"Daryl, I'm coming with you" Joe said sternly
Daryl sighed. He didn't want to hurt the old man's feelings but he wouldn't be a help, he'd just have one more person to worry about.
"I appreciate that Joe but I just need to get to Merle. There is something that I would be grateful if you could look after for me if you would" Daryl asked quietly
"Anything Daryl, what is it?"
"The door, its busted. When I bring Willow back she's going to be scared enough about what happened. I don't want her to have to sleep in her home and not be able to lock the door...I also want it re-enforced so this can never happen again. Do you think you can talk to Harlin and the other guys to see about taking care of this?"
"Of course Daryl, don't worry about it a second longer I'll take care of everything" Joe said sincerely.
"Alright, I'll be back...with her. I promise you that" Daryl said softly
"I don't doubt you in the least Daryl, I know you will" Joe said squeezing Daryl's shoulder.
Daryl hopped in the truck and checked Summer's restraints and started the truck.
"You can't do this Daryl, think about what you're doing, it's suicide!" Yelled Summer.
Daryl looked at her and turned off the truck and jumped out. Summer watched him walk back into the house for a moment then back out carrying something. Watching him as he got back in the truck, she began to protest but was cut off as Daryl slapped a piece of duct tape over her mouth.
"That'll work" he grunted starting the truck and heading down the driveway.
Daryl and Summer drove in peaceful silence all the way to Ray and Martha's to see Merle. Pulling in the driveway, Daryl drove up to the house and sat there staring at it. What if Merle wouldn't go along with his plan? What if she was already dead? He could feel his heart break further as despair seeped into his soul. Making sure Summer's hands were still tied and attached to the seat belt loop so she couldn't escape. Getting out of the truck, Daryl quickly crossed the yard and walked up on the porch and began pounding on the door.
"Daryl?" Said a concerned Martha as she answered the door, "You forget something from the trip?"
Daryl shook his head
"No, I need to see Merle. Can you ask him to come out here please?" Daryl asked softly
"Sure darlin' let me grab him" Martha said still concerned.
Daryl stood on the porch staring at the truck, making sure she wasn't going anywhere until he heard the door open behind him. Turning around everything hit Daryl all at once and he couldn't help breaking down in front of his brother.
"What's going on Daryl?" Merle said quietly, completely shocked at his brother's breakdown and obvious pain.
"Tiny took Willow" Daryl choked trying his best to wipe his tears and calm himself down. "He says he'll trade her for you"
Merle's jaw clenched as he nodded
"Alright then, let's go git yer girl then." Merle said resolved and began walking towards the truck.
"Merle wait" Daryl called. "If I show up with you, he's planning on killing us both. I don't even know if Willow is still alive. I have Summer tied up in the truck, she's the one that started this entire thing"
Merle turned and looked at Daryl
"Summer? The stripper from Garden City?" Merle asked
Daryl nodded and explained their trip to the small city they had taken to buy the bedroom set and everything that had happened.
"I always knew she was trouble" Merle nodded "so what do you think we should do little brother? I know you well enough that you have a plan in that brain of yours"
Daryl nodded
"I don't know how good it will work but I've got one. I got out of Summer that they're holding her in that seedy motel on the south side of Fayetteville. We're supposed to show up for the swap at 6pm only there won't be a swap, they're looking to gun us both down. If Willow is dead, I might as well be in that truck" Daryl said as his voice cracked
"Listen little brother, she ain't dead...she ain't. I know Tiny well enough and if there's one thing he likes it's a pretty girl and your girl is probably the prettiest one we've seen around these parts. He'd want to keep her for himself...might be why he wants to take you out as well. I know your girl and she's a fighter, you know that too, so we gotta do what we gotta do to make sure her fight ain't for nuthin'" Merle said vehemently.
Daryl nodded
"You're right" he said quietly
"Of course I'm right dummy, now tell me that plan so we can get our act together" Merle smiled
Daryl and Merle walked slowly to the truck as Daryl explained what he wanted to do with Merle nodding every now and then.
"That's actually not a bad plan little brother. We'll need to stop for a few things and it might not be that easy finding another red truck like this one but we'll make do. Let's head to Peach tree, they should have most of what we need" Merle said climbing in the truck next to Summer. "Well hello there Summer, heard you've been being quite the pain in the ass. Well get ready to redeem yourself sweetheart" Merle grinned.
Willow sat on the floor in the corner of the dark and dingy hotel room watching the two men pace and check the window from time to time. Looking at her wrists, they had taken the zip tie off after it had cut her and left her bleeding everywhere but now she had layers of duct tape wrapped around them and it was difficult to move her hands, but not impossible. Turning her hand so her finger was in between her wrists, she slid her ring around and began rubbing it on the tape. She wasn't really sure that it was doing any good until she felt the tape give a little.
