These chapters are getting longer. I noticed that the other day. I hope you are liking that cause there is nothing I can do about it now XD! Quick question for any of you who may know. Does it ever mention what Carol's maiden name is in the show? I've watched the first two season's a million times and I can't remember ever hearing it. I need to know for my next story so it is kind of important. So, any help would be greatly appreciated =) If not then any suggestions you got, I'll take. I was thinking Mason. It just came to me while I was in the shower (most of my better ideas do) and then when I sat down I thought about it again and then I was like, "Crap! What the hell?" Because Mason/Dixon. Like the Mason Dixon line. Duh! So, my subconscious is trying to do cutesy things or something and I'm just not sure about all that. Sometime's my subconscious just can't be trusted. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this one! I love you for the reviews! You're all the greatest! =) Have a great morning!
Chapter Eighty Six
Daryl was tired. He was tired of keeping his mouth shut. He was tired of acting like being around Philip's men didn't make him sick. He was tired of watching Sophia walk out the door every morning with her head down and her eyes far away. He was ready to leave. Fuck the town. They weren't any closer to killing the son of bitch now than they were when they had gotten there four days ago.
Merle had become the go to guy when Philip needed something enforced. It was weird to see Merle embracing the role like it was what he was born to do. Barking orders at the other men, including there own. Daryl knew he was just playing a role but it was one that Merle obviously enjoyed. A lot. Especially when he was able to jump Rick's shit for one reason or another. Then when he was finished giving him hell he would wink like it was all part of the game.
Martinez made it a point to stay away from all of them, apparently he had learned his lesson the day Carol had kicked his balls up into the back of his throat. He still laughed inside when he thought about it. She was changing. Slowly but surely she was becoming a force to be reckoned with, not taking shit from anyone. Even Merle, who thought it would be fun to boss her around a bit with his new found authority. She'd look him in the eye and tell him to fuck off.
The kids had came to them last night, worried about Randal and Michonne. Apparently they had told the duo that the group would be back for them in a few days. It had already been four and they were getting there, but it would still take more time before anything could happen.
Philip was still a little leery about handing over any guns to him and Merle. They hadn't earned his trust just yet but they all had an idea of how that could be fixed. They just couldn't rush anything. Rushing things would draw suspicion.
There own guns were hidden away in the ceiling of T-dogs room. The drop tiles were easily removed, giving them quick access in case they needed them quickly, although none of them thought they would. They were becoming less of an oddity, the only person still having a difficult time, to his dismay, was Sophia. Duane had let it slip that the girl silently sat through the day, taking shit from the woman who was suppose to be teaching them and the other kids that were in the so called class.
He had told her that she didn't have to go. It wasn't a rule or anything, but she insisted that she play her part. She said it would get better but it wasn't. He had half a mind to go in there and snatch that bitch teacher wanna be up by the hair and throw her around a bit. He didn't hit women. Never had in his whole life, but he would sure as hell make an exception over Sophia. And besides, who says throwing a woman out a window was the same as hitting anyway? He knew he wouldn't, but he could always wish he could. He was surprised the girl hadn't went the hell off herself.
He was jerked out of his reverie by an annoyed looking Merle.
"He wants us to organize a few of the men to go out and look for survivors today." Merle growled.
"He want us to go with'em?" Daryl asked hopefully.
Merle shook his head glumly. "Not this go round little brother."
Daryl glanced around quickly to make sure that no one else was within ear shot. "I just don't see him trustin' us anytime soon, brother. I'm ready to get the fuck outta here."
Merle shook his head, his eyes growing hard. "I'm takin' this goddamn town. It's too fuckin' good to just leave. Not to mention, he's got more guns, more men and more vehicles than we got. We sneak off and that mother fucker is gonna find us and we'll all be dead. We're gittin' there. Just give it more time."
Daryl ran a hand through his hair. "I'm sick as fuck of this place, Merle." He hissed. "Them kids and that bitch wont cut Sophia any slack cause they think she's a Dixon. The kid's miserable."
Merle glared. "Why ain't she done somethin' about it?"
Daryl gave him an exasperated look. "Cause she wants to lay low and coast along until we can get outta here."
"We ain't goin' back out on that road." Merle growled.
"Well, we ain't fuckin' stayin' much longer if we don't get rid of these fuckers."
