A/N Thank you all so much! A deal has been struck, but before our couple leave Atlanta they're going to encounter a familiar group. Enjoy!
00
What the fuck was he just thinking? Dragging some woman all over hell's half acre sounds about as fun as being surrounded by these dead bastards. Shit.
He never should have let it go this far. He never should have brought her home with him. He should have just killed the walker before it killed her and split. If he'd have done that, pretended he didn't know what would happen next, he'd be sleeping in his own bed right now. And who knows? Maybe she'd have figured it out on her own. Yeah, right. He can't lie to himself, he knows he would have been leaving her for those soul-less bastards to eat.
He just couldn't be that cold, and now look what it's gotten him. He's laying here on this hard ass floor listening to her pitiful crying, too agitated and antsy to sleep, and fighting with himself over the big damn promise he just made to her. What a colossal dumb ass.
He doesn't need a clock to know when morning comes. His body clock tells him. For at least ten years he's been waking up at the same time every morning. It doesn't matter whether he got any real sleep the night before or not, and last night he got no sleep.
He's trying to keep quiet and he's not sure why. Why is he putting so much effort into not waking her? Shit, if he can't sleep why should she? It's just that, dammit, she looks all small and helpless laying there and he knows yesterday was hard on her.
He's as quiet as he's able to be when he reaches in the cabinet above her to get the container of coffee, then grabs a gallon jug of water from the drawer below. Trying hard not to look at the blond in his bed.
The coffee's almost done brewing when she starts to wake.
He glances toward her and she smiles shyly, "Good morning, that sure smells good."
He nods, "Yeah, well it's ready now, get up n get ya a cup."
She almost laughs, my gawd he wakes up just as cranky as he is when he goes to bed. She doesn't care, he can be as cranky as he wants. He said he'd take her to the farm and she's sure that whatever else Daryl is, he's a man of his word. Besides, he made coffee. She hasn't had a cup in over a week. So she just keeps smiling and says, "Thank you Daryl."
He seems embarrassed by her gratitude and she's pretty sure she's got his number, he's awkward around people. He's probably a loner.
He shrugs, "I got a can of condensed milk here, just opened it yesterday, it's still good." He slides it toward her, "Pour some in your coffee, it tastes better than any of that eight-dollar bullshit coffee they sell."
She doesn't plan to tell him about all the bullshit coffee she's purchased in her life, "Oh, okay, I'll give it a try. I do like a little sweetener in my coffee."
"Yeah, I figured ya did."
Again he looks uncomfortable and she doesn't comment further, not until she pours a little of the sweet, thick milk into her coffee and wow, he's right, "This is delicious Daryl."
"Yeah, okay, whatever. Ya go on and find what ya want for breakfast. I don't eat til later in the day." Then he's crabby again, "And don't start any shit with me about breakfast bein' the most important meal."
Gee, she wasn't going to say anything of the kind. Why would she? He's a grown man, he can eat whatever and whenever he wants. She just keeps smiling because he's taking her home, "Maybe I'll have another of those granola bars."
"Help yourself."
Then he throws her for a loop, "There's a crack house a few miles from here, my brother might be there. I got one other place I wanna try too. You wait here, I won't be long. We'll get a good night sleep tonight and get outta the city tomorrow, early."
Wow, he actually explained to her what his plan is, but part of what he said she didn't like at all. She let's him know, "Don't leave me here Daryl. I want to go with you. Please."
Why does she have to look at him with great big doe eyes? Shit. This is just the kind of shit he likes to avoid, at all costs. Having her around is going to complicate everything. He's determined not to let the look sway him, he's adamant, "Nah, it'll be faster n easier if I'm on my own."
Fuck him if there aren't tears in those big blue eyes, "Please Daryl. I do a lot of running, marathons and everything, I can keep up. Please. Please don't leave me here."
Oy my gawd, what if he never came back?
Dammit, "Alright, fuck, but ya gotta keep up an ya gotta stay close. No whinin' no complainin'. And you're gonna need a decent knife."
