Hands Of Love

2- where's uncle Merle?

Daryl's pov-
These two weeks with Dale this group was actually not that bad. Jennifer was doing okay. She actually had been keeping to herself. She barley talks. When she sees Ed the man she bit she hides. This morning I woke up super early. Jennifer was wearing my flannel and long black socks. She was adorable. She looked tired. She barley ate and slept. The only time she really truly ate was when I went hunting. It was kinda cute. I put my shirt on and grabbing my bow and walked out of the tent. I zipped it up and saw dale coming out with food on a plate.
DL- hey Daryl I made this for rose. It's bacon, eggs, and pancakes. Your plate is on your chair.
D- thanks
I walked into the tent and saw rose still asleep. I set the plate on my side of the tent. I moved her hair out of her face and kissed her head.
D- baby you got to get up for daddy okay
She moves slightly and opened her eyes slowly.
J- I don't want to wake up though
D- you got to though baby girl. Breakfast. Put some pants on and come outside please.
Jennifers pov-
Daryl moved my hair and smiled at me lightly. He walked out. I stood up and stretched seeing pancakes on the floor. I haven't had pancakes since a month ago. I smiled. I put on Daryl's old shirt and then his flannel. I put on my tights and shorts. I put on my belt and my long black socks on with my converse.  I put some deodorant on.

I grabbed my plate and unzipped the tent. I walked out yawning and running my hand through my hair. I sat on the cold ground in front of Daryl and ate my food quietly.
L- Carl honey come here I got to cut your hair.
He sat in front of her and she was trying to cut it
L- will you sit still
C- I'm trying
Sh- if you sit still we can go catch frogs for dinner
S ew
C- that's gross
SH- yeah well you'll be thankful when we run out of food and that's all we have. Then you guys will all be like thank you Shane so much it's so good. Frog legs.
C- gross
L- even I'm grossed out
We all started to laugh. I watched Carl get his hair cut.
J- hey dad where's merle?
D- he went on a run with Glenn and some others
J- oh okay. Where's Carol?
L- she's still in her tent but you can go see if she's awake.
J- okay
I threw my plate away and went over to her tent.
J- Carol? Are you awake?
CL- yes baby I'm awake are you okay
J- yeah sorry for waking you up I just wanted to make sure you are okay
CL- thank you baby cakes
I smiled.
Ed- Carol who are you talking to
CL- no one I was just going to go outside and eat with the rest of the group
Ed- mm whatever fine go waste food.
She stood up and walked out grabbing my hand and pulling me back to the rv.
CL- jennifer you know I care a lot about you but you can't come to my tent anymore
J- why
CL- I don't want him to hurt you sweetie.
J- okay I understand
I smiled and she walked away and went back to the tent to wake sophia up. I sat back infront of Daryl.
L- was she awake
J- uh yeah she's awake.
L- are you okay
J- I'm perfectly fine
I fake smiled.
L- do you want me to trim your hair jennifer
J- wait really
I touched my hair
L- of course. Do you want me to?
J- yes please
I smiled brightly. I sat infront of her and she ran her hands through my hair.
L- when was the last time you cut your hair?
I looked at Daryl.
J- when I was 4. The only reason it got cut was because my aunt was angry that I didn't do dishes right.
L- I'm sorry jennifer. Daryl why don't you come over here and I'll teach you how to trim her hair.
D- okay
She taught him how to trim my hair and I was laughing at his face the entire time. She showed me my hair in the mirror she had. I hugged her
J- thank you so much Lorie I love it.
Sh-lorie can I talk to you for a second
She stood up and kissed my head and walked away. I ran my fingers through it.
D- can you trim mine
I laughed
J- yes dad you needed a trim anyways.
We both laughed. When Daryl laughed no one was around. He was trying to act all tough. I knew my father. He was a big softy. I started to trim his hair. Not alot but some of it. I ruffled his hair.
J- there you go
I showed him
D- thank you princess. It looks good.
He kissed my head and we heard a car alarm coming towards the camp site.
DL- who ever that is needs to turn that off there going to attract walkers.
A red dodge pulls up. Glenn gets out smiling a huge grin. I ran over to the car.
J- this is so nice
G- I know right
SH- shut that off now!
G- I don't know how
J- I'll do it
I got inside the car and untwist the ignition and battery wires.
G- how'd you do that
J- how'd I do what
G- I hot wired that car. You are 13 how did you know how to turn it off. I barley knew how to start it
J- all you do is untwist the ignition and battery wires that you connected to get it to turn on Glenn. Damn how did you NOT know that
G- cause I guess I didn't pay attention in stealing cars class
J- is that an actual thing because I think I could ace that class.
Everyone laughed
L- where's everyone else
G- there coming
J- can I have this car?
D- no you may not
J- why not I mean look at the wheels on this beauty
G- someone is excited. Never seen jennifer this excited.
I rolled my eyes and got inside the car.
G- better not drive off
J- I won't I won't but damn this car is nice
Everyone laughed about how excited I was when the other van pulled up. Everyone got out. I didnt see merle. A guy who looks familiar came out in a sheriffs uniform.
C- DAD?
He ran to the guy and Lori did the same. I got out of the car and watched them all cry. I could see Shane's guilty face from here. I hugged Daryl's leg. They let go as Rick went to talk to Lori and shane.
C- hey Jennifer that's my dad, Rick.
J- the guy you thought was dead
C- yeah because Shane said he was.
I made a face and the adults started to talk but Daryl stayed with me. Okay where the hell in merle.
J- hey
No response
J- HEY!
Everyone flipped around
J- where's uncle Merle?
Daryl looked around
D- where's my brother
R- listen i-
D- where the hell is my brother
TD- we locked him on the roof
J- YOU DID WHAT!
G- he was trying to kill Rick we had to!
D- YOU JUST LEFT HIM THERE BY HIMSELF
R- he's tuff he can handle it.
They told us there was a herd of walkers breaking into the store so they had to. T-dog went to unlock him but dropped the key down a drain. They locked the roof door so walkers couldn't get out there to merle so he should be fine. Rick promised to take them to get him the next day. Daryl was pissed.
J- dad can I go with please
D- no! Stay here with them please. I can't worry about losing you too
J- but what if something happens when your gone
D- then climb up the tree we carved our names into and stay there till we get back got it
I shook my head yes and went into the tent and stayed there the rest of the day. I'm pissed that they left him there. Yes he's an ass but you didn't have to lock him up like a animal.
NEXT DAY
I woke up to Daryl unzipping the tent. I stood up as he walked out. I ran outside. I had clothes on from yesterday. He was about to get in the car. I was barefoot and cold. I grabbed his jacket
J- you were just going to leave without saying goodbye
D- you were asleep? I didn't want to wake you up and say goodbye.
J- why
I started to get mad. He was leaving like everyone else did.
D- cause I know this won't be the last time I'm seeing you so I'm not going to say goodbye.
J- then a see you later would've done just fine
D- I'm sorry princess
He tried to hug me. I pushed him away
J- see you later Dixon
I walked away pissed off. I'm angry he would leave without saying goodbye because I never know if he is going to come back. I took everything off and put my black jeans on and one of Daryl's old shorts and his jeans jacket. I put my converse on out deodorant on.