A/N: Just wanted to say that insomnia is an amazing writing tool! :] Hope ya'll enjoy! Reviews would be fantastical!

Chapter 36: Daryl

Daryl listened to the stories, but mostly because they were about Hannah. He watched her eyes sparkle at the recollection of the past as she laughed happily. Daryl noticed that Cooper was sweating profusely now. Hannah gave Cooper a quick look and shook her head slightly, like she was pushing something from her head. She stood, leaning slightly as the booze took hold of her. She headed towards the tent, with Daryl and his brother not far behind. If she would listen to anyone, it would be them.

"He's not right, firecracker." Merle said first. Hannah spun, clearly surprised at the tender weight of his words.

"What? The hell ya talkin' 'bout boy?" She snapped like a dog on the end of it's leash.

"There's just…somethin' off with him, Hannah. He doesn't seem…like he should." Daryl tried to convince her to open her eyes. Love, or maybe it was desperation clouded her eyes and her judgment on this. If it had been anyone else, she would have been the first one to notice something was up. But she was oblivious, clinging hopelessly to this shred of her old life.

"Do any of us seem like we should? You don't know him, either of ya. I just…need this, alright. I need some sort of memory of how shit used to be. I just can't sit here, wonderin' if we're all just waitin' ta die one way or another." She said, the exhaustion seeping from her words. He wanted to shake her out of this, they were all tired, and they were all scared, but he sure as hell wasn't gonna let her give up, not that easily. She sipped from the bottle as the gears in her head were spinning. A look of recognition flashed across her face.

"Oh my fuckin' god." Her quickness startled Daryl and he jumped up after her as she ran up to Cooper.

"When? When did it happen? How long ago Cooper!" She said viciously, grabbing him up. He looked around fearfully at the group. Something was up and Daryl needed to know what it was. The group tensed as pressure took over, hazing the air.

"I-I don't know what you'r-" He stuttered. Her eyes were welling as she let go of him.

"When! Coop. Please, don't make me do this." Her voice was trembling now.

"What the hell is going on?" Shane sauntered up, hand on his gun like he was John fuckin' Wayne. Hannah looked at Cooper with hatred and sadness. It felt like centuries before her words were spoken.

"He's fuckin' bit…." She whispered, dropping to her knees as the tears overtook her. Daryl had grabbed him before he had a chance to do anything as Merle lifted up his shirt. The bite was just below his heart and from the looks of it, he'd had it for a few hours. He was turning, and soon.

"I'm fine! It's okay. Hannah, I'm alright." He pleaded to her. Daryl was seething now, the anger fuming in his body like poison. Merle put a hand on his shoulder as he watched his brother's temper flair.

"Why the hell didn't you say something Cooper? You could have killed us all!" Hannah yelled at him from the ground. She was devastated and it was breaking Daryl's heart to watch. He wanted more then anything to bring back that gorgeous smile he'd seen only minutes before.

"Hannah, I'm..I'm sorry. I didn't know you were here. I just…I didn't want to die alone!" His voice was filled with a terror none of them would ever know. Daryl heaved him away as he went to put a hand on her shoulder, forcing himself not to beat the fucker's head in right there. Who the hell did he think he was, not even fuckin' telling them he was bit!

"Don't you fuckin' touch her!" He rumbled at him. Hannah's eyes were malicious as she turned to him. This wasn't his fight and he knew it. But he couldn't help himself. He loved her and the last thing he wanted was her to get bit. He didn't know if he could live with himself if that happened.

"Stop, Daryl. Stop it right the fuck now, or I'll kill ya myself, I swear to fuckin' God." Merle pulled him back gently by his arm.

"Ain't yer place, baby brother. She'll need you more after it's done." His brother whispered to him. Daryl had never felt more powerless in his life. He looked around at the group and noticed the kids weren't there. The rest of the camp was in total shock at the situation. They were glancing around at each other, completely taken aback by this whole thing. Cooper was wheezing now, his face sallow, even in the flickering firelight. It wouldn't be long now. He wondered if Hannah would have the strength to pull the trigger once again.

"Hannah Mae. Please, I don't want to die with you angry at me." He pleaded gently to her and her face was soft as she looked at the man.

