6.

Frank was a man of sturdy built, restless, dark eyes, a crooked nose, and a rough face. His right arm was covered in tattoos. A pinky and a ring finger were missing on his left hand. He always had a kukri stashed at his belt. His temper was as bad as his appearance. He believed himself tough, but he was just a ranting bully, overly aggressive with those weaker than him and a coward when confronted with a real danger. Daryl knew his true face since long before the walkers and saved his sorry ass on few occasions. The truth was, Frank was nothing without Merle. Daryl knew that and this was one of the reasons Frank hated him.

Frank caused many troubles since they took him in. Sure, he was another muscle hand but his harassment of some of the women in the group was becoming disturbing and Daryl always had to keep an eye on him. After all he brought him in and despite the idea of kicking him out of the group crossed his mind more than a few times, getting rid of Frank was not easy, especially now, that Merle was back. He realized, though, the situation at hand might soon become a turning point in their relationship.

"Go away, Frank. I'm handling the matter," Daryl grunted, his eyes on Niko. Nope, he ain't gonna leave her.

"I just came here to help ya, kid. You two are hiding in some fine shady little corner here. Wanna keep her all for yerself?

"Rick told me to question her."

"That's no reason uncle Frank can't have some fun too."

Frank walked behind Niko's chair. Daryl followed him with a calm stare.

"What yar getting so upset about, kid. Men like us should share spoils of war. I mean look at this face…" He pulled up Niko's glasses, grabbed her by the chin and twisted her face upwards. "Right to my taste… so damaged, but still pretty…" He slid his three finger hand over her shoulder onto her breasts. He grinned, exposing his crocked teeth at Daryl.

Daryl felt the adrenaline rush hitting him from head to foot. He knew this feeling well. A part of him will shut down and he'd turned into something else, something that cannot be stopped.

He charged at Frank from his chair and punched him in his face with such force Frank stumbled backwards into the wall and fell down. He didn't stop there. He went after him and started to beat the shit out of half-conscious Frank.

Niko was the trigger, but it was also about everything else, from Frank's recent behavior toward Beth and Carol to the way he treated him, when he was still a kid in Merle's gang.

When Frank reached for his kukri, he grabbed his index finger and flipped it back. A cracking sound was heard and Frank cried out. Daryl kept hitting, until somebody grabbed him from behind and started pulling him away.

Michonne and Glenn tried to contain him, but it was only when Carol stepped in front of him and pressed her hand on his chest, that he calmed down. He shook off the grip of Glenn and Michonne and began pacing like a caged animal, but didn't go past Carol.

"Let me kill that bastard."

"No," said Carol quietly, pressing her hand lightly on his shoulder. "Not here." She looked at Frank, then back at him again. "What happened?"

He was too furious to answer. He just shook his head and continued to pace.

Rick seeing Frank all bloody scrambling to his feet in the corner of the room, walked up to Daryl. "We don't need this right now."

"He deserved it."

"I'm sure he did, but going against someone of the group like this it's a bad thing to do." Rick was persistent with his stare. "You wanted him in, now he's part of this group. The intruder isn't."

Daryl scoffed. "Right."

"Michonne, accompany Frank to Hershel…"

Michonne gave Rick a displeased look and shoved Frank towards the door. He began shouting some indistinctive insults, but she made sure he remained far enough from Daryl.

"Hey, Frank….if I find you in here again, you'll stay here for good."

"Oh yeah? Fuck you, Rick…and you, kid, we'll see what Merle has to say about this, when he gets back."

Michonne gave him a jab in the ribs with her sword. "Keep walking, asshole."

"You okay?" Carol reached with her hand towards Daryl's face.

He was still too edgy for a touch, even from Carol. He backed away.

"The woman, I'll deal with her alone. She's not worth the trouble," said Rick and headed towards Niko.

Daryl went after him immediately and pulled him to the side. "She gave some information, it's worth to check out." He spoke quietly so others couldn't hear him. "We still need her."

"What information?"

"She said there are walkers, several of them…. in a corridor below. Might be another entrance we missed."

"She might be lying."

"She ain't."

"What makes you so sure?"

Oh, he was sure, all right. He saw them with his own eyes. Couldn't tell Rick though. "We wastin time. Walkers can break in. We should check it out."

"Do we really need her? We can check it ourselves."

"It's a fackin maze down there."

Rick was hesitating. "What's your plan here, Daryl? We can't keep her…she's blind…she's…" He leaned closer to him. "She's a liability...he already have a baby, and an old man without a leg."

"She's not so helpless and I….I'll take care of her."

Rick snorted. "You kiddin me?" His hands on his hips he turned to Niko then to Daryl again. "Did you ask her the questions?"

"Mh-mmm."

"And?"

