Don't Fear The Reaper (R. Grimes & D. Dixon)

49

When Rick got in the RV, he opted to sit in the far back letting Abe drive so he could relieve Daryl, seeing as he now had his bike to drive back. He filled her ears with praises and love, And as much as she appreciated his and Daryl's efforts, she just needed her brother. Theodore was waiting for her as she stepped off the RV; he didn't need to ask how things went when he took in her blood-splattered clothes.

"You back in the light?" He asked her, and she nodded. "Come here," he whispered, holding out his arms that she walked straight into; they wrapped around her like a security blanket. Rick and Daryl nodded to him in thanks as they handled everyone else and the items they raided.

~Time skip~
Rick walked down to Alexandria's "cell," which was an actual cell now with cinderblock walls and a barred window and door. Morgan and Tdog stood in the center of the cell, admiring their work.

"Morgan, T?" He said from the doorway, his hands tucked in his jacket pockets. They turned to look at him "why?" He asked, looking around.

"It'll give you some choices next time," Morgan said. T could tell from the look on Rick's face he disagreed.

"Think about it for kit's sake." He added

"She's fine." He insisted

"No, rick, she's not. I know you want to brush it off, but even Daryl is beginning to worry."

"She'll pull-thru. She always does" rick shook his head

"Do you know how many people she's killed?"

"It doesn't matter -"

"It does, rick," Morgan cut in "last night was the first time a few of those people had killed anyone; they can't sleep."

"From all our talks, I've gathered kits killed around 50. Fifty people, rick." T stressed

"Well, she's always been one to excel," rick dismissed

"Believe me, I know. But if you don't step in once in a while to keep her from doing whatever it takes, cause we all know she won't. She is going to break. And not a single one of us will be able to bring her back." Rick eyed T for a moment before nodding and leaving.

~Time skip~

Kit walked down the steps of their porch to sit on the bottom step next to Daryl, who was smoking, staring at his bike.

"Those people you met in the burnt forest, they took it from you?"

"Yeah," kit hummed, "you saved them, right?"

"Shoulda killed em'"

"No, you're better than that," she whispered, looking over at him, her eyes flickering to his chin hair. She smiled softly, raising her hand softly stroking the left side. "You're getting gray."

Daryl took in his wife, her eyes broken and face betrayed just how fragile she was feeling. She was like a Fabergé's egg.

"Those people, what did they do to you?" Kit went to remove her hand, but he kept it in place.

"Absolutely nothing," she whispered, barely audible; Daryl leaned his forehead against hers, exhaling.

~Time skip~

"Kitten?" Kit looked up from her place on the floor beside Judith to look at Denise. "Sorry I knocked, but-"

"It's fine. What's up?" Kit asked standing

"I wanted to get your permission for today off and to borrow Daryl."

Kit chuckled "you don't need permission for a day off. What do you need Daryl for?"