Will's been taking care of Daryl at home for a week after the assault but then he pushes him to go back to school - to normality - and it's just as bad as he feared it would be. Everyone apparently knows about what happened to him and they're whispering and staring at him as soon as he walks in through the classroom door. However, Shane's the first to bring it up directly to his face and although some can't believe what he's just said to Daryl, they're intrigued and want to see how this goes down. No doubt there's going to be blood spilt between the two enemies.
It's another monster chapter – so enjoy! Remember reviews are love – give it to us!
Part 21: Loner
Shane had asked this like it was the most natural question in the world but Daryl wasn't stupid enough to believe that.
Lost for words when any other day he would have lunged at him, he blushed furiously instead and looked around at the other students.
To Daryl, it seemed that they were all listening intently with a silence so heavy that you could hear a pin drop. It was clear that most students there had already heard but now thanks to Shane, it was now out in the open. Daryl knew that everybody would be watching his reaction intently to see if the rumours about him were really true or not. Daryl did his best to keep his face as neutral as it could be because unfortunately their teacher was also watching them like a hawk with his mouth slightly open. As if he was ready to say something but decided not to.
Rogers had been ready to tell Shane to shut up and pay attention for the millionth time that semester but simply forgot to in his shock. Meanwhile, Daryl cursed Shane under his breath because something like this had been the worst case scenario playing over and over in his mind as he lay sleepless on his bed the night before until his father came in to offer him comfort. Daryl might have guessed Shane would be the one to bring it up and humiliate him in front of the whole class. Before he could fire back with an equally cutting put-down, however, his neighbour beat him to it.
'You're a scumbag, Shane'. Eric fought for him. 'You don't know what ya talkin' about! It ain't even true!'
Meanwhile, Rogers was considering his options for dealing with this unprecedented situation. He had listened to the whole exchange in horror and realised instantly that it was based largely on truth judging by the victim's stunned reaction and that of the class. He himself hadn't heard a single thing, living as he did in relative isolation on the edge of the village, otherwise he would have been prepared for possible trouble and might have talked to the Dixon boy on his own before class. Asked him tactfully if he was OK. He could have even done it without letting on that there were rumours because after all, the boy had missed a week of school and that usually meant trouble at home.
Was the attack the reason Daryl hadn't been to school? If so, how had his father reacted? Had he been sympathetic? Rogers prayed that he had but knowing the brute, the teacher didn't hold out much hope. He allowed himself to hope that maybe if he wasn't getting any support from home that might naturally lead to Daryl reaching out to him - his teacher who he trusted, at least a little. And if this allowed him to help him deal with the sexual assault, so much the better. Christ knew he didn't need to be molested on top of the beatings his father doled out to him on a regular basis. But knowing how proud all the Dixons were and how they kept things in the family, Carl seriously doubted that Daryl confiding in him over something as devastating as that would ever happen. In any case, the class's expressions and Daryl's reaction or more accurately - his lack of one – was more than enough to answer his questions.
The teacher let his eyes carefully linger on the boy a little longer. At least the kid didn't look beat up but you couldn't know for sure without checking under his clothes.
Rogers had never seen that look on him before. Daryl looked mortified at the Sheriff's son's goading. Furious with Walsh, the teacher crushed the prepared test papers in his hands to control his temper, something he wasn't even aware of doing because right then he planned to make the callous little prick pay, no matter who his Daddy was.
Rogers glared at the Sheriff's boy and shook his head when he saw Daryl literally frozen to the spot, momentarily unable to respond. Not like him to be tongue-tied or fail to fight back with a caustic comeback. Nevertheless, he was relieved to see him recover pretty quickly, because he was certain that him jumping in to defend Daryl in front of the whole class wouldn't be appreciated.
'Walsh, you're dead. I'm gonna get ya for this!' Daryl began to grab his bags without looking up at anybody after he gave his antagonist a look of rage and contempt, clearly stubbornly standing his ground.
The students knew he was waiting for an answer from Walsh. This was a challenge for him to meet Daryl down in the yard to thrash out their problems. The teacher guessed that's where they were going because it was where all official fights took place. He didn't interfere because he knew he could keep an eye on them from the classroom window and intervene if things got out of hand. Besides, something told him that Daryl needed to do this to maintain his badass reputation.
'Gladly! Think I can beat a skinny, trashy little queer like you!' Walsh fired back backed by his simpering and giggling entourage of both male and female students. Predictably, he didn't dare to do anything else but accept, he had his own position as one of the 'popular' kids and star athlete to protect.
Daryl grimaced and glared darkly at him before he stormed out and Rogers still didn't call him back, he knew that he needed to get out of there. Worse – Daryl left with no-one on his side. It was one of the saddest things Carl had seen during his relatively short career as a high- school teacher. It made him despise Walsh even more for picking on someone who had no friends to back him up. Only the new boy Eric had spoken up for him and the fact increased his anger at the bully who didn't care how low below the belt he punched.
That did it, Carl was no longer able to hold back his anger as he rounded on the boy who was making his blood boil. 'And you better not talk to him like that again while I'm listening! Get out of here now and think before you spread such horrible lies about other students in future. I'm going to have words with your father, I promise you that!' He broke off his glare. 'I'm sorry to say it everyone, class is dismissed early due to recent events.'
The students of course weren't the least bit sorry about not having to deal with any more equations for the day, but most of them were tactful enough not to cheer as they left. Especially not under the tense circumstances.
Undeterred, Shane arrogantly smirked back at Rogers, making the man want to storm over and wring his neck for how he'd picked on Daryl and how he used his misfortune against him before he began to gather up his belongings. Carl uncharacteristically decided to let it go for the time being – if he confronted the Walsh boy, he knew it would make Daryl look weak, not to mention how it could also make it look like Shane was telling the truth and he didn't want either to happen.
The truth was that Shane was feeling cocky because he'd been told in great detail what had happened from a figure of authority – his own father to be exact. Dick Walsh had used it to teach Shane how to be careful of predators. Although it wasn't exactly clear how far the man had gone with Daryl, he'd told him that it had been bad enough and Shane of course, preferred to think the worst. It made for more juicy rumours when he spread it around. Of course, Shane had only scoffed at his worried father in secret but he put on a serious expression in front of Dick, pretending to be shocked and worried when he knew that he could never be a victim. Then his father had ended the parable by telling him how Mike – who'd always been a permanent fixture around the town – had suddenly disappeared but he didn't elaborate.
Gone… just like that. Still, it was obvious to Shane and everyone what the Dixons had done and why.
When the arrogant little punk continued to silently challenge him even after what he'd done to Daryl, Rogers changed his mind about ignoring him.
'Everyone out! Especially you, Walsh. That's 2 – no make it 3 lunchtime detentions starting from tomorrow! I won't have bullying or slander in my classroom! ...Get out! I'm too angry at you to want to have you anywhere near me right now.' Rogers spoke with a low voice that was almost shaking out of anger, reminding the students that even though he seemed kind, even soft most of the time that when pushed, he was still a force to be reckoned with.
