Daryl's Girl

Chapter 32

I woke up the next morning to the sound of a car engine. I didn't know where it was coming from or who it was but, curiously, I sat up and rubbed my eyes. As I did, I looked to my side to say good morning to Daryl only to see that he wasn't laying next to me. Looking around, he wasn't in the tent at all and my worry began to settle in. Last night, he'd told me he was heading out to find the others. Was that where he'd gone? Were those engines him coming back?

I pulled on my boots, securing my gun and knife to my belt before I made my way out of the tent. 

Once out, I watched as a car drove down the driveway towards the house and something about it didn't sit right with me. Was it the others? Were they back? Had someone gone out this morning? Were they all okay? What about Daryl?

I looked around again and noticed his bike still propped next to the remains of the campfire, but still, he was nowhere to be seen. Surely he wouldn't have gone to town without his bike so where was he? Was he in the car that was returning? Either way I had to know.

I walked through the field alone and over through the farm gate. Everyone already gathered around the car as I made my way over. Questioning looks on all their faces, including my own. Then the car doors opened and Rick, Glenn and Hershal all stepped out. 

A sense of relief passed through me as they were all safe and unharmed. So much so that I let out a small smile, but as I got closer, I noticed a fourth person in the car. I hoped it be Daryl, but it wasn't. They were a lot smaller than he was and looked rather scrawny. That was when Hershal walked into the house saying something to Patricia and Maggie ran over and hugged Glenn, Carl doing the same with Rick with Lori close behind. Neither of them saying anything.

"What happened to you?" I heard Rick say to Lori.

"Lily and I went looking for you. Car accident. We're fine." She mumbled. Rick not looking impressed as he glanced at the two of us.

"They snuck out on their own. I bought them back." Shane then butted in, looking at both Lori and myself before Rick could respond.

I could clearly see that Rick was about to blow and Shane wasn't helping, so I quickly changed the subject. "Who the hell is that?" I said, pointing at the fourth person in the car.

Everyone stopped and turned their heads. "That's Randall." Glenn replied, opening the car door. He was a kid, not much older than Beth, and had a blindfold over his eyes. His hands tied tightly together in front of him.

Was that really necessary? It didn't look like he was going anywhere any time soon with the nasty looking injury just above his knee. It looked as though something had gone right through and impaled his leg. The thought of it just making me cringe.

I looked over at Rick. He was looking at Shane and, as per usual, whatever Rick was doing, Shane didn't like it. The question was, when did Shane ever agree to anything Rick had done? Or anyone else for that matter? I know it's certainly not since I've been here and now this kid was going to get caught up in the middle.

Not too long after, Hershal came back outside with Jimmy trailing behind and together, with the help of Rick, Shane and Tdog, they carried the kid inside without another word said.

We all followed on behind and gathered in the living room. Everyone except for Daryl and as I looked around at everyone, it only had me all the more worried. Where on Earth was he? Had he gone for a walk? Was he out hunting? Had he gone to the town? He wasn't here, so where was he? Was he okay? He was all I could think about. Everyone else waiting for any information from Rick, not noticing or acknowledging his absence.

Keeping quiet, I had to convince myself that Daryl could look after himself, but it didn't stop my thoughts running away with themselves. It made me all the more uncomfortable with the situation. What also didn't help was when Rick returned, giving us a brief run through of what had happened out there with this kid's group and if Daryl ran into them, if they were still alive, he'd be ambushed. 

"We couldn't just leave him behind. He would of bled out. If he lived that long." Rick told us as he continued to explain everything. The bar, the gun fire and leaving the kid behind. Most of which I couldn't pay attention to.

"It's gotten bad in town." Glenn nodded, adding onto what Rick had said, looking over at Maggie.

"So, what do we do with him?" Andrea asked.

Just as Rick was about to speak, Hershal walked into the room wiping his hands on a clean towel. Everyone's eyes turning to him. "I've repaired his calf muscle as best I can, but he'll probably have nerve damage. He won't be on his feet for at least a week." He said.

"When he is, we give him a canteen, take him out to the main road and send him on his way." Rick replied.

"Isn't that the same as leaving him for the walkers." Andrea shook her head disapprovingly and I had to admit, I did have to agree. Then behind her the front door opened and finally Daryl came in. He gave me a reassuring nod and I nodded back. Thank god, he was okay.

As the room remained silent, he walked over to me and lent on the wall behind him. All I wanted to do was ask where he was, but now wasn't the time. I'll have to ask him when this whole situation has been dealt with.

"He'll have a fighting chance." Rick reassured.

"You just going to let him go?" Shane disagreed. I didn't think it would take to long for Shane to start causing trouble. "He knows where we are."

"He was blindfolded the whole way here. He's not a threat." Rick snapped back.

"You killed three of their men and took one of them hostage, but they just ain't going to come looking." Shane argued. I just rolled my eyes and continued to listen to the argument unfolding between the two men...Again. By the look on everyone's faces they were as sick of the bickering between the pair of them as much as I was.

"They left him for dead. No one is looking." It was perfectly clear that Rick had also had enough of Shane by this point. The tone of his voice telling us all we needed to know.

"We should still post a guard." Tdog suggested.

"He's out cold right now. Will be for hours."

Shane didn't like it. Things weren't going the way he wanted so, as per usual, he stood up and headed for the door. "You know what. I'm gonna go and get him some flowers and candy. Look at this folks, we back in fantasy land-"

"We haven't even delt with what you did with my barn yet." Hershal interrupted. "So let me make this perfectly clear once and for all. This is my farm. I wanted you gone, but Rick talked me out of it. It doesn't mean that I have to like it. So do us both a favor. Keep your mouth shut."

Shane just stood there looking at Hershal as he finished before he nodded and walked out of the house, embarrassed. Finally someone had put him in his place. If he hated every decision Rick or Hershal or anyone else made then why was he here? Why didn't he go? It's not like he's helping anyone by being here and why would Hershal want him around after everything he's done? I know what I'd do if I were him.

Despite it all, I had to keep a straight face and not laugh. Hershal had just made a fool out of Shane in front of everyone and the look on Shane's face was priceless. His ego was bruised and just to think, when I first met this group, I knew there was something off about him, but I pushed it to the side trying to convince myself he was an alright guy. Now he just makes me sick.

"Look we aren't gonna do anything about it today. Lets just cool off." Rick finally said as the door slammed shut.

Everyone agreed and Andrea walked out of the room almost immediately. The rest of us followed her out one by one, only I had a feeling that, no matter how much time we took, or how much talking we did, it was only going to end up one way and we weren't going to like it.