Disclaimer: I do not own The Walking Dead or any of its lovely characters.
Sorry it's a few days late, I really struggled with this chapter. It took me nearly two weeks to complete and I'm still not happy with it. But it's technically just a filler to get us to the start of season one. I hope you still enjoy it.
Danny's POV
We've been here an entire week and we've settled into a routine. We alternate days, where one day we will stay at camp and hunt or train and then the next day we take a trip out, try to find supplies. Which is where we're going now.
The three of us are once again packed into the cab of the truck. Merle found a housing estate on his map, he wanted to give it a look seeing as camp isn't doing so well on food. It's so bad Daryl has said he's going on another hunt and this time he won't come back until he's caught something big; and Merle, well he's volunteered to go into the city. Apparently Glenn usually goes alone but with the provisions running out it's no longer a one man job.
I'm not looking forward to him going, not just because it's dangerous but also because I'm not sure Merle can be trusted to play nice with the others. Over the last week I've gotten to know Amy and I started spending time with Glenn and that's when I noticed that I think Merle's sort of racist. So I'm extra worried after seeing who's going.
I really thought about going with him to try and keep him out of trouble but I'm not sure if my presence will even do that. Plus Daryl's going out alone so I offered to go with him, at least that way I won't spend the entire time worrying about him.
Merle slows the truck down as he turns into the entrance. The gates to the estate have been rammed off their hinges, it dampens our hopes of finding anything worthwhile.
Merle stops the truck about a hundred yards in and turns off the engine.
"Well this was a waste of a fuckin' trip", Merle's not wrong. As we all look at the houses down the street we see that most, if not all, of the doors are open. There are things strewn across the gardens. This place has been ransacked.
"We can still find things of use". Daryl then opens his door and climbs out.
"Well okay then", Merle follows him out. I do a quick weapons check to make sure I have my knife and gun attached and ready to grab, and with bat in hand I slide out behind Daryl.
He has his crossbow up and he's doing a three sixty turn, Merle on the other side is doing the exact same thing. I keep my eyes on the road ahead, but there's nothing out here, but I know that doesn't mean there's nothing here.
"Two people go in, one keeps watch, Danny." I look at Daryl over my shoulder, "You're with me. Merle you wait here". Daryl then starts walking towards the first house, an empty bag on his shoulder.
Well okay then guess that's settled then. I take the other empty backpack that Merle is holding out for but he doesn't let go straight away.
"Shout if ya need anythin'."
"I will". He lets go of the bag so I jog to catch up to Daryl.
Daryl pushes open the door as quietly as he can so we can have a clear view of the hallway before he tries to draw the walkers out.
He makes small noise causing me to look up at him, when he has my attention he looks down at the bat and then nods at the door. I tap the door and then we wait.
Nothing, not a sound coming from inside.
"A room at a time, keep an ear out".
"I know the rules Daryl". He moves in first and enters the first room. I search round but there's nothing here of use so we move onto the kitchen. I search every nook and cranny for something worth taking, even if it's just a small can of something to eat, but nothing. I try not to let it get me down too much, we still have plenty of houses left. Let's just hope they aren't as empty as this one.
...
I come bounding down the stairs with a few hygiene products stuffed into the bottom of my otherwise empty bag. At least we've got something. Daryl stands at the bottom looking up at me so I smile down at him but he doesn't return it. Instead he holds his arm out across the stairwell, stopping me from going past him.
"You alrigh'?"
"Yeah, I found a couple of things in the bathroom".
"Not what I was askin', you've barely spoken since you got up this mornin'".
For someone who doesn't say much he sure sees a lot.
What do I tell him? I have so much going through my mind. My main concern is Merle, I really don't want him going out into that city but there's nothing I can do to stop him from going. There's nothing either of us can do. Merle says he's going which means he's going.
The other thought that won't leave me alone is Daryl. This isn't something I should be thinking about because there are a lot more important things going on right now, but I can't stop. He kissed me back and we haven't spoken about it since, we haven't even kissed again. Yet something between us has changed but I just can't put my finger on what it is.
I sigh and offer him a small smile. "I'm sorry it's Merle", and that's the only thought I'll be telling him about.
"What about him?"
"We've been inside that city, it's not safe. He shouldn't go, I don't want him to go". I can't help the tremor in my voice but I won't cry.
"Merle knows what he's doin' and he ain't goin' alone".
"And that's a problem. I don't trust him with other people. You've seen how he interacts with half those people in that camp. Merle doesn't work well as part of a team, especially a team he hates". Daryl sighs and grabs the hem of my dress. He pulls at it forcing me to take another step down, making us eye level with each other.
