Wake the Dead

chapter 14

I was feeling much better after I ate, napped, and stopped running around, but I still wasn't feeling on top of the world. I was setting up my tent that T-dog had let me use, because he was going to stay in the RV. I set up Syd's and my little makeshift bed and set my bag in the corner, then stepped out and zipped it up. 

I had kinda moved the tent away from everyone else's a little bit, but not too far that it was noticeable. I didn't know what else to do, and it bothered me not to being able to busy myself. I had asked Hershel if he wanted me to do anything around the farm, but he just kept on telling me to rest and get my strength back.  I even tried to get Glenn to let me come with him and Maggie on their run, but again someone was there to tell me no.

I had just been wandering around doing stupid shit after we attempted to pull the walker out of the well. It didn't work out so good, because the walker ended up getting stuck and breaking in half, decontaminating the water. 

I looked up at the sky and it looked like it was later in the afternoon, soon to be evening. I decided I was going to go look for Syd and see if she if she got anything to eat today, so I started to walk over to the RV. I was about to run inside, but the door was already open. I stepped on the first step and looked over to see Daryl talking to Carol, he was giving her a flower. I felt my heart sink a little and I quickly walked out. 

I walked over back to where the tents where and I plopped down into a chair. It doesn't matter what Daryl does, it's better for me to be away from him, and he was probably just trying to make her feel better, anyways. Carol deserves that after losing her daughter. I spotted Rick sitting on the steps of the house and decided to make my way over to him to distract myself.

I sat down next to him and he just continued to look ahead. "Carl awake yet?" I asked him.

"He's been in and out for a while, sleeping it off I guess." I could tell something was bothering him by the way he said it

I turned my body to face him, "what's goin on, Rick?" 

He looked at me, "this morning, I-I lied to Carl. I told him that Sophia was okay." He looked down at his shoes. "He's the only one I don't want to fail, but I feel like I do everyday."

I didn't really have any good parenting advice, because I wasn't a parent and my dad sure wasn't a role model, but I tried my best. "My dad didn't have those comforting lies. He just used his fists." Rick looked up at me as I continued. "Some men just don't earn the love of their children, and I don't see you havin that problem."

He put his hand on my shoulder and looked me right in the eyes. "Thank you, for everything."

"s'not a problem." I said looking right back into his blue eyes and then got up and stood. I looked around and didn't see Syd, but I did notice Daryl looking at me. I just walked over to the tents, ignoring his gaze, and saw that Glenn had gotten back from his run and Shane was coming back with Andrea from looking for a place to have shooting practice. Then Daryl was sitting next to the fire pit we had made and was skinning some squirrels, getting ready to have them be cooked.

He seemed to be skinning them with anger.

I shrugged it off, not feeling like even caring anymore and went over to Glenn. "Have ya seen Syd anywhere?" 

He looked up at me, then back down at his hat he was holding in his hands. "Uh- yeah a little bit ago, she was doing something with that girl Beth." 

Maybe she made a new friend? "Did ya see what way she went?"

Glenn just shrugged, "not really, but I think she was heading toward the house."

I nodded and was about to leave when I heard Daryl grunt. "Ya got a problem, Dixon?" I said turning around to face him.