Our Extinction Event {Daryl Dixon}

Big Brother and Fatherly Duties

They buried Dale the next morning and Parker stayed with Daryl, resting her head on his shoulder as they listened to Rick's speech. "Dale could.. could get under your skin." Rick began. "He sure got under mine, because he wasn't afraid to say exactly what he thought, how he felt. That kind of honesty is rare and brave. Whenever I'd make a decision, I'd look at Dale. He'd be looking back at me with that look he had. We've all seen it, one time or another. I couldn't always read him... but he could read us. He saw people for who they were. He knew things about us. The truth. Who we really are. In the end, he was talking about losing our humanity. He said that this group was broken. The best way to honor him is to unbreak it. Set aside our differences and pull together, stop feeling sorry for ourselves, and take control of our lives, our safety... our future. We're not broken. We're gonna prove him wrong. From now on, we're gonna do it his way. That is how we honor Dale." As they walked back to the farm after the funeral, Rick caught up with Parker. "Hey, are you okay?" She nodded.

"I'm okay."

"Listen, no matter what you think, it wasn't your fault." Rick said.

"Look, nothing is going to convince me that it wasn't," Parker responded. "I arrived too late. I was right there and I couldn't help him."

"Don't blame yourself," Rick whispered. "Dale wouldn't want you to."

"Dale also told me I have to hold onto hope," Parker mumbled. "But it seems pretty difficult to do that now."

"You'll be fine, P," Rick said, using the nickname he gave her when they were kids. It was just one single letter but for some reason it made her feel better. Parker nodded and allowed Rick to hold her as they walked side by side. 

"I can't lose that hope. Not now." She let out a quiet sigh.

"No," Rick agreed, shaking his head. "You have to hold on to that."

"Did you kill Randall?" Parker asked. "With everything that happened, I forgot to ask."

"No," Rick replied. "Carl came in and then I thought about what you and Dale had said. You guys were right. He's just a kid." Parker nodded with a sad smile on her face.

"Dale would have been happy to know that."

"Parker, I have to ask..." Rick spoke, suddenly sounding serious. "What's going on with you and Daryl?" Parker rolled her eyes as she looked at her feet.

"Nothing. He's just been helping me out."

"I don't believe you," Rick shook his head at her answer. "I know when you lie. I'm your older brother."

"Really?" Parker asked. "How can you tell when I lie?"

"You always look at your feet," Rick explained. "Every. Single. Time."

"No, I don't," Parker protested.

"Yes, you do. You've done it since we were kids," Rick chuckled. "Don't lie to me, Parker. I just want to know the truth."

"Look, Rick," Parker heaved a sigh. "I don't know what's going on with us. We're still figuring it out, okay? Please don't get all protective big brother on him."

"I won't," Rick promised. "As long as you're happy." Parker smiled.

"I am."

"Good," Rick nodded. "You deserve to be happy, Parker."

"You do too," Parker responded when they reached their tents. "We all deserve happiness. Especially now." Hershel recommended that everyone move into his house, because with the walkers breaking down the fences and killing Dale in his backyard, no one was too eager to sleep outside, and Hershel, who had gotten used to them being there, was more than willing to provide them with a space in the house.