Chapter Text
Dawn came early the next day, or maybe that was just something that Rick told himself as he resisted the urge to curl back into Daryl and sleep some more. They were going to be heading out later and leaving the farm behind. This time, it hadn’t been bad here and there was a small part of him that wished that he could believe that they could fortify it because life would be so much easier without the need to clear and protect the Prison. Rick knew better than to listen to that part. They had a real chance at keeping their people safe where they were going, and he wouldn’t put any of their safety at risk for a nostalgic whim.
They knew the dangers that were out there this time, and even if they could keep the walker’s away there wasn’t a guarantee that they could keep people out. Walkers were dangerous, and annoying but people… They had an intelligence that walkers had long lost, and they would take their time planning before coming to ruin everything. A farm would fall faster than a walled prison would any day. So they would be leaving today, and Rick wouldn’t regret it. Daryl pressed a kiss to his head after a few more moments, his arms tightening around Rick as he signaled that he was awake as well.
“We best be getting up soon.” Darly murmured after a minute and Rick sighed before he nodded in agreement. Even his partner could resist the urge to just stay here and enjoy the comfort they had while they could it seemed.
“Probably should. Hershel and his people are most likely up and about already. And Beth will have too much fun coming in ta wake us up should we take too much longer.“ He replied lazily, enjoying the snicker that drew out of his husband.
“That girl’s enjoying being back. Don’t blame her one bit.” The other man hummed, before giving Rick another squeeze and starting to untangle himself from Rick, and the bedding they had slept in. Rick watched him, letting himself enjoy the sight of the other man’s muscles. Lazy mornings like this were going to be non-existent until they got the prison under control, secure and knew that the dangers that took it away from them before were dealt with. Taking pleasures in these moments were something that he had promised himself to do when he woke up alive again.
Eventually Daryl was up though, and he gave Rick a look that was half amusement and half taunting about the fact that he hadn’t moved yet. No words were said, but Rick understood a whole lot about what he was thinking just from his expression. Some things didn’t need ta be said between the two of them after all. He retaliated by doing some stretching of his own as he got up, but all the same he was up and out of their bed without much fuss after that. Stolen moment’s aside, they still had to finish packing up what they had kept out for the night and get onto the road with their group.
Once the pair were dressed, they worked together to fold their bedding so it could be put away. It was the last of their things out and about, minus the tent of course. Once it was taken care of, they could focus on helping to make sure the others were ready to head out and then get to the next part of all of this. After the blankets and pillows were folded and stacked Rick carried them to his cruiser without a word as Daryl got to work on taking down their shelter. Rick almost couldn’t wait to be inside the prison again.
It was actually kind of hilarious. All of his adult life pre-apocalypse had been centered around putting people in jail for doing bad things, while making sure ta do the right things himself and avoiding ending up there. And now he was actively planning on taking his group to a prison and making it their home. If someone would have told him back then that this would happen, he would have laughed it off, before quietly trying to get them checked out for any mental problems. Rick laughed to himself quietly at the thought before looking around after his load was secured in the back of the car.
Some of the others were up, doing the same thing that he and Daryl were and that was reassuring. At this rate they would be on the road soon, and the more ground they could cover before dark the better. He wanted to get there as quickly as possible so they could get it cleared and secure before they even had to worry about winter. While the Prison wasn’t too far away from here, there would be some detours that they would have to make because of the vehicles abandoned on the road along the way, which would make the trip longer. The last time around they hadn’t had a location in mind to go to when they had fled the farm. That had led to them wasting gas and losing valuable vehicles and months of time.
The starvation and insecurity of wandering aimlessly with a pregnant Lori had done nothing good for any of them physically or mentally. And with Lori already having shown that she wasn’t handling the changes they had made this time, putting her through that again would end her. She just… Wasn’t as strong as she had been last time, as much as Rick hated to compare the two versions of his ex-wife. But he couldn’t change that. He could only make sure that the events that had added to her stress the last time didn’t repeat, and hope that she was able to pull herself out of the funk she was in. Rick was pulled out of his thoughts as Daryl opened the trunk of the car he had been standing by to add their tent. The Hunter looked him over with a questioning look, probably wondering why he was still just standing there and Rick gave him a small smile.
