So this was previously my Oneshot but I have officially decided to make a series! For some reason I think this is a great idea so Im going with it! Again, I warn that this is going to be not Mary-Sue ish so if you dont like it, dont read! Will follow the TV show and Ill throw some flashbacks in there as we go along. Lots if reviews, please! Let me know you guys are interested!
It was barely sunrise when Daryl and Gemma awoke from a less than comfortable sleep in the woods the previous night. But that was life on the hunt. They were silent as they shared a small breakfast and readied themselves to continue on the trail of large buck they had spent most of the previous day tracking.
Gemma was light on her feet as she followed her husband through the trees, leaving their temporary camp behind as if no one had been there. Her rife slug across her back, she slowed up and allowed him to take the lead forward. Daryl carefully scanned the forest floor for clues of wildlife. His eyes never blinking as they took in the area and ears ever alert for signs of more than the single set of soft footsteps behind him.
Finally, a deer track.
Daryl whistled once and Gemma quicken her pace toward him, tightening her slipping flannel shirt that was tied around her waist. When she caught up, Daryl pointed out the trail. She nodded, lightly blowing her bangs from her face.
Gemma looked above her at the trees, trying to spot one that went high enough. When she found one, she began to climb. Daryl watched her carefully. She climbed for a while, trying to reach a good vantage point where she could stand steadily and see out. She stood on a branch firmly at the top of the tree and brought her rifle around. Using the scope to see through the trees and out into the clearings ahead. She adjusted her scope and stood nearly unmoving against the tree, scanning. Her long, now greasy and sweaty hair was tied messily behind her for she had no time to bother with it. Her lightly tanned skin glinted with sweat and dirt from the patches of sunlight coming through the trees. Her dark green tank top blended in with the leaves around her. Tucked into the brush, she was almost invisible. The only thing that really stood out was the sleeve of tattoos on her left arm going from neck to finger tip. A collection she had accumulated over 10 years.
Daryl stood on the ground, crossbow at the ready, watching his wife as she climbed down from her tree-top hiding place. Once grounded, she spoke finally.
"Signs of life. 'Bout three miles out."
Daryl nodded and they continued forward. Gemma often took to the trees. She loved being able to see everything and was easily able to blend in with her surroundings.
They followed the trail through the forest and into a clearing Gemma had scanned through earlier. Sure enough they could see where the buck had slept for the night. They weren't far behind.
A few more hours passed as the sun rose higher. It was nearly mid day. Gemma was once again perched in a tree, using her hands to guide Daryl towards his prey. She briefly adjusted her scope as Daryl took point behind a log. He was finally closing in on his prize. Daryl put his hand up as he caught the buck in his sights. The next noise was that of as arrow piercing through the trees and hitting flesh. Gemma smiled. They had this down so perfect.
Daryl headed straight down to claim his buck before something worse did. Gemma took a minute to lower her rifle and wipe the sweat from her forehead. What she heard next was yelling, Daryl for sure and others. She quickly hopped down from her tree and went to go investigate.
Breaking through the trees she found Dale, Glenn, Jim, Daryl, Shane, Lori, Andrea, Amy, the kids and a man she did not recognize crowded around their deer and a dead walker.
"... Mother-less, poxy, bastard!" Were the woods that came from Daryl's mouth as he kicked the walker.
"Ah no! You gotta be shitting me! We tracked that damn thing for miles!" Gemma groaned with anger. She worked so hard to find that stupid animal.
"Goddamn flesh eater got it first, I knew it!" Daryl fumed, "Think we can cut around this chewed up bit right there?"
Daryl looked up at Shane.
"I wouldn't risk that." Was Shane's response.
"Thats a damn shame," Said Daryl, "I was gonna cook us up some venison. Whelp, we got squirrels. 'Bout a dozen or so. That'll have to do."
They were about to head back to camp when the walker's decapitated head started to bite at us.
"Oh, gross." Groaned Amy.
Gemma efficiently smashed its head with her rifle.
"Gotta go for the brain. Don't you people know nothin'? " said Daryl.
They headed back into camp, Daryl carrying his squirrels and Gemma in tow.
"Merle! Get your ass out here!" Daryl called, "Got some squirrels! Lets stew 'em up."
"Hey Daryl slow up a bit I wanna talk to you." Shane called after him.
"'Bout what?" Daryl turned to him, Gemma coming to a stop in front of him.
"Its about Merle." Said Shane, "There was a bit of a problem up in Atlanta."
Daryl looked to the ground for a minute. "Is he dead?"
"We don't know for sure."
"Either he is or he ain't!" Daryl was getting pissed. These men were obviously dancing around something horrible.
"Look theres no easy way to say this so Ill just say it." Said the man Gemma and Daryl had not met.
"Yeah? Who are you?" Said Daryl.
"Im Rick Grimes."
