digging graves// rick grimes x OC//

Chupacabra Part 3

    Walking over to the shed where Hershel was, Rick sees him pouring some gasoline into the generator. Hershel looks up, "One of my horses is missing. Did one of your people take it?"
    "I was given the impression you knew about that," Rick answers.
    The older man looks at him, "I did not."
    Rick nods, "I'll have a word with Daryl."
    "And Jimmy?" Hershel questions, "You took him out today. Did he also give you the impression of my consent?"
    "No he said it outright. I took the boy at his word," Rick replies.
    "Jimmy is seventeen. He's not my kin but I am responsible for him. These things need to be cleared with me," Hershel demands.
    "Sounds like we need to work on our communication. What do you suggest?"
    "Keep it simple. I'll control my people, you control yours."
    Rick nods, walking away from the man.
——
    Daryl opens his eyes, his blurry vision coming in focus with Merle staring at him. The older redneck speaks, "Why don't you pull that arrow out, dummy? You could bind your wound better."
    Daryl smiles at his brother, "Merle."
    He smiles back, "What's going on here? You taking a siesta or something?"
    "Having a shitty day, bro."
    "Like me to get your pillow? Maybe rub your feet?" Merle jokes.
    "Screw you."
    He shakes his head, "Huh-uh. You're the one screwed from the looks of it. All them years I spent trying to make a man of you, this is what I get? Look at you. Lying in the dirt like a used rubber. You're gonna die out here, brother. And for what?"
    "A girl. They lost a little girl," Daryl whispers, his throat dry.
    "So you got a thing for little girls now?"
    "Shut up."
    "'Cause I noticed you ain't looking for old Merle no more."
    "Tried like hell to find you, bro."
    "Like hell you did. You split, man. Lit out first chance you got."
   "You lit out. All you had to do was wait. We went back for you. Rick, Winona and I, we did right by you."
    "This the same Rick and Winona that cuffed me to the rooftop in the first place? Forced me to cut off my own hand? This them we're talking about? You his bitch now? Or are you pussy-whipped by that chick?
    "That's not how it is. I ain't nobody's bitch," Daryl responds, his vision blurring ever so often.
    "You're a joke is what you are, playing errand boy to a bunch of pansy-asses, [redacted] and democrats," Merle chuckles, "You're nothing but a freak to them. Redneck trash. That's all you are. They're laughing at you behind you back. That chick is pitying you. You know that, don't you? I got a little news for you, son. One day they gonna scrape you off their heels like you was dogshit." Daryl begins to lose consciousness, Merle taps his chest, "Hey. They ain't your kin, your blood. Hell, you had any damn nuts in that sack of yours, you'd got back there and shoot your pals Rick and Winona in the face for me. Now you listen to me. Ain't nobody ever gonna care for you except me, little brother. Ain't nobody ever will. Come on, get up on your feet before I have to kick your teeth in," he stands up, pulling Daryl's leg, "Let's go."
   However, when Daryl finally comes to, he realizes Merle wasn't there. A walker is pulling on his leg, trying to eat him. Adrenaline spikes and Daryl scoots away, kicking the undead away from him. He tries reaching for his crossbow, but the walker grabs at him, causing Daryl to stab at the waist of the walker. He wrestles with it, pushing it down and holding a stick to keep it against the ground. He looks up seeing another walker that was approaching due to the noise. Daryl slams the large stick into the face of the walker he was on top of, effectively smashing its rotten face in. He stabs it in the brain as a precaution. Seeing the other walker getting closer, he begins to pull the bolt through his wound, probably causing more damage— he knows Winona will yell at him for that. The hunter strains to load the crossbow, finally pulling the string all the way back he loads the bolt, just in time to shoot the walker in the head as it stands above him.
    Daryl pants, his side throbbing with pain. He closes his eyes as he lays on the ground, trying to catch his breath.
——
    Some time has passed as Daryl wakes up, he had fallen unconscious due to the immense pain. The afternoon sun shone through the trees, shining in his eyes. He leans forward, getting up he walks over to a rock to sit on. He takes off the dirtied flannel and folds it, putting it against his wound he ties the sleeves— he had previously tied around the bolt— around his waist to secure the makeshift pad. He tightens it down, "Son of a bitch was right."
