The End of a New Beginning // Daryl Dixon

Part 4

Meredith

**

WE ALL HAD came to a stop when the RV broke down. Dale wasn't exactly the happiest, claiming it needed a new radiator hose. Dale took the one from the red Charger Glenn drove up here, but it was mostly a temporary fix.

Everyone stood around the smoking RV as Rick and Dale discussed the situation. Shane stood off to the side a little, looking through the binoculars.

"I see something up ahead. Gas station if we're lucky."

"I can go up there, salvage anything worth taking." I say. Shane furrows his brows and looks at me.

"You? Just you alone? By yourself?" He asks.

"I can take care of myself." I protest."

"Nah. She ain't goin' alone. I'll go." Daryl says. I inhaled deeply, trying to think of something to allow myself to get away from everybody. Just to be alone for a little bit. I like these people, I do. However, I don't exactly wanna be with them 24/7. A little quietness wouldn't be so bad.

"Ya'll. It's Jim. It's bad. I don't think he can take it anymore." Jacqui announces before disappearing back inside the RV.

"Rick, we hold down the fort? Meredith and Daryl drive ahead, see what they bring back?" Shane asks. I felt a small tap on my elbow and see Daryl walking towards the truck. I turn on my heels and followed after him.

"Meredith." Shane calls. I turn my head and see him tossing his keys at me. I shoot him a puzzling look. He understands my confused face. "Just for ya'll to get back faster. That beat up old truck might shit on ya'll." I glance over to the truck, seeing Daryl opening the truck door and climbing inside. I turn to the Jeep keys and stared at them before shaking my head.

"Truck's in fine condition. We'll be fine." I tell him, tossing his keys back. I walk to the passenger side and planted myself in the seat. Daryl starts the engine and he turns the wheel to pull out of the caravan. We drive down the road and pulled off into the gas station. Daryl stops the truck and kills the engine.

"Ready?" He asks me.

"Yep." I answer. We climbed out of the truck and gathered our things and turned to the gas station. We approach the doors and pulled out flashlights. Daryl leans over, grabs onto one of the handles. He pulls back on it and the door begins opening.

"Stop." I slam my hand on his arm. He turns to me with furrowed brows. "You can't just go in there not knowing what's inside." I say. He releases the door and I bang on the glass three times. "Just give it a minute." I say. Daryl and I waited a few moments. Nothing.

"Well. Guess it's safe to get inside." He says.

"I would give it another second. Could be making it's way to the door right now." I say. Daryl shakes his head.

"They woulda been at the door already." He says, grabbing the handle. Before we knew it, the other locked door fills with bangs and growls. We look inside the window and see one of the dead, banging it's claws against the glass. I turn my head and cock an eyebrow at Daryl.

"Mmhm." I nodded. He rolls his eyes.

"Alright. You open the door, I'll take him out." He says. We switch sides of the door, allowing Daryl to get to the opening. I grab the handle and counted to three before opening the door and allowing the dead to come out. Daryl grabs onto it's shoulder and jabs his blade into it's head. He drops the body and turns to me.

"Nice." He nods at me.

"Let's just get this done and get back." I say, clicking on my flashlight and entering inside. I could hear the glass crunching under my feet as I pointed my light around, searching for anything viable. I turn down an aisle and found cans on the ground. I slowly fall to my knees and picked one up, turning it around, but finding it to be opened- so were the rest of them. I pull myself back up on my feet and continued on.