His expression was borderline dark, and he didn't say a single thing to anyone nor would he look at them.
"Do you feel as bad as I do?" Rick asked his best friend, smiling in amusement.
"Worse," Shane grunted. When he finally turned to face everyone, it exposed the scratches that lined the side of his neck.
T-Dog was the first to ask the question all of them were thinking. "What happened to your neck?"
The former deputy shrugged, though his eyes locked onto Lori. "Must've did that in my sleep," he casually dismissed.
Rick's brows furrowed. "Never seen you do that before."
Shane agreed. "Not like me at all." His gaze hadn't wavered from Lori once, though the woman in question pointedly looked down and continued to eat.
From his place at the table, Daryl rolled his eyes and scoffed under his breath. It was pretty damned obvious what happened last night between Shane and Lori. The former deputy had hoped she would give up the goods despite her husband being back in the picture, and she had strongly refused. When the shit finally hit the fan, like it was bound to do, Daryl knew this clusterfuck of a love triangle would not end pretty.
Instead, he would lay money on it ending with blood being spilled. But whose remained to be seen.
Jenner walked into the cafeteria at that moment, heading straight for the coffee much like Shane had done. His expression, however, was closed-off instead of dark and brooding. It made Daryl raise an eyebrow even as the hunter took careful note that Kagome was still nowhere in sight. It was starting to make him edgy.
As Jenner fixed his coffee to his liking, Dale reluctantly asked, "Hey, Doc? I hate to bombard you with questions first thing in the morning…"
"But you're going to," Jenner concluded, exasperated but resigned.
Andrea set down her fork, a look of accusation starting to glimmer in her blue eyes. Ever since last night, she had started to see the merit behind Shane's demands for answers from the doctors. The Quarry group of survivors deserved them, after all, especially after everything they had gone through… Everything – Everyone – they had lost. Jim. Amy.
"We didn't come here for the eggs," she said, voice hardening in determination.
Jenner appeared to consider his next decision carefully. "Very well," he said. "Follow me to the control center. There's something all of you should see." Without waiting for a response, he turned and walked back in the direction he came, cup of coffee in hand.
Daryl was the first to stand and follow. The alcohol he'd planned on consuming for breakfast was completely forgotten in favor of finding Kagome. He wasn't sure what, exactly, tipped him off, but something definitely didn't feel right.
He easily caught up to Jenner. "Where's Kagome?" he gruffly asked.
"She's still working." The other man didn't even bat an eyelash. "Last I saw, she was looking over the results of yesterday's experiments."
What the hell? Daryl thought, eyes narrowing suspiciously. What he'd just heard… It sounded like a mixture of lies and truth. What the hell is goin' on here?
Everyone gathered within the big room, with Jenner leading the pack. He approached a computer and tapped a few keys on the keyboard to wake up the system.
"Vi," he ordered, "display the brain scans from Test Subject 19."
When the video popped up on the screen, everyone watched it with confused gazes.
"What's this?" Rick asked.
Jenner explained, "This ultra-secret, though worthless, video shows someone who was infected and allowed the process of reanimation to be recorded by the CDC."
From there, the doctor talked about the synapses throughout the brain. His tone had taken on a hard, cynical quality. "Experience, memories… Somewhere in all that organic wiring is you. The thing that makes you unique and human."
Daryl watched in morbid fascination as the virus started attacking the brain; the First Event, as Jenner labeled it. It was… disturbing… watching as the brain went dark, the body dying.
"Everything you were or ever will be – gone," Jenner stated with finality.
And the hunter couldn't help thinking:
Is that the fucked up fate all of us are destined for?
Daryl straightened his back, jaw clenching. His hands curled into fists at his sides, ignoring the conversations happening around him. A sudden sense of calm enveloped his being. What he and the group were witnessing may be others' fates, but it wasn't going to be Daryl's or Kagome's.
They'd make it, because they had to. It was as simple as that. They had to.
TPoF*TPoF*TPoF
When Jenner started showing the group what the Second Event – TS-19's resurrection – was, Lori couldn't help but to ask, "It restarts the brain?"
