Between Arrows and Hearts - Daryl Dixon

Home Sweet Home

The entire group was gathered around the dining room table. Cass sat quietly, absently twisting the ends of her still-damp hair between her fingers, her mind drifting as she tried to ground herself. The quick shower Maggie had offered her was a welcome escape, a chance to scrub away not just the grime and blood from the previous night, but also trying to erase even the memories of it.

It didn't escape Cass's notice the tension that seemed to simmer between the farmer's daughter and Glenn, and how Maggie's face had fallen when Glenn refused her comfort earlier.

Carol and Andrea had updated her on what happened after the group went looking for Hershel.

Beth still hadn't reacted, remaining in the same catatonic state that she was when the group left. Lori, apparently growing frustrated, had gone to Daryl, urging him to go and search for the them. When he refused, Lori had tried to go after them herself, only for Shane to return with her after she'd had an accident.

The murmur of voices brought her back to the present. Rick stood at the head of the table, recounting the events of the night before.

"We couldn't just leave him behind. He would've bled out. If he lived that long." Rick said, his voice steady despite the tension brewing in the room.

"It's gotten bad in town." Glenn added, and Cass caught how he avoided Maggie's worried gaze.

"What do we do with him" Andrea asked, arms crossed and her expression skeptical.

Before Rick could answer, Hershel entered the room, his usual calm authority cutting through the chatter.

"I've repaired his calf muscle as best as I could." Hershel said. "He'll likely have nerve damage and won't be able to walk for at least a week."

"When he is, we give him a canteen, take him out on the main road, and send him on his way." Rick decided.

Andrea's skepticism sharpened. "Isn't that the same as leaving him for the walkers?"

Cass's focus wavered as Daryl entered the house, who nodded briefly at Carol. Despite everything, the sight of him sent a pang of conflicting emotions through her. 

Carol had shared her conversation with him, telling Cass she'd pleaded with Daryl not to leave the group. And Cass couldn't help the faint flicker of relief knowing someone cared enough to try to reach him, even though he had been a complete asshole.

She quickly shifted her attention back to the discussion.

"He knows where we are." Shane said, his voice laced with anger.

"He was blindfolded the whole way here. He's not a threat." Rick countered firmly.

"Not a threat." Shane repeated sarcastically. "How many of them were there? You killed three of their men and took one of them hostage, but they just ain't gonna come looking?"

"They left him for dead. No one is looking." Rick repeated, his tone unwavering.

The tension in the room thickened, but Cass found herself detaching from it. Randall wasn't the biggest threat right now, he was bedridden for at least a week, according to Hershel. So the only thing that mattered to her right now, was how much she needed to rest.

"You know what?" Shane said, his voice rising as he walk away. "I'm gonna go get him some flowers and candy. Look at this, folks - we're back in fantasyland!"

Before he could storm out, Hershel's firm voice stopped him in his tracks.

"You know, we haven't even dealt with what you did at my barn yet."