Until the End

Chapter Twenty-Four: Drive me crazy.

Lifting his free boot-clad foot, Daryl sent a fierce kick to the dog's face that had it's fangs sunken deep within Daryl's other boot. The dog's fangs were ripped out of Daryl's boot and tumbled back a couple of feet. Daryl whipped his right hand around and shot at the other two dogs that were just about to reach him. A heavy weight landed on top of Daryl's back just as Glenn fired his rifle. The weight knocked the breath out of Daryl and his arms gave out from under him.

"Daryl! Are you okay down there?!" Glenn asked, shouting.

Daryl let out a cough, trying to catch his breath as he shoved the dead dog off of him.

"Yeah, jus' fine." Daryl huffed, feeling that the dog's blood had soaked through his shirt.

"You're bleeding!" Carl yelled as Daryl stood up.

"Don't look. Glenn, don't let them look down here." Daryl said, his hands wet with blood.

"Daryl, maybe you should take off that shirt. The blood could be infected." Glenn suggested, looking down at Daryl.

Daryl glanced up at Glenn and raised a brow.

"If ya want me naked so bad, ya could of jus' said so." Daryl teased, causing Glenn to relax.

"Shut up and find a way up here. The dogs are beginning to freak me out." Glenn said, moving out of Daryl's sight.

Daryl looked around, a frown marring his lips.

'There goes the Man's best friend theory.' Daryl thought.

He found a single crate and used it to boost himself up. Glenn took Daryl by his wrist and pulled as Daryl jumped up. Daryl managed to grab the side of the landing and haul himself up.

"You're not bit are you?" Glenn whispered so the kids wouldn't hear him.

"Honestly? I have no idea right now. I'm too pumped up to feel anythin'." Daryl whispered back, frowning.

"Do you um....want me to check?" Glenn asked, obviously not wanting to.

"The day I let ya look at me naked will be a cold day in hell, China man." Daryl shot at Glenn.

"I'm Korean damn it." Glenn said, his voice loud.

Daryl grinned.

"Whatever. Carl, ya see that curtain behind ya? See if ya and Mallorie can rip it down." Daryl said, removing his bloodied shirt. His white dark gray beater was stained red in some places, but it would have to do.

Carl and Mallorie each grabbed a handful of the curtain and began to tug on it. Seeing them not getting anywhere, Daryl took out his hunting knife.

"Here, Carl." Daryl said, holding the knife, handle first, towards Carl.

"But--"

"Don't worry. I trust ya." Daryl said and Carl took the knife.

Carl went back to the curtain and Mallorie held it still for him as he cut out a large section for Daryl to use. After putting back his hunting knife, Daryl took the piece of curtain from Mallorie, before wiping the blood off of him with it. Letting out a sigh, Daryl removed his boot that one of the dogs had gotten a hold of. Seeing no teeth marks in his skin had Daryl releasing a breath he didn't realize he was holding in.

"That actually kind of scared me for a minute." Daryl admitted, almost too silent for Glenn to hear.

Glenn clamped a hand on Daryl's shoulder with a knowing look.

"Me too. I wouldn't know what to do with the kids if you died." Glenn said seriously.

Daryl scoffed and shrugged Glenn's hand off of his shoulder.