I was hoping this was going to be a one-shot, but that last chapter got too long, so I figured why not.
2.
Rick Grimes had been through a lot, and a lot is a serious understatement.
The man woke from a coma into this dead world, made his way to Atlanta with no idea of what's out there, actually survived his first herd, and was reunited with his wife and child shortly after escaping.
He's more like the luckiest bastard ever, but luck only goes so far.
They got into the CDC, at least learned nothing was left anywhere, and then left (without Jacqui) into the unknown. It was all smooth sailing to the Fort when Sophia ran, and they had to stop and search.
No one minded searching, it had to be done and no one would be leaving anyone to the walkers.
Until Carl got shot, and then the ordeal with the barn and the farm and walkers and every single other stressor that no one person should deal with, Rick was doing okay. They got through winter in one piece, but then again, winter is Georgia is a joke, but nobody looked a gift horse in the mouth. They were alive, and that's what mattered.
Then they got to the prison, clearing out the yard and the block with a very pregnant Lori, proved to be easier than expected. A mishap here, a herd there, and then they had security. Finally a safe enough place to deliver the baby!
Until Lori, Maggie and Carl got separated from the group after the herd stormed the Bastille. They made it to the boiler room, but it was too late for the baby, and for Lori. Maggie's impromptu Cesarean wasn't enough to save her. But the baby did.
And then Rick, (who can blame him?) went off the wall and just wrecked walker after walker after walker. Finally ending up in the boiler room, and deluding himself into thinking there was a caller and a safe place and hope.
He didn't know how much the rest of the group was sticking their necks out for him. Carol, T-Dog and Lori; 1/3 of their group, gone in a day. It was hard for everyone, but someone needed to step up. It was Daryl who went for the formula, and it was Daryl who held and fed and made certain the little ass kicker was alright.
He barely surrendered that baby. He was sad about the losses in their group as much as the next person, but this is war and not a time for pity parties, and damn it all he was going to save this life.
When he made certain the group was mentally stable enough to be holding the frail little peanut, he handed off the baby.
When Rick came back, he was a mess. Understandable, but still Daryl couldn't help but be a little peeved that he abandoned his son and daughter when they needed him most. In one of his lower moments, Daryl thought that if he grieved like that when Merle vanished, the group would probably have starved until he could get back on his feet. Embarrassed for even thinking that, Daryl shook the thought from his mind and just decided on doing as much as he could, whatever, whenever, for whoever, when he could.
He owes that much to the group. If it means step up and be the honorable man Carol thinks he is, so be it. Rick still had that title, but honor was something everyone had, regardless of them showing it or not.
Daryl didn't expect any thanks, he was just here to help, so he was more than surprised when Rick pulled him aside to thank him for his help with the baby.
So surprised, he barely understood what Rick was saying, nobody ever properly thanked him for anything! He mumbled out a response that dripped with lack of confidence, when Rick pulled him into a hug.
Daryl stiffened, and he was sure Rick felt it too, but didn't pull off. People were scattered about, but no one looked twice. Rick held him firm and mumbled a few words of thanks into Daryl's tattered poncho, and shifted uncomfortably when a tear of Rick's dropped down his shirt.
Suddenly aware that Daryl was uncomfortable, he released him and clapped him on the shoulder, with nothing in his eyes suggesting he was crying.
Daryl wasn't sure how he pulled that off. Only yesterday he was moaning and wailing on the ground in sorrow. But whatever. It was done, and Rick was back and that was exactly what the group needed.