"'Rick Grimes'" Daryl mocked, "You got something you wanna say to me?"
"Your brother was a danger to us all. So I handcuffed him on a roof hooked to a piece of metal. He's still there."
Gemma stood back now, watching what would happen next. She could tell her husband was about to lose it. He began to pace and breath heavy. Be fore she could react Daryl was already yelling.
"Let me wrap my head around this. Your telling me you handcuffed my brother to a roof and you LEFT HIM THERE?!" Daryl was enraged now.
"Yeah." was Rick's only answer.
And before any of them could blink, Daryl hurled his squirrels at Rick's face and leapt at him. Rick dodged him and Daryl promptly took out his knife. Gemma had her hand on her pistol as she watched this unfold. Her rifle was now sitting on a table a few feet from her.
"Watch the knife!" Someone called out.
Shane was on Daryl instantly. He wrestled the knife from Daryl before putting him in a choke hold. Thats when Gemma couldn't stand it anymore.
"Choke holdings illegal!" Said Daryl.
"File a complaint" replied Shane.
Gemma walked up to Shane and point her pistol directly at his skull. "Best let him go." She said darkly. "I wont hesitate."
Rick them came over with his hands up. "You must be Gemma Dixon then, I take it."
"Thats right." Gemma replied, not moving or taking her sights off Shane.
"Look," said Rick "We just want to have a nice conversation about this. Think we can all handle that?" He looked at Daryl. "Think we can handle that?"
Shane released Daryl and Gemma holstered her gun.
"What I did was not on a whim." Said Rick " Your brother was gonna get us all killed."
"Its part my fault." T-Dog spoke up, "I had the key, but I dropped it."
"You couldn't pick it up?" Gemma snapped, now by Daryl's side again.
"I dropped it down the drain. But on the way out I was able to chain up the door so the geeks couldn't get at him"
"Thats gotta count for something." Said Rick.
"If thats supposed to make me feel better it don't! Now at least tell me where he's at. So's I can go get 'em." Said Daryl.
"He'll show you, ain't that right, Rick?" Came Lori's voice from by the RV.
"Thats right." Said Rick, his wife giving him a look and going into the RV, "Im going back."
With that decided, Gemma and Daryl returned to their tent. Upon entering, Gemma quickly kicked off her boots and lay back against her sleeping bag for a moment. Daryl kicked off his own shoes and slumped down beside her.
"Baby," Gemma reached over and gently took his hand, "He's gonna be fine. He's Merle."
Daryl sighed, "Yeah, I know. I just cant believe these stupid assholes for leaving him."
"They don't know him like we do, babe, thats all." As much as Gemma loved her brother-in-law, even she could certainly understand that he is a hard man to deal with. Especially if you don't know him.
Daryl sighed once more and brought her hand up to his lips. "You ready to do this, babe?"
Gemma nodded. "Always."
Gemma changed quickly and they walked right on Shane calling Merle a douchebag.
"Hey! Choose your words more carefully." Said Daryl.
"Naw, douchebags what I meant." Shane retorted.
"So, you, Gemma and Daryl, thats your big plan?" Lori retorted to Rick.
He looked at Gemma. "Are you sure your up for this, Mrs. Dixon?"
Daryl let out a small chuckle at that. Gemma smiled as she loaded a new clip into her pistol. "Darlin', don't you go worrying 'bout little old me. Ill be just fine."
"Your rifle and your tattoos." Shane spoke up, "Your were a Marine, right?"
Gemma looked down at her tattooed arm. There was a pair of boots, helmet and rifle with a date next to it on her fore arm and an eagle with "USMC" across the bottom on her upper arm. She had about 26 tattoos on her body altogether.
"Three tours in Afghanistan" Gemma replied. "Barely made it out of the last one. I was discharged 4 years ago. But the things the corps teaches you, ya cant really unlearn."
Rick said nothing in response but walked up Gemma and shook her hand firmly.
"Glad to have you on our side." Rick said after a moment.
Gemma nodded and returned to loading her rifle.
Rick relayed his plan involving the guns. Where he left them by the tank.
Gemma helped Daryl prepare the truck. He was anxious to get going. Gemma stood by his side and tried her hardest to keep him calm. And with Daryl that wasn't hard. Her mere presence would put him even at a slight ease. Gemma, Daryl, Rick, T-Dog and Glenn finally all piled into the van and began their drive towards the destroyed city.
"He better be alright." Daryl warned T-Dog.
"I told you. I chained the door so they cant get at him." Said T-Dog.
"He better be."
They arrived in the city and cautiously exited the van. They quietly entered the department store, Daryl killing a walker he deemed an ugly skank as they went through. Gemma brought up the rear behind him, pistol in hand.
Once on the roof they unlocked the door to find a horrific sight.
"NO! No!" Daryl cried out.
Gemma stared shocked at her brother-in-laws detached hand. And the body nowhere in sight.