Arrow and the Fletching

by rasax45

Goes along with the TV show, right as they get to the CDC. But with a few OCS. Daryl with OC pairing later on. Sunshine and Whiskey, my other story, is very loosely based on this. :) This came first by the way!

3. Mad World

(A/N: Well! Here's another chapter! And even on my birthday! XP We're moving on! As always tell us what ya think! :) hope ya like!
Disclaimer: I own nothing but Mads and Eddie. But more to come! :) Enjoy!)

I find it hard to tell you
I find it hard to take
When people run in circles
It's a very, very mad world, mad world

Chapter 3

It had been so long since he had actually gotten rest and not just sleep because he needed it to function. When he woke, he was dazed, not even wanting to move. He felt heavy, hell he wanted to stay where he was. So warm . . . so soft . . . With that, he shot up with a confused look on his face. His pale blue eyes squinted as he looked down at her. He blinked the sleepiness away, wondering what foolishness he got himself in this time, not like he did this all the time. Breathing deeply, his hand rose up to rub over the stubble on his jaw up to his cheek. He shook his head, and mumbled, "Wait to go Dixon . . . What did you go and do this time?" He then very carefully pulled away from her and the comforting bed.

Shaking his head, he slipped out of her room and into the cafeteria. He looked up at the clock sitting high up there and it read, 06:47. He slept in. He almost always only slept 4 hours. Apparently he had slept nearly seven hours. He shook his head again and went to the refrigerator. Daryl's mouth instantly began to water when he saw the thing of meat. "Hello beautiful . . ." He murmured and brought out the bacon, and pulled out a cast iron skillet from a cabinet. He immediately started cooking it. The flame was low, so that it cooked slow. While that cooked, he cut up the rest of what they had of potatoes and sliced them thin for home fries. He knew someone would be joining him shortly. Who, he didn't care.

Madison sat up fast, smelling the bacon in the air. Confusion was all over her face for a moment, looking back to where he once was. She groaned softly, rubbing her eyes a little bit as she rolled out of her bed. First thing she did was change her clothes, get herself ready for the day ahead. The very long day ahead. Madison pulled on a dark green t-shirt, as well as the same pair of jeans that she wore the other day. Once she finished getting dressed, she moved to sit in front of her desk, looking at all of the things in front of her. All the shit she would have to leave behind . . . If she left. Madison gave a heavy sigh, grabbing the back pack near the door. The single pack she had to fit what she wanted to take, needed to take. The first things she slipped into her bag was her arrows, and the picture of her niece into the bag, before going to get some clothes.

Madison gave a heavy sigh once more as she walked into the kitchen, sitting her bag onto the island. "Look at chu." She smiled a little bit, walking over towards the fridge, barely looking over at Daryl as he was cooking. She grabbed the orange juice out from the fridge, the same jug he half chugged down the other night. "Let me finish." She said softly, quickly taking a swig from the jug. "Go pack." She whispered under her breath now. "Trust me."

When he heard her walk in, he looked over his shoulder to see who it was. He nodded at her, but didn't say anything about last night. He didn't regret last night, but he also thought he shouldn't have went to her, or something. His brow then went up when she wanted to take over cooking. "What? Think I can't cook?" He rumbled with a twitch of his lips. "I don't have much to pack . . . What do you know that I don't?" He asked softly.

Right after he asked her that question, it was then that Dale walked in. Daryl nodded his greeting, and Dale greeted them both warmly. "Wow Daryl . . . I had no idea you could cook . . ." Daryl grumbled, then shoved a thing of cooked bacon practically under his nose. "And well . . ."

Madison took another drink from the jug of juice. "I know a lot of things you don't know." She mumbled out just as Dale walked into the kitchen. Madison just smiled at the man, having little fear of the old coot. He reminded her to much of her own grandfather. "Good morning." She smiled at him, looking at Daryl for a moment, before grabbing a plate for them both. Madison looked at Daryl for a moment, before watching him shove the plate into the old man's hands. She waited a moment before Dale walked away from them, going to sit at the table. "Just have your stuff in a spot you can grab it up fast . . . Just listen to me, alright?" She lent into him when she said that, acting like she was grabbing for something to eat. "Please." Madison turned away from him now, going to grab her bag up. "Im'ma go wake up Eddie." She whispered softly, looking at Daryl for a moment. "My dad should be in soon. Once your people are awake . . . You'll find your answer." She shrugged her pack behind her shoulder, before moving out of the room.

