Daryl walked out of the bathroom while he headed for the bed and Murphy got up then he walked to the doorway. Daryl wondered if Murphy was leaving when Murphy thumped his fist on the doorframe, lowering his head.
"Never thought much of my life until yer sister came along," Murphy said as he turned to look at Daryl. "Don't get me wrong. Gettin' up in th'mornin', goin' t'work at th'meat packin' plant then goin' home at th'end of th'day wasn't borin'. Far from it. Th'people we worked with…? They were more than jus' our co-workers and boss. They were family. We would do fun shit t'make th'day go by faster, but we also worked our asses off. When Connor and I got off work, we'd either go out and get drunk or stay home and watch television. Yeah, we did get into fights. Not jus' between each other, but with some asshole who got in our faces. Never really got badly hurt or got arrested."
Murphy paused as he looked at his feet and he flexed his fingers against the wall.
"When it came t'women…? We flirted, but we were always careful. Got checked t'make sure we didn't get anythin'."
"You still cheated on her," Daryl said and a shocked look appeared on Murphy's face.
"I hated it when she found out or caught me."
"She said the longest time you were apart was two months."
"If it hadn't been fer Connor and Rocco, I'm sure I would have lost her. In fact, that was th'last time I ever cheated on her."
Daryl heard the truth in his voice and he nodded his head.
"Still think it's funny that she pointed a gun at you the first time you met," Daryl said and Murphy softly laughed.
"She literally scared th'piss outta me."
Daryl smiled as Caroline flexed her fingers and Murphy walked to her bed. He took hold of her left hand and folded their fingers together.
"I remember yer friend, Romeo, said you nearly ran into Walkers before goin' to the dock. Why did you wanna go back to yer old neighborhood?" Daryl asked.
"We wanted t'check up on Doc."
"Caroline told me about Doc. What happened to him?"
"We saw him outside of McGinty's. That's th'bar we used t'go to. After we told him what happened and about Caroline, we said our goodbyes and he left in a car with some of his regular customers."
"Find anythin' else?"
"Well….," Murphy said then he sighed. "While we were ridin' 'round, we saw some of those things were people we knew. One of 'em… It was… It was Frank."
"She told me about Frank," Daryl said.
Murphy rubbed Caroline's left index finger with his thumb then he looked at Daryl. Daryl got out of bed as he stood at the foot of the bed and Daryl saw the love in Murphy's eyes.
"I really did feel bad when I went a little too far with her. I had no idea she was a virgin," Murphy said, softly.
"She told me she asked if you wouldn't want anythin' to do with her if you knew," Daryl said.
"That's what made her so special. I was gonna be not only her first, but, hopefully, her last."
What Murphy said reminded Daryl of when he and Carol talked about him being a virgin and that Carol was going to be not only his first, but his last when they finally make love.
"She told me you taught her how to speak different languages," Daryl said.
"We thought it would be a good idea. Just in case her adopted father sent her t'another country," Murphy said.
"We are in a different country," Daryl said with a small smile. "Don't know what I'd do if she wasn't here. I wouldn't have a damn idea what people are sayin'."
Daryl thought for a few seconds when he remembered the story about Caroline playing pool and he glanced at Murphy.
"Do you have a pool table?" Daryl asked.
"Yeah, we do. Why?" Murphy asked.
"I challenged her to a game after she told me how she beat the two of you and Rocco at pool."
"She'll beat you, too."
"Nah."
Murphy softly laughed and shook his head.
"Did she tell you about Benji?" Daryl asked.
"Yeah. She did," Murphy said and Daryl heard the anger in his voice then he saw sadness in Murphy's eyes. "She also told me she believed she was bein' punished fer leavin' me behind and that's why she got involved with him."
Daryl looked stunned as he glanced at Caroline and she squeezed Murphy's fingers.
"You ain't to blame." Daryl said to her and Caroline loosened her hold on Murphy's hand. They became quiet as Daryl looked at Caroline and Murphy sat on the edge of the bed.
