Hey everybody! I know its been a little while since I posted, I'm in the midst of finals week and also just got dumped by my boyfriend of over 2.5yrs so thats pretty cool #fml haha!So, every things a little crazy right now so please forgive me if posts are a little slower than usual. Hope you enjoy this chapter! Welcome to my newcomers, hope you stick around! Review and enjoy! I do not own any of the walking dead.
An Amber Pen: so glad you're eager for more chapters to this story! Thank you for sticking around! :) :)
Chapter 20
Every step echoed through her ears. Blake was still blown away by the still silence of the Earth now that its most dangerous occupant had nearly met its demise. She continued to weave her way through the vehicles, stepping over dropped clothes and the walkers her group had placed on the ground while searching through the cars. She was only a few cars away from Rick when she bumped her knee into an already broken mirror hanging from wires.
Before she could cease the ruckus Rick had already stood up and pointed his Python at her, towering over her as he stood on the car roof. Blake looked up at him in that moment; his gun pointed at her forehead, the moonlight shining on the right side of his face. His eyes were black rather than their beautiful blue.
"It's only me, Rick," Blake said as she put her hands up in surrender.
The spoken words seemed to register as Rick slid his gun back into its holster. "You should be resting," he said.
"Yeah, that's what they all said. I'm fine though. Nothing water and the sun being down won't cure," she said. "Mind if I join you?" Blake asked as she began to jump on the trunk of the car.
"Guess I don't have much of a choice, do I?" Rick said as he put his hand out for Blake to grab so she could stand on the roof with him. Together they sat down on the roof of the car, their legs hanging over the side. Her short legs just passed the bottom of the window, whereas Ricks were past the handle of the door.
"How's Lori and Carol?" she asked quietly.
"They're in the station wagon now. Think they just passed out, honestly," Rick spoke. They remained quiet for a few moments when Rick sighed heavily, rubbing his face with his hands.
"We'll find them," was all Blake said, placing her small hand onto Rick's lean back. She rubbed her hands up and down his spine hoping she could provide a little comfort even though she knew she wouldn't be able to ease his mind.
"I should've seen them sooner. Shoulda had them get in a car or somethin'," he started to say, slamming his hands on his knees as he breathed heavily. He once again stared out into the pitch black of the forest, almost as if he would magically have night vision goggles so he could track down his little boy.
"Carl may be young, but he is smart and soaks up information like a sponge. I watch him admire you and Shane from a distance. He only wants to help and something tells me he'll try and keep himself and Sophia safe as much as you keep us safe," Blake spoke.
"He's only 12," Rick cracked, coughing to set his voice back to normal. He was trying to keep his cool, not wanting to cry in front of Blake.
"You're right. But Rick," Blake spoke grabbing his chin slowly so he would face her, "We're finding those kids. We will be out there from dusk till dawn tomorrow to track them down. We'll find them," she said as she laid back on the car, looking up at the starry night sky.
"Lay back with me, Rick. Those woods don't create as beautiful of a picture as the sky does," she said, hoping he would grant her request.
He remained sitting up for a few moments before laying back himself, putting his arms behind his head.
"It's weird. When I was walking over here I couldn't believe how quiet everything is. How still. It's hard to believe this is what it was before civilization," she said, somewhat in awe with the quietness and the bright diamonds that littered their atmosphere.
"It's beautiful," he spoke quietly, not up to keeping some kind of philosophical conversation.
"When we bring the kids back we have to show them this sky. I'm sure we'll see a shooting star, it's a great night for one," she spoke, trying to keep Rick's mind positive on finding the little ones.
He remained quiet.
Daryl pulled another cigarette from the Parliament box as he watched Blake walk away to find Rick. He continued to watch even when she thought he wasn't. He observed as she made a stop at the RV to talk to T-Dog and Glenn. He took a long drag of his cigarette while he observed her curvy form.
She was really curvy that's for sure. She had frizzy, kinky curls that were currently tied up into a tight bun on the top of her head, exposing her neck. His eyes began to travel lower down her body before he shook himself from his inappropriate thoughts and halted his wandering eyes. He turned back and faced the woods, wondering how those twerps were doing out there in the dark. Daryl was pissed when he found out about the kids, thinking on why the mothers weren't there to watch them. He felt slightly guilty at that thought when he heard the wailing cries of the two moms's as they held each other for comfort.
Daryl flicked his cigarette over the car in front of him, making it some kind of game. He almost pulled out a third when he remembered that cigarettes weren't exactly easy to go pick up anymore. He slowly slid the box back into his back pocket. Daryl was too antsy to sleep and way to restless to just sit and lean against the truck. He picked up his bow and decided to do a lap around the caravan, check out the woods to see if he saw anything from the road.
He began to walk around the back of the RV to start his lap when he was interrupted by the old man.
"Hey, son. Where you goin'?" Dale asked gently.
"I ain't your son," Daryl said gruffly, "Goin for a walk," he said as he tried picking up the pace a little bit.
"Alright," Dale sighed as he sat his rifle across his lap, "Be careful and just yell if you need us," he said.
