Radioactive Chapter Thirteen
Avery who had been out picking mushrooms with Amy sighed as they walked back to camp. The place that had been their home now for two almost three weeks. A home that she was growing used too even if they were now rapidly running out of supplies. Supplies in which Shane said he was going to eventually have to send people into the city to get. More than just Glenn because Glenn couldn't get all they needed.
Avery had to admit she wasn't liking the idea but what could she do to object? Shane had slowly become the groups leader. Something he was good at besides having sex with Lori. As long as whatever Shane did gave him a sense of purpose Avery wasn't sure she cared.
"So I think Shane's going to have a meeting tonight," Amy said breaking the silence between her and Avery. "Seeing who all agrees with him about sending a group to Atlanta and also seeing who would go if he did."
"Oh?" Avery questioned as she turned her head to look at the blonde beside her.
Nodding Amy shrugged, "I may have overheard Shane talking to Dale about it this morning," she said as she blushed some. Sometimes she didn't try to overhear things but in this camp it was hard not too.
Avery laughed slightly at Amy's words, "I think you conveniently overhear everything," she teased as she rolled her eyes. "Or you know just like being really nosy."
"I try not too but sometimes it's hard," Amy defended playfully as she took Avery's bucket from her once they made it all the way back to camp. Finding Shane she took both buckets to him so he could tell which of the mushrooms weren't poisonous and which were. He was the only one in camp who could.
Watching Amy leave with the buckets Avery turned around and smiled seeing Jessica outside of Merle's tent hanging up clothes. Walking over to her sister she smiled, "I see it was laundry day for you," she said as she smirked. "Merle had you doing the washing while he probably laid around and slept like the asshole he is."
Looking at Avery, Jessica pretended to glare, "Actually Kate and Carol did the laundry. I think Kate's just nesting early or she gets incredibly bored."
"And Carol's excuse would be?" Avery asked as she raised an eyebrow.
"Her husband's an ass," Jessica shrugged as she finished hanging up the clothes.
Avery couldn't help but laugh at that, "I guess you and her like the same kind of men huh?" she asked as she turned around when she heard the tent opening. Watching Merle step out followed by Daryl she sighed. "I think I am going to go to the bus," she told Jessica before starting to walk away.
Merle sighed as he watched Avery walking away, "Hold on sugar, you don't have to leave just yet," he called out watching as Avery stopped in her track and turned to face him. "My baby brother here has volunteered to take you hunting," he smirked. Daryl hadn't really voluntereed it was more like he had made him. Merle just wanted some alone time with his woman and for the past few days he hadn't been able to get it because of fucking rain that had even kept Daryl from hunting. Now though it was nice and pretty and his baby brother was still hanging around.
Somehow though he had convinced him to agree to this and here they stood, "You'd like to go hunting wouldn't you?" he asked as he eyed Avery. He still didn't like her. She was as he had called her an opinionated bitch and her opinions on him and his brother seemed to be the worst.
"I..I don't know," Avery stuttered at first surprised by the words Merle spoke. She couldn't imagine that Daryl had decided this on his own. She knew the younger Dixon was intent to be by himself or with Merle. That was how he seemed to like things and well she was pretty sure he still didn't like her not that she liked him either. She found both Dixon's insufferable jackasses but maybe she could admit that Daryl wasn't as bad as his brother though it was clear he was destined to be just like him especially with the way it seemed he did whatever his brother wanted of him.
Jessica chewed on her lip as she looked at Avery, "You always did tell Zac you wished he had taken you hunting instead of Mac," she said bringing up the arguments that Avery used to have with Zac back at home especially before Zac had married Kate.
Sighing Avery ran a hand through her hair, "Fine. I will go," she nodded looking at Daryl. If looks could kill she was sure she'd be dead.
"Then let's get going," Daryl huffed out as he slung his crossbow over him and started to walk away. "We ain't got all damn day."
Following behind Daryl, Avery almost started to regret her decision. She would be out in the woods with him and she'd have to listen to his mouth. She'd have to listen to him mouth off. Maybe she should have just said no but when Jessica had brought up what she had a part of her just couldn't say no.
"You could slow down some you know," Avery spoke up eventually once they were in the woods. "You're walking too fast for me to catch up with you."
Daryl took a deep breath before coming to a stop, "Then grow longer legs or better yet just shut up and keep following me," he snapped before turning his back to her again and continuing the trek into the woods.
Huffing at Daryl's words Avery followed behind him and kept her mouth shut. When he eventually came to a stop though she was thankful and she turned her head looking at whatever had caught his eye. Seeing a squirrel in a tree she made a face as he shoot an arrow right at it and it fell dead to the ground.
"You kill squirrels?" she asked feeling like she was going to get sick to her stomach right now. Avery was okay with hunting deer or eating deer but squirrels she wasn't so sure about.
