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Safe Haven in the Chaos	By : IdrilsSecret Category: S through Z > The Walking Dead Views: 6520 -:- 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
- 76
- 77
- 78
Chapter 78 The Sky is Falling

Daryl had just left the bungalow after Aaron radioed Gabriel to tell him about the mask. Aaron, Michonne and a few others were riding out to investigate the surrounding areas for more evidence of Whisperers, but Daryl chose not to go this time. Carol was coming back today, after being out at sea for the past several months. He hadn’t seen or heard from her in a long time, and he was looking forward to catching up with her. A lot had happened since she left, and he was anxious to fill her in.

He walked along the beach, watching some of the women pull in fishing nets. Kelly seemed to be having a little trouble. She wasn’t hearing what the others were telling her. Kelly was hard of hearing, similar to her sister Connie who was deaf.

Just as they finished bringing in the nets, Connie looked up and saw Daryl walking toward the docks. She waved, and Daryl waved back. Dog saw her and took off running toward her.

Daryl huffed. “Man’s best friend. More like woman’s best friend.” He made his way to the dock and was surprised to find Ezekiel already there. “Hey,” Daryl greeted. Ezekiel gave a nod and nothing more.

They stood in awkward silence while waiting for the fishing boat to arrive. Ezekiel had been jealous of Daryl and Carol’s friendship, for the simple fact that they shared everything, but she couldn’t do that with Ezekiel. After Henry died, Ezekiel approached Daryl and asked him to step back so that he and Carol could begin to heal. That hadn’t been the problem because Carol left anyway. First she left Ezekiel to live in Alexandria, and then she left Alexandria to sail the seas. Daryl wasn’t sure if Ezekiel understood that anything Carol did was her own decision, and that Daryl had zero influence on her.

Eventually, Ezekiel started to make small talk, Daryl’s least favorite thing in the world, but he listened and didn’t say a word. Ezekiel was talking about his time as a zookeeper and his fear of ostriches when Daryl spotted Connie approaching with Dog. She smiled and showed him her pad of paper. “I think you lost something,” she wrote.

Daryl had been practicing sign language after Aaron brought him a book on ASL. He had been waiting until he could show her what he had learned. He signed to her. “He just likes you better.”

Connie smiled and seemed impressed. She wrote, “Not bad – You sign with a southern accent.”

For a moment, he believed her. “Really?” he said.

Connie laughed and punched him in the arm.

Just then, a bell rang out. Everyone looked up to see Carol’s boat arriving. Daryl and Ezekiel both seemed anxious to see Carol, as both men shifted from foot to foot. When he saw her standing on deck, Daryl whistled through his fingers and waved. Carol waved back. Finally, the boat pulled in and docked. Ezekiel was right there, and offered a hand to help her jump down to the dock. Daryl couldn’t help but notice the awkwardness between them. It was almost painful. He turned away and continued to speak with Connie. After a few minutes, Connie excused herself and went to Carol, giving her a hug. Carol watched Daryl over her shoulder and smiled at him. When Connie released her, Carol almost ran to Daryl. It was the total opposite reaction to the one she had with Ezekiel.

Daryl swooped her up in his arms and lifted her from the ground. “Did you miss me?” she smiled and laughed.

Daryl put her back on the ground. “Not really,” he teased, and he threw an arm around her shoulder as they left the dock, and walked toward the camp. “So, what’s it like at sea?” Daryl asked curiously.

“It’s a lot of hard work, lots of sun and saltwater, but at night, when the stars wield above, it’s quiet and peaceful. Makes you forget about everything else in the world.” She looked dreamily toward the ocean.

“I find that hard to believe,” he commented. They walked a little further and Daryl asked her something he’d been wondering. “Do you look for her?” He was of course referring to Alpha.

Carol paused before answering. “No. I never want to think about her or those skin freaks again.”

Daryl stopped walking. He knew he needed to tell her, but he hated to bring down their happy reunion. “We found one of their masks washed down from the river.”

Carol glared at him a moment, and then she started walking again. “I told you I don’t care about her.”

“It’s not about her,” said Daryl. “It’s about us, our people and their safety. Look, Michonne took a group out to look for more evidence. You want to catch up to them? Help out?”

Carol shook her head. “No. Besides, I’m only here until the next boat goes out.”

Daryl said what he needed to say about that. He wanted to get back to enjoying time alone with Carol and decided not to mention anything more about the mask. “What do you want to do then?”

“You got your bike?” she asked.

“Does a bear shit in the woods?” he answered playfully.

>>------->

They rode on a cleared path through the forest, just the two of them. Carol yelled into his ear. “I’ve never been this way before.”

“Yeah, we just cleared it so we can get around the river border.”

“What else is there to do for fun around here?” she asked after riding the bike a ways.

“I know of a place,” he said, and sped up, zinging through the forest without a care in the world.

