Daryl

I don't see Blaire for more than a handful of minutes over the next few days. Despite her eagerness to aid in the project, Rick put her on babysitting duty. She's been stuck inside with Judith while the rest of us figure out how to rid the quarry of walkers. Rick stays on edge, constantly glancing over his shoulder, convinced the citizens of Alexandria will stage a mutiny at any time. I think he's overreacting. No one is going to try and take this place from us, not after what happened with Pete.

I try and keep Blaire up to date on the plan as much as I can. She stops to talk as she leaves Rick's, often becoming frustrated at the little amount of progress that's been made. "Well, if these people really want to stay safe, they'd stop fighting."

Letting out a sigh, I light a cigarette, "We ain't got a lot of choice. We keep running into roadblocks."

"Roadblocks?" Blaire responds, the frustration leaking through in her words.

"When'd you get this fire under your feet, smart-ass?" I grin over at her.

I get a half smile back in response. "If there are really as many walkers as Rick and Morgan were saying, we should be doing this as quickly and effectively as possible. Alexandria is at risk. If those dead ones get here, this community doesn't stand a chance."

"I'm gonna ask Rick to take ya off babysittin' duty. Ain't no point keeping someone who wants to help shut up in a house."

Blaire nods. "You should stop smoking so much, Daryl. You're going to kill yourself."

"Get some sleep, smart-ass. I'll see ya tomorrow at the planning meeting."

Stubbing out my cigarette, I walk up the steps, entering Rick's house. He is sitting on the couch that usually acts as my bed, Judith sitting on his lap. She's buried her head in his chest, fist curled around his finger. That little girl is who we're all fighting for. She deserves a life in this fucked up world. She's our future. Convincing Rick to take Blaire off babysitting duty is going to be hard, but if he knows that lil' ass kicker will still be safe he might be willing to let our newest member join in the planning.

"What do you need, Daryl?" Rick questions, turning his head in my direction.

Clearing my throat, I walk around the couch, taking a seat next to Rick. "Wanted to talk to ya 'bout Blaire. She wants to help, Rick. Her talents are wasted babysitting."

"I'm still not sure I trust her, Daryl. It's safer to have her in her watchin' Judith. I can keep an eye on her when she isn't out there wandering around." Rick answers.

"At least let her come to the planning meetings. Let her prove that she's all in. Blaire wants to help. Ain't gonna be able to show you that she's with us if you ain't willing to give her a chance. Carol said she defended ya at that meeting Diana had." I answer. Blaire hasn't caused any problems since she's been here. I understand Rick not trusting the people who live in Alexandria, but Blaire isn't one of them. She falls in line with us. She wants to survive and she knows how.

"I'll ask her to come join us at the meeting tomorrow. If I don't think she fits there, she's coming right back here. I need to know I can trust and rely on everyone involved in this project."

"Blaire's way more trustworthy than half those idiots you've got helping us right now."

The next morning I sit on the porch railing, watching as Blaire walks up the street. Her hair is pulled up into a ponytail that swings back and forth as she walks. The injury that she came into Alexandria with has healed up, now just a thin scar cutting across her face. The shirt she's wearing is obviously one she found laying around her house, the bright pink not quite fitting into her usual style. I smirk as she grows closer, recognizing the jeans she's got on, the same one's as when I found her. That day is beginning to feel like a distant memory as the smart-ass continues to weasel her way into my life.

"Something funny you'd like to share with the class, Dixon?" Blaire questions as she walks up the steps, smirking back at me.

Shaking my head, I stand up, "Naw. Rick's letting ya come to our meeting today."

"Who's watching Judith?" Blaire questions, looking as if she can't believe me talking to Rick worked in her favor.

Shrugging, I open the yellow front door, "One a Tara's friends I guess."

"What'd you say to him," Blaire questions as we take seats at the bar stools. Michonne has already left for the day, as she is the only patrol officer Alexandria's got right now. Carl roams around the kitchen, pulling the fridge open a few times before settling on making toast. Used to Blaire's fully stocked cabinets, I guess I hadn't realized that supplies were getting low again. After we've figured out the walker issue it might be beneficial for Blaire and I to go check out her old supply store.

