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VI

We fled from the town like bats out of hell, we weren't able to find Michonne before we left, which I felt horrible for, but she knew where we were, and she left us. We would stop only when Glenn needed to rest, but once we arrived at the truck, we sped back to the prison. Rick was afraid that the Governor was gathering his men to attack the prison. He told us the warning given by the man, and it wasn't something that I would put past him. He seems like the type of person to murder unsuspecting women and children with no provocation. Taking Daryl and Merle was one thing, they are men, and they can be intimidating so I could see why they could be mistaken as people trying to hurt others. But Glenn, Maggie and the rest at the prison aren't like that.

Rick shot through the gate, and I glanced back to make sure it was being closed, but Axel had it under control pretty easily, Carol was with him to make sure no walkers got through, but they didn't even get close before it was shut and locked. 

"Don't say anything until we get inside. We don't want to start a panic." Rick said calmly, throwing the truck into park, and hopping out before it had settled. I followed after him, Dale strapped securely to my chest, and I had been waiting for Daryl to say something to me, but he seemed mad at me, and I could only guess it was because I had brought Dale out. I would just need to make him understand. He'd forgive me. He has to.

"Let's get inside everyone!" Rick called, glancing up at the tower where Beth was sitting, and back at Axel and Carol who nodded and started to jog up to us. Once Beth, Carol and Axel had joined us, we all made our way inside as a group. Hershel, Lori, and Oscar were sitting inside working on dinner, and they looked up anxiously when our group entered. 

"Everyone please, sit down. We need to talk." Rick said, and everyone nodded and sat calmly down at the table. I was forcefully wedged between Merle and Carl, and I couldn't see Daryl so he must be standing behind me somewhere.  

"This town, Woodbury. They have a lot more people. At least three times as many as we have. Just fighters, and more who live in the town. The Governor. He threatened us. Said that if we didn't clear out of the prison, he would come in and forcefully remove us, and I have no doubt that he could. If we had the time, we might be able to fortify it, but I don't think we do. So, pack up. We're leaving." Rick said firmly, and everyone that had stayed stared at the rest of us in shock. 

"What? We're leaving? Just like that? What about Lori? Her baby? Dale?" Beth asked anxiously, and when I looked over at Lori, she was staring down at her stomach, and shaky hands stroked it softly. 

"We'll find somewhere. I was thinking going to King's County. It's not far from here. And it was mostly cleared out when I was there. The hospital is there, they might have supplies we can use hidden away, and if not, I think we could easily secure it. But we can't stay here. Not with Dale here now, not with this threat looming over our heads. It's just not worth it." Rick explained, staring at the others who hadn't agreed yet, since those of us who had ridden back in the car with him had already agreed, he knew this was a loosing battle the others were fighting. They just needed to accept it. 

"And Daryl? You and Merle have just agreed to this?" Carol said, desperately staring at my husband, and I felt my eyes narrow at her in suspicion. I glanced behind me to see Daryl staring over at her, a strange look in his eyes that I had never seen. 

"Yeah. I think it's the best call." Merle said, and I glanced at him to see him already staring at me, a pitying look in his eyes, and I felt my chest turn to ice. 

"Fine." Carol said, and I turned back to the others, trying not to let the tears fall. I don't know what happened between my husband and Carol Peletier, but I knew I wouldn't be able to rest until I found out.

Once the others had agreed, Rick dismissed up to go pack up our things, and I left my family behind to go to Daryl's and my room that I hadn't visited since waking up. When I entered, I noticed that it looked different, clean. Suspiciously clean. I tried to ignore it, packing up everything I could without disrupting Dale who was fast asleep on my chest. I was placing our pillowcases and the sheet in the bag we had carried them around in all winter, when I turned around to see Daryls standing in the doorway, staring at me. 

"Hey." I whispered, trying to wake up Dale. 

"What the hell Riley?" Daryl growled out, his eyes flashing. 

"What?" I hissed, turning back around to try and finish packing, but a forceful hand on my elbow spun me back around. 

"Why the fuck did you think it was a good idea to bring my son on a rescue mission?" Daryl growled out, and I couldn't help but flinch. My son. 

"Our son Daryl. Ours. I couldn't leave him here. I already missed two months of his life. I couldn't miss anymore. And I couldn't bear leaving him here. There was no one here to protect him. What if something happened? He would've been gone. I couldn't do it. He was safer with me." 

"No! He would've been safer here with Carol and the others!" Daryl growled out, shaking me viciously by the arms, and I couldn't help but latch onto what he just said. 

"Carol... right. What happened between you two Daryl?" I whispered brokenly, and he didn't even have the decency to look affected, his eyes still showed his rage, and I'm sure when he pulls his hands away from my arms, there will be bruises. 

"She was there when you weren't." Was all he hissed before he spun away, leaving me alone in the room that used to be ours, I felt just as at home in it, as I did in Daryl's presence. 

He wasn't home for me anymore. And I couldn't help but wonder when, and why that had changed.