Chapter Text
The fireball of the CDC explosion still burned in the back of Daryl’s mind, even though they were miles away now, the glow of the destruction long swallowed by the night. The caravan of vehicles had stopped along an empty stretch of road, the hum of engines dying down as the group finally allowed themselves a moment to breathe. The night air was cool, but the weight of exhaustion and grief clung to everyone like a second skin.
Rick, Shane, and Dale stood around the hood of a car, map spread out, discussing where they should go next. Rick’s face was tense as he pointed at different locations, Shane occasionally shaking his head in disagreement, while Dale adjusted his glasses, offering measured suggestions. The others lingered close, listening in, their faces drawn with exhaustion and worry. The air was thick with unease, the weight of what they had lost pressing down on everyone.
Daryl sat off to the side, his back resting against the cool metal of the truck, his hands clenched into tight fists against his thighs. Merle stood a few feet away, arms crossed, watching everything unfold with a skeptical smirk, occasionally muttering under his breath. Morgan and Duane were by their car, Morgan quietly reassuring his son, who stared out into the darkness. Carol was sitting on the ground with Sophia, brushing the girl’s hair back in an effort to keep her calm, her touch gentle but weary. Glenn paced nearby, his anxious energy unspent, muttering quietly to himself as he processed everything.
Andrea and Amy stood near the vehicles, their arms crossed, whispering to each other while keeping watch on their surroundings. Lori had Carl close to her, one hand on his shoulder, whispering something comforting in his ear as he clutched his stuffed animal, his small fingers gripping the fabric tightly. Louise and Eliza sat together in the back of one of the cars, their bodies curled inward, their grief fresh and raw, silent tears slipping down their cheeks. T-Dog moved through the group, making sure everyone was accounted for, handing out bottles of water and keeping an eye on the perimeter, his shoulders tense with quiet vigilance.
Daryl wanted to be in the thick of it, helping to figure out their next steps, but instead, he was sitting here, useless.
Helpless.
He ground his teeth together, frustration gnawing at his insides like a damn infection. It wasn’t just that he couldn’t see the map, couldn’t point out roads or remember landmarks—it was everything. The fact that when the CDC blew, he had to rely on someone else to get out, that he had to follow instead of lead, that he was slower than he should’ve been, that he couldn’t watch their backs properly.
He should’ve been able to help more.
Instead, he was fucking baggage.
The sound of boots approaching pulled him from his thoughts. He knew who it was before they spoke—T-Dog had a way of walking, confident but not heavy, steps measured.
“Yo,” T-Dog said, stopping a few feet away. “You good, man?”
Daryl clenched his jaw. “Fuck off.”
T-Dog let out a breath, but he didn’t leave. Instead, he crouched down beside him. “Not gonna do that. What’s wrong?”
Daryl let out a harsh laugh. “The hell you think?” He gestured vaguely toward the group. “They’re over there, tryin’ to figure out where we go next. Tryin’ to keep us from ending up like those fried bastards back at the CDC. And me? I’m just sittin’ here, listenin’. Ain’t doin’ shit.”
T-Dog was quiet for a moment, then said, “Man, that’s bullshit.”
Daryl turned his head toward him, scowling. “What?”
“You ain’t just ‘sittin’ here,’” T-Dog said. “You got us out of there, same as the rest of us. You’ve been hunting, keeping us fed, keeping us safe. You think just ‘cause you can’t read a damn map, you ain’t pulling your weight?”
Daryl swallowed hard, his fingers twitching against the fabric of his pants. He hated this. Hated how easy it was for people to see through him now. “It ain’t just that,” he muttered. “It’s everything. I can’t see what’s comin’. Can’t keep watch. I’m just slowing everyone down.”
T-Dog shook his head. “Man, I don’t know what it’s gonna take for you to get this through your thick skull, but you ain’t slowing no one down. We need you, Daryl. You hear me?”
Daryl didn’t answer right away. He just sat there, his breathing slow and measured, his mind spinning through T-Dog’s words. Maybe he was right. Maybe he wasn’t as useless as he felt.
Before he could say anything, the sound of shuffling feet filled the air. He recognized them instantly—small steps, hesitant but purposeful. The kids.
Sophia, Duane, Eliza, and Louis.
The kids had stuck close together since the attack, but Louis and Eliza—having lost both their parents—had been the quietest. He heard their breaths hitch before Duane spoke.
“Daryl?”
Daryl tilted his head slightly. “Yeah?”
Duane sniffled. “What do we do now?”
Daryl exhaled, shifting so he was facing them more. He could feel their eyes on him, could hear the pain in their voices. He wasn’t good at this. Never had been. But hell, if they were coming to him, he wasn’t gonna brush ‘em off.
“We keep goin’,” he said, voice rough. “Ain’t got no choice. We keep movin’, find somewhere safe.”
Eliza’s voice was barely a whisper. “But my mom and dad—”
Daryl’s chest tightened. He reached out, hesitating for just a second before his hand landed on her shoulder. “I know,” he said. “I know it hurts.”
Eliza let out a small, broken sound and before he knew it, she had launched herself into his chest, her small body shaking with silent sobs. Daryl stiffened for a second, then—carefully—wrapped an arm around her. Louis followed suit, clinging to his side, his small fingers gripping onto his shirt like he was afraid Daryl would disappear too.
Sophia and Duane sat down next to him, quiet but close, as if just being near someone would help. Duane, silent for the most part, finally spoke up. “We don’t know where we’re going, do we?”
Daryl sighed. “Not yet. But we will. We always do.”
Louis wiped his nose with his sleeve. “I miss them.”
