Dead Days
Chapter Three
Cabin Talks
This is a few days late and I apologize but I got busy. Every time I turned around to update something new would come up and put it off.
I've started writing my own original story so my writing on the fanfics have been pushed around a little bit but no worries! I've still got enough written that I'll be updating once a week for a while before I potentially have to stop. Hopefully, I'll keep up with the amount that I am ahead so that's not needed.
I've been loving everyone's reviews! Please keep theming coming!
All I tried to save my face
All my guts try to spill
-Burning Pile by Mother Mother
Remington heard the blast as it ripped through the air. Even miles away, searching through cars for gas, it was earth-shattering, revibrating through the air. She gripped Maisie's, and Landon's arms and began to lead them back toward the car. Walkers would soon be coming from miles, moving toward the blast, and it wouldn't matter how far away they were. It could possibly drive them closer to the group, and Remington wasn't willing to risk it.
"Looks like we got out just in time," Dale said.
"Didn't you say we should have had another day?" T-Dog asked, looking back the way they came from with wide eyes.
"Miscalculation," Jenner said. "Used more power than expected."
"That could have been us," Amy stated looking dazed.
"But it wasn't," Andrea said, dragging her sister back toward the R.V. but not looking happy at how close they had come to dying.
"Did we find enough fuel?" Rick asked, trying to move past the upsetting topic.
"T-Dog's van needs to be ditched," Remington said. "Dale agreed to make room for them. We should make it to the cabin just fine."
Before they left, they had abandoned Shane's jeep and he joined the car with Remington, Merle, Maisie, and Landon. With the dogs, it was a tight fit, and due to not wanting to fight Jackson had joined T-Dog, Morgan, Duane, and Jenner instead of squeezing in with his family. He didn't like it but decided to give his sister her space before trying again.
As the group searched, he stood on guard with his rifle.
"Then let's head out," Rick said, rounding up the others.
Remington frowned as she turned and headed back toward the car where Merle was waiting nearby keeping an eye on the kids. Shane met her at the passenger side door, opening it, as he smirked deviously at her.
"Something you want to say, Walsh?"
"Just enjoying the view."
Remington brushed the comment off, she had noticed the way Shane had become quite flirty with her over the last several days, how she had caught all of them reaching out toward her more. It caused something to stir within her, but Remington didn't focus on it. She had to get the group to the cabin, and then lead them in the direction of the Greene Farm, a place she had no idea how to find.
There was so much to do. It kept her occupied enough that Remington missed normal things she would have picked up easily on.
․° °․
When Remington spotted the cabin, a relieved sensation flooded her. It looked exactly how she had left it. That fact alone let her breathe. It eased some tension in her back. An action that both Merle and Shane caught.
She eyed the place as they came to a stop next to the cabin. Around her, the cars filled in, and the area that once felt so big, seemed tiny. The R.V. alone barely fit, forcing Rick to park the vehicle he drove in between two patches of trees that barely allowed them the space. Daryl pulled up straight to the cabin, parking it as close as he could, away from the others.
With twenty-one bodies, she couldn't see everyone fitting within the walls. The issue would need to be the first thing dealt with. Before they tried unpacking any of the essentials they had agreed to pull out for the next couple of days. It wouldn't be so much that if a quick retreat was needed the supplies would hinder them.
"Gonna be tight," Remington muttered. "Emotions are going to run high." She was worried about tempers exploding within close quarters. She had seen the emotions on everyone's faces back after the explosion. They would all be dealing with how close to death they had come. It wouldn't be on the same level as when they had been stuck inside the building about to explode, but it was still traumatic. They may even try to look to blame someone. Remington had seen it happen many times in similar situations during her training back in college.
An apocalypse was not the best time to be trying to deal with anything, let alone your feelings.
She would keep an eye on those around her and offer her services if needed.
Anything to keep from having inner turmoil within the group.
"I can see that look on yah face, sweet cheeks," Merle said as he turned the car off. "Yah got somethin' yah need ta do. I'll get the ankle biters. Yah just go do what yah need ta."
"I'll help him," Shane said, already reaching over Landon to undo the harness that kept Maisie strapped in.
"Thank you," she replied, smiling gratefully at the two of them. She then slipped from the car noticing the way the others were already filing out. It was best to stop them now before they all began to set anything up.
She strode confidently over to the R.V. where people naturally began to join together.