Gosh, she didn't think he could sound any grouchier than he already has, but man was she wrong. He's really crabby now. She's not going to complain, her reality is, she'd rather be with this crabby man than be left alone.
She stays quiet while she watches him slide the heavy toolbox over and lift a piece of the wood flooring up to reveal a large metal lockbox. He opens the lock and removes a hunting knife encased in a thick leather sheath, then locks the box again and puts everything back like it was.
It sounds like an order when he barks, "Stand up." She has the urge to say, 'yessir,' but then he'd probably really blow his top. He mutters, "Shit, ya got no belt, we'll get ya one offa some skinny walker. For now, you'll hafta either carry this in your hand or stick it in your boot."
Is he calling her skinny? She doesn't bother to ask.
He barks again, "Get ta eatin' n drink your coffee, we gotta get outta here."
"It's okay, I don't need to eat."
He gives her a look, "Nah, I ain't gonna have ya faintin' on me again. Eat."
As she's opening the granola bar package she's also watching nervously as he exits the van. She tells herself to stop worrying so much, he's not going to just disappear. He's probably checking something on the vehicle, tires or whatever.
It's his morning routine. He wouldn't think of just rolling that door up without checking. This morning he doesn't even have to press his ear to it to know. Dammit, they're out there.
The news is disturbing. "Goin' on foot was gonna be faster n easier, but it sounds like walkers found us. I can hear those bastards out there shufflin' around n growlin'. They probably heard us too. So, we're changin' plans. We're takin' the rig n goin' ta check a couple places for Merle. If we don't find him that's that, we're headin' straight outta the city. If we do find him, he's either ridin' with us, or maybe he'll have his own wheels."
Those things are here…her stomach is in her throat but she tries to act like everything is no big deal, "Oh, um okay. Whatever you think is best."
Shit, she's trying so hard to pretend she isn't scared, but it's clear to him she is. What's not clear to him is why the hell he feels the need to comfort her, "I saw ya yesterday, you're pretty good with a knife and you'll do better now that ya got a real one." He jabs his forefinger at his temple and grunts, "Just remember, the brain."
"Yes, alright." She wishes she hadn't had the granola bar and the coffee, because now it feels like they want to come right back up. She tells herself if she's going to survive in this new world she's got to get tougher, stronger.
"A'ight, before we go I gotta make sure everythin' in here that can move is tied down. I don't need shit flyin' everywhere." He seems to know just what to do, all she does is stash her backpack in a corner.
He asks, "Ya do know how ta drive, don't ya?"
"I grew up on a farm, I can drive just about anything."
"Good, as soon as you fire up the rig I'ma throw that overhead door open as fast as I can. You punch the accelerator and drive outta here fast as ya can, be sure ya turn ta the left when ya clear the door. Don't be lookin' for me, I got it covered. I'ma be killin' any of them bastards I have to til I got a clear shot ta jump in. Then we'll get the fuck outta here fast. Got it?"
"Yes." Oh my gawd, she's really doing this. She's part of the plan. She can't freeze, she can't be sick, she can't mess this up.
Beth climbs in the driver's seat and flips on the headlights. The seat is back a mile too far, she can barely reach the pedals. While he's stashing the lantern, she quickly adjusts it, but she doesn't take her eyes off him. As soon as he's ready she cranks the engine and he kicks the footbrakes loose.
He looks over his shoulder, nods at her and she nods back, and just that fast the door rises and she sees the gross creatures all turn at once as they follow the sound.
She presses on the gas and actually hits a few of them as she pulls the van out of the space and into the drive, nearly losing her breakfast at the gross thudding and splatting sound they make on impact. She tries not to think about what she's done and to just focus on the plan as she makes a hard left turn.
He told her not to, but she can't help looking in the rearview mirror to make sure he's all right. She sees him stabbing his way through the walkers and admits to herself it's impressive. It's like the man was born to do battle. As fearsome as he is, she's never been so relieved as she is when he finally jumps in the cab with her, unscathed.
