A/N- We ready for this? Thanks for sticking with me guys. I love you all!
I stand in the living room, with Daryl. We are waiting on everyone to congregate, to decide what we were going to do with Randall. I stood rubbing my arms, but I smile when I feel Daryl's hands on my arms rubbing them. I lean back into him, I needed his touch, needed him near. I was still shaken by the events of this morning, but I knew I had to push them away, push forward. Rick and Lori both enter, we stand in silence for moment, Carl trying to listen, Daryl and I glance at him, then at Lori before Carl walks off. Everyone stood in silence for a few moments, everyone wondering what to say or do.
"So how do we do this? Just take a vote?" Glenn asked.
"Does it have to be unanimous?" Andrea asked.
"Majority rules?" Lori inquired.
I was Abby stand next to Shane, her eyes heavy like mine, we were both deep in thought. I knew she was probably for sparing Randall, under normal circumstances I would be to, but that wasn't the case. I look over my shoulder at Daryl, he eyes were cast down. I kiss his forehead reassuring him and get a glance in return.
"Let's just see where everybody stands, then we can talk through the options." Rick said.
"Hell, the way I see it, there's only one was to move forward." Shane said.
"Killing him, Right? I mean why ever bother to take a vote? It's clear which was the winds blowing." Dale said.
"Well if people believe we should spare him, I wanna know." Rick said.
We look around, everyone's expression was clear, almost everyone was for killing Randall, I admit, I just wanted it done and over with. I know it would weigh on our consciences, but we would have to deal with it like we have everything else.
"Well I can tell you it's a small group. Maybe just me and Glenn…" Dale said, but paused when he saw Glenn's face.
"I-I think you're pretty much right about everything all the time, but this…." Glenn said, but was cut off.
"They've got you scared." Dale said.
"He's not one of us and we've lost too many people already." Glenn said, sounding a bit hopeless.
Everyone was silent, until Abby stepped forward.
"I agree, we need to stick together, we can't afford to lose anyone else. We are already broken; let's not further shatter our fragile state. I, I couldn't bear to lose any more of my family." Abby says with a sigh.
Shane takes her hand, showing her some comfort as I watch, I was with Abby, this was a hard decision. We risked shattering the last bit of hope we all had. I listened intently to Dale question everyone. I wish I had an answer, which I knew an easy fix. I felt powerless, but I knew we had to eliminate the threat. We would surely die should this group find us. I bite my lip and look away as Dale questions Maggie, Andrea throws her two cents in. I shiver a bit, but calm when Daryl drops his hand, lacing his fingers with mine.
"Look, say we let him join us, alright, maybe he's helpful, maybe he's nice. We let our guard down then maybe he runs off, brings back his thirty men." Shane says.
"So the answer is to kill him to prevent a crime he may never even attempt? If we do this, we're saying there is no hope; rule of law is dead there's no civilization." Dale pleads.
We look around, Abby looks down, it was my turn to step forward. I look at Daryl; this was a rare time he didn't let go of my hand when we were in front of the group.
"I hate to say it, but Shane's right. We've already been through hell, we can't do it again. Under normal circumstances I would protest, but these aren't normal circumstance. Him or us and I choose us." I say softly.
Rick nods, we continue to talk it over. Hershel asking if they could drive out and leave Randall further out, Lori protested. I sigh, we weren't getting anywhere. I gently chew on my bottom lip as Patricia asks how we would kill him. Honestly I was curious about that. If we were going to kill him, we needed to be humane about it, he was still a person.
I silently prayed for today to be over, for everything to be done with, I felt our group breaking more being torn in to many directions to keep track of. Shane suggested hanging, Rick said shooting would be more humane. Then Dale spoke up again.
"Hold on, hold on, you're talking bout this like it's already decided." Dale pleaded.
"Been talkin all day, goin around in circles, you just wanna go round in circles again?" Daryl asked.
"This is a young man's life, and it's worth more than a five minute conversation." Dale protested as he watched silently. "Is this what it's come to? We kill someone cause we don't know what else to do with em?" Dale pointed at Rick. "You saved him and now look at us. He's been tortured, he's gonna be executed. Now how are we any better than those people we're so afraid of?" Dale asked.
He was right, but what other choice did we have? This was a double edges sword. I look over my shoulder at Daryl, he looked like he was concentrating. I sigh softly. I wish there was an easy solution to this. I scratch my head gently as I listen.
