Chapter Ten
Rick began tossing and turning the next night. His eyes rolling to the back of his head whenever they did open, and low moans that had Carl shaking in the corner whenever he would watch his father. Daryl remained close, hoping against hope that whatever was going on with the man would pass. Even as he prepared himself for the worse. He knew that he couldn't, wouldn't ask anyone to deal with Rick should the worse happen.
It wasn't in him to place that kind of burden on anyone else.
That day he kept everyone as far from the room as he could get them. Sending T-dog, Maggie, and Glenn to work on the fence and to find more planks to reinforce it, and some way to lock it up. Kept Carol and Beth downstairs, working out how to unlock the bunker should they need it, and stood on point when it was time to clear it out. It was empty, thank god, except for some much needed supplies. The third night, Rick went silent. His eyes opening slightly to acknowledge Lorie, much to her relief. The fever started going down, and Hershel announced that he might just pull through this, but the handcuffs remained around his friend's wrists.
"Just in case," the old man said with a heavy sigh as he gave Daryl a weighted look. Already knowing who it would be that would take care of Rick should that ever happen. Daryl gave him a slight nod in acknowledgement before heading down the hall. Poking his head into the library first to find Beth and Carl on their makeshift pallets, both of them obviously exhausted, then down the hall to hear Maggie and Glenn in the one bedroom, and looking over in time to see Hershel closing the door to the last one.
When he headed downstairs, it was to find Carol and T-dog on watch with their rifles slung over their shoulders as they continued watching the woods. He stood next to Carol, watching as she continued squinting in one particular direction, her eyes narrowing before she motioned for him to come over and pointed in the general direction.
"What ya seein?" he asked, standing next to her. Peering into the woods himself to find what looked to be a low fire burning somewhere in the forests. Barely discernible, and obviously being hidden away.
"Could be a passerby," she said when she noticed he caught sight of it. His jaw tensed up, and he could feel his fingers curling into a tight ball as he shook his head. His gaze moving to catch T-dog's attention before heading inside to bang on Glenn and Maggie's door.
"Keep an eye on things," he said as the man answered, his shirt barely being pulled down over his disheveled hair. He didn't bother to look and see what Maggie was doing, but he heard her ask, "what's goin on?" as he turned.
Rushing back down the stairs where Carol already stood in the living room with a pleading look in her eyes as he grabbed a rifle to sling over his shoulder, and his browning that was tucked it in the back of his pants.
"You can't go out there alone, Daryl," Carol said, as he double checked his belt and boots for his knives before moving to grab his cross bow. "I mean it," she insisted, grabbing his arm to push his hand away from the one weapon he felt the most attachment to as she stared him down.
Daryl shook his head, chewing on his bottom lip as he looked to the stairs. Glenn and Maggie stood at the top and he shook his head once again looking at Carol. "You didn't see the look in that man's eye when he saw Beth," he started, his voice shaking as he pleaded his case. "He didn't give a shit that she was clinging on to someone already and that was before they knew she killed their brother's. Imagine what they'd do to her now. To Carl. To..." He let his words trail off as he glanced up at Maggie, who stood clinging on to Glenn's hands. Real fear in her eyes as she visibly swallowed Daryl's words. He couldn't take them back now. Didn't know if he wanted to. If they were scared that was good, meant they would pay attention. Shaking his head, the words causing images to flash through his own eyes as he made another grab for the crossbow so that he could head out and deal with these people.
"Then don't go alone," Carol pleaded, her eyes begging him as she looked to Glenn and Maggie. "Take back up... Please." She added the last bit hesitantly, like she didn't think he would listen to her otherwise. Giving her a long look, he debated over the advise. Unsure of the real concern in her eyes before glancing over at Glenn. Noticing how the man was already untangling himself from Maggie, ready to head upstairs to grab the rest of his stuff and then the door creaked open. T-dog standing there with his own rifle strapped to his back and a "let's go" look in his eyes.
"No," Daryl said, tensing when he noticed everyone freezing to look at him. "Let me go alone, scout the area, and see what we're dealing with." His eyes landed on Carol in a silent question. Almost asking her if that was going to be okay before adding, "I'll be silent. They won't know I'm there and if it's something I can deal with, well..." he left the sentence hanging. Knowing that the rest of them would get his meaning.
