Hey folks!
Here's a little change of perspective for yall'. Hope you enjoy the new insight on this little love triangle.
Also: Let it be known that Alamo Girl, in all her glorious amazing awesomness, helped write a few of the scenes for this chapter. She is made of WIN and should be given an award or something.
Reviews make me giddy. And you guys are so epic for your support; thanks as always!
He would be the first one to attest to Dale's ridiculous powers of observation.
But the wise, big-hearted old-timer wasn't the only one who noticed things.
Rick watched from his family's cabin as the sun rose over the trees, flashes of orange and yellow and pink splashing into the sky around the big bright orb. The stars faded away above their heads, giving way to the beautiful blue that would see them through the day.
He watched as T-Dog wandered back to the building he now had to share with both Dale and their new guest. Dale in turn headed out of the cabin, setting up to take morning watch.
He offered Dale a wave as the man settled into his chair and picked up the binoculars.
The door to the RV swung open and neither man reacted with surprise. Daryl was always one of the first to begin moving about in the early hours, a mission to provide nourishment to the group always on his priority list. Rick admired the man for his strength, his intellect, his skill and his loyalty.
It was one of the reasons he looked to Daryl before many of the others when seeking advice.
But Daryl was not always the most level-headed of men, Rick knew. His temper could be something to fear, the resulting violence an absolute terror. He was a man of the wilds by habit and nature, and in Daryl was the tendency to behave much like an animal.
Rick watched as Daryl slung his beloved crossbow over his shoulder and closed the door to the Winnebago much more softly than he'd opened it.
Daryl was also a man.
And those elements that made Daryl Dixon who he was were now beginning to define him in a completely different way.
Rick saw it.
He saw how Daryl set out towards the forest with a huff on his lips and a glare in his eye, and he saw how that glare was immediately set on the cabin T-Dog had just entered.
Rick saw the snarl curl in the man's mouth, and met Daryl's glare as it was suddenly set on him.
As if he was giving him the finger without moving his hands.
Because Rick knew that it was not T-Dog that garnered Daryl's hateful glower and neither was it Dale. The newest member of the group had flicked a switch in Rick's fierce friend and it had nothing at all to do with the fact that he was a stranger. He watched the man stomp away from the camp and could not help but shake his head and smile.
He considered warning Mike about the danger he was getting himself into.
But he figured he'd give Carol a chance to set things straight first.
It was mid-morning when Daryl returned.
Rick had taken watch; since they'd become sedentary nearly every member of the group now had a responsibility to take their turn atop the large vehicle, and he was no exception. He spent the first few minutes scanning the fields beyond the lake, the forest's edge beyond that. Nothing moved aside from grass in the wind.
His attention had been pulled away for a brief time by the sight of Lori and Carl walking along the stone paths between the cabins with Sophie in tow, enjoying the sunlight and introducing the baby to the outdoors. Carl kept a hand close to the pistol tucked away in his jeans, and Rick smiled at the sight of his son growing so mature.
He and Lori exchanged looks before he resumed his duty and peered back through the binoculars.
He caught sight of Daryl immediately, crossing the field with a fairly large animal slung over his shoulder. His walk was brisk and determined, and even from the distance between them Rick could see the way his lips were pursed tight.
Rick pulled the binoculars away and scanned the campsite. As Daryl met the lake and began circling it towards them, he could see the direction the man intended to take.
He sat a bit straighter in the chair and watched, prepared to move if (when) needed.
Carol, Glenn, Maggie and Mike stood around one of the picnic tables nearby, talking among themselves. While Rick was glad that their newcomer was getting along with the majority of the group, he was wary of the man's obvious desire to be friendly toward all.
Because not everyone was willing to accept his gesture of friendship.
Rick leaned forward as Daryl approached the group, and could see by this point that the animal he'd killed was one they had never been graced with before: a wild pig. He smiled.
If everyone survived the afternoon, they'd have a Bar-B-Que.
Daryl broke in between Glenn and Maggie, coming to stand in front of Mike and Carol with a sneer on his lips and a board-straight spine.
Rick watched as he proceeded to slam the pig down onto the table before them, whip out his knife, and begin slicing holes into its legs to string up and clean. The group was not far from the RV and Rick heard Mike's voice:
"Wow. That's a beauty. Nice kill."
He sighed and stood up on the RV, his newly-formed 'Daryl-rage' sixth sense tingling.
Daryl seemed to ignore the man's gesture.
Glenn and Maggie began to wander away. He was glad they were smart enough to read the signs as well.
Carol stood arms crossed, eyes flickering from one man to the other, a look of apprehension on her face. Rick knew that she had some gist of what was happening, and wondered if the normally passive woman would do anything about the situation.
He was already reaching to climb down the ladder when he heard Mike try again:
"You need help cleaning that thing?"
Damn.
Daryl's response came as a growl and Rick rushed to the ground to intervene…
"I don't need nothin' from you."