“Let’s check on Hershel first. Looks like the others are packing up right now.” He suggested taking a few steps, so he was by his husband’s side. Daryl nodded, still not looking like he was convinced that Rick wasn’t hiding something and shut the trunk with a firm push.
Later that Day
As his family left the Greene Farm behind Rick leaned into Daryl’s back and sighed as he allowed himself this moment to relax. This was it, they had gained some of the family that hadn’t originally been with them, supplies and had gotten out of there without having to run for their lives or lose anyone. Shane… Shane had come out of the farm alive. He hadn't gone off the deep end, hadn’t needed to be put down because unlike last time he wasn’t half insane. He was still the man Rick had grown up with and he couldn’t be happier even if the other man did seem to want what they had when they were younger once again.
Even Lori seemed to have settled down before they had left. She had been subdued this morning as the last of the things that they were taking had been packed, quieter and more thoughtful instead of angry at the world and looking for a fight. In fact, she had seemed to have calmed down enough about their current situation that she hadn’t looked like she was planning to see Rick dead anymore, which was a relief even if he wasn’t quite ready to relax about the chance that she may still try. He had been fooled by people who had seemed to have turned a new leaf before, and if Lori was just biding her time it was best to be ready for it.
Even with those concerns in mind, he would take this version of his ex-wife as she had even cooperated when it came to the rules surrounding her traveling because of what she had tried to do with a nod. It made Rick hopeful that if she had gotten past everything surrounding their post-apocalyptic divorce, they could get past the things to come as well. Next, next came the prison and making it safe for them for the long run so Lori would have somewhere safe and secure when it came time for Morgan and Hershel to help her deliver. If they had that, and kept Lori fed and healthy she would have a chance to help raise their daughter, and a big part of him wanted that for her. Even if she sometimes wasn’t the best person, she had always loved Carl and she had never really had the chance to love Judith. There had been too much struggle during her pregnancy because of how things had gone down with Shane and the lack of food and shelter for her to really and Rick wanted this second chance to go differently.
Which brought Rick back to the things he had thought about this morning after he woke up. They needed to focus on getting to the Prison as soon as possible so they could start on clearing it and then work on repairing the weak spots that had failed them before taking care of the threats that had ended it the first time. Threats like the Governor and Woodbury in the immediate future though eventually they would have to handle the Claimers, Terminus and the rest of the groups of survivors that they had run into over the years who may eventually pose a danger.
Rick, and those that remembered living this once all had to consider that any of the people that had attacked them before, and of the ones who they had killed to protect their own may have some sort of foresight into all of this like they had as well. And they had to be prepared in case any of them decided that they wanted revenge in this strange redo. Maybe once all of that was taken care of, they could make contact with the groups of survivors who were good and just trying to survive. One day, it might even be possible to set up some sort of fair-trade system with them and really start on bringing civilization back from the brink of extinction.
Honestly, he wasn’t looking forward to what came after settling at the prison much though, considering just how close the Governor alone had come to ending them all because they had something that he wanted. Part of him just wanted to slip into that town and take the other man out if he was there, leaving no chance that he would ever become a danger even if he didn’t remember because the man was dangerous either way. But in remembering and going straight to the prison they were throwing the timeline that they knew off, and he was well aware of it.
Because he didn’t know if The Governor had established himself as the head of Woodbury or the state of that place yet, preemptive attacks wouldn’t be well received by any of those who didn’t remember. It would scare them. And all of that made preemptively ending his life sort of complicated. If the man hadn’t arrived yet, then they had no idea where he might be, and if he had… the town wasn’t prepared to stand on their own legs and survive without him sadly enough. As crazy as the man had been, he had protected them well enough that they had been surviving. Not everyone there was bad, and he would hate to destabilize the whole place and see them die when they had some sort of safety going for them now. He wasn’t out to see more of humanity end, just the ones that would be a danger to his people really.
