AN: Hi guys! Here's the new chapter! Please leave me reviews. It lets me know that people are reading this story, and it helps me stay motivated even when I have writers block, so please review! Thanks! :) Unfortunately I do not own TWD, just Mels.
"Mels babe, wake up." I felt Daryl lightly shake me. "Come on, wake up." I slowly untangled myself from him and rubbed my eyes before letting out a small yawn. "What's going on?" I asked my voice gruff. "I'm not sure. Dale just pulled the RV over, must be something wrong." Daryl sighed for a second. "Just exactly what we need." I sighed and pulled my bow on my shoulder before slowly opening the passenger's door and sliding out. I readjusted my bow as I stepped out and began walking to the RV.
"What's up?" I asked, with Daryl trailing right behind me. Dale smiled at me but sadly said, "How much gas you have left?" I looked to Daryl. "Bout out, why?" Rick looked around but rubbed his face. "I was thinking about your truck. What if you dropped the truck and just ran on your bike instead? Get our truck farther, and you'll be just as fast." Daryl turned to me with a look of uncertainty. "It's fine with me." I said after a moment of silence. "Sure," Daryl said. "Just give us a moment to unload it before you start siphoning off the gas." Rick nodded his head as Daryl and I turned around and began walking back.
I reached into the truck and grabbed our bags as Daryl let down the tailgate and began unstrapping the straps. "You sure you want to leave this good ole beaut behind, Daryl?" I asked, slamming the door and walking towards the back. "I guess," was all he said as he helped me up onto the tailgate before he got off and began dragging the bike backwards, me grabbing the handlebars and pushing forwards. We both lifted up at the last second before placing the bike on the ground, using a huge chunk of strength. Daryl kicked out the kickstand while I got off the tailgate and slammed it shut. "Forgot how heavy that was," I said, slightly laughing. Daryl's face cracked into a small smile. "Me too," he muttered silently.
"You can come get what little gas there is now," I said to Rick as he looked over. Daryl continued looking at the bike and in the saddlebags making sure everything we had could fit on the bike. "Thanks," Rick said. "As soon as we get this in our truck, we're gonna take off." Daryl and I just nodded as I stepped closer to Daryl. "Just like the old days right?" Daryl's permanent scowled face turned into a slight smirk. "You know-"Daryl's sentence was stopped short as the roar of the suburban Rick was driving started up. "Guess that's our cue," I said, motioning to the bike.
"Damn woman, always ordering me around," he said with a slight smile on his face as he climbed on the bike. "You know you like it," I said as I followed suit, placing my arms around his waist. "Just like the old days," he murmured before he kick started the bike. Not seconds later, we were following Rick's suburban.
The ride was just like it used to be. Daryl and I with nothing but the road and the wind. The wind blowing through my long hair. I'd close my eyes for longer than a minute but I was searching and making sure that no walkers got to close to the bike. Don't need us two on the ground with no means of transportation. Plus Daryl would be pissed if he wrecked. Not to mention I'd be a little upset as well.
"Why we slowing down," I asked after what felt like hours on the bike. My legs were practically numb and feeling tingly from the rumble of the bike. "That is why," he yelled pointing to a giant pileup of cars. "Drive up there to Dale," I said pointing to Dale who was currently sticking his head out of the RV's window. "Hey Daryl, you think you can get around or see a way through?" Dale asked ever so politely. "Yeah, real narrow. Have to move some of these cars outta the way. Let's just park it and look for supplies!" Daryl hollered back at the man. He nodded and stuck his head back in the RV as we made our way back to the end of the line again.
"Alright, everyone." Rick said, gathering us all together. "Make sure you have a weapon on you at all times and check every car for something we can find okay? Let's go get some things folks." Daryl and I looked at each other and silently spoke to each other. Of course we'd go together. We always did. "I've said it a thousand times," I heard Dale mutter. Shane rudely asked, "You got a problem there Dale?" Venom was laced through his words. I could tell he was extremely upset with the decision Rick had made back before the CDC. He obviously thought it was the wrong one.
"I need to find a good radiator hose," he said, clearly ignoring Shane's tone. "I can help you look. Working on cars was my spare time back before all of this," I said motioning to the cars. I felt Daryl's arm pat my shoulder. "Well you should find one here," Shane said spitting out his words. All of us looked around seeing which way would be best to go when Lori's voice cut through the group. "It's a graveyard." I had never thought of that. Nor would I have unless Lori had said that. "Well come on people, beggars can't be choosers." Daryl's slightly irritated voice spoke from beside me. After that comment everyone slowly dispersed, me and Daryl one of the last people to leave.