"Coop…don't do this to me. Not you too. I just got you back and now you're leavin' too. Just like them…" She was whimpering as she put a hand to his cheek.

"I'm sorry darlin'. I didn't…I didn't know. I love you Hannah Mae. I've loved you like you were my own all yer life. Ya know that, right?" His vision was fading as his body shut down. She cradled him in her lap as the tears slipped down her cheeks. She smiled softly as she looked at him. This wasn't her first time greeting death and for just a fleeting second, it looked like she was greeting an old friend.

"I know, Coop. I know. Since the day I was born. I love you. Shhh. 'S alright now. Just close yer eyes. I'll be right here, till the end, I swear." She cooed quietly to the man, rocking him as she hummed. She stroked his hair and Rick bent down and handed her a pistol with a silencer. They couldn't afford a loud gunshot, not after the walkers the other day. He shuddered violently on his last breath and then his body was still. The hush was overwhelming as they all waited anxiously. Hannah seemed like she was a million miles away. He wanted so badly to do something, anything for her right now. This ain't fuckin' fair at all. Then again, life isn't fair. He knew that life or fate or whatever the hell you wanted to call it, was a cunt. He'd learned early on that if it was too good to be true, it probably was. Now was no exception. The only thing that Daryl could do for her was be there, no matter what. A hiss escaped him and Hannah's focus returned to her surrogate uncle's face. She smiled wistfully at him as he tried to bite her.

"Sorry, my friend." She said quietly as she put him down. She threw the gun and stood, lighting a smoke with shaky hands.

"Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! When will this fucking END?" She cried in frustration, her eyes ripping away from the man she'd once considered family. She looked at all of them, her face glistening from her tears. Guilt was written all over her and Daryl hadn't expected that.

"I'm so sorry. I didn't…I didn't think to check for bites. I just assumed he'd…he'd tell me." She bawled at them. Daryl wrapped her in his arms, not really sure what to say. The hell did she feel bad about? Ain't her fault. No one knew!

"That's right, you assumed. You nearly killed us all!" Shane hissed angrily. Daryl couldn't believe he was doing this, not right now, not after all that. Shane was a prick and Daryl wanted to beat it out of him.

"Shane, that's enough. Let the woman grieve for Christ's sake." Andrea said softly from behind Rick.

"Let her grieve? How about you starting thinking about this, people. It don't matter who the fuck he was…he-was-bitten. Ya know what that means? That means he turns into a fucking walker and then we're all fucked." Shane pressed on.

"You best shut yer fuckin' mouth there, Dumbo. Ya heard what blondie said, let the lady fuckin' grieve. We ain't fuckin' animals." Merle said heatedly next to him. Hannah had pulled apart from Daryl and put a hand on Merle's chest as he stepped forward.

"No….No, he's right" She said as she wiped her eyes. "Shane's right. It was my fault. I should have looked and I didn't. But you fuckin' think about this, Shane. I didn't see you lookin' the fuck either." She said, pushing a finger furiously into Shane's chest before storming towards the tent.

"Well, let's get this body at least behind the RV for now. We'll deal with this in the morning before we head out. Let's just all get some sleep, it's been a long night for everyone." Rick said as he and Shane pulled Cooper's body behind the RV and Daryl knew the thud he heard was a promise he wouldn't be moving anytime soon. Daryl carefully approached the tent, Merle quietly by his side. Hannah was staring into space, sipping from a bottle she'd most likely found on the ground. She drank angrily from the bottle and he knew she was struggling not to cry. He wordlessly threw his arms around her as she exploded. He could feel her hot tears soaking his shirt, but he didn't care. Merle watched silently, his eyes were kind and Daryl wished that everyone could see this side of his brother more often. Hannah sat up, wiping her nose on her arm and shaking her head.

"No. Ain't no use in cryin' and feelin' sorry for myself. It's done and I can't change that." She talked as if they weren't even there. Hannah was doing the only thing she knew how. Surviving. If you didn't push it all away, it would kill you. And Daryl knew first hand. It was easier to get drunk and forget the world and he had a feeling that's exactly what she would do.