So, here's the promised second chapter! Thanks again for waiting for so long.
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Part 29: Assumptions Part Two
…..
Will was wired up all that day, waiting for his youngest son to come back from school. To him, it seemed the day was never-ending. Meanwhile his fear and anxiety for him continued to build.
So, when he heard footsteps on the gravel outside he was leapt to his feet.
'Daryl?' He shouted out into the hall.
'No, it's me, Merle.'
'Come in, son. Must have fallen asleep. What you been up to?' Will tried to hide his disappointment.
'This and that.' His eyes darted evasively away and the father guessed he'd been with some girl or another or girls. At least he didn't look drugged up or loaded.
'What's the time?'
Merle glanced at his watch and told him.
'Daryl should be home soon. Where the hell is he?'
Merle nodded, both of them feeling tense, the unspoken question hanging heavy between them.
Will could stand it no longer and got up and pulled the net curtain aside to look out of the window. Still no sign of him. He hoped that he wasn't hurt.
'He tell you anythin'?'
'Nah.'
'I swear, if he's so much as laid a finger on him...' Will growled. 'Look, can you try to ask him again? He'll tell you.'
'Calm down, Dad. Probably nothin's happened…The creep would be a fool to... Let's just see what he's got to say for himself when he comes back.'
'If that's true, then why ain't he back yet?' The father paced anxiously to and fro.
'He's only 5 minutes late…give him time.'
'Go get me a whiskey. Pour yourself one while ya at it.'
'Ya sure?' Merle was incredulous before he ran out to the kitchen. Their father rarely invited him to share and when he'd stolen from him – he'd noticed every time.
And punished him accordingly.
Just when Merle was about to refill their glasses, he spotted his brother walking down the road towards their house through the dirty window.
Fifteen minutes late.
'Dad, Daryl's comin'!'
Will leapt up again from his armchair but he was a little calmer now. 'He look OK to you?'
'Seems to be.
Will breathed a sigh of relief. 'Tell 'im to get in here!'
Merle was there to greet his brother before he had time to open the door himself.
'Everythin' OK?' He asked.
'Yeah.'
'That you, Daryl? Come in here, son.'
'He's really worried about you.' Merle told him a low voice.
'Yeah, I know. Dad?' His brother rolled his eyes and sighed heavily as he started walking reluctantly towards the living room.
'How was school? Any trouble?'
Daryl could tell that his dad was pretty sober – for him anyway - he'd had enough experience gauging his father's moods and being able to tell when he was just drunk or when he was angry drunk and therefore dangerous. Still, he felt safer with Merle there, no matter what mood his father was in, even though his brother was currently handing their father a half full glass of whiskey.
Daryl knew what he was getting at. 'No, Dad.'
'Yeah? Ya sure about that?' He spat out irritably.
'Dad, don't start.' Merle muttered as he took in Daryl giving their father a tired look. 'He said there wasn't so leave it, OK?'
'Well, can ya fucking blame me, boy?' Will was starting to slur.
They both must have underestimated how much he'd been drinking when they weren't there.
Before Merle could react, his father raised his glass to his lips and downed everything in it. 'You got money, Merle? Go get me something stronger to drink other than this shit here from the store and buy us some dinner. Somethin' decent.'
The older brother was immediately suspicious. 'Why? You gonna grill him some more while I'm gone, that it?'
'I need to talk to him. Make sure he's OK.'
'Dad..Told you nothin' happened!' Daryl protested. He was getting sick of them talking about him like he wasn't there and although he didn't think his dad was going to hurt him today, he didn't want to be interrogated again. 'Can't I go with him?'
'No. Told you to stay here!' Will barked and Daryl flinched back, moving towards his brother unconsciously.
'Think I'm leavin' him alone with you in this state?' Merle yelled back, pulling Daryl against him protectively. Will frowned. 'You're drunk!'
'Give the boy a prize for figuring that one out.'
'I'll go and get your stinking booze and food but he's goin' with me!'
'Merle…' Daryl tried to shake him off. 'It's OK.' He didn't want them to fight – when they did, it always seemed to be over him.
'Let him go. I won't harm him.' Will sighed. 'Come here, boy. I didn't mean to yell at you just now. I'm just so angry …'
'Merle, it's OK.' Daryl told his brother and went over to their dad willingly.
