Oh dear. This is THE chapter that finally lets you all know where I am going with our group. Keep in mind that I have been building up the characters of Sophia, Carl and Duane for a specific reason. They are hard asses because I need them to be. This new warrior attitude that Merle has distilled in them will serve a purpose eventually. I'm not just making them act this way because it's fun. Even though it IS fun. SO, I hope you like where I am going with this. I would love to hear your thoughts! Thank you for all of your reviews. Haha! Merlie was a success! I am glad =)
Chapter Seventy Six
Daryl didn't know what time it was when he finally opened his eyes. He knew that his head was killing him and his body was sore. But it was a good sore. The sun was bright shining through the narrow windows so he shut his eyes again and buried his face into Carol's neck. She was naked, her back pressed against him, his arm wrapped around her waist.
"How's your head?" She asked sleepily as she reached up with one hand and ran it through his hair without turning to face him.
"Fuckin' poundin'. He grumbled into her neck.
"That bad, huh?" She chuckled as she removed her hand from his hair and laced her fingers through his, pulling his arm around her tighter.
He tried to ignore the pain and kissed shoulder. She turned her head slightly to look at him and smiled. "You were so drunk." She laughed and he buried his head again, feeling the heat rise in his face. Why had he drank so much?
"Was I bad?" He asked. He couldn't remember much at all.
"You and T-dog." She shook her head and laughed as she rolled over onto her back. "If you remembered everything from last night the two of you would leave the group right now, hanging your heads in shame."
"Son of a bitch." He moaned into her neck. "What the fuck did we do?"
"Well, for starters you told the entire group that he was your best friend and that you loved him even though he wasn't as pretty as you. Then he did the same. The two of you argued over who was prettiest and then the two of you sang a song."
He rolled over onto his back, covering his eyes with his arm. "You're bull shittin' me."
"Oh I wish I was. I really do. After the song was over he threw up on your boots."
"Mother fucker." He covered his face with his hands and sighed. "What'd we sing?"
"Lean on me." She laughed.
"Mother fucker," He said again. "Didn't you even think to help me out? You coulda stopped me." He grumbled threw his hands.
"I tried."
Just then the door swung open and Merle strolled in, grinning from ear to ear. "Up and at'em, sunshine."
"Get the fuck out, Merle." He growled. It was just like the farm all over again.
Throwing clothes at them on his way he came over and sat on the edge of the bed. "Take these." He grinned as he handed Daryl two pills and a water bottle.
Daryl eyed the man. "Last time you told me that, and I listened, I woke up naked in somebodies garage. I ain't takin' shit."
Merle laughed and the sound caused his head to throb even more.
"It's just Advil, little brother. The old man sent'em, swear to God."
Daryl still didn't trust him but he would do about anything at this point to make the pain in his head go away. "The hell you keep lookin' at me like that for?" He asked as he swallowed down the pills and finished off half the bottle of water.
Merle just shrugged and got up. "Rick wants to check out the rest of the town, then we decided whether we head out or stick around another day or two. Wouldn't mind stayin' for a few more days myself." He hesitated with his hand on the doorknob, gave Daryl a long look and then grinned again. "You had yourself too much fun last night, little brother."
"Go the hell away, Merle."
Merle left the room and then he heard Carol laughing once more. "Shut up." he growled as he pulled on his pants.
When they made there way to the kitchen it seemed like everyone was already there. Rick and Merle were both leaning against the counter, probably discussing the days plans. Daryl knew that Rick would want to move soon. Staying in one place too long was too risky as far as he was concerned. He had made that clear when he refused to stay in one camp for more than one day.
Daryl didn't even care what the plan was at the moment. He sat down heavily in one of the kitchen chairs, not realizing he had sat down right across from T-dog.
He looked up at Daryl with bloodshot eyes. "Next time Glen runs across any kind of alcohol, I say we both kick his ass."
Daryl nodded. "I was just thinkin' the same thing."
Andrea and Milton came in then, her eyes zeroing in on the two men at the table. Daryl stifled a groan.
"So, do we get an encore?" She smiled.
"Fuck off, blondie." Daryl grumbled as he laid his aching head on the table.
"What's she talking about?" T-dog asked suspiciously.
Daryl just shook his head. "Trust me, you don't even wanna know."
They decided to split up this time, leaving part of the group behind. Daryl, Merle and Rick would go scour more of the town and the rest would stay behind. Sophia decided then to kick up a shit storm over being left behind and the boys, who were usually more reserved than her joined in.
Daryl didn't want her to go but when Merle gave Duane the okay the other two were furious.
"Seriously, Merle?" Daryl growled. "Do you ever use your fuckin' head. They're kids."
Merle narrowed his eyes, "Kid's that's already saved your ass once, little brother. You forgettin' that? They ain't a bunch of babies."
He felt Carol's hand on his arm. "We went through the town already, Daryl. She's armed. As long as she's with you she'll be fine." he whispered.
He glared at her. "Not as fine as she would be if she kept her ass here with you." He growled.
