Hey hey everyone, incredibly sorry for the late delay but hope you can all forgive me! Thank you to my reviewers and my ever increasing followers and favourites you guys rock.
Anyways on with the next chapter hope you all enjoy!
I woke up confused for a second on where I was before I remembered, we'd been here for a few weeks now and I still couldn't help waking up not knowing what was going on. I sat up and stretched before zipping the door of the tent and emerging into the bright sunlight. There were a few people pottering around the campsite, I could hear snoring coming from my brothers tent and rolled my eyes. I should have known that them lazy arses wouldn't be up yet, Jacob walked down the steps from the RV without his shirt on and I couldn't help but stare. We'd become quite close recently he was a good guy and we had some laughs, much to my brothers' annoyance.
He noticed and gave me a small wave; I blushed and stumbled out of the tent tripping over my shoes that I'd left outside that night. I let out a small squeal before my face hit the floor, I heard him laugh and my face continued to blush uncontrollably god I was such a loser.
"Y'all right there?" He asked holding out his hand. I smiled and allowed myself to be pulled up and I dusted myself off.
"They're going on a run today into the city we're running out of supplies," Jacob told.
"Oh well errm are you going?" I asked slightly concerned for the safety of the camp.
"No Dale wants me to stay here, he gets worried about us ya know ,"
I nodded.
"Do you reckon your brothers would want to go?"
I shrugged. "One of them can go but not both of them," I explained, I didn't want either of them going but I knew they would want to pull their weight even though they pretend they don't.
I didn't notice Daryl appear from the tent until he was behind me with a hand on my shoulder. "Ya might wanna rethink the no shirt situation," He snidely said to Jacob whilst I rolled my eyes. Jacob looked slightly scared.
"Yes Sir," He said and walked away.
"Seriously?" I questioned Daryl.
"Ain't having no folk sniffing round my little sis," Daryl replied.
"Come on Daryl I barely know him,"
"I don't care, anyways I'm going on a big hunt today probably won't be back until tomorrow you in?"
"Of course,"
"We leave in an hour or so," and he walked away.
Amy came over. "Hey I'm off over to the lake to wash you coming?"
I nodded and followed her lead to the beautiful blue lake. I stripped down to my bikini and we both ran in. The water was freezing today and I laughed as Amy's lips chattered.
We chatted as we both washed our hair, I don't know what it was about the lake but no matter how many times I washed my hair it still never really felt all that clean. I suppose that's what happens when you ain't got fresh running water.
"So Jacob's cute huh?" Amy commented.
"He's alright I guess," I replied washing the soap suds out of my hair.
"Alright? He's drop dead gorgeous," Amy laughed.
I smiled whilst plaiting my wet hair.
"He's not my type," Amy looked at me with suspicion and I returned the stare before we both started giggling.
"We should head back I'm going on a hunt soon," I walked out the lake and wrapped my towel tightly round my waist before we grabbed our stuff and headed back to camp. Everyone was awake at this point and all sat round the camp fire. Morales, Andrea, Jacqui, Glenn and T-dog were packing rucksacks.
"Andrea, are you going?" Amy questioned.
Andrea paused before nodding, "Yeah I want to feel useful,"
"There are other ways to be useful,"
"I'll be ok," Andrea said softly putting her hand on Amy's cheek; Amy rested her hand over Andrea's.
"Be safe," Amy said and they hugged.
I looked over by our tents; Merle was sat outside packing a bag too, I walked over and leant against the tent pole.
"Are you going too?" I asked.
"Sure am little lady get us some supplies and stuff that's gonna keep us safe,"
I tried to hide my fear for him by giving a small smile, I was scared because the whole damn world was fucked up and I didn't know what was going on or what I could even do to help myself. I let out a deep breath.
"Maybe I should come with y'all,"
Merle smirked standing up and flinging his rucksack over his shoulder. "No way, I can't be worrying myself about you out there not you,"
I suddenly felt angry all of a sudden, I don't even know why I did I didn't want to go out there with all those walkers. I was scared to death but I was fed up fed up of people treating me like a little kid.
"You said so yourself that I needed to protect myself!" I snapped.
"Yeah when the time comes, but not deliberately putting yourself in danger, go hunting with Daryl and when you get back we'll all be back with food and weapons and a plain sailing life,"
"Yeah well just make sure you are ok,"
Merle lightly punched my shoulder. "Daryl get your arse over!" He yelled.
Daryl crawled out from the tent. "What?" He replied annoyance in his voice.
"We're off, promise me you'll keep her safe out there little brother I don't need to be worrying bout you both now," Merle warned flinging his backpack over his shoulder.
