Disclaimer: Don't own TWD, it sucks I know but what can you do.
AN: Sorry for the wait. Thanks for reviewing.
Pre-Days Gone By
Daryl rose with the sun and made his way out of the pop-up. He looked around and then went to work on his knifes until breakfast was done. After eating he grabbed a bag and said he was going hunting.
Carl told Lori he was gonna go hang out with Sofia, she said to stay close to Carol and he left. Sofia told Carol that she was gonna go play with Carl, she said to stay close to Lori and then she left. Both children met up by the treeline as planned and began their exploration of the woods.
Daryl was on his way back towards camp when he heard voices. He looked ahead and saw Sofia and Carl talking, just leaning against a small cluster of trees. He stepped quietly towards them. He was about to pop up and ask what they were doing out there by themselves when he spotted the walker, he readied his bow and just as the walker lunged and fell on the two Daryl shot. He ran towards the pile.
Carl was telling Sofia another story about his dad when they both turned just in time to see a walker coming at them. Carl stepped forward to shield Sophia the best he could but they both fell under the walker. Just when he found his voice and was gonna yell an arrow went through the walker's head.
"What the hell are you two doing so far from camp?" Daryl growled as he tossed the walker aside and began checking them for scratches or bites. "Are you okay anything wrong with ya?" He directed the question to both, but his eyes were on Sophia. They both nodded, not sure how to react to the redneck who was never social and who's brother scared them.
Daryl nodded. "Good go on ahead of me and I'll bring up the rear." They listened.
Both kids were afraid that he would tell the adults they were attacked and that they had gone away from the group alone. But both were surprised when they arrived to worried mothers all that was said was that he found them and next time someone could get hurt if they were left unattended again. He then walked off and began skinning his catch.
Merle came up behind Daryl. "So nothing happened?"
"No." Daryl felt Merle lean down.
"Baby brother I think you're lying to me. What, did the rugrats get into trouble?"
Daryl felt his cheeks get hot. "No nothing."
"Oh then why did you have that face. You know the face that means you been thinking about w..."
"Shut up just, nothing major just a walker I took care of it and she's, their both fine." By this time Daryl was standing up, with his back still to Merle.
"What you think if you keep her alive that it will clear your books on her?" Daryl shook his head. "Because that would be stupid you can't change the fact you let her. . ."
"Shut up Merle!" Daryl had spun around and pushed his brother into the nearby tree. "It ain't about that! So just shut the hell up!" He sat back down. "I didn't let her do anything."
Merle laughed and cracked his back. "Sure little brother, sure."
Daryl finished skinning his squirrels and as he stood a shiver went down his spine, he shook it off and went to take the meat to the cook of the night.
In the tree next to the one Merle had hit earlier a watching pair of eyes followed the younger Dixon, before leaving to return to her own makeshift home. She didn't see the need to become known before she was properly introduced.
Daryl returned to the Dixon site with two plates, after he ate he turned in suddenly feeling exhausted. As he slipped into the land of dreams his mind was filled with old pains.
Daryl made his way back from a friend's house he had just passed the last house before his. It was decorated for Halloween and he knew what was coming and he started to run, hoping he could stop it this time, but knowing he wouldn't be able to.
Merle listened as the rest of camp went off to their beds and the two look outs, Shane and Jim, went to their posts. He sat there a bit longer before standing and stretching and heading into the pop-up. He was just about to self-medicate when he heard Daryl say something, he turned to find his brother sweating and when he leaned closer he could make out what was being said.
"What the hell are you doing to her!?"
Merle leaned back and went to sit down to watch as his brother once again went through the memories of his worst failure.
Daryl opened the door as he heard a female voice yell out, "Leave me alone, stop, get off me!" he came further into the room and saw his father almost falling over the coffee table someone had pushed him into. He moved closer and saw a small girl with dirty blond hair, she looked scared and he could see a bruise already forming along her collarbone which was showing since her shirt was hanging off one shoulder, as if someone had tried to restrain her with her own shirt. He turned to look at his father.
"What the hell are you doing to her!?"
"Get lost, this doesn't concern you." Daryl rushed over as Will reached for the girl. And grabbed the back of his shirt pulling him down and over the coffee table.
"What's the matter with you she's your daughter!" Daryl ducked the wild swing of Will as he picked himself up off the floor.
"She's a pretty little bitch and if she lives under my roof, she's mine to do with as I wish." Daryl staggered as Will landed a hit. "Now go away, before I take it out on you ya little shit."
Daryl didn't go away he stayed his ground and tried to defend his baby sister.
Merle watched on as Daryl jerked in his sleep like he had been hit, and his breathing became ragged like his ribs were busted. He sighed when he realized Daryl was getting slightly louder and absently wondered if he would attract the attention of the other survivors.
Daryl could fill his ribs were broken and that last hit to the wall was the cause of his now throbbing arm, probably broken, he looked out of blurry eyes up at the monster that was his father and saw a small figure coming up behind him.
