Chapter 20-The truth

Daryl's P.O.V

King County

Daryl stopped his bike in King County. He looks at the truck as it stops behind him and Rick, Glenn, and Alicia get out of the car. "Why are we stopping here?" Glenn asks. "Is Morgan close to here?" Daryl asks Rick who nods. "Figured we are here, might as well check in on him," "Who's Morgan?" Alicia asks. "The guy who saved Rick's life," Daryl says as he grabs his crossbow. "Lead the way," Daryl tells Rick who nods. They walk down the streets slowly.

They stop in front of Morgan's house and see walkers laying on the ground. Some of them were shot and some stabbed. "You think, Morgan did this?" Alicia asks Rick. "He could have," Rick says as they walk up to the house and stop in front of the door. He knocks on the door. "Morgan, it's Rick and Daryl," Rick says. "Morgan."

"Rick, open the door," Daryl tells the man who nods as they open the door. They enter the house and looked around. The house was empty, all of Morgan supplies was gone. "You think they left?"

"They could have headed for the cabins," Rick says. "I left a note there for him, told him we were heading for Senoia, hopefully he'll find us, let's check the house and make sure he didn't leave anything. Daryl and I will take the upstairs. They walk into the first room and Rick grabs the rifle as Daryl grabs a piece of paper. "Thank you," Daryl reads as he holds it out to Rick who takes it.

"He must have put his wife down," Rick says as they continue to search the house.

Maggie's P.O.V

Maggie walks down the stairs and looks at her father as he sat at the table. "So you're giving that group animals?"

"They are helping us, Maggie," Hershel says. "You're worried about the barn?"

"I'm worried they'll find out about it," Maggie says as she sits down beside her father. "They are not here enough to find out about it," Hershel says as Otis comes inside.

"We have some more, Hershel," Otis tells him.

"Get Jimmy," Hershel says as he stands up. "Everything will be fine, Maggie," Hershel says as he leaves the house.

Alicia's P.O.V

Alicia, Rick, Daryl and Glenn were in the hospital searching the rooms. "You done in here?" Glenn asks and Alicia nods as she shuts her bag. "Let's go," Alicia says as they walk towards the door. They walk down the stairs to the entrance of the hospital. Daryl is first to exit and stops when a gun is pressed against his head. "The rest of you better not try anything," He says. "Step out, slowly," He tells them and they nod as they step out of the hospital. "Alicia?" Alicia turns her head and looks at Liza. "Liza?"

"You know her?" The man with the gun asks. "She's Travis's ex-wife," Liza says. "Daniel lower the gun," Liza tells Daniel who lowers his gun. "Travis, Chris, are they alive?" "Yes," Alicia says. "We're at a farm a couple of hours from here. Who are your friends?" "Daniel and Ofelia Salazar," Liza says. "Your friends?" "Daryl, Rick and Glenn. We're part of a larger group." "This is Travis's ex wife?" Glenn asks Alicia who nods. "You're welcome to come back with us but we have to clear the military camp." "Already done," Daniel says. "Why do you need those weapons?" "Trading," Daryl answers. "We'll take you to Chris and Travis," Daryl says as he walks past Daniel. He walks towards his bike and stops when he sees Jenner in the back of Daniel's car. "Who the hell is he?" "Doctor Edwin Jenner," Daniel says. "We found him at the CDC." "You went to the CDC?" Rick asks. "What was there? Is there a cure?" "No," Daniel answers. "There is more but I imagine the rest of your group would like to know."

"Then we should get back."

Travis's P.O.V

Travis and Madison were helping Nick and Dale repair the barn when Andrea came in. "They're back and someone is with them," Andrea tells Travis who nods as he leaves. He goes up to the house and stops by Chris as Liza climbs out of the car. "Mom," Chris says as he runs up to his mother and hugs her. Liza smiles as she hugs her son and kisses his head. "I found you."

Travis walks up to LIza. "How are you here?" "I escaped L.A before it was bombed," Liza says. "I've been on the road for a long time, Travis. I knew you two were alive." "This is good and all but I would like to hear what your friend has to say," Daryl says to Daniel.

"Their friend?" Madison asks. "They have a doctor from the CDC with them," Alicia says. "We should get Hershel," Glenn says.

"I'll get him," Daryl says. "Get him out of the car while I'm gone."

Hershel's P.O.V

Hershel locks the barn as they hear a bike. "They are already back," Otis says as they walk towards the house and sees Daryl as he gets off his bike. "That was quick, the sun is starting to set, I didn't expect to see you until tomorrow," Hershel tells Daryl. "We found some people, we have your supplies, but you need to gather everybody and follow me. The people we found have someone with them, a doctor, from the CDC. They said he has some information for us," Daryl tells him. "We'll gather everybody," Hershel tells Daryl who nods as Hershel goes inside with Otis. "This could be it, Hershel. He could have a cure," Otis says. "I hope so, Otis."

Jenner's P.O.V

Jenner stood at the front of the house. "Why is his hands tied?" Amy asks. "Because he tried to kill himself," Daniel answers calmly. "I need him alive."

"I have no weapons, you could cut me free now," Jenner says. "I won't run, I swear. Please."

