A/N Thank you all so much. Holy Cow this is a big chapter. Hang on to your hats!
WAR
The prison group achieves their goal of neutralizing the walker threat, and as a bonus they've gained walkers as weapons for their attack on Woodbury.
They don't leave the Cage without loss of their own though. One of their soldiers has been killed, and they have another man who's severely injured. A tall fellow and a good fighter named Aaron. He's been bit on the forearm and there's no choice. It's either shoot him now or immediately cut his arm off.
They all know, including the injured man, that the arm has to go, there's not even time to make their way back to the prison's infirmary. Merle has a steady hand with an iron gut to match, so they pick him to do the "surgery." The scene makes Daryl think of a civil war battle painting, surgery in the field, but then that's how it is these days. High tech had its day, now they're back to the most rudimentary methods of survival.
The group stands watch as Merle does the deed, and Daryl has to admire the patient. Although his face contorts and he's sweating profusely, he doesn't cry out. The man seems to just swallow his pain. Merle cauterizes the wound, then bandages him the best he can with the cleanest shirt they have among them.
The other soldiers are badly shaken, but they're also high on victory and adrenaline and anxious for an even bigger fight, taking down Woodbury. They quickly get in their vehicles and hurry back to the prison.
Daryl and Merle carry Aaron to his hospital bed. There's a woman named Karen who will care for the patient in the prison's small infirmary, Dale will stay with him too. He saw more than one battle wound during his Viet Nam days and he'll do what he can to assist in properly cleaning and caring for Aaron's injury, while watching him closely for signs of infection. Aaron's resting more peacefully now. He's full of some kind of sedatives and antibiotics the prison group scavenged on one of their runs.
Daryl introduces his brother to Dale, the man who became like a father to him. The brothers chat with the older man for a minute or two, but there's no time. There's a war to be fought and the brothers have to go. Daryl hates goodbyes, he simply claps Dale on the shoulder and tells him, "I'll be back soon and we can talk more then."
Merle and Daryl are just turning to go when that tough little ninja named Jesus walks in. He approaches the hospital bed and lays his hand over Aaron's, leans down and tenderly kisses the other man's lips, promising, "You know I love you. I don't want you to worry. I'll be home soon and we'll get through this together," Aaron smiles weakly as his eyes close, and Daryl and Merle smile a little themselves as they all hustle out of the room, ready to embark on their second mission of the day.
As they agreed, on their way to Woodbury and the battle to come, the group doesn't just follow each other like a procession, they fan out. As each arrives at Woodbury they proceed to a designated location about a mile and half from the town, forming a circle and surrounding the governor and Woodbury. They won't immediately take action though, first they'll send scouts.
The choice of personnel for the scouting mission doesn't take a military genius to figure out. They need experienced trackers who have an innate ability to be stealth. The brothers, Merle and Daryl, are the obvious choice. Merle will survey the situation from the north end of the community, Daryl will be at the south end. Also on tap is the ninja. They're all confident he could sneak up on just about anyone, anytime. His vantage point will be the east side. There's a woman too, she's been with the prison group from the start, Carol. Daryl remembers when he first met her, she seemed kind of mousy back then, but damn, the way she fought at the cage, she's gone badass.
These four will get as close to the community as possible, without actually entering Woodbury. That will come later. For now, they're just getting a feel for the place, the "what's where" and "who's where" of it, then they'll hurry back to the group and report. Their intel will help finalize the battle plan strategy. If all goes well, the group anticipates Woodbury could fall by tonight.
Daryl shinnys up a big oak to get a better view into the town. He looks through his field binoculars, scanning the area and observing there are no shops or public buildings in this section of the town. It looks like it's strictly residential and a lot of it is undeveloped. That's probably why there's almost no one out and about.
Wait though, what's this? He stops scanning when he spots them, well, well, well.
It's hard for the Dixon brothers to stay exactly on plan, any plan, and now that he's seen what he's seen, Daryl just can't seem to resist. It's two Woodbury soldiers, one street over from the main drag. Yeah, and the main drag is probably where those dumbasses are supposed to be patrolling. They obviously got off track because right now they're sitting on the sidewalk just inside a recessed doorway. There's a bottle of Jack Daniels on the ground between them, and those fuckers are passed out. You can't just pass up easy pickings.
Daryl's as sneaky as he knows how to be, inching himself quickly and quietly closer to the wall. He looks; he listens. Nothing. Good, because he's going over the wall. He scales it without difficulty, and when he gets to the top he reaches in his hip pocket and pulls out a pair of snips. He cuts through the barbed wire and jumps to the street below.
