Together by Apocalypse (Daryl Dixon)

Chapter 22

Daryl threw his crossbow on the ground, and everything was in slow motion. Carol ran for her, just to hug her Sophia one last time. Daryl and the guys had spent hours upon hours looking for her, when she wasn't even alive. Daryl wrapped his arms around Carol refraining her from going any closer to what was once her daughter. I clutched Thea tightly against me, and she buried her face into the crook of my neck. Sophia-- the walker, growled as Rick approached her with a gun. Carols cries were pure pain, she would never hold her little girl again. Everyone was in pain from watching this, the mere thought of that almost happening to Thea, made me want to cry. I turned around as I heard a gunshot, and a plop to the ground. Rick had shot Sophia's walker. I cringed at the sound. Carols cries grew louder, Hershel began yelling at Shane, it was chaos. Chaos that I wanted nothing to do with, I just wanted to hold my baby girl.

Thea: mama

I walked away from the scene, I couldn't handle that sort of stuff right now. I didn't even notice Thea's tiny voice because my mind was racing. I looked at her and a tear ran down her left cheek. She was young, but she wasn't stupid. Thea knew exactly what had happened, Sophia was gone, forever. Seeing my baby cry, was something I wish I never had to see. I held her head against my shoulder, holding her closely. She's never lost anyone before, at least not like this. I did everything in my power to help her get through this.

Danielle: shh baby, I know...

I didn't want to tell her it was ok, because it wasn't. This was NOT ok. I didn't want to get too involved with Herschel and his farm, that was his business, not mine. Shane had no right to open those barn doors. But now the search for Sophia was over, and it didn't turn out as well as we had hoped. Thea's small cries made my stomach knot up. Ive heard her cry over a scrape, she cried once because she didn't want to go to bed, she cried because we were leaving the park, but never had I heard my baby cry over the death of a friend. It was truly heartbreaking.

Thea: Sophia's not scared mama, she's not lost.

I watched as Thea used her tiny hands to wipe the tears running down her cheeks. Her tears slowed down and she actually smiled. She was trying to think positive, for only being four years old, she was pretty remarkable. I gently wiped the remainder of her tears with my thumb and kissed her forehead. She looked into my eyes and spoke with her small high pitched voice.

Thea: mama, Sophia is with Jesus now, she's safe.

Thea nodded her head at me and I smiled at her positive thinking. Since the day she was born I had been taking her to church every Sunday. After my drug abuse, i turned to God, myself. And it was nice to know, that even though the world went to absolute hell, that my little girl was still a firm believer. I smiled and placed my hand on the back of Thea's head, gently making her rest her head on my shoulder. I held her close, she was too young to be experiencing this kind of loss, however the idea of her thinking so positively, made it a little easier. Glenn jogged over toward Thea and I. We were by the RV now, not wanting to be by the barn at all. As a mother, I didn't want my baby to see that.

Glenn: Danielle..

I half smiled at Glenn and Thea's little head popped up from my shoulder. She squirmed a little, wanting out of my arms, but now was just not the time.

Danielle: not now thee.

Thea did as she was told and gripped onto me tightly, smiling and waving at glenn, approaching us. Glenn stood in front of me, looking very distraught.

Glenn: dani..

I pulled him into a friendly hug, with Thea on my hip. Sometimes you just need a hug. Glenn looked back at the farm house and Maggie angrily shook her head at him.