Ch 5 - Look Who's Back - The Dixons
Sunlight peeked through the blinds and shone brightly in the face of Daryl Dixon, waking him up from sleep. His blue eyes popped open wide. He sat up and looked around the small motel room frantically. He jumped off the bed and rushed into the small yellow bathroom to look into the cracked cloudy mirror over the green porcelain sink.
'Holy shit! I'm alive! And young again! That really happened!'
A stunned Daryl Dixon was pushed aside as his brother moved in front of the mirror to look at his younger reflection. "Well Hell, we really did go back in time! And look," Merle held his right hand up and wiggled his fingers in Daryl's face before shooting him the bird and laughing, freer than Daryl had ever heard before. "Ole Merle is whole once again. Alright. Enough gawking. Time to pack our shit up and git the hell outta this fleabitten dump. We got us some Dixon women to rescue. Put ya shit and my Triumph in the back of the pickup so we can go get the Mouse and her youngin. They is Dixons now, and they ain't staying with that asshole Ed another day."
Daryl looked at his brother, seeing him truly sober and clean for the first time that he can remember. The brothers nodded at each other and smiled as they packed their meager belongings in duffle bags. Daryl went out the door. He walked to Merle's Triumph and unlocked the chain holding it to the railing. Then he pushed the motorcycle over to the rear of the 1989 Chevrolet C1500 and let the tailgate down. He picked up the Triumph and lay it down inside the bed of the truck, and secured it in place with the chain. By the time Daryl closed the tailgate up and secured the tarp over the bed, Merle was beside the truck throwing the duffle bags into the bed under the tarp too. He had two black leather backpacks with silver angel wings that Daryl couldn't remember ever seeing before in his hand as he got in the driver's seat. Daryl walked around and got in the passenger seat. As soon as Daryl shut the door, Merle sped out of the parking lot toward the highway.
"What's with the rush? And where did these backpacks come from?" Daryl asked as he hurriedly buckled up. "Open it." Merle said as he tossed a backpack to Daryl. Daryl looked at the backpack and saw Daryl Dixon was embroidered in silver on it along with a silver crossbow. Daryl unzipped the bag and opened it to see stacks of one hundred dollar bills, a black credit card with Daryl Dixon and silver angel wings on it, and a folded piece of paper. 'That's at least fifty grand.'Daryl thought as he picked up the paper and read:
Daryl, Get to Carol and Sophia as fast as you can. Carol has the necessary paperwork that ends her marriage to Ed. She also has a surprise for you and more instructions on what to do after. The cash should help with any immediate needs. After picking up Carol and Sophia, use the card to get a second pickup with a double cab and full truck bed, as many diy dog kennels as will fit in the pickup bed, a utility trailer, and as large a diy greenhouse kit as will fit on the trailer. Price does not matter. Remember the mission. -Sam, AoD.
At the bottom of the letter were addresses and a map for Carol's house, Sizemore Auto Mall, Lowe's Home Improvement, and Greenfield Greenhouses and Nursery.
"Mine's similar: my name and a motorcycle on the backpack, cash, card with my name on it, and a letter." Merle handed him his letter to read as he continued driving down the highway.
Merle, Pack up and take Daryl to pick up Carol and Sophia. And be prepared to welcome the newest Dixons to your family. Carol has more info about what to do after yall rendezvous. The cash should help with any immediate needs. Use the card to get a better pickup- a double cab with a full truck bed, a dual motorcycle trailer for your bike, a second bike, and as many fruit and nut trees as will fit in the bed. Remember the mission. Keep sober and you will keep your hand. Go back to using and you will end up losing your hand again. You need to be sober and have both hands for what is to come. Your brother needs you. Choose to be better. You have a clean slate. The alcohol, drugs and addiction have been cleansed from your system. Keep it that way. -Sam, AoD.
"Daryl, I'm only gonna say this once. After this, I'll deny it, so listen up." Merle told Daryl as he drove down the highway, hands gripping the steering wheel tightly. Daryl looked over at his brother, unsure about what was coming. Once Merle was sure his brother was listening, he continued. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry for what pa did. I'm sorry for not protecting ya better. I'm sorry for leaving. I'm sorry for the drugs, and the fights. I'm sorry for making life harder for you. At home. At the prison. I'm sorry for dying when I went after the Governor. I am proud of the man you have become. And I think you and Tiger make a great couple. Carol and Sophia are Dixons from now on. Now, enough of this weepy eyed lifetime movie shit. We got us some Dixon women to pickup. And if I see one bruise on Tiger or Kitten, Ed won't have to wait on walkers to kill him. I will."
