Landfill

Chapter 5

Daughter

Rick heard the disappointment in Lori's voice on the other end of the phone, but Michonne, Daryl and Andrea were his family. They expected him to lead them. He could only imagine the helplessness Daryl and Michonne felt. Without question, he wanted to take matters in their hands. That was not an option dealing with men like Phil. Clever. Cunning. Luckily, his father was sheriff. At least he had the police on his side.

"I can't believe he put his hands on her." Andrea listened to Michonne's light snores. She had to thank Daryl for settling her down to get some rest.

Andrea stared at her friend on the sofa. Light tears in her eyes. It seemed as if crying was all she was doing these days. She was sick of it. Every time she thought she took her power back from Phil, he claimed it back. She nor Rick were expecting this call from Daryl today.

"Did he ever put his hands on you?" Rick waited for her response. Her silence spoke for her.

"Andrea how could you have not told me that? My dad could have helped you." Rick erupted. "What the hell were you thinking? I could have protected you." He began to pace.

"You protect me enough Rick. It was just once. I didn't think anything of it. He was stressed out about an exam, he didn't leave a bruise on me." She tried to explain her foolishness.

"Too bad he did with Michonne." Daryl glared at Andrea. She wasn't here to watch her cry herself to sleep. Or listen to her fears of Mike. He turned his back so the two could not see how furious he was.

"Just go on and say it Daryl. This is my fault. You hate me anyways. I blame myself." Rick touched both their shoulders.

"I don't hate you. I hate how you allowed yerself to become weak for an arrogant shit like Phil. He makes it his mission to manipulate everyone in his path."

"I left that in the past." She defended herself. "You're right. I was beyond weak. But I finally had the courage to move on. I can't control his actions Daryl."

"I know. But look how yer past is haunting us." Daryl lifted Michonne in his arms.

Instinctively, she gripped his shirt as he put her in the bed. Kissing her forehead, he was glad she was sleep. If not, he would have not been brave enough to do it.

"Daryl it's unfair for you to blame her for Phil's actions." Rick waited for him to come back in the living room.

"I'm not blaming you Andrea. Sorry if I gave yah that impression." Daryl said. "I'm blaming him. I'm so angry I can barely see straight. But I'm blaming yah fer putting up with that."

"Me too. I didn't think Phil would be vindictive enough to put Michonne in the crossfire. I still keep hurting her unintentionally."

"I told my dad. He said he could get a cop to come check up on her periodically. But to make matters better for her, she should file a report it or press charges if need be." Rick asked.

"She's so shaken up by it. She tried to act unaffected but I know she isn't. I know that punch won't stop Phil. If anything, he will just lay low." Daryl put on his jacket as the two looked at him with confusion.

"Relax. I ain't going to scout for Phil. I'm gonna go get some clothes and stay the night."

"Do you think she will mind?" Rick tilted his head.

"To be honest. I don't care." Daryl left them behind.

Rick turned his back to Andrea. Why didn't she tell him what Phil did to her? It was true. She really didn't think he could protect her. Wait. He had no reason to be upset. They weren't together. She didn't love him like he loved her.

"Rick. Don't beat yourself up." Andrea encouraged. "You did enough. You got Meesh protection for a little while."

"It's not that."

"Then what?" He faced her. Andrea placed her hands on his face. Rubbing his jawline. "You can't keep beating yourself about things you can't control." Andrea bit her lip.

"Why didn't you tell me he had hurt you? Even if its that one time. It was bound to happen again. Andrea you've seen abuse victims at the station. He didn't want you to tell me and you did what he didn't you….."

"Because I believed when he said it wouldn't happen again. Like an idiot" She looked in his eyes "Its hard to face your failures." She whispered.

"I also didn't want to weigh you down with all my problems. Even now. You should be with Lori having fun. Not doing damage control." She rubbed his cheeks.

"I'm too scared he's going to come after you or Rosita next to think about Lori."

"No. You need to go have fun. Go on a date. Lori really likes you. You can get to know her." Andrea held his hand.