He looks around again and listens intently. Nothing. Uh oh, wait, there it is. It's people talking. From the sounds of it there are two of them and they're heading in his direction. He hangs back in the shadows between two buildings and waits, ready with his bow if he needs to be, but hoping they'll just walk on by. Here they are. It's a young couple, holding hands and not paying attention to anything but each other. Good.
Daryl waits for the pair to turn the corner before running in the opposite direction and across the street. He stops in a doorway, looks around again, nothing, he doesn't hear or see anyone. He hurries around the next corner and down the street to where the soldiers are. Sure, they're passed out now, but that's temporary and it doesn't mean these guys wouldn't be a threat to Daryl's family later. He scoffs as he thinks to himself, "Shit boys, ya got drunk on the job. Gonna have ta fire ya," and with those thoughts he kills the pair, feeling no remorse as he slits their throats then plunges the knife into their heads.
Daryl's done what he came to do and now he finally takes a minute to think, oh fuck, he can't just leave them out in the open. They'll be spotted and soon everyone in Woodbury will know they're under attack. Fuck him.
He's quiet when he opens the door that two minutes ago these men were leaning against. Perfect, the storefront is empty. There are probably plans to turn it into living quarters or something, but nothing's happening right now. Daryl drags the bodies inside, takes their rifles, knives, and one of them has a grenade hanging from his beltloop. Yeah, that too. Daryl hangs it from his own beltloop.
Well, he's here now so he may as well check it all out. Daryl stays expertly out of sight as he slips up and down the streets at the south end of Woodbury. It's quiet, nothing going on and he whispers to himself, "suburbia," as he makes his way back to the wall. This time the climb is a little tougher, he's weighed down with extra weapons, but he makes it without issue and runs back to where Rick and the family wait.
Carol's already back, and within a few minutes Jesus and Merle are back as well. The four discuss with Rick what they found, and Rick tells Daryl, "If this was the U.S. Army I'd have you court-martialed for disobeying a direct order. Lucky for you, we're a prison army." Rick's not happy, but he's also not unhappy about the soldiers who were guarding the south end being eliminated.
Based on the intel, they will send a small group of fighters to the south entrance, chiefly in anticipation of the Woodbury fighters running in that direction to regroup and plan a counterattack. There's also a prevailing thought that a lot of guys may not be that loyal to the governor. They've just been going along and trying to stay alive, so it's likely there will be a lot of them deserting and the south end would be the easy way out.
To the North is the main entrance to the community, the most heavily guarded and armed, and that's where an abundance of Woodbury soldiers will be stationed. It's also where the prison soldiers will launch their full-scale attack.
They'll be coming at Woodbury with everything they have. Grenades, dynamite, Molotov cocktails and pipe bombs all raining down on the enemy at once. It will undoubtedly shock them, catching the town's fighters and the governor himself completely off guard and unprepared.
Carol's intel shows that the barracks buildings and munitions stronghold are on the west side. The group will launch nearly as much firepower there as they do at the north entrance, and most importantly, all attacks will be simultaneous.
Shops and other businesses, even the library and an outdoor café are located on the east side. The group doesn't want to hurt civilians, but like Daryl, the prison soldiers will put their own family's safety above the safety of the Woodbury population. Still, they won't be hitting this side with nearly the firepower they'll use to the west and north.
A lot of how this turns out will depend on timing, it has to be perfect. First things first. The catapults will once again be put to use. The prison soldiers do their best to remain undetectable as they set up three catapults at each entrance, north, west, east, south.
The catapults are carefully loaded with bundles of dynamite, and one soldier at each location keeps a close eye on his wristwatch. The waiting soldiers know that when their comrade with the watch drops his arm to his side, they light their fuses. A second later when a loud horn sounds, they'll fire their catapults and the dynamite will be launched. The soldiers will immediately follow with grenades, pipe bombs and Molotov cocktails at each location, except at the south end.
The south end will be experiencing something else. Oscar, Axle and Tyrese will pull open the big gates and turn the walkers loose on the streets of Woodbury, while snipers, including the King, Sasha, T-Dog and Rick stand on the walls. They'll be picking off the Woodbury soldiers and any others who they feel may pose a threat. They're determined that every fucker who might do their family harm is going to fall, either to rifle fire or walkers.
