NOW
The day when it all fell apart haunted him as he stared at Katie. He could tell by the look on her face that she was remembering it too. A dumb arguement and their stubborn pride was what had kept them apart all these years. If given the chance, Daryl wouldn't hesitate to go back and change it all.
"It was all my fault ." She admitted softly. "I've re-lived that day over and over so many times. It was so stupid. I was so stubborn."
"Can't change it now." Daryl muttered, even though he had also re-lived their argument and the consequences of it a million times over.
"Still. I would give anything to go back and fix it." She inhaled shakily, and looked up at him with watery brown eyes. "I never stopped loving you."
Her admission gutted him. Breaking eye contact, he gazed out the window and tried to keep his composure. "I ain't the same no more."
She shrugged. "Who is?"
THEN
"I got my job back." Katie said casually through the open bathroom door while tying her hair up into a loose bun. "My next shift is tomorrow morning."
From his place on her couch, Daryl's eyes turned from the tv screen to her. He'd heard her, but wasn't sure what she was talking about. He had been way too focused on 11 ALIVE's news reporter. "Wha?"
"At Morning Glory." She explained while exiting the bathroom.
Daryl studied her through slitted eyes as she breezed by on her way to the kitchen.
"What?" His stare made her pause. She stood in front of the fridge, gripping the handle.
He shook his head as what she was saying clicked. "Ain't so sure that's yer best idea ever."
Her eyebrows furrowed. "Why?"
Daryl talked around his hand while chewing at his thumb. "Ya sure that Red prick ain't gonna come back looking for ya?"
"Oh. I doubt it." She said breezily and then pulled a beer from the fridge, popping it open. "You want another?"
He nodded. "Yah."
She entered the living room and handed Daryl a Blue Moon before settling next to him on the couch and propping her feet in his lap. His thumb absently mindedly began stroking the arch of her foot and she sighed softly.
"Ya should look for something else, yer too smart for waitressin'."
"I've got bills to pay." Katie shrugged. "I can't be waiting around for some corporate suit to offer me a job."
Daryl nodded, chewing on his bottom lip. He didn't like it, but he understood.
Katie nudged him softly. "Hey- it's not my first choice. But, I promise I'm looking for something else."
"Promise me ya will be careful. I don't want that asshole finding out yer back and coming after ya."
She smiled, her heart warmed by his protectiveness. "I'll be careful."
The small TV in front of them flickered with images of pandemonium. Someone's personal drone had captured video of the National Guard shutting down the borders between Ohio and Michigan. They listened as the news reporter reminded them that the CDC had issued a statement to quarantine anyone who had come into contact with a sick individual. The hospitals in Ohio were already becoming overrun with the sick.
Katie angled her beer towards the carnage on the screen. "Can you believe this shit?"
No. He couldn't. What was happening north of them wasn't sitting right in his chest. He felt like there was more to that story than what was being said. It was making him feel unusually anxious and ramy. "Ain't nothing good."
"Looks like I have bigger issues than Red to worry about." Katie mumbled.
Daryl hummed in agreement. Katie was glued to the scenes playing out in front of her, she was unaware of how restless he was growing beside her.
"Hey." He muttered, smacking her calf. "Goin' out for a smoke."
She moved her legs from his lap to let him off the couch. "Save one for me, I'll be right out."
Outside, Daryl leaned his head against the wall, the concrete unforgiving. He rolled a cigarette between his fingers before bringing it to his lips and inhaling. What he had seen on the news was unsettling, and his brain was in overdrive. The reports made it seem as though the problem was miles away, but Daryl knew better. He knew trouble when he saw it.
In his pocket, his phone vibrated. He fished it out and flipped it open. A text from Merle.
Where you at?
He thumbed out a response. Katies
Merle's response came back quickly. I got an inside scoop. We gotta move. Meet me at the old mans place.
Inside scoop? What was Merle going on about now? They were already planning on meeting up at his Pop's place in the morning and heading out for a hunting trip. He wasn't planning on leaving Katie any time before then.
The screen door opened and Katie stepped out into the night with him. She positioned herself next to him, leaning into the wall. She reached into his shirt pocket and pulled out the pack of Marlboro's, helping herself to one.
"I'm heading out to the cabin with my dad this weekend," he said as she lit up. "Hunting trip."
"Sounds fun."
He rolled over and pinned her against the cold brick, his hands resting above her head and caging her in. "Come with us."
"Hunting?" Katie raised a 'what the fuck' eyebrow. "I'll just scare everything away."
He smirked. "Ya can stay back. Make us sandwiches while we're gone."
She blew smoke away from his face and laughed. "Oh my God. Shut up."
