Mara was reaching down to touch her toes when Daryl came charging into her cell. It was an awkward position to be caught in but crouching in bushes all day had put a cramp into her hamstring that she couldn't shake. She knew immediately that he was mad. No matter how hard he tried to wipe the emotion off his face, it was still plain to Mara. His jaw was tense and his eyes would dart from side to side. Inexplicably, when Daryl was cranky, he seemed to get more suspicious and alert in general.
Mara didn't rush out of her stretch. For one, it felt blissful to pull the kinks out of the muscle. Secondly, she didn't want to get in the habit of indulging Daryl's every mood swing. He stood in silence, waiting impatiently for her to be upright.
She straightened and pulled her arms up over her head. The movement lifted her shirt up revealing her stomach but Daryl's eyes were fixed on her face. So he was very mad then, Mara thought.
"Hey baby, what's up?" Mara asked, being deliberately casual.
Daryl narrowed his eyes and Mara became aware that somehow she was the cause of his ire.
"Do you have anything you wanna get off your chest?" Daryl asked slowly.
It was on the tip of her tongue to make a joke but she didn't want to exacerbate the situation. Mara shook her head, thoroughly confused now.
Daryl crossed his arms across his chest and Mara watched his body language shift from aggressive to defensive. That was more concerning to Mara. Being the hot head he was, it didn't take much to get a reaction out of Daryl but as soon as he started to look like he needed protection, Mara knew that something had hurt him where it mattered. And that someone was her apparently.
Mara reached out a tentative hand and laid it on his crossed forearm. "What's going on, Daryl?" Daryl flinched when she touched him but didn't move away.
"If you want Eric, I don't want you feelin' like you have t'stick with me outta some sort'a obligation."
Mara's forehead furrowed. "What are you talking about?" she demanded. They had talked about the Eric situation already so where was this coming from?
"You know," Daryl snapped.
Mara resisted the urge to shake him in exasperation. This is what she'd signed up for being in love with the complicated man. She wanted to put him at ease and navigate through his wounded emotional past but sometimes the man just did not make it easy.
"I don't," Mara said patiently. "And what's that crap about being an obligation?"
Daryl seemed at a loss for words, unable to articulate his fear that he was a burden, loved out of pity.
"You listen here, Daryl Dixon, I love you because you're wonderful and if I ever hear crazy talk about obligations I'm gonna lock you in a room with Yussuf... with no weapons!"
Daryl blushed as she spoke, whether from her compliment or because he was embarrassed about his behaviour she didn't know.
He ducked his head and mumbled, "That's a bit harsh."
"Well I'm not messing around," Mara said, tilting her head so he was forced to meet her eyes.
Mara stepped closer so she could feel his body heat even without touching. She never understood how Daryl seemed to burn hotter than a normal person but she found his proximity reassuring.
"I did talk to Eric today but I reiterated how important you were to me."
Daryl's lips quirked into a half smile. "He ain't gonna challenge me to a duel then?"
"What, pistols at dawn?"
Daryl shrugged. "Somethin' like that."
Mara had to smile. "I don't see it happening." She wrapped her arms around his waist and he had to relax his arms to let her. "And if he did do something so stupid, I'd fight him myself."
Daryl snaked his arms around her shoulders pulling her closer. "I don't think it works that way."
This time Mara shrugged against his body. "Don't care. I'd fight for you. Idiot."
She called him an idiot but her tone was laced with affection. She could feel him smile against her.
"What even made you bring this up?" Mara asked. She wanted to see his face but was unwilling to relinquish her grip on him just yet.
"Merle said-"
"Merle said?" Mara repeated, sounding frustrated now.
"Yeah, Merle," Daryl said sheepishly.
Comprehension dawned on Mara and she groaned. "I'm betting he overheard some of the conversation with Eric and jumped to conclusions."
"Probably," Daryl agreed mildly.
"I know Merle saved my life and all, and don't take this the wrong way, but he's kind of an ass!"
"No arguments here," Daryl said, tangling his fingers in her hair to tilt her face back for a kiss. Mara couldn't even work up a righteous indignation at Merle's actions. She was just exasperated at the mistrust both the brothers had for the world at large. Daryl's defences were slowly chipping away but Merle was a long way off having healthy, adult relationships.
"You think we're going to go fight the Governor soon?" Mara asked, changing topics.
Daryl nodded. "They'll have a plan by tomorrow. But I don't wanna talk 'bout that now!" Daryl backed toward the bed tugging Mara behind him.
Mara smiled, "what did you want to talk about then?"
"I have a few more questions 'bout how much you love me," Daryl said with a smirk, running his hands teasingly up Mara's arms. It made the breath catch in Mara's throat.
"Ask away."
...
Mara and Daryl joined the others in the common area of the cell block. Mara's hand was in his and it felt natural. He didn't release her hand the second there were other people around like he usually did. For once, Daryl didn't care. Mara had a tiny smile on her face that seemed to be entirely subconscious. It made Daryl feel extremely gratified, knowing he was responsible for it.
Christine saw them walk in and took in the little details of their body language. "You two are gross," she said, leaning against the wall.
"Why are they gross?" Carl piped up.
"Hasn't your dad told you about the birds and the bees yet?" Yussuf answered, much to Rick's chagrin. Everyone in the room giggled and Daryl made a mental note to kill Yussuf and Christine.
"Haven't gotten around to it yet but thanks Yussuf," Rick said wryly while Carl looked from one adult to the next, knowing that something was happening but not understanding.
The laughs were undercut with nervous energy. Daryl could feel it too. Underneath his happiness was this growing sense of ominous fear in his stomach. They were on the edge of the end.
