His mother was dead.
She had been smoking and drinking in bed for as long as he could remember and his greatest fear was her accidentally setting the bed on fire after she had fallen asleep.
He had been out riding bikes with his friends, even though he didn't have a bike, and they had chased the firetrucks after they had heard the sirens.
He was surprised to see the house that was on fire was his and he looked at the people standing around, watching the firemen putting the fire out.
"Damn," one of his friends said.
"Ok, Boys. Back up," the police officer said, waving with his hands for them to move back.
"But that's his house," one of his friends said as he pointed at him.
"What is your name, Son?" the police officer said, but he didn't say anything.
"Hey, Daryl, are you ok?" one of his friends asked.
"His name is "Daryl?""
"Yeah."
"Daryl, do you know if anyone was in the house?" the police officer said as he locked eyes with him.
"Mom," was all eight-year-old Daryl Dixon could say as he watched the flames.
"Your mom's in there?"
"Up there," he said, pointing to the bedroom window on the right.
"We have someone in the house! Right upstairs bedroom!" the police officer shouted to the firemen and the firemen headed for the house.
A short time later, Daryl watched as they removed the remains of his mother from the house as a beat-up, rusty Ford stopped at the curb across the street and his father, Will Dixon, exited the car.
"What the hell?!" Will shouted as he walked toward the house, but he was stopped by a police officer. "Get yer hands off of me!"
"I'm sorry, Sir, but you can't go over there," the police officer said.
"That's my house!"
"Oh," the police officer said then he looked at Daryl. "Is that your son?"
Will looked at Daryl while anger built up inside of him and he grinded his teeth.
"Yeah. That's my son," Will said. The police officer walked over to Daryl when he gently placed his right hand on Daryl's leftt shoulder, but he didn't miss the flinch before Daryl looked up at him.
"Your dad's here," the police officer said as he saw the frightened look in Daryl's eyes.
"Get over here, Boy," Will demanded and Daryl reluctantly walked to him. Will looked down at his son when Will went down on his knees and Daryl lowered his head. Will looked at the people gathered around them as the thought of getting arrested for smacking Daryl around moved through his head and he gave Daryl a sympathetic look. "It's ok, Son. It's gonna be ok."
"No, it's not. Mom's dead," Daryl said in a soft voice.
"Yeah, she is,"
The police officer noticed Daryl flinching again when Will pulled him into a hug and Will cupped the back of Daryl's head with his right hand.
"Why weren't you with yer ma?" Will whispered in Daryl's left ear.
"She told me t'go out an' play," Daryl whispered.
"I am gonna beat th'shit outta you once they're gone."
Daryl tried to pull away from his father, but Will held onto him and the police officer walked to them.
"Is he ok?" the police officer asked.
"He's just upset, Officer," Will said with a sly grin.
"Are you gonna thrash Daryl, Mister Dixon?" one of Daryl's friends asked. Daryl knew his friends had seen Will beat him on several occasions and the police officer arched an eyebrow.
"Are you?" the police officer asked as he made a small nod toward his partner. The other police officer walked to him while Will stood and he held on tightly to Daryl's shoulders.
"No, I ain't gonna thrash him," Will said, glaring at the police officers.
"Then let him go," the other police officer said. Will noticed one of the police officers' right hand was hovering over the holster on their belt and he let go of Daryl. "Come here, Daryl."
Daryl slowly walked to the police officer as Daryl looked up at him and Will glared at the police officers.
"I think we need to finish this at the station," the first police officer said.
"Are you fuckin' kiddin'!? You're arrestin' me!?" Will demanded.
"No. We just want to talk."
"Fuck this."
Will turned to walk away while the police officer reached out to stop him and Will spun around.
"Touch me an' I'll sue you fer police brutality," Will said through clenched teeth and the police officer backed away. Will looked at Daryl when he nodded his head and Daryl walked to him. Will placed his right hand on Daryl's left shoulder as they walked away and the police officers looked at each other.
Two years later
Lost.
He had been lost in the woods for nine days.
No one came to look for him.
Merle was in the army.
Will was out on a bender with a waitress.
He had gotten bored and decided to go for a walk in the woods.
Will and Merle had taught him how to survive in the woods and he did admit he was good at tracking.
But he was so angry about being left alone…again…that he wasn't paying attention.
When he finally returned to the house, he opened the back door, walked in the kitchen and made himself a sandwich.
His ass itched from using poison oak to wipe it and he had a hard time spreading the ointment on his ass.
Two days later
"Daryl, are you alright?" his friend Mark's mother asked after she had seen him slid his hand down the back of his jeans to scratch his ass for the tenth time.
"Yeah," Daryl said with a nod and he removed his hand from his jeans. He saw the blood under his fingernails as he sighed and she walked to him.