Eventually, they stopped when they saw a small group of walkers. They jumped off the bike and fought together. Daryl killed one and Carol complained that he had taken her shot.

“You didn’t claim it,” he said.

They bantered back and forth, just like they used to do long before Whisperers or Saviors, before Hilltop, Kingdom or Alexandria. Daryl thought about that. Were things more difficult back then or now? One thing never changed. There was always someone challenging them, trying to tear down their way of living.

When a larger group of walkers emerged from the forest, Daryl thoughts it was time to go, but Carol moved toward them. He watched her for a moment, noticing her lack of fear. Being out at sea might have caused her to forget how dangerous it was on land.

“Watch their hands,” he reminded her. If there were Whisperers in the group, their hands would give them away as they reached for weapons.

“This is our side of the border, right? They shouldn’t be here if it is,” Carol claimed.

“You can never be too sure,” he said. Daryl moved up with Carol, and they took out a few walkers near the front of the herd. They could see there were too many, and they finally left, getting back on Daryl’s bike. They rode off to a different area.

“Daryl, stop!” Carol yelled in his ear above the roar of the motor.

He slowed and came to a stop. “Did you see one of them?” He shaded his eyes and peered into the woods.

“No. I think I saw a deer.” Carol jumped from the bike and held her bow at the ready. “That could feed a lot of people back at Oceanside.”

“You’re just tired of eating fish,” he jostled. Carol didn’t disagree.

“I don’t see nothing,” said Daryl.

“You’re the tracker. Get tracking,” she complained.

Daryl huffed and rolled his eyes. Then he started looking at the ground and the surrounding plants until he found a track, deer hooves in the soft earth. “You’re right. It went this way.”

They moved along carefully, trying not to make much noise. After a little while, Carol spotted the deer. She pointed so Daryl would see it too. He gave a nod, and brought his crossbow up, peering through the sight. It was further away than he would have liked, but he was afraid to move any closer. The deer already sensed them, and it might bolt any moment. He took his shot, but the deer took off.

“Shit,” Carol grumbled.

“Hold on. Don’t get your panties in a twist. Let’s go check it out. I think I might have nicked it.” Daryl moved at a quick pace to the area where the deer had been. Carol was right on his heels. They stopped when they spotted drops of blood. Daryl nodded and bounced on his feet in victory. “Told you I got it. Now we just follow the blood trail, and it’s bleeding pretty good. I don’t think it will run far.”

As they tracked, Daryl hadn’t been paying close attention to where they were. The trees gave way to a dirt incline, and at the top was an old road. The asphalt was chunked up and missing here and there, washed away from years of rain and no road repair. It was becoming a familiar site, nature reclaiming what had been and would always be hers. Daryl stopped at the edge of the road. As Carol started to run past him, he grabbed her arm to stop her too.

“What are you doing?” she berated. “The deer is right there.”

Just toward the opposite side of the dilapidated road, the deer had finally succumbed to its injuries, and collapsed. At the same time, they heard the growls and gurgling of walkers who had seen the deer also. They were just emerging from the tree line on the other side. Carol raised her bow, but Daryl stopped her.

“This is one of their borders. It’s too late,” Daryl warned her.

“What do you mean it’s too late? It’s right there and if we don’t get to it first–”

“Stop!” Daryl demanded in a way that he rarely spoke to Carol. But this was a serious matter.

Carol spun around and gave him a slit-eyed stare. “Do you see anyone stopping us? I don’t. Besides, it’s right there, not thirty feet away. I say screw her, especially when she’s not even here to defend her borders. Don’t act like you’re her little bitch.”

Daryl had to force his anger down. Carol knew full well that Daryl didn’t take lightly to name calling. She was doing it on purpose to get Daryl to side with her, but he knew the significance of crossing a border. He sighed in defeat and spoke in a much softer tone. “It’s too late.” He tilted his head up, gesturing with his chin. Carol turned and saw the walkers already eating the deer.

“Well, shit,” she moaned in protest as she marched away back to their side of the road and into the forest. Daryl stood another moment, glancing around the area just to see if he could spot anyone watching. Of course, there was nothing there, nothing he could see, anyway.

They came upon a fallen tree, and Carol stopped walking to let Daryl catch up. “I’m sorry I pissed you off,” he apologized when he approached her. “But there’s no reason to start something if we don’t have to. It’s not just about us. There’s a lot of people’s lives at stake now.”

“This is why it’s better that I’m not here,” Carol admitted. She knew she had trouble controlling herself when it came to Alpha and her rules. If she stayed, she might end up costing someone their life.

However, Daryl had other ideas for Carol. “I’d rather that you stayed,” he admitted sheepishly. “Come home for a while.”

“Why is everyone on my ass about staying? I like being at sea. I’m doing something useful, and I’m staying the hell out of Alpha’s way, because if her and I–”

“I’m asking because you’re my best friend and I miss you.” He sat down on the log and turned his eyes to the ground.

