"Well, Well. Can't say I missed you three, but it sure is nice to have some company. You brought friends along, too?" Michonne amusingly crossed her arms. She wasn't one to admit her worst fears had come true in the past twenty-four hours, so she kept her tone light and free from any anxiety attempting to crawl up her throat.
Merle Dixon along with his brother Daryl and girlfriend Beth Greene stood in front of her with three new companions, scared out of their wits and looking as if the police station was the last place that had thought they would end up. Merle rolled his eyes at Michonne's comment, attempting to brush past her and through the door with no luck. Her shoulder connected with his chest roughly. She backed up against the door, eyeing the six in front of her.
"Why are you in such a rush?"
"Officer Michonne, don't you remember us? I'm Lori, Rick's wife," Lori paused a bit, brushing her fingers against her lip as she contemplated on what she'd say, "We were in a car accident."
"Yeah, I remember you. Vaguely." Michonne's distaste for Lori Grimes was still in shallow waters. She never had a good vibe with this woman.
"Now wait just a damn second," Merle chuckled, stepping away from Michonne and the door. A sarcastic smile crossed his face as he looked towards Lori, "You're meanin' ta tell me you're Officer Friendly's wife? Always thought he was kind of a prick, but, huh, small world ain't it? I remember when you two came over," looking back from Lori and towards Michonne, "T'was a lovely time in all of our lives."
Michonne raised her eyebrow at the memory of her time with the Dixon brothers. Their house in shambles along with a stubborn redneck and his silent brother not having a clue as to what happened. She recalled the way Merle Dixon wanted no part in an investigation, but Daryl and his girlfriend, Beth, did. Such a big problem as a house burning down back then was nothing in comparison to now. They had a whole other battle to face.
Lori looked towards Merle with the type of expression no man would want to be on the receiving end of. Daryl was amused internally, but kept his mouth shut. He knew his brother wouldn't take a liking to grouping up with a sheriff and his partners, but what better place to be than a building filled with weapons and a secured area? It was the least they could have for saving the man's wife and kid.
"'Officer Friendly' is my husband you're speaking of and I think you should be a little grateful once he comes around." She walked towards Merle, eyeing him without backing down.
"Maybe you should be a little grateful, Princess. If it wasn't for my family you'd be dinner for those mindless assholes out there and your boy would be their dessert." He threw spit towards her shoe, missing by meer inches. Out of the two Dixon brothers, Merle wasn't one to make it to a woman's top five kindest men list. Maggie seemed to be the only one to deal with Merle's shit. It was some type of miracle.
"Aren't you just lovely." Lori dropped her voice, shaking her head and walking back to her son's side. Maggie held back a laugh as she watched Merle's hands fly up in the air.
"Just dishin' ya your own shit, Suga."
"Okay, ladies. 'nough. How's 'bout you show us around in there?" Daryl spoke up for the first time. It was normal for him to stay in the shadows, observing and watching from a distance. The same went for Beth, who kept a hold on his arm with her hand, while the other gripped her pocket knife.
"If you keep that one on a chain I might just let you stay for awhile." Michonne opened the door with her hips, still holding her arms over her chest. She watched Merle roll his eyes at her; the brunette hooked her arm with his-which surprised her completely-and walk past. Daryl followed suit along with the timid blonde. Blood covered both of their clothes, making her shift uneasily in her clean uniform. Shit was going down out there, but she was ordered to stay put at the station until she heard otherwise.
"I know you don't like me, but thank you-"
"Yeah. Only doing it because your husband would shoot me if I sent you and his boy to the curb." Lori watched the woman's dark eyes before reverting hers towards the floor. Carl managed to smile at Michonne, which she threw back at him. She always had a soft spot for the kid.
The group gathered in the back office in the small station, standing in the crowded area while Michonne took a swing at the radio. Only static answered back. White noise that held nothing more than the growing isolation between the remaining living people scattered throughout the city. Her fingers worked at unfamiliar buttons and knobs that Beth kept glancing at. The more she tinkered with the radio, the more tension grew in the small confinement.