His brow rose at what she said, and tried to figure out what she was hiding. He didn't ask her about it more, even though he wanted too. His brow continued to stay where it was, high up, while she continued on. He was about to question her further, when she said about waking up Eddie and her dad being up soon, when she left. He growled softly, hating being left in the damn dark. Shaking his head, more and more of their group began to wander in. A lot of then were really staring at him like he grew another head. "What? A guy can't cook?" He growled out, finishing cooking. And before anyone could kife anymore bacon, he grabbed up a bunch of pieces and shoveled some potatoes on his plate. He joined them at the table, squirted ketchup on the plate, and began eating, with the Orange Juice carton close at hand.

Madison barely looked away from the computer in front of her, not even looking up at the screen as he would show them the footage. Eddie stood behind her, gripping at her shoulders a little bit, as she would make a little sigh. Madison was making her choice right then, right there. She was gonna stay in here, stay in the building with her father. Go out in the big ol' explosion. Madison didn't wanna go out into that world, deal with them things . . . The biters. Madison didn't want to become one of them things, or watch her brother become one. This world wasn't FIT for her anymore.

Madison looked up, listening to Dale ask about the clock on the wall. Her eyes fell away from her fathers now, moving towards Daryl. Giving him that look, telling him this was that answer he wanted. The moment her father told them about the place blowing to pieces, the whole place went nuts. Daryl tried to swing an axe at her father, the guys in the group trying to hold her back. Her father told them their was no way out, they was stuck with them . . . But the group was gonna fight their way out, try anything they could to leave . . . Survive. Madison stood up, watching as her brother, and T-dog went to help Shane gather up everyone's things. She looked at everyone before going to sit with Andrea, Jacqui, and her father. Her choice to stay with them, die right there . . . Uncaring about what the others thought about her giving up, not listening as Dale tried to reason with her, Andrea and Jacqui.

"No!" Eddie yelled out as he came back into the room, the dog right at his heels as he ran over to her, him tossing Daryl's stuff towards him now. "You ain't fucking staying in here. Your coming!"

Madison just stared up at him now, blank in the face. "It's my choice Eddie." Her brother growled heavily, grabbing up their bags looking at Daryl for a moment. "You picking her up, or am I?" He asked him. "Cause if you ain't, your carrying out shit out there so I can." Eddie wasn't leaving her in this place, taking her out by force.

He was furious. Furious for multiple reasons. The first one, was that this fucking virus hit making the fucken walkers, 2nd, is that no one could stop it or find a damn cure. 3. That they had to suffer through it. 4. Jenner was a fucking insane prick. 5. Mads didn't fucking tell him. 6. SHE WAS SITTING DOWN WANTING TO KILL HERSELF! He was sneering down at them all, already wanting to send an arrow through their heads, rather than give them the damn explosion.

It was her luck that her brother skidded towards her and was yelling at her to come. "I've dealt with these damn walkers, you haven't . . . You pick her up." He growled and picked up their bags and shouldered them. He then thought, what he would do if he did have his hands on her. He wouldn't be able to control himself, and probably kill her. "Come ON!" He yelled out, after Rick set off the grenades, and ran out into the horrid smelling somewhat fresh air.

Sneering, he raised his cross brow and shot arrow after arrow, taking out walkers left and right, towards where they were running. "COME ON! MOVE IT!" He screamed out once more, running away from the place that was supposed to be a safe place. Heart pounding hard, his blood surging in his veins, he ran as fast as he could while taking walkers out. It was then the explosion happened. A bright light flashed behind them all, and a hot gust of air pushed them all forward.

Eddie grabbed her up quickly, holding her tight over his shoulder. Ignoring the fact that she was kicking, screaming, crying for him to let her go. She didn't want to go out into that world, and there they was . . . DRAGGING HER OUT. The exploding of the doors made her jump in Eddie's arms even more, her knees busting him in the ribs a little bit. Eddie growled out a little bit, holding his own pistol in his free hands in case he would have to use it. He followed behind everyone closely, watching them go, and taking walkers out when he needed to.

