Heart of Dixon

Chapter 14: Signs of Hope

This is the last POV chapter in Daryl's POV, well for now at least. I hope you're ready!

Thank you 0rchidd, sillygabby, mickey-moo, arg613, and petaclaw's patricebethporter for leaving nice reviews. Your reviewing is what helps my confidence in writing so thank you very much! I hope you enjoy this chapter!

Daryl's POV

I only own Robin; the rest of the Walking Dead isn't mine.

Dear Inky, I'm sorry it's been a while since I've last updated. As you know, May 4th was Erin's 9th birthday, or at least it should have been his. Since that day, like all his birthdays, I completely shut myself away. All my friends understood and gave me space but Jeff didn't. He was always on my case about moping or crying over Erin. Of course, I'm going to cry over Erin, he was practically my own child! Jeff has definitely changed since we got engaged, some days it's really good and sometimes I want to stab him with a dirty spoon.

I know that Jeff was a douche, but who the hell was Erin? She did mention she had another brother once, but never his name. I didn't even know she had another brother until she talked about her family. Jake never mentioned another brother, but from this journal I guess he died and the death was too painful for the both of them still. He was practically her child, what was that about?

I flipped through and stopped when I saw my name but shoved it back in my bag when I saw Dale walking over. No one knew I had her stuff and I didn't want them to find out until we got Robin back, but I really didn't want anyone to tell her I read her journal. But damn the timing this old man had, I was about to find out what Bitty really thought about me. Did I really what to know though?

"Hey Daryl, we gathered up some supplies and made a sign on a car for Sophia and Robin. We'll check back here every day in the morning for them." Dale told me, "She should be heading over to the farm now."

I nodded and threw my and Bitty's stuff into a small corner of the R.V. I didn't want them to find it and look through it. When everyone was ready, I hopped on my bike and led them all to the farm the girl who took Lori told her about. It didn't take too long to get there. Right when we pulled in Rick went out to meet us along with the rest of all group and the people who lived on the farm.

Dale was the first to ask questions, "How is he?"

"He'll pull through, thanks to Hershel and his people." Lori smiled. I looked at the new people, there was an old man, I'm guessing Hershel, an older blond lady, a blond girl, a boy, and the girl who took Lori. Hershel didn't look all happy with all us on his farm.

Rick who by the way was really pale added, "And Shane." I looked over at him. He ducked his head without a smile. That ain't the Shane I met before, normally he'd be basking in the fact that he was a hero but now he looked a bit guilty. What did he do, and did it have anything to do with him being bald now?

"We would have lost Carl if not for him." Rick praised. Shane looked at us hesitantly like we'd figure out whatever that happened. I'd best keep my eye on him, I don't know what he did, but I don't think I'd like it.

Dale hugged Rick and Lori. Everybody joined in the hugs except for me; I stood off to the side awkwardly watching them all.

"How'd it happen?" Dale asked.

"Hunting accident. It was all just one dumb accident." Rick answered.

"Uh, Rick, we'd like to hold a service for Otis. Your people are more than welcome to join us." Hershel came up ending the hug fest. Thank God, I was worried someone would come up wanting a hug from me. I only ever hugged Bitty and that was because I was wasted off my ass.

We joined them a few minutes later around a large pile of rocks. Hershel and his people changed into some nicer clothes. Hershel pulled out his Bible and went to quoting, "Blessed be God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Praise be to him for the gift of our brother Otis, for his span of years, for his abundance of character; Otis who gave his life to save a child's, now more than ever, our most precious asset." The old man went about his prayer while I watched Shane; something about him still rubbed me wrong.

He jumped when Hershel called his name, "Shane, will you speak for Otis?" Shane looked totally against the idea of speaking even though he loved to hear himself talk.

"I'm not good at it." Shane said without emotion, "I'm sorry." His voice barely heard.

"You were the last one with him. You shared his final moments. Please, I need to hear. I need to know if his death had meaning." The blond woman sobbed. I bet she was Otis's wife. But when I heard that Shane was the last one with Otis, I knew right away why I didn't trust him. He did the same thing to Otis that he did to Jake. Damn bastard couldn't go anywhere without killing someone, could he?

"Ok." He whispered; he took a moment to think up some story, "We were about done. Almost out of ammo." Shane stopped again to think but played it off as grief, "We were down to pistols by then. I was limping; it was bad with my ankle all swollen up." Shane froze for a moment, "'We've got to save the boy'. That's what he said. He gave me his backpack and shoved me ahead. He told me to run and that he would cover me. And when I looked back…"

Shane ran out of story then but limped over to the stone grave. He placed a stone on the grave and said, "If any death had meaning, it was Otis'. He was a hero. Carl and I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for him."

The others nodded to him. No one else seemed to notice the holes in his story or how suspicious he acted. Then again I think Dale might have noticed but I wasn't too sure. I stayed by the grave even after all the others left. When I was certain no one could see me, I took the rock Shane put down the grave and threw it off by some trees. That rock didn't belong there.

I came up when they were gathered around Carol's Cherokee with a map between them. That would make looking for Sophia and Bitty a whole lot easier now that we could really organize this. Rick had the same idea in mind.

"This is perfect. We can finally get this organized; we'll grid the whole area. Start searching in teams." Rick decided.

"Not you. Not today." Hershel informed, "You gave three units of blood, you wouldn't be hiking five minutes in this heat before passing out." He turned to Shane, "And you-push that ankle and you'll be laid up for a month. Not good to anybody."

