If tomorrow never came
Disclaimer: I do not own The Walking Dead, or anything at all of value, please don't sue. I am poor.
Chapter 2: Steel toes and flannel
Hayden surprised herself when she got into the older man's truck. That was not something she would normally do. She had grabbed her bags and heaved them into his truck bed before locking her car doors and closing the hood, and now they were driving down the bumpy road. She wouldn't say she wasn't grateful or that she wasn't relieved that an actual nice guy decided to help her out. But the silence was killing her. It was obvious he wasn't much of a talker. Her arm was hanging out of the open truck window and she just let the warm wind blow across her face.
"Thanks for your help." She finally said after what seemed like an eternity.
"S'no problem." He didn't look directly at her but she saw the way his eyes swept over her in a side glance. "I can get yuh a tow too if yew want."
"You could?" Her eyes lit up. This man was a real bonafide angel in steel toes and flannel.
"Yep, can call a buddy a mine tha' I work wit'. Take yer car to th' garage."
"Thank God for you, Daryl." Her smile was sweet and true. She let out a relieved sigh and let her head fall back against the seat. It was odd how comfortable she felt around him. There was people she'd known her entire life that she didn't feel this safe or content around. It was just something about the way he carried himself. He wasn't acting like he was God's gift to women the way most men as attractive as him usually did. It was refreshing. "You have a cell phone? My family's probably wondering where I am. I should have been back hours ago." He gave her an apologetic look when he shook his head no, but she just shrugged her shoulders as if to say 'Oh well'. She studied his movements as he drove. His entire body was stiff with unease. It seemed to her that he was either uncomfortable or agitated, but she couldn't tell which, or why. She watched as he bit on his thumb nail. His elbow was leaning on the open window, his hand was covering his mouth, and he just continued biting away at the the end of his finger.
Daryl glanced at the girl who was staring at him fixedly. Then shot his eyes back to the road immediately while still chomping down on his thumb. 'Probably thinkin' I'm a poor sumbitch that can't afford a cell phone.' The thoughts ran through his head. This girl wasn't from around here, and by the looks of it had some money. She was probably just being nice to get what she wanted. Everyone in this world was out for themselves, his father taught him that. His father also taught him what it felt like to have a two by four whack you across the back of the head. But that was neither here nor there.
"The motel's just 'round that corner." Hayden pointed to the right. "But you're from here... you probably knew that..." She trailed off. As much as he was trying to force himself to think that she was looking down on him, something in the back of his head was telling him he was wrong. "I know I already said it but thanks... if you hadn't come along I would still be stuck there. If there's anything I can do to repay you let me know."
"Yew could let me work on yer car. Be a shame tuh let someone who don' know whut they're doin' git under'er hood."
"You a mechanic?" It was a simple question.
"Sometimes."
"Sometimes?" She repeated. It seemed like something she did often. "Like by day you're a mild mannered mechanic and at night you run around in tights saving helpless damsels in distress from gross horny hillbillies?" Her voice was playful and as she rambled he imagined if it were something solid it would feel like silk.
"Ain't nothen' mild 'bout my manners." Daryl scoffed rolling his eyes. "An' S'more like one day I'mma mechanic, the next I do construction, an' th' next I fix yer roof. Ain't no tights, or helpless damsel's involved."
"A Jack of all trades then." The girl stated with a nod of approval as they reached the Motel's parking lot. He drove in and parked near the door she pointed out was her room. They both got out of the vehicle and he could feel her eyes looking him up and down. "It's a shame about the tights, with your muscle structure you would look good in them. Like Batman."
Daryl was taken aback by her comment. He couldn't tell if it was a weird attempt at a compliment or if she was just down right odd. The look on his face must have given away what he was thinking because she hastily added on to it.
"Sexy, it would be sexy... not that I'm saying I like seeing guys in tights, or that you should wear tights, or that I think Batman's sexy, or that I think your sexy... or... uh... you know what I don't even know what I was trying to say anymore..." Her face had gotten red from not breathing while talking and Daryl couldn't help but let a small smirk play on his lips. It seemed to him that he had her flustered. That was an interesting development. He wasn't sure how he felt about it, but it was interesting. He wouldn't deny to himself that he was attracted to her, which he himself found odd. She was tall and slender looking leaning a little on the athletic side. He looked the girl over as she stood reaching over the side of the truck to get her things. Her ass and tits were smaller then he normally liked on a woman, but judging by the size of them compared to his palm they would be a nice handful, and damn were they perky.
He stopped those thoughts as they barely had time to form. He was not going to go down that road. He would just fix her car and she would be on her way. He didn't need a friend, he didn't need a lover, he was Daryl Dixon, and he didn't need anybody. That was a lesson he learned early in his life and it would not be hard forgotten. Hell, his older brother Merle was the only family he had left and the dumb bastard had barely been outta prison for a week before violating his parole, and finding his ass back in lock up for another few months. Leaving Daryl alone, like always. It was the story of his life.