"Shit's a bust." Daryl mumbled. There was no use in trying anymore. No signal for cell phones, no success with the radio. Hell, there was a small chance of catching anybody in person either.
Beth looked up towards Daryl, still holding onto his arm-loosely, but still holding on. She could see he was beginning to get irritated. It was one thing to stand around with no rhyme or reason, but there was another when they could be packing up ammo and supplies in case of an emergency escape.
"You can't get ahold of Rick?" Lori paused, "Shane?"
Michonne looked up at her, squeezing her brows together before shaking her head.
"Unless you have another way of contacting them, I don't think we'll be hearing from 'em anytime soon," She regretted her use of words as she watched Carl squirm in his mother's arms. He shoved his face into her chest, crying through her clothes. "Unless they come around, we'll just have to wait."
"Who's ta say they're even alive." Merle gruffly stated. Maggie squeezed his hand harder than he would've expected out of her. He managed a 'what' as she shook her head in disapproval.
"I hope they're alive. Rick's a decent man," Beth pushed herself into Daryl's chest as they sat on the edge of the break room's small kitchen counter. They moved away from the office's stuffed area, leaving most of the worry and anxiety with the others. Beth still was thinking too much; her head ached and Daryl's silence worried her more than it should. He hadn't spoke much except for a few mumbles and grunts. Beth sighed, "Where are you in all of this?"
"What'ya mean?"
"You haven't said a word. I was just making sure you hadn't turned into one of those Walkers outside or anything." Beth leaned her head on him. She could feel the slight vibration coming from a chuckle.
"Walkers? That's what ya wanna call them?"
"Yeah. That's all they seem to do. Walk, stumble, same thing. Even if they're torn in half they still want to try and move. It's unnerving." Daryl looked down at her, listening to the way her tone fell flat. He knew right then she didn't care much to talk about the diseased people outside. She spoke again, softer now, "I don't think they're people anymore."
They kept quiet for a while, holding each other while their legs dangled.
"You worried?" Daryl caught her gaze once she looked up. It was all there in her saddened eyes. The worry, the fear, the love-of all things. She hadn't skipped a beat on making sure he knew she was sticking by his side through all of this. There was a little comfort in that, knowing there still was the caring tension between them both. They needed that through all of this. They needed strength through love.
She shifted her weight, still staring at him. Beth nodded slowly, tears starting to form in her eyes.
"Don't." Daryl began, but he was abruptly interrupted by the force of Beth connecting to him. She wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer. He could smell the faint scent of new perfume she had bought just last sunday, still lingering on her neck, her hair, her. She held him tightly, as he did her. He could feel her soft sobs dampening his shirt. So there he stayed, holding her while she cried for what seemed the hundredth time that day. It didn't bother him though; he was feeling the same as her secretly; he wasn't about ready to break down in front of these people. He had to collect himself and stay put together.
But for now, he held Beth in his arms and let himself feel more than just the numb tension in his body. He let himself worry more than he wanted to. It was the only thing that made him feel any different than the Walkers outside. He had control over his body, mind and emotions, unlike them.
After a few minutes she pulled away, wiping her eyes and nose. A saddened smile appeared across her face. It confused him. She stopped smiling and pursed her lips.
"When we found Dale…" Her breath hitched and a choking feeling wandering into her throat, but she continued, "I thought that was it. Everyone we know would be dead-"
"Don't say that."
"-but I have hope that Sasha's still alive." His head rose from his slouched position, meeting her eyes. He hadn't expected that. He hadn't even thought of the young woman that had gotten so close to Beth in the past year. He could only remember Dale's haunting expression. He shook his head, trying to get the memory of those glazed, green eyes out of his mind.
"We'll find her." He could only manage a slight mumble. It wasn't reassuring, but it was enough. Daryl held her hand in his, massaging circles into her skin before they both looked towards the hallway.
"Lori? Carl!" A man's voice echoed through out the small building. Beth and Daryl kept their position on the counter a little longer before jumping down at the sound of Carl running past the entrance. His mumbled cries were replaced by a full out belt of joy.
