Safe Keeping

My Dad Weren't So Great

Disclaimer: I do not own The Walking Dead, I am merely a fan

Note #1: Rated for Dixon language

Note #2: Sophia will be younger in this story. I know she's twelve in the show, but here she's 9.

Daryl sat outside his tent cleaning his arrows. It was starting to get dark out and he wanted to get this done so he could go hunting in the morning. He could hear the rest of the group talking around their fire, but he ignored them. He had his own little fire going and he was fine to be alone.

Merle had gone with a few of the other group members on a run into the city, leaving Daryl on his own. He was just finishing up with his arrows when he heard a twig crack behind him. He whipped around, hand going to his crossbow. he relaxed slightly when he saw it was just one of the women from the group, Carol he thought her name was.

"Sorry," she said meekly, "I didn't mean to sneak up on you. I just wanted to bring you something to eat."

He stared at her for a moment before nodding his thanks. She smiled hesitantly and set the bowl down before turning and walking back over to the others. He watched her go as she sat down around the fire with her daughter and husband. A husband who was currently looking between him and Carol, a murderous look on his face.

Daryl turned away, scowling. He knew men like Ed Peletier. They were all assholes. He tried to turn his attention back to his task, but he couldn't focus. He couldn't help but worry about what was going to happen to Carol later, once everyone had gone to bed.

WALKINGDEADWALKINGDEADWALKINGDEADWALKINGDEADWALKING

Daryl awoke in the middle of the night for seemingly no reason at all. He sat up, rubbing his eyes, and blinked slowly. Why the hell was he awake right now? He never woke up in the middle of the night for no reason so what the hell was it? He stood up and shoved on his shoes, grabbed his crossbow, and walked out of the tent.

He hadn't been expecting anyone to be awake, so when he exited his tent and saw a little girl - Sophia, he remembered - sitting by herself, he could definitely say he was surprised.

"Ya a'right kid?" he asked and Sophia jumped, not having heard him get up. She looked at him and nodded quickly.

"What're ya doin' out here? It's the middle of the nigh'," Daryl said and Sophia glanced back at the tent she shared with her parents, not saying a word.

"Yer momma know yer out here?" Daryl asked.

"Momma sent me out here," she replied quietly and Daryl raised his eyebrows at that. He had hardly seen Carol let the little girl out of her sight. And if she did then Sophia was with Lori or Dale. Why the hell would she sent her out here in the middle of the night on her own?

"She said her and daddy needed some time alone."

Daryl looked from the girl to her tent and back, his jaw tightening. He knew exactly what that meant and he could tell Sophia did too. He had half a mind to go into that tent and drag Ed Peletier out and beat him to a pulp. But he knew that wouldn't do any good. It would just get him sent packing. At least here he could keep an eye on things. He looked at Sophia again. The little girl looked so sad. Daryl wasn't very good with emotions and feelings and making people feel better, but he had to do something. He knew how it was, to see your dad beating on the rest of your family. She needed to know not everyone was like that.

"Ya know," he started, "My dad weren't so nice either."

"He wasn't?" Sophia asked, looking over at him.

"Naw," Daryl said, "Used ta get drunk a lot and he didn't really like me or Merle. Not really a good combination."

"Did he ever hurt you?" Sophia asked quietly. Daryl hesitated for a moment before nodding, not really sure why he was telling her all of this.

"Mine does too sometimes," Sophia murmured, "But momma tries to stop him. I think that's why she sent me out here tonight."

Daryl felt his blood boiling at the thought of that bastard putting his hands on the little girl in front of him, or her mother. Once again, Daryl felt the urge to go into that tent-

The tent flap opened and Carol walked out. She looked shocked for a moment at seeming her daughter and Daryl together.

"I didn't think anyone else was up," Carol said, wrapping her arms around herself.

"I woke up a few minutes ago," Daryl said and she nodded. Sophia stood and walked over to her mother, gently gripping her hand.

"I hope she wasn't-" Carol started.

"She was fine," Daryl started and Carol smiled, looking relieved.

"Momma, Daryl's daddy was mean too," Sophia whispered loudly to her mother. Carol once again looked shocked for a moment and Daryl shifted uncomfortably under her gaze. She nodded her thanks at him for whatever and Sophia had talked about and he nodded back.

"Hey," he called quietly as they walked away, "You ever get scared, come find me, a'right? I won't let nothin' bad happen ta ya." He was looking at Sophia, but when his eyes flicked to Carol he saw how grateful she was. She nodded again before leading her daughter into their tent.

Daryl sat for another moment before heading back into his own tent.

So this is going to be my second extended Walking Dead fanfic. I've written a couple one-shots and the other multi-chapter fanfiction for The Walking Dead is one I'm working on now.

Daryl speech is something I'm still getting used to and have been reading a lot of other fanfics to see how other people are writing him so I hope I'm doing alright.

I had a poll up asking if people wanted to see Daryl with his son right from the start or find the boy later. The results were split pretty evenly so I decided to just do both. The stories won't be the same so if you're interested in reading the other one you can check it out!

There will also be a new poll up my profile for this story and my other Walking Dead story so go take a look at that too! If you do vote make sure you vote for the right story. Thanks!

I'll be updating this story weekly on Fridays. Thanks so much for reading and let me know what you think!