Author's Note: I am so sorry this took forever to get out and that it is probably my worse chapter yet. However between school, being sick and my new obsession with Benedict Cumberbatch (yes I know I am fickle), it's hard to find time to write. Anyway I have no idea just how good this chapter is…I rewrote literally four times to try (four seems to be my magic number) and get things straight. It was really hard for me, since not much happens in this episode-at least not for a bed ridden Mara. My third try of this chapter is literally Mara singing the lyrcis to Me Gusta Tú by Mano Chau, while Easton tries not to strangle her. Nonetheless I hope you enjoy this chapter. Please forgive me for bad grammar, I've staying past two these last few night writing this.
P.S : Dara lovers, the fight is not over yet.
~Cassandra
Disclaimer: I do not own Walking Dead. If I did then I wouldn't need to worry about catching the bus tomorrow.
"I can't stay in this bed any longer, Easton. I am going mad here-just lying about being absolutely useless." Mara moaned, flopping back onto the bed. The green shirt she wore rode up slightly exposing a bit of her thigh. Easton cringed slightly glancing at it, before pulling her shirt down forcefully for her. She rolled her eyes turning back over on her stomach. Those dark eyes of hers glanced desperately towards the door plotting escape.
It only made sense her brother didn't understand Mara's overwhelming sense of cabin fever. No one could really…unless they were locked up in an insane asylum or prison before. Not that Mara had been locked up in any of those places before. She had been locked up in something worse though. After failing to qualify with her weapon multiple times, Mara and a few other of her company mates were bounced around from one company to the next, awaiting to be sent home. However it wasn't being passed around companies that taught Mara the meaning of hell; no that was reserved for a known as RHU. Better known as the return home unit.
Ironically RHU was at first the promise land of all those being sent home. Her fellow returnees and her often dreamt and hoped to be sent there; listening to promises of being able to use electronics, going bowling, better food, and so much more. Now it would be a lie to say these promises were all false, because they surely weren't. They were however, icing covering what was merely stale bread. After two weeks of being bumped from company to company, Mara was sent to experience RHU first hand.
Admittedly the first week, it seemed amazing. Mara could nap freely, whenever she wanted to. There were books for her to read. Electronics were allowed on week-ends. The food was ten times better, and they did group bonding once a week. Everything seemed perfect. That is until the white walls of the bay area began to shrink on her. Sure, it was a large room with a maximum capacity of about thirty girls. But it was the fact that she only left that bright white room three times a day for meals, and once a week for a group activity. Other than that Mara was not allowed outside and there certainly weren't no windows to open. Soon not even books or electronics could keep the growing pang of nervousness building in her. For two months, Mara stayed in that room, praying to be sent home.
Therefore, it was only natural for Mara to feel the same anxiousness grow within her. Especially with these white wall surrounding her. Unfortunately none of this occurred to anyone. Not that it should with how tight lipped Mara was about her whole experience. Hell, only Daryl and Easton knew the real reason why she was rejected from the army-and even then they didn't know everything. "Yeah well, it isn't going to happen Mara. So drop it." Easton snorted, flipping the page of his book.
"I'll start singing again." Mara threatened. If there were two things that always seemed to get Mara what she wanted. A: Crying, especially around Bryon, always worked for her. B: and when crying didn't work, singing did the trick. Though Mara never understood why. She wasn't that bad of a singer.
"I'll send Carl back in." Easton retorted.
"I like Carl. Besides I'll just teach him the song." Mara countered. It wasn't like she hadn't already started anyway. As wonderful as Carl was, Mara wasn't a good enough person, not to use the boy to exact her revenge. Even more so, after Easton gave Carl instructions not to let Mara out of the bed, no matter what she said. Instructions the boy took to heart. She even scratched her back and Carl would be out there door to get the nearest adult. It was a pain to say the least.
"No, you won't. I refuse to let you corrupt that child with your evilness." Easton swore.
