Hershel Greene hadn't been too bothered by Daryl's delayed arrival for work, and he'd been even less bothered when Daryl offered to work an extra half hour to make up for the lost time. On his way back to the apartment, Daryl stopped at Andrea's house and pulled into the driveway. He was surprised to find that the grass had been cut in his absence and he assumed that like Andrea said, they'd won out against the old couple that lived a couple of houses down.
As Daryl crawled out of the truck, Andrea came sashaying out of the house. She was carrying a plate and a glass of tea.
"Ya got'cha grass cut?" Daryl asked. Andrea smiled.
"I guess you stopping by was the ticket. Old man came over her not an hour after you left and cut the damn yard, grumbling the whole time. Don't look too bad now, does it?" She said, walking toward him and resting the plate on the hood of the truck.
"We eatin' in tha yard?" Daryl asked.
"You're eating outside," Andrea said. "I already ate and Sam's being bitchy, so I didn't think you really wanted to go in and put up with her mouth."
"Worse than yours?" Daryl asked, leaning against the front of the truck a little and examining his dinner. Andrea rolled her eyes at him.
"Sam's always pissed about somethin'," Andrea said. "Her boyfriend or whatever the guy is jerkin' her around today, obviously. He's some deadbeat asshole from the next town over. She probably hasn't been seein' him for more than a month, but Sam falls in love with every asshole that looks in her direction and then she wonders why the hell they're always running around on her."
Daryl started eating, ignoring the fact that he had to do it standing up. It wasn't gourmet fare, but it was far superior to anything he might have made at home. He was sure there were better cooks than Andrea out there, but she was the only one feeding him, so he wasn't about to start complaining.
"So what the hell ya reckon's wrong with that heap other than the fact that ya shoulda retired it a long damn time ago?" Daryl asked around bites of his hamburger steak. Andrea shrugged.
"How should I know? I guess if I knew what was wrong with it I'd probably have it fixed by now," she said. "And don't talk about my heap when your truck's got a hole in the floorboard big enough for someone to fall through if they don't pay it any attention."
Daryl didn't respond. The truck was in pretty bad shape, that much was true, but it was the only thing that they owned flat out besides the few boxes of belongings that they packed up whenever they had to change locations. He cast his eyes in the direction of Andrea's old car and wondered if the same was true for her.
"Where'd ya get the car?" He asked.
Andrea cast her eyes in the direction of it and shrugged.
"Does it matter?" She asked.
Daryl didn't say anything. Her facial expression told him that it did matter, but that it might not be something she wanted to share with him. He hadn't heard Andrea talk much about her life, but there had to be a story as to how she ended up in Sweet Junction. He knew she wasn't from here, she'd told him that much. She was from some little town that was close by, but apparently she'd still known everyone in Sweet Junction most of her life.
Andrea stared back at him while he ate, slapping every now and again her legs. He presumed the mosquitos were biting her. Probably stirred up from the grass jungle that had recently been chopped down in her yard.
"My dad gave it to me," Andrea said. She shrugged a little. "Only damn thing I reckon he ever gave me. Amy was a different story, though."
"Who tha hell is Amy?" Daryl asked. He took the glass from her and drank down part of the contents.
"My sister," Andrea said. "Or my half-sister."
"Why she a different story?" Daryl asked.
"Better half?" Andrea responded. She smiled then. "She's a lot younger than me. We had different mothers. I guess you could say that I was the rough draft of the family, and then when Amy came along it was like my father had more or less figured out the parenting thing. Amy's a good kid. She'll go far in life."
Daryl felt bad for Andrea for a moment. He was younger than Merle, and from to time Merle would mention things about how different it was for Daryl when he was very small and his parents were still alive, especially with his mother. Daryl didn't know, of course, if there was much truth to it or not. He didn't feel like his parents had been trophy parents by any stretch of the imagination, and he couldn't really imagine things having been able to be much harder for Merle. But right now, looking at Andrea's face as she stared, obviously daydreaming, at the dilapidated old Pontiac, he wondered if Merle had ever felt about him the way that Andrea's face said she felt about Amy.