He doesn't disappoint, he's a caveman through and through, "When we're away from these bastards pull over. I'll drive." Yessir.
As they reach the exit from the storage facility, she notices they're clear and puts the rig in park. "It's all yours Daryl."
She admits to herself that she's never been so relived not to be the one driving. She's a little stunned though. She thought he'd get out and walk around, instead he says, "You slide under, I'll slide over." As they quickly exchange seats it almost feels intimate, and although she'd rather not acknowledge the truth, it's kind of nice.
It's a horrific sight. The city streets are littered with the desperate, the dead, the dying and the ones who have already turned into creatures, the walkers. There are abandoned and wrecked cars, household furnishings, clothing and every kind of trash. Daryl barely seems to notice. It's apparent he's done this before as he manages to maneuver through the mayhem without too much difficulty.
He finally comes to a stop in the alley behind a block of tall downtown office buildings. She marvels at how quickly every day things have become almost unrecognizable. Who could have guessed their world was such a fragile place.
In an effort to keep it less noticeable to any passersby, he tucks the van between two overflowing dumpsters and shuts the engine down. He looks at her with a firm resolve that makes it clear, there will be no arguing with him. "I ain't takin' ya in a crack house. These dopers are a sketchy bunch any time, but after days without dope they're gonna be worse. You ain't gonna argue, you're gonna lay down in the back where no one can see ya. You'll be safe n I'll be back in a few minutes."
She starts to speak but he stops her, "No girl. Just no. I'll be back…" then he pauses and adds, "if I ain't back in a hour, you take the van n try'n make it home ta your farm. That seems like your best bet."
She can't help the tear that trickles from her eye when she answers, "Okay."
Why did she have to start that shit? He hates that shit. He's so uncomfortable when he puts the keys in her hand and says, "Just lay here, I'll be back."
She's afraid to try and speak, she just nods and he turns to go, slipping out the door and sliding it shut as quietly as he can.
She isn't moving, she's doing just what he said and practically counting the seconds until he returns. She's shocked when the door starts to open again, he's only been gone two minutes. Maybe he didn't want to leave her alone after all.
Then she sees what the problem is, it's not him.
It's a young Hispanic man, barely more than a teenager, but he grabs a hold of her and he's surprisingly strong. Although she fights him with everything she has, he overpowers her.
He drags her into one of the buildings where a group of more Hispanic men seems to be waiting for them. She's still kicking and fighting and trying to get away when one of them begins speaking to her, "Calm down, it's okay. I promise you miss, we're not here to hurt you. Just tell us, where did your husband go?"
"My husband?"
"Don't play games. The man you were with, where is he now?"
"I'm not playing games and he didn't tell me where he was going, he just said to hide in the van. He's coming back for me you know, you'd better let me go."
This new world, that's all it seems to amount to, some new kind of terror every day, several times a day. How will Daryl even know where she is? How will he find her? Oh Dear God, what if he doesn't even care enough to try? And in the meantime, just what do these men intend to do with her?
She's shuddering at the thought when out of nowhere a tiny older lady appears. Beth doesn't speak Spanish but she understands enough to know when the fellow who seems to be in charge calls the woman "grandma," "abuela," and Beth thinks he's telling her to go somewhere. Maybe upstairs.
One of the other men grasps the woman's arm to escort her, but abuela is having no part of it. She yanks her arm away from the man and looks at Beth. She smiles and says something to her in Spanish but Beth has no idea what it is. She only knows that the small woman is extending her hand, Beth guesses she wants her to follow her somewhere.
Maybe it's stupid of her to think it, but Beth is certain the woman means her no harm. In fact, this could be a good thing. The elderly woman seems to hold sway over these men.
Beth begins walking toward the woman, while in the meantime abuela has again turned her attention to the fellow who appears to be the leader. She's speaking to him as if she's scolding him and he looks contrite.
When Beth is standing beside her, the elderly lady nods and they begin to walk toward a set of stairs, at a very slow pace, when suddenly there's a crashing sound followed by yelling and chaos.
