Double Crossbow (Daryl Dixon) [The Walking Dead]

Chapter 72 ↣ Did you hear that?

"If I take one more step, it'll be the farthest away from home I've ever been."

– Samwise Gamgee, The Fellowship of the Ring

↣ ↢

Kathryn

It was dark now. I stood in the alley out behind the abandoned office Eric had led us to. His ankle was smashed, but Maggie made quick work of that, setting it with the snapped off legs of a desk. Eric told us not to worry–that their community doctor would take care of it when we all got back.

My stomach turned. I wasn't as certain about Alexandria as I let on to the rest of the group. But I wanted to be certain, so I pretended.

The door groaned open, and Daryl stepped out next to me. I pushed off the wall I was leaning against to make room for him in the doorway. He crowded up next to me anyway, placing a hand on the small of my back.

"We could be there tomorrow if Rick and 'em decide to hurry it up," he said lightly.

I glanced up and down the alley. Nothing.

"How's everyone?" I asked.

He shrugged. "How're you?"

"Cold," I replied, leaning further into him.

Daryl wrapped his arm further around my waist as he stepped behind me. His chin came to rest on my shoulder. I laughed as his scruff tickled my neck. He placed a kiss under my jaw and muttered an apology. I turned to look at him when he straightened and reached up to put a hand on his cheek. I realized I couldn't remember the last time I'd seen him cleanly shaved, or if I had ever. I drew a line with my thumb from his cheekbone to jaw line to chin. He drew closer to me and I kissed him, warmed with the knowledge there was still more to learn about him.

I pulled away quickly as I heard a whistle. It was an off key variation of the one Daryl and I used to find each other.

The whistle repeated. And I replied with the other half. "Did you teach him that?"

Daryl shook his head and knocked on the door. "Must've heard us do it."

We rushed into the light of the alley, waving down our group. They picked up their pace at the sight of us. Maggie and Carl came barreling out of the office and to their people. Glenn and Rick met them respectively in long embraces.

Aaron looked at me wide eyed. "Eric?" he asked. I pointed a thumb in the direction of the door. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Rick reach a hand out to Daryl who took it in kind.

It didn't take long for Rick to notice Aaron missing. He began to make his way to the door, but I slid into his path.

"He was telling the truth," I said. "He came with another man–Eric. Give the poor love sick puppies a moment. Then we can go back to being intimidating."

I saw the moment the gears clicked in place for Rick. "Oh," he said.

"Oh," I repeated.

He narrowed his eyes down at me.

"You're shit at whistling," I said.

Carl laughed, appearing at my side. "You should hear him sing."

I gasped in surprise, playing along with Carl's teasing despite having heard Rick attempt a song once or twice. Rick winced.

"I remember," Carl began, "him singing in the car when he drove me to school."

"Let's go inside," Rick said, placing his arm back around Carl.