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Safe Haven in the Chaos	By : IdrilsSecret Category: S through Z > The Walking Dead Views: 6517 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own the walking dead or any of the characters. No money is being made from the writing of these stories

Chapter List
- 35
- 36
- 37
Chapter 36 Know Your Neighbors

Daryl was checking the pickup truck that he and Rosita were going to use for their run. He made sure it was in good running condition. Last thing they needed was to get stranded out there somewhere. Rosita was putting together weapons and a couple days’ worth of food while Daryl worked on the truck. They were heading out soon, going on a supply run. Medicine was their main concern, but a few of the residents asked for special requests. Daryl had a list in his pocket. He would try to get as many things as he could find. He remembered that he wanted to find books for Aaron, and stopped what he was doing to the car. He pulled a red rag out of his back pocket, and wiped his black greasy hands on it before pulling the list out. There was a pencil on the dashboard, and Daryl went to the passenger side to reach through the open window and retrieve it. Using the hood for a smooth surface, he flattened the paper and wrote in all caps, BOOKS. There, he thought to himself. Now he wouldn’t forget like last time.

“Whatcha doing?” Denise asked, walking up to Daryl as he was folding the paper up.

“Getting ready to head out with Rosita. Why? You got something to add to the list?” He started to reach back into his pocket, but Denise stopped him.

“Actually, I do have something, but . . .” She stopped midsentence. She seemed nervous for some reason. “I need you to look for Venlafaxine, Cephalexin, and Prednisone.”

Daryl stared at her with a blank expression that made her uncomfortable. “Presto what?”

“Prednisone,” she repeated. “It’s used to treat gout.”

Daryl went to his pocket again. “You know what? Why don’t you write it down on here, and write legibly so I know what I’m getting, and–”

“I have a better idea,” Denise interrupted. “I’ll go with you.”

“No,” Daryl answered without thinking about it.

“Why not?” Denise argued.

“Too dangerous.”

“But–”

“I said no and that’s that,” Daryl said like a parent.

Just then Rosita walked up with a couple bags loaded with supplies. “What’s up?”

“Doctor Denise here wants to go with us,” Daryl told her.

“Not likely,” Rosita said with an attitude.

Denise decided to put up an argument. “Look. You’re going out on a medical supply run right? So who better to go with you than the doctor?”

“Like I said, write down the names on the sheet. Write so we can read it. Then we’ll be back with your stuff,” Daryl tried to convince her.

“I want to go,” Denise said determined to make them understand. “I need to go.” Try as she might, Daryl and Rosita just stared at her as though she was a child demanding something she couldn’t have. “Look,” she continued. “I know of this place, a head shop. I saw it once while I was out there. It’s in a small strip mall.”

“What the hell are you going to find in a head shop?” Daryl asked.

“Have you ever been in one? They don’t just sell hookahs and bongs. Some of them have drugstores. I think there’s a good chance this place hasn’t been raided yet. When I pass by, the door was still chained shut. It’s worth a look, isn’t it?”

Daryl and Rosita looked at each other for an answer. Neither one wanted to bring Denise along. She was definitely under experienced. After a long silence, Rosita turned to her. “What do you know about being out there?”

Denise’s hands waved in the air as she reached for an answer. “I know I always have to be alert. And if I’m attacked, aim for the head.”

“And if we come across any of the Saviors?” Rosita drilled her.

“I-I’m hoping we don’t,” Denise said and shuffled nervously.

Daryl took a step towards her and got in her face. “How many walkers have you killed?”

“I … I don’t know … a few. I’ve done it before though. I know what to do,” she answered with confidence.

“How many people have you killed?” said Daryl, asking the second question.

Denise looked horrified by the question. “W-well n-none. I haven’t killed anyone.”

“Why?” said Daryl, finishing the interrogation with the final question.

“Why?” she repeated. “Because … because I haven’t had to.”

Daryl watched her a moment, chewing on his bottom lip. He liked Denise. She was a good kid, but she didn’t have what it took to be out there. Still, he could sense the desperation she displayed for needing to go, but he didn’t understand it.

Denise could see she was losing him. He was looking at her like she couldn’t cross the street by herself. “I can do it, you know,” she said. “Just because I haven’t come across a situation where I needed to extinguish a life doesn’t mean I can’t do it. It’s fight or flight out there, right? I won’t fly.”

Daryl was beginning to soften up and change his stubborn mind. He looked at Rosita to see what she might be thinking, but she threw her hands in the air and took a step back. “I’m not going to be her babysitter, if that’s what you’re thinking.”

“I don’t need a damn babysitter,” Denise said with anger. “Fine, you don’t want me to go along? Whatever. Good luck finding the medication.”

Both Daryl and Rosita knew how detrimental it was to have a good supply of medicine, and right now their supplies were much depleted. He glanced at Rosita and shrugged. Rosita sighed and rolled her eyes. “Fine,” she finally gave in. “But you have to do exactly what we tell you to do, no questions, no arguing. Got it?”

“Loud and clear,” Denise smiled, knowing she convinced them. “I’ll get my stuff.”