"Just the brain-stem," Jenner corrected. "The human part – the you part – that doesn't come back." When the bullet flew through TS-19's skull, he continued speaking. "Kagome and I don't know what this… disease is. Or how to treat it. We've run numerous tests, run just as many blood samples." His thoughts briefly touched on the abnormalities he'd found in Kagome's blood but just as quickly disregarded it once again. It doesn't matter anymore. "We've lost touch with the other research facilities. We've been in the dark for almost a month." They'd run out of time.
Andrea pointed an accusatory finger. "There's nothing left anywhere. That's what you're really saying, right?"
When the doctor didn't respond, the group was stunned into silence.
Daryl began pacing in tight circles, a low growl starting to form in his chest. His edgy feeling from earlier was starting to blossom into full-blown panic. Did Kagome know about this, too? She had been working with Doctor Jenner, so Daryl could only assume she did. But, if that were the case, why hadn't she said anything? He could understand not saying anything to the group – Kagome didn't know them; he couldn't expect her to trust them just because he traveled with them, especially after telling her what happened to Merle – but why not him? She'd had all night to say something, anything.
He needed to find her. Jumping to conclusions wouldn't help the situation. He needed to talk to her. Daryl and Kagome may not have been dating long – had, in fact, been separated longer than their relationship had been established – but he knew her, damn it. She wasn't the deceiving type.
Daryl was snapped out of his thoughts by Dale's voice.
"That clock on the wall… I hate to ask this, but why is it counting down? What happens when it reaches zero?" There was only an hour left.
Jenner hesitated to answer, which instantly set off Daryl's inner alarm system. "The basement generators, they run out of fuel."
"And what happens when the basement generators run out of fuel?" Rick asked, frantic to find out what else the doctor may have been hiding. Panic was bubbling within his chest, his need to protect his family becoming the predominant emotion.
However, the former Sheriff couldn't help but also wonder where Kagome went. He hadn't seen her yet that morning, and nobody else was missing. Where was she? Rick's eyes narrowed in suspicion. Did Doctor Jenner do something to her? At the moment, it wouldn't be out of the realm of possibility.
Rick repeated a bit more harshly, "What happens when the generators run out of fuel?"
Jenner locked gazes with Rick, then quickly looked away and exited the room. He needed to prepare. He needed to prepare for his final moments. "Ask Vi," was all he said.
Not sparing the doctor another word, Rick did just that. The answer, however, had dread pooling within his and everyone else's stomachs.
"At zero," Vi answered in her logical-sounding, robotic voice, "HITs will be deployed and plant-wide decontamination will occur." HITs were high-impulse thermobaric fuel-air explosives.
"Fuck," Daryl muttered darkly under his breath. Not sparing the others another thought, he turned on his heel to look for Kagome. She had been missing since before he'd woken up. As the current events stood, he didn't think that little observation was a coincidence.
TPoF*TPoF*TPoF
While Rick, Shane, T-Dog, and Glenn headed to check on the generators, Daryl went back to the room he had shared with Kagome. It was the last place he'd seen her, so it logically made sense to him to start searching for her there. Besides the note she'd left for him, maybe there was another clue as to her whereabouts.
He wasn't sure how long he stayed in there but, by the time the lights started flickering, he was swiftly packing everything worth taking. The moment Daryl found her, they were leaving. Doctor Jenner was obviously not in his right mind.
The instant the building went dark and the emergency lighting kicked in, he knew it was now or never. The air conditioning hadn't turned back on, and that was their source of oxygen. Daryl didn't know how the CDC did things in these sorts of situations, but it only took some common sense to know it wasn't good.
And Kagome had yet to make a reappearance.
"Hey, why did the air shut off?" someone – Carol, Daryl vaguely identified – asked, concerned.
He dropped their bags near the doorway to stick his head out. Everyone was starting to come out of their rooms, their panic building even more if possible. Rick, Shane, T-Dog, and Glenn had yet to come back from the basement. But Doctor Jenner, now shaven and wearing nicer clothes, had stopped barricading himself in his office.
"The building is starting to slowly shut itself down," the doctor explained, walking determinedly back to the big room. "It's prioritizing what's important and shutting down the rest."
