I am so sorry this took so long to write! I am extremely hyped though because if anyone remembers, I went to Walker Stalker back in 2017 and met a good amount of TWD family including getting photos with Michael Rooker AKA Merle Dixon. This year, I'll be goaling for not just Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) but Daryl (Norman Reedus) will be joining this year! I plan to get photos and autographs with Norman and Jeffrey this year!. Anyway, enjoy!
Carl laid in his cell, he had woken up about an hour ago. He was taking the top bunk, one his father usually took, while he let Angela sleep below him. Beth offered to have Judith sleep with her in her cell as Carl was keeping watch on Angela. Or was, until he woke up in at the crack of dawn to find her missing from her bed. The boy flew out of bed, topping his head with his hat and grabbing his gun to search for her.
His footsteps were silent as h made it to the barred doors finding her sitting at one of the tables. Her back was to him, hunching over the table fiddling with something. Concerned she had a weapon, he opened the door and marched over, seeing she had the music box in her position.
"I wasn't going to do what everyone thinks." She spoke, almost spooking Carl as she hadn't spoken for the past twenty-four hours. "They think I'm losing my mind, don't they?"
Her tired green eyes shifted up to Carl standing a few feet from her. There was puffy redness around the eyes, she had been crying. Carl felt guilty that she had been crying this whole time while he was sleeping through the night.
"No." He answered unsurely.
Blinking a few times, she looked back down at the small wooden music box. "They look at me the same way they looked at your father, when Lori died." Her fingers pressed into the carvings of the letters.
"They're worried, we all are." He tried to defend.
"Worried I'll put a bullet in my brain." She countered, sending a glare. She sighed seeing his troubled expression. "Kaylee was someone I would die for, get bitten for, anything. I was a horrible sister, keeping her from doing what she thought was right."
"Do you think what she did was right?" He asked, but Angela just closed her eyes rubbing them. Carl swallowed, moving to sit beside her as he kept his gun on his lap. "Do you think Glenn is right?" He decided to ask instead.
"About what?" Angela asked back, looking down at him.
"About Merle." Had she been entirely unfocused that entire time? "Don't you remember?"
Angela looked up at the dirty brick walls for a moment, then shook her head. "I remember yelling and it just aggravated and scared me." She looked bacl to him. "What did he say?"
"How it's Merle's fault that Kaylee died. When he let her and Michonne go, Kaylee went after him. Then that's when you guys found…" Carl glanced up, seeing tears drip down Angela's face. "Angela, I'm sorry." He whispered, feeling bad for making her cry.
"I-I'm fine." She wiped at the tears, sniffling a bit. "Merle tell what happened?"
Carl shook his head. "No, he hasn't told anyone. They'll be back soon." Angela nodded as her focus returned to the music box. She opened it to hear the soft melody inside.
The morning rose as everyone was waking up. Glenn and Maggie took watch, as Beth was making breakfast. Soon, the sound of a motorcycle engine was brought to everyone's attention. Angela was shockingly the first to jump to her feet, running out the side exit as others followed.
Angela stopped short, spooked to find a bus on the property. Side stepping around, behind her Carl, Carol, Beth, and Hershel emerged looking around questioningly at the new vehicle. The second Angela spotted Daryl, she made a beeline for him just as he got off his bike. She slammed right into his chest causing him to stumble back a bit, not expecting her impact.
"I'm alright." He assured her, gently pulling her off as she reached up kissing his cheek. "We're all alright."
Her green eyes shifted toward the truck seeing Michonne sitting at the passenger seat looking distressed. Rick walked around the truck, greeting everyone. Merle hopped out of the back of the truck, slamming the door as he sighed at the sight of the bus. The doors opened and unexpected to some, loads of people were piling out of it. Angela took a step back out of instinct, Daryl kept his arm around her waist. He saw Merle moving to the back of the truck, he left Angela beside Carl to help his brother. The man who was helping the people out of the bus turned his head, Angela knew him, that was Tyreese. Sasha soon came out, looking around catching eyes with Angela. She broke eye contact as Rick approached her and Carl.
"What is this?" He asked his father.
"They're gonna join us." Rick told them.
Angela spoke, arms wrapped around herself feeling her anxiety kick in. "Aren't they the ones who-"
"It's alright, they're harmless." Rick assured her, reaching up to softly pat her shoulder.