"The cabin is small," she announced, not waiting for those who were still walking to get any closer. "There won't be near enough room for all of us to bunk within its walls. We need to come up with who gets to stay inside, and where the others are going to sleep."
"She's right," Rick says, eyeing the outside of the cabin.
"The children should get to sleep within the safety of the walls."
"I agree." Rick nodded, glancing around, and taking in the space they had left outside. "The children shouldn't sleep out in the open. We don't know how infested these woods are."
"The mothers should get to stay with the kids inside," Shane spoke up as he joined them all. Maisie was up in his arms, and Landon was standing next to him. A small smile lifted her lips at the picture they made.
"It's a good idea," Rick agreed.
"I'd prefer to keep my son with me," Morgan said, instantly speaking up. "I don't want to be separated if something were to happen."
"That's fine, but you can join him in the cabin, there's room, but we don't want to make anyone uncomfortable so do what you want," Remington said. Morgan hesitated but he nodded at her in thanks. "We can set up tents for those that won't fit in the R.V." She nodded to herself as she mentally figured that it would leave room for someone else. "Carol, Lori, and I can sleep with the rest of the children, and we would have room for someone else as well. If no one minds tight spaces." She didn't like the thought of being so close to Lori and mentally prepared herself to bite back any comments that would rise during the night. The children didn't need to see them fighting.
"Maybe it would be for the best if I slept somewhere else," Lori spoke up, a patronizing smile on her face. "This is Remington's cabin and I'd feel guilty for taking any room or familiarity away from her and her family."
"It's not a problem," Remington frowned. She could see what she was trying to do.
"I'd be thankful for you to take in Carl, but it might be best that Rick stays with him." Another smile. The tilt of her head, and the flickering of eyes toward Shane. Remington's stance stiffened. "Things have been a bit tense between us since our argument back at camp. I don't want any awkwardness to rise because of it. It wouldn't be good for the kids."
Remington's back straightened as she had to force the negative emotions, she was feeling from reading in her body language. She wanted to scoff at the bullshit sprouting from Lori's mouth right now. Remington wasn't sure exactly what she was playing at, but it didn't put her at ease to know that something was brewing inside her mind.
"It really isn't a problem, Lori. I'm sure we could work it out."
"I'd just feel better about it is all. I'm just trying to do the right thing here." Taking a calming breath Remington had to keep from voicing her thoughts. If she wanted to just do the right thing she would be sleeping in that cabin with her kid. Not whatever this was.
"All right."
Rick frowned, glancing in confusion between the two, before settling in on his wife.
"You sure?" he asked.
"I'm sure." She nodded her head.
Remington erased any unease she may have been feeling for the situation as she decided that whatever backhandedness Lori was attempting right now wasn't worth the effort of figuring it out.
She noticed the way Rick still looked confused, but there was another emotion there. He almost seemed disappointed that she would place him inside the cabin without her. It pulled at another side of her that hated Lori in the show. She put Rick through so much shit. It never set right with her.
"Morgan," Dale spoke up. "You and your son are more than welcome to sleep on the bed in the R.V., I'll sleep better in the lawn chair keeping an eye up top with my shotgun. That is if you don't stay in the cabin."
The scene between Lori and Remington had been forgotten and everyone began to choose spots for themselves. Merle, Shane, and Daryl planned on sleeping in Remington's car. Amy, Andrea, and Glenn would take the floor and seats of the R.V., while T-Dog had been given Carol's car. Jenner had grabbed a place in a tent along with Jackson, who had decided to keep an eye on Jenner, after what he had overheard back at the CDC.
Remington decided that with everyone knowing where they would be staying for the night, she would drag the food she had hidden all that time ago out to be packed away. Merle had gone to help her, being the only other one who knew where they were.
By the time the group had finished setting themselves up in the temporary camp, it was only midday and Daryl had volunteered to go off into the woods to hunt for fresh meat. No one argued. The idea of fresh meat hadn't been something available to them for the past week.
Remington had set up a security system, one similar to what they had at the quarry, but updated due to how their group had shrunk in size since then. Shane and Rick left to set up the cans around the cabin. She watched as they left before turning to Merle whose job was to assign people times for their shifts to keep watch over camp.
"Got everything covered?" she asked him.
"Not hard," he muttered, eyeing those around him. "I'll play nice."
