Confide in Fear | DARYL DIXON •1

4. Welcomed

Alex's *POV*

I walked inside of the cellblock and saw everyone  standing around, and a few of them sitting on the steel steps. My eyes caught Daryl, who stood behind Rick, his shoulders slouching as he bit on his nails.

"What's going on?" I asked curiously, nervous for what they were going to say.

"We've came to a conclusion, after the weeks you've been here. The things you've done to help us around here... we all have seen it." Hershel said, helping himself up from the steps with his crutch. Looking at Hershel then at Rick, then around the room.

I begin to become confused, also noticing Glenn had a slight smile lurking on his face.

"Rick?" Hershel spoke.

"I know we were harsh on you for the days you've been here, which I hope you understand." Rick began speaking. "You've put your trust in us and it's only right if we put ours in you. So uh, we think maybe you can stay."

"Really? All of you?" I looked at Rick, then turned my head to look at Daryl who kept his hand in front of his mouth, almost as if he was hiding.

"We could really use another person in this prison to help out." Rick ignores my question, but continues to explain. "Someone who loves to help out. But one wrong move that could harm us, you're out."

"Yeah, we need you." Glenn encouraged.

"Well I'm flattered. Thank you. It means a lot." I said. I saw Daryl and heard him snicker, as he leaned off the wall and walked away, out of the room.

"He's uh, not much of a people person. Especially new people." He said.

"Of course not." I chuckled.

"He'll come around." Rick said. "He will."

"C'mon, let's eat. I'm starving." Glenn said, patting a free seat next to him at the table for me.

"Aren't we all." Carl said, causing everyone to smile and laugh.

"She's adorable." I told Carl, who was holding Judith in his arms.

"Yeah, she is." He smiled, gazing down at his sister.

"So, where's your mom? I don't think I got to meet her yet." I asked. I saw Carl put his head down to look at Judith again, and sigh. "Oh... Carl. I'm sorry. I -"

"It's okay. You didn't know."

"I'm sorry." I said, biting on my bottom lip. "Can I hold her?"

Carl smiled,  handing me Judith.

"Your mother must've been very beautiful. She has two very cute kids." I smiled down at Judith, and then to Carl.

He laughed a little, "She was."

"I think it's time for you to bring Judith to sleep, as well as yourself." Rick said, entering the cell block, talking to Carl, as he interrupted us.

"Okay Dad." Carl stood up, and took Judith away. "Good night Alex."

"Good night, Carl." I said, while standing up and heading to my own cell to go to sleep.

"I need you up early tomorrow. I need help with farming, the fence too." Rick said.

"Okay, sure."

"He'll come around."

"What?"

"Daryl. He'll come around. I said it before, but It just takes some time. Especially for him...It's harder." He explained.

"So I've been told." I said, smiling slightly.

"Alright well, see you tomorrow." Rick spoke, while walking away.

It wasn't that hot today as it was yesterday, thank gosh. Obviously, I still managed to get all hot and dirty, while digging with my fingers and shovels to plant some stuff Rick handed me. All I could hear around me were these walkers pushing against the fence. I tried to block out the noise, but I couldn't concentrate.  The walkers were pushing so damn hard on the fence, at any minute it could come caving in.

After finishing up what Rick wanted me to do, I sat on the ground and chugged the rest of my water from my bottle. It was too hot for this long sleeved shirt, so I took it off, leaving me in my black tank top. I put my hair up and closed my eyes with my face up towards the sun.

I forgot what silence sounded like, without all the walkers. I was scared to admit it to anyone; that I was scared of these walkers. Scared of being alone and not knowing any of these people at all. I was scared.

"I would never hit a girl, just so you know." I heard a voice from behind me. I turned around and saw Daryl, looking at me, slouching on the wall in my cell. It was getting dark out, the sun almost gone. Everyone was probably getting ready to finish up eating, while I stood in my cell.

"It didn't seem like it yesterday.." I mumbled to him, while cleaning up the dirt of my shirt. I needed a shower, change of clothes desperately.

"That's why I'm telling you now," he sighed. "I wouldn't lay a hand on a woman. Anyone that's not a threat. Ever."

"Okay." I said, looking straight at him. I get that he wanted to say that to me, but did he have to stay longer with nothing else to say? I looked at him, while he was staring at the ground. I sat down on my bed and went to lay down. At the corner of my eyes, I saw Daryl make his way out of my cell, but then quickly turn around.

"Oh, I know you just did pretty heavy farming with Rick today, but Rick wants me out on a run tomorrow."

"Okay, and?" I questioned, taking my boots off and placing them on the ground.

"And I need to you come with me."

"Just us?" I asked.

"Nah, others too. Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why did you ask if it will be just us? Don't trust me still?" He questioned while looking right at my eyes.

"I never said I don't trust you-"

"So you do?"

"We'll find out." I said while sitting down on my bed. Just as I was about to say something else, I heard Daryl leave the cell, and noticed he covered the entrance with the white sheet that's used as a "door" for privacy. I turned to my side and covered myself with the blankets and tried to fall asleep, while thinking about Daryl and the way he is...

-
Just want to let you know, the way Daryl speaks on the show is the same way it is in this story...
I'm just not writing it out like "ain't" and "yer" or whatever.
I just find it annoying!