Still, Carol shook her head, "you can't go alone." The hard look in her eyes held no argument and he almost backed out of the whole ordeal until Glenn came back with that resolute look in his eyes. With a quick glance at each other and then one to Carol to show he got it, he looked to T-Dog.
"Keep an eye on them," he said, nodding to the house in general. The man took a step back, looking ready to argue about being left behind, but he eventually nodded. Reassuring Daryl that he would be wherever they needed him, and right now he desperately needed someone to stay here. To look after things while they were out and Rick was still unconscious. Stepping into the night sky, Daryl sucked in a deep breath. Not saying a word to his companion as the two of them made their way to the gate. When they exited, they paused long enough for Maggie and Glenn to say a quick good-bye and for Daryl to note two women and an elderly man standing on the porch. He looked for a glint of blonde to be joining them somewhere, but was thankful the girl continued to sleep. Either that, or didn't want to dare get up and have to say good-bye. Either way, he was thankful for her absence as the gates closed behind him and Glenn.
'A trap,' Daryl thought, rethinking the fire. How visible it had been by their cabin, even as it remained low, and how even Glenn stood next to him staring at the obvious tracks. A weight settled in his stomach. A force telling him to turn around and head back, even as another voice urged him on. Saying, 'you're already out here. Why stop?'
Shaking his head, Daryl rubbed at his bottom lip, pausing yet again when their change of direction was once again glaringly obvious to anybody and everybody.
"Either these guys are incredibly stupid, or..." Glenn's voice trailed off as a stick cracked in the distance. Making both men's head pop up and glance at each other before looking around their space. Rather, it was human or walker was indiscernible at the moment, and Daryl found himself taking a step back toward the cabin. His senses on high alert as the two of them steadily crept back there. 'No,' he thought, turning to look behind him. 'This wasn't going to be the night they would fight these guys.'
Not when they expected it. Wanted it even.
As they made their way back, someone's laughter rung out through the forest. Echoing through the trees, causing Daryl to freeze as he recognized the noise. Would know it anywhere, but it wasn't possible. Not even remotely, and he shook it off the moment more shuffles could be heard through the trees and Glenn hissed, "Daryl." When he looked over, Korea was motioning for him to head back to the gate, having already caught on that this wasn't a good situation.
As they drew closer to the cabin, Daryl let out a high pitched whistle, signaling for the others to know that it was them and by the time they reached the gate T-dog already swung it open and then closed again as they rushed inside. Both of them bending over the moment they were safe to catch their breath.
"What happened?" T-dog asked as Carol and Maggie circled around them.
"Fuckin trap," Daryl muttered, shaking his head at his own stupidity. Of course it was a trap. What the hell made him think it was going to be that damn easy?
Maggie shifted her weight, her arm crossing over Glenn's shoulders as she asked, "what was out there?"
Daryl and Glenn glanced at each other. The knowledge that Korea recognized the laugh as easily as he did twisted his stomach as Glenn shook his head. "Nothing good." He didn't say any more than that, just dropped his head, took a few more gulps of air and stood up straight to wrap his arms around Maggie. Daryl couldn't completely agree. There was a good chance they could survive this, if that was who he thought it was. It was just a matter of time before he could confirm his thoughts.
For the night, though, he stationed himself on the porch. Even when Carol insisted that he needed sleep, he stayed on the porch. Dozing in his spot while keeping the low burning fire within his sights. When it went out, his gut twisted even more. With the fire he could guess where they were. Without it, they were in the dark. Literally. When morning came, Carol and Hershel both ganged up on him. Reminding him that he couldn't run without sleep and right now they all depended on him until Rick felt better. So he was forced to bed, where he only slept for a few hours before the dreams of his demons chasing him through the forest, laughing at him, woke him in a cold sweat.
When he did wake, it was to find everyone hustling about. The day going on, much like the rest with T-dog and Glenn and him working to reinforce the door. Last nights events seeming to spur them on as they discussed more ideas. Glenn even went as far as to suggest they find some barbed wire to place on top of the fence. Daryl nodded, gazing over the fences with the idea in his head. Even thinking that maybe, just maybe, they could find a way to make the fences taller. Sturdier. It would have to wait till Rick was better and the Claimers were gone. They all knew venturing out of the gates right now was out of the question. Especially now that they knew their enemies were setting traps for them.