"Wasn't worried about that," she scoffed. "Jackson should take the shift at night. He won't sleep as it is. It'll give him something to do while he stews."
"Got it, darlin'."
She watched as Daryl walked past, moving toward the woods, and she suddenly felt a need to go with him.
"Think you can handle a few hours without me?"
Merle glanced over to where Remington was watching Daryl. He licked his lips, contemplating, before shrugging and going back to where he had begun to glare at the group around them.
"Need me ta keep an eye on ta rugrats?"
"Do you mind"
"Naw. Got 'em covered."
Reaching forward Remington drug him down, so she could kiss his cheek in thanks before taking off after Daryl before he could disappear.
"Hey!" she called out. "Wait up."
Daryl's long gait slowed as he gazed over at her in confusion as she caught up with him.
"What?"
"Can I tag along?" She brushed the hair off her face. "Learning how to hunt was never something I was taught. Would be a good skill for me to learn. Just in case I was ever separated from the group." She tugged at her hair, pulling it up into a ponytail and missing the frown that had deepened on his face. He eyed her with something akin to worry and denial over what she had said. "It wouldn't hurt for Maisie and Landon to start to learn either. Maybe on a trip that doesn't rely on us bringing something back though. It wouldn't be good if they accidentally chased off food." She had begun to ramble. Not noticing the way, he had stiffened.
"Yah not gonna get separated from us," he denied. The thought of Remington and those kids not being around them set him on edge. He didn't like the idea of that happening, but he disliked the idea of them not having the knowledge to feed themselves even less. "Supposed I could teach yah regardless. Have yah come out with me sometimes."
"That would be great." She smiled widely at him and began to nod eagerly. He led her into the woods and immediately corrected the way she walked. She watched him closely noticing the way he stepped, to muffle his footsteps, and then mimicked it. By the first hour, she had improved enough that if Daryl wasn't hyper-aware of her, he'd forget she was there. As it was Daryl had a hard time forgetting about Remington whenever she was nearby.
She held his attention, drew people in naturally, and made you want to listen to what she had to say. He wondered if she realized how magnetic she was.
"Yah ever use a crossbow before?" he asked, startling her.
"Sure. Used to own one but sent it ahead to my parents during the move. Really would like to have it back."
"Here." He turned around, handing the crossbow over to her, causing her to stare at him in surprise. Hesitatingly she took the weapon from him before carefully shifting it in her hands as she adjusted to the weight. It had been a while, but she thought maybe it was heavier than the one she had owned.
Then her fangirl side poked its head out as she realized she was holding Daryl Dixon's crossbow in her hand.
She must have been making a strange face because Daryl scoffed before nudging her to hold it firmer. Shifting her grip on the weapon Remington felt the familiarity in the action.
"Yah look all weird."
"Sorry," she said sheepishly. "It's just I'm using your crossbow." He frowned at her answer, looking confused, and even a little worried at her reaction.
"So?"
"It's nothing." She shook her head quickly before beginning to walk forward. He wouldn't understand and if she tried to explain he would start to think of her as crazy as Merle once did. Though Remington was uncertain where Merle's opinion was on the subject these days.
They fell into easy silence as Daryl followed along behind her. The few times she attempted to shoot at something moving and missed he would give her advice until finally, she managed to capture a rabbit.
He learned she was a quick study in general. It didn't seem to matter what it was that was being taught to her. It was just another thing he couldn't help but like about her.
Remington wrinkled her nose as Daryl tied the rabbit to one of her belt loops.
"Yah catch it, yah carry it."
"It used to be so cute."
"That was a clean kill. Yah did good."
Remington beamed at the praise and the thrill that shot down her spine at the way he had invaded her personal space. She didn't even try to mention how she could have dealt with the rabbit by herself.
"You should probably take back control over the crossbow though. We're more likely to get enough food for tonight if you do."
"True." She playfully bumped her arm against his as he agreed with her, happy with the way he had begun to accept her touches.
As they walked Remington glanced around, gazing curiously at the trees that passed, as she felt the sensation of familiarity from them. Uneasiness began to crawl across her skin as she tried to place why this place was bothering her. As they walked upon a ravine her breath was pulled from her lungs as she took a step closer. She had been here before. She knew that. It looked just like the one she had fallen down with the Walker.
