The Walking Dead: Hearts Collide Chapter 28

The sun refused not to rise early in the morning on this day. The cramped up space of the backseat of a car teased up Emma Townsdale's back and legs. However, her head rested comfortably on the chest of Daryl Dixon. His eyes were opened and watching the young woman as a hand stroked her dark brown hair. Their eyes held a love that neither would express yet. The connection between them was obvious even if a stranger had been seeing the two for the first time in their life. Emma smiled brushing her hand along his cheek feeling the facial hair starting to grow along his jawline. How had the two been lucky enough to find each other during the end of the world? Before Emma had stumbled upon Rick she had no interest in falling in love or even having a romance with anyone. The idea had never crossed her mind even though she saw many at the beginning of the outbreak. Daryl had promised himself and his older brother Merle that he would never let someone through his barriers. That showed weakness and being weak led to dying. Dying soon then led to coming back as the undead if your brain was still intact. Merle, the grump would kill Daryl with his own hands for letting someone become so close to him. Emma knew Daryl better than he knew himself. He could not admit that. Emma knew it was true but acted as if she did not. The two were perfect for each other. Everyone knew that for a fact.

"Mornin'" Daryl greeted kissing her softly on the forehead.

"I hate this car." Emma sighed against him.

"We didn't die. New guy must be smarter then we thought." Daryl noted.

"Good. But that's not enough for me to trust him. He still has to earn that. Besides, I know nothing can happen to me as long as I'm with you." Emma assured setting her face directly in front of his. Their eyes gazed into each others stirring emotions of love, lust, trust, and commitment within them.

"I lo-" Daryl started as the stray thought found its way out of his mouth. He did not get to finish the statement as the car door flew open. T-Dog stood their sweating and with a look of panic.

"What's wrong?" Daryl asked stepping out of the vehicle gripping his crossbow.

"Is everyone okay?" Emma asked at the same time exiting the car.

"It's Amy. She's gone."

"Gone? What the hell ya mean?" Daryl questioned rising a brow. This man was a part of Shane's misfits. How exactly could he be trusted?

"Dale woke up and found a note she left behind. She went back to the farm to find Andrea!" T explained with wide eyes.

"Dammit, of course she did." Emma scoffed shaking her head. "She needed to know if Andrea was alive."

"The rest of the group knows?" Daryl asked.

"Think so, Dale already told Rick. The two are discussing what to do in the RV."

"Discussing? We have to go make sure she's okay."

"Might be too risky. There were enough walkers to drive us away last time. Could be even more there now and one person ain't gonna be able to defend their self against that many." Emma looked at Daryl with an annoyed face. He was right but she still wanted to go back to find Amy. Maybe Andrea was alive. But right now all that mattered was getting Amy since she was confirmed to be living and is a part of this group.

"Fine. Where's the new guy?" Emma changed topics.

"Out in the woods with Carol and Carl."

"Are you fucking serious?" Daryl hissed. "You let a kid and a woman who can hardly fend for herself in the woods with some guy we just barely met?"

"Don't worry! Carol has her knife and Carl wouldn't stop pointing his gun at the guy. I think they can handle themselves."

"Let me guess, Derek as the rifle?" Emma asked closing her eyes.

"Uh…yeah." T squinted his eyes feeling like an idiot. "Shit."

"Lets go make sure he doesn't pull anything." Emma insisted. "Which way did they go?"

"Straight through here." T pointed to his right. "Left about ten minutes ago. Shouldn't be that far in yet."

"You can kill someone and run far enough away in just ten minutes T-Dog." Emma spat heading off in the assigned direction.


"I don't blame Amy for leaving." Hershel spoke tying a knot of rope. "If one of you three had been left behind I would have left the second I knew."

"Daddy, there's four of us." Beth reminded her father. He looked up at his youngest daughter with sad eyes. Yeah, he knew that. His eyes then took in Jimmy standing beside her as he looked at his feet.

"Like I said, the three of ya." Hershel repeated.

"Don't sugarcoat it Hershel. You hate me." Jimmy said.

"I'm not hiding it if you know, am I?"

"Daddy-" Beth tried.

"No Beth, he tried killing our own." Patricia stepped in. "He should be glad it wasn't him that was killed at the farm. No, be happy that you're here right now boy. Some of us ain't. Otis ain't. Duane ain't. Morgan ain't. Jim ain't. You better start trying to earn some trust back from someone else cause you sure ain't getting it from any of us." Jimmy stared in shock at the woman's words. For as long as he knew her she never snapped. Was he that bad of a person to make the people who called family hate him?

"I'm gonna see if anyone needs help with anything."