Mara gave him a cheeky grin. "Too late, dear brother. Which means that you're at a fork in the road…you can either send Carl in here, so I can corrupt him, stay here and listen to me sing, or let me go?"
"How about I just jab you in the side again?" Easton suggested, looking back down at his book.
Mara snorted. If he truly thought that Of Human Bondage could save him, then Easton truly was a fool. She cleared her throat, getting Easton's attention as his brown eyes widened with fear. The first word of the song slipped from her mouth, only to be followed by a pillow. Her eyes narrowed as she clutched the fluffy white item. "Hey, injured person here!" she protested.
"Yeah, well future injured person here. Besides I warned you about what would happen, if you began singing again." Easton replied, calmly. His sister was really starting to grate on his nerves. As much as Easton loved his sister, he absolutely hated taking care of her when sick or weak. The girl was always a pain, just like their older brother Bryon was. And while Easton should be used to it by now. He truly believed that somewhere between the time of being separated and reunited, Mara had become ten times more the pain in the ass. That or he never really comprehended the help both Bryon and Zane gave him, when it came to taking care of her.
"Can you at least get my books or something? I'm pretty positive my copy of Tess of the D'Urbervilles is in the RV. Or if you're even too lazy to that, you can simply let me read Of Human Bondage-though honestly I find completely boring. I mean-"
"Alright. Alright. If it will get you to shut up, I'll go get your damn book from the RV. But don't you even think about moving from this bed, Mara. Or I swear, I'll take you over my knee and spank you like when we were kids." Easton growled, jumping up from his spot. He could use some fresh air anyway. In fact, it was probably a good idea, seeing Easton was this close to straggling Mara. Which probably wouldn't just be the end of her, but him also, if Daryl and Rick had anything to say about it.
"Yeah, yeah I heard you, the first thousand times. Oh, and you never spank me by the way. Only Dad and Bryon did, you were all for the psychological viewpoint and liked putting me in the corner." Mara snarked from her spot.
"Well, obviously it didn't work." Easton muttered, as he left in huff.
It was a few minutes until Mara could hear her brother walk out the front door. The man was probably double checking to make sure her task wasn't just rouge to let her escape. Which it totally was. However Mara knew better than just to get up right away. Only teenagers made that mistake. Slowly Mara got out of bed, ignoring the small tinge of pain between her back and stomach. With a sly smile Mara tip-toed to the door, her hand reaching out for the door knob-
Suddenly the door swung open, causing Mara to fall on her butt in surprise. Groaning she looked up expecting to see a wrathful Easton glaring down at her, only to find none other than an unamused Daryl Dixon standing there. She gave him a sheepish smile, which wasn't returned. Perhaps Easton would have been better. "I thought the doc ordered you to stay put?" he said, calmly.
"I'd like to think of it more as a suggestion than an order." Mara replied.
"That work on your brother?" Daryl asked, folding his arms.
"Not really." Mara admitted.
"Then why would it work on me?" Daryl asked.
She shrugged. "I don't know, cause you're my friend?"
"I thought I told you that we ain't friend nothin' lil'bit." Daryl reminded, unsmilingly.
Mara rolled her eyes at him, as she recalled his words to her in Atlanta. "That was like forever ago."
"Try about six days ago." Daryl corrected.
Yet again Mara rolled her eyes. Only he would be keeping track of such a thing. "Well forgive me for getting shot, and losing a couple of days. Plus six days is practically week. A week is a long time for people nowadays." Mara pointed out.
This time Daryl rolled his eyes, but said nothing more to protest. Instead he leaned over slightly to offer his hand. Without a second thought Mara took it, marveling at how smooth it was despite its calluses. Gently he pulled Mara to her feet, being careful of her wounds. She gave him a soft gracious smile. To which-of course, he did not return. However Mara would honestly be shocked if he had. Daryl wasn't the offensive unintelligent coarse bigoted man, everyone thought him to be. He was who tended to keep to himself though. Mostly due to the fact that everyone pictured him to be a rude uncultured dumb racist. Which meant they treated him as such. "Thanks, I don't think I would be able to get up on my own, if I had to." She replied, rubbing her head sheepishly.
