Run ↠ D. Dixon | The Walking Dead

40. Welcome Party

"You protect and serve," Deanna says, looking between Michonne and Rick. "Patrol the grounds. If there's a conflict, you solve it." Rick is real great at causing that as of late, I want to retort but I bite my tongue.

"There's going to be a government here one day," Deanna continues. "That is why I want Lilly and Maggie here alongside me. I see a vibrant community, with industry, commerce and real lives."

Rick makes eye contact with me, skeptical. Deanna catches it. She's observant, I'll give her that.

"What, is that a pie in the sky thought?"

"No," Maggie says. Deanna looks at me. I say no alongside her, Michonne and Rick following suit.

Rick takes us outside, urging Deanna to increase security along the wall. "People are the real threat now."

"I can't do that."

Sasha approaches us, looking shy. "I'd like to volunteer as look out in the clocktower."

"There's no lookouts in the clocktower."

"What?!" Rick and I say at the same time, looking at each other in equal surprise and agreement.

"There hasn't been the need," Deanna stresses.

"We need a lookout, in that tower, right now twenty-four-seven."

Deanna looks over at me. "And you agree?"

I nod. "Yes. Having eyes in the sky can never hurt, whether the threat is alive or undead."

Deanna nods. "We'll make shifts."

"I'll take as many shifts as possible," Sasha adds.

"Why?" Deanna asks her.

Maggie and Sasha seem to have a silent battle with their eyes before Maggie defends her. "Sasha is our best shot. She can handle it."

"I'm putting Spencer first, but I'll consider putting you as the primary lookout, but I want something in return." We hold our breaths for her to continue. "I'm holding a welcome party in my home. I want you to be there."

"Why?"

"Come tonight, and we'll talk about it," she replies to her.

***

I can't find Daryl anywhere. He seems to keep disappearing whenever I need him and I know he doesn't enjoy being confined in any community since the prison.

"You look pretty," Milly says, eyeing my dark red lace top and tight black jeans. I'm wearing my leather jacket over top, feeling naked if I don't wear the thing. Milly is opposite, dressed in a floral sundress, more remnant of what she wore pre-apocalyptic.

Tiff left with Carl and Rick earlier. I noticed Carl couldn't take his eyes off of my daughter and the dark green blouse and black skirt seemed to help that. Ashley stayed behind, matching her mother in a floral outfit and the four of us, including Cash, headed to the party.

"Oh look, beer," Milly says quietly, grabbing a cup and sauntering away. I pass, going deeper into the room with Cash on my hip.

"You clean up nice," Abraham grumbles from beside me. "It was hard to tell you apart from your partner."

"Gee, thanks. That's what I say about your head and your ass, but I'm a little more polite about it."

"Gag me," Rosita grumbles. "I need more alcohol if I need to listen to this all night."

It's dark when Daryl stumbles in, his crossbow on his back. He's been hunting all day, by the look and smell of him.

"Finally decided to join your family?" I ask him.

"Yeah, don't make me regret it. Nice tits," he comments, looking down my shirt.

"Too bad only your son will get to see them for a while up close."

"Whatever," he mutters, finishing his cup and then leaving out the door. He's about to get a bolt up the butt.

Deanna introduced me to probably the whole town, Cash being passed around happily. I start to fatigue, though, and make my exit. Daryl is waiting against a porch post for us.

"Have fun?"

"Being normal for a night? Loads."

We walk in silence, eyeing the other with awkward tensions building between us. Finally, it's him who cracks. "They made me a recruiter alongside Aaron."

I nod. "You'll be good at that."

"They gave me a bike."

"Well, what else would you drive than the loudest vehicle?"

He grins at me once he realizes I'm joking. "Here, let me take Cash. You look like somethin' the cat dragged in."

"Thanks, Dare." Truth be told, I am exhausted. I can't imagine how Rick does any of this alone. "Call if you need help."

"Go sleep."