The look in her soft blue eyes hardened and he felt her hand tighten on his bicep. "I'm not the only one you've managed to pull away from these last few week, Daryl. Maybe you haven't noticed, but she has and it isn't fair."
His eyes flicked over to where Sophia was standing with Carl and Duane. She looked up and her eyes found his. He couldn't identify the expression on her face but after a minute that felt suspended, she tore her eyes away and looked back towards Carl who had started talking to her.
He felt uneasy for some reason. The look she had given him was off. Like she barely knew who the hell he was. He had felt bad for making Carol feel like shit. Really bad actually, but this was worse. Carol understood him. Understood him better than he did himself half the time so it was easy for her to get over his bullshit when he started acting like a dick. But Sophia was different. She expected more from him and he had definitely not delivered. They had talked yesterday and he thought that it was water under the bridge. He realized now that she was waiting for him to put that wall up again. Like she didn't trust him anymore.
Without even realizing it he was standing over her. "You wanna go?" He asked. He expected an instant 'yes' or at least a nod. Instead she glanced towards her friends.
"Are you guys going?" She asked.
Duane nodded, Carl glanced up at Rick who finally sighed and shrugged his shoulders.
She nodded then. "As long as it's okay with my mom."
Ouch. "It is. She's the one that said I should take ya with me."
"I figured, Daryl." She mumbled as she stormed past him, heading straight towards Merle with Duane in tow.
Merle grinned at them. "Ya'll packin'?
Sophia and Duane both nodded. For Merle she had a smile.
"Extra ammo?" Merle asked.
They showed him their spare clips and then they all headed out. Daryl kept glancing at her but she caught him looking at her a few times and gave him an uneasy smile. Had he really been that bad? He didn't even have to ask himself. He must have been worse than he thought. Carol had been completely furious with him and now Sophia was waiting on him to stiffen up and snap at her like an asshole. It was like she was forcing herself to not give him the cold shoulder. The same cold shoulder that he had probably, without even realizing it, been giving her over the last few weeks.
Merle, Rick, Carl and Duane were ahead of them a little bit and right before they entered the building he placed his hand on the back of her neck and stopped her. He nodded to the others and they disappeared through the doorway. She looked up at him questioningly.
"I'm sorry, alright. I've been a fuck up and I'm sorry for it. I swear, from now on shit goes back to the way it was. You just have to trust me." He said briskly. He hated apologizing but he knew she needed to hear it and it was true.
She narrowed her eyes and studied him for a while before finally nodding. "I missed you, ya know?" She said in a small voice. "I need you."
He blew out a breath and crouched down in front of her. "It wont happen again."
She finally smiled at him. "At least your man enough to admit when you're a jerk."
"Not usually." He gave her shoulder a squeeze and then stood up so they could join the ones that had disappeared through the doorway.
They were searching for guns now. Having left a good portion of theirs on the farm it was smart to try to stock back up. Not that they would ever be able to find the same types of guns they had gotten from Jenner, but more was much better than less in this situation.
They had been going full steam for a while now and so far they hadn't found anything. Well, a few knives here and there, a hatchet. The town was too small to hold much. There wasn't even a pawn shop to be scavenged.
"What do the two of you think about staying for one more night?" Rick asked as they made their way down the sidewalk towards the apartments.
Daryl shrugged. "Don't see why we can't stay longer. That place is pretty much the best place we've found. We got outside access so we could have fires for cookin'. Board those windows and reenforce the doors to make it more secure. The store is close." He shrugged.
Rick was quiet for a long time but then he shook his head. "I don't know. If a herd the size of the one that showed up on the farm comes through, if they get in there ain't no where to go. We'd be trapped in there. Just seems too risky."
"And sleepin' in the fuckin' open seems safer to you?" Merle stopped walking and glared at Rick. Normally Daryl would tell Merle to shut his mouth but not this time. He actually agreed with his brother. If this place wasn't safe enough then no place was going to be safe enough. There was nothing out there. At least this way the kids could have a small sense of normalcy. Not like they did on the farm but it was a huge step up from sleeping in the dirt and running for their lives.
They were changing. They weren't even kids anymore. Not to him. Daryl could see the change in their eyes every day they were on the road. Killing was becoming normal, fear was normal. Running was normal. Starving was normal.
"I didn't say that it was safer, Merle." Rick said with a scowl. "All I'm sayin' is that if a herd came through I would rather my family have a chance to get away from them. Instead of waiting for them like sitting ducks. It ain't safe enough there."
"It ain't safe anywhere you fuckin' moron!" Merle roared. "Especially with your pompous ass at the wheel. You're bullshit is gonna get us all killed."
"I've kept this group alive." Rick hissed as he stepped closer to Merle.
"You have, have ya? So tell me how the fuck you figure that when it's been my brother feedin' your family every day?"
Rick took a step closer and then Merle closed the distance. They were nearly nose to nose. Daryl thought about getting between them but just watched. He was tired of running. Tired of surviving day to day. This time Merle was right.
"What the hell's your problem, Merle? Is there somethin' you got to say to me? Cause if so just come out and say it." Rick spat angrily.