Daryl finished his food in silence and drained the rest of the tea. He stood there for a moment trying to decide if he should hand the dishes back to Andrea or just leave them resting on the hood. He opted to leave them resting on the hood.
"Let's see if we can't figure out what tha hell is wrong with this thing," he said, wiping his hands on his pants and starting toward the car. He opened the door and popped the hood. He walked around lifted the hood, moving the arm in place so that it would stay up. Andrea moved to lean on the fender. "Food was good, by the way," Daryl said.
"You're welcome," Andrea said, smiling. "Now get this thing going and I'll feed you whenever you want."
Daryl tinkered around, requesting one thing and then another from Andrea. She trotted back and forth between the toolbox on the back of the truck and where he was located without complaint. When he'd finally looked at everything he could, he came out from under the hood and wiped his hands on his pants again.
"They a parts store 'round here?" He asked.
"Yeah, in town. There's one just behind the Stop N' Save," Andrea said. "You know what's wrong with it?"
Daryl looked at the car again.
"Yeah, I think I do, an' I don't reckon it's gonna be too bad ta get'cha rollin' again, but we gonna have ta go into town first. Ya gotta work tonight?" He said.
Andrea shook her head.
"I'm off tonight, I go back tomorrow," she said. "Just so you know, your girl's workin' tomorrow night, too." Andrea winked at Daryl and he shook his head at her.
"Shut up an' get in the fuckin' truck if ya want ya car fixed," he growled.
Andrea moved the dishes off the truck and left them sitting by her car, then she joined Daryl in the cab of the truck and sat silently while he drove them back to town. Once they got there, she directed him to the part's store and waited patiently in the truck while he went in to get what she needed.
When Daryl crawled back in the cab of the truck, Andrea was leaned against the door with her elbow out the window. She turned and looked at the bag that he sat in the seat between them.
"Find everything?" She asked. Daryl knew it had taken him longer than he'd intended, but the place was anything but organized.
"Yea, I think I did," he said. "Might have ta wait 'til tomorrow ta put it all on though. Wanta be able ta see what the hell I'm doin'. Shouldn't take long, though, you'll be ready in time ta go ta work."
"That's fine," she said. "I've got nowhere to go before that."
Daryl nodded and cranked the truck.
"Let's get some ice cream while we're in town," Andrea said. Daryl looked at her, wrinkling his brow. "Don't look at me like that. The Dairy-O's just down the street and they have these great vanilla cones that they dip in this chocolate and it gets really crunchy."
"Ya serious?" Daryl asked.
"Yeah, let's get some ice cream! Come on, I'll even buy you a cone." Andrea said. Daryl looked at her for another minute. Merle was probably already at the Water Ho and didn't have a clue where either of them were, unless he knew tonight was Andrea's night off, in which case it was only Daryl that he didn't have any idea about. "Come on, you know you want one. It's hot as the fuckin' blue blaze out here." Andrea said, attempting to prod him the rest of the way.
Daryl finally shrugged and drove toward the place. He'd seen it on his walk around town on Saturday. When they pulled in there were a number of cars parked over to the side where it looked like a bunch of teenagers were hanging out more than anything. Daryl pulled the truck into one of the front parks that faced directly into the building. Andrea was casting her eyes over the parking lot.
"I'll go in and get it," she said suddenly.
"I'll go in with ya, I ain't that damn embarrassed of ya that I don't want ta be seen with ya ass in the fuckin' Dairy-O," Daryl said, not understanding why the woman was suddenly acting a little jumpy.
"No, I've got it," she said, opening the door suddenly like she might make a run for it before he could try to catch her. "You want one of the cones or somethin' else?"
"Cone's just fine," he said, "an' if they got chili dogs, get me one a' them."
Andrea raised her eyebrows at him.
"You're still hungry?" She asked.
"It's a fuckin' chili dog, who can't eat a chili dog?" Daryl responded. She shrugged and climbed out the cab.