"Dad!" Beth squeezed Daryl's hand, smiling at him with pure happiness for the first time that day.
The small waiting area turned into a reunion room. Sheriff Rick Grimes tackled his son down, holding his head into his chest as he sobbed his name. Beth watched the way Lori hesitated, watching Shane more than her own husband. There was something off about it, but she made her way to Rick, holding him loosely as she crouched on the ground with her family.
"Glad the kid's got his pops back," Daryl held onto Beth's side. He held onto her like she was going to leave in a matter of seconds. He didn't want to have a reunion like that, period. There was no way Beth would leave his side.
"Glad to see yer doin' alright, Grimes." Daryl nodded towards Rick and glanced towards Shane half-heartedly. Not one person except for Lori was glad to see that son of'a bitch. He was nothing more than a ticking time bomb. Both Dixons along with Michonne could sense that.
"We were lucky to get back here," Rick held onto his son still, eyeing Michonne and the others, "You should see the streets. Completely destroyed."
"We're just glad you're safe and now we can relax a little." Lori attempted to hold onto her husbands hand, only to be rejected. She watched the way he didn't look her directly in the eyes. She figured something went down between the two men by the pure sadness projected by Shane and anger by Rick.
"We sure as hell ain't leavin' today again," Merle plopped down on the small love seat; his feet dangling off the end, "I'm sure we all can get nice and cozy together here."
"We're staying here?" Maggie's voice shook. She didn't want to stay with these people. She sure as hell didn't want to spend a night at the police station with a group of strangers either.
"Where else would we go?" Beth asked.
"There's supposedly a refugee center a little ways out of town. Dave mentioned something about getting any survivors there, but so far all's we've found is you guys," Rick felt his son hug his torso, "Thankful for that at least, but we can't afford to go out there when night's coming soon."
"So we'll head out in the morning?" Michonne stepped towards Rick. She relaxed a little knowing someone she could trust was with her in this mess. She kept the thought of her ex boyfriend out her mind.
"I say we head out while it's dark. Those things won't know what's comin'."
"They'll still hear us," Daryl shook his head at Shane's rash decision making. He watched the way Shane tilted his head, cocking a brow at the way Daryl spoke to him, "Ain't you use your head? Don't matter if it's dark or not. They'll still come after the sound we make. It's better to go in the daylight, when we can see where we're goin'."
"What makes you think that, huh?" Shane walked towards Daryl, obviously heated and jumping on anyone who wanted to question his thinking. It wasn't because of Daryl though. The underlying fact that his partner was pissed at him and his partner's wife would never leave Rick for a man like Shane. He was simply mad he couldn't have a woman like that for himself.
Daryl stood the same height as Shane, standing his ground while Shane walked closer. Merle managed to come off the couch and near his brother's side as quickly as he heard Shane's tone.
"Why don't you walk out there and see for yourself, Asshole?" Merle snarled.
"Test it out with that gun of yours," Daryl felt Beth's hand on the small of his back, but he didn't move away, "You'll be real quick to shut your damn mouth and head inside for the night."
"Daryl, stop." Beth pleaded.
"How's about we mind our own, Redneck, and I'll keep in charge here," Rick snapped his neck towards Shane. There was no way he'd let this happen. "I'm the officer. You're nothin' but a hillbilly looking for a quick chance to get our ammo and bounce."
"Shane, enough-" Rick began before Daryl grabbed Shane, shoving him down onto the floor.
"You bastard!" Daryl only connected his fist with Shane's jaw before he felt himself getting pulled off of his body. "Get off of me, dammit!" Michonne's hands along with Rick wrapped around Daryl's shoulders, pulling him away from Shane who stood up awkwardly, grabbing the gun in his holster and pointing it towards them.
"Shane, please! Put that away!" Lori pleaded, "You're scaring Carl."
"Enough with this bullshit! Now I suggest we all have a calm discussion without the hick or his good for nothin' brother jumpin' on me," Shane wiped away blood coming from his cheek, "We can share this space the nice way, or the hard way. It's up to you assholes."
