A/N- WOOT! Chapter 4! Ya'll ready for this?
I watch the CDC, or well what was left of it, burning as we drive away. I can almost still feel the heat from the flames, the jolt from the blast. I sit shot gun with Daryl Dixon, just what I fucking wanted. The blast threw my truck back into a tree. Abby had teased me and made me ride with Daryl, while she took up with Shane and Glenn in the RV. The ride had been quiet so far, Daryl was focused on the road and I was focused on my thoughts. Even back at the CDC we hadn't discussed last night, I sensed Daryl wasn't the "talk about your feelings" type, which I was grateful for. I laid my head back against the seat of the truck and closed my eyes. We had planned to find a place to camp for the night, then head to Fort Benning early the next morning. I was so tired, so drained of everything. I talked with Rick, he said Abby and I could stay with the group, no one seemed to mind. It was nice to relax, just a bit and know someone had our backs.
"So, you ever gonna tell me why you seem so uptight?" Daryl said, breaking the silence.
"What? Why do you say I'm uptight?" I ask, without opening my eyes.
"You always lookin like yer gonna jump outta yer skin." He answered.
"Have you not seen the world as of late?" I asked.
"Yeah, but you don' seen me lookin' like I got a stick up my ass, twenty four seven." He answered bluntly.
"Oh yeah, you're mister calm, cool and collected. Shall we revisit the rocket launcher comment?" I say sarcastically.
"If I'm dyin', it's gonna be on my terms." Daryl said.
"Are we gonna talk about last night?" I finally got the courage to ask.
I see Daryl glance at me, I was a bit relieved to see he kind of looked a bit tense about it. This was a plus, part of me didn't want to talk about it, but the other at least wanted to know something about the man I just had a one night stand with.
"What's there to talk about? We got drunk and fucked. I'm not lookin' to have some feel good cuddly moment now." He answered.
"Good, because neither was I. I'm not in the business of screwing random rednecks." I shot back.
"What the hell did you just call me?" He growled a bit.
"I called you a random RED...NECK. Open your ears." I say in a venomous tone.
I watch Daryl's hand grip the wheel, I was pissing him off, but then he seemed to piss me off and I really didn't even know him. But then, I really didn't want to know him, I didn't have much luck with men like him. Yes, I know, I shouldn't judge him, but nowadays I was skeptical of almost everyone.
"Ok, what the fuck did I do to ya? You've had this is huge fuckin' chip on yer shoulder towards me since we met." Daryl growled without looking my way.
"And why do I gotta tell you anything?" I crossed my arms.
"Cause I wanna know, my truck, my rules." He said.
I roll my eyes as we sit in silence. He was so fucking stupid, and a bit arrogant. I catch him finally glancing at me as he drove, he didn't have the same look Toby did when he was pissed. No, Daryl's eyes seemed a bit soft still, even though I knew he was probably calling me every name in the book in his head.
"I just know your type of guy." I whisper.
"My type? What the fuck? Ya know, maybe you'd be happier if ya weren't so fuckin' judgmental of people. You don't know nothin' about me." He laughed sarcastically.
"I know enough." I mumble.
"Fuck you, ya stupid bitch." he growled.
That was the end of this conversation. I stared out the window as Daryl drove on, I wanted out of this truck as soon as possible. I sigh softly and close my eyes, my mind wondered to Toby. Was he still alive? If he was, could he find me? I know he was going to be pissed, pissed that I left him to fend for himself. I wasn't guilty, he would of done the same thing to me, only he would of took all the food and weapons.
"Finally!" My mind screamed as we stopped. Daryl grabs his crossbow that rested on the seat between us and climbs out of the truck without a word. I slowly climb out as well and walk over to help unload a few things from the RV. I glance over towards Daryl, who was unloading his tent from the bed of the truck. I shake my head as I turn to help Carol unload her tent. Everyone was so quite, focusing on getting their tents up and getting ready to hunker down for the time being. Abby and I continued to help out, if we were going to stay with these people then we were going to pull out own weight. As I work, setting up mine and Abby's tent, I could feel her eyes on me. I knew what she wanted to ask, but I wasn't going to be the first to bring it up to her. I see her smirk as she stops and crosses her arms over her chest.
"Well..." She questioned.
"Well what?" I asked as I drove the last stake into the ground.
"Daryl..." She said.
"What about him?" I was playing dumb.
"You guys talk?" She inquired.
"Barely, he's not someone I wanna hold a long conversation with." I exhale as I stand up.
"Don't you think you're being a bit hard on him, Murph? I mean, I know we know nothing about any of these people, but have you tried?" She asked as she looked at me innocently.
