Chapter 10 yay! lol. Hope ya'll are liking where this is going :) A lot of changes in the near future, at first I was going to right a few chapters after the season finale then go on hiatus, but my sister threatened violence so I'll go a bit AU and see what happens when the show comes back... And sorry for the wait, I lost all power to my charger cord so I have to frequent my mom's to use someone else's lol.
-oOo-
Not Ready to Make Nice- Dixie Chicks
Forgive, sounds good I'm through with doubt I'm not ready to make nice I know you said I made my bed and I sleep like a baby I'm not ready to make nice I'm not ready to make nice What it is you think I should Forgive, sounds good
Forget, I'm not sure I could
They say time heals everything
But I'm still waiting
There's nothing left for me to figure out
I've paid a price
And I'll keep paying
I'm not ready to back down
I'm still mad as hell and
I don't have time to go round and round and round
It's too late to make it right
I probably wouldn't if I could
'Cause I'm mad as hell
Can't bring myself to do what it is you think I should
Can't you just get over it
It turned my whole world around
And I kind of like it
With no regrets and I don't mind sayin'
It's a sad sad story when a mother will teach her
Daughter that she ought to hate a perfect stranger
And how in the world can the words that I said
Send somebody so over the edge
That they'd write me a letter
Sayin' that I better shut up and sing
Or my life will be over
I'm not ready to back down
I'm still mad as hell and
I don't have time to go round and round and round
It's too late to make it right
I probably wouldn't if I could
'Cause I'm mad as hell
Can't bring myself to do what it is you think I should
I'm not ready to back down
I'm still mad as hell and
I don't have time to go round and round and round
It's too late to make it right
I probably wouldn't if I could
'Cause I'm mad as hell
Can't bring myself to do what it is you think I should
Forget, I'm not sure I could
They say time heals everything
But I'm still waiting
-oOo-
Bailey had sensed the air of the group when the two former officers returned, definately worse for wear. She immediatly took a dislike to Shane Walsch. The group's biggest snag, it'd only take one more yank before the whole knitted quilt unraveled. There were others too, that concered her. The older blonde, Andrea. She was suffering a major inferiority complex and seemed to shadow Shane. Bailey didn't think this band of survivors would gain anything more than a bullet to the brain or give up.
Most of them avoided her, giving any all attention to Kirby. She guessed it was since Kirby refused to carry any type of weapon and chattered to no end in sight. Bailey was flustered and bristling that all it took to bring her best friend back like the snap of a rubber band was strangers.
She had watched her from little distance, seeing that long forgotten smile and hear a few giggles while sticking close to the kid, Carl. Kirby would eat around their spit in a lawn chair, talk about things that no longer mattered and crack her dirty jokes. Bailey hated to know that it'd soon fade back to that ghost, the dying ember in the morning from the night's bonfire.
They couldn't stay too long. More people were a gamble. It drew attention. Caused conflict. Too many ideas and thoughts to brew, simmer in one place too long and the pot would bubble over. Kirby had to realize this. Had to see it was time that these things, walkers they called them, weren't our only enemy. Walkers were easy, slow and stupid. People? They were dangerous, cunning and minipulative.
So when she pulled that reborn firey pixie from the campfire and on the other side of the truck, Bailey gave it to her straight.
"No! What is wrong with you? We're safe, we found others, alive and they want us to stay!" Kirby shouted, voice squeaking and eyes instantly watery.
"Will you keep your voice down?" Bailey hissed, pressing her into the metal door. "You know we can't. Staying here too long is stupid!"
"You're just gonna go? Leave? What about Daryl?" she spat, face hot and tears now trekking her face.
"He'll be just fine, did this well without me. Don't drag him into 're leaving, tomorrow." Bailey spoke with finality, using her fist as a gavel against the rusted frame.
"Fine, but I'm staying. You can go by yourself!" Kirby made to leave, but Bailey grabbed her hand, eyes closing and taking in deep breathes through her nose.
"I can't do that. It's you and me." Kirby sniffed, turning back to her friend and steeled herself.
"Not anymore. I want to stay... You saved my life, I never said thank you for it. But I like it here. And I'd like to you to be here too." Bailey was chewing into her bottom lip, tasting the coppery blood from pulling off the skin and started rubbing at her face.
"Kirby..." Both girls were sagging their shoulders, not willing to come to a head.
Kirby left her beside the truck, returning to the crowd by the fire. Her only friend, the only person she trusted in this hell.
Bailey sighed, resting against the passenger door and feeling the start of a wicked headache. What would she do if Kirby didn't follow her? Was she below hog tying the girl and dragging her off? Bailey slumped down farther and shook her head, anwsering her own question.
-oOo-
She moved around the property without being approached and avoidded any of the meetings that were happening almost every other hour. Kirby insisted going, having spent time with the older man, Dale. She felt it was immoral to just off the kid without knowing if he was a threat. This was all a joke to Bailey. His men shot at us, what made this teenage boy any different?
Bailey clung to the outskirts of the farmland, rifle always tucked over her shoulder and the hunting knife sticking out of her boot. She felt little sparks in every muscle and joint. Each twinge making her want to keep moving, find work and have a game plan. Benning was shot, Rick having confirmed this in the ride here. She figured all military posts would be much the same.
Her clockwork brainstorming was grounded to a halt when she saw him, crossbow aimed upward towards an unsuspecting creature. The squirrel fell from its perch and landed in the dirt at his feet. Bailey went for the nearest tree trunk to hide behind, eyes watching.
