Til the World Stops Turning
Disclaimer: I do NOT own anything from the Walking Dead (see first chapter or profile for full disclaimer)
SPOILER WARNING: If you haven't watched any of the series yet, it begins in S01E03 Tell it to the Frogs.
Authors Note: This story is currently UN-beta'd. Yes I changed the ages of some of the TWD characters as needed for my story-line. Any views read in this story are those of the characters and not how the author feels. Reviews are much loved with helping along with a few of my plot holes. Flames will be used to fricassee walkers and light a fire under the Gov'nor's ass.
Words: 8590 (Originally posted: 01/27/2013 Rechecked by me: 04/25/2018)
"Speech"
**Thought**
#Different Language#
*~*~*Line Break*~*~*
CHAPTER TWO: These City Walls Ain't Got No Love For Me
*~*~*Roof of Abandoned Department Store – Late Afternoon – End of August 2010*~*~*
Thunder rumbles above promising a second, possibly larger and far nastier, storm. The air was sticky from the humidity that lingers from the brief shower not more than forty minutes ago. The faint sounds of groaning could be heard from the street below. But the man sitting on the rooftop, cuffed to a metal pipe seems to not detect them. No, he appears to be suffering the onset of heat/sun-stroke plus coming down from a high and just starting to twitch. At the present time, he was telling a story to a figment of his imagination. A little girl, around the age of five or so, with long wavy strawberry blonde locks and big teal eyes. She was resting her head on his left knee and looking up at him like he hung the moon.
"Ya gots a problem? Tha's righ', ya heard m'bitch. Ya gots a problem? Bring it on iffin yer man 'nough." Merle says as he plays with the single small braid in the little girl's hair. "Or ya can take it up the chain o' command iffin yer a pussy. Ya heard m', ya pussy-ass noncom bitch. Ya ain't deaf." He sneers with contempt. "Take it up the damn chain o' command or ya can kiss m'lily white ass." He chuckles and gazes down at her with a smile far softer than anyone could ever imagine. "Tha's righ'. Tha's wat I said. Ya heard me. 'N' then M.J., this idiot, he takes a swing, ya know. 'N' well... ya know how Ol' Merle ain't one ta back down from nuttin' nor 'n'body M.J.; ya can ask Darylina 'bout half the fights I used ta get inta. 'Specially the ones ov'a yer Mama." He laughs a bit hysterically.
"Oh ya shoulda seen the look on 'is face when I punched ou' 'is front teeth." He chuckles some more and holds up his left hand showing all five of his fingers spread out. "Yeah, five o' 'em. Pow." He balls up the hand and moves the fist slightly as if punching someone. "Pow. Jus' like tha'. Huh. Ya know M.J., yer ol' man still has ta show ya how ta do the ol' one-two." He snickers with glee at showing her hand to hand. "16 months in the stockade... oh tha's wat 'em teeth cost m'." He smiles with affection. "Tha' were... tha' was hard time girlie. But by God it were worth e'ry minute o' it. Jus' ta see tha' prick, spit his teeth on the ground." He chortles. "Yes sir, worth e'ry damn minute."
He peers up at the sky and closes his eyes for a moment to enjoy the breeze that came out of nowhere. He opens his mouth to says something to the little girl, but when he looks down she's gone and his bootlace is untied. Peering around anxiously looking for her, he realizes he's still cuffed to the pipe and begins to struggle violently again. This causes his already scraped raw wrist to start bleeding again.
"Oh no. No, no. No! NO! NO!" He pulls roughly at the cuff as he starts to shout. "God. GOD! NO! no." He kicks at the pipe several times. "God, Jesus. Oh God, merciful Christ! No, no. No, NO! God help me. PLEASE! Jesus, please! Jesus, please. Help me now. C'mon now." He looks up to the sky imploringly as he yells. "Fer m'girl. Ya can't leave m'here. C'mon. I gotta get back ta M.J. 'n' Daryl."
Merle freezes a moment when the sound of growling and the screeching of the door being forced open reaches his ears. Staring wide-eyed, he sees two of those dead bastards faces trying to wedge through the small opening and the hands of a third one above them.
"Oh no, no, no." He leans down and tries to wiggle under the pipe. "Oh my God. Shh, shh, shh, shh." He tries quieting himself. "Oh Jesus, Jesus." he cries. "NO, no, no, no. Please." he starts begging. "I dinna behave, I know. I know I'm bein' punished. But don' ya think ya took 'nough from me 'ready? I know. I deserve it. Oh I deserve it. I've been bad. I shouldna started the powder 'gain afta I promised m'girl." The walkers are really struggling now to get at Merle. "Help me now. Don' leave 'er on 'er own. Show me the way. Go on, tell me wat ta do. Tell me how I can get back ta m'blood. Tell me. Tell me. Please git m'back to m'kin." he begs. "Oh God!" He slams his head on the concrete. -WHAM- "God!" - WHAM-
Suddenly Merle starts growling and grunting and twists around angrily. Sliding further under the pipe he reaches for his belt once more and starts flinging it at the hacksaw again. "Tha's okay. Nev'a ya mind silly Christ boy." he snarls with disbelief. "I ain't begged ya 'fore. I ain't gonna start beggin' now. Not ev'n when ya took Jenna from me. I ain't gonna beg ya now!" he shouts. "Don'cha worry 'bout me beggin' ya ev'a. I'll nev'a beg ya!" he swings the belt trying to catch the buckle on the hacksaw. "I ain't gonna beg ya! I've nev'a begged ya 'fore." He stretches out as far as he can go and tries to ignore the banging and snarls from the door. He looks back as his hand tugs more on the cuff. "Oh shit!" he exclaims as he hears the door squeal as it's forced open some more. "NO!"
