Daryl's Angel: Saviour (Book Two)

Chapter 19: Anger

I don't like feeling angry.

It's such a consuming emotion, and it makes me think of when I was a teenager. I think every teenager has their moody years. I sure did. I got ticked at things that seem so small now. My dad hated my anger most; he always told me that no one wanted to see my emotions so clearly, but I'm not good at hiding them.

Below all the anger, guilt simmers. It's not Elliot's fault that Deanna doesn't trust me, but he's the one who took the brunt of my feelings back there. He doesn't deserve that, not after being so open and kind to me.

Still, this whole situation feels like an insult: to my skills, to everything Hershel taught me since he saved my life on the farm. He was no less valuable just because he wasn't a doctor for people.  Why can't I be like that?

Tabitha lets out a short bark that brings me back to the present. Daryl walks towards me, crossbow in hand. We're almost at the road that leads down to the front gates, meeting in the middle, and Tabitha runs to him.

"Hey," he says as he gives Tabitha a quick pat on the head. She wriggles around his legs in a happy doggy dance.

I can't even bring myself to smile. "Hey."

We meet at the intersection and turn, walking back down towards the gate. I don't know where he's going, but I figure a loop around the town will be enough for Tabitha. She weaves in front and behind us, running underneath Daryl's fingertips in a desperate bid for more scritches.

"You done work already?" he asks.

I scoff. "This might as well be it," I say. He raises an eyebrow, and I exhale. "I'm not a doctor. I'm not even a nurse."

His brow furrows. "The hell?"

Somehow, his sharing my anger makes it feel less heavy. "Deanna doesn't want me treating people, since I don't have any pre-apocalypse training. So...I get to be an errand girl for the real doctors until I'm given clearance to maybe work on animals."

Daryl's nostrils flare a little. "That's bullshit."

My shoulders sag. "Yeah."

Just having him next to me makes me feel better. I steal a glance at him, my chest getting all tight, my stomach flipping.

"So..." I start.

The universe doesn't want me to talk. Tabitha barks, stopping dead on the road as her ears perk up. Up ahead, I hear the gate rattling, and I see Glenn, Tara, and Noah with two men. One is Nicholas, the squinty guy who was working the gate when we arrived, and the other is a young man with dark hair.

"It killed our friend!" the dark-haired man is saying. He's leaning close to Glenn, getting in his face, and although the man is taller, Glenn shows no sign of being intimidated. "Look, I'm not having this conversation. You obey my orders out there."

"Then we're just as screwed as your last run crew," Glenn snaps.

The man bristles, jaw clenching. "Say that again."

"Back off, Aiden," Tara says.

Daryl and I get closer. Tabitha stays at my heel, ears flat to her head.

The guy, Aiden, pushes Glenn back. Noah steps forward, putting his arm between them, but Aiden shoves him away, too.

"Come on, man. Just take a step back," Noah urges.

I hear Daryl mutter something under his breath. There's a crowd gathering on both sides of the street, watching what's about to go down.

"Come on, tough guy," Aiden says, shoving Glenn again.