The sunlight shimmered through the leaves while Daryl walked by the trees and the crossbow lightly thumped against his back.
It had been a week since they had left the Commonwealth and started on their journey to New Mexico and he could still see the hurt look on Maggie, Judith and RJ's faces when he told them he was leaving.
"Are you sure you don't wanna stay?"
"Like I told Rick, I'm better out there."
Maggie had given him a tight hug and he still could feel her body shaking against him. He let go when he knelt down on his knees and RJ and Judith hugged him.
"Ok. Maggie gave me one of those portal radios. Eugene said it's got a pretty good signal range. I promise Carol and I will radio every day just before sunset."
"Promise?!"
"Promise."
"What if Mom and Dad show up?"
"If they do, you call me right away."
"What if they want you to come back?"
"What do you think?"
RJ had laughed, but Daryl could still see the hurt in Judith's eyes.
"Still think we should've had taken them with us," he grumbled as his mind drifted back to when they told Negan they were leaving.
"Place ain't gonna be the same without you," Negan said and he was surprised when Negan hugged him.
He was even more surprised when he found out Jerry had placed a sidecar on his motorcycle for Dog and the dog seemed to enjoy riding in it.
His mind replayed how close he came to losing Dog when the Reapers attacked him, but Leah had told them not to harm the dog. Then his mind started replaying what happened with Leah and the Reapers and he tightly closed his eyes.
"Shit. Stop thinkin' about that," he grumbled.
He kept walking when a sound caught his attention as he swung the crossbow into his hands and he held the crossbow in front of him. He scanned his surrounding with his eyes when he saw two Walkers heading for him and he licked his lips. The Walkers came closer as he pulled the trigger and the crossbow bolt hit the Walker to his right in the head. The Walker fell as the other Walker moved closer and Daryl sighed, swung the crossbow and the crossbow hit the Walker in the head. Daryl swung again as the Walker's head exploded and the Walker fell to the ground. Daryl used his knife to finish off the Walkers when he cleaned the blade of the knife then he placed the knife in the holster on his belt.
"Not today, Assholes," he grumbled when he felt like he was being watched and he looked up to see three skunks standing near the bushes. He slowly slid the crossbow down until he held onto the strap then he lightly tossed the crossbow to his right. He heard the crossbow hit the ground as he held up his hands and he hoped the skunks would walk away. "Come on. Come on. Move."
A sharp bark startled the skunks as the skunks turned around and Daryl rolled his eyes when they lifted their tails.
"Shit," he whispered. The foul-smelling liquid hit him as Daryl closed his eyes and he held his breath. Another sharp bark made the skunks ran off as he opened his eyes and he made a small cough.
"Daryl!" Carol called out and he turned, holding his hands up for her to stop.
"Don't," he said then he looked at Dog. "That goes fer you, too."
"What happened?"
"I got skunked."
"You got…," she said as the wind shifted and the sour smell filled her nose. "Oh shit!"
"Told ya."
"How did that happen?"
"Dog scared 'em when he barked," Daryl said and Dog whimpered, giving him a sad look.
"Well, what do we do now?" she asked as she coughed and he sighed.
"I need t'find somewhere t'wash off."
"Are you sure we don't need to go find something to get rid of the smell."
"Ain't th'first time I smelt like this."
"It isn't? I don't remember you ever smelling this bad."
"It was… It was while I was lookin' fer Rick."
Carol knew Daryl still felt guilty for what happened to Rick and he would never stop until he found proof that Rick was either alive or he found Rick's body.
"Well, let's go," Carol said as she signaled for Dog to follow her and she picked up Daryl's crossbow. Frowning, Daryl followed her as he kept downwind and they walked back to camp. She placed the crossbow on the seat of the motorcycle when she turned and she looked at him. She saw how hurt and sad he looked when she smiled and he titled his head to one side. "We could go check out those houses we saw earlier. Maybe we can find something to get rid of the smell."
"Like what? Tomato juice?"
"Uh, I don't think that'll work."
"I thought it did."
"It just covers up the smell."
"How do you know?"
"Dale told me."
Daryl's mind replayed memories of Dale and how it was Daryl who had to put Dale down after a Walker had attacked him.
"Let's go," he said and Carol secured the crossbow to the back of the motorcycle. Daryl moved the kickstand up as he started pushing the motorcycle and Dog followed close behind them.
It didn't take long to return to the houses as Daryl pointed to the first house and he moved the motorcycle up the driveway. Carol watched him walk toward the house as she stood near the motorcycle and she tried to figure out how to get the smell off of Daryl.