They glared at each other for a while and then Merle finally looked away. "Where getting close. Just give it some more time."
"You ain't..." Daryl wasn't even sure he could finish the question.
"Ain't what?" Merle growled, glaring at him once again.
Daryl ran his hands through his hair once more. "You ain't startin' to like this shit are ya? You know, all this authority that you get to throw around? You seem to be enjoyin' yourself a little more than you should."
Merle took a step closer, nostrils flaring. "What the fuck are you sayin', boy? That I'd turn my back on you?"
Daryl watched his face carefully. "I'm just sayin' that you don't seem to be in much of a hurry."
Merle rubbed the back of his neck and looked away once more. "You want the truth?" he said in a low voice.
"Yeah, I do, Merle."
"This is a sweet deal, baby brother. Right the fuck up my ally. That's the truth. Maybe if I woulda' ended up here, if Sophia had never found me that day or I woulda stayed on the road and got found by these bastards, I'd be okay with this set up. I ain't gonna lie. This is like paradise to man like me."
"Mother fuck, Merle." Daryl groaned. He felt dread settle low in his gut.
Merle shook his head. "But I got found, baby brother. You took me to that farm and I lost myself. Had to build myself back up and I think I left out a few key pieces of who I was. That kid wormed her way in and then Maggie..." He blew out a heavy breath and met Daryl's eyes once more, "I ain't the same man I was. You ain't got shit to worry about when it comes to me, alright? I ain't gonna pretend like I deserve what I got now, but I'm gonna try like a mother fucker to keep it, you hear me? For as long as I can anyway."
Daryl wasn't even sure what to say about all that. Merle wasn't one to show any kind of feelings, hell, he wasn't either, so he mostly just started feeling uncomfortable. But he was glad to hear it. More than glad. Merle finally looked away again. And then the last thing he said sunk in.
"Merle?" Daryl muttered before Merle could jump back down from the wall.
Merle turned, looking like he really just wanted to bolt. "Yeah."
"You know, Maggie..."
"Don't wanna hear it." Merle said as he held up a hand.
Daryl nodded. He really did understand. Merle was a fearless man when it came to most things, but Daryl could see the turmoil behind his brothers eyes when he thought about the girl. Merle loved her and it scared him to death. Daryl was a lot more quick to embrace something like that than Merle was. But Daryl didn't ever have it as bad as Merle had. Merle was in a lot worse shape than Daryl had been in.
"I'll see ya later." Daryl said, letting the man off the hook.
Merle nodded and then turned but not before Daryl saw the sorrowful look that crossed his face right before he jumped down from the wall.
~H~
It was lunch time. This was the only thing that she had to look forward too other than leaving the stupid building that they used as a school. She was able to sit between the boys, in silence, and eat her food in relative peace. At least that was how things had gone until now.
Duane had tried to coax a conversation out of her as soon as they had sat down but she just didn't feel like talking. Not just here either. She didn't have much to say at all anymore. She just wanted to get through the day with her mouth shut. If she started talking now she wasn't going to stop until she was screaming at every other person in the room. She hated these people and she hated this place.
She had gone to Merle about it, not wanting to bother her mom and Daryl, who had their own problems. Merle had told her that it wouldn't be much longer now but every day anymore seemed like a week. She had to sit there in stony silence while the other kids talked and whispered about her. Her mom hadn't made life any easier on her since she decided to kick Martinez in the nuts the other day. Not that she wasn't proud. When she had heard what her mom had done she had wanted to squeal like an idiot with joy. But she hadn't been able to enjoy it much after word got around.
Today had been no different than any other miserable day so far. The only thing she could take any solace from was that she wasn't alone here. She had Carl and Duane and without them she would have jumped the wall and ran screaming into the woods by now. This place was really driving her crazy.
"How's it goin' Dixon?"
A friendly sounding voice had her looking up from her tray. It was a boy that was a year or two older than her. He was apparently the ring leader of the other kids in this class. And he was usually the one that spoke about her loud enough for her to hear. Things about her mom and Daryl and even Merle and Maggie. She ignored it. She absorbed it all, filed it away, and waited for the day to be over.
She looked back down at her tray, not feeling hungry anymore at all. She just had to keep calm. Even in Woodbury there were weekends and after today she was going to have a two day break. She just had to keep her eyes down and her mouth shut.
