Manic Monday {Bitter ch.1 Daryl Dixon/OFC/Rick Grimes}
The buzzing of the alarm was sounding through the master bedroom wasn't what woke up Rick Grimes. It was something he heard from Monday through Friday, so it was second nature to reach out and turn it off, be it if he was fully awake or hitting the large 'Snooze' button on the alarm, and listen to the rest of the house. The spot beside the bed was warm, but empty, which meant that Dasha was already awake, and the sound of 'My Little Pony' playing in the back ground alerted Rick that his daughter was awake as well, probably the reason that Dasha was up.
"Judith, no! you cannot eat raw egg!"
"Yes egg, do not eat egg raw."
"Might as well let her Dash, she does it at home too, she still hasn't gotten it though."
The next sound was Carl, most likely around a bowl of cereal or toast depending on what had been in the kitchen. Rick didn't know since he hadn't been the one to do the shopping last time, it was Dasha and Carl, so he assumed there was something in there that the boy would eat. Shifting on the bed so that he was laying on his back, Rick looked towards the window, the curtains keeping the sun from being to bright, just a comfortable buttermilk gold in the room. It was cool with the hum of the air conditioner buzzing under the sound of the children, the cartoon songs floating through the house, and the scent of fresh coffee being boiled..... Rick was almost asleep again, the fuzzy comfortableness of unconsciousness creeping in when
The shrieking was what had Rick jumping out of the bed and rushing towards the kitchen, ignoring how he stubbed his toe on the door jam turning the corner to the kitchen eyes wild with the first instinct's as a cop, father and husband, to a shrieking baby being bad, the fact that it was his own baby, well that just made the adrenaline inside of his veins pump that much faster.
The scene though, was far from what Rick thought he would run into. Instead of a threat to his family, instead of running in on a fire or something, he ran in on his daughter sitting on the counter, her tongue hanging out with raw egg on her tongue and in her hand, Carl sitting at the island bar biting back a laugh around a mouth full of cereal, and Dasha with hair in a messy ponytail, and half of her uniform on and attempting to scoop egg shell from a unhappy toddler.
"Don't look at me like that, I told you no egg."
Rick sighed slumping against the jam of the entry way. "Dad you missed it, Judith finally got a egg." Carl said with a grin making Rick smirk and shake his head, walking more into the kitchen ad ruffled his son's hair. "Finish your breakfast you still got school to get to, you know Mrs.Walsh said no more tardy's."
The whine in his son's voice was almost comical if the fact that Carl liked hanging around the house on Monday mornings watching everyone running around, and would literally wait till the last minuet to get everything together, he would wait until his cereal was nearly soggy before starting to eat, and when asked why, his answer was generally along the lines of 'I didn't have a spoon.' or 'No one gave me a spoon.' And Rick had had to face the stare of Shane's wife last week when he took his son in late, and had to face Lori as well, not something he was keen on doing again if he could help it.
"Finish your breakfast and get your backpack, I'm takin you to school and then takin your sister back to your mama's house, hurry up."
Carl pouted and huffed but did as his father told him and went back to paying attention to his ceral while Dasha finished getting the egg shell off of Judith's tongue along with bits of shell in her hand, and moved the eggs out of reach of the toddler, who was still pouting, bottom lip poked out and big blue eyes watching like she might just try to get the eggs again. Rick though just smirked and walked towards the counter, pressing a kiss to his daughters nose, laughing at the crinkle he got for it before wrapping a arm around his wife's waist and pulled her close and kissed her neck.
"Morning, your coffee ready." Dasha said turning and giving a smile, though it was the smile most wife's and mothers gave on a manic Monday morning. Tired and a little strained but happy all the same. Rick had to smile, he wondered sometimes, she fell into a routine so well with Judith and Carl so well, would she be alright with having another child? he wondered what a baby he made with Dasha would be like, how would they look? how would they act?
"I know that look, stop that thought, no baby, we have one."
Judith was grinning at the mention of the 'baby' in the house, the hairless cat had been perched on the washing machine watching the children and the comings and goings of the morning. Dasha just smirked before handing the little girl to Rick and kissed his cheek. "I have to get ready, I'll see you there."
