Author's note: Longest chapter ever! Nearly five thousand words. Anyway I apologize for any mistakes made, I'm in rush gotta leave for class in a few mins. Anyway DARYL is finally here and boy, do I love him. Though I'll be the first to admit Mara and his initial first meeting did not go well-but hey it's Mara. Anyway please review, if I get at least tenby tonight then I will update by Wednesday. Promise!
Question: Did you guys like Mara's meeting with Daryl?
~Cassandra
Disclaimer: If I owned the Walking Dead, would this disclaimer really be here?
Kids loved Mara for some strange unbeknownst reason. They clung onto her like flies in honey, and she could never seem to get rid of them. Not even now in a totally new world filled with zombies. Since the second she woke up Carl and Sophia seemed to cling to her like baby monkeys. Though that was maybe partially her fault. She had given them the Reece Pieces minipacks Zane left in her ruck. And while neither Lori nor Carol were too mad about the early morning sugar. They had made it quite clear, that the kids were Mara's for the rest of the day-at least until Daryl came back.
Luckily Rick hadn't awaken yet from his 'fun' night with Lori to try and change Mara's mind about speaking with Daryl. Seemed last night's activities wore him out quite a bit. Mara cringed at the thought. Not only did it make her want to gag, but it also caused a strange painful hollowing feeling in her stomach. One she was pretty sure was called jealousy. But for the life of her, Mara couldn't think of why she would be jealous. Yeah, at first she felt lonely seeing everyone with someone, but that quickly passed. Besides once Zane turned eighteen, Mara had gotten used to being on her own. Especially when all three brothers plus her father were busy doing army stuff. "Got stuck babysitting?" Jacqui's voice asked.
Mara spun around half ready to swing the axe she stolen from Dale. However as luck would have it, basic somehow managed to teach her how to quickly assess a situation before acting. She gave the other woman a tight smile trying to relax her muscles. Somewhere hidden around her, Carl and Sophia played ninja-which was really just hide N seek mixed with tag. "Kind of, I don't mind really. I used to work at the daycares on base after school. So kids are really no biggie for me. In fact I think I get along better with them than I do adults." Mara half-joked, "So what brings you to these parts of the woods?"
"Wanted a walk. The campsite gets a little overwhelming with everyone on top of each other all the time." Jacqui admitted.
Mara smiled slightly. "I bet. It's kind of how the bases were. They were large, but for some reason I couldn't go anywhere without someone knowing my family."
"Mara, it's not fun. If you're not going to at least try and find us?" Carl called from his and Sophia's hiding spot in a bush.
"How do you know, I wasn't just waiting for you guys to give up your positions?" Mara asked, giving a wicked smile.
The kids eyes grew and they started to run away. Mara laughed looking over her shoulder at Jacqui. "Wanna keep us company? I'm sure Carl and Sophia won't mind another player, besides I don't know what I'll do if they decided to ever tag team on me."
Jacqui gave her a fleeting smile. "Sure. Why not? It's probably better than what I have to do back at the campsite."
"Sounds good to me. Come on, I think they went that way." Mara cocked her head towards a row of trees.
Then without another word Mara weaved her way through the trees with Jacqui on her trail. She walked quietly amongst the brush, trying her hardest to walk like her family and Drill Sergeants did. They were always so quite when they stepped. Sometimes not even Mara's pet dog Mickey caught them walking by. However it was all tactical training. The softer you walked, the less likely your enemy was able to hear you and the easier you could hear him. Mara froze hearing a strange noise. "What is it?" Jacqui asked.
Mara raised a fist up. An army signal for freeze. Not thinking about who she was speaking to, Mara released her fist and waved her hand in a down motion. Luckily Jacqui took the hint and copied Mara as she crouched down. "What's wrong?" Jacqui whispered, "Did you find them?"
"I don't think it's them-it can't be." Mara whispered, "I mean listen to the noise…it sounds like someone's…."
"Someone's what?" Jacqui pressed.
