Have a good weekend everyone!
Carol was on her knees when he came down the steps and he paused. It was disturbing watching her clean blood away. When were they going to get a fucking break? He was tired. He felt it in his bones but it still went deeper than that. Rubbing his face he looked away from the blood and around the room. Merle should be back soon and Mac should be done with whatever the fuck he was doing.
"You feeling okay?" Carol's voice was soft.
He walked towards her and looked down as she raised up. He held his hand out and pulled her the rest of the way to her feet. Carol's eyes were soft but worried and her lips were pursed. He watched her as she looked him over. Of course she would be concerned he was okay even thought he'd killed a man right in the middle of the house. Never mind that of course.
He didn't regret killing Phillip though and he never would. Brian's life was more important than a man like Philip Blake. Seeing his nephew alive and fine made what he done alright in his mind. Maybe not to others but fuck them what did they know? Not shit because he would die before he seen his family hurt.
"I'm fine." Daryl looked over his shoulder down the hall. It was silent. "Mac still in his room or Brian's?"
Carol leaned into him her face pressing into his chest. His arms came up on their own and wrapped around her. She stepped full into him then and he breathed deeply her warm lavender scent washing over him and taking away the metallic scent of blood.
"Brian's in his room still. Andrea went to check on Mac." Carol's voice was quiet, "Is Sophia alright?"
Daryl looked down at her then and buried his face in her hair. He loved his nephew. He loved Sophia and Carol. If Phillip somehow hurt any one of them- well it'd destroy him. He didn't think Phillip would be stupid enough to come after him or his brothers. The man was a pussy. All limp wristed and fragile getting people to do the heavy lifting for him. So of course he would choose someone who was smaller than him or woman. It sent a wash of anger and pain through his chest at the thought. He was supposed to be on watch tonight- him and Mac. Philip thought they wouldn't be home.
"She said something about Brian being naked."
Carol snorted and looked up at him, "What?"
"I'm supposed to tell him to put some damn clothes on because she's freaking out and Mac won't let her in the room because he refuses to get dressed."
Carol's eyes widened, "I will never claim to understand you Dixon men."
Daryl chuckled but it felt hollow. He knew this wasn't just Phillip's doing. If Hannah was involved he doubted she knew he came after her son. Or maybe the stupid bitch knew. Because there was no way in hell Mac was going to let his son go. Not when Philip made clear his intentions to leave Woodbury earlier in the day. If she was planning on leaving with him then Brian wasn't fucking going. Even if Mac was fine with it. Daryl would be goddamned if he seen that death sentence put on his nephew. Brian was smart and resourceful but Hannah was a useless dumb ass and Phillip was just as bad.
"Mac's the one who refuses to get dressed. Him and fucking Merle. That's where Brian got that shit from so don't look at me." Daryl stepped back then as he heard his bedroom door open. Sophia's soft footfalls coming down the steps made them both look over.
Sophia smiled softly, "Is he dressed?"
Daryl shrugged and shook his head, "Haven't checked."
Her scowl was instant and he raised a brow. Carol elbowed him, "She looks just like you right now. You might not have taught Brian to walk around naked but you taught that look to Sophia." Her voice was conspiratorial and only to him.
"Blow me." He huffed before stalking off.
Sophia's eyes followed him the entire time her arms crossed over her chest. He wanted to say something but Carol was right. She was even fucking standing like him. For her to not be his blood she was carved right out of his ass.
Daryl shoved Brian's door open without even knocking. It slammed into the wall and Brian yelped out of surprise. Stepping into the room he kicked the door shut behind him his eyes fixed on his nephew. He walked over and Brian lifted his head angling it back just enough. He knew what Daryl wanted. He caught his jaw and squatted down ignoring the fact that the blanket was barely pulled over his lap concealing his naked nephew. Fucking Mac made over.
Daryl felt some of the tension leave his body seeing him okay. Brian's eye met his and they were wide. "You okay?" his voice was rough and splintered with emotion.
Daryl let him go and kept his eyes locked with his nephews only briefing looking at the stupid cat pillow on his bed. Brian followed his eyes and flushed bright red. Daryl grinned at him but Brian sneered.
"You're an asshole you know that? Come in here when I almost get my throat cut only to laugh at the pillow Sophia forced on me."
"OH forced on you did she?" Daryl laughed, "Did you let that little slip of a girl kick your ass and make you bend to a knee?"
"I thought I was talking to Daryl not fucking Merle!" Brian barked, "I almost died be nice to me."
"You did not almost die." Daryl sobered up and pushed himself standing. He refused to let that idea plant itself in his head. He looked down at Brian and Brian smiled at him. "You really think me and your dad would let some dumb dick bastard hurt you?"
"No."
Daryl nodded and then looked at his lap and raised a brow, "There a reason you won't put clothes on?"
Brian scowled and looked away. Daryl crossed his arms over his chest and looked him over. His shoulder was bruised and his throat was going to have a nice scar but other than that he looked outwardly fine. He had a concussion and didn't need to sleep. Regardless of what he wanted he wasn't staying in here alone.
