Disclaimer: I do not own The Walking Dead.
"Now squeeze the trigger gently". I take the shot and knock the can off the fence. "Ya pickin' this up pretty fuckin' quickly". Well Merle is a pretty good teacher. "Moving targets are a lot harder but we'll have plenty of chances to practise on walkers".
Daryl stands up from where he was lounging in the field. "We should probably get goin; long way back to camp".
A very long drive back, we had to drive really far out to do this as we didn't want the sound to draw out the walkers. I scoop up my backpack and bat and follow after the Dixon's as they head back to the truck.
The three of us stop in unison when we spot the walkers move around the truck, coming towards us. I'm not surprised at all, more surprised they didn't turn up sooner.
Merle chuckles and nudges me "well here's one of ya chances".
"You sure, there are a tad too many to mess around with". Five to be exact which is five more than I'm comfortable with and four more than I'm physically able to deal with.
"You'll be fine squirt. They ain't close". Yeah but it'll probably take me the entire distance to get one head shot in. Hitting an un moving can is a hundred times easier than hitting a Walkers head, they are constantly moving which means they are definitely not an easy target.
Daryl takes the bat out of my hands. "Ya see them posts". I nod as he points to the posts that travel through the field, someone was in the process of putting up a fence before the dead started rising. "That's the distance ya 'ave to give it a shot. Ya don't get it by then we can step in". He wiggles the bat, "And we'll let ya loose with this".
"Right okay". I do everything they told me, I plant my feet and I wrap both my hands around the gun, but not too tightly. I take my time as I really don't want to waste bullets plus I have time, which I know won't happen in really serious scenarios but I'm still training so it's allowed.
I take a couple of deep breaths and let them each out slowly before finally squeezing the trigger. The bullet hits the walker, not dead centre but still a brain shot which sends it crumpling to the floor. I try and take a shot at the next one but I miss by the skim of its ear and then two seconds later an arrow goes straight through its forehead.
Daryl hands be back my bat and swaps it for the gun which he stuffs back into his trousers. The three remaining walkers cross the unfinished fence line as Daryl and Merle spread out. As one we start moving toward our targets.
As the walker and I get closer to each other I swing my bat at it's outstretched arms, causing one to break with a disgusting crack. I then bring the bat back round and smash it into the side of it's head. The force of the swing knocks the walker down so I step onto it's remaining arm and bash the walker in the head until it's skull collapses and it stops moaning.
When I step back a rag is shoved towards me which I use to clean the end of my bat.
"Well ya got one outta two that ain't bad goin' squirt." Merle takes his rag back, "Course that ain't good enough so we'll keep practisin'".
"Merle!" Merle ignores Daryl and just starts walking back to the truck. He's right though, what I did was fine but if I'd been alone I'd have died.
I turn to Daryl to see him scowling at Merle's retreating form. I chuckle and give him a shrug. "It's okay, you know he's right and I'm not offended". I swing the bat once between us, "plus I'm awesome with this bat so I've got something going for me".
The corner of his mouth lifts, barely, but it's a smile and I'll take it. Daryl wets the pad of his thumb and then to my utter surprise brings it up to my face where he then proceeds to wipe something from my cheek.
"Ya've got red on you". A blush warms my cheeks as he keeps his finger against my skin for a little bit longer than he needs to. I give him a shy smile before looking over my shoulder.
"We should probably hurry back before he honks", honking will be bad and he'd find it hilarious. Daryl nods and the two of us start moving. I give him a quick glance to see his face back in it's pretty permanent state of scowling. "You, Mister Dixon, need to smile more. It looks good on you". And before he can say anything back to make me embarrassed I take off at a jog towards the truck.
TWDTWDTWDTWDTWD
A high-pitched scream followed by children's laughter forces me to wake up, its way to close to the tent to ignore. This is a terrible way to start a morning especially seeing as I've only had a few hours of sleep because I had the middle shift for watch.
I lay still for a few more minutes in the hope they'll go away but the shouting doesn't stop so with a groan I force myself up. I change out of my sweats and put on a pair of shorts and slip on my new trainers, time to go for a run.
The heat hits me as soon as I step out of the tent, it's horrible and this isn't going to be fun but this is the best I'm gonna get this time of year.
"Mornin'", I smile at Daryl in return. He's sat in a chair eating meat off his knife, I really hope he gave it a good clean first. He holds a piece out for me which I willingly take. Never turn down an offer of meat, you never know when you might get more.
"Do we have any water?"
"Mmhm, here". He tosses me the bottle from beside his feet, "It probably ain't cold no more".
"Doesn't matter, it'll do." I hold my hand out for another piece of meat.
"This is mine". He then puts another piece in his mouth.
