Chapter 50.
A/N: Is anyone still reading this story? please drop me a review and let me know.
Yet another reminder that past events are written in italics.
"What did he say to you?" he asked folding his arms tightly over his chest.
He had been heading toward the shower block, keeping his head down.
He'd wanted to be left alone. He had wanted the chance to clean himself up, to have something to eat and then convince, whoever was on watch in the tower, that they would much rather have the night off.
He had heard someone's voice raised, but it wasn't unusual that someone be louder then he would have liked. He didn't even register the words being called out.
He took his eyes from the concrete to examine the space around him.
It all happened so fast.
The first thing he noticed was Ed, standing down the end of the hall.
In the same moment that his eyes had landed on Sophia and Maggie, Ed had left quickly.
Sophia looked up at him, from his and Carols bed where he'd set her down as soon as they had walked into the cell.
"He called out my name. That's it."
But that wasn't it. He knew her, probably better then he knew anyone. He knew how hard it was to shake her, how hard it was to upset her.
"That's all." He asked, hoping to budge her. Because clearly, something else had happened.
She shrugged. "Maggie showed up. He Left."
He blew out a heavy breath through his nose and did his best to shake off the tight feeling in his shoulders.
His panic wasn't helping anything, he could see that. So instead of pacing back and forth, concerning himself with Ed, he decided to worry about something much more important.
He sat down on the edge of the bunk beside her, swaying into her side enough to rock her slightly. "You ok?"
"Nothing. Happened." She repeated looking down at her hands as she tangled her fingers together.
He lowered his head slightly, wanting to get a good look at her eyes. "That ain't what I asked."
In an instant the eyes he had been watching, narrowed and her jaw tightened.
"I'm not afraid of him" Sophia growled.
Daryl nodded and chewed at his lower lip for a moment as he thought about it. As he honestly thought about it.
"I am" he admitted.
Her head turned and all of that anger disappeared. She stared at him for a long moment, clearly running something over in her mind as she looked at him.
"I'm sorry I told mom about Daphne." she said softly, as though she were confessing to a horrible crime.
He shook his head as she spoke.
"Don't be. You can tell her anything you want" he said firmly.
"So can you." She pointed out.
In perfect synchronicity both their heads turned to their feet.
"Do you dream about it. About being out there." She whispered.
He nodded. "Every night"
She kept her eyes locked on her feet as she reached over and placed her hand on his.
"I just saw Maggie" Carol said as she ran into the room. She instantly crouched down in front of Sophia and ran her hands over her arms, as though she was searching for marks or broken bones.
"I'm fine, mom." Sophia spoke softly, clearly trying to calm Carol down and Carol seemed to pick up on it. The hysterical state that Carol had been in only seconds ago was quickly reigned in.
"Tell me what happened." Carol asked firmly, holding onto her composure.
Sophia shrugged.
"I'd been gardening, so I went to clean up. When I walked out Ed was there, he called out to me. But Maggie showed up, she must have been in the bathroom too. She must have heard him."
"What if she hadn't been there" he asked, wanting to know what had been going through her head when all this happened.
"Daryl!" Carol spat.
He locked his eyes on Sophia and she ignored her mother. She knew he wasn't trying to upset her. He wasn't asking her to use her psychic powers and predict what Ed might have done. No, he wanted to know what she would have done if someone hadn't have showed up. And he wanted her to be honest.
She shook her head. "I don't know."
"Its ok" he told her.
Carol watched the exchange, trying to understand what they were talking about.
Sophia's face suddenly looked flushed and her eyes looked damp. "I froze, Daryl." She admitted shaking her head. "I'm sorry"
Quickly he wrapped his arm around her shoulder and dipped his head. "You didn't do a single thing wrong." He promised her.
Carol nodded as he spoke. She moved closer to Sophia until the girl was surrounded by them both.
He wondered, if right now in this moment that she felt as safe as they wanted her to feel.
