Taking a Chance

Chapter 9

Daryl was pacing back and forth outside the Bellagio next to their Dancing Fountains. The cold dark fury he was feeling was clearly evident all over his face. Tourists skirted around him his anger flowed off him in waves. He took drag after drag on his cigarette as it gave his one hand something to do. The other was repeated being clenched into a fist like he was getting ready to hit something...someone.

He was furious and completely embarrassed. He didn't remember the last time he was ever this mad. It was even worse than the motel room argument they had. How dare she put him down that way and in front of his closest friends!

No, he wasn't college educated or ate in fancy-ass restaurants, but he worked hard and treated people with respect. She was nothing but a fuckin' snobby bitch. He had been stupid and Daryl hated being stupid. He had her figured out to start, but then she had to go and play nice and he fuckin' fell for her act. He'll admit to being stupid, but he'd be damned if he would ever fall for her crap again.

Great he was married to a woman who he hated. So typical for a Dixon.

Rick ran out the front door of the hotel looking for Daryl. He searched to the left, then to the right before walking a little bit further, and then he saw him. "Thank God," he murmured when he saw him smoking by the fountains. He walked over to Daryl and touched his arm. Rick took a step back as Daryl whirled around ready for a fight.

"Easy Daryl...easy. It's just me."

When Daryl saw that it was Rick, he relaxed. Their eyes met and he just shook his head.

"She is so far out of line, I couldn't believe it. The shit she said was...just wrong, so fucking wrong. I'd take ten of you any day compared to one of her, you know that right?" Rick told him.

"Only one other person thought I was a worthless piece of crap and that was my old man, but at least he didn't humiliate me in public. I'm sorry, man. I can't be around her. I ...I just can't." Daryl had never ever considered hitting a woman before, it wasn't in his nature, but until he calmed down he didn't trust himself around Gabrielle.

Rick put his hand on his friend's shoulder. "I don't want anything to do with her either. I told Michonne to deal with her and get her out of here. She has no place in our lives."

"I appreciate that Rick, but she's Michonne's friend. I can't ask you to do that," Daryl said. That his friend was so loyal, meant the world to him, but it wasn't fair to Michonne.

"Oh yes you can," replied Michonne as she joined the men. "I want nothing to do with that person in there. That's not the Gabby I grew up with. She's turned into a person that I don't even recognize anymore." Michonne took a step towards Daryl and wrapped her arms around him. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, Daryl."

Michonne didn't know what to do. Daryl was furious and had every right to be so. She had known him for a couple years now and had never seen his eyes looking so deadly, so cold, yet hurt at the same time. She put her arm around him and rested her head on his shoulder. He just stayed stiff under her touch.

The love he felt radiating from Michonne touched him. Rick had found himself a wonderful woman. He, on the other hand, married a viper. "It's not your fault, don't worry about it. Hopefully, we can get rid this stupid mistake we made pretty quick."

"The sooner the better," Michonne agreed. "You really don't remember any of that from last night?"

Daryl rolled his eye at her. "Do you really think if I was in my right mind I would have married someone like her? Even if we got along, she is so outta my fuckin' league, it would never work."