Merle looked back, checking them over and when he saw their father draw Daryl gently to him, the worry uncoiled itself from his chest. He could see Will wasn't in a violent mood and even though he was full of rage, none of it was directed at his little brother.
'I won't be long, though. Don't you be trying to get his name out of him and upsetting him while I'm gone.'
'Don't worry. We're jus' gonna have a little chat is all – father and son.'
Their dad smiled toothily then, and Merle knew he would probably ask Daryl at least once, that was just the way he was wired. Truth was, Merle didn't really blame him either, he wanted to know just as badly so that he would be able to beat the shit out of the creep, but he also could tell how much them hassling him irritated Daryl. There was that, and that he also knew better than to say no when his father told him to do something despite his bluster. But when Daryl shrugged his shoulders giving his brother the final go ahead to leave, Merle was out of the door like the wind.
….
Meanwhile Will's worry continued to build and as soon as it shut behind his eldest, he immediately started by motioning Daryl to stand in front of him.
'What happened today?' He demanded just as Daryl knew he would.
'Nothin', Dad. I swear!'
The older Dixon humpfed unconvincingly.
'Did you have class with him?'
'What? With who?' The boy was playing dumb Will knew that, making his eyes go all big and innocent but under them were dark circles. His kid looked exhausted.
'Who do ya think? Don't lie to me, son! Flutterin' those pretty, big blue eyes at me ain't gonna get ya nowhere!' He couldn't stop his voice from rising.
Naturally, he was confused and frowned down at his father. No more than Will himself wondering where those words had come from.
Oh, but Will knew.
He knew.
But he didn't dwell on the thought even as he wished he could take them all back.
'Tell me who it was so that I can cut his dick off already!' He snapped in frustration and before he knew what he was doing, he yanked Daryl's arm so hard that he landed ass end up on the sofa. 'Ya want him to do it to more boys like you?'
'Dad...It weren't anyone we know...It was just some asshole who jumped me from behind when I was on my way home from school...But I fought him off!' He protested as he tried to right himself but Will interrupted him.
Only thinkin' of ya...want to protect ya!'
'How many times do I need to tell you that nothin' happened? I dealt with it!' Now his son's voice was rising in frustration in turn.
Dad scoffed. 'If nothin' happened, then how could you deal with it?'
Daryl was stumped and inwardly swore at his own bad choice of words. His dad was smart and knew how to tie him up with them.
'It don't matter no more. Just leave it!'
'Don't you give me that shit. You were screamin' in ya sleep about him last night, whoever he was and you were so out of it you were telling me to get off ya!' He grabbed his son's shoulders and shook him roughly. 'And don't tell me that it was nothing, when you came home that day, you were crawlin' out of your own skin!'
'Bastard's scared of me now! Won't even look at me.'
Will smiled as his son didn't even realise his second mistake as he pulled away from him. Will let him go because now the Dixon was finally emerging from his son. He had to hide the smile that was threatening to appear on his lips despite everything even as he gently but relentlessly tightened the net around him.
'Won't even look at you anymore, huh?'
'Look, it ain't like I'm ever gonna see him again.' His son lied.
'So you did know him, then?'
Daryl looked up at him like a deer caught in the headlights, caught in his own half-truths. 'No...but...I mean, yeah - kinda but...'
Will tugged him to him by his arms and brought them almost nose to nose as he forced Daryl to look him in the eye. His son squirmed, clearly uncomfortable with this level of scrutiny because of what usually happened when Will caught him out telling lies...
But luckily for him, his dad seemed amused by his spluttering half-lies. He reasoned it was probably the prospect of good food and good booze when Merle got back that was mellowing him out.
'I mean I caught him lookin' at me before. Like across the street...gave me the jeepers. But he don't live here...He's jus' passin' through...Spotted him a few weeks ago the first time. Never bothered me before...'
'Hmmm,' Will pretended to believe him when he wasn't convinced. Not by a long chalk. 'But tell me this at least. Ya still scared he'll come back to get everythin' he didn't get the first time?'
Daryl's slight recoil didn't escape his father before he watched him quickly recover himself.
'No! As if.' He sneered. 'I'll be ready and waitin' for him. But something in his body-language was betraying him despite his attitude.
'It's OK.' Will quickly pulled Daryl closer before he could protest. 'It's OK. I'm sorry I got angry with you.' His voice was soft and soothing.
'He's nothin' – tellin' ya, he's a coward really.'