"He will be fine, Merle will be waitin' for us when we get back from our hunt." His face has moved closer, I can feel his breath fan out across my face as he sighs. "I promise ya".
He keeps his eyes locked on mine waiting for me to understand, I barely manage to nod back at him. Once I do he casts a quick glance down at my parted lips, runs his tongue across his own and then stands back.
He has done that exact same thing two other times since we last kissed, but each time he pulled back just like this.
"Come on, we'll move onto the next house".
...
I've been put on watch while the brothers check the houses, Merle was apparently getting bored and I can definitely understand where he was coming from. I am currently pushing a football around on the ground with my bat but my eyes are permanently roaming the empty street. I am not being snuck up on.
The longer I stand here the weirder this all feels. It's strange to think that this is now our lives. Anything before the dead rising just seems like a distant memory, when in reality its only been a couple of months since the first incident.
Losing my parents, the attack on the Dixons and I, all seems like it happened a lifetime ago; the scars and the nightmares are the only thing telling me differently.
You mourn and you move on, that's all you can do now. You can't dwell on the bad things that have happened otherwise you allow the new world to win. Meeting the Dixons was the best thing that happened because they aren't letting this place get to them. They seem to be taking everything in their strides and I am trying my best to do that to.
I will not let this world defeat me.
Daryl POV
This was a waste of a fucking trip. There's nothing here, it was all ransacked days ago. Forty houses and we only have two small duffel bags of stuff. We did manage to find two big tents, we'll be keeping one but the other can go to the other group.
We step out the front door and I instantly set my attention on Danny. She's fine, in fact she hasn't even moved from the spot we left her in. I don't like the idea of her being the one left out here alone but with the amount of noise Merle's been making, well if there was anything out here it probably would have shown itself by now.
Danny doesn't look up as we emerge out into the open, but I know she knows we're here. Merle's on one knee stuffing some towels into a duffel so I stand here and watch as she puts her bat against the soccer ball at her feet. She really does look like she's not paying attention, like she's let her guard down but every couple of seconds she lifts her eyes and does a sweep of her surroundings. A habit that those who have seen some terrible things pick up. She swings the bat back and then whacks it against the ball, sending it flying where it disappears over a house. Girls got a good arm on her.
Merle whistles causing Danny to finally look at us, she's wearing a smile as always.
"Good swing Doll face". I roll my eyes at another nickname he's given her.
Danny curtsies towards him, "thank you".
I scoff at her but her attention is else where, her gaze is fixated on something beside the house. Her smile never falters, I'm fact it gets bigger, so I leave her to it as she starts moving towards whatever has her attention.
"Hey, get back here and help carry this shit", but she ignores Merle and disappears round the house.
"Shut up and carry the fuckin' bags", I then shove one of the duffel's into his hands.
The sight of Danny reemerging gob-smacks the fuck out of me. She's riding a bike, an old one with a basket attached. She laughs when she catches us staring and it leaves me speechless. She stops in front of Merle and taps the basket where she has her bat perched.
"Pop it in".
Merle scoffs, "I don't understand ya", he then puts one of the bags in the basket.
Neither do I, some of this things she does confuse me. They wouldn't back in the old world but now, how does she still find something to laugh over. How is she finding joy in riding a bike.
She sets off pedalling but doesn't go to far, she's only just going fast enough to keep upright. As we follow after her I can't help but have my attention on her. She doesn't look like she's made for this world, her dress and hair are blowing back in the breeze and it makes her look so care free.
Danny's POV
The entire trip went without incident. I did have a stressful journey home though because Merle finally removed his bike from the back of the truck and decided to ride it back. It isn't the most silent way of travelling and it's one of the most exposed ways of travelling, but I worried for nothing. He was perfectly safe.
I'm currently sat beside Daryl's chair as he sits cleaning his bolts, he went out and got us some meat, a rabbit. It's not a lot but its enough for the three of us.
However I've decided that before he gets to preparing it he's taking my stitches out. We never know what may happen next so while there is nothing happening and we are both sat here, he might as well do it.
I lean back on my hands and look up at him, after a beat he must realise he is being stared at as he slowly slides his eyes over to mine.
"What?"
"You said end of the week, well it's been a week so", I then point to the stitches on my forehead. "Get pulling".
He leans over the arm to get a closer look at where I'm pointing, "Hey Merle!" Merles head appears out the tent door. "These look ready to you?"