Dale, incredulous, asked, "And air's not a priority?"
"It's not up to me." There was an underlining shrug to the words. When they were gathered in the control center once more, Rick and the others arrived too, in time to hear the rest of what Jenner had to say. "The system is designed to keep the computers running until the last possible second. It was the French," he suddenly admitted, catching their attention out of surprise. "They stuck it out as long as they could before they too ran out of power."
Daryl clenched his teeth. He didn't have time to listen to the doctor ramble and stall. He had to look for Kagome. Worry was gnawing like a bigger and bigger beast the longer she remained missing.
Jenner continued talking to his captive audience. "In thirty minutes, the building will decontaminate. It's too late to stop it since there is no fuel." Resignation deepened his voice, but also seemed to bring him a sense of peace.
The feeling wasn't mutual as Rick yelled at the group to get their things. Emergency alarms started blaring, causing even more of a panic, and startling the group into finally following the former Sheriff's orders.
Daryl, however, didn't move. His eyes narrowed on Doctor Jenner, fists clenching at his sides until his knuckles turned white. If he planned on figuring out where Kagome was, he'd start with the other man. He took a step forward, ready for the interrogation, and didn't even pause when Jenner locked all of them inside the control center. If the man could lock them in, he could unlock the damned door too.
"Where's Kagome?" he demanded, grabbing Jenner by the collar and roughly bringing him closer. "Where is she? And don't lie this time." To add emphasis, he shook the man in his grip.
Jenner stared directly into the hunter's eyes. "There's no point in struggling," he said, instead. "What I did for her… She won't feel anything now. She'll sleep. Just sleep. It'll be very peaceful, I promise."
"That's not what I asked." He was poised to punch Jenner in the face, ready to beat the man black and blue to get what he wanted. Jenner's words were also alarming. What the hell was he talking about? "What does that mean, and where the hell is Kagome? Did you do somethin' to her? Talk!" Daryl was fast losing control.
Rick, Shane, and T-Dog pulled the hunter off of Jenner. As the latter two held him back, Rick approached the doctor. "Open the door," he ordered, using his sternest voice possible. The one he used when he meant business.
"It won't matter," Jenner replied, straightening his clothing. "Everything topside is locked down. When that door closes, it won't open again – you heard me say that." His gaze locked with Daryl's. The hunter was scowling darkly in return, but Jenner overlooked it to add, "It's better this way."
"Just tell me where she is, you son of a bitch," Daryl spat out, struggling against the two holding him back.
Dale joined Shane and T-Dog in restraining Daryl. "We'll find her," he tried to soothe, but his words went ignored.
As chaos erupted, everyone talking at once, with the children wailing in their mothers' arms, Rick demanding answers, and Jenner exclaiming about what the CDC did and what types of viruses it housed, how dangerous it would be if any of said diseases got out, Daryl finally broke away from Shane and T-Dog's hold. Obviously, he would need to find answers on his own. Rick and the others seemed to be convinced that Jenner would let them out if they talked him to death, but Daryl didn't have time. He'd find an alternate way out. There had to be one, he just had to find it. He had always been more of a man of action, anyway.
If I was a top-secret exit inside an oversized computer room in the CDC building, where the fuck would I be? Daryl mentally questioned, eyes scanning the walls and overall room. Along one wall, near the ground, would be his best bet.
Walking further and further into the room, passing the many rows of computer stations and desks, Daryl suddenly stopped when his eyes caught one very important detail. Situated between two rows furthest from the group, Kagome was carefully laid down on the floor, hands casually placed upon her abdomen. Her features were lax with sleep, and her chest rose and fell with every deep breath she took.
"Kagome," he exclaimed, unable to help himself. His voice instantly caught the others' attention, and they turned at the sound to see what the hunter had found. Dale and Glenn appeared by Daryl's side, both wanting to see the young woman's condition. "Kagome, wake up. We gotta go."
Glenn swallowed thickly. "Is-Is she okay?" he stammered.
Dale kneeled down next to Daryl, who lifted Kagome to cradle her in his arms. Her head lolled to the side and she didn't stir even a little from being jostled. "Well, she's breathing – that's a good sign," the older man said, trying to look on the bright side of things.
