Summary:
Daryl observes Deanna's very bizarre celebration of Ed's punishment. Protective detail duties are also explored.. For past readers, this chapter has been majorly overhauled and more than doubled in length.
Daryl walked down the main street of Alexandria. He had left Tara and Glenn at the house with Carol and Sophia. He wanted Tara inside the house more in case his new house-mates/charges needed a woman to talk to. He trusted Tara to be around them, and knew nobody would be getting past Glenn and his AK on the porch. For such a little shit, he was a fierce warrior and protector. That fact was something a few Alexandrian men had found out when they glanced up at Carol's house curiously far too long for the young Korean's liking. Daryl had personally seen some plaid clothed asshole named Cobin . . . Tobin or some such shit; practically shit his pants when his idea to try to visit Carol had been met with the barrel of Glenn's AK.
Daryl had to give Deanna some serious props. The boss lady had some pretty twisted ideas of justice. The woman had imagined Ed's personal version of hell, and had turned it into his imprisonment.
The jail cell that had been constructed in Deanna's basement was not a free standing one. No, that wasn't enough for her ideas for Ed. Rick, Abe, Glenn and the other men of Alexandria had made sure that Deann's concrete basement floor had been broken up. The Virginia dirt had been hollowed out into a narrow pit. The pit then lined with fast dry cement. It was now drying, awaiting it's sole prisoner.
The only available method of communication their prisoner would have would be to bang on the roof of the cell and HOPE somebody heard and felt like answering. That is because this cell would not have bars. No, that was not enough for Deanna. Instead, the door part of the cell was not adorned with bars. Instead, a very small vintage door of a bank vault the construction team had been planning to melt down had become the only way in or out. No windows. Very tight squeeze for any man, let alone one as big as Ed. At least until inside the pit where things were wider. No light except for an electric Coleman lantern. Nothing else in there but a shit bucket. If you did not know the combinations, the prisoner would rot down there to the death. Left to turn. If those who did know the combinations decided not to open the door? Then you would rot – with no other way to save yourself before turning. This was Deanna's punishment for Ed. Daryl again had the thought the boss lady had some serious balls.
Before Ed was sentenced to his life in his cell however, Deanna threw an impromptu block party straight out of a crack fic justice fanfiction story. Food, alcohol and games were the fun of the day. Ed helped in Deanna's festivities. He was the target in target practice. He was still hog tied to the tree with 'wife beater' written on his forehead, and now 'rapist' on his chest, both written on him courtesy of Abe. Abe walked around the streets offering anybody who wanted to, to take salt pellet shots at Ed. Each pellet that hit his now bare to boxers body dug under his skin and had to burn like a mother fucker. Deanna had also talked to the women in Alexandria. She told them Carol and Sophia's stories with their permission. She offered them the chance to shoot Ed with the pellet gun as a way to show Ed that every woman was at this moment stronger than him. To proclaim to Ed that without HIM, all women in Alexandria would feel safer.
Carol and Sophia were still in their home, and were in no position to join in. Daryl made sure to watch Ed's humiliation and pain. Knowing nothing done here would live up to or erase his deeds.
Another thing that happened was a BBQ. All food stuffs were set up by where Ed was strung up to the base of the same tree Abe had tied him too. All manners of food stuffs were present. He was not given one single bite.
When the night was done and the cement dry, Rick and Abe shoved Ed into his cell as Daryl and Deanna watched. They gave him one bottle of water and some beef jerky. The door was shut and locked behind Ed's sobs.
The sentence handed down was three years. Three years of hell in that hold. If in any way he made that sentence too hard on his jailers, he would be dropped to survival rations. Next offence? Jailers would just walk away. No food. No water. Left to turn. Daryl had doubts Deanna would ever allow Ed to see the other side of that cell, propriety of a fixed sentence time be damned.