The words were left unsaid, but it was readable in all their gazes and Daryl nodded his head again to confirm he liked the idea as he took a step back. "First chance we get," he mumbled, wiping the sweat from his brow. For now there wasn't much left to do and they decided to break it off for the afternoon. Stepping back into the house, he found Beth, Carol, and even Carl in the kitchen. A huge grin on the boy's face as all three looked up to see Daryl walk in.
"What's goin on?" he asked, coming over to take a bowl of soup from Beth. The girl smiled at him, and her sweet smile reminded him of something else he needed to do before the day was done. For now, he focused his attention on the young boy who was grinning from ear to ear.
"Dad's awake, talkin and all," Carl explained, jumping from his chair the moment Carol gave him another bowl and headed up the stairs. Daryl raised an eyebrow at the two women and both of them were found smiling in confirmation before he turned to see for himself.
Sure enough, Rick sat up in the bed while Hershel checked his pulse. The man looked to be a tad irritated as he said, "I told you, I'm fine. I just need to get out of this bed." He motioned toward the object in question and looked to Daryl when he noticed the man standing the doorway.
"Your body needs rest, Rick," Hershel began, patting the man on the shoulder as he continued. "You've still got a wound on your side and you've just gotten over a heavy fever. Rest for another day and then go from there."
Lorie looked at her husband with an imploring look and Rick laid his head back, the frustration clearly written all over his face even as he attempted to relax at his wife's bidding.
"You need it, man," Daryl said, coming to stand next to the bed. "You look like shit."
"Thanks," Rick muttered, shaking his head before his eyes drifted over him. "You don't look much better," he said, giving Daryl a narrowed gaze. Shrugging, Daryl tried to play it off. Knowing that now wouldn't be the best time to tell him about the Claimers and their antics.
"I'm tryin to be you, you jackass," he mumbled, even as his lips turned up to let the man know he was joking.
Rick laughed, the movement causing him to jar his side and the next second he was hissing and grabbed at his side. Lorie lurched onto the bed, her hand pressing gently onto the wound as she scolded her husband. "I'm fine," Rick muttered for what must have been a hundredth time. When he looked back at Daryl there was something akin to respect in his eyes. Daryl could feel the slight change. A dynamic between the two men shifting and cementing itself in that shared look of mutual respect. An understanding that through thick or thin the other would be there dawning on the both of them.
The thought caused something in Daryl to swell, making him shift his stance as he gave the man another nod and moved out of the room. Shoving that swelling emotion down to deal with later. Not wanting to think that he might just be thinking of these people as family. That somewhere along they way they stopped being just a group of people he was stuck with. That Rick wasn't just a man that he followed, that he might be something akin to a brother. Someone he could rely on and turn to. Something he never quite had with Merle.
Stepping into the living room, he noticed Beth curled up on the couch, her hand wrapped around a small book that she must have found upstairs and he stepped closer. Clearing his throat so that he wouldn't frighten her, and still smiling when the girl jumped and clutched at her chest.
"Daryl, sorry, I was just-" she trailed off as the book in her hands made it quite obvious what she was doing.
"Yeah, I see that," he muttered, moving just a tad bit closer. "Thought you, Carol and Maggie were cleaning out the bunker?"
"We did," Beth said, moving to stand up and motion for him to follow her. He did, allowing her to lead him into the kitchen and down the basement until he came to a wide open metal door. Stepping inside, he took note of the small makeshift kitchen in the corner with nothing more than a microwave, portable stove top, and an even smaller sink. On the wall next to him was a closet door that when he opened to find a small gun rack with drawers for ammo and more small hand-helds. He looked to Beth to question where the weapons went and she pointed into the basement where a stack of rifles and handguns sat on a nearby table.
"Carol's going to make a small inventory of what's in here, and see if we can't add more," Beth explained moving back into the bunker and motioning toward the small kitchen area. "There's a small closet over there with more canned food, MRE's and bottled water."
Daryl nodded, chewing on his nail as he took in the information and turned again as the girl took a step backwards, telling him to continue following her through the bunker where he noted several bunk beds, and more closets that he didn't know was in it until she stopped in the back and opened up a door that looked to lead some sort of port-a-potty and then closing it to open another closet that held medical supplies of all sorts - needles, syringes, small bottles of aspirin and the like.
"These people thought of everything," he said, moving to look into some drawers at the bottom of the closet and quickly slamming the drawers shut when he realized it was contraceptives.
"Yep," Beth said, almost laughing at him even as he looked up to see her cheeks turning red. "Literally."
