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Things have happened and I just didn't have the energy, I am so sorry its taken this long but here we go. Chapter 90.
Danny's POV
I don't actually know how long I slept for, Probably was only a couple of hours but as soon as the rising sun hits me on the face I'm out of bed being careful not to wake a still sleeping Sophia. I hurry into the bathroom with a dress as it's the easiest thing to throw on and after shoving my feet into my boots I'm racing down the stairs. Daryl didn't bring Riley or Judith back to bed like he made it sound like he would. I jump the last couple of steps in one leap but slow to a fastish walk as I exit through the now open front door.
A few people are already up, they all either smile or say a very sleepy morning to me as I pass them which I do return. I'm walking down our driveway when I spot Merle standing just outside our inner gate with Riley. He grins at me when he sees me heading towards him.
"Mornin' Squirt, Daryl's gone huntin'. Hopin' to get us some meat for breakfast". He then quirks an eyebrow at me. "You still mad?"
I ignore his question, "Have they been fed?". I pointedly look at Riley.
He sighs, "Yeah 'bout half hour ago. I'm gonna go out with Sean to see if we can find the stuff he needs". He jerks his head towards where Abraham, Sasha and Fred are. "Abrahams comin' with. Need to get him out, get him away from Eugene for a bit. You wanna come?"
I shake my head, "No thanks, I'm gonna help Herschel sort the garden out," He asked me last night although it did sound more like an order than a request.
Merle chuckles, "Think you'll be brave enough to go back in that greenhouse".
I don't think Merle will be forgetting the greenhouse incident for a little while. Yesterday he tried to convince Tara that he'd caught one of the spiders but she remembers his body language when he saw them so knew full well he was lying.
"No, clearly I won't be going back in there until it's been cleared out, which you're more than welcome to help with".
"Can't, sorry. We're headin' out soon".
I grin at him and quirk an eyebrow. "See, I know that's a lie, you're waiting until Daryl gets back".
"Well I'd kinda like breakfast too", his body language has changed. I know he'll be waiting for him to get back and I know exactly why.
"Daryl thinks I'm going crazy", Merle's shoulders tense, "so there's no chance he'd go out without leaving a chaperone". And Merle's the only one Daryl would trust one hundred percent with my life.
"Look squirts it's…"
I hold up my hand, "Don't worry about it, just help me clear the greenhouse before you go".
I can see Merle's shoulders relax, happy to be off the hook. "And by help, you mean?"
"Do it for me… Obviously".
"Obviously", he chuckles back at me. He hands Riley to me, "Come on then before I change my mind about this".
When we arrive around to the back of the house we see Herschel is already there with Carol and Axel. Beth is sitting on the back patio with Judith. They all look up at us but it's Carol that chuckles.
"She roped you into helping?" She asks Merle.
"MMhm, I have to clear out the greenhouse".
She chuckles again as she makes her way over to us. "Goodluck with that 'cause no one will help you." She stops in front of me. "Is Sophia up?"
"No, not yet, by the looks of her she'll probably be out for another couple of hours". She stayed up with me last night, even if we didn't talk I knew she wasn't asleep. I think she was refusing to sleep until I did. I lower my voice, "You should probably let her sleep". Carol nods and with a gently touch to me arm she offers me a small smile.
"Right, why don't you let me have Riley, we'll sit over there with Beth, so you can get to work." she holds her hands out and waits.
I hand him over after a beat. "You're not helping us?"
She shakes her head, "Nope. I already know plenty about gardening. He's teaching you today. Have fun". She then heads over to Beth and Judith.
"Merle", Herschel calls out to him. "Can you and Axel clear out the greenhouse? I would like to start planting some seeds as soon as possible, as some of these plants aren't gonna make it."
Merle grumbles to himself before huffing, "Sure, come on Axe man. You better not be scared of spiders". Merle starts walking towards the Greenhouse and as he reaches Axel he swings his arm around his neck.
Axel casts me a look before unwillingly keeping pace with Merle. "Depends how big they are", I hear him say before they're out of hearing range.
"Time…" Herschel pauses until I look at him. "Time for you to learn what's a good plant and what's not, then we'll go over where's the best place to plant certain foods.
"Sounds fun", I kind of realise how sarcastic that sounds after I say it but Herschel doesn't seem even a little bit fazed. He just smiles and hands me a pair of gloves.
"Jane, Melody and Lynda are the three women's names". Herschel tells me. I didn't ask but he offered it to me anyway and it makes me feel bad. I haven't really asked about the three women Daryl and the others brought back yesterday. All I know about them is they're staying in the room next to mine and they haven't come out of the room since they were put in it. Michonne and Herschel are the only ones who have seen and dealt with them since they were taken inside. They're not being forced to stay in the room but they were prisoners and I completely understand them not wanting to venture out into a group as big as this.
I sit my bum on my feet and stretch my back out. Gardening hurts. "How are they doing?"
"They have a few cuts, bruises and are malnourished, nothing that can't be healed but the psychological damage… I don't know. They won't talk about what they went through. Lynda seems a little better than the other two but I think we just need to let them be, let them make their own decisions for now. When they're ready they'll let us know".