**~*Heading Towards the Quarry Base Camp*~*~*
"Best not to dwell on it." Morales proclaims looking over at Rick. "Merle getting left behind. Nobody's gonna be sad he didn't come back..." he glances away. "Except maybe Daryl."
"Daryl?" Rick inquires troubled.
"His brother." Morales clarifies. "And possibly M.J."
"M.J.? His girl?" Rick inquires despondent.
"Sorta." Andrea pipes up from the back. "She's a young girl, around my sister's age. No older than perhaps nineteen maybe twenty... if you stretch it maybe twenty-one."
"All that dark cosmetics you can't really tell." Jacqui shakes her head in confusion and disgust at the thought of all that make-up covering bruises. "I mean who packs eye shadow and liner during the end of the world?"
"She was with the Dixon brothers when they entered the camp," Andrea explains at Rick's really flummoxed appearance. "Battered and bruised, and too scared to speak to anyone besides the children, if she even accomplishes that. She had a disconnected and empty look in her eyes." she shivers.
"She's never far from one of them. And if she is, that dog of hers is constantly there." Jacqui points out. "The kids call her Dixon's Shadow or just Shadow." she chuckles fondly.
"Merle caused a big commotion last week. Beat the crap out of Ed for something. Ended up being restrained. When she finally came out of her tent, her lip was busted and her cheek was red from a handprint." Morales makes a noise of distaste. "Wouldn't look any of us in the eye for two days and never left Daryl's side until Merle was released."
"They've been taking turns sleeping in her tent. Sometimes I hear her whimpering." Andrea adds with a look like she just sucked a lemon. "I've also seen her come out of their tent."
"Hush girl." Jacqui exclaims. "We don't comprehend what's really going on. Moreover, I've tried persuading her to stay with me or even you and Amy."
"She gives a dirty look at Dale every time he attempts to talk to her. And that pit bull growls at everyone else." Morales shakes his head in exasperation. "The only ones safe are the kids, and we still don't like it around them. I know I don't trust it alone with my kids." He shrugs. "Well, I guess we'll find out what happens in a few." he sighs.
The sound of a car alarm approaching makes Morales look out the window and sees Glenn driving the red vehicle just behind the van. Rick and Morales smile as they listen to Glenn rev the Challenger and 'Whoop' loudly as he drives by.
"At least somebody's having a good day," Morales exclaims with a small smile.
After several more minutes, the cube van finally reaches the top of the quarry where the group of survivors have made base camp.
"Come meet everybody." Morales pats Rick on the chest before exiting.
Rick lips quirk tiredly and pinches the top of his nose while he tries not to think about seeing his own loved ones. And also trying not to think about how Merle's brother and girlfriend were going to react to him not coming back with the rest of the group. The back of the van opens and Andrea jumps out to greet her sister Amy. Morales is greeted by his wife Miranda and two children Eliza and Louis. Once he had reassured them that he was all right he went and said hello to an elderly man sporting a fishing hat.
"You are a welcome sight." The old-timer exclaims as he grabs Morales and hugs him. "Thought we had lost you folks for sure."
"Dale." Morales greets him.
"How'd y'all get out of there anyway?" questioned a dark-haired man possessing a shotgun.
"New guy." Glenn smiles widely. "He got us out."
"New guy?" he asks confusedly, and a bit concerned about a new person becoming a member of the group.
"Yeah, crazy vato just got into town." Morales nods his head towards the van. "Hey helicopter boy," he calls out. "Come say hello." Rick exits and pauses a moment before walking to confront the group. "The guy's a cop like you, Shane."
Shane moves out from behind the hood of the Challenger and watches with an expression of disbelief as Rick walks towards him. A little boy around the age of ten or so, standing near a woman who he slightly resembled, looked at Rick like his Christmas present had come early. The woman beside him looks at Rick as if she was observing a ghost. The little boy screams out "Dad! Dad!" and starts to run towards Rick, which causes the woman to tag along behind. Everyone looks on at the touching reunion, feeling blessed for once.
**~*Quarry Camp*~*~*
Darkness falls and the camp can be seen sitting around three different campfires. Dinner was over, and everyone was just trying to settle down after all the excitement and surprises from earlier. Mostly they listened as Rick described how he ended up in Atlanta. After a brief disturbance at one of the other fires, between Shane and Ed, the conversation turned to Merle.
"Have you given any thought to Daryl Dixon?" Dale questions looking at Rick for a resolution. "He won't be happy to hear his brother was left behind. And there's M.J. also to consider."
"I'll tell him. I dropped the key. It's on me." T-Dog spoke up quickly, owning up to his mistake.
"I cuffed him. That makes it mine." Rick interrupts with taking the responsibility back onto himself.
"Guys, it's not a competition." Glenn interrupts looking over at T-Dog. "I don't mean to bring race into this, but it might sound better coming from a white guy."
"I did what I did," T-Dog states stubbornly. "Hell if I'm gonna hide from him."
"We could lie." Amy, Andrea's little sister, interrupts with her own viewpoint. "Icing on the cake M.J. can, in conclusion, get away from them. The unfortunate girl is so shy it's not funny. You wouldn't expect so with how she dresses."
"Or we could tell the truth. Merle was out of control." Andrea chimes in. "Something had to be done or he'd have gotten us all killed." She leans forward to talk to the woman sitting in Rick's arms. "Your husband did what was necessary. And if Merle got left behind, it is nobody's fault but Merle's." Andrea looks down at Amy. "She's not that shy. She's just closed mouth because of them and their high-handed ways."
