-Seven-
Lake woke to her head throbbing. She shifted into the warmth lying next to her.
Daryl jerked up, "Lake?" He asked as he touched her face. "Oh my God, Lake." He kissed her on the lips.
Lake turned to take in the small interior of the room they were in. "Where are we?" Her voice was hoarse and almost unrecognizable.
"Some cabin next to a lake." Daryl chuckled. "Ironic eh?" Lake smiled but flinched. Her hand slid to a painful wound in her leg. Questioningly, she looked to Daryl.
"You were shot." Daryl stated. "I track'd you and the others to make sure ya'll got out okay. I found the way ya'll left but then that fucker on his high horse found me. He would've shot me but Carol…" Daryl's face fell. "She took the bullet. We were outnumbered. She died in my arms." Lake struggled to sit but Daryl held her down. "Merle took out the other guy, but Carol had Judith, Lake."
Lake pushed past Daryl's objections ignoring the pain in her leg. Judith. She remembered. "I ran after her didn't I?" Daryl's blue eyes held pain. "We got separated from Rick, we heard someone coming so we hid. Judith, she wouldn't stop crying." Lake sobbed over her words. "He wanted her, said he would let us live if we gave her to him…then you came in…" Daryl held her as she cried. She had failed the others. She failed Rick and Carl. They had lost so much already.
"He shot you in the leg and took off with the kid." Daryl had tears in his eyes. "You dragged yourself across the floor after her…he knew I couldn't leave you. How would he know something like that?"
The front door slammed open. Merle frowned as he tossed a slew of dead squirrels onto the kitchen table. "Aye, pip squeak. How ya feelin'?" He asked.
Lake shrugged. Merle accepted that as answer enough, he took a chair and began cleaning dinner.
"We have to go after her. We can't leave her with that man. I'll die before—"Lake was cutoff.
"Ya ain't goin anywhere til that leg heals," Merle pointed his knife at Lake. "Me an Daryl'll think up a plan on how to rescue yer rugrat." Lake was never more thankful for Merle than in that moment. Of course he had to be as unlike Merle as possible but she was thankful none the less.
"I'm sorry about Carol." Lake placed a hand on Daryl's cheek. He leaned into her hand causing her heart to squeeze.
"She was a hell'ova woman. I'm jus sorry I couldn't have done more fer her." Lake kissed him softly on the lips.
"She loved you. You being happy made her happy." Lake smiled at the memory. "She told me so." Daryl held her gaze as he searched her words for truth.
Clearing his throat, he stood and grabbed his bow from the corner by the door. "Ima go out an see if I have any luck." He announced.
"Make sure yer home 'fore dark." Merle smirked as Daryl flipped him off.
"No, seriously. Listen to Merle." Lake's jaw dropped. "Did I just say listen to Merle?" Merle laughed as Daryl winked before leaving.
After Daryl was gone, the cabin fell silent. Lake felt the need to say something. "Hey." She snapped at Merle. He looked up and she smirked. "Come help me, I want you to teach me to do that." She pointed at the rodent he was gutting.
"This?" Merle asked.
"Yup." Merle scooted the chair against the wood floor as he stood. Walking over, he stared down at Lake unsure of what to do. Suddenly uncomfortable, Lake pulled back the blanket and shrieked.
Merle whistled, "Should've told ya that he took yer pants off huh?" Lake turned red as she covered herself back up. Refusing to let Merle Dixon ruffle her feathers, she stood on one leg and wrapped the blanket around her waist.
Merle grabbed her arm to steady her and she stuck her tongue out at him. He held up his arm and nodded to the blade. Lake smiled as Merle helped her to a chair. It was painful to sit, but nothing she couldn't handle.
"Should've kept some of my pain killers, we both could'a used em about now." Lake scoffed at Merle's words.
"I hear that." Lake was starting to realize that Merle wasn't all that bad. He showed out a lot and opened his mouth even more but he took care of his own. Lake liked that quality.
She spent what felt like hours trying to learn how to clean squirrel. Just as she finally got the hang of it, the front door opened and Daryl strode in.
"Whad'ya get?" Merle asked as Lake turned in her seat. Daryl shot Merle a glare.
"What she doin' outta bed?" He asked, his eyes dropping to the blanket around Lake's waist.
Lake nodded, "Mhmm, yup, you forgot to tell me that little tidbit of information did ya?" Daryl tossed his dead rabbit at Merle before scooping Lake from the chair. Nuzzling her neck, he sat her down on the bed. "Miss me?" She asked.
Daryl groaned but pulled away. "You stay in bed ya hear?" He turned to walk back to the table but Lake grabbed his shirt.
"Oh no you don't." She fisted his shirt pulling him back. "I don't want to be left in bed all day. Merle taught me and I can help." She held out her arms. "Help me back over so I can be of assistance." Daryl watched her through narrowed eyes.
"He taught ya ta skin squirrels?" He asked turning to Merle. "Damn, you must really like 'er." Merle gruffed and leaned his chair back on two legs.
"She's ok for a chick." He set the legs down with a thud. "She needed ta know. Can't hav'er starving if we're not around."
Daryl waggled his eyebrows and Lake laughed. "You like me, you really, really, like me!" She cheered as Daryl helped her to the table laughing.
Merle pointed his arm at them but it was not longer any use. They couldn't be frightened by his tough exterior. Soon they were all laughing about nothing in general, but laughing all the same.
The next morning, Lake's leg was stiff as she made her way around the cabin. Both boys were out scouting the area and she wanted to cook a meal before they returned. Starting a fire, she began cooking pieces of squirrel over it.
A crash outside the door caused Lake to burn herself on the hot pan. "Damn it!" She shouted. Turning she hobbled her way to the door. Grabbing the pistol Daryl left behind; she cracked the door and peered outside.
