She's Gonna Beat This World (twd fanfic)

23. I Left Him To Die

It's getting dark and Daryl is still out looking for me. I asked if we could go look for him so he's not worried about me, but Shane told me he's a grown man and can take care of himself. I'm still not sure if I like the fact that Daryl's gonna come back ta find me sitting down like nothin happened.

If he's anything like Merle I bet he won't even give me the time of day anymore, maybe he won't even tell me he was looking for me. I guess that's wishful thinking. Well, what's done is done, and I couldn't change it if I wanted to.

      I look up to see Shane walking towards me, Apollo growls,

"it's okay boy," he calms down, but still is on guard as Shane gets closer.

I start to get a little nervous.

"Mason we're about to eat why don't ya come join us."

By the way he says it I can tell it's not a question.

"Alright. Hey Shane can I talk ta ya?"

He looks at me for a second and finally comes, and sits a few feet away from me, in Merle's usual chair. Merle would have a fit of rage if he was here. I don't say anything about that though.

"I... well, I guess what I wanted ta say... I mean what I should say, well, I," I bite my bottom lip and look down, a nervous habit I've had for a long time. I hear Shane sigh,

"Mason?" I look at him for a split second before looking back to the ground.

"Mason, will ya look at me." He waits till I look at him.

"What was going through you head, Why would you do that? We are trying to make you feel safe, but all ya want to do is put everything on the line. Why is that?" I think for a minute.

"I'm not used to people making me feel safe, I don't know how I feel about it. I guess I was just bored of doing nothing, and decided I wanted ta go on the run. It was stupid of me, and now Daryl's out lookin for me." I look down as Shane sighs.

"If ya think your gettin off Scott free, your wrong. I have a feeling with how Daryl left he's gonna have a few choice words for ya. You need to understand something, not everything is about you. We can't constantly be worried about you wandering into the woods, or on runs, or getting into bad situations. Do you understand?"

"Yes sir, was Daryl really mad?" He smiles apologetically,

"Yeah" He says simply.

"Let's worry about that tomorrow, come on let's not keep them waiting."

     Apollo and I follow him, and I see all the others sitting there laughing and talking. Lori, Carl, and Rick look so happy. Shane on the other hand, not so much. Rick is telling people about how he felt disoriented.

"Mom said you died," Carl whispered.

"She has every right ta think that, don't you ever doubt it."

After a bit more talk, and Rick thanking Shane for saving his family... if only he knew, I was pretty tired.

     I was about ta fall asleep when Ed decided he was cold, and put another log on the fire. that's against the rules of course, but he didn't care.

"Hey Ed wanna rethink that log?"

"It's cold," he says

"Like your heart," I say, getting chuckles from the group, even Shane.

"Ya know, I think maybe I ought to take Shane's threat in my own hands," He says standing up.

As soon as he does Shane and Rick both stand up.