“Best friend? What, are you ten? Should we get matching bracelets?” She was teasing him, because she knew he could take it, but when he didn’t respond she sat down next to him, and teased with a lighter happier tone. “We could decorate them with tiny shells.”

“Forget I said anything,” he said, turning to his pack and pulling out a package containing jerky. He gave a piece to Carol.

“I’ll even let you pick the color,” she continued, as she took out her water canteen. She took a sip and handed it to Daryl. “We could even make a matching collar for Dog.”

“Stop,” Daryl said, but he smiled as he said it, and she knew he wasn’t mad anymore.

“Just don’t make mine the same color as Aaron’s. You do have matching bracelets, don’t you?” Carol laughed to herself.

“No, but he gave me this,” said Daryl, pulling on the chain around his neck. The silver wire birch charm came out of his shirt, and he showed it to Carol.

Carol held it in her fingers. “All kidding aside, that’s beautiful.”

Daryl tucked it back inside his shirt. “He traded for it at the fair. He gave it to me when we got back together.”

“I’m really happy for both of you. I know a lot of time passed between you, and life took you both in separate directions, but it was always my hope that you’d find your way back to one another,” Carol told him, and smiled. “I hate seeing my boys apart.”

“Well … this time it’s for good. We may still have our disagreements, but I ain’t going nowhere, not like I used to do.” He took out another piece of jerky and offered it to Carol but she refused. So he put the package back into his bag.

“How’s Gracie with everything?” Carol wondered.

“Ah, she’s a great kid. We cook breakfast together most mornings. Well, she does most of the work. I just supervise. You know how I am about cooking. And Lydia is finding her way. It’s not been easy for her.”

Carol turned her eyes to the ground at the mention of Lydia’s name. “Yeah … I’m still not sure about her.”

“Come on. You know none of what happened was her fault. She wasn’t even there,” said Daryl, defending Lydia. “Is that why you ran off in the middle of the night to become a pirate?”

Carol gave him a smirk. “That’s only part of it, a small part. There’s lots of things and they all add up. Anyway, I’d rather not talk about that. I just want to enjoy being with my … best friend.”

She didn’t know it, but while they were talking, Daryl was twisting some twine, and made it into a bracelet. He handed it to her and she laughed. Then she put it on her wrist.

“We better be getting back. I want to be there when Aaron, Michonne and the rest return. See if they found anything,” said Daryl. They packed up their stuff, went back to Daryl’s bike, jumped on and headed back to Oceanside.

>>------->

Aaron was at the beach, standing at the edge of the waves rolling in, looking out across the vastness of blue and grey water when he felt someone come up behind him. Arms wrapped around his waist and he smiled. “You’re back.”

“Miss me?” said Daryl.

“Always.” Aaron turned in his arms and kissed him. “Did you have fun?”

“We took the bike out for a little joyride.”

“Find anything?” Aaron asked. He wanted to know about Daryl’s day before he laid the bad news on him.

“Killed some walkers. I shot a deer, but it got away.” Daryl didn’t feel like telling him about Carol’s outburst at the border.

“That’s unusual for you,” said Aaron. Then he hung his head as he told Daryl about their findings. “Yumiko and Magna came across an old abandoned campsite. At first it was nothing out of the normal, dead walkers, one dead survivor. But then they showed us what they found. It was a skin. We don’t know if that’s where the mask came from or not, but my best guess is that it is.”

“They were on our side of the border then. That makes things different,” Daryl seemed slightly elevated by the news, as though he had been waiting for Alpha’s people to screw up.

“Yeah, but the problem is, we can’t be sure when it happened. The bodies were long with decay. The walkers were just skeletons. It could have happened before.”

“But it could have happened after,” Daryl argued.

“We just don’t really know. There wasn’t enough evidence to prove it one way or the other. Michonne made the decision to sit on it. We informed the community leaders, but we’re keeping it quiet for everyone else. Michonne doesn’t want to start a panic amongst the people.”

Daryl released Aaron and came to stand beside him. “Dammit,” he complained.

Aaron took Daryl’s hand in his. “Come on. Let’s go for a walk.”

They walked up the beach, sometimes holding hands, sometimes bumping shoulders as they went. Daryl stopped to pick up a few seashells, and told Aaron about Carol teasing him earlier. Aaron asked how she was doing, and Daryl told him what he saw. “She’s hurting a lot, I know, but she seems different somehow. She gets angry easily. I asked her to stay, to come home where she can be with family. I’m still not sure she will or not.”

“I’ll talk to her when we get back,” Aaron decided.

“She still doesn’t trust Lydia,” Daryl told him so he would know.

“Well, that’s understandable. Maybe we invite her to the house, have a nice dinner, let them get to know each other better,” Aaron suggested.