Carl scanned the people with an untrustful gaze, he saw his father had made another mistake in his eyes. Angry, he marched off leaving them alone. Angela stood by watching as Hershel welcomed the newcomers, clapping Tyreese on the back. Sasha turned back, giving a kind smile toward Angela. She looked away, turning her shoulder not feeling okay enough to meet these people. Rick glanced to her, then toward the truck where a certain someone's corpse was kept. Merle and Daryl got to work unloading, as Michonne came over to help. His blue eyes shifted to the catwalk, almost scared to see what he expected. Surprisingly, he found no one there, not a soul to haunt or look down upon him. He felt lightness come to his shoulders, feeling he made the right choice after all this time, finally.
"Rick?" He looked down to Angela who was nodding her head to the Dixons. "Is that?"
Rick looked over, seeing the brothers carry the wrapped body of Andrea as Michonne followed to help with the burial. He sighed and scratched his chin, placing his hands on his hips. "Andrea didn't make it."
Her eyes went wide at that, her eyes following the three. "Did the Governor kill her?"
Rick swallowed, nodding his head. "May as well have. She got bit, was left to die."
He turned to her, placing his hand on her shoulder to turn her away. Not wanting her to have another panic attack, with how she was responding so well right now. "Where's the Governor?" She asked, as he let her walk further away from the others.
Rick heaved a heavier sigh, turned toward her to stop the walk. "He shot up his men and abandoned his people. That's why we took them."
Her eyes blinked, looking down at the pavement as her arms tightened around her. "He's still out there?" Her voice was full of fear and it hurt Rick to hear her so scared to ask that. "He'll come back and-"
"We got the land and the people, we'll find him before he finds us." Rick assured, tilting his head to her to look her in the eyes. "Angie, hey." She finally looked up, her eyes glassy as they threatened to let tears escape. "I won't let anything else happen to us."
Angela let out a shuddering sigh and nodded, wanting to believe Rick. "I trust you, Rick."
Later that night, cell blocks C, D, and B were filled with residents and taking the night to sleep after a meal that was thinned out. Angela sat at the perch, watching everyone wishing one another a good night's sleep. Her eyes fell on her cell, hugging her knees as she refused to enter it. Footsteps were heard, she turned seeing Daryl walking up, hands on the railing. Without a word, he strode over and sat down with a grunt beside her. He rested his arms on his knees leaning back against the wall, sighing as he twisting a small string of yarn that was hanging off his jacket sleeve.
"Glad ya were talkin'" He spoke up, glancing up to her. "Everythin' went a'right here?"
Angela nodded. "Nothing bad happened." she told, deciding not to inform about Glenn's behavior earlier. "Where's Merle?"
Daryl shrugged, "Probably on watch." he told carelessly. "That reminds me," Daryl pointed downward at his cell getting her attention. "Yer switchin' cells with him."
Angela frowned looking to him confused. "Why is that?"
Daryl looked back to the yarn, pulling it off of his sleeve. "Ya can't be alone in that cell all the time. 'Sides, Merle snores."
Angela bit her lip resisting to smile, shifting closer to Daryl to when she felt their hips touch. "Thanks, you've been doing so much. Sorry, if I don't show any gratitude."
Daryl let the feel of her lean closer, as he shrugged. "I care about ya, Angie." He admitted softly, knowing his voice was echoing out in the cell block.
Daryl reached over taking her hand, she tangled his fingers with hers to hold them tightly. Angela looked down, squeezing back as she tucked her knees and resting her head on his shoulder. She sighed as they sat there, she rubbed her fingers against his much bigger knuckles in the hand she held. His skin on his hand were tough and hard, clearly from hunting and work he did through his years. Resting her head on his shoulder, she felt the muscles tense under but soon relaxed to soften under her touch. Daryl seemed content there, just as she was resting beside him.
"Daryl?"
He hummed back tiredly, head resting back as he had his eyes closed. She glanced up, seeing how close she was to his face, her eyes scanning his skin to see the dirt and grease. She could smell the smoke and oil on him, her heart was beating hard and she finally felt… Something. Ever since Kaylee's death, Angela felt empty with no feeling inside her. Being with Daryl, her heart beat hard against her chest with a warm feeling she wished to stay there. Feeling a void to fill, she leaned in and nuzzled her head into his neck. She felt his head tilt against hers as she felt his thumb rub against her index knuckle. Closing her eyes, Angela sighed and relaxed against him wanting to feel like she did before. Feeling so at peace, being with someone who can ease her mind and make her forget the world around her.