Merle steps fully out and comes and squats down in front of me. He stares at it for so long it actually starts to feel really awkward but finally he rubs his chin and smiles.
"Should think so but I ain't doin' it", Merle then quickly rushes back into the tent and reemerges with a bottle of whiskey. I don't understand where he keeps getting those from because I never ever see him scavenge any or even see where he has it stored here at camp. He hands it to Daryl along with the med kit. Not gonna lie probably wouldn't trust Merle to do it anyway, who knows how unsteady those hands could be right now.
Daryl points for me to sit between his legs, "It'll tug and it'll probably sting", he then douses the tools in whiskey. That's as much sterilisation that you're gonna get now a days. "Hope ya realise ya wiping us out of the good stuff".
I roll my eyes, "because its not like you can pick some up wherever you go".
He doesn't give a warning before he starts he just starts pulling, it feels horrible.
"I 'ave an acquired taste".
I snort quietly, "That's what you're picky about, really? You eat squirrels".
His reply is just shrugging one of his shoulders.
We sit in silence for a bit, the only noise is the occasional sharp intake of breath I accidentally do. I keep screwing my forehead up by wincing but he just keeps tapping his pinky against me to tell me to stop.
As I sit here staring up at him a question starts burning its way through my tongue.
He suddenly leans back in his chair, "done", I don't move though, not until I get an answer.
"Are we still leaving?"
"Ya want to?"
I still believe the less people you have the better off you are. Too many people make you noticeably, three or four is all you should need. You can stay unnoticed but still have enough people to help watch your backs.
Of course I'll miss Amy and Glenn, maybe even the kids but this place isn't safe. Too many people, too much noise.
"Yes". He nods his head but it was quick, one I probably wasn't meant to notice. I guess he was hoping my answer would be yes.
"We get through our hunt and see what Merle brings back, then we leave". He rests his elbows against his knees and leans forward. "Over half these people have no idea how to handle themselves, this ain't somewhere I wanna be."
I give him a tiny smile, I'm glad we're on the same page about this.
I finally decide to give him his space and shuffle back and then change the subject. "So, how does it look". I start to reach out for my backpack where I've stored a handheld mirror, I found it on one of our many trips, when Daryls hand stops me.
"It's scarred, pretty badly. I ain't good at neat stitchin'".
I stare at him for a couple of seconds, un-moving, until I wrap my head around what I've just heard. Is he actually worried about what I think it will look like. He sounds so apologetic. He has nothing to apologise for. I fell over and I cut my head open.
"It's the end of the world, I really don't care what it looks like, as long as it's healed." In response he just hands me my bag.
I stare at myself in the mirror. I was never a seriously vain person before but we're definitely all vain up to a point. It does look worse than I thought it would, and it does cover the entire length of my forehead; It is something that may have made me a little insecure back in the old world but now it does nothing. It's just another scar of survival.
"I helped you, ya helpin' me". I tear my eyes away from my reflection to see him holding out a knife and his rabbit. "Gonna teach ya how to skin an animal".
...
Well skinning animals is definitely something I need a lot of practise with. I sort of made a mess out of it. I guess I needed to be bad at something seeing as I picked everything else up pretty quickly.
Merle is also missing however he did reappear long enough to give me a gift. He made a holder for my bat that I can wear on my back underneath my backpack. It makes my bag bulky but it frees my hands up. It's easy access, I just need to grip the handle and pull and then out it comes. It's a great gift but he didn't stay long enough to receive my thanks.
It's getting dark, it's late and I have to pee. I'm really not a fan of going out there alone and night but I don't have any other options. I grab my torch and get to my feet. Daryl's attention is instantly on me, every time I move he looks at me.
"I need the loo".
"Need me to come?" He doesn't want to but he always offers and I always decline, it would probably be awkward.
"I'm a big girl, I got it", I hope.
"Alright," I see his eyes roam over my body in the fire light and I know he's doing to check I have all my weapons attached. I always do now. Too many things happened for me not to. "Shout if ya need help and if ya see Merle, send him back".
"Will do however I don't intend to see Merle out there. It's not something I would like him to witness thanks."
One side of his mouth tilts up in a smile, he knows his brother.
I'm only gone two minutes but just as I step out from the cover of the trees the heavens decide to open. Couldn't decide to do that earlier when it was scorching hot. The rain feels nice and cool against my hot skin, especially the sunburn I've received, so I stand still to allow it to wash over me.
From the other camp I can hear the kids squealing and can see people rushing around to cover things they don't want wet; And then I look over at Daryl to see he just sits there letting it wash over him to.