“I wouldn’t hold your breath on that one. These days, I’m not sure there’s anyone we could invite over for that reason. Lydia has more enemies than friends.”

“I hate this. If they would just give her a chance. If they would just see that all she wants is to be a part of us.”

Daryl gave a nod in agreement. “That’s why I don’t want her hanging around Negan. It hurts her more than anything to be seen with him.”

“I know, but I kind of understand why. They have something in common. They’re both outcasts, and their reasons are similar. But I agree with you. It’s not helping her cause when people see them talking to each other.”

They walked further down the beach to an area that was isolated, and found a pile of rocks where they sat down. Both men gazed out at the ocean before them, each one wrapped up in his own thoughts.

“Daryl?” asked Aaron, breaking the silence. “Do you ever wonder if this is all there is?”

“What do you mean?” Daryl wondered.

“We clash with a new group, no one talks, no one listens, we kill each other until whoever’s left surrenders,” Aaron pondered.

“It’s been like this since the beginning, for both of us,” said Daryl.

Aaron nodded slowly. “Yeah, I know. It’s like we’re not really getting anywhere, and we’re just surviving one fight to the next. Earlier, I was wondering if it was us and not them, all of them we’ve come across. I thought that maybe we were the threat because everyone wants to destroy us.”

“In a way, I think we are the threat, but not because of what we want. It’s because of what we have achieved, and that’s something all the others don’t have. People like Alpha think there’s nothing left but to survive. We’ve been doing that since day one, but now we’re living, not just surviving. We’re growing toward a future. That makes us a threat to their ideals and how they choose to navigate through life, especially because we are successful at it.”

Aaron leaned his head against Daryl’s shoulder. “I think there are people out there like us, people living, not just surviving. I think Maggie has found some of them. That’s why she’s with Georgie now. I don’t think she needed to get away from us. I think she wanted to continue the work we’ve done somewhere else. Just think, there could be lots of smaller groups like ours, growing and spreading, and one day their borders will touch, and then we won’t need borders anymore.”

“Mmph,” Daryl moaned, agreeing. “We could find out. We could be like Maggie. You, me, the kids and Dog, we’ll just take off, look for good people, spread the knowledge, restart communities, and start piecing it all back together.”

Aaron smiled at the thought. “We’ll call ourselves The Traveling Dixons, head west and make our way across the country rebooting one community at a time.”

“We’ll be like the IT guys of the apocalypse, and get everyone back on the grid,” Daryl added with mirth.

Aaron looked at Daryl’s face, seeing a joy that he couldn’t remember seeing before. He was a different man from the one he’d known in the beginning. He had more patience, more acceptance, more love for life. He seemed more relaxed, as though he had finally let go of his past and came to terms with all his hardships. Aaron reached up and took Daryl’s chin in his fingers, gaining his full attention. “You’ve changed so much.”

“I hope that’s a good thing,” said Daryl.

“It’s a wonderful thing. I’ve always loved the person you are, but there’s something so different about you. Don’t take what I’m about to say the wrong way. It’s just … ever since Rick died–”

“Disappeared,” Daryl corrected right away.

“Disappeared,” Aaron went on. “Well, you seem so much more … relaxed … free. I don’t know how else to explain it. You smile more. You’re more open with yourself and with us. You are much more confident in certain aspects.” Aaron paused to smile. “Like kissing me in front of other people.”

“I got tired of waiting for a private moment,” Daryl replied with a smirk. Then he got serious. “I think I get what you’re saying. I’ve noticed and I’ve thought about it too. I loved Rick like a brother. As a matter of fact, he was more of a brother to me than Merle. When he vanished, I had a difficult time accepting that. You know. You saw me then. I wasn’t myself. Carol helped when she asked me to go to Hilltop and keep an eye on Henry. I had been on my own for so many years that I had to relearn how to participate again. And for the first time, I was doing it without Rick there. He was a great leader, a man I looked up to, a man I could follow. Without him there, I think I started to find myself, or at least that part of me who had to learn not to follow, but to lead. That’s something I used to always shy away from, but I learned that it’s something I can do. Hell, I’m still learning. Before, I was confident, but I think it was more fear driven. But now, it comes from being accepted, and having people see me kind-of the way I used to see Rick, but on a much smaller scale. There’s no one who will ever match up to Rick Grimes.”

As Daryl spoke, Aaron understood everything he was saying and agreed. His heart soared for this man before him. “I love you more than ever,” Aaron admitted.

Daryl leaned down and kissed him. It deepened with every slide of their tongues until they felt their bodies surrendering to the moment. Daryl took Aaron’s earlobe into his mouth, and then whispered in his ear. “I want to make love to you in the worst way.”

“What, right here? Out in the open?” Aaron seemed shocked.