But Shane just kept on that insufferable smirk of his as he walked out, apparently unaffected by 3 lunchtime detentions that would mean less time spent with Andrea.
As soon as he was out of the door, Carl sighed because truth be told, he'd never warmed to the Walsh boy – there was just something obnoxious about him. Not to mention that he was too arrogant for his own good judging by how he wasn't all that bright, just added to the many reasons why Rogers didn't like him. He walked about the place like he owned it, clearly thinking that he was untouchable and something special to boot. He'd been blessed already with tall, broad-shouldered good looks, a talent for sports and a father in the local police force. An over-privileged brat if ever there was one, while good kids like Daryl ended up with nothing.
Word was that Dick Walsh was up for promotion as Sheriff soon when the old one retired, making his teenage son more insufferable than ever.
Rogers sat down while the students cleared out, fighting the impulse to pinch his nose in frustration.
'Come on.' Out in the corridor, Shane reached out to grasp Andrea's arm but she slapped him away.
'Don't touch me! You're a real asshole, you know that?'
'What?' He drew back, a thunderous look of disbelief on his face, the expression that people who were used to getting their own way and were unexpectedly thwarted often wore. 'But I thought that's why you liked me, baby.' He laughed.
'I don't.' She snapped back, denying the slow bloom of their tentative romance before it had really ever got started. 'How could you say those things to him in front of everybody like that, what if it's true? You ever think about that? ...No! Get off me! You're a pig! Leave me alone.'
'Fine. You and him deserve each other.' He brushed past her rudely before he made his way to his locker. There's much prettier girls than you in this school, anyway!' He shouted over his shoulder, his intention clearly being that anyone in close range would hear it. God forbid they thought he was the one who was being dumped…
She didn't reply and let him go but a single tear fell from one eye as she stared after him as he got further and further away from her without even one glance back.
…...
Carl Rogers turned to look out of the window, anxiously wondering what he could do to help Daryl before he went home but he couldn't seem to make a decision. If he'd really been molested by this 'Mike', whoever he was, he may still be in danger, not to forget possibly other boys and action would have to be taken. It needed to be fully investigated. Still, Daryl didn't seem too affected by it and had come to school after a week's absence. Rogers didn't know what he would do in that position – probably stay in bed for a whole year especially as Shane had suggested that the pedophile had gone pretty far. But how far? Was Daryl still...He shook his head sadly when he thought about what the delayed psychological effects on the boy would be. Still, Daryl Dixon had guts to come and face his peers when he knew that word had probably got around.
Carl recalled that when watching the class do exercises or other work, his eyes often lingered on Daryl more than the others. He was tough, rough just like his brother Merle before him...but somehow different. Something that attracted people's interest and curiosity, before they were usually rebuffed. The boy didn't let anyone near easily.
Daryl, unlike his brother, mostly preferred to be a loner and who could blame him with a home-life like that? It was his home environment that had most likely put him at risk with this pervert Mike in the first place. After all, didn't Shane say that he was Daryl's father's best friend?
Carl shook his head again in sorrow and wondered how long it had been going on. He prayed that Mike had only got to Daryl just this once which was bad enough, but somehow he found that hard to believe. The bastard had probably spent a long time grooming him right under this father's nose without him or his brother knowing.
Did Merle know now? How did he react?
Carl hoped that the Dixons had taught the pervert a lesson because if there was one of his students who didn't need extra grief and certainly didn't deserve it – it was Daryl Dixon.
Unable to sit still, he thought of the best way to help the boy without making things worse. He pondered on why he had piqued his interest so. He had many of the same coarse speech habits and mannerisms of Merle yet he wasn't the same.
Maybe he was more 'refined' – was that the right word? Despite his spiky, redneck persona. The boy couldn't change the family he'd been born into, more's the pity, but he was sweeter somehow. Underneath his unapproachable persona and abrupt manner which he hid under, Carl knew he was sensitive and intelligent too and it made him all the more alluring. He was small for his age but he wasn't afraid to fight. In fact he'd won most of the fights against all odds with boys his age bigger and more physically mature than him.
Rogers had witnessed his cat-like reflexes and how he was considerably faster on his feet than his opponents. Moreover, it took a hell of a lot to beat him down and keep him there in fights, he was always instantly back up on his feet and darting his fists at his opponent. Seemingly oblivious to the pain and bleeding from punches to his face, then again, he was probably used to dealing with far worse within the four walls of his own home.
The teacher had seen it for himself, staring surreptitiously out of the window of one of the classrooms looking out over the yard just like he found himself doing now, when he knew full well it was his responsibility to put a stop to the fights. As long as they were on school property, it was against the rules big time and for repeated offences, could cause students to be expelled if other teachers reported them. Most didn't however, taking the view that 'boys will be boys.' However, this wasn't break – there was still about 20 mins left of the first period but clearly the whole class had gathered to watch the showdown between Daryl and Shane.
This could spell trouble, not least for the teacher himself.
Carl fell into a trance as he remembered and his eyes became unseeing, his ears unhearing except for the sounds of the fights in the past - the crunch of fists, the yells and screams of the spectators. During each of the fights he'd witnessed, he'd been almost mesmerized at the young Dixon's muscular arms flexing, his small but stocky body rolling with the punches and getting back up again every time like he didn't feel them. He'd heard down the grapevine that unlike Merle, Daryl never started them. Didn't seem to enjoy violence for violence's sake unlike his older brother.
One such incident that went down half a year ago was fresh in his mind, like it occurred only yesterday. Daryl vs. Mark.
The latter was a pudgy boy almost two years older who'd accused Daryl of stealing his lunch money – lunch money that Mark later found buried below his books in his locker an hour after he'd gotten his ass whopped. He'd gone bright red in embarrassment when it was discovered that his accusations had no truth to them, yet he had the decency to finally admit his mistake unprompted. Daryl had accepted his apologies graciously even if he had been a little abrupt about it.
Daryl had been especially relentless in his fight with Mark, Rogers guessed it was the unfairness of being wrongfully accused that had fueled his determination to win.
It didn't take long before Daryl managed to get his rather corpulent, exhausted opponent on the ground, punching him in the face over and over again like he was trying to get rid of some emotion buried deep inside him. Bloodying the other boy's mouth and face in the process until a teacher who happened to be crossing the yard at that moment did what was Rogers' job and separated them . In his own defense, he'd been on the verge of going down there just when the other man had brought the situation under control.
By rights, he knew he should march down there to break up the fight that was about to take place but he couldn't wait to see the Walsh kid put in his place once and for all like he was certain Daryl was going to do.
Back out in the schoolyard, when Daryl felt a light touch on his arm, he immediately startled because it had come from behind. Jerking away from the hand, he whirled around to face his assailant. Seeing it was only Shane's girlfriend, he blushed bright red.
'Sorry, didn't mean to scare you.'