Silently she prayed to god that Daryl wouldn't tattle on her. The last thing Mara needed was Easton banning her to the bed for another week. Hell, she would probably shoot herself if that happened. "Then you shouldn't be out of bed." Daryl stated bluntly.
"Would you stay?" Mara retorted.
"This isn't about me, Lil'bit. It is about you getting yourself hurt again!" Daryl snapped.
Silence filled the air as Mara stared at him wide eyed. Her mind raced a thousand miles per hour, trying to comprehend what just happened. It was the fact that Daryl yelled that bothered her. No, he yelled at her plenty of times before. But it was the fact that he yelled at Mara for not behaving-for not listening to Hershel-for endangering herself. Suddenly T-Dog's words from earlier came back to her, 'Glenn and I didn't tell you this, but Daryl just about lost it, when he heard Mara got shot. Nearly took me here instead of Glenn, but Dale managed to convince to stay for the group's sake. However, he did have a pretty nasty message for Shane and you, Rick. And an even worse one for if she died.'
"You're worried." Mara realized out loud. "Me getting shot scared you."
"It didn't scare me, Lil'bit. Nothing scares me." Daryl snorted indignantly.
Mara couldn't stop the grin spreading across her face. Nor could Daryl stop the small amount of redness spreading across his. He swore, desperately trying to think of something to say. Something that would shut down Mara's notion, that he cared enough to be worried about her. It was hard enough for Daryl to admit it to himself as it was. He surely did not need Mara add to that mixture of confusion. "What the hell are you grinning about?" he gruffed folding his arms.
"Nothing just feeling loved." She replied, causing another wave of panic to wash over him.
Love. Now that was definitely going too far. Sure, he cared about Lil'bit-there was no denying it. Ever since Atlanta, Daryl had begun to see Mara as someone he actually enjoyed being around. Which honestly was no big surprise. If everyone, but one person treated you like an outsider, who would you prefer to be with? Still, that didn't mean he felt anything more than companionship for her. Daryl would be an idiot, if he did. Especially after the way she reacted to him kissing her back at the CDC-
He kissed her hard, wanting to taste her fiery flavor yet again. The damn woman's taste was hidden under all that fucking vodka she drank. Beneath that strong taste of liquor though lied something more intoxicating. A strange tangy flavor that reminded Daryl of toothpaste or some minty fresh shit mixed with orange. Whatever it was, he was going insane by it. And with the way Lil'bit was kissing him back, it didn't seem like his insanity would be stopping.
The kiss lasted for a few seconds more, before they both pulled back for air. He stared down at her, taking everything he could about the moment. Lord only knew how long he'd have until Lil'bit realized who she was kissing. Once that happen, then Daryl would surely be rejected. Woman like her didn't go for men like him, after all. Until then though, he was going to enjoy it. Enjoy the way her body pressed up against his. The way her pink lips were plump from kissing him-
God, he must be drunk. He was starting to sound like a fucking teenage again. "Daryl, I-"Mara started, before clutching tightly to his shirt.
The flimsy material balled up into her hands as she suddenly froze. Her face scrunched up with fear and confusion, while her legs wobbled threatening to give out. Instinctively his arms reposition themselves to help balance her, but it proved to be a foolish move. For the second Daryl shifted his arms, a pair of small hands pushed him away. Then the next thing Daryl knew, Lil'bit was out the door running. Leaving him to feel like the idiot, Daryl knew he would. Yeah…woman like her never looked at a guy like him twice.
