Now... let's see what happens when Daryl gets back home. 8D
Give Me Reason
Chapter 9: Boomerang
Daryl pushed the door open loudly and stomped into the kitchen. Carl was there, holding Judith. The kid looked like he wanted to say something but didn't when he saw Daryl's face. Daryl's eyes were on Rick's, sitting across the table from the kids. "I got one question for you."
Rick was a bit taken aback by the intrusion. He blinked and glanced at Carl and Judith for a moment. Then back at Daryl. "Uh…"
Daryl leaned on the table towards him. "Are you fuckin' with me?"
"No… no!" Rick stammered, getting up. He held up his hands and shook his head.
Daryl moved in closer and pushed him lightly in the chest. "Really, Rick." He said loudly. "You better not be fuckin' wit me. You really wanna marry me? Me?" He punctuated the word louder.
Rick glanced at Carl for a split second. The kid was staring at them, wide eyed. "Daryl." He lowered his voice. "We should discuss this in private."
"Fuck that." He turned towards Carl and leaned on the table towards him. "Yer dad asked me to marry him so I can adopt Judy so I get her if he dies."
Rick grabbed Daryl's arm and yanked him back off the table. "Jesus, Daryl."
"He deserves to know." Daryl snapped, wrenching away from Rick. "This is his house too. He's a part of the family. Ain't like me, yer big fucken dirty secret." His voice rose in a yell.
Judy let out a wail at the noise and Carl jumped up, hugging her to her chest. "Shhhh." He soothed, moving into the living room and patting her back.
Rick's eyes were on Daryl, not paying any heed to his fleeing son. "Daryl, you aren't…"
Daryl grabbed Rick's collar and yanked him closer. "Your fucken best friend and your wife don't even know yer dating anyone." He snapped.
"Ex-wife." Rick corrected, pushing Daryl off. "Ex-friend, too."
Daryl shook his head. "Imma big fucken secret."
Rick sighed and turned away. "It's… complicated."
Daryl snorted and threw up his arms. "We get married, it ain't gonna make this easier. Gonna complicate it more."
This wasn't doing any good. Daryl was just getting madder and Rick didn't know what to say to fix it. But he wanted to fix it. He wanted to take the damned proposal back. Just wanted to take the whole day back. "Daryl…" Rick said his name softly and stepped forward, reaching towards him.
"No!" Daryl jumped back. He lifted his hand and pointed at Rick. "You think about that before you ask me for real. Some flippant proposal as a segue to adoption because someone died ain't cutting it." He stomped out of the kitchen and paused in the living room. He cleared his throat. "Hey kiddo." He said to Carl, reaching out to ruffled the shocked boy's hair. "Sorry 'bout the outburst."
"We're fine." Carl said softly, ducking away from Daryl with a timid smile.
Daryl bent down and kissed Judy's forehead. "Be a good girl." He straightened up.
"Daryl…" Rick followed him.
Daryl shook his head. "I'm going to Merle's for the night. You get her head on straight." He headed for the door. "Jessi." The dog appeared by him, barking and wiggling excitedly. Probably thought they were going for a walk. Daryl opened the door and she darted out. He paused and turned back. "I'll be back before you gotta leave for work. Carl, I'll help you wit that book report I promised." He stepped through the door and stopped again. "Oh an' Curt'll be dropping off a bike and some shit for me to do tomorrow. Not sure when but probably early knowing him. Now uh… I'm storming out." He slammed the door and was gone.
Rick let out a loud sigh and sunk down on the couch. He leaned forward a moment and took a deep breath. That reaction was... nothing he'd ever expected. He fucked this up. Big time. He rubbed at his eyes. His head suddenly ached.
Carl crossed the room and sat down beside Rick. Judy waved her arms at Rick. "Didja really ask him like that?"
Rick looked up at Judy and sighed. He sat up and grabbed her. He tucked her against him and leaned back against the couch. He kissed the top of her head. "Yeah." He breathed out.
Carl pulled his feet up under him and leaned back. "Didn't make him feel special."
"I… I didn't think it'd be that important to him." Rick said slowly.
Carl shook his head. "Dad, gay people are just like everyone else. They still wanna get married and have families."
Rick looked at him sideways. "Smartass." Carl grinned at him. He leaned closer and blew in Judy's face. She squealed in delight and tried to grab his nose. Rick sighed. He just... he had a bad idea. And when he got home and saw Daryl... Daryl was the answer. Rick just... fucked up the question.