"Let me see."
"No! I'm fine!" he shouted while Will walked closer and Will looked at Mark's mother.
"What th'fuck is goin' on!? Why is he screaming!?" Will demanded. He could see the spots of blood forming on the back of Daryl's jeans as he sighed then rolled his eyes. "What did you do?"
"Nothin'," Daryl said.
Mark's mother walked around him to look at the back of his jeans and her eyes widened.
"You're bleeding!" she said and Will glared at Daryl.
"How did that happen?" Will asked.
"Dunno," Daryl said.
"You need to take him to the hospital," Mark's mother said. Growling and rolling his eyes, Will nodded and they walked away.
Green Meadow Hospital
Daryl sat on the examination bed as he pulled the blanket up then he looked at the ceiling. The nurse had placed on some surgical gloves before she placed him in a hospital gown, examined him and he had seen the look in her eyes.
She knew.
The nurse had left a few minutes later while Will complained about wasting his time and Daryl could just see out into the hallway. He suddenly noticed two police officers walking with the nurse as she pointed to his examination room and he glanced at Will.
"Dad?" Daryl said and Will looked at him.
"What?" Will asked.
"The cops are here."
"Shit."
Will picked up Daryl's clothes and sneakers and he tossed the clothes and sneakers at Daryl while he looked toward the doorway.
"Get dressed," Will said as the nurse and the police officers walked in the room and they looked at him.
"Going somewhere?" the police officer asked. He remembered meeting Will and Daryl two years before and he gave Daryl a small smile. "Hello, Daryl. Do you remember me?"
"No," Daryl said, shaking his head.
"Why did you call the cops?!" Will demanded as he looked at the nurse.
"Mister Dixon, I need you to calm down," the police officer said.
"Fuck that!"
"Daryl," the other police officer said and Daryl looked at her. "How did you hurt your bottom?"
"Don't you say a word!"
"Mister, Dixon…," the first police officer warned and Will growled, sitting on the chair.
"Daryl, it's alright. You can tell me," the other police officer said as the nurse moved the privacy curtain around the examination bed and Daryl sighed.
"I… I scratched it," Daryl said with a small tremble to his voice.
"Looks like you scratched it until it bled."
"It was really itchy."
"Why?"
"I… I got poison oak on it."
"How did you do that?"
"You better shut it, Boy! They ain't got no right talkin' t'you without a lawyer present!" Will shouted.
"He isn't under arrest."
"I demand a lawyer!"
"Fine," the first police officer said. Will followed the first police officer out of the examination room while Daryl bent his legs up placed his right cheek against his right knee and he scratched his bottom.
Hours later, Daryl sat under the blankets as he looked at the plastic hospital bracelet and he tilted his head to one side. They had taken him up to one of the rooms in the Pediatrics Ward, but he had no idea where his father was. The door opened as a man in a doctor's coat, a dark suit, a white shirt and dark shoes followed the police officer into the room and the doctor smiled at him.
"Hello, Daryl," the man said.
"Who're you?" Daryl asked.
"I am Doctor Hendricks."
"Where's my dad?"
"He's downstairs."
Suddenly, the door opened while a tall man with dark hair and eyes walked in the room and he wore a dark suit, a white shirt, a dark tie and black, hard leather shoes.
"Is this the boy?" the man asked, looking at Daryl.
"Yes, this is Daryl Dixon," Hendricks said.
"Who the fuck are you?" Daryl asked.
"I'm Brian Tanner," Brian said.
"What do you want?"
"I'm here so you can talk with Doctor Hendricks."
"You're a lawyer?"
"Yes," he said with a nod.
Hendricks noticed the fear in Daryl's eyes. He had seen that look in children who have been abused and he felt anger boiling in the pit of his stomach. Hendricks walked to the bed as he leaned the palms of his hands on the mattress and Daryl moved to the other side of the bed. Hendricks saw the fear in Daryl's eyes as Hendricks moved back and sighed.
"Daryl, there is no reason to be afraid. We just need to know what happened," Hendricks explained.
"I ain't afraid," Daryl said, glaring at him.
"Then tell us."
"I scratched my ass too hard."
"Yes, you did. And it became infected because you scratched it so hard. But we need to know how you got poison oak."
"That ain't any of your damn business."
Hendricks knew Daryl was shutting down as Hendricks sighed and Daryl glared at him.
"You wanted to tell the nurse."
"Doctor, he doesn't…," Brian said.
"Where is he?! Where's my fuckin' kid?!" came from the hallway as the police officer walked to the door, opened the door and he looked out into the hallway.
"Dad!" Daryl shouted.
The police officer moved back while Will stormed into the room and he looked at Brian and Hendricks.
"What the fuck's goin' on?!" Will demanded while he walked to the bed,
"We're just talking to…," Brian said then he paused after the cold look Will gave him.
