Disclaimer- I do not own the Walking dead.
Shadowoftheblackdeat- Fred, George and Sarah are the last three to be mentioned of the ten people that turned up at the gate. One died so there's now nine. Danny just hasn't really talked to them, Sarah was there when Heather was getting a little back chatty. Thank you. I'm enjoying changing it all up.
Alwaysand- Oh really, wow. Haha, she's on her way out to find her own.
Enjoy, review if you have a spare minute and remember, the timeline from now on won't be the same as the show.
Danny's POV
Michonne is sitting on a bench staring out across the field, she's been sitting like this for a good few hours since we all got up this morning. She still hasn't mentioned coming with us, I left her alone but we're all starting to pack up now so I need to know what she's planning to do.
I put my empty plate down and with Riley attached to my front I finally work up the courage to go over to her. I know she knows I'm standing here but she doesn't acknowledge my presence so after a beat I clear my throat.
"You mind if I sit here?"
She ignores me for another couple of seconds before finally nodding.
I sit down next to her. "I don't want to force anything on you, and I don't want to pressure you into giving an answer but it won't be long before we pack up the cars and head out." Riley gurgles causing Michonne to look at him. "I want you to come with us, you're part of this family but if you feel like you need to stay here then I won't fight you over it. You'll be missed but we'll leave you supplies and a map of where we're going".
"I was alone," her voice is so quiet I have to lean a little closer to be able to hear her properly. "For so long and then I found Andrea and she brought me back. She made me, me again. Going with you means leaving her here".
I nod in understanding but don't say anything.
"But I can't go back to her at Woodbury and now that she has a place to run, has her own people she won't be thinking of me. If I go with you, can I tell Andrea we're leaving?"
"Of course you can. Tell her where we're heading. Maybe in the future they will calm down and we'll be able to work together. Trade with them". She stays silent. "Does that mean you're coming?" I know I sound very hopeful.
"Yeah, I'm coming. What I had with Andrea, I have with you guys, I can't just leave you".
"Thank you". I'm so glad she's coming, she's one of us and the thought I'd have to leave her behind really wasn't sitting right with me at all. "You should go pack, we want to leave as soon as we can".
She lifts her lips up in a very small smile. "I don't have much stuff, so I'm pretty much already packed".
"Well ya can help me then", Merle remarks as he walks past us, he doesn't stop, he just keeps walking to the truck holding a bag in his hand. "I need an extra hand", He then waves his stumped arm up to make his already clear point clearer.
With a heavy sigh that has some humour in it, Michonne hauls herself to her feet.
I zip up my last bag just as Glenn appears in the doorway. "You need a hand taking this out".
"Yes please". I've packed all of mine, Daryl and Riley's belongings into four bags. We're leaving some of the bigger stuff like pillows, duvets and even Riley's basket. Merle has promised that when we get where we're going he'll go out and find me another one, a better one. There's no point in taking anything that isn't easily replaceable.
I grab two of the bags as Glenn reaches down to grab the other two, but instead of picking them up he grabs the sleeve of the shirt that's sticking out. He pulls it free from the bag and holds it up, making my cheeks warm.
"Is this mine?" He continues to inspect the shirt like he recognises it but isn't a hundred percent certain he does.
"I missed you", is all I say. I remember taking it back at the farm when I realised he wasn't there and that we may never see each other again. I needed something of his to hold on to.
"I remember… Didn't I leave this back at the farm". He questions, he doesn't sound upset or weirded out, just confused.
"You did, I didn't like the fact that I may never see you again. I didn't know if you'd died or made it out. It was the shirt you handed me way back in Atlanta when you went running for the guns". I shrug, "I'm sentimental".
He smiles. "I remember. Did you wear it when you missed me?" His question is a joke.
I chuckle, "Yes I did, Daryl would see me wearing it and I know he tried to not let me see but he would always roll his eyes at me". I frown at him, "Honestly. If I didn't have the shirt I'd have probably forgotten all about you".
He laughs as he shoves the shirt back in the bag and then picks them both up. "Yeah right, you tell yourself that but you love me. That's all there is to it".
"Just carry my bags will you".
He chuckles again as he walks from the room with me following after him. I take one last look back in the room to make sure I haven't forgotten anything before leaving the room for the last time.
We're the last two to walk outside, we're the last two to walk around this prison and honestly it does make me a little sad. This place isn't for us but it doesn't mean it didn't do us good for a little while. It gave us a respite from the outside world. Allowed us to actually have a decent night's sleep, most nights. It was where Riley was born and it's where this family grew to the size it is now.
Daryl takes the bags from my hands and squeezes them into the remaining space in the bed of the truck. The one we picked up on the way back from Woodbury actually has a cab on the bag, allowing us to get more into it as we can pile the stuff higher without the risk of losing it.
When he closes the door and locks it he takes the map from Merle's hand, Merle looks a little put out that Daryl won't let him be in control of it.
Daryl lays the map out on the table as we all gather around.
