Chapter 12-A run
3 weeks later
Rick's P.O.V
Rick walks out of his house and looks at Daryl as he sits on his porch smoking a cigarette. "Don't you have a house?" Rick asks.
"Beth and Maggie are redecorating, Glenn got stuck helping them, but I got out," Daryl tells him and he laughs. "It's been a month since we got here."
"I know," Rick says as they look around. They had reinforced the walls and dug a trench. Eugene and Noah were currently putting spikes up to stop the walkers. All the houses had electricity and hot water and the plants were starting to grow. "What are doing today?"
"I don't have any plans," Daryl says. "Why?"
"I wanted to check out that warehouse, the one near Arrington. See what's inside, you wanna come?"
"Sure," Daryl says. "Let me grab my shit and I'll meet you by the truck."
Rick nods as Daryl walks away.
Daryl's P.O.V
Daryl walks into his house and sees Maggie and Beth telling Glenn where to put things. "Are you here to help?" Glenn asks. "Please?"
"Sorry, can't. I'm going on a run with, Rick," Daryl says with a smirk.
"Lucky bastard," Glenn says as Daryl walks towards his room. He walks inside his room and grabs his crossbow and bag. He turns around and sees Beth standing in the doorway.
"Where are you guys going?" Beth asks.
"That warehouse near Arrington," Daryl tells her. "I'll be fine."
"Just you and Rick?" Beth asks Daryl who nods. "I can come."
"We'll be fine, don't worry, have fun," Daryl says as he walks past her.
"Daryl, are we okay?" Beth asks Daryl who nods.
"Yeah, just busy," Daryl says before he leaves the house.
Shane's P.O.V
Shane watched Octavia as she talked with Oliver. "She's going to kill you," Clarke says as she walks up to him. "You've been watching her since she told you she was pregnant," Octavia had told Shane he was pregnant two weeks ago.
"I'm just worried," Shane says.
"Yeah, I'm worried you won't live to meet your child," Clarke says with a smirk. "Come on."
"Where are we going?"
"We're going to go check the traps."
"Get Tyreese, or Theo," Shane says and Octavia looks at him.
"Go with her or you will sleep on the couch until this baby is born," Octavia growls.
"Alright," Shane says as he raises his hands. "I'll go with her," Shane says as he goes to grab his shotgun. He walks outside. "I love you," He says before he kisses Octavia.
"I love you, too," Octavia says. "Blake is going with you guys."
Shane nods as he walks outside where Clarke and Blake are waiting. They look at him and go down the stairs and Shane follows them.
Shane's P.O.V
10 months ago
Shane stopped the car by a tree and looked at the farm. 'Jesus," Octavia says as she climbs out of the car. "This is where you lived?"
Shane nods as two walkers come towards him. Shane removes his knife and walks up to the first walker and stabs it in the head and then stabs the second one in the head. He looks around and sees the R.V. He walks towards it and Octavia follows him. He stops by the tree where they had left the rocks for Otis. "Is that a grave?"
"There wasn't a body," Shane says as he stares at the tree.
"Who's grave is it?" Octavia says.
"His name was Otis, and I killed him," Shane says as he stares at the tree.
"Why?" Octavia asks.
"Because I was coward," Shane says. "He shot Rick's son, an accident and we went to get supplies for the surgery, we were running from a herd and we could have gotten out but I was scared. So I shot Otis in the leg and left him for the walkers," Shane says. His voice was emotionless. He then walks towards the R.V. He stops and looks around it. Beside the R.V was a burnt walker. It looks at Shane who walks up to it and stabs it in the head. "Let's check the house," Shane says as he walks towards the house and Octavia follows.
Carl's P.O.V
Carl and Gabriel walk alongside the wall. "I don't know if I'm ready," Gabriel says.
"You have to be, you can't sit in here, forever," Carl says. "Someday someone is going to attack us or a herd will come and everybody will need to fight," Carl tells Gabriel. "I understand that you're scared but you have to be able to fight in this world. If not you'll die."
"How many of them have you killed?" Gabriel asks him.
"I don't know, I've lost count," Carl says.
"How many people have you killed?" Gabriel asks.
"A couple," Carl answers flatly. "One of them was my Mom."
"I'm sorry you had to do that," Gabriel says as they see two walkers coming out of the woods.
"I'll get the first one," Carl says.
"No, I have to learn," Gabriel says as he removes his machete. Carl nods as Gabriel walks over to the first walker. He takes a deep breath before he brings the machete up and into the walkers head. He quickly removes it and swings it taking off the walker's head. The head falls to the ground and Gabriel stabs it's head. Gabriel looks at Carl who nods.
"You might just, survive, Gabriel," Carl says as they continue to walk.
Beth's P.O.V
Beth walked through the streets. "Beth," Beth turns her head and looks at Carol who was sitting on the porch with Judith. Beth smiles as she walks up to them.
"Hi, baby," Beth says as she kisses Judith's head and sits down beside Carol.
"So why are you walking around alone?" Carol asks her.
"Just thinking," Beth answers.
"About our resident, redneck?" Carol asks. "I've noticed that he's been a little distant."
"You're the resident Daryl expert aren't you?" Beth asks Carol who laughs.
"I'm his best friend, so I guess. But you don't need me to answer why he's pushing you away."
"I do," Beth says.