"This place looks famil-." Her words were cut off as a scream escaped her lips. The soft dirt underneath her boots gave out, crumbling away, and as she flailed her arms around, reaching out to grab a hold of anything Remington went down.
Daryl leaped forward, hand outreached, as her fingers slid through his grip.
"Rem!" he yelled, staring after her, as he lay in the dirt over the edge. He jumped to his feet, crossbow out, as he began to slide down after her.
Rocks dug into Remington. Dirt clogged her nose and mouth. Her hands came up to protect her head and face.
'There's no Walker,' she thought to herself. There was no Walker, and she could properly protect herself. Curling in on herself she tried to ignore the way every hit pulled the breath from her lungs and caused her to gasp aloud. The last impact was the hardest, it drew a groan from her lips, and would have dragged a yell of pain if she had the breath to make it. Her body had been carelessly tossed to the bottom, landing on something that smelled foul, and caused her to gag as she tried to let her brain catch up with what happened.
Her stomach rolled and she barely had the function to roll to her side before barfing. Above her, she could hear Daryl yelling out her name. His voice sounded panicked, and she couldn't imagine why. She couldn't hear anything except for the sounds of retching leaving her lips.
Not until the moan from a Walker was right on top of her. Flipping around her hand she searched for the machete that was no longer attached to her hip. She had tossed it as soon as she began to fall. The idea of being sliced by it hadn't in any way seemed tempting.
Moving backward her actions were slow and sluggish and she caught herself on the body of a Walker she had landed on. The thing that had the awful stench tied to it. Before she could force her foot up, to kick the legs of the Walker out from underneath it, an arrow lodged itself into its head.
She blinked. Seeming almost surprised before remembering that Daryl was with her. He had paused midway down the cliff to fire off a shot that saved her. He was instantly back in motion as soon as he saw she was safe from immediate danger.
Remington tried dragging herself away from the dead Walkers. She managed it a couple of feet before tiring out and dropping to the ground. Daryl was there then, arms reaching out, and supporting her head as he pulled her into his lap.
She groaned a little at the action before letting out a chuckle.
"That goddamn ravine," she muttered, her voice gravelly. "Thought I recognized it." She hissed as she tried to move. Daryl halted her movements.
"Where does it hurt?"
"Hurts all over but I'll be fine. Nothings broke. Just lots of bruising." She knew what a broken bone felt like. This wasn't it. The bruises would be dark and would take forever to heal though.
"The fuck you go and do that for?" His voice was hard, almost a snarl, as he glared down at her. The whiplash would have been startling, how he had gone from worried to pissed in a second, but Remington had been aware that Dixon's simply reacted this way when it came to their feelings sometimes.
"That cliff has got something against me," she chuckled again, trying to ease his worry with humor. "The second time it tried to kill me now."
"That's not funny. Don't say shit like that."
"Pretty funny to me." She snorted again before leaning her head back against his chest. "This time I had you around to save me though. Too many close calls, I swear." With a shake of her head, she focused on minimizing the pain, avoiding moving too much. "We should get back to camp."
"Yeah." He slid out from underneath her before slowly tugging her to her feet. Remington felt her bones ache and the stiffness in her limbs hindered her process, but she stood to her feet. "Gonna need yah to help climb that hill before I can carry yah back. Think you can do that?"
"Yeah." She eyed the cliff, remembering how steep it had been the last time she fell down it, but she had done it. It had been a bitch, and she could hardly remember most of that trip. There had been pain, a moment of wanting to give up before she had simply focused on what she needed to do to get back to her kids. "I can do that."
"All right. Let's do it then."
He had pushed her to go in front of him, a hand on her back, helping guide her up until she slipped. Her foot caught on crumbling dirt and almost slid out from under her if it hadn't been for his hands grabbing at her waist. After that, he kept an arm wrapped around her as they pulled themselves up using the trees. It was hard going, sweat dripping down her face, as she begged silently that the next tree would be their last. Halfway up he forced her to stop, to catch her breath before they pushed themselves to keep going.
Once at the top she dropped to the ground. The grass brushed against her cheek as she inhaled the smell of mud and dirt. She let out another groan as the pain pulsed through her body. Her muscles sighed in relief when she no longer had to move.
"Think I should just lay here for a bit." Her words came out muffled as she was still face-planting the dirt.
