Chapter 22 - Seed

Eight Months Later

I bite my lip anxiously as I watch Daryl, Rick, T-Dog and Carl make their way into the house. I'm exhausted and weak, starving and thirsty. I can barely keep my eyes open as I turn my attention back to the surrounding woods, keeping an eye out for walkers. Maggie and Glenn go around the back to make sure it is clear while the rest of us wait out front. After around ten minutes I hear the signal and I turn to everyone, "Okay, let's go."

I bend down and pick up the backpack and slide it over my back and grab another one before I make my way to the house. I walk up the stairs and into the dilapidated building, past Rick who gives me a nod. I return it as I walk in and dump the stuff on the floor of the living room. I twist at my right wrist, it having an ache. After what happened at the farm, it never healed properly and has a click when it moves which is painful.

Everyone follows in after me and I hear the doors to the house shut.I take a seat on the ground and by the couch and Daryl walks in a few minutes later, taking a seat on the couch arm above me. He has an owl in his hands and proceeds to pluck the feathers off of it. I eye it hungrily and my mouth waters. I turn away and see Lori holding a jar of food and I eye it enviously. She is around nine months pregnant now, due to have the baby sometime soon. We've been trying to find a place where she can safely have the baby, but there has been no such luck.

I see movement in the doorway and Carl walks into the room with two cans in his hands. He sits down and pulls the backpack over, grabbing out the can opener. He proceeds to open the can and Rick turns, walking over to him. He bends down and picks up the can and I see the label, realising its dog food. Rick eyes it for a moment before tossing it angrily into the empty fire place. We all look around glumly, morale barely existent nowadays.

"Psst." T-Dog whispers from his watch point by the window.

I sigh internally as I get to my feet and pull on the backpack and the other bag, everyone grabbing onto their own things. We make our way out of the house and to the cars once more, rushing over to them. I climb into the driver's seat of the pickup truck and start it up after I've tossed the bags in the middle, T-Dog climbing in beside me in the passengers seat. I pull out and drive after Daryl, the others forming into line behind me as we drive away once more. Something that all of us have gotten far to used too.

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The sound of a horn being blown alerts us and we slow down, pulling to a stop. T-Dog and I get out of the car and I take watch at the back of the cars with Beth, keeping an eye out for walkers. I glance over at the others and see them discussing on where we could go now. They quickly break up and some people go to find water and I decide to stay on look out.

I notice Rick and Daryl head out to go hunting and I hope that they'll be okay. Things with Daryl are... complicated to say the least. There are feelings there between us, but we haven't really addressed them since that day. We've been too busy running for our lives. There have been moments, where it seems like we could begin to become something more but then something happens like this always does. Maybe if we find a place, we'll be able to figure things out but until then...

I shake my head as Carol steps in front of me, holding out a water bottle, "Thought you might be thirsty."

I smile and take it off of her and grab at it with my right hand. It aches and I grimace as I switch it to my left hand and have a drink, "Wrist still bothering you?" She asks, folding her arms over her chest.

I swallow and nod, "Yeah, but there's nothing we can really do about it."

"Maybe once we find a place Hershel might be able to figure out something to do?" She suggests and I shrug my shoulders, "Maybe, but for now I just gotta deal with it."

She nods and takes the bottle back off of me before walking over to Beth to give her some water. I run my hand through my dirty, grimy hair and sigh. The sun beats down on my back and I feel the sweat dripping off of me. What I wouldn't give to have a long, cold shower and to get out of this Georgian heat for a change. I continue my watch out for walkers and after awhile I hear the others coming back from getting water. Not too long later Rick and Daryl come back.

"Alright everyone, listen up." Rick says and I turn to glance at him for a moment.

"Daryl and I found somewhere that we could stay, somewhere with shelter, walls, access to other supplies. Somewhere where we can fortify and live indefinitely." He says, hope in his voice.

"Really? Where?" Maggie asks.

"There's a prison a couple miles down the road. It's overrun, but if we can clear out the field we can have a camp by tonight." Daryl explains.

"A prison?" T-Dog says.

"Look, I know the thought of sleeping in a prison isn't ideal. But this place has everything we could need, especially now. We can build a life there, I know it." Rick says with passion.

I turn and see everyone looking at him, exchanging glances at his idea. After a moment Hershel steps forward, "Show us."

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We stand outside the outer prison fence on high alert. A couple of walkers stumble towards us and Maggie and Glenn rush forward to take care of them while Rick cuts open the fence with the bolt cutters.