With that the woman walked back down the hallway towards the bathroom, she would of preferred to look at least alive when she got to work. Shoulder length bob cut had been pulled into a semi-neat ponytail. Eye liner and teeth brushed, Dasha was pulled on the rest of her uniform, the light brown shirt that went over the white tank top she wore, and black boots, wedding ring, watch and badge on, and she was walking towards the door, waving a goodbye at the chorus of goodbye's that she heard before she was in her little Dodge and she was taking off down main street towards the police station. Pulling up she sighed and turned the car off, giving herself a minuet to mentally prepare herself for going in. She loved her job but a woman could only take so much yelling and screaming during one day, and working in a county jail, well you got everything from the quite detainee's who were content to sleep off whatever they were on, to the ones who came in fighting mad and ready to lay into anyone and everyone who came to close. So yes Dasha needed a few moment's to get into the right mind, gather her thoughts before she was stepping out of the car and slamming the door, time for work.
"Come on Sugar-Tit's, give ol Merle a kiss." A older man with salt and pepper hair said, holding onto the wrist of a blonde haired girl, grinning up at the girl with the name tag that read 'Beth'. Daryl watched his brother and sighed, slinking down further in the plastic booth seat of 'Farmers Daughters' mom and pop diner. He and Merle had decided to come here since the bikes were nearly out of gas and it was a nice looking place, sadly when these two showed up, 'nice place' generally weren't to welcoming.
"I think I'll have to pass. But I will take your order."
Daryl watched as the tiny blonde pulled her wrist free with a little bit of a struggle, and inwardly winced seeing the red finger marks blooming on her wrist, he could see the old man at the counter, ears turning red. Son of a bitch, why couldn't Merle just sit somewhere and eat like a normal person without any problems? Because it was fucking Merle and the older man believed that he was Gods gift to women.
"Alright, how much to take you around back?"
"Merle, just place your order, leave the girl alone." Daryl said with a tired sigh running his hand through his hair and pushed the shaggy locks out of his face. He might need a hair cut soon, but he hadn't found it in him to work up the nerve to do it. Besides he liked his hair just fine. "I'll take the special, chicken fried steak, gravy on the steak and mashed potatoes, no side, and a biscuit." Daryl said looking to his brother hoping that the older man would take the hint and let the girl get back to work before the fucking cops were called on them!
"Tch, fine I'll have the same as my little brother, but I still want a side of you sugar-tits."
'Beth' bless her soul, smiled and wrote down the order, took their cups to refill their drinks, and disappeared.
"Fuck's wrong with you Merle? thought you were gonna settle down now, can't be comin on that strong to every girl you see, you know that old man back there's probably ready to blow your brains out."
Merle raised a brow and shrugged. "Tch, your so damn uptight, swear your turning into a woman on me. You used to pull the same shit, trying to get some nookie, now your all fucking 'don't do that Merle.' " The older man said looking out the window of the little town they were in. But he supposed his brother was right, Merle was tired of running, they could settle here, shit couldn't be that expensive. They had money, he could get something settled he was sure, and it would get his little brother off his back too.
"Fine fine we'll settle down here iffin it will get the stick outta your ass."
Daryl simply rolled his eyes ad looked back out the window. The past ten years he had traveled where ever the rode had taken him and Merle, and had worked odd jobs from wrapping present's around December in the fancy stores that smelled like Christmas tree's and chestnuts, to digging in mines in the summer sweating so much his clothes were soaked. But it had been good, he made money and now, now he could break away from his brother and get his own place, find somewhere to settle, and this little town, quite and out of everyone's way, he liked it.
"Stop thinking baby brother, shit leads you down some dark paths."
Daryl knew what his brother meant, when he got quite his mind would wander to the past, ten years and he hadn't forgotten her, at least not yet. But the pain... it was dulling slightly, and if he drank enough at night, he could forget for a little while. For a little while, he wasn't haunted by the memory of riding away from her with Merle.
"Here you go boys, enjoy."
Daryl was pulled from his thoughts when two hot plates were sat down at the table making a small clinking sound. Daryl nodded his thanks and watched as the girl slipped off as fast as possible, probably a smart thing too, best to get away before Merle touched her again. Daryl didn't blame her, so instead he focused on his own food. It was good, better than his mama made. So Daryl was content to ignore the world around him right now and eat, hell last time he had something this good, he was still a kid and Merle was trying to take it from him. So yeah Daryl was blocking out the world, and was going to savor a bit.