"Naw," Daryl said, eyeing her carefully before leaning down. "Gotta git going. Stand up." He pulled her to her feet and Remington had to force herself not to make the sounds of pain as she wanted. He was right. They needed to get going. Merle was with the kids though, they had the group, and it was the only thing keeping her from immediately shooting to her feet.
"I hate it when you're right," she hissed, gritting her teeth before suddenly the pain eased. Daryl had swung her up into his arms, bearing her full weight, and keeping her from exhausting herself any further. "Thought you were joking about carrying me."
"Yah can hardly walk. This'll be faster. No point in hurting yourself further."
"Just bruises. The pain will ease in a day or two." It felt nice, being carried by him, and with that knowledge, Remington had no reason to fight him further on the subject. So, she eased into the embrace, letting her muscles relax, as she allowed him to take care of her.
She didn't notice the way he relaxed after the way she melted into his arms. His hold on her shifted, just enough to better his grip, and having her lay her head down on his shoulder.
․° °․
Remington had been forced into doing nothing but resting after Daryl arrived back to camp carrying her. She tried to explain that she was fine. She was already feeling less pain but wouldn't state it had to do with the fact that she hadn't needed to walk the entire way back. She knew from years of experience that she would be right as rain in a couple of days. It wouldn't be the first time she had taken a fall, and even though her past dangers had been cut from her past, it would seem that it wouldn't be her last.
So, instead of speaking up Remington did as told with little fuss. Especially when she caught the guilty look on Daryl's face, and the ones of worry on Merles and Shane's. Even Carol had fluttered around her to make sure she really was fine, and Rick had stopped by where she had been perched by the fire and told not to move from. He had asked her if there was anything she needed, and she reminded him that Jenner had already taken a look over her.
Even though he was a scientist he was the closest they had to a doctor.
Jenner hadn't been happy with her over getting hurt.
She hadn't been surprised but also wasn't going to allow herself to be thrown into a safety bubble, never allowed to do anything remotely risky again. That didn't work for her. This new world was full of danger. If she was restricted it meant taking away almost everything she could do. That would hinder her plans.
Remington had been watching Merle and Maisie together when Jackson plopped down on the log bench that had been dragged over by someone else. Merle was skinning the animals with Daryl, and instead of helping them this time, Maisie was happily chatting away about whatever it was that had caught her attention. She could hear snippets of the conversation float over toward her as Jackson stayed silent by her side. Remington was almost certain it had been about her favorite video game character.
"Is it just cause of that show you used to be obsessed with?" Jackson asked, his voice pitched low. It had just been loud enough for her to hear but no one else.
"What is?" she pretended to be confused. She knew what he was talking about, but those feelings of leftover irritation nagged at her. Never before had she held onto a grudge for so long. Jackson had truly upset her. It wasn't like him or like her, and she wished they could move past it all. Nothing was guaranteed in this world, especially not time.
"Don't play stupid." He never was the type to soften his words. Even for her. She remembered the first time he had made her cry.
"Are you going to deal with all your problems like this?" he asked, frowning down at her.
"They were so mean!"
Jackson stared down at his six-year-old sister. She had been dealing with her first bully while he had been away, and when he came home it was to her crying. He hadn't liked the look on her face, the sadness, and the defeat. His parents had already dealt with the issue through the school and even contacted the parents. He knew these kids' types. They would just get better at hiding the torment but wouldn't stop.
It was up to his sister to end it and if this was how she dealt with it then she would only continue to feed her bully. He gripped her shoulders, turning her to face him, while his expression never changed. His was hard and stern, and even though he wanted to soften it up for her, he knew he couldn't give in to that desire. His sister already had people comforting her, wiping away her tears, she needed someone who could be tough and teach her how to stop it.
Remington had hated him at that moment, at first, before he had left on his next deployment and her time to put his teachings into practice arose. Every day he had been at home he escorted her to and from school and no one dared tried to mess with her when her military-enlisted big brother was around.
After that, every time he was home he taught her something new. It wasn't only about how to deal with bullies. He taught her how to play hide and seek in an extreme way. She remembered every time getting caught meant being tied up and then he just turned that into a lesson on how to get out without help. When she had grown older, and her parents allowed it, he taught her how to shoot a gun. Every summer he was home he would take her camping and unlike normal families, it was almost always a trip to teach her survival skills. The only thing he had never shown her was how to hunt or trap. She was sure somehow that had been her fault.