Watching the men, making sure they didn't catch her she listened to their conversation
"Are Dallas and Thomas in place?" Tiny asked
"Yup, they're behind those cars and we got slim and Tony behind those ones. When they pull up, they won't know what hit them" said the other man
"Good, good" said Tiny "I've been tired of those Dixon boys for a long time. Daryl never really caused me a problem but if I kill his brother, he's going to make himself one and will be up my ass until I kill him anyway…might as well kill two birds with one stone."
Willow sat in shock listening to them. Daryl was walking into a trap and they were planning on killing him! Panicking she began to rub the tape harder to get free to put a stop to all of this. She couldn't help her aching heart as the tears fell. How could she lose him like this? The only hope she had was that he would do the right thing and not come here and give up Merle, but she knew him better than that and knew he'd never be able to live with himself abandoning her. She had to get free, she had to! Feeling the tape give a little more, she worked harder. She was probably ruining her ring but if it meant saving Daryl's life, it wouldn't matter.
"What time is it?" asked Tiny
"Almost six…they should be here any minute" said the other guy as they both watched out the slit in the closed curtains.
"Did you see where they're stationed at?" asked Merle as he continued to duct tape Summer's hands to the steering wheel of the beat up old red truck.
"Yeah, I went up on the roof of that brick building. There are four of them….two behind cars on the east side and two on the west." Daryl whispered
Merle nodded
"Covering both sides and my guess is Tiny and one of his boys are in the room watching in case they need more firepower. You take the two on the east side and I'll get the two on the west. After we're going to have to blast our way in to the room and pray Willow is out of the line of fire." Merle said seriously looking at Daryl.
Daryl nodded but felt so sick to his stomach. Willow being in any kind of danger made him sick, but this kind of danger was just too much for him to deal with.
"She's going to be OK little brother. We're going to get her out of there" Merle said quietly "Shut up Summer and quit squirming. I know it sucks being a decoy but you asked for it."
Daryl watched as Summer panicked and tried yelling with the tape on her mouth all wide-eyed as Merle taped her feet to the seat so she couldn't hit the brake. Maybe it was awful of him but he didn't feel sorry for her, not one bit. Maybe she hadn't wanted him to die but she did Willow and that was enough for him to sacrifice her life. Checking the mannequin sitting next to summer, making sure it would tip over as soon as it was hit, he pulled the baseball hat down lower over its face to hide the plastic skin. Looking at it, he wasn't sure it would work but it was the only thing he could think of.
Walking over to the other side of the truck, Daryl took out a pair of scissors and began hacking off Summer's hair at the neck. He heard her scream behind the tape but it didn't bother him in the least. Placing a baseball cap on her head, he supposed she could pass for him alright, especially since they were close to losing the light of day. Looking at her, he held up her chopped hair.
"You see this? That's for Willow. As for the rest of this, that's from both of us…..May you rot in hell" Daryl said bitterly and slammed the door shut.
"You ready?" whispered Merle
Daryl nodded as they got behind the truck and began to push as hard as they could getting the truck at a good speed to look like it was pulling into the parking lot on its own. Once the truck was going, Merle and Daryl slipped away on each of their side and waited for the gunfire. Watching the truck stop in front of the motel they held their breath hoping this would work. Hearing the "pop pop pop" sound they knew they were firing. It was working.
Daryl ran behind the cars, finding the two men firing easily enough. Raising his gun, he fired on both, killing them. Looking over to where Merle had disappeared on the other side, he waited for his signal that his two were dead as well. Finally seeing Merle's signal, they both ran for the motel trying to stay out of the line of sight of anyone inside. Pressing themselves against the building and inching their way to the door, Daryl froze horrified at hearing several gunshots sound in the room.
"NO!" he screamed and ran for the door.
Willow worked frantically on the tape as she heard Tiny whisper
"They're here"
Hearing the gunfire begin, she ripped the tape completely off and jumped and grabbed the gun in the back of the waistband of the one man she didn't know, firing it into his head. Watching Tiny turn around in surprise Willow screamed in terror as she fired at Tiny over and over again until he lay dead on the floor. Collapsing onto the ground, she screamed again knowing there was no way Daryl had survived the ambush. Looking up as the door blasted open she waited for the men's bullets to find her aching heart and to send her to be with Daryl.
Daryl stared at the two dead men and Willow sitting on the ground covered in blood with a gun hanging from her fingertips.
"Willow?" his voice cracked
Willow raised her head and looked at him confused.
