Taking a Chance

Chapter 22

Daryl was feeling completely overwhelmed. He knew what Gabrielle wanted and that was the same thing he did, but he did not trust it to work. All his life nothing really ever worked out for him, so how could he expect this to?

Without intending to, Gabrielle was completely screwing with his head. On one hand, he wanted to rip her clothes off right there and fuck her like there was no tomorrow, then the other voice told him to get her out of there. He did not need her messing up his life more than it already was. So he took the easy way out.

"Will you please take a chance on us?" Gabrielle repeated.

Why did she have to sit there with those big blue eyes of hers looking so sad? He hated being a dick to her, but what choice did he have. "I don't know Princess. Don't know if I can or I want to."

Daryl stood up. He needed her gone for his sanity. "When I decided I'll let ya know. It's getting dark, maybe you should head back home?"

"That's it?" she thought. "Did he even listen to anything I said?"

Gabrielle just sat there and looked up at him for a few moments. All she could think of was that she lost him. His voice was cold and she did not know what to do. Except she was not going to crumble in front of him, she was not going to give him that satisfaction.

She got up from the sofa and walked over to the door. She could feel him following behind her. Gabrielle turned to look at Daryl for what she felt was the last time. "Take care of yourself," she told him and kissed his cheek. Pride had her walking out the door without looking back. She heard it close softly behind her as she walked down the hall to the staircase.

By the time Gabrielle got to the car, tears were freely flowing down her face and she could barely see. She rested her head on the steering wheel for a minute, before her right hand blindly searched the center console for a tissue or a napkin. She had to get out of there before she completely lost it.

Gabrielle wiped her eyes quickly with a rough paper napkin and took off. She had no idea where she was going, she just needed to be gone.

This was even harder for him than the day he left Atlanta. Daryl knew he was hurting Gabrielle, but what choice did he have? All she had asked for was him to take chance to see if a relationship would work and what did he do, practically threw her out the door.

"Fuck it, Dixon," he said to himself. "When did you become such a coward?" Daryl started to pace back and forth in his small apartment.

Daryl started having a one sided conversation with himself. "Any guy would jump at the chance to be with Gabrielle and I turn her down? Me? Why the hell did I do that? Just because I'm afraid of getting my feelings hurt? I'm never afraid of anything, so what the fuck is wrong with me? That girl is fuckin' gorgeous, smart, funny and so far she's put up with my shit, until now." He stopped pacing for a second. "Oh fuck! Oh fuck, what did I do?" It was like a light bulb had come on for Daryl. He had let her go, he let the woman he loved go without even giving this crazy marriage a chance. When the hell had he fallen in love?

Daryl ran for the window and saw her car driving off. He had to catch her and tell her that he was the stupidest asshole in the world. How could he not want to give them a chance, he loved her.

He grabbed his keys for the motorcycle and ran out the door, only popping back in to grab his helmet. By the time he got to the parking lot, she was gone. His bike was fast so he figured he could easily catch up with her. Gabrielle had to be on her way back to Atlanta so he would head that way.

Gabby just drove with no direction in mind. After leaving Daryl's she finally found a place to pull over as she started to sob uncontrollably and at that point, driving was the last thing she should be doing. It took her a while to pull herself together. Gabrielle knew she needed to get moving, but where? She did not want to go home, going back to Daryl's was not an option, so she thought of the only other person that would understand...Michonne.

She had not yet been to the new house that her best friend had moved into with her new husband. They had recently sold Rick's old house so they could buy one they could call their own. While Gabrielle did not know where it was, she did have the address. She plugged that into the GPS on her phone and had instant directions. While the voice told her where and when to turn, Gabrielle started to cry again. The last time she used the GPS was with Daryl in Las Vegas. Why did everything she do remind her of him?

At last, the GPS told her she was at her destination. It was a cute blue house with white trim that had a big front yard. Just like Michonne had always wanted. Gabrielle breathed a sigh of relief when she saw her friend's jeep parked in the driveway along with Rick's police car. Even though she really wanted Michonne alone, she and Rick were a package deal now and Gabrielle was just going to have to handle with Rick being around for her meltdown. She just hoped it would not get back to Daryl.

Gabby pulled in behind the Jeep and walked up to their front door. She hesitated before she knocked. Should she bother them? Of course she should, this was what best friends were for. As Gabby rapped on the door she quickly started to lose what control she had over her tears.

When Rick opened the door, he was greeted with a crying Gabrielle. He opened the screen door and pulled her inside and into his arms. "Michonne!" he called out while his wife's best friend sobbed in his arms.

"Yeah Hon, who is it?"

"Gabby and I think she needs you more than me. Can ya kinda come here real quick?" he asked. Rick didn't do well with a crying woman. Then again what man ever did?

Michonne walked into the living room and saw her husband holding onto a crying Gabby. His look clearly said 'help me.' She peeled Gabby's arms off of Rick and guided her over to the sofa, where she let her continue to cry on her shoulder. She mouthed the words 'tissues and wine' and Rick ran off to do her bidding. First, he was going to change his wet t-shirt for a dry one. He could only wonder what his old friend had done now.

Daryl had spent most of the evening looking all over for Gabrielle. He had never caught up to her like he thought he would. He even drove all the way to her place in Atlanta, but she never came back. Where could she have gone? "Of course!" he realized. She would have gone to Michonne.

It was time for him to play the friend card with Rick. He sent him a text. is Gabrielle there?

It didn't take long for him to get a response. yep. bro what did you do?

Daryl let out a sigh of relief knowing where she was. almost let her get away. i'm stupid man. dont let her go, b there as soon as i can. in atlanta

Rick looked at his phone in confusion. why u there

looking for her. on my way

Rick sent one last message. Walk the bike in unless you want her to run

Daryl heard his phone ding again and pulled it out of his pocket. He saw the new text from Rick. "Good idea," he thought and quickly sent back a thank you.

He managed to get to Rick's in just over thirty minutes. He literally flew all the way. He sent Rick another text. here

Rick replied back instantly. they're in the living room talking. just walk in. i'm hiding out upstairs

Rick's last line caused Daryl to smile. His friend the big bad cop was hiding from a couple of women. If he survived tonight, he'd have to give Rick hell for that.

As quietly as he could Daryl walked up to the front door. He knew he owed her an apology and if he had to grovel to get her back he would. This was completely uncharted territory for him. Daryl took a deep breath before opening the door. He walked in to see the astonished look on both Gabrielle and Michonne's faces. He heard footsteps in the hall and knew Rick had come downstairs.

He zeroed in on Gabrielle. "Princess, we need to talk."

Her response was to pick up the ceramic owl figure on the table and throw it at his head. It was a good thing Daryl has fast reflexes, as her aim was good...too good. Daryl ducked in time as the owl flew past him and threw the front window. Glass shattered all over of the rug.

"Look what you made me do!" Gabrielle exclaimed.

This was so not going the way he had hoped. He looked around the room. Rick looked shocked. Daryl could tell Michonne wanted to kill him and Gabrielle who looked like she had been crying, was seriously pissed. Man, he was in for a long night and he had no one else to blame except himself.