Moments later it begins and chaos reigns within the walls of Woodbury, Soldiers are scrambling to locate the assailants, citizens and deserting military are screaming and running. At the west end Carol sees a small group of Woodbury soldiers open the gate and leave the compound. She pays close attention to the details. There are six men in two army jeeps and a military transport vehicle. She can't stop what she's doing to give chase; she's in the middle of a battle of her own and she intends to win. The group will just have to track down the defectors later.
As war rages on, the north end of Woodbury no longer resembles a town. It has been blown apart and there are piles of rubble and dead bodies everywhere. One of the few buildings remaining is the governor's house. There are Woodbury snipers standing guard at two of the building's windows with their rifles up and ready. However, with the small fires that seem to be burning everywhere, plus the smoke and the destruction, their targets are tough to spot. Merle slips through easily and into the governor's house.
He's known dickheads like the governor his whole life. Every schoolyard has one, every prison has one. They're the asshole kings of all the other assholes. They prey on the needs and the fears of the physically and mentally weaker by promising protection. That's how they build a position of power for themselves. Yeah well, it's not going to be that way much longer for the governor. Merle plans to kill this asshole himself. Right now.
He hears footsteps on the second floor and slowly begins creeping up the stairs, the element of surprise is everything in a mission like the one Merle's on. He listens closely just outside a set of double doors and hears what sounds like the voice of a loving father speaking to his child, "You're looking so lovely today Penny. You're Daddy's pretty little girl."
Merle shakes his head, he knows the governor's daughter is a walker and this is giving him the creeps. Yeah, let's get this over with. He throws the door open and the governor jumps to his feet. Merle doesn't hesitate, he shoots the walker child in the head with his pistol, and as the governor lunges for him to retaliate, Merle stabs him in the heart while muttering, "Ya fuckin' weirdo."
The soldiers at the windows hear the commotion and run toward the noise, but Merle's ready for them and shoots them both in the head before they know what's happening.
He still hasn't killed the governor's brain. Not yet. He grabs a decorative samurai sword off the wall and uses it to sever Phillip Blake's head from his body. It's starting to reanimate and that's good, that's what Merle wants. He holds it up by it's hair and leans out one of the open windows waving the head while in a roaring voice he yells at the crowd below, "Here's your governor. Ya ready ta give up the fight?"
The regular citizens are more than ready to do just that, but there's someone in an army tank and he's pointing the big tank gun right toward Merle. Daryl grabs the grenade that's hanging from his belt, runs in front of the tank and as he's leaping in the air he pulls the pin and drops the grenade down the barrel of the tank gun. The operator and the tank are now disabled for good.
The time has come and many of the remaining Woodbury citizens beg to be taken to the prison. They promise that what they really want is just to be part of a community. Many have families, and there are also young children whose parents were killed in this battle or sometime before. There are soldiers too. Soldiers who swear allegiance to Rick and to protecting the prison. There's also Andrea, begging to be taken back into the fold.
Ricks blood has turned to ice when it comes to Andrea and he tells her, "I'm sorry, you used up your last chance. You'll have to find some other camp to take you in." No amount of tears can change Rick's mind.
They expected this situation to present itself, Woodbury citizens wanting to join them at the prison, and a plan for dealing with these displaced folks is already in place. Cell block D is currently unoccupied, and the group agreed, these people will be housed there for now. They'll be locked up tight as the prison council thoroughly vets each one of them. Most will probably end up being welcomed. Others will not.
The prison personnel have loaded up all the food from the canteen, all the medical supplies from the hospital, and the munitions from the artillery building. Even if the vehicles weren't stuffed with the spoils of war, there's no way they could transport this large group. They'll have to walk. The prison soldiers have checked everyone for weapons and they're now in marching formation. They'll be surrounded by prison soldiers as they all make the trip to the prison.
By the time the group and the soldiers are leaving the compound, it's four in the morning. Daryl hangs back, telling Rick, "I'ma have one more look around, just ta be sure, then I'll catch up."
He's walking down the empty streets with his bow across his back, a rifle in one hand and a pistol in the other, and a flashlight sticking out of his hip pocket. He hasn't seen or heard a thing, until he hears a whimper. He smiles thinking it's probably a puppy as he walks toward the sound. Huh, maybe he'll take home a playmate for Jack.
He hasn't gone far, just a few more paces, when he comes upon the source of the whimpering. It's a tiny boy huddled just inside a doorway. The little fella is sitting on the ground with his knees up, his arms wrapped around them. The little guy's forehead is resting on his knees and the sound of his crying is heartbreaking.