"Daryl?" she whispered
Daryl was immediately on the ground, pulling her into his arms.
"Oh thank God" he whispered "I thought…I thought Tiny killed you. We heard the shots and thought…Oh thank God" he cried holding her close as the tears rolled down his cheeks.
Willow looked at him still not sure she could really trust what she was seeing
"How is it possible that you're alive?" she asked "They saw you pull up and I heard the gunfire…how did you?" she looked at him completely bewildered
"It wasn't us. Someone else was in the truck. We knew they would try and kill us both so we set a trap" Daryl said looking at her shocked face "You OK? You hurt?" he asked as he began to check her over.
Willow shook her head
"I'm not hurt, I'm OK" she whispered putting her hand on his face still not believing he was real. "When I saw you come through the door I thought I died and that I was with you again" she said staring at him as a tear slowly rolled down her cheek.
"No sweetheart, we're OK, but I need to get you out of here." Daryl said standing up, pulling her with him.
"Hey y'all, we need to get gone" Merle said poking his head in the door "I haven't seen any others, but he's got more guys than these ones and I don't want to be here when they find out he's dead."
"We're coming" Daryl said quietly, grabbing Willow's hand and walking her past the bodies.
Daryl, Merle and Willow walked quickly through the parking lot but Willow slowed as they walked past the bullet ridden truck. Seeing a body slumped over the steering wheel, she looked at Daryl as Daryl slid her a sideways glance.
"Summer" he whispered
Willow nodded
"Good" she whispered back
Turning the corner Willow was relieved to see her truck was still in one piece as they all piled in and took off out of there. Willow gripped Daryl's arm as he drove until he lifted it and put it around her. She was still a bit shaken and didn't want to let go of him for anything. Driving for a little while, Merle looked at them.
"Daryl, if it's alright with you all, I'd like to stick around here for a little while. I don't know if there will be much fallout or not from Tiny's death but I'd like to be nearby in case there is."
Daryl nodded
"Sure bro, you OK with that Willow?" Daryl asked quietly
"Absolutely" Willow whispered "the spare room is yours for as long as you need it"
Merle nodded at her
"Thanks…I don't have to stay with y'all though…I mean I could stay at the shack if you want" Merle said quietly
Willow shook her head
"No, I'd rather you stay with us. The only thing better than one Dixon boy protecting you is two Dixon boys" she smiled at Merle as Daryl tightened his arm around her and kissed the top of her head as he continued to drive the rest of the way home.
Pulling into the parking lot of Boondocks, Willow looked at Daryl
"Daryl I don't want to see grandpa like this, it might scare him a little too much seeing all this blood" she said staring down at her clothes
Daryl looked at her and nodded his head
"OK, I'll just run in and tell him you're OK but you need to clean up. I promised I would let him know" Daryl said
"OK, tell him I love him, I'm fine and I'll see him later" Willow said giving Daryl a kiss.
Merle and Willow watched as Daryl hopped out of the truck and walked into Boondocks
'You OK little girl?" asked Merle staring at her
Willow nodded
"Yeah…I'm…OK."
"Has to be affecting you some, killing someone for the first time let alone two people" Merle said quietly
Willow nodded again
"It does some…but I think since it was yours and Daryl's life or theirs…I don't know. I just can't seem to get that upset about it." She said quietly
Merle nodded
"Yeah…they were some pretty bad people. It's real sad that I ended up hanging around with them, I can see that now. Can I ask you another question?" He asked
Willow nodded
"Sure" she said looking at him.
"When you found me…you know…..I had written a note to Daryl….. Did you give it to him?" Merle asked quietly
Willow shook her head
"No, I still have it but…I just couldn't give it to him. I was worried he would blame himself for everything." Willow answered
"Good" Merle breathed out slowly "I didn't want to bring it up to him if he hadn't…I feel pretty guilty for writing it now and if you would, just toss it in the fire when you get a chance."
Willow nodded and gripped his hand and squeezed.
"I will Merle."
Willow thought about the note and Merle's apology for shooting Daryl but he eventually in the end he had turned it around and almost made it sound like Daryl's fault he got shot and why Merle was committing suicide. There wasn't a chance in hell Willow was going to give him that note and burned it a long time ago.
Watching Daryl walk out and get in the truck, she saw her grandpa and Annie standing at the door. Waving to them and giving them a small smile, they waved back and she grinned as her grandpa blew her a kiss. She'd love nothing more than to run and give him a hug but she just couldn't like this and she needed to get these clothes off as soon as possible
Willow sighed seeing the house come into view…she had been so worried she would never see this place again, or be here with Daryl again. Sliding out of the truck holding Daryl's hand, they all walked up the steps to the door and stopped and stared.
