A/N Thank you, you guys are so awesome. This one starts off nice enough, but things get pretty tense.
Just Gone
The party at Aaron and Eric's place had been a huge success. They live in a beautiful home that overlooks the bay and you can see out passed the bridge and to the ocean. It's hard to take your eyes off the water because there's always something going on, sailboats and fishing vessels on the water, sea lions barking, research vessels from the science center leaving or arriving. Everything is so picturesque it hardly seems real.
Aaron and Eric really know how to throw a party. They'd made an enormous amount of spaghetti and the wine flowed. There was music playing in the background, and they had "surprise packages" for the kids consisting of inexpensive little games and books and had set aside a bedroom where they could play, complete with TV, DVD player and Disney movies.
Obviously, this wasn't the first time Aaron and Eric had hosted a party! Everyone was in a festive mood.
After dinner they turned up some romantic dance music and Rick and Lori, Caesar and Karen, Maggie and Glenn, Carol and Merle, Aaron and Eric, were all dancing. Beth held Daryl's hand and she asked, "Don't you like to dance Daryl?" "Don't know how, I never tried, sorry," she could tell how uncomfortable he was just at the thought of it. She was a disappointed, but she didn't push it, they were having a great time and she wasn't going to let this little thing spoil that. Instead, she just stood as close to him as she could get, he wrapped an arm around her shoulder, held her tightly to his side and she gently swayed to the music. Daryl felt guilty, he wanted to be able to dance with her, but he didn't know what to do and he was embarrassed to try.
Before they left, Aaron asked Daryl if he could go with him hunting sometime. It's not that he wants to hunt, it's that he's curious to see an instinctual hunter in action, watch him track, watch him read the signs. Coming from most people the request might have seemed a little creepy, but Daryl knew Aaron had an interest in everything to do with nature and animals, so he said, "sure, if you'll take me out on the research vessel sometime and teach me sumthin' about the bays' ecosystem." Aaron smiled broadly and said, "deal!"
The following week Daryl took off work a little early one day, and Aaron made good on his promise. This time of year the sun stayed out until 9:00 so they had plenty of time for cruising around the bay, up the river, and close to the confluence where the bay met the ocean.
Aaron was a good teacher, it's always easy to spot when someone loves what they do and it was obvious Aaron loved marine life. Daryl was having a great time, he held starfish, a baby eel, a Dungeness crab, saw sea anemones and touched their "sticky fingers," and he'd seen plenty of seals and sea lions. Aaron also told him about the tides and the currents and how the changes moved marine life in and out of the bay.
Daryl couldn't wait until Annie was a little older so he could bring her out here.
He and Aaron made plans for Aaron to go rabbit hunting with him the following Saturday. They got an early start and found rabbit tracks, Daryl showed him how to track the animal back to it's warren and how to set a snare. They also followed some deer tracks, just so Aaron could get a feel for how it's done. He showed him how the bow was loaded, and the technique used to shoot a bow. He ended up sending Aaron home with two fat rabbits.
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The following Monday afternoon Carol and Merle, Daryl and Beth and Sophia and Annie were having their dinner outside near Beth and Carol's garden. Daryl had cooked chicken on the grill and there was potato salad and watermelon, it seemed pretty darn close to perfect.
They'd just finished up and everyone, including the little girls, was helping clear the picnic table when Rick Grimes pulled in the drive.
Daryl was immediately filled with dread, even though he wasn't quite sure why. Then he found out. All Carol had to do was see the look on Rick's face and she said, "Girls, I'll get you each a popsicle and you go check in the garden and see if any of the strawberries are ready to pick."
With the girls busy in the garden Rick broke the news, "I hate to have to tell you this, but Blake was released this morning. He's served his time for the assault, and that's really all we had on him. The good news is his property was put up for sale when he got arrested and the wife left town immediately. I heard she got a remote place down in southern Oregon near Rogue River. I'm expecting him to join her there."
Daryl wished he felt as confident as Rick seemed to, and Merle wasn't feelin' it any more than Daryl. Beth and Carol were both looking a little uneasy.
Rick agreed for the next couple of days he'd be stopping by the store often to check on things.
It was decided Merle would spend the night with the women; he was going to sleep on the couch. Daryl and Beth just looked at each other, both knowing that as soon as the little ones were asleep he'd be slipping into Carols' room.
"I'm worried Beth, he's a crazy bastard, we know he is. I wish you and Annie would come stay with me at the cabin," he looked so tense. "I wish I could Daryl, but it just doesn't seem right for now. I'm sure Merle will keep us safe," she tried to ease his mind and her own.
It had been nearly two weeks and no one had seen hide nor hair of Phillip Blake. They all started to believe it must be true; he'd headed south to Rogue River.