'That you think he's a coward doesn't really matter though, son. Creeps like him always try their luck at least twice.'
'Keep tellin' ya not to worry about it, dad! I told him he better shift his worthless ass right out of town if he don't want me to kick it again! He's movin' on and ain't ever comin' back if he knows what's best for him!' Daryl's eyes flashed with anger and he wasn't putting on a complete act when he recalled how he'd stood up to Rogers.
Will smiled back in relief, finally convinced by his words. 'That's my son.' He tussled his hair fondly. 'Ya a Dixon. Don't take no shit from no one.'
Daryl looked at him and shook his head, feeling quite pleased when his father finally seemed satisfied with his story.
Will brushed his hair back before he finally released him by giving him a little playful jab with his fist to his ribs. 'Why don't you go and find Merle down at the store and help him choose that smooth brandy I like? You know the expensive one that's like honey when it slips down your throat that I get when we got the money? And make sure he gets food that goes together – damn fool boy don't know a thing about cookin'!'
They shared a laugh at that, and Will watched his son's back disappear through the door. He heard him pull the front door gently to and not long after, he shut his eyes and fell into a restless sleep.
...
Will woke up, rubbing his eyes blearily and decided to go upstairs. His sons could cook their meal and wake him up when it was ready. Besides, his back wouldn't thank him if he made falling asleep on the couch a habit.
Then he heard his boys talking outside his bedroom – he hadn't heard them come in. So, they aren't hungry either, - even Merle ain't, he thought to himself. He didn't bother to listen at first as he crawled into his bed – his only desire to close his eyes and sleep, hoping Merle would get the truth out of his incredibly stubborn little brother. He had a way with Daryl that no one else had and if anyone could get him to open up about what had happened to him, it would be him.
This thought drove his drowsiness away in a hurry and he opened his eyes to listen, wide awake now. The boy was in his big brother's room and they had left the door open. There was no great distance from Merle's room to Will's so with the open door, he had no trouble hearing what they were saying. Especially since they weren't trying to keep their voices down or at least Merle wasn't.
'He did WHAT?' Merle roared.
This was it. He would find out the truth now. Will got up and went to stand behind the door to peek. He couldn't see much though.
'It weren't like I told Dad... It didn't happen on the way home from school and I didn't fight him off. Plus - he did a whole lot more than I said.'
'Ya don't say,' Will thought sourly to himself. He hadn't bought the story that it wasn't someone local who had just jumped him – boy was too shaken up for something like that. Anyway, who would come to a shithole backwater like where they lived? Now I'll get to the truth, Will thought to himself with relief.
'Daryl...It's OK. Dad and me won't let him hurt ya again...'
While Will was wrapped up in his own thoughts, Daryl had apparently started to cry. Now he could hardly get a word out between sobs that were pure torture for Will to listen to especially when he couldn't do a thing about them. Because if he did he would blow his cover and then would probably never find out what had happened. Therefore, he held back and forced himself to listen.
Yet, Daryl was so incoherent that Will couldn't make out his answer so instead, he continued to watch them while they were apparently oblivious to his presence.
'Hush now...Don't cry.' Merle probably had an arm about his shoulder.
Will frowned.
'But I...I...I liked it. Some of it anyway.' Daryl forced the words out painfully. 'Do you think I'm disgustin' now, Merle? You hate me, don't ya?'
'Don't talk shit. Ya didn't. He made you. Forced you.'
'Forced me to like it?' He cried incredulously in pain.
Will didn't take his words immediately and what they meant as he imagined him turning up his sad big blue eyes to his big brother, probably tearing up again. He'd been through such a lot and was still so fragile no matter how brave he was or how much of a convincing tough act he put on.
'And...and...' Will could just see him blush and look down at his body...'He was touchin' me...I didn't want him to at first but then I started to feel funny...I...started to...to like it.' He finished helplessly.
Will swayed on his feet, feeling sick. Liked it? LIKED it? His sweet son clearly was a queer! Although he guessed he'd known all along but now it was confirmed.
His heart sank down into his shoes.
'You didn't like it. 'Cos when someone touches those parts of ya body...it don't matter who it is, um...those parts get excited, um...ya know? Even if ya don't want ...um...them to and ya can't do a thing to stop it. Ya body can um...can want it even if ya mind don't... And then past a certain point...'
