A little change up here, Some dickheads in this chapter haha! Alright anyways…
Aftermath
Daryl woke up to the bright morning sun glaring. His arms were wrapped around Maggie's upper body. His left arm lacking circulation, playing pillow under her soft hair and small head. He wasn't sure if he had morning wood pressed against her thigh because her thigh was in between his legs, pressed in his hips. Or if she was touching him in his sleep, she would though. He was out of thought when her sea green eyes met his pacific blue ones. "Morning" she smiled happily. "Mornin'" was the blunt response from Daryl.
Daryl slipped his arms from Maggie and started towards the bathroom and changed. The weather outside was cold and hazardous, but he would never shower in Maggie's room. Thank god there was a shower in the basement, and there were spare shampoo and body wash from his pharmacy run with Rick. He'd grabbed a body spray of axe anarchy, along with stealing Glenn's Irish spring and fructis. It had originally been Daryl's. He gave Glenn old spice and head and shoulders.
Daryl had a towel wrapped around him and Maggie wanted to see it fall off. That would be the sight all over again. "I'm goin' for a shower" Daryl stated. "You can shower in mine right here if you want" Maggie replied. Daryl only glanced and then let in a smirk. With that, he'd exited down to the basement.
Everyone was asleep so Daryl took the opportunity to walk towards the bathroom downstairs in the basement. He'd noticed Andrea and Shane dead asleep on the couch almost naked. Suddenly remembering his own night with Maggie, the hottest girl In the group. Had he felt accomplished to get with the eldest daughter? Well he'd heard of almost all the girls praising him of his eyes and body when he'd be eavesdropping like Pretty Little Liars.
Glenn came awake in the family rooms' floor, Beth was probably now in her room. He had a blanket on the couch he never brought so he obviously fell asleep so T had the room to himself. Glenn went out to the porch and say I'm the rocking chair staring into blank space. Carol was on the bench beside him in an instant. Glenn almost leaped into the field. "Hey! You scared me" He adjusted his hat. "Sorry" Carol laughed still beside on the bench looking out to the beautiful scenery.
"Will we ever find her? She's been out there so long, who knows what happened" Carol said pessimistic. "Carol I'm sorry that you have to be prepared for this, I really don't know but I have faith. I had faith for Beth to come out of shock and for us to find a place. But now it's Daryl. If anyone finds her it's him. And I'm sure he'll find her Carol" Glenn's optimism kicked in. "Thanks Glenn"
Daryl ignored Andrea and Shane, thank god they were out of it so he'd have time. Daryl put up his towel and stepped into the shower, turning on the taps. It was slightly warm but that was more than enough for Daryl. He ran his hands through his whole wet self, grabbing the Fructis. He scrubbed it in before squeezing the green substance of Irish spring into his palm. With himself all soaped up, he rinsed down, cleansing all dirt and rust from the last two days. His hair almost fell down his neck with it being wet he noticed. He repeated the process again this time with conditioner and took about another 15 minutes to rinse and dry off completely.
Daryl had thrown on a bit of tight black Joe Boxers underwear along with Gray jeans with a hole in the right leg. He threw on a black Long sleeve buttoned shirt, then his vest. He left it opened and sprayed himself over with the axe anarchy body spray. He made his way outside, keeping in top hygiene. Wait, he forgot to brush. He ran back to the bathroom brushing for a bit longer than two minutes with his Colgate plaque killing toothpaste and gargled up his fresh mint listerine.
Rick had gotten up out of bed earlier than expected, it was about one and he noticed a figure down the dirt road. He holstered his Colt Python and left the house.
The figure seemed to be approaching a car and there was already a driver. They drive off down into town, Rick noticed from the back. He ran down to the start of the road and saw them make a left by a shelter and rushed to the house to see what they'd done. There were a number of dead rats and squirrels by the front for walkers to approach. Rick burned them and went to the duffle bag closet.
Daryl had come out freshly scrubbed and decided he'd be moving back in his camp. He noticed Glenn and Carol trying to get something out of Rick. "What's goin' on?" Daryl rushed to Rick's side. "Group of damn bandits, not sure if they were with Randall" Rick tried. "Need a group, they could be any type of people. We gotta protect ourselves" Rick ordered. Daryl only nodded and Carol and Glenn stared shocked. "So there are people out there to get us?" Glenn asked in disbelief. Rick nodded avoiding eye contact and took out weapons.