"What didn't ya get about shuttin up?" Daryl asked as he sneered some before going to pick up the dead squirrel.
Looking down Avery sighed, "Maybe I don't want to keep my mouth shut," she shrugged as she watched him pick up the dead squirrel. "Why not just kill deer?" she asked another question before chewing on her lip already bracing herself to be snapped at by him. It was stunning how much shit she could take from men. She'd had been taking shit from them for years or well one but he was dead now and he could never give her shit again.
At that thought she shook her head before looking back at Daryl who was already walking ahead of her again. "Asshole," she muttered under her breath as she walked to catch up with him.
Hearing Avery's footsteps behind him Daryl turned his head slightly to look at the girl, "You ever tried squirrel meat?" he asked her as he raised an eyebrow. He doubted she had. Some rich girl like her probably had all the special things in life including the food.
"No," Avery answered as she shook her head. "Deer yes but squirrel no," she said as she made a face. "Squirrel doesn't really sound too appetizing."
Laughing at her words Daryl shook his head, "Done right it's good. Merle's the one who taught me how to stew them up."
Avery raised an eyebrow slightly, "Merle can cook?" she asked surprised by that. Merle didn't seem like the type who liked cooking or would even cook often.
"Merle can do a lot of things," Daryl shrugged before turning away from her. "You just never give him a chance to prove himself. I know he can be an asshole but he..well he is an asshole but he ain't a dumb one."
Avery sighed, "I never said he was dumb but maybe I do think that about him," she confessed knowing that maybe she shouldn't. She would hate people to think stuff of her without getting to really know her but on the other hand she was trying to get to know Merle and he came across as a racist pig asshole but she guessed that didn't make him dumb even though she could see it equating to dumb.
"You don't have to say it," Daryl told her as he spotted another squirrel. "It's in your face whenever you look at him," he said as he lined his crossbow up with the animal.
"Maybe it is," Avery muttered as she walked closer to him. Getting closer she felt herself trip and she let out a scream as she began to fall to the ground. A fall that didn't happen because of hands soon latching onto her sides. Turning her head she caught her breath as she looked at the younger Dixon. She had been so scared when she thought she was going to fall. A fear that was still written across her face.
Daryl who had heard Avery scream turned just in time to see her start to fall. Muttering a curse worse under his breath he ran to catch her, doing so just moments before she hit the ground. He normally would have let her fall but he had a feeling if she got hurt on his watch Jessica would bitch about to Merle which would mean Merle would bitch about to him.
"Watch where you go next time," he told her as he helped her stand up and then he moved away just as quick as he had came to her aid. "You made me lose the damn squirrel."
Avery just rolled her eyes at Daryl's words but for the rest of the day she stayed quiet just observing him in his element. It was apparent he was good at hunting and tracking things. He was as good with the crossbow as Zac was with a gun. He could also survive a world like this at least maybe if Merle wasn't around. She could see him getting killed if Merle was around for too long.
"You're going to be just like him," Avery finally spoke as they made their way back to camp. She knew she shouldn't have spoken but she really couldn't help herself sometimes.
Daryl glanced at Avery as he followed beside her, "Just like who?" he asked confused before making a face. He had come to enjoy the silence but it seemed she had decided on breaking it.
"Merle," Avery nodded as she locked eyes with him. "You keep following him around like a lost puppy and he influences you so much. You're going to be just like him."
Daryl just shook his head at Avery's words, "You don't know nothin about what I will become little girl," he muttered as he walked ahead of her. When he reached camp he made a beeline for the tent he shared with his brother praying that Avery didn't follow after him.
Staying behind Daryl, Avery sighed but eventually when she reached the camp she let him walk off as she headed towards the tour bus. Getting there she felt someone push past her and she turned seeing Kate stomping off heading to god knew where.
Going onto the bus Avery paused when she saw the rest of her family minus Jessica either sitting on the floor or on couches. "What the hell is going on?" she asked feeling like she had walked in on something big. "And why did Kate leave her like a bullet leaving a gun?"
"Kate left because our brother is going into Atlanta in a few days with Glenn to make a supply run," Isaac spoke up as he turned to glare at Zac. "Shane is sending a group out and Zac here volunteered himself."
Feeling her mouth fall open Avery turned to look at Zac who just had his head down. It was obvious to her that he was feeling bad for his decision to go but the decision didn't shock her. Of course Zac would step up and volunteer and with Zac going she almost felt confident he'd make it back safely as would the others.
"I'm sure Zac has his reasons," Avery shrugged as she walked past everyone else and headed towards the bathroom. She didn't feel like sitting and arguing something, not to mention after being out in the woods all day she just wanted to shower and get some sleep even if she was slightly hungry she wanted to sleep more.
