Shattered Wings

Chapter Twenty-Three: Prepare

Maggie watched as Daryl and Beth rode on ahead of her on the bike, she shifted the truck into gear and kept an eye on the surrounding trees. They weren't too far out from The Kingdom, Maggie prayed that there was no news of Whisperers from Ezekiel. Thought just the idea of their return made her uncomfortable. Though Maggie had a plan, Maggie had a secret. The radio beside her fuzzed up and spoke out in Daryl's voice, "We got some walkers up here."

Maggie reached over to grab the radio and spoke into it, "Just ride by, I don't want to take up any unnecessary time."

"Copy." Daryl read back, Maggie watched as the walkers came into view, she took a deep breath and drove right past them. As they approached the gates it took a moment for them to roll open, Maggie watched Daryl drive in before she took her turn. Finally she was parked,  hopping out of the truck and turning to see Beth and Daryl walk up to her. "Ezekiel's seeing Carol back, Jerry just went to grab him."

"Carol?" Beth smiled, "She lives here?"

Maggie and Daryl shared a look, "Kind of." Daryl shrugged.

"Come on, meet 'em half way." Daryl began to walk ahead of the sisters.

They walked the path toward the back where Ezekiel would be returning with Carol. Neither Daryl nor Maggie thought about Beth, how Carol didn't know. It wasn't a thought on the front of their minds. But as Ezekiel and Carol came into view followed by Jerry, the long gray hair on top of Carol's head pulled back, she looked up almost in slow motion, her eyes growing wide as she spotted the blonde standing beside Daryl. With a quivering lip she shook her head and started to walk toward her, Beth smiled and ran to meet her. They hugged for a long time, Carol squeezed her tight almost as if she was afraid that she would disappear in front of her. "How?" Carol pulled away, they were staring at one another with watered eyes, "How?"

"It's a long story." Beth smiled, holding Carol's hands.

"I've got all the time in the world." Carol pulled her in for a hug again.

They walked toward Ezekiel's auditorium, Beth caught Carol up on how everything took place. Carol was amazed and thankful. Maggie on the other hand walked behind with the King, explaining the threat that Daryl and Beth had run into and how Fiona was a spy in Alexandria. The King was very concerned, but assured her that no one in town was a stray. They prepared to heighten security and pass along word to Hilltop. "They're gonna attack, I just know it."

"And we will be ready." The King nodded, "All of us."

"I don't know what we are preparing for." Maggie watched as Daryl opened the door for them.

"Then we prepare for anything." The King nodded, "We are not weak Maggie."

"I know that." She stepped into the building, "It's just the unknown that gets me."

"The entire world is the unknown, the future is the unknown. If you fear that...you fear everything." The King sat down.

"It's not fear." Maggie sat down, shaking her head, "It's concern."

"Are they different?" The King asked, Maggie looked down. "Not always."

"So we heighten security. Send out scouting parties." Daryl patted his hands on the table, "Or we can hunt them down and hit 'em before they hit us."

"I don't want anyone out there. We'd be out of our element." Maggie turned to Daryl.

"Not me." Daryl looked around the table, "Not Carol. We hit 'em first, they won't expect it."

"You'd have to find them first." The King added, "That taste cannot be easy."

"I found them before." Carol nodded, "I can find them again."

"So we find them. We watch them. Don't attack." Maggie locked eyes with Daryl, "We're not ready."

"We've gotta get ready!" Daryl stood up, "They could attack tomorrow, we don know!"

"Daryl's right." Carol looked at Maggie.

Maggie took a deep breath, she lowered her head, "If you find them, you watch them. Don't make yourself known. Don't you dare get caught." She nodded, looking up now, "You report anything you hear."

"We will prepare. Send word to Hilltop." The King looked over to Jerry who was standing in the doorway. Jerry nodded and left the room.

"We can go now." Carol stood up, nodding over to Daryl.

"Eat first." The King stood up as well, "You can't go on an empty stomach."

After they had lunch Daryl started loading his bike with supplies, Carol was stuffing things in her bag while Beth approached. "I'm going with you." They both looked up at her.

"The hell you are." Daryl clipped a bag to his bike.

"Why not?!" She crossed her arms, "I can handle it."

"I'm not sayin..." Daryl shook his head, "No." Carol looked from one to the other. "We've got this. Maggie won't want you goin."

"I'm not asking anyone for permission." Beth got angry, "I don't need to."

"Yer not going." Daryl crossed his arms.

"Give me one reason I can't do this!" Beth spat.

"Cuz I ain't loosin you again!" Daryl shouted, surprising both Carol and Beth. He sighed, "I won't."

Carol pulled her bag onto her back and nodded, "I'll be back." She could tell they needed a moment, and even though she really wanted to listen, she knew she shouldn't pry. Carol walked away.

Beth sucked in air, she watched Daryl kick at the ground, "Daryl I ain't goin nowhere."

"I know that..." He looked at the ground.

"I don't need to go." Beth stepped toward him, "Besides...I'll just be in the way." Her mind changed on a dime after he said that, she felt his worry hit her when he yelled.

Daryl looked up, she was standing right in front of him now, "No you won't." He spoke low, "I can't stop ya."

"I'm not goin." Beth stepped in and wrapped her arms around his waist, Daryl hugged her back, her head resting into his chest he felt her blonde hair tickle his chin.

"I'm not arguin." He said.

"I know." She pulled away, "I'll ride back with Maggie. Help her get Alexandria ready." She smiled softly, "You gotta promise me somethin though."

Daryl looked into her blue eyes, "A'right."

"Don't get killed." She shook her head, "World ain't right without Daryl Dixon."

"World wasn't right without you." He mumbled, but she heard him. Daryl looked over to her and nodded, "I won't." Beth smiled, she knelt up to her tippy toes and kissed his cheek. Carol appeared again and Beth stepped away.

"Ready?" Carol watched Daryl get on the bike, he nodded, and get climbed on the back. Daryl started the engine and looked over to Beth, nodding before taking off.

Carol made kissing sounds in Daryl's ear, he looked back at her as they stopped for the gate to open and shook his head, "Shut up."