"Just told 'im you'd be better out there than in here. He knows we need all the people we can get working on this thing. Sometimes Rick's just stubborn."

Blaire grins as Rick walks down the stairs, "Seems like everyone around here has that problem."

"Blaire, Daryl." Rick says with a nod. "Blaire, I trust Daryl told you I'm intivin' you to our quarry planning meeting this mornin'."

Blaire nods, "He did."

"Good." Rick grabs one of the pieces of toast off Carl's plate, receiving a sideways glance from his son. "I will still need you to watch Judith later today though."

"No problem. Look, Rick, I appreciate being included in the planning." Blaire says as Rick leads us out the door and down the street towards a house where a few other people are already gathered.

"Ready for the shit show?" I whisper to Blaire as we take our places around a small table that's been set up.

Blaire cracks her knuckles, eyes shifting from me to the maps and Alexandria layout spread across the table. "Bring it on."

"Marshall and Redding," Rick starts, his finger set on a spot on the map. "We face 'em west here."

Deana, who has joined us for this meeting looks confused, "How?"

"We block it off so they can only go one way, west, away from the community," Rick explains. We've been going over this same part of the plan for a few days now. No one can seem to agree on how exactly we are going to keep the herd from heading straight for Alexandria.

"Block it off with what?" Carter questions. Why Rick hasn't kicked him off the planning comity I don't know. He's been nothing but a problem since the beginning. He doesn't trust Rick's ability to get us through this safely.

For a second, Rick stops to think. "Cars. We'll use the RVs, some of the bigger trucks, park 'em end to end."

Michonne who showed up a few minutes into the meeting, nod, "We'll be drawing them away. They're gonna keep moving."

"Yeah, but that many?" Carter questions. "Just bouncing off some Sedans? When they start slipping through and the ones that walk away start to distract the rest and you stop drawing them away?"

Blaire's fist makes contact with the wooden surface of the table. "Then we'll stick you out on the road as bait. If you don't like the plan then don't help. Rick doesn't need you here if you aren't one hundred and ten percent in."

With that Blaire gets up, disappearing up the street.

Blaire

In what universe is it all right to criticize the only person with a plan? I don't see anyone else coming up with any better way of keeping Alexandria safe from the herd that could be headed our way any day now. One more big rain, that's what Rick said. If that's true we don't have time to keep fighting each other.

Deciding to start my shift of babysitting early, I head towards Rick's house. Inside I see a heavyset blonde woman sitting on the floor with Judith. She looks mildly panicked as if she's worried that the baby will keel over and die at any second. Her head shoots up as she hears me approach. The scared look softens, being replaced with one of relaxation. This woman knows that I've come to relieve her of Judith duty.

"Go ahead and leave. I'll take her. I'll let Rick know you did a good job," I say, offering a smile.

"Thank you," the woman answers, returning my smile before gathering her things and leaving.

Picking up Judith, I slowly spin her around the room, humming the beginning of a song I used to sing to my sister before bed. The baby coos, grabbing hold of one of my fingers and shoving it into her mouth. I get through the second verse before Carl walks in through the back door. He pauses for a second before walking over and kissing Judith on the forehead.

"My dad and Daryl are walking up the steps now. Don't let Daryl hear you singing. I don't mind it cause Judith likes it, but it reminds Daryl of Beth. He can't stand to hear other people sing now," Carl explains as he grabs a container of mashed vegetables from the refrigerator. "Mind if I feed her?"

"No," I shake my head, handing Judith off to Carl just as Rick and Daryl walk through the front door. Both of them look worn down, as if the meeting hadn't gone any better after I left than it was while I was there. "Did you reach a solution?"

Rick nods. "Carter didn't appreciate your threat to use him as walker bait, but he was a bit more cooperative after the comment. We're going to use left over metal plates and build up a whip wall. The building team is drawing up the plans today and then we're going to start the construction tomorrow. We'll need you out there to help watch for walkers. These people still don't know how or aren't willing to kill. You've been out there. You know what has to be done."

"No problem. We should drive the RV out there, use it to haul supplies and as a look out point. If these people are as easily spooked as they seem it'll be better to take the dead ones out before they get too close."