Despite his shock at Daryl's revelation Will sniggered at Merle's awkward attempt to give his younger sibling sex ed. in which he always claimed to be such an expert. More than that, it wasn't like him to get tongue-tied when talking about his favorite subject but he did whenever it came to his baby brother.
'Really?' Daryl didn't know any of this and his father's heart skipped a beat in sympathy as it came to him then that Daryl didn't fully understand what had just happened to him.
Not by a long shot.
'Who was it?'
'Not this again! You sound jus' like Dad. Already told ya both I ain't telling ya! You don't know him! No point anyway - it's over.'
'Jus' tell us – was it a teacher? It was, wasn't it?
Daryl fell silent and Will took this as 'yes'.
'Was it..?' Merle's loud voice turned into a whisper. Will clenched his fists and growled in frustration when he couldn't hear the name.
'Yeah – it was.'
'I knew it! And I did know him – he was my teacher too, remember? Always gave me the creeps but now I know why...'
'But don't tell dad, I told ya. It ain't like he fucked me or nothin'.'
Will winced and drew in a painful breath sharply. Daryl sounded like his older brother when he spoke like that.
'But ya told me he did...'
'Not really. He...He didn't put it in.' He finished awkwardly.
'Yeah, but he might next time.'
'Said he was gonna save that for later when I was ready.'
Merle spluttered in outraged disgust. 'Jesus, like you were ever gonna be ready! What a freak! Did ya tell him to stop?'
Daryl paused and answered hesitantly. 'Yeah...'
'And did he?'
'No, never.'
Will heard Merle hiss, no doubt thinking longingly about the hunting-knife in his sock drawer that Will knew was there, hidden under his dirty magazines. He'd seen it when he'd gone snooping, looking for drugs in his bedroom.
'How many times did ya tell him to stop?'
''Why the fuck does it matter, Merle?' Will heard him sigh resignedly, sounding decades older than his years.
'Daryl!' Merle pressed on.
'Loads of times. But Merle...He jus' ignored me and kept right on. That's just it though, I don't think I really wanted him to stop. He kept tellin' me that too - that I didn't mean it and that he was gonna make me like it.'
'No...Sh...sh...baby', Will groaned, feeling sickened. It was Mike all over again but apparently, this particular pervert had a different modus operandi.
'What exactly did he do?'
'Merle, I don't want to talk about it, OK?'
'Didn't take it slow with ya, did he?'
''The point is I didn't want to stop. The more we did stuff...I mean I did...but he...he...when he touched me...down...down...there...it – I mean my body liked it but I didn't! I swear!'
Will gasped out loud and his rage swung back to his teenage son now. Had he raised a little slut who couldn't say no?
Daryl broke down again just then and Will was no longer completely sure in his suspicions when he heard him sobbing piteously and his hands itched to comfort him – another U-turn in his emotions. It was clear to him that his youngest son didn't have the words or the experience to express the confusing and very painful thing that had happened to him. Or his own conflicting feelings about it.
Will groaned and closed his eyes, imagining it and his sympathy turned into something...well, into something else. His son was still a virgin at least that left him all for him. He felt a throb of desire and felt sick that it was for his own flesh and blood. More worryingly, as he grew more excited, Daryl's weeping put him off less than it should have done.
'Sick fuck!' Merle was naturally indignant, thankfully his yell put an end to Will's thoughts that disgusted him and put his own rage into words. Yet Will startled at first, momentarily thinking his older son was addressing him. Of course, if he could have read his father's mind right then, Merle would have been within his rights to do so.
Would have been well in his rights to take a shotgun and shoot him in the head whether he'd touched Daryl or not. Will had to face facts.
'When I'm through with him, fucker'll wish he was dead! But I'll never let him die!', Merle finished in rage.
Out in the hall Will cursed a second time because they still hadn't divulged said 'fucker's' name out loud so that he could hear it.
'Don't, Merle – You don't wanna kill an innocent man, do ya?'
'Innocent...' Merle muttered in utter disgust.
'He never hurt me, not really!'
'Not REALLY?'
'Merle...Does all this make me a fag?' Daryl pleaded heartbrokenly.
'What? No! The fuck of a teacher messed with ya head, that's all!'
Will clenched his fist and growled quietly at his suspicions being confirmed but he hadn't had no fuckin' clue that Daryl liked it. Just like that - his face darkened right along with his mood and that's when they noticed him standing outside the door watching them.
'Dad...Ain't what ya think...' Daryl went scarlet and tried to explain.