Justice in the apocalypse supposed Daryl. He did not know what to think yet of Deanna's sentence. It in turns seemed not enough, and too detailed. He would have loved to let Denise take her scalpel to him then throw him in a walker pit. He also did not know what Carol and Sophia would think about Ed being alive, living however shut off, among the rest of the Alexandria population. He would have to tell them more details soon. But right now, they were where they needed to be. Spending time curled up together keeping to themselves in Sophia's bedroom.
Daryl had itched to put an arrow in Ed's ass, and another through his nuts before the door closed. But he had figured this current punishment was all the horror the sheltered citizens of Alexandria could take. He knew however, that if he were EVER given the opportunity to take a shift as Ed's jailer . . he would take the shots and leave Ed to bleed out and turn.
He pivoted slowly on his heel, taking the image of Ed's blubbering crying and pleas for help as the door closed with him. He knew no help would come for the man. He didn't know if his cries had ever reached Carol and Sophia's ears. He didn't know how they would react honestly if they had. That thought sped his trek back to Carol's house, past Glenn's armed protection, and into the house. He quickly found Tara, who just shook her head at his unasked question. Carol and Sophia had not left Sophia's room.
He grabbed a blanket and throw pillow from the living room couch, sent Tara on her way telling her to take Glenn with her now that Ed was locked up. He climbed the stairs and debated with himself for a moment. Then finally tossed the pillow and blanket on the floor, making his bed outside Sophia's bedroom door. He wished he had the courage to knock and say goodnight. Maybe tomorrow.
Carol knew what had happened to Ed. She had not participated or witnessed it, but if she had questions about it Daryl was always there to give honest answers.
Over the next couple of weeks, her and Sophia had spent every moment together. Gradually, they opened the bedroom door so they could converse wth Daryl, Tara, Glenn or Deanna. Both of them were finding immense comfort in all four of them, but Daryl especially. Denise also was a comfort, visiting often but never pressing them into talking.
Carol remembered thinking her heart would seize with both happiness and confusion when after first leaving their isolation, Sophia immediately walked up to Daryl and gave him a big hug. His arms had not hesitated more than a second before hugging her back, but by the look on his face, he was a bit confused as well. Maybe he was experiencing the same source of confusion that Carol was.
Carol had thought Sophia would be nervous around all men. Especially now, knowing what Ed had done. But no. Daryl was now Sophia's hero. She made no bones to her mother that she trusted him. Glenn was also fast becoming a big brother/buddy type to her. Especially after Daryl mentioned how Glenn had protected them with his porch detail.
Sophia had a long talk with her mom about what Ed had done to her while they had been sequestered in her room. Carol wept in private, but stayed strong for her daughter in her presence. The only slightly comforting bit of knowledge she had about Sophia's abuse is that Ed never got beyond a certain point with their daughter. His argument to Sophia was that since he hadn't stuck his dick in her, it wasn't rape. It wasn't abuse. Yet Sophia had kept further details to herself for now. She had decided not to tell her mother exactly what Ed had used instead. Carol was torn between her need to know and respecting Sophia's wishes. It was Denise and Tara who had comforted Carol, and suggested that she follow Sophia's lead here. So, Carol respected her wishes. At least for now.
The one thing that both of them were wrestling with, was the desire that Ed had never been part of their existence past helping make Sophia. They would have been better on their own.
But, Carol and Sophia were determined to put their past life with Ed behind them, and to start a whole new future for themselves. They never wanted to think about him or cry over what he had done ever again. They had pinky swore together that they would never let Ed bring them down again. Together, alone in that room, they had begun to heal. Then, when they had opened that door, Daryl was there to make healing so much easier. His presence was their rock of Gibraltar. He never took from them selfishly, as Ed had. He was just there for them in every way. That man had earned both of their trusts, and both of their affections.
Sophia and Carol marched downstairs for breakfast one day about a week after the events with Ed. Carol was going to cook for the first time since everything happened. They were surprised when they found Daryl, Tara, Abe, and Rick downstairs – arguing about how to make the best strawberry pancakes, the best Denver omelettes, and the perfect blend of coffee.
Carol stopped at the entryway to the kitchen and just watched. Their savior was leading the charge.