"Stop! Leave him alone, you're gonna kill him!"
He watched as his sister was grabbed by the hair and thrown across the room into a glass cabinet, he closed his eyes from the pain as Will came over and picked him up only to reslam him into the wall. He listens for the next blow almost sure that it would be his last sensation, and then.
"STOP! I said leave him ALONE!"
At the words Daryl opened his eyes to see his father fly into the opposite wall and crumple to the floor in a heap and Willow standing there arm raised as if she had just threw the large man there herself.
"You look terrible Daryl," Willow slipped a bloody arm around him to help him up being as gentle as the six year old could be. "Come on we gotta get you to the ER."
"Argh." Daryl tried to talk but he couldn't get the words out. He hobbled along leaning against Willow as she made her way to Will's truck, she propped him up against the passenger side as she opened the door and helped him in before jumping into the drivers side.
The ER doctors barely batted an eye at the Dixon children as they quickly treated them and sent them on their way back 'home'.
He watched as the dark forest passed by the windows of the truck, his head swimming with so much regret he was only semi-glad that he was on so much pain meds that he couldn't feel his bandaged ribs and arm, along with the collection of bruises he knew would be coming. He didn't even realized they had stopped until he felt the seat next to hip dip slightly.
He looked at his little sister, Willow, and saw concern and a hint of something else lingering in those baby blues and he couldn't stop himself. "I'm so sorry." When he saw her about to say something he placed a hand on her mouth gently. "No, I'm your big brother, I should've seen it, I just thought he hit you less, because you were a girl."
Tears that had been forming silently fell. Willow sat back waiting for him to finish his thought. "Merle was a shit big brother most of the time, even when he was home. I was gonna be better, I was gonna protect you." He had meant to go on a bit more, but Willow stopped him.
"You did! You're the one that found me in the fire, you're the one that's been teaching me tracking and hunting. You are the best big brother and I love you!" She gently hugged him then whispered in his ear, "Do you trust me?" He nodded.
"With my life."
"Then don't fight it."
He looked at her and his eyes bulged as her blue eyes began to glow. She placed a hand on his chest and Daryl watched as beads of sweat appeared on the six year old's brow. But then he felt his ribs popping back together, and he had a stray thought that it would of hurt a hell of a lot if he wasn't medicated at the moment. He watched as a smirk graced his sisters face, then she held out her hand, he placed the cast covered arm in it. He watched as the cast turn to dust as his arm realigned and fused itself back together. Willow flashed him a small smile then promptly passed out. He opened his door and repositioned Willow in his seat and went around to the drivers side and with a deep breath he started the truck and made his way back into the lion's den.
As Merle watched Daryl relax and a small smile appear on his face he knew it was the calm before as the worst was yet to come. He heard talking outside and realized they were changing the guard, it sounded like the spic and chinaman, if he were going to sleep he sure as hell wouldn't now.
In midtown Atlanta a quick dark figure effortlessly negotiated the walker packed streets as they collected supplies, as they felt the time for introduction was soon to come.
Daryl pulled up outside the house expecting to be greeted by a furious Will, but after waiting a few minutes he got out of the truck and went around to the passenger side. He picked up his sister and kicked the door shut, then pushed open the slightly ajar front door. As he walked past the living room he noticed Will was still out cold, and as he went on to Willow's room he made a silent vow that, that son of a bitch wouldn't lay another hand on his sister.
Three days later Will awoke and wandered into Willow's room only to be greeted by a pistol held by the watching Daryl.
"Come near her again and I'll kill you old man." Will backed out of the room, closing the door as he went.
Over the next month he rarely left her side, even when she tried to leave the room in the middle of the night he would wake and follow. He had taken to carrying his gun everywhere just in case.
They had just arrived home from school and separated as usual to put their things away, Daryl had just put his bag down when his door slammed shut and he heard a lock click. "Hey what the hell!" He ran over to the windows to find bars blocking his way.
Merle cringed as Daryl yelled out, "NO, not again, no, let me out!"
Apparently it was louder then he thought as there was an urgent knocking at the door. He got up and opened it to be greeted by suspicious looks from Shane, Martinez, and Glenn. "What do you want?" he asked in his most disgruntled tone.
"We heard yelling, what's going on in there?" Question the former officer.
"Nothing that concerns you all, so get gone." They looked like they might when Daryl cried out. When they tried to muscle their way pass he pushed them back looked over his shoulder at his tossing brother then stepped out so he could block the door as well as get them to go away.
"Well Dixon?"
"He's having one of his nightmares."
"Sounds serious, maybe we should wake him up." Shane made to go around Merle.
"I don't think so. You can't wake him up in the middle of one."
"Oh and why not? Letting him suffer through night terrors is cruel!" Merle looked at the Chinaman.
"It's not his imagination he's fighting." They looked expecting, "It's his memories." Just then before more could be discussed a muffled yell and and thunk was heard from inside the pop-up. "Shit!" Merle turned and went inside he was joined by Shane and Glenn, Martinez stayed outside to keep watch.