"Don't block the perch- Well, well, well."
The voice caused Daryl to move from Angela and his hand leave hers. She jerked up finding Merle Dixon grinning down at them like someone finding some gold in the dirt. "Gonna make a move, baby brother, do it without an audience."
Daryl moved to kick his brother's leg. Merle moved it before he could reach and kicks his foot back. The older brother turned away and walked to Angela's old cell. It was then she noticed the blanket bundled in his arm as he entered the cell.
"Sorry, he's such a pain in the ass." Daryl apologized, he grunted getting to his feet and held a hand out to Angela.
She took the hand and let him hoist her to her feet, his hand still in hers to let him lead her down the steps to their cell. "Should get some sleep." He suggested, nodding to the top bunk.
"Alright." Angela climbed up, as Daryl stood by in case she took a wrong step or stumbled off. "Oh, a blanket?" She asked, patting the mattress to indicate Merle took his.
"Might back in the cell above." He told, pointing at the ceiling. "I'll get it before Merle wraps his grimey body around it."
Daryl left the cell and climbed up the stairs toward her old cell. "Told ya go get lost." Came his brother's voice. Daryl frowned, he hadn't even arrived at the cell, how could he tell he was there?
"I don't feel anything, stop acting like I do."
Was someone else in there with Merle? Daryl didn't hear anyone else talk to him. Curiously, the hunter leaned against the wall and peeked into the room to see Merle laying in the bottom bunk with his back toward the doorway. His leg dangled off the edge as his arms rested on his stomach with his blanket draped over himself. Merle looked to be not staring at the wall but at something else, as if someone was standing in the room.
"I ain't talking to her, so drop it and leave me alone." His tone was his usual annoyed one, but to who?
Daryl was concerned, his brother was just talking to someone who wasn't there. Deciding to leave him be, he turned and went back to his cell seeing Angela pressing down spots on the mattress. She saw him return and frowned.
"Where's the blanket?" Angela asked.
Oh, right. He was up there for a reason. "Ah, he claimed it already." Daryl reached down to his bed and tossed his blanket up at her. "Use mine, I don't mind." He removed his vest and hung it at the post of the bed.
She looked the blanket over and glanced down to him. "Are you sure? It's going to be freezing tonight, don't want you to get sick."
Daryl waved her off, sitting down at the bed and taking his boots off. He tossed them to the floor and moved some of his stuff off the bed, he hadn't had the time to go through them with the Woodbury venture. "I'll be fine."
A sigh was heard from above. Daryl was met with feet when Angela dangled herself off the top bunk and to the floor. "Lay down." She told, pushing his shoulder.
"Wha?"
Angela leaned under the bunk and pushed his shoulder again. Compromising her, he scooted back onto the bed and to his surprise, she sat down and started laying out the blanket. Wait, were they going to share a bed?
"W-What are ya-"
"You're going to freeze if you don't sleep warm, the cold weather is coming and you need to take care of yourself." Wasn't she a hypocrite.
Angela scooted closer to him, she reached up for her pillow and placed it right beside his. The bed wasn't large, in fact Daryl was sure he was going to squish her body in this bed. Where could he place his hands? Should he face the wall? What if he touched her by accident in their sleep?
"Do you have watch duty at all tonight?" Angela asked as she laid out the blanket over their bodies.
"Nah." He let out, edging against the wall to give her space. He rolled to his side with her back facing her.
"Alright, wanted to make sure in case you needed to get out of bed." Angela explained, tucking under and facing toward Daryl. She sighed and closed her eyes, snuggling into her pillow. "Do you want the end?"
"Nah." He repeated softly.
Daryl tucked his arms under his head as he tried to relax. He felt his body all tense with the female figure laying beside him under the blanket. She moved a bit, feeling her feet skim his pant legs. He flinched at the touch and curled his legs up. Daryl felt warmth for the night, but knew he wouldn't allow himself to sleep much.
