WHIPLASH. ( DARYL DIXON )

three.

written in the perspective of third person.

Elena woke up alone and cold.

This wasn't new, in fact, it was a rare occurrence that she woke up with Shane next to her, instead of him sleeping somewhere else, and with the way she had spoke back to him yesterday, she had expected it.

They had grown so far apart in the last few weeks it was like they were strangers again and Elena half expected Rick or Lori to reintroduce them to each other.

Yesterday she had spent the whole night with Rick's arm around her, shielding her from the ever rottening world around them, just like he did when she ran into his room at odd hours of the night up until they were grown, sobbing into him over her reliving memories every night.

She couldn't help but look up to him even now, in the heart of an apocalypse, hearing his story around the campfire, how alone he must've felt, how confusing this all still is to him.

She had nearly fell asleep on her older brother when Dale spoke up again, "Have you given any thought to Daryl Dixon. He won't be happy to hear his brother was left behind. "

Elena didn't know the Dixon's well, she knew better than to go to close to them, but she was very familiar with Merle's comments and remarks, and she was most definitely familiar with the type of man Merle Dixon was. Daryl, however was more reserved, but just as hot-headed.

T-Dog was the first to reply, taking the blame. "I'll tell him. I dropped the key. It's on me."

Elena inwardly winced, from what she had seen from Merle Dixon, he was a racist, sexist, homophobic bigot, and he took every chance he could to let the group know. If Daryl Dixon was anything like his brother, then that conversation would not go over well.

Elena could feel Rick moving to be the bigger person before he even spoke, "I cuffed him. That makes it mine." Elena shot him a look, warning him that this wasn't something to volunteer for when Glenn spoke, seemingly reading his best friend's mind.

"Guys, it's not a competition." His eyes move to T-Dog. "I don't mean to bring race into this, but it might sound better coming from a white guy."

T-Dog's face was filled with guilt, "I did what I did. Hell if I'm gonna hide from him."

Elena couldn't help but whisper over to the man, meaningfully meeting his gaze "Nobody blames you, T. It was a freak accident, you have nothing to be guilty over."

T-Dog manages to send her a thankful smile, but Elena could tell her words couldn't wash the guilt of practically leaving a man to die. Whether he meant to do it or not.

Amy spoke from next to her sister, eyes on Elena, "We could lie."

Andrea added her own views into the conversation, "Or tell the truth. Merle was out of control. Something had to be done or he'd have gotten us killed."

Andrea's eyes met Elena, "Your brother did what was necessary, and if Merle got left behind, it is nobody's fault but Merle's."

That sunk into Elena, and she whole-heartedly agreed. They're already in a zombie infested world, the last thing they needed was a racist maniac running around terrorizing their group or survivors.

Dale, however looked shocked. "And that's what we tell Daryl? I don't see a rational discussion to be had from that, do you? Word to the wise, we're gonna have our hands full when he gets back from his hunt."

T-Dog spoke up with guilty words again, "I was scared and I ran. I'm not ashamed of it."

Elena closed her eyes, shrugging at T-Dog, "You were in a walker infested building, every single person on this planet would have ran scared, you can't blame yourself for that."