He was about too open his mouth and say something smart when a woman's voice filled the air. "Hayden!" He ripped his gaze away from the raven haired girl to see who had called out. It was a woman, who had to have been in her mid to late forties. She was short, maybe 5'4, with the same porcelain skin as the girl. Her hair was a soft brown and her eyes were shrouded green. She was thin as well and didn't look bad for her age.
"SIS!" A small boy yelled out barrelling past the older woman. He had Dark brown eyes and messy sandy brown hair. His skin was more tanned, and natural looking. Before Hayden or Daryl had time to react the kid threw himself on his sister and wrapped his arms around her stomach. "Where have you been? Mom was so worried! You said you would be right back! She called you and called you but you never answered! I knew you would be fine though, and, and, and... who's he?" Rambling must run in her family Daryl noted to himself as he looked on at the scene playing out before him in silence.
"That's Daryl. He saved me from thugs and ruffians after my car broke down." They boy looked at Daryl and Hayden threw an arm over her face dramatically. "Oh, Dylan it was terrible. They had me surrounded and as I backed away fearing for my life Daryl leaped from the shadows and took them all out with deadly precision. Then he whisked me away in his truck telling me he had to get me to my family." Hayden peaked out from under her arm. Daryl looked at her mortified as a shit eating grin appeared on her face.
"He's like Batman." The kid looked up at him, admiration filling his eyes. "That is so cool!"
"Tha's not whut happened... I'm not like Batman." Daryl shot Hayden a dirty look, which she replied to with a grin. This must have been her revenge for him getting her flustered.
"That's something Batman would say." Dylan stuck out his hand. "My names Dylan, thank you for helping my Sis."
"Uhh, Daryl... and s'no problem... anyone would'a done th' same." He shook the young boys hand and was surprised at the grip he had. He was impressed, and he didn't even really like kids, he didn't hate them but just wasn't sure how to act around them. He let go of the boys hand and looked at the mother who had a hand over her mouth trying to cover a laugh.
Hayden couldn't help but smile at how awkward Daryl had gotten, and she just about lost it when her brother said he was like Batman. The saying Two great minds think alike flashed through her head. She looked at her mom who just stood there watching it all trying not to laugh. It was nice seeing her happy. It was a rare sight the last few years.
"Thank you for 'saving' my daughter from 'ruffians and thugs'." Her mom air quoted the words. "The names Helena, how can we ever repay you?"
"I don' need to be repaid Ma'am." Daryl began biting onto his thumb again. She could tell he wasn't comfortable with all the attention her family was paying him.
"He just wants to be the one to fix my baby." Hayden said with a concerned look. "Which I'm down with, but I don't understand why she broke down. I just had everything fixed up before we left home. Nothing should have went wrong."
"Well that just won't do!" Helena exclaimed, "You can't repay someone's kindness by making them do more work for you. Are you busy tomorrow night Mr... uh."
"Dixon." Was Daryl's gruff reply. Daryl Dixon... Hayden liked the way it rolled off her tongue.
"Are you busy tomorrow night Mr. Dixon. It would be our honour to treat you to dinner at somewhere of your choosing."
"Naw, S'really all right. Yuh don' need tuh do nothen' fer me." He rejected the idea and Hayden gave him a look that said 'she's not going to take no for an answer, might as well just go with the flow'.
"I insist." The small woman had a look of determination on her face the likes of which he'd never seen. She reminded him of his Ma, which made it harder and harder to say no.
"Fine, tomorrow sounds good." He let out a defeated sigh.
"Perfect. So you just give Hayden a call sometime tomorrow and tell us where to meet you." Her mother resembled the Cheshire cat her smile was so wide. It even had Hayden wondering what was going on it that head of hers. "Come on Dylan, let's bring your sisters bags inside." Helena picked up one of the aforementioned bags.
"Kay, bye Batm- Daryl it was nice meeting you!" Dylan ran after his mom carrying the other bags, laughing like a fool.
"Sooooooo..." Hayden drew the word out. "You got a pen?" Then man jammed his hands into his crammed pockets before pulling a pen out of one and handing it to her. "Thank yew kindly." She mimicked his accent before grabbing one of his calloused hands and began jotting down her number. She could tell that at the sudden contact his body went rigid, and that he was uncomfortable with being touched. "I know you don't have a cell but what about a home phone?"
"Yeah, I got one'a those."
"What's your number then? That way I can call you about my car." He gave her his number and the number of the garage where he was going to have it taken. She jotted it down on her hand as he went. "Okay I think that's all then..." She handed Daryl back his pen. "Oh wait!" She grabbed her car keys from her pocket. "You wouldn't be able to move it with out these." She tossed him her keys. He was about to get back in his truck when she blocked his path and poked him square in the chest. "I swear if you run off with my baby I will never forgive you."
He looked down at her finger that was still jabbing into his chest then back to her face that was inches from his own. "I wouldn' dream o'it Darlin."
"Good." She smiled and gave him a quick peck on the cheek before walking away leaving him standing dumbfounded. And muttering something about crazy women.