'Why, you little whore!' Will lunged at him but Merle got in between them and shoved him away.
'Leave him alone, dad. Ain't his fault – he's jus' a kid. Creep's been messin' with his head!'
That's when Will noticed how Daryl was still so small compared to Merle. Not only was he finer-boned than either of them but his head only came up to his shoulder. The thought of a grown man trying to touch him like that made the father's blood boil in his veins. Yet, Will recalled how Daryl had fought bigger boys than him like Shane Walsh, for example and won.
'Ain't possible.' Will retorted furiously. 'Cos didn't I just hear him say he liked it? You a little fuckin' queer?' Will snarled over at Daryl who was quick to draw back a few inches.
'Dad! Stop it!' Merle tried to calm him down but their father refused to listen.
'You flirted with him, fluttered those long eyelashes at him and gave him ideas from the back of the classroom, that how it went?'
'What ya sayin? Have you gone fuckin' crazy?' Merle was staring at him like he didn't know him anymore.
Daryl shook his head and seemed to revert a few years in age by clinging to the back of his big brother's shirt and hiding behind him. Merle stretched out his arm to shield him and something about that enraged Will further and he forgot what he'd been through. Forgot his own promise to never to hurt Daryl again - it was gone in an instant as if Will had just snapped his fingers.
Well, I already failed miserably several times in that but Merle don't know that.
'Back off, dad! Keep tellin' ya it ain't his fault! He's jus' confused, is all. Bastard's brainwashed him! I bet all of this started with that fucker Mike, remember Mike, dad? Your best friend?' Merle snarled back sarcastically. 'What a great friend, Dad. You let him into our house. Let him near us...and didn't see nothin'.' He shook his head with a big, sarcastic grin all over his face and clapped slowly.
'Merle, what the hell ya doin'?' Daryl hissed.
Even the mention of his former best friend's name did nothing to stop Will.
'Don't you sass me, boy! He weren't like that in the beginning, I know he weren't. What about you? Ya were always goin' over to his house, even left your brother alone with him all those times you needed to screw ya whores or get high out of ya head. Don't think Mike didn't tell me.'
'Don't give me that shit! He was ya best friend! We were kids! Besides, you know him better than I do.'
'Let me remind you that you ain't too old either for a whippin!' Even though this wasn't aimed directly at him, Daryl flinched and cowered back further behind his brother.
'It ain't his fault, dad! They made him confused!'
'Then it's about time I cleared things up for him, don't you think?' Will started unbuckling his belt while Daryl's eyes grew wide with fear and he clung tighter to Merle for protection.
But Merle shook him off and advanced on his father, leaving his baby brother bereft against the wall. 'You fuckin' touch him and I'll kill you! It's all your fault anyway – Things wouldn't have come to this - him thinking that he's a fag if you had stopped Mike in the first place and not waited until he nearly fucked him because you were gettin' off on listenin' to them.'
Will faltered and at his father's mortified expression, he added, 'That's what you were doin', weren't ya, Dad? Who's the pervert now?' Merle looked at him as if he was a piece of dog-shit he was about to scrape off his shoe reminding Will of the way he'd looked down at Mike before he dragged him off.
Will stopped in his tracks, too shocked at first to deny it. He thought no one knew – how could they? 'How did ya know ...' slipped out before he could stop it.
Then, with some of his old fury and indignation, 'What the hell did ya jus' say to me, BOY?'
'I said: Who's the pervert now?' His oldest son was challenging him, his expression full of scorn and defiance.
'What ya sayin', Merle?' The younger boy's voice cracked with pain at the betrayal as he rounded horrified on his father, 'You knew and let him...let him…'
'Daryl...Sh...Listen...' Will tried to hush him, his anger forgotten as his belt hung loosely from his pants.
Merle nodded, for once in his life, stone-sober and fully alert. 'Yep, he did. 'Cos he's been lookin' at ya in a way he has no fuckin' business doing. He's jus' like Mike and that teacher – no, in fact he's worse – 'cos he's your father.'
He let out a sob of horror in reply and moved forward to duck his head and bury it in Merle's side for comfort as if even looking at their father was too much for him. Will couldn't blame him as he watched Merle put a protective arm around his shoulders.
'Merle that ain't true…Daryl, don't listen to him! I'd never hurt you! You know that, boy!'
Daryl ignored him and didn't even raise his head at the sound of his voice.