"He's likes you, Beth. But he doesn't think that he is good enough for you and he's worried that you won't feel the same so he's pushing you away. It did it to me after we found Sophia," Carol says. "Either confront him or give him some space to figure out what he wants. I suggest confronting him. He can keep this up for a while."
"Thanks, Carol."
"Anytime, sweetheart," Carol says.
Daryl's P.O.V
Daryl pushes the door to the warehouse opens and shines his flashlight inside. "You ready?" Daryl asks Rick who nods as they enter the building. Daryl tabs his knife against a shelf and they hear groans. They shine their flashlights around and see two walkers. Daryl shoots the first one in the head with his crossbow and Rick stabs his machete in the second one. "Stay close," Daryl says.
"Yes, sir," Rick says and Daryl smirks as they start to walk through the warehouse. "Everything okay with you?"
"I'm fine, man. Why do you guys think something is wrong?" Daryl asks angrily.
"You've been distant, like you've been thinking a lot," Rick says as he stops by a shelf and grabs some parts. "Eugene," Rick says and Daryl nods.
"I'm fine, man," Daryl tells him. After a moment he sighs. "I have feelings for Beth."
"No shit," Rick says making Daryl look at him. "You're my best friend and I'm not blind. My question is, why not go for it?"
"She deserves better," Daryl says.
"She won't get it. Daryl, in this world, we don't get a lot of chances at happiness. It was clear to me that there was something between you and Beth when you came back to the church. You deserve to be happy, Daryl. We could die tomorrow, stop being a pussy and take a chance," Rick says and Daryl looks at him.
"I will kick your ass," Daryl says and Rick chuckles as they continue to walk through the warehouse.
Blake's P.O.V
Clarke, Shane, and Blake walk through the woods. Shane had a string of three rabbits on his shoulder. Shane walked in the back and Clarke looked at Blake. "When are you going to ask him?" Clarke asks her niece.
"I don't know," Blake says softly.
"Ask him, Blake. He loves you more than anybody alive, maybe besides your mother. Talk to him," Clarke says. Blake nods as she falls in steps with Shane.
"I need to ask you something," Blake says. Shane looks at her. "Is it alright if I call you Dad?" Blake asks softly. Shane stops and looks at Blake and smiles.
"Of course it is, you're my daughter, Blake. You'll always be my daughter," Blake smiles as she hugs Shane. "I love you."
"I love you, too," Shane says as he holds his daughter.
10 months ago
Shane walks up the house and stops by the stairs when he sees a walker, half of it's body lying on the ground as the upper half crawls away from the house. Shane walks towards the walker. "Hey," Shane says and the walker slowly turns and Shane sighs. He walks up to the crawler that reaches for him. "I'm sorry this happened to you," Shane says as he bends down and removes his knife. "I hope you're with Otis now," Shane says before he stabs Patricia in the head. He stands up and looks at Octavia who was watching him. He walks into the house and looks around. They two of them quickly search the house and find nothing but supplies in the basement.
"So now what?" Octavia asks.
"Go get the others, I'll stay here and make sure no one shows up and bury Patricia."
"You sure you'll be okay?" Octavia asks.
"I'll be fine," Shane says as he sits down. "I'll be fine."
Octavia nods as Shane hands her the keys and she leaves the house.
Daryl's P.O.V
Daryl pulls the truck into Eden and stops it as Glenn and Shane walk up to them. "Looks like you got a good haul," Shane says.
"We did," Rick says as he climbs out of the truck. "We'll head back with a larger group tomorrow, we'll need Eugene for some of it but there was a lot of supplies."
"Good," Glenn says. "We'll unload this before we leave tomorrow."
They nod. "Beth home?" Daryl asks Glenn who nods. "See you guys tomorrow," They nod as Daryl walks away from them. He walks to the house and walks inside. He sees Maggie sitting in the kitchen.
"How'd it go?" Maggie asks.
"Good, Beth asleep?" Daryl asks.
"She just went back there," Maggie says and Daryl nods as he walks towards Beth's room. He knocks on the door. After a moment Beth opens the door.
"Run go good?" Beth asks Daryl who nods.
"Can we talk for a minute?" Daryl asks Beth who nods as he walks into her room.
"Have you come to apologize for being an asshole?" Beth asks him.
"Yes," Daryl says. "I'm sorry I've been pushing you away and being an asshole. Am I forgiven?"
"Can you give me a good explanation?" Beth asks.
"I don't think I'm good enough for you," Daryl says after a moment of silence. "So I was pushing you away."
"That's a terrible explanation," Beth says. "You don't get to decide if you're good enough for me. I do, and you are one of the best men I have ever met," Beth says as she lays her hand on his face.
"Beth—" Daryl says.
"Stop talking," Beth says as she leans up to kiss him. Before she can the door flies open. They both turn and look at Maggie.
"We got a problem," Maggie tells them. "We have to get to the gate now," Maggie says. They both nod as they follow her out of the house and run down the streets. They get to the gate and see Rick, Glenn, Abraham, and Shane standing on R.V. Daryl climbs up there and they see a small group in front of the gate.
"You stole from us! Time to pay!"
Thanks for reading. Next chapter we learn more about this new group, Beth and Daryl talk and Rick makes a plan. As always suggestions, ideas, and feedback are welcomed. Until next time.