Authors note:
I got this one out much faster this time! A lot of drama goes on in this chapter and I added some fluff here and there. Also, if you're a vegetarian you may not want to read this one, fair warning. Please please please leave a review and tell me what you think. Even if you'd like to see something happen, and think I can work it in, I'll do my best if it flows right!
Also, I want to know how you guys feel about Daryl being affectionate. I try not to go overboard with PDA and all that but what do you guys think?
Love.fiction.2017: Thank you for all the reviews! I'm glad you like my story!
Kara315: I'm glad you understand! Thank you! I wrote this one over thanksgiving, so I actually had a little free time for once. I hope you like it!
FIREPHEONIXXD: thank you! I hope you like this one too! :D
Daryl
A twig snapping outside of the tent awakened Daryl. He quietly sat up from where he laid next to Amanda. She didn't stir as he looked back at her, her toned back peeking out from under the sleeping bag as she slept, naked, next to him. Another twig snapped and Daryl was up, crossbow already trained on the opening of the tent as he unzipped it.
Carol let out a small gasp as he emerged with the crossbow trained on her heart. He let out a relieved sigh and lowered the weapon.
"What're ya doin' sneakin' around out here?" He asked her in a low voice, zipping the tent back up as he saw Carol's eyes flit to his sleeping woman. He was relieved that he had thrown clothes on before falling asleep, whereas Amanda had immediately passed out after their escapades last night.
"I wasn't," she said in an equally low voice. "Everybody is going out to look for Glen, Rick and Hershel. I was coming to let you know."
"Alrigh'" he said with a nod, "we'll be over in a few minutes." She gave him a small smile and headed back to the house.
Back inside the tent he took a moment to admire Amanda as she slept peacefully. Her long dark hair cascading over the pillow. He smirked and thought about how it had felt to tangle his fingers in the silky locks and pull. He felt his cock twitch at the memory of the moan she had elicited and shook his head. As much as he'd love to stay here and fuck her, over and over again, they had other things to worry about at the moment.
Kneeling down beside her he pushed a strand of hair out of her face.
"Time t'get up." He murmured to her.
She squinted one eye open before squeezing it shut again, turning her face to hide it in the pillow. He chuckled as she groaned a muffled expletive into the fabric.
"C'mon, they're all goin' to look for Glen n' Rick n' Hershel." He said, laying a hand on her shoulder and gently shaking her. She glared at him with narrowed eyes before huffing out a sigh.
"Fine." She grumbled, stretching and looking around for her clothes. Daryl handed her the shirt he had peeled off of her last night.
After Amanda had gotten dressed and thrown her long hair into a ponytail, they headed to the house and began to help Andrea and Shane load up the Hyundai to go into town.
Daryl was loading ammo into a bag when he heard a hushed voice come from the other side of the car.
"-and with Shane at the helm, I wouldn't be too sure. He's lost people before." Daryl recognized it as Dale.
"And he's had my back, what are you insinuating?" Andrea replied. Daryl could see her out of the corner of his eye through the car window as he took his time filling the bag.
"He doesn't want Rick or Hershel back. With them gone he's got everything he wants. And no one to tell him otherwise." Daryl couldn't help but agree with that.
"Shane's done more to protect this group than anyone- Rick included." Andrea countered. Daryl almost snorted. The guy had put them in danger more than anyone.
"You can't possibly believe that." Dale responded. Andrea picked up a bag and put a hand on her hip.
"I do." She said, ending the conversation and walking towards the Hyundai. Dale looked around in exasperation and caught sight of Daryl. He nodded silently at the older man, a small indication that he agreed with him.
Just as Daryl was putting the bag full of ammo in the trunk of the Hyundai, an old red chevy pulled into the driveway.
"They're back." Maggie said as she ran down the porch steps.
As they got out of the truck Maggie ran past her father to embrace Glen, but even Daryl noticed that he pulled himself away from her and walked toward the farm house. He placed a hand on Amanda's shoulder as he passed her.
