-𝐅𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐞-
(A/n: As you all saw in the last chapter and as you'll see in this one, I've changed the storyline with Radnal. Not only giving him a backstory with Taylor, but also killing him off. This is to make room for a different plot in this chapter for the ending of season two/ act two. I hope you all like the twist, and feel free to leave some tips and constructive criticism in the comments below. Enjoy! ^^)
OF HOW MUCH TAYLOR WANTED
to forget the death of Dale, she had fully mastered what Daryl had taught her on all the chords of the guitar.
Now, she could play each one of them perfectly and with ease, and here she was, strumming the different chords on the guitar in her and Daryl's tent as she tried hard to forget Dale's death.
Looking up, she saw Daryl step inside, his arms folded as he bit at the nail bed of his thumb.
Knowing he only did that when something was on his mind and bothering him, she furrowed her eyebrows, "What's wrong?".
"Nothin'...jus' wanted to make sure yer doin' okay." He mumbled, followed with a shrug.
Sighing, I sat down my guitar before looking back up at him, "Daryl, I've known you long enough to know that that's not what's bothering you.".
Groaning, he looked off to the side, "Alri', fine. I jus'...I don' wan' ya' goin' down the same path you went with Amy, Sophia, an' yer sister. You an' Dale were close since day one, an' I don' wan' ya' to break down again.".
"...I won't...".
"You tell yerself that...but Taylor, in the end, ya' break down. No one can blame you for it; yer jus' a kid." He muttered.
Fighting the tears in her eyes, she argued, "I'm different. I was raised a Thompson and taught to survive by Dixon. I'm strong.".
Slowly nodding, he replied, "Alri'. Jus'...ya' know...let me know if ya' ever wanna talk.".
"Yeah, I will." She said, smiling gently as she picked up her guitar, continuing to play.
Resting a hand over her's, Daryl argued, "You can play after we get our shit inside. Hershel wants us ta' take the guest bedroom so yer stomach can heal. Randal shot the shit outta ya'.".
Getting up with slight pain in her stomach, she winced, groaning as she began to pack her bag, "I still can't believe you shot and killed him. I mean, I'm not complaining he's gone...it's just...crazy.".
"Yeah, I know what ya' mean." He muttered, helping her pack her stuff.
Once the two had packed all their things, deciding to get the tent later, they went ahead inside and began unpack.
Folding a tanktop and puttin it away in the mahogany dresser that sat by the bed, she groaned, the pain from her gunshot wound radiating throughout her body as he sat down, gripping her side.
"Hey, you alri'?" Daryl asked, furrowing his eyebrows as he knelt down in front of her.
"Y-Yeah, it just really fucking hurts. Can you grab my medicine from my bag?" She winced.
"Yeah, I got it." He nodded, walking over to her bag in the corner of the room, rummaging through it before pulling out her painkillers.
Tossing her the bottle, she quickly opened it, taking two before setting the bottle down on the mahogany nightstand by the bed, "Could you um...change my bandage? Hershel said it needs to be changed twice a day.".
"Sure." He walked off to the bathroom, opening the cabinet under the sink and pulled out a bottle of antiseptic, bandage, and gauze.
He sat beside her on the bed with the medical supplies as she lifted up her shirt right above her stomach, bloodied bandage covering her bullet wound.
"Jesus fuckin' christ this shit's nasty." He grumbled, removing the bandage.
"Tell me about it." She sighed, "You know, if you told me a month ago back at my school that I would be shot by a hunting rifle, I'd tell you your just lying.".
Chuckling, he gestured to the scar on the side of his head from when Andrea accidentally shot him just a few days ago, "Same here.".
The bandage was now completely off, revealing a small, deep hole just a few inches away from her waist, blood already beginning to seep down from it.
"Shit, sorry." He groaned, quickly placing a gauze pad to the gruesome wound.
