These Awkward Moments

Chapter 27 A New/Old Tradition

The next day
Delilah's POV
I got out of bed before the sun was up, giving up on sleep again. I dressed in my oldest jeans, and most worn out shirt. I grabbed my back pack and loaded it with water, pemmican, and a bedroll. I got my crossbow, hunting knife and pistol ready and strapped on. I forced myself to eat some eggs. I waited until the sun was coming up over the horizon, then went into Roe's room to wake him up.

Roe startled awake, and looked at me through half open eyes. "What's wrong Lila? The baby ain't sick, is she?"

I shook my head. "Nah. She's fine. She's still sleepin'. I'm gonna need ya to watch her for me for a while."

Roe rubbed his eyes and tried to shake off the morning cobwebs. "Is someone sick? You goin' out on a housecall? What's up?" He yawned.

I set my chin firmly. "I'm goin' out ta bring Daryl Dixon back."

Roe blinked a couple of times and then opened his eyes enough that he could see me clearly. "Delilah June Casey! What the fuck are ya talkin' about? You can't go out there all alone lookin' God knows where for that man! You don't even know what direction they headed, and there won't be any kinda trail ta track this many days out. Have you gone daft?"

I nodded. "Yes. Yes, I'm fairly certain that's probably the case. But I don't know what else ta do about it. It ain't like you can have me committed at this point. I can't just sit around here and wait and not do anything at all Roe! Ain't nobody else doin' shit about it. I have to at least try! And I'm pretty sure Erik can tell me at least what direction they headed in."

He could see how determined I was, and I could see him getting desperate. "Don't you remember how you were tellin' me that you knew ya needed to take care of yourself because you had ta be here ta take care of Mercy? What would happen ta her without you? You can't go out there alone Delilah! I'll go! You stay here with the baby, and I'll go. And I swear I won't come back without him. Please!"

My shoulders slumped. I hated it when he turned my own words against me. I dropped the crossbow onto his bed and sat down. I put my face in my hands and started to cry again. I felt Roe's arm come around me. He pulled me into his chest, just like when we were little and I fell off my bike. Just like every time I had been hurt or heartbroken and he had stepped up to comfort me. All of that past hurt added together didn't come anywhere close to the hurt I was feeling today.

He stroked my back gently. "No matter what Delilah, ya gotta pull it together girl. Mercy needs her mama. You can't think about doin' anything that could end up with you gettin' hurt. Now you go change out of those clothes, and put away the damned weapons. I'll get ready, talk to Erik, grab some help, and we'll go hunt down yer man. Ok?"

I sniffled and nodded. I did as Roe asked and put away my weapons. I changed my clothes, and by this time Mercy was waking up. I sat down and nursed her, thinking that Roe's plan made a lot more sense than mine. When she finished eating I put her in her sling on my back. Roe finished getting ready and stopped in the kitchen to eat some breakfast. I gave him my backpack to take with him. "I'm gonna stop on the way out and talk ta Rick. I think he needs ta know what we're doing."

I nodded. "I'm goin' with you. I wanna walk you to the gate." He grunted and headed to the door.

We talked to Rick about what was going on. He understood my concern, but was hesitant to let Roe risk himself if we didn't know for sure what had happened. We spent about thirty minutes planning out a strategy to track them down, and figuring out who should go. Roe went out to round up everyone, and Michonne walked with me towards the gate. There were quite a few people out enjoying the morning. Most of them called out and asked if we had any word yet.