Rick was inspecting the cuts covering Lori's face and hands when T-dog spoke up, pointing at the truck.
"Who the hell is that?" He asked no one in particular. Glen paused.
"That's Randall." He said, before entering the farmhouse.
WDWDWDWDWDWDWDWD
We couldn't just leave him," Rick was explaining as they all gathered around the kitchen table. "He's just a kid, he would have bled out."
Rick and Glen had carried the blindfolded kid up into one of the spare bedrooms in the house. From what Daryl could see his calf was torn to shit. Got impaled on a fence post Rick had said. Hershel was currently tending to it.
"It's gotten bad in town." Glen said from his seat at the table.
Daryl leaned against the door frame, one arm crossed over the other as he listened to the conversation. He knew Rick had done the right thing bringing him back, but it still made a hell of a problem for them now.
Jessica walked through the door way and ran her hand down his bicep. He tensed and straightened up, moving away from her immediately. Amanda bristled next to him and her face flushed red in anger. He quickly grabbed her hand and looked her in the eye. "Not here." He mouthed, shaking his head slightly. She turned and stormed out the front door, letting the screen slam behind her.
"Great." He thought to himself, noticing that Glen had been watching the whole exchange while everyone else continued discussing Randall. He shook his head at him and moved to the other side of the kitchen. Away from the blonde as she stared daggers at him.
"So what are we going to do with him?" Asked Andrea as Hershel entered the room.
"I repaired his calf muscle as best I could, but he'll probably have nerve damage. He won't be on his feet for atleast a week." The old man said.
"When he is we give him a canteen, take him out to the main road and send him on his way." Rick said.
"Isn't that the same as leaving him to the walkers?" Andrea asked.
"At least he'll have a fighting chance." Rick replied. Shane scoffed next to him.
"Just gonna let him go?" He asked, "he knows where we are." As usual, Shane was getting angrier the more Rick told him his plan.
"He was blindfolded, he's not a threat." Rick assured.
"Not a threat?" Shane snorted, standing up to yell in Rick's face. "How many of them were there?! You killed three of their men, and took one hostage. But they just ain't gonna come lookin'?" he ran his hand over his head in disbelief.
"They left him for dead! No one is looking." Rick countered.
"We should still post a guard." Said Andrea, as always, taking Shane's side. Hershel interjected at this point.
"He's out cold right now. Will be for hours." He said calmly. Shane scoffed.
"You know what, I'm gonna go get him some flowers and candy. Look at this folks! We're back in fantasy land." Hershel rounded on the man.
"We haven't even dealt with what you did to my barn yet." He said, pointing at Shane with anger in his eyes. "Let me make this perfectly clear once and for all, this is my farm." He took a step closer to the younger man, "I wanted you gone but Rick talked me out of it, but that doesn't mean I have to like it. So do us both a favor and keep your mouth shut."
Daryl hid the smirk from his face. Wasn't often Shane got put in his place, his reaction was always comical when he did. Rick stepped between the two.
"Look we're not gonna do anything about it today, so let's just cool off." He said it to everyone, but didn't look away from Shane.
Slowly everyone left the room, Daryl made sure to keep a wide berth of Jessica.
Amanda
I winced as the screen door slammed shut behind me, hoping I hadn't just pissed off Hershel by slamming his doors. But I kept walking, knowing if I had stayed in that room I was going to tackle Jessica to the floor. I didn't stop until I reached the Winnebago. Pacing and taking deep breaths, I tried to calm myself after watching her touch him. She actually had the balls to touch him right in front of me! I saw red again and gave a bucket full of Dale's tools a hard kick. The loud clatter of metal sounded across the yard and I sighed, leaning down to start putting the tools back in the bucket.
"Y'alright?" Said a voice from above me. I squinted into the sun and saw T-dog's head sticking over the edge of the RV. He must have been on watch.
"Yea.. jus', tripped." I said, placing the rest of the tools back in the bucket.
"No ya didn't." He said with a laugh. I gave him a half hearted smile.