'Does he? He's got fuckin' scars all over his body that disagree, besides, you just threatened to whip him.' Merle felt Daryl wordlessly flinch against him and tightened his hold on him. 'How can you say that you wouldn't hurt him in the same fucking breath?'
'I meant hurt him in that way! Anyway, I wasn't going to...only meant to scare him a little.'
'Yeah? Ya sure could've fooled me jus' now. But not ya shooting those filthy looks of yours at him, not to mention slipping into his room most nights when he's asleep!'
Will clenched his fists at his sides, but other than that he was left speechless. He opened his mouth to speak but his eldest son cut him off before he had the chance.
'What? Ya think I don't know? What do ya do to him while you two are alone in there, huh?'
Daryl let out a whimper of shock just then and curled himself even closer into his big brother's body.
'Hush now, it's OK. I won't let him near you.' His brother squeezed his shoulders before he rounded on their father again.
'I jus' go in there to comfort him, that's all! You know he has nightmares! How dare you accuse me of doin' that! I lost my best friend because he…he…!' Will couldn't even bring himself to finish the sentence, instead he started forward – ready to fly at Merle who dared to talk to him this way and teach him a lesson. But he hesitated because Merle wasn't a little boy anymore, but a grown man, hence the open expression of mocking scorn on his face.
Merle noticed him faltering and sneered at him, unintimidated. 'Too bad that I've got eyes and ears, huh, dad? You're just a creep like his teacher! Yeah – you ordered me to take care of Mike for the very same reason – maybe I should take care of you too, huh, Dad?' He spat at him, his eyes blazing.
'That's different! I ain't never done anythin' to him - not like that fucker did!... I wouldn't!'
'But you want to, don't you? See it in your eyes. Surprised he didn't, too.'
Daryl let out another sound of distress and Merle stroked his hair while he glared at their father balefully.
Will felt like his world was colliding when Merle's furious eyes met his before he looked at his youngest son who had pulled his head out away from his big brother and stared at him also, with a mixture of disgust, fear and betrayal on his face before he turned away and hugged his big brother close.
That was when Will woke up. It took him a while to realise none of it was real and that they didn't know if it had been a teacher trying his luck with his son or not. Not for sure. And he didn't know if he should feel relieved or frustrated.
The last impression from the dream to leave him was the look on his youngest's face like he didn't love him anymore. Daryl had never looked at him like that – not once – no matter what he'd done to him.
Will's heart was thudding in his chest and he was sweating pints it seemed. Still not yet sure whether it had really happened, he tried to shake off the nightmare as he made his way to the kitchen to get something to eat. …Yet he soon lost his appetite and changed his mind and went upstairs instead to check the bedrooms to make sure that he really wasn't dreaming.
They were empty and Will breathed a deep sigh of relief.
Of course, they had gone to the shop to buy food to cook for dinner. How long have I been asleep? Couldn't have been that long.
Then right on cue, he heard his son's excited voices before the door opened with a bang.
He had no idea about the time but it must be dinner time.
'Dad!' He heard Merle call out happily. 'We got everythin' you wanted!'
'Well, bring it into the kitchen. You got the brandy?'
…...
The next day was pretty much the same with them trying not to worry about Daryl after he left for school. Will had been restless since he woke up from the nightmare and had laid out all of the knives in their possession on the kitchen table in order, waiting for their turn to be sharpened. When their father did this, his sons knew that something was troubling him.
It used to mean that they were going to be used on them.
But not today.
Yet seeing his dad working away at that big knife over got Merle thinking. He knew that sharpening knives also was a way of making himself feel better. He was more in control afterwards.
'Damn it, he's so stubborn. Why can't he just spit it out?'
'Who's he got that from, ya think? Anyway, he knows what happened to the last bastard who touched him like that...knowing him, he probably feels sorry for him or somethin'.'
Will hid a wince before he blurted out, 'Well, then – he's an idiot! And too soft with it, too!'
'Look, dad, keep this up and he'll never tell us. He said he's dealt with it and there's no problem now, but I don't believe him no more than you do. And I want to find out who he is just as much as you do - but I think we should let up asking him. Unless somethin' else happens...'
'But we still ain't got the bastard's name...' Will was starting to slur. 'Ya gotta send the pervert a message, Merle.'
