Chapter Forty
Jade green eyes narrowed on the street below her bedroom window as she watched the goings on in the small town. It was nearly dusk, and the curfew set by that psychopath in charge would send everyone fleeing to their homes soon. Fires were already being lit along the main street to cut the absolute darkness which would permeate the small village. Only those on watch and patrol would be allowed to roam the streets after dark. Protective walls surrounded them, providing a sense of security to the citizens, but she'd never felt more vulnerable. Martine Comeaux didn't like to feel vulnerable. It made her want to shoot someone. Despite the havoc the walking dead wreaked upon the earth, she'd much rather be out there fighting than holed up inside Woodbury.
Her ears twitched as she heard the shower cut off in their small one-bedroom apartment. She trusted Merle with every fiber of her being. They'd grown up together, gotten in trouble together, loved one another in their own way for years. Why wouldn't she trust him? But she was having a hard time following through with this latest scheme of his. She didn't trust the self-proclaimed 'governor' who lorded over the town.
Marty leaned back against his chest as Merle wrapped his arms around her from behind, but she couldn't force herself to relax. He wound her long ebony locks around his hand, tugging her head back and pressing his lips against her pale ivory throat. Though she felt the heat building low in her belly, she was still taut as a bow string.
He sighed as his hands worked their way under the silky camisole she wore. "What's wrong, Sugar? Y' ain't still broodin' about th' run, are y'?"
She clucked her tongue in disgust as she glared at him over her shoulder.
"Shut it, Merle. Y' know that guy ain't right," she hissed. "And y' cain't tell me y' ain't seen it for yourself. I saw it in your eyes, an' you're lucky he don't know y' well enough t' see it for himself. If Blake sees you're not a hundred percent on board with his shit, he'll take you out too."
Marty shuddered as she thought of the run they'd just returned from. Their governor hadn't been interested in the town they'd visited per se. More the supply depot the military had left abandoned when the refugee center had fallen. She and Martinez had been asked to raid the pharmacy nearby for anything useful. She didn't mind Martinez. He was a decent enough guy, but she'd balked being forced to split from Merle's side. They were first and foremost a team, and Blake was testing them to see if they'd follow his orders. The pharmacy was pretty much cleaned out, and they'd returned to the depot to find fresh bodies littering the ground.
Oh, he was smooth and charismatic. There was no doubt about that, but to just open fire on the handful of military personnel left there to guard the guns? Merle hadn't been able to meet her eyes when she'd forced him to explain, but she was all too familiar with the rage burning in him, barely controlled.
"We need t' leave, Darlin'," she whispered softly, her hand rising to stroke his stubbled cheek. "I know y' want this place for Daryl an' your little family, but this guy is goin' t' get us killed. An' that's if he doesn't do th' job himself."
He nipped at her ear. "Y' know why we have t' stay. I ain't givin' up this idea jus' because o' that asshole." He carded his fingers through her soft hair. "I'm doing this for you too, Sugar."
Yes, she knew. It was because he wanted a safe place where Daryl could be happy with his woman, a place where Merle's little peach could grow up without the threat of walkers and evil men bent on mayhem, and he wanted to keep Marty safe to see if maybe their tentative relationship could grow into something meaningful. The only reason he'd joined forces with the men in this town, was so he'd have help finding his family. Once he'd set his sights on Woodbury, she'd been able to see his goals shift. It was no longer just about finding his family. It was all about protecting them once he did.
"What really happened while me an' Caesar were checkin' out th' pharmacy?"
Merle tightened his arms around her, leaving not an inch of space between them. "Much as y' might expect from th' likes o' him. Those men had somethin' he wanted. He went in an' took it."
"Y' notice the lumber supply place at th' end o' town? I'm sure we coulda brought back a shit ton o' supplies to reinforce the walls, yet he ignored it. What is his obsession with fire power?"
He shrugged. "He's power hungry, Sugar. He's a plague o' locusts wrapped up in deadly strategy an' a charmin' smile. He'll reassure y' with that warm grin while he's knifin' y' in th' ribs."
