The time has come, there is no second chance
We've been drifting on an empty aching sea
You were the girl I never knew I wanted
I was the boy you hoped you'd never see
-Hayes Carl
"Come on, you're kidding, right?" Glenn looked at Rick in disbelief. "You want me to go back there for Merle Dixon? He tried to kill us."
"Look. I know I'm askin' a lot. But, I'd sure feel better with you along. I know she would too." He gestured over to Lori standing in the door of the RV.
Glenn gave in. "All right, but only if Danni comes too."
They all turned and looked at Danni, leaning against the front tire of the RV chewing on a hangnail. She looked up when she heard her name. Everyone looked at her.
"Why her?" Rick asked.
"Because she knows how to use a gun."
"We won't be shooting Glenn, you know we're trying not to call attention. Get in and get out."
"I'm even better with a tire iron, crowbar, whatever." Danni offered. Glenn wanted her there. She was his enforcer as their joke went.
"If we're going back for those guns and need to use them I want her there."
"You trust her?" Rick asked.
"Yeah, I do," Glenn answered.
"All right then."
"Great, a damn chick? My day keeps gettin better an' better." Daryl complained angrily. Her again? Shit, he thought.
"Look, were risking a lot for you and your brother." Rick shot back.
"Whatever. Let's go. We're wastin' time!" Daryl complained impatiently.
"You are risking a hell of a lot, Rick. This is where we need you, here, protecting your family, the camp. Instead, you're risking three lives for what? A douche bag like Merle Dixon?" Shane argued.
"Hey, that's my brother you're talking about. Better choose your words more carefully." Daryl warned.
"Oh, I did. Douche bag's what I meant. Shane answered.
Daryl thought about taking a swing at him but didn't want to waste any more time. "Let's get goin' people. We ain't got all day. Merle could be dyin' up there on that roof." Daryl yelled heading for the truck they'd be taking into to town.
"He's right. Let's get a move on." Rick looked at Lori as he spoke. She turned away. After hugging Carl and promising to return, Rick headed over to the truck with Glenn and Danni. Daryl was already inside laying on the horn.
"Hey Danni," Shane called after her, "Wait up."
She turned and walked back.
"Here." He handed her the Glock 22 she had used for target practice and a holster for her waist. "I told you, it has your name on it."
"Thanks, Shane, I..."
"Watch yourself out there okay?"
Rick drove and Glenn rode shotgun. Danni and Daryl sat across from each other in the back of the box truck. As they headed for Atlanta, Glenn detailed the route he took to the city and his tactics for avoiding walkers.
Daryl focused on wiping down his crossbow, then used the same rag to wipe the sweat off his upper lip. He looked over at Danni. He couldn't believe it. Her again. Dogging him. Not only was she a girl, but she was also a girl who needed saving. He knew first hand. She was gonna slow them down or get them killed. This was dangerous. A thousand things could go wrong. He didn't want her here, but he couldn't stop looking at her.
Danni saw Daryl glaring at her out of the corner of her eye. She pretended to focus on Glenn and Rick's conversation. She was used to men underestimating her, not wanting her involved in their business. The look Daryl was giving her now was as familiar to her as the feel of her bass guitar against her hip bone when she played. The music business was no different from this business. It was full of guys with Daryl's attitude. She smiled thinking about it. She'd show him. She always showed them.
"The hell you smiling at girl? You think this is a joke?" He growled.
She shook her head.
"It ain't no joke. My brother could be dyin' up there on that roof and you're sitting over there laughing. Dumb bitch." He refused to think that Merle was already dead.
"I'm not laughing and don't call me a bitch. Bitch."
She redirected the insult at him.
"I ain't nobody's bitch!"
"Look you two lay off! Fighting each other is not gonna help us!" Rick shouted back at them angrily.
Daryl spit to the side. Danni rolled her eyes. She wouldn't look at him, but he gave her a long once over.
He noticed that she cut all the collars of her t-shirts to make them larger, and emphasize her long neck and delicate collar bones. The one she had on was yellow. It looked like a kid's little league shirt. It said Tigers across the front and St. Mary's #6 on the back in black lettering. It just fit. The hem hit a bit above the waist of those black jeans riding low on her hips. Her jet black hair was pulled back in a loose, messy ponytail. Her bangs fell just above her hazel eyes making them look enormous, framed by naturally full, dark lashes. Her small nose, slightly upturned, had a tiny diamond stud on its left side. He did like her smile. He'd seen it when she was with the kids. You could say she was pretty in a way, but when she smiled she was beautiful. He'd never admit he thought so. Her teeth weren't perfect, there was a small chip on the bottom of her right front tooth. Still, that smile changed her whole face. She wasn't smiling now. He noticed she was still wearing those useless sneakers. He didn't know why it bothered him so much.
Danni hadn't thought much of Daryl when she'd first seen him around camp. He had the traits of a right-wing, backwoods survivalist type. Ruby Ridge and all that. Being related to Merle convinced her. They had nothing in common. However, their two past interactions changed her mind a little. He seemed more socially awkward than outright rude. He had helped her; stood up for her. He had almost seemed kind. What was up with his attitude now? She realized she was a worse judge of character than she'd thought. He was a total dick today.
He wore dark cargo pants and tan Red Wing work boots. He was filthy as usual. He had cut the sleeves off of his sweat-stained thermal shirt. Granted, everybody was a little worse for the wear out here, but Daryl didn't even seem to try. His ever-present crossbow was on his lap. His hair was dirty blonde and actually dirty, sticking up in different places. His tanned face had more of a scruff than a beard on his cheeks and chin. He was looking down at his bow now, but she'd never forget his deep, piercing blue eyes when he'd stared hard at her the day he'd thrown his knife at Ed. His eyes were beautiful. And his arms. Okay, she had to give him that. She'd never seen such toned biceps. Carrying and shooting that crossbow gave him lean muscled arms. She'd never admit she noticed it though. He was such a jerk.
She didn't realize she'd been looking at him or that the truck had even stopped until Glenn said, "We walk from here."
