"Hey pookie," Carol interrupts. He's shoving weapons in the car, a crowbar and machetes, an extra blade on the door. She's got a plastic bag of canned food in her hands, for the trip. She'd been tasked with splitting up rations for the groups that would be going.
After the meeting the other night, Tyreese, Rick and Daryl had squinted over the maps he'd been collecting. They decide on three places worth looking at.
A couple of natural recon groups fall together and volunteer when Rick shares the idea, scoping 'em out as possible winter homes. Maggie, Glenn and Tara one way; Sasha, Tyreese and Bob in another. Daryl was hoping he'd take the last one, the farthest one, on his own, in-n-out, real quick-like. It's in the mountains, not that far from where he grew up. He's real disappointed when the day they spend searching for supplies and vehicles in town doesn't bring a bike for him to boost.
He has to settle on a small coupe that won't take a lot of gas. He's still intending on going alone when Carol asks, "You want some company for this?"
He hesitates, and doesn't even have time to think it through before Rick is there, setting down a red plastic gas tank with a white cap on it. His voice is flat when he says, "Why don't you stay here with us."
He may as well've said, No I don't trust you outta my sight, for as obvious as his tone is, and Carol gets the message loud and clear. Her mouth purses tightly, biting back words, but she doesn't let them out. She doesn't push it. Daryl's not interested in stepping on that hornet's nest right then, neither.
The strained pause leaves room for Beth to slip in the conversation, jiggling Judith on her hip, smiling sweet. She stands near him, so Judith can smile at him, too.
"I'll go," She offers. All bright and cheery.
At first, he's gonna argue. Then he wants to deny her outright. Just make her stay back with Rick, Michonne, and the kids. They'd done some hunting and tracking, dealt with straggler walkers in the woods, but nothing serious since they'd found her. She'd never gone on a real run, aside from running for their fuckin' lives.
Rick doesn't add his two cents this time, irritatingly quiet. Instead he raises both eyebrows at Daryl, leaving it to him. Carol waits, frowning still. Maggie isn't far, peeking up from the back of the SUV she was loading. He hopes she'll speak up, but she doesn't either. Just looks down again, pretending she's not eavesdropping on the whole thing.
They're all waiting on what he's gonna say with bated breath and barely-veiled curiosity. Beth's face is sweet, politely anticipating his disagreement, he can see the hint of rebellion around her eyes. Her head's tilted towards Judith's hand, tightly fisted in her ponytail, but there's open, easy amusement in her expression, waiting for him to disagree, expecting a conflict.
And finding it a little funny.
He frowns at her. He'd rather not make any choice right here, for everyone to judge. If they were alone, he'd fight with her. Maybe just to fight with her. But if they were alone, she'd be coming with him anyway. And if he's honest with himself, he wants her with him as much as he wants her to stay where it's safe. Carl went on runs way younger than whatever age Beth is now, and he isn't teaching her for shits and giggles. They do her no favors mollycoddling her.
But it don't really make him feel any better about the idea.
Everyone's interest gives him itches. He wonders if they'll gossip more if he says no and they have a dumb fight, or if he says yes easily. Beth's voice whispers in his head, I can take care of myself.
Rick says, "You shouldn't go alone anyway."
Pretty soon I won't need you at all, she chirps in his memory.
He groans out a sigh. He directs to Beth, "You gonna listen to me?"
"Sure," she responds, "if you talk to me."