When the Past Catches Up
When The Past Catches Up
Summary: Ever wonder why Daryl is so violent and brash? Well, back before he joined the group, it was him, his brother, and Alicia Cambridge. The three were inseparable. But when the plague broke out, they had to separate after a painful accident. Daryl and Merle were broken... but they moved on. What happens when the past catches up to them?
WARNING: I haven't reviewed The Walking Dead in a while, so characters may be OOC. Especially Merle. I kinda want him to play the kind older brother...
Chapter 1: Remembering The Past...
'Daryl, Merle and Alicia were at a shooting range, practicing with their rifles. They all hit directly in the middle, and once finished, congratulated each other. They walked toward he door, but heard what sounded like growling...
A person jumped out at them, trying to bite Merle. He cursed, and grabbed his rifle. Shooting it in the head, he backed up nervously. "What the hell was that?" Alicia voiced each of their thoughts.
"I don't know..." Daryl replied hesitantly. They all held up the guns, prepared to shoot anything that threatened them.
Walking outside, they noticed the place was empty, except for a few of the wandering... whatever they were. They took them down, and headed to the Dixon house. Stocking up on food, pills, and supplies they knew they'd need, they grabbed as many weapons as they could.
Alicia grabbed two pistols, putting them on her belt. She also attached a knife. Then, for a main weapon, she grabbed her father's prized rifle.
Daryl grabbed a buck knife, a rifle, and his crossbow.
Merle also grabbed a buck knife and rifle, and also hid a pistol tucked into his shirt. They were set. They headed out, taking down all of the 'walkers', as they called them.'
Daryl reminisced, remembering the good times. He sat on a stump, Andrea and Amy chatting away across from him. He promptly tuned them out. Merle was taking his turn out hunting for the group, and when he returned, Glenn, Jacqui, T-dog, Andrea, Morales and he were heading into the city.
Currently, Shane and Lori were taking a 'walk', Dale was scouting out as usual, Glenn was with Dale, the women were doing laundry, the couples were all together, and the children were playing.
He looked around the makeshift camp, before getting sucked into more memories of the past trio.
Alicia was taking a nap, unaware of the grayish-brown eyes watching her sleep. Daryl sighed softly. How could he convey to Alicia that he cared for her.. A lot? Merle snuck up behind him, placing his hand on his brother's shoulder. Daryl jumped, startled. Merle chuckled, patting the boy's shoulder. "You're in love with her, huh?"
Daryl sneered. "What about you?" He retorted, a small reddish tint adorning his dirty face. Merle chuckled again.
"Sure, I love 'er, but not like you do, little bro." Daryl looked away.
"You should tell 'er," His brother's voice interrupted the tense silence. Daryl's head spun around, meeting his brother's softened eyes. He stayed quiet for a few moments.
"I would, but... How do I tell her?" Merle again chuckled.
"Bro, you just gotta be yourself. I'm sure she likes ya, too." He stated, before settling down and falling asleep himself.
'Just be myself...' Daryl thought. He smirked a little, before grabbing his crossbow and starting his watch duty.
All the while he wondered, 'But just what is bein' myself?'
The redneck cringed, remembering what happened in the days following.
Amy and Andrea looked over from their conversation, as Daryl cringed, his eyes glazed over in thought. Amy turned to her sister. "What's up with him?" Andrea shrugged, and the resumed their conversation.
Merle soon returned from his hunting, and found his brother deep in thought. He walked over, placing his hand on Daryl's shoulder. He sat down next to him.
"Thinking about her?" Daryl looked up, and nodded. Andrea and Amy looked over to watch. "You know, it ain't yur fault, bro," Daryl squeezed his eyes shut and shook his head.
"But it was," He replied in a whisper.
Andrea looked at Amy, confused. Her younger sister shrugged, and motioned back to the two rednecks.
"You couldn't have known it was there," Merle told his brother. Daryl was beginning to get frustrated. He hated remembering that terrible day.
"But I couldn't save her!" He roared, catching most everyone's attention. Embarrassed, he lowered his voice. "I could'a saved her, though, and you know it, Merle. I-I killed her." Merle frowned.
"No, you didn't! The walker did, Daryl. It wasn't your fault at all."
Everyone was now watching the brothers interact with interest. Most were wondering who could've made the cold-hearted brothers act so kind. They also wondered what happened to this mystery girl. Daryl as well as Merle were sucked into the memory of Alicia.
Merle, Daryl and Alicia were hanging out, eating dinner around their small bonfire. Alicia was cracking jokes left and right, making the brothers laugh heartily. 'Tonight', Daryl thought. 'I'll tell her.'
Their fun time was interrupted by snarling and growling. Cautiously, they all grabbed their weapons. They observed the small clearing, both brothers protectively guarding Alicia. She yielded her rifle, carefully watching the surrounding tree line.
A rustle to their right grabbed their attention. She pointed her gun, and shot. A rabbit fell out of the bush. Merle picked it up, and tossed it near the fire pit. Then he went back into defensive mode.
The brothers both carefully stepped forward and searched the dark tree line on either side. When neither were looking, a walker skulked up behind Alicia and bit her arm. She screamed loudly, grabbing Daryl and Merle's attention. Daryl's eyes widened and his heart sank at the sight of Alicia's arm, with a chunk ripped out.
He now knew that he would not be able to convey his feelings. Alicia fell to the floor, eyes wide and trembling in fear and pain. Merle pulled out his buck knife and stabbed the walker in the head dozens of times. After the thing was dead, each brother, in a panic, kneeled down over Alicia's keeling form.
"A-Alicia..." Daryl stuttered, wanting to just hug her to his chest and cry. He resisted the urge and fought the tears that stung his eyes. She smiled up at him.
"I-I don't want you to see me like this," She said. "I don't want you to... ugh... see me change into a walker..."
She said, standing. She started to walk toward the tree line. "Merle, Daryl... Live a good life and move on, please..." And she smiled and stumbled into the dark forest, leaving the brothers alone to face the fact that not only was their best friend going to turn into a walker, but she left them too...
'At least,' Daryl thought, 'I didn't have to kill her...'
"It was too painful to watch her go," Daryl stated. Merle nodded.
"I know, bro, I know."
Everyone was watching the brothers reminisce about their past. They wondered who this girl was, but decided not to push it. Daryl suddenly stood up, pulling Merle up with him. "Merle, time for you to go," The younger brother said, ushering his brother toward the rest of the group.
Merle eyed his brother sadly, knowing that in a couple of days, it would be the anniversary of the night that Alicia was bitten.
"See ya, bro," And with that, the group left.