Chapter 8: Safe and Sound
Daryl ran back to the camp with his crossbow aimed. He lowered it at the sight. Shane was hugging a brunette woman with her back to Daryl. Shane was sobbing and she was doing the same. Carl ran to her and she scooped him up.
"Hey there handsome!" she exclaimed and Lori stepped forward. "I don't think I've ever been so happy to see you Lori!" Lori raised her hands to wipe her face and they gave each other a short but friendly hug.
"So Glenn told you to come here?" Dale asked.
"Yes he came into the store that I was living in and he told me that you needed a doctor, so here I am!" she said wiping her face. Dale looked behind her while Jim talked to the new girl. Shane looked behind as well and smirked.
"Hey son! Why don't you say hello to the new girl or I should say new doctor!" Dale said.
"Go on, don't be shy!" Shane told the doctor and pushed her backwards. She stumbled back but caught her footing. She was wearing a white v-neck, dark blue skinny jeans, and black high tops.
"You're so rude sometimes!" she told Shane and she finally turned around. Daryl dropped his crossbow to the ground. The group except Shane, Lori, and Carl gave each other confused looks. She started to laugh and covered her mouth with her hand.
"Brooke?" he asked and started to jog towards her that soon turned into a full sprint. "Brooke!" he yelled and crashed into her. He held on to her not wanting to let go. "You're alive? I thought that…you…Oh my God!" he stammered and held her closer.
"I should've known that a Dixon would survive this!" she joked. They let go of each other and just looked at the other. They both laughed in pure happiness that they had found each other. While everyone who didn't know their back story was confused, Jim and Dale smiled that they had seen a new side of Daryl. Brooke walked back over to the group.
"Sorry, that was rude." She said.
"It's okay, we understand!' Dale said. "Why don't we all sit down and take a breather." The group sat down in the circle they usually sat in. "So what were you doing before all of this Dr. Walsh?"
"Please, just call me Brooke." She smiled. "I was at a medical convention in Atlanta but I left a day early, or just in time. I heard about the outbreak on the radio so I went back to my house. I got everything I could pack in my blue Prius over there and left. Oh crap! Rudy!" she called and a German Sheppard came from behind the car.
"You brought your damn mutt with ya?" Daryl asked.
"For the millionth time he isn't a mutt, Daryl Dixon!" she chuckled and rubbed Rudy's head. Carl cheered and ran over to Rudy. "Anyways, the town was being overrun and I called SOME people and told them to go to our beach house." She gave pointed looks to Daryl, Shane, and Lori. "I stopped at a store and we lived there for I don't know how long. I'm just glad to have my boys!" Carl looked up and smiled at her and went back to hugging Rudy.
"May I pet your dog?" Sophia asked.
"Of course! He's very sweet." Sophia looked at her mother and she nodded. Sophia crawled to the dog and petted him.
"Do you have any sort of weapons?" Shane asked.
"I have a pistol, a shotgun, and a bow and arrow." People gave her some weird looks.
"My grandfather was an Olympic archer so he taught me how to use it." She said. She walked to her car and pulled out her weapons. She latched an arrow to the string, aimed it, pulled it back, and fired it. It flew above Daryl's head and impaled a squirrel. People gave her impressed looks and she smugly grinned.
"So you're a Doctor and a master archer?" Amy smiled. "So you can hunt for us as well?"
"You're like Katniss!" Sophia enthused.
"Yeah! I love hunting!" she said. "Hopefully I'll catch more than squirrel." She said. Do any of you women hunt?" they all answered no.
"I can fish." Amy said.
"I've always wanted to learn how to fish." Brooke said. "So what all do the women do around here."
"We clean, cook, and do the laundry." Lori informed. Brooke acknowledged but Daryl knew she was unimpressed. Brooke had always been independent and didn't believe in becoming Susie homemaker for whomever she married.