Crying and whimpering were the first things she heard as she woke. Carol reached for the gun that she kept strapped to her hip, even when sleeping, only to find them missing. She bolted up and looked around. 'Wth, this isn't...this is our old home. Oh my God. Did we really go back?'
—TWD—
Carol threw the sheet off of her and bolted from the small master bedroom of the trailer. She ran down the short hallway and into Sophia's room. Sophia was curled in a ball in the corner of the room crying. She looked up when the door opened. Upon seeing her mom enter the room, Sophia launched herself at Carol. Carol caught her and slid them both down onto the mattress. Sophia cried onto Carol's shoulder as she rubbed her back soothingly.
"What's wrong, baby?" Carol asked as tears rolled down her cheeks at having her daughter in her arms again. She looked up towards heaven and mouthed 'thank you' before she pulled Sophia back and got the girl to look at her. Tears streamed from wide red eyes.
"I'm sorry momma. I'm sorry I panicked and ran into the woods. I'm sorry I didn't listen to Mr. Rick and stay put. I'm sorry I got bit and put in the barn. I don't want to be a walker momma. I want to be strong like you became." Shock filled Carol as she tok in what her daughter said.
"You remember what happened, Sophia? You remember the Walkers?" Sophia shook her head up and down. "Tell me what you remember?"
Sophia took a couple of breaths to calm down. "We met up with the group at the quarry. Then Mr. Rick showed up. Then the walkers came and Amy and Jim got bit. And Ed." Sophia sneered her father's name. "Good riddance. We went to the CDC. We lost Jacqui when it blew. Then there was the traffic snarl. And the herd came. I got out from under the car too soon. They followed me into the woods. Mr. Rick found me, but he had to lead them off, so he hid me. But I got scared when I heard a noise. I ran and ran and got lost. I found a house and stayed for a couple of nights. But when I left the house one morning, a walker bit me before I got away. Then I was in the blue marble room with this guy in a white tux. Said his name was Sam. He showed me you and the group. He showed me how you got stronger and fought. He let me watch. I saw the prison, the governor, terminus, alexandria, negan, when ya'll where on the road again, and the herd. Sam told me I had a choice to make. I could move on. Or I could go back and help you and Daryl and Merle and Rick and Hershel. That I could become strong like you became. I wanna be like you, momma."
"Oh, baby girl.You will be. This time is gonna be different. We are gonna create a safeplace before the walkers start. And you are gonna learn to fight. And everything else you need to know to survive when it happens. I promise you that." Carol hugged Sophia. "First thing we got to do is pack. We are not going to be here whenever Ed comes home. I'm filing for divorce from your father and for full custody of you sweetheart."
"Sam left these for us. Are we Dixons now? " Sophia picked up two black leather backpacks with silver wings on them and handed them to her mom. Carol looked at the bags. One had a silver tiger and Carol Dixon on it, while the other bag had a silver tiger cub and the name Sophia Dixon on it. She opened Sophia's bag and found stacks of hundreds, a letter, a folder that had a birth certificate for Sophia Dixon to the parents of Carol and Daryl Dixon, along with a social security card, school records, an authorization for Carol to homeschool Sophia, two small silver daggers with tiger heads on the pommels and leather sheaths, and a ziplock bag full of different style friendship bracelets. Carol pulled out the letter and read.
Sophia, you are stronger than you know. Do not be afraid, little tiger cub. Ed will no longer hurt you or your mom. You are a Dixon now. Daryl will love you better than you ever dreamed. And Uncle Merle will teach you to fight like no other.
I have given you 2 gifts. The bracelets are for those you love. There is a name tag for each person. When you put them on the person, no one else will be able to remove them but you. They will grow with the person. They are self-cleaning and repairing. What is so special about the bracelets? They are tracking bracelets. You wear the purple one. And it will allow you to always find your way to the other person or for them to always find you. All you have to do is think of who you want to find, and the bracelet will lead you to them. You never have to be afraid of getting lost again.