The next morning was a busy day for everyone. Rick's first plan was to take the field back from the overrun of the walkers. They had to figure a way to enclose that gate again to keep the walkers out from overflowing once more. Thinking this would be easy with so many people, most of them stayed within the safe walls of the prison. Only a few men and some women came out, but the two top people to help were Tyreese and Sasha.
"Listen," Rick spoke, as he walked with siblings out in the courtyard. "I want to apologize for my actions before. I just…" He rubbed his eyes causing Tyreese to shake his head.
"No, we understand." He told, Rick looked up at them.
"You lost your wife, and we heard you recently just lost another member before the attack." Sasha told, adjusting rifle strap over her shoulder.
Rick nodded, turning to see Angela sitting at the bleachers with Carl. They two seemed to be talking, as Angela was rubbing her eyes, possibly the sun stinging them or other means. The siblings gave a sympathetic look, not wanting to think of losing each other in this world.
"The Governor did it?" Tyreese asked.
Rick swallowed, sighing through his nose. "We don't know the details, yet. We just know-"
"Yo! Officer Friendly!"
Rick let out another short sigh, finding Merle marching up to him. "What is it?"
Merle folded his arm over his chest, careful of the bayonet. "You plan on clearing the field with what, exactly? We ain't got an army in there." He told, nodding to the prison where the Woodburians stayed.
Rick glanced over and shook his head. "We still got Tyreese and Sasha, along with our own people."
Merle scoffed, "Not when we're down one." he told with his gaze falling on Angela in the distance. His tone hinted at an annoyance which struck a chord with him.
Rick glanced over at her then back to Merle. He nodded for the siblings to go, as he'd talk with them later. They understood and left to check with their people. "Merle, she just lost her sister, her only family in this world. We can't just throw her into a walker killing frenzy right now."
Merle sniffed and spat at the ground, "Yeah? Well, she'll have to nut up eventually." he told. "This ain't the time to be playing broken with the Governor still missing."
"I know, we all know." He told him.
"Then do something. Knock her back into her senses." Merle demanded at him, pointing a finger in her direction. "I've seen her kill without hesitation and kick ass without a thing weighing her down."
Rick furrowed his brows, was Merle complimenting her? He rubbed his chin and sighed looking down at their boots before looking toward her. Angela sat there knotting her fingers as she was now talking with Carl. Her features held exhaustion, she looked depressed as if struggling to barely smile for his son.
"You know I'm right." He turned back to Merle who held his head high at his opinion. "Send her out to clear the field, she'll be back in no time." Without another word, Merle turned and left the leader to decide what to do with their broken member.
"We'll be clearing out the field today." Rick informed them, his voice carrying over to the people standing before him.
Rick gathered the people who he deemed fit enough for this job. Before him were Tyreese, Sasha, Daryl, Merle, Maggie, Glenn, Carl, Carol, Michonne, and to some surprise Angela. She stood awkwardly beside Michonne with her hunting knife Daryl had been practicing her with through last Winter. Rick's eyes fell on her, seeing her stress over the whole idea of her killing walkers. She knew what happened with herself when seeing that boy dead, and was concerned she'd have another attack.
"Our job is to empty out the field and block the front gate to keep any more from coming. We'll be spreading the walkers outside along the fence and keep them away long enough to make shift a blockage." Rick looked over everyone seeing them nod in understanding.
"Once it's clear, we can feel more at home. Keep your eyes clear and watch one another." Rick walked over to the second main gate to the field and moved it with Glenn's help. "Let's go!"
Everyone filed out going into pairs of two. Merle and Daryl stuck together as did Maggie with Glenn. Carl and Rick sliced and stabbed walkers, Angela hesitated at the front gate as Michonne went off with her own. She beheaded walkers without a second thought and just walked through as if she was strolling through the park. Angela stepped back, her knife tight in her hands, her back pumped into someone as she turned forgetting Carol was with them.
"You alright?" She asked, placing a hand on her shoulder. "You can stay guard at the gate if you want."
Angela let out a sigh, "I can't let you do this alone. Rick said to stay in pairs." she told. "I don't understand why he's got me doing this."
Carol gave a smile and rubbed her shoulder gently. "Just stay back, I can handle it fine." She assured.