"Daryl?"
"Yeah?"
"I'm going to check the house," she said, taking the knife out of the holder on her belt. Dog followed her as she walked to the front door and she turned the door handle. The door opened as she carefully walked inside and she looked around with her eyes. She went upstairs as she checked the rooms and she found some clothes and underwear she thought would fit Daryl. She also found some steel toe work boots that might fit him and she held the clothes, underwear and boots in her hands. After checking the bathroom, she found some clean towels, a bathrobe and a pair of bunny slippers and she softly laughed at the thought of Daryl wearing bunny slippers. Carefully going downstairs, she walked in the kitchen and she placed the clothes, underwear, towels, bathrobe, bunny slippers and boots on the counter. She frowned as she tried to remember her conversation with Dale about skunks after Ed had gotten sprayed and she blinked her eyes a few times.
"Well, you're gonna need a few things."
"Like what?"
"Let's see. Oh. Right. You're gonna need a quart of three percent hydrogen peroxide, a fourth of a cup of baking soda and a teaspoon of liquid detergent."
"Where am I going to get all that?"
"I have some baking soda and liquid detergent. Maybe one of the women have some hydrogen peroxide."
"Thanks, Dale."
Dale was right. One of the women did have a couple of bottles three percent hydrogen peroxide, she had been a hair dresser before everything fell apart, and she had used the mixture on Ed.
"Actually, Ed used it," she thought and she went to check the cabinets. She found several boxes of baking soda and a few plastic bottles of liquid detergent, but she couldn't find the hydrogen peroxide.
"Shit," she grumbled and she and Dog left the house.
"Find anythin'?" Daryl asked. She saw he had gotten the garage door open as he pulled out what looked like two large, plastic containers and she looked at the large plastic containers. "Thought we could use 'em t'wash me off."
"Good idea. I found a few things."
"What're you missin?"
"I couldn't find the hydrogen peroxide."
"The what?"
"Never mind. I saw a store down the street. You stay put. I'll be right back."
"Don't ferget th'water."
"Right."
She hated leaving him on his own as she placed the crossbow on the ground and she slid the crossbow to him. He nodded while she walked away and Dog followed her. She walked down the sidewalk when she arrived at the small store as she tried to see inside then she thumped on the glass. Nothing appeared as she pushed on the door and the door opened. She carefully entered the store while Dog sniffed the ground and she wished she had brought a flashlight.
Back at the house, Daryl sat on the ground as he placed his wrists on his knees and he looked up at the sky. The smell was getting stronger as he sighed and he shook his head. A sudden sound made get to his feet as he picked up the crossbow and he looked around with his eyes. Several Walkers headed for him as he took aim and his finger lightly stroked the trigger. He felt the wind shifting as the Walkers stopped and he wondered what was going on. He waited for the Walkers to attack when they turned and they walked away.
"Son of a bitch," Daryl whispered with a confused look on his face. He knew Walkers didn't attack if they smelt their own blood, but could they really be put off from the smell of skunks?
In the store, there was enough light for Carol to find some more boxes of baking soda and plastic bottles of liquid detergent, but she couldn't find the hydrogen peroxide. She looked around when a strong feeling caused her to go down an aisle and she saw several bottles of hydrogen peroxide on the shelves. She checked the labels when she found the three percent bottles and she smiled.
"Yes!" she said and Dog barked. She had found a working shopping cart as she placed the bottles in the cart near the boxes of baking soda and the bottles of liquid detergent then she went to look for bottles of water. She was surprised when she found several, plastic jugs filled with water and she placed the plastic jugs in the cart. Nodding at Dog, they headed for the door when she stopped and she looked at the magazine rack. Sitting on the top shelf was a magazine with an article about how to remove skunk smell. She placed the magazine in the cart then they left the store and they headed down the sidewalk.
At the house, Daryl had gone back in the garage when he found some plastic jugs filled with water as he frowned and he started wondering if they were alone. He went to check the house when he found some more plastic jugs of water, some food and some crossbow bolts in the basement and he carried everything outside.
"Hey," made he look over at Carol as he placed the things near the large, plastic container and he smiled.
"Find everythin'?" he asked and she moved the shopping cart across the street then onto the driveway.
"Yeah. Looks like you found a few things, too."
"Yeah," he said with a nod. "What do we do now?"
"Hold on," Carol said. She went back inside to get the supplies she had found as well as the clothes, clean underpants, boots, bathrobe, towels and the bunny slippers and she walked back outside. She placed everything near the motorcycle when she walked to the shopping car, opened the magazine as she found the article and she started reading. "First, we need to fill the plastic containers with water."