Because of fire danger in the woods the Forest Service was requiring all logging work cease by 1:00p.m. each day, so Daryl and Merle were on shortened days until that changed. They'd ridden to work together, and at just 2:00 were already on their way home in Daryl's truck. They'd decided they'd do a little scouting around after work, walk around Daryl's property and look for some possible hunting spots. They were now officially Oregon residents so when deer season opened, they had plans to fill the freezer.
They'd stopped at the Store on their way home to say "Hi" to the ladies and get some cokes and chips to go with the burgers they'd be grilling at Daryl's later.
Maggie was busy getting meats cooked and making some dough for cinnamon rolls, but she greeted them with a broad smile and friendly, "Hello."
They got their things, paid Maggie and knocked on the door between the store and house, no one answered and the door was locked. Merle said Carol had told him she may take Sophia to Newhope after school for some new shoes, so he wasn't concerned; but Daryl was. They walked around outside to the kitchen door, Daryl knocked loudly but there was no answer. They were just turning to leave when they heard a loud thud and something shatter in the house.
Without even thinking, Merle kicked the door and the lock broke. The brothers rushed in to find Beth on the kitchen floor. She was tied to a chair and had apparently managed to throw herself against a table of dishes.
Daryl pulled the gag from her mouth, grabbed his knife and cut her free. Her face and arms had small cuts from the broken ceramic dishes, and there was a particularly nasty cut on her cheek.
Daryl had his arms her and Beth was sobbing uncontrollably and she just kept repeating, "She's gone, my baby's just gone." "Who was it Beth, Tell me what happened," Daryl was pretty sure he knew but he needed her to tell him.
Maggie had heard the noise and had come running around to the kitchen door in time to hear. "It was Blake," Beth choked out, "Annie and I were taking a nap upstairs. I woke up and he had a knife to Annie's throat and a gun to my head. He said if I didn't stay quiet and do exactly what he said, he would kill her and then me. He brought us down here tied me up and left with her."
She started crying harder and her whole body was shaking violently. Daryl grabbed her face in his hands, steadied it and looked hard into her eyes, "Beth, I'm gonna find Sunnyside, I'ma find her for ya. I promise. How long they been gone?" "I'm not sure, we lay down for our nap about 11 this morning. Annie was still asleep when he woke me, so maybe about noon," Beth replied sadly.
Daryl rushed to the truck, stuck his pistol in his waistband, he had a knife in a sheath on his belt and threw his crossbow over his shoulder." He told Beth one last time, "I'ma bring Annie home to ya Beth, I promise." Then he headed towards the woods.
Merle just nodded, "Baby brother can track anything or anyone and he'll bring Annie home. I'ma call Grimes; get him on the job too."
Days earlier, Phillip Blake had set up a camp tent far off the beaten path. He knew how to make himself scarce, and he felt sure no one would find him and his new daughter. He'd stocked the tent with canned goods and water. There'd be no cooking; he wasn't going to be found out because he caused a fire. He planned to keep her there in the woods with him for a few days. Get her used to calling him 'Daddy.' She'd soon learn her survival depended on him, and she'd learn to do things his way. Within a few months she'd forget about her mommy all together.
The little girl was lying atop a sleeping bag and crying softly for her mommy. He looked at his new daughter and said, "You're my little girl now, your mama doesn't want you, you're mine and your new name is Penny." Annie just stuck out her tongue and glared at him. He gave a snide laugh and said, "You'll learn young lady, the easy way or the hard way, but you'll learn." She didn't understand, but the tone of his voice scared her. She just wanted her mommy.
Daryl followed the signs, first heading straight for a while, then veering off and up a small rise. He had the image of Beth's tortured face in his mind and his own heart was breaking at the thought of Annie being gone, all he could think about was that he had to find the little girl if it was the last thing he ever did. He couldn't stand the thought of Beth so heartbroken, and the thought of anyone hurting Annie filled him with rage.
The underbrush was thick and tangled. Daryl had tucked his pant legs inside his boots to make his trek a little easier. He began to sense he was getting close, and then he heard the soft crying of a child. As much as he wanted to rush in and grab her, he knew the safer way was to take his time and follow a plan. As he silently watches from behind the trees, he sees Blake standing over Annie. The bastard's pointing his finger and snarling at the child. "You quit your damn crying right now and eat those beans." Now her cries have turned to sobs and she shakily replies, "I don yike dem you big meanie." As pissed as Daryl is, he can't help but grin a little. She's a sweet little thing, with just enough sass, and he ain't lettin' anyone hurt her, not now and not ever.
The man begins to yell at her, "Well then you'll go hungry! Now that you're my little girl you do what I say!" Daryl cringed, that low life son of a bitch.
He's got to figure out how, short of shooting Blake in the heart with a bolt or a bullet, he's gonna get Annie away without her being hurt. Oh, he'll kill him if he has to, but he'd really rather let the law take care of the bastard.
Rick Grimes has taken a full report from Beth and assures her they will have police officers from Akron, Camptown and Newhope combing the area. He gives her shoulder a gentle squeeze and she looks up at him with the saddest eyes he's ever seen and just nods. This girl has been through so much, Rick can't live with the idea of her going through another loss.