"Gorging themselves…"
Mara stood up in realization. A shiver ran down her spine. Of course she would have some part in the group finding the walker. She always did. Her mind blank suddenly and slowly Mara felt herself moving towards the walker. She didn't know why, but she just had to see it for herself. Even if it wasn't the wisest decision. From behind Jacqui followed. It wasn't long before the two woman were suddenly faced to face with the walker. Jacqui screamed, causing Carl and Sophia to rush out of their hiding places not too far behind them. Mara quickly covered Jacqui's mouth with her hand. She shot Carl and Sophia a quick pointed look telling them to stay where they were. "Jacqui, you need to go take Carl and Sophia back to the campsite and get the men. I'm going to make sure this bastard doesn't come anywhere near the campsite, okay?" Mara instructed.
Jacqui nodded, before numbly-but quickly grabbing Carl's and Sophia's hands. Unfortunately the two children caught sight of the hideous thing the moment Jacqui moved and started screaming. Mara's head whipped towards the pair. "Go!" Mara hissed, her hand wrapped tightly around the axe in her belt loop.
She pulled it out, ignoring the fading sounds of Carl, Sophia, and Jacqui screaming. So much for being calm and quiet. Luckily though for whatever reason the walker had yet to move from its meal. Mara sighed stepping forward in to the clear circle where the walker ate. All her time in this world and she hadn't ever killed a walker. It was all Rick. Never her. "You know, if my brothers were here they'd probably have a blast. They loved this show-loved the idea of zombies one day taking over the world. Instead for whatever reason, God chose to send me. The one who failed basic. The one who doesn't know shit about this show. Out of all four of us, God chose me. ME! Fucking no good Mara! Who can't even shoot freakin' twenty-three targets down!" Mara screeched as the walker came roaring at her.
It lurched towards her ready to bite down. Mara swung the axe releasing all her fury in that one swing. The axe made a sickening crack as it contacted with the walker's shoulder blade. A growl escaped Mara. She couldn't even kill a fucking walker right. "Mother Fucking Bastard!" Mara screamed, yanking the axe out only to swing it into the walker's stomach.
"Mara!" Rick's voice yelled, from not too far away. The police officer ran towards her, cursing to himself all the way. Of course she would be there already. She always knew things before everyone else did. How could he be surprised? He pushed himself to go faster. In all their time together, Mara never killed a walker. Not once. And even though Rick knew she went to basic, the idea of her facing a walker alone still scared him.
The walker growled reaching towards Mara with its long arms. Rick's heart thudded harder against his chest, he wouldn't make it in time. "No you fucking don't!" Mara screeched kicking the walker in the knee.
It fell to its knees giving Rick enough time leap in between Mara and hit it. Behind him, Mara glowered. Rick ignored it though as he and the others continued to wail on it. Something they could obviously do for hours, if not for Mara pushing herself into the circle to give the final blow to the neck. She gasped pulling away. Mara knew the hit wouldn't kill it, but if she hit the head, then Daryl wouldn't shoot it in the brain. An action Mara agreed with Zane, that was totally bad assed. The men took a step back catching their breath. Rick pulled Mara to harshly his side. It was obvious he wasn't too happy with her plan to finish the walker herself. In fact Mara was positive, they would be having a 'talk' about it later. "That's the first one to we had up here. They never come this far up the mountain." Dale voiced, breaking the silence.
"They're running out of food in the city. That's what." Jim huffed.
The men looked at each other. None of them knowing what to say. As unfortunate as it was, the sad truth was that walkers ate people and if everyone still alive in the city were eaten, then they'd start searching for more food. A sudden rustling noise brought the males back on guard. Shane had his rifle up ready to shoot the minute a walker popped out. While the rest of the men raised their weapons. From the corner of his eye, Rick watch Mara ready to push her away if anything happened. His nerves calmed slightly as he vaguely glimpsed a small unimpressed smirk on her face. It was the smirk Mara gave whenever people were overreacting . The noise came closer and out nowhere came a crossbow followed by a man with blond hair. "Aw…Jesus." Shane muttered lowering his gun.
The blond haired man looked at the group confused at first, then furiously at the gnawed on deer. "Son of a bitch." He snapped pushing his through the brush, "That's my deer!"
Rick eyed the man as he walked over to a smiling Mara. By the look on Mara's face, Rick guessed the man was Daryl. The man, Mara wouldn't be talking to. "Look at it all gnawed on by this-"he began kicking the walker's body, "Filthy! Disease bearing! Motherless- Proxy-Bastard!"