"Why isn't she waking up?" the Korean then nervously asked, fidgeting.
Daryl brushed her bangs out of her face, using that same hand to lightly pat her cheeks to force her awake. When she still didn't stir, not even to twitch, he growled lowly. "Shit. She's been drugged."
"Drugged?" Dale repeated, incredulous. "For Heaven's sake, why? What's the point?"
The hunter stood with his precious cargo safely held bridal-style in his arms. "Give you one guess," he darkly replied, gaze focusing on Jenner, whom was also looking in their direction. The doctor didn't look the slightest bit surprised or guilty at Kagome's state, and that was enough for Daryl to know what he had done; to know what Jenner had meant by his earlier words.
"Here, place her over here," Dale was saying, doing his best to steer Daryl in the direction he wanted him. "I'll try to wake her up. You go help the others with opening that door. It's our only chance of getting out of here."
When Daryl placed Kagome down on the table Dale hastily cleared off, Sophia approached with Carol following close behind her daughter.
"Miss Gome?" the little girl murmured, visibly worried and upset. One small hand was clasped with her mother's, and she used the free one to hold one of Kagome's limp hands. Sophia wasn't sure what it was, but there was a natural sense of gravitation to the older Asian woman. She radiated a kindness that acted as a balm in such a harsh world, and Sophia couldn't help wanting to stay close. "Mama, will-will she be alright?"
Carol smoothed a hand down her daughter's hair. "I'm sure she'll be fine once we get her up and out of this place," she said, voice quivering with panic. Lori and Carl approached, both clearly shaken and panicked, holding onto each other tightly.
Dale patted Kagome's cheeks. "If we get her up, maybe she knows how to open that damned door," he reasoned, hoping his words would lower the tension quickly building up in the room. For such a large space, it was beginning to feel smaller and smaller. With time ticking down, it wouldn't be long before someone exploded and Doctor Jenner's brain matter spattered across the wall.
"There's no hope," Jenner tried to persuade the group, frowning at their continued persistence of a better tomorrow. Didn't they get it? Why didn't they understand? He looked at Rick, wanting to get his point across to the group's leader. "Last night, you said you knew it was just a matter of time before everybody you loved was dead."
Lori sent her husband an incredulous, betrayed look. "You said that?"
Rick argued back, ignoring his wife, "That's not what I meant – This isn't what I meant."
Jenner shook his head, obviously not believing the other man. "For countless centuries, the Earth has gone through multiple periods of mysterious extinction events. Look at what happened and what we know about the dinosaurs. This Outbreak," his hands encompassed the room and everyone in it, "is humanity's extinction event."
"To Hell with that," Daryl said, scowling darkly. Grabbing a nearby chair, he turned towards the door and started beating against it as hard as he could. When it broke, shattering in his hands, he went to grab another chair but T-Dog handed him an axe instead. With a small nod of gratitude, the hunter turned once more to start chopping at the one exit they needed to get open.
Shane joined him, calling out, "Move!" When it was clear, he used his shotgun to try to blast their way out. The loud explosion and resulting ricochet was near deafening, but didn't leave a single scratch on the door.
"That door was built to withstand a rocket launcher," Jenner stated.
Furious and desperate, Daryl whipped around to face the doctor. "You ain't," he said. Wielding the weapon, he started to purposefully walk forward. Before he could get close enough, Rick, T-Dog, and Dale pushed him away.
Instead, Shane took up the charge, pointing the shotgun at Jenner's head. The doctor stared back cautiously but fearlessly. What did it matter, anyway? He was going to die, whether it was by the air catching fire or a bullet to the head.
Rick grabbed Shane, trying to pull him away too. "Shane, stop it," he yelled. "Back off! If you kill him, we'll never get out of here. Do you understand me? If you kill him, we'll never get out of here."
For a split second, it didn't appear as though Rick's reasoning was getting through to the former deputy's head. Then, face scrunched up in frustration, Shane hoarsely yelled and turned away from the doctor. Pumping his shotgun, he started randomly firing at the computers.