"And that's what we tell Daryl?" Dale inquires with skepticism. "I don't see a rational discussion to be had from that, do you?" He turns to look at the group, gauging each one's facial expression and stops on Andrea. "Word to the wise. We're going to have our hands full when he gets back from his hunt."
"I was scared and I ran," T-Dog acknowledges. "I'm not ashamed of it."
"We were all scared." Andrea shoots back. "We all ran. So what's your point?"
"I stopped long enough to chain that door," T-Dog explains. "Staircase is narrow. Maybe half a dozen geeks can squeeze against it at any one time. It's not enough to break through that..." He looks back and forth between Rick and his wife. "Not that chain. Not that padlock. My point... Dixon's alive and he's still up there, handcuffed on that roof." He glances one last time at the brunette woman, who looks aside guiltily. "That's on us." T-Dog unhurriedly gets up holding his ribs and walks away.
After that, the camp gradually began putting out the fires and head to their respective tents to sleep for the night. The thunderstorm that had been brewing since late afternoon finally came to fruition. The sky opens up and seems to cry buckets of tears. While the roll of thunder took place of the howls of a man who was still chained on a rooftop in the heart of the walking dead; as if he was a rabid dog. Most paid no attention to the ominous feeling that the storm foreshadowed and slept through the night as if naught was amiss. But for two others that were missing from camp, dread seeped into their bones and they huddled together for warmth and comfort.
*~*~*Quarry Camp – The Next Morning*~*~*
The day starts cloudless and sunny and the muggy heat from the day before has melted away after the storm. The camp site slowly began to bustle and the day's chores were begun. Children were playing. The new car was being dismantled and the scrap parts were being either put to use or tucked away for when they were needed. Decisions were being discussed regarding Merle being left behind and a possible rescue being made. Suddenly the screams of the children fill the air and everyone rushes to investigate. At once they find the culprit. A geek had made it up the quarry and was feasting upon a dead deer. The men proceed to attack and beat on the creature and finally cut its head off.
"It's the first one we've had up here. They never come this far up the mountain." Dale looks around at the group of men and exclaims with dread.
"Well they're running out of food in the city, that's what." points out a man dressed in a blue mechanic's jumpsuit.
The sound of branches breaking and footsteps startle the men and they all prepare for an attack. A grimy man with short brown hair, piercing blue eyes, and a scruffy goatee; wearing a sleeveless t-shirt and bearing a crossbow comes into view from behind a rock. His hair was sticking up in places, and he had a bruised cheek and scraped knuckles. The group looks at each other while holding their breath. They wonder where M.J. is.
"Oh, Jesus," Dale whispers and results in the man to startle slightly.
"Son'o'bitch!" The hunter exclaims. "Tha's my deer!" He walks up to the now ruined venison that was to be a few days meal. "Look at it. All gnawed on by this..." he stomps over to the body of the killed geek. "Filthy," kick, "Disease-bearin'," kick, "Motherless," kick, "Poxy Bastard!"
"Calm down, son." Dale tries to avert the coming storm. "That's not helping."
"Wat'dja know 'bout it, ya ol' man?" The hunter grumbles as he storms over to Dale, while Shane hurriedly uses the back end of his shotgun to nudge him back. "Why don'cha take tha' stupid hat 'n' go on back ta 'On Golden Pond'?" He glares before turning around and starts to dislodge the arrows from the doe's carcass. "We been trackin' tha' deer fer miles." The group observes him as if he was a wild animal ready to attack at a moments provocation. "Gonna drag it back ta camp. Cook us up sum venison. Wat'cha think?" He leans forward and draws down around the neck where the geek had chewed. "Ya think we can cut 'round this chewed up part righ' here?"
"I would not risk that." Shane shakes his head with a look of aversion at the suggestion.
"Tha's a damn shame." The hunter sighs. "I gots sum squirrel... 'Bout a dozen or so. Tha'll hafta do." He stops briefly and examines the group queerly as they all stared at him like he was a ticking time bomb. The stirring of the geek's head draws away everyone's attention and he hears a muttered 'Oh God,' from one of the women and draws his crossbow. "Oh c'mon people. Wat the Hell?" He shoots the head in the eye. "Gotta be the brain. Don'cha know nuttin'?"
Rick looks introspective as he watches him walk back to camp.
"Merle!" The huntsman calls out as he arrives at the upper part of camp. "Merle! Git yer ugly ass ou' here! Got us sum squirrel! Le's stew 'em up." He places down his crossbow and proceeds to walk away and look around for his brother who should have responded to him by now.
"Daryl?" Shane calls out after the hunter. "Just slow up a bit, I need to talk to you and M.J.. Where is she?" Daryl pauses and turns back around.
"'Bout wat?" Daryl asks confused and a touch surprised that they were even speaking. "She's righ' behind me. Had ta take a piss or sum'tin'." He shrugs not really concerned knowing the girl in question never went far without letting him or Merle know in advance. Now eyeing Shane shrewdly, his lips pursed in a small frown. "Ain't 'er nursemaid. Girl can git 'round on 'er own."
"About Merle." Shane verbalizes as he catches up. "There was a, ah... There was a problem in Atlanta."
Shane pauses and watches Daryl warily. Daryl had a peculiar feeling when he came upon them back at the deer. And now noticing the majority of the women standing behind Shane at the camper, some of them were regarding at him with either pity or sadness, resulting in the feeling in the pit of his stomach to feel heavier and sour. A cursory glimpse behind him, he observes the men had assembled a half-circle. Behind Shane's jeep, he observes M.J. holding onto Rebel's collar. There was a look of worry on her face and she was biting her lower lip, nibbling on her lip-ring. She raises an eyebrow in question of him needing help, and he scarcely moves his head and twitches his hand to signal 'No'.