I can't imagine what they must have gone through, I've seen how they kill people, the way they tie them to the tree with wire and slice through pretty much every inch of the body. They make them suffer, they are sadistic people and they could have done anything to these women, I doubt they have limitations.
I stab my trough into the dirt with a lot more force than is necessary, I yank off my gloves and get to my feet. Merle and Axel cleared out the greenhouse. Threw everything out, and can safely say there are no spiders hiding inside anymore.
I knew Daryl had gotten back because Tara brought Carol and Beth some breakfast, I declined what she offered me and Herschel said he'd already eaten. A little while later Merle appeared to say he was going out and that he'd see me later, but Daryl never came to see me… And I didn't go to see him.
"Do you think something's going to happen?" Herschel asks.
I turn to face him and then with a sigh take a seat on the edge of the wooden planter. "You don't?"
He shakes his head and slowly removes his gloves. "I don't, we have a place here. A good one. Yeah it needs some things done to it to make it better, which you guys are already working on, but we're behind solid walls. A double layer at that."
"But nowhere is going to be completely safe, it won't matter what we do to it. Something will always get in".
"I understand that and I don't think everyone here is going around believing this place will be 100% safe. That's why we have watch points, right, but I can see it; You think something is definitely going to happen. Maybe with that group?"
"They aren't that far away, they could make their way here by the end of the week if they tried". I look over to where Riley and Judith are. "One of them got away, they know we're out here somewhere".
"And we know they're out there so we can be prepared. We have a lot of people here. A lot of people who are good with guns."
"And we have people who can't protect themselves".
Herschel glances over at the woman on the back porch. "But everyone here would lay down their lives to protect those who can't protect themselves. You know that". Do I. We don't know most of these people well. "Riley has a lot of family and I don't think any of them will let anything bad happen to him."
"What about Beth. Most of these people are basically strangers are you willing to put her life in their hands?"
"You are a new mother, and that was hard enough back in the old world. I can't imagine what that must feel like now but you are doing an amazing job. You are learning all of this in this new world. Something no one here can say they've done but they all understand and are offering to help. And no one here will judge you for any mistakes you make. Mistakes are part of the learning process".
"Seems I'm making a lot of mistakes lately. I'm sure Daryl can agree to that." I stand up rather abruptly stopping him from saying anything. "Thank you for teaching me some things but I'm tired and Riley and Judith need feeding." I'm done with the conversation. I just know he's talked to Daryl, Herschel didn't need my help with the garden he just wanted to talk to me. They set me up, they're just trying to prove that I'm crazy that I'm not fit for this.
I turn my back on him and head straight towards Carol and Beth. "Thank you but I'll take them now if you don't mind". They cast a very quick glance at each other but I don't say anything, I don't want to fight with anyone but I know what that looks was. they don't want me to take them.
Beth hands Judith over and then when I have her balanced on one hip Carol hands Riley over.
"If anyone asks they needed to go down for a nap and I'll be in my bedroom".
"Dan…" Carol starts.
"Could you open the back door", I cut her off, "so I don't have to go all the way round, please".
"Sure", she gets up and opens the door for me. "Shout if you need anything" she says to me as I disappear inside.
I don't run into anyone on my way up except for oscar who is sitting on the stairs. With all the new people currently lying in beds up here it's better to be safe than sorry but it's only a precaution. He's not here to keep them locked in their rooms, just to make sure they don't go snooping in other people's rooms. Just until we get to know them a bit more. Other than a small hello Oscar doesn't really say anything to me as he's too engrossed in the crossword book he's currently got open in his lap.
I shut my door and put Judith in her cot so I can feed Riley first.
I know you're supposed to sleep when your baby sleeps but I couldn't. Not without Daryl here, not knowing that he's out there disappointed in me. Instead I just lay on the bed listening to the talking and laughing that's coming in from outside.
Maybe he is right and that is why I got so angry, I was just after revenge and to stop something that may not even happen.
I still believe they need to be dealt with but I can't put our people at risk just because I want something done. That is exactly how the Sheriff was and I will not turn into him.
I don't lift my head up to see who opens my bedroom door, nor when it's softly closed again. For a second I hoped it was someone just checking up on me but when I hear a small thud of something being put on the floor I know whoever it is has come inside. I open my eyes just as Daryl moves closer. He peers into Judith's cot and then reaches into Rileys for a second before turning to look at me.
"Get any sleep"? He asks.
"No, I'm just waiting for them to wake".
He nods once but doesn't say anything. I sit up and scoot back to rest against the headboard. "I'm sorry… for not talking to you before". Before making a decision that could get people hurt.
He comes over and sits on the edge of the bed."I will always back you but ya have to talk to me before ya try an' do somein' dangerous. I can't lose you".
"I'm sorry", Is all I can think of to say but he shakes his head.
"Don't apologise".
I pull my legs closer to me. "You didn't come to bed last night." I don't know why I say it because I don't blame him. I don't mean it as an accusation, more of just a statement.
He sighs heavily. "I came and checked on you a couple of times but I didn't know if you wanted me here."
I get onto my knees and scooch closer to him. "I thought it was the other way round".
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