Daryl instantly threw himself in Kagome's direction, making sure she wasn't indirectly hit or harmed. He heard Sophia and Carl cry out in alarm, but he wasn't worried since their respective mothers pulled them down and away from the gunshots. His main focus had to be on protecting Kagome with as much of his body as possible.
When Shane finally stopped, Daryl picked his head up to scan the room. Ignoring Rick, who was demanding to know why Jenner had stayed if he thought there was no hope left, the hunter turned his attention onto Kagome once more. Dale's words from earlier floated through his head.
"If we get her up, maybe she knows how to open that damned door."
Maybe the old man was onto somethin', Daryl thought, eyes narrowed in determination. It made sense. It was logical. It was very true that Kagome could know how to get out. She could be the group's only hope if they couldn't convince Jenner to unlock the door.
Leaning up, resigned to what he had to do, he raised his hand high as he stared at his girl's sleeping face. This… is going to suck. "Sorry, Kags…"
"W-What are you doing?" Glenn nervously asked, his eyes darting between Daryl and Kagome then back again to repeat the cycle.
Dale took a step forward, shocked at the bold action, worried. "I don't think that's necess—"
Slap!
The sharp impact of skin-against-skin had everyone looking at Daryl with wide eyes, with a few jaws dropped for added effect at what they had just witnessed. Jenner's expression had even changed from indifference and defeat to surprise and disbelief.
What didn't surprise them, however, was the swift intake of breath that Kagome inhaled as her eyes fluttered open. Her face was turned to one side, the abused cheek cherry-red, but she was regaining consciousness. Her hand shakily lifted to touch the injured area, groaning.
"I guess it was necessary," Dale muttered, still stunned.
Daryl stood at Kagome's side, urging her to sit up before she was even remotely tempted to go back to sleep however doubtful that was. "Come on, Kags," he encouraged. "We need you awake. We've got an emergency."
"What hit me?" she asked, her words slurring a bit. Amethyst orbs peeked out behind sooty lashes, blearily taking in her surroundings. "Where am I?"
He completely ignored her first question and skipped to the second. "We're in the big computer room. We got locked in. You need to get us out." He helped her stand as he talked, holding her securely when she wobbled, knees weak as the drug still worked itself through her system. "You need to hurry, Kags. We don't got a lot of time left." It was creeping up on the less than ten-minute mark.
"Locked in…?" she mumbled, brain muddled. She blinked rapidly to clear her vision faster. "Doctor Jenner… Where's Doctor Jenner?"
Daryl glared at the mentioned man, who stood in their way. "He's the one who locked us in here. He said the building's gonna 'decontaminate' or whatever."
Kagome sighed. "We've run out of time," she softly said. By now, she was able to stand up straight, though fatigue kept her leaning against Daryl for support. Her eyes locked with Jenner's. "What happened, Doctor Jenner?" She wanted the whole story. She should've noticed it when she came back, but his aura… He's completely given up. He's ready to die.
"We don't have time for this," Shane loudly yelled, staring angrily at Kagome. Even as Daryl scowled darkly at him, the former deputy took a hasty step back when the smaller Asian woman gave him a look so cold and deadly he couldn't help it. What the Hell? He thought, chills racing up and down his spine.
Kagome ignored him to face the doctor once more. Her eyes softened. "Doctor Jenner," she slowly said, "what happened the other day… that video that popped up… Everything was destroyed, wasn't it?" It was the only logical explanation. She hadn't been expecting a video when she called up the results of the experiment. Doctor Jenner had knocked her unconscious when she turned to ask him about it. And now, she could clearly see he'd given up hope. She supposed drugging her had been his last act of kindness. It was to save her from feeling the very air heat up and explode around her, taking them and the building into oblivion.
"Yes," Jenner answered, "the last of TS-19's… the last of Candace's samples… are gone. The video would've shown you the accident that happened in the lab. There's… there's nothing left, Kagome. There's no hope."
She absorbed what he said, brows furrowing. "When Candace was bitten," she said, surprising everyone with her words, "when she begged you to keep going… She never meant for you to keep working on finding a cure or answers. She wanted you to live, Doctor Jenner."
