The Meaning of Love

Part 18

Daryl hisses as Hershal cuts into his side. Carol is sitting on the bed beside him and tightens her hand on his when she sees the blood. Hershal said the wound had become infected, so he is now cutting it open to drain the infection.

"You don't have to stay here, Carol," Daryl says, hissing as Hershal cuts more into him.

"I want to be here with you. I just don't like seeing blood or you in pain," Carol says, kissing Daryl's knuckles.

"God damn it, old man. How many times do you have to do that?" Daryl growls after Hershal cuts him again.

"That was it, but the next part won't feel good at all. I need to squeeze the wound to drain the infected blood. I'm sorry I cannot give you anything for the pain or to knock you out, but we used the last bit when you were first hurt," Hershal says.

"Just get it over with," Daryl says, trying to be strong for Carol but crying out when Hershal squeezes the wound. Daryl feels himself begin to black out but fights it.

"Go ahead and let yourself black out," Hershal says, seeing silent tears stream down Daryl's face. "Your body will need the rest anyways." Daryl nods and looks at Carol, smiling softly at her.

"I love you," he says softly.

"I love you too, and I will be here when you wake up," Carol says, leaning down and kissing Daryl's forehead, which he blacks out after.

~TIME SKIP~

When Daryl starts to regain consciousness, he hears Sophia's soft voice reading out loud.

"Daddy?" Sophia asks when Daryl stretches out his left arm, which had been lying on his stomach.

"Hey little one," Daryl says, opening his eyes and looking at Sophia, who is sitting next to him. "What are you reading?"

"The Outsiders. Hershal gave it to me when I asked mom about getting books to read because Dale didn't have any I could read," she says, putting a piece of paper in the book to mark her place and getting up. "I have to go tell momma that you're awake. I'll be back." It doesn't take too long for Sophia to get Carol and Hershal.

"How do you feel?" Hershal asks, checking his side.

"I feel a bit sore, but I feel fine other than that," Daryl says, grabbing Carol's hand as she sits next to him.

"The infection is gone, but you will have to sleep in here until it heals fully," Hershal says. Sophia starts crying when she hears him say that.

"Why are you crying, little one?" Daryl asks, brushing hair out of her face.

"I want to sleep with you," Sophia cries.

"Why can't you? Why can't Sophia and Carol sleep here, Hershal?" Daryl asks, looking at Hershal and rubbing Sophia's back.

"She knows that you have awoken. I just didn't want her sleeping with you last night because of how sore you would have been if you had woken," Hershal says before walking out. Daryl pulls Sophia to lay next to him and Carol joins. Sophia is asleep shortly after laying down, which makes Daryl frown.

"She didn't sleep well last night or very long," Carol says, yawning.

"Looks like you didn't either," Daryl says. "Why don't you lay down and take a nap?"

"I would love to, but it is almost dinner time, and I promised to help. Hershal is moving everyone into the house tonight because the weather is getting colder."

"Where is everyone sleeping?"

"In the front room, except for Glenn, who is rooming with Jim, Andrea, who is rooming with Maggie, and Carl, Rick, and Lori, who is taking Hershal's room."

"What about Hershal?"

"He is taking the couch."

"Why is he giving up his room to them?"

"Oh, I forgot. You missed Rick's announcement. Lori's pregnant."

"Who does it belong to?"

"I don't know, and I don't think she does either. I'm sorry I wasn't here like I promised."

"Don't worry about it. One of my girls was with me when I woke, and that is all that matters. How long has she been reading to me?"

"All day. I'm sorry if it bothered you."

"Will you stop apologizing for things you don't need to apologize for? It doesn't bother me at all. I love the thought."