"We all know what needs to be done." Shane said.
"No, Dale's right, we can't leave any stone unturned. We have responsibilities." Rick said.
"So what's the other solution? We haven't come up with one viable option yet, I wish we could." Andrea added.
"Let's work on it." Rick said.
Carol piped in, I'm not sure what she said, I was busy locking eyes with Abby. It was strange; we could communicate with little to no words. She say the fear and uncertainty in my eyes, I saw the same in hers. I nod softly at her, mouth that I loved her, she does the same back. This was all so frustrating, there was no real right answer, just the lesser of two evils.
"Alright, that's enough. Anybody wants the floor before we make a final decision has the chance." Rick said.
"You once said that we don't kill the living." Dale stated.
"Well that's before the living, tried to kill us." Rick said sternly.
"But don't you see, if we do this, the people that we were, the world we knew is dead, and this new world is ugly, it's harsh. It's survival of the fittest and that's a world I don't wanna live in, and I don't believe any of you do, I can't. Please, let's just do what's right." Dale asked tearfully.
There was silence, I turned, hugging Daryl, I needed to feel safe. This who situation was horrible. I let a few tears fall as he rubs my back. Abby laid her head on Shane's shoulder, sighing deeply. We all were looking for an answer, a sign what of what we needed to do. I silently pray, asking God for help as the others mummer around me. We sat in silence, no one brave enough to utter a word.
"Is there anyone else who's gonna stand with me?" Dale asked.
"He's right; we should try to find another way." Andrea said after a moment of silence.
"Anybody else?" Rick asked.
We all stood in silence, Carol had been right; you couldn't really ask us to make this type of decision. We couldn't play God with someone's life, but in the other hand we needed to protect ourselves.
"Are you all gonna watch to?" Dale asked. "Naw, you'll go hide your heads in your tents and try to forget we're slaughtering a human being. I won't be a party to it." He added.
Dale walked away, stopping by Daryl for a moment, putting his hand on Daryl's shoulder.
"This group is broken." Dale said.
I watch Dale walk away, I step away from Daryl. We all look at each other, everyone unsure of what to do next. I run a hand through my hair walking from the room, heading outside for some air. I hear Abby call my name as I side on the railing around the porch. She smiles at me, sitting down next to me. She puts an arm around my shoulder, laying her head against the side of mine. I hold on to her and sigh softly.
"Today has just been one great fuckin' day." I mumble.
"I'm sorry Murph, I wish I could of stopped him." She whispers softly.
"I know baby girl." I say, kissing the top of her head. "It's not your fault, I knew it was coming, I felt it in my bones. He had probably been lying in wait." I say softly. "And now, I already took one life, did I really agree in taking another?" I inquired.
"We have no choice, it's us or them. Shane was right; we can't afford to let him go." She says softly.
"I know..." I say softly.
"It will be ok, Murph." She reassures me.
"I hope so." I whisper as I hug her.
"You aren't alone, you'll always have me and I would follow you to the gates of hell, with Dixon trailing right behind." She says softly.
"I love you both so much; you guys are what keeps me sane." I say lacing my fingers with hers.
"And you do the same for us, Murph." She says.
I nod, we sit in silence, wrapped up in each other, taking comfort in the other. We watch Shane, Rick and Daryl step out onto the porch discussing what to do with Randall. Daryl glances towards us, nodding as he did. We smile back before he turns back to Rick and Shane.
I don't know how long Abby and I sat there, but it was starting to get dark. Shane walks up on to the porch, Daryl behind him. They walks towards Abby and I.
"Evenin' ladies." Shane said softly. "Can I talk to you Abby?" He asked.
Abby nods, I kiss her head before watching her walk away with Shane. I bite my lip gently as Daryl walks up to me, standing between my legs as they dangle from the railing. He leans forward, kissing the top of my head, placing his hands on my thighs.
"How ya feelin'?" He asked softly.
"Tired, scared, sick.…" I say softly.
"Sorry Murph." He says softly.
"Not your fault. You've been my salvation." I say, looking into the pale blue eyes of my hunter.
"I'm no one's salvation…" He whispered, kissing me hair.