    He straddles the log, rinsing off his knife. He guts the squirrel he had shot earlier. He digs into it, eating it raw. He picks up the doll securing it on him. He looks the one walker for the shoelaces and the knife that stuck out of it. He proceeds to cut off the ears, stringing them on the shoelace and wearing it like a necklace. He gazes up the cliff, beginning the climb once more.
    Hoisting himself up, he groans with a grimace, then pain not getting any better. He stops looking up at the birds. "Please, don't feed the birds," Merle speaks from above him. He chuckles at Daryl, "What's the matter, Darylina? That all you got in you? Throw away that purse and climb."
    Daryl looks up at his older brother, "I liked it better when you was missing."
    Merle laughs, "Come on, don't be like that. I'm on your side."
    "Yeah? Since when?" Daryl says trying to climb.
    "Hell, since the day you were born, baby brother. Somebody had to look after your worthless ass."
    "You never took care of me. You talk big game but you was never there. Hell, you ain't here now. Guess some things never change."
    "Well, I'll tell you what— I'm as real as your chupacabra."
    "I know what I saw," Daryl defends.
    "And I'm sure them shrooms you ate had nothing to do with it, right?"
    Daryl yells up at the older man, "You'd best shut the hell up."
    Merle crouches down, "Or what? You gonna come up here and shut my mouth for me? Well, come on and do it then, if you think you're man enough," he chuckles, "Hey, kick off them damn high heels and climb, son." Daryl becomes increasingly frustrated as Merle laughs. The older brother continues to talk, "You know what? If I were you I'd take a pause for the cause, brother. 'Cause I just don't think you're gonna make it to the top." Daryl continues figuring ways to get closer to the top. "Come on,"  Merle beckons with his hand, "Come on, little brother. Grab your friend Rick's hand."
   Daryl grabs at the ground, slowly pulling himself up. He glances around the area, as if he was looking to see if his brother had been there. Not seeing him, he shouts, "Yeah, you'd better run!"
——
    Hearing voices coming from the kitchen, Hershel goes to investigate. "Oh yeah? I never thought I'd be so happy to see a potato," Lori says.
    "I'm just glad we're not roasting squirrels over a fire in the woods," Carol replies.
    Winona crosses her arms, "Hey! I'll have you know that those squirrels are pretty good." She leaves the room going to check on Carl.
    The women chuckle. Carol faces Patricia, "Thank you, Patricia, so much for letting us into your house."
    Hershel sees Maggie, "What's this?"
    "Lori and Carol are cooking dinner for us all tonight," she answers.
    He raises his arms, "That's the first I've heard of it."
    "I didn't think it was that big of a deal. They want to thank us for helping them," Maggie honestly replies.
    "We need to be setting clear boundaries with these people. They're getting a little too comfortable."
    Maggie looks up at her dad, "It's just dinner."
    Hershel straightens, "What's going on with you and the Asian boy?"
    "Glenn. He's a friend."
    "I'd rather he wasn't. Bad enough I have to chase Beth and Jimmy around."
    "Well, you don't have to chase me around. I'm not sixteen."
    "I know you're not. That's why I'm counting on you to be the mature one. You know how I feel. Please don't make things harder than they need to be."
    Maggie looks at her father, "I'm a little old for us to be having this conversation." She then begins to walk back into the kitchen.
    "Don't get close to them," Hershel says, causing her to stop, "They're not going to be around forever." She doesn't reply as she walks away.
——
    Dale meanders through the camp, gazing up at the roof of the RV, he sees Andrea with the rifle, "What's with the Annie Oakley routine?" he asks.
    She lowers the rifle, "I don't want to wash clothes anymore, Dale. I want to help keep the camp safe. Is that alright with you?"
    He furrows his brows and walks into the RV, slightly jumping at the sight of Glenn awaiting him. "Sorry," the younger man apologizes as he fidgets, "Just returning your book."
    Dale sets the bucket he was carrying on the floor, "Oh no, I'm sorry," he says taking a look at the book, "If I had known the world was ending, I'd have brought better books."
    The old man walks towards the back of the camper, Glenn hesitates before standing. "Dale, you think Andrea's on her period?" he questions.