"OK then, you stay here. I'll be right back," she said. She slammed the truck door and disappeared inside the little fast food place. Daryl watched her through the window, still unable to figure out what was wrong with her. He saw several people gesture at her, and she waved back at a few of them, making her way to the counter. He had thought, for a moment, that she might have some kind of boyfriend that worked her or something and maybe she was afraid for him to know it, but no one approached her in any sort of amorous way.
Daryl lit a cigarette and hung out the window of the truck a little, watching Andrea through the windows as she placed the order and stood to the side, looking around and waiting. Suddenly, he saw someone approach her, and he realized why she hadn't wanted him to go inside. He recognized instantly the figure of Ed Peletier. Daryl took a drag off his cigarette, watching the two intently. It appeared that they were talking, maybe arguing, and then Andrea turned. Daryl saw Ed's hand go out and grab her arm, snatching her back in his direction.
Daryl yanked the door of the truck open and got out, dropping his cigarette and slamming the truck door in one movement. He rushed into the restaurant to find Ed holding strong to Andrea's arm and yelling something that Daryl wasn't paying attention while she protested his hand on her arm. It looked as though no one else in the place wanted to move at all.
"Get tha fuck off her!" Daryl growled, pushing around Andrea and shoving Ed backward. Ed let go of Andrea's arm and she moved out of the way, calling for someone to call the police.
"You really are quite the fuckin' little whore, aren't ya!" Ed called over Daryl's shoulder. "Fucking two dirty rednecks at one time, that's an all-time low for you, ain't it sweetheart?"
"Shut the fuck up," Daryl said, keeping his body between Ed and Andrea. He noticed, though, that as long as he kept himself in front of Ed as a physical block, Ed wasn't putting his hands up in any way. He still wore the bruises from his altercation with Merle, and Daryl was pleased to see them. He almost smiled, glad that Ed Peletier had to walk around town with his face painted with the proof that Merle Dixon had kicked his ass. "Boy ya really is a pansy ass, ain't'cha?" Daryl said, not really knowing what drove him to say it. "Ya won't fuckin' fight no one that's got a dick, that it?"
"You better get your nasty ass outta my face, boy, or I'm going to have you locked up," Ed spat. He jumped forward at Daryl, but still kept his hands firmly at his side. Daryl didn't flinch at his bluff and he looked frustrated.
"What's going on in here?" Daryl heard a voice behind him call. Ed's face relaxed, and he smiled.
"Officer Walsh, this boy here was trying to start a disturbance," Ed said. Daryl turned slightly then, not moving his body, to see the same dark haired man that had come in behind Carol at the Water Ho the other night. The man looked visibly annoyed already, and was dressed in a uniform instead of the jeans and t-shirt that he'd worn to the bar.
"That right?" The police offer asked. Daryl was already cursing under his breath. He didn't want to go to jail, but he might end up there. The Dixons had a way of ending up in jail despite when they were on their best behavior. "Ya sure you ain't had nothing to do with it, Ed?"
"I was just trying to have a talk with Andrea," Ed said. "Then he came in here shoving me around and trying to start a fight. I was just waiting on one of you to get here."
"Well I'm here now," the policeman said. "Let's take this outside, see if we can't sort it out without disturbing everyone's evening."
Andrea, carrying what had obviously been their order, was the first to step outside, followed by the police offer. Daryl came after him with Ed behind him. When they got out to the parking lot they naturally spread to form what was almost a circle.
"Now what the hell was going on in there?" The office asked.
"Look, Shane," Andrea started. "I went in to get some ice cream and a couple of chili dogs. Ed came up and he grabbed me. He was threatening me and Daryl here just stepped in to get him to stop."
Shane looked at Daryl a minute. Daryl knew better than to speak or even move in these situations unless he was addressed or else he might surely land himself in the same cell that Merle had been in, and the nice lawyer lady might not bail him out this time.
"Is that right, Ed? Did you grab Andrea?" Shane asked.
Ed smiled, and Daryl wanted to vomit on his shoes.
"It's nothing like that, Shane. I was just trying to talk to Andrea. There wasn't anything going on until this guy game stomping in. He was the one trying to cause a scene," Ed said.