"I'm tired of you thinkin' that it's your call. It ain't. And if I ain't mistaken, you lose this whole group if Daryl don't go along with all your asinine bullshit. You need to be kissin' his ass right about now Sheriff. Seems to me like he's the only goddamn reason anybody followed your ass this far."
"Merle!" Duane nearly shouted and then grabbed his hand.
Merle glanced down and then followed Duane's wide eyes. Merle cursed under his breath and then stepped in front of the boy.
Daryl felt Sophia's hand in his right before he saw what Duane had first spotted. He had expected a herd. Or at least a small band of Walkers. What he saw still made his blood run cold. He mimicked Merle and shoved Sophia behind him and brought the crossbow around as three men made their way down the center of the street.
Merle drew his gun and Rick already had his revolver at his side.
"How you want us to handle this, Merle?" Duane asked from behind him.
Merle kept his eyes on the men that were still a good ways down the road. "You keep your guns outta sight. They wont expect anything from you three. You see'em draw on us or shit starts gittin harry, kill'em."
"Merle!" Rick hissed.
"Dad, he knows what he's doing." Carl muttered from behind them.
Rick's face was a mask of anger when he glanced over at Merle who was smirking as he watched the three men approach.
Daryl kept his bow trained on the one in the center and when they got within a half a block Merle and Rick both raised their weapons. "That's about far enough." Merle warned.
Daryl could only imagine the look on Rick's face as Merle pulled the position of leader right out from under him. Daryl was used to it. It had always been this way. Merle was the vocal one and then Daryl was the one that cleaned up after Merle's mouth would manage to get them in trouble. But Daryl wasn't like Rick. He didn't have anything to prove. He wasn't nobodies leader. He had never wanted to be.
The three men raised their hands in the air. Daryl was grimly reminded of the day at the farm when Randal had showed up with Dave and Tony. He couldn't help but wonder how Rick would react if Merle just killed them. No one ever knew when something like that could happen. Not when it came to his brother.
The man in the center took one more step and smiled. "We aren't here for trouble."
Merle stepped forward just one step himself. "I've heard all that shit before, mister. You best turn your asses around and go back to where you came from."
"Do you think we could talk?" The man asked. "We actually came to this town looking for survivors."
Rick sent Merle a steady glare and then he lowered his weapon. "Daryl, cover me." he said as he started walking towards the men.
"Dad, you need to listen to Merle." Carl said angrily.
Rick just shook his head as he walked on.
"You've grown on me, kid." Merle grumbled. "But your daddy is a dumb ass."
Daryl and Merle glanced at one another and nodded before following Rick towards the men. Daryl never lowered the crossbow but Merle let the gun drop to his side. Rick was already talking to the man that had stepped forward when they reached them and Daryl had to admit that the guy didn't really seem to be all that dangerous.
"We were looking for survivors when we saw you. Others we've found so far weren't so quick to pull weapons." He smiled, "That was why we were making our way over so quickly. Didn't expect anyone to want to shoot us."
"Well," Rick said cautiously, "We've had a run in with some pretty bad people recently. Walkers don't seem to be the only thing that's a threat anymore."
"Well, I assure you that we aren't here to pose a threat. If you'd like you can take our own weapons, just a show of good faith. I can see by that uniform you got that I don't have to worry about you gunning down a few unarmed men." That smile returned and Merle and Daryl shared another look.
"Oh, don't let the uniform fool ya. He's a real son of a bitch if ya wanna know the truth." Merle said as he glared at the man.
Rick rolled his eyes. "You two wanna get their weapons. I know I'd feel a lot better about this."
Daryl and Merle grudgingly obliged. They each carried a few handguns but that was about it. Daryl stood up after removing the weapon from the man that had been standing directly in front of him and when he glanced up the mans eyes locked on his and he smirked. Daryl instantly wanted to punch the guy in the mouth. He could tell this guy would probably give them trouble if not for the man that was still talking to Rick.
Daryl took a step back and then turned when he heard the leader speak in a much softer voice. The man was knelt down now, just a few inches from Sophia, who was staring him down with narrowed eyes.
"What's your name, sweetheart?" The man asked and he brought his hand up but then froze before Daryl or Merle could warn him not to touch her. Daryl stepped around him and saw why. Sophia had her gun pressed against his temple.
"Keep your hands to yourself, mister." Sophia growled. "I ain't the touchy feely type."
"Jesus, Sophia." Daryl said as he moved her back by her shoulders.
The man looked up at Daryl before standing, holding his hands out in front of him. His eyes were wide but he smiled again when he looked down at her. "I'm sorry. Your daddy there taught you well." He nodded towards Daryl. No one corrected the man. "You're a real soldier, huh?"
"You mind tellin' us who the hell you are and what your doing looking for survivors?" Rick asked impatiently.
Daryl kept his eyes on the men but reached down and took Sophia's hand. He leaned down so his face was next to hers. "Good girl." He whispered.
She gave his hand a squeeze and then he focused on the man once more.
The man was all smiles again and now he held out his hand for Rick to shake. "Well, the names Philip, actually. But back home they just call me Governor."