Merle stifled a sigh at the familiarity of all this and the fact that it was pretty clear that his dad hadn't heard one word he said. Still, he knew it was in his best interest to answer, 'I will when we know for sure.'
'Good boy.'
Merle beamed when he heard his dad call him that again when he'd rarely received a word of praise from him growing up. He thought that maybe he'd finally got his respect when he punished Mike for him.
'Dad, I'll take him out tomorrow and get him to tell me.'
Will grunted but seemed pleased with this idea.
Even though he couldn't be sure of who the pervert was who had messed with his brother he had a pretty good idea of where to start. The fact that it happened at school was obvious, whatever Daryl told their father. Merle knew he'd just said whatever to get him off his back. Merle also knew that it was also unlikely that another boy Daryl's age or older had done it. Daryl would mop the floor with anyone who tried to do anything he didn't like.
…
Later that day, Merle decided it was time, Daryl and their dad was sitting in the sofa watching a game of baseball on TV as he walked in.
'Dad, like I said – I promised to take Daryl out...ya know, jus' the two of us. Shoot shit and buy things...He needs some new stuff to wear.'
Daryl could have kissed his big brother just then for intervening. Although his father had eased up a little on his own private investigation, Daryl could still feel his eyes on him waiting for an answer.
He didn't think he could face another evening of overprotective and demanding dad.
Daryl smiled over at Merle gratefully.
'Merle, we ain't exactly swimming in money if you ain't noticed.'
Merle looked him up and down, shaking his head at Daryl's old clothes. 'Dad – look he needs some new clothes. I know ya ain't got the money...It'll be my treat.'
'Thanks.' Daryl whispered gratefully and looked up at his big brother with big eyes full near to adoration.
Merle grinned and chucked him under chin. 'Come on, kiddo. Let's go.'
Will let them go with a dismissive shake of his hand. 'Go then. But make sure you don't keep him out all night.'
They took that as their cue to leave.
…...
'Ya enjoyin' yaself, little brother?' Merle asked with a grin while they were drinking their beers before their burgers came. He didn't care that Daryl was under-age – he would keep his promise to their father and take good care of him and not let him get too drunk.
But he also needed him relaxed for his own reasons.
They'd been shopping and Merle had bought him a trendy black leather biker's jacket punk-style complete with hanging silver chains, jeans and shirts to replace his worn-out gear. Daryl loved everything he was given, his big brother always had seriously good taste.
'Of course, I'm happy, Merle. You didn't need to spend all ya money and buy me all this stuff. I love it!'
'You deserve everything you got. Don't you ever forget that.' You deserve to be happy after all the shit you've been through, he added silently to himself.
'Whatever you say, Merle.' He grabbed his burger and started to eat as Merle took a swig of his beer, thinking about the best way to ask the million dollar question. When he couldn't think of anything, he settled on the less subtle: 'Seriously, what happened to ya?'
Daryl lowered the burger that had been halfway to his mouth, frowned at Merle and fidgeted uncomfortably in his seat in their booth.
'Nothin'. Dad's got it wrong and made a big deal out of it, as usual.'
Merle was thoughtful and looked down at the table for a moment deciding to leave his brother alone for the time being. Judging by the way Daryl looked at him every now and then since he popped the question, it would only freak him out to keep on at him. Besides, he didn't want to ruin things, not when they were having such a good time.
After a while of small talk of Daryl telling him about his best friend Eric and his arch-enemy Shane being an obnoxious ass, plus his unrequited love for Andrea, Merle tried to ambush him with more beer and generosity.
Daryl grew tense again and clenched his fists. 'Jesus! I already said I'm sick of talkin' about it! Jus' wanna forget and move on. Like I told ya both a million times before; I dealt with it myself and I ain't gonna let ya do anythin' to him like you did Mi…' Daryl almost shouted and Merle reached over and clamped his hand over his mouth, shoving him hard enough so that his head met the wall behind him.
'Keep ya fuckin' voice down!' He hissed at his brother as he cautiously looked round casting a fleeting look through the gap in the saloon doors too for good measure. Most of the people weren't locals. Or at least no one who knew him.
Merle sighed with relief and released Daryl.
'Ow!' His brother rubbed the back of his head and glared back at him.
'Sorry, but you shouldn't go around sayin' stuff like that in public. Never know who's listenin.'
'Nobody cares, Merle!' Daryl snapped.
