𝐑𝐞𝐛𝐞𝐥《 𝘋𝘢𝘳𝘺𝘭 𝘋𝘪𝘹𝘰𝘯 》

n i n e// W O R D S

|{Act 1 finale}|

One word to describe it all.

"Boy, there's got a gang, 30 men." Daryl approached the group, blood dripping from his hand, knuckles completely turned red. The people gathered at their improvised camp, near the RV and the majority of the tents. "They have heavy artillery and they ain't looking to make friends. They roll through here, our boys are dead. And our women, they're gonna... They're gonna wish they were."
"What did you do?" Carol questioned the Dixon man while fixating her eyes on his fist.
"Had a little chat."
"No one goes near this guy." Rick told the people.
"What are we gonna do with him?" Dale questioned, giving him a look.
"We have no choice. He's a threat." He paused. "We have to eliminate the threat."
"You're just gonna kill him?" Dale stepped forward, indignant they were determined to murder a kid.
"It's settled. I'll do it today." Rick said sternly, proving the elder man he was nowhere available for further discussion.
Dale ran after him as soon as he stepped away.
"You can't do this! You don't wanna do this, I know you don't." He tried getting inside the sheriff's mind.
"I thought about it all night. Knowing what we know now, I don't see a way out of it."
"But you can't just decide on your own to take someone's life."
"The group seemed supportive."
"What, because they didn't speak back? You didn't let them! So, it doesn't mean a damn thing. Ask each of them how they feel about this." He paused as Rick stopped walking. "There's gotta be a... A process."
"And what would that be? We can't call witnesses, go before a judge."
"So he's automatically guilty by association and sentenced to death? He's just a kid! Just... Give me some time to talk to everyone."
"We can't--"
"Try to figure out another way--"
"No, we can't drag this out! People are scared."
"Which is why they need time to discuss this."
"No, no. They need to be safe. I owe 'em that."
"You think about your son, the message you're giving him-- Shoot first, think later? I'm asking for one day to talk to everybody."
"We reconvene at sunset, then what happens happens."

Desperation

Smith walked by the barn, totally lost in thought. Completely forgetting about Randall's existence and how he was right there, inside.
"Dale, huh?" A voice sounded from the real world.
"What?"
"He put you on death watch?" Smith narrowed her eyes at the man six yards away from her. He had scars on his face, which made her wonder what had happened on that day him and Rick drove away with Randall.
"Let me ask you something... Say I wanted to go in there right now and I just wanted to take care of this, you gonna stop me? Hmm?" Shane painted a scenario, stepping closer to her.
"I'm not on 'death watch'." She mocked. "And you, do what you want, friend. Just keep in mind the consequences you'll have to face after you fuck things up." She hoped to finalise the conversation but, as expected, Shane didn't let it end there.
He looked up to the sky and scoffed. "So, you buy into Dale's sob story? You had him got a... A detectives' club, hm? You got some kind of conspiracy against me?" He walked closer, hoping to intimidate her like those tries before.
"Well, if you're so obsessed about someone conspiring against you, that might mean you're doing something that's conspiracy worthy, no?" She smiled innocently and kept on walking.

Boldness

★
"Point of me coming up here is to get away from you people." Daryl scoffed looking at the approaching Dale that came in sight.
"Gonna take more than that."
"Carol send you?"
"Carol's not the only one that's concerned about you, your new role in the group."
"Oh, man. I don't need my head shrunk. This group's broken. I'm better off fending for myself."
"You act like you don't care."
"Yeah, it's cause I don't."
"So live or die, you don't care what happens to Randall?"
"Nope."
"Then why not stand with me, try to save the kid's life, if it really doesn't matter one way or another?"
"Didn't peg you for a desperate son of a bitch."
"Your opinion makes a difference."
"Man, ain't nobody looking at me for nothing."
"Carol is. Smith, is and I am. Right now."
"Smith?" He scoffed.
"Who's been treating your wounds since day one? And, if I remember correctly, it was you she asked for help when Lori went missing."
"Wasn't quite like that."
"One way or the other, the people care about you. And, obviously, you have Rick's ear."
"Rick just looks to Shane. Let him."
"You cared about what happened to Sophia, cared what it meant to the group. Torturing people? That isn't you. You're a decent man. So is Rick. Shane-- he's different."
"Why's that? 'Cause he killed Otis?"
"He told you that?"
"He told some story, how Otis covered him, saved his ass. he showed up with the dead guy's gun. Rick ain't stupid. If he didn't figure it out, it's cause he didn't wanna. It's like I said, group's broken."
★
 
Smith checked up on Beth's wrist while chatting with Glenn, who stood in the doorframe of the bedroom.
"You seen Daryl around?"
"Why?"
"His fist was busted up this morning but I haven't had time to call him up here, yet. Do you mind checking if he's around?"
"Sure, wait a second."
Beth thanked her and left and, after a while, Daryl came in like a storm.
"What?" He asked, impatient.
"Come here." 
He walked closer to her and when he did reach a safe distance, she extended her hand. He looked confused between her and her hand a couple times.
"What?"
"You hand." He awkwardly placed his hand on hers and waited for some kind of explanation. She didn't say anything and, instead, started working on his cuts and bruises. He scoffed lightly. "What?"
"This what you made me come here for? Couldn't move your ass to my camp?"
"I'm sorry, I'm currently not doing care at the domicile anymore." She gave him her fakest smile and he squinted his eyes. 
"Just leave it be, it's just blood."
"No, it's actually not just blood. I need to take care of it before you gain an infection." She stole a glance at him. He was nervous and restless and his muscles tensed up. "Are you alright? You're agitated."
He scoffed louder this time. "Yeah, it's cause you made me run here for nothing."
Smith sighed. You couldn't win with him.
She finished up the work on his hand and kept her face stern.
"Next time you need medical help, ask Hershel or 'leave it be'. Do whatever you want." She walked out of the room with heavy steps. "I'm sick of everybody's bullshit."
Great. Now, that they had just made up, back to square one.