"He dead?" Daryl questions calmly as he could. M.J.'s eyes broaden in dismay.
"We're not sure." Shane answers softly.
"He either is or he ain't!" Daryl announces loudly and startles M.J. and Rebel, but she hastily quiets him.
"No easy way to say this, so I'll just say it." Rick steps forward capturing everyone's attention.
"Who are you?" Daryl glares at the new man who stops just in front of him.
"Rick Grimes."
"Rick Grimes, ya got sum'tin' ya wanna tell me?" Daryl snarls sarcastically.
"Your brother was a danger to us all." Rick insists upon. "So I handcuffed him on a roof, hooked him to a piece of metal. He's still there."
"Hold on. Let me process this." Daryl reiterates as he takes a few steps away and motions with his hand towards his head. "Yer sayin' tha' ya handcuffed m'brotha ta a roof." he turns back around and steps towards Rick and shouts. "'N' ya lef' 'im there?!" He tries to take no notice of the look of absolute trepidation on M.J.'s face. He knew that her heart had to be shattering from the distressing news, just as his was. But he couldn't get past that half of his kinsfolk was lost. Chained like an unwanted dog and left for rotters to trap him.
"Yeah," Rick avows quietly.
Daryl steps back and then grunts as he flings the squirrels off his shoulder at Rick before rushing him. He would do his damnedest to beat the ever loving shit out of them before going after Merle. It's what family did for each other after all. Blood and kinsfolk were all that mattered, a lesson that he learned early and quickly. In return, Shane tackles him before he makes contact with the one who left Merle behind. T-Dog, who had come back to camp from gathering firewood, calls out "Hey!" but is ignored when Daryl pulls his knife on Shane and Rick.
"Watch the knife!" T-Dog warns them as he throws down the stack of wood he had gathered.
Daryl slashes at Rick and is kneed in the gut for his trouble. As he doubles over, Rick takes hold of his right arm and Shane rushes to grab his left. Instantaneously he adjusts tactics and grabs Daryl in a choke-hold, hoping to get him down and calmed quickly. Rick pulls the knife from Daryl's hand and promptly steps back.
"Okay, okay." Shane stresses calmly as he starts to pull Daryl back off his feet.
"Ya'd best let m' go!" Daryl challenges as he struggles. He observes with a pained grimace as M.J. stands up. She proceeds to pull her G36 with her left hand and points it at Rick Grimes as she comes out of hiding.
"Nah, it's better if I don't." Shane disputes as he strengthens his hold and leans forward trying to keep Daryl of balance.
"Choke-hold is illegal." Daryl gasps for breath.
"You can file a complaint." Shane utters as he tightens his grip. "Come on man, we'll keep this up all day." Shane tightens his arm around Daryl's neck.
"#Pass auf!#" M.J. commands and the men disperse as the fawn colored Pit bull recognized as Rebel burst out of nowhere showing its teeth. "How 'bout I file the 'plaint fer 'im Shane?" she retorts politely as if nothing was wrong. Shane quickly let's Daryl go and steps back, stumbling slightly. "#Bleib!#" Rebel sat instantly cheek by jowl with Daryl and looks up at Shane with his teeth bared as if remarking, 'Come on... try me'. M.J. examines Rick as she draws out a flint and bone knife with her right hand, the G36 still aiming at him steadily. "On yer knees, Pig." Her tone becomes more guttural as her lip curls to some degree as if she detected the smell of something abhorrent. "Both o'ya. NOW!" she bellows.
"No, please." Lori gasps, imploringly looking at Rick and Shane and then back to M.J..
"Please M.J., not my dad." Carl cries out attempting to get around his mother from the threshold of the camper.
"Dunna do nuttin' stupid Carl," M.J. growls out barely taking her eyes off the two idiots in front of her. "Iffin Tweedledee 'n' Tweedle dumb-as-shit answer my questions 'n' refrain from beatin' on Daryl 'gain, ain't 'n'body else gittin' hurt." She flicks her eyes over to Carl before looking back at Shane and Rick.
"Promise?" Carl almost whimpers.
"M'word." she nods sharply.
"Some word from a tart." Ed sneers as he eyes her up and down. Daryl glares at him and he flinches back a step and looks away.
"Zip the lip Ed. Dinna need nuttin' from the horse's ass." M.J. frowns. "'Memb'a wat Merle said. Jus' 'cause 'e ain't here dunna mean Daryl willna back it up."
"I'd like to have a calm discussion," Rick announces as he kneels tentatively down in front of Daryl, "on this topic. Do you think we can manage that?" Daryl glares back in reply and M.J.'s eyes narrow to thin slits. "Do you think we can manage that?" Rick demands a bit more forcefully as he examines the girl over.
M.J. stood about five foot two, maybe five-three, inches tops. With a slender athletic body that seemed almost waif-like to some extent. A rounded face that leaned more towards oval that ended with a determined chin. A cupid's bow shaped mouth that had a silver lip ring with what looked like a sacred heart, on the left side of the full bottom lip. A button-ish nose that also had a silver hoop with blue on it in the left nostril. Wide teal eyes the color of the ocean where it meets the reefs and yet another silver hoop, that had a feather and turquoise dangling, through her left eyebrow. Eyes that gazed at him with a fierce determination that guaranteed she would pull the trigger if she felt threatened enough. Even with all the dirt and sweat smears on her face, Rick could still see the dark eyeliner and light blue eye shadow, like Jacqui described. Small ears that had a multitude of silver studs; and odd shapes dangled, some turquoise, others blue crystal maybe five on the right and seven on the left. Her haircut was silly looking on such a little woman, but he could tell it corresponded with her temperament entirely, even if Amy had maintained she was rather shy. Both sides of her head were shaved, and the middle was wavy and parts of it reached to her bottom lip. An intense red, resembling blood in color, was flipped over like a cockscomb.
