Thanks for all the reviews, pm's and alerts/favorites. That was soooo nice!
Rated M for bad language and implied smut. Can you find the shout-out to "The Departed"?
And as always, I don't own or have any claim or rights to any of the WD characters, sad to say.
Chapter 12
Daryl and Hallie spent the rest of the night and the better part of the next morning in bed. On the sofa. In front of the fireplace. On the table. Everywhere. Hallie joked that if it hadn't been too cold, they probably would have gone outside as well, and when Daryl picked her up and headed for the door, she insisted they not.
Long about nine Saturday morning, Daryl curled up on his side and pulled her into him. Hallie had fallen dozed off quickly after their last session and was sleeping soundly now, her hands tucked under the pillow, her tiny feet crossed over one another, knees up in a fetal position. He pulled the covers tight and snuggled to her. She was hot against him. Her skin was always hot. It felt good against his, like a silky hot water bottle all his own.
Daryl laid there, basking in enough afterglow to last him months. His whole body was relaxed, warm, comfortable. He marveled that it was only Saturday morning. They still had another day and a half, but he never wanted this to end. He closed his eyes and wondered what the rest of the world was doing right now.
When he woke, it was to the smell of coffee. He could feel the warmth of the fire she'd stoked, hear the gentle cracking and popping of the wood. She had on a pair of leggings and a long sweater and was humming softly as she bent over the fire, working at something, her back to him, hair in a loose bun.
"What tha' hell r' ya' doin?" he said, sitting up.
"Good morning to you, too." she turned around.
"No, what 're ya' doin?" he said, realizing that the item in her hand was a spatula. "Yer' not supposed ta' be doin' that!"
"What? Making pancakes? Fuck you, I can make pancakes if I damn well want!"
"No, I 'as gonna make 'em fer' ya. Breakfast in bed." He sat up against the pillows, arms crossed, pouting.
"Well, I beat you to it. So just lighten the fuck up, Grumpy."
"You better watch that mouth a' yers."
Hallie took the pan off the grill, setting it away from the coals. She exhaled deeply, her shoulders rising and then falling and turned around slowly.
"No. "she said, a slow smile forming. "You watch it." Pulling back the bed covers, she climbed in and straddled his knees.
"Oh, fuck Aunt Jemima!" he moaned as she closed her mouth around him.
XXXX
They packed a backpack and headed off through the trees, spending the afternoon in the woods. Several times they would stop, throw out a blanket and lay on it, watching clouds or birds overhead, whispering to each other. Daryl would hold her close sometimes, sometimes he would lay with his head in her lap. Always, they touched. Holding hands, arms around each other, sometimes just a finger or a hand resting on one another, but always touching. Daryl had never felt this comfortable with anyone in his life.
By Sunday afternoon it was very apparent to Daryl that the one-night stand was turning into something more for him. He was truly disappointed to have to leave. Hallie was sitting on the tailgate of the truck, feet swinging, head cocked sideways watching him lock up the cabin. He tugged on the padlock one last time and pointed a finger at it, shaking his finger in the air a couple times as he turned to hop down the steps to the vehicle.
"Ready?" He said, walking to the tailgate.
"Guess so. I really wish we didn't have to leave."
"'I hear that." he said, running his hand through his hair and looking back at the cabin wistfully.
XXXXX
The drove, sitting close, not speaking almost the whole way home. It was as if neither one of them wanted to shatter the glass bubble that had surrounded them the weekend, that insulated them from everything else but just themselves, that kept everything at bay. Daryl was the first to break the silence.
"Did ya' hava' good time?" he said quietly.
"The best. It was perfect, Daryl. Thank you." she said, putting her head on his arm. "Did you?"
"Yup. ." he said, grinning. "Don't wanna' go back." he said.
"Me neither. Work's going to be real boring this week."
"Could go back next week."
"Mmm... Sounds wonderful. We'll see." she said, hoping that her causal attitude would tell him that she wasn't expecting him to spend every waking minute with her, even if deep down she wanted him to. She wanted to give him space and not smother him, to keep this from snowballing, rolling too fast down hill towards the crash that she thought would be inevitable. She remembered a line from one of her favorite movies, "Blade Runner." Tyrel, the genius scientist who designed the replicants, says "the light that burns twice as bright burns for half as long." Hallie was scared to death that this would be her fate with Daryl. That they would burn out, leaving her in the shadows, alone.
