Evelyn// Daryl Dixon

10.

The day was slow, everyone carrying out daily tasks. Evelyn and Greyson didn't have a daily routine in with the group just yet. They helped here and there when needed around. Daryl marched to the beat of his own drum. He usually worked on his crossbow by his tent, keeping to himself. Most of his time was spent stressing about finding Sophia. Greyson sat across from him while he fidgeted and worked on his arrows. Always wielding them to be sharper and more sturdy.

"You don't like Shane" Greyson stated, starting the conversation abruptly just wanting to get to the point.

"Nah, but why does it matter to ya?" Daryl shook his head and looked up at him.

"Us, I think we could form some kind of alliance against him. Personally for my mom, but I need someone else strong who doesn't like him. Seems like everyone else around here isn't close enough to care or too weak to fight back. So I need you" Greyson tilted his head towards Daryl.

Daryl looked around for a second. He saw Shane pacing by the barn, the scene replayed in his head when he saw Shane push Evelyn down. He looked away and towards the tent she had moved to.

"A'ight. I'm in" he returned his gaze back to Greyson.

"D and G"

"What 'bout E an F?" Daryl raised a curious brow.

"You care about them?"

"Your mom sure does. Dwight, Evelyn and Greyson. She skipped F though" he shrugged.

"Dwight always told her it meant fate. He beat on her for years on end. So she left it out when she had me"

"Let's change that F from fate to family. Family is forever and I'm assuming you aren't leaving anytime soon"

"Not at all. It works. Family it is"

"Since we're family I can now ask ya why the hell ya dress like that? A vest and tie over a button up"

"Never thought of changing it. Maybe some sense of normalcy in all this" Greyson shrugged as he looked at his outfit.

"I like it"

Evelyn had seen Greyson and Daryl talking as she left the Greene family house. She left with a spoon and a lighter. In the tent she found the stash of the meth, along with it was a new needle and a pipe. Daryl's brother was prepared. She looked around quickly before burning down the crystal to liquid. She sucked up the liquid into the syringe and tied off her arm with a flannel before shooting up. Her eyes rolled to the back of her head and she fell backwards. It was strong, a sensation she hasn't had in a long time hit all at once. She took a deep breath before sitting up again and hiding the evidence.

*****

Hours later and the meth was still running its course in her system. Carl, Lori, Glenn, Maggie, Greyson and Evelyn were on the porch steps, waiting for Ricks arrival. They were supposed to have a search team set out for Sophia today. Evelyn couldn't sit still so she paced nearby.

"Anybody seen Rick? We were supposed to leave hours ago" Andrea asked as she approached the small gathering.

"Yeah you were. The hell happened?" Daryl came storming in, Carol struggling to keep up.

"He did say he was going out. Just not where" Carol added.

"Shit, ain't anybody takin this seriously?" Daryl fumed with frustration "we got us a damn trail" he threw his arm in the direction of the exit of the farm. While he was turned he saw Shane approaching with guns "ah, here we go"

"You with me, man?" Shane asked Daryl and he took the gun from his hands in all means of finding Sophia.

"Time to grow up," Shane grumbled "you got yours?" He asked Andrea who nodded in agreement.

"Where's Dale?" She inquired.

"He's on his way" Shane handed T-Dog a handgun.

"Thought we couldn't carry" T-Dog asked in confusion.

"We can and we have to. It was one thing when we were pickin daisies thinkin we were safe but now we know we ain't," Shane turned to Greyson "I know you can't say no, you gotta protect momma, like you always do" he sneered.

Greyson stood up, eye level with Shane. He didn't take the gun for a second. But in that second, the meth thought quicker than Evelyn when she snatched the gun from his hands and clocked him with it in the face. Shane stumbled back, he held his face as he turned back with a smirk.

"Fighting now?" Shane laughed.

Evelyn pressed the gun to his forehead, her hands shaking from the drugs. Shane could tell she was on something.

"You ain't gonna do that. The meth says yes but Evelyn says no" Shane teased.

Carl watched in shock, stepping back into Loris hold. Evelyn closed her eyes tightly as she knew he was right. Everyone watching her, her son and nephew.

"You won't" Shane edged, Evelyn loading a bullet into the chamber.

"She won't," Daryl butted in, Evelyn opening her eyes and catching his gaze "you won't" he shook his head to her.

She closed her eyes again, legs twitching underneath her.

"Fuck!" She yelled angrily before putting the gun down.

Shane continued on, her not shooting fed his ego even more than his anger had. He out a gun out to Glenn who took it reluctantly.

"Can you shoot?" Shane asked Maggie.

"Can you stop? If you keep handing out these guns my dad is gonna make you leave, tonight!" Maggie clenched her fists.

"We can't leave, Shane" Carl said.

"We aren't going anywhere" Shane told him "Hershel's gotta understand, well he's gonna have to to"

There was an exchange held between Shane and Carl. Lori intervened quickly to knock some kind of sense into Shane. Greyson retrieved a gun as well knowing he might as well have one if everyone else did.

"Oh, shit" T-Dog had caught the attention of the crowd. Everyone saw what he had. Rick leading a walker on a leash as Hershel followed behind.