Jenner blinked, eyes widening. "How-How would you know that?"
"She loved you. How else would I know?" The smile that appeared was small but heartfelt. Then, in perfect synchronization, her eyes locked with Daryl's as he looked down at her shorter height. Kagome's smile got a little bigger, more loving. "You could also say that I know that feeling very well, too." Their relationship was still relatively new – and they had just found each other again – but the potential was there, plain to see.
In response, Daryl let a tiny smirk curve his lips.
Kagome turned back to look at Jenner. "Please… Please, open the door. We haven't given up hope yet. Let us…" She paused, placing a hand directly over her heart. "Give us a chance to keep going for as long as we can." Her eyes shined with determination, and the sheer depth of emotion she felt for the man beside her was palpable. Utterly enchanting and real.
Swayed, Jenner nodded once then turned to face the computer. From behind, he could hear everyone's sighs of relief as they gathered near the door. "I can't open the doors upstairs," he warned. His fingers flew over the keyboard as he worked the controls. "It's on lockdown. I can't control that from down here. You'll have to find your own way outside of the building."
Kagome laid a hand on his shoulder, squeezing. "Thank you," she softly said. Convincing him to leave with them was useless. She had only convinced him to let them leave, not to help him learn to live again. He wanted to die, wanted to join his wife. She respected his wishes even as her heart already mourned the man.
"Let's go," Daryl murmured, more than ready to finally get out of there. One arm wrapped around Kagome's waist, he began leading her along with the others who were scrambling out of the control center.
Rick approached Jenner. "Thank you," he also said. "I'm grateful."
When the former Sheriff turned to follow his wife and son, he heard Jenner say in return, "The day will come when you won't be." The doctor suddenly grabbed Rick in a handshake, pulling him close to whisper urgently in his ear. "It's in your blood. We're all carriers." Lowering his voice further, he continued to whisper.
"What?" Rick replied when he was done, stunned and in disbelief.
Jenner locked eyes with the other man, serious. "Remember what I said. Also…" His eyes tracked to Kagome's figure. His lips compressed for a moment then he spoke once more, knowing this particular secret would be kept. "When I said my wife, Candace, would've found a cure, she wasn't the only one. Kagome… I believe Kagome could have, too. The answer might be in her blood. Keep her safe, no matter what."
Rick continued to stare, unable to say anything, but Glenn's shout jolted him from his thoughts.
"We've got four minutes left – come on!"
With a final farewell nod to Doctor Edwin Jenner, the former Sheriff ran out to join his family and the other group members to gather their things and escape the CDC before it blew up.
TPoF*TPoF*TPoF
"Can you walk?" Daryl asked Kagome, still supporting her against his side.
"Yeah, I think so," she answered. When he released her, she grabbed his hand. "We're cutting it very close."
"Good thing I packed our stuff then." They just needed to grab the bags he'd left by the doorway. It'll only take a few seconds. They would be out of there in no time. Their next obstacle would be taking down the shutters that trapped them inside. From there, getting as far away as possible from the CDC was the next priority.
Kagome reached down to her messenger bag and slipped it over her head. Daryl grabbed his sack and the ragged yellow backpack to toss over one shoulder. His crossbow was placed on the opposite side. "I knew you were useful for a reason," she lightly teased. She grabbed her bow and quiver of arrows. "Wait. There's one thing missing."
"We don't have enough time," he said, impatient.
She didn't listen, slipping into the room she'd called home for the last few months. "Trust me. We'll need this." From inside, something fairly heavy was shoved out of her way. In the next second, she appeared with two unopened packages of crossbow bolts. She grinned, waving them in the air triumphantly. "I picked these up for you during my scavenging trips. You're welcome, by the way."
Daryl couldn't stop the smirk that appeared if he'd wanted to. "Thanks. Now, let's go."
"Right behind you."
TPoF*TPoF*TPoF
The CDC Lobby
The group, minus three noticeable members, paused when they got to the shuttered doors and windows. Kagome instantly went to the control panel, tapping on the screen to see if it would miraculously turn on. While she did that, everyone else pounded on the glass to see if they could break it.