The daggers are for your protection. They are invisible to everyone but those you trust. They are self-cleaning, self-sharpening, and self-repairing. The sheaths will grow with you and never wear out. Only you can take them on or off. And only you can pull the daggers out of the sheaths. This is so they cannot be taken from you or used against you. Also, they will not set off any metal detectors. Learn to use your claws, little cub. -Sam, AoD.
Carol pulled the bracelets and daggers out and placed them on the bed next to Sophia's bag. Then she opened the bag that had Carol Dixon on it. Inside were stacks of hundreds, a letter, a black card with silver wings and Carol Dixon on it, a new driver's license with the name Carol Dixon and an address that was vaguely familiar, but she couldn't figure out where she knew it at the moment, an annulment paper that ended her and Ed's marriage the day after they married, a marriage certificate for her and Daryl dating back to 9 months before Sophia was born, a restraining order for Ed Peletier, and a set of simple gold wedding bands. The men's wedding band had a tiger engraved on it and the women's wedding band had a crossbow engraved on it. She pulled the wedding bands out and placed them with the bracelets. Then she started reading her letter.
Carol, the paperwork saves you needless hassle and time. I hope you don't mind that I already made you and Sophia Dixons. This gives you and her more protection when the inevitable happens and Ed shows up causing problems. Daryl and Merle are on the way to pick you two up. Pack everything you wish to keep. You are never coming back to this place. Take care of your girl and teach her to survive. I have faith in you. Have faith in yourself.
The cash is to buy whatever ya'll need. You, Sophia, Daryl, and Merle all have cash. You all need better wardrobes, toiletries, weapons, food, etc. Also buy some books on whatever may help, like mechanics, farming, solar power, etc. Use the card to buy a state of the art RV, vehicle towing trailer, and an SUV that will fit 7. You will need the room in the near future. Once you all have bought all that, you will go meet up with Rick and Carl. -Sam, AoD.
Rick's address was at the bottom of the letter, along with the address for Hershel's farm, the school, and maps for all three. Carol folded the letters back up and placed them in the backpacks. Carol got up and walked over to Sophia's dresser. She pulled out a sturdy pair of dark blue denim jeans, a purple tank top with yellow and pink flowers on it, and some clean socks. She laid them on the bed and picked up the bag of bracelets and handed it to Sophia. "Put on your bracelet. Put mine on me as well. Then we will get dressed and packed up. Once you are dressed, I'll help you put on your daggers. I want you to wear them everywhere. Ok, sweetheart." Sophia nodded and pulled out the purple bracelet that had her name on it. She removed the name tag and fixed the bracelet on her right wrist. It shrunk to fit her small wrist. Sophia reached back into the bag and pulled out the yellow bracelet that had her mom's name on it. She placed it on her mom's wrist. The bracelet shrunk to fit. Sophia stowed the rest of the bracelet's back in the backpack, got dressed, and started packing her clothes into her large pink bookbag.
Merle pulled the pickup into a mobile home park that was right off the highway. He followed the gravel road around to the back and stopped in front of a tan single wide trailer that looked like it had seen better days. No vehicle was there at the time and Merle noticed someone peeping out of the window. As soon as he cut the engine, the door slammed open and Carol came out carrying a large black suitcase, a pink backpack, and 2 very familiar black leather backpacks with silver wings. One was also embroidered with Carol Dixon and a silver tiger and the other said Sophia Dixon and had a silver tiger cub. Merle and Daryl saw the backpacks and started laughing. "Looks like Sam agrees. Tiger and Kitten are Dixons." Merle said as he took the bags from Carol. He stowed the suitcase and pink backpack in the bed with their duffle bags. Merle then put the leather backpacks in the front with his and Daryl's.
Daryl pulled Carol into his arms and kissed her on the mouth. He pulled back and looked her over. He sighed with relief when he didn't see any bruises. "Missed you, woman. You and Sophia ok? If Ed touched either one of you, I'll kill him."
Carol smirked at him. "Thanks Pookie. But Sam knows what he is doing and picked the perfect time for us to leave. Apparently, Ed is out of town for work, has been for a week and will be for at least another week."
"This all you taking? We ain't coming back, Carol. Anything you or Kitten wants to bring, go ahead and get it now. Me and Daryl will deal with Ed if he shows up."
Carol smiled at Merle from her position in Daryl's arms. "Thank you, Merle. Sophia is getting the last of her things now. And I have a couple of more to grab. Then we can get the hell out of here." She said as she went back into the trailer.