"Calm down son, that's not helping." Dale sighed.
Mara couldn't help but roll her eyes. She was actually with Daryl on this one. After all only seconds before she was taking out all her anger issues on it with an axe. A lot more life threatening than Daryl kicking a walker's headless body. "What do you know about it old man? Why don't you take that stupid hat and go back to on Golden pond?" Daryl snapped.
With an livid sigh, Daryl turned back to the deer. Angrily he yanked his arrows out of the deer. "I've been tracking this deer for miles. Was gonna drag it back to camp. Cook us up some venison." He crouched down near the deer, " What do you think-think we can cut around this chewed up part right here?"
"I wouldn't risk it." Shane muttered.
"Damn shame, well I got us some squirrel. A dozen or so, it'll have to do." Daryl said shifting awkwardly.
Beside him the walker head moved. "Oh God," Amy cried, as her sister pulled her back to camp.
Daryl rolled his eyes. He aimed at the head with his crossbow. "Come on, people what the hell?"
He shot it right in the eye. Stepping on the head he pulled the arrow out. "It's gotta be the head. Dontcha ya'll know nothin'"
Mara did her best to hide her smile. It took everything in her not squeal like Zane did in his little fanboy moments. As cool as Daryl was, Mara didn't do the fangirl thing. It just wasn't her style. Beside her, Rick shifted his eyes following Daryl's retreating form. Mara glanced at him, before childishly running after Daryl. There was no way Rick would be the one taking the blame. Not when it was her fault. "Merle!" Daryl called out, "Merle! Getcha ass out here. Got us some squirrel! Stew them up."
"Wait, Daryl!" Mara said rushing after him, "We need to talk."
He gave her a glance. A confused expression on his face, but he kept walking ignoring her. Behind her the men followed. It wouldn't be long before Shane or Rick jumped the gun and took charge. Mara stomped her foot angrily. "Hey Child! I said we need to talk!" Mara snapped.
Daryl froze, not too sure what to make of the little five foot nothin' woman yelling at him. "Who the hell are you?"
"Mara. And we need to talk-about your brother Merle." Mara confessed.
Daryl rubbed his face. It didn't take him two guesses to figure out what this was all about. Merle had found him some another little piece of ass-as he called them to knock boots with. And like always they were trying to get into Daryl's good graces hoping to one day become family. He sighed turning toward the girl. His brother always did little the pretty ones with a feisty attitude. "Look short stuff, I don't know what Merle's been telling ya to getcha into bed. But I can tell ya right now, if it's about a white wedding one day, then ya better off sleeping elsewhere. At least then you might actually get somethin' out of it."
Rage fumed off of Mara. So much Rick could see steam rising. From what Mara told him about her brothers raising her, being called a slut or a whore equaled a total ass-kicking in their book. Something which as Daryl called her 'short stuff' had no chance at winning. Rick made a move towards them. He planned on intervening and telling Daryl himself anyway. Plus a pissed off Mara sounded like a disaster about ready to happen. "I'm not one of your brother's whores, Daryl-he wishes, I was. I am simply here to offer my services in helping you get your brother off the roof he's handcuffed to in Atlanta for being a totally high douchebag."
The world seemed to stop for a second. Daryl was found himself stuck between believing the broad or laughing at her sadistic-ass joke. He stared at her, tracing her face with his blue eyes. The more he looked at it, the angrier he got. The girl had not one ounce of humor in her expression. "Daryl, we need to talk." Shane called as he and another man stepped behind her.
"About what? The fact my brother's chained to some motherfucking roof in Atlanta?!" Daryl snapped, "It'd better be a joke for yer sake sweetheart."
"She had nothing to do with what happened to your brother." The unknown man spoke up, pushing the girl behind him.
"Who the hell are you?" Daryl snapped. Where the hell were all these new people coming from?
"Rick Grimes."
"Well you got something ya need to tell me-Rick Grimes!" Daryl mocked.
"Your brother was a danger to us all, so I handcuff him up to a roof. Hooked him to a piece of metal –he's still there." Rick admitted.