Dale signals for Glenn to lower his voice with his hand. Glenn continues in a whisper, "I'm only asking 'cause it's like all the women— besides Wi— are acting really weird. And I read somewhere that when women spend a lot of time together, their cycles line up and they all get super crazy hormonal at the same time. That would make sense as to why Winona isn't acting like this, she didn't join until later."
    The older man raises his hand to quiet Glenn, "I'm gonna advise you to keep that theory to yourself."
    Glenn chuckles, "Yeah."
     "Who else is acting weird? You ruled out Winona..."
     Glenn's smile drops as he sits back in the booth, "Maggie."
     "Ah, Maggie," Dale replies almost with a hint of mockery in his voice.
     "She started off being mean to me. Then she wanted to have sex with me. And now she's being mean to me again. And I don't even want to know what's going on with Lori," Glenn reveals.
     "Have you tried asking Winona? She's a girl, I'm sure she'd have better advice. And what's going on with Lori?"
     Glenn realizes he slipped up and shakes his head, "Nothing. I don't know. Nah, Nona would just make fun of me."
     "Alright, let's take this back a step. How do you know that Maggie wanted to have sex with you?" Dale asks, resulting in Glenn to answer with a guilty expression. Dale picks up on it, "Oh, son, you didn't," Glenn just laughs and Dale starts lecturing, "Did it ever occur to you how her father might feel about this?"
     "She's twenty-two," he replies confused.
     "And he is our host," Dale emphasizes.
     "He doesn't know."
     "Well, see that it stays that way," Dale looks off shaking his head, "Jesus, Glenn, what were you thinking?"
     "I was thinking that I might be dead tomorrow," he somberly answers, Dales face softens. Glenn stands up, leaving, "Thanks for the book. You're right, it sucks."
     Glenn exits the RV seeing that Winona was entertaining the camp. She gives him a smile, "Heya, Rhee."
     Glenn just gives her a nod in return. Suddenly, they hear Andrea begin to yell, "Walker. Walker!" Looking out, Winona sees a limping figure along the tree line.
    Rick comes up from behind Winona, she felt his hand lay on her lower back directing her aside, "Just the one?" he questions, his touch leaving as fast as it arrived.
    Andrea raises the binoculars, sun glaring through it, she lowers them, "I bet I can nail it from here."
    Winona watches as Glenn grabs his weapon. Rick starts disagreeing with the blonde, "No no, Andrea. Put the gun down."
    Shane then walks out of his tent, his shirt unbuttoned, Winona shaking her head at that. He speaks, "You'd best let us handle this."
    Rick holds out his arm, "Shane, hold up. Hershel wants to deal with walkers."
    "What for, man? We got it covered," Shane responds back.
    "Damn," Rick sighs running to the RV to get a weapon.
    A group consisting of Glenn, Rick, T-Dog, and Shane run out to take down the walker. Andrea begins to raise the rifle to look through the scope once more. She lays down to get a better sight.
    "Andrea, don't," Winona demands.
    "Back off, Winona," she spits back.
    Shane is grunting as he runs, his ankle still affecting him. The group reaches the walker, stopping when they see who it is. "Is that Daryl?" Glenn asks.
    Daryl begins to speak, "That's the third time you've pointed that thing at my head. You gonna pull the trigger or what?"
    Rick lowers his gun and ever breaths a sigh of relief. Until a gunshot sounds through the air, Daryl drops to the ground. "No! No!" Rick yells.
——
    Winona shouts, "Are you stupid?! Obviously something was up, they didn't attack it! Why the hell did you shoot?!"
    Andrea scoffs, "They were going to kill it eventually. God, Winona, don't get your panties in a twist."
    Hearing distant yelling from Rick, Winona's face falls, "Is he saying no?"
    The group that was inside the house comes running out, Hershel yells, "What on earth's going on out here?!"
——
    Rick leans over Daryl seeing that the bullet just grazed him. "I was kidding," Daryl jokes back.
    "Come on," Rick says getting help from Shane to lift the injured redneck.
    Dale and Andrea run out to the group. "Oh my god," Andrea says, "Oh my god, is he dead?"
    "Unconscious. You just grazed him," Rick responds.
    Glenn points at the bloodied hunter, "But look at him. What the hell happened? He's wearing ears."
    Looking up, Rick sees Hershel standing at the fence, he rips the ears off Daryl, "Let's keep that to ourselves.