Angela watched the sister like friend walk off and stab her knife right into a walker and shoved it to the ground. Angela kept by the gate, looking around to see others kills easily. Merle was kicking them down and stabbing his bayonet into their skulls while Daryl shot his bolts and collected them without trouble. Glenn and Maggie worked back to back, keeping on top of each other when walkers approached them. Rick kept his eyes on his son, Carl shot at walkers as the two were making their move toward the gate with Michonne following. Everyone was working hard and risking themselves to get this to work. Even the two new siblings, Tyreese and Sasha worked hard as they stabbed and slammed heads in.
Her green eyes scanned the field seeing more bodies fall to the ground as they moved and spread out through the yard. Angela felt empty, no urge to move and help. She looked down to the knife in her hand, questioning what she was doing here in the first place. Her eyes shifted up to see the bodies look like copies of her sister, one after another laying in the dead grass and dirty path. She felt sweat building up and her chest tightened at the sights she was seeing.
"Angie!" Someone screamed.
Her eyes shifted over seeing Carol looking distressed from a distance. Her eyes weren't on her, but to her left. Turning she got her answer, just as a walker tackled her to the ground. "Angela!"
The Dixon brothers looked over seeing a walker on top of Angela. "Angela!" Daryl yelled as the two ran over.
Merle was surprisingly faster as he managed to beat his little brother to her. Merle grabbed the walker by the shoulder and threw it off of the crying and screaming woman. He stabbed his bayonet through its forehead and for extra measure, stomped his foot down and smashing the skull like a rotten fruit. Daryl fell to his knees at Angela and sat her up as she was trembling at her ordeal. He checked her arms, neck, and was thankful to find no scratches or bites. She leaned into him, gripping his jacket tightly needing his hold. Angela hyperventilated into his chest as he held her close, looking up to see Merle who was panting.
"She's clean." He told his brother, moving to hook his arms under her legs and stood picking her up.
Merle frowned when he saw Daryl turn toward the courtyard. "What you think you're doing?" He bellowed at him.
"Gettin' her to safety, it's too dangerous for her out here." He countered, shaking his head. "What was Rick thinkin'?"
"She'll get over it." Merle assured, bending down to pick up the knife she dropped. "Ya can't baby her, little brother."
Daryl spun at his brother, squinting a glare at him. "Did ya suggest she be out here?" He accused, adjusting his arms holding her close. Angela's arms were tight around his neck as she shuddered with her face into his vest.
Merle's brows went up, extending his arms out. "Ya blamin' me for her problem? She can't be a sitting doll, with nothing to do." He nodded. "Gotta make herself useful."
"Ya can't just toss her into a walker pit n' expect her to come back right then 'n there."
"So, babying her is the way to do it?" Merle scoffed, swinging his arms at his side.
Daryl looked past his brother seeing Rick, Carl, and Michonne fight to block the front with the gate as Maggie and Glenn help chain the sides to keep it in place. Daryl heard her whimper in his arms, he looked to his brother seeing him with that same disappointed look as always.
"That's not how we work." Daryl told his brother. "We ain't gonna throw each other into pits to 'help' each other. She lost her sister-"
"That an excuse to be like this? She outta want to draw blood, get revenge for her like we all want." Merle told, marching up as Daryl took a step back. He tilted his head to see Angela just hide her face from him. "You want that man dead, the one who killed Kaylee. We all do, I do."
Daryl watched his brother, he wasn't barking at her just talking to her as if it was a normal conversation. Merle's eyes reached Daryl's. "Can't do that if we don't find him first."
The hunter knew what Merle meant. The older Dixon closed the gate between the two and continued killing walkers as he made his way to help thin the walkers out along the fence line. Daryl's baby blues looked down at Angela, seeing her stop trembling. He sighed and turned to place her somewhere to sit, far from the gate.
"He's right." Daryl stopped, looking down as he heard her croak out. "Merle's right."
"He ain't right in the head, don't listen to my brother." He told her.
"I'm useless Daryl, I'm just becoming a burden to everyone." She told, sniffling and looked up with puffy red eyes and cheeks. "Look what almost happened today."
Daryl moved to sit her at the bleachers, kneeling down do her. She rubbed her eyes and shuddered a sigh as the sun warmed her back. "Rick knew ya shouldn't be out there." He shook his head.