“Meet us back here in half an hour,” Daryl told her.

He went home to see Aaron before heading out with Rosita and Denise. He just needed to see him one more time. Aaron was glad to see him too.

“I thought you already left,” said Aaron with a smile.

“Slight change in plans. Denise is going with us,” Daryl informed.

“Denise? You think that’s wise?”

“She wouldn’t take no for an answer.” Daryl shook his head. “I don’t care which team they play for, all women are stubborn.”

Aaron laughed and put his hand on the back of his neck. He looked up at Daryl through his lashes, still smiling. “You know, she looks up to you. She holds you in high regard.” Daryl huffed but Aaron went to him. “No, I mean it.” Aaron shook his head. “And not in a romantic way or anything like that … of course. I think she wants to learn how to fight and defend, and she’s looking to you to be her teacher.”

“Why doesn’t she ask Tara? They’re together now and–”

“That’s just it. I think she wants to be stronger for Tara, and asking Tara to train her defeats the whole purpose.” Aaron put his hands on Daryl’s hips. “Just be nice to her. Give her some pointers while you’re out there. And maybe when you get back, you can start working with her. She just wants to contribute, and I think she wants to impress Tara.”

Daryl looked longingly into Aaron’s eyes and grabbed a fistful of Aaron’s shirt. “Is that how you felt when we first got together?”

“Well, who wouldn’t want to have the handsome, sexy, mysterious Daryl Dixon as their mentor,” said Aaron seductively. “Although, I think I might have done a little mentoring for you too.” He kissed Daryl moving slow and taking his time. Daryl released Aaron’s shirt and snaked his arms around his lover’s waist, pulling him in close so that their bodies pressed together. Their kiss was heating as tongues slid along one another before Daryl started to ravish Aaron’s neck.

“How much time before you leave?” Aaron whispered.

“Not enough,” Daryl answered and kissed him again.

“Then we better stop or you’re going to be late.”

Daryl moaned against Aaron’s mouth. “What I meant to say was, not enough to do everything I want to do to you.”

Aaron smiled and pulled Daryl into the living room. “I’ll take what I can get. Come here.”

>>------->

Daryl approached the truck. Rosita and Denise were already there waiting. He walked past them and threw his pack in the back. Rosita was dangling the keys from her finger, but when Daryl reached for them, she noticed something on his neck, and took the keys away to observe her findings. Her brows drew together as she looked at the side of his neck. “Is that … a hickey?” she smiled. Daryl ignored her, glaring dangerously, but she continued. “It is, isn’t it?”

“Give me the keys,” he said dryly.

“Well, look at you. Getting a little action before we head out. Way to go,” Rosita teased him. She held the keys out again, and Daryl snatched them from her. She watched him walk around to the driver’s side and mumbled. “At least one of us is getting some.”

Daryl heard her, and he felt bad for her. Abraham had recently broken up with Rosita. She was on her own now, maybe for the first time since everything happened. Abraham cared for Rosita, but his heart went to another … Sasha. Daryl couldn’t help but think of Aaron and Eric. It had been a similar situation, and it wasn’t an easy thing for them to go through. Rosita was strong, though. She’d be alright. Besides, he thought he’d seen Rosita leaving Spenser’s house late one evening. Maybe she already moved on.

Denise sat in the middle between Rosita and Daryl. The truck was cramped with the three of them, but they would just have to deal with it. After leaving the city and driving for a while, Denise was the first one to talk.

“I brought some granola bars. They’re pretty close to the ones you used to could buy at the store.” She stopped and noticed that Rosita and Daryl didn’t even bother to acknowledge her presence. “I made them myself … from scratch.” Denise sat awkwardly between these two power houses, and she never felt so out of place.

“You know where this place is?” Daryl asked.

“Yeah. Just stay on this road for a while. I’ll tell you when we’re getting close to our turn,” Denise informed him.

“If we see any places to check on the way there, we’re going to have to stop, but you’re going to wait in the truck. Understood?” Rosita announced. She sounded like an army sergeant, probably from being around Abraham for so long.

Denise got the message. She was only here because she had the directions to the head shop where she thought they would find medicine. And because she was the doctor, she knew exactly what kind of medicine they’d need. Otherwise, she would just be in their way. Guess it wasn’t enough knowing that if either one of them became sick or injured she was the only one who had the knowledge and the skill to save them. Maybe she could change their minds while out on this run. Denise would need to prove herself to be an equal player in order to gain their respect. But it was Daryl who she felt like she most connected with. They’d shared a moment when she patched him up after the invasion. They discovered what they had in common, and he reminded her of someone from her past life, someone she cared for and lost to the epidemic.

“Don’t worry,” Denise said to Rosita. “I’ll do what you tell me to do.” She sighed and hoped she had made the right decision to come along on the run.

>>------->

Aaron decided to take over Rosita’s shift as a gate guard while she was away for a few days. Daryl left the day before, and Aaron already missed him. Pulling guard duty helped pass the time, and it got his mind off his worry for Daryl and the others. He didn’t like them being out there, but he knew how important it was to find medicine. He just hoped they would all be safe.