"Yeah but you like me too much to not give me some". I wiggle my hand a little closer.
"Is that so?" His tongue darts out to lick his lips and I can feel my cheeks warm slightly at the action.
"Yes it is". He goes to put another piece in his mouth but I jump forwards and snatch it away. "Thanks, I'm gonna go for a run, could you let Merle know for me". I cast a quick look around, "if he appears".
"He's sleeping in the bed of the truck." Daryl hauls himself to his feet and comes to stand directly in front of me, so close I have to tilt my head back to look up at him. "Ya got ya knife", I tap my hip where it sits, "ya take ya gun".
I shake my head, "you know that's not a good idea. We're living here and you know I can't fire that gun off up here it'll draw them out".
"Ya take ya bat then and don't go too f..."
"Far, yes I know and I won't. I'm just gonna go round the camp and a couple times round the quarry I'll be in view of at least someone the entire time". I put my hand on his arm, "don't worry. I'll be fine I promise". His arm remains tense under my hand so I just give it a gentle squeeze and let go. I don't wanna push boundaries. "How about we find you a pair of binoculars next time we go out then you can perch and permanently keep your eye on me like the stalker you are".
He scoffs so I stick my tongue out quickly. "Go for ya run".
"Yes sir".
...
I am drenched in sweat and the water in the quarry is looking more and more welcoming by the minute. I'm half way through my second lap of the quarry when I decide to call it a day it's getting way to hot.
As I'm walking through camp a young looking blonde, probably somewhere around my age, waves and smiles at me as I walk past her. A few of the people she is with frown at her and so do I, although I do raise my hand and hesitantly wave back. I'm a little confused though as I've never even seen her before, she wasn't one of the ones that came to us on our first day. Not even sure how but she seems to grin bigger at my response, I shake my head and just walk away. Not entirely sure what she expected me to do. By the looks the others were wearing there wasn't anyway I was gonna over to her, I won't go where I'm not wanted.
I finally reach our little camp area and drop into one of the vacated chairs. I drop my bat and nearly empty water bottle on the floor and lean back with my eyes closed, enjoying the shade over me.
"Ya look a little disgustin' there baby doll, way to hot to be fuckin' out there doin' that shit".
"Gee Merle thanks". I peer up at him as he stands over me grinning, "have you ever heard the phrase if you have nothing nice to say don't say anything".
"If I did that I'd never say anything".
"Well that would be a fuckin' miracle". I let out a sharp laugh at Daryl's quick response as he walks towards us.
"Fuck off man". Merle points a finger at me, "And you shut up".
"Okay but only because you are right, I feel disgusting to. You think we can take this gauze off my forehead so I can have a proper shower?"
Daryl shoves Merle out of his way so he can squat down in front of me. "Can take a look and see".
I lean forward to allow him to have a look. He rips the gauze off, grips my chin in his hand and starts to really inspect it. The air that hits it stings a little and I know it'll take a long time to heal but I'm willing to be extra careful if it means I can keep it uncovered, makes my forehead really hot.
"Looks badass squirt".
Daryl swings his arm around and catches Merle in the stomach "Will you fuck off".
"Alrigh', alrigh' I'm goin', don't get ya knickers in a twist".
I bite my lip to stop my grin. "I'm really starting to like Merle".
Daryl stands up, "yeah I can tell, the two of ya are just as bad as each other".
I stand up to my full height to feigning insult. "I am nothing like him, how dare you".
"Ya egg him on, and that's just as bad". He's right, but Merle is so much fun when you wind him up or egg him on. I haven't had this much fun with someone in a long time. Didn't really have close friends just normal friends, no one I could wind up or banter with. "Anyway, yeah ya can leave the gauze off but ya've gotta be careful, it's only been a few days and it still has a long way to go before its healed."
"Okay, thanks. Well I'm gonna go wash up and then possible go down to the water to wash our clothes, meaning you need to change that top because you've been wearing that since we got here, grab Merles to".
I then scoop up some clean clothes, soap and my bat and make my way to the shower.
TWDTWDTWDTWD
I'm washing and Daryl is beside me ringing out the excess water. I don't have the proper equipment to be doing this so I'm just using a brush and leaning against my knee. I didn't want to ask the women for their washboard and metal tub because I wasn't sure if they'd let me borrow it.
I hand Daryl the last piece of clothing to ring out which he then spreads out on the tarp he brought with us so they can attempt to dry.
"I'm goin' out huntin' tomorrow".
"Okay". He never usually feels the need to tell me, in fact he's usually gone and come back before I've even woken up in the morning.
"An all day hunt, possibly longer". Okay now I'm interested.
"oh okay, alone?" That cannot be safe.
"Yeah, well Merle's gonna stay here with you".