Shaking his head, he stood and rubbed at the back of his neck. Wondering what to do with the place now. "Guess we stock it up with weapons, maybe see if we can add some more food and-"
Beth nodded, her eyes already roaming over the place as she said, "already planned on that. Going to get that done today in fact."
Daryl nodded, his gaze going to the floor for a moment as he muttered, "good."
"You don't need to worry about everything, Mr. Dixon," Beth said, causing him to look up into her smiling face. "We can handle some things."
Daryl smirked at her, his gaze roaming over her face as the laugh from last night echoed in his head. Mocking him as he thought about what could happen if something would have happened to him and Glenn last night. What could happen to her. Shifting his stance, he continued rubbing at his neck as he said, "speaking of..." his words drifted as he caught her attention.
Her small chin jutting out in expectation and Daryl closed his eyes to continue. "You know how to fight? Throw a punch or anything?"
Beth shrugged, her arms coming out to emphasize the movement. "My brother taught me how to hold my fists so I wouldn't hurt myself, and said to put all my weight into it, but otherwise, no. Never had any reason to fight."
"Well, now ya do," Daryl said, gently grabbing her arm and pulling her back up the stairs and into the day light. That laugh once again chasing him out of the dark as he brought the young girl into the yard and positioned her in front of him.
"It's not always walkers that you're goin to be dealin with," Daryl started, pulling her arms up so that they were positioned in front of her. "And you're not always going to have an ax that ya can swing to take them out."
Beth nodded, her eyes serious and her lips thin as she listened to him, and he was thankful that she was taking this seriously. "So, what do I do?" she asked, pushing his lessons forward.
"You use your size to your advantage," he said, taking a step back. "You're small. Means you'll be able to weave in and out of bigger targets without much difficulty. Also means they're goin to underestimate you. You already know this." He gave her a pointed look and again, she nodded. Her gaze going distant for only a moment before her jaw tightened and she brought herself back.
Her knuckles turned white, and Daryl stepped back, motioning for her to come at him as he said, "c'mon." She hesitated for a moment, her eyes roaming over him before steeling herself and lunging forward. She stepped wide, and her arms went swinging, causing her to over step and allow him to move out of her reach.
When he stepped behind her, he simply placed his arm around her shoulders to show that he got her and said, "try again."
This time when she took her stance, he motioned to her feet. "Keep your steps small. Close together, like your dancing. I know you know how to dance," he said, pointing at her. Beth grinned, but didn't move as he then brought up his own arms. "And don't swing so wildly. Tuck in, keep every part of you as close to your body as you can. The tighter you are, the more control you have."
They worked for well over an hour, with him constantly repeating himself each time she messed up. "Tuck in, stay small, stay tight" like an anthem that was he was going to drill through her head one way or another. Sweat cooled on his skin in the autumn afternoon, and a small sheen appeared on Beth's skin as, again, she took too wide of a step and he was able to grab her arm and shove her punch away.
"Come on, Greene," he shouted, the frustration building inside of him because he knew she could get this. He knew, she knew this wasn't some game and she should have picked this up easily.
Beth dropped her arms, her head falling back as she muttered, "I'm trying, Daryl!"
That laugh echoed in his ear again, taunting him with a voice that said, "that's right, she'll try but we both know she'll fail." With a grunt, he shouted, "You're not tryin hard enough!" Stepping towards her, his face twisting in frustration.
Beth stepped back, her own face turning into a grimace as she shoved him away and shouted, "Hell, I ain't! I'm doin the best I can!"
"Well, you're best ain't good enough today, you have to do better. Try harder. Push until you get it!" He shoved her, causing her to fall onto her backside. Gasping, she stared up at him, watching as he fell over her, trapping her hands above her head, much like he did the day in the woods.
"They've got you pinned, Beth," he whispered, feeling her chest rise and fall as confusion spread across her face. "They've got you pinned, and they're goin to take it all from you."
"Stop it, Daryl," Beth breathed, wiggling in an attempt to free herself from his stranglehold. Daryl brought her hands up, slamming them back onto the ground as he shifted his weight and leaned closer.
"But they won't. They've got your family, your sister is screamin, your daddy dead..."
"Stop it!" she shouted, pushing her arms up only to have them slammed back in another bruising hit.
"Then do somethin!" Daryl screamed, shaking her as real tears formed in her eyes. "Do somethin besides cryin about it!"
