So here's the low down, Your name is Lacey and you're a simple lady that likes her motorcycles, trucks, and killing animals, and you do kinda fancy that redneck Daryl Dixon. Enjoy the story!
Chapter one: Motorcycles and flickering flames
There wasn't time to think, only time to run. It first started with a few walkers gathering around the font gate and soon escalated to hundreds. It was the largest hoard the group had ever seen. The fences caved within minutes and the group was already shoving necessities into the bed of the s10 and into the back of the SUV. Rick was calm though, barking out orders so the others didn't need to think at all, just obey. Lacey and Daryl mounted their bikes, while the others got into the vehicles and took off away from the prison. The moans from the walkers were unnerving, sounding like they were approaching from all sides. Inside the SUV the air was thick with tension. No one spoke, not even Carl, he was too busy softly crying into his mothers shoulder. Lori was looking stiffly out the window, avoiding Rick.
"What's our plan?" Carol said softly to Rick, who was in the drivers seat positioned in front of her. His knuckles were white from grasping the wheel.
"Find a place to collect I guess," he shrugged, "try and think things through when we find a place to stay for the night," Carol nodded, glancing over at Lori who was still looking out the window with a blank stare. Hershel didn't speak up either; he trusted Rick's instincts and knew that he would keep the group safe at all costs. He knew Rick was a good man; he was just confused about what's been going on with Lori. The silence settled over them once again, no one dared speak, their thoughts were elsewhere. Behind the SUV Daryl and Lacey were calmly riding their bikes. Both wanting to speak to the other but knew they wouldn't be able to speak until they stopped. Lacey looked over at Daryl many times, always casting worried glances. He wished he could reassure her that everything would be okay, that they would find a place to stay and think about what to do next. Behind the two bikes was the s10, being driven by T-Dog.
"What's going to happen to us?" Maggie said, still shaking from the hoard at the prison, Glen wrapped a calm arm around her.
"I don't know yet," he sighed, kissing her lightly on the forehead.
"I bet things are gonna be just fine," T-Dog huffed, "we've been through worse shit right?" he looked over at Glen, he nodded in agreement before resting his chin on Maggie's head as she cuddled up into his chest. Hours passed and the sun was slowly setting on the horizon. The group continued forward until they came across a deserted campground. Half of the group had been sleeping, when the vehicles pulled into the campground and stopped everyone jerked awake.
"Are we staying here tonight?" Glenn asked T-Dog.
"I guess so," he grumbled, "looks safe enough I guess. They got out of the truck and started unpacking the luggage and tents, Daryl and Lacey dismounted their bikes stiffly in front of the truck.
"Fuck, my ass hurts," Daryl moaned as he stretched and cracked his back.
"I know right," Lacey agreed, doing a few stretches as well, "haven't ridden that long since last year," Daryl nodded and leaned up against the hood of the s-10
"I don't like being out in the open like this," Daryl said with a serious expression, glaring over at Rick, who was helping the others get the campsite set up for the night.
"I know, I'd rather be indoors but it's the best we can do I guess," Lacey leaned against the hood of the s-10 next to Daryl. She looked over at him with a worried expression coming across her face.
"Hey now," Daryl grunted, in a slight attempt to be caring, "We're gonna be just fine, aint nothing gonna happen," he placed his hand on her shoulder as she sighed, turning to him and nodding in agreement slightly. Nothing was guaranteed, but she knew they just needed to try their best to protect themselves.
"Hey!" Glenn called over to Lacey and Daryl, "Wanna set up these tents? You two are the fastest at it," Daryl nodded as the two of them walked over. It was true; they were the best at all this outdoor living stuff. Both had went camping many times in their youth and both loved to do it, until the end of the world at least.
"I hate putting up this fucking tent," Lacey moaned as she took out all the polls in the bag, "Too damn confusing when all you wanna do is sleep," Daryl nodded curtly as they continued to set up the large tent. When they were finished they could smell Carols amazing cooking and were lead by the smell to the small fire. Carol and Beth were working on the food while Carl, Lori, Hershel, and Maggie sat curled up in blankets by the fire. Lacey could see Rick out of the corner of her eye finishing putting up one of the smaller tents before walking over to the fire.
"Should probably put up my tent," Daryl said to Lacey when they were closer to the fire, "I'm probably gonna take next watch, we can share the tent like we did before," Lacey nodded, "I know it'll be a lil' different without Merle but I think you'd still feel safer," the three of them had shared a tent before, when they first found her running for her life from a herd of walkers. They took her in, kept her safe from the walkers. She had already known how to fight so she liked to think that they saw her as an asset rather than a liability. When they first joined the larger group she had shared a tent with Andrea, but now that she was gone she often slept in a tent alone, which always made her nervous.
"Alright, thanks," she smiled softly, "you know which bag is mine," he nodded and headed over towards the bed of the truck while Lacey walked over to the group of people. She sat down right next to Maggie and Hershel.