He was crossing the grass towards them and despite the possible severity of the moment, he still could not fight a grin.
"It'd be faster; four hands, you know…"
"You'd best walk away. Now."
Rick shook his head and read the underlying message in Daryl's words:
Walk away from her.
Carol had stepped in front of Mike and the gesture did nothing to cool Daryl's temper. By the time Rick reached them, Daryl's fists were beginning to ball…
He nudged Mike's arm as he stepped up behind him.
"Hey. Help me out? I need someone to take watch while I give Lori a break with the baby."
Mike glanced at Daryl and Carol hesitantly before nodding at him.
"Sure. Happy to help."
Rick met Daryl's eyes for a moment before turning to lead Mike away. He hoped the man caught his silent message and would let the matter pass.
Late afternoon was approaching and the pig had been on the fire for over an hour. The smell was enough to draw the entire group together around it for the first time since Christmas.
Rick was not fool enough to think that everyone in the group considered each other family, although they often acted as such. Andrea spent more of her time with Shane than anyone. Shane avoided human contact as much as possible. When Maggie was not with Glenn she was spending time with Lori and Sophie and Carl…
T-Dog and Dale hovered like sentinels at all times.
It was rare for the lot of them to come together like this.
But Rick loved it when they did.
Everyone stood around the fire and talked about the prospect of eating something from the world past; Dale of course had a Bar-B-Que recipe to reminisce about, and laughter ensued as T-Dog complained about his growling stomach.
Rick noted Daryl hovering away from the rest of them, and it was nothing out of the ordinary for the man to do so. He was not the 'huddle around the fire' kind of guy.
But this afternoon Daryl was a bit closer than normal, standing not far behind Carol as she sat on one of the logs and looked around and smiled at the conversation taking place. Mike was situated next to Glenn not far from her. Daryl's head moved to glance over at the man several times and Rick decided enough was enough.
He caught Daryl's attention with a curt nod and headed back towards the RV.
They had reached the other side of the vehicle when Daryl spoke up.
"What?"
"I just want to make sure you're not planning on killing the man in his sleep."
Daryl glanced around and crossed his arms, his eye twitching in confusion.
"Kill who?"
"Don't play dumb, Daryl. Earlier today you came dangerously close to knocking Mike's head off his shoulders. I saw it coming. That's why I stepped in."
"So?"
"So….tell me. What's your problem?"
Rick leaned against the side of the RV and watched as Daryl's body language tensed, and one of his hands raised to his mouth as his teeth dug into his index finger.
"Ain't got a problem with him personally. He's just annoying as shit."
Rick fought a very unbecoming cackle.
"I call bullshit, Daryl. The man hasn't done anything to 'annoy' you. Seems to me it's exactly what you say it isn't: personal."
"The hell you care? It's not your business."
Daryl's shoulders raised and Rick recognized the look of defense. But he and Daryl had been on an understanding level with each other since they'd left the farm, and he was not much worried about having another knife swung his way by the temper-prone man.
He had always been straightforward with Daryl in the past; no sense in beating around the bush this time…
"My business is the safety of the group, and of our guest. I don't want your jealousy endangering others, is all."
Daryl stopped chewing at his finger and his eyes narrowed.
"The hell you talkin' about, jealousy?"
Rick couldn't fight the grin and Daryl responded with a huff of anger. He held up his hands to ease the igniting explosion, but the fuse was lit…
"Daryl….it's obvious. And it's not a big deal, really. I mean…it's kind of the spirit of the season, anyway…"
"What the fuck is that supposed to mean?"
Rick chuckled despite Daryl's growing frustration.
"You know…springtime. Hell, that pig on the fire was probably trying to find itself a girlfriend when you killed it."
"...The hell are you talkin' about?"
Rick pushed from the RV and landed a hand on Daryl's shoulder. The muscles beneath his palm quivered and a glare met him when he dared to look the man in the eye:
"Carol. You're going off on Mike like this because of her. And I get it….you're just trying to protect what's yours, just like the rest of us—"The body under his hand disappeared as Daryl jerked away and turned his back on him, pacing the ground a few steps before whirling on him with a snarl.
"You're so full of shit, Rick."
He turned away again, resumed chewing on his fingers. He hovered as such and seemed to be staring off at the lake, intent on ignoring his presence.
Rick decided enough had been said. Daryl knew that his aggressive behavior had been called out and discouraged.
But the motivation for said behavior had not.
As Rick turned to rejoin the fire he paused at the words that were nearly whispered his way:
"...She know?"
He looked back to find Daryl glancing at him over his shoulder, his eyes creased and brow furrowed.
He smiled; offered a short nod.
"Yeah; pretty sure she does…"
Daryl did not huff or snarl or curse in response.
He simply turned away and nodded, and Rick knew the nod was not meant for him.
His friend was making a decision.
He just hoped it didn't involve killing anyone in their sleep.