Farmer's Daughter (Daryl Dixon Love Story)

Chapter 28

Daryl's POV

It was hell, just sitting there while Rick and T-dog went and got her. Once I saw her I couldn't keep it together. She had bruises lining her face, blood running down her lip. Her appearance just looked horrible, it made me wonder what they did to her. My grip tightened around the woman as I thought about it.

Someone cleared their throat behind us. I quickly let go of her and made space between us, turning to look at everyone here. And that's when I saw him.

Merle.

He looked rough as well, that's when I put two and two together. I looked back at Mel and then to Merle. Rage took over my body at the thought.

"Ye son of a bitch!" I advanced to him, fist curled and teeth clenched, but a voice made me stop.

"Daryl!" She coughed. I turned back to look at the injured girl. "It wasn't his fault."

"The hell do ye mean it wasn't his fault? Who controlled his fist?" I yelled as I pointed in the direction of my brother. She flinched as I spoke. My shoulders slumped and heart rate slowed, it broke my heart to see her like this. "I'm sorry." I mumbled to her.

I then turned again and sauntered to my sibling. "It's nice to see you again brother." I wrapped my arms around him and clapped his back a few times as a friendly gesture.

"Ye too little bro." He mumbled as he threw an arm around my shoulders. "So where's the rest of the group?" He directed the question to Rick who was quietly talking to Glenn.

"Back at the farm." Rick mumbled.

"Well don't ye think we should be getting back to them before the governor does?" His voice was a bit taunting. Almost like he was mocking Rick and his decisions to run our group.

"We?" Rick ask the question everyone was silently wondering.

"Yeah we, you don't wanna leave old Merle out here on his own do ye? Not after I saved her little ass." Merle rocked back and forth on his feet as he looked over and eyed Mel.

"Watch it Merle." Glenn looked up from under the shade of his hat. His arm was slung around Maggie as they lean against the truck we brought.

"Hey I'm just trying to make conversation China man." He shrugged.

I became to be very irritated with my brother. He hadn't changed a bit. Still the rude racist son of a bitch he has always been. And still it surprised me, maybe that's how he got along with this governor dude. They were both hard asses.

"You can come with us under a few conditions." Rick took a few steps forward and placed his hands on his hips as he thought about his decision.

"Go on." Merle chimed.

"One, you can't harass anyone. Someone says to back off, you listen. Two, you have a tent with Daryl or one of your own. You can't go in the house unless told other wise. This isn't our home, we are guest. Three, we have rules, you follow them or you're out." Rick talked to him like he was a child, but I wasn't arguing. He was letting my brother come back in the group, and I was perfectly fine with whatever conditions Rick could stir up.

"Deal." Merle took a few steps and held out his hand, waiting for Rick to finish the hand shake. Rick looked down at Merle's hand and sighed, soon connecting his hand to his and giving it a firm shake.

"Alright let's go." Rick waves his hand to the truck and everyone starts to pile in. There weren't enough seats so I took the liberty of sitting in the back, Merle soon following. When I looked down at the last person riding the back I automatically objected.

"Mel, no, you need to ride up front." There was nothing pushy about my voice. She was just to weak, and the back was to bumpy. She didn't need to add anymore stress to her body.

"Daryl stop telling me what I need to do and help me up." She sighed. She was tired. It looked as if every inch of fiber in her being was gone. Her skin was pale, her hair a mess, she was skinny beyond needs.

But for some reason I couldn't argue with her.

I stood up and reached my hand down to her. Her dainty hand lightly lay in mine as I grip onto it and pull her up. She winces as I do so and I can't help but pull her closer to me so she doesn't fall.

"I'm okay, Daryl." She lightly pushes me away as she swings each leg over the side and takes a seat near the back of the cab.

I sit next to her as we start down the road. I watch as she picks at her fingers, a nervous tick I had picked up.

I wanted to do something to make her feel more safe. I wanted to wrap my arm around her. Or to wipe the blood off of her delicate face. Or to grab her hand. To just show her some sign that I care.

But what was the use? She could never have the same feelings as me. She probably likes that Mike bitch. He's everything I'm not, why wouldn't she.

As I think more into it I start to think of all the reasons she wouldn't fall for a guy like me. I could never be anything she wants. Hell, I can't even protect her from harms way.

I might as well be her shadow, a figure with no purpose.

I shake the ideas from my head and focus on what's important; her. Get her back safe, and make sure she's okay.

The truck started to come to a stop and that's when I realized that we had made it back. And that's when a thought hit me. A smile came to my face as I looked back at the woman.

"Mel?"

"Yeah Daryl?" She slowly stands to her feet as she looks down at me with broken eyes.

"Charlie's awake."

A/N

Okay so another short one but this IS the third one I've updated today... So I hope this is all making you happy little souls. I know it makes me happy to see all of your emotions in the comments. So write them! Lmao

-Melinda