Avery who had been out picking mushrooms with Amy sighed as they walked back to camp. The place that had been their home now for two almost three weeks. A home that she was growing used too even if they were now rapidly running out of supplies. Supplies in which Shane said he was going to eventually have to send people into the city to get. More than just Glenn because Glenn couldn't get all they needed.
Avery had to admit she wasn't liking the idea but what could she do to object? Shane had slowly become the groups leader. Something he was good at besides having sex with Lori. As long as whatever Shane did gave him a sense of purpose Avery wasn't sure she cared.
"So I think Shane's going to have a meeting tonight," Amy said breaking the silence between her and Avery. "Seeing who all agrees with him about sending a group to Atlanta and also seeing who would go if he did."
"Oh?" Avery questioned as she turned her head to look at the blonde beside her.
Nodding Amy shrugged, "I may have overheard Shane talking to Dale about it this morning," she said as she blushed some. Sometimes she didn't try to overhear things but in this camp it was hard not too.
Avery laughed slightly at Amy's words, "I think you conveniently overhear everything," she teased as she rolled her eyes. "Or you know just like being really nosy."
"I try not too but sometimes it's hard," Amy defended playfully as she took Avery's bucket from her once they made it all the way back to camp. Finding Shane she took both buckets to him so he could tell which of the mushrooms weren't poisonous and which were. He was the only one in camp who could.
Watching Amy leave with the buckets Avery turned around and smiled seeing Jessica outside of Merle's tent hanging up clothes. Walking over to her sister she smiled, "I see it was laundry day for you," she said as she smirked. "Merle had you doing the washing while he probably laid around and slept like the asshole he is."
Looking at Avery, Jessica pretended to glare, "Actually Kate and Carol did the laundry. I think Kate's just nesting early or she gets incredibly bored."
"And Carol's excuse would be?" Avery asked as she raised an eyebrow.
"Her husband's an ass," Jessica shrugged as she finished hanging up the clothes.
Avery couldn't help but laugh at that, "I guess you and her like the same kind of men huh?" she asked as she turned around when she heard the tent opening. Watching Merle step out followed by Daryl she sighed. "I think I am going to go to the bus," she told Jessica before starting to walk away.
Merle sighed as he watched Avery walking away, "Hold on sugar, you don't have to leave just yet," he called out watching as Avery stopped in her track and turned to face him. "My baby brother here has volunteered to take you hunting," he smirked. Daryl hadn't really voluntereed it was more like he had made him. Merle just wanted some alone time with his woman and for the past few days he hadn't been able to get it because of fucking rain that had even kept Daryl from hunting. Now though it was nice and pretty and his baby brother was still hanging around.
Somehow though he had convinced him to agree to this and here they stood, "You'd like to go hunting wouldn't you?" he asked as he eyed Avery. He still didn't like her. She was as he had called her an opinionated bitch and her opinions on him and his brother seemed to be the worst.
"I..I don't know," Avery stuttered at first surprised by the words Merle spoke. She couldn't imagine that Daryl had decided this on his own. She knew the younger Dixon was intent to be by himself or with Merle. That was how he seemed to like things and well she was pretty sure he still didn't like her not that she liked him either. She found both Dixon's insufferable jackasses but maybe she could admit that Daryl wasn't as bad as his brother though it was clear he was destined to be just like him especially with the way it seemed he did whatever his brother wanted of him.
Jessica chewed on her lip as she looked at Avery, "You always did tell Zac you wished he had taken you hunting instead of Mac," she said bringing up the arguments that Avery used to have with Zac back at home especially before Zac had married Kate.
Sighing Avery ran a hand through her hair, "Fine. I will go," she nodded looking at Daryl. If looks could kill she was sure she'd be dead.
"Then let's get going," Daryl huffed out as he slung his crossbow over him and started to walk away. "We ain't got all damn day."
Following behind Daryl, Avery almost started to regret her decision. She would be out in the woods with him and she'd have to listen to his mouth. She'd have to listen to him mouth off. Maybe she should have just said no but when Jessica had brought up what she had a part of her just couldn't say no.
"You could slow down some you know," Avery spoke up eventually once they were in the woods. "You're walking too fast for me to catch up with you."
Daryl took a deep breath before coming to a stop, "Then grow longer legs or better yet just shut up and keep following me," he snapped before turning his back to her again and continuing the trek into the woods.
Huffing at Daryl's words Avery followed behind him and kept her mouth shut. When he eventually came to a stop though she was thankful and she turned her head looking at whatever had caught his eye. Seeing a squirrel in a tree she made a face as he shoot an arrow right at it and it fell dead to the ground.
"You kill squirrels?" she asked feeling like she was going to get sick to her stomach right now. Avery was okay with hunting deer or eating deer but squirrels she wasn't so sure about.