Carol and Sophia have arrived home, Glenn has rushed over from the bar, and Otis and Patricia are there. Merle is pacing nervously, rubbing the back of his neck and slowly shaking his head, but he continues to reassure Beth in a strong but quiet voice that Daryl will bring Annie back. Sophia begins to cry softly and Merle puts his arm around her shoulder and quietly says, "it's all gonna be just fine Sophia, you'll see. Don't you worry 'bout nothin', if anyone can find someone in the woods, it's Daryl." Carol looks at him, clearly worried and anxious, and he gives her the same kind of look back.
Patricia keeps herself busy taking care of the things Maggie had been cooking in the store, cleaning the place up, and getting everything in order.
She sets out coffee and iced tea for everyone in the house, and even though no one feels like eating, there's a plate of cheeses and crackers and one of cookies. She has to do something, and that's all she can think to do. She's overwhelmed with sadness, too much; it's all just too much.
They wait.
In the meantime, Daryl has decided on a plan. He'll wait for Blake to pack it in for the night. Once he thinks the guy has been asleep for at least an hour, he'll get the jump on him hog tie him and get Annie back to her mama. The only thing that would alter that plan would be if the bastard harmed or touched Annie in any way, then he'd fucking kill him in a heartbeat.
Rick has deployed state and local police from all over the county searching the countryside for any sign of Blake but so far the search has come up dry.
Beth is distraught, paralyzed with fear and sadness. Maggie, Carol and Patricia are desperately attempting to comfort her, while trying not to voice their own concerns and sadness. Otis has busied himself in the garden, and Glenn has taken Sophia for a walk to get her away from the drama of the situation. Merle continues to reassure her that no one knows the woods and how to track like his Baby Brother; he's also tough as nails and Merle knows beyond a shadow of a doubt he'll bring Annie home safely.
He lay on the ground motionless, watching the camp. Annie finally passed out from what Daryl was sure was pure exhaustion. Blake was reading by lantern light, but finally turned in after another half hour or so.
Daryl waited, and when another hour had passed, he began to carefully, quietly make his way toward the sleeping man. He'd gotten to within inches of Blake when, as luck would have it, a gardener snake slid across the man's neck and startled him awake. Daryl pounced on him and the fight began. They rolled on the ground trading punches, Daryl instinctively reached for his knife when suddenly Annie let out a shrill cry, distracting him just for the split second it took Blake to grab his knife and thrust it into Daryl's side.
Daryl was in excruciating pain, but he also heard Annie crying and there was no way he was going to give up. He successfully wrestled the knife back from Blake and plunged it into the mans' eye. That stopped Blake cold, but that didn't stop Daryl from tying the man's hands behind his back and tying his feet together.
Annie was crying and he tried to comfort her. She put her little arms around his neck and he explained to her, "I'm not very strong right now Sunnyside, ya think you can walk for a while?" "Yes, Dawell," he felt so bad, he wanted to carry her, but he was bleeding bad and he could tell he was weakening fast. He ripped the sleeves from his shirt and tied them around his abdomen, at least partially stemming the flow of blood from the knife wound.
He held the little girls hand and she did manage to keep up for a while, but it was the middle of the night and she was tired, frightened and disoriented. He was afraid to stop and rest, he knew he needed medical attention sooner rather than later, and more than anything he wanted to get the little girl home to her mama.
He figured they were getting close to the halfway mark when Annie could go no further. He was surprised she'd gone this far, but she was a tough little thing and he was proud of her. He concentrated every bit of strength he had on picking her up and placing her on his shoulders, "hang on Sunnyside, just hang on." "K Dawell, I hang on," the little girl responded.
The house was within sight, he guessed no more than 50 yards when he fell to his knees, and then completely tipped over, striking the side of his head on a tree stump and knocking himself out.
Annie was miraculously unhurt, he hadn't let go of her legs, and had held his arm up to her side to block her fall.
The little girl ran toward the kitchen door yelling "Mommy! Mommy! Mommy!" and crashed against it.
Everyone rose at once and went to the door. As soon as Merle saw the little girl he knew Daryl had to be close and he asked her, "Annie where's Daryl?" All eyes were on the two of them as she grabbed his hand and headed back to where he'd fallen. Beth followed close behind.
Merle and Beth both fell to the ground when they saw, while Glenn immediately dialed 9-1-1. Daryl was covered in blood and dirt. Merle tried to wake him but he didn't respond. Merle repeated over and over, "Baby Brother wake up, please wake up." Beth was clutching Annie to her and both she and the little girl were crying. Beth was so relieved to have her little girl back, and she wanted to feel happy but how was that possible when Daryl lay there unconscious and obviously severally wounded?
A/N Damn, well at least Annie's home safely. Thank you so much for reading, please review. xo