Daryl turned away wiping his face, "Hold on, little me process this-so you handcuffed my brother to a roof?! And you left him there?!"
"Yeah." Rick agreed guiltily. Mara frowned, this was not going to turn out good. Not that she helped much with her unsympathetically blurting out the truth like that. She ducked suddenly as a loop of squirrels came flying. Daryl lurched forward only to be shoved by Shane. Mara sighed to herself. Yeah. she definitely needed to work on her anger issues.
"Hey!" T-Dog yelled, as Daryl drew out his knife, "Watch the knife!"
Daryl swung it towards Rick, only for Mara to jump in the way. The knife sliced across Mara's arms as she blocked herself. She bit her lip hard ignoring the pain as she deflected Daryl's next attempt at Rick. This time she trapped his wrist between the outer part of hers, which Mara then used to twist Daryl's arm in an arm bar. She grabbed the knife from his hand ignoring both the blood and stinging in her arms. If it had been just Mara talking to him, the knife would never gotten drawn. No matter how mad Daryl was. Cause despite his appearance and talk, Mara knew Daryl wasn't the type of man to hit a girl. Hell, if he wasn't seeing red right then, he'd stop fighting the moment the knife traced her. From behind Shane locked Daryl in a choke hold. A brief look of shock on his face.
Rick pushed Mara away from Daryl taking the knife. He gave a worried glance at her bleeding arms, before taking Daryl's gun away. Daryl struggled against the officer. "Ya best let me go!" he hollered.
Rick gave Mara one last look. "Stay."
Mara rolled her eyes as Rick marched up to Daryl furious. "Choke hold's illegal!" Daryl protested still squirming.
"File a complaint then." Shane muttered.
Rick crouched down to Daryl. "I like to have a calm discussion on this. You think you can handle that? You think we can manage that without you trying to hurt my friend? Cause I can tell you, the last person who hurt her got handcuffed to a roof."
Mara's eyes widened slightly. If she could whistle she would. Never did she take Rick to be one for threatening somebody. Especially not in this stage of the series. He was always calm and morale. But what he just said was so livid, so violent….so OC of him, Mara almost swore it was the doing of some fanfiction author. With a nod from Rick, Shane let Daryl go. Daryl laid on the ground furious, but to busy gasping for air to try anything. "What I did was not on a whim. Your brother does not work and play well with others." Rick said.
"It's not Rick's fault." T-Dog voiced, "….I had the key-I dropped it."
"You couldn't pick it up?" Daryl asked from the ground.
"Well I dropped it down a drain."
A small frustrated sob escaped Daryl as leaned closer to the ground. Mara couldn't help, but ach for him. It was impossible to be at him, with three brothers of her own. And in a way she knew what he felt like. It scared the shit out of her whenever her brothers got deployed…whenever they stopped writing or some unknown officer called her/somehow winded up on her doorstep. It was liking dying over and over again each time. Daryl stood up completely composed. He threw a handful of dirt in T-Dog's direction, "If that's suppose to make me feel better it don't."
"Maybe this will…I chained the door to the roof so the geeks won't get in…with a padlock." T-Dog added.
"It's gotta count for something." Rick mentioned.
Mara frowned. As much as she loved Rick, the padlock didn't mean shit when your family was still up there. Daryl looked down at the ground. A painful expression on his face. "To hell with all yall!" Daryl yelled, his voice cracking, "Just tell me where he is-so I can go get him!"
"I said I would take you." Mara said calmly.
The group turned towards Mara in a mixture of disbelief and shock. Mara frowned. Why did everyone doubt her? "I have three brothers…all in the army. If someone left mine up on the roof, I'd go bat shit too." Mara replied.
"You're not going, Mar. You've already been hurt twice." Rick stated, shaking his head.
"Besides a small fry like you wouldn't last long out there." Shane muttered.
Mara shot the man a glare. She was about retort with something nasty when Lori cut her off. "It doesn't matter, cause Rick decided he was going before this whole agreement. Ain't that right?"
Rick glanced at his wife slightly surprised. She was pissed, but there was something more to it. Something Rick couldn't quite put his finger on. He looked around him. His eyes lingering for a few seconds on Mara's frown. He nodded. "I'm going back."