Angela reached for his hand, feeling the rough calluses as she pressed her thin fingers into his. "Daryl, you know I can't stay like this. Something has to be done."
Daryl looked up at her, moving his hands to hold hers as he rubbed her soft knuckles. He felt some rough spots in her skin, one hand reached up caressing her cheek as a tear strayed down her face. "That somethin' ain't ya runnin' out there to get killed."
She lowered her head to press it against his forehead, closing her eyes. "I know."
"Can't lose ya, too." He whispered with a sigh.
"We can't lose anyone." She replied, lifting her head to kiss his forehead.
He looked up as the two looked into each others eyes. Green into blue and blue into green. Angela felt her heart pounding in her chest, fluttering in her stomach and her head feel light as a feather. Angela wanted to keep this feeling, all she ever felt anymore is fear and emptiness. Like a void was growing bigger inside her and she had to fill it in to keep it at bay. Daryl looked away, clearly feeling self conscious for how long the staring was occuring. Her hand rose up to his cheek, pressing back to keep their eyes connected. Her fingers felt the fringes of his facial hair as her thumb rubbed his cheek, feeling his hair stand at her touch.
Daryl felt similar feelings as they were having their moment. He watched her close her eyes as he side glanced toward the field. Everyone was working hard out there to gain back the property of the prison. He knew Angela wanted to do her part, not be labeled as useless or weak like it seemed Rick was seeing it.
His head rose, alerting Angela to follow his gaze to see the others needing help. Daryl stood, looking down to Angela as she grasped his hands. "They need help, stay here."
Angela tugged his hand, her brows knotting in concern. "But, Daryl-"
"I'll be fine, we'll be fine." He told in a whisper, raising her hands to lay a kiss on her knuckles.
He left her hands and jogged to the gate, moving it open to slide through then close it. Angela strode over, her fingers curled around the chain link fence as she watched Daryl fire at walkers and help the others. Her eyes gazed about to everyone pulling their weight, the new people Sasha and Tyreese aiding without question. Angela even saw Merle keep the walkers off them as he helped them chain the makeshift gate. They soon got it attached and jogged around the field to clear out more walkers. Angela swallowed thickly, looking down and seeing her hands shaking once again.
Her fingers clenched hard onto the metal to try and fight against the shaking. She ripped her fingers off and kicked the fence, letting it quake.
The property was reclaimed by the afternoon and the bodies were cleared by the following evening. As the group were walking back to the cell block, Daryl saw no sign of Angela around the courtyard. Worry coursed through him, taking lead ahead of Rick jogging to the cells. Merle watched, glancing at the yard before following. When Daryl entered, he spotted Beth and Hershel with Judith and shockingly Karen with them as well. As the others entered behind him, Tyreese smiled at the sight of her with a pot of food and bowls all around.
"What's all this, Karen?" He asked, approaching her.
She grinned with a shrug. "You work hard, along with everyone. The least I can do is provide you all food at the end of the day."
Carol came over, giving the bit a try and grinned. "It's really good. Thanks, Karen."
Some gathered around with bowls and plates to eat the fresh meal. Rick stood by the higher steps, wiping his chin as he noticed Daryl hadn't moved. "Something wrong?" He asked his friend.
Daryl gave him a glance, then stepped down and marched over to the cell block. Rick frowned, as he stepped down, walking over to his son. He pressed his hand on his head, making Carl glancing up for a moment.
"Angie!" A bark echoed out, catching everyone's attention toward the cell block from Daryl.
Rick and Carl jogged over, almost running into Daryl who was rushing out. "What happened?" Carl asked, trying to look to see if Angela was hurt.
"Angie's missin'." He told, moving past the two toward Hershel. "Did she come in here?" He asked him.
Hershel shook his head, Beth stood. "Last we saw her was when she went out to help with the yard."
"Shit!" Daryl combed his fingers through his hair as he tried to think where she could've gone. With her mental state, what if she got her hands on a weapon and was attempting to end herself? Had she left the prison completely while they were working at the field?
Merle chuckled, earning a dirty look from others including Daryl. "Calm your tits, baby brother."
Daryl walked over to his brother as Merle stood from the table. "Ya got any idea how dangerous it is for her to be alone?"
"What harm could she do?" He shrugged.