"Although I completely agree with what you said earlier, I have this feeling Dar." I said as I slammed a car door shut. Daryl's eyes caught mine from two cars in front of me. "What do ya mean, Mels?" he asked rummaging around the back seat. "It don't feel right here." I could see him nod as I moved to another car. "I still get that feeling you know." This definitely peaked his interest. "That he's gonna come back for me, even in all this." I said, shaking my head and motioning to the world. "I doubt that abusive asshole ain't seeing the light of day honestly Mels. There's a reason we left your ex near Macon. We're on the outskirts of Atlanta. No way we're close." I shook my head.
"On the bright side, I found you some more flannels you can cut the sleeves out of." I said, holding up four shirts. "Wonderful. Now don't be stealing my old ones," he said smirking pointing to the one hanging off my waist. "What can I say? Comfy, hot, and it just completes my outfit." Daryl let out a soft chuckle. "Please it'd look better on the floor of our room." My mouth instantly fell open. "Daryl James Dixon! Watch that mouth of yours. One of the little'uns could be running around us." He nodded and smirked.
I moved on to the next car when I suddenly heard Daryl cuss. "Fuck Mels, get under the cars!" I swiveled around, "What in the world?" "Damn it woman I said NOW!" he loudly hushed me and told me to get down. I slinked down to the ground careful to not cut myself on anything. I looked over to see Daryl underneath his own car holding up a finger for me to be quiet. I nodded and became extremely still whenever I saw a pair of raggedy feet pass by me as slow as ever. As soon as they passed, my eyes turned to Daryl in complete shock. My hand covered my mouth so I wouldn't let out a sound. Suddenly Daryl's head turned his head losing the contact between our eyes. He turned back and mouthed "Stay put" before slowly getting out from under the car and leaving."
"Stay calm, it's okay. Just breathe. He'll be back." I repeated in my head for what seemed like the fiftieth time in the past ten minutes." I kept on repeating my mantra trying to stay calm whenever something grabbed my arm. I let out a shriek only to see Daryl's blue eyes staring right back at me. "Come on out Mels, it's safe." I slowly slid back out and threw myself around Daryl's arms. "Pull that shit again Daryl," I breathed into his neck. "Where the fuck did you even go?" I asked when I pulled away from him. "T needed some help, helped him out. Let's go see the if the others are okay."
Daryl and I slowly walked to the rest of the group taking out some walkers that were extremely slow. "Keep putting pressure on that T." I said motioning him to follow while looking at the blood running down his arm. "Sophia!" I heard Carol call out. My eyes instantly searched for the little girl. "No Sophia stop!" I screamed whenever my eyes landed on her running down the embankment. This alerted some of the walkers to the side which Daryl easily took out. I tried running for her but as soon as I started to Daryl pulled me back. "Rick'll get her don't worry." I stopped pulling against him and let out a sigh, "Rick don't know those woods. He'll get lost. So will Soph she's just a little kid Daryl." He pondered for a second and he said, "I trust him, Mels."
I nodded my head and watched as Carol just sat on the guard rail and cried. I was never good with tears. I'd learned to not show any emotion over most of my childhood and into when I started dating. My dad would just hit harder if he saw any tears and my ex was the exact same way. I guess its true whenever people say women marry men that's just like their fathers. My mom always took the beatings and tried her hardest to shield me from them but sometimes it never worked. I got beat and so did she. Whenever I graduated high school I didn't go to college. Momma always told me I should have, but I wanted to work in the prison. I never understood why I wanted to go that way, but now I know it led me to Daryl.
I was lucky enough to meet a guy my first year as a CO. His name was Zachary Mills. We always called him Zach for short. He was such a gentleman. He took me places and showered me with gifts. He was the perfect man. At the beginning that was. After he met my dad and saw the bruises that showed up later, he revealed his true self to me. I dealt with it for as long as I could. I always wanted to get out, but I always had that hope that he'd change for me. That was a lie. Then I ran into Daryl. He got me out of the house, never beat on me, and treated me like the perfect gentleman would. Even though I'm sure some of the people in the group thought otherwise with Merle around.
I knew their secrets. I watched it happen sometimes. Always dealt with their asshole excuse of a father whenever he got thrown into the drunk tank about once every two or three weeks. That is until he got put in one of Georgia's fine correctional facilities outside of Atlanta. After that Daryl, Merle, and I never heard from him. I wonder every day if that man is still alive. "Yoo hoo, Melanie Rose." I heard Daryl say, snapping his fingers in front of my face. "You okay?" I nodded, taking a shaky breath. "Thinking bout Sophia?" I shook my head no. "We'll talk later once we find her." He said, making me smile.