But when the explosion happened, Madison lost it. Sobbing heavily, screaming out a little bit as a walker closed in close behind them both. But Eddie was quick to turn around, running backwards to place a bullet into the thing's brain. He looked over his shoulder to watch Daryl go towards the blue truck, with the bike in the back. He ripped out his passenger door, tossing Madison inside. "Take her . . . I feel better if you would. I'll go with them in the RV. Better shot." He quickly slammed the door after the dog jumped inside with Madison.

Once he regained his feet from the blast, he took out the walker close to his truck, slipped over the hood like Bo Duke at his finest and dropped his feet to the pavement. "MOVE IT!" he growled out to the others, tossing their bags in the bed with the motorcycle and hopped into the truck. He was surprised, sneering when Eddie dumped his damnable sister into his passenger seat, her dog following in even. He growled, and watched Eddie run over to the RV.

Madison grabbed onto the dog now, burying her head into its furry side. "Fuck all y'all." She sobbed a little bit, not really caring if Daryl was listening to her. "I ain't fucking built for this fucking world!"

"Asshole . . ." He grumbled out as he started up the truck, ignoring her sobs and curses. He didn't have time for her at the moment. Could only deal with one thing at a time. He put the truck in gear just as a walker slammed it's hands over the passenger window. He pulled away from the so called Haven and started down the road with the RV behind them.

But after a moment or two of hearing her crying, he shook his head, yelling out, "Would you shut up! You're alive! Fucken deal with it! We all had to!" He was still angry, wasn't sure when he wouldn't be at her.

Collie-dog licked over Mads teary cheeks, trying to make the girl feel better in some way. But nothing was stopping her from her crying. Not even Daryl telling her to shut up. Madison just looked over at him for a moment, wiping her eyes onto the back of hands. "Fuck you, Daryl." She growled a little bit, curling up on the seat more, pulling her legs up under her. After a few moments of glaring at him for a little bit, she rested her head up against the glass. Not looking back at him again.

After a few minutes of her still crying after her cursing him out, she quieted and he was finally left to his thoughts. But thanks to the explosion, and the stress, he had a damn fucking headache. And his brother's stash was in the saddlebag of his bike. He growled softly and just drove, trying to ignore the throbbing in his head.

As they got farther on, Madison ended up falling asleep. Collie-dog was sitting up between them, keeping an eye out onto the road with Daryl. Almost like she was trying to keep a watchful eye out for the biters.

As they rolled up close to a gas station luckily, the RV made a heavy pop. The smoke rolling out from the front of the RV, coming to a heavy stop in front of them. He cursed, braked while shifting down so that he could park. Sighing angrily, he got out of the truck and tried to close the door quietly so not to wake her. He didn't want to have her start crying again. The noise making Madison stir up a little bit, rubbing her hands over her head a little bit.

Once out into the open, Daryl growled out to the group that was coming out of the RV. "Now what?"

Eddie looked at him when he came over to the group, him standing behind Rick a little bit. "We're at a gas station, on the side of the highway. Collect what we can, scrap shit from the cars." Eddie spoke with a little shrug, "Take what we need, not what we want. Go inside the gas station, kill anything that could be inside . . . In case we have to stay over night." They all looked at him for a moment, unsure to even go with anything he said. "I'll look at the RV. I can fix shit like this, tell you what is wrong." Eddie walked away now, Dale following closely behind him, wondering if he should let the kid touch his precious RV.

Mads slowly pushed out of the truck now, pushing her hands into her jean pockets. A tiny sniffle sounded a little bit, walking off towards the side of the road, keeping close to the dog. Collie-dog barked out a little bit, wagging her tail around. Happy to be outside once again, after months, and months of being inside of the CDC. She could feel some of the people looking at her, but she wouldn't turn to look back at them. She didn't want to see how they was looking at her, most likely judging her already. Madison sighed softly, bending down a little bit, snapping her fingers to call the dog back to her.