"What didn't ya get about shuttin up?" Daryl asked as he sneered some before going to pick up the dead squirrel.
Looking down Avery sighed, "Maybe I don't want to keep my mouth shut," she shrugged as she watched him pick up the dead squirrel. "Why not just kill deer?" she asked another question before chewing on her lip already bracing herself to be snapped at by him. It was stunning how much shit she could take from men. She'd had been taking shit from them for years or well one but he was dead now and he could never give her shit again.
At that thought she shook her head before looking back at Daryl who was already walking ahead of her again. "Asshole," she muttered under her breath as she walked to catch up with him.
Hearing Avery's footsteps behind him Daryl turned his head slightly to look at the girl, "You ever tried squirrel meat?" he asked her as he raised an eyebrow. He doubted she had. Some rich girl like her probably had all the special things in life including the food.
"No," Avery answered as she shook her head. "Deer yes but squirrel no," she said as she made a face. "Squirrel doesn't really sound too appetizing."
Laughing at her words Daryl shook his head, "Done right it's good. Merle's the one who taught me how to stew them up."
Avery raised an eyebrow slightly, "Merle can cook?" she asked surprised by that. Merle didn't seem like the type who liked cooking or would even cook often.
"Merle can do a lot of things," Daryl shrugged before turning away from her. "You just never give him a chance to prove himself. I know he can be an asshole but he..well he is an asshole but he ain't a dumb one."
Avery sighed, "I never said he was dumb but maybe I do think that about him," she confessed knowing that maybe she shouldn't. She would hate people to think stuff of her without getting to really know her but on the other hand she was trying to get to know Merle and he came across as a racist pig asshole but she guessed that didn't make him dumb even though she could see it equating to dumb.
"You don't have to say it," Daryl told her as he spotted another squirrel. "It's in your face whenever you look at him," he said as he lined his crossbow up with the animal.
"Maybe it is," Avery muttered as she walked closer to him. Getting closer she felt herself trip and she let out a scream as she began to fall to the ground. A fall that didn't happen because of hands soon latching onto her sides. Turning her head she caught her breath as she looked at the younger Dixon. She had been so scared when she thought she was going to fall. A fear that was still written across her face.
Daryl who had heard Avery scream turned just in time to see her start to fall. Muttering a curse worse under his breath he ran to catch her, doing so just moments before she hit the ground. He normally would have let her fall but he had a feeling if she got hurt on his watch Jessica would bitch about to Merle which would mean Merle would bitch about to him.
"Watch where you go next time," he told her as he helped her stand up and then he moved away just as quick as he had came to her aid. "You made me lose the damn squirrel."
Avery just rolled her eyes at Daryl's words but for the rest of the day she stayed quiet just observing him in his element. It was apparent he was good at hunting and tracking things. He was as good with the crossbow as Zac was with a gun. He could also survive a world like this at least maybe if Merle wasn't around. She could see him getting killed if Merle was around for too long.
"You're going to be just like him," Avery finally spoke as they made their way back to camp. She knew she shouldn't have spoken but she really couldn't help herself sometimes.
Daryl glanced at Avery as he followed beside her, "Just like who?" he asked confused before making a face. He had come to enjoy the silence but it seemed she had decided on breaking it.
"Merle," Avery nodded as she locked eyes with him. "You keep following him around like a lost puppy and he influences you so much. You're going to be just like him."
Daryl just shook his head at Avery's words, "You don't know nothin about what I will become little girl," he muttered as he walked ahead of her. When he reached camp he made a beeline for the tent he shared with his brother praying that Avery didn't follow after him.
Staying behind Daryl, Avery sighed but eventually when she reached the camp she let him walk off as she headed towards the tour bus. Getting there she felt someone push past her and she turned seeing Kate stomping off heading to god knew where.
Going onto the bus Avery paused when she saw the rest of her family minus Jessica either sitting on the floor or on couches. "What the hell is going on?" she asked feeling like she had walked in on something big. "And why did Kate leave her like a bullet leaving a gun?"
"Kate left because our brother is going into Atlanta in a few days with Glenn to make a supply run," Isaac spoke up as he turned to glare at Zac. "Shane is sending a group out and Zac here volunteered himself."
Feeling her mouth fall open Avery turned to look at Zac who just had his head down. It was obvious to her that he was feeling bad for his decision to go but the decision didn't shock her. Of course Zac would step up and volunteer and with Zac going she almost felt confident he'd make it back safely as would the others.
"I'm sure Zac has his reasons," Avery shrugged as she walked past everyone else and headed towards the bathroom. She didn't feel like sitting and arguing something, not to mention after being out in the woods all day she just wanted to shower and get some sleep even if she was slightly hungry she wanted to sleep more.