"What? You don't have anything to say? You know, people probably wouldn't think you were such a psycho freak if you actually spoke to us."
Her eyes flicked up and narrowed at the boy. Duane and Carl were glaring at him but he wasn't paying any attention to them. He was focused on her.
"Maybe you should take your ass back to your table, Trey." Duane said in a quiet voice.
Sophia wasn't even aware that Carl and Duane new the names of any of the other kids. When she looked beyond the boy she noticed Ms. Juarez staring in there direction with a small smile on her face. She had finally remembered the woman's name.
"I wasn't talking to you kid. I was talking to the mute here." Trey smiled when Sophia met his gaze once more.
Just keep your mouth shut and eat your food, Sophia. She thought to herself. She was being baited, just like she got baited every day. It wasn't any different. It would be over soon enough.
"So, what's it like?" He asked with a smile. "You know, having psycho parents and all." He laughed when her eyes flicked back up to him. "We figured that was the reason you were so weird."
"Leave her alone." Carl snapped as he glared at the boy.
"Calm down." Trey grinned. "I'm not bothering your little girlfriend here, am I, Dixon?"
She forced herself to smile. She felt sick. All she wanted to do was leave. Daryl told her that she didn't have to keep coming here. He'd nearly begged her to not come this morning. Even offered to let her go with him. But she had told him that she had to do her part, just like he was doing.
"See?" Trey said, smiling back. His smile was malicious.
"To answer your question, it feels pretty good to have psycho parents." She said quietly. She was telling herself to shut her mouth but apparently her mouth had other plans. "I've learned a lot."
"You know," He said with a sneer, "If the Governor was smart he'd have already gotten rid of them. You too. People like you don't belong in a place like this. You belong right out there." He gestured towards the window with a nod of his head.
"Is that right?" She nearly whispered.
He leaned forward on the table. "That's right." His face was less than a foot away from hers.
"How's it taste, Trey?" She asked.
He frowned. "How does what taste, freak?"
She was quick. Before she could put too much thought into it she stood up out of her chair, grabbed the tray of food and smashed it into Trey's unsuspecting face.
Other than Trey's startled cry, the room grew eerily quiet, and then suddenly erupted in chaos. Mr. Juarez was on her in an instant, yanking her towards the door, Carl and Duane were right behind her. She yanked her arm out of the angry woman's grip and then faced her, eyes flashing fiercely.
"I can show myself out." She snapped.
"Who do you think you are!" The woman screeched.
"She's someone that's tired of your shit lady." Duane growled as he walked past them towards the door. "Let's go Sophia."
Carl was right behind her and he gave her a small push. She followed Duane out the door.
~H~
Carol was slicing up some vegetables when she heard Andrea curse under her breath.
"Cut yourself again?" Maggie asked as she leaned into the counter, peering over at Andrea's bleeding finger.
Andrea just nodded. She already had band-aids on two of her fingers.
"You know, sometimes I think you cut yourself on purpose just so you got an excuse to go see Milton." Maggie grinned as she handed Andrea a dry cloth.
Andrea rolled her eyes. "Not true. But it is a good idea. I might start playing sick. My man is a lot busier than you're rough necks." She winked at Carol. "A lot friendlier looking too." She said dryly as Merle stormed through the door.
His eyes scanned the room until they landed on Maggie. The girl grinned and actually hopped over the counter to greet the man. Carol and Andrea both just shook their heads.
"You know, if I didn't know any better I would say Merle Dixon is in love." Andrea whispered.
Carol looked back up and saw him grin as Maggie threw her arms around his neck. She'd never get used to it. Not if she lived a million years. But it was the truth. "Just don't say that to him." She whispered back. "He'd have a fit. Merle don't believe in stuff like that."
She glanced at Andrea, who was still holding the rag to her bleeding finger and laughed. "Go see Milton about that cut. There isn't anyone here anyway. I'll finish these up."
"You sure?" Andrea said with a grin.
Carol nodded and watched as Andrea did the same thing Maggie had done. She launched herself over the counter and rushed past Merle and Maggie. She went back to cutting. She was used to ignoring the couple. They were the only three in the whole place at the moment but by the looks of them one would think they were only two people left alive. Maggie wasn't shy at all when it came to showing her affection and Merle just flat out didn't give a crap what other people thought about anything anymore. Let alone what they thought of him kissing Maggie.