Daryl was surprised by the kid. He had to admit, the kid had a leader streak in him. The question was, Could he handle the responsibilities? It was then that he heard the car door. He looked back, wondering what she was up too. What he saw made him glare at her and shake his head. The damn broad was going to get herself killed if someone didn't watch over her. And if the kid wasn't going to do it, it looked like he was going too. He sighed, another shake of his head as he started towards her.

The horizon was clear of walkers when he got out of the truck, thank god. So when he walked over to her, he took his time and wasn't paying to close attention. So when he looked back up, his heart thudded hard. Three walkers were probably only twenty some feet away from her. He growled and started running, hoping he would get there in time, for he left his cross brow in the truck so he only had his hunting knife on him.

When he got close enough, he cried out to her, "Down!" Hoping to god, she would listen to him. He jumped, and practically tackled down a walker. His hunting knife embedded quickly in it's temple. He felt another's hands starting to paw at his back. Sneering, he rolled away with his knife and kicked out it's knees sending the walker to the ground, moaning and groaning. He bounded to his feet, smashing his boot into it's skull, once, twice, and three times it was still. He heard her scream, seeing one arms length away from her. Without thinking, he threw the knife, but thank god his aim was true as it slid in like butter at the base of the skull. It dropped at her feet, with him breathing hard. He shook his head, his pale blue eyes hot as he glared at her. "You trying to get yourself killed?" He growled. "You need a weapon where ever you go . . ." Still grumbling he walked close to her, and grabbed at her upper arm to pull her away from the scene and back to the truck.

Madison shook a little bit, almost trying to push herself on top of him when he grabbed her arm. She blindly followed him towards the truck now, looking back to make sure the dog was with them. Thankfully she was. Mads just looked at Daryl for a moment, before watching her feet move across the ground. She barely looked away as she heard the rest of the group running over towards them, Eddie ahead of all of them.

Once at the truck, she leaned back against the door keeping her arms wrapped around her chest. Holding herself tight as her breathing was a little heavy. This was why she wanted out, she didn't want to live in the fear anymore. Mads was sick of being scared all the time, she spent her whole life scared. Madison looked up at Daryl for a moment, but didn't utter a single word. No thank you, nothing.

Eddie was the one to walk up to her, checking her over, and over again. Making sure the thing didn't get a scratch on her, get her skin in anyway. He looked at Daryl, giving him a little nod. Out of every single person there with them all, he trusted Daryl the most with his sister. "Dale . . . Mind if she lays down in the bed for a little bit?" Eddie asked, rubbing the sides of her arms for a little bit. "She really just needs to chill . . . Sleep again maybe." Dale nodded his head, agreeing with Eddie on that. Eddie wrapped his arms around his sister, carrying her off towards the RV, catching Andrea mumbling how she was being babied on. Making Eddie growl a little lowly.

He watched them all come up on them, especially her brother. His eyes then traveled to her, noticing how she was. It looked like she was in shock. Good thing her brother grabbed her up, for Daryl had not a clue of how to console her. Not this time . . . The last time, only because he was fuckin drunk. He nodded at Eddie, knowing that somehow the little fuck trusted him with his sister. He shook his head. Wonders never ceased.

Snorting with disbelief, he watched Eddie take her and slip into the RV. He could at least trust Eddie to be prepared for this world. Mads . . . not so much. He growled again, knowing she was going to be a handful. He only hoped that Eddie would take care of her and not him.

Shaking his head once more, he stalked off towards the gas station, not caring now if he didn't have his cross brow anymore. He wanted it to be up and personal. Even if he would regret it. His knife ready in his hand, he kicked in the Seven Eleven's locked door open. It slammed against the wall with a bang against the wall. He looked in its dim confines and didn't see anything threatening but that didn't mean much. He advanced within.

Eddie laid her down in the bed, watching the dog jump onto the bed to lay with her. "Sleep . . . You'll be okay, I promise Mads." He whispered softly, running his fingers into her red locks. Mads just looked at the wall she was facing, staring at it blankly. He sat his gun down by the bed, "Need it . . . Fucking use it." He told Mads, before leaving the RV, going back to look at the RV's engine.

Madison laid there for a while, replaying everything that happened in the last hour in her head. Playing it over, and over again. She rolled back onto her other side, staring at the gun her brother left her. Almost thinking she would end it right there, she could do it. Hell she wanted to taste that bullet. But something deep down stopped Madison. Even though she took the gun, she hid it under the pillow she laid on.