Suddenly Rick's head peeked out from the grass beside the guard rail, without Sophia by his side. "Where's Sophia at?" Lori's shaky voice called out. "She's not here?" Rick asked incredulously. "No, she's not." I said looking at Daryl. "Daryl, you and Shane and Glenn come help me. Melanie you stay here and protect them all." Woah. "Hold up, I have more tracking experience than Shane or Glenn, switch me out with one of them." Rick should his head and all he said was "No. We're leaving in two, make sure you got your things." He turned and walked over to Lori and Carol.
"He's just watching out for you Melanie." I heard Lori's quiet voice say. She knew I'd hear her. Anger rose up in me. I gave her one nod and began rummaging through cars leaving Daryl by himself. "Look Melanie," I heard both Daryl and Glenn say. I stuck my hand up, telling them to be quiet. "It's Rick's decision. What he says goes. Now hurry before you get yelled at." Glenn quickly scampered off. "Mels," Daryl started. "If you find that track, you run it til its dry Daryl Dixon. I'd rather you bring her back, but who knows what'll happen. You worry about your health too. Get your ass back here before sundown sir." I said pointing my finger at him. "Yes ma'am." Was his response as he briefly kissed my cheek and promised his return.
"He's a true gentleman." I heard Dale speak from behind me. I turned around and began going through the car like before. "Yeah he is." Was all I said. "I came out here because I want you to take watch. Let us go through the cars. You've done it long enough." I shook my head. "Dale you've taken watch more than all of us. I think you've got that covered. Besides you belong with that RV. It's like your baby." I slammed the door shut. "Please, just take watch." I let out a sigh and readjusted my bow on my shoulder. "Fine." I took the gun from him and handed him my knife. "I want that back by sundown." With that I walked to the top of the RV. "Melanie will you help me get this walker outta the RV?" I heard Andrea's voice as I rounded the corner.
"Fine," I said, placing the rifle on the hood. I walked in the door and was instantly met with the smell and the sight of a dead walker. "Screwdriver. Nice." I said as I grabbed its legs. Andrea didn't say another word as we carried it out and down to the guardrail. I wiped my hands on my dirty pants and climbed up to the top of the RV. "Who put you on watch?" I heard Lori say. "Dale did," I said looking through the binoculars. "Shouldn't you be looking through cars?" Andrea quipped back. I just shook my head and continued looking as the sun began to sink.
"Shane!" I hollered as he and Glenn came back up the bank. "Where's my husband and Rick?" Shane just blew me off and Glenn raked his hands over his face. "Rick wanted me to let you guys know we're on her trail, just gotta follow it. In the meantime we need to get this cleared so we can leave to go to Fort Benning." I shook my head. Of course that's what Shane would want. "You ever think Benning might be taken over by the dead Shane?" He just looked up at me and gave me a glare. "You can come finish searching cars, Melanie. Give Dale back his rifle." I stood there a second before slowly climbing down the ladder. "Fine," I said tossing the rifle back to Dale and took my knife back from him.
I began making my way back to Daryl's bike whenever Shane grabbed my arm. "Let go," I said through my teeth. "Look, Melanie. You're a woman." I slowly shook my head, "How long did it take you to figure that one out officer?" He finally let go. "What I'm trying to say to you is that you're a woman. You're weak. Go do things like Lori and Carol. " I shook my head. "Unbelievable." I began walking away. "What's your problem?" Shane spat out. I quickly walked back. "You. It's the end of the world and you're still stuck in the 'women are weak' mindset. Pull your head out of your ass. I'm not like that. Should have learned that when Daryl and I brought your food to you for the weeks at the quarry."
I quickly stomped off without letting Shane say another word. "Unbelievable," I muttered once again. "Shane was right you know. It's like your sitting up there without a care in the world." I heard Lori as she approached the car. "Back off Olive Oil. Don't want to put any unnecessary stress on you. Might make you mess up the laundry schedule. That is if we ever get to do laundry again." I said, going through a useless suitcase only grabbing a shirt for Carl. "Instead of bitching at me, why aren't you looking in cars for shirts or things for Carl," I asked throwing her the shirt I found. "You have no room to talk. I haven't seen you do anything." She said, fanning her face and letting the shirt drop to the ground. "If it weren't for the food me and Daryl got you, what makes you think you'd still even be here and not dead from starvation lady?" I asked, planting my hands on my hips.
"Where's your son even at?" I asked slamming the door shut. "Better keep him under your wing," I said. "Oh, I'm going farther down the road. If anyone else wants to come 'talk' to me, they can find me down there," I finished. I repositioned my bow and began walking. I looked through countless cars and made myself a good ways down the highway whenever I really looked up at the sky. The sun was setting real nice leaving the sky streaked with dark red and light purples. Back where Daryl and I lived, every night we would go out on the front porch and just stare at the sunset and the stars quickly after that. It was just what we did. If one of us wasn't back by sunset, something was wrong.