"It's fine."

"Anyone with her?"

"Not anymore."

Rick shook his head and turned his stare to the floor. "Don't know…something about her rubs me the wrong way."

Daryl got nervous. He could go against Frank, but to go against Rick was a whole other thing.

"Frank will not swallow it down…"

"Fuck that bastard!"

"What…You'll take care of him too?"

"I can deal with him."

"I know you can. I sure wanted to many times. But right now, he and your brother, are a useful pair of hands and this, " he pointed his finger at Niko; "this will add fuel to the fire. Killing her right now, would be a good decision. You know that." Rick narrowed his eyes at him. He was fishing for approval but Daryl wouldn't give it.

"Why do you care so much, Daryl?"

Daryl pulled back and averted his stare. "I don't . It just doesn't feel right, man. Killin her off… to make things more comfortable…"

They both went silent for a moment. Rick walked towards Niko and took out his knife. Daryl tensed up.

"I can help… I'll do as you ask of me," said Niko calmly. Her glasses were still up on her forehead and her eyes shut.

"Daryl says you met some walkers inside the prison?"

"Yes."

"Where?"

"I don't know how to tell you, but if you take me to the place where you caught me, I can lead you back to them."

Rick looked at Daryl once more, pursed his lips thoughtfully and squatted down. He cut the ropes on her ankles and on her wrists too. He pulled her up from the chair, grabbing her by the elbow, and leaned to her ear: "If you try to do anything, anything at all that doesn't comply with what you're told, I'll kill you on the spot. Is that clear?"

She nodded.

Daryl was listening and observing that conversation with every inch of his body.

"I'll need my stick."

"No," said Rick decisively and dragged her along.

"It' a big horde down there. I can be useful too. Please, let me have my stick."

Rick ignored her request and thrust her toward Daryl. "Here. She's your responsibility. Let's go."

Daryl grabbed her roughly, pinned her close to him and pushed her glasses over her eyes. "C'mon."

They were approaching the corridor. Daryl was walking in front, holding Niko firmly under his grip. He let her lead the way, pretending he didn't know where she was taking them.

Rick kept close to Niko. Daryl knew he'd kill her, if she tried anything. His grip on her arm tightened just at the thought of it.

"What's with the glasses…" asked Rick.

"I have a severe case of photophobia."

"What's that?"

"I'm sensitive to light."

"So you're not blind?"

"Not in the usual sense of the word, no. I can see when sheltered from the light, but not like normal people do. "

Hmm…" Rick looked suggestively towards Daryl. "Any other particularities we should know about you?"

"Nope."

"Careful now…" warned Michonne. She and Glenn were a few steps behind them. They readied their weapons and proceeded with more caution. They entered a previously unexplored area.

Except for Daryl. He knew exactly where they were. The door they were heading towards, was the door that separated them from the horde. They were almost there and Niko still didn't say anything. He started to get worried. Was that her plan, not to warn them at all and let them be swarmed by the walkers once they open the door? He'd not allow that, she must know it, besides what'd she gain from that anyway? Shit, two more steps…he pressed his fingers strongly into her arm.

"This is the place. They're in there," she said and stopped.

Rick put his ear to the door and listened.

"Anything?" asked Glenn.

"No, the door is too thick anyway. Ready?"

Daryl pushed Niko slightly to the back, still holding her firmly, and took his knife in his other hand. Rick released the lock and kicked the door open. They entered cautiously, with slow steps. Their flashlights didn't reveal anything. It was dark, quiet and empty.

They must have wandered further down, thought Daryl to himself.

Rick suddenly snatched Niko from his grip and pushed her forward.

"You go first."

Daryl wanted to object but Rick stopped him with his stare. "She goes in first."

There was no use to argue. That's fine, he'll be right behind her anyway.

With Rick keeping them all back the distance between them and Niko increased. At a certain point she stopped and turned, raising her hand up to protect herself from the beams of the flashlights.

"Go on!" Rick ordered her.

"I will, but give me my stick first."

Michonne was the one carrying Niko's stick. It was Daryl that convinced Rick to take it. Just in case there'll be too many walkers, he told him. He knew already there will be and he didn't want Niko to stay unarmed.

"If you're sending me to die, at least have the courtesy to give me a weapon. "

When Rick didn't react, Daryl turned to Michonne to take the stick from her, but Michonne was quicker and already slid it on the floor towards Niko. It made a loud, clattering noise, which could easily attract walkers. Daryl saw it in Michonne's eyes, she did it on purpose.

It didn't seem to rattle Niko. She picked it up and continued into the darkness ahead in the same, steady pace.

He felt somewhat relieved; at least armed she'll be able to last enough time for him to reach her, when the horde comes.

Thank you! I'll be happy to hear your opinions!