Her eyes flicked to the RV door, hearing Shane bitching about the dog. Talking about how Collie-dog would alert the walkers, being another mouth to feed. Just waste. It made Madison growl a little bit, gripping at the dog's collar a little bit. They was gonna have to fight her to hell and back to take this dog from her hands. This dog wasn't just her dog, it was that little girl's dog. The little girl who got sick, and died on them. Collie-dog was fucking staying.

Children waiting for the day they feel good
Happy Birthday, Happy Birthday
And I feel the way that every child should
Sit and listen, sit and listen

Daryl kicked in the door quickly, his knife at the ready. Breathing deeply, his pale blue eyes scanned the area quickly. It smelled old, stale, and only slightly decayed. He moved farther in, the darkness getting deeper the farther he went in. He checked all the aisles, and found only two geeks. He took them out quickly. He then quickly went through the janitor closet and office, and found nothing. Now it only left the bathroom.

He tried the doorknob and found it locked. Frowning, he took a deep breath, lifted his foot and slammed it against the door. The door shuddered in it's frame. One more would take it out. He did another kick and the wood around the hinges snapped so that it gaped open lopsidedly. He pushed it open the whole way, and swept the area with his eyes. Nothing . . . He let out a breath in relief, and was about to turn away when he saw something move in the corner of his eye. His brow furrowing in confusion, he turned back to really look in that spot. The small dark corner that he glanced over.

The form shivered again, and he brought his knife up in defense and waited. It didn't move. Frowning, he crept closer, seeing that it was a child. Fuck . . . He hated it when it was kids. He shook his head and was about to strike the killing blow, when she cried softly. His heart lurched in his chest at the cry.

"Little girl?" He asked softly, and the crying only increased. He crouched down, still wary of her. "You bit?" He asked, but only came the soft crying. He pulled her arms away from her tight body, even if she resisted, and checked for bites. Nothing . . . So far . . . "You got to look at me hun . . . I have to check for bites. To see if you're infected . . . If you're one of them . . ."

She finally looked up him, shaking her head in answer. God she looked so damn tiny. Her dark kinda light hair of curls were messed up, and looked more like a rat's nest than hair on top of her head. Her light violet eyes looked to big for her tiny face. Daryl guessed her age to be four at most. Not even. She looked to damned skinny, that's for damn sure. He lifted up her shirt quickly and found no marks on her, and quickly turned her around as she let him move her. Nothing on her back.

"Come on kid . . . You're safe now . . ." He murmured softly, putting his knife back in it's sheathe and picked her up easily. Christ, she hardly weighed a thing when he did pick her up. Shaking his head, he strode out of the bathroom, out of the gas station and towards the RV. The women of the group seemed like they all noticed him all at once, all wanting to know about the little girl. If she was okay. Everything. But Daryl didn't say anything as the little girl tightened her grip around him as he took her inside the RV where the new addition to their group be. Once he got to her, he grunted so she would look up to him.

Madison made a small sniffle as she pulled out of the pillow, moving slowly because she knew it was him, from the sound. "What do you . . ." She quickly lost her tone with a gasp as she pulled out of the bed, pressing her hand softly onto the child's back. "Is she okay?" Madison whispered lowly, looking up at Daryl now before looking back at the small girl. "Sit her in the bed." The red head ushered him quickly, now scooting past him to grab a few things from the cabinets, mostly food, and what bottles of water that was stashed away inside before moving to kneel in front of the bed to be face to face with the small girl. "Here, drink a tiny bit of this water, okay? If you try to drink it all, you'll get really sick." She gave her a soft smile. "And if you slowly drink this water I have some food you can eat here." She smiled even more as she held the little can of fruit out before their eyes. "It's not protein . . . But it's food for you." Madison nodded a little bit as she looked over at Daryl. "Could you open this please?" She asked him with a smile as she tossed the can to him.

