I do not own any of the TWD characters.
Steak and Tators
Sure enough - every single Dixon on that Gator was covered in all sorts of foulness. Beth hadn't noticed at first, but Katie Raye was up front with Jacob. Sprawled out in her lap was a gangly newborn calf, looking a bit worse for the wear. Jacob pulled the vehicle up to the front door of what Dan had assumed to be a garage - a very large garage, more like a shop. The garage door automatically opened and Beth took off toward the building. Dan didn't know what else to do but follow.
Daryl jumped off the back of the Gator barking out orders almost immediately. "Micha" he ordered, "call your Uncle Merle - have him come take care of the momma." Micah tried not to let anyone see him wiping the stray tear running down his check. "Yes Sir Daddy" Micah answered."
Next Daryl looked to Jacob. "Run on in, get a bottle going with warm water - grab a pack of that colostrum mix - sure as hell hope we still got some." "Got it" Jacob replied. "Hey Coach!" Jacob gave him the chin jerk as a hello.
This is when Beth went to take the calf from Katie Raye so she could get up. "Beth" Daryl hollered. "That calf's heavier than he looks" Beth ignored Daryl but grasped the calf, hefting it up with a grunt. "Beth - ya gonna mess ya clothes up." Beth however ignored her husband again and ran with the calf into the building. Katie ran ahead of Beth and began rummaging through a cabinet. Once she'd found some old sheets and blankets the girl laid them out where her momma pointed with her foot.
Jacob had enlisted the help of his football coach to get the bag of replacement mix opened and poured into what looked like a huge baby bottle. Jacob talked his coach through the process of adding the hot water and shaking the bottle to get it all mixed up- Jacob couldn't exactly do all that one handed. The bottle was then handed over to Katie Raye who began to coax the newborn calf to nurse.
The entire Dixon clan stood around and held their breath as they waited to see if the calf would take the bottle. When they realized that he would, you could sense the collective relief on everyone's part.
"What happened Daryl?" Beth asked.
"Not sure" Daryl answered as he began stripping out of his clothes - well down to his boxers.
Daryl threw his filthy clothes in the general direction where a line of washers and dryers stood. Coach Miller counted four sets of the appliances - none of them matching, just about all of them were different colors, models and they all looked old as the hills. Next, Micah did the same with his dirty clothes. Dan Miller thought this might be his lucky day if Beth Dixon eventually threw her clothes over there as well.
By the time everyone had hosed off outside before even considering coming into the house to shower, Beth and Coach Miller had put the steaks on to cook. Daryl had asked the man to get them going and then he'd take over just as soon as he was cleaned up. Katie and Micah were the last to make it to the table since they made sure to get the entire bottle of colostrum mix down the newest family member.
With dinner finally complete and the steaks were cooked to perfection, everyone sat down around the table and took the hand of the person on either side of them. Coach Miller wouldn't say he was blindsided by the fact they were going to bless their food, but he was a little surprised when the rough and rowdy Daryl Dixon cleared his throat to begin the evening prayer.
"Dear Heavenly Father, We come to ya this evenin just plum wore out but still grateful. We know we're blessed beyond measure and for that we sure do thank ya. We thank ya for our home, our health, and this meal. Bless my sweet wife for preparin it for us, runnin our home, and raisin our to bless us, guide and direct us - it's in your name we pray. Amen"
A chorus of Amens circulated around the table. Daryl pulled the cork out of an already opened bottle of red wine and poured some into Beth's glass. "Coach?" Daryl asked and tipped the bottle at him.
"Yes, please" Dan agreed.
Daryl filled Dan's glass, and then filled his own wine glass. All the kids were drinking what appeared to be pink lemonade. Everyone had served themselves at the counter of the outdoor kitchen - Dan could have made a meal out of the baked potato itself, but also added some of the broccoli salad. Before heading to the table, Daryl plopped a big ole T Bone onto his plate. A basket of rolls was being passed around the table, Jacob taking three at one time.
"Beth" Daryl looked at his wife. "Did I hear gunshots up here at the house?"
The altercation between two of their farmhands had temporarily left her recollection with all of the other ruckus going on so she sat quietly for a moment. "Oh, yeh" Beth smiled over at Dan. "It was me. We need to have one of the fence posts replaced."
"What? Ya just shootin up shit to be shootin now?" Daryl wondered aloud.
"Something like that" Beth grinned at Coach Miller and he smiled back. "No, just kiddin. Thomas was up here weed eatin, Axel is upset because Thomas, well, I already told you why earlier" Beth glanced over at Katie Raye who was oblivious to the conversation but was busy buttering a roll instead. "Axel came up here and pulled a knife on Thomas and as they say, that's how the fight began." Both Beth and Coach Miller were snickering at the absurdity of it all.
