Fugitive

                                    

                                          
"DALE COULD GET UNDER YOUR SKIN. He sure got under mine. Because he wasn't afraid to say exactly what he thought, how he felt."

                          
Rick stood amongst the others as they surrounded the freshly filled grave. Daryl stood with his crossbow propped on his shoulder, opposite where Skye stood next to Glenn staring down into the grass. He watched as her auburn hair danced gently around her face. Her soft gaze met his and they exchanged an understanding glance, both thinking back to what he had said just before Dale's death. 
                          
"That kind of honesty is rare... and brave. Whenever I'd make a decision, I'd look at Dale. He'd be lookin' back at me with that look he had. We've all seen it one time or another. I couldn't always read him, but he could read us. He saw people for who they were. He knew things about us, the truth, who we really are."
                          
Daryl bowed his head, knowing Rick was right. The last time Dale had come to Daryl he had said things that still resonated in his mind.
                          
"In the end he was talkin' about losin' our humanity. He said this group is broken. The best way to honor him is to unbreak it. Set aside our differences and pull together."
                          
Andrea crossed her arms and looked over to Skye. Both women knew it would be hard, but they would be willing to try. 
                          
"Stop feelin' sorry for ourselves. Take control of our lives, our safety, our future. We're not broken. We're gonna prove him wrong. From now on, we're gonna do it his way. That is how we honor Dale." Everyone's eyes followed Rick as he walked up to Dale's grave and knelt with his head bowed. He took a few moments of silence to himself and returned to Lori's side. The group dispersed and Skye took her moment to kneel at Dale's grave. Closing her eyes she thought back through all the times she had actually talked with Dale. There weren't many and this was something she regretted. His priority was not just their safety but also their integrity. It wasn't an easy task that he had taken on. She couldn't help but think that his death would be what really pushes them to hold onto what integrity they had left. A tear trickled down her cheek just before she felt a hand on her shoulder. 
                          
Opening her eyes she said, "I just wish I had taken more time to get to know him. I hadn't really given him that — time. I barely knew him, and yet he knew so much about me. He never really voiced it but I could tell. The way he would look at me, I could just tell." She looked up into Daryl's soft eyes, and he held a hand down to her. Her hand wrapped in his and he lifted her to her feet. 
                          
"He came to me. Right before we went in to talk 'bout Randall. Tried to get me to see his way. Said some things to me and it got me thinkin'." He saw the way she looked back at him as if she was waiting for more. Rubbing the back of his head nervously, he went on, "Said people look to me. That Rick-" He stopped and lowered his eyes. 
                          
"People do look to you, Daryl. He was right." She could tell he was still not entirely convinced. Placing her hand on his arm she said, "I do."
                          
His eyes quickly found hers, but he didn't know what to say. It definitely meant something to hear her say that. He just nodded his head, hoping it would show some of his appreciation. Biting his lip, he looked to where the group stood by the truck in the distance. "We should probably head over."
                          
Dropping her hand from his arm, she walked alongside him across the field. They walked in silence for a few moments before she thought back to the previous night. 
                          
"About last night-"
                          
Daryl looked over at her. "Let's not, Skye."
                          
"No, Daryl. I need to say it and you need to hear it... What happened between me and Shane, it was nothing. He just kissed me and everything has been different around here." Her eyes dropped to the ground, hoping he knew she meant between the two of them. "He asked me something and he took my response the wrong way, I guess. But I told him that I didn't want to go down that road with him," she rambled, feeling like she really needed to justify her actions.