"Smart idea." Hershel thought out loud.

"Jimmy, don't. Stay here." Beth urged.

"Nah, I'm good. I should check up on Dale, see how he's taking Amy's leave." He turned on his heels and slowly walked away with hands in pockets and his cowboy hat shielding his eyes as tears threatened to spill.

"Did you two really have to be that rude?" Beth demanded to know. "He made a mistake, so? We all do."

"Our mistakes weren't trying to kill someone." Maggie butted in. "He's not the boy you fell in love with anymore Beth. He changed and for the worst."

"Don't you start with me too, Maggie." Beth begged. "You have to be on my side."

"I'm taking my own side. I'm doing whatever it takes to keep the group safe as much as I can without going against Rick."

"That's not fair!" Beth cried storming off.

"Want me to make sure she's okay?" Patricia asked.

"No, let her be." Hershel answered. "She's got to have time to herself. Hopefully then she'll see we're right."

"I still can't believe he tried killing two people. Not just two out of random, two that could easily kill him in that moment." Maggie said flabbergasted. Jimmy and Beth had been together for some time and she knew for a fact the boy was not stupid.

"What if he has a point? I mean, Andrea tried killing Daryl too, right?" Patricia curiously said taking a seat on the dirt ground.

"Did we go back for her?" Hershel asked. That shut Patricia up. Ah, so that was why no one wanted to go back. Rick would just lie saying that the walkers were too dangerous.

"I think we should go back for Amy." Maggie spoke up. "She never did anything wrong. Sure, she joined that group of bastards but only for Andrea's sake. The love for your sister makes you do crazy things." She looked off in the way Beth had taken off to. The blonde was not in sight.

"Well, if you ask me I think we leave her. If she makes it back then good for her but if she doesn't its her own fault." Patricia growled looking up towards the clear blue sky.

"The day has barely started and so much tension has already sparked up." Glenn said sitting down beside his girlfriend. "Is Beth okay? I saw her run off after Jimmy."

"Where'd Jimmy go?" Hershel stopped the tying of the string he was making into fishing net.

"Towards the woods."

"He said he was going to check on Dale." Maggie stood.

"Dale's in the RV with Rick."

"Dammit!" Maggie grunted sprinting off in the way she had seen Beth go.


"I'm telling you kid, I'm trustworthy." Derek pleaded as he walked beside Carol.

"I'm not letting my guard down for a second." Carl hissed with his gun aimed at the stranger's head from the back. "Make any sudden movements and I blow your head off."

"Is he for real?" Derek asked.

"Yep, and he'll kill you faster then you could rise that rifle and point it at me." Carol smiled.

"If you guys don't trust me then why ask me to hunt?"

"You wanted to carry your weight around here and no one likes this job. Plus, the two of us are watching you."

"So you don't trust me but I can carry a rifle?"

"Like I said, you're being watched by us."

"Cute, a little boy and his mommy."

"I'm not his mother."

"Oh, so you don't have kids."

"Shut up!" Carl ordered.

"Its fine Carl, thank you." Carol nodded inhaling. "My daughter is missing."

"She's dead." Derek spat.

"We don't know that. She ran away from some walkers and we never found her." Carl stated.

"So you're ignoring the fact that she's dead?" Derek asked.

"We don't know if she is dead." Carol spoke.

"How long ago was this?"

"About two months ago maybe?" Carl answered.

"My sister and the others went missing about two weeks ago and I've come to my senses knowing their dead."

"How could you even think like that?"

"Because I went around the area that they were in and couldn't find a sign that they escaped the herd of cannibals that swept pass my camp. Those kids were teenagers!" Derek yelled.

"Watch your temper." Carl said poking him in the back with the gun.

"You don't think I can take down a kid and a female?" Derek questioned stopping.

"Don't forget us." A voice growled behind the trio. From the trees emerged Emma and Daryl.

"What are you guys doing here?" Carl asked.

"We heard this bastard was out here with a rifle. We just wanted to add some backup in case anything happens." Emma answered pulling her handgun out.

"I'm not going to kill anyone." Derek groaned clearly annoyed. He looked back to Carol continuing his pace.

"I'm not stupid enough to end up like Amy. She's probably dying right now."

"Wow, you really have a dark side, don't ya?" Daryl pointed out loading his crossbow. Walkers could be anywhere or hunt no one notices. Being a skilled hunter, he should have been asked to do this task.

"I'm a realist buddy."

"I'm not your buddy."

"Fine, whatever." Derek scowled rolling his neck making the cracking of bones sound.

"I don't trust him Daryl." Emma whispered.