He finished his shift for the day and was walking home. Along the way, he observed many of the residents as they were getting back to a normal life again. Going past Glenn and Maggie’s house, he watched as Glenn kissed her on the front porch before heading out to do something. He smiled at his wife and covered her belly with his hand, a proud papa to be. When he turned to leave, he saw Aaron on the sidewalk and waved. Maggie smile wide and waved to. Aaron waved back, happy to see the expecting couple so in love.

“Hey Aaron,” said Enid, walking up behind Aaron, who had slowed down to wave.

“Hi Enid. Where you off to?” Aaron asked.

“Oh, Maggie invited me over. She’s going to teach me how to make stew. She said it’s time I pulled my weight around here.” Enid didn’t sound disappointed by this. The young girl had made quite a turn around after everything that recently happened. She wasn’t around for the invasion, choosing to leave before things got really bad. Enid had always been an introvert, but Maggie was bringing her out of her shell. Working in the kitchen was a good step forward.

“That’s good to hear,” Aaron answered, and Enid went towards the steps of the house.

Meanwhile, Glenn met Aaron where he stood on the sidewalk. “How’s it going?” Glenn asked.

“Going good. I’m working Rosita’s gate guard duty while she’s out with Daryl and Denise. It’s been pretty quiet.”

“No news is good news,” Glenn responded, patting Aaron’s shoulder. “Well, I’m off to see Rick. Talk to you later.”

“Ok, man. Take it easy,” said Aaron as he continued up the street.

He had promised Daryl he would check in on Carol, and this was the first he’d had any time to do that. Her house was only a couple down. Aaron worried about Carol. She wasn’t herself lately, and that scared him. What if she decided to do something stupid while Daryl was gone? Aaron didn’t know what all he could do to help her, but checking on her was the first thing on his agenda.

As he approached her house, he noticed she was sitting on the porch swing. An ashtray was on the seat next to her, and a pack of cigarettes too. Aaron wished she wouldn’t smoke. It was a newly formed habit for her, and not too late to quite. He was about to turn towards her stairs when Tobin came out of the house. He went to Carol and smiled. She snuffed out her cigarette and moved the ashtray to make room for him. He sat down on the swing next to her and gave her a kiss on the cheek. Carol smiled shyly and nudged her shoulder against his playfully. Then she snuggled into his chest and Tobin wrapped his arm around her. The scene did Aaron’s heart good. Maybe she was beginning to recover from the tragic events that happened earlier on. He still didn’t know what happened to her after being captured by the Saviors. Unless she told Tobin, which he doubted, then no one knew.

Yes, life seemed to be getting back to some kind of normal in Alexandria. Now was the time for the deep breath, a time to relax and stretch before something else threatened the town. Aaron knew it would happen eventually. It always did.

Further up the road, Olivia came out of her garage, which was also the town’s pantry. She was smiling and giddy with laughter. “That’s really cute,” she said to someone still inside the pantry. “I mean, the joke … not … well, you are too, but … uh … never mind,” she blushed.

“It’s alright. I knew what you meant, but I’ll take the compliment anyways,” said Jesus as he strolled out of the garage.

Aaron was surprised to see him here. After the job at the Savior’s compound, Paul went straight back to Hilltop to tell Gregory what had happened and to make sure he understood that Alexandria kept their part of the bargain. Gregory could be a real stingy bastard sometimes.

“Paul, what brings you to Alexandria?” Aaron asked as he offered his hand to shake.

Paul shook it, but he grasped Aaron’s arm with his free hand for maximum contact, establishing a solid friendship between them. “I just thought I’d come by and see how things are going here. Looks like all is well.”

“So far, so good. We haven’t had any trouble, and we’ve bulked up security,” Aaron informed him.

“That’s good,” said Paul, but he still looked concerned.

“Something wrong?” Aaron asked.

“No, at least I don’t think so.” Paul removed his cap, which he didn’t do often. He ran his fingers through his hair. “Aaron, you need to know that there are more Saviors out there. I hope you all realize that.”

“Of course we do, and we’re ready for them if they decide to attack.”

“These guys are clever. They’re not just going to come knocking. Because they haven’t retaliated yet doesn’t mean they’re not going to,” Paul warned.

“Hilltop is at the same risk. More if you ask me,” said Aaron.

“That’s what I wanted to talk to you about,” said Paul as they walked along the street. “I think our communities need to work together. We need to amplify our communication. Alone we might not stand a chance against the threat, but if we can join forces maybe the Saviors will think twice before making a move.”

“That means they would have to know we are working together, which is not what Gregory wanted.”

Paul shook his head with disappointment. “Gregory is weak. He’s a fool. Always has been, but he’s anchored his ass in the leadership role just the same. My people don’t want conflict and they go along with him, but I think that if they knew there was someone else willing to work with us, it would only boost their self-esteem. And with some training, they can become strong fighters. They just need a push, and I think you’re people can give that to them.”

“I’ve seen you fight, Paul. You have what it takes to teach them too. Don’t sell yourself short. I mean,” Aaron paused to laugh. “You gave Daryl a run for his money, and don’t ever tell him I told you that.”