"Yeah I can hunt and I can help with that stuff too." Brooke said trying not to sound too repelled by the idea. Daryl smirked at her.
"Don't forget that you're the doctor now." Jim said. Brooke laughed. Oh how much Daryl missed hearing that.
"Don't worry, Jim?" she asked and Jim nodded. "Jim. Don't worry I'll be your personal hospital." She looked down at Carl. "How have you been, handsome?"
"Fine! Shane's been teaching me all this new stuff! Can you teach me how to shoot that arrow?" Brooke looked at Lori who had a look of "I smell something weird".
"Maybe, I'll have to see." She said and ruffled his hair. Daryl saw the charm bracelet on her right arm and sighed. She was wearing necklace with one of the stars on it and her mother's cross pendant. "It might be easier to shoot a crossbow though." She said and looked at Daryl who just shrugged. They heard the radio and the first message was a man asking if anyone was there. Amy ran and answered but they lost their connection.
"We need to out a sign." Lori said. "People don't know what they're getting into."
"We don't have time Lori." Shane asked. "Besides I don't want you wandering off the camp." Lori rolled her eyes and stormed off.
"Typical Lori." Brooke thought. "Doesn't get her way and she throws a tantrum. I swear Carl's more mature than her." She stopped her thinking and pulled Shane away from Carl. "Where's Rick?" Shane sighed and ran his hand through his hair. She knew that wasn't good.
"I went to the hospital when this whole thing broke loose. I ran into his room and I tried but he wouldn't wake up from the coma. They turned off the power and the machines turned off. I couldn't get a heartbeat. I made sure none of those walkers-"
"Walkers?" she asked.
"That's what we call the rotting freaks." He explained. "I put a bed in front of his door and made sure I parked it. I got Lori and Carl and this is as far as I got." He said. "We ran into the Dixon's and the rest of the people. We sent a small group to Atlanta."
"Wait Dixons?" she asked. "Merle was here?" Shane nodded. "Great! Now I go back to being lil' bit and sugar-tits." Shane laughed and side-hugged her. "So Rick's really gone?" he nodded again. She bit back tears. Shane gave her a brotherly kiss on the cheek and they walked back towards the camp. They heard the radio again and Shane ran to pick it up.
"This is T-Dog!" the man said.
"T-Dog report!" Shane demanded.
"City… overrun…stuck…store… roof." It went dead. Amy had a look of horror on her face.
"We have to go after them!" she said.
"We can't Amy, it's too dangerous." He said.
"But they volunteered! Their risking their lives! She's risking her life!" she replied.
"Amy, we can't." he said firmly.
"She's my sister you son of a bitch." She said and walked away. Brooke couldn't help but feel bad for the poor girl. She could understand why she was mad.
"I'm gonna go check on Lori." He said to Brooke.
"You go do that." She said. Five minutes later Carl ran up to her with Rudy. "What's up handsome?"
"Where's Mom?" Carl asked.
"She may be in her tent. Come on lets go look and see." She said. They walked over to the tent but as they got closer she made Carl stay behind. She snuck up closer to the tent and saw Lori and Shane. Not just Lori and Shane but she SAW Lori and Shane. She gasped and ran away and pushed Carl with her.
"What's going on?" Carl asked clueless of the situation.
"They're just talking about some serious stuff." She explained. "Or I will once I get him alone." She thought. She almost had to slap herself in order for her to forget what she just saw. It took all of her might to not throw up on Carl. "Hey why don't you go play with Sophia? She looks lonely." Carl nodded and ran to play with Sophia. Rudy stayed with Brooke and she secretly got even angrier with Lori and Shane. She made sure no one was around her and she finally said her peace to Rudy. "She couldn't have closed her legs for respect of the dead?" she asked him and he just cocked his head to the side. "Sometimes I really wish you were a Disney animal." She walked out and went to get to know her knew roommates. Daryl hadn't seen her that angry since Merle actually made a move on Becky.
