Chapter Nineteen: Stand-off
Stand-off: a deadlock between two equally matched opponents in a dispute or conflict.
Day 61
Rick sat for a moment, Daryl, Daisy and their captive looking to him for guidance. He gave Daisy a flat look at her calling him their 'fearless leader,' but soon set about devising a plan to trade their captive, Miguel, for Glenn.
"Them guns're worth more than gold." Daryl added stubbornly, "Gold won't protect your family or put food on the table. You're willing to give that up for that kid?"
"Glenn saved us, from the tank." Daisy said to Rick resolutely, "So, I say yes." She looked around the small group, prompting their answers.
"Who's to say they ain't just gonna kill us, take the guns." Daryl interjected, eyes narrowed.
"G ain't no backstabber!" Miguel defended his group, Daryl started and moved towards him, grabbing the front of Miguel's shirt.
"Keep your mouth shut! Ain't a part of this…" Daisy moved towards them, but Daryl huffed and let go, backing away.
"He deserves to be saved." Rick said firmly, agreeing with Daisy, his eyes flashed in warning at Daryl. Daryl scoffed and crossed his arms, grumbling beside Daisy's side, but not protesting otherwise.
"Just gonna hand the guns over?" Daryl asked impatiently.
"I didn't say that." Rick replied, Daisy's expression lightened in hope. "You two should get out, head back to camp." Daisy startled in indignation.
"Are you kidding? We're all in!" Daisy exclaimed, looking to Daryl who was otherwise neutral. She narrowed her eyes at him pointedly, he rolled his own then nodded reluctantly. "'Sides, what the hell would I tell your boy? 'Sorry, your dad was abandoned again'?" Daisy scoffed, Rick looked sorry for doubting her.
"Think before you speak, Rick." Daisy finished, narrowing her eyes at him amusedly. "Onto business!" She prompted him with a wave of her hand.
"Course," Rick huffed a self-deprecating laugh, "Here." Rick loaded a shotgun from the bag then handed it to Daisy, she held it delicately in her hands. While Daisy stared apprehensively at her shotgun, Rick and Daryl loaded up their own.
"I…do not know how to shoot a gun…let alone a…" Daisy admitted as her eyes drifted along the length of the gun, she trailed off.
"Don't have'ta know." Daryl told her, he set his on the table, "Just have'ta make it look like ya can." He guided her elbow up, her hands instinctively moved into place, knowing how only from likely-incorrect action movies.
"Like this?" Daisy asked confidently. Daryl narrowed his eyes and hummed, giving an unenthusiastic nod.
"Good enough…bit less stiff, though." He ordered. Daisy scoffed a laugh and followed his direction, trying to seem like she'd actually held a loaded gun before that moment. It seemed that growing up in LA had done nothing for her life post-apocalypse, gun-wise at least.
One nervous and tense trek later, Rick, Daisy, Daryl and Miguel had arrived back at the warehouse in which Miguel's group were camped out. Daryl had one hand outstretched, guiding Miguel to walk in front of them, now with an added gag. The heavy warehouse doors slid open to reveal the gang.
Daisy nervously shifted the shotgun in her arms, putting on a brave face as she followed the others into the warehouse, glancing around at the significant amount of armed men, none of whom looked entirely happy to see their man be led through by their apparent enemy. There was a heavy thud as the doors slid shut behind them, they came to a stop amongst Miguel's group, the leader, Guillermo, stood before them.
"I see my guns, but they're not all in the bag." Guillermo said tersely, Daisy's fingers gripped her gun tighter.
"That's because they're not yours. I thought I mentioned that." Rick replied neutrally.
"Let's just shoot these fools right now, esé. Alright? Unload on their asses, esé." One of the men that had gathered around added, Daisy's eyes widened a fraction, she mentally protested; not entirely in the mood to be shot, not that she ever was.
"I don't think you fully appreciate the gravity of the situation." Guillermo continued, not acknowledging his lackey.
"No, I'm pretty clear." Rick argued for them. Daisy was distracted as one of the men looked her up and down, smirking at her. Her eyes narrowed, but she turned her attention back to the negotiation, still fond of not being shot. Rick snapped open his pocket knife and cut Miguel's duct-taped hands apart, pushing him forward. "You have our man. I want mine." Guillermo stared unhappily at them, Daisy thought that his hostility did not bode well for them.
"I'm gonna chop up your boy," And, Daisy was right, her heart stuttered in her chest for fear of Glenn's safety, "I'm gonna feed him to my dogs. Three've the evilest, nastiest man-eating bitches you ever saw. I picked 'em up Satan at a yard sale. I told you how it has to be. Are you woefully deaf?"
"My hearing's fine. You said come locked and loaded," Rick cocked his gun, Daryl followed, raising it to point at the man. Daisy followed them reluctantly, hoping that they realised she had yet to learn how to shoot the shotgun she was holding. She let out a quiet and reluctant groan as every one of their adversaries also followed suit, Daisy approximated that she had at least ten guns trained on her, undoubtedly more. "Okay then, we're here."
There was a terse silence, guns raised and ready to shoot. Daisy's throat was dry, she swallowed and looked at Rick and Daryl with covertly terrified eyes. Their saviour came in the form of a light scuffling sound.
"Felipe!" A withered voice called out, Daisy's head snapped to the side and saw an elderly woman shuffling amongst the armed men, who parted for her. "Felipe!"