"Why are you so adamant about me going on this date?" At times, Andrea was like a puzzle.

"Because I love you Rick." Their eyes widened. She didn't mean to blurt it out. It was the wrong time to say this. "I mean. As a friend. You deserve what I can't have. "

"O." He saddened. Of course she didn't love him in that way. Even if he thought he saw that sparkle in her eye. Unrequited love happened to millions of people. Too bad he was in the statistic.

"You go. I'll stay here with Meesh." She kissed his cheek. Her heart was breaking by the minute. She didn't want him to leave her behind again. But when you loved someone, you did what was best for them.

Rick did not know what to do. Her tears were telling her something else. This confusion was frustrating him. Only Andrea could wrestle with his mind like this.

"Andrea. I just don't understand how you think. " His outburst shocked her. Her tears stained her face. "You know what nevermind."

"Rick…." She began.

"Don't say my name like that. We both know you don't want me to go on that date with Lori. You want me to stay with you because I'm your toy. You don't want me but you don't want anyone else to have me. It's selfish. You said you loved me to keep with here. " Andrea gasped at his misinterpretation.

"What?" Andrea asked. "No I didn't. I want you to…." She didn't mean to make him feel this way. His heartbroken tone saddened her. She had to make this better.

"We know what you want Andrea." "You want me to be your lap dog. I can't. I can't keep loving you and you expecting to…." She silenced him with her lips.

Her soft lips that moved perfectly with his. Rick slid his tongue in her mouth. Taking what his now. The two broke apart to breathe.

"I was saying that because I'm unstable now. You know that. Even after that kiss, if you want to run to Lori. I can't blame you. She's not weak like me and she's emotionally stable to give you what you need."

"Like I can do that after what just happened? Andrea. I love you. Lori and Phil can't stop that."

"I love you too Rick." She kissed him again. "Please forgive me for taking this long to figure it out."

"I already have." He kissed her forehead.

"Daryl says Rosita was there when all this happened. If Meesh isn't stable. I know shes not. I've never wanted to hug and choke a girl at the same time."

TWDTWDTWDTWDTWD

Rosita sat in Abraham's passenger seat. Wiping the occasional tear from her eye. She hoped Jackie was invested in her ice cream cone than paying attention to her. Love was blinding, but the suffering she saw in Michonne's eyes woke her. Abraham did her a justice by saving her from herself today. She almost went with him again. How was it that men could separate love and sex, while women believed it was intertwined? Turning her head, she gestured Jackie to put her headphones on.

Jackie needs to be her influence for becoming a better person. Not Phil. She just hated how she needed to see Michonne and her boyfriend in that state to realize it. She also hated how she treated Abraham. He had a hard exterior, but he was a teddy bear on the inside.

"You can say it. Jacks can't hear anything with those in her ear." Rosita kept staring at her phone. She was expecting for Phil to call and apologize, but he never did.

"Say what?" Abraham kept his eyes straight on the road. He technically kidnapped the two for the day. He would do anything to keep her away from running back.

"That I was being a bitch to you. It seems now people get persecuted for doing the right thing rather than keeping their mouths closed." He only kept driving. Seeing her try to defend Phil reminded him of his violent childhood.

His mother's bloody nose flashed in his mind. The nights he had to pull his father off of her. The times he had to fight the monster to keep them safe. Despite this, she kept running back to him. Lying for him. All because she loved him.

"I never understood why my mother kept running back to my father. She claimed she didn't want me to live without him. I already was. Luckily, the bastard drank himself to death."

Rosita was not expecting him to be honest about his past. In the back of her mind, she still wanted to believe that Phil would never hit her. But she couldn't trust that feeling. This time, her heart was wrong.

"When he did, how did your mom take it?" She wiped tears from her eyes. They were not for her, but for him.

"She cried. She was angry at me for not being upset. Rosita I'm sorry for being presumptuous, but I couldn't let Jackie be around a man that angry."

"I'm glad you didn't. I'm still in love with him. I'm in love with a man that loves himself more than anyone else."