Dan Miller could no longer sit by quietly and not participate in this conversation - he was about to burst. "Annie Oakley here broke up the fight and sent them on their way - at the expense of the fence post." And now, everyone at the table was laughing and Beth was only slightly embarrassed. She shifted her weight from one hip to the other. Daryl noticed and he knew it wasn't because she was embarrassed, her back was already paying the price for lugging that sixty pound calf.
"Sounds 'bout right" Daryl responded, motioning for Beth to pass him the basket of rolls. The man didn't appear to be upset at all, it was as if shit like this took place all the time around here. Dan couldn't get over it, but then he thought, what the hell does it matter - if this is their normal then at least they weren't fucking bored outta their minds like he was. Dan decided at that point that he needed to get a life cause his was just downright pathetic and boring as shit.
After a few moments of silent eating, boy oh boy Dan Miller had never had a steak so good, Daryl asked the twenty thousand dollar question so to speak. "Coach, just what are ya doin here tonight? What is it ya want?"
Dan was speechless for a few seconds, but then gained a bit of composure. "Well, my intent was to drop by and check up on Jacob - see how he's getting along" Dan began.
"And" Daryl prompted.
"Daryl" Beth sighed and folded her napkin. Daryl never took his gaze from Dan, waiting for a response and everyone around the table had put their forks down.
"Well, it's gonna sound awful" the coach said.
"Mmmhmmmm" Daryl agreed.
"Well, uh, I wanted to see how long he was gonna be out" Dan ran all of those words together into one big long word.
"Yeh, that's what I figured" Daryl grumbled. "Look, Jacob ain't gonna be playin football this season - as much as it pains me to say, it just ain't gonna happen. We're just grateful he's alive and hopeful he can get his baseball season in."
"I didn't mean any disrespect Mr. Dixon" Dan fumbled for words, but he knew he needed to make this right. These were good people and he really liked them. "I understand completely. I was wondering, though, would you allow Jacob to be on the sidelines with me during practices and games?"
Daryl looked confused for a second. "What on earth for?"
"To be honest, I don't have a clue as to who I'm gonna put in his place" Dan started to explain. "I got a lot of big, strong players - but there's not a one of them that's ever been accused of being very bright. Mr. Dixon, you know as well as I do, you need somebody with at least some common sense and full knowledge of the ins and outs of the game to quarterback. If I had Jacob on the sidelines with me, at least he could talk em through plays - impart some of his experience and wisdom about the game."
Beth could tell that Daryl was really thinking on this and she remained quiet to allow him to do so.
"Jacob, ya think you'd feel up to practices and games?" his dad asked him. "On the sidelines?" Daryl made sure to clarify.
It was the first glimmer of hope and interest Jacob had experienced in a while. "Yeh, I'm still a part of the team, right Coach?" he asked.
"Of course you are - this season you're gonna be more staff than player" Dan told the boy. "Who knows, you may be the next great Vince Dooley." Everyone smiled, but not nearly as much as Jacob did. Coach Miller sighed, "still don't have any idea who to use in your spot this season - ya got any ideas Jacob?"
"I'll do it" Micah spoke up. They all turned to stare, open mouthed and wide eyed at the middle child. The middle child that had to be forced to play two years of tee ball, then told everyone that he was "retiring from sports". And then he did.
"Micah" Beth spoke first. "You've never played any football. At all."
"I know Mom" Micah answered. "I've watched a lot of football though. And I know how the game is supposed to be played. And I know what makes a good quarterback. I think I can do it. Jacob can help me - I wanta hold Jacob's spot for him till next season."
"Micah, what grade are you going to be in?" Coach Miller asked the younger brother. He'd not even appeared on his radar as a player possibility since the boy had never participated in any school sports.
"I'll be a freshman Sir" Micah answered and sat up a little taller in his chair.
Beth got up from the table to get more lemonade for the kids. Her sharp intake of breath and the apparent hitch in her gait alerted Daryl that she had indeed hurt herself hefting the calf earlier. He tried to tell her. Daryl watched his wife get the lemonade pitcher and return to the table trying to smile and walk normally.
"We've got our first after school practice this Thursday" Dan started. "I like to give the guys a couple days to get acclimated to being back at school. Mr. Dixon, Beth, can ya'll get him in somewhere for a sports physical before Thursday? I can't let him on the field until he has one on file."
Micah looked to his Mom and Dad, begging them with just a look. "Of course we can" Beth said "I'll call first thing in the mornin and try to get him in tomorrow afternoon." As an afterthought she added, "That is if Daryl okays it" Beth looked to her husband. "You think this is a good idea?"
