Our Extinction Event {Daryl Dixon}

Three Weeks Since Atlanta

"How's Daryl?" Carol asked, sitting next to Parker, who was leaning on the tire of the truck they were driving.

"As well as can be expected," Parker said with a sigh. "It's been difficult for him. He loved Beth."

"You just have to be there for him."

"I'm trying to be there for him," Parker told her defensively, shifting her weight. "Sorry." She sucked in a deep breath through her nose, shaking her head. "But it feels like he's pulling away. Like he did on the farm after-" She cut herself off once she realized who she was talking to and whose name she was about to say. Sophia. Carol felt the missing name and frowned, but nonetheless continued as if the words hadn't sparked a wave of pain.

"I think he's afraid of losing you, too," She reasoned with her, her hands resting on her knees. "Rick told him everything. He knows you were in that room. Just make sure he knows you're not going anywhere." The only thing she could think about after hearing Carol's advice was how Dale had given her the exact same words of advice the night he died. The rest of the group returned without anything. They were hungry, thirsty, tired, and defeated, so as they gathered around their truck, the only vehicle they had left, they waited for Daryl, Maggie, and Sasha to return. Parker was not doing too well, she was on the verge of passing out, and just like everyone else, she was hungry. The little food they had been able to get had resulted in both Glenn and Daryl giving half of their share to Parker, no matter how much she tried to deny their offers. It reminded her of how insistent she was on everyone having a share of her food when they were stuck on the road before they had found the prison. Once the three arrived with nothing, they were on the move again, piled into the back of the truck. They made it a couple of miles before the truck ran out of gas.

"We're out. Just like the other one." Abraham let out a frustrated sigh as the truck engine sputtered.

"So we walk." Rick declared, pushing open his door. Which is exactly what they did. They all climbed out of the truck and began slowly walking down the road. Parker walked close to Daryl, who had distanced himself from the rest of the group, walking a bit ahead of the rest. She wrapped an arm around his waist as they walked, feeling him place his arm on her shoulders.

"Are you okay?" Parker asked almost silently.

"Gotta be." Daryl nodded, but from what she heard, he was far from okay.

"You know you don't have to be. No one expects you to just be okay after going through that."

"I don't know," He muttered, looking down at the road.

"I know," She'd been in the same place as him before. "I know, and that's fine. But I just... I can't stand the idea that you're not okay, and I'm not able to do anything about it."

"I'll be alright."

"Until then, please, talk to me." Parker pleaded with him. "That's what I'm here for. This isn't something you can get through on your own. I bet Beth would have loved how terrible we looked up there when we got married. She always supported our awkwardness." Daryl let out a quiet laugh.

"Ain't that the truth." She smiled, glad to have been able to make him laugh.

"God, I'm tired." She groaned, dragging her feet.

"Me too."

"No, not just physically tired," She clarified. "I'm tired. I just want everything and everybody to be okay. I'm tired of burying people. I'm tired of saying goodbye. I'm... so tired."

"We have to be okay," Daryl looked back over his shoulder. There was a herd of walkers trailing behind them, but not a single one of them seemed bothered by their presence. In any case, the only purpose they served was to force them to keep moving, which became more and more difficult the further they walked. The distant snarls and moans of the walkers behind them were becoming fainter, but they could still hear them. They would always be able to hear them.