"Ugh! I don't know...yes...no...I don't know." I answer as I grab my desert eagles from the ground where I left them as I pitched the tent.
"Murph, I know you see him as another Toby, but honestly I don't think he is. Look around us, all these people are worn and wounded. Even if he was like Toby, this world now, it's changing people." Abby says as she looks at me.
I knew Abby was right, she normally was. I was level headed, but I had a temper too. Abby on the other had, Abby was a thinker, planned things out and would always choose the right path. She also called me on my bullshit, it's part of the reason I love her so much.
"Ok, FINE...maybe I have been a little bit of a bitch." I say.
"A little?" Abby asked sarcastically.
"FINE! I've been an uber bitch, complete with horns and drool. Ya happy now?" I ask in a playful tone.
Abby laughs, putting an arm around my shoulder as we walk towards the group.
"Yes. All I'm sayin' is, these people, including Daryl, are just as hurt as we are, just as stressed. All I'm sayin' is give him a chance." She says.
I sigh and say "fine" as we walk up to the others. I look around and finally notice the looks in their eyes were the same as mine and Abby's. Just like us, they too had their lives ripped apart, everything they had was taken and they were tossed into this new hell, just like Abby and I. I glance towards Daryl and think maybe I have been harsh. I mean she was right, even he had some part of his life ripped away from him.
"Ok, tonight we all stick together. We can take turns on watch, to make sure everyone gets some sleep. We have a long road ahead of us." Rick advised.
Everyone nods before the women and kids head over to the RV and the guys begin to make a game plan for the evening. I hear Daryl say he was going to hunt for something to make dinner out of. Abby looks at me, I know what she was thinking. I shake my head, but before a knew it, she was calling out to Daryl.
"Hey, Rick said we should stick close. Maybe you should take someone with you." Abby stated as she shoved me towards Daryl.
"That's up to her. Jus keep out the way" He said looking at me.
I glared at Abby, fought back a smart ass remark and pulled one of my eagles out. I roll my eyes and tell her I was gonna shoot her later. Abby just laughs and heads over to see if she could help out the guys. I trudge towards Daryl and soon we're heading into the woods around camp. Daryl had his bow ready, I walk behind him, my eagle trained. We're still in silent mode, waiting for the other to swallow their pride and utter the first word.
"Daryl..." I whisper.
"What?" He answered back.
"I'm...I'm sorry for what I said. I was wrong for judging you." I say without looking at him.
"Forget it, not the worst thing that's ever been said to me." He says as he lowers his bow a bit.
"I know I shouldn't judge a book by it's cover." I continue to whisper.
"I said it's ok, so drop it. I'm not all into sharin' feelins." He said as we paused to look around.
"I'm just saying, I'm not normally such a bitch." I say, finally looking at him.
"Coulda fooled me." He answered as he looked back at me.
"I'm not, I'm a total sweetheart." I managed to laugh quietly.
"Yea, well again, coulda fooled me. Ya jumped me like a wild cougar." He smirked a bit.
"Fuck you, Dixon." I joked.
"Ya already did that." He gave me a cocky smirk.
I stood their shocked, did he really just say that? I couldn't really be mad, it wasn't like I was moaning "no, stop" at him last night. No, it was the opposite. I was begging him for more, begging him to move faster. I shake my head at him and roll my eyes.
"I will shoot you." I say.
Daryl just laughs as we continue on. He didn't seem to let too much get to him. I mean, I bet he had a temper, but something told me that was if you gave him a reason to be violent. I shake my head and continue to follow, watching Daryl's back and keeping an eye out for possible dinner options. I laugh a bit to myself, this time last month I was bitching about no food in my fridge. Oh, how things change.
"So, what's yer story." I heard Daryl ask.
"Whatcha mean?" I inquire.
"I may seem like jus another dumb redneck, but I'm not as stupid as people think. I notice things. Like, you look me in the eye, but it's like ya look right past me, you flinch when someone touches ya, you look down at yer feet alot. Carol does the same thing." He whispered that last part.
"Just shy." I lied.
"Bullshit, I know the signs. Not to mention I'm guessing yer man was abusive, maybe even a redneck..." He trailed off as he looked at me.
I sigh, what use was it hiding things? He had hit the nail right on the head. I lower my eagle and look at him. I already hate the cocky grin he gets, like he knows he's right and waiting for you to admit he's right. I flip him off and walk around him. I hear him laugh, he shakes his head as we walk.
"Oh, look at you now, being all smart. Don't hurt yourself, Dixon." I say sarcastically.