"Everything is gonna be ok, baby" Carol promised as she drew the three of them even closer together.
When Maggie had found Carol to tell her about the incident, she had also informed her that their would be a council meeting.
That's where they were going now.
She led the way to the room where the meetings were held. And even though they'd had some kind of an argument no more then an hour ago, she gripped his hand tightly, and walked so closely that he could feel her arm brush against his with every step.
He knew Carol was on the council. He knew that she had a lot of responsibilities and a lot of people looking to her for answers. He was proud of her, proud of the women she'd become. He knew that if these people had have known her back at the quarry then they would understand just how far she'd come.
When they walked into the loud and crowded room everyone looked at her, clearly waiting on her arrival before starting their meeting.
She didn't sit at the table with the rest of the council members, instead she took to the back of the room and she perched herself up on a bench. He stood beside her, keeping his side as flush with hers as he could.
Sasha, Maggie and Herschel sat on one side of the long table. On the other was two men that Daryl hadn't met before, but he knew their names, Eric and Caine. Sitting along side them was Karen, a women he had talked to often because she usually worked alongside Carol in the kitchen.
The only other person there, standing at the opposite end of the room, was Rick. He wasn't a member of the council, but from what Daryl had seen he was still somewhat in charge. He was an officer again, here to uphold the law. But the council, they were the judges and jury. They were here to make the decisions and Rick made sure the rules they created were put in place.
When the room fell silent, everyone looked to Maggie, waiting on her to explain why they were gathered.
She nodded before taking a deep breath, ready to begin.
"Ed still has rights to the shower block, rec room and the dining area. We're here today because I want those rights taken from him. I want him restricted to his cell block and his side of the fence."
Her words were firm and though she was clearly determined to keep her composure, he could see the traces of fear in her eyes.
"Has something happened?" Hershel asked from his spot beside her.
Though it was her father who asked the question, she directed her attention to everyone in the room.
"An hour ago I watched Ed call out to Sophia. He did this because she was alone"
It was then that Maggies eyes fell on him as she finished. "he did this because she was vulnerable."
He nodded.
They were on the same page. She could see Ed as clearly as he could and she wanted him to know that.
Eric looked around clearly confused.
Most of the members of the council had been voted in to represent the group that they had arrived with. And from what he knew, Eric hadn't been there much longer then Daryl and Sophia.
"Mrs Dixon?" Eric said directing his attention to Carol.
Daryl did his best not to react to Carol being called Mrs Dixon. He still hadn't asked Carol why half of the people at the prison called her that. A part of him didn't want to ask because he was worried it was just a mistake she never bothered correcting, instead of something she had proudly told people.
"Do you think this is necessary? You believe Ed is dangerous?" Eric asked.
Carol nodded, "I know he's dangerous" she told him clearly with her voice void of any emotion.
Caine grimaced at Carols words and Daryl knew before he'd even heard the man talk, that he was an asshole.
"I know Ed, live in the same block as him. He does what's asked of him, he stays on his side of the gate-"
"He's been told not to talk to her. That's what's been asked of him." Daryl snapped, correcting Caine before he could continue defending Ed.
Caine laughed, clearly taken aback by Daryl's outburst.
"You're the boyfriend right? This is the guy?" Caine asked with a shit eating grin.
"I'm the one who's about ready to go and put a goddamn bullet in his thick head if ya'll don't sought this" Daryl growled, growing more and more frustrated with the dickhead that sat before him.
"Are we all hearing this? This guy's here making death threats. He's already attacked Ed with a knife...I mean, are we even sure we have the right person on trial here?" Caine said, throwing his arms back.
"This has nothing to do with Daryl" Maggie protested. "This is about a little girl who needs to be protected-"
"Protected?" Caine repeated as he rolled his eyes. "From her father? Has he ever done anything to her? Because-"
"Ed knows the rules. He knows he's not supposed to talk to Sophia" Maggie said, speaking through her teeth, clearly growing frustrated with Caine.
