The End of a New Beginning // Daryl Dixon

Part 42

Meredith

"HOW'D YOU SURVIVE here for so long?" Rick asks Gabriel. "Where did your supplies come from?" A small smile forms over Gabriel's face. It was like he was proud to tell Rick where he got all the supplies.

"Luck." He blurts. The more I know about this guy, the more I bet on hi dying within the next week. "Our annual canned food drive. Things fell apart right after we finished it. It was just me." Rick turns to his left and sees Carl approaching. He hands Judith off to Carl and continues with the conversation.

"The food lasted a long time." Gabriel goes on. "And then I started scavenging. I've cleaned out every place nearby. Except for one."

"What kept you from it?" Rick asks.

"It's overrun." Gabriel explains shortly.

"How many?" Rick asks.

"A dozen or so. Maybe more." Gabriel shrugs. Rick turns his head and looks at everyone. 

"We can handle a dozen." He nods confidently. 

"Bob and I will go with you." Sasha approaches Rick. "Tyreese should stay here, help keep Judith safe." She says.

"That'll be okay?" Ty asks.

"Sure." Ty nods, smiling a bright smile. "You ever need me to watch her, need anything for her, I'm right here."

"I'm grateful for it." Rick nods, approaching Ty and grabbing his shoulder. "And everything else."

"Mer and I are gonna go fetch some water if we can." Daryl announces. I furrow my brows at his sudden plan. I wasn't aware we were even going off to find water. Either way, I'm doing something rather than standing around and all, right?

Daryl leads the way out of the church and we headed off through the dirt path roads to find some water. It didn't take long for us to find some water. We each filed up two gallons of water and soon began making our way back. For the very most part, Daryl and I remained silent. All we talked about was making sure where we were going, when we should head back and all that jazz. You know, surviver shit-talk. But once we were making our way back, he brought up a different conversation.

"Hey, I get it. You don't wanna talk about it. You okay?" I turn my head and show him a small smile.

"Gotta be." I nodded.

"We get to start over." He adds. "All of us with each other. You saved us all by yourself."

"I had Harley with me." I shook my head.

"But you did most of the work." He nods. "We got lucky. We should all be dead." As we came down the small hill, we can see a parked car off on the side of the road. 

"I'll check it." I claim.

"Alright." Daryl agrees. We approached the car and I sat the water gallons on the ground. I walk over to the drivers side and opened up the door. I look around for a set of keys. As if the universe was on point, the keys were stuck in the ignition. I turn the key to test the engine, but it doesn't start. Not even a small click, rumble- anything. I pull the key from the ignition and walk to the truck, using the key to open up the door. 

"Hey. We ain't dead." I hear Daryl's voice behind me. "And whatever happened, happened. Let's start over." I turn to the trunk and found a battery. Along with a small generator specifically made for a car battery. Luck...as Gabriel called it. 

"I want to." I finally answer Daryl.

"Well, you can." He nods. I connect the cables to the batter and presses the button. The generator begins humming, signaling that it still works and is charging the battery. I turn to Daryl and grab onto the trunk.