Ch.42
Rick finally convinced Hershel to let us stay in the house because it's starting to get colder. I'm gonna have to thank Hershel later, and Rick. At least he's not turning us away.
I walk up to check on Daryl at the barn. "Hey, Mr. Handyman." I say hollering up to him. He hollers back down at me laughing at the nickname. "Feeling thirsty? Why don't you take a break." I show him the bottle of water I grabbed on the way.
Daryl climbs down quickly and takes the bottle I offered. "Thanks, babe." he says kissing my forehead. "Come here." he pulls me into himself. "Eww. You're sweaty." I laugh at him. "Well, I've been working." he smiles at me.
Daryl tries to give me another hug and I back up giggling. He smirks at me as he backs me up against the barn. "Don't tell me that doesn't turn you on." he grins kissing my neck.
"I don't know. I guess you do have that musky smell. Mr. Dixon, are you trying to seduce me?" I smirk at my teasing question. We grin at each other as he pulls in closer to my face.
We're about to kiss when we hear Randall call out to us from inside the barn. "Um, guys? Hello? Can I get some water?" the boy asks making us grumble at ruining the mood.
"Mother F..." Daryl growls storming into the barn and I follow behind him. "Dude. What the hell? We were having a moment." I scold Randall for his impecable timing.
"Sorry. You seem like a nice lady. Other than that first time when you held my balls at knife-point. But anyways, can I get some water? Please?" Randall pleads staring in my general direction. I stare at Daryl for an answer, then turn the corner to dip out some water for him.
"Here." I say tilting Randall's chin up to catch the dripping water. "Mhm. Thanks. Hey, you smell nice. Like citrus." he says sniffing the air once again. "Easy, buddy. Even though I'm being nice to you now doesn't mean I like you. You got that." I huff standing up quickly.
Daryl looks pissed now. Like he wants to punch the boy for commenting about me. "I'll get back to work." Daryl glares at Randall. "Okay. Later, babe." I emphasize the word 'babe'. I kiss Daryl's cheek in front of the kid, then walk out.
I'm unloading our stuff inside the house while Daryl talks to Rick about something. After everything is organized, I walk back outside for some fresh air. I lean on the banister with Rick beside me.
I notice the gun laying on the edge of the railing, then look over at Rick. "Shouldn't you put that away." I ask Rick gesturing toward the gun. "It's not mine. Shane handed it to me." he says looking into the distance.
"Who's is it then?" I ask confused. "Daryl's. Can you give it back to him?" Rick asks serious. "Wait. Didn't you just say Shane had it? Why would he have it?" I ask him trying to ponder the answer to my own question.
"He said that Carl took it from his bike. So can you give it back since you're closest to him?" Rick stares into my face waiting for me to say okay. "No. Not my problem. It's yours now. Your son stole it and you have to make it right. Either you give it back to him yourself or make Carl do it. I'm not taking the blame if he gets upset. I'll back you up, but Carl is your responsibility." I say crossing my arms and glaring at Rick.
I let out a sigh after listening to myself. "Look. I'm sorry, but he has to learn. I'm tired of people coming to me to do their bidding. Just because I'm his girlfriend doesn't mean I'm gonna do everybody's work where it concerns him. He is his own person. I don't control him. He is a human being capable of feelings." I pause for a breath.
"Yes, I love you guys to death, but I'd like to take it easy every once in a while. You know, instead of everyone coming to me with their problems. Besides, if Daryl's gonna be your right hand man, you need to learn to talk to him about important decisions." I say quietly trying to explain to Rick.
"I understand. I'll go talk to him in a bit." Rick says dejected. "Hey, you deserve a break sometimes, too. Remember that." I faintly smile at him to ease the tension between us. "Thank you." he says returning my smile and nodding.
I help do little chores around the house. As I'm pounding on the wall, I notice Shane walk out to the barn. I thought Shane wasn't allowed near Randall. I tell Beth and Jimmy that I'll be right back and follow Shane quietly.
I sneak against the barn wall listening in on Shane. "He better not do anything stupid." I criticize in my head as I peak through the cracks. He sounds quite pissed as he slaps his hands around.
I squint for a closer look, then hear a gun cock. "Oh, no. Shane, you idiot." I mentally say. See this is the reason why we don't let him near hostages. My eyes go wide thinking he might actually kill the kid. Rick said not to kill him, and that he's gonna set him loose another time.
"Don't do it, Shane. Don't do it." I plead with him in my head. I let out a sigh of relief as I hear him step away. Then all of a sudden he starts yelling at Randall and telling him to move. He better not be taking Randall somewhere to shoot him.
"Do you really wanna try me, man? Huh? Get up. Get your ass up! We're moving." Shane yells picking Randall up by his shirt. I don't dare step in his way. I don't want to end up the one shot.
I quickly run around the corner eying the direction they walk off in. I quickly run back to the house, and run up to Daryl. T-dog and Daryl are standing by the truck messing with their guns.
"What were you doing over there? I thought you were in the house." T looks at me confused. Then his expression changes at my sudden worry. I pant catching my breath before I speak.
"Guys, Shane took Randall." I pant pointing toward the fields. "What do you mean he took Randall? Where?" Daryl waits for an explanation. "Exactly what I mean. Shane took Randall with him out to the woods. I don't know what he has planned, but it can't be good." I say at last.
"Oh, hell, no." T-dog exclaims running to check the barn. He hollers for me to get Rick and I do as he asks. We're by the truck discussing what to do when Shane runs out of the woods without Randall.
Shane shouts for Rick spewing some nonsense about Randall. He must have done it. The kid's dead isn't he? Blood is streaming down his face. I really don't like the way things have turned out with him.
"What happened?" Lori shouts getting Shane's attention. "He's armed! He's got my gun!" he shouts trudging toward us. I don't believe him one bit. He goes on about Randall supposedly beating him up.
Shane has to be making things up. How can a punk ass kid like Randall take down a professionally trained cop. It just doesn't make any sense. The kid doesn't seem like the type who could beat up someone easily. He seems kinda like a wimp.
"You can't believe him. He's making it up." I run up to Rick protesting. "You think he did this on purpose?" he asks gesturing at Shane's bleeding nose. I look at Shane's bloody face as he comes closer.
"Yeah. Do you really think I would beat myself up for shits and giggles? Come on!" Shane shouts spitting blood in my face. I wipe the spray of blood from my cheeks before swinging my fist at him. Shane dodges easily.
"You're lying! I saw you take him out of the barn in binds. He didn't seem like he wanted to kill you at all. He looked scared. You, on the other hand, look like you want to kill everyone. Including people you say you care about." I say throwing my fist up again.
Shane catches my fist and swings his other hand up around my neck. I struggle as he squeezes harder choking me. "Hey! Enough!" Daryl runs up to him trying to pull him off me.
Everyone is shouting now. All saying to let me go before Shane kills me. I struggle with his tightening grip around my windpipe. "You won't get away with this." I wheeze before kicking him in the groin. He lets go briefly to cup his aching genitals.
I catch myself before stumbling backwards coughing. Lori and Carol lead me away from Shane as they hug me. "You okay?" They both ask me repeatedly. I don't have enough air to answer them properly.
I finally nod at them as I glare at Shane for a long time. I hope Daryl beats him up. "Come on, honey. Let's go in the house. You can rest in there. I won't let Shane touch you again." Lori leads me up the stairs and into the house.