'You didn't! What are you doin' here, anyway? Shouldn't you be with him?' He spat, lashing out verbally as was his way, but regretted it when he saw the hurt flash across her face.
'I didn't mean ... ' She faltered under the blazing heat from his glare but found the courage somehow to carry on. 'And about...about you know,' her voice dropped and she glanced around furtively 'about your Dad's friend. What I wanted to say is Shane's a dick for saying that stuff to you...I'm sorry.'
'Not your fault he's a dick, is it? Besides, it ain't true! None of it!' He was blushing even more furiously now and he wondered at that moment if he believed his own lies. They didn't sound very convincing, even to his own ears.
She just stood and looked at him in that unfathomable way she had and he couldn't tell what she was thinking and it made him mad when he was waiting for her boyfriend to come out. He should be preparing himself instead of talking to her. Why was she talking to him anyway? She was only pissing him off, just like all the looks of pity he got from her whenever he dragged himself into the classroom for the umpteenth time, looking bruised and battered.
'Go on! Go and run back to him – that's why ya here, ain't it? To watch us fight?' He snapped at her ungraciously but she didn't seem offended.
'Actually I just broke up with him.'
'Good for you.' His tone was bitingly careless and sarcastic.
'Do you always have to be like that?'
'Like what?' He snapped, not even facing her now. He narrowed his eyes and turned back to watch the school main doors waiting for his enemy to approach. He was doing his best to ignore the excited jostling crowd that kept on sweeping around him. Being the center of attention and trapped in a mass of people were experiences at the top of his nightmare list. Was it only his class? It seemed like the whole school had turned out to watch. Thinking rationally, he guessed it was just his over-strained mind imagining things were worse than they actually were.
Andrea didn't reply but reached round to lightly peck his cheek and they got wolf-whistles from the onlookers who were mostly male. He was too stunned to move and by the time he looked after her, she was gone, having disappeared into the crowd.
Somehow, she made him feel better. Daryl straightened himself while keeping up his stern exterior.
A second later, Shane came storming out of the school and strode up to them, flanked by his retinue.
But where was Daryl's? He wished more than anything that Merle was with him – he'd teach Shane a lesson or two the hard way for sure. But then of course Daryl would look like a pussy and worse than that – he'd look guilty. He would play right into Shane's hands seeming to confirm what he said being all true. Most of it was true, Daryl reluctantly admitted to himself but as rumors tended to go around, someone in the beginning might say tomato and at the end of the circle the word would be potato. Like that old children's game – Chinese whispers. He had some idea of what was going around if what Shane had said was anything to go by and to say that he hated gossip was an understatement.
He smiled a small smile to himself just then. Merle was nearly 18 – too big to take on the likes of Shane, it would be beneath him - even though Shane had more than a few growth-spurts during the last year. To Merle, it would be the same as beating up Daryl and Daryl knew that he would never do that.
The important thing right now though, was that he wasn't even the least bit scared, it wasn't like he hadn't scrapped with Walsh and his minions before.
No, this was Daryl's fight and his alone. Perhaps the biggest fight of his life because he was fighting for his honor.
It seemed to him that the spectators in the crowd were all hostile, leering at him. That every one of them knew his deepest, darkest secret...what he'd done for Mike and how close he'd come to being...In his panicked state it seemed like they were all laughing at him. He shook his head, didn't let himself think about it any more, it would only bring him down if he did.
'Hey, fag!' Walsh called out to him and everyone cheered.
'Fuck you, I ain't no fag! You're the biggest one around!' He retorted.
Shane's brows furrowed together in rage and his lackeys closed in around him automatically but he waved them all away.
'Fight! Fight!' One person in the crowd began to chant. Soon everyone around them followed suit, urging them on.
'Everyone knows about it! Might as well stop denying what we all know is true.' Shane continued to taunt. 'And that you liked it.' He added with a crooked smile.
'Ain't true! Ain't nothin' happened between me and him!'
'Oh yeah? That's not what I've heard. How come he's upped and disappeared so suddenly?'
'Cos he was movin' anyway!' Daryl hadn't even thought about it – the lie had just tripped off the tip of his tongue. Like it always would when it came to protecting his brother because he knew that Merle would have made sure that Mike stayed away one way or the other. Their Dad would have told him to.
'Yeah right.' Shane scoffed at his followers and the crowd. But he didn't say that it was his own Dad had told him –that would put his old man in trouble and the Sheriff position would be filled by someone else in the blink of an eye. Obviously as a cop, telling an outsider about a crime was a big no-no.
'Hey, Walsh… where's ya girl? Why ain't she here with you?' Daryl taunted and looked around theatrically before he shrugged his shoulders. Then he continued in an equally mocking tone, 'Oh, yeah.. She told me she dumped your sorry ass for being a dick!'
'Didn't! I dumped her, not the other way around!'
'Do ya know she kissed me before ya came out?' The onlookers hissed then held their breaths in horrified silence, especially Shane's crew who weren't there to have witnessed the kiss in question. It was a slight exaggeration on Daryl's behalf, but only slight.
Shane's face lost all color as he was momentarily lost for words. He never would have admitted it, but Andrea's disgust at his behavior had cut him deep and somewhere in the back of his mind, he knew that he shouldn't have let his dislike of Daryl Dixon make him sink that low. He really did like her but even so, he couldn't go back.
'Reckon I could have taken her away from you any day, she knows I'd treat her right. So, how does that make me a homo?' Daryl seized the advantage to drive the nail in.
The crowd were getting restless, all the preliminaries and opening volleys while interesting, were not what they were here to see. They wanted blood.
Watching all this take place from above, Rogers watched with rapt fascination. He could only imagine what they were saying to each other to get each other's blood up.
He knew he should go down and stop it before the exchange in blows started – Instead, he was held in thrall, watching and waiting to see what would happen, rooting for the underdog like he always did. He was just itching for that cocky bully being taught a long overdue lesson, however, the odds didn't look great and it was the difference in size that worried him the most.
He laughed to himself quietly when the taller boy launched himself at the other who deftly got out of the way. Unable to stop his momentum from the fury of his attack, Shane skidded and ended up on his back. Size and weight were not going to determine which of the two would win this fight, that much was obvious.
The high-school educator propped up the window slightly to better hear what was going on. There were roars – mostly of laughter but some sounds of dismay no doubt coming from Shane's fans and the whole thing resembled some kind of bizarre slapstick comedy where actors slipped on banana skins. Carl prayed none of the other teachers would hear the noise causing them to go down there to put an end to the fight. Some of the spectators, the ones with Walsh, made loud indignant sounds of protest whenever Daryl landed a well-aimed blow or got in a good punch.
Daryl didn't start this fight, it was only fair to let him have a few punches before he went down and broke things off, wasn't it? Besides, he wanted to see the Walsh boy get what was coming to him. The teacher had long since come to the realization that Daryl always fought fair, no matter who his opponent was and how he personally felt about them. Also, he never kicked his enemy when he was down but waited patiently for him to get up.