"Maybe it was in the beginning," she replied, finally answering him. "Then I got to know them. I care for them all too much to leave them now. I've changed things, Jackson. What if I changed too much and I leave, and they all die somehow."
"Many of them were meant to die."
"It doesn't have to be that way."
"You can't play God, Remington."
"No. I'm just trying to even the playing field a little bit."
"Your so stubborn."
"So are you."
"I'm not sorry." He wouldn't be sorry. Ever. About trying to protect her and Maisie. Those feelings he had experienced when seeing her had been overwhelming and all he could think of was that he couldn't lose her again.
Not again.
Which is why he couldn't be alienating her.
"You are never sorry when it comes to my safety." He nodded. He had stated this many times in the past as she grew up. "Except you are wrong about this. I'm safe. I'll be safe with them. I have a road map."
"And if you demolish that road map."
"I still have an ending. I know where we're going to end up one day. I just plan on making sure as many of those I care for end up there with me."
Jackson sighed, glancing over where Maisie had run off toward the other man. The one he was certain of was called Shane. He noticed the way the man didn't come to a complete stop, just slowed down enough for the girl to catch up with him.
"What if it turns out to be dangerous? Don't pretend there weren't a lot of obstacles for this group to conquer."
"The dead are up and walking, Jack. No matter where we go it's going to be dangerous. It just so happens that on this route I have some foreknowledge, even if I change it."
"Would you risk Maisie's life on that?" She turned to glare at him. Her gaze heated, but he didn't back down. Her glare would have made a weaker man flinch, but Jackson had seen death and stared it in the face time and time again. It only bothered him that it had changed, the way she spoke, and the way she held herself. It all had changed and that bothered him a bit.
"I would do anything for that little girl. No matter what it takes I'll keep her safe and alive."
"I know you would." He shifted on the log, pulling his gun from his back and leaning it against the side of the seat. "I heard what you did back in Atlanta. Talked to the ex-cop."
"Which one?" she asked curiously.
"Grimes. He said you went and saved the burly one. Merle."
"I did." If she wasn't still upset with him, she may have found it amusing how he had described Merle. But she was still upset and wouldn't be sharing her amusement.
"He told me how you supposedly took down two men."
Remington stiffened. She didn't like to think about it but knew it wasn't healthy to push it all back and not deal with it. Which is why she had been taking time every night to go off and breathe on her own as she tried to come to terms with what she had done. It kept the nightmares at bay, but sometimes they leaked through. Even though she didn't want to talk about it with him she knew he was the perfect person to have this discussion with.
"I killed them." She took a deep breath. "It was either them or us."
"The kid, Glenn, he said one had a gun aimed at your head."
"Getting chatty with the enemies, aren't you?"
"They're not the enemies. I just don't know if I like them or not. Stop deflecting. Are you a therapist or not?" Remington scoffed. He had always tried to avoid seeing a person like herself. He never liked going but he would. He was just afraid one day they would tell him he was no longer fit for service. She knew there had been a few close calls. He had never spoken about what happened, all of it was confidential, but something told her she knew exactly what it had been. It was always harder for him when innocent civilians got involved.
"One had a gun aimed at me. The only thing that saved me was your words flowing through my head. All I could think about was training with you."
"Those were never meant to be put into action."
"Just meant to have on hand just in case. Who knew I would be surrounded by the Undead and the worst of the human population? Couldn't have prepared me for the end of the world any better than you did."
"All of this is fucked up."
She frowned but agreed with him. A part of that anger she had been holding onto extinguished as she saw this for what it was. He was holding out an olive branch. He was trying and this time she didn't see herself storming off in anger.
"Do you know how we ended up here? In an old-time favorite T.V. show?"
"No."
Remington couldn't help but feel as if he was holding something back from her, but she didn't pry, after all, she hadn't spoken up about her own secrets, and they were only just now having a conversation that didn't end in an argument.
She would allow him to keep his secrets. When it was time she would know them, and the same could be said for her secrets.
┈┈┈┈․° °․┈┈┈┈
Shane felt the annoyance bubble up as he slipped from the cabin. He had just helped Remington get the kids settled in on their cot since everyone agreed she shouldn't be doing anything remotely tiring for the next day. He then helped her to her own cot, tucking her in, and enjoyed the dark blush that flooded her cheeks before bidding her goodnight. Shane had even managed to tease her about a goodnight kiss before ducking away from her swatting hands. He had been happy until a familiar face cornered him outside. That's when the annoyance kicked in.
