Chapter 8

May

WEDNESDAY

She loved to hear the clack of her high heels on the worn out tile floors, the sound ricocheting off the walls like rifle fire. She looked good today; low cut blouse, trousers cut tight to make her ass look fantastic, and she had even done up her hair. She had been chatting up the prosecutor all day long and finally he had agreed to the terms of the agreement- pulling the final piece of the law enforcement puzzle into place. She was walking him to the courtroom, all batting eyelashes and false giggles, when she saw Daryl on the bench outside. She gave the prosecutor a little smile, opened the door for him, and let it close; opting to walk over to the bench instead. She stood in front of him, her hands on her hips, looking at him like he was a naughty child.

Daryl was a slouching, foot bouncing, mess. He was clean, but his eyes were blood shot, puffy, and had dark circles. He couldn't look at her. He had seen her down the hall and could barely recognize her. She looked so different in her work clothes, so- expensive. And the man she was walking with looked like a smug little shit, short for a man and wearing a fancy suit, his black hair slicked to the side, unmoving. He decided that it was best to be on the offensive.

"That your new boyfriend? He looks like a real classy bitch. I bet he's spent a shit load on you already. How much huh? How much to crawl up your pussy?"

She crossed her arms. "Are you done?"

"Yeah..." he said, standing getting into her face. "I'm real fucking done."

"That..." She pointed towards the door. "...was John Alderwood. The prosecutor. For your brother's case. I've spent the last six days riding the ass of everyone who matters, trying to get him a break."

"We didn't ask you for this." He was close to shouting. "None of it! Nobody asked you to run around whoring yourself out, tryin' to buy favors. It aint' your concern!"

"Like hell it isn't, you obstinate jackass!"

"Why? Who died and left you in charge ya' bossy bitch!"

"In charge? You think I did all this just to be in charge?"

"Well why else would you have done it? Probably just gave you an excuse to be around yur' new fancy boyfriend in there."

"Because I'm falling-for-you!" She poked him in the chest with one finger "You! You loudmouthed, ill tempered, surly sack of dicks! Now get inside that courtroom before I have to shove my best pair of heels up your ass!" She pointed, fuming, at the door.

"Wait... you what?" His face scrunched up, confused.

"Never mind, court is starting and we can't be late!" She grabbed his arm. "Come on!"

They walked in at the same time the judge did and took a seat in the back. Sentencing hearings never took long and this one was no exception. Ten minutes later they were out of the courtroom, Daryl walking like a zombie in shocked silence. Merle did not get the fifteen years they were expecting; he'd gotten ten. With the option for probation after five years; with good behavior and treatment. It wasn't just unexpected; it was a goddamn miracle.

"How?" He mumbled to her in the hall. "How'd you do it?"

She kept her voice low, her eyes looking up and down the hall. "Not here. Later." He nodded and followed her down the hall. "So..." she turned to him. "...I have to go back to work. Will I see you later?" He nodded, still a little numb, his hands tucked protectively around his chest. They got to the front doors when a woman's voice called out across the rotunda.

"Hey girl! Dat him? Ya'll think you're gunna sneak him outa' the building without trotten' him past us?"

May closed her eyes and let out a deep sigh. "Daryl? You got a minute?"

"Yeah, I guess."

She turned on her heal and headed to the front counter. There were three grey haired older women there, sitting behind a glass partition. "So, Daryl you know Carol."

Carol gave him a sweet smile. "Hey Daryl. Long time no see." He gave one of his awkward waves and a 'Hey', feeling confused and completely out of his element.

May went on, gesturing to the lady in the middle seat "This is Claudie. She hates everybody equally and makes sure we all know it on a daily basis."

Claudie lifted one of her skeletal fingers and scratched at her razor sharp collar bone. "Well look what we got here. A dyed in the wool country boy. And a damn fine one too- I sure wouldn' kick him out of bed for eaten' crackers."

May chucked; "Maybe so, maybe so. But he could start a fight in an empty house so I think you may want to hold off on any 'adoption' ideas you may have." She turned to give Daryl a dirty look, but his eyes were so far down cast that she could barely see his face.

The third woman piped up, loudly; "I did not call you over to have some polite conversation! I am here to look at your man candy."

"And this whore with a heart of gold is Gladis. Gladis, could you been a little more terrifying?"

She laughed loudly, her Lee press on working at the poof of her bouffant. "Oh girl you know that I'm just yankin' your chain. I'm not tryin' to hurt your beau's feelings."

Carol piped up in her soft voice. "Now Gladis you know he just got out of court. Let him be."

"I'll let him be. Husband number four." Proclaimed Claudie, cackling at her own joke.