Daryl rushed the door again and again, but he mas making little progress. He heard a loud crash and Will yell, good good he thought Willow can fight him off no problem, maybe she knocked him out again. He wasn't that lucky, just as the thought came it left as he heard muffled voices and Willow call for him, he started on the door again. His heart stopped as he heard her call for him again, but it was cut off early. He strained to hear any sound from his sister, all he got was mumbling from his father and the sound of the front door being kicked open.
The three men watched as the dreaming Daryl seemed to almost convulse as he yelled out, "Use the gun damn it!" he stilled for a moment then he seemed to launch himself and almost hit his head if not for Shane throwing out an arm.
"What is he doing?" asked a worried looking Glenn.
"None of your damn business Chinaman." Merle shot back as he held down his brother by the shoulders. He could feel the cold sweat as he tried to maintain his grip and figure out how to get these nosey bitches out of their personal space.
"Well it sure as hell will be if his yelling attracts walkers Dixon." barked Shane as he dodge a flying foot from the man on the bed.
"It's almost over anyway, if I can keep him still he'll be quieter." Merle readjusted his grip.
Shane grunted and made his way out the door. Glenn looked to the brothers then to the open door and back.
"You want me ta."
"Go on like I said before I got this, close the door on the way out."
Glenn nodded and quickly made his way out but didn't go far, he was too curious to know how the memory would turn out.
Daryl screamed for Willow as he tried to dislodge the bars on the window. He lost his balance and fell to the floor, he laid there for a minute trying to calm himself enough for him to figure out how to get the hell outta there.
"Don't just lay there get up!" Merle was almost completely over Daryl as he thrashed trying to get the boy from his memories to do as he wished. "Every second counts damn it! Get your goddamned ass up!"
As Daryl opened his eyes they landed on the door and he was instantly on his feet and sent a kick to the door that did far more damage to him than the door. He glared down at the faint scuff mark his boot had made, but he saw that the hinge pin had moved sometime during his abuse of the door and he got his knife. Within two minutes he was already out the front door and making his way into the woods following the trail of Will.
He slowed down as the trail got less and less distinct and then disappeared all together, but he kept going and turned himself around again and again trying to pick up any sign and in doing this he found himself utterly and totally lost. He smacked himself for not looking anywhere but down while running.
Merle relaxed his grip slightly as Daryl mumbled about being lost and took the opening to readjust Daryl so he was back on the bunk properly. "It's almost over brother just a little longer."
Daryl stumbled into the kitchen and quickly put together a sandwich, he had been lost in those damn woods for over a week. After he finished his sandwich he went and looked for the bastard and after not finding him anywhere he set himself down in a chair and waited, that asshole had some questions to answer because he would find his sister.
Will stumbled in sometime later, but was stopped from achieving his goal which was to pass out in his bed, by his son who actually looked a bit pissed off.
"Where is she?" Will started to turn away, so Daryl asked again. "Where is she?" Will took a couple steps toward the hall and Daryl jumped up and grabbed hold of his shirt spinning him. "Answer me goddamn it!"
Will swung his arm as he spun around and knocked Daryl away. "That's none of your damn business." He started to leave again.
"The hell it ain't! You can't just." he was cut off by the fist to the side of his head.
"I can do whatever the fuck I want kid, and 'sides it's already done." Daryl went to stand back up and got knocked hard into a chair. "Now I'm gonna tell ya this once boy, she ain't coming back. I made sure of that."
Daryl just stared in shock wondering if he killed her or stashed her somewhere to starve, he had to know. "Where, what, how?"
Will smirked at the cowed boy, "An old friend of mine who showed interest in her, he knows how to deal with freaks like her." He looked his son over and stopped him before he could voice another question. "She's gone Daryl, never coming back." He made his way out of the room and turned back, "Never speak about her in this house again understand?" He waited, Daryl was still in shock processing his utter failure. "Boy!"
Daryl flinched and then rose up enough to see over the back of the chair and nodded.
Merle held Daryl to his chest as he convulsed cursing their old man, he took a breath and took the hardness outta his voice. "It's alright little brother he's gone, dead remember, can't hurt us anymore," when Daryl started trying to get out of the embrace to go look for Willow, Merle held strong. "I found her it's alright now." When Daryl still wouldn't calm down he said the only thing that would wake him up, he hated doing it but he had to. "Daryl she's dead, he killed her, you know that, come on now."
Outside the pop-up Glenn covered his mouth to hide his gasp, Merle sounded like he actually cared. He also wondered who the dead girl was, and the guy for that matter. He scampered back to his patrol when he heard movement from inside, not wanting to press his luck twice in one night.
When Daryl woke he noticed his clothes were all messed up and figured what happened with the vague memories, he started when he saw that Merle was asleep instead of up doing random scary-type things. He shook his head and ventured outside needing the cool air to help clear the fog. He didn't notice the eyes that followed him as he made his way bow in hand into the woods.