Home Is Your Heartbeat ('Home Is' Book Two - Daryl Dixon)

Chapter 40 - Feels Like The First Time (Foreigner)

NATE

"Talk to me?"

***

It's been three weeks since the town meeting. They've been so full of activity that Daryl and I collapsed into bed each night....totally knackered.

Unable to do anything more than give each other a brief cuddle and kiss. Before falling into a dreamless sleep.

My days were mostly spent with Tara and Rosita.

Towing hundreds of car bodies to line the road. Where the Walkers will be led to the major turn-off that'll head them west. Away from Alexandria.

We're working well together. Getting to know one another during our rest breaks and Un-Dead kills.

Rosie and I seem to have very similar skill sets and experience. Mine gleaned from my childhood and brothers. Hers from the various 'Interesting'  people she'd met growing up and after the end of the world.

I love listening to her stories. And watching her eyes roll when Tara and I crack up at each other's bad jokes and puns.

Wasn't laughing though when we stopped for another breather. Before tackling the last car for the day.

Had myself more than a few moments of pain and anger. When Tara revealed that she'd been with the Governor's group. The final group who'd taken down the prison and Hershel.

I listened quietly as she spoke about her father, sister, niece and girlfriend. How they met 'Brian'  as the Governor called himself. And subsequently, the group Beth had joined after we banished her.

How Brian and Beth fed on each other's hatred for us. Leading to the final showdown.

"By the time we got to the prison? I knew how they were and what they were going to do. I knew better, yet I still went along...."  Her voice dried up in sorrow and shame.

A hush fell between us while I really struggled to come to grips with it all. That she'd actually been there, with them....when Hershel was executed.

The silence started getting uncomfortable for everyone as I thrashed her words around in my head.

'Jeezus, Nate....who the hell are you to throw stones!'  I scolded myself angrily.

Tara lost the people she loved to him as well. Her girlfriend, sister....niece.

I made up my mind to take a leaf from Lori's book.

"I didn't know you then. But I kinda like the Tara that I've gotten to know over the last couple of weeks. The real Tara I think? So how about we just continue with what we've started?"

I bumped her shoulder as Carol does with Daryl and we gave each other watery smiles. Handed her the tow chain and she began hooking it up to an old Chevy.

Rosie let out a sigh of relief as we all got back to work.

But that isn't the only task I have on my plate. Both Jorge and Daryl insisted I kept up my defence training. And our dawn trysts are basically hands-on 'Combat'  sessions now.

I'd endured plenty of rough and tumble growing up with my brothers. Injuries caused by flailing arms and legs while wrestling or pretending to be ninjas.

That's sweet F.A compared to what Jorge and I are doing now.

His insistence on emulating real-life scenarios means we go at it with a deliberateness. Neither of us hold back in our attempts to take the other down.