Encircling her neck was a choker made of safety-pins and black feathers. Bare shoulders rounded down to a small but manageable chest, that was covered by a black vest similar to Merle's. But with a colored shamrock and words stitched on the back. Underneath was a grimy halter that was an unascertainable shade of blue. Between the bare shoulders and the exposed flat-toned stomach, sported a belly-button ring with an opal set in silver with a dreamcatcher and then a feather hanging down. He noted that although tanned, her skin had a slight sunburn. Dark jeans with smears of mud and it looked like streaks of blood were tucked into black boots that came up to just under her knees. On her forearms were leather braces that had turquoise and silver studs. Steady hands covered with a few rings, grasped the handmade flint and antler knife as if someone in the military had instructed her how to hold it. The other gripped a Glock 36, which he knew only housed six rounds. But he wasn't sure which caliber she used and didn't particularly want to identify, with Carl ready to run out at any second. Rick blinks and leans forward and notices the faint tattoos on both her pinky fingers.
"Ya dun wit' the eye fuck yet Popeye, or ya be needin' o'min?" As she examines Rick her snarl flattens and becomes thin-lipped. "Shove it, Bluto." She all but sneers at Shane when he begins speaking, which causes Daryl to almost burst with pride. "Though' ya had sum'tin' ta s'plain po-po." She notices Daryl wince at her elocution. Even though she didn't speak much to the others in camp, but when she did, she didn't sound like she came from the backwoods. He knew that when she sounded like a redneck hick-hillbilly mixed with her Scottish roots, she was beyond pissed off and bordering on homicidal.
"What I did was not on a whim." Rick tries not to fidget next to Daryl. "Your brother does not work and play well with others." He remarks as he glances briefly at Daryl.
"So 'cause 'e t'rew a tantrum, ya cuffed 'im 'n' lef' 'im ta die from 'posure or geeks?" The disbelief in her voice was understandable. "Ev'n I wouldna dun tha' ta Ed," Everyone glances at her than him and back to her in confusion. "Woulda leas' slew the sum'bitch firs'." At once every person glares, some halfheartedly, others just because they knew it was true.
"It's not Rick's fault." T-Dog interrupts and tries to mollify them both. "I had the key." He looks to one side guiltily. "I dropped it."
"Couldn't ya pick it up?" Daryl growls as he turns back to look at him.
"Well, I dropped it in a drain." T-Dog attempts to justify.
"So..." she emphasizes and her articulation becomes more measured and much more comprehensible but with an edge that promised to do more damage than cutting, "you just had the fortune to trip and drop the one and only key to the handcuffs that chained him to a pipe on the rooftop of a building that was being overrun with geeks in Downtown Atlanta?" she reiterates. "Do I look like I have 'Dumb-as-shit' tattooed on my forehead?"
"Look I'm sorry, okay. We got into a fight and he beat me pretty bad." T-Dog winces slightly as M.J. promptly looks him over. "Almost thought he cracked a rib or two with those boots of his."
"Password." She all but whispers as she shuts her eyes as if in pain. Everyone gazes at her in confusion. They had never observed her this mercurial and the quick-as-lightening change of moods of homicidal to calm-as-a-cucumber then to extremely pissed-off was a bit disconcerting. "I asked ya ta 'memb'a two simple words." M.J. twisted her head to watch Glenn from the corner of her eye. Daryl's eyes widen in understanding, while Glenn began to shake with trepidation. "Wat's the fukin' PASSWORD?" Rebel growled when she shrieked this.
"M.J.'s Promise." Glenn's voice shook as he repeated the short phase softly. "I'm... I'm sorry. I forgot. Merle was acting stranger than usual. Shooting walkers down below and beating T-Dog and naming himself leader." He shuffled his feet nervously before squaring his shoulders. "I know you made me promise not to go scavenging without you or Daryl along. But he said we couldn't wait for you two to get back from hunting, to pick up the supplies we were running out of." Daryl and M.J. zeroed on Shane and both growled eerily low; that it resulted in the fine hairs on the back of the neck and arms of just about every person present to stand up.
"So 'cause ya couldna live fer one measly day wit'ou' T.P. or soap or fukin' tampons," she takes a step forward; and both Rick and Shane just about freeze observing her like she was a rattlesnake. "I ain't got Merle? 'Cause ya had ta be Mista-High-N-Mighty Lord o' all He Surveys, I los' one o' the two mos' 'portan' people in this whole God fersaken world." Her voice got fainter as she spoke and they could barely hear her over the sniffling of the children in the RV. "'Cause o' yer arrogance a man tha' helped ta feed 'n' pra'tec' this 'tire camp, wit'ou' a T'anks or ev'n a 'Screw ya Dixon', is prolly dead."
Daryl sighs in disgust. Grunting as he gradually tries to stand, he stomps off past T-Dog and throws some dirt on the ground. M.J. blinks slowly trying to process all this. Her face is blank, and her left hand steadily lowers. Rick and Shane just as slowly begin to stand and nod to each other.
"I wouldn't iffin I was ya. Not tha' I wouldn't mind ya both dead 'fore ya take tha' firs' step," Daryl nods to Rebel; who also stood and was displaying his teeth in a deadly grin just egging them on. "'E's been trained by a military 'tack specialist 'n' y'all have yer throat ripped ou' a'fore yer foot takes tha' firs' step." He smirks now. "O'course ya can try, but also consider this..." he nods slightly at M.J. "As soon as Rebel lunges, she'll come ta point 'n' y'all have a bullet in yer brain a'fore she ev'n blinks 'n' realizes wat she's dun." Daryl scowls at T-Dog and scoffs. "Sorry... ya will be sorry. Iffin it's suppose ta make m' feel betta, it don'."