"He doesn't need to babysit me", I mean that in the least sour way possible, "I'll be fine plus we do share that camp spot remember".
"I don't trust a single one of those fuckers, and he's not babysittin' we just don't..." He trails off and looks out across the water. "Ya one of us now. We wanna look out for ya and if somethin' happened while we were both gone we wouldn't forgive ourselves." The softness in his voice makes my insides twist a little.
"But what about you, you're going out alone, what if something happens to you".
"Alrigh' how 'bout this, I have to be back by nightfall tomorrow, if I ain't back by then Merle can come out and track me".
"Deal. What you out looking for". I'm still not a massive fan of the idea but he's a grown man who knows exactly what he's doing. Nothing I can say will make him change his mind.
"Saw some deer tracks, so thought I'd be able to go out and find some more, cook us up some venison. Give some to the other group. Ease the tension".
"Thought you didn't care what they thought".
He scoffs slightly offended that I think that, "I don't but they ain't getting meat and they got kids". There is some part of him that does care for more than just his close family he just won't willingly show it. "And I'll do anythin' to keep 'em off our backs until we get the fuck out of here".
"And how long before we do that?"
"We've got a base camp here so we need to use it while we can. Go out and gather as much supplies as we can get. Then once we've got what we can and got a few more good nights sleep then we can go. I also want that", he gestures towards my forehead, "to be a little more healed 'fore we go, don't want ya getting an infection out on the road".
Nowhere is safe but so far this is the safest I've been since this all started, plenty of eyes but I'd also like to leave. My faith in people was gained and then lost within the space of two days and I'm not sure I want to even try and trust people anymore; and with the world how it is the more people you have with you, in my eyes, is more dangerous. With just the three of us we can remain invisible, we make less of an impact when we camp or hold up somewhere. We can be quiet.
He lays a hand hesitantly on my leg, "That alrigh' with you?"
"Yeah it's fine, I'll stay as long as you need to but I can't wait to leave". I'm also really not a fan of how Shane treated the Dixons when we arrived, that and that alone would have made me pack up and leave then and there if we hadn't of needed the rest.
A babble of voices grows closer causing Daryl to retract his hand rather quickly. I look over my shoulder at the group that are walking our way. The blonde and a Korean boy are leading the way followed by all the kids and a couple of escorts, I'm assuming the mums.
Daryl grunts "I'm heading back, ya comin'?"
"No I'll stay, wait for these to dry a bit before I bring them back".
"Need me to stay?"
"Daryl, I think I'll be fine. But maybe we should really think about getting you those binoculars".
He scoffs before walking away.
The kids and the Korean, that's also probably around my age, all start messing around in the shallow parts of the water. Guess its the popular way to keep these kids cool on a day as hot as this. The blonde girl is pulling off her shoes when she looks back at me.
"You wanna join us". I hold my hand up and shake my head.
"No thank you".
She takes one last look at the kids before making her way over to me.
"You mind if I sit?"
"I guess not", I follow it with a shrug. Not gonna lie, I am curious on what she wants.
She sits down beside me and watches the kids all splashing each other.
"I'm Amy by the way, and that over there is Carol and my sister Andrea". The people in question don't offer up more than a tight lipped smile. Amy leans in a little closer while I unconsciously stiffen my back, when I realise I'm doing it I do try and relax. "Ignore that, they're just weary of you and the guys. You're new".
I scoff lightly, "you know it's not because we're new".
Amy has the decency to look ashamed. "Yeah I know. I'm sorry it's just when they turned up we all just thought we knew who they were. To be honest I'm really surprised Shane allowed them to stay. But it was probably a cross between them offering to get us some fresh meat and that they assured him they wouldn't be here long but while they were they could help keep the place safe".
If this is her trying to be friends she really isn't doing a good job, I don't attempt to respond as I would probably start an argument. Instead I keep my eyes out across the water.
"You then climbed out of that van looking like you'd been beaten to a pulp and everyone just got so angry. And we jumped to the conclusion".
"They are two of the best people I have ever met in my life. They didn't have to take them with me, but they did. They didn't have to help me when I got injured, but they did; and most of all they could have given me over to those men and saved their own lives but they didn't. I owe them my life and I will go wherever they want to to be able to repay that debt." I fully turn to face her, "and I will not allow people to treat them with anything less than they deserve". Those men are nothing but heroes in my eyes and nothing anyone can say will make that change.
She smiles softly, "I can see that now and I'm so sorry that I thought anything less of them. And if you'd allow I would also like the chance to get to know you, there aren't many people our age walking around here these days".
She keeps staring at me with that smile so after a minor hesitation I sigh and return her smile. "Sure", can't hurt.
Shaun of the dead reference just thrown in there for fun. I hope you like this one, please review and follow if you did.