Until the End

Chapter Twenty: Love and sex.

Everyone seemed to be in a trance as they went about cleaning the blood up off the lower deck. Dark clouds began rolling in as the Sea Beast floated away from The Abyss which was being engulfed by flames. Black swirls of thick smoke traveled up into the sky, spreading the burning flesh of those who have come to harm the group aboard the Sea Beast. Kirby, Lori, and Andrea, after calming down and doing their jobs, were back to being dressed in their regular clothes.

Kirby sighed as she grabbed a spray bottle filled with diluted bleach and began to spray it on the surface of the table Glenn had been on. She wiped down the table, making sure that there was no trace of the red liquid that had poured out of the young man. Glenn was currently in one of the bedrooms on the first floor with Amy beside him in case he needed anything. With everything that had happened that day, Kirby's shoulders slumped and she let herself slide down onto a chair. She burrowed her face in her hands and just let the silent tears fall.

She heard members of the group come and go. Each stopping to decide on whether or not to go over to her. Feeling it best to let her have some time alone, not one of them stayed around in fear they too will break down with her. Merle, however, wasn't like the rest. Nor Daryl or Shane. Daryl stood in the doorway, watching Kirby as small quivers left her body. Shane, who stood out of sight of the rest, just watched her. Wanting to go over to her and take her in his arms, but knew that his comfort wouldn't be welcomed. By her or anyone else of this boat.

Merle, the man that he is, strolled right on over to Kirby and set a bottle of Wild Turkey in front of her. In his hand were two glasses, one already full to the rim. Merle took that one and shoved it in Kirby's hand, before filling himself a glass. Kirby looked over at Merle as he straddled a chair across the table from her. He took a gulp, returning her look.

"Not that it's goin' to do ya any good in the mornin', but ya really need to get shitfaced right now." Merle stated, taking another gulp of the bourbon.

Kirby brought the glass to her lips and tasted the golden brown liquid. She coughed as the liquid burned the tip of her tongue and the back of her throat. Merle chuckled.

"Ya have to chug it down." Daryl stated, coming over with a glass of his own.

Kirby watched as Daryl poured some of the bourbon into his glass.

"Thanks you guys." Kirby said.

She the chugged down her whole glass of bourbon, before slamming the glass down. Merle raised a brow at Daryl, who stared with wide eyes at Kirby when she didn't cough.

"Um...you've done this before haven't ya?" Daryl asked, smirking now.

The corners of Kirby's lips tilted upwards at his words.

"Maybe a couple of frat parties here and there. Nothing major." Kirby stated, shrugging her shoulders.

"Sure." Merle laughed, knocking back his own glass.

"I'm not going to drink anymore. I don't want a hangover and with the way everything is, I don't want to be drunk in case something else happens." Kirby said, standing up.

"Yer leavin'?" Merle asked.

"No, I'm just going to sit in Daryl's lap as he gets his shitfaced moment." Kirby teased, plopping down into Daryl's lap.

Daryl draped one arm around Kirby's waist as hers went around his neck. She pressed her lips to his cheek. Merle watched the two, grinning. Daryl lifted his glass and went to take a swallow. Kirby leaned down and whispered into his ear. Wild Turkey shot out of Daryl's mouth as he choked from surprise. Kirby leaned back, laughing loudly at this.