"Rosita I know you are expecting me to say something so profound to help you stay away from Phil, but I cant. You are going to do what you want to do and be where you want to be."

Abraham was right. The answer was simple, yet her heart would not let go. That didn't mean she would run back though. It was time for her to be strong for herself again. She had to put aside her ego and do the right thing,

"Do you think Michonne and her boyfriend are alright?" Abe laughed at her assumption.

"Her and Daryl are alright."

"Could you drive me over there later?" She was enjoying riding with him without a destination.

"Sure." He would help her through this.

"I need to clear my head. All this time I hated Andrea, but I finally see she was right. I got caught up in causing her misery that I couldn't see it for myself." Abraham was grateful he had graduated college. He could never forget how hard and childish networking could be.

"Long story short. I am the cliché slut in those college stories."

"At least you aren't denying it. That shows you want to change."

"You know. I didn't used to be like this. " Rosita's voice shook.

"When did it change?"

"When I came to college. I wanted to reinvent myself. In highschool, I was the opinionated do-gooder. I was just tired of doing the right thing for people and not being ridiculed for it. When I stepped foot on campus, I just thought about me and what I wanted for once."

"Everyone goes through that phase."

"But I got caught up in the attention I got from boys. I lost sight of who I am."

"Don't be so hard on yourself."

"It's hard not to when we keep putting ourselves through these tragic situations for love. It's going to take time but I will get over Phil. Andrea and Michonne saved me from him. As much as I hate to admit it, its true."

"Rosita. You have learned in a day what it took me years to learn. You aren't as immature as I thought you were." He teased. His heart grew as she smiled.

"Well I guess you aren't an old ass army commander with a stick up his ass." The two laughed.

"I'm only 24." Abe playfully nudged her.

"Well I'm only 19." The two blushed at their moment.

TWDTWD

Michonne shook her head at Andrea and Rick making out on her couch. It was bound to happen sooner or later. Tip-toeing out of her apartment, she needed to breathe.. Yes she was scared, but she couldn't let Phil win. If Andrea had the courage to fight back, then she would too.

Sitting in her hallway, thoughts of Daryl made her smile. He was peeling back layers she didn't know existed inside of her. After Mike, she hit rock bottom emotionally. The good thing about being so low was that she had nowhere to go but up. She smiled brightly as he returned.

Daryl sat beside her. Both listened to the silence. He blushed as she rested her head on his shoulder. Her eyes were on his bag. Taking the bag from his hand, she huffed.

"Daryl this isn't necessary. I'm a big girl." She knew he was ignoring her.

"I'm the first to know that darling." He teased. "But I ain't going no where for at least a day or two."

"Great its like I'm in the witness protection program." Rubbing her arms, she scolded herself. She should have fought harder for him to not stay.

Not because it meant she had become dependent on someone, but because it had been a while since a man had slept over. An attractive man that her body could not resist. She was afraid that if she stayed one minute alone with him, she would take advantage of him in every way. Not that he would mind. It had been 2 and a half years since she had been intimate with Mike. It was crazy how Phil had wrecked havoc in her life, and she could only think of Daryl.

"I know you think we may be exaggerating Michonne. But if I hadn't reacted like that."

"I know Daryl." She handed him her phone. Scrolling through the multiple pictures of her wrist. "This is just proof. I mean I know Sherriff Grimes already knows, but nothing wrong with concrete evidence." Daryl smirked.

"So yah did hear our conversation?" He chewed his thumb. If she did not bring up the kiss, neither would he.

"Not all of it. Just bits and pieces." She bit her lip. It was just a forehead kiss.

"So were yah awake when I carried yah?"

"no." She lied. "I was shocked to wake up in the my bed though. So are you coming with me to file the report?"

"Yeah." He assured her.

"Good. I'm glad you can because 'Drea and Rick can't pry themselves off of each other. Do you think one day we can be like that? I mean I know its too soon, but….I'm sorry. I shouldn't even be thinking about that right now. "

"Lets handle this first." He led her to his car.