"What yah want, Lori?" he asked her as she stepped in his way, blocking his path.
"I was wondering if we could bunk together tonight. Talk a bit. Settle some things between us." She looked uncomfortable, shifting from foot to foot, but there was an edge to the action. He could sense the unease coming from a place of anger rather than fear.
"Not interested. Thought I made that pretty clear back at the CDC."
Shane had played it off for Remington, particularly when he noticed she had been worried for him, but after Remington had gone off with the Dixons that first night, Lori had ambushed him in his room. He hadn't wanted her to worry, or be angry, and get into yet another fight with Lori. Especially not over him. She had tried to talk to him then too. When he had tried sending her away, she had grown angry. Had begun to push and shove at him. Her voice never grew loud, but it carried a tone that told him if it wasn't for the others in the building she would have been.
She had tried to blame him for what happened to Rick, and then for what had gone on between them both. He had only been able to scoff in disbelief at how easily she forgot that she had been the one to kiss him first. The guilt the two of them had felt the morning after had been real, but he regretted continuing anything with her.
When Lori realized she wasn't getting anywhere, he had only wanted her to get out and go back to Rick, she had looked desperate before trying to kiss him. It had thrown him off. The way she seemed so easily able to throw away her marriage with Rick. She had seemed just as lost right after, but Shane hadn't allowed her to make excuses for herself and told her somberly to leave.
Here, now, with her standing in front of him, her body language reading confrontational, Shane tensed in preparation.
"We need to get past this, Shane."
"I feel like I'm doing a pretty good job at that. You seem to be the one stuck on it." He tried to push past her, but she reached out, grabbed his arm, and held on strong. Shane didn't want to accidentally hurt her. Reaching out, he carefully and gently tried to pry her fingers from his arm.
"Is it because of her?"
"Of whom?" He frowned as she continued to hold on.
"Remington. Is it because of her?" Irritation at her daring to bring up Remington, someone who only ever wanted to help, simmered inside of him. He managed to yank his arm away and she clutched at her midsection, wrapping her arms around herself as she realized the ground she was losing.
"It's because I don't want to hurt my friend. The man I love as a brother. As his wife, I would think you'd want the same thing. What the fuck are you doing, Lori?"
"I-I don't know. I'm just all mixed up inside. You're not gonna tell him, are you?" She acted like she was going to grab him again before holding herself back. "You can't tell him."
"Lori." He sighed, deflating, as he felt exhaustion crash over him. "Get your shit together. You can't keep doing this. Keep it up and I'll tell him. He deserves to know."
"You can't!" she said, lunging forward. Shane scowled, pulling her back off, as he took a step back.
"Find somewhere to sleep. I don't care what you do. You're no longer my problem. Just stay away from me."
"You would have never acted like this toward me if it wasn't for her!" Her voice had risen. Louder than she had ever allowed herself to be before. Shane didn't even flinch as he turned his back on her.
"Get some help, Lori. That woman you keep bad-mouthing has only ever tried to help you before you went and pissed her off. Leave Remington alone. I don't want you bothering her anymore."
"If it wasn't for her, you'd still care." He stopped walking, turning back to glance at her over his shoulder, before shaking his head.
"Maybe that's a good thing. I can only imagine how I'd end up being if it wasn't for her."
She tried stopping him one last time, but Shane ignored her desperate pleas as he kept on walking.
┈┈┈┈․° °․┈┈┈┈
Oblivious to what was happening closer to the cabin Daryl Dixon found Rick at the R.V. loitering as he talked with Jackson, Remington's brother. They seemed to be going over when Jackson should wake up Rick for his turn for watch.
Daryl wasn't sure how he felt about the new member, only knowing that the two siblings were at odds since running back into one another, but he could read between the lines. They both cared about one another, were stubborn as hell, and were letting it cloud their judgment. He recognized it and knew that it would blow over, sometime soon, if the way they looked by the fire earlier was anything to go by.
Biting his thumb, he came to a stop next to Rick and motioned to talk to him on their own. Rick bid goodbye to the older man before walking toward the cabin with Daryl.
"Need something?" He smiled kindly, unsure of what to expect, as he had hardly dealt with the younger Dixon. He seemed quiet, less confrontational than his brother, and Rick could be honest. He preferred it.
