Daryl and Maren had spent the evening in a comfortable silence, savoring each other's company as they prepared to face the uncertain challenges that lay ahead.
As night fell, they had settled into the bed, Daryl's strong arms enveloping Maren in a protective embrace. Wrapped in the comforting embrace of Daryl Dixon, Maren was able to drift off to sleep knowing that she was safe in his arms. For the first time since their arrival, Maren felt a sense of peace wash over her and she drifted off to sleep, lulled by the steady rhythm of Daryl's heartbeat.
When they awoke the next morning, however, the dread that had been lurking in the back of their minds had resurfaced.
"Mornin'," Daryl's gruff voice greeted Maren, his eyes filled with a mix of tenderness and concern. Maren turned to face him, a soft and tired smile playing on her lips.
"Good morning, Mr. Dixon," she sleepily replied, watching him chuckle and roll his eyes. She was leaning in to place a gentle kiss on his lips, craving to be as close to him as she could. As she settled back against his chest, she began tracing patterns on his skin, savoring the warmth and comfort of his presence. Daryl remained silent, not wanting to disrupt the peaceful moment. He knew all too well that their time of respite was likely to be short-lived, and he wanted to cherish every second he had with Maren.
Just as Daryl was lost in his thoughts, Maren suddenly jumped up from the bed, rushing towards the bathroom. Daryl's heart raced with concern as he quickly followed her, calling out her name.
When he reached the bathroom, he found Maren hunched over the toilet, heaving. Without a moment's hesitation, Daryl moved to her side, gently holding her hair back as she emptied the contents of her stomach. His brow furrowed with worry, and he ached to see her in such distress.
Once it had subsided, Maren flushed the toilet and sat down on the edge of the bathtub, her hand immediately finding Daryl's. She was visibly drained, her breathing still heavy and uneven.
Daryl pressed the back of his hand to her forehead, "Ya ain't got a fever," he observed, his voice tinged with concern as he tried to determine the cause of her sudden illness. Maren looked up at him, her expression shifting from one of sickness to one of sheer determination.
"I think our plan..." she began, her tone serious, "We need to go on that supply run today."
Daryl shook his head, his grip on her hand tightening, "Maren, you're in bad shape right now...It ain't smart to go out there today-"
"We have to go today." Maren interrupted, her voice firm and unwavering. She knew that their window of opportunity was closing, and they needed to act quickly if they had any hope of escaping Negan's grasp.
Daryl could see the resolve in her eyes, and he knew that arguing with her would be futile. But the mere thought of Maren venturing out in her current condition filled him with dread. He wanted to keep her safe, to protect her at all costs. Yet, he also knew that their best chance at freedom might just lie in this risky plan.
- TOO FAR GONE -
Sitting down to talk to your parents is always a difficult situation, even before the world ended. But there she sat. No time like the present.
The tension in the kitchen was palpable as Maren and Daryl sat side by side, just across from Negan. The silence was thick as Maren watched as Daryl and Negan sent each other glances, as if they were measuring each other up. Maren took a deep breath before breaking the uneasy silence.
"Daryl and I were planning to go on a run today," she began, her voice carefully measured. Negan's expression hardened and he wasted no time in his response.
"No." Negan said flatly, his eyes narrowing as he regarded the pair. Maren refused to be deterred, however. She'd expected this, so she continued.
"We found an apothecary on the map Simon gave me. It's in a plaza with a shit ton of shops, probably got overlooked-" she continued, undeterred.
Negan cut her off, shaking his head, "I can't let you go out there with him, Maren. He's being held-"
"Hostage? Yes, you've made that very fucking clear," Maren interjected, her frustration evident. Daryl quickly placed a calming hand on Maren's underneath the table, silently reminding her that there was more to discuss. Maren took a deep breath and continued, her voice more measured now.
"All I'm suggesting is that you at least give us a chance," she said, her gaze unwavering, "You took Daryl because you liked him, right? You thought he'd be an asset to you...so let him show you what he can do. Let us do this."
Negan considered her words, his brow furrowed in thought. He knew that this could very well be a ploy to escape, but he also saw the potential value in allowing Daryl to demonstrate his abilities. Dwight's attempted at breaking Daryl had proved pointless, but maybe this could be better anyway. Maren's tone had also struck a chord, and he couldn't help but wonder if there was something more pressing that she was trying to convey.
After a long moment, Negan nodded.
"If that's how it's gonna be...I'll have Simon find himself a partner, they'll follow you two and help with the run. If I hear of anything, and I mean anything, fucking suspicious...I'll be the one to handle that shit."
Maren and Daryl exchanged a weighted glance, both knowing that this was not the opportunity they had been hoping for. But Maren also realized that her true reason for the urgency of this run was far more immediate than their desire for freedom.
She needed to be sure, and this was the only way for her to find out.
- TOO FAR GONE -
"Alright!" Maren and Daryl watched as Simon closed the trunk of the supply truck, a satisfied grin on his face, "Everything's packed and ready to go, sunshine," he said, patting the truck with a sense of finality.
Daryl stepped forward at that, positioning himself protectively in front of Maren. He grunted a response, his distrust of the Saviors evident. Maren quickly moved to stand beside Daryl, her face neutral as she addressed Simon.
"Simon?" she spoke, her tone leaving no room for argument, "Never call me that again...for your sake." Simon's smile faltered momentarily, but he quickly regained his composure and nodded.
"Noted," he said, his tone dismissive as he moved to the other vehicle. Maren and Daryl climbed into their truck, and Simon approached Maren's window, "You got the map, so you'll lead the way," he instructed, his tone matter-of-fact.
Maren nodded, turning the key in the ignition and pulling away from the Sanctuary. As she maneuvered the truck in reverse, she caught a glimpse of her father in the rearview mirror, waving goodbye and holding his infamous bat in his hands.
Maren's grip tightened on the steering wheel and she quickly looked back to the road, putting the truck in drive and accelerating away from the compound.
Daryl, sensing something was off, turned to Maren, "You good?" he asked, his brow furrowed with concern.
Maren forced a smile, though it didn't quite reach her eyes, "Yeah," she replied, her voice betraying a hint of uncertainty. As they drove away, Maren couldn't shake the uneasy feeling that lingered.
She knew that the true reason for her urgency lay just beneath the surface, and she could only hope that the answers she sought would be found at the apothecary.
YOU ARE READING
Too Far Gone // D. Dixon
Fanfiction"We've all done the worst kinds of things just to stay alive, but we can still come back. We're not too far gone." Maren Smith has been on her own for a long time, even before the dead started to walk. Maren spent many daunting months fighting her w...