Brooke and Amber where 21, Becky was 23, Daryl was 24, and Merle was 29. Brooke and Amber were on break from getting their masters and they decided to catch up with Becky. They went to their favorite bar where it was Karaoke night. The girls sang a song and sat down to catch up. Merle walked into the bar and saw Becky. Becky was a hell of a lot more drunk than the other two. The other two had just had one beer each and would both make sure that Becky would be safe. Becky got up while the other two chatted and giggled.
"Merle?" she asked and gave him a hug. "Hey man, how are you?" she asked loudly.
"I'm good how 'bout you Becky?" he asked.
"I've never, hmph, felt better!" she hiccupped and he chuckled. They had small idle chit-chat for about five more minutes. "Ya know, I always thought you were kinda cute, Dixon!" she tried to whisper.
"Oh Really?" he asked and she nodded sloppily. "You wanna get outta here?"
"Hell yah!" she said and she got on the back of his motorcycle. Amber and Brooke were still in the bar applauding a young woman on her performance on Summer Nights with her boyfriend.
"Where's Becky?" Brooke asked.
"She said she was just going to the bathroom." Amber replied and they walked to the bathroom and no one was in the bathroom. "Where the hell is she? She took her purse with her, but then again she never leaves her purse alone anymore." Becky had recently gotten robbed in Atlanta and got her purse stolen.
"Hey Pete!" Brooke called the bartender.
"What's up little Walsh?" he asked and Brooke rolled her eyes.
"Have you seen Becky?"she asked
"Yeah she left not too long ago." He replied. "With some bald guy." The girls thought for a moment but had the worst possible thing come to their heads.
"No…" Amber trailed off.
"She's not that drunk, right?" Brooke asked her.
"Little Walsh she was DRUNK!" Amber shrieked in horror.
"Was this guy tall, country as all get out, broad shoulders and chest?"
"Yep, yep, and affirmative." Peter said.
"Bye Peter!" Brooke yelled, Amber grabbed their things and they ran out the door. They got into the red Beetle and drove to the Dixon house. They saw Daryl in the drive way. Daryl turned and saw that both girls were as pale as ghosts.
"What's going on?" he asked.
"How long have you been here?" Amber asked/
"I just got off the late shift." He explained.
"Please open the door!" Brooke begged. He did as he was told and opened the front door. "Where's Merle's room?" He led them down the hallway but they slowed down as soon as they realized what was going on. Amber and Brooke knew they were way too late. Amber held her mouth closed and ran outside. Brooke and Daryl followed to see if she was okay.
"I'm fine!" she said. "I just needed some air."
"I'm going to kill Merle!" Brooke cursed. Daryl held her shoulders.
"Oh no you're not!" he said. "Did she go willingly?" Brooke ran her hand through her hair and nodded. "Then you shouldn't kill either of 'em. They're adults; they can make their own decisions." The next day Becky met the rest of the girls at the park. Her hair was messy and her cheeks were red.
"Hey Becky!" They greeted.
"You have fun last night?" Brooke asked. Becky just groaned in embarrassment.
"I am so sorry." Becky said and started crying. Amber gave Brooke a panicked look.
"What's wrong?" Amber asked.
"He lied to me!" Becky said. "He told me he cared about me and that I was a great person. Then he just goes away like I'm some stupid one night stand!" Brooke grew with rage.
"Come on honey, let's go get some coffee." Brooke said calmly. They walked to the café but Brooke saw Merle and some of his friends at the end of the street. Brooke nodded for Amber to continue. She walked confidently to Merle.
"Well hey there sugar-tits!" he greeted.
"Alright you piece of shit you listen to me!" she yelled. "I told you six years ago not to touch me or my girls. Now you make one of them feel like a worthless piece of trash because of your lies! I've had it and if you come near her again I'll make sure you go home cryin'! You mess with Becky, you mess with me! And oh boy, you do not want to mess with me!"