"Well, maybe this will," T-Dog asserts, which causes Daryl to pause. "Look I chained the door to the roof... So the geeks couldn't get at him... with a padlock."
"That's gotta count for something," Rick adds quickly hoping to diffuse the situation.
Daryl walks over to M.J. and gathers her close in a hug. She sniffs as he wipes at his eye which was watering. "Hell wit all y'all!" he shouts. "Jus' tell m'where 'e is, so's I can go 'n' git 'im."
"He'll show you," Lori spoke up. She gazes at her husband knowing that's what he intended to undertake all along. "Isn't that right?" Rick stares at her for a few seconds before nodding to Daryl.
"I'm going back." Rick declares.
Lori slowly enters the RV while Daryl storms off through camp practically dragging M.J. behind him. They both ignore the mutterings about 'crazy-ass-bitches' and 'demented-rednecks.' Unhurriedly she crawls into her tent and gathers the items that were going to be needed for the rescue mission. Rebel's harness, because he wasn't going to be able to climb any ladders without help. Some of his treats that she had been hoarding until her next run into town with Glenn.,A and a plastic baggie to hold one of Merle's shirts so that his scent would be fresh in case he figured out some way to get loose and was wondering around Downtown alone. And knowing the Dixon's luck they would probably be playing cat and mouse with the codgy old coot.
While rifling through her things, she came upon her lock-box and softly ran her fingers over it. Pulling her key ring from her back pocket; she pauses as she looks at the agate stone that indicated the key to the beautifully done Indian Chief Vintage that was parked next to the blue '73 Ford that belonged to Daryl. She smiles faintly as she thinks back to the day she was first given the key.
*~*~*Flashback*~*~*
Wheeler High School – May 22, 2010
The air was muggy as the sun crept higher in the sky. Being that it was almost the end of May, summer was loudly signaling its arrival. Even though the ceremony started shortly after 8 am, it was now nearing 11:30 and everyone in attendance wanted to leave and make sure those last minutes changes were made before any of the parties commenced. And being outside in this muggy heat was beginning to put a damper on the festive mood. Thankfully the crowd, both in the stands and down on the field, perked up when the announcer uttered his next remark.
"And although I am sad to see this extraordinary group of young adults leave my care and head out to forge their way into the real world... Students... Parents... I grant you the Graduating Class of 2010. Class dismissed."
The crowd stood and started clapping wildly for the seniors down on the field. Some shouted out their child's name. Others whistled loud enough to pierce an eardrum. And among all the spectators, two men stood and watched as the most significant young woman in their lives, bounced along in the see of blue and gold. Her strange haircut and the vivid color of her hair made her easily recognizable. The two men might have looked awkward in their surroundings and being semi gussied up; but there was nothing that could have knocked the shit-eating grins off their faces when she looked up into the stands and found them. Her smile was more radiant than the Georgia sun. Without delay, she said her goodbyes and made promises to meet them later at their respective parties. As fast as the departing crowd would allow, they encounter her at the bottom of the stairs. She unzipped her graduation gown to reveal a lovely below the knee cocktail dress inspired by a vintage design worn by Audrey Hepburn. Sleeveless with a high neckline, tapered waist, and a flared skirt; that when she twirled on her matching teal suede heels, showed a peek at a cute white and teal petticoat.
"Lookin' good there munchkin." Daryl grinned and grasped her when she leaped into his arms.
"Ain't no munchkin," M.J. replies sassily as she thumped his shoulder and stuck out her tongue. "Darylina."
"Where's the love, Leprechaun?" Merle playfully pulled a long face and stretched out his arms. Daryl launched her, shrieking with gaiety, to his brother and he stumbled back a step as he caught her grunting. "Damn girlie, yer gettin' heavy."
"Tha's mean." She made a moue and rested her forehead on his and stared at him inciting them both to cross their eyes. "I'm not tha' heavy." She tapped his shoulder to let him know to set her down. She looked around Merle at the people behind them.
There was Douglas 'Dougie' Chamber; Merle's on again/off again boss, that she had called Pawpaw Dougie since she was capable of to talk. He barely looked like his age of 67, except for his clipped white hair and beard. Next to him was his more youthful brother Rafe, 62, and his wife Beatrice, 58, but everyone just called her Birdie or Auni B. To the left of Birdie, was Dustin Mallory, a schoolmate of Daryl's that had been working for Dougie since he was 19. To the right of Dougie stood Callista McCray, 60, and her son Callum, 39. Her Unca Cal, who was in truth her mother Jenna's second cousin, but his parents, Nonna Calli and Poppa Jack;, had cared for her like their own after she had lost her parents when she was little. And last, but not least, was MacKenzie 'Mac' Turner who was standing next to Merle. They had been dating off and on for the last three years. At 32, she was merely two years younger than Daryl and Dustin. She stood barely over 5 foot 7, with long chestnut colored locks and had a quirky personality. She's known M.J. personally since she turned ten back in 2005 when she started instructing her to play the guitar. This was her family, both by blood and claim.
"C'mon. I want pictures o' us up at the arch." She pointed to where some of the other students were getting their pictures taken.
"Hurry up. We gots places ta be M.J." Merle reminded her gruffly.
"Let 'er have 'er day Merle." Nonna Calli scolded sternly, wagging her finger at him. "Gel jus' graduated wit' honors, she has a righ' ta this moment."