This time was no different in that sense, but there was a significant change in Daryl nonetheless. The teacher could tell the boy had some trouble holding back his anger, no wonder why really.
Carl settled himself down properly to watch the match. Time after time Daryl had showed that he had integrity when he'd witnessed Walsh not being so generous with his opponents.
Now things could get interesting, he murmured quietly to himself.
Down below, the fight continued. Shane fought dirty of course, paying no mind to Daryl's fair-game as he kicked out with one leg, taking Daryl by surprise and tripping him. Naturally, he lost his balance and landed on his back in the gravel. Soon enough, Shane straddled him, repaying each of the punches he'd received in kind.
'Where do ya get off thinking someone like you can beat me, Dixon?'
'What do you mean by 'someone like me', asshole?' His words were slightly slurred out due to his mouth filling with blood.
'A fag, what else?'
Daryl chuckled loudly and rolled his eyes. 'Not that again. That all ya got? Should've known that the pea ya call a brain wouldn't be able to come up with something smarter than that. Idiot.'
Shane's face darkened, he'd just been called stupid, that always hit a nerve more than anything.
'What did he make you do, huh? Where did he touch you? Did he really go the whole way with you like everyone's saying he did? That smart enough for ya?'
'What?' Daryl hissed and tried to buck Shane off.
'I'm sure the first time hurt real bad, didn't it?' He paused as if to reconsider. 'It was your first time with anybody, wasn't it, Dixon?'
Daryl blushed furiously because he knew people always compared him with Merle. 'Shut up! Who the hell have you been talking to anyway, huh? There was no first time because nothin' fuckin' happened! How many more times do I have to…You must really be as stupid as everyone says if you think...' Daryl was cut off suddenly, completely taken aback by everything, he was completely caught off guard and not prepared for the suckerpunch he got straight to the nose. 'Fuck…'
'Better get used to the pain, I ain't stopping until you answer me. Just tell me the truth – you let him because you liked it. And that makes you a homo in anyone's book.'
Daryl was lying looking almost dazed on the ground at the words. Onlookers had mixed emotions about it all but then they probably (he prayed) couldn't hear their conversation. Some cheered Shane on, while others gasped and shook their heads, probably thinking Shane was taking things a bit too far when his hand gripped Daryl's throat. When he started to squeeze, Daryl found new strength.
'He didn't touch me, asshole! Not once! You've touched me more during this fight than he ever did!'
As soon as he'd said that, both the hand around his throat and the one weighing down his chest holding him down suddenly let go. Daryl took the opening to throw him off, finally succeeding.
Shane snarled as Daryl's fist bloodied his mouth then struck another blow to his temple that made him stumble, obviously affected. To keep himself steady and not land on his ass in front of everyone, he gripped Daryl's shirt, tearing it halfway down exposing skin in the process.
Daryl couldn't care less, he didn't even feel the blood trickling from the corner of his mouth and nose in a steady flow. He spat close to the other boy before he spoke: 'Feeling a bit dizzy, Walsh? Had enough yet?''
'This isn't over until I put you in the hospital, fag!'
Daryl sighed and with a few movements too quick for Shane to block, Daryl had him on his back. He straddled him before Shane had any chance to get up, drew back his fist and hit him again and again, hardly aware of his mouth moving, even less of the words it was forming and what he was admitting, 'I didn't like it, you fuck.' He said in time to the swinging of his blows. 'Ain't a fag. He fuckin' made me.'
His next words came out like a half-sob. 'Didn't want it, didn't do nothin' to make him think I...'
Somewhere in the back of his mind, he knew that he shouldn't be saying this stuff – not in public and not to Shane of all people but luckily, Walsh was pretty much out for a count and Daryl had the presence of mind to keep his voice down. The last thing he wanted either was to be seen blubbering in front of everyone.
'Stop! That's enough!' He felt hands grab the back of his torn shirt, hands that stubbornly tried to pull him away. He didn't even look back to see who it was, he just growled and shoved the person off him.
The only thought running through his mind was to make Shane pay for everything he'd said as his fist slammed into his face again. And again.
'Come on. Get off him.' A quiet male voice said calmly yet it was full of adult authority. 'He's had enough now.' The teacher grabbed him in a choke-hold and pushed his arm up his back as he lifted him off the other boy.
'No!' Get off me!' Daryl kicked out as he was pulled away. He was dimly aware of the shocked whispers all around him.
'What about him?' Someone pointed down at fallen boy with his face all cut and bloody. Shane's left eye was already swelling up black and blue.
'He'll be alright. Might have a couple of teeth missing though.' Rogers was dismissive as he continued to drag Daryl back to the school entrance with him.
'Shouldn't we call an ambulance?' Another worried student asked.
'No. It's not that bad, give him a few minutes and he'll come round.'
'But, Sir...?'
'I'd say he deserved it, don't you?'
There were shocked murmurs that rustled through the crowd like wind through the reeds. The teacher was dimly concerned with the consequences of treating the Sheriff's son like that but shrugged his shoulders. His connections to the Principal protected him to some extent.
As if to confirm his worries, another boy piped up, 'Sir! You can't say stuff like that!' Then, someone else protested, 'Dixon's a psycho!'.
'Oh, can't I? He was spreading filthy rumors about another student and making his life miserable and he isn't the only one Shane's bullied before. Can't say I'm surprised at Daryl's reaction.'
But Rogers was right, Shane wasn't so badly hurt after all and was coming around holding his head.
'Head hurts.' He groaned. 'And my stomach...'He whined.
'My heart bleeds.' Carl muttered under his breath as he dragged Daryl back into the school building with him. He knew Shane would be OK with his fawning entourage of admirers.
Meanwhile, the second brawler, the victorious one nonetheless, struggled against him.
'Where we goin'?' Daryl desperately tried to grab at the occasional open door with the hand that wasn't twisted around his back, but was unsuccessful. Still, all Rogers had to do was push his arm up higher behind him and he'd hiss in pain and immediately comply. Otherwise Daryl didn't make a sound – almost as if he was as dazed as Shane had been.
Rogers motioned for him to sit on one of the tables, and had to hide a smile as Shane's table was the one of his choice. He handed him some paper towels and leaned against the one directly in front of the boy.
'Ya did well out there. Where do you get all that strength from, huh?' The teacher beamed as he took in the student's roughed up face and messy hair that was all over the place. His ripped shirt had seen better days too.
Daryl looked somewhat bemused as he was eagerly eyeing up the door, probably trying to figure out how long it would take him to run for it. 'You hurt my arm!' He angrily protested and ignored the praise as he glowered up at him and rubbed it resentfully.
'I didn't want to, but you were halfway on your way to killing that boy. Some of the others tried to stop you but you were too strong for them.'
'You should've left us alone! I would've stopped… Eventually.'
'Well, see, I couldn't take that chance. I'm your teacher and you were still on school property even if classes were finished. Also, judging by how furious you were – not that I blame you – I'm not so sure you would've been able to stop yourself, even if you wanted to, Daryl.'