Daryl looked around. “Why not? There’s no one out here but us, and these rocks help hide us from anyone coming from camp.” As he spoke, his started pulling Aaron’s shirt out from inside his pants.

“Well, we’ve never had sex on the beach before, and I’m not talking about the drink.” Aaron reached for Daryl’s belt and started to undo it. “We’ll call this a celebration for our new idea, the Traveling Dixons,” Aaron laughed as he said it.

“Mmm,” Daryl moaned into Aaron’s neck. “And right now, my Dixon wants to travel inside you.”

Daryl’s hands roamed over his body, needing to feel flesh, but Aaron couldn’t help himself from laughing. Daryl stopped and leaned back to look at him. “I’m sorry, but how are you able to say that with a straight face?”

“That was pretty corny wasn’t it,” Daryl admitted, and he shared a laugh with Aaron.

“Well, if it’s any consolation, it’s still kind of hot,” Aaron pulled Daryl back toward him and they started back up where they had just left off.

“I can’t help myself.” Daryl told him. “When I’m around you, I’ve only got one thing on my mind, and right now I want to–”

A loud explosion went off over their heads. Aaron and Daryl immediately stopped what they were doing and looked up into the sky. A fireball trailed across the blue heavens above them. Smaller objects separated from it, but they were focused on the main part. It was coming down at an accelerated rate.

“What the fuck is that?” Daryl commented.

“Holy shit. Something’s entered the atmosphere.” Aaron was focused on the sky.

“Like a meteor or something?” Daryl asked.

“I don’t know, but we better get back to camp.”

Daryl and Aaron got themselves together, and ran back to camp as fast as they could. Michonne was already gathering people and supplies. “We need to track this thing, see what it was and what damage it might have caused.”

“What do you need me to do?” Aaron asked her.

“Gather your people, and let’s move this equipment out. Daryl, get that cart loaded with all our weapons. I get a feeling we’re going to need them,” Michonne ordered. Every person was up and doing something. As soon as they were ready, they moved out toward the crash site.

>>------->

“It’s bigger than I imagined,” Aaron commented to Daryl as they stood at the edge of the washed out road, the same place where Daryl and Carol were earlier in the day. Across the road was Whisperer territory, and that was where the fire burned. “I’m not sure we should put this out. It’s not our land.”

“We have to,” said Daryl. “This could spread through our hunting grounds.”

Eugene came up next to them. “We could have a much worse outcome than that. Judging by the terrain and the wind’s movement, this could very well work its way to Oceanside.”

Aaron looked at the road and saw a half-eaten deer carcass. “Is that the deer you missed?”

Daryl already knew it was. “Guess I shot it after all.”

“Yeah, and the walkers finished it off for you,” Aaron commented.

Eugene pointed across the road. “That’s Whisperer territory.”

Michonne now stood beside the others as they all looked at the fire. “We need to try. Our own communities are at risk, so that makes putting out this fire our top priority.”

Aaron glanced at her, and saw her hesitancy. She was as worried as he was about crossing the border. “Are we doing this?” he asked her just to make sure.

“Come on. Let’s go,” said Daryl. He went to the cart with all the equipment and took out a spray canister. Then he started handing them out to others who came forward. There were several of them, all full of water. They had filled them before they left Oceanside. Other people came in and took up buckets, axes, shovels, rakes, anything that would help. Carol picked up one of the canisters, and followed Daryl across the road.

Everything was burning, the trees, the undergrowth, and the ground. The people took a moment to assess the situation. That’s when someone called out, and pointed toward the center of the burning area. There was something very large and cylindrical. At a closer look, they saw Russian letters printed on the side, and they realized it was a satellite. Right now, there was no time to wonder about it.

Cyndie stood with Daryl, Carol and the other people with sprayers. “We’ll start on the outside and work our way inward,” she said.

Aaron got the people from his troop gathered. They were armed with shovels, rakes, hoes and other similar equipment. He took a moment to watch Daryl go off with the others, spray canisters strapped to their backs. Now it was time for him and his group to do their part while the sprayers were busy putting out the smaller fires at the edge. Luckily, Aaron had some knowledge in this kind of thing, going back to his days as a volunteer for an NGO. “All right. Let’s line up over here. Our objective is to clear this area of fuel for the fire. Everyone dig until all you have is dirt. When you’ve cleared your area, move to the front of the line. We need to move fast though. We gotta get this done before the fire jumps the line.”

Aaron’s group worked with constant effort, and before long a trench was cleared. Now came the next step. “All right everyone, clear back. We need to back burn the stray fuel by the control line so the fire can’t spread.”

They set the low growing plant life and dead leaves on fire next to the control line. This would make a big enough buffer between the fire and the untouched part of the forest so that the fire wouldn’t have anywhere to go.

“We’ve got incoming!” someone shouted across the way.

“Bring in the weapon’s cart,” Michonne ordered.

