Chapter 14: Daryl

Daryl had laid awake in the tent, listening to Hannah as she twitched furiously, whimpering to people he couldn't see.

"Zack….don't go. I'm so scared." He barely heard her whisper into the shadows and she tossed once again. He heard her choke on a sob and his heart ached. He was about to get up to comfort her when she suddenly shot up, panicked. Daryl laid still, feigning sleep as he heard her slip on her boots, silently slipping out of the tent. He decided it best to leave her to her thoughts right now. She obviously didn't want his help. Why does that bother me so goddamn much? The hell is wrong with ya, boy? He shifted onto his back, sighing. He remembered being 10 or 11 and Merle had stumbled in one night, wasted on God knows what, with a girl. They had disappeared into Merle's room and music blared. Daryl had simply gone back to sharpening the knife Merle had stolen for his birthday. He remembered seeing the girl sneak out the next morning, shoes in hand. Merle had come out a few minutes later and Daryl quietly asked if he loved her. His next words were still echoing around in his head to this day. "Love?" He had scoffed. "Daryl, Lemme tell you somethin', love isn't real. Love is just like Santa and the fuckin' Easter bunny. Women are good for cookin' and fuckin' and that's it. A girl says she loves ya and you better run fer the hills, boy. Cause that word ain't nothin' but trouble." What the fuck was love, anyways? He wasn't sure if there was any clear cut definition for it. He thought he might love Hannah. She made his heart race when he saw her, didn't she? He made her want to right every wrong in her life, right? Wasn't that love? Wanting to take care of somebody? Wanting to be there for them? That's what Merle had done for him. He knew Merle loved him in his own Dixon way. Hell, Merle had practically put his life on hold for Daryl.He looked at his brother, now slumbering. Merle had raised him the best he could and Daryl appreciated it. But he knew he'd never forgive his brother for joining the army the second he joined 18. He'd sat Daryl down, looking into his eyes and swore he was doing it for Daryl, so they could get a place of their own and away from their Dad. And for years, that's what kept Daryl going. He dealt with the hunger when his Paw spent the food money on booze. He'd kept up in school like Merle had asked. He'd even walked away from fights when the other kids called him a dumb redneck. He dealt with the beatings and the anger and the hurt. And Merle had kept good on his promise. It took him 5 years to do it, but Daryl and Merle had packed their things in the middle of the night and took off. Daryl had never looked back and Merle wouldn't have let him if he'd tried. He had tried to get comfortable again when Dale's voice rang out against the harsh quiet of the night.

"Walker!" Hannah! Daryl leapt up and ran outside, Merle on his heels. He saw the walker come at Hannah as she swung the pick axe at his head, plunging it into it's skull. The walker dropped but Hannah was now cursing at it, swinging at it, over and over again.

"Filthy…Motherfuckin'…piece of SHIT."

"Daaayum. That is one bitch I wouldn't wanna piss off." Merle admired next to him. Rick and Shane were looking at each other, not sure if they should intervene on the angry bitch with the pick axe.

"Good god woman. It's dead." He said finally. His voice snapped her out of her daze and the axe clattered to the ground as she looked around, winded. There was a pause as no one knew what to say.

"Y'alright?" Rick asked her finally. She's lost her fuckin' mind. There's not even a goddamn head left on that sorry sumbitch.

"Jus' takin' out some aggression." She said, her face reddening. Shane pulled the body behind the RV and everyone wandered back to their tents for some more sleep. Daryl walked up to her.

"Next time you slip out on yer own, I'm handcuffin' myself to ya." He half joked. But he'd been worried. He wished she would just let him into that pretty little head of hers already.

"Couldn't sleep." She said, doing her best to keep her eyes focused on the ground. He wanted to hold her again. He wanted to keep her safe from everything, even if that meant herself.

"You have a dream again?" He lifting her eyes to meet his. They were cold and defensive, but most of all, they were scared. He knew how she felt. Letting people in was not on Daryl's list of qualifying traits.

"Ain't yer business if I did." She spat, turning and walking towards the water. He knew what he had to do to break down those walls, hell, to break down some of his own too.

"Ay. Don't you walk away from me, Hannah McClure." He followed her, a mixture of anger and affection swirling in his heart.

"Why don't you just git the-" He closed his mouth to hers before she could finish her sentence. She was rigid and then all of a sudden, she was leaning into him. Her lips were supple and he tried his best to kiss around the cuts and bruises. He pulled her closer as longing took control and she slid a hand into his hair. He rolled his tongue over her lips gently, relishing the taste of her. He nibbled gently on her lip, lusting for her as he heard her softly moan. It was all he could do not to take her right where they stood. They broke apart and neither of them knew what to say. Daryl was terrified, but he had let her in. As much as he fought it, he needed her now. Life without her, well, it just wouldn't be life at all. He wrapped his arms around her and she melted into him. They stood in the silence and the moonlight until he'd grabbed her hand and led her back to the tent, thankful Merle was always quick to fall asleep. She laid on the bed and he had turned to lay down on the floor, but her grasp tightened. He let her pull him next to her on the bed. Daryl Dixon had never had a woman like Hannah. She laid her head on his chest as if she owned him now. And in a way, she did. He wrapped an arm around her, pulling her close and feeling her warmth against him. He laid a cheek on her head and tried to get used to the feeling of not being lonely anymore.