Red ~ TWD (Daryl Dixon)

Sunshine and Rainbows

The second my eyes opened the feeling of nausea crashed over me, a cold sweat dotting my brow while saliva flooded my mouth.  Throwing the sleeping bag off I scrambled out of bed, forgoing shoes in favor of not puking in the bed.  Daryl mumbled something under his breath, rolling onto his back, but I slapped a hand over my mouth and kept moving.  Throwing our tarp door back I stepped outside, the cold mud soaking through my thick socks.  I could feel the viscous liquid seeping between my toes and dry heaved. 

I made it to the riverbank before I collapsed on my knees, my stomach contracting painfully as I heaved into the stream.  My eyes watered, fingers digging into the wet soil as my stomach worked to empty itself repeatedly.  I stayed hunched for a few minutes after I stopped throwing up just to be on the safe side, giving myself a minute to recover.  When I was as sure as I could be that I was done spewing I sat back on my heels, hastily wiping away the snot and tears.

"Sick again?"

My long hair hung over my shoulders as I turned slightly.  My husband was standing a few feet back, watching me carefully.  Words failed me so I only nodded, slowly climbing to my feet. 

"It's probably the expired Spam," I lied, unable to look him in the eye, "I told Merle it was a bad idea."

The lie tasted worse than the vomit.  It'd been seven days since I found out I was eating for two and I still hadn't found the right time to tell my husband. 

A week.

I'd been lying to him for a whole week because I was a pussy. 

"Uh huh." 

I wasn't delusion.  I knew Daryl didn't buy the bullshit I was selling, but he also wasn't pushing me.  Why, I had no idea, but I was grateful.  I didn't want to have this conversation while I was covered in mud with stale, puke breath.

A high-pitched yelp made us both grin.  Chief Ramhorn came barreling around the corner like a demon possessed, big brown eyes searching.  The second he spotted us he sped up, his tiny legs struggling to keep up with his rotund, furry body.  I wasn't the least bit surprised when he pitched forward unexpectedly, face planting in the mud, body tumbling ass over tea kettle with a dull thud. When he finally stopped rolling his head popped up, eyes wide like he had no idea where he was.

If this wasn't the perfect dog for us I didn't know what was.

"Come here big guy," I smiled, getting down on one knee.  He barked excitedly and resumed his sprint.  When he was a few feet away he launched himself into my arms and I laughed.  "Running is hard work, huh?"

His head bobbed around, pink tongue hanging out of his mouth.  Daryl snorted and scratched under his chin affectionately.  He'd never admit it, but he loved the puppy.  Chief Ramhorn squirmed in my arms and I set him down, both of us watching as he made a beeline for the river.

"He needs a life jacket," I commented, careful to keep an eye on him.

Daryl casually pulled a smoke from his back pocket.  "He needs a brain."

"He's smart."  The puppy barked, pawing at the water with an open mouth, trying and failing to successfully take a drink.  "Well, he's adorable.  No one can have it all," I amended.  

Since his paws weren't working he shoved his whole face underwater only to pop back up, bark then subsequently fall in. 

"I think he's getting it."  Daryl rolled his eyes with practiced precision, and I knew my years of hard work were finally paying off. I eyed my soaking, muddy clothes with a grimace.  "I'm gonna get cleaned up."