"Sounds like your jealous sugar-tits?" Merle laughed and so did his friends. Brooke kicked him, with her pointed toe boots in the groin. He yelped and fell to the ground.
"That goes for all of you!" she warned. She smoothed out her white trench coat and walked back to the café where Daryl was having his usual. She went over to Becky and told her the plan.
"Daryl, we need a favor." The next day Merle and Daryl walked into the café where the girls were working for the day. They ordered to peppermint teas and the girls got their plan going. Amber got a mortar and pestle and Brooke handed her the materials while Becky got the order ready. "Alright Amber remember. Blue is Merle's and the red is Daryl's." Amber nodded and got the order right. Merle immediately drank from his cup and the girl silently celebrated. Daryl walked over to the counter to pay.
"We ain't leavin'. I'm jus' payin'. What did you put in his coffee?" Brooke slid a box towards him. He had to hold his hand to his mouth to keep from laughing. "You crushed up Viagra?"
"Just two pills." Brooke evilly smirked. "Let's just sit and watch sweet revenge take place. This should teach him not to mess with my girls." They looked over and saw Merle's eyes widen. Becky hysterically laughed but pretended that Amber told her something funny. "Ah revenge, thou art a heartless bitch." Brooke smiled and Daryl congratulated her on her successful evil plan.
Daryl was interrupted by Dale.
"So how do you know the doctor?" he asked.
"Nothin' that concerns you ol' man." Daryl said and walked off. Dale wasn't willing to let this one go. Later on at night people were chilling around the campfire after dinner. Brooke walked out with her bag on her shoulders and blushed.
"I guess we don't chill in our pajamas around here huh?" she asked embarrassedly. She was wearing some PJ short that were brown with multi colored polka dots and a hot pink, light, sweatshirt that went off on one shoulder. The group chuckled at her and Daryl nudged her. She smiled nervously and turned around to go back and change. The group carried on with their conversations.
"Where ya goin'?" Daryl asked.
"I'm going to go change. I feel awkward and it's freaking freezing! My legs will be numb by the time I go to bed." Daryl pulled on her arm and she squeaked. She landed next to him, her legs went up and over his, he put his arms around her legs, and huddled them closer to his chest.
"I'll keep 'em warm. Just relax there's no use to change again." He said. She shrugged and laid down on the log they were sitting on. Dale looked over and smiled at the two. Now was his chance.
"So Brooke?" he asked and she turned her head to face him.
"Well hi there Dale!" she smiled. "What's up?"
"How do you and Daryl know each other?" he asked.
"You know I've been wondering that myself." Amy confessed and the others agreed.
"We've been best friends for…" she thought for a moment. "Eleven years now." Dale nodded and smiled.
"You also seem pretty young to be a doctor." Jim added.
"I graduated high school when I was sixteen and I've only been a doctor for almost a year now." She said again and yawned. "Shane, where am I sleeping tonight?"
"Oh man I haven't even thought about that." He said. "I don't have any more room in my tent I share with Lori and Carl."
"Of course you share." She grumbled but only Daryl could hear her.
"I don't think we have anymore more room." He sighed.
"That's okay I can sleep out here." She said.
"No, you'll freeze ta death!" Daryl said. "You can share my tent until Merle comes back."
"Rudy's coming in too." She said and leapt up. She gave Shane a kiss on the cheek and said goodnight. An hour later, Daryl was ready to go to sleep and found the dog in Merle's bed. Brook had fallen asleep in his. She had the covers on but she was shivering. Daryl stripped to his boxers and climbed in next to her. She was on the outside while he was closer to the wall. He put his arms around her waist and pulled her a little closer. She whined in her sleep from being moved but soon went back to her peaceful rest. She was there and safe. Daryl was afraid it was all a dream and almost didn't want to go to sleep in fear that he'd wake up and she'd be gone. He knew it was real. She was there with him again and nothing could change that.