Daryl was saying how he wanted everything perfect for "his girls". Tara was there to make sure Daryl's plans, and his and Abe's cooking; did not burn into a status of being inedible.
Rick was the coffee expert. He had snatched a pot from Olivia that had a dual drip filter and built in grinder. He had also acquired the freshest bag of beans Alexandria had. These he had happened to steal straight out of Deanna's kitchen right in front of her. She had not minded though. She wanted these new arrivals to become Carol and Sophia's new family. Family after the turn meant so many things. Above all, it meant safety. Deanna knew Carol and Sophia would thrive in their new family. It would be a far better situation than any family tree could provide them. This is where they would be safest, and if all goes well, where they would be happiest.
"I don't think I have ever had so many people in my kitchen – even before the turn." Carol spoke finally. She had gotten the other's attention, and a chorus of "good mornings" greeted her.
"I am happy to see you all. I hope I had everything you needed to prepare whatever it is you are working on."
"We needed a few thangs." Rick said. "Stuff was all willingly donated by Olivia and Deanna for the items you did not have. Daryl thought it was important that we all have our first family breakfast."
"Family breakfast?"
"You told us when we entered Alexandria that the definition of family changed the more people that were brought in. We were a family that was missing a couple members. You and Sophia are those members. As far as Daryl, myself or any of the rest of us is concerned, you are part of our family. I hope that is ok with you and Sophia?"
Carol had tears of joy in her eyes as Sophia looked up at her grinning.
"She cries when she is really happy" Sophia said, "so I think that's a yes!"
"We didn't want to burden you with any cooking this morning. We just want to sit down and have a fabulous first breakfast together as a family. I can't speak for the quality of Daryl and Abe's cooking, but you will be well fed. Glenn will be joining us shortly. The others were asked to hold back for now, as not to overwhelm you both. The coffee is delicious. Please come sit down and relax."
Sophia was over-excited. "I never had a family before, it was always just the two of us and Ed. Does this mean that I get aunts and uncles and cousins and stuff? I never had that."
"It sure does little lady" said Abe. "Do you want me to list them all?"
At Sophia's eager nod, Abe continued.
"Well, lets see. You have an Aunt Maggie, an Aunt Beth, an Aunt Tara, an Aunt Rosita, an Aunt Sasha, and an Aunt Michonne. You have an Uncle Rick, an Uncle Abe, an Uncle Eugene, an Uncle Gabriel, an Uncle Noah, and an Uncle Glenn. You have a Cousin Carl and a Cousin Judith."
"What about Daryl?" Sophia asked. What is he to me?"
"Well now, little one; he is your protector, he is your provider, he is your first point of contact if anything goes wrong. He is an equal to your mother, not her master. Right now, Daryl Dixon is proud to stand in as a father figure for you little lady. He will keep you and your mama safe, and very well cared for. He will not dictate to you. He will talk to you, he will spend time with you, and he will never EVER hurt you."
Upon hearing his name, Daryl came to stand in front of Sophia. He knealt down on his haunches and looked her in her eyes - the same eyes her mother had.
"Are you ok with that Soph? If not I can back up a bit and just be another uncle. I just want to do right by you. How your father should have. This is totally up to you. You can still call me Daryl and all – I just want to be there for you."
Sophia hesitated a few moments. Then instead of calling him Daryl, she said carefully "You will be my dad. Not just a . . . not like Ed. While I work up to the 'dad label', would calling you D.D be okay? It's kinda like daddy, which I never called Ed. It's your initials too!"
Daryl grinned and nodded his head, looking over at Carol to make sure everything that had been said was ok with her. Sophia had looked over at her too for the same reason. Carol nodded, a small smile gracing her face.
Getting approval, Sophia soldiered on.
"Let's get mom's plate done first. Will you help me . . . dad?" Her face scrunched up upon trying the dad label. Rolling it around her tongue and brain. Maybe she should have said D.D. for now, but she wanted to be brave.
Rick listened to the conversation and the resultant decision. He just smiled. He couldn't help but shake his head. Daryl Dixon was now a father.