Chapter 12: War
A/N: So I'm trying to update quick since my updates have been sporadic recently, and though this is a shorter chapter, I should have the next up soon and it's gonna be sooooo fluffy! I really want to finish this story up, because I am in love with all the amazing fics in the walking dead category, and I have some more ideas to push out! Your reviews are amazing though, and I hope I have done justice to your guys' faith in me :) I love every single comment this story receives! So thank you, and here is another chapter!
I also realized I've never done a disclaimer! Whoops. I don't own the incredible Walking Dead series or the characters!
They had been driving for a while, past the highway and headed East. They didn't really know where to go, but with Rick leading they were content to follow for now. It was the middle of the night, black as pitch and probably just as deadly. No one wanted to get out in the dark, but they couldn't keep driving, especially without having a group meeting. The thought had occurred to Rick, it was obvious by the way he would slow whenever he thought he had found a good spot to pull over, but a stray walker in a ditch would make him change his mind every time.
Eventually, they found an overpass; fairly deserted and no cars piled on the bridge part, only a few on the road traveling underneath. Safe as they would get in the dark. Rick pulled to the side, and Glenn pulled his car up beside them, creating a space in the middle where the group could meet. Merle and Shane had their trucks pull over to let the RV huddle in the center. They killed their engines and their lights, and Dale's RV was the only source of light in the night.
Daryl kicked his stand up and let Carol untangle herself from the bike before he attempted to get off. When he did he found her watching him, eyes red rimmed. She was holding his tent, and the few blankets and belongings he had brought with him to the farm.
"You risked your ass for that?" He muttered angrily. She stuck her chin out, and her lip trembled a bit. He felt bad for being harsh with her, but she had worried him!
"Yes." She cleared her throat. "And it was worth it. Where do you propose we sleep without a tent?"
"Smart ass." He growled. Slowly he reached to her arms, where she had a small leather bag she had found just inside his tent. He lifted it and opened the flap, checking inside to find the book, cloth bundle, and wallet he had carried since the beginning of all this mess. He shut it with a snap and cleared his own throat. "Thank you."
Carol's eyes widened minutely, showing her surprise that he had thanked her, and he knew that she was curious beyond belief as to what she had salvaged that had made him so grateful. Now was not the time though, and he set the bag and the tent beside his bike.
"We gotta put it in the RV, or the truck." he told her softly.
She sighed, "Daryl. Jimmy's dead."
He straightened and met her eyes. So she had been crying for his loss as well? Beth was going to be destroyed, she just wasn't meant for the death surrounding them.
"Damn." He said, "In the camp? When he was gettin' our shit?" Anger coursed through his veins at that fact; it wasn't fair, his life had been snuffed out in a brutal way, and for what? Some goddamn tents, and some food? It hadn't even been his supplies!
Carol nodded. "He was protecting Herschel and Beth."
"He died good then. Saved what he loved." Their march towards the others was sombre, and everyone else seemed to be in much the same mood, whether they knew of Jimmy's demise or not.
Rick pressed his hand to his heart before he spoke; whether he needed the strength, or perhaps just wished it would stop breaking, Daryl didn't know.
"Jimmy died in that mess." Rick drawled softly, and Beth's renewed sobs were shushed by Herschel's shoulder quickly. "He deserved more, and it was a shame it happened. We gotta be more careful, we have to be prepared for every eventuality. The worse case scenario, always. That farm was a piece of heaven, in an otherwise hellish world, and we got too comfortable."
"Right, and we need to survive." Shane barked. "We get tough, or we die."
Rick silenced him with a glare, much more sensitive to Beth and Carl than Shane could ever be. "Shane is right though, we all need to train to survive, and we need to get used to being on watch again."
"Can we stay here tonight?" Dale's voice was weary, and it was obvious that everyone needed the rest.
Rick nodded. "We have to be careful to watch both sides, but we should be okay here if we're quiet. We're in the open though, so we all need to be ready to go at a moments notice. Sleep in your cars if you can, or the RV."
"I can take first watch, I'm not tired. Frees up a bed in the RV too. Herschel and Beth can go in there, and Dale obviously."
Dale shrugged, "The front seat works for me, it's a bench across. Herschel and Beth could have the bunks. Andrea?" He turned to the blond, offering the last bed to her, even though he knew she wouldn't take it. She smiled kindly at him but shook her head.
"No, it's okay, I'll bunk with Shane. Carol and Daryl can't sleep on the bike."
Dale nodded at her words, worry springing to his eyes. He stayed silent though, and Daryl wondered if he had accepted her choice to bed down with the hot tempered cop, or if he was just too tired to try anymore. He feared it was the latter.
"I'll take second shift, T Dog." Daryl said. Merle scoffed, and Daryl shot him a glare that would have had lesser men pissing their pants, but he just rolled his eyes at him.
"Thanks, Daryl. I'll take last, just wake me." Rick said. After those words there was nothing more to say, and Rick led Lori and Carl away, clambering into the car that would be way too cramped to get any real rest. Merle stomped off to the truck that had a comfortable seat, and Daryl cursed that he had finally gotten what he wanted -to keep the bike- and it would have been better if he had gotten the goddamn truck in the end. Figured.
Glenn and Maggie were already in their car, and Daryl headed back to his bike to grab the tent and bag that Carol had risked her life for. She followed him silently, probably unsure as to what he wanted, or what he was thinking. Alone together was a hell of a lot different when you weren't actually alone, and instead sleeping in a back room of a cramped RV.
He turned to her and met her worried eyes, and he thought perhaps that she had aged a decade in an hour. Stress was making her forehead wrinkle, and the frown she was wearing was full of sadness and fear. He hated it, hated that anything but the smile she had worn in his presence so short a time ago dared to grace her face. Despite this, despite her weariness, and her fear and stress: she was so goddamned beautiful.
And she was his.
He tucked the tent and bag under his arm and set one palm on her back, guiding her to the RV.
"Come on, might as well sleep." He muttered. Daryl's eyes sought out Merle's truck, watching for signs of life. He was sitting behind the wheel, and despite the darkness Daryl knew that he was watching them. Goosebumps sprung up on his skin, and he shook off his fear. He was just being a pussy, that's what it was. It wasn't the fact that he could practically feel Merle's every malevolent thought from here, and the fact that Carol was at the fucking epicenter of the storm.
Daryl snarled at the truck, knowing full well the light of the RV was enough to let Merle see him. He wanted a war? Wanted to prove his baby brother was a piece of shit, and that Carol was nothing? Well he goddamn well had it.
