Did you guys enjoy the spooky special? Didn't expect that to drop Halloween day did you?
Making their way back through a mile of dense forest in the dark, lurking with things that shouldn't be moving — much less biting — is not exactly easy.
Daryl's mind however is consumed with only one thing, in this environment where he's actually comfortable; even in the dark.
He's getting Eve to Hershel and getting his hands on Shane.
The four of them move quietly, being cautious, but slow. Too slow.
Rick is still out there with Shane. And if he tried to kill Eve of all people... the Sheriff's deputy very well could be next.
Daryl went back to helping Eve, so Glenn could help Randall.
Of course it isn't because standing even 6 feet in front of the swamp-monster felt too far and pressed all the wrong buttons.
It's so they can pick up the pace.
Eve grunted and Daryl shifted his grip to support her a little more.
When they reached the property line, Eve tapped Daryl's shoulder and pulled back a little.
Daryl was reluctant to let her but she needed to walk on her own. At least up to the house.
A gunshot rang out, shattering the silence over the farm and all four of their heads whipped to the side.
"Do you think that's them?" Glenn asked, trying to lean around Randall's head to look as if he'd be able to magically see the source of alarm.
"Let's get back to the house." Daryl let Eve walk on her own, making sure his crossbow was ready in his hands instead but kept close to her. Closer than normal, and made sure she was in front of him.
Eve took her knife back from Randall without a word or fight. He was all too happy to hand it over to the blade wielder and the four hustled up the property back to the house.
As soon as they reached the porch, Daryl took the steps two at a time and got the door while Eve stood at the bottom, looking out into the darkness; hoping to see something with the aid of the full moon's light but nothing moved. Not even the wind through the trees.
Daryl whistled at her from the top of the steps as Glenn & Randall made it to the top of the steps.
Eve turned around and went to take the stairs fast, like she's used to but as soon as she lifted her foot that plan 86'd itself and she took the stairs slower than normal.
It's easier to breathe now but everything aches. Everything.
There's not one part of her body that does not hate her for everything she's worth. Entirely because of all the things she's put it through over the last two weeks.
After this, no more. She has to let herself heal completely. But not until after this is over. Until after the threat's been eliminated.
"Rick and Shane ain't back? We heard a shot." Daryl asked the moment they filed into the house. Him then Glenn
"Maybe they found Randall." Lori offered.
"We found 'im. He was with Eve." Daryl answered.
Just as she opened her mouth to question why on Earth Randall and Eve would be together, the aforementioned two came in behind Glenn and Daryl.
Randall is a little less inclined to be here; Given his history and standing with most of these people.
While safe to the other 3, it might as well be a lion's den for him. Which is why he's staying behind Eve, as far back as he can get away with.
"Oh my god— what happened? What is going on? What's he doing here!?" The whole room fired off in rapid succession not giving anyone time to answer.
Andrea took aim at him and Eve stepped in front of the kid, pushing him behind her; her palm extending towards Andrea in a signal to calm down.
Nobody's shooting the kid who saved her life. Not today. Nor ever, if Evelyn frickin' Rider has anything to say about it.
"Whoa ey— ey — ey. T's alright. He's good." Glenn moved in front of him too, next to Eve.
The last thing they need is someone getting shot. Especially if Rick's out there with Shane still and that shot wasn't someone being killed.
"What are you talking about he broke out and tried to—"
"I didn't — I swear" Randall defended himself, almost hiding behind the woman in front of him.
"Shane lied." Daryl growled.
"He's telling the truth." Glenn backed them up.
"What? What do you mean he lied?" Lori stood up.
"Wouldn't be the first time." Hershel sighed, unfortunately.
"You best let me take a look at that." the vet motioned at Eve.
She didn't think stepping away from Randall at the moment was a good idea, plus his leg needs looking at again. So she motioned for the kid to follow as she moved to the couch.
Daryl at her side, helping her sit down before she even blinked and Hershel moved her hair, taking a look at the gash on her forehead.
"Will someone please explain what is going on?" Carol tried not to pace but was failing miserably. The entire situation making her so anxious she could only sit still if someone paralyzed her.
"You'll need a couple stitches but it looks worse than it is. You may have a concussion so if you feel nauseous, or dizzy, let me know right away."
"She shouldn't go to sleep then, right?" Andrea asked.
"That's a little bit of a misnomer." Hershel glanced over his shoulder at the blonde. "Depending on the severity of the concussion, you need to be watched for new symptoms but since we don't know what or how much damage there is, it is best if you don't sleep. For now at least."
"I am gonna need you to talk for me, to see if your speech is slurred." Hershel motioned at her, waiting patiently.
Eve opened her mouth but they were not expecting the dangerous, perfectly stable words to leave her lips.