Daryl was on the last drops of water. “I’m out,” he called, and he abandoned the canister on the ground.

“Move to weapons. We need to take out these walkers,” Michonne told him. Carol and Cyndie joined him since they were out of water too.

Daryl grabbed his bow. Cyndie, Michonne and Carol grabbed guns and they started firing at the approaching walkers, but it soon became apparent that these weren’t just a few stragglers. There was an entire herd coming in from the opposite side of the forest. They ignored the fire, walking right through it, and catching themselves on fire.

Alden, Earl, and Diane soon joined the fight, as well as some others who had abandoned their posts to fight. Michonne warned the rest to keep working on the fire. They couldn’t all start fighting walkers or they would lose any progress they made.

Aaron said the same thing to his group when some of them wondered if they should go help Michonne. “Keep doing what you’re doing. We have to make sure the fire has nowhere to go.”

“There’s too many,” someone shouted, and Aaron looked up to see the herd. He knew his people had this, so he left to join the fight.

Just as he joined Daryl, a new group of Oceansiders ran in, the ones who stayed at camp to protect the community. But even with the additional people, there were still a lot of walkers to contend with.

“Everyone get out of the area,” Eugene warned. “That tree is going to fall.”

There was a very large tree burning, its center glowing red and orange. Daryl watched as people fighting the fire were still in the area. “You all get out of there now,” he ordered. The workers looked up and ran when they saw the glowing tree.

“We can’t let any burning walkers get out of the area or they’ll set more fires,” Michonne called.

Daryl saw the walkers she was talking about. Three of them shuffling side by side, lit up like a bonfire. They were heading toward the control line. If they crossed, they would start fires in the untouched part of the woods. He wouldn’t let that happen. They had spent hours getting to the point they were at now, and there was still so much to do. The walkers were just about to pass the burning tree. Daryl saw an ax laying on the ground, and picked it up. His first thought was to start chopping the tree down, but the burn area was too high to reach. Besides, there wasn’t enough time. He looked at the ax, and then to the tree, raised the ax up, said a quick prayer and threw it. It hit center of the burning area, and the tree came crashing down, pinning the burning walkers to the ground.

“Nice shot,” Aaron called to him. He had watched the entire scene play out.

Daryl glanced back at Aaron and Michonne, and gave a nod in silent celebration.

Everyone glanced over to the herd, and saw that it was being taken care of with all the extra people who showed up. When they were finally clear of the main threat, most people went back to containing the fire. A smaller crew stayed on alert, and took down any stragglers that came into the area.

It had taken them the entire night and into the morning before everything was under control. The burning forest was only smoldering now. A few people went around dousing hot spots to make sure the fire didn’t reignite. Hours of hard labor paid off, but now it was time to go. First thing was to get the injured out. They were loaded up in carts, and taken straight to Oceanside where they could be treated. There was a lot of smoke inhalation difficulties, some burns, dehydration, and scrapes and bruises, but there had been no fatalities.

“Let’s go! Let’s go!” Michonne ordered. She stood by and continuously scanned the entire area. Her main worry now was getting everyone out of Whisperer territory. She had to assume Alpha would know about the breach, which was why she wanted everyone out as quickly as possible.

Aaron watched over his group, who were collecting equipment and loading it back into a cart. “Move it. We need to get back across the road. Now.”

“Eugene, let’s get a move on,” Michonne commanded when she saw him looking over the satellite.

“Just give me twenty minutes,” he pleaded, reaching inside a panel full of wires and metal.

“You get zero,” she argued.

“We should excavate it and take it with us. I believe there may be some invaluable technology here that could be beneficial to all our communities, but I need to take my time breaking this thing down.” Eugene wasn’t giving up easily. He knew this was a rare gift that he wouldn’t come across again.

Michonne was reluctant, but she ordered Magna, Yumiko and Luke to gather a crew and get the satellite loaded onto a cart. “You’ve got five minutes and we’re out of here.”

Aaron came up to Michonne to help her keep watch while the others worked to evacuate the area. “I think we made the right choice here,” he commented. “Maybe this will be seen as an act of charity. Putting the fire out helped them too.”

“I don’t give a shit about her or her people. We did this for us, and that’s all that matters.” As Michonne spoke, she noticed that Daryl wasn’t with him. Carol was nowhere to be seen either. “Where are Daryl and Carol?” she asked.

Aaron had been so busy with his group, he hadn’t noticed that Daryl was gone. He looked around worriedly. “I don’t know.”

When the urgency of the situation died down, Carol had asked Daryl to tell her more about that night when Alpha slaughtered all those people, including Henry. He was reluctant to open up to her. She was already struggling with it, taking pills like they were candy. Since coming to shore, she hadn’t slept much either.

“You sure about this?” he asked before he took her somewhere.

“I think I just need to see it,” she confessed.