'Didn't ask for your help!'
'You sure don't need any.' Rogers sauntered over to him casually and pinned him against the desk to his immense discomfort. But he didn't touch him, bearing what Shane had said in mind – it didn't matter whether the gossip going around was true or not, the boy was as tense as a jack-in-the-box ready to spring out. 'Now you listen to me, son. If I hadn't stopped you because apparently none of them could, you could have ended up in jail on a homicide charge especially since his father's a cop up for Sheriff next week. You're too bright a kid to throw your life away. Let me tell you it would have gone very badly for you, you coming from where you come from and him coming from where he does.'
Daryl drew back, his eyes wide with indignation before he snapped back, indignant, 'What the hell's that supposed to mean?'
'That maybe you would wind up with the death penalty, all for that arrogant little prick! But I don't think you're a bad kid, far from it, in fact. Besides, he really provoked you, don't forget I heard him. I'm clearly on your side here, Daryl, so stop fighting me.' Rogers knew he was exaggerating wildly but then again, his intention was to scare the boy for his own good.
Rogers backed off when he saw that his scare tactic was successful from the boy's eyes wide with fear and yet, Rogers could see that he had gained his trust and respect at the same time. Not many of the teachers had the guts to stand up to Shane. Something we could build on, he thought.
Daryl sighed and studied his bloodied knuckles.
'You want to get cleaned up before you head on home, son?'
'Well, where I come from, Sir, looking like this gives you respect, so 'No'.'
'Time you showed me some gratitude, instead of mouthing back, Dixon! I saved you out there!'
'Didn't ask you to…' Daryl recoiled slightly when he began to bore down on him again and his heart that was already pounding in his chest suddenly upped its tempo ever so slightly. 'Wha...what do ya want from me?' He asked meekly.
This is interesting, Rogers thought, taken aback a the u-turn in his demeanor. A boy who usually stands his ground gets backed into a corner by an authority figure and feeling intimidated, asks what is wanted of him. Signs of abuse for sure. But then he's come to school beat up not just a few times. But not too badly recently and not at all the last week because he didn't turn up, he reminded himself.
'I want the truth, Dixon. That's all.' The teacher replied calmly and stopped his advance. 'Can you give it to me?'
Daryl sighed, wondering if he could tell him that the story about him and Mike was actually true. It was just too raw and painful and he didn't ever want to remember that man again, much less the feel of his greedy hands groping all over his trembling flesh.
Terrified was an understatement of how he'd felt with Mike that night. But Rogers took him by surprise when he didn't ask him about the rumors but instead asked, 'How's things at home?'
Daryl rolled his eyes as he trilled back, 'Fine, Sir. Why ya askin' me that?'
'I think you know why.' Rogers held his gaze for a couple of seconds then let him go as if he believed him after all.
Daryl didn't know why he was always asking him that. Especially when he got beaten up real bad and it was obvious who'd been responsible unless people thought his big brother did it. Or unless he had the worst luck in the world and managed to get jumped on his way to school that was – not so far- fetched with the way Shane and his buddies were acting lately. Also, he always walked alone and the chances were higher than ever because he knew he would be a target for Shane and his gang even more after today.
But Daryl knew when Rogers asked him how things were at home, it was aimed at his Dad. He'd always reply the same way; that there was no problem and to say as little as possible. The difference now , however, was that he meant it and didn't have to cover up for his father's temper. It was the very opposite in fact, - his Dad had started to treat him differently since Mike's attack – like he was made of glass and could break any moment if not handled with care.
'Go on. Get outta here.' Rogers told him not unkindly when he saw he wasn't going to get anywhere else with him. 'No more fighting in the yard again, ya hear! Next time I catch you, it's detention and I won't care who started it.'
'Fine… Bye, Sir.'
Rogers sighed, hating the way his local accent always got more pronounced whenever he had to deal with Daryl Dixon.
'Hurry up or you'll miss your next class too.'
'Ya were amazin'!' Eric was leaning against the wall, waiting for him after school. Daryl had rushed out before him, trying to get ahead of everyone else and be alone as soon as English was over, eager for this day from hell to finally be over. Daryl couldn't understand how he'd overtaken him without him seeing but he didn't bother to ask. They'd sat together during the rest of the day's painfully tense classes but barely spoke. Or at least Eric had tried to but he had only got grunts and monosyllables in return. Throughout the day, most of the class, particularly Shane, had pointedly ignored Daryl. Only Andrea had asked him if he was alright and Daryl noticed happily that she didn't seem to be talking to her boyfriend but was actually sitting apart from him. Most importantly, no-one laughed or sniggered or mentioned Mike again in his presence. He heard not even a whisper of his or the other's name.
But Daryl still didn't feel happy or satisfied.
Eric's excitable chatter beside him brought him back to the present. 'He'll never live this one down.' He laughed whole-heartedly and waited for the other boy to join in.
But he was soon disappointed because just like when Daryl had refused to accept Rogers' praise, he jumped to all the wrong conclusions: 'What? Because someone like me can beat him?' Daryl drawled out sarcastically.
'No, that's not how I meant it, I…'
'Never mind. What ya doin' here anyway? ' Daryl snapped at him, ignoring the admiring way Eric was currently looking at him. He just wanted to be alone with his thoughts. He wasn't naïve enough to believe that just because he'd beaten Shane down that the rumors would stop. In fact, he rightly guessed that his victory would probably feed them more. But at least he'd stopped him talking shit to his face. But would Shane try to get revenge? No doubt he would after being humiliated publicly like that. Right then he didn't have the energy to deal with anything, or even talk and that included with Eric.
'I was waitin' for you, actually. Since we live near each other, thought it would be nice to walk home together.' Eric explained patiently.
'Didn't ask ya to!' He lashed out. The pain was making him grouchy as he held his side.
His classmate's face fell and he felt a little bad for that. 'Well, if you don't wanna...' Eric started to turn and leave.
'But...it was nice of ya. Sorry, just strung out, after the fight, you know.' Daryl hastily added and grabbed his sleeve, making him perk up. 'And yeah, I am goin' home now, as it happens.'
The other boy beamed as they left together and Daryl thought, hell, maybe it would be nice to have at least one friend. Someone on his side in class other than Andrea. She was defiantly girlfriend-material.
That thought made him shiver and gave him a funny feeling like butterflies fluttering at the pit of his stomach. Still, it wasn't unpleasant.
They walked on in companionable silence as boys often do, not saying much.
Or at least Daryl didn't.
….
After the two boys had parted after sharing a few cigarettes to celebrate, Daryl went home reluctantly. He'd only pretended not to care that everyone knew what had happened to him, no matter how hard he denied it. That they thought he was a fag. But what hit him hardest was when that fucking asshole had suggested that he'd actually liked it and allowed Mike to do those disgusting things to him.
Then there was Eric – the only other boy in the class to treat him like he wasn't a leper.