"Sure." he said, his heart dropping. If Daryl had known what Hallie was thinking, he would have told her he'd be with her forever, especially in the darkness.
XXXXX
Hallie turned her head to the door and her stomach churned. A quick drink after work had turned into a margarita and a shot and she really didn't want to deal with him this evening. Oh, fuck no.
He strode through the doors and walked to the bar, his steel-toed boots heavy and hollow on the wooden floor. He slid onto a stool and swiveled, throwing back the shot of Jack Daniels that the bartender had laid down before Merle's ass even hit the barstool. He surveyed the room like a king looking over his court. Merle knew his massive frame was as intimidating as his reputation and he lorded it over everyone. He loved the fear factor that was associated with his sheer presence. He looked at the patrons, checking out the women as if he was inspecting them for market, eyeing them up and down with a curled smile.
The table in the corner held several lovely young things. He worked his way around, one by one, sizing up each one by their physical attributes on his own tilted personal scale, until he locked eyes with one sitting directly facing the bar. Fuck me, he thought. That's that lil' piece Daryl's hot fer'. He smiled broadly and lifted his beer in acknowledgement. Fuck, why be rude? What tha' fuck did Daryl say her name was again? God, he should know it by now, he heard it enough. On the phone. In his sleep. Jacking off. Daryl wouldn't talk much to him about her, but he sure said her name enough. Christ! The last time he saw her she had decked him. Popped him one in the jaw. Kelly. Shelly. No. Hallie. Yeah, tha's it. Hallie sumpthin'.
The girl slipped out from behind the round table and one of the others pulled her arm back. They exchanged words and the little one shook her head and continued walking towards the bar. Straight at him. Merle looked at her as she walked towards him. She as little, no bigger than a minute. Nice big rack. Nice face. Dark red hair. He always liked red heads, they tasted different, he would tell Daryl. Long hair like he liked. Good for holdin' with, he thought. Imagining the view from behind as he jerked her hair, Merle let go with an evil smirk.
"Oh, please, Lady, don't hit me a'gin!" Merle laughed as she walked up to him.
"I ain't gonna. Yet. But the night's still young." Hallie smirked. "Buy you a drink? I think we should get to know each other."
"Now why tha' fuck would ya' need ta' do that?" Merle scratched his neck with a dirty hand. "Ya' think jus' because yer' fuckin' mah lil' brother we're gonna be one big happy family? Have Thanksgivin' together? Exchange Christmas presents? Fouth a' July bar-beeee-ques?"
"Christ, you're such a fucking charmer, Merle. I just do not understand why you can't find a good woman." Hallie she said, a sneer in her voice. She motioned to the bartender. "Shot of Jack and a shot of Cuervo." she said. "Did I get that right, Merle? Jack? You ARE man enough to handle another shot of Jack, right?"
"Bitch, I'm man enough ta' handle whatever yer' buyin'."
"Yeah, I figured as much. Bottoms up." she said, throwing back her shot as Merle did his. "And don't fucking call me bitch again, got it?"
"Or what?"
"Or you can buy your own damn Jack."
"Alrighty then." Merle smiled. "'Long 's yer' buyin'."
"Let's sit down." Hallie said.
"This ain't no fuckin' date, Woman."
"Trust me, Merle, no one in here would think that. Not a fucking soul. I been walking around all day. My ass is tired, my feet hurt and I just want to sit the fuck down. Now shut up and grab that table over there in the corner, will ya'?"
"Yer' ass don't look tired." he growled. "It looks mighty fine ta' me. Fine 's wine. Fact I'd like ta'..."
"Now, Merle, would you have said that if Daryl were sitting right here?" she smiled slyly. "Never mind, you would have, I know you would have."
"Fuckin' A. Why tha' hell not?'
"Oh, I don't know. Respect maybe? Boundaries? Common decency?"
Merle laughed out loud. "Ain't got none a' that."
"No doubt. How about this? How about because it's just plain ol' bad taste to make nasty comments about your brother's, ah.." Crap, McAllister, you've stepped in it now.