    Winona then runs up, "Is that Daryl?!" Glenn gives her a small nod. They could practically see the anger rise in her eyes, she whips around to Andrea and tackles her, "Oh you're so done for!" She starts hitting Andrea with tears brimming her eyes. Winona lands a nasty punch on the side of her face, "I fucking told you! You shouldn't have fired! This is your fault he's dead!"
     Glenn pulls her off of the stunned blonde, "Wi, chill out. He's only unconscious, she just grazed him."
     Winona scoffs, "Yeah that makes sense with her shit aim." She then begins to slow her breathing, trying to calm down, "Let's get him inside," glancing at Andrea, who was holding her cheek, she glares, venom dripping from her words, "Keep her the fuck away from him—𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒎𝒆."
    They were all looking at her with shock, not realizing that Winona could act like that, "Good idea." Dale helps Andrea up and starts leading her away.
    T-Dog lags behind as he picks something up, "Guys, isn't this Sophia's?" The group glances back, eyes landing on the dirty faded doll that Sophia always carried around.
——
    As they set Daryl on the bed inside, he stays unconscious for a bit. Hershel goes to start working on him, Winona nervously bouncing her leg. Glenn rests a reassuring hand on her shoulder, "He's gonna be fine, Wi."
    "He better, or else Andrea is dead," Winona grumbles out.
——
    Hershel asks Winona to finish up for him, she nods, getting up to finish suturing and shortly after, Daryl regains consciousness. Giving sometime for Daryl to get adjusted, Rick lays out the map, asking about the doll. "I found it washed up on the creek bed right there," Daryl points, "She must have dropped it crossing there somewhere."
    Winona pipes up, still focused on Daryl's wound, "Cuts the grid almost in half."
    "Yeah, you're welcome," Daryl says frustrated.
    "Thank you, Daryl," Winona chuckles.
    "How's he looking, Dr. Graves?" Rick asks, the weird feeling settling back in his gut. He notices he always gets it when Winona is around Daryl.
    She chuckles a bit but quickly stops, "I don't think Hershel thought we'd be going through the antibiotics so quickly," Daryl fidgets as Winona ties off the sutures and snips it, "Stop being so fidgety."
    "Stop being so aggressive," Daryl huffs, causing an eye roll from the woman.
    Glenn lightly chuckles, "You think she's being aggressive now? Wait 'till you see Andrea, yikes," he grimaced remembering the fight.
    "We don't need to talk about that," Winona sighs, "I was upset, I shouldn't've gone that far."
    "As far as tackling her and then proceeding to deck her in the face?" Glenn smirks.
    Daryl grins, as if he was proud of her, "Nice going, Wi."
    She shakes her head, "I let my temper get the best of me. Not my proudest moment, I'll apologize to her later."
     Hershel then walks in, he didn't want to admit it but he was appreciative of having a nurse in the house. He glances to Winona, "Thank you for finishing up for me."
     "It was no problem," Winona brushes off the praise. Glenn got up, leaving the room.
     Hershel gives a slight smile, but it quickly drops as he turns his attention to Daryl, "Any idea what happened to my horse?"
     "Yeah, the one that almost killed me? If it's smart, it left the country."
     Winona leans against the wall as she observes the room. Rick was quietly rolling up the map as Hershel spoke, "We call that one Nelly, as in Nervous Nelly. I could've told you she'd throw you if you'd bothered to ask," he walks over to Rick, "It's a wonder you people have survived this long."
——
     The group leaves the room, allowing Daryl to rest up. Shane shuts the door, Winona sees Lori stand up and Rick go to embrace her, "He'll be alright," he says to Lori. Winona rolls her eyes, she always catches the judgmental glances Lori gives Daryl. She decides to leave the three of them.
     "I hate to say it, but I'm with Hershel on this one," Shane says, "Can't keep going out there, not after this."
     "You'd quit now? Daryl just risked his life to bring back the first hard evidence we've had," Rick defends.
     "That is one way to look at it. The way I see it, Daryl almost died today for a doll."
    "Yeah, I know how you see it," Rick squints at him. He turns and leaves.
    Shane looks at Lori, "I'm not out to be a hard case. Just being realistic." She huffs not answering. He continues, "He's just got to start making the tough calls. You know I'm right," Shane begins to walk away.