So, they would handle this one thing at a time then. First, they had to get eyes on the prison and see if anything had changed there though. If the Governor remembered, well there was every chance in the world that he might have already made his claim on the place and if that was true, they had to be prepared to move on if they couldn’t take it back safely. The places that Rick and the other’s that remembered knew of all had their issues and all would be in earlier stages of development now, so deciding on a backup location to head to would be… troublesome. Some might be worth trying to help, to get on the right track so that they would be safe for his people but other places like Terminus were to be avoided at all costs, at least until they had to take care of them too. They weren’t worth what trouble they had coming, as cold and calculating that may be, and he had no idea of just how he would be able to change the course that they were on without a fight that would put his people at risk. Ending them when they were ready to would be the kindest thing that they could do because you couldn’t really come back from being a cannibal.
Rick meant to see his people survive and thrive this time around. He didn’t have it in him to risk any of them on the off chance that they could change what would happen to others who weren’t family. If he could save any of them without risking his people, he would try of course because that’s just who he was. But he had become a bit of an ornery recluse in those later years, disillusioned by how quickly even the safest place could turn ta hell. He was quickly finding out that it was hard to turn that part of him off, even if it was what led Carl ta run off the way that he had. His arms tightened a bit around his husband’s waist when he remembered that, and Daryl let go of one of the handlebars briefly to lay his hand on his.
The quick touch was a reminder that all of this wasn’t on his head alone, that there would be other’s helping him make the hard decisions and protecting their people along the way. And it was a reminder that he desperately needed to stop his spiraling thoughts. This re-do had given him his people back, and they had always been stronger together, but it was too damn easy to let himself get overwhelmed with what ifs when all he had to do right now was think. Rick pressed a kiss that he knew Daryl would only register as pressure, into his husband’s back as thanks and they drove on. It would take a couple of days to get close to the prison still, and then they would have to organize a scouting party before actually laying eyes on it.
That discussion about the scouting party would be the next hurdle they had to face actually, because as much as Rick wanted to take those that he knew would be strong in case of any resistance he also wanted ta make sure those that would be left with the vehicles would be protected. And that was going ta ruffle a few feather’s cause at least one of the people that he had in mind to leave behind with the group wouldn’t want ta chance sending Rick out to scout. Shane had been good about all of this so far, understanding that he had started something with Daryl and the distance between them that meant since he was making sure Lori was supported, but they hadn’t separated as a group yet since Rick had returned.
Rick had no idea if Shane would put up a fight about being left behind as protection for the others while Rick went off with Daryl and a couple of others looking ta see if there was trouble to be had. The last time his partner had been separated from him; it was because Rick had found trouble and had been shot for his efforts. And then the world had gone ta crap and Shane had ta make the call ta leave a still injured Rick to his fate if he wanted to get Lori and Carl to safety. The other man might not like Rick wandering off on his own when he still was in the late stages of recovering but Shane was one of the better shooter’s they had, and he had good instincts. If trouble came calling on those that stayed with the vehicles, he was the best ta have around them plain and simple. He would need to understand that it was necessary and not an exclusion though, which is where Rick's concern lay.
But that was a problem for a couple days in the future. Right now, it was best to concentrate on getting close ta the prison and keeping an eye out for anything that may happen along the way. At least that’s what he told himself to excuse the fact that he didn’t want to think any more about it. Sometimes it felt like he was carefully balancing all of the what if’s that this second chance brought on, and if he made one wrong move it would all come tumbling down onto his head. Except if that happened it would be worse than before in some ways. He didn’t doubt that those who remembered would stick on his side, but he didn’t want any in-fighting and if something happened to separate them all then there would be part of his family that didn’t remember who wouldn’t be fit to stand on their own yet. And losing people after getting them passed where they had been lost before would kill something inside of him, he knew that much.