"She told me how you and Connor got yer callin'," Daryl said and Murphy looked down at his lap.
"I was sure she was gonna leave me after she found out," Murphy said.
"Did yer brother really pull the toilet outta the floor?"
"Yeah, I did," Connor said as he walked in the room and he walked to Daryl. He moved his shirt sleeves back as Daryl saw the faded scares on Connor's wrists. The scars were jagged and Daryl was amazed he hadn't bled to death. "What are you two talkin' about?"
"We're talkin' about my relationship with Caroline," Murphy said.
"Caroline told me how she had to stay with Frank after you pulled the toilet outta the floor," Daryl said.
"Did you tell him about seein' Frank after we went back to Boston when the world fell?" Connor asked, looking at Murphy.
"Yeah," Murphy said with a nod.
"When you guys got yer callin', she went to Rocco's place, right?" Daryl asked.
"Yeah," Murphy said with a sigh. "And that's when I broke her heart."
"You know why you had t'do that," Connor reminded him and Murphy sighed.
"She told me about nearly getting' killed in the subway station when you confronted those assholes," Daryl said and Connor and Murphy glanced at each other.
"She scared th'crap outta us," Connor said.
"Did she really stand up to yer dad?" Daryl asked.
"Hell yeah! He told me he was really impressed. Not that many people do. Well, maybe our ma," Murphy said.
"Then you left fer eight years," Daryl said with a small growl and Murphy ducked his head.
"She told you why, right?" Connor said and Daryl nodded.
"She told me what happened when you came back and how you were gonna take her with you once you finished yer business," Daryl said.
"There was no way in hell that I was leavin' her behind again," Murphy said and Daryl heard the truth in his voice.
"She said yer uncle snuck her into prison."
"She made a cute nun," Murphy said as he smiled at Caroline.
"She told me about her tellin' you about Dad's accident and findin' out she was adopted."
"You call him yer dad?" Connor asked.
"Yeah."
"Did she tell you about th'call from yer birth dad?" Murphy asked.
"Yeah, but it wasn't him. It was our brother, Merle."
"It was?"
"Yeah. See, our folks didn't give a shit about me, him or Caroline. The reason they gave her up was because our old man was up to his eyeballs in debt. The only way he'd agree to the adoption was if Dad paid him to keep quiet about the adoption being illegal. Now Merle…? He found out. Took everythin' and hid it. He wasn't sure what he was gonna do with it, but he was gonna use it at some point. When Caroline went lookin' fer us, Merle called her. Asked her a lotta questions."
"Why?"
"To see if she really was Caroline. Once he was sure, he wanted to meet with her and compare notes. After they did that, he would take her to meet me. Wouldn't have believed him though. Even with the proof. Wasn't too trustin' back then."
"Neither was I," Caroline grumbled and she barely opened her eyes.
"Sorry we woke you," Murphy said and she looked at him.
"What're you talkin' about?"
"We're just gettin' to know each other," Daryl said.
"That's good. Don't wanna be made to choose between you."
"We would never make you do that," Connor said.
"He's right. We wouldn't," Daryl said.
Murphy carefully got up when he went to kiss her and Caroline lifted her left hand so she could move her fingers through his hair.
"What are you doing?" Katherine asked as she walked in the room and headed for the bed.
"Kissin' my girl," Murphy said after he moved back then he went to stand next to Connor.
"She just had surgery."
"We know that," Connor said with a snort.
"Well, she needs to go back to sleep. Out!"
Connor and Murphy headed for the doorway as they left the room and Daryl looked at Katherine.
"Get back to bed," she said, pointing to the bed and Daryl nodded his head. He walked to the bed when he got under the covers and he moved the covers up. Katherine headed for the doorway when she left the room and Caroline looked at Daryl.
"You didn't tell me why you're in here with me. Did you get hurt?" Caroline asked.
"Nope. I had to give you some blood," Daryl said.
"Thanks."
"Go to sleep."