Daryl grunted in response and kept on moving. Before he knew it he realized he was walking in the same direction Blake had wandered off too. He kept his eyes peeled as he scanned the outskirt of the woods and the cars. Where this girl run off too, he thought. Stupid girl gonna get herself killed, he thought grumpily as he shined a flashlight towards the trees. Daryl rummaged through some cars during his journey, thinking about another box of nicotine already.
Daryl had the days events run through his brain. He was beyond relieved that he knew his brother was somewhere, alive. He was still angry at Rick and T-Dog, but understood that his brother was a giant asshole at times. Daryl regrets letting Merle go alone, he should've joined instead of hunted. He only caught a few squirrel on his journey since a fucking walker started feasting on his buck.
Daryl would've gone he just wasn't in the mood to risk his life for a trip to find Merle some fucking drugs. He's been doing that his whole life and he wasn't going to continue doing that during that damn apocalypse. As Daryl thought about all the bullshit his brother put him through he recalled some of the "conversation" he had with Tanyon as he patched him up.
"Thanks for keeping her safe," Tanyon spoke as Daryl was finishing the final stitching's on his new wound. Daryl paused for a moment before continuing.
"Didn't do nothin'," he said.
"Yeah, I doubt that. I know her, guarantee when she saw what was happening she tried to run up here," Tanyon said, wincing at the final pierce of the needle Daryl was using.
Daryl grunted as he rinsed blood from his hands with a bottle of water. Shane had found a truck full of gallon jugs on the highway so Daryl didn't feel wasteful doing so.
"I know her like the back of my hand, Daryl. She's my baby sister, my only," Tanyon spoke, as he watched his sister speaking to Andrea not too far off. "Speaking of which," he continued, "any updates on your brother?"
Daryl was surprised to hear that question. No one asked how Merle was doing. Even before the turn no one asked because they knew Merle was either at the car shop, at the bar, on some bender or in jail. There wasn't much in a Dixon life.
"He's alive. Someone gave him a ride. He's gone," was all Daryl said as he unwrapped a roll of medical tape.
"Glad to hear he's alive. I couldn't imagine a life without, Bea. She's my best friend besides our older brother," he said. Immediately shutting his mouth.
Daryl doesn't remember if she mentioned a brother or not ever.
"He dead?" Daryl asked.
"Yeah," Tanyon said, his face going solid, the big smile he always wore gone for a moment. "She's all I have left, man. I know she takes a likin' to you and I know she can be a bit much," he said.
"Yeah, tell me about it," Daryl huffed, "I ain't no babysitter," he said, as he grew uncomfortable with the conversation about Blake. Daryl stole his own glance to Blake who was sweating profusely and looked a little pale.
"She still looks a little freaked out," Tanyon spoke as he saw what Daryl was observing, "I know you aren't a babysitter, Daryl. But, something tells me you two are gonna make a good team as our only good trackers. I'm just asking if you could watch her back when I can't be there," he spoke.
"Why don't you ask Rick or Shane to do that? They like playin' hero," Daryl spoke with annoyance finishing off the bandage on Tanyon's arm.
"Well, I'm asking you Daryl," Tanyon said as he inspected Daryl's work. "Thanks, man," he said. Daryl was packing up the suture kit and prepared to put it away. Daryl once again trained his eyes on Blake, watching her body sway a little bit. He wondered if it was the adrenaline. He continued walking towards the group to put the kit away when he saw Blake hit the floor.
Daryl immediately ran to her as Andrea held her head. "Move," he snapped at her. He placed the back of his hand on Blake's head. "She's over heating," he said as he scooped her body up in his arms. She weighed a little more than he thought but it didn't affect him all that much.
"Short round," Daryl bellowed to Glenn, "Get some water," he said as he brought Blake inside to lay her down.
He didn't realize how much he gave a fuck till then. He always felt weird around her. He thought it felt good, but feeling good made him feel uncomfortable. He liked her wittiness and her attitude. She wasn't scared of him. She also has a cute laugh. Cute, really pussy? He tossed his cigarette into the grass and made his way back to the RV. Maybe he needed some sleep himself.
Blake wasn't sure how long they lay there, staring at the night sky until she decided to sit up on her palms. She had to balance herself for a moment as she got light-headed from sitting up so fast. She looked down at Rick who had fallen asleep. His light snores the only indication he was asleep considering he was pretty quiet the whole time Blake was there.
She wanted to let him rest but knew she couldn't let him stay there by himself without backup. She jumped from the top of the car and slowly cracked open the car door. She rummaged through the belongings before she came across what she was looking for. She climbed softly back onto the top of the car, surprised that Rick didn't jerk from his sleep when she did so. She shook out the blanket before laying it on top of his sleeping form.
Blake sat down beside him and redid her hair, reorganizing the stray curls that managed to get loose. It didn't take long before Blake saw the beginning of the sun's rays begin to shine through the trees in the distance. She sat back on her palms listening to the birds as they began to chirp awake, welcoming a new day. As she realized this she frowned. Huh, she said to herself. There were no shooting stars last night.