This chapter has some talk of child abuse, nothing graphic just a fair warning.
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When Jameson wakes up her eyelids feel like sandpaper. They are puffy and sore. Daryl is still wrapped around her and his even breathing ghosts along her neck. She rolls over, placing her forehead underneath his chin. She feels his hum, a deep vibration through his chest. "Mornin'" he says huskily. She places a kiss to the middle of his chest, "Morin' Snookums." Daryl shakes with a laugh and squeezes her tightly.
"No." he says while shaking his head.
"CuddleWuddlebug?"
"No,"
"Honey Bunny?"
"Please No."
"Sweetie Pie?"
"Stop."
"Sweetcheeks?"
"Please stop now."
"Pffft. You're no fun."
"Ain't no teenage girl. Need a manly nickname."
"Like Bubba?"
Daryl snorts and says, "God. Stop woman."
"Dummy it is I guess." She smiles, kissing his chin.
While shaking his head he smirks, kisses her nose and then her mouth. His tongue is stroking hers gently, twisting slowly. Jameson shifts against him, moaning at feeling him hard against her stomach. Daryl's hand tightens against her waist and then it slides up her side stopping at her ribs, his thumb grazing the side of her breast. They kiss deeply for a moment when Daryl pulls back slightly.
"We should stop," he says quietly his thumb brushing back and forth on her ribs. Jameson wants to tell him not to. She wants to say she's fine but after breaking down the day before she's actually scared to fuck this up also. Pulling back slightly she nods once, chewing the inside of her cheek trying to subdue her guilt. She feels like a fuck up and wants to beat herself over the head.
"Hey," he says tilting her head up. "It's ok. I'll wait forever for ya. Never gonna make ya do somethin' ya ain't ready for." He leans forward kissing her lips gently while cupping her face. Jameson leans into his palm, enjoying the intimate touch.
"Thank you," she whispers against the rough skin of his palm.
He shakes his head and says, "Nothin ta thank me for. S'what a man does for his ol' lady." His lips quirk up slightly.
Jameson rolls her eyes. Daryl still struggles with the ooey-gooey parts of a relationship and usually deflects conversations about feelings with humor.
"Ol' lady huh?" she says smirking. Daryl gives her a cheeky grin and nods.
Jameson traces his lip with her thumb and can't not say it, "Love you Daryl."
She feels the weight of the words in her chest but it's a pleasant weight. Daryl's eyes soften while the hand on her cheek tightens slightly, pulling her closer. He kisses her deeply and when he pulls back his lips brush hers while he sighs, "Love ya darlin'"
A few days later Daryl and Jack are taking a hunting trip. They're travelling farther than they have before to hunt. The game around town has thinned and they are making more trips into outlying areas to find food.
"You sure you're ok if I go?" Daryl asks Jameson while packing his bag. "I'll be fine. I got some patrol hours and some time on the tower. I'm going to avoid dealing with idiots as much as possible. I prefer dead people right now, less judgy." Jameson tells him while sharpening his knife. Once she finishes it she hands it over. Daryl takes it from her and checks the edge over. "Don' trust me?" she asks with a smirk.
"Naw just admirin' your honin' skills," Daryl replies with a grin.
"Try not to murder my brother." Jameson says standing up.
"I'll try but ain't promisin' nothin'"Daryl smirks and pulls her into a hug. Jameson tilts her head and they kiss sweetly and slow.
They walk to the north gate where Jack is stowing his pack in a truck. Jameson watches as he pulls Carol into a tight hug, kissing the top of her head. She can't hear them speak but watches the small smiles and crinkled eyes.
'Love birds' she thinks to herself. Once they've pulled away Daryl and Jameson approach.
"Jack you be good and listen to your father," Jameson says in a mom voice.
Daryl shakes his head and says, "I'd drown this one if he was mine."
"Ya right Pops. Couldn't if ya tried." Jacks quips walking to Jameson and pulling her into a hug, lifting her off the ground.
"Keep each other safe," Jameson says quietly. "Want ya both home soon."
Jack squeezes her and says, "We'll be back soon. Take care and don't let 'em get ya down Jamesie." Jack is tired of the townies looking at Jameson like she's an rabid wild animal running loose.
Jameson nods and smiles. She likes that she has her brother back. It has been too long since she had the familial support. Some of the worst parts of Jameson's life were when they were all gone and she was left with her father. Without the emotional backup she had floundered. Jack doesn't even know the extent of crazy shit that she dealt with when sentenced to live with her father. It used to make Jameson laugh that because of her parole he was her personal probation officer, the person responsible for helping her live a stabile and law abiding life. Instead of a half way house she got him and the judge thought he was doing her a favor.
