Chapter 10: Daryl

Daryl hadn't been this scared in a long time. He worried that his heart was gonna jump right out of his chest as they carried the limp body of Hannah once again into the back of Dale's RV. They set her down and Daryl's hands closed into fists as he looked at her. He stood, ready to kill that motherfucker, but Rick placed a hand on his chest.

"I know what your thinkin' Daryl. And it's not worth it. Think of Carol and Sophia. He might be an asshole, but that's her father, and her husband." He reasoned, his voice even.

"So what are we gonna do with him then? He can't stay here!" Daryl argued. Rick shook his head.

"I don't know yet. I need to go talk with the group and calm them down." He said honestly.

"Ta hell with the fuckin' group!" Daryl said, his anger flaring. He stormed past Rick, grabbing the pack of cigarettes out of his back pocket.

"Git the hell outta my way." He said, angrily shoving past Glenn once outside. Huffing, he lit a cigarette and did his best to calm himself. That pansy ass motherfucker is just gonna let him STAY? He coulda killed her! I shoulda let her get ta her gun. She woulda done it. He glared at the group, now adamantly discussing the situation.

"He's dangerous! What if he goes off again and kills someone this time?" Dale disputed. He watched as Andrea nodded.

"I don't feel safe with him here, Rick. Not one bit." She said, her blonde hair swaying with her head. Daryl took a drag of the cigarette as Merle came to stand by his side. Daryl really wasn't in the mood to be around his brother. But the words that came out of his mouth completely took Daryl by surprise.

"Don't worry little brother. She'll be just fine." He said lightly as Daryl passed him the last half of the smoke.

"For his sake, she better be." He said, wiping his nose with the back of his hand. He started once again to the RV, ignoring the argument that was going on. He slammed the door shut and stomped to the back. Fucking assholes! Motherfucker deserves a goddamn bullet in his brain. He thought spitefully as he looked at Hannah. She looked somethin' awful. He wet a rag and as gently as he could began to clean the blood off of her. He wanted more than anything to bend down and place a kiss on her forehead, but his pride got the better of him. Her left eye had already swollen more and he doubted she'd be able to open it for at least a day or two, her nose, although unbroken, was still bleeding a little bit, and those lips he'd dreamt about were now thick and starting to bruise. She really is one tough sumbitch though. He admired that about her, most of all, he thought. Half the reason he'd never really pursued a women before is because honestly, they all annoyed the shit outta him. But Hannah was different. She had guts, she was stubborn as a mule, but she could handle whatever life gave her. And she still managed to smile through it all. Daryl sat back, throwing the rag on the table, and for just a second, before he fell asleep, he wondered if maybe, there really was a god, and maybe there was such a thing as fate.

Daryl jumped up at the sound of Hannah stirring next to him. He rubbed the ache from his neck as she tried to sit herself up. He pushed her gently back down.

"Easy now, girly. Easy." He whispered, his voice surprisingly soothing.

"That bastard best be dead." She mumbled to him. And he grinned slightly at her remark. If it was up to me, he would be.

"They're still tryin' ta figure out what ta do with him. Carol's beside herself with guilt." He told her as she leaned on her elbows, her forest green eye peaking out from her right side.

"Quit yer fussin country boy. I'm fine." She had waved his hands away as he tried to lay her back down. "Ain't the first ass whoopin' I've ever had." She got up and started fumbling around, looking for something. He pulled the half empty pack of smokes out of his back pocket and handed them to her.

"Lookin' fer these?" She took them from him, trying her best to smile, despite her busted lip. He watched as she slowly made her way to the door and the commotion outside stopped immediately. He heard a "holy shit!" come from Andrea as he heard Hannah stumble. Stubborn bitch. He let out a sigh as he followed suit.

"Hannah, I'm-I'm so sorr-" Carol started in on the apology. Her eyes still red rimmed from crying and Hannah lit up a smoke, looking at her.

"Carol, I'm only gonna say this once. Ain't yer fault. You don't need t'be apologizin' for that piece of shit husband ya got." She said curtly. Carol nodded and Daryl watched as Lori told the kids to go play, not wanting either of them seein' Hannah in the condition she was in.

"How's Sophie?" Hannah asked Carol, her voice a little more forgiving.

She's a little shaken, but she's holdin' in pretty good." Carol said. "Ya need anything?" Hannah stopped for a second, observing Carol's face.

"Yeah, I need you to go love on yer daughter. Ya both could use a rest I bet." Carol's eyes lowered and she smiled before she squeezed Hannah's should and walked over to her daughter. Daryl turned and went inside, filling a glass of water for her. She nodded a thank you as he handed it to her. Rick's eyes floated up and down her face, taking in the carnage of her injuries.

"There's no way he can stay here! Look at her!" Andrea had demanded, turning to Rick. For once, he was on the same page as her. Let the fat bastard fend for himself out here. He wouldn't last a fuckin hour

"He's got a daughter, Andrea. I'm not going to just kick him out!" Rick said, exacerbated. Daryl couldn't believe what he was hearing.

"Yer just gonna let him stay! He nearly beat the piss outta her! Why is this even a discussion?" The thought of Ed anywhere near Hannah was enough to send him into a blind fury.

"You did a number on him too, alright. You broke two of his ribs, and Hannah broke his nose." Rick argued, frustrated by this whole situation. Daryl had opened his mouth to start hollering at him when Hannah yelled.

"ENOUGH! Make yer decisions, but leave me the hell out of it. Rick, I appreciate what you're trying to do here, but I'll tell you this much, if that man so much as comes near me, I'll kill him. I swear to God, I'll kill him where he stands." She said with fervor as she picked up her gun and stormed away. Daryl watched as Merle called out to her. What the fuck was he talkin ta her about now? She needs to be restin', not getting' fuckin' hit on. His heart pounded as he watched her slip into their tent. It took everything in his power not to storm in, fists flying. But he knew that his brother understood how he felt. Merle might be an asshole, but he wasn't stupid. He waited, holding his breath and wondering what the hell Merle was saying to her in there. He couldn't imagine it was anything comforting, knowing is older sibling.

"Look, I know you're all scared, but I need some time to think on this. Give me another hour or two, alright?" Rick's words barely registered to him as he watched his brother emerge without Hannah. What the fuck have you done Merle Randall Dixon? Daryl went over, trying to keep his emotions in check.

"The hell were you two talkin' 'bout in there?" He questioned him, the worry evident in his words.

"Relax Dar, I gave her an Oxy for the pain and we jus had a nice 'lil chat. Ya can ask her 'bout it, but I'd wait til she comes down." Merle said, a sly grin snaking across his face. He strolled away, rifle thrown over his shoulder to go hunt, no doubt. Daryl ripped into the tent to find Hannah laying on his bed. She rolled her head to look at him, her sight hazy.

"Daryl." She whispered as she fought the drowsiness. He kneeled by her side, stroking her hair softly.

"Shhhh. 'S alright, girly. I'm here. I ain't goin' nowhere." He said, sitting next to her as she fought to speak.

"Yer brother's right." She said. What the fuck were they talking about? Daryl wondered but knew this wasn't the time to be bombarding her with questions. He watched as her hand took his. He jumped a little at the unexpected contact, but secretly, he loved it. Her hands were softer than he'd imagined, and he studied them, noticing a perfect circular scar in the middle of her right hand.

"Ya won't leave, will ya?" She said, her eyes now closed as she drifted into rest.

"Naw. I won't leave ya." He promised, watching the steady rise and fall of her chest as he sat like a statue next to the girl he'd unknowingly fallen in love with.