Unexpected || Daryl Dixon

[16]: Cherokee Rose

~Day 68~

The cattle were grazing at the farm as Rebecca, Glenn, Shane and T-Dog helped Hershel's family collect rocks for Otis' funeral. As Rebecca picked up some rocks and placed them in a wheelbarrow, she stopped when she heard the sound of a motorcycle approaching. 

She looked up and softly smiled when she spotted Daryl on his motorcycle, leading the Cherokee and the RV to the farm. Daryl stopped his motorcycle as Rebecca watched Carol, Andrea and Dale get out of their vehicles.

Rebecca then heard the front door open as she turned her head towards the farm house and saw Rick, Lori and Hershel walk down the stairs.

The whole group was finally together again...well expect for Carl who was on bed rest and Sophia who was still missing.

"How is he?" Dale asked. "He'll pull through, thanks to Hershel and his people," said Lori. "And Shane and Rebecca," Rick added. "We'd lost Carl if not for them." Rick looked over to Shane and Rebecca and nodded as a way to say thank you.

Dale and Rick hugged while Carol and Lori did the same. "Thank God. We were so worried," Carol exclaimed. "How'd it happen?" Dale asked. "Hunting accident. That's all...just a stupid accident," said Rick.

Rebecca felt someone eyes on her as she turned her head and saw that Daryl was looking at hr. He nodded his head at her as she did the same to him while sending him a small smile. Daryl looked down to the ground as Rebecca could have sworn she saw a faint smile on his face but brushed it off.

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After everyone has settled onto the farm, Hershel leads a funeral for Otis, piling his grave with the rocks they'd collected earlier. Rebecca stood in-between Glenn and Daryl as she listened to Hershel speak.

"Blessed be God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Praise be to him for the gift of our brother Otis, for his span of years, for his abundance of character; Otis, who gave his life to save a child's, now more than ever, our most precious asset. We thank you, God, for the peace he enjoys in your embrace. He did as he lived, in grace...Rebecca, will you speak for Otis?"

Rebecca could feel all eyes on her as she looked up. "Um...sure," she said before taking a deep breath. "Even though I didn't know Otis very long, he was definitely a good man. I mean...he gave up his life to save my friend's life and I-," she cleared her throat. "We...are all so grateful that Carl will pull through. So, with that being said...Otis...thank you." 

Hershel wiped a stray tear from his eye. He thanked Rebecca before looking over at Shane. "Shane, will you speak for Otis as well?" Shane looked up. "I'm not good at it. I'm sorry," he admitted. "You were the last one with him. You shared his final moments. Please. I need to hear. I need to know his death had meaning," Patricia cried.

Shane nodded. "We were about done. Almost out of ammo. We were down to pistols by then. I was limping. It was bad. Ankle all swollen up. 'We've got to save the boy.'" Shane paused before continuing. "See, that's what he said. He gave me his backpack. He shoved me ahead. 'Run,' he said. He said, 'I'll take the rear. I'll cover you.' And when I looked back-"

Shane shook his head before limping over to the wheelbarrow as he continued speaking. "If not for Otis, I'd have never made it out alive. And that goes for Carl, too. It was Otis. He saved us both. If any death ever had meaning, it was his." Shane placed a rock onto Otis' grave as Patricia cried some more.

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After the funeral, Hershel's eldest daughter, Maggie, brings a map of the country to assist in coordinating the search for Sophia. Maggie laid the map onto the hood of a car as Daryl, Rebecca, Shane, Andrea, Rick and Hershel stood around the car looking at the map.