"We're going just over six hundred miles to the very north of Washington state" He taps the area with his finger, "which should take about twelve hours, that's not accountin' for detours and stops along the way which there will be a few of. We need to scavenge for some more essentials and fuel. Two of our cars only have about 20 miles left in the tank so that will be our first stop. We've all come across plenty of herds durin' the winter so that will be another thing that can throw us off course which is why we need to stick together. If ya need us to slow down, ya throw on ya hazards so keep an eye on the car that's behind you at all times. I will lead, Merle will be the lead car with Danny being in charge of the map". He casts me a quick glance like he knows I want to argue that, but I don't. I don't want to be the navigator but I won't let him think he's guessed my move. Instead I just fold my arms across my chest. "Glenn will be the driver for the next car, Michonne and Sasha as well. George, you will be the back car. We'll need five cars to get us all in and each car will have a spare driver in case any of you get tired. Any questions?" He looks around at everyone in turn and that's when George raises his hand.
Daryl looks a little annoyed that he actually has someone wanting to ask a question and just nods at him to speak. "Sarah, Sam and I. We aren't coming."
My arms drop to my sides, "What?" Why on earth haven't they said anything before?
"We're all thankful that you let us in but we're gonna go back to Woodbury. We can't live out on the road. We thought we were ready to but we aren't."
Honestly, I can see that. They seem like they've lived in Woodbury basically since the start, they haven't had to fight for their lives. They had people do it for them.
Daryl looks at me and shakes his head once, he's saying don't try and convince them. Let them go. I take in a deep breath, alright.
"If that's what you want to do then I can't stop you. We need to head to Woodbury anyway so we'll help get you back safely."
"Thank you", George dips his head slightly at me.
"But when you get inside you'll need to see Andrea, send her out". This isn't me asking him, we've helped him for the last few days, gave them shelter, food and this is what I want in return.
"We'll take four cars, same drivers". Daryl then folds the map up so the start of our route is showing, he then hands it to me. "If no one else has anythin' else to say then we should get going." He looks a little pointedly at Trevor and the others that are coming. "Ya need to say ya goodbye's now, we ain't wastin' time doin' out there".
Merle pulls the car over at the same place Michonne got me too last time we were here. All but George's car stop behind us, his car keeps going. As he drives past us all he turns his hazards on as a goodbye and then he's gone. We told them to get Andrea to meet us within half hour, we don't want to waste the daylight waiting around here. We want to be out on the road and get as far as we can before we decide to call it a night.
Driving is tiring, even just being a passenger so to keep everyone comfortable and to force Daryl to actually get some rest I told him that we won't drive through the night. I look over my seat at Riley who's sleeping on the seat in between Carol and Sophia, after making sure he is still asleep I climb out, I meet Daryl at his bike.
"We should probably find a car seat. I really don't like him being free in a car like that".
Daryl nods at me and as I come up to him he reaches out and hooks an arm around my shoulders and pulls me close. "That'll be my first priority".
I shrug, "Well, I think fuel is a little more important".
"Nah, the safety of my son and stoppin' ya growin' anxiety is more important".
I nudge him with my body, "Don't say things like that, people might think you're bein' serious".
He makes a noise like he's saying whatever. "I didn't say it in my serious voice".
I chuckle, "You only ever sound serious and pissed off."
"I do not", he frowns down at me.
"Daryl, you have a low voice, and you only ever speak in one pitch, and your face is always frowning, I mean you're doing it now". He raises his eyebrows immediately to prove me wrong. "Don't worry, I like it".
He suddenly drops his arm as a car appears up ahead. He takes his crossbow off the back of his bike and loads it as I pull out my gun. A few doors close behind us as some of the others get out to, I'm hoping this is Andrea but we don't know, it could be some of the ones who don't like us.
The car stops a few hundred yards away and then the driver's door is opening and out pops Andrea's blond head. MIchonne walks past us and heads straight over to her, we let her go alone. She wants to say goodbye and she needs to do that privately.
They talk for a few minutes and then Andrea goes in for a hug, when she finally pulls back she looks over at all of us and smiles, and then starts coming over.
"It's been a long time." She says. She then looks directly at me. "I hear you're in charge now. Never would have guessed that from knowing you back at the farm". I don't take offence to it as I don't think she means it in a bad way.
"Was a surprise to me too, not exactly sure how it happened, but look a you, you've got your own town now. A lot bigger than what I have".
She chuckles but it lacks any humour behind it. "It's hard, the towns split in two. I have people that believe in me but the other half think I'm going to destroy them but they're too afraid to leave. Most of the people there have no idea what it's like to survive, not like your people."
"I was happy for George, Sam and Sarah to come with us but they didn't believe they could live out there. I'm sorry that we couldn't take care of them for you". I shift a little awkwardly, "And I'm sorry about Josh".
"You took them in which I am extremely grateful for, what happened to Josh isn't your fault. His girlfriend understands that and she appreciates you trying to help him". She waves at someone behind me. "Do you have to leave? If you could wait it out, it might all pass".
I shake my head. "I'm sorry, but this doesn't have to be the end. We know where you are and Merle has our location circled on a map, which we want you to have. We can't stay here, I need to do what's best for my family, for my son".
Andrea's eyes widen in shock. "You have a baby?"
"I do, his name is Riley".
Her smile is soft, "That's amazing".
"Hey girlies," Merle says rather loudly from behind me. "Time is tickin', we should probably think about gettin' a move on".
I roll my eyes at Andrea, "He hasn't changed".
She chuckles, "No he hasn't".
An arm and a map shoot past me, as Merle rather forcefully thrusts it at Andrea.
I say goodbye to her before all of us get back into our cars, Merle turns the car around, I wave at Andrea as she still stands in the middle of the road, holding her map.