On the front porch stood a dog; a very, very large dog. Its ribs were protruding as it rummaged through the porch furniture.
Lake whistled softly enough to get the dog's attention. When it turned, a pair of eyes one blue, one brown stared up at her.
Opening the door, Lake limped out careful to keep the gun ready. The dog watched her wearily but in the end was too hungry to object to human companionship. It walked over and sniffed Lake's bare feet before its long, wet tongue licked the top of her foot.
"If you're hungry, don't get any ideas." Lake murmured. The dog's tail thumped against the porch railing as it looked up at her. Dogs were rarely seen anymore due to the amount of walkers and their need to devour everything. This one was the first Lake had seen in months.
Sighing, Lake gave up the battle of wills. "Come on." She pushed open the door and was surprised when the dog ran in. "Hey!" She hollered but stopped in her tracks when she entered the doorway.
"Shit." She exclaimed as she watched the hungry dog devour the meal she was preparing for Daryl and Merle. "You better enjoy it; it'll probably be your last when Merle and Daryl get back." Lake walked to the bed and sat, her leg throbbing painfully. She messaged what she could before laying down and closing her eyes.
"Lake!" Someone shouted waking her from her nap. Lake sat up to see her giant dog lying at the foot of her bed snarling at a very shocked Daryl. His bow was raised and arrow ready.
"No!" She screamed, scaring both Daryl and the dog. "Don't shoot it," Lake peeked underneath the dog who was now sitting. "Don't shoot him. He is a good boy." She cooed as she pet the dog's head. He stood on the mattress and made his way up next to her.
"Ah, Lake! Don't let it sit in my…ah nevermind." Daryl lowered his bow. "What the hell Lake? I leave and ya got a dog?"
Lake laughed as the big dog lounged across the bed, with his head near Daryl's pillow."He ate your meal too." She added knowing Daryl's heart. "But no, seriously, he just showed up. Look at em, he's all skin and bones." Lake pouted as she looked to Daryl. "I love him already." She pleaded.
Daryl narrowed his eyes as he watched. "I ain't fallin' for that." He stated. Looking back out the door, he turned with a worried expression. "Merle don't like dogs, Lake."
"Well most everyone doesn't like Merle and we made a place for him." She smiled as the dog laid his huge head in her lap. "I wanna keep him." She had made up her mind. "He is extra protection for me while you're away." She tried making up Daryl's also.
Daryl walked around the bed and leaned to give Lake a kiss, "Fine, but don't say I didn't warn ya." The dog pushed his slobbery face in between them to prevent the kiss. Lake broke out into laughter. "Hell naw." Daryl fought it but grinned.
It was almost nightfall when Merle showed up. Just as Daryl had expected, there were fireworks over the dog.
"No." Merle left no room for argument. "We ain't keepin' that beast…" He looked to Lake. "Unless ya wanna eat'em." Lake threw her hands over the dog's ears but his tongue lolled out of his mouth in indifference. Lake looked to Daryl and gave him a looked.
Daryl stepped forward like a child during confession. "Now see here Merle," He started. "That dog loves the hell out'a Lake and damn near tore me in half when I came back ta the house. I think she should get ta keep her dog." He scratched his head. "For protection, ya know."
Merle watched his brother carefully before speaking, "Fine. Yer girl, yer dog. Yer family is gettin' mighty big if ya ask me broth'r. Hard ta protect what's yers if it involves twelve kids and a pooch."
Daryl rubbed his chin before looking to Lake. "Yeah, but she likes 'em." Lake smiled. She squealed as she threw her arms around her new dog's neck. She sat back suddenly.
"He doesn't have a name." Merle laughed. "Everyone needs a name." She pushed.
"How about, lil shit?" Merle suggested.
Lake scoffed as she looked up at Daryl, "What is it with you Dixon's and weird names?"
She didn't wait for his excuse, "No, I think he needs something more…"
"Scud." Daryl suggested. Lake tilted her head as she mulled over the name.
"I like it." She stated. "He is fast."
"Nah, that's jus the name of D's first dog." Merle imformed. "That was til our daddy killed 'em dead. Ain't that right lil broth'r?" Daryl looked away and stayed quiet.
Lake frowned. "Just when I was starting to think you weren't so bad." She shot at Merle. He shrugged.
They ate dinner, with Scud at Lake's side. His head stood high above the table but he never took a single thing he wasn't given. Lake wondered whether he had an owner and quickly found out he had.
"Shake." Scud lifted a paw into Lake's hand.
"Lay." Scud obeyed. Lake beamed from ear to ear as she looked to Daryl and Merle.
"Yeah, yer dog is so smart Lake." Merle mocked. He froze and Lake covered her smile with the back of her hand. Scud stood eye level next to Merle, growling.
"I'd say he is." Daryl confirmed. Lake laughed aloud before calling Scud to her side. The dog obeyed immediately.
At bedtime, Lake pulled the blanket up over her nose as she watched Daryl pull off his pants and shirt. He had become more comfortable undressing in front of her to the point his scars no longer bothered him. He pulled back the blankets and jumped when Scud lay heavily breathing in his spot.
"Eh, get." Daryl pointed to the ground, but Scud only scooted closer to Lake. Daryl reached for him, and Scud barked almost sending Daryl on his ass.
"'Oh but she wants 'em'; 'He'll protect Lake.'" Merle mocked from up in the loft. His laughter could be heard as he shifted, making boards creak.
Daryl stood in just his underwear fuming. Lake quickly called Scud to the foot of the bed, as Daryl scooted under the covers.
Lake wrapped her arms around Daryl and kissed his cheek. "At least he kept the covers warm for you." She said positively.
Daryl grumbled, but pulled her into his arms. They fell quickly asleep.