Everything had calmed down for her over the last few days. If it wasn't for knowing that they were under a constant threat from Philip, she would have actually been enjoying herself in this place. They had a real good system going. Food and shelter were abundant, threats were limited from anything outside the walls. The only threat was from Philip and his men here on the inside but hopefully that wouldn't be a problem for too much longer. Merle was working on a plan to oust the man. And by oust him Merle meant kill him. But there were about twenty others that would surely gun down anyone that touched the man. So they were all still lying as low as they could and trying their best to convince Philip that they were embracing everything about the town and how he ran it.
Someone bursting through the door nearly caused her to cut her own finger. She looked up and was met by the angry glare of her daughter. Merle and Maggie managed to break apart from one another so they could both openly gape at the three kids.
"It wasn't her fault." Duane said before anyone could even ask what was going on.
"What wasn't her fault?" Merle asked, instantly sounding as angry as Sophia looked.
"She hit Trey Thompson in the face with her lunch." Carl grumbled as he sat down heavily in one of the booths.
"You what?" Carol asked, coming around the counter. "Why?"
"They've been tormenting her every damn day. Today was just worse." Duane said as he slid into the booth across from Carl.
Carol felt bad for her. She had been trying so hard to do the right thing and everyone could tell that she was miserable. She was losing steam and the anger on her face was quickly turning into something else. Like she was ashamed of herself for what she had done.
Merle searched Sophia's face for a long time. Carol knew he saw the same thing she was seeing. Her life here was just as bad as it had been on the road. It was just different. "That's it." Merle growled after a few long moments of silence. He headed towards the door.
"Merle, let it go." Sophia said firmly.
He spun around, his mouth set in a grim line and his flashing angrily. "I've been lettin' it go, girl. It's about time somebody said somethin' to that bitch."
Carol was with Merle this time. Normally she would have told him to drop it too but there was laying low and then there was putting up with bullshit. And this was bullshit. But she also knew that it wasn't place.
"Merle, wait." She said as he was about to leave the diner. "I need to go. Maggie, you take over for a little while."
"Mom, no. That isn't gonna help anything." Sophia pleaded.
"Hell yeah. Kick her one good time for me, Carol." Merle said as he walked away from the door.
"Mom, please." Sophia said as she stood in front of her, blocking her path.
Carol was furious. Carl and Duane had both told her that Sophia never did anything wrong. She had done nothing to deserve the other kids ridicule or that sorry excuse for a teacher's unveiled intolerance of Sophia being there. It was because of Daryl and herself that Sophia had to suffer through the day in that place.
"Fine." Carol said, exasperation clear in her tone.
"What?" Merle roared from behind the counter where he was now helping Maggie.
She crossed her arms over her chest and stared down at her daughter. "I'll keep out of it. But you're done. You aren't going back, you got it?"
Sophia looked like she was about to argue but then, after looking at Carol's face, she finally nodded.
She turned and headed towards the door, both boys scurrying out of the booth to follow her but she held up a hand. "I'll see you guys later, okay? Maybe you should head back. You're parents are making you go, remember?"
Carol's heart nearly broke for the girl. Duane and Carl looked like they were going to follow her anyway but then decided against it. She would surely be fine. She just needed time to think about things.
~H~
Merle watched Sophia walk out of the diner and he clenched his fist in anger. The girl was trying harder than anyone else and she just couldn't catch a break. It was time something happened. He was putting this off because he was turning into a pussy. He kept thinking that it would get easier after Philip put a little more trust in him and he had access to more guns. But the waiting was over. He wouldn't risk everyone else. He would do this with his brother. It could be quick and clean if they played this just right. The rest of them wouldn't even have to know it was happening.
It wasn't just Sophia either. He couldn't stand the way the man looked at Maggie. It was like he could see the wheels turning in his head every time she was in the same room with him. He was going to end up hurting her if they didn't make a move soon.
Maggie wouldn't admit it but she was scared. He could see it on her face when Philip would look at her. He saw the flash of fear in her eyes every time he had to go off and do something for the bastard. When would Philip send Merle off on some errand just so he could get his hands on her. He couldn't let that happen. She had just got done telling him that the man had been there earlier. Not eating or drinking anything or socializing. He was just watching her. It was one of the only times she had ever actually expressed her fear to him. If she was telling him about it then she was more scared now than she had been so far. The man wasn't going to scare her again.