"That's not true!" Andrea protested.
Shane held his hand up to calm Andrea and turned to Daryl then.
"Who are you anyway?" Shane asked. "I know everybody in Sweet Junction, but I don't know you."
"Daryl Dixon," Daryl said. "Just moved into town."
"His brother's the man that attacked me," Ed said suddenly. "They're trouble, Shane. They go around attacking people whenever it suits them."
Shane looked back and forth between the two of them.
"Seems to me they haven't attacked anyone but you, Ed, assuming what this boy did could be classified as an attack. Why do you suppose that is?" Shane asked. When Ed didn't respond he turned to Daryl. "Did you attack this man?" He asked.
Daryl shook his head.
"No, officer, I didn't attack him," Daryl said. "I shoved him."
"Why did you shove him?" Shane asked.
Daryl shrugged a little.
"I didn't like tha way he put his hands on Andrea an' it didn't look like she liked it none either," Daryl said. "I reckon I shoved him so he'd get his hands off her."
Shane sighed and shook his head. He turned to Andrea.
"Andrea, were you bothered by the way that Ed had his hands on you?" He asked.
Andrea narrowed her eyes at Ed.
"Yes I was," she said. "He was threatening me and calling me names. I only went in the place for ice cream and chili dogs. Last time I checked that didn't come with a' side of harassment."
"Way I see this is you all are gonna go home. Ed, you're walking on thin ice with me right now, so I suggest you cut your evening short and head on back to your house. Andrea, I suggest you take your food and get back to wherever you were headed. Try to steer clear of Ed here if the two of you can't play nice together. As for you, what did you say your name was?" Shane asked, turning his attention back to Daryl.
"Daryl," Daryl responded.
"Daryl, next time you see something going on that you think shouldn't be happening, why don't try calling law enforcement and let us handle it instead of you getting involved," Shane said.
"He was hurtin' her," Daryl said.
Shane nodded.
"Just let one of us handle it. That's what we're here for," Shane said sharply.
Daryl nodded, not wanting to prolong his brush with the law of Sweet Junction any longer than he had to. Shane waited and Ed started toward the car that apparently belong to him. Daryl walked over and yanked open the driver's side door of the truck. He crawled in and waited for Andrea to get in the other side. He stayed parked for a moment, wanting to be sure that Ed was good and gone before they pulled out.
"Thank you," Andrea said.
Daryl grunted at her and accepted the half melted ice cream cone she shoved into his hand.
"I ain't never understood the damn police with their shit," Daryl said quietly. He didn't want to be overheard by the officer that was standing on the sidewalk near the truck. He was pretending to be minding the business of the teenagers parked to the side, but Daryl knew that he was watching them and wondering what he would do. "Some fucker's doin' some shit an' you're just supposed ta stand ta the side an' let him do it 'til someone can get there an' break it up."
"Doesn't make a world a' sense, does it?" Andrea asked.
"Sure as shit don't," Daryl said. He bit the top off the ice cream cone, ignoring the fact that the sticky mess was running down his hand. He cranked the truck and backed out of the spot, not missing the fact that the officer watched him as he pulled out. "Ya goin' back ta our place or yours?" He asked.
"I was going back to mine," Andrea said, "but I think I'd rather come back to yours for the night. I don't trust Ed Peletier and he seems to think that I've got something to do with his wife leaving and with Merle jumping him the other day. I wouldn't be surprised if he's at my place waiting on me."
Daryl grunted his understanding. As far as he knew, Ed didn't know where they lived, but he shared the feeling with Andrea that Ed was the kind of man you might expect to find waiting outside your door. He was a sneaky bastard. He wouldn't fight you in a fair fight for God and everyone else to see. He was more the type that was going to try to catch you when your guard was down and there were no witnesses to attest to the kind of asshole that he really was.
If he showed up outside their door, though, he was liable to get more than he came asking for. Dixons didn't like going to jail, but they didn't mind it all that much, and they certainly weren't the kind of people that let individuals like Ed Peletier threaten them. Not in public, and especially not on their turf.