* Please Review. *
The next day Maya was pacing in her room. Shane hadn't come to her but she knew he was pissed. He was only going to give her until the afternoon to tell the group about Ross being in the back of the van. She knew what was going to happen next. Either everyone would demand that she leave or they would kill her brother. Apart of her was relieved that it was happening. Keeping him hidden was starting to wear her down. It was hard to see him everyday. In her head she knew he was dead but her heart wasn't convinced he couldn't be saved.
XXXXXX
Daryl was sitting at the table with Avery on his lap. He was holding her with his good arm around her tiny waist. Jillian was sitting in front of them, spooning some oatmeal into the baby's waiting mouth. Avery was lightly kicking her legs as she eat. Every so often she'd stick her fingers in the oatmeal/ She would turn in his lap and bring her fingers to Daryl's mouth. She'd smile and laugh when he put them in his mouth, slurping the oatmeal from her.
" Thanks, Baby." He said.
Avery clapped and looked back at her mama. Everyone else was gathered around the kitchen, eating as well. Shane was leaning against the counter, looking into the living room, waiting for Maya to appear. He didn't have wait long. As she walked down the stairs, they met eyes. Shane frowned and looked away. This was her chance. She either told them now or he would.
She was staring at the ground as she crossed the living room. She heard Avery cooing and knew the Dixon family was going to be in the kitchen. Her steps slowed down. She wasn't ready to face Daryl or see the angry look on Jillian's face. Maya's new news was just go to piss everyone off. She won't say she and Jillian were best friends but they had been nice to each other. Maya had played with Avery a few times. She cleared her throat as she entered the kitchen. She met Daryl's eyes first. He nodded at her without speaking. Jillian's attention went to Daryl then her eyes followed his gaze to Maya. She shook her head and frowned. Maya sighed and took note of the bandage on his left shoulder. A tingle of embarrassment went through her. He was wearing a wife beater and a flannel shirt that was buttoned down. She knew it had to hurt for him to have gotten dressed.
" I need to tell you all something." Maya spoke up before she lost her nerve. Shane was standing beside her with his arms crossed over his chest. She could feel the tense coming from him. All eyes were on her, all eyes but Jillian's and Avery's. Maya cleared her throat. " I have something in my van." A tense moment went through the group. Daryl's arm tighten on Avery's waist and he drew her back against his chest.
" What is it?" Glenn spoke first. Maya took another deep breath.
" It's my brother."
A wide range of looks went through the group. Daryl's face hardened up as he frowned. Dale's eyes grew big, Glenn paled, T-Dog looked confused and Jillian was staring hard at her. Rick ran his hand through his hair while Lori took a hold of Carl. She pulled her son back to her. Carol looked frightened. Everyone in the group knew her brother had been bitten.
" Is he dead?" Jillian spoke up first. Maya nodded. " Is he a walker?" Maya bit her lip and nodded. Gasps went through the crowd. Jillian looked at Avery. She slowly set the spoon down then slid her chair back. Daryl's eyes moved to Jillian at the same time Maya's did. Jillian walked up to her and didn't stop until she was standing directly in front of the new girl. " You mean to tell me you have a walker in our front yard?"
" He's chained up inside..." Maya didn't get to finish her sentience.
Jillian's small fist came up and made contact with Maya's mouth before anyone knew what was happening. Daryl handed Avery off to his left side where Dale was sitting. Shane grabbed Maya as she stumbled back. Rick moved quickly to grab Jillian as she started screaming at Maya. The noise and fast movement startled Avery who started to cry. Daryl was up and over to Jillian quickly.
" You stupid Bitch!" Jillian was screaming as Daryl's good arm went around her waist. She was fighting against him while he was pulling her back. " How could you do that to us!" Daryl grunted in pain as he brought his left arm around to hold Jillian better.
" Calm down, Jill." Daryl was saying.
" Jillian, relax." Rick said as he helped Daryl. Maya's eyes were wide in shock. Her hand was covering her mouth. Shane was standing in front of her.
" Jillian , stop!" Daryl said as she continued to fight. " You're scaring Avery." Dale had turned the baby around and was holding her against his chest. He was bouncing her lightly and patted her back. He was trying to comfort her, keeping his mouth against her ear and speaking quietly. She had one hand in her mouth as she cried. She was trying to look at Daryl and Jillian.
" Dada!" She was screaming.
" She could have killed us!" Jillian was screaming. Daryl wiped her around, ignoring the pain in his shoulder. He shook her hard.
" Calm down." She was still trying to look around him and swearing. Daryl shook his head and tucked down suddenly. His right arm went around her waist as he picked her up and over his shoulder. He turned and left the house through the side door. As soon as they left the house, Shane turned around and faced Maya.
" Are you okay?" He asked her. Tears had sprung to her eyes. " Let me take a look at your mouth." He took a hold of her hand and gently pulled it from her mouth. Her bottom lip was split open.
" She hit me." Maya said. Shane nodded.
" Yeah, she did. Hit you good, too. Come on, let' go upstairs and get you cleaned up." Shane said. He took Maya's hand and started pulling her towards the stairs.
" Shane!" Rick called out.
" Let me take care of Maya then we'll talk!" Shane called out.
XXXXXX
" Give me your hand, Babe." Daryl said softly. They were standing under the tree by Avery's swing. He took a hold of her hand and brought it up to inspect it.
" It fucking hurts." She said softly. Daryl nodded.
" Yeah, bet it does." He said. He pushed his fingers over her bruising knuckles. " Gonna be bruised and hurt for a while."
" I can't fucking believe that bitch! She put us all in danger! What if it gets out? What about Avery?" She said. They heard the door from the kitchen open a second before Avery's crying reached them. Jillian's head whipped around at the sound. She pulled her hand away from Daryl and started towards Dale.
" She's pretty upset." Dale said. Avery was pushing away from Dale, reaching for Jillian. She slipped her hands under Avery's arms and pulled the baby to her.
" I'm sorry, Avs." She said softly. She put her hand on the back of Avery's head. Avery was crying as she nestled her face into her mama's neck. Her baby's tiny arms were tight around Jillian's neck. Jillian started rocking back and forth. " It's okay, Baby. Relax." She kept repeating. Avery sobbed one last time before she started to calmed down.
XXXXXX
Maya was sitting on the closed toilet lid while Shane ran a washcloth under some cold water. He balled the wash cloth up then knelt down in front of her. He brought the wash cloth to her mouth. She frowned and hissed slightly from the pain. Her lip was still bleeding and was starting to swell up. Shane sighed as he let his left hand come to rest on her leg.
" I didn't think anyone was gonna hit you. I feel like this is my fault. Maybe I should have made you tell Rick in private." Shane said.
" Now you tell me." She said. Shane smiled and started rubbing her leg.
" Even with a busted up lip, you're still pretty." He said. Maya closed her eyes as tense left her. At least Shane had forgiven her.