"Just remembered I never told you about the time I caught Murphy in the shower."
"Not interested."
"You sure?!"
"Caroline…."
"Ok," she said a few times with a small laugh. He watched her close her eyes then drift off to sleep then he closed his eyes and he followed her into sleep.
Alexandria
Carol walked down the stairs to Daryl's room when she walked to the chair with the poncho draped over the top and she picked up the poncho. Caroline had repaired the poncho and Carol remembered when Daryl had found the poncho in one of the cars on the Interstate. She held the poncho in her hands when she felt the air turning cold and the sound of drums, chanting and flutes filled the air.
"What's wrong?" Carol asked, placing the poncho on the chair.
"What makes you think somethin's wrong?" Jeb asked.
"Jeb!"
"Alright. Shit. I have been in contact with the Blue Lady. Seems like somethin's happened to Caroline."
"What happened to her?"
"She's been shot."
"What?!" Carol said as she sat down hard on the couch. She felt like she was going to be ill as memories of Daryl getting shot by Andrea when she thought Daryl was a Walker moved through her head and she placed her head in her hands. "Is she…? Is she still alive?"
"Yeah, she's alive. Accordin' to the Blue Lady, she was shot in the shoulder while helpin' her brother and her friends defend one of their storage places."
"Is Daryl alright?"
"Other than bein' pissed off that his sister was shot, he's fine."
"Why did this Blue Lady allow her to get hurt?"
"It was one of those things which had to happen."
Carol growled as she shook her head then she looked at him.
"How did they go from being captured to her getting shot?"
"You should have asked that before you jumped all over me."
"You just told me Caroline was shot! How did you expect me to act!?"
"Yeah," he said with a nod. "Accordin' to the Blue Lady, the people who had 'em took 'em back to their base. While talkin' with the leader, who just happened to know Caroline's friends, the son-of-a-bitch fired his gun. Caroline tried to dodge outta the way, but ended up gettin' shot."
"What happened to the guy who shot her?"
"He's dead."
"And you're sure Caroline's alive?"
"Yeah, I'm sure. The Blue Lady is a lotta things, but a liar she ain't."
Carol nodded as the sound of chanting, drums and flutes faded and Jeb vanished. She sat back against the cushion as she placed her feet on the coffee table and she looked up at the ceiling.
Notre-Dame Cathedral
Two weeks had passed since Caroline had been shot. Daryl had carried her upstairs to their bedroom and she sat against the pillows while wearing a sling tied over her shoulder.
"You awake?" Daryl asked as he opened the door.
"Yeah," Caroline said and he walked in the room. He walked to the bed when he stopped at the foot of the bed and Caroline saw the wooden tray in his hands.
"Made you some lunch."
"Thanks."
She could feel something sad coming from her brother while he walked closer, placed the wooden tray on her lap then he sat down on the edge of the bed. She picked up the spoon as she scooped some of the stew onto the spoon then started eating. She nibbled on the piece of flat bread when she placed the piece of flat bread on the tray and he looked at her.
"Sorry," she said with a sigh.
"You ain't got anythin' to be sorry about," Daryl said.
"I coulda died."
"I know."
She started spinning the spoon around on the tray when he placed his hand on top of hers and they locked eyes. They had a silent conversation as she sat up a bit and Daryl moved the tray onto the floor. She moved closer and he carefully hugged her. She moved back when they heard the sound of violins, harps and choir voices and they looked at each other.
"Did we just die?" she whispered.
"Don't think so," he whispered while a blue light filled the room and they looked at the foot of the bed. "What the hell?"
Connor and Murphy ran in the room after seeing the blue light as they stood in front of the doorway and they looked at the young woman standing in the blue light. Her white hair was floating around her shoulders. Her ice blue eyes sparkled in the blue light. She was wearing a high collared, blue dress with long sleeves puffed up at the shoulders, a long skirt and lace on the front of the dress. Black leather shoes were on her feet and she wore white lace, fingerless gloves on her hands.