"Nah, I didn't." I agreed.
"C'mere," He said, "Got somethin' for ya." I furrowed my brow in confusion but climbed the ladder to the roof anyway. When I got to the top T was holding a cigarette out to me. Eagerly I seized it and the lighter he offered as well and lit the end. Taking a deep drag, I closed my eyes as the buzz of nicotine worked its way through my veins. I let my head fall back and blew out the cloud of smoke.
"My god, where did'ya get these?" I asked him with a smile, sitting down in the unoccupied fold up chair next to him.
"Glen found a carton when they went out." He said, lighting his own and taking a puff. He threw an unopened pack at me and I hummed in satisfaction as I took another hit, watching the cherry glow red.
"So what'd those tools ever do to you?" He asked. I rested my hands in my lap and watched the small ribbon of smoke float away from the ember.
"Nothin'." I answered. He didn't say anything and when I looked at him he was watching me, waiting for me to continue. "S'nothin', don't worry about it." I said.
"The way I see it, we're all stuck together," another drag off his cigarette. "Conflict is best to handle at the time it happens. You've seen how tempers get around here."
"Yea," I paused, looking out over the field. It was stupid, I knew Daryl was mine. He wouldn't do anything with her but the thought of her touching him made me bring the cigarette back to my lips and inhale deeply.
"Jessica." I said. He nodded quietly.
"Yea, I could see that from a mile away."
"Really?" I asked.
"The way she watches Daryl, and the way she acts when you and him are together. It's like watching a little kid who ain't gettin' their way." He stated.
"Thought I was overreacting." I admitted. Looking at my feet on the RV rooftop instead of at him.
"Nah, there's something off about her." He said, I looked at him now. He shrugged. "She's not right in the head." I snorted.
"Well that's for damn sure."
The sound of the screen door opening echoed off the house and we both turned to watch as everyone exited. Daryl looked around for a moment before spotting me and changed his direction, now making his way towards us. I felt myself nearly growl when I watched the golden-haired head of Jessica jog to catch up with him. He was feet away when she did and she didn't bother to look up to see who was on top of the Winnebago.
"Hey Daryl! Can I talk to you?" She sang. He looked at me before spinning towards her, arms crossed and feet planted. The aura of "fuck off" radiating from him.
"What?" He asked gruffly. She smiled her annoyingly perfect smile and closed the distance between them. He put his hands up to stop her but she ignored it. She sealed her lips over his and I flew to my feet, knocking the fold up chair over as I did.
"Oh, fuck no!" I yelled.
"Oh, shit." I heard T-dog say as I reached the edge of the roof and jumped down. Daryl had already pushed her away as I quickly approached them. His hand reached out to stop me but I deflected it, quickly reaching her. Before I had even realized I was doing it, I pulled back my arm and punched her square in the nose. The resounding crunch of bones breaking was satisfying as Daryl's hands grabbed my arms, pulling me away from her.
"You don't fucking touch him!" I yelled at her as she cupped her nose with tears in her eyes. Blood dripped off her chin and I jerked in Daryl's grip, trying to launch myself at her again. He didn't let go and she slowly started backing away, eyes flitting between myself, Daryl and T, who was now on the ground watching the confrontation.
"I just-" She stuttered.
"You just what?" I yelled, I could see Glen, Dale and Carol now watching us.
"I guess I jus- read the signs wrong." She said quietly, obviously holding back a sob. I laughed.
"There ain't no fuckin' signs." I growled, "he's mine. Do your best to remember it." She nodded weakly and headed back to the house. Cupping her nose as the blood leaked through her fingers. I wrenched my arm out of Daryl's grasp and tore open the pack of cigarettes T had given me. I laughed when I looked down to see they had been in my hand the whole time, and now Jessica's blood stained the packaging.
"You got that lighter?" I asked him as I turned to the both of them. T held out the lighter wordlessly with a small smile on his face and I lit a smoke as my hand trembled a bit. The adrenaline was wearing off. I looked at Daryl where he still stood, watching me.