Daryl should just grab the kid up in one arm and hurry back to the group with him. Some family in the prison will take the boy in, that's how it's done these days. Dammit though, Beth is in his head and he's wondering what she would do. Oh fuck him, he knows exactly what she'd do.
He squats down in front of the child and softly asks, "Hey buddy, what's goin' on?"
The little boy looks up, and shit, he's so young. His tiny face is covered in dirt stains mixed with tear stains, and notes the boys' blonde curls, shit, the kids' hair is even messier than his own. The child has the most pitiful blue eyes Daryl's ever seen, and a voice just as sad as his look when he sniffles, "I'n scared."
"I bet ya are. It's been real noisy today. Ya got a mom or dad around here?"
It breaks Daryl's heart a little more when the boy answers, "Mommy n Daddy went to heban. I don't member. I's little then."
Daryl wants to be sure he's got this right, "Heaven?" And the little fella just nods. Daryl almost chokes on the words, there's no way they'd let his Dad in heaven, but he tells this little boy, "Yeah, my Mommy and Daddy went ta heaven too, a long time ago. So, do ya have a name?"
"Jamie."
"Nice ta meet ya Jamie, I'm Daryl. How old are ya?"
"Tree."
"Just three? Wow, ya look so grown up, I thought you was 10 or 12."
That makes the little boy smile.
Daryl reaches out, lightly touching the boys' arm, and offers, "Why don't ya come with me? We got a nice group of folks and there's food n everythin'."
Jamie nods but then shivers as he points toward the door, "Mine coat."
"Okay, yeah, good idea, let's get that." Then out of nowhere the little guy jumps to his feet and wraps his arms around Daryl's neck, practically knocking him backward.
"Don yeave me ayone."
"Don't worry buddy, I promise I won't." Daryl picks the child up and carries him on his hip as they walk inside. It's darker inside than out and Daryl has to turn the flashlight on to see, and he sees enough to know what the place is. It's obvious they were housing a bunch of kids here, like a new world orphanage. He looks at the little boy and says, "When they gathered up all the other kids ya musta been hidin', huh?"
The child is squeezing him so tightly when he says again, "I'n scared."
Daryl's not sure why he was scared, and now's probably not the time to grill a three year old kid, so he only asks, "Can I set ya down while we get your coatf?" The boy squeezes more tightly, and Daryl assures him, "I promise it's just for a minute. Like I said, just while we get your coat," The child reluctantly agrees and they grab the boys' coat. Daryl gets it on the little guy and all zipped up, then thinks to ask, "Do ya got any other clothes here?"
The boy silently points to a dresser drawer. There are children's backpacks hanging from hooks on the wall and Daryl grabs one. He stuffs it full of all of Jamie's things he can make fit, then he gets another and crams more kids' coats in it. With the children they've got on the way they're going to be in need of coats on the mountain.
He's about to lift the kid up again so they can go, when he spots the stuff all neatly stacked in baskets, shit, there are baby bottles and rattles, pacifiers and all kinds of other baby stuff. He shoves all he can into a third backpack, grabs another and stuffs it full of baby things too.
He throws the backpack straps over one shoulder and grabs his weapons and the waiting child. He's weighted down and it's awkward, but it's worth it and besides, he doesn't have to go far. Merle will be waiting with the truck.
He opens the truck door and Merle smiles, "What did ya do brother, pick up a hitchhiker?"
Daryl shrugs, "Yeah, it was sumthin' like that. This here is Jamie, he's gonna ride with us. Jamie, this is my big brother, Merle."
Merle nods, "Nice ta meet ya Jamie. Whaddya say you n me each have an apple while Daryl drives us ta your new home. Wanna?"
The little boy nods anxiously, "Pease, I'n hungy."
The prison group sticks together, those who are driving, like Daryl, just have to go slow and do a lot of stopping and waiting and it takes two days for the group to make it back to the prison. In that time the small child never leaves Daryl.
When they get to the prison Daryl encourages Jamie to join the other children, but the boy wraps his arms around Daryl's leg and says, "No, pease, no Dardle." Shit, maybe one of those bigger boys was mean to Jamie. If he knew which one that was Daryl would straighten the kid out.
"A'ight, ya hang with me buddy, but just so ya know, I'm leavin' in the mornin'. I gotta get home ta my wife."