"Hello," the Blue Lady said in French with a nod of her head.
"Greetings, Lady," Connor said in French as he and Murphy bowed.
"You know her?" Caroline asked.
"Yeah," Murphy said as he walked to the bed. The Blue Lady saw the look they were giving each other and she frowned.
"Your friend is worried about you," The Blue Lady said as she switched to English while she was looking at Caroline and Daryl.
"Who are you talkin' about?" Daryl asked.
"The woman you left behind."
"You talked to Carol?"
"Not me, personally."
"Is she talkin' about Jeb?" Daryl asked Caroline and she barely shrugged her left shoulder.
"Who's Jeb?" Connor asked.
"Like me, he is an Earth Spirit," the Blue Lady said.
"More like a pain in the ass," Daryl grumbled and Caroline smiled.
"That, too. To answer your question, I have talked with him and told him what I can."
"Why does that sound like you can't tell us why we were kidnapped and if we can go home at some point?" Caroline asked.
"I cannot."
"Then why are you here?" Connor asked.
"I was asked to check on her," The Blue Lady said as she nodded her head toward Caroline.
"Our doctor said she'll make a full recovery," Murphy said.
"That is good."
Caroline saw the look in Daryl's eyes as he sighed and she lightly patted his hand.
"I will tell your friend that you miss her," the Blue Lady said then she faded away. The violins, harps and choir voices stopped and Caroline watched Daryl stand up. She moved the bedding back as she got out of bed and she carefully hugged her brother. He held her and Connor and Murphy left the room.
Alexandria
Carol sat on the couch while she looked through the pirate book she had found among Daryl's books when the air turned ice cold and she heard the drums, flutes and chanting.
"Hello, Earth Mother," Jeb said and she looked at him.
"Did you learn something about Daryl and Caroline?" she asked.
"Yeah, I have. According to the Blue Lady, Caroline is awake and will make a complete recovery."
"That's good. Did she say when they're coming home?"
"No."
"They've been gone for weeks. How do I know for a fact that they're really alive?"
"You callin' me a liar?!"
"No. I just… I'm…"
"You're fallin' back into that old mind set of yers."
"What?"
"Not to open up an old wound, but you're startin' to give up. Just like when yer daughter went missin'."
Carol glared at him for mentioning Sophia. She guessed whoever was there in Georgia must have told him about Sophia and how Carol and the other were giving up.
"Daryl didn't give up," she thought.
Her face changed as she realized he was right and she sighed, leaning back against the cushion.
"You're right. I am," Carol said.
"It must be hard to keep up a brave face when you have to look at those kids. You can't just come out and tell 'em their second father and their aunt might not be comin' home, can you?"
"They are going to come home."
"But what will you do if they can't come home?"
"I'll go get them," Carol said as she slammed the pirate book on the coffee table and he smiled.
"That's the Earth Mother I know. Oh. One more thing. She told me Daryl and Caroline miss you."
He vanished and she got up. She looked at the pirate book when she picked the pirate book off the coffee table then she left the room.
Notre-Dame Cathedral – weeks later
"Hold still," Katherine said while Caroline rested on the examination table and Katherine removed the last of the stitches. She wiped the area clean as Caroline sighed and Katherine went to put the medical supplies away.
"Is it ok t'come in?" Murphy asked.
"I have to put my shirt on first," Caroline said as she sat up. She heard a small growl while a sense of anger came from Daryl and she softly laughed. "Did he try to come in?"
"Yeah," Daryl said.
Caroline put her shirt on with a small pain of moving over her right shoulder and she slid her fingerless gloves on. After thanking Katherine, Caroline walked out of the room as she looked at Connor, Murphy and Daryl and Daryl helped her on with her leather jacket.
"Ready to go?" Daryl asked as he looked at her.
Connor had received a request for an audience a few days ago from someone he never thought would contact him. After getting confirmation that the request was real, he had asked if Daryl and Caroline would like to go with him and Murphy.
