Our Extinction Event {Daryl Dixon}

Stuck In Your Head

When Rick and Michonne arrived at Hilltop, the first place Rick visited was Glenn's grave. Parker found him there, having yet to get rid of the sheriff's hat which she still carried in one hand, placing the other on her brother's shoulder as she stopped at his side.

"Hey," she whispered softly, her voice drawing his attention. Rick looked at her, his eyes landing on Carl's hat, which she still held in her hand.

"Hey..." He said, looking back at her for a moment before his attention returned to the wooden cross that had been surrounded by stones to mark Glenn's grave. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah," Parker nodded slowly. "Don't tell anyone, but I ran into some Saviors on the way here.." When Rick's expression changed, Parker hurried to finish what she was saying. "Don't worry, I.. uh, killed them all. I let one go- funny story, it was actually James. From before. Oh, and I stole one of their walkie-talkies. I don't even remember doing it to be completely honest with you. Can you believe they thought an empty soda can was a grenade?" Rick let out a sigh, simply shaking his head.

"You're an idiot. Was a soda can really your plan?"

"I learned from the best," Parker defended herself, her mind wandering for a moment before she cleared her throat.  "And besides, I also brought an extra rifle, which played a part." Her eyes locked onto Glenn's grave and she sighed sadly. "It seems crazy to think that we just buried another member of our family." Rick placed his hand on Parker's, which was still on his shoulder.

"Yeah.. I always thought I would be the first of us to go."

"No offense, but I did too. You know, with you being the sheriff and all."

"Why do you have his hat?" Rick finally asked the question that had been running circles in his head.

"I'm taking care of it," Parker answered, her thumb brushing against the gold design. "Until Judith is old enough to understand where it came from and who it belonged to." Rick nodded.

"It makes sense. He always liked you more."

"That's probably the biggest lie I've ever heard," She muttered with a forced laugh, sitting down beside her brother. "You know, you have a big head." Rick laughed at that, looking over at her.

"Alright, thank you," Parker didn't smile as he responded, but her eyes lit up some at the small banter.

"You're welcome," She looked down at the hat in her hands and sighed, tucking her hair behind her ear. "There's something else. I figured it would be better to ask you than just going through with it 'cause he was your son." 

"What is it?"

"I was thinking... one of us could wear his hat as, like, a way of letting him be there for the final stand-off with Negan and the Saviors. Because, I know that even if we can't make ends meet with the Saviors without a fight, he'd still want to be there to see things through." She lifted the hat from her lap, offering it over to him. "It was your's before it was his, this damn sheriff's hat meant a lot to him, and it'll probably make you feel like he's there with you."

"I had my turn with that hat," Rick said, shaking his head and lightly pushing her hand away. "You can wear it this time, I suppose it's your turn. We can take Carl with us one more time." After a while, Daryl joined the Grimes siblings, standing a few feet away from the pair. He didn't know how to start what he wanted to say, but he forced himself to say something. Even if it didn't come out the exact way he intended.

"You know, I... I look around and...I think about the people that are gone... and the people that are still here. It ain't right. And it ain't fair. Look, about... what I did at Sanctuary, trying to end it real quick... I just wanted it done. I didn't want to give them another chance, not again. And I didn't care who was there. I don't know if that makes it right or-"