"Ma' brother's WHAT?' Merle said, honing in on Hallie's slip like a shark smelling blood. "Jus' what tha' fuck' 'r ya' anyway?"
"I...don't... know." she said, the Cuervo loosening her up. She motioned to the bartender for another round. "You tell mw. What DOES Daryl call me?"
"Skank. Whore. Slut. Cunt." he hissed. "Tem-po-rar-reee." he said the last one slowly, enunciating each syllable, his drawl thick.
"Oh, fuck you, you Asshole! He does not."
"Does too. Says he's gonna dump yer' ass 'soon as he's done hollowin' it out." he smiled.
"You so suck at lying." Clink went the two empty shot glasses on the table.
"So, then you tell me - what tha' fuck 'r ya'?" Merle wiped the Jack off his lips with the back of his hand.
"Beats me." she shrugged. "Guess you'll just have to ask him."
"Naw, he don't talk none." Merle said, shaking his head. "Boy never was one ta' talk much."
"Tell me about it."
"He don't talk ta' ya' neither?"
"Sometimes. Most times no, he's pretty quiet. I don't mind. It's nice. Makes what he does say that much more important."
"Bet he's busy usin' his mouth fer' other stuff, huh Darlin'?"
"Yup." she smiled and looked at him sideways. He was leering at her. He licked his lips and raised his eyebrows.
"Yes he is. Lots of other stuff. Nasty stuff. Did you teach him that stuff?" You did not just say that to this man, she thought.
"Nuh-huh. Din' hav' ta'. Just comes natural ta' Dixon men. Jus' know how ta' make a woman moanin' happy."
"Well, God Bless the Dixon men, in that case."
"So ya' sayin' mah lil' brother's good 'n tha' sack?"
"What do you think, Merle?"
"I think ya' prol'ly fuck like bunnies, tha's what I think."
"I think I need another drink if we're gonna go down this road."
Merle laughed. "Yer' tha' one who brought up goin' down, jus' 'member that, Missy Jane."
Hallie walked to the bar and ordered two beers and two more shots. If she had to get him shit-faced to get on his good side, so be it. As long as she was in control of the situation. She didn't want to think about what Merle would do if he thought somehow she'd given the green-light to get, well, too familiar. She really didn't want to think of the conversation she'd inevitably have to have with Daryl to explain why she'd gotten drunk in a bar with his brother...without him.
She brought the drinks back and sat them down. Merle drained half of his beer and then tossed back the shot with a gravelly, contented "Aaaaah."
"So." he said, eyeing her. "You 'n mah brother."
"Yup."
"Ya' like 'im?"
"Yup."
"Ya' love 'im?" he said, taking a long drink from the bottle. "I know ya' went an' spent tha' weekend 'gether at th' cabin. Awww, playin' house, weren't ya'?"
"We did." she said nodding, dodging the question. "Nice place, did you build it?"
"Ya' din't answer mah' question, Sweet Cheeks." Merle leaned across the table and looked in Hallie's eyes. "Ah, said, do ya' love 'im?"
Fuck. He's not going to let it go. Hallie leaned in to him, closing the gap. She looked in his eyes, not knowing what to say. She bit her lower lip absent-mindedly. Merle wasn't blinking. He was waiting for an answer. Hallie looked down at the table top briefly and then returned her eyes to his. More silence.
"Yeah." she said nodding, her voice barely above a whisper.
Seconds ticked away. Merle didn't react. He just looked at Hallie, their eyes locked on each other.
"Well, fuck me sideways." Merle finally said loudly, tipping the bottle back and emptying it.
Christ, what have I done, she thought. There was a deafening silence between the two for what seemed like hours. Hallie sipped her beer and tried to get her thoughts under control. She kicked herself for saying that, wondering how Merle would use it against her. Wondering if he would tell Daryl what she'd said. She didn't want Daryl to know. Not so soon. Not yet. She didn't want him to feel pressured into anything. Shit, shit, shit, she thought. It was all going to start unraveling. She looked at Merle. He was still staring at her. He looked away long enough to catch the bartender's eye and motion for another round.