Beth shook her head, tears streaming down her face as she gaped at him. Still unsure of his intentions, and for a moment the fear in Beth's eyes caused him to lighten his grip. Shift just an inch to lean over her. His breath fanning across her face as he whispered, "c'mon, don't lie there like some dead girl."
The fear left her eyes, turning into something akin to anger as her leg shifted, coming up to slam into the inside of his thigh. Daryl felt the pain explode up his leg, causing his grip to tighten on her arm in an attempt to control it just as someone latched on to him, hauling him off of her. Allowing her to scoot away from him, even as her eyes still burned into his. The anger that he evoked smothering on the surface as he watched her. Allowing himself to be dragged away, but barely hearing the person behind him saying something like, "that's enough. You've done enough."
Beth was that one that stood up firsts, her feet swiftly carrying her over to him as she brought her hand back, slapping him in the face hard enough that it caused his ears to ring. Making him close his eyes, as whoever held him, backed off. Daryl fell back, his head spinning for a moment before focusing on Beth who was mouthing the words, "You asshole."
Or maybe she was screaming them, he didn't know because his ears were still ringing from her hit, and to say he was shocked by the power behind that girl's arms was an under statement. Even now he could feel his face burning, and barely registered when she came at him again, swinging out her fists -that stayed close to her body- and connecting with his jaw. This time Daryl's head snapped back. His vision spinning for a moment, but the hit knocked him back to his senses and when another punch came at his face, he managed to grab her arm and whirl her around. Bringing her back to his chest, and pinning her arms to her own as he whispered, "okay, we're good, Beth, we're good. Ya did good."
Slowly, he could feel the girl calm down, her breathing evening out as she quit fighting she was limp in his arms, and she wasn't going to punch him again, he released her. Allowing her to shove away from him as she glared and said, "I hate you, so damn much Dixon."
Daryl nodded, understanding the reasons for the glare from the young girl as he moved his gaze from her back to Glenn, who stood behind him, to the varying degrees of shocked expressions on his peers' faces, and then to the disapproving glare of Hershel as the man stood rim-rod stiff on the front porch.
Daryl swallowed, realizing that he crossed some sort of line with the young girl and knowing he was going to have to pay for it. But feeling the way his jaw stiffened when he moved it, and the ache in his cheek was well worth it. Reminded him that the girl held a fire in her that when pushed to the breaking point burned like hell.
Yes, he was going to pay for his outbursts with her. Not just from her daddy, but her as well, and he would pay the price because the laughter in his head died down to a simple, recognizable, "damn," and that settled his demons. For the moment.
Unable to take the scorn from those around him, and definitely not ready to face Hershel, Daryl took off to an empty bedroom. Being sure to lock the door behind him as he focused on the mirror. Examining the swelling of his lip, and the scratch on his cheek that was sure to sting in the morning. Yeah the girl got him good, and despite the pain, he smiled at the fact. Definitely proud of her at that moment. A knock on the door interrupted his musings and he stiffened, still not ready to face the old man or anyone else for that matter. It's not that he was ashamed of what he did, he just didn't know how to explain it to the others. Couldn't have them facing his demons when he could barely stare them down himself.
The knocking came again, this time more insistent and Carol's voice filtered through the door saying, "Daryl, I know you're in there."
Taking a deep breath, he moved to unlock the door and then shut it again the moment the woman was in the room. Turning away from her to face the mirror before she could catch a glimpse of his face. Not that it did any good. She strolled straight up to him, and grabbed a hold of his chin. Forcing him to face her as she turned his head first one way and then another.
"Well, she certainly did a number on you," Carol said, backing away long enough to grab a rag and alcohol and return. "Not that you didn't deserve it."
"Hmph," Daryl replied, snatching the rag from Carol and turning to clean up the wounds himself. "At least I know the girl can fight."
Carol crossed her arms, her gaze narrowing as she stood silently. Assessing him for a moment before asking, "that what this all about? Knowing if Beth could defend herself?"
Daryl shrugged, turning away as she gaped at him. After a another few seconds of nothing but silence from him she shook her head. Staring at the wall like it would hold all the answers before shaking her head again. When she looked back at him, her eyes were narrowed and there was still a questioning look on her face before she grabbed the bottle of alcohol on the dresser and snatched the rag back.
"What are you doin in here anyway?" he asked, curious about her presence. Always curious about why she bothered with him. You would think with an asshole husband like Ed she would avoid all redneck assholes' and yet here she was, helping him.