"Ow...fuck. No,no, it's okay. It just hurts like a fukung bitch." She gasped, laying back on the soft matress of the bed.
"Can't believe this thing is still bleedin'." He muttered, pouring some antiseptic on one of the gauze pads before dabbing it over her wound.
"Did I rip my stitches?" She asked, wincing as the cleaning solution soaked through the stitches.
"Nah, jus' pressure I guess." He muttered, layering a few gauze pads over the stitching, gesturing for her to sit up.
With a bit of struggle, she did, Daryl wrappimg the bandage around her frame, "There, that should do it.".
"Good. 'Cause I'm exhausted with...well...everything..." She mumbled, pulling the silky bedsheets over her frame, her head hitting the soft pillows as she closed her eyes.
"I'll be back later." He murmured, tucking a few loose strands of her hair behind her ear.
Humming in response, she nodded, looking up at him through hooded lids and a gentle smile plastered on her lips, "Bye, Daryl.".
"G'bye, babygirl. Get some rest." He smiled back before walking over to the plush armchair in the corner of the bedroom, grabbing his angel-winged vest and slipped it on before grabbing his rucksack and crossbow, quietly shutting the bedroom door behind him as he stepped out.
-A Few Hours Later-
Taylor awoke to a fierce shaking on her shoulder, snapping out of her heavy state of slumber as she bolted up, instinctively going for her knife on the mahogany nightstand.
"Hey, it's just me." The culprit who woke her said.
Looking up through sleep clouded eyes, she saw Shane, "What the hell do you want?".
"There's a group o' walkers out in the forest. I need your help clearing them out." He explained.
"And you couldn't get anyone else? Aren't Daryl, Glenn, T-Dog, and Andrea out doing that right now?" She groaned, grabbing her sneakers off the hardwood floors as she began putting them on.
"The walkers are close by an' Daryl, Glenn, an' Andrea are fa out." He replied as she got out, grabbing her knife and bag.
"Alright," She sighed, "Let's go.".
She followed Shane out of the farmhouse and across the vast, open field that surrounded Hershel's farm, looking up at the night sky at the bright moon and stars.
The two headed into the thick forest of trees, anxiety rising within Taylor with each step they took further in.
She just couldn't shake the feeling that Shane was up to something.
"You know..."He began, coming to a stop, Taylor slowly reaching for her knife in the waistband of her jeans.
"Your just like Daryl an' Merle: redneck trash." He grumbled, quickly piveting on his heavy feet and with a hard push, sent her to the forest floor.
Groaning from the pain that radiated from her gunshot wound, she didn't have enough time to recover, as Shane brought his large, strong hands to her throat, wrapping his fingers around the flesh as he began to choke her out.
"Go to fuckin' sleep." He grumbled, his grip tightening.
"S-Stop; please!" She choked, her nails scratching at his skin.
Right when she thought it was over as the air from her lungs continued to empty, a bang rang in her ears, and Shane fell to the ground beside her, gripping his bleeding-out shoulder.
Looking up, she saw Kenny standing in front of her with a gun in hand, smoke wafting from the chamber from the freshly-fired bullet.
"Kenny!" She cried, rushing up to him before wrapping her arms around him as she began to sob, "H-He tried to...".
"It's alri'. Everythin's okay; I got you." He reassured her, rubbing her back gently, "C'mon, we gotta get back to the farmhouse; walkers probably heard that shot.".
Looking back at Shane, she asked Kenny, "What about Shane?".
"Leave him. He ain't worth it." He replied.
Slowly nodding, she followed Kenny back to the farmhouse through the woods, people out on the front porch.
"Wait, what do ya' mean she's missin'!?" She heard Daryl gripe
"Daryl!" She called, running across the fields and up to the porch.
Without a word, he finished the distance between the two, bringing Taylor into a tight embrace, "Jesus christ babygirl. I thought I lost ya'."
Hugging him back, she replied, "I'm okay. Kenny saved me.".