They sat in silence for a bit. Until Judith tried to pull Carl's hair. Rick smiled, watching as Carl tried to detach his sister's sticky fingers from his hair. "Whaddaya think?" Rick mumbled slightly, pulling Judy back.
Carl shrugged. "Ain't gonna change anything." The kid said. "He already lives here. He already plays dad pretty well. But I guess it'd be nice for Judy if he really was." Carl looked at the squirming baby in Rick's arms. "An' me too." He said with a smile.
Rick smiled. "You like him, huh?"
Carl nodded. "He's really cool."
Rick was still smiling. He gazed down at Judy's head. She yawned widely and rested her head against him.
Carl was watching. "I think you should marry Daryl." He said. "An' I think you should tell mom an' uncle Shane." He looked up at Rick. "After you're married and he's our dad."
"After?" Rick repeated, glancing sideways at him.
Carl nodded. "Jus' tell Daryl that mom 'n Shane are jerks and you'll tell them when they can't stop it."
Rick sighed and rubbed at his forehead. "Sounds like a copout."
"Yeah..." Carl said slowly, nodding. "But Daryl feels like a dirty secret."
Rick visibly flinched at that.
Carl continued. "He knows there's a reason but still doesn't make him feel better."
Rick shook his head and leaned back, letting Judy slide down a bit. She was resting in the crook of his arm but she didn't wake. "It's Daryl." Rick said softly. "He's not... he wouldn't want some giant, grand gesture. He'd think it was stupid and tell me to fuck off and leave again. He gets pissed off whenever I bring up... feelings."
Carl frowned and tilted his head to the side, thinking. "It shouldn't be big." He said, shaking his head. "It should be quiet. And outside. Like nighttime with the stars. He likes the stars."
Rick considered the suggestion. Just sitting outside in the backyard at night. Just seemed too... simple. But maybe Carl was right. "Stars, huh?"
Carl nodded. "Just the two of you. Judy can hang with me in my room." The kid paused for a moment and smiled. "And whatever goes on outside or inside, we'll just turn up the TV."
Rick's eyes widened and his mouth dropped open at the implication.
Carl rolled his eyes. "Come on, dad. I know you've done it."
Rick shook his head. "Not while you're in the house."
"You've done it while Judy's here."
"Judy's too young to be traumatized by her parents having sex." Rick shook his head. "We are not talking about this." He said with a tone that said drop it.
Carl was smiling broadly. "But ya gotta make him feel special."
Rick eyed him for a moment and nodded. "Yeah, I guess so."
Carl's eyes suddenly widened. "You should offer to go meet Merle."
Rick tilted his head. "His brother?"
Carl nodded again. "He gets released next month."
Rick frowned. "He does?" Rick sighed and leaned back on the couch. Did he know Merle was getting released soon? Actually, he thought it was a few months back. He vaguely remember Daryl mentioning something about fighting. He smiled. "Anything else I've missed?"
Carl smiled widely. "Mom's dating uncle Shane."
-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-
Daryl ducked into the garage before he left, grabbing his crossbow and then loading Jessi up in the pickup. She seemed confused for a moment. She glanced back at the house as if wondering why they were alone or maybe waiting for someone. Daryl didn't go anywhere without Judy. And Carl and Rick were home. Daryl rolled his eyes. "Dumb ass dog. Get in the fuckin' truck."
Jessi finally jumped in. Daryl rolled the window down and she stuck her nose out. All was good now in her tiny world. Daryl sighed as he turned the truck on and backed out.
He pulled into Merle's place and his stomach was a pit of dread. He turned the truck off and let out a sigh. Merle's tiny little trailer didn't compare to Rick's house. It wasn't even on the same wavelength. Shouldn't even be both called homes.
Daryl opened the door and slid out slowly. Jessi followed, barking loudly and bouncing around. Merle inherited the house they'd grown up in when their dad died. That was fine with Daryl. He wanted nothing to do with it. Wanted nothing to do with anything his dad had touched when he was alive. But a few bad decisions and Daryl ended up moving in with Merle a few years back. And when Daryl finally started getting his shit together to move out, Merle had gotten his ass thrown in jail. And then begged Daryl to stay and take care of his dumb ass dog.
And now... Daryl really didn't want to come back. He really wanted to stay with Rick. He really wanted to flee back to Rick. Rick's house and Rick's kids. He let out a sigh and grabbed his crossbow. He whistled for Jessi. "Goin' huntin'."