"How was the bike ride?" Maggie asked with a laugh, knowing it probably wasn't very pleasant at all.
"Well my ass hurts like a mother fucker, and my back hurts like hell," Lacey, Maggie, and Hershel laughed, Lori gave her a stern look. Lacey brushed Loris look off and turned her attention to Carol who was handing out the plates of food. She smiled sweetly down at Lacey and handed two plates over to her.
"The second one is for Daryl, I know he must be starving," Lacey nodded and took the two plates, eating from one and setting the second one on the ground beside her.
Daryl had finished setting up their tent and quickly organizing their things, he sighed slightly as he zipped it up. He had positioned their tent by their bikes, which were far away from the other tents. He knew he should have set it up closer but he felt more comfortable with the tent near the bikes just in case. He looked over at the fire and saw Lacey smiling and laughing with Maggie, Hershel was obviously telling them one of his funny stories that Lacey loved to hear. Daryl looked at Lacey intently, taking her all in. her long curly brown hair that she had taken down from her usual ponytail, he liked it when she let her hair down. He admired the way her hands moved as she spoke and the way she smiled so genuinely. He caught himself though, knowing he probably looked like a dumbass just standing there looking at her. He kicked himself in the ass and headed over to the fire, his boots kicking up chunks of dirt. He sat down slowly next to Lacey while he picked up the plate of food sitting next to her. She smiled at him before returning to the conversation with Maggie and Hershel. He ate quietly while looking at the flames of the fire; his gazing was interrupted by Rick clearing his throat.
"So we stay here a few nights as we think of what to do next, Daryl and Glenn get first watch, then its T-Dog and myself. Rest peacefully tonight," he said before tipping his head and sitting down again. There were a few murmurs around the group but Daryl ignored them as he finished up his dinner and headed out for his first watch. Dinner was short, everyone wanting to get to bed. Lacey said her goodnights before heading over to her and Daryl's tent. She took her shoes off and slowly unzipped the door, looking around the tent for her things. She saw her bag placed on the left next to Daryl's bag. She changed into a t-shirt and a pair of shorts before directing her attention to the bed. Her Hello Kitty stuffed animal was placed on top, she smiled to herself and took the stuffed animal into her arms and snuggled under the warm blankets. She was able to drift off to sleep after about an hour of daydreaming.
When Daryl finished his watch he was antsy to get to the tent, he walked briskly over to the tent and took his shoes off and placed them next to Lacey's. He slowly unzipped the tent and looked in, seeing Lacey sleeping with her arms around her stuffed cat. He looked at her soft face and couldn't help but smile. He crept inside and changed quickly, when he was done he carefully lowered himself into the bed and faced toward Lacey's sleeping form, it felt a little weird without Merle there but there was more room at least. He sighed and laid on his back, looking at the ceiling of the tent. He was glad she was safe, lying there next to him. He knew things could have went bad today and he could have lost her. Daryl didn't like the idea of caring about someone that wasn't of his own blood, Lacey made him confused. He knew she was very similar to him, more similar to him than the rest of the group. Caring about someone was hard, always worrying about them, thinking about them. It made thinking more complicated than it needed to be, it could interfere with his survival. But he knew that if she didn't survive through all of this he wouldn't know what to do with himself. With her he felt like he had a purpose.
"Daryl?" Lacey whispered as she rolled to face him, he sighed, hoping that he hadn't woken her up.
"Yeah?" he responded, looking over to see her worried expression, "what's that look for Blondie?"
"I'm just scared I guess," her voice shook a little as she spoke, he sighed and placed his hand on her shoulder and looked into her eyes, her moist green and brown eyes.
"Ain't nothing gonna happen to you, I'm right here," he said sternly to her, she nodded, "I'm here to protect ya, remember that," her lip quivered and he knew she wanted to cry. He hated it when she cried, he could tell though that she was trying very hard to hold it all back from him.
"I know," she looked down and away from him, "I'm sorry for being weak."
"Ya aint weak," he took hold of her chin gently and turned her face to face him, "I'm scared shitless, okay?" he ran his hand over her jawbone and caressed her cheek with his thumb, "I thought I was gonna loose you today and that scared the hell outta me."
"I thought I was gonna loose you too," a tear rolled down her cheek, he took his hand away from her face.
"You need to sleep, you look exhausted," he told her, she nodded, rubbing away her tear with her hand, "And Blondie, you're fucking strong. Don't forget it, just like a Dixon," she smiled softly at him with her bloodshot eyes before lying back down. Daryl rolled over to face her and gave a half smile and held his hand out hesitantly, not really knowing if it would help. He didn't know about this comforting shit, but whenever he would sleep with his mom when his dad didn't come home she would hold his hand as they slept. Lacey grabbed the hand slowly, when he wrapped his hand around hers and she smiled into her pillow. She couldn't remember the last time someone held her hand, she missed it. That night they fell asleep, close together with their hands connected.
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