"I won't let anything happen to you Emma." Daryl assured with a nod of his head. Derek overheard the two chatting with each other. Daryl, and Emma? Why did those names ring a bell? He never knew anyone by those names. Then suddenly the memory flashed before him.

"Daryl…and Emma…" Derek came to realization. These two fuckers had brought the swarm to his camp. He turned around knocking Carl to the ground by and shoulder blocking Carol into a tree. Emma raised her handgun firing before being yanked by the hair and held hostage.

"Let her go." Daryl demanded aiming his bolt at Derek's head.

"You two are the reason Addison is dead!" Derek hollered.

"We don't even know who that is." Emma croaked as Derek squeezed her throat in the fold of his arm.

"Shut the fuck up you bitch. She was my sister!" Carol overheard the yell as her hearing rushed in. The tree had made her blackout. She caught sight of Carl on the ground unconscious.

"What does that have to do with us?" Daryl asked.

"You two were there when half of my group died at during that fucking herd of fucking cannibals!"

"What the fucks are you-"

"The fucking teenagers!" Derek roared.

"The teenagers that were killed in the herd." Carol whispered trying to stand.

"You killed them! You fucking killed all of them!" Derek cried taking Emma's handgun and pointing it at Daryl.

"No!" Emma pleaded trying to break from his grip.

"Let her go!" Daryl demanded again knowing he could not take the shot without hurting Emma.

"Derek, we didn't kill your sister or anyone else. We heard screaming that day when we were yards away. The walkers tried killing us to. Does that even make sense, Derek? How could the two of us even bring walkers to you guys?" Emma was struggling with breathing now as each word caused Derek to squeeze tighter. Daryl swore her eyes would pop out soon. She knew what she was doing though by speaking with him. He would have to trust her.

"We almost lost Lori and Carol that day to. Why would we have walkers try killing you guys? We didn't even know they're were other people in the woods with us."

Derek thought this out the best he could for a moment.

"You're right." Derek finally admitted releasing Emma. She fell to the ground coughing up a storm as her lungs inhaled air. Daryl ran to her side comforting her as instinct.

"I'm so sorry." Derek sobbed burring his face in his palms. Carol was able to get on her feet and stand. Daryl turned around glaring at Derek. He would always protect Emma and eliminate any danger that occurred. He raised his crossbow taking aim for the man's head. His finger touched the trigger not yet pulling it. He exhaled remembering Emma's face as her air was cut off by this asshole. Fire.

"No!" Carol protested standing in front of Daryl's aim as the bolt fired. The bolt hit but not the right target.

"Daryl." Emma gasped seeing what had happened. Carol stood there with her arms up still in order to defend Derek. Daryl's bolt was in her stomach. Blood was pooling around the entry wound already as Carol's eyes closed and she fell to her side.

"You shot her!" Derek cried. He rolled the injured woman onto her back to examine the damage.

"Shit, you might have killed her!"


"Carl's been gone for too long. I heard gunfire." Lori panicked pacing back and forth once again. "I shouldn't have let him go. Every time he or Rick leaves my sight the fear of losing them rises."

"They're hunting. Of course you're going to fire gun shots, Lori." Jacqui assured shaking her head. "He's just a child but he seemed capable of handling himself at the store yesterday."

"Oh, you mean the one that some stranger had to save him from?" Lori sarcastically asked.

"That was not our fault." Jacqui defended. "Those walkers weren't even close enough to grab him. I made sure of that."

"Have either of you ladies seen Beth or Maggie?" Hershel asked from behind them. Lori was still pacing as Jacqui on a large boulder in the middle of their temporary campsite.

"Awhile go when they both ran off into the woods. Why? You think they're in trouble?" Jacqui stood worried.

"Beth's with Jimmy. He lied saying he would check on Dale but took off in the woods with Beth chasing after him. Maggie and Glenn left about an hour ago to find them."

"Emma and Daryl went into the woods to." T-Dog said joining the talk.

"I don't like this. Why are there so many of us in the woods?" Lori asked herself quickening her pacing.

"Help!" Someone screamed from the woods. The four stood full alert taking their guns out and holding them up towards the sound of the voice.

"We need help!" Emma yelled bursting out of the tree line. Following her was Daryl carrying Carl and Derek with Carol.

"What the hell happened?" Lori cried as Daryl lied her son down for Hershel to look over.

"She needs help right away!" Derek yelled placing Carol next to the young boy.

"Is that your bolt?" Jacqui asked shocked by the sight.

"She in the way of me shooting this asshole." Daryl explained shoving Derek to the ground. The rifle was slung over his back. He pulled it around aiming at Daryl once again.