Daryl jutted his jaw out, clenching his teeth as he glared at his careless brother. "Ya don't know what she's goin' through, Bro. She can't be left alone."
"What she gonna do? Kill herself?" The silence in the room seemed to have answered his question.
"Good guess." Kaylee praised him, causing him to roll his eyes.
"I saw her out in the field when heading inside." Merle informed, propping his leg up on the bench and leaned on his knee. "Y'know, by the graves?"
Daryl huffed out through his nose and jogged out of the cell block, the door slamming behind him. Everyone watch Daryl leave, then their gaze fell onto the older Dixon. He snarled at them, taking his bowl of food and retreating to his cell. Plopping onto the bed, he dropped the bowl onto the mattress, ignoring some food that spilled out.
"You gonna eat that?" His blue eyes glared at the phantom female that bounced on her heels by the doorway.
"Go away." He grumbled at her.
Bringing his hand up to wipe over his face, he felt the sweat and walker blood dry on his skin. He stood and used a water bottle by the bed and soaked his face, lifting his shirt to wipe away. Merle didn't care if it made his clothing filthy, just wanted to distract himself from his mind.
"You were quick today." Merle frowned questioningly at her, letting his wet dirty shirt snag at his skin. She tilted her head with her creepy empty smile, stringy like hair hanging to the side. "When Angela was attacked today, you were like a bullet." She waved her arm passed her making a zooming sound.
Merle sighed and leaned down removing his boots with his one hand. "Can't ya leave me be for one night?"
Kaylee tapped her index finger at her chin, humming in thought. Merle tossed his boot and glanced up as he worked on the next one. Once he got it off and tossed it with the other, Kaylee grinned. "Nah."
Merle scoffed, "Didn't think so." he took his bowl and started eating his meal before he'd go to bed.
Well, Merle wasn't wrong. Daryl was jogging out into the field with his crossbow on him, spotting a figure at the graves. He slowed his speed down to walking over, finding Angela sitting in front of Kaylee's grave. Daryl stopped a few feet away, hearing sniffling and coughing. Her green eyes glanced over her shoulder, then turned away wiping them quickly.
"Ya had me worried." He muttered to her, his chest rising up and down to catch his breath.
"Sorry." She croaked out, clearing her throat that was obviously strained to speak. "I was just glad the field was clear enough to take my time here."
Daryl shifted his footing, walking up to stand behind her. "Ya a'right?" He asked, resting his hand on her head, feeling the short strands of her hair. His fingers skimmed through her hair feeling the softness of her scalp. He felt her tense at first, then soon relax.
"I just wanted to sit here, be with her for a while." She told, rubbing her eyes. "I didn't mean-"
"Don't." She glanced up watching him knelt down beside her. He wrapped an arm around her to hold her close. "Ya be here long as ya need to, but bring someone. It's still dangerous to be alone."
She nodded, heaving a sigh. "Because he's still out there, right?" Angela asked.
"Yeah, could come back any day." He rubbed her arm as she leaned her head on his shoulder. "Can't risk that happenin'."
"What do we do?" Angela shrugged, "Go out and search for him?" she asked. When Daryl gave her a certain look, she sighed and tucked her head under his chin. "You're going to leave that early? I-"
"I know, I know." He nodded against her head. "We can't risk another attack."
Angela looked up at him, "Then I'll go with you." she suggested.
"That ain't happenin'."
"You can't go alone out there." She argued.
"I won't be, I'll bring Michonne or Merle." Daryl assured, he looked down to her and planted a kiss to her head. "I want to keep ya safe."
Angela remained silent in his arms, eyes glued onto the makeshift cross for Kaylee's grave. Daryl let her stay there until he felt the wind grow cold. Thinking they were out long enough once darkness started setting, Daryl urged her inside which took some coaxing. The two entered the cell seeing most of the members had gone to their cells to sleep for the night. Rick and Carl sat at the tables, standing when the two came down the steps.
"You okay, Angela?" Carl asked, to which she just looked away unable to answer honestly.
Rick sensed Angela's struggle to answer and reached for a bowl of food he kept for her, holding it out for her. "Saved some food for you."
Angela did peek into the bowl, taking it and picking what was inside and putting tiny bits into her mouth. Carl sighed to himself, glad to see her eat. "Want me to walk you to your cell?" Carl asked when Angela yawned mid chew.