"Can you open it?" Rick asked, stepping to the young Asian woman's side.
She shook her head. "No, it's no good. Doctor Jenner wasn't joking when he said the power up here was cut. We'll have to open the doors another way."
Daryl appeared on her other side. "How did you get out before? Jenner… He mentioned you were leavin' without settin' off the alarms."
"We don't have enough time to backtrack. There's no way we'd make it out in time even if we had ten minutes. I had to go all the way around the building just to find the blind spot and slip through."
"Shit," Shane cursed, having overheard everything. "We gotta get out from here." Lifting his rifle, he shot at the glass in hopes of cracking it enough to break through. Everyone ducked and took cover, not wanting to get hit by any ricochet. The bullet, however, didn't even leave a scratch on the surface. The former deputy cursed again, more colorfully this time.
Carol fumbled with her purse. "I think I have something that might help," she said.
Shane rolled his eyes, mocking, "I don't think a nail file's gonna do it."
Carol ignored him, approaching Rick since it was technically his. "Your first morning at camp," she started. "When I washed your uniform? I found this in your pocket." Her hand giving the slightest tremble, she held out the grenade for him to take.
"That should do it," Kagome said. "That should be able to break the glass."
Rick nodded, carefully gripping the one thing that would set them free. "Alright," he told everyone, "get back. Take cover."
Daryl grabbed Kagome's hand to drag her far enough away to be safe. The moment she was on the ground, he covered her with his body, protecting her head with his arms. She briefly struggled, wanting him to be safe too, but he had her easily pinned under him.
The following seconds were heart stopping. No one breathed as Rick pulled the pin from the grenade and placed it as close to the window as possible. They heard his curse, his running footsteps to avoid the blast. The silence that ensued as the seconds ticked down felt like an eternity. Then…
BOOM!
The ground shook. Debris flew. And, most importantly, glass shattered.
"Let's go!" Rick yelled out.
Daryl was instantly on his feet, one hand reaching down to assist Kagome up. "Come on, Kags. We can finally get outta here."
She nodded then repeated her words from earlier, "Right behind you."
"Damn right you are," he gruffly said. "Like I told you, I'm never leavin' you again."
"Same here." She squeezed his hand to seal their promise. With that, the couple followed the others out of the new opening.
Outside, the sun was shining and hardly any Walkers were around though that would soon change from the blast. The group was thankful for the slight reprieve, their main focus on making it to their vehicles and getting away as far and as fast as they could. They knew only precious minutes – maybe even seconds – remained, and they had to make the most of it.
"Head straight for my truck," Daryl instructed, one hand placed at the small of Kagome's back to urge her ahead of him. The other reached down for the hunting knife he kept on his belt just in case.
Kagome unsheathed her own knife, eyes scanning for any threats. By the time they made it to the truck, they'd taken down about five Walkers. Daryl threw their bags in the truck bed, next to Merle's motorcycle, then climbed into the driver's seat and slammed his door closed.
"Did everyone make it out?" she asked.
Daryl only grunted in response, more worried about them still being relatively close to a building about to go up in flames.
Her question was answered when Dale and Andrea suddenly emerged from the CDC. From the RV, Lori and the others must've seen them too. Shouts could be heard but no words were distinguishable. Their frantic hand gestures were enough. The two ducked behind a military blockade, arms covering their heads, with Dale trying to shield Andrea the best he could.
"Get down," the hunter ordered, pushing Kagome down. Her head was once again covered by his arms as well as his body. They both sucked in sharp breaths, waiting for the inevitable.
TPoF*TPoF*TPoF
With Doctor Jenner & Jacqui
From the security monitor, Jenner had watched the entire thing. His eyes had followed Kagome, a small, unnoticed smile crossing his features. Hope had reignited in his chest – but not for himself.
He hoped Kagome and Daryl were able to live long and fully. As long as they had each other, they could conquer anything. He could believe that now. He also hadn't lied when he told Rick that Kagome was important; that she could be the answer to what they – to what everyone – was hoping, fighting, for. Jenner just hoped they would be able to utilize the information in time.