Marty frowned. "He's goin' t' take take take until there's nothin' left but him an' his little kingdom."
He wrapped his big hands around her tiny waist and tossed her onto the bed, dropping the towel about his waist to the floor and settling between her legs. "He jus' don't know we're gonna take it first. We jus' have t' pick our moment."
Her eyes darkened as he pressed against the silk shorts covering her sex, her hands sliding up his bare chest as he left a trail of heat along her collarbone. "How much longer, Merle? Y' know where Daryl is now … so what's t' stop y' from guttin' that bastard governor an' takin' this place?"
His head dropped against her breastbone. "Martine, yer killin' th' mood."
She cradled his face in her hands, forcing his gaze up to hers. "I don't want t' lose you, Merle. I can't … I won't … do this shit without you. I lo-"
He cut her off with a kiss. "None o' that now," he admonished gently. "After it's done. Remember yer promise, girl."
Marty nodded. She wished she'd never made that promise, but she'd hold to it. No sharing their feelings until Woodbury belonged to them. It was a distraction, but it wouldn't change the way she felt. She moaned softly in the back of her throat as he worked the camisole over her head and she could feel his heated flesh cover hers.
"Y' ain't gonna lose me, Sugar. Y' know only a Dixon can kill a Dixon."
"You're avoiding," she breathed, slowly losing herself in his touch.
Merle groaned, rolling onto his back and bringing her with him so she was straddling his hips. He knew she would withhold herself from him until she got what she wanted. He just wondered why he let her have her way all the damn time.
"We need th' men t' see Blake for what 'e is … a monster. As quickly as I've risen in th' ranks, who th' hell y' think they'll get behind t' be their next leader?"
"And y' want that? T' be their leader?" she snorted.
He shrugged. "Least 'til I can get th' others here. Officer Friendly may be an asshole, but from what I've seen, he's done right by my brother an' th' girls."
"An' y' gleaned that while y' been spyin' on 'em th' last few days?" she asked skeptically as she kneaded the tense muscles in his shoulders. "Y' better hope Blake don't find out what you've been doin'. It wouldn't hurt y' t' talk t' Daryl … tell him what's goin' on."
"Soon."
"How soon?"
He pulled her down for a kiss, rocking his hips up into her. "Soon."
"Damnit, Merle! Stop tryin' t' distract me," she scolded.
"Why? Is it workin'?" he smirked.
"What about that new group Blake let in a few days ago? The tall ginger with th' twitchy mullet guy an' those two girls?"
Merle groaned and let his head drop back heavily onto the pillow. "Ginger's a'right. Don't think I ever seen one more dedicated t' his little band o' followers. Won't take 'im long t' see through th' governor's horseshit. Shouldn't take long t' get 'im on our side."
"And th' big black guy an' his sister?" she asked, wondering over the man who'd been recruited the same time she and Merle had joined Woodbury's ranks.
"Ty's already on board. He's jus' waitin' on my signal," he said smugly.
She smacked him lightly on his chest. "Why'd y' keep it from me?"
"Because y' ain't gave me no time t' tell y', girl," he chuckled. "He just told me when we got back. Y' know he wasn't wantin' no part of what happened today."
She raked her nails over the flat plane of his stomach and grinned. She knew he loved it when she turned playful. "It might come down t' all-out war," she purred, not that she had any problem with that. She had every faith her Dixon would win if it came to that. "Y' need t' talk t' your brother. He needs t' be warned about the governor. What would happen if Blake or those loyal t' him found Daryl's group out there on th' road?"
Marty slipped off his lap to kneel between his legs, her lips trailing a hot path along his belly. He arched beneath her, letting her know exactly what he wanted her to do with that sweet mouth of hers. "That ain't such a bad idea. Baby brother shouldn't be kept in the dark."
*.*.*
Daryl stared down at her petulant expression as it gave way into a fierce scowl. Where the fuck was Carol? She should be the one dealing with their daughter's obstinacy. And jus' whose fault is that? a little voice in the back of his head asked. Yours! Ugh! Not even his conscience was on his side today. He shook his head at her for the third time.
