Make it Till You Don't

The Supply Run

As we approached The Big Spot, the boombox we put out last time was still playing, drawing the Walker's attention. "Alright, let's make a sweep." Daryl walked through the hole in the fence. "Make sure it's safe. Grab what you can. We'll come back tomorrow with more people."

I decided to use my ax, not wanting to risk using any bullets, as I glanced inside each tent. Not seeing any Walkers, we made our way over to the building, Daryl banging his elbow against the window. "Just give it a second."

"Okay, I think I got it." Zack spoke up, looking at Daryl.

Michonne walked over, curious. "Got what?"

"I've been trying to guess what Daryl did before the turn." Zack explained to her.

"He's been trying to guess for like six weeks." Daryl told Michonne, glancing around.

Zack went over to sit by Daryl. "Yeah, I'm pacing myself."

"Alright, shoot." Daryl gave in, interested of what he'll come up with this time.

"Well, the way you are at the prison, you being on the council, you're able to track, you're helping people but you're still being kind of... surly." Zack began listing things off before trailing off, unsure of the right word to use.

I raised a brow at the boy, wondering what he was going to say. "Big swing here... Homicide Cop."

Michonne began to laugh as I tried to keep mine down. "What's so funny?" Daryl looked over at her.

"Nothing." She said, grinning. "It makes perfect sense."

"Actually, the man's right." Daryl told us, looking away. "Undercover." I looked at Daryl, grinning. He's bullshitting Zack. I can tell by the look on his face.

"Come on, really?" Zack asked him, starting to believe he got it.

Daryl looked to him. "Yep." He nodded his head. "I mean- I don't like to talk about it 'cause it was a lot of heavy shit, you know?" Daryl turned away, trying to hide a smirk.

"Dude, come on, really?" Zack questioned him and now I couldn't hold back my laugh as Daryl didn't say anything but look at him. "Okay, I'll just keep guessing, I guess."

"Yeah, you keep doing that." Daryl told him just as a Walker banged against the window behind them.

Michonne looked over to Daryl. "We're gonna do this, detective?"

"Let's do it." Daryl replied.

"Yes, Mr. Dixon." I took a moment to slide the newfound nickname in, receiving a glare from the man, causing Michonne and I to laugh as he walked off.

Michonne looked at me as we followed after him. "Mr. Dixon?"

I nodded my head. "Yeah, Patrick called him that this morning and I'm calling him that because it gets a reaction out of him."

She chuckled, shaking her head as we joined the others at the entrance, killing the two Walkers before heading inside. I walked down a row beside Daryl, glancing at all the stuff on the shelves. "But seriously, what did you do before the world went to shit?"
He glanced over to me before back to the shelves. "Traveled around with Merle, going from place to place. Did whatever we wanted."

I nodded my head in acknowledgement. "Sounds better than me. I worked some shitty ass diner job to pay bills." I grabbed a few cans of food, placing them in the bag I had. "Dealing with a shity boyfriend on top of it."

"Oh yeah?" He asked, grabbing something off the shelf.

"Yeah. While I was working, he was laid off, drinking our money away and gambling at poker games." I snorted at the thought now. "Don't know what I saw in him." There was a large crash and shout, alerting the both of us. We ran over, seeing Bob underneath a shelf, glass everywhere.

"You alright?" Daryl asked him, crouching down. "You cut or something?"

"No man, but my foot is caught." Bob replied.

I glanced around, noticing the glass where wine bottles were. How'd the shelf fall?

"Alright. He's just caught. Come on, help me up." Daryl told Zack, grabbing the shelf with Tyreese aiding the two.

Glenn shouted from another part of the store. "What happened?"

"Everyone's alright, we're over in Wine and Beer." Zack told them as they lifted up one of the shelves.

"I was moving fast, man. I drove right into the drinks." Bob told everyone, what apparently, happened.

"Man, you lucked out. If this thing had come down on you the wrong way..." Tyreese trailed off just as a Walker fell through the ceiling, dangling in the air by its intestines.

I looked up at it, gasping out. "That's not something you see everyday..."

"Yeah, uh- we should probably go now." Glenn said as he and the others came over to us.

"Bob's still stuck, get him out of there." Daryl said, moving to the other shelf.

I gripped my ax in my hand as Walkers began falling through the ceiling, backing up a couple steps to not get tackled. I swung at a Walker coming by, turning around in time to see another reaching out to me.

"Damn it." I muttered, backing up as three came around a corner. I swung at one of them, kicking another before going for the third. I heard creaking, looking to the hold in the ceiling to see a chopper creeping down.

I let out a shout as I was knocked down, forgetting about the Walker I had kicked away. The ax flew from my hand as I brought my hands up to push its head away. I grunted in annoyance as I couldn't grab the rifle off my back.

I glanced around for where my ax went, seeing it a couple feet from me. Grunting, I took a hand away from the Walker and tried to reach for it as I struggled to keep the Walker away now with just one hand.

I looked to my left, seeing Zack and Daryl pulling Bob from under the shelf. "Daryl!" I shouted, trying to gain his attention. "Little help here!"

He turned to me as Bob got out, running over and grabbing my ax off the ground, killing the Walker on top of me. "Come on, we gotta go." He threw the Walker off me before helping me up.

I nodded my head when we heard a scream come from Zack. Turning back, we saw Zack being bitten on the leg before a Walker pulled him to the ground, crawling on him and taking a bite out of his neck.

"Go, go!" Daryl shouted, pulling me along with the others as I kept my gaze on Zack, knowing there was no helping him now. I turned away as the chopper fell from the ceiling just as we made it out, the building collapsing.

Once we made it to the vehicles, Daryl turned to me, wrapping me in a hug. "You weren't bit, were you?"

I shook my head, still shocked from everything that happened. "No..."

He let out a hum in response. "Good, can't have you dying."

"Pshhh, me? Never." I joked, trying to lighten the mood. "We should get going, the noise will attract more Walkers." I reminded him, pulling away.

He nodded his head, walking over to start the bike. I stood there for a moment, looking down to my shaking hands, closing my eyes and taking a couple deep breaths to calm down.

Once I did, I walked over to Daryl's bike as Daryl turned to me, holding my ax out to take. I took it from his hand, placing it back into my waistband before hopping on the bike and heading back for the prison.

As we drove, I dug my face into the back of Daryl's vest, closing my eyes. We got lucky today. I frowned as I thought about Zack as I leaned my head up, coming to Daryl's ear. "What are we going to do about Beth?" I asked, hoping he could hear me over the wind.

He was silent for a moment, making me think he didn't hear me, before he replied. "I'll tell her."

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Published: 07/28/2024