The End of a New Beginning // Daryl Dixon

Part 84

Meredith

I stood up on the catwalk of the Sanctuary. I leaned over the railing, simply standing and watching over everyone.

"Rick Grimes is here!" A voice calls. I turn my eyes over to the doors, seeing Daryl and Rick entering the large, open room.

"Is Negan suggerin'? I hope he damn well is." A man shouts. I could see Eugene approaching Daryl, informing him on some things while we were gone. Then, Laura did the same thing. Yet, Daryl dismissed them both.

"Daryl." Michonne calls. I watch Daryl walk over to her side. "Does this happen often?" She asks him. She points to the wall, black letters spray painted in all caps, SAVIORS SAVES US!

"More and more since the crops been dyin'." Daryl nods. He turns his head. "Justin. Cover that up."

"How?" Justin asks. Justin is somebody Daryl and I are constantly battling with. Between his smart ass remarks, his attitude, everything about him, it just screams a pain in our asses.

"What do you mean, 'how'?" Daryl asks. "Pain over it."

"We don't got any paint." Justin argues.

"Figure it out." Daryl calls. Justin slams his book down and storms off. I let out a sigh as everyone begins gathering around Rick. Everybody here could careless about Daryl and I. I don't mind it. I hate it here. Daryl hates it here. Why do you think we leave every chance we get.

"You see our crops, Rick?" Mason asks.

"I did." Rick nods.

"The spring storms will be here in a few weeks, help us out, but we need a boost in the meantime." Mason says.

"And you'll have it." Rick nods. "We came back with farming tools, heirloom seeds. We're looking to the past to help us with the present. We're all gonna pitch in and make sure that Sanctuary has what it needs so you all can get back on your feet."

"Bless you, Rick Grimes. Thank you." Mason shakes hands with Rick. I let out a scoff. Seriously don't get how these people can easily praise Rick, give him a great time, treat him with respect, but can't give it to Daryl and I. Everyone falls into applause as Rick nods his head and walks away. Daryl and Rick head up the stairs and move their way over to me.

"What's up?" Rick asks. Daryl glance over to me. I throw him a shrug.

"I don't wanna be the one leading these people anymore." Daryl begins. "We don't." He points to me. Rick turns his head to me, frowning almost.

"Okay." He nods. "Why?"

"I don't know." Daryl shakes his head. "Bein' here behind these walls again- it just don't feel right, man. You know why. And Mer, she was taken and beaten half to death. Slipped into a coma 'cause of it. Not to mention all the stress, her schizophrenia's actin up again, even with her meds."

"We're better out there." I remind Rick. "We've always have been." Rick let's out a sigh.

"You two have kept this place together." He begins. "You've kept people in line here. We can't just let the Sanctuary fail after everything that's happened."

"Man, it's gonna fail anyway." Daryl shakes his head. "Nothin grows here. It's a damn factory, man. Look, when Negan was around, he needed people to provide for him. It's still the same. Nothing's changed."

"It's different now." Rick shakes his head. "We give what we give willingly."

"How long's that gonna last?" Daryl asks. "Most of the bridges are out after the big storm. The highway's done. We've scavenged every drop of gas for miles. And we can't make enough corn fuel to run the cars or the trucks. Pretty soon, it's gonna be more than a day's ride from one spot to another."