"Daddy, you're just being mean!" she said finally. He arched a brow as she stamped her foot. Really?
"No, I ain't, Soph. You can call me all th' names y' want, but y' still ain't goin' into that barn with me."
"But, Dad –" she whined mournfully. Gawd, he hated when she turned that doe-eyed stare on him and pleaded so prettily. It hurt his heart something fierce.
"No!"
Rick and T-Dog were standing several feet from them, trying their best to hide their sniggers behind their hands. Shane had thrown a fit when he'd found out about their 'guest' who had been moved to the shed, and had taken it upon himself to stand guard over him. He'd taken the news hard, especially after Otis had expired surrounded by his family and friends. Shane had waited for the room to clear before he'd slipped inside to make sure the big man wouldn't turn. He was still blaming himself. Rick had warned him to stay away from the barn, claiming he had no reason to come out and help when he was still healing. Their leader could see the man's remorse, and had eased up on his ill feelings toward him, but they still had a long way to go before Shane would be able to win back Rick's trust.
T and Rick were going to dig the graves for Annette and Shawn while Daryl cleared the barn. It would be easy to use his crossbow from the loft and take them all out. Though he'd already planned to use his knife on Hershel's immediate family after the others were dead. He didn't want to leave marks on them if he could avoid it. The old man deserved to be able to say goodbye without having to witness trauma to their bodies. He was sure the natural decay would be hard enough to bear. Maggie stood near the ladder, a rifle slung over her shoulder … one he doubted she would need. This was his task, not hers.
"Daddy," Sophia said, slipping her hand into his much larger one. "I don't want you to have to do this by yourself."
Aw, hell! Right in the gut.
He took a knee before her and rested his hands atop her thin shoulders. "Baby girl, I won't be alone. Maggie's goin' up there with me. Nothin' is gonna happen t' me. Is that what you're worried about?"
Sophia nodded, biting her lip as she averted her gaze down to her feet. She reminded him so much of her mother. "I need y' t' understand why y' cain't go with me," he said, tipping her chin up. "You're probably th' strongest girl I know, not t' mention brave. But I don't want y' t' see me put down all those walkers. This ain't like when we're out there an' fightin' t' stay alive. I jus' want y' t' stay innocent a little longer. Can y' understand that? You don't need t' kill anything unless it's absolutely necessary."
"What if you fall? Or trip? It only takes a second to have an accident," she protested. "Look what happened when you found me, Dad. You didn't mean to fall down that ravine … twice!"
Daryl sighed and shook his head. "That was a fluke. Me an' Maggie are gonna take care of this. Then after th' service, we'll work on that hand t' hand I wanted t' show y' yesterday. But only if y' stop giving me shit about this, Sophia. Y' don't see Carl arguin' with his daddy."
She crossed her small arms over her chest and smirked. "That's because if he did, Rick would tell Lori and then she'd bust both their asses."
"Don't say ass! Your mama's already givin' me hell about your mouth, girl. But you're right.," he said, jerking his chin in Rick's direction. "Now g'on and find Carol. See if she needs help with th' chores."
Her eyes narrowed. "You promise you'll come get me when you're done? And just so we're clear, I'll be worried about you the whole time you're in there."
"Yes," he growled, exasperated with her. He hugged her close when she threw her arms around his neck. "Go. Off with y'!"
He climbed to his feet when she ran off with Carl back towards the house and blew out a frustrated breath. His chest was tight with emotion, still unused to the girl's affection. He didn't feel worthy of Sophia and Carol's love, but he was working on it. He glared at Rick and T-Dog, their knowing grins raising his hackles. "What th' fuck y'all lookin' at?"
"That little girl's got you wrapped around her finger," T chortled.
Rick was grinning like a loon. "Seems fatherhood really suits you, Daryl. Sophia's clearly accepted you as her father, and Carol is completely besotted with you. So … all you have to do is make it official. Have you set a date yet?"
He threw an arm in their direction. "Man, fuck y'all! I ain't got time for this teasin' crap. Ain't y'all got some holes t' dig?"
