A Survivor's Diary of the Apocalypse (TWD/Daryl Dixon)

S8Pt5 - Daryl's Plan

It was now morning and we were posted at the same spot as last night. Daryl was watching the place and we all waited for the call to go.
"Our people are going to be at the Sanctuary soon, asking for their surrender." Tara said.
"We're almost there." Rosita said.
"That's why we do it." Daryl said and turned around to face us. "We make it happen."
"So we cover you with crossfire from the upper windows, you crash the truck into the walkers and through to the building." I clarified.
"Yup, crack it open. Savior buffet." Tara said.
"You know the workers will make it away, up the stairs?" Rosita asked.
"Yeah. They're on the other side of the building. They should make it." I said, and glanced up at the Compound.
"You sure?" Rosita asked.
"After this happens, their only choice is to give up." Daryl then said, confident in his plan.
"What are the odds of you getting out of the truck?" I asked. Daryl just looked at me and I shook my head. "I mean it. If you crash that truck into there, and you let the walkers flood the place, what chance do you have to get out?"
"Kell." Daryl began to say.
"Guys, all I'm saying is that it's risky. I know everything is at this point— but still..."
"How do you know they won't see you coming? Shoot you down before you make it." Rosita asked.
"They're weren't any more weapons at the Saviors' warehouse, right?" Tara asked. "No more rockets for the RPG's. We work with what we got."
"You got me." A voice said from behind.
We all saw that Morgan appeared and joined our group.
"Other snipers too." He said and motioned towards the building above us. "Saviors see you coming, we got you covered. Whatever it takes. I want it done. I want them done."
"Good." Daryl said, and then looked at the rest of us. "So we doing this or what?"
"Why don't we just let things go as planned?" Rosita asked and scoffed. "Kelley's right. What you're talking about is risky. Things could go bad."
"The truck with the speakers almost took all the walkers away. It almost did go bad. Something else could." Tara said.
"Even if we don't, we don't got the Kingdom fighters no more. An outpost wiped them out yesterday. If the Saviors want to put up a fight, we don't got the numbers to make them surrender." Daryl said.
"Isn't that why Rick's talking to the Scavengers?" Rosita said.
"You got shot. They lied to us." Tara said. "You— You believe 'em now?"
"I believe in Rick Grimes." Rosita said.
"I could've done something to help us a long time ago. I could've told Rick about Oceanside way before and we would've had this done with, but I waited. This time, with or without you, I'm not waiting again."
"Then it's without me." Rosita said. "I'm out."
She walked past Morgan when he stopped her. "They're some cars parked in the east parking lot. You can take one and go home." He said.
Rosita then sighed and looked back at me. She walked over and I sighed.
"You staying?" She asked. "You okay with this?"
I looked over at Daryl, and knew he was going to do this, just like Tara said, with or without me.
"I helped start all this, I'm a part of this... Got to see it through." I half-heartedly said.
"You think it's easier to come out here and risk, than to stay back there and wait?" She asked, and I just looked at her. "I get it. I used to believe that too. The thing is sometimes you just have to wait. Sometimes you don't get to know... I just wish it didn't take seeing Sasha to walk out of that coffin to realize it."
Rosita then sadly shook her head and walked off, and I watched her leave. I just sighed and looked at Daryl. I stepped forwards and pointed my finger at him, and they watched me.
"If you die because of your own plan, I'm going to be so mad at you." I said.
Daryl just nodded and I dropped my hand. "Fine. I'm in."
"Then come on." Daryl said and got in the truck. "Let's go."

~~~~~~~~~~

Daryl slowly drove the truck down the road and towards the Compound. Then the radio clicked and Morgan's voice came through the speaker.
"Hey, cut that engine." Morgan said. "Any closer you'll draw walkers from the yard."
Daryl parked the truck and turned off the engine where we were at. He pulled out his binocular and looked at the Sanctuary, then handed it to me, who handed it to Tara.
"You take fire from the windows, we fire back." Morgan said.
"Come on." Tara said and opened the door. "There's a spot for cover behind the chutes."
I sat still and daryl didn't move either. We both were looking forwards and I saw in the corner on my eye Daryl started watching me.
"You up for this?" He asked me one last time.
I looked at the Compound which was surrounded by the dead and sighed. "Things are in motion, everything is working according to plan. So maybe we need to trust that things are going to keep working..." I said.
Daryl sighed and gripped the steering wheel, and then took his hands off of it. He bowed his head and I sighed.
"Be— Because this is risky." I said and nervously chuckled. "I mean, what we're about to do... I'm— I'm just wondering if this is worth the risk for us." I said, and then we looked at each other. "...Is this really worth risking us?"
"It is for me..." He said, and I listened to him. "I'm doing this for us... I mean, come on, for me, you, Lee, even Georgia..." Daryl said, and now I knew he was serious. "It just is."
He was like me. Doing this for his family. And I wasn't going to tell him no, or let him do it alone.
"Okay." I said and nodded.
"Yeah?" He quietly asked.
"Yeah." I agreed and then touched his chest. "Because it's always been you and me. And we do this for our family."
"We will.... Alright then." Daryl sighed and grabbed my hand tightly. "Let's do this."
I got out of the truck and followed Tara to cover. We were closer to the Compound and I stared at the walkers. There was a lot, and I was just hoping that Daryl would make it out in time.
"We're here." Tara whispered over the walkie talkie. "Ready."
I loaded my rifle and propped it up on my cast and aimed up at the windows, ready to fire.
"South lookout — ready to go." Morgan said.
"East lookout ready." A man responded.
"North lookout, ready." A woman responded.
West lookout, ready." The last man said and then the walkie talkie clicked off.
I heard the engine of the truck far behind me and the brakes squeaking, and I turned around to watch Daryl. He was waiting for the right moment, and within a few seconds, Daryl stepped on the gas.
"Now!" He said over the walkie talkie.
The engine revved and he gained speed on the road, and then I heard gunshots. Tara and I got up and install started shooting back, giving cover fire to Daryl. He drove pass us and was now feet within the herd. I saw the door then fly open and he rolled out and ducked behind a car.
"Daryl, you're clear to the south." Morgan said. "You, your wife, and friend should head home now."
I started backing away with Tara while still firing back at the Saviors. Daryl ran over to us and grabbed my arm. I lowered my rifle and grabbed Tara. Without any words, we all turned around and ran away from the Sanctuary, and already I heard the screams and shots from inside.

