Chapter Six

Daryl's POV

Just as I predicted I shot down the deer close enough to camp. I decided to shoot down some more squirrels before going back figuring the deer would be safe since walkers didn't come this far up the mountain. I collected the squirrels when I heard a scream and made my way back to camp slowly. I heard a commotion and when it died down I came out of the bushes. I saw most of the group holding weapons and a walker on the ground. There was a huge chunk taken out of the deer's neck.

"That was my deer!" I shouted, "I was tracking that thing for miles! I was gonna drag it back to camp and cook us up some venison!"

I started kicking the walker and cursing at it, pissed off that the only decent food we would have had in weeks was gone.

"Think we could cut around the bit parts?" I asked.

"I wouldn't risk it," Shane replied.

"Oh well, I got at least a dozen squirrels. That will have to do," I said.

The walkers severed head started to chomp and I shot it with an arrow through the brain.

"Gotta shoot it through the brain," I said pulling the arrow out, "don't you people know anything?"

I made my way back to camp calling for Merle telling him I got squirrels.

"Daryl slow down, I wanna talk to you for a minute," some guy I didn't recognize said.

"Who the hell are you?" I asked.

"My name is Rick," he said and it clicked, Lori's husband, "it's about your brother. There was a problem in Atlanta."

I froze.

"He dead?" I asked.

"We're not sure," Rick said.

"Well he's either dead or he ain't, which one is it!?" I questioned.

"Your brother was a danger to the group and I cuffed him to the roof of the department store building," Rick said, "We went back for him but T-Dog dropped the key and chained the door that had the roof access. He may still be alive."

"You left my brother chained to a roof!?" I shouted and threw the squirrels off my shoulder and charged at Rick knocking him to the ground. I was about to punch him when Shane pulled me off and put me in a head lock.

"We do have some good news that my calm you down," T-Dog said and I glared at him.

"What, that this is all a joke?" I said.

"No," T-Dog said, "your wife is here."

"Don't lie to me, asshole!" I spat, "She'd be eight months pregnant by now. How the hell would she get here!?"

Just then Shane let go of me and I stood up. I saw a petite blonde figure approaching. Summer.

"Daryl!" she called and I ran over to her.

I grabbed her face making sure she was real.

"Daryl, baby, it's me," she said tears streaming down her face, "I'm here. I'm real. I promise."

She had her hands on my face wiping tears from my cheeks. I didn't even realize I had started to cry. I leaned down and kissed her. I couldn't believe she was really here. I was overjoyed.

"I-I thought you were dead," I whispered.

"I know," she said, "but I'm not. I'm right here."

"Are you ok? Is the baby ok?" I asked putting a hand on her stomach.

As if feeling my distress the baby moved at my touch.

"We're ok, we're all ok," she said, "but Merle may not be."

Her statement brought me back to reality. I put my arm around her shoulder and walked back over to the group.

"We have to go get him," I said, "right now. I am not leaving my brother stranded on a roof!"

"Daryl, please, let the others get him," Summer said, "I just found you. I can't lose you now. I've been in the city. I know what it's like. It's not safe."

"I'll be fine, don't you worry. I made it this far didn't I?" I said kissing the top of her head.

"Rick will show you where he is," Lori said.

"I'll go with you," Rick said, "I left a bag of guns in the city that I would like to retrieve."

"Then lets go!" I said.