My own blood is much too dangerous.
-Neko Case "Hold On Hold On"
Danni lay on top of her sleeping bag, staring up at the rusted white ceiling of her van. The cooler pre-dawn air moved in through the open side doors over her body heightening the sticky feel of dirt and sweat covering her like a film. She was a low maintenance girl, used to tight budget traveling. She'd slept on more floors than beds while touring with the band. Regular showering was a luxury. Still, she was not what you'd call a nature girl. Never in a million years would she believe she'd be living out in the woods. She kept plenty of baby wipes on hand for quick daily cleaning up. At the moment, however, all she could think about was washing up in the lake at the quarry. It would be empty at this hour of the morning. She could clean up alone. Shane had made it clear that no one was to venture out of the designated camp area on their own. Everyone had to pair up. Danni understood the need for safety, but they had yet to meet a walker up here. She needed time alone. Besides, she'd be back before anyone even knew she'd gone. Grabbing a towel, bar of soap and a clean T-shirt she jumped down out of the van. The sun was just beginning its climb above the trees to the East. The air wasn't yet humid and only a few the birds had started chatting. She jogged down the hill through the trees to the quarry. It was quiet there, except for the occasional slap of water against the rocks. She pulled her shirt off and stepped out of her jeans. She laid them on a rock then waded into the water. She missed taking long, hot baths. This was far from a bubble bath, but washing off the past few days worth of dirt and sweat would do just fine.
She walked further into the water up to her thighs, then started lathering the soap she'd brought.
Daryl moved silently through the brush. Dawn was his usual time to start out hunting. His plan was to head down to the quarry and follow the water's edge around to the forest on the other side. It was farther away from the noise of camp. He'd have a better chance finding deer. All he'd been getting lately was squirrel.
Just before clearing the woods he saw Danni in the water below. Stopping short, he moved behind a tree. He didn't want her to see him and think he was sneaking up on her. He tried to look away, but all she had on were black panties. The dark color accentuated her pale skin. Add to that raven hair falling midway down her back and she looked like porcelain. He felt wrong for spying. Damn girl keeps dogging me. Since the dust-up with Ed the other day, he found himself thinking about her when his mind wandered from the task at hand. He kept seeing her standing there, ready to take on that son of a bitch. She was half that asshole's size.
From his place at the edge of woods. Daryl heard Merle before he saw him.
"Well, well, well. Ol' Merle sees something he likes."
Danni turned, caught off guard. She automatically crossed her arms in front of her chest. What the hell was he doing out here this early? He must have been up all night on a bender and hadn't come down yet. "Damned tweaker," she muttered. A walker would have been a more welcome sight than Merle Dixon at this moment.
He grabbed up her clothing. "Hey little queenie, let's play a little game of come and get it, whatcha' say?"
"You're kidding right?"
"No, I'm dead serious darlin'. Looks like I got something you might want and you definitely got something I want. How 'bout a trade?"
She began to weigh her options, adrenaline kicking in. She could run, but being barefoot would slow her down. If she tried to swim further out, he might follow. Before she could decide, she heard a low, gruff voice.
"Leave it Merle." Daryl had appeared at the edge of the trees, a few feet up the embankment.
"Hey, little brother, what ya doin' out here so early?"
"Leave her alone."
"Look, don't interfere with somethin' that ain't botherin' you none."
Daryl stared hard at his brother. "C'mon, Merle let it go."
"Just who do you think you're talking to? You take orders from me, not the other way round."
Daryl approached him slowly, "I ain't' sayin' it again."
"Why? What you care about little queenie here? If you're jealous, we can take turns. Hell, it might do you some good, act like a man for a change instead of such a pussy. Bet you don't even remember last time you got some. You even remember how it works? "He laughed. "I'll go first. Watch and learn little brother."
"You son of a bitch." Daryl raised his crossbow to Merle's head.
"You ain't gonna do that." Merle's tone was dismissive. He calmly turned and knocked the weapon out of Daryl's hands to the ground. "Daryl, you don't have the guts." He sucker punched him under his ribcage. Daryl doubled over from the painful force of his brother's fist into his diaphragm. The expulsion of air from his lungs made him dizzy and he fell to the ground, the wind knocked out of him.
"Well?" Merle asked as Daryl tried to catch his breath. "I thought so. Big hat, no cattle."
"That all you got, a damn bitch move?" Daryl shot back, still heaving, short of breath.
"Who you callin' a bitch?' Merle kicked Daryl and with disgust he added. "That there just ruined the mood." He bent down and picked up Danni's jeans and t-shirt. He tossed the clothing down to her. "Until next time, sugar." He turned to Daryl, still on the ground. "You best watch yourself brother." His tone was menacing. "You're startin' to think the sun come up just to hear you crow." He stalked off into the woods toward camp.
Danni dressed quickly and without thinking, walked over to Daryl, who was getting back on his feet. He was brushing the dirt from his pants. "Hey, are you okay?"
The realization that she saw him take that beating from Merle made his face hot with shame. He mistook her concern for pity.
"Fine!" he snapped angrily. He gave her a quick sidelong glance and shook his head. "That's just Merle bein ' Merle." He grabbed his crossbow from the ground and slung it over his shoulder. Before he stalking off, he gruffly warned, "You best be more careful. I'm gettin' tired of saving your damn ass every goddamn day."
Again she watched him go, not knowing what to say, letting him have the last word. He had a point. It had been twice now that he'd shown up in time to help her out of a bind. Just a weird coincidence.