Red ~ TWD (Daryl Dixon)

The World Is Up For Grabs

"Are you sure about Michonne?" Hershel asked Rick for the 100th time.

Rick smothered a groan of annoyance even I was starting to feel. How many times were we going to do this exactly?

"As sure as I can be," he said, again. That was a non-answer if I ever heard one.

Rick and Carl were currently loading up the car for an ammo run, and they were taking Deadpool with them. Everyone seemed uncomfortable with the samurai accompanying them on the trip. I didn't share their opinion. Not 100% anyway.

"If she was going to kill us she would have done it by now," I added as I leaned against the wall picking at my nails with a knife.

"You said the exact same thing about yourself at my farm."

I looked up, grinning at the old man. "Exactly."

He was proving my point for me. Did I end up killing everyone? No, I did not. Not yet anyway, but if this convo kept going much longer I couldn't be held responsible for my actions.

"You really think we can trust her?" Glenn questioned, looking at me with worry filled eyes.

"As much as we can trust anyone these days." It wasn't exactly a glowing recommendation, but if we really considered her a threat why was she still here? "We've let her stay. She sleeps a few feet from Carl and Nugget. Letting her go on a supply run is nothing compared to that."

I may not think she would massacre us all in our sleep, but it hadn't stopped me from keeping my eye on her the past few days. So far she'd done nothing to warrant a bullet to the forehead, and my criteria for one of those was fairly limited. Also, if she was willing to help us fight The Governor I didn't see how we could refuse. The list of people lining up to play Alamo was pretty short.

"She's right," Daryl agreed and I almost amended my opinion out of spite. Instead I kept my eyes fixed on my fingernails as I completed my manicure.  Rick slammed the trunk closed walking to the passenger side door as Deadpool made her way out of the prison.

"We're going. Daryl, Alex you know what to do. We'll be back before nightfall."

I nodded at him, pushing off the wall and walking to Carl. "Keep your head on a swivel out there."

"I know." He all but rolled his eyes, kids. He shifted closer to and I squatted down so he could whisper. "Can we really trust her?"

We were eye level and I smiled, putting my my hands on his shoulders. "She's one of us."

"How can you be sure?" I pressed a hand against his chest directly over his heart.

"I feel it in here." His lips pressed into a thin line, ever the skeptic as he looked at something over my shoulder. "Hey, it's OK if you don't. Trust your instincts. They'll keep you alive."

He nodded at me, arms going around my neck as he hugged me tight. I held him close, trying to calm the stress having him venture outside the gates caused me. I'd reminded myself countless times since Rick declared he was taking him there was no way to hide him from the world forever. He was ready. I trained him myself. He could do this. I would just have to keep repeating that over-and-over until he was back safely.

Pulling away I held him at arm's length, "You're ready."

Without another word I opened the car door and ushered him inside. Rick waited patiently beside the car.

"Take care of Judith." His steely eyes bore into mine. The burden of his request heavy on both our shoulders.

"With my life."