Lori's face went slack as she numbly walked into the RV. Mara swore at herself. She hated Lori-absolutely positively hated yet she couldn't help but to feel sorry for her. Rick had just came back. A miracle to anyone who knew him. And now he was going back out there. Risking his life again for reason she didn't quite understand. Mara had hoped in volunteering, she would save the family from temporary separation. Rick sighed walking off. She followed him to his tent. "You don't need to go, Rick. I can help Daryl save Merle, get the guns and get the radio so you can warn Morgan." Mara insisted.
Rick spun around. "How did you know I was going for the radio?"
Mara froze trying to come up with answer. "How could I not?" Mara replied cocking an eyebrow.
Rick stared her, biting his lip. "We keep putting off this discussion about you being able to see things don't we?"
"And I say we continue doing so, cause it's going to end soon enough. I assure you. Now back to going to save Merle-"
"Mara, I'm going and you are not. That's the end of the story." Rick interjected.
"Except I had a vision and it said I was going, so guess what? I have to go." Mara lied.
"Mar. if a vision showed you jumping off a cliff, would you do it?" Rick sighed.
Mara sighed. She so wanted to say, 'obviously cause it was in a vision,' but by the look on Rick's face, the fight with Lori really short tempered him. "Look Rick, I don't want to sound like I'm prying into your marriage, but I can only assume Lori and you have some disagreement about going back, which is why you are so mad right now." Mara pinched the bridge of her nose, "But I'm going. I've already made up my mind."
Rick stepped forward gently grabbed one of her wrists. He lifted it up so she could see the blooding dripping down. "Lori and I had plenty of fights before the whole apocalypse, it's nothing new. But this-the fact that you kept getting hurt because of me-pisses me off Mar. You have no idea how much. If I can't protect you from two humans, what makes you think I can protect you from the dead?"
"Because you have before. And because not only do I see it, but I know it. I know that out of everyone in this camp you are the number one person I can trust with my life." Mara answered, immediately, "Besides, I let Daryl cut me. Not the other way around. If I had been a little quicker, I could have put have into an arm bar sooner. But I wasn't so I had to settle with blocking."
Rick blinked confused. He knew Mara claimed to be good with a gun, but after her little tumble with Merle, he hadn't count on her being able to fight. "I get it, my tussle with Merle was embarrassing. And admittedly hand to hand is not my thing-but if there is one thing Mara Grayson can do, it's handle a knife attack and having a gun in her face. Not much, but enough. So don't worry about me, Officer Friendly. I can handle my own."
"Mara, we're talking about walkers. They don't use guns or knives. They bite you." Rick argued.
"Which is exactly why I'm going to ask to borrow Dale's axe. I seemed pretty good with it earlier. I'm sure with some practice I'll be an expert at using." Mara countered with her insane logic, "Anyway, I'm kind of bleeding out here-so I'm going to get bandage up. Don't want the Walkers smelling this. Meanwhile go put on your superhero costume, we can't clean up the town without help from the sheriff."
Before Rick could say another word, Mara was gone. Frustrated he rubbed his chin. They were going to have a talk about her ending conversations like that. Right after their talk about visions and her facing walkers on her own. Shaking his head, Rick walked into the tent. The woman was going to drive him crazy one day.
Mara sat by the little fire pit Lori and Carl were at. She was surprised about easy it was too get along with the family. Especially Lori, who Mara still hated-somewhat-maybe not that much….she still thought Rick could do better. "Hey Mara, are you going off with my dad again?" Carl asked, staring up at her.
She gave him a grin. "Of course we're the dynamic duo. It would be a tragedy to break us up."
"Tragedy indeed. I swear my husband spends more time with you then me." Lori muttered, with a small hint of jealousy.
Mara couldn't help, but laugh. If she really wanted to, she could easily become enemies with the woman. She knew enough about her personal life to do so. Still Mara liked Rick and thought Carl was absolutely adorably. So she chose the latter. "Trust Lori, when I say Rick has only eyes for one woman and it ain't me." Mara assured.
Lori gave her a brief smile. She looked like she wanted to say something when an argument between Shane and Rick broke out. Mara frowned looking away. The conversation was about Rick's humanity and how while Merle was an ass, Rick wasn't…so he wouldn't be leaving Merle on the roof. "Mara…you'll watch after my dad right? Bring him back like you did last time?" Carl asked.