Beth immediately sees who is bringing the chaos. Her heart leaps with joy and relief at the sight of the rough and ready warrior. He hollers to the leader, "Give her back!"
The leader responds, "We don't want to hurt anyone, we're just looking for food and medicine. We have old people upstairs; we need it for them."
Daryl insists, "We got nuthin' for ya. All I got is a first aid kit that's been in that van for ten years, and I barely got enough food for me n her. Now let 'er go."
The leader doesn't give up, "C'mon man, you must have something, all you have to do is share it and I'll giver her back."
If it was just him he'd put an arrow through the head of every one of these assholes and be done with it, but it's Beth and it's that old lady, so he gives an inch. "I got a plastic storage tub with a couple blankets and some canned goods. I'll give ya that. Now let her go."
"We need weapons too."
Daryl sees where this is going, there's always going to be something else they want, the bargaining will never end until he ends it. The only thing left to do is figure out which one of them to kill first.
Grandma puts an end to all of it when she begins to yell at the men in Spanish. They're obviously trying to calm the elderly woman while she's shaking her head at them in disgust. She takes Beth's hand and walks passed the men and toward Daryl, holding Beth's hand out to him.
Daryl hasn't lowered his crossbow; it's still cocked and aimed right at the youngest of the vatos, but when Beth is close enough he sweeps his arm around, moving her behind him while telling the abductors, "Me n her are leavin' now." He points at the youngest one, "You, you come with us and I'll given ya the tub, the rest of ya stay behind. If I see one of ya followin', I'll put an arrow through your heart."
Beth is surprised when he turns to the old lady, nods his head and says, "Ma'am." There's a gentleman living in the warrior.
He grabs Beth's arm and they hurry out to the van. He quickly yanks the passenger door open and practically throws her in the seat, "Wait here."
"But Daryl…"
"Wait!"
He climbs on the roof of the van, loosens the bungee cords securing the tub, pops the lid off and grabs two cans of condensed milk. He pushes the lid back on, but before he tosses it toward the young man waiting on the sidewalk below, he orders, "Take off your belt n' leave it lay there."
The young man starts to argue, but Daryl hollers, "Now!" the boy complies and Daryl drops the tub. As canned goods roll and scatter Daryl jumps to the sidewalk, quickly grabs the belt and he's back in the van.
He hands her the cans and the belt, fires up the engine and they speed down the ally. His voice is calm, like all that didn't just happened when he says, "I can cut that belt down ta fit ya."
"Okay."
She waits until they've gone a couple of blocks to venture, "I'm sorry, one of them just opened the door and grabbed me. I tried to fight him, I did get in a couple of pretty good kicks and a punch right to the eye, but he was stronger than me."
Daryl doesn't fully understand this huge sense of relief he's feeling, he just knows he never wanted her with him to begin with, but it feels good having her back. Still, he sounds grouchy when he says, "Yeah, a woman alone makes an easy target." Shit.
She senses he's angry with her, or maybe he's just frustrated. She tries lightening the conversation, "Thank goodness for grandma, I think she was the one who saved us all. If she hadn't been there, gosh, I don't know what would have happened."
He shrugs, "I woulda killed em all. I probably should have anyway." Those bastards.
Two days ago his words would have shocked and alarmed her and now they seem frighteningly reasonable.
They're quiet as he manages his way through the city, and wherever they are right now, she thinks it looks like it was a rough neighborhood even before all this trouble started.
He pulls right up on the sidewalk in front of a small neighborhood liquor store. It appears undisturbed by looters and it's easy to see why. Looters hit the easy targets first. This place is secured behind locked metal security fencing, the kind she thought they only had in places like New York.
She's trying to be funny when she asks, "Are we stopping for booze?"
He gives her one of his glaring looks and says, "Yeah, maybe, but that ain't all. Get your knife n c'mon."
