Disclaimer: I own nothing involving the Walking Dead, except for my adoration and my OC Cerys. :)
Georgia. A humid sunny terrifying place when the dead now walk as the living. I took a breath from the guard tower of the prison, the early night air cool on my sun warmed skin. My hands were shaking as I surveyed the walkers that were banging on the gates below.
"You fuckers." I whispered.
"Glad to know you think so highly of us." I heard a southern voice say behind me. I turned and and the buff man with shaggy brown hair stood there holding his crossbow.
"Not the group Daryl, the walkers. They just keep coming." I said, my british accent sounding funny on the harsh southern air.
"That's the thing about the end of the world, it doesn't stop just because you want it too." he said walking past me to take my spot. "Go inside and get some rest"
"Not tired, besides, I couldn't sleep even if I tried. I had nightmares night before last." I said twisting my hands nervously.
"I'm sure everyone is having nightmares they seem to be sleeping just fine." he replied snarkily.
"Yeah, you're right." I replied rolling my eyes and grabbing my daggers off of the nearby table going to walk back into the tower.
"Well what, did you need to talk about it or something?" Daryl asked as my foot hit the first step on the tower.
"If I need to talk to someone I'd rather talk to Carol or Lori, but thank you." I said slipping my daggers back into the boot holsters that I had made while we were back at the farm.
"Why? I aint good enough to talk to?" Daryl asked defensively. This caught me by surprise, Daryl and I talked occasionally but never on a personal level.
"Well I figured you didn't want to hear since you were comparing me to everyone else anyway." I said putting a gloved hand on my hip.
"All I said was everyone else was having nightmares. I didn't say that yours couldn't be different." he said looking me up and down with hesitant blue eyes. I didn't know what to say, I didn't have any problem talking to Daryl but the nightmare had been a painful one, not one that I cared to relive.
"It's not that I don't want to talk to you about it. But I just don't know if i'm ready to talk to anyone about it, if that's alright." I said running a hand through my blonde hair.
"It's your dream." Daryl replied turning to look out over the field still littered with dead bodies of the walkers we had cleared yesterday. I sighed and walked down the steps to C Block where we were sleeping. I was one of the few that occupied a cell on the upper level. I figured if there was trouble it would give me the little distance that I needed to prepare myself against the incoming danger. I reached my cell and fell backwards onto my bed. My head swimming with thoughts of what would happen in the next few days, with Lori's pregnancy and Hershel being down a leg. Eventually I fell into a uneasy sleep.
I woke the next morning with a splitting headache and light sensitivity it was as if I was hung over. Luckily I hadn't had a nightmare the night before so I didn't have that hanging over my head. I stepped out of my cell and walked down the steel steps to where the rest of the group was sitting.
"Is Hershel awake yet?" I asked groggily.
"Yeah, woke up last night, isn't up and around yet though" Carol said looking a little sadly back towards the cell block.
"I could take some food to him if you want me to." I offered feeling guilty for sleeping in.
"I already gave him some food, but you can take some out to Daryl he hasn't been in yet." Lori said handing me a plate of cooked powdered eggs.
"Sure." I said taking the plate and walking outside. The sun was already high in the sky and the air scorching hot, which I was learning wasn't a surprise for Georgia. Daryl was walking towards the prison crossbow slung across his back.
"Hey." he said biting the inside of his lip.
"Hey, Lori wanted me to bring you out breakfast since you've been up there all night." I supplied. "Since we have actual food and a kitchen now."
"Thanks," he said nodding. I turned to walk away when his voice knocked me out of my stride. "Sorry about last night"
I turned and noticed Rick staring at the two of us before giving instructions to T-Dawg and Glenn.
"Why? You didn't do anything." I said a half smile on my face.
"Yeah I did. I made you feel like an outsider. That's something that none of us need to be feeling right now." Daryl said taking a bite of his eggs. This took me by complete and utter surprise Daryl was never one for apologizing. But than again I hadn't really spoken to him until recently. I laughed a little.
"Well Daryl all things considered I am the outsider. I was here on a martial arts competition when the world fell to shit and now…" I took a breath "nothing feels familiar."