His arms had seemed less cut before leaving their town. She guessed for the excess use of the bow. His stance and stride the same as always, purposeful yet with a bit of unconscience swagger. That slightly wrinkled concentration on his face all too familiar.
"Though' I was the stalker?" Bailey huffed, not being as cunningly steathly as she thought she'd been.
She came from her hiding spot, nose turned up and shoulders squared. He wouldn't shake her confidence or pride. "You are." Daryl snorted. " I was passing through."
"Right." She made to keep on her path, away from him, but Daryl had something else in mind. He stepped diliberately in her way, crossbow shouldered and arms tight across his chest. His expression undecipherable as usual. "Look, ya best get that stick thas' up yer ass sideways pulled out. These idiots ain't gonna take too kindly to a stuck up bitch. Officer No-good 'specially."
Bailey scoffed. "I could say the same, besides it doesn't matter what they much think."
"How ya' figure that, princess?" He was agitated, she could tell, his stiff posture and face turning a bit red.
"Heading out in a day or so," she answered lightly, eyes looking straight up into his. Bailey watched his face contort into a sour look.
"Leavin'? Are yew stupid?" Daryl dropped his arms, hands curling into solid, white-knuckled fists. She raised an eyebow.
"It's hardly stupid, this group is a tragedy waiting to happen. Don't tell me you disagree. Too many people is a hazard, a risk. Me and Kirby did fine on our own."
Daryl gave a dry laugh. "So screw me, huh? God, has every damn woman lost 'er mind? Yer somethin' else Bailey Rae."
Bailey gritted her teeth, letting the collected, cool fascade crack right in front of him. "It has nothing to do with you. If you weren't such a childish asshole I'd tell you to tag along, but with your little fit throwing, no way. I owe you nothing, you don't owe me anything. So lets both do ourselves a favor... Forgive and forget, all of it. That girl you knew is dead, she would've died in this shit world anyhow!"
She was seething, the mask of calm wiped free. They hadn't even noticed the sun go down. Both vaguely heard a few shouts of Daryl's name, but they ignored it. He moved closer, so much that she had to crane her neck back to see his face. He was full red in the face, maybe even purple and livid.
"Good Lord! If yer skinny ass woulda' stayed put! I looked fer ya'! All fuckin' night! Thought yew was dead, burnt ta' a crisp, alright? But ya' wanna ferget, thas' fine with me, darlin'."
Bailey opened her mouth to speak, but froze. What? She wasn't allowed to fully process this, because suddenly his hands were hard on her, pushing her back until she was slammed against a tree. Bailey hissed between her teeth and growled at him.
Daryl slid up, flush against her body, moving one hand to squeeze her cheeks. "Almost six months I was thinkin' yew were dead! And come ta' find ya' live and kickin'... I was..." He shook his head. "Then realize ya' changed. Yer right, Bailey's dead... Guess I'll settle fer the leftovers. And ya' ain't goin' nowhere," he growled.
And then she was squirming, gasping for air as his lips crashed painfully into hers. He was unrelenting, pushing his tongue into her mouth, his hand going from her jaw to grip her knot of hair, unraveling it to fall to her shoulders.
Bailey was using every ounce to put distance between her and him, but the kiss was making her light-headed and muscles feel spongey. His other hand tight on her waist. Thick fingers bruising under her shirt and jacket.
She hated his hold over her, hated that her tongue curled and his, a moan shoving past her throat and into his hungry, eager mouth. Bailey was close to losing all resistance, hands an arms turning from pushing to pulling, fisting into his clothes, bringing him in harder.
"Dixon, come on, man!" They heard Shane call out, close enough that he'd probably see the two making out furiously at the edge of the woods. The feverant spell was broken, Bailey shoving him away and panting, hands against her knees.
Daryl let out a frustrated noise deep in his chest and stalked off, leaving her alone.
Bailey, finally able to breath without puffing her chest for air, slid down the tree and sighed. She scrubbed at her face and scrunched her eyes shut. She didn't know how long she stayed there, refusing to let any function return, afraid of her own thoughts rushing forward.
Then, everything hazed over, but crashed back in a strange, painfully sharp clairity as shouting arose, cries and screaming.
She was on her feet, dashing lithly toward the commotion. Bailey skidded around the house, body jolting at the sound of a single gunshot. All that went through her head, over and over was Kirby.
When the crowd of survivors came into view she let out a long breath seeing the top of her red curls, kneeling over something. Closer, closer...
Dale laid there, a dribble of dark blood coming from his forehead and a mess was oozing from his mid-section. A walker sprawled out nearby with a knife wound to its face. Kirby was much like the others, as if she belonged, crying and hovering over the dead man. Daryl handed the Python back to Rick and looked over at her. His expression almost heartbroken, but just like her it was covered in something cold, collecting and calm just as quick.
Bailey remained a good distance, replacing her rifle on her back and kept her eyes on the dark grass. Ignoring the sobs and devistation as much as she could. But hearing Kirby's among them was like a rusted blade twisting in her gut. This death was surely the ammunition for her best friend to win her arguement. She was attached. There was no leaving this group, even if it meant without Bailey.
-oOo-
woah, intense huh? And that make out session? I worried it was borderlined sexual harassment for Daryl lol. Review, tell me what you think!