It was true, the people in their village all knew about Mike and most of them accepted the fact that he had just vanished. Didn't ask any questions - well, except his buddies who were also their dad's buddies. They'd been around since, but Mike never got mentioned, not in their house anyway. It was like Will had made them all sign a contract of eternal silence. But then again, they'd been there and it was unlikely that they had any sympathy for him no matter his fate.
Daryl would sometimes imagine what his brother had done to him, especially when he recalled how he had just vanished like that. The fact that he didn't know if he was alive or dead was the worst. It left too much to the imagination and when his kicked in, especially in the small hours of the night, he would shiver. Part of him thought he should hate Merle because after all, he had loved Uncle Mikey with all his heart once. Or that he should be shocked or afraid of him if he let himself ponder on what his brother was capable of. He would even wonder if he had taken pleasure in it because he knew very well that Merle could be like a rabid dog when it came to protecting him.
Daryl forced himself to stop thinking about it and painting Merle like that in his head because during the day, Merle was just Merle. His playful, sometimes patronizing, teasing, generous, often drunk, less often stoned but always protective – big brother.
When he was there, that was.
In any case, no matter what way he looked at it, Daryl found that he couldn't blame Merle. In fact, he was grateful to him because if Merle hadn't got rid of Mike for him, he would still be living his life looking over his shoulder every time he went outside.
Besides, if it had been the other way round... especially if it was his little sister…what would he have done to a man like Mike?
He snapped out of his reverie when his brother looked at him expectantly.
What the hell, Merle! I'm sick of you and dad hasslin' me! Thought you were takin' me out for a good time but it sure looks like all ya wanted to do was to get me drunk just so that you could get his name out of me.'
'No, you snot-nosed little idiot... I just thought I could get you to open up while dad's not around.'
'Well, you can forget it, OK? I ain't ever tellin' you who it was, never! It's over, dealt with, finished!'
'To tell ya the truth, I knew you wouldn't tell me.' Merle replied calmly. 'And it's OK. Won't ask no more, promise. Come on, drink up.' But in reality, Merle was thinking differently: Daryl won't have to tell me because I'll find out by myself.
Daryl's face had been scrunched up with stubborn determination but then he felt guilty. Merle loved him, spoilt him rotten and here he was being rude. He was being ungrateful.
'Merle...' He started. 'I'm sorry...'
'Don't be.' His brother grinned back easily at him and Daryl saw he wasn't pissed off. 'Come on, finish that beer and I'll get ya another one. And why don't ya throw that old rag you're wearing away and let me see ya put on that new jacket I bought ya?'
'Sure, Merle.' Daryl beamed, relieved that things were alright between them as he eagerly did what he suggested. 'Thanks'.
It didn't take Daryl long in his eagerness to remove his old jacket to replace it with the new one. He felt better almost immediately.
'You look cool as ice with that jacket bro...that girl you're sweet on would be a fool not to date you!'
'Yeah! Imagine the look on Shane's face if she dumped him for me!'
They both laughed at that and Merle ruffled his hair.
More beers came and Daryl drank his carefully, slowly while Merle finished his in 5 or 6 huge gulps. He was already thinking about getting something stronger – beer barely hit the spot these days.
Merle narrowed his eyes and lowered his voice as he became serious and asked the second difficult question. 'Now tell me about Dad. He hit you while I was away? Tell me the truth.'
'No, Merle.' Daryl smiled adoringly up at him as he lied guilelessly. He'd turned protecting his father into an art form. 'He ain't hit me since ya left – in fact, he's been real good to me.'
Merle nodded. After all it was easier to believe a lie that you wanted to.
Merle didn't ask his brother again about what had happened when he saw how much their father's bugging him got to him, it was understandable.
Besides, he owed it to his little brother to just let him have a nice time out, forget everything for a while and just be. When they finally left the burger joint, Merle couldn't hold back a bark of laughter once they stumbled out well into the night, recalling his father's command not to keep Daryl out too late. He could just picture their father shaking his fists at them when they got home. When Merle told his brother about this image, Daryl joined in with his laughter, clutching everything he'd been given that day aside from two bags that Merle insisted on grabbing from him. He said that he looked too much like one of his girls whenever she got back from a shopping-spree.
They arrived to a peace and quiet that they didn't associate with home, with no Dad in sight. Daryl was skunk-drunk and giggling. Merle was less so when they parted ways on the second floor and both sunk into their beds, exhausted after a fun night out.