"Not sure who's in and out. Glenn? Daryl? If ya' wanna-" Rick was cut off by Daryl raising his hand in silence. "Rick, don't" he said a bit mad. "Ya' know damn well we always the ones goin' out there no matter what" Daryl declared. "But Beth? Maggie?" Rick frowned at Glenn then Daryl.
"They'll understand and this is just to protect everyone else Rick" Glenn reminded. Rick looked at Daryl. Daryl have him an assuring nod and began to load up the Remington 870 and UZI. Glenn took out the pistol grip shotgun and a Walther P99. He was happy to have them, now only Shane and T could wake up. Rick went over to the bathroom to wash up.
Rick had had come out to see Andrea, Maggie, Shane, and T-Dog joining the small group. Dale walked in from the RV and joined. "What's going on? Why the guns?" The pacifist Dale asked. "We're going to war, dangerous bandits. You're welcome to join" Rick said. Dale had joined the squad. Everyone around began to worry of the sudden change up in the house.
Rick sat with the other men outside by the RV plotting their moves with a board and marker.
"Alright, these people aren't stupid, they know the right times. They have people, a system. There's obviously something they have" Rick wondered. They had a mix of weapons, each of them holding a pistol in their pockets. Rick held an all black 12 Gauge shotgun.
Daryl had a Remington 870, and Shane with his classic stocked Mosseberg. Glenn held a pistol grip stock less black shotgun as well. T-Dog had a tactical shotgun, Dale stuck to his sniper rifle. They were gonna go guns blazing.
"Alright, Daryl and Shane I need you approaching with me to prove the numbers. Glenn and T, take a head start to get Dale up on a flank roof to hold their leader hostage. We get to the point, show them we won't back down for nothin'" Rick said fiercely.
With that, they were spun out of thought when a car cruised down the road. Daryl ran to the road to see the back window cracked and Sophia's blonde hair sticking out. "THEY GOT SOPHIA" Daryl yelled and everyone came running. Daryl ran down the dirt path, killing the purpose of the plan. Now more than half the camp was outside. Rick and Shane got a hold of Daryl and held him for a second. "Daryl, I know where they are, well get them. Just don't kill the plan" Rick said. Daryl eventually calmed down and backed up. After almost having a meltdown.
Rick and Daryl got into the blue truck Daryl owned and the other four took the Hyundai Tucson. Maggie stopped by the door hugging Daryl, "Please come back" Maggie pressed. "Will do, ain't no fool" Daryl teased hugging her tight then letting go.
The men drove off into the dirt road, slowly coming to a stop a mile into town. Rick noticed that the shelter wouldn't be more than two blocks down from the pharmacy. The group of six rushed down the nearest alley, taking the flank. "Alright, the plan, let's get to it. There's this alley with the trash, you escort Dale up to the roof and you three guard the alley. We're very close so hold any enemies" Rick ordered. With that, the group split. Glenn T and Dale goin by the building.
Rick, Daryl and Shane kept crouching down and rushed even closer to where they felt civilization was being held in. Two big white creepy houses, they looked a bit broken down. Rick walked down the side of the house with the other two following closely, stealthily. Rick noticed there was a kitchen above them through the window and knocked on the door lightly since there seemed to be one person sharpening a knife. Most likely for Sophia.
Rick gulped at the thought and motioned for the men to get in the shrubs. The man had opened the door, he had a baseball cap like Glenn's on and wore a yellow plaid button shirt with blue jeans. Rick was a step behind the door having the lanky man's back to him and took him by surprise. Rick tackled the man and covered his mouth with his man. Daryl and Shane came out to train their weapons on him. He immediately shut up. He made a bit of noise so Rick nodded up behind him to Dale. Mentally asking of how many were in the other house. Dale gave a 'two' as Rick moved towards the other house with a hostage.
Maggie sat in the basement sofa, pushing herself in it. She wondered if Daryl was okay, he didn't have the look in his eyes that he'd come back. He really did put his life after everyone else. She knew he would die over and over than see a member go down. But he was worthy she knew. He was a strong brave and beautiful man, anything you can truly ask for. And she wanted him to return that way.