There's some swearing followed very quickly by the heavy footsteps of Merle. He steps out beside me.
"The rain flood you out".
He scoffs "Fuck the rain". He then storms over to camp.
Another small piece of information from Merle that he won't elaborate on.
By the time I've slowly walked back to camp the rain has stopped, it was just a summer cloud burst however I'm soaked to the bone.
I stand in the doorway to our tent drying my hair as best I can before putting it back in a braid. I dry my feet and skin but decide to keep these clothes on for now, maybe they'll help keep me cool. I drop the towel onto the floor and reach down to grab another one for the brothers. The scream that passes my lips is completely unintentional but the quick jump out the door isn't. As soon as my bare feet touch the dirt outside I realise my mistake because both Daryl and Merle have both scrambled to their feet, weapons in hand.
I can see the confusion written all over their faces so I point to the door while lightly bouncing on my feet.
"Get it out". That comes out a little more high-pitched than normal.
"What is it". I ignore Daryl as my heart is beating a little too fast to concentrate, instead I grab Merles arm and push him towards the door.
Daryl slowly peels aside the door and steps cautiously inside with Merle right behind him and then they laugh, hard.
Okay I may have slightly over exaggerated my response the thing I saw but that spider is huge. I mean like Merles palm huge. uh uh, I'm not going near that thing.
Merle comes barrelling out the tent with his hands cupped together and then without warning flings his hands at me. I wasn't prepare, although I shouldn't have been surprised, so another squeal lets itself out of me before I can stop it. He bends forward, hands on knees, and laugh. Pee yourself hard. I kick him in the leg with one of my bare feet which causes him to fall sideways into his chair, he raises his hands in surrender.
"Relax girl, I ain't that cruel. Daryl's gettin' it now". Even so I still refuse to get to close to him because I definitely think this is something he would do if given the chance.
Daryl emerges a couple of seconds later with his own hands cupped together. I point off towards the trees.
"Get rid of it". He starts to walk past me but then just stops right beside me. He removes his top hand to allow me to see the biggest, hairiest, ugliest spider I have ever seen in my life. I shove him and quickly move away. "Stop it, please just go away". They both start laughing again but Daryl at least has the decency to go and do as I say.
...
Today's the day. The day Merle goes off into the city and Daryl and I go out into the woods for as long as it takes to get something decent. It's an early start for all of us. The city group want to leave as early as possible, gives them longer to look.
I've repacked my bag, making sure I have everything I need to survive if something was to go wrong, which it's not.
I hear my name being called so swing my bag onto my back to go and meet Amy halfway, she still isn't much of a fan on coming over here when both Dixons are around.
"Hey".
She smiles at me. "Hey back, so I guess today's the day you're going out". I nod, "Well I made you an' Daryl some food. She holds up a plastic container full of stuff.
"You made me a packed lunch?" I'm a little surprised but also not really, she really does care about more than herself.
"Yes I did"
"Well thanks mum, can I have ten dollars for snacks to".
She chuckles, "Only if you come back in one piece".
"Deal, really, thank you for this." and I mean it from the bottom of my heart and when we do come back and then have to leave again she will most definitely be the person I miss most.
"Squirt!" I peer over my shoulder at Merle and hold up one finger.
"I have to go but I'll see you tomorrow and thank you again". I go to walk away but she yanks me into a hug, a very tight hug and one I don't shy away from. When she finally lets go she just stands there wearing a smile as I leave her alone.
"Do I get a goodbye like that squirt, cause I'm hurt if not". I swing my bag and the lunch into the truck bed as I walk past it and then to Merles complete surprise, I hug him, hard.
I still wish he wouldn't go but he is and there's nothing I can do about it.
"Promise me you won't do anything stupid". His leather vest is cool against my cheek as I wait for him to agree, I'm not moving until he does.
"Scouts honour", I keep my arms wrapped round him but tilt my head back to look up at him.
"You were in the scouts?"
He snorts, "Nope". He's not gonna promise something he knows he might not be able to keep, I can understand that but for once I wish he would just lie. Then I could talk myself into believing him.
"Okay but you better not die". I then release him from my grip.
He smiles an actual smile at me. "I won't die" . He then, at the call of his name, picks up his bag. "See ya later squirt".
I stand and watch Merle climb into the car they're taking with my arms wrapped around myself.
A hand lands on my shoulder followed very quickly by the quick touch of lips against my temple, I'm too worried to be happy about it.
"He'll be fine", the lie I wanted but it doesn't do anything to ease my worry.