"Better Days"

Author: carmen_085

Disclaimer: I don't own any Walking Dead characters. Original characters are mine

Author's Note: I know the last chapter was a little boring but I promise more action is on the way. Also I was wondering what you all would think about the introduction of an OC for Daryl at some point?

Summary: Daryl and Carl go out looking for Sophia and get separated from the group. Alone with two kids, Daryl must keep his own demons at bay while protecting them from not only the dead but also a very dangerous person who has nothing to lose.

Chapter Six

The lonely light of early morning illuminated the shack with a hazy glow. Sitting back in the chair, Daryl kicked his feet up on the windowsill. Staring out into the forest a million thoughts ran through his head. The most pervasive; however, was a simple question. 'Do you think we'll ever be safe again?' He hadn't really thought about it much; didn't want to think about it. He had always assumed that he would find Rick and the others eventually. But what if that never happened? What if this was it? The rest of their lives would be nothing but running and surviving. Now that was fine for him; he knew that he didn't deserve much better but it wasn't good enough for them.

Eyes wandering over to Carl and Sophia sleeping on the mattress he wondered how long he could keep this up. He had never considered the possibility of caring for them indefinitely. It wouldn't be easy but he would do it. He would do whatever it took to keep them safe.

Before all this happened his life hadn't had much purpose. His job was a dead end, he had no girlfriend or wife, no kids, and no real family. He was just kind of drifting along waiting for an opportunity that never came. At first he was surviving and hadn't had much time to think of anything else. After that he was looking for Sophia. Now he was taking care of them and for the first time his life had meaning. They depended on him and it scared the shit out of him. Until now he had never thought about anyone but himself. He wasn't selfish; there just never was anyone there before. His actions had never had consequences because until now no one cared if he made it home at night. If he had done something stupid and gotten himself killed would anyone have noticed? He didn't think so. He would have vanished from this world like he had never even existed.

Pushing himself up out of the chair, Daryl slung the crossbow over his shoulder. He wanted to scout ahead a bit without Sophia and Carl. Stepping over to Carl's sleeping form he gently shook the boy awake. "Carl…" he whispered careful not to disturb Sophia.

The boy rolled over looking at him through blurry eyes. " Yeah?" His voice was thick was sleep as he struggled to focus on Daryl's face.

"I'm going out huntin' and scoutin' for a while. Stay here, ok? I'll be back in a little bit. Keep the door locked and don't let nobody in."

Carl nodded, too sleepy to protest. Straightening back up Daryl reasoned that they would be safe there for a little while. He wouldn't go too far.

Opening the door he took in the early morning smell of the woods. Dirt and dewfall, the air still smelled the same that it always had even thought nothing was the same anymore. Rolling the sleeves of the flannel shirt down he carefully stepped through the woods as his mind began to wander again.

Growing up Daryl wasn't really all that social with other kids or people in general. Part of it was because he didn't think another person in this world could understand what his life was like. He didn't trust people.

When he was about ten years old there was a woman who lived down the street; her name was Viola. At first she would just smile at him as he walked past her house. Eventually she started saying hello. For a while Daryl didn't pay attention to her; wondering why the old bag wouldn't leave him alone. One day she was standing in front of her house with a paper bag. Thrusting it into his arms as he walked by she didn't stick around to hear him protest. Opening it hesitantly Daryl found a sandwich, apple, and cookie. She had made him a lunch to take to school. Up until that point, Daryl only ate lunch occasionally. A painfully thin boy, he had become accustom to having only one meal a day and that was if he was lucky. Once in a while Merle would slip him a few bucks but usually he was left staring into an empty refrigerator; his old man passed out drunk on the couch. He never told anyone at school about his life and usually spent lunch hiding out in the library reading a book that he wouldn't dare try to take home. The last think he wanted was some social worker type poking around his house. His daddy would beat him real good if that happened.