"Yeah, that'll get better" was all he said in reply but as he walked by me he patted my shoulder his hands rough on my sun warmed skin. I looked behind me and watched him walk away until Rick startled me back to reality.
"Cerys, is Hershel awake yet?" he asked.
"Yeah, yes he is." I said shaking off a strange feeling that washed over me.
"Good, is he moving around yet?" he asked.
"Not that i'm aware of, is there anything that you want me to do?" I asked taking out a dagger from my boot.
"There's a lot that we need to get done. We can start with securing the gate, so if you want to start taking out the straggling walkers on the front of the gate that'd be very much appreciated." Rick said nodding towards the fence.
"Bob's your uncle" I said taking the dirt path towards the front of the prison. I grabbed the daggers out of my boots arming myself with one in each hand. I had an unorthodox way of taking out walkers, the martial arts I had been trained allowed me to scales walls and fences much like a human monkey. This allowed me to attack from above which kept me much safe. I charged at the fence allowing my feet to grip the chain link. It made everyone nervous whenever I did that but it was the only way I knew how to do it. I turned around on the fence and hooked my legs around the top hanging upside down a dagger in each hand. I set to work, head shots from above working quickly. I watched as the walkers fell at the base of the fence I was starting to get dizzy. I used my core muscles to haul myself upright again, a half grin on my face as I stared at the patch I had cleared away. At this rate I could have majority of the fence cleared by lunch time.
The fences had been cleared only with few stragglers lingering in the fields surrounding the prison.
"Cerys!" I heard a loud voice calling. I snapped my head up looking for the source of the voice. Looking towards the prison I noticed Rick standing there with his arms crossed. I jogged up the rest of the path meeting Rick where the fence closed off the prison from the field.
"You did good, go inside and get some food. I'll take watch." he said clapping a hand on my back. I nodded, wiping my daggers off on my pants, slipping them into my boots. My bones were tired from the exertion and I was weak. I walked into C-Block where most of the group was sitting and eating. As soon as I walked in a smile spread across my face, Hershel was sitting at the table with everyone propped in between Carol and T-Dawg.
"Hershel, you're awake! Cheers." I said nodding.
"Thank you kindly." He said smiling.
"Are you hungry, we made you some potatoes." Carol said pointing to a bowl sitting on a rusted out tray in the small kitchenette we had created.
"Yes, i'm just gonna pop to my cell and change my pants." I said gesturing to the blood stains from where I had wiped my dagger. I left the eating area and entered the cell block. We had been in the dark for over a year but I still absolutely despised it. I began walking a tad quicker. When I reached the top level I hustled into my cell and quickly lit the lantern I had there. I heaved a sigh of relief and flopped onto my bunk. I rolled over to face the door, and stared into the darkness of the prison, I could faintly hear the chatter of the others, and I thought I could hear Beth singing. I smiled faintly into my pillow, I knew my absence would be noted, so I hauled my duffle bag out from underneath my bed. I changed into a pair of stretchy jeans and a tank top. I was hauling my boots back onto my feet when I could hear someone coming up the stairs. I looked up to the source of the sound. Daryl stood there with a bowl in his hand.
"I was just on my way down." I replied tucking some of my blonde hair behind my ear.
"Lori thought you might be tired, asked me to bring it up." Daryl said looking at me from behind his shaggy brown hair.
"Lori of all people should not be the one taking care of other people." I said standing to accept the bowl.
"She ain't, she was gonna bring it up herself that's why I stepped in. Wasn't about to let a pregnant lady climb a set of stairs for someone who is perfectly capable." Daryl said crossing his arms while leaning on the doorframe. I didn't know how to take his words.
"Well i'm thankful either way." I assured him taking a bite of the lukewarm powdered potato mix. For a moment we just stared at one another, not really knowing what to say. I didn't talk to Daryl Dixon much. He started to turn when I called out.
"Wait, about last night. If you wanna hear about that nightmare. I'm willing to talk to you now." I said hesitantly. Thinking back to what Daryl had said earlier about not being an outsider, I decided to start with something simple.
The potato bowl sat empty on a makeshift bedside table. Daryl was sitting on one end of the bunk and I on the opposite.
"As you can tell from my accent, i'm not exactly from Georgia." I began.