Maggie looked up, like she could sense the tension he was feeling. She put the knife down and turned so her back was too the counter, she watched him. He wouldn't look at her. He just kept his eyes trained on the door that Sophia had disappeared through.
"Merle? What is it?" She whispered.
Carol came back around and shook her head. She continued chopping without saying a word but Merle could see the worry etched on her face. It was a lot like the look he had seen on his brothers face earlier. He had to do something about that.
He finally turned to Maggie, her eyes were wide and watchful as she studied his face. The girl was getting good at reading him. He kissed her quickly and then without a word he walked away. He could feel her eyes on him the whole time. If he said anything she would know instantly that he was about to do something. Something big.
His stride was long as he headed down the sidewalk. The only person that needed to know what was going on was his brother. He saw Rick coming around the side of one of the buildings and motioned for him.
"I need you to take the wall for Daryl for a bit." He said quickly.
Rick fell into step beside him. "Everything all right?" He asked suspiciously.
Fucking cops and their bullshit gut instincts. "Everything's fine. Just need to talk to my brother for a minute. You got better things to do or somethin'?" He growled.
Rick shook his head with a grimace. Merle knew he really hated taking orders from him. Too bad for Rick the Governor needed someone with a pair of brass balls and a criminal history. He would have smiled at his own assessment if he didn't feel half sick at the moment.
Merle waited as Rick climbed onto the wall and his brother jumped down after talking to him for a few seconds. Daryl looked as suspicious as Rick and Maggie had as soon as he saw his face.
"What's goin' on?" Daryl asked as he started following Merle towards the building that had been their home for the past four days.
"It's time." Merle grumbled.
"Time?" Daryl asked, narrowing his eyes. "Ain't this somethin' everybody else should be involved in?"
"Nope." Merle muttered as he led his brother down the hall and into T-dogs room.
"We're doin' this shit right now? Just me and you? Are you fuckin' stupid?" Daryl hissed as Merle stood on a chair and pushed up on one of the tiles. He pulled the bag of guns down, handing them to Daryl before fixing the tile back.
"Tonight." Merle said gruffly. "We do this tonight. Me and you. Maybe we wont even need the guns. Not until we get the wall. I know where all these mother fuckers sleep now. Go in quiet, slit their throats while they sleep. It'll be clean and quick."
"Where the hell did all this come from. I thought you wanted to wait. Get more info. Find out where this bastard keeps all the weapons. You know that they got a shit ton that they don't even know we know about. Morgan told us."
"Gotta get it done little brother." Merle said as he started checking the handguns. They were all loaded. He shoved them back into bag and then started checking the rifles. "I thought you were just arguing with me over getting this done sooner."
"I didn't know that you'd get a wild hair up your ass and want to jump the gun tonight. We need a fuckin' plan, Merle."
Merle glanced up. "I just told you the plan."
"You're gonna get us killed. You know that, right?" Daryl groaned.
Merle was sick of listening to his brother's shit. He spun around and glared at him. "He wants Maggie. And he'll take her eventually and there wont be shit I'll be able to do about it when he decides to do it cause he'll kill me first. And if you paid closer attention you'd know that Carol is probably in about as much trouble. Martinez is gonna get back at the both of you for the shit ya'll did and he's gonna end up using her to do it."
Daryl just stared at him for a second.
"And Sophia had to smash some kids face in at school. They're fuckin' tormentin' that girl. We do this tonight. Unless you wanna try to run for it. Then all that'll happen is they'll hunt our asses down and kill every fucking one of us."
That was all it took to get Daryl on board. He took the rifle that Merle handed him and went to the door. They would stash them in their rooms for now. Decide on what to take later. Now all they had to do was go back out there and act like everything was normal. That would be pretty easy as long as they stayed the hell away from their own women. Even Merle could see how tense Daryl was. He knew he was the same way and them women would smell it on them. Maggie already had.
This was going to be one long ass day for the Dixon brothers.
And there you have it. This is the set up for the big stuff. Let me know your thoughts! Sometimes I really do run with your suggestions. XD