"Yes, you are." I say, wrapping my arms around him, pressing my forehead to his chest. "You're mine Dixon. You keep me sane, make me feel safe. I hate the fact I judged you. I hate that if I had kept judging you, kept pushing you away I would of lost the chance to know what real love was. I'm sorry…" I cried as my wall finally broke.
"It's ok, Murph." He said, rubbing my back softly as he held me. "I understand, I don't blame you, I'm not exactly the nicest person to get along with." He assured me.
I cried, holding him tight. I had judged him so much and he still loved me, chased my demons away and stood by my side. How did I deserve him? I must have done something amazing to deserve such a loving heart. Granted I knew, I was one of the few who got to see it. Daryl lifts my chin, kissing me softly. I return his kiss before I feel his thumb wiping away my tears.
"I love you Dixon." I whisper into the kiss.
"I love ya too, O'Connor." He whispered, cupping my face as he kissed me.
He let the kiss linger before gently pulling back. He cups my face, looking into my two toned eyes.
"There's more?" He asked.
"I…I already took one life today; it's not fair to be asked if I am ok in taking another. I…I don't know if I can do this…."I trail off.
"You don't gotta do it alone, I know it's hard, but it's something we gotta do." He says kissing my forehead. "I won't let anything happen to you. The thought of 30 men storming this camp and what they will do to ya, it makes me want to eliminate that threat. For the first time I got someone who loves me and I ain't gonna let no one threaten that." He says.
"I know, and I appreciate it. I trust you…" I whispered softly.
"Good, I'll always keep you safe Murph, you and Abby." He assures me.
I bring him down into another kiss, letting him lift me off the railing and into his arms. I wrap my arms around his neck as he carries me back inside, up to the room Hershel gave me to use. I sigh softly as we reach the room and he lays me down on the bed. He kicks off his boots, lying next to me, pulling me into his arms so my back rested against his chest. My body was still so sorry, but being in Daryl's arms made it bearable.
"I trust you Daryl, I trust you to do what you have to. Protect me, I need you…" I whisper. "I don't wanna hurt anymore…" I say, closing my eyes.
I lay there quietly, Daryl gently rubbing my stomach as he kissed the back of my head.
"I told ya, I will always protect ya, no matter what." He promised.
I nod softly, closing my eyes, letting Daryl comfort me. I guess a few hours had passed, when I woke up Daryl was gone and night had fallen. I yawn sitting up, looking out of the open window. That's when I heard it; I heard screaming in the distance. I leap to my feet, paying no mind to the pain in my body as I grab my eagle from the nightstand and run down the stairs, out of the house.
I ran as fast as my legs could carry me, joining the others as we rushed into the field. My blood ran cold as we come upon Dale, laying torn open on the ground as Daryl killed the walker. I scream out, rushing towards him, falling to my knees next to him. Abby is on her knees next to me, we hide our faces in the crooks of each other's necks as we hold each other and sob.
I felt the world around me shattering, everything was darkening. Rick screamed for help, begged Hershel to save Dale, even if we all knew it was too late. My breath hitched as Abby and I sobbed. Rick made a choice, raised his gun, but Daryl took it from him. Rick passed a grateful look as Daryl kneeled.
"Sorry Brother." He said.
The gunshot echoed, cries of "NO" rang out as we sobbed. I didn't know how much this group was going to be able to take before we all shattered into so many pieces no one would ever be able to gather them all. I Feel Daryl wrap his arms around Abby and I, our heads rested on his chest as he lowered his head.
We all sat, sobbing, mourning. Shane picked Abby up in his arms, I feel Daryl lift me from the ground. I feel myself being carried back to the house, silently sobbing as my body shook from the force. I hear Hershel tell Daryl to take me back to the house, the room was ours for the night. I hear Daryl tell him thanks before carrying me up the steps. I sigh softly as he lays me down, taking my gun from the waist of my pants, placing it back on the nightstand.
He crawls into bed with me, moving so my head rested on his chest. I hold him tight; I can tell he was crying as well, his chest heaved slightly. I held him close as he did the same to me. I didn't look at him, I knew he hated me to see him cry, but I whispered it was ok. Daryl turned the lamp off in the room and there we both laid, sobbing for the events of this whole fucking day, but take solace in the fact we were safe in each other's arms.
A/N- Still enjoying? I love protective territorial Daryl. I know it's short, but I am trying to time things right, bear with me please. J