Disclaimer: I do not own TWD

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CH 10- Something Else

...

Charlie made her way across the yard to the source of the sound. Curiosity had instantly drawn her to it. Daryl had warned her several times about letting curiosity get the best of her but at that moment she wasn't thinking of her father's life lessons. She was thinking about the wonders that could have been hiding in Dave's shed. She stopped before reaching the wooden shed and looked around. Neither Daryl or Dave were around. Slowly, Charlie stepped towards the front door of the shed. It had been left unlocked and unguarded.

"Hello?" Charlie called out softly as she pressed her ear next to the door. "Dave?"

…

Daryl grabbed Charlie's pack from the floor and began to stuff her things inside including her fairytale book and the photo of Beth Charlie had left upon the lamp table next to their bedding. Daryl picked up the photo and examined it. He carefully looked over Beth's smiling face and wondered if they would ever find her. He remembered how upset Charlie had gotten over losing the photo and shook his head.

"Damn." Daryl muttered to himself. "You gotta be out there. You just gotta."

...

Upon placing her ear against the wood, Charlie heard soft shuffles and the dangling of chains. She frowned not quite recognizing the sound and peered through a crack in the door but was unable to make out anything. A yellow eye instantly appeared in view followed by a muffled growl. Charlie jumped back startled by the appearance of the eye. Suddenly, something came crashing against the door. Charlie stumbled back, losing her footing and falling backwards on to the ground with a soft grunt. The door shook ferociously; as it did the hinge loosened more and more until the door finally burst open. A female walker dressed in rags with matted hair and skin long since decaying stepped out. It was chained around its left ankle and both wrists with a gag around its mouth. It looked down upon Charlie with dead yellow eyes and lunged at her with a muffled growl.

"Ah!" Charlie gasped taken completely by surprise and scrambled away.

The walker stumbled out of the shed when it was yanked back by the chain around its ankle. It toppled over falling at Charlie's feet; it reached out for her, grasping her jeans with a tight grip and yanked her back with full force. It snapped its jaws at Charlie but the gag around its mouth kept it from getting a good bite out of the child.

"No!" Charlie cried as she kicked at the walker.

She reached in to her pocket bringing out the switchblade Daryl had given her. Charlie slashed at the walker's hand, keeping it from yanking her back further. The walker reached for her again knocking the blade out of Charlie's hand. The blade fell on to the muddy ground, inches out of Charlie's grasp.

"Daddy!" Charlie cried out to Daryl as she kicked her way out of the walker's grasp in attempts to reach for the blade. "Stupid walker! Let go!"

…

Daryl placed the photo back in to Charlie's pack before he forgot it. He didn't want to have to return to Dave's later for it when Charlie realized it was missing. Sometimes it was hard not to imagine how things would have been if Beth was still around. Perhaps Charlie would know how to read and pronounce words properly. Hell, maybe she would even understand idioms and have better manners. Daryl was trying his best with her but he he had no clue on how to parent properly. He just did what he knew was best for his girl, even if it wasn't "proper" or up to standards with what others would have called ideal parenting. No one taught him how to be a father. There were no guidelines or rule books. All he had was his instinct and that was good enough for him.

Daryl closed Charlie's pack and placed it on the couch along with his. He looked around the living room for anything they could have forgotten when he heard her blood curdling cry for him.

"Daddy!"

It took just one call to get Daryl's attention. "Charlie!" Daryl grabbed his crossbow off the kitchen table and raced outside. He practically kicked the back door open as he rushed down the porch and across the lawn. His heart stopped completely when he looked to see a walker upon his little girl. Daryl instantly saw red and lifted his bow, "Charlie, get down!" He ordered.

Charlie quickly lowered her head as she was told and covered herself with her hands. Daryl aimed and pulled the trigger. The bolt instantly flew through the air striking the walker through the skull. It instantly went limp, falling upon Charlie's little frame. Daryl hurried to her, grabbed the walker and pulled it off of Charlie. He threw his crossbow aside and picked up Charlie from the ground with one swift motion.

"You okay? You bit?" He demanded as he frantically looked her over. Charlie shook her head without answering; still too stunned and shaken to answer. Daryl sighed. "Holy shit." He said and brought Charlie against him, wrapping his arms around her shaking body. He could feel the tears that instantly swarmed his eyes and the feeling of his heart beat wildly against his chest, threatening to break open his ribs. In that moment, Daryl Dixon had felt a fear so strong that it had almost shattered him completely.

