Temerity ➳ Daryl Dixon

Chapter Two

---*--- Rewritten on 11/20/2021 ---*---

"We can't just.. take her with us!"

"He's right. I don't know if I'll feel safe with a stranger around.."

"Well what do you suppose I do? Kill her? She saved mine and Carl's life. If it wasn't for her we'd be..."

"Rick.. just think about it. We know nothing about her! What if she's dangerous?"

"If she wanted to harm us Lori, she would have done it when we were in a swarm of walkers."

"Now now. I didn't ask to keep her around, just give me enough time to treat her. Then you can cut her free."

"So what do you suppose, we blindfold her? Maybe put some handcuffs?"

"Guys! Will yall settle down?! Yer attracting walkers."

I felt someone left me and place me down on something soft. Then tie something around my face and hands. There was a blindfold on me. But not handcuffs, just rope.

An engine roared and I felt the vehicle move. I pretended to be asleep curled up in the seat I was in.

"I know you're awake. You can sit up. Looks damn uncomfortable."

I sat up and tried for the blindfold. I could hear the hammer of a gun click back "Don't. I won't hesitate to end ya here and now."

I put my hands down and sighed. "I wasn't planning on staying. I just wanted away from that herd. I've been on the run for weeks."

"That don't change nothing. For now, you're a prisoner until we can find out what to do with ya."

The rest of the ride was quiet until we heard a horn honk behind us. I felt the vehicle slow down and stop completely.

"Stay where you are and I won't need to kill you."

Even though he couldn't see it, I rolled my eyes. He seemed to stop for a moment and then scoffed.

Daryl's Pov

I rode in my truck with Carol to find the others.  When we did come across them,  there was something off.

I turned off the truck and got out along with Carol. Rick was pacing back and forth while Hershel worked on somebody.  "Who's that? One of us get hurt?" 

Glancing down at the patient, I didn't recognize her. She had long black hair and tan skin. Her face was flushed and her leg was cut open.

Hershel looked up for a moment. "Not quite. She stumbled upon Rick and Carl right as the herd got there.  From what they told me,  she saved both of their lives."

I chewed on my fingernail. "What happened to her?"

He started working again. "Cut her leg on a loose stair in the barn. She's also suffering from exhaustion and malnutrition. I don't think she has ate or drank anything in days. "

Carol chimed in. "You can save her?" He nodded.  "It's a bad cut. Tore through a lot of her muscle and tendons, but she'll live. Just might not be able to walk for awhile."

Carl and Rick walked over.  He looked nervous. "So?"  He repeated what he had said to us and then paused. 

"What's going to happen to her after I treat her? Will she become another Randal? On death row?"

Carl's head dropped. "I think we should keep her.  Dad?"

Rick stared at the girl for a few minutes in silence. "I don't know.  I do know that I owe her my life for saving our asses back there.  But the group won't be so trusting."

We all heard the sound of cars and Lori and Glenn had arrived. Not long after,  everyone had. Hershel finished up quickly.

They all questioned Rick and then the arguments began. I stared at her crossbow. It was like mine but a newer model. I noticed she had more arrows and there were three initials carved into it. RJM.

The groups argument continued until walkers began to climb their way out of the forest.

I called out and Rick nodded to me. I picked her up and she felt lighter than I thought she would.

I could feel her breath and it was uneven meaning she was at least somewhat conscious. I loaded her into my truck and tied her up before heading out.  I glanced at her and bit the inside of my cheek.

"I know you're awake. You can sit up.  Looks damn uncomfortable. "

She shifted and rose her hands to the blindfold. As a scare tactic I cocked my empty gun and pointed it at her.

Didn't even flinch. Okay how about this.. "Don't. I won't hesitate to end ya here and now."

She dropped her hands and sighed. "I wasn't planning on staying. I just wanted away from that herd. I've been on the run for weeks."

That must have sucked.

"That don't change nothing. For now, you're a prisoner until we can find out what to do with ya."

She didn't say anything and just leaned against the window. I glanced over at her and thought what my brother would've done.

The thought sickened me, but Merle will always be my brother.

Rick honked behind us and I slowed to a stop.

I looked over at her.

"Stay where you are and I won't need to kill you."

I could see her eyes moving under the blindfold and could only assume what she had done. I scoffed. Stupid bitch.

Locking the doors on my way out, I got out and met up with everybody. Rick said we'd have to stay in the area for the night and search for supplies in the morning.

Hershel asked about the girl.  "She awake but damn she's annoying."

Carol and Lori both spoke,  one after the other.

"Consious means she can move. "  "So she doesn't have to be with us. "

Rick sighed and held the bridge of his nose. "I can't just.. abandon her like that.  Not until I repay my debt."

Lori's eyebrows rose. Carol spoke first.  "You're not killing her.  A life for a life.  Debt already repaid-"

Lori cut her off with a hand raise in her direction. "Sorry am I missing something here? She is a potential threat and you want her occupying the same space as Carl? As our unborn child?"

Rick turned to her. "For the last time.  She saved my life. She saved his life. My decision on this is final."

Lori huffed and walked away muttering under her breath.

He pointed to a little broken down structure and said we could stay there and everyone migrated that to it with T-Dog keeping watch.