The memory left a sour tasted in Daryl's mouth. He frowned trying to shake it off. A lot of things had happen since then. Such as Lil'bit spending the majority of her time with him, instead of Rick. Her standing up for him against Andrea. Or more notably, her worrying about him. She was the only one who seemed to care about him. Everyone else just assumed Daryl could take care of himself if need be. Not that he gave them any reason to think otherwise. Still it was rather…comforting for Daryl to know, that at least one person would care, if he suddenly disappeared.
"Daryl? Estás bien?" Mara asked, waving her hand at him. "Eres como mi hermano estúpido."
"I heard that!" a voice cried from behind him. "And what the hell are you doing out of bed, Mara?"
Daryl turned his head slightly to see both Mara's giant of a brother and Rick standing in the doorway. Instantly a frown made its way onto Daryl's face. He didn't know what it was about Mara's brother, but he did not like the guy. Maybe it was the overly eager way the man greeted him, when they first met. Or the fact that he and his sister somehow got separate, during the world going to shit. Probably the latter of the two really. Daryl just couldn't help not to forgive the man, for leaving Lil'bit on her own. "Like you honestly expected me to stay in bed. This place is worse than limbo." Mara argued, folding her arms.
"Limbo?" Rick questioned, turning to Easton.
Easton merely rolled his eyes, imitating his sister's stance. "Return Home Unit. They sent her there, until the paperwork to send her home was completed. She likes to make a big deal about it. When it was a lot better than being bounced around from unit to unit-"
"At least then I could go outside." Mara argued, "Besides how would you know? It's not like you ever where at RHU."
A groan escaped Easton as he pinched the bridge of his nose. He was in for it now. Mara wasn't one to let go things, dealing with her past in the army. Hence the depressed state she as stuck in after being sent home, that promoted them to take her camping. Though Easton suppose Mara probably would have healed faster, if their father wasn't such an asshole. "Either way, RHU has nothing to do with you being put on bed rest." Easton pointed out.
She waved her hand carelessly at him. "Save it, Easton. I've already heard this speech from Daryl."
"And she didn't listen then." Daryl gruffed.
"I did too. I just didn't take it into consideration." Mara replied, truthfully.
Daryl shot her an annoyed look, while Easton gave her an exasperated one. Rick on the other hand though gave her a small smile. The sheriff seemed like the only man, who seemed not desperate to keep her on bed rest. "Well maybe you should start, unless you want to be stuck here longer." Easton suggested.
"I hate to say it, but I agree with Jolly Green right here." Daryl muttered, surprising Easton. He was the last person Easton expected to argue with him. Not after Daryl threatened to knock his block off, last time they met. However….Easton thought, watching the way Daryl looked at Mara…his prejudice may have only counted on things that did not involve Mara's well-fare.
"That's just fine and dandy. What about you, Officer Friendly? You going to gang up on me too?" Mara teased, the smiling man.
Rick looked down at the ground. Instantly the smile on Mara's face dropped. However Daryl and Easton's were just beginning. Poor Mara, it looks like no one was her ally. "Aww…come on! You too? I thought you were my best friend, Rick." Mara cried.
"I am, Mara. Which is why I think you should get some rest." Rick said, all humor dropping from his voice. His blue eyes filled with worry just as Daryl's had moments ago. A sigh escaped Mara as she ran a hand through her hair. Was her not staying in bed really that big of a deal to everyone? She honestly figured no one-minus Easton, would care. There were other more pressing issues than whether or not she recovered. Such as searching for Sophia. The poor girl had been lost for three days now.
"Fine. Alright. You, guys, win. I lose. I'll go bed to bed. Tomorrow though, I request to at least be able to sit in the living room. That way I won't want to tear out my hair." Mara reasoned. It wasn't like the walk from the bedroom to the living room would kill her. Plus it would definitely keep her from feeling so restless.
Rick nodded, turning toward her brother. "Sounds reasonable to me. However it's your call, you know best."