Paul smiled modestly. “I appreciate that, Aaron. I really do.”

The conversation stalled for a moment as they slowly strolled down the street. Aaron was at his house by now, and he stopped. “Would you like to come in for a minute? Have some water or tea or something?” he offered.

Paul shook his head. “Thanks but I don’t think Daryl would appreciate my company very much.”

“You are my guest and I am inviting you. And besides, Daryl is out on a supply run with Rosita and Denise.”

Paul looked at the house behind Aaron, glancing it over from roof to manicured landscaping. “Just you and Daryl live here?”

“Yep,” Aaron answered. “What do you say? Come in for a drink?”

“Twist my arm already,” Paul joked. “Sure, but just for a little while.”

They went into the house and Paul had a seat at the kitchen counter while Aaron got him a glass of water. When Aaron turned around, Paul was observing the rest of the house, and staring at all the license plates on the far wall. “A hobby of yours?” Paul asked.

“It used to be. Not any more though.” Aaron looked at the plates too. “I don’t know why I keep them up. I guess because it took so long to find them.” He didn’t mention that it was something that he and his late partner used to do to pass the time.

“You all are very lucky,” Paul mentioned. “This community is a gem … a blessing compared to what some people have.”

“What about you? You got your own place in Hilltop?” Aaron inquired.

“I have a room in the great house, but I don’t stay there very often. I like to keep on the move as much as possible. I don’t stay in Hilltop for very long periods at a time.”

Aaron found that odd, but he knew Paul wasn’t one for settling down. “So, where do you go?”

Paul smiled secretly. “I make my rounds and report back to Gregory. I’m his eyes and ears outside of the community. If I stayed at home for long, I’d never find out what was going on around us.”

“That’s a sketchy answer,” Aaron challenged.

“It’s all I’m willing to share at the moment.” Paul looked guarded, but he smiled slyly. “You want to know so much about Hilltop, why don’t you come back with me and I’ll give you a tour.”

Aaron wasn’t expecting an invite, and he immediately began to decline before giving it any thought. “I really don’t think that would be a good idea.”

“Why not? Daryl has seen it. Why not you?”

“Because Daryl isn’t here,” Aaron used as an excuse.

“So you need his permission to–”

“I don’t need his permission for anything,” Aaron retaliated quickly. “But we don’t leave town without the other knowing about it. You know … just in case something should happen.”

“How long is Daryl gone for?” Paul asked, not quite ready to give up yet.

“I don’t know, two, maybe three days.”

“Tell you what,” Paul offered. “We can leave first thing in the morning, and I can have you home by sunset.”

Aaron was finding it difficult to turn him down. Seeing another community, watching how they did things, how they lived, it had been a promise he made to Eric, and one that he meant to keep. “It’s a very tempting offer.” He thought some more. “Just one day, you say?”

Paul nodded. “That’s all it will take, and you can see for yourself what it’s like.”

He really shouldn’t do this, Aaron thought to himself. Daryl would kill him if he found out that Aaron went out on his own, but the urge to see Hilltop was winning out. “Let me just check on a couple things before I answer.”

“I’m staying in Alexandria for the night. I’ll be at the gate at sunrise if you want to come along. If you’re not there, I’ll know you changed you mind,” Paul told him.

>>------->

The next morning, Aaron was at the gate with a bag and his weapons. He actually arrived before Paul, just in case he had a change of heart at the last minute. He wasn’t sure why he was wrestling with the idea of going to Hilltop with Paul. It would only be for the day. He would be there and back long before Daryl returned home. So why was he feeling so guilty about it? For one, he knew Daryl didn’t like Paul, and to know that he went to Hilltop with his new friend might cause a blowup. For another, Aaron was doing this with Eric on his mind, another person Daryl never had any use for. He was suddenly feeling very trapped, and he didn’t like it. This reminded Aaron of the relationship he was in just before the apocalypse. His boyfriend at the time didn’t like him going places without him, but had no problem jetting between the U.S. and Europe. Well, it was his job, since he was an airline steward, but still.

“Good morning,” Paul said as he approached from the side. He moved with the stealth of a cat, Aaron thought. He never heard the man coming. “It’s good to see you, Aaron. You sure about going?” Paul smiled.

“You promise I can be home tonight?” Aaron checked again.

“If you wish, no problem,” Paul assured him.

Aaron nodded. “I’ve got a car just outside the gate.”

“Let’s go then.”

Aaron signaled to the gate guard. “I’m taking Jesus back to Hilltop if anyone asks,” he called up to the guard. The man nodded and Aaron opened the gate. Him and Paul got in the car and were on their way.

It was a couple hours’ drive to Hilltop, and during that time, Aaron and Paul got to know each other better. They talked about their experiences and how they got to where they were now. Aaron told him about Eric, and went into more depth about his need to find other communities.

“And that’s why you’re going,” Paul remarked part way through the story.

Aaron kept his eyes on the road ahead of him, but his thoughts went back to the night that Eric died in his arms. “I made him a promise that I would investigate. Daryl and I had some terrible arguments about it, though. He didn’t want me risking my life for something that might not exist.”