"Daddy, I'm okay." Charlie said. Her voice was muffled from being crushed in her father's tight embrace.

"M-Mallory?" whimpered a voice and Daryl looked up to see Dave standing there. He had dropped his riffle and his kill on the ground. His wide stricken eyes were set on the body upon the ground. Daryl watched as the world came crashing in Dave's eyes. He was still for a moment trying to process what he was seeing. "Mallory!" Dave gasped and rushed to the walker's body. He dropped to the knees and collected it in his arms.

"My Mallory!" He cried. The tears raced down his face and a horrid shutter shook his chest. Daryl had never seen a man sob like that before, well, at least not in a very long time. Charlie peeked from Daryl's embrace to see Dave implode right before their very own eyes. She became alarmed by his reaction and clung tightly to Daryl.

"Who did this to ya?" Dave asked as he pulled off the gag from around its mouth and studied its decayed face. The bolt was sticking straight through its skull. Once he saw the bolt his eyes shot straight to Daryl's and hell overcame them. "You bastard!" He dropped the body and lunged at Daryl.

Daryl quickly let go of Charlie, pushing her out of the way. Charlie fell on the ground with a soft grunt and watched as Dave tackled Daryl to the ground.

"You killed my daughter, ya sumbitch!" Dave struck Daryl across the face with his fist. He winned his fist back to strike again when Charlie jumped on to his back, digging her nails in to his skin and biting his ear.

"Fuck!" Dave shouted at the piercing pain. He shook Charlie off, throwing her back against the floor. When Daryl saw this rage engulfed him; he pushed Dave off. Dave fell back on the ground with a heavy thud and grunted when Daryl perched himself on top of him. Daryl's fists came crashing upon Dave's face over and over until he spit up blood. Charlie watched with mortified eyes as her father savagely beat another man. She had never seen Daryl so enraged before, it almost frightened her.

"Daddy, stop!" She cried out.

Upon hearing her voice, Daryl stopped his fist mid air. His eyes focused on Dave's bloody and swollen face.

"Y-ya killed 'er!" Dave spat between bloody coughs, "Ya killed my Mallory!"

"Yer fuckin' Mallory almost killed my girl!" Daryl spat back as he grabbed Dave by the collar of his shirt. "You crazy sumbitch!"

Dave closed his eyes and sobbed. "Mallory! My poor Mallory! Ya killed 'er!"

"Daddy." Charlie whimpered too afraid to move.

"Get outta here!" Dave screamed, "Git!"

Daryl shoved him aside and hurried to Charlie. He picked her up off the ground and collected his bolt from the walker's head, followed by Charlie's switchblade and his crossbow.

Daryl burst in to the cabin with Charlie in arms. He hurried and grabbed their packs, swinging them over his shoulder and rushed out the front door, never looking back. Charlie covered her eyes but all she heard was Dave's cries of agony muffle in to the distance.

...

Night fell quickly upon them. Daryl had not stopped moving since they left Dave's cabin. He wanted to put as much space between them and Dave as possible just incase he decided to follow after them. Daryl had no idea what he was capable of after seeing that he had locked his own walker daughter in a shed. It looked like she had been there for a very long time.

Daryl heaved Charlie higher in his arms, getting a better hold on her. Charlie rested her head against his shoulder; she had not spoken a peep since they left the cabin hours prior. Daryl continued down the road carrying Charlie and their packs. They had been walking in the dark for miles; he knew it was unsafe but had no idea where to stop. He didn't want to set up camp in the middle of the forest in case Dave had been tracking them down. It didn't take long for a sign to pop up along the side of the road. Daryl pulled out his flashlight and shone it over the sign. It read: Rest Stop 1 mile.

Daryl sighed in relief and continued the last mile until they came upon the rest stop. Daryl set Charlie down next to a picnic table and handed her the switchblade.

"Stay put." he ordered and went in to one of the restroom buildings. He pulled out his flashlight again and turned it on, settled it below his crossbow and continued inside. The restrooms were dirty but had been abandoned for a very long time. Trash lay scattered around along with a few random belongings of who ever had tried to make a stand there. But by the looks of it, it must have been when the virus first spread years ago. When the coast was finally clear, Daryl called Charlie over. Charlie hurried to Daryl's side as he closed the heavy door behind them with lock.

