Carol led Merle through the dark expanses of the tombs and never thought she would be grateful to have him at her back, but this time she definitely was. Rick had done most of the clearing out down there after Lori had passed, taking down as many Walkers as he could in an attempt to rid himself of his all-consuming rage. Glenn and Tyreese had dragged the bodies outside and burnt them in the small exercise yard; but no one could be certain that it was ever completely cleared out as there were so many maze like twists and turns and so far they hadn't yet been able to find the blueprints of the complex in the messy Warden's office.
"We're nearly there, the exit should be just up ahead. If I recall Tyreese said that there was a small door leading out into rear yard from the boiler room in the maintenance building. This exit should be almost directly opposite; then it's just fifty yards across the rear yard where the back walls are almost completely gone."
"What about Walkers – any of you seen any in the rear yard?" Merle asked, taking the lead position as they approached the end of the dark corridor. Carol shook her head and then realised that he probably couldn't see the gesture in the dim light.
"No, for some reason they always seem to congregate around the front of the prison."
"That's good for us, it probably just means that they are attracted to the noise; you always enter and leave via the front gates and something in them is obviously still able to track patterns." Merle slowly and carefully opened the rear door just a crack and edged his head out to scan the yard. "Shit, that's one big hole you guys have got back there; wonder you haven't been crawlin' with Walkers all over the place."
"Are there any of Blake's men out there?" Carol asked quietly from behind him.
"Nah…oh, wait a bit…I can jest see that boiler room door opening. Stand back a bit and keep outta sight till I can see what's goin' on." Merle pushed Carol back into the corridor and flattened himself against the small alcove on the yard side of the door. He craned his neck around to see who was exiting into the yard and whistled between his teeth when he recognised the shaggy, dirty blonde hair of his brother. He cupped a hand around his mouth and blew a low whistle across the yard.
"Hey mousey. Yer boyfriend's back and damned if he don't look pleased to see us."
"Daryl!" Carol brushed past Merle and out into the yard. Daryl jogged over to her and swatted her bottom affectionately.
"Thought I told ya to stay put, woman?"
"And since when have I ever paid any attention to your orders, Mr Dixon?" Carol replied cheekily and he smirked back at her before swooping down to capture her lips in a passionate kiss.
"Glad ya didn't listen this time, baby. Jest seen Blake's men haul Rick, Glenn and Tyreese over there. Ya would've been locked up fer sure." He muttered against her lips and swung an arm across her shoulders before turning to Merle. "Thanks for keepin' an eye out for her Merle."
"No problemo, 'lil brother. Ya might say we kept an eye out for each other." Merle winked over in Carol's direction and she suddenly clenched her fist against Daryl's shirt.
"Daryl, what about the others? Judith, Hershel – all of them? Did you see them?"
"Hush, woman. They're fine as far as I could tell. Blake's got them locked in the cells over in C."
"Did he say what he was after?" Merle questioned and Daryl worried his thumbnail as he nodded in response.
"Michonne – said they had unfinished business to take care of."
"Michonne? He did all of this for Michonne? Are we gonna go after her?" Carol pressed against his side and looked anxiously into Daryl's eyes. She knew how much the female warrior had come to mean to Daryl, she was someone he could track and hunt with without having to worry about.
"No need," Daryl replied. "She wasn't in the prison or out in the woods, Tyreese made up some shit about her being out on a run; so Blake left without what he came for. Said he'd be back though, didn't say when."
"How many men did he leave behind? He ain't jest gonna leave this place unguarded. He'd want someone watching the woods and another to report back when she returns. I know this guy, I know how he operates." Merle tapped his borrowed blade against his metal stump as he paced the small yard. "Ya got a plan, 'lil brother?"
"4 – he left 4 behind, two in the guard towers at the front and two in the yard to make sure no one comes out of the blocks." Daryl pulled at his scruff on his chin and squinted over at Merle. "We could either take out the two guards in the towers; silently, no guns and then the two in the courtyard or…"
"We could go back in; get our people out and make a run for it." Came the low response from behind the fallen back wall. Michonne lept over the rubble, sheathing her Katana sword and crossed over the yard to join them.
"'Chonne; glad to see yer in one piece. Where ya been, girl?" Daryl nodded over at her and she smiled back.
"Went for a little stroll outside the grounds this morning, came back to see we had some unwelcome visitors."
"Yeah, and not on visiting day either." Merle quipped drily and Michonne gave a small snort in response.
"Hung around long enough to hear someone wants a little reunion and then came back here to see if the way through the Tombs was clear."
"Ain't got ma keys with me, left them inside our cell this mornin' as I knew Rick was stayin' around today. So, we cain't break our people out." Daryl chewed his thumbnail again as he tried to think of another alternative.
"Uh…baby brother, ya seem to forget who's joined the party. Remember that stint I did back in '96?" Merle grinned evilly over at his brother and watched as the nature of his crime dawned on Daryl.
"Yeah…somethin' to do with breakin' and enterin' if I recall. Whatcha gonna use as a pick?"
"That little Swiss Army knife that mousey has on her should do the trick." Merle caught the knife as it came sailing through the air at him and opened it up to check the various attachments. "Who are we goin' after first? Guys or gals?"
"Rick and the guys; there's less of them and we can use the Tombs to go directly into D. Once they're free; Glenn can come back here and keep watch at this door to make sure no one slips past us. Michonne can keep watch in the corridors between C and D to let us know where the two men are that Blake left in the yard are." Carol felt pleased with herself when Daryl squeezed her waist and agreed her suggestion seemed reasonable.
"I heard him say that the ones in the yard should concentrate on securing the fence; they made quite a sizable dent in the gates when they busted through. They wouldn't want Walkers overrunning the place – not now anyway. We go in; get our people, grab as much as we can and then meet back here. No one goes off alone; it's too risky. We can't take any of the vehicles so we're just gonna have to manage on foot."
"We've done it before, and with less people. We'll be okay, Daryl." Carol gave his hand a squeeze and was rewarded with a slight smile.
"Alright, woman. Are you gonna do what I tell ya this time? No runnin' off on a half assed rescue plan?"
"Yes, dear." Carol muttered drolly and Michonne sent Daryl a questioning look; he blushed faintly and she knew that things had finally moved on between the couple.
"No cheek, woman." He swatted her behind once more and then looked her in the eye. "Your job once we get to C is to gather as much gear as you can carry for the asskicker. The rest of us can manage on what we can scrounge; but we don't know how long we're gonna be out on the road for or when we will come across any of the things that she may need. No heroics, baby, in and out."
"In and out." Carol promised faithfully and he squeezed her tight.
"Merle, you make sure that you unlock Beth and the baby first, okay? Tyreese can bring them straight out through the tombs; we cain't risk Judith screaming up a storm. Then get Carl out, he can help Carol load up on baby supplies. Then Maggie and Hershel; Maggie can help direct Michonne on watch while Hershel grabs any medical stuff that he has lying around. Everyone else is to just grab whatever they can; I don't want anyone making unnecessary noise otherwise we're sure to alert the goons. Rick and I will grab whatever weapons we can and meet y'all back here. I want y'all out of there within fifteen minutes. Everyone clear?" He looked around his small group and they all nodded. "Let's go to work then."