Red ~ TWD (Daryl Dixon)

I'll Wait

Daryl POV

The room was deadly quiet, the small office overflowing with worry.  It was damn near impossible to stay still.  I wanted to bust out of this room and charge upstairs, demand some damn answers, but that wouldn't help Alex or Rick.  So instead I kept myself tucked in the corner, chewing on my thumbnail with my eyes glued to the door like a man possessed.

Carl was on the couch, head in his hands.  He'd been crying earlier but pulled himself together quickly.  Red, swollen eyes were the only evidence of his pain.  His dad was in a bad way, worse than Red according to Siddiq.  He was a strong kid, and I knew if his girlfriend had any say in the matter Rick was gonna be just fine. 

Michonne was on the couch next to him, her face so pale she looked like she might fall over.  Her hands were still crusted with Rick's blood and despite her best effort Maggie hadn't been able to convince her to get cleaned up.  She was in shock, that much was plain.  Ever since we arrived she hadn't said a word to anyone, not even Carl.  It was like she was holding her breath, too afraid to do or say anything. 

Maggie and Glenn were in the corner with the baby.  Hershel was fast asleep, his parents watching over him with their arms around each other.  Beth sat beside the pack and play, eyes glued to the tiny infant like he might spontaneously disappear.  My heart squeezed a little every time I looked at him.  It was hard not to think about the baby Red lost, our baby.

Carol sat stoically on the couch next to Carl.  To anyone who didn't know her she looked calm and collected, but I knew her.  I saw how she squeezed her knees till her knuckles were white and how she held her breath every time someone passed in front of the door.  This kind of thing was why she ran, tried to separate herself from the group.  The chance of watching the people she loved die was something she wanted to avoid at all costs.

Merle sat in a chair beside me, pretending to sleep.  Francine had tried to coax him away for food and a real bed, but he wouldn't leave my side.  I ain't never seen my brother scared, but when we found Red I saw it in his eyes.  All the color drained from his face and he couldn't tear his eyes away from her.  If anyone had told me a few years ago those two would be thick as thieves I wouldn't have believed it.  Merle didn't take to people, but Red had a way of burrowing into your heart without you even realizing.   

Rosita stood by the huge bay windows, looking outside at the chaos that had followed us back from the bridge.  She was tough as nails but seeing Rick and Alex near death rattled her.  She admired Rick, and the thought of carrying on without him made her roll her shoulders as if she could someone lessen the burden his death would bring.  Her relationship with my wife was...unique, but there was a mutual respect between them.  Everybody tried to handle her with kid gloves after Abraham, everyone but Red.  Rosita appreciated it even if she doesn't necessarily like it.  Hell, I think she needed it. 

Jesus was trying and failing to look casually guarding the door.  His primary reason for being here was to keep us here and out of Siddiq's way.  When we first arrived I'd been dragged in by three guys, my brother right behind me cussing up a storm.  He gently explained while I was pinned to the floor with someone's knee between my shoulder blades that me screaming and pounding on the door while they worked to save them wasn't helpful. 

My eyes scanned the room, taking in every person holding vigil.  It was hard to believe a few years ago these people were strangers I was gonna betray and rob.  I wasn't too sure when that changed, when they went from strangers to friends and then friends to family, but it started with Red.  When she showed up at the farm we were fractured, all of us slowly drifting away from one another.  She was the glue that kept us together, helped us rebuild trust that would eventually make us a family.