At least Andrea had stuck up for him, didn't treat him differently. Asked him how he was. She liked him enough to kiss him, after all. His cheek, that was, he grimly reminded himself.
But then what would that lead to? He supposed he would inevitably have to explain his scars – if things ever got that far – but they probably never would.
Besides, she'd think he was ugly, a monster, a freak. She'd run away screaming. Still, he couldn't think about that long blonde hair, that fit cheerleader's body and that full red rosebud mouth without feeling guilty...
He shouldn't be thinking stuff like that, that was something his brother was prone to do. Even though Daryl loved Merle to death, he didn't want to follow his brother's example when it came to how he generally treated girls. Thinking of Merle and what he would do in his place though was actually a welcome respite to worrying about the future, however his anxiety returned full circle as soon as he got closer to home.
Everyone knew about him and Mike...Why would Mike do that to him if he hadn't given him some signals first? If he had, he sure as hell didn't know he was doing it. How could he have when he hardly knew what they were in the first place? He felt like he was lost in a secret world of adults who sent out signals all the time to each other and automatically understood when he didn't have the first clue what to look for.
His Dad was waiting for him in the doorway as soon as he got there, just like he'd been watching from the living room window as soon as it got near the time for him to come home from school.
'Holy crap! What happened?' He drew him gently into the hallway. 'Ya been fightin' again?' Will circled his black eye gingerly with one finger before he closed the door behind them. Then he put his arm about his shoulders and frowned down at his ruined shirt but didn't comment on it. Daryl noted with surprise how his father's worried eyes appeared to linger on his exposed skin a little longer than they should but he put this down as the aftermath to his frazzled state of mind. Told himself that he was simply imagining things.
He looked up at his father's face, he must have read something in it because he sighed and led him into the living room by the hand.
As soon as they got near the sofa, his father pulled them down onto it. Daryl leaned his head against his father's chest while Will embraced him. 'Was it that Walsh boy? Did he say somethin'?'
He nodded against him, taking comfort from his closeness. 'Don't worry, Dad. I won! He had to go off with his tail between his legs but...'
'I knew it!' Will ruffled his hair. 'You're a Dixon and no Dixon can be beat.' Then, unseen by his son, his expression darkened and he frowned as his thought-processes went into overdrive.
'Who started it?'
Daryl thought about telling him that everyone knew, that Shane had called him a fag in front of everybody because of what had happened to him and then laughed about it. Even said he'd allowed it to happen... But he could never tell his father about that...
He felt like crying now that his adrenalin rush was over and his feeling of triumph was fading away. 'It was over nothin', really.' He closed his eyes and breathed in the comforting smell of his father's aftershave, cigarettes and his whiskey. In the past, those same smells had terrified him. Before Mike had touched him, the same boozy smell would have had him on the edge of his seat like he always was at the slightest indication that his father wasn't sober. But now all it brought him was comfort. Even if his dad did have a half-full glass on the coffee table beside him.
'Tell me...'
He should have known that he wouldn't be able to hide anything from his father. He always knew when he was lying or hiding something.
''What was it about?' Now his father was looking at him as he held him gently by the jaw with one of his huge fists.
Daryl was still afraid of those big fists, even now when his father hadn't so much as slapped him since the Mike incident. Now, however, the fear of him was back in full- force, unmuted like there never had been a letup in the beatings. Especially when his Dad was starting to sound angry and demanding like he was now, he feared his Dad was going to revert back to his old self.
'N...Nothin'...' He gabbled.
'Don't lie to me, boy!'
Just then, the doorbell rang, saving him and he suppressed a shaky sigh of relief.
'Stay there.' His father ordered and released him before he got up to answer it, swearing at the interruption at such an inconvenient moment when he was just about to get the truth out of his son.
'If it's any of those loudmouth no-good junkie so-called buddies of mine...' He grumbled and stood looking in shock when he opened the door and saw who it was.
Daryl strained his ears when he heard a man's voice he couldn't quite place. The way he talked was typical of a cop, and Daryl had a sinking feeling that he knew who exactly had come to pay them a visit, and why. The soon- to- be-new sheriff in town had come to get some justice for the pussy he called his son… Unfortunately he also knew that having the cop in their home would make his Dad extremely uncomfortable, mainly because of Merle's drug stash, among other things. If whoever it was started poking around…
He shivered – bringing no cops to the door was one of the rules in the Dixon household. If you did a crime, you didn't bring the long arm of the law into the home by being dumb enough to get caught. Breaking the law didn't matter as long as you got away with it and his Dad was going to be mad with him for sure when he came back.
'Well, well. If it ain't little Walsh and his big cop Daddy. Heard ya up for Sheriff?' Will drawled with heavy sarcasm. 'Your boy look pretty beat-up there – that what this about? My son Daryl's a real fighter even if he's small for his age.' He went on to say proudly and stuck out his chest.
It was true, Shane's face was a mass of bruises and cuts, some of which had been plastered over. His mom, maybe? That thought made Daryl snigger to himself. Meanwhile, he hadn't had the chance to clean up yet, hadn't wanted to. Being a Dixon, he preferred to keep his marks of glory as long as possible, Merle would have been proud. Still, out of the two, Shane had clearly come off worse in the battle.
Dick Walsh cleared his throat nervously before he began. Will Dixon didn't only make his sons feel nervous in his presence but had the same effect on people he didn't like.
'I didn't come round here to cause trouble, Mr Dixon. Whatever Daryl did to defend himself against my boy I'm sure it was justified – I heard most of what happened. And I whopped his ass good for good measure.'
Daryl, where he was sitting on the couch, couldn't help wincing a little at that.
Will smirked down at the boy who went bright red and looked away. It pleased him to see the strapping cop's kid look so uncomfortable and embarrassed.
'Well, as the upcoming Sheriff an' all, you must know the importance of hearing both sides of the story, right?' Back inside the house, Daryl was listening intently, he was a bundle of nerves and was forced to stifle a giggle at the disdainful way his dad insisted on using the word "Sheriff" every chance he got.
'That's part of why I came and brought Shane along with me. He's got something to say to Daryl, if he's already at home.'
NO NO NO! Daryl screamed silently in his head. He could see where this was leading.
'DARYL!' Will Dixon yelled back into the house. 'Come out here!'
He knew he didn't have much of a choice, so he came running, with a face almost as flushed as his antagonist's. His father immediately put his arms around him from behind reassuringly. Will enjoyed seeing the other two goggle at this – no doubt they thought he was a monster who always beat up on his sons and he liked proving them wrong.
'What?' He snapped, daring them to comment.
'Er...maybe it would be better if we could come in awhile?'
Will smirked when he could see why Dick Walsh was eager to get out off the street – he didn't want the neighbors listening. 'Nah...this ain't gonna take long. Is it?' He asked with a little menace.
Daryl looked at the other man and tried to get his attention, to try and make him put a stop to this debacle with his pleading eyes, but the cop was oblivious, intent on steaming ahead and clearing the air. No doubt thinking he was teaching his son to do the honourable thing. Daryl almost felt sorry for the man knowing that he wouldn't be able to reform his son, not in a million years.