He opens the big toolbox, removing a pair of bolt cutters, grabs the canvas duffel and instructs, "Get that bag ya had an c'mon." She doesn't argue, he's saved her life more than once and she's sticking with him.
He see's the overhead camera, and he's sure there's an alarm system, but he doesn't think the alarm will function without electricity. He makes short work of the chain lock on the fence and as they hurry in the store the alarm begins to wail. He hollers, "Move fast. Fill the bag with all them snacks, especially the jerky, beefsticks, all the shit like that, it lasts forever. Take it all if ya can."
While she's busy doing that Daryl's grabbing the cigarettes and matches from behind the counter, and something else he was sure would be there. Score. He's still got room in his bag and he hurries through the store grabbing items, then says, "We're gonna start drawin' a crowd. C'mon."
Again, she doesn't argue with this man.
He quickly stashes their bags on the floor of the van as she climbs up in her seat, and he was right. Here comes a big group of walkers, thank God he's in the van and quickly pulling away.
Once they're clear she can't help giggling, "Wow, I never thought I'd steal candy from the store, but I sure stole a lot of it today."
"Yeah? Did ya get any a them Snickers?"
"Yes, there are a few."
"Good, that's my favorite."
They're quiet again as he navigates the city and finally they're clear of Atlanta. He keeps driving for another twenty miles or so, but he's not taking the freeway or any route she recognizes. Eventually he shares, "This way, it's gonna take us a lot longer but I'm hopin' it'll be better for us if we stay offa the main drags. Right now, I'm just lookin' for a safe place ta stop for the night."
"Okay."
Eventually he pulls over into a thick copse of the trees and parks the rig. "Lemme get out n look around, but I think this'll be good for the night."
"Can I come? I'd love to stretch my legs."
He shrugs, what's the harm? "Yeah, sure." They walk around a few minutes and the fresh air and the open space feels so good. Then he says, "I'm hungry, you hungry?"
"Yes, starving."
"We worked hard today. Ya did good." Wow, the small compliment feels monumental coming from him.
He pulls two big cans of chili from his duffel and actually smiles, "I scored a box a crackers and a can a fake cheese too. This is gonna be some gourmet dining."
While the chili is heating he reaches in the duffel for something else. "Here I got ya these. Probably never find em again."
It's a package of baby wipes, and considering who the man he is, she couldn't be more touched, "Thank you Daryl, I'm going to use one right now."
As she's wiping her hands with the clothe he mutters, "Yeah, well they ain't what I went in there ta find. Joints like that, they always got one a these stashed behind the cash register," as he's speaking he retrieves a pistol from the bag. "Ya know how to use it?"
"Not a pistol, no. I've only shot a BB gun and a shotgun."
"I'll teach ya and then, if anyone ever comes at ya again like that guy today? Ya don't give em a chance ta get hold of ya. Shoot ta kill."
In the old world she would never have been capable of doing anything like that, now it makes sense, "Okay."
They decide to eat outside. There's nothing and no one around and it's a nice change sitting out on the ground. When they're finished they get to their feet and he mutters, "We should sleep good tonight."
She agrees, "I know, I'm beat."
Then they hear it and see it, off in the distance back toward Atlanta, a huge orange fireball lights up the entire sky and instantly the city is on fire.
Beth gasps in horror while Daryl shakes his head, "Those mutherfuckers dropped napalm."
Seeking comfort from another human is a natural reaction, and without thinking Beth's arms slip around him and her head rests on his chest. Although his body is rigid, even he needs human touch and soon his hand in cradling her elbow, and his chin is nuzzled in her hair.
She begins to softly cry and asks, "What're we going to do Daryl?"
"I ain't sure, but I'll figure it out."
From him the words don't seem like boasting or bragging. She's sure this man has been surviving one thing or another his entire life.
00
A/N Thank you for reading and please leave a comment. There's a chapter photo on my tumblr blogs gneebee and bethylmethbrick, have a look! I'll be back next Thursday with more of Love's Long Road, I hope you'll be here too. Until then remember, I love ya large! xo gneebee