"Will do Jackie. Love ya." Jameson tells her brother then turns to Daryl. "I'll see you soon."
Daryl smiles and pulls her to him, throwing caution to the wind and kisses her firmly in front of an audience. Jameson can vaguely hear chuckles in the background but she's consumed with the feeling of her man's mouth. Feeling him pour his heart into her. It is Daryl's form of screaming 'I Love This Woman' from the mountaintops. Jameson grips his shirt and pulls away when she starts to get dizzy. She gasps a little and looks into his stormy eyes. He leans down kissing her softly once and quirks his lips. "See ya soon darlin'" he says gruffly, turning away and climbing into the truck.
Carol pats her on the shoulder and walks home, leaving her to watch them leave. As Jameson watches them shut the gates she has a rare feeling of loneliness. Being a solitary person has made her less likely to crave people or the relationships that go with them. Now that she has a man who is devoted to her and a family both adoptive and blood, standing there on the still darkened street feels like she was the last woman standing. Her heart instantly clenched and she had to force herself to stay rooted and not run after their truck. Taking a deep breath she wanders back home hoping being with her adoptive family will quell the heartache she feels.
Jameson can no longer walk down the street without blatant stares and whispering voices. In order to avoid it she is picking up shift in the clock tower and exterior patrols. She is walking her way to the exit gate to start her patrols when she passes a group of women chatting. They instantly quiet as she passes and within moments after she hears them whispering about her.
"Murderer." … "lets her stay here?"…. "She's probably planning on killing us all."
Without a beat and without turning around she loudly says, "I would have done it already if I wanted to."
Not waiting for a response she arrives at the gate. Now watched with two armed guards on the ground and a spotter on top, their security defenses are remarkably improved. They hand Jameson a walkie and open the gate.
"Be safe," John tells her as she passes through. Nodding in response she exits the safety of the walls to protect what is inside. The irony of the situation isn't lost on her. The people inside don't trust her while inside but trust her out there to keep them safe. The hypocrisy of it makes Jameson's gut turn sour. She doesn't necessarily care what they think about her but she feels that all of the blood, sweat and tears she's suffered at the expense of their safety, should be enough to award her at the very least respect as a human being.
With a sigh she begins her duties. Once outside and in the woods Jameson feels calm. Her mind focuses on her surroundings. Picking up the quiet nuances of the forest around her, she's transported to the time she was the only person she had to worry about. However it was also the time that she didn't have anyone caring if she got eaten or murdered. It is a double-edged sword, one side she now has people to care but also worry about and on the other she was just another walking dead girl, barely a blip on the radar of humanity. Now she knew that it was better to care and be cared for. She wouldn't change it for the world.
Daryl and Jack are driving a few hours away from town. They have a map of more forest preserve lands and are going to find bigger game. Daryl is trying to block out Jack's incessant chatter but it's difficult. It brings him back to a time when T-Dog was still around. He recalls the man constantly talking and driving Daryl up the wall. It was a long time ago and the feeling of loss is making his gut roil. He misses the people they have lost along the way.
Daryl begins listening when he hears Jack taking about Jameson. "She was sneaking back in after seeing some guy. Climbing up the lattice in the back of the house. It had all these thorny roses. She was climbing up past my bedroom window. I'm getting it on with my girl and see this thing fall past my window and land on the ground. At first I thought it was some peeping tom or some shit. I grab my baseball bat and open the window getting ready to take some fucker's head off and there's Jameson laying on her back drunk, giggling like a lunatic. Her shirt was all torn and she had scratches on her face. I just stared for a moment until I started laughing. The girl I was banging came over pissed at me leaving her hangin'. She stomps out of the house and I pull Jameson in through the window. The lattice and broken and pulled all the way off the house. Johnnie was so pissed because the Major was gonna be back the next day so Jameson and I spent the day nailing the shit back to the house. From then on she'd sneak into my bedroom and climb out the ground floor window. She was so clumsy growin up." He finishes chuckling and laying his head back against the headrest thinking about his sister as a dumb kid.
Daryl smirks slightly and thinks about what he doesn't know about her that Jack could divulge. " 'member you said shit was worse than she'd tol' me? Like what?" Daryl asked, chewing his cheek feeling guilty about snooping.