"S'not exactly subtle." Daryl replied. I took a deep breath, trying to find the courage to continue.
"Well I was here on a martial arts competition with some kids I trained. Anyway when things went bad we had got separated, and by the time I found them... It wasn't good" I said my breath shaky.
"Well in this nightmare we found a cure and I flew back to England. And at the airport their parents were standing there with "Welcome Home" gifts in their hands." at this point I had started crying "and I had to tell them that their babies were gone. Turned into monsters." I stared at my hands for what felt like a long time when Daryl broke the silence.
"It's not your fault. You couldn't help a damn thing that happened to those kids. Even if y'all didn't get separated things still mighta ended bad." Daryl said as I turned my face to look at him. He was staring at the floor fidgeting with his boots.
"Thank you." I said "I'm sure you didn't have to hear about someone else problems." I said reaching out for his hand. His skin was warmer than mine and he flinched at the contact. I immediately drew my hand back.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable." I said. standing up.
"Where you going?" Daryl asked.
"I'm taking my bowl back downstairs. I can't let them think i'm slipping now can I?" I asked giving a half laugh.
"I'll go with ya. You have to be the only person I know to have survived the apocalypse and is still afraid of the damn dark." Daryl said standing with me. He was easily half a foot taller than me.
"Fears can be overcome." I said with a strength in my voice that hadn't been there in awhile.
"Do you have perimeter watch after Rick?" I asked as we walked into the dark Cell Block.
"Yeah, what's it to ya?" he asked. The clanging of our footsteps mixed with the voices of the others in the other room.
"I'm going to come with you. To take care of my fear. Two sets of eyes are always better than one." I said.
"You were clearing the wall all day. Be stupid if you didn't get any sleep." Daryl said seemingly shaking me off.
"I didn't say I wouldn't. I'm assuming you'll be sleeping before than to. Just come get me on your way out. You sleep on the platform in front of my cell anyway." I reasoned. I could feel Daryl's eyes on me.
"I ain't gonna baby you. Far as i'm concerned you should be over it now anyway." Daryl said.
"Agreed, do we have an accord?" I asked.
"A what?" Daryl questioned.
"An accord, it's a deal." I answered.
"Yeah, whatever England I ain't gonna argue with ya." Daryl said as we entered the orange light, regrouping with the others. Everyone looked somewhat tired, but at least they looked happy for the moment. Beth was singing softly to her father who, although still recovering, looked a lot better. Carol smiled at me and grabbed my hand as I walked over to the group. Lori noticed Daryl and I's appearance and gave me a small smile.
"I thought you'd be asleep by now." she commented.
"Soon to be I assure you. I just wanted to bring my dished down. My mother did not raise a slob." I said letting go of Carol's grasp and using a dish cloth to wipe out my dish.
"Well that's always a good sign." Hershel spoke up.
"Agreed, well I hate to run off without staying to chat but I believe i'm off to sleep. I'll see everyone in the morning." I said. There was a chorus of silent good nights, as I turned to leave the room. As I was exiting I turned to Daryl.
"Don't disappoint me Dixon." I joked. Daryl gave his version of a small smile and nodded me towards my cell.
I was awoken to a presence in my cell, my eyes snapped open to see Daryl standing in the doorway.
"You comin or what?" Daryl asked. I sat up and hauled my boots on.
"Yep." I said hopping up.
"Grab your gun." Daryl said gesturing to the top drawer where my tiny pistol was stored.
"I have my daggers, i'll be fine." I said going to walk towards him.
"If something goes wrong i'm not having you save my ass with a pair of toothpicks, can't use those at a distance" he said "now come on I ain't waiting around all night." I sighed and grabbed the gun out of the drawer, following after Daryl. We tried to hush our footfalls as we descended the steel steps in the cell block. Rick wanted perimeter watch's now since two of the prisoners had tried to kill him yesterday. I was nervous about the remaining two in Cell Block A, but if both Rick and Daryl assured the group it was safe I believed them. The Georgia night air was cooler, but not cool enough to need a jacket. Rick looked concerned as the two of us walked out together.
"Is something wrong?" he asked his arm immediately going to the pistol on his hip.