I switched my bow to my other shoulder taking the strain off of my right one. I'd have to get Daryl to massage it later. The closer I walked to the group the louder Carol's sobs were. By the time I got to the RV both Daryl and Rick were climbing over the guardrail without a little girl following behind them. "You can't just leave her out there!" Carol said her voice shrill. "Look, we have a trail, but if we kept on following her tonight we'd just muck up the trail and get ourselves lost. First thing in the morning we'll get a group and go look for her. Okay?" Rick said more than asked. She just nodded as the group dispersed Daryl making his way over to me.
"There a reason why Shane's giving you the eat shit look?" Daryl said motioning me to follow him to his bike. "Uh yeah actually we had a run in today while you were still out there." I said picking out dirt from underneath my fingernails. Daryl stopped and instantly turned to me. "About what?" he asked extremely quiet. "Don't worry," I said running my hand along his back. "I put him in his rightful place. Along with Lori when she came to bitch at me too."
A sly smirk appeared on his face. "Let me guess, she got in your face over laundry?" I let out a chuckle and leaned against his bike. "Somewhat. Shane got on me for being a woman. Can you believe that? He said I should be doing 'womanly' things like Carol and Lori. Excuse the hell outta me for actually making sure I don't need a man to keep me alive." Daryl's face instantly turned kind of sour. "You know I didn't mean it that way. I love having you watching out for me. But we work as a team, none of the other women do. That's what I meant. I always get my words mixed and tangled up and it makes me-," I was rambling and Daryl kissed me to shut me up.
"I was rambling wasn't I?" I said looking down. He nodded and stuck his finger under my chin causing me to look up at him. "Yes, but I like hearing the sound of your voice." I let out a small smile. "Where are we sleeping? I don't like being out on this open road Dar." I closed my eyes and heard someone's footsteps approach. "Me either," came Dale's voice. "I just wanted to thank you for taking watch earlier even when everyone was asking you why you were there instead of me. I just needed to clear my head you know. Walk around a bit." Dale's smiles were something I could see any day instantly smile right back. He was one of those old men that you just had to love. "Anytime Dale. Although I'm sure some people would disagree I don't mind being up there. It's practically what my job was before, although now these people will kill me if they get to close. Ones before just kinda stared down at me for a while before walking off." I let out a chuckle.
"You said you were a CO right?" Dale asked rubbing his hand over his beard. "Yes, why?" I asked. He stood there a moment before answering. "It's nothing. Thanks again Melanie." Daryl and I stood there for a couple of minutes just staring at the sunset like we used to. "It's beautiful," I said as the sun finally descended over the tree line. "I got you some more bolts. Like industrial grade a bolts, Dar." I reached into the saddlebag and pulled them out. "Thank God Merle had a taste for big saddlebags," I thought to myself, not wanting to make Daryl feel worse than he already was.
"Thanks," was all the response I got back. "Here, give me your poncho and I'll clear out a truck bed and get some pillows and things like that. Sound good?" All I got in return was a nod and a poncho being thrown at me. I instantly caught it and turned to the nearest truck bed and began cleaning it out. I heard the footsteps before I heard the voice. "I want you closer to the RV." Shane's booming voice came cutting through. "This is as close as we'll be getting to the RV tonight Shane," I said not even turning my back to see him. "Plus, you're not even gonna sleep near the RV, so." I felt him move closer to me before grabbing my arm, "You need to learn your place, Dixon."
"I suggest you take your hand off my woman or I'll forcibly remove it and watch her beat the shit out of you." I heard Daryl's voice come from behind me. Shane instantly backed off. "See, Melanie. You're weak." Before Daryl could say another word, Shane had practically ran back to his new ride he'd found earlier. "What the hell did he mean you're weak?" Daryl asked coming up beside me, anger radiating off of him. "He mentioned earlier that I was weak because I was a woman. Whatever Daryl, I just want some food and to lay down and try to sleep. Sound good?" Daryl just slightly chucked. "Come on spitfire," he said hopping into the bed of the truck and holding his hand out to me.
"Such the gentleman," I said taking his hand and climbing up into the truck bed with him. "C'mhere, Mels," he pulled me down on the bed with him. "Let's try and get some sleep before we go looking for Soph tomorrow. You okay?" I just nodded and slowly relaxed as I breathed in his smell. Before the apocalypse he always smelled like aftershave and wood chips. Now he smelled like the dirt, sweat and tree sap. Knowing Daryl he probably had sap in his hair or on his clothes somewhere. As I felt Daryl's breath began to slow I allowed myself to fall off to sleep, ready for tomorrow morning to get here.
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