𝕃𝕠𝕧𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝔽𝕚𝕘𝕙𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘 | Daryl Dixon

39 | YOU'RE FAMILY TOO

She felt her knee bouncing against her control, her hands lightly shaking as she tucked them into the pockets of her leather jacket. Walkers were growling at her through the fence, their dead eyes feasting hungrily upon her while she kept her back to them, paying them no mind. There was a brisk chill in the air, despite the blaring sunlight beaming down, causing her to squint and turn her head away.

She just wished she could turn away from the conversation she was brought into as easily as she could turn away from the bright glare in the sky. Tori, Daryl, and Hershel had been called outside by Rick, and now were all listening to the sheriff explain the truth about what the Governor wanted from them in order to end the fight.

Michonne. He wanted Michonne.

To hold her as a prisoner, to torture her, to kill her – Rick didn't know. He was trying to act like he didn't care either, but the trio around him could see that he did. He was struggling with the decision, weighing out the options laid out before him. If he wasn't, he wouldn't have been stood there, asking for help in making up his mind.

"It's the only way," Rick said. "No one else knows."

"You gonna tell 'em?" Daryl asked.

"Not 'til after," Rick shook his head. "We have to do it today. It has to be quiet."

It was clear to her, just from the way he started pacing on the spot, that Daryl wasn't okay with any of it. Still, he asked, "You got a plan?"

"We'll tell her we need to talk," the Grimes explained. "Away from the others."

Tori's bottom lip tucked between her teeth, and she spoke up quietly. "This isn't us, Rick. It's not what we do."

"No," Hershel sighed, sounding upset, angry even. "No, it is not." Hobbling on his crutches, he wandered away, wanting no part of the discussion anymore.

Rick had told him about it the previous evening, after the talk with the Governor. But the farmer had hoped that giving Rick the night, would make him realise it was wrong. Saddened to find out that he was still set on the idea. The disappointment in his eyes made Rick feel like a scolded child; it reminded him of Dale, the look he'd give whenever big decisions with even bigger consequences had to be made. Rick spoke of that look in his speech at Dale's funeral, feeling that same stare on the back of his head now.

He pushed back any traces of guilt, refusing to be seen hesitating on his plan. He looked at the pair that still stood with him, lowering his voice, almost whispering. "We do this, we avoid a fight. No one else dies."

Daryl glanced to Tori, and she looked right back. The gaze their shared was filled with uncertainty, sharing an understanding of how each of them felt about this plan to sacrifice Michonne just to save themselves.

There was no changing Rick's mind right now, the Grimes dead set in his determination. But it was like they both knew that he would realise that the plan was a mistake if they gave him time.

So, Daryl finally replied. "Okay."

Rick looked at Tori, and she nodded silently, going along with it for now. He gave her a grateful look, a silent thank you behind his eyes.

"We need someone else," the sheriff said slowly, looking over to Daryl.

The Dixon understood what Rick meant, referring to his brother. "I'll talk to him," he offered.

"I'll do it," Rick countered. Daryl tried to follow him, but Rick held his hand up. "Just me."

He walked away, the hinges of the metal door creaking as he went into a different cell block. One where he knew Merle was hanging out on his own.