"We'll be fine won't we Kayl?" Daryl smiled at me.
I smiled back and nodded.
Merle began to walk over towards Andrea. "Hey sugartits we gonna have some fun out there yeah," He suggestively stated.
Andrea snorted before walking away from him towards the truck. I sighed he was always annoying Andrea with his pervy comments I wish he'd stop it was really freaky.
We all watched as the truck pulled away and got smaller and smaller before it was gone. I had a feeling of dread and worry inside me; I knew something was going to go wrong I just couldn't help but worry.
I walked back to my tent without saying a word to anyone and picked my stuff up; a concerned Jacob followed me and sat down on the camp stool.
"They're gonna be ok ya know. I mean I don't think it would be smart if any walker messed with Merle Dixon," He reassured me.
I smiled and put my bag of arrows on my shoulder. "I don't know Jacob summat doesn't quite sit well with me, it feels like something bad is going to happen,"
"Like what?"
I shrugged. "I duna just something,"
Jacob leant back on the chair it seemed like he was taking in everything I said, trying to make sense of it.
"Ready Kayl?" Daryl asked.
"Yeah, I'm off on a hunt I'll see you tomorrow Jacob,"
Jacob nodded. "Be safe," He called after us.
I turned round and flashed him a smile, before we continued our journey into the woods.
"I'm not so keen on you and this boy ya know that right," Daryl stated.
"You ain't got no clue what you're talking about Daryl there's nothing going on between us nothing at all now can we please just drop the damn subject," I snapped.
Daryl opened his mouth before wisely shutting it again and we continued walking through the woods in silence. I felt bad for snapping at him I don't like been mean to my brother's but they really knew how to push my buttons and they'd been all up in my space about me and Jacob since we first met and it was beginning to drive me insane.
We'd been out a few hours now and it was starting to get dark but still me and Daryl hadn't spoken a word to each other and it was beginning to get uncomfortable. I glanced over at Daryl who stared straight ahead a stern look on his face. He was pissed and I could tell, but unfortunately we were both as stubborn as each other, a Dixon trait. I shot at a squirrel that was running up a tree a few metres away, it stood in the air before falling to the ground. I pushed my way through the branches to claim it when I snapping of a stick made me stop. I slowly raised my head and a few metres away there was a deer eating some grass, I couldn't believe our luck after been out here all day all we'd managed to catch was a few squirrels. I could imagine the delight on everyone's faces if we brought it back.
I turned around, "Daryl," I whispered and beckoned him to come over.
He knelt down next to me and smiled. "Looks like we're eating well tomorrow get it Kayl it's yours,"
I smiled and set up my bow and arrow aiming for the deer, but just as I was about to shoot a gun sound in the distance scared it away and it was gone before I had the chance.
"Damn it," I cursed.
We both ran after it following its tracks. We were getting closer but it was almost pitch black and Daryl didn't want us wandering around aimlessly in the woods.
"Come one lets set up camp we'll pick up where we left off tomorrow morning, I'm sure we'll be able to catch it again."
I nodded in agreement and we laid our sleeping bags out and started a fire, cooking one of the squirrels we had caught today. We ate in silence, and I kept catching Daryl's eye before I quickly looked back down at my lap. Finally silence was broken.
"Kaylin listen I'm sorry you know for constantly going on about Jacob, I'm just looking out for you is all and I just don't want anything bad happening to you," Daryl explained.
I smiled. "It's ok Daryl but you and Merle, ya'll can't protect me forever and I don't want ya'll scaring off everyone at times like this I really need some friends,"
Daryl nodded, "We should hit the hay gotta be up early tomorrow,"
He went to sleep but I couldn't, I didn't really sleep anymore I always felt like something bad was gonna happen and I couldn't stop thinking about things, about the people we left behind I didn't even know if any of my friends were alive. I twiddled the knife Merle had given me in my hand and thought about Merle they'd probably be back now unless something went wrong, after all Atlanta wasn't exactly the safest of cities anymore.
I sat up all night, not sleeping a wink eventually the sun began to rise and I glanced over at Daryl who was sound asleep, but I had no choice but to wake him.
"Daryl," I whispered shaking him awake, he grunted before opening his eyes.
"Let's go find that deer," He smiled.
We packed up all our things and quickly found the tracks of the deer again. I was excited, excited to catch the deer and excited to get back to camp.
End of Kaylin's POV
Back at camp...
"Disorientated, I guess that comes closest, disorientated," Rick told to the camp holding Carl and Lori in his arms.
The gang who had headed to Atlanta had a returned a few hours ago, with cop Rick who miraculously had turned out to be Shane's best friend and work partner, Lori's husband and Carl's father, almost everyone had returned, almost. Merle had been left behind handcuffed to a rooftop.
