Chapter 12
Three days passed leaving Daryl feeling isolated and lonely. The only time he saw Carol was when she brought him food and water. Their relationship was strained, he hoped not to the breaking point. He should apologize to her for yelling. And Charlie, he owed her an apology too. Hell, he owed his life to her. If it wasn't for Charlie, Melody, and Brown he would be dead. Daryl let out a deep sigh. It wasn't going to be easy saying he was sorry, even harder to say it to Charlie since she was avoiding him. Maybe that was for the best. He couldn't shake the feeling of cabin fever that was settling on him. He had to get out of here and soon.
Thirty minutes later Daryl made his way to the other side of the prison. Mel gave him a smile and Hershel took a moment to ask him how he felt. Glenn and Maggie were on watch while Tyreese was playing cards with Sasha and Merle. Daryl slapped Merle on the back as he looked at his cards. He shook his head at Sasha. "Best yer not playing for money because he cheats."
"Screw you brother yer just a sore loser! Besides how can I stash cards with one hand? One thing I still can do is this." Merle gave Daryl the finger.
Carol was stirring something in a pot while Axel chatted with her. Beth was slowly rocking Judith to sleep. Daryl gave them a short nod as he moved further into the cell block. The prison seemed quieter than usual and everyone avoided direct eye contact with him. All but Merle. Daryl did a quick scan of the room finally stopping when he noticed Carl sitting on the steps. His face showed the worry that was tormenting him. Daryl looked to Carol, "Where is everyone?"
Merle threw his cards down. "I fold" Which was unusual because even if he was losing he liked to stay in the game and make you think he had a straight flush. He climbed off the seat as if he was dismounting from a horse. Daryl turned to face Merle directly. His brother had both arms up as if he was trying to hold Daryl back with his hands. He was aware of how much power Merle had with his stump. Daryl was almost certain his big brother could actually hold him back with just that arm.
Merle put his hand on Daryl's chest. "Don't get yer feathers ruffled now."
The conversation was about to piss Daryl off because Merle never was this concerned with his feelings unless he was about to tell him something bad. Even then merle liked to blurt things out in a take it or leave it tone. Merle lived by the rule you either liked what he said or you could go pound sand up yer ass. He was about to say something else but an angry brown came chagrining into the cell block from the back of the prison.
"I want to talk to you!" He marched over to Daryl. "I want to know how unstable that sheriff is. Your leader, he isn't right in the head. You tell me right now if I have to go out looking for her, because if something happens to Charlie it's on your head. I swear to God, she better be alright!"
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Rick moved through the cars with purpose. He was looking inside for anything they could take back with them. "There…go…" He pointed to three cars parked in a row. Michonne ran to them with a gas can. Charlie walked up to a store front five and dime. She looked inside noticing most of it had been picked clean. She tried the door, it opened. Nothing seemed strange about the place. She found a pack of paper towels along with a bunch of random stuff she wasn't positive they could use. She grabbed an over turned bucket and was stunned when under it she found a few bars of soap and a couple bags of rice. Did someone set it up like this? She scanned the room and noticed a few boxes set upside down like the others. She almost laughed out loud when she found the beans and canned vegetables. The second to last box took her breath away. Under it was a rock pile. She was so lost in thought staring at the pile of rocks that she was startled by a noise at the front of the store.
Michonne threw her hands in the air when Charlie pointed her gun at her. "Hang on now I'm with you." She noticed the tears streaking down Charlie's face. "What is it? You get bit?" her catana was out of its sheaf in seconds.
Charlie's eyes grew wide at the quick near silent movement of the woman standing mere inches away. It was as if Charlie hadn't seen her move at all. Michonne was looking down, her weapon pointing at the pile. Charlie found her voice even though it was soft and full of emotion. "No I wasn't bit…it's Dom… my brother. He was here."
"How do you know?" Michonne used the end of her blade to push the rocks. The top one fell, revealing a folded piece of paper."
Charlie grabbed it. It was Dom's sloppy handwriting. "Charlie if you are reading this please go back to the house and don't let anyone know you are there. Stay hidden. Don't trust the law or anyone in power."
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Daryl was pacing back and forth. Three hours had gone by since he found out she was gone. Merle refused to allow Daryl anywhere near outside. The caged animal strides Daryl was making put Merle on edge. He knew that feeling of being trapped. This was the first time since the outbreak that Merle thought about those feeling having anything to do with being locked up. He'd done his time more than once, never letting on for a moment that it bothered him. Yet late at night in the quiet he felt the walls closing in. He looked around at the grey room and the bars, remembering…feeling… suffocating. He slapped Daryl on the back stopping his brother in his tracks. "Come on little brother let's get something to eat. That slop the little woman's been cooking actually smells pretty good."
"I ain't hungry!"
"Bullshit ya are too. I can hear yer gut rumbling from across the room. I'll tell you what, you take a bowl of food and we'll eat it in the tower. This way ya can watch for your woman and yer boyfriend." Merle laughed when Daryl flipped him off. "Maybe the three of ya can have a gang bang later. Oh wait officer friendly is still seeing his wife and you have a broken prick. Maybe that girl needs a real man not a twisted mother fucker who can't get it up since his big bro stabbed him." The look on Daryl's face confirmed the conversation he had interrupted between the doc and his brother.
Daryl stood toe to toe with Merle pointing his finger in Merle's face. "Shut the fuck up! I'm warning ya."
"ooooh I'm scared." Merle held up his hand and stump cover while smiling.
Daryl dove at Merle the two of them threw fists as rapidly as they could. Carol screamed for them to stop until finally large hands yanked Merle off of Daryl. Tyreese stood over the men.
Daryl spit blood from a cut on his lip. Merle was holding his ribs. Daryl knew that was the place Merle liked to punch a person. Most people expected a face shot by Merle but he liked to make ya suffer. This time he held back from punching Daryl in the ribs. It was because of the stab wound. It pissed Daryl off that they all seemed to baby him. He lashed out again but this time with words. "I wish I never found you. You never were there for me and ya ain't now either." Daryl made it to the door without anyone stopping him. He looked at Carol's face and saw how shocked she was that Daryl said the things he did. She didn't like Merle, thought he was a bad influence yet she understood the need for family. Merle didn't bat an eye, nor did he say anything. It wasn't like Merle to keep quiet, that fact alone made the guilt settle on Daryl. He should apologize but didn't.