Daryl showers, and that means Jamie's showering too. Daryl dresses and Jamie almost dresses. There are a few problems like pulling his t-shirt on, getting his pants on in the right direction, and the socks and shoes are a real no-go. Daryl just smiles and lends a hand, "There ya go buddy." They have a warm meal for a change and everyone in the prison seems to be heaving a big sigh of relief. They're more than ready for a good night's sleep.
00
It's dawn and Daryl and Merle are packed for an early start. They're going to backtrack a little and get the trailer Daryl saw on the highway, then go to the construction site and take both of those bobcats, plus any fuel that might be left and maybe some building supplies.
As the brothers say their so longs and see ya laters, and Daryl promises both Dale and Jamie he'll be back to see them in the summer, the little boy grabs Daryl's leg. Jamie's hanging on with all of his might when, with a cry in his voice, he begs, "No, don yeave. You said. Don yeave. Pease."
Fuck him. Now what? He doesn't want to leave the kid any more than the kid wants to be left, but isn't that the right thing to do? Daryl looks at Merle and his brother just smiles, shrugs a shoulder and says, "Up ta you."
It doesn't take Daryl long to decide. He tells Jamie, "A'ight, let's let Rick know, and we gotta get your stuff too." What the fuck is he thinking? Shit. He's out of his gotdamn mind. Yeah, well, that doesn't matter, he recognizes what this feeling is now, Beth taught it to him. It's love. He has love in his heart for this little boy and all he can do is hope to God Beth will love him too.
It's Rick's idea and Daryl's grateful as they slide the mattress under the canopy and into the bed of the pickup. There are some goods from the prison too, coffee, canned foods, a big sack of grits and lots of baby supplies. They all sit up front, the child between the brothers. He never complains, he just sits close to Daryl while the men tell the little boy stories about the mountain and what it will be like at his new home. The whole time Daryl's hoping and praying that they make it safely, that the women are okay, and that Beth isn't angry he's brought a child home with him. That wouldn't be like her, but shit, she's going to have a baby of her own soon. Fuck him.
They can't just take the trailer; they have to take the Chevy dually that had been pulling it too. Daryl isn't sure his pickup has enough power to tow the trailer with both bobcats on it up the mountain. It'd probably handle it in town, but climbing a mountain is different. Merle's all smiles, "I been needin' a new rig."
Daryl's grateful Jamie has dozed off and he's lying in the front seat sleeping peacefully while the brother's work. They load up the first of the bobcats on the trailer, but then Daryl has a change of heart. He asks his brother, "Shit man, I'ma need ta add more space on ta my house. You probably need ta add onta yours too. Whaddya say we only take one bobcat now, and we can load up on a shit ton of lumber and other building supplies?"
Merle agrees, "It sounds good ta me. We can always come back for the other one, in fact, I'm puttin' the fuckin' key to it in my pocket now."
They're pulling a lot of weight as they climb the mountain and the ride is exceptionally rough. The melting snow has made the ground muddy and slick, and the going is slow, slippery and bumpy. They're getting jerked around and it's a little too much for poor Jamie, like Jack, he throws up several times during their climb.
It's when they get within five miles of home that they start to notice the tracks. Fuck. There's at least three vehicles. Daryl stops his rig and Merle pulls up next to him and stops.
They're careful what they say, they don't want to scare the boy. Daryl convinces his brother that he's the one who should go the rest of the way alone. Take care of the problem, and when that's done he'll come back for Merle and the boy, "I gotta tell Beth about the new guy too. I can't just spring it on her outta the blue."
Merle very reluctantly agrees, "A'ight, I'll stay here with the boy, but I'm only givin' ya two hours. If ya ain't back by then, I'm comin' after ya."
"Agreed." Then Daryl tells the little boy, "I'ma go check on sumthin' real important, then I'm comin' right back. It ain't safe for a little fella like you where I'm goin', so you gotta wait here with Merle. I'll be back ta get ya soon, K? I promise I ain't leavin' ya Jamie. I'm comin' right back."
The little boy is trying so hard to be brave as he sniffles, "No Dardle I go with you, pease."
That nearly has Daryl choking up. He roughs Jamie's hair and says, "I'm sorry I can't take ya, but like I said, I'll be back soon."
Merle lays a big hand on the small boys' shoulder and tells him, "Jamie, ya know, Daryl's your Daddy now and that means he's in charge. It also means he's lookin' out for ya. He's a real good Daddy too and he's always gonna take care of ya and keep ya safe, but ya gotta do like he says, K?"