'Tell Daryl what we talked about.'
Shane coughed nervously and looked at his father, unaware that his own expression was mirroring Daryl's but Dick was equally oblivious to his own son. Or at least he was pretending to be.
Shane tried to speak, but his mouth kept opening and closing with no sounds coming out. It seemed like this was his worst nightmare coming true and Daryl felt a fleeting sympathy for him. The whole thing taking place in front of their Dads was excruciating to say the least.
'Well, ain't so cocky now, are ya? Cat got ya tongue?' Will cawed at him triumphantly.
'I'm ...I'm sorry for spreadin' stories about you...' The boy started sheepishly and he did genuinely look sorry at first.
Shane's father nodded at him encouragingly and nudged him from behind while Daryl felt his own father tighten his grip on him ever so slightly. 'Go on…'
'Laughin' about what happened to you.' His face was gradually losing its defeated hang-dog look and now he was looking sly.
'You laughed?' Dick Walsh actually took a step away from his son, as if standing too close to him was contagious and he might catch some disgusting disease from him.
At the same time, Will's face turned bright scarlet and now he was the speechless one.
'I'm also sorry for callin' ya a fag in front of everybody.' Shane finished with savage triumph, looking like he'd just passed a very difficult test with flying colors and sneaked a glance first at his father, and then at Will Dixon who'd let go of Daryl by then. What he saw on those faces made him reconsider a little and his next words were chosen more carefully even if he did want to humiliate Daryl for all he was worth. Shane wanted to pay him back for what he'd said about Andrea kissing him and the rest. 'I didn't mean to let it slip out...ya know...about you and your Dad's friend... Sorry, Mr Dixon.' He added politely but with mocking eyes that betrayed him and Will wasn't fooled.
'WHAT?!' Both fathers yelled at exactly the same time and under different circumstances, it might have even been funny.
Standing slightly behind his father, Daryl smirked back and mouthed at Shane, 'You're dead for real this time. Then he turned to go back into the house, thinking that was the safest option but his father grabbed him.
'No, son, you stay right where ya are, ya did nothing wrong.'
'You didn't tell me about that!' Dick was clearly bewildered and very angry at his son.
'Where do ya get the nerve to laugh at something like that?' Will hissed at him, eyes blazing with fury.
Shane looked down at his shoes for once without a clever comeback in mind.
'I bet if something like that happened to you that you'd be sniveling for months, I know it. A little sissy like you who's still got his Mama…'
'That's enough. I know you're angry with him and you have every right to be but…' Dick intervened although part of him didn't blame the other man for defending his son. To be honest, his own boy's behaviour made him feel sick to the stomach and he regretted seeing this cruel, vindictive side to him that he didn't know existed until then.
Will ignored him and carried right on giving the other teenager a whipping with his tongue, 'And did you call my son a fuckin' fag? Nothin' happened!' Will raged, clenched his fists and bore down upon the tall boy who was still a lot shorter and slighter than the either of the fathers. He was still only 13 after all.
Luckily, he was being shielded by Dick, who constantly had to remind himself that he was the father of this abomination and had to protect him no matter what. But he planned then to put all his energies into reforming his bullyboy son, if it wasn't too late already, that was.
'Shane, think ya said enough. Go and wait in the car! Ya sure we can't take this inside, Mr Dixon?' Dick looked around nervously.
'Do you think I'll let you into my home after what I just heard?' Will kept his son pinned to him and ran his hand through his hair, enjoying the surprised look on the other father's face.
'Look, what happened with Mike is goin' around. Did ya really think you could keep it a secret when your buddies saw the whole thing? And now Mike's conveniently disappeared without anyone seeing him since that night, ain't no wonder some people talk.'
'Daryl, go inside and wait for me.' His father ordered him brusquely and gave him a little shove back inside.
The cop let his voice drop once both boys were gone and Will had shut the door. 'He's lookin' good though, considering...Look, if that's the way it went down, I sympathize, I really do. I'm a father myself, I'll have to admit, this is definitely not my proudest moment being one… But if someone touched my son like that...Tried to...I dunno what I'd do in a situation like that. Maybe I'd lose control and ...'
'You'd do what? What are you implying I did?' Will snapped, thinking how much he wanted to beat this patronizing cop into the ground for thinking he understood what Daryl went through. Or how he, as his father, felt about it.
'People are talkin'...rumor-mill's a-spinnin'...Jus' sayin'...if Mike were to have an accident – on the road maybe and say a fatal one at that...Maybe his car went off one of those dangerous bends up in the mountains and his body was never found… That would be alright with me. We could roll with that and none of the boys down the station are going to pursue this...'
Will laughed even while his heart was thumping painfully in his chest. It was too late to deny it and when he saw his good-for nothing so-called buddies again, there was going to be blood on the floor. Theirs. Play it cool like a Dixon. This could be a trap...he's probably wearing a wire...Ain't never been a cop and a Dixon who were on the same side before...Besides, Merle was the one that took care of Mike, not him. He was pretty much covered. The best defense is offence...get it out in the open…
'What ya gettin' at? Ya tryin' to say I killed him because he was the scum of the earth? Me? I know we ain't a family of saints but we ain't no cold-blooded killers.' He stamped his foot and chuckled. 'We had words -OK – maybe a little more. I admit me and Merle beat the shit out of him only to teach him a lesson – we did that and then he just left. Guess he wasn't that keen on stayin' around here after what he did to my boy and besides, we told him to never show his face around here again. Probably wanted a head start before people found out what he was.'
'That's understandable but if questions were to be raised in the future...' Will glared at him, challenging him. 'We're on ya side. Jus' sayin', and we all agree...We don't need people like that here around our kids.'
'Well, that's real nice of ya but I don't really give a shit what you cops think. And you keep that bully boy of yours away from mine or next time Daryl's likely to kill him.'
'Fine. I can do that. I jus' wanted to let ya know. Offer my help and my sympathies.'
'Thanks but there's absolutely no fucking need. Bye.' Just like that, Will slammed the door in his face.
'Come here.'
Daryl hung back fearfully and shook his head.
'I said come on OVER! Ain't ya fault, I ain't gonna punish ya for them turning up here... In fact, I'm proud of you.'
Daryl looked at him warily and deciding that he really meant it that he wasn't going to get hurt, he went and sat next to him on the couch.
'I'm dead proud of how ya stood up to that cop's kid when he's bigger than you, not to mention, twice as ugly.'
That made Daryl smile, his dad had a way about him when he insulted people, he made it sound so… true.
Will immediately wrapped his arms around him. 'I'm sorry, son. Things got heated and pretty ugly out there but I'm not angry at you, promise. Just don't like cops pokin' their nose in our business.'
'I know… Dad...I ain't a fag like he said...'
'Ya don't have to tell me that, ya know. I know you're not.'