"Hmm I think the worst parts for her were the mind games he played. She can take a punch like champ but the mind fuckery he liked to do was what got to her. Used to tell her she was why our mom died. Said she got her cancer back because she had another kid. Constant put downs, telling her she was stupid 'n stuff. Liked to control her every fuckin' move. He didn't care who we were talking to but I saw the stupid notebooks she had to write in. Every single aspect of her day laid out for him. She was debriefed every night he was there. It was insane" Jack tells Daryl while picking at a hole in his jeans.
After a few moments he says, "He used to starve her as punishment, sleep deprivation. I'd sneak her food, let her sleep while I watched for him. He stood her in corners for days. I'd come home after a bender and find her practically sleeping standing up, head against the corner. She'd get a bruise on her forehead from it." Jack says his voice cracking. Daryl watches him out of the corner of his eye. "I was a shit brother to her. I should've been there and did more but I was just trying to escape. I was a big pussy and scared of the fucker. Any time I tried the belt would come out." Jack says, bitterly.
Daryl nods and chews his lip. "My brother Merle did the same thing. Escaped. Left me with my pa."
Jack clenches his eyes feeling guilt and says, "I'm glad she found ya."
Daryl feels awkward about talking about feelings but replies stiffly, "Me too."
He doesn't look at Jack, keeping his eyes on the road focusing on the upcoming task. He needs to get his head on straight after hearing such horrible details of the childhood of the woman he loves. He can't imagine what kind of monster would do that type of shit to her. He wishes he could find the fucker and kill him.
After hiding their truck the two start hiking further into the forest. Jack moves quietly just like Daryl and his sister. Growing up hunting and then becoming a marine he has developed extensive stealth skills. Despite his size he moves effortlessly.
They find tracks of a large buck and follow it for a few miles. Only needing to kill a handful of walkers the area is a good hunting spot, undisturbed by the undead predators. Daryl notices there has been a heavy rain within the last day or two. The forest floor is soggy and sticky with mud. Jack nods as he notices the same thing. They both will adjust their steps to factor in the change in traction.
They've finally come upon the large buck after tracking it for three hours. They will need to work fast to get the animal killed, field dressed and quartered for easier transport back to the truck. They will get back late but it's possible to do it in one day. Daryl takes the shot but the buck doesn't go down instantly, taking off into the forest. The men track it for another twenty minutes before they find it finally dead of its wound. Daryl hates when his shot doesn't kill the animal quickly. Suffering is not something he wants to cause any living creature, well unless they deserve it.
The pair works quickly. They knew the scent of blood would attract the dead and want to avoid loosing their much-needed protein. They get the animal field dressed and quartered. They have large plastic tarps to pack the meat up, fitting them into their packs. The loads are heavy but both men are more than capable of handling the weight as long as they don't need to fight.
Passing by a clearing they notice a few walkers roaming. They move quickly past and continue on their way. After another couple minutes Daryl notices more walkers and signals Jack to alter their path. They need to avoid them as much as possible since their movements are hindered by the giant packs.
Jack sees them first, a group of at least fifty walkers approaching them on their new path. Daryl can see past them and can make out even more following them.
"Fuck," he hisses quietly. They glance at each other and start to book it in the opposite direction, staying low and hidden for as long as possible. They can hear the walkers speeding up, following the sounds the men crashing through the forest. All stealth ability is abandoned for the sake of speed. Daryl and Jack burst through a forest line and are faced with the cliff side of a large gully. They look at each other, both calculating the next step to escape the herd following them. Time is running out and the sound of shuffling feet breaking through forest is getting louder by the second. Jack pulls his pack off, "Gonna have to sacrifice it, man." He yanks the ties on his pack, letting their fresh kill fall to the ground. Daryl growls loudly but does the same thing, grabbing his essentials again, shoving them hard in the sack .Running along the cliffs edge they hope the fresh meat gives them time to escape the majority of the herd.
Having rounded the entire ravine they can make out the walkers eating the large kill. Some have fallen over the edge of the cliff, rolling down the steep cliff to the rocky bottom.
"Fuckin bastards. Ain't gonna find another one now. Scared off all the game off," Daryl growls loudly, throwing his bag down in anger.
Jack rolls his shoulders; equal parts pissed off and tired. Taking a rest to drink and eat they begin the long walk back to the truck. They will need to camp and try a new spot the next morning.