Time, after all, was so very limited.
As the timer continued to tick down, Jenner reflected on his thoughts. He had to wonder what would have happened if Candace had made it, if she hadn't gotten bitten. Hell, what if he had gotten bitten instead of her? Would she even still be at the CDC like he had stayed?
No, he decided, smiling a little bigger. She would've lived, kept going for as long as she could. The thought brought him a sense of peace, like watching Kagome escape had. Jenner could admit that he'd been wrong. Sedating Kagome hadn't been a show of mercy.
She needed to live. She, and Rick's group of survivors, needed to live. Together, they could change things. It was their fate, Jenner was sure of it, just like it was his fate to stay and die in the one place he and his wife had loved and devoted all of their time to.
Jenner and Jacqui held hands, both smiling hopefully for their friends' safety and continued journey into the unknown. They were ready.
One second later, the CDC erupted in a fiery explosion that rocked the very Earth.
TPoF*TPoF*TPoF
With Kagome & Daryl
Everyone who made it out was visibly shaken but, as soon as Glenn secured Dale and a numb Andrea into the RV, the group pulled away from the smoking crater and smoldering rubble that now represented the CDC. No one felt it was safe to stick around. A grenade blast was bad enough, but an entire building going up in flames would attract way too many Walkers for them to handle. They'd be overrun before they knew it.
Daryl started the truck, hoping whatever gas was left would get them far enough away. Kagome leaned back in her seat, sighing at the close call. Her eyes, however, were incredibly sad. It didn't take a genius to know why. Doctor Jenner had been someone she'd cared about, and Jacqui, although they hadn't known each other long, had been sweet and kind.
Reaching over, he grabbed one of her hands, giving it a comforting squeeze. "Sorry about Jenner," he softly, gruffly said.
"I am, too," she whispered in response. She closed her eyes for a second, absorbing everything that had happened in such a short amount of time and letting it settle. Taking a deep breath, she let it out slowly, meditatively.
Then she slugged Daryl in the arm, holding nothing back.
"Ow! Shit, Kagome," he exclaimed. The truck swerved to the left before he corrected his course, both hands now on the steering wheel. He aimed an annoyed scowl at the young woman next to him. "What the hell was that for, huh?"
She gave as good as she got, her own scowl painted across her pretty features. "You know you deserve it," she said, arms crossing under her breasts.
"What the fuck did I do?" he demanded to know.
Silently, she pointed to her still-red cheek. Amethyst eyes flashed dangerously, daring the hunter to lie about who had given her the slap to wake her up from her drug-induced sleep.
Daryl at least appeared sheepish, and his eyes were too focused on the road and the other vehicles in front of them. "Had to do it," he tried to defend himself. "Figured you were the only one who could open the door – and you did. You convinced Jenner to let us out. We were desperate." I was desperate. He would rather face her wrath than never see it – or her – ever again.
Kagome dryly said, "And that's why I didn't hit you in the face."
At that, he couldn't help but smirk in amusement. Damn, he really was glad they were together again.
*Special Thanks to: XXkagomeX, chibi-Clar, Titania Taisho, kakashixangela, Thornado, Tubafox, Vixenpup79, KuroKat013, AnimeAngel240, GiggleboxGirlie, jyre alcon, Deadpool-girl, Lunaconspiracy365, bxbe, Lozenger12, Faux Princess, YingWhiteyWolf, Bunnie.863, Unwanted Hero, Alice, Guest (2x), Mistress of Darkness Katana, sephchipmunk, masterbroly, save the sharks, redangel2463, CresentWolf1, Jabby, daisynaruto909, Spastic Freak, panther73110, Saricaykes, leslie2132, and Angel4EverLostInLife
Also, a huge thank you to everyone who followed and added this story to their favorites list (: You rock!
IMPORTANT: I have come to the conclusion that, if I save a character that has been previously "booted off" the show, that means someone else will either take their place or NOT appear in the story at all. EXAMPLE: If Dale survives then Hershel is the one who dies in the field by a Walker.
Does that make sense? Is everyone okay with that? I realize I can't save everyone I would've liked and, if I did, there would be too many people/survivors :P