"Naw, little miss foreigner here wanted to help. Tired a being scared of the dark." Daryl said, causing Rick to relax a little.
"That's not a bad idea, alright i'm going in. Remember we start cleaning this place up tomorrow, so don't fire a gun unless you absolutely have to. We don't need more bodies to burn." Rick stated. Both Daryl and I nodded as Rick went to walk back inside. When the door latched Daryl and I started walking. The stars had the prison yard mostly lit which meant that it wasn't very dark, I let a breath of relief out.
"You got lucky. Sky's all lit up you're not overcoming any fears tonight." Daryl said breaking the awkward silence,
"Well it's not entirely light out, and the prison is looming there like a giant shadow. Not to mention you can hear all of the walkers clawing at out outside chain link fence. Look now i've creeped myself out." I said raising my arm for him to see the goosebumps. I stared at him seriously for a moment before I broke into a fit of laughter. Daryl light heartedly pushed me a little which threw me off balance. I almost hit the ground before I caught my balance and forced myself upright again.
"You're pretty good at stuff like that." Daryl commented.
"Well I should be, i've been training in stuff like that since I was 5." I said "I was the only 5 year old who could kick their fathers arse." At this Daryl lost the small smile he had previously had.
"I'm sorry if I touched on a sore subject, I seem to being doing that a lot lately." I said.
"Nothin to be sorry for." Daryl said adjusting the crossbow on his back. We were quite for a minute, with nothing but the crickets and moans of the dead to break the silence.
"I never thought i'd actually need to use it though. I mean it was good for self defense sure and teaching the children was a good job. But I can honestly say this," I opened my arms gesturing around the prison yard "was not what I ever could have imagined. And I mean thank god I was in America, I don't know a single person back home that knows how to use a gun, let alone owns one." This actually caused Daryl to stop walking for a moment to stare at me, an amused expression on his face.
"Oh stop it." I commented continuing on my way. Daryl caught up to me in a few strides.
"What would ya'll have done. Thrown tea cups at the walkers?" Daryl asked.
"Waste a good cuppa? are you mad?!" I laughed. "No in all honesty I have no idea how things would be at home, probably a lot worse than here. If you thought Atlanta was bad I imagine London was three times worse." It was my turn to be melancholy for a moment.
"Well you're here now. S'all that matters." Daryl commented.
"You're right, no point dwelling on the past." I said softly. We were on our second lap around the yard, when I noticed something strange.
"Look." I said pointing at the guard tower. One of the doors was open, which was strange considering we had shut them all when we actually entered the prison. I started toward the guard tower quieting my steps. Daryl pulled his crossbow over his shoulder arming himself. I gestured my head asking if I should go in first, and Daryl confirmed with a nod. I pulled one dagger out of my right boot, gripping the handle and I entered slowly. Whatever it was, was at the top of the stairs. I didn't want to give myself away so I put my dagger between my teeth and jumped up, grabbing a ledge, that at one point was probably used as a shelf, and hoisted myself up. My feet landed on the shelf and I began looking for a way to scale the rest. I began using the nooks and crannies to pull myself up the wall. When I finally reached the top I took my dagger out of my mouth and I started laughing. Maggie and Glenn were up there beginning to lay down a blanket. Both of their head snapped over when they heard my laughter.
"Don't mind me, we saw the door open and thought there were walkers in here." I laughed. Both looked rather embarrassed, especially after Daryl came charging up the stairs.
"Hey guys." Glenn said giving a nervous laugh.
"Whatever." Daryl said turning to go back down the stairs. I gave a half wave and than jumped down to land on the stairs in front of Daryl. He automatically reached out to catch me, even though I wasn't falling.
"Damnit, don't do that coulda got yourself hurt." Daryl scolded. We both glanced down to where his hand was still on my arm, and he withdrew his hand.
"Well I didn't. It's good to know you're a gentleman." I said referencing his concern moments ago. He scoffed and we went back onto the prison yard.
"Well it seems you've gotten over you fear of the dark." Daryl said as I was slipping my dagger back into my boot.
"Talking seems to help." I commented.
"Well good you went from being scared of the dark, to a lunatic." Daryl replied.
"That's where you're wrong Sir, I was always a lunatic." I laughed.