“But it does exist,” Paul said. They were silent for a few moments. “Daryl doesn’t seem to want go too far from Alexandria, does he?”

“He’s been through a lot, and not just since the outbreak. He’s had a difficult time of things, and he’s not very trusting. You should have seen him when he first came to Alexandria. He was like a caged animal, pacing and snarling at everyone who tried to talk to him. He was easily spooked. I should know. It was me who got him to start trusting us.”

“I bet that was a major feat,” Paul mentioned facetiously.

“It wasn’t easy, that’s for sure. But now … he protects Alexandria like a crown jewel.”

Paul smiled tight lipped and look down. “The same way he protects you,” he said softly.

“I guess so,” Aaron said, not able to hide a smile at the thought. It was true, though.

“I was like Daryl once,” Paul admitted. “Before the outbreak, I was madly in love with the greatest guy,” he reminisced. “When the reports started coming in about people attacking each other, before they really knew what was happening, I made him promise me he wouldn’t go out without telling me where he was going. He did as I asked at first, but then he went out this one time with some friends, and I didn’t know where he was. I came home and he wasn’t there. Then, when I turned on the TV, a local reporter was on the scene of a fight that broke out at a club we frequented. There were all kinds of ambulances and police cars, lights flashing all over the street in front of the place. Of course, I rushed down there looking for Bryce; that was his name. When I didn’t find him, I went home, and there he was. He was watching the news. I walked in and he started telling me about the fight at our hangout. I ignored him and asked where he’d been. I couldn’t reach him on his phone, and I was beside myself with worry. They’d gone bowling that night, he told me with a laugh. I was so mad at him for freaking me out, and I just laid into him. We yelled and screamed, and after a couple days of fighting, he finally forgave me. After that, I kind of became very possessive. Bryce didn’t appreciate it. Said he was feeling smothered, and that I was just insecure like a dog who suffered from separation anxiety. Those were his exact words.” Paul stopped to laugh at that. “I guess I did go a little crazy, but I just wanted to keep him safe.”

“What happened to him?” Aaron asked when there was a lull in the conversation.

“He left me a note on the table that said he felt trapped … that I was too possessive, and that he was on a plane back to Houston, where his family lived. I tried calling him for a couple weeks, but he never answered my calls. It wasn’t long after that when the plague made its way to our city, a town outside of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. I’d heard the rumors and split, kept on the move as everything went down. For once I was glad to be an asshole, otherwise, Bryce might not have made it home. I only hope he survived everything.”

Aaron thought about what Paul said, and found himself feeling a little like that with Daryl. Only it wasn’t the outbreak that made everything spin out of control. It was the Saviors, and what Rick and their group had done to them at their compound. Killing all those people had put Daryl on edge. He expected retaliation, but he kept his opinions to himself. The only thing he made his feelings known about was needing to know where Aaron was all the time.

“So, what about you?” Paul asked after a long silence. “Where were you when it all went down?”

“I was in New York, living with a guy … dating a guy, I should say. He worked for an airline, a steward, actually, so he wasn’t home very often, but he always wanted me home. Like a fool, I did that for him. When he was home we were together every moment, but when he was away, I lived a very lonely life. I’d think about going to the club, but feel guilty because I wasn’t going with him. So I’d stay home. Instead of going out and doing the things I wanted to do, I’d put them on a list and wait until Jack came home. But then, when he was home, we locked ourselves away in our apartment, and tried to make up for lost time if you know what I mean.” Aaron adjusted his grip on the steering wheel, keeping his eyes on the road ahead of him. He suddenly realized that he’d never told anyone the details of his relationship … not Eric, not even Daryl. He had only told them the outline of the story. Now he understood why. He was embarrassed by his actions and his choices. He didn’t want them to know he had been that kind of person, because he was not that man any more. But telling it to Paul was like confessing a secret, and it felt very freeing. “Like you, reports started coming in about people getting sick and behaving strangely. I remember one expert saying he thought it was due to a new drug on the street. For me, it was just another reason to stay at home when Jack was working. Then things started getting really weird. Jack was away and I was worried. I called him to see what the news was like overseas. It was eight in the evening in New York, and I knew it was late where he was … one in the morning. He’d be asleep, but I didn’t care. I needed to know he was alright. Well, I called … only … it wasn’t Jack who answered. Some British guy sluggishly said hello and I hung up.”

“Shit, sorry man,” Paul comforted.

“Yeah … well. I felt so used, so stupid for thinking I was special to him only to find out that I was just a layover screw. That’s why we never went anywhere or did anything,” Aaron said, voice full of regret.

“What did you do?” Paul questioned.

Aaron half smiled, sadness rimming his eyes. “I stood at the window of our apartment, looked out over the city and asked myself what the hell I was doing. That wasn’t who I was. That wasn’t who I was supposed to be. I was letting life pass me by for someone who didn’t even love me. And when Jack called in the morning–”

“He called you?” Paul interrupted. “Did he know?”

