Knife Edge [Daryl Dixon]

Chapter Thirteen - The Anvil (2/3)

*

Daryl leaned against a tree and looked at Rick. If he didn't put the binoculars down soon he was seriously considering taking them off him and smashing them. 

They left the others in a nearby suburb so they could take a quick look at the station and start to get the lay of the land ahead of the attack. But though they had been watching the base for over four hours, Rick had done nothing except from occasionally shifting position to get a better view.

He didn't understand why Rick couldn't accept the base was empty.

Credit where credit was due. The police station was where Bennett said it would be and it was built up, like the school had been with a perimeter fence reinforced with cars and other assorted crap, though here they used a garbage truck as the gate. 

Right now though, the truck was pulled back leaving the gate wide open. Not only that, a fire door was open on the side of the building. It swung to and fro in the breeze.

Rick lowered the binoculars and rubbed his eyes, 'If it's a trap, it's a good one.'

Daryl watched a walker edge around the garbage truck and make its way through the gate to join the others that dotted the yard. Great, another one to clear when Rick finally made up his mind to go in, 'It ain't a trap. It's empty. Can't you feel it?'

'I've felt a lot of things over the years,' Rick cautioned. 'And I've been wrong more times that I like. This time, we check.'

Daryl suppressed a groan. A long search of the area was the last thing he wanted. The station was on an intersection surrounded by large stores. It would an age to search properly. 

He took a chance, 'I could get a bit closer, see what I can see.'

But Rick shook his head straight off, 'Nope. We've got four days until we need to be in Oxford to meet the reinforcements, if any come that is. I want the area checked before anyone goes in.'

Daryl chewed the inside of his cheek. Rick mentioned the possibility that no-one would come like it was no never mind, but he was clearly worried. And he had cause to be. Hell, Maggie and Eugene had said they wouldn't fight on more than one occasion.

But Daryl couldn't help thinking what they learned from Bennett, backed up with the evidence of his brother's motorcycle, was a game-changer.

'They'll come,' he said.

Scowling as a walker made its unsteady way through the fire door and into the station, he kicked at an exposed tree root and thought about everyone they sent north.  

They would be back by now. Jesus at Hilltop, and the others would be in Alexandria. Rosita might have left for the Sanctuary already, but Sarah and Aaron would probably be getting ready to go to Oceanside. 

He kept circling back to when everyone said goodbye in the alley outside the store. Sarah was by his side when he clipped his crossbow on the back of his motorcycle and when he turned to say goodbye she wrapped her arms around his neck and hid her face in his hair. 

'Be careful,' she whispered in his ear, but when she pulled back, for all it was him that was sending her away, he didn't want to let her go.

Everyone had their own reasons for fighting, but it always came down to the life they wanted to live and the people they had to protect. Rick knew that, and Maggie had to know that too. 

He didn't know what to say when Maggie asked him whether Rick would have killed Negan if he killed Carl instead of Glenn. It was obvious nothing could have stopped him. But now that he had time to think about it, he had sent an answer north with Jesus. He hoped it would be enough.