Daniel removes his knife and walks to Jenner. He cuts the ropes as Daryl pulls into the farm with Hershel's family. "Time for the show, doctor," Daniel says as Daryl and Hershel's family walk up to them.

"Now that everybody is here, how did this happen?" Rick asks. "I don't know," Jenner answers. "No one knows what started this." "Is it worldwide?" Andrea asks. "Yes," Jenner answers. "France was the longest to hold out, they kept working towards a cure even as everybody in Atlanta was killing themselves or leaving, they kept working, but the same thing that happened there happened here." "What happened?" Merle asks. "We ran out of fuel, the world runs on fossil fuel, I mean how stupid is that, the truth is, this is our extinction event, there is no cure, this is our end, you can call it what you want, it could be the wrath of god or a weapon, but the truth remains the same, we'll all die in this world, we'll all turn into one of them." "We all won't die from bites," Andrea says. "We're all infected," Jenner says. "It doesn't matter how you die, you'll turn into one of them. A gunshot, a cold, trip and fall down the stairs, if the brain isn'tt destroyed, you'll turn into one of the dead," The group looks at the man in shock. "I need something to drink," Merle says as he sits down.

"You're lying," The group looks at Beth. "You're wrong, they're not dead, they're alive, they can be saved!" Beth shouts at Jenner. "Beth," Hershel says softly.

"I'm sorry," Jenner says as he walks closer to them. "Truly I am, I know what this world can take from you. I lost my wife to a bite," Jenner says as he stops in front of the blond teenager. "But anybody you've lost, they're gone, their brains are dark, the only think they have is a need to eat."

"YOU"RE LYING!" Beth shouts as she grabs Otis's knife and stabs it into Jenner's stomach. The doctor gasps in shock as Beth removes the knife and backs away. Travis grabs the doctor. Beth puts the knife up to her throat. "Beth," Maggie says. "They is no point anymore, Maggie," Beth says. "Mamma and Shawn are gone, everybody in the barn is gone." "Beth," Hershel says softly as he steps towards his daughter. "Honey, drop the knife." "Liza I need your help," Travis says as he presses his hands against Jenner's stomach. "It's alright," Jenner says. "It is not your time to die, doctor," Liza says as she bends down beside him. "Get me any supplies you have." Madison and Alicia nod as they run into the house.

"There is no point, Daddy. They're gone," Beth says as tears stream down her face.

"There is still a point, you have me, Maggie, Jimmy, Otis, and Patricia," Hershel tells her. "Bethy, please lower the knife."

Maggie walks closer to her sister. "You don't want to this, Bethy," Maggie says as she lays her hand on her sister's arm. "You don't." Beth let's out a cry as she drops the knife to the ground and Maggie wraps her arms around her sister who cries into her shoulder.

"Hershel," Daryl says. "Leave us alone," Hershel says. "Just leave us alone," Hershel says as he leads his daughters towards the car and the rest of the family follows.

Daryl's P.O.V

Daryl looks at Liza. "I need help moving him inside," Liza says and Daryl nods as he goes over to them. Daryl, Rick, Glenn and Travis lift Jenner up and carry him inside. They lay him in a bed as Madison and Liza start working on him.

"You guys need to leave, we need room," Liza says and they nod as they leave and Travis shuts the door. They walk outside. "What now?" Nick asks. "This is it."

"We keep surviving," Glenn says. "Even if there was a cure, the world never would have returned to normal."

"I think there is something else we need to talk about," Merle says. "You all heard that girl, there are walkers in Hershel's barn." "He's probably been hoping for a cure," Rick says. "Otis was probably the one who put Lexi's parents in the barn." "It almost sounds like you don't want to do anything about it," Merle says. "What would we do, go on his land, break open his barn and kill him family?" Rick asks the older Dixon brother. "They aren't his family anymore, he knows that now, we would be keeping 'em safe." "They just learned that, you saw how Beth reacted, she stabbed Jenner and almost killed herself, we could sent her over the edge if we do this, Hershel would never talk with us again." "I don't give a damn, that barn needs to go," Merle growls. "Rick's right," Daryl says making his brother look at him. "We still need Hershel, killing the walkers would destroy anything that could happen between us, we need to give them time to process this and then we'll talk with them, he'll see reason. Hershel is a reasonable man." "You can't be serious baby brother, those walkers could break out of that thing, kill his family and come here, you want them tearing out Amy and Glenn's throats," Merle growls. "That is what will happen if we don't do anything." "They haven't gotten out yet, the barn is secure, we need to be smart about this," Daryl tells his brother. "If you pussies won't do anything about it, I will."

"No you won't," Daryl tells him. "You gonna stop me Darlene?" Merle asks as the two brothers stare each other down. "That's what I though, don't matter how many friends you got. You ain't gonna stop me," Merle says as he walks away from his brother. Glenn goes to follow. "I got it," Daryl tells him as he follows his brother.

Thanks for reading, next chapter Daryl deals with Merle, Hershel and his family deal with Jenner's news, Liza and Madison work to save Jenner and a member of the group makes a decision. As always suggestions, ideas, and feedback are welcomed. Until next time.