"That's enough!" Stated May, moving between Daryl and the ladies field of vision.

Gladis shot back; "Oooo she is putting her foot down! And not an hour ago you was bitchen' your ass off about him breakin' your heart! You don't get it both ways girl!"

"Gladis! You know what's said among us girls' stay's private!" Carol sounded as threatening as a kitten. May appreciated it just the same.

"Alright! You got to meet him! Can he go now?" Begged May, clearly at her wits end.

"Go on now boy. Get home and do somethin' nice for our girl. She deserves it after worryin' about your sorry ass for nearly a week." Gladis waived her hand at him, then turned away to do some filing.

May turned to him. "I'm sorry. I didn't..."

He cut her off. "It's alright. I'll see you at home."

"Ok."

He turned to walk away when he heard the voice of Claudie echo across the hall. "Aint you gunna kiss her? Give us a little action Jackson!" He didn't even turn around, but flipped her the bird. "Oh, he is a feisty one! I like it. If ya'll ever break up..."

He heard May's voice as he was walking out the doors. "Fuck off Claudie, and keep it in your pants."

She got home by 6:45, and drove up to see Daryl sitting on the front stoop surrounded by cigarette butts. He was fidgeting, smoking, and chewing his lips; a trifecta of anxiety. She got out of the car as a light sprinkle started to fall. She walked past him on the steps and unlocked the front door. "Well? You coming?" Her tone was normal, but inside she was holding in a lot of anger. 'Pull it together, breath, hear him out. Whatever he's let crawl up his ass this time he's got to let out himself.' She left the door open, kicked off her shoes, and threw her keys and bag on the couch.

"Where the boys at?" His voice came from the door way, timid, like he was ashamed.

"Spending the evening at a friend's house. I'm lucky that they like her kids- she's a cheap babysitter." She headed for the stairway to the second floor. "There's food in the trunk of the car, would you bring it in while I change?"

"Yes Ma'm." He flinched, feeling foolish, and headed out to the car to bring in her bags. She took a little time upstairs to cool off, and by the time she got back downstairs he already had the groceries put away and her bag of takeout sitting on the kitchen table. But he stood back near the front door, as if fully prepared to be told to leave. She walked up and grabbed him by the forearm and pulled him to the table. "Sit down and eat with me." She scolded. "You look like you're about to pass out." He sat, but kept himself silent and wrapped up as a cocoon. She got them both a beer and sat, putting a styrophome container in front of each them. He downed the beer quickly, but did nothing else besides fidget. "Well if you aren't going to eat, you might as well talk. We both know you weren't turkey hunting. So spill the beans."

His thoughts pumped through his head like blood. She would hate him. This was it. It would be the loneliness, the boredom, the suffering, all over again. God, he just wanted to cry. To let it all out, the waves of misery and anguish that he had no words for; only the depth and breadth of his endless pain. But men didn't cry, and it would be all the worse if she saw him fall apart like that. 'No woman ever wants to see that. Nobody does'. But they would be safe; her and the boys. "You... arn't gunna be real happy with me." His voice was so low she could barely hear him. "I figured out what you was gunna do. I just didn't think you could pull it off."

"And what was it that you think I did?"

"You got Merle to flip on his guys. I don't know how you did it. Merle hates cops."

She leaned back in her chair. "Yeah, yeah he does. But he loves me." Daryl gave a dry little chuckle. "It wasn't easy, and I may have made him a few uncomfortable promises, but I got him to come around. I worked out a deal between the cops, Merle, and the prosecutor. Merle gets moved to a facility where his old buddies don't have a presence, and he gets his slap on the wrist." She took a drink off of her beer. "Your turn."

"I gave em' the drugs and promised to do a job for um."

She leaned in again. "Excuse me."

"They told me Merle owed them about 40 grand for the drugs that were missing. They said I could work it off in kind if I knocked over another drug store. No more problems for you or Merle. They don't care about the two guys getten' busted over Merle's deal, they aren't even full members yet, just prospects." He started chewing his thumb. "I ain't done the job yet though." He let out a long, raspy breath; he was ready for whatever she would throw at him. Except she threw nothing. She started to laugh. A deep, throaty laugh that echoed across the walls. Daryl felt so out of whack that he almost ran right out of the house and never looked back.

"I...ooohh." She leaned back, a large smile on her face. "You know what the condition was? The condition to get the police on board with my little plan in to influence the prosecutor? That I meet those bikers somewhere with the drugs so that the cops can catch some of the full members red handed." She started drinking her beer again, still chuckling a little at the absurdity of it all.