Daryl and Carol slipped out and he took her to the rocky cliff where Alpha brought him that awful night. It wasn’t far from the satellite crash site. Now, they stood at the edge of the cliff, looking down into an empty ravine. “That night, it was completely full down there,” Daryl remembered. “She said she had people down there driving the horde. She let me know how easy it would be to bring them to our gates and destroy us and our communities. It clearly wasn’t a bluff.”

“She needs to die,” Carol whispered as she looked down.

“Yeah,” Daryl agreed. “But we need to be smart about it. That’s why I need you to stay.”

“Daryl,” she began to protest.

“Just think about it.” He turned to leave the area, but stopped. “Otherwise I’m gonna have to punch holes in all those boats.”

>>------->

“Home sweet home,” Aaron sighed as he and Daryl walked into their house together. They were finally back in Alexandria after being gone a few days, and fighting a forest fire in between.

“Daddy!” Gracie sang all the way down the stairs. Lydia took her time descending behind her. Gracie hugged Aaron, and then stood back with a wrinkled nose. “You smell like smoke.”

“How did it go?” Lydia asked.

“Success,” Daryl said. “Fire’s out, and we got a constellation prize. That big fireball, it was a Russian satellite.”

“Wow. There’s something you don’t find every day,” said Lydia.

“Eugene insisted we bring it back with us so he can tear it apart, and recycle its pieces,” said Aaron.

“How are things here?” Daryl asked her.

“Fine,” she answered.

“Any more problems?” He was inquiring about the bullying.

“No. We mostly stayed home. It’s been quiet.”

Daryl nodded and clasped her shoulder. “Thank you for keeping an eye on Gracie.”

“Sure,” said Lydia, giving him a protected smile. “Well, me and Gracie were just about to head out. To pass the time, some of the moms in town are having a bake-off, and Gracie has been asked to be a judge, as well as some of the other kids.”

“You want to come with us?” Gracie asked Aaron and Daryl.

Aaron glanced at Daryl. “We would, but we’re pretty exhausted. It’s a long way to Oceanside and back, and we haven’t slept in the last twenty four hours. Maybe more than that.”

“We’ll stay out of your hair for a while,” said Lydia. “Let you guys get some sleep.”

“Thanks,” Aaron smiled at her. He and Daryl watched the girls leave the house. Then Aaron turned to him. “I don’t know about you, but I just want to crawl into bed and sleep for an entire day.

“Sounds good to me, but if we don’t clean up first, the bed will smell like a campfire,” Daryl pointed out.

They trudged up the stairs and into their bedroom. Aaron went straight into the bathroom and turned the water on in the shower to let it heat up. When he came out, Daryl had already taken his shirt and vest off, and was laying on the bed. Aaron smiled. “Why don’t you get in first? I can wait.”

Daryl sat up on his elbows. He glanced at the bathroom and then to Aaron. “I’ve got an idea. Why don’t we both go? Saves water and we’ll both get a hot shower. You know the hot water doesn’t last long.”

“You’ll get no argument from me.”

Daryl lifted his arm out, and Aaron took hold of his hand, helping him to stand. They entered the bathroom, undressed, and dropped their dirty clothes on the floor. Daryl helped him with the metal arm, unbuckling the three straps above his elbow. He carefully laid it down, and both men stepped into the shower. The glass shower doors steamed up, and they felt like they were in their own little protective cocoon. They took turns standing in the shower’s stream, the hot water washing away the dirt and smoke. Aaron picked up the bar of soap and started to lather himself up. Daryl took a bottle of shampoo and soaped his hair.

“Turn around. I’ll get your back,” Aaron offered.

Daryl turned, and Aaron made small circular motions starting between the shoulder blades. He moved down to his waist, scrubbing his way along. He let his attention remain on the fine ass before him, and took his time lathering Daryl in that area. Daryl glanced over his shoulder, but didn’t say anything. He just reveled in the feel of Aaron’s hand roaming over his body.

“We should take the girls to Oceanside sometime. Gracie’s never seen the ocean,” said Aaron.

“That could be our summer vacation,” Daryl jested. “I bet we could find some inflatable rafts and a beach ball somewhere. There’s that dollar store we found about ten miles out. You think that kind of stuff is still good after all these years, or has it deteriorated by now?”

“I don’t know. We’ll have to make a run there and see. We can take the bike when it warms up. It’s been a while since I rode on the back of your bike.” Aaron started to daydream about the feel of riding on a motorcycle. He snaked his arm around Daryl’s waist, simulating his riding position.

Daryl looked down at Aaron’s hand splayed across his stomach, and he covered it with his own hand. “I like when you ride with me, when you sit close and hold on tight.”

“It’s an intimate thing isn’t it, riding on someone’s bike.”

“That depends on the passenger. I definitely get a thrill with you that I don’t feel with anyone else.” Daryl turned around. “But I get a thrill with you no matter where we are or what we’re doing.”