"Jeez, Merle. She jus' wants 'er picture taken wit' her ol' man." Pawpaw Dougie grumbled as M.J. pulled both of them along behind her.
"Lookin' a lil pale there bro," Daryl smirked as he regarded at his older brother's pallor. "Up drinkin' til dawn?"
"Shove it, Princess Darylina." Merle huffed as he shoved his lil brother. "Don'cha look so purdy in yer dress shirt 'n' tie. All dolled up like ya got a hot date or sum'tin'." he brayed like a hyena. "We both know ya to 'fraid ta chase a skirt."
"Shove it, Merle," Daryl scowled back. "Ya know I can git sum ass iffin I wanna." He flipped Merle the bird at his look of disbelief. "'Sides, ya know I'm jus' showin' respect fer M.J., bein' the firs' ta graduate high school is sum'tin' big." He lips twisted into a devilish smirk. "Musta acquired all 'em book smarts from Jenna."
"Hey, now I'm smart..." Merle protested and glowered back at Daryl.
"cough-Ass-cough." Merle looked over at Mac who just smiled innocently and winked.
"Made it through the Marines six years, didn't I?" Merle grumbled.
"Ya canna calculate the time in the stockade, brotha." Callum snickered as he sidestepped the swipe from Merle. "C'mon, the Duchess beckons for us, ignoble peasants."
M.J. rolled her eyes at them both and did a few poses, both with and without them all, under the arch. Saying goodbye to her friends, they all left the football field and hopped into Daryl's truck and headed to their next stop... God willing, an adequate brunch or lunch. Regrettably, it appeared it would not be so, instead they pulled up into the front of 'Chamber's Repair Garage' that Merle worked at. She took a gander at both men inquiringly, but they only smiled and exited the truck. She sighed. Hopping out, she entered the darkened building and frowned.
"'Lo?" she called out.
"SURPRISE!" The little group of seven people plus the two she came with jumped out shouting as the lights flickered on.
The entire garage was decorated with blue and gold balloons, streamers, and signs saying 'Congratulations Graduate!' posted up around the room. There was a table piled high with gifts. Next to it was another two that seem to groan under the weight of all the food arranged from breakfast to lunch to dessert. And on a fourth table was a big cake box, that when she uncovered it had a large sheet cake with a picture of her from last Halloween and written in teal food coloring was 'We're proud of you M.J.' She turned to everyone and smiled a bit tearfully. After saying thank you to everyone properly, they sat down and talked about some of her summer plans as they ate. Which school had she finally decided to accept? Was she going to stay on campus or at home? When was she going opening her gifts?
M.J. quickly moved over to the gift table and tore through the presents. Pawpaw Dougie had given her a collapsible bo and a 7-blades apocalypse kit styled after swords and knives in the 'Resident Evil' movies. All the blades were made out of used saws, railroad spikes, horseshoes, and tools hand crafted by him.
"Man Dougie, ya think she's gonna track down Bigfoot?" Daryl goggled at the loot.
"Or he thinks I need more pra'tice on survivin' the outdoors." M.J. chuckles. "But really Pawpaw Dougie, this is too much." she hugged him tightly. "I appreciate it."
"Now ya might be needin' some o' tha' fer a bear pelt." he winked.
"Now, now, bro don'cha be givin' 'er any ideas." Unca Rafe stated as he scooped her out of his brother's arms. "Okay girlie, mine 'n' Birdie's gifts next." She looked over at Auni B.
The first gift out of their pile was a teal-camo mountaineering pack with matching additional backpack that was filled to the brim with first-aid stuff. The second gift was another matching camo duffle bag over half filled with the rounds used for her G36 that Merle had permitted her for Christmas just a few months ago, along with five extra magazines (since it only held six bullets at a time) that sat in the thigh belt included in the sack. The third present was over 30 different heirloom seed packets.
"Those are the same seeds that you've been assisting me to grow the last several years missy." Auni B said as she hugged M.J. "You've been helping me plant, pick and can them so I figured you deserved to receive some of my great-nana's seeds. Just keep in mind what I taught you and they will never let you down."
"Thank you very much Auni B." she squeezed her hard back. "I won't, I promise. Thank you, Unca Rafe. This is too much." she wiped at a stray tear.
"Figured ya be needin' sum'tin' ta wrap ol' Daryl up like a mummy 'gain." Everyone chortled at that memory, and poor Daryl just sighed.
"Jesus, ya nev'a gonna let tha' go are ya?" Daryl grouched good-naturedly.
"Hell no, Daryl." Mac butted in gleefully. "Watchin' M.J. wrap you up like a mummy when she was pra'ticin' for her 'Emergency and Disaster' class was priceless."
"Screw ya Mac." Daryl huffed as Mac rolled her eyes at him and smiled at M.J. as she giggled.
"Nah, tha's wat I'm fer." Merle swaggered over from getting a drink and swung an arm around Mac's shoulder. "Ain't tha' righ', MacKenzie m'girl?" He gathered her close and gives her a deep kiss and everyone chuckled at M.J.'s gagging noise.
"Hey Mac," M.J. grinned, "are you still coming over for dinner? Auni B is making seafood dish, fried chicken, and her nana's potato salad and sweet cornbread. I have orders not to pig-out at my friend's parties so that I can eat dinner." She looked innocently over at Auni B who just shook her head.
"Uh-huh, I'll be there. Afterward, Merle's taking me to Jake's, righ' stud?" Mac looked up at her boyfriend and waggled her eyebrows.