~~~~~~~~~~

We got back to Alexandria safe, and I got out of the car with relief. I stretched my arms and saw Rosita walking up to us.
"It was a risky job out there, and I should've been there to help. I... just wanna say I'm sorry." She said.
"Don't be." Daryl said. "It worked."
He then walked pass Rosita and away towards our house. I sighed and put my hand on her shoulder. She looked at me and I nodded.
"If Daryl wasn't the one doing it, I would've left with you... but we all have our reasons." I said softly and she slowly nodded. "And that's okay... because you were still right."
I then patted her shoulder and jogged after Daryl, following him home. He opened the front door and waited for me to get inside first before closing it.
"We did something right." He said.
I sighed and nodded, then turned around to look at him.
"I had to do it." Daryl then said.
"Daryl, you don't have to defend yourself to me." I said. "Come on." I held out my hand and he took it.
We walked upstairs and in the nursery, and the babies were laying in their cribs. Judith was napping in her toddler bed and I smiled.
"They are my reason to live." I told Daryl.
He walked into the nursery and over to Georgia, and he gently picked her up. She cooed at him and he patted her bottom and rocked her back and forth.
"Everything I do, is to keep them safe... So, I know what had to be done, and what we did, we did for them. That, I know." I said.
Daryl looked up at me and nodded, then back down at Georgia. He then sighed and set her back down. I saw he was slumped over in defeat and I walked forwards.
"Honey what's wrong?" I asked gently.
He just shook his head and sighed, and I gently wrapped my arms around him. I heard him sniffle and he wrapped his arms around me. I rubbed his back with my hand and patted his back.
"Daryl honey." I said.
He pulled back and took a deep breath, and wiped away a few tears. "I'm sorry. I just—" He began and took a deep breath. "I never thought that.. I'd have this."
"Have what, Daryl?" I asked and rubbed his shoulder.
"All this." He then said and looked at the kids. "I actually got a real family... one worth protecting. My life... it's meant for you, and them..."
I nodded and felt my own eyes tearing up now. "Oh... Come here big guy." I joked and pulled him in for a hug.
He managed a small smile and hugged me back and rocked me back and forth. I squeezed him tight and kissed his cheek. I pulled back and wiped a few of my own tears before looking out the window. The sun was shining, people were moving, and it felt almost normal again.
"It feels good to be home."