"You ain't doin' shit!" Will said as he moved the covers back and he pulled Daryl off the bed,
"Mister Dixon…," Hendricks said.
"Shut it," he said then he looked at Daryl. "Get yer shit and get dressed."
"We had to burn his clothes."
"You what?!"
"They were filthy and covered in blood and poison oak."
"You had no right doin' that!"
Will grabbed onto Daryl's right shoulder as he pushed Daryl toward the door, but the police officer refused to move out of the way.
"Move it," Will growled.
"Mister Dixon, if you would please calm down. We just need to find out what happened," Brian said.
"He got poison oak on his ass then he scratched the shit outta it! That's what happened! Now, get the hell outta my way!"
"What about his back?" Hendricks asked. He had seen the report about the bruising on Daryl's back and he saw the anger in Will's eyes.
"There ain't nothin' wrong with his back!"
"Do you know how he bruised it?"
"He's a kid. They're always hurtin' themselves."
"He is also under-weight for someone in his age group."
"What the fuck does that mean?"
"It means he isn't eating enough."
"He eats."
"When was the last time he had any food?"
"I don't remember."
"You…don't remember?" Brian asked with a confused look on his face.
"Look. You have no right accusin' me of anythin'. So, get outta my way," Will said, looking at Hendricks. Hendricks looked at the police officer as he nodded his head and the police officer moved out of the way. Will slammed open the door as he nearly dragged Daryl out of the room and Hendricks sighed.
A short time later, Will slammed open the front door as he shoved Daryl ahead of him while they walked in the living room and Daryl turned to look at him. He knew the look of rage in his father's eyes as he slowly backed up and Will stormed toward him.
He didn't remember much after that.
He remembered the pain from the impacts of Will's fists.
He remembered blacking out.
He barely remembered hearing voices.
Someone touching him up.
Someone picked him up.
Someone put him down on something soft and there was a beeping sound.
Then the world went black again.
Green Meadow Hospital
Daryl could barely open his eyes as the room came into view, but it was blurry.
He was lying on his back and he felt like he was floating.
A soft beeping sound came from somewhere and the air smelt funny.
He could hear muffled voices coming from somewhere, but he couldn't make out what they were saying
All he wanted was Merle.
But Merle didn't care about him.
His father didn't care about him.
No one cared about him.
He was nothing.
Nobody.
If he died, no one would even notice.
He heard a noise as he closed his eyes and he heard footsteps coming closer.
"Oh my God."
"I told you."
"Who called it in?"
"One of the neighbors. He heard him screaming, ran into the house, pulled his father off him then called 911."
"I'm amazed he's still alive. Have the police found his father yet?"
"No. They're still looking."
The darkness claimed Daryl as he went back to sleep, but he didn't dream.
Daryl didn't know how long he was sleeping as he opened his eyes and the room came into view. He blinked his eyes as the ceiling became clearer and he looked around with his eyes. He looked at the clear plastic bag hanging off the metal pole to his left and he wondered what was inside it. The air smelt funny as he breathed in through his nose and he kept hearing a soft beeping sound. He closed his eyes after he heard a noise and footsteps came closer.
"Are you sure about this?"
"Yes. It's either this or he starves to death."
"At least he won't feel anything."
Daryl felt someone gently tilting his head back when something was slid up his left nostril and he whimpered.
"Wait. Did you hear that?"
"Daryl, can you hear me?"
Daryl whimpered while tears rolled down his cheeks and his lips parted.
"Leave.… Leave me...be," Daryl said in a soft, sad voice.
"I will if you open your eyes."
Daryl half-opened his eyes as Hendrick's face came into view and Hendrick smiled.
"Hello," Hendricks said.
"Hello," Daryl said with tears in his eyes. Hendricks used a tissue to wipe Daryl's eyes and Daryl moaned.
"Easy. You're going to be alright."
"Where's…my dad?"
"We don't know."
"Where's…Merle?"
"We don't know."
"Don't… Don't let…him hurt…me."
"Your dad?"
"Yeah."
"I assure you no one is going to hurt you."
"It's…my fault."
"No. No, it's not your fault."
"No one…cares."
"That isn't true. There are a lot of people who care about you."
"I'm…nothin'."
"No, you're not."
"Yeah, I…am. If I wasn't…then he…would have…looked for…me."
"What are you talking about?"
"My ass. The poison…oak. I got lost…in the woods. No one…looked for…me."
"How long were you lost in the woods?"
"Nine days. Lived on…berries and…grubs. Water…from streams."
"My God."
"Got home. Made a…sandwich. He…was…there. He didn't…even notice…I was…gone."
"Where was he while you were lost in the woods?"
"He was…on a bender…with some…waitress."