The answer to her question was yes. If only he knew how to show it. Unfortunately, his personality had repelled any woman he was interested in. Michonne was the first woman who allowed him to touch her. When he volunteered to spend the night with her, he didn't think it through. But it wasn't like she would was ready for that commitment.

Michonne figeted as she waited in the busy station. She had nothing to be nervous about, she did nothing wrong. But this town was so small. Phil so good at making himself the victim. He could have filed a police report as well. If he did, that would not deter her. Luckily, Daryl didn't hit him hard enough to break his nose.

"I don't think he's been here." Daryl held her hand.

"what makes you say that? I was so stupid not to come here right after it happened." She scolded herself as Sherrif Grimes entered his office. It was as if they were looking at Rick in the future. Their family had dominant features.

"I won't keep you long Meesh. Just tell me what happened." He filled out the information as Officer Shane Walsh entered. Daryl let out a sigh at the young officer. This was the man who's place he took.

"Me and Phil were arguing about him and Andrea's break up. We were both yelling at each other at the church. Things got heated and he approached me." Michonne paused.

"Yeah right." Shane said under his breath as the three shot him a look. No wonder Rick didn't want to be around him.

"Were yah there?" Daryl asked.

"No but it doesn't take an idiot to see that Michonne is turning out to be Andrea. Sherriff I know your job is to listen to both parties, but….."

"Shane I am sorry Andrea never liked you. or that you and Rick aren't friends. That was your choice. But that doesnt gives you an excuse to try to butcher me." Michonne tried to be stern while being civil.

"So I suggest yah keep yer comments to yerself." Daryl backed her up.

"Sounds like a threat to me." Shane slammed the cabinet.

"Shane leave now." Grimes commanded. His rookie officer had a lot to learn about social skills. "Sorry about that."

"I didn't think he would actually harm me. Before I knew it, he was digging his nails in my wrist. That was when Daryl had hit him to make him stop." She showed him her wrist. It was still bruised.

"No one ever really does. You did the right thing for coming here." He grabbed his camera.

"Was Phil here?" He nodded at his other daughter and son. Their eyes widened as they thought of terrible possibilities. What if Phil tried to press charges against Daryl?

"What did he say?" Daryl urgently asked.

"I can not disperse that. But I can say your bruises counteract his report. Daryl. You have nothing to worry about." Sherriff Grimes smiled at the two. "Enjoy your day. If need be we'll press charges."

Daryl touched Michonne's shoulder as they left his office. Taking the initiative, she held Daryl's hand. This had to be one of the best and worst days of her life.

"Told yah it would be alright." Daryl stated. " I can't blame Shane for holding grudges, but what he said to yah….."

"Don't dwell on that. It's got to be hard to work for your ex-bestfriend's father. Then to see him and Andrea's friendship in tact. It's a knife in the heart."

"Sorry to say it like this, but that's life." Daryl said. "I mean, he's a sore loser. Andrea didn't like him. At the time she didn't like Rick either. Rick said Shane got jealous of their friendship. Thank god I wasn't his friend while that was going on."

"Too bad I was." She stated. "This all happened the beginning of our junior year. At times I remember how I used to cringe at the sight of Rick's name on my phone." She laughed. "Those were the good days."

"Not for me." Shane walked up to them. The two shared the same warlike expression. He didn't know why he was a jerk to people. But he had to own up to his wrongdoing.

"Look what I said was unprofessional. I let my emotions take over. I'm sorry about that. What Phil did to you was unforgivable." The three paused at the awkward silence.

"That's why Grimes ordered me to be the cop to check up on you periodically." Shane blew out in annoyance.

"Really Shane?" Daryl sarcastically said. "Yah got tah be kidding me? Did you convince Grimes of that bright idea?"

"I'm not thrilled either, but I am a good cop. Even Rick can tell you that."

"Look." Michonne said. "I don't need a cop to watch me. So this ongoing feud between you two can drop."Michonne rubbed her temple.

All he had to do was apologize to Rick. Why did men have to be so bullheaded? But she was glad to have her bullheaded redneck care for her so. This was going to be one hell of a night.