He rubbed his face roughly with his palms. "What? No! Damn it!"

"It's ok. It's gunna be alright..."

"No! No it aint! I fucked it up!" He stood up so fast that the chair fell over, fingers raking through his hair.

"Hey!" She barked at him. He hadn't heard her use such a commanding tone before and it got his attention. "Do not lose your cool. Do you understand me? We will find a way..."

"What the fuck are you even talking about? What fucking way? Merle's gunna loose his deal, and if those guys get caught their gunna be in the same jail as him- probably kill em'. And if they don't get their big arrest, those cops are gunna talk and those bikers...they...they're gunna know it was you..." He looked at her, so defeated. He righted the chair and sat back down again.

She spoke as matter of factually as possible, though she knew she didn't sound convincing. "I know. You thought Merle would never cave. You were protecting us- all of us. And I know this has turned into a shit show. But we have to work together on this. Please." She came around the table, turned him around, and gingerly sat in his lap. He shivered a little, and she wrapped her arms around his neck. "Daryl, I'm sorry I didn't tell you my whole plan. I should have trusted you. I'm sorry. I'm the one who fucked this all up" she whispered under her breath.

"No, don't you go taken all this on you. We both fucked up pretty well."

"Let's talk from now on, Hum?"

"Umph." He grunted, not knowing what else she may want to talk about, but feeling shitty enough already. He decided that a distraction was in order, and buried his face in her neck. "You looked real nice today. Fancy."

"Thanks. I tried to look my best." She wasn't sure, but she thought his nuzzling was working into a kiss along her jaw.

"For that asshole prosecutor?" He growled, and she felt his teeth graze her skin.

She giggled; "No. There's this hot guy I've been seeing who took off turkey hunting last week and I was hoping to see him again today."

"Do I know em?" He looked up and she got a whiff of his breath as he spoke.

"Daryl Dixon you smell like bourbon. Were you drinking before I got here?"

"Maybe. My old man always said ya should already be lit- if you think your old lady's gunna tear into ya."

She crossed her legs, leaning into him a little more. "So I'm your old lady now huh?"

"I guess. You been talkin' about me like that to all your lady friends at work." He peeked up at her shyly from behind his long bangs.

"Oh you caught that did you? Well I told you I was sweet on you." She ran her fingers up the back of his neck into his hair. "So am I gunna have to get you drunk to make you frisky?"

"Naw, just keep wearin' these stretchy black thangs. I can see every inch of you in em." He snapped the back of her yoga pants and her back straightened up at the contact.

"Oh my god, you are drunk aren't you? Jesus, did you think I was gunna freak out on you or something?" He gave that little nod, chewing his lips. She pulled his face back into her neck. "Nope. Sorry. Too fucking late for that. It's going to take a lot more than a little miscommunication to get rid of me."

"You call that a little?" His fingers slipped under her outer thigh, while the other was wrapped around her waist. She could feel the wire of his whiskers against the soft hollow of her throat, and his hot breath against her jaw.

"Mmhum. We'll work it out. When you're not compromised. Although I am enjoying compromised Daryl." His fingers made soft little patterns on her skin, and his tongue brushed her neck when he licked his lips. "Oh my god you're driving me crazy."

"So there really wasn't nuthin' between you and that guy?"

"Who? What? The prosecutor? No. I hate that guy."

"Really?"

"Yeah, he's gross."

"I didn't lie to ya. I really did go turkey hunting. There's two in yur' freezer."

"You always come through for us. Is that why you look as worn out and tired as you do?" He had actually spent the better part of the last six days wondering what the hell she really wanted from him, if he could give it to her, and how she would react when they finally had sex and he only lasted a minute and a half. When he decided that none of it would work out and that she would reject him completely, then he killed the two turkeys he'd been tracking and headed back home.

"Yeah, and I'm starving." He looked up at her lips when he said it, and she bent in to kiss him. His grip tightened on her thigh and his tongue dipped into her mouth. Liquor had always given him the confidence to pick up hookers, and he was glad it was serving him now too. But she pulled back after just a few moments. "Wha's wrong?" He realized he was slurring a little but he couldn't help it now.

"I only have half an hour before I have to pick up the kids. And you are drunk."

"So what?"

"So what? If I get to have you in bed, I want you at your best."

"Nah, but its better this way. All that other shit in my head goes away."

"But that's just it." She gave him a peck on the lips. "I want all that shit too. I like your baggage Daryl. I think we have a matching set." She smiled. "Does that make sense?"

"Yeah, I guess. But I won't be as good."

"I think you'll do just fine." Her voice dropped a little. "The way you're stroking my thigh feels really good."