"He knocked Carl out with the rifle after learning our names." Emma whispered to Lori. "He thinks we sent the walkers to kill those teenagers. That was his group. His sister was separated from him during the attack."

"Now Derek, we need you to put that rifle down so we can work on Carl and Carol. I won't do it if I feel my life is threatened." Hershel softly spoke trying to calm the crazing man. What Derek could not see was Patricia sneaking up behind him with a log that was to be used as firewood.

"Now, put the weapon down and no one will get hurt." Hershel concluded reaching his hand out. Derek nodded slowly knowing it was for the best. He pulled the slung over his head and gave it to the older man. He opened his mouth to speak but had no time. Patricia smacked the log against the side of his head knocking him out. He head hit hurt against the bouldering no doubt causing internal damage if the wood had not already.

"Tie him up and put him in the RV." Daryl ordered. "We need someone on watch duty for him."

"You got it." Emma replied moving towards him.

"Not you." Daryl said holding her forearm.

"T and I will handle this." Jacqui offered grabbing Derek's legs. The two carried him towards the RV stopping to knock on the door for entrance. Emma did not wan to see Rick's face once he saw his son. She was to blame for all of this. She should have known better then to let Derek have the rifle and not take it away from it.

"This isn't your fault." Daryl spoke quietly into her ear. "I know you're thinking it is but it isn't. There's no way we could have seen this coming."

"No, we did see this coming that's why we went after them." Emma argued. "This is my fault. I could have fought back when Derek grabbed me. Even before that I should have taken the damn gun away."

"Stop." Daryl boomed. "Do not blame yourself for this." He leaned in close to her to make his point. "Follow me." He said walking away. She did as told following at his feet.

They entered the woods again and walked for a good five minutes putting distance between them and the group. Daryl stopped and collided his lips against Emma's taking in the taste of her. Her smell was intoxicating to him. He pulled away finding the right words to say.

"I failed to keep you safe. You almost died again today and it's my fault. Carol was shot because I wanted to kill that asshole for hurting you. You make me weak and stupid but I don't care because I've never really, truly been happy for one moment in my life. I thought I never would when the world ended either and I accepted that. But then you came along and fucked with my head and made me rethink my old rules of surviving. Now, you're the one person I need in my life. You know that I don't let anyone in but somehow you found a way to get close to me. I've-I've never felt this way for someone before. I never thought of falling asleep and waking up the next morning with the same person in my holds because I want to keep them close. I never thought about wanting to be with someone the entire day just to see her smile or laugh or just to be in her presence. I never thought of considering having kids or keeping a relationship with. That all changed when I met you." Daryl exhaled deeply not once feeling insecure about his feelings. He was finally able to speak the thoughts he so often wondered. Emma smiled with wet eyes. She was truly falling in love with this man.

"You've thought about having kids with me?" Emma asked taking a step forward.

"I've thought of marrying you and starting a life with you." Daryl replied vanishing the distance between them. He brushed a lock of hair off her face leaning close to her.

"I can't bring myself to say those three words yet, but I know I will someday." Daryl assured the girl who had broken his walls he made sure were secure. He held her hands tightly and held them to his heart so she could feel the beat.

"What you feel right there is because of you." He whispered pressing his forehead against hers.

"My smile here if because of you. This life I'm living so strongly for is because of you. Everything is for you, Daryl." Emma commitment right then that she would be patient and wait for the day to come when Daryl said he loved her. The future seemed promising to her already. The incident just under an hour ago had been forgotten already as she lived in this moment right here, right now. Her lips found their way to Daryl's out of habit. The two kissed passionately for what seemed like hours. The kiss expressed their feelings for each other. Words meant so much and actions added on. This moment was perfect.

"Excuse me?" A young female voice coughed. Daryl and Emma broke apart raising their weapons up.

"Whoa, uh sorry for interrupting." The young teen like girl apologized. Her hair was black and wavy hanging down to her breasts. Mud and blood dried in it and splattered across her face like war paint. Her eyes had a look of darkness, death, and hope. Something about her seemed familiar. Like Emma had seen her before.

"You guys just going to stand there or can I have some help here?" She asked pulling a body from the bushed. Another teenage girl with auburn hair was missing an arm.

"She cut it off when the crazy within her took over."

"Her entire arm?" Emma exclaimed in shock.

"You know someone who can help her or not?" The female harshly asked.

"Yeah, if you don't mind being held at gunpoint for the safety of our group." Daryl replied never dropping aim from her forehead.

"Guess not if it saves her life. Besides, I'm a lot stronger than I look. But I'm sure you two are also." She smirked putting her hand out as a greeting. "Name's Addison, Addison Keener." Emma then knew why she looked familiar.

"Derek's sister."