"What?" I asked him, breathing out the smoke at the same time. He shook his head with a small smile as well.
"Nothin'." He replied, reaching out to also take a cigarette.
"Like I said," T chuckled, "conflict is best to handle at the time it happens."
WDWDWDWDWDWDWDWD
It had been a week since Randall had arrived at the farm. Hershel finally deemed him healed enough to walk and Rick was preparing to release him.
"I still think this is a bad idea." Said Shane as they loaded Randall into the trunk of the Hyundai. They had once again blind folded him and now had a pair of headphones taped to his ears, blasting music from an old iPod we'd found.
"It's not up to you." Rick told him. The two stared at each other for a moment before bidding farewell to everyone.
"Hate t'say I agree with Shane." Daryl told me from where we sat on the porch. I hummed in agreement. If Randall found his group and led them back to the farm, we'd have a big fucking problem.
"Well nothing we can do about it now." I said, standing up from the rocking chair. It was my turn to help make dinner. "You goin' out t'get us some rabbit or somethin'?" I asked him.
"Yes dear." He joked. Standing up from where he was perched on the bannister. He pulled me forward and kissed me, lingering for a moment. When he pulled back my face was slightly flushed. A kiss from Daryl was never a small deal to me, he always had the power to take my breath away. He smiled and swatted me on the ass before walking down the stairs.
"Be careful!" I called after him. He raised his hand above his head to let me know he'd heard me. I pulled open the screen door and almost ran right into Jessica. Neither of us spoke to each other as both our eyes narrowed. She hadn't said a word to Daryl since I'd hit her, and for that I was grateful. But her now bruised face still irritated the hell out of me. She walked past me and I resisted the urge to hit her again, though my knuckles cracked as I made a fist unconsciously.
Lori and Maggie were in the kitchen and I cleared my throat as I entered, they seemed to be in a deep discussion.
"He's not the same, says he froze. Says I got inside his head." Maggie was saying to the older woman. I knew she was talking about Glen. He had brought an ice pack for my knuckle after punching Jessica and told me all about what went down at the bar in town. He told me how instead of firing back at the men shooting at them, he had hidden, thinking of Maggie and wanting to save himself. I had tried to explain to him that that was still a good thing. But he wouldn't listen.
"He came back." Lori said. "That's what matters. The men have to do certain things, and they're either gonna blame the little woman as the reason they do them, or the reason they don't. I'll tell you something; what happens out there happens out there, and we- we're just trying to keep it together 'til they get back."
I nodded in agreement as I began to chop up some carrots. Most of the time, I went out there with Daryl, so I couldn't speak from experience but I'd seen the way the men going out put a strain on the women they left behind.
"But things were good. Maybe I-"
"Glen's a big boy." Lori interrupted, "he makes his own choices. Do you think you have anything to apologize for?" Maggie shook her head. "Then tell him to man up and pull himself together. Just don't say 'man up'. It never goes well." We all chuckled and Maggie picked up a tray full of food.
"Let me just get this to Beth." She said. Lori waved her hand at her.
"You go, I got it."
Maggie went to her room and Lori went to Beth's. I continued to chop all the vegetables that had been picked from the garden, mentally cursing Lori for giving me this job. Housework has never been my forte.
Patricia walked into the room as I looked around for anything more I could do.
"Y'ever killed a pig before?" She asked me. I nodded at her, wondering where the hell that came from.
"The sow down in the barn has reached her time. I was wondering if you could bleed her for me? I think dinner tonight could use a little ham."
"Yea, yea, sure." I said, rubbing the back of my neck. This was the first conversation I'd ever had with Patricia and she was asking me to go kill her pig. Oh well, that was what I was good at. "You got a ball pein hammer anywhere?" I asked, looking around the kitchen again as if I'd see one.
"Down in the feed room." She answered, a gentle smile on her face. "And thank you, chickens are one thing but killin' pigs," She shuddered, "The screamin' is enough to keep me up at night." I laughed and agreed with her, heading towards the door. From the porch I could see Glen sitting on top of the RV with Dale, a wicked smile stretched across my face as I got an idea.
