Red ~ TWD (Daryl Dixon)

A Better Man

Normally being right made me want to break out in song, gloat, smile uncontrollably, sometimes a combination of all three. Unfortunately, now wasn't one of those times. At the moment I wanted to be anything other than right.

It was early the next morning, very early. The sun, while still relatively low in the sky, was threatening to roast me like a pig on a spit. I leaned against a nearby wall, fuming for reasons that had nothing to do with the rising temperatures as Rick came clean, confirming my suspicions as he outlined The Governor's price for "peace". No one looked surprised at the "big reveal". Something told me Hershel already knew, and Daryl and I had guessed as much last night. Knowing it and hearing it were two very different things.

The longer he spoke the more the lead brick lodged in my throat expanded and acid burned the back of my throat. According to Rick all we had to do to avoid Woodbury's substantial stockpile of people and bullets being unleashed on us was hand over Deadpool.

"You gonna tell 'em?" Daryl asked.

I kept my head down studying the tips of my boots like they might offer an alternative solution. I couldn't look at Rick right now. If I looked at him I might wrap my hands around his throat and cut off his precious air supply until he came to his senses.

Daryl's question was unnecessary, a fact he knew, but he was trying to force his friend to think this through to the end. We all knew he wouldn't tell the others. He couldn't. They would never understand such an offer. They would never agree to it. It would split us down the seams which was the last thing we needed on the verge of war. Handing over Deadpool may avoid war with The Governor, but it was liable to start a civil war. The bad news was we couldn't keep it a secret forever. Sooner or later someone would realize she was missing.

"Not 'till after," he sighed and I closed my eyes. I incorrectly assumed there would at least be some discussion or debate. He'd already made his decision long before he drug us out here, and for the first time under his leadership I seriously considered stopping him. "We have to do it today. It has to be quiet."

Well, that should easy. All we needed to do was separate, subdue and kidnap a woman with the personality of a porcupine and the fighting skills of a rabid lion. All without anyone noticing.

Could it be done? Yes.

Did I have the stomach for what it would entail? No. Not anymore.

I could tell from Daryl's body language he didn't agree with the decision, but he would support it. That was how dictatorships worked after all. I drummed my fingers against my leg, trying to find my Zen before I marched up to Deadpool and told her to run.

"You got a plan?"

Rick shook his head yes. I rolled my eyes so hard I almost hurt myself. I couldn't wait to hear this bullshit.

"We tell her we need to talk. Away from the others."

Daryl looked over Rick's shoulder at Hershel, but the old man couldn't hold his gaze, his face grim. Typical, I thought angrily. We were willing to sacrifice another human being to that monster knowing exactly what he would do, but didn't have the stomach to discuss the details.

"It just ain't us man," Daryl said with a solemn shake of his head.

He was a lot of things, but first and foremost he was a man of principle. He had a good heart and this was wrong no matter how you pretty of a package you shoved it in.

"No, no it isn't," Hershel agreed, hobbling off on his crutches.

It was obvious he didn't support the decision, but he wasn't going to stand in the way of it either. In-action was the same as acceptance in my book.