     "I may not agree with all his choices, but I respect him. I know yours and mine and your way isn't harder. It's the easiest thing in the world to cut our losses and to not help. You keep telling yourself you're making the tough calls. You're really just trying—"
    Shane cuts off Lori, "The only thing I care about now in this world is you and Carl. So I apologize if I appear to be insensitive to the needs of others, but you see I'll do whatever it takes to keep the two of you safe."
     Lori walks closer, placing a hand on his shoulder, she whispers, "Even abandoning a lost child? Really?"
    "Yeah."
    She backs up a bit, "My son and I are not your problem anymore, or your excuse."
——
    Winona walks out onto the porch, finding Andrea. She hands her a wet washcloth, "Uh, I'm sorry about the face. There's not really any ice packs anymore so I hope that'll do."
    Andrea looks down, applying the washcloth to the bruising cheek, "Thanks," Winona takes a seat next to her, Andrea glances, "How's he doing?"
    "He'll be fine. What about you? I didn't mean to freak out on you like that. I just thought—"
    "Winona, it's okay. I shouldn't have shot, you were right. At least now I know you hit hard."
    "Well, yeah, I was so pissed, I was trying to kill you," Winona chuckles softly, "In all seriousness, I'm sorry. How are you actually?"
    Andrea gives a shrug, "I shot Daryl."
    "Look don't be too hard on yourself. We've all wanted to shoot Daryl, I mean I know I have at times," she chuckles, "You were just trying to protect the group, maybe next time, though, make sure the walker isn't a person still."
    Andrea smiles, "Alright, you've made your point."
    Winona smiles back, "Just making sure."
——
    In the dimly lit room, all you could hear were Lori's sobs. She looks at her unconscious son, "Baby, what do I do?"
    Carol knocks on the door and Lori quickly composes herself. "Dinners ready. You coming?" she asks. Lori hums with a sniffle. "You need anything?"
    "Huh-uh, I'll be right there."
——
    Everyone ate their meals, Winona chuckles at Glenn sitting at what she assumed is the kid's table due to Beth and Jimmy sitting there. She took her place in between T-Dog and Dale. No one is talking and it seems a little awkward, so Glenn breaks the silence, "Does anybody know how to play guitar?" Hershel turned to look at him, he begins to explain, "Dale found a cool one. Somebody's got to know how to play?"
    Patrica looks down, "Otis did."
    Shane quickly looks up at the mention of Otis, making more suspicion rise in Winona's mind. Hershel looked at the widow, "Yes, and he was very good too."
    Glenn turns back around. Maggie smiles at him as she passes him a note under the table. He opened it, the note reading, "Tonight where?" He looks up with surprise. She gives a slight smile and he starts to write a response back. Hershel notices and looks over, causing Maggie to look down.
——
    Carol walks up to the room where Daryl was resting in. Once hearing her enter, he began covering his exposed top half. "How are you feeling?" she asks him while setting a tray of food down on the nightstand.
    "As good as I look," he responds.
    "I brought you some dinner. You must be starving." He looks at the food, Carol bends down hesitating before giving him a kiss on the head.
    "Watch out, I got stitches."
    "You need to know something," Daryl faces the woman as she continues on, "You did more for my little girl today than her own daddy ever did in his whole life."
    Unable to take the praise, he looks away, "I didn't do anything Rick or Shane wouldn't have done."
    "I know. You're every bit as good as them. Every bit," Carol finishes and leaves the room.
——
    Winona helps Beth and Maggie clean up. Maggie goes to put the plates back, she glances before opening the note. Glenn's reply wrote, "Ever done it in a hayloft?" Her face immediately falls.
——
    Glenn walks towards the barn, blanket in hand.  He approaches the door, noticing a lock, he pulls on it.  He then starts to walk around the barn, looking for a way inside. Finding a ladder, he throws the blanket into the hay above and climbs.
    Maggie takes off from the house, sprinting to the barn.
   Glenn crawls into the hayloft, shining his flashlight throughout it. As he walks further in, a stench fills his nostrils. He covers his nose with the blanket and presses on, discovering a dozen or so walkers at the base of the barn. He rushes back to the area he came from, running into Maggie. "You weren't supposed to see this," she breathes out.
——
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