"Uh, guys. As much as I'm glad Taylor's back and I hate to interrupt, but look." Glenn said, pointing out across the field.
There was Rick and Carl walking up slowly to the farm, a enormous horde of walkers following behind them.
"Holy shit..." She breathed, clinging onto Daryl's shirt.
"Lee, I'm scared." She heard Clementine whimper from beside her.
"Has anyone seen Carl!? I can't find him anywhere!" Lori said in a panic, bursting outside.
"Look." Taylor replied, pointing out across the field.
"Oh my god." Lori gasped, clasping her hands over her mouth.
"Should we pack up and get the cars?" Andrea asked.
"No, this is my farm. I'll die here if I have to." Hershel said confidently, walking out with a shotgun in hand.
"Good o' a night as any." Daryl commented, walking down the steps of the porch and to his bike before turning back to Taylor, "You comin'?".
Nodding, she walked up to him, "Yeah.".
"Alri' then. Here." He handed her a black and green crossbow, the same one she had sworn off usimg when she thought her and Daryl were done, "Thought ya' might want it back.".
Smiling, she hooked it over her shoulder, "Thanks.".
"Here. Glenm said you shoot a 45, right? These are all the magazines for it that I could find." Maggie said, walking up to her before handing her the magazines.
Thanking her, she looked back out to the horde, noting Carl and Rick were missing before speaking up, "There's no way we can take all of them out; were low on ammo as it is. Our best bet is to hold them off until Rick and Carl get back. My guess is they went into the barn.".
"I'll take Dale's RV an' go get 'em." Jimmy said, walking over.
"Alright then. Make sure you take a gun with you. Maggie, Glenn, T-Dog, Andrea, Lee, and Kenny; you guys should take the cars and follow behind me and Daryl. We'll keep looping around and take down the walkers at the front end.".
"What about me?" Clementine asked, walking up to her.
"You stay right by me, sweat pea." Lee replied.
"Okay!" Clementine chimed.
"You be safe, Clem, alright? We're gonna make it through this." Taylor smiled, hugging the young girl.
"I know! It's becuase you and the others will protect us." She said.
"What 'bout me?" Ryan asked, walking up.
"Can you drive a stick shift?" Taylor asked.
Cocking an eyebrow, he replied, "Yeah; why?".
"I need you to drive my dad's car and follow behind the others. Take Ben with you." She explained.
Nodding, he grinned, "Don' worry. Yer dad's car'll be jus' fine.".
Hearing the roar of Daryl's motorcycle, she looked back at him, "C'mon, let's go!".
Hopping on behind him, she wrapped an arm around her lower waist before slipping his gun out of the waistband of her jeans.
Driving off, she let the cool, crisp wind of the night cool ber body as Daryl drove over to the farm, Jimmy in Dale's RV behind them.
Jimmy pulled in front of them, driving off closer to it while Daryl took a left and drove along the fence line.
"Alri' kid, you ready?" He asked, slowing down a bit.
"Yeah." She replied, turning off the safety on his gun before she shot at every walker head in sight while T-Dog, Andrea, Glenn, Maggie, Kenny, Lee, Clementine, and Ryan followed behind them in the cars.
"Shit, Taylor. We gotta go. Now." Daryl said, interrupting her focused state of mind.
Looking behind her, she saw only Ryan and Ben were following behind them in her dad's car, "Where is everybody else?".
"They went back up to the farm to get the others. Look, I know all our shit is back there, but we don' got time. We have to leave." He explained.
"Yeah...okay..." She mumbled, holstering his gun.
He began driving down the dirt road and away from Hershel's farm, slowing down when he saw Carol rushing along the side of the road.
"Let her on. I'll ride with Ryan and Ben." Taylor said, hopping off when Daryl stopped.
"C'mon, I don' got all day!" He called to Carol as Taylor hopped in the back of her dad's car before Ryan drove off.
