Freedom, Love and Sacrifice - A walking dead sequel

Chapter 23

"I missed you." He said, when we broke apart.

"Me too."

"So why did you come back so early?" He asked, eyebrows raised.

I sighed. "Merle."

He nodded. "Thought as much. He;s an asshole."

"Tell me about it. How did Cori take Daryl leaving?" I asked.

Caleb shrugged. "When I told her, she said it was fine. But... just before The Governor attacked, I passed her cell and I could hear her crying quietly. I think she thought he was never coming back. She loves him so much." He sighed.

"Daryl loves her as well. I mean, obviously he doesn't mention it to me and I don't think he's goin' to make a big deal of it with Merle here. But... somehow I can tell." I replied.

He nodded. "Yeah, I guess he does. Anything happen with you?"

I told him about the Spanish family. When I'd gotten to the part about shooting an arrow into the car to stop Merle, Caleb started laughing.

"You shot an arrow at Merle?" He said.

I smiled. "Yeah. Just to stop him lootin' the family."

"Pity you missed." He chuckled.

"Yeah. At least it would have stopped me learning somethin' I didn't." I replied.

Caleb stopped short. "Wait, what?" He asked. I bit my lip. I shouldn't have opened my mouth but the sentence was out. I had to answer.

I sighed. "Ok, no matter what I tell you; please don't flip out, yeah?"

"Yeah, fine, whatever." He replied. But I knew he wasn't promising anything. I took a deep breath and filled him in on what Daryl and Merle planning to rob the group in Atlanta before Merle had gone missing and I had turned up.

After I finished explaining, I looked at Caleb steadily. He looked calm but I could see he was setting his jaw. Oh great...

"Caleb, it was a big misunderstandin', alright? No need to flip out like I said." I urged.

He looked at me, steely. "That isn't the point, Angel! Do you even realize what they nearly did?" He yelled back.

"Yes, I do! And I nearly lost them 'cause of it. They didn't do it, alright?" I argued.

Caleb scoffed. "Angel, what they said they'd do and not doing it is two entirely different things. I don't give a shit wherever they did or didn't do it. What I do give a shit about is how Daryl could easily have turned his back on them. They took him in!" He ranted.

I rolled my eyes. "Don't you think that I haven't had a go at him about that? 'Cause I have, believe me. And... he knows it was wrong. Uh, where are you going?"

While I'd been talking, Caleb had walked to the cell door. He turned to face me. His face was stony.

"Goin' to teach your idiotic brothers a lesson about grattitude." He grumbled. "Oh and to let Merle know that if he touches you he's going to get a rude awakening."

Uh, bad idea. I had to act and fast. "No, Caleb, don't. Daryl and Merle are dirty fighters and if you go and piss them off; Hershel's goin' to have to use all his medical trainin' to stitch you back together after they're finished. And I can handle Merle, don't you worry. Just... back off. Just for now."

He looked at me for a moment and then sighed. "Fine. Just don't piss them off either. It wouldn't be fair." He said.

"Me piss them off? I piss Daryl off all the time; that's old news. And anyway I don't have a death wish so I wouldn't even say two words to Merle." I said and then considred that last sentence. "Well, actually I would. One begins with f and the other ends with off. Fill in the blank." I clarified.

He smiled. "I guess you would." He came towards me and embraced me. "I'm sorry. I know I must annoy you with all this. Hey, what's wrong?"

I'd been biting my lip the whole time he'd been speaking; running something over in my head. "Nothin'. Don't worry 'bout it."

"Angel." He pressed me gently. He wasn't going to give up, that I knew.

I sighed. "It's just.... should I forgive him? Merle, I mean. I know what he did to Glenn was wrong and all that. But he's my brother. I can't turn my back on him. Even if he annoys the hell out of me pretty much all the time." I said.

Now it was Caleb's turn to bite his lip. "I don't know. It's not my decision to say you should or you shouldn't. That's up to you. Ideally, I'd say don't even give that bastard the benefit  of the doubt. But you're not going to listen, are you?" He smiled slightly.

"Not really." I smiled back.

He rolled his eyes but was still smiling. "Yeah, thought that would be the answer. Look, I'm not going to lecture you or anything; I'm just going to say this. Just do what you feel is right. And just prepare for his reaction." He told me.

I nodded. "Thanks." We kissed briefly and when we parted, I smiled up at him. "So, what was it you wanted to ask me?" 

He blinked. "Oh, right. Hold on, close your eyes and I'll- "

But before he could continue, someone rapped urgently on our cell door. We spun around to be met with Cori. Her eyes were full of shock. "Guys, come quick! Andrea's come back!" She alerted us.

Andrea? What the hell did she want?

Woah, Andrea's back. Personally I loved Andrea. She was cool. Did u all like her? Pls comment and tell me ur oppinion. I'd love to know. Chapter 24 up soon. Dixon kisses and hugs for all! xxxxooooxoxo