"I have to wonder if your judgement is clouded. From what you've explained, nothing happened"
Maggie glared at Caine and curled her lip slightly in disgust.
"This has nothing to do with me being pregnant, my judgement is just fine." She said bluntly as she straightened up in her seat. "You weren't there. That little girl was afraid."
Caine nodded firmly in agreement. "You're right I wasn't there." He slammed his hands on the table and peered over to the door "Where is she? bring the kid in here to speak for herself"
"You leave her be" Daryl yelled out loudly, assuring that everyone knew that bringing Sophia into this shit show was not an option.
"Maybe we shouldn't be asking what Ed said to his kid. Maybe we should be asking Daryl here, what he said to her?"
"Hey Fuck you! You think I turned her against him. She ain't stupid, she figured out Ed was an piece of shit all on her own."
Caine shook his head and looked around the room at everyone.
"Why is this guy even here? What right does he have-"
"How dare you" Carol said, almost growling out the words.
Those three words brought complete silence over the room, leaving everyone looking at her, himself included.
It wasn't what she said, so much as her tone and the cold look in her eyes. He watched her as she and Caine locked eyes on each other and he could see something there. Something he hadn't seen before. Something that he didn't know was taking up any space inside of her.
Something dangerous.
"We vote. That's why we're all here. I've heard all I need too" Sasha finally said, breaking the silence and easing the tension building between Caine and Carol.
"All those in agreement" Herschel called out, raising his hand. And Daryl watched as the majority of the room followed.
Sasha looked around and nodded rising out her seat as she spoke. "6 to 2. It's done. He's never to pass through those gates again."
Sasha left almost immediately, clearly having somewhere she'd rather be. Carol made her way over to Herschel and Rick. He intended to follow her but stopped when he saw Maggie leaving the room.
He quickly went after her, calling out to her as she hurried down the hallway.
She spun around to face him and stood her ground while he caught up to her.
"What did he say to her?" he asked not wanting to beat around the bush.
"He called out to her. I heard him. I came out of the bathroom and stopped him from saying anything else to her" Maggie said, reciting the events quickly, she was clearly frustrated with being asked yet again.
Daryl nodded and chewed at his lip.
"then what did he say to you?"
Maggie's brow creased and he knew she was running through the events in her head again.
"Soph is pretty tough. I don't think she'd get her feelings hurt over him calling out to her."
Maggie let out a sigh, finally understanding what he was asking of her.
"I told him he couldn't talk to her...that he was supposed to leave her alone." Her eyes dropped then and her face softened.
"He said she's his daughter and there's nothing you or anyone else could do about that."
Daryl nodded slightly and thanked her.
Maggie smiled sadly at him before she turned and continued on her way.
When they left the meeting, Daryl went to Beth's cell to retrieve his son, while Carol went to tell Glenn that he was now relieved of his babysitting duties.
They all met up in the dining area. Sophia sat along side Carol while Daryl held the baby to his chest with one hand and still managed to eat his dinner with the other. Which Carol had admitted was quite impressive to watch. But those were the only words any of them spoke. Anything more would have broken the silence that they all had seemingly decided was necessary.
Now he was pacing back and forth in the cell rocking the baby in his arms. Though Hayes showed no signs of being tired. His bright blue eyes were wide and focused on his face, as though he was trying to memorise all his features.
Daryl often felt that Hayes knew that Daryl was his father. He reached for Daryl, even when he was surrounded by people that he had known longer. He cried out when Daryl left a room and cheered when he entered one.
Hayes knew, on some level, exactly who Daryl was.
He wondered if that connection was genetic. If it was the blood in his veins that worked like some kind of magnet. Like Hayes was only drawn to him because of that connection.
As he thought about Sophia, he hoped it wasn't true. He hoped that connection was built on love and trust. He hoped that connection was based on something stronger then blood, he hoped it was because they looked at him and knew that he would crawl his way to hell and back for them. He'd set the world on fire if that's what they needed from him.