"Fear, confusion all those things, but disorientated comes closest," He continued rubbing his chin.
Amy with her head resting on Andrea's shoulder exchanged looks with Jacob who sat staring ahead at the camp fire they were both thinking the same thing. What would Kaylin say when she got back to find her brother had been left behind, the brother she relied on so much. Amy couldn't even begin to process what she would say if it had been Andrea.
Her thoughts were broken by the sound of a crackling fire.
"Hey Ed you wanna rethink that log?" Shane asked nicely.
"It's cold man," Ed simply replied.
There was a silence and Carol looked shiftily between Ed and Shane.
"Cold don't change the rules now does it? Keep our fires low just amber so we can't be seen from a distance right?"
"I said it's cold why don't you mind your own business for once,"
Shane jumped to his feet and stormed over to Ed.
"You sure you wanna have this conversation man?" He asked calmly.
Ed stared back at him and the whole camp felt the tension build unsure what was going to happen between the pair.
Ed sighed and looked away, "Go on pull it out,"
Carol paused for a moment, "Go on," He repeated.
Carol climbed to her feet and pulled the log out of the fire.
Everyone knew Ed was a violent thug but no one was really sure about what to do without it, it was like people had forgotten that in this world walkers weren't the only threat.
After talking to Carol and Sophia Shane made his way back over to the camp fire and sat down.
Amy bit her lip wondering whether or not she should bring up the Merle situation but fortunately she didn't need to.
"Have you given any thought to Daryl and Kaylin Dixon?" Dale asked Shane. "They won't be happy to hear that they're brother was left behind."
"I'll tell them, I dropped the key, it's all on me," T-dog jumped in.
"I cuffed him, that makes him mine," Rick replied.
"Guys this isn't a competition, I don't mean to put race into this but it might sound better coming from a white guy," Glenn reasoned.
"Kaylin isn't a racist," Jacob defended his friend.
"No Kaylin is lovely, but she's still a Dixon," Andrea explained.
"What's that got to do with anything she's nothing like Merle and Daryl," Jacob argued beginning to get frustrated about the fact they were beginning to speak wrong of a girl they'd done nothing but welcome into the camp.
"Come on guys there's no point arguing over this," Dale interrupted trying to regain control of the situation.
"Merle was out of control, something had to be done or he would have gotten us killed," Andrea continued to argue her point, "Your husband did what was necessary and if Merle got left behind it is nobody's fault but Merle's."
"And that's what we tell them is it? I don't see a rational discussion coming from this, we're gonna have our hands full when they get back from this hunt," Dale warned.
"Well this wouldn't be a problem if ya'll hadn't left him handcuffed to a roof," Jacob snapped.
"Jacob..." Dale began.
"No he's right," Amy finally chipped in. "Kaylin has relied on her brother's for everything since she was a kid. Merle had his faults but he looked after her really well and always has, I'm not defending his actions but if Kaylin comes back tomorrow and flips out you've got no one to blame but yourselves,"
The whole camp fell silent and Jacob nodded in agreement.
"I was scared and I ran, I'm not ashamed of it," T-dog told rubbing his nose.
"We were all scared we all ran what's your point?" Andrea asked.
"I stopped long enough to chain that door, staircase is narrow, maybe half a dozen geeks can squeeze against it at one time it's not enough to break through it. Not that chain not that padlock,"
There was a long pause and everyone stared in shock and bewilderment at T-dog.
"My point Dixon's still alive, still up there handcuffed to the roof that's on us," And he stood up and walked away.
The rest of the camp all looked at one another, "Damn it," Jacob cursed before he got up and walked away too.
"I'm going to bed," Amy stated standing up.
"Amy wait," Andrea said reaching for her arm.
"No Andrea," She snapped pulling her arm away.
Andrea sighed rubbing her head. "Did we do the right thing?" She asked beginning to question everything she had said. Amy was upset about Kaylin and had every right to be they'd really bonded and it was true Kaylin was a lovely girl and she was going to be devastated when she finds out what had happened. She had less sympathy for Daryl on the other hand but knew he was going to flip out as well.
The rest of the camp avoided eye contact with one another but they were thinking the same as Andrea. Beginning to doubt everything they'd done that day.
"I don't know," Glenn finally replied, "But it's too late now,"
"The calm before the storm," Dale added.
Shortly after everyone had crawled into bed, but no one really slept all worried about what would happen tomorrow when the Dixon twosome would return.
Dun Dun Duuuuun, hope you all liked it and just a word of warning the next chapter is going to be explosive! Remember to review and give me any tips or ideas I would really appreciate it.