Daryl's Angel (10th Anniversary Edition)

Chapter 21: I've Got a Barn Full

Two days pass by in serenity and we go through the motions. I tend to Daryl when he needs it, although he ends up sleeping a lot, and I nap more often than not too. Healing is exhausting work, but at least we're doing it together. I feel less useless and far less lonely with him around.

I'm happy enough spending time with Daryl but, in the times when he's resting, I entertain myself with other easy tasks. Hershel shows me how to do a proper suture and I practice with Carol on some quilts and clothes that need mending. I'm glad to be doing something to help out and it's good to spend time with the rest of the group. I've had Daryl-themed tunnel vision since I got shot.

Carol cooks eggs over the fire, spooning out proper servings onto our plates, and I pass them out. Andrea sharpens her knife. The fire pops and crackles. The sun hasn't reached above the trees and there's a decent cloud cover. A warm wind blows.

Carol scoops the last of the eggs onto a plate, but I hold it out to her expectantly instead of handing it off. She smiles in that soft, pained way of hers and takes the plate, going to find a seat. T-Dog squats by the fire, double-checking the tea kettle resting on the cooking grate.

Glenn clears his throat and I look up at him as I eat another mouthful of eggs. He fidgets, hands moving restlessly in his pockets.

"Um, guys," he says. He pauses as more people look up, attention caught. "So..." Another pause. He fiddles with his hands. "The barn is full of walkers."

I drop my fork and it clatters on my plate. I swallow my eggs thickly, my appetite wavering as my eyes move past Glenn's shoulder to where the old barn stands, unassuming, a wolf in sheep's clothing.

Without a word, Shane heads towards the barn, and it doesn't take long for us to follow him. We leave our plates behind.

Shane goes right up to the barn doors, secured with a padlock, and peers through the gap between the old wooden slats. We stay back, uneasy, sharing glances. There's a loud snarl from the barn and Shane, unperturbed, backs away and returns to us, glaring at Rick.

"You cannot tell me you're alright with this," he growls.

"No, I'm not, but we're guests here. This isn't our land," Rick retorts as Shane brushes past him and starts to pace.

"This is our lives!"

"Lower your voice," Glenn hisses.

"We can't just sweep this under the rug," Andrea says.

"It ain't right. Not remotely," Shane agrees, still pacing, twisting his baseball cap in his hands. "Okay, we've either got to go in there, we've gotta make things right, or we've just got to go." He puts his cap on and stops short, staring at Rick. "Now we have been talking about Fort Benning for a long time—"

"We can't go!" Rick retorts.

"Why, Rick? Why?"

"Because my daughter is still out there," Carol says, taking a few steps toward Shane.

"Okay—" Shane laughs a bit, that same humourless laugh that I've heard before, and he rubs his hands over his face. He exhales. "Okay, I think it's time that we all start to just consider the other possibility. Now—"

"Shane, we're not leaving Sophia behind," Rick cuts him off.

"I'm close to finding this girl!" Daryl says. "I just found her damn doll two days ago."

Another harsh laugh. "No, you see, that's all you did! You found her doll, Daryl. That's what you did. You found a doll!"

Daryl bristles, starting towards Shane. "You don't know what the hell you're talking about!"