Beth had come awake from a good night and stepped out to take a breath. She noticed most of the men were gone. When she went down to the basement and noticed Maggie, she let out a breath. "Where is everyone? A run?" Beth asked worried. Maggie wished that was it but she decided to lie for her younger sister. "Yeah, they'll be fine they just went over to town" Maggie lied about everything almost. Beth only smiled and hugged Maggie, "How was that little night?" Beth said mischievously.
"What?" Maggie wasn't sure if she was talking about Daryl or the party. Did they all really know? "Oh don't act dumb now, I've seen you guys and I know what happened" Beth remarked. Maggie was so proud of her and Daryl doing it and she'd decided to just let the rise and fall of happiness in her stomach stall her. "No idea what you're talking about" Maggie shook her head playfully; bobbing her head. "Well, I knew he wasn't in for it, he's quite the looker and so are you but I should've known he wouldn't" Beth lied knowing Maggie would spill, it always got her.
Maggie's jaw dropped open. Her and Daryl would be perfect for each other, not one or the other. She had to spill. Maggie snarled "Yeah? Well we actually did have sex! He wasn't better because he carried me in my room and couldn't wait!" Maggie slipped out.
Beth laughed, knowing the look in Maggie's now innocent faded eyes. She knew she got her to spill and hated Beth's intelligence. "Sounds plenty good. How was he? Daryl is really hot honestly. It's not a shame to hide him" Beth reminded
"I know I just thought he'd rather have it a secret. But he's a big man and you know what that means" Maggie said winking. She knew Glenn was a small guy so imagine how Beth saw Daryl.
"You guys are so cute together, I could just imagine you guys a family" Beth laughed and continued. "A boy and girl, stubborn little fighters. And he'd be papa bear while you'd be the cuddly mama" Beth pinched Maggie's cheek. The thought gave a warm feeling inside of Maggie and that feeling would stay forever. Hopefully Beth was right and that would happen.
Beth had taken Maggie out for a walk, they approached the last step of the house and looked down. The sound of crunching showed up a paper, neat, fresh. "What's it say?" Maggie asked folding her arms. Beth opened up the sheet of paper by the anonymous person. "It says,' Lil' girl for guns'" Beth read confused. Then they both looked at each other wide eyed. "Rick's story about the duffle bag" Maggie gasped. "And Sophia" Beth choked. "The rednecks who argued for the duffle bag? He said they were gone" Maggie said confused. Things really sucked today.
"Why do you have ours?" Rick growled demandingly holding the lanky man at gun point. "It was Dave; he was with Tony. They invaded you man it wasn't me" The man pleaded. Rick grabbed the man by the arm and had Daryl gag his mouth as Shane tied his arms. "Let's go" Rick snarled roughing the man up and dragging him down the sidewalk. They turned back seeing Glenn make a call at the rendezvous point. They rushed to Glenn.
"What's up?" Rick asked. "T spotted people posted by the bar and parking lot next to it. About five in all plus two in the houses" Glenn calculated. "All of them aren't exactly armed" T-Dog pointed out. Dale trained on the combatants, "One of them is holding a bat, take another hostage and you have a complete advantage"
"Hold on, one of em' bastard's going down to the empty house" Daryl pointed out. Rick nodded, "Stay in formation" Daryl Rick and Shane approached the man when he was out of the combatants' sight. "Hands" Rick ordered, he Daryl and Shane approached him. All pointing their shotguns at his vital areas.
This man was a bit thick and had on a white T shirt along with blue pants. With the same procedure, they'd now taken two hostages. More than enough to get Sophia, Rick had the men out numbered now so this should set terms.
The hostages had been escorted to the dumpster alley as they plotted again. "Alright, last step. The proposal" Rick said looking over to the base camp which seemed to be the street. He was sure they'd already lost men to see there was only about five people without Randall and their two hostages.
Dale had been in his spot, with the perfect view on their group. T was on watch beneath the roof by the garbage alley, and the other four walked down the path. T-Dog though, held an M4 he'd squires from one hostage and had accuracy as well as distance. He'd have a clear shot on three of the five Rick couldn't cover. Not to mention Dale who would easily snipe one.