"Watch the back side." Rick commands.

"Got it." I say, looking around with my machete in my hands.

The fence opens and Rick and Daryl hold it open for the rest of us to climb our through. I slip into the walkway and look around, seeing all the walkers inside the fence. Once we are all in Daryl and Glenn bind the fence together with some wire and a walker slams against the fence once they're done. We all follow after Rick as he leads us through the walkways towards a gate leading into the entrance of the prison. The walkers slam at the fence as we go, but we ignore them.

"It's perfect." Rick states, looking up to the prison, "We can shut that gate, prevent more of them from filling the yard. We can pick off these walkers, we can take the field by tonight."

"How do we shut the gate?" Hershel asks, looking at Rick.

"I'll do it. You guys cover me." Glenn states and Maggie shakes her head, "No, suicide run."

"I'm the fastest." Glenn argues and Rick shakes his head as he walks forward, "No. You, Maggie, Bree, T-Dog and Beth draw as many as you can over there. Pop them through the fence." He instructs, pointing to the fence over to the side.

"Okay." I say with a nod, following after the other three as Rick instructs the others on what to do.

We rush off to the side and begin yelling and banging at the fence to draw the walkers attention, "Over here you ugly bastards!" I yell, hitting my machete against the fence.

They stalk towards us and I proceed to push my machete into their heads, them falling down at the ground, "Take that you ugly fuck." I whisper before taking on another one.

We all continue yelling, drawing them closer to us as we hear the gunshots begin to fire from around us. I hit at them and I notice some begin to turn away towards where Rick is running.

"Shit!" I hiss and I yell louder to draw their attention.

Some continue to come but most of them turn towards where Rick is. I toss my machete to the ground and pull out my gun, taking a shot. It hits one in the head and I look up to see Rick go into the guard tower.

"Light it up!" Daryl yells.

I continue shooting as the others join in, slowly all of us begin to take down the walkers. One by one they begin to fall until Rick takes the last shot, the last walker falling to the ground.

"We did it!" Beth smiles and I chuckle, giving her a hug.

We make our way back over to where the others are and my eyes connect briefly with Daryl's. I bite my lip and look away as I walk through the gate and into the walker free field and I let out a delighted sigh.

"We haven't had this much space since we left the farm!" Carol cries out happily.

I smile and hold my arms out as I hear T-Dog cheer loudly and I chuckle, patting him on the shoulder. Seeing everyone like this, getting this small victory has brightened up the morale of the group. I look around the space with a smile and think that perhaps, this could be the beginning of something good for us.

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I take the last bite out of the squirrel that Daryl caught for us, it feeling good to finally have some food in my all too empty stomach. I toss the bones out into the field and I see Glenn finish off his bone, "Just like Mom used to make." He mutters, tossing the bone away.

I smirk when T-Dog speaks, "Tomorrow we'll pull the biters together. I wanna keep them away from that water. Now if we can build a canal under that fence, we'll have plenty of fresh water."

"And this soil is good. We could plant some seed, grow some tomatoes, cucumbers, soy beans?" Hershel says, looking up from the dirt in his hand.

"That's his third time around. If there was any part of it compromised, he would have found it by now." Hershel says, nodding over towards Rick who has been walking along the fence line for an hour now.

"This'll be a good place to have the baby. Safe." Beth says, smiling at Lori.

I look over towards Daryl who stands on the overturned bus by the gate, keeping watch. I reach over and grab his bowl and get to my feet, walking over towards him. I walk around the front and he looks down at me as I place the bowl on the bus. He slings his crossbow over his neck and reaches down to pull me up. I climb up and grimace as he lets go and I roll my wrist as he grabs the food.

"It's not much, but if I didn't get you something you wouldn't eat at all." I say, glancing over towards the fire.

"Yeah I guess little Shane over there has quite the appetite." He says, taking a bite of his food.

I chuckle and hit his arm, "Don't be mean." I smile at him.

A smirk comes onto his lips and I look towards where Rick walks, "He's done a lot for us over these past eight months, more than Shane could ever have done." I state as I look down at my wrist.

I wince at the pain and he looks down at it, "What's wrong?"

I shake my head, "It's nothing, wrist hurts from today is all." I say, moving it some more.

He places the bowl down and licks at his fingers, "Give it here."

