Red ~ TWD (Daryl Dixon)

What Would Jesus Do?

"Sulkin' ain't gonna help yur shoulder heal no faster."

I sighed heavily.  "What will?"

Daryl ignored me, reading the list Denise gave him earlier, brow furrowed.  Like his thoughts conjured her the doctor appeared on the street, catching his eye.  He called her name, waving her over.

"Yes?"

"This thing at the bottom right here...yur talkin' 'bout the drink, right?"

Curious I leaned over, reading the words Orange Crush scribbled hastily. 

"I am, but...."

Daryl hummed, not following.  "It's not medical."

"You come up with that all by yourself babe?" 

He shot me the finger, eyes never straying from the doctor who looked nervous.

"No, I drew a line between the important stuff and that."  Daryl nodded along with her like he understood this nonsense.  "I just figured, if you saw it."

"A'right," he conceded, but she continued.

"Anything remotely medical is a priority."  She looked at me and I nodded just like Daryl even though I had no idea why.  I wasn't even going on the run.  I didn't give a flying fuck if she wanted him to find a sex swing.  "And food, maybe even food before medicine, and gas or batteries, or books for the kids, or clothes...it's just... if you see it...if it just happens to, you know, be right there."

Daryl glanced at me and I shrugged.  He was on his own.  I had no clue what we were talking about.

"Ya like it, right?"

She shook her head no.  "I don't drink pop."

If confusion was the first step to knowledge Daryl was on his way to becoming a Road Scholar. 

"What the hell is pop?" he asked.

"Oh, I'm originally from Ohio."  She said that like it explained everything.  Daryl continued to stare at her, waiting for a suitable explanation.

"She means soda," I clarified.  It felt nice to be the one translating for a change.

My husband nodded, eyeing Denise skeptically.  "Why ya want it?"

"Tara was talking about it in her sleep, I think.  Either she likes it or she doesn't, but if she likes it, it'd be a really nice surprise.  I'm not good with that kind of stuff, and she and Heath are going on that two-week run.  I just thought it'd be a nice going-away present."

Well that was five-minutes of my life I was never getting back.  Daryl shifted awkwardly, the tips of his ears turning red.  It was utterly adorable.  Even after all this time, and being married to boot, he still got embarrassed at the talk of relationships. 

"What a lovely idea," I added, stepping away from him so he couldn't get his hands on me.  "Maybe you could be on the lookout for one of those framed pictures of two hearts with a cute little sayings too."

Denise's eyes lit up.  "Oh no, that would just be..."

"No trouble whatsoever," I interrupted, barely able to contain my amusement.

Daryl was done being embarrassed, and was now simply pissed.  I told him I'd get him back for convincing Denise to keep me on the injured reserve list.

"I really appreciate it.  Thanks Daryl."  She smiled so bright at him it was blinding.  "Just...don't go out of your way or anything."

He ground his teeth, eyes boring into the side of my head.  "Got it."