Nodding, Daryl opened the top of the plastic jugs and he poured some water into the large, plastic container.
"Next, we need to make the solution," she said as she placed the magazine on the cart seat then she walked into the garage. Daryl wonder what she was doing as she looked through what was inside the garage and she removed a plastic rain poncho, some thick, rubber gloves, safety goggles and a ventilated mask to cover nose and mouth.
"What do you need all that fer?" Daryl asked.
"It's so I can give you your bath," she teased and he snorted a breath of air. Carol got dressed when she walked out of the garage then she headed for the large, plastic container. He watched her mix the solution in the large, plastic container then she looked at him. "Take your clothes and boots off."
"You want me t'undress? Out here?"
"Yeah."
"But…"
"We need to do this outdoors and there's no one around. If you're shy about being naked around me…," she said as they looked down and he made a small cough. "Just place your stuff near the second container."
"Are we gonna wash them?"
"No. We have to burn them."
She was glad he had placed his vest in her backpack as the thought of burning that caused her chest to hurt and Daryl looked down at his boots.
"Even my boots?"
"Yep."
"Nah. I'll just let 'em air out."
"Daryl…"
"Fine."
He knelt down as he untied the shoelace wrapped around the legs of his jeans and he looked at the shoelaces. The shoelaces belonged to Beth as memories of her moved through his head and he wrapped his fingers around the shoelaces. He placed the shoelaces on the ground when he moved the legs of his jeans up and he untied the bootlaces. He removed the boots and his socks as he placed the boots and socks next to the other container then he stood up. After emptying the pockets of the jeans, he unzipped the jeans as he slid the jeans down and she noticed the underpants he was wearing were torn.
"Those, too," Carol said and he looked down. She swore he was blushing as he slid the underpants off and she noticed the wound on his left thigh. "When did that happen?"
Daryl watched her walk closer while he tossed the jeans and underpants on top of the boots then he looked down at the wound.
"Daryl?" she asked and he saw the worry in her eyes.
"It happened when I was fightin' Alpha," he said. She listened while he told her what happened and her heart slammed in her chest.
"Why didn't you say something!?"
"Didn't want you t'fuss over me."
The sense of frustration from when he hides things from her filled her as she sighed and she lightly shook her head.
"Hey," he said. She saw the hurt look on his face, a look like he was about to be punished for something, and he tried to give her a little smile, but failed.
"You still should have said something," she said and he nodded. She watched him remove the fingerless gloves, the jean jacket, the blue shirt and the blue t-shirt as he placed them on top of the jeans and he felt the coolness of the air on his skin.
Carol quickly scanned his body with her eyes as she looked at the scars, a few bruises and some dirt and her eyes stopped at the wound. Her mind calculated how to bathe him without irritating the wound and Daryl tilted his head to one side.
"Get in," she said as she pointed to the large, plastic container and he carefully stepped into the slightly warm water. She went back to the magazine as she read more of the article and she found a section about how to bathe someone if they are injured after being sprayed. She walked back to the garage as she went to one of the boxes and she found a clean sponge wrapped in a plastic wrapper. She opened the plastic wrapper when she removed the sponge then she walked back to Daryl. "Ready?"
"No, but it beats smellin' like shit," Daryl said and she smiled. He stood still when she started washing him, but she noticed his hands were slightly shaking. She noticed his eyes were closed and the muscles in his jaw were twitching.
"Are you ok?" she asked, but he didn't answer. She knew Daryl didn't like to be touched, but something about what she was doing was really bothering him. "Daryl?"
"Are you done?" he asked with a small crack to his voice.
"No. Are you sure you're alright?"
"Yeah," he said with a nod.
She started washing him again while she took special care around the wound then she stood. She looked at the scars and the dark scattering of hair on his chest and she resisted the urge to move her fingers through the tiny hairs. She washed his arms, hands and fingers when she saw the tattoos on his right hand, forearm and right bicep and she smiled.
"Never asked, but where did these tattoos came from? Don't remember you having them when we first met," Carol said and he opened his eyes, looking at the tattoos.
"Jerry's wife did 'em."
"She's a tattoo artist?"
"Jerry said her brother was. She used t'help out at his shop."
"When did you get this one?" she said, lightly poking the demon tattoo on his bicep.
"I was…uh…sixteen or seventeen."
She washed his shoulders and neck when she moved to wash his back and bottom and he frowned.
"Don't.," he said with a soft growl.