The day wore on, and the miles between the prison and the traveling group slowly got shorter as the trees passed by in a blur. The only break from the rumble and vibration of the bike that Rick was riding on the back of came in the form of rest stops, where people went in groups to stretch their legs and relieve themselves. There was a tension in the air then, as those that didn’t remember worried that they had left relative safety for the unknown and those that did remember worried about the same what if’s that Rick was. No one was foolish enough to think that this would be easy. Nothing good ever was in their experience. Then finally, as the day started to get darker and draw into night it was time to make camp.
They pulled off the road they had been traveling on, knowing that camping roadside was just asking for trouble to come knocking in the form of unknown humans at the very least. A few more turns later found them in a small unpaved parking area. A rest stop of sorts, because there wasn’t even a bathroom here. Everyone was nervous as they settled in to eat a small meal before getting started on setting up a perimeter and figuring out sleeping arrangements for the evening. It was hard not to be when you were facing the unknown. Talk was nearly non-existent, like the very thought of making more noise was an unpleasant one.
As such, dinner was also a quiet affair, made so by both the anticipation and unease amongst the adults and the fact that they were exposed here for the first time in a while. It had already become second nature not to make too much noise, not to draw attention to themselves when they were vulnerable. It was a good thing, but it stung to have to know that at all still, even after all of the years that Rick had lived in this mess. Since they were not staying here long, they didn’t even light a campfire to cook by and instead ate some of the goods that had been preserved on the farm. It was a good meal, but a reminder of the safety that they had left behind.
Everyone could agree that pitching a tent for a single night seemed wasteful, they would expend more energy than needed to and if anything went wrong, they would be scrambling to get out of them and have to leave whatever they had unpacked to sleep with behind if they had ta leave quickly. It wasn’t an option anyone was willing to take for the sake of a more comfortable night's sleep. So that meant figuring out how to sleep the group comfortably in the almost overly packed vehicles and the RV.
Thankfully the need for lookouts meant that the fact Rick and Daryl’s mode of transportation being unfit for such arrangements wasn’t such a bad thing. They could take their first watch on top of the R.V. and when they were relieved by the next person, they could hunker down in some sleeping bags up there to get their sleep in. Then in the morning they would just be packing their bedding back away and could head out on the road again. Those in the cars may be cramped as they slept but it would be warm at least. And Lori would be staying in the RV with the children, Dale and those who had ridden with them, so they were accommodated for as well.
After the food was gone, people started making their way to where they would be sleeping for the night without much fuss. Even though the day had been filled with driving mostly, they were all tired. It hadn’t taken long to decide that Morgan and Shane would be taking over watch when the shift change happened because as much as Rick trusted those who remembered to be able to handle watches, his partner had pretty much put his foot down about it and Morgan didn’t exactly trust Shane’s intentions. If Rick was going to be sleeping up there once he was relieved from his shift, then Morgan would be nearby to make sure the other man behaved, plain and simple. It amused Rick slightly, because it wasn’t like he would be up there alone with Shane since Daryl would be on watch with him, thus sleeping up there too. Still, Morgan’s unease solved the dilemma of convincing someone else to take watch with the ever-stubborn Shane so Rick wasn’t complaining.
Come morning the plan was for Shane to be able to rest after his watch in the RV, while Carol would be driving the car that Morgan normally did as he did the same. That way by the next rest stop they would be rested enough ta go on like normal. Not one of the four would be getting a full night’s sleep, but it would be fine. Most of them had dealt with less and still soldered on before.
This time tomorrow, hopefully they will have found another area like this to camp in, and then the day after? The day after they would be close enough to separate and scout if all went well on the road, and talks would have to be had about who was coming and who was staying. Hopefully soon after that they would find a prison ripe to clean out an inhabit, and then they could get started on making a home that they could survive long term in.