"Jesus; I can't believe we left everything behind; just like that." Ben groaned.
"Yeah...I know how you feel man." Ryan sighed.
"Well...at least were together. I just hope everyone made it..." She mumbled, looking out the back as the farm slowly faded behind them.
-A Few Hours Later-
"Holy shit; it's the others." Ryan pointed out, watching as Daryl came to a stop in front of them.
Ryan, Ben, and Taylor quickly hopped out, joining the others in a surplus amount of hugs.
As she pulled away from Kenny, she looked over at the others, "Where's Patricia and Andrea?".
"...Carol said she saw Andrea go down..." Daryl muttered, folding his arms.
"Taylor, I'm so sorry." Carol said, hugging the young girl.
Sighing, she hugged the elderly woman back, "No, it's okay, Carol...really.".
"Patricia...she got attacked by walkers." Maggie said in a hushed whisper as Beth sobbed, clinging to Hershel for dear life.
"And Jimmy?" Taylor asked, walking over to Beth to give the older girl a hug.
"He got attacked by walkers in the RV when he tried to get me an' Carl..." Rick muttered.
"Oh god..." She mumbled, looking down at the rough pavement of the road.
"Not to interrupt this weep fest, but this place ain't safe. Fuckin' walkers everywhere." Daryl grumbled, shooting a nearby walker with his crossbow.
"Daryl's right. We should keep movin'. Everybody back to the cars; we'll find someplace safe for the night." Rick said before everyone went back to the cars.
-Around Nightfall-
"Hey," Daryl greeted, sitting down next to Taylor by the warm, lit campfire.
"Hi." She greeted back, shivering afterwards as she rubbed her bare arms, "Jesus, it's getting cold out...".
"...Here. It ain't much, but it'll help." He muttered, slipping out of his angel-winged vest before putting it on her.
Tracing her fingers over the leathery material, she smiled over at him, "Thanks.".
"I'm uh...sorry 'bout Andrea. She cared about you...an' she was a good woman; her an' Amy..." He mumbled.
Slowly nodding, she replied, "Yeah...they were. I'd...I'd do anything to bring them back. Same goes for Sophia, Jaqui, Jim, my sister, and Dale...".
"Well, I'm gonna have a look 'round. Stay close to Kenny, alri'?" He sighed, getting up.
"Yeah, I will. Bye, Daryl." She ssid, to which he waved goodbye.
Walking over to Kenny who stood by Lee and Clementine by the outter edge of the camp, she greeted him, "Hey, Kenny. Um...thanks again for saving me the other day.".
"It was nothin'. I uh...yer stuff got left behind at the farm, but I uh...managed to grab this." He muttered, tossing her her Walkman.
"Holy shit; my Walkman. You fixed it!" She chimed, looking over the music player.
"Forgot to give it back to you. Uh...Dale would be glad ya' have it back." He said, to which she put it in her back pocket.
"Thanks, Kenny." She thanked him, to which he smiled, "No problem kiddo.".
Daryl walked badk over, smiling at the two, "Got yer Walkman back, huh?".
"Yeah. Kenny and Dale fixed it." She replied.
"Wow! Could I listen to your music sometime, Taylor?" Clementine asked, walking over with Lee.
Smiling down at the young girl, she nodded, "Of course, Clem.".
"Thanks, Taylor. Your a really good friend to her." Lee said.
"How could I not be? She's such a sweet young girl." She replied.
"Ya' know, even though we barely got shit, I think we'll be okay." Daryl said.
Smilimg up at him, she held his hand, "As long as we're together, of course we will. We've been through a lot, and we'll go through a lot more. But...I just have a feeling that we'll make it.".
"'Course we will. An' I promise you, Taylor. Were gonna fin' yer parents." He said.
Nodding, she replied, "Thank you, Daryl. For everything.".
Grinning down at her, he said, "No problem, babygirl.".
End Of Season 2...
Word Count: 2854
Edited: No