Rick waited for the men to have their backs turned. He wasn't going to believe what the hostages said so he just went in loaded. "Hey, we'll get there" Rick stated when they drew their guns. There was really four because one was armed with now a crow bar. They had this in the bag. Unless these bastards were sadistic enough to kill Sophia.
"Listen we have two of yours, they're more than important for one of ours who's a little girl, this ain't a discussion it's simple" Rick cautioned. "What about them guns, we still haven't seen em" the man they'd call Dave asked. Shane grunted, "They were police force guns and we were police. They're our guns" Tony only trained his gun back on Shane. "You see in this world, it doesn't matter what you are, it's all survival now. So whether you were a cop or not, we spotted it first" Dave stepped up.
"We ain't givin' shit, first come first served. You wasn't fast enough so take your damned people and give us the girl" Daryl growled. Dave snapped and the man holding the crow bar brought her over. "One good reason why I should hand her over" Dave said and Glenn cocked his gun pointing it at him. Daryl took a step closer, "One good reason? I got countless. But for starters, I'd say you could keep your head" Daryl threatened.
Rick and Shane looked over to an angry Daryl and looked back at Dave. "You heard him, you're out numbered and out manned. Everyone lives if we do this" Rick reminded him.
"There's four of you" Dave counted. Two walkers appeared and Dave raised his gun when they were both shot down instantly from afar. So Rick wasn't lying. If they weren't a stubborn group this would all be over. "Walk away and bring the guns or I'll kill her now" Dave yelled. "Hey, you do a damn thang' and I'll blow you to bits" Daryl said vigorously.
Dave raised his pistol at Daryl and cocked his gun about to press the trigger. Shane fired and hit Dave right in the chest sending him back falling over by the power of the shot. He was lifeless and everyone just stared in disbelief. The men started to move in when Daryl shot the man approaching Shane in the neck. Rick killed the crowbar man holding Sophia with a clean shot through the brain and T and Dale had shot the last man armed with an AK47 at an instant.
The hostages were frozen, were they next? "Get out, run as far as you can and free each other but never show up again, or you'll end up like them" Rick said lowly pointing at the fresh dead. The hostages ran off and weren't seen after a while of blocks.
"Sophia" Daryl choked as she came into his arms, hugging both Rick and Daryl. She noticed T and Shane along with Glenn and Dale were alive and around them. She felt safe. Daryl carried her to the car and she sat between Rick and he as they started to drive back from town.
Beth and Maggie tried studying the note and hoped for the others to arrive. They were strong and protective so they couldn't make due without them. Until they heard the rusty engine of a working pick up truck.
"They're back!" Maggie squealed as everyone came out to see what news was ahead of them. Daryl who had worked so hard to find Sophia, had her In between Rick and he himself. She was bright and happy to see her family. "Mommy!" She screamed and Carol just cried running to Sophia hugging her more than tight. Rick had felt accomplished to mend more appearing problems and entered the house sleepily. Glenn ran up to Beth's room as fast as he could while T and Dale met Andrea in the RV. They'd finally gotten Sophia back.
Daryl approached the steps as everyone started to run around joyfully in the house for Sophia's arrival. Maggie ran up to him since nobody was outside anymore. He was very happy himself that everyone he cared about with the addition of Sophia were around and healthy.
Maggie squeezed her arms around his neck pulling him down to her and he returned with one hand on her lower back. The other found its way to run through her short soft silky hair. "It was us" Daryl said a bit disturbed. He'd taken lives today and her embrace made him confess sadly. She looked at him worriedly, "Daryl? You okay?" Maggie looked deep into his eyes.
Daryl only hugged Maggie tighter to him to succumb his depressants. She was a damn saint to him and he loved it. One day he'd admit how he felt for her when he can find the words. They'd had sex but it wasn't much of a biggie to them, but damn they sunk more than perfectly.
Maggie couldn't wait for the day Daryl told her he loved her. She knew she was his and there for him when he was in pain and that he'd be there for her always and forever. Daryl didn't speak much, only have Maggie with him as they entered the house.
Well, the show is getting more than non canon here obviously. The Florida line they'd found and Daryl in Tennessee and everything really!