"Dum dum de dum," T-Dog sing-songed, rather enjoying himself. Rick and Maggie both laughed at the hunter's discomfort. Maggie was more clued in to Daryl and Carol's matrimonial state than her father and sister were, thanks to Glenn's love of gossip.
He flipped them all a rude gesture as he stalked towards the ladder and made a quick nimble climb into the loft. He didn't know why all of them couldn't just stay the hell out of his business. The putrid smell of rot from inside the barn had him wrinkling his nose, but he didn't hesitate to find a spot with a good view of the walkers below.
Maggie dropped down next to him and let her legs swing freely over the side. "They were just teasing y'know."
Daryl grunted in acknowledgement as he pulled the string back on the bow. "Yeah, I know. Bunch o' hens with their meddlin' an' gossipin'. Rick would do better t' worry about his own woman." He glanced over at her. "Y' see 'em down there?"
"No, too dark. They might be hidin' beneath us," she murmured, her country twang soft but prominent in the gloom. "They'll come out."
He dropped three before he turned back to her. "I'm not gonna ask y' t' stay after y' point 'em out. Y' don't need t' see that."
Maggie stared at him for a long time, studying him. "I was kinda scared of you when you first came here. You were all rough around the edges, angry."
He let another bolt fly, but didn't respond. He knew she'd get to her point eventually.
"But then I saw you with Carol. I don't think I've seen such love in a long time. And then there was your obvious concern for Sophia. You sure she's not your blood?" she teased.
"I've only known Carol for a couple o' months. Yeah, I'm sure," he retorted as he dropped another of the corpses below. Why had he felt compelled to open up to her? He didn't even know her, but she was easy to talk to. She was kind, and he supposed he was a sucker for genuine kindness considering he'd had so little experience with it throughout the course of his life. "She tell y' our story? How we met?"
"No, but I'm hoping she will when she knows me a little better. I really like your little family, Daryl. I want us all to be friends," she said earnestly, shooting him that little smile which reminded him of pixies he'd seen in a mural on Canton street in Atlanta once when he'd been there with Merle. Some street artist had painted it right there on the sidewalk, and he'd been entranced by it.
"Carol's easy to love. Sophia too."
Maggie sucked in a sharp breath as she glanced below at the half dozen walkers which remained, her hand falling to his arm as she covered her mouth with the other. Tears welled in her eyes, and he looked away. "There," she pointed. "The beige dress … that's my stepmother. Shawn is the one in the overalls."
Daryl nodded, easily picking off the others milling around until he was sure there were only her two family members left to be dealt with. "G'on out. I'll get this an' then we'll open up th' doors an' start pullin' 'em out for burial and burnin'."
She wiped her nose on her sleeve, and shook her head, climbing to her feet and moving to descend the ladder. "No. I'm not gonna have you go down there by yourself. I'll watch your back in case we missed any."
"Damnit, girl!" he cursed as he moved to follow. What was it with all the women he knew having to be so damn stubborn? He followed her silently, pleased the two remaining walkers hadn't noticed them. They were still sniffing around their fallen comrades. He didn't scold her. It would've been a waste of breath. Instead, he squared his shoulders and looked around for any others he might've missed. There were none, thankfully. Her hand gripped the hunting knife she'd slipped onto her belt that morning as tears streamed down her face. "Y' want t' –" he whispered, pointing towards them.
She nodded. "It should be done by someone who loved them."
He sighed with resignation, and pulled her close so he could talk low into her ear. "I'll hold your mom for y' until y' can get your brother, a'right? It should be easy to slip up behind him. Wrap your arm around 'is neck an' slip th' knife into 'is skull." He showed her with his own knife how to bring it up, and she was careful to pay attention to his instruction.
He gave her a gentle nudge in the small of her back, and he had to admire her courage to do the task herself. He stealthily moved parallel to her and wrapped his arms around Annette from behind, hoping she didn't lose a limb when she began to struggle against him, snapping and snarling with all her might. Maggie let out a broken sob as she did as Daryl had told her and finished with her brother. She dropped to her knees, cradling the boy as he fell with her.
"Maggie!"