He didn't understand why the old woman cared and as a kid he could never find the right words to ask. So he just took the lunches and never said a word. One day she wasn't there. At first he didn't think much of it but as the days went by he wondered what happened to the old lady. Then he saw the local sheriff in front of her house talking to a neighbor. He slowed down his steps hoping to hear some kind of news.

'I heard her house was piled knee deep in garbage.'

'Such a shame. No one cared about her. They got her down at St. Maggie's now.'

His stomach twisted into knots. Why had this news upset him so much? He had never even spoken to the old woman. She cared about him; though, cared when no one else did. That night when Daryl's father was passed out on the couch he slipped out of the house. Cutting through the woods he took in the smell of wet dirt and the dewfall. It had always been the same and it comforted him slightly. He had to go see her. He had to tell her thank you. Tell her that she what did meant something to him. Tell her that he was sorry for not saying something sooner; for ignoring her all those times.

St. Maggie's was the epitome of a rural hospital. Pretty much anyone could walk in at any time and no one stopped them. Everyone knew everyone else and there was never a reason not to trust someone. The setting sun had cast long shadows across the landscape as Daryl walked up to the front desk. Barely tall enough to clear the counter he stood on his tip toes. The old man on the other side leaned forward in his chair as he stared at the young boy curiously.

'Viola Sykora, please.' The old man gave him a curious look before flipping through the papers on his desk.

'Room 125.' He said nothing else as he walked over to the elevators jamming the up button. Daryl hated hospitals. They smelled funny and the lights always buzzed. Not to mention that there was no telling what they would do to you once they got you in there.

Room 125 was at the end of the long corridor. The room was dark as he stepped into the doorway. Suddenly he had the urge to turn and run away. Taking a deep breath he steeled himself as he stepped into the room. In the dim light he could make out a figure in the bed. Inching closer his breath hitched in his throat when he saw. It was the old woman, no doubt about that but she looked so different. Her gray hair was dirty and messy on the pillow as he eyes were squeezed shut. Her mouth was hanging open as her bony fingers squeezed the bed rail in desperation. A strong odor burned his nostrils as he stood there in silence. He couldn't believe it.

Finding his voice Daryl looked at her face studying it for any kind of reaction. 'Ma'am. I'm just here to say…' He trailed off. This was a lot for a kid to handle. 'Ma'am I just want to say thank you for what you did.' There was no reaction. Daryl took a deep breath. 'No one else ever cared if I had something to eat and…' Daryl felt a wave of emotion come over him as tears sprung up in his eyes. 'I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner.' Turning away he couldn't stay there anymore. Running out of the room, Daryl didn't stop running until he was home

The next day he overheard Merle talking to one of the neighbors. The old woman had died that night. She had been kind to him for no reason at all and now she was dead. There was never an obituary in the paper nor was there a funeral. He never did find out what happened to her body but he suspected the county buried her in a pauper's grave. Her house stood empty for several years until it starting falling apart and they eventually demolished it. It was like she had just been erased from the world. Gone without a trace as if she had never existed at all.

For a long time after that Daryl wondered if that would happen to him one day. If he would die alone in a sterile hospital room with no one who cared enough to even come claim his body. Looking up he scanned the trees. He had been walking for a while and was further away then he realized as he decided to turn back. People were dying at an alarming rate nowadays. He reckoned that the old customs didn't have much meaning in this new world. But still didn't stop him from hoping that one day someone would be there for him.

"Holy shit, man! I never thought I'd see you again!" Daryl's blood ran cold in his veins. This couldn't be happening. Looking up Shane stood above him on a ledge; his face a mix of surprise and malice.

Daryl just looked at him unable and unwilling to utter a single word. Internally he cursed himself. Why hadn't he been paying more attention! Scuffling down to forest floor Shane stood on front of him. Hands on his hips, his mouth turned up into a disgusted sneer. Daryl took in the shotgun slung over his shoulder, the pistol stuffed into his waistband, and the twelve-inch hunting knife hanging off his belt. Shane was armed to the teeth there was no question about that. Keeping his face devoid of any emotion he regarded Shane thoughtfully.