"Get dressed or make yourself a toga- either way Sophia will burst through that door the second I walk out."
"NO!" Brian winced.
Daryl eyed him arching a brow. He licked his lips and stepped back towards the door. Brian made to grab him and stumbled. Daryl righted him and forced him upright. With Brian standing Daryl realized he was almost as tall as him now. Looking at his eyes and ignoring the fact that Brian was now fully nude he arched a brow.
"Carol will be in here too. Her and Andrea are going to be hovering over you. You can't sleep." Daryl pointed out. "I'm pretty sure neither are going to give a flying fuck about your state of undress."
"They can't just barge in here if I'm naked." He sounded petulant.
Daryl shrugged, "Don't think they give a shit. Andrea's checking on your dad and Carol's with Sophia."
"Tell them I'm fine and want to be alone." Brian pleaded.
Daryl eyed him and Brian set heavily on the bed not even bothering to cover up. He was unsteady on his feet and Daryl grimaced. His concussion was worse than Andrea thought or Carol. His balance was all messed up. He had a feeling he knew what this was about. Why he was pointedly avoiding Sophia. Daryl sighed and swallowed the last bit of anger from the shit Brian said to Sophia. If he had to not strangle him to keep her from crying and shooting him shitty looks like he was the one that hurt her feelings then fucking fine.
"Brian." Daryl's voice was low, "She's worried. She doesn't give a shit what you said earlier when you all fought. Hell I don't give a shit but she's out there shaking thinking you're in here about to die." Brian looked at him and he knew he hit the nail on the head. He shook his head but grimaced.
Daryl stepped over to him and caught his arm helping him stand. The door opened behind him and he shifted blocking Brian from view. Looking over his shoulder he turned back around seeing it was just Mac and Merle. Merle's face was concerned and Mac's was ready to kill. Mac walked over and both men kept Brian balanced while he got dressed. He was red faced and huffing but he listened.
"Well at least we know it runs in the family." Merle chuckled.
Daryl arched a brow and Mac shook his head. Brian looked at his uncle, "What?"
Merle had the look of a man about to say something either really funny or really terrible. Both of which would be likely funny to him. Daryl looked away and Brian stared at him unknowingly.
"A dick so big that King Kong would need to crawl up it for the next remake."
Brian's face blazed red. Mac barked a laugh so loud Daryl flinched. If anyone wanted to say anything it was lost in the sudden uproarious laughter of his brothers. Brian was red faced and gaping at his uncle and dad. He looked to Daryl but he just shook his head. There was nothing to be said or done. They'd been saying fucked up shit to him for years and now Brian was going to catch it.
Merle swiped at his face and kept laughing, "Hell Brian don't look so sour."
Mac set on the bed and fell backwards. He knew that Merle was making jokes to get Brian and Mac out of their heads for what time they could. Mac was going to end up stabbing someone before they got out the front door if he didn't. Brian flipped Merle off.
"My dick is so big, I could wear it as a tie if I' wasn't so afraid of getting a hard-on and killing myself." Mac quipped.
Brian looked down at his dad. "What the fuck!"
"My dick is so big, Stephen Hawking has a theory about it." Merle retorted.
Daryl sighed and looked at the ground. How did he end up with twelve year olds for brothers. "Yeah that theory have anything to do with the clap?" Daryl prodded.
Merle looked at him and scowled, "I hope you knock her up you fucking asshole."
Daryl blatantly ignored that. Nope he wasn't indulging those thoughts. Brian huffed and looked at Daryl with pleading eyes and the boxers still half way up his legs and the sleep pants still in his hand. Daryl adjusted his grip on Brian's bicep and Mac jerked his boxers up for him. Brian was ignoring Merle's amused looks. Daryl didn't blame him.
When they got his boxers and sleep pants Merle threw the door open. It was barely even open before Sophia barged into the room. Mac and Daryl were both knocked back as she shoved her way over. Brian was holding on to Mac for balance and his eyes widened. Sophia's face was red and her eyes wet. She had visible tear tracks.
Mac eyed them then looked at him and smirked. It was a devious smirk and Daryl scowled. That smirk bloomed into something else and Daryl wanted to hit him. Even though he was smiling and relieved his son was okay Daryl could see a dark cloud in his brothers eyes just barely held back for the benefit of not scaring the fuck out of Sophia, Brian, Carol, and Andrea. He also didn't miss the claw marks that were visible partially on his neck or the bite mark there. He arched a brow but walked away.
He left Sophia fluttering all around Brian as she forced the cat pillow on him. He gave Daryl a pointed look to say "See I told you so." Daryl snorted but slipped out. Merle did too and instantly his face changed.
"He okay?"
Daryl motioned him along and Mac followed. Carol stood and Andrea did as well. "He's fine but his concussion is worse than you two thought."
Both women stood and walked right by on their way to Brian's room. The three brothers slipped out of the house without a word and Martinez stood from the swing. He didn't ask what happened to Phillips body because he didn't give a fuck. Instead they walked silently down the street with only the sound of Mac's low growl to accompany them.