“Yeah, he knew. I guess the English guy told him about the phone call in the middle of the night. Anyways, I told Jack it was over. He asked me to stay so we could talk things through. I told him I was done, and that I’d be gone when he got back. Then, as I was packing my stuff up, I turned on the news and heard about the chaos in the city. They were getting ready to close it all down. No one in or out. Flights to and from LaGuardia were cancelled. Eventually all air traffic came to a halt. Jack was stuck over in the UK. I wasn’t sticking around either. I packed a few things in a backpack and got the hell out of New York just in time. I had friends in Washington I’d called earlier, so that’s where I went.”

“And what happened to Jack?” Paul inquired.

Aaron shrugged. “Don’t know. I guess he never made it back to the states. Maybe he’s in a community over there like this one here. Maybe he didn’t survive. I just don’t know.”

“Well, we’re here so I guess that’s all that really matters,” Paul said with confidence, though Aaron thought he still had some regrets of his past.

Silence fell between them again. This time it lasted for a few miles. Then, Paul smiled and pointed ahead of them. “We’re here.”

Aaron drove down the dirt road and stopped when he saw the wall. They exited the car and grabbed their gear. When he stood straight again, Aaron observed the wall that surrounded the Hilltop community. It was made of wood, very tall logs, trees that undoubtedly came from the surrounding land. It didn’t look as sturdy as the corrugated metal wall Alexandria had, but it was still intimidating. Two men stood at the top of the wall on either side of the gate. Paul called up to them and announced who his visitor was. The men, Aaron noticed, had rifles, but they weren’t aimed at him. Daryl had mentioned their hostility when he and the group arrived. Now, anyone from Alexandria was considered an ally instead of a threat, especially after keeping their word about getting their man back from the Saviors.

Paul turned to Aaron and smiled wide. “Welcome to Hilltop. Come on.” He led the way through the opened gates and Aaron followed.

The first thing Aaron noticed was the FEMA trailers lined up along one side of the yard. Some had solar panels on top. He remembered Daryl telling him they didn’t have electricity. They must not work, he thought to himself. There were other buildings that lined the left side of the dirt path, which led to what Paul referred to as the great house. All of these were built from wood with metal roofs. These were their work buildings, each one serving a different purpose. One in particular was most definitely a blacksmith. There was a tall muscular man wearing a long leather apron just walking inside. Leaning against the outside of the building was a row spears, their main form of weapon since running out of ammunition. That was another bit of information that Paul had shared with Alexandria in order to gain their trust.

Aaron saw women and children all doing something, some kind of chore. No one was just sitting around doing nothing. A couple children were inside a chicken coop with buckets, sprinkling feed around. The chickens were clucking anxiously, pecking and scratching at the ground. Aaron smiled as he watched the children laugh. “I never thought I’d see that again.”

Paul followed Aaron’s line of sight. “Chickens?” he questioned.

“No. Children laughing.”

“Today’s a good day,” Paul mentioned. He pointed around the yard. “There’s a barn and a blacksmith shop. They were here with the house.”

“It’s huge,” Aaron said as he looked at the large red brick mansion. It was three stories, the top floor all dormer windows, seven across the front and four on the sides. The front of the house was made of more windows and a balcony, white columns and spindle railing. It was a very old building. That was for sure.

“Its name is Barrington House, built in the 1930’s. When the Barrington family sold it to the state, it was turned into a museum. Now, it’s our home. It’s actually in a really good place, up high on this hill. You can see for miles around. No one can sneak up on us here,” Paul told him.

“What about those trailers?” Aaron asked. “I see they have solar panels.”

“Yeah, they stopped working about a year ago. We have no way of fixing them.”

“Eugene could do it,” Aaron suggested. “He’s a genius when it comes to stuff like that. Our whole grid was in danger of shutting down, but he knew what parts needed replacing. As a matter of fact, he might even be able to get electricity to the entire colony if we can find what he needs.”

“Just getting the trailers running again would be a huge plus. The summer heat is difficult on our elderly. We’ve lost a couple people due to that. Gregory puts our older residents up in the house now. At least they can open windows and hope for a cross breeze.”

“We’ll have to see what we can do about that. I’ll talk to Eugene when I get home.”

Paul smiled at Aaron. “Thanks. That’d be great.” He gestured to the house. “Come on in and I’ll give you the tour.”

The inside of the house was typical for the times. Lace curtains with heavy swags topping each window. Wood floors and large area rugs to protect them in heavy traffic areas. The front foyer was very open with stairs to one side that led to the upper floors. A set of French doors revealed an office. There were other rooms on the bottom floor, probably a kitchen and a library amongst them. It was a massive house full of antiques and multiple portraits of what must have been the Barrington family. Aaron half expected a tour guide to come out and meet him, and tell him to hold off on taking pictures until the tour was over. But this place was no longer a museum. It was home to survivors of the apocalypse, and it was perfect. This house was built before modern technology became a way of life. It was easily adaptable to life as it was now, especially with everything off the grid. And with so many rooms, it could house a lot of people.