"Just the living room? I think I can accept that." Easton said warily. He didn't believe his sister. Not after he spent all day trying to get her to stay in one spot. Hell, Easton actually had to resort to jabbing her sides a few times. Once he even was forced to put Mara in a headlock. Yet none of that seem to stop her. So why should Easton believe her now? What made this promise different from the rest? Different from the promise to stay put, while he got her book?
Silently he observed his sister react, take in how she reacted to the men around her. A smile graced her face, when Rick mentioned something. Then her eyes lit up as Daryl made some sort of snide comment. It was the happiest Easton had seen her in months. She was practically glowed, interacting them. Something annoyed Easton as much as it made him happy. Bryon, Zane and him tried everything they could to get her back to being like this. The family camping trip was their last resort. Yet there she not crying, not hating herself, not dismayed in a world where people died left and right. It was rather….fucked up to say the least.
"I'm gonna head out and double check the trails one more time. You do as told and get back to bed, Lil'bit. No arguing." Daryl announced suddenly.
Easton snapped out of his daze just in time to see the redneck leave. Next to him, Mara waved good-bye like an anxious school girl. Her smile now a full wide grin. "Be careful out there, Dare-bear! Don't want you ending up beside me!" she called out.
A distant cry of 'don't call me that, woman,' was heard, causing Rick and Mara to laugh. Easton forced a small grin onto his face, replaying Mara's words. 'Don't want you ending up beside me,' huh? How ironic it was. Tomorrow Andrea would accidentally shoot an injured Daryl, thus landing him right where Mara was. An event which Easton was a hundred percent sure his sister had no clue about. She knew all the main facts, but Daryl getting shot was a minor one. Even to a super fan like Zane.
"Hey Jolly Green, you got my book?" Mara asked, hitting his chest.
He blanched upon hearing his new 'nickname.' Great now she was calling him that. Meaning it would forever be a permanent thing….at least it wasn't Dare-Bear. That seemed a thousand times worse. "Don't call me that." He repeated Daryl's words, handing over the book.
"Not going to happen." Mara replied, thumbing through the pages. Absentmindedly she wandered back to the bed, sitting down at the edge of it. Her attention solely focused on the book now. One of the few traits Easton and her shared.
Rick gave him a weary glance, reminding Easton suddenly why the officer came back with him. Giving him a brief nod, Easton turned towards the door. He gave his sister one last glance, before walking out completely. She still had her head buried in the book, but Rick was just moments away from interrupting her.
Letting out a small huff, Easton shut the door. Carefully he leaned up against it, pressing his ear to the white wood. While heading back to the house, Easton had run into Rick, who at the time looked mighty conflicted. Most likely due his talk with Hershel about the group staying on the farm. Or at least that's what Easton speculated. Whatever the reason, the two exchange pleasantries, until Rick mentioned wanting to speak with Mara….alone.
Now Easton had no idea for sure, why Rick wanted to talk to Mara. But if it had anything to do with his talk with Hershel, then things were certainly worse than he thought. In the episode Rick confided in no one-not Shane nor Lori. He merely sat next to his son, contemplating his options. While that obviously wasn't going to happen, seeing how Mara took Carl's spot. It didn't mean that Rick had any reason to confide with her. Unless the dynamics of the two's relationship was closer than Easton alleged.
His hand gripped the white paint harder at the thought. Mara smiling. Mara laughing. Mara giving in so easily. What if that was all, because of Rick?
Back inside the room, Mara stared at the white door of the white room. She tried to ignore the slight scrapping noise coming through it. Twenty-two years of living with three brothers taught her a few things about them. For example, when Easton spied on her, he did it the old fashion way-pressing his ear to her door. Unfortunately he always tended to grip the wood of it, causing those scrapping noises. Whereas Zane liked to plant bugs everywhere; though all she had to do was make some outrageous comment about him, and Zane would come running in claiming to hear it from next door. Thus Zane's tell. Bryon was the only one of her brothers that didn't have a tell. Mainly, because Bryon didn't spy on her. If he wanted to know something, he demanded the truth straight upfront.