I give him a look before I take a step forward as I reach over and he takes my wrist in his hands. He gently rubs at my wrist, it actually easing the pain slightly. I look up and realise we are very close, my face inches from his. He glances up at me and my heart pounds in my chest. My eyes flicker to his lips and I absentmindedly bite my lip. I want to lean forward, to press my lips against his like he did so long ago.

"We better get back." He whispers, his breath fanning my face.

His words clear my head and a smirk comes to my face as I glance up at the sky before looking into his eyes once more, "It's pretty romantic... Screw around?" I ask, looking down at his lips once more.

A smirk comes onto his face and he rolls his eyes and he turns, "I'll head down first."

He bends down and I can't help myself as I look down at his perfect ass, "Even better." I murmur.

He glances back at me, "Stop." He smiles before he climbs down.

I chuckle and bend down to sit on the edge, stepping down after him. His hands reach up and grasp at my hips as he helps lower me to the ground. My hands use his shoulders for balance and soon I'm on my feet. My hands rest gently on his shoulders as his hands still grip my hips, my shirt ridden up from the movement. He looks down at me and my heart skips a beat.

I gently lean up on my toes and press my lips to his lightly, my eyes closing at the contact. The kiss only lasts for a moment and it is sweet and soft, but it still makes my heart race in my chest. I pull away and open my eyes, seeing him looking down at me. I take a step back and my hands slide down his arms and the fingers on my right hand intertwine with his. I look down at them and give them a gentle squeeze before I look back up.

"We should head back." I breath with a small smile as I turn and walk away.

I beam to myself as I hear him catch up and soon he walks beside me. I don't dare to glance at him, kind of embarrassed by my forwardness. But as we walk towards the fire, he reaches over and gives my hand a squeeze. I smile and soon I hear singing begin.

Of all the money that e'er I hadI've spent it in good companyAnd all the harm that e'er I've doneAlas it was to none but meAnd all I've done for want of witTo memory now I can't recallSo fill to me the parting glassGood night and joy be with you all

We reach the circle and see that it is Beth singing and I smile, loving the sound of something uplifting for a change. Maggie smiles at her sister and joins her in the signing.

Of all the comrades that e'er I hadWere sorry for my going awayAnd all the sweethearts that e'er I hadThey would wish me one more day to stayBut since it falls unto my lotThat I should rise and you should notI'll gently rise and I'll softly callGood night and joy be with you allGood night and joy be with you all

As they finish their song, I glance over to Daryl who is looking at me. I blush and look away back towards the circle.

"Beautiful." Hershel smiles happily.

"Better all turn in. I'll take watch over there, we all got a big day tomorrow." Rick says from his spot in the circle.

"What do you mean?" Glenn asks.

He glances down at the ground before looking back up at us all, "Look I know we're all exhausted, this was a great win. But we gotta push just a little bit more. Most of the walkers are dressed as guards and prisoners, looks like this place fell pretty early. Could mean that supplies are maybe intact. They have an infirmary, a commissary."

"An armoury." Daryl states from beside me.

Rick nods at him, "That'd be outside the prison itself, not too far away. Wardens office would have info on the location. Weapons, food, medicine. This place could be a gold mine!"

"We're dangerously low on ammo. We'll run out before we make a dent." Hershel explains.

"That's why we have to go in there, hand to hand. After all we've been through, we can handle it. I know it. These assholes don't stand a chance." Rick smiles down at his son.

He looks at us all before he gets to his feet and walks off towards the fence once more. Lori gets to her feet and follows after him. I walk over to mine and Daryl's bag and grab out sleeping bags and I turn and toss one to him, which he catches with ease. I smirk and he rolls his eyes as I begin to unwrap it, laying it out on the ground. I take off my machete and my guns and place them beside the sleeping bag. Daryl lays out his beside me and he places his crossbow on the ground.

Everyone around us is getting ready for bed and I climb into the sleeping bag, using my jacket as a pillow. I turn onto my side and see Daryl climb into his, him using his poncho as a pillow. We connect eyes for a brief moment before I settle in and close my eyes, soon drifting off into a somewhat relaxing sleep.

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"Ready?" Hershel asks.

Rick unlocks the chain and slides the gate open, T-Dog walking forward and taking out a walker. Daryl, Rick, Maggie and Glenn follow in closely behind while the rest of us stay out and draw the walkers away from them.

"Over here!" I yell, banging against the fence.

