Catch Fire | Daryl Dixon

UNITED

I sat at the table, absently pushing my oatmeal around the bowl. The tasteless mush didn't help the knot of tension tightening in my chest. With Rick and Merle off somewhere else, the silence around the table felt oppressive, each of us lost in our own thoughts.

Michonne strode over, her steps purposeful, eyes sweeping across the group before she spoke. "We need to lay spike strips around the fields outside the prison," she said, her voice low but commanding. "It'll slow the Governor's people down if they try to drive through."

Maggie quickly chimed in, her determination evident. "I can create a distraction—bang some pots and pans, draw the walkers away from where you're laying the spikes."

Michonne nodded, then continued, "Daryl, Glenn, Kennedy, you're with me to lay the spikes. Beth, you'll drive us there and back."

I glanced over at Daryl. He nodded in agreement, but when our eyes met, I caught a flicker of concern before he masked it, returning to his usual stoic expression.

"Let's move," Michonne urged, leading us out to the courtyard.

We filed out, Daryl and I falling into step together. In the courtyard, Michonne had already prepared piles of timber, barbed wire, and metal scraps ready to be turned into spike strips. Maggie and Glenn wasted no time, grabbing a piece of timber and working together to wrap it with barbed wire. I stepped forward, picking up a piece of timber, but my hands hesitated over the wire.

Daryl noticed and stepped closer. "Here," he said, taking the wire from me. "You need to wrap it tight, but not too tight, or the barbs will dig into your hands. Keep it snug, like this." He demonstrated, his hands working with practised ease.

I watched closely, trying to replicate his technique. "Like this?" I asked, tentatively wrapping the wire around the timber.

He nodded, a small, approving smile touching his lips. "Yeah, that's it. Just take it slow."

I followed his instructions, my movements becoming more confident as the wire wrapped securely around the wood. The task, though simple, gave me a sense of purpose amid the chaos.

After a moment of quiet, Daryl glanced at me, his brow furrowed. "You holdin' up okay?" he asked, his voice soft, laced with genuine concern.

I forced a smile. "I'm managing. If Michonne keeps coming up with ideas like this, we'll be fine."

His expression darkened briefly, but he shook it off. "Yeah," he murmured, then gestured for us to carry the spikes over to the ute Beth had pulled up. We fell into a steady rhythm, working side by side.

As I jumped into the back of the ute, Daryl's hand reached out, steadying me. I settled next to him on the edge of the tray as Michonne took the passenger seat, eyes scanning the horizon as Beth started the engine.

Glenn swung open the gate, and Beth drove us out into the field. Maggie and Carl's distraction worked like a charm, drawing the walkers away from our position.

The ute came to a stop, and I jumped down, my boots sinking into the earth. Michonne and I dragged one of the spikes from the tray, placing it strategically near the entrance. With determined focus, I hammered the spike into the ground while Michonne kept a watchful eye, her sword ready for any stray walkers.

Across the road, Glenn and Daryl mirrored our actions, driving spikes into the ground with precision. As we finished, Daryl offered his hand to help me back into the ute. "You good?" he asked, his tone reassuring.

I nodded, adrenaline still pumping through my veins. "Yeah. This feels like a step in the right direction."

As we drove back, Rick was waiting at the gate, opening it for us. A sense of accomplishment washed over me as we passed through, knowing we had done something that might just give us an edge.