Shattered

Chapter Twenty-Three: Distant

       I was blinded by the sun. I looked over and saw Daryl sitting on a log. I walked over and put the blanket around me. "It's cold this morning." "Late fall." I smiled slightly. He's been pulling away again. He hasn't even wrapped his arm around me in a few weeks. We keep our distance for some reason. I tried to go near him but he'll move away. I drummed my fingers against the log and looked over at Daryl. He looked like he was thinking hard about something. I wanted to ask him why he was so distant but I was afraid of him moving farther away. "We're almost there." "Good." I smiled but he just turned away making my heart sink. "We'll stay another night and then move in the morning." He got off the log and started heading towards the woods. His crossbow was thrown over his shoulder making me smile. He might be difficult right now but I love to watch him walk away.

        I moved to the ground and leaned against the log. I put my hands closer to the fire embers and tried to warm up. I don't know how Daryl stays so warm. It wasn't easy being here alone. I didn't know the area making it hard for me to prepare for what could possibly jump out at me. I wish Daryl would've just taken me with him. I miss hunting and I don't know exactly what to do. I ran my hands through my hair before putting it up in a bun. I went through my bag and finally found a book at the bottom.

     I was lost in the paper pages of a different world when something fell next to me. I looked over and saw a deer. I looked up at Daryl. He looked pleased with himself. I smiled back at him as he started to skin the thing. Made me wonder if Merle ever did this with Daryl or if he taught himself by trial and error. There's just so much I don't know about him. I kept stealing looks over at him admiring the way his muscles flexed as he worked. I knew he caught me staring a few times but I didn't care.

        "I'm going into town so we don't have to stop in the morning." "I don't want you on your own." "Don't worry Dixon, I'll be fine." I kissed his cheek and got on the motorcycle. He gave me a slight nod and stepped into the tent. What a fantastic goodbye.. I got there before dark knowing it wasn't a good idea to be out at night. I still didn't care that much to be honest. I turned on the flashlight when I stepped into a store and slowly crept around shelves and other objects. I unzipped my bag and picked up bandages off the floor and put them in. I peeked around the corner and saw a walker standing with its back towards me. Pulling out my knife I shoved it into the back of it's skull. I lowered it to the ground so nothing would be lured by the sound. I went behind the counter and felt a gun taped under it. I checked the clip and it was full. "Lucky day.." "Maybe not.." My blood froze. Do I dare to turn around or do I run to the motorcycle and get back to Daryl. I put my hand on the gun but he grabbed my wrist. "We don't want anyone getting hurt now do we Grace?" "That could be debated." I heard the door open and I grabbed his wrist twisting back his arm with my gun pointed. "Damn it Daryl.." "Who's he?" "Names Will." I twisted his arm back further forcing him to the ground. 

       I looked up at Daryl not knowing what to do. I hit Will over the head with my gun and Daryl pulled me aside. "What the hell is goin' on?" "Nothing. Let's just go." "We can't just leave a man to die." I looked back at Will and sighed. "I wouldn't necessarily say he's a man." He shook his head and went outside. I went around and filled my bag up with other supplies. Daryl came in and threw Will over his shoulder. We walked out and Daryl opened the door to a truck. He didn't look at me the whole ride out of the city. I knew he was upset about me trying to leave a man for dead but he doesn't understand. I don't know if I'll ever be able to tell him either. I kept looking out the back window making sure he wasn't awake. I put my hand on his knee and smiled. He moved his knee away from me without glancing over at me. How mad could he be? He wanted to kill Randall back at the farm. I know that was under different circumstances.

       We stopped and untied Will. We talked through what we were going to do. Daryl didn't seem to mind him sticking around for a bit so I didn't say anything against it. I lit a cigarette and took a long drag. "Still smoking?" "Still being a dick?" I leaned against the truck and watched Will. He was taller and had more tattoos than the last time I saw him. It's been a long time since then. I watched Daryl looking at a map and then back to the road multiple times. A hand went across my back right about my ass making me jump. I grabbed his hand and moved it back on the truck. "Keep your hands away from me before I break them off." "Sorry little lady." I rolled my eyes and got back in the truck. Daryl finally looked up and saw me. He wasn't looking at me but past me thinking about something. I rolled down the window when he walked over and smiled. "What's up?" "We're about a half hour away from where we need to be." "Where is that exactly?" He looked away from me and grabbed his bow of the ground. Will jumped in the back and we were moving once again.