"I asked them to re-enforce the door but wow" he said softly
All three looked as the door were now double paned and were set in a metal frame.
"Nobody getting through those unless they got a grenade" Merle said quietly
Daryl nodded
"Yup…not going to happen again, I'll tell you that much" he said looking at Willow
Willow smiled softly at Daryl and kissed him
"Looks great guys, but I need a serious shower and maybe I shouldn't be thinking about food right now, but I am starving. What do you guys say to warming up some of the turkey leftovers?" she asked as they all walked inside
"Sounds good" Daryl said kissing her softly "I'll start warming stuff up while you get in the shower"
Willow nodded and slowly began climbing the steps. Grabbing some pajama pants and a t-shirt and underclothes, she walked directly into the bathroom and hesitantly looked in the mirror. She couldn't help but be a little horrified at how she looked with blood splatter all over her face and skin and then her clothes….turning the shower on so that the steam began to fill the room, she slipped off her clothes and looked at them laying in a bloody pile on the floor. Looking up as the door opened, she stared at Daryl as he walked in.
"Baby I'm going to heat up everything including the potatoes and stuff OK?" Daryl asked
Willow nodded staring at the clothes.
"Willow...you OK?" he said gently rubbing her arm
Willow nodded again
"Yeah, but would you do something for me?" She asked
"Anything, you know that" Daryl said sliding his arms around her waist hugging her softly
"Would you take these clothes away? I don't care what you do with them...throw them out or burn them...I just don't want to see them again" she said softly
"You got it" Daryl said softly, picking them up and kissing her sweetly."food will be ready when you're done"
Willow nodded and kissed him again before stepping into the hot steaming water. Willow poured the soap in her hand and lathered her hair over and over again until the soap and water ran clear. Scrubbing her body from head to toe several times, until finally she felt clean. Drying off with a big fluffy towel and wrapping her hair up with it after, she slipped her PJ's on and then padded out the bathroom and then down the stairs to where the love of her life cooked them dinner. Slipping her arms around his waist she kissed his shoulder.
"Hi" she softly
Daryl turned and smiled
"Hi" he said kissing her slowly
"Can I do anything?" She asked
"Yup" Daryl said scooping her up and carrying her into the living room "you can sit here and let me wait on you hand and foot" he smiled setting her on the couch pulling a throw blanket around her.
Willow giggled at Merle's eye roll.
"You're my witness Merle, he treats me like this and then calls me a spoiled brat. He's not allowed to call me that if it's his own fault" she laughed
"Zip it" he smirked at her "before I shove something in your mouth...and I meant a dinner roll, get your mind out of the gutter" he laughed ducking a couch pillow she threw at him.
Watching Daryl bring their dinner plates in on a tray, Willow's mouth watered with the smell. She could not wait to eat every mouthful. Eating happily while Daryl and Merle talked about their hunting trip, Willow finished her plate and took it into the kitchen putting in the dishwasher. Taking the towel off her hair, she began patting it until it was only damp. Hanging up her towel she began brushing out her long dark hair until it was free of tangles and snarles. Heading back towards the living room, she stopped in shock as her stomach started to violently turn.
Running up the stairs as fast as she could, she heard Daryl call her name, but she couldn't stop. Flying into the bathroom, she made it just in time as she threw up her entire dinner in the toilet. Still feeling her stomach ache, she flushed the toilet and waited for round number two. Feeling Daryl's hand rub her back, she couldn't help the hot tears that fell down her cheeks. Feeling her stomach heave again, Daryl pulled her hair back out of the way while she emptied the last contents of her stomach. Flushing the toilet again and then brushing her teeth at the sink with Daryl hovering close.
"Did I do something wrong with the food?" He asked worriedly
Willow shook her head
"No, I don't think so...I don't think food poisoning works that fast. I don't know maybe I'm stressed more about today than I thought I was. All I want is to crawl into bed and hope that my stomach is done revolting" she said laying her cheek on his chest feeling his arms hold her tight.
Picking her up in his arms, Daryl carried her to the bed and kissed her softly while pulling the covers over her.
"I'll be right back, I'm going to go clean up downstairs" he whispered and left her drifting off to sleep.
She barely remembered Daryl coming back to bed except for feeling his comforting arms around her as she snuggled against his chest. Waking from a sound sleep early the next morning with her stomach churning again, she slipped out of the bed quietly and ran for the bathroom . Throwing up next to nothing, considering she had emptied her stomach last night, she flushed then began brushing her teeth again when it hit her.
Staring at the Calender and then laying her hand on her belly with her eyes big and round she whispered
"Oh no"