Worth Living For

Chapter 2: What's It Got To Do With Me?

Daryl quickly got dressed and slung his crossbow over his shoulder and exited his tent. Why did they have to send Andrea down to get him? He couldn't stand her know-it-all, preppy ass. He couldn't imagine any man wanting a woman as clingy as she was towards Shane, Rick's best friend and fellow sheriff's deputy. He strode back up to the farmhouse where everyone was gathered and ran in to Rick on the porch steps.

"Rick, whats goin on?" said Daryl.

"We found a girl today. It's not Sophia. Her name is Melanie and she is from Florida. It's bad down there too. She hitched a ride with a military convoy on it's way to Dallas, but things went south and she got separated from them. Apparently, the military got overrun and she has been wandering around on her own ever since then. Go in, make nice, and meet her." Rick said.

Daryl rolled his eyes.

"What the hell I need to do that for? Ain't got no use for some dumb, lost, college bitch".

Rick just stood there and stared at Daryl for a minute before opening his mouth to speak again. He was trying so hard to contain his patience, but Daryl could try any mans patience as well as any woman's. He and Carol had gotten into many an argument in the past few months. Rick finally resolved himself and said "Just meet her. Please. Make a good impression. She could be a big help around here. With Glenn running around with love sick puppy eyes and Shane losing his shit at any given moment, we need all the hands we can get to get this farm up and running again. If we can prove to Hershel that we are useful he just might let us stay here permanently once Carl is recovered."

Daryl cocked his head and thought for a moment. What the fuck does any of that have to do with me?

He looked at Rick and just shook his head in disgust. " I didn't take you for a desperate son of a bitch. I'm outta here." And with that Daryl stomped off towards the woods, crossbow swinging across his back.

"Was that Daryl" Carol said, as she made her way out the screen door and stepped onto the luscious front porch of the Greene home. "I swear, that man gets his panties in a twist for the funniest reasons. What has his dander up now?"

"He didn't want to meet the girl y'all in there cleaning up." Rick replied.

"Melanie..."she said. "Her name is Melanie, Rick. NOT that girl.. She is so nice. As a matter of fact, Daryl will hate her. He hates it when people are nice to him. Believe me, I know. I have tried so hard to be nice to him since he lost his brother back in Atlanta. I know what it is like to lose someone close to you. But Daryl is his own island state and he is better off left alone. Don't push him. He will meet her in his own time"

Carol lost her own husband Ed not too long before they arrived at the Greene home, which was purely by accident. Carl had been shot in the woods by a man named Otis while hunting with Shane and Rick. Carol had been a battered wife for most of her marriage and only recently began being able to stand on her own two feet. She was the only person who seemed to be able to get through to the rough and tough Daryl Dixon. Andrea had joked many times that they belonged together. Two damaged people brought together by loss and tragedy. Daryl didn't think it was funny at all. He would rather have been eaten by a Walker than be with anyone, least of all Carol Peletier.