"Oh yeah?" His voice rumbled like an old car turning over.

"And the way you were nuzzling into my neck..." They kissed again, and the hand around her middle slowly worked upwards towards her breast. "Uh, oh god you feel so good. But..." He kissed her again, grabbing her breast at the same time, squeezing it roughly. It felt like getting man handled by her high school boyfriend all over again, but after a long dry spell it still felt pretty good. Finally, she pulled back again. "Ok, ok. Stop, you're getting me all hot and we don't have time to finish."

"I could get you there... if ya want." He looked so bashful and shy, it was driving her crazy; much more so then what ever he was trying with her breast.

"No, I want lots of time with you. And lots of cuddling afterward."

"I'll fuck ya till I'm blue in the face, but I aint no cuddler." He sneared and scoffed.

"What? Just roll over and fall asleep?"

He cleared his throat. "The kinda' girls I'm use to don't really wanna stick around, you know?" She nodded. "They ain't got fancy clothes and pretty underthings..."

"You like pretty underthings?" He looked down quickly, but she could see one of his little half smiles break out before he could quash it again. She shifted her sitting position, her legs wrapped around his middle. "Because I've got lots of pretty things that nobody ever gets to see but me." She lifted up her shirt to show him the push up bra she wore. "You like this one?" He nodded, licking his lips. "Good. Because I think you would really like the nighty that goes with it. One hand shot up and grabbed her breast, working at the hard nipple under the lace with his thumb. "So I'll make you a deal. You cuddle with me after sex, and I'll get all dolled up extra nice for you. Sound good?" She rolled her hips a little, and he moaned at the friction.

"Oh shit, yeah... just do that again." She did, and the grip on her breast tightened. She could feel him shiver under her, and she knew anymore teasing would just be torture for them both. She held his face in her hands "Daryl, I have got to go and pick up the kids. I want you to stay here, eat some food, then go upstairs to my room and take a nap. I don't want those boys seeing you all drunk, ok?"

"You sure? In your bed?" He looked at her askance, and she smiled.

"Yes. Go sleep it off. We'll try not to wake you when we get home." There it was again. That strange feeling that she gave him where he thought maybe he had accidentally just wondered into someone else's life, like some weird sitcom. A nice house, great kids, a hot girl that wanted to fuck him as much as he wanted to fuck her. It couldn't be real, it just couldn't.

He looked at her with all the sincerity he could muster, his arms wrapping firmly around her middle. "I'll protect you ya know. You and the boys. With my life if I have ta. I won't let nuthin' bad happen. If those men come by..."

"Then we have you. I know we do." She kissed him gently again, before getting up and pulling herself together to leave. She turned to him from the front door on her way out. "Remember-nap. I don't want to come home and see you watching the cartoon network with your hand down your pants."

"Jesus woman, ya might as well be my old lady, the way you're ridin' my ass. Get out of here already." He shooed her away with his hand and she left with a smile.

It was dark in the prison, with a silence like death. And the Georgia heat was sticking to him like napalm, keeping him awake. He headed down to the showers to cool off and try to forget the events of another traumatic day. But as he approached, he could hear the water already running. He knew the sound would mask his subtle foot falls, and he peeked in to see who it was. There was a woman, but in the darkness that was all he could make out- her shape and height were unfamiliar to him. He could see the water running little rivers over her curves in the moon light, and his dick thickened. He rubbed it through his pants, knowing it was wrong, watching her like this, but doing it anyway. His desperation for an orgasm overriding that feeling of shame that tickled at the back of his mind. He let his eyes flutter closed, and when he opened them, she was in front of him, about to touch his face. She kissed him, running her fingers through his hair, pulling him into her. So wet, so sweet...

He awoke suddenly, realizing quickly that he was still in May's room. Steam poured from under the bathroom door in her bedroom, and he realized how late it must be from the dark outside the window. His crotch ached terribly, and it occurred to him that he had almost had a wet dream. He reached down into his pants, feeling the cum already beginning to seep from the tip. 'Fuck it.', he thought, reaching for the tissues that she had beside the bed. He pulled up his t-shirt and jerked himself off in a minute flat, burying his nose in her pillow as he came, luxuriating in her scent accompanying his orgasm. He quickly wiped the cum off his stomach and cleaned up when he heard the water turn off in the shower. He rolled back over and played possum, waiting for her to come back in the room. He heard her move around, trying to be silent, drawers closing and opening. Finally, he felt her warm hand on his arm, and a kiss on his cheek. He opened his eyes to see her standing over him, wearing a little cotton night gown, hair still wet.