Jamie's bottom lip is jutted out but he nods. Merle smiles and says, "You just wait til you meet your Mama. She's real pretty and real nice too. And ya know what else? Oh boy Jamie, your Mama can cook. You're gonna be livin' like a prince on this mountain. C'mon now, let's you n me get in my truck and get warm. We'll follow your Daddy til he stops again, then you n me are gonna share a candy bar I found at that construction yard, k?"
"K." He takes Merle's hand, looks up at Daryl and there are big tears in his bright blue eyes when he says, "Bye Daddy."
Daryl's trying to be brave himself as he bends, kisses the boys' head, and says, "A'ight fellas, I'll be back soon."
Shit, he's a mess worrying about Beth and what's going on at home, and worrying about Jamie and feeling bad about leaving the kid, even though there was really no choice. Right now though, he's got to be smart. He has to keep a clear head, stay focused and make sure his family are all safe.
Daryl drives within a mile of the place, then sets out on foot with his bow, his rifle, the pistol on his hip and the knife in a sheath on his thigh.
He gets to the perimeter of their property and sees it right away, there's an army transport vehicle ass up and head down in one of their traps. There's a dead guy who's half hanging out the vehicle window and he's a walker now. There's another who must have fallen out of the vehicle and gotten impaled on a punji stick. He's dead and turned too. Daryl will come back and put them both down later. He's busy now.
The traps did their job, but not all of it. Daryl knows there are more of these assholes because he remembers Carol's story about the six men leaving Woodbury in army vhicles, and he can hear the commotion they're making right now.
He creeps along out of sight as he gets closer and closer, and then he sees them. There's an outside fire going and there are a pair of army jeeps spinning cookies in the yard, but there's also one of these assholes at the door to the cellar. Although Daryl can't hear exactly what the guy is saying, he knows he's talking to someone inside there, and his heart grows cold. It's got to be Beth. Fuck, these fucking assholes have her locked in the cellar.
The guy shuts the cellar door and starts waving and hollering to the fellas in the jeeps, and they stop what they're doing. They get out of the vehicles and begin walking toward the asshole at the cellar door, and Daryl is just about ready to shoot all four of them when here he comes, charging the camp. It's that big son of a bitching bear and he's pissed. Daryl almost smiles, shit, it must be the engine noise that has him riled. The bear gets up on his hind legs and grabs one of the marauders by the head, while Daryl aims and shoots at the other three, bam, bam, bam. No hesitation. He doesn't even think about danger from the bear, he runs toward the dead and plunges his knife through their heads. Except of course, for the one the bear is tossing around. There probably won't be enough left of that guy's head to stab.
Daryl takes a breath, it feels like his first in a while, fuck these muther fuckers, he's got to get to Beth. He hurries over and opens both cellar doors calling, "Beth, Beth," as Jack runs up the stairs so fast he nearly knocks him over, and Daryl hollers, "Don't shoot lady, it's me, it's your husband."
Beth and Frankie hurry up the stairs with the ducks right behind them. Everyone's in the mood for fresh air and a little sunshine, but the women and the animals are having a some trouble adjusting to the light. They've been in the dark for days.
Daryl and Beth share a tight hug and a tender kiss as she whispers, "Thank God you're here, Daryl, thank God."
Daryl gives Frankie a quick hug and she's almost afraid to ask, "Merle?"
"Yeah, he's close, I'ma go get him now."
He turns to look at the bear who seems to have grown tired of his play thing and tossed what's left of the marauder aside. Daryl hollers at him, "Okay, go on now, ya had your fun. I told ya, this is my place. Beat it."
The bear gets down on all fours, lifts his head and there's a long huff, and the animal turns to go. Daryl calls out, "Hey though, thanks for the help buddy."
The words are no sooner out of Daryl's mouth than the big Chevy pulls up on the property, trailer and all. Merle jumps out of the pickup with Jamie in his arms, sets the little boy down and Jamie hurries to Daryl, calling out, "Daddy, Daddy I'n here."
Daryl's smiling as he lifts the child in his arms and says, "Yeah, I see that and I'm glad."
Beth is beyond confused, wondering if she's hallucinating or something, then the little boy looks at her and asks, "Are you Mama?"
00
A/N That was a lot. Please leave me a comment. The chapter photo is on my tumblr blogs, gneebee and bethylmethbrick, I hope you'll have a look. I'll be back next week with more of The Man on The Mountain, and I hope you'll be here too. Until then remember, I love ya large! xo gneebee