Daryl smiled, "Guess we'll find out". He switched his attention to Micah. "Ya know you'll have to finish out the season - ya can't start something and not finish it. Understand?"
Micah nodded because he did understand. He understood that he was doing this for his big brother - holding his spot for him until Jacob was physically able to take it back.
With all that out of the way, the rest of the evening was a good time. Beth apologized over and over for not having a homemade dessert, but she said she had simply not had time to get that done. The chips ahoy cookies and vanilla ice cream hit the spot in Coach Miller's book and he told her that she'd probably done more than the entire county that day and to quit worrying about homemade desserts. Dan finally worked up the nerve to ask why they had all those washing machines and dryers in the shop when they had a perfectly good set in the laundry room -not that he'd been snooping or anything.
Beth laughed and laughed. "Actually, we have two sets in my in house laundry room - one for everybody's regular clothes and one for farm clothes. All of those machines in the shop are from the rental houses. When we replace an old set with a newer set, the old set is moved in there if it still works. The farm hands do all their work clothes in there - less wear and tear on the new washers."
"Yeh, we got our own little laundromat," Daryl snorted. "Friday and Saturday nights are really hoppin out there."
"Well, that's the most ingenious thing I ever heard of" Coach Miller announced.
"Oh, we learned from the best" Beth smiled and looked over at her husband. "Hershel and Annette Greene never threw anything out that they thought they might need on down the road."
"We pay all our hands a good wage and they work hard for us" Daryl explained. "My brother and I never woulda made it if a long time ago we didn't have somebody lookin out for us. A free laundromat and a decent house to call home, health insurance are just some of the perks that keep our workers loyal to us."
Coach Miller nodded in agreement.
"Kids" Daryl spoke. "Micah, get all these dishes into the kitchen, get em scraped and loaded into the dishwasher."
Beth looked at Daryl. "Daryl, the kids have school tom". Daryl cut her off with a glare.
"Katie Raye, get the trash together so Jacob can take it out" Daryl continued. "Three of y'all make sure that kitchen's cleaned up 'fore ya head upstairs. Ya Momma's wore out."
That was all Dan needed to hear. He began to say his thank yous and make his way to the front door. Beth hobbled along behind him, all the while trying to keep her hand off of her lower back.
Even though Beth had enjoyed their supper guest, she desperately needed to lie down. And quick - her back was killing her. "Dan, it was so nice having you for supper" Beth began. "I feel like we're gonna have a lot of meals together this season. I'm gonna let Daryl show you out - I need to make sure everybody has clean clothes for school tomorrow."
Daryl bent down and whispered in Beth's ear "get upstairs and get on the heating pad - I'll be up to give ya a back rub in a minute. Don't worry 'bout the dishes either -go on now." And with that he gave a gentle slap on the bottom and sent her on upstairs.
When Daryl had inspected the kitchen and told the kids that they needed to go on to bed, he made his way up to his own bedroom. There Beth laid on the heating pad, but she still had her clothes on. "How come ya ain't in your pajamas?" Daryl asked.
"I couldn't get out of my pants" Beth moaned "or undo my bra. Help me please."
Lord, it had been a while since Beth had gotten down in her back. The kids were probably still pretty little. Daryl knew she'd really been working hard with the garden coming in, and geting Jacob tended to every day, then her picking up that calf this evening sealed the deal.
Daryl got his wife undressed and then redressed in something soft, got her positioned on the heating pad, and then scrounged around in the bathroom medicine cabinet. "Here" he held the pill out to her, "take this."
Beth didn't question him, she just popped the little tablet into her mouth and chased it with the water he'd brought upstairs with him.
"Next time I tell ya not to do something I expect ya to listen" Daryl told her.
Beth didn't have the energy to argue. Her eyes were closed, so she rolled them at her husband and answered weakly, "okay".
Daryl looked down at his phone. "Coach Miller just texted me. He got Micah an appointment tomorrow right after school with the team physician. I'll make sure he gets there."
Beth tried to sit up to answer but decided against it when she couldn't. "Daryl, I'll get him there. I know you're busy."
"What'd I say?" Daryl asked her.
Beth mumbled something under her breath.
"Josepha will be here in the morning to do everything that you had on your agenda for tomorrow," Daryl continued. Beth started to protest, but Daryl didn't give her the chance. "So, tell me everything that's on your to do list with a timeline. And hurry up 'fore ya pass out 'cause that was one of Merle's back pills."
And there Daryl Dixon sat with a pad of paper and pen taking dictation from his wife as to what all she wanted done the next day.