While Aaron took in the sight of the massive house, he heard someone call out to Paul. He looked back to see who it was. A man stood across the room wearing a white coat and a stethoscope hanging around his neck. He looked to be in his mid-thirties, short brown hair, and easy on the eyes. Paul, Aaron noticed, sighed before he excused himself. “I’ll be right back.”

“Sure,” Aaron answered, and he stepped over to a table that held a set of unique vases. He pretended to be interested in them, but he was watching Paul from the corner of his eye. Paul approached the man and stood before him. He looked stern as the man smiled at him. Aaron knew that kind of smile. He’d seen Eric look like that often, especially after they split apart and Aaron started seeing Daryl. It was a look of longing that wasn’t easily mistaken. But Aaron had asked Paul if there was someone waiting for him in Hilltop, and he’d said no. Perhaps he was just trying to cover any evidence to protect his people.

The man in the white coat laid his palm against Paul’s chest. Paul closed his eyes and listened to the man speak, but he took the hand from his person and gently lowered it so that they weren’t making any contact. Paul shook his head, and the man in the coat looked disappointed, as his head hung. He nodded, agreeing with whatever Paul said, but as Paul was turning to leave, the man grabbed his hand to stop him. Paul closed his eyes, and didn’t open them as he turned to face his company. Aaron could read his lips. “Not now,” he told the man. He waited until the man released his hand. Paul looked like he wanted to say more, but he didn’t say another word. He stood there a few moments while his acquaintance walked away. Then he turned to look at Aaron. Feeling like an intruder, Aaron spun around and touched the vases next to where he was. He could hear Paul coming up to him.

“Sorry about that,” Paul apologized.

Aaron gave him an awkward smile. “No problem.”

“That … uh … that was … um–” Paul stammered.

Aaron shook his head. “No need to explain. Your secret is safe with me. I know how it is.”

“Oh … ha … no … it’s no secret. I mean … the people here know … about me. It’s just … well … it’s complicated.”

“I completely understand complicated. After all, I’m with Daryl,” Aaron chortled.

“You’re lucky though. You two have a solid relationship.” Paul paused and turned to look, making sure they were alone. “That was Alex. He’s my … my . . .” Paul’s words dropped off as he tried to explain.

“Your complication,” Aaron responded with a bashful smile. Now he understood why Paul seemed to push Alex away. “I had one of those too. I understand.” The way Alex approached Paul made Aaron wonder if Paul had ever talked to him about whatever their situation was. That wasn’t any of his business though. “So, what else do you have to show me?” Aaron said quickly to change the subject.

“I’ll show you the other floors, introduce you to some of our residents. Is that alright?” Paul offered.

“Great. Let’s go,” Aaron said cheerily, the awkward moment now behind them.

Aaron met some very nice people who resided at Hilltop Colony. They were a lot like the Alexandria residents, just people who wanted to try and live a normal life again. They didn’t want confrontation, but they knew there would always be threats out there. Some of these people were elderly, and they depended on Gregory’s leadership to keep the place safe. Aaron had met Gregory too, and he could see why Maggie called him an asshole. It’s a good thing Alexandria’s fighters came along when they did, and put an end to the Savior’s threats. Gregory wasn’t going to do anything except keep giving in to them. It had just about cost Hilltop all of their things. They were running low on some supplies, and it got a few of their people killed when the Saviors weren’t happy with the month’s payment. Hopefully, they wouldn’t be a problem anymore, and Alexandria would answer the call if they became one again.

“Well,” Paul started to say when they were through looking around the place. “If we leave now, we’ll get back just before dark.”

“We?” Aaron inquired.

“I’m not going to let you drive all that way alone. It’s not safe to travel by yourself,” Paul said. Aaron was about to protest, but he stopped him. “Unless you’re me. I do it all the time, but I know a lot about the terrain, and I’m quick and smart.” Paul laughed. “Not to brag on myself of course.”

Aaron laughed with him and looked around. It was a shame to have to go so soon. He felt very relaxed here, and he got along really well with some of the people. He kind of wished he didn’t have to go just yet. Paul must have seen the conflict too. “Or,” he offered. “You can stay the night. We have plenty of room, and tonight we’re having fried chicken.”

“It’s a very tempting offer but . . .” Aaron was about to refuse, but Paul gave him a pleading look. “I really shouldn’t, but … fine.”

Paul’s smile widened as he slapped Aaron on the back. “I knew you’d stay. It’s the fried chicken, gets them every time. And I was hoping you wouldn’t make me miss it either.”

“As long as we can leave early in the morning. I want to be back home as soon as I can, just in case Daryl comes back,” Aaron told him.

“Of course. Come on, I’ll show you to your room.”

Dinner was wonderful and so were the people. Aaron was really impressed by everything about Hilltop. He never would have imagined it, but if it weren’t for Eric . . . That’s really why he was here. He owed it to Eric to find out for himself about this place. Eric wouldn’t have hesitated to come here. Maybe, if they had known earlier, he would have moved here and he’d still be alive. Or maybe he would have been a victim of the Saviors. There was no telling how Eric’s future would have played out. Aaron just wished he had been more supportive of him, especially now that he knew Eric was right.