I stepped up looking at the map, "I guess it's just me. I'm going to head back to the creak and work my way back from there." I went over to the camp while they stilled talked and set up my tent a bit farther from the others. When I was done with my and Bitty's stuff inside, I decided to start my search. When I was leaving the property, Rick stopped me.

"You ok on your own?" He asked.

I scoffed, "I'm better on my own. I'll be back before dark." I started to walk away but the lawman had more to say, "Hey!" I stopped, what now?

"We got a base. We can get this search properly organized now." Rick said.

"You got a point or are we just chatting?" I snapped. Don't stalling me with this useless bullshit!

"My point is it lets you off the hook. You don't owe us anything." Rick said.

"My other plans fell through." I said then walked away. I did owe someone, and she was in those woods somewhere.

It was nice to be able to look without four shadows following me and complaining about the heat or bugs. I was really enjoying this bit of alone time, since I rarely get to be alone now. Everywhere I turned was just another one of them annoying idiots asking questions or complaining about something. For such 'good people' who still cling onto their 'humanity' they wanted to wait to search for a little girl and a wounded girl while me, the no-good trashy redneck went out of his way to search. I couldn't believe these people sometimes.

While I was walking, I stumbled on a clearing with an old farmhouse right in the middle. Bitty or Sophia could easily be hiding in there, but there could also be tons of walkers in there waiting to get out. I took my crossbow from my back loading a bolt just in case.

I knocked on the window and waited for anything to happen but nothing stirred. So I kicked the door open with my crossbow ready. I checked each room only to find old dusty furniture and cob webs. I was checking the kitchen when I saw a freshly opened can of sardines. One of the girls could have eaten them. I saw a closet when I was going to throw the can away. I've haven't checked it yet.

I approached it slowly ready to kill anything if it jumped out to attack. While still holding my crossbow up, I jerked the door open. There was nothing inside, but on the floor were blankets and pillows. Bitty couldn't fit in there, but Sophia could have.

There wasn't any other sign of someone being inside so I went back outside and called for her. I saw white in the corner of my eye. When I got closer, I realized it was Cherokee rose. When the Cherokee were forced off their land by American soldiers to go to the reservations they lost many of their children to sickness or starvation. So to give them hope, the elders prayed for a sign to give the mother's hope. The Cherokee rose grew from the mother's tears. I liked old American History while I was in high school so I used to read a lot about the Native American. Dad and Merle called me a geek for it, but I couldn't help but be interested by the people who lived off the land.

I felt like the rose was a sign, I'd find Sophia and Bitty. I think I should take one for Carol, she could use some cheering up and I think she'd like the story too. I just hope she doesn't give me that weird look that makes me feel guilty. I still don't get why it does though, maybe it was because I haven't found Sophia yet.

I went back on my search calling their names, searching the ground for any tracks, and shooting some squirrels. I didn't see any walkers around. There wasn't much signs of anyone coming through here either. No animal tracks either. I kept looking until the sun started to set so I decided it was time to turn back. While walking, I heard a branch snap, and it wasn't too far away.

I knelt down behind a fallen log as the sound got closer. I could hear its feet shuffling along. It had to be a walker. I got my crossbow ready as I waited, it was getting closer. I couldn't see it yet but I could hear that it was close, very close. I heard it fall with a loud crash then bring itself back up. It should be passing right in front of me now and I was going to nail that fucker right in the head.

I couldn't shoot it when I finally saw it, I recognized this one. Her brown hair wasn't up in its usual bun, but down and matted to her head. Caked blood was over her lips and down her chin, all of the way to her neck. Her clothes were ripped to shreds and she limped, bumping into trees and other things, not making a sound. This walker was the one that I searched for the most, just so I could repay her brother- no, it wasn't just about her brother anymore. I wanted her around for another reason, I actually liked this girl, but just like everything I let in close. It gets violently ripped away, just like Merle. Though seeing her stumbling around like this, it hurt me worse than not having Merle around.

I raised my crossbow, but I couldn't get aim on her head my hands shook so bad. My throat tightened like I was in another chokehold and my heart felt like it was about to explode in my chest. I couldn't do it, even though it was what she would've wanted. I couldn't kill my Bitty. I wiped at my face…te-sweat kept getting in my eyes. I had to do it, I had to end her but all I could think of was her goofy smile. Could I kill this walker Bitty? No, I couldn't do it.

Why did this have to happen to her? Why my Bitty? She was just being a good person and running out to save a little girl even though she was scared of everything. Why did she have to die? My hands now shook more with anger because she was gone, with frustration because I couldn't end her, with regret because I didn't find her fast enough. I could feel it all contorting into an anvil of pain at the center of my chest everything good left in this world had just died with her.

I lowered my crossbow and put my head in my hands, my whole body shook. I actually wanted to cry this time, even if it did make me weak, but nothing came out I just stood there clenching my jaw. I jumped when I heard another loud snap of a branch. In my blurred vision, I saw Bitty-no the walker looking right at me. If I didn't kill her then she'd kill me. Could I do it?"

Muhahahahahaha cliffhanger! Tune it next time, my dears, to find out what happened to Bitty! Aren't I so cruel?

I finally put up the first chapter to my AU Robin and Daryl fanfic without walkers. It's called Belt Loops of Love, since Daryl's always grabbing at Robin's belt loops. Check it out and send it some of your fabulous love. :)

'Til next time, I love ya faces!