Elsewhere
Brian Blake, the man once known as the Govenor and by his brother's name, watched his brother Phillip and his niece Penny closely as if they would disappear. As he did, he wondered why his heaven had to be living in the same hell that had gotten both of them killed before. He had woken up what felt like moments after his death, only to find the family that he had driven himself insane over still alive, along with the small group they had before Woodbury and Gavin. And he still hadn’t come to terms with that. Or how far he had gone into the darkness of his insanity after they were gone. His darkness had kept ruining everything around him before. The town they had been protecting… the family who had taken care of him and accepted him before… and the other survivors who had just been minding their own business before he had decided that they were a threat and had wanted what they had.
He didn’t know what to do now. If he trusted that this wasn’t some twisted punishment from higher beings, a curse to make him relive his losses over and over because of the horrible human being that he had become, then this was real. He was back before he had become a twisted psycho and ruined it all, and he had the chance to do things better. He could keep Phillip sane and Penny alive, save the two women and child who he had run into before… and what? What would he do about Rick Grimes and his people this time? Would he still eliminate them because he had been right, and they were a threat? Would he leave them alone to settle the prison?
Something in Brian’s mind rejected the thought of having them so close. That darkness that he knew could swallow him whole pushed back and demanded that he make sure that they couldn’t come close to him again by any means necessary. But he pushed back at that part with everything in him. Phillips and Penny didn’t deserve to see that darkness. Not when he was… aware that Phillip had his own darkness that Brian knew that he would have to keep an eye on as well. They didn’t need to know the type of man that Brian could be if he let himself fall into his younger brother’s most twisted mindset.
If he was lucky… Then he was the only one who remembered a life before. Grimes and his people… they hadn’t attacked first. They had only been trying to do the same thing as everyone in Woodbury was after he had taken over from the asshole that had been running it, survive. If they kept to themselves again…. Brian could possibly stand having them live at the prison. As long as he still had Phillip and Penny and his people, he could hold that darkness back hopefully. But if any of them remembered? If any of them were a threat to what Brian had gotten back in this weird twist of time? Then they would know the Governor again.
Because at the end of this all? It was all about survival after all. And Brian intended on surviving with everything that he loved intact. If anyone threatened that goal… Well, he already knew what he was capable of doing, what he could convince others to do. And he wasn’t afraid of becoming that person again to protect what was his. Phillip looked up as he made that decision.
“You doing okay?” his brother asked. “You’ve been quiet, and that makes me think you’ve been plotting.” Brian couldn’t help but laugh at the tease. Of course, Phillip wouldn’t have missed that he was lost in his thoughts. His brother often found himself in the same situation. And before Brian hadn’t noticed it until it was too late, and Phillip had started doing horrible things.
“Just…. thinking about where to go next. We haven’t been having too much luck staying anywhere long term lately. People are getting tired of running.” He replied, unwilling to tell his brother anything about this potential redo and what either of them had done in the past.
Ignoring Grimes and the other’s and their little fortress at the prison would be easier if they had a place to call their own right now. One where they could keep Penny safe and set down roots of some sort in. But Woodbury had gotten them all killed before, and Brian didn’t want to repeat that. With the way that Gavin was… If Brian could find somewhere close that was safe, then he could keep a watch on the town. And when Gavin made his mistake, and was weak he could take him down quietly and then they could come in with their people without worrying about history repeating in the known losses.
And if Gavin didn’t make the same mistakes as he did before…. He wasn’t likely to take well to another group setting up so close. Grimes and his people may have suffered losses when Brian had gone after them, but Gavin wasn’t half the man that Brian had been. Grimes should be able to handle him, and that would leave an opening for Brian and his people to come into town and get it into shape. Then, if Grimes didn’t remember him, eventually they might be able to coexist. As Brian considered his options he pushed the small family out of his mind. That woman… she was Phillip’s downfall. Eventually Brian would find his brother a new partner and then his brother wouldn’t… slip. Phillip sighed at his words.
“We’re doing our best out here Brian.” He grumbled, hugging his daughter to himself. Brian resisted the urge to grimace and nodded, even though he didn’t feel like they were. Doing their best would most likely involve things that Brian would like to avoid, if possible, on this second chance. For now... He would try to be the man that he had been before the darkness had taken him. He wanted to be better this time.