"Hello there sleeping beauty. I was surprised to see that you slept with all your clothes on."

He rolled onto his back, putting one arm under his head. "Not my bed. I took off my boots though." He nodded over to the corner where his beaten up pair of work boots lay sadly. "What time is it?"

She sat down next to him on the side of the bed, crossing her legs towards him. She winced a little, but he didn't see it. Her period had started earlier in the evening and the cramps were getting worse. "About ten in the evening. It took everything I had to keep the boys from coming up here. It was like you had gone off to war and come home, the way they were acting." He gave a little laugh, and looked down, hiding his smile. "I assumed you were going to sleep the night away. But I saw you laying here all curled up I couldn't stay away." His free hand came up, his fingers touching her knee lighter than a kitten's paw. "I want you to stay tonight." He looked up at her, his eyes dancing. "Just sleep. I'm, uh... I'm way too tired tonight."

He raised his voice to a falsetto; "Not tonight, I've got a headache." She gave him a very weak punch to the gut, and he responded by tickling her under the knee.

"No! Daryl I mean it! I'm ticklish, stop!" She grabbed his wrist, wrestling it away from her knee. "Are you still drunk?" she asked, her tone playful.

"Naw, just in a good mood." He gave her a real smile, and she pulled his captive arm around her waist. "My head is starten' to thunder though, you got pain meds?"

She pulled a bottle of pills out of the side table, placing them next to a glass of water there. "I brought that up for you when I came to bed." He nodded, but did not move, his fingers fidgeting with the back of her nightgown. "I meant it, what I said. Please stay here tonight. I know I'm being silly..."

"Shut up. You know I don't mind sleepin' on your couch."

"You could stay up here." Her hand came up, fiddling with them hem of his shirt. "In my room. I promise to keep my hands to myself." He rolled his eyes and made a little 'huh' of disbelief. "No I mean it. All of this has taken a lot out of me Daryl. I know I don't show it but..." she brought a hand up to her face as she fought back a little sob. He sat up quickly and awkwardly wrapped an arm around her and she started to cry.

"It's ok baby. It's gunna be alright. Shhhh..." He ran his hand over her wet hair and back, trying to sooth her. When she finally pulled herself together, she reached out from under his arms towards the nightstand.

"Damn it, where are my tissues?" He froze in sudden horror- he had put them back, hadn't he? She reached down and picked the box up from the floor with a shrug, taking one and wiping her nose. He let out an audible sigh of relief and kissed her on the forehead. She blubbered a little. "I'm sorry... I just... I guess I fell apart there for a minute. You can go if you want, no hard feelings- I mean it."

He chewed on his lips, feeling so many things at once that he didn't quite know how to separate them out. A part of him did want to leave, to let his anxiety rule him yet again and flee the situation, fear of the unknown twisting at his insides. But he knew he wouldn't- he couldn't. And that a growing part of him didn't even want to. "I'll stay." He mumbled, suddenly unsure of what to do with himself, wrapped all around her like he was. "You work tomorrow?" He knew the answer, and felt stupid asking, but didn't know what else to say.

She sniffled a little, wiping her nose again. "Yeah, so you'll have the house all to yourself." She laughed a little; "all the Cartoon Network you want."

"Naw, I'ma get started on them gutters out there, maybe lay some lines down and get started on a fence."

"That would be nice. Once we have a fence we can get a dog." She kissed his cheek, stood up, threw the tissue in the can, and got in on the other side of the bed. She rolled over towards him; "You going to sleep with all your clothes on? Not that I'm judging- it just seems a little uncomfortable."

He shrugged a little. "I ain't slept in a bed with a woman in over 20 years, so I don't really know what you expect of me."

"I expect you to snore, fart, and wake up with a partial erection. I also expect you will steal the blankets and get a little handsy but that's to be seen." She gave him a little smile, but he covered his face with embarrassment.

"Jesus woman, you really don't have no shame do you?"

"Not a lot, no. Just get comfortable Daryl. Relax."

'Feels more like being asked to walk through town naked to me.' He thought, wiping his palms on his pants. He stood up, and she turned over, facing the other way. He let out an inward sigh of relief, stripping down to his t-shirt and underwear. He normally slept naked, but the whole thing still felt so awkward that he just couldn't lose any more clothes and still be able to sleep. He took several of the aspirin, before laying down stiffly beside her. She rolled back over, eyes closed, and fell asleep. He watched her, from the moonlight coming in from the window, for the longest time; worried that the terror and the beauty of the moment would end if he closed his eyes. And when sleep finally came again, his dreams were mixed; an intangible mixture of forgotten sitcoms and the angry giants of his youth.