Rick nods his agreement. "Why don't you go and make sure it'll be all set to drive out there tomorrow. I'll stay here with Judith. The RV is parked at the end of the street, Daryl can show you."

"Okay. Come on Dixon, lead the way."

Daryl gives me a grunt, snatching an apple off the counter before leading the two of us towards the door. Before we exist the house Daryl grabs a set of keys off the wall, tucking them into his pants pocket. "Yer gonna get yourself in trouble smart-ass," the bowman says once we're outside on the street.

"How so?"

"Carter ain't the only one who didn't find yer comment funny. Yer lucky Rick is still willing to let ya work with us."

Rolling my eyes, I stop in front of a yellowing RV. The paint is chipping off in a few spots as rust begins to take over. The wheels are balding, but not bad enough to change them quite yet. I won't know how much the vehicle will be able to haul until I've had a look at the engine. "Your fearless leader Rick is slowly starting to realize that he needs more people like me within his ranks. He's going to start including me as long as I keep proving that I stand with his group. As long as you keep giving him little nudges, that is."

The bowman smirks, his eyes scanning over the junky vehicle in front of him. It's obvious he's not convinced that this thing can make it the ten or so miles it'll take to get to the construction area. Nonetheless, I've not given up on it quite yet. Old vehicles run fine as long as you take care of them. I can feel Daryl's eyes on me as I climb onto the front bumper, feeling around for the latch to release the hood.

"That shit you wrote on my cigarettes with ain't gonna kill me, is it?" Daryl questions, as I prop the hood of the RV up on the little metal rod installed within the vehicle.

Turning to him, I lift an eyebrow, staring as he shifts his weight from foot to foot, teeth working at his bottom lip. If he's not careful he's eventually going to eat the soft pink skin right off his face. "Seriously? Out of all the things that could kill you, you're worried about a little Sharpie? If you ask me that'd be a pretty relaxing way to go."

"I ain't about to live through all this shit just to be offed by some ink," Daryl responds back, his temper showing up in his tone.

"I think you'll be fine," I answer, turning my attention back to the RV's engine. Although there is some rust beginning to form across the metal parts, it doesn't look too bad. A crack in the radiator catches my attention. It's small and thin, but will eventually grow. Before all this, I'd call a shop in some big town, request the part, and have the radiator replaced in no more than a day. Now, this crack will eventually put the van out of commission. Deciding that patching the crack is my best bet, I turn back to Daryl. "I need your lighter."

"What?"

"There's a small crack in the radiator. Unless you've got a spare one laying around, I've got to repair the one we have here." I answer, holding my hand out for the lighter.

Daryl grunts, walking forward and handing over the square metal lighter. He releases it quickly, pulling his hand away as if touching me would instantly turn him into a walker. "How's that gonna help?"

Pulling my knife out of the holster around my thigh, flipping the lid of the lighter open, running the end of the metal through the flame. After about a minute, I push the knife into the thick black plastic, forcing it forward over the thin crack. "Come here."

After a moment's hesitation, Daryl steps up onto the bumper, leaning forward over the engine.

"I'm heating up the end of the knife and using it to melt the plastic to patch the crack. It'll hold for a while and then I'll have to patch it again. Eventually, I'll have moved too much of the material around and a hole will form. Unless we can find a new one we'll lose the RV." I explain.

"And there ain't nothing else you can do?" Daryl questions, his gaze shifting between the melted plastic and me.

Shrugging, I push my hair away from my eyes, letting out a frustrated sigh as it quickly falls down again. "Like I said, unless you've got a spare radiator sitting around, this is the best I can do. You want to hop in and start the engine. I want to see if this patch is going to hold."

Daryl nods, stepping back down onto the road, fishing the vehicle keys out of his pocket as he climbs up the RV stairs. A few seconds later, the engine roars to life. I watch it, making sure all the parts are working properly, no liquids spilling out. Once I'm satisfied, I climb off the bumper, heading around to the door, which is still standing open. "How's the engine temperature looking?"

"Okay, needle ain't moving none," Daryl answers; fishing the rag he keeps in his back pocket out. He stands, holding it out to me. "Yer getting grease all over yer face."

