Solitary {2} : The Walking Dead

Chapter Thirty.

Watch, learn, leave.

"You good with these rules?" Daryl asks, as they walk "Yeah. Don't be seen." Carol says "No tracks, no killin' walkers neither. Find a bunch of bodies with holes in their heads, we might as well leave a note saying we were here." Daryl says.

"Watch, learn, leave." Iris says, looking up at the stick marking the border, "Yeah, if things go sideways, we head back. We get split up, you meet me right here, alright?" Daryl says, looking down at Iris, "Yeah. And be safe." Iris says. "We got luck on our side, alright?" Daryl says, pointing to the pocket with the acorns, "Come on." Daryl says, turning and leading the way.

...........

Iris grips onto her axe as she hides behind a tree, watching the walkers, Iris looks over to Daryl behind another tree, she watches his signal and starts making her way over to him, staying close to the ground.

She stops next to him and watches Carol not listen, suddenly the walkers turn their attention to Carol, Daryl Pulls Iris against the tree, as the walkers start to stumble past them, she watches Daryl step forward and aim his crossbow at the walkers, he reaches back and grabs onto the woman's hand pulling her close to him.

Daryl aims his crossbow at the walkers as they stumble closer to them, suddenly a walker grabs onto Iris from behind, Daryl quickly turns and pulls the walker off of her, he pulls his knife out and cuts the walker's stomach, smearing the blood over his face.

Iris follows his lead, covering herself in walker blood, they press themselves against a tree, watching as the walkers move past them, not able to smell them.

"Over here" a whisper comes from behind them, Iris closes her eyes, trying not to move or make a sound, she listens as the whisperer walks away.

After waiting to make sure it's clear Daryl throws the walker's body on the floor before pulling Iris into a hug, she wraps her arms around him and hugs him back before reluctantly pulling away. Daryl grips onto her hand as they start making their way back to the meeting spot.

Iris and Daryl step out of the bushes, stopping when they see Carol with a prisoner on the floor, "What the hell is this?" Daryl asks, pointing to the stranger. "He saw me. We can take him back, see what he knows. Maybe it's a good thing." Carol says "Did you plan this?" Daryl asks.

"No." Carol says, lifting the man to stand "What's this?" Daryl asks, grabbing the zip ties around the prisoners wrists, "It wasn't in your bag." Daryl says "Guess you missed it. Come on. We don't have time to argue. It's done." Carol says before dragging the prisoner away.

.........

Iris opens the cell and looks down at Lydia, "Come on. Get out." she says, "We need the cell." she adds, Lydia stands up and walks over to Daryl and the hostage, Iris watches the girl look at the man before walking out.

Iris follows after her as Carol walks over to her "You know him?" Carol asks "He's one that watches the Guardians. I mean, the walkers." Lydia says, "So he knows where your mother's horde is?" Carol asks "Probably." Lydia mumbles.

"You've put us all at risk." Gabriel says walking over to them, Daryl close behind him, "We have to find that horde before it shows up at our gates." Carol says "So you decide for all of us? Knowing what it could mean?" Gabriel asks "Doesn't matter anymore. We still gotta find them." Daryl says.

"I'm gonna be in there with you, and Siddiq is gonna treat his wounds first." Gabriel says "He bleeds until he answers." Carol argues "That's not your call. None of this is. You did what you did, but I'm not gonna let it go from bad to worse, and I think the council would agree. Including Michonne." Gabriel says.

Iris looks down at Lydia, "you can stay with me" Carol says, Lydia stands up and walks with Iris back to the house, Daryl and Carol following them, "go up" Carol says, she watches the girl walk up the stairs. Iris follows Daryl to the basement stairs "Thanks for having my back with Gabriel." Carol says "It's just the truth." Daryl says "The Whisperer's not gonna give it up easy. If you wanna sit this out, I get it." Carol says, Daryl doesn't answer.

He holds onto Iris's hand and leads her down the stairs, she looks around the room as he pulls his vest and shirt off, he whistles and Dog runs over to him, jumping on the man, Iris smiles as she watches the man play with the dog.

"What is this place?" Iris asks, "I stayed here when I visited" Daryl says, walking over to the sofa and throwing one of his tops at her, Iris pulls her bloody top off and pulls his on before walking over and sitting on the coach with him.

Daryl pulls her body into his side, laying his arm across her shoulders, fussing with Dog with his other hand, Iris lays her head against Daryl's naked chest, closing her eyes and enjoying the small moment of peace.

"What do you think Carol meant about us earlier?" Iris asks, listening to the man's heartbeat, "I dunno" Daryl mumbles, "do you ever think about it?" Iris asks, lifting her head up and looking at him, Daryl looks back at her, "getting married?" he asks, Iris shrugs her shoulders, "it's been done during this" Iris says, "would you do it?" Daryl asks, "with the right person" Iris answers.

Daryl nods and looks back down at Dog, Iris gently kisses him on the cheek before laying her head down again, she listens to the man's heart beating fast against his chest, a small smile grows on Iris's face as the man's heart tells her how nervous he is.

He carefully stands and Iris sits up, watching him confused, he walks over to the desk and opens the drawer, Iris watches as he starts looking through the things, he picks something up and hides it in his palm.

"Come here" he says, Iris stands up and Dog jumps down with her, Daryl throws something and Dog runs after it, leaving the two alone, "what?" Iris questions, standing in front of Daryl, "I ain't good at this shit" he says, nervously.

Iris stares in confusion as Daryl looks down at his hands, "Daryl what are you doing?" Iris questions, she reaches up and strokes his hair from his face as he looks down at her nervously, "just tell me" she whispers.

"I was thinkin' about it long before everything happened" Daryl explains, Iris listens to the man, "I told Rick how I was feeling... he gave me these" Daryl says holding his hand out, Iris looks down at two rings sitting in his palm.

"I wanted him to be here when I did it" he adds, Iris looks up at him as he picks one of the rings, he looks back at her, a small smile on her face, "Iris I love you" he says, holding her hand in his, Iris watches him struggle to say the words.

He slowly lowers onto one knee, "Iris Wolf... will you marry me?" Daryl asks, his voice low and full of anxiety, "yes" Iris whispers, leaning down and kissing him, Daryl pulls away and slips the ring on her finger.

She takes the other ring and slips It onto Daryl's finger, he captures her lips with his again, standing and picking Iris up, she wraps her legs around his waist as he walks back to the coach, sitting down with Iris in his lap.

A loud knock sounds from the door and Dog comes running into the room barking, Iris pulls away and sighs, laying her forehead on Daryl's shoulder, she listens as he lets out an annoyed huff.

Iris slowly stands and opens the door, keeping the gap small, "what's up?" She asks, looking at Carol, "I was wondering if you two wanted to come with me to talk to the prisoner" Carol says, Daryl, now fully dressed again, stands behind Iris, opening the door wider.

"We'll meet you out there" Daryl says, "okay" Carol says before walking away, Iris turns and looks up at the man standing behind her, "one day, we won't get interrupted" Iris laughs, kissing him on the cheek and walking up the stairs with him.