"I have to wash your back."
"No," he said with a shake of his head.
"I don't know why you're so upset. I've seen the scars on your back before."
"When?"
"It was after Andrea shot you."
Daryl's mind replayed the day he had fallen off the horse, rolled down the hill, crashed into the water, got impaled with one of the crossbow bolts, fighting Walkers, climbing up the hill and somehow getting back to the Greene farm then the pain he felt after Andrea accidentally shot him in the head. His mind then replayed Carol bringing him dinner after Hershel cleaned him up and he frowned.
"Oh. Yeah. I was lying' on my right side," he said with a sigh.
"I didn't want to push you about them, so I didn't say anything."
Nodding, he closed his eyes again as she looked at the scars and the demons tattoo on his back and she moved her fingers over the X scar. Michonne had told her about her and Daryl being branded and Carol grinded her teeth.
"When did you get this tattoo?" she asked as she moved her fingers over the demons tattoo.
"I got it when I turned twenty-one," Daryl said and she started washing his back. She moved down to his bottom when he stiffened and his hands started shaking. She washed his bottom then the back of his legs and he held his arms out for balance when she went to wash his feet and toes. "We done?"
"No. I have to rinse you off," she said and he looked at the other plastic container. She helped him out of the first, plastic container when she dumped the water out then she turned to look at him. Daryl looked at the plastic container when he stepped in the plastic container and she walked to him. She picked up the water jug when she lifted the water jug and he closed his eyes. She saw he was shaking as she lowered the water jug and he felt her right hand against his chest. His heart was pounding and he was breathing hard and fast. "Hey. Come on. What's wrong?"
"It's… Uh… I'm fine."
"Ok," she said, not wanting to push. She knew there was a lot he wanted to tell her and she would wait until he was comfortable. She used a few of the jugs of water to rinse him off while she looked at his hair and she smiled. "Good thing the skunks didn't hit you in the face or your hair."
"What would you have t'do if they had?"
"I'd have to cut your hair off."
She was glad he didn't see her smiling as he scowled and he lightly shook his head. She finished rinsing him off as she helped him out of the plastic container and he opened his eyes. She handed him the towels as he dried off and she placed the towels on top of his clothes, underpants, socks and boots. She carefully picked everything up when she walked to the middle of the yard and she placed everything on the ground. She removed the plastic rain poncho, gloves, ventilated mask and goggles off and she placed them on the ground. She walked to him as he smiled then the wind shifted. She could just smell the sour smell as she stopped and he tilted his head to one side. "Do I still smell bad?"
"Yeah. Guess we'll have to do it again tomorrow."
"Again!?
"Yes. Again!"
Nodding, he wrapped the towel he hadn't handed her around his waist and he looked at the pile of clothes, towels and his boots.
"Guess we should burn 'em," he said, pointing to the pile and she nodded. He watched her walk in the garage when she found a bottle of lighter fluid as she walked back out, headed for the pile and she placed the bottle of lighter fluid on the ground. She gathered stones to make a fire circle then she poured the lighter fluid on the pile and Daryl tossed her his lighter. She lit the pile on fire as she walked to Daryl and she handed him the lighter. They watched the fire burning as the wind shifted and he frowned when she moved away from him.
Four days and three baths later, Carol watched Daryl place the vest on as she remembered how cute he looked when he wore the bathrobe, a pair of underpants and the bunny slippers and she smiled. She had placed the bathrobe and bunny slippers in the backpack and she used the first aid kit she found to redressed the wound on his left thigh.
"Carol," made her look at him and she noticed he was walking in a small circle.
"How do I look?" Daryl asked. She looked at the steel toe work boots with the jeans tied over the top, the vest, the jean jacket, the blue shirt, the fingerless gloves and the black t-shirt he was wearing and she crossed her arms under her breasts.
"You look great," she said as she walked to him and the wind shifted. "And you smell a whole lot better."
"Thanks," he said, rolling his eyes and she softly laughed. Whistling for Dog, he watched the dog running to them and Dog hopped into the sidecar. Carol placed the backpack in the sidecar when she got onto the motorcycle and Daryl checked to see if they forgot anything. He found the magazine with the article on how to get rid of skunk smell when he picked the magazine off the driveway, walked to the sidecar and he placed the magazine in the backpack. "Just in case."
"Right," she said with a nod and she watched him get on the motorcycle. He moved the kickstand up when he started the engine and she slid her arms around his waist. He looked to his right when he saw the three skunks by the side off the road and he flipped them off before the motorcycle headed down the road.