Still…Mara thought, closing her book…Easton doesn't spy, unless he is nervous about something.
But what? What could possibly make the most level-headed of her brothers nervous? "We need to talk." Rick said, suddenly.
Instantly Mara shifted her attention towards the man. Her dark eyes meeting his light ones in a serious wordless conversation. She closed her book, resting it down beside her. "About what?" she inquired calmly.
For a second Rick looked hesitant. He shifted his weight awkwardly, while running a hand over his face. All the signs of him not knowing how to go about something. "A lot of things." He admitted. "Starting with how long you've known about all of us being infected?"
She blinked, trying to recall just how he knew about her knowing. Luckily Rick could read her, just as well as she could him. "You woke up at one point, before your operation. You begged me to put you down, when you did….because you didn't want to become a walker. Said you knew what Jenner had told me back at the CDC."
"If that's the case, then you already know the answer, Rick. I've known since the moment I got the vision. Though admittedly I wasn't a hundred percent positive about what he actually whispered to you. After all, I also died in that vision." Mara replied, coolly.
"But you didn't." Rick stated, as if trying to reassure himself of the fact.
"I didn't. Thanks to Daryl, that is."
His hand ran over his face again. This wasn't how Rick expected their talk to go. The woman had saved his son's life-had done so much for him without asking for anything in return. She quickly became one of his closest friends in a matter of days. And while Rick had no doubted, that he could trust Mara…there was something he had to prepare himself for.
Hershel promised to consider letting the group stay. However Rick wasn't going to fool himself into believing Hershel would just let them stay. It was only Rick's pleas to be given a few days to find Sophia that granted the group some time. Not much, but hopefully enough for Hershel to have a change of heart. Otherwise only one of them would be allowed to remain. "I spoke with Hershel today. He wants us off the farm. Said we could have a few days to search for Sophia, but that's all." Rick spoke, breaking the silence.
Mara peeked at him curiously through her dark lashes. "Alright. So how much longer do we have to convince him to let us stay?"
"That's the thing, Mara. The rest of us, have approximately a week. You, however, have choice…since you're Easton's sister, Hershel is willing to accept you into his home. Whether you stay or not is your choice…" he looked down, swallowing hard. "Whatever you choose, I want you to know that we won't blame if you stay. Easton's family, I wouldn't expect you to separate him for people, you meet a week ago."
"If that's the case…" Mara looked away, her cheeks turning red with shame. "then, I will leave, when you leave."
Rick stared at her shocked. All words left him as he took in the sight of the dark haired woman. Inside him a silent battle rage as well. Part of him-the moral side argued to convince her to stay. It was better for her after all. The farm was ten times safer than the road. Moreover, it was unfair to ask her to choose them over Easton. While the part burst with relief. As terrible as it was, Rick had no idea what he'd do without her. Especially since nowadays she was the only thing seeming to keep him together. Not Lori or Shane-Carl kept him running, but it was Mara with her stupid cracks and reassurance that kept him glued. If she left, Rick didn't know how long it would be until the darkness to over him.
"Good." Rick nodded, walking to the door. He had to get out of there, before he did something he regretted. Like kiss her again.
Special thanks to Shiki-Seishou, Padme4000, shika93, Azrael Blood, animagirl, Guest, Anon, M, Emily, ChasingWolves, Aryiaa Bloodream, Diclonious57, Grayson's Gal, Hell Hath No, dropxdeadxjuliet, 18, 1MoreInMe1, Mya Uzo, CastielDeservesAnImpala, KaneCenaZombie12, liontaming, eseifert44, Dark-Hunter1992, PanPreistess, .flower1, , Dean Winchester's Play Thing, Elex Black, taurielle, and candyish12345 for reviwing last chapter. I am sorry for not responding to your comments, but I am extremely tired and I have school tomorrow. I'll reply next time, but anyone who really wants to talk can PM me, I always like making new friends.