She pushed her grief aside and hurried over to him. Their eyes met, trusting him not to let go as she slid the blade into her stepmother's head. Daryl did the same with her, lowering her gently to the hay ridden dirt floor. He pulled Maggie away from them and towards the barn door, cringing when she threw her arms around his neck. Aw hell! he thought, his face scrunching up in discomfort. He patted her back awkwardly as she slobbered all over his vest. With a heavy hand, he rapped on the doors to signal Rick to open them.
Daryl squinted against the bright sunlight, having grown used to the gloom of the barn. "T, go fetch Glenn t' come see about his woman, would y'?"
T-Dog nodded and trotted back to camp to pull Glenn off watch. Rick took a tearful Maggie into his own arms, freeing Daryl. "Were there any others?" he asked quietly.
"Naw, we got 'em all." His gaze wandered towards the great white farmhouse, the need to see Carol nearly overwhelming. "Y' got this? I'ma run up an' check on m' girls."
Rick nodded, and Daryl hurried out of the barn.
*.*.*
The front yard was deserted as he came around the side path. He hadn't really expected to find her there, but it was on his way. The camp set up under the great oaks was quiet. Andrea gave him a quick nod on her way to the barn to help remove the bodies, Dale was on watch and Lori was giving lessons to the children. He waved his daughter back down as she rose from her seat to meet him. She needed to do her studies. He didn't put much stock in them, but Carol and Lori insisted their children have a bit of normalcy. Seeing the laundry hung out to dry on the makeshift lines, he knew where he would find her.
It was all he could do to keep his emotions in check as he sprinted around the back of the house and hurled himself up onto the porch and through the screen door into the kitchen. "Carol!" he rasped, startling Beth where she was chopping vegetables at the island.
"Somethin' wrong, Daryl?" she asked, setting the knife down.
"Carol … where is she?"
Beth shot him a wide-eyed stare and pointed. "She's in the pantry lookin' for –"
He didn't care what his woman was doing in there. He was just relieved he'd found her. He slammed the door behind him, startling Carol and causing her to drop several cans to the floor. The large walk-in was lined with shelves full of canned and dry goods, box dinners and mason jars filled with fruits and vegetables grown right there on the farm. He pulled her deeper into the room and backed her into a dark corner, his arms wrapping around her as he buried his face in her throat.
"Daryl!" she gasped, her arms trapped between them. There was no escape for her until he was ready to let her go. Which wouldn't be anytime soon, she was guessing. His breaths panted against her cool skin, warming her from the inside out, but somehow, she just knew his actions had nothing to do with wanting a midday tryst. "What has gotten into you? Are you hurt?"
Daryl loosened his grip enough for her to free her arms and wrap them around his shoulders, reveling in the feeling of her pulling him closer. His heart beat a painful tattoo against his ribs and his lungs burned, anxiety clawing at his chest.
Carol held onto him, carding her fingers through his hair to soothe him. She didn't like the darkness surrounding them with only the meager light from the flashlight still resting on the shelf. "Tell me what's wrong. You're scaring me," she breathed brokenly. She sucked in a sharp breath and let her hands roam over him. "W-Were you bitten?"
He shook his head, forcing himself to calm down. "No."
The air whooshed out of her in relief, and she sagged against him. "Don't do that to me!" she scolded, though her grip on him didn't loosen.
Daryl finally lifted his head and pressed his brow to hers, feeling as if his world had righted itself. "Jus' needed y'. I'm sorry I scared y'."
"Is everyone alright? Sophia?"
"Yeah, everybody's fine, woman. I guess I jus' got a little spooked is all," he sighed. "Maggie went with me t' clear th' barn."
She braced her arms against his chest, moving him back an inch or two so she could see him clearly. "Is she ok?"
He nodded. "She's fine."
Carol began to wonder if she was going to have to drag every word out of him. "Then tell me what scared you," she coaxed gently. It wasn't like him at all to let killing a few walkers spook him, much less allow it to show. Something else had to have happened.