"I won't rest until I finish what he started."
Eve's jaw clenched, a dark aura seeping into the air like black smoke, through fiery eyes; glaring through the wall at something that isn't there.
"He?" T-Dog and Carol questioned simultaneously, glancing at each other after the word left their mouths.
Patricia and Maggie were already bringing over the medical supplies and Hershel started stitching her up right away. Half the room cautiously eyeing the dangerous fist clenched white around the handle of a very sharp blade.
Daryl's anger flared again, watching the old man stick a needle through her skin and at most causing a slow blink from the woman, making her jaw clench a little tighter.
"Shane did this." He growled before he could stop himself. Not that he would have.
The room went silent as if a gunshot had gone off, all eyes turning to Daryl.
The atmosphere almost carbon copy of the morning Glenn told 'em the barn was full'a walkers.
"That guy tried to kill us both." Attention turned to Randall the moment he opened his mouth, but most looked to Eve for confirmation and her expression said it all.
This side of her was almost forgotten in all the weeks since they saw it last. Not having seen it since before they left the quarry — even before Rick came back from the dead.
A needle spearing through her forehead, blood seeping from the open wound down into her eyebrow. And a murderous aura darkening her features, plunging the atmosphere into something hard to breathe; teaming with anxious energy and near panicked confusion. All in fear of what Rider will do the moment she decides to do it.
She isn't even listening — which is all kinds of alarming, because that's what she does. She listens, and acts, but at this moment there's only one thing going through her mind. One thing in her orbit.
Kill him.
Before he kills someone else.
There was a time she respected Shane. But there was also a time she feared the dark.
And those times are long gone.
Lori walked up to Daryl, "Will you please get back out there and find Rick & Shane and find out what on Earth is going on?"
"You got it." Daryl moved to head out again.
"Thank you." As soon as the words left Lori's lips, Eve's cut the atmosphere like a serrated knife.
"I'm coming with you."
"The Hell you are." Daryl snapped but Eve stood up anyway. "You can barely stand on yer own."
Eve's eyes narrowed at him, glaring her partner down as the tension in the room took drastic leaps towards choking the occupants.
Daryl stepped toward her, right in her face, glaring back at her. "Sit ur ass down, you ain't goin' nowhere."
"Watch me." Eve stood her ground. She is going out there and hunting that son of a bridge cave troll, one way or another.
"Sit. Down." Daryl growled, getting so close his nose almost touched hers.
"No" Eve ground through her teeth.
"I ain't gonna tell ya again, sit ur ass down or I'll make ya!" Daryl pointed at the couch, the veins popping in his neck, not even trying to attempt at keeping his voice down.
"Then do it." Eve daunted. "Cause that is the only way you are gonna stop me."
Glenn swallowed hard, staring at the two, glancing around the rest of the room who were all equally as shell shocked.
Not just at hearing Eve talk this much but actually arguing with the one person she spends 90% of her time with. Who seems to know how she thinks even without words; and vice versa.
Daryl's jaw tightened, anger boiling his veins before he growled, "Fine."
"Eve Daryl's righ— wait what?" Glenn looked at the hunter like he just stole a pirate ship and declared himself captain of the squirrel seas.
"But none a this."
Daryl took her knife right out of her hand and put it back in it's sheath before her mouth even opened to snap, and shoved her gun into her open hand; confusing everyone in the room.
Eve's far too good at close combat not to be tempted, but she can't. He won't let her. Not like this.
Guns are loud and risky, she knows that. She won't use it unless she's gotta, which means she's more likely to stay back and let him, rather than risk usin' it.
"Wait— you can't be serious." Andrea moved around the the couch, looking between the two, who didn't even notice the rest of the room is still there.
"You don't get within 20 feet a him. Understand." Daryl held his partner's livid gaze, watching her jaw shift and teeth clenched again.
At least some of the fury is settling to a slow burning flame.
He didn't have to wait, he knows she's accepted the terms, but he continued to stare her down until the woman settled enough to give a visual confirmation; via reluctant nod.
He's gotta be absolutely positive she won't try nothin'.
He knew he was gonna lose this fight from the start. He knows 'er too well. There's no talking her out of this, and if she doesn't go with them, she'll go on 'er own.
At least this way he can keep an eye on 'er. He ain't riskin' losing her out there again.
Pushing a rough sigh through his nose, Daryl finally jerked his head for the two to follow and headed for the door. (The ninja and the pizza boy; only thing missing is reptiles and it'd be perfect for crime fighting)
By the time they're through with Shane, he's gonna wish he'd run head first into a hoard a walkers.
However their plans to find and skin the officer alive, flew out the window like ash, as soon as the few stepped out onto the porch.