Bit of a longer chapter here. Hope you guys are liking the story so far. R&R please!
Chapter 11
Shane saw winter approaching them as he returned from his hunting trip. It was cold, windy, and the sky was completely grey. He wondered how things would change now that it was coming. He knew that the animals were getting scarcer in the woods he usually hunted in. He didn't want to move on from the house though. They would freeze if they had to camp outside in the winter. Glenn approached him wearing a jacket. "Shane, we found some extra blankets in the shed for everyone to use for the night now that it's getting colder," Glenn said. Shane nodded, "That's great. We are going to need them." Glenn smiled and then looked at the sky, "Not a great sign huh?" As if on cue thunder rumbled and rain started falling. The two men ran back to the house. They walked inside, Shane carrying his game, and settled down in the kitchen. Carl and Lori were in there along with Hershel, Beth and Carol. Daryl came down the steps and sat at the table between Shane and Carl. Lori immediately asked Carl to help her with something so he would get away from Daryl. Carl went to get up but then stopped and turned back to Daryl. "I'm sorry about being so cold to you. I just wasn't sure what to think about you," Carl said. Shane looked at them as Daryl thought for a minute. "No that's fine. Something on your mind?" Daryl asked. Carl didn't talk for a minute and then said, "Was the bear that got you big?" Daryl shivered and Shane could tell the question made him uncomfortable, "Well, yea. A little bear wouldn't have a chance against me," the kid grinned, "It was the size of four trees width wise. It was taller than me when it stood on its back legs and its claws were at least a foot long." Carl nodded, "Ok. But do you get attacked by a lot of bears?" Daryl looked at him, "Not really? I don't make it a habit of mine." "Oh," Carl said, "Cause you had some healed scratches too so I thought maybe you got attacked before too." Daryl stiffened and didn't say anything. Shane had a feeling this wasn't going to go well. "Well, I guess they were from a kind of bear. Not the kind you're thinking of though," Daryl said and turned away signaling the conversation over, "I'm going to go back up."
As soon as Daryl walked up the stairs, Shane was up and following him. He heard something in Daryl's room and looked in to see Daryl punch a wall. "I told you not to do anything stupid," Shane said, "Punching a wall is considered stupid." Daryl spun around, "Go away." Shane just shut the door behind him and sat down in the corner of the room, "How about you settle down. I can tell something is upsetting you and I know what it is too. I want to know what happened but I'll let you calm yourself first." Daryl glared at him, "I'm not in the mood to share stories Shane." Shane shrugged and continued to watch Daryl kick at things on the floor. After about a half hour the kid finally wore himself and fell onto the bed. Shane slowly got up and sat down on the end of the bed, "Are you done?" Daryl just turned away from him. Shane spoke again, "Do you remember what I told you before after you had your nightmare?" Daryl shut his eyes and nodded. "What did I say?" Shane asked. Daryl didn't look at him or speak for a long time before he finally whispered, "That you'll never think badly of me no matter what." Shane nodded, "So you can tell me anything and I won't treat you any different. I know whatever you're holding in is hurting you." Daryl sighed, "It's fine Shane, really."
Shane decided to some up with a new approach, "Who's Merle?" Daryl pulled a blanket over his head at that, "Someone who doesn't matter anymore." Shane nodded, "Yea I don't think so. If he didn't matter you wouldn't be asking him to come help you in your dreams." Daryl stayed still, "He's my older brother. He was always gone though at home. Out doing drugs and everything. He wasn't around a lot when dad would…." Daryl abruptly stopped. Shane frowned, "When your dad would what?" Daryl shook his head, "Nothing. Merle just went off on his own as soon as he was old enough too. I only saw him until I was six or seven before he moved away." Shane still wanted to figure out what happened. "Why did he move away so fast?" Daryl pulled the blanket tighter to himself, "He didn't like it at home. It wasn't a place he wanted to be." Shane nodded, "Why not?" Daryl turned to look at him, "Can we stop please? I want to get some sleep." Shane nodded, "Alright go to bed. I'll see you later." Shane walked out the door and went downstairs. He had an idea to figure out what was going on but he needed a few hours.
It was a long few hours but at 12:30 at night he headed back upstairs with an extra blanket for the younger kid. He could tell Daryl was asleep when he walked in and that he wasn't enjoying it. Shane stopped in the middle of the floor and waited. There it was. That little scared talking that came from Daryl in his sleep. "No stop. Don't… it was me not him. It's my fault," the kid whimpered. Shane wanted to so badly go over and just comfort the kid and tell him it was ok but he had to wait. "Merle, wait don't leave yet. I'm not….. ready to be alone… with him," the boy whispered the last part so quietly Shane almost missed it. Then the talking got louder, "I swear I didn't touch it. I wasn't near it. Mom please make him stop. You saw I didn't do it. Tell him please," Daryl was half crying at this point but then his voice got softer again, "I know its my fault. It always was. You don't have to tell me. Please don't shoot me. I'll do more." Shane walked towards the bed ready to wake him up when the next words made him freeze. "Please Shane don't shoot. I'm sorry. I tried to help but I couldn't. I'm useless I know. I'm sorry. Kick me out but please don't shoot," Daryl was really crying now. Shane was there in a flash. "Daryl wake up, wake up." Daryl startled but didn't seem to hear Shane. "You could've at least shot me in the head. I don't want to be a walker. Please just end it now," Daryl cried.
Shane violently shook Daryl in his bed and the kid jumped awake. "Are you ok Daryl?" Shane asked quietly. Daryl nodded but didn't meet Shane's eyes, "I'm fine just don't shoot." Shane looked at Daryl for a second before he pulled the younger boy over to him and rubbed his hair, "It's over Daryl. It was a dream. I'd never shoot you and you know that." He didn't bring any other part of what he'd heard into the little conversation. Daryl was shaking so badly and Shane just put his arm around the younger boy. He knew that Daryl would start to settle down in a little and recover. As they sat there Shane realized he was playing the brother role again. This is what older brothers did. Maybe not Daryl's, but he would be the brother Daryl never had. The one that would be there for him when he needed someone to talk to, to rely on, and to protect him.