"We can set the tent up. Don't even have to share the cabin with my old man." He shyly bit his bottom lip in a way that made Katie want to say yes.
"You've never asked me to come hunting before."
"Yeah. Well, I don't like what I saw in there." He jerked his chin towards the window where the flicker of the TV was lighting up the living room.
"On the news?"
He nodded.
"That's hundreds of miles away."
He inhaled a breath of smoke and blew it into the dark. "Would feel better if ya was close by."
"That's sweet, but I really do have to work."
Daryl's phone chimed again in his front pocket and he let his cigarette dangle from his mouth while he pulled it out.
"Fucking, Merle." He mumbled around the cigarette, smashing the phone buttons with his reply.
"What's he want?" She peeked at his phone screen.
Ya seeing this shit? We need guns. I know a guy. Need ya to come along. He ain't the friendly type.
Daryl grunted as he finished typing out his reply. "Needs my help with something."
"Now?" She asked, last she had looked at the clock it was almost 11pm.
"'Course, it's always a fucking emergency with Merle." He dropped the butt of his smoke to the ground, grinding it with the toe of his boot. "'Sides, he's probably right. Better safe than sorry."
She pouted. He gripped her chin, tilting her face up. As he leaned down to kiss her, she asked. "Can I come along?"
He shook his head. "Naw. No way." His lips met hers briefly, before he pulled away to give her more instruction. "Listen ta me-"
This time his phone rang, interrupting him, and he glanced down at it. "It's Merle. Hang on."
Daryl took a few steps away and Katie watched as he talked to his brother. The longer they talked the more agitated Daryl appeared. She could practically see the wheels turning in his mind. She could always tell when he was deep in thought, but this time there was an urgency that she hadn't seen before. After hanging up, he stalked back towards her and grabbed her shoulders firmly.
"Ya listening?" He squeezed her.
"Yes." She nodded, unsure if she was turned on or scared of the way he was handling her.
"Merle, he knows a guy. Gave him some info. The best place ta be right now is somewhere secluded. Lay low. Wait it all out." He stared deeply into her eyes. "Ya understand?"
Her mouth dropped open. "I- I- maybe?"
"Pack up your shit and stay put. I'll come back to get ya tonight and we will drive out to the cabin."
She quickly shook her head. "Tonight? I told you, I have to work in the morning. I cannot call off." Especially not right after she had begged and groveled for her job back. "I can meet up with you when I get off tomorrow."
He let go of her to run a hand through his hair, mussing it. "This ain't up for discussion."
"You're overreacting. You're letting Merle get you all riled up. And I'm sorry, but Merle… is he even sober right now?"
Daryl prickled. "He was military. He knows guys. He knows how this shit works. If he's worried there's a good fucking reason."
Katie shook her head. " I can't just run off and hide because Merle says to."
Daryl stared down at her from hooded eyes. "I wouldn't do this if I wasn't serious. I'm taking ya with me."
"I don't get a say?"
"No." He turned her towards the door. "C'mon. I gotta go. Start packing."
She put her hands to his solid chest, pushing him away. "Goddamit. Lay off."
Daryl took a step backwards, and glared at her through slitted eyes. "Don't be a dumb bitch," he hissed.
Katie's eyes widened. "Dumb bitch? Are you fucking kidding me right now?"
He blew out a frustrated breath and pulled at his hair. "Listen-"
Katie cut him off and raised her hand. "Stop. Just go." She spun on her heel and moved back towards the apartment door.
"Ey! Don't just walk away from me!"
"There's nothing more to say."
"Ya said ya loved me!" His voice rose and he moved closer to her. "Ain't this how that works? Compromise and all that shit?"
"This isn't a compromise! It's you demanding your way and getting butthurt when I say no."
He scoffed. "Fuckin' excuse me for wanting to keep ya safe."
Katie pressed her palms into her eyes and moaned. "Just go, Daryl. I need a break."
"Breakin' up with me?" He sputtered.
"No! I need a break from this conversation. Not a break up."
Daryl gave her a hard stare before pushing past her and going back into the apartment to grab his keys. When he came back out he couldn't even be bothered to glance at her.
"Daryl!" She said to his back.
He kept walking.
"I'm not breaking up with you." She called.
She watched as he swung himself onto his bike and raised his middle finger before driving off, the engine roaring. Katie groaned and kicked a nearby rock. Daryl fucking Dixon. That man was such a pain in the ass sometimes. She let herself back into the apartment and locked the door behind her before switching off all the lights and climbing into bed. It felt lonely and cold without his body beside her. Hugging her pillow, she rolled over and sighed. They just needed space to cool off. They'd work it out tomorrow.
If only she knew then what she knew now.