"It was fine until it was time t' put her family down. She insisted on doin' it herself." He shuddered. "It made me think what if … what if it had been you or Sophia, an' I –"
He couldn't finish. He slid down the wall and pulled her down to sit on his lap, once more burying his face in the crook of her neck. She clung to him, sharing his pain, soothing it with her touch.
"I'm here, Daryl. I'm not going anywhere."
"I can't lose y', woman." He pulled her down to press a kiss to her lips, needing more than anything to taste her, to drown himself in her love. "I ain't never had nothin' good in my life 'til you."
Her nails scratched along his stubbled jaw, her smile chasing away his pain. "You won't lose me. We get stronger every day, Daryl. We will survive this."
*.*.*
Daryl felt better as the sun beat down on his back and the early autumn breeze shifted and rolled through the trees. The service for those fallen members of the Greene family hadn't taken long, and Carol had served them a nice lunch out on the front lawn, encouraging Patricia, Hershel and Maggie to share stories of their loved ones. Beth had even sung a song which had been her mother's favorite. Daryl hadn't much cared for all the pomp and ceremony which usually went into a funeral. It made his skin itch, but with Carol and Sophia there at his side, he hadn't had much choice but to attend and bear with it. It startled him bone deep to realize how much he'd changed for them. He no longer let his Dixon temper rule his life. It was no longer just him and Merle against the world. There were rules where his girls were concerned, and he would follow them to the letter to make them happy.
The look of intense concentration on Sophia's dirt-streaked face snapped him out of his reverie. He needed to focus. He'd kept his promise to drag her and Carl out into the pasture for some training. He just hadn't expected most of the group to follow them out there. At least they were serious in their desire to learn. Either that, or they were afraid the kids would make them look bad. That thought amused him.
He glanced over Sophia's head where Rick stood next to Lori and Maggie watching the demonstration. If he blocked them out and concentrated on Carol and the children, he was able to focus. He really didn't like being in the spotlight, however. Sophia clutched the wooden handle in her hand. He'd made it for her to practice. The blade of the knife had been broken off, but the handle would give her a feel for the real thing.
"How was that, Dad?" she asked as she reached out a hand to help Carl to his feet.
"Y' put 'im on 'is ass, so I'd say y' did a good job." His attention shifted to the boy sprawled at his daughter's feet. "A'right, boy. Where's the three places y' wanna aim for if y' got a walker comin' at y'?"
"I thought there were four," Carl frowned.
"Name 'em."
Carl relaxed, realizing Daryl had misled him on purpose. "Base of the skull, in the eye, the temple, and under the chin – if the blade is long enough - are the best places. The top of the head or the forehead take too much force and you said we're not strong enough … yet."
Daryl smirked down at him, more than a little pleased Carl had caught it. "Good. You an' Soph, take a knee over there. Carol!"
His woman hesitantly stepped forward. She didn't like to be in the spotlight either. These were their people, and she had no reason to feel awkward, but he could see it in her eyes. She had a good friendship with each member of their group, but years of abuse still had her wanting to be invisible. He held out his hand to her, pulling her into the small circle the group made around them.
"On runs, it's always a good idea t' be partnered with someone. A single person could take out two or three, right? What happens if y' get cornered an' there's more comin'?"
Andrea snorted. "Then you become a walker snack. How are we supposed to defend ourselves with just a knife?"
Daryl glared at her. "C'mon, Blondie. Y' sayin' y' can't do somethin'?" he challenged her. "Rick, Glenn, Maggie, Carol, Beth … y'all get t' be walkers, so get yer asses in here." He motioned to the center of the circle.
"What do you want us to do?" Rick asked, intrigued.
He took the knife handle from Sophia and took a fighting stance. The men and women he'd called forward were all standing there looking at each other with a mixture of anticipation and fear. When tangling with a Dixon – no matter how innocently – someone was bound to get bruised.
"When y' feel a blow t' any of th' points Carl mentioned, I want y' on th' ground," he grinned, his smoky blue eyes narrowed and filled with delight with his role of instructor. He'd lost his trepidation and embraced it. He just had to remember to explain his actions as he went along, and go slow enough so no one would miss any of his moves. "We clear? A'right, come at me!"