"Fuck you." Daryl spit towards Shane. Michonne kept hold of him, though Beth crouched by his side, brushing away his wild hair dampened by trickling sweat. She looked towards Shane, shaking her head. She never did have it in her to hate someone, but there was something close boiling within her stomach just by watching the way his gun shook in their direction.
Before they all knew it, Rick pulled his gun out as well, stepping away from the rest of the group and facing Shane alone.
"I suggest you calm down or else you'll have yourself killed by me instead of the people tearing you apart outside." Shane lowered his weapon; his hand flew through his curled hair in defeat. Rick cleared his throat, still staring at his diffused partner.
"Whatever, man."
"I won't have you putting these people in danger. Especially my family," Shane crinkled his brow and nose at the way Rick emphasized his words, "You can take watch at the front door for the night. Calm down a little, think straight. Michonne can show the rest of you the bunks."
"Y'all got bunks here?" Merle questioned.
"In case of late nights. Sometimes we have to spend time away from home to protect the area." Rick could feel Lori's guilt next to him. Her shoulders slumped as she motioned for Carl to follow the rest as they walked away from the waiting area. She managed to look back at Rick, trying to find his eyes still, but he ignored her. They both were heartbroken, but on different levels.
"Never stayed in a police station before." Beth nudged Daryl's side, giggling as they laid in the dark room together. He didn't find her joke as amusing as she had, but he kept playing, drinking up the rest of the water and throwing the plastic bottle to the other side of the room.
"We done with this game?" Daryl grunted, sleep slowly started to crawl into his mind, making his thoughts hazy and his eyes droop.
"I suppose we have to quit since you drank up the rest of the water," Beth pulled the blankets up and over their chest's, "It's more fun with alcohol though."
"Hmm."
"Hmm, what?" He could hear the curiosity in her voice, even though it was nearly three in the morning when they all shuffled into separate rooms and quieted down for the rest of the night.
Beth and Daryl had been playing 'I never' for the past twenty minutes-Beth's request-making time slow down just a bit. She explained the rules to him while he complained he never needed a game to get him lit, but he decided to play. It was one of the few times that day that she was willing to do more than stay quiet or cry.
"You never drink." Daryl shortly explained. He could feel her stir underneath his arm, pulling herself on top of him. Even in the dark he could make out where her eyes were. They watched him as she brushed away hair from his forehead. She caressed his face for a little bit, softly and slowly.
"Sasha and I would play at work with a few others when the night shift was slow."
"Drinkin' on the job, what a terrible person you are." Daryl smirked. She blushed in the darkness and smiled as well.
"Yeah, well, I'm no angel."
"Pft. okay."
"And you aren't either by the way you've been drinkin' all of our water." She hit his chest playfully before brushing her lips on his. He would've been embarrassed before about revealing about his past with a person. The silly drinking game let Beth know a little more about his childhood, teenage years, and the years before he'd met her. They'd talked about most the stuff before, but they'd always manage to shed light about each other's past each time they'd discuss. They both had layers upon layers, each taking away one layer at a time and finding out new information even after a year and a half together. It was the best part about being together. Always figuring out new things, even if they weren't the brightest of times.
The kiss lingered a little longer; Beth's fingers threaded into Daryl's hair as she sighed softly into his mouth. She pulled away, looking at him again with a warm smile, it slowly faded away after a while.
"I don't want tomorrow to come."
"m'either."
"Promise me we'll be okay?" Daryl pulled her in, wrapping his arms around her while he felt her loose blonde hair brush against his chin. He didn't want to lie to her and say, 'yes, of course. everything will be back to normal tomorrow and we'll go home. It'll be okay' so he held her close. Her head rested on his chest, listening to the slow heartbeat deep inside his body, slowly bringing her to sleep. He let her stay on his chest for a little while longer, trapped beneath his loose hold. He didn't know what tomorrow would bring, but he hoped-just like Beth-that everything would be okay.