The ding of the bell above the door though brought Daryl's attention up, two sheriff's walked in, shiny badges and duty belt's in all, guns on display talking and laughing making Daryl tense, the action mirrored by Merle. Both Dixon's were uncomfortable with police, always had been. For different reason's of course, Merle had been in and out of jail for as long Daryl could remember, and Daryl just didn't like the thought of police lurking lose to him, they had a tendency to judge the redneck even when he hadn't done a damn thing wrong.
"So wait, she had to scoop out raw egg? how'd Judith even get the egg?"
"I think she was gonna make egg's this morning but it's Monday, so it didn't happen."
"True 'nough, Ellie's like that on Mondays too, running this way and that, hell she was looking for her notebook last week, had it in her hand the whole time."
Rick and Shane had a good laugh as they walked into the diner, it was the best one in town and Hershal had no problem serving them coffee for free in the mornings. That and you could order breakfast lunch or dinner any time of day. Rick had been coming here since the academy, still hadn't found a place that made better apple pie.
"Morning boy's, you want the usual?"
Shane nodded giving Maggie, the oldest daughter a greeting smile while Rick tipped his hat towards the woman and sat down at the counter, waiting for the coffee to be prepared, before his attention turned to the tables to see who else was here this morning. There was Sasha and her brother, Beth's boyfriend Andrew, Glenn was there too, not a big surprise Glenn had been working up the nerve to ask Hershal for Maggie's hand in marriage for a while.
"Hey you know those two?"
Shane's question pulled Rick from his thoughts and turned to look at one of the booth's in the corner and raised a brow. Two men in leather jackets with angle wings on the back, though there was no patches for any of the motorcycle gangs that Rick knew, but he knew the look of those two, tense, avoiding any eye contact.
Rick said but stood figuring that it never hurt to introduce himself, and seeing that Shane was standing too, the other man had the same thought process. Besides it was their job to protect the town, and in small towns like this, it made it easier to know who you were dealing with and new faces didn't come around often. Daryl watched from the corner of his eye, tensing even more at the sight of the two cops walking over, and slunk a little further into his chair, damn it he just wanted to eat and be left in peace.
"How ya boys liking the special? Otis make some of the best food you'll ever taste."
Merle looked up at the officer and raised a brow tensing slightly but nodded. "Yeah officer Friendly, taste pretty good. Though pretty damn sure don't taste near as good as 'er." Merle said nodding towards where Beth was standing at another table smiling and writing down a order. Merle just grinned licking his lips, seeming to forget the police he was talking to.
"Wouldn't be doin that, Beth's daddy ain't keen on men goin after his little girl."
"That and I'd hate to have to pull my hand cuff's out this early, I ain't as nice as ol Rick here without my coffee." Shane said with a smirk as he looked at the two, already not sure he liked these two in their little town, they had a... seething air around them that raised all of Shane's hackles, he swore that something about them was off. He wasn't sure what, but he didn't like it. And hearing what he said about Beth, it made it even worse.
Rick looked at the two men in the seat's and shook his head. "Well you two enjoy your time here, and enjoy the food." He said turning to Shane and gave a nod, there was no need to stick around, these two obviously weren't the most talkative type and it was alright. It seemed like they had made their point, and Maggie was glaring at the two men who had been touching her little sister. Rick just took the coffee and nodded at Maggie.
"Tell your daddy if they cause ya any problems, give us a call, me and Dasha are on patrol today." Rick said and with that he and Shane were walking out of the little diner, once again talking about work, and Shane complaining about Ellie's need for lights on in the house when Shane worked late. Rick was laughing again, telling Shane about Carl's need to be given a spoon just as the door closed, neither men noticing the look on the two men's face. Merle was turning his attention back to his food, but the glare on his face spoke volumes.
"Damn cops, coming and interrupting our damn breakfast. Actin like we hurting someone."
"Merle, did that cop say..Dasha?"
"Fuck who knows? eat your damn food so we can figure out a damn job and where we're staying while we're here."
Daryl just nodded, turning back to his food but he had lost his apatite the minuet the cop's came over and decided to start a friendly chat with them. They couldn't of just left them alone to eat? they weren't bothering nobody, at least Daryl hadn't been. Merle, well that was Merle, and while his older brother was still muttering and cussing every other word, the younger of the two was just hoping that his brother would survive here, since if Merle left, well Daryl wasn't going with him this time around.
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