"Fraternizing with the enemy," she replied, chuckling at her own joke as she dabbed at his wounds. When she only received another "huh" from him, she continued. "I'm serious. You got the whole damn house in an uproar. Hershel and Maggie are lookin for blood, the others want an explanation, and even Rick is attemptin to get out of bed wantin to know what the hell happened."
Daryl smirked. Despite the situation, he smirked, thinking about all those people pissed at him. It was about time they noticed just how much of an asshole he was. Then he remembered Beth's face. Her statement about hating him sounding even truer now than ever before and something in his gut twisted. Guilt laying on him for the first time since actually picking a fight with the girl.
"Those men are close, too damn close," he explained, giving her a partial explanation that she would accept. It wasn't the best, it wasn't even the whole truth, but it was acceptable and the sigh that left her lips made him meet her gaze before she looked away. Her hands dropped from his face and she stared at them for so long he was beginning to think she wasn't going to say anything at all.
"Doesn't mean you had to scare everyone," Carol said, the look in her eye softer than he expected as she gazed at him. Daryl shifted, turning away from her sad eyes as he grabbed the rag back to continue cleaning his cuts. It's not like he was going to apologize for what he did. Like he would do any of that, and when she left the room without another word he only gave the closing door a brief glance. She knew he was holding back from her. Once again hiding behind his walls and he preferred it that way. Didn't need the others privy to his business. Knowing what scared him awake in the middle of the night.
So he stayed in the room, locked away from the others until it was late evening and he figured most of the people would be sleeping by now. The first watch getting tired enough that they wouldn't mind some relief, though he worried who would be part of the second watch with him. He also knew it wouldn't be that hard to avoid most of them, except Beth. But after the scare he gave her this afternoon, he doubted they would be allowing her on watch duty. More like watching her more closely now that he went and slammed open a damn door.
As he stepped out into the night sky, most of the house blissfully quiet, he was relieved to find Glenn on watch. The man gave him a side glance and a quick shake of the head as he said, "dude, you totally fucked up."
"Yeah," Daryl shrugged, trying to act like it didn't bother him as much as it did as he pulled a cigarette from his pocket and lighting it up. Korea gave him another side glance before scuffing his boots on the floor and added, "but I get why you did it."
That shocked the hell out of Daryl as his head popped up to face the man. Waiting for him to continue. "Beth, she's soft in some ways, and honestly, I wasn't even sure she had it in her, but after this afternoon. Watching her tear your face up." He nodded as he gave Daryl an appreciative nod. "Whoever is out there. They won't get her, or any of us, so easily."
There was a sigh of relief that at least someone got it. That whatever they saw last night. Whatever they heard, it wasn't just in his head, and he wasn't the only one that knew they needed to be prepared. That this thing wasn't going away without some sort of fight.
"Plus," Glenn continued, smiling now. "Hershel was even a bit proud of how Beth handled herself."
Daryl didn't know if that was a good thing or not. Hershel could have been proud of her for just tearing him up. It wasn't exactly the smartest thing for him to just pin her down and scream at her like that. Definitely other ways to deal with Beth not listening to him. Still, he guessed that when things blew over he could try to teach her close range again. If she let him.
Nodding his head to show Glenn he appreciated the vote of confidence, his gaze went back out to the forest where that damn fire was burning again. Calling and taunting him through the night as, again, that laugh echoed in his head. When he looked to Glenn, he noticed the man was steadily ignoring the small light, leaving him to wonder if that laugh wasn't taunting him as well.
Okay, not totally certain about this chapter. I had another one written up and saved but then my laptop got knocked over and it messed up my USB where I kept all my stories. So not only did I lose this whole chapter, and story, I've also loss any and all other works. Which sucks, because I had some pretty good stuff on there I just never decided to post and didn't save anywhere else.
Anyways, enough of my boohoo moment. Their still in my head, just don't think they'll be rewritten the same. Don't know if that's a good thing or not.
Anyways, like I was saying lost the original chapter I had written up for this but the beginning turned out to be better. Not sure about the Daryl and Beth practice fight scene and the after thoughts. Think that might have gone a bit far. I don't know. Anyways. any and all comments are appreciated and thanks to all those that have favorited and followed this story. It's all very much appreciated. Even if I don't respond directly to you.
oh and what do you think of the cover?