"Wat'ev'a ya say sweet lips. 'S'long as we gets ta have some fun aft'awards." Merle swats her hard on the ass and everyone either groaned in mock disgust or shook their heads. "Ya still takin' her ta the oth'a parties?" He looks at Daryl who nodded in response. "Here M.J., open Mac's presents now."
It was a large box that was a more awkward than heavy. Covered with teal and silver wrapping paper and tied with a large silver bow. Moving aside some of the packing popcorn, was a rectangular box with a skull motif on it. Smirking up at Mac as she ripped open the box. She pulled out an over the shoulder laptop bag with 'Zombie Survival Kit' written in red with blood splatter around it. Everyone laughed as she squee'd with joy over the frivolous bag. They all knew of her addiction to the 'Resident Evil' franchise, both the video games and the movies. Laughing, she dug back into the box and yanked out another rectangular wrapped container. Ripping it open, M.J. pulled out a weird gel filled canvas pad with wires running through it. Once it was unfolded, it was about three feet long and it had a USB cord hooked into the side. With a quizzical look at Mac, who motioned to keep digging, she flung the packing popcorn everywhere as she pulled out an even larger box from the bottom. With cautious hesitance, she ripped a corner and gawked at the logo beneath the paper. With a loud 'WHOOP' she quickly finished ripping the paper off and showed everyone the brand new HP laptop. Glancing at the other odd item, it dawned on her that it was a folding solar pad for the laptop. Laying it gently on the ground, M.J. jumped up and glomped Mac.
"MacKenzie it's way too much," she exclaimed as she hugged the older woman.
"Ebay is m'friend." Mac exclaimed as she grunted while seizing the petite girl. "'Sides you required that for your classes and for when ya head out on those nature hikes ya like so much. And once you get Skype hooked up on it, ya can keep in touch with your friends from school."
"Okay Midget, come and open mine and Nonna's gifts." her Unca Callum stated. She rolled her eyes and stuck out her tongue as she walked over and grabbed one of the boxes.
"Nonna Calli, Unca Cal is picking on me again." She wrinkled her nose as she ripped open the wrapping and revealed five books. Two of them were hand written with colored photographs. The first was a joint recipe book written by Auni B and Nonna. The second was a joint book by both that was passed down from their families home remedies for the common cold to pneumonia; of how to deal with a bee sting to a major cut. The third manual was a guide on how to recognize safe and edible plants from poisonous weeds. The fourth guide was tips about surviving the wilderness, which she knew loads about because of camping and hunting with Daryl since she was eight. And the last volume was a gag gift, 'How to Survive the Zombie Apocalypse'.
Quickly running over to Nonna Calli and then Auni B, M.J. hugged and kissed them both in thanks for the books. After that, she turned to the two boxes that her Unca Callum sat down in front of her. The larger of the two contained a printer for the laptop and the smaller was a 2-terabyte external hard-drive for extra memory. Everyone started laughing when she began dancing a jig when he informed her all the horror movies and some of the musicals that she loved were already downloaded on it; Boondock Saints, Aliens VS Predators, Dracula, Queen of the Damned. All of the Dawn/Day/Night/ of the Living Dead Series both original and the remakes. All three of the Resident Evil movies, the Underworld Series, and Wolfman to name a few. And then the other end were 7 Brides for 7 Brothers, Sound of Music, Mary Poppins, Bedknobs & Broomsticks, White Christmas, and Gigi (1958).
Dustin came over bearing a reasonably sized box that had a new 8gb mp3 player and a SolBAT battery backup. They had even loaded it with at least 4 gigs of songs that they knew she liked listening to.
The gifts from Unca Daryl included a new harness for hauling Rebel up and down the cliffs she climbed now and then for her Search and Rescue training. And a make-it-yourself arrow kit, with 100-carbon fiber shafts and 3-packs of Arrow Combo Points (squirrel and small animal tips), 5-packs of Stinger 4-blade tips, and 8-packs of the replacement tips for her Mathews Bow she got two years ago from him for her birthday.
Now that the gift table was cleared, Merle walked over and lead M.J. outside for her last gift. There, sitting in the back lot was a redone Indian Chief Vintage in teal and white. The chrome was glistening, and the face-shield would give her added protection from bugs and grime. The double saddle bags and both seats were done in tanned leather, probably made from her and Unca Daryl's hunting trips. Sitting on the seat was a matching helmet done in teal, white, and black with butterflies and swirls over it.
"Really?!" M.J. gasped with awe. At Merle's nod, she raced over and began checking the motorcycle out. She couldn't believe it. It must have taken him months to fix this up. No wonder he had been working so much over-time this last year. She chuckled to herself. This must have been what Mac and Dustin had been grumbling about. Twirling around she raced back to Merle and flung herself into his open arms. "I love it. I love it. I love it. Thank you. Thank you." She rained kisses all over his face and just about choked him with her fierce hugs.
"More than Ol' Merle?" he questioned with an eyebrow raised.
"Nope!" she popped the 'P'. "I love Ol' Merle more than a million bikes." she grinned at his other eyebrow raising in mock disbelief. "I care for you more than to the Moon and back?" she asked with mock innocence. At his growl, she squealed with laughter. "Okay, Okay." she grinned as they continued to engage in their game. "I adore you more than Aunt Darylina." she beamed at his huff of annoyance. "A smidge." She held up her left hand with the thumb and index finger barely half an inch apart. Giggling as he tossed her over his shoulder and gave her a quick swat; he set her down on the ground and watched her race back over to the motorcycle and put on the helmet. "Coming ol' man?" Everyone laughed as he strode over and started the motorcycle up. As they pulled out of the lot M.J. settled her head on Merle's shoulder and whispered into his ear. "I love you, Daddy. More than anything in the entire world."
**~*End Flashback*~*~*