"Thanks," I respond, taking the dirty rag and wiping it over my forehead. Even though I'm sure this has only made the grease situation worse, I refrain from saying anything. Daryl is trying. His offer of his rag shows that he wants us to be friends and keep working on the same side. Refusing it would have forced any progress we've made backwards. "As long as the engine heat isn't going up there's nothing else for us to do."

"It's good to drive out to where we gotta build that wall?" Daryl asks, shutting the van off. The engine sputters to a stop.

"It'll hold for a couple month." I respond, shutting the hood. "I'll keep patching it for as long as Rick wants and as long as there's still plastic to move around."

"Yer really wanting to help with this whole thing?" Daryl inquires as we head back up the road towards Rick's place.

Shrugging, I shake my head up and down. "Alexandria is my home now. If I'm not protecting it, I'm not doing my part."

Daryl

Early the next morning, Blaire sits atop the RV, rifle held between her knees. As I haul another wheelbarrow of dirt over to Rick, I glance at her. Hard eyes scan the environment, stopping for a few seconds to watch people work. My eyes stay on the brunette as I dump the dirt at my feet. Rick raises his eyebrows as I turn to look at him. Blaire's words echo through my head; what do I have to lose telling him how I feel?

"Hey, what ya said before, about us needing to take care of ourselves? Going out, finding more people, that is taking care of ourselves. You're call though."

Rick glances over my shoulder at Blaire, "Did she put that in your head?"

"Naw, came up with that one all on my own," I answer before taking the wheelbarrow and walking away. Ricks made his mind up. Nothing anyone says is going to change that. At least now Blaire can't give me a hard time for not standing up for what I believe in.

As dig my hands into the dirt, beginning to load more into the wheelbarrow, low growls cut through the working noise. Spinning around I see walkers begin to spill out of the woods. The other workers let out murmurs of fear, backing away from their workstations. They turn towards Rick, pleading for help.

"Use your shovels," Rick instructs, walking forward, fingers curling around the handle of his knife. "The guns will draw more."

Panic washes through the group, a guy turning to Rick, "Help us."

"You can do with. You need to, all of you."

Instead of attacking, the Alexandrians push walkers away, letting out cries of distress. As more dead walk out of the tree line Morgan steps forward, staff held out in front of himself, ready to act. "Morgan don't!" Rick calls out, but it's too late. The wanderer swings his stick around, bashing in the skull of the nearest walker.

Others follow suit. Michonne steps forwards, severing the necks of two other dead. Swinging my crossbow off my shoulder, I shoot off an arrow, resulting in another walker falling to the ground. From her spot on the RV, Blaire takes out the last two.

Rick shakes his head, walking forward, "Get back to work, all of you. Blaire, can I see you for a minute?"

The brunette nods, slinging the rifle over her shoulder and climbing down the RV ladder. The two walk over to where Rick is working. I stand off to the side, fiddling with a piece of the wall, trying to listen to what the two are talking about. Rick seems to be okay with Blaire being around, but lately little things set him off. I don't want him to get on Blaire for using the gun. She was put out here with the rifle incase something like that happened.

"Blaire, I talked to Tobin. He doesn't know how to hotwire the truck. Do you know how to do that?" Rick questions. At this I turn around, taking a few steps towards the two as Blaire nods her response.

"We're going to need you to go in before him and start it. Our best bet in getting the herd coming at a pace we can handle is moving that truck." Rick explains as he shoves another handful of dirt into a sandbag.

"Is there a chance the truck could fall with her in it?" I question, announcing my presence. Blaire glares at me, silently scolding me for eavesdropping on what was supposed to be a private conversation.

Rick looks up, "Yes."

"She ain't doing it."

"She has to."

I get an eye roll, something Blaire seems to constantly do around me, before she turns her attention to Rick. "Last I checked Daryl – " another annoyed side glance – "doesn't make my decisions for me. If it needs to be done, I'm in."

Frustrated, I curl my fingers around Blaire's shoulder, leading her away from Rick. She's got to be out of her mind. There's no reason for any of us to risk our lives trying to move those trucks. I'm sure there's another way to get the herd out of the gully. "Are ya stupid or something?"

Blaire shoves my hand off of her. It leaves behind a brown smudge. "No. You can't just listen in on conversations and make decisions for me. You saved me once Daryl, you don't have to do it again."