"Ready," Caroline said and they headed for the armory. Daryl and Caroline helped each other get into the black body armor, boots and riot helmets and they placed their crossbows against their backs. Daryl was surprised when he found Connor had retrieved their crossbows from the Louvre and had the crossbows repaired and reloaded.
The driver opened the back door of the car as Daryl and Caroline got into the car and they sat on the seats across from Murphy and Connor. Katherine was sitting between Connor and Murphy and the driver closed the door.
Connor was wearing the red robes with the hood, tan sandals, black cord and the red gloves while Murphy wore the black robes with the hood, tan sandals, black cord and the black gloves. The hoods were pulled almost over their faces and they had their heads down.
"Why are you goin' with us?" Daryl asked.
"I make sure if it's safe for them to have the meeting," Katherine said.
"If it's not safe?" Caroline asked.
"We leave."
The car moved down the drive then onto the road while they sat in silence and the car headed down the road. Caroline looked out the window as she watched the buildings going by and people headed down the sidewalk. She noticed some people would stop and cross themselves as the car moved by and Murphy tapping her left foot with his right foot.
"They do that outta respect," Murphy said in Spanish.
"Oh," Caroline said in Spanish. She looked out the window again as she looked at the scenery and she wondered where they were going.
"Is it ok fer us to take off our helmets?" Daryl asked.
"Yes," Katherine said and Daryl and Caroline removed the riot helmets.
"Where are we goin'?" Caroline asked.
"We're going to one of the estates outside the city. Normally, we don't go there due to security reasons. But the man we're going to meet seemed desperate," Katherine explained.
"So, you never met this guy?" Daryl asked.
"No."
"How long will it take to get there?"
"A couple of hours."
They became quiet as the car headed down the road and sunlight sparkled off the windshield glass.
Du Monte Estates
The car came upon an iron gate and the white brick wall encircled the estate. On top of the wall were iron spikes intertwined with barbed wire and sharp pikes were poised at the bottom of the walls in the inner courtyard. The well-groomed lawn was dotted with landmines and lush trees and well-kept flowerbeds lined the drive.
A guard dressed in white body armor, boots and riot helmet walked out of the guard station and the driver pushed the button to move the window down.
"Cardinal and Bishop are here to see your master," the driver said in French. The guard walked to the back passenger door while the driver opened the driver's side door and exited the car. The driver saw the other guard in the guard station pointing a rifle at him and the driver walked to the door to the back passenger door. He opened the door so the guard could look in the car and the guard looked at Connor and Murphy.
"Is there a problem?" Katherine asked in French and the guard looked at her sitting between Caroline and Daryl. She had switched seats before they arrived at the estate and Daryl and Caroline had placed the riot helmets back on.
"No," the guard said in French and the driver closed the door. The driver got back in the car as the guard walked to the guard station and the driver held the steering wheel tightly in his hands. The iron gate slowly opened as the driver steered the car by the iron gate and the car headed down the long, curved drive.
Caroline looked out the window as she looked at the landscape and she noticed the smaller buildings scatters around the grounds.
"Looks like he's got a small army," Caroline said in Italian and Murphy saw some trucks, cars, vans and motorcycles parked on the paths which intersected the drive.
"And a fortress," Murphy said in Italian.
A large, gray and black stone, five story house rose up in the distance. Four half-circle towers were in each corner and several chimneys dotted the roof. Frightening gargoyles were perched on the edge of the roof and on the top of the half-circle towers. The arched windows with iron bars looked out from the top four floors and the half-circle towers. The large windows and French doors with iron bars were on the bottom floor. Ivy and moss crawled up the stone walls and barbed spike stuck out from the stones. Well-groomed bushes and flowerbeds encircled the house and a large, marble fountain sat at the center of the circular drive. A marble mermaid sat on the top of a column on the fountain with her tail draped around the top of the column and the pitcher in her arms poured the water into the base of the fountain.
"Damn," Daryl whispered and the car came to a stop at the bottom of the stairs leading up to the front door.