Daryl placed their belongings in the corner far from the dirty stalls. He brought out the lantern from the side of his pack and set it down, turning it slowly until a soft barely seeable light filled the restroom. Charlie huddled herself against the wall in the corner and buried her face in her arms. Daryl brought out his pack and reached for a can of pears.

"Ya hungry?" He asked her.

Charlie didn't respond.

Daryl looked at her. "Are you hungry?" He repeated.

Charlie remained silent, not bothering to look up. Instead she curled tighter in to her little balled up position.

"Ey," He nudged her leg. "I'm talkin' to ya."

Charlie shook her head in response. Daryl sighed and sat down next to her. His eyes scanned the restroom for a moment. "Smells funny in here but we'll be okay till sunrise." He reassured her.

Daryl wasn't much for talking about feelings but he knew what Charlie had witnessed at Dave's must have scared her. It had even scared him somewhat. If it weren't for her begging him to stop he would have beat Dave to death. Daryl just couldn't control himself. The thought of losing Charlie to some crazy man's idiocy had blinded him with rage. Still, he couldn't help but to remember Dave's painful cries. He had lost his daughter, fully lost her. Something like that must mess up a man for life.

Daryl and Charlie sat in silence until Charlie slowly drifted off to sleep and tilted over against Daryl's arm. He could hear her soft breathing. And in that moment Daryl wondered if he would have done the same. It was something cruel and unthinkable, something Daryl didn't even want to imagine but seeing a grown man cry over his daughter really made Daryl think. If Charlie were bit…what would he do? Would he be able to let her go?

No. It be a cold day in hell before he ever let Charlie get bit.

Daryl grabbed Charlie and sat her on his lap. She snuggled against his chest and continued sleeping. He held her close not wanting to imagine what would have happened if he hadn't reached her in time.

...

Charlie walked a few steps ahead of Daryl as they continued their way down the road. Her hoodie over her head and her pack clinging from her back. Her head was bowed, eyes to the ground and hands clutching the straps of her pack. She had been silent since they left Dave's house the previous day and the rest stop in the morning. She hadn't eaten anything either since she declined everything Daryl offered her with a shake of the head. Her silence was beginning to worry him.

"Charlie not so fast, kid." Daryl said as Charlie quickened her step. She didn't respond and continued her quick steps. "Ey, I'm talking' to ya." He quickened his walk and grabbed Charlie by the shoulder, pulling her back to face him. "Are ya listening' to me?"

Charlie averted her eyes. Daryl sighed softly and knelt down on one knee. He searched her big blues for an answer to her distant behavior. "You know why we had to leave, don't ya?"

Charlie nodded once.

"Then? What's wrong?"

Charlie finally looked up at Daryl with those big blues of hers. "Ya weren't gon kill 'im. Were ya, Daddy?"

Now it was Daryl who averted his eyes. "Naw." He answered. "I wasn't gon kill 'im. I was- I was just angry cause-"

"Cause I almost got eated?" She asked.

Daryl nodded. "Yeah. I was scared. I thought- I thought I'd lost ya for sure."

Charlie shook her head. "Ya ain't gon lose me."

Daryl looked at her. A soft smile crossed her lips. He chuckled. "I know. S'just, I don't know what I'd do without yer stinky butt to keep me company."

Charlie giggled and pushed his arm playfully. Her smile then disappeared. "Dave was awful sad 'bout that walker…"

Daryl nodded. "Yep. Was his kin."

"Was kin?" She asked.

"Family." Daryl answered.

"So yer my kin?"

Daryl chuckled softly. "Yeah."

"Daddy?"

"Yeah?"

Charlie moved her foot around, drawing little circles on the pavement. "If I git bit…are ya gon let me git like that?"

Daryl frowned instantly. "What's that bullshit comin' out yer mouth, little girl?"

"Are ya?" She pressed.

Daryl grabbed her hand and pulled her in to his arms. He stood, easily bringing Charlie up in to his arms. "Don't you think 'bout stuff like that." He told her. "You ain't gon get bit. I ain't gon let that happen, ya hear?"

Charlie nodded. "I hear." She saluted him once more as she rested her chin on his shoulder.

Daryl shook his head. "Yer something' else, ya know that?"