Greek Tragedy | Daryl Dixon

Chapter 21 | I Like the Calm

Thanks for staying with me, guys! This is sort of just a filler chapter to make sure you know I'm still here since I know I'm a ridiculously slow updater. But I am definitely still working on this! I've just been taking some time to see where the story is gonna go so I can fit this character in as seamlessly as possible.

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Having taken the field just as the sun began to set, the bodies of the walkers they had killed had been left where they were and fire promptly lit to start on supper. It was nearly sunset by then and Rick, feeling restless and ill at ease, had taken to patrolling the fence for weaknesses as soon as the group had settled down. Now it was dark and Rick was still going over the fence. The group could hear his boots scraping through the grass and the occasional jostle he gave the chainlink. 

Over at the up-turned bus, Daryl and Cassandra sat in comfortable silence on watch. They cleaned their weapons and made arrows, working in perfect synchronisation as the tools were passed between them. By turns, the two looked up and scanned the blackness beyond the gates but saw nothing worth noting. 

The sight of delicate, bony hands pushing first one, then a second foil plate of stew onto the top of the bus in front of them was enough for the pair to raise their heads but they weren't startled. They had heard Carol's soft gait coming towards them on the grass. As the older woman struggled to heave herself up, Daryl passed his tools wordlessly to Cass before helping Carol up. He grunted with the effort. Atop the bus, Carol hugged herself from the last chill that still lingered in the air after winter. She always felt the cold a little more than the others and these two knew it. Cass stood – placing their equipment down before anything – and rummaged in her own pack for just a moment. She brought out the spare jumper she always gave to Carol and handed it over with a small smile.

"It's not much, but if I don't bring you something, you won't eat at all," she stated firmly. She was not wrong; the hunters had entirely planned not to come back to the fire that night until they were sure no one had left food for them. It had become a habit.

"Yeah, I guess li'l Shane over there has quite the appetite," Daryl bit back, half-joking. 

Carol sighed but smiled nonetheless. "Don't be mean. Rick's gotten us a lot further than I ever thought he would, I'll give him that." Daryl's response was just a mumble of ascent, his mouth full now. "Shane could never have done that."

Taking the second bowl from Carol, Cassandra noticed the woman rolling her shoulder weirdly. 

"What's wrong?"

"It's that rifle. The kickback. I'm just not used to it."

Cassandra had to stifle a guffaw when Daryl's response was to say nothing but turn Carol around and start to massage her shoulder. The girl looked at the older woman with barely-contained mirth and all she got in reply was a sly little smirk and over-exaggerated wink. Daryl certainly noticed her coughing fit after that was not just coughing. Carol looked back at Daryl. He was chewing and said nothing. She turned forward again and locked eyes with Cass, who was eating her food and enjoying the comedy before her. 

Uncomfortable with being the subject of this silent conversation between the girls, Daryl swallowed his mouthful and finally spoke.

"Better get back," he announced gruffly. 

"It's pretty romantic," Carol taunted.  "Wanna screw around?"

Cassandra could no longer hold it in. She burst out laughing and Carol joined her, the pair sharing the first laugh had had in an awfully long time. 

"Tch," Daryl scoffed. "I'll go down first." But he had a slight smile on his face too. 

"Even better," Cass called after him.

"Stop!" And they fell back into fits. 

*****

"It's nice t' hear 'em laugh, ain't it daddy?" Beth said by the fire as she lay her head on Hershel's shoulder.

The old farmer sighed and nodded. "Sure is." He was silent for a moment while everyone listened to the chiming of Carol and Cassandra's giggling over by the bus. "Bethy, sing Paddy Reilly for me. I haven't heard that – I think – since your mother was alive."

"Daddy, not that one, please," Maggie begged.

"How about 'The Parting Glass'?"

"No one wants to hear." Beth continued.

"Why not?" asked Glenn.

Looking around at the soft, encouraging face about the fire, Beth finally agreed and began to sing the song in her sweet little timbre. 

"Of all the money. E'er I had. I spent it in good company. And all the harm. E'er I've ever done. Alas it was to none but me. And all I've done. For want of wit. To memory now I can't recall. So fill to me. The Parting Glass. Good night and joy be with you all..."

For a breath, it seemed as though she might not continue. But then Maggie joined her and the two sang the next verse together. 

"Oh, all the comrades. That e'er I had. We're sorry for my going away. And all the sweethearts. That e'er I had. Would wish me. One more day to stay..."

At the sound of such lovely singing, Daryl, Carol and Cass grew silent as they drew near, smiling. Cassandra plopped herself down next to Maggie and hummed along with the rest. The song had also drawn Rick back to the fold from his endless pacing. There, quietly, he sat until Beth and Maggie had finished. 

"But since it falls unto my lot. That I should rise. And you should not. I'll gently rise. And I'll softly call. Good night and joy. Be with you all. Good night and joy. Be with you all."

"Beautiful..." Hershel sighed.

"Better all turn in," he said. "I'll take watch over there. Got a big day tomorrow."

"What do you mean?"

Staring around at everyone's faces, Rick realised he was going to have to puncture the tranquil haze the music had created.

"Look," he began. "I know we're all exhausted. This was a great win. But we've got to push just a little bit more. Most of the walkers are dressed as guards and prisoners. Looks like this place fell pretty early. It could mean the supplies may be intact. They'd have an infirmary, a commissary..."

"An armoury?" Daryl interrupted hopefully. 

"That would be outside the prison itself but not too far away. Warden's offices would have info on the location. Weapons, food, medicine... This place could be a gold mine." 

"We're dangerously low on ammo. We'd run out before we make a dent," Hershel commented.

"That's why we have to go in there...hand to hand." He let it hang there for a second. "After all we've been through, we can handle it. I know it. These assholes don't stand a chance."

It was a sobering thought but they knew Rick was right: they could do it. They knew they could, but it was so dangerous...

When no one replied, Rick stood to go take watch and give them all a chance to let it sink in. Lori followed him shortly and everyone took that as their sign to get ready for bed. There was a bustle of packs opening, the rustle of bedrolls and the clatter of dishes being put in a bucket for clean-up tomorrow morning. Cass banked the fire for the night and reached her pack to find Daryl had already laid her bedroll on the ground next to his. Carol was just headward of them and Glenn and Maggie a few yards from their feet. They still stayed tightly together despite the extra space.

"'night," Daryl grunted.

"G'night," came the smooth, modulated reply.

Cassandra fell asleep watching the stars in the clear night sky and listening to the comforting crackle of the fire. The only thing that marred this perfect, peaceful moment was the ambient gurgling of walkers at the gate.