Again Daryl just laughs sarcastically as we walk. Honestly, I admit, he didn't seem too bad. He seemed more level headed than Toby, but had a temper that could make Toby look like a baby. I go to speak, but stop as I hear a few branches break. Daryl lifts his crossbow as I train my eagles in the direction of the noise. On instinct, not to mention it's how I work with Abby, I press my back against Daryl's. He doesn't say anything, just lets me move with him as we track the sound. I look around, keeping an eye out for walkers. I hear Daryl growl just a bit before I feel him shoot his bow. I spin around, ready to take a shot when I stop. There at Daryl's feet was a small deer. I was relieved at the fact it hadn't been a walker. I watch him walk towards it and pull the arrow from it, it was still alive, but too wounded to run. I lift my eagle and do the humane thing, bullet between the eyes. Daryl looks at me almost as if he approved.
"I see ya ain't afraid to get yer hands dirty, princess." He smirks as he slings his bow over his shoulder.
"Shut it, or I'll make you carry this deer back by yourself." I answer.
Daryl just gives me a cocky smirk as I toss him one of my eagles. He looks curiously at me, not sure what my plan was.
"It will be easier to shoot than your bow, should we encounter a walker on the way back, while carrying this deer." I answer.
Daryl nods and we both work to hoist the deer up, tonight we were going to eat well, it would help us for the trip to Fort Benning. We walk silently, but it wasn't an awkward silence, more like a peaceful one. I found myself kind of enjoying it. I holster my eagle as we approach camp, I can hear the others already commenting on the deer. Daryl and I toss it on an old picnic table as the guys come over to inspect it. I slowly back away from the group, letting Daryl take credit. He glances at me and I nod before turning and walking towards my tent. Abby passes and smiles at me, I smile back and tell her to wake me in two hours because I was going to tell Rick I can help on watch. Abby nods and I disappear into the tent.
I lay my eagle aside, making note to get the other one from Daryl later and lay down. My head was starting to hurt and I had caught myself thinking of Daryl. I silently curse myself, I needed to not be thinking such things in the middle of the fucking apocalypse. The last two days have felt like a blur, I knew what I was doing, but everything was moving too fast.
I feel someone gently shaking me, I groan a bit and roll over. As I open my eyes I see Carol sitting next to me, Abby must of let her in. She looks down at me concerned. I rub my eyes and sit up, I feel like I've been hit by a truck. I guess things were hitting me harder than I realized. I look at Carol and smile softly. She is like a mother hen almost, she seems to want to take care of everyone.
"Carol? What are you doing?" I ask politely.
"Abby is patrolling with Shane, I heard you crying in your sleep." She answered.
Of course I was, when I was stressed I always talked in my sleep. I run a hand through my unruly hair and look around. Night had fallen, Abby must of left me to sleep. I sigh softly as I look back at Carol.
"Yeah, sorry. Just been stressed, but then yeah, look at the world." I laugh a bit.
"It's ok to be scared. If I um, if I can ask...who's Toby?" She looked at me curiously.
"My ex." I whisper and look away.
"Oh..." Carol answered and placed a hand on my leg.
I knew Carol could tell there was more to Toby then him just being my ex. I flinch a bit and Carol withdrawals her hand. She looks at me, brushes my hair from my shoulder revealing a scar. I could feel her eyes on me, I wanted to tell her to leave, I could take care of my self, but honestly, at the moment, I couldn't. I sniffle a bit and refuse to look at Carol, if I did my wall would break and I would be crying like a stupid little girl. I guess Carol sensed it and drew me into a hug. It's funny, I barely know this woman, yet here she is seeming to sense my problem and comforting me. Before I know it I wrap my arms around Carol and hug her back. We slowly break apart after a minute or two and I offer her a smile.
"Thanks." I say.
"I recognize the signs. Toby...he...he abused you, didn't he?" She asked softly.
"Yeah...I tried not to piss him off, other times I would fight back. It was an endless cycle." I say as I pull my knees up to my chest.
"My husband, Ed...he was a good man at one time. Then he changed, turned into this new person after Sophia was born, he never wanted a child. I knew with a child, I would have someone who loved me and who I could love with my whole heart." Carol smiled a bit as she spoke of Sophia.
"Sophia is a beautiful little girl, you did a good job. She's a sweetheart." I say with a smile.
"Thank you." Carol smiled back.
Carol and I continued to talk, bond and relax a bit. We had something in common, we both had been with horrible men. It's funny all it took was the end of the world to make us leave them. I smile as I listen to Carol, she was really a smart woman. Something inside told me I could confide in her. I could get use to this group of people, maybe even Daryl.
A/N- Short I know, but this is and the next chapter go together. I didn't want her to reveal too much yet. :) I hope ya'll are enjoying the ride thus far.