The group rushed him, and he danced away before they could take him down. He glowered at the laughing idiots and braced his hands on his hips. "Gawd, seriously?! What's wrong with y'all? I'm tryin' t' teach y' somethin' here! Y' ever see a walker move that fast?"
"Sorry!"
"We were just trying to lighten the mood, Daryl."
"Jeeze, dude, chill," Glenn said. Daryl grabbed his hat and swatted the boy atop the head … twice.
"If y'all cain't take this seriously, I'ma make all o' y'all run laps with Carol an' th' kids later," he threatened.
That seemed to get them back in the mood. Once more he took a stance and beckoned them forward. Arms outstretched and grasping, they came at him. "Remember, you're driven by hunger. Y' gotta be focused on takin' me down." He grabbed ahold of Beth's wrist and pulled her forward, swinging with a well-placed blow to her eye as he drifted out of reach of Maggie. That girl seemed to be having way too much fun. He pushed, his hand flat in the center of her chest, and she fell back into Rick. They both stumbled back, giving him time to wrap an arm around Glenn from behind and knife his temple. But he didn't let go, driving forward towards the other three. "Two down! If y' can, use one as a shield t' protect yerself."
"Go, Dad!" Sophia cheered from the sidelines where Dale and Andrea stood watching. "Get 'em!"
Daryl watched a grinning Carol from the corner of his eye and threw Walker Glenn at Rick. Their leader was taken by surprise – though not as much as Glenn – and fell back on his ass under the boy's weight. Maggie stopped, glancing down to make sure Glenn wasn't hurt and Daryl pressed the knife handle beneath her chin. "Distracted is dead, girl!" While she sat down and sulked for failing, he quickly dropped to a knee beside Rick and jabbed him in the forehead. That just left Carol.
He felt the blood turn to ice in his veins. In his mind's eye, he could see her lovely azure eyes morph into a sickly yellow, watch her ivory skin turn a shade of grey he associated with the dead. No! his mind screamed. Not her. His heart threatened to pound out of his chest. Then her steps slowed, her eyes meeting his, and he knew she understood. She was giving him a chance to compose himself before she reached him. It was imperative to finish the demonstration for the group, the children. Even for himself. He needed to show them he could do this.
Life returned to him, and he pushed her back far more gently than he'd handled the others. His hand wrapped around her throat and he thrust the knife handle towards the back of her skull. As soon as it touched her, she let her knees buckle and she slid to the ground.
Sophia whooped when he was done, shooting Andrea a smug look. "See! Now that's how it's done," she crowed.
Carl stared at the hunter in amazement. "That was awesome!"
"Settle down, Soph," he said, easing his tone with a wink in her direction before facing the group. "Y' ain't gotta have brute strength. Any one o' y' coulda done th' same. Y' just gotta be shown how. Thing is … there's more than jus' th' dead out there. Th' livin' is what you're gonna have t' worry about, because they can fight back. Guns'll get y' only so far because the sound draws more. Y' gotta know how t' do this with jus' a knife."
"Daryl, how'd you learn to do that?" Rick asked, hands on his hips as he stared the hunter down. "They don't teach anything like that at the academy, and it's more beneficial than some of the stuff we did learn."
Daryl ducked his head. "Merle taught me how t' defend myself. Came in handy a few times," he admitted sheepishly. "Jus' adapted what I know t' use against walkers."
"We … all of us … need to train daily. You up for that?"
"Yeah. Couple o' hours in the morning, maybe?"
"That sounds –" Rick froze, his gaze narrowing on the tree line.
Daryl swung around, searching where Rick was looking, but he didn't see anything. "What'd y' see? Walker?"
Rick shook his head. "No … no, it must've just been the sun in my eyes. Trick of the light. There's nothing there."
"Y' sure? We could go have a closer look." What with another group in town, he didn't want to take chances.
"It's fine. Let's pair up and see what else you can teach us."
Daryl shot one more glance out to the trees, wondering what would be coming for them next, but he pushed it aside … for now.
A/N: Next time. Carol takes a risk and Daryl loses his shit. A decision is made.