They stalk over towards us and I stab at them through the fence as they get nearer to me. Some ignore us completely as we yell, them preferring to go over towards the live bait in their compound. I yell out and stab at them, killing them angrily. I glance over at them when it's quiet and see that they're pressed up against the wall.

"What's going on?" Carl asks.

"I don't know, I can't see." Hershel says, trying to get a better look.

We can hear walkers and the sounds of their fighting but we can't see them anymore.

"Daryl!" I hear Rick yell out and I grip against the fence, wondering if he is okay.

We wait there anxiously and soon we see them come back into view. I see that they're all okay as they look around the courtyard. I want to hear what they're saying but they're too far away. They begin to walk towards the cell block and we all look on in confusion.

"What the hell's going on?" I ask.

"I don't know." Beth murmurs from beside me.

They disappear into the cell block and we all wait for them to return. I begin to pace by the fence, trying to keep my nerves down.

"I don't like this." Lori states, her arms folded over her chest.

"I'm sure they're fine." Carol whispers, trying to reassure her.

I bite at my thumbnail as my eyes stay trained on the entrance to the cell block. Eventually, after some time the cell block door opens and Glenn and Maggie walk out, "You can all come in now."

"Alright, let's get our stuff." Hershel says and we all turn to go grab our things.

I walk over to where we slept and pick up the backpack and sleeping bags, slipping them over my shoulders. Everyone else grabs their things and Glenn leads the way into the cell block. We walk through the caged entry way and into the dark building. It gives off an unsettling vibe as we walk through and look around. We reach some steps that lead into a small cafeteria area as Glenn leads us through a gate at the side of the room. The place stinks as we walk in and see rubbish and walker bodies laying around.

"What do you think?" I hear Rick ask.

"Home sweet home." Glenn mutters.

"For the time being." Rick states.

"It's secure?" Carol asks.

"This cell block is." He answers.

"What about the rest of the prison?" Hershel asks from the back of the group.

"In the morning we'll find the cafeteria and the infirmary." Rick answers.

"Will we sleep in the cells?" Beth asks.

"We found some keys on some guards. Daryl has a set too." Rick explains.

"I ain't sleeping in no cage. I'll take the perch." He says from the upper level.

I look around and I feel a smile come over my face. I shake my head and walk up the stairs, looking out the barred windows as I go. I reach the top and see Daryl pulling out a mattress from the first cell, "Need a hand?" I ask, standing in the doorway.

"Nah, I'm alright." He says, glancing back at me.

I roll my eyes and dump the bags inside the cell, walking over to the other end. I grab at it and pull it down from the top bunk, my eyes meeting his for a moment. He walks backwards out of the cell and we walk the mattress over to the perch, dumping it down. I turn and make my way back into the room and grab his sleeping bag. I walk back out and toss it onto the bed and he looks at me. I bite my lip before I turn and make my way into the cell.

I look around and shake my head in disbelief, we actually have somewhere relatively safe. I walk further into the cell and lay down on the mattress, letting out a moan at the softness of the mattress. Yes it's lumpy and smells awful but this is the best thing we've slept on in months. I close my eyes and settle back into the mattress in exhaustion, falling asleep instantly.

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I watch as the people who are heading further into the prison get dressed in riot gear. I stand beside Daryl and see he isn't getting dressed into the gear, much to my frustration.

"You sure you don't want to wear one?" I ask, nodding to the equipment.

He shakes his head, "Nah, we've made it this far without them."

"It's safer." I press and he gives me a look and I hold my hands up, "Okay, sorry that I don't want you to get hurt."

"I won't." He says confidently.

"But if you do-" I begin and he cuts me off, "I won't, I promise." He says looking down into my eyes.

I look up at him for a moment and shake my head. I see Rick hand Carl his set of keys to the cell block and he turns to everyone, "Alright, let's go."

Everyone nods and I look up at Daryl, "Be safe."

He turns his back to everyone and leans down slowly, placing a quick kiss on my cheek. I blush as he pulls back and walks away with Glenn, Maggie, Hersel, T-Dog and Rick. I stare after him for a moment before I move so Carl can shut the door and lock it.

I walk back towards my cell in a daze, my arm crossed over me, the elbow of my left arm rests on my hand. My thumb runs over the spot where Daryl's lips were and I can't help the big smile that's on my face. I reach my room and lay down, looking up at the frame of the bed above me. Little moments like those are what keeps me going now, a sense of what could be if things settled down. This could be a fresh start for us, for all of us. I smile as I close my eyes and rest, having some peace and quiet amongst this insane world.