Aaron cocked a brow and glanced down at Daryl’s half hardened prick. “I can see that.”

Daryl leaned his head back into the water, and rinsed the shampoo from his hair. Aaron stared at the length of his neck, the muscles in his shoulders, the dip in his collarbone, and how his Adam’s apple traveled up and down when he swallowed. When Daryl was finished, his eyes settled on Aaron once more. “My turn to wash your back. Spin around,” Daryl told him, and Aaron obeyed.

Daryl took his time, his hands roaming over every inch of skin on Aaron’s back. They moved extra slow and with added attention when he soaped his ass, cupping him, squeezing, kneading. Aaron’s back curved inward, ass sticking out as he enjoyed Daryl’s manipulating hands. Daryl leaned forward, letting his chin rest on Aaron’s shoulder. Aaron’s hand came up and cupped the back of Daryl’s head. He turned and they kissed.

“What were you going to do to me on the beach? You know, right before the satellite broke into the atmosphere,” Aaron whispered wantonly.

“You want me to tell you?” Daryl asked in a low growl into Aaron’s ear.

“I want you to show me,” Aaron begged.

“Sure you’re not too tired?”

“For you? Never,” Aaron’s words traveled on an airy breath of anticipation.

Daryl contoured his body to Aaron’s back, and Aaron felt the hard length of Daryl’s cock press against his ass. The soap made it slippery, and when Daryl pumped his hips they slid together most deliciously. Daryl’s hand moved to the center of Aaron’s shoulders, and he gently pushed him forward. Aaron reached out with his hand, and anchored it to the shower wall so that he was bending forward slightly. Daryl moved to the side, and water washed away all the soap, bubbles swirling around the drain on the shower floor. He felt Daryl go to his knees behind him, felt strong hands push the inside of his thighs making Aaron spread his legs apart. One of those hands now moved to tease him, massaging his balls and the very base of his hardened cock. He very suddenly felt teeth on his ass, as a thumb dipped into his entrance, flesh being sucked into an eager mouth, blood being drawn to the surface, a delightful pain that heightened the experience. Then, Daryl’s free hand slid around his thigh over his hip, and took up his prick, instantly sliding up and down the entire length. Aaron was being manipulated in so many different zones, they all melted together and he was turning to jelly. A moan escaped his lips, signaling to Daryl that he was closing in on his ultimate pleasure. All but one finger, which continued to tease his entrance, abandoned him as Daryl got back to his feet. The finger was replaced by the head of Daryl’s cock, and he took his time probing his lover. When Daryl felt Aaron was completely accepting, he pushed inside, filling Aaron with no warning. Aaron cried out, knowing they had the entire house to themselves.

Daryl set a slow and torturous rhythm, pulling almost completely out and then pushing in at a quicker speed. He moved faster as Aaron’s breath quickened and his moans became more pleading. Aaron moved his amputated arm to the shower wall so that he could lean his head against it. He completely surrendered to Daryl, giving him unrestricted access to do as he pleased to his body. Daryl braced a hand on Aaron’s shoulder and leaned back slightly, adjusting his stance so he could push deeper. With his other hand, he braced himself on the shower wall behind them. Aaron was crying out with every thrust, encouraging Daryl to keep going. Then Daryl thrust inside Aaron, filling him to the hilt. He cried out loudly and spilled, losing himself in the process. Aaron begged for more, and Daryl came to his senses, pumping with deep hard thrusts until a moment later Aaron called out his name, repeating it over and over. Daryl pushed away from the back wall and surrounded Aaron with his arms. He could see Aaron held himself in his hand, still lightly stroking as the last of his essence spilled over his hand. Daryl stayed buried, and cradled Aaron in the warm water raining down on them. It was losing its heat, and soon it would run cold. Daryl reluctantly abandoned Aaron, but Aaron turned in his arms and kissed him lovingly. He reached around Daryl and turned the water off. As his hand came back he pushed the long wet tendrils of Daryl’s hair from his face, and smiled at the only man he would ever love so deeply.

“So … that’s what you were going to do at the beach?” Aaron jested.

“Something like that. I think it worked better here though.”

“Oh yeah. It definitely worked. I think I’ve found my second wind. And my third, and my fourth,” Aaron laughed.

Daryl’s eyes were full of admiration as he watched Aaron speak, and Aaron calmed his humor. Daryl cupped the back of Aaron’s neck and drew him in for another passionate kiss. “I’ll never stop loving you. Never.”

Aaron smiled and kissed him more, but it was starting to get cold. “Come on. Let’s get some sleep while we can.”

They left the shower, dried each other off, and climbed between the sheets. Daryl spooned up behind Aaron and cradled him. They drifted off into a deep slumber and didn’t wake until late in the day.
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Safe Haven in the Chaos