Daryl started feeling sleepy as he closed his eyes and he didn't really feel Hendricks softly carding his hair.
Weeks later, Daryl was sitting up in bed while he read the comic books one of his friends brought him and he glanced over at the get-well cards and balloons. His teacher had come to the hospital with homework so he would fall behind and he had become friends with the police officers standing outside his door, the nurses and some of the kids in the other rooms. One of the mothers had brought him some pajamas so he didn't have to wear the hospital gown and another mother had brought him some cookies.
The door opening made he look up as a woman with blonde hair pulled up into a bun walked in the room with the police officer and the police officer closed the door. She was wearing a tan suit jacket, a white blouse, a tan skirt and black shoes and she held a bag of children's clothing in her hands. She looked at the healing bruises on his face and arms and she could just see the scabbed over cut on his lower lip and over his right eyebrow.
"Hello, Daryl," she said. She stopped near the bed as she sat on the chair and she placed the bag of children's clothing on her lap.
"Who're you?" he grumbled the he went back to reading the comic book.
"I am Amber Carter. I'm from Children's Services."
"What do you want?"
"I'm here to talk."
"About what?"
"About what happened to you."
"We ain't got nothin' to talk about."
"Daryl, I know you feel…."
"You ain't got any idea how I feel."
"Believe me when I say I do."
"Stop bullshittin' me."
"Fine," Amber sighed as she sat up a little straighter. "Daryl, do you want to go home?"
"Yeah."
"Do you feel safe there?"
"Yeah."
"Even when your father beats you?"
"He only does that because I'm garbage."
"Who told you that?"
"He did. My mother said it, too."
"What about Merle?"
Amber was startled by the cold look Daryl gave her then he looked back at the comic book.
"Don't be sayin' shit about my brother. He ain't done nothin' wrong," Daryl said.
"Has he ever stopped your father or mother from hurting you?"
"He doesn't know."
"How can he not know?"
"He just doesn't."
"Have they ever hurt him?"
"Yeah, but Merle's tough. He can take it."
"What is going on in here?" Hendricks asked while he walked in the room and he glared at Amber.
"I was just talking with him," Amber explained.
"And you are?"
"I am Amber Carter. I'm from Children's Services."
"I heard someone was coming from Children's Services today. Why did you come in here without me being present?"
"I don't normally need to have the doctor present."
"Did you see the police officer at the door? He is there for a reason."
"Yes, and that is why I am here. We found a home for him."
"I already have a home," Daryl said.
"We know that. But it's not safe for you to stay there."
Daryl's mind replayed the hazy conversations he heard as he sighed and he tossed the comic book onto the bed.
"Can I stay here until Merle gets back? Once he's outta the Army, he'll let me stay with him," Daryl said.
"Do you know when that is?"
"Nope."
"Then you'll have to go to this new place."
"Fer how long?"
"It depends on how long it will take for the police to find your father."
"What if they don't?"
"Then, hopefully, the family you're going to live with will adopt you."
"What if they don't want me?"
"Why do you think that?"
"I told you. I'm garbage. No one wants me," he said. Amber saw the tears in Daryl's eyes as he bent his knees up and he placed his forehead against his knees. He wrapped his arms around his head as Amber looked at Hendricks and Hendricks arched an eyebrow. Amber walked to the bed while Daryl sniffed and she reached over to take the tissue box off the small table next to the bed. She tapped the box against Daryl's left hip as he looked at the box and he removed two tissues from the box. He used the tissues to wipe his eyes then he used them to blow his nose and he looked at her.
"It's going to be alright," she said with a sympathetic look. He looked at the bag of children's clothing then at her and he sighed.
"Can we…? Can we go home so I can get my stuff?" Daryl asked. She was shocked with how small his voice sounded as she nodded and he reached out his right hand for the bag of children's clothing.
After Daryl was dressed, Amber led him to the door when he looked back at Hendricks and Hendricks walked to stand in front of the door.
"What are you doing?" Amber asked.
"I know I should have asked this earlier, but I need to see your identification," Hendricks said, crossing his arms over his chest.
"I showed it to him," she said as she pointed to the police officer. Hendricks didn't move as she sighed, opened her purse and removed her identification. She handed him her identification as he looked at the card then he walked to the table near the bed. He picked up the receiver as he pushed the buttons to get an outside line, pushed the buttons to dial the phone number and he looked at Amber. He spoke with someone while he described Amber, gave her identification number then he placed the receiver back on the phone. Hendricks walked back to her, gave her back her identification and Daryl looked at him.
"I guess this is goodbye," he said and Daryl sighed.
"Yeah," Daryl said with a nod. Amber opened the door as they left the room and Daryl slowly walked behind her. He wondered what this new family was like as he stuffed his hands into his jeans pockets and he frowned, lowering his head.