Madison stood back up again, grabbing a rag off Dale's counter top wetting it down with some of the water before sitting back onto the bed besides the girl. "Lets clean you up a little bit, yeah?" She smiled again, "Make you feel better too." She nodded a little bit, lightly pressing the cool cloth against the girl's neck. "What's your name?" Madison spoke softly, and overly low with her not wanting to scare her anymore then she already was.

Gracie whimpered a little bit looking from Daryl, and then back to Madison before quickly launching herself into Madison, wrapping her arms around her waist to cry more. "M . . . My name is Gracie." She cried out, so soft that Madison almost didn't catch it.

Madison looked up at Daryl now, a look of concern on her face, before looking down at Gracie. "Well then Gracie . . . You're safe now, okay?" She whispered softly, brushing some of the girl's matted locks behind her ear, moving to wipe her tears. "We ain't gonna let nothing ever happen to you now, okay?

When she got into mother mood, she got into it pretty good, he had to admit. He sat the child down in the bed, the girl not wanting to let go immediately, but she eventually did when he said a few things to her. He then watched Mads as she began to care for the girl, knowing he did the right thing bringing her here. He did notice the kid's eyes grow wide at the sight of food. She was hungry then. Time to go for another hunt. The kid needed some protein. He caught the can easily and opened it quickly with his knife and set it out on the counter within her reach.

Daryl saw that the girl practically leaned into the cool rag. It was only seconds before those pretty but haunted eyes looked up into his pale blue ones. He nodded, and she launched herself against Madison. He hardly even caught her name she said it so low while crying. He nodded at what Mads said and crouched down. "That's right . . . I'll watch out for us . . . But especially for you . . . Nothing will hurt ya Itty Bit . . ." He murmured softly, then stood back up. He didn't know why he felt connected somehow to the child, but he did.

Still sitting next to her, Mads asked her, "How long have you been in there? And you need to eat. Keep your strength up. He'll tell you that twice." She pointed at Daryl for a moment, before rubbing at the back of her neck. Gracie only shrugged her little shoulders as she wiped away most of her tears. "Gracie . . . Did you have anything with you in that gas station, sweetie? Book bag or something. Something with some clothes?" She turned to look out the window to look out at the station, rubbing her own arm a little bit. "I can make Daryl go get it for you, and we can find some water. I am sure you would like to clean up a little bit more than this." She smiled at her softly. The girl only shook her head, meaning she didn't have anything.

And then her soft voice rang out to him. "My grandma don't live to far from here . . . She has some stuff of mine . . . Maybe if she can, you can bring her and my stuff to me?" She asked timidly.

"I know honey . . . But . . ." He wanted to tell her how her grand mother was probably gone, but he didn't want to break her heart. She'd already been through so much. "I'm sure we can . . . Where do you live?" He asked softly. He nodded when she gave him the address. It wasn't that far from there. He remembered seeing the road she mentioned. He nodded, and told her he was gonna go and see. He moved to leave the RV and Mads moved so she could follow him.

"Thank you . . ." She breathed and he nodded with a small grunt and stepped out, and then started to walk away to go find that damn house. A few of their group swarmed to him, asking about Gracie. He answered she'll be fine. Mads will look after her. He then shooed them away as he got to Eddie, Mads twin brother, which was nearly shoulder deep in the hood of the RV.

"Any luck cowboy?" He asked gruffly, wondering if they'd be getting anywhere anytime soon. He got his answer soon enough, which left the redneck with a half smirk on his face.

Not to long afterwards, just when he reached his truck, he could even hear Mads yelling at them to get lost and give her room. He shook his head, once again his mouth twitching up. Damn bleeding heart . . . He thought and watched her go all mother hen on the little one. He had to admit it was cute. He listened, knowing that the others would have went into the gas station by now, wondering if they could salvage anything. Whether it be food or anything else.

So he went and find whatever he could for Gracie, with Glenn in tow with him. They didn't find much. And no Grandma either, which Daryl was grateful for. He grabbed what the kid needed and grabbed up some food as well. When exiting the decent garage, they found a nice jeep sitting there. He looked over at Glenn and Glenn nodded with a smirk. Looks like they were getting a new ride. Or maybe it was a present for Mads.

Went to school and I was very nervous
No one knew me, no one knew me
Hello teacher tell me what's my lesson
Look right through me, look right through me

-Gary Jules Mad World