"So yer' 'n love wi' tha' lil' shit." he said, scooting the overflowing shot glass in front of her. "I reckon that calls fer' a toast." Merle was smiling now, a goofy, broad grin that was more unsettling to Hallie than his usual menacing scowl. He raised his glass and moved his arm in her direction. Hallie did the same. "Ta' the lil' fucker." Merle said. Hallie laughed without thinking and drained the glass of the amber colored liquid fire.
XXXXX
"Merle, I, "she said, her tongue tangling on her words, "I am not totally sober." she said. "It's all your fault, you big jerk."
"Now, don't be hatin'. I don' 'xactly 'member pourin' them drinks down yer' throat."
"True, very true. But if you hadn't shown up, I'd left after a couple and I would be able to drive home. No way can I drive now." she protested.
"Well, baby, I'll be glad ta' drive it home, I mean, drive ya' home." he said, leering again.
"Not gonna' happen, Merle. What'd I tell ya'?"
"Yeah, yeah, one Dixon's 'nuff." he rubbed his chest with the flat of his hand. "Yer' just a one DICK-son woman." he said, emphasizing the first syllable and saying it loud enough for people to turn and look.
"Well, sorry, Sweetie. What can I say?"
"Say yes, Darlin'. I'll never tell. One night w' me an' y'll never think 'bout that narra-ass brother o' mine a'gin. I'll rock yer' world." Merle was grinning from ear to ear. At this point, Merle didn't know what he'd do if she'd said yes, but he knew she'd never say yes. She was a nice girl and she was in love with his baby brother.
"Maybe, maybe, but one night with me, Merle Dixon, and you'll be clutchin' your chest and wishin' you'd never eaten all that fried chicken and biscuits and gravy." Hallie's voice was low, slow, oozing. "I'd give you the heart attack to end all heart attacks and your sorry-ass corpse would sit straight up at your funeral and thank me for killin' you and beg me to do it all over again. So how about we not even entertain that thought anymore, ok, Stud?"
Merle choked and started laughing. "Well, can't blame a man fer' tryin'!" he roared. "S'ok. I had Ronnie call Daryl to come 'an get ya' anyhow."
"WHAT?" Hallie screeched. "You fucking called Daryl?"
"Yeah, he's on his way."
"Is he pissed?"
"What tha' fuck fer? We was just havin' a lil' drink."
"What did you tell him, Merle?" Hallie was livid. "What the fuck did you say to him?" Panic setting in.
"Now, don't go gettin' your thong' up yer' crack." Merle said, draining another beer. "I told him to tell the lil' pecker-head I stopped in' n' ya was' here wi' a' couple girl friends an' we got ta' talkin' 'n ya' need a ride home now. Consider it a favor. Now ya' can get laid 'n tha' middle a' tha' week. Ya' can thank me later."
"Oh my god, Merle. What if he asks how we figured out how we both knew him?"
XXXXX
Daryl was half-irritated and half-excited. He'd not seen Hallie since the last weekend and they hadn't made plans for this weekend, despite talking on the phone every night after work. He was aching to see her again. Literally. This could be perfect, take her home, love her up, maybe both call in sick and then they could spend the day together. At the same time, though, something bothered him. He knew his brother all too well. He knew that Merle would be his usual self, especially if they'd been drinking. He wasn't worried as much that Hallie couldn't take care of herself, more that Merle would scare her off. Make her think twice about getting involved with a man who's immediately family was, well, Merle.
He walked into the bar and saw them at a table. They were sitting across from each other, smiling. Laughing. He watched them for a second before he walked up. They seemed to be genuinely having a good time. Hallie's hand was on her chin, her elbow on the table and Merle was leaning in, telling her a long story, apparently. Hallie's eyes were sparkling and Merle was grinning, his gestures animated and wild.
He pulled a chair from the next table and sat down next to Hallie, putting his arm around the back of her chair. Merle motioned for yet another round.
"We havin' a party here or what?" he said quietly.
"Hey." Hallie said, turning to him, grinning. "Look who I found."
"Yeah, I see. What're we doin' here, guys?"
"Just having a few drinks. We found out we have somebody in common and Merle and I have been gettin' to know each other. Right now he's telling me about you and the snappin' turtle."
"Fuck Merle. Don't be tellin' no stupid stories." he said, embarrassed. "I need ta' take Hallie home."