She walked ahead with Carl jogging to catch up. Daryl sighed deeply placing his crossbow on the table. "Was she okay?"
Daryl gave a look to indicate his answer. "She was visitin' Kay." He told, sitting on the table resting his boots on the chair and propping his arms on his knees.
Rick chewed on his cheek, "Mind if I talk to her?" he asked.
Daryl waved him off, resting his forehead in his palm looking stressed from today. The once was sherif stood and walked toward the cells seeing Carl leave her cell with the bowl, still a good amount of food left in it.
"She wasn't hungry." His son informed, heading to the kitchen to clean it out.
Rick paused, watching Carl leave and continued toward the cell. He peeked in seeing Angela taking her boots off and drop them down from her spot on the higher bunk. "Get some good sleep, got a lot of work tomorrow."
Angela hunched over, letting her feet dangle as she looked to him. "Okay…" She muttered, rubbing her eyes.
It was like talking to a child for Rick, a child who was taken from an abused house or just witnessed their parents dead. He's dealt with children like that, but it felt demeaning to do that to Angela. He walked into the cell, resting his arm on the bunk, tapping his knuckles on the bed.
"Need to figure out a way to keep the walkers from the gate." He told her, reaching up to rub the salty dry sweat from his brow. "There was a method we saw, when Carl, Michonne, and I went on that run. An old friend of mine, had these spikes and traps set up all over the town to his apartment."
Angela glanced over, tilting her head. "Spikes?" She asked.
Rick nodded, moving closer at her response. "He sharpened sticks and had them set up for when walkers wandered through, they got stuck. We might be able to use the same method here, but as a blockade, of sorts."
Angela nodded, moving to lay on her side as she propped her head onto her hand with her elbow propped up. "Is that tomorrow's plans?"
"Yeah, was hoping you could be in charge of defense for the prison." He suggested.
Almost unable to understand, Angela sat back up on her knees looking down at Rick. "Are you sure?"
"Of course, it'll be easy on you and you'll still be helping." He bit his lip, folding his arms on the bed and chin on them. "I shouldn't have let you out there when you weren't ready, that's my fault."
"I don't blame you, it did put me out that I can't keep staying in this… state." She tried to figure a name for it, giving a soft tired smile toward him. "Thanks for helping me though, I'll try my best to defend our home."
Rick smiled, reaching up to pat her hand. "I trust you to do the best." He turned to leave to let her sleep, but paused at the doorway. "Angela?" She glanced over adjusting her blanket. "Have you, er…" He pinched his chin trying to get the words out to her. "Seen things?"
Almost feeling on point, Angela looked away. "You mean the panic attacks?" Her hands fists the blankets tightly in her grip. "Whenever I see bodies, they're…" She gulped. "T-There her, I see them as her."
Rick was quiet, nodding at her explanation. "Back when-" He cleared his throat. "When Lori died, I would see her, when she wasn't really there." Angela perked up as Rick continued. "Everytime I seemed spaced out or freaked out, it was from her looking at me. She just, looked down judging me."
Angela inched closer to him at the edge of her bed. "You mean, that time when Tyreese's group was here?"
Rick nodded. "Sorry about that, by the way."
"No, I just had no idea what you were going through." Angela shrugged. "Until now."
Rick shook his head. "You don't have to go through it alone, though. If you ever want to talk, I know what you're going through more than anyone else." He told looking up, trying to keep his emotions in tact for her sake. "We're here for you, Angela. You're not alone."
Angela thought on it, not really seeing it that way. She wasn't completely alone, she still had Daryl, Rick, Carl, Maggie, and everyone. Angela moved more toward the edge and reached around Rick's neck to give an awkward hug with their positions.
"Thank you, Rick." She whispered, leaning back and planting a kind kiss to his fuzzy cheek.
Rick nodded, giving a stiff smile. "Sleep well, Angie."
Thanks RinWolf08, aj0788, FIREPHOENIXXD for the follows and favorites!
Acouvion- I honestly miss her too, I felt she had to leave to make a change for Angela and the others, as did many other character's death such as Sophia or Lori. Thanks!
RedVelvetPanPan- I'm so glad! I know that feeling, I've that myself when working such long hours or being stuck in a boring lecture. Glad it was just what you needed! Thanks!