Mushaboom • Daryl Dixon

35

Daryl

John's car drove up to the parking lot about fifteen minutes after the officer called him. I was dreading it. I knew It was dumb of me, going with Merle and Jess to the bar. John had just told me to be careful, and here I was in the back of a cop car.. At least I wasn't cuffed, but still. Maybe he'd find humor in it like he did when I actually was drunk.

John walked up to the officer and they spoke a bit before the man finally opened up the door for me to get out. John seemed to be rather calm while he talked to the officer and thanked him for calling but his shoulders were tense.

I grabbed my things from my truck, and put the elephant into my backpack. John said we'd pick up my truck later.We walked to the car in silence but once he got in, I went to apologize for needing him to get me out of that.

"John, I-"

"No. You don't get to talk. I'm talking now." His tone was sharp, he looked to me like he did with Merle on grad night.. "You know what Rachel's tells me today Daryl?"

I stared at him, my ears were on fire. "She tells me that you're moving with her to Athens. That you two have this plan, and that you're ready for that kind of step.. and what am I told not even an hour later?"

Jesus..

"I'm told you're being held up in the back of a cop car for drinking and fighting." John paused for a good while, either thinking of what to say next or just letting me sit in my shit. I had no clue.

"Now you know what that leads me to believe? It leads me to believe that you're not ready. You're not ready for any of it, for moving in with my daughter. You're not ready to take care of her. You can't even take care of yourself. I warned you about Merle and you go and pull this with him. I can't change Rachel's mind, I can't make her. She loves you. And that has her biggest set back Daryl. I've been patient, and understanding, but I'm sorry, I won't support you becoming my daughters dependent when you've proven time and time again that you aren't dependable."

"John, I wasn't fighting, I-"

"Maybe you weren't. But you did drink. You did get involved whether it was on purpose or not. That's on you Daryl. Who you associate yourself with, the places you go, that affects how people see you, it can get you into these situations, either good or bad. And it will affect Rachel.."

"I'm sorry John." I hung my head down; I didn't want to disappoint, I didn't want to be a negative part in Rachel's life. Yet here I was causing problems and hiding the fact that his daughter was pregnant with my kid..

"I won't help out when you guys move out until I've seen that you've stepped up. You need to grow up and figure out what your priorities and values are kid. I guarantee that if you don't get shit figured out real quick, you'll lose her. I want things to work out for you. But that's all on you. That's my daughter. Rachel is my daughter and I'll make sure that she ends up taken care of the way she deserves."

Not once did he raise his voice, but there was so much hostility in his voice. He didn't want to even hear me out. I bit my tongue and stayed quiet the rest of the ride home.

When we drove up to his drive way, he turned to me and sighed, "Fix the mess you made. Make changes, do what you need to. That's what you gotta if you want to be a part of her life Daryl." He gave me one last disappointing look and got out of the car.