"Aw, shit, Brother, sit down an' have a beer. Ain't hurtin' nothin'. You need ta' relax and sit a spell. Then ya' can take this fine piece a', er, this young lady home an' screw her brains out, but first, yer' gonna' have a beer with us."
"Merle." Daryl said through clenched teeth. The look he gave his brother was one of sheer disgust.
"Aw, get over yerself. We all three know yer' doin' tha' nasty, we're all grown-ups." Merle said, swigging his beer.
"Some 'parrently not 's much 's others!" Daryl hissed, his eyes narrowing.
"Ok, guys, look, we're not going to start anything. Daryl, Merle's just trying to get a rise out of you."
Merle interrupted "I think that's yer' department, Sweetheart!"
"Damn Skippy that's my department, now you behave yourself, Merle. Stop baiting your brother. "
"Baitin' mah' brother? Again, thass' yer' department, Babydoll, but I vouch fer' him. I guaran-damn-tee he's a master bater!" Merle howled and smacked his hand on the table top.
The vein on Daryl's neck bulged. Hallie's eyes widened and she put her hand up to her face, laughing.
"Sweetie, I think that's on your agenda tonight, not Daryl's." she giggled. "And stop tryin' to piss him off or it's gonna be on ALL our agendas."
Daryl looked at Hallie. She was flushed from the alcohol and her eyes were a bit red. She wasn't falling down drunk but she wasn't safe to drive and Merle had made the right call. She was sitting close to him, her hand on his knee, rubbing gently. Merle stood up and announced that he was heading to the bathroom to drain the lizard, as he put it. He didn't know if he should be more proud than mad. Not many women could spend an evening going toe to toe with his drunk-ass brother and end up laughing.
Daryl pulled her towards him, putting his arm around her waist, holding her tightly to him, his mouth to the side of her head.
"Ya' ok?"
"Fine." she said, turning towards him. "You mad?"
"No. Should I be?" Ok, little white lie here, Daryl, he thought.
"No. I didn't plan this but I'm kinda glad it happened. Merle's ok. No, he's not ok. He's way more than half a bubble off plumb, but he loves you and he's concerned about you and I think this was good for us to talk and get to comfortable with each other." Hallie said in one breath.
"Ok."
"You sure you're not mad?"
"Nope." he said. "I was just...worried. That's all. Ya' don't know Merle, 'specially if he's been drinkin'."
"I'm fine. It's all teasing."
"Not always."
"Daryl, don't you trust your own brother?"
"No." he said quietly. "Let's just leave it at that."
"Ok." she said. She put her palm against his cheek, rubbing he thumb over his jaw. "Do you trust me?"
Daryl looked at her and nodded his head.
XXXXX
Daryl woke the next morning and Hallie was gone. There was a note on the kitchen table explaining that she had gone to work and to call her when he got up and around. She'd gotten Kelly to drive her to the bar and picked up her car from there. He took a shower and warmed up a cup of coffee and phoned her at the office.
Hallie told him she was the only one there now except for Chrissie, the new girl. Everyone else had called in or gone home sick. Apparently there was some kind of flu going around and lots of people had come down with it. It seemed to be everywhere. She told him to stay there all day and not go to work, which was academic because when he called in, he was told the same thing. No work today because everyone was sick and there weren't enough of the healthy guys to even put a crew together to get over to their job site. Daryl padded around Hallie's house and watched tv off and on. The news channels were abuzz with reports of the flu.
By mid-afternoon, the flu had turned into something bigger than just an outbreak of seasonal influenza. One broadcaster was interviewing people and a man came right up on the street and bit the shit out of him. People were panicking and doing stupid things. He called Hallie and she said that when she had gone out to pick up lunch, it was all people could talk about, that hysteria was ramping up and people were just crazy. She was going to stay until five and then pick up some dinner and come home.
By the time dark rolled around, Hallie was not home. Daryl was beside himself. He called her but kept getting a recording that all circuits were busy, please try later. The tv news was showing frightening scenes. This was no flu. People had lost their damn minds, he thought. There were scattered reports of people attacking others, violently. The government had made statements for people to remain calm and remain indoors but it was too late. News broadcasts showed the same thing happening all over, not just in the Atlanta area, not just in the U.S. People everywhere had been affected, people were dying and there were reports of terrible, strange things. Unbelievable things. Inhuman things.