Solitary {2} : The Walking Dead

Chapter Sixty-eight.

Hate smile.

Rosita and Iris catch up to Daryl as he follows behind Mercer and Sebastian, Iris and Rosita each take a bag from Daryl, "Hey" Daryl says, "Espinosa, Wolf, we don't need you for this." Mercer says, stopping and looking back at the women, "we volunteered." Rosita says.

"Give her a bag. I love volunteers. Especially ones that look like that." Sebastian says, Iris notices Daryl bawling his hand into a fist, she quickly grabs onto his arm, he looks over at her, relaxing his hand and walking again.

"Right here." Sebastian says, pointing to a table, "Alright. Let's see what Santa brought me." the man says, the three of them open the bags, Iris looks down at her sword in the bag, "This supposed to be funny?" Daryl questions.

"He gets the newest ones for his drills." Mercer says,  "Advanced military training, Mercer." Sebastian corrects, "Advanced military training." Mercer repeats, "It's fine." Iris whispers to her husband, her anger starts to grow as she watches the man lift up Judith's sword.

"Hey, careful with that one." Iris says, "This toothpick? Yeah. It's not worth my time." the man says throwing it, they watch as he starts messing with their weapons, Iris tries her hardest to hold back a laugh as the man drops Daryl's morningstar.

"You gotta swing all the way through." Daryl says, "That thing is pathetic. Belongs on a wall." the man says, picking out a weapon, "Alright. Release the rotters." he orders, "With me." Mercer says, Iris and Rosita follow the man, Daryl reluctantly doing the same.

"Two at a time, on my count. Three, two, one." Mercer says, Iris and Daryl smack their hands against the metal container, leading the walkers to Sebastian.

Iris stands back and watches the man struggle against a walker, Daryl picks up his crossbow and shoots the walker in the head, "Why did you do that?! You... Are you serious? This is the future soldier of the Commonwealth?" the man complains to Mercer, stopping when he sees Pamela watching them.

Iris watches as he runs off, "You shouldn't have intervened. He would've been fine." Mercer says, "Did I fail another team-building exercise?" Daryl questions, Iris and Rosita start putting the weapons in the bags, "You're used to handling things on your own. I get that. But that's not how it works around here. Sometimes we have to set each other up to win." Mercer explains.

"What does that have to do with that little prick's ego?" Daryl asks, "This place is as good as anything I've seen. It'll give you a decent life if you can cut it. And I want you to succeed. But you gotta get out of your own damn way." Mercer says, walking away.

...........

Iris sits and watches the kids draw as they wait for Daryl to come back with food, her head starts to pound with all the noise of the music and baby cries, "You get lost out there?" Judith asks as Daryl walks into the apartment, kicking the door shut behind him.

"Sorry. Long line at the kitchen. Here you go." he says, kneeling down and putting the food containers on the floor in front of them, "How was your day?!" Daryl asks, trying to talk over the music, "What?!" Judith asks, "How was your day?!" Daryl repeats.

"It was great. I made a new friend." Judith says, "Oh, yeah?" Iris says, "She got me a record. You ever heard of Motorhead?" the girl asks, showing the record, "That's good stuff." Daryl says, "Can I get an allowance?" Judith asks.

Iris looks over at Daryl, "Can we wait a little while 'til my job settles? Then we'll talk about it again?" Daryl asks, "So, we can stay?" Judith asks, "Do you want to stay? Even after Alexandria is all cleaned up?" Iris asks the kids, "I do!" RJ says, "Yeah?" Daryl asks, "It's nice. I think as long as my mom knows where to find us, I want to stay." Judith says.