"Hey Glen!" I hollered at him, motioning for him to come to me when he heard me. He said something to Dale and climbed down the RV.
"What's up?" He asked when he got closer.
"I need your help." I said simply, not exposing with what. He followed as I walked to the pig pen behind the horse stable. Out of the feed room I grabbed the hammer and tucked it into my belt.
"So I told ya I'd teach ya how to track, but I never got the chance, so I'm gonna teach ya something else."
"Ok...?" he said, obviously starting to question what he was doing here.
"Gonna need ya to hold on to that pig right there." I said, pointing with the hammer towards the large sow laying in the shade in her pen. I laughed as Glen's face turned pale.
"No, no, no, no." He stammered, backing away with his hands in front of him.
"Oh come on!" I laughed, "I'm not gonna make ya kill it, I jus' need ya to hold it steady. You gonna make me do it all by myself?" I jutted out my lower lip, feigning puppy dog eyes. He let out a reluctant sigh.
"Oh, don't give me that. You and I both know you could do it yourself." He jumped over the railing with me.
"Yea, but it is easier with help." I said. "Plus I can't carry her by myself, I'll admit that."
"Yea, she must be a hundred and fifty pounds." He said quietly as he stalked up to the animal.
"Roundabout. Alrigh', all I need ya to do is hold 'er head steady." I said as equally quiet. He reached out to take hold of the pigs head, his face turning a light shade of green. "On three," I whispered, "one... two..." Glen turned his face away from what was about to happen. "Three." I brought the hammer down between her eyes and she stiffened, going into shock. Before she had a chance to recover, I jumped on top of her, shoving my knife between her throat and collar bone, piercing her heart. Thirty seconds and it was done.
"You kinda scare me sometimes." Glen said, watching as I pulled the knife out and wiped it on my jeans. I shrugged.
"I gotta teach ya how to do this in case I'm not around anymore." I said, the smile fading from my face as the dark reminder of death hung over both of us. His eyes turned sad and he looked at me as we both thought about the very real possibility that we could die any minute. "Alright." I said after a moment, bringing us both back into reality, where we were very much alive. "Grab her back legs." I ordered.
WDWDWDWDWDWDWDWD
I was flaying the pig behind Hershel's house to prepare it to be cooked when Daryl came back from hunting.
A pair of strong hands wrapped around my waist and his stubble tickled my neck as he buried his nose in my shoulder, inhaling the scent of me.
"I ever told ya you're jus' so damn sexy?" He rumbled. I laughed and turned my head to look at him.
"I'm a mess and I'm covered in pigs blood!" I giggled, trying to pull away from his stubble as it grazed my neck again.
"I know." He said. He spun me around so our chests were pressed together, and pushed me against the siding of the house. Instantly my body ached for his as he rolled his hips into mine, claiming my lips with his.
"Eh-hem." Someone cleared their throat to our left. Daryl growled and reluctantly pulled away from me as I leaned against the siding, breathless.
Glen stood awkwardly at the corner of the house, trying to look anywhere but at us.
"Rick and Shane are back." He said, studying a rock near his shoe. "But Randall's still with them." We both straightened up at that.
"What?" I asked.
"Just, come see." He answered.
Rick and Shane looked like hey had both been hit by a truck, and Randall didn't look much better.
"Lock him in the shed." Demanded Shane to T-dog as he walked into the house.
Lori was looking from her husbands battered face to Shane. "Do you want to tell me what the hell happened?" She asked him. He ignored her and spoke to Daryl when he saw him.
"He knows Maggie." Rick said, mostly to Daryl but loud enough for us all to hear. "He knows where the farm is, he knows the area. We need to learn more about his group." Daryl nodded once.
"Done." He said. I looked at him worriedly, knowing what he was about to do. The look he gave me said "stay here." and he turned and walked off to the shed Randall was now locked in.