"Yeah I thought everyone was dead." No way would he give anything up to this psychopath.

Shane nodded as he looked out into the forest. "Who you with?"

"It's just me now." Lie. Daryl looked away; he was never a good liar.

Shane nodded humming a dubious reply. "Yeah? You ain't seen Carl have you?"

This time Daryl had to make it believable. Biting the inside of his cheek he forced himself to look Shane right in the eye. "I ain't seen no one." Shane regarded him thoughtfully for a moment before relaxing giving Daryl a smile that was hardly genuine.

"Well…come on man, you wanna pair up?" That was the last thing Daryl wanted to do. Shaking his head he tried to appear non-chalant.

"Nah. I'm just gonna try to find Merle. I'm done with groups; more trouble than what they're worth." His eyes wandered away hoping that Shane would believe it.

Shane nodded and was quiet for a second before reaching for the gun in his waistband. In one swift motion he pushed Daryl back against the rock face. Holding the gun to his head, Daryl struggled against Shane's grip. The other man was bigger, though, as he reasoned that he had himself a situation.

He couldn't believe that he had been this stupid. First he should have never gotten caught and now he should have seen the former cop going for his gun. He had so much on his mind that he wasn't thinking clearly and it was about to cost him. Daryl's heart pounded in his chest as fear pumped through his body. It wasn't Shane he was afraid of, nor was he scared of dying, the idea of leaving Carl and Sophia alone; however, terrified him.

"Listen to me you redneck fuck." Shane leaned in close his eyes narrowing at Daryl. "If you have Carl you tell me right fucking now. I mean it. If you're lying to me, I'll kill you."

Daryl struggled to push Shane off of him as he spat out indignantly. "Fuck you." Sneering, Shane let go of him with one hand as he wound up punching Daryl in the face so hard that the back of his head cracked off the rocks. For a second Daryl saw stars as he really wondered if Shane was just going to kill him. The cold metal of the gun barrel was pressed into his temple. Blood tricked out of his nose as he stared at Shane defiantly.

An image of T-Dog and Jimmy flashed through his mind. At this point there was nothing stopping him from pulling the trigger. Using all his strength Daryl pushed Shane backwards. The larger man tripped over a branch as his gun fell to the ground. Seeing what would probably be his only opportunity, Daryl pounced on Shane kicking him hard in the chest. Kneeling down Daryl punched him in the face as blood gushed out of his nose. Not relenting he kicked him in the side hard until Shane reached out and grabbed his foot. Falling to the ground, the larger man was on top of him in a second. Daryl felt the air whoosh out of his lungs as he felt Shane's fist connect with his side. If Shane got the better of him here he would kill him. There was no doubt about that.

Daryl's knee connected with Shane's groin as the other man reflexively rolled to the side in pain. Landing a devastating blow to the side of Shane's head, Daryl felt a surge of relief when he stopped moving. Jumping to his feet he kicked Shane lightly as a deep snoring sound came from his lips.

Taking a deep breath, Daryl wiped the blood off his face with the back his hand. He had to do something here. He couldn't let this happen again. Pulling the .9mm out of his waistband he paced back and forth for a second. He had never killed another human being; walkers didn't count. He had to do it, though, to keep them safe. Walking over to Shane he cocked the gun holding it level despite a fine tremor in his hand. He didn't think this would be so hard. Looking down the barrel at Shane's sleeping form his finger tensed on the trigger.

"No!" The sudden interruption caused Daryl to jump back. Carl was running towards him with Sophia not far behind. "NO! You can't kill him!" Throwing himself into the dirt next to Shane's sleeping form, Carl looked at Daryl incredulously. "What are you doing?!"

Putting the gun back into his pants Daryl tried to pull Carl up off the ground. Carl; however, had latched onto Shane's shirt and was desperately trying to shake the man awake. "Shane! SHANE!"