Jessi was not a hunting dog. She barked at everything that moved and tried to chase the leaves she herself lifted off the ground with her movements. But her awful attempts made Daryl laugh. Really laugh. Made his chest feel lighter. Maybe she could learn to be quieter. Probably not.
Daryl wanted to take Rick hunting. Carl too. Judy, when she was older.
Older... the word older implied he'd be sticking around. He sighed and watched as Jessi stuck her nose in a pricker bush. He shook his head as she yelped and jumped back. He bent down and checked her muzzle. "Barely a scratch." He told her. "Ya aren't a huntin' dog." He smiled when she darted forward to lick his face.
Rick probably wouldn't be much better, Daryl thought with a smile. Rick bumbling around in the woods sounded like a fun day. That he really needed to have.
Even with Jessi's not-hunting-dog ability, he managed to snag a small rabbit and two squirrels. He let out a sigh as he turned around and they started back towards the trailer.
He already missed the noise.
-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-
Daryl's phone rang shortly after he and Jessi had eaten. Daryl pulled it from his pocket quickly, not even sparing a second to glance at the display. His thoughts were on Rick and he just assumed that's who it would be. "Yeah?"
"Hey little brother."
"Oh..." Daryl didn't even try to mask his disappointment. He hadn't realized how much he wanted it to be Rick until he heard Merle's voice. He let out a sigh and leaned back against the old worn couch. Jessi was beside him, licking her paws. "Hey Merle." He said dejectedly.
"Well shit." Merle said loudly. "Don't sound so fucken excited to 'ear ma voice."
Daryl let out a sigh. He glanced down at Jessi beside him. He didn't want to deal with Merle calling to talk to the dog. "What do you want, Merle?"
Merle snorted. "What's got yer panties ina bunch, Darlina?"
Daryl rolled his eyes. "Nothin'."
"Aw come on." Merle whined over the line. "Gotta be sumtin'. Ya can tell ol' Merle."
"Jus... a bad day." Daryl breathed out.
"Bad day, eh? Bit vague there."
"Fuck off, Merle." He snapped.
"Sounds like ya fighting wit a dame."
Daryl didn't answer. He blinked and bit his lip.
"Holy shit!" Merle let out a laugh. "Ya do got a dame!"
"Gay, Merle." Daryl mumbled. "Don't go girls."
"Then a girly guy."
"Ain't girly." Daryl mumbled under his breath.
"What?"
"You wanna talk to Jessi?" Daryl asked loudly, trying to change the subject. "Got her right here."
Merle gasped rather loudly. "Shoulda said that sooner."
Daryl rolled his eyes again and shook his head. He pulled the phone away from his ear and hit the speakerphone button. He set the phone down on the couch cushion beside him. Jessi watched his movements with mild interest. Then stuck her nose against the phone.
"Don't lick it!" Daryl snapped.
"Hey Jessi!" Merle said softly, his voice full of affection. "My baby girl. Ya been behaving fer uncle Daryl?"
Daryl shook his head and crossed his arms. "I ain't the dog's uncle."
"Aw! Jessi, dun listen ta him."
Daryl tuned Merle out after that. Hearing him make kissy noises at a dog was disturbing. Merle was ridiculous where Jessi was concerned. Sure, Daryl liked the dog fine. Sometimes. Usually. Pretty much, he just tolerated her. Carl and Judy liked her, though. It was pretty fun to watch Jessi try to lick Judy when no one was looking. And Carl chasing her around until she dropped from exhaustion. Okay, Daryl liked the damn dog.
"Darlina! Ya hear me?"
Daryl blinked and looked down at the phone. "What?"
Merle grunted loudly. "I said I got another month, prolly."
Daryl snorted and shook his head. "Quit fucken fighting."
"Fucken deserved it." Merle snapped.
"Ya ain't ever gonna get out." Daryl said, picking his phone back up. He hit the speakerphone button again and pressed it back to his ear. "Keep her nose down and clean. Or else this dog is mine." He patted Jessi on the back and she rolled over, vying for a belly rub.
"Oh fuck no!" Merle snapped loudly.
"She's done forgot about ya." Daryl said with a smirk. "All she's gonna know is me. She's gonna follow me wherever I go an' we gonna leave her fighting ass behind."
Merle was mad now, Daryl could hear it in his voice. "Like hell ya will!"
"She gonna be my new huntin' dog."
"She's too delicate!"
Daryl snorted. "Dad'd kicked yer ass fer saying the world delicate."
Merle laughed loudly.