"Abuela, go back with the others now." One of the men ordered the woman, who was apparently his grandmother. Daisy was confused, but she was beginning to lighten with hope; maybe this was a sign that Guillermo's gang wasn't entirely unfriendly or unreasonable.
"Get that old lady out of the line of fire!" Daryl interjected, Daisy's head snapped back. Her lowered gun reluctantly snapped back up, apparently the others weren't as relieved as she was.
"Abuela, listen to your mijo, okay? This is not the place for you right now." The leader said.
"Mr. Gilbert is having trouble breathing. He—he needs his asthma stuff. Carlito didn't find it. He needs his medicine." The elderly lady pleaded with him. Guillermo shot them a terse glance, then turned back.
"Felipe, go take care of it, okay? And take your grandmother with you." Felipe tried to urge his grandmother away, but she turned to Daisy, Rick and Daryl.
"Who are these people?" She asked, then approached Rick with hard eyes, "Don't you take him. Felipe's a good boy. He have his trouble, but he pull himself together. We need him here."
"Ma'am, I'm not here to arrest your grandson." Rick reassured her, Daisy realised he was wearing his uniform, she found small amusement in the confusion and her gun lowered once again.
"Then, what do you want him for?"
"He's…helping us find a missing person. Fella named Glenn."
"The Asian boy? He's with Mr. Gilbert. Come, I show you." Felipe's grandmother led Rick through by his hand. Daisy shared a glance with Daryl, and she shrugged her shoulders. He nodded her to go ahead of him, following her with his shotgun lowered but his hands remained tensed to move quickly.
"Let 'em pass." Guillermo allowed reluctantly. As Daisy passed him she gave a short nod, he just remained silent in his hostility, so she hurried past.
They were led out of the warehouse, through a courtyard and into a building. The building appeared much friendlier than the warehouse, it was a retirement home. Daisy's eyes drifted along the hall, looking into rooms as they passed them, seeing elderly people sitting around, most gazing listlessly at nothing. There was a solemnity that pervaded the rooms; Daisy had once visited her grampa in a home, retirement homes were certainly less depressing pre-apocalypse.
Daisy followed Rick into a hall, a few people were sitting silently around tables. They followed Felipe and his grandmother to a group gathered around one of the tables, there was a man in a wheelchair, presumable Mr. Gilbert, who was breathing harshly. Felipe helped him take the asthma medicine, and Daisy felt relief with him as his breathing softened. She looked up to see that Glenn was in the group, also worried for the ailing Mr. Gilbert.
"What the hell is this?" Rick directed at Glenn quietly.
"Asthma attack. Couldn't get his breath all of a sudden."
"You're supposed to be being eaten by dogs…" Daisy managed to add confusedly. Glenn looked at her with equal confusion, then turned and looked behind himself, where Daisy realised there were three Chihuahuas snuggled in a leopard-print bed. The fluffiest of the three was standing at attention and barked sharply at them. Daisy huffed a relieved laugh at them, sharing a wry smile with Glenn. She made her way through the others to Glenn, and threw an arm around his shoulders.
"I'm glad to see you not-mauled by Chihuahuas, Glenn." Daisy squeezed his shoulder, "That woulda been a real bummer." She joked. Daisy's attention was caught by Rick who was arguing off to the side with Guillermo, then she turned back to Glenn. "So, these people…they alright?"
"Uh…yeah, they just want to protect their own." Glenn informed her, his eyes widened expectantly. Daisy nodded in understanding, eyes flicking over to Daryl who had just joined them.
"Glad y'ain't dead." He told Glenn gruffly, who gave a nervous laugh and nodded in thanks. "C'mon." Daryl started off after Rick who was leaving the room with Guillermo, Daisy and Glenn followed him.
One terse meeting later, the group was leaving the retirement home one bag of guns lighter; Rick had decided that Guillermo's group needed the guns more than they did, to protect those who were otherwise unprotected.
"Admit it, you only came back to Atlanta for the hat." Glenn broke the silence as they walked along the train tracks towards their van.
"Don't tell anybody." Daisy smiled widely to herself, her chest feeling light despite their apparent setback.
"You've given away half our guns and ammo." Daryl interjected sullenly, the humour dissipated.
"Not nearly half." Rick countered.
"For what…bunch of old farts who're gonna die off momentarily anyhow? Seriously, how long you think they got?"
"How long do any of us?" Daisy saw Rick's point, who was to say that their lives were worth any more than elderly people…certainly not Daisy.
The four remained silent as they reached their van, Daryl rolled up the back and Daisy climbed in after him. She sat against the side with a huff, stretching her arms out in front of her with a yawn. The van started with a putter, and set off back to camp.
After a few minutes of rough road, they reached the highway and Daisy sighed in relief for her aching backside. She tapped her fingers against the metal floor beside her and looked up at Daryl who was sitting with a straight face, Daisy could almost see the irritation rolling off of him in waves.
"So…what's with the hostility?" Daisy asked him privately, Rick and Glenn were chattering to themselves up front. He looked to her sharply, eyes narrowing.
"They're sitting ducks in that home…probably gonna die real soon." He defended himself. Daisy hummed flatly in partial agreement.
"Yeah…but we can defend ourselves in other ways that they can't…you and your bow're probably worth at least three shotguns." Daisy smiled at him hopefully, trying to get him with the compliment. Daryl just scoffed and sat back against the wall. Daisy smiled to herself, and began tapping her finger lightly again, feeling that he had ended their discussion.