Yanking Carl up by his shirt Daryl threw the boy to the side roughly. "I thought I told you to stay put!"

Carl completely ignored Daryl's question as his sight remained focused on Shane. "Why did you hurt him?!" This was the moment Daryl was afraid of; it was the moment where Carl inevitably picked Shane over him.

"We gotta go, Carl." Behind him Sophia looked between Daryl, Carl and Shane with wide eyes.

Carl shook his head crawling back over to Shane, "No! I'm staying with Shane." Daryl felt his heart sink.

"That ain't an option, now get your ass up!" Daryl was getting scared and when he got scared he acting like a dick.

"FUCK YOU, DARYL! YOU'RE NOT MY FATHER!" The comment hurt more than Daryl would ever admit. Inside of him a million emotions began bubbling up as he acted the only way he knew how.

Grabbing Carl off the ground he smacked the boy across the face harder than he had intended to. Stumbling to the side, Carl's face was a mix of fear and confusion. As soon as he did it, Daryl regretted it. Clenching his hand into a fist, he felt himself shaking. Carl reached up and touched his face tentatively. Had that just happened?

"Carl…" Daryl started but before he could finish the boy was bolting away in the other direction. Blinking Daryl felt his chest tighten as his breath hitched in this throat. The forest began to blur together as he leaned against the rock for support. A memory coming back to him without warning.

'Baby brother it's time you earn your stripes around here'.

Merle stood over him in the back yard. Daryl was about twelve years old at the time although he could have passed for eight. Years of abuse and malnutrition had delayed his growth considerably. Merle had just turned eighteen and was hanging out in the backyard with some of his buddies. They were drunk and high and Daryl was at their mercy as usual.

'Need to learn how to take a punch.' Merle muttered as he set his beer down. Daryl flinched knowing what was coming. In a split second, Merle slapped him hard against the face. His teeth rattled as he fell backwards against the porch. A sudden sharp pain radiated through his face as a sharp, stinging sensation caused the right side of his face to feel like it was on fire. The other boys laughed as Daryl crawled around on the ground trying to get his bearings.

Before he could get up, someone's foot connected with his chest making him fly backwards. Daryl moaned in pain as tears inevitably sprung up in his eyes.

Merle leaned over him with a cigarette hanging out of his mouth. 'Is those tears I see?'

Daryl didn't say anything; he just lay there trying to cover his face. 'I'll give you something to cry about you pussy'. Taking the cigarette out of his mouth he snuffed the burning end into Daryl's arm. Screaming in pain he begged Merle to stop. He couldn't stop the tears from flowing down his face as he writhed under his big brother's grasp. The other boys laughed and cheered.

The memory faded as Sophia shook him side to side. He struggled to focus on her frightening face as he slowly came back to reality.

"DARYL! DARYL!" Snapping back to the present he heard Shane moaning on the ground. "OH PLEASE! DO SOMETHING!"

Grabbing his crossbow, Shane's shotgun and pistol, he grabbed Sophia by the wrist as they set out in the same direction as Carl.

Almost immediately Daryl felt Sophia pull her wrist away from him as she kept her distance. Throwing a glance down at her, his heart sank. Fear. It was all over her face and that was nothing new but this time it made him sick because this time she was afraid of him.

He had never considered just how much their trust meant to him. Really it was everything to him right now. They were the only thing keeping him going. Looking down at his hand he realized that he was still shaking. Clenching his fist he took a deep breath. A long time ago he swore to him that he would never lay a hand on child. It made him sick to think that he might be just like his father. Carl's face flashed through his mind as he felt his chest clench tight. Maybe there was a reason he had never had any kids. Maybe it was God's way of sparing them a lifetime of abuse. Or maybe it was God's way of sparing him the truth. In the end he was no better than his father.

Short chapter I know! I promise to get back soon with an update. Also please let me know what you think about the introduction of an OC for Daryl and if you like this story or if you're getting bored with it. Thanks !