Rock Bottom (Daryl Dixon/ TWD)

Chapter 17

Chapter 17

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I sat next to Daryl on the cold cement as the group packed up. the plan was to make it look like we had ran like cowards, and when they came to slaughter us all, Glenn and Maggie would attack from above.

He gathered his arrows in a leather quiver and a small bag of clothes and ammo. He stood up and then pulled me to my feet. Last night we stayed up late and talked about Merle, we had been remembering him at his best.

I slung my backpack over my shoulder and followed Hershel, Beth, Carl, and Judith to the forest were we would wait out the attack. Before I got into the little white car, Daryl came up behind me and wrapped his leather clad arms around my waist. I heard his gruff voice in my ear.

"Stay save Piper, don't do anything stupid." He said resting his chin in the crook of my neck.

I smiled and rested my head against his, "do I ever?" I said laughing. He chuckled.

He placed a kiss behind my ear before wondering back to his motorcycle. I climbed in the passenger seat next to Hershel and closed the door behind me. I watched the prison, and Daryl, fade in the rear view mirror.

I sighed and sent I silent prayer that are plan worked.

Hershel pulled the car over into the woods p, the prison was still on sight, but hardly. I made sure I had my hatchet and the handgun that Rick had supplied me with. I stepped out of the car and sat in the fallen leaves between Carl and Hershel. Beth was holding Judith gingerly, while Carl was staring grumpily at the prison.

I placed my hands over my ears and closed my eyes tightly, I didn't want to see my home, the place I felt safest, be destroyed.

I heard a muffled 'pop' soon after I felt a nudge on my shoulder several minutes later. I looked up to see Hershel staring and Carl in awe. When I looked over I almost choked in air.

Carl's gun was pointed at a dead body on the ground. The body was of a young boy, about Beth's age.

I stared at Carl in shock. "Did he draw his gun at you?" I croaked.

"Well....no, but I couldn't take any chances, what if he hurt Beth? Or Judith?!" He said, he sounded flustered, but what scared me most, was that his voice held no signs of regret.

Hershel didn't speak but he opened the drivers side door, signalling the end of the little battle between Glenn, Maggie, and the Govner's army. I figured that they had managed to drive them away because we were heading back.

As we pulled through the gate, I stared intently at the watch towers that had been blown to bits.

I grabbed my backpack and jogged inside cell black C. Daryl was standing with Rick and the others discussing if they should end it all.

I sat up on one of the tables and ran a shaky hand through my messy hair. I glanced at Carl as he spoke with his father, most likely about the boy he had shot.

Daryl shuffled over to me and pulled himself onto the table top that I was sitting on. He placed his crossbow on the bench and then looked over at me. I stared into space, ignoring his gaze. I knew Daryl well and I knew that he was about to tell me some shitty news. I could tell by the way his eyes flickers across my face and he licked his lips nervously.

"Piper, I'm going with Rick and Michonne. We're going to kill that bastard" he said, his eyes never left my face.

My head shot up, I looked at him, a hurt expression was begging to crawl its way onto my face.

"Please don't leave me again, get it done and come back to me, in one piece and human." I said in a voice that was barely above a whisper.

He nodded "I promise." He pulled me up onto his lap and placed little kisses across my face.

"Aww!" I heard Beth say from my left.

"Shut up." Daryl muttered.

I giggled and smiled up at him, he placed a longer lasting kiss on my lips, the familiar stampede of elephants galloped through my stomach.

I smiled though the kiss and gave a little moan when Daryl's hands wondered to my hips.

I pulled away gently, he smiled softly and picked up something up from under his crossbow, it was his poncho, he placed over my head so that it drooped over my shoulders.

"Here you go baby girl, I might not be back by tonight, and it'll keep you warm just like I do at night." He said, Daryl had always managed to treat me differently then the others, he was always so sweet around me while he kept to himself around the others.

He stood up from his spot on he metal table and gathered his crossbow and quiver form the bench beside us, he gave me one last loving look before he followed Rick and Michonne out of the prison walls.

I watched as the angel wing on the back of his jacket faded into the darkness of the prison that was concealed by the cold stone walls.