Between the Thorns

Chapter 54

Daryl swung his head, tossing his hair out of his eyes. Or at least that's what he wanted it to look like that's what he was doing. Really he was hooking the tape that was holding his wrists together under the rusty fender of the car he was leaning against. Shifting his body, he drug the tape back and forth. The uneven metal was scraping against his skin. But he ignored the discomfort as he worked to free his hands. The tape held for long enough to make him nervous. But it finally broke.

Daryl felt the pressure against his wrists release. But he kept his wrists together behind his back, giving the impression that he was still held immobile by the tape. He was still surrounded by armed soldiers. Attacking one of them now would only get him shot. He needed to wait for something to divert their attention before he made his move.

"Daryl," Simon barked, slapping him on the back much harder than necessary to get his attention. "Before we kill all your friends, and you, I thought we ought to have a little chat." Simon was taller than Daryl, which meant he had to tilt his face slightly upwards to see the smug smile on his face. "I want you to know that there's no hard feelings," he said with a sickening laugh. "And before I kill you, I just wanted to make sure you know that I'm personally going to make sure Jean and the girls are taken care of."

Simon laughed, the meaning behind his words painfully clear. From the beginning, he wanted Jean for himself. And once Daryl was out of the way, there would be no one standing in his way when he went to Hilltop and took her. Both Daryl and Simon knew Jean would submit to him if it meant keeping her daughters safe.

Daryl clenched and unclenched his fists. He wanted to punch Simon in his stupid laughing face more than he'd wanted to punch anyone in a long time. But he forced himself to wait. He was only going to get one shot at this. If he missed he was done. He'd be shot like a dog right here in the grass.

Daryl sucked in a hard breath when he saw Maggie and Rick appear over the ridge. Like Negan said, they were walking straight into a trap. The entire group of them was about to be shot. Then he'd be shot. And then Simon was going to follow through on his threat and take Jean and her daughters back to the Sanctuary. Eerie whistling filled the air around him. And Daryl saw the look of shock and fear ripple across Rick's face as the entire army stepped out of the woods and surrounded him. And just when he was sure he was completely and totally fucked, the second wave of Negan's soliders showed themselves, appearing in a long row at the top of the hill. This time there was no warning. And no negotiation. The soldiers lifted their guns, aimed and fired. Daryl wasn't sure exactly what happened. But after the loud round of gunfire, Rick and Maggie were still standing. And over half Negan's men were on the ground, either gripping their injured hands and screaming. Or dead. Simon was staring at the scene in horror, his loud mouth hanging open as he ran his fingers over his mustache. Daryl wasn't sure what just happened. He suspected Eugene was responsible. But at the moment, he didn't care. This was the opportunity he was waiting for.

Turning as quick as a snake, Daryl punched Simon in his face, knocking the man back a step. And while he took Simon by surprise, the man wasn't a total slouch. He blocked Daryl's next swing. Daryl grabbed for his gun and they fell to the ground as they struggled for control over it. With Simon focused on retaining control over his weapon, Daryl was able to land another hard blow to the side of his head. Pulling the handgun away from him, Daryl whipped him across the face with it. Then he hit him again. He hit Simon over and over again until his face looked like Glenn's did after Negan got finished with him. Daryl might have kept going. But he was distracted by Eugene's cries for help. He sprung up, heading for the sound and shooting the men that were converging on the man.

Eugene scrambled up off the ground, wrapping his arms around Daryl in what had to be one of the most awkward hugs he'd ever been a part of. Daryl shrugged him off and looked around. The saviors outnumbered Rick and the militia. But all their guns had been rendered useless. Daryl stepped forward, waving his arms to get their attention.

"Kneel down," Daryl hollered. "This is done."

Daryl's friend Mike from the auto garage was the first to nod. Following Daryl's advice, he lowered herself to the ground and put his hands on his head. The soldiers around him followed his example. And the rest of the men were quick to do the same. Kneeling was nothing new for Negan's army. Daryl turned, addressing Maggie this time.

"This is done," he barked. Maggie nodded, signaling her people to lower their guns.

"Where's Negan?," she asked. Daryl shaded his eyes, looking for the big man. And after a few moments, he spotted him on the ground. Daryl pointed Maggie in his direction, following her as she raised her gun and headed that way. Negan was on the ground. He and Rick must have finally had it out with each other personally. And for a moment, Daryl was relieved. He assumed Negan was dead. But then he saw Rick waving in one of their field medics and telling him to stop the bleeding in Negan's neck. Daryl was confused. He didn't realize what was actually happening until he heard Maggie screaming.

"NOOOO!," she screamed, the audible pain in her voice increasing the volume of her cries for justice. "You can't do this. It's not over until he's DEAD!" Daryl looked on in shock as Michonne grabbed Maggie, holding her back. They were stopping her from killing Negan. Daryl pushed forward, adding his voice to Maggie's.

"LET GO OF HER!"

Michonne didn't let go. But she did loosen her grip. Daryl grabbed her arm, yanking her hard enough that she was forced to release her grip on Maggie to keep her arm from being ripped from the socket. Daryl was taken by surprise when Rick slammed into him, knocking him off balance. But it only took Daryl a moment to recover. He swung, punching Rick so hard that he knocked the man flat on his ass.

"If ya know what's good for ya," Daryl warned. "...you'll stay down." Rick did. And when Daryl took a step back, he guessed it was partly because Mike, Gavin, and a few of the other Saviors had shouldered up behind him, ready to back Daryl up if Rick came at him again. Daryl turned, offering Maggie his hand and helping her up off the ground. She glanced towards Negan and then back at Daryl. He nodded, feeling his own emotions welling up inside him when Maggie's lip started quivering. She lifted her gun, holding it in both hands as she approached the man that beat her husband to death in front of her. The medic Rick called over was smart enough to have already scrambled out of the way. Maggie pointed her gun at Negan's head and fired. Then she fired again. And again. And again. Until Negan's brains were splattered across the grass and there was nothing left of his face. Even then she kept pulling the trigger. Even though her gun was making a hollow clicking noise.

"Hey," Daryl soothed, wrapping his arm around her. "It's okay. It's over."

Maggie turned, letting Daryl wrap his arm around her as she sobbed down the front of his shirt. He repeated the same lame assurances a few more times. Everything wasn't okay. Glenn was still dead. But at least Maggie got her revenge. Sometimes that's all there was left to do.

Maggie slowly regained control over her emotions. Pulling back, she wiped up her face and looked around at the saviors that were still waiting on their knees for whatever horror was coming.

"How'd you like to have yer own army?," Daryl joked, raising his brow at her questioningly.

"I think I'd be alright with that," Maggie agreed, smiling when Daryl hugged her against his side one more time before he stepped away and began issuing orders.

"Get everyone up and let's get outta here," Daryl said, gesturing to Gavin. He was the only standing lieutenant left. Daryl knew the men would take orders from him.

"Where are we going?," Gavin asked, though he was already moving to follow Daryl's orders. He spoke to Daryl. But it was Maggie that answered.

"Home," she said. "We're going home."