What Lies Ahead • the walking dead ¹

6 • Siblings

"You're a doctor?" Daryl asked though it sounded more like a statement. He threw the girl's medical badge into the sink she was leaning over. Alexa didn't seem bothered by the new information, instead, she was pulling out an assortment of medical supplies from above the bathroom sink. Her mind was clearly elsewhere.

"So?" Alexa questioned while organizing tweezers, scissors, bandages, gauze, super glue, Neosporin, a needle and thread, and pain killers into a small black bag. "I was. Doesn't mean shit now."

The girl's answer was so simple. Like it didn't matter to her. Or to anyone. She acted like doctors were everywhere nowadays like they didn't come in short supply. Daryl on the other hand was angry. He didn't understand how this girl could act so calm and reserved.

"Like hell it does! You're a doctor, that means you are useful!" He grunted. Alexa scoffed, tossing the med bag over her shoulder.
"I'm a nurse actually, and if I'm so 'useful', why don't you make yourself useful too," Alexa replied, swinging the bag of guns off her shoulder she shoved it into the man's chest before exiting the bathroom with a sigh.

The girl quietly walked into the farmhouse living room where she spotted her brother waiting for her.
"Hey kiddo, you all set?" She asked. Her tone was gentle and playful with the little boy rather than snarky and confident as it had been with Daryl.
"Yeah. Oh, and I found something you might like."

Alexa crouched down to be level with the boy. He handed her a small golden locket, with a compass design carved into its surface. Smiling, Alexa opened it to reveal a small picture of her and her youngest sister Tristan. Tristan was holding a blue camouflage compound bow, with her dirty blonde hair braided over her shoulder, like it always was. She had a wide grin stretched across her face as she stood tall next to her kill, Alexa at her shoulder holding up the buck's antlers.

Alexa remembered that day clearly. It was in the middle of hunting season when she and her sister had secretly gone out hunting by themselves. The duo ended up coming back later that afternoon, Alexa carrying a large buck over her shoulders and Tristan practically doing cartwheels.

It was such a good day for the two girls that their parents weren't even upset about them leaving. It was the first day Alexa remembered her father being proud of his children. The pride etched into every corner of his wrinkled old face was something that shocked the girl. The old man even did a rare thing, Alexa hardly ever saw him do. He smiled.

He smiled. Alexa thought as she recalled the special memory. It was the only decent memory the girl had of her father before he hauled Tristan, Martha, and himself to death.

"It was Tristan's." Chase went on. "I found it after-..." The boy cut himself off as he uncomfortably adjusted his small bag. Alexa smiled as she slipped on the necklace before she brushed the hair out of her little brother's emerald eyes.
"I know. Thank you, I love it." Alexa chuckled as her brother pushed her hand away. Moving his bangs back to hide his burns.

"I hate it when you do that." He said, grumpily crossing his arms.
"That's preciously why I do it." The girl snickered as she stood up and ruffled his long hair. Chase laughed as he swatted away his older sisters pestering hands. Their giggles spilled from the living, and neither of them noticed Daryl standing in the doorway to the kitchen.

The siblings small battle halted as the man in the doorway spoke up.
"You wanna speed this reunion up, Alexandra?"
"Not my fault you're sad and lonely, redneck." The girl retorted bitterly.
"Yeah, well I'd like to get back before the sun rises, girly."

Girly. Every time Merle Dixon used the nickname came flooding back to the girl. And the way Daryl said 'girly', it sounded exactly like the way Merle had said it. It felt like such a long time since Alexa had assisted Merle off that roof in the city. She remembered what he said about his group and his baby brother. His baby brother...

Could Daryl be Merle's brother? The thought kept swirling around the girl's brain. Everything seemed to fit together perfectly. Nevertheless, Alexa shook the thought from her brain, she knew Daryl was right, though she'd never admit it.

"You ready to leave kiddo? You got everything?" Alexa asked, turning back to face her brother.
"Yeah..." Chase trailed off, trying to remember what he packeted.
"Clothes?" Alexa tried.
"Yes."
"Your knife?"
"Yes."
"Alright, I think you're all set."

Alexa adjusted her gear before patting her brother's head and starting for the door. Daryl and Chase followed behind her. The trio stepped out onto the front porch, Alexa kicking the door closed behind them. They jumped down the front porch steps and onto the dead lawn.

Chase looked at his older sister, she glanced down at him and smirked.
"Which way?" Chase questioned.
"Northeast." The girl answered back."Ready?"
"Get set." The boy smirked.
"Go!"
Alexa and Chase took off in a full-on sprint. The two raced across the small field, each one fighting to defeat the other and get to the other side of the property first.

The stray wisps of hair that fell out of the girl's messy ponytail stung her eyes. And whipped at her face as her feet pounded the dry soil. It felt like the world was moving in slow motion as the girl stopped at the edge of the woods, six feet in front of her brother. The little boy came to a pulse beside his sister.

"No fair." Chase fake pouted. "You always win," Alexa smirked. Looking up she watched as Daryl jogged across the small field as well, he came to a stop next to the siblings and nodded with a grunt toward the girl. She rolled her emerald eyes and started to lead the way into the woods, back to the quarry camp.

The night was silent, but still. Only the sound of twigs and leaves coating the forest floor made any sound. It was almost peaceful in a way. The way the trees swayed in the light breeze. The soft crackle of leaves on the ground. The chorus of irregular breathing, mixed into the air.

It was a dull feeling Alexa took for granted. The feeling of feeling peace. The girl so desperately wished it could be an age without walkers. Like it used to be. She wished she could feel the feeling of peace more often. It was such a simple thing... Peace. A thing that simple is complicated, really.

But Alexa knew that simple things like peace and harmony were long gone. Those two things were things she had given up on a long time ago. People used to tell her to remember who she was, but Alexa didn't know who she was anymore. She was too focused on survival to figure out who she still was.

The girl was also too focused on her thoughts to see that her brother was practically falling asleep walking.
"Alexa?" Chase whimpered.
"Yeah, kiddo?" Alexa asked, turning and crouching down to face her baby brother.
"I'm tired." He complained. Alexa sighed. She moved her backpack so it was facing forward before signaling for Chase to jump on her back.

Chase hopped on his sister's back, causing her to suppress a grunt. Without a word she continued. The girl's little brother fell asleep quickly. The extra weight slowed her down a little, but not enough for her to not keep up with Daryl.

For a while, the trio walked in silence before Daryl decided to speak up.
"You need any help?"
Alexa shook her head no.
"You sure?" He quizzed.
The girl nodded a silent yes and continued her walk. Her silence possibly annoyed Daryl more than her snarky comments did. He glanced at her. She looked angry but tired at the same time like she hadn't slept in days.

"You're just like my brother. Always insisting on doing everything yourself."

If Alexa hadn't been so hung up on the question of whether or not Daryl was Merle's brother she probably said something along the lines of "You don't know anything about me." or a simple eye roll. But instead, she was immediately alert, her ears strained for what Daryl might say next. But when he didn't say anything Alexa decided to ask.

"What's his name? Your brother."
"Merle."
Alexa knew she was gonna hate herself for asking... But she did.
"Dixon?"
The girl could see the immediate spark in the man's eyes. She readied herself for the outburst of anger she knew was coming.

"You know my brother?!"
"Knew." Alexa clarified. "I helped him back in the city, before you pricks found me."
"He alive?" Daryl questioned suddenly, his voice breaking. Alexa shrugged, she didn't know the answer.
"We got separated, in a horde." She said simply. "Damn basterds tough, though, even with a stump."

Daryl nodded as the girl finished. "He had a knife. Could have gotten out somehow, t'hell if I know."