"Was wondering if I could talk you into changing with me?" Rick raised an eyebrow in question. "In the cabin." Daryl, frustrated, shifted his stance as he came to a stop. Rick, feeling somewhat amused, stopped next to him.
"Oh?" he asked. "What for? Don't reckon you have a kid inside to look after." Daryl frowned, gnawing harshly on his cheek as he glanced anywhere but at Rick. "Or could it be one of the others staying in the cabin?" A smile formed on his lips at the agitation that appeared in Daryl's stance.
"I just need to keep an eye on her. My fault she fell down. Should have been keeping a better watch."
"Doubt that was your fault," Rick said, leaning forward to pat his shoulder. "I bet she feels the same way."
"Don't matter." Rick shrugged, taking back his hand, as he rocked back on his heels still feeling amused.
"You can take my spot. I would have trusted Remington to watch over Carl, but Lori insisted. Though I doubt having you inside would have taken much more space as it is, I could use the time to have a discussion with my wife. Go ahead."
"Thanks."
"Don't mention it." Rick waved him off as he strode in a different direction in search of his wife.
When Daryl entered the cabin, it was dark. The only light filtered in through the curtains that had been pulled back. He didn't remember them being that way the last time he stayed the night in this cabin. He could only imagine it was to allow more light into the room, so no one accidentally trampled over someone else. Everyone inside seemed to have already fallen asleep as Daryl was only greeted by the thumping of dog tails wagging in greeting. Neither showed any sign of aggression and he didn't expect to unless it was someone, they were unfamiliar with.
Daryl pulled his shoes off by the door before treading cautiously along in the dark, careful to avoid any stray bodies until he found Remington's cot. She stirred as he neared before waking up in a panic. He was quick to kneel down, reaching out, as he placed a calming hand on her shoulder.
"Just me," he whispered.
"Daryl?" she asked in confusion. "What are you doing?" He hesitated to answer. He was afraid she would grow irritated with the constant show of concern. She had been taking it fairly well, but he could see the moments when one too many people came to check in or do something for her. She was independent and strong. He was worried about saying or doing the wrong thing and pushing her away.
He had stayed silent for too long. She seemed to grow worried as she rolled over to face him properly. He hadn't meant to make her feel that way. She reached out, her fingers automatically running through his short hair soothingly. He leaned into her touch, surprised that she ever willingly touched him at all. What made her different? No one had ever tried to get to know the Dixon brothers before. And here this angel was, giving away free affection, and care. Angel was such an accurate description of her.
It was almost like she had been sent their way on purpose.
"Do you want to stay?" Remington asked, noticing how lost and confused he looked. Since they had gotten back, she had seen the worry in his eyes. The way he watched her explained it all. There was no need for him to feel guilty. It hadn't been his fault, but she knew he had a habit of taking things like this personally. He had been there. He could have stopped it. Those were the kind of thoughts running through his head. He had seen the way she fell down that ravine and then came close to being bitten.
It would leave an impact on anyone that you were starting to get close to.
Remington had seen that change within him too.
It wasn't hard to make the decision to ease his fears. Just like Shane had offered her the night she woke up to a nightmare, Remington offered Daryl comfort by raising the thin blanket and making room for him on the cot. She cared for him. To her, this was nothing compared to what she was willing to do for those she was connected to. It only surprised her for a moment when, after a moment of deliberation, he slid onto the cot next to her.
Noticing how stiff and uncomfortable he seemed to be with the close contact Remington rolled back over so her back was facing him.
She would have now cuddled with two out of the three men she had grown close to since her time in the TWD universe.
It felt nice. Safe. Like a blanket of comfort to have him nearby. She felt nothing but soft affection for him at that moment, even as her bones ached something fierce, and the Tylenol Jenner had given her barely took off the edge.
Just as she was drifting back off to sleep, she felt the way an arm wrapped around her waist. A smile slid onto her lips as she fell into a deep, peaceful, slumber.
"Get some help, Lori." Shane says knowing damn well that Remi is the only one that could help that woman XD
I'm so excited! We're getting close to some of my favorite scenes! I think there's one next chapter, or it's the one after that, but we're getting there! The Greene's will be coming in soon and I'm just so excited to show you what I plan on doing with them!
Until Sunday! I promise I will make sure to update on time this time.