'Everybody knows what Mike did.' Daryl had a hard time holding back his tears then… the shame of everyone knowing was almost worse than the event itself. Being forced to act strong the whole time and having to deal with Shane twice in the same day, the second time in front of both their fathers was draining and the stress and humiliation of it all was overwhelming. 'I beat him but that don't stop everybody believin' ….they all knew, Dad! Before he even said anythin'!'
When he felt his father's fingers moving gently through his hair, he couldn't hold back the sobs but it didn't matter if he was weak because he knew that he wasn't going to get scolded or whipped for it. Or anything else for that matter.
'As soon as I walked into the classroom, they were all starin' at me and whisperin' to each other like I had two heads or somethin'!'
'I know, I know. Would've hoped Joe and the others would have had the sense to keep their big mouths shut, fuckin' stupid bastards. Especially with Mike missing now – don't they know what that looks like for us? Still, I know Smitty wouldn't have said anythin' – not him. He don't speak much but sometimes I think he's smarter than the bunch of them put together...'
'Shane said...he said...' Daryl gulped, he was having trouble getting his words out, 'I must have liked it and that make me a fag. But I ain't, Dad! Ya gotta believe me!' He wailed.
'Right, that's it. Ya ain't ever goin' back to that shitty school...ya gonna stay here with me. Until at least it all blows over.'
'It's never goin' to! They ain't never gonna forget!'
'Oh, you'd be surprised. Give it a month or two and you'll be last year's news. There, there. It'll be OK, you'll see.' He patted his back gently but nothing seemed to help or make Daryl stop weeping.
….
Merle came home to the sound of his brother crying and his father whispering to him. When he burst into the living-room, he could see his Dad doing his best to comfort Daryl but it didn't seem to be working.
'What's happened, Dad?' Will saw the flash of anger crossing his eldest's features as he took in Daryl's battered face and saw the accusation clear in his eyes when he looked back at Will.
Will stopped shushing his younger son and regarded his older one with a cold, cynical look.
'Yeah, yeah. I know what ya think of me. Always the worst. But I tell ya, I ain't got nothin' to do with his face this time.'
'Who else then?' Merle growled.
'Well, who do ya think, Genius? You forget it was his first day back at school since it happened? Apparently everyone knows now. Staring at him, pointing at him like he's some kind of freak. And guess who was the ringleader? Fuckin' Shane Walsh and he even had the nerve to laugh about what happened to him, calling your brother a fag in front of everybody to boot! But ya got him good, didn't ya? Daryl beat the crap outta him. The little bastard looked like shit when he came around here, tail between the legs. Twice as beat-up as this one here.'
He looked down fondly at Daryl but his son didn't look up. Only his heaving shoulders told his brother that he was still sobbing but silently. Will paused and frowned before he carried on.
'How can you make fun of somebody because of something like that happened to them? Gotta be sick in the head, right? Or some kind of psycho? Then the little scumbag's Dad turns up here – our soon-to-be new Sheriff, fuck him, tells me he knows what happened. How I feel. As if he had even the slightest fucking idea! The only ones who truly knows can be counted on one hand, the others who only think they know, shouldn't bother! I swear, people in this village have too little to do!'
Merle took a step closer. 'Hey, baby bro. Ya sure showed him, though. He's the one they're laughing at now.'
Daryl suddenly seemed to regain control of his emotions when he glared up at his brother with damp, red eyes that seemed to almost shoot lightening-bolts aimed directly at him.
'Why? 'Cos someone like me beat him?' Daryl snarled.
Merle's eyebrows shot to the roof in surprise. 'Whoa, easy there, Tiger. Didn't mean anything by it. Ya know I'll always root for you.'
'Whatever…' Daryl sounded bored and looked away.
'Hey now, don't be giving your brother grief. He's just trying to cheer ya up.'
'Hmph…' was the only reply.
Will smiled over his head. 'Anyway, our new Sheriff made that brat of his apologize to Daryl but that little bastard ain't sorry. He was fuckin' standin' there and laughin' at all of us. Still, Dick the Dick even said that if it looks like Mike's disappeared for good, they'll turn a blind eye.'
Merle blanched. 'Well, that's good, ain't it?'
'You don't get it, do ya? A cop is already sniffing around this place! I take it you got rid of any evidence of what you did no matter what that was?'
Merle went pale and his eyes darted away from that merciless stare. 'Sorry, Dad, I just can't deal with this now.'
'Well, ya gonna have to deal with it, Merle. You can start by teaching that Sheriff's brat a lesson.'
'Ya mean the...the Walsh kid?'
Will rolled his eyes. 'Who else do ya think I mean?' All the time, his hand hadn't stopped stroking Daryl's back.
'No, please don't. I made him pay! Don't make me look weak like I can't handle myself!' Daryl wiped his weepy eyes.
'Stay outta this, Daryl. If we took care of him, you could go back to school.'
'Who says I wanna go back? They'd still laugh at me! They'll still fuckin' know what he did!'
'Deal with it, Merle.'
'What?' Merle replied, a little shocked and his already chalky complexion grew even more drained of color, if that was possible. 'Ya sayin' ya want me to...to teach him a lesson?'
Will snorted in frustration. ''Course I don't mean take it too far. Last thing we want is the Sheriff turning up on our doorstep again. Jus' teach him a lesson, is all. Rough 'im up – scare him a little.'
'No! I don't need anyone to fight my battles, Merle! Told you I already dealt with him, he'll leave me alone now, I know he will!' Daryl added more quietly this time.
'I ain't doin' it. I ain't touchin' a kid no matter how much of an asshole he is.'
'Well, jus' talk to him then, son.'
'Daryl's right, dad. If I wade in there – his big brother – it'll jus' make things worse for him.'
'Fine. Don't do nothin', then, Merle. Let that little prick keep on tormentin' ya baby brother about what happened to him.'
'Daryl's said he dealt with it. Beat the little punk down in front of the whole school, sounds like. I'm sure Shane won't be botherin' him again.'
'It's true, Dad!' Daryl half got up. 'He left me alone after I beat him, I don't think he'll take his chances of that happening again!'
Will ignored him, only had eyes for his eldest who did his best at having a stare-contest with the floor. 'Ya a fuckin' coward, Merle. Get out of my sight before I do somethin' I shouldn't.'
'Fine. I need a drink anyway.' Merle turned around. 'Don't worry, I ain't gonna stay in this house a second longer than I have to.'
'Merle!' Daryl called anxiously after him.
'Why you...' Will clenched his fist and shook it at his departing back as he left the room, nearly dislodging Daryl as he did.
Will was about to go after him but it was a small voice next to him that stopped him. 'Dad...'
He snarled but let his eldest go. Instead, he sank back down back into the sofa, drawing Daryl's head back down into his lap. The next thing he did was take another deep swig of whiskey and switch the TV back on. His eyes were glazed and unseeing as he stared at boxing match and he automatically smoothed his younger son's hair with one hand at the same time.