"Which place you wanna go to next?" Jack asks as they trudge through the muddier side of the gully. They have moved a few feet away from the edge having seen parts of the earth giving way because of the excess moisture."We'll go further north, past the back of that herd," Daryl tells him, stepping over a log.
They continue to hike when one moment Jack is talking about a mission in Afghanistan and the next his footing gives way to a mudslide. Daryl grabs his arm at the last minute while holding onto a tree trunk. Jack is lying against muddy ground, trying to get purchase of a hand or foothold. The clumps of earth crumble away from him.
"Grrrrrfuck. Come man grab sumpthin'" Daryl growls as his grip begins slipping.
"Can'..nothing. Fuck…fuck," Jack stammers as the earth around him keeps sliding away. Finding a deep, sturdy root he holds on for dear life. They both work to pull each other up but everything they hold onto slides away underneath them. They both let out a yelp of surprise and a plethora of curse words.
They slide and tumble along rough earth, slamming into dirt covered boulders and tree stumps. Daryl is still holding onto Jack's arm, both men frozen in a panic. Just as they are approaching the end of their fall onto the jagged rocks below Daryl slams his side into a deep-rooted tree. His body acts as an anchor for Jack who grips onto another root. The hit to Daryl's ribs has winded him and he loses consciousness for a split second. His now broken ribs cause him to yell out in pain but his hand holds strong.
Jack begins scrambling up and finally finding stable footing. He can tell Daryl is seriously injured and he needs to stop his extra weight from pulling on the man further.
"Hold on Dixon," Jack says, crawling careful toward the moaning man.
Reaching him, he rolls Daryl unto his back, bracing him against the tree. They both pant loudly, trying to get their bearings.
"They broken?" Jack asks, watching Daryl grip his side. Daryl only nods because speaking and breathing is too painful. Jack looks up and sees they are more than half way down. If they walk diagonally they may be able to get to the ground below without slamming into the rocks below.
"Gonna have to go down before we can go up. The gully looks like it follows a river bed. Can ya walk?" Jack asks Daryl as he looks for the best path for them.
"Gonna have ta," Daryl says through clenched teeth. "I fuckin' hate ravines. Shits gettin' old."
Jack chuckles and asks, "This ain't your first rodeo huh?"
Daryl shakes his head and adds, "At least I'm not impaled on my bolts like last time." Daryl smirks a little and says, '"Well le's go."
Jack stands and figures out the path he wants to take. They toss their packs to the ground below to lessen their weight. Taking their steps carefully they use roots to maneuver without falling. Jack balances Daryl when he begins to slip and after what seems like a long hike down they put their feet on solid ground. Daryl sits on a large boulder, taking short rapid gasps. He hasn't had broken ribs in so long he's forgotten what a bitch they are.
Jack pulls out his first aid kit and says, "Take your shirt off, gonna wrap ya."
Daryl cringes because Jack is now going to see his back. Daryl doesn't want to trade dickhead father stories.
He slowly unbuttons it and shrugs it off as best as he can. Jack helps him sit up straightener and begins wrapping his ribs tightly to keep him from moving them and to ease the trouble he's having breathing. Jack pause for a second when he sees Daryl's back but he doesn't comment. He knew Daryl had a similar upbringing, anyone can see that, but seeing the scars on his back was like looking in a mirror. They both had the deep-knotted scar tissue as permanent reminders of what formed them into the men they are today. He realizes it's just another reason Daryl and Jameson were made for each other.
"K, feel better?" Jack asks, stuffing his first aid supplies away. Daryl nods and says, "Thanks." He was thanking him for not only fixing him up but also not asking about his scars.
"Let's walk that way, see if there's a less 'fall to your death path'." Jack tells him, helping him to his feet. After a few steps Daryl figures out how he can walk with the least amount of pain. Once they find the most acceptable route they talk about their next move. Night will be falling soon and Daryl needs to rest. Staying in the gully overnight might be the best way to avoid walkers. They hadn't seen any in the areas they walked so far and the ones that fell earlier in the day all died on impact. To err on the side of caution they choose the safety of the ravine over the unknown land above them.
Jack gets Daryl settled and fed. They clean the scraps and cuts from their fall and Daryl takes two pain pills, quickly passing out. Jack decides to stay on watch all night in order to allow Daryl to rest fully. His pain is going to slow him down enough in the morning; he'll need the extra energy to keep himself going.
Darnit Daryl needs to avoid those ravines! Cliffhanger? Sorta but no worries the next chapter will fill you in!
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