Mara nearly squealed at the adorableness of the youngest Grimes. God, she was sucker for kids. "Of course, but I have to admit…if anything your dad's going to be the one bringing me back."
"So you, Mara, and Daryl? That's your big plan?" Lori spoke up.
Rick licked his lips shifting awkwardly before looking at Glenn. The Asian boy groaned. "Aww..come on…"
"You know the way-you've been there before in and out- no problem. You said so yourself." Rick argued, "It's not fair for me to ask and I know that, but I'd feel a lot better with you along-I know Lori would too."
"That's just great we gonna risk three men." Shane grouched.
"Three plus a woman." Mara corrected, but like always was ignored.
"Four." T-Dog said.
Daryl snorted, continuing to clean his arrows. "My day just gets better and better don't it?"
"You see anybody else steppin up? To save your brother's cracker ass?" T-Dog retorted.
"Why?" Daryl asked.
"You wouldn't even begin to understand-you don't speak my language."
It went a little silent. "That's five." Dale said.
"That's not just five-you're putting every single one of our lives at risk. I hope you know that, Rick." Shane snapped.
Mara's frowned deepened. Though her hatred for Lori was surprisingly dwindling, the one for Shane was growing. She stood up marching over to them. It wasn't fair for everyone to gang up on Rick like this. "And he could be potentially be saving a hell of a lot more lives." Mara interjected, "We're not just going back for Merle. Rick and I dropped a shit load of guns and ammo taken from the police department out there and we're getting it. On top of that we owe our lives to some people back in King County and the only way to repay them is by warning them about Atlanta with the radio with dropped with the weapons."
"You went through hell to get to us, Rick. You're-just gonna leave?" Lori piped up.
Carl looked down. "I don't want you to leave, Dad."
Rick licked his lips. This was going to be harder than he expect. "To hell with the guns-Merle Dixon?! He's not worth one of your lives, even with guns thrown in." Lori protested, she stood up, "Tell me, make me understand. Cause the only one who seems to get you is Mara."
"I owe a debut to a man I met and his little boy." He grabbed Lori's shoulders, "Lori, if they hadn't taken us in, we would've died. It's because of them and Mara, I made it back to yall. They said they'd follow us to Atlanta, I got to warn them about it."
"What's stopping you?" Lori asked.
"The radios, we got." Mara answered, "They're old pieces of crap from the station have a frequency of their own. We can't contact them on the CVS. Meaning we have to go back to them."
Shane swore shaking his head. "She's right. They can't."
Lori shook her head. "Fine. Go."
Mara smiled softly, "Great. Now that, that's settled let's go. I already got the bolt cutters from Dale. However in return we need to get him back his tools, a radiator hose, and one of those guns."
Rick glanced over at her. As much as Mara's visions weirded him out, sometimes they were a blessing in disguise. Daryl honked on the horn of the van impatiently. Glenn was already sitting up front. "Come on let's go!" Daryl yelled.
Mara rolled her eyes heading towards the van with Rick and T-Dog in tow. She hopped in the back with Daryl. The man eyed her suspiciously. Mara gave him a grin. This was going to be interesting.
Thanks to everyone who reviewed. Thanks to you guys, I get the motivation to keep writing. Sorry I have to keep responses short or I'll run late!
Geena: Glad Mara is still living up to your expectation, I hope her meeting with Daryl was all you hoped for.
NL March: Thank you for your reviews as always. I love how you analyzing Mara it makes me feel professional. lol
ScornedXRose: I'm glad I didn't go overboard with the dialogue if I ever do, please tell me.
Azrael Blood: It's okay I'm tired too. I always end up writing this at night.
Permentally lost in thought: Glad you are on the Mara/Rick bandwagon, unfortunately I still don't know who she gets with yet.
Gaming Boar: If Mara doesn't get with Daryl, then the Oc he gets with will 99.99% be an Asian child.
X-shmanda-x: Love the review. I wish I could rewrite more, but I'm late. So sorry!
Remember Ten Reviews tonight=update Wednesday!