Daryl nodded slowly. “I know, kid. But you got us. We’re all family now, yeah? We look out for each other.”
Eliza sniffled but nodded against his chest. Sophia wrapped an arm around her, and Duane did the same for Louis.
Daryl swallowed thickly, his free hand clenching into a fist before he let out a slow breath and relaxed. He wasn’t good at words, wasn’t good at comfort. But he could do this. He could be here.
And maybe, just maybe, that was enough.
Eventually, the decision was made to find shelter in a nearby neighborhood. The group rolled out, their caravan moving cautiously through the deserted streets, scanning for signs of danger. The houses stood eerily silent, some with doors left ajar, cars abandoned in driveways, remnants of a world that had once been normal.
They chose a two-story house on the outskirts, sturdy and defensible, with a fenced backyard. The vehicles pulled in, engines cutting off one by one. Rick and Shane immediately stepped forward, taking point.
“We need to clear it first,” Rick said, tightening his grip on his rifle. “Small teams. Quick and efficient.”
“I’ll go,” Shane volunteered. “Me, Glenn, and Andrea.”
“I should go too,” Daryl said, stepping forward.
Rick immediately shook his head. “No way.”
“You’re blind, Daryl,” Andrea added bluntly. “It’s too dangerous.”
Shane scoffed. “Yeah, man, this ain’t the time for heroics. We need people who can see what the hell they’re doing.”
Lori crossed her arms. “It’s not safe for you. We don’t need anyone getting hurt because they’re trying to prove something.”
Daryl’s jaw clenched, his fingers twitching at his sides. He could hear the skepticism, the doubt, the dismissal in their voices. It wasn’t new, but it still burned.
“Just ‘cause I can’t see don’t mean I can’t do this,” he said, his voice low, controlled.
“Daryl, come on,” Rick sighed. “It’s not about that—”
“The hell it ain’t.”
Before anyone could argue further, Merle stepped forward, glaring at the group. “Y’all are damn fools if you think my brother can’t handle himself. He’s more useful than half of you bumbling cops.”
Morgan nodded in agreement, his voice calm but firm. “Daryl’s been hunting, tracking, keeping us fed. Just because he can’t see doesn’t mean he’s useless.”
Daryl felt heat rise to his face. He didn’t need them to defend him. He could do it himself.
He exhaled sharply, reaching for his crossbow. Without a word, he turned, his ears picking up the faint rustle of movement in the yard. With a swift motion, he raised his weapon, spun on his heel, and fired.
A sharp squeal echoed in the night.
The group turned as a possum dropped dead just feet away, an arrow lodged square in its eye. Silence fell over them.
Daryl lowered his crossbow, smirking as he turned his head toward the group. “Still think I’m blind and stupid?”
Rick, Shane, and the others stood stunned, their objections caught in their throats. Even Lori, who had been the most vocal, didn’t have anything to say.
Merle chuckled, crossing his arms. “That’s my baby brother right there.”
Morgan smirked. “Well, I think that settles that.”
Daryl huffed, reloading his crossbow. “Now, are we clearing this damn house or what?”
Shane exhaled, shaking his head with a begrudging chuckle. “Alright, alright. Fine. You’re in.”
The group refocused, moving toward the house. Daryl felt the weight lift off his shoulders as he followed, proving once again that he was not, and never would be, useless.
The five of them—Rick, Shane, Andrea, Glenn, and Daryl—moved toward the front of the house, weapons at the ready. Rick motioned for them to stay quiet as he approached the door, pressing his ear against the wood before cautiously turning the knob. The door creaked as it opened, revealing a darkened hallway beyond.
“I’ll take point,” Rick whispered. “Shane, you’re with me. Glenn, Andrea, you cover the back. Daryl, you stay close and listen for anything.”
Daryl scoffed but nodded, gripping his crossbow tightly.
They moved in slowly, the house eerily silent. Dust coated the furniture, and the air was thick with the scent of decay. Rick led the way, stepping carefully over fallen picture frames and scattered belongings. Andrea and Glenn moved towards the back rooms, opening closet doors and peering into shadowed corners.
Shane checked the living room, his eyes darting around overturned furniture and broken lamps. The house had been looted before, but something felt off. The eerie stillness made every creak of the floorboards sound deafening.
A sudden shuffle in the next room made everyone freeze.
“Walker,” Shane muttered, raising his rifle.
Rick moved forward cautiously, weapon aimed. He turned a corner into the kitchen, stepping over broken glass when—
A guttural snarl erupted from the darkness.
A walker lunged from behind a fallen cabinet, its rotting hands reaching for Rick’s throat. He barely had time to react before the creature was on him, knocking him to the ground. His rifle clattered away, out of reach.
“Shit!” Shane barked, but he was too far to get a shot off without hitting Rick.
Before anyone else could move, Daryl stepped forward, instinct guiding him. He twirled, crossbow already raised, and fired.
The bolt struck true, embedding deep into the walker’s skull. The creature let out a grotesque gurgle before slumping lifelessly over Rick’s chest.
Another snarl from upstairs sent a shiver down Glenn’s spine. Andrea rushed forward, peering up the stairwell. “There’s more.”
Shane helped Rick up, shaking his head. “Damn, man. You didn’t hear it?”
Rick swallowed, glancing at the motionless walker at his feet. “No… I didn’t.”
Glenn, breathing heavily, turned to Daryl. “You did, though.”
Daryl smirked, reloading his crossbow. “Told y’all I ain’t useless.”
Rick took a deep breath, nodding toward Daryl. “Let’s clear the upstairs. We do it together.”
The group pressed forward, more determined than ever to make this house their new safe haven.