Cheiny and his men were in the room. Most of them grinned at Daryl's discomfort. Cheiny looked impatient and David looked impassive. Dick looked ready for some salacious joke that would have crossed into inappropriateness but one stern look from Daryl silenced the man. It didn't remove the wicked smirk.
Daryl snuck a look at Merle who was sitting some distance off. His face was hard to spot with so many people crowded into one area but he looked completely relaxed. He hadn't seemed surprised that he and Mara looked stronger than ever. Daryl wondered whether his older brother would ever grow out of testing people just for kicks.
Nathan cleared his throat. "We know where the Governor is." That simple sentence settled the room immediately and sombreness descended.
"We need to know what your thoughts are on seeking him out and striking first," Rick said quietly.
There was more silence and the only sound was Judith stirring in Carol's arms. Despite all he had done to them, all the suffering they had endured at his hands, no one spoke out quickly to condemn the man.
"If we don't, he won't stop," a voice finally said. It was Andrea. Her eyes were overbright but her voice was clear. She was confident that this was the right decision.
"I agree," Glenn added, with a smile at Andrea. If she had felt at odds from the rest of the group since she returned, that barrier was gone after the attack. Daryl noted the Australians were very quiet. He realised they must have decided to let them make the decision. It was them that were owed justice.
Mara squeezed his hand subtly, somehow just knowing what he had figured out. She gently pulled away from him so that she was standing next to Christine and the closest people to him were the people that had been there, more or less, from the beginning. Rick, Carl, Carol, Andrea and Glenn had been part of his life since they were just a collection of tents in the wilderness. Hershel, Maggie and Beth were just as much part of his family now too. Even terse Michonne had created her own little space in their community. Surviving together had formed a bond that went deeper than blood. Without them he'd be lost. They had made him a better man. He spared a glance at Merle who was a huge fixture in his life in his own right. He was difficult but he was his brother.
He discreetly looked at the Australian soldiers, his Australians, as they waited for their decision. They had fought by their sides and suffered at the hands of the Governor almost as much as they had but they removed themselves from the process. Even if they weren't participating actively, Daryl could still feel their closeness to the situation.
They were his family too, Daryl realised but not with any real shock. The sentiment had been growing for a long time. Nathan was strength to the group, his unerring support of Rick had pulled him out of his grief. He was patient and a lot kinder than he let anyone see. Daryl had a soft spot for Elias who was quiet and unassuming, without a judgemental bone in his body, but always there with a helping hand. Christine was volatile and sharp but fiercely loyal and despite her frequent barbs she had become a good friend.
Yussuf was like no one he'd ever met or anyone Daryl would have expected to like but damn if he didn't grow on you. Yussuf embraced life without fear, reservation or bias and would quite happily drag you into his shared lunatic joy. If Nathan was the back bone of the group then Yussuf was the morale. He held them together the same way Carol did when she cooked for everyone or Beth sang.
All these thoughts had come and run through his mind in an instant but it felt like time stood still while he thought about these people and what they meant to him. His eyes fell on Mara last. He'd never really had the words for Mara but he felt their connection like a physical pull. As always, she seemed to know when he was looking at her, instantly turning her face to meet his stare and smiling. How far they'd come since he'd wanted to shoot her. No where essential but still. He was glad she couldn't actually read his thoughts.
"Yeah," Daryl eventually said, clearing his throat. His voice felt rough, overwhelmed by the level of emotion his body seemed to contain. "Let's get the son of a bitch."
Rick met his gaze and nodded as if Daryl had been the deciding vote. It couldn't have gone any other way. Andrea was right, he wouldn't have stopped and they couldn't have stayed victims for the rest of their lives. Eventually the Governor would kill most, if not all of them.
"We need to decide where to get him," Cheiny said.
"What do you mean?" Maggie asked. Her hand was intertwined with Glenn's and her fingers were digging into the skin of his hand.
"Woodbury or the town," Paul explained.
"If we hit the town we get his little army," Nathan explained for all the blank looks. "If we attack Woodbury then there is less resistance, but more collateral damage."
"The town," Andrea said in a voice that allowed for no argument. "No more innocents should die."
"What 'bout us?" Merle muttered. "I'm feelin' mighty innocent right about now."
"And the baby Jesus just wept at that lie," Yussuf retorted with a snort. Merle and innocent were never two words that were supposed to associate.
"He'll be better protected there," Dick pointed out.
"You afraid, Dick?" Daryl couldn't help but say. It was like the teasing before, designed to put people at ease and give an outlet to the tension.
"You wish," Dick shot back.
"I don't think we can risk these men being allowed to finish what the Governor started," Hershel said, cutting across the banter.
"We won't be able to take prisoners," Rick said. "We'll have to kill. Take a minute and think about how that's gonna sit with you."
"They knew what they signed up for," Michonne said, hand going to brush her sword even though there was no enemy to fight. "They're just as bad."
There was the rumbling of many voices agreeing. Daryl could feel something that he'd tentatively label excitement creeping into his system. A vibrating combination of adrenaline and determination. He took a few deep breaths to subdue the feeling. He'd need his focus now and he knew exactly how people could get burnt out if they ran on battle fever for too long.
"We need to strike soon then," Cheiny said.
"I want to send a few more scouting parties," Nathan interjected. Cheiny looked like he wanted to argue for a second before conceding.
"Tomorrow night. We'll have the advantage," Cheiny suggested. Rick and Nathan exchanged glances before nodding.
Daryl's body tingled with anticipation. He knew it was going to be dangerous but it felt good to have a cause and a purpose. Not only that but he felt certain they'd win.
AN: I feel like I waxed a little poetic there but that's how I roll. I think I'm just feeling sappy at the moment and by goodness I will fit that sappiness into the story. Hope you all enjoyed. Thanks to everyone who reviews, faves or follows because I love you from the bottom of my heart.