He hoped Sophia knew that. He hoped she knew that when he looked at her he felt the same way he did when he looked at Hayes.
Carol walked into the room and rubbed his arm as she passed by him. She instantly started folding clothes, telling him that Sophia was asleep.
"He won't like this." She muttered quietly, hoping not to disturb the baby.
"Nah, he really fucking won't ." He agreed, keeping his voice as calm as he could.
"He needs to feel like he's in control...even if he's not." Carol explained, as Daryl nodded in agreement.
"That what you been doin' since Merle died." He asked as he gave up on pacing and settled on the bed.
He regretted the question as soon as he asked it. wondered if it would upset her. But Carol didn't hesitate to answer him.
"In one way or another, it's what I've been doing since I met him." She said almost casually as she continued folding clothes.
"Soph told me he didn't let you see your family."
He didn't know why he told her that. Maybe because it was supposed to be private information about her life and he felt guilty for having it with out her knowing.
The brief shock of him knowing that wore of quickly and Carol simply shrugged as she continued on with her chore.
"Ed was in charge. No seeing these people, no going here or there, no music when he was home, no pets, no toys on the floor, no wasting money."
"No pets?" Daryl questioned quietly as his mind drifted.
It was then that Carol stopped what she was doing and turned to look at him. "You sound surprised"
He bit the inside of his lip and frowned. "And her hair? He in charge of that to?"
"She told you about that?" Carol asked, watching him closely.
He sighed heavily and shook his head, looking down at his son. "She didn't have to tell me."
It felt like a lifetime ago, but at the same time, it could have been only minutes ago. He could still remember the way the cabin smelled, he could remember the smears of dirt on her face, the dried blood on her hands and he could remember the look on her face when he had told her that he would have to cut the knots from her hair if she didn't run a brush through it. She'd flinched. That single comment had pushed her over the edge and started the absolute worst argument he'd ever had with her. During that argument, she had reminded him, that he was not her father.
He shook his head to himself and though he tried to suppress the growl in his throat, he failed.
"Everything ok?"
The pieces all fell into place in his head and he started to realise their were things he needed to do.
"Michonne and Tyreese are going on a run. I need to go with them."
"Oh"
It was a simple sound. Far to simple to hold so much hurt.
"Only if it's ok with you" he said without much thought. He didn't put any consideration into the words, but he knew they were true. If she asked him not to go then he wouldn't.
She weakly smiled and sat down beside him, clearly unaware that she was still holding one of Sophia's shirts in her hand.
"I'm not your boss" she quipped.
"Sure you are" he said with a grin.
She fidgeted with the shirt in her hands for a few more minutes, clearly struggling with something.
"Is this because... are you mad?" She finally asked.
"Mad?" he echoed. If anything, she was supposed to be mad at him, but she wasn't. She still wasn't.
"No. No I'm not mad. Not at you. Never at you." He promised.
He sighed when he watched her nod and drop her eyes from his. She was upset and he couldn't blame her. It had been a long day for her and he hadn't made it any easier.
It didn't seem to matter what he did lately. He was fucking up everything.
"Hey" he said, drawing her eyes back to his.
"It's not your fault that happened today. I don't want you beatin' yourself up over the shit he does"
She watched him for a long moment and he forced himself to hold that contact, even when it felt like her eyes were burning into his.
It felt like they were frozen like that for the longest time, until she reached up to rake her fingers through his hair.
"We shouldn't blame ourselves for other people's actions, should we." she said as her fingers ran down his neck.
He felt a tightness in his throat as she said those words, knowing very well she wasn't talking about Ed.
"I'm gonna try harder Carol. I am." He promised her.
His eyes stung slightly as he looked at her and he couldn't bring himself to hold back the tears that suddenly welled in his eyes. He looked back down at the baby who had finally drifted off. and when Carol leaned into his side, he rested his cheek on her head and savoured this moment for as long as he could.