Night had settled in, and Aaron was sitting by the fire pit with Paul and a few other residents. They had been exchanging stories about their lives before the outbreak and how they got to the place they were now. Aaron shared his story about joining a NGO that ran supplies to the people living in the Niger River Delta. They had a lot of questions about that, and it explained his charitable personality. Paul sat across from him, and he looked absolutely intrigued to learn this about Aaron.

“Now I see why you were chosen to be a recruiter for Alexandria,” Paul observed.

“I had a lot of experience with people, good and bad. I had more than a few guns shoved in my face long before it became a normal thing to do,” Aaron explained. “What about you? Why were you picked for the job?”

Paul laughed. “Who wouldn’t trust this face?”

The guy sitting next to Paul punched him in the arm as he laughed. Ted was his name, a tall skinny twenty something who still had acne. “Has he dropped the Jesus jokes on you yet?”

“A couple,” Aaron said and laughed.

The conversation continued about Paul and his talents, one being his martial arts training. Paul sat silent and listened to them talk, but he didn’t add anything to their stories. Aaron thought that was a good personality trait to have, to be humble and not boast. Paul was very down to earth and easy going. There was no drama with him, but Aaron could tell there was more to him than he led on.

Aaron finally managed to excuse himself, claiming his need for sleep if he was planning on leaving before daybreak. Paul got up too. “I’ll walk with you,” he said. They said goodnight to the others and went back to the house.

Aaron was at his door and stopped, turning to Paul. “Good night. I’ll see you in a few hours. Where shall we meet?”

“How about the foyer,” Paul suggested.

Aaron smiled and nodded. “Great. See you in the morning.” He started to open his bedroom door when Paul stopped him.

“Oh, hey. I almost forgot. There’s a bathroom half way down the hall on the other side. With everything else that doesn’t work around here, running water is not one of them.”

“Thanks,” Aaron said and disappeared into his bedroom.

Sometime during the night, Aaron woke up worrying about Daryl coming home and not finding him there. His thoughts got the better of him and he couldn’t go back to sleep. If he was home, he would take a walk. It always helped him to clear his mind so he could sleep. But he was afraid to go walking around the Hilltop community. He was just a guest, and still a stranger here. It might look like he was snooping around if someone saw him, and there were guards on duty every minute of the day and night. Not wanting to draw unwanted attention to himself, Aaron opted for strolling along the hallways, but first he needed to use the restroom. He remembered Paul pointing out where to find it, and headed that way. After relieving himself, he started to leave the bathroom, and heard footsteps in the hallway. Aaron peeked out of the partially cracked open door to see if he knew who it was. The brown hair was familiar. It was Alex. He went to Paul’s door and lightly knocked. After a few moments, Paul’s door opened.

“What are you doing here at this hour?” Paul asked in hushed tones.

“I couldn’t sleep,” Alex answered. He lifted his hand, and Aaron noticed he held something, a book to be exact. “I thought maybe–”

“No,” Paul refused.

“But, remember how you’d read to me when I couldn’t sleep?” Alex pleaded. “It’s been a long time since then.”

“I don’t think this is a good idea,” Paul told him.

“Please, Paul. Come on. I saw how you looked at me today. You can’t deny that you felt something too.”

Paul’s eyes darted down and back up, observing Alex’s lithe frame. “Didn’t I warn you last time? That was supposed to be the end of it. What about Wes?”

Wes, Aaron thought to himself. That was a new name. There was definitely some kind of love triangle going on here, and he wondered why Paul had told him he didn’t have anyone in Hilltop.

“Wes is pulling duty tonight, but you already knew that because he’s covering your shift.” Alex reached out and touched Paul’s bare chest.

“It’s not what you think. I only asked him to cover for me because I was entertaining our guest,” Paul answered.

“Well, your babysitting duty is done for tonight, but you can entertain me instead,” Alex said seductively. “Please? We can just read. I promise. Nothing more.”

Paul let out a quiet chortle. “You know what that always leads to though.” He sighed, and then looked both ways into the hall. “Alright, come on in.”

Alex smiled and let himself in. Paul glanced around the hall one more time, then he closed the door.

“Well, you sly fox,” Aaron said to himself. “So it seems mister righteous has a booty call. And here I thought he was all alone. I still don’t see why he covered that up when I asked him about it. That’s his business though.” Aaron opened the bathroom door and hurried back to his room. He still couldn’t sleep, but now he was thinking about Paul and the sad routine he put on when Aaron first asked him about relationships. Why had he lied and said that there was no one waiting for him at Hilltop? And who was this Wes fellow? It started to bother Aaron to think that Paul was sneaking around with another man’s lover. He thought more of Paul than to imagine him in that way. Maybe he had been wrong about him. After all, Paul tried flirting with him when they first met, and even after he found out that Aaron was already in a committed